[AT] OT Hay question

[toma]

On Fri, 7 Jul 2006, Richard Strobel wrote:

> See if I can get in trouble here :-)  Ole Timer suggested to me.  "Take half
> a handfull of hay, hold with both hands, crank 3 revolutions, and hay should
> now be in two bundles.

I like this trick, I will try it.


On Fri, 7 Jul 2006, Cecil Bearden wrote:

> As you can see I am not one for putting up dry hay.  If I want dry 
straw, I
> will bale behind the combine!!


A lot of guys around here are cutting hay with a swather instead of a 
mower and rake. Then they let it get too dry before they bale it. I bought 
some of this hay a couple of years ago and the cows got thin on it.

This year is just a test with the 6 acres. We have fixed up some of our 
old equipment that we had for years and "restored" a IHC 55W baler. If all 
goes well we will plant enough next year for our winter use. We had a few 
problems cutting with my sons 5' belly mower on his wide front Farmall B 
so we are going to get the JD #5 mower set up on the D2. Raking went real 
well with the old Case 4 bar. We can't wait to see how well the old 55W 
will work.

Years ago I grew hay and had trouble selling it for a decent price. The 
last few years I have been spending thousands buying hay ($13 a bale in 
the winter) money saved is money made and besides what better use to be 
made of antique equipment. Plus it is something the 4th, 5th, and 6th 
generation on the family farm can do together.