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casulties of hay making



It is heating up here in the south west of France, this week a heat wave is on the forecast with temperatures predicted of 35 degrees on Wednesday, which probably means  little higher in the sun - ouch far to hot to be outside. With hardly any rain predicted on the long range forecast farmer J is getting a tad worried that the grass will dry out, which it is already starting to do and the cows will be eating hay a while before winter. Worrying we will not have enough hay to last through to next year as although it has been a OK year it has not been as good as last year he has looked to cut and make a bit more.

 A hay field at La contie owned by a horse breeder (hay not good enough for the horses) has been cut turned and tonight baled as well as couple of fields en route, owned by a lovely old French couple who took Milo and Franklin in many years ago when they were out on a "run". They were so nice Milo wasn't fussed about leaving and I'm sure he would of quiet happily stayed with them, of course it could be something to do with the amount of feathered fowl they had (it would of been the time both dogs were into fowl and not to be nice to). Lastly a field up the road who's owner tried to get farmer J to pay 10 Euros a bale to cut it but changed his mind when J said he wasn't interested.

So the casualties of hay making this year have been the tractor, a trip to the garage when it was stuck in both high and low speed ratios.I followed farmer J to the garage to give him a lift back, imagine following a tractor going at the speed of a mobility scooter. 30 euros later it was fixed and working again more than can be said for the machine that turns the hay. A bolt sheared leaving the machine in two in the field. this time it can't be fixed and will be going to the metal man once all our old machines have been rounded up. Lastly (hopefully as those bales are not quiet done yet) A rock hit the side window of the tractor smashing it. At least it has air conditioning now!

Our fields are classed as handicapped, being on a hill we do get extra funding as wear and tear on machines is far more than on a flat field. Just as well as a new turner will have to be brought, farmer J can dream on for a new tractor but then by the time he has finished the hay which takes its toll working in hot temperatures and long hours I may have to trade him in as well.

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