When it comes to the production of hay, from cutting to baling, Kubota offers a sharp focus on quality.
Dave Palmer, a Kubota Product Manager for Hay and Forage Equipment, offers some fantastic tips for producing high-quality hay. Let’s see what he has to say.
Any hay producer can attest to the fact that consistently producing and delivering high-quality hay is the key to a successful business. The best producers have discovered there is a delicate balance between art and science in making hay, and each has an individual approach to successful hay production.
The common theme is attention to detail in each step, always with a sharp focus on quality – from cutting and conditioning to raking and baling.
Innovation has been the key in helping producers make a premium hay product. Hay-handling technology has evolved, and today’s tools give you the capacity to cut, rake and bale in ways that ensure a product is of the highest quality and create more value in your bales time after time.
Of course, there are a wide variety of methods for harvesting and handling hay. Each requires using specific equipment to complete the tasks. In most parts of the U.S., hay harvest includes the use of a mower, tedder, rake and baler. Here are some tips that should make your hay production easier.”
Mowing:
When it comes to mowing, cutting height preferences have changed in the past few years to allow for more rapid regrowth. Today, we are seeing a cutting height of two to three inches, which actually allows for much quicker regrowth.
Swath width is also critical to take advantage of the drying effects of sun and wind. Wider swaths give a faster dry down, and more narrow swaths take longer to dry. It is critical to be able to adjust your swaths to meet the different drying environments across the country.
Tedding:
Another method to help speed up the drying process is the use of a tedder. A tedder can also help take the lead on beating the weather. The ideal time for tedding hay is within a few hours after mowing or early in the morning while the dew is still on.
Raking
Raking is the last stage of the process before baling as it allows the hay to finish drying and puts it into a swath for the baler to pick up. The quality of the swath is also critical to the baling process as you want a very even and consistent swath. This ensures an even flow of the crop into the baler which helps to establish good, uniform and dense bales.
Baling
Every producer will agree that baling is the most critical step and often the most rushed in order to beat the changing weather conditions. By paying attention to detail in the previous steps, like cutting, creating a quality windrow by having a good, quick and even dry down and baling the forage as quickly as possible, you will produce higher-quality bales.
Optimum net tension on the bale is also an important factor for preserving the bale. This enables the bale to shed water and other weather elements such as snow and ice and still maintain the quality of the crop inside the bale.
When baling dry straw, you want the heaviest bales as possible as producers should have the option of setting the maximum pressure throughout the bale. For baling grass or legume crops, a moderate core is ideal to give the bale a chance to breathe after is has been bailed. You can select settings that increase the pressure on the middle and outer layers of the bale.
When baling wet silage, pressure should be on a steady increase as the bale is made. You want to ensure that the least amount of air possible is in the bale while still being able to move it if using a bale stabber. If you are using a bale grab or squeeze system to move bales, then you would have maximum pressure throughout the bale. This will ensure the highest quality haylage/silage, so bales will stack and maintain their shape.
Separate from the baler, trailed and mounted turntable wrappers are required to complete the haylage/silage wrapping process. What is critical in this process is to ensure that the proper amount of plastic silage wrap is applied. In most parts of the country, six to seven layers is the best which ensures that the quality and lasting of the haylage/silage is optimum.
With either manual- or computer-control, producers should also make sure bales are consistent in size and shape which will reduce the amount of air in the bale after wrapping. Look for wrappers that are easy to operate and have a low dumping height which protect the bale from damage to the sealing or tearing of the plastic wrap when it is being unloaded.
Any questions?
If you have any questions about our hay implements, or any other Kubota machine, contact your authorized Kubota dealer.
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