Want to get into haying - need some advice.
- Thread starter ddivinia
- Start date
- Views: 21325
1. How much of the 160 acres do you plan on haying?
Doing 20 acres. Going to throw long horns on my 160 (rough, recreational land out there).
2. How much labor do you have available to you? (square or round, see also item 5)
TBD - no free kid work here. Debating some hay trailers and a launcher (is that what you call it).
3. What is the condition of the fields?
Flat - bermuda with a bunch of weeds - needs to get the country agent out to look at it. Need to start fertilizing, etc. Might take a year plus to get it in shape I guess.
4. What type of forage is planted or is it just pasture land that will be hayed? (questions 4 & 5 are to determine value of hay for horses and approximate yields)
Pasture land.
5. Where do you plan to store the hay? Do you have a pole barn on or near the hay fields with at least 15 foot over head clearance? (Option of using a New Holland Automatic Bale Wagon with small square bales)
Well I have 20 acres and my Mom's 10 acres. I have barns on each.
6. Do you want your haying tractor to be a utility tractor also? If so what types of tasks do you need it to do?
I want it to do other stuff. FEL, post hole digger, mowing, etc.
Thanks,
D.
Doing 20 acres. Going to throw long horns on my 160 (rough, recreational land out there).
2. How much labor do you have available to you? (square or round, see also item 5)
TBD - no free kid work here. Debating some hay trailers and a launcher (is that what you call it).
3. What is the condition of the fields?
Flat - bermuda with a bunch of weeds - needs to get the country agent out to look at it. Need to start fertilizing, etc. Might take a year plus to get it in shape I guess.
4. What type of forage is planted or is it just pasture land that will be hayed? (questions 4 & 5 are to determine value of hay for horses and approximate yields)
Pasture land.
5. Where do you plan to store the hay? Do you have a pole barn on or near the hay fields with at least 15 foot over head clearance? (Option of using a New Holland Automatic Bale Wagon with small square bales)
Well I have 20 acres and my Mom's 10 acres. I have barns on each.
6. Do you want your haying tractor to be a utility tractor also? If so what types of tasks do you need it to do?
I want it to do other stuff. FEL, post hole digger, mowing, etc.
Thanks,
D.
burnetma
Gold Member
OK 20 acres is reasonable. I think that you are looking at the right size tractor and your plan to get a baler with a kicker and some kicker wagons is also in order or you could use a New Holland Automatic Hay Wagon. These are available used in many parts of the country. If you pass on the kicker (save $4000) and only have the one wagon (vs. 3 or 4 save another $3000) it could pay for a used NH Auto and part of the cost of another used 50+ HP tractor (say a JD 720/730). In order to get the benefit, you really need to be able to back it into the barn and have it unload. Huge labor saver, especially for a one man show.
I would recommend down grading your baler selection. The 348 is a great HIGH volume baler. The 328 or 338 will do just fine.
The fields, as described, may not yield horse quality hay. That could put a damper on any income potential.
Based on the additional needs, the JD 5000 series is right on the money. Lots of options. Note that the 5003 is a lower grade of tractor made in a "low cost country". You will have to evaluate the value and quality on your own as I have no personal experience. The advice that I got from 3 seperate dealers was to avoid these units, but was never given an example of an issue with the machine. Go figure!
Any way you go, have fun and keep your eyes open.
I would recommend down grading your baler selection. The 348 is a great HIGH volume baler. The 328 or 338 will do just fine.
The fields, as described, may not yield horse quality hay. That could put a damper on any income potential.
Based on the additional needs, the JD 5000 series is right on the money. Lots of options. Note that the 5003 is a lower grade of tractor made in a "low cost country". You will have to evaluate the value and quality on your own as I have no personal experience. The advice that I got from 3 seperate dealers was to avoid these units, but was never given an example of an issue with the machine. Go figure!
Any way you go, have fun and keep your eyes open.
JoeinTX
Platinum Member
"I usually start at $15 an hour and every time the boy in question is there when I need them after that it's a dollar an hour raise up to $25...."
Wow!!! Fifteen dollars an hour to haul square bales! I never got more than $6-7/hr and I thought I was doing okay....even after getting heat-stroke on one occasion /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ****, if you can't find kids willing to work a little for that kind of money, jeez.... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Wow!!! Fifteen dollars an hour to haul square bales! I never got more than $6-7/hr and I thought I was doing okay....even after getting heat-stroke on one occasion /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif ****, if you can't find kids willing to work a little for that kind of money, jeez.... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
New Holland Automatic Hay Wagon.
----------
What is it? I will have to do some research?
I do not have any hay wagons now. I like the idea of balign it - having it in a trailer - can store under cover until I can unload.
---------
I would recommend down grading your baler selection. The 348 is a great HIGH volume baler. The 328 or 338 will do just fine.
-------
I have nto seen the price differences yet - I will look online now.
Now -there are options on these balers.
Wire or twine?
---------
The fields, as described, may not yield horse quality hay. That could put a damper on any income potential.
-----
They need work - I have to get after it!
Based on the additional needs, the JD 5000 series is right on the money. Lots of options. Note that the 5003 is a lower grade of tractor made in a "low cost country". You will have to evaluate the value and quality on your own as I have no personal experience. The advice that I got from 3 seperate dealers was to avoid these units, but was never given an example of an issue with the machine. Go figure!
----------
The 5303 looks great on paper and it seems to be a decent tractor. It is the low end with a lot of power. I am going to drive them all today or Saturday - see which I think is the rigth one.
Thanks,
D.
----------
What is it? I will have to do some research?
I do not have any hay wagons now. I like the idea of balign it - having it in a trailer - can store under cover until I can unload.
---------
I would recommend down grading your baler selection. The 348 is a great HIGH volume baler. The 328 or 338 will do just fine.
-------
I have nto seen the price differences yet - I will look online now.
Now -there are options on these balers.
Wire or twine?
---------
The fields, as described, may not yield horse quality hay. That could put a damper on any income potential.
-----
They need work - I have to get after it!
Based on the additional needs, the JD 5000 series is right on the money. Lots of options. Note that the 5003 is a lower grade of tractor made in a "low cost country". You will have to evaluate the value and quality on your own as I have no personal experience. The advice that I got from 3 seperate dealers was to avoid these units, but was never given an example of an issue with the machine. Go figure!
----------
The 5303 looks great on paper and it seems to be a decent tractor. It is the low end with a lot of power. I am going to drive them all today or Saturday - see which I think is the rigth one.
Thanks,
D.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If you have trouble finding a haying contractor perhaps ask yourself some questions about grass/field quality, equipment required and then do a little math.
There may be a reason for their reluctance.
Egon )</font>
Probably the biggest issue - getting anybody to call me back. I have just found a couple other guys - will see what happens.
D.
There may be a reason for their reluctance.
Egon )</font>
Probably the biggest issue - getting anybody to call me back. I have just found a couple other guys - will see what happens.
D.
RickB
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2000
- Messages
- 15,143
- Location
- Up the road from Dollar General WNC
- Tractor
- Just a Scag
1. Work on geting some decent hay crop established on your land.
2. Donate $30,000 to your favorite charity.
3. Spend 150 hours voluntarily helping a local hay grower using whatever system you think you want for yourself.
4. Decide whether you really want to do this after the season.
2. Donate $30,000 to your favorite charity.
3. Spend 150 hours voluntarily helping a local hay grower using whatever system you think you want for yourself.
4. Decide whether you really want to do this after the season.
Indydirtfarmer
Platinum Member
I've encountered a couple JD dealers that didn't "like" the 5003 series tractors myself. I'm fairly certain that's because they want to sell a more expensive model in it's place. I have a "Golf Course Contractor" working for me right now, here at work, who has 22 John Deere tractors on site. He has 5400's, 5310's, 5420's 5320's, and a few (various models) of the 5003 series. He uses them HARD. (Temporary labor force operators) The XX03 series tractors have proven themselves under fire, as just as good, if not BETTER than some other 5000 series tractors. They don't have all the bells and whistles, but they seem to be a good, solid small tractor.
I'd say Mother Deere needs to get her dealers motivated to sell more of 'em. They might regain a big portion of market share they've been loosing by doing such.
I'd say Mother Deere needs to get her dealers motivated to sell more of 'em. They might regain a big portion of market share they've been loosing by doing such.
burnetma
Gold Member
Check out New Hollands website. You will find the bale wagons under Products>Hay tools. Basically they pick up the hay off the ground and stack them on the wagon. You back the wagon into your barn and it tips up and unloads all of the hay. I think that you would be interested in the 1037 or some earlier version. The 1037 holds a little over 100 bales, so it is important that the barns are fairly close. It requires a 50 hp tractor to pull it. An earlier and smaller version is a 1035 which is a 50+ bale wagon. These go relatively cheap ($3000-$5000 in my general area if you can find one used) because they are so small. Not sure of the power requirements.
Most important advice on tractors. Drive them all and drive them more than once. I know you like JD, but it doesn't hurt to check out the other brands just to see what is out there and the features of each. In this size and power range there are literally a dozen competing brands that make a good tractor. The best tractor for you is the one that fits you and your operation best.
I agree with an earlier poster regarding the JD 348 baler. I will add that regardless of the price difference, the JD 348 is too much baler for your operation and tractor. A JD 338 (or 328) is a much better fit and possibly will have better resale.
It will take time and money to get your fields into shape. Most likely lime, fertilizer and overseeding. I do not want to venture a guess on how much of what, but you can get a good idea by getting a soil test kit and test the soil yourself or draw some samples and have them sent out for analysis. Typically there is some government agency that provides this service or the state university.
Good luck and happy farming.
Most important advice on tractors. Drive them all and drive them more than once. I know you like JD, but it doesn't hurt to check out the other brands just to see what is out there and the features of each. In this size and power range there are literally a dozen competing brands that make a good tractor. The best tractor for you is the one that fits you and your operation best.
I agree with an earlier poster regarding the JD 348 baler. I will add that regardless of the price difference, the JD 348 is too much baler for your operation and tractor. A JD 338 (or 328) is a much better fit and possibly will have better resale.
It will take time and money to get your fields into shape. Most likely lime, fertilizer and overseeding. I do not want to venture a guess on how much of what, but you can get a good idea by getting a soil test kit and test the soil yourself or draw some samples and have them sent out for analysis. Typically there is some government agency that provides this service or the state university.
Good luck and happy farming.
HayDR
Veteran Member, Approved Advertiser
Indydirtfarmer,
Yes the 5003 series JD tractors are rugged but their transmissions are not the optimum choice for harvesting hay. IE: running a baler and a disc mower. You can do it but the transmissions of the more upscale JD series make it much easier. Dirt-working tasks are different than operating hay tools.
Yes the 5003 series JD tractors are rugged but their transmissions are not the optimum choice for harvesting hay. IE: running a baler and a disc mower. You can do it but the transmissions of the more upscale JD series make it much easier. Dirt-working tasks are different than operating hay tools.
