[seanpecor]

Young hay isn't as much of a concern as it once was for today's horse owner since an increasing number of folks are supplementing a horse's diet with feed of 10-14% protein. So you could harvest later and sacrifice some protein levels in order to ensure the proper conditioning and color for horse folks. Last year I attended a horse forage conference and a professor from PA had a long line of boxes each with different hay samples. The audience was asked to form a consensus and order the boxes from highest to lowest levels of protein and, surprise, the consensus was mostly wrong. People were judging on appearance alone, which proved how important it was for hay to _look_ good And since most recreation horses are lightly used, a 10% protein level is sufficient, so it's not necessarily counter-productive to judge on looks with respect to horse hay, since even the worst hay at the conference was higher than 10% Plus with horses as you go up in protein, water intake and urination also increases, increasing water needs and - if they're stalled part-time - increased labor and bedding expenses.

Sean

[Skidway1944]

I love seeing the older ways of farming coming back. It means that people are getting fed up with the big-business type of bulldozing in the farm commodities market. Consumers more and more want good food produced in a LOCAL, sustainable way. Let's keep pushing for it!
Peter

[Skidway1944]

Very interesting what took place at the conference!
Just goes to show that the old farmers who cut their hay once nearer the end of the season, after it was "twice blown" knew something about volume and total accumulated value for their stock. All with less travel over the field. Twice blown refered to grasses that had matured, cast their pollen, regrown as an understory, cast their pollen for the second "crop" and then were mown. Was a lower protein feed , but gave a large volume of hay for the winter months.
P

[Skidway1944]

Quick question... What criteria changes one's reputation and also the little green boxes at the right on LJ ??
Peter

[harry chickpea]

I'm not so sure that "twice blown" is always such a good idea. It provides many aggressive weeds a chance to seed and can change the character of a pasture. Down here (Alabama) there is a weed commonly called called dog fennel that becomes obvious in straight pasture and land that isn't hayed two or three times a year. Cows won't touch it, so it just gets a chance to take over.

Skidway, the reputation refers to how many people have clicked on the "Rate this post positively" in all of your posts. The green blocks refer to the number of posts you've made. Take them with a grain of salt, but I try to keep loose track of reputation points remind me if my posts are helping people or just chatter and self-serving.

[Skidway1944]

harry chickpea, thanks for the info! I understand what you are saying about self-serving chatter.
Peter

[seanpecor]

I think the reputation rating is minimally helpful because people aren't encouraged to rate posts as helpful. I appreciate the positive ratings I've gotten, but most of my positive ratings are from photos I've posted, not so much the insight I've provided while contributing on the forum I've wondered about this particular side-effect, because the "Rate this post positively" is located directly under the photo, where photo caption text (i.e., the only part of National Geographic that I read, lol) would normally appear. I wonder if in this case that the link is more obvious to folks.

Sean

[carvster]

Originally Posted by seanpecor

I think the reputation rating is minimally helpful because people aren't encouraged to rate posts as helpful. I appreciate the positive ratings I've gotten, but most of my positive ratings are from photos I've posted, not so much the insight I've provided while contributing on the forum I've wondered about this particular side-effect, because the "Rate this post positively" is located directly under the photo, where photo caption text (i.e., the only part of National Geographic that I read, lol) would normally appear. I wonder if in this case that the link is more obvious to folks.

Sean

Sean,

Just wanted to say Hi and thank you for your insightful posts. I actually found this one by searching for more of your posts after reading several that were very informative and helpful.

I am currently visiting and looking for housing in Franklin County (to rent initially). I'm relocating from Texas having decided to move closer to my mom. Much of my family on mother's side resides there and is sprinkled all over the Roanoke to Martinsville areas.

The move was a fairly quick decision and I experienced sticker price shock once I arrived here, not having paid much attention to real estate during previous visits. Being disabled living on a fixed income has presented a challenge in finding affordable rental housing in the Wirtz area that meets my needs. I'd forgotten how difficult it can be finding housing when you have pets.

Carvi