Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo Auction Link (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Discussion Forum

50 year old rookie wants to know EVERYTHING

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
Kirkules

03-23-2001 13:30:17




Report to Moderator

I had a life-changing event a few years back (got remarried)and now find myself trying to do my best imitation of a farmer/rancher. Never did this before so I'm hoping I can get some advice from you folks who have been down this road.
I have a Ford 640 with just 2 implements, a 5' blade and a Woods Dixie Cutter. All I want to do is successfully grow hay for the horses. I have about 10 acres to work with and they have produced fairly good crops the last few years (when the rains haven't ruined it) but it's getting near impossible to find anybody to cut and bale (square) for a fee. What implements do I need to buy? I don't want to invest thousands of $$ into tools for just 10 acres of hay so I'm looking for used equipment that will work with my Ford. I know there's plenty of stuff out there for a 3-pt hitch but a lot of it takes external hydraulics which I don't have. What make and models of equipment do I look for? Who made compatible implements, MF? JD? IH? Or should I just keep trying to find somebody for hire? Please help or the horses may starve to death next winter. Thanks

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
Pierre

03-31-2001 06:44:17




Report to Moderator
 Re: 50 year old rookie wants to know EVERYTHING in reply to Kirkules, 03-23-2001 13:30:17  
I you can draw satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment from making your own hay. Go for it! I am sure you can find help to pick it up and stack. I know if I were in your neck of the woods, I would volunteer some help. Making hay beats the heck out of going to a fitness club and clears the mind of office problems.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Leroy

03-26-2001 07:36:54




Report to Moderator
 Re: 50 year old rookie wants to know EVERYTHING in reply to Kirkules, 03-23-2001 13:30:17  
A J.D. No. 9 mower would be a good choice and one sold at auction 2 days ago for $45 and a Decent J. D. 594 Low wheel rake $ 180 and A week before at anouther auction a J. D. 14T baler in good shape sold for $260 , decent hay wagons $210 all prices that were given I think are a little high. What would be best for you is a 7 ft. haybine, don't get a 9 ft. takes too much power, your 640 would handle a 7 ft. OK, as far as external hydrolics easy to ad to your tractor but you could get by with a ratchet jack made to use instead of the hydrolic cylinder.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Old Henry

03-25-2001 06:46:56




Report to Moderator
 Re: 50 year old rookie wants to know EVERYTHING in reply to Kirkules, 03-23-2001 13:30:17  
Kirkules: I can't believe these old boys are trying to talk you out of making your own hay for your horses. One thing I didn't see was how many horses you have. A couple would pasture fine on your acrage. However, several horses can eat a pasture down in a heartbeat. You can control the feeding better and make your grass go farther by baling it & feeding the hay. I have 7 horses on 5 acres. (pasture lasts about a week). We were buying over 1000 bales/year. I bought my Grandfathers Ford 640 2 yrs ago. (a real treasure). He farmed 350 acres & milked 50 head dairy. He bought the 640 new in 56. This was the only tractor used for 20 yrs. And yes it is big enough to make hay. Learn its limits. I bought a ford 350 sickle bar mower ($350)in good shape, a New Holland Hayliner 68 ($1500) excellant condition, and a New Holland Super 55 rake ($600) last year & made over 1100 bales off part of my land & off about 7 acres of my neighbors (who give it away to have it cut). The old 640 did just fine. I let them hit the ground & picked them up myself in the truck. No Help. I'm 46. Now, lets do the math. I already had the tractor, like you, so the implements @ 2,450 nearly paid for themselves in the 1st yr. We were paying around 2.00/bale. Now, we have better quality hay (no rain - no mold). I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. On ten acres, you may be able to sell some hay & help pay for your feed, worming med., shoeing, etc. Keep the Ford 640. Get some implements & jump in. Oh, by the way, the helpers and the cold beer are not bad advice.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Kirkules

03-25-2001 18:42:29




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: 50 year old rookie wants to know EVERYTHING in reply to Old Henry, 03-25-2001 06:46:56  
Henry: See, yours is the kind of advice I was expecting - - not that the others' were invalid, just not what I thought I was going to get from a bunch of foks who do it all the time. One thing you didn't talk about: the cost of maintenance on all the equipment you just bought. That's got to eat into your "profits", or at least worked into the overhead costs.
I guess I didn't mention all the details; we have 2 horses and a colt (11mos.). We're going to try to breed the mare again next month so in a year we may have yet another mouth to feed. Don't ask me why we're doing this - there's only 2 of us, how many horses can we ride at one time???
But anyway... the idea of making hay for our own and selling the excess for profit (as if there is any in farming) had crossed my mind. But the biggest challenge to it after the $$ outlay is the TIME. We both work and have commitments outside of our jobs so that eats into our home labors. But on the other hand, other folks do it, why can't we? Decisions, decisions, decisions...

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Old Henry

03-26-2001 20:44:31




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: 50 year old rookie wants to know EVERYTHING in reply to Kirkules, 03-25-2001 18:42:29  
A familiar senario. A couple of thoughts: First, none of this makes any sense, including keeping the horses, if its not "Your Thing". But if you'd rather mess w/ tractors & put up hay than play golf...well you get the picture. If you keep horses now you know its a big commitment to time. Remember, you make hay when the sun shines - you'll need to take a day or two off. As far as maintenance on the equipment, I haven't had any yet. Pay a little more and get good used equipment & get a manual. Cost vary a lot depending on where your at. I learned alot from this forum. The other responses were from real farmers who do "do this all the time". They know from a productivity standpoint that it doesn't pay to make hay for small requirements. I'm more of a horseman. My grandfather would have called me a "Sunday Farmer". I would do this anyway, cost not a consideration. And havin foals... careful, you get attached. Thats how we ended up w/ 7. Good luck.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Kirkules

03-24-2001 19:38:19




Report to Moderator
 Re: 50 year old rookie wants to know EVERYTHING in reply to Kirkules, 03-23-2001 13:30:17  
My thanks to Tom, Sam, Dick and the rest of you guys for your input. FYI - I have pulled and stacked hay before. I helped a coworker's father get his crop into the loft a couple years ago and, yes, it was a bit fun, satisfying, etc. But then, there was about 10 of us working that afternoon so it was like they say, "Many hands make light work". It was also a chance for me to bend his ear a tad about the subject. Unfortunately he wasn't quite as free with the advice as you all have been.
BTW, let me add 1 other little aside... I've been reading these discussion forums for several weeks now and I want you to know how impressed I am with the commitment to computers and the internet you and others have shown. I didn't really expect to find too many farmers out there conversant in jpg, mpeg, gif, and the rest of it. Not that I thought you're all stooopid, just that I didn't think you would embrace something like this, that maybe you thought it was just something for the snooty city-folk . Thanks for not playing into the stereotype.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Sam (MO)

03-24-2001 05:51:36




Report to Moderator
 Re: 50 year old rookie wants to know EVERYTHING in reply to Kirkules, 03-23-2001 13:30:17  
Kirk
I have 120 acres. I bale alfalfa off of it. These guys are right, it is easier to pasture the ground and buy some hay. However, we enjoy watching the deer in the evening browsing throught the alfalfa. It is fun when all the boys get together and bale the hay then stop and drink beer after the works is done. If it is something you would enjoy doing go for it. The cost can get pretty high but a sharp eye can save you some money.

Good luck
Sam

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
rhudson

03-23-2001 19:44:31




Report to Moderator
 Re: 50 year old rookie wants to know EVERYTHING in reply to Kirkules, 03-23-2001 13:30:17  
kirk, i rented a baler for a year or two. i like the wheel rakes because they are cheap. my first bailor cost 1000 and baled for years. i attached a simple hitch behind it and pulled a four wheel wagon. every 5 bales i had to stop the tractor and stack the bales. if you don't know any better you'll do anything until something better comes along. the first few years i cut raked and baled around 1200 bales BY MY SELF. over the years i have found bargins on larger tractors, balers and haybines. now i bale about 250 tons of round bale hay each year. but i started and still have cheap (bargain) stuff.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
TomH

03-23-2001 15:48:14




Report to Moderator
 Re: 50 year old rookie wants to know EVERYTHING in reply to Kirkules, 03-23-2001 13:30:17  
First, you might consider grazing the ten acres and buying hay.

If you want to make your own hay, you'll need a mower (sickle $200-600 or mower conditioner $1500-3500), rake ($300-1500), baler ($500-5000), and wagons(s)($300-1500). Other than a mounted mower, they all are towed from the drawbar. A 640 is barely enough tractor to make hay, a bigger one would be better if you get a baler with a thrower (which saves about 1/2 the labor). You might do better on the prices if you are patient and shop around.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Canadian Cowboy

03-23-2001 20:30:05




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: 50 year old rookie wants to know EVERYTHING in reply to TomH, 03-23-2001 15:48:14  
Well if that don't beat all a miniture baler and tiny haying equipment for your 15-20 hp tractor. There's a link on the FAQ hay site under haying equipment for site that sells mini haying equipment. Get the whole package for $17000., (new mini equipment) You can find a whole haying package for $1700.00, (used worn out junk, full size post war equipment). either way is your still not that far ahead if your only putting up a few acres of hay, As far as costs go its cheaper to purchase hay rather than make it, on the other hand, nothing is too exspensive when you just wanna enjoy making your own hay!

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
ChrisN

03-23-2001 20:20:12




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: 50 year old rookie wants to know EVERYTHING in reply to TomH, 03-23-2001 15:48:14  
TomH is right on all counts from what I have seen.

I am also a rookie and have a Ford 640 with 20+ acres. However, lets do the math using the low end prices.
$200 mower
$300 rake
$500 baler
$300 wagon
$1,300 minimum just to get started... not including any labor/gas cost. Maintaining equipment that is purchase at bargin prices can be expensive.

I can buy small square bales for $1.00-$1.50 locally any time of year.
No brainer...Let someone else do the work!

The first year I moved out here I did not have a tractor. I sold 10 acres of hay to a neighbor for $200. He baled two crops by himself. He avoids me now. I felt sorry for him the day I came home from work and saw him out there. Not pretty. Stopping continuously to stack the bales.

I am watching for equipment with bargin prices. Slowly building up inventory, that's my two cents.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Ray,In

03-23-2001 19:54:07




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: 50 year old rookie wants to know EVERYTHING in reply to TomH, 03-23-2001 15:48:14  
I agree, the cost will buy a lot of hay. You can pasture the ground, if you divide up the ground with elect. fence and rotate it, you will probably not need to use hay until late in the fall,if then. I have 3 horses on 20A, and have to mow it 2x a season. I feed large round bales to my horses (1 bale x 3 horses= 1 month with free access. Costs $12-15 a bale. A feeder ring for horses is near $120. I made a pickup for the 3PT hitch on my Ferg. TO30 that works well. I have asthma and cannot make hay now, so this is my solution. My 2 cents.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Kirkules

03-23-2001 19:14:06




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: 50 year old rookie wants to know EVERYTHING in reply to TomH, 03-23-2001 15:48:14  
Tom: your advice is appreciated. I am really impressed with the link. I printed out all 22 pages and am now going to huddle up with a cup o' joe and do some reading. Muchas gracias.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Dick Davis

03-24-2001 03:58:57




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: 50 year old rookie wants to know EVERYTHING in reply to Kirkules, 03-23-2001 19:14:06  
Kirkulas, Did We talk you out of making hay yet? Everything you've been told is true - but you haven't been told everything. Making hay is satisfying if not down right fun. Hot, dirty, dusty, and heavy work that when finished can provide a sense of accomplishment. Depending on what part of the country you live in used equipement can be cheap. But you don't want cheap, you want equipement that is in good shape, if it is low price besides great! Repairing/upgrading and maintaining the stuff gives you an off season hobby. Your tractor is not too small( wrong color maybe) but the only hay equipment that requires horsepower is the baler, so find one with it's own engine, another maintenance challange! As far as stopping every five bales to load/stack, don't. Drop bales on ground then have your new wife (after all they are her horses, right?) drive your pickup and load the hay. Another together thing. Enjoy. D-2

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Johnny

03-24-2001 12:07:58




Report to Moderator
 Re: Re: Re: Re: 50 year old rookie wants to know EVERYTHING in reply to Dick Davis, 03-24-2001 03:58:57  
I agree with Dick except for one thing, let your square bales drop on the ground and hire some labor to pick it up and stack it in your barn, Around here you can get it stacked in the barn for 25 to 40 cents per bale. This kind of work will wear you out I am 33 yrs. old and can only haul 100 to 150 bales and am give out by then. Of course if you got under ten acres you might be able to handle that by yourself. Not very fun work at 105 degrees in the hot summer. Johnny

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy