Question regarding Hay.

[TheCowboyNation]

So I am a young antique tractor enthusiast of 22 years old and am debating on whether or not to start a small hay bailing operation in my home town to make a little small cash but also to have some fun with antique tractors. I own a John Deere 40w but am looking into buying a Farmall C for a very nice price from this older lady whose husband passed away a couple years ago. I am looking for advice for getting a haybine and a small square bailer that I can use with my Farmall C. Im trying to stay away from a sickle bar mower for maintenance reasons but not close minded to it. I also read a brush hog with no sides would work decently. I live in Florida so hills are almost non-existent but I have gotten a lot of mixed responses about if it's possible or not. Could y'all give some advice on models or if I should even pursue it at all.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

I'm thinking a Deere 14t baler. Your Deere has a little more power and might handle a 24t.

Unless you want to be completely authentic I'd recommend a small drum mower, either tractor should have no problem with a 48".

Don't expect to make a lot of money and you'll be fine.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I'd use a sickle bar anyday before a bush hog.
You bale hay, not bail it.

 

[TheCowboyNation]

Ok one more add on. I do plan on doing a full restore on this Farmall C if I do buy it and while I'm at it I wanna bore it to a Super C. So it should have a little more HP then a stock C at PTO. Also I kinda do wanna stay vintage about it in the sense I don't wanna have to buy all brand new equipment for a vintage hobby. Kinda gonna try a show off at my local tractor show for people to learn about the older ways.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

I'd use a sickle bar anyday before a bush hog.

Agree. I never understood the recommendation that a bush hog can be used to cut hay. Aside from the fact that it mulches the cut grass, it just doesn't cut low enough. Or mine doesn't. The grass is a lot lower down low so you miss a lot of grass. You also need reasonably short grass to rake, I can't imagine dragging a rake over a field that was just bush-hogged.

 

[Creamer]

Agree. I never understood the recommendation that a bush hog can be used to cut hay. Aside from the fact that it mulches the cut grass, it just doesn't cut low enough. Or mine doesn't. The grass is a lot lower down low so you miss a lot of grass. You also need reasonably short grass to rake, I can't imagine dragging a rake over a field that was just bush-hogged.

Absolutely correct! Also, I find my sickle bar mower to be of almost no maintenance once I got it all set. I use it a couple of times a year and leave it parked outside and just hook onto it grease it and oil the guide points on the bar and go. If you have rocks or mounds though I do recommend one without a pitman stick, i.e. IH or New Holland with the wobblebox near the sickle head. If you are not going to abuse it like I do and only use it for hay I would also strongly recommend the double guards versus the old style single mower guards as they slide through the grass much smoother. Since I completely went through the sickle and realigned things when I bought it five years ago I have done virtually nothing to it except tighten the main drive belt and reattach a sickle section when I broke a rivet when I caught a steel fence post. And I abuse this mower cutting off up to 3" saplings with it and trimming treelines and willows along pond banks with it. Plus sickles are so much quieter than a bush hog or drum - it is so much more peaceful running them.

 

[hosspuller]

Growing hay for profit is like making a small fortune in farming. Works only if you start with a large fortune. :laughing:

Growing hay that sells is weather and time dependent. You HAVE to make hay when the sun shines. Waiting after your day job to get to the field, is a risk of wet hay. Then no one wants the mess.

It is NOT just cutting and baling grass. After the first time you hay a field... You've mined the value out of it. Subsequent cuts will be less, nothing is free … It's a crop and must be tended like a crop. Fertilized, weeded, planted, etc.

There is no cash profit in a small hay operation with antique equipment. Just a lot of fun, interesting work, and a mental challenge. :cloud9: