Wasted Our Time & Money or Salvagable Hay?

[Ukjay]

Hi All,

We continued treating our land to remove weeds etc, as we were looking to try and yield a crop of our own hay this year, but the grass is going to seed earlier than we were told to get it cut due to the precipitation we have been having around here recently - so the question here is, will this be useable for Hay do you think?

Excuse the nutter bouncing around like a flea on crack - she just loves being out

 

[Benn]

Cant see anything wrong with it?were cutting are hay this week.

 

[gone up the hill]

That is 110% fine for hay.

 

[marshfarmer]

Won't do any for three weeks here, grass is behind, looks fine to me

 

[Ukjay]

Thanks for confirming - will ask the local contractor when he is planning to cut theirs to book my slot!

 

[spin cycle]

to good for farm animals that...watch the seeds in doggies ear.....been there got the vets bill

 

[It was already broken.]

Was thinking the same. My pony people would be all over that. They think the seeds mean there is more feed value in the hay

 

[Kidds]

They think the seeds mean there is more feed value in the hay

So did I

 

[Ukjay]

to good for farm animals that...watch the seeds in doggies ear.....been there got the vets bill

I wish the grass seeds are all we have to worry about with these girls, the collies get up to all sort of mischief and it is though they sit there thinking things up to do next

 

[Ukjay]

Just got to find a way to store it all now, may end up with temp shelter as we cannot use it all if the yield is as I have been advised (60 - 100 small bales per acre).

 

[Exfarmer]

Your pictures look more like 20-30 bales to me, there is not a lot of hay there

 

[multi power]

Just got to find a way to store it all now, may end up with temp shelter as we cannot use it all if the yield is as I have been advised (60 - 100 small bales per acre).

Sell what you don't need, would probably pay for the contractor, just be sure to watch the weather forecast , remember make hay when the sun shines

 

[It was already broken.]

Your pictures look more like 20-30 bales to me, there is not a lot of hay there

Oh now that is a bit harsh! More hay there than that. Not forgetting that if the fella says there should be 60 plus then you can be sure he will screw the bale length right down and lift the tension so they won't be too heavy

 

[DrWazzock]

With hay, the time when you've wasted your money is when it rains a day before its dry enough to bale!!

 

[mushnt grummmble]

With hay, the time when you've wasted your money is when it rains a day before its dry enough to bale!!

Shake it out after the rain and get it again

 

[Dry Rot]

Shake it out after the rain and get it again

Exactly! There wouldn't be much hay made in Scotland if it was spoilt with a bit of rain.

 

[DrWazzock]

Exactly! There wouldn't be much hay made in Scotland if it was spoilt with a bit of rain.

Last year it rained on mine for a fortnight but I still got it at the end of week three. Does the sucklers nicely. Keeps them ticking over without getting too fat.

Won't sell for money though.

 

[ffukedfarmer]

Your pictures look more like 20-30 bales to me, there is not a lot of hay there

Nonsense. His mans estimate of 60-100 bales looks spot on to me.

 

[ffukedfarmer]

To the OP: It is still early for hay yet and that grass won't take any harm if left for a few weeks yet so no need to rush.

 

[Dry Rot]

Whar's it to be fed to?

I was always taught that grass for hay should be cut when it comes into flower, i.e. when the heads are producing pollen. Can't see any pollen on that grass.

For young stock and breeding stock, cut a bit earlier as it will have more protein. I'll be cutting late because native ponies need bulk (carbohydrate and fibre) rather than high feeding value. I will also get a heavier crop...and, hopefully, the weather will have settled down by then.