Hay Rakes

[Mufferaw]

Any body use a hay rake on a regular basis other than turning swathes after a rain. Crop is quite a bit thinner this year, would speed up baling. Hay crop is usually a mixture of grass and 30-50% alfalfa so I imagine there would be some leaf loss. Lots of moles so baling speed is more limited by land roughness rather than baler capacity. Is there value in a rake or more often than not a waste of time and money?

[kato]

I can answer you in a couple of weeks. We just bought a v rake, but only used it yesterday for three rows. Of course it rained last night.

[SCS]

We have a fourteen wheel v rake, it is like have another baler and a bit in the field!

[smcgrath76]

We have a Massey 39 that has done thousands of acres. It is nice for turning and can put rows together. I think our per acre cost is now down around $0.0005 per acre as the rake was new in 1954 for about $500. I have been looking at a new to me V rake but wondered if it would save enough time to pay for itself. Also, big rows take longer to dry out...

[SCS]

The beauty of our rake, rake in morning, bale in afternoon. Have had more three hundred bale days when ready. If you rake to early with it you can have a wet rope in the middle and believe me that has happened when pushing panic button!

[15444]

Still use a NH 256 and rake everything to cut down passes with baler. Next rake will be a used Vermeer hydraulic bar rake or maybe a new one if we ever get paid for our BSE suffering.

[Mufferaw]

I was thinking it would sped baling. Cut one day wait a day or so just that the bottom is wet and then rake. Should be able to bale a day or to sooner.

[kato]

That is our plan too. The old Deutz runs on diesel fumes, so we might save some fuel money too. Lol

[burnt]

15444 - I posted a question to you on Ranchers.

[15444]

K Burnt. Don't check Ranchers very often, so I do need reminders at times