The nice lady was quite happy to see me after eight years of me avoiding the place. She said I was still in their computers!
It was a little disconcerting to hear her negativity on the farm economy for next year. However, she was encouraging with our plan to focus more on selling small bales to horse people. It seems to be the only bright spot lately.
We need to add storage to house another four semi truck loads of hay. (around 2,400 bales of 14" x 18" x36" @ 65lbs each) Storing it outside under a tarp is not working. It makes a mess when it rains.
It sounds like we will be a shoe-in for the loan program. Three years ago the estimate for the addition was $40,000 ready to move in. It seemed a bit expensive then. Who knows the price now.
I helped my nephew haul a load of hay earlier in the week. I haven't been moving a lot of hay in the last few years. This was 110lb three tie bales. It wasn't too bad.
The delivery location was not great. Tight location. Nephew just finished rebuilding the bed on our machinery transport truck so we decided to try it out. He loaded up the Skid Steer with hay grapple and I drove the old Ford Louisville tandem and we kept coastal traffic at 45 mph for a few miles.
I did feel a little guilty about taking two trucks and not just stacking in the barn. I have had worse barn stacking jobs. I was happy to see the roll-back deck worked flawlessly.
Unloading truck with skidsteer and hay grapple. Worked pretty slick. The grapple also rotates to facilitate stacking.
Not a great picture but it is proof of life
The next trip with the truck will be to help Muddy Valley move his farm equipment. Probably next week.
Down the highway... My ears are still ringing! Lots of gears to make it to 55 mph.
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Old Louisville sure sounds good. Small square bale prices are pretty crazy here too. I'd be better off just selling the hay that way than putting it through cows.
ReplyDeleteI am not shifting it very well. I hope hay keeps moving here. I don't want it to get so high it doesn't sell.
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