If the initial plant moisture is low when mowed: (1) the hay-in-a- 

 day systems (using hay conditioners) do not require the drying vinits 

 because the forage dries to 20 percent in 1 day, and (2) the hay-in-more- 

 than-a-day systems will reduce the drying time required by 1 day. 



Type of Forage 



There were 3 types of forage considered for harvest by the model: 

 (1) "Hay Good" — defined as forage that does not get rained on after 

 it is mowed. This forage is fed to cows or sold if the program options 

 allow surplus hay sales. 



(2) "Hay Damaged" — defined as forage that is rained on at least 



1 day but not more than 5 days after it is mowed. This forage is fed to 

 the cows or sold if there is more than enough for feeding and the pro- 

 gram permits selling. 



(3) "Hay Salvaged" — defined as forage that is rained on more than 

 5 days after it is mowed. This forage is not fed to cows but is sold at a 

 lower price than good hay or damaged hay. 



Total Losses of Forage 



The losses of forage in harvesting, storing, and feeding make up the 

 total losses. Therefore, the remaining forage is available to produce 

 milk. The harvesting losses make up the largest percentage of the total 

 losses and depend upon the method of handling and the percentage of 

 moisture of the forage at harvest time.^^ To control as many variables 

 as possible, it was assumed that field-cured forage would be harvested 

 at 20 percent moisture, and artificially dried forage would be har- 

 vested at 40 percent moistvire. The total losses for first and second 

 crops, using the 6 harvesting systems, are given in Table 1. 



Weather Patterns and Date of Harvest 



The weather patterns used in this study are from recorded weather 

 observation at the official weather station in Concord, New Hamp- 

 shire, i*^ These observations were for the 52-year period from 1910 

 through 1961. 



The following assumptions were made about the weather patterns 

 and harvest operations: 



(1) A rainy day was a 24-hour period starting at 5 p.m. in which 

 more than a trace of rain falls; 



(2) The operator was unable to forecast the weather; and 



(3) Mowing would occur every clear day except when there were 



2 mowings already cut. 



15 Slack, et. al.. Effect of Curing Methods and Stage of Maturity upon Feeding 

 Value of Roughages, Cornell Agr. Expt. Sta. Bui. 957. 1960. 



16 Local Climatological Data with Comparative Data, Concord, New Hampshire, 

 U. S. Department of Commerce, Weather Bureau, 1910 through 1961. 



17 



