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How to return a bad hay crop to the field?

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CharleyFarmall

08-15-2006 04:31:03

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For a variety of reasons, including daily showers, and equipment problems, we didn't start cutting until last weekend. First field is fine but my best field of clover/ grass is too far gone. Clover and weeds have overshadowed the grass and the clover has formed a thick mat with a lot of dead stuff underneath.

My primary market is horses and we square bale. This stuff just isn't horse healthy and since the field was played out before we planted I want to just put this stuff back into the field and suck it up. The field is 16ac. I was thinking about bush hogging it a couple of times and leaving it ( which by itself will take forever but is less wear than baling this junk to compost it).

Also to note, no herbicides/ pesticides used here ( except on the poison ivy since it seems to be the primary crop here and I can't take it).

Thanks!

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Steve KS

08-15-2006 15:27:24

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Re: How to return a bad hay crop to the field? in reply to CharleyFarmall, 08-15-2006 04:31:03

Seems like a waste just to hog it or blow it back on the field. If you don"t want to bale it for cattle feed then maybe put an electric fence up and get some calves and stick them out there for a month. They"d have it eaten down in no time and trample your weeds in the process. You might need to rotate them a little so they don"t completely kill off the grass and clover. Might even make a little money. Heck it would be even easier to advertise you have pasture for rent, then no work on your part.

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Tim...Ok

08-15-2006 13:15:50

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Re: How to return a bad hay crop to the field? in reply to CharleyFarmall, 08-15-2006 04:31:03

I'd have it round baled and sell it..don't know where you are,but from here south,hay is scarce..people are baling backyards,seriously! somebody would love to have it for their cows this winter.. we've had one cutting this year,don't look like there will be a second,usually get three..

Tim

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Scott Griffith

08-15-2006 11:44:56

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Re: How to return a bad hay crop to the field? in reply to CharleyFarmall, 08-15-2006 04:31:03

I use a New Holland 717 chopper to chop hay and straw all of the time. It works great for that use.

Scott

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61-4010

08-15-2006 11:40:14

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Re: How to return a bad hay crop to the field? in reply to CharleyFarmall, 08-15-2006 04:31:03

We"ve had the same issue as yours and we"ve found using a forage chopper to work well. Bush hogs don"t chop up the bad hay fine enough which makes the next cutting a bear. A forage chopper does a great job while eliminating clumping.

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Farmallkid From Ont,

08-15-2006 10:19:21

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Re: How to return a bad hay crop to the field? in reply to CharleyFarmall, 08-15-2006 04:31:03

Find a forage harvester and blow it back over the feild.

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Ron-MO

08-15-2006 07:25:05

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Re: How to return a bad hay crop to the field? in reply to CharleyFarmall, 08-15-2006 04:31:03

Just curious, and I am certainly not the expert on horses, but I bale and sell a lot of square bales - mostly to horse owners, but I could not help but notice the term "horse healthy". I tried to do a little research and the only reason that I can find for not feeding any hay to horses is 'if' the horse is a mare, and then only if she is pregnant and finally if it contains fescue with a fungus present (which I understand is quite common in some areas). I am not knocking horse owners, and sell a lot of hay (and it is primarily fescue hay) to horse owners some of which say they have always fed anything available to horses with no problems, but I know of one individual who paid $10 a bale for alfalfa. I even had a few who called and told me they only feed their goats alfalfa. Not trying to pick a fight over it, and I guess there is no right or wrong on this issue, and simply personal preference, but makes me wonder if some are not being overly cautious.

Respectfully

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Dachshund

08-15-2006 11:38:06

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Re: How to return a bad hay crop to the field? in reply to Ron-MO, 08-15-2006 07:25:05

MAN! He fed ONLY alfalfa to his goats??? Was he ever putting out extra money for no reason! Goats are notorious "trash" eaters! Sure, they'll eat the alfalfa and do ok on it, but it is a waste of cash! Around here (SE Nebraska) the Alfalfa goes to cows and the trashy, weedy, grassy stuff goes for goats. As long as it's not spoiled, then it's perfect for goats.

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Ron-MO

08-15-2006 13:24:23

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Re: How to return a bad hay crop to the field? in reply to Dachshund, 08-15-2006 11:38:06

That's right - meat goats. Seems like a waste of money to me, but each to his own I guess. I was raised around cattle, and we fed what we had and they either ate it or they did without. Amazing what they will eat if they have no choice, or have never seen anything like alfalfa. Dad always fed the best last as he said if he fed the best stuff they would stomp it into the mud looking for the better hay.

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Andy Martin

08-15-2006 11:35:25

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Re: How to return a bad hay crop to the field? in reply to Ron-MO, 08-15-2006 07:25:05

Maybe horses have changed. I have an old neighbor who says they always fed their best hay to the cows because they were making money with them. The worst hay went to horses they worked on the farm.

He says all that is reversed now, with the horses getting the best hay. He always bought the worst hay I had to feed to his cows.

Now horses are so sensitive they get sick on a little dust.

I try to sell the lowest protein, best looking hay I can for horses. They all get too much grain and are fat so they need the filler, not the protein. Very rarely do you find a horse getting enough exercise or the right diet.

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El Toro

08-15-2006 10:22:01

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Re: How to return a bad hay crop to the field? in reply to Ron-MO, 08-15-2006 07:25:05

Nate is right about feeding that dusty hay to horses. Either rake it off and compost it or plow it under. Hal

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nballen

08-15-2006 09:38:16

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Re: How to return a bad hay crop to the field? in reply to Ron-MO, 08-15-2006 07:25:05

Horses are susceptible to a chronic condition called "heaves" which is a respiratory problem (I suppose similar to athsma / emphysema (sp?) where the horse develops a severe cough, made worse by a) exercise and b) dust, especially mold dust.

Feeding dusty (that is, hay that has molded and contains heavy mold dust) leads to the onset of this chronic problem. Once a horse has heaves, the horse becomes (basically) useless, as it will cough heavily with any exertion.

The easiest way to help prevent heaves is to feed "clean" hay, hay that is mold and dust free.

(Anyone with horse / vet experience, feel free to correct / add to what I have said)

Nathaniel

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70D

08-15-2006 14:17:25

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Re: How to return a bad hay crop to the field? in reply to nballen, 08-15-2006 09:38:16

We had a pony that was feed moldy hay and she was dead (put down) within 5 monthes of feeding it to her. She first she got the colic and then she had internal damage that was not fixable. She was put down. never feed any horse moldy hay.

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homard

08-15-2006 06:36:08

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Re: How to return a bad hay crop to the field? in reply to CharleyFarmall, 08-15-2006 04:31:03

Do you have anybody growing mushrooms in your area?

Mushroom growers will usually buy bad meadow grass at a low price, but $omething is better than nothing.

They will not buy alfalfa (I do not know why and they do not say when asked, protein levels???). I do not know what they think of clover.

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magman

08-15-2006 05:31:11

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Re: How to return a bad hay crop to the field? in reply to CharleyFarmall, 08-15-2006 04:31:03

I went through the same thing a few weeks back it sounds like its to thick and will cover and burn the seeding so You must cut it and either rake it up and burn it or bail it or rake it up to the ends. I bush hoged mine twice and its got heavy spots that are covering the alfalfa and killing it. Get it out of there any way is the best you can always advertise it for yard seeding if all else fails it would be excelent for that. JON

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Andy Martin

08-15-2006 05:03:21

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Re: How to return a bad hay crop to the field? in reply to CharleyFarmall, 08-15-2006 04:31:03

I'd suggest finding a neighbor who would round bale it for cattle.

If you can get some dry weather it may make better hay than you think.

It is probably too thick to plow under, but that would be the best bet to return the clover to the soil. Second would be to burn it down with Roundup and broadcast wheat for winter cover. Then plow the wheat and residue in the spring.

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steveormary

08-15-2006 06:34:55

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Re: How to return a bad hay crop to the field? in reply to Andy Martin, 08-15-2006 05:03:21

I am with Andy,plow it under if you can. We used an F-12 and a new TE-20 to plow under clover that was about 4ft. tall. We had weed rods on the plow to lay the clover into the furow.

steveormary

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youngfart

08-15-2006 04:42:00

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Re: How to return a bad hay crop to the field? in reply to CharleyFarmall, 08-15-2006 04:31:03

hey, beef cows will eat that stuff, if your useing the fuel anyway why not get the money back that way. I have no pasture here and my hay is gone, no corn crop. not a good thing, no rain. I cut hay two months ago and nothing came back. later, Cliff

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Dick Davis

08-15-2006 06:24:34

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Re: How to return a bad hay crop to the field? in reply to youngfart, 08-15-2006 04:42:00

A forage chopper to cut it up and blow it back on the feild is beter than brush hogging in my experience. The clumps left by brush hogging are tough on new growth and they tend to spoilthe next cutting of hay. My problem is I can't find a chopper around here. My nickel Dick Davis

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magman

08-15-2006 13:29:57

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Re: How to return a bad hay crop to the field? in reply to Dick Davis, 08-15-2006 06:24:34

just to go a little on that $10.00 alfalfa. As far as I know horses cant eat pure alfalfa it will make them sick somehow that's why horse hay is usually a mix or stuff that's not good enough for the cows. Cows can eat pure alfalfa the highest in this area this year so far is $3.00 a 35 pond square bale. About the SAM for straw some places higher. I had a guy that used to come and buy my rye straw for $2.00 a bale then break it up and bale it with one of the small bailers that they sell at shows for $7.00 a bale for decoration.

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