Hay consists of grasses, legumes, or other herbaceous plants cut, dried, and stored for use as animal feed, primarily when pasture is unavailable. Establishing a new hay field requires careful planning and execution, beginning long before seeding. The success of a productive stand depends on informed decisions about site preparation, crop selection, and early stand management. This guide outlines the steps involved in successfully establishing a new hay crop.
Assessing Site Suitability and Crop Selection
The initial step involves assessing the field and strategically choosing forage species. Soil testing is a diagnostic tool, providing details on existing nutrient levels and the soil’s acidity or alkalinity, measured as pH. For most forages, a soil pH above 6.0 is desirable, while legumes like alfalfa prefer a range between 6.5 and 6.8 to maximize nutrient availability and productivity.
Physical site characteristics also dictate which species will thrive, particularly concerning drainage and sunlight exposure. Alfalfa, for example, is intolerant of “wet feet” and should be planted in well-drained soils, whereas tall fescue can tolerate wetter conditions once established. Crop selection must align with the local climate and the nutritional needs of the livestock. Cool-season grasses like timothy and orchardgrass or legumes such as alfalfa and clover are common choices, often planted in mixtures to improve yield, palatability, and stand longevity.
Preparing the Soil for Planting
Once soil tests determine the necessary adjustments, physical preparation of the field begins. Applying soil amendments, such as agricultural lime to raise the pH or phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, should be done before tillage so these materials can be thoroughly mixed into the root zone. Lime is slow to react and should ideally be incorporated six months to a year before planting to allow the soil chemistry to adjust.
Tillage is performed to create a firm, fine, and weed-free seedbed, which is necessary for successful germination. Primary tillage, such as plowing or subsoiling, breaks up compacted layers and incorporates amendments deep into the soil profile. Secondary tillage, using implements like a disk or harrow, smooths the surface and refines the soil structure. The final seedbed should be firm enough that a footprint only sinks about a quarter to a half-inch deep, ensuring good seed-to-soil contact.
Seeding Methods and Timing
The method and timing of seeding determine the stand’s success. The two primary methods are drilling and broadcasting, though no-till planting is a popular option. Drilling uses a specialized seeder to place the seed uniformly at a precise, shallow depth. No-till drills place seed directly into undisturbed soil or existing residue, which conserves soil moisture and reduces erosion.
Broadcasting scatters the seed over the soil surface, requiring a subsequent pass with a cultipacker or roller to press the seeds into the soil for proper contact. For most small-seeded forages, the ideal planting depth is shallow, typically between one-quarter to one-half inch. Optimal planting time for cool-season forages falls into two windows: late summer or early spring. Late summer planting, roughly six to eight weeks before the first hard frost, is often preferred because it allows seedlings to establish a strong root system with less competition from summer annual weeds.
Ensuring Successful Establishment
After seeding, the focus shifts to protecting the seedlings during the establishment phase, which is important for the stand’s long-term productivity. Newly planted hay fields are susceptible to competition from weeds, which can quickly shade out and outcompete the forage seedlings for light, water, and nutrients. Effective weed control involves the strategic use of herbicides tailored to the forage species and weed type, or timely mowing to clip the tops of fast-growing weeds.
The first cutting should typically be delayed to allow the plants to develop a robust root system and multiple tillers or crowns. For legumes, this delay usually means harvesting at the early bloom stage, while pure grass stands may be cut about 70 days after planting. If weed pressure is severe, a lighter, earlier clipping may be necessary to prevent the weeds from smothering the new stand. The goal of the first year is not maximum yield but the development of a dense, healthy perennial stand.