Too late to harrow this hay field?

[Post Driver]

We have been asked to make hay off 50 acres of old pasture. It has a lot of thatch, moss and dead grass in the bottom and the grass is now 6-8 inches high. The field was top dressed last week.

Would it be a good idea to grass harrow the lot to let the air and light in to encourage the sward to thicken out? Or will the thatch that's pulled up just sit on top and cancel out the benefits? Will harrowing knock the grass about too much and lose too much leaf? It won't be the best bit of stuff, but I'm thinking if the volume of grass can be raised it will help to counter the thatch in the bales.

 

[Henarar]

I wouldn't bother if you are making it to hay most off that will dry and break up time the hay is made

 

[Cooper3075]

Depends when cutting? If not for a while I'd be tempted to tine harrow it even if the dead stuff is still sat ontop when mowed it should be better in the bottom. If not far off mowing leave and harrow after its baled if there is still some dead stuff left. But that's just what I would do

 

[blackbob]

+1 just let it grow. That old grass won't take kindly to being run over at this stage, I hope you don't need to roll it, the wheel marks would still be visible at mowing time

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Just don't try and sell the hay as top quality
Put it on the straw adds

 

[Post Driver]

Thanks for your replies. No plans to roll the field, but does need some TLC going forward. It is cut and cleared once a year but apart from that nothing. The new owners have acquired it after its foreign owner was imprisoned for fraud and after lots of legal wrangling it is now theirs.

We are here post and railing paddocks in the flat area through the bottom of the valley.

 

[Henarar]

The hay will be better than straw if made right

 

[Post Driver]

I'll have to walk all over it and make a decision, in places you can see the grass try to heave and push through the dead stuff. It's whether a light harrowing will help lift it and let it grow away.

 

[Dry Rot]

Advertise the hay as "Suitable for native ponies". Surprisingly, there is a demand. They want maintenance only.

 

[M-J-G]

I wouldn't worry about how to advertise or what to do with it until you have it in a bale and until you see how many others get hay this year.

As they say any fool can make hay on a good year.

I notice that a dealer will often tell you that your hay is shit and no better than straw when it's in your yard, but on its way to the customers yard it turns into great stuff. Must be the fresh air it gets during transport.

Let your grass grow on, it will be fine.

 

[multi power]

I wouldn't worry about how to advertise or what to do with it until you have it in a bale and until you see how many others get hay this year.

As they say any fool can make hay on a good year.

I notice that a dealer will often tell you that your hay is shit and no better than straw when it's in your yard, but on its way to the customers yard it turns into great stuff. Must be the fresh air it gets during transport.

Let your grass grow on, it will be fine.

best post in a long time

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I call a spade a spade than you very much, 75 % of uk hay is shite

the main problem is it not winter grazed so it contains to much dead

and the fact that a lot of farms got rid of their stock so they cut parkland hay just to tidy the farm up

find me A man who can supply soft green meadow hay with no brown stuff

no better than straw most of it

 

[M-J-G]

I'd bet that most of hay that is cut in the country will analyse better than the vast majority of straw.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I'd bet that most of hay that is cut in the country will analyse better than the vast majority of straw.

the man from del monti no like

 

[M-J-G]

the man from del monti no like

You boys must be either very good at growing cereals or very bad at the grass job.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

You boys must be either very good at growing cereals or very bad at the grass job.

I went to a well know auction earlier this year and out of 18 lots there was nothing worth bringing home , it's good business if the jobs don't right but most don't seen to care

 

[Henarar]

I'd bet that most of hay that is cut in the country will analyse better than the vast majority of straw.

Yes I know what the cows would rather eat and it isn't bloody straw
I made some very good hay last year and also some not so good of keep ground that don't have anything done to it the rest off the year and they would still rather have it than straw