i'm not too sure about those tedder/rake combos i hear good things and bad things. you don't necessarily need a tedder but they help w/ the dry down process, but remember that if used too much they can knock off all the good leaves and nutritous part of the grasses. if i was just starting out like yourself i would def. take it slow cut a little at a time say if you had a 10ac field cut about 1/4 of it maybe say 6 swaths around. start by cutting in a clock wise direction driving on what would be the outside swath or row then cut your way inward towards the center of the field. after you've gone around and cut as much as you planned go back and cut the outside row that you drove over previously in a counter clock wise direction, take it slow on the outside row as most mowers unless you have a center piviot don't really like to cut in the counter clock wise direction. then let it dry out for about 2-3 days depending on conditions, if you don't have a tedder i would try to set the swath pattern ,on the mower if it can be done, to its fullest meaning when you cut and it goes through the conditioner it spits the swath out wide instead of a narrow tight swath, that will aid in your dry down. if you have a tedder i would recommend using it maybe 1 time per day usually after any dew has lifted say early afternoon. as for harvesting or baling make sure it dried to a good moisture content, i read in a farming book about hay production that when baled hay should look like the color of a nice crisp dollar bill in your pocket and it should smell similar to the day it was cut. i personally like to walk the field b4 raking/baling and pick up my hay and smell it and get a good feel of it to make sure its dried well. don't worry if you get a few heavy or damp feeling bales as this will happen from time to time esp on the outside windrow more so when it may be shaded by trees. as for raking, depending on your rake i have a nh55 so i will explain what i do, i rake the 1st time around pushing the hay towards the inside of the field when i get back to my starting point i turn around and go the opposite way pushing hay outside, and from then on keep going the same way until completed. if its windy when raking and then baling be prepared to have some blown windrows this makes baling a bit tough. as for baling set your initial bale tension and start on the 2n'd row in going clockwise after you tie a few bales say 2-3 stop and give them a check for tightness and weight, i personally like to keep them about 40-45 lbs on my jd 24t some other people i work for run them a bit larger depends on personal preference, smaller is easier to carry when feeding animals and picking up off the field if you don't have a wagon direct loading from the baler. everyone and every geographic area of our country has their own way of doing hay, so just find a niche that suits you well and go from there. good luck jim
