Late Night Hay Baling

[joeu235]

 

[Norm W]

Can't do that around here. The dew gets a bit heavy and the hay would be too wet.

 

[deserteagle71]

One of the things I, having grown up in Pennsylvania, found incomprehensible when I moved to Nevada. In Pennsylvania during the summer, where the humidity seems to hover around 90%, conditions had to be just right so we could bale our hay during the afternoon. When I moved to Nevada I was startled to see most of the baling done during the middle of the night. But I was told that's what they have to do - the 6% humidity and hot sun during the day dries the hay so much it turns to dust when baled. Baling during the night, there's enough moisture to keep the hay from being pulverized.

 

[Thomas]

As they say "when its time than it's time day or night"

 

[5030]

I know one thing for certain, I'd never bale with an open station anything. I'd be sneezing and have a runny nose for months. I'll rake and ted with my OS but bailing, rounds or squares, I have to have a cab with ac.

 

[CobyRupert]

So much for “make hay while the sun shines”.

 

[joeu235]

I know one thing for certain, I'd never bale with an open station anything. I'd be sneezing and have a runny nose for months. I'll rake and ted with my OS but bailing, rounds or squares, I have to have a cab with ac.

Dad traded in our only cab tractor for an open one 20 years ago.
I wear a mask when traveling with the wind direction while balling.

 

[joeu235]

It rained the next 4 days so it was a necessity.

 

[kthompson]

It rained the next 4 days so it was a necessity.

My last hay baled was begun with rain on the way and the partner who was to bale did not have his baler ready...first hay ever had rain on. First cutting lost money on. But it served to help me realize was time to retire. Not easy work but to me enjoyable. Always a great feeling to see a good crop of any kind being harvested.

 

[5030]

My last hay baled was begun with rain on the way and the partner who was to bale did not have his baler ready...first hay ever had rain on. First cutting lost money on. But it served to help me realize was time to retire. Not easy work but to me enjoyable. Always a great feeling to see a good crop of any kind being harvested.

First cut here is mostly grass and immature alfalfa so I actually like to have it get rained on because the rain speeds drying. I'll usually flip it after a rain, flip it again and bale it. Have that right now as a matter of fact, have a field down, supposed to rain tonight so I'll flip it in the morning, flip it again that evening and bale it the next day.

 

[JESSE1]

I don't bale at night but I use a JD 535 that I bought new in '91. It's been an excellent baler. Pulling it with a '96 JD 6400 that I bought new.

 

[Darryle]

We used to only night bale when we needed a little extra moisture in the hay to keep from chewing it up

 

[joeu235]

I don't bale at night but I use a JD 535 that I bought new in '91. It's been an excellent baler. Pulling it with a '96 JD 6400 that I bought new.

Our 535 has been a good baler, but the past two years something has broken. I priced a new one and immediately decided to keep this one.

 

[rScotty]

Our 535 has been a good baler, but the past two years something has broken. I priced a new one and immediately decided to keep this one.

I'm as guilty as anyone of just fixing things as they need it. But that only works so long. I know that what I ought to be doing on 20 year old implements or 30 year old tractors is to set aside some time during the off season to go through the whole machine and make it like new. We can do that with good JD & NH & Massey equipment and still end up saving serious money.

rScotty

 

[Hay Dude]

Rarely been able to bale at night here. Just too much dampness.

 

[5030]

Rarely been able to bale at night here. Just too much dampness.

The only thing I'll bale at night or early morning is wheat straw in rounds. You need a bit of dew to keep the bales together when rolling. Hard to start a straw bale when the straw is as dry as a popcorn fart...

 

[5030]

Never liked JD balers. I much prefer New Holland but then all I run are New Holland hay tools with the exception of my rake. Again, don't care for side delivery ropers. Prefer a rotary. Running a Morra right now, had a Geihl but sold it. If I won the lottery (doubtful), I'd buy a Kuhn Masterdrive.

Rotary's are in high demand here. Sold the Geihl in 2 days and it was ancient but not much to fail on one so long as you keep the gearbox full of gear oil and grease the driveshaft. Tines got to be an issue but Shoup has always been able to provide a close match.

 

[5030]

I don't bale at night but I use a JD 535 that I bought new in '91. It's been an excellent baler. Pulling it with a '96 JD 6400 that I bought new.

Time to upgrade to net wrap. Much quicker dwell time and nicer looking bales that keep better. Cost wise a bit more but feeding a net bale is so much easier too. I run 52 over the edge wrap. Keeps the bales tight and dry.

 

[JESSE1]

I'd love to have a baler with net wrap but I only bale my own hay and this baler works well and is paid for. If I was doing it commercially I'd have one. I can't justify the cost of a new or relatively new used baler. First baler we bought was a new NH 851 back in '82. Floor chains and apron chains. Kept it for ten years.

 

[5030]

I'd love to have a baler with net wrap but I only bale my own hay and this baler works well and is paid for. If I was doing it commercially I'd have one. I can't justify the cost of a new or relatively new used baler. First baler we bought was a new NH 851 back in '82. Floor chains and apron chains. Kept it for ten years.

Think I paid 34 for my NH 450 utility roll belt. It does net and twine and a run by an in cab computer. Works very well. I sell everything I make to one customer and have for the last 5 years. If I lost him (highly unlikely), I get out of the hay business. I really don't like dealing with horsey people.

Cut 4 fields today...