Hay field return on investment

I am looking to maximize return on some hayfields. Some existing fields, and some that I will be starting from scratch on.

I have recently completed 2nd cutting on 2 fields. Very poor yields, First cutting I got 31 4x5 round bales weighing 700 lbs each between the 2 pieces, about 20 acres. 2nd cutting yielded 6. I thought 2nd cutting would have yielded more as it didn't look that bad, I was really disappointed. These are 3 & 6 year old stands, well drained fields. The fields look like there is good hay there, but when you walk out into it, the crop does look thin. If it wasn't for the clover starting to invade, I'm fearing it would have yielded even less. I'm just wondering what I could do different to maximize my return on these fields. In this case, they are rented fields, but I am working on buying a piece of land to plow under and establish into hay. What do I need to do to be sure I'm getting all I can out of these fields? I am getting small windrows behind my haybine when I see others getting huge windrows and many more bales. There's gotta be something that I can do different here.

Soil testing. applying lime and recommended fertilizers is awful expensive, however I would do it if I absolutely knew it would pay for itself and then some. I'm just sick and tired of poor yielding hay fields. It cost just the same to go over a poor yielding field as it does a high yielding piece. I am looking to grow and harvest grass type hay in Central MN. Loam and clay type soils, non-irrigated. What is a typical to be expected yield in a situation like this? and what do I need to do to achieve that?

Thaks for any advice

There is absolutely no way to get production out of a field with poor pH or lack of nutrients.

Soil testing is pretty cheap. You will gain a lot of knowledge on what you have and don't have. Then talk to an
agronomist who doesn't sell fertilizer to help you interpret the results.

Does your county have an extension agent? They'd be a great place to start with localized knowledge.

Yep. Nothing has a better ROI on poor ground than getting the right pH, usually means lime around here. Just about anything else is a waste of money until then.

Get it tested now, you will want to put lime and P&K on this fall, with N in the spring.

Actually lime should go on ASAP as it needs to break down.

David G said...There is absolutely no way to get production out of a field with poor pH or lack of nutrients.

And I will add... The production you do get isn't very nutritious and probably not worth the trouble.

Plants put out a weak acid in their roots, and then suck it all back up again to get their nutrition. The acid loosens up the P, K, and other nutrients.

If your soil is already acid like (low ph) then the weak acid from the roots can’t pry anything loose from your soil. You might have real good soil full of nutrients, but if the
ph is below 6, and especially if it is near 5, your plants are starving because they can’t get to the nutrients.

So a soil ph test is pretty important.

My farm has the opposite problem, my soil averages 7.4 ph with some areas 8.2. That is rally hard to fix, it is not economically worthwhile to try to lower it.

If you need lime, that’s a relatively cheap and easy fix. Consider yourself lucky. Once you know where it is if low, just add some lime and you are good for 5+ years.

Paul

If neighbors are getting huge windrows and you are getting small ones, then yes, you need a fertility program. As you siad, these are "expensive". But, you shuld be
able to get a return on that money. Soil test first, then lime will be needed in all probability. As someone said, that may well be able to be spread over 5 years
expense-wise before you need to spread more lime again. The soil test form should ask you what you are trying to grow (lets say mixed grass hay at 4 ton to the acre in
your case). A fertility recommendation should be outlined on the test results.

I am fighting this same problem with a couple of old timers I custom for.. I keep getting told " there hasn't been any commercial applications on this farm in over 30 years". They are braggin that fact to me..

Then they ask why the yeild is down... Well first thing is SOIL TESTS check the PH.. I get told too expensive... hum i can get a dang good test for $85, each soil test is less then a ton of hay.. I know they have been buying 30-50 ton a year take some of that $$$, pay for soil tests and work on fixing the soil.. then maybe they wouldnt have to buy as much hay.. and i could cut and bale more hay for them..

SOIL TEST FIRST AND FOREMOST.. Then make a plan from there..

i put in 2 new hay fields about 5 years ago. same land, just separated by a creek. have applied manure once since i planted the fields. my
good friend is downsizing his dads farm, and offered me a 10 ft drop spreader. on a whim, i put 2 tons of lime on about 4 acres of front
field. the difference in this years hay crop where the lime was spread was amazing. best part is it seems like i didn't have as many weeds
where i applied the lime last year. i am shopping for lime as we speak.

When you get your soil samples do a grid sample testing. You will not save any money on fertilizer it will just be used more efficiently. It will spread lime according to the low and high areas same with the fertilizer. Then you can do regular fertilizer maintenance as you go. They can grid sample on 2.5 acre grids and 5 acre grids. If your soil has a lot of changes rapidly in a field this will be better at 2.5 acre. IF it is just on one end of the fields then maybe do 5 acre samples. I have done both in the same field. One part doing the 2.5 and other end doing the 5. Your sales rep from the coop can explain the ins and outs. They will probably have to do the application first time to get the thing started. I am going to see about putting some lime on as a blanket coverage with like 2 ton then the next year have it sampled and adjust for the low areas that way will help the poor spots better.

(quoted from post at 16:30:02 07/30/20) I I am getting small windrows behind my haybine when I see others getting huge windrows and many more bales. There's gotta be something that I can do different here.

Soil testing. applying lime and recommended fertilizers is awful expensive, however I would do it if I absolutely knew it would pay for itself and then some.

Thaks for any advice

Click to expand...

Do the others have animals? My experience here is nothing boosts hay like manure. No animals here but I get manure from a couple of neighbours who only keep a few animals and, along with testing and fertilizing, get respectable yields. In a drought year, the more recently "manured" fields here show less effect than ones that haven't been for a few years. I think the increased yield from fertilizer covers it's cash expense , but the stand stays in better shape, lasts longer and thus, with new seeding being pricey, pays off in the long run. Moss on the ground may indicate low ph. Like the others said, get a soil test first and start from there. Likely going to show a shortage of Potassium as hay and silage corn remove a lot from the soil.

Good luck

Here is an answer to the yield question you asked. You should expect about 3.5 T per
acre of alfalfa from a well maintained and average rainfall field . That is for all
three cuttings.