MoKelly
Super Member
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Good eyes! I could easily have missed it.
The Life of a Custom Mowing contractor
- Thread starter Hay Dude
- Start date
- Views: 252710
Good eyes! I could easily have missed it.
OP
Hay Dude
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2012
- Messages
- 18,631
- Location
- A Hay Field along the PA/DE border
- Tractor
- Challenger MT655E, Massey Ferguson 7495, Challenger MT535B, Krone 4x4 XC baler, (2) Kubota ZD331’s, 2020 Ram 5500 Cummins 4x4, IH 7500 4x4 dump truck, Kaufman 35’ tandem 19 ton trailer, Deere CX-15, Pottinger Hay mowers
I was an avid of a bowhunter back in the day. I could spot deer where others couldn’t see them.
OP
Hay Dude
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2012
- Messages
- 18,631
- Location
- A Hay Field along the PA/DE border
- Tractor
- Challenger MT655E, Massey Ferguson 7495, Challenger MT535B, Krone 4x4 XC baler, (2) Kubota ZD331’s, 2020 Ram 5500 Cummins 4x4, IH 7500 4x4 dump truck, Kaufman 35’ tandem 19 ton trailer, Deere CX-15, Pottinger Hay mowers
Caught this guy crossing the field shortly after sunrise this morning While carrying a bale with the tractor.
He is heading up to the old railroad berm that was abandoned about the same time all the industry dried up and left the once great state of Pennsylvania. Once the envy of the nation in manufacturing. Now just a rust belt state, hollowed out by foreign manufacturing, unions, greed and corruption.
He is heading up to the old railroad berm that was abandoned about the same time all the industry dried up and left the once great state of Pennsylvania. Once the envy of the nation in manufacturing. Now just a rust belt state, hollowed out by foreign manufacturing, unions, greed and corruption.
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dodge man
Super Star Member
Wow, you read a lot into seeing that deer!
OP
Hay Dude
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2012
- Messages
- 18,631
- Location
- A Hay Field along the PA/DE border
- Tractor
- Challenger MT655E, Massey Ferguson 7495, Challenger MT535B, Krone 4x4 XC baler, (2) Kubota ZD331’s, 2020 Ram 5500 Cummins 4x4, IH 7500 4x4 dump truck, Kaufman 35’ tandem 19 ton trailer, Deere CX-15, Pottinger Hay mowers
Yeah, it just hits me sometimes, you know? We have lost so much. I wish we could go back to being that center of industry again…
pmsmechanic
Elite Member
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- Dec 6, 2013
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- 4,206
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- Southern Alberta, Canada
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- 4410 and F-935 John Deere, MF 245
The UAW just put another nail in that coffin.
OP
Hay Dude
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2012
- Messages
- 18,631
- Location
- A Hay Field along the PA/DE border
- Tractor
- Challenger MT655E, Massey Ferguson 7495, Challenger MT535B, Krone 4x4 XC baler, (2) Kubota ZD331’s, 2020 Ram 5500 Cummins 4x4, IH 7500 4x4 dump truck, Kaufman 35’ tandem 19 ton trailer, Deere CX-15, Pottinger Hay mowers
We basically have ONE industry still puttering along, the Lenape Forge. They make things like aluminum castings, tubes, etc for the department of defense (torpedo tubes, rocket tubes, fuselages, etc.). Other than that, what we made here is all now made in China.
OP
Hay Dude
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2012
- Messages
- 18,631
- Location
- A Hay Field along the PA/DE border
- Tractor
- Challenger MT655E, Massey Ferguson 7495, Challenger MT535B, Krone 4x4 XC baler, (2) Kubota ZD331’s, 2020 Ram 5500 Cummins 4x4, IH 7500 4x4 dump truck, Kaufman 35’ tandem 19 ton trailer, Deere CX-15, Pottinger Hay mowers
Excuse me for that small rant.
Yesterday and the last 5-6days we did a lot of weed wacking. Our customers farm has a pond and stream that cuts through about 1000’ of the property. Each year we cut around all that at the end of growing season.
In the background you can see where the once mighty B&O railroad tracks & berm is. The long trail of weeds left uncut in the small stream. At the base of the berm you see 2 yellow steel posts (water company pipeline markers). In between them is a tunnel with a long 6’ diameter pipe under the railroad berm for the stream to run through. The workmanship on the tunnels they built back in 1900’s was amazing. It will long outlive any of us. We used to build things to last seemingly forever.
I have since finished cutting the weeds in the stream. Needed my waterproof boots for that part.
Not very glamorous work, but it really gives you time to appreciate what you have, think about what we have lost. Think about the 100’s of years of sweat poured into this farm by the family that preceded me.…
This is the most beautifully haunting place to me. On a hot sunny day it feels full of life. On a cold cloudy day, the emptiness of no livestock, the fields dormant, nobody living here can send a chill up your spine.
I almost feel like I was put here to take over the work and to make sure this place continues to be farmed & maintained. I ain’t getting any younger. Who will take over from me?
Nobody lives here on the farm anymore. The house stands as a “museum” of sorts. It represents the work ethic of a German immigrant family that gave it everything they had and succeeded. It was sold to a Conservancy in the 90’s. They are a blessing to our community. They have preserved much farm land from the ravages ox urban sprawl and ugly vinyl box houses.
Yesterday and the last 5-6days we did a lot of weed wacking. Our customers farm has a pond and stream that cuts through about 1000’ of the property. Each year we cut around all that at the end of growing season.
In the background you can see where the once mighty B&O railroad tracks & berm is. The long trail of weeds left uncut in the small stream. At the base of the berm you see 2 yellow steel posts (water company pipeline markers). In between them is a tunnel with a long 6’ diameter pipe under the railroad berm for the stream to run through. The workmanship on the tunnels they built back in 1900’s was amazing. It will long outlive any of us. We used to build things to last seemingly forever.
I have since finished cutting the weeds in the stream. Needed my waterproof boots for that part.
Not very glamorous work, but it really gives you time to appreciate what you have, think about what we have lost. Think about the 100’s of years of sweat poured into this farm by the family that preceded me.…
This is the most beautifully haunting place to me. On a hot sunny day it feels full of life. On a cold cloudy day, the emptiness of no livestock, the fields dormant, nobody living here can send a chill up your spine.
I almost feel like I was put here to take over the work and to make sure this place continues to be farmed & maintained. I ain’t getting any younger. Who will take over from me?
Nobody lives here on the farm anymore. The house stands as a “museum” of sorts. It represents the work ethic of a German immigrant family that gave it everything they had and succeeded. It was sold to a Conservancy in the 90’s. They are a blessing to our community. They have preserved much farm land from the ravages ox urban sprawl and ugly vinyl box houses.
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workinonit
Elite Member
I like the way you think. The answer is, some young farmer will come along with an old soul that is as passionate as you are and willing to do the work. Or maybe not. Maybe it will grow up and return to nature. The good news is one of your last thoughts will be your memory of the work you did. I sometimes fear for the new generations. There may came a day when they don't have anyone that even knows how to grow food to feed them. God bless the farmers of this country.
tradosaurus
Elite Member
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- May 8, 2017
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- Texarkana, TX
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- Kubota MX5400 HST, heavy duty bucket, 3rd function, R1 tires (rears filled), 2 remotes
I enjoy reading your posts. Concerning the weed wacking have you thought about buying a wheeled string trimmer?