the basics of raking & tedding hay

In this video, the second in our hay making series, I cover the basics of raking and tedding hay. I talk about the best times in the drying process to do each and the different types of rakes and tedders, along with their advantages and disadvantages. We go out to the fields to ted hay with a Farmall 504 tractor and a 2 star tedder, and rake hay with an International 656 tractor and a New Holland 258 hay rake. I also show you a pattern for raking I developed which results in straight windrows that are easy to bale.

[TwoFarmBoys]

If one were to give an example of the right way to make someone stick around until the end of a YouTube video, you would be that example! You explain things with just the right amount of detail at just the right speed. I've learned more from just a few of your videos than I have from anyone else's videos in the last month. Another thing you do is move your camera shot a lot. I feel like that is a very overlooked video trick that I wish more people would try. This is definitely one of my new favorite channels! These kinds of hay equipment videos are right up my alley too considering I've gotten into making my own hay within the last year. The neighbors used to do it before I started doing it myself. Thanks for all of the helpful advice! I've been around old hay equipment my whole life but you still managed to cram a lot of new knowledge into my head. Keep up the great work and have a great rest of the day - Everett

[philgriswold]

It's obvious that that you take pride in your hay work and that you truly enjoy it. While I was watching, I was thinking about Grandma telling how she makes biscuits. It's like a pinch of this and a bit of that and add buttermilk until they're just right. You then put them on your favorite biscuit sheet and when the stove is just about right, you put them in. After you let them cook awhile, you pull them out when they look done.

[jeffreyhicks]

I really like how well you explain each part and how every step works thanks for your videos

[kiboiem]

I have never seen an easier explanation for haying. Thank you for the videos and keep them coming.

[ron]

I last put up some hay with a sickle mower and a dump rake helping my Dad on our childhood hobby farm 40 years ago. I most probably won't ever be in the hay business again. But I can't stop watching and learning from your videos! You have a gift of communication and teaching, my friend. Keep up the excellent work that you're doing. I'd watch your teaching video of advanced jet propulsion if you posted one!

[DrDon]

I know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about haymaking--mowing, tedding, raking, baling, or storing. I'm watching YouTube videos both out of curiosity (my dad was an Illinois farmer LONG ago) and in doing some backstory research for a film script I'm writing. Thank you SO MUCH for the informative videos. You cover a lot of detail, but in a way that is actually entertaining to someone like me with zero experience. I really appreciate the way your videos have a beginning, middle, and end like a compelling story. Who knew windrows and baling twine could be so interesting!

[royhill]

I am new to haying, although I did it as a young person, mainly lifting the small bales to the top of the barn and walking the fields. It is amazing how far haying equipment has advanced with the large round bales and the tedders. After watching your video it has inspired me to tackle my 200 plus acres of hay rather than lease the property out again. You sir, are very articulate and are truly amazing the way you explain everything. With much appreciation from South Alabama.

[hallieharker]

I came to this video with the idea of showing my husband what a hay rake looks like. He grew up on a farm, and they had a tractor with a spike and a brush hog, but I guess they never had a hay rake.

I grew up on a farm, too, with a tractor, a hay rake, a sickle mower, a brush hog, a spike, a square baler, a round baler... but I was today years old before I knew that there was a such thing as a tedder!

We were talking about this tonight because I just found out that my Dad and my brother experienced a hayfield fire and their tractor, two rakes, a mower, and a over hundred round bales burned.

[anitaculp]

Have had horses all my life and wondered how to do hay. Thank you 😊

[AaricHale]

With you being a architect I think you would know the best way to rake your field . I have watched a lot of hay making video and you are by far have been the best at explaining things . I can't say this enough about how I love watching the Farmall tractors .

[dalenjurgens]

I started with your first haying video. I started playing MS Farming Simulator a couple months ago. It's getting me interested in all this yard work, windrowing, baling and harvesting and stuff like that. Thank you for showing us the real world of these processes!

[chrisfoulk]

I've done a lot of raking on the seat of a 656. Used to use my great grandpa's International steel wheeled side delivery rake. I now use Kuhn v-rake to rake with. Awesome video!

[donaldmack]

You really explain things well. Very informative and easy to understand!

[kisselectronics]

I grew up on a dairy-farm in CT, everything was horse drawn, did a lot of tedding by hand. Great videos, brings back a flood of wonderful memories.

[tallcedars]

Always wondered how to use tedders. We don't have many up here in northern Canada but have seen them at heritage demonstrations further south. Good to know they are used with hay that is not too dry, makes them useful in my mind now:)

[halomaster]

Thank you for making this video, the rancher I help out is having me rake his fields tomorrow and I want to get a good idea of what I’ll be doing. Very informative thanks again.

[clarkmann]

Thank you for an excellent series on how to cut, tedder and rake a field to make the bailing process easier and affective. This is my first year at haying and thanks to you lm off to a great start. Thank you great series.

[icTroy]

I never knew about tedding. I only saw side rakes rolling rows over to dry the bottom. Very informative. Thanks for all the great vids

[Bouvtraining]

Hi Pete, Watched you video before heading out to rake a 6 acre piece of a neighbors field. I have a small sheep farm and had trouble getting someone to bale, so we decided to purchase some equipment and using a 25 HP & a 38 HP Mahindra we started learning. Today was my best day preparing the field to bale tomorrow. Thank You! BTW I am using a mini baler by Yanmar and produce 55 pound round bales. Having a love hate relationship because I love the size but cannot use a hat elevator to get it in the loft. I'll be following you more often now.

[NoName-txgn]

We are about to close on 34 acres in central Texas that was used to grow hay. We escaped the Atlantic northeast to leave the city life. Your videos have been extremely helpful in getting our little operation going!