Hay 2013

trabpc

My brother in law has been renting out his 9 acres over last few years but farmer that took it retired last year. He is hoping to keep it himself this year for some hay in june for a horse he keeps. He paid over 4 euro per small bale last year to buy in hay.

It had silage taken from it every year with a small amout of slurry returned. Last slurry was april last year.

Local farmer here advised to spread 0-7-30 Now (late feb) followedby 18-6-12 in late March.

My question is: is will the 18-6-12 be good enoughby its self or does he need 0-7-30 and why.


More than likely it will be wrapped based on weather patterns over last 5 years.

No soil tests done but I did advise for next year. No acess to slurry either. Just few barrows of horse dung.

Advise appreciated. Land generally. Good free draining type.

Sam Kade

What is he hoping to do with the excess fodder if it will be a good year for grass it will be impossible to sell or he might have to sell it at a loss. Make hay or haylage off 1 acre and rent out the rest would be a better option. A lot of people renting land think because fodder is scarce this year that they will make a fortune out of it next year. There is only 1 good year in 3 at that game and at best the good year will just about cancel out the bad years.

trabpc

He will keep all. Needs a bit for grazing pony too. No interest in making money. His neighbour kee ps few horses too. So hay wont last long. What about my fertilizer question?

st1979

trabpc wrote: »

He will keep all. Needs a bit for grazing pony too. No interest in making money. His neighbour kee ps few horses too. So hay wont last long. What about my fertilizer question?

bit of 18 6 12 should be plenty. maybe 1.5 bags to the acre. Your not looking for big yield and light crop is quicker to make hay.

trabpc

st1979 wrote: »

bit of 18 6 12 should be plenty. maybe 1.5 bags to the acre. Your not looking for big yield and light crop is quicker to make hay.

Yea lighter the better so he can save it if good weather comes. But tring to keep in mind it may have to go to silage because of our summers. So he can forget about the 0-7-30.

when is best to put out 18-6-12?

middle march when therss a bit more heat in the ground?

st1979

trabpc wrote: »

Yea lighter the better so he can save it if good weather comes. But tring to keep in mind it may have to go to silage because of our summers. So he can forget about the 0-7-30.

when is best to put out 18-6-12?

middle march when therss a bit more heat in the ground?

Grass grows fastest in May. And you Wont make hay before mid June. So if u spread end of April early May you should get more bang for your buck and the bit of nitrogen would be long gone by mid June

trabpc

Spread 2 bags to acre on apr 13 but not a lot happening. Had a look at weekend. It did get light rain for few hours after spreading with heavy rain 36 hours after. Wonder did it wash away. Few red patches in field But rest only has 4 to 5 inches of growth. Should more 18.6.12 be put out ott something stronger like 27.2.5.xx. If he spreads again now he will have to wait 8 more weeks before cutting. Any ideas. Where can get soil samples done in kildare.

AHC

Stick some 27.4.4 on it and give it the 8 weeks growth, surely everywhere is about a month behind any way and weather isn't looking promising until mid june so no panic!!

trabpc

Tks. Richland fertilizer looks close to that mix you reccomend.

trabpc

Problem solved. Took trip up this eve..only saw 5 empty bags so all it got was one bag to the acre of fertilizer. Hows forecast looking? Is it too cold for the likes of 18_6_12. Bloddy mad, May and still frost.

Might put out another 5 bags fri eve or sat.....