84-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, September 15,1990 belll < a a farm -And other! Joyce Bupp Every once in a while, a conti nuing string of unfavorable cir cumstances will unfold telling you that something you’re attempting maybe isn’t supposed to be. Like haymaking in September. The storing away of today’s plenty for tomorrow’s need - foodwise - is a necessary, com mendable, and no doubt, historic endeavor. Squirrels store nuts and beavers pack away snacks of twigs. A small alpine rodent known as the pika cuts mountain grasses, spreads the harvest to dry in the sunshine, and stashes it away safe for snowpack-season feasting. I sometimes wonder if, after mankind’s fall from grace, Adam could occasionally be heard from somewhere in the weedy fields outside the Garden of Eden call ing, “Hay, Eve, can ya’ help make hay this afternoon?” Or something to that effect. “If you have any spare time this week, you can fluff and rake hay,” suggested the Farmer early last week. His understanding in offer ing a big grin when uttering the phrase “spare time” was most appreciated. But, when there’s hay to be made, “spare time” is found. While we’re all in the hayfield, no one cares about dust in the house anyway. Besides, the weather folks were predicting a relatively agreeable haymaking week, and acres of beautiful alfalfa and mix ed grass were already on the ground. Let me interject here that for the past at least half-dozen years, the household’s two teenagers assisted with the bulk of haymak ing chores. And, most recently, friends of our youngest have been wonderful additions to the sum mertime farm crew. My labor val ue lay more in calves, cows and cooking than wrangling with cranky equipment. But with September came the return to school for our summer assistants. And the need for our full-time son to be at the helm of the heavy-duty equipment - for age harvester, haybine, etc., which left guess who with haymaking fluff. “Anyone can fluff,” assures the youngest. “Takes no mental capacity whatsoever.” Thanks. What they forgot to tell me was that the wide-front-end tractor I was assigned has a very sensitive steering mechanism - one bump and your former forward momen tum can quickly veer off right or left. Plus, fluffing hay needs to be done at a fairly high speed, like sixth gear, to properly aerate a windrow of damp hay so that it dries thoroughly before baling, and doesn’t mold in storage. About Ihe third round, I finally relaxed my grip on the steering wheel and began to enjoy the scent of fresh hay and pattern of hill sides ready for harvest A hawk soared above a woodlot and in the distance a neighbor cut tiny rows with toy-sized-appearing mower and windrower. The pleasure of field work was definitely still there. But where was this predicted sunshine? Occasionally it peeked from behind clumps of passing clouds, fat-white ones alternating with flat-gray. The air got chillier as the afternoon passed and the sweatshirt I’d grabbed as an after thought felt comfortable. We baled no hay that day - it never dried down. A day later, the weather pattern continued. By late afternoon, rain threatened. One field was border line dry. A couple of loads of small bales - heavy, damp, small bales - went on the wagons. And Nothing like it on earth! For The Bigger Jobs Where Maneuver ability is Needed. Kubota Small Enough to Fit Where Others Can’t. lima • Digging depth of 6'B" • Rubber Trace • Replaces Trenchers! • Compact size - can lit easily into the back of a pick-up truck • Under 40** wide, 6'7" high • Does the Job in confined spaces • Can work in small areas and inside a building • Fits through a backyard gate • Dozer blade for grading • 9" or 16“ Bucket available • 18 Horaepower OTHER SIZE RENTAL UNITS AVAILABLE OVER 100 NEW KUBOTA TRACTORS . INSTOCK! WE SHIP PARTS UPS DAILY LEBANON Rtf?, »o*4os,Ufenm. M 17042 % 41»i «#* Wtw «t «chMit»r«ewn . 717*949*2000 they rolled the rest into large bales just to get it off ahead of the rain. Back to the field yet another day to fluff. Rain threatens, but never materializes. Hay dries - almost. Bale up more small bales - heavy small bales. Wagons full. Milking time, so short of time and people to unload. Whip into field with round baler and roll the rest. Rake hay next day. Between alternating raindrops and hide-n -seek sunshine. To heck with time Become A Day Care Provider Penn State Cooperative Exten sion and Child Care Consultants is offering a course “Make Caring for Children Your Profession.” It will be held at the extension office meeting room, 112 Pleasant Acres Road, from 7:00-9:30 p.m. KU | RENTAL UNITS | Ratt Dally - $l2! Weekly - $' Monthly - Keller ~ II M Vi m*** / FOR 2 YEARS K.U BOTH < CASHD ?* OUNTS TRACTORS & EQUIPMENT Serving Central PA Since 1921 STORE HOURS MONDAY-FRIOAY 7:30-5:00 SATURDAY 7:30-12:00 consuming small bales, they decide. Thejcid heads out with the round baler to make time and get hay away before threatening storm. Tire blows on tractor. Large tire. Not repairable. Need new tire, not available for three days. Maybe the hay will dry today. If those black clouds on the horizon turn around and head back north. You know, it never did rain enough to even settle the dust. on October 2,9, 15, and 23. Advance registration is required. For information and registration brochure call the extension office at 757-9657 or Child Care Consultants at (717) 854-2273. OTB Rates Dally - $175 Weekly - $675 Monthly - $1,875 • Digging depth of over 16' • 6-ton machine • Overall width 7'4 n • Best machine for working on hillsides • 360 degree rotating cab • SO degree right and left boom makes digging against walls and side digging easy • Dozer blade for grading • 48 Horsepower t«M fmM«» W* UMMW, *»* 17*0* At R*ut* M A FtWJtvWrlWw Kubota CALL FOR DETAILS ON LEASING tANCASTif* 717-568-2500
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