ChampagneNBeer
Member
Hi All,
I am located on the west side and in far
upper north of Upper Michigan.
Our growing season is short with long days
and relatively high humidy. We average
around 3ish inches of rain per month during
the growing season and temps usually top
out around 80 with a sprinkle of 90's once
or twice throught the season.
We can have snow on the ground in late may
or as early as mid september - with frist
frosts thereabouts as well.
Most guys up here get 1 cutting a year of
hay and grow a timothy mix - but this is
for just lowish value hay for livestock.
A couple specialty hay guys a little south
of me do it right and get a great product
which is shipped all over the country.
With that backstory, I am looking to learn
more about growing high quality hay.
I am turning an old field back in a
(hopefully) profitable hay field.
I have been debating between a straight
crop, say alfalfa vs a horse pasture mix
with only 20ish percent alfalfa and grasses
etc...
Also debating between sickle cut with
tedder and rotary followed by bailer vs
mower vs conditioner.
Finding windows where hay cat lay to dry
can be a challenge, but also want to avoid
losses that conditioning can bring for the
increased dry down, if not necessary.
Any sage advice out there?
I am located on the west side and in far
upper north of Upper Michigan.
Our growing season is short with long days
and relatively high humidy. We average
around 3ish inches of rain per month during
the growing season and temps usually top
out around 80 with a sprinkle of 90's once
or twice throught the season.
We can have snow on the ground in late may
or as early as mid september - with frist
frosts thereabouts as well.
Most guys up here get 1 cutting a year of
hay and grow a timothy mix - but this is
for just lowish value hay for livestock.
A couple specialty hay guys a little south
of me do it right and get a great product
which is shipped all over the country.
With that backstory, I am looking to learn
more about growing high quality hay.
I am turning an old field back in a
(hopefully) profitable hay field.
I have been debating between a straight
crop, say alfalfa vs a horse pasture mix
with only 20ish percent alfalfa and grasses
etc...
Also debating between sickle cut with
tedder and rotary followed by bailer vs
mower vs conditioner.
Finding windows where hay cat lay to dry
can be a challenge, but also want to avoid
losses that conditioning can bring for the
increased dry down, if not necessary.
Any sage advice out there?