Lodged hay starting to rot.

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millstreaminn

millstreaminn

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Been a wet one here this spring. I have a field of 4' plus tall brome and orchard grass that hasn't been cut and it lodged last week during a windy thunderstorm. It's been getting either a daily shower or humid weather since then. I went out and picked some up and the leaves are turning black and slimy and the snails are taking over. It's looking like at least another 10 days before I can do anything harvest wise with it.

Wondering if it's best to cut my losses and brush hog it down and wait for a second cutting? There is going to be an huge mat of chopped grass if I do that though. Would it would smother the second cutting grass from coming back up? Just looking to make the most of a bad situation. I have the ability to bale and wrap, but I'm wondering the quality of the feed with all the rotten leaves and snails in it?
 
I would think you would want to clean the chopped grass off the field after it is bush hogged. Just a thought. But yes, it will affect the next round of grass. If it cannot get sunlight, it will be unable to perform photosynthesis. Which is like us not breathing/eating.
 
if its that thick flail chop if you have one ,yea it will cut second cutting 50% but if it drys up without rotting you will sweep some up second cutting it wont be worth anything ..beats snow ball
some here have gotten small amounts done my field are almost as bad as yours
hay fescue/some clover /some orchard grass /weeds 4 ft some laying over . im only home 2 times a week with this much rain makes impossible to get it cut . i have a good neighbor that will when hes done with his if i dont get a chance but he wants his share an i cant blame him ,he has big expenseive equipment he can do my place in 1/4 the time it takes my old equipmet. ive run bushog over thin stuff and been fine didnt hurt second cutting too bad and raked it up in second cutting.
 
Yup. Been fighting the weather. We can't seem to connect 3 good days together. Even though the next 4 days call for 54- rain, 64- partly sunny, 71- partly sunny and 72- thunder storms. I'm going to mow a field that hasn't lodged and wrap it. We've had over 2" or rain on the last 48 hours so the ground will be plenty wet.

That field that is lodged- I would guess it would take at least 5 good drying days to make. Currently, 5 good days is only forecast about 10 days out. Things can change but the weather pattern is for cool and wet.
 
we had one three day window ,i wasnt home hay is looking blond with fresh green coming up through it still talking rain rest this week here !
 
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I'd just make whatever hay you can make out of it when you get the chance.. that way it's at least off the field for the 2nd cut.. Use it as bedding (we all know how they LOVE eating the bedding), or silage it if you can.
 
Believe it or not I baled it on Tuesday. Mowed it on Saturday (discbine) and tedded three times, Sat, Sun and Monday. Raked and baled on Tuesday. Actually looked better than I thought. 37 round bales off a darn steep side hill. I had to carry every bale to the bottom to dump the baler. Took 4 1/2 hours to get those 37, but it is done!
 
On the side hills I just kick them out. They all end up gathered at the bottom at (or just through) the fence.
 
I did kick one out on the lower field when I first got my round baler. It ended up against the neighbors garage. He wasn't home at the time so I quickly removed it and never said a word. There is a bit of a learning curve with a round baler...
 

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