Hay Balers and Rakes in Lumberton, TX

It gathers the cut hay into a windrow the baler's pickup can follow. Cut hay lies spread across the field as it dries. A rake rolls it into one even row, and it turns the hay so the underside sees the sun. An even windrow feeds the baler at a steady rate. A steady feed makes a tighter, more even bale. Rake when the hay is dry enough to bale, but before the leaves get brittle and shatter. Vermeer builds wheel rakes and rotary rakes, so you've got a choice of styles.

Both hold a bale together. They differ in speed and in how the bale stores. Twine wraps around the bale several times. Net wrap covers the outside in a few turns, so the baler gets back to work sooner. Net wrap also holds the outer layer tighter, which can help a bale that's stored outside. Twine is simple to cut off and handle. Which one a baler runs depends on the model, so check before you pick. You'll want your wrap on the shelf before first cutting, not halfway through it.

Dry enough that the stems snap instead of bend, and drier than it feels on top. Hay baled too wet heats in the bale and can mold. A hot bale can even catch fire. Hay that's too dry drops its leaves, and the leaves carry much of the feed value. Check a handful from the bottom of the windrow, not the top, since the bottom dries last. A rake can turn the windrow to help it along. If you're unsure, wait a few hours and check again. That beats a barn full of spoiled bales.

It gives you a second line of hay tools to look at on one trip. Our Buna store carries both lines. Krone builds rotary rakes and round balers, among other hay tools. Seeing two makers side by side shows you how a rake's tines or a baler's pickup differ. The lot changes as units sell, so ask the store which pieces are there before you drive up. Then bring your questions about how each one would run on your ground.

Before first cutting is better. First cutting is when hay tools see the most demand. Shopping while the grass is still growing gives you time to look over a baler and a rake. You can hook them up and learn them before any hay is down. Learning a new machine with a cut field drying behind you is a hard way to start. Hay keeps growing after first cutting, so later cuttings follow. Browse our implements on j5tractors.com, then come see them at our Buna store.