We're expecting in excess of 200 round bales from our second cut; normally we'd be very happy with half that much. With all the soil moisture I think it's likely that we'll also have a third cut. I'm tempted to call our local hay broker, Big Earl, and see if I can enlist his services to broker some of our excess hay to others less fortunate than us.
Forecast is for rain tomorrow and again on Saturday, followed by several days of sunny and hot weather. Anybody who needs us this weekend will sure know where to look ! :)
Seven feet tall and still growing with only a few heads visible. Unreal.
A second look....
10 comments:
Hmm, that second hay barn might have to move up on the priority list! Looks yummy.
Curious - do you try to harvest before the grass develops seed heads? If so, why?
Yes we do.
To ensure optimal quality and high palatability, this field really ought to have been cut and baled ten days ago. Unfortunately the weather has been less than co-operative.
Tropical (C4) grasses of all types have a higher fibre fraction at the same stage of growth than do cool season grasses. If we waited to harvest until the plants had headed, as would be common in Ontario, the level of lignin would reduce palatability and digestibility significantly.
Clear as mud ?
And regarding the barn, have a look at the post I just wrote at our Paradigm Farms blog !
Um... as a simple Ohioan, what grasses get to seven feet tall and are still horsie edible?
None of it. That'd be why I'm calling a hay broker and not rushing to build another hay barn. The county that hay is in has something like 75,000cows. I'm pretty sure some of them will think that hay is gravy.
As I mentioned to RB, that field ought to have been cut and baled nearly two weeks ago, but weather didn't permit it. Nonetheless, if we want any chance at another cutting it still has to be removed and I'd a lot rather sell it than cut it and waste it.
And I should add that not all the hay is at the same level of maturity, either. That's more species dependent than anything else. Some of our acreage will make excellent horse hay if I can cut it in the next few days.
Ok, if it's not too annoying (I don't know much about making hay, yet alone the finer details but I'm really interested!), why is length in itself so important? What changes? Aside from heading, which you've answered. Is there a specific height that means something is good for horses vs. cows?
Also, it is common in Ontario to harvest after the grass has headed? This is a species dependent thing?
I realize you might not have time to answer, that's fine.
RB;
You're not annoying ! Can I answer your questions as part of my next post ?
7ft tall? Wild...
Some farms here are still working on their first cut (partly due to weather, partly laziness, IMO). The grasses have definitely headed in the fields. I guess there is a difference between grass and alfalfa hay?
Jason, that would be fantastic!
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