Dale Dewing, Watershed Team Leader, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County, Watershed Agricultural Program
Hay, Hay, Hay!
Rain has frustrated hay harvest this week, but a number of fields did get harvested between showers. The good news is that cool weather has slowed maturity a bit and NDF increased more slowly than expected.
Only eight sampling sites remained to harvest this week, with four grass fields ranging from 54 – 60% NDF and 4 mixed fields ranging 39 – 52% NDF. All types of hay are at or just past peak quality.
Remember, wide swathing and/or tedding will greatly speed drying time and may be just what it takes to get haylage or baleage made between showers.
The data table below has each sample location, listed by Town and elevation, his year we have added a farm name as well. Data include the species sampled, average height, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and 24 hr. NDF Digestibility (NDFD). You can get a pdf of the complete report here.
We have also updated the Google map of our sampling sites with this week’s results. Check it out.
This will be the last scissors cut report for this season. We plan to do corn silage dry matter checks again this year, so you will hear form us in September.
