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.