On The Road Again

Gonna get the baler all oiled/twined/tuned up today and ready to tie into another project early in the morning before the sun comes up.

Gotta go bale 40 or 50 acres for the man that was nice enough to loan me his John Deere tractor and big disc last April when I was fightin' the sod.

'Bout 30 miles away, so think I'll take the German 686 'cause it is far easier on the fuel bill.

I've never baled with this tractor before and am hoping that my old pee-brain can figure out the ground speed on the old sow. Gots those big tires on the rear so it wants to walk pretty darned fast.

I suppose that he is gonna be one of these picky fellers that will want the hay put up correctly. Geeze! What kind of deal is that anyway?

Oh well, I wanna pay him back; still can't believe he let me run that expensive outfit on my little run down ramshackel farm. :>)

Allan

We checked it last night and it was still a touch wet; just a touch. He cut it last week and pulled the windrows together early this morning, so I think it should be just right for tomorrow.

Just hope it is tough enough to run tho. Don't wanna do his like I did mine. Heck, I might even break down and lay some twine on those bales since he is "company" and all. :>)

Ground speed is the only thing I'm worried about. I've got it honed in on the big tractor so the bales will pack tight; just have to figure it out on this little tractor. Might even have to pull the stick back in third to make it shove it in there just right.

Just out of curiosity yesterday, I took a tape and measured my bales. They are indeed 5’ X 5’ but they sure look small compared to what you big boys build. :>)

Allan

Since you mention it, my John Deere friend and I were comparing methods yesterday of how we tell the moisture in the hay.

I grab a handful from deep within the windrow and can "feel" the moisture.

John, on the other hand was showing me how he does it. He takes one "average sized" stem (this is alfalfa) and tries to break it into. He says if it readily "snaps" into two pieces, the hay is dry; if it breaks on only one side and then "tears", it still has too much moisture.

I had never seen this method, but we both came to the same conclusion about the hay. Just a touch wet yet. :>)

Allan