Hay debating on doing it now or wait

old · Aug 22, 2016

So It is looking like I could do 2nd cutting of my hay at any time but debating on if I should do it in the next week or so or wait till the middle of Sept to do it.
Weahter guessers are calling for a chance of rain for the next 7 or so days as per NOAA so I know I will not be cutting it for at least a week

rrlund · Aug 22, 2016

I'm in the same boat. There's a little bit of grassy,older seeding second cutting yet and some super nice third. Problem's gonna be short days before long. Seems like after September first,it's between 11 and noon before the dew dries off enough to even rake. I finished clipping oats straw this morning,but we've had so much rain,I really hated to be out there. We've got another chance of heavy rain later in the day Wednesday. It's gonna be like walking a tight rope trying to get that raked and baled.

Bill VA · Aug 22, 2016

FWIW - I'm taking a second cut on one field the weekend after labor day. I've got another two very small fields and I'm going to let it go until the first hard frost and the cut it - might be late Spetember, could be mid October. If moisture is a issue, I'm locked and loaded with buffered propionic acid hay preservative.

IMHO - if you are conditioning your hay and not trying for a 3rd cut, I'd wait. OTOH - if you cut now, you got it and who knows, maybe a third cut later - though small.

Good luck,
Bill

Traditional Farmer · Aug 22, 2016

No decision for me I hardly make it thru all the hay I have to cut one time,sometimes the snow stops me.

Tom in TN · Aug 22, 2016

old,

Do you have Johnson grass in your hay field? The rains that we've had has delayed my second cut of hay this year. I re-started my second cut today, but the Johnson grass is WAY too tall already. The stems are too thick for the cattle to eat, so I only get about 80% edible hay in each bale. I never thought that I would complain about too much rain in July and August, but this year, that has been the case. It's supposed to be dry for the next few days, so I hope I can get back into making some progress.

Tom in TN

Fred Werring · Aug 22, 2016

Same boat here.

My second cutting fields are on the in-laws place, one reason I mow later is so the weeds don't grow back much before winter sets in, looks nicer.

And I was so late getting the first cutting off due to rain and baler problems, it's still pretty short....if I had known it was going to keep raining the way it did, I'd have put some urea on it. Hindsight is wonderful.

decisions, decisions

Fred

ArleninOr · Aug 22, 2016

Old, not even 70 here today, and I put my son to cutting 35 acres. Will not dry standing. Supposed to get in the mid 90's by Wednesday so cut we are. Last field for the year unless someone else calls because their custom guy forgot them or broke down because he is too tight to upgrade his baler, or keep another for a spare.

JD Seller · Aug 22, 2016

Old if you hay is still growing and is green then I would wait if it is not too coarse. You will gain some tonnage and the weed will not regrow as quick before the first frost.

showcrop · Aug 23, 2016

Don't forget raking as a tool to combat the heavy dew and short days. Around here pretty much everyone trying to dry it will rake it late on the second day, then usually by ten the next day the windrows are dry on top and can be tipped over to finish drying. it comes out a lot greener too.

Hay debating on doing it now or wait

old

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rrlund

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Bill VA

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Traditional Farmer

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Tom in TN

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Fred Werring

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ArleninOr

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JD Seller

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showcrop

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