We ran into this problem this year with our triticale. It developed earlier than normal, so we were cutting in April. Had a three day window, needed four. We got half baled and wrapped (barely) and lost the other half when it rained for two weeks. Now which would be better, letting it stand and getting something or the big fat zero we got? That's the problem with listening to the University, if you shoot for the ideal every time in the real world, you're going to come up empty about 75% of time. I say having hay at lesser quality is better than watching it mold in the field, every time. Cows can't eat University research, but they can eat lower quality hay.