Hay Cutting for Winter Animal Feed




Hay meadow, with mowen grass drying in the air and sun.

I spoke to a farmer recently who was cutting hay meadows for winter feed for his animals.  He explained the process to me and was kind enough to let me take some pictures of the machinery he used. 

The mower used spinning discs to cut the hay.



The grass was cut using a tractor drawn mower.  It was pulled by a Case International tractor.





Case tractor and mower.

Ford tractor and hay rake.  You can see in the distance how the hay rake has turned the hay over and placed it into long rows for drying in the air and sun.



Case 1494 and hay rake.




Ford 6610 and hay rake.



A Pottinger hay rake.



Large hay meadow, with drying hay.

David B turning the hay.  Who very kindly let me photograph the process and ask lots of questions.  He explained that his hay making was a little late this year because the grain harvest was two or three weeks early and took priority.

When I was talking to him, he was a little concerned that it was clouding over and rain was on the way.  He wanted to bale the hay in the next few days but he could not do this if the hay was wet.

However when I returned in a few days, the job was done.  Bails of hay, as far as the eye could see.



And here are the tractor and baler that did the work.  A New Holland 7840 tractor and a Vicon VR1601 baler.




New Holland and Vicon.  Job done.  The only thing left to do is to move the bales to storage for winter feed.