Considerations For Growing Hay
superior blend of nitrogen, car
bohydrates and acid-detergent and
acid nuetral fibers.
That happens. Vough said, and
generally there aren’t very many
good explanations for why the
abnormal occurs.
But it doesn’t happen often
enough to negate the general rela
tionship of hay’s nutritional qual
ity and its sensory qualities.
(Conttnued from Pago 1)
ranking of the entries done during
the first day correlates to the rank
ing of entries by test
However, there are exceptions.
A sample of hay may look, feel and
smell great but have virtually no
nutritional value, while a slightly
sour-smelling, sun- and rain
damaged sample may contain a
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“The main thing I’m
looking at, from a visual
assessment standpoint,
is stage of maturity, lea
finess, color, foreign
material and odor and
condition,” he said.
Cutting in the morn
ing after the dew dries,
getting a quick dry
down, achieving a low
moisture condition and
harvesting before the
leaves get brittle may
take some experience to
become familiar with
the timing of events, but
with attention to detail,
and confidence derived
from learning through
education and experi
ence, consistently high
quality hay can result
There are basics to
raising hay that consti
tute a foundation from
which the finer points of
raising top quality hay
are built.
Rather than discuss
some of the considera
tions that can go into
producing hay show
samples. Vough said
concentrating on pro
ducing quality forages
from long-lasting stands
should be the goal.
One of the most obvi
, ous considerations is
field selection. There
are only so many “ideal”
fields in the world and
they don’t come with
every farm.
To optimize growth
of any cultivar, a field
should provide not only
basic plant survival
requirements, but ideal
requirements.
“In field selection, I would pre
fer to put alfalfa on the best soils of
the form,** Vough said.
“South facing fields will gener
ally develop faster, but you don't
have to be limited to south-facing
slopes," he said. “(Plants in fields
with a southern exposure) will usu
ally start growth earlier in spring
than on a north slope, but the
south-facing fields also tend to dry
out faster in summer.”
Vough said he likes to see soils
that have good depth, are well
drained and have good fertility for
alfalfa producton.
“Alfalfa is not adapted to poorly
drained soils." Vough said. “It will
not persist None of the crops will
do well on shallow, droughty soils,
but alfalfa has a much higher yield
potential than what we typically
get in the Mid Atlantic region.
“I think some of it has to do with
field selection,” he said. “Alfalfa
tends to get planted on marginal
soils. In some cases fertility is a
factor.”
Alfalfa does require a high level
of fertility, he said, with pH and
potash being most important, espe
cially as a producer intensifies
management
According to Vough, if a pro
ducer is on a three-cut per season
system, the soil fertility isn’t as
critical as those who manage for
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Forcfllng Around, Umcitter Firming, Srturday, July 12, 1997—Page
five cuttings per year.
Of course, the basics of produc
tion includes having soil tests
taken and then providing the limit
ing nutrients to achieve reasonbly
extected optimum production.
Vough said that, historically, it
was not recommended to spread
manure on alfalfa, out of the con
sideration that the plant is a
legume, capable of producing its
own nitrogen.
That may change in the near
future, as a result of trials involv
ing the use of manure on top of
mixed alfalfa-grass fields.
‘There is the potenital to utilize
the nutrients in the manure with
alfalfa-grass mixtures,” be said,
adding that the plants will primari
ly benefit from the potash, but that
alfalfa will also utilize the nitrogen
“very well if it's there.”
The pH (which is a measure of
free hydrogen) is likewise impor
tant to maintain, he said.
“Once the pH drops below 6.5,1
would suggest top dressing lime.
There is data to indicate that when
pH drops below 6.5 it definitely
has an affect on yield.”
Harvesting is also key for con
sistent production of top quality
hay.
He said harvesting at the appro
priate stage of maturity is the most
important consideration.
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For alfalfa, except for the first
cutting, he said to cut it in the late
bud/early bloom stage.
The first cutting should be done
before bloom, actually in early bud
stage, because the first blooms of
the season arrive one to two weeks
later relative to.thc maturity in the
rest of the plant Therefore the fib
er content is much higher and the
quality lower in first cutting.
Ideally, first cutting hay should
be some of the best with summer
hay being worst
He said that in the Southwest
United Sates the spring and fall
cuttings are usually of dairy qual
ity, while the summer cutting are
more likely to be sent to the
stockyards.
Orchard grass should be cut in
late boot to early heading sage to
get prime quality without affecting
standability.
Timothy however, should be cut
when folly headed for a very
important reason the plant
stand will have a better chance at
surviving and overall production.
As with orchard grass, the best
quality Timothy would also be cut
during the late boot/early heading
sage, but Timothy is “sensitive” at
that point, Vough said.
If cut before fully headed,
Vough said the regrowth of
(Turn to Pago 14)
171