Farmers who want to make the jump to baling their own hay often ask about the differences between tedders and rakes. They also often ask if they can get by with one or the other. In this blog we will discuss the differences between these two implements and how to determine if both are necessary for your small-farm operation. However, before deciding which implement is right for you, it is first necessary to understand the workings of the hay mower that cuts the crop that is to be raked or tedded.
Hay mowers, unless they are fitted with a conditioner a topic for another blog , tend to leave the cut grass in swaths that do not dry well in most climates. The moisture content in hay when baled should be 18 per cent to 20 per cent for small bales and 16 per cent or less for large bales.
A hay rake is used to bring hay into windrows and prepare it to be baled. There are three different types of hay rakes: parallel bar, rotary and wheel. Forward motion of the tractor and engaging the wheels of the rake into the crop powers the wheel rakes. Wheel rakes are not PTO driven, which hinders their ability to work well with hay that is heavy and wet.
Raking, however, is not done until the hay has less than 35 percent to 45 percent moisture content. Raking is usually done right before baling.
By using the site, you agree to the uses of cookies and other technology as outlined in our Policy, and to our Terms of Use. Shinners and R. Making hay image by Allen Stoner from Fotolia. Health Effects of Dust in Horse Barns. Sure you could do without a tedder here but they your hay is layin out in the sun at least one if not two extra days.
Losing quality and color. Say you have the same quality hay only difference is part laid an extra day and got sun bleached, try selling that browner hay for the same price as the green hay. Here we mow in the morning, run the tedder the next morning and rake around noon to be baling by 2pm, normally. Obviously sun, wind, and humididy may speed up or slow down the process.
A disc mower and a tedder is all you need to put up grass hay as fast as anyone. Hi Michael,not to say that I have ever done anthing the rite way,but when we bale up dry hay,we almost always tedd it. Usually cut one afternoon and tedd it early the next morning,depending on the weather of course,you can often rake it up on the third morning late and bale it that afternoon,maybe do it a day quicker?
Implement Alley Discussion Forum. Welcome Guest, Log in or Register. Michael Soldan Report to Moderator. Hugh MacKay Report to Moderator. Re: Tedder vs. Rake in reply to Michael Soldan, Rake in reply to Hugh MacKay, Sam MO Report to Moderator. Rake in reply to hayray,
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