Clearing old hay field

[Mtsoxfan]

As I have posted before, I'm looking to buy some abutting land from neighbor. When we talked yesterday, they surprised me with a great offer for me to buy 18+/- acres. (I'm paying for survey, which will happen in March, weather dependent)
It used to be a hay field, hasn't been cut in about 10 years. Not sure why. Someone hays the fields on my road and they are much larger, but same topography, rolling hills. Someone used to hay it for free, taking the hay. Not sure why it stopped. Neighbor has contacted everyone he knows, no luck.
I have no use for hay, nor do I want the expense of it. I'd like to cut area twice a year to hopefully restore it's beauty. basically, an extended overgrown lawn. I will maintain some walking paths for my wife to walk, and turkeys and deer seem to follow a path I cut one year. I have a 29hp tractor with a brush hog, that has met my needs so far. I fear it may not be enough, or wrong implement. Is anyone aware of replacement blades for brush hog that will cut grass/weeds better? It looks like hay until mid summer, then see pic for what takes over. One pic shows my lawn up to field. I'm not opposed to leaving as is, but if it's a simple equipment fix, I will try. I don't even need/want to cut all of it, just enough to look a bit better I guess. Not in market for newer/bigger tractor. This is an investment that I will realize when I sell, or my wife sells when I die of old age...

 

[Thomas]

Ask around someone maybe someone might be interest in cutting also hauling away.

 

[jeff9366]

Is anyone aware of replacement blades for brush hog that will cut grass/weeds better?


1) You need enough power from your tractor so your Rotary Cutter does not bog down in the thickest grass you will mow. That will be a 48" width Rotary Cutter on undulating ground powered by 29-horsepower.

2) Sharpen the blades you have with an angle grinder.

3) At 3-mph:

A 48" mower will cut around 1.3 acres per hour.
A 60" mower will cut around 1.6 acres per hour.
A 72" mower will cut around 2.0 acres per hour.

MORE:

Rotary Cutter / Bush Hog Considerations for Compact Tractors

If you buy a Rotary Cutter too light it will visit the dealer yearly for $600 repair. NEW Rotary Cutters cut everything at first. As the light blades dull a light cutter undergoes increasing stress. 60" - 72" Rotary Cutters: 400/500 pounds = light duty = grass only. 600/700 pounds = medium...

www.tractorbynet.com

I'd like to cut area twice a year to hopefully restore it's beauty. basically, an extended overgrown lawn.

You will need to cut the pasture at least four times per year.

 

[Hay Dude]

A sharp bush hog will do an excellent job, leaving a tall lawn-like finish.
Sharp blades and the right speed are the key.

 

[paulsharvey]

As for the why; my assumption, mobilizing, probably to cut, Ted, rake, bail, load out; my guess is there is little profit in the hay for someone not within a mile or two.

Let's say, 3 4x5s per acres; 18x3=54 bails, ×$40=$2160; but we haven't moved any equipment, wear and tear, moved bails, ect. It's probably just not worth the time. Let's say you have no break downs, no weather issues, ect; you max profit is only like $1500 for 3 days of work, that's not giving any cost other than fuel. If we figure even $35/hr on the tractor, and $15/hr on the bailer; we are probably down to maybe $1000, and we still haven't moved the bails;

If there was a guy next door who needed the hay, and had the equipment, sure, but moving stuff in from 10 miles; probably just not worth it

 

[paulsharvey]

Now, if we could get the quality up, and there is demand, and you get $55/4x5 roll, that's a different story, but that takes weed control, fertilization, ect.

 

[paulsharvey]

BTW, glad you came to an understanding on the purchase, and if you bought it right, it probably was a great move to pick up the acreage.

 

[Rockbadchild]

As for the why; my assumption, mobilizing, probably to cut, Ted, rake, bail, load out; my guess is there is little profit in the hay for someone not within a mile or two.

Let's say, 3 4x5s per acres; 18x3=54 bails, ×$40=$2160; but we haven't moved any equipment, wear and tear, moved bails, ect. It's probably just not worth the time. Let's say you have no break downs, no weather issues, ect; you max profit is only like $1500 for 3 days of work, that's not giving any cost other than fuel. If we figure even $35/hr on the tractor, and $15/hr on the bailer; we are probably down to maybe $1000, and we still haven't moved the bails;

If there was a guy next door who needed the hay, and had the equipment, sure, but moving stuff in from 10 miles; probably just not worth it

and you still haven't re-seeded and fertilize... when a pasture is abandon the ''good grass'' become scares and weeds take over, so without a good initial investment it's not worth the time and effort.

Burning it will surprisingly do wonder to restore a pasture but it is now almost impossible to do so...

 

[Rockbadchild]

I don't think you want to do this with anything else then a brush hog, (espicially at first) and if you are going to only cut it a few times a year... My brush hog dose a nice job cutting but it dose takes a lot of HP when the grass is very long and thick. I have looked to sharpen my brush hog blades but they are round by design it be a lot of grinding to sharpen them (not impossible).

 

[Hay Dude]

I have 2 customers with fields that are too difficult to hay, so I cut them instead once per month. If you do that, it will become lawn-like after a few years.