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Hay Production
There are two primary goals when making hay. These are:
  1. Harvest the crop at its optimum maturity stage to retain the most nutrients and not damage the next crop.
  2. Cure the crop properly by getting the green chop to the correct moisture content.
Before cutting hay, proper management practices should be followed to ensure a quality and sufficient harvest. Some important steps to follow are:
  1. match the hay crop to the soil type
  2. always choose proven varieties that are grown from quality seed
  3. when appropriate soil should be fertilized and limed
  4. manage the stand to keep it full and healthy
  5. irrigate, when necessary.
  6. control any predators such as insects and diseases.

Alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures make up approximately 60% of all U.S. hay production.
Once a good hay crop has been established, the hay is ready to be cut. There are several different machines that can be used for this: mowers, mower-conditioners, disc mowers, disc mower-conditioners, forage mat machines, and windrowers are all machines that can be used to cut hay down. Conditioners are used to crush the forage so that it drys out faster. No machine is best for all situations; the best type of mower depends on the producer's need.
After the hay has been cut, it is generally pulled together into a windrow, a long row of hay that has been cut and left to dry in the field. Machines such as the forage mat machine will automatically put the hay together into a thin mat so a windrow is not needed. A windrower both cuts the hay and puts it into a windrow. A rake is used when only a cutting machine is used. A rake flips the hay together so it can be baled easily.
Other machines such as tedders and rake-tedders can also be used after hay has been cut. These machines are especially useful in arid conditions. Tedders help to remove some of the moisture and/or dew from the hay by lifting and fluffing it. This allows for more rapid drying.
The next step is to process the hay into the form in which it will be stored and/or fed. Some forms are loose hay, haystacks, pellets, cubes, or meal, but the most common is bales. Hay bales are formed using equipment called balers. Balers automatically pick the hay up off the ground and compact it into large round, or roll, bales or smaller square bales which are more suitable for indoor storage.
After the hay has been baled, other tools may be used to transport or handle bales. Bale handlers take some of the back work out of loading and stacking small square bales. Round bales may require trailers to haul them to the storage site.