Hay Report - 2010

The continual rainfall this year wasn’t all bad and the dry weather came right when we needed it. The ranch was able to bale an amazing 96 tons of hay this year – up from only 18 tons last year. This will save the ranch about $10,000 dollars in hay that we won’t have to buy for this winter.

Part of the success this year was also related to our weed control and seeding program. The weed control was particularly successful. We will continue our efforts to improve our hay fields with these measures in spring 2011.

Thanks to partners Chuck Tutt, Jack Hoff, Dale Switzky, Gerald Anderson and Bill Herring, who are also largely responsible for the success of our haying this year. Chuck Tutt put in about 100 hours of his own time on tractors, Jack raked and assisted Chuck, Dale made some timely repairs with Gerald’s help, and Bill kept the crews going with water, soda and food.

Meadow maintenance for future hay crops took a large jump this summer as everything harvestable has been mowed. This will help next year’s haying. The lower stack yards have been utilized this year to cut down on travel this winter with hay not having to be brought from the main stack yard at the Ranch.

With 20 tons left from last year, we are confident that the Ranch will be able to keep hay purchases to around 20 tons or less which is a savings of about $10,000.00.