{"id":408,"date":"2026-04-21T03:22:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T03:22:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/balerhay.com\/?p=408"},"modified":"2026-04-21T03:23:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T03:23:01","slug":"windrow-evaluation-baling-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/balerhay.com\/fr\/application\/windrow-evaluation-baling-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"How to evaluate a windrow before baling? 6-step checklist for hay quality success"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Reading the Windrow: How to Evaluate Hay Before Baling<\/h2>\n

By the time hay sits in the windrow waiting for the baler, the crop has been cut, tedded, and raked. The quality decisions are mostly made. But there’s still one critical call left: is the windrow ready to bale right now, or does it need more time? Reading this moment correctly separates producers who consistently bale top-grade hay from those who consistently end up with mixed results. Windrow evaluation for baling<\/strong> \u2014 the practice of assessing crop condition before pulling the PTO lever \u2014 is the last quality control step, and it deserves more respect than most operators give it.<\/p>\n

This guide walks through the six-step evaluation sequence experienced producers use before baling \u2014 what to look for, what to measure, and what each observation tells you.<\/p>\n

Step 1: Check Moisture \u2014 The Gatekeeper Variable<\/h2>\n
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Step 01<\/p>\n

Moisture determines everything. If moisture isn’t right, no other variable matters \u2014 the bale will either mold (too wet) or shatter leaves catastrophically (too dry). Target: 16\u201318% for small square bales, 14\u201316% for large round bales, 12\u201314% for large square bales.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

How to check: A probe moisture tester inserted into the windrow at 10\u201315 spots gives an average reading. Spot-check in sunny and shaded areas \u2014 moisture varies across windrows by 3\u20135 percentage points. A windrow moisture test<\/strong> taken only at the edge of the windrow will read low; take samples from the center where the hay is denser and moisture tends to be higher.<\/p>\n

If readings are 18\u201320%: hold for 1\u20132 hours and retest. If 20\u201325%: hold for 4\u20136 hours or consider tedding if drying is slow. If above 25%: bale only if conditioning with preservative is planned, otherwise wait a full day.<\/p>\n

Step 2: Check the Stem-Test<\/h2>\n
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Step 02<\/p>\n

The stem-twist test is the old-school moisture check that still works. Grab a small handful of hay, twist the stems. Properly-dried hay crackles but doesn’t crumble; wet hay bends without breaking; over-dry hay shatters into fragments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The twist test works because stem water content drops last during drying \u2014 leaves dry first, stems dry slower. A properly-dried windrow has dry leaves (indicated by rustling sound when handled) but slightly pliable stems (indicated by the stem-twist crackle rather than hard snap). When both leaves and stems are completely brittle, the crop is over-dry and leaf loss during baling will be excessive.<\/p>\n

Step 3: Check Windrow Shape and Uniformity<\/h2>\n
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Step 03<\/p>\n

Walk the length of 2\u20133 windrows and visually assess uniformity. Ideal windrow: consistent width end-to-end, consistent height end-to-end, no bunches, no thin spots.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Why windrow shape baling<\/strong> matters: the baler is a constant-volume machine. A windrow that alternates thick and thin forces the baler to alternate between overfeeding (chamber jams) and underfeeding (soft bales). The result is poor bale consistency even with a properly-operated machine.<\/p>\n

What to do if windrows aren’t uniform: the rake needs re-setting. Check rake pitch, ground pressure, and tine condition. For many operations, a simple mid-season adjustment fixes windrow quality problems that have been accepted as normal for years.<\/p>\n

Step 4: Check Windrow Width vs Pickup Width<\/h2>\n
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Step 04<\/p>\n

Proper windrow size<\/strong> means windrow width 10\u201315% narrower than the baler pickup width. Wider windrows lose hay at edges; narrower windrows waste pickup capacity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Quick check: measure windrow width with a tape or by pacing. For a 1.65 m pickup, target windrow width 1.35\u20131.45 m. Adjust on subsequent cuts if windrow is too wide (reduce rake offset or swath the crop with narrower setting) or too narrow (increase rake coverage or use double-raking).<\/p>\n

Getting this right depends on rake selection as much as adjustment. Some crops mat and form narrow windrows despite aggressive raking; others spread and form wide windrows despite gentle handling. Our hay rake series<\/a> covers wheel rakes, rotary rakes, and belt rakes \u2014 each designed for different crop conditions and target windrow geometries.<\/p>\n

Step 5: Check Windrow Density<\/h2>\n
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Step 05<\/p>\n

Density is how much hay per linear meter of windrow. Feed the baler too light and bales come out soft-core; too heavy and the baler chokes. Target: match the baler’s designed intake rate.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Rule of thumb for 4×5 round balers: windrow should produce a tight, fully-formed bale in 90\u2013120 seconds of baler operation at 8\u201312 km\/h forward speed. Faster than that means too much hay density; slower means not enough. Adjust either ground speed (easy) or windrow density via raking patterns (harder, requires re-raking).<\/p>\n

Step 6: Final Walk-Through \u2014 Foreign Objects and Problem Spots<\/h2>\n
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Step 06<\/p>\n

Before starting the baler, walk 100\u2013200 meters of windrow looking for rocks, tree branches, baler twine from previous year, animal carcasses, or other foreign objects. These can destroy the baler chamber or contaminate the bale.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Foreign objects to watch for:<\/p>\n