What have you done in preparation for the 2020 hay season?

[Bigfoot62]

Just wondering what you have accomplished in gearing up for the season. Are you ready? I realize that many of you aren't even close to the time of year, but we'll be in the hay field in about 2 months here.

I've already carried my baler to the dealer for some factory updates. It should be ready in a couple weeks. (end of March)
Last weekend, I put the new drive bearings in one of the hay mowers. Did the other one last year. Never had to change those bearings before, but now I've done both of them within the past 10 months. Hopefully, that's over for a while.
Last week, I priced new disks (turtles, hats) for the oldest mower. They will need to be changed soon. Roughly, $1400 from JD and $1100 from the Kuhn dealer. Looks like I'll put the orange parts on the green machine. I have a can of JD green paint.

 

[MH8675309]

Put new tires on one of the flat racks. Shortened the chains on the NH 273. It is seeping gear lube on one side of the flywheel - no doubt needs a new seal. Got a grocery list of things to do,,,

 

[mjw357]

Waiting for the weather to cooperate to fertilize, fields are greening up. It’s just too wet to do anything here.

 

[joeu235]

I'm going to spray later this week as soon as the fields are dry enough. I'm also reclaiming a pasture from mesquite and plan to sprig with Jiggs.

 

[mikewood869]

We’ve been reclaiming a field that hasn’t been touched for a while

 

[mikewood869]

Some old obits from 2015 when it wasn’t mowed or cleared.

 

[Hay Dude]

Fertilized over winter. Oil & hydraulic fluid changes, blade changes, rock pickin.
Picked up 35 more acres of crap land :laughing:
Trying to figure Out how to make a profit.....

 

[Peter 315]

I think there's more money in trucking hay balers...

 

[Hay Dude]

I think there's more money in trucking hay balers...

I truck things for people, plow snow, mow fields and build barns & garages.
Whew,,,, thats a lot of work to supplement my hay farming career :laughing:
I do about 75 loads or round bales like this per year and about 50 of the square loads

 

[Peter 315]

Last years hay load might get 2 this year 1 first cut and 1 second cut.....