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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

how to tell when my hay is ready

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ssg shelton

05-09-2007 18:52:55




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This is my first year of cutting hay. How do I know when to cut it? I live in western North Carolina and have a mix of fescue, orchard grass, and red clover. I put 18/46/0 on it back in early March and now it is up about knee high with seed heads, the red clover has been blooming for about 3 weeks. I was wondering when to cut it? thanks
joel




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TractormanNC

05-10-2007 07:00:12




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 Re: how to tell when my hay is ready in reply to ssg shelton, 05-09-2007 18:52:55  

I am 20 miles west of Charlotte and have been cutting grass hay for about 10 days now. It needs to be cut as soon as you can get several days of good weather. Count on 3 to 4 days to cure if you use a mower/conditioner and a tedder, more if you only use a mower.



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Duane tx

05-10-2007 05:42:00




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 Re: how to tell when my hay is ready in reply to ssg shelton, 05-09-2007 18:52:55  
Find a neighbor in your area who"s been farming a well and let him mentor you for a few years. Your neighbor will know the conditions in your area. Years ago, when my daddy was a new farmer, he would watch the neighbors and did what they did. When they mowed, he mowed.



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MLD

05-10-2007 05:29:21




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 Re: how to tell when my hay is ready in reply to ssg shelton, 05-09-2007 18:52:55  
My red clover is starting to bloom here in Maryland, I'm figuring a couple more weeks & it will be ready. I just hope the weather will break by then, lately we can't get a good run of sunning, dry weather, & thats what I'm going to need. Mother Nature will make you or break you.



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Allan In NE

05-10-2007 04:52:24




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 Re: how to tell when my hay is ready in reply to ssg shelton, 05-09-2007 18:52:55  
Here's how I do it,

When I get the mower all repaired so it won't fly apart during the season, I know I'm right at two weeks late. :>)

Allan



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Clay in PA

05-10-2007 14:54:32




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 Re: how to tell when my hay is ready in reply to Allan In NE, 05-10-2007 04:52:24  
Tell me about it Allen. Boy if you didn't hit the nail on the head.



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Walt Davies

05-09-2007 20:59:47




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 Re: how to tell when my hay is ready in reply to ssg shelton, 05-09-2007 18:52:55  
I try to get mine when the seeds are on full size but tight to the stem. It adds a lot of protean to the mix. Clover out here is cut after the bloom starts to fall. A lot depends on the weather you may have to move up a few days or cut it later to get it in between rain storms. keep and I eye on the national weather its more accurate than local because they are not trying to upstage the competition. You need a good week to get it cut let it dry and bale it. If you haven't got one spend the big bucks and get a moisture meter bale at around 20%. If its wet in the morning then bale in the afternoon if its dry less than 20% then bale early or at night to get the moisture content up.
Walt

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old

05-09-2007 19:15:48




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 Re: how to tell when my hay is ready in reply to ssg shelton, 05-09-2007 18:52:55  
A lot depends on if you want to get more clover in the field etc. If you want more for say next year wait till the clover goes to seed. If you don't you need to cut it just when it starts to blome



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Joe Ross

05-09-2007 19:06:29




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 Re: how to tell when my hay is ready in reply to ssg shelton, 05-09-2007 18:52:55  
Hay is best just before bloom. Father always had us cut hay when you look out across the field and the field is about 10% in bloom, that’s when its time to mow.



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Paul from MI

05-09-2007 18:56:15




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 Re: how to tell when my hay is ready in reply to ssg shelton, 05-09-2007 18:52:55  
Don"t know about North Carolina, but if the grass is headed and the clover has blossomed it should be ready. Here we"re about three weeks or more away from haying. Good luck getting it dried without rain. That was always my biggest problem.
Paul



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