Depends on whether it’s at the beginning or end of the window. If pressed, l will will go up to 40 or so at the beginning, looking for a sunny baling day

 

Good point about the timing of the rain. Fresh cut, green hay can withstand a little rain with no ill effects. Wait until it is cured and the headaches begin to mount.

 

This window will vary according to the equipment you have.
The sooner the hay is down the sooner it starts curing, so if you have a disc-bine with conditioner a tedder and a rotary rake you can shave 2 or more days from someone with a sickle cutterbar, no conditioner, no tedder and a bar rake, all things being the same. It is my opinion that one needs the latest implements in good working order to hay well and efficiently, the equipment doesn't have to be new. It doesn't matter whether one is a full time farmer or a hobbyist the goal and the weather are the same.

 

SOOO many variables...

First cutting or a later cutting?
Am I behind or ahead of schedule?
How nice is the hay?
Is the rain chance showers or t-storms?
What time of day is the chance?

It’s different every time, though I will say 50% would be about the absolute max for baling day and that would have to be storms for evening.

 

20% for end of window. I have mowed in the rain to get there.

 

30% is when I start getting nervous. However, it depends what part of the haying process the chance of rain is. If it is the day of cutting I would be more tolerant of rain chance than later on. Also, I like to see what the rainfall amounts are projected to be for the given rain chance. In some cases the amount is a few hundredths so not near as big a concern as say 1/2” or more. Personally, when it comes to making baling decisions, I look harder at the forecast rainfall amounts than I do the percent chance of rain.

 

I don't really like to see any rain. I don't sweat it if it's just at 20%, but as the time gets closer and the weatherman gets more confident, that 20% can just as well become 40%, and then 50%, and then rain.

I also check the forecast multiple times a day, every day, and that gives me an idea of their confidence. Sometimes you see those days where it's calling for rain, and then it's taken out, ony to be added back in later, and then maybe later taken out. I like to know if these trends exist, because it tells me they really have no idea what's happening that day and it's a wild card.

In other news, we're in the middle of a drought, I was baling two days ago, and out of nowhere, a black cloud moved in and dropped 1/2" on us. Was like a 2% chance of rain that day.

 

I've had pretty good lucking using the forecast on www.wunderground.com Ignore the % and look at the estimated rainfall total. I find that to be a more accurate prediction. If it says you're going to get 1" of rain then there's a pretty damn good chance you'll get rain. If it says .10", you'll probably get rain but there's a good chance it will miss you.

So here's mine from today. I'd say there's a very high chance we'll get rain tonight and into tomorrow morning. I wouldn't be worried about that .03 on Sunday and it will probably rain monday. It's also nice they show the time of day. I've used it to bale a few hours before it rains.

 

If you had forecasters like around here it wouldn't matter much, wish i had a job where i could be wrong 99% of the time and still keep the job.....