How to Use a Mower Conditioner

These two hay implements have some similar components. Both are constructed with cutterbars to cut the hay. The key difference is the mower conditioner does two jobs in one by cutting the hay and conditioning it. So, how does it work? When the hay is cut, it is then run through rollers in a conditioning system that cracks the stalks and then pushes it back on the field. This process of hay conditioning can be beneficial to your crop by protecting it from bad weather, increasing moisture evaporation, and giving it a faster drying time.

Now that you have decided on a mower conditioner as your cutting tool, let’s get you set up. First, you will have to attach it. You will want to grab your Operator’s Manual to ensure you are setting it up correctly according to your hitch system. The top of your drawbar should be 13-20 inches off the ground. Also, the distance from the top of the drawbar to the tractor’s PTO shaft centerline is 6-12 inches. 

When you are all done getting attached and setting up your mower conditioner you can finally get to what you came for, cutting the hay. When you’re in the field you will want to make sure the MoCo is operating off-center from the tractor. Doing this ensures the tractor goes over cut hay while the MoCo only goes over uncut hay. Begin by running the tractor along the outermost edge of the hay field. Then, move the MoCo to the opposite side of the tractor, on the outside edge of the field, and begin the next pass with the MoCo cutting back swath. This way, the operator continues working in a pattern that becomes smaller and smaller with each completed pass until the field is cut, the tractor doesn’t run on top of uncut hay, and all the cut hay will lay in the same direction. After cutting your first few yards of hay, hop out the tractor to make sure it is giving your desired results.