Start Date
2-25-1999 11:15 AM
Description
Hay stores well for long periods and is better suited to cash sale and transportation than silage and remains the most popular method for harvesting the alfalfa crop. Rapid drying reduces field losses by reducing respiration and by reducing the incidence of rain damage during curing. Because of these factors, harvest losses are greatest for very dry forage and are low for very wet material like direct cut silage. However, the latter is subject to excessive storage losses due to seepage and to quality deterioration. Storage losses are generally minimized by harvesting at low moisture levels.
Included in
Practical and Economical Ways to Increase Alfalfa Hay Drying Rates
Hay stores well for long periods and is better suited to cash sale and transportation than silage and remains the most popular method for harvesting the alfalfa crop. Rapid drying reduces field losses by reducing respiration and by reducing the incidence of rain damage during curing. Because of these factors, harvest losses are greatest for very dry forage and are low for very wet material like direct cut silage. However, the latter is subject to excessive storage losses due to seepage and to quality deterioration. Storage losses are generally minimized by harvesting at low moisture levels.