Tedders are intended to be used on crops while they are still higher in moisture and pliable. A crop that is overly dry should not be tedded due to loss of leaf material. … So, for most farmers, a tedder is a needed implement.
Is tedding hay worth it? Whereas tedding is highly recommended for grass hay, which tends to mat and dry slowly, some hay producers won’t ted alfalfa for fear of leaf loss. Vrieze said that while he understands that sentiment, the greater risk is leaving the crop in the field too long.
Similarly, What is the purpose of a hay Tedder? A traditional European technique, tedding is the process used by growers to cure mown hay, particularly in cooler climates where drying hay thoroughly can be a challenge. Tedding speeds up drying of hay and other forage through physical manipulation: Mixing helps rotate dry grass with green.
What is the difference between a hay Tedder and a hay rake?
In order to speed the drying time of the hay, tedding is generally done the second day after the hay has been mowed or after a heavy rainfall. Raking, however, is not done until the hay has less than 35 percent to 45 percent moisture content. Raking is usually done right before baling.
How often should you tedder hay?
Initial tedding should be performed after a brief wilting period following a morning cutting while the hay is still moist (two to four hours). In very damp conditions, tedding may need to be done immediately after cutting. A second pass is usually done the next day, and the hay is raked and baled that afternoon.
Can you Ted hay too much?
Tedding increases drying rates with only a 1 to 3 percent loss in yield when done carefully. Tedding performed on hay with less than 40 percent moisture, however, causes leaf losses; the lower the moisture percentage, the greater the losses. Tedding dry hay can result in losses of 20 percent or more.
Can you Ted hay twice? it is rare that we only ted twice. we ted right after mowing as it gets all the hay fluffed up and the driven over parts unmatted. it will dry faster and evener. it is important to ted SLOW the first time so you can pick it all up.
Can you windrow hay with a tedder? To work effectively, you would want a tedder that could cover two windrows at a time–23′ (and a little more) and be able to blow it out over the whole 30′. Now, since your hay is spread over 30′, you would want a rake that could reach as close to 30′ as possible. My 10’6″ mower drops windrows about 8′ wide.
How fast do you tedder hay?
Run the tedder with no more than 350 rpm’s better 300 rpm’s. The idea is to stir up the hay & not sling it a half mile. Rake or run a tedder immediately after mowing or at first light with a dew.
Can you tedder hay with dew on it? If drying conditions are lousy and rain is coming or hay is heavy may ted a second time. This is for any type, grass or legume or mix, if lots of legume use slow rpm and do it with dew on. Often times you only have a few hour window to do it right.
Can you tedder alfalfa?
Tedders are commonly used to spread out grasses and speed drying. But many growers won’t use them on alfalfa. If the hay is too dry, tedding can knock off leaves, which robs the crop of much of its protein. … Tedding alfalfa shortly after cutting, when the crop is typically about 75% water, helps minimize leaf loss.
Does rain hurt hay? Rained-on hay often has relatively high protein values compared to fiber content unless there’s great leaf loss. Leaves contain a lot of the plant’s protein. As soluble carbohydrates leach, structural fibers make up a greater percent of forage dry matter. The digestibility of rained-on hay can decline 6 to 40 percent.
Which is better 1st or 2nd cut hay?
First cut hay is coarser than second cut, this is because the spring growth (rain, etc.) leads to thicker stems and stalks and heavier leaves. Second cut hay has a finer texture and usually, a greener color and heavier leaves. It is more dense, the leaves are more tender and healthier, especially in protein.
Which hay rake is best?
Models like the Vermeer R2800 twin rake are consequently better able to handle wetter, heavier forage crops in addition to performing well in dry hay. Because teeth don’t come into contact with the ground, parallel bar rakes offer an overall durability and ease of maintenance similar to wheel rakes.
Can you Ted hay with a rotary rake? The rotary rake will speed drying but by a limited amount. If you need to ted three days in a row you can do that a lot easier than re-raking in an attempt to fluff your hay back up.
Do you Ted silage?
Such an approach can lead to soil contamination and dry matter losses in the clamp or inconsistent wilting and reduced silage quality. … Mr Duggleby believes tedding in particular should be placed further up the list of priorities.
How many times do you cut hay?
The first cutting in the spring should be when grass has greened up and reached 12 – 16 inches tall. This should clean up all the old growth of winter weeds and such. Then each subsequent cutting is at 3.5 to 5 week intervals. This is dependent on fertilizer and moisture.
Can you bale hay with dew on it? You can bale it when the MONITOR says its a little wetter. The monitor is rubbing against the outside of the plant material and responds to dew quickly even if that moisture hasn’t penetrated the stem. With dew moisture it takes a lot of dew to raise the moisture of the entire windrow from 10% to 15%.
How soon can you bale hay after cutting?
As a rule of thumb, wait to rake hay until after the dew has dried and the sun nears its peak, around 11 a.m. If possible, let the raked hay sit for an hour or two before baling to allow more drying time. Haymakers have several types of rakes available.
Can you cut hay when its wet? When plants are cut for hay, they do not immediately die. As long as moisture is above 40 percent, they will continue to respire – exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide – a process that burns energy. … Sometimes, rain will not reduce hay quality significantly if the hay has adequate time to dry and cure prior to baling.
What is the best cut of hay?
The most common choice of hay is second cutting, but first cutting is also good for horses, plus it is usually cheaper than the other two. Choose hay that is soft, green, and leafy, with thin stems, so it is easier for horses to eat.
How can you tell good quality hay? Look for the following characteristics:
- Maturity – High quality hay will have a high proportion of leaves in the bale, with few or no coarse stems or seed heads.
- Condition – High quality hay will contain little dust or mold.
- Color & odor – High quality hay generally has a bright green color and a sweet, fresh odor.
What kind of hay is best for horses?
Timothy hay is one of the most popular hays fed to horses. It can be quite expensive, depending on whether it has to be shipped long distances. Timothy must be harvested in the pre- or early-bloom stage to ensure a high nutrient content.
Are rotary rakes good?
What is the best way to rake hay field?
What size hay rake do I need? If you want to rake two swaths on one the basic math would be to take your mower width (18 ft) + swath width (6 ft) + some wiggle room ( 2-3 ft) = about 27 ft, so 30 should work. We run a 14 ft mower, drop a 7 ft swath, and rake with a 23 ft rake.