Getting that time

[gcreekrch]

We have three of these, after 15 years of Fella rotary rakes these are almost indestructible.
https://www.poettinger.at/en_ca/produkte/detail/top1/top-rakes-with-1-rotor

 

[ClinchValley86]

I thought too much a couple weeks ago too. With the cool mornings I thought too big a gamble. I really wish I had cut. Looks like There won't be another window til July.

I did manage to get one place down first of the week and will finish baling today. Lots of 1st cut hay is gonna be rough.

 

[jltrent]

Long day yesterday as put 239 58–59-inch net wrapped bales on about 35 acres. I had to drive in 3rd gear a lot for the pickup to eat it. The 110 Kuhn rake other than my son not looking back enough and making a mountain of hay mess a couple times did well. The hay was teddered twice and dry.

 

[ClinchValley86]

Long day yesterday as put 239 58–59-inch net wrapped bales on about 35 acres. I had to drive in 3rd gear a lot for the pickup to eat it. The 110 Kuhn rake other than my son not looking back enough and making a mountain of hay mess a couple times did well. The hay was teddered twice and dry.

Heck yeah! This rain we've had sure has put things in grow gear. I assume you fertilized that 35 acres real good? Heck of a good yield.

 

[jltrent]

Heck yeah! This rain we've had sure has put things in grow gear. I assume you fertilized that 35 acres real good? Heck of a good yield.

I put 19-19-19 coated with slow release which releases over about 5 weeks, and the hay has a bottom about knee high and still very green. Something tells me when it rains out it will be really dry.

 

[cfpinz]

Long day yesterday as put 239 58–59-inch net wrapped bales on about 35 acres. I had to drive in 3rd gear a lot for the pickup to eat it. The 110 Kuhn rake other than my son not looking back enough and making a mountain of hay mess a couple times did well. The hay was teddered twice and dry.

What baler is that?

I haven't found any hay yet to slow my 604M down below 6mph, as long as you have enough tractor in front of it. My fields aren't smooth enough to go much faster than 6.5mph or so. I baled a field of some pretty thick fescue with the JD baler yesterday and it did good at 6mph behind a Ford 7710.

 

[jltrent]

What baler is that?

I haven't found any hay yet to slow my 604M down below 6mph, as long as you have enough tractor in front of it. My fields aren't smooth enough to go much faster than 6.5mph or so. I baled a field of some pretty thick fescue with the JD baler yesterday and it did good at 6mph behind a Ford 7710.

I have been using a 504 Signature. Probably to match your speed on the 604M a 504 Premium is needed as they bale faster but take more power. The Premium model offers higher capacity and faster tie cycles, while the Signature model provides a balance of convenience, ease of use, and durability. A neighbor yesterday baled with a JD 459 just below me and it looked like it did a good job.

 

[cfpinz]

I have been using a 504 Signature. Probably to match your speed on the 604M a 504 Premium is needed as they bale faster but take more power. The Premium model offers higher capacity and faster tie cycles, while the Signature model provides a balance of convenience, ease of use, and durability. A neighbor yesterday baled with a JD 459 just below me and it looked like it did a good job.

How do you like the 504R? I looked at the Signature balers before I bought the JD, but couldn't find one in my price range for a secondary baler. A buddy of mine bought a 504R Premium last year and seems to like it, but I haven't ran it yet. I like the idea of the camless pickup in those R balers.

So far, I'm liking the green baler. It has a faster cycle time for applying net/dumping than my Vermeer, but has less hay in a comparable size bale. Bales are prettier with the green baler as it supports over the edge netting, whereas the yellow baler wasn't designed for it and doesn't apply it well. At this point, I still prefer the Vermeer over the JD but there's absolutely nothing wrong with either.

 

[jltrent]

How do you like the 504R? I looked at the Signature balers before I bought the JD, but couldn't find one in my price range for a secondary baler. A buddy of mine bought a 504R Premium last year and seems to like it, but I haven't ran it yet. I like the idea of the camless pickup in those R balers.

So far, I'm liking the green baler. It has a faster cycle time for applying net/dumping than my Vermeer, but has less hay in a comparable size bale. Bales are prettier with the green baler as it supports over the edge netting, whereas the yellow baler wasn't designed for it and doesn't apply it well. At this point, I still prefer the Vermeer over the JD but there's absolutely nothing wrong with either.

My 504R has 7200 approx. bales through it and so far, no problems. It seems simple to operate, monitor etc. and a 65 hp tractor will pull it but lugs some in hills. I put 239 bales through it a couple days ago and the only time off the tractor was to load new net. It has #80 chains all over, in the main areas the bearing looks big, simple pickup that looks to have very few parts. I use 51" wide net and like Titan net better than others I have use so far. I don't like to brag on anything as it will fly all to pieces then, but so far good. For the difference in price over the green which was close to 10k the Vermeer is a viable option IMO.

The Premium baler would probably be worth the extra cost as it is higher speeded but will take 10-15 more hp to pull.

 

[cfpinz]

I use 51" wide net and like Titan net better than others I have use so far. I don't like to brag on anything as it will fly all to pieces then, but so far good. For the difference in price over the green which was close to 10k the Vermeer is a viable option IMO.

Same here. When someone asks me how I like a piece of new equipment, my go to response is "Ask me in 10 years."

Have you tried the Vermeer net wrap? It's my pick because of thickness and ability to see which direction the bales are turned for unrolling. Can't use it in the JD baler because it loads in the opposite direction from the Vermeer and it would confuse me come winter.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

I've found the over the edge net wrap seems to hold water in the bottom when stored outside. Also it likes to freeze to the next bale in the winter.

 

[Lazy M]

Took me forever to pull out the clog!

 

[Mat Man]

I really like my 504R Vermeer 1700 through it so far in 2 seasons

 

[GoWyo]

View attachment 59128
View attachment 59129
Took me forever to pull out the clog!

Lucky it wasn't in a tire.

 

[cfpinz]

View attachment 59128
View attachment 59129
Took me forever to pull out the clog!

I've heard of people using a sawzall to remove clogs, but never tried it. Going to guess an M series based on the belts and bottom drum roller/starter roller.

You wrapping that hay?

 

[Lazy M]

I've heard of people using a sawzall to remove clogs, but never tried it. Going to guess an M series based on the belts and bottom drum roller/starter roller.

You wrapping that hay?

It's a vermeer 6640. Not wrapping It's the outside row so a little on the green side

 

[Katpau]

We are still a month away at best. The front field we just got the cows off it 2 weeks ago and I have just completed irrigating it. 60 cows had it down real short. I got it good and wet but how fast it will grow now is the question. Cold dry spring has all the grass way behind.
Our forecast is
June maybe an inch
July possibly a inch
August if we get real lucky we will get an inch
September chances of getting an inch get better

Good this the reservoir is full. And there is still a little snow to come down that is way up high.

I had no idea you could get that much rain in summer in your area. I assumed you were dryer than us. Our average for June is .93 inches which is similar, but July is .26 and August .23 with September finally rising to .85 inches. Those are 20 year averages and we have been under that most of the last 10 years. Our last rainfall was May 13th when we got close to a half inch and before that was April 7th when we got about 6/10th of an inch. No rain so far in June and none in the forecast. Fire season is definitely starting early!

 

[Dave]

I had no idea you could get that much rain in summer in your area. I assumed you were dryer than us. Our average for June is .93 inches which is similar, but July is .26 and August .23 with September finally rising to .85 inches. Those are 20 year averages and we have been under that most of the last 10 years. Our last rainfall was May 13th when we got close to a half inch and before that was April 7th when we got about 6/10th of an inch. No rain so far in June and none in the forecast. Fire season is definitely starting early!

We average about one inch +/- per month for every month of the year. 12 inches is a good year. 10 is probably average. 7 is a dry year.

 

[Katpau]

I knew you only averaged 10 inches a year. I had just assumed it was like the west side where pretty much all of your rain came between late October and early May. It seems to refuse to rain over here unless the temperature has dropped below the point that allows grass growth. :(

 

[Silver]

I wonder why you had issues with the rake on the oats? Seems odd. Rake many acres of oat a year and have no problems. 100 acres before lunch many days. Did you solve the problem?