In the haymaking process, every step counts — mowing, dry down, raking, and baling all impact the final quality of your forage. While raking might seem like just another step, it plays a critical role in preserving the nutritional value of your hay. The management practices of raking can be the difference between high-quality, nutrient-rich forage and hay incorporated with ash and leaf loss.

Types of Hay Rakes

The type of rake you use plays a big role in both forage quality and efficiency. Whether you’re using a wheel or a rotary rake, each has its strengths. Understanding the differences can help you make the right choice for your operation. 

Wheel Rakes: Ground-driven wheel rakes don’t require a PTO, making them simple to operate. However, because they are ground-driven, they’re more likely to incorporate dirt into the windrow. This increases ash content, which not only affects the quality of the hay but can also cause wear and tear on your baler. These rakes also “rope” hay into windrows, which can restrict airflow, slowing down the drying process. This requires you to rake drier forage later in the dry down process, which increases leaf loss and reduces overall forage quality.

Rotary Rakes: PTO-powered rotary rakes are equipped with baskets that gently move the hay and create fluffy windrows. The rotors can be adjusted to a height just below the top of the stubble height, reducing ash incorporation into the windrow, allowing for better aeration, and preserving more leaves. With a rotary rake, you can also rake at a slightly higher moisture level due to the continued dry down of the crop after it has been incorporated into a windrow, which means more flexibility in your haymaking. 

Why Rotary Rakes

Rotary rakes offer advantages when it comes to both forage quality and field efficiency. Research shows that they reduce ash incorporation and preserve more leaves compared to traditional wheel rakes. By forming a fluffy windrow, rotary rakes allow for better airflow, which speeds up drying and helps retain the valuable nutrients in the crop. Research has shown that a rotary rake also creates a more uniform windrow, leading to easier baling and more uniform bales, regardless of baler type. 

One of the biggest misconceptions is that larger wheel rakes are more efficient at covering wide swaths. However, rotary rakes can match the efficiency of wheel rakes, without sacrificing forage quality. In trials, rotary rakes maintained consistent windrow formation and productivity, even at higher ground speeds and moisture levels (around 35-40%). This means you can rake sooner, giving you more flexibility to work around weather conditions without compromising quality. 

Best Raking Practices

In addition to choosing the right rake for your operation, using best raking practices is key to preserving hay quality. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Rake Height: Proper rake height is essential for avoiding ash incorporation, which can lead to lower digestibility of your forage. An additional advantage of rotary rakes is the ability to adjust the rake height directly from the cab. If you notice dust kicking up, lift the rake slightly to keep it above the soil while still gathering all the hay. This keeps your hay clean and your baler running smoothly. 

Timing: Raking when the hay is too dry can lead to leaf loss, reducing the overall quality. Avoid raking when hay is overly brittle. Instead, aim to rake while some moisture remains for better leaf retention. 

Moisture Levels: The ideal moisture range for raking is between 30-35%, and higher on ideal drying days with low humidity, high solar power, and a slight breeze. At this level, the hay is dry enough to be baled but still moist enough to retain its leaves. Rotary rakes offer the flexibility to rake at a slightly higher moisture level. 

Real-World Success with Kayla Wieczorek

By switching to a rotary rake, Missouri hay farmer Kayla Wieczorek has significantly reduced leaf loss, improving the overall quality of alfalfa on their operation. 

“We’re in the best quality alfalfa we’ve ever had, and a big part of that is switching to a rotary rake,” says Wieczorek. “By upgrading to a larger rotary rake to match our mower’s 13-foot swath, we’ve improved our efficiency and the difference in our hay quality has been incredible.”

When it comes to haymaking, every detail matters—from rake height to timing, to monitoring moisture levels. Rotary rakes stand out as a great option for farmers looking to improve their forage quality without sacrificing efficiency. By reducing ash content, retaining leaves, and offering flexibility in moisture conditions, rotary rakes can ensure that your hay retains its nutritional value. Explore Massey Ferguson’s rotary rakes to improve your hay.