Hay Season

This was the perfect summer for hay.  We were blessed with lots of rain during the typical hot times of the summer, so the hay was quite happy!  Earlier in September, the pasture bordering our property was mowed, raked and baled.  The boys loved observing this process!

This is the first step of hay cutting: actually mowing it.  It works similar to a regular lawnmower, but on a much larger scale.  One difference, is that the hay is cut into long pieces.  This makes it much easier to bale.

After the hay has been cut, usually the next day, the hay is raked.  A large rake-like implement is attached to the tractor to achieve this.  The rake piles the hay nicely, and makes it much easier to pick up when baling occurs.  Which, you have probably guessed is the next step!

To bale the hale, a baler implement is attached to the tractor.  The hay is scooped into the baler, and wound tightly into a cylinder.  Once the bale is completed, a mesh wrap is applied, by the baler, and the bale is pushed out onto the ground.  Later, they will be collected and moved to a storage area for winter feeding.

One point to note: it has to be dry to cut, and especially bale hay.  Baling wet hay will cause it to mold, and then, it will not be edible for the livestock.  So, here is lunch, for those winter months.  Yum!