2015 Hay Season

[foreman Etexas]

Haven't had any rain for over 33 days. Trying to salvage what I can. Looks like I'll be done for this year unless we get some decent rain.

You and me both. May even have to start feeding some way it's going by September.

 

[foreman Etexas]

I'm the same way. I don't go looking for the work, it finds me. The money I make from these little jobs I am putting towards a V-rake that I am in desperate need of. I will have it for next season now. Looking at a Befco, forget the model number but it's just the three point hookup one.

What kind of rake you using now? I have a Vermeer WR22,they pretty cheap used around here anyways. I would like to trade mine for a Kuhn speed rake cause I can't stand they way mine is for hauling down road.

 

[cat fever]

What kind of rake you using now? I have a Vermeer WR22,they pretty cheap used around here anyways. I would like to trade mine for a Kuhn speed rake cause I can't stand they way mine is for hauling down road.

I don't have one now. The one I'm looking at is the Befco brand and I'm still undecided on exact model. But it will be a V-Rake.

 

[bindian]

You and me both. May even have to start feeding some way it's going by September.

I wrote my small field corn crop off. Just no water since Memorial Day weekend floods. The ducks will have to eat bagged corn this winter!
hugs, Brandi

 

[farmer2009]

What kind of rake you using now? I have a Vermeer WR22,they pretty cheap used around here anyways. I would like to trade mine for a Kuhn speed rake cause I can't stand they way mine is for hauling down road.

What makes you not like it on the road? Other wise how's it do? Kicker or not? Been wanting one for a while now. Still using a NH 256. But I think I want a middle wheel. What ever the design.

Cat I've become a pull type fan. If I can avoid a 3ph then I do.

 

[foreman Etexas]

What makes you not like it on the road? Other wise how's it do? Kicker or not? Been wanting one for a while now. Still using a NH 256. But I think I want a middle wheel. What ever the design.

Cat I've become a pull type fan. If I can avoid a 3ph then I do.

It doesn't fold up enough, you have to take a rope and pull the top together so can pull it down road or it will just lean over into the other lane. I does fine until get into really thick hay and then it will ball up quick at the rear. No mine doesn't have the center wheel. I know several who have the speed rake and I like the way they fold up and there price. Vermeer does have similar type rakes and I'm sure others do just haven't look lately,got my mind pretty much set on the Kuhn. I wouldn't buy it again if had the choice just me being cheap when I got all my equipment...

I like the pull type better also,I can actually rake with my cutter on 3pt.

 

[Lawnman TX]

I have the john Deere 702 8 wheel rake, which is essentially the same rake as the older style Vermeer that foreman has.

It has a kicker wheel in it. In heavy hay the kicker wheel just causes more plugs, in thin hay it's fine, but it also makes a lopsided windrow, which is a pain to round bale. I like the Kuhn speed rake, the new Vermeer looks very similar to the Kuhn it will come down to price.

 

[cat fever]

It doesn't fold up enough, you have to take a rope and pull the top together so can pull it down road or it will just lean over into the other lane. I does fine until get into really thick hay and then it will ball up quick at the rear. No mine doesn't have the center wheel. I know several who have the speed rake and I like the way they fold up and there price. Vermeer does have similar type rakes and I'm sure others do just haven't look lately,got my mind pretty much set on the Kuhn. I wouldn't buy it again if had the choice just me being cheap when I got all my equipment...

I like the pull type better also,I can actually rake with my cutter on 3pt.

Foreman, and farmer,
Do you dislike the 3 point type because of transporting it? 99% percent of the time it will move from my barn to my field. Do not plan on any other use.
If there is another reason I would sure like to know before buying one.
Thanks.

 

[cat fever]

It finally rained here yesterday. Not much really, just enough to keep the cement wet all day. Don't think it helped the fields at all.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Foreman, and farmer,
Do you dislike the 3 point type because of transporting it? 99% percent of the time it will move from my barn to my field. Do not plan on any other use.
If there is another reason I would sure like to know before buying one.
Thanks.

Takes couple minutes get hooked up to a pull type and I can leave my cutter on also while pull the rake. You can pull it with pickup if need be.

 

[cat fever]

Takes couple minutes get hooked up to a pull type and I can leave my cutter on also while pull the rake. You can pull it with pickup if need be.

That is something I have not thought about. Thanks

 

[foreman Etexas]

That is something I have not thought about. Thanks

I have raked few times with my pickup,so I didn't have to switch anything works fine. I have also used my side by side. Back when I helped a guy in my younger days we always used his dually to rake with,just don't run over the windrows with pickup hay could get somewhere like in the cat and start a fire.

 

[cat fever]

I have raked few times with my pickup,so I didn't have to switch anything works fine. I have also used my side by side. Back when I helped a guy in my younger days we always used his dually to rake with,just don't run over the windrows with pickup hay could get somewhere like in the cat and start a fire.

The orientation of my field and having a pull type haybine would make a pull type better in the fact my wife or son could rake while I'm still cutting. I will have to give this some more thought.
Thanks...

 

[countrybumpkin]

The orientation of my field and having a pull type haybine would make a pull type better in the fact my wife or son could rake while I'm still cutting. I will have to give this some more thought. Thanks...

How many acres are you baling this year? I have about 15 I could bale and am thinking small squares because almost no one around here does them anymore and I'm always talking to people who ask where to get some, just not sure I want to mess with selling them.

 

[cat fever]

How many acres are you baling this year? I have about 15 I could bale and am thinking small squares because almost no one around here does them anymore and I'm always talking to people who ask where to get some, just not sure I want to mess with selling them.

My own field is 5 acres, the one across the street is 6 and another I do is 4. All very close just country roads to deal with and very little traffic. I don't really want to get in the hay selling business. I'd rather get more cows and use it myself.

 

[farmer2009]

Foreman, and farmer, Do you dislike the 3 point type because of transporting it? 99% percent of the time it will move from my barn to my field. Do not plan on any other use. If there is another reason I would sure like to know before buying one. Thanks.

Cat. While 3pt has its place and isn't terribly hard to hookup it's harder and more time consuming to hookup than a pull type. I never cared what hitch something had on it till we got our current cutter. It has a specific order to hookup if you try to hookup the other side first forget it you won't get both sides on. Why I don't know.
So now anytime I have a choice I go with pull type. They're easier to hookup and faster. Kids and wife can swap equipment by themselves if they have to.

 

[cat fever]

Cat. While 3pt has its place and isn't terribly hard to hookup it's harder and more time consuming to hookup than a pull type. I never cared what hitch something had on it till we got our current cutter. It has a specific order to hookup if you try to hookup the other side first forget it you won't get both sides on. Why I don't know.
So now anytime I have a choice I go with pull type. They're easier to hookup and faster. Kids and wife can swap equipment by themselves if they have to.

Ok
Thanks farmer.

 

[Bigfoot62]

It finally got dry enough that I was able to get a cutting in last month. (early July) Did OK. 176 rounds (4x5) from 52 acres.
We haven't had measurable rainfall since. Now, it's so dry the grass has stopped growing. I cut the 12 acre Coastal Bermuda field yesterday, and I'm sure it will bale this afternoon. Just wont be much of it.
If we don't get significant rainfall soon, my 2015 hay season my be over.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Hay is selling cheap now, but with the drought, I think it will get pricier soon.

 

[foreman Etexas]

Guy down the road asked me to bale his 12acres wasn't real good but wasn't real bad. So I drive over today and talked to him and suggested for what it would cost me to bale it with a minimum he could buy hay and run cows on his. I just couldn't keep my mouth shut and do it cause I thought was a better suggestion,he decided to buy hay and run cows,was I wrong for persuading him this way?