Hay Pointers

[artesianspringsfarm]

Alright folks,

I've enjoyed most of the free advice on here for quite a while (and the rest I've just written off as not bad considering the cost). I'm working on reclaiming an old dairy operation and converting it to a grass-fed beef operation. I'm sure I'll raise lots of questions here but my general philosophy has been to take everything I've "learned" from the local dairy guys over the year and really reconsider it. This now includes hay. We have some relatively nice fescue/clover mix fields that are just about ready to go. I've done hay for years and years at various farms and have realized that its one of these practices that every person has a different "old timers trick" they use to determine things that should have objectively true answers. Things like when to mow, when to rake, when to bale, etc. So now I'd like to hear more thoughts, especially those based in reason and not, "this is how we've always done it." I have a John Deere 1209 haybine and a John Deere 14T square baler and NH 855 round baler.

 

[dcarp]

Welcome to the wild world of beef cattle. I grew up in the dairy cattle world then 50 yrs ago moved to Texas and decided I wanted to get into beef cattle. Best way to go is acquire all the knowledge you can, in print, video, local ag agent and, most importantly from people that are raising cattle successfully.
In order to give any good advise I would think knowing where you are located is most important. General advise probably fits anywhere but to get specific advise that fits your local area location is a must. What works for me in SE TX might not work for someone in North Dakota.
Good luck, the folks on here are some of the very best you can find. :clap: