Haying in a Rain Forrest.

[hillbilly beef man]

My mind is wandering this morning after yet another year of trying to get hay up in a 55-60 inches of rain a year climate. As usual my hay was ready to mow the first of June, but if I get finished with first cutting by the middle of July I will be flying after working around rain. My main question is which is worse quality, month overripe fescue- orchard grass hay, or hay that has been rained on a few times but cut when it should? I threaten every year to just mow June 1st and not even look at the weather, just get it baled as I can. I know for my situation a wrapper and silage baler would be ideal, but not enough $ right now.

 

[M-5]

If you look back at historical data you had a 3 days of no rain over this period of time. It pays to be a good gambler and when you see less than 50% chance go for it. Sometimes it gets wet after its cut. Best advise is to cut smaller areas and tedder it to speed drying. this time of the year you can cut today and bale tomorrow afternoon with no problems

 

[millstreaminn]

I'm in Northern Pa. I cut around 4pm (after my real job) then ted immediately. The following day around 4 pm, I rake and bale. Even though I am making silage bales and the hay only lays about 24 hours, I somehow managed to get 2 fields wet this year. I haven't seen ANY dry hay made in North Central Pennsylvania yet this year...

 

[Dave]

I know that you said that a wrapper and a silage baler aren't in the cards right now but that is what early everyone is going to here in the rain forest. I have literally raked hay in the rain with the baler right behind me. It made haylage that was a little slimey but it didn't rot and the cows sure ate it.

 

[Jogeephus]

A few years ago I had to go to wrapping it because we just couldn't get a break from the weather. Personally, I prefer to get it up dry even if it is past prime. I'll keep that hay separate from the other. My problem with it getting rained on is it clumps up and begins to rot and I just can't get it to dry properly no matter how many times I fluff it. Once even just put a match to it but that was a unique year for sure.

You may already know this but when looking at the weather don't just look at your chance of precipitation but also look at the map and see if you are in a high pressure or a low pressure zone. If you are in a high and you have a 50% chance of rain odds are someone will get rained on but probably not you. If you are in a low, everyone is going to get rained on if it does rain and if you've got hay cut its almost a sure thing.

 

[HDRider]

This is the most phenomenal weather, especially rain, forecast I have ever seen.

http://darkskyapp.com/

 

[hillbilly beef man]

I know that you said that a wrapper and a silage baler aren't in the cards right now but that is what early everyone is going to here in the rain forest. I have literally raked hay in the rain with the baler right behind me. It made haylage that was a little slimey but it didn't rot and the cows sure ate it.

I hope to go that direction in about five years or so. I am just not willing to go in debt for hay equipment right now. If I can ever get a wrapper I would like to graze fall planted oats through the winter and then bale them in the spring, followed with something else planted for the summer. Not quite sure what I could follow it with though. Warm season grass does not do good around here. We are wet and cool enough that we do not get a summer grazing slump with fescue.

 

[hillbilly beef man]

You may already know this but when looking at the weather don't just look at your chance of precipitation but also look at the map and see if you are in a high pressure or a low pressure zone. If you are in a high and you have a 50% chance of rain odds are someone will get rained on but probably not you. If you are in a low, everyone is going to get rained on if it does rain and if you've got hay cut its almost a sure thing.

The only thing worse than hay for drawing rain is pouring concrete.