How to tell when to cut hay crop??

ryanwheelock · May 25, 2010

Been a lot of talk about people cuttin their hay crops early this year. How do you tell when is the best time to cut it?? I'm talking a alfalfa, timothy, brome mix. What do I look for. I've always cut at the same time of year, around 4th of july here in northern michigan but I think I should be watching the plants and cut when its at the right growing stage. Seems like northern michigan is always about 2 weeks or so behind southern michigan as far as planting and harvesting of corn crops go.
Thanks
Ryan

JMS/.MN · May 25, 2010

Depends somewhat on how many acres you have, and how long it"ll take you. Dairy farmers might start at early bud, want to get everything cut before anything blooms. Protein drops fast then.

JMS/.MN · May 25, 2010

This area is about a week ahead of normal this year, lots of hay already done. When I had cows and made haylage, had 120-140 acres alfalfa; cut for 3 days, chopped for 3 days- 6 days of good weather and all was done. Second and third cutting got more stretched out.

Nebraska Cowman · May 25, 2010

Alfalfa and Brome here will be ready to cut by Decoration day. Timothy does not mature until later.

James Howell · May 25, 2010

Haven"t heard <a href="http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html">Decoration Day</a> in a long time.

just another old geezer · May 25, 2010

To cut alfalfa at peak feed value. feel of the top of the plant. If you can feel buds, cut

Mike (WA) · May 25, 2010

For maximum feed value (for dairy cows), any grass should be cut before it heads out- but usually impossible to make hay that early, because of the weather, so first cutting should go into silage.

Timothy and other grasses) for horses is an exception- heads should be fully developed before cutting. High protein is not necessary for horses, and in fact causes laminitis (founder). Your better off getting the extra tonnage by letting it grow a bit past its prime. Normal low-use horses will do fine on it, and for hard-working horses, supplement with grain and protein as needed.

showcrop · May 25, 2010

I would say that the season is a good two weeks ahead here. Very dry too. Just finished raking first two fields. will bale small squares this PM. Had a friend put one field into baleage last week.

TGIN · May 25, 2010

If you have 1 or 2 fields you can be picky to cut when the hay is prime but if you have alot of hay to put up and it aint gona rain for 3 days ya best be putting some hay on the ground !! There s no way your gona get it all cut in it s prime . The pollen is flying out of the Orchard Grass already here in S.E. IN. and this is our first week cutting . There will be alot of tough hay around here this yr.

Stan - Florida · May 25, 2010

"Decoration Day"...sounds like you're from Indiana or thereabouts.

Stan

How to tell when to cut hay crop??

ryanwheelock

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JMS/.MN

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JMS/.MN

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Nebraska Cowman

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James Howell

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just another old geezer

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Mike (WA)

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showcrop

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TGIN

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Stan - Florida

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