2015 Hay Season

[foreman Etexas]

Spring. We usually start around these parts first May,lime goes out if do some Jan/Feb.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

I plan to overseed my field this fall and fertilize. Would it be better to put on the fertilizer in the fall or next spring?

I've always though fertilizer and herbicide were best applied during growth. I could be completely wrong, so I'll wait along with you to hear from someone that actually knows

 

[farmer2009]

I plan to overseed my field this fall and fertilize. Would it be better to put on the fertilizer in the fall or next spring?

It's really dependent upon your environment. P&K can be placed in the fall along with animal manures. As P&K move very slowly throughout the soil. As little as 1/4"/year. They aren't leachable. Manures need time to breakdown and release nutrients. We get so much rain in my area during the winter and stay unfrozen so much that any commercial Nitrogen placed here in fall has leached out of root zone by spring. Manures loose some N but the benefits of the breakdown out ways losses. In dryer or colder climates the N isn't as leachable. So a fall application can be ok.

As far as seeding that can be done either time. Although fall seems to be a better time for cool season grasses and clovers. As long as they are sowed early enough with enough water to establish a root system large enough to with stand frost heave. Also a problem with early spring sowing and late freezes.

Sorry for not being able to give a more defined answer but there really is a lot of variables and I'm not formilar with your climate.

 

[cat fever]

Spring. We usually start around these parts first May,lime goes out if do some Jan/Feb.

Thanks foreman and KiotiKowboy for responding;
My first thoughts were to wait till spring, but then I would be driving on top of 4-6 inch tall oats. That's why I questioned it. I guess the plant will recover good enough especially with the extra nutrition.:licking:

 

[cat fever]

and I'm not formilar with your climate.[/QUOTE]

Well, I've lived here all my life and I'm still not familiar with my climate. Just when I think I know what to do; Mother Nature throws me a curve.

 

[farmer2009]

Well, I've lived here all my life and I'm still not familiar with my climate. Just when I think I know what to do; Mother Nature throws me a curve.

LOL. I can get that. We aren't supposed to have river bottoms under water in July either. But we do. What I was getting at in I live in a 40+ inch rainfall area. We can see 60-70 inches. Your in the western mountains and I think you're dryer but don't know how much. We get a humid heat. You get a dry heat. Right? What's done here won't always work there and vise versa.

Are you dry enough to not worry about leachable nitrogen or not? What about winter kill on young plants? Snow cover? Frost free dates and first frost dates? Soils? CEC's? PH? Yield goals? All things I have no clue on.

 

[foreman Etexas]

I've always though fertilizer and herbicide were best applied during growth. I could be completely wrong, so I'll wait along with you to hear from someone that actually knows

I'm applying in May to rye grass (I usually over seed 2 tons)and the beginning of my warm season grass. This way I get away with two cuttings with one fertilizing. June is typically when the baling starts,that just depends on mother nature,if turns off to hot but you need the ground temps at night of 70,so have to have a balence for both.The herbicide depending on what spraying has a wait time for cutting. Grazon P+D has a 30 days and 2-4d just a 7day. I usually wait until see if anything comes up in hay meadow and spray with 2-4d,it doesn't take as much if you get it early but if you don't wait until you see most coming up then you won't get kill on the later stuff,like would if spray the Grazon.

 

[cat fever]

LOL. I can get that. We aren't supposed to have river bottoms under water in July either. But we do. What I was getting at in I live in a 40+ inch rainfall area. We can see 60-70 inches. Your in the western mountains and I think you're dryer but don't know how much. We get a humid heat. You get a dry heat. Right? What's done here won't always work there and vise versa.

Are you dry enough to not worry about leachable nitrogen or not? What about winter kill on young plants? Snow cover? Frost free dates and first frost dates? Soils? CEC's? PH? Yield goals? All things I have no clue on.

I understand what you are talking about. We could easily freeze as early as October. The moisture is all over the map. But I do think in most years the fertilizer would leach away. I will seed oats in the middle of Sept. and hope they get a few inches tall before it snows/freezes for the winter. Then apply the fertilizer maybe the first of March and hope for the best. Thanks for all your replies.

 

[KiotiKowboy]

I usually wait until see if anything comes up in hay meadow and spray with 2-4d,it doesn't take as much if you get it early but if you don't wait until you see most coming up then you won't get kill on the later stuff,like would if spray the Grazon.

Blackberry Briars respond best to herbicide, I use Remedy on them, after the fruit. This makes for a very late spray and has delayed my hay until the end of July. And, such a late cut can kill your chance for a 2nd cut. Even so, getting rid of the briars has to be made a priority and can take several years.

 

[TomSeller]

. Even so, getting rid of the briars has to be made a priority and can take several years.

Gotta agree with that

 

[Trillium Farm]

My knowledge of alfalfa is somewhat limited but from my conversations with some folks that deal with it. Mainly forage agronomist.

1. Alfalfa has a limited life span. Best production is years 2-4.

2. Once seeded and over a year old. Don't waist money reseeding. It produces a toxin that prohibits germination of own seeds.

3. If stands thin. Seed in orchardgrass. Makes nice mix.

4. When ready to reseed kill out all alfalfa and put into a different crop. Grass or row crops for atleast a year to let toxin deplete from soil. Then reseed.

BINGO !

 

[foreman Etexas]

Been kinda quite around here the grass was looking nice and now with these temps and no rain,it's headed down hill pretty fast. I sold 100 rolls,didn't even think I would do that but they called asking so I don't mind selling. $40roll,three different buyers no advertising. I'm glad to have a good rep around,for good clean hay. Guess I need to think the ones that have burned people in the past for buyers calling me.

 

[mattv1]

Forecasted to be dry on Wednesday and dry for the next 6 days.

Just got my accumulator out of the shop yesterday - had to replace the hydraulic cylinder. Got the SSQA mount plate welded on the grapple.... Just need to fix the bearing on the pick-up wheel on the baler and run some hydraulic lines from the rear remote to the front for the grapple and I should be ready to go.

About 50 acres spread across 3 fields that I'm going to try to get baled up before it rains on Monday night. Sure hope the weather holds. Still have about 30 more acres to do after this patch is done but it's too much and too far away to do all at once.

 

[foreman Etexas]

We haven't had rain in awhile,it is very dry but I see a 60%this Friday,I am crossing my fingers we get it...

Hope you get it all baled up Matt

 

[cat fever]

Around my place the weather tap has been turned off for weeks. This is how it will stay until fall. For those with water rights it's great, they grow, cut and bale whenever it's ready. No fear of getting cut hay rained on. (well little fear)

 

[cat fever]

Picked up a small side job on my days off. Cut and bale about 4 acres. Came out to 106 bales. The job was only about 1/2 mile from my house.

 

[mattv1]

Freak storm last night....rained half inch on 15 acres of grass that was nearly dry. Dangit. Rain tomorrow and the next several days too. Slim to no chance it will dry today in time for me to get it raked and baled.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Picked up a small side job on my days off. Cut and bale about 4 acres. Came out to 106 bales. The job was only about 1/2 mile from my house.

I have a hard time saying no but I do a lot to the neighbors cause the wear and tear on my equipment for what little money make,isn't worth it. But just like other day when they called needing help I can't say NO but I'm getting better at it:laughing:

 

[cat fever]

I have a hard time saying no but I do a lot to the neighbors cause the wear and tear on my equipment for what little money make,isn't worth it. But just like other day when they called needing help I can't say NO but I'm getting better at it:laughing:

I'm the same way. I don't go looking for the work, it finds me. The money I make from these little jobs I am putting towards a V-rake that I am in desperate need of. I will have it for next season now. Looking at a Befco, forget the model number but it's just the three point hookup one.

 

[RPW]

Haven't had any rain for over 33 days. Trying to salvage what I can. Looks like I'll be done for this year unless we get some decent rain.