Quantity vs Quality

[Limomike]

Around here we were looking at getting a good quantity/quality of hay this year, until yesterdays 7 inches of rain. Now it will be several more days (if not weeks) until the fields dry out so we can get our equipment in to cut/bale. Not sure how that is going to affect the quality of the fescue, clover and lespdeza, but I guess it does not matter. Just have to be glad we are going to be getting any at all.

 

[1982vett]

Wow, 7 inches. Saw the radar lighting up the state and hoped it could push its way down here. Sure could have used some of your excess. All we are getting is the wind that is fueling the system.

 

[bigbull338]

with 7in of of rain your gonna get quanity.your fields will make twice their normal hay.unless the grass gets waterlogged an quits growing.in aug of last we baled 60ac an made 150 bales off it.cut 40 bales off it midd may.an got it baled.an prollyhad 40 bales to get floosded out an lost in may.

 

[Steve Wilson]

Mike,

Sorry to read about the deluge, just as you were preparing to go haying. I checked the fescue heads last weekend, here in mid Missouri, and they were just in the dough stage. Which is why we started putting some of it on the ground over the weekend. Just in time to get some rain Monday. Red clover here is nearing 100% bloom, some of the blooms have already turned brown.

I'm not sure where bigbull is coming from. The fescue has already made its growth. Night temps here hit the mid 70's last week. That spells the end of any meaningful, added fescue growth for us. The seedheads will soon start to ripen, the grass will begin to turn brown, which just brings down the protien content and relative food value. As you well know. You guys are probably further along in the season than we are, I suppose.

My heart goes to you. Wishing you the best of luck and that the ground dries out quick enough that you can start laying it down before too long.

 

[BARNSCOOP]

Coming from the heart of the drought last year. I love quantity. You can always have your hay tested to see if is lacking and supplement according but you can't change the weather to produce more hay. Water = hay period. What quality ? Some is better than none.

Thank you Lord for the rain this year!!! I have baled as much hay at my first cutting than I did all year last year.

 

[Green Creek]

We are in the same pickle. Since May 24th we have had 9.8 inches of rain. Just when you think it will clear and dry a little, here it comes again. The fescue is so thick the ground can't dry beneath it. Don't know when we will get any hay but when we do, it's going to be a bunch.