Undesirable weather slows down hay production

Spring weather has not been favorable for harvesting hay, keeping Indiana hay producers out of their fields. When it was dry for cutting, hay was not physically mature. When hay was ready, conditions were too wet, said Keith Johnson, Purdue Extension forage management specialist.

"There was a period in late May that was suitable for harvesting hay. Now producers need to focus on getting their hay cut," Johnson said. Indiana hay producers have entered the second of up to four hay cuttings, he said.

As of June 14, 23 percent of Indiana's alfalfa crop was still waiting to be harvested, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agriculture Statistics Service crop and weather report released June 15.

Producers can take steps to make sure they are ready to cut hay when the ideal time comes, Johnson said.

First they should have a properly set mower conditioner that sufficiently crimps the stems and does not bruise the leaves.

"Keep in mind that there are two types of conditioners, a flail and rubber rolls," Johnson said. "The flail mower is more aggressive with the crop, so using a flail mower on a legume like alfalfa is not recommended because more leaf loss will occur."

Producers also should consider the optimal time to use a tedder -- a fingerlike rake used to fluff hay after it has been laid in a swath. The tedder is an aggressive piece of equipment that is more useful when the hay crop has more than 50 percent moisture content. If the hay crop has a low moisture content and the tedder is used, the hay has a greater potential of losing the nutritional value from the leaves. Many leaves will lose nutritional value during tedding when done too dry.

Making bale silage is another option farmers have, Johnson said. Having the correct amount of wrap, a bale wrapper and baling the hay at 50 percent moisture content is essential to making this happen. Farmers can wrap in a single bale or in a row of bales.

Farmers harvesting their fields the traditional way should consider moisture content. If baling into small rectangular bales the moisture content should be 20 percent. Large rectangular bales and large round bales should be at 18 percent moisture content. Moisture levels higher than these will result in moldy hay. Farmers should use propionic acid containing a preservative. This permits hay to be packaged at a slightly higher moisture content during baling.

After harvesting, the field may need to be fertilized, Johnson said.

"A soil test can tell you what nutrients the forage needs to improve yield and persistence in a perennial crop," Johnson said.

Along with maintaining the soil of the hay field, insect scouting is important, too.

Producers with alfalfa fields will need to scout for potato leafhopper, an insect carried to Indiana in the spring by weather systems from the Southeastern United States. There are alfalfa varieties available that are up to 70 percent resistant to the potato leafhopper.

Because of the isolated and pop up thundershowers across the state, Johnson encourages producers to check the weather forecast at least twice a day and look at the extended forecast in and outside of their local area.

Contact Johnson at 765-494-4800, johnsonk@purdue.edu for more information.

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