The first cut in spring should be When the grass turns green and reaches 12 – 16 inches tall. This should remove any old growth of winter weeds etc. Each subsequent cut is then separated by 3.5 to 5 weeks. It depends on fertilizer and moisture.

What time of year do farmers mow their grass?

from the month May to late summer and early fallhay baling is the idea of ​​many farmers.

Is first time cutting hay the best?

Timothy Hay It is one of the most popular hay for horses. … Timothy must be harvested before or early in bloom to ensure high nutrient content. Usually the content of weeds is higher in the first cutting, and the quality decreases after the second cutting, so the second cutting is usually the best.

What cuts the hay first?

The first mowing was The first harvest from the field a year before flowering. This cut is good for horses. It contains a lot of fiber, is nutritious, and the stems are flexible and thin, making it easy to eat. …the first hay cut often creates problems when rain delays occur.

How early in the day can you mow hay?

However, their stories will be different, as they may have to stay up late to harvest hay.That’s because in that part of the country it’s best to mow the lawn between dusk and midnight To maximize the sugar content.

when to mow

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What is the best time of day to mow hay?

With all these factors in mind, it is best to mow the hay when it has the best chance of a successful drying, or Morning after the dew has dried up. The old saying goes: « Dry the hay! »

How do you know when the hay is dry enough to be baled?

Fold the stems in half or twist them in a circular motion Seeing if the stem breaks cleanly will give the farmer a chance to bale. « If all the stems break and crack, that’s an indication that the hay has cured, and then you can rely on the moisture test you get from the probe, » Yaremcio said.

How long does it take for hay to be baled?

The grass should be in an early vegetative stage and not growing, with enough growth to make mowing worthwhile. Schedule your mowing around the most reliable weather forecast you can find.basically need about three days Good weather to heal the hay, which can be a challenge in late May or early June.

Is second cut hay high in sugar?

The second cut will be leafy, but no higher sugar content. But the second cut « looks » better. Most of the time, grass founders are caused by overfeeding, underutilizing horses – they just aren’t burning calories! IMO, most horses do better on lower quality feed, but more.

Is the second or third mowing better?

First, the first mowing was the first hay cut from the field that year. It tends to be rougher and has more grass in it. The second cut is usually greener in color and sweeter in smell. At last, third cut Very thick and rich.

Is the first mowing or the second mowing better for rabbits?

second hay cut Good hay for healthy adult rabbits. It usually has more leaves on its stem, which is more attractive to your rabbit. This hay is greener than the first cut and not as dry. The protein and fat content is slightly higher than the first cut, and the fiber level is slightly lower.

Is first or second hay mowing better for goats?

The first cut usually has dry, overwintering weeds and grasses that may have thicker stems and less chance of fertilization. The second cut is usually the goat’s preferred hay. It has fewer weeds, has thinner stems, is fertilized, and grows during the best growing season.

Is first or second hay mowing better for guinea pigs?

While this is good for guinea pigs, they prefer Second or third mowing Because of its softer, tastier leafy texture. … the second cut hay contains more soft leafy ingredients than the first cut, it’s more palatable, and guinea pigs prefer it to the first cut hay.

Can you use dew hay?

If dry conditions are poor, it rains or the hay is heavy, it may be done again. This works for any type, grass or legumes or mix, if a lot of beans use slow revs and do it in dew. Often you only have a few hours to do the right thing.

How late in season can you mow?

The answers to these questions are usually something along the lines of… »harvest in the first week of September », and… »We recommend At least six weeks before a deadly frost.” On average, alfalfa kill frost (24 to 25 degrees F) in northeastern Iowa occurs in the third to fourth week of October.

How often do you mow?

Therefore, the best time to make any cutting is when the grass has reached what is called the « late start stage. »This stage is usually reached after 6 to 8 weeks of growth in spring Or 6 to 8 weeks after the previous cut. The « late priming phase » is when the seed heads of the grass first pop out of their sheaths.

Is old hay low in sugar?

Hay Analysis

The only way to know the nutrient (including sugar/WSC/starch) content of hay is to analyze it – you can’t tell the nutrient content by the colour of the hay, and Old hay is not necessarily less sugary than new hay.

Which hay is best for cows?

Producers should strive to harvest First time cutting hay At the beginning of heading. Hay harvested at this stage should meet the nutritional needs of late gestation cows. The second hay cut should be used for feeding lactating cows. The date of the first cut will largely depend on the type of spring weather.

Can guinea pigs eat hay that was mowed first?

first-Chetimothy Hay High in fiber and rough in texture. The second and third cuts are softer and more palatable. Freshly cut hay has more seed heads, which guinea pigs like, but less nutrients. Look for second or third cut Timothy hay for your guinea pig.

Does raking hay help with drying?

Raking tends to roll the wetter hay from the bottom of the strip onto the outer surface of the stack, which improve drying. After the initial improvement, the increase in strip density reduces the drying rate, so the moisture content of the crop when raking is important. … In silage making, drying is not so important.

Will the hay be too dry to be baled?

While hay with very low moisture may not be at risk for mold and bacteria growth, that’s because most of the hay’s nutritional value has been lost. When the hay is too dry before baling, The grass leaves become hard and brittlemaking them easier to fall off.

Is the hay okay if it rains?

if it rains the hay is not completely dry againThe growth of , mold and mycotoxins can endanger livestock health. Additionally, bales of wet hay can burn due to elevated temperatures caused by microbial growth – putting producers at risk of barn fires.

At what humidity should hay be baled?

When hay is baled, it should not Above 18% to 22% moisture. At higher moisture levels, bales lose significant amounts of dry matter (Figure 1) due to excessive heating and shaping (Figure 2). In severe cases, spontaneous combustion may occur.

Does hay dry faster in stacks?

For hay, if drying conditions are good, the next morning when the forage is 40% to 60% moisture, combine or rake several broad strips into a haystack to avoid excessive leaf loss. Research and experience have proven that, Drying forage over a large area can significantly speed up drying.