The secret Olemanriver asked about .............................................
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The answer is: "i have people for that."
Fellow yesterday was complaining about mowing his yard. Told him I took a nap earlier in the day when the neighbor came over to mow my yard. He wanted to know how I got that to happen. I said, "Money." I haven't mowed any of my yards in at least 15 years. I have three people who mow yards who get the pleasure. I can make far more money on this computer than what they ask to be paid for their time. Work smart.
@holy-cow yeah. That is true. On farm especially making hay. I just hit rock bottom trying to find help to pick up small squares. Last year i had 3 lined up because the wife and girls went to grandmas house. I had a small field and close to barn so I figured i would give them a try. Yes they never showed it was to hot. Finally got a phone call from one. I couldn’t even pay him to drive truck through field while I stacked and loaded. Now it was hot one of the hottest weekends. Almost 400 bales later and one tired man i got the last stacked in the barn. I had tedded that morning then raked the. Baled. One of the larger farmers was harvesting across the road. Great guy he has some good help family. They called to get a few folks to come help but i was done by the time they arrived. I never knew until dark they had saw me and had help coming. The owner of that farm said I needed to buy me one of those accumulators and bale picker’s. Only reason he has help its all old family and he could never dream of getting help around here much for that type of work. 400 small squares is not a lot but that day it was for me. It stormed for two days starting that night. Labor is my biggest challenge finding the help. I have said it before. My 8 year old daughter will work as hard as most teenager boys and I mean she will work. The 12 year old will as well but she doesn’t have that natural work ethic we have to push her a little sometimes. I have several small fields all within about 30 minutes drive. I can get 500 on a good cutting on some 200 on others. So its a logistical nightmare sometimes. I need another tractor but i like owning and not paying notes. So i have the one. Will get another just haven’t got the money all saved yet. I probably should stop making small squares and go to round bales but the small squares pay nicely for horse community. I just have to deal with the horse ladies that have been given a phd in hay from some youtube influencer. That old jerry clower joke about the man buying a horse blanket comes to mind. Lol. Same blanket just charge more. But i am to honest and try to make a dime but not overcharge either.
@learner I called and spoke with my mom today. She reminded me that when i was doing hay my sinuses and allergies were so bad she would stuff my nose with tissue. I had not remembered all that. All I remember was counting that 25 and 50 cents a bale my great would try short changing me on lol. We fed small squares to horses cows hogs. I remember when my grandfather got the first round baler. I was in high-school before he did that. I was like now what am I going to do to make extra money. And get my summer workout. I am trying to get a place ready now for my daughter a horse. Waiting on my brother as well to find and train the right one that doesn’t break the bank. Thats what he does for a living is start colts and manage a ranch. He probably knows more about cattle and horses than me. He worked on a feed lot for several years after graduating high-school Now very wealthy people fly him there places and he solves people problems but gets paid to fix horse problems. I admire him. Can you imagine being called to fix a horse and its some billionaire that has ran successful businesses and some country bumpkin now telling you the horse doesn’t have a issue its you lol. He has the patience of Job. We both road our hole lives coming up. I went into surveying and then military he just kept with horses and ranch hand. He is very business savvy as well. He just is a perfectionist so he is his own worst enemy. But one of the best at what he does.
I bet your brother has listened / read Tom Dorrance and Ray Hunt books over and over.
They are great and can be applied to not just horses but people, dogs, business, just about anything.
The owner of that farm said I needed to buy me one of those accumulators and bale picker’s.
You need to find a used NH bale wagon. One man can pick up and stack in the barn, only need 1 tractor to do it. Brother and I use one to put up about 10,000 bales of alfalfa per year, just the 2 of us. We have 2, one is a spare, paid less than $4000 for them. Accumulators require a tractor or loader to load a trailer, then need another loader at the barn to unload. Ours are bigger than this one, but same principle.
@adam oh yeah. He trained under Buck as well and you are correct he applies that thought process to everything.
@eddycreek i have been looking for one and you got a deal for $4000. Here i bet one would bring 10k easily. Found a old Self propelled one that had briars growing up and they wanted 20k. I do keep my eyes open. I have learned here i am better off going to midwest to buy used equipment. Those are nice for sure. Almost bought a JD one that was barn kept. Good condition a d when I returned from South America two weeks later it was gone. I saw it on way to airport so i had removed my get a deal cash. There has been a small movement of start ups i. My area and smaller equipment goes for a high price. Two jd 71 flex planters no tool bar can bring 2k easily. The food plot planter and small starter farm grabs all of that stuff up quickly. I have a good mentor that has kept me from overpaying and keeps me staying patient so far.
For every kind of agricultural and construction equipment imaginable, I recommend exploring the Big Iron Auctions. Bid from your easy chair.
Two other online auction companies that seem to keep very busy are:
Also keep an eye on Tractorhouse.com and Fastline.com.
@eddycreek what model wagon do you have. Also what size tractor do you really need for one of those. How high is the barn need to be to go straight from field for storage. One reason I have beside the price is i would still have to load them bales on a trailer to get to the barn. 20 to 30 minutes drive to het to barn at this stage. I have many fields from smallest is 1 acre largest 40 acres. The 1 acre is mostly for the elderly couple they just love seethe girls . Whenever i do that field its not fun but it becomes worth it as the couple comes out and sits on the porch to watch the 12 year old drive the tractor pulling the small hay wagon. I get maybe 45 bales a cutting so not much. Then we all sit on the porch where the girls have cookies and we chat for a bit. One of those you just do because you see the smile on their faces. Hopefully we will find a bigger piece of land someday soon so i can make very good use of something like that for sure.
Ours are the 1033. 105 bales/load. Minimum 13’ to unload. My dad used to pull one with a tricycle front end M Farmall, had to hang some weights on the front to steer it. Now use either a 90hp Case or a 4240 JD.
@eddycreek gotcha. I will have to check the weight on my tractor. I don’t think i would have a power issue but maybe a weight issue. Older tractors weighed a lot more. I should buy a larger tractor at some point but so far mine has done everything I needed and safely. I have a old heston round baler i picked up when i bought him out. Heston 530 makes small rounds. Jd 328 square baler. Tractor is just a jd 5065e filled tires front loader 4x4 open station. I have two old jd 350 3 point hitch rakes. That and tedder are my choke points on time. But one came with a deal one for parts for 50$ probably buy a new cutter and all as well when i get a larger tractor. Running a morra disc mower 4 years now paid 500 for it. 7 ft cut. Replaced belts once. Slowly getting all i need
