Monday, August 24, 2015

Straw and Hay

"Square" bales of straw, two different sizes

It's haying and straw baling season and has been since the crops have been ready to cut. Do you know the difference between straw and hay?

STRAW: the stalks of grain products  - such as wheat, oats, rye  - after the grain has been harvested. It contains few seeds so is not nutritious for animals but does make good mulch and bedding material.

Closeup of baling the smaller size

After a few tries, I caught a bale in mid air...but just barely.

"Round bales of hay

HAY: grasses - such as timothy - or legumes - such as alfalfa - baled for animal feed. The more protein the hay contains, the more valuable it is.



More photos from Our World can be seen by clicking HERE.

Also, please visit Through my Lens at Mersad Donko Photography.
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36 comments:

  1. Small KucingAugust 24, 2015 at 5:59 AM

    My side diesnt have straws nor hay. I recall when i was young, we would wait for the school gardener to cut the grass in the fueld. Then we would gather it and jump into it. It was so much fun

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  2. chicaAugust 24, 2015 at 6:36 AM

    Belas fotos!Linda semana! bjs, chica

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  3. RevrunnerAugust 24, 2015 at 6:53 AM

    Timothy grass and alfalfa grown in the midwest were two of my pet rabbit's favorite foods. :-)

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  4. KathyAugust 24, 2015 at 7:43 AM

    Lots of hay baling going on in my neck of the woods too, although it's been so dry the summer cuts are light. This of course is a complete turnaround from spring when it was so wet many fields couldn't get cut. It seems we went from floods to drought over the course of a weekend! Hope your farmers had better luck.

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  5. VPAugust 24, 2015 at 7:51 AM

    Only round bales here now: I barely remembered the square ones!

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  6. DarlaAugust 24, 2015 at 8:16 AM

    Thanks for the info, didn't know that. It looks like a busy season for the farmers.

    Darla

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  7. AnvilcloudAugust 24, 2015 at 8:28 AM

    Well, I just learned something new.

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  8. MadSnapperAugust 24, 2015 at 8:28 AM

    I especially like that last photo and i have often wondered the difference between straw and hay and now i know

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  9. Ruth HiebertAugust 24, 2015 at 8:50 AM

    Wonderful photos. These are scenes that are quite common in my area,but still are lovely to see.

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  10. DeniseinVAAugust 24, 2015 at 9:41 AM

    I never knew that so thank you for teaching me something new today. Love your photos!

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  11. Mary HoneAugust 24, 2015 at 10:22 AM

    We drove the wheat fields of Idaho last week, lots and lots of work going on there.

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  12. MaggidAugust 24, 2015 at 10:52 AM

    Thank you for FINALLY unraveling my confusion about Hay and Straw . . . you reminded me of days long ago when i get to go out with my grandpa to help feed cows . . . What terrific photos :)

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  13. DebbieAugust 24, 2015 at 11:05 AM

    when referring to either i always say straw or hay, keeping myself covered. but...now i know!!!

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  14. Sylvia KAugust 24, 2015 at 11:32 AM

    Marvelous captures and interesting info for the day, EG, as always!! Hope you had a lovely weekend and it does look as though your new week is off to a great start! Enjoy!

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  15. William KendallAugust 24, 2015 at 11:33 AM

    Ah, so that's the difference!

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  16. 21 WitsAugust 24, 2015 at 11:35 AM

    What lovely photos, I can almost smell the air out there.

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  17. Penelope NotesAugust 24, 2015 at 12:00 PM

    The sustenance of life comes in many forms! Those bales of hay have always reminded me of king-sized shredded wheat. :)

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  18. LeoraAugust 24, 2015 at 12:10 PM

    Ah, my guinea pig eats hay. I won't give him straw - now I know why. I love the rich mustard color in your top photo.

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  19. Amy at love made my homeAugust 24, 2015 at 12:30 PM

    Just been catching up on your beautiful photos in your last few posts. I love the door in the last post! Great explanation of the difference between straw and hay! Great picture too of the bale in mid air! xx

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  20. RedPatAugust 24, 2015 at 12:42 PM

    I didn't know that!

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  21. JeevanAugust 24, 2015 at 1:12 PM

    Interesting process of baling! Excellent captures

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  22. Sallie (FullTime-Life)August 24, 2015 at 1:47 PM

    Bill is the farm boy and he has explained the difference to me a few times ...I always forget! I like the round bales , and obviously they are the most valuable ...

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  23. NancyAugust 24, 2015 at 2:25 PM

    Certainly makes you feel fall is right around the corner.....Your pictures are beautiful and thanks for the information. I hope you have a wonderful week....

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  24. cieldequimperAugust 24, 2015 at 2:54 PM

    Beautiful high summer colours!

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  25. Hootin AnniAugust 24, 2015 at 3:36 PM

    This is a wonderful series. Around my part of the world it's more cotton bales and I have yet to see them working on it. I always see the 'finished' bale. This was extraordinary. It was like I was there. And I love the fragrance of cut hay and alfalfa.

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  26. Linda W.August 24, 2015 at 3:43 PM

    I never knew the difference between straw and hay, but now thanks to you I do!

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  27. MersadAugust 24, 2015 at 4:01 PM

    Thanks so much for sharing with "Through My Lens". Great images as always!!

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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  28. AnonymousAugust 24, 2015 at 6:12 PM

    great pictures of the work at the countryside. The farmers in Belgium nowadays also are very busy on their fields.
    Visiting from Mersad Donko Photography "Through My Lens".
    Greetings from Hilde

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  29. RoseAugust 24, 2015 at 6:34 PM

    What a wonderful set of photos, EG. Does it offend you if I say I wish I had taken them! I would be so proud of them...specially the first two. I so love them.

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  30. KayAugust 24, 2015 at 8:42 PM

    Farmers do a lot of haying around here. Because we've had such a warm, dry summer the season began much earlier than usual. And maybe our farmers have a bit of OCD but I've never seen bales loaded as willy nilly as those square ones.

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  31. CountryMumAugust 24, 2015 at 9:17 PM

    Great photos, and I do love your action shot! Well done.

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  32. StephanieAugust 24, 2015 at 10:12 PM

    I love these images!

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  33. A Colorful WorldAugust 24, 2015 at 11:15 PM

    Wonderful photos! Thank you for clarifying the difference between straw and hay! I told my grandson once that the weeds in the back yard could be cut to become hay and he was amazed. :-)

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  34. Jenn JilksAugust 25, 2015 at 7:42 AM

    I did not know this! Great shots!

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  35. NatureFootstepAugust 25, 2015 at 5:33 PM

    I love it when they are harvesting. The land become so beautiful. The colors too.

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  36. JackAugust 26, 2015 at 9:37 PM

    Now I know the difference!

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