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Info about hay farming

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Rick(WA)

10-08-2001 20:08:58




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I have 21 acres in hay, and I'd like to start doing all of the work myself. We bought the property a year ago, and we've continued the 60/40 arrangement the previous owner had with a neighbor for doing the plowing, discing, mowing, baling, etc. So far, I've acquired a Ford 4000 Diesel tractor, a Ford 101 3-bottom plow, a Ford 501 sickle mower and a King Kutter broadcast fertilizer/seed spreader. I've been told that I need a disc, harrow, rake and square baler as a minimum.

I would greatly appreciate equipment suggestions and advice on how to use them. Can anyone recommend some good books on how to grow hay and how to use the equipment? Thanks to all in advance.

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BOGS

10-22-2001 06:52:36




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 Re: Info about hay farming in reply to Rick(WA), 10-08-2001 20:08:58  
Everyone seems to be concerned with cutting abd raking and baling. Depending on what yopu plan on doing with the hay etc and your overall crop rotational plan, you may consider liming your soils. In addition you may only want to keep it in hay for 4/5 years and then plow it under and plant corn. well just wanted 2 hit a different aspect. as far as mowing and not raking and baling immeadiately....i guess it depends what area of the country you are from. In new york to bale dry hay, you must rake it. Remember if your hay is 2 wet and you put it in the hay mow, you may not have a barn. a good way to tell if hay is ready to bale, roll it up in a ball and see if it starts to give and get "big". if it is 2 wet it will tend to stay close to the ball shape. Ok thats is enough out of me for now.

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Rick(WA)

10-11-2001 09:39:40




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 Re: Info about hay farming in reply to Rick(WA), 10-08-2001 20:08:58  
My thanks to all of you who responded. I have checked out the haying FAQ web site and the others that were recommended. I have also been helping the farmer who is currently doing the work. He's a good guy, but you have to almost pull info out of him. I'm basically looking for more info about how to use the equipment properly. I have the manuals but they don't cover that very well, since they assume you know what you're doing. I figure the more I learn on my own, the better the questions I can ask. Thanks again.

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3020MSS

10-13-2001 06:55:06




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 Re: Re: Info about hay farming in reply to Rick(WA), 10-11-2001 09:39:40  
Rick,I just finished my first year doing my own hay after 20 years of my folks 40/60ing split. Basically I have..JD 3020, N.H. 65 compact baler, 9' side delivery ground driven rake, 1209 J.D. Mower/conditioner. Ill tell ya first that usually most equipment you can contact dealer for OPERATOR manuels. I have bought parts and Oper for 1209, tractor, baler. The rake is basically mechanical and you can figure that one out just by doing and adjusting if you aint getting the ground clean. You know the basics if youve been helping that guy alittle. Cutting, raking, baling. THe baler is the critical part. I had breakdowns at the beginning and put about 450.00 in a 200 baler, its still old but she tied about 1000 bales this year and messed up a couple times. Its easy to cut just cut the grass as short as you can. I left about 3-5 inches. I like the 1209 instead of sickle becouse it cuts and puts it into a nice row without having to rake. THus less gas used and less trips around the field. However it takes longer to dry when rowed. If it rains you have to turn it or if it isnt wanting to dry good underneith you stillhave to turn it. Now baling I tried to run the hay row about middle to inside of my pickup. I found out that different grasses will bale differently and alphal bales better than grass. Also knowing when its dry enough to bale. So after saying all this...GET OPERATING MANUELS..TAKE IT SLOW....PRACTICE ON A SMALL PATCH...EXPERIENCE...
Good Luck, Scott

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Rick(WA)

10-13-2001 17:23:07




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 Re: Re: Re: Info about hay farming in reply to 3020MSS, 10-13-2001 06:55:06  
Thanks for the good advice, Scott. I did get all the manuals for the equipment I have. The guy doing the work now has a huge $20K swather that mows & rakes in one pass, which is way out of my league. I'll take my time as you said.



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dave(ne)

10-10-2001 13:15:46




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 Re: Info about hay farming in reply to Rick(WA), 10-08-2001 20:08:58  
I jumped into this hay business about 3 years ago with no experience. I have 20 acres hay, 10 acres alfalfa, and 10 acres pasture. I can't help you as far as planting because I havn't had to do it yet. The hay has never been reseeded to my knowledge. It has been in the family since the 50's. The alfalfa is about due to be re-seeded. As far as haying I use a Ford 2N and a 7' 501 Ford mower. I have a old Ford ground driven 9' side delivery rake that I also use with my 2N. For baling I have a 268 NH small sq baler and a Ford 861 tractor. The key ingredient here is a baler that works! The first year I had tying problems with the 268 baler and that made for a very frustrating year. Once I figured out what was wrong it has been a very good baler. I put up about 2500 bales per year with 0-1 miss ties per year. All of my equipment I have bought at various auctions for a very decent price. It has been a learning experience that I'm glad I didn't pass up. Good Luck

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Rgibbs

10-10-2001 11:30:18




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 Re: Info about hay farming in reply to Rick(WA), 10-08-2001 20:08:58  
Rick, I planted my hay field 1.5 years ago. I used blue grass, timothy and orchard grass. I used a disk, chain fence and a brillion seeder to do mine. I mowed it 6 times the first year to keep the weeds down. Over the winter I bought a NH rake for 700.00 a JD 24t baler for 600.00 and a old haybine for 500.00. I have cut my field twice this year and yeilded 825 bales 1st cut, 625 second cut with little rain. I am cutting for the third time this week. My baler is a sissal and has only missed a tie twice when it caught on the knot where I had spliced it. Sissal is biodegradable, where as wire is not and neither is plastic. There is nothing worse than having to call a vet for an animal that has swallowed the plastic twine or one that cuts themselves on wire. But its all a matter of preference. Good Luck! I baled 18 acres!!

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doug vose

10-09-2001 18:40:52




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 Re: Info about hay farming in reply to Rick(WA), 10-08-2001 20:08:58  
when you get a baler, try to get a wire tie. I have never heard of a wire tie that missed a tie. first cutting of hay this year was terrible with our twine tie. it would tie 3 out of 4 bales, and took $275.00 to fix the problem. i have had real good luck with john deere and new holland balers.

and (being the guy that usually has to stack the wagon) try to get a pusher, not a kicker or shooter, i always hated to climb up in the wagon and get bales shot up at me faster than i could stack. one more good thing about the pusher is it is a lot easier to unload at the mow. nothin beats seeing a flat stacked wagon pull up to the mow after a hard day of unloading hay bins

thats my 2 cents about balers

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T.J.

10-09-2001 10:02:32




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 Re: Info about hay farming in reply to Rick(WA), 10-08-2001 20:08:58  
I would suggest that you try and help the guy out for a season or 2 that is doing your hay as his apprentice as it is a lot to learn all at once. You might get some ideas from him as to what works in your area and might save yourself a lot of trouble and some money at the same time. I learned from the old man and you are gonna find out things that you wont find in any book. Good luck T.J.



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Doug

10-09-2001 08:28:36




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 Re: Info about hay farming in reply to Rick(WA), 10-08-2001 20:08:58  
I'll try to post a URL for you to check out. Its very helpful http://members.home.net/18james/rural/haying.html



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Mike from Houston

10-09-2001 06:00:23




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 Re: Info about hay farming in reply to Rick(WA), 10-08-2001 20:08:58  
Rick,
Sounds like your well on the way. Actually, I'm trying to do the same thing but you're ahead of me. Thought, try the department of ag in your area. Those guys can give you some helpful info. I've also got a couple of links to web pages that may help you out. I'll email them to you.
Not sure where you live and I'm in Southeast Texas but first steps here are to get a soil sample tested to determine what the soil needs as far as fertilizer/nitrogen. Prepare the seed/sprig/tops bed. Apply fertilizer/nitrogen & seed/sprig/tops and turn under or pack. Cross fingers and hope for alittle rain. There are also some other factors in there. Wish it was that simple. I'm not too sure the three bottom plow would be much help to you getting ready for hay. Down here, we use a disc harrow to get things ready. Then plant whatever. Some types of hay can be seeded, some sprigged while others can be done with tops. We use tops alot to establish new fields since you can take it from an established field without any damage to it.
Yes. You will need a rake if you are going to cut with your 501 sickle. By the way, I've heard alot of good stuff about those 501 mowers. Supposed to be some pretty good ones. The square baler would be the next step. Everyone down here will usually go with New Holland or John Deere especially when getting one of the older models. They both made some good balers. Some of the newer balers have to be good balers also. I'm starting to see alot of the in-line balers like Hesston around. Square balers are pretty easy to find. Just look around for some auctions in your area and go check them out. Give them a good looking over before you purchase one. If at all possible, try it out first. I've always heard, you might as well use a pitch fork as have a square baler that won't tie. If you buy from an individual, most will let you. Give the bale chamber a good inspection too.
Sorry to be so long winded but you've hit a subject that is identical to what I want to do next spring. I've helped alot of people get fields ready, cut and bale but never for myself so I'm at the same point as you as far as trying to get ready.
Good luck.

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mike in MD

09-06-2004 14:56:03




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 Re: Re: Info about hay farming in reply to Mike from Houston, 10-09-2001 06:00:23  
I just started trying hay this year. I got a used JD 450 9' sickle and a new Befco 4 finger wheel rake for $1500. I got a rebuilt Vermeer 504C round baler for $2500. With no experience, I went out and cut and baled part of my pasture. My round baler has manual tie and I wasn't able to tie very well, and I lost most of the hay since the cattle tore the bales all apart rubbing up against them. The wheel rake works great. I need to learn how to adjust the sickle bar height to keep it out of the thatch.

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