It's been a tough year for forage producers with all the rain we've received over the summer.
The problem, according to Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association Extension Support Person John McGregor, is that the rain usually came down in three or four day intervals.
This left a lot of wet hay standing, or producers had to delay cutting, in some cases it was four to six weeks past maturity.
McGregor notes that the quality of the hay can be affected if it stays wet for too long.
"Hay that's been cut and rained on, a lot of the sugars, which are the energy in feed, can be washed out of the hay," he said. "The hay that's been standing, that's mature, what happens there is we end up with a lot more fibre, the proteins are lower, as well as the total digestible nutrients."
Source : Steinbachonline