After cutting hay, it is best to turn it around as soon as possible. This will help to prevent the hay from heating up, which in turn will prevent the hay from matting together. Turning hay also helps to reduce the amount of moisture present which will prevent mould from developing and reduce the chances of the hay losing its nutritional value.
Ideally, hay should be turned within 12 to 24 hours after it has been cut to ensure the best quality of the hay is maintained. Factors such as climate, sunlight, rain and wind will also determine how long hay can be stored before it should be turned.
To avoid any issues such as mould or heating, hay should be monitored carefully and turned as soon as possible in order to optimise the quality.
How long can you leave cut hay before baling?
The length of time you can leave cut hay before baling depends on a number of variables, including the type of hay, the current weather conditions, and the amount of moisture in the hay. Generally speaking, you should avoid leaving cut hay for an extended period of time if possible.
The time frame can range from a few days to a few weeks depending on the temperature and moisture levels, but it is important to check the hay regularly for signs of spoilage. Hot, humid weather can cause hay to spoil faster, so it is important to monitor the hay and look out for any discoloration or smell.
It is also important to ensure the hay is protected from moisture and the sun, as prolonged exposure to mildew or direct sunlight can cause hay to degrade quickly. If you must leave cut hay for an extended period of time, stack it in a well ventilated area, and use a tarp or plastic sheeting to protect it from the weather.
How long do you wait to bale hay after cutting?
The amount of time you wait after cutting before baling hay depends on a variety of factors, such as the type of baler and the moisture content of the hay. Generally, hay should be baled within 24-48 hours after it has been cut.
Any earlier than that and the hay may still be too wet to be baled, which could cause spoilage, heating, and clumping. If your hay has higher than usual moisture levels, you may need to wait up to 72 hours before baling.
To ensure that the ideal moisture content is reached, hay should be allowed to dry in the windrow for up to a week before baling. If you try to bale too early, however, you run the risk of compressions that could cause mold and fungal growth, which can lead to quality issues with your bales.
What happens if you wait too long to cut hay?
If you wait too long to cut hay, it can lead to a myriad of issues. First and foremost, the hay can become too mature for the best nutritional value. As the hay matures, it begins to lose its nutritional value; accordingly, animals that consume the hay may not receive the necessary nutrients from their feed.
Additionally, waiting too long to cut hay can result in an increase in weed growth. While hay is in the mowing stage, the blades of the cutter will remove weeds. However, as the hay matures, the amount of weeds that can be removed decreases, resulting in weeds taking over the field.
Finally, waiting too long to cut hay can increase the likelihood of bale fires due to phosphines being produced by the mowing process. When hay is mowed, phosphine gas is produced and trapped in the bales; if these bales are not removed or opened, they can become an ignition source and cause a large fire.
Therefore, it is important to cut hay at the proper time to prevent any of these issues.
Can you cut and bale hay the same day?
Yes, it is possible to cut and bale hay on the same day, depending on certain factors. The amount of hay to be baled will affect how much time you have to complete the job. If there is a lot of hay, it may be too much to cut and bale on the same day.
The weather and machine availability are also factors to consider. If it is too hot and dry outside, it is risky to bale hay, as it may catch on fire. If the machines are not readily available or they are faulty in any way, this will reduce the chances of successfully completing the job on the same day.
With the right amount of hay, a cooperative weather and reliable machines, it is possible to cut, bale and store hay on the same day.
Can hay get too dry before baling?
Yes, hay can get too dry before baling. If hay gets overly dry, it can cause a number of issues. One of the most common is that the hay doesn’t bale as well and could be difficult to transport and handle.
In addition, overly dry hay can negatively impact the nutrition of the hay, reducing protein and other important nutrients such as calcium and phosphorus, making it not as suitable as feed or bedding.
Overly dry hay can also break down into dust more quickly when baled, resulting in hay with lower quality and potential nutrient losses. The reason for this is that as hay gets drier, the stomata on the leaves close off, shrinking the leaf surface, which in turn reduces the ability to transfer essential oils and proteins from the plant to the hay.
Finally, drying hay to a critical point can cause it to become too brittle, making it more prone to breaking apart.
How do I know if my hay is dry enough to bale?
Hay must be dry enough before baling to prevent mold and heat-caused fires in the bale. When hay is still too wet, the oxygen in the bale is displaced and replaced with water vapor, which encourages the growth of fungi and bacteria.
Bales that remain too wet and accumulate heat can spontaneously combust.
To determine if hay is dry enough to bale, the moisture percentage should be between 15-20%. To check the moisture content, you can use a hay moisture tester. These small devices allow you to simply insert a probe into a hay sample, which will then provide you with the moisture percentage.
You can also feel hay if you don’t have access to a moisture tester. Hay that has been properly cured should be dry to the touch, break between the fingers easily, and be reasonably free of dust. To ensure hay is dry enough, you should also be able to grab a handful and squeeze it, and have a few drops of water come out.
How late is too late to cut hay?
It depends on the type of hay you are attempting to harvest. When harvesting alfalfa, it is best to harvest as late as possible to get the highest yield. Many alfalfa varieties can be harvested late into the season, though after the fourth cutting, when winter is setting in, farmers will generally stop attempting to cut.
Grass hay, on the other hand, is generally harvested earlier in the season before heading out to seed. Cutting grass hay too late in the season will reduce the yield and quality of the hay. Generally, you want to stop cutting hay two to three weeks before the average date of the first frost in your growing zone.
This should give the plants enough time to dry out for baling without allowing them to get too ripe.
Can you use hay straight away?
No, you typically can’t use hay straight away. Hay that has been harvested from the field has to be dried and stored in a dry area before it can be used. Hay should not be used until it is free of mold, mold spores, and other contaminants.
Depending on the type of hay, it usually takes at least one to three weeks to dry, and any hay stored for too long can lose its nutrients. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you buy hay that is not too old.
When buying hay, the fine stems should be flexible but the leaves should still be relatively crisp. If the hay has a mild, sweet smell or looks green and fresh, it can be used right away.
Why is first cut hay better?
First cut hay is often considered to be the best quality hay because of the high level of nutrition available. It is higher in energy, protein, and minerals with less fiber than later cuts of hay. This makes it better for animals with higher feed requirements, like breeding horses, pigs, and dairy cows.
Because of its increased nutritive value, first cut hay produces a higher quality animal product.
First cut hay is also less susceptible to spoilage due to the natural preservative acids released during the first harvest. Later cuts of hay tend to be higher in moisture, which increases their chances of spoilage and mold.
This is especially important when storing hay for the winter months, as first cut hay is likely to remain of higher quality than later cuts.
Due to its higher nutritive value, first cut hay is typically more expensive than other cuts. However, the added cost often translates to greater returns in terms of animal health and product quality.
In many cases, better care for animals and higher quality animal products more than makes up for the increased cost of first cut hay.
Why do farmers cut hay at night?
Many farmers choose to cut hay at night for a variety of reasons. For one, temperatures at night tend to be cooler, which helps to reduce the amount of moisture in the grass and lowers the chance of mold or mildew setting into the hay after it’s been cut.
Night also provides longer hours of darkness for farmers to work, in an effort to complete the process in a timely manner. Additionally, cutting hay at night can also sometimes help to reduce the amount of dust and pollen that can be stirred up while cutting, which can be beneficial to both the workers and livestock.
Finally, night offers a certain amount of privacy that sometimes isn’t available during daylight hours if the hay is being cut on a field that’s situated near a public fixture or road. All of these factors combine to make cutting hay at night a viable and often advantageous solution for many farmers.
How long after cutting can you bale hay?
It depends on a variety of factors, including climate, soil moisture, fertility, grass species and the timing of the harvest. In general, hay should be baled within 24-48 hours of cutting. If hay is left in windrows too long, it loses nutritional value and may become moldy or otherwise poor quality.
If the environment is humid and warm, or if the hay is in a grassy field with a heavy canopy, your timeline may be shortened to 12-24 hours. Additionally, the size of the baler and weather conditions the day of baling can also affect your timeline.
What happens if you bale hay too early?
Harvesting hay too early can be detrimental to the quality of the final product. Once the grass reaches the boot stage, it is at its maximum nutritional potential and when it is baled any earlier, the nutritional value of the hay is lost.
The grass will have more stem material and lower leaf content, which can be indigestible and difficult to handle. Additionally, baling hay too early decreases the hay’s fiber digestibility, which can reduce its feeding value dramatically.
Since it has more stem material, it will also be more likely to cause choking in animals, so it’s important to wait until the grass is at the correct growth stage before baling it. Baling hay too early also increases the chance of hay spoilage in storage, due to the fact that it has not finished maturing, leading to higher levels of moisture content.
This increased moisture can lead to poor storage conditions, mold and rot, making it unsuitable for consumption.
Is it OK to cut wet hay?
No, it is not recommended to cut wet hay. Hay needs to be dry before it can be cut. If hay is cut when it’s wet, it will not properly dry and could become moldy and lead to health issues for the animals eating it.
Besides, wet hay can be difficult to cut and clog up machinery. In addition, hay that is cut when wet will generally have lower nutritional value than dry hay. For these reasons, it’s best to wait until the hay is dry before cutting it.
How long should hay sit before stacking?
The amount of time hay should sit before stacking can vary depending on the weather and humidity levels. Generally, it’s best to let hay sit for a minimum of 24-48 hours before stacking, as this allows plenty of time for the moisture content of the hay to equalize and the hay to cool down.
It’s also a good idea to wait until the dew has dried off the hay, as stacking while wet could cause the hay to start heating up, leading to mold growth. If the weather is wet or humid, it is a good idea to wait until the hay is dry and temperature moderates before stacking, as it can take much longer for hay to dry in these environmental conditions.
Additionally, it is important to practice safe stacking methods, as poorly stacked hay can be a major fire hazard.
