Hay & silage: matching the mow–condition–bale line
Hay and silage quality is decided long before the baler arrives. It is decided by how fast the crop dries, how much leaf is lost in handling, and whether each machine in the line is matched in width to the next. Here is how to think about the whole chain.
1. Mow at the right stage, not the right day
Forage quality falls as the crop matures, so the optimal cutting stage matters more than the weather forecast alone. Cutting a day late for better weather usually loses more quality than it gains. Set mowing height consistently and keep blades sharp — blunt blades bruise the stubble and slow regrowth.
2. Condition only when it pays
A mower conditioner crushes the stem so it dries faster than an untreated swath. That is a real gain for thick, stemmy crops and for silage cut with a short weather window. For thin crops in good drying weather, a plain rotary mower is often enough, and cheaper to run. Adjust conditioning intensity to the crop rather than leaving it at one setting.
3. Match working widths down the line
If the mower, the mower conditioner and the tedder have different widths, every field becomes a puzzle of overlapping passes. Matching widths — or at least matching the number of passes needed — raises output more than buying one bigger machine.
4. Tedding and raking: dry fast, then stop touching it
Tedding immediately after mowing speeds drying dramatically. But every extra pass also loses leaf, especially in lucerne. The rule is to dry the crop as fast as possible and then stop: spread wide and early, and rake only once, into a windrow that matches the baler's pick-up width.
5. Bale at the right moisture
Bale too wet and the bale heats, moulds or burns; bale too dry and you lose leaf in handling. Use a moisture meter, not the calendar, to decide when to bale, and re-check as the day warms. Bales that are slightly too dry for hay can still be wrapped for silage.
6. Wrap, store and handle with care
For silage, wrap promptly and completely with even film overlap — air pockets are what spoil bales. Stack and handle bales so that film is not punctured, and keep wrapped bales out of direct sun where possible. Handle hay bales gently to limit leaf shatter.
7. A line that works
- Mow at the right stage with a matched 9GX-3.0 rotary mower.
- Condition with a 9GXY mower conditioner when stems are thick or the weather window is short.
- Ted and rake with a 9LZ-5.5 finger-wheel tedder; rake once, into a windrow matched to the baler.
- Bale and wrap at the right moisture, with prompt and complete wrapping for silage.
Crop-by-crop machinery combinations are set out on the applications page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a mower conditioner for silage?
For thick, stemmy crops and short weather windows, yes — conditioning speeds wilting and protects quality. For thin crops in good drying weather, a plain rotary mower is often sufficient.
How many tedding passes are too many?
Any pass beyond what is needed to dry the crop loses leaf, especially in lucerne. Dry it fast and early, then stop; rake once into a windrow matched to the baler.
How do I know when to bale?
Use a moisture meter rather than the calendar, and re-check through the day. Bales slightly too dry for hay can still be wrapped as silage.