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How long is to long with hay on the ground?

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Bill

06-04-2003 09:58:57




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Firstly, thanks for all the replies to my posts! I am learning a bunch from you folks.

My question is - I read a lot of posts regarding hay and curing time. But in the older days when there were no haybines, only sickle bars, rakes and balers, I would think it might take a window of 4 days to get the hay down, dried out and baled. In my neck of the woods, there are a lot of thunderstorms and going 4 days can be difficult. What is the penalty for allowing hay to set (including being turned with a rake) for several more days while it drys.

Just courious - thanks in advance for your replies.

Bill

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Glenn

06-05-2003 08:38:48




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 Re: How long is to long with hay on the ground? in reply to Bill, 06-04-2003 09:58:57  
Bill, everyone's notes are right on but I'll just add my .02 worth. There are so many variables that it does appear to be an art but really boils down to experience and judgement. For example, drying conditions play a huge role in how fast the hay "cures". It's still another reason farmers pay so much attention to weather. If the humidity is down, with clear, hot sun and a little breeze then obviously you're going to get that hay baled a lot faster than on a cool, humid, cloudy day. The posts about twisting or breaking a handful of hay to judge moisture content are useful and somewhere on this website is a FAQ which is very imformative about the entire haying process. As to length of time on the ground, we've gotten it up in two days, but have also had to leave it on the ground for as long as a week (ugh!). Good luck. Glenn

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cs farms

06-04-2003 19:17:11




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 Re: How long is to long with hay on the ground? in reply to Bill, 06-04-2003 09:58:57  
The trick is don't rake it until it is almost ready to bale, I cut at night let it lay the next day and rake and bale it the next day.



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joe

06-04-2003 15:48:31




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 Re: How long is to long with hay on the ground? in reply to Bill, 06-04-2003 09:58:57  
the longer it sits the more it becomes mulch hay especially if it rains. we cut in the afternoon, ted the same day and next am. rake the following afternoon and next morning. bale on the third day. if it is good nice weather we will wait an extra day. t storms are always a worry if its a good chance of them dont cut. we have yet to start hay this year due to rain.



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ChadR

06-04-2003 10:43:20




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 Re: How long is to long with hay on the ground? in reply to Bill, 06-04-2003 09:58:57  
You lose nutritional value. Hay baling is a fine art. most hay winds up less than average because timing is very important. don't mow down more than you can bale in a day's time. feel the stuff...bale as soon as its dry enough to go thru your baler. little square bales are the best in my opinion.



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james in MO

06-04-2003 17:53:18




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 Re: Re: How long is to long with hay on the ground in reply to ChadR, 06-04-2003 10:43:20  
He is right about haying being an art. I think it is all feel too. Last year I cut early in the morning and it was soo hot that day I was able to rake and bale the same day. (best hay Ive had in a long time) But... Ive seen people try that and have rotten hay in a month. (too green) If you wait too long it won't be any good. ...unless you need straw that is.



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