Yes, you can bale hay even if there is dew on it. The wet and damp conditions can make the process more difficult, but it can still technically be done. If you decide to bale hay with dew on it, you should delay baling until the hay has had a chance to dry out, if possible.
When the dew is still on the hay, it can slow down the baling process as the baler can “plug up” more easily with wet hay. Additionally, wet hay will cause the finished bales to be heavier and can also lead to mold growth in the finished bales.
Use larger bales to reduce the number of individual bales, keep the baler tires inflated, and monitor the area around the bales for signs of additional wet hay. This will reduce the amount of wet hay that goes into the finished bales and also help to avoid potential bale plugging.
When should you not cut hay?
Cutting hay is a complex process that requires careful consideration of the timing, weather and health of your hay crop. Generally, you should not cut hay while it is actively growing and is not yet matured.
Cutting hay that is not yet mature reduces yield and quality of the overall crop. If a hay crop is cut before it reaches its maturity, there may be an additional need for fertilizer and/or reseeding due to the decrease in nutrition in the crop.
Additionally, sudden or heavy rains after a cut can cause disease in the hay or leach nutrients out of the hay crop. Wait until the hay crop has stopped growing and is mature enough to handle a cutting before harvesting.
Additionally, ensure that weather forecasts suggest not chance of wet weather for the next few days. While waiting for the hay crop to mature, be sure to practice proper mowing. Improperly managed mowing can cause problems with harvest timing by stressing the crop due to over-mowing.
Following these simple rules will help ensure a quality hay crop.
Is it OK to cut hay after a rain?
It is generally not advised to cut hay after a rain. While a light rain is usually harmless, heavy rain can cause significant damage to hay fields. If the hay has not been rained on, then it is safe to cut.
However, if the hay has been drenched with a heavy rain, then it should not be cut. The amount of water that is absorbed by the hay after a heavy rain causes the hay to become more brittle and could lead to mold and mildew forming.
Cutting damp hay could also reduce the nutritional quality of the forage and make it more difficult for livestock to digest. Additionally, cutting damp hay can cause compaction, making it difficult for the hay to dry out, which could create problems down the road.
Therefore, it is generally not advised to cut hay after a rain.
How long does it take for dew to dry on grass?
The amount of time it takes for dew to dry on grass depends on a variety of factors, including the ambient temperature and humidity, the amount of sunlight the area is receiving, and the type of grass.
In warm and humid climates, dew may evaporate quickly and can sometimes dry within an hour. However, in cooler climates with low humidity, dew can take much longer to dry, possibly a few hours or more.
The type of grass also affects how quickly dew evaporates. In general, grasses with shorter blades dry faster than grasses with longer blades, as the shorter blades allows for better air circulation and faster evaporation.
Is October too late to cut hay?
No, October is not too late to cut hay. Depending upon the area and climate, it may be possible to cut hay in October. Generally, hay is cut from late spring (May or June) through early fall (September or October).
Timing of harvest is dependent upon the maturity of the grass and forage crops, their location and the accessibility of that location, as well as the amount of rain received after cutting, which will affect the hay curing process.
If hay fields are not accessible during late spring, waiting until they are accessible in early fall may be a viable option. Additionally, fertilizer and irrigation, as well as cutting height, can also be utilized to improve the yield and quality of hay.
Why do farmers cut hay at night?
Farmers cut hay at night for a variety of reasons. One reason is that the cooler temperatures and lower humidity of night time make it easier to dry out the hay, allowing the farmers to store it for longer periods of time.
The cooler night air also decreases the risk of spontaneous combustion and destruction of the hay. Additionally, night time provides farmers with a longer time period in which to work, allowing them to work during the cooler hours without being affected by the hotter temperatures of the day.
Lastly, night time also provides an advantage in terms of security. With fewer people being around at night, there is less chance of theft of the hay crop. All of these factors make night time an ideal time for farmers to cut their hay crops.
What happens if you wait too long to cut hay?
If you wait too long to cut hay, several things can occur that will ultimately reduce the amount of hay you are able to gather. First, leaving the hay in the field too long can result in the formation of seed heads which reduce the nutritional value of the hay.
Also, if left too long, the hay can start to dry out and become hard, making it more difficult to cut, bale, and store effectively. Additionally, the stems of the grasses in the hay can become more brittle and the hay less palatable.
This can lead to increased waste and decreased hay quality, meaning that less animals and livestock can be fed with the hay. Finally, if allowed to remain in the field for too long, the hay is more likely to be damaged and destroyed by storms or rain, reducing the total amount you are able to gather.
For these reasons, it is important to consistently monitor the seed heads in the hay and cut when necessary in order to best ensure a high yield and quality of hay.
Can you cut hay in November?
The short answer to the question if you can cut hay in November is “it depends. ” For an ideal situation, hay should typically be cut a few weeks before the first frost of the season, which can range anywhere from the end of September to mid-November, depending on your location.
In addition, it may also depend on the weather in your area. For example, a mild fall may allow you to extend the hay cutting window until late November. On the other hand, an early frost may force you to cut hay sooner than you would like.
In order to maximize the quality of your hay, you should aim to cut it when the grass is dry and 25-35% of the material is in bloom. In most regions of the United States, this is usually late spring to mid-summer.
However, depending on your location, it could fall at any time from April to September. In the end, the best time to cut hay is dependent on many factors, and it’s best to check with your local extension office for advice on when to cut hay in your area.
What is the dew point to bale hay?
The dew point to bale hay is dependent on a variety of factors, primarily the type of hay, weather conditions, and location. Generally, the optimal dew point to bale hay is between 20 and 25 percent moisture content.
If the hay is baled at a higher moisture content, it could lead to mold and rot with the added moisture. In some cases, hay is even baled at lower moisture levels for optimal storage.
The weather conditions can also play a role. Drying hay on a hot day will reduce the moisture level more quickly than on a cool or overcast day. Therefore, most hay producers monitor the dew point and/or humidity level when considering when to bale hay.
In regions with high humidity, monitoring the dew point is especially important to avoid hay that is too wet.
Finally, depending on the location and the type of hay being baled, the optimal dew point can change. If a hay is baled with higher moisture content, its storage life is shorter. Conversely, if a hay is baled at a lower moisture content, it will be more resistant to mold throughout its storage life.
Therefore, hay producers must adjust their dew point and bale hay based on their local conditions.
Why do you bale hay in dew?
Baling hay in dew is a common practice in hay-making as it helps to increase the quality of the forage for livestock. Dew is the moisture that settles on plants in the early morning due to condensation of the night’s cold temperatures.
This moisture prevents hay from becoming dry and brittle; it helps the hay to retain its nutritious qualities. Dew helps hay to adhere to the string which binds it into bales, and can help reduce the amount of dust and other particles in the hay.
Additionally, hay that is baled in dew is more likely to contain certain beneficial enzymes and proteins which can help promote digestion and better health for livestock. Dew also prevents drying out of nutrients, as well as helping to reduce the amount of burning in hay that can potentially occur during normal drying in the sun.
How wet is too wet to bale?
Whether hay is too wet to bale depends on several factors such as the type of hay and the current weather conditions. When baling traditional hay, some research has suggested that hay should have 17-20% moisture content for optimal baling.
This can depend largely on the type of hay and the current weather conditions. If the weather is humid, hay should have a lower moisture content to help in prevent mold and bacteria growth. If the hay is too wet, it can be difficult to compress, cause mold to begin forming, and result in small fragile bales.
Additionally, wet hay could lead to an increase in the number of small uncompressed bales that don’t hold up well to transport and storage. As a general rule of thumb, hay should not be baled if the moisture content is above 25%.
If that is the case, the hay needs to be spread out, raked, and cured before baling to reduce the moisture content and improve the quality.
What happens if hay gets wet before baling?
If hay gets wet before baling, its quality and nutritional value is greatly reduced. The moisture causes the microbial activity of the hay to increase, leading to the hay becoming deteriorated and beginning to decay.
This can also cause mold and fungal growth, which is dangerous for livestock who consume the hay. Additionally, the wet material can quickly clump together, making it very hard to bale, and even if it does baler, the bales may be moldy or much heavier than normal.
Wet hay is also much less combustible than dry hay, making it less suitable for burning or other uses as fuel. Finally, wet hay can quickly become a breeding ground for pests, such as rodents and insects, and must be treated before storage or use.
Why does hay need to be dry before baling?
It is important to ensure hay is dry before baling for a few reasons. If hay is too wet when it is baled, it can lead to mold growth, which can cause health risks for livestock. Moldy hay can cause respiratory issues, loss of appetite and can even be toxic for some animals.
Additionally, wet hay can lead to loss of nutritional value, lower palatability and can lead to increased feed waste. Baling wet hay can also be dangerous, since wet hay is more likely to clog or leak from the baler and can cause baler fires.
Lastly, wet hay will take up more space on trucks to transport and also take longer to dry, which reduces the efficiency of the operation. Therefore, it is best to ensure hay is dry prior a baling for the safety and well-being of livestock, and to make transport and storage of hay easier and more efficient.
How dry should hay be before baling?
Hay should be dry before baling to ensure it best preserves its quality over time. Generally speaking, hay must have a moisture content of 18-20% when it’s baled. If hay is baled at a higher moisture content than this, it is more likely to suffer from heat damage, mold, and fermentation; all of which can greatly reduce its nutritional value and result in spoilage.
Testing the moisture content of the hay before baling it is the best way to ensure it is ready to be baled. Using a hay thermometer is the most accurate way to check the moisture content. The readings from the thermometer can easily be used to determine the hay’s moisture content to get the best quality hay possible.
How do you know if hay is dry enough to bale?
The most reliable method is to use a hay moisture meter to test the moisture content of the hay. To use a moisture meter, lay a layer of hay on a flat, level surface and press the meter probe into the center of the hay and then read the moisture content on the gauge.
The moisture content should be no more than 18-20%. If the moisture content is over 18-20%, the hay should not be baled until the moisture content is lowered, as the hay may spoil.
In addition to using a hay moisture meter, there are a few steps that can be taken to determine if hay is dry enough to bale without a meter. First, look for any visible signs of mold or mildew in the hay and discard any hay that is visibly showing signs of decay.
Second, pick up a handful of hay and squeeze it in your hand; if water comes from the hay it is not yet dry enough. Lastly, rub a few pieces of hay between your hands and then smell it; the hay should only have a faint, sweet smell and not a musty odor.
When all of these tests have been passed, the hay is likely dry enough to bale.
