Cutting Irrigated Hay Costs By Using Soybeans.

Producers have limited impact on prices received for hay. However, producers can have large impact on expenses through creativity and detailed planning. In Washington State, producers spend approximately $256 per acre for cutting, raking and baling alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Part of this expense is moving from field to field and the labor that is required for haying all summer long. Growing soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) for hay has the benefit of nitrogen fixation similar to alfalfa but unlike alfalfa it requires only one cutting, which would eliminate some haying expenses. For soybean hay to be successful it must yield well and hay must be of good quality. Irrigated soybean hay research conducted at Othello, WA and Logan, UT produced 5.0, 5.8 and 6.5 tons per acre, averaged over three years and locations, when harvested on September 1st, 15th, and 30th, respectively. Maturity group of soybean for hay production needs to be later than for grain production as large seeds are hard to dry down and will likely cause molding problems in the bale. In Washington State a maturity group 4 or later provides full season hay production with only small seeds produced at haying time. In contrast, for seed production a maturity group 1.5 is optimum. Producers in WA State have successfully grown soybean hay yielding with yields as high as 4.7 tons/acre with no drying problems. Soybean hay typically has 16 to 22 percent protein and relative feed value (RFV) ranging from 100 to 174.