Heavy grass crop this year in NE

rbargeron · Jul 8, 2013

I just gave my mowers and tractor a serious workout ! With all the rain, I hadn't cut my 10-acre grass lot until this past weekend. The seed heads were at 5 ft and all the shorter plants were max density. I've always thought 50 pto hp was more than I really needed - but not this weekend ! I used a 6' rotary to do a rough cut and then the 7-1/2' finisher to grind it up. Took a lot of fuel and had to keep an eye on the temperature - the grille area tended to plug up restricting air flow. It didn't help that it was 90+. This land was an orchard for many years and wasn't suitable for forage - so I've never baled it. Anybody else experiencing this year's robust grass crop?

TCJatko · Jul 8, 2013

Here in central NH everything is going crazy, particularly the weeds in the garden. I believe we had twice the normal rainfall for June. From your post: "This land was an orchard for many years and wasn't suitable for forage - so I don't bale it. " Could you elaborate on this statement? What would make the hay unsuitable for animal use?

rbargeron · Jul 8, 2013

I don't know for sure - but back in the day they used all kinds of nasty chemicals - arsenic, lead, DDT, probably other stuff. Later when we came here those materials had been out of use for some time - but even the materials we used had cautions about letting animals graze on treated areas. I've never had the soil or the grass tested - maybe its not an issue except in my imagination.

oosik · Jul 8, 2013

Everybody out in the boonies, as I am, is worried about the heavy grass crop this year. This years crop of grass will greatly increase the wildfire danger this fall. Most of the wildfires in our area are lightning caused. The only chemical you listed that might have been used in a orchard is DDT. However, there are plenty of other chemicals used in orchards that aren't too healthy. And DDT is a real danger in its own right. Many other countries still allow the use of DDT.

BeezFun · Jul 9, 2013

rbargeron said:
I don't know for sure - but back in the day they used all kinds of nasty chemicals - arsenic, lead, DDT, probably other stuff. Later when we came here those materials had been out of use for some time - but even the materials we used had cautions about letting animals graze on treated areas. I've never had the soil or the grass tested - maybe its not an issue except in my imagination.

It doesn't cost much to have the tests done, I went through our county extension office and as I recall it was a hundred bucks and change to do everything they had which included pesticides, herbicides, metals, and all kinds of stuff. They advertise this service once or twice a year, then send all the samples out in bulk to some university for testing. I think that's why they get such a good rate. We also had our water tested and found we had low levels of an herbicide named alachlor. It's easy to take out with charcoal, so I put in a water filter.

To answer your original question, we've also had record rainfall in the Chicago area and our grass is growing so fast I can't keep it mowed. They had a hard time getting a first cutting because of all the rain.

R G T · Jul 9, 2013

Heavy grass crop? You better believe it!

Here in North Central Florida we've had a lot of rain. With the 5-6 acres of grass on my property and the other projects I've started since I took delivery of my new L3800 this old jarhead (65 next month) has been very busy.

GTinNH · Jul 11, 2013

I'm in southern NH and the hay is a LOT lighter than last year. I thought for sure with all the rain it would be a great crop but I'm on my 3rd field and they are all light. Off of a 10 acre field last year I got 600 bales this year 250 (I was 2 weeks earlier cutting) I wonder if I'm the only one experiencing this.

rbargeron · Jul 11, 2013

GTinNH said:
I'm in southern NH and the hay is a LOT lighter than last year. I thought for sure with all the rain it would be a great crop but I'm on my 3rd field and they are all light. Off of a 10 acre field last year I got 600 bales this year 250 (I was 2 weeks earlier cutting) I wonder if I'm the only one experiencing this.

Maybe with it took up more water as it grew, but released it before baling?

rsallen · Jul 11, 2013

In this area because of the lousy weather I think the farmers are worried about just getting a window to get the fields cut, dried and in before it all goes to seed. No matter what the field will yield.

In the end this could turn out badly no matter how heavy the grass looks now.
This rain has to stop sometime.