What is the latest you have cut hay?

[MIKE_D]

We were tiring to get a third cutting this year. We cut in July then fertilized, I am beginning to think it will be to late. I hope to get a week of decent temps and dry weather. I really don't think it will happen. What was the latest you all have cut?

 

[Thomas]

Have you had couple hard frost yet..whats your location?

Mid September was our 3rd cut and didn't get all that much...made some ruts and this morning notice the fields w/half inch snow.

 

[MIKE_D]

No frost at all yet. I am located in south central KY. We haven't had a snow that last past noon the next day for 3 years. The ruts are what worry me the most. I just got the big feild (60 acres) half way smoothed out last year. If its not dry enough I might have to wait until spring.

 

[blueriver]

I have a couple fields that I really can use the hay off of ... nothing but rain here and the fields I am sure are wet. Maybe if the sun comes out and no frost I'll get them yet this year.

 

[brin]

We cut hay up until the first hard freeze..depending on the weather..rain etc. but we are having so much rain in my part of Ga. that I can't get to some pastures just to bush hog right now..I would tear up the pastures.

 

[jayste]

We're hoping for one more here. As Blueriver says here in Ok a little too wet.

Jay

 

[dawoodwa]

We cut Bermuda grass and we like to have about 2 or 3 weeks after our last cutting before first frost to keep the grass strong.

 

[Duffster]

We were tiring to get a third cutting this year. We cut in July then fertilized, I am beginning to think it will be to late. I hope to get a week of decent temps and dry weather. I really don't think it will happen. What was the latest you all have cut?

December, but that was for chopping.

Guys around here are making 4th and 5th crop and second crop new seeding right now.

It is common to see hay made well into Nov around here.

 

[D7E]

Some times with combining and cultivations the third cut gets ignored so it's quite common to wait till after a hard frost and then mow alfalfa...The grain work is caught up as much as possible now and after two -7's this week guys are starting to mow now..!

 

[pitt_md]

The last cutting of hay has many variables that go into it. Climate is the biggest as others have mentioned. If your cutting alfalfa and don't give it time to get some growth back before winter sets in then you run the risk of "winter kill" here in Minnesota. 3rd cutting for me is around the first week of September.