West Coast hay balers

jeff outwest · Jan 12, 2013

A normal set up you'll see
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A custom outfit's

A neighbors outfit
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A baler on a lot in Nevada

My tractor and baler[/img]

Andy C · Jan 12, 2013

That is pretty neat! Are you going to show some pics of picking up also? Those Freeman Balers look pretty tough!I would love to be in that part of the country during hay making season. I used to bale 35,000 bales a season (50 lb bales)on these rolling hills with thrower wagons.....How Different! Thanks for sharing the pics!
Andy

sixtyninegmc · Jan 12, 2013

How do you like the Freeman balers? Have looked at them, but never talked to anyone who has ran one. Pretty happy with my 4590 hesston, but dreaming and scheming is part of the fun

Your pics make me want the snow to go away so I can get back at it,.

jon f mn · Jan 12, 2013

That's very interesting. I like to see how it's done
in other ereas.

ss55 · Jan 12, 2013

This is the first time I've seen lights on a baler. You must be in a very dry climate to be able to bale after dark.

showcrop · Jan 12, 2013

Looks like you want to start out with a full twine bin and a lunch. When I head out I'm good with a bundle and a half LOL.

KYfarm · Jan 12, 2013

thanks for the pics,

I don't think there is a single piece of ground in my county that is
that flat. I guess there are some pretty bad soft spots when you do
get some steady rain.

nice lookin fields

RayP(MI) · Jan 12, 2013

What's the deal with the self powered balers? Don't think thaat I've seen anything but PTO balers of any kind around here for 50 years.

Old Bob · Jan 12, 2013

Went to California a few years ago. Somewhere around Yuma, Arizona I saw at more than one farm they were baling hay with 2 balers hooked behind a truck. The balers were each powered by their own engine. They were going fast with the truck while baling. I wondered how they kept the windrows so evenly spaced that the balers did not get off the windrow. Only rake hand I ever had that could do that was my son. He is now a lawyer and he don't rake no more hay.

bradley martin · Jan 12, 2013

In order to run a baler with a pto drive at maximum capacity you would need a hydrostatic drive tractor or one of the new infinitely variable transmissions. With the engine driven baler, the tractor can be run at any speed without compromising the baler capacity.

GordoSD · Jan 12, 2013

What is the price of that hay versus that alfalfa? Is that the first cut on the alfalfa?

CenTex Farmall · Jan 12, 2013

Read something recently about hay in California being bought up and shipped to China. Heard anything on that?

Dr. Ed · Jan 12, 2013

Most of the hay baled in New Mexico, Arizona and California is baled at night, especially during the hot summer when they will start at midnight, after the dew comes in, and run all night until the morning dew leaves. Many use three strings on the bale and the bales will weigh 120 lbs. They used to prefer wire, but it has gotten too high priced, it costs over 25 cents per bale for wire alone, probably more now that was 10 years ago. The big operators now use the big bale system with 1500 to 2000 lb bales. Unfortunately, the small baler shown are becoming relics of the past.

jeff outwest · Jan 12, 2013

The pictures of the balers in alfalfa was all third cutting. We only get 3 cuts maybe 4 at our elevation, 4000ft. Engine driven balers are the norm out here due to the tonnage that we run through them. But due to the new emissions laws I hear Freeman is the only one offering engine driven balers. Most 3 twine bales go to feed stores now and only weigh 100 lbs. I will post more pics we never handle them by hand anymore.

Dan in North Houston · Jan 12, 2013

Baling behind a truck? Why would you ever use a truck instead of a tractor? Even with an engine on the baler and not using the PTO, you would still not have the good speed control and visbility from a truck as opposed to a tractor?

DeltaRed · Jan 12, 2013

Here in weatern Colorado(as in most of the desert southwest) we also bale a lot of hay at night.We use mostly Small(14x18).No 3 wire that I have seen.A few big guys are now useing 3x3 or 4x4.

Erik Ks farmer · Jan 12, 2013

Thank you for the pics and the explanation, Jeff. The Freeman's are the first square balers I have seen with gathering wheels. Does the custom operator pull the baler in the field behind the truck?

Bill in Colo · Jan 12, 2013

From visiting with farmer friends in California most hay is baled by custom operators. Many balers are set up with a Gooseneck hitch. and pulled by 1/2 ton pu's alot of it has to due with the fact that operator my travel up the 50 miles between fields most hay producers and user are very crankey about quality.
I have a neighbor here that has a new Freeman SP baler in 14x18, power plant, cab, and hydraulics are the same as JD sprayers. This machine will handle about 6000 bales in ten hours.

ShadetreeRet · Jan 12, 2013

Impressive! I have never seen a hayfield that large. Thanks for posting.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 17, 2013

The Freeman balers are top of the line in the baler world and they are also the most expensive balers in the world.

West Coast hay balers

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