Did a little hay last week ...

[pacerron]

LTF
I think you said you have had experience helping to make hay.
If there is someone near the boarding stable where you have your hay planted
that you see is making hay you might get an in by talking to him and letting him know you could help for his baling of your hay.
You have a tractor that you use already.
To be truthful most guys really don't enjoy the cutting and raking part of hay making too much. Since you are just making grass hay you don't need anything fancy to cut and crimp it. There might be an old sickle bar mower setting around that you could buy pretty cheap to cut the hay and old rakes are cheap.
The balers are the expensive part that you might not want to get into for 10 acres of hay.
You could work a deal where you help the neighbor rake some of his hay, probably with his rake, so you know how he likes it raked for his baler.
Then pray hard for good weather, cut yours, rake it, and have him set up to come over with his baler and bale it. It won't take long to just bale 10 acres and leave.
Then you can haul his share over to his place and put yours in your barn.
He might even let you use a spare cutter and rake if you honestly help him first.
So you get the fun of making your own hay with the only expense of your time to help him a little first.
It is usually easier to get favors and help from others if you help them first
and show them your trustworthy. Farm folks especially like that trait.

 

[Western]

I would add to the great answers that have been already posted. Talk with your local feed/fertilizer store or co-op, they usually know who in your area are the major players for hay bailing. You never know what kind of deal you'll be able to get. Like BlueRiver said, if you see someone cutting close to your place, that would be the best bet. Many cutters I have known, didn't mind stopping by a small place if it was between point A&B. The better the hay, the better the odds.

If you do get a sickle cutter, make sure you get a little instruction on how to use it, simple to operate, but can be dangerous if used careless, (bystanders/ roaming pets. I had a Blue Heeler that loved running behind the cutter to catch rats and rabbits.)

You also may be able to find a good used square baler much cheaper than a round baler.

 

[blueriver]

If you plan it out and be patient you can find good old equipment with a minimum investment ... a used sickle mower, side delivery rake and a small square baler wouldn't set you back much ... as you gather them up ... go thru them over the winter inthe shop and by spring you'd have them ready to cut.

As stated ... if you use a custom baler man you wait on him. If the equipment is in the barn and ready ... you cut rake and bale when its time.

 

[pacerron]

If you plan it out and be patient you can find good old equipment with a minimum investment ... a used sickle mower, side delivery rake and a small square baler wouldn't set you back much ... as you gather them up ... go thru them over the winter inthe shop and by spring you'd have them ready to cut.

As stated ... if you use a custom baler man you wait on him. If the equipment is in the barn and ready ... you cut rake and bale when its time.

LTL
With the previous comments and blue river's last one, that about covers it all.
If the hay is any good you should be able to sell your excess to the other folks that board their horses there at a premium to help pay for your equipment.
Good luck and keep the group informed of how you were successful.
Ron

 

[Learning to Farm]

Thank you all, I am really glad that I posed the question. I think that if I do my "homework" now this is definitely a possibility. So the reason I got the idea is the farm next door. We both abut to two sets of large power lines, the power company "free leases" the land under the lines if you want it. They hay the part that comes to a natural creek (about 6 acres) for personal use. You all are going to say "why don't I ask them". Well I did talk to them about helping them for free about 2 years ago (before I thought of this) on their fields because like I mentioned I have helped before and I wanted to again, just moving bales, like I used too. I was met with a gruff (almost mean) no. So, I will talk to my Ag ext guy and see if he has any suggestions too (that is a one off from the co-op). I also like the suggestion of buying the implements to cut and rake, but then have the baler come in. Actual baling is the part I find to be elusively an art. But at least know now what is possible.

 

[blueriver]

Thank you all, I am really glad that I posed the question. I think that if I do my "homework" now this is definitely a possibility. So the reason I got the idea is the farm next door. We both abut to two sets of large power lines, the power company "free leases" the land under the lines if you want it. They hay the part that comes to a natural creek (about 6 acres) for personal use. You all are going to say "why don't I ask them". Well I did talk to them about helping them for free about 2 years ago (before I thought of this) on their fields because like I mentioned I have helped before and I wanted to again, just moving bales, like I used too. I was met with a gruff (almost mean) no. So, I will talk to my Ag ext guy and see if he has any suggestions too (that is a one off from the co-op). I also like the suggestion of buying the implements to cut and rake, but then have the baler come in. Actual baling is the part I find to be elusively an art. But at least know now what is possible.

Baling is like anything else ... the more you do the better you get.

 

[pacerron]

Thank you all, I am really glad that I posed the question. I think that if I do my "homework" now this is definitely a possibility. So the reason I got the idea is the farm next door. We both abut to two sets of large power lines, the power company "free leases" the land under the lines if you want it. They hay the part that comes to a natural creek (about 6 acres) for personal use. You all are going to say "why don't I ask them". Well I did talk to them about helping them for free about 2 years ago (before I thought of this) on their fields because like I mentioned I have helped before and I wanted to again, just moving bales, like I used too. I was met with a gruff (almost mean) no. So, I will talk to my Ag ext guy and see if he has any suggestions too (that is a one off from the co-op). I also like the suggestion of buying the implements to cut and rake, but then have the baler come in. Actual baling is the part I find to be elusively an art. But at least know now what is possible.

LTF
The real art, if you can call it that, is the raking..
A good person raking the windrows at the right dampness, just the right size for the baling machine pickup, nice and tight, double raking small ones into one good one, and re-raking the scraps into bailable windrows can save the baler so much time in a field.
It becomes like a maze, but if the baler has a constant row of hay in front wound the right way he can zoom through the field making tight bales or rolls.

 

[Amelia Farms]

LTF,
Go for it! I did my own hay for the first time this year. Bought all used equipment with a total investment of $3500. Pulled it all behind my JD990, and it did great. I started with a couple of small fields and worked out the kinks in the equipment and my noggin. Wound up doing about 15 acres and got right at 900 bales. Kept 500 and sold 400 out of the field at $3 a pop. We have had good rain since my first cut, so I think the possibility for 2 cuttings this year looks good. I will sell all of my second cutting, so should be well on the way to paying for the equipment this year. Best part, I am not at the bottom of a custom balers list; I got much better hay than in past years, and I actually enjoy doing it!

 

[foreman Etexas]

Well just figured would show a couple pictures of the square baler I picked it up finally and went over the whole thing top to bottum,spraying greasing,washed it,it turns really good by hand.

 

[foreman Etexas]

I took some pictures of the pastures I have grasshopper on but guess it was to bright ouside(and my phone is crap)

We have some chances of rain today and tomorrow,then again next week I hope we get some. My new bull and heifers are gone,probaly in neighbors place,he is going to check cows today and call me if they are in there.He said he had cows in the other neighbors,the wind has been blowing all the dead tree limbs on the fence everywhere,that drought sure killed alot of them.

Question for the day: What do your square bales average LBS?
Reason I ask is that I picked some up from the cousin and they felt light,so when I got home,I weighted them and they were only 41lbs. I texted him and asked if he happen to pay per bale this time and he said yes. So I told him I though they should be in the 50/55lbs range....