FLIP ALFALFA WINDROWS AGAIN?

JLU · Jul 27, 2013

Had 1/2 inch of rain 2nd day evening after mowing alfalfa. It was not ready to be raked the following day but today it appeared to be ready. I raked after the dew was off this morning, sunny and 70 but was still a little tough at 7pm. My question is, do I need to rake again after the morning dew is off or just leave it as is and wait for the sun to do its thing? The ground is dried back out again. Forecast here (Iowa) is 75 and sunny and low humidity for tomorrow. I'm new to the hay making industry and have only 5 acres.

rrlund · Jul 27, 2013

If the weather's decent and there's a little wind,it should be dry by early afternoon.

GordoSD · Jul 28, 2013

I use a moisture tester that can measure hay in a windrow, or in the bale. Nice tool to have if you are selling hay.

JLU · Jul 28, 2013

I looked at TSC and Thiesens Farm and Home for a moisture tester but no luck. Hay is ready to go. Any ideas on where a man could find a tester on the shelf?

GordoSD · Jul 28, 2013

Case IH Dealers have them. Google "Delmhorst F-4"

chevytaHOE5674 · Jul 28, 2013

If you have a very precise scale you can measure the moisture with that and a microwave.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 28, 2013

I personally wouldnt spend the money on a moisture tester for 5 acres of hay ground. Try not to touch alfalfa until its ready to bale pretty much. I understand ya got rain and had to be proactive. Here (Ohio) its usually down 3 whole days raked 4th morning and baled. Sometimes raked 3rd night and doubled up 4th morning. All depends on weather.

JLU · Jul 28, 2013

Hay in the barn. Looked and smelled great considering... I did the proverbial bicycle pedal hay wad between hands before baling and had the wife sprinkle salt on layers in barn just for good measure. Temps here over the weekend were lucky to get into the 70's and drying seemed to be extremely slow. I'm just glad this cutting is behind me. Thanks for all the input fellas.

LorenMN · Jul 29, 2013

GordoSD, I just bought a Delmhorst F2000 with the windrow probe. What is your method for checking the windrows? Do you just pack it into a plastic pail and put the meter on it, or do to chop it up before testing, etc?

LorenMN · Jul 29, 2013

I bought mine last week from this company in MN. The digital F2000 kit with 18" probe and windrow tester was $387.

http://www.dohrmannenterprises.com/products.html

donjr · Jul 29, 2013

Easy way to tell if alfalfa (or many other hays) is ready to bale is to take a few stems from the windrow. Try to find a bit from the center or where it appears to be a bit greener. Using your thumbnail, scratch the outer covering of the stem. If it skuns off the outer skin, it's still too wet. If the skin stays tight, it's ready to bale.

GordoSD · Jul 29, 2013

I like to gather a "ball of alfalfa, lengthwise and sideways, flip it over, mix it up. Like tedding. then just jam the tester down on it, making sure it doesn't reach the ground.
Test the hay on the top of the hills and in the bottoms. They will vary 5-10 % due to valley fog and dew.

GordoSD · Jul 29, 2013

Really? He will probably produce hay off there for 20 years plus. That is 10 dollars a year for a tester. I found mine on CL for $100 and have used it for 9 years now. And probably another 15. Too much? $4 a year for $10,000 per year in hay sales? About 14 acres.

FLIP ALFALFA WINDROWS AGAIN?

JLU

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rrlund

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