hay making

[Chillimau]

How big of a necessity is a cab tractor for haying to get protection from dust from baling and projectiles while cutting?

 

[cowboydoc]

Absolutely ZERO.

 

[Bird]

Well . . ., now with that word "necessity" in there, I'll agree with Cowboydoc, but otherwise . . ./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Unfortunately, nearly all my hay experience has been on an open tractor and it can be pretty darned miserable at times in the heat of the summer, especially if there's any breeze at all because when the breeze is coming from behind you and you have dust, tiny bits of grass, etc. blowing down the back of your neck, in your eyes if you look back (unless you wear eye protection which adds to the heat discomfort), and things like that. I did just a little baling with an air-conditioned John Deere and the difference is wonderful!.

 

[cowboydoc]

Oh yes you're certainly right Bird it is a nice luxury but certainly isn't a necessity.

 

[bgott]

http://www.turbinecar.com/turbine.htm

I guess my memory was a little weak, this guy drove one of the 50, not a hundred, and they kept nine.

 

[bgott]

http://www.barracudamagazine.com/turbine.html

 

[Chillimau]

Thanks CowboyDoc and Bird.

I am probably still a year out from buying but am wavering between buying something bigger, but used so that maybe I could do hay in the future or buying what I feel like I need for now and worry about the future when it gets here. I have the my hay baled right now. I can't justify the equipment for just my place, just the savings account interest off the money not spent on equipment would pay to bale my hay. Had a friend who baled many places as a father son team, but I am a ways off from that. My son is only two! and who is to say he would be interested or me either depending on what life does between now and then. Probably looking too far ahead at this, but nevers hurts to think about the future.

Anyway, current question. What is an average hp requirement per foot of disc. What could I pull with say a 5220 4wd deere (45hp) or say a 6200 to 6400 deere (65hp-85hp). The 5220 would do mowing and help with house building , but what about improving the pasture. I know the 5220 is too small for a moco or a round baler. My guess is the 5220 will work the pasture just slower!

 

[cowboydoc]

Chillimau,
That 5220 will do just fine pulling a mower conditioner, esp. the older ones. You will probably need more horses for the round baler though. That 6200-6400 will do everything you need to do with regard to haying. As far as a disc goes you could pull a 14' disc easily with either one. You could pull a 16 or 18' disc with the 6200-6400.

 

[jimg]

For lack of a better place Im going to jump in here w/ a question on mower conditions and CUTs:

Around my area there are a goodly number of fields unused and Ive thought about renting them to take the hay. I think in some cases the owner would give the hay just to keep the field mowed. Anyway a mower condition is a requirement here b/c of the summer weather. My question is will a CUT handle a sicklebar mower conditioner? Ive looked at used equipment and there seem to be a good supply of used units. ALl I need my CUT to do is mow, ted and rake. jimg

 

[cowboydoc]

What CUT do you have?

 

[jimg]

At the moment none. but am looking at the high end of the small chassis NH or a mid chassis.

 

[cowboydoc]

If you don't have anything I would go for a utility tractor. They would have no problem with a mower conditioner as long as it wasn't over 12 or so. CUT is just too small in my opinion to run a mower conditioner. Not only that but the connection are not going to be right either. Most mower conditioner are cat. 3 hookups. Plus the hydraulics to run one, pto stress, etc. CUT just wasn't made for one.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I've visited the NH web site, & if you go through their tractor wish list, you will see the largest CUT tractors can pull the smallest NH haybine.

The issue with a haybine or moco or whatever it's called is 2-fold. You need enough hp to turn the thing, which is about 45-50 hp for a 9'; and you need a heavy enough tractor to manhandle the haybine. Those rigs are heavy & off-center, they will want to push you around. I think anything but the very largest CUT is not at all suited for a haybine.

I have run my old 9' moco with a 960 Ford which is ~50hp and weighs a lot more than a CUT & has fluid in the rear tires. Worked, but it was a chore - both for the tractor, & for me to control it on the hills, I prefer using my 85 hp Ford which is much heavier.

--->Paul

 

[Woodbeef]

You can run a 7' sickle mo/co with about 40 hp fairly comfortably in all but the thickest hay and hilly fields. But you also need about 4,000lbs or so and a wider tractor than your normal CUT.

As for a small square baler 30-35 hp will do ok,but it might be slower than you like in really thick hay. But I'd be looking at around 3,500 lbs to run it also.

Plenty of Massey 35,50,135,150s,IH 444,Ford 3000,Case 430,DB 880,885....etc used around here to cut and small square bale with. Never seen a CUT though.