How to Make Hay Bales for Small-Scale Production

Want to get started on small-scale hay production? These experts give the ins and outs of hay for beginners.

By by Kenny Coogan
Updated on October 15, 2024
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by Adobestock/Olha Rohulya

Learn how to make hay bales with just a few acres and essential cutting hay equipment for successful small-scale hay production.

Looking for a way to feed your animals quality feed or jump-start a small baling enterprise? If you’ve got 2 to 30 acres of land, investing in small-scale equipment and starting your own hay production is possible! By growing and processing your own hay, you can control the timing, quality, and pricing.

How to Make Hay Bales

Larry Seymour, a recently retired product specialist at BCS America, recalls getting started with hay production shortly after moving to the country. “We felt, as newcomers, we’d pretty much have to make our own.” Knowing your weather is one of the first steps when considering hay production.

Weather Considerations

“To make good hay, you need a weather forecast with three rain-free days,” Seymour says. You shouldn’t cut hay when it’s wet, and it certainly won’t grow easily in a drought. In wet conditions, you’ll have to wait longer to use your equipment (you don’t want to compact all that mud and harm the fields!), and your hay will have a harder time drying.

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