Hay equipment

[Fritz Maurer]

Making grass hay is in your favor in terms of speedy drying.
I think the problem is less with the equipment and more with the full time job. You're going to have to arrange for a day or two off on Baling Day ...this is the slowest part of the operation; the cutting and raking are a little more flexible as to working around your job.
If you're planning to dedicate only the weekend for haying, theres a greater chance that you're going to make washed hay or in some cases lose it entirely.

One piece of equipment I would recommend is a rotary mower... this way you can mulch down the windrows if they become a total loss. This way you can make successive cuttings without the windrows being in the way, and return the potassium to the soil.

 

[m16ty]

I started out with a 24T baler, 55 NH rake and a NH 461 Haybine. Borrowed mom’s tractor and barn. She kept horses so there was the customer. I quickly learned about hay quality requirements and equipment breakdowns. Inexpensive equipment is worn out and more expensive equipment is a long term investment and likely out of reach. You will need a crash course in mechanical repairs, welding, where to buy parts and most of all preventive maintenance. I used the proceeds to buy more and better equipment. So essentially I was working to work. You will also give up the nicest weather days of the year to work and family members will not choose to. But all this is what I wanted to do. At this point here’s where I am at: two 336 balers that I go over constantly and run like new. A NI discbine, same thing. 4 star Tedder, wagons, tractors of appropriate size and a pole barn to put the kicker wagons in quickly. My goal is to bale perfect hay every time. My other goals are minimize time at every step, zero breakdowns. Good luck with all.

Since I was old enough to remember, spring time was hay time. If you don’t have hay down and your neighbor does, you go over and help him, it’s just what you do when the hay and weather is ready. I’m 50 years old now and not much has changed. I remember one year we didn’t put up any hay because we had sold down the herd and had plenty of hay left over from the year before, it felt odd to not be putting up hay in the spring.

We sometimes get a second cutting, but we try to get all the hay we need in the spring and just pasture the hay ground after the grass comes back after the first cutting. About half the time around here it will turn off dry around mid July and a second cutting will be thin and not that great of quality.

 

[used2bmike]

The only reason I want to do square bales is because the barn on the property is setup with a hay loft and i wouldn’t be able to get round bales up to it without doing some modifications to the barn. I used to do hay with my grandpa until he got to old and sick to do it and sold his property so I have an idea of what I’m doing but I’m no expert just wanted peoples opinions on what equipment they like or don’t like. Again I’m not trying to make money off of it and want to get the hay dry as quick as possible because I work a full time job. I appreciate everyone’s input and advice.

OK. Good starting point. I was in the same boat for years. Fortunately I was working for a company that gave us a lot of flexibility regarding vacation time. Made things somewhat easier. Equipment wise I would try to stay with stuff I'm familiar with solely because of the familiarity would make things a little easier. I square baled everything for the first 15 years or so. Just started with the round baler last year. Are you going to feed the hay to your own livestock or plan on selling it? Again, this has to be taken into account as this will have an impact on your choice. If you have the labor available I would go square bales in either case. Easier to control feed intake and depending on location probably easier to sell as well.

 

[Keith Molden]

Have you thought about doing that hay with a round baler? With the amount of free time you have It might ba a good option for your operation. YOu wouldn't need any help picking the hay up and if you have too leave it in the field till you can get it. Store it inside if you can but a lot of folks store it outside and sell it from there. You would need, however a loader for your tractor which you might not have. Jut a thought that you miight want to think about.

 

[ss55]

To answer everyone’s questions I work a full time job so I need it dry as quick as possible, not really trying to make money off of it might sell some but plan on getting cattle eventually. I don’t have any help right now besides my 9 year old son. I’m sure a buddy would help if I asked him to but can’t count on it. And it is all grass hay.

Still lacking critical information.

Budget? There is 60 years of equipment in all kinds of condition to choose from.

Not looking at making money but how much are you willing to lose?

Since you’re not looking at making money one can only assume you are only “making hay” meaning you have no interest in maintaining your fields? That would put you in the 70-90 bales per acre on a good year pending how good your ground is now.

Work full time.

Rent your field until you have a good idea on the direction you want to go. You’ll be money ahead

2X on rent out the field until the summer before you are ready to jump in and buy some cattle. Renting out for a share of the hay crop will let you build up some hay reserves.

Big round bales can be feed to cattle easier than feeding small square bales. Feeder cattle will need to be fed grain as well as hay to get to market weight in less than a year.

Raising cattle has its own risks and learning curve as does producing hay. Like any hobby, it is best to figure you will get no return on your labor (work for zero $) and you will be very very lucky to get anywhere close to breaking even on purchased items, a 50 percent loss might be more realistic.

I am guessing the hay field is not suitable for row crops?

Study and understand your local markets for hay, feeder calves, fat cattle, grain and local butcher shops to figure out where to invest you time and capital. Hay in big round bales often sells for 20 to 25 percent to cost per ton of hay in small bales.

 

[Jim.ME]

Have you thought about doing that hay with a round baler? With the amount of free time you have It might ba a good option for your operation. YOu wouldn't need any help picking the hay up and if you have too leave it in the field till you can get it. Store it inside if you can but a lot of folks store it outside and sell it from there. You would need, however a loader for your tractor which you might not have. Jut a thought that you miight want to think about.

Check out post #39 he made.

 

[Wdj]

If you’re looking for a cheap baler and like to tinker, wait for the first week of haying weather. Put a $100 bill in your pocket and go for a drive on the backroads. Soon you will see a field of hay with a baler surrounded by broken bales. Show the red faced fellow the $100 bill and offer to remove it immediately. If he’s in a fetal position and sucking his thumb try $50. He might be me…

 

[Briar Hill Brittanys]

I have a John Deere 3020 gas and I’m looking at starting to make hay on my 10 acres. I’m in northwest IL, What would you recommend I get for equipment? Going to do small square bales.

I wanted to do about the same thing on our 10 acres. Tractor was a 1020, bought a #9 W mower, 256 rake, and a working and non-working 24t. I bale it by myself, take what I need, then sell the rest twice a year to a lady my wife works with. She has sons and family help her get it off the field. Some years I've been able to bale off other local folks for a little more walking around money. The equipment is old, but maintained and operable with minimal breakdowns. The mower, rake, and baler have WAY more than returned the initial cash outlay, they don't owe me a dime. Hope this helps.

 

[ss55]

Check out post #39 he made.

Just like upright silos, many of those old hay lofts stopped being used 30 to 50 years ago when they no longer fit the operation. Just because he has a hay loft does not mean it is his best option or his only option.

 

[Jim.ME]

Just like upright silos, many of those old hay lofts stopped being used 30 to 50 years ago when they no longer fit the operation. Just because he has a hay loft does not mean it is his best option or his only option.

I don't disagree there may be other options. Keith asked if Barenz125 had thought about round bales. I referred him to post 39 as he must have missed that post which indicated Barenz125 had thought about it and his current reasoning for doing squares.

 

[jwal10]

I started with a Farmall B, #5 JD mower, IHC #27 baler with a 1 cyl Wisconsin motor and a $300 farmhand wheel rake. Ran it until 1976 and bought a used 454 IHC, new 990 haybine and 430 all twine baler. Same rake. Baled 1000 ton of grass and grass and clover, red clover, lotus, sudan and oat hay. Also baled lotus and red clover after the seed crop and grass seed straw, wheat and oat straw. Grass and Sudan was irrigated for 3-4 cuttings. Our sheep and cattle barns were set up for easy feeding, hay in the middle, feed bunk on outer wall with a 12' lean-to on 3 sides. 100 ewes to a barn. 25 cows to each. As the hay was fed out, made room for maternity pens....James

 

[gf in S.IL]

You mentioned the desire to get the hay dry efficiently. Hay ran through a conditioner will dry faster. Hay that is tedded will dry faster. m16ty gave a good time frame for making hay. Where I live, humidity is usually a problem. While not common, a bale with too much moisture can spontaneously combust.

When hunting for equipment, if you find a mower-conditioner with rubber coated rollers (JD, New Holland, some Hesston) check for cracking or missing chunks of the rubber. To me, deteriorating rollers would be a deal killer. I suggest avoiding less common brands.

Plan to be your own mechanic. Today's dealers have customers with single machines costing $ six figures. Your $1500.00 baler will not be a priority for them. This also assuming they have a technician that knows anything about a hay baler. No matter what brand or model baler you get, order a service manual.

Plan on doing most of the work yourself. You will hear all sorts of stories about how young a farmer was when he started driving a tractor. The mower and baler are both capable of hurting a person. If he is comfortable with the 3020, your son could maybe start out tedding or raking.

 

[Crookedcreekjerseys]

I have a John Deere 3020 gas and I’m looking at starting to make hay on my 10 acres. I’m in northwest IL, What would you recommend I get for equipment? Going to do small square bales.

New holland 273 and 310 are pretty hard to beat for balers if you can find one in good shape. Pequea style tedders are probably the best for alfalfa if you want to retain the most leafage. There’s a lot of good haybines out there but a 1219 is a pretty quality machine and would match your tractor. New holland 256 side deliveries are a pretty solid rake but in later cuttings an 8 wheel V rake sure doesn’t miss anything. I’ve had a lot of wagon gears but the JD1065 and anything EZ trail are by far the best. I’d stay away from sickle bar’s and crimpers.

 

[olddavid]

Have you thought about doing that hay with a round baler? With the amount of free time you have It might ba a good option for your operation. YOu wouldn't need any help picking the hay up and if you have too leave it in the field till you can get it. Store it inside if you can but a lot of folks store it outside and sell it from there. You would need, however a loader for your tractor which you might not have. Jut a thought that you miight want to think about.

Of course, that's the thing today but requires more expensive equipment. The round baler itself, a bigger tractor to run it and haul the bales and the cattle will waste more of it than with small square bales. The downside with the smaller bales, you need to feed every day. On the other hand, 10 acres won't feed many cows over a winter so it might not be that big of a job.

 

[showcrop]

I started nearly 40 years ago with cheap old equipment on only about five acres. Over a few years I built up to almost 100 and upgraded equipment to bigger newer faster. I have cut back a lot now. As others have posted with your limited time fast dry down is important. I have been self employed but even so customers can sometimes make very strong demands on your schedule. To enhance flexibility I did most of my mowing in the evening. The hay was starting to dry down when the first rays of sun hit it at 6:30 AM.

 

[deere4040]

And knowing that you work dont be afraid to do things out of the norm. I recently went back to work and will tedd in the middle of the night if needed be. Haven’t done it yet but I have no problem being different if need be.

 

[Wdj]

Kinda my story too. I explain to customers that I may not be able too do things perfectly and I don’t do Sundays. They don’t have to buy the hay if they don’t like it. Over the years I’ve lost very little hay. Having to have a job sure messes up your life.