Hay operation using Gc2610

[liberty2701]

Don't laugh. Anyone have experience using the gc2610 for hay. I came across this company selling balers. I would like to hay 15acres. What do you think? Mini Hay Balers and Compact Hay Balers | Small Farm Innovators

 

[radrock]

I think you would be tearing up your tractor. I think these mowers are for compact tractors and not sub-compact tractors. The smaller mower requires 25 hp tractor and you would be right on the line. Not to say it couldn't be done.

 

[liberty2701]

I am looking at the baler not the mower. The manuf. says min 15 pto hp for the balers.

 

[radrock]

I looked at both. Your tractor is so low to the ground that I think when you straddle a windrow of hay you will just drag it in front of your tractor. I am seeing a picture of you cleaning your screen in front of your radiator very often cause your tractor is getting hot from all the little stuff plugging it. If you have ever mowed through some 12-18 inch tall grass you would know what I mean. I'm not saying you couldn't do it. Let me know what you come up with. And I'm sure you will get some more input after everyone gets up and has their coffee.

 

[liberty2701]

I looked at both. Your tractor is so low to the ground that I think when you straddle a windrow of hay you will just drag it in front of your tractor. I am seeing a picture of you cleaning your screen in front of your radiator very often cause your tractor is getting hot from all the little stuff plugging it. If you have ever mowed through some 12-18 inch tall grass you would know what I mean. I'm not saying you couldn't do it. Let me know what you come up with. And I'm sure you will get some more input after everyone gets up and has their coffee.

Good point about being low to the ground. Never thought of that.

 

[Don87]

I've thought about it myself, and yes, it could be done.

My thoughts were on using a sickle bar mower for cutting. They make small ones for subcompacts, but at 5 grand I said...........I think I'll pass.

As far as running over the windrows, that depends on your direction of travel, and the spacing of your actual windrows. You could always rake a little farther away to keep from running over the rows.

 

[radrock]

The old style square balers used to pull with the tongue set at an offset so that you could drive beside the windrow. I don't know if it would be possible to do that with those balers.

 

[Don87]

The old style square balers used to pull with the tongue set at an offset so that you could drive beside the windrow. I don't know if it would be possible to do that with those balers.

They have round balers that run directly behind the tractor, and square balers that run offset.

There is also another company(can't remember the name right now) that has a square baler that makes mini-squares...it ran offset also.

Here ya go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHRRvMROSos

And here......as low as 13HP: http://www.agriquip.com/star/thb.html

As I said, if you plan your rows while raking, you will never run over an adjacent row while baling. And it can conceivably be done with a Subcompact tractor.

 

[radrock]

If you could use an offset baler it would better. It would be interesting to see a mini baler.

 

[Gary Fowler]

At $15K for a baler to bale mini bales, I think it outrageously priced. For that amount, one could buy a used old iron tractor and a used square baler and rake and sickle bar cutter.

 

[radrock]

At $15K for a baler to bale mini bales, I think it outrageously priced. For that amount, one could buy a used old iron tractor and a used square baler and rake and sickle bar cutter.

I would have to agree on that one as well!

 

[Ed of all trades]

There is a company in Pa that makes horse drawn equipment, J&K or something like that, that sells a trailer type sickle bar pto mower that would work well. If you mounted a weighted barrel on your front end loader, hung it from chains ect. to press down the windrow as you bail the hay with a round bailer it just might work and would prob. feed better. I gave a GC2400 and have just figured that might work.

 

[94BULLITT]

How much hay could you buy for $15k?

 

[liberty2701]

I know it does come down to dollars and cents.15k is alot. I was just wondering if it has been done by anyone on the forum. A cost analysis would have to be done for hay in my area and the demand for the smaller bales.

 

[mud23609]

If you take your time and shop right, a person could buy a complete set of older used equipment including a tractor large enough to handle it for 15k.

I was at an auction last summer that a guy could have done it all in one shot. Watched a 65 horse massy loader tractor go for 5500 bucks, the haybine went for about two grand, rake went for a hundred bucks, and the round and square balers each went for a touch over 2000 bucks. All older, but working equipment.

In addition you would get your hay done in probably a fifth of the time that it would take with that little tractor and baler. Food for thought.

 

[liberty2701]

If you take your time and shop right, a person could buy a complete set of older used equipment including a tractor large enough to handle it for 15k.

I was at an auction last summer that a guy could have done it all in one shot. Watched a 65 horse massy loader tractor go for 5500 bucks, the haybine went for about two grand, rake went for a hundred bucks, and the round and square balers each went for a touch over 2000 bucks. All older, but working equipment.

In addition you would get your hay done in probably a fifth of the time that it would take with that little tractor and baler. Food for thought.

All good advice. thanks

 

[94BULLITT]

I don't what all you do with your current tractor but you could sell it and buy a larger tractor and then buy some used hay equipment.