John Deere vs Vermeer Round Baler

Video comparing John Deere vs Vermeer round baler, which one we bought and why.
We are a small family farm in the western mountains of Virginia. Subscribe for more farming videos - Thanks for watching!

[@samuelscragg7052]

Your marketing strategy with a 4x4 bale is good. I’ve been doing 4x4 bales and selling to mostly horse and goat folks. These folks mostly don’t have tractor and the only way they can handle bales is rounding them around. If you do a good grass hay these folks will be good with paying as much as $50. Per bale. I been using a new Holland 630 baler and bought it used and been baling with it for over 6 years and have just about totally worn it out. Been shopping for baler and all I can say is I really and truly don’t know that I can continue doing hay. I’ve been so far as to look at new ones and used ones. John Deere, new Holland are the major player here however, I’ve been looking at Vermeer and like what I see except the price in all fairness I’m not liking any of the prices I’m seeing new or used. I’m to old to really justify a new one when I finally grow up and start acting my age I’ll be done. I sold my Deere square baler in real early spring after having it listed for over a year. However I did get my price for it. That machine was in excellent shape for a used machine and I kept it inside and well maintained and the people who bought it were very happy with there purchase. I really like square baling better than round but just got to old to deal with handling the bales. I used an accumulator and grapple system towards the end but still ended up handling by hand when making sells. I can tell one thing that you probably won’t like about your round baler and that’s not having a bale kicker. If you stay in your windrow you’ll have to back up about 5 or 6 feet to drop the bale and then go forward again before you can close your gate.

[@pinesedgefarm1155]

It looks like a nice round baler! I tried one out like that before buying my New Holland 644. I wanted netwrap.

[@reppfarms4493]

I think you will be very happy with that baler. For me after a purchase, it’s always been about parts & repair. Deere has a solid (but shrinking) network of dealerships around here for quick parts, and enough guys are familiar with them to wrench effectively. Even the most solid machine will break

[@briansmith8818]

I got a 554xl new and it was awesome used it for several years

[@dehavenfamilyfarm]

The Vermeer sounds like a nice baler, but I like the simplicity of the 335 you bought.

[@jamesmorrison1884]

Hello thanks your comments looks like you bought from a good seller. I think your right when you buy from a dealer your buy someone's else problem. Like to see how your runs. Maybe I'll make some big bales but seems to be alot my area. Thanks your input have a great day.

[@BoomhauerWorldwide]

I run a 385 which is basically the big brother to the 335, 4x5 and dual twine arms. Super simple reliable bailers, no electronics is a plus in my book. And you're correct you should run the pto while dumping. Keep an eye on the gearbox oil, hexhead dipstick on top looks like a bolt.

[@HumbleHaymakers]

Thanks for watching and the baler info.

[@ashleyswearingen2120]

I agree with you you did a very good job of explaining. I am a Krone guy KR-130. it is like the JD all twine. It has a mechanical tie system double feed check it out. I all the baler stupid simple. It just works.. lbale for a friend JD 456?works great and is simple to operate like yours. You made a good choice. I started with aJD 410 moved to krone to bale green hay. Great video

[@HumbleHaymakers]

I like those Krone balers, the 125 and 130 models. They just don’t come up for sale around here.

[@khtractors]

I’ve baled with a 446 John Deere a good bit, really like those balers. I like the equalizer gauge on the Deere. Biggest complaint I’ve heard about on a Vermeer is the plugging when trying to start a roll of hay. I can bale a 4x5 roll but 95% of the people here prefer a 4x4 roll. Speed and horsepower makes a big difference on a tight roll of hay. I have no doubt that baler will serve you well!

[@HumbleHaymakers]

Thx for watching. I think the biggest issue with plugging a Vermeer is weak, worn rubber mounted pickup teeth. I kind of like their design, if the price had been right on the 554xl, I probably would have brought it home.

[@larrystone4033]

had a 335 for couple years loved it for me only problem was pto shaft now run a vermeer or try to, was trying to trade it for john deere just this week

[@farmerpete]

You probably wouldn’t have gone wrong either way. I’ve had a 605L for 18 years. I don’t know about the smaller balers but I’ve never had one of my twisted belts untwist. I have friends with JD balers and as far as bale tightness you can’t tell any difference between their bales and mine. That’s been my experience anyway. Fact is they are both good balers.

[@HumbleHaymakers]

I agree with you that Vermeer round balers are very good. I bought a Deere, I would have bought the 554xl if the price had been right.

[@dwalke26]

Deere has used the same basic concept on their balers since the 30 series bakers were introduced. The newer Vermeers are very similar to the Deere’s. I’ve got a New Holland 630, and it’s a good Baler, but it won’t bale as tight of a role as the Deere Baler will.

[@HumbleHaymakers]

I looked at a new Vermeer round baler last year and was surprised to see they had moved away from their traditional design with cam mounted pickup teeth and drum roller. They do resemble a JD baler now. Not sure why the change. Even so - I still like Vermeer hay tools. Thx for watching…👍

[@dwalke26]

@@HumbleHaymakers I would definitely consider their balers if I were to replace my NH too. They do some things that I like, like they’re big on greasable bearings where Deere is big on sealed bearings. You’ve got a good channel, been keeping up with it for a while now.

[@HumbleHaymakers]

@@dwalke26 Thx for watching👍

[@makinhay2735]

The 35 series baler are a good baler. I have bought them new since they first came out. Put 10's of thousands of bales through them . If the baler ever has trouble starting a bale throttle down to half throttle until you see the bale size indicator starts to move then throttle up to 3/4 throttle. Another thing to do if it doesn't start a bale easy, a stick welder or wire feed welder with the gas shut off and make the ugliest welds you can across the leading edge of the flat bars on the starter roll. Also put zig zag welds like a bunch of W's in between the flat bars. I've run many different makes of round balers and all of them have their quirks. Buy the baler you like. Those that don't like what you got then it's there problem. Congrats on the baler.

[@HumbleHaymakers]

Thx for watching and the info!

[@brittfarms2018]

The jd has the tensioner inside, so when you raise the tailgate up the tensioner will raise up and stop the belts from turning...when u go to lower the tailgate, the tensioner will lower and tighten against the belts and start them back...well be 435 does that anyways...i think urs will too..

[@HumbleHaymakers]

Thx for watching and the info. Friend of mine just bought a nice JD 435.

[@Steve_Chancellor]

What have you decided about fertilizer applications for this year. Here in central Alabama it’s $1000 per ton and could go higher. It’s hard for me to justify much fertilizer for this year.

[@HumbleHaymakers]

No fertilizer for now, video coming on that soon. Thx for watching.

[@joemoore7276]

Not necessary to stop pro to eject on Vermeer K or L series I've owned both pre retirement

[@HumbleHaymakers]

Good to know.

[@johnnybarbar7435]

Depends on the tractors hydraulic GPM rating. If not high enough, the baler chews up the bale quite a bit by opening to slowly while spinning the belts. Mine has 8-9 gpm at 540 rpm and is not enough so I stop to eject bales.

[@obieacres4676]

Does it have a hydraulic twine arm

[@HumbleHaymakers]

Yes - single hydraulic twine arm.

[@pietromerendino3020]

Vermeer to my opinion is # one

[@davidcassady8491]

About how many square bales in a 4by4?

[@HumbleHaymakers]

Honestly - I really don’t know - yet…

[@ajworkman3332]

18-20 14x16 small squares

[@anoardurgal]

Hello wie geht es dur gooood

[@obieacres4676]

Don’t like the John Deere twine arm system

[@johnnybarbar7435]

Vermeer K series was the first to allow eject on the go.

[@josephsmith6415]

You don't know what you are talking about. I can take a vermeer 504i and bale more hay and better bales than that John deere can bale in 2days

[@HumbleHaymakers]

Sure you can…🙄🙄🙄