Blog

At Tractor Tools Direct, our Ibex Belt Rake has quickly become one of our top-selling products. Interestingly, it's also one that many customers haven’t heard of—until they find it on our website. So in this month’s blog, we’re diving into the question: What is a belt rake, and why is it such a great choice for small farms? What Is a Belt Rake? While belt rakes have been widely used in Europe for years, they’re gaining popularity here in the U.S.— …

Small-farm operators who are new to hay production are often unsure of the differences between tedding and raking when it comes to baling hay. They confuse the two processes thinking they are one and the same and/or that the same implements can be used to perform both tasks. Let’s discuss this here. Tedding is the act of fluffing and spreading cut forage to increase air and sun exposure and decrease drying time. Tedding is typically done after the hay is mowed and before it is raked into …

After more than a decade of helping small-farm operators meet their haying needs, Tractor Tools Direct has narrowed down its inventory to two types of hay rakes–wheel rakes and belt rakes. There are several practical reasons for this including these machines’: Ease of use Ease of maintenance and repair Availability of replacement parts Ability to be sized to specific farm/tractor requirements Affordability Read on to determine which of these rakes best meets the needs of your smal …

April’s blog discussed the first step of the baling process--mowing. This month’s blog will give tips for the next step--tedding. What is a tedder? A tedder is an implement that is used to fluff and spread hay to decrease drying time. Tedding is typically done after the hay is mowed and before it is raked into windrows for baling. Many hay mowers, unless they have a built-in conditioning system like our Ibex TS51C and TM67C drum mowers, tend to windrow the cut crop into a tight pile …

Farmers who want to make the jump to baling their own hay often ask about the differences between tedders and rakes. They also often ask if they can get by with one or the other. In this blog we will discuss the differences between these two implements and how to determine if both are necessary for your small-farm operation. However, before deciding which implement is right for you, it is first necessary to understand the workings of the hay mower that cuts the crop that is to be raked or tedde …