JUST FINISHED RAINING IS IT OK TO CUT THE HAY ??????

[xcsp]

Hello a quick question it just finished raining here in ohio and we are going to get 4-5 nice days for baling hay .

My question is it ok to cut the field when it just finished raining ????? or should i wait until it drys up. i have to leave for work tonight and i would loose a whole day of drying and will not be able to cut until tommorrow night.

any info will be appreciated
thanks
Greg

 

[MMagis]

My opinion, it needs to dry. It will dry much faster standing than laying on the ground. You won't actually gain anything mowing today.

 

[xcsp]

Ok thanks I am going to wait until friday afternoon to cut this will help it dry out a little before i cut . the weather looks like we might get another shower before the day is done.

thanks
Greg

 

[dav-lyn farm]

You are very wise to wait. I know it's painful, especially when the rain free window is small. But waiting as MMagis suggests is the best. To me there is an additional reason to wait. If you lay green, wet hay on wet ground, it only aggravates the time required to dry because the ground under the hay is shaded and cannot dry without "steaming" the hay above it.

 

[deereguy]

Get a closer look at your Saturday weather, calling for 30% chance rain then dry 'til Wednesday. I cut some hay 2 weeks ago with only a 20% chance of rain- got 1/4" and hail on it, went from great alfalfa/timothy/clover mix to a stemmy-dried out alfalfa/timothy/clover mix. Weather has been a pain this year. I'm in west central Ohio, Good Luck in your haying!!

 

[Duffster]

Cut it just as soon as the rain has dried off of the standing hay.

The ground doesn't dry much under the standing hay so it doesn't do much good to wait any longer.

 

[xcsp]

thanks for all the replys we are cutting as I type the ground is dry so it is cutting good ,there is a chance of rain sat but it looks like it will miss us
hopefully .