Hay Production

Question 1

What is hay?

Answer 1

Produced by field-drying green forage to a moisture content of 15% or less

Question 2

6 steps of the hay making process

Answer 2

1) cutting
2) curing
3) raking
4) bailing
5) stacking
5) storage

Question 3

Cutting process

Answer 3

• Grass cut ideally in afternoon when sugar content in highest
• Can use rollers to crimp or crush stems to speed up drying process
• potassium or sodium carbonate can be sprayed to speed up drying

Question 4

Curing process

Answer 4

• Cut grass is left in field to dry
• Can use forks to aerate hay to speed up drying process (tedding)

Question 5

Raking process

Answer 5

• Turns hay to expose bottom to the sun to dry
• Time of raking depends on weather, usually second day after tedding and day 3

Question 6

Bailing

Answer 6

• Small squares, large squares or rounds
• Timing important for optimal moisture level