We just completed two weeks into the main haying season around here, the central and northern Interior. Apart from the odd drizzle and lightning, the weather has been hot and often a little wind helped the crop to dry.
Most other tasks are put aside and we do our best to keep our optimism up and hope for few troubles in the production. Some of us have to pause to attend to moving cattle on pasture.
Some ranchers are reporting that the hay can get too dry quickly and they have to bale in the evening or night mostly to avoid the shattering of the leaves of the grasses and legumes. Fifteen per cent moisture in hay is getting too dry, while 40 per cent moisture is too high.
Now many are rushing to the finish line. An early finish to haying means we might get some holiday time during the good weather. That would be a treat for most of us! Those in two-crop country and have irrigation will start up cutting the second crop in around August.
There is pressure in all of the timing of cutting, raking baling. You don’t want too much drying ahead of the baling, otherwise the sun will overcure the hay. A breakdown with a baler can hold everything up leaving a poorer quality in the winter feed.
Thanks to the sunshine most hay will be processed with a high protein content which is good for growing cattle and developing calves in their mothers. Otherwise, hay with good carbohydrates will give greater energy for warmth in the cold weather.
For our part, we will probably mix the higher protein hay with some of last year’s hay which will have diminished in its protein content but retain its energy content.
For someone on the edge of retirement downing the haying tools will be welcome. We have camping sites picked out and a list of folks to visit. What I wish for our family, I wish for others.
