cutting hay today...and the numbers are in...!

[Tamara in TN]

well...

our "season" has started officially....the first hay fields are cutting this afternoon.....and it will run until about the third week of November....


best

[county]

Ours is starting to turn green here!!!! I fertilized yesterday and turned green when I wrote the check.

[monstrpony]

I'm glad you're cutting because my hay loft is getting a little "airy"! Be seein' ya before too long ...

[shawneeAcres]

Are you cutting oat/rye hay now? Surprising as we are in eastern NC and I thought that cutting started here really early but noone cutting yet.

[msj]

Ours is starting to turn green here!!!! I fertilized yesterday and turned green when I wrote the check.

Our fields are finally turning green also and starting to grow. First cutting here generally isn't until Memorial Day weekend though. I fertilized last Friday cause we were supposed to get a fair amount of rain - like at least an inch or more. Well, I think it's only about 1/2 inch total as of yesterday's rain. Not sure as the meteorologists haven't come out with any rainfall totals. In the meantime the horses are up to an hr of grazing on the grass border of my out door ring. At least I don't have to mow that.

[msj]

Tamara, I have a question about haying. Why are some flakes in a bale really large and then the next bale has very narrow flakes? The only reason I could see was that the wind rows (I think that's what they are called) have more hay in some parts and less in other parts.

[Lambie Boat]

slim pickings here in Oregon until mid May-mid June. Then I stock up on the good stuff! Until then....I hope we can use up last year's hay and supplement it with all day grazing....

[Tamara in TN]

Are you cutting oat/rye hay now? Surprising as we are in eastern NC and I thought that cutting started here really early but noone cutting yet.

there are mainly, I think, the alfalfa and orchargrass fields at the W end of the farm...

we don't do any winter cover crops normally...

best

[Tamara in TN]

Tamara, I have a question about haying. Why are some flakes in a bale really large and then the next bale has very narrow flakes? The only reason I could see was that the wind rows (I think that's what they are called) have more hay in some parts and less in other parts.

it is partially plunger speed and ground speed combined as well as the height of the product...long rankish stuff does not come out in tidy bales as well as stuff say under 2ft tall...

of course a wore out baler or a tractor pulling more than she could will also affect this...

so I guess the answer is "it depends" :)

best

[JSwan]

Lucky you - we've got standing water in the fields here. Wind is blowing hard today and it's drying up fast.

Neighbors are spreading manure on their fields (higher ground better drainage).... and I just had to close the windows in the house. :lol:

[tazz001]

Up here in the north we are just starting to see green grass and here you are getting ready to cut for hay. argghhhhh I gotta move.

[Tamara in TN]

well...

our "season" has started officially....the first hay fields are cutting this afternoon.....and it will run until about the third week of November....


best

updated:

Dairy one reports we have a CP of 18.9%,NDF of 42 and an RFV of.......149....<gasp> we could not be more pleased.....to quote my husband..."now that is making some hay!"

[Susan P]

In Chester County, PA I'm seeing some fields cut. This is fairly early. Not sure if it's because of all the rain but I don't see much to cut in my field but it doesn't get fertilized. My pastures have more than my fat boys can eat so I don't fertilize them either. I can't imagine what would grow if I actually took care of them. I probably should fertilize and reseed. Any suggestions on how to seed an established pasture. I can't just give up a pasture for a season by tilling.

[Tamara in TN]

Any suggestions on how to seed an established pasture. I can't just give up a pasture for a season by tilling.

you can no till drill any number of seeds in to the ground....but the competition from the stuff already there will determine it's ability to do well

[2DogsFarm]

:eek: Wow - we are still a good month away from anything resembling a 1st cutting.
Like JSwan fields here are swimming pools for the most part.
We had a dry spell and some seeding may have gotten done, but then the rains returneth and nothing is workable since.

If I don't get to mow my lawn soon I may be growing my own hay this year. At least that's what I'll tell the neighbors....

Your hay #'s are awesome - would you deliver to NW IN?

[MSP]

Farms are baling here.

[Foxtrot's]

We are usually thrilled to have first cut done by May 24th w/e. Boy, I have found a great supplier, able to cut down on grain to just a teeny bit for each am/pm. They are doing great on it and it is not too rich so they can eat lots. But my barn is pretty airy now, too.

[sid]

Glad to hear, here in the mid Atlantic we may FINALLY have a good hay year after the last few.

I sure hope the prices reflect it!

[sidepasser]

Great numbers Tamara, I'll certainly get the news out to people I know. If only you were closer..lol..

Thankfully I have a good hayman that does the same things you do, gets the cuttings tested and sends me the information from each cutting. Unfortunately his numbers last year weren't as good due to drought, am hoping they perk up this year with some rain!

[fooler]

updated:

Dairy one reports we have a CP of 18.9%,NDF of 42 and an RFV of.......149....<gasp> we could not be more pleased.....to quote my husband..."now that is making some hay!"

Please translate :confused:

[Guin]

I can't even comprehend grass tall enough to be hayed right now. My backyard is still a mud pit with a couple of early dandelions.

[MistyBlue]

Dairy one reports we have a CP of 18.9%,NDF of 42 and an RFV of.......149....<gasp> we could not be more pleased.....to quote my husband..."now that is making some hay!"

Sounds good.
And here I was all hapy about mowing my lawn for the first time yesterday. And then I only did that because a handful of tufts here and there were ridiculously high while the rest was growing a strong crop of moss, dandelions and dust. :sigh:
My fault for not getting the pre-emergent down in time and not liming this spring. Darned acidic dirt. But with the current economy couldn't justify the $200 of spring lawn care crap just to have a nice lawn.

[Fantastic]

fooler asked for a translation:

"CP" is Crude Protein - 18.9% is quite high

"RFD" is Relative Food Value - 149 is very high. Means itls very high in nutrients, high energy, high quality feed

"NDF" - I think means Non Digestible Fiber? As in Non-Soluable? I don't know if "42" means lots of fiber, adequate fiber, or ??

(quick! someone please correct me if I'm wrong!)

[AppJumpr08]

Oh SO Jealous! We won't be baling here until June... Sigh.

[Tamara in TN]

=Fantastic;4061445]fooler asked for a translation:

"CP" is Crude Protein - 18.9% is quite high

"RFD" is Relative Food Value - 149 is very high. Means itls very high in nutrients, high energy, high quality feed

RFV relative feed value...a composite number of a few other variables...full bloom alfalfa is assigned 100 and so this hay is 49 points better than full bloom alfalfa for feed quality...in the big world alfalfa is sold by it "point"...the more points the more expected good it would do for your stock and the more you can ask for it....


"NDF" - I think means Non Digestible Fiber? As in Non-Soluable? I don't know if "42" means lots of fiber, adequate fiber, or ??

(quick! someone please correct me if I'm wrong!)[/QUOTE]

correct...the lower this number the normally the more palatable an animal will find it....40 are great...60's not so much :lol:

best