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On average the entire process of mowing, raking and baling hay takes 3 days—in good weather. Therefore, pastures should be cut when a window of at least 3 days of sunny, dry, hot weather can be expected. Some farmers cut on the last day of a rainy spell in order to maximize the number of hours of drying time.
How late can you cut grass hay?
The answers to these questions are usually something like… “it is fine to harvest through the first week of September”, and… “we recommend harvesting at least six weeks before the killing frost.” On average, the alfalfa killing frost (24 to 25 degrees F) in northeast Iowa occurs in the third to fourth week of October.
What is the best time of day to cut hay?
Though starches and simple sugars accumulate during the day, a substantial amount of these carbohydrates are used up during the night for growth and maintenance (via the processes of respiration). Therefore, cutting the crop at night will likely maximize the sugar in the crop, at least at the time of cutting.
When should I cut my horse’s hay?
Mid- to late-maturity hays are best for horses with low nutrient requirements, because the horses can eat more to satisfy their appetites without overeating and becoming fat. Horse owners also ask whether first or second-cut hay is better. There is more variation within a cutting than between cuttings.
How long should hay dry before baling?
As a rule of thumb, wait to rake hay until after the dew has dried and the sun nears its peak, or around 11:00 am. If possible, let the raked hay sit for an hour or two before baling to allow more drying time. Haymakers have several types of rakes available.
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.
Is late cut hay good for horses?
Late-cut hays can provide enough energy and nutrients (i.e., carbohydrate, protein, minerals, vitamins, etc.) for most horses to thrive, even if pregnant, lactating, or exercising. They typically contain fewer weeds than early-cut hay.
Why do farmers bale hay at night?
Hay Master Night baling is an option to have enough moisture to save the leave when baling. For you and day time baling, the time of day to rake hay is in the morning when the humidity is above 90%.
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.
How do I know if my hay is dry enough to bale?
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.
Which is better 1st or 2nd cut hay?
First cut hay is grass heavy and doesn’t have a lot of legumes, such as alfalfa or cover. Second cut hay has a finer texture and usually, a greener color and heavier leaves. It is more dense, the leaves are more tender and healthier, especially in protein.
Is first cutting hay OK for horses?
First cutting of hay is the one harvested first in the year from the field before it blooms. This cutting is good for horses. There is a lot of fiber, so it is nutritious, plus it is easy to eat because the stems are flexible and thin. First cut hay often creates problems when rain delays happen.
Is second or third cut hay better?
To begin with, 1st cutting is the first hay cut from that field for the year. It tends to be more coarse and have more grasses in it. 2nd cutting is usually greener in color and has a sweeter smell. And lastly, 3rd cutting is very thick and rich.
How do you make hay dry faster?
Make A Wide Windrow Swath width is an easy adjustment that has a big impact on drying time. Lay the crop as wide as practical. Do not cut hay into a tight windrow. A wider swath will dry faster, because more drying area of the hay is exposed to sun and wind.
When should you rake hay after rain?
If possible, raking alfalfa at moistures between 30% to 40% is often a good compromise between low leaf loss and good drying,” according to OMAFRA. “Leaf loss can be extremely high if raking at 20% moisture. Hay that is almost dry is less likely to shatter when raked in the early morning when the dew is still on.”Apr 25, 2012.
Should you cut hay when its wet?
Tip #1 – Cut hay after the morning dew dries. Wet fields will also add to the moisture content of drying hay. Moisture gets soaked up from the soil into the bottom of the windrow if it is contact with wet soils, so keep drying hay off these soils.
Can I cut hay with dew on it?
Now as for nutrient value, the plants sugar content is highest at dusk but because of moisture we usually don’t want to cut hay at night. The best time is to start as soon as dew is off in the morning. If you need to ted the next day, start when there is dew on the hay to reduce leaf shatter.
Can you mow wet hay?
Subject: RE: Long as the ground has dried out, if there’s water standing or the ground is very saturated (to where the ground has standing water,, nope your not missing anything. That aside,, wet hay will dry quicker cut, than standing.
