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Grasses, Pastures & Hay
when do I rake it?
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<blockquote data-quote="Bama1" data-source="post: 841929" data-attributes="member: 16850"><p>First I'll say Welcome to hay making. Secondly, I'll say I'm sorry, cause in your first year you will go through a lot of headaches learning what to do and what not to do. :bang: </p><p></p><p>I say this because I was new to hay making last year and what a year it was.</p><p></p><p>To answer your question from my short experience, I try to go to the thickest part of the field that I cut and check a few places to see how the hay on the bottom had dried. I figured that if it is dry enough to rake in the thickest area, then the rest should be ok also. Worked out pretty good for me so far doing it that way.</p><p></p><p>On the other hand you don't want it too dry or it becomes a real mess if you don't bale fast enough. I have baled some so dry that it crumbles and piles on the ground under the baler as I was tying it up. My machine is an old manual tie machine. The rolls may not always be pretty like the new machines make, but it rolls them and my cows don't seem to care or at least they haven't complained yet. </p><p>The first time we ran into the dry crumbling problem we went and borrowed a neighbors square baler and baled it that way.</p><p></p><p>Anyway, there will be a lot of trial and error. Make sure you take a jug with something to drink cause it will be hot, dry and dusty especially on the baler, not so much while raking.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Bama1, post: 841929, member: 16850"] First I'll say Welcome to hay making. Secondly, I'll say I'm sorry, cause in your first year you will go through a lot of headaches learning what to do and what not to do. :bang: I say this because I was new to hay making last year and what a year it was. To answer your question from my short experience, I try to go to the thickest part of the field that I cut and check a few places to see how the hay on the bottom had dried. I figured that if it is dry enough to rake in the thickest area, then the rest should be ok also. Worked out pretty good for me so far doing it that way. On the other hand you don't want it too dry or it becomes a real mess if you don't bale fast enough. I have baled some so dry that it crumbles and piles on the ground under the baler as I was tying it up. My machine is an old manual tie machine. The rolls may not always be pretty like the new machines make, but it rolls them and my cows don't seem to care or at least they haven't complained yet. The first time we ran into the dry crumbling problem we went and borrowed a neighbors square baler and baled it that way. Anyway, there will be a lot of trial and error. Make sure you take a jug with something to drink cause it will be hot, dry and dusty especially on the baler, not so much while raking. [/QUOTE]
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when do I rake it?
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