The Life of a Custom Mowing contractor

[LouNY]

I would love to have windrows that long. I was raking today doubling windrows for my nephew to chop for haylage. No way can we get dry bales this time of year. We still use a couple of older rollerbar rakes. Doubling up 3 cutting.

 

[Hay Dude]

Yeah your trees are really colorful. We are just starting to change down here.
81* here today. Made a couple dozen on some small fields.

Think my windshields a bit dirty?

 

[LouNY]

It's not bad, I still had some washer fluid in mine that I used this morning.

 

[Hay Dude]

I’ve got about 75 acres to go!

Tick-tock , times running short.

 

[Hay Dude]

The end is drawing near. This is the LAST field to be cut. It’s a small field-about 12 acres.
Still plenty to bale, but at least the hay has been cut (unless I decide to do some 3rd cutting-but I’d really doubt it).

 

[Hay Dude]

Just getting a few last smaller fields baled I put off for the end. I figure if all hell breaks loose and something REAL bad happens, I have a chance to either call a buddy to bale it for me, or just bush hog it and take the loss.

I have one larger and 3 small fields left.
The large field went relatively well, but yield was low.
Here I am driving from the big field to a smaller field to get set up for baling.

I arrived at the next field with no issues and raked field. Then it was time to bale. Upon using the hydraulic PTO start assist and engaging the PTO, I blew up the overrunning clutch. Now it has to be removed and I have to make a 300 mile round trip to Hagerstown, MD have it repaired. I’ll lose an entire day of sunny weather, which is only 2-3 days a week around here now. Valuable time lost.

“Suck it up buttercup”, right? The life of a Custom Mowing Contractor….

 

[workinonit]

Aw man. So close.

 

[BleedingOrange]

Hey Dude, I really admire your get-er-done, whatever it takes attitude.

 

[j13smiley]

I'm amazed at how many repairs are needed. It seems you have big equipment and maintain your gear... Yet things are always breaking

 

[scootr]

Murphy's law applies

 

[Hay Dude]

I'm amazed at how many repairs are needed. It seems you have big equipment and maintain your gear... Yet things are always breaking

Couldn’t agree more. I’m not “over the top” by any means with maintenance. I have learned a lot along the way.
Large square balers are crazy expensive and lots to repair/maintain and unfortunately, break.

 

[Hay Dude]

$1,100 later, I’m back to baling.
Today was the last one before a few days of rain.


Got this field baled up

2nd cutting bales are generally heavier. This one is 2,013 pounds.

Loading bales out of the field, too.

Done for the day. Country Roads, Take Me Home.

 

[mrmikey]

Nice looking places you visit HD, thanks for the pics and updates.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Looks like somebody plants soybeans up in your area, they used to be a big fall crop down in my area, but nowadays not so much.

 

[Hay Dude]

Nice looking places you visit HD, thanks for the pics and updates.

Anytime!

It’s nice here. Very little crime. Pretty peaceful, overall. Worst thing you see is road rage stuff.
Lot’s of history and countryside.

 

[Hay Dude]

Took some time Thursday to do some Conservancy mowing. The Challenger MT535B has been a great field mowing & bale loading tractor.

Around the barns, the F-3680 comes in handy. Especially on steep banks.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Very nice pictures.

 

[Hay Dude]

One last look at this small field after bales are gathered. The long & hard days of baling are almost over.

Driving home last night gave me some time to take stock of the year and think about what needs to be repaired, replaced, improved, etc.

There’s always so much to do, but I really enjoy it. If it paid better, I would feel like I had the best job.

 

[EddieWalker]

I really enjoy your pics from the drivers seat. Is it common for tractors to be on the road in your area? do you ever see other big tractors on the road while you're on yours? Do the police ever pull you over?

 

[Gator6x4]

You can climb down inside the baler to fix things, there’s plenty of room. You can stand up inside the feed chamber and nobody would know you are in there Lol
I spent 8 hours in the baler trying to clear a jamb.

Glad that was you working on the baler and not me. If me the baler would still be inoperative.