I quit!!!!!!!

[CumminsLuke]

Well, after four years of baling my own hay, I've had it. Once upon a time I used to enjoy it, but anymore it just seems like more of a headache then fun. I had a bearing go out on my 640 NH round baler in the sledge roll assembly and do about $3,000 worth of damage to the gears and that was enough to finally push me to make up my mind. Baling hay is something that requires a lot of time, but unfortunetly for me I have to business to run and we are just starting up a third. To top that off I have a 13 month old son who I am not spending enough time with. I find then when I am at work and concentrating on business I can make a lot more money than when I am worry about hay laying down. I guess the old saying about making more with your brain than with your back is true. I sold every piece of my hay equipment to an implement dealer friend of mine and I am going to rent both of my farms out on shares of the hay, as I still need hay for my horses and cattle. My neighbor is going to take it all over for me as he has all brand new equipment and does a lot of baling. Good ridence hay!

 

[steveky]

I feel your pain, I was the same way last year, had an old square baler and it would take me 3 times as long to bale as it should have. It would bale about 10 perfect bales then miss about 6. I worked on knotters till I could scream, and having a full time job I was always pressed for time to begin with. Finally on day it caught on fire, I hauled that baler to the local salvage yard. Got great pleasure watching that hunk of metal get smashed. Can't think of anything more frustrating than that old hay baler.

Steve

 

[chh]

Sorry to hear your baler didn't work out. It sounds like you got a better deal going now though. Try to relax and enjoy the little boy some, they grow up too fast.

 

[Eagleview]

, but unfortunetly for me I have to business to run and we are just starting up a third.

Man , you need to relax and start enjoying your life and family . Why 3 businesses ? Why not 1 good one and some time for life ?

 

[MikeD74T]

I feel your pain, I was the same way last year, had an old square baler and it would take me 3 times as long to bale as it should have. It would bale about 10 perfect bales then miss about 6. I worked on knotters till I could scream, and having a full time job I was always pressed for time to begin with. Finally on day it caught on fire, I hauled that baler to the local salvage yard. Got great pleasure watching that hunk of metal get smashed. Can't think of anything more frustrating than that old hay baler.
Steve

As a teenager I once sat on a baler and hand tied one side of over 400 bales because the knotter wasn't tying & rain was coming. Why does haying equipment quit only when rain is approaching ???? MikeD74T

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Man , you need to relax and start enjoying your life and family . Why 3 businesses ? Why not 1 good one and some time for life ?

If I recall he has a couple car dealerships (and maybe a third now).

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Well, after four years of baling my own hay, I've had it. Once upon a time I used to enjoy it, but anymore it just seems like more of a headache then fun. I had a bearing go out on my 640 NH round baler in the sledge roll assembly and do about $3,000 worth of damage to the gears and that was enough to finally push me to make up my mind. Baling hay is something that requires a lot of time, but unfortunetly for me I have to business to run and we are just starting up a third. To top that off I have a 13 month old son who I am not spending enough time with. I find then when I am at work and concentrating on business I can make a lot more money than when I am worry about hay laying down. I guess the old saying about making more with your brain than with your back is true. I sold every piece of my hay equipment to an implement dealer friend of mine and I am going to rent both of my farms out on shares of the hay, as I still need hay for my horses and cattle. My neighbor is going to take it all over for me as he has all brand new equipment and does a lot of baling. Good ridence hay!

I know how you are feeling. I am considering giving up haying after this year also for similar reasons. Mainly I miss spending time with my daughter (who is 3.5) and since I hurt my back I can't do as much as I use to and it is hard to find helpers (even at $12/ hour). So with all the other work I have to do on my farm I can't see staying in the hay business and have to fight with the weather all the time.

When the weather cooperates and my customers are taking the wagons themselves haying is fun, but that doesn't happen very often and this is the third year in a row the weather has been screwy

If I do stay in the hay business I am selling my kicker and kicker wagons and buying a NH stack wagon and a set of grabs for my loader so I can stack my customers barn without touching very many bales.

 

[jwcinpk]

Been there, but took a slightly different approach. I took the plunge and bought new equipment. It has helped with the equipment issues, but not with the time issues. Sometimes I feel like I made the wrong decision. Sure would have been easier and probably cheaper in the long run just to quit. I too used to consider it fun to bale hay, but with the investment I made I really needed to work the equipment to pay for it. As we all know it's not nearly as much fun when you have to do it. Luckily things have almost run their course for me in that the equipment is paid for on the most part (except the new tractor). This year I've taken the approach that I'll do my own and only do custom work if I really like the customer and I am making enough money on it that I feel it's fair. Otherwise I sit in the air conditioning and gather eggs. I feel your pain with the business thingy too! We are in the process of building our second set of layer houses. Sometimes I feel like I'm 35 going on 60. Keep waiting on the kids to to start calling me by my name instead of dad.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

IMHO, anyone who bales hay for FUN is a bit deranged and deluded It's enjoyable to work outside. There's a certain satisfaction in the accomplishment, exersize and hard work. There's even a remote chance of saving/making money.


But.....FUN?

 

[Renovator]

When I was milking cows I used to enjoy making hay silage. Making dry hay in my area is frustating. 20 miles from Lake Michigan and heavy clay soils. Also my business keeps me busy at that time of year. I work alone an dont want to hire labor for insurance reasons $
Renovator