I have a field, about 4 acres, currently just grass. I’ve been doing due diligence in keeping it thistle and tansy free. I’d like to turn it into a hay field, but have no clue as to how realistic or helpful this would be in terms of quantity. It’s easy to mow, we have people on this small island (San Juan Islands, Washington State) who do haying. The supply chain and ferry disruption, let alone climate change, has made it quite difficult for horse owners to get hay. I don’t have horses myself, or livestock, but just want what I have to be useful. Anyone have any ideas?
I assume you ride somewhere?
Why not ask your barn owner where you ride if their hay provider would be willing to talk to you about the possibility of someone haying your field.
They would likely be able to tell you if there would be interest (even if they themselves were not interested) and what would be involved in a lease, etc.
If nothing else they can direct you to someone to help you, if they can not.
I have an L-shaped area on my small acreage that hayguy neighbors have cut & baled for the last 5yrs.
I doubt it’s more than 2ac & this year they got 125 small (40-50#) squares.
First year it was crappy, each succeeding year the grass gets nicer. Mix of mostly orchard grass with some timothy & very little clover.
No maintenance is done to this field at all.
They keep what they get (& give me my year’s worth from other fields they lease) & in exchange I get property that looks civilized.
Just contact the people doing the haying in your area, show them the field and let them identify the grasses growing there. They will either express and interest in haying it, or not, depending on what they see. Before ANYONE ventures out onto this unknown field, they must be SURE that the field has no hazards that are hidden in the tall grass… old barbed wire fence, harrows grown into the grass roots, huge holes or other dangers that will cause a wreck if a tractor and equipment drives over it. If you certify it safe, and it isn’t, it’s gonna be your fault and you will have a nasty equipment repair bill for damages. If you do not know the ground intimately already, walk it and inspect it. If the work is done successfully, you will own a percentage of the hay, which you can sell or use for your own purposes. You must agree on what your percentage is before the work is done. Usual split is 50/50 to 6040 in favour of the person who does the work. In later years, less risk, and better quality hay will come off it.
Thanks! I did put word out on our local horse site and have a few contacts now of people who hay. I walk the field daily so know it well! It’s free of hazards, but not the easiest to mow just due
to the slope at the lower end. Still, given the hay shortage, it’d be great to be able to offer hay to locals versus just having my neighbor mow the grass and leave it. The soil is fantastic, I know it has potential for great hay.
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Wow that is great! That is what I’m looking for, thanks!
No I do not have horses now and do not ride since spine surgery in 2018-and there is no local stable or barn here- its a small island-But I now have some good local contacts who do haying-I think it might be a bit late for this year but next year I hope to have something in place. Thanks!
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This timing will work out well for them. They can see what grows there and what it is like, etc.
I hope something works out for you!
