Haybine vs sickle bar mower

TDJD · Apr 10, 2019

I?m thinking to grow some oat hay this year. I have a JD No. 5 mower. I could hire someone with a haybine to cut the oats, or I could cut the oats with my sickle bar. What are the pros and cons of each? Thanks.

NY 986 · Apr 10, 2019

Where are you located? Humid areas such as the Northeast and Great Lakes regions require conditioning rolls to help the crop dry out.

Charlie M · Apr 10, 2019

For me a haybine always beats a sickle mower. Like the poster below said you probably need a crusher or crimper to help get the oats dry enough and a haybine gets both jobs done at the same time. My experience with oat hay is its hard to get dry enough no matter where you are.

Paul from MN · Apr 10, 2019

Pro's of having someone cut your crop with a haybine:

1) You don't have to do the work.
2) The haybine will crimp the hay so it will dry faster and more evenly, reducing the liklihood of having it rained on.

Con's of having someone else mow with a haybine:

1) They may not be available on the day you want it done.
2) You will need to pay them.
3) If you enjoy mowing, you miss out on that.

DeltaRed · Apr 10, 2019

Use the Haybine. It has a crimper to help speed drying. A mower will work,but the gards and sections must be in top shape.A mower will have a tendancy to plug up and leave skips. A haybine will cut much cleaner.My first choice/preference would be the haybine.However,If all I had access to was a mower,I'd use it.

TDJD · Apr 10, 2019

I?m in Michigan.

Dave H (MI) · Apr 10, 2019

I used a JD5 for years. Yes...I am on record...I hated the thing and bought a haybine. But you don't have to condition your hay in Michigan. It just comes out better if you do.

MJMJ · Apr 10, 2019

The ONLY pro to using a sickle bar is that fact you already have one. But even then, I wouldn't use it if you're trying to bale oats. It needs crimped.

NY 986 · Apr 10, 2019

I'd use a mower conditioner and be done with it. Why gamble on the weather anymore than you have to? All sickle bar mowers are disadvantaged when it comes to cutting hay. Down spots are miserable regardless of brand. If possible you cut into the lean of the crop to get it cut but if flat you were SOL. New Holland came out with its 460 Haybine in 1964 and there was a good reason all the other brands had a mower conditioner by 1970 along with a majority of sickle mowers being retired, traded, or scrapped. Day and night difference in making hay with a pickup reel in the equation. One of the biggest innovations of the 20th Century in farm technology even though it was a re-application of an existing concept.

tomstractorsandtoys · Apr 10, 2019

At what stage are you planning to harvest them and how will them handled(dry hay,wrapped round bales)? Years ago dad would dry bale oats for his beef cows and he would wait untill they started to turn color and the milk was out of the grain to cut them. We used a 990 IH haybine but would put blocks in the rolls to keep them apart so it would not shatter the oats out on the ground. If waiting untill late a sickle bar would be fine. The cows always cleaned up everything great but mice loved to tunnel in thru the bales. Tom

caterpillar guy · Apr 11, 2019

I grew some oat hay last year to get a new seeding started of alfalfa. I cut them with a haybine/mower conditioner in the early milk so the grain loss was minimal. Mowed just like any other hay. Made good hay for the people that liked it. Some will turn their nose up at it. Horsey people, didn't like them the beef guys did.

Haybine vs sickle bar mower

TDJD

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NY 986

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Charlie M

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Paul from MN

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DeltaRed

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TDJD

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Dave H (MI)

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MJMJ

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NY 986

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tomstractorsandtoys

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caterpillar guy

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