I have about 10 acres hay field & wanting to start baling it myself thinking an old sickle NH 455 a John deere old 4 bar steel wheel hay rake & old New holland square baler a couple hundred bales would get me through with my cattle after all the drought down here that way I can keep my cows.
- Thread starter bowdie
- Start date
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Stupidest thing I ever done was buy a baler :roll: If you got someone close to roll it for you, get a mower, tedder, and rake. Prepare it and let someone else roll it..... I figure I can buy round bales cheaper than I can put up (start to finish) the 500 or so small squares I make a year.... If you only have 10 acres and don't need any more, just have someone do it and spend the time with your kids/grandkids... Unless you don't work full time and/or value your free time.....
Tx Jim
Well-known Member
- Location
- Coyote Flats, Texas
JD sq balers will bale hay also.
Nebraska Cowman
Well-known Member
a couple hundred square bales ain't gonna feed very
many cows. Why don't you just turn them in the
field? Does it snow in central TX? Most of the
cattle in Nebraska are still grazing.
many cows. Why don't you just turn them in the
field? Does it snow in central TX? Most of the
cattle in Nebraska are still grazing.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
sounds like you're a hobby guy like me..... If that's all the hay you need, I'd spend the equipment money on fencing, make a nice set of pastures to rotate on, and buy the little bit of hay you'll need... Keeps hobbies as hobbies and fun like they should be....
Good Luck...
Dave
do it.
I bought some stuff after I had been screwed over a couple of times by folks telling me they would make my hay and having it rained on twice before they show up.
Started out making 5 acres of hay and 1 of straw and have been able to work deals around the area and have done up to 80 acre of hay in a year.
Since we all ready had a tractor and a mower all I needed was a rake and baler. I bought them cheaper than I would have been able to buy a skid steer or another tractor with a loader to handle rounds.
1000 pound round at 45 bucks is about 2.25 a bale. I figure I can make em cheaper than that.
I bought some stuff after I had been screwed over a couple of times by folks telling me they would make my hay and having it rained on twice before they show up.
Started out making 5 acres of hay and 1 of straw and have been able to work deals around the area and have done up to 80 acre of hay in a year.
Since we all ready had a tractor and a mower all I needed was a rake and baler. I bought them cheaper than I would have been able to buy a skid steer or another tractor with a loader to handle rounds.
1000 pound round at 45 bucks is about 2.25 a bale. I figure I can make em cheaper than that.
Not that I'd ever talk anybody out of some nice old hay equipment...
But that's what I was thinking too - better to manage your pastures. Maybe better to spend the money on fertilizer, no?
Unless you're just doing it for the fun of it, why bother baling?
To get you through droughts?
Not suggesting you don't, but just curious about why you would.
I'm always jealous of you southern guys that don't HAVE to bale to get you through a winter - maybe I shouldn't be?
But that's what I was thinking too - better to manage your pastures. Maybe better to spend the money on fertilizer, no?
Unless you're just doing it for the fun of it, why bother baling?
To get you through droughts?
Not suggesting you don't, but just curious about why you would.
I'm always jealous of you southern guys that don't HAVE to bale to get you through a winter - maybe I shouldn't be?
Ralph Bauer
Well-known Member
Charges way too much, even if he has a wire baler, especially if it is twine.... Should be more like 50/50.... just like on round bales here in SW/W OK.
Another note: Does that person pay 2/3 of your fertilizer bill, too?? I'm guessing not!
Either do cash or start thinking about purchasing some used equipment. Spring and late winter auctions should cough up some items in drought stricken areas fairly cheap.
I will have several bar rakes, older models, most likely for sale this spring. Been buying and rescuing them from the scrappers, but have not had a chance to go through them, or even find out what they are (watch for upcoming posts this weekend.). Ralph in OK.
Another note: Does that person pay 2/3 of your fertilizer bill, too?? I'm guessing not!
Either do cash or start thinking about purchasing some used equipment. Spring and late winter auctions should cough up some items in drought stricken areas fairly cheap.
I will have several bar rakes, older models, most likely for sale this spring. Been buying and rescuing them from the scrappers, but have not had a chance to go through them, or even find out what they are (watch for upcoming posts this weekend.). Ralph in OK.
Yeh if you love working with the equipment and enjoy it I'd rather put up my hay myself. But also the guys gave you some good advice on rotaional grazing. Look up Stockman grassfarmer and graze magazine. Also FArming magazine published in ohio. Bob Evans once told a famous writere if he had know about year round grazing when he was younger ,he would have never went into the restaraunt business.
Mark in Upstate
Member
You would have your own schedule and do it as you see fit. 1/3-2/3. I've been doing it for decades with a neighbor and he still tries to give me cash out of his 1/3.
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