Hay Production Process

Hay Production Process

            Many people throughout agriculture wonder how hay is produced, the different qualities, and the different sizes there are. Listed below is the main steps to harvesting hay starting with cutting, next is tedding, then to raking, and lastly baling the hay.

First Things First

·      When beginning the hay production process there are a few things that need to be done before even starting.

1)    Check the oil in the tractor

2)    Put fuel in the tractor

Step 1: Cutting the hay

·      Cutting and harvesting of the fields should be done at the right time so the grass is not over mature, grass that is over mature will have less protein and reduced digestibility for livestock. Under the right conditions hay should be harvested approximately every 4 weeks for best quality.

·      Cutting can be performed with one of two types of machines, a mower conditioner or a disc mower. Both are designed to cut the grass just above ground level, but the conditioner breaks the stems as it cuts which speeds up the amount of drying time in the field.

·      Sharpening hay knifes is a huge part of the process in order to cut the hay smoothly.

·      Also, lots of mower conditioners need to be cleaned out from the previous cutting.

·      In doing this most of the time you can just take a putty knife and scrape the dirt and built up grass off of the cutter bar.

·      Next, grease every grease fitting on hay mower.

·      Once these steps are completed you are ready to start cutting.

·      More times than not, most people make two rounds around on the inside, then make the third round on the outside of the field along the edge.

·      Now cut around and around until all the hay is cut. 

Step 2: Tedding Hay

·      Tedding hay is the easiest job throughout the whole process of hay production.

·      First check the tire pressure on the tedder tires.

·      -Grease the tedder.

·      Depending on Weather and moister in the air will determined how many times the hay will need to be tedded.

·      Once the tedder is hooked up to the tractor, engage the PTO and start making rounds around the field.

·      This will fluff the hay pulling it off the ground and allowing air and sun light to dry the hay evenly.

·      This process is repeated approximately every 24 hours until the moisture content is right for baling. 

Step 3: Raking the Hay

·      Raking the hay is very simple, and mainly anyone that knows how to drive a tractor can rake hay.

·      As always, the first step is checking tire pressure and greasing each piece of equipment.

·      When preparing the hay for baling it is raked into windrows, this is done by a rake pulled behind the tractor that pulls the hay into rows that will feed into the baler.

·      When entering a field with a rake it is easiest the go ahead and make three rounds around the field and let the person running the baler bale them first.

·      Next, after the first three rounds have been baled, all that must be done is to go straight back and forth from where ever you started until the hay is all raked unto windrows.

·      The tip for raking hay is to try and be efficient with being straight aligned with the edge making an even windrow.

Step 4: Baling Hay

·      The hardest part in the process in definitely baling the hay, because there is so much going on at one time.

·      Before using the baler, it is common to open the doors of the baler and blow all the excess grass out, that has built up over time inside, so it doesn’t mess with the chains.

·      As usual, check tire pressure, grease it, and check the chains and sprockets.

·      Most hay is baled into round bales; hay is also baled in square bales which makes it easier to handle and feed in small quantities.

·      Round bales are moved with tractors and used to feed larger herds.     

 Round bales also can be stored outside, but this results in the outer layer being lost due to exposure to the elements if not covered.

·      Which ever baler used determines the tires placement of the tractor, for instance a round baler is pulled directly behind the tractor, so all you have to do is drive over the windrow and the pick-up header will feed the hay into the baler.

·      If using a square baler, most sit off to the side, meaning unlike driving over the windrow like done with a round baler, the tire will need to be placed on the left side of the windrow.

·      A monitor that is hooked up to the baler sits inside the tractor and lets the operator know when to stop, the net wrap is being put on, how big the bale itself is, and when to dump the bale.

·      Once the bale is dumped and the tail gate is closed it is time to go again until time to stop and dump the next bale.

Moving the Hay

·      Moving hay is very simple is consist of a tractor or skid steer with a squeeze or hay spear.

·      All that has to be done is pick the bale up and move it to the edge of the field or load it on a trailer.

·      If moving the hay on a trailer, depending on the size of the trailer determines home many bales can be loaded and moved safely.

·      Depending on the person and the quality of the hay, they might just stack the hay on the edge of the field.

 If the hay is a high quality, the most likely it will be taken and stacked in a barn.