As you drive around the country side during the summer months you will surely see hay fields. Jefferson County is one of the largest hay producing counties in the state! In 2005, the total hay production for New York State was valued at $282 million dollars. Although it may not seem like it, there is an art to hay production. In order to have the best hay possible, farmers must have made the right harvesting decision in conjunction with plant growth stage, and the weather conditions. The highest quality hay will be harvested before the grass seed heads emerge, or before the alfalfa and clover begin to flower. Cutting hay early, may reduce the yield, however that will be made up in the quality of the hay. Rain is the biggest challenge to harvesting the hay crop. You need a period of several days without rain to allow the hay time to dry. Mowing hay can be done with a haybine, an older style of equipment that breaks open the stems to accelerate drying; or a rotary disk mower, which as a series of small knives that spin at high speeds. After a field is mowed, the hay will be left to dry. Tedding hay spreads the hay out allowing it to dry faster. Not all farmers use a hay tedder thought. When the hay is mostly dry, the hay is raked into piles to allow for more efficient bailing. Hay should be bailed at a moisture level of 15% - 18%. There is a special instrument that can test for moisture content, however most farmers are able to tell if the hay is ready without using this instrument. If the moisture content is too high the bales will mold, and if in a barn could lead to spontaneous heating, and a fire could break out. If they are too dry the leaves may fall off, decreasing the nutritional value. Hay can be bailed into many shapes and sizes including small rectangular bales weighing about 30 pounds, to large round bales weighing over a ton. They may be stored in barns, or outside uncovered. A majority of the hay from these fields is used in the dairy industry and fed to the cows in the form of haylage, grass, clover, or alfalfa that has been cut, wilted, harvested and stored. Haylage can be stored in a silo, in a silage bag, or wrapped in large round bales. The economic benefit can later be seen in the milk production of the cows. Hay fields also serve as a habitat to native animals such as the white tail deer.
Reed Haven Farms 18136 Massey Street Watertown, NY 13601
