How late is too late to cut and bale?

[powerscol]

Do any other neighbors have cows? If so see if they will pasture then on it? Maybe trade some beef for the grazing. If he does not cut it find someone that can, maybe someone who has cows. Wet hay can be fed to cows

 

[John Fitzgerald]

It's not fenced.

 

[Gator6x4]

If it's not cut before a hard freeze, how practical would it be to bush hog it (6.5 acres) with my 5 foot RC? Most of the johnson grass is 5-6 feet tall. The bermuda grass part is about 15" tall but thick. I don't think it would make hay of any value after a hard freeze, unless cut right after.

You have a mess. I would recommend setting the Rotary Cutter in a high position and mow the field. Wait a week or more and then mow again with the Rotary cutter at a lower setting. You do need to something quick or the field will be degraded. I would also look for someone to mow the field.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

It looks like we will have 4 days of sunny weather. The neighbor cut the hayfield today. Probably be baled and taken up by about Monday or Tuesday. The first fall frost is yet to come.

 

[atsah]

Glad to hear it.

 

[John Fitzgerald]

Now we're having an unexpected hard rainstorm. Wonder how that will affect the cut hay?

 

[atsah]

Now we're having an unexpected hard rainstorm. Wonder how that will affect the cut hay?

That wont be good but the hay was probably in rough shape to begin with laying down etc, we get a way with cutting hay in the rain because it's green at that point but a day later with rain is not good and it normally ends up as mulch/construction hay..

 

[John Fitzgerald]

I hope he doesn't decide to just leave it lay to rot. That's a lot of mulch.

 

[atsah]

If he does I would rake it to the sides at the very least to get it off the field..

 

[John Fitzgerald]

If he does I would rake it to the sides at the very least to get it off the field..

I hope he takes it up as I have no means to move it off the field. Guess he could round bale it and feed it immediately. Probably will make about 35 large round bales. I think he has over 100 cows.