Date for last hay cutting

Bkpigs · Sep 3, 2014

When do you usually do your last cutting of hay? Trying to plan mine out with weather and work schedule and getting nervous with the cool front coming through. I am about 40 miles East of St. Louis.

Dave H (MI) · Sep 3, 2014

I could do it any time now. Just have not been a string of nice days. I really love the end of hay season. Not as many bales, bales are softer and not so hard to load. Weather is generally just plain beautiful. I have always cleaned and put away my equipment after and called it quits for the year.

And then this year I got this crazy idea about planting corn. Really hoping it will be ready in October but I bet November is closer to the mark.

charlie n · Sep 3, 2014

I've cut alfalfa the 3rd week in September up here in the Alton-Godfrey area.Don't look like it's gonna happen this year though.I think it's gonna get chopped and put in the silage pit.Good Luck.

onefarmer · Sep 3, 2014

I always went by Sep15th as the last day, Buuuttt for a year like this I'll take what I can get. This is for St Johns Mi.

RalphWD45 · Sep 3, 2014

I think, what with the weather change, across the nation, we can forget the dates, that we done things on, in the past. As farmers, we have always had to contend with mother natures, whims. However there were some things that we could kind of count on. Planting dates, when the frost was out of the ground, Last cutting of hay, ect. I am afraid that all is changing.

old · Sep 3, 2014

As long as you have not had a hard freeze you should be OK. I have done hay into late Oct. and I too am in Missouri. The lake of the Ozarks area

Brown Swiss · Sep 3, 2014

About six weeks before your average killing
frost.Then I still take another when I know it won't
come back.
last cutting

1130Leo · Sep 4, 2014

Last year I finished in October, this year I have been trying to get done but we have not had any weather, already lost 12 acres of what would have been great 2nd cutting, can not get anything dry, not sure how the horses are getting fed this winter if this keeps up. Michigan has been impossible for 2nd cutting.

David G · Sep 4, 2014

Just early enough so it gets some growth before frost kills it.

Dave H (MI) · Sep 4, 2014

I had a huge first cutting this year. My usual stables have not called me looking for more. I had a small acreage offered to me in July but no one wanted it...still loaded from first cutting. I don't think there are many bales on the field for this last cut. Looks like less than a foot high in most places. I will likely put it all up myself, use it thru the winter and then sell it cheap to clear it out of there in the Spring. Call it insurance. What with the weather this Spring I was down to TWO small bales by the time I took first cutting in June. I would like to say it was good management but...

Donald Lehman · Sep 4, 2014

I know I'm not helping at all here, but I just couldn't resist. My father used to wait until after the 4th of July to start haying and then we just kept going until it snowed and we gave up for the year. (smile)

Poured a good many gallons of molasses over that crap to get the cows to eat much of it in my youth!

randallinMo · Sep 4, 2014

'Good rule of thumb for your location is the 15th of Sept. Let it grow between then and Nov 1. AFter that do whatever you want with it.

With that said, if you need the hay....cut it any time.

MSS3020 · Sep 4, 2014

not by choice but this year I WAS ahead of schedule until three weeks ago.. I have one place left to do..prairie grass..and I cant get three/four days without rain or good chance anyway..I usually have my equipment cleaned up and put away by Oct 1.

wisbaker · Sep 4, 2014

In 1999 in the Green Bay Wisconsin area I knew
folks making hay well into November.

Date for last hay cutting

Bkpigs

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Dave H (MI)

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charlie n

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onefarmer

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RalphWD45

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old

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Brown Swiss

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1130Leo

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David G

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Dave H (MI)

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Donald Lehman

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randallinMo

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MSS3020

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wisbaker

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