Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-08-23
Producing Good
Quality of Hay
Timothy Is Cut After
Coming Into Full Bloom
the Better the Crop.

Prepared ~ the United states Dep&rtmen
of Agriculture
Don't let timothy hay stand too loni
before cutting. advises the Unites
States Department OF Agriculture
Only a small percentage of timoth,
hay marketed each year grades No. !
statistics show. but the Department.
hay grading specialists have fount
that q large part of the timothy hay
which has been grading No. 2 AND
No. 3 timothy would have been No.
had Ii been cut at an earlier stage OF
maturity, provided the method of cur
ing and weather conditions were fav.
orable for producing a good quality OF
hay.
Color Determines Grade.
Under the United States timothy
grades, which have been recon-
nended recently by the Department
IF Agriculture, color alone determines
the grade unless the hay is very
weedy. Color In hay is caused by the
amount of brown leaf surface. brown
Or bleached heads, md bleached and
of-colored stems. II has been found
that there Is a close relation between
the time of cutting or stage of matur-
lty of timothy hay, and the amount
IF color.
In the United States grades for
timothy hay the maximum allowance
Of brown leaf surface for No. 1 tim
othy is 40 per cent. with 2 per cent
Of brown or bleached heads, and 8 per
cent of bleached or ~of-colored stems.
To prevent the color from exceeding
.hese limits. 1t has been found that
Inder normal conditions, the hay as
.ured by the average haymaker must
De cut not later than when In full
In some sections, and under
conditions. 1t may be advis-
able to cut the hay even earlier.
There appears to be an Idea preva.
ent among producers In some sec
ions that early cut hay is more
or laxative than hay that is
'iper, but there is practically no ac-
data on this subject. Agrlcul-
ural experiment stations have found,
However, that the sooner hay Is cut
Ifter coming into full bloom, the more
digestible nutrients 1t VIII con-
ain. This earlier cut hay also VIII be
'alatable and relished by stock.
Since hay cut at this time Is more |
nutritious, and win also be of a higher
commercial grade than late cut hay,
roducers are urged to cut their hay |
{ the proper time unless 1t is Inn
erative that more important work
aust be done on other crops.
Weather 10 important Factor.
Weather is also an important factor
producing good hay. Best quality
ay is often almost ruined by rain.
While hay which has been stained
v rains or heavy dew may often be
ed on the farms to advantage. 1t is
iscounted In the markets. Producers
nould keep this damaged hay sepa-
ate from the better hay, as 1t is Inn
ossible to~separate 1t later when bal
lg or marketing. A little damaged
ay mixed with the good frequently
,uses the buyer to refuse to take the
hay except at a very heavy dis
,unt. Only choice qualities of hay
ring the higher prices, therefore pro-
should harvest their hay prop
'ly.
The suggestions recommended by
Department Of Agriculture are
unmarked as follows:
i. Start cutting your timothy hay
loon as possible after the meadow
aches early or first full bloom.
2. Cure In the manner that will best
the color and quality of the
~.
8. If any hay becomes stained or
Imaged from rain or too long ex-
sure to the sun, store apart from
e good hay also keep weedy hay
parate from the clean hay. F.,