Looking for a good older square baler

[5030]

Well this is how this year hay production is going for me,my 30ac.usually makes atleast 60 bales and has made up to 120(with good rains) well I put up 31 bales last month and now dont see even making a second cutting.If it doesnt change going to have to turn the cows in it. I have already been feeding last yrs square bales(what I have left maybe 30) mite last a cple weeks. I went cple weeks ago and picked up 135 bales all he had ($4.50 a bale) to put up and now thinking im going to have to feed them until I can find atleast 60 more round bales to make it threw winter.(Round bales are going for $80 to 125 a bale for coastal).I been trying to hang in there sold some calfs but I mite have to sell some mama cows(something I dont wont to do)but I guess its how it goes down on the farm. Anyways back to balers Im going to take pics of the hayliner maybe friday and post,thanks for the help!!

We'll be waiting (for the pictures).......

I've never seen hay that high here in 30 years. It's averaging 20-30 per round for alfalfa-timothy-grass. I always have a barn full, in fact, I have to rotate the stock because the bales in the back of the hay barn are a couple years old.

We've always run New Hollands and have always, and I mean always, kept them under a shed...
It is hard for me to fathom that someone would let a baler sit out in the weather...
Our old 277 is still in good working order and bales around 1500 bales a year...
Always been in a shed and always maintained...

An operator that's wise. What a concept. My tractors stay in a heated shop all winter and the implements go in the barn.

i would rather have a newer deere.but i would not turn down a good mf 124 or a older nh.

In essence a bailer should last forever, with proper maintenance which means replacing worn assemblies. The only reason to upgrade is productivity. Newer bailers, especially the high capacity ones, are more capable of faster production but of course require more input PTO power.

I was at the JD Dealer a few weeks ago (needed some rake teeth for my rotary and coincidentally, JD has the correct teeth and I was looking at a new JD square bailer (small squares). They don't appear to be built as well as the older JD bailers. The bale case is lighter gage steel, I noticed that right off. Still painted green however.:laughing:

 

[foreman Etexas]

(5030)is there anyone that could bring a 18wheeler load down,you know?Wonder what it would cost to truck that far!!! If it was worth it between me and neighbor could probaly take 4-loads if they can haul 42 bales.

 

[Barry Bowen]

Texas is not the only place with hay shortages. Here in north central Maryland, first cutting was off by 20-30% and second cutting, well, not really there. So, the pain is all over this year.

 

[5030]

(5030)is there anyone that could bring a 18wheeler load down,you know?Wonder what it would cost to truck that far!!! If it was worth it between me and neighbor could probaly take 4-loads if they can haul 42 bales.

The problem is fuel cost on a commercial truck. Interestingly, I work for a steel company part time in fleet maintenance. They own one of the largest private fleets east of the Mississippi, just under 100 units, all Western Star's and 48 foot curtain side trailers.

The fuel cost alone to run a truck (and pay the driver plus benefits) and basic maintenance comes in at just under 3 bucks a running mile and you have to double that because it's a one way haul.

I own a tractor trailer outfit myself and I've considered hauling forage south, like Florida a couple times but it's not even a break-even venture.

I feel your pain but long distance hauling of forage just don't pan out. The all in costs outweigh any money to be made.

If I remember correctly, I've loaded 48 4x4 net rounds on a 48 foot flatbed. been a while. I usually transport them on tandem axle Geihl forage wagons converted to hay racks. Just tubular frames that the rounds sit in.

I've pulled them with my quad loaded. Stopping is a b*tch however....

 

[foreman Etexas]

The problem is fuel cost on a commercial truck. Interestingly, I work for a steel company part time in fleet maintenance. They own one of the largest private fleets east of the Mississippi, just under 100 units, all Western Star's and 48 foot curtain side trailers.

The fuel cost alone to run a truck (and pay the driver plus benefits) and basic maintenance comes in at just under 3 bucks a running mile and you have to double that because it's a one way haul.

I own a tractor trailer outfit myself and I've considered hauling forage south, like Florida a couple times but it's not even a break-even venture.

I feel your pain but long distance hauling of forage just don't pan out. The all in costs outweigh any money to be made.

If I remember correctly, I've loaded 48 4x4 net rounds on a 48 foot flatbed. been a while. I usually transport them on tandem axle Geihl forage wagons converted to hay racks. Just tubular frames that the rounds sit in.

I've pulled them with my quad loaded. Stopping is a b*tch however....

Yeah its around 1500 miles one way.I was thinking they were 4x5 rounds bales

 

[5030]

No. all rounds here, in net. The only large squares run in these parts are combined wheat straw. No forage at all.

I looked at a Bale Bandit a while back but it was cost prohibitive.

 

[AKfish]

Yeah its around 1500 miles one way.I was thinking they were 4x5 rounds bales

They're rebuilding a rail-line through the middle of SD right now. Can move lot's of freight for much less per mile than trucking it!

'Course it's gotta be picked up and moved again by truck from the rail yard to the final destination.

Guess it's beginning to make more sense as energy costs are continuing to rise.

AKfish

 

[foreman Etexas]

They're rebuilding a rail-line through the middle of SD right now. Can move lot's of freight for much less per mile than trucking it!

'Course it's gotta be picked up and moved again by truck from the rail yard to the final destination.

Guess it's beginning to make more sense as energy costs are continuing to rise.

AKfish

Thats to funny I was just talking to the wife and saying wonder about getting by rail.But then it would take alot on both parts to get this done.

 

[IronHog]

I've seen more 18 wheelers loaded with round bales than I've ever seen here in Arkansas.

I assume it is headed to Texas and Oklahoma. Hay is short here, but we've received some nice rain the past few days and things are growing again.

 

[5030]

Things are getting greener here too. We had a nice 1" rainfall the other night. Won't make up for the deficit but I'm in the cutting mode now.

I will be out and about tomorow, running contract hay.