Making Hay - Raking Hay Into Wind Rows

The hay has been cut and sitting in the field for a few days, time to rake!

and follow us on....

Any links here may be Affiliate links

[jasonbowen]

I am not being rude or critical. To save on fuel and time. You should rake smaller rows. You will have a shorter dry time. You'll make less passes. Instead of flipping a final row. You can flip into a final row. This will cut your dry time to near a third. This will save you time, tractor wear, and fuel. Less passes in the field, with your tractor.
We used this for times that rain was in the forecast. We also got better feed. My family started using this practices for every harvest. It saved us on time, money, and rain waisted fields. I started bailing at 8 years old. I'm nearly 40 now.
P.S. you have a very good channel. Keep it up. Great tips, and you show the good and almost good parts of farm life. Thank you.

[mogulsmoke]

Back in the 1950's we called the rake a "side rake". I ran the rake pulled by my John Deere B. My brother mowed the hay with an International Sickle Bar mower, pulled by a John Deere A. He usually cut the alfalfa in 5th gear and he could really lay the hay down, if it was not laying down. I raked right behind him. We let the wind rows lay and before bailing would roll the rows over using just the end of the side rake. Good video, brought back many memories. Thanks Ron Lewis

[lazio]

Been a long time since I've raked hay from scratch like this! Been using a mower conditioner for ever. Unfortunately mine is down now. So I need to cut with sickle mower this time around. I forgot how to get started raking! 😳
I needed a refresher course. This helped!
Thanks for the video! 👍🏼🙏

[frrapp]

just got through rolling up about 70a of hay yesterday and today about 50a of alfalfa/old world bluestem (61 round bales) and then rolled up about 10-15a of prairie hay and a little patch of haygrazer(sudax) for my bother in law this morning, have a classmate of my dad who lets us hay off some expired CRP ground neighbor who does custom hay work cut and baled 91 bales off it But we have to haul it 14-16 miles oneway to get it home we both have 6 bale tip off trailers so spent rest of day hauling hay at about 35 to 40 mph whew long day still love to see you do yours with the little equip, our rakes are a newer vers of the jd a heston 565a round baler love seeing how you do it in Michigan take care and hope you get it up before rain we are expecting up to 4 in i norther Oklahoma trying to get wheat ground in also oh well that is the life of a farmer/rancher

[jaecubed]

Great video... Doing my research on turning my "new" 200 year old farm house 28 acre I to hay fields. They have been over taken by forest and I want to turn 10 acres into hay fields again. Lots to do but loving your videos.

[billfischer]

I really enjoy your videos and everything you share. There's just something about hay videos or any tractor work videos I find entertaining and relaxing to watch. I also love learning whether it's something new or a new way to do it. Thank you very much for all you do for us, your service to our great country and also for seeming like a good father and role model for your family and any kids that may watch.

[maineiacacres]

There's something hypnotic about watching hay roll off the end of a side delivery rake.

[joejoebus]

That is a nice 5 bar rake. Mine was a 4 bar and I always wanted to convert it to a 5 bar. Mine had rubber mount tines and one time my baler picked up one that had broken off, wow what a BANG. It got caught in the knife and sheared the pin. After that happened I would check all the tines often by bending them over a little and if they broke then they were ready to change. Getting things just right is a real challenge. Thanks for sharing.

[benburns]

Great to see this video on raking hay getting ready to bail it. I don't think I have ever seen a rake like that but it seemed to do a nice job. Hopefully you will have dry dies till you can get it bailed.

[inappropriatern]

Second year in a row I've watched you do this. Congratulations, you've made mowing a huge yard actually interesting.

[ittybitty]

I loved raking hay for my grandfather growing up. Love the farm life.

[RedDevilRaspberry]

Is it weird that I enjoy watching you make hay? Really enjoying your channel and videos. ✌🏼

[jeffreyticen]

When it was all said and done. A lot more was said than ever got done.:) Army way. You look more at ease everytime you do hay. Just remember don't put your fingers or clothes anywhere close to something moving. The things a good farmer needs is common sense, determination and patience. You are doing fine with your farm and your family. Keep the videos coming. Thanks.

[yellowdeer]

You make it look easy compared to new methods. And the hay looks really good.

[marklepage]

Side delivery rake I had a New Idea side delivery rake when I used to hay they work great, nice video

[ogbobbye]

good job on your third cutting and good weather wishes to you as you head into fall

[jeremydobbert]

I love the hay making videos I would actually like to see much more of them! Keep up the good work!

[acanadianineurope]

I regret that I have but one like to give for this video.

[mikestone]

I'm really glad to see you grease and do maintenance before you use your eqpt. An ounce of prevention?

[Beecozz]

Nice, very relaxing to watch, I learned a lot!!! TY