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HAY = STRAW
If you all decide to use Pine Needles as Mulch or as a cover, be certain that your soil can handle it. I have many Pine trees on my land and the soil is SOUR from the acidity from the Pine needles. My garage has an Asphalt Shingle Roof and the Pine Needles that land on it have caused detoriation of the shingles. If your soil has a low acid content, you will be fine, otherwise growing anything except Raspberries could be a problem.
If it isn't Ph it is Acid and if ain't that it is Dry or it is wet and speaking of Wet, Here in the Northeast the Farmers are in Hell. Usually the Corn is Knee High by the fourth of July and currently many farmers are Knee Deep and are planting 75 day corn. Many don't even have their First Hay Crop in and the Loggers haven't been in the Woods since Late March. We are really wet up here, way too much rain and for those who planted Early it is rotting in the ground. Bad year. Farmers need Silage and the Fast Growing Hay is just Belly Filler, very little Protein.
So if it ain't one thing it is another.
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HAY = STRAW
When the drought hit the North East a couple of summers back we were paying $7.50 to $8 for a 60lb bale of good hay; close to $10 for alfalfa. Never heard of $.50 a bale for any kind of hay around here.
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HAY = STRAW
Murf,
You are correct, those are really BIG combines they use. However they do produce little bales that command a high price.
WW,
I think you explained your acid ground when you said you have many pine trees. Lime works well. As to your shingles, is there a leaf the do like?
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HAY = STRAW
KT
Actually we tried Lime, 5-10-5, 10-10-10 and every mixture and concoction that Agway and Blue Seal carried. What worked really well for me and allowed for Grass to grow within a year where grass refused to grow before, was NIGHT CRAWLERS, I threw maybe 5,000 or more NITE CRAWLERS in the cleared areas ( 1.5 acres) and in the garden and by the next year I had grass growing where I had tried to get it to grow for at least 10 years prior. I have Robins now and never had them before.
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HAY = STRAW
I bought hay 3 different places last summer.
One place 1.75 another .75 and the last place was.50.
I've got an appointment at 5:30 this evening to go pick up a couple of pick up loads at $1.00 a bale.
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HAY = STRAW
I wonder if people are confusing bale size when discussing prices. Small square bales are around $1.50 - $2 and the big round bales go for much more. Just raising the point to make sure everyone is talking apples.
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HAY = STRAW
Iowafun,
I believe we are seeing not bale size varying but rather the local supply and demand and the variance of product and quality. There is a big variance in my area for same size square bale between what is called horse quality and cow quality and the product. Also it being picked up in field or the farmers barn or if he loads you or delivers it and when you buy it.
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HAY = STRAW
I think Kenneth hit the nail on the head.
I can get hay here for $1 a bale too, but my neighbours donkey would turn their nose up at it.
My horses would just stand and stare at it.
But it is cheap, as long as you don't mind the mould.
Best of luck.
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HAY = STRAW
That $90-$100 per cost for barley straw was largely due to to many hands in the "cookie jar" including the transporters. But compared to what specialty pond supply co's get for fractionally smaller quantities it's a bargain. Any body know other uses for barley straw other than for ponds?
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HAY = STRAW
Besides stuffing the odd strawman......when I lived in Scotland, the cattlemen there used barley straw as both feed and bedding. The barley itself went into the front door of the whisky distilleries, the barley mash was returned to the farmers out the back door. It's then taken to a dehydrator press and bagged as pellets. Local name for them are "sheep nuts", larger diameter are "cattle nuts".
Versatile stuff, that barley.
//greg//
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Gas Generator Weather Protecti
07-10-2006, 08:45 
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