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!!!