Hay, and inclement weather

[Kyrienz]

Hi

I am in New Zealand and while it is our summer, the weather isn't conducive to cutting and baling hay. We'll have several days of rain (from drizzle to torrential downpours) then a day of sunshine. How do you guys cope, especially in Ireland?

I have 4 - 5 acres of hay ready to be cut, but the forecast isn't in our favour. What would you do?

Is cutting and baling hay going to be an option in future years, given the climate change?

 

[ycbm]

This is one reason why there is a lot of haylage made in the UK, it's a lot more forgiving of when it's baled.

My friend used to cut and bale hay as late as September if there wasn't an earlier window.
.

 

[winnie]

Yes, we often cut and baled in September and still got good hay. But we did lose it all some years so we now graze with cattle over the summer and buy in haylage! Less hassle and worry but if we were still cutting for hay would def go down the haylage route.

 

[HashRouge]

Hi

I am in New Zealand and while it is our summer, the weather isn't conducive to cutting and baling hay. We'll have several days of rain (from drizzle to torrential downpours) then a day of sunshine. How do you guys cope, especially in Ireland?

I have 4 - 5 acres of hay ready to be cut, but the forecast isn't in our favour. What would you do?

Is cutting and baling hay going to be an option in future years, given the climate change?

You just have to wait for a better window of opportunity, I'm afraid! The last few UK summers have actually been pretty dry, so hay making has been easy, but there have been summers where it's been quite a challenge and my farmer friends have been tearing their hair out over when to cut.

 

[Kyrienz]

I've crossed everything.

Looking to the future, with the way climate change is going, is hay going to be a viable feed option? (not being a drama queen, just looking at worse case scenario)