2015 Hay Season

foreman Etexas · Jul 11, 2015

shibaura_4043 said:
Lol I listen for that beep too usually im turned around checking my windrow making sure all is well... until I hear the beep. We rolled up anohter 50 bales today and I was having problems with grass build up on a couple of the rollers(under the belts and near the bearings). Do you have any idea how to prevent that much hay build up? Did those hay wegdes fix all of your hay build up probems?

Yep those cut down on a lot of the hay build up. Another thing I have figured out if you try not to run all the way on gathering wheel to run right at end of pick up wheel and just use gathering wheel to catch in turns or if get over to far every now and then,you will have less hay get there.
I still get some hay under the two end belts on very front bottom roller but just a little,dont build up or anything.
Did you need to adjust your belt tracking?

shibaura_4043 · Jul 12, 2015

foreman Etexas said:
Yep those cut down on a lot of the hay build up. Another thing I have figured out if you try not to run all the way on gathering wheel to run right at end of pick up wheel and just use gathering wheel to catch in turns or if get over to far every now and then,you will have less hay get there.
I still get some hay under the two end belts on very front bottom roller but just a little,dont build up or anything.
Did you need to adjust your belt tracking?

Makes since... I was bailing for a friend who's baler broke down, he needed to get the hay off the ground asap. His windrows were a little wider than mine so that explains the excessive crop build up. My hay saver wheels werent even picking up all of the windrow!! It didnt help the windrows were raked two days ago they were kinda flat... turned out nice bales though. I really havent taken the time yet to check my belt tracking. Ive just been trying to get all of my first cut done, then do a little more maintenance. I have one more question for ya... what do you normally run your "net density" at? book says to start at 8 and go from there. I usually set mine at 10 but I went through a roll of net wrap after about 185 bales, Im hoping to get more out of a roll of net wrap. I wish they used actually wraps instead of density, it would take the guess work out of it...lol. BTW I was reading up on the Rebel 5420 did you know it now comes with Alligator splices???

cat fever · Jul 15, 2015

As luck would have it, I was just offered the right to take care of the property right in front of my place. It's 6 acres and planted in alfalfa.

Terms are; I keep the field looking good, I keep all the hay at no cost to me. They are an older couple that for the most part are not even home most of the time. (not even in the USA) To good to pass up the way I see it.

The place in the background is the land I'm talking about.

Paul N · Jul 15, 2015

some people have all the luck!

cat fever · Jul 15, 2015

Paul N said:
some people have all the luck!

It's about time, the last 52 years of my life were bad luck.

TomSeller · Jul 15, 2015

cat fever said:
It's about time, the last 52 years of my life were bad luck.

Well, now must be the time the tide turns. Good luck and congratulations !

foreman Etexas · Jul 16, 2015

A buddy of mine was behind on getting a place done down the road so called for some help. Long story short the land owner had been put off for a month getting baled so I got my friend to do it for him,it turned out to be a pain,it was Tifton 85 that was heavy fertilized and 30 days over due. The rake tractor had heck,kept balling up,had to gear down slow go baling too,the windrows where huge. Had the Kubota there had to recut some the pastures since his sickle didn't do worth crap,had to move the bales and set them next to woods

cat fever · Jul 16, 2015

TomSeller said:
Well, now must be the time the tide turns. Good luck and congratulations !

Thanks.
Truth is, I live in an area where most of the lots are 5-7 acres. These owners don't even have an animal on them. So I could get many deals just like the one I mentioned. What makes this one so good is being so close to my house.

KiotiKowboy · Jul 16, 2015

FINALLY ... Hay is in!!!!!

This is my latest cut but the rain was just relentless until a week ago. Now, blazing hot and looks mostly dry for some time.

We made 261 4x6 rolls this time, up from 230 last spring. I guess a little Nitrogen makes a difference

cat fever · Jul 16, 2015

KiotiKowboy said:
FINALLY ... Hay is in!!!!!

This is my latest cut but the rain was just relentless until a week ago. Now, blazing hot and looks mostly dry for some time.

We made 261 4x6 rolls this time, up from 230 last spring. I guess a little Nitrogen makes a difference

I plan to overseed my field this fall and fertilize. Would it be better to put on the fertilizer in the fall or next spring?