Running Square Baler and Stacking Wagon Alone

Today I am baling our hay field. I will be making square bales with antique New Holland hay baler. I will also be pulling a hay wagon behind the baler. I am planning on doing this all by myself. So I will driving the tractor and stacking the bales on the hay wagon.
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Country View Acres
P.O. Box 469
Robinson, IL 62454
We live in southeastern Illinois on a 41 acres homestead. We just finished building our log cabin overlooking our pond. We are trying to grow our own food and raise livestock. Follow us on our journey living the rural life and developing our property and becoming more self sufficient.
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[@drfeelgood935487]

From someone who grew up doing hay every summer, incredible respect for doing this by yourself!

[@chunknorris6299]

Yup I remember working with my grandpa standing back there bouncing around on the wagon while bales are flying at you. Stacking them all day is a lot of endurance but yeah this mans a beast doing it all by himself!

[@kmb957]

I did this for 15 years with my father. It was hot and dirty but damn am I glad I did it. It really instills a work ethic that most people don't have.

[@suzannedaniel3319]

Boy, this really brought back memories...

[@dukeman7595]

Unless you have done this kind of work you will never know how hard a job this is. This guy worked his tail off doing this alone, not to mention the heat.

[@gameofmoansandgroans5423]

No kidding man. I put up thousands of straw and hay bales when I was young. Editing videos is a lot more work than youtubers get credit for also. Mad respect for this guy.

[@stanleypennock2118]

You are SO RIGHT! The only good thing is that it's a level field. Hills make it even worse. At least he doesn't have to unload them and stack them in the mow by himself since he is selling them.

[@NIGHTMARERICA]

Ain't that the truth? I remember starting at about seven or eight not like and Grandpa too much. between hey and doing something for the chickens we lost most our summer lol.

[@greggschmidt7967]

I have done it many years, needs wd on knotters when done, need to left the chain a few inches on right side, so bales won't go to the side, I used to stack seven high on rack, three wide, not two.

[@Knallteute]

Yeah I couldn't imagne doing this without a cab. Even in our mild climate with 30c summers that is a hell of a job.

[@MrKen-longrangegrdhogeliminato]

At 6 years old, Dad put me in the seat (62 years ago) of the Farmall-H first gear at a dead idle he would load and stack the bales on the wagon without stopping, Dad be back on the tractor before we went into the fence row of trees. Fast forward to 14 years of age, Dad worked full time at the Mill, plus running a dairy farm. When it was time for bale straw, I'd drive the 504 Farmall, New Holland Baler and two wagons about eight miles on the two lane highway to the egg farm in Dry Valley and bale straw. And stop at VanHorns garage for a ice cold Niehigh orange soda. Thems was the good days.

[@TheDrrbc]

That’s what we did too. 2 teens throwing, 1 stacking, and the 6 year old holding it in a straight line. We got about 25¢ per bale and would give the kid a penny.

[@JJosephS1]

Mom drove the bailer. My sister and I started stacking (ages 8 & 9) with an older cousin walking along the ground picking up the bales. Dad drove the rake, to dry out the hay (Southern Indiana about an hour from Robinson, IL) and then switched off for a wagon, and he and my cousin would take turns driving and stacking. Loved riding through town on top of the hay wagon, and then stopping off at Knob Inn for a Choc-ola.

[@joshuaespinoza5082]

Wow, sounds fun and man I wish I had that life rather than mostly spent my time in the city. Thanks for sharing.

[@wildrose338]

And now it's skinny jeans and rainbow 🌈flags are more important

[@michaels.7152]

I too, baled hay with my dad's H Farmall Then we moved up to the BIG TIME... We got a super M Farmall. Ha Ha. 50 years later, I'm still baling hay I got a nicer tractor though.!!!!

[@dejavu666wampas9]

Now, here’s a guy with a work ethic. I love how he doesn’t need all brand new modern equipment. Reminds me of the farm I grew up on. Thanks for taking me back to my childhood.

[@mikeznel6048]

Its great isn't it? This guy knows whats up. All that new keeping up with the Jones' expensive brand new equipment is a trick. Its not worth it unless you need it. These old girls will run circles around the new stuff when its broke down because emissions equipment failure.

[@richardanoelken5173]

Problem: Hay Wagon not following the bailer on 90 degree turns ~ Fix: #1 move the hitch bar further to the left as viewed from the rear Fix #2 Shorten the wagon tounge by half it's original "horse length".

[@bigbossman3987]

Maybe, but that new equipment sure does make things a lot easier. Trust me, I’ve been there and done that both ways with it. It’s nice at the end of the day to be done with something, instead of having to stay up all night working on something because it broke down and you have to have it for the next day. That price tag a lot of times will equal out to money & time saved by not having to fight to keep junk working.

[@cs-rj8ru]

Well I was a boy in the 80s....We didn't have new equipment either....To be frank I wish we did...pull rope plows and Farmall H's suck.

[@10Timewaster]

@@bigbossman3987 very well said but of course even the oldest equipment when maintained and operated properly will be very dependable and much cheaper to operate than the modern high priced equipment. Granted there are some modern pieces which are far more efficient than the old but I definitely understand your point of view.

[@jameskeal8957]

This video took me back to my younger years. Small farm (25) acres back pasture was about 10 acres. Pop cut about a 3rd of it and when on vacation for 2 weeks. Cut hay dried, racked and no one else at home but me. Baled just as in the video. But my experience was just a bit different. I was blessed with one front wheel on the wagon coming off and didn't even lose a lug nut. That wasn't so bad but the wagon was about 2,3rd full of hay. Old man was smart enough that he had 2 hay wagons. But at about 15 years old ,my day was going to be full of fun. ( lol) Hay transfer to another wagon including what fell off the first wagon. Replace damaged wheel and finish baling the hay. Just short of 200 bales. Day not over yet, it now had to be stacked in the range hayloft. Now that day will always be remembered as I stood behind the barn proud of what I had accomplished. Kids now days just don't know what work is. There's nothing wrong growing up every on a farm, even if it's 25 acres. My dad could work circles around all his 4 sons, even when he was 75 years young.

[@ruthnorman1922]

Enjoyed reading that!

[@danmoritz3319]

Yes, that's how it was.

[@stowers157]

I hauled with my 2 brothers, we made 3 cents per bale, hauled and stacked in the barn. We never got rich, but we sure got strong.

[@richardmiller3919]

stowers157. Me too now I’m old lol. Lots of memories

[@djamesthree]

Nobody messes with the haying crew, if they’re smart. ;-)

[@teresamurray250]

Awww square bales...hauled many back in the day!

[@robertsparling]

Yeah, he's only going 4 high on the rack. Wimpy under any conditions. The on and off must have been a pain, though.

[@themadhatter196]

Nowadays those bales are worth $5 1st cutting, $6, 2nd cutting, and $7 3rd cutting

[@lindareeds7863]

I'm a 74 year old farm wife. I loved building the load on the wagon! When I was about 65 I all of a sudden couldn't do it any more. Just like that, from one year to the next. We have old equipment like you, too. I miss doing it and really enjoyed this video. Could tell the bales were bigger and heavier than we made them! You're doing a great job!

[@richardmiller3919]

I like your old tractor and hay baler … Both worked fine! I always enjour your videos all the times.

[@DanishButterCookie]

Every year, we invite my entire family, all city people, to come help load the loft with hay. Doing it alone is such an atrocious job and were all beat afterwards. BIG Kudos to you for being able to do all this alone!

[@VirginiaPrepper]

I remember doing this as a kid growing up on my grandparents farm and I am working on starting it again. Great times.

[@robertwilliams2623]

Back when i was a kid the summer was work in the hay field time . Good times

[@wesmccoy7061]

You sir are an icon to show people what we go thru during hay season. Awesome video. 👍👍👍

[@johnshelton9099]

My hat is off to you brother I love to see that somebody still uses the old equipment and to see that it still works as hard as you do. I do have a few suggestions that may help you if you have to do it all by yourself 1 put some sides on your wagon 2 put an offset hitch on your baler to move the wagon to the left and line up better with your chute 3 extend the baler chute to put the bales further back on the wagon 4 looking at your hay you may want to circle the field when raking a few times to build a bigger window so you have less baling laps (we usually go 2 or 3 then go in the other direction to make the window depends on grass thickness the v rake we use can be used with only 1 side down or both) I hope my suggestions give you good ideas. Hard work is the key and you have that down pat hopefully lady luck will touch you and we will soon see you riding in the A/C with all new shiny equipment so you will not have to work so hard. Bless you brother keep up the good work...

[@ppqp83]

Hi John, your advice is very on point! I was very interested in #4 about the raking for fewer bailing laps: is it because it's faster bailing with the bigger window? Thanks on advance!

[@3rdoldhen]

Hay baling time is always the hottest, stickiest day of the summer… & the 70# ea feels heavier every lift! At the end I only wanted to hit the horse trough to wash the sweat & bugs away… then the horses got a cool, clean trough & hay for the winter!

[@QuadeQuick]

I worked summers on a farm that used a kicker baler, so the wagons were fenced because the bales would shoot out of the baler with some pretty good force. There were certainly downsides: more broken bales since they were flying 15-20 feet in the air and often jammed in weird positions, which made getting them on the hay mow elevator a little challenging. Also, the wagons weren't nearly as neatly stacked so they probably only held about 40 bales before we had to swap out the wagons. Your method takes more busy work, but you handled it beautifully. I'll echo others' comments about the effort involved in baling - it's a lot tougher than hitting the treadmill, people. Thanks for the memories!

[@deanyanko3326]

if more people would labor to help a neighbor that's a good workout .

[@brendaberrones2504]

This guy is a one man team he takes me back to the days when square bales for a buck fifty my dad would store the hay and him and I would hit the road in the winter Idaho ,Montana,Alturas Ca fun times with my old man hes gone now he lived to be 99 years old before covid took his life man I miss him keep up the good work partner and God Bless you for the video👍👍👍

[@peterlanum]

Now I remember why I left the farm and got into construction.

[@hayman41350]

When I saw your video of the tractor with the baler and wagon, it is EXACTLY like what I used to do!! Old IH super M, with no hood, cause it was easier to add power steering fluid!! Old new holland 68 baler, pulling a 4 wheel wagon just like that, but didn't have the stop on the back of it!! Wife driving, with a 1 year old on her lap!!! What great times those were!! Thank you for re-kindling the great memory!!! We all survived just fine, thank you!!! Used to do 90 acres that way!!!

[@JamesCouch777]

You are a very hard working young man. You will be amazed later on down the road at how much you have accomplished. 👍

[@ollymeg]

Speaking as 66 years old and how much toil your body will take, wish there had been big round or quadrant bales 45 years ago, my body might not be worn out now

[@JamesCouch777]

@@ollymeg you and me both. I'm 68.

[@drb141719]

That smile Evan after a successful day. These victories will shadow the failures. Keep smiling Evan.

[@mikestock6461]

This was my teenage life and honestly the work that shaped me. We had a belt kicker on our New Holland but we put in about 35k bales a year and I touched almost every one of them! I'll never be that strong again.

[@USAR8888]

I dont know how I came across this video but it sure brings back memories. Baled hay from the time I was 12 to around 18 after I was out of high school. I'm 33 now. One of the best jobs I ever did.

[@nikkireigns]

I’m 35 and decided to get back to helping on a farm and starting a version of my own. I’m both dreading and excited for baling time this year

[@barryweaver6834]

You sir have made my day. Back in the sixties/seventies my grandpa in Pa would bale hay by himself this way when none of the grandkids were there. He’d push a few up on the wagon then climb off the farmall H and stack them. He always worked hard and his IH “45” baler would not always knot the bales. I really miss Him and helping him. Great memories!!

[@a.m.v.6938]

What a hard working man, and he still keeps smiling. Job well done 👍

[@ronatwell5379]

Love to watch this video. Reminds me of years gone by when my late wife would be in the hay field with an almost identical "train". Glad to see you got a wagon and a dump wagon to boot. My first wagon was a David Bradley. If you put a bale length wise in the middle on your first 5, then you can start interlocking front to back and side to side. Important when on a rough field and when transporting down the road. You just start with your first middle lengthwise bale and put 2 crossways on both sides letting bales overhang on each side. Our barn door was not much wider than that arrangement, so the whole load had to stay tight and straight. I never baled alone. If wife couldn'tdrive, I would get grown son to come and help or hire a teenager who was desperate for spending money. Still have the David Bradley and 2 made by Springfield Wagon in Springfield, MO. stored in a barn. We needed to be able to load 2-3 wagons an evening without stopping to unload. Where did you come up with the extension chute? Yes, square baling with old equipment goes much better if you don't overpower the baler with the tractor. My 730 Case gas tractor could run much faster than the baler was able to handle.

[@mikeandmariasaeli6620]

This farmer is very skilled, innovative, and dedicated to getting the crop harvested by himself. Backing a wagon into a shed with a tractor is challenging enough, but doing it with a truck is "over the top."

[@richardcleasby105]

Nice job backing the wagon in the barn with the truck!

[@deernutOO]

Back that wagon when it is hooked to the baler.. just for kicks. Then drive the wrong way down a narrow lane and have to back it all without unhooking anything.. eventually it works..

[@kapperoutdoors]

Nice work on going solo! Many of us like you and me end up doing a lot solo, but I am very impressed to be able to do HAY solo! Keep up the great work! Thanks.

[@defuse56]

Props to you for standing up to the strain, the dust, and the heat! 10:52 I hate to play Mr. Safety, but I was taught from a very young age to shut down the pto if you were off the tractor, no matter the reason. It costs maybe 10 seconds to do it, but it's worth not coming in contact with moving parts. Especially important when the guard over the pto shaft is missing.

[@LitlD]

This sure brings back memories of some 45 years ago. I spent many a day working for local farmers, and baling was a specialty. The going rate was a buck an hour, but I always got $1.25 because I could stack bales two courses higher than a normal teenager (I am 6'6") without them falling off the rack on the way to the barn - meaning fewer trips.) My partner liked the barn work, but I got the tan.

[@palewriter1856]

Not bad - for a Little guy. I'm hesitant to admit it now, but when I was a kid, I thought hayin was FUN? Dang, that was a LONG time ago, and our New Holland baler was a bit shinier than that one. What always amazed me was how my uncle could remember where all the grease points were. Oh yeah - we didn't bother with a wagon - we pulled a sled behind the baler, so it was a 2-man operation (or 1.5 - a man and a dumb kid?) We'd stack 13 on a sled-full, then push that little stack off to be picked up after the baling was done with a big fork on the front of a medium-sized Massey Harris tractor. My uncle could snag a stack on the run - especially when rain was threatening. Hayseed? Yup.

[@garythomas1399]

Keep doing what you're doing. You're building the small hobby farmers confidence. I appreciate it!

[@brendanryan1852]

Forked thousands of heavy bales back in my youth every summer in Ireland no elevator either in the barn . All good work glad I got to do it.

[@swingoakfarm8675]

I make small squares entirely by myself, and having used a 1958 NH s68 exactly like you are doing here, I modernized and bought a 1970ish JD 24T with the bale ejector. Saves a lot of time, but sometimes I still stack bales as they get thrown in to maximize wagon capacity

[@forcesightknight]

Ah, the good old days, bailing clover and alfalfa in the hot summer sun.

[@cainbryan2885]

Most people come home tired, this man must come home exhausted

[@guycharlebois3342]

In June 2020, I did approx 500 balles all loaded on wagons in one day all by my self no help and no bale thrower. Now I got my self a bale stooker, it’s easier to pick them up with a tractor.

[@richardmiller3919]

@@aliceshaw8265 lol.. every time after hay work in late afternoon I usually went to the river. Swam in river getting me cool and clean.

[@jimsteele7108]

That is the true definition of determination.

[@dukebass4564]

We always used hey hooks to grab the bails when we were stacking the trailer. Keep in mind, I was only about 12 or thirteen at the time. Ranching and farming is the greatest character building lifestyle there is for a kid. I loved everything about growing up in the country, specially when I was too far from the house chasing steers to catch the school bus. Oh darn!

[@joecliffordson]

Almost a thousand replies. Perhaps there is hope for us. All my helpers grew up and moved away. New ones come and go. The guy that makes it all work is stacking by himself quite often around here. Although I have seen some really awesome hay girls. Mine were to smart to stick around. Believe it or not the kids go off to careers but I quit a good job to do this all summer. It is bliss. The repairs. The fun folks that buy small bales. My favorite field is down by a creek. I have heard we can run old tractors on wood smoke. If I pull it off I will do a vid. Thanks guy for keeping the old stuff running. I was just logging with an 8n Ford from the mid 40s. Bone stock. Still running strong. Makes one wonder when a new John Deere goes down with sensor problems and the company won’t allow the farmer into the software that they paid 260 grand for. Even worse they prosecute you for hacking their software to fix their shoddy planned obsolescence. But I digress. Keep up the good work. We are doing such a good job our hay is making the whole country fat and happy.

[@RLM1943]

YOU HAVE A GREAT "CAN DO" ATTITUDE.IMPRESSIVE !

[@markfin7225]

You’ve got a great work ethic and personal goals. I’m just returning to the farm after nearly 30 years. Some observations, but that’s all. When I sickle mow, I start with the tractor fence side first round. This allows for an even cut and straight lines. I return the second round with the bar to the fence, as the hay is still moist and won’t clog the bar. I also lift the 3 point at the end of standing hay and turn with the bar up. This allows me to cut all the hay and not leave tufts where the bar drags around the corner. I didn’t see your second cutting with the sickle mower, but your field looked much better this time. That drone view was great. One other suggestion. Turn two of your windrows into one when you turn it to dry the underneath side. That makes a larger row and the baler works better (IMO). We used to square bale 25K each year between my dad and I. Sometimes my mom would help. I love how your learning and working.

[@kensmithler5965]

Evan, you are definitely a farmer with that impressive "can do " attitude. I grew up on a dairy farm and know how hard and hot baling hay is and you added drone footage on to doing it all alone, amazing. Glad your back is better.

[@philipsoppe1948]

I got 16 acres of hay and do it byself with one kicker wagon. I don't unhook at all the wagon

[@williamwarnold6737]

Great job, love to see old machines do their job. I remember as a cub , sitting up on the top the load hay, on the public road. I don’t recall any big health and safety advice, about how to hold on . Greetings from Ireland, where the grass is always greener, well that’s what they told me as a gusson ( small boy) 😄

[@kevinelowsky4034]

5 bales instead of 4. Let them overhang slightly and you can tie the stack together.

[@jefffrayer8238]

Exactly. I've never seen it stacked like that before. But he didn't have many bales and working by himself so all is good. As a kid we went at least 7 high, about 120 bales on a wagon. I wonder if that wagon is a narrow bed like less than 7 foot.

[@ryanholt4210]

I would say that is a narrow rack

[@47kflory]

@@ryanholt4210 there's definitely room for 2 1/2 bales wide. Ties together a lot better that way too.

[@leolynchjr1021]

@@jefffrayer8238 , he couldn’t go any higher due to the height of the door when he was backing into his little barn.

[@larrycurrier290]

I've spent my share of time in the Hayfield. When the barn is that close why challenge yourself to see how many Bales you can put on that trailer. Seventy-something bails you going to make two trips anyway

[@moegeek]

Wow. Memories of the chaff crusted with sweat on the back of my neck stacking bales from a very similar baler and an old Allis Chalmers when I was a kid. I sure did sleep well during baling season!

[@davidnorton1020]

That's why I purchased a round baler. The last time I did square bales I had 1800 bales on the ground and none of the help I hired showed up. I had to take off work to finish hauling hay all by myself. I had the kicker on my John Deere that shot bales in the wagon but still had to unload and stack in the barn. I feel for you brother. Love your videos.

[@georgebongert2424]

I'm retired now, and I remember baling hay alone myself, and it didn't take me very long to find someone willing to drive the tractor to save time, and eliminate my having to run back and forth between the tractor and wagon to stack the bales. Baling hay in this manner is counter productive.

[@Redlinesixtynine]

Yeah, but if you are a retired farmer, you'll remember..rain might be coming tomorrow..gotta get er done! no matter how sometimes.

[@tomherring9104]

I married a dairy farmers daughter and I used to bale the hay for him. His set-up had a kicker on the baler and the trailers, he had three of them, had sides on them so I could fill a trailer with bales and drop the trailer and hook up onto another and keep on going for a total of probably 400 or 500 bales before we had to unload the wagons. The only time we had to handle the bales was when we unloaded them onto the conveyor. The weighed about 75 pounds apiece so handling them once was enough.

[@colinwallace5286]

As a kid, I remember a lot of hours making ten bale stooks behind a new Holland baler, and it was pretty cool about twenty years later to find out that “New Holland” was a quaint PA town with a couple of really big manufacturing plants turning out those balers AND a bunch of other farming helpers. I still remember that gentle back and forth as the ram did its job...😑

[@zeviono4562]

This is straight out of a New Zealand farm of the 60's. You're what we call a good keen man...

[@LimestoneCoastCustoms]

I have soooo "been there, done that!" One of the best things I did in the early days was make a hitch that towed the trailer straight, then when I un hooked & flipped it over it offset the trailer. When bailing on my own (which I often did) it made the world of difference. I often bailed 350 to 400 bales at a time (2 trailers full) with no help. Yes, the hot days can be a bummer but more often than not, I bailed at night before the dew hit to retain as much leaf as possible. I tried to avoid raking in the middle of the day for the same reason. Ahhh, the nights of bailing flat out trying to beat a thunderstorm & breaking shear bolts in the process. Good times! Thanks for the video, you have brought back so many memories of good (but some times bad) days/nights.

[@danielscheller2275]

Been there done that but a kid in the seat would really help you.

[@kipcudd7253]

Glad your young enough to do that! We had a 24 acres of alfalfa, irrigated, 1200 to 1500 85 lb bales, 5 cuttings a year.

[@stenbak88]

Great shirt for farming, Uncle Owen would be proud

[@dukebass4564]

When I was a kid my friend and I used to get loaned out to several of the neighbors during bailing season. Alfalfa was the main hey in my area. Twice a year!

[@jeanlarose2343]

We bailed hay like that when I was 15 . I am 73 now. It worked very well.

[@chrispileski6640]

I don't know how old you are, but I'm 56 and I find that the older I get, the harder it is to keep hydrated. I can easily go through a couple gallons of water a day.

[@pancakebrunk]

I'm 33 and I go through water like it's my job

[@ericsalhoff4734]

bailing was my favorite time of yr i loved bein on the wagon stacking bails while my dad or mother was operating the tractor and bailer

[@davidangelamelcher9591]

Many's the day I spent on a hay wagon on grandpa's farm with a hay hook in each hand and bucking bales. My muscles ache just thinking about it.

[@tommychew6544]

This video brought back great memories me, I had a friend that used to get himself in shape for the upcoming football by working trailer on those rectangular bails. He got anything from a half a cent to a quarter of a cent per bail for pay. I watched him once on a field I knew they were doing, and they were running fast. A bail was kicking off every 2 or 3 seconds. Hard work was on a whole different level back then!

[@KCAATV]

You deserve a standing ovation for that performance. I never tried to bale, load, stack and haul hay at the same time, (by myself) but I was trying to bale 1,000 or more bales a day. Here are my "Mr. Know It All" tips for the day. If you drove in the opposite direction when you bale, you would always be turning into the center of your trailer with the bale shoot. You can also offset your baler tongue too. Also, the last hay to dry is the inner part of the thicker stems. A good rule of thumb is to grab both hands full of hay and rotate your hands against each other, sort of like a rotating crank shaft and if you don't get moisture on your hands, the hay is plenty dry. I am concerned that you did not leave the bottom hay exposed long enough after raking it a second time. The "old school" in my mid 20th century brain does not trust the moisture tester. Alfalfa will go through a heat and it can spoil in the center while appearing perfect.

[@robertheinkel6225]

My dad and uncle, along with the kids would average 1,000 bales a day. Two person crew on the baler, one hauling, and two mowing with one unloading. Cut and rake in the morning, bale in the afternoon, then milk the cows and repeat.

[@sandramitti-robinson3748]

Remember doing this with my dad and mom 40 some years ago , loving every minute but had work.

[@jimmorris1002]

I am retired, but we actually had the same set-up, but only with a bale-thrower. Long story about those days!

[@todayisit3]

Did this many times in my younger days. Got to be on your game for sure. Higher you get the tougher it gets but as my late father-in-law used to say, "No hill for a stepper."

[@russellegolf9457]

I’ve done this a few times and my neighbor saw me and came over to help.

[@richardmiller3919]

Good attitude!

[@donadams8831]

When I was a boy this is exactly the way we bailed our hay. We used two wagons and then a conveyor to load into the hay loft.

[@robertlong7033]

This is why farmers used to have at least 6 kids preferably as many boys a possible. Together they represent the most reliable form of cheap labor available until they realize that they have to get to a better place and leave. A couple things to keep in mind. Cases have a slower running engine but can still easily make 540RPM on the PTO but at a lower engine RPM. Secondly the NH 78 is an up sized version of the standard NH 68. it can gobble down huge windrows . Trying to work a farm and a full time off farm job will make you an old man before your time. I did it and I'm physically paying for it now.

[@PablosOutdoorProjects]

6 to 8 years before there of any use though, multi thousand dollar investment for some “free labour”

[@kevinleonard62]

Back in the day rearing children was cheaper and with economy of scale... I've 6 brothers and we grew up on a small farm

[@truethought369]

I like the idea of collecting the hay all at once, I have an idea: your baler has a swing hitch, if you adapted your trailer with the same hitch, once in the field it would then line up at centre of your shoot. Also fit low sides to the trailer so that your bailer could push the bails further up the bed!

[@joedorotik9159]

i am 82 now and it brought back a lot of memories to me i farmed small alfalfa farm in New Mexico and had international model 47 baler with a 4 cylinder Wisconsin engine mostly i worked alone but i did a lot of makeshift things like that too... hahaha very good video young man thanks for the memories!!!! i didn't have much money but i guess i was happy.. Thanks

[@JasonSpitzMI50]

Trial and error is the mother of invention.

[@mr.d3200]

That's alot of work for one man. You remind me of my grandpa. Hats off sir.

[@stephenneat4277]

You should drive counter clock wise. Plus put a layer of 5 down on the bottom. 2 turned sideways 1 straight down the middle of the wagon then 2 more turned sideways . Then next layer outside bale turned straight down wagon then 4 sideways. Alternating the next layer opposite of the second layer. This locks all bales in so they can’t fall. Plus allows more bales on the wagon.

[@davidrobins7753]

I noticed that "knee kick" when you put those bales up to the second and third level. Brought back great memories of the "haying season." Haying is a great way to build muscle strength in your arms and back. I wondered why you did not put a single row on the top of your load (helps tie the load together) until you got to the hay barn. Then I saw the opening and knew why! Thanks for sharing.

[@richardwilkens4577]

You should look into an umbrella canopy for the tractor would be alot cooler on hot days

[@augustreil]

Now that's an awesome idea RICHARD !

[@RJ-rr6vv]

My job was to pickup the bales, load it on the trailer, take the trailer to the barn, and unload the trailer. Enjoyed watching this video to reminisce a time long since gone...

[@logansmith2439]

Maybe check with your local FFA chapter for some help. My old Ag instructor would help set us kids up with jobs for baling.

[@csnanny1882]

Logan Smith ,, That sounds like a great ideal. When you mess your back up, it’s always messed up.

[@jamesstackhouse8882]

That’s some hard work my man. God Bless our Farmers.

[@encourage87]

Man that brings back memories!

[@MsAlisonWunderland]

Reminds me of a time long ago when we had a Jones self propelled bailer towing a 2 axle trailer, the bailer rocked the trailer back and forth that some bales fell off. If you were riding on the trailer watch you didn’t get pushed of as well. Nice to see old equipment still giving good service.

[@toddbrewer8215]

If you had some hay hooks your hands and back would appreciate it.

[@bowfinger1988]

Came here to say the same thing

[@gargava9533]

I don’t use them and never have they seem like they would rip up the bales when lifted up

[@toddbrewer8215]

@@gargava9533 Never had a hook tear up a bale. Perhaps your bales needed to be tighter. Or if you don't hook on the ends of the bale you don't have a very secure hook.

[@mattdanger-ny]

@@gargava9533 we used them for years. never ripped a bale as long as it was tight enough.

[@wssides]

Or a short handled pitch fork if you are in good shape (which it appears you are)

[@wipatriot510]

Did this for yrs...came up with an efficient system...drop all bales on the ground, go back and pick them up after baling...this allowed me to bale at a faster rate without interruption... The more you rake, the less forage you'll get in your bales, knocking the leave off the alfalfa diminishes it's quality...

[@morgansword]

You should be proud, ain't easy or everyone would do it that way as the saying goes. I am far from a kid now at 73 but I did exactly what your doing. I finally got a old flatbed dump and did it on that so I could get back to the field quicker. I was only thirteen at that time but talk about some respectable muscle, I did fill out like a champ... dad said cheaper to board me in three houses than to feed me at home. I would set down to a five pound roast and eat the whole thing and lose a pound will doing it. I could outwork any of dads biggest men by two and most by three. I went in the service at seventeen and was too big to fit regulation fatigues but they found clothes for me... I was a big target for the vc. Keep at it a little at a time but don't over do it or if you wind yourself, like foundering a horse, then it takes a long time to overcome it. Animals never do.

[@douglas_drew]

Morgan Adair - I am a firm believer that everyone has at least one book to write: The story of their life. I hope you have found the time to do yours, just as I hope I can get to do mine someday before it's too late. Imagine if we could read our ancestors' books and pass them on to our decendents. While I love these folks' videos and that they share their lives with all of us that are interested, my daily duties for my family keep me from always having time to watch, while a bookmark can always bring you back to where you left off. Good fortune and safe journey as you continue on.

[@marklepage4334]

I’ve been a hobby farmer for over 40 years almost always put up hay by myself and have learned only way to do it is to get a baler with a kicker and put some sides on your wagon or get a small round baler which is what we do now much lee labor

[@simplyamazing880]

City kids take a look. This is what it looks like when a man is working.

[@malcolmhill7932]

Before graduating to a round baler a few years ago, I used a square baler and wagons like this. There were times when I had no help, so I did it all myself. Setting the baler shoot so the bales were pushed out onto the wagon worked well as long as I was on a straight stretch. Like you, I would stop when enough bales were on the wagon, and I'd go back and stack them. What was most tiring was the constant dismounting and remounting both the tractor and wagon all day long. It required a lot of energy climbing on and off again so many times. By the end of the day, arthritic hips were telling the story. Kudos to you, buddy.

[@DaveSteen]

I remember doing this once only we had string bales, a little lighter

[@marlaschaefer9245]

Yes we had twine bales also 2 string a lot lighter. I guess that's why as young kids we could throw those bales.

[@stephaniewilson3955]

Run your tractor counter-clockwise to stop your problem with bales falling off on corners. You are certainly not scared of hard work. Well done!

[@abovesea]

I sure enjoyed watching you bale hay. Timing is everything, patience and experience. Looking forward seeing your first cutting next year, timothy , alfalfa cutting could be three times larger depending on your seed ratio. Be careful.

[@catherinegrace6406]

I did this many times with my dad driving.. I was taught to stack bales 2 on bottom going one way and than 2 on top going opposite way etc..it stacks tighter..we used baler twine way back than,,50 years ago..than we used the corn elevator to get them stacked to the roof in our barn..oh, the good old days..... hats of to you for doing that by yourself..you had a flat field which was good too..

[@larryrivers2752]

Try going counterclockwise. Might keep chute over trailer especially in corners!

[@marklouderbaugh2761]

Yes counter clockwise.. Also Interesting stack job my grandpa would have went bananas on my brother and I if we would have stacked hay like that..

[@user-wc8lf5km8k]

Wow that old tractor and baler really gets the job done. And you get quite a workout stacking those bales. Good job!

[@janicecaves1496]

Great job! I reckon you worked off a whole bowl of ice cream doing that baling.

[@peggysizemore4207]

exhausting work but this will be the best yrs of your life.....farmers of any size are awesome people, I salute you all!

[@truthisbetterthanfame7194]

Oh, but the job satisfaction. And bragging rights for years and years

[@Knallteute]

Wow it's great to see these old machines still kicking. Here in Germany we only see those at historic field days. Mad respect for your work. There is an attachment for the baler where at the end of the chute there is a set of belts on each side that throw the bale on the wagon behind it. Now only add siding like you have at the back of the wagon and you are good to go. I don't know how well this works with your baler but we have a knoting system and there it works great.

[@ROGER99999]

Drive counter clockwise, shoot will always be over wagon.

[@augustreil]

@Oops Oops, Why wouldn't it be over the wagon more so ?

[@dwightl5863]

Obvious you never driven a baler like this before. Turning left will require an extreme sharp turn to the left to line up the windrow to the baler plus driving over the windrow with the tractor. Sharp turns on the universal joints in the PTO driveline is a must when the PTO is running either turning right or left.

[@dwightl5863]

Last sentence should read: No sharp turns on the universal joints in the PTO driveline is a must when the PTO is running either turning right or left.

[@anthonythorp7291]

Drive fast, turn left.

[@anthonythorp7291]

Another issue is missed bales may be in the path of the rear wagon wheel.

[@DT-abcd]

I did that back in the early 60s in NE Indiana. Me and an old man worked on the wagons stacking. We would fill 5 of those big haymow every summer. We owned all the land

[@mikemarriam]

Just thought of the perfect solution to having more hay than you need. Get more livestock! I won't tell Rebecca.

[@andrewwilson6085]

Yes, this takes me back to the days using a 1962 Jones baler and a IH 634 tractor. The bale that falls on the corner is the one in the way next time round ! Happy days!

[@chuckanderson4025]

I can tell you haven't loaded many hay wagons. You should stack in a ty. When the wagon rocks you won't lose half a load at the split.

[@coltonsackett4368]

He's only doing that because it's only him out there, and it leaves more room on the rack for the bales to land, making the time between stops longer.

[@carlwetmore608]

It looks like he needs to learn how to stack hay on a wagon!

[@claudreindl7275]

My dad baled hay for my uncle. I used to drive the tractor and was about 7 years old. After 3 long days baling for my uncle, he gave me 50c for doing such a good job getting all the hay into the baler. The field was essentially bare, hardly any hay left on the ground. 50c seemed like pretty good money back then.

[@tomsmith2603]

When I was 7 tractor for my older brother an d cousin

[@tomsmith2603]

When I was 7 Yrs old I drove tractor for my older brother and cousin we started at 4am and quit about 2 to 4 pm . They got paid .04 to .05 cents per bale. I got paid $1 per day and ended up with $30 and spent it on a homemade scooter for $50 of which my dad paid the balance of $20 . I would guess I put about 500,000 miles on it untill one of my brother’s friends came out to the farm and burned the clutch on it his name was heavy and he weighed at least 200 lbs end of true story Tom Smith

[@tomsmith2603]

Oh I forgot to tell you I got all the cigarettes I wanted but had to inhale every puff.

[@larryboy4905]

Farmers are going away from round bales because they have found their cows can’t get a square meal!

[@DaveSteen]

hahaha

[@stephenbinion6348]

Groan

[@stacy3633]

😎😎

[@s.leemccauley7302]

😜😂😂😂👍

[@pi1797]

And too much waste with the round bales.

[@favoritsvarmor]

Very good job😊. Knowing how hard work it is. Me too still using old equipment, in Sweden

[@Me-ov9nw]

Hope your back is ok with all the lifting and twisting...

[@terrycastor8299]

I baled hay all summer long as a teen. You get used to it after a few days.

[@augustreil]

@@terrycastor8299, He did take a nasty fall a few weeks back though, that's why Cynthia is asking.

[@smashbashcrashrc5429]

i bale all summer

[@Me-ov9nw]

@@augustreil yes, thank you!

[@augustreil]

@@Me-ov9nw, You're welcome, I thought you meant that.