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Dutchman · Jun 10, 2008

I been off the farm for awhile... and can"t remenber .. [ getting older ]
Anyway my .. QUESTION... How tall will hay grow before it starts to go to stems ??
When they talk for rain everyother day I"m sure theres hay that should of been cut.... Does it get tough or what ??

THANKS just wondering ... Mark

Michael Soldan · Jun 10, 2008

I think hay stems get tough when it is dry, my hay is still growing with all the rain we have had,I don't think it will hurt a thing, just a better crop when it gets dry enough to cut, yes the plant will mature, head out or flower depending on the specie but wet is tender and green!

Anonymous-0 · Jun 10, 2008

Grass hay like timothy should be cut when it is headed out but before the heads go to pollen. It will still make good hay in pollen but the quality goes down as it matures and goes to seed.
Alfalfa should be cut at the 1/3 bloom stage ie. when it starts to go from buds to blossoms. Obviously the weather is in charge and you do the best you can.

Mike (WA) · Jun 11, 2008

Grass that's headed out will collect water in spring misty rains, and will collapse under the weight of the water (called "lodging" or "going down"). It will immediately start to get slimy and yellow underneath (where air can't get to it to dry), and once its down, you just need to cut and bale it as soon as you can, when the weather is right. You really need to use a mower conditioner (or a conventional mower and tedder) to get it stirred up, to dry it. Cutting downed hay with a sickle bar mower can be a real nightmare.

----ot-- HAY---

Dutchman

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Michael Soldan

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Anonymous-0

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Mike (WA)

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