Re: what hay equipement to buy

Posted by paul on October 10, 2001 at 12:06:22 from (199.3.9.222):

In Reply to: what hay equipement to buy posted by wd-45 and want to make hay on October 10, 2001 at 11:38:58:

1. What kind of hay? How many cuttings do you get? How many tons per acre?

2. Small square, big square, or round bales? Round is the least work, small squares are the most and may pay the best. Big squares haul the best on semi's.

3. What else do you do? If this is alfalfa, are you able to be there on time yourself? Baling a couple hours too early means worthless moldy hay; baling a couple hours too late means bales of worthless stems. Can you manage time better than your custom operator?

4. 60 acres is quite a bit. Unless you have very low yields in your area, sounds like a lot of work, & equipment to me. If small squares, how do you handle them? You got 5 kids willing to pitch them? Or several bale thrower racks? Or a NH bale picker-upper? I don't think a wd & a junked MF12 baler is much to bother with, you would need quite a bit of newer stuff for that acerage 'here'.

Baler, $2000-10,000; cutter, $2000-5000; rake, $1000; tractor, $5000-12,000, wagons, $2000-5000. Labor, $??????.

Now, you can bale cheaper than that, with a NH 68 (or even a MF12!) baler on your wd, a couple of nailed-together hayracks' free labor from the wife & kids, and a well used mower-conditioner. But I don't think you would cover 60 acres in a more timely fashon than the hired guy - and that seems to be what you are after? You can do it cheaply, or you can do it timely & well, or you can hire it done - which way do you want to go? But my thoughts only apply 'here', and maybe not 'there' where you are.

Good luck with it. :) I don't want to discourage you, I just want to see what you can handle, & what you are really trying to improve. :)

--->Paul

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