Why would green barley be cut like hay?

[catembi]

Very curious...alongside our dog walking footpath, a field of green barley has been cut like hay. Definitely not combined/threshed as the (immature) ears are intact. Why would this be?

Second question...the field next to it was sprayed really oddly...it looks as if whole sections have been sprayed with weed killer. Again...why...? It is just so strange! Answers welcomed.

First four photos are random weed killing; last two are cut barley.

 

[cobgoblin]

It can be cut green and made into hay or silage for cattle.. I've never seen it done though.

 

[teapot]

Barley silage?

 

[cobgoblin]

Someone may be making sure they have enough forage for next winter if it's another yield lie last year. No idea about the weedkiller apart from clearing for crops.

 

[honetpot]

Whole crop barley is good fodder for cows, I have used it. Usually just a bit more expensive than straw, and the rats can like to live in it, although I didn't have any problems. Sometimes it's because it has not germinated evenly, or the crop is not earing up well, so bale it, and put something else in.
In some places they spray with glyphosate before baling, the grass dries out quicker,
https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/roundup-pre-cutting-hay.290132/

 

[Carrottom]

Whole crop silage seems to have become popular in the last few years, sometimes it is under sown with grass for sheep grazing I believe.

 

[Orangehorse]

As above. It could be that the very dry weather in April meant that it is a very patchy, poor crop, so the farmer has decided to cut what is there and silage it.