Mowing New 'farmer' Here...question about hay mowing

[UngerTime]

Greetings!

For my virgin post to the forum...I'm asking a question about logistics. Our field has been bailed for the last few years, but never any upkeep work. I brought in some chicken poo last fall and spread it around. The area that the chicken poo was in did fantastic...while the rest of the field will require some weed control...extra fertilizer, etc (and other stuff I'm sure I don't know yet)

We are having the field mowed right now to give the grass a good chance to grow before fall without weeds choking it out. So my question is this: I need 6 tons of hay to feed my 3 horses for the winter...and I've got 23 acres of hay to have a shot at bailing (or at least raking) at latest mid september.

So...down to the question: living in western Washington (rains a lot through fall and winter), I expect to get a final cut. Will 22 acres provide enough food with 2 months of growth to go? How do I calculate this?

Sorry if these questions seems dumb...I'm a city boy who is looking to get back to his roots. I'm learning as I go!

~brenton

 

[Mousefield]

Not sure if I can help you as we buy hay for our goats. 6 tons is 240 bales if they weigh 50 pounds each. I would hazard a guess and think you should get much more than that off 22 acres. Of course it all depends on the weather, sun, rain, soil type and as you mentioned fertilizer. Why don't you talk to some of the people in your area who hay and see what they have to say? They know your climate and could give you some idea on what to expect. You just might find you will make a friend or two if you do this. Doesn't hurt to get to know people in your neighborhood. :thumbsup:

 

[jenkinsph]

First of all "Welcome to the forum"

Dont let Mousefield run you off on your first post.:laughing:
While it is an excellent suggestion to check with your neighbors and give them a chance to help you there is also a wealth of information to absorb here on TBN.

I would suggest you get soil samples tested and see if you can find your nearest USDA county agent. These guys are there to help you with good information for your specific area.

I would think with good management you should have surplus hay.

 

[dmay]

Depends. A hayfield in its prime, with good weather conditions, standing four feet tall, might yield 80-100 small square bales an acre. A hayfield pasts its prime, with poor weather and torrential downpour right after hay is cut might result in a complete loss. Hopefully you will be somewhere in between.

A producing hayfield will slowly dimish in yield over time. Talk to local hay growers and get their thoughts. Do you herbicide/fertilize or cultivate, reseed and start over.

For horses I plan for 150 bales per horse for winter. That way you will have extra. Extra is always better to ride out a wet spring and delayed first cut. You can always sell your excess to neighbors that did not put as much away and have hungry horses to feed.

 

[lakngulf]

First of all "Welcome to the forum"

Dont let Mousefield run you off on your first post.:laughing:
While it is an excellent suggestion to check with your neighbors and give them a chance to help you there is also a wealth of information to absorb here on TBN.

I would suggest you get soil samples tested and see if you can find your nearest USDA county agent. These guys are there to help you with good information for your specific area.

I would think with good management you should have surplus hay.

Now you chastised mouse' for suggesting local assistance, and the proceeded to suggest local assistance. Just kiddin'

 

[brin]

Use pre emerge for weed killing in Spring of each year as soon as all snow is gone...remember you have to have inputs..fertilizer and lime as needed by soil sample to give you maximum outputs...=Hay..If you have little or no inputs you will have little to no outputs...

 

[sweettractors]

Here is Ky we get 3 or 4 1500 pound rolls of hay per acre off the spring cutting. That would be with the proper amounts of ferterlizer and lime. You should have no problem. Ken Sweet

 

[jenkinsph]

Now you chastised mouse' for suggesting local assistance, and the proceeded to suggest local assistance. Just kiddin'

True but he did get a "welcome"

 

[doall]

If your 22 acres just does decent on the last cut you will have excess. Just noticed we're not exactly neighbors. But surely it can't be that different across the country.:confused2:

 

[UngerTime]

First of all "Welcome to the forum"

Dont let Mousefield run you off on your first post.:laughing:
While it is an excellent suggestion to check with your neighbors and give them a chance to help you there is also a wealth of information to absorb here on TBN.

I would suggest you get soil samples tested and see if you can find your nearest USDA county agent. These guys are there to help you with good information for your specific area.

I would think with good management you should have surplus hay.

Thank y'all for all the help! After talking w/ some folks and taking advice here, we've had someone from the county come out and do soil samples; we're going to get the results of that back soon. Couple of local farmers are saying they have had great results seeding a little bit of clover to keep nitrogen in the soil, and using human waste fertilizer (starts with a "T..") but I can't remember the name.

I'll keep ya posted!