bale or leave as is

[BRYANT]

I have a place that has been baled for several years, with very little done for the land, this year it was baled but is now back up to where it can be baled again. My question is what would be best to do with it I don't need the hay I still have lots of grass to winter on but I have someone that would buy the hay if I would let them cut it. I was thinking of just leaving it maybe letting some cows on it later but letting everything go to seed. Mostly native grass with bluestem some dallis grass and a good amount of Bermuda grass

 

[Sd1030]

Well im still very new at this and learning, but i can say ive been making all the hay i can this year. Part of that is because i upgraded balers which has increased my production rate. So ive been using the extra hay to generate some income, granted i know this might not be the best plan but its what ive done. In your case if you dont need the hay or extra income it would prolly be best to leave it alone, thats just my thoughts.

 

[1wlimo]

If you do not have snow to deal with, then leave it, and then graze it off with an electric fence moved daily if you can. There is evidence to say stockpiling and grazing like this the grass even looking dead will still be good nutrient wise.

 

[hillbilly beef man]

Graze it if you can. The cows will harvest it much cheaper than you can.

 

[Rafter S]

The only way I know to give advice is to say what I'd like to think I'd do if I was in the same situation. As I understand it, you have plenty of hay, some standing grass for your cows, and you have someone willing to cut and bale this grass and pay you cash money for it. If they're offering a fair price (and it wouldn't need to be much), I'd let them bale it.

 

[BRYANT]

The place is fenced with water ,be easy to graze, if I needed it
What I was wondering if the grasses went to seed would it make the grass thicker and just be good to leave it. would more than likely turn cattle in on it later ???

 

[Rafter S]

The place is fenced with water ,be easy to graze, if I needed it
What I was wondering if the grasses went to seed would it make the grass thicker and just be good to leave it. would more than likely turn cattle in on it later ???

That depends on the current state of the grass. If there's good coverage (the grass is thick over the entire area), then I don't see any real need to let it go to seed. If the coverage is thin, or has bare spots, then letting it go to seed should be beneficial.

 

[kenny thomas]

Graze it and let the cows add the nutrients stay on your farm instead of selling them away.

 

[bball]

Graze it and let the cows add the nutrients stay on your farm instead of selling them away.

+1 :nod:

 

[skyhightree1]

I have a place that has been baled for several years, with very little done for the land, this year it was baled but is now back up to where it can be baled again. My question is what would be best to do with it I don't need the hay I still have lots of grass to winter on but I have someone that would buy the hay if I would let them cut it. I was thinking of just leaving it maybe letting some cows on it later but letting everything go to seed. Mostly native grass with bluestem some dallis grass and a good amount of Bermuda grass

Put the cows on it.

 

[novatech]

I agree with putting the cows on it. I would add that a soil test would be in order to give a jump start in rebuilding the soil after years of depleting nutrients. You may also want to investigate intensive grazing to build the organics back up.
Hay is the same as any other crop. Farmers have used the benefits of crop rotation for years. I see no reason not to do the same with hay meadows.