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Central Kansas | Brian...brome grass is used extensively here in waterways...like the ditches to which you refer. Due to heat and low moisture, this cool season grass (smooth brome) is the most sought after non-legume horse hay in these parts. We are too far north for successful burmuda grass and too far south for timothy and orchard (or at least it is not planted much).
The BEST time for crude protein and palatibility is about what you describe or a little before. It is best for nutritional value to cut and bale prior to seed starting to form in the heads. Brome is short here (about 1/2-2/3rds normal crop) because of no winter or early spring moisture. I have a few waterways, but have also established brome meadows just for the hay business. Needs nitrogen and is heavy user of phosphate, without which the nitrogen is not utilized. Good management of brome in these parts allows 1 good cutting of 2 ton/acre and in most years will net you $100/acre without much for inputs. Not so good for wildlife however. | |
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Should be some interesting hay
