Old Hay Field

Wingman2 · Sep 25, 2023

What's the best mower to use on a hay field
that hasn't been cut in 4 years.
Brush hog
Or a hammer knife mower, or something else.

Hoofer B · Sep 25, 2023

Use whatever you have. Keep the mower a bit off the ground if you are worried about foreign materials. Bill

rustred · Sep 25, 2023

pretty much need a haybine. using just a mower is going to be a challenge. you need the reels and teeth to pull the grass up and in . how big is this field?

JMOR · Sep 25, 2023

A good fire.

redforlife · Sep 25, 2023

You mention brush hog, so I presume this won't be for hay. That said, the best thing to use is a match. Burn it off in the spring.

Wingman2 · Sep 25, 2023

Maybe 10 plus
Just want to lay it down, so it doesn't get over grown and full of brush.

Wingman2 · Sep 25, 2023

Thanks everyone!!

jddrawbar · Sep 25, 2023

X2, use whatever you have available.

Wingman2 · Sep 25, 2023

Bob N.Y. · Sep 25, 2023

Do you have access to a New Idea Cutditioner and a tractor that can run it? If the flails are sharp it will cut as clean as a haybine but you won't have any problems with the knives plugging.

sixbales · Sep 25, 2023

Use your brush hog, if you just want to cut it off and leave it.

Traditional Farmer · Sep 25, 2023

In my area a field that had not been cut in 4 years would need to be cut with a brush hog because of the tree growth

dhermesc · Sep 25, 2023

I agree with the flail or brush hog - something that might mulch the grass up a little instead of it laying flat and killing some the stand.

rustred · Sep 25, 2023

Yes we call it a disc bine here. Has rotary cutters instead of the sickle. But the problem here is we dont have proper info. He is saying to cut hay well I take that as making hay. All these posts are about bush hogging it. Well to me thats just mowing it over and leaving it as is. Two different things here going on. Would like to know what is the hay plan ???

rustred · Sep 25, 2023

Ooh so just mow it over. So then ya use like a bush hog. Might take a while. Your not making hay then.

showcrop · Sep 25, 2023

Our Fire Dept. used to burn a few fields every spring. We got good training for new guys and a donation, then pizza and barley pops afterwards. Burning is VERY good for the soil.

Dave H (MI) · Sep 25, 2023

I would use a sickle mower, no grass board. If it lays flat it won't harm anything. I would rake it and bale it though. There are always people looking for cheaper hay and they won't care a lick about small trees and weeds. Someone with a few non-dairy cattle or goats. Usually they will take it off the field too.

Bob N.Y. · Sep 25, 2023

A Cutditioner is a totally different machine than a discbine. The Cutditioner has 4 rows of flail knives on a horizontal shaft. They are old, simple, cheap and they don't require as much horse power as a discbine. I run a 7 footer with a late MF 65 diesel (50 pto hp). I know of retired farmer who ran a 9 footer with an early Ford 5000 (58 pto hp).

RedGreenGuy · Sep 25, 2023

Many years ago (???1985???) when Feds released setaside for harvest because of drought. I cut and baled 4 yr old stuff. Found bull testing station in WI that did not need quality hay. They bought all of it.

Wingman2 · Sep 26, 2023

Thanks guy's my parents raised Goat's, they will eat anything!

Old Hay Field

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