Drying Hay

scotty-mn · Oct 22, 2013

How long will it take to dry 3rd crop alfalfa hay to bale in square bales with highs in the 40's and lows in mid 20's it has just wilted because of frost. or will it dry at all? It looks like there is 10 says of no rain or snow. Scotty

David G · Oct 22, 2013

It will be tough to dry, might just want to big bale it and take your lumps.

Northvale - PA · Oct 22, 2013

my thoughts are you will be tedding every day and get maybe 5 hours of dry time. Is it worth the time and agrivation?

sd pete · Oct 22, 2013

Round bales can be more forgiving on moisture.

David G · Oct 22, 2013

Your Alfalfa will probably also winter kill if you cut it and do not allow for any re-growth. I would not cut it if not done.

ss55 · Oct 22, 2013

If it won't dry, maybe graze some cattle on it instead?

Larry NEIL · Oct 22, 2013

I've done that a number of times and ten days is plenty of time. Ted it 2-3 times is all, and only in the first 3 days. It will make the softest hay you ever saw. I've got some hay down right now myself with about 30-40% alfalfa.

DaninKansas · Oct 22, 2013

Agreed. I wouldn't cut it this late.

old harv · Oct 22, 2013

If you have access to a bale wrapper you can round bale it or big square bale it and wrap it. It is expensive, but it will be the nicest feed possible. That is the only way to make hay here after the beginning of September.

Anonymous-0 · Oct 22, 2013

Six months minimum.Hay season is past I'm afraid.

Hal/ Eastern WA · Oct 22, 2013

I have never tried dealing with damp hay in the cooler part of the year--in this area the only alfalfa that has been put up recently (and that was in September) was on irrigated land. Without irrigation, it is just too dry to get much alfalfa growth after July around here.

When we had bales that were heavily rained on in the summer, we either salted the layers of bales in the barn, or else stored the hay outside and used it first when we started to feed hay in the fall. The barn never burned down and the cows ate the hay even if it molded a little.

I would be concerned about bloat if I was going to pasture cattle on fair sized alfalfa. It might be the best compromise though.

If the alfalfa is already cut and in windrows, you might try turning the windrows every couple of days. You will probably lose lots of the leaves and blossoms though. If it kind of gets dry enough, I would bale it and stack it outside, to be used first. Good luck!

wolfman · Oct 22, 2013

It might freeze-dry. I cut a field of heavy stuff in Dec one time. Weather got down into the teens or low 20s. I think it freeze dried. Baled up fluffy and looked good.

caseyc · Oct 23, 2013

In my are of eastern SD alfalfa is poisonous for a few days after a hard frost. It also will not grow back and freeze off leaving you no crop next year. If you want a hay field next year don't touch it. If your plowing it under then wait 4-5 days before cutting it to let the toxins settle.

Casey in SD

showcrop · Oct 23, 2013

It is perfectly OK to cut after a hard frost, as it is done putting nutrients into the roots. Another factor in making hay this time of year is humidity. If it is predicted to be low and a fair amount of sun I would say that your chances are good.

Drying Hay

scotty-mn

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David G

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Northvale - PA

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sd pete

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David G

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ss55

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Larry NEIL

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DaninKansas

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old harv

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Anonymous-0

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Hal/ Eastern WA

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wolfman

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caseyc

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showcrop

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