Re: OT - Chance of Rain vs Thunderstorms

Posted by Billy NY on May 13, 2015 at 10:39:14 from (104.228.35.235):

In Reply to: OT - Chance of Rain vs Thunderstorms posted by Bill VA on May 13, 2015 at 08:36:59:

Weather always dictates what you'll get, that is certain. Some will cut riding the coat tails of rain, before or after like Donovan said. Some years will be great, last year was one, others you are literally inundated, with rare 3 day windows of opportunities or, none at all until it dries out, the incessant rains stop and its early July. At that point its stalky and over ripe, so depending on what kind of livestock you are feeding, it may or may not matter so much. We've had horses during 2 long time spans, currently have a dozen, maybe a few more, I can't keep track We always put up our own in the past, rarely bought any. So we knew what it takes and were never excessively fussy when buying later after we did not bale our own. I won't deny being cautious and on the look out for dusty or moldy hay, but did the best we could on quality, based on whats available and that all depends on the weather. Stalky over ripe hay, as long as its not moldy or dusty, is fine to feed, but some may be spoiled by better hay, not sure how that really works, and I have noticed feeding more of it, with the left overs mashed into the bedding, so for that reason its nice to have better quality hay, IF you can get it LOL !

Sometimes the weather systems bringing rain, just line up with this area from the south, one after the other, like in '13, it was a rain forest around here.

Other times,and I find looking at the weather maps is a big help, you plan around systems coming in, now whether you have a dry spell to work in, or its hazy hot and humid, its the luck of the draw. When its hot and humid, it does not dry so well, and you have the high probability that either weather systems will literally materialize in close proximity to the region, or it remains hot and humid until a front comes through and clears it out. That's the call one has to make. Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't and sometimes its a little of each. You can listen/watch to the weather forecast make a call, as well as look at the maps, and the latter of which has seemed to work well at times, the worst being the systems that form on the way, but close to your location, which can be heavy thunderstorms, isolated or widespread.

With all that, I am a believer in getting the cutting done as close to being on time or even early, because it gives you another chance at high quality hay. The farmer I helped doing hay, his son would cut regardless at times, and I believe for that reason. When he did, there was more ground with a 2nd chance, if the first was a washout, even then it was fine for his main dairy customer.

I've seen opportunities in mid to late May where you could get a lush green hay, had clear dry weather with a breeze, sure you won't the higher yield if it was left to grow until just ripe, but you will get a nice green crop of hay put up. Sometimes the next opportunity would be after its over ripe because the weather did not allow to cut prior to. I'd rather cut,rake and bale then at times, depending on needs, problem is you just don't know but will always remember the lost opportunity. This year you would not get much of a yield because it got hot and dry too soon, not much there yet, so that puts you later in the season, best to wait for better yield. I've seen many who put up hay too late when they had good weather prior too, and it could be for a variety of reasons.

Its frustrating to lose a crop, best thing one can do, is get it off the field, mulch hay or chalk it up as a loss, and hope to do better on the next round. I think its not so common to lose both or 3 cuttings one after the other. One has to plan for their needs and have some extra ground if need be. When you depend on hay production, its one thing, but if you bale to sell, at least you can ride the ups and downs and not be bound having to get so much of a certain quality.

I remember one season, mid 70's where we had a nice cutting down and some weather systems formed, semi-isolated, and it missed us, dark all around, lightning, not a drop, funny how that works sometimes, we got all of that baled without being rained on, but was at the mercy of the weather just the same.

Lot of fun considering equipment breakdowns besides the weather.

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