8 Pieces of Equipment for Harvesting and Baling Hay

Standing in a waist-high field of sweet-smelling grass, the transition from grower to harvester is one of the most rewarding moments on a small farm. Yet, putting up high-quality hay is a high-stakes race against the weather where timing and the right tools make all the difference. This guide breaks down the essential equipment needed to cut, dry, bale, and store your crop successfully without the overhead of industrial-scale operations.

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Key Factors to Consider Before Your First Hay Cut

Successful haymaking relies entirely on the weather window. You need a solid three-to-four-day stretch of dry, sunny weather with low humidity to cut, cure, and bale your forage safely. Rushing the process leads to moldy, ruined feed, while waiting too long reduces the nutritional value of the grass.

Match your equipment to your tractor’s horsepower and hydraulic capacity. Small-scale farms often utilize utility tractors in the 35 to 70 horsepower range, which dictates the size of your mower and baler. Attempting to run implements that overload your tractor’s PTO (Power Take-Off) leads to mechanical failure and dangerous operating conditions.

Assess your pasture composition and field topography before starting. Hidden rocks, deep ruts, and thick weed patches can destroy expensive mower blades in seconds. Walk your fields in early spring to clear debris and mark hazards that will be hidden once the grass grows tall.

Rotary Disc Mower – New Holland Durabine 416

Cutting the standing crop cleanly and quickly is the critical first step in the haymaking process. A clean cut allows the grass to regrow quickly for subsequent cuttings while laying the crop down in a neat swath. Without a reliable mower, your entire harvest window can close before you even get started.

The New Holland Durabine 416 disc mower-conditioner delivers an exceptionally clean cut and fast dry-down. Its sleek cutterbar glides over uneven terrain, preventing dirt contamination in your forage. The modular disc design ensures that if you hit an obstruction, damage is localized to a single pod.

• PTO Horsepower Requirement: Minimum 80 HP
• Cutting Width: 16 feet
• Conditioning System: Roll-conditioning for faster dry-down
• Safety Feature: ShockPro cutterbar protection

This mower-conditioner is ideal for part-time farmers managing moderate acreage who need to maximize short weather windows. It is not suitable for ultra-compact tractors, which lack the weight and hydraulic capacity to operate it safely. For those with the right tractor, it is a game-changing upgrade.

Hay Tedder – Kuhn GF 502 THA Agricultural Tedder

A hay tedder is designed to spread and fluff damp, cut hay to accelerate solar drying. By tossing the crop, it exposes the wet underlayer to wind and sun while keeping leaf loss to a minimum. Skipping this step often results in uneven drying, which leaves wet pockets that ruin finished bales.

The Kuhn GF 502 THA is a pull-type tedder featuring four rotors that adapt beautifully to rolling hills. It utilizes asymmetrical tines that lift the heavy underlayer of grass and flip it onto the dry top layer. The rugged, articulated frame ensures an even spread across uneven pastures without digging into the soil.

• Working Width: 16 feet, 5 inches
• Rotor Count: 4 rotors with asymmetrical tines
• Power Requirement: Minimum 20 HP
• Drive System: Maintenance-free DigiDrive coupling

This tedder is perfect for small-to-medium operations looking to cut drying time by a full day. It is not necessary for arid climates where hay dries naturally within 24 hours of cutting. For humid regions, however, it is an essential insurance policy against rain.

Rotary Hay Rake – Claas Liner 450 Single Rotor

Once the hay is dry, it must be gathered into neat, uniform windrows before the baler can do its job. A high-quality rake creates fluffy windrows that allow air to continue circulating while presenting a consistent feed to the baler pickup. Poor raking can introduce dirt, rocks, and debris into your clean forage.

The Claas Liner 450 single-rotor rake delivers exceptionally clean raking with its generous working width and removable tine arms. It gently lifts the crop rather than dragging it across the ground, preserving delicate leaves. The hermetically sealed, continuously lubricated rake assembly ensures years of trouble-free operation without daily greasing hassles.

• Working Width: 14 feet
• Tine Arms: 12 removable arms for narrow transport
• Hitch Type: Three-point linkage
• Lubrication: Hermetically sealed, continuously lubricated housing

This rake is excellent for hobby farmers who value high-quality forage and need a maneuverable rake for odd-shaped fields. It is not built for high-speed, commercial-scale operations that require dual-rotor configurations. Its simplicity and clean pickup make it a reliable choice for small tracts.

Small Square Baler – Massey Ferguson 1840

The baler is the heart of any small-scale hay operation, compacting loose windrows into easily stackable packages. Small square bales remain the preferred choice for horse owners and hobby farmers due to their ease of handling. A reliable baler must produce consistent density and tie dependable knots every single time.

The Massey Ferguson 1840 features an innovative in-line design, meaning the baler runs directly behind the tractor. This eliminates the awkward side-pull of traditional square balers, making it much easier to navigate tight corners and narrow gates. It produces highly consistent, tightly packed 14×18-inch bales using a reliable knotter system.

• Bale Size: 14 x 18 inches
• PTO Horsepower Requirement: Minimum 50 HP
• Design Type: In-line center-pull configuration
• Pickup Width: Low-profile wide pickup

This baler is the gold standard for small-scale horse-hay producers who demand uniform, easy-to-handle bales. It is not the right choice for farmers who feed cattle in large groups, where round baling is more labor-efficient. It requires a tractor with sufficient weight and horsepower to handle the heavy plunger strokes.

Hay Moisture Tester – Delmhorst F-2000 Digital

A moisture tester is your primary defense against mold, spoilage, and the catastrophic risk of barn fires. Knowing the exact moisture content of your hay before and after baling is non-negotiable. Guesswork in this area can lead to ruined crops or spontaneous combustion in the hay loft.

The Delmhorst F-2000 Digital moisture meter is a rugged, hand-held tool that provides instant, accurate readings. It features an easy-to-read digital screen and can average up to 100 accumulated readings to give you a true picture of your crop. The long probe allows you to test deep inside the bale where heat and moisture concentrate.

• Moisture Range: 6% to 40% digital readout
• Probe Length: 18-inch steel probe
• Power Source: 9V battery
• Memory Capacity: Averages up to 100 accumulated readings

An absolute necessity for any farmer baling hay, this tool is vital regardless of your operation’s scale. It is not needed if you only buy pre-baled hay, though it remains a handy inspection tool. For the home producer, it provides invaluable peace of mind.

Hand Hay Hook – Seymour Midwest 85144 Bale Hook

Moving and stacking small square bales by hand is hard, physical work that requires a secure grip. A proper hand hook saves your fingers, reduces back strain, and allows you to manipulate heavy bales with minimal effort. Without one, handling coarse, tightly bound bales quickly leads to torn gloves and exhausted muscles.

The Seymour Midwest 85144 bale hook features a heavy-duty, cold-rolled steel hook that bites securely into dense bales. Its bright orange, D-grip handle is made of durable hardwood, offering a comfortable, ergonomic grip. The hook’s curved geometry is optimized to release cleanly from the bale with a simple flick of the wrist.

• Hook Length: 11 inches
• Material: Cold-rolled steel hook
• Handle Design: Hardwood D-grip
• Best Use: Manual stacking of small square bales

This tool is essential for anyone manually loading wagons or stacking hay in a barn loft. It is not useful for operations that are fully mechanized with bale accumulators or grapple systems. For manual labor, however, it is a simple tool that drastically improves efficiency.

Tractor Bale Spear – Titan Attachments 39-Inch

If your operation utilizes round bales or large square bales, moving them manually is impossible. A tractor-mounted bale spear allows you to lift, transport, and stack heavy bales safely using your tractor’s loader. It prevents pasture damage and minimizes the risk of tractor tip-overs during transport.

The Titan Attachments 39-Inch bale spear features a universal skid-steer style quick-tach system for easy mounting. The main spear is rated for heavy loads and is built from high-tensile steel to prevent bending. It includes two stabilizer spears at the bottom to keep the bale from spinning or shifting during transport.

• Weight Capacity: 3,000 pounds
• Spear Length: 39-inch main spear with dual stabilizers
• Mount Type: Universal skid-steer quick-tach
• Material: High-tensile forged steel

This spear is perfect for small farmers who feed round bales to livestock and have a loader-equipped tractor. It is not suitable for ultra-compact tractors without adequate rear counterweight. Always match the weight of the bale to your tractor’s safe lifting capacity.

Protective Hay Tarp – Inland Tarp Super Heavy Duty

Storing hay outdoors without protection is a recipe for losing up to half of your crop to rot and weathering. A heavy-duty tarp preserves the nutritional value of your hay by shedding rain and blocking destructive UV rays. It is a cost-effective alternative to building a permanent hay barn.

The Inland Tarp Super Heavy Duty hay tarp is constructed from thick, UV-resistant woven polyethylene designed to withstand harsh weather. It features heavy-duty web loops sewn into the hem every three feet, which are far more durable than standard metal grommets. The silver outer layer reflects sunlight to prevent heat buildup, while the black inner layer blocks light.

• Thickness: 15-mil heavy-duty woven polyethylene
• Tie-Downs: Web loops sewn every three feet
• UV Protection: Silver outer layer, black inner layer
• Best Use: Outdoor stack protection

This tarp is crucial for farmers lacking indoor barn storage who must keep their hay supply outdoors through the winter. It is an unnecessary expense if you have ample, dry barn space. For outdoor storage, however, cheap hardware-store tarps simply will not survive the winter winds.

How to Monitor Moisture Levels for Safe Baling

Baling hay at the correct moisture level is the difference between safe, high-quality feed and a catastrophic barn fire. When hay is baled too wet, bacteria and mold multiply rapidly, generating heat that can exceed 170 degrees Fahrenheit, leading to spontaneous combustion. For small square bales, the target moisture range is 15% to 18%, while large round bales should be even drier, ideally below 15%.

To get an accurate assessment, test your windrows before the baler enters the field. Take random handfuls of hay from the bottom and center of the windrow, twist them into a tight rope, and use your digital tester in a clean bucket to get a representative reading. Do not rely on visual inspections alone; dew can make the surface feel damp while the stems remain dry.

Once the hay is baled, continue monitoring the stack daily for the first three weeks. Insert your probe deep into multiple bales throughout the stack, recording the temperatures and moisture levels. If temperatures climb above 140 degrees Fahrenheit, disassemble the stack immediately to let the air cool the bales, and keep a close eye out for smoke or sweet, caramel-like odors.

Best Practices for Stacking and Storing Your Hay

Storing your hay properly preserves its nutritional value and protects your hard work from moisture damage. Always elevate your bottom layer of bales off the ground using wooden pallets or a thick layer of dry straw. This prevents the hay from drawing up moisture from the dirt or concrete floor, which ruins the bottom row of your stack.

Stack your small square bales in an alternating, interlocking pattern, similar to bricklaying, to ensure structural stability. Keep the cut side of the bales facing down or to the side, as this allows moisture to escape more easily than the smooth, folded side. Leave a few inches of space between the stack and the barn walls to promote continuous airflow.

If storing outdoors under a tarp, build a sloped roof shape with your bales to encourage water runoff. Ensure the tarp is anchored tightly to prevent wind lofting, which can tear the cover and expose your hay to the elements. Inspect outdoor stacks weekly for leaks, rodent damage, or shifting bales.

Essential Off-Season Maintenance for Hay Equipment

Winter is when next year’s hay crop is truly won or lost, as neglected equipment leads to costly breakdowns during the tight summer harvest window. Begin your off-season prep by thoroughly cleaning all machinery with compressed air to remove acidic crop residue and dust. Pay close attention to the baler’s knotter assembly and the mower’s cutterbar, where packed debris holds moisture and promotes rust.

Apply a generous layer of high-quality grease to all grease zerks, chains, and moving parts to displace moisture and prevent seizing. Spray a rust-preventative coating on exposed metal surfaces, including the baler chamber and mower discs. Change the gear oils and hydraulic fluids according to your manufacturer’s schedule to remove any condensation that accumulated during the season.

Store your implements indoors, away from direct sunlight and nesting rodents that love to chew through electrical wiring. If indoor storage is not an option, elevate the equipment off the dirt using wooden blocks and cover them with heavy-duty, breathable tarps. Finally, take inventory of worn parts—such as rake tines, mower knives, and baler pickup teeth—and order replacements early to avoid the spring rush.

Harvesting hay on a small scale is a demanding but deeply satisfying cycle that connects you directly to the rhythms of your land. By investing in reliable, properly sized equipment and mastering the critical steps of drying and monitoring, you protect both your livestock and your investment. With preparation, patience, and the right tools in your barn, you will be ready to make the most of every sunny day.