Budget Hay Cutting on a Small Farm

[@rankrank1450]

You are running the hay you cut through rubber crimpers to help aide in its drying on the haybine. Some people actually consider running over the hay with the narrow front end an advantageous extra crimping action. I even knew one guy who would only tedd and rake using narrow front as he liked his claimed extra crimp from them. Long story short I would not worry about that narrow front end at all unless you get a round baler then I can see it.

[@JimHerman-o3q]

Most likely he still has the shims between the rolls..... same as cutting with the old sickle mower......many farmers done that for 25 years....not knowing there were shims between the rolls !

[@JimHerman-o3q]

Have you checked to see if the shims have been removed between the rolls ? Most hay bines where shipped with about 1/4 inch of shims on each end of the roll Its meant for doing oats so as not to knock off the oats . If you can pull a sheet of paper out from between your rolls.....you are still cutting with the old style sickle mower ! Remove the shims. Run the roll tight as possible . Manufactures say it will damage the rolls. Not true ! If there is hay going through the rolls they can not be damaged ! Remove the shims !

[@IAFARMERAStarWarsFan]

Nice

[@donfenton9082]

It’d be better to raise your cutter a few inches off the ground

[@AuctionJunky]

Agreed. I was cutting at 3”. I did my second cutting at 6” after some research. Much better result.

[@JimHerman-o3q]

Why on earth you cutting the hay so high ???? Gophers ? Trap them ! Pick up rocks !!! Ive always cut my hay as low as it would go....all shoes removed ! Should be able to move along at 5 miles per hour !