There were four guys, two pick-up trucks, four tractors, a skid steer, a telehandler and multiple wagons in the field across the road from my parents' house when I returned from work yesterday.
I grabbed my camera, iPhone and a pair of earplugs and ran out to catch a ride in the tractor. Brian assured me that I would get lots of hits if I documented their hay operation, which is probably true once Joel and Austin discover this post.
Baling the 20-acre field across the road marks the beginning of first-cutting hay for the summer. It's also the testing ground for equipment that the guys pulled into the shop for maintenance during the winter.
The hay crew cut the field on Monday, only to have it rained on that evening. But, the weather was warm and breezy later in the week and by Friday the hay was dry. A few years ago, the crew would have spent at least two long, hot, exhausting days putting up the hay in the field across the road. Now, the accumulator, bale wagon and grapple, have reduced the amount that bales have to be handled by hand, allowing the crew to finish raking and baling the entire field in one afternoon and evening.
In this video, Dad is driving the Allis Chalmers 7045 with the New Holland BC5070 Baler. In the past, there would be a wagon hooked behind the baler and the crew would stack every bale. Now, the bales are baled directly on the ground and later picked up by the accumulator (not featured, since it broke before I returned from work) or the bale wagon (see the second video).Next, Brian operates the Allis Chalmers 7010 with the New Holland 1030 Bale Wagon. After Dad bales the hay, Brian uses the bale wagon to pick up the bales and stack them in piles, which will later be loaded onto trailers and wagons (see the last video).
Finally, Logan uses the skid steer and a grapple to load bales onto the trailer, which is behind the Ford F250 pick-up truck driven by farmer friend Harry. All the bales will be stacked on wagons or trailers and pulled into one of the barns before the hay crew retires for the night.
Great post. I'm very proud of Brian and his team and their design work this winter, spring, and summer!
ReplyDeleteAhh, now we want to come up sooner! Austin and I want more videos... please. Joel
ReplyDeleteGreat post need more like it. Told you this would get lots of hits. - Not Naomi
ReplyDeleteSo pleased I come across your blog. It is very interesting. We too make hay on our farm in Australia. We used to do a lot of little bales, but now concentrate on the big bales. I will enjoy following your blog. Warm greetings from Australia.
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