In the North of France, as far as the eye can see it's Wheat, Wheat, and more Wheat.
In the Southern Languedoc it's Vines, Vines, Vines.
But here in the South West it's Hay, Hay, Hay. Everywhere you look it's Hay; which of course means that all they're growing is Grass!
I'm afraid my photos are not too good, but if you are able to enlarge them you will see nothing but big round bales of hay going off into the distant horizon.
I have seen the occasional small field of Sunflowers (sharecropping), and some Maize. But otherwise that's it; hay, hay, and more hay. What one earth will they do with it all? If they all had big herds of cows I could understand it; but they don't.
It won't be long before a second crop (the aftermath) needs cutting. They'll soon be able to see our hay-mountains from space!
If you're looking for hay, just say that Cro sent you. There's plenty for everyone!
p.s. I have just returned from a shopping trip, and what did I see; yes, nothing but more hay everywhere. I saw two horses in one field, and three in another, but nothing growing that one could actually eat.
What on earth is going on?
When I saw your header I was expecting to see your harvest.
ReplyDeleteWe have amazing fruit crops this year, but most will ripen after we've gone. However, we'll have plenty of Peaches and Figs over the next month.
DeletePeaches and figs sound good. The birds get all our figs but we still have peaches in the deep freeze
DeleteThere is everything here, many vineyards and fruit orchards and quite a few such haystacks. I always thought there was an intention behind it, but I don't understand anything about agriculture.
ReplyDeleteFrance has a very varied agriculture, but this year all around us is nothing but HAY. I've never known another year like it.
DeleteMaybe they export it to all those cow countries surrounding France. It must be a good cash crop otherwise they wouldn't bother. Sheep and goats love hay too.
ReplyDeleteYou can't just leave the grass to grow; it has to be cut. But what do you do with it afterwards. OK if you have animals to feed, but they don't. I suppose a hay-dealer will buy it and take it elsewhere. The last time I heard, big round bales were selling for 60 Euros each.
DeleteA lot of hay is transported up here to Central France and probably further north still as I have been driving South and seen huge wagon loads coming the other way.
ReplyDeleteYes, we grow hay, but normally only one or two decent cuts per year.... however, we supply barley, spelt and wheat straw in excess for "export" to the South of France....
Also, many early cuts of hay up here are now instantly cropped for silage using an annoying new machine that sounds like a 50cc Honda on steroids.
Not much silage made here this year, I suppose there's no call for it. I have seen a few huge loads of hay setting off for somewhere, maybe your cows will be eating our grass this winter!
DeleteHow strange, perhaps this year is hay year on the agricultural calendar? I agree with those who say that there must be some reason, and usually it's financial. It's probably sold to countries with a low hay yield, but lots of animals that eat it!
ReplyDeletePeople don't grow much here any more. They are paid by the EU according to how many Hectares they have, then sit back and mow the empty fields as needs be.
DeleteI read somewhere that farmers are being paid to leave their fields empty. Re wilding they call it. Maybe they could use the hay, mixed with mud, and go back to the old way of building houses with it.
ReplyDeleteYes, that as well as their 'Single Farm Payment'. You really need straw for building, and most importantly the old fashioned rectangular bales. They make great houses, that even a big bad wolf couldn't blow down.
DeleteI always find the sight of hay bales in fields a strangely comforting sight. No idea why!
ReplyDeleteIt's a sign of Summer I suppose. Cider with Rosie, and all that.
DeleteI guess a lot of the hay is exported to Hay on Wye. I don't know wye but hay, so what?
ReplyDeleteI had wondered if they weren't exporting it 'to roll in'.
DeleteCould there be a new demand for the hay since Ukraine has been unable to contribute to the European market as they would normally?
ReplyDeleteI wonder if any of it will end-up there. I know they grow a lot of Wheat in Ukraine, but that only gives Straw; and most animals won't eat Straw!
DeleteI love seeing the hay bales but I liked them rectangular shape and without the black plastic some of them are covered in. How long would hay last as feed ? I guess it can't get damp/wet ? XXXX
ReplyDeleteI think it can last for years, as long as (as you say) it remains dry. We used to love haymaking with the old rectangular bales. Throwing them up onto the trailer, usually with some screaming girl driving the tractor. We used to say "Get up there and steer", and left them to it. PANIC!
DeleteThere must be a market for all this hay. Where are the buyers?
ReplyDeleteProbably up in the North of France. I can't imagine it could be economic to export it.
DeleteI can tell you around here farmers grow hay if they have the right soil and fields for it ,flattish.
ReplyDeleteSome grow it to sell to other farmers who can't grow their own or haven't had a good harvest of their own.
As far as crops, here farmers plant (usually) either corn or soybeans, depending on what is most needed for the coming years' market. If the corn market the last year was a boon, they will grow soybeans the next year, because they will be needed.
Winter wheat will be planted after the crops are harvested to have a supply of straw(for bedding) for the year. The wheat is harvested in the spring before planting the new corn or soybean crops.
Some of the corn is for human consumption ...tortilla shell, corn chips.The rest is for animal feed so it is grown to maturity and ground. Same with soybeans for feed and soybean oil.
Gemma, that all sounds like a very logical solution, and it used to be like that here, but the EU has changed all that, and we now have a crazy system that pays people for doing nothing. Such is life!
DeleteSome of that has been done as well .
DeleteI think they must be exporting the hay. My daughter has just got some guinea-pigs for the grandchildren and they buy hay by the boxload (apparently it's got to be a special guinea-pig suitable sort!) So I think that's where your hay will be going, to the petshops and animal feed suppliers.
ReplyDelete