Switching from ailage to dry hay need advice

[pasture2barn]

I used to chop everything for silage, but now I'm making the switch to dry hay. I've got a rake, but man, the drying process is taking forever! I can't help but wonder, would getting a crimper be a better move than using a tedder?

 

[harvesterharvey]

Rake windrows after using a tedder to spread hay early. Watch out for leaf shatter, and ted hay when it's still a bit damp to keep the nutrients.

 

[j0hc0llins]

@pasture2barn have you check your mower? Many modern mowers are actually mower conditioners and have a crimper on them that you might not be using or that needs to be adjusted.
A crimper is a better first step than a tedder, as it's designed to save you a day of drying right off the bat. A tedder is more for fluffing hay that's already drying or for dealing with a rain event

 

[Grafh_Seeker]

If drying is your biggest headache, I would go for a tedder first. It lifts and spreads the hay so air moves through better, which really helps speed up the drying time. A crimper can help too if your hay is thick or stemmy since it cracks the stems and lets moisture escape faster. What kind of hay are you cutting right now, mostly grass or alfalfa?

 

[hiii.fer]

Crimper helps speed up drying by crushing the stems and letting moisture escape faster, but it works best on thicker stemmed hay. A tedder fluffs and spreads it out, which is better for thinner or wetter cuts