“Make hay when the sun shines.”
It’s a common often repeated old time saying that is always proven true best Biblical advice.
Rain is essential for growth of grass to make hay but moisture at the wrong time deteriorates the crop.
Weather forecasts are followed closely before mowing grass to make hay. While the predictions are often inaccurate, it is still important to prevent hay spoilage as is possible.
Once grass has been mowed, time is required for it to dry before being baled into hay. Drying depends on weather conditions with bright hot sun and light wind typically being the fastest.
Cool, cloudy weather with no breeze slows the drying time sometimes to the point of requiring several days.
Worst case scenario is when the mowed grass is rained on and that extra water must dry out too. It slows down the haying process that is always a hurry up and get it done operation.
Turning the wettened grass with a hay rake in the windrow helps speed up hay drying time. This also requires additional labor and equipment usage.
It does vary with the situation, but usually hay quality deteriorates when there is rain on the mowed grass. The hay will generally be lower in protein content and off-colored rather than the desired green.
Of course, Mother Nature has the power to control the sun and the rain. So. farmers and ranchers must do their best to work with and around her actions.
There is constant complaining and additional worries about the crop waiting to be baled. At least before mowing, the grass is growing and increasing yield.
Too much rain can sometimes create problems with farm work, but it is always better to have moisture than none.
Getting grass wet from rain before it can be baled is not good, yet far better than not having hay.
So far this year, there has been enough moisture, so most fields have enough grass for a sufficient hay crop. That contrasts with some recent years and is certainly appreciated by farmers and ranchers and their livestock.
Despite the uncontrollable detriments that arise from harvesting and baling hay, it is still usually easier than growing other crops.
Reminded again of Proverbs 10:5: “Make hay while the sun shines, that’s smart. But going fishing during harvest, that’s senseless.”
+++ALLELUIA+++
XVIII–30–22-2024
