Flood Damaged Pasture and Hay

Heavy rains and flooding have devastated much of our state over the past week.  As many of us begin the process of recovering, one thing to consider is the condition of our pasture land and hay.  If your farm was impacted by hurricane Matthew, there are several things you may need to consider over the course of the next week.

Flooded pastures pose several dangers to horse owners.  Before allowing horses to return to the pasture, take a walk and assess the condition of the pasture.  There may be debris in your pasture, which should be removed before horses return.  Make an assessment of how wet the pasture is.  Turning horses out onto pasture which is too wet can cause hoof problems and will also lead to pasture damage and soil compaction.  Sandy soils will drain quickly, but heavier soils may need a week or longer after flood waters recede before draining to an acceptable level. 

Assess forage quality and be sure forages have regained a dark green color.  Flooding causes extreme stress to forages.  Some may not recover and replanting may be necessary for many.  Others will recover, but should not be grazed until they are allowed time to resume growth.  Some damaged forages may mold and begin to decay.  Moldy and decaying forages should be removed by mowing and should not grazed.  Be sure to wear a dust mask, as these mold spores cause respiratory issues. 

Sediment is the largest source of pollution in North Carolina waters, and flood waters often leave behind large amounts of sediment.  Sediment left behind in pastures can lead to sand colic and be deadly.  Sediment deposits will be washed from the leaves with the next rain event, or areas with sediment can be removed by mowing.  After mowing, be sure to only graze new growth, rotating horses to different areas of the pasture before they graze low into the contaminated forage.

Hay which has been damaged by flooding will likely be unusable.  Wet hay can be dangerous, as high moisture levels can lead to heating, and even combustion.  Be sure to spread out wet hay as soon as possible to prevent heating.  Wet hay should not be used for consumption, but can be used for other purposes on the farm, such as erosion control.  Damaged hay can also be spread out over hay fields as a fertilizer.  Keep in mind that hay will wick water, so if bales are stacked, remove layers which came in contact with flood waters, but also check layers above for moisture damage.  Again, a dust mask should be worn when handling moldy hay, as these spores can cause serious respiratory illness when inhaled.  There will likely be a need for hay this winter, so if you have hay available or need hay, post or check online at http://www.ncagr.gov/hayalert/ or contact your extension agent.  

If you have questions about flood damages, contact your extension office.  If you experienced hay losses on you farm, be sure to document losses and take photos of the bales and place where the bales were stored.  Contact your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to ask about emergency assistance programs for hay losses.