Daren Redfearn, a Forage and Pasture Management Specialist for the University of Oklahoma in Stillwater, Okla., appreciates the wisdom in old sayings. When talking about baling hay, “waste not, want not” and “make hay while the sun shines” both come to mind, and both are closely related.
Every time the forage is handled, there are losses. Regardless of how new or how broken-down your hay equipment is, every time the hay is handled, losses will occur. With modern mowers and proper operation, losses from cutting the forage are minimal. However, as soon as that forage is on the ground, it starts to break down because of the natural process of respiration.
“Respiration is a normal process that occurs in all plants,” Redfearn said. “It is simply the breakdown of food materials that would have been used for plant growth.” This process is unavoidable and will happen until the moisture content of the forage hits 40 percent. Something that producers do have some control over is how long the time span is between mowing and when the forage hits 40 percent moisture. That is why Redfearn recommended “making hay while the sun shines.” The hotter and drier the weather, the quicker the forage dries out. The difference between hot and dry and cloudy and damp can amount to a loss of almost 15 percent, before you have done anything besides mowing.
Another weather-associated risk is rain. If cloudy weather adds to respiration losses, rain increases the handling losses. To help the forage dry again, more raking or tedding is required, and those operations shatter more leaves. If adverse weather conditions strike after mowing, losses from handling can amount to 35 percent or more. Redfearn said that leaf shatter losses are especially prevalent with legumes. He recommended raking legumes while the moisture is between 45 percent and 55 percent and then allowing them to finish drying in the windrow.
Though Redfearn said “most losses occur trying to get the forage dry,” another way producers lose hay is by harvesting poor quality hay. Redfearn pointed out that the cost is basically the same to harvest bad hay as it is to harvest good hay.
One of the best ways to ensure good quality hay is to harvest it at the right time. With most grasses, the nutritional value is highest when the crop is in the boot stage. Though sometimes higher quality hay might mean less tonnage, that can be a blessing as well. As Redfearn pointed out, two-ton of hay will dry a lot quicker than four-ton. If the forage dries quicker, that means less loss due to respiration, and if it is in the field less time before it is ready to bale, then you are more likely to dodge bad weather as well.
Redfearn said that even under ideal conditions, producers can expect to lose 10 percent or so of their crop, regardless of their management practices. However, improper handling or adverse weather conditions can raise that number to 75 percent. Accordingly, producers should follow Redfearn’s tips to make the most of their available forage at harvest so they don’t have to pay for it later when hay is in short supply.
