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Jamo 06-24-2009 18:29:46 209.105.157.177 18511 Report to Moderator	I've got windrows that I'm going to have to leave overnight...is this going to ruin my hay or can I still bale it tomorrow? (it's supposed to rain at 3pm so I would need to start baling around noon in order to get it all up in time) thanks jamo [Reply]   [No Email]
Ed S. (IL) 06-29-2009 08:02:41 12.2.142.7 18545 Report to Moderator	Re: question about hay in reply to Jamo, 06-24-2009 18:29:46   I asked a friend about this yesterday - he puts up thousands of bales of hay a year - and he said he prefers to rake the hay once before baling, in the morning when the hay is still a little pliable from the dew (which reduced leaf loss), and bale that same afternoon (as opposed to raking one day and baling the next). He said the less time the hay sits after being raked, the better the color. He said quality may be about the same as raking one day and baling the next, but in selling hay, color = $$$. He also said an older farmer told him once if you see the rake and the baler in the field at the same time, either they're loosing a lot of leaf because they're raking too dry, or they're raking it right and baling too wet... es   [Reply]   [No Email]
Tx Jim 06-27-2009 04:38:15 67.142.163.33 18533 Report to Moderator	Re: question about hay in reply to paul, 06-24-2009 18:29:46   jason, NW Ontario My understanding of what kyhayman stated about "sets color better" would mean "retain more green color" from not lying flat exposed direct sunlight. I think this would apply to any type of hay.   [Reply]   [No Email]
kyhayman 06-25-2009 21:15:01 75.104.128.38 18525 Report to Moderator	Re: question about hay in reply to Jamo, 06-24-2009 18:29:46   The best hay I make is raked one day and baled the next. Its a gamble, since a wet windrow is a mess but it sure sets the color better.   [Reply]   [No Email]
Jason, NW Ontario 06-26-2009 19:48:16 24.109.211.147 18529 Report to Moderator	Re: question about hay in reply to kyhayman, 06-25-2009 21:15:01   Can you elaborate on what you said about the colour setting? I've never heard about that before - does it apply to grass or legume hay? Jay   [Reply]   [No Email]
johns48jdb 06-25-2009 03:28:37 64.12.116.80 18517 Report to Moderator	Re: question about hay in reply to Jamo, 06-24-2009 18:29:46   you need to run yourrake over it, but just turn whats down up. youll be surprised as to how damp it is under a windrow, so just use the very end of the rake to tflip it 180 degrees.   [Reply]   [Send Email]
Ed S. (IL) 06-24-2009 19:28:44 12.69.49.51 18514 Report to Moderator	Re: question about hay in reply to Jamo, 06-24-2009 18:29:46   Unless you get rain on it, I would think it would be okay, but then, I'm also still learning at this... Don't start baling until the dew is cooked off tomorrow... es   [Reply]   [No Email]