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Square Baler

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skyharborcowboy

01-03-2008 03:10:46




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This is purely out of wanting to learn as I dont have enough acreage to actually grow hay to bale but enough for pastures.

How much do small square balers cost? Which ones are good ones to have? How hard are they to maintain? What would one consider to be the minimum amount of land to have to grow alfalfa to bale?

Thanks,

Joe




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JoshuaGA

01-03-2008 17:35:58




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 Re: Square Baler in reply to ohio dick, 01-03-2008 03:10:46  
I'm biased, but If you want a baler to depend on, most John Deeres and New Hollands are worth the money just to get parts and service. Hesston Inlines are good balers, but are newer and more expensive. I'd say, a good baler from the 60's or 70's, at around $1000 to $1500 with the dealer going through it, can be paid for off ten to fifteen acres. I say that because I've lost quality or a whole crop from depending on someone else to bale for me because they are never ready when you are. This summer, I had hay that would have baled off the cutterbar, still had the green tinge, but was dry and drying faster in 95 to 100 degree heat. Did not see the the baler until late next afternoon. Live and learn. have a good un.

JoshuaGA

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lincolnj

01-03-2008 17:04:38




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 Re: Square Baler in reply to skyharborcowboy, 01-03-2008 03:10:46  
I started two years ago with a nh 268 baler, oliver rake, and a jd 37 mower. Total investment was $1150.(which included a dealer going through the baler before I started using it) I don't have any of my own ground so I go around and ask people to mow water ways, odd ball pieces, and vacant lots in town. The first year I did about 20 acres. I did about 65 acres this year. Most all of it is grass, so it doesn't bring top dollar, but I've paid for my equipment several times over, and haven't had to buy any hay for my own critters. What ever you equipment you buy, get a manual for it and read it front to back several times. I'd also pick a brand of equipment with a near by dealer, things are always broke down when the hay is down and the rain is on its way.

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kyhayman

01-03-2008 12:41:22




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 Re: Square Baler in reply to skyharborcowboy, 01-03-2008 03:10:46  
A good used Deere 336 will run you 3000-4500 here. Well used NH 273 brought 600 on a cold rainy auction the other day. New figure mid teen thousand depending on feautres and promotions from the dealer.

Personally, anything coming out new right now looks good to me. In the used ones I like NH 273's and higher numbers, Deere 336 and 338.

A decent baler, well kept (DRY!!!!), and operated by someone with mechanical ability and the appropriate shop manual isnt too bad to keep running. A worn out, rusted up heap, of questionable design to start with is a nightmare. Any machine that has to tie two knots at the same time, at high speed, in field conditions, consistantly, more than once a minute is a precision machine used in imprecise conditions.

I personally wouldnt consider haying with less than 20 acres of good quality hay land in a temperate climate. Realistically, I wouldnt consider haying profitably with less than 2-3 times that.

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Turke Bros. Farms

01-03-2008 10:19:29




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 Re: Square Baler in reply to skyharborcowboy, 01-03-2008 03:10:46  
OOOHHH! You mean that isnt considered to be "carry on luggage"?



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skyharborcowboy

01-03-2008 06:52:49




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 Re: Square Baler in reply to MartyinVa, 01-03-2008 03:10:46  

Turke Bros. Farms said: (quoted from post at 15:23:45 01/03/08) I have a International #45 on the lot, came from a one owner farm that stopped operations in 1968. Everything checked out good on it. $600 will take it home. please send email if you are interested,.


Turke,

You need to put your location in such a post. $600 could turn into $1600 if it has to be shipped all the way across the country.

Thanks,

Joe

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7812

01-03-2008 06:25:00




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 Re: Square Baler in reply to skyharborcowboy, 01-03-2008 03:10:46  
Buying a baler is like buying a car you can spend whatever you want.



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Turke Bros. Farms

01-03-2008 06:23:45




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 Re: Square Baler in reply to skyharborcowboy, 01-03-2008 03:10:46  
I have a International #45 on the lot, came from a one owner farm that stopped operations in 1968. Everything checked out good on it. $600 will take it home. please send email if you are interested,.



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Steven f/AZ

01-03-2008 06:16:53




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 Re: Square Baler in reply to skyharborcowboy, 01-03-2008 03:10:46  
My brother and I sold Dad's idiot cuber while he was gone one day for $50. We didn't much enjoy slinging those buggers around third party image



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Chrisco

01-03-2008 06:04:35




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 Re: Square Baler in reply to skyharborcowboy, 01-03-2008 03:10:46  
I started by just putting up ditches with a friend and a round baler about 5 years a go. Then we decided to go back to small squares 2 years a go. So I bought a square baler for $200 and put another $200 in to it. Last year we put up about 4000 bales. and this up coming year it is hopefully 5000 to 6000. To some people that is not a lot but starting from nothing it just gets bigger every year.

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hayray

01-03-2008 04:55:53




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 Re: Square Baler in reply to skyharborcowboy, 01-03-2008 03:10:46  
The minimum might be close to around 10 acres or a little less, I have seen many people that do that. An old New Holland and John Deere Baler might be had for $500 to $1000. Not too hard to maintain but hard to make work correctly at times, especially the knotters, having a manual is a must.



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Dachshund

01-03-2008 07:53:40




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 Re: Square Baler in reply to hayray, 01-03-2008 04:55:53  
Last January I missed out on a REALLY great JD 14T at an auction. It went for $200.



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hayray

01-03-2008 09:17:19




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 Re: Square Baler in reply to Dachshund, 01-03-2008 07:53:40  
14 ts are real good balers, there are so many out there so cheap that a lot of guys get a couple of them.



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