The ideal moisture content for hay before baling is typically between 15% and 18%. Baling hay at this moisture level helps prevent mold growth and spoilage, ensuring better quality and longer shelf life. It's essential to use a moisture meter to accurately gauge the moisture levels throughout the curing process. If moisture levels exceed 20%, it's advisable to delay baling until they drop to a safer range.
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 hay baler tucker finger is a component of a hay baler that helps to guide and position the hay as it is fed into the baler. It works by "tucking" the hay into the pickup mechanism, ensuring an even and consistent flow of material into the baling chamber. This aids in the efficient formation of bales and helps prevent clogs. Tucker fingers are crucial for maintaining the overall performance and productivity of the baling process.
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.
A 3x4 round bale typically refers to a bale that is 3 feet in diameter and 4 feet long. The weight and volume can vary depending on the type of hay and its moisture content. Generally, one round bale can be considered as one unit, so there would be one bale of hay in a 3x4 round bale.
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.
To dry grass for hay, first cut it when it is mature but not overly dry, ideally during a sunny, dry day. Spread the grass in a thin layer on the ground or use a hay rake to create windrows, allowing air circulation for faster drying. Turn the grass periodically to ensure even drying, and monitor moisture levels; it should be at about 15-20% moisture before baling. Once dried, store the hay in a cool, dry place to prevent mold and spoilage.
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.
A hay baler tucker finger is a component of a hay baler that helps to guide and position the hay as it is fed into the baler. It works by "tucking" the hay into the pickup mechanism, ensuring an even and consistent flow of material into the baling chamber. This aids in the efficient formation of bales and helps prevent clogs. Tucker fingers are crucial for maintaining the overall performance and productivity of the baling process.
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.
That is a type of farm machinery that does a combination of tasks, such as cutting and baling hay.
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.
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 presence of excess moisture promotes mold making the hay unuseable for livestock.