Productive hay seasons aren’t born in the field; they are built through early-season preparation and the adoption of precision technology. As temperatures rise, experts from John Deere and Corteva Agriscience are urging producers to evaluate their forage goals now — whether for the cow-calf herd or the commercial market.
Preparation can be the difference between a productive hay season and a stressful one. That’s why it’s important to start prepping now, to maximize both the yield and the quality of forage production, says Kaylene Ballesteros, John Deere marketing manager of hay and forage equipment.
To get the most from your equipment, she says, first and foremost, it’s helpful to establish your goals for the season. Ask yourself: Are you planning to feed hay to your own herd? Are you selling it? Is it going into a silage program?
“At John Deere, we have a diverse portfolio of technology and offer several crop-processing features that can help you meet your goals, no matter your operation size or type,” Ballesteros says.
For Iowa producer Scott Birker, making high-quality hay to feed his cow-calf herd is his main goal for this season. He shares that good forage management pays off when it comes to cattle health and productivity.
“It makes calving and weaning easier. It really makes everything easier when you start with high-quality forages,” he says.
Birker uses a John Deere 1 Series Round Baler, with gate speed and weave automation. Weave automation is a recently launched baler feature, designed to help streamline the baling process by automatically weaving the baler over the windrow to consistently create square-shouldered bales. It also enhances feed quality by minimizing potential contamination of debris that can be introduced by driving over windrows.
“Our goal is to make sure producers have confidence in their haying equipment, so no matter the time frame, circumstances or who’s in the seat, they can expect a consistent, quality-made round bale every time, with less operation input,” Ballesteros says.
Birker works closely with his local John Deere dealer to ensure equipment is ready for the season and to identify opportunities for improvement. He plans to pinpoint the highest-yielding areas within the hayfields to further maximize production this year.
“If you’re interested in deeper yield data to know if your investments on inputs are paying off, or you are simply looking to track your bale count and moisture, setting up your equipment ahead of time is the best way to ensure you meet your goals,” Ballesteros says. “Whether that’s adding a precision technology kit to your existing equipment or it’s with new equipment that you just purchased, your John Deere dealer can help ensure you’re set up for success.”
Limiting weeds also improves the quality of harvested forage.
“Everyone’s situation is worthy of being discussed, because every producer has unique needs that are far more than just ‘I want to kill weeds dead,’” says Abe Smith, Corteva Agriscience range and pasture specialist. “It’s about trying to meet the long-term goals for that operation.”
Noxious weeds like thistle, ragweed and horsenettle can quickly reduce the productivity of pastures and hayfields, making early control key to limit lasting impacts.
“The only way you put pounds of beef across the scale is by putting pounds of forage on that pasture,” Smith says.
