An Economic Analysis of Hay Harvesting 

 and Utilization Using a Simulation Model 



by 



CLIFTON C. CLOUD, GEORGE E. FRICK, AND R. A. ANDREWS 1 



INTRODUCTION 



The most important forage fed New Hampshire dairy cows is hay. 

 In 1964, of the 168,044 harvested cropland acres, 142,989 acres (85 per- 

 cent) were harvested as hay.^ Another 10,694 acres (6 percent) were 

 harvested as corn silage or grain. Almost all hay harvested is fed during 

 the 210-day winter feeding period. The importance of hay in feeding 

 programs suggests that the organization of forage harvest as it affects 

 the quality and quantity of hay harvested could substantially influence 

 the total income, total cost, and net income of a dairy operation. 

 Knowledge of the extent of this influence on net farm income would aid 

 farmers in planning their farm operation. 



In this study, simulation techniques were vxsed to analyze the effect 

 of different harvesting systems on net farm income. Major emphasis 

 was given to dates of harvest of the first crop of hay with typical equip- 

 ment complements. 



The Technological Features of Forage Growth 



The major technological features of forage growth can be briefly 

 stated as follows: 



First, the earlier the date of cut, the higher percentage of digestible 

 dry matter (DDM) in each unit of forage harvested. The percentage of 

 DDM reflects the quality of the forage; high quality forage has a high 

 percentage of DDM. The quantity (tons) of forage harvested per unit 

 of land increases with progressively later dates of harvest. 



Second, cows will consume greater quantities of early-cut than later- 

 cut hay crops. During the barn feeding period about one-half ton more 

 early-cut (high DDM value) forage than late-cut (low DDM value) 

 forage will be consumed per cow. 



Third, the rate of feeding grain in combination with the varying 

 quality of forage directly affects the amount of milk produced. When 



1 Formerly Graduate Assistant, Department of Resource Economics; Agricultural 

 Economist, Farm Production Economics Division, ERS, USDA stationed at the Uni- 

 versity of New Hampshire; and Associate Professor, Department of Resource Eco- 

 nomics, respectively. 



- U. S. Census of Agriculture, Bureau of Census, U. S. Department of Commerce, 

 Vol. I, Part 2, 1964. 



