Farmers began baling hay in the mid-19th century, with the invention of the mechanical hay baler. The first practical hay baler was patented in the United States in 1852 by Charles Withington. This innovation significantly improved the efficiency of hay harvesting and storage, leading to its widespread adoption in agriculture.
A tedder is a person or machine that spreads mown hay so that it can cure (dry) before baling to allow it to retain as much nutrients as possible.
A slice of hay is commonly referred to as a "bale." Bales can be formed through the compression of hay into compact shapes for easier handling and storage. They come in various types, such as square or round bales, depending on the method of baling used.
To harvest hay, begin by cutting the grass or legumes at the appropriate stage of maturity using a mower or a sickle bar. After cutting, allow the plants to dry in the field for a few days, turning them occasionally to ensure even drying. Once the moisture content is low enough (typically around 15-20%), the hay is raked into windrows and then collected using a baler or loaded onto trucks for storage. Properly dried and stored hay prevents spoilage and maintains quality for feeding.
The timing for a 1946 International Hay Bailer typically refers to the timing of the machine's internal components, such as the camshaft and knotters, which are crucial for its operation. For proper operation, it's essential to ensure that the knotters engage and release at the correct moments during the baling process. If you’re experiencing issues, consulting the owner's manual or a service guide specific to that model is recommended for precise timing specifications and adjustments. Regular maintenance is also key to keeping the machine in good working order.
A tedder is a person or machine that spreads mown hay so that it can cure (dry) before baling to allow it to retain as much nutrients as possible.
Baling wire is a metal, specifically a type of steel wire used for bundling materials like hay or straw.
Yes. Read the label. Also do not graze for 45 days.
That is a type of farm machinery that does a combination of tasks, such as cutting and baling hay.
This question could mean one of two things: "harvesting" as in cutting, or "harvesting" as in baling. In terms of cutting, grass hay should be cut when the grass has just started flowering or a little sooner. Legume hay is best cut when the field is at the 20% bloom stage; when cutting a grass-legume hay field, often a bit of both of above is the best time to cut. When cutting at this stage, this ensures that the forage has the right level of fibre content, but also the right level of protein and energy content (or general nutrient content). If hay is cut any later or even earlier, nutrient content is lower, resulting in poorer performance from your animals if fed lower quality hay. When baling hay, this "harvesting" of hay ensures that it is dried to the right moisture level. If hay is baled up when it is too wet, it will do one of two things: heat up due to anaerobic activity and combust, or heat up from the middle out and turn moldy from the inside out. Neither scenarios are desirable. Hay should be baled at no more than 20% moisture (as is), when the swaths are dry not just on the outside, but also tested for moisture on the inside. If there is a little moisture on the inside, even this little extra moisture will cause a bit of problems. So the hay has to be raked or turned over with a V-rake before it is baled, then baled at the hottest part of the day (or an hour or so after it has been raked that same day). If hay is baled in the morning or in the evening, the dew on the swaths will also ruin the quality of the hay, causing moldy hay or worse.
The measurements of a roll of hay can vary but many are either 4 feet by 6 feet or 5 feet by six feet. The measurements will depend on how it is baled, who is baling it, and how tight it is the hay is baled or rolled.
Working in agriculture: detasseling/picking corn, baling hay... etc.
The presence of excess moisture promotes mold making the hay unuseable for livestock.
There is no simple answer to this question. From the time you cut the hay to the time you bale it completely depends on the weather and conditions. Your best bet is to get a moisture reader from your local agriculture store, this will allow you to test the moisture levels of the middle of the bale. This way you can make a couple of bales and then test it using the machine rather then bale a whole field to find out the hay was too wet. A moisture reader costs between $150-$200 but is a great investment as it ensures you will not bale hay that is too wet. -NJC
The practice of baling hay began in the mid-1800s, with the introduction of horse-drawn balers. The first successful mechanical hay baler was patented by Charles M. Hall in 1852. This innovation revolutionized hay harvesting, allowing farmers to efficiently package and transport hay for livestock feed.
Forming it into bales via a baler, like hay-so it can be easily distributed. They are turned into nice square bundles and stacked like bricks.
An old phrase is relevant to the process, Make Hay while the Sun Shines. The process requires that the particluar grass or legume must be air dried after cutting and before baling or loose storage to prevent mold. If a shower should come through between the cutting process and the baling, the hay must be re-raked and allowed to dry out completely before baling can begin again. Excess raking reduces the value of the hay because each time that it is turned, a certain amount of the desireable leaf content is lost. If after baling, a rain-storm catches the bales in the field before protective storage is found, the bales may require individual turning and drying time before the storage process can begin again. That in turn has increased the farmer's labor cost and reduced the quality of the product. Hay that is unusable as animal feed is often used in re-forestation and soil erosion prevention projects and by landscapers as mulch. Of course most people simply call the local farm supply outlet and place an order for what they need. Most people don't even know the difference between first, second and third cutting hays, but the livestock always do. They also have better sensors to detect molds. Howevever, hunger sometimes forces them to ingest it, and illness and death can result.