Maybe trading up

[Cliff_Johns]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Haying aint no fun . . . )</font>

Well I like haying a lot. I think it's a great time. Good hard work, feels like you've done something at the end of the day.

On the other hand, I would not like it near as much (and maybe not at all) if it was my equipment, my hay, my money tied up in the hay and weather. I like just showing up and working.

Personally, if I had a horse or two to feed, I'd find a farm that baled square and offer to help at haying time and get paid in hay. Everyone wins that way. What's more it's a great learning experience. I guess that strategy doesn't apply here, but I'm just addressing Egon's generalization.

Cliff

 

[Rolando]

Forgive the question, but I'm a city boy. I've read this about haying on many threads. Why do people dislike to hay so much?

 

[MFL]

Morning guys,

I appreciate all the responses, but I think we're getting away from the main point a little. Let me clarify.

My interest in trading up is primarily to get past the limitations of the B7800.While it's been a great tractor, it's size (weight, footprint, hp, etc) has made me hire out for some of the work that was done on our property. I would have rather done the work myself. If I can come to an agreement with the owner of the acreage next to us, I would like to have a tractor large enough to do a lot more of the work creating pasture myself. This is where the larger tractor with a BACKHOE comes in. From some of the great responses I've gotten, I now know that if I go with one of the larger Grand L series tractors, I can get a BH from a third party company.

As far as haying goes...I'm not going into the haying business!! I now know someone in the haying business and he has graciously offered me the opportunity to cut and bale the 100-125 squares I need a year. While he doesn't have quite the arsenal of tractors and implements Cowboydoc has, he's close.Since he won't do small squares, he offered to let me use his JD 5400 and JD square baler if (in his opinion) I'm crazy enough to want to pick-up and store what I bale. It's more along the lines of what Cliff suggested. I go in after the grass has been cut, and rake and bale my own small squares. In return I help where ever I can. Tedding, raking, picking up the rounds, etc. Now if I'm going to buy a bigger tractor, why not get one that would let me do some of this work also? Instead of using one of Bills tractors, I could use my own and hook his baler to it. That's my thinking, anyway.

One last thing. I understand that to men who farm, raise cattle, hay, or in any way make a living off the land, the idea of spending 14 hr. days working like a mule in the sun in NO WAY sounds like fun, but you have to look at it from my point of view. I work in a very nice, air conditioned office. I work hard, I like what I do and I'm paid well. The thing is, at the end of the day I've provided a SERVICE, but I haven't made anything tangible. I can't point and say, "Look at this barn full of secured network". To me (and a LOT of guys like me) there is great satisfaction in making something I can point to. That's the barn I built full of the hay I baled!! It's great fun getting outside, working with my hands and getting so tired I can't climb the porch steps. I guess it's just a case of the hay is always greener on the other side! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[MarkV]

MFL,
You haven’t said what your need for the backhoe is except to maybe expand your pasture if you are able to buy an additional 6 acres. Makes me wonder if for the money a backhoe would cost if you wouldn’t be better off moving up to the 5030 for the tractor work and let someone else do the stump work on the 6 acres. Clearing work is mighty slow with any backhoe on a compact tractor.

MarkV

 

[Egon]

MFL:

Your latest post clarifies your requirements. Can't suggest a tractor but do get advice to ensure the baler requirements are met and slightly exceeded.

Picking up a few bales after a hard office day just may be what the Doctor ordered! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

On the other hand a small sweep for the loader of the B7800 would allow you to easily pick up and stack 6 acres of windrowed hay. Hay used to be put up this way using what was called a "Farmhand".

For others who wonder about haying: picking up small square bales is very hard work unless one has all the proper mechanized equipment.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MFL]

Morning Mark,

If we get the land next door, my parents will put in a vacation cottage. I see digging footers, laying a septic field for that project. Other uses: After the main stumping, getting out the ones they miss. The guys who did our pasture did a great job, but still missed about a dozen stumps. I see the same thing happening if we clear some of the land next door. Other than that, cutting run-off trenches, putting in a pond, burying horses, running water/elec. lines, etc.

If I can do it, and can afford to do it, I rather do it myself. I know it's probably not time efficient, but it gives me something to do as I grow old. Don't ask my wife, though. She's is completely for hiring everything out and getting it done NOW! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MFL]

Egon,
The baler hp requirements has been one of the things I've been looking at the hardest.

What's a 'small sweep'? Always grateful to learn a new thing. As far as farmhands go, that's what God invented nephews for! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Also, the wife and I picked up this very competent farmhand about 4 months ago. Still a little green for seeding and post hole digging, but we have great expectations for the future!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Forgive the question, but I'm a city boy. I've read this about haying on many threads. Why do people dislike to hay so much? )</font>

Lots of factors... first.. gotta have a tractor, generally int he utility class ( $$, even used ones are gonna run you 4000/6500/8000 etc ).. and then you need the other equipment.. like bailer ( even a small square bailer may run you as much as that used tractor.. etc ).. gonne need a rake.. again$$.. and will need either a disc mower $$ or a sickle bar mower at a minimum. they are usually not as pricey as the disc mower.. if you can find a suitable one.
Next.. a 2nd tractor would be a great help in this operation. Many people also grab a slightly smaller tractor than their main one to do things like run the rake / pull the hay wagon, and if using a sickle bar mower, to mow... saves time from changing implements. and if you have a wife / friend helping.. both machines can go at once reducinbg the time needed.

Next are environmental issues. really need to time cut/dry/rake/bail during no rain!

upkeep issues, like keeping the bailer and mowers fed, etc nothing like running out of twine while clouds are rolling in!

next is the labor issue. Depending on the square bailer, you may be dropping hay in the pasture.. or it may kick them onto a trailer.. 2nd way needs the 2nd tractor / trailer.. or a big 1st tractor. Or.. you make a pass later to manhandle the hay onto the wagon. even squar bales get heavy after you have thrown and stacked 100 bales.. etc.

Round bales will be handled by the big tractor.. either with a spike or forks on a fel.. or a rear spike ( or both.. if tractor can handle it ).

that would be my 'guess' why some people shy away from it.

Soundguy

 

[n4807g]

If you're looking for a large cab tractor with plenty of weight and power there's a Farm Pro 8240 listed on eBay with 22 hours. They're asking $17,000. Equivalent size tractor in a popular name will be at least twice that much.

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Pro 8240 listed on eBay with 22 hours. They're asking $17,000. Equivalent size tractor in a popular name will be at least twice that much. )</font>

Might be able to pick up a low hours 'big 3' for that much or just a hair more.

What are the stats on the 8240? ( what power plant? perkins? )

Soundguy