For harvesting 4-foot-by-5-foot round bales, estimated new equipment costs are $25,000 for a rotary mower/conditioner, $5,500 for a 10-foot rake, $35,000 for the baler and $55,000 for an adequate-sized tractor. The total is an investment of $120,500.
How big of a tractor is needed to bale hay?
Most standard square balers on the market require 35 horsepower at your tractor’s PTO, and a minimum tractor weight of around 3000 pounds. That means that they cannot be run with today’s compact tractors.
How much horsepower do you need to run a baler?
John Deere Baler Horsepower Requirements
| Model | PTO HP (Minimum) |
|---|---|
| 460 R | 65 hp |
| 560M / 560M Silage | 75 hp |
| 560R | 75 hp |
| 450M MegaWide™ HC | 80 hp |
What equipment do you need to bale hay?
Hay Equipment A compact tractor is the staple of every operation, but mowers, conditioners, hay rakes, balers, and sometimes hay tedders and bale wrappers are also needed.
How much does it cost to cut a rake and bale hay?
Harvesting costs Expect $25 – $46/ha ($10 – $19/acre) for cutting; $8 – $15/ha ($3 – $7/acre) for raking and $25/t or $17 – $18/bale for an 8x4x3 (620kg) six string baler.
What do farmers use to cut hay?
Sickle mower: One of the earliest methods of mechanically mowing hay, the sickle mower is still used today, typically in small haying operations or for clipping pastures. These generally have a 5- to 7-foot-long cutter bar.
What is the horsepower of a John Deere?
Versatile, powerful and efficient, John Deere Row-Crop Tractors have an engine horsepower range from 110 to 410.
What size Bale does a John Deere 535 make?
The John Deere 535 is a pull-type, 540 rpm PTO driven baler with a variable cylindrical chamber and a drum pickup. The 535 baler produces hard core bales measuring 5.1 ft (1.6 m) wide and 1. 2.
How long do you let hay dry before baling?
As a rule of thumb, wait to rake hay until after the dew has dried and the sun nears its peak, or around 11:00 am. If possible, let the raked hay sit for an hour or two before baling to allow more drying time.
Are hay farms profitable?
Brown says using 2019 numbers, it costs about $400 an acre to plant corn on ground that may yield 150 bushels per acre. “If you are getting $125 per ton for quality hay, you are going to see a profit of $51 per ton, or $204 per acre. “The potential is there to make some pretty good money on hay.”
Can You bale hay with steam?
Hay producers working in climates where it’s often too wet to bale at night or who receive good dew at night still experience large amounts of time during the day when the hay is too dry to bale. Being able to bale with steam when the hay is dry opens up the baling window and allows you to be so much more productive.
Is there such a thing as perfect dew when baling hay?
There is nothing better than receiving a perfect natural dew when baling. However, perfect dew conditions are few and far between for many hay producers. Often, the hay is either too dry or too wet, and if you’re lucky, you may have a small window of opportunity when the hay is just right.
How can I reduce leaf loss during baling?
Using steam is proven to effectively reduce leaf loss during baling by more than 50% compared to good natural dew at night. The dehydrated carbohydrates in hay and other crops after they are cut and have cured have a strong attraction to water.
What are the benefits of steam balers?
With steam, farmers can bale quality hay whenever their hay is dry, which increases their baling window and makes them more productive. One DewPoint-equipped baler can replace 3-4 conventional balers depending on local atmospheric conditions. That means less capital, fewer maintenance expenses, and lower labor costs.
