The Cut Schedule for Perennial Peanut Hay in North Florida
If you've ever wondered why some perennial peanut hay tests at 18% crude protein and some at 13%, the answer is mostly the cut date. Here's how the year breaks down on our farm and on most North Florida perennial peanut operations.
The growing window
Perennial peanut (Arachis glabrata) goes dormant in winter and grows actively from roughly mid-April through mid-October in the Florida Panhandle. That's a 6-month productive window.
Within that window, growers typically get 3–4 cuttings per field, each separated by 6–8 weeks of regrowth.
Cut-by-cut breakdown
First cut — late May to mid-June
Quality: Highest of the season. Crude protein typically 16–19%, very high leaf retention, low fiber.
Why: The crop has had 6+ weeks of growth since dormancy break. Leaves are young and dense. Stems are still tender.
Watch for: Weather. May rainstorms can ruin a cut on the field. Growers who hit a good 5-day dry window get premium hay.
Second cut — mid-July to early August
Quality: Good, but typically below first cut. Crude protein 14–17%. Leaf retention strong if baled before afternoon humidity.
Why: Summer heat accelerates growth and stem development. Hay matures faster between cuts.
Watch for: Florida thunderstorms. This cut is the hardest to time in any season — afternoon storms can drop 2 inches on a windrowed cut.
Third cut — early September to late September
Quality: Reliable, mid-range. Crude protein 13–16%.
Why: Cooler nights start to slow growth. Stems are more developed. Plants are starting to prepare for dormancy.
Watch for: Tropical systems. Hurricane season can flatten a windrow or wet down a barn full of fresh bales.
Fourth cut — mid to late October (optional)
Quality: Variable. Crude protein 12–15%. Lower leaf retention.
Why: Last grasp before dormancy. Plants are starting to translocate nutrients to roots, so leaves are lower in protein.
Watch for: Frost. A heavy frost shuts down the crop and any cut after that is finished forage for the season.
What happens between cuts
After a field is cut:
- Day 0–7: Regrowth shoots emerge
- Day 7–21: Rapid leaf and stem growth
- Day 21–42: Leaf area peaks, ideal harvest window starts
- Day 42–56: Hay matures, optimal cut window
- Day 56+: Stems lignify, quality drops
The best growers cut on days 42–50 of regrowth. Earlier = lower yield. Later = lower quality.
The 5-day dry window
Cutting perennial peanut hay requires 5 consecutive dry days:
- Day 1: Cut
- Day 2: Sun and air dry on the field
- Day 3: Rake (turns the windrow, exposes wet underside)
- Day 4: Final dry-down
- Day 5: Bale
In Florida summer, finding 5 consecutive dry days is the single hardest part of growing hay. We watch the National Weather Service hourly forecast obsessively, and even then we lose 1–2 cuts per year to unexpected rain.
Quality timeline for the buyer
When you place an order in:
- April: You're buying last fall's stored hay (3rd or 4th cut)
- May: You're buying late stored 4th cut or earliest fresh 1st cut
- June–July: Fresh first cut, peak quality
- August: Fresh second cut, very good
- September–October: Fresh third cut
- November–December: Stored 3rd / 4th cut
- January–March: Stored hay from prior year, still excellent if properly barn-stored
Standing-order customers usually request premium first cut for late spring delivery, since first cut routinely tests highest.
How to read a hay seller's cut date
Always ask which cut you're buying. The forage analysis should be dated within 30 days of the cut. If a seller can't tell you the cut date, they probably don't have a forage test either.
At our farm, every bale is dated with its cut number. We post the current cut and its forage analysis publicly on the product page.
Storage stability after cut
Properly cured (12–15% moisture) perennial peanut hay stored in our barn keeps its quality:
- 0–6 months: zero noticeable loss
- 6–12 months: minor color fade outside, no internal change
- 12–18 months: 3–5% protein loss
- 18+ months: still feedable but quality has dropped
This is why we don't recommend hoarding hay through summer in your own barn — and why a standing order from our climate-stable barn beats long-term self-storage.
See current cut info and forage test → or call (850) 573-0470 or (850) 573-0471 to ask about a specific cut.