One of the many things that happen on a farm in the summer is the harvesting of hay. This is very important for us, because grass makes up 97% of what our cows eat. Hay to a cow is like salad is to us. There are many different varieties, with each having unique qualities. For example, Yesterday we mowed Sudane grass. This grass is very high in protein, and is great for dairy cows. it has simular nutrition value as corn. This is the first year in a while that we have planted this type of grass. We tried it in a couple of fields where the deer typically are a problem for growing corn. So far things look really good, and if we get some more rain, we might be able to get a second cutting off this hay.
Yesterday we mowed the grass, the sun has dried the grass as it lays on the ground, and then today we will use our chopper to pick the grass up and chop it up in to smaller pieces. The chopper throws the pieces of hay in to large wagons. We then take the wagon load of hay back to the farm, where we will store it in a silo or ag bag (large bag that works like a silo).
It is important for farmers to work during this season, to build preparations for the winter. On a Dairy farm, that means lots of hay for the cows, some corn, soybeans, and other grains. We don’t always feed all of the grains, but they come in handy to trade with vendors for things you do need.