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Rivendell Farm
ParticipantHi,
Years ago we put up loose hay with slings. I wouldn’t bother changing to the grappling hooks if you have the slings. I’ve only done it with slings, but suspect you can pull up more hay at a time with them. It takes some experience to know when to add a sling to the load so they all end up about the same weight. Four slings work for a big load of hay. On the other hand, I see no reason you couldn’t use the hooks with your hay car setup. Chances are you’ll need a new big rope, and it is very important to get it the right diameter, or the catch mechanism won’t work. Have fun. BobParticipantThe HPD baler demonstration I saw was earlier than 2008 by a few years. The cart was a commercially available one, possibly from Pioneer, but I don’t know anything about the drive setup. On hilly ground I think the weight of the round baler could cause problems with a cart. I believe the Krone weighs close to 5000 pounds. The heavier the cart, the better. I don’t know where you’d find the horsepower requirements for various balers. The all will give the tractor power required, which is much higher than what it takes to just run the baler. Tractor power requirements might be useful to compare balers to find out which take the least power total. Bob
ParticipantThe power needed depends somewhat on the type of baler as well as the size. The type that use belts take more power, I believe, than those with a fixed chamber that use chains. I saw a Krone fixed chamber type demonstrated at Horse Progress Days with a 20 HP engine. It was a 4 by 4. I later bought of those because of its low power needs. Even though I never got a power forecart, I use it with a 48 horsepower tractor with no problems at all. The dealer’s mechanic laughed when I told him I was going to use the small tractor to run a round baler. He said it wouldn’t do it. Bob
ParticipantMy dairy farming friend is on his second rotary rake, after wearing out the first one, and he says the difference in hay quality is significant, worth the expense for the rake. Bob
ParticipantIf it’s a legume you shouldn’t cut it because it needs to build root reserves going into winter. I also wouldn’t bother cutting grass either at this height. I know if you graze pastures too short in the fall it takes longer for them to get started in the spring. Some grasses, rye in particular, if left too tall in the winter can smother the stand, killing some of it. But it seems that mowing it and leaving it on the ground could have the same effect. Anyway, I wouldn’t worry about four inches. Maybe spend the time tuning up the mower instead. Bob
ParticipantThanks for the help. Bob
ParticipantWhen I had trouble with shoulder soreness on the sides like your horse has, it was because the collar was too big. Wanting to be sure he had plenty of room at the throat to breathe, I left too much space. A tighter fit there for your hand might not hurt. Do you always use pads? Bob
ParticipantThis doesn’t seem likely to be the problem, but I’ll mention it anyway. Is it possible she has a check rein (overcheck) that’s too tight, or perhaps she isn’t accustomed to having one at all? Bob
ParticipantI’ve had one of Pioneer’s footlift plows for several years and have found it to be of excellent quality. Mine has a 16″ Oliver bottom which is OK, but I plow mostly sod. I wish I’d spent the extra money for the KV bottom every time I look over a plowed field and see the grass that isn’t quite covered. Before I got it, I had the original Pioneer sulky plow without the footlift, or a tongue. I think having a tongue that steers the plow is more important than the method of lifting it out of the ground. Bob
ParticipantGreat pictures Donn. Are you trying to get ahead of the Emerald Ash borer? Bob
ParticipantI hate to add a negative note here, but for quite a few years the electronets did a fine job of keeping coyotes away from our lambs. Then a couple years ago in the fall we lost ten 60 pound lambs to a pack of coyotes in a single night. The nets were all up and energized. They must have jumped over them to get in with the flock. We thought maybe the pups were being trained to hunt, since some of the dead lambs were not eaten. Now we have a guard llama who seems to be doing the job of keeping them safe. Bob
ParticipantI think there is something called a bridge loan you may be able to get until your place sells. Bob
ParticipantThe Cooperative Fund of New England, http://www.cooperativefund.org/ is one example of a way for socially responsible investors to avoid both the stock market and banks. They make loans to cooperatives and small businesses, and are probably as safe as putting money in a bank, maybe safer. Interest rates are low, but not as bad as bank CDs, the last time I checked. I suppose there are some of these funds that make loans to small farms. I believe Lynn Miller proposed some sort of loan fund for beginning farmers through the Small Farms Conservancy, but I don’t think it got anywhere. Bob
ParticipantWe’ve had horses for over twenty years on the five wire high tensile fence we use for sheep with no problems. I know it isn’t recommended any more than barb wire, but I feel you need something more substantial for a perimeter fence than hot tapes or rope. These more temporary fences are great for subdividing the farm into paddocks. Woven wire with a hot wire on the top might also make a good fence to keep horses from visiting the neighbors. Bob
ParticipantGreat pictures, Rod. It makes up for me forgetting to take a camera. I watched you demonstrate the mower and was impressed by how quiet it was and how easily it pulled. Not to mention the price of over $5,000. Bob
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