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69zfarmer

Posted 5/15/2023 18:53 (#10230433)
Subject: When to tedder thick hay after rain?

North Central Alabama

I have some real thick rye grass i cut yesterday and today. I used a MoCo flail mower. I am gonna put it up dry. I teddered today what i cut yesterday. Then i cut another small field and right when i got through cutting it about 1 pm it rained 3/4". So do i tedder both fields early tommorow morning or wait till around lunch time after dew has dried on top. As you know it will smell rotten and i hate that smell. So do i tedder it ASAP tommorow? It will be plenty heavy.

Josh in Pa

Posted 5/15/2023 19:12 (#10230452 - in reply to #10230433)
Subject: RE: When to tedder thick hay after rain?

s.e. Pa

I don’t think there’s any right or wrong technique. I’d probably do it first thing and then again later in the day.

r82230

Posted 5/15/2023 19:27 (#10230472 - in reply to #10230433)
Subject: RE: When to tedder thick hay after rain?

Thumb of Michigan

I've never have grown rye, but here's what I'd do. Ted as soon as surface moisture is gone (dew burned off), then an hour or so later (soon as surface is dry again), I'd ted again. My though is to allow the excess moisture to evaporate ASAP. And the dryer it is the fluffier it would be after tedding (to enhance drying).

ClintNTX

Posted 5/15/2023 20:23 (#10230558 - in reply to #10230472)
Subject: RE: When to tedder thick hay after rain?

Maybe after dew burns off, rake into windrow and let ground dry except under for a few hours and ted it back out later in the afternoon..

Mitchco

Posted 5/16/2023 17:50 (#10231699 - in reply to #10230558)
Subject: RE: When to tedder thick hay after rain?

SW OH

That works here. If the ground is wet it won't dry if covered with hay. Tedding will stir the hay, but if the ground is wet the hay will attract the moisture from the ground.

Mitchco

Doug61

Posted 5/16/2023 06:45 (#10230966 - in reply to #10230433)
Subject: RE: When to tedder thick hay after rain?

Eastern NE KS

My recommendation from afar....

As long as you are not working the field into a muddy mess, give yourself permission to overwork the grass hay and burn a little diesel. You have the chance and tools to do it. This strategy will produce the best possible quality.

If you decide to leave it alone, you may save a few dollars but delay baling into another rain event. If that happens you get to start over.

This perspective is for grass hay that is durable and less prone to loosing leaves compared to alfalfa or clover.

Hay making is an experience based exercise. You read the field conditions and the weather forecast against your built up experience then plot a course of action. Since you asked here, I assume experience is in short supply. Experience come at a cost of time and fuel. Don't put that cost entirely on this particular cutting. Spend it to give yourself experience for next time.

wayneNWAR

Posted 5/16/2023 07:56 (#10231075 - in reply to #10230433)
Subject: RE: When to tedder thick hay after rain?

north west arkansas

Here is my experience. Never ever Ted hay with the dew on! As far as rained on hay if the top of the hay isn’t dry your just wasting your time and more then likely will end up with your Tedder destroyed. Same as fresh cut hay. Until the top is cured it’s a no go.

69zfarmer

Posted 5/16/2023 08:05 (#10231091 - in reply to #10231075)
Subject: RE: When to tedder thick hay after rain?

North Central Alabama

Thanks everbody. I will wait till dew dries and ted it today. Even though rain is forcasted again this evening. I will be ahead if it dont rain.

AR1920

Posted 5/16/2023 09:22 (#10231191 - in reply to #10231091)
Subject: RE: When to tedder thick hay after rain?

NEMO

If I was fairly certain that it's going to get wet again before it gets dry enough to bale I would leave it alone. Here moisture doesn't hurt green grass as much as it does the hay that is starting to dry then gets wet again.

wayneNWAR

Posted 5/16/2023 22:13 (#10232070 - in reply to #10231191)
Subject: RE: When to tedder thick hay after rain?

north west arkansas

Same here.

John Smith

Posted 5/16/2023 17:59 (#10231712 - in reply to #10230433)
Subject: RE: When to tedder thick hay after rain?

South Central Illinois

The forecast looks wet for your area until next week.

WCWI

Posted 5/19/2023 22:14 (#10235914 - in reply to #10231712)
Subject: RE: When to tedder thick hay after rain?

No sense in drying hay that will get wet again, learn to watch the weather not listen to the forcast. What ever you do get it as dry as you can before you bale, mositure is not like green, hay baled on the green side can turn out OK moisture in will not, and if in a barn is good way to burn it down. If it lays out there a week don't write it off If it is not too mature and you get it GOOD and DRY you may be pleasantly surpised at the outcome in spite of then rain events, esp. grass hay.

69zfarmer

Posted 5/28/2023 07:47 (#10246553 - in reply to #10235914)
Subject: RE: When to tedder thick hay after rain?

North Central Alabama

Thanks for this reoly. I have often wondered about differences between wet from rain and green with no rain. When you roll it. It does have a awful smell when it is rolled up wet from rain.

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