I have access to a extra 10 acres of irrigated land. The land owner will let me use it just to see some one use it. Has not been watered in years. I am thinking about oat hay for my cattle. I Have never grown oat hay and would like to know if its to late in the season to sow oats. we are located in the pacific north west and growing season last till around October, irrigation goes off in mid October.

Thanks
 
Here in Kansas oats are planted about as early as you can get in the field, typically the end of February through the first half of March. It is a cool season crop and will not tolerate the heat of summer in our climate. But, if you typically have cool and moist summers it may work to sow it now.

Another "single cutting" hay crop you might consider is sudan grass as it tolerates heat well.
 
Here in Northwest Indiana I bought oat hay from a guy who double cropped behind wheat just for the hay. He wrapped in plastic to keep. The cows liked it a lot. He cut when it headed out. And that was through the drought.
 
Oat hay is awesome but it's a pain to get dried down. Most around here chop it and store in a bag for fermentation. I always cover crop my new alfalfa with oats. I cut it right when the oats head out. Even in the heat of the summer I have a tough time getting it to dry down. I round bale with a soft core baler so I get away with it being on the wet side. Makes awesome feed.

Casey in SD
 

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