Harvesting and the process of compacting and rolling hay are an important part of the life of ranchers and farmers who own herbivorous or ruminant livestock such as sheep, cattle, and horses. A good hay harvest is usually influenced by weather, soil conditions, and the process of dispersal of seeds from plants that have grown naturally, in addition to the time and hard work of farmers. Straw is usually stored in a compacted way to be rolled later, or made in the form of a box with the help of modern machines.
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Part 1 of 5: Cutting Straw
Step 1. Check your machines for at least a month before you plan to start mowing the dry grass for hay
Delays in harvesting caused by damage to machines or inadequate equipment can make the harvesting process late. In addition, the grass will also be too dry.
If your hayfield has grain crops such as alfalfa or clover, you may need to harvest early, when the flowers are at 10 or 20% bloom
Step 2. Mow your dry grass when the leaves have grown and developed, with the seed heads still not growing enough
The grass at this stage will later become the hay that has the best nutrition for your animal.
- Mowing the hay too early will result in lower overall yields.
- Cutting dry grass for too long will reduce the nutrient content in it, because plants at this stage will start producing seeds.
Step 3. Wait for at least three days of dry, sunny (and not humid) weather before you mow the dry grass
It takes about three days for the straw to dry and roll, and rain will hinder this process. There is usually a gap of about 2 weeks for the hay to reach the proper stage for mowing.
Step 4. Cut your lawn using a sickle mower, haybine mower, rotary mower, or rotary disk mower
In general, the size of the land determines the tools you need, starting from the smallest machine to the largest machine and also your investment.
Part 2 of 5: Grass Drying Process
Step 1. Start with tedding
Tedding is the process of spreading and aerating the grass, which is carried out the day after the grass is cut. A hay tedder machine is a machine that can be attached to and connected to a tractor and can aerate the grass that has been cut. This machine will also spread the grass so that sunlight and heat can speed up the process of drying grass to become hay.
A tedder machine and a rake or rake are usually the same machine
Step 2. Turn the hay one to three times over the next three days
Turning the grass with a tedder or harrowing machine will actually reduce the quality of the grass because the debris and seeds will fall and remain on the lawn. Do tedding with sufficient frequency, which is also adapted to the climate in your place.
If it rains, you may need to spin the hay one more time to make sure it is dry enough before storing
Step 3. Check your hay regularly for moisture content
Grass is good to be limp and dry, but not easily crushed by hand. Compacting and rolling the hay or baling too quickly can damage the grass, rot, and may catch fire once it is shaped and stored.
- An easy test that can be done is, twist a few sprigs of mowed grass and place them in a dry container with a few teaspoons of salt in it. Shake the container for one minute; If the salt remains dry, then your grass is ready for the next step, namely baling.
- For further scientific testing, purchase a moisture test kit at your nearest farm supply store or order through a catalog. The grass should have a moisture content of 22% and only begin to compact when the humidity ranges from 15-18%.
- Grass that is too dry will be easily damaged, so that the compacted straw will be of low quality.
Step 4. Divide the dry grass into several rows of rows on your plot
Usually when compacted with a baler machine, each row of these plots must be set to be wider, according to the size of the baler (compared to smaller traditional mowers). You will get the densest hay of the highest quality if the plot lengths are arranged according to your baler.
Part 3 of 5: Choosing a Baler Tool
Step 1. Consider buying a small baler if you are going to use it in a small area
You can store and maintain small hay solids in the barn.
Step 2. Use square hay for your goats and sheep, if you have one
These animals consume feed more slowly and are sometimes even more picky than animals such as cows and horses.
Step 3. Choose a square hay solid if you want to use it to run a small-scale farm
You can also sell hay to horse owners, pet shops, or cattle herders.
Step 4. Choose rolled hay solids if you are running a large scale farm and ranch
Straw compaction can be done with a larger baler, saving you more time. You need to invest quite a large amount if you want to have this tool.
Large hay rolls will also reduce the time spent feeding. This hay is clearly larger than the box hay solids. Therefore, you will need to provide several smaller rolls extracted from the solids to feed your livestock
Step 5. Choose rolled straw if you want to store it outside
You can cover the hay with a tarp, partially wrapping it while you compact or stack the hay so that rainwater only washes off the top that has been covered by the tarp, preventing damage.
Step 6. Choose rolled hay only if you can dry your hay properly
Rolled hay is denser and has the potential to burn when pressed wet.
Part 4 of 5: Compacting the Straw
Step 1. Position the tip of your baler machine approximately 6.25 cm above the ground
Only a small amount of soil will be lifted so the engine will last longer.
Step 2. Operate your baler machine at a consistent and moderate speed
You will lift more grass at the end of the machine if the machine is at a consistent height, so the hay will lift and spin.
You may need to drive the engine faster if you are rolling hay. This is done so that the roll is denser
Step 3. Check the machine after you have compacted a hay roll or two
Also check the width, density, and debris left behind. Adjust the machine settings to improve the quality of the hay.
Step 4. Leave the straw solids in the field, so that later they can be taken or used as fill for the next compaction process
Large hay bales require larger machines to lift and stack the existing spools.
Part 5 of 5: Saving Straw
Step 1. Keep your hay indoors as much as possible
This will reduce the chances of the hay flakes breaking down by about two to ten percent.
Step 2. Place the straw solids on the platform instead of on the ground
Placing the hay on higher ground will reduce the chances of the straw breaking down by up to 15 percent.
Step 3. Cover the straw with a straw cover or plastic wrap to reduce the possibility of further decomposition
This is even more important to note if you live in a humid climate.
Step 4. Cover the haystack with a tarpaulin to reduce the chance of unraveling by up to 15 percent
Rainwater can wet the top of the straw and seep into the soil, causing the straw at the bottom to decompose.
