First Cutting

First cutting refers to cutting and making hay for the first time in a season.  Hopefully, we can get four cuttings this season.  We started cutting hay about 8 days ago and finally 2 days ago were able to start baling it.  My dad and I started day 3 of baling this morning at 5 a.m.  There are a few more days/nights of baling until we get all of first cutting baled and stacked.  When I say there are days and nights, I mean it.  Depending on the type of hay we are putting up decides what time of day we can bale.  If it's grass hay, we can bale in the afternoon into the evening.  If it's alfalfa, we can bale during the night and sometimes into the early morning depending on the temperature and dew.  This making hay stuff is tricky business, but when done right is quite pretty and profitable. 

1. First, my dad cuts the hay with a swather.

2. Next, he fluffs it with a fluffer so that it drys quicker.

3. The hay is completely scattered after being fluffed.

4. Then the hay is raked with rake pulled behind a tractor.

5. The baler, also pulled with a tractor, follows the rake to make cute little rectangular bales.

6. After the baler, my dad goes in with the harrow bed to pick up, and stack the bales in the barn.

(Sorry, but I don't have pictures of everything because it is difficult to take pictures of the last steps because I'm driving one tractor or another at this point.)

Normally, we start first cutting in May and would be making second cutting right now instead of first cutting.  Due to rainy, cool temperatures, unpredictable, and over all cruddy hay making weather we had to wait to start making hay.  Let me tell ya, farmers were getting antsy just sitting and waiting for the clouds to clear and let the sun shine warm.  Let me tell ya, we are so happy to finally be putting up some hay and we will be even happier when a semi truck comes to haul it away!!