Banjo
Bronze Member
Here's an (overdue) update on the current state of my haying operation.
First off, thanks to everyone for the great sharing of information and experience. Daryl... thanks so much for "un-lurking" ... I've read your post dozens of times.
About 2 weeks ago I put together my hay equipment to have at the ~40 acres or so of mixed grass hay I have.
First I got what I think is a servicable NH271 square baler ... used on the same farm since '70 or so.
Then added a NH477 7' Haybine, seems in good shape. Private sale from a hobby farmer hay guy who got a 9' in trade for hay.
Went with a NH254 rotary rake/tedder, bought from a farm equipment place.
With this equipment and my '58 AC D-14 tractor I cut, raked, and baled about 830 bales with no real issues. I suspect I made them a bit light at ~35# each. Probably cut something under 8 acres total.
Learnings:
The tractor seemed to have plenty of power and heft for all phases. It has loaded rear tires and a loader so probably weighs about 6000# all up. The hand clutch was very useful to be able to slow down when the mower or baler got loaded up. The foot clutch stops the PTO which is generally a pain.
I'm glad I went with the 7' Mower. A lot of the gates, etc. in my fields are kinda narrow so it got big in a hurry. The sickle drive bushing failed, have just put in a new one. I ended up cutting pretty slow as the grass is pretty long and tangled, this is the "first cut" probably for a while. Has been used for pasture for the past 10 years or so as far as I know. I raised the feet on the mower to leave a longer stubble which seemed to help too.
The 254 rake does a great job. Once I got it all adjusted it worked well. I generally raked 2 mower windrows into one to bale. Made big fluffy windrows, pretty much just like in the brochure! Some of my hay got rained on overnight, and the next day there was no problem picking it up again to dry. I'm very pleased that I decided to plunge to get this unit. I've never used a side delivery rake so can't really compare, but based on my experience so far I'm a big rotary proponent so far.
I think I'm settling on setting the mower to make wide "windrows", just narrowed in enough so that the tractor isn't driving on them on the next "lap". Then set up the rake so each wheel grabs a row and rakes them onto the stubble between the rows (combining two into one). This seems to move all the hay, has it spread out pretty much to dry, put flips it onto a "dry" spot.
Corners are still a challenge! Trying to find the best way for doing it for mowing (not too bad), but then keeping them clean while raking so that trying to catch the windrow with the baler is still a "work in progress" LOL.
The baler worked fine. It took about 3 bales to "get started", after that it didn't miss a tie. I think I need to give it a "tune up" as all the chain adjusters are at their max, and I think the knife needs sharpening/aligning. The hay stop (the little triangle flap in the top of the feed area) was broken when I got it. I welded up the hinge (still works) to get it going. I have a new one at the dealer I have to pick up. Likely don't really need it now! However, it looks like it want through the knife or plunger so hat can't have helped. It shook the tractor a bit, mainly while turning, but I think I had plenty of power. I was generally baling pretty slow as the windrows were pretty heavy in a lot of places. Mostly first gear hi range, some in second in the thinner spots.
I had underestimated the collecting the bales effort! I didn't have someone available to ride a wagon, and quite frankly just manoevering the baler to catch the windrows was enough work! Should mention that the AC doesn't have PS! I used my car trailer, an old pickup with a flat box, and a borrowed wagon to get a last load up before rain. The loading and unloading takes a lot of time! I'm considering getting a NH Stack Wagon, as this looks like a great solution for me. None of my fields are very far from the barns.
Subsequent to this we went looking at a used 20' elevator last weekend (so I could put some hay in the hayloft too) and ended up coming home with a IH674 tractor and a wagon too! Two tractors will help a lot during the "race" and the IH does have PS! If I mow with it, I'll have to narrow the windrows as the rear tires are considerably fatter.
The forecast is sunny again, so I'm going to cut again today. There might be thunderstorms tomorrow night, but if it gets wet I think I can fluff it up again without issues. I'd welcome experience on if this is "legit"? The grass is mixed, unfortuanatly I couldn't tell you the different kinds (yet) ... some timothy, bit of clover and some other grasses too. No alfalfa AFAIK.
I posted some pictures on MBN if you're interested. I don't seem to be able to point you at a specific post just a page of results so scroll down a bit at MBN Haying Pics for the "results" and Equipment
a page earlier in the same thread has the baler and mower pics.
Once again, thanks to everyone for all the help (both in this thread, and through PM's) that made the above possible.
If anyone has the stomach for it I have a few questions:
1. What's the "official" small square bale size and weight? If I manage to get to bale this next lot I think I'll go heavier (~45-50# maybe) for a ~38" +/- bale?
2. If rain is coming is it better to have it get wet in the bales, and stook them to dry (did that), or in a windrow and re-rake (did that too). It seemed to me that both methods worked. The stuff that avoided rain altogher was the easiest though /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
3. I'd welcome any opinions on the NH Stack Wagons too (although we can use the new topic that just started for that too).
Thanks again, I hope this helps someone else who's starting out. Happy to try to answer any questions.
cheers, Andrew
First off, thanks to everyone for the great sharing of information and experience. Daryl... thanks so much for "un-lurking" ... I've read your post dozens of times.
About 2 weeks ago I put together my hay equipment to have at the ~40 acres or so of mixed grass hay I have.
First I got what I think is a servicable NH271 square baler ... used on the same farm since '70 or so.
Then added a NH477 7' Haybine, seems in good shape. Private sale from a hobby farmer hay guy who got a 9' in trade for hay.
Went with a NH254 rotary rake/tedder, bought from a farm equipment place.
With this equipment and my '58 AC D-14 tractor I cut, raked, and baled about 830 bales with no real issues. I suspect I made them a bit light at ~35# each. Probably cut something under 8 acres total.
Learnings:
The tractor seemed to have plenty of power and heft for all phases. It has loaded rear tires and a loader so probably weighs about 6000# all up. The hand clutch was very useful to be able to slow down when the mower or baler got loaded up. The foot clutch stops the PTO which is generally a pain.
I'm glad I went with the 7' Mower. A lot of the gates, etc. in my fields are kinda narrow so it got big in a hurry. The sickle drive bushing failed, have just put in a new one. I ended up cutting pretty slow as the grass is pretty long and tangled, this is the "first cut" probably for a while. Has been used for pasture for the past 10 years or so as far as I know. I raised the feet on the mower to leave a longer stubble which seemed to help too.
The 254 rake does a great job. Once I got it all adjusted it worked well. I generally raked 2 mower windrows into one to bale. Made big fluffy windrows, pretty much just like in the brochure! Some of my hay got rained on overnight, and the next day there was no problem picking it up again to dry. I'm very pleased that I decided to plunge to get this unit. I've never used a side delivery rake so can't really compare, but based on my experience so far I'm a big rotary proponent so far.
I think I'm settling on setting the mower to make wide "windrows", just narrowed in enough so that the tractor isn't driving on them on the next "lap". Then set up the rake so each wheel grabs a row and rakes them onto the stubble between the rows (combining two into one). This seems to move all the hay, has it spread out pretty much to dry, put flips it onto a "dry" spot.
Corners are still a challenge! Trying to find the best way for doing it for mowing (not too bad), but then keeping them clean while raking so that trying to catch the windrow with the baler is still a "work in progress" LOL.
The baler worked fine. It took about 3 bales to "get started", after that it didn't miss a tie. I think I need to give it a "tune up" as all the chain adjusters are at their max, and I think the knife needs sharpening/aligning. The hay stop (the little triangle flap in the top of the feed area) was broken when I got it. I welded up the hinge (still works) to get it going. I have a new one at the dealer I have to pick up. Likely don't really need it now! However, it looks like it want through the knife or plunger so hat can't have helped. It shook the tractor a bit, mainly while turning, but I think I had plenty of power. I was generally baling pretty slow as the windrows were pretty heavy in a lot of places. Mostly first gear hi range, some in second in the thinner spots.
I had underestimated the collecting the bales effort! I didn't have someone available to ride a wagon, and quite frankly just manoevering the baler to catch the windrows was enough work! Should mention that the AC doesn't have PS! I used my car trailer, an old pickup with a flat box, and a borrowed wagon to get a last load up before rain. The loading and unloading takes a lot of time! I'm considering getting a NH Stack Wagon, as this looks like a great solution for me. None of my fields are very far from the barns.
Subsequent to this we went looking at a used 20' elevator last weekend (so I could put some hay in the hayloft too) and ended up coming home with a IH674 tractor and a wagon too! Two tractors will help a lot during the "race" and the IH does have PS! If I mow with it, I'll have to narrow the windrows as the rear tires are considerably fatter.
The forecast is sunny again, so I'm going to cut again today. There might be thunderstorms tomorrow night, but if it gets wet I think I can fluff it up again without issues. I'd welcome experience on if this is "legit"? The grass is mixed, unfortuanatly I couldn't tell you the different kinds (yet) ... some timothy, bit of clover and some other grasses too. No alfalfa AFAIK.
I posted some pictures on MBN if you're interested. I don't seem to be able to point you at a specific post just a page of results so scroll down a bit at MBN Haying Pics for the "results" and Equipment
a page earlier in the same thread has the baler and mower pics.
Once again, thanks to everyone for all the help (both in this thread, and through PM's) that made the above possible.
If anyone has the stomach for it I have a few questions:
1. What's the "official" small square bale size and weight? If I manage to get to bale this next lot I think I'll go heavier (~45-50# maybe) for a ~38" +/- bale?
2. If rain is coming is it better to have it get wet in the bales, and stook them to dry (did that), or in a windrow and re-rake (did that too). It seemed to me that both methods worked. The stuff that avoided rain altogher was the easiest though /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
3. I'd welcome any opinions on the NH Stack Wagons too (although we can use the new topic that just started for that too).
Thanks again, I hope this helps someone else who's starting out. Happy to try to answer any questions.
cheers, Andrew
. The haybine was really cutting and *much* quieter, and the PS on the tractor made the corners a treat rather than a chore. Made a great end to what had been a lousy day (for other reasons).
