Now is the optimal time for Kentucky forage producers to cut hay to ensure they get good quality and yield. | Photo: Matt Barton/UK Agricultural Communications

“The stage of maturity at which the hay is cut is the biggest factor that affects quality,” said Tom Keene, hay marketing specialist with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

Many Kentucky producers entered the winter of 2013-2014 thinking they had enough good-quality hay to sustain their livestock. Before the end of winter, some found that they needed more or that their hay quality was not as good as they had previously thought.

For grasses, Keene said producers should cut the plant when it’s in the late boot stage (just prior to seedhead emergence). For legumes, producers should harvest when the plant is at the late bud or early flowering stage. A good rule of thumb for legume producers is to watch for flowers in the field. As flowers begin to appear, it’s time to harvest for good-quality forage. Waiting any longer could result in poor-quality hay. While the harsh winter and a colder-than-average early spring slowed the development of some grasses and legumes, most are at or nearing maturity now