Southeastern growers who mow their seed crops and subsequently 

 combine from the swath or windrow cannot generally harvest successfully 

 much sooner than growers who combine directly. Under the same condi- 

 tions, a standing crop is dry enough to combine at almost the same time as 

 a swathed crop that was not cut before it was physiologically mature. But 

 mowing, swathing, or windrowing may have advantages at times in the 

 Southeast. 



Frost is an important factor to consider when harvesting Kobe or 

 sericea lespedeza. If a killing frost occurs just as the crop is becoming 

 mature, combining should then be done within 2 or 3 days. Frost kills 

 and dries out plants rapidly and weather shatter soon becomes excessive. 



In the West, ARS-State scientists found that by the time seed crops 

 were normally harvested by conventional methods the production peak has 

 passed and field shatter was high. Subsequent studies of crimson clover, 

 Alta fescue, and subclover showed that earlier than "normal" harvests 

 were practical and that windrow -combining about 1 week before the usual 

 time put more live seed in the bin. Moisture content of the three crops at 

 these earlier than usual harvests was about 36 percent, 44 percent, and 

 27 percent, respectively. A single trial of mowing subclover 3 weeks 

 earlier than usual, windrowing, and combining gave a 55 percent increase 

 in live seed. This interesting result has prompted further studies on time 

 of harvest for subclover. 



Because seed as they mature gradually lose their moisture, moisture 

 data may hold the key to improved harvesting. For instance, if the moisture 

 content of a sample could be accurately determined, the state or stage of 

 maturity could be inferred, and optimum harvest dates based on quantitative 

 measurements rather than on judgment could be established. Scientists 

 are now trying to adapt moisture -measuring electric meters to the job of 

 accurately predicting harvesting dates. 



Harvesting Methods 



Direct combining when properly timed appears to be the most practical 

 way to harvest grass and small legume seed in the Southeast when acreages 

 are small and can be harvested before field shatter becomes excessive. 

 The highest yields attained during a 5 -year trial in this area came from 

 direct combining. But after the optimum yield date is past, direct combined 

 yields decrease faster than swath or windrow yields. 



Swathing or windrowing, before the crop begins to shatter, may be 

 preferred over direct combining in the Southeast if harvesting must be 

 delayed past the optirnum yield date for direct combining. Swathing or 

 windrowing may also be preferred if the crop retains green foliage and 

 matures slowly, or if the crop continues to grow during and after seed 

 harvest. Seed harvested from swath or windrow are drier and cleaner 

 and normally store and germinate better than direct combined seed. 

 Such quality gains, however, may not offset the extra expense and trouble 

 that swathing or windrowing entails in small fields. 



Swaths dry faster and usually yield more than concentrated windrows 

 and are therefore generally preferred in the Southeast. Mowing at night 



