Hay Making Equipment For Small Tractor

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Hay Making Equipment For Small Tractor
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tarabella

Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 141
Location: Southam, Warwickshire

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 11 11:13 am Post subject: Hay Making Equipment For Small Tractor

Until now we've relied on local farmers to make our hay for us, in return for half the harvest. One problem with that has been trying to get them here when the weather's good; more often than not they are out doing their own. Last year was particularly bad with the weather and we only had a narrow time window to get the hay made and we lost most of it.

This year I want to cut it and turn it myself and get a contractor in to bale it. The trouble is, I only have a small 30HP ford 1910 so it won't run a lot of the larger machinery on the market.

Can anyone give advice on what mowing and turning equipment to go for? I want to buy new but I don't want to spend too much (the usual story!).

darkbrowneggs

Joined: 14 Jul 2010
Posts: 663
Location: Worcestershire

Posted: Mon Mar 07, 11 12:17 pm Post subject:

I am in the same position and have been looking at it myself. Not good news as far as I can see.

I don't really fancy the small round balers, and even those are dear, and by now all the old small bale machinery is really getting on, and I don't think they were ever that easy to set up and get running correctly

I imagine one would need at least a cutter, turner/rower and baler and possibly a bale sledge.

If anyone comes up with anything remotely affordable and maintainable, I would be interested. My current machine is a Kubota 30 hp

All the best
Sue

tarabella

Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 141
Location: Southam, Warwickshire

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 11 11:52 am Post subject:
Thanks for your reply Sue, much appreciated. I must say I'm a bit frustrated with this site at the moment; Lots of trivial posts about what was served for tea last night, and what books to read, and loads of useless polls, but a bit thin on the ground when it comes to practical small-holding advice There, Ive said it

darkbrowneggs

Joined: 14 Jul 2010
Posts: 663
Location: Worcestershire

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 11 1:13 pm Post subject:
Hi again - this is about the cheapest I could find new conventional small balers But then you have still got to get a cutter and turner/rower plus maybe some handling stuff Whereabouts in the country are you All the best Sue PS - hope you haven't put your head above the parapet - they take no prisoners here

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 11 1:25 pm Post subject:
The best thing to do is go and speak to the guys that sell stuff. You don't have to buy from them but you can pick their brains. I know what we use, but our tractor is a lot more hp than your one, so don't know if it is compatable. We have a drum cutter, and a haybob, so we can cut and turn, and row up, then we either borrow a local square baler, or get the man in.

Ty Gwyn

Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4613
Location: Lampeter

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 11 1:29 pm Post subject:

Ladies,if your after New equipment for these types of tractor,i`m affraid you are going to have to pay,because they have been created for the Hobby market.
But there is 2nd hand equipment out there if you have a look,
Farm dispersal sales,
Collective implement sales,there`s usually one at Madley nr Hereford,Shobdon also,but beware there is a lot of rubbish around,but also some good stuff
For your size tractors,a Good NH Disc mower ,only needs 25hp to work proper,
Haybobs are good,but a bit heavey on the back of small tractors,try a Hay zip or hay maid,much the same ,shake and row,but lighter

Hope that helps.

darkbrowneggs

Joined: 14 Jul 2010
Posts: 663
Location: Worcestershire

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 11 1:39 pm Post subject:

Ty Gwyn wrote:

Thanks for that - any links to those at all

The problem for me with older machinery is that unless you have someone who knows how to keep it running and adjust it properly you can spend nearly as much money anyway.

The big balers have been all the go for quite some time now and most of the smaller stuff around is a good 25 years old, and has probably been out of use for the last 5 or so, and that just seems like buying a load of trouble to me, although it would be initially much cheaper.

Haymaking was always difficult as everyone wants it made at the same time but round here Hereford Worcester borders no-one has bothered to keep their small balers going, apart from the odd one-man band, who never have time at haymaking. Plus driving back and forth 3/4/5 or more times to complete the job becomes completely uneconomic

Last year and the year before my hay just went to waste.

Not to worry - I now have 2 geese and a gander so given time my grass problem will be under control (that was meant to be interpreted as a joke by the way

)

Sue

Ty Gwyn

Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4613
Location: Lampeter

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 11 1:48 pm Post subject:
Sorry no links,would`nt know how to if i had any. Try looking on e-bay,or the farmers guardian or classic tractor,there`s 2nd equipment sold there,sometimes photos

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18416

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 11 2:07 pm Post subject:

Or contact your local vintage machinery enthusiasts society : see if anyone has compatible kit they would like to sell, or rent to you, or whether they would come and mow/row for you. Or if they know of any smaller hay-making gear coming up for sale, at auction or privately.

Very little alternative round where I am between big kit and contractors and taking your chances re weather (even for farmers making quite a lot of hay), and doing it yourself by hand.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 11 2:16 pm Post subject:
Where are you, and how much have you got needs doing? We have the kit for small baling. And given that 30 bales sold for around �400 the other day...

tarabella

Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 141
Location: Southam, Warwickshire

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 11 2:29 pm Post subject:

I spoke too soon

loads of good advice coming in now, thank you.

I'll probably leave back around 20 acres that I'm not using for grazing. I won't try baling myself, instead I'll get a contractor to do that, but I do want to buy a new mower and turner to go on the back of my small tractor, and I'm hoping not to spend more than �2500 for the both of them. Any suggestions on brands or links to web sites?

Off to do a few DS polls now

T.G

Joined: 13 Sep 2009
Posts: 7280
Location: Somewhere you're not

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 11 2:51 pm Post subject:
ebay has tools for the hobby size/market gardener/small farmer size tractor i've noticed in the past and some are suppliers/businesses, who when you open the listing and look into it further ave trade and slaes counters, they may be able to source or point you to a suitable supplier in your area

alison
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 12918
Location: North Devon

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 11 4:02 pm Post subject:
If you talk to an ag supplier, they may have stuff they have taken in for part exchange. That is how we got ours.

Ty Gwyn

Joined: 22 Sep 2010
Posts: 4613
Location: Lampeter

Posted: Tue Mar 08, 11 4:07 pm Post subject:
I doubt for �2500 you will purchase new tackle,not that will last anyway.

tarabella

Joined: 04 Nov 2009
Posts: 141
Location: Southam, Warwickshire

Posted: Wed Mar 09, 11 4:37 pm Post subject:
Thanks to all who posted, I've got a few ebay leads going now

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