{"id":860,"date":"2026-05-15T07:18:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T07:18:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/?p=860"},"modified":"2026-05-15T07:18:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T07:18:24","slug":"hay-raking-techniques-windrow-width-speed-and-moisture-targets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/it\/hay-raking-techniques-windrow-width-speed-and-moisture-targets\/","title":{"rendered":"Hay Raking Techniques: Windrow Width, Speed, and Moisture Targets"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/div>\n
Hay Field Operations Guide<\/span><\/p>\n

Hay Raking Techniques: Windrow Width, Speed, and Moisture Targets<\/h1>\n

Raking is the most underestimated quality event in the hay making process. Done correctly at the right moisture with the right rake speed, it is a transparent step that simply consolidates the crop without quality loss. Done incorrectly \u2014 too dry, too fast, or at the wrong rake wheel angle \u2014 it can knock 15\u201325 points off the RFV of your best cutting before the baler ever sees the windrow. This guide covers the specific techniques, not the general principles.<\/p>\n

Moisture Targets<\/a>
\nGet Rake Advice<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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What Raking Must Accomplish \u2014 and What It Must Not Do<\/h2>\n

The rake serves two purposes in the hay making system: it consolidates the dried swath into a windrow of the correct width and density for the baler, and \u2014 in damp conditions or for crops that dried unevenly \u2014 it can accelerate drying by fluffing and turning the partially dry swath. Both purposes are legitimate and valuable. The risk is when the speed, moisture condition, or rake type produces leaf shatter \u2014 the physical separation of dried leaves from stems due to mechanical impact.<\/p>\n

Leaf shatter is the most consequential quality loss in the raking operation. In alfalfa, the leaf fraction contains approximately 65\u201370% of the plant’s total protein and a disproportionate share of digestible energy \u2014 it is the highest-quality part of the hay. When leaves are knocked off by the rake at low moisture, they are lost permanently: they either blow away or break into pieces too small for the baler pickup to collect. A raking pass that causes 10% leaf shatter on an alfalfa crop with 22% CP could reduce the delivered CP of the baled hay to 19\u201320% \u2014 a difference that crosses a market quality grade threshold on many elevator specification sheets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Moisture Targets for Raking: The Numbers That Protect Quality<\/h2>\n

\"finger<\/p>\n

The moisture at which you rake determines both the quality loss risk and the functional purpose the raking achieves. There is no universal “correct” raking moisture \u2014 the right target depends on why you are raking and what crop you are raking.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Crop \/ raking purpose<\/th>\nRake at this moisture<\/th>\nWhy this range<\/th>\nLeaf shatter risk<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Alfalfa \u2014 premium dairy \/ export<\/td>\n20\u201325%<\/td>\nLeaves are still pliable; rake tine contact causes flexing rather than shattering. Adequate moisture remains for safe outdoor baling after an additional 2\u20134 hours of drying.<\/td>\nLow (2\u20134%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Alfalfa \u2014 beef \/ on-farm hay<\/td>\n18\u201322%<\/td>\nSlightly drier target acceptable when quality standards are less strict; still avoids the brittle-leaf zone below 15%.<\/td>\nLow\u2013moderate (3\u20137%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Grass hay (orchardgrass, fescue)<\/td>\n18\u201324%<\/td>\nGrass hay has more flexible leaves than alfalfa and tolerates a slightly wider moisture range for raking without significant quality loss.<\/td>\nLow (2\u20135%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Raking for faster drying (tedder function)<\/td>\n30\u201350%<\/td>\nAt this moisture, leaves are fully pliable and will not shatter under any normal rake speed. Raking at high moisture is a drying accelerant, not a windrow-forming step.<\/td>\nVery low (0\u20132%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Any crop \u2014 danger zone<\/td>\n<14%<\/td>\nAt below 14% moisture, alfalfa leaves are brittle \u2014 tine contact causes immediate shattering. Quality loss from a single rake pass at this moisture can exceed 20% of leaf mass.<\/td>\nHigh\u2013severe (10\u201325%)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

The practical rule: if the stems feel dry but the leaves still feel slightly cool and flexible, you are in the safe raking window.<\/strong> If the leaves crinkle or crumble when you rub them between your fingers, the hay is too dry to rake without significant quality loss. At that point, either bale without raking or wait for morning humidity to restore sufficient leaf pliability (typically 18\u201322% in the early morning).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rake Speed: The Variable Most Operators Set Too High<\/h2>\n

Ground speed during raking is the variable most directly under the operator’s control that determines leaf shatter rate \u2014 and most operators run their rake 20\u201340% faster than optimal. The relationship between speed and leaf shatter is not linear: doubling the raking speed approximately quadruples the leaf impact force from the rake tines, because impact force scales with the square of relative velocity between the tine and the crop.<\/p>\n

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\n
Finger-Wheel \/ Rotary Rake (V-rake)<\/div>\n

Optimal speed:<\/strong> 5\u20138 mph for dry hay (20\u201325% moisture); 8\u201312 mph for high-moisture turning\/fluffing (30%+)<\/p>\n

Why speed matters more here:<\/strong> Rotary rakes generate higher tine-to-crop impact velocities than belt rakes at the same ground speed, because the rotary motion of the rake wheel adds its own velocity to the ground speed impact. In dry conditions, faster wheel rotation at higher ground speed dramatically increases leaf shatter. Slow down in proportion to how dry the crop is.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Bar Rake \/ Parallel Bar (Wheel Rake)<\/div>\n

Optimal speed:<\/strong> 6\u201310 mph at 20\u201325% moisture; up to 12 mph at higher moisture<\/p>\n

Leaf shatter profile:<\/strong> Bar rakes have lower tine-to-crop impact velocity at the same ground speed because the tines move predominantly in the direction of travel. Somewhat more forgiving at high speeds than rotary designs, but still produce significant shatter above 10 mph in dry conditions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Horizontal Belt \/ Conveyor Rake<\/div>\n

Optimal speed:<\/strong> 5\u20138 mph regardless of moisture<\/p>\n

Leaf shatter advantage:<\/strong> Belt rakes generate the lowest leaf shatter of any type \u2014 the conveying action moves crop rather than striking it. Ground speed is limited by the belt conveying capacity, not by leaf shatter risk. Used specifically when leaf loss minimization is the highest priority (export timothy, premium alfalfa).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A detailed comparison of rake designs and their leaf shatter characteristics by crop type is in the Guida comparativa ai tipi di rastrelli per fieno<\/a>. The mowing and conditioning pass that determines the initial windrow character and moisture distribution that the rake subsequently works with is covered in the Guida alla qualit\u00e0 per la falciatura e la manutenzione<\/a>. For the PTO shaft speed requirements on rake drives, gear ratio, and rake gearbox specifications, see Specifiche dei componenti del cambio agricolo e della presa di forza<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Riduttore<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Windrow Width and the Baler Pickup Ratio<\/h2>\n

\"9LH-12<\/p>\n

The windrow formed by the rake must match the baler’s pickup width for efficient, clean pickup. A windrow that is too wide for the pickup causes the baler tines to miss the windrow edges, leaving a stripe of hay on each pass. A windrow that is too narrow causes the pickup to sweep over empty ground between the windrow and the field surface, reducing pickup efficiency and requiring more passes to collect the same acreage.<\/p>\n

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Windrow Width Formula<\/div>\n
Optimal windrow width = 50\u201365% of baler pickup width
\nExample: 60-inch (5 ft) baler pickup \u2192 optimal windrow = 30\u201339 inches wide
\nExample: 72-inch (6 ft) baler pickup \u2192 optimal windrow = 36\u201347 inches wide<\/div>\n

A windrow width at 50\u201365% of pickup width allows the pickup tines to sweep 2\u20134 inches past each windrow edge, ensuring complete collection of loose material at the windrow margins. This marginal sweep is where the most valuable leaf fraction concentrates after leaf drop during drying \u2014 collecting it cleanly requires that the pickup runs past the apparent windrow edge by a few inches on each side.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Setting windrow width correctly requires adjusting the rake’s delivery angle or the number of swaths being merged per pass. A V-rake with adjustable wheel angle produces a narrower or wider windrow based on wheel angle setting \u2014 wider angle produces a narrower, taller windrow; shallower angle produces a wider, lower windrow. For the same rake collecting the same amount of crop, a 30-inch wide windrow will be taller and denser than a 45-inch wide windrow, with different drying characteristics after raking.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Combining Swaths: When Merging Makes Sense and When It Does Not<\/h2>\n

Combining two or more mowed swaths into a single windrow (raking wider than a single-swath windrow) is a common practice for improving baling efficiency when yield per acre is low. The decision to combine should be based on the baler’s minimum windrow density requirement, not on a desire to make fewer baling passes.<\/p>\n

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When combining is beneficial<\/div>\n
    \n
  • Single-swath windrow is too light to form a full bale without requiring very slow baling speed (below 2 mph)<\/li>\n
  • Crop yield per acre is below 1.5 tons DM \u2014 single-swath windrows too thin for efficient pickup<\/li>\n
  • Field conditions allow combining without uneven moisture layering (both swaths dried to same moisture)<\/li>\n
  • The combined windrow still fits within the baler pickup width at 50\u201365% ratio<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
    \n
    When combining creates problems<\/div>\n
      \n
    • The two swaths dried at different rates \u2014 combining buries wetter material inside drier material, creating moisture-stratified bales that heat unevenly in storage<\/li>\n
    • The combined windrow exceeds 65% of the baler pickup width \u2014 the pickup cannot cleanly collect the full windrow width<\/li>\n
    • The combined windrow is so dense that it causes slug loading in the baler at any reasonable ground speed<\/li>\n
    • One swath dried on rocky, elevated ground and another in a low, wet area \u2014 combining mixes two different moisture levels<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
      The moisture-stratification risk in combined windrows:<\/strong> When a wetter inner swath is rolled underneath a drier outer swath during combination, the resulting bale has a moisture gradient from core to outer surface. The dense core at 18\u201320% moisture can heat and mold while the outer surface at 14% appears dry and normal. This internal heating goes undetected until the bale is opened for feeding and the inner material is found discolored and degraded. Test both swaths for moisture before combining, and only combine if readings are within 3 percentage points of each other.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
      \n

      Windrow Density and Baler Pickup Efficiency: Setting Up the Baler for Success<\/h2>\n

      \"round<\/p>\n

      The density and consistency of the windrow is as important as its width. A windrow that varies from thin to heavy along its length \u2014 common when the rake operator drives over windrow edges and misses material \u2014 creates the slug-loading \/ empty-chamber alternation that reduces bale density consistency and increases the risk of shear bolt events. The ideal windrow is uniform in both cross-sectional area and material density from one end of the row to the other.<\/p>\n

      \n
      \n
      Fluffed vs. compressed windrow profile<\/div>\n

      A rake that rolls rather than fluffs the swath produces a compressed, dense windrow that sits lower to the soil surface. This compressed profile can trap moisture in the windrow base and dry unevenly \u2014 the upper portion may reach baling moisture while the bottom is still 5\u20138 percentage points wetter. A raking technique that fluffs the swath (achieved by slightly higher rake wheel angle or a more vigorous tine arc) produces a lighter, taller windrow that dries more uniformly because air can circulate through the cross-section. For premium hay, slightly slower speed and more aggressive wheel angle to create a fluffed windrow is worth the modest reduction in raking rate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      \n
      Maintaining consistent windrow placement<\/div>\n

      Windrow placement consistency \u2014 keeping the windrow exactly centered on the intended row line from field entry to exit \u2014 determines whether the baler can travel in a straight, predictable path during baling. A windrow that wanders, curves, or lies at an angle to the field rows requires more baler steering corrections, reduces baling speed, and increases the likelihood that the pickup misses windrow edges on the inside of curves. Keep rake passes parallel to mower passes and to field boundaries; align at the field entry point before beginning each rake pass.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      \n

      Six Raking Mistakes That Cost You at the Elevator<\/h2>\n
      \n
      \n
      1<\/div>\n
      \n
      Raking below 15% moisture in midday heat<\/div>\n

      The most common quality-destroying raking mistake. Visible as fine dust behind the rake and a visible leaf loss trail. Schedule raking for early morning (after dew dries off, before midday heat drives moisture below 15%) or late afternoon when rising humidity increases leaf pliability.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      \n
      2<\/div>\n
      \n
      Raking in wind above 15 mph<\/div>\n

      Wind-dislodged leaf material from a raking pass is carried laterally out of the windrow before it can be collected. In a 20 mph crosswind, a finger-wheel rake can scatter 8\u201315% of fine leaf and chaff material outside the windrow width. Postpone raking in high-wind conditions for premium hay; for cattle hay, the quality impact is less critical.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      \n
      3<\/div>\n
      \n
      Running rake tines too close to the soil surface<\/div>\n

      Tines touching soil pick up mineral material that increases ash content and contaminates the bale. Check tine clearance before raking each new field, especially when transitioning between fields with different soil tilth or after rain when the soil surface is raised. Maintain 0.5\u20131 inch clearance between lowest tine arc and firm soil.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      \n
      4<\/div>\n
      \n
      Combining two swaths of different moisture levels<\/div>\n

      Combining a 22% moisture swath with a 16% moisture swath creates a mixed bale with unpredictable internal moisture distribution. The bale appears dry on the outside but contains wet internal zones that heat. Test both swaths and only combine when within 3 percentage points of each other.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      \n
      5<\/div>\n
      \n
      Setting windrow too wide for the baler pickup<\/div>\n

      A windrow wider than 65% of pickup width leaves crop at the edges that the pickup misses on every pass. These missed-edge strips are often the densest part of the windrow (the heaviest crop settled to the base) and may represent 10\u201315% of total crop mass. Verify windrow width against pickup width before committing to a rake angle setting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      \n
      6<\/div>\n
      \n
      Raking the second time when baling would suffice<\/div>\n

      A second raking pass to “clean up” windrows after baling recovers the material left at windrow edges but at the cost of an additional mechanical disturbance of already-dry material. Each rake pass below 15% moisture increases leaf shatter. If the first baling pass left windrow edges, lower the pickup height slightly and bale more slowly on the second pass \u2014 this collects more edge material than a second raking pass without adding leaf loss.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      \n

      Hay Raking FAQs<\/h2>\n
      \n
      \nShould I rake in the direction of or against the mowing travel path?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
      Rake in the same direction as mowing wherever practical. Mowing creates a slight surface orientation of the stems and leaves \u2014 the crop is slightly layered in the direction of travel. Raking against the mowing direction tends to roll and tangle the crop more aggressively, producing a higher-density but more tangled windrow that the baler’s pickup must work harder to separate. Raking in the same direction produces a looser, more parallel-stemmed windrow that flows more smoothly through the pickup tines. The exception: when the mowing direction creates windrow orientation that is not parallel to the longest field dimension, rake at the angle that produces the longest windrow rows (parallel to the longest field axis) even if this means raking at a slight angle to the mowing direction.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
      \nMy windrows are consistently too heavy in the center and thin on the edges after raking. How do I adjust?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
      A windrow that is heavy in the center and thin on the edges indicates the rake is depositing most of the crop at the center convergence point without spreading adequately to the windrow width. On a V-rake, this is typically caused by the rake wheel angle being set too steep (too acute a V angle), which drives all the crop toward a narrow center point. Reduce the V angle (open the rake wider) to spread the deposit width. Also check that all rake wheels are running at the same height \u2014 if the outer wheels ride higher than the inner wheels, they deliver less crop to the windrow than the inner wheels, creating the thin-edges effect. On a bar rake, a center-heavy windrow indicates the bar delivery speed is higher than the ground speed can carry, creating a pile rather than spreading. Increase ground speed slightly or reduce bar speed.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
      \nCan I rake at night to avoid the midday heat and leaf-shatter risk?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
      Raking after the evening dew begins to settle (typically after 9\u201310 PM in most summer conditions) is counterproductive \u2014 you are raking at increasing moisture when you want to capture the window between “dry enough to avoid mold” and “so dry that leaf shatters.” The optimal raking window relative to the daily dew cycle is: after morning dew dries off (typically 9\u201310 AM) and before afternoon heat drives moisture below 15% (typically 2\u20134 PM). In the hottest part of summer in the arid Mountain West, this window may be only 3\u20134 hours wide. Set the alarm for morning and plan raking as the first field operation each day.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
      \nDoes tedding before raking eliminate the need for careful raking moisture management?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
      Tedding at high moisture (30\u201350%) is low-risk because leaves are pliable. The subsequent raking after tedding still carries the same leaf-shatter risk as any raking pass if done at low moisture \u2014 tedding does not eliminate raking moisture risk, it just separates the operations. The advantage of tedding followed by raking at a higher raking moisture is that the tedding-accelerated drying allows you to rake sooner (at higher moisture, less leaf-shatter risk) and then have the windrow continue drying to baling moisture after raking, rather than having to wait for the swath to reach baling moisture before raking. This staging \u2014 ted at 40\u201350%, rake at 20\u201325%, bale at 14\u201318% \u2014 is the most leaf-friendly sequence for premium alfalfa production where minimizing each source of leaf loss matters.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
      \nWhen is it better to bale directly from the swath without raking?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
      Baling directly from the swath without raking is appropriate when: the mowing swath width matches the baler pickup width well enough for efficient pickup; the crop has dried uniformly to baling moisture without raking; and the yield per acre is sufficient to form adequate bales from a single-swath cut width. In high-yield irrigated alfalfa with a wide-cut mower-conditioner producing a 12\u201314 foot swath, direct baling from the conditioned swath without raking is practical and eliminates one potential source of leaf loss and one equipment pass. For lower-yield dryland operations where multiple swaths must be merged, or for grass hay where the mowing swath is too narrow for efficient baling, raking remains necessary. The quality advantage of eliminating a rake pass is most meaningful for premium dairy and export hay \u2014 for beef hay and straw, the quality impact of raking is less financially significant.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
      \nHow does rake tine condition affect windrow quality?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
      Rake tine condition directly affects windrow uniformity and leaf shatter rate. Bent tines \u2014 the most common wear mode on finger-wheel rakes \u2014 create an irregular sweep arc that results in a wavy, uneven windrow with alternating heavy and light sections. A bent tine that runs shorter than its neighbors misses material at its arc position, leaving a consistent gap in the windrow that becomes visible as a stripe of uncollected hay after baling. Broken tines leave a gap in the rake wheel that creates a periodic deposit pattern \u2014 a dense section followed by a thin section. Replace bent or broken tines promptly; the cost is minimal and the windrow quality improvement is immediate. Inspect all tines by sighting along the rake wheel after any significant rock impact \u2014 a single rock can bend multiple adjacent tines.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
      \"foragebaler.com<\/p>\n

      Get Rake and Baler Specifications Matched to Your Operation<\/h3>\n

      Tell us your primary crop, target market, mower cut width, and baler pickup width. We confirm the rake working width and tine type that produces windrows matched to your baler’s pickup for maximum collection efficiency and minimum leaf loss.<\/p>\n

      Get Rake Specifications<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

      Redattore: Cxm<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Hay Field Operations Guide Hay Raking Techniques: Windrow Width, Speed, and Moisture Targets Raking is the most underestimated quality event in the hay making process. Done correctly at the right moisture with the right rake speed, it is a transparent step that simply consolidates the crop without quality loss. Done incorrectly \u2014 too dry, too […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-forage-baler"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=860"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":864,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860\/revisions\/864"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}