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KEH
08-29-2005 05:00:47
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Re: Type of hay in field in reply to Bill in Alabama, 08-29-2005 04:18:35
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Bill, Its Sericea. A Google search has a discussion from the Kansas ag. dept. It is considered a pest in the midwest, but here in the southeast it is considered a good hay crop and can be grazed. It is too late to cut it for hay now, it should be blooming now. You might look into harvesting the seed, since it is in demand for strip mine land, etc. To manage for hay: cut when Cericea is 8-12 inches high. In normal hot weather(first cutting should be in June) it will dry in 2 hours. It is ready to bale when the top 1-2 inches of the stem is dry and the leaves are starting to be crisp. If it gets too dry, the leaves, which have the most food value, will shatter off in baling, leaving only the stems. 2 cuttings a year is normal. I know the bales will seem too heavy, but it will cure out fine. Cows like the hay. Neighbor used to sell to a man with horses, but I don't have any experience with them. It is a legume and adds nitrogen to the soil, but not as much as peas, etc. Fertilize with something like 4-12-12. It grows well on poor soil. Needs normal lime treatment. It does not compete with broome straw. If it is to be grazed, livestock needs tobe put on it while it is still short. Cows will eat only the tops after it gets large. If you prefer, you can disk it this fall and plant small grain. It will have added nutrients to the soil. Sericea may come back next summer, but not as thick. It comes back from the roots as well as from seed. KEH
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