When we asked our Instagram followers to tell us their top hay baling challenges, the answer was clear: moisture levels and weather concerns took top billing. Here’s how you can make sure neither stand in your way.
Make Moisture Less of a Factor
Mitigating moisture means finding ways to get the crop to dry down faster. Start by keeping the windrow as wide and thin as possible without clumps. Exposure to sunlight and wind are also a critical factor for enhanced dry down.
Also, make sure you have the right mower conditioner for the job. Look for options that:
- Can be fine-tuned quickly to adjust to changing crop conditions from cutting to cutting and from field to field. Models like the DC105 are built to produce a crop that will dry down and be ready to bale sooner for higher feed quality.
- Offer design features that allow for adjusting cutting height and conditioner roll pressure without tools.
- Allow for a thin, consistent crop mat to enter the rolls for thorough and even conditioning.
It’s important to make sure your mower conditioner is adjusted to your crop conditions. Grassy crops dry down faster with abrasion to the stem using a flail style conditioner. For leafy crops like legumes, dry-down is achieved by crimping or cracking of the stem with roller conditioners.
Baling Higher-moisture Hay
If your operation bales high-moisture high or silage, the baler must be equipped to handle wet and sticky crops. Look for silage-ready models with moisture sensors to help provide real-time moisture levels and ensure maximized feed quality.
It’s time to start baling hay on your terms. To learn more, contact your local dealer.