Posted 9/3/2006 20:12 (#41034 - in reply to #41028) Subject: RE: Yes do try a rotory rake, but
Right now with our 9' disk mower's they leave the hay in a swath that's probably 7' wide but "here" with the humidity wind is really the key to getting hay dry. With direct sunlight and no breeze we can have alfalfa on the ground for three days and the top will be bleached white while anything not in direct sunlight will still be almost as wet as when it was mowed. What seems to work the best "here" is once the hay is about half dry stand it up with a rake and hope for a little breeze to blow through it, a tedder after mowing might fluff the hay up enough to get some air through it as well.
Incaccurate weather forcasts can be a problem for us but alot of the time we may only get a three or four day window between chances of rain so we either chance mowing and getting it baled before it rains again or wait it out and end up with over ripe hay which also pushes the following cuttings back.
Speeding hay drying?
