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Therefore, the best time to do any cutting is when grasses have reached what is called the “late boot stage”. This stage is typically reached after 6 to 8 weeks of growth in the spring or 6 to 8 weeks after a previous cutting. The “late boot stage” is when the seed head of the grasses first pops out of the sheath.
When should I cut my hay fields?
Hayfields should be mowed as soon as the grass reaches the boot-stage. By making the first cutting in a timely manner, we will have time to make a leafy second cutting just prior to the summer months.
How do you know when your hay is ready to bail?
To test its readiness, grab a clump of hay and hold one end of the clump in each hand. Pull vigorously with both hands. If the stalks break on the first pull, the hay is ready to bale. If it takes several pulls, it’s still too green.
How do you know if hay is cured?
Breaking stems in half or twisting them in a circular motion to see if the stems break cleanly will give farmers the go-ahead to bale. “If all the stems break and crack that’s an indication that the hay is cured and then you can rely on the moisture test that you’re getting from the probe,” Yaremcio said.
How long does hay need to dry before baling?
As a rule of thumb, wait to rake hay until after the dew has dried and the sun nears its peak, around 11 a.m. If possible, let the raked hay sit for an hour or two before baling to allow more drying time.
How many times a year can you cut hay?
In most areas of the country, grass hay can be cut twice, sometimes three times, per year. The first cutting generally has the largest yield. Some animals, like sheep, prefer the tender stems of second or third cutting hay.
How do you check hay moisture before baling?
Testing before Baling Therefore, the general rule is to fill a bucket with hay that is tightly compacted. Then simply insert the tester probe and let it do its thing. Once an initial reading has been obtained, mix up the hay and pack it down again.
How do you know when alfalfa is dry enough to bale?
Registered. Alfalfa stems have a thin layer covering them. This layer is called the “epidermis.” If you can scrape off this thin layer with your thumbnail, then the alfalfa is too wet to bale. If it is dry enough, the layer will not come off.
Can hay get too dry to bale?
While hay with exceptionally low moisture might not be at risk of growing mold and bacteria, that’s because much of that hay’s nutritional value is already gone. When hay is too dry before baling, the leaves of the forage become stiff and brittle, making them much more likely to fall off.
Can you Ted hay with dew on it?
If drying conditions are lousy and rain is coming or hay is heavy may ted a second time. This is for any type, grass or legume or mix, if lots of legume use slow rpm and do it with dew on. Often times you only have a few hour window to do it right.
Is it okay to cut hay early in the morning?
With all of these factors in mind, it is best to cut hay when there is the greatest opportunity for successful drying, or early in the morning after the dew has dried off. As the old saying goes, “make hay while the sun shines!”Oct 3, 2017.
Can you cut and bale hay the same day?
In a trial at the University of Wisconsin Arlington Research Station (Figure 2) where alfalfa was put into a wide swath it reached 65 percent moisture in about eight hours and could be harvested for haylage the same day as cutting.
When should you Ted hay?
Initial tedding should be performed after a brief wilting period following a morning cutting while the hay is still moist (two to four hours). In very damp conditions, tedding may need to be done immediately after cutting. A second pass is usually done the next day, and the hay is raked and baled that afternoon.
How soon can you feed hay after baling?
In perfect conditions — where the hay has been baled at less than 12% moisture and is very dry — it is safe to feed straight away, but this isn’t often the case, Tim explains: “The main reason for allowing a period of anywhere between two and eight weeks before feeding freshly made hay is to allow for a process called Jun 10, 2021.
Why do farmers leave hay bales in the field?
If they are scattered around the field the farmer is just waiting for a convenient time to pick them up and move them. If lined up along the edge of the field they are being stored there. Big round bales can handle being left outside, and even if the outside looks weathered the inside will be good for a year or longer.
What is the most efficient way to cut hay?
However, disc mowers can mow hay at a much faster speed, and requires less manpower than a sickle-bar. A disc mower can save you money in that it doesn’t need a lot of manpower, and the blades don’t dull easily when they hit a rock. Sickle-bars dull easily, and need to be replaced to be more effective in mowing hay.
Is it OK to cut hay in the rain?
When plants are cut for hay, they do not immediately die. As long as moisture is above 40 percent, they will continue to respire – exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide – a process that burns energy. Sometimes, rain will not reduce hay quality significantly if the hay has adequate time to dry and cure prior to baling.
