Middle of Making Hay - 3 days of rain forecast!

[Clive Tee]

I have cut and tedded 30 acres (out of 100, rest still standing, phew!). Now the forecast has changed from dry days one after the other, to rain for next 3 days. Then it's forecast to go dry again.

Obviously they may change the forecast but let's say it's correct.

I don't need the hay, got far too much (hopefully), no point paying to make bad stuff. And I don't want silage.

If it's going to rain for 3 days (not continuously but a lot) then what's the best option? I'm thinking leave it spread and let it rot down, but will that add back to the soil (quite keen to do that if it does). There'll be loads of grass seed in there some of which is bound to take, so that's good.

Or can you make decent hay after 3 days wet? I tried last year after just a day and it was useable but that's about all.

Thanks

 

[farmerste]

best left alone and only move it again when weather is going to be dry for a few days

 

[GTB]

Could you bale it for bedding at some point?

 

[Nithsdale]

Either leave it well alone...

Or bale and wrap it, then try and sell it if you don't need/want it.

 

[Zebbedee]

Stop flapping if we ever get hay made around here without 3 days of rain on it, it's a talking point for years to come. Take a long weekend and back to it on Tuesday

 

[Dry Rot]

Stop flapping if we ever get hay made around here without 3 days of rain on it, it's a talking point for years to come. Take a long weekend and back to it on Tuesday

I'm glad someone said it!!! Spot on!

 

[Beef farmer]

I wish I could cut 30 acres of grass and let it rot down because u don't really need it.

 

[ploughman1963]

I had 20 acres almost ready to bale last night but it just wasn't quite there -beautiful stuff too . I known if I left it spread out it will be rubbish by Tuesday so, nothing to lose, I rowed it up with the twin rotor and am leaving it in those swaths until we get a dry day (or two) - I will let you know how it goes

 

[kneedeep]

I'm glad someone said it!!! Spot on!

Quote that's stuck in my mind from 35 yrs ago.....
Neighbour (big pedigree chary man, 1000 head cattle) was asked about the rushes, reeds, scrubby owd grass he was mowing to bale........

"It'll be better than snow!!"

Bout reet.

 

[yellowbelly]

Quote that's stuck in my mind from 35 yrs ago.....
Neighbour (big pedigree chary man, 1000 head cattle) was asked about the rushes, reeds, scrubby owd grass he was mowing to bale........

"It'll be better than snow!!"

Bout reet.

Me Grandad used to say, "They'll eat it afore they eat their front feet"

 

[Two Tone]

I had 20 acres almost ready to bale last night but it just wasn't quite there -beautiful stuff too . I known if I left it spread out it will be rubbish by Tuesday so, nothing to lose, I rowed it up with the twin rotor and am leaving it in those swaths until we get a dry day (or two) - I will let you know how it goes

If you have cut it and not touched it with a Tedder, it will keep fine for several days, no matter how much rain you get

However it is always a problem to know what to do if it is nearly ready to bale and rain is forecast. It depends a lot on how thick the crop is. My preferred choice is to row it up if heavy or prolonged rain is forecast. When it stops raining, you can move the swaths onto dry ground between the swaths to allow the ground below the swath to dry out. Then tedd the swaths onto dry ground to dry it out.

Light rain is not a problem on tedded hay. Just re-ted it and it will usually soon dry out again.

 

[Clive Tee]

It's soaking wet all the time here now apart from one day, and it's tedded. It's quite a heavy crop. It just about dried up Friday, and could have rowed it up Sat, but then it all started again overnight.

When they forecast, they nearly always get it the other way round, forecast the worst and it doesn't turn out so bad, but not this year . Anyhow, got another 60 acres standing for when we get another good forecast which is enough for what I need.

The Met Office forecast today is really good, nice and sunny. But in fact it's complete dark cloud cover and it's p1ssing down!!! The rest of the week looks pretty good though (apparently!), so fingers crossed.

_

 

[Still Farming]

The wrap merchants have done well AGAIN !!!

 

[ploughman1963]

If you have cut it and not touched it with a Tedder, it will keep fine for several days, no matter how much rain you get

However it is always a problem to know what to do if it is nearly ready to bale and rain is forecast. It depends a lot on how thick the crop is. My preferred choice is to row it up if heavy or prolonged rain is forecast. When it stops raining, you can move the swaths onto dry ground between the swaths to allow the ground below the swath to dry out. Then tedd the swaths onto dry ground to dry it out.

Light rain is not a problem on tedded hay. Just re-ted it and it will usually soon dry out again.

Yes it was almost fit to bale when I roed it up. It had HEAVY rain yesterday morning and again this morning and whilst the rows are wet inside, the hay is keeping its colour and hopefully when we get a decent day on tuesday it will be ok - will report back