(Rural Roots Canada) – Swathers, balers, and hay rakes are either out in the field or getting prepped in the farmyard as producers deal with the ‘first cut’ of the 2025 growing season.

The amount of time producers spend on haymaking at this time of year can vary, depending on many factors. As all farmers know, the weather is the biggest variable. A light shower can set back baling multiple days, requiring the hay to be lifted or turned, which costs both time and money.

David Cooper, Product Specialist – Precision Farming and Technology at Kubota Canada, says what is within your control is making sure you lay out a plan that takes the weather forecast into account and that the equipment is in tip-top shape when it rolls out into the field.

“Obviously, with hay, weather is the number one concern. So you want to match your goals with hay production to the weather forecast.”

Cooper says preseason maintenance can mitigate breakdowns and downtime, so you can make hay while the sun is shining. “It’s always a good idea to get it out of the shed, get things turning over, going through that operator manual and making sure everything’s serviced properly,” Cooper says.

He adds that having a diverse line-up of tools can help mitigate those risks, including mowers, hay binds, rakes and bale wrappers, which can help protect the quality of the hay if the weather goes sideways before you can get it brought in from the field.

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Looking ahead to next year

While producers are making rounds in the field, it’s not a bad idea to survey the overall state of the crop and ask if certain parts of the field did not produce as well as other areas.

While there may be several reasons for this, one possible reason is the amount of nutrients available to the crop. This can be solved with a simple soil test and then applying the appropriate products in the field.

Cooper says keeping a sharp eye on this will help improve the yield and quality of the crop.

Precision Tools

Precision tools are not just the future of agriculture; they’re the foundation of how food is produced today. As technology evolves, farmers are increasingly turning to data-driven solutions that help them farm smarter, reduce input costs, and increase yields.

This is why Kubota Canada is investing heavily in the advancement and deployment of precision agriculture technologies.

While farmers are out in the fields baling hay and managing crops, Kubota is in the field too, testing and refining its precision ag tools at demonstration sites like Discovery Farm in Woodstock, Ontario and the company’s cold weather testing facility in Timmins, Ontario, launched in 2013. These real-world trials help ensure that Kubota’s equipment delivers practical, reliable solutions tailored to the unique demands of Canadian producers.

This focus on innovation comes as Kubota Canada marks a significant milestone: 50 years of operations in the country. Since its launch in 1975, the company has grown from selling compact tractors to offering a full line of agricultural, construction, and turf equipment.

“We are exceptionally proud of our half century of continued growth in Canada,” said Yannick Montagano, President of Kubota Canada. “When we launched in Canada 50 years ago, our goal was to sell compact agricultural tractors to Canadians. Since then, we have significantly expanded our award-winning product line-up to meet the evolving needs of a broad range of markets and individuals.”