Hay cut height

ryanwheelock · Jun 23, 2010

I've always wondered what the best height is to cut hay at. Can it hurt the regrowth if cut too short??
If it ever stops raining here in MI I can get out and do some cutting.
Thanks
Ryan

old · Jun 23, 2010

I try to cut hay around 3 inches or so. Yes if you cut it to short you can in fact kill off the good stuff and leave the bad growing. Of course a lot depends on the weather also. If it is cooler and wet or going to be after you get it baled you can cut short but it if is going to be hot and dry cut it taller

thurlow · Jun 23, 2010

Always cut Sudex about 4-6 inches high.....1st and 2nd cuttings; re-growth started quicker. Last cutting was as short as possible.

onefarmer · Jun 23, 2010

I cut about 3", any shorter and I start breaking guards on the rocks.

James Howell · Jun 23, 2010

Our JD 350 sickle mower is set at its' highest position; probably around 3-4 inches.

We cut all the Coastal and Cheyenne Bermuda grass along with the Bahia grass around 3-4 inches.

olgentdc · Jun 23, 2010

for the most part i shave them , never seen any problem with regrowth , even during drought, it all com s back when rains come on ..,, the 489 has enuf bounce in the head to hopefully jump over a rock , stub guards do help...

rrlund · Jun 23, 2010

There should be skid pans on your haybine. Set them about mid point on the adjustments and if that keeps you up off the rocks in northern Michigan,that's where it needs to be. The old sycle mowers ran right on the ground. Rode right on the bottom of the guards.

ChrisLSD · Jun 23, 2010

grasses grow back from what is left on the stem, alfalfa and clovers grow back from the roots -

so cutting height may depend on what crop you want to regrow the fastest....

gitrib · Jun 23, 2010

Alfalfa grows back from the crown and should never be cut so short as to clip the new growth stating from the crown. This is real easy to do if you are cutting over mature Alfalfa and the new growth has started,
gitrib

Gene Dotson · Jun 23, 2010

Another consideration is the stubble will keep the hay off of wet ground and let air circulate underneath to dry faster. I like to cut at abour 3 inches if wet and maybe 2 1/2 inches in dry ground. Hasn't been a consideration so far this year with all the rain... Gene

JMS/.MN · Jun 23, 2010

If you do clip the new growth it will not destroy the next crop- just set it back a bit. It will regrow. See that often in a delayed cutting, new growth is already growing when the crop is cut- field turns brown for a while, instead of staying green through the whole ordeal.

Nancy Howell · Jun 23, 2010

Scalping your hayfield (at least for coastal bermuda) will slow the regrowth. We never cut our coastal or bahaia fields any shorter than 3 inches.

Nancy Howell · Jun 23, 2010

Height on the old sickle mowers could be adjusted at the inner and outer shoe.

We use a JD 350 sickle mower. Its set up so it cuts about 3 inches above the ground.

Stuart · Jun 23, 2010

If your talking about pure alfalfa then you wont hurt it ever with a sicle machine. I cut with a discbine and I can shave the field and it wont hurt it. As long as you are not hurting the crown you are fine. Leaving 3 inches of hay in the field is 3 inches you never get back since new growth starts directly from the crown.

Hay cut height

ryanwheelock

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old

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thurlow

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onefarmer

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James Howell

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olgentdc

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rrlund

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ChrisLSD

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gitrib

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Gene Dotson

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JMS/.MN

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Nancy Howell

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Nancy Howell

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Stuart

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