Let’s discuss the question: how to harvest hay by hand. We summarize all relevant answers in section Q&A of website Countrymusicstop in category: Technology. See more related questions in the comments below.
Table of Contents
Can you bale hay without a baler?
Even without a hand baler you can cut and store your own hay. You’ll just need more space to store it.
How can I get hay without baling?
If you aren’t going to use a tractor to pick up or cut hay, you will need to get more creative. A scythe can be used to cut the hay while a hay fork can be used to pick up the hay after it has dried. 25 thg 11, 2021
Can you bale hay by hand?
The hand baler allows you to load hay into a box, compress it with a ‘plunger’, and tie twine around it to form a small, rectangular bale of hay. It is a fairly labor intensive process and takes much more time than baling a field of hay with modern equipment.
What do farmers use to pick up hay?
There are three primary styles of hay mowers: sickle bar, disc. and drum. Each has Its advantages and disadvantages. In order to choose the mower that will work best for your situation, first fit the mower to the size of your tractor and then determine how you will be using it.
What do you cut hay with?
Three of the most popular options for cutting include a rotary mower, sickle cutter and mower conditioners. However, we recommend using a rotary mower, also known as a disk cutter, for a smaller outfit. 14 thg 8, 2020
How do you bail hay?
To make square bales, hay is lifted into the reel and then packed into a bale chamber alongside the baler. Then, twine is wrapped around the bale before it’s ejected from the baler. Square bales weigh 40 to 60 pounds. 16 thg 2, 2021
What is straw baler?
Baler implement is used to compress crops such as hay, cotton, straw etc., When compacted it is easy for handling, transportation & storage. After compressing the hay the cylindrical bale can be strapped using twine or thread. These bales can then be shifted to big dairies to feed the cattle.
How do you make hay out of grass clippings?
Spread the grass clippings in a thin layer on the ground, preferably on the concrete. Turn it and mix it around a few times during the day. It shouldn’t take more than half a day or so until it’s completely dry. Before night time, gather it on a pile and store in a box or another container and leave in the dry place.
What is the cheapest hay baler?
As a quality machine and the most affordable in the industry, the Ibex TX31 finally makes haymaking independence possible for the hobby farmer. The Ibex Mini Round Baler is the simplest, easiest to use mechanical baler on the market today and is as close as you can get to a “plug and play” baler. 11 thg 4, 2018
Can you cut hay with a lawn mower?
To appreciate it, however, you need to remember how hay is made these days. A very expensive disk-type mower now cuts hay at twelve miles mph or faster, squishes the moisture out of the hay stems in a very expensive attached crimper, and lays the squished hay in a fluffy windrow, all in one operation. 8 thg 9, 2009
What tool is used to pick up hay?
In you’re baling round bales, a hay bale spear—literally a few heavy-duty prongs designed to pierce and pick up heavy bales—is a great tool to have. 24 thg 8, 2021
How many times can you harvest hay in a year?
In most areas of the country, grass hay can be cut twice, sometimes three times, per year. The first cutting generally has the largest yield.
How many square bales of hay will fit in a pickup truck?
You should be able to fit 5 or 6 bales on the top layer, depending on the length of your bales. 25 thg 2, 2015
What is the best way to stack hay?
Always stack hay with cut side down. That means the strings will always be on the side of the bale when you look at the stack. Not only does this deter mice from gnawing on the strings of the bale, it also allows moisture to run down through the stack to the bottom layer. 11 thg 7, 2018
How many bales of hay can you fit in the back of a truck?
You should be able to fit 3 bales in the section closest to the truck cab facing the same direction as the travel because of the wheel wells, have one bale facing perpendicular to travel behind the front section, and then with the tailgate down fit 4 more in the same orientation as the front section for the back … 6 thg 1, 2015
How tall should hay be before cutting?
The first cutting in the spring should be when grass has greened up and reached 12 – 16 inches tall. This should clean up all the old growth of winter weeds and such. Then each subsequent cutting is at 3.5 to 5 week intervals. This is dependent on fertilizer and moisture. 1 thg 6, 2018
Can you cut and bale hay the same day?
In a trial at the University of Wisconsin Arlington Research Station (Figure 2) where alfalfa was put into a wide swath it reached 65 percent moisture in about eight hours and could be harvested for haylage the same day as cutting.
How long should hay dry before baling?
As a rule of thumb, wait to rake hay until after the dew has dried and the sun nears its peak, or around 11:00 am. If possible, let the raked hay sit for an hour or two before baling to allow more drying time. Haymakers have several types of rakes available.
What do farmers do with hay bales?
Many farmers use it as animal bedding for barns. It can be used for seeding, mulching, and even decoration! There are plenty of uses for old hay bales – so while picking up hay as soon as it’s been baled is ideal, it doesn’t have to go to waste if that doesn’t happen. 24 thg 11, 2021
What do you wear baling hay with?
Wear clothing that’s ideal for hot weather—light-colored cotton is a good choice. Keep fans running when and where possible. If you have people riding the hay wagon to stack the hay bales as the bales are produced, let them work in shifts so that no one is out in the sun for too long at a time. 24 thg 7, 2018
How many bales of hay do you get per acre?
With an average bale weight of around 40 pounds (with our Abbriata small square baler or any of our mini round balers), that’s 100 bales to the acre for a first cutting. Our farm aside, we can offer some guidelines to consider when trying to predict the productivity of your hay fields. 3 thg 5, 2018
What size tractor do I need to run a round baler?
The low horsepower round balers, like the 450E, 450M, and 550M models can be paired with any of the John Deere 5-Series or 6-Series utility tractors. The MegaWide models that require a minimum of 125 PTO HP need to be paired with a more heavy duty tractor like a 4WD or Row Crop tractor. 12 thg 3, 2021
How did they cut hay in the old days?
It’s easy to understand why making hay was one of the most dreaded chores on the farm in the early 1700s. It had to be hand-cut with a sickle or scythe and hand-raked with a wooden rake or fork. On a good day, a farmer could harvest 1 acre of hay. 24 thg 8, 2006
What is hay baler machine?
A baler or hay baler is a piece of farm machinery used to compress a cut and raked crop (such as hay, cotton, flax straw, salt marsh hay, or silage) into compact bales that are easy to handle, transport, and store.
Why do we need a hay baler?
Balers are one of the most important pieces of farm equipment. One reason for this is that hay is eaten by almost every farm animal. Hay fields are similar to tall grass in that they must be moved in collected so that animals are fed all year. Without a hay baler, none of this would be possible.
How much is a baler?
Balers costing below $100,000 can be generally classified as low production balers. A mainstream high-production baler can cost between $100,000 and $750,000 or more depending on options. Ferrous balers can cost between $180,000 to $1 million.
Why are hay bales Round or square?
Why have most of hay producers changed from making small square bales to large round bales? It is primarily due to the labor requirements for making the smaller bales. Those bales must be picked up from the field, moved on a trailer, then stacked in a barn for storage. 7 thg 10, 2019
Is it cheaper to buy hay or make it?
In most environments where forage production is based on natural rainfall, you can almost always buy hay cheaper than you can produce it.
Can any grass make hay?
The most common mixture of hay can include grasses like Bermuda, timothy, orchard grass, brome, fescue and other grasses endemic within a particular region. In some other instances, oat, wheat and barley are cut when they’re still green so that they can be made into hay.
Can I use my grass for hay?
Some people don’t like to feed fresh grass to buns with sensitive tums, and it’s handy to have a good pile of hay in the litter tray even if you’re topping up with grass at dinner time too. So the next option is to take the lovely fresh grass and dry it so it turns into hay! 1 thg 7, 2011
How much HP do you need to run a square baler?
Many people bale with as little as 25hp, tho that is very limiting. One gets along real well with 40 hp. The newer balers can use more hp, as they push hay through faster. Probably wouldn’t want much less than 45 hp for those, & can use 90+. 9 thg 12, 2006
How much is a hay baling machine?
For harvesting 4-foot-by-5-foot round bales, estimated new equipment costs are $25,000 for a rotary mower/conditioner, $5,500 for a 10-foot rake, $35,000 for the baler and $55,000 for an adequate-sized tractor. The total is an investment of $120,500. 12 thg 11, 2014
Can you cut hay with a flail mower?
If you’re talking about a flail cutter, like New Idea or MC made, they’re basically a chopper that drops the hay back on the ground. That’s probably the most aggressive tool you can use for cutting hay. 28 thg 2, 2010
How many days does it take to make hay?
Hay should be cut when dry at the end of a sunny day when sugar levels are at their highest and tedded immediately after cutting. In good weather the grass is tedded twice daily and in very good sunny, breezy weather haymaking should be achieved in 3 to 4 days. 30 thg 11, 2013
How long should hay dry before raking?
As a rule of thumb, wait to rake hay until after the dew has dried and the sun nears its peak, around 11 a.m. If possible, let the raked hay sit for an hour or two before baling to allow more drying time. Haymakers have several types of rakes available. 15 thg 3, 2015
How many times should you Ted hay?
Initial tedding should be performed after a brief wilting period following a morning cutting while the hay is still moist (two to four hours). In very damp conditions, tedding may need to be done immediately after cutting. A second pass is usually done the next day, and the hay is raked and baled that afternoon. 2 thg 10, 2007
Can you Ted hay with a rotary rake?
The rotary rake will speed drying but by a limited amount. If you need to ted three days in a row you can do that a lot easier than re-raking in an attempt to fluff your hay back up. 8 thg 4, 2014
What is a hay hook?
A hay hook is slightly different in design from a longshoreman’s hook, in that the shaft is typically longer. It is used in hay bucking on farms to secure and move bales of hay, which are otherwise awkward to pick up manually.
Is it okay to cut hay early in the morning?
With all of these factors in mind, it is best to cut hay when there is the greatest opportunity for successful drying, or early in the morning after the dew has dried off. As the old saying goes, “make hay while the sun shines!” 3 thg 10, 2017
How many cuttings of hay can you get?
Third Cutting: If the growing season is long enough on any given year, it may be possible to secure a third cutting. In regions that lie south of our location, the growing season is longer and hotter, making alfalfa the prime hay crop, and often as many as four or five cuttings may be taken from a single field.
Does hay dry at night?
Without sunlight, hay won’t dry very fast. But once we have some sun, it doesn’t really matter if it is partially cloudy or a bright blue sky. The reason has to do with all those stomates from the first paragraph. In a growing plant, stomates are open in the day and closed at night. 28 thg 4, 2017
How many bales of hay are in a stack?
A dump: This terminology is used on loading trucks, counting hay inventory and stacking hay roadside. Each dump of hay consist of 68 bales of hay per “dump”. The bottom row is on edge consisting of 12 bales. Each row on top of that is made of 8 bales patterns.
How long should hay sit before stacking?
I usually wait about 1-2 weeks before stacking round bales in the barn. I move them from the field to a staging area (rock based), put them tight end to end, then stack after they have gone through the initial sweat. 5 thg 5, 2013
How do you store hay without a barn?
Without a barn, you can adapt a large storage shed or cargo container. If you have to store hay outdoors, protect stacked hay with secured tarps or a plastic covering. Raise hay off bare ground using wood pallets or tires, or by building a pad of rocks or gravel. 23 thg 1, 2017
How do you keep cut hay fresh?
Indoor Storage Protect valuable hay from the elements by storing it under cover in a building that doesn’t leak and has good ventilation. Choose a building on an elevated, well-drained site. Hay is highly flammable, so you don’t want it overhead if your main barn catches fire. 8 thg 6, 2012
How do you stack hay bales in a truck?
Arrange the next layer of 12 bales like this, placing three rows of four bales on their strings, centered over the bed of the truck. 4. Stack the third layer of 12 bales in the same manner as the second layer. When the load is secured, drive only a short distance—just down the driveway— then stop and check the rope.
Which cut of hay is best?
second cutting The most common choice of hay is second cutting, but first cutting is also good for horses, plus it is usually cheaper than the other two. Choose hay that is soft, green, and leafy, with thin stems, so it is easier for horses to eat. 10 thg 4, 2020
Is it OK to cut hay in the rain?
If hay has partially dried and become brittle, quality can especially be lost to leafy forage when rained on after being cut. The force of the rain shatters the leaves which are the highly digestible and high protein portion of the crop. Rainfall shortly after cutting is likely to be less of a problem. 1 thg 7, 2020
Why do farmers cut hay at night?
Though starches and simple sugars accumulate during the day, a substantial amount of these carbohydrates are used up during the night for growth and maintenance (via the processes of respiration). Therefore, cutting the crop at night will likely maximize the sugar in the crop, at least at the time of cutting.
Is it better to cut hay in the morning or afternoon?
Even though sugars are at their minimum when cut in the morning, losses of these sugars to respiration are also minimized with rapid wilting and no overnight respiration losses. Similarly when making dry hay, cutting with a wide swath likely does more than cutting in the afternoon to improve forage digestible energy.
How do I know if my hay is dry enough to bale?
Breaking stems in half or twisting them in a circular motion to see if the stems break cleanly will give farmers the go-ahead to bale. “If all the stems break and crack that’s an indication that the hay is cured and then you can rely on the moisture test that you’re getting from the probe,” Yaremcio said. 27 thg 7, 2012
How do you make hay dry faster?
Make A Wide Windrow Swath width is an easy adjustment that has a big impact on drying time. Lay the crop as wide as practical. Do not cut hay into a tight windrow. A wider swath will dry faster, because more drying area of the hay is exposed to sun and wind.
When should you tedder hay?
Initial tedding should be performed after a brief wilting period following a morning cutting while the hay is still moist (two to four hours). In very damp conditions, tedding may need to be done immediately after cutting. A second pass is usually done the next day, and the hay is raked and baled that afternoon. 21 thg 12, 2017
Can hay dry in two days?
Proper dry matter content for chopping haylage can often be achieved within 24 hours as compared to three to four days for dry hay. 2 thg 6, 2010
Why do farmers wrap hay in plastic?
The last few decades have brought increased interest in the use of plastic wrapped bales for forage. The advantages are clear: reduction in drying time, better leaf retention compared to dry hay, no storage structures needed, and reduction in weather risk. 5 thg 3, 2020
Does hay have to cure?
Any hay that has been properly cured and dried before being baled should be stable and can be fed as soon as needed. There are no nutritional advantages to storing hay for weeks or months prior to use. 25 thg 9, 2017
Does hay grow back every year?
Some fields are always used to grow hay, and don’t require re-planting every year. In other cases, hay is a part of a crop rotation, where farmers plant different crops on the same field in different years. Hayseed can be a mixture of many types of seeds, with alfalfa, clover, and timothy being among the most common.
Can you bale hay by hand?
The hand baler allows you to load hay into a box, compress it with a ‘plunger’, and tie twine around it to form a small, rectangular bale of hay. It is a fairly labor intensive process and takes much more time than baling a field of hay with modern equipment.
Is baling hay hard?
Baling hay is a satisfying and worthwhile effort, but it’s challenging. Follow these tips to help hay baling days go as smoothly as possible. It’s not the easiest of tasks, but baling your own hay is a satisfying project that is—in my opinion—well worth the effort involved. 24 thg 7, 2018
Is hay farming worth it?
“You are going to get more than three years out of that, but if we use three years, that’s about $100 per acre per year,” Brown says. “If you are getting $125 per ton for quality hay, you are going to see a profit of $51 per ton, or $204 per acre. “The potential is there to make some pretty good money on hay.” 8 thg 4, 2019
How many times can you harvest hay in a year?
In most areas of the country, grass hay can be cut twice, sometimes three times, per year. The first cutting generally has the largest yield.
How much horsepower do you need to run a 4×5 round baler?
Junior Member. I would not want to go less than 70 PTO hp for a 4×5 baler. A 4×4 you could probably do ok with 40 PTO hp. I ran a 634 NH (4×4) for about 3 years then moved up to a 644 (4×5) with hydraulic pressure. 3 thg 1, 2017
How much HP does my tractor need?
If you need to do basic mowing on flat terrain, find a compact tractor with 25 to 30 hp. If you need something more substantial for plowing, invest in the 45 to 85 hp range. For full-scale farming, a row crop tractor is likely your best choice. 11 thg 7, 2017
How do you harvest hay?
When harvesting hay, it is best to move slowly and deliberately for even cutting, as well as to minimize harm to any wildlife – snakes, birds, etc. – that may be hiding in the tall grasses. Once the hay is cut, it should be spread evenly to dry thoroughly before baling.
Who invented the first hay mower?
Jeremiah Bailey Jeremiah Bailey, Chester County, Pa., patented a mower (or grass-cutting machine) in February 1822. It was supported by two wheels on different axles and was said capable of mowing 10 acres per day. 9 thg 10, 2008
How are square bales of hay made?
They were shaped in a way that they could be stacked in a hayloft or barn until they were needed. Farmers cut hay in the field and let it dry for several days in the sun. Then they raked the dried hay into rows and ran baling equipment over the rows. This produced the bales. 14 thg 10, 2019
How big of a tractor do I need to bale hay?
Most standard square balers on the market require 35 horsepower at your tractor’s PTO, and a minimum tractor weight of around 3000 pounds. That means that they cannot be run with today’s compact tractors.
How many bales of hay do you get per acre?
With an average bale weight of around 40 pounds (with our Abbriata small square baler or any of our mini round balers), that’s 100 bales to the acre for a first cutting. Our farm aside, we can offer some guidelines to consider when trying to predict the productivity of your hay fields. 3 thg 5, 2018
How many kg is a bale of hay?
An average bale of hay weighs 15 to 18 kg.
How much is a square bale of hay?
From the hay market, square bales, on average, will cost you between $3 and $10 per bale, but some farmers prefer selling their hay per pound, in which case such a bale will be around 50 pounds. 8 thg 4, 2020
What are the big rolls of hay called?
Balers that produce the large round bales you see dotting the countryside are the most common type of balers available today. These balers produce what are referred to as ton bales. These bales of hay can weigh up to 1,500 pounds.
Why do farmers stack hay?
If hay is baled while too moist or becomes wet while in storage, there is a significant risk of spontaneous combustion. Hay stored outside must be stacked in such a way that moisture contact is minimal. Some stacks are arranged in such a manner that the hay itself sheds water when it falls.
Can I make my own hay?
You don’t need a tractor and big farm equipment to make hay, it’s extremely easy to do on your own. All you need is access to grass and somewhere to dry and store it. If you have poultry I’m going to assume you have a backyard of sorts, but you can even dry hay inside your own house you are so inclined. 6 thg 8, 2020
What do you need to make your own hay?
Equipment. Unless you put up your own hay strictly by hand, you’ll need a fairly hefty tractor, a mower, rake and baler. In some parts of the country, folks using old-style mowers add a tedder or crimper to the mix. 18 thg 2, 2009
Is dried up grass hay?
Hay is a grass or can be a form of grass. When referring to it as a form of grass, it is a cut grass that has been cut then dried for the purpose of becoming an animal feed or food.
What plant is used for hay?
Straw can also be used as a mulch, insulation in a house, and of course, fall decoration. Actual hay is something an animal can eat. Hay usually comes from healthy and nutritious plants such as ryegrass or from legumes like clover or alfalfa. 15 thg 10, 2020
Is it cheaper to buy hay or make it?
In most environments where forage production is based on natural rainfall, you can almost always buy hay cheaper than you can produce it.
Can you cut hay with a lawn mower?
To appreciate it, however, you need to remember how hay is made these days. A very expensive disk-type mower now cuts hay at twelve miles mph or faster, squishes the moisture out of the hay stems in a very expensive attached crimper, and lays the squished hay in a fluffy windrow, all in one operation. 8 thg 9, 2009
Will a Ford 8N run a square baler?
Have a good time – the 8N can run a baler no problem. Until I bought a larger loader tractor that I now use on the baler, I baled 11 acres of alfalfa with my 8N and a NH Hayliner 68 (PTO), and it works just fine. 8 thg 3, 2015
What is the smallest hay baler?
The Ibex Mini Round Baler is the simplest, easiest to use mechanical baler on the market today and is as close as you can get to a “plug and play” baler. With the ability to produce 90 bales per hour, it’s perfect for small operations of 5-20 acres. 11 thg 4, 2018
What equipment is needed for hay farming?
Hay Equipment A compact tractor is the staple of every operation, but mowers, conditioners, hay rakes, balers, and sometimes hay tedders and bale wrappers are also needed. Pay close attention to make sure your tractor has enough engine horsepower to meet the horsepower requirement for each implement. 8 thg 5, 2018
How much does a John Deere hay baler cost?
By keeping it simple, the baler comes in the affordable range of $21,000 to $22,000. For comparison, the next model in the 9 series lineup – the 459 – starts around $25,000 and goes up to $35,000, depending on the options selected. 28 thg 8, 2015
What machine picks up hay bales?
baler A baler or hay baler is a piece of farm machinery used to compress a cut and raked crop (such as hay, cotton, flax straw, salt marsh hay, or silage) into compact bales that are easy to handle, transport, and store.
Can u bush hog hay?
Yes you can certainly can bale hay cut with the bush hog. 18 thg 6, 2016
What is a flail blade?
The teeth or flail blades, also called knives, are short pieces of metal attached to an axle that turns rapidly, cutting grass and other plants. A flail mower can be mounted on the front, back or side of a compact, garden or farm tractor. 24 thg 11, 2017
What is the advantage of a flail mower?
Alternatively, flail mowers are great at providing a thorough, clean, and well-manicured cut for grasses. These machines are ideal for trimming and manicuring large grassy areas since the flail knives chop up and mulch plant life thoroughly. 21 thg 4, 2020
Can you cut and bale hay the same day?
In a trial at the University of Wisconsin Arlington Research Station (Figure 2) where alfalfa was put into a wide swath it reached 65 percent moisture in about eight hours and could be harvested for haylage the same day as cutting.
How long should hay sit before baling?
As a rule of thumb, wait to rake hay until after the dew has dried and the sun nears its peak, or around 11:00 am. If possible, let the raked hay sit for an hour or two before baling to allow more drying time. Haymakers have several types of rakes available.
How long do you wait to bale hay after cutting?
Subject: RE: How long does your hay lay to bale dry? Cut first thing in the morning, ted about 2-4 hours later, do nothing the next day, rake as soon as dew is off (-48 hours after cutting), let dry about 3 hours, and bale. Sometime takes an extra day to dry or occasionally a day less if perfect weather. 28 thg 6, 2017
How tall should hay be before cutting?
The first cutting in the spring should be when grass has greened up and reached 12 – 16 inches tall. This should clean up all the old growth of winter weeds and such. Then each subsequent cutting is at 3.5 to 5 week intervals. This is dependent on fertilizer and moisture. 1 thg 6, 2018
Is a Hay Tedder worth it?
Using a tedder helps to speed dry down time, provides producers with greater flexibility & can result in higher quality forage. The bigger question is — why wouldn’t you? Turn back the clock 10 or 15 years and you’d likely be hard-pressed to find many hay tedders in the field. 21 thg 3, 2017
What is the difference between hay rake and hay Tedder?
Tedders cause more leaf loss than rakes, especially in alfalfa hay, which is partially dry. However, tedders do allow for a quicker drying rate because of the wide swath in which the hay is placed.
Why is it called bucking hay?
The act of throwing the bales up to a higher level is called “bucking”. The work is very strenuous and physically demanding, and is dependent upon using a proper technique in order to not become fatigued and avoid injury.
Why do farmers cut hay at night?
Though starches and simple sugars accumulate during the day, a substantial amount of these carbohydrates are used up during the night for growth and maintenance (via the processes of respiration). Therefore, cutting the crop at night will likely maximize the sugar in the crop, at least at the time of cutting.
How do you keep hay green?
“Generally, we start adding preservative when moisture levels get much above 15 to 16%,” says Chris. “In addition, we try to leave a space between each stack of bales when we put them in the shed. That allows the air to move around the bales so they maintain their green color.
Which cutting of hay is best?
Timothy Hay Timothy must be harvested in the pre- or early-bloom stage to ensure a high nutrient content. The first cutting usually has a higher weed content, and quality decreases after the second cutting, so the second cutting is usually the best to feed. 25 thg 9, 2017
Is first cut or second cut hay better?
First cut hay is coarser than second cut, this is because the spring growth (rain, etc.) leads to thicker stems and stalks and heavier leaves. Second cut hay has a finer texture and usually, a greener color and heavier leaves. It is more dense, the leaves are more tender and healthier, especially in protein. 8 thg 1, 2017
How can I dry hay fast?
Make A Wide Windrow Swath width is an easy adjustment that has a big impact on drying time. Lay the crop as wide as practical. Do not cut hay into a tight windrow. A wider swath will dry faster, because more drying area of the hay is exposed to sun and wind.
Is it OK to cut hay in the rain?
If hay has partially dried and become brittle, quality can especially be lost to leafy forage when rained on after being cut. The force of the rain shatters the leaves which are the highly digestible and high protein portion of the crop. Rainfall shortly after cutting is likely to be less of a problem. 1 thg 7, 2020
How do you transport hay?
Safely Transporting Hay Bales Step #1: Always park trailers in a safe position while hay is being loaded. … Step # 2: Load in sequence so the load is stable. … Step #3: Keep load heights within normal ranges and always account for overhead obstructions you are likely to encounter. Mục khác…
How many tons are in a block of hay?
A ton: 2000# pounds of hay to the ton. A retail three string bale weighs 100 # there are 20 bales in a ton. A “”feed store ton”” can be 16 bales. A semi holds 24 tons on a truck. … Click to see “”Facts and fiction about hay””. Chaff: Mold in hay: Spontaneous Combustion: Chemical Conditioners: Organic farming: Square bales: 21 hàng khác
What is a squeeze of hay?
Fortunately, Bob has a friend who owns a hay squeeze, an overgrown combination truck and fork lift, that squeezes the bottom of a stack of bales, picks up the stack, and moves it either onto a truck, to some other location, or in this case, into Bob’s barn. 17 thg 8, 2014
How do you stop hay bales from shedding?
If you decide to bale hay in large bales, wrap them with net wrap or plastic twine to reduce bale sag and help maintain bale shape. Plastic twine resists weathering, insects and rodents better than natural-fiber twines. Twine should be snug and spaced 6 to 10 inches apart. 8 thg 6, 2012
What is the best way to store round bales of hay?
Bales should be stored in rows, buffed end-to-end, and oriented in a north/south direction. The combination of the north/south orientation and at least three feet between rows will provide for good sunlight penetration and air flow, which will allow the area to dry faster after a rain.
Are hay tarps worth it?
Hay tarps and pads are low-capital-cost investments for hay storage. Tarps are variable in the initial quality, construction design and the care an operation gives them. A good-quality tarp can last four years if it is kept tight and stored out of the sun and weather during the off season. 24 thg 6, 2015
Does salting hay work?
“Salting is not going to save a bale that’s not dried out enough,” Tilton said. “You should always buy the highest quality hay you can get. Hay can be very dangerous if it’s baled wet or green.” Tilton said that there is a misconception that simply salting bales of hay will prevent them from spontaneously combusting. 24 thg 9, 2021
How do you store hay without a barn?
Without a barn, you can adapt a large storage shed or cargo container. If you have to store hay outdoors, protect stacked hay with secured tarps or a plastic covering. Raise hay off bare ground using wood pallets or tires, or by building a pad of rocks or gravel. 23 thg 1, 2017
Can you store hay under a tarp?
Cover Hay for More Control Because of the risk of wet hay spontaneously combusting, however, many farmers choose not to risk storing hay in their barns. Tarps are the second-best solution, and there are several ways to make the hay more secure under tarps. Expect losses up 10 ten percent when hay is stored under tarps. 29 thg 9, 2020
How many square bales of hay will fit in a pickup truck?
You should be able to fit 5 or 6 bales on the top layer, depending on the length of your bales. 25 thg 2, 2015
What is the best way to stack hay?
Always stack hay with cut side down. That means the strings will always be on the side of the bale when you look at the stack. Not only does this deter mice from gnawing on the strings of the bale, it also allows moisture to run down through the stack to the bottom layer. 11 thg 7, 2018
Why do farmers leave hay bales in the field?
Of course, the most obvious reason why farmers leave bales of hay out for a bit (though no more than a few days) is to let the bales dry. Stacking wet hay poses the risk of it becoming moldy or catching on fire. 24 thg 11, 2021
What do farmers use to cut hay?
Three of the most popular options for cutting include a rotary mower, sickle cutter and mower conditioners. However, we recommend using a rotary mower, also known as a disk cutter, for a smaller outfit. 14 thg 8, 2020
How did they cut hay in the old days?
It’s easy to understand why making hay was one of the most dreaded chores on the farm in the early 1700s. It had to be hand-cut with a sickle or scythe and hand-raked with a wooden rake or fork. On a good day, a farmer could harvest 1 acre of hay. 24 thg 8, 2006
How do you pick good hay for horses?
10 Tips For Choosing The Best Hay For Your Horse It’s what’s inside that counts. … Choose hay that is as fine-stemmed, green and leafy as possible, and is soft to the touch. Avoid hay that is overcured, excessively sun-bleached, or smells moldy, musty, dusty or fermented. Mục khác…
What cutting of hay is best for cows?
Producers should strive to harvest 1st cutting hay in the early heading stage. Hay harvested at this stage should meet the nutrient requirements for late pregnant cows. Second cutting hay should be used to feed lactating cows. The date of 1st cutting will be highly dependant on the type of spring weather.
Is second or third cut hay better?
To begin with, 1st cutting is the first hay cut from that field for the year. It tends to be more coarse and have more grasses in it. 2nd cutting is usually greener in color and has a sweeter smell. And lastly, 3rd cutting is very thick and rich. 19 thg 11, 2019
Can you cut hay with heavy dew?
First the old wives tell us to cut after the dew to prevent the spread of fungal diseases. Hay that is spread out full width behind the machine, will dry faster than hay that is dropped into a windrow. .. Hay that has 5 hours of direct sunshine will be dried where the leaves are drier than 42% Moisture. 30 thg 7, 2015
How fast can you mow hay?
Disc mowers handle thick and lodged hay with ease. High cutting speeds. If you have the horsepower, there is almost no limit to how fast you can drive through the field. Speeds of up to 15 mph or more are feasible, though very few tractors can do this safely.
How do you dry cut hay after it rains?
Cut higher to leave some stubble to keep hay off of the ground. Make a narrow windrow when cutting to let the soil alongside dry out. After a day or so of good soil drying, ted the windrow back out full width to dry on top of the stubble. Rake letting the bottom dry and bale hopefully dry hay….or wrap it. 22 thg 6, 2015
Can you Ted alfalfa?
Tedding alfalfa shortly after cutting, when the crop is typically about 75% water, helps minimize leaf loss. Once that level drops below 65%, leaves are too likely to shatter if tedded. “If you ted 24 hours or so later, your leaf loss is pretty high with alfalfa.” 6 thg 11, 2013
What time of day is best for cutting hay?
morning With all of these factors in mind, it is best to cut hay when there is the greatest opportunity for successful drying, or early in the morning after the dew has dried off. As the old saying goes, “make hay while the sun shines!” 3 thg 10, 2017
How long is stored hay good for?
If the hay was of good-quality when harvested and stored in a dry place with sufficient airflow, hay is likely suitable for consumption for two to three years. Keep in mind that hay, even premium forage, loses much of its vitamin content in the first few months of storage. 24 thg 9, 2020
Can you use a shredder to cut hay?
Hay Master I’ve heard of people doing it after they cut the side out of the shredder to keep it from chopping too fine, but I wouldn’t advise it. Bahia is tough on blades but it makes decent hay. Look around for an old sickle mower. With agressive teeth it does just fine…. 24 thg 7, 2012
When should you cut hay grass?
On average the entire process of mowing, raking and baling hay takes 3 days—in good weather. Therefore, pastures should be cut when a window of at least 3 days of sunny, dry, hot weather can be expected. Some farmers cut on the last day of a rainy spell in order to maximize the number of hours of drying time. 1 thg 1, 2020
Can you cut and bale hay the same day?
In a trial at the University of Wisconsin Arlington Research Station (Figure 2) where alfalfa was put into a wide swath it reached 65 percent moisture in about eight hours and could be harvested for haylage the same day as cutting.
Can hay get too dry to bale?
Our best hay is dried the quickest so as to not sacrifice a loss in color. However, if the hay is too dry when baled, it can become dusty. Dry hay also loses an excessive amount of leaves which contain most of the nutrients. Hay that was baled too wet can mold and can actually combust spontaneously in the barn.
How long should hay dry before raking?
As a rule of thumb, wait to rake hay until after the dew has dried and the sun nears its peak, around 11 a.m. If possible, let the raked hay sit for an hour or two before baling to allow more drying time. Haymakers have several types of rakes available. 15 thg 3, 2015
How do I know if my hay is dry enough to bale?
Breaking stems in half or twisting them in a circular motion to see if the stems break cleanly will give farmers the go-ahead to bale. “If all the stems break and crack that’s an indication that the hay is cured and then you can rely on the moisture test that you’re getting from the probe,” Yaremcio said. 27 thg 7, 2012
Will raking hay help it dry?
Raking tends to roll the wetter hay from the bottom of the swath to the outer surface of the windrow, which improves drying. Following the initial improvement, the increase in swath density can reduce drying rate, so the crop moisture content at raking is important.
Can you Ted hay twice?
it is rare that we only ted twice. we ted right after mowing as it gets all the hay fluffed up and the driven over parts unmatted. it will dry faster and evener. it is important to ted SLOW the first time so you can pick it all up. 26 thg 5, 2017
How many times should you Ted hay?
Initial tedding should be performed after a brief wilting period following a morning cutting while the hay is still moist (two to four hours). In very damp conditions, tedding may need to be done immediately after cutting. A second pass is usually done the next day, and the hay is raked and baled that afternoon. 2 thg 10, 2007
Do you have to Ted hay?
Tedding hay is an essential part of the hay making process as it speeds up the drying of the hay, this in turn reduces moisture rot once hay is baled and eliminates the possibility of spontaneous combustion of bales due to bacterial decomposition of grass. 21 thg 12, 2017
How long do you wait to bale hay after cutting?
Subject: RE: How long does your hay lay to bale dry? Cut first thing in the morning, ted about 2-4 hours later, do nothing the next day, rake as soon as dew is off (-48 hours after cutting), let dry about 3 hours, and bale. Sometime takes an extra day to dry or occasionally a day less if perfect weather. 28 thg 6, 2017
Can you bale hay on a cloudy day?
Cloudy days with high humidity are simply not going to be conducive for drying hay. Undersander pointed out that this is why many haymakers have shifted at least some of their production to baleage. Forage quality is never better than the second it is cut. 23 thg 2, 2021
Why do farmers stack hay bales?
Bale collectors/accumulators, used in the field as part of the baling process, transport bales to a temporary position and leave them to be collected, stacked one directly on top of another. This can be an advantage if it rains as fewer bales get ruined.
What are the big rolls of hay called?
Balers that produce the large round bales you see dotting the countryside are the most common type of balers available today. These balers produce what are referred to as ton bales. These bales of hay can weigh up to 1,500 pounds.
Why are some bales of hay round?
Farmers often bale hay in large round bales instead of small square bales because they require less labor to bale and move than small square bales. The shape of round bales enables them to be stored outside, something you would never do with square bales. Rain and snow naturally run off their curved sides, like a roof. 23 thg 2, 2018
Can you let hay dry too long?
Baling hay too early will trap moisture in the bale and result in spoilage. Baling too dry will cause leaves to shatter and break, lowering hay quality. It takes close visual observation and handling of clumps of hay from several windrows to “feel” if it is ready.
Can you feed hay straight off the field?
In perfect conditions — where the hay has been baled at less than 12% moisture and is very dry — it is safe to feed straight away, but this isn’t often the case, Tim explains: “The main reason for allowing a period of anywhere between two and eight weeks before feeding freshly made hay is to allow for a process called … 10 thg 6, 2021
Is it OK to feed horses fresh cut hay?
Any hay that has been properly cured and dried before being baled should be stable and can be fed as soon as needed. There are no nutritional advantages to storing hay for weeks or months prior to use. 25 thg 9, 2017
How many times a year can you hay a field?
In most areas of the country, grass hay can be cut twice, sometimes three times, per year. The first cutting generally has the largest yield.
How many cuttings of hay can you get?
Third Cutting: If the growing season is long enough on any given year, it may be possible to secure a third cutting. In regions that lie south of our location, the growing season is longer and hotter, making alfalfa the prime hay crop, and often as many as four or five cuttings may be taken from a single field.
How do you maintain a hay field?
Other landowners just want to maintain the fields with desirable grasses and open spaces. … Steps to renovate an old hayfield: Assess the condition of the field, your goals and your resources. Get a soil test. Mow field with a rotary mower. Lime and fertilize. Remove rocks and stumps. Till (if necessary) and seed.
How do you collect hay?
When harvesting hay, it is best to move slowly and deliberately for even cutting, as well as to minimize harm to any wildlife – snakes, birds, etc. – that may be hiding in the tall grasses. Once the hay is cut, it should be spread evenly to dry thoroughly before baling.
How do you bail hay?
To make square bales, hay is lifted into the reel and then packed into a bale chamber alongside the baler. Then, twine is wrapped around the bale before it’s ejected from the baler. Square bales weigh 40 to 60 pounds. 16 thg 2, 2021
What is the difference between Bale and bail?
Here are the most common uses of the words: Bale is a large bound stack of material, such as hay or leather; Bail is the security deposit that’s paid if someone who’s been temporarily released from jail pending a trial doesn’t appear in court.
What is bale of hay?
Vocabulary: Bale: A large bundle of raw or finished material bound tightly together with cord, and sometimes wrapped; examples: a bale of hay or a bale of cotton. Baler: A machine that bales hay. Hay: A grass that has been cut, dried and stored for animal feed. Livestock: Useful animals raised or kept on a farm.
Is making hay hard?
Secondly, machinery can be quite expensive to repair and especially if you don’t have farm equipment “tinkering” skills. Third, the entire process can be quite time consuming, typically requiring three consecutive days of dry and sunny weather to complete one batch of hay. 6 thg 7, 2015
Can you make a living selling hay?
“If you are getting $125 per ton for quality hay, you are going to see a profit of $51 per ton, or $204 per acre. “The potential is there to make some pretty good money on hay.” Brown says producers could decide to grow higher-quality hay and sell into the dairy or specialty hay markets. 8 thg 4, 2019
Is it cheaper to buy hay or make it?
In most environments where forage production is based on natural rainfall, you can almost always buy hay cheaper than you can produce it.
What is the most profitable crop per acre?
Bamboo is one of the most profitable crops to grow per acre. It can bring in lots of revenue, but the catch is it takes about three (3) years for the bamboo to get “established” once planted. 9 thg 7, 2021
Can I cut hay with a flail mower?
If you’re talking about a flail cutter, like New Idea or MC made, they’re basically a chopper that drops the hay back on the ground. That’s probably the most aggressive tool you can use for cutting hay. 28 thg 2, 2010
Does hay dry at night?
Without sunlight, hay won’t dry very fast. But once we have some sun, it doesn’t really matter if it is partially cloudy or a bright blue sky. The reason has to do with all those stomates from the first paragraph. In a growing plant, stomates are open in the day and closed at night. 28 thg 4, 2017
What size tractor do I need to pull a hay baler?
The low horsepower round balers, like the 450E, 450M, and 550M models can be paired with any of the John Deere 5-Series or 6-Series utility tractors. The MegaWide models that require a minimum of 125 PTO HP need to be paired with a more heavy duty tractor like a 4WD or Row Crop tractor. 12 thg 3, 2021
What size tractor do you need to run a round baler?
For example, a baler that recommends 50 HP, I’d prefer to have a tractor at least 75 HP to pull it. As others have said, you’d probably be even happier at 100 HP. That said, for the number of bales per year you indicated, you could make do with a 50-75 hp utility tractor. 3 thg 1, 2017
What can a 30 hp tractor do?
Great for mowing with a bush-hog, hauling yard waste, spreading manure, drilling fence-posts, or anything requiring a small front-end lift, the best 30 horsepower tractors can do just about anything you need done short of disking 500-hundred acre fields and hauling wagons full of grain. 10 thg 9, 2020
Is a 25 hp tractor enough?
We wouldn’t recommend going below 25 engine hp, but aside from that, you need to assess your land and your needs. If you need to do basic mowing on flat terrain, find a compact tractor with 25 to 30 hp. If you need something more substantial for plowing, invest in the 45 to 85 hp range. 11 thg 7, 2017
What equipment do you need to harvest hay?
Hay Equipment A compact tractor is the staple of every operation, but mowers, conditioners, hay rakes, balers, and sometimes hay tedders and bale wrappers are also needed. Pay close attention to make sure your tractor has enough engine horsepower to meet the horsepower requirement for each implement. 8 thg 5, 2018
How did they cut hay in the old days?
It’s easy to understand why making hay was one of the most dreaded chores on the farm in the early 1700s. It had to be hand-cut with a sickle or scythe and hand-raked with a wooden rake or fork. On a good day, a farmer could harvest 1 acre of hay. 24 thg 8, 2006
Where did hay come from?
Actual hay is something an animal can eat. Hay usually comes from healthy and nutritious plants such as ryegrass or from legumes like clover or alfalfa. Hay will often be a mixture of plants and are produced on perennial crops, and lands that would not be productive for growing other things. 15 thg 10, 2020
What’s the difference between straw and hay?
Hay is a crop that is grown and harvested as a feed crop for cattle, horses and other farm animals. Straw on the other hand is a byproduct of a grain crop; in our area it’s usually usually wheat straw that we see. 17 thg 6, 2019
What parts are in a hay baler?
Rollers, gathering teeth and belts make up some of the more important round baler parts. Some of the less noticeable, yet important, round baler parts are the wheels, twine rollers and the hydraulic cylinders. Other key parts include the chassis, hitch and drive shaft. 22 thg 2, 2022
Can you bale hay by hand?
The hand baler allows you to load hay into a box, compress it with a ‘plunger’, and tie twine around it to form a small, rectangular bale of hay. It is a fairly labor intensive process and takes much more time than baling a field of hay with modern equipment.
How many HP do you need to run a hay baler?
Most standard square balers on the market require 35 horsepower at your tractor’s PTO, and a minimum tractor weight of around 3000 pounds. That means that they cannot be run with today’s compact tractors.
How much hay does a cow need in the winter?
Cows will voluntarily consume about 2 percent of their body weight or 24 pounds per day. The 24 pounds is based on 100 percent dry matter. Grass hays often will be 7 percent to 10 percent moisture. 12 thg 11, 2018
How much hay is cut each year?
Recommended Hay Harvesting Schedule Type of Hay Cuttings Per Year Ideal Cutting Length Alfalfa 3-4 2-4 inches Barley 2-3 12-16 inches Bermudagrass 3-4 8 inches Oats 1 5-8 inches 9 hàng khác • 25 thg 4, 2019
How much does a 5ft hay bale weigh?
1,200 lbs A 5’x5′ bale weighs 1,200 lbs (540 kg) and a 5’x6′ bale weighs 1,500 lbs (680 kg). Grass bales, like timothy, weigh 20% less than alfalfa bales. Moisture content can affect bale weight by as much as 25 percent.
How much is a bale of hay worth?
What Is the Average Price for a Bale of Hay? On average, a bale of hay costs around $15. For example, two wired Alfalfa Hay bales typically run high, costing $19.95 apiece, whereas bermudagrass is only $8.75. Timothy Hay is the most expensive, typically costing at least $20 a bale. 13 thg 1, 2022
Why is hay so expensive?
Drought, excessive rain and a late spring hay harvest are causing prices to rise on hay. The weather last year, over the winter of 2018-2019, and the wet end of winter this year are causing hay prices to soar, according to several sources. 26 thg 2, 2019
How many square bales of hay equal a round bale?
twenty square bales Round bales have the same amount of hay as about twenty square bales. 7 thg 10, 2019
Why do farmers wrap hay bales in plastic?
The last few decades have brought increased interest in the use of plastic wrapped bales for forage. The advantages are clear: reduction in drying time, better leaf retention compared to dry hay, no storage structures needed, and reduction in weather risk. 5 thg 3, 2020
What is a round bale of hay called?
The two most common options are large round bales, also called rolls, and small square bales. 28 thg 12, 2018
Why do farmers leave rolls of hay in the field?
Round bales are easier to feed to cattle and horses as they can be stored and served “in bulk,” often simply by rolling the bale along the ground to unravel the hay. Round bales don’t have to be cut to feed while square bales do. 24 thg 11, 2021
Why do farmers bale corn stalks?
Corn stalk bales can provide much needed feed over the winter. To use them most effectively, you’ll want to find out what they have to offer nutritionally. Sample and test your bales as soon as possible so when snow gets deep or other feeds run out you will already know how to best feed your corn stalk bales. 24 thg 11, 2015
Why do farmers have rolls of hay in fields?
Large farms with hundreds of animals require huge amounts of hay. For these farms, large bales make the most sense, because they provide the most hay at the least cost. Large bales also allow the hay to begin to ferment naturally, which can prolong its use by preventing rot and mold.
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