Solutions/Hay / forage growers
Hay / forage growers
Raking, Tedding and Moving Bales in Ohio and Indiana
Hay pays on timing. You ted to dry it, rake it into a clean windrow ahead of the baler, then move bales before the weather turns. We set up rakes, tedders, loader tractors and balers for growers across Ohio and Indiana every season.
Windrows the baler can eat
A rake earns its money by building an even, fluffy windrow that feeds the baler at a steady rate. Rope it too tight or leave it ragged and you slow down, rake dirt in, and fight plug after plug. We size the rake to your baler and your fields, so the windrow matches the throat instead of forcing the operator to crawl. Narrow gates and odd corners matter here too.
Drying time you control
Tedding is how you buy back a day when the forecast shifts. Spreading the crop right after cutting opens it up, evens out the drying, and gets you to baling moisture sooner. The trade is horsepower and passes, so we match working width to the tractor you already run and the acres you actually cover. Done right, tedding protects leaf quality instead of beating it off in the field.
One tractor, loader on front
Most growers we work with want the same tractor raking during the day and stacking bales with a loader and spear that evening. That means enough hydraulic capacity and rear weight to lift a wet round bale safely, plus a cab or open station that suits how long you sit in it. We spec the tractor around the heaviest bale you handle, not the lightest one.
The kit for this job
Every machine here earns its place on the trailer. Tell us the job and we will spec the shortest kit that covers it.
Rotary rake
Builds a clean, even windrow ahead of the baler. Width is matched to your baler throat and field size.
WR0008 · WR0010 · WR0012 · WR1212 · WR1214 · WR1216 · WR3208 · WR3210 · WR3212 · WR5417
Tedding and hay implements
Spreads and turns the cut crop so it dries evenly. This is how you shorten the window between cutting and baling.
639 · 649 · 659 · 676 · 30R · 35R · 46R
Loader tractor for bale handling
Carries the loader and bale spear for moving bales off the field and stacking them. Also pulls the rake and tedder.
5075E · 5075M · 5085M · 5090E Open Operator Station · 5095M · 5100E Cab · 5105M · 5120M · 5130M
Higher horsepower tractor
For wide tedders, big square balers and long hauls on hilly ground where you want power in reserve.
6M 180 · 6M 200 · 6M 220 · 6R 180 · 6R 200 · 7R 210
Round balers
Turns the windrow into bales sized for your handling and storage. The rake setting and the baler should be chosen together.
451M · 451R · 461M · 461R · 551M · 561M · 561R
Square balers
For growers selling small squares or packaging large squares for transport and stacking efficiency.
328 · 338 · 348 · C452R · C462R · L331R
Questions we get on this job
What size rake should I run behind my baler?
Match the windrow to the baler throat first, then to your field size. Too wide a windrow forces the operator to slow down or weave, and too narrow one wastes a pass. We will look at your baler and your fields before we suggest a width.
Can one tractor rake and handle bales?
Yes, and that is what most growers around here do. You need enough hydraulic lift and rear ballast for your heaviest wet bale, plus a loader and spear rated for it. We spec the tractor around the worst case, not the average bale.
Is used equipment worth looking at for hay work?
About half of this equipment gets bought used, and rakes and tedders in particular hold up well when the tines and gearboxes have been cared for. We will tell you honestly when a used machine fits and when a new one costs you less over the seasons.
Can I try a rake on my own ground first?
We will arrange a demo on your property so you can see how a machine handles your crop, your windrow width and your field corners. We stock parts for this equipment and our technicians are trained on it, so support does not stop at delivery.
Related
Tell us the job, not the model number
Send the acreage, the access and the schedule. We will spec the shortest kit that covers the work and price it new or used. Family-owned in Ohio and Indiana since 1904.
Talk to a Koenig rep