How To Grow Quality Hay In 7 Steps

 Do you know that you can actually grow quality hay for your livestock rather than buying? Growing alfalfa or Timothy hay is simple with a few steps. However due to bulk need for hay, some animal farmers prefer to buy hay from local vendors who consistently produce and supply hay as a business. However if you have just a few cattle then buying hay is normal. But if you still want to grow your hay then let's dive into it.

 

Steps To Grow Hay

Follow the below steps to produce the best hay for your livestock.

• Choose A Good Field: Soil pH should be in the 6.5 to 7 range for vigorous alfalfa growth, Anderson says. Ideally, you’d choose a field that you already know hasn’t struggled with weed issues in the past. If you must use a weed-prone site, you’ll need to consider different alfalfa varieties and herbicide options.
• Plant The Seeds: Anderson suggests choosing an alfalfa variety that’s more digestible and low-lignin for a better chance at a healthy, abundant crop.
• Observe Field Regularly: Getting out into the fields twice a week should be enough in most alfalfa fields. Be looking closely for signs of disease or pests like the alfalfa weevil and potato leaf hopper.
• Best Time To Harvest: Timing mowing to line up ahead of multiple dry days is tricky enough, but there’s also crop maturity to consider. Cut before blooming, at a relatively young maturity level, so the feed value is as high as possible. If the crop goes too long without being cut, the coarse stem will become less digestible for livestock, Anderson says.
   
  
• Hay Drying Process: When mowing the hay, run it through a properly adjusted conditioner and lay the hay out into wide windrows. This will give the hay the most possible exposure to sunlight to help it dry down quickly.
• Moisture Levels: Leaves are the most valuable part of alfalfa but can be easily lost if the crop is handled at the wrong moisture level. “When raking the hay, do so while the hay is still relatively moist to avoid serious leaf loss,” says Anderson. The window is narrow to rake hay without shaking off leaves. Anderson recommends moisture levels of 14-15% for large square bales, 17-18% for big round bales, and 18-20% for small square bales.
• Bale Storage: Bales need protection from the weather to avoid loss. If at all possible, store bales in a shed or under tarps. “If stored exposed to weather conditions, make sure they’re on well-drained sites with bales oriented in north-south type rows to allow sunlight to hit on both sides of (round) bales,” says Anderson.