Growing hay

[nosliw]

Hello,

I own 20 acres in Western Washington that was used for 70 years as horse pasture. The field is comprised of flowers, grass, and big patches of golden wheat/hay.


Since I already have the 'good stuff' growing out there, can I have it baled as-is? It's very high now, and neighbors are getting theirs baled. Is it okay to have flowers/grasses/other plants in the mix? If it all has to be the same specie of grass, what does one do to ensure that? Lots of questions, I know!

Thanks for any and all help, this is my first plot of land out in the 'country' and am slowly learning how things work.

 

[Mike120]

Not sure what you mean about the "good stuff".....certainly not what I would call a hay field. However, if you round bale, it will proabably be fine for cows...they can eat anything.

 

[nosliw]

What I mean by 'good stuff' is golden hay/wheat/whatever it is. It looks like what a person would want to grow. The other stuff is wispy flowers and other thin plants that give the field a deep purple color.

What's the difference between the big round bales and the small rectangular ones?

Thanks for your reply

 

[nosliw]

Here's a definition of hay:

"Hay is a generic term for grass or legumes that have been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal feed, particularly for grazing animals like cattle, horses, goats, and sheep."

And here I thought hay was a specific type of grass. So technically, since what my field is comprised of is very attractive to livestock (neighbor has same field composition with animals), it is all ready to bale-up and keep for feed. Is that correct?

I love to have a guy come do that instead of having to mow the thing and waste it all.

 

[Willl]

The other stuff is wispy flowers and other thin plants that give the field a deep purple color.

Clover ?

 

[LBrown59]

Hello,

I own 20 acres in Western Washington that was used for 70 years as horse pasture. The field is comprised of flowers, grass, and big patches of golden wheat/hay.


Since I already have the 'good stuff' growing out there, 1*can I have it baled as-is? It's very high now, and neighbors are getting theirs baled.
2*Is it okay to have flowers/grasses/other plants in the mix? If it all has to be the same specie of grass, what does one do to ensure that? Lots of questions, I know!

Thanks for any and all help, this is my first plot of land out in the 'country' and am slowly learning how things work.

1*Can he.?
2*Is it?

 

[Therios Pendragon]

Take some pictures and post them. I would bet that your stuff could be identified quite easily.

As you can see I am in Rainier. I only have 5 acres. three of those are horribly neglected and have feed grass of some kind, clover, swamp grass, thistle, blackberries, sage, and the worst of all... Tanzie...

you want NO Tanzie... it is toxic and prolific. It is a bienial and seeds can lie dormant and viable for 15 years. It looks like parsley when small but shoots up 3' tall stems with yellow flowers. The Cinabar (spelling?) moth is its ony natural enemy. The moth is red/black and pretty. The caterpillers that it lays on them eat the seeds. They are cool looking yellow/black. That is the dead giveaway as to what the stuff is.

Livestock won't eat the stuff unless they are out of food. It is a horrible poison and is still toxic when dry. You cannot have ANY of this stuff in your bales.

I am sure that I am not completely accurate or just a little panic stricken... But this is the best information that I know. I have a ton of this "stuff" in my field and have been pulling it as much as possible as mowing is NOT a control.

 

[LBrown59]

LB definition of hay :

Bailed weeds.

 

[nosliw]

I don't have my digital camera here with me (this is a weekend place). I'll get some up next weekend, though.

Thanks for all your input, I'll try and consult with my neighbor and tell you guys what is all out there.

 

[piller]

Like most things there is a lot more to hay than one might imagine at first glance.
Sure, you can probably bale whatever you have growing. Hay quality declines if not harvested at the correct stage of production.

Do you have equipment or will you have someone else do the work? What do you plan to do with the hay? How do you plan to store the hay? How will you move the hay? Will you have a forage analysis performed on your hay to determine the protein levels and quality?

We bought a farm a couple of years ago. We did not have a tractor or hay equipment so we had friends/neighbors make hay the first couple of years on halves (they took half and we kept half). We sold some hay and used some for our animals.

I took some courses through our local extension office and even attended a grazing conference if you can believe that. I've since decided that we will no longer make hay on our property.

If you do a "proper" analysis (or take a look at a hay analysis budget available from your local extension office) you will likely see that making hay is pretty much a losing proposition. You need hay fields. You need a lot of expensive equipment. You need a proper storage structure. Then you need to factor in operating costs, fuel, labor, equipment depreciation, etc. Then you need to think about your inputs, soil testing, fertilizer, lime, weed control, seeding, etc. You will be removing nutrients from your farm, your soil quality may decline if not managed properly.

I'm not suggesting that you don't make hay, just be aware that there is more to it than meets the eye.

 

[nosliw]

Thanks for the advice.

I plan on having someone come in and do it all, in exchange for some of the finished product. I will have calves on the fields at some point, and many storage places already available.

Well, if I can't just let what's out there grow and bale it, then it may not be a viable option.

As mentioned before, the land was used as horse pasture for many decades, so I know that what is growing out there is good for horses at least. I figured if it's good enough for them when it's in the ground it's good enough for them if I bale it and feed them later.

LB's definition of hay made me chuckle. That's the jist of what my neighbor just got done telling me.

I wasn't going to draft a budget and see how much profit I could turn, keeping in mind expenses to get the ground 'just right'. I could, though!

 

[Duffster]

If you do a "proper" analysis (or take a look at a hay analysis budget available from your local extension office) you will likely see that making hay is pretty much a losing proposition. You need hay fields. You need a lot of expensive equipment. You need a proper storage structure. Then you need to factor in operating costs, fuel, labor, equipment depreciation, etc. Then you need to think about your inputs, soil testing, fertilizer, lime, weed control, seeding, etc. You will be removing nutrients from your farm, your soil quality may decline if not managed properly.

Wow!

You have poor outlook on farming.

 

[nosliw]

Turns out I packed the camera afterall!

 

[zzvyb6]

I sell stuff worse than that in small square bales for $3.00. $4.00 delivered and I run out every year. After a few years of cutting it, a little fertilizer might be a wise choice. But, the grass will eventually win and it will make for great looking horse hay.

 

[Therios Pendragon]

Good thing that stuff is over in your land. My horse would be so fat from eating all that he would not be able to fit my saddle. He is actually quite partial to those milkweed things. But then again, he will eat full grown thistle flowers. Sometimes I actually have to pull little thorns out of his lips.

 

[piller]

Wow!
You have poor outlook on farming.

Not at all, I believe that I have an informed and realistic outlook. My operation is sustainable and profitable.

Take a look at this hay budget, I think it is based on 2007 numbers:
http://economics.ag.utk.edu/budgets/2007/CoolSeasonGrassHay.pdf

You need to look at your variable, fixed, and labor expenses, determine your yield/acre, and and figure your break even price per ton. I believe that this budget also does not consider land costs.

 

[LBrown59]

*Why do you say that?

Wow!

*You have poor outlook on farming.

 

[Duffster]

Not at all, I believe that I have an informed and realistic outlook. My operation is sustainable and profitable.

Take a look at this hay budget, I think it is based on 2007 numbers:
http://economics.ag.utk.edu/budgets/2007/CoolSeasonGrassHay.pdf

You need to look at your variable, fixed, and labor expenses, determine your yield/acre, and and figure your break even price per ton. I believe that this budget also does not consider land costs.

IMO That budget is grossly overinflated. Even if you use that budget as the gospel you should have enough yield to do very well.

*Why do you say that?

See quote below LB.

you will likely see that making hay is pretty much a losing proposition.

 

[Duffster]

I plan on having someone come in and do it all, in exchange for some of the finished product. I will have calves on the fields at some point, and many storage places already available.

Sounds like an excellant idea.

Hopefully you find someone you can build a good working relationship with.

 

[nosliw]

Sounds like an excellant idea.

Hopefully you find someone you can build a good working relationship with.

I sure hope so.

Thanks everyone for all your help! I feel a little better about the composition of my field now, and will try and get a hold of the guy who just did my neighbors place in the near future.