Hauling Hay

Wheels are turning and hay is rolling here on the farm.  Rolling up into big round bales, that is.  It’s that time of year, and everywhere you look, farmers are makin’ hay.  Wet weather caused a delayed start this year, so it is a scramble to get the hay in before it loses any more nutritional value.  Hay is best when cut green and allowed to cure.

Disk Mower

How does the hay get from the field to the barn?  First you need a scythe, Ha Ha!  I think I will use my disk mower instead.  If you are a true romantic, you can use a scythe.  It’s gonna take you a while though!  Mowers range from the old sickle mower (like a big hedge trimmer) to newer disk mowers and mower conditioners.  The disk mower has a series of flat drums with short  blades that spin at a high rate of speed.  Some have a conditioner attached.  The conditioner may have rollers or flails, but the idea is to break and crack the hay for quicker curing.

Farmall "M" and 5-bar rake

Depending on the moisture in the ground, heaviness of the hay, and weather conditions, it will take between 1 and 3 days for the hay to cure.  Then it’s time to rake up the dried hay into a windrow.  Types of hay rakes vary widely.  I still have a ground-driven 5 bar rake.  Bar rakes can also be hydraulicly driven.   The most popular rake these days is the wheel rake.  As its name implies, a wheel rake has a series of large wheels.  The friction from the ground turns the wheels and pushes the hay to the side.

Big round bales

Next comes the good part, baling it up!  The baler has a pickup on the front that scoops the windrow up into the machine.   Bales and balers come in all shapes and sizes.  The small square and large round bales are by far the most popular.  If you are out west, you will probably see more stacks, and big square (3X3X5 foot) bales.

Once baled, it is time to store the hay.  It can be stacked outside and covered, or moved to a barn.  Some round bales are left in the field and picked up as needed.  It is best however, to keep the bales in a dry location close to where it will be needed later.  When the snow blows, you will be glad you stored your hay nearby!

Congratulations, you are now a hay expert.  Are you still looking for that scythe?