Introduction
Hay has many uses, especially as animal feed, so it’s very important to ensure its quality. If possible, it’s best to make it yourself to save money and ensure high quality. In the next article, I’ll show you how to make hay and what tools you’ll need. If you’re interested, keep reading!
Mowing
Different types of grass should be harvested at different growth stages. Most grasses are best harvested before they start blooming, because that’s when their nutritional value is highest. However, there are a few exceptions, like clover and alfalfa, which should be harvested in the early stages after they flower to get more nutritious hay. It’s also important to consider the cutting height to avoid damaging the grass’s ability to grow back.
Mowing Machine
The timing of cutting hay is crucial, so I recommend choosing the right type of mower. If your pasture isn’t very large, a push mower or a self-propelled lawn mower will work well. If your pasture isn’t very dense, a flail mower is a good option. For large and dense pastures, you’ll need a disc mower to get the job done. Keep in mind that self-propelled lawn mowers, flail mowers, and disc mowers require a tractor. When buying, pay attention to how the mower connects to the tractor—this is an important detail to consider.
Tedding
As the saying goes, “Make hay while the sun shines,” so it’s important to watch the weather forecast. You can’t just leave the cut hay lying in the field. During this time, you need to regularly turn the hay to make sure every side gets sunlight. Turning the hay helps it dry faster, keeps it fluffy, and prevents mold and spoilage.
Tedding Machine
If your pasture has a high yield, you can use a wheel rake or a rotary rake with spring tines. Even though these are rakes, you can also use them to turn the hay. By adjusting the angle of the wheel rake’s wheels to the direction of movement, you can flip the hay. Similarly, by changing the angle of the rotary rake’s tines, you can spread the hay out.
Raking
Hay usually needs to dry for three to five days, but the exact time depends on the weather and the quality of the hay. Generally, it’s ready when the surface of hay turns yellow. Once it’s dried, you should gather the hay into piles to prevent it from being blown away by the wind and to make it easier for baling.
Raking Machine
If your pasture yield is not very high, you can use a dump rake. This type of rake comes in tow-behind and mounted versions and gathers the hay sideways. Although it works slower, you can control the size of the hay piles it makes.
If you have a high-yield pasture, you can use a basket rake. Its main part is a basket with six or seven bars that rotate around a horizontal axis. It gathers the hay continuously to one side of the drum. The quality of the gathered hay is high, being fluffy and neat, with minimal loss. Keep in mind that the size of the hay piles depends on the yield of your pasture.
If you want a machine that both rakes and spreads hay, you can choose the wheel rake or the rotary rake that I mentioned before.
The wheel rake has a simple design structure and works with parallel wheels mounted on the machine’s axle. It creates long, straight, and fluffy hay rows. If your pasture is relatively flat and has a high yield, this is a good choice for you. Additionally, a wheel rake can also help remove unwanted plastic film from the soil.
Rotary rakes can be divided into two types: tine rakes and spring tine rakes. In operation, the tine rake is driven by a power output shaft, while the spring tine rake uses centrifugal force from rotation to work. Rotary rakes gather hay in a loose, well-ventilated manner, providing even and clean raking with minimal pollution. Both the raking width and the width of the hay rows can be adjusted based on your needs.
Baling
In the hay-making process, baling is very important, and a baler machine is essential. A baler effectively compresses the hay, making it easier to handle. Neatly packed and tightly compressed hay saves storage space. Additionally, baling hay when its moisture level is right helps preserve its nutritional value as much as possible.
Baling Machine
No baler machine can suit the needs of every farm, so you need to understand the different types of balers and your specific needs to choose the right one for you.
The most common type is the round baler, which packs the processed hay into round bales. The type of hay affects the bale’s density and size. A round baler automatically picks up the hay and feeds it into the machine, where rotating rollers spin the hay into a core until a round bale is formed. The surface of a round bale is smooth, offering better water resistance, which makes it more durable in harsh weather.
A square baler processes hay into square bales. The hay is picked up and fed into a compression chamber, where it’s gradually compacted. When the bale reaches the preset length, it’s automatically tied and ejected from the machine. Square balers also have a density controller, allowing you to adjust the bale density based on the hay type and moisture levels. Square bales are often easier to stack and transport.
If your pasture is small, the terrain is uneven, or you have limited storage space, you can choose a mini round baler or a mini square baler. These compact balers are smaller versions of traditional balers with a narrower pickup width and smaller bales, making them easier to handle and store.
Storing
It’s also important to learn how to properly store hay; otherwise, all your hard work could go to waste, and it could even lead to animal illnesses.
When stacking hay, don’t let the bales touch the ground directly, and pay attention to the stacking height. Stacking too high can cause the hay to mold and overheat. Also, make sure to leave ventilation channels in the storage area to reduce humidity and prevent mold.
If you have to store hay outdoors, you’d best place pallets underneath the stacks to prevent moisture buildup. When it rains, cover the hay with plastic or other protective materials, and once the weather clears, it’s a good idea to dry the hay again.
Conclusion
After reading the detailed guide above, you should now know how to make hay and which machines to use at each stage. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at ANON. As leaders in agricultural machinery, we offer the most professional advice and the highest quality machines.
FAQ
How to choose the right baler?
Besides considering the size of your farm, you also need to choose based on the type of hay you have. For example, tougher hay needs a baler with stronger compression. Additionally, if your hay will be transported long distances or stored in a warehouse, square bales are a better choice.
