Haying small fields with a small tractor

[5030]

Always keep in mind that square bailers aren't power intensive, they have built in flywheels that keep the power constant with little input power (pto) from the tractor. Only issue you'll have is turning. the bailer will throw you around as the plunger cycles.

Round bailers are a different animal however.

 

[sandman2234]

I saw an interesting setup on youtube where they baled hay with two horses. Course they pulled a gas engine on a trailer, turning the baler, so in reality it isn't just 2 horsepower.
Didn't people use to bale hay with an Allis Chalmers B/C/CA?
David from jax

 

[big bubba]

question back to OP's initial post: in strictly economic terms, are you thinking your hay equipment investment in this project will be saving you money say within a 5 yr plan?

or are you looking for justification merely to acquire more equipment for a "hobby"? it's an important distinction. your initial post states you will be "saving"...please explain how on that count. good luck on the project, regards

 

[mwayne]

Here are a couple of videos that might help you make decisions:

 

[5030]

I saw an interesting setup on youtube where they baled hay with two horses. Course they pulled a gas engine on a trailer, turning the baler, so in reality it isn't just 2 horsepower.
Didn't people use to bale hay with an Allis Chalmers B/C/CA?
David from jax

Called a forecart and is real common with the Amish community

 

[mo1]

I'd add that either the best or the worst times of your marriage can come true with this. Either she'll be driving the tractor, YOU will be stacking the crunchy bales, and stashing them up in the loft and the dirtiest you have ever been. Or maybe the other way around. But you driving when baling ain't gunna work. And who's picking them up onto a cart, or a wagon, or the roof of your car ? If she's in the mow staking bales off the elevator, well, sweaty is sexy !

You can bale with one person if you use a thrower, bale basket, or accumulator. You can also do it with one person if you drop them and then come back with a stacker, stack wagon, or accumulator grapple. Using your wife to stack bales is almost certainly going to be a very poor idea unless the job is something like knocking bales off of a wagon for you to pick up and stack.

 

[zzvyb6]

Current equipment costs here n mid Michigan for getting your own hay produced.
Working JD 14T or 24T baler: $1500 to 2000.
Bar rake $600 - 1500
NH 472/474 or 479 haybine: $1500 - 2000.

"WE want to produce our own hay..." Sure glad I learned to read in first grade and made it thru the first time.

Current auction horse hay prices in my area: $5.00 - 13.50 as of last Saturday.

My baler runs 4 bales per minute, no shortage of customers. Do the math for the payoff. As a 1099 form, it's almost free hay after 2 years.

My Timex watch reports the exact same time as my neighbor's Rolex. Who buys $30k in hay equipment to feed a few horses ? Its the availability of fields with hay to harvest, an existing capable tractor, and sisu that gets the job done. Plus, if it's just too much to do 1 handed while performing your social networking multi-tasking, the machinery holds it's value and probably will appreciate.

 

[5030]

Who buys $30k in hay equipment to feed a few horses ?

Try 150 grand in equipment and no horses or stock at all and 150 is conservative. Of course everything I make is sold ahead of time. No hay in the barn for years now. Never will be either.

 

[5030]

My Timex watch reports the exact same time as my neighbor's Rolex.

I have both and yes the Timex tells the same time but the Rolex I have maintains it's value or even appreciates. The Timex on the other hand, once you buy it, becomes worthless.

 

[powerscol]

Its been a while so I thought I would update. I switched form the sickle mower to a PZ170 drum mower. Cuts better in the wind and does some conditioning. It does take longer as it is not as wide. I also now have a Kabota rotary rake - what an upgrade from the side roller. However I am now done with horses, so this is probably my last hay year and I will just flail the pastures or let someone else cut it. I am getting old and the fun is mostly gone.

So tips to look into . Depending on your state set up a personal LLC. In CO its easy (25$) I think with $10 year renewal. Then file a SCH F federal tax form and deprecate all of your equipment. You also get to deduct you fuel, parts, repairs, chemicals, fertilizer, seeds, etc. I used H&R tax software to set it up with a bit of help from thier help line. Once doe it easy as the tax software tracks things from year to year. You will find it is a huge help come tax time with the deductions. Basically I save enough in taxes to pay for the equipment the year I bought it. This is all above board and legal - Only once did I have to send the Feds/State additional information (receipts for major tractor repairs) I guess they the call that a mail audit. Once sent everything was fine . I only did between 250 and 500 bales (weed free custom grass horse hay) a year too, sometimes less. The year I got the question was a drought year where I maybe sold 50 bales, but the tractor needed a new fuel injection rack - ending with a huge farm loss on the tax form.

BTW - having an LLC limits (protects) your personal other property in case something goes wrong - at least in CO Be sure to consult with a legal person on this depending on where you live

Something to look into depending on your situation.