Exploring the Ecological Significance of Hay Fields

Front view of two rolls of hay on a mown field. Against the background of. Any ideas on how to manage hay fields? I was thinking of only haying half one year, and then the other half the next. but what would that do to the health of ... A tractor mowing a hay field, with the cut hay lying in the foreground · A round baler dumping a freshly rolled hay bale · Modern small-scale transport. Pickup ... Hay is a plant that has been cut, dried, and stored for animal feed. Many plants can be used as hay, but in Iowa today, alfalfa and clover are the most common. Fertility management is a key factor whether you're preparing an existing field for winter or are renovating a field. ... In long-term hay and pasture fields ... As we drive around our brave little state, we see field after field all designated for hay to feed our dairy cows all winter long, ... Choose an appropriate field · Plant the right seed variety · Scout regularly · Cut alfalfa at the best time · Set yourself up for drying success. You can use haymaking to help maintain species diversity in meadows. Hay is cut annually, followed by a period of shutting up the meadow before aftermath ... A wide swath immediately after cutting is the single most important factor maximizing initial drying rate and preserving of starches and sugars. you maintain fields mostly for wildlife and cut a little hay. You had your spring cutting, which yielded winter wheat and clover. Those fields were then re ...