Skip to main content

Crop Analysis- Timothy Hay

 

Crop Analysis- Timothy Hay

By Connor Ingham

            Timothy hay is a cool weather grass that prefers damp soil, mainly in northern climates with an optimal temperature range around 75 degrees. This hay variety is grown for an ideal pasture crop, animal feed, or a grass cover crop. Timothy similar to other hay species, since timothy is a perennial plant (growing for many year), although it does lessen in production over its lifespan. The best time to establish a timothy crop is during the summer months, roughly before mid-August, which allows the plant to grow to an ideal height before winter freezing sets in. A firm seed bed, free of any visible stones, an application of 8-10 pounds per acre and a seed depth of ½ of an inch will provide the best start to the plant’s life. Timothy can be planted along with other grass/hay varieties, such as clover, alfalfa, birds-foot trefoil, or Kentucky blue grass which will blend in nicely to the development of a new pasture crop for livestock. A period of 50 days will be required from planting to first harvest, which may or may not be achieved on the first year of growth, and there after a period of 30-40 days will need to pass between cutting to allow the grass to fully mature. Timothy plants will display a thin stalk, few long, thin leaves, and a seed head that will produce small white flowers as the plant enters into the stage of maturity. It is best to harvest the plant before the complete crop enters into the flowering stage, due to the fact that the plant will toughen up, making a worse feed for many animals. Also, it is important to keep the plant from entering into the seeding stage, which would greatly decrease the value of the collected material.  As the plant is collected for crop, or is mowed down to decompose back into the soil, the stalk should be left at a height of 3 in, to provide the best opportunity at not being harmed during this defenseless stage. As the average of around 4 cuttings is achieved during the growing year, timothy should be left for a period of a few weeks before winter frost, to allow the plant time to harden for winter dormancy. In fact, the hay species is quite tolerant to winter conditions, often being able to withstand icing, and drifting of snow, common in the areas of popular timothy growth. At the beginning of the next growing year, a soil test should be conducted to determine the needs of the plant to maximize production. This could include the application of nitrogen fertilizer at 100-150 lbs. per acre and/or potassium as well. Even though fertilizers tend to increase the production of timothy by the tonnage per acre, the life span of the hay will eventually over run the plants efficiency, leading to the crop no longer being usable, or the needing of a new planting to revive growth. Timothy can simply be plowed up and tuned back into the seed bed for another crop, as would any other crop before spring planting.

Timothy Hay | Anderson Hay & Grain Co., Inc.

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Astrological Signs by Ava C

  Astrological Signs   By: Ava Cody    Astrology is the study of planets and stars as well as the belief that  their movements and positions have an i nfluence on the events, lives and behaviors of people.  Astrology is a belief though because there is no real science to pro ve its impacts on human lives, but many people do see value in them.  Within the study of Astrology there  are  Astrological signs which impact the human lives as they assign  a person's characteristics, preferences, flaws and fears . The  Astrological  sign given to each human varies because  they are based on the position of the sun, moon and the planets   at the very moment that a person is born  which of course vari es from human to human.   T here  is   not just one type of  As trological sign ;  there are three  different types of signs which are  sun, moon and rising which are the  three  ma...
Post a Comment
Read more
  10 Fun Facts About Koalas By: Raina Evans 1.        Koalas are native to southeastern Australia. 2.        Koalas live in eucalyptus, inland, and coastal forests. 3.        Predators of Koalas are birds of prey, dingo's, and humans. 4.        Koalas have the average litter of 1 child. 5.        Koalas spend up to 80% of their time sleeping or resting. 6.        A baby Koala is called a joey. 7.        Habitat loss and disease are the biggest threats to Koalas. 8.        Koalas are not bears, they are marsupials. 9.        Koalas are picky eaters. 10.    Koalas are losing their homes to excessive tree-clearing.   Works Cited: https://www.wwf.org.au/news/blogs/10-interesting...
Post a Comment
Read more
Messerschmitt  Bf-109   If you were to think of an iconic German aircraft from the second  W orld  W ar, you are most likely to see an image of the Messerschmitt 109 in your head. This aircraft was one of the most widely used and produced of the Luftwaffe. Its first taste of combat came during the Spanish  C ivil  W ar, in 1936, and stayed in service up until 1965 under the Spanish Airforce. Its most notable use was during World War  II , fighting for the 3 rd  Reich from 1939 to 1945.   The Bf-109, also commonly known as the Me-109, was one of very few aircraft that remained in service throughout  W orld  W ar  II  and was still able to hold its own against the ever more advanced allied aircraft. The aircraft has over 100 variants created during its time in service and has been licensed for use by multiple countries. Originally created in 1934 by the German air ministry to be the first modern monoplane desig...
Post a Comment
Read more