2015 Hay Season

[cat fever]

I have a question about how best to thicken my field. Option #1 - let the alfalfa go to seed and drop the seeds. Then cut it, let it dry a day or two and let the cows have the field.

Option #2 - cut and bale the hay (not much of it) and seed this fall.

What is the thinking out there for my best option?

 

[foreman Etexas]

I have a question about how best to thicken my field. Option #1 - let the alfalfa go to seed and drop the seeds. Then cut it, let it dry a day or two and let the cows have the field.

Option #2 - cut and bale the hay (not much of it) and seed this fall.

What is the thinking out there for my best option?

If you don't need the hay then I would just let it stand and turn cows into it once it cools off. But if you have enough time for it bale it now then let it come back then turn cows in it. My dealing with feeding alfalfa is it isn't good to let them free range it in the warmer months but alright to give it to them in the cooler ones. I use to buy alfalfa and mix hay back when price was cheaper then feeding cubes for the winter to supplement with my grass hay. That's all I know about it and it's not much

 

[cat fever]

Thanks foreman, I could get by without the extra hay, but always nice to have more than you need, right.
My problem is no water. If I cut it now, I'm not sure it will go to seed before it just dies for the year. When I let the cows on it I always get a bloat block. I am very careful about letting the cows have it while really green. Had one calf just a week away from meeting the butcher, and it bloated. No steaks. :banghead:
I do have time to cut and bale but I don't have a rake yet. As thin as the rows will be I might get nothing. This year has been rough, just getting started and not having the time earlier in the year to get it going good.
I have been thinking about getting a grass hay mix going, I guess the cows would get used to it. I got a couple bales from a neighbor to see how they would like it. They sniffed it and looked at me like I was retarded.
I'll have to give it some more thought. It's still green but drying out fast. Been 100+ degrees with about 10-15% humidity and no rain.

 

[farmer2009]

I have a question about how best to thicken my field. Option #1 - let the alfalfa go to seed and drop the seeds. Then cut it, let it dry a day or two and let the cows have the field. Option #2 - cut and bale the hay (not much of it) and seed this fall. What is the thinking out there for my best option?

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.

 

[Paul N]

farmer2009, you hit the nail right on the head! Over the years, I've seen people that should have known better try to re-seed their alfalfa, only to see failure.

 

[cat fever]

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.

Thanks farmer & Paul,
I knew about the toxin produced, but not that it affected it's own germination. Not sure how orchardgrass would do in Utah's climate. But I know a lot of guys overseed with oats. I'll check with a local farming/seed supplier to see what my best option is for filling in the thin spots. I am not opposed to anything but thin spots.

 

[Creamer]

Thanks farmer & Paul,
I knew about the toxin produced, but not that it affected it's own germination. Not sure how orchardgrass would do in Utah's climate. But I know a lot of guys overseed with oats. I'll check with a local farming/seed supplier to see what my best option is for filling in the thin spots. I am not opposed to anything but thin spots.

In the Dakotas we used a lot of brome grass to mix in alfalfa. Timothy worked well too. Some people liked crested wheat grass but I was never a fan of its clumpiness and how tough it was to cut.

 

[cat fever]

In the Dakotas we used a lot of brome grass to mix in alfalfa. Timothy worked well too. Some people liked crested wheat grass but I was never a fan of its clumpiness and how tough it was to cut.

Thanks Creamer,
I will write those down and ask about them also.

My biggest fear about seeding any kind of grasses is that about 10-12 years ago me and my next door neighbor bought some "native grass" seed to fill in. Well it must have been 5% grass and 95% tumbleweed seeds. Took about 2 hard years and a lot of burning to get rid of them. We had piles as big as houses, that makes a big hot fire! I will try and make sure that does not happen again.

 

[bigbull338]

we are almost done with the 1st cutting.so far weve made about 110 5 by 6 bales.we still have about 20acs left to cut.

 

[farmer2009]

Thanks Creamer, I will write those down and ask about them also. My biggest fear about seeding any kind of grasses is that about 10-12 years ago me and my next door neighbor bought some "native grass" seed to fill in. Well it must have been 5% grass and 95% tumbleweed seeds. Took about 2 hard years and a lot of burning to get rid of them. We had piles as big as houses, that makes a big hot fire! I will try and make sure that does not happen again.

If you're afraid of something like that then spend the extra money on certified seed. We're lucky to have a good source for clean seed.

Orchardgrass works good for us. But you're right I don't know how it would handle your dry climate.