How to tell if hay was rained on

So my friend has what appears to be second cutting grass hay.  He says his two nigerians goats are not interested in the hay.  I stopped by to check it out and is doesn't have a strong grass hay smell.   Almost like it had seen significant ran after cutting.  Does anyone have any tips, other than obviously testing it, to know if it might have been rained on?  I plan on having some tested on Monday.  They guy supposedly has a whole barn full and is selling it my friend at $3 a bale.  This sounds suspect since we are in a major shortage around here, especially second cutting.  Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Justin

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How to tell if hay was rained on

Replacement Axle or Shaft Source

I found this in my mailbox this morning and also an article from the same company on "what" you may need axle wise. Sometimes , it's a better value to buy the complete axle than buy the boots and piece meal it yourself. bordercollie

https://www.sidebysidestuff.com/lift...s-kubota1.html
https://blog.sidebysidestuff.com/in-...right-for-you/

Replacement Axle or Shaft Source

Who made older Case IH bale Wrappers

Looking at a mid 90's Case IH bale wrapper to replace my Ag Wrap bale wrapper. Anyone know who made them for Case IH? I was thinking Kverneland built them for NH so I assume Case had a similar agreement. The models in question would be 8630/8640/8650. I see very little information online about them.. Anyone have any experience with them? 

Who made older Case IH bale Wrappers

Haybuster Seed Drill Project

I am looking at a 10 ft. Haybuster no till drill. It was in a barn fire. All rubber parts are gone, hyd. hoses, seed tubes etc. It just had new coulters put on, still has ryegrass seed in the box intended for fall planting.
I am thinking about buying it, sand blasting and repairing. It got hot but nothing warped, can still read the Haybuster decals.
Am I asking for trouble or is this doable? Will it be cost effective to replace all the seed tubes etc. needed to get this going?
I can buy it for a little above scrap price.

Haybuster Seed Drill Project

Kuhn rear fold 6 rotor tedder

I'm looking at a used Kuhn, rear fold, 6 rotor tedder.  Are the rear folds problematic?  Are they weaker due to their design?  I like the design better than a vertical fold, I think.  I think it may work better for me.

Kuhn rear fold 6 rotor tedder

Rye Grass and Straw - Impeller Conditioning???

Anyone running an Impeller machine in rye grass/straw vs rollers? If so, how is the dry down? Are Impeller conditioners something you’d recommend for this crop?

Thanks!
Bill

Rye Grass and Straw - Impeller Conditioning???

Steering hose leak

I have an 1120 and the power steering hose is leaking. Looks like you have to take the dash out to change it. Has anyone on here changed out
the hoses?

Steering hose leak

Eptam on first year Alflafa

First time I've ever planted hay last fall. I didn't use a residual control at planting.(regretting it after the fact) 

 

I see I can put Eptam on post emergence with irrigation.  My guess is the irrigation is used to get it down into the soil for the residual to work properly.  My field does not have irrigation, so my question is has anyone ever tried to spray Eptam on in the early spring during a good rain to wash it down into the soil?  Any luck or would I just be throwing money away? 

 

I had a plan to spray Pursuit in the late fall but my alfalfa did not germinate evenly. Some areas the alfalfa was not mature enough to spray and areas I could spray the weeds were to big for Pursuit to kill.  My main pest is Lambsquarter.

 

Thanks for any help.

Eptam on first year Alflafa

Looking for a round baler

I am in the market for a used round baler. I would like to be in the 15k dollar range,and would like to have net wrap. I will be making 200 to 300 rolls per year and would also like to be able to do a small amount of haylage if I get in a pinch weather wise. I have a John deere 5310 that would be pulling the baler rated at 55 pto hp. I have been getting conflicting information from dealers and most want to sell me a baler I cant afford. Just looking for some info from guys that have experience with balers that might work for my needs. Thanks and any info would help

Looking for a round baler

New Addition!

Well its finally time to start the addition.  We've stored our hay outside for a number of years.  Our previous large hay barn was leveled by a tornado 30 years ago and we never rebuilt it.  As our equipment roster has grown and the need to store more hay, we took the opportunity to add on.  Currently the shop area is 50x48, addition is 50x64.  I should be able to store 140 rounds and my equipment as well.  That will free up much needed shop space.  I'll post more pics as it progresses.  

 

 

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New Addition!

McHale Baler

Looking at a Mchale baler.  Has anyone on here had any experience with them?  Looking for the good and bad.  Thanks

McHale Baler

Consider Alfalfa

Progressive Forage Grower.

 

Regards, Mike

 

https://www.progressiveforage.com/forage-types/alfalfa/if-you-re-on-the-fence-consider-alfalfa

Consider Alfalfa

IowANFarmer

A young farmer on the benefits of working with small square bales. Throw another log on the fire, prop up your feet and watch this 22 minute video at your convienance.

 

Regards, Mike

 

IowANFarmer

3×3 square baling in western New York

Is there any need for custom hay and straw baling in this area? I am currently running two Hesston balers in central NY. We're mostly doing wet hay and wrapping individual. What I'd like to do is make a road trip of sorts in July August. Our schedule now is busy in beginning and end of hay season but not so much in the middle. Let us know. Thanks!

3×3 square baling in western New York

New Holland 688 Sledge Frame

I'm getting ready to put the sledge back into my 688 baler. Question is can I put the idler gears in the frame, on the ground, before I put the frame back into the baler? I think it would be a touch easier, only concern is if there may be issues with clearance somehow or getting rolls back in or something. Just curious

New Holland 688 Sledge Frame

NH 7230 too big?

I run a smaller farm averaging roughly 200 acres of hay a year. This year I've been allowed to finally buy a new discbine. I just don't know if my Farmall 95 has the power to run a 7230. I've read the minimum pto requirement is 80 HP which is what I have. Is that enough?

NH 7230 too big?

Roxor Maintenance Videos

Roxor maintenance videos at this site. :) Starts with simple the oil change then how to install additions in other videos . More to come :tiphat:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hezH...TujGFcX7SoDcwB

Roxor Maintenance Videos

Rear main bearing cap cracked

I have a 58 mf65. I have been doing and overhaul on the g176 Continental. I'm in the process of putting it back together and started to put the rope seals in the rear bearing cap. I got one done and while doing the second a piece broke off the journal ( if you will) that the rope goes in on the inner engine side. The top and bottom of it are still intact. Any ideas how to go about fixing? Replacing the cap? I just bought a new crank bearings seals ect. I'm ready to get this thing running again haha. Thanks in advance for any input. I'm new to repairing inner engine parts on something of this nature. Always been more into small engines. I thought about using a silicone or something? Maybe even trying a metal bonding agent to try and reform the the piece around a screw driver or something?

Rear main bearing cap cracked

7300 hours

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LKS...eid=2b4978ce6d

Thanks Messiks:starbucks:

7300 hours

RTV-X1140 Brake Issue?

I could not find anything related to this subject on this group forum so I decided to create a new thread. Note! I'm a newbie on this website, so please advise on any faux pas I may commit.

Two easy checker dash lights recently lit up on my 2016 RTV-X1140. They are in the lower left corner of the easy checker display, one for the headlights, and one for the brakes. What little info I could find says the brake fluid is low, however, it is full and clean. I noticed a sensor connected to the brake fluid cap, so I disconnected it, and checked continuity. It appears to be functioning properly. The brakes and emergency brakes function as they should, as do the head and tail/stop lights. Anyone else have this issue with the dash lights?

Thank you,

ldkubute
2016 Kubota RTV-X1140
2018 Kubota MX5800

RTV-X1140 Brake Issue?

JCB 520 Telehandler Questions

Looking at a JCB 520 at an upcoming auction.  Two of them there actually.  One is nicer with EROPS, and one is rougher with OROPS and transmission issues.  Anyone familiar with the transmissions on these, what fails, and if they are costly to repair.  Seems like it would be a very handy machine.

JCB 520 Telehandler Questions

How to determine RPM?

Anyone with an idea how to determine the RPM? IN other words, without a tachometer how to do it? And how would a tach attach? (RTV-X900)

How to determine RPM?

Twine Troubles

I have a New Holland 311 baler and this past season I was having trouble gettin the small triangle shaped knife to cut the string after it tied a bale, it seems like when the knife arm goes to cut it, it doesn’t make a clean cut and the twine will get caught in the bill hook or those discs, and of course ends up in one side or the other not tying. The best luck I have is out of the cheapest 9000 plastic twine it seem a little smaller, but if I were to put some quality heavier duty string still 9000 but maybe Bridon it won’t hardly cut it at all and will miss basically every bale, and I did replace the knives that cut the twine with little to no noticeable difference, if any of y’all have had any trouble like this I’d appreciate some advice

Twine Troubles

Fuel adjustment.

I need to set my fuel adjustment screw back to factory since i can see its been tampered with. Anyone know this procedure or can steer me in right direction? TIA.

2004 RTV 900

Fuel adjustment.

RTV 1100 Hard Starting

Machine is a rtv 1100 with 3000hrs.
New fuel filter, fuel lift pump. Glow plugs tested and working fine.

Machine is hard starting the first start of the day. Cranks for 8 or 10sec first after it sits over night. Subsequent starts for the rest of the day are fine.

Thinking if may be fuel draining back out of the injection pump. Changed the line from the fuel filter to the lift pump and from the lift pump to the injection pump. No apparent leaks from the return lines.

Any suggestions?

RTV 1100 Hard Starting

Calculating DM/cu' in Silage bales

Dumb question I imagine.  Second guessing myself.  

 

% moisture converts directly to weight?  For example a 4x5 bale weighing 1413 lbs. @ 50% moisture would have DM content of ~706 lb.

 

New to wrapping baleage, planning on custom work  and trying to calculate how to know if DM/cu' is within recommended range of 10 to 15 lb. DM/cu'.

 

Created the attached grid in excel to be able to help customers approximate where they are at.  Data can be changed in the Bale size and % moisture cells.

 

According to the grid, the above example would estimate 12 lb. DM/cu'

 

 

Thanks in advance!

Mike

Calculating DM/cu' in Silage bales

Baling Hay On A Budget - How To Get Started Video

We are making a series of videos about how to get started baling hay on a budget with older equipment. Over the course of the next few months, we will upload more videos - specific to each piece of equipment, tractors, techniques and lessons learned. This is by no means a haymakers handbook, but is our fun attempt to share some of our hay experiences that might help someone else figure out how to make square bales of hay on a budget.

 

Baling Hay On A Budget - How To Get Started Video

To buy hay or fertilizer.... $$ that is the question

Either purchasing hay or fertilizer.. the end goal is more hay.  I was just wondering if you all might have a formula that you use to determine which is more cost efficient ? 

To buy hay or fertilizer.... $$ that is the question

Faba (Fava) Beans

Has anyone tried these beans as forage?

Faba (Fava) Beans

Using preservative for dry hay

I figure this is a good place to ask and discuss this topic. After last year's rainy season, I have been looking into different forms of preservative to help make dry hay. It is not a cure all by any means, but might help get some more in a bale before the next rain.

What do you guys use? Granular or liquid? If so what brand do you like?

I would need to get an applicator, I am leaning towards the granular dry type, putting a box on the hitch of the baler. Thoughts please..

Using preservative for dry hay

X-Series Hand Throttle from Messicks

Can someone explain to me why a hand throttle for an X-series is almost $100 more than one for a non X-Series? Messicks lists X-Series hand throttle for $170 while non X is a mere $75. Is there that much of a drastic design change?

X-Series Hand Throttle from Messicks

Types of baler belts

Hi I'm looking into putting new belts on my hesston 5580 round baler. The belts on it now are all original and have been spliced so many times that they are all about 5 feet shorter than what they are supposed to be. Any way other than not being able to make a full bale it works great! Super tight square bales. It has rough top belts on it and at times it doesn't like to start a bale. I have priced out diamond top belts and they would only be a couple hundred dollars more than a mini rough top. Would the diamond top be worth the extra money? Thanks everyone!!!

Types of baler belts

Vermeer Tedder Repair

I have a Vermeer TD200, Hydraulic fold.

It bounced and slid into a fencerow and by the time I got the tractor stopped it was too late. The one side bent backwards right at the inner basket bracket housing.

Does anyone have any recommendations or insight on how to take this think apart? Or start by taking the outer wing off?

The bolts on the inner basket bracket came out fine, but I'm not sure what's on the inside holding it together.

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Vermeer Tedder Repair

Straw market opportunities

The last few years have been, let’s just say less than stellar for making hay, corn, straw, you name it. Been trying to find a load or two of straw bales for bedding. None. Nada. Zippo. Zilch. I heard of a dairy north of me a ways buying cardboard and shredding it. Of course my mind goes back to the fact I love raising oats and maybe I might find myself a little niche to fill a gap. Of course if I’m thinking it, so is everyone else but most don’t like the fact oats doesn’t pencil like corn, but it would be fine for me as the field I’d plant it in needs tile so it’d be the perfect opportunity.

Anyone else notice straw or bedding in general is in short supply, and has been for a couple years actually?

Straw market opportunities

Adding a camera and monitor

After much looking and reading I purchased a camera and monitor package by camecho (sp?) on Amazon. All hard wired, 9" display with four cameras and no backup lines.  Not that I needed four cameras but I wanted a 9" monitor and this seemed to be the best package for the money. 

I am mainly wanting to use it to monitor ss baler and accumilator operation.

 

You guys that are running cameras how are you mounting the camera (magnetic, directly bolting, or ram) on the implement and tractor? Also, do you have any trouble with vibration affecting picture quality? 

 

Thanks

Adding a camera and monitor

2020 Haying & Farming Pictures

Nobody started this thread yet, so here is what I'm using this year to cut hay.  It showed up recently, haven't take the time to even hookup to the tractor yet.  But by the looks of what is on the ground around it I have a day or two, before I have to worry about getting that done it seems. 

 

 

 

Larry

2020 Haying & Farming Pictures

Slightly Off Topic - Heating Pole Barn

I wanted to take advantage of the lull in RTV traffic on the site to ask if anyone has suggestions.

I need to heat an uninsulated 36x30 pole barn with 12ft walls. It would be heated for 6-8 hours at a stretch and maybe overnight once or twice during deer season. It has a ridge vent.

I have a lifetime supply of firewood, just have to drag, cut and split it so a woodstove is what I have in mind.

My question is how large a wood stove (BTUs) would provide adequate heat. I don't need to walk around in shorts and a t-shift. Probably overalls and a long sleeve shirt. Need maybe 60 degrees or better. I do have a couple of low speed fans that could help circulate.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Slightly Off Topic - Heating Pole Barn

2019 Year In Review.

Progressive Forage Grower.

 

Regards, Mike

 

https://www.progressiveforage.com/forage-types/alfalfa/2019-hay-season-in-review

2019 Year In Review.

Hay Inventories.

Progressive Forage Grower.

 

Regards, Mike

 

https://www.progressiveforage.com/news/industry-news/u-s-hay-inventories-rebound

Hay Inventories.

RTV-X900 working lights

Hello,
RTV-X900: Does somebody know where to find the 12V connector coming from the working light relay, or better, can somedy provide me with the Kubota installation sheet for the front and/or rear working lights?
Thank you very much and best regards.

RTV-X900 working lights

Building a pull behind ATV sprayer

I'm new to farming and I need a sprayer this spring. I've looked online and can't find a decent pull behind sprayer design for an atv. I've got a 100 gal stainless saddle tank, building the trailer is not a problem I even have an 11.0hp honda pump. I'm only going to spray 20-30 acres. I planning a 20-30ft boom. Does anybody know what pump I need for a 11hp? Where can I buy all the nozzles and hoses? Anyhelp would be appreciated

Building a pull behind ATV sprayer

What do horse people want?

I do mostly small squares and a few rounds, mostly straw, but have gotten into hay recently. I'm planning on putting in some pure alfalfa, but what else do the horse people want? What type of grass is the most desirable? I'm in Minnesota. Any information is appreciated

What do horse people want?

Walmart Beef.

Thomasville, GA and AgWeb. 

 

Regards, Mike

 

https://www.agweb.com/article/walmart-enters-beef-business-packing-facility-georgia

Walmart Beef.

Auto steer systems in a windrower

I have a deere r450 and looking into different auto steer options. I would prefer deere, as I already have monitors and recievers I could use. But looking at the deere and the huge motor that's pointed right at your nuts would be a nightmare. There will be lots of times I will have to steer, and we dont have flat smooth ground, I would be smashing my nuts in that stupid motor every bump. Just wanting advice on what option is best...deere, trimble, agleader etc. Thanks

Auto steer systems in a windrower

8840 Swather Head Won’t go up

During the summer I was having problems with my 8840 swather head going up once I got to the end of the field. If I played with the pressure I could eventually get it up. Had my local Case IH dealer come out they recharged it. 1200$ later it work for 30 acres. Then it wouldn’t go up at all I took it back to the barn and parked it. Need to fix it before next year. Any idea what the problem could be?

8840 Swather Head Won’t go up

Banned from Tractor Supply

:yum:

Attached Images

 

Banned from Tractor Supply

Teff Cutting Height?

What kind of stubble height do you typically cut Teff?

Is it tolerant of a close cut or do you need a 4 or 5 inch stubble/cutting height?

Thanks!
Bill

Teff Cutting Height?

Duh!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/midwest-farmers-are-tired-of-tech-loaded-tractors-they-cant-fix/ar-BBYKIQ6

 

Ralph

 

Duh!

Teff info

I have been researching Teff hay for possible use in the future in my operation and came across this piece that I thought might be of interest to others here on HT.

https://hayandforage.com/article-2802-Three-keys-to-making-low-carb-teff-grass-hay.html

Larry

Teff info

The modernizing of the haybob

Saw this at the Keystone Farm Show yesterday.  A combination tedder/rake that seems to be a reworked version of the haybob.  The teeth are spring loaded and pivot down under centrifugal force when spinning.  It's built by Rozmital in the Czeck Republic.

 

The modernizing of the haybob

Cabin Fever RTV Videos

Cabin fever setting in a little here in Ohio. Thought I would pass along a couple of RTV-related videos I viewed recently. If you haven't already seen them, they helped take my mind off what I can't get done until things dry out or freeze up.

The first one is good info from Messick's on a 7300 hour RTV. When to fix and when to trade in on a new one. I am guilty of keeping equipment and investing in it too long. This was a nice reality check.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LKSXzCUgBg

The second contains one person's personal experience with the RTV-X1140 over time. I have some regrets about not getting the 1140, primarily the enormous bed and ability to haul grandkids and guests. But still thankful for what we have.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qlaTF-7aHk

Cabin Fever RTV Videos

No Till Drill - Need Your Experienced Advice

So, our experience with no till drills is limited to the Haybuster conservation office rentals.  Needless to say that is why we haven't gotten on board with no tilling.  We've lightly disked and used conventional drill and most recently completely re-seeded grass stands.  At that time our timothy would only survive one year but it for whatever reason it is looking like we could just interseed -- thus no till entering the picture.

 

Anybody add a no till coulter cart to a pull type IH 510 drill?  

 

What drills do you recommend for using with a JD 2955 tractor?  Will be for timothy into existing timothy fields.  Won't be a lot of acres so not looking for what big time operators would need, just something that would do a reasonably good job without a lot of aggravation.

 

Oh, and appreciate any general advice on no tilling grass into grass  (nothing involving row crops needed).

 

Thanks,

Shelia

 

 

No Till Drill - Need Your Experienced Advice

New vermeer 8050 disc mower

Wondering if anyone has tried the new vermeer out?

I only put up 60 to 70 acres of hay but am getting fed up with the down time on my old hesston sickle bines. Mostly alfalfa and alfalfa grasses hay but planning to over seed Timothy into all my existing hay fields this spring and to try to get heavier grass. Also thinking about trying 70 acres of teff grass this year does that dry good without a conditioner? I am definitely going to get a tedder if I get a disc mower.

New vermeer 8050 disc mower

Start up question

  I am in the process of selling my house so I can buy some property, raise cattle, and otherwise enjoy country life. The first 2 - 3 years would be strictly for my freezer and to see if I like the lifestyle change as much as I think I will.

 

  Since my primary source of income allows me to work from home 100% of the time I am able to move anywhere in the country, but I am currently looking at the Montana/Idaho/Eastern Washington area. Primarily because it is beautiful country and it would be a drastic change from South Texas where I currently live. 

 

  This past weekend I drove out to a local cattle ranchers place and talked to him about the realities of raising cattle in terms of costs, day to day tasks, etc. When I mentioned to him I was thinking the Northwest, specifically Montana, he shivered at the thought and started talking about the extreme cold and how it was a very challenging environment. When I asked him where he would choose based mainly on weather, but taking into consideration land prices he thought Northeast Texas or Southeast Oklahoma.

 

  I would like to pose the same question to the experienced cattle ranchers here. Where would you choose? I will be posting the same question on a couple of other forums to try and get the question exposed to a diverse group of people.

 

Thanks in advance,

Robert

Start up question

John Deere 467 baler

I’m going this weekend to look at a John Deere 467 Baler at a dealer. Looks like a good Baler. The salesman told me he knows the man that owned it and brought it in every winter for service. Has 16,500 bales on the monitor. Asking price is $12000. I don’t know a whole lot about the deere balers but I’ve gained more ground and may roll a 1000 bales a year and would like the net wrap that this 467 offers. So what’s some things to look at on it other than the typical and is $12000 a decent price. Thanks

John Deere 467 baler

Winter Weed Help

I have a field that I overseed every year w/ winter rye for grazing.  This year I have a small weed that has almost covered the entire field, it looks like ground cover and I'm sure it hurts my wye yield.  I've tried to ID it and from what I can tell its parsley piert???? What would be the best way to take care of this?  Forgot, to mention I live in middle Ga and I use the field for goat grazing.  Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Ray

Winter Weed Help

Maize Corporation Baler School

Maize Corporation's baler school for 2020 is February 5th or 6th in Kearney Nebraska and February 14th or 15th in Maize Kansas.

 

The school is based on Hesston Kansas manufactured large square balers. One half of the day goes over the general baler from front to back, including

hydraulics and electronics.

 

The other half of the day is knotters only.

 

The fee is $125.00 per person that goes on your account to use as a part credit.

 

Call (888)722-8710 for the Maize location and (888)234-2485 for the Kearney location to reserve your spot.

Maize Corporation Baler School

Ist time growers

I spend some time on AGTALK, and learn a lot on there and share a little to pay back for what I get . You here tons more bull that on HT , but got to put up with it to get the good stuff. With row crops cheap and weather woes for 2 years … Never heard that much interest  and I mean every 3 hours another post on how to plant alfalfa. Guys putting small boxes BIG Drills really gearing up ! I guess ?? Wonder if it is true  or not  

Ist time growers

MPG

have you been able to get a feel on the fuel usage in different uses? the inet says 34 mpg but i know using it on the farm will make a large variation most likely???

MPG

R450 vs 4995 windrower

Currently I have a 4995 windrower and looking to upgrade...the 2 main reasons I want to get rid of this 4995 is the road speed is only 12mph and the cab is super loud. I've found a couple r450's I'm interested, they go 22mph, But wanted to ask is the cab a lot quieter? Thanks in advance!

R450 vs 4995 windrower

Bh77 backhoe problems

So the backhoe has been acting up after we blew a hose and replaced
It. First the swing wouldn’t go left so I pulled the relief valve and cleaned put it back in and it worked for a minute then stopped working again. Tried again and then the slick quit working. Pulled valves cleaned put back and it worked for a day. Then tried the next day and intermittently the slick swing and boom would quit working. So I pulled the entire valve body out of the tractor split the valve open cleaned it all out thinking there was some crap in there replaced all the o rings put it all back together and still the same problems. Only the functions with reliefs are acting up. When one function stops working if I loosen the corresponding relief valve not to the point that it would leak but just barely loosen it the function will work again tighten it back down and it works for a bit then stops again. This works for all functions with reliefs when they quit working. It’s plausible that the reliefs are bad but all of them going at once is not probable. The tractor has less than 500hrs on it and the hoe has been attached to the tractor sense new. Any ideas???

Bh77 backhoe problems

Hay wagon floor - paint, oil or ?

Just picked up my first haywagon. It has a wood floor, boards 3/4 thick perhaps. One missing. Not pressure treated. I'll have to store it outside.

I'd like to treat the floor with something to prolong it's life.  I don't want to make it slippery or have it affect the hay (for horses) when I start using it.

One guy tells me he sprays his with used motor oil. I spilled some veggie oil in the paved driveway and water beaded on it for 2 years. Better half says tounge oil or mineral oil. Or perhaps thompson's water seal. Good old porch and floor paint perhaps?

What do you use, how's it work?

Hay wagon floor - paint, oil or ?

BIG

https://www.wweek.com/news/2020/01/02/department-of-agriculture-declares-environmental-cleanup-of-eastern-oregon-mega-dairy-site-complete/

BIG

2019 Year End Hay Observations, Lessons Learned and Changes

We had a great year in 2019, in spite of the early rain and later drought. I felt about half of our timothy had been invaded enough by orchard grass and fescue that I sold it as Timothy mixed grass, the rest - straight timothy.

With the drought, hardly any second cut yield.

The shortage of hay really showed me a lot of different customers and their REAL needs in hay. Most could give not a rat’s arse about hay verity (these are horse customers) - but wanted green, clean hay at the lowest price and preferably second cutting. Most could care less about forage analysis. However, we have a core of repeat customers that don’t mind paying for straight timothy - forage tested.

The joke around the barn were customer’s words, “I’ll take all you’ve got” which always translated to BS and no hay sale.

It was amazing how many customers bought our hay because that’s all they could find vs buying quality hay as the motive for spending money with us.

2020 will be another interesting year. We will have more timothy mixed grass and at the end if the season have a decision to make. Refurb completely some of our fields back into straight timothy or go all clean mixed grass hay.

As long as the core customers want and will pay the cost to grow forage tested timothy, we will continue that hay need beyond 2020. We’re going to plant some Teff this spring too, beyond that - it will be interesting to see if we have a hay shortage or glut in our area and the overall customer reaction to it.

Hope everyone has a great 2020 haying season!

Bill

2019 Year End Hay Observations, Lessons Learned and Changes

Baler, disc cutter and rake

I've had my property baled for the last 8 years, and plan to start doing it myself this year.  Not looking to make a big profit, but need it done on my schedule due to using property for other things.  About 100 acres of it can be cut for hay, but it has some  rough bottom land, small ditches to cross and plenty of nasty Honey locust trees that I'll eventually try to kill off, that I have to negotiate around.  I have a older 65 HP tractor, and just bought a used 18 Deere 6105E cab tractor.

 

 

Now I need to focus on getting a cutter, baler and rake.  I'll be doing this while working a full time job for at least another 2 years, after that I'd like to pick up more work, but could probably upgrade some equipment then.  I'd really like to try to stay in a budget range of around $20k-28k for all 3 pieces of equipment.  What would you suggest allocating for each?  I'm east of Dallas, so I have most of the dealers near me, Deere and NH seem to be the biggest and easiest to deal with in this area, and I tend to lean towards green just because I have a Deere tractor and CTL, they are the closest, and there is a Deere field tech very close.   

 

Baler-  I'm hoping to find a 4x6, or maybe 4x5 net baler.  So far I've mostly looked at and researched Deere 467, 468 and 469 balers.  My last hay guy had a 460, and he seemed to still clog it up pretty good, so should a silage be considered?  Bottom land tends to get really thick before it's dry enough to cut/bale.  I really need something simple, durable and not overly complicated for a new operator.  I'd consider any brand. 

 

Cutter-  I'm a little more undecided on this.  I'd love to get a trailed disc cutter, but my current budget might have me getting by with a 3 pt 9' disc cutter for at least this year.  I assume for my tractor/grass (mostly bermuda, Johnson grass and weeds, I think, but if the bottom doesn't get cut early enough, giant ragweed starts taking over) I'd need a 9'-10' 3pt or a 10'-12' trailed cutter, and if I get a conditioner, I'd really only probably need a flail type? Recommendations?  Not so much brand, but size and type?  My last hay guy has still not pulled his burned tractor/mower off the property, I've considered making an offer on the mower.  I think it would need all new hydraulic lines, elec line, and gear box seals.

 

 

Rake- really have done little research yet.  I assume it would be a 8-10 wheel rake for now with my budget, in the $2k-$4k range used. 

 

 

my last hay delivery this year. 

 

 

 

    

Baler, disc cutter and rake

Yanmar engine help

i have a yanmar 3TNV 80FSDSA in a post driver. the engine is rated at 23 HP and i am sure it is under fueled to meet emissions. does anyone here know how to adjust the fuel up just a bit on these engines?

Yanmar engine help

Kuhn gmd 4050

Looking for rear gearbox for Kuhn gmd 4050. Anyone have one that they are parting out or know of salvage yard that might have one? TIA

Kuhn gmd 4050

Growing Sainfoin in PNW?

Does anybody grow sainfoin in the PNW area? Is it just like alfalfa? More or less maintenance? What are the pros and cons compared to alfalfa. I’m thinking of planting a couple acres as an experiment

Growing Sainfoin in PNW?

Wrapping round bales

I'm researching opinions/thoughts on wrapping round bales of almost dry hay.

 

Here is my situation: in Michigan it seems the weather person(s) are not always very accurate.  They will say no rain for 3 days, you cut, ted and rake.  The day you finish raking (even though they weren't calling for rain when you went out to rake), here comes the rain clouds.  Hay is north of say 25-30% moisture yet, too high to effectively use juice/acid/crop saver (what ever you want to call it).  And there goes some of the feed value, as the liquid sunshine falls.

 

• I'm wondering has anyone ever baled/wrapped hay at this moisture (20-35%)? 
• Any tip/tricks that you would like to share?  Success or un-successful story(ies)?  
• What is the longest you have waited to wrap (I'm a one man band, so following the baler is slightly out of the question)? 
• Have you wrapped right after good rain (say 1" of liquid sunshine)?

 

Rational:  thinking of getting a single RB wrapper for this occasion, seems un-rained on hay would be better feed value for my cows IF (big little word) I can bale/wrap BEFORE it gets washed (one or more times).

 

I know that you can wrap 55-60% hay and it seems to make some really good cow food.  I'm more interested in 'saving' some feed value on hay that originally is targeted towards dry ss bales and the weather doesn't cooperate very well. 

 

I'm also aware of tube wrapping being cheaper, but I'm most likely going the individual wrapping method.  Big reason, I would not be feeding fast enough from a tube and some years I might only wrap 25-50 bales (hopefully none would be ideal ).

 

Got my eye on a wrapper, just need the knowledge on the process/experience. 

 

I have guys that do haylage (55-60%) in the area, but no one with experience of lower moisture hay (both tube and individual wrapped bales).  I really appreciate the knowledge/insight that the folks here on HT, it helps my decision making process immensely.

 

TIA

 

Larry

Wrapping round bales

John Deere 515 Drill with Coulter Cart

https://mansfield.craigslist.org/grd/d/shelby-jd-515-drill/7036586046.html

 

 

 

This is territory I know nothing about. I keep looking for no-till drills with JD being the main ones I look at. The 750's are still $10-$15,000 for a decent one and out of price range. Rentals do not exist in this area. The one that was available appears to have been sold and father/son business have went separate ways, though will confirm for sure. Have access to cousins 1590 which will be 2 years old. Went by some fields and seeding looks questionable at best. So I would have time and money in making sure it up to par before I would even use it on top of the rental cost. Both of these scenarios don't take into account the inability to plant on my schedule. 

 

Start getting away from my general area and see more setups like the one pictured that seem to be reasonably priced  though obvious most are not setup with a grass seed box. 

 

Would this type of setup do a decent job when equipped with grass seed box?

 

From what I have been able to find so far I have enough hp with the 4430 to handle it IF the 1586 sells. Some people like them some hate them but it's mainly focused on beans not for what I would use it for. 

 

I know a dedicated drill is the way to go just trying to find the next best option in the meantime.

 

It would be used for Sorghum/Sudan, oats, reseeding, cover crops.

John Deere 515 Drill with Coulter Cart

Happy New Year!!!

A brand new decade. Woo hoo. 2020. :wow: :blob_blue:

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Happy New Year!!!