The more damp the hay is, the less electrical resistance there will be. Because hay is a loose material, particularly before being baled, it is often best to take multiple measurements at different penetration depths and average the results. This way, a farmer taking measurements is much more likely to find a random pocket of wet material that would be missed with a single reading, as well as eliminating the possibility of variations in the density of hay in a windrow causing unreliable results.
Technology and Farming Combined Before the actual collection of hay in the field begins, farmers check the moisture conditions of the field. How a Moisture Meter Works in Hay You might be wondering how the moisture meter generates a reading in hay.
HAY: How to tell if cut grass is ready to bale? Help Search Login Register. Pages: [ 1 ] 2. Read times.
OhLaLa Joined Sep All you makers of hay out there - I really need your tips and techniques for how to tell when the grass is dry enough to bale All variables will be taken into account! If you are turning with a tractor and tedder, the hay makes a kind of hissing noise as the tedder goes through it when it is ready to bale.
It might be one of those rather subjective things though, so please don't hold me responsible if your hay heats up too much! Will be investing in a probe too no doubt. Fleecewife Joined May South Lanarkshire. Another helpful test is to take a handful of hay and wring it tightly - if there is the least bit of soggytude there then it's not quite ready - it should be totally crisp. These mow through thick hay well and can be pulled at higher speeds than conventional style mowers.
The small blades are inexpensive and can be replaced when dull. If something is hit in the field, it usually only affects one unit, minimizing repairs. The disc mower can also be outfitted with a crimper, which deposits the hay in a gathered swath. Rotary disc mowers have a good turning radius and come in models that will mow swaths from 6 feet up to 10 to 16 feet. Once the hay starts to dry, it needs to be worked to promote curing.
Tedding, the next step in haymaking, fluffs up the cut hay and allows the air and sun to contact the undersurfaces to promote drying.
Some people ted immediately after mowing to spread out the swath. Hay tedders are generally wide units with several orbital wheels that lift the hay as they turn. Some styles have horizontal bars with teeth on a spinning reel. Hay mowed early in the morning could be tedded that afternoon, as long as the mowed swath is dry on the top surface. It may require a second tedding the next day to speed up the drying process.
Too much tedding can shatter the leaves of alfalfa or clover, lowering the quality of the hay. Proper tedding can be the key to timely haymaking. What is the twist test and if you use a moisture meter at what percent do you bale. And im guessing this is after its layed down? Limomike Well-known member.
When we baled out hay, we always used the twist method. Worked good for us. NOw that my neighbor does all our baling, he does the same thing. Craig Miller":pl7vegsi said:. Thanks sky.
I normally buy my hay so never had to bale. Sorry for the highjack. Craig Miller":2hn0rgj5 said:. NWMoAngus Well-known member. Joined Mar 4, Messages Reaction score 0. Been putting up hay or feeding it every day of my 60 years, it seems. Use the twist test on alfalfa only.
Grass hay will be ready next day if the sun shines at all. Thank God for large round balers. My grass hay is like NWMoAngus', cut one day, bale the next. Usually by the time the weather is clear of rain it's 90 degrees and the winds blowing. Drys it too fast sometimes. James T Well-known member. The microwave oven test works very well and a digital scale is cheap. While the moisture level is very important the nutrient content of what your baling might is even more important.
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