By Brian Randall and Ryan Heinen
Early summer captures the full beauty of Gwenyn Hill Farm as the very best of nature is on display. Both plants and animals are putting on some serious growth as the nights get warmer and the rain replenishes the landscape. This is the time when the careful management of our pastures and fields is most important. The decisions made now will impact not only the success of this season, but that of seasons to come. In this article we aim to share about our organic hay production and why it is so important to our farm.
A perfect scenario for the beef cattle: grazing on lush pasture. Now is the time to start planning for the winter months when the pasture is not growing.
A Focus on Stewardship
Organic hay differs from most conventional hay in a few different ways. First, organic hay has no GMO plants and no synthetic chemicals added to the crop or soil. Our hay fields are aided only by the application of animal manure, compost, calcium, or natural mineral nutrients. This is done to return nutrients to the system after a harvest, correct soil pH levels, and stimulate microbial activity. Without healthy soil we will not be able to produce healthy food, so this is always at the forefront of our planning. Our hay plantings are also made up of a diverse array of grasses, legumes and forbs. This diversity of plants encourages soil health and protects our hay crops from large scale insect damage that could decimate monoculture alfalfa fields more common in conventional agriculture. This year we saw lots of insect damage in our alfalfa fields, but the clover and grasses mixed in were growing well, so our first hay crop was still very good.
A longer crop rotation, protection from soil erosion, and grassland songbird habitat are also key reasons we put acres of our farm into hay production every year. After fields of annual grain crops undergo tillage for weed control, our soil needs time to rebuild and repair the damage that results from this process. The perennial hay crop allows for this repair and restoration of soil health. Normally the field is kept in hay for at least 4 years. During this time the hay also pushes out annual weeds and perennial thistles that tend to creep in during annual organic grain production. Soil erosion is a big concern on our hills and a perennial hay crop greatly reduces potential erosion by having living roots in the ground all year long. Diverse, perennial hay fields also serve as habitat for wildlife and pollinator species, many of which are in serious decline around the country.
Making hay when the sun shines. Harvesting at peak quality ensures the best feed for our animals.
Our Method
On Gwenyn Hill Farm we make two types of hay: wet hay wrapped in plastic (also known as baleage) and dry hay. Traditionally dry hay is made by cutting the hay and leaving it to dry on the fields for 3 or 4 days until it reaches a moisture level of 15% or less, at which time it is raked and baled. This can be very difficult to do, especially in early summer when 3 or 4 sunny days in a row without rain can be hard to get. If the hay is rained on after being cut it can be totally ruined. Baleage on the other hand usually only takes two sunny days to make. This hay is cut one day, and then raked, baled and wrapped in plastic the next. This hay needs to be 40-60% moisture and sealed in plastic to keep the oxygen out, allowing beneficial bacteria to ferment the hay and preserve it until winter when we need to start feeding it. The keys to a successful hay harvest are to know when the grass and legumes are at their peak quality and to protect it from the weather once it is baled.
There is a downside to storing baleage in this way, and it is all the plastic that is used. Here at Gwenyn Hill our focus is on sustainable agriculture, so the use of plastic in this way is something we are sensitive to. The protection of our high-quality feed is of utmost importance because of the time and energy that goes into producing this feed as well as the quality of the food products that leave the farm and go to our community. As we look toward the future we continue to explore ways we can meet these requirements while reducing our use of plastic products.
Using the Bale Wrapper to store the hay until it is needed over the winter months.
We firmly believe this approach to hay production is the best practice we can implement to promote long-term restoration of the land and to give our animals the best quality feed over the winter months. We hope that you now have a better idea of what makes our farm unique and an understanding of our organic hay production methods. As the summer unfolds there will be many opportunities to make a lasting impact on our fields, our animals and the food we produce. Careful management is key to a successful farming future.