Grass height before making hay

Thanks,

K

If you have a healthy stand of alfalfa or grass then weeds are not an issue this far North. They can't compete with the repeated cuttings before going to seed. Farmers usually only grow alfalfa for three years before returning to the bean/corn rotation (which kills all weeds). I have fields of orchard grass/clover that are doing really well. I have completely stopped growing the beans/corn. My land is too small/steep/shallow. I now try to make money growing "horse hay". You can get a good premium for 100% grass (not weeds) small square bales. There are plenty of dairy farmers selling small squares of 100% alfalfa but few selling good quality grass bales. The horse people tend to dislike the alfalfa because it is too good for lazy horses.....makes them fat...

My experience with grass, and I lived in an area that usually didn't get consistant snow cover. If you have it either mowed bare or picked bare as pasture by mid Nov., come spring one will have grass kill, and the weeds will take off. They damn well didn't start at -20F in Feb.

Again, I lived a lot closer to kopeck than anyone else in this thread. You get far enough north along the Atlantic coast and grass will winterkill. Like Allan, you may be an expert in your geographic location.

You really need to post on here more often.

We've received good solid info from you in your statements this morning.

Allan

I grew up in the country but next to the farm not on it. Now I am building a farm from scratch.

This is one area where guys should find out geographic location before giving advice. Tom's idea may well work in TN, however if your far enough north that you've already seen two frosts, you want at least 6" of grass cover before winter sets in. If you happen to get frozen ground before snow cover, it's awfully important to have the grass cover. Tom doesn't realize, weeds aren't a big concern in hay, in northern climates.

You are absolutely right. My opinion is based on my Tennessee experience. It's amazing isn't it?

1. I've never heard of grass needing a cover. It is by definition a cover.

2. I didn't realize that weeds were a regional issue. I thought they were pretty much universal.

In any event, good luck with your hay.

"Tennessee - Sounds Good to Me"

Tom in TN

This has been perhaps the biggest enjoyment I've gotten at YT. Listening to how folks handle crops differently across this great continent and it's many varied climatic conditions. I've always farmed with severe winters, it clobbers weeds, insects and disease. I've always farmed with 36" plus of annual rainfall. It's been interesting to see how you folks in the south handle weeds, insects and disease, and how the dryland farmers in Nebraska handle moisture. But then you must wonder how we handle 7 months of stored feeding for cows. We don't discuss this subject much, it could have an entire page devoted to crop differences and how we handle those differences.

I personally don't need the hay but I have a friend that would be more then happy to take it off my hands.

Good hay is hard to come by this year...

These guys here in SW ON think they can grow a nice rutabaga. They can, it looks nice, but you can't eat it. These guys have destroyed the rutabaga market. Should have been a North American law passed, saying your only allowed to grow rutabagas in Maine and the Maritimes.

I understand you folks are water saturated this summer, too bad you couldn't export it west. They should grab it, best water left in North America.

The frosts we have had down here have been mild, not the killing frost that the county has had.

Ah, rutabagas, that brings back memories. I've never really had one that we didn't grow so I'm not sure what the ones you by at market taste like these days.

We had plenty of nice weather but we had at least a day or two of rain every week and one of those days would be down pours. I'm not sure I've ever seen the ground this soft, the bigger equipment really can make a mess.

They're talking a warm spell for the weekend so maybe I can tack another inch or two on to that grass before I consider cutting it.

Thanks,

K

I think it might a bit more but not a ton. It's getting cooler, we've had two frosts already.

In my opinion, it is always good to get the grass off the field as late as you can. Taking it off minimizes thatch and also helps to control the weeds. If you can get it to dry down properly, and if you have someplace to store it, I'd say cut it.

Tom in TN