Best Hay Method

[Rara Avis]

Using the large square bales probably won't be the answer for us.
The Bale Bandit looked cool but judging by the break downs and our location, its not practical.

We are looking to get a gooseneck. My Dad really wants to get a International MXT (somehow) and put a gooseneck on that for the horse trailer and a flat bed. Truck strap the hay down, go and unload. Still we're touching the hay will need people to stack it.

An "accumulator" would help a little. It would help us stack trucks easier because we won't have to follow around the bale line, just go to the deposits.

The problem with the NH Stacker is making the new barn and then buying the stacker on top of that.

Here's what we have as equipment, maybe it will help you visualize the size:
1 5520 John Deere (Cab)
1 4320 John Deere (E-Hydro, No Cab)
1 1600 Oliver (No ROPS, temporarily out of commission)

256 Rolabar NH Rake
328 JD Baler
525 John Deere Rotary Mower (MoCo)

1 Hay Wagon that fits 240 stacked bales.
1 Hay Wagon that dog tracks down the road and has one flat tire as of now, can't fit as many.
(Both have side walls, I guess they're "kicker" wagons).

We have a total of three barns, one you can drive into with a truck and unload, its tight though. The other 2 barns you gotta throw up to.
Then we have a mulch hay barn, a barn with nothing but the hay you can't feed. We sell that for contractors and construction.

Maybe this will help to show the scale of our farm. We need a lot with little.

FYI: One of your equipment choke points is your Baler...the 328 has only 80 strokes/minute...whereas the 348 has 93 strokes per minute...over 30,000 bales that difference will add up...

 

[Grrrr]

Hey All,

Slowsuki Do you live where there is nothing but rain or lots of rain and snow mixed?

Otherwise why can't you pile hay out and cover it? Especially if the bottom layer is on pallets or is low value straw.

Have you done the economic analysis of equipment wear and tear, operator time and fuel versus some loss?

Just curious. -Ed-

We use to pile hay outside, or more so straw, but you get a lot of wastage. It is also a PITA with tarps blowing off in the wind when it is really wet

It is also a hassle to get bales out of the stack once they are in there because you have to take the tarp off and take them off the top and then sheet it all over again.

I think it is better to just get it all home and dry in a barn