How much should I charge for raking hay?

Swathing, $20-$22 per acre; Raking, $8-$10 per acre; Baling: small bales, 60-75 cents per bale; midsize (3×3), $10-$12 per bale; midsize (3×4), $14-$18 per bale; large square (4×4), $22-$25 per bale; round bales, $12-$15 per bale.

Do you rake hay?

Once the hay has been tedded and is nearly dry, it’s ready to rake. Raking turns the hay one more time to dry the bottom and forms it into a windrow ready to be baled. And some tedders are designed so they can be converted to a raking mode. …

How fast should you rake hay?

I go about 6-7 mph with the rake and rake two swaths together. The swather depending on the smoothness of the field goes about 11 mph. Now with my baler it bales most of the time at about 6 mph. So for example a 74 acre field I cut in about 5 hours, rake in about 5 hours and bale in about 5 hours.

Can you Ted 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.

How long should hay dry before raking?

Time your mowing around the most reliable weather forecast you can find. It basically takes about three days of good weather to cure hay. This can be a challenge in late May or early June. A good strategy is to mow just before or right after a rain, because of the likelihood of good weather for the next few days.

How much does it cost to bale round bales?

The Price of Hay Bales By Weight

How much does it cost to hay a field?

As a result, a bale of hay sitting in the field costs $33.11. Other costs would include removal of micronutrients, moving the bales from the field, some additional time and labor in handling the bales, and the use of equipment to transport the hay.

Does raking hay help it dry?

Raking tends to roll the wetter hay from the bottom of the swath to the outer surface of the windrow, which improves drying. Following the initial improvement, the increase in swath density can reduce drying rate, so the crop moisture content at raking is important. In silage making, drying is a little less critical.

What is the best time to Ted hay?

The best time to ted It’s essential to ted hay after the first cut in the spring and the last cut in the fall due to the low angle of the sun, ground moisture and morning dew collection. Sometimes it can be skipped midsummer, but usually high summer humidity and the threat of thunderstorms make tedding necessary.

Will raking hay help it dry?

How to choose the best hay rake for your farm?

Choosing a hay rake for your small-farm operation can seem like a daunting task. The choices for hay rakes are many. Different regions of the country seem to prefer different styles of rakes. In this blog we will break down their similarities and differences so that you can make the most sensible investment for your hay production needs.

Is it easy to change from hay rake to Tedder?

Going from rake to tedder is as easy as removing the hay stop and making a wheel adjustment, requiring only a few seconds and no tools. Lowering the rake with a simple adjustment of the wheels allows the tines to aggressively contact the ground, which is great for dethatching lawns or preparing a seedbed for planting.

When is the best time to replace haymaking equipment?

The winter months are a good time to check equipment over and replace any worn or broken parts. A delay in harvest caused by an equipment breakdown can never be made up. It’s good to have an early start date for haying just to get things ready.

Can a rotary rake be used on a tractor?

Rotary rakes come in a wide variety of sizes for just about any size of tractor. These machines are easily maneuverable and closely follow changing field contours for clean raking.