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!

 

[dmay]

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!

**WARNING** Alsike clover is fine for cattle but toxic to horses. If you are thinking of hay for horses, I recommend you do not add clover of any kind as Alsike seems to magically appear whenever other clovers are bought and seeded.

Google 'alsike clover poisoning in horses' for details.

 

[pitt_md]

I'm in SE MN and I know our winters last much longer than yours. 3 horses and 4 acres of hay. I end up selling hay every year. With 22 acres you should have plenty in even less than prime condition.

 

[F1520]

...and using human waste fertilizer (starts with a "T..") but I can't remember the name...

Poudrette?

 

[Scotty370]

I'm by no means an expert, but I agree with being absolutely sure that the forage your baling up for "horses", is totally suitable for your animals! Cows and goats are much less 'finiky' to lesser hays! With horses, I understand that the type of grass is critical for health reasons. The only "Human waste" fertilizer that I thught I've read about was "Milorganite"! (Proper spelling unknown?) ~Welcome and good luck!! ~Scotty

 

[jmurd85]

If you have 22 acres of hay and it is and old stand to be safe you could figure to produce 1 half ton per acre and this estimate is probably extremely low. So this would be 11 tons and that should be more than enough hay to get you through to next years cut. I'm not sure what the nutritional value is or what weeds you have in it but I'm sure its safe to say that you will probably be supplementing some hotter feed through the colder months. I bet you will have some to sale. I have 4 horses that I keep stalled through the winter and I plan to save 12 tons every year for just those 4 and I always have plenty of extra. Good luck to you. As I have herd for years from my grandfather "Farming ain't no picnic" year to year that proves true. But it sure is fun.

 

[5030]

I'm not getting involved in this thread........

 

[tessiers]

Horses are not nearly as finicky about hay as there owners. Good grass hay with a little clover is good for horses. We get 1.5 tons per acre from one cutting here, although that is a little longer growing time than you are talking. I would think 1/2 ton per acre is a very reasonable expectation. If you are getting into the hay business I would educate yourself on dietary needs of the animals you are feeding and get your hay tested so you can fill those needs. The hen dressing is great fertalizer but you can over do it, have your soil tested. Around here the university extension system is awsome about soil analysis and consultations. Don't know about there but here human waste needs very specific conditions and applications, all controled but the state, too much red tape for me.

Just my 2 cents, probably only worth a penny.

 

[IndyIan]

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!

Here you used to be able to get "sludge" from local municipalities sewer water treatment plants for sprayed onto your fields for free. But its nasty stuff, and no one really knows or will say whats in it. One could assume heavy metals and human medications. A guy I buy hay from did one field as a test and found that field did worse that before. Maybe a coincidence but he's not getting it again.
Anyways, I'd stay away from anything from a water treatment plant even if it was applied for free. Not worth the risk to me atleast.