Little baler do they make them

[powerscol]

Your tractor appears to have 30 to 32 PTO HP depending on the model. The current MF 1734 round baler will work, or most of the entry level inline balers MF1835, if you have the hydro trans and can slow down when it loads up. Do a search on haying with a compact tractor - I just went through this. I have a Bobcat CT 235 with a Hesston 4550 baler, running it with 26.5 PTO HP at 6500 ft in elevation. I use and IH 1300 sickle mower to cut and a old Ford 503 side deliver rake. The sickle mower and rake can be found around at reasonable costs and parts are still available. You can also run several of the current drum mower out there, but may need a tedder as when they cut they leave a windrow.

In can be an effort to get going, but if you like idea of baling your own hay it can be fun. You can also rent everything from a good agg place if you want to try before you buy.

Good luck

 

[KevT]

Yes, from what I have read, my tractor (37hp) is big enough, but because I have my fields cross fenced into 2 acre lots, how many round bales can I get. Plus I don't have great herds and more gets wasted with round bales than square. I do appreciate the encouragement how ever, Positive thought get positive results

 

[bjr]

Just this year I'll be using a Hesston 4550 inline small square baler, a SFI 2555 drum mower and will in two weeks take delivery of a Morra 280/8 rotary rake. All this being pulled by a Jinma JM-354, 35 hp. tractor. The rotary rake and the inline baler will be a learning curve after using a old New Holland 269 offset baler and a very old IH No.5 side delivery rake. I too have very small irregular shape hay fields (some posters here refer it to baling backyards) some are little less that 1/2 acres. I need small very portable harvesting machinery that can get thru narrow gates. I've kinda fell into custom (Hobby) baling for the neighbors. They pay what they can. There's every kind of Critter around here that chews grass that the owners want to be able to store a few bales. I'm coming up on retirement in a few more years and this activity gets me out in the sunshine visiting with the neighbors. I don't travel so all my retirement "travel money" is in hayin' machinery and that's okay.

 

[Mace Canute]

I've seen a picture of a small baler on the front PTO of a Gravely.

Ralph

Sorta like this one?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMK3O00Fyo0#t=54

 

[quicksandfarmer]

That's the one I've seen. According to the manufacturer's site they make about a 50 lb bale and do about 60 bales per hour. And they cost $12,000. I just can't see justifying it. I think with a wagon and a rake I could gather 3,000 lbs an hour of loose hay and it would be about the same amount of work.

According to the manufacturer it can be pulled behind a tractor as well.

 

[mattv1]

for $12K you could buy an oldish tractor (ford jubilee comes to mind) an old baler, and an old rake...and still have lots of money left for beer and repairs for a few years.

 

[JeffinIA]

for $12K you could buy an oldish tractor (ford jubilee comes to mind) an old baler, and an old rake...and still have lots of money left for beer and repairs for a few years.

I'll Second that. For under 10K I've bought a 1942 Farmall M , A Farmall 560, a 269 New Holland baler , a New Holland 402 Crimper , A Oliver 22-B Sickle bar mower , a #37 John Deere sickle bar mower , and a New Holland 55 Rolabar rake And I'm Building a 27 x 18 Machine shed to store most of it in . ALL For Under 10K

 

[KevT]

Well... first I need grass. It has only rained once since I set seed. Pasture not looking to green

 

[JeffinIA]

Yep, Then there's that LOL

 

[Creamer]

This was a great baler for its time. It is really cheap now but would probably do what you need.
https://fortwayne.craigslist.org/grd/4977819959.html