Types of Hay Equipment

Farmers of all sizes of land are choosing to buy their own hay equipment now because the price of hay can sometimes get too high or the contract farmer they hired doesn’t turn up in time before it rains. There are plenty of hay equipment pieces to choose from, the only thing to keep in mind is that it should be compatible with your tractor.

At Flieg’s Equipment we want to help you select the right equipment for your needs.  So we’ve compiled this list of hay equipment and what it can do for you. When you’re ready to look at hay equipment for sale in Ste. Genevieve or Leadington, MO, contact our sales department for further assistance. We’re proud to be the chosen hay equipment dealer for our patrons from Farmington and Park Hills.  

Hay Mowers

Different field sizes and requirements need different kinds of mowers. The ones below can be attached to your compact or subcompact tractor’s 3-point hitch. 

Sickle Bar Mowers

Equipped with triangular blades that move back and forth to cut any vegetation caught in between, sickle bar mowers are lightweight and can work on less horsepower. Their low movement throws up less dust, but they’re slower and have a tendency to become clogged and need to be repaired.

Disc Mowers

These tools have small discs that rotate very fast mounted on a cutter bar, which moves against the ground, controlling the cutting height. They’re fast and need the help of hydraulics to operate but they don’t get clogged. They’re much heavier and need a more robust tractor to handle them.

Drum Mowers

These mowers have been very popular in Europe and they’re slowly gaining popularity in America, too. The “drums” are cylinders that counter-rotate with a disc attached to the bottom that has blades fixed on it. They can cut thick vegetation, are durable and don’t need hydraulics but they’re quite heavy and need a rugged tractor. 

Hay Tedders

Sometimes you need to turn over the hay lying around so the lower layers can get the air and sunlight needed to dry faster. That’s when a hay tedder comes in handy. These machines have spinning tines that catch the hay and then throw it out from the rear end. A tedder is very helpful when you’ve got heavy hay or hay that’s been left out in the rain. They don’t need much horsepower, are easy to transport and can be lifted over windrows. While some use rakes in place of tedders, rakes tend to leave hay in clumps.

Hay Rakes

Before hay can be baled, it needs to be raked into windrows. There are various types of hay rakes and your final selection will probably depend on your geographical location. 

Wheel Rakes

These simple types of rakes need little adjustment and are quick and efficient. However, because they’re low-lying, they can gather dirt, debris and small stones along with hay, reducing its quality. The hay rakes by these machines also don't dry completely which makes it heavier. Wheel rakes also need big storage space. 

Rotary Rakes

Designed to make uniform windrows while reducing leaf loss, rotary rakes can easily handle wet and heavy crops as well as dry ones, making them very versatile and useful machines. Since their tines don’t touch the ground, the hay quality is better. They’re rather easy to maneuver, which makes them great for land with changing ground contours.

Belt Rakes

These compact and versatile implements can be used even when reversing your tractor, which works great for tight spaces. They create fully and consistent windrows and can rake both wet and dry hay. Being lightweight, they’re easier to transport and lift over obstacles and come in a variety of sizes to suit different farming needs. 

Hay Balers

These tools come in various categories and require more horsepower and a bigger tractor size than a compact or subcompact model. Balers are also divided according to the shape of the bales they produce.

Round Balers

These balers are gaining popularity because of the ease of getting the hay bales into barns. These balers roll the hay in their chambers until it reaches the right size. The bale is then tied with either twine or net and ejected from the rear end. A drawbar connection is better than a 3-point hitch as you won’t have to lift the baler when turning corners.

Square Balers

These balers work much the same as round one but they form square bales. These are very efficient machines and can make a bale every 10 seconds or less. You need a tractor with a little more horsepower to handle that kind of output. Square balers are often preferred by users because the bales are easy to handle and stack. 

There are other options you can choose from. If you want additional information or are looking for hay equipment for sale in  Ste. Genevieve or Leadington, MO, get in touch with us Flieg’s Equipment and have a chat with our expert staff. We’re here for all the hay equipment needs of our clients from Farmington and Park Hills.