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FencelineBy Jody Holthaus Meadowlark Extension District Agent, Livestock-Natural Resources Because of the unusual wet conditions this year for hay production, you may have been faced with some challenging situations. We need sunshine for ideal conditions, but why? Some years it's awfully difficult to find decent haying weather. Sunny, hot, dry and breezy-that's the prescription for good hay making. When it occurs, take advantage of it. Getting hay to dry fast is important. Obviously, it helps to avoid rain damage but there are other reasons why fast drying is important. Immediately after cutting hay, plant cells continue to respire, converting valuable carbohydrates into carbon dioxide gas. Under the best conditions, around five percent of the potential weight of the hay will be lost as this gas. It's unavoidable. When hay dries slowly, though, as much as ten, even fifteen percent of your hay can simply disappear into thin air as carbon dioxide. Getting hay off the field quickly also helps re-growth by allowing new growth to begin without cut hay lying on top of it or machinery driving over it as it starts to re-grow. First, mechanically condition and then spread recently cut hay out in as wide a swath as possible. The more hay exposed to direct sun-light, the faster it dries. But don't drive on it because wheels compress the hay and reduce drying rates. Also turn hay gently after the top gets dry by adjusting angles, speed or position on the rake to expose moister hay under the swath and fluff the swath for better air movement inside. Fast hay dry down is a goal of all hay makers. Good timing and proper equipment operation goes a long way towards achieving this goal. Date: 8/9/07
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