Hay can be collected at many times of the year, but the optimal time to do it is when the crop will yield the most while still having the highest nutritional value. Ideally, hay crops should be harvested as soon as they begin to bʟᴏssom. The stalks are at their highest nutritional density when flowers begin to bʟᴏssom, before all that nourishment is diverted toward seed development. An early harvest could lead to a lesser overall yield, but a later harvest yields hay that is less nutritive for cattle.

The hay should be evenly spread out after cutting to thoroughly dry before baling. Depending on the weather and its weight, the hay may be able to dry efficiently on the ground or it may need to be elevated up for better ventilation. To aid in a uniform drying process, the hay can be rotated or raked. Cut hay may be treated with drying chemicals to hasten its drying process, although this may not be ideal if you like more natural, hardly processed hay.

After the hay has been harvested and dried, it is time to bale it. If your harvest is tiny, it might not be necessary to bale any hay; instead, it can be kept unrestricted in stacks or in a barn loft. But baling makes the hay more compact for easier storage or transportation, especially if it will be sold.

Baling is frequently done mechanically, and depending on the baling equipment and preferences, it can be done in either a round or rectangular shape. The cheapest alternative is twine, but it is more prone to ᴅᴀᴍᴀɢᴇ or deterioration. Although it can be more expensive, wire and netting are more durable solutions.

Let’s See How To Harvest And Bale Hay With Amazing Modern Agricultural Machines in the video below:

Source: Lord Gizmo

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