Another ? about hay equipment

[L_Nicholson]

Hi All,

I'm trying to get some info to see if it is cost effective to buy some hay equipment and be more self sufficient. The farmer that leases my ground made me mad and I've finally had enough to start trying to figure something else out.

I have about 20 ac of hay ground and I have a JD 4400 (35 hp, 28 pto hp). I'm wondering if there is equipment out there that would match up to my tractor size and produce 1,000 to 1,500 lbs bales and if not what equipment is out there that will give me the biggest round bale that my tractor can handle.

Currently I only need about 7 tons of hay but as my livestock herd grows I will need more and I'm tired of depending on someone who has doesn't follow though with what they say and then screw you over on hay prices after I helped him hay this year.... no... I'm not bitter...

I sure would appreciate any words of wisdom anyone has to offer.
Thanks
Lee

 

[ddivinia]

I hear ya - depending on others can be a pain. Do you use round or square bales now?

What kind of hay?

D.

 

[L_Nicholson]

I'm using round bales of grass with a light mix of clovers. Currently I've been getting 6' bales and stressing out my tractor. These bales have been from the Lessee off my property.

 

[JESSE1]

I have a JD 4400 and have used it for pulling a rake a few times. Not many choices in hay equipment but these AGRIQUIP.com :: Star have been discussed here before. I know nothing about price, quality or who sells them. The 4400 is a good compact tractor but there's no way it will run a full size baler.

 

[L_Nicholson]

I figured my 4400 wouldn't handle a full size round baler. IF I were to upgrade to a tractor that could.... would the 4x20 series do it? I don't know if my belly mower would fit on one of those or not.

I'd like to here from those who are using those mid size round balers.

Also what is the minimum HP for a square baler and how big can you make those bales?

 

[art]

Don't think about trading yet!!! A four wheel drive tractor is normally worth about twenty horse when it comes to a loader. It is also in loose conditions so why not just buy a more economical two wheel drive tractor about twenty horsepower larger for your second tractor to make life easier. Then you have enough power to do your pto work and can carry a three point spear.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I second Art's suggestion. $11-$15k will get you a nice 2wd tractor. I paid $15k for my 7710-II and it was in great shape and had a cab and was suppose to be 87 pto hp but was turned up to 120 pto hp. You can find 70-90 pto hp tractors in 2wd with cabs and without all over the place from the late 80's for very reasonable prices. Smaller 50 pto hp tractors bring as much if not more then the 70-90 hp tractors because everyone wants a tractor in that size range. And for haying a 70-90 hp tractor will do just about any type of haying you will want to do and not even sweat.

 

[Egon]

Will any of this hay be sold? How will it be stored?

 

[L_Nicholson]

Thanks guys for the info.

I will have a surplus of hay so I will probably sell the extra. Depending on the size of bale I end up with will determine how it's stored.

For smaller bales I can store it in the hay loft. I've got a large barn with lots of space if I need it.

If I end up with larger bales I'll be stacking it out side.

 

[WTA]

I'd recommend at least a 90 horse tractor for hay work.
I have done it on a square baler here with a 30 horse and a 45 horse and it wasn't fun. My old farmall super C was a great little tractor and after I restored it and built the engine it had 30 horsepower and was plenty strong enough to run the baler but every time that big flywheel came around on it I felt like I was going to come out of the seat. That was brutal on the backside. Probably not too safe either.
With my new tractor I don't even notice the baler is behind me. The cabon the new one really helps too. There is almost no haying equipment that I am aware of that I can't run with this tractor too.