When is hay cut

Maybe you plan to cut between your first and second irrigation of corn or cutting of alfalfa. Some growers wait until mid- to late summer to minimize weather risks or cut off late emerging weeds.

Or like some folks, maybe you cut grass hay just when you get around to it. Instead, how about cutting your grass hay to match grass nutrient content with nutritional needs of your livestock? Now that's a different way to look at it, isn't it? But doesn't it make sense to harvest hay that will meet the needs of your livestock and minimize your supplement costs? After this point, grasses enter a reproductive stage of growth where they rapidly produce stem to shoot seed heads higher for more efficient seed distribution.

This causes protein levels to decrease while fiber levels increase resulting in less nutritious hay. Another factor to consider is the number of cuttings for which a producer should aim each year.

As stated above, 4 or more cuttings can be achieved in certain regions of the US. More cuttings might produce forage of higher nutritive quality but can unfortunately place stress on stand persistence and vigor. Of course, when grasses are ready is only one part of the mowing equation. Photo by Andrew Frankenfield. Production and cutting frequency are greatly affected by soil moisture, soil temperature, soil fertility, and disease incidence. Pennsylvania has many different production zones, but this year unlike the previous couple years nearly all regions had a dry spell in June.

For some, it lasted only a week or two and for others, it continues. The question that often comes up for discussion is "it doesn't look very tall, is it worth cutting? As the grass matures it is subject to more leaf disease such as a brown strip or leaf blotch. As moisture returns the plant will put out new growth but the existing forage will lose its quality. A good forecast also allows the sun to do the work of drying your hay for you. Fortunately, the days of cutting hay by hand are long gone.

Farmers traded in their scythes for tractors, mowers, and balers. Hay and forage equipment takes the time and labor out of creating quality feed for your livestock. A tractor makes it all possible. Hay and forage implements and attachments connect to the tractor to get every hay-related task you need done.

Utility tractors are built for small farms where you need an all-around workhorse to help with the chores and maneuverability to handle tight quarters. The John Deere 5M Series and 6M Series utility tractors have the horsepower and versatility to handle hay and any other chore. Disc mowers provide a clean, consistent cut on the roughest of hay fields.

They simply hook up to the back of your utility tractor to turn it into a mower capable of handling tough, thick crops. Moisture can turn a perfectly-timed cut into low-quality feed. Hay tedders turn the hay over with rotating forks to help your harvest dry out better.

Freshly-cut grass and cereal can dry out and be made into hay the same day. Balers take the scattered hay from your pasture and turn it into square or round bales that you can stack and store. Square bales are smaller and easier to store on small farms. Left outside, they have less surface area exposed to the elements to reduce hay loss due to spoilage. Small or large, square or round, you have to move those bales at some point. Bale spears allow you to pick up your hay bales and transport them to a barn, shed, or another area of your farm for long-term storage.