Types of Hay Equipment

There are many different types of hay equipment.

The idea of baling hay was epic to our civilization. Before the cutting of hay---or alfalfa---animals were forced to search for food during the winter by grazing. Since then, many types of equipment have been invented to help with hay baling. Farmers used to place hay loosely in the loft of the barn, until the baler came along. These inventions have driven agriculture to the business it is today.

Sickle Bar

A sickle bar is used for cutting hay and has been the traditional choice of farmers for many years. It is attached to the back of the tractor and runs with the power take-off (PTO). It is mounted on the tractor's category one or two three point hitch. A sickle bar can cut high hay with little difficulty, although rocks and stumps can cause problems. By removing one side from the brush hog housing, it is possible to use a bush hog to cut hay. Instead of staying under the housing to be chopped by the whirling blades, the grass is thrust out of the side. A bush hog is not the best choice for cutting hay, because the large blades are hard to keep sharp and they cut the leaves off of the hay.

Disc Mower

A disc mower or discbine has small free swinging knives on whirling discs that also cuts hay. This type of machine is less venerable to clogging making hay cutting quicker. Disc-mowers and discbines require more horsepower for a given width so a larger tractor is required for them to work properly. Because they are less prone to breaking when hitting a rock or fence post, manufacturers urge that they be used only on tractors with cabs to prevent harm from flying objects.

Hay Rake

A hay rake is used to gather the hay into windrows after cutting. A rake is made up of either parallel bar, rotary or wheel types. The parallel bar is the most common type used. It offers the least amount of hay loss. The rotary may also be used to tedder hay for drying. A wheel type rake can operate more quickly than the other types but tend to pick up rocks that slows the process.

Tedder

A tedder is used to dry the hay after it is cut. It turns the hay over to allow top and bottom to dry in the sun. Tedders are run off of the tractor PTO and work quickly when turning hay. If the weather is perfect a tedder may not be needed, but if the hay gets wet a tedder can prevent hay loss from mildew.

Baler

Balers pick up the hay and form either square or round bales of hay. Small square balers can be run by as low as a 35 hp-tractor, in which the large round balers require more horsepower. The size of the baler should be directly related to the amount of acreage to be baled.

References

• Sheeps Creek: Haying FAQ
• Penn State: Hay Making Equipment
• Wikco: Tractor Mounted Sickle Bar Mowers