Every spring we cut or mow our hay fields just before the alfalfa
plant buds out. If an alfalfa plant is left unmown it will blossom with real
pretty purple flowers. As a food source you want to cut it just before the bud
appears. When the flower comes the food quality lessens.
Once a field is cut it grows back and normally every 28 days
it’s mown again if weather permits.
I think one field we had this year it was at least 32 days between
cuttings because of so much rain.
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| We are always looking for new fawns hiding in the hay fields. |
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| Thankfully we saw him in time. |
We can’t mow in the rain. We can’t harvest or chop in the rain.
So we always have one eye on the weather for the whole growing period.
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| We had to chop about 60 acres back into the field due to the rain. |
If the field is rained on too many times once it is mown we have to chop the hay right back into the field as a total lost.
Best
case scenario is to mow on day one. Let the field set on day two. Day three
merge and chop and put into Harvestores. All of this depends on sunshine,
winds, humidity and the dreaded machinery breakdown.
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| Four of our wagons waiting to be filled. |
We make an attempt to not mow at all in the month of
September. It’s been taught that during the month of September the plant should
be left alone so all the nutrients and energy goes to building up the reserves
in the root for the winter.
Once there is frost, the hay is done growing so you can
harvest another crop.
