Re: hay quality calculator

On 30 Aug 2005 09:14:11 -0700, emjaycem@xxxxxxxxx wrote:

>
>Tamara in TN wrote:
>> http://ruralheritage.com/back_forty/hay_quality.htm
>>
>> two of Calvin's friends created this thing...
>>
>>
>> Tamara in TN
>
>So, how do you score excellent? (I guess I couldn't find the box where
>it said "I buy from Calvin Howard") :-D
>
>On a serious note, I don't think I've ever had the opportunity to buy
>first cutting hay that hasn't headed yet. Most often it's in the early
>heading stage tho I see a lot of local guys selling hay cut in the late
>heading/blooming stage.

May I extend to you an invitation to join the Club of Sad, Frustrated
Hay Buyers? :-)

Calvin is one of the VERY few people I know of in East TN who tries to
cut hay when it ought to be cut. For us that is usually sometime in
early to mid May for first cutting. That's a tough time as we have a
lot of spring rain. Most of the farmers around here will tell you
that you can't cut hay until at least early June, and July is better.
(This is, of course, balderdash; it does conform, however, to the
"daddydiditthataway rule").

In most instances such hay will be stemmy, brittle, and have little
leaf. It will not generally be damp or moldy, but dust can be a
problem.

Most of the farmers within 15 miles of my house are part timers (at
best) and put little money into fertilizer, lime, seed, weed killer,
etc. If all you're putting up is a combination of a thin stand of
fescue combined with bullthistle, sage, broom grass, and Queen Anne's
Lace how much will Tamara's calculator help?!?!?!?! :-(

You have to search for, and be willing to pay for, first class hay.
Doing so pays back big dividends in equine health and reduced overall
feed costs. Some folks just get "hung up" on the initial price. They
would rather pick up baled weeds in a field for $2/bale.

As in so many things, you get what you pay for.

Bill Kambic


.

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