What is the history of hay?
History of Hay Timothy grass and clover, both plants native to Europe, were the most common plants used for hay in the early 20th century. Alfalfa quickly replaced timothy and clover after it was introduced in Iowa at the end of the 19th century. Alfalfa became the most common plant for hay.
How was hay invented?
Much hay was originally cut by scythe by teams of workers, dried in the field and gathered loose on wagons. Later, haying would be done by horse-drawn implements such as mowers. With the invention of agricultural machinery such as the tractor and the baler, most hay production became mechanized by the 1930s.
When was the hay baler invented?
Nebraskan Ummo F. Leubben invented the first modern baler in 1903 and patented it in 1910. Leubben’s machine gathered the hay, rolled it into a large round bale, tied it and ejected it from the machine.
Why was the hay baler invented?
Farmers were saved from the backbreaking chore of slinging hay bales in the 1960s, when Iowa State agricultural engineering professor Wesley Buchele and a group of student researchers invented a baler that produced large, round bales that could be moved by tractor.
Can you make hay out of any grass?
Good hay comes from good grass, and good grass comes from good soil. If the area holds too much moisture, the right sort of grass can also not grow. Cutting. The first step is to find a source of grass to cut.
How did they cut hay in the old days?
It’s easy to understand why making hay was one of the most dreaded chores on the farm in the early 1700s. It had to be hand-cut with a sickle or scythe and hand-raked with a wooden rake or fork. On a good day, a farmer could harvest 1 acre of hay.
What happens if hay gets rained on?
If rained-on hay is not again dried fully, mold and mycotoxin growth can occur which can put livestock health at risk. Furthermore, baled wet hay can combust due to the temperature increase caused by microbial growth – putting a producer at risk of barn fire.
How long can you keep a bale of hay?
Hay can typically be stored outdoors and uncovered for up to three months, with a maximum of six months. Hay bales typically have a density of about 160–190kg/m3, but high density bales can be up to about 240–280kg/m3. Rectangular bales have higher bulk density than round bales.