For Grandpa

David G · Sep 6, 2020

I see you using sickle bar, thought you had a mowco.

SVcummins · Sep 6, 2020

He has both . So do i but I prefer the sickle mower

David G · Sep 6, 2020

You are a lot drier there.

The windrow that the mowco makes allows most of the ground to dry, you can then rake the windrow over into the dry area, or tedder it.

David G · Sep 6, 2020

A tedder does very little good when ground is wet.

old · Sep 6, 2020

I too prefer the sickle bar mower over the Haybine I us to use but my NH460 broke down a few years ago so I built my BA

grandpa Love · Sep 6, 2020

This field has 10 ft gates. Can't get a haybine in. Baler is tight!

grandpa Love · Sep 6, 2020

I'm finding that out. That wet spot is giving me fits. May go with wife's suggestion and let that hay lay!

SVcummins · Sep 6, 2020

So much simpler and quiter does every bit as nice of job and absolutely live to prove people wrong when they say something can’t be done

David G · Sep 6, 2020

Thought you knew a fencing guy that can widen that opening?

A tedder is a handy tool, but going over the field too many times for the wrong reasons does more harm than good. It is most important to handle the hay as few times as possible. Cut it, rake it if no mowco, let that space dry then rake back. I would never tedder hay onto wet ground. You can then run the tedder if second raking is not drying.

You will really want to get away from using the tedder once you start doing alfalfa.

grandpa Love · Sep 6, 2020

Lol. I offered to put in a bigger gate. Land owner said no. This has been a fun summer of learning. Every time I bale I learn something. 99% from folks on here.

David G · Sep 6, 2020

You are doing good, just can make it a lot easier on yourself by changing up some tactics.

grandpa Love · Sep 6, 2020

Did you see that we got the bale loader working? That will help!

Traditional Farmer · Sep 6, 2020

I baled about 15 acres of hay today that I cut with a sickle bar mower Friday and have about the same amount to bale tomorrow I cut yesterday.About perfect hay weather mid 80's,low humidity and wind about 6 to 8 MPH.

David G · Sep 6, 2020

You can use a sickle, but are going to rake it an extra time if the ground is wet.

grandpa Love · Sep 6, 2020

TF we are having about the same weather here in Alabama. Very unusual! But I like it! 99% of the hay could have been baled today. Just a bit lazy.... Only 5-6 acres so easy day tomorrow.

David G · Sep 6, 2020

That is cool, good job.

old · Sep 6, 2020

I have areas where I might be able to do a 2nd cutting but figure why when the hay barn is almost full

SVcummins · Sep 6, 2020

Good for you . Ive got 100 little bales to do for the neighbors and that’s it. Would take more straw if I could

Traditional Farmer · Sep 6, 2020

I'm going to stay on the hay as long as this weather lasts,about 10 days or two weeks I can be finished for the year.Never know when the weather will change get wet and cool and that is it for the hay making.Although I did cut some hay over Thanksgiving weekend about 20 years ago,hadn't been cut that year and the guy was in a jam about the land use thing for the year.It was pretty cold so I baled it up green right after I cut it and took it straight over and fed it to the cows,they ate it like crazy.

caterpillar guy · Sep 7, 2020

We lay hay out in a swath like a sickle bar mower does then rake in a day or 2. Usually can put up the day after mowing. Later in the season it may need more time.

tomstractorsandtoys · Sep 7, 2020

One year when we farmed in MD I cut second cutting orchard grass hay at Thanksgiving and raked and baled it dry the first week in Jan. It was perfect hay that the calves loved. Tom

Destroked 450 · Sep 7, 2020

(quoted from post at 20:17:10 09/06/20) A tedder does very little good when ground is wet.

I disagree with that, more than once I've had a tedder save me from losing a hay crop by lifting the hay off of wet ground so it could get air under it to dry.
A lot of it has to do with how one operates the tedder and the design of the tedder. I run a 4 basket tedder that covers more area per pass with less hay being pressed on the wet ground by the tractor tires.
Also when trying to get cured hay dry on wet ground we operate the tractor at low rpm's reducing pto speed but in a higher gear to maintain good ground speed, at the reduced rpm rather than threshing the hay a tedder will spread and fluff the hay on top of the hay stubble for better drying.

Due to leaf loose in alfalfa this may not work as good but any time you have to stir alfalfa additional times with a rake or tedder your going to lose leaves.
My hay ground is to wet for a decent crop of alfalfa so I only grow grass hay with some added clovers.
With proper tedding I've baled with wet tires and dust coming out of the baler.

showcrop · Sep 7, 2020

(quoted from post at 18:17:10 09/06/20) A tedder does very little good when ground is wet.

Wet ground is where a tedder is most valuable! David G, you are right that you should never TEDDER hay onto wet ground. You TED it. If you don't get your hay dry it will mold on you, no matter how gentle you are with it or how few passes you make over it. Like Destroked 450 said, tires wet, but dust coming out of the baler if you know how to do it!!

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