Hay that's not good

grandpa Love · Sep 17, 2020

The owners of the biggest hay field we bale has been keeping up with bale count fairly close. Been cutting 10 out of 30 acres. In 2 cuttings we have made about 1000 bales. Well......he is looking for a retirement project and bought hay equipment last week. He drove to PA from Alabama for the baler. NH mower needs a couple bearings. Rake is a nice one. I still have the free labor......lol. Reason we haven't cut more, it was fairly over grown, lot of weeds and briars. He has bush hogged the rest a couple times this summer and it's looking good. He is now talking about a 40× 60 pole barn........

mudcreek183 · Sep 17, 2020

Back in the day when I did custom work (hay or combining crops)had several get their own equipment,most were courteous and let me know they were going it alone.Now that I look back on it kinda glad that they did a lot less wear on the equipment and me also.

DeltaSteve · Sep 17, 2020

After he fights machinery break downs and weather for a year and realizes it's not all roses,you will be back putting up his hay. That kind of thing happens frequently.Theythink you are makeing too much money. So they go and buy an old tractor(or two) an old worn out baler and other equipment.Then after they fight it for two weeks(or longer) getting the crop up,they call and say "help!".then the old iron is hauled to the sale and you are once again haying the place.

Bruce from Can. · Sep 17, 2020

You must have made it look too easy, and didn’t cry and whine enough about broken equipment, and the cost of new parts.

Northvale PA · Sep 17, 2020

So, tell us how it goes. And keep track of the investment spent. I bet the BTO next to me thought I would quit 25 years ago. But I am plugging along. However, we all know the actual $$$ per hour is not much. And the hard thing to accept is you spend some of the nicest days of the summer working your butt off. A couple of breakdowns and hay lost to rain can literally wash away the enthusiasm. An older farmer once told me ‘anyone can make and sell hay in a drought year’.

JDIH · Sep 17, 2020

I agree with the others that have responded, you'll be back there doing the entire 40 in a year. I don't know many people that want to spend their retirement years slinging square bales. A few break downs and ruined hay from weather and he'll realize it's a better life relaxing on a lake

Traditional Farmer · Sep 17, 2020

I've seen a lot like him go into farming can't think of a one of them that did it very long.Most people don't realize how much WORK is involved.
All they see is you making the hay,looks easy don't realize how much goes into things before you get to the field.From the looks of that mower hope he is a good mechanic and make sure you are 'busy' that day when he calls for help.

JK-NY · Sep 17, 2020

You had too much fun working with your Fords and making hay this year so now the landowner wants to get in on the fun. Maybe after reality sets in he may not find it to be as enjoyable as you have. As mentioned keep us posted . I am sure since he kept track of how much hay you made there he is seeing what he thinks is easy money to be made. At least I see he bought a baler with a kicker, now all he needs is some wagons and that new building.

Traditional Farmer · Sep 17, 2020

BTW does he have tractors?

grandpa Love · Sep 17, 2020

TF, he does. Big Kubota cab tractor. And a smaller one. Maybe a MF.... . does a huge garden. Has all kinds of implements.

David G · Sep 17, 2020

Bet you can get good deal on this equipment year after next.

You know how much work this is.

JDIH · Sep 17, 2020

Wait until he tries to get the neighbor kids to unload those kicker wagons and stack it in the barn.

Absent Minded Farmer · Sep 17, 2020

Ohhhh boy.... I wonder if you'll post a video of that mower when a gearbox burns up & the owner starts banging his head against the steering wheel. Oooops! Did I type that out loud? Lol! I do wish the guy luck. I started off with some pretty ratty looking equipment also. Hope this guy has the testicular fortitude required for such a start.

Mike

P.S. That baler smacks of a rattle can resto.

formerly ny bill · Sep 17, 2020

maybe you can get the job of building the pole barn. Then a couple years down the road, after he has had too much fun trying to make hay, you will have a place to keep your hay from his fields.

grandpa Love · Sep 18, 2020

Ny Bill. He is talking about a all metal frame barn...... He can have all that fun!

grandpa Love · Sep 18, 2020

Absent minded, I think he heard stories about how little I paid for my equipment. But he didn't buy his from Tracy Brown. I'm lucky to have a friend looking out for good equipment!

Hay that's not good

grandpa Love

Well-known Member

mudcreek183

Member

DeltaSteve

Member

Bruce from Can.

Well-known Member

Northvale PA

Member

JDIH

Member

Traditional Farmer

Well-known Member

JK-NY

Well-known Member

Traditional Farmer

Well-known Member

grandpa Love

Well-known Member

David G

Well-known Member

JDIH

Member

Absent Minded Farmer

Well-known Member

formerly ny bill

Well-known Member

grandpa Love

Well-known Member

grandpa Love

Well-known Member

Similar threads