Well hay season is just around the corner and this week I thought I would share some information with you about preparing for harvesting forage.
Take advantage of every hour that the sun shines. While mid-afternoon is the time of day that there is a slight improvement in forage quality because of elevated sugar content, if the weather forecast for drying hay to safe baling moisture is questionable, consider mowing in the morning to have more drying time.
A properly set mower-conditioner will ensure the stems are crimped every three to four inches, which increases rate of moisture loss and shortens drying time. A wide swath and not a narrow windrow will also increase the drying rate.
Tedding the crop should be considered if there is concern about not getting to a safe baling moisture before inclement weather occurs. Tedding should occur when the moisture is greater than 50 percent to reduce yield and quality loss from the aggressive action of tedding when the forage is too dry.
Raking the forage into a windrow should occur when the moisture is around 40 percent. If raked at a lower moisture level, there will be loss of leaves which will result in yield and quality loss. Set the tines on the rake high enough that soil does not contaminate the forage. This will also reduce the number of teeth that will be broke or bent and need to be replaced.
Hay should be baled at around 14 to 16% moisture. This will decrease heat and mold. Excessive heat can cause spontaneous combustion of the hay and total crop loss. Remember to store your hay away from the elements as best as possible. This will prevent damage from water events which will decrease the quality of your hay.
Remember hay harvesting is not cheap, but it is extremely important for your animals to have adequate nutrition when the forage base runs out. Take the time to harvest hay at the correct time and at the correct moisture to enhance the quality of the hay you will be feeding your animals. Also, once you have our hay harvested proper storage is just as essential if not more so to prevent quality loss before feeding occurs.
For more information about hay harvesting or storage please contact The Newton County Extension Office at 870-446-2240. Remember to check out our Facebook UAEX Newton County Extension Agriculture News. As always, The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution.
