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Implement Alley Discussion Forum

future for sickle bar vs disk mower/conditioners

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smirkey

09-03-2003 12:48:35




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i just drove down through beautiful champlain valley of vermont last week and saw hundreds(?) of used late model sickle bar mower conditioners, both pull type and self propelled on dealer's lots. it seems like all of the dairies have switched to disc/bines. this tells me that disc bine technology is good and here to stay. am i correct? does this mean it's a bonanza for smaller farmers wanting to upgrade to newer sickle-type machines, or are the small farmers going to switch to disc too? how is the price holding for these large late model sickle types?

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mark

09-05-2003 06:22:21




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 Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/conditione in reply to smirkey, 09-03-2003 12:48:35  
I saw a Haybine sell at auction middle of last month. Needed a belt. It sold for less than $350. I would have bought it but it was an 11 foot model and it wouldn't fit through my gates.



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Bill B

09-04-2003 21:26:41




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 Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/conditione in reply to smirkey, 09-03-2003 12:48:35  
Hi, The disk mowers are great but they require a 60+ HP tractor. I would buy one in a minute if I didn't have 50 HP tractors. Add in the price of a 60+ tractor and they put them out of reach for someone doing small square bails. Bill



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Indydirtfarmer

09-04-2003 11:20:11




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 Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/conditione in reply to smirkey, 09-03-2003 12:48:35  
I switched to a disc mower about two years ago. I still can't believe how much faster it is. We saved the old MOCO for soybeans. I eliminated the rolls, and use it just to cut and bale beans now. If something was to go wrong with the disc mower, I can still bring out the old Moco. I saw a REAL NICE New Holland Moco sell for $450 at an auction last week. The price is coming down on them. But don't look for them to get too cheap. A lot of week-end hobby farmers are buying them up. They are a giant step up from a cyclebar.

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RichG

09-04-2003 10:43:01




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 Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/conditione in reply to smirkey, 09-03-2003 12:48:35  
I have a brand new 1412 new holland disc with flail conditioner. I have cut my cutting time in half and drying time down by a day. I would never go back to a sickle but too each his own, whatever works for you, use.



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JMS/MN

09-03-2003 23:48:30




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 Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/conditione in reply to smirkey, 09-03-2003 12:48:35  
Bought the discbine in '90- would never go back. Less maintenance, plugging, etc. Never plugged in normal conditions. Great for point rows, merging windrows. Easier maintenance. Cuts everything from fine grass, alfalfa, ten foot weeds (did that on the trial). Filleted a rabbit at 11 mph with a 4430. Normal speed was about 5 mph, matched a 14' JD 800 swather in acres cut per hour. Opened the rolls and swathed barley with it too, early AM, when the dew is still on.

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Kelly C

09-04-2003 12:17:38




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 Re: Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/condit in reply to JMS/MN, 09-03-2003 23:48:30  
JMS
Where in MN are you at? Could you possably keep an eye out in your neck of the woods for a good used MO/CO? If I could find one in the 5 or 600 range I would shure be glad come look at it.



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paul

09-05-2003 08:21:52




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 Re: Re: Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/co in reply to Kelly C, 09-04-2003 12:17:38  
I paid $1500 & I'm cheap. I think you better plan on paying $1000 to get something usable.

--->Paul



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Kelly C

09-05-2003 11:13:40




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mowe in reply to paul, 09-05-2003 08:21:52  
Paul. If you see one that you think is worth $1000. I would pay that much for it. As for me I dont know what I am looking at so for $500 I am taking a chance.
The $1600 one I was looking at is being sold by the same guy I over paid for my NH55 rake for.
He says the Haybine is in great shape. He also said that about my rake. The rake works fine but when I checked the gear box there was NO oil in it at all, not a drop. That tells me he or his guys didnt really check it out at all. Just saw no obvious broken parts, Replace some teeth and its a great machine.
I dont mind that kind of BS from someone selling some thing as long as I know what I am looking at. I can decide for my self if its good or not. But man I shudder when I dont have a clue and I need to reley on these guys.

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JMS/MN

09-04-2003 20:29:57




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 Re: Re: Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/co in reply to Kelly C, 09-04-2003 12:17:38  
Hour west of the Cities. Will keep my eyes open for something. Haven't paid attention to prices, but I'd expect you'd need to go beyond that for something dependable. With so many quitting dairying, more machines are likely to come on the market. Probably cheapest prices would be SW part of the state- fewer parttimers around (fewer people) that would bid up the older machines. Burned up crops on lighter soils may generate more auctions and machines available. Collect e-addresses of auctioneers- some have auction result posts, some are free. You're welcome to email me.

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Roy in UK

09-03-2003 23:28:04




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 Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/conditione in reply to smirkey, 09-03-2003 12:48:35  
I cannot remember the last time I saw a sickle mower been used over here. We went over to a drum mower ( later replaced a disc mower ) in 1969.



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paul

09-03-2003 19:49:23




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 Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/conditione in reply to smirkey, 09-03-2003 12:48:35  
I don't think there are any small dairies having a bonanza these days. Perhaps that's why there is a lot of smaller machinery around.

--->Paul



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havvey

09-03-2003 18:50:32




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 Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/conditione in reply to smirkey, 09-03-2003 12:48:35  
i do need a used jd 350 or new holland 451 3pth sickle for special stuff any out there????? ?



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havvey

09-03-2003 18:49:07




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 Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/conditione in reply to smirkey, 09-03-2003 12:48:35  
the sickle is gone the disc is in when i bought mine people laughed but not for long i do need a used jd 350 or new holland 451 3pth sickle for special stuff my guess is the sickle condinors will be used up and next to worthless soon like the old hay fails and crimpers



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Kelly C

09-03-2003 19:16:56




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 Re: Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/condit in reply to havvey, 09-03-2003 18:49:07  
YEA!!!!
Does that mean I should be able to find a 7' NH haybine in the $500 to $700 range soon?
They are still going for $1600 here.



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Mike (WA)

09-04-2003 09:07:11




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 Re: Re: Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/co in reply to Kelly C, 09-03-2003 19:16:56  
Sickle moco's have been obsolete for 25 years in western Washington- We get lush growth in the spring, then inevitable showers which knock all the grass down before haying time. We fought with sickle mowers in "downed stuff" until the disc mowers came out in the 70's- followed soon by the disc moco's. Lots of guys just use 3 point disc mowers, then ted the grass for faster drying. You can get all the used sickle mower conditioners you want for $400 around here.

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havvey

09-04-2003 05:33:45




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 Re: Re: Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/co in reply to Kelly C, 09-03-2003 19:16:56  
i would nt wast my money i know every area is different but sickle conditnors arnt worth the price of scrap up here neither is old balers < 500 but if one works for you you could get by for sevral years



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Kelly C

09-04-2003 10:21:38




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mowe in reply to havvey, 09-04-2003 05:33:45  
I'd say 98% are still using sickle bar Moco's here.
But I think that is about to change real fast. The few disk mowers that have been seen are sure drumming up the hoopla as soon as they see how much faster the guy gets around the field.
I will say I have seen many more old NH and IH Mower/ co's out right now that I saw last year at any time. The price is still up there for now.
For me a old sickle bar haybine would be the greatest thing right now. I am using a old JD#5
So going Mo/CO would be like hitting the big time.
Heck any of you guys in MN have a 7' NH or IH mo/co in good running condition for $500 or so. You just email me I will come get it.

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Sid

09-03-2003 18:43:31




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 Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/conditione in reply to smirkey, 09-03-2003 12:48:35  
Disc mowers and mocos are fast and I am not going to argue against them. I use a Hesston PT10 that I paid two hundred dollars for about four years ago. I put up about seventy acres of hay a year. I am not a big time farmer and would like to have the latest in equipment. I farm for two reasons first and foremost I like it however if I did not make money at it I would quit. I also like my old sickle mower to clip pasture. I hope parts are available for a long time to come.

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Gary in TX

09-03-2003 18:03:09




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 Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/conditione in reply to smirkey, 09-03-2003 12:48:35  
Well, let me put it this way. Both have their place. For my money I would want a disc cutter in wire grass or bermuda but I would rather have a sickle in anything else. I like the way a good sharp sickle cuts. I plan on getting a 3pt disc mower over the off season sometime to cut the wiregrass pastures to bale but my sickle mower conditioners and my 2280 Deere self proppelled will get the major action.

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kyhayman

09-03-2003 17:05:58




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 Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/conditione in reply to smirkey, 09-03-2003 12:48:35  
Around here sickle bar mower conditioners are cheap. Everybody wants a disc unit. About the only ones left using regular conditioners are the mid sized (under 60 cows) dairies and a few retired part timers. Most of us who are part time with a full time job off the farm (or more like full time farmers with a full time other job too) like the speed and easy of maint of the disc moweres, larger farmers are all wanting disc conditioners. Even the mid sized dairymen are trading in there moco's for disc mowers with the explosion in using round bale silage in the past 2 years. Up until last year only 1 farm store even carried the plastic for the wrappers within 50 miles and he sold less than a pallet a year. This year my next door neighbor alone used over a semi load of plastic. I keep my old haybine just for soybeans (disc mower just doesn't like them). Probably couldn't get $500 at an auction and its worth that to me to mow beans.

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Wayne M Kittler

09-03-2003 16:06:45




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 Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/conditione in reply to smirkey, 09-03-2003 12:48:35  
A fellow told me once that farmers buy new choppers because they have to be dependable for large acres. I was at Salem farm Supply last month and a fellow ordered the complete disk unit for his discbine at $4000.00 +. So I think that either the units are tops or they are not. Prices around here tend to be 75% replacement cost for top units, disc and mower, current model. I do not think there is an in-between. Ever have the problem of cutting up an old chopper or baler. It costs money to dispose of stuff. Ever see an old chopper or haybine painted white on a lawn ? You should think about the costs of an investment in used forage stuff as well as the bargains. Unless it is a regular pitman stick mower or a bar rake that you can fix and everybody could use, think three times first.

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dave m

09-03-2003 16:27:09




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 Re: Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/condit in reply to Wayne M Kittler, 09-03-2003 16:06:45  
I live right in the area you guys are talking about,Salem ny and not far from the Champlain valley. What road were you on that you saw all these mowers.Were you talking about sickle bar mowers or haybine-mower conditioners? thanks dave



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Tractor Dan

09-03-2003 17:03:36




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 Re: Re: Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/co in reply to dave m, 09-03-2003 16:27:09  
where are you from im 45 minutes from salem



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Wayne M Kittler

09-03-2003 18:34:31




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mowe in reply to Tractor Dan, 09-03-2003 17:03:36  
Our farm is in Cheshire, Massachusetts. We have been mostly IH for years.



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williams

09-03-2003 16:42:54




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 Re: Re: Re: future for sickle bar vs disk mower/co in reply to dave m, 09-03-2003 16:27:09  
He had to be coming down the Vermont side using RT 7 and 22. That way he went by the Deere place and then Salem. There isn't much on the New York side of Champlain for dealers.



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