Raking is one of the most important — and most destructive — steps in haymaking. While raking helps create uniform windrows, every pass risks leaf loss, shattering, contamination, and moisture trapping. Many farmers wonder: Is raking twice too much?

The short answer: It depends on crop type, moisture, timing, and rake design.
Here’s what you need to know to protect hay quality.

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⭐ 1. Why Raking Causes Quality Loss

Every time hay is raked, two things happen:

✔️ 1. Leaves break off

Leaves contain 70–90% of the protein in hay — especially in alfalfa and clover.

✔️ 2. Stems get bruised

This reduces color, increases drying time, and lowers visual quality.

Raking at the wrong time can cause 10–25% leaf loss in a single pass.

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⭐ 2. Is Raking Twice Too Much?

In most cases: YES — if done at the wrong moisture.

But raking twice can be perfectly safe if done correctly.

✔️ Safe situations for raking twice:

• Hay is still soft and flexible
• Early morning dew is present
• Late-day humidity has risen
• Crop is still above 30% moisture during conditioning phases

❌ Dangerous situations for raking twice:

• Midday raking under hot, dry sun
• Raking brittle alfalfa or clover
• Raking once the hay is below safe baling moisture
• Raking late in the drying cycle

The drier the crop, the more damage each pass does.

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⭐ 3. Crop Type Matters

🌱 Grass Hay

• Can tolerate more handling
• Leaf loss is minimal
• Raking twice rarely causes major nutrition loss

🍀 Alfalfa & Clover

• Extremely fragile when dry
• Raking twice causes massive leaf shatter
• Should be raked ONCE, and only when leaves are soft

For legumes, timing is everything.

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⭐ 4. Best Moisture Levels for Raking

To avoid leaf loss:

Crop Type	Ideal Raking Moisture
Grass Hay	30–40%
Alfalfa & Clover	35–50% (with dew preferred)

If stems snap when bent → too dry to rake.

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⭐ 5. How Rake Type Affects Quality

Wheel Rakes

• Fast, efficient, cheap
• Hardest on leaves
• Increase soil contamination
• Worst choice for delicate hay when dry

Rotary Rakes (BEST)

• Clean, gentle lifting
• Minimal leaf loss
• Ideal for premium horse hay

Belt / Merger Rakes

• Very gentle
• Almost no leaf shatter
• Expensive, used mostly in dairy operations

Parallel Bar Rakes

• Somewhere in the middle
• Good control, moderate leaf loss

Using the right rake can save thousands in nutrients per acre.

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⭐ 6. When Raking Twice Is Actually Beneficial

There are times when raking twice leads to BETTER hay:

✔️ When the windrow is too narrow (needs fluffing)

✔️ When tedding has clumped sections

✔️ When a storm is coming and you need uniform drying

✔️ When merging two small windrows into one for baling

The key is to keep moisture high enough to avoid breakage.

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⭐ 7. How Raking Affects Final Hay Quality

Excessive raking can:

• Reduce protein
• Cause major leaf loss
• Increase bale dustiness
• Result in uneven flakes
• Add soil or stones to the hay
• Lower RFV / RFQ test results
• Reduce premium market value

Hay that is handled too much loses its softness and leafiness — two things buyers pay extra for.

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⭐ 8. Best Practices to Prevent Leaf Loss During Raking

• Rake early morning or late afternoon
• Use rotary rakes for premium hay
• Keep PTO/RPM low and gentle
• Don’t rake below safe moisture
• Minimize total passes
• Lift rake teeth slightly to avoid the ground
• Merge windrows carefully and slowly

Less handling always means better hay.

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⭐ Final Thoughts

Raking twice is not automatically “too much” — but raking at the wrong time absolutely is. With proper moisture, timing, and equipment, you can rake once or twice without sacrificing quality.

Producers like PremiumHaySupply.com rely on smart handling practices to ensure softness, color, and leaf retention in every bale.