What is just enough?

[daTeacha]

Agreed. My DX29 handles large square bales, but I go very slowly with one on the FEL. I can take them off the pickup and stack them in the barn, but I have a low ceiling so only 12 high. Any more than that would make me extremely nervous, even with 900 lb on the hitch. These bales are in the 900 to 1000 lb range depending on what they are. They measure about 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 6 1/2.

 

[john_bud]

Most horse people around here want square bales. If you are some what planning on selling the hay, you typically get the most for 'em when they are feeding horses. But, you need to supply good feed...

For round bales, there is a difference between "able to do it" and "doing it with confidence". For confidence, you probably want an FEL rated 2x the average bale. That typically will get you a longer, wider and much much heavier tractor. The smaller tractors can do it, but you may suffer from severe butt pucker more often than not. Naturally, dealing with all flat smooth ground takes away a lot of pucker!

 

[flusher]

Hi, all. I'm getting really close to buying my first tractor, and wanted some advice from the experts. I have about 30 acres (20 acres fields, 10 woods) and intend for the majority of it to be in hay and baled for me to sell- but I may need to be able to move the round bales around the fields, and maybe load onto a buyer's trailer. I don't have to throw them over a fence or in a feed ring, since I don't have animals- I'll just need to move them a bit. (I'd prefer to have someone else deal with the hay entirely, but haven't found someone to do that yet. ) My real needs are to create and maintain a dirt and eventually gravel driveway, move some dirt, clean out some woods, haul a wagon, and just general use. I'm fond of Mahindra, but not 100% committed to it. I was planning on a 2615 with front end loader in 4WD, but I think I'll need more if I want to move round bales- even on a 3 point hitch. So, what is the bare minimum I need to do the job? And exactly how (and what implement) do I move the round bales? I just don't want too big a tractor or too little. Thanks for your advice!

Hmm, round bales.

Most growers around here do small square bales. That's what you see on the hay trucks going up and down I5. And there are a few guys doing large square bales.

I see very few round bales around here. I may be completely wrong, but my impression is that round bales are used mostly on-site by the grower since the rounds are more difficult to stack for over-the-road transport.

If you plan to sell the hay, squares may be a better choice. I'd give this some serious thought before buying a tractor and implements.

I only have 7 of my 10 acres available for haying and plan to do small squares with the 2-twine MF 124 baler I bought last week. The horse people, who are my (hopefully) customers, want small squares not too tightly packed and twine-tied (no wire tie).

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Agreed. My DX29 handles large square bales, but I go very slowly with one on the FEL. I can take them off the pickup and stack them in the barn, but I have a low ceiling so only 12 high. Any more than that would make me extremely nervous, even with 900 lb on the hitch. These bales are in the 900 to 1000 lb range depending on what they are. They measure about 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 6 1/2.

I am totally ignorant here, but are you saying that you stack your hay 42 feet high? And you say that you have a low ceiling, wow, I want to visit your neck of the woods to see what a tall ceiling is. Do you have any pictures?

 

[Soundguy]

For round bales, there is a difference between "able to do it" and "doing it with confidence".

Ditto that. My old ford 660 -will- move a round bale.. but don't like to do it much. My ole ford 850 handles them much better... more hp.. slightly more weight, heavier rear end.... different front tires.. etc..

soundguy