When to make hay

[Yvette]

I would normally leave making hay to as late in the summer as possible- last year September. But everything has gone to seed this year already because of the drought. Do I need to bring hay making forward and do it now? Any decision to make hay will no doubt lead to torrential storms
Many thanks in advance for advice
Yvette

[Donna Cox]

Once the rain comes (assuming it will!) the grass will bounce back again so they'll be plenty of it for a hay cut later. If you have a lot of Yellow Rattle in the field it will only suppress the grass growth until it's set seed. Then the plant will die back, as it's an annual, and the grasses will vigorously grow back.

Those in Countryside Stewardship schemes, like myself, can't cut their fields before the 15th of July anyway.