Cut your hay early in the day, right after the dew has dried if possible. This allows you to use the remainder of the day to begin the drying process.
Use a conditioning mower. Using a conditioner on the mowing implement allows the hay crop to dry 15 to 25 percent faster.
Use the right conditioner for your type of hay. For fine-stemmed grass hay, use an impeller conditioner. For thick-stemmed hay, a roller-crimper conditioner works best. Don't use an impeller conditioner on alfalfa or you'll lose another 7 percent of your leaves during harvest.
Spread your hay swath widely when you harvest. This allows the sun's rays to reach more of the hay faster and speeds up the drying process by heating up the plants and seeds. With alfalfa, however, it's best to cut a narrow swath, then spread the crop with a tedder later. Any wheel traffic over the alfalfa will increase the amount of leaves lost.