Grass length through winter?

[Southernspeed]

Yep, odd question I know but ...
I didn't do my usual 'final cut' this year as Sept going into October it starts getting really hard to get it dried enough to bale. A couple of weeks ago I cut the fields to get them down to something like 6-7 inches at a guess.
Well, it's been growing! What kind of length are your fields over winter? Would having longer grass through winter lead to stem-ier first cutting?

 

[Hay Dude]

Yep, odd question I know but ...
I didn't do my usual 'final cut' this year as Sept going into October it starts getting really hard to get it dried enough to bale. A couple of weeks ago I cut the fields to get them down to something like 6-7 inches at a guess.
Well, it's been growing! What kind of length are your fields over winter? Would having longer grass through winter lead to stem-ier first cutting?

Mine all depend on the owner. Some want a “clipped” look before winter sets in. A few of mine will pay me for a final rotary mowing. Big help for money over the winter.
Others just want it left whatever length it grows after 2nd cutting in September. That could be 18” tall or more. I have been tempted to do a 3rd cutting on those fields, but the yield would be laughably low. Probably would barely cover fuel.

IMO, it doesn’t move the needle much. One thing I like about a final clipping with a rotary is that if gets some clippings down to fertilize the ground in the future.

 

[Southernspeed]

Mine all depend on the owner. Some want a “clipped” look before winter sets in. A few of mine will pay me for a final rotary mowing. Big help for money over the winter.
Others just want it left whatever length it grows after 2nd cutting in September. That could be 18” tall or more. I have been tempted to do a 3rd cutting on those fields, but the yield would be laughably low. Probably would barely cover fuel.

IMO, it doesn’t move the needle much. One thing I like about a final clipping with a rotary is that if gets some clippings down to fertilize the ground in the future.

And do you think it has any reflection on first cut quality the following year? I've no idea how grass grows after a dormant period and whether that would make it less nutritious and with more stem?

 

[jonsstihl]

new shoots grow from the roots in the spring. leaving it long just means more thatch is present in the spring. at least up here where it gets cold.

 

[MH8675309]

Keeping it shorter will help it dry out faster in the spring

 

[Hay Dude]

And do you think it has any reflection on first cut quality the following year?

Not really. I think it more depends on the height you cut during your last cutting.

I've no idea how grass grows after a dormant period and whether that would make it less nutritious and with more stem?

More stem left over winter just means you’ll be adding it to your new grass in your first cutting next year. Might lower your quality a little.
If you clip it now, it’ll likely work its way down to the dirt, dissolve and add some small amount of nutrients.

You may be over-analyzing on this one. Do what works best for you. I find a year end clipping earns me a few extra bucks from my customer, so that’s the main reason I do it, but it also could help with hay quality a little bit next year, too.

 

[Southernspeed]

You may be over-analyzing on this one.

I've no doubt about that! Thanks for your wisdom, as always

 

[Hay Dude]

I've no doubt about that! Thanks for your wisdom, as always

I get it. We are all looking for an “edge” to make higher quality faster and for less money.

 

[jonsstihl]

I guess the real question for Hay Dude would be: Would you do it to improve your hay quality if you weren't being paid to do it. I guess even then it becomes a question of who your hay customers are and how much they are willing to pay.

 

[1 Old Man]

In my area it's very common to cut/clean up your fields
for winter. Not really looking for a high nitrogen/nutrient
boost. Cut heights vary. My last cut will usually be 4-6".
I think it helps during spring green-up.

 

[Rockbadchild]

I guess the real question for Hay Dude would be: Would you do it to improve your hay quality if you weren't being paid to do it. I guess even then it becomes a question of who your hay customers are and how much they are willing to pay.

I still don't think the benefit is there, I would think most people who do hay are not set up with 10ft + wide mower, at leas I am not, I have a brush hog but its only 4 ish foot wide, I don't want to spend 3 to 5 days cutting and burning time and diesel just to make my hay looking better the next year, plus some of these cutting would still end up in my hay next year just less and my horse still eat that dry stuff so it is what it is and I leave it at that.

I have burnt it but even that it doesn't all burn and I still end up with some in my hay and I think it's worse to have some half burnt hay vs just dry old hay mix in.

 

[1 Old Man]

So many things factor in to the decision to cut or not.
What quality of hay you're willing to accept or sell?
The market you're trying to sell to etc...
Dairy cows have different needs than regular "cow hay".
Horse folks? That's a hay category all to itself.
If you're just cutting and baling whatever is growing....
then it really doesn't make any difference. But the folks
I sell to are not looking for bales loaded with weeds and
stalks. And the way a hay field looks prior to cutting
can make a difference in a sale or not.
My last of the season cut/clean up is with a 12' bat-wing.
Just clipping and smoothing out whatever was left or missed
after my last of the season hay cut.
There are no absolutes. Just do whatever you think is
best for your situation.

*edit to add pic: last year I used a Flail to do fall clean-up.

 

[Hay Dude]

I guess the real question for Hay Dude would be: Would you do it to improve your hay quality if you weren't being paid to do it. I guess even then it becomes a question of who your hay customers are and how much they are willing to pay.

80% of my hay is mushroom/mulch hay. Tonnage is what makes more money as long as a basic standard for quality is met. For that hay, it would probably reduce tonnage. So there’s no sense in mowing, unless Customer wants to pay for it.

20% is feed hay. For the fields used to make feed hay, it would probably make for cleaner hay (no brown strands left over from previous year).

 

[Shawn T. W.]

For the three years I did hay after I bought this place, only one year we got a second cutting in late October ... The other two years it was too dry and I had scraggly mostly weeds, I cut it in November ... 1st year was with my 4' brush hog (all I had) the next time I buzzed it with my Z-turn ... I only had 6 acres to cut ... It will definitely clean it up, and all those weeds will disappear into the ground as mulch, and not be cut and baled with your first cutting the following year ...

 

[lman]

We usually get 4 cuttings of alfalfa/Orchard grass. It does take fertilizer to keep a good stand.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Rain more than once every couple of months also helps the grass grow!

Weeds seem to prosper better though in those hot dry conditions ...