Haying

Haying, like burning, is a management tool that affects all plant species at the same moment in time. In contrast, grazing impacts plant species at different intensities and time; depending on livestock preference for each plant species. For this reason, haying is used to impact or manage plants where livestock refuse to graze (e.g. weed patches), or where fire is not a practical alternative (e.g. close proximity to homes or buildings). It accomplishes several objectives, including killing invading tree seedlings, removing heavy thatch layers, and creating firebreaks for future prescribed burns.

Haying is generally delayed until after July 15 to reduce injury to nests and nesting birds. Research has indicated that the majority of nesting by grassland nesting bird species has been completed by this date. Unless the area is being hayed for a firebreak, it is generally hayed once every 3 to 4 years. In a typical year, about 300 acres are hayed across the Wetland Management District, mostly for firebreaks.

In 2002, the severe drought resulted in a huge demand for any hay available. Heavy stands of reed canarygrass were hayed on Massie, Rolland, and Nelson WPAs. For the first time, a cooperator was willing to hay a dense stand of river bulrush on Massie WPA. The forage value was about 10-11 percent crude protein. The cooperator ground up the bulrush and used it as one third of his feed mix.

Cooperators who do the haying are charged a fee for the hay. The money is then divided into two funds: a portion goes toward refuge revenue sharing and the balance is used for other management needs on the property.

Last updated: September 23, 2008