8 Pieces of Equipment for Making and Baling Summer Hay

When the summer sun bakes the fields and the weather forecast shows a clear four-day window, the race to put up high-quality hay begins. For the hobby farmer, this intense period requires reliable, properly sized equipment that minimizes downtime and maximizes feed value. Having the right tools on hand transforms a stressful, chaotic scramble into a smooth, rewarding harvest that secures your livestock’s winter nutrition.

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Planning Your Summer Hay Harvest Schedule

The secret to successful haymaking lies more in the calendar and the clouds than in sheer horsepower. Cutting hay too early results in low yields, while cutting too late yields coarse, indigestible stems that livestock will reject. A successful harvest requires a solid three-to-four-day window of dry, sunny weather with low humidity and active breezes to cure the grass properly.

Managing this timeline around an off-farm job requires careful calculation. The grass should be cut just as the seed heads emerge, known as the boot stage, to capture the peak balance of protein and yield. Once the mower drops the crop, the clock begins ticking to ted, rake, and bale the forage before any unexpected summer showers ruin the crop.

Coordinate your labor and equipment checks at least a week before the target weather window opens. Ensure tractors are fueled, grease points are serviced, and spare parts like mower blades and baler twine are readily accessible in the shop. This proactive planning prevents valuable drying hours from being wasted on emergency trips to the machinery dealership.

Disc Mower – Kubota DM1022 Three-Point Mower

The first step in the haymaking process is dropping the standing crop quickly and cleanly. A disc mower utilizes high-speed rotating discs with small, pivoting blades to slice through thick grass without clogging. Unlike older sickle-bar mowers, disc mowers can handle damp undergrowth and high ground speeds without binding up.

The Kubota DM1022 is an exceptional choice for small-to-medium acreage operations due to its rugged build and modest power requirements. It features a 7-foot, 2-inch working width and utilizes flat-gliding cutter discs that facilitate smooth crop flow across the cutter bar. The fully welded cutter bar provides superior oil retention and structural integrity, preventing the leaks common in bolted alternatives.

• Working Width: 7′ 2" (2.2 meters)
• Minimum PTO Power: 40 HP
• Hitch Category: Category 1 or 2 three-point hitch
• Number of Discs: 6 counter-rotating discs

Before purchasing, verify that your utility tractor has the weight and hydraulic capacity to lift this implement safely in the transport position. The DM1022 is perfect for landowners managing 10 to 50 acres of hay ground, but it is not intended for high-speed industrial operations or clearing woody brush.

Hay Tedder – Kuhn GF 502 Rotary Tedder

Once the hay is cut, it must dry rapidly to preserve its nutritional value and prevent mold. A hay tedder uses rotating tines to lift, fluff, and spread the green crop across the field, exposing the damp underside to the sun and wind. This process can shave a full day off the curing time, which is crucial when rain is on the horizon.

The Kuhn GF 502 Rotary Tedder stands out for its compact footprint and legendary durability. Equipped with four rotors and digidrive finger drives, this machine eliminates the high-wear universal joints found on lesser tedders, ensuring years of low-maintenance operation. Its articulating frame allows the tines to follow uneven ground contours closely without scraping dirt into the clean hay.

• Working Width: 16′ 5" (5.0 meters)
• Minimum PTO Power: 25 HP
• Transport Width: 9′ 10"
• Tine Arms per Rotor: 6 heavy-duty asymmetric tines

Operators must adjust the rotor tilt angle carefully based on crop density to avoid shattering delicate leaves, especially in alfalfa or clover. This tedder is an essential tool for farmers in humid climates, though those in arid Western regions may find tedding unnecessary.

Wheel Rake – Vermeer WR102 Carted Wheel Rake

After the hay has dried to the proper moisture level, it must be gathered into neat, uniform windrows for the baler. A wheel rake uses ground-driven finger wheels to gently sweep the hay inward. This design minimizes leaf loss while creating a fluffy, consistent windrow that feeds smoothly into the baler’s pickup head.

The Vermeer WR102 Carted Wheel Rake is highly favored for its simplicity, ease of adjustment, and gentle handling of the crop. Available in 8-wheel or 10-wheel configurations, it features a robust carted frame that can be quickly folded for narrow road transport. The individual spring-loaded rake wheels adapt to uneven terrain, ensuring clean pickup without collecting rocks or dirt.

• Raking Width: Up to 21′ 2" (10-wheel model)
• Transport Width: 8′ 5"
• Tire Size: 15-inch transport tires
• Adjustment Type: Tool-free mechanical crank for windrow width

This rake requires a tractor with at least one double-acting hydraulic remote to operate the lift cylinders. It is ideal for hobby farmers seeking a low-maintenance, high-capacity rake that does not require a high-horsepower tractor to pull.

Square Baler – Massey Ferguson 1840 Baler

The baler is the heart of any haying operation, compressing loose windrows into dense, stackable packages. Small square balers produce bales that are easily handled by hand, making them the preferred choice for horse owners and small-scale livestock operations. A reliable baler ensures tight, consistent packages that stack well and resist weathering.

The Massey Ferguson 1840 utilizes an innovative in-line design where the crop flows straight through the machine like a mini round baler. This eliminates the side-pull draft of traditional offset balers, making the tractor-baler combination highly maneuverable in tight corners and small fields. The plunger runs at 100 strokes per minute, packing consistent, square-edged bales with minimal leaf loss.

• Bale Size: 14" x 18" with adjustable length
• Minimum PTO Power: 50 HP
• Pickup Width: 75 inches (working width)
• Knotter Type: Dual heavy-duty knotters

Keep in mind that in-line balers require a tractor with sufficient weight and horsepower to handle the constant rocking motion of the plunger. This machine is perfect for high-quality horse hay producers who demand uniform bale weight and density, but it represents a significant investment for very small acreage.

Monitoring Moisture Levels for Safe Storage

Baling hay at the wrong moisture level is one of the most common and costly mistakes a hobby farmer can make. If hay is baled too dry, the leaves shatter and fall off, leaving behind stemmy, low-protein feed with minimal nutritional value. Conversely, baling hay that is too wet leads to mold growth, which ruins the feed quality and can cause respiratory issues in livestock.

The greatest danger of wet hay, however, is spontaneous combustion. When damp hay is stacked in a tight barn, microbial activity generates heat that cannot escape, raising internal temperatures to dangerous levels that can ignite the entire stack. Monitoring moisture levels continuously during the baling process is the only reliable way to prevent this catastrophic outcome.

Moisture Tester – Delmhorst FX-2000 Meter

A reliable moisture tester removes the guesswork from haymaking, providing digital accuracy to replace the unreliable "hand-twist" test. This tool allows the operator to test the hay in the windrow before baling, as well as testing completed bales in the stack. It is a small investment that provides immense peace of mind before stacking hay inside a wooden barn.

The Delmhorst FX-2000 Meter is the gold standard for hobby farmers who demand accuracy and versatility. It can be used as a portable hand-held unit with a probe, or mounted directly in the tractor cab with a continuous sensor installed in the baler bale chamber. The clear digital display provides real-time moisture percentages, allowing the operator to make immediate adjustments on the fly.

• Moisture Range: 6% to 40% on hay
• Power Source: 9V battery or tractor 12V power
• Display: Backlit digital screen
• Compatible Probes: 10-inch or 18-inch prod attachments

Users must calibrate the meter periodically and adjust readings based on the type of hay being baled, as alfalfa and grass conduct electricity differently. This tool is indispensable for anyone baling square bales, particularly those selling premium horse hay where mold is unacceptable.

Baling Twine – Bridon MAXm Plastic Twine

Baling twine is the unsung hero of the harvest, holding tons of highly compressed forage together under extreme tension. Poor-quality twine can fray, stretch, or snap, causing bales to burst open during handling or stacking. Choosing a high-tensile, uniform twine prevents frustrating knotter misses and ensures your hard work remains securely packaged.

Bridon MAXm Plastic Twine is engineered specifically for high-density small square balers. Made from premium polypropylene, it offers exceptional knot strength and high UV resistance, preventing the twine from degrading when exposed to sunlight. Its smooth, uniform construction reduces friction and wear on the baler’s delicate knotter components, leading to fewer missed ties.

• Knot Strength: 130 lbs to 170 lbs tensile strength
• Spool Length: 9,600 feet per carton (two spools)
• Material: 100% recyclable polypropylene
• Color: High-visibility blue or orange

Ensure your baler’s tension plates and twine guides are clean and free of rust before threading this high-performance twine. While plastic twine is incredibly durable, it does not decompose, meaning operators must carefully collect and dispose of it when feeding livestock.

Bale Spear – John Deere BS11D Bale Spear

Once the hay is baled, moving it off the field quickly is essential to protect the regrowth of the grass and prevent rain damage. A tractor-mounted bale spear allows a single operator to lift, transport, and stack heavy bales without manual lifting. It attaches easily to a front-end loader or a rear three-point hitch, transforming your utility tractor into a powerful material handler.

The John Deere BS11D Bale Spear is a rugged, highly dependable implement designed for quick-attach loader systems. It features a single high-strength, heat-treated steel spear flanked by two short stabilizer tines to prevent the bale from spinning during transport. The frame is constructed from heavy-duty square steel tubing, ensuring it will not bend or twist under heavy loads.

• Capacity: Up to 3,000 lbs lifting capacity
• Tine Length: 49 inches usable length
• Attachment Style: Global or skid-steer style quick-attach
• Weight: Approximately 160 lbs

Always match the lift capacity of your tractor’s front-end loader to the weight of the bales and the spear itself to prevent tipping hazards. This spear is ideal for farmers who handle both large square bales and round bales, though it can also be used to move palletized stacks of small squares with the proper attachments.

Hay Tarp – Inland Tarp IT-24100 Heavy Duty

For many hobby farmers, barn space is at a premium, forcing them to stack a portion of their hay harvest outdoors. Unprotected hay stacks will quickly rot from rainfall and bleach from intense summer UV rays, destroying valuable nutrients. A heavy-duty, purpose-built hay tarp provides reliable weather protection at a fraction of the cost of building a new barn.

The Inland Tarp IT-24100 Heavy Duty Hay Tarp is designed specifically to withstand the harsh conditions of outdoor storage. Constructed from 15 mil thick, UV-resistant polyethylene, it features reinforced webbing and heavy-duty tie-down loops spaced every three feet. The silver outer layer reflects sunlight to reduce heat buildup, while the black inner layer prevents light penetration.

• Dimensions: 24′ x 100′ (ideal for medium stacks)
• Material Weight: 8 oz per square yard
• Thickness: 15 mil heavy-duty weave
• Securing System: Built-in pocket pipes or heavy-duty webbing loops

Proper installation is critical; the tarp must be pulled tight and anchored securely with ropes or ratchets to prevent the wind from tearing it loose. This tarp is an excellent investment for farmers lacking indoor storage, but it requires regular inspections to ensure ropes remain tight throughout the winter.

Best Practices for Stacking and Curing Hay

Stacking hay is an art form that directly impacts how well the forage cures and preserves over time. Always begin by preparing a dry foundation; stacking hay directly on dirt or concrete draws moisture up into the bottom bales, causing them to rot. Utilize dry wooden pallets or a thick layer of loose straw as a barrier to keep the bottom layer dry and ventilated.

When building the stack, alternate the direction of the bales in each layer in a criss-cross pattern to tie the stack together and prevent collapses. Keep the bales on their edge (strings on the side) rather than flat, as this allows moisture to escape more easily through the cut ends of the stems. Leave small gaps between the rows to encourage air circulation throughout the pile.

Monitor the internal temperature of the stack daily for the first three weeks using a compost thermometer or a dedicated probe. Temperatures below 120°F are normal during the initial curing phase, but if temperatures climb above 140°F, the stack must be monitored closely. If the internal temperature reaches 160°F, hot spots are forming, and the stack must be dismantled immediately to prevent a fire.

Maintaining Your Hay Equipment After Harvest

Hay equipment operates in an incredibly harsh environment filled with dust, abrasive chaff, and high mechanical vibration. Once the last bale is stacked, taking the time to properly service and store your machinery ensures it will be ready to perform next season. Neglecting post-harvest maintenance leads to rusted chains, seized bearings, and costly downtime during the next weather window.

Begin by thoroughly cleaning all machinery using compressed air or a leaf blower to remove accumulated dust, leaves, and twine scraps. Avoid using high-pressure water around sealed bearings and knotter assemblies, as water can penetrate seals and cause premature corrosion. Once clean, inspect all high-wear components, such as mower blades, tedder tines, and baler pickup teeth, replacing any damaged parts immediately.

Lubricate all grease points, chains, and gears while the machinery is still warm to displace any moisture that may have accumulated. Store the equipment inside a dry barn or shed, away from direct sunlight and nesting rodents that can chew through electrical wiring. Taking these steps protects your capital investment and ensures a smooth, stress-free start to next summer’s hay harvest.

With the right combination of reliable machinery, careful planning, and proper storage techniques, putting up summer hay becomes a highly satisfying seasonal rhythm. Investing in quality tools like these ensures your fields are harvested efficiently and your livestock are fed with the highest-quality forage possible.