Getting back into hay

[5030]

Yes sir grease gun gets regular use. M previous JD 467 baler(twine only) had 30,000 bales on monitor when I traded for present baler in 2007. Nothing aggravated me more back when I was buying/selling hay was for someone to advertise 4X5 rd bales that on inspection weren't even close to 60 INCHES TALL. My making 66'' tall bales accentuates my thinking because smaller diameter rd bales resemble doughnut holes in my mind. LOL

Interestingly, my new Kubota round baler, on the set bale diameter, I can go up to 70". I asked the Kubota rep about that and he cautioned me about exceeding 60" rounds. He said that it could cause belt failure. Least it makes an honest 60, I measured them.

 

[Tx Jim]

My JD baler was built to make up to 72'' diameter bales. 99% + of the bales it has made is 64''-66''. I prefer that size because of less bales to transport & they double stack 2 high on a trailer

 

[Lineman North Florida]

My JD baler was built to make up to 72'' diameter bales. 99% + of the bales it has made is 64''-66''. I prefer that size because of less bales to transport & they double stack 2 high on a trailer

Most people around here have gone to the 54" rolls due to the fact that they can ultimately get 26 rolls on a 30' or 32' gooseneck and a lot of these people are nothing more than middle men in the hay business, I had a guy that would come to the barn I would load him and he would haul the hay to someone he had already sold it to down South of me and he made $25.00 per roll just to haul it or $650.00 a trailer load, never put his hands on it other than to strap it down, I always thought that would be the hay business for me to be in.

 

[lman]

If you take just one cutting and bush hog the second than you don't need any fertilizer.

It seems like that would be hard on alfalfa.

 

[5030]

It seems like that would be hard on alfalfa.

It is. The best alfalfa comes on subsequent cuts after first.

 

[5030]

I load mine on 48 foot flat bed semi trailers, 2 high and they come in just shy of 13'6" double rowed double stacked I can get almost 50 on a trailer. My customer will spot one or 2 semi trailers on the edge of the field so I can load them. He don't broker any of it, he feeds it all out. Matter of fact I said to him maybe he wanted his BIL to haul some and he said hell no because he'd take them home for his stock.

 

[Tx Jim]

I load mine on 48 foot flat bed semi trailers, 2 high and they come in just shy of 13'6" double rowed double stacked I can get almost 50 on a trailer.

I'll have to burst your bubble BUT to SAFELY TRANSPORT ""40 rd bales 5ft in diameter on a 48' semi-trailer"" one needs pipes with cables so top bales can set securely held in place by the cables with top layer rd bales setting on rounded top of bottom bales not in the crevices between the bales. 10 -5' bales per side(50 FEET) X 2=20 bales on bottom layer & 20 bales on 2nd layer = 40(forty) bales not almost 50.

Back when I was employed by a dealer several trucks a week passed where I was employed hauling ""40 rd bales"" secured by pipes/cables & straps

 

[5030]

I'll have to burst your bubble BUT to SAFELY TRANSPORT ""40 rd bales 5ft in diameter on a 48' semi-trailer"" one needs pipes with cables so top bales can set securely held in place by the cables with top layer rd bales setting on rounded top of bottom bales not in the crevices between the bales. 10 -5' bales per side(50 FEET) X 2=20 bales on bottom layer & 20 bales on 2nd layer = 40(forty) bales not almost 50.

Back when I was employed by a dealer several trucks a week passed where I was employed hauling ""40 rd bales"" secured by pipes/cables & straps

Not my bubble at all. My customer straps every double stack or should I say one of his employees does I don't touch them, just load the trailers. I stated 50 because it's been a year since I loaded then and being 73, I tend to forget exact details, but I will find out shortly as they will haul this weekend. 2 48 foot flatbed's are presently set ready to load.

Have not used not used my Gooseneck trailer for years now. With fuel prices where they are, I have no issue with that at all.

 

[5030]

I'll add, they stack in the crotch between the lower rounds, never on top. Sure am glad I don't have to wind those dolly legs when they are loaded either.

 

[Tx Jim]

Do the math even 46 bales is impossible to haul on a 48 ft trailer without bed extensions frt & rear which ultimately makes bed longer than 48 feet. Top bales placed in depressions between bottom bales on a 48 ft trailer should tally out @ 38 rd bales per load

This isn't my 1st RODEO when it comes to hauling hay & farm equipment.
Age of 73 should not be a problem. I'm 77.

 

[Hay Dude]

Do the math even 46 bales is impossible to haul on a 48 ft trailer without bed extensions frt & rear which ultimately makes bed longer than 48 feet. This isn't my 1st RODEO when it comes to hauling hay & farm equipment.
Age of 73 should not be a problem. I'm 77.

And you are still sharper than a tack and a BIG asset to this website my friend.
Humble and extremely knowledgeable.

 

[5030]

Never said it was (first Rodeo). The trailer have no front bulkheads so I start the front bales at the front edge of the trailers. His tractors have headache racks on them (as required by DOT regulations). Every double stack is strapped (as per DOT regs again). All his trailers are 10-2 spreads on air with a pair of Western Star conventional road tractors. He leases the tractors and drivers to a carrier as well.

Tom, my other hunting bud, has 53 late model conventional Freightliner Cascadia's leased to Fed Ex, running teams, coast to coast. I cringe at what his fuel costs are presently. Almost afraid to ask. I do know that Fed-Ex subsidizes the fuel cost but how much, I have no idea.

When I load them this weekend, I'll do a bale count per trailer and like a good boy, report back for your edification. No pictures however. I don't do pictures, I'm not a picture person.

 

[5030]

And you are still sharper than a tack and a BIG asset to this website my friend.

Kind of like you, sort of, maybe or maybe not.

 

[Hay Dude]

Lions are uninterested in the opinions of sheep…..
Tx Jim’s math IS correct and you WOULD have to “edge stack” the round bales to fit that many on the truck. Virtually nobody does THAT.
Better be careful with your customers and telling them there’s more bales on the truck than there really is lol

 

[Tx Jim]

Never said it was (first Rodeo). The trailer have no front bulkheads so I start the front bales at the front edge of the trailers.

When I load them this weekend, I'll do a bale count per trailer and like a good boy, report back for your edification. No pictures however. I don't do pictures, I'm not a picture person.

For your edification as I stated sounds as if you'll be loading 38(THIRTY EIGHT) bales per load if trailers are 48' long with no rear extensions on bed. Photo's are simple to take & post on the internet. We have another thing in common besides rd baling hay as I'm not a picture person either BUT AS THE OLD SAYING GOES A PICTURE IS WORTH 1000 WORDS.

 

[5030]

Well, maybe after I load the first trailer, I'll take a picture and post it. Maybe. Least it's all sold ahead of time. I don't miss dealing with 'hay customers' one bit. If All Hay (website pricing is any indication of where feed hay is headed, it will become very expensive soon.

I do know if I lost my one customer, I'd liquidate everything and go to sitting on the porch and enjoying my 'golden years' instead.

 

[Tx Jim]

I think I could sell all my rd bales for $100+ per bale. I've turned down inquiry's about purchasing hay several times a week. All I have to do is state "YES" but I'm holding out for $125 each

 

[5030]

You will most likely get it. Don't forget delivery is extra. Glad I don't have to deal with that either.

Scope out the bale prices on 'All Hay', what I use as a 'yardstick for determining what I charge.

I may change it up next year with the 2 fields behind the farm and store them in the barn because I can move them from the field io the barn easily. My customer had no issue with the per bale increase at all. He fully understands. These are inflationary times.

 

[5030]

When I was cutting yesterday, a number of pick up trucks drove by real slow, watching. Probably stop when I bale it tomorrow.

 

[Tx Jim]

I checked out "AllHay" for hay located in Texas but didn't see any at my price range

You will most likely get it. Don't forget delivery is extra. Glad I don't have to deal with that either.

I'm confident I will get my price! I don't deliver hay except locally & that's with my pickup equipped with bale spike bed. Transporting hay will be buyers responsibility.