disc mowers for alfalfa hay,(will it dry)

Anonymous-0 · Dec 20, 2009

I just sold my NH 479 haybine. I'm thinking of getting a 9'disc mower,(no conditioner) to replace it. I do a fair amount of heavy slough grass and have heard that these work great. I've also got 20 acres of grass/alfalfa mix. Will it work for the mixed hay? Will the alfalfa dry decently? what apeals to me about a disc mower is the simplicity, speed and light wieght for slough grass.

kyhayman · Dec 20, 2009

I've found that a disc mower and tedder if the tedder is run right, just after the hay wilts but before it really dries, gets alfalfa/orchard grass or alfalfa/timothy up just as fast as I was ever able to do with a 474 NH haybine. Except for soybean hay I havent used a mower conditioner since the mid 1990's.

Seth_ia · Dec 20, 2009

NO! Disk mowers are my number one pet peave when I pull into a field to bale it. The leaves will be dust dry and the stems are tough. Tedders may do the job, but that's an extra pass that is critical of timing and I know I can't do it. The exception to what I say here is round bales. They are a little more forgiving on moisture and I could usually slide by when I had a disk mower. As soon as I bough tmy first big square baler, the disk mower hit the road. The side benfit was that my repair bills went down too!

Anonymous-0 · Dec 21, 2009

For what its worth ,I get along better with my disc mower and a tedder than I ever did with myJD 1290 moco. Mow one day ,tedder it early next AM while still damp.

DJM75 · Dec 21, 2009

thats what I use got a NH 617 mower and an 852 baler.

smallbaleboy · Dec 21, 2009

All i know is all hay I do, is that I would own the disc unit hands down. Tedding I tried and did not care for and was another trip. i still assemble them but personally would not own one.just another cost and they are not cheap for what you get.
Sickle unit an disc units will both get the job done. Sickle in ideal and dry conditions mainly and alos have trouble finihing up fields etc. Disc units don't care if its wet, down tangled etc,they just mow. Its personal opinion item again as to whats the best. I know if you spend part of the day going backwards instead of cutting with sickle it has change some guys feelings. As far as cost in upkeep i don't see big difference,but yes if the gears go in the bar it can add up to repair, but if properly taken care of this is very seldom issue. I have only done repairs to two units in last eight years of dealing with these. good luck My choice thou is disc hands down

Anonymous-0 · Dec 21, 2009

Do you use it for alfalfa without tedding?

Anonymous-0 · Dec 21, 2009

Does a tedder crimp the stems or just windrow it like a wheel rake?

showcrop · Dec 21, 2009

A tedder does neither. It fluffs the hay and depending on ground and rotation speed it can do anything from gently stirring the hay to throwing it up and back twenty feet. I mow with a disc mower conditioner, tedd at least twice, rake twice and still find it hard to dry the alfalfa down.

randallin Mo · Dec 22, 2009

The straight disc mower will do fine in grass. I persnoally like to ted my hay after it wilts. Getting alfalfa to dry is TOTALLY dependant upon the weather especially the humidity. The type of machine that it is cut with makes little difference under high humidty conditions. I use a disc/conditioner mower. When the humidity conditions are low, some times I can make alfalfa hay in two days. Other times it may take four. Whenever I decide to trade mowers, I'll go to a straight disc mower simply because they are less money and usually involve less maintenance.

DJM75 · Dec 22, 2009

JayinNY · Dec 22, 2009

You right, here in NY I do ted twice, and rake twice if I have the time. A tedder only scatteres the hay around so light and air can help it dry. I do run my 489NH haybine almost wide open on the swather to help with the drying. I know running over the hay with the tractor causes it to dry slower, but what can you do?

disc mowers for alfalfa hay,(will it dry)

Anonymous-0

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kyhayman

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