Looking for a baler, small acreage

[Bikewanderer]

I have 20 acres currently on my place in northeast Kansas. In the future, this might increased to a maximum of about 50 acres. I have it planted into brome and will be baling it for my own uses. I have a Kubota l3400 tractor now, and would like to find a round baler that is kind of borderline what my tractor can handle. I say this because I intend to move up about one size to a more deluxe 40 to 50 hp tractor. I'd like to be able to handle it with what I have now, and comfortably be able to handle it with the larger tractor.

My intent is to do large round bales because I don't have any indoor storage for hay nor any help to go pick them up. If necessary, I can be flexible on this point. I do have a building that I could convert to use for hay and a daughter who is getting old enough that she could drive the tractor while I go pick up bales.

I see all kinds of small square balers around here but to be perfectly honest I am quite afraid of them because of the maintenance costs. I need something that will be quite reliable because I have a limited time to get my chores done. Having never owned a baler, I don't really know what this means.

I am hoping to get some advice here on what types of balers I should look at as well as how much I should be expecting to spend to get one that will be quite reliable.

 

[Texasmark]

For your existing power you are pretty much limited to a square baler. Small Farm Innovations, in Caldwell, TX. advertises a small roller that you might look at for a type that would work...www them.

On your plans with a slightly larger tractor you are still at the limit. I retired and dropped down to a 65 hp and a JD 375 roller which puts out half the bale I used to roll. It's about 800# and is 5' wide and 4' in diameter. Nice size to haul with hay spears on the rear (or front) of 30 hp units like my Ford 2000.....don't need front end weights. I've been with JD balers for over 20 years as my brand of choice because they work and stay working.

I hay on flat ground and when I get near the full roll, on high moisture hay, it starts grunting somewhat. Doubt 50 hp would be enough.

 

[Bikewanderer]

I was afraid of that. I am not too open to the idea of buying from a company that does not have local support. Reliability and ease of service are the main concerns, price is not. Obviously price is still a concern, but I have moved away from my older equipment because I don't have time to fuss with it. Now I either buy newer equipment or just hire somebody to do it. That is an option, but I don't really have enough acreage to justify bringing someone in. All the local guys don't want to hay it for me, they just want to cash rent.

I have a fair amount of John Deere equipment already, and am happy with my dealer. Any models I should look at?

 

[KYErik]

There are more working parts on a square baler, but maintenance doesn't have to be expensive.

I have an OLD new holland model 68- that just needs to be greased with every use- I baled 400 bales per year for 5 years in a row with no issues- it might have missed tieing 0.5% - 1% of the bales correctly- usually the first bale of the field or a knot got caught when it was switching to a new ball of twine. How many bales do you need every year? Or do you plan to sell them?

It takes about 30 small bales to make 1 large bale- and small bales are a lot more work- but you lose less to rot (unless you store the round bales inside) and you lose less to waste.

You should be able to find an old square baler in good working order for less than $1K. 50 acres of square bales will keep you VERY busy.

 

[Bikewanderer]

I see those older balers all the time for sale. I have been terrified of all the moving parts and an older baler. It makes sense that people might be selling reliable equipment to move up to a round bale, but you think I can get a reliable baler for $1000? I was hoping for something like $5k. Part of the problem has been that the only way to know how it works is to have hay to bale with it....

 

[Bikewanderer]

No idea how many bales I need per year. I have enough land for about 10 head of cattle and would like to be able to get through winter without buying too much hay. My goal this year is to get fences and water lines Run and get a winters worth of hay stored and look at buying maybe two cow calf pairs this fall.

 

[KYErik]

I agree that I would hesitate to pay more than $500 for a square baler unless I saw it baling. You can ask the seller to demo it. Buy 2-3 square bales (hay or straw)- cut the strings and spread the hay evenly into a short windrow and then have the seller rebale the loose hay while you watch.

 

[KYErik]

if you have 20 acres- do you plan on fencing half of that for the 10 cows and then baling the other half? Around here- each cow eats about 4 large round bales per winter. A little more if they are nursing a fall born calf and a little less if they are pregnant and then delivering a calf in early March.

I'd suggest storing 80-100 square bales per cow- but local ranchers will give you a better estimate. If the hay is poor or over mature, it will take more bales and if the hay is good- it would take less. I'd also suggest starting out with just 3-4 cows the first year and working your way up to 10.

You can get more out of your fenced pasture if you subdivide it with electric fences and rotate grazing.

 

[Bikewanderer]

I have a total of 40 acres. 20 of it is planted in brome and the remaining amount is native grasses and fescue. The remaining land is Hilly and has a fair amount of trees in it. My plan is to keep the cattle in the hilly area during the hot part of the year when I am growing Hay and up on the flat High ground where my brome is over the winter. Something I am trying to figure out is if I will have to supplement with occasional grain over the summer because of the lower hay quality in that area.

 

[cat fever]

I have a NH 316 baler. I think it's around a 1984 model not sure though. Paid $4000 bucks for it. All I have done is put new twine knives on it and grease every time I bale. It might miss 1 out of 150 bales, usually because I am going to fast. If I go slower it bales perfect every time.

 

[KYErik]

You can buy a 200 lb protein/mineral tub to supplement the grass or hay and just set it out so they have free choice access. We only feed grain (ground corn mixed with a little mineral and ground hay) to calves while weaning (they get hay too)- the cows don't get any grain- unless we are baiting them to trap them in the corral to work them, cull old cows or wean calves.

 

[joeu235]

Dad has a JD 348. We make about 5000 bales a year with it and it only messes up the first two bales of the year when the chute has some surface rust. It's about 15 years old and has never had a drop of rain on it. I would think a similar unit would be hassle free for you.

 

[powerscol]

OK - you can run a standard baler with you 30 hp PTO. Massy makes an entry round baler that only takes 30 hp, Its thier 1734 model. You can also run a small inline. I run a Hesston 4550 with my Bobcat that has even less power than your tractor. Either of thoes will suite you well in the future. I also run a small hay grapple to pick up my bales after baling. Got it from Kuhns Mfg LLC | Innovation in small square bale handling.

My advise is get a good baler, the rest (mower, rake, etc) you can find used and still works.

Hope this helps

 

[Texasmark]

Around here the guy that does hay for a living runs a JD roller and NH square and support equipment. Problem with squares is somebody to pick them up and stack them and a barn to put them in. Get over that hump and you have a baler for your small tractor if you don't go with a mini roller like SMI sells....he's just a dealer. The mfgr. may have dealers all over the US. Maybe one near you.

 

[bjr]

I have 20 acres currently on my place in northeast Kansas. In the future, this might increased to a maximum of about 50 acres. I have it planted into brome and will be baling it for my own uses. I have a Kubota l3400 tractor now, and would like to find a round baler that is kind of borderline what my tractor can handle. I say this because I intend to move up about one size to a more deluxe 40 to 50 hp tractor. I'd like to be able to handle it with what I have now, and comfortably be able to handle it with the larger tractor.

My intent is to do large round bales because I don't have any indoor storage for hay nor any help to go pick them up. If necessary, I can be flexible on this point. I do have a building that I could convert to use for hay and a daughter who is getting old enough that she could drive the tractor while I go pick up bales.

I see all kinds of small square balers around here but to be perfectly honest I am quite afraid of them because of the maintenance costs. I need something that will be quite reliable because I have a limited time to get my chores done. Having never owned a baler, I don't really know what this means.

I am hoping to get some advice here on what types of balers I should look at as well as how much I should be expecting to spend to get one that will be quite reliable.

I'd try to find a Centerline small square baler such as Case IH 8520 or a Hesston 4550 Then find a accumulator and probably have to have a FEL with grapples I never had the accumulator or the grapples when I was workin' hay, did have the 4550 and it was a decent small hp baler. I don't blame you for wanting to hold on the labor, but 'round here ain't not market for round bales. Most of the local market is Finicky horsey people and they're mostly women and girls, so they only want small light bales. I just couldn't deal with the buyers and quit hayin' altogether. bjr

 

[crowbar032]

I inherited a MF 124 square baler that I pull with the MF150 (40 PTO hp) gas tractor. With a fully loaded wagon and baler, it makes old red grunt hard on hills. You've got enough hp to run it, but stay off the hills. Flat ground you'll be ok as long as you've got it weighted front and rear. This baler sat in a barn for 10 years when dad quit hay to do tobacco. Pulled it out, greased and strung it up, and started baling. Missed like the first 10 bales then ran like a sewing machine. Now the only time it misses a bale is when it switches to a new bail of twine....and that could be because I can't tie knots for crap. If you get a square baler, get one with a "super sweep". The pickup fingers are closer together which makes it easier to pick up the windrow and you'll leave less hay in the field especially on the second cutting. I'd also invest in a several good hay wagons and an elevator (depending on your barn) if you do a lot of squares.....and cancel your gym membership.

I also have a New Holland 634 round baler that I pull behind the JD 5065E (65 PTO hp). It makes a 4x4 bale. I would have gotten a 4x5 baler if I could have found one. I would absolutely not want any bigger baler than that though. You can really feel the weight pushing on the hills. I don't believe you have enough tractor to run it. I wish it had a net wrap option so the bales could be stored outside.

 

[Texasmark]

One more thought on type; roll or square: In the spring it's hard enough to get your "down hay up" since in a lot of places showers are a week apart. With a roller, once you punch the dump button you are through with it till you decide to do something with it. With a square if you don't have a catcher (which I never could find at a reasonable price and they only hold so much per load) as others have mentioned, your precious hay is vulnerable to that spring shower that snuck by the weather man and nailed your hay that you meticulously nourished through it's life. Now you have "rained on hay".....even if it was just a shower.....UGH! BTDT

 

[Kiwibru]

For the progressive and paradigm shifting operation there are very robust European small round balers and wrappers that make haylage early in the season a much better alternative than waiting for stable weather for hay. One tractor, mower, baler, wrapper and three "stable weather days" is all you need. Parts are not a big deal with world wide shipping and often U.S. based distributors. Look for brands such as Bagram (Wolagri/Tonutti), Abbriata, CAEB, Tanco (square or round bale wrapper from Ireland), plus Star from Japan. These balers will make a 110-140 lb. 3X3 ft. round bale of haylage. Might look small but they are the equivalent of a square bale in cu. ft. Besides, you can catch the grass in the early pre-bloom stage and hit very high C.P. test levels. Very low HP requirements too.

 

[RickB]

One tractor, mower, baler, wrapper and three "stable weather days" is all you need. These balers will make a 110-140 lb. 3X3 ft. round bale of haylage. Might look small but they are the equivalent of a square bale in cu. ft. Besides, you can catch the grass in the early pre-bloom stage and hit very high C.P. test levels. Very low HP requirements too.

High quality baleage is made in far less than "3 stable weather days", usually two, or as little as one.

A 3x3 round bale of baleage made dense enough to ferment properly will weigh nearly 500 lbs, moisture dependent. And contain more volume of crop than four 14" x 16" x 40" square bales.

Here's a few facts:

http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/L/LIVE-0129/LIVE-0129.pdf