a few summer baling pics

We finished our first cutting of hay last night. Nick baled our little fields of alfalfa quite some time ago and we just finally got around to doing our fields of grass hay this week. Everything went well and suprisingly, the number of bales this year was virtually unchanged from last years totals. Maybe that fertilizer I spread on the fields last fall did something to make up for the lack of rain? Anyway, another project is out of the way.

I know this set up isnt brand new but not to many years ago we were baling with a 1086 on a 510 deere baler and raking with a 620 two cylinder and a 594 deere rake. Quite a change.


This is the 4440's first time on the baler. Nick would prefer the 4630 since it is powershift but it has the duals on it and is on the batwing mower. While raking hay the other day if figured out this is the 8th different tractor we have used to round bale hay over the years.


It was such a serious project we recruited travis to come help on a weekend. He moved the bales as fast as nick could make them. Saves us a whole bunch of work not having to move them later.


Always thought windrows of hay made some neat looking pics.


Spent all day saturday looking for this bale! Except for the 2 1/2 hour lunch we took with owner of this farm. He and I went to school together all the way from K-12 so when we get a chance to talk we make the most of it.
Oh, no wrigley pics. He didnt help! I left him here at home. That is a pretty rare deal but it does happen. He is always SOOOOOO happy to see us when we get back. Right now he is sound asleep on the living room floor. You know what, a nap sounds like a good idea!
Later
bill

Bill,

Great pictures and commentary, as always!

Stan

I just baled the first field today. Don't like to work Sunday,but chance of rain tomorrow. Only had 11 acres down. Wanted to make sure the bugs were out of everything before I go whole hog.
I was real surprised at the yield given how poor the alfalfa is this year. The grass more than made it up in volume. 5 rolls to the acre is about what I average on first cutting,but I rolled 83 off that 11 acres. Hope that average continues. Gonna need it if we don't get some more rain before long.

Thanks for the pictures - Glad you were able something for Travis to do!

Jim

It"s good to see someone having sunshine and being able to bale. We"ve had rain for the last three weeks and we can"t even get our lawn mowed it"s so wet!There fresh snow about 3000 ft above us on the Mission Mountains as I write this. We usually hay at the end of June -first of July.
I"m not complaining though. It"ll get hot soon enough and we"ll be irrigating!

Thanks for the pictures!

Weather turned better here at Clinton Camp Farm Friday. Rolled up about another 100T Friday and Sat. Made 102T a week ago before it started raining every day. The bales are coming in at about 2100# each and getting 3 to 3.5/A A bit light for us.

always happy to help!! especially in an air conditioned cab in a comfortable tractor. i was late getting down after spraying some corn for a friend but caught up while you guys enjoyed lunch. the sandwich tasted good in the field when you guys got back!

Nice looking operation you have there Bill. I always enjoy your pictures and tales of you day to day work. I have been baling also last Thur evening and Fri afternoon I rolled 133 round bales off 25 acres with a MF285 and an old New Holland 850.