{"id":982,"date":"2026-05-22T08:09:26","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T08:09:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/?p=982"},"modified":"2026-05-22T08:09:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T08:09:26","slug":"grass-hay-production-orchardgrass-timothy-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/ja\/grass-hay-production-orchardgrass-timothy-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"\u7267\u8349\u751f\u7523\uff1a\u30aa\u30fc\u30c1\u30e3\u30fc\u30c9\u30b0\u30e9\u30b9\u3001\u30c1\u30e2\u30b7\u30fc\u3001\u53ce\u7a6b\u30ac\u30a4\u30c9"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Grass Hay Production Guide<\/span><\/p>\n

\u7267\u8349\u751f\u7523\uff1a\u30aa\u30fc\u30c1\u30e3\u30fc\u30c9\u30b0\u30e9\u30b9\u3001\u30c1\u30e2\u30b7\u30fc\u3001\u53ce\u7a6b\u30ac\u30a4\u30c9<\/h1>\n

Cool-season grass hay follows different production rules than alfalfa \u2014 different maturity indicators, different drying behavior, different conditioning requirements, and different market channels. Producers who apply alfalfa management protocols to orchardgrass or timothy miss quality opportunities that are specific to grass biology. This guide covers the production management differences that separate average grass hay from the premium grades that access horse and direct-market channels at $30\u2013$80 per ton above commodity grass hay prices.<\/p>\n

Species Overview<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Cool-Season Grass Species: How Each One Differs in Production<\/h2>\n

The major cool-season grass hay species \u2014 orchardgrass, timothy, smooth bromegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass \u2014 each have distinct growth habits, maturity timing, market positions, and management requirements. Managing them as a single category produces average results. Matching management to species produces the premium quality that commands premium prices.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Species<\/th>\nCutting stage target<\/th>\nDrying speed<\/th>\nPeak market<\/th>\nAnnual cuttings<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Orchardgrass<\/td>\nBoot to early head<\/td>\nFast (flat leaf)<\/td>\nHorse, rabbit, guinea pig<\/td>\n2\u20134<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Timothy<\/td>\nBoot to early head<\/td>\nModerate (dense stem)<\/td>\nHorse, export (Japan\/Korea)<\/td>\n2\uff5e3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Smooth bromegrass<\/td>\nBoot to pre-head<\/td>\n\u9069\u5ea6<\/td>\nHorse, beef cattle<\/td>\n2\uff5e3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tall fescue<\/td>\nBoot stage \u2014 before head emergence<\/td>\nModerate (thick stem)<\/td>\nCattle, endophyte-free varieties for horse<\/td>\n2\u20134<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Perennial ryegrass<\/td>\nHead emergence<\/td>\nFastest<\/td>\nDairy, silage<\/td>\n3\uff5e5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Cutting Stage for Grass Hay Quality: The Boot Stage Window<\/h2>\n

\"mower-conditioner<\/p>\n

In alfalfa, the maturity trigger is bloom stage \u2014 visible flowers. In cool-season grasses, the equivalent quality-timing indicator is the boot stage \u2014 the period just before the seed head emerges from the uppermost leaf sheath. At boot stage, the grass has maximum digestibility (NDFD), acceptable protein (10\u201314% CP), and has not yet lignified the stem tissue that reduces ADF and NDF digestibility after heading.<\/p>\n

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Boot stage identification (target)<\/div>\n

The seed head is visible as a swelling in the flag leaf sheath \u2014 you can feel the bulge when you run your fingers up the stem \u2014 but it has not yet broken through the leaf. At this stage the stem is still flexible and contains high levels of non-structural carbohydrates. For horse and premium markets, cut at late boot to flag leaf emergence \u2014 before any seed head is visible above the top leaf. For livestock hay where moderate quality is acceptable, cutting at early head emergence (seedhead just visible) is acceptable but produces lower-grade hay.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Post-heading quality loss (avoid)<\/div>\n

Once the seed head has fully emerged and the grass begins to shed pollen (anthesis), ADF and NDF values climb rapidly. An orchardgrass stand cut at boot stage may test RFV 170; the same stand cut 10 days later at full head emergence may test RFV 140 \u2014 a 30-point quality reduction from a single week’s delay. Unlike alfalfa where delayed cutting loses 1\u20132 points per day, grass quality in the heading period can drop 3\u20135 points per day under warm conditions. The boot stage window is narrow \u2014 typically 5\u201310 days \u2014 and monitoring is required to catch it each cutting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Conditioning Grass Hay: Different Stem Types Need Different Approaches<\/h2>\n

Cool-season grasses vary significantly in stem structure \u2014 from the flat, broad leaves of orchardgrass to the dense, thick culms of timothy \u2014 and each stem type responds differently to conditioning. Applying the same conditioner gap setting that works well for alfalfa to all grass species produces inconsistent results across a mixed operation.<\/p>\n

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Orchardgrass<\/div>\n
Flat, broad leaves with relatively thin culms dry quickly \u2014 orchardgrass at boot stage can reach baling moisture in 18\u201324 hours in good summer conditions without conditioning. When conditioning is used, a wide roll gap (4\u20136 mm) is appropriate \u2014 tighter gaps cause excessive leaf damage on the broad, fragile leaves. Orchardgrass loses leaves more readily than timothy or bromegrass; minimize unnecessary field passes after cutting.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Timothy<\/div>\n
Dense, cylindrical culms with a waxy exterior cuticle that resists drying without conditioning. Timothy genuinely benefits from aggressive conditioning \u2014 the cuticle must be cracked to allow moisture to escape from the stem tissue. Use a tighter roll gap (2\u20133 mm) and confirm conditioning is working with the drying time test. Well-conditioned timothy dries at a rate comparable to alfalfa; unconditioned timothy takes significantly longer. The stem-to-leaf ratio is lower in timothy than orchardgrass, so leaf damage from tight conditioning is less of a quality concern.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Smooth bromegrass<\/div>\n
Intermediate stem structure between orchardgrass and timothy. Benefits from conditioning but less critically than timothy. Standard 3\u20134 mm gap suitable for most conditions. Bromegrass is the most tolerant of the three species to variable conditioning settings \u2014 quality outcomes are less sensitive to precise gap management.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Raking Grass Hay: Timing for Leaf Retention<\/h2>\n

\"hay<\/p>\n

Grass hay raking timing is governed by the same moisture principles as alfalfa \u2014 rake when leaves are still flexible enough to flex over tines without shattering \u2014 but the specific moisture thresholds and the sensitivity to leaf loss differ by species. Broad-leaf grasses (orchardgrass, bromegrass) lose more leaf per unit of over-drying than narrow-blade grasses (timothy, ryegrass) because their larger leaf surface area presents more contact points with the rake tines.<\/p>\n

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Orchardgrass: rake at 25\u201335% moisture<\/div>\n

Orchardgrass leaves are broad and have a low tensile strength at their attachment to the stem \u2014 they detach easily when dry and brittle. Rake orchardgrass at higher moisture (25\u201335%) than you would alfalfa, accepting a slightly wet windrow for the baler to process later. Raking at below 20% moisture on orchardgrass routinely causes 8\u201315% leaf loss \u2014 the visible “tan carpet” of shed leaves visible behind the rake that represents the highest-quality fraction of the hay disappearing into the field.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Timothy: rake at 20\u201330% moisture<\/div>\n

Timothy’s narrow leaves are more resistant to shatter than orchardgrass, allowing a slightly lower rake moisture without comparable leaf loss. However, timothy’s dense culms mean the windrow center dries more slowly than the surface \u2014 a rake moisture reading of 20% at the surface may correspond to 28%+ at the windrow center. Take probe readings at windrow depth before raking and base the timing on the deepest readings, not the surface.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Premium Grass Hay Markets: Who Buys and What They Pay<\/h2>\n

Premium grass hay commands prices equal to or above conventional alfalfa in specific market channels \u2014 primarily horse markets and international export. Producers who understand these channels and produce to their specifications consistently access the highest prices for grass hay production. The key insight: grass hay premiums are earned by meeting specific quality criteria that differ from alfalfa, not by simply being a “grass type.”<\/p>\n

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Horse market: orchardgrass and timothy<\/div>\n

Horse owners \u2014 particularly those managing sport horses, racehorses, or metabolically sensitive horses \u2014 often prefer grass hay because its lower protein (10\u201314% CP) and lower nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) content reduces the risk of metabolic and digestive issues that high-protein alfalfa can cause. Premium horse grass hay specifications: RFV 140\u2013170, CP 10\u201314%, NSC below 12%, moisture below 14%, very low ash, golden color, minimal dust. Horse hay at this specification commands $180\u2013$280\/ton in most eastern and midwestern markets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Export timothy (Pacific Northwest)<\/div>\n

Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan import significant quantities of U.S. timothy hay for horses and small animals. Japanese export timothy specifications are stringent: color grade is as important as nutritional grade; dust must be virtually absent; moisture below 14%; seed head presentation (fully developed at cutting, consistent color) is evaluated visually. Pacific Northwest timothy grown under optimal irrigation and climate conditions is the primary source for this market. Export timothy can command $250\u2013$380\/ton FOB Pacific port, making it one of the highest-value grass hay markets in the U.S.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Small animal and rabbit market<\/div>\n

Orchardgrass and timothy hay packaged for small animals (rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas) command extremely high retail prices per pound \u2014 equivalent to $600\u2013$1,200+\/ton at consumer retail, though producers typically sell to distributors at $200\u2013$400\/ton. Requirements: virtually zero dust, no mold spores, bright fresh color, no seed heads (for some products), very low moisture. Small-scale farm-direct operations in suburban and peri-urban markets can sometimes access consumer prices directly, bypassing the distributor margin.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The complete quality management decisions from cutting through baling that determine whether grass hay achieves premium or commodity grade are in the \u5e72\u3057\u8349\u306e\u54c1\u8cea\u6539\u5584\u30ac\u30a4\u30c9<\/a>. The mowing and conditioning equipment setup that maximizes drying rate while protecting grass leaf retention is in the mowing and conditioning quality guide<\/a>. The gearbox and driveline specifications for mower-conditioners used on grass stands are in \u8fb2\u696d\u7528\u30ae\u30a2\u30dc\u30c3\u30af\u30b9\u304a\u3088\u3073PTO\u99c6\u52d5\u7cfb\u90e8\u54c1\u306e\u4ed5\u69d8<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Grass Hay Production Calendar: Key Decisions by Season<\/h2>\n

\"farm<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Season<\/th>\nKey action<\/th>\nSpecies-specific note<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Early spring (greenup)<\/td>\nWalk fields, assess density and stand health; apply potassium and phosphorus if soil test indicates deficiency<\/td>\nTimothy: note whether tiller density is adequate (5+ tillers\/sq ft); thin stands need reseeding before first cut<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
First cutting (May\u2013June)<\/td>\nMonitor boot stage weekly once grass reaches 12 inches; mow at boot stage; condition at species-appropriate gap<\/td>\nOrchardgrass boots 2\u20133 weeks earlier than timothy in mixed stands \u2014 consider separate field management by species for quality optimization<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Second cutting (July\u2013August)<\/td>\nAllow 35\u201345 days recovery between cuts; second-cut grass typically produces lower yield but similar or slightly lower quality than first cut depending on summer heat<\/td>\nTimothy: second-cut yield is typically 40\u201360% of first-cut yield; don’t overestimate second-cut production when planning market commitments<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fall management<\/td>\nAllow 4\u20136 weeks of growth before frost for carbohydrate root reserve accumulation; do not cut within 6 weeks of expected first hard frost<\/td>\nCool-season grasses are less sensitive to fall cutting date than alfalfa but still benefit from the fall rest; stand persistence is better with a 4-week fall growth period before dormancy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Stand Persistence and Renovation Triggers for Grass Hay<\/h2>\n

Unlike alfalfa, cool-season grasses do not have the same dramatic thinning from over-cutting \u2014 they spread vegetatively and can partially self-heal gaps through tillering and rhizome growth. However, grass stands do decline over time from soil fertility depletion, compaction, pest damage, and weed ingress. Knowing when a stand has declined below economic productivity \u2014 and when renovation or overseeding can restore it \u2014 prevents investing in management on a stand that should be replaced.<\/p>\n

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Signs the stand is still productive<\/div>\n