Best Hay Equipment for Small Operations

Making hay is a chain of jobs, and the weakest tool sets the pace. A small operation does best by matching each link to its acreage and tractor.

Key points

Plan the whole chain from mower to storage before buying one tool.
Match PTO speed, lift capacity and rake and baler widths to your tractor.
Shut off and block everything before clearing plugs, and keep shields in place.
Consider custom hire or sharing when equipment would sit idle.

What equipment does a small hay operation need?

The basic chain is a mower or mower-conditioner, a tedder to spread hay for drying in some conditions, a rake to form windrows, a baler and a way to move and store bales. Some small operations skip steps or hire out the parts that cost most to own.

A 30-acre hay field has different needs from a 5-acre homestead cutting a few acres for a couple of horses. Start from how much you cut and how you feed.

A small operation can also use a simple approach: cut with a mower, let the field dry, rake once and bale. Each added machine speeds the job but adds repair and storage needs, so add only what saves real time.

Which mowers work for hay?

Disc mowers and drum mowers cut cleanly and run at working speeds. Sickle bar mowers are an older style and still used on small acreage. Mower-conditioners crimp or crush the stems to speed drying. Choice depends on your tractor's PTO and lift, and the ground you cover.

Check the PTO speed and horsepower the implement needs and confirm with the dealer.

Choose rake and baler widths that suit each other, so the windrow feeds the pickup evenly. A rake that makes a windrow too wide or too narrow for the baler slows the whole job and can cause plugging.

Do you need a tedder and a rake?

A tedder fluffs and spreads cut hay so it dries more evenly, which can help in humid weather or thick stands. A rake gathers hay into windrows ready for baling. Many small operations buy a rake first and borrow or hire a tedder.

Rakes vary in design and capacity, and your baler and tractor affect the choice.

Rake first, tedder as the operation grows
Match rake width to your baler pickup
Check ground clearance and tractor lift capacity

Which baler type fits a small operation?

Small square balers make bales that are easier to hand-lift and sell. Round balers make large bales that need a loader, a spear or a bale handler but save labor. Large square balers are for bigger operations.

Think about how you feed and sell hay, how many bales you make and what your tractor can handle. Ask the dealer and neighbors about maintenance, and review baler safety carefully, since PTO and moving parts cause serious injuries.

Test bale density and moisture where you can, and keep the baler's knotters or twine system clean and lubricated as the manual says. Breakdowns during a good weather window are among the costliest in the hay season.

How do you move and store bales safely?

Bale wagons, trailers, spears and forks each handle bales differently. Round bales are heavy and can roll or crush, so use rated equipment and keep the load low. Stack and cover hay to cut spoilage, and keep it away from buildings in case of heat and fire risks.

Hay can heat and ignite if baled too wet. Your extension office can explain moisture testing and storage methods.

What safety rules apply to hay equipment?

Never unclog a baler, rake or mower with the PTO engaged. Shut off the tractor, remove the key and wait for motion to stop. Keep shields on, wear the seat belt with ROPS up, and keep children away from equipment and hay stacks.

Hay fields hide rocks, holes and wet spots, so walk the field first, especially before mowing on slopes.

Be careful around round bales on slopes and wet ground. A bale can roll without warning. Keep the loader low, travel slowly and never stand where a bale could roll toward you.

Should you buy, share or hire out?

Owning a baler for a small acreage is hard to justify when you could hire custom work or share with neighbors. Rent or hire if the equipment sits idle most of the year. Agree in writing on repairs, fuel and who is responsible for damage.

Ask your accountant and insurance agent about equipment sharing, and use extension budgeting tools to compare.

When to get help: Talk with your dealer about baler and tractor match, with your extension office about hay moisture and storage, and with your accountant and insurance agent before sharing or hiring out equipment.

Sources and further reading

Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.

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