This is my first time watching your channel, I am very impressed. I am from Northwest Missouri when I was 3 yrs old, I started riding the hay wagon and moving hay (round bales from a roto bailer) I was 5 when I started with one hay hook by the time I was 8 yrs old I was the youngest paid farm hand and I made 2 1/2 cents per bale I worked for a many of farmers and I also volunteered my older brother as another hand. We would put up to 30,000 bales a summer, I was making deals with farmers a dime a dozen. I turned out to be the youngest bullshiter's ever I guaranteed (old word) my stack, meaning that my stack in your barn would never push out the sides. I was 8 when I went up on the porch and my folks were setting in the swing, and I told them I was a man now, and I didn't want them to pay for my school supply's and clothes that was my job, Dad said is that they way you want it? I said yes sir and my folk's have never spent a dime on me since! That was in 1971, in 1976 my Dad said to me if you think your such a good salesman ( I would like to see you sale ice cream to an Eskimo ) he was trying to get my goat. I said, (ok) and went on my way very quietly, not to give away my idea to him) . So the next spring when the first cut was ready , I told the farmer, ( there is a lot of cow poop in his shed and the cattle are having to duck there heads just to get in. I asked when is the last time you cleaned that out, he responded, (boy I've owned this farm for better than 40 years it ain't never been cleaned out, and besides there ain't nobody that would ever do that) that's when I said, ( I will ) He looked at me and asked how much? I walked it out and figured out how many yard of shit there was and shot him a price of 35.00 . He said, ( when we git done haying you can start) alright I said but, I put it into your truck that's got a hoist cause after I load her up you can dump it on my farm. That old guy looked at as if I was going to be a millionare someday. Word spread all over and if I wasn't haying I was throwing shit! I worked all summer doing that and my Dad asked me,( what the hell was I doing with all that shit,) I told him it was a project for FFA. He never said another word. So I new there was going to be a better way to git rid of that shit. Our neighbor/ landlord had just got a front end loader put on that AC D-17 I made a deal with him to use it next spring, I would load up his manure spreader and give him great looking grass for the cows. So the next early spring I put an ad in the paper it said, ( Want Greener pastures guaranteed results) my pile was over 200' long and over 150' wide and 6' tall and I sold ever bit and loaded it out the easy way, it just so happend when the last load left my Dad came home from work. I went right up to him and he said you finely got rid of that. I said, (yep but I got another problem,) what is that he asked I showed him all that cash I made and asked him if he could put it into my checking account. He got a big grin on his face and said, ( Mother that boy is half Jew, she told him that I was a Presbyterian he said don't get your skirt up in a mess, then he looked right at me and said you done this because of what I said last year didn't you! I told him I could not sell ice cream to an Eskimo but I sold poop to farmer's instead. You impress me as a great young man. Thanks for bringing up all those memories I'm retired USAF and I have made my millions, I wish you all the luck in the world! P.S. I still love to put up hay
Damn I love your comment very long and well written do you use the voice microphone text on your phone where you can just talk into it and it will write for you?
Hank I did it for 3 cents a bail. Took the doors off the truck and let it creep down the rows while I ran along loading hay... bought my first car with that summer money A 1928 model A. drove it all though high school. Still have it in my barn. Marine Corp here
Who would give a thumbs down to this? A young, kind of hard working young man that puts a bit of humor into it. (27? screw that, I did it from 14 to 20, and that was plenty) I'm old now, but I worked a relatives farm for years as a young man. Didn't have all the machinery of today. Back they I was the "accumulator",... and the operator, and the elevator loader, and the stacker, and the gardener, and the fence builder, and the repair person/carpenter/livestock handler/butcher, and the salesman. I didn't make crap, but I learned a lot, it made me tough, and the person I am today. Something sorely lacking in todays youth. I worked hard and played hard. I wonder how I even survived it. And now I look back and miss it.
First time I have watched one of your videos. It showed up in my feed and I saw the title and laughed out loud! Glad to see another young farmer giving it a go. My brother and I are young farmers in Arkansas. We have been raising cattle and making hay, custom baling since we were knee high to a bear cub. My brother does majority of the farming now as I have a job in town to pay the bills. Sounds like you have learned a lot and you know the facts, no one is going to get rich farming but it’s a lifestyle we love and someone has to feed the populace. Keep on keeping on.
I havnt done hay in a few years used to do 2000 to pay taxes every year. It's not bad I just did the stacking in the wagon and all was good as long as kicker was working.
I hate small squares, way to much back work but I did make lots of money from them. Tip ? When dealing with horse people cash up front. Good quality tarps are great for short term storage
Just happened onto your video. Very informative.We just bought about 80 acres here in central NC that is magnificent pasture land and the guys leasing it are getting between 200-300 round bales . I have a new Holland 273 square baler and a John Deere 1217 cutter conditioner and still have to pick up a tractor and rake and tedder to get to cutting next year.I'm semi retired and my goals are to sell square bales to some of the horse folks hereabouts etc. and to have several head of cattle. Will talk to the other guys about working something out about cutting round bales for me on shares. Great to see a young guy like you working hard and doing what you like. Keep up the good work. looking forward to more of your videos.
I have never, and will never bale hay. In fact, I work in IT. That being said, I enjoyed your video very much. Love hearing people talk about their trade. Wish more working entrepreneurs would share their stories. People like you are what makes America great.
Great videos, when I was in my teens I worked on a dairy farm in Pa for six years bailed hay every summer, hard work but kept me in great shape, watching you guys stacking hay bails takes me back to the good old days. THANKS take care.
You'd be surprised, the majority of my customers that help unload the trailer, will tell me about "the good old days" when they used to bale hay! I enjoy it. lol
Good for you man! I started with a macdon R85 pull type swather and a deere 535 round baler and deere 4640 tractor. Now I have 2 macdon 155 self propelled disc mowers, 2 Massey 2170 3×4 balers, 3 Deere 567 round balers, vermeer r23a, twinstar g2-7 rakes, 7 deere tractors from a 4230 to a 4555. I'm 37 years old and still love it!!! keep on farming man!!
You have a good idea. I am a retired farmer. My family baled hay for many years when I farmed It was a hard job but rewarding. You can always sell hay. It was difficult to make good hay. Once you get a good source to sell your hay you will get return customers. Keep up the good work.
Loved your video. I'm glad to see their are others out there that for some reason just love moving hay. I grew up on a horse ranch. Grew our own hay. Learned young how to cut, rake, bail, haul and stack. Taught me young to respect the machinery. Had me driving by age 13. Loved every minute of it. No longer have the ranch. It was my grandparents who have passed on. I'm 42 now and every summer I help friends and neighbors bring in their hay. I kept track one year. Brought in over 80 ton. No charge. I've got a good job. Just feed me a decent meal and hand me a cold beer. It's a great time with good people. Keep up the good work.
Being a new farmer its hard to find someone who is willing to help just to answer questions around my area they don't want you to take business away from them. So I've had to learn a lot off UA-cam. Watching videos like yours helps, So thanks for your knowledge. My biggest struggle is keeping my old 1950 John Deere baler from shooting out banana bales.
My advice. If you're young don't waste you money. U buy from auctions when people go bust or buy from auctions listed by pawn shops. It's insane what I purchased from them cheap. The goal is to enjoy your profits in late age 40s. If u can afford?, Go buy a good located mainstreet rental property for passive income and let Tennant's pay mortgage. I have a little Cafe which Tennant's pay council taxes, insurance etc.
The forage business is a good one for a young man (or woman) wanting to get started in agriculture. Once you have established your customer base, you can pay for a farm. It's probably a more steady commodity pricewise than any other.
First video I've watched, I appreciate not hearing cuss words in every sentence. For sure going to watch more, and subscribed. I'm located North Central Kansas.
My Grandfather raised mostly grass hay for mules I think the most Alfalfa acreage he ever had was 50 to 60 for mostly winter cow feed. Alfalfa was too high in protein for the mules. He was a cotton farmer who raised some corn and soybeans and winter wheat...a problem that occurs is so many people horse buy into the myth of alfalfa hay... alfafa is loved by horses but due to the high protein it's too hot a feed for them. A better choice is a legume / alfalfa/clover/ lespediza and grass mix. A straight legume hay has a tendency to increase chance of foundering a horse
Dude, you're a natural. Great video and really like your style and demeanor. It matters a lot on UA-cam. You're just straight up real and it shows. Not trying to put on some BS, or throw your hands around begging for likes or comments. Good stuff. I know this is 3 years old, but excellent work here, no question. As a side note, I've lugged many many bales up into our barn as a kid for our horses....sweating in the summer covered in itchy hay. I totally understand what you're doing there, and how much work it is. Your alternative is to get fat and old sitting at a damn desk modifying spreadsheets. I think I'll take the hay route after 20 years of Excel.
As a kid in High School, our Wrestling Coach had a small hay farm. As a fundraiser, the fellas on the team stacked it for him. I've handled thousands of those SOB's and my advice is get a set of bale hooks. It will make the job much less painful than throwing them by the twines.
I love haying!!! That’s actually how i found your channel, your Amish hay auction video showed up in my suggested video. We only do 5x5 cow quality round bales. I look forward to more coverage of your hay operation come first cutting. As always great video and please keep them coming!!!
I earned gas money on my brother-in-laws farm in Western, NY to horse folks delivering and he sold the cow hay. Even had semi loads ship to Florida from a 70 acre farm about 50 acres planted in timothy, alfalfa, cover and orchard grass mix.
Great video! My back hurts now just watching you and Andrew moving all that hay. I put up my fair share of hay back in the day and we didn't have the fancy equipment that's available today. Your videos are fun to watch keep em commin.....
I have been buying the good coastal round bails and rolling then out on 80 acres. Saw where this is a way to sprig coastal grass It actually works. Your doing what I'm doing so I had to sub
The best and most clever way to move hay around from field to barn is via a school bus which can be acquired super cheap then chopped and modified easily to suit your personal needs.
I am almost 80, If you do hay you need a moisture meter. If the hay has too much moisture when you bale it and it will rot. also hay with a high moisture content will slowly decompose which creates heat and they will actually catch fire. when I was 20 I ran a hay business for my cousin in summers when I was in college. 10 men 3 10 wheel flat bed trucks , one side loader and a gasoline powered hay conveyor. used to make tall stacks. My cousin did the buying of hay bales in the field and made sales where the hay went from the field to the customer. no storage. sometimes the hay was stacked on the growers farm. Here near Yellowstone most winter hay storage is outside , tarped over. sometimes we have problems with deer and moose eating and tearing up hay. If they are around we "donate" a feeder bale 1/4 mild away down by the river where the animals have brush and trees. to hide . A neighbor has a small bale business, producing good quality grass horse hay. he has a list of regular horse owners. He hauls hay to their Mini farms and stacks it.
I have horses, and before I started cutting my own hay all I ever purchased was mixed grass 340 bales every 3 months. Like $3200 -$3600 if I can remember correctly on the price and/or amount of bales.
Northwest Ohio, at least on our farm we do straight alfalfa, an orchard grass alfalfa mix, and this year we are doing a small test run of Timothy... we only bale for horse hay and put up about 180,000 a year (edit: hay and straw combined). Great content and learned a lot thank!
Lifting hay onto a trailer with a pitchfork was hard work but it was normally in nice days during summer. Gathering potatoes was the hardest work I did, and it was normally cold
Bring back old memories baling hay cutting cords of wood and rabbit hunting. I was about 10 or 11. Early 80s, I'm a computer guy now. Keep up the great work. Happy New Years, One and All.
Just watched this today. They finally got that combine out of there in early June of 2020. I used to deer hunt that property and help a farmer in the area.
First time watching your channel. I'm so happy that someone is doing small bales. Small bales are convenient in handling and should be . Have a Merry Christmas.
First time watching this channel and I must say that you are very informative which is awesome in my area of Utah straight alfalfa is the most high demand especially if you have certified alfalfa hay because most people only have horses and the rest is sent to dairy farms or overseas and growing up in south west Idaho it was the same there and straight grass hay there and here doesn't sell for much if you are lucky you can get $2.50 a small bale but 100% alfalfa is going for 10 to 12 dollars a bale for small bales and 180 to 240 a ton for alfalfa
Great video!! I'm not a farmer although I love the outdoors and have lived in Iowa my whole life...Watching this video reminds me again why I love Iowa and the people of the midwest!! You seem as honest and hardworking as the day is long...Best of luck to you!!
Just found your channel, and I really like the way you talk to the camera and the explain what your during, in this video your history of how you got into haying.
You take that bearing to a'' bearing supply store'', Or call and give them the numbers off the old one and they will match it up for you , and i bet it wont cost you much. You'll have a running machine in no time. Check the rest of them before you have another break down. If smart you will look for that older equipment and find items free for the taking. I keep 4 guys with mostly free equipment going all summer. Been there done that. Now if you are cramped for room you build a hydralic press and make smallerbails out of your regular size bails.We ship alfalfa to japan and get twice as much in the containers for same shipping cost, a heck of a savings !!
I started out in high school with horses and a wagon hauling bales from the field to the barn or stack for farmers. The horses knew the routine and sometimes I had help, sometimes I didn't LOL...
Buy a semi truck, several decommissioned trailers load right from the bailer instant portable storage building. Customers that sell like feed stores order trailer load then when empty order another load take it to them pick up empty they do all the unloading as they sell it.
Farming for Fun & Profit if you had customers that bought hay that way, then yes. But there is downsides. Your cost of storage would be high. Last time I knew the trailers could hold around 600 bales. The. You’re going to have to put a license on them or drag them around unlicensed and hope you don’t get a ticket. As the sit around the tires dry rot, and the roof possibly starts to leak. The other big downside is that you have a bunch of ugly looking trailers sitting all over the place. But would it be nice to have a trailer in the field that you can load up as you bale hay? Sure would be!
First time viewer, my stepdad always said "if you come into some money and want to get rid of it, buy some land and put animals or a crops on it". But you will enjoy your life a little bit more.
My opionin only,, would it be better to run the trailer down the road to blow the snow off😁,, also show how you intertwine bales when you stack them, also the sweet smell of hay.
We had to stop doing square bales couldn't get help to get hay from field to barn so we went to round bales. and we use a NH hay bine to cut hay and a tedder to get hay to cure faster and we bought a new rake its a 10 wheel rake and a case baler. We sell round bales for 50 bucks a bale right here around Louisville horse owners love the hay.
I have a small acreage that I grow hay on. Bromegrass. I put it in small bales. I only had 1 customer and she would buy every bale from me. When I got it baled I would call her and she would get a crew put together and come get it. Never had to touch a bale.
I did best selling to feed stores in yuppy horse people areas. They would give me a key and I would deliver at 3 or 4 am when it was cool and they didn't have to help before opening and I wasn't in their way during business hours. avoid rush hour traffic. It was better for both of us. I miss doing it and hope to do it again one day. Good honest man's living. I got a flat and had to leave a loaded trailer along the road and some one lit it on fire and burned it to the ground. Then the baler broke and the stack wagon was in need of a lot of repairs so I gave up. Too expensive to get going again. I really loved doing it though. I miss it.
I think every kid should bale hay for one summer , it is one of the best life lessons you could get . You will learn the value of a hard earned dollar and accomplishing something . Not to mention it's a hell of a workout ! I started riding on a hay rack and dragging the bales back to my uncle at 7 years old til about 17 and never got to run the tractor . Some farmers paid 5 bucks for a whole day of baling and now a kid wants 15/hr to get my order wrong McDonalds !
I just found your channel. I liked this video, it reminded me of helping put up small square bales on my cousins' farm in Kansas when I was a teenager back in the 80s. It was hard work, but I am glad that I got to do it. We also used a lot of small bales over the years for our milk cows, goats and mules. Anyway, keep up the great job and I will check out more of your videos.
Damn I didn't know it took a college degree to bale hay ? I started driving the tractor on a baler at 10 and back on the wagon at 12. I baled my last load at 70. Health is the only benefit I ever got out of tossing hay. There is a knack to handling square bales and a 70 year old who knows how can out perform a 16 year old who don't.
making hay is like going to the gym except your not playing in someone else sweat . and at my farm a horse is just a hay burner . keep up the good work merry Christmas.
hay is where the money is at, least for me. all i do is make hay but some row crop just to reseed. the most acres we done is about 600 a year, some on shares, custom mowing, raking, baling and 260 acres of mine. my oldest baler JD 566 has around 30000 bales on it, not sure on the newest one. been farming for over 40 years and have a good custom haying operation. all my hay is sold every year except what i keep for my cows
Your videos show us more about the way true farming is all about! One Lonely Farmer and you, tell the real truth about farming! Work your ass off to get ahead. How many of the UA-cam guys would work their butts off like you guys do to make a living?
MY first round baler was a Vermeer 605L What a POS I bought a JD 567 after that first vermeer My neighbor kid was still baling just last week I live NW of Kansas City He dont have a clue about making good hay I talked to him Sunday when it was snowing and he told me he was going to cut some more when the snow melts I saw him bringing a load of small squares yesterday and that hay looked pretty sad I bale about 3 -400 squares a year and around 1300 big rounds a year I enjoy your videos a lot Can you invite me up to go crappie fishing in Lake Rathbun sometime one of my old neighbors used to go there all the time and catch a lot of crappie have a good one and stay safe Ben
The Crappie really hit around spawn! From what I hear, this year was a bit off, because of the flooding. Wouldn't know personally, didn't get a chance to go, we were still in the fields.
We got into Hay by being in the right place at the right Time.... 3 years and we discontinued Cotton and Peanuts......We Only have 100 acres of Bermuda......We bought everything.......Including a complete be rebaling operation from a Farmer wanting to get out... We have 2 Tractor Supply contracts....... (4.... 53 ft trailers per month).......$7.50 per bale..............And we can convert rounds into squares throughout the year.......
There is an Amish guy that has one of those operations as well around here. Buys hay from out of state, rebales it, then bundles them for sell. Slick operation! Thanks for the comment!
Great video man! I make small squares for our cattle, horses and for sale. Good money in them if you do it right! It does help keep me in shape too, which is nice.. as I drink beer and spend too much time on youtube! Ha ha. Like you, I was always enthralled by the hay making process growing up, and for some reason looked up the the guy out there making hay. I was about 31 when I started with my own equipment, and haven't lost the love yet four years later. Thanks for the video, that was fun!
Yes sir I seen your Video on UA-cam about the hay you put up I live in the beep south and I was the hay Bisenis for about 25 years I love doing it I would put up 25000 Sq bales and 20000 Round Bales I started balling in March to Dec with my Customer and my hay. In Nine mo I put up 75,000 Total I bout Two Round Ballers a year i just thought I would talk a little you have a good day 👍🙏🙏🐂🐂
Rouse hydraulic rake co ,burnwell ne still makes the IH 1300 sickle bar mowers. With IH or new Holland wobble boxes. Made a small bale squeeze to pickup 4 flat or 5 upright bales ,on a smaller open station tractor or skid steer you can stack higher than you can with a grapple..work smarter not harder! Thanks keep your hair cut real short during hay season so you can't pull it out.
You guys in the video need a BOBCAT skid loader with a grapple on it to work your storage sheds. The skid loaded with grapple would give you alot of flexibility to work inside of your storage sheds
Great video! Very interesting to watch. Your title also got me, about halfway through reading it I saw the (I don't part) and that really made me laugh!
Why Farmers don't have Trade Schools teach how Farm and Run Heavy Equipment. Construction trade in desperate times and if you know how farm you never starve.
Subscribed - Mr. Iowa Farmer you are a natural at this youtube, pretty sure if there is even a farming influencer sector your name is on the list. Its inspiring to see a young adult get out there work with their hands and love what they do. I will be looking forward to more of your content.
Lmaoo Andrew says, lets get lunch i hear you, u guys got it good now, back in the day we were the bailers, i was no more than 13yo weighed like 120lbs was throwing bails on the back of a flat bed, i learned how to use the knee method of pushing it up. We'd go down between two rows of small squares and back up the other side, did it in the Summer and Fall months, talk about Calluses at 13yo...
Love your setup we are getting into more squares this year I have bought so much junk of craiglist got old discbines tractors and wish I would have stayed home
I love your channel I love your videos man keep them going. I'm a city Folk guy who dreams of living your type of life but I am learning it doesn't seem like it's any easier LOL I still love it
Drawbacks to haying ; gotta fight the weather , rain , humidity etc . Usually do most of selling in winter so more fighting the weather ! Gotta find markets too and get paid ! Just hauling corn and soybeans to the elevator sounding better all the time
Ben , I think this is a great idea ! You need to find some really big horse farms , they love feeding that grass hay . Those nails in Ohio right now go for about $7.00 a bale . It’s money to make in the winter time when your not moving much grain . It would be nice if you had a conveyor though ! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and Andrew and your families !
As long as you done in an ethical manner it wouldn't bother me if you did make millions from hay. I hope you make enough money to stay in the haying business a long time. I like food so when you help people produce the food I like to eat,that makes you an important person in my book.
Having grown up on a farm, my father always said the only way to double your money farming is to take it out of your pocket, fold it in half, and put it back in your pocket. Then he got into selling farm equipment, and out of farming...
Small square bells easy to sale but lots of cost getting started mower 30000 tractor at lest 3 but 4 would be better hay rake low to mid 20s hay tater 7 to 12 ,square baller I’m going to say about 27000 maybe a little high but close not sure on trailers or wagon cost hay acumilater must have and your claws are to pic up the 10 bales + break downs yep very costly and the ground to bale from and this is price of fairly new equipment
Great job man I hauled hay for years out of the field I grew up to Canada and bring it down to South Dakota I would love to semi trucks out of the fields 1000 something else I don't know and I sure loved it and this it I wish I could go up there and start doing it again any offers.
I just caught your video. Baling small squares, (for ourselve), is the only "farming" we do. We are only 170 miles north east of you. You may have gained a new subscriber. MB BAR RANCH
This is my first time watching your channel, I am very impressed. I am from Northwest Missouri when I was 3 yrs old, I started riding the hay wagon and moving hay (round bales from a roto bailer) I was 5 when I started with one hay hook by the time I was 8 yrs old I was the youngest paid farm hand and I made 2 1/2 cents per bale I worked for a many of farmers and I also volunteered my older brother as another hand. We would put up to 30,000 bales a summer, I was making deals with farmers a dime a dozen. I turned out to be the youngest bullshiter's ever I guaranteed (old word) my stack, meaning that my stack in your barn would never push out the sides. I was 8 when I went up on the porch and my folks were setting in the swing, and I told them I was a man now, and I didn't want them to pay for my school supply's and clothes that was my job, Dad said is that they way you want it? I said yes sir and my folk's have never spent a dime on me since! That was in 1971, in 1976 my Dad said to me if you think your such a good salesman ( I would like to see you sale ice cream to an Eskimo ) he was trying to get my goat. I said, (ok) and went on my way very quietly, not to give away my idea to him) . So the next spring when the first cut was ready , I told the farmer, ( there is a lot of cow poop in his shed and the cattle are having to duck there heads just to get in. I asked when is the last time you cleaned that out, he responded, (boy I've owned this farm for better than 40 years it ain't never been cleaned out, and besides there ain't nobody that would ever do that) that's when I said, ( I will ) He looked at me and asked how much? I walked it out and figured out how many yard of shit there was and shot him a price of 35.00 . He said, ( when we git done haying you can start) alright I said but, I put it into your truck that's got a hoist cause after I load her up you can dump it on my farm. That old guy looked at as if I was going to be a millionare someday. Word spread all over and if I wasn't haying I was throwing shit! I worked all summer doing that and my Dad asked me,( what the hell was I doing with all that shit,) I told him it was a project for FFA. He never said another word. So I new there was going to be a better way to git rid of that shit. Our neighbor/ landlord had just got a front end loader put on that AC D-17 I made a deal with him to use it next spring, I would load up his manure spreader and give him great looking grass for the cows. So the next early spring I put an ad in the paper it said, ( Want Greener pastures guaranteed results) my pile was over 200' long and over 150' wide and 6' tall and I sold ever bit and loaded it out the easy way, it just so happend when the last load left my Dad came home from work. I went right up to him and he said you finely got rid of that. I said, (yep but I got another problem,) what is that he asked I showed him all that cash I made and asked him if he could put it into my checking account. He got a big grin on his face and said, ( Mother that boy is half Jew, she told him that I was a Presbyterian he said don't get your skirt up in a mess, then he looked right at me and said you done this because of what I said last year didn't you! I told him I could not sell ice cream to an Eskimo but I sold poop to farmer's instead. You impress me as a great young man. Thanks for bringing up all those memories I'm retired USAF and I have made my millions, I wish you all the luck in the world! P.S. I still love to put up hay
that’s a great story u deserve more likes
Hank that’s awesome!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE to This Country SIR, and your Memories Sir.
Damn I love your comment very long and well written do you use the voice microphone text on your phone where you can just talk into it and it will write for you?
Hank
I did it for 3 cents a bail. Took the doors off the truck and let it creep down the rows while I ran along loading hay... bought my first car with that summer money
A 1928 model A. drove it all though high school. Still have it in my barn.
Marine Corp here
Who would give a thumbs down to this? A young, kind of hard working young man that puts a bit of humor into it. (27? screw that, I did it from 14 to 20, and that was plenty) I'm old now, but I worked a relatives farm for years as a young man. Didn't have all the machinery of today. Back they I was the "accumulator",... and the operator, and the elevator loader, and the stacker, and the gardener, and the fence builder, and the repair person/carpenter/livestock handler/butcher, and the salesman. I didn't make crap, but I learned a lot, it made me tough, and the person I am today. Something sorely lacking in todays youth. I worked hard and played hard. I wonder how I even survived it.
And now I look back and miss it.
First time I have watched one of your videos. It showed up in my feed and I saw the title and laughed out loud! Glad to see another young farmer giving it a go. My brother and I are young farmers in Arkansas. We have been raising cattle and making hay, custom baling since we were knee high to a bear cub. My brother does majority of the farming now as I have a job in town to pay the bills. Sounds like you have learned a lot and you know the facts, no one is going to get rich farming but it’s a lifestyle we love and someone has to feed the populace. Keep on keeping on.
Thanks for watching from Arkansas! Hope you enjoyed and will watch again.
You can watch this from Arkansas? 😜
I havnt done hay in a few years used to do 2000 to pay taxes every year. It's not bad I just did the stacking in the wagon and all was good as long as kicker was working.
I hate small squares, way to much back work but I did make lots of money from them.
Tip ? When dealing with horse people cash up front.
Good quality tarps are great for short term storage
Just happened onto your video. Very informative.We just bought about 80 acres here in central NC that is magnificent pasture land and the guys leasing it are getting between 200-300 round bales . I have a new Holland 273 square baler and a John Deere 1217 cutter conditioner and still have to pick up a tractor and rake and tedder to get to cutting next year.I'm semi retired and my goals are to sell square bales to some of the horse folks hereabouts etc. and to have several head of cattle. Will talk to the other guys about working something out about cutting round bales for me on shares. Great to see a young guy like you working hard and doing what you like. Keep up the good work. looking forward to more of your videos.
Thanks for the awesome comment.
I have never, and will never bale hay. In fact, I work in IT. That being said, I enjoyed your video very much. Love hearing people talk about their trade. Wish more working entrepreneurs would share their stories. People like you are what makes America great.
AirmanJH thanks for the kind comment.
Thanks for being truthful . My Dad use to do about 10,000 small bales a year . A lot of work
Great videos, when I was in my teens I worked on a dairy farm in Pa for six years bailed hay every summer, hard work but kept me in great shape, watching you guys stacking hay bails takes me back to the good old days. THANKS take care.
You'd be surprised, the majority of my customers that help unload the trailer, will tell me about "the good old days" when they used to bale hay! I enjoy it. lol
Good for you man! I started with a macdon R85 pull type swather and a deere 535 round baler and deere 4640 tractor. Now I have 2 macdon 155 self propelled disc mowers, 2 Massey 2170 3×4 balers, 3 Deere 567 round balers, vermeer r23a, twinstar g2-7 rakes, 7 deere tractors from a 4230 to a 4555. I'm 37 years old and still love it!!! keep on farming man!!
Will do!
You have a good idea. I am a retired farmer. My family baled hay for many years when I farmed It was a hard job but rewarding. You can always sell hay. It was difficult to make good hay. Once you get a good source to sell your hay you will get return customers. Keep up the good work.
Exfarmer Joe thanks for the comment!
Loved your video. I'm glad to see their are others out there that for some reason just love moving hay. I grew up on a horse ranch. Grew our own hay. Learned young how to cut, rake, bail, haul and stack. Taught me young to respect the machinery. Had me driving by age 13. Loved every minute of it. No longer have the ranch. It was my grandparents who have passed on. I'm 42 now and every summer I help friends and neighbors bring in their hay. I kept track one year. Brought in over 80 ton. No charge. I've got a good job. Just feed me a decent meal and hand me a cold beer. It's a great time with good people. Keep up the good work.
Being a new farmer its hard to find someone who is willing to help just to answer questions around my area they don't want you to take business away from them. So I've had to learn a lot off UA-cam. Watching videos like yours helps, So thanks for your knowledge. My biggest struggle is keeping my old 1950 John Deere baler from shooting out banana bales.
Scott Guymon that one might be beyond me. Is the tension on your strings and pressure plates even?
My advice. If you're young don't waste you money. U buy from auctions when people go bust or buy from auctions listed by pawn shops. It's insane what I purchased from them cheap. The goal is to enjoy your profits in late age 40s. If u can afford?, Go buy a good located mainstreet rental property for passive income and let Tennant's pay mortgage. I have a little Cafe which Tennant's pay council taxes, insurance etc.
The forage business is a good one for a young man (or woman) wanting to get started in agriculture. Once you have established your customer base, you can pay for a farm. It's probably a more steady commodity pricewise than any other.
I could agree with that.
How much land do you think someone needs to start?
First video I've watched, I appreciate not hearing cuss words in every sentence. For sure going to watch more, and subscribed. I'm located North Central Kansas.
I don't think you'll hear any cuss words here. Thanks for watching.
My Grandfather raised mostly grass hay for mules I think the most Alfalfa acreage he ever had was 50 to 60 for mostly winter cow feed. Alfalfa was too high in protein for the mules. He was a cotton farmer who raised some corn and soybeans and winter wheat...a problem that occurs is so many people horse buy into the myth of alfalfa hay... alfafa is loved by horses but due to the high protein it's too hot a feed for them. A better choice is a legume / alfalfa/clover/ lespediza and grass mix.
A straight legume hay has a tendency to increase chance of foundering a horse
That’s why the 20% alfalfa to the rest grass seems to be a good mix!
Dude, you're a natural. Great video and really like your style and demeanor. It matters a lot on UA-cam. You're just straight up real and it shows. Not trying to put on some BS, or throw your hands around begging for likes or comments. Good stuff. I know this is 3 years old, but excellent work here, no question. As a side note, I've lugged many many bales up into our barn as a kid for our horses....sweating in the summer covered in itchy hay. I totally understand what you're doing there, and how much work it is. Your alternative is to get fat and old sitting at a damn desk modifying spreadsheets. I think I'll take the hay route after 20 years of Excel.
As a kid in High School, our Wrestling Coach had a small hay farm. As a fundraiser, the fellas on the team stacked it for him. I've handled thousands of those SOB's and my advice is get a set of bale hooks. It will make the job much less painful than throwing them by the twines.
Gonna have to try it
I love haying!!! That’s actually how i found your channel, your Amish hay auction video showed up in my suggested video. We only do 5x5 cow quality round bales. I look forward to more coverage of your hay operation come first cutting. As always great video and please keep them coming!!!
Joel Hurley thanks for watching!
I earned gas money on my brother-in-laws farm in Western, NY to horse folks delivering and he sold the cow hay. Even had semi loads ship to Florida from a 70 acre farm about 50 acres planted in timothy, alfalfa, cover and orchard grass mix.
Great video! My back hurts now just watching you and Andrew moving all that hay. I put up my fair share of hay back in the day and we didn't have the fancy equipment that's available today. Your videos are fun to watch keep em commin.....
David Wayne thanks for the kind comment and watching!
I have been buying the good coastal round bails and rolling then out on 80 acres. Saw where this is a way to sprig coastal grass
It actually works.
Your doing what I'm doing so I had to sub
when stacking small square bales for transport, always put the knot side on the bottom. you will be glad you did and sorry if you don't.
As someone in the hay business I have to say you have lots to learn.
You are right.
The best and most clever way to move hay around from field to barn is via a school bus which can be acquired super cheap then chopped and modified easily to suit your personal needs.
I am almost 80, If you do hay you need a moisture meter. If the hay has too much moisture when you bale it and it will rot. also hay with a high moisture content will slowly decompose which creates heat and they will actually catch fire. when I was 20 I ran a hay business for my cousin in summers when I was in college. 10 men 3 10 wheel flat bed trucks , one side loader and a gasoline powered hay conveyor. used to make tall stacks. My cousin did the buying of hay bales in the field and made sales where the hay went from the field to the customer. no storage. sometimes the hay was stacked on the growers farm. Here near Yellowstone most winter hay storage is outside , tarped over. sometimes we have problems with deer and moose eating and tearing up hay. If they are around we "donate" a feeder bale 1/4 mild away down by the river where the animals have brush and trees. to hide . A neighbor has a small bale business, producing good quality grass horse hay. he has a list of regular horse owners. He hauls hay to their Mini farms and stacks it.
I have horses, and before I started cutting my own hay all I ever purchased was mixed grass 340 bales every 3 months. Like $3200 -$3600 if I can remember correctly on the price and/or amount of bales.
Northwest Ohio, at least on our farm we do straight alfalfa, an orchard grass alfalfa mix, and this year we are doing a small test run of Timothy... we only bale for horse hay and put up about 180,000 a year (edit: hay and straw combined). Great content and learned a lot thank!
That's some serious baling!
You will like Timothy ....makes great hay...
Mistakes are the best teachers. Wish I had your wisdom at 27.
Finally found a local Iowa farm channel. Subscribed and looking forward to more content
Welcome to the Channel
Great video nice looking bales
As a horse person who has bought lots of hay I'd say good! We like it clean, dry and not moldy.
Research GRAND SOLOR MINIMUM AND EFFECTS ON CROPS AND WEATHER!!! We are in BEGINNING STAGES OF THIS 15-20 year cycle!!!
Good tight bales from a wise headed framer , hard work is never easy
Helping a friend put up bales of hay was the hardest work I ever did.
City folk eh??
Me too, until I was introduced to pipe coat and creosote.
Lifting hay onto a trailer with a pitchfork was hard work but it was normally in nice days during summer. Gathering potatoes was the hardest work I did, and it was normally cold
Bring back old memories baling hay cutting cords of wood and rabbit hunting. I was about 10 or 11. Early 80s, I'm a computer guy now. Keep up the great work. Happy New Years, One and All.
Fred Jack happy new year!
i put up around 8000 small bales my self. not getting rich either. great video.
Just watched this today. They finally got that combine out of there in early June of 2020. I used to deer hunt that property and help a farmer in the area.
First time watching your channel. I'm so happy that someone is doing small bales. Small bales are convenient in handling and should be . Have a Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas
Enjoy your videos, we have a small farm in SC with 14 cows and 2 horses, we've fed small square bales for years.
People think the best way to keep your animals gentle is to feed small squares!
Where are you in S.C....................... I'm 49 miles nothwest from Charleston
@@farmingforfunandprofit940 Inman, SC
First time watching this channel and I must say that you are very informative which is awesome in my area of Utah straight alfalfa is the most high demand especially if you have certified alfalfa hay because most people only have horses and the rest is sent to dairy farms or overseas and growing up in south west Idaho it was the same there and straight grass hay there and here doesn't sell for much if you are lucky you can get $2.50 a small bale but 100% alfalfa is going for 10 to 12 dollars a bale for small bales and 180 to 240 a ton for alfalfa
Gerald Wilson sounds like I need to send some hay that way!
Great video!! I'm not a farmer although I love the outdoors and have lived in Iowa my whole life...Watching this video reminds me again why I love Iowa and the people of the midwest!! You seem as honest and hardworking as the day is long...Best of luck to you!!
Mixing humour with your learning curve makes interesting watching.
Hay There 👨🌾. I just subscribed.
It seems you have chosen work 🔧🔨 before wealth.💰
It makes you a real farmer. 🏆
Miiint 👌
Just found your channel, and I really like the way you talk to the camera and the explain what your during, in this video your history of how you got into haying.
You take that bearing to a'' bearing supply store'', Or call and give them the numbers off the old one and they will match it up for you , and i bet it wont cost you much. You'll have a running machine in no time. Check the rest of them before you have another break down. If smart you will look for that older equipment and find items free for the taking. I keep 4 guys with mostly free equipment going all summer. Been there done that. Now if you are cramped for room you build a hydralic press and make smallerbails out of your regular size bails.We ship alfalfa to japan and get twice as much in the containers for same shipping cost, a heck of a savings !!
I started out in high school with horses and a wagon hauling bales from the field to the barn or stack for farmers. The horses knew the routine and sometimes I had help, sometimes I didn't LOL...
Buy a semi truck, several decommissioned trailers load right from the bailer instant portable storage building. Customers that sell like feed stores order trailer load then when empty order another load take it to them pick up empty they do all the unloading as they sell it.
I've thought about that.
You think that would work?
Farming for Fun & Profit if you had customers that bought hay that way, then yes.
But there is downsides. Your cost of storage would be high. Last time I knew the trailers could hold around 600 bales.
The. You’re going to have to put a license on them or drag them around unlicensed and hope you don’t get a ticket.
As the sit around the tires dry rot, and the roof possibly starts to leak.
The other big downside is that you have a bunch of ugly looking trailers sitting all over the place.
But would it be nice to have a trailer in the field that you can load up as you bale hay? Sure would be!
@@iowANFarmer We store as round and square bale as needed..... 2 men can rebale and load 500 bales in about 3 hrs.....
Farming for Fun & Profit how did you get your system?
First time viewer, my stepdad always said "if you come into some money and want to get rid of it, buy some land and put animals or a crops on it". But you will enjoy your life a little bit more.
Very informative thanks bro for sharing it
My opionin only,, would it be better to run the trailer down the road to blow the snow off😁,, also show how you intertwine bales when you stack them, also the sweet smell of hay.
Larry Dartel that would work, but the snow was a little wet! But normally that’s what I would have done.
We had to stop doing square bales couldn't get help to get hay from field to barn so we went to round bales. and we use a NH hay bine to cut hay and a tedder to get hay to cure faster and we bought a new rake its a 10 wheel rake and a case baler. We sell round bales for 50 bucks a bale right here around Louisville horse owners love the hay.
I have a small acreage that I grow hay on. Bromegrass. I put it in small bales. I only had 1 customer and she would buy every bale from me. When I got it baled I would call her and she would get a crew put together and come get it. Never had to touch a bale.
Myron Parks sounds Like a good customer relationship!
I did best selling to feed stores in yuppy horse people areas. They would give me a key and I would deliver at 3 or 4 am when it was cool and they didn't have to help before opening and I wasn't in their way during business hours. avoid rush hour traffic. It was better for both of us. I miss doing it and hope to do it again one day. Good honest man's living. I got a flat and had to leave a loaded trailer along the road and some one lit it on fire and burned it to the ground. Then the baler broke and the stack wagon was in need of a lot of repairs so I gave up. Too expensive to get going again. I really loved doing it though. I miss it.
Living on the farm S.E. Iowa from mid 70's to mid 80's, I always loved the smell of fresh cut alfalfa up until the time we had to bale it..
I think every kid should bale hay for one summer , it is one of the best life lessons you could get . You will learn the value of a hard earned dollar and accomplishing something . Not to mention it's a hell of a workout ! I started riding on a hay rack and dragging the bales back to my uncle at 7 years old til about 17 and never got to run the tractor . Some farmers paid 5 bucks for a whole day of baling and now a kid wants 15/hr to get my order wrong McDonalds !
I just found your channel. I liked this video, it reminded me of helping put up small square bales on my cousins' farm in Kansas when I was a teenager back in the 80s. It was hard work, but I am glad that I got to do it. We also used a lot of small bales over the years for our milk cows, goats and mules. Anyway, keep up the great job and I will check out more of your videos.
Farming is the best life. I was raised on a fam.
Now I own 18 wheels.
He a good worker and hustler in life! Awesome video! He knows how to make some good money!
Good information
Damn I didn't know it took a college degree to bale hay ? I started driving the tractor on a baler at 10 and back on the wagon at 12. I baled my last load at 70. Health is the only benefit I ever got out of tossing hay. There is a knack to handling square bales and a 70 year old who knows how can out perform a 16 year old who don't.
making hay is like going to the gym except your not playing in someone else sweat . and at my farm a horse is just a hay burner . keep up the good work merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas!
hay is where the money is at, least for me. all i do is make hay but some row crop just to reseed. the most acres we done is about 600 a year, some on shares, custom mowing, raking, baling and 260 acres of mine. my oldest baler JD 566 has around 30000 bales on it, not sure on the newest one. been farming for over 40 years and have a good custom haying operation. all my hay is sold every year except what i keep for my cows
Good money in small bales but alot of work we did 1500 bales of brome and had people buying them for 8.00 a bale as fast as we got done
Your videos show us more about the way true farming is all about! One Lonely Farmer and you, tell the real truth about farming! Work your ass off to get ahead. How many of the UA-cam guys would work their butts off like you guys do to make a living?
MY first round baler was a Vermeer 605L What a POS I bought a JD 567 after that first vermeer My neighbor kid was still baling just last week I live NW of Kansas City He dont have a clue about making good hay I talked to him Sunday when it was snowing and he told me he was going to cut some more when the snow melts I saw him bringing a load of small squares yesterday and that hay looked pretty sad I bale about 3 -400 squares a year and around 1300 big rounds a year I enjoy your videos a lot Can you invite me up to go crappie fishing in Lake Rathbun sometime one of my old neighbors used to go there all the time and catch a lot of crappie have a good one and stay safe Ben
The Crappie really hit around spawn! From what I hear, this year was a bit off, because of the flooding. Wouldn't know personally, didn't get a chance to go, we were still in the fields.
Excellent presentatation...Inspiring...and thanks...
You are most welcome!
Thanks for farming, I like to eat. Not hay but what eats hay. Have a good one.
Thanks for watching!
We got into Hay by being in the right place at the right Time.... 3 years and we discontinued Cotton and Peanuts......We Only have 100 acres of Bermuda......We bought everything.......Including a complete be rebaling operation from a Farmer wanting to get out... We have 2 Tractor Supply contracts....... (4.... 53 ft trailers per month).......$7.50 per bale..............And we can convert rounds into squares throughout the year.......
There is an Amish guy that has one of those operations as well around here. Buys hay from out of state, rebales it, then bundles them for sell. Slick operation! Thanks for the comment!
Can I see a video of you converting a round Bale into a square one???
@@ronaldspruill2247 You sure can......Go to my channel
@Victor Chingon Ortiz The contracts were included in the sale....
Great video man! I make small squares for our cattle, horses and for sale. Good money in them if you do it right! It does help keep me in shape too, which is nice.. as I drink beer and spend too much time on youtube! Ha ha. Like you, I was always enthralled by the hay making process growing up, and for some reason looked up the the guy out there making hay. I was about 31 when I started with my own equipment, and haven't lost the love yet four years later. Thanks for the video, that was fun!
Denny's Country Life thanks for the kind comment!
You need to find Rich old ladies with horses They pay A lot for Small squares.
And marry one!
And they complain about every little thing they can find, hay is too dusty, strings are too tight/loose they woegh too much can you cut me a break
And marry one!!!😂😂😂
@@gerardvriend729 lmao that's what a local horseshoes did. He was such an azz
Yes sir I seen your Video on UA-cam about the hay you put up I live in the beep south and I was the hay Bisenis for about 25 years I love doing it I would put up 25000 Sq bales and 20000 Round Bales I started balling in March to Dec with my Customer and my hay. In Nine mo I put up 75,000 Total I bout Two Round Ballers a year i just thought I would talk a little you have a good day 👍🙏🙏🐂🐂
Did you retire after you became a billionaire at it lol?
Rouse hydraulic rake co ,burnwell ne still makes the IH 1300 sickle bar mowers. With IH or new Holland wobble boxes. Made a small bale squeeze to pickup 4 flat or 5 upright bales ,on a smaller open station tractor or skid steer you can stack higher than you can with a grapple..work smarter not harder! Thanks keep your hair cut real short during hay season so you can't pull it out.
You guys in the video need a BOBCAT skid loader with a grapple on it to work your storage sheds. The skid loaded with grapple would give you alot of flexibility to work inside of your storage sheds
I'd wonder if a small bale grapple on a front end loader would save you time and effort. I for one don't miss loading and unloading small squares.
They do!
Great video! Very interesting to watch. Your title also got me, about halfway through reading it I saw the (I don't part) and that really made me laugh!
Yeah, the title might be a little “click bait”
Try a box roller like they use to unload or load at grocery chains.
I turned 27 in November and am also looking to get into square bales. I just bought a Farmall H.
Why Farmers don't have Trade Schools teach how Farm and Run Heavy Equipment. Construction trade in desperate times and if you know how farm you never starve.
It's just passed down in farm and ranch families and kids start very young in the hayfield on a rake usually at 8 or younger sometimes
Subscribed - Mr. Iowa Farmer you are a natural at this youtube, pretty sure if there is even a farming influencer sector your name is on the list. Its inspiring to see a young adult get out there work with their hands and love what they do. I will be looking forward to more of your content.
Thanks for the kind comment!
Lmaoo Andrew says, lets get lunch i hear you, u guys got it good now, back in the day we were the bailers, i was no more than 13yo weighed like 120lbs was throwing bails on the back of a flat bed, i learned how to use the knee method of pushing it up. We'd go down between two rows of small squares and back up the other side, did it in the Summer and Fall months, talk about Calluses at 13yo...
Love your setup we are getting into more squares this year I have bought so much junk of craiglist got old discbines tractors and wish I would have stayed home
Craigslist can do that to ya! Lol
Andrew is like us. The most important question of the day is.......where we going to eat?😜😜😜.
I love your channel I love your videos man keep them going. I'm a city Folk guy who dreams of living your type of life but I am learning it doesn't seem like it's any easier LOL I still love it
Thanks Barry!
Drawbacks to haying ; gotta fight the weather , rain , humidity etc . Usually do most of selling in winter so more fighting the weather ! Gotta find markets too and get paid ! Just hauling corn and soybeans to the elevator sounding better all the time
Ben , I think this is a great idea ! You need to find some really big horse farms , they love feeding that grass hay . Those nails in Ohio right now go for about $7.00 a bale . It’s money to make in the winter time when your not moving much grain . It would be nice if you had a conveyor though ! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and Andrew and your families !
I've got one. I just need to put a new motor on it!
As long as you done in an ethical manner it wouldn't bother me if you did make millions from hay. I hope you make enough money to stay in the haying business a long time. I like food so when you help people produce the food I like to eat,that makes you an important person in my book.
Check out Montgomery tractors In Seymour TX. Lots of farm equipment and the deal with different people in your state.
You gave me a great idea,for when I become a farmer
Having grown up on a farm, my father always said the only way to double your money farming is to take it out of your pocket, fold it in half, and put it back in your pocket. Then he got into selling farm equipment, and out of farming...
Always a good workout stacking small square.! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻🥵🥵🥵
Small square bells easy to sale but lots of cost getting started mower 30000 tractor at lest 3 but 4 would be better hay rake low to mid 20s hay tater 7 to 12 ,square baller I’m going to say about 27000 maybe a little high but close not sure on trailers or wagon cost hay acumilater must have and your claws are to pic up the 10 bales + break downs yep very costly and the ground to bale from and this is price of fairly new equipment
Great job man I hauled hay for years out of the field I grew up to Canada and bring it down to South Dakota I would love to semi trucks out of the fields 1000 something else I don't know and I sure loved it and this it I wish I could go up there and start doing it again any offers.
The legend Hayden Fry was right! America needs farmers! ANF GO HAWKS!
Nicely explained and enjoyable vid.
Thanks for informing me about the hay biz, now I know that unless I'm already a farmer, don't go into it for your sole source of income.
Very nice video man. You should think about using holistic management and silvopasture as well mate. Cheers, hope 2020 is good to ya!
I just caught your video. Baling small squares, (for ourselve), is the only "farming" we do. We are only 170 miles north east of you. You may have gained a new subscriber.
MB BAR RANCH
Welcome to the channel and thanks for watching!
Fine job of working that hay you make the job look easy but we all know it is hard work 👍👍
Thanks for the comment! Moved a lot of hay by hand over the years.
Have you ever thought of a bailwaggon( my part of country is a road sider.)FOR STACKING YOUR hay or alfalfa. They work great.
It seems any bearing can be found with a bit of measuring!
Great video