The Life of a Custom Mowing contractor

[workinonit]

We also drove the “Road to Hana”.
I drove about 50 miles of switch back roads to get there.
When we arrived at the town, it was just a small village, some nice homes and a small lagoon/harbor with a canoe club.

It was pretty scary. Some single lane, lots of pulling over to let oncoming cars go by.

Pretty drive. I wouldn't do it again. We went through the rain forest and returned on the southern route through the desert. That was an adventure. We like Maui. Have been 3 times but I like Kauai more. Nort Kauai is more of my kind of relaxation. I love the wild chickens.

 

[workinonit]

HD, I have a question. I went to NC last week and saw someone cutting hay with a 15' rotary cutter. What's the downside to that vs a standard mower/conditioner?

 

[Hay Dude]

HD, I have a question. I went to NC last week and saw someone cutting hay with a 15' rotary cutter. What's the downside to that vs a standard mower/conditioner?

Biggest would be, as you know, the rotary mower shreds the grass into small bits & pieces which are nearly impossible for the baler to pick up and build into flakes in the baler’s chamber.
A hay mower cuts the grass off about 5” high, leaving those nice long strands the baler can easily pick up and put into a nicely shaped bale.

 

[Gregster613]

Biggest would be, as you know, the rotary mower shreds the grass into small bits & pieces which are nearly impossible for the baler to pick up and build into flakes in the baler’s chamber.
A hay mower cuts the grass off about 5” high, leaving those nice long strands the baler can easily pick up and put into a nicely shaped bale.

Hay Dude, Isn't that batwing that you use a rotary cutter? And you bale after cutting with that? Or am I mistaken and you have other cutters for your use with the large square baler? Just curious, as that's what it looked like to me. Thanks Greg

 

[workinonit]

I think he uses that for the tracts he mows that don't or can't get baled. He has quite a setup for baling/conditioning.

 

[Hay Dude]

Hay Dude, Isn't that batwing that you use a rotary cutter?

Yes, the John Deere CX-15 I have is a 15’ rotary cutter.

And you bale after cutting with that?

No, it’s not used to cut hay fields. It’s used to cut non-hay fields.

Or am I mistaken and you have other cutters for your use with the large square baler? Just curious, as that's what it looked like to me. Thanks Greg

The John Deere CX-15 Batwing rotary mower is used to mow fields that are not hayed.
Like this:

When we cut/bale hay, I use the Massey Ferguson 7495 with the (2) Pottinger hay mowers. They have a completely different mowing process than the John Deere CX-15.
These mowers have several smaller “disc” mowers and the conditioning tines you see underneath the mower.

Here’s the mowers lowered into cutting position. Cuts a 21 foot swath.

 

[Gregster613]

Yes, the John Deere CX-15 I have is a 15’ rotary cutter.

No, it’s not used to cut hay fields. It’s used to cut non-hay fields.


The John Deere CX-15 Batwing rotary mower is used to mow fields that are not hayed.
Like this:

View attachment 3961421


When we cut/bale hay, I use the Massey Ferguson 7495 with the (2) Pottinger hay mowers. They have a completely different mowing process than the John Deere CX-15.
These mowers have several smaller “disc” mowers and the conditioning tines you see underneath the mower.
View attachment 3961420

Here’s the mowers lowered into cutting position. Cuts a 21 foot swath.

View attachment 3961422

Thanks for clarifying that - now that you did, I do remember seeing the other mower on the Massey. You've got so much equipment it's kind of difficult to keep each piece on track at times! Thanks!!

 

[Hay Dude]

Got the green light to start trucking hay to 2 of my mushroom hay buyers.
Here’s 16 biscuits I delivered this morning.
13.5 tons.

Started mowing 2nd cutting yesterday. This field already overrun with foxtail. The deer decided to wait until the last second before I mowed right by him. I swear these deer are semi-domesticated round here…