Growing Organic Hay?

[ProjectKing]

Hello, Curious if any of you are growing and selling organic hay. I'm getting ready to reseed my field in the fall and am considering going organic.

Biggest question is where do you get seed and how much more is the seed. I think if it all goes well I could get a premium price for the organic hay.

Thank you

 

[stuckmotor]

I guess when I used to bale grass from an unfertilized field or one fertilized only with chicken manure the hay might have been called organic. It's been many years since I researched organic gardening and don't remember ever seeing any mention of organic seed. Please explain.

 

[rustydollar]

Hello, Curious if any of you are growing and selling organic hay. I'm getting ready to reseed my field in the fall and am considering going organic.

Biggest question is where do you get seed and how much more is the seed. I think if it all goes well I could get a premium price for the organic hay.

Thank you

Organic certification - Wikipedia

 

[ProjectKing]

I guess when I used to bale grass from an unfertilized field or one fertilized only with chicken manure the hay might have been called organic. It's been many years since I researched organic gardening and don't remember ever seeing any mention of organic seed. Please explain.

Seed has to be certified non gmo. Also no chemical fertilizer can be used. Manure would be the go to fertilizer.

 

[stuckmotor]

Non GMO seeds. Thats probably something that's come up since I read about this in the 70's and 80's. Most of what I learned back then came from Rodale publications and Mother Earth News. People seemed to think I was a nut when I talked organics in those days, now organics are popular. Thanks for explaining and Good luck!

 

[RickB]

Seed has to be certified non gmo. Also no chemical fertilizer can be used. Manure would be the go to fertilizer.

Manure from animals fed GMO crops? Or is all manure magically certified organic?

Kinda like mulching organic strawberries with straw bought from a neighbor that sprays his oats with Butyrac.

 

[ProjectKing]

Manure from animals fed GMO crops? Or is all manure magically certified organic?

Kinda like mulching organic strawberries with straw bought from a neighbor that sprays his oats with Butyrac.

I thought about that as well! Haha

 

[Oldoak]

ProjectKing, Your best source of information for growing organic hay would be your local extension office of your state's Department of Agriculture rather than relying on the replies you will get here. There you will also find official information about what can and cannot be used on the fields to be classified as "organically produced" hay. There are such elements as agricultural lime and commercially produced "organic" fertilizers than can be applied, etc.

Before getting into growing organic hay "for profit" check to see if there is a market for it in your area. I know it does bring a premium price. We have organic dairy farmers in my area and they receive a premium price for their milk. Of course they also pay a higher price for organically grown hay.

 

[Paul N]

I don't know if this applies everywhere, but here in Minnesota, you must be pesticide and commercial fertilizer free for 3 years to become certified organic.
The only GMO alfalfa I know of would be Roundup Ready. I never even heard of GMO grass.

Paul N

 

[joeu235]

What quality of hay are you wanting to make? Horse quality, at least what people expect around here, is impossible without herbicide and fertilizer.

Protein content in hay is directly related to the amount of N available in the ground, and for our conditions, we put out 300# an acre of 20-10-10 per cutting to get in the 14% range. That would be a lot of chicken litter.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Personally if I were buying hay, I would certainly not want hay from a non fertilized grass since the nutrition would be much lower per bale. As joeu235 says, it is almost impossible to get weed free hay without some sort of herbicide being used to control the weeds.

I think only the folks who think organic is best would be in the market for "organic hay" and around here there isn't any demand for that.

 

[joeu235]

I can definitely see why herbicide free hay could have uses. My mom can't put any of our hay in the garden as mulch since Pastora has a residual that lasts up to 3 years. Tomato plants are very susceptible.

As far as fertilizer, I don't see why anyone should care whether the nitrogen, potassium, & phosphorous came from natural gas and mined out of the earth or the back end of a chicken. It's all chemically the same. Maybe it matters while driving a Prius.

 

[scons]

The type of grass in relation to the soil you're going to seed on might be of importance too to get a decent amount of grass. A good choice could improve your quantity and quality without the need of excessive fertilising.

 

[PILOON]

Do you have organic horses? or cows?
If I recall, read somewhere that all farms on all sides of yours also had to be organic in order for yours be qualified.
Also you could not feed any corn byproducts as all corn is Monsanto sourced and that sure would not qualify what with their genetic engineering.

 

[RickB]

Do you have organic horses? or cows?
If I recall, read somewhere that all farms on all sides of yours also had to be organic in order for yours be qualified.
Also you could not feed any corn byproducts as all corn is Monsanto sourced and that sure would not qualify what with their genetic engineering.

All corn is NOT Monsanto sourced. There is a growing segment of non-GMO commodities grown, corn is the most common.

Of course Non GMO corn requires more herbicides ad pesticides than GMO corn, but nobody wants to hear that.

 

[AKfish]

All corn is NOT Monsanto sourced. There is a growing segment of non-GMO commodities grown, corn is the most common.

Of course Non GMO corn requires more herbicides ad pesticides than GMO corn, but nobody wants to hear that.

I don't consider myself a "greenie" by any means.. I have a commercial applicators license and have had one for a number of years.

That said, I don't place Roundup in the same "risk" category as say, 2-4D or Diacamba. I'll leave it at that....

Additionally, I am a strong advocate for GMO research and applications. Albeit, with significant oversight to ensure that the resulting plants, etc. do not create noxious environmental conditions after their release into wide scale production.

The promise of crop varieties with better heat stress and drought tolerance, insect resistance, etc. that could be achieved through genetic modification would be a huge benefit to the world as we all must look for ways to adapt to a changing climate.

 

[RickB]

I don't consider myself a "greenie" by any means.. I have a commercial applicators license and have had one for a number of years.

That said, I don't place Roundup in the same "risk" category as say, 2-4D or Diacamba. I'll leave it at that....

Additionally, I am a strong advocate for GMO research and applications. Albeit, with significant oversight to ensure that the resulting plants, etc. do not create noxious environmental conditions after their release into wide scale production.

The promise of crop varieties with better heat stress and drought tolerance, insect resistance, etc. that could be achieved through genetic modification would be a huge benefit to the world as we all must look for ways to adapt to a changing climate.

I absolutely agree.

 

[sammyd]

If you are thinking of going organic it would be advisable to pick a certifier now. They will tell you what is and what isn't allowed and you can use their guidance to pick your seed.
Or if you feel like rushing headlong into it, at least save the tags from your seed bags so the certfiiers will know what you planted and perhaps will allow it to be certified.
The thing to remember is that even if you plant an organic approved seed, it will take 3 years before your ground is certified and you can sell the hay as organic, unless you can sign an affidavit of use stating your land hasn't been farmed conventionally for three years prior. Had an 80 we rented that was able to go organic the first year by having the owner sign an affidavit from the certifier.

 

[sammyd]

Do you have organic horses? or cows?
If I recall, read somewhere that all farms on all sides of yours also had to be organic in order for yours be qualified.
Also you could not feed any corn byproducts as all corn is Monsanto sourced and that sure would not qualify what with their genetic engineering.

You should do a little research before you post such falsehoods.
Surrounding land does not have to be certified but you will have to observe set-backs from conventionally farmed properties.
Not all corn is Monsanto sourced, never was, and never will be.

 

[Texasmark]

They grow a lot of "organic" hay around here. Find a field that hasn't seen any equipment for 40 years, roll it up and call it hay. Sell it to the newbies.....part of their country indoctrination. Now how do you think I know that? 40 years ago I was one.