How fast should you bale hay?

The harder you cram hay in a baler either by a heavy windrow or speed, the denser the bale. Subject: RE: Round baling MPH? On alfalfa usually 8+ mph, 2-16 ft windrows raked together this is on irrigated hay. On grass hay due to field conditions usually 6-7 mph.

How do you know when hay is ready for 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.

How many acres can you bale an hour?

Figure 20 acres/hr per double rake. A big baler (4x4 or 3x4 will average around 35 ton's/hr and require close to a 200 hp tractor. Will you be baling with dew or dry? Makes a big difference in how many balers you need.

How many square bales can you bale an hour?

On a high capacity inline baler that has 100 strokes per min, this would produce approximately 500 bales per hour if baling was non-stop. On other balers the strokes per minute are less, around 92 strokes per minute which is approximately 460 bales per hour if baling was non-stop.

How many bales can a round baler make?

A lot depends on how well it was maintained and how you will use it. The local NH dealer told me the New Holland's have a design life of 25,000 bales. You can make any of this equipment go longer IF you put the repairs ad maintenance dollars into them. At some point that becomes non-cost effective.

How to know if Hay is Ready to Bale

Can hay dry in two days?

Since haylage is preserved at higher moisture contents, it is a lot easier to get it to a proper dry matter content for safe preservation than it is to make dry hay. Proper dry matter content for chopping haylage can often be achieved within 24 hours as compared to three to four days for dry hay.

Can hay be too dry to bale?

When hay is too dry before baling, the leaves of the forage become stiff and brittle, making them much more likely to fall off. In many cases, a significant portion of hay's nutritive value lies in the leafy portions of the herbs used to make the hay.

Does rain hurt fresh cut hay?

Research at Iowa State University found that fresh-cut hay with less than 1 inch of rain took a few more hours to dry, but didn't suffer much, if any, quality or quantity loss. A light rain on nearly dry hay, though, caused significant losses.

How long do you wait to bale hay after cutting?

It basically takes about three days of good weather to cure hay. This can be a challenge in late May or early June. A good strategy is to mow just before or right after a rain, because of the likelihood of good weather for the next few days.

How long does it take to bale hay?

Subject: RE: How long does your hay lay to bale dry? Alfalfa swath and bale 4-5 days later depending on weather, sometimes 3 days sometimes 8 just depends. Grass swath 1 day bale the next, sometimes 2 days but not real often.

How long does it take to load hay?

A squeeze has two large hydraulic arms that are 10' long that squeeze a dump of hay to be loaded and off loaded. It takes a squeeze driver 30 minutes to load a semi truck with hay.

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.

Does salting hay work?

In the past, some farmers have applied salt to the surface of hay that was baled wet, but research has shown little benefit from salting. While the theory is good, the amount of salt needed would be very large and expensive, and would likely reduce the palatability of the hay.

When should hay be cut?

Therefore, the best time to do any cutting is when grasses have reached what is called the “late boot stage”. This stage is typically reached after 6 to 8 weeks of growth in the spring or 6 to 8 weeks after a previous cutting. The “late boot stage” is when the seed head of the grasses first pops out of the sheath.

Does 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 wrap hay that has been rained on?

If rain damage often plagues your hay making, you might consider using plastic wrap this year. Try baling it tough, then wrapping it with stretch plastic wrap to keep water and air out while keeping nutrients in. Studies have shown excellent success wrapping bales containing 25% to 40% moisture.

Can you bale hay with dew on it?

Baling hay that is wet/damp is not recommended. You will see better results if you are able to let the dew dry off before baling or bale before dew sets. Damp hay can mold and decrease quality and nutrients.

Can you bale hay at night?

Baling at night is nice if your climate will allow. Then the leaves start to toughen up before the stems and the outside before the bottom. “We used to go to the field when the air felt right. That is above 50 percent relative humidity.

Do you have to Tedder hay?

Therefore, in moist climates, a tedder, which spreads the hay for increased sun and air exposure, is most likely a necessity. There are situations, however, when a tedder should not be used. Tedders are intended to be used on crops while they are still higher in moisture and pliable.

Is first or second cut hay better?

Hay is often cut three or more times each season. The first cutting in any cut will have thicker stems, perhaps have flowers (usually called tassel), and is the highest in fiber of any cut. The second cutting is softer, greener, has a higher protein but lower fiber than first cutting.

Should you cut hay with dew on it?

Avoid cutting hay until the morning dew has fully dried. “There is enough water that must leave the plants already without adding more from the nightly dew,” Kaatz says. “The bottom of windrows also absorb moisture from the soil, so keep drying hay off of wet soils as much as possible to avoid added moisture content.”

How often should you turn 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.

How often should you cut hay?

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.

What is the most reliable round baler?