Making hay in sunshine

Round bales are loaded also for transportation.

Huge tonnages of grass have being harvested in the recent fine weather.

Much of it is destined for sale in the dairy farming areas of the Waikato and Taranaki, although with the big drop in cow numbers there is less demand than before the dairy payout dropped.

The wet spring and rain every three days before Christmas may have frustrated contractors sowing crops and harvesting silage but generally grass set aside for hay has grown well despite the lack of sunshine which may have affected its nutrient value.

Blustery wind has been frustrating as it blows the hay out of its rows.

This has been partly countered by having the bailer closely following the tractor rowing up.

Grass harvested on Barry Beatson's property south of Dannevirke is a significantly heavier crop than last year at the same time.

For contractor Lincoln Barnes (LJ Contracting) harvesting in the Tararua is up to his schedule but in the Manawatu he is a way behind due to the wetter season.

He buys standing grass wherever he can find it, cuts, harvests and exports it to the dairy regions.

His workers travel to Hastings, Wanganui, Manawatu and even Otaki to harvest, meaning sometimes long hours on the road.

They travel Topgrass Road and the Saddle Road to avoid holding up traffic.

Barry has a huge acreage being harvested and all but 600 bales go off the property. He buys in lambs to fatten as soon as the baling is done.

Contractor Kevin Harris is well on with his haymaking. He makes hay for farmers to their requirements and thinks good weather in the next few weeks might see him finished.

He has had issues with the wind and lack of sun to dry the grass not being able to start haymaking until after lunch. There is still a need to make baleage in off times for hay.

In the south of Tararua Andrew Mabey of Mabey Contracting says it has been too wet and windy to do much haymaking and there is a lot of hay standing waiting for the weather to improve. He hopes February's weather will be the time when most hay is harvested.