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WillowTan
512 Posts |
 Posted - 11/05/2009 : 10:14:16 PM
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Ok..I am hay illiterate! I have only half of my hay purchased for the winter. I have 300 bales "on order". We had a horrible Fall. It came early and it was wet. We have also had several frosts.
The farmers are trying to cut and bale 3rd crop...is this going to be any good and worth buying? I can see if the Farmer will let me have it tested, but I have no idea how to go about doing that..and time is of a premium. When he cuts and bales, he drops the wagons off here for me to unload. I am not sure what to do?? Look for more second crop somewhere?
Input please?
Thanks!
Tana
Tana L. Ward
WillowTan Alpacas
Delavan, WI 53115 http://alpacanation.com/willowtanalpacas.asp
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Mary Jane
924 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 06:44:51 AM
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Is cutting hay this late common practice in Wisconsin? October 15th is about as late as we can cut here in Ohio. It's too cool and wet here for the hay to dry properly and quickly enough after that, making it a risk for mold and fire.
Testing the hay would probably take about a week taking into account transit time for your sample to reach a lab...unless you can hand carry it somewhere. Ask you local ag extension office for help with that issue.
Good luck,
Mary Jane
Land of Legends Alpacas
2653 Swans Road
Newark, OH 43055
(740)345-2199
www.alpacanation.com/landoflegends.asp |
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production acres
14 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 07:39:56 AM
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| You can sucessfully bale hay very late, especially if you get a late summer week or two. We have sucessfully baled hay on Thanksgiving day before. Yes this has been one of the worst hay years on record!!!! The issue you have to address is quality. After the first killing frost, most grass goes dormant - yes some don't, but they are the exception. When they go dormant, the energy in the plant goes into the root reserves to supply the plant with the needed energy for regrowth in the spring. Thus the hay you bale after the first killing frost is usually considered cow hay(I abhore that terminology). |
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3rd Crop hay, Wisconsin
