What are the steps in making hay?
Hay is cut, dried, gathered into rows, baled and moved to storage. Each step has its own machine, and each depends on the one before it. A breakdown anywhere can waste a good weather window.
Understanding the sequence helps you decide where equipment matters most. Extension hay and forage specialists publish guides for each step, and you should read the ones written for your region.
Weather is the real boss. Watch forecasts from the National Weather Service and talk with neighbors about what they see in the field before committing to a cutting day.
What cuts the hay?
Hay is cut with a disc mower, a sickle bar or a drum mower. Some machines add conditioners, which crimp or crush stems to speed drying. A rotary cutter will cut grass but is a poor choice for quality hay.
Choose based on acreage, crop and tractor power. A small farm may use a smaller disc or sickle mower, or hire custom cutting.
Cutting height affects regrowth in some crops, so ask your extension forage specialist what is right for your species.
How does hay get turned and raked?
Tedders fluff and spread cut hay so it dries faster, and rakes gather it into windrows for the baler. Some small operations use a single rake for both tasks. Wheel rakes, rotary rakes and basket tedders all do the job differently.
Raking too dry causes leaf loss, and raking too wet risks mold. Ask your extension forage specialist about moisture and timing, as it depends on your crop and weather.
- Tedder: spreads hay for faster drying
- Rake: forms windrows for baling
- Conditioner: crimps stems to speed drying
- Check tines and teeth for wear before the season
What are the baler options?
Small square balers make bales a person can lift, round balers make large rolls that need a loader or spear, and large square balers need heavy equipment. The right choice depends on your animals, your storage and your labor.
Small squares suit horses and small flocks and need labor to stack. Round bales save labor but need a tractor with a loader to handle. Talk with neighbors about what suits your operation.
Think about the way you will feed. Hand-feeding small flocks, feeding horses daily and feeding cattle from a loader are different jobs, and bale size should fit the way you work.
How do you move and store hay?
Wagons, bale elevators, bale spears, bale forks and trailers move hay. Plan for safe handling, since bales are heavy and can shift or roll. Never ride on a loaded wagon that is not built for passengers.
Store hay under cover if possible, off the ground, and with airflow. Hay stacked too wet can heat and even catch fire. Learn the warning signs from your extension office and fire department.
- Stack bales so air can move
- Keep hay off wet ground
- Check stacks for heat and odor
- Keep hay away from buildings where possible
Should you own, share or hire?
Hay equipment is expensive and used for a few days a year. Many small farms hire custom operators, share equipment with neighbors or buy used. Compare the cost of hiring a person against the true cost of owning.
If you share, set clear agreements about who pays for repairs, who gets priority when the weather is good and where machines are stored. Custom operators are often booked early, so contact them well before the season.
- Cost of owning versus cost of hiring
- Who pays for repairs when sharing
- Who gets first use in good weather
- Where the shared machine is stored
What safety rules apply?
Hay equipment has many pinch points, power takeoff shafts and moving parts. Shut down completely before clearing a jam, and keep shields in place. Never reach into a baler or rake while it is running.
Heat, fatigue and long hours raise risk. Take breaks, drink water and keep a phone nearby. Make sure someone knows where you are working.
Never stand under a raised loader with a bale, and keep other people out of the area where bales are being moved.
Key takeaways
- Hay making is a sequence: cut, dry, rake, bale, move and store.
- Choose baler type based on your animals, labor and handling equipment.
- Store hay dry, off the ground and with airflow to reduce heat and fire risk.
- Consider custom work or sharing for rarely used machines.
- Shut down fully before clearing any jam.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Rural Farm Life Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.