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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

Hay short

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farmertee

05-22-2005 06:22:09




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I am concerned about the hay here in our area. It is a good 6" below where it was last year at this time. We have had very little rain since the first of april and the temperature has been very cool. Is it this way all over the Northeast? I normally start haying in 2 weeks but my fields I don't think the grass is much over 9-10". A month ago we had flooding and now we can't hardly get a drop of rain.

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DRL

05-22-2005 21:08:15




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 Re: Hay short in reply to farmertee, 05-22-2005 06:22:09  
Here in SE KS looks to be a sparse first cutting. Lots of rain early, then several days of cool temps and some very late frosts really stunted the growth. Now it is hot and very dry. Fellow down the road cut and baled a small patch last week. Usually gets 9 or 10 large rounds off it. Think I counted 4 on this time around. My field is only about shin high and already stemming out. Lucky to get a third of usual yield. May make prices interesting this fall.

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RickB

05-22-2005 14:28:44




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 Same Here in reply to farmertee, 05-22-2005 06:22:09  
Might as well cut it and hope for rain to start the regrowth off. First cut won't grow much here if it rains now or not. SE NY.



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RayP(MI)

05-22-2005 13:21:30




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 Re: Hay short in reply to farmertee, 05-22-2005 06:22:09  
Now that you mention it, ours is a little short looking right now too - been a dry month. Last year, I could have sold lots more hay. This winter, I lost a couple big customers, and couldn"t find any others - got lots still in the barn. Going to be work from the get-go to put his summer"s additional hay in.



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kyhayman

05-22-2005 06:41:27




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 Re: Hay short in reply to farmertee, 05-22-2005 06:22:09  
From what I have seen here, and in my travels it will be a sparse hay year. Parts of the US are unusually dry, others are too wet and too cloudy. What I've seen put up has been very good quality but yields running 50-70% of normal.

I was really worried, personally, about meeting my obligations to my customers. Last week I found out I was losing my largest customer, moving out of state. I'll still miss 400 round bales, 5000 square bales, and the board bill on 30 horses. But, it solves my 30% short problem.

I would say that with the price of fuel and the low yields we may see some upward movement in hay prices.

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no.2

05-22-2005 07:38:25




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 Re: Hay short in reply to kyhayman, 05-22-2005 06:41:27  
We haven"t cut any hay yet. We want to start the middle of this week. Saturday night I drove around checking some soybeans that were planted about 10 days ago and cut through two hay fields that are O-grass and timothy. When we planted the beans the grass was not much above shoe top high. Last night the O-grass is headed out and stands above the pick-up hood in most places. We had about 2.5 inches of rain and some 80 and 90 degree days last week. The fields I checked that are pure timothy are comeing along well also. It is amazing what a thunderstorm will do at the right time.

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Randy-IA

05-22-2005 11:07:06




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 Re: Hay short in reply to no.2, 05-22-2005 07:38:25  
Hi , I just finished walking around my little 6 acre field . The grass is orchard , timothy , brome and alfalfa . None of it is over my knees but the alfalfa and timothy are starting to bud and head respectively . Is this the right time to cut for the highest quality ? I'm not looking for quantity . The problem around here has been rain every other day and cool temps . I have to time my cutting so I can bale on the weekend too . When I cut it'll be the very first time I've cut hay in my life . Or raked , or baled . The learning curve is getting steeper quick ! I don't need more than 400 bales total to get through the year for the 5 horses . But I'm still sort of worried about ruining this first cutting . To early , to late , rain , clouds , getting it up in the barn without a elevater , getting it to the barn without a wagon etc , etc . The weekend baling thing is gonna get me . Thinking I'm going to cut it next Thursday if the weathers nice and bale on Sunday so I can go back out and pick it up on Monday since I don't have to work .

Couple of questions , 1 ) How short is hay cut ? 2) And how ( this is the dumb one ) do I set the grassboard on the end of the sickle ( does it ride on the ground or stick up in the air ) ? 3) Since I don't have a moisture meter how will I know when it's dry enough to bale ?

Thanks and good luck to everyone ....Randy

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Sid

05-22-2005 12:40:16




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 Re: Hay short in reply to Randy-IA, 05-22-2005 11:07:06  
Your description sounds about right to me. I have been taught that late bud to early bloom. I agree as to quality vs quantity. Sometimes I mow when it is almost a sure bet it is going to rain that night. That way when a shower passes over I have gained a day since when the sun comes up it is already on the ground and drying. No it doesn't always work but it puts the odds in my favor. As for the cutting height about 2-3 inches is my prefrence. With alfalfa and clover.you have to check for new growth. I have mowed as high as four inches to keep from cutting the new growth. as for the grass board. If tall hay is falling over it raise it. If short hay is not falling on it lower it.

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edchainsaw

05-22-2005 20:56:02




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 Re: Hay short in reply to Sid, 05-22-2005 12:40:16  
I have never used a hay moister meter. I just go by feel... dad did as did his dad
if it goes crunch... your plenty dry.



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no.2

05-22-2005 11:58:44




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 Re: Hay short in reply to Randy-IA, 05-22-2005 11:07:06  
If I see blooms or heads I try to cut right away. Sometimes you can not cut when you want to due to the weather but I"d rather cut to early than to late. My dad used to say cut your hay early, you will get the same amount of feed and handle less bales. Early cutting effects your later cuttings also.



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Randy-IA

05-22-2005 17:31:44




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 Re: Hay short in reply to no.2, 05-22-2005 11:58:44  
Hi , Thanks all ! ...Randy



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