Hay Balers and Rakes in Kountze, TX

It depends on your ground and how much hay you rake. A wheel rake uses tined wheels that turn as they roll along the ground. It's got few moving parts and needs no PTO. A rotary rake uses PTO-driven tine arms to sweep hay into an even, fluffy windrow. It handles hay gently, which helps with leafy grass and legumes. Vermeer builds both kinds, and Krone builds rotary rakes. On Hardin County's sandy loam, set either one so the tines don't comb dirt into the row. Come see both kinds at our Buna store.

Start with how much hay your herd eats through the winter, then work back to bales and acres. Think about bale size next, since a bigger bale means fewer trips and a heavier load on the loader. Plan where the bales will sit before you bale, on high ground and off the dirt. Beef cattle are one of Hardin County's income sources, behind timber. If you feed your own, owning a rake and a round baler lets you bale when the hay's ready. Check your tractor's PTO horsepower against the baler before you buy one.

Sandy loam is easy on a rake, but it's also easy to pull into the hay. Tines set too low comb sand and dirt into the windrow, and that goes into the bale and then the cattle. Set the tines so they just lift the hay. Check them as you go, since tines can dig in on soft spots. Loose, dry sand blows into hay on a windy day, too. Where red clay comes up, wet spots can rut under the tires, so give the ground time to dry before you rake. Your tire tracks will show you where the tractor's sinking.

Low enough to lift all the hay, and high enough to miss the dirt. Most balers set pickup height with gauge wheels on each side. Start with the teeth about an inch off the ground and watch what's left behind. If hay stays on the ground, lower it a notch. If the teeth are scratching dirt or throwing sand, raise it. Uneven ground means checking the height more than once. Hardin County's land is level in the west and undulating in the east, so a setting that works in one field may not suit the next. Recheck it whenever you move.

Until the top side has dried, and that depends on the weather and the grass. In humid weather, it can take longer than you'd like. Rake once the dew's off and the top of the swath has lost its green shine. Raking turns the damp bottom up to dry. Rake too soon, and the windrow stays wet inside. Rake too late, and dry leaves shatter and fall off, especially on legumes. Hardin County grows grasses and native legumes, so keep a close eye on leafy hay. Bale once a twisted handful from the windrow feels dry all the way through.