Hopefully, you have used the slow winter months thinking ahead to a great baling season. Once the grass starts growing, you’ll need to be ready to spring into action! This blog will give some advice on how to know when it’s time to make the cut! 

The haying season is divided into multiple cuttings, with the number of cuttings being dependent on the climate and geography of the region. In northern regions of the U.S. and Canada, where the summer season is shorter, farmers generally manage 2 cuttings per year. In more temperate areas, 3 cuttings are common, while the southern regions, where growing conditions are more favorable, may achieve 4 or more cuttings in a good year. The exact number of cuttings is influenced by factors such as rainfall, temperature, and location. For the first cutting, optimum conditions are generally reached around mid May in the south and late May in the north.

Understanding Hay Quality: The Late Boot Stage

Since hay quality is primarily determined by the maturity of the grasses at the time of cutting, this should be a primary consideration when deciding when to cut. While different cuttings yield different nutritional values (a topic we have covered in a past blog), the best time to cut hay is when the grasses reach what is known as the "late boot stage." This stage occurs approximately 6 to 8 weeks after the start of spring growth or 6 to 8 weeks following a previous cutting.

The "late boot stage" refers to the point when the seed head of the grass begins to emerge from the sheath. At this stage, grasses are transitioning from vegetative growth to reproductive growth, and protein levels are typically between 13-15%. After the late boot stage, grasses enter a reproductive phase where they focus on producing stems and seed heads, leading to a decrease in protein content and an increase in fiber. This makes the hay less nutritious.

Hay Cuttings: How Many for Your Region?

Another factor to consider is the number of cuttings for which a producer should aim each year. As stated above, 4 or more cuttings can be achieved in certain regions of the US. However, just because you can achieve more than 4 cuttings doesn’t always mean you should. More cuttings might produce forage of higher nutritive quality but can unfortunately place stress on stand persistence and vigor. One should weigh this fact when deciding a season’s mowing schedule.

Weather Conditions: A Crucial Factor in Hay Production

Knowing when grasses are ready to cut is only part of the equation—the weather plays a significant role in determining the best time for mowing. On average, mowing, raking, and baling hay takes about 3 days under good weather conditions. It's crucial to plan hay cutting around a window of at least 3 days of sunny, dry, hot weather to ensure proper drying.

Some farmers opt to mow on the last day of a rainy period to maximize drying time, while others wait until after a cold front passes, resulting in a drop of 10 to 15 degrees in temperature. This typically signals the arrival of clear weather with lower humidity—ideal conditions for hay drying.

The time of day is another factor to consider. Some farmers prefer to mow early in the morning to capture extra drying time, while others may choose to mow later in the day to take advantage of higher sugar levels in the grasses that rise to the top of the stems during daylight hours.

Be Ready to Cut: Equipment Preparations

While timing your hay cutting based on the weather and grass maturity can be unpredictable, there are steps you can take to ensure you're ready when the proper conditions align. Preparing your equipment during the off-season is essential for a smooth start to the haying season. (See this past blog for more information). So think ahead! Make sure your machinery, such as the Ibex TX45 Drum Mower, is in good working condition, so when field and weather conditions are right, you can hit the ground running.

Tractor Tools Direct has a full line of hay mowers and the parts and supplies you need to take full advantage of favorable haying conditions and set yourself up for a successful season. Need more advice on small-farm hay production? Haying Independence: The Ultimate Guide to Small-Farm Hay Production, written by TTD’s own content writer, can get you up to speed! To learn more or to make a purchase please visit our website or give us a call at 260-BALE-HAY today. Happy Haying!

"You can bale when your pasture is at its nutritional peak—not when the farmer down the road gets around to it."

Do you operate a small farm? Do you own a little livestock and a few acres of hay pasture? Are you tired of waiting until the farmer down the road gets around to baling your hay—usually long after it has reached its nutritional peak? Then maybe it’s time for you to make the jump to haying independence. Fortunately, we at Tractor Tools Direct have developed a line of compact hay equipment that can help you do just that—and at a price that won’t break the bank!

Our company operates under the motto that “compact tractors do real work too”. We take pride in supporting the small farm operator who gets laughed out of the coffee shop for suggesting that his or her compact tractor can bale hay. That’s why we have partnered with manufacturers world wide to design machines that are ideally suited to small farm haying operations.

After much research and collaboration, we have done just that! We at Tractor Tools Direct are proud to offer our customers the Ibex Subcompact Homesteader Hay Package. This entire line of products—mower, rake and baler–has been specifically developed for the small farm operator on a small farm budget.

This package includes the Ibex TX45 Compact Drum Mower, the TX51 2 Wheel Rake, and the Ibex TX31 Mini Round Baler. All three implements are designed for the small farmer operating a compact tractor with a minimum 20 HP and wishing to bale up to 1,000 bales per year.

What are the Benefits of Baling Your Own Hay?

There are several reasons why a small-farm operator might want to consider baling his or her own hay. Of course, there is always the satisfaction of putting in a hard day’s work in the hayfield, but there are also other factors to consider. Some of these are:

• You can control the content of the bale. There is no question as to the nutritional value and cleanliness of the bale. You baled it, you know.
• You can bale when your pasture is at its nutritional peak—not when the farmer down the road gets around to it. Most contract balers bale too late opting for larger yields rather than quality yields. Simply put, your small acreage is of low priority to a contract baler.
• Owning your own compact hay equipment that is suited to the small size of your farm puts more of your acreage into production. Pastures and paddocks that are too small for standard hay equipment will no longer sit idle.
• You can control the size and density of your bales so that they work for you.You will not be at the mercy of supply and demand. You will be your own hay source.
• You can sell a little on the side. There is always a market for high quality hay!

Learn More About the Ibex Subcompact Homesteader Hay Package

"Pastures and paddocks that are too small for standard hay equipment will no longer sit idle."

The Ibex TX45 Compact Drum Mower

The Ibex TX45 Compact Drum Mower is perfectly suited for the small-framed tractors which are so popular with today’s landowner. Designed specifically for the lighter weight, narrower width, and smaller 3-point hitch of subcompact and compact tractors, the Ibex TX45 will cut faster and with fewer problems than other mowers on the market.

The manufacturer of Ibex Drum Mowers, situated in the Italian province of Padova, has been fabricating drum mowers for over 20 years. They have a proven design that has demonstrated its durability through years of use. Every drum is factory tested to be dynamically balanced, reducing vibration and prolonging machine life. Because of this exceptional attention to detail, the Ibex TX45 Compact Drum Mower is a high-quality machine that will give you years of trouble-free performance.

Ibex TX51 2 Wheel Rake

The Ibex TX51 2 Wheel Rake is designed to provide a gentle, cost-effective solution for your hay raking needs. Wheel rakes are the most economical choice for raking hay. With few moving parts, they are mechanically simple and require only very modest horsepower. A simple and economical alternative to powered rakes, the TX51 does not require a PTO or hydraulics. The rake is driven by contact with the crop being raked and the forward motion of your tractor and can operate at high ground speeds. It’s a perfect match for any subcompact or compact tractor. 

The Ibex TX31 Mini Round Baler

As a quality machine and the most affordable in the industry, the Ibex TX31 finally makes haymaking independence possible for the hobby farmer. The Ibex Mini Round Baler is the simplest, easiest to use mechanical baler on the market today and is as close as you can get to a “plug and play” baler. With the ability to produce 90 bales per hour, it’s perfect for small operations of 5-20 acres.

The Ibex TX31 produces a baler that is 28 inches long and 20 inches in diameter, making it easy to handle by hand. An average bale will weigh about 40 pounds, but this weight can be adjusted with the baler’s density setting. Bales stack neatly and compactly in the barn in a honeycomb pattern, reducing the risk of the stack toppling over.

The Ibex TX31 connects to the tractor’s 3-point hitch which allows for easy maneuverability in tight fields and paddocks. Its light weight, compared to square balers and large round balers, also enables safer operation on sloping ground. Furthermore, its small size means it can be easily stored in the corner of the barn or shed.

The Ibex TX31’s hydraulics are completely self-contained, meaning no messy hydraulic connections to deal with. It uses standard, inexpensive baler twine, either plastic or natural fiber, and can be run with any tractor of 15 horsepower or more. This baler is manufactured in China under the watchful eye of Ibex Equipment and, at the right size and the right price, allows more customers to take control of their own hay production.

Other packages available!

Think a different combination of implements might meet your needs better? No problem! We have nine hay packages available and can even work with you to customize one of your own! Visit our website here or give us a call at 1-260-BALE-HAY(260-225-3429). Our team is always happy to answer your questions to help you determine the equipment that would best meet your small farm’s needs! Make haying independence a reality today!