Make Hay…
when the sun shines again!
With a few days of rain in the last week, hay harvest went on pause after a great start. Most farms have started first cutting, and it’s a good thing since maturity is ahead of normal. Yields look good, but quality will likely be lower than what you experienced last year.
Grass jumped an average of 11 inches and legumes grew 8 inches. Grass fiber content (NDF) increases slowed from almost 1 point per day the previous week to 0.63 point per day, with grasses averaging 65%, mixed stands 64.5%, and alfalfa 42%. With the grasses heading, fiber content increases have nearly maxed out, but fiber digestibility is decreasing rapidly, dropping on average 1 point per day.
Grasses and mixed stands are past dairy quality. Legume fields are dairy quality. Beef producers should harvest for growing yearlings lactating cows. Harvest for dry brood cows and can wait 10-14 days yet.
Dairy producers should be harvesting legume stands now for lactating dairy cattle.
- Harvested fields are re-growing quickly. Remember, second cut yields can be almost equal to first on early cut. Plan and prepare now to start second cut 30-35 days after first cut, even if all your first cut is not complete. NDF in second cut increases almost as fast as in first cut, even though the plants aren’t heading.
- With ample moisture – applying 50 lbs. of nitrogen to grass hayfields after 1st cut will boost yield and quality. If there is no rain in the forecast, use a volatilization inhibitor on urea.
Stay safe and enjoy the hay harvest season.
Our next sample day will be Tuesday June 4 for any remaining fields.
