Custom Hay Baling & Sales

We are excited to add Custom Hay Baling & Sales to our list of ways we can serve you. And since we don’t do anything unless we do it right, you can be assured that we will do everything humanly possible to reap the best quality hay. We’ve invested in top of the line equipment and use experienced crews. Whether you have a field that you need baled for hay your horses or cows; or land that you need baled for an Ag exemption, we can custom tailor a program that works for you. We also have hay for sale, ranging from high quality horse hay, which is stored in our hay barn, all the way down to “construction” hay, for use in erosion control.  

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Mowing

Disking

Seeding

Fertilization

Herbicide

Custom Baling

Hay Sales

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mowing / Cutting

The most important portion of baling hay is timing. It is a competition between the operator and the environment. During the summer, rain is very unpredictable; especially considering the drought we have endured the past couple of years. Hay is very sensitive to weather conditions, particularly when it is harvested. In drought conditions, both seed and leaf production are stunted, making hay that has a high ratio of dry coarse stems that have low nutritional values. If the weather is too wet, the cut hay may spoil in the field before it can be baled. The hay may also develop rot and mold after being baled, creating the potential for toxins to form in the feed. It also has to be stored in a manner to prevent it from getting wet. Mold and spoilage reduce nutritional value and may cause illness in animals.

Another factor to consider is the health of the grass. Our Project Managers are constantly surveying the pastures we are contracted to cut for readiness and try to harvest hay at the point when the seed heads are not quite ripe and the leaf is at its maximum when cut in the field. The cut material is allowed to dry so that the bulk of the moisture is removed but the leafy material is still hearty enough to be picked up from the ground and baled. 

The successful harvest of maximum yields of high-quality hay is entirely dependent on the perfect timing of optimum crop, field, and weather conditions. When this occurs, our crews work both day & night to harvest the hay until weather conditions become unfavorable.

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Disking

Field preparation is an important part of growing any crop, including hay! Over time, soil can become hardened and nutrient depleted. A thorough disking can help turn over and loosen up the soil, while removing weeds and other vegetation that can interfere with the normal growth of the desired hay. This also mixes the soil below the surface which may have more nutrients for the crop to grow. 

If your field is in need of disking, we have many disks for all different size pastures and needs. We also have harrows, tillers, drags and many other implements that can be used to acquire the optimum soil consistency and smoothness for any pasture need.

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Seeding

It is a very common practice to seed or overseed a hay pasture. This can be done to introduce new & better grasses into the field or simply to establish more coverage & density to yield a better cutting. Stuckey’s is also capable of sprigging a new or existing field. Several types of grasses we use and recommend are: Bermuda; Texas Tough, Giant, Alicia, Tifton 85, Coastal, Jiggs, & Common), winter grass blends, & other types upon request. 

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Fertilization

An important part of effective hay baling is ensuring there is adequate grass to cut as well as the quality. However, low soil nutrient levels often limit forage production. With good soil fertility and fertilizer management, the productivity of many hay and pasture fields can be greatly improved. It is also imperative to recognize the danger in different types of fertilizer and how they could possibly affect any animals which would feed on the hay/pasture. 

We regularly send of soil samples to the lab at Texas A&M University to be tested so we are able to evaluate the current conditions and implement a fertilization program that will best benefit the field. Let us come out to take a proper soil sample so you know your field is reaching its maximum potential. 

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Herbicide

Herbicides, also commonly known as weed killers, are pesticides used to kill unwanted plants. Selective herbicides kill specific targets, while leaving other vegetation relatively unharmed. Some of these act by interfering with the growth of the weed and are often synthetic mimics of natural plant hormones.  

Herbicides are widely used in in the U.S. for crop & turf management. As licensed herbicide applicators, Stuckey’s, LLC has access to many herbicides & related chemicals. We take special care to ensure the safety of animals & aquatic life when needed. 

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Custom Baling

One of the most common questions we are asked in regard to hay is “What is custom hay baling?” Custom hay baling simply means we work with each client regarding how the hay is baled. Options such as square/round bales, size of bale, twine/net wrapping, delivery/stacking options, & shares. Our wide array of options also allows us to offer a large variety of selections for those who look to buy hay from us directly. However, if for some odd reason you think you’d like your hay painted, we can probably accommodate your unique requests.

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Hay Sales

The fields we cut for hay sales vary from several types of grasses ranging from horse quality to low quality hay used for construction purposes. At the start of the season, we spray all of our horse quality hay fields to minimize any weed infestation and fertilize after each cutting. Our round bales range from 4x4 to 4x6, depending on your preference, and weigh between 900 – 1300 pounds. Our square bales are tight, dense and weigh about 50 pounds. We can also arrange for delivery if needed. Please call our office to inquire about hay availability.  

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