Bailing hay with a compact

[MikePA]

<font color="blue"> I was under the impression that there were several issues: 1 weight, 2. too little HP, and 3. compact tractor components aren't as heavy duty as those used in full size ag tractors. </font>
You've listed all the reasons why occasional baling should be done only with the largest compact tractor. If baling hay is going to be a recurring task, at a minimum, a utility tractor should be used.

<font color="blue"> Isn't there a minimum HP requirement? </font>
Yes, there's a minimum horsepower requirement. IMO, minimum horsepower requirements are listed for 3 reasons.

(1.) There really is a minimum hp needed to run the attachment.
(2.) They're easy to list.
(3.) They're a carryover from a time before compact tractors, when there was a direct relationship between hp and weight, e.g., 40 hp meant a utility tractor.

 

[PineRidge]

Now you all got me curious. I'm wondering what it might be like to pull a baler with my 40HP. I think this summer when my neighbor is baling hay I'm going to hook up my rig for kicks and see how bad it throws me around.

JASTN70D (John) bales on flat land and drops his bales on the ground to stack them later. There's no kicker to worry about and no hay wagon to pull behind the tractor. So I'm thinking that with the exception of the ram movement within the baler that it shouldn't overtax my rig.

I'll let you all know how I make out on this.

 

[HayDR]

Robert in NY,
The picture below is a common place in TN, KY, NC, GA, & VA.
The JD5020's have the power to pull Vermeer 5x4 balers.

 

[Darren]

Here's the solution to baling with a CUT. Use a small round baler. You still get bales that can be picked up by hand but the baler doesn't rock the tractor because of the ram moving back and forth. Bale size is 22"x25".

http://www.rekord.com/f%20&%20s%20machinery%20pages/Balers/columbia_r_500_minibaler.htm

Last I heard a guy in Kentucky was importing them. there's also a smaller model that runs off a 12-14hp two wheel tractor like a BCS.

 

[ronjhall]

Mike
You should have no problems running a square baler with your tractor. I did about 40 acres in the late 70's and early 80's with a Farmall 340. My neighbor used his Massey 135 at times also. Although it was on the light side for weight.

MikePA
If you are going to put square bales up in a barn, a hay elevator is one of the best investments you will ever make. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I know they have the power, just as I know the TN's do. I use my TN65 on a NH575 and it is way undersized for that baler. I have used a TL100A on my baler and it handled it much better. You could still feel the rocking when stopped but I didn't have to worry about the baler pushing the TL around as much as I do with the TN. So I do know the smaller utilities can handle the balers as I use one but if I had my baler first then there is no way I would have a TN or 5020 in front of it let alone a compact.

 

[MikePA]

<font color="blue">If you are going to put square bales up in a barn, a hay elevator is one of the best investments you will ever make. </font>
Believe me, I know! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif We usually get hay twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. After each session of loading, unloading and stacking I swear I'm going to buy one. Then I look at my checkbook and tell myself we can make it one more year without one. Been saying that for 14 years. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Robert_in_NY]

You can bale with your tractor if you drop them on the ground. However, a baler is hard on a tractor. It is like driving a truck over rough ground, if you do it enough times with light duty parts you are going to break something eventually. This is why people use heavier equipment designed for the task, you can get by with less because you have the hp but it does not help the lifespan of your tractor if you do it year after year. Try it though, baling hay is fun /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[green4710]

Thanks all for the inputs. My hay farm just went up in size from 40 acres of grass, to an additional 80 acres of alfalfa, so the 4710 looks to have a short life left with me....Any suggestions on a tractor that can still clean corrals with a loader, but enough power to bale 15000 bales a year?

 

[Robert_in_NY]

What size baler are you using? The JD 5020 series as well as the TN from NH will both handle square balers. I would much rather go to a 6000 series JD or NH TL-A and have a tractor better suited for a high capacity small square baler. If you are planning on baling 15k per year you will want to do it easy and the larger utility class tractors will make baling a lot easier on your equipment. But I do not know your space requirements to work around and in your corals so the smaller Utilities will work also. I would recommend you try both class of machines out and see how you like each for your jobs. Baling wise I would much rather have a New Holland TS-A but the TL-A will handle my baler fine.

Is there any way you can keep your JD and buy a larger 2wd utility for baling? The 4710 would be useful for raking and pulling wagons. You would save a lot by going to a 2wd and no loader for your baling tractor.