1st cutting hay

Nick m · May 28, 2014

Looks like a good little stretch of weather coming. Thought
I'd mow some down. I was pleasantly surprised how much
was out there. How's everyone else's yields looking?

jennifer408 · May 28, 2014

gosh, that sure is a steep hill ya got there. thanks for the pics.

Brown Swiss · May 28, 2014

Knocked down several acres today, would be guessing ton and half dry matter, good stand, wasn't blooming yet but the buds were there. Tom

jd7700 · May 28, 2014

Nice rig

Formerly PaMike · May 29, 2014

Grass hay in PA is terrible. Late spring, and late application of fertilizer. Second cutting is looking good with all the rain we got...

Bret4207 · May 29, 2014

We're still a couple weeks out at least from 1st cut. It's spotty. Lots of winter kill from the ice and water damage too.

Sure would be nice to have a "good" hay year.

showcrop · May 29, 2014

I noticed yesterday that the most recent rain knocked down a lot of hay around here. I don't think I've ever seen hay get lodged in May before. I expect neighbors will be mowing today for baleage but the ground is way too wet here to dry down for hay in two and a half days.

rrlund · May 29, 2014

I think the big dairy is getting ready to cut if they haven't already. I saw the trucks headed that way yesterday. I've got some that's about ready,but I have to get some more corn in before I mess with it.

Dick L · May 29, 2014

Looks a little short like here. I mowed enough to make about a dozen or so bales last evening in the sprinkles. Looks like we will have four days without rain ahead. I got 25 bales with no rain so far in two hitches. I'm dropping them on the ground and picking them up with the loader bucket. That is about all I can handle at one time without help.

Larry NEIL · May 29, 2014

If it'd stop rainin for a few days, I'd cut mine.
Yeild looks real good with all the rain and I got fertilizer on first part of April.

showcrop · May 29, 2014

(quoted from post at 04:38:17 05/29/14) I think the big dairy is getting ready to cut if they haven't already. I saw the trucks headed that way yesterday. I've got some that's about ready,but I have to get some more corn in before I mess with it.

The experts say park the planter and cut the hay when it is at proper maturity. Of course if the ground is to wet to get onto to mow you kind of have to just wait.

RayP(MI) · May 29, 2014

Pretty early to start haying here. Have one field that looks like I could start soon. Other fields are hardy looking like anything yet - maybe 2 to 3 weeks. Wife said I should take off the weekend to get this first field. So I guess I"ll get out the drum mower and give it a try after the dew is off this afternoon. Several days of dry weather - better grab it.

rrlund · May 29, 2014

The experts say that I shouldn't exist too. The BTOs and I have a good laugh together over that one. lol

Billy NY · May 29, 2014

In my immediate vicinity, it looks respectable, could be taller like in other years, but there is a nice crop of orchard grass and other grasses, just right for a nice crop of green hay, and with a window of good weather to get it as well, had I the equipment, it would have been cut yesterday, a nice first cutting as is, with the heads out maybe a week or so, not so thick you could not dry it down, our horses further north would enjoy this stuff. It's always been my preference to take cuttings like this, not as thick or tall, dries faster, less bleaching, but let it go with these kinds of grasses, it loses quality rapidly. If the weather aligns again in a month or so, there's a nice 2nd cut, and you may get a 3rd, usually of better feed quality, however... weather dictates all of it, but it sure is nice to see that lush green grass in the small field near my house, you can tell the snow added nitrogen, parts of the field, in the previous year, were not as green, needs fertilizer, and probably lime, but I've seen some really nice stands in this little piece.

casenut1 · May 29, 2014

And the experts probably never farmed either.

INCase · May 29, 2014

a bit early here in North central Indiana for 1st cutting but some are cutting early to put in silo or bag or wrap and are plowing the fields for other crops. Have seen some "hay" cut too but not much.

Don-Wi · May 29, 2014

More than once I've watched our neighbors do hay before corn and the hay was thin, and the corn got in even later because of weather issues and just never piled up.

We did it that way once too when the fields were too wet to plant and we lost most of our hay because the forecast changed once we dropped it all. I was reluctant but dad said go ahead. We got burned bad that year.

Donovan from Wisconsin

Dick L · May 29, 2014

I like to spell it (expurts)

Northvale - PA · May 29, 2014

we got in 8 acres last weekend here in SE PA. Yield is off some but the orchard grass is blooming so its gotta get cut.

RayP(MI) · May 29, 2014

Well, I cut about 2 wagon loads.... Now if the weather will just cooperate. Grass and alfalfa really juicy, may not dry down well. Wasn't much dryer this evening than it was at mid-day.

redforlife · May 30, 2014

Mowed some down couple days ago. Hay looks good, but don't think it is going to yield out very good for first cutting. It was close to full blome. It was really dry here early on, and just didn't quit get the moisture it needed to begin with. Its been really humid here so it is not drying down very good. Got a few rain chances, and I am just hoping to get it baled before it rains.

fightfire · May 30, 2014

Took advantage of Mem. weekend weather to get some baled...really a couple weeks early- but hard to pass up the weather. Figured about 20% less than usual yield BUT it is dry and in the loft. Sort of a "bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush" proposition.

1st cutting hay

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