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 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.
Similarly, 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.
What is the best time to Ted 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.
What is a belt rake?
A belt rake works by moving a series of tines perpendicular to the tractor’s direction of travel, just above the ground surface. The tines are mounted to two large belts that are driven by the tractor’s PTO.
How do you do a Ted hay with a wheel rake?
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.
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 wide of tedder do I need?
Can you cut and bale hay the same day?
In a trial at the University of Wisconsin Arlington Research Station (Figure 2) where alfalfa was put into a wide swath it reached 65 percent moisture in about eight hours and could be harvested for haylage the same day as cutting.
How do you adjust a hay Tedder?
How do you use a belt rake?
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.
Do you Ted 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. … “If you ted 24 hours or so later, your leaf loss is pretty high with alfalfa.”
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.