Growing
Evaluating Current Stands
If there is already a crop of hay planted on the ground that you will be working, you should study the current health of the stand and decide whether you will renovate the current crop or start from scratch.
Here are some resources to help you identify your current stand of hay:
- Purdue University Center for New Crops and Plants Procedures, Crop Map - learn which crops are being grown in your area.
- Forage Information System from Oregon State University: Species variety page:
- National Forage Testing Institute - information on the benefits and guidelines for forage testing.
Does your current stand suit the nutritional needs of your livestock?
Choosing the right hay for your area and livestock or customer needs is essential to increasing the success and profitability of your operation.
Is your stand a pure legume crop like clover or is it a grass legume mix like timothy and alfalfa?
If your crop fits the needs of your animals then you are on the right track, if not, it might be time
to look at the possibility of inter-seeding a more appropriate crop or starting from scratch with just
the right hay for your livestock.
Use these links to research the nutritional needs of your livestock:
- Evaluating Hay for Horses: Myths and Realities; Laurie Lawrence from UC Davis
- Selecting Hay for Horses; from the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service
- Quality Forage for Maximum Production and Return; from NDSU Cooperative Extension
How old is the current stand and what shape is it in?
Crops will lose their feed value and yield potential toward the end of their life cycle. Measuring the population and the quality of your crop will help you decide what type of up-keep is necessary.
See your local agronomist or seed dealer for help analyzing your stand.
Educate yourself about the soil and plant suitability for your area.
Crop Suitablity Maps - from the Oregon State University, Species Selection Information System
Is the stand disease, weed and pest free?
If not, read up on the current pest, disease and weed management practices to learn which fit in with your production goals.
Links to pest information sites; from the Forage Information System at Oregon State University
