[feathhd]

I thought we had a law that said no cutting ,haying, baling until June sometime.
The exception being the shoulder of hwys for safety purposes. Come to find out that law doesn't apply to private lands at all. Potentially lost a few turkey nests yesterday in a 500 sum acre alfalfa field.

The hell with the water and the hell with ground nesting wildlife. Wow.

 

[Last Honk]

Hay gets cut when it's time. It's not the farmers fault we are nearly 2 weeks ahead because of the ideal cool crop growing conditions for most of the spring.

 

[Getduck]

Bill, where have you been the last 40 years? We have always cut hay in Iowa in May; except for when it has been too wet and goes into June or even July. Historically, Memorial Day weekend has been the target for first cutting; at least here in central Iowa.

 

[nobands]

it's unfortunate, but I do know guys that if a hen.jumps they will try to mow around. the worst is that alfalfa is often the most attractive nesting cover available.

 

[mharrington]

Nesting season on public land is March 15 - July 15. No hay cutting on the WMA's during that time.

 

[feathhd]

never really saw that around here. you know, corn and soybeans drive the plow.

1st field we have had around here that was alfalfa, especially that size.

I get it. I wonder if that to is what happens in the Dakotas?

 

[1100 Remington Man]

No mowing road right away till July 15 unless 200 yards from a Farm dwelling or for safety reason at intersections so vehicles can see one another.
Why Iowa has no nesting habitat more and more farming to the edge of the roads as the fences have been removed, but farming to the edge of the road is illegal in Iowa, as is haying the right of way till July 15th. FYI

 

[bad dog]

get that hay baled?bad dog

 

[Larry D]

Seen some fawns get bailed with first crop too!

 

[Wingsetter]

it's unfortunate, but I do know guys that if a hen.jumps they will try to mow around. the worst is that alfalfa is often the most attractive nesting cover available.

I've them do that more for Pheasant then anything else, farmers around here have no love loss for Deer or Turkeys..