Tedding our 2nd Cutting of Alfalfa Hay. Trying to learn from my mistakes.

I cut the Hay field last night, so I want to get back out in the field first thing this morning to ted the hay. I don't want to damage the hay with the Tedder, so I want to do before the alfalfa leaves dry, so I don't knock them off the plant. I am also going to run the tractor at a lower RPM, so the Tedder doesn't beat the alfalfa as hard. I want to make the hay dry quicker and still have good quality hay.
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Country View Acres
P.O. Box 469
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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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[@patwanner1781]

I don’t have any advice, criticism, or even suggestions. I just enjoy watching you work on the property. Thanks for sharing.🐖

[@rkthing55]

I know nothing about equipment, thanks to my dad. I'm the only girl, and girls stayed indoors, helping mothers cook and clean. Boys/mens did all outdoor work. However, I did learn to drive a tractor which helped when I drove manual transmission cars (most of my girlfriends could only drive automatic.) Anyhoo...I get a kick out of reading all the comments; reminds me of bunch of farmers hanging around the local feed mill, discussing equipment, crops, cows, etc.

[@janicecancilla913]

Your farm is so beautiful. There's something so serene about seeing a tractor moving through the field. Keep up the good work, Evan!

[@ChicagoDoItYourself]

Really ... love the tour riding out... the drone footage, all of it... you really do a very nice job at this.. not sure where you learned how to do it but.. just excellent

[@toddcaskey9984]

I think you could run at a lower RPM still.

[@canuckyank82]

A lower gear would help too.

[@ErnieHock-kc8cy]

I love that picture and I am glad to watch ing you

[@Infinity.....]

The amount of help you're getting from KZbin folks, on this project, is amazing!!

[@davidj.mackinney6568]

I think your Case tractor would make a great cartoon character.

[@Tonetwisters]

Love that old Case and all that droneage!

[@CountryViewAcres]

I was thinking of getting the case 730 tractor out and doing some brush hogging.

[@olddawgdreaming5715]

You’re getting it figured out Evan, you’ll get it all working out eventually! You’re doing a great job 👍👍. Thanks for sharing with us. Fred.

[@rayjayks]

Probably ought to fix the muffler and or clamp. Looks like it leaks quite a bit @ 11:46. No need to CO yourself too much! Another great video. I enjoy your channel.

[@macEboy]

Exactly. I noticed this too

[@Jayadams2004]

I have never did alfalfa hay but when I ted grass hay and I want to be more gentle, I run a gear higher and run the rpms around 1000, just enough to keep the tractor going but not lugging it. It doesn’t really throw the hay that way, it almost picks it up into small windrows and helps the air to flow through it. As for the sickle bar, I would be looking for a double action sickle bar where both the knives and guards work back and forth. Superior is a good brand and you can find them pretty reasonable. I have one and I can mow first thing in the morning with heavy dew with no problems. Just some advice I have learned being my first year of doing my own hay.

[@joansmith3492]

Coolest looking tractor!

[@yasminghani2073]

You are a very hard worker

[@edwardwatson6289]

Mower is not designed to cut around corners. With horses we went straight out at the end of the grass and we lifted the cutter bar , the horses stepped over. With the tractor you should the same. Either back up or go around, slowly so as not to rattle the machine to bits. My father took pride in the fact then when I was cutting grass with either horses or later tractor I never left so much as a whisker. Try also a lower gear to give the bar time to cut rather than tear. I am talking from England at least 60 years ago. We did not have created blades but sharpened the knives every 3 or 4 acres. Hope this helps.

[@josephbrown-ut9ty]

JudithB We didnt ted our hay, just waited a few days for the hay to dry good. Our first cutting was usually the best cut and one field had a lot of Lezbedeza. Made really good hay similar to Alfalfa. More it is handled tho, you lose the leaves. I would wait to sell hay until later in the year, or even late winter when folk are running low. Its all looking good!!!!

[@patriciabeyer7824]

Thank you for sharing. You have a knack for fixing old machinery. 👍

[@HumbleHaymakers]

My old tedder is like yours, one side lower than the other. What I did was put the tedder on a concrete level surface and took a cut off wheel and trimmed the lower side basket tines even with the higher side such that they are even across the width of the tedder. Works like a champ. Good luck!

[@marilyndecubellis2282]

We always used the rake on alfalfa

[@ACO-Amy]

Thanks for sharing! Your videos are so peaceful to watch.

[@geo52041]

Keep the old case . Don't even paint it She is a charm !!!

[@KCAATV]

I disagree about painting. When people say "leave them original", I say show me a picture taken when the tractor was new, on the show room floor, in original condition. There was no rust to be found. There is nothing "original" about an old rust bucket because rust and deterioration is not original. I've bought new tractors. None of them were rusty.

[@geo52041]

@@KCAATV Of course you are right . I just think it is a handy tractor. I doubt Evan will ever paint it

[@jeffreyhicks4651]

It is so cool just as it is love it

[@Drew-gj1es]

Yup, I like the patina. It took decades to look that good! Although that hood needs to get fixed.

[@robertlong7033]

It's why you see NH 451's in farm auctions. A mower conditioner should be your goal. Your 730 and D17 in their time were among the best in their class . Worth putting some money in them . Too bad there isn't a weekly hay auction near you . There's a market there you could serve very well.

[@2001joefox]

Always enjoy the videos. I learn something new almost every time! Thanks.

[@janfrench4691]

Hi from New Zealand. Your pond is looking good Evan.

[@macEboy]

Thanks for sharing part of your life! Cheers

[@TomBiggerstaff-gn1ws]

Excellent job your learning like we all did when this type tetter came out in the late 80s we all make the same mistake thanks for video

[@batpherlangkharkrang7976]

Hi...... Evan, thank you for sharing your video homestead chicken farmer garden 👋 bye 👋 bye 👋 bye 👋 👕🐔🐓🐥🐕🐖🐈🌱🐐🎥👍👍👍

[@kgal63]

Your farming equipment must be humming from all the maintenance they are getting after years of neglect. I enjoy watching you do your "chores".

[@geo52041]

Thanks for listening , I was one of the people that said you want to be careful not to knock all the leaves off because that is where all the protein is . The first time you did this you were to aggressive

[@kapperoutdoors]

Enjoyed the video and the learning experiences! I always say that life (and especially country living) is one BIG learning curve! Like that old Case tractor too! Good that you got some fresh belts! Thanks and good luck with the hay harvest!

[@jankotze1959]

Very nice video and channel

[@maxemo0000]

hola, saludos desde colombia, con tantas cosas que sabes hacer deberias pintar ese viejo tractor, se veria espectacular, saludos y muchas felicidades por tu trabajo

[@travismccoy5232]

I certainly appreciate you explainng everything.

[@longcaster]

Yur learnin. It will get easier as it goes.

[@csnanny1882]

Rebecca wants a mini cow ,so get her a couple of those and then you won’t have to spend your time trying to sell hay.Remember she knows how to get that hay in. Lol love you guys, God bless

[@wilscooley3083]

Sickle Bar mower is the most agrivating piece of equipment. Get yourself a NH haybine

[@rockeerockey6941]

Try slowing four forward speed, lower gear maybe! The Sicily bar will cut better

[@fernandobrown7386]

Truly love your videos man keep up the great work

[@vinnypinatelli221]

Awesome video like always

[@luby1234]

Evan,im loving your videos,we all had to learn,look into the cutting and keep the best for your animals ,its not always the 3rd cutting ,my friends have show horses,they only buy first cutting hay, hold all you can till jan,highest price than,price is 5 to 7 here now in iowa

[@GenerousLife]

Would love to see you continue to paint the equipment as you bring it back to life.

[@BosnWayne]

Good work

[@raincoast9010]

Do not ted alfalfa, roll it with a rake if you must. Best thing is to try and get an old mower conditioner with the rollers and crimp the stalks. I know, $$$...

[@sland8547]

Agree, I bought a JD 1209 for $1000. Works great and don't have the problems of plugging up like a sickle bar.

[@ryanhostetler5930]

He’s two cheep for that but he need to understand that farming ain’t cheep

[@travismccoy5232]

This is going to be a great channel for me as im just starting out

[@millerurbanhomesteading8632]

hang in there..... you will get it.... you will be a great hay farmer..... thx....

[@bobmiller9018]

biggest pet peeve put the hood on that tractor

[@mikel5253]

I know it drives me crazy seeing that

[@jeffscott1288]

Seeing how it came with the place he may not have it

[@CountryViewAcres]

I had to take the hood off to replace the belts. The hood wasn't put on correctly. I need to buy some hardware to attach it properly.

[@kapperoutdoors]

I know the feeling about the adjustments not being 'equal.' Same problem on my sickle bar mower. I hope to install a turn buckle adjustment. Not sure if you have a welder or cutting torch yet, but might be on the future list of farm equipment to be gettin'!

[@marcerivest6204]

It looks like everything is pretty much working for you, old equipment is easy enough to fix. The old Case is running really good. It probably has another 20 year's left in it

[@zrb30]

If the tractor has a ground speed pto gear that's what I would run the tedder in.

[@southwestwifarm3516]

It’ll be more beneficial to rake your alfalfa, tedding is better for grass hay. Sickle bars are a good starter cutter, a hay one will be in your future. Good video, I’ll definitely subscribe

[@delha7159]

The teder arm is bent flit over and put a concrete block and bend it back when you hit something it bends really easily

[@andyteohockguan2235]

Awesome

[@propertymanager6399]

Hi I work 11 acres of hay and only Ted when I have the hay in rows and it gets wet I Ted to spread it back out! Other than that the less you touch hay the better quality.

[@sharonanspach2734]

hope you get it figured out :)

[@scottkilkenny2146]

You should find yourself a wuffler their great yokes we've 10 foot one that we rebuildt this year after 30 years of service would highly recommend already had a run on silage and hay

[@kingfishjrb]

on mower we always had to have hold down clips tight to sections. adjustment made with ball peen hammer. this was in the 50"s

[@kenhart6330]

And the 70s when I was working as a farm fitter. The blades should just be kissing the stone guards as they are moving, don't try running as you're checking until you have them all done. Take off your drive shaft and turn by hand.

[@KCAATV]

I don't think you benefited from tedding. You should handle alfalfa very gently. I would never run a tedder on alfalfa. Let the surface dry and then gently rake it if you must or, let it dry an extra day and bale it at night. The surface of the hay was not dry when you began. You started too early. Also, try to set the tedder at less of an angle and run the RPMs slower. The main reason I am commenting is to suggest that you are asking too much from that old sickle mower. Short grasses or any short crop with a small stem is a problem for a sickle without a reel to pull it into the cutter bar. If you were cutting cane hay with a bigger stem, it would work perfect. If you like a sickle rather than a turtle shell, take a look at the sickle mower sold by JD under the Frontier brand. The guards move in the opposite direction of the sickle. It would be cool to get the local JD dealer to allow you to demo it and make a YouTune video of it.

[@kgal63]

Why not ted alfalfa? What is the disadvantage if you do. If you don't fluff it will it dry enough to bail.

[@KCAATV]

@@kgal63 It is very easy to knock away the leafy part of the plants and end up with mostly stems.

[@mwilliamshs]

YouTune? bail? Y'all might be smart people but your messages are dumb.

[@kennethlowe6337]

Like your channel next time you adj. your tires measure from the ground to the rim sometimes one tire might have a little more meat.

[@timh9407]

I noticed whenyou were mowing,it looked like the bar needed adjustment.Check the lead.

[@w056007568]

That raking action is better than the first time but in my view the rotors are still turning significantly too fast. I think you need less revs and possibly a gear quicker in essentially an alfalfa crop - there did not appear to be much in the way of actual grass. Checking the rake: Is that concrete pad level where the house was level? If so move the tedder and tractor to the pad and park it. Turn the rotors slowly by hand checking the height of the tines from the concrete The clearance should be very similar for a) each full rotation of each rotor and b) the clearance for each tine. If they are not then logically try to identify why - Most cases they should be very similar but for instance if one or more tine is markedly different it suggests the arm carrying the tine is likely bent. Couple of obvious points? Are the rakes tyres the same size (and by the way they are notorious for punctures having so few tyre plys so get them slimed with a suitable product)? Be realistic but just how smooth and level is your field? I presume your rear tractor tyres are similar pressure as well. Lastly don't be in too much of a hurry to sell hay just now as it is likely that there will be quite a lot up for sale = low price! Collection or delivery? if delivering make sure the price covers the cost of delivery. A simple clear roadside sign can work really well but do you want random visitors - maybe use a mob tel number BUT not your normal phone.

[@sigoat1206]

I Ted right after I cut. I also paint the tines bright yellow in case one breaks it's easier to find in the field

[@bradstarkey8521]

on your tedder, measure the distance around the tire and get both of them equal

[@steveholton4130]

Always use a 1/4" wide tape measure and Check the Tire Stagger then go out on the track and go Racin'! If its a circle track, the outside tire (usually the Right Side) should be a least 1/2 inch larger that the inside, both front and rear. If it's a field, make them match each other. Every barn must contain a race car. sdh in CT

[@larryshafer8055]

It was a good video BUT at 6:35 I saw a bug on my big screen TV. I had to back up the video a little bit 3 times before I was convinced it was on your camera lens 😂

[@cathiwim]

Larry Shafer that was the shadow of the drone moving! Lol!

[@flvince]

I know your pushed for time but it would be nice to give the old 730 a little TLC, seat, paint, put the sheet metal back on, they are a very good tractor.

[@608hellfire]

If you are looking to improve your cutting with a simple cost effective way, I would recommend looking into a drum mower. They are very simple and work great for smaller operations. I have a 185 and I am able to ted two windrows with the same size tedder you are using.

[@russellpetrie119]

let some air out of the hi side see if it evens it out on the tedder

[@kingkong7617]

The bar cutter probably needs a little more adjustment as they are tricky sometimes to get them just right, but I bet you will find a way to get it done.

[@derekstein9451]

Evan just break down and buy a nice disc mower and treat yourself

[@steveadams99708]

It appeared that ou we still spinning it too fast, and throwing hay way beyond the 15 feet you talked about at the start of the video. From the video, it looks like you could slow down the RPM's a considerable amount more, and drop down a gear.

[@philgriswold2133]

It may be that the used equipment you bought has been worked on so much that it was just about useless. You are working hard at getting it back right, but it may take a few more repairs. Often times when people work on things, they don't fix them and then they get frustrated and sell them. There is a big difference between working on something and fixing it. I have faith that you will get it a fixed.

[@boltz4030]

I appreciate the old school approach but if you're losing hay on the sicklebar a haybine might be worth it's weight in iron.. might make enough extra to pay for itself in a lifetime! Lol. Thanks for the vids

[@thomasbooth9079]

Check to make sure that the center of the stars on the Tedder is the same height, you have a nice flat concrete slab for that. If they are, time to start bending/tweaking the arms on one side or the other. I have a Tedder very similar to that one, the axles on mine are turned the opposite way... tires to the outside and they slope backwards..... not sure if that will make any difference but you might want to check if one is bent if you measure height as well.

[@Heimerviewfarm]

You should look for a crimper to run behind the mower. It would allows the stems to dry out vs just throwing it around.

[@CountryViewAcres]

I looked for one before buying the tedder. Didn't find one.

[@Bex-rg8pj]

👍👍

[@LambertusGJanen]

on PTO540 you Need 1600 -1800 RPM

[@Steve.5]

Excellent footage of your work. Who runs the drone camera while you’re driving the tractor? They’re doing a good job. Enjoy your channel very much!

[@davidsmith956]

I was curious how the pond has been since you last treated it? Does the treatments impact your ducks or the fish in the pond? Thank you. Have a great day.

[@CountryViewAcres]

The blue dye treatment didn't last for some reason. The pond color went back to Green. I just have algae forming. It didn't effect the ducks or fish.

[@graham4254]

Are you running your tractor to tight against the uncut grass should you not be over lapping your cuts

[@kevinstigall]

Can I gave some advice on the mower. Check into some top serrated knifes for the cutter bar. That we used to cut alfalfa.

[@CountryViewAcres]

The sicklebar has bottom serrated knives.

[@kevinstigall]

Country View Acres I know try the top they work better

[@martinjames3950]

On my tractor you have a choice of normal PTO or land speed PTO that way it is better for tedding

[@martinjames3950]

Same aurora 45 1970,s

[@russse2793]

Hope it is ok I make a minor suggestion. Hopefully you keep more than enough hay on hand to get you through the winter. You are very handy at fixing the old implements yourself, and it is perfect for your operation. Also, I would like to echo another comment I saw, your little homestead is a slice of heaven. We sure love to watch for your videos. God Bless America, and God Bless everyone. Russ from Phoenix.

[@dragononebig]

i have never seen a tedder we never used them and we loaded on tractor trailers

[@jeffreyhicks4651]

Yeah I don't see the point in tedding seems like a wast of time and fuel

[@kevinstilley5686]

Check the lead of the cutter bar if the lead of the cutter bar is incorrect the mower will perform poorly, skipping and streaking

[@vaeagle1]

i believe you gave the dogs another project , cause you didn't say they were in the way this time. have you talked about what drone you use in another vid? you might have to run 15lbs in 1 tire and 20lbs in the other LOL

[@miltonhurd1016]

Before the end of the growing season run the sickle around the edge of your field to keep that brush cut back. Obviously, this is going to take a toll on the knives so do it after the last cutting.

[@foxtailfarm_nc7151]

Paint, paint, paint the tractor and get a hood (when you can).

[@CountryViewAcres]

I took the hood off to change the belts. I'll be putting it back on soon, when I get some new hardware to attach it.

[@Tomhohenadel]

Evan, still seems to be kinda rough on the hay. Is there a benefit to this tedding as opposed to just raking. Raking was the only method we used in the early 60’s

[@mcleanfarmsryan3897]

Tom Hohenadel yes the benefit of tedding is that the hay will dry in a two days instead of three or four and it’s really not that rough on the hay as people say it is the biggest thing is people think the tractor need to be at full rpm to ted but in reality just enough for the tractor to not stall and enough to spin the Tedder which doesn’t take a lot of tractor

[@hunterdan2002]

Thats all we ever did on my grandfather's farm. We'd rake it over after letting it sit for a day, then go back and rake it over the other direction the next morning. Usually it was dry enough that We'd start doubling up the windrows to minimize the rounds with the baler. Granted this wasn't alfalfa, I suppose the alfalfa has a higher moisture content than what we baled.

[@TomBiggerstaff-gn1ws]

That's right there weren't this type of tetter in the 60s we were just left to mother nature

[@mcleanfarmsryan3897]

Dan Stewart yes alfalfa has a higher moisture content then grass hay but alfalfa you don’t want it to be bone dry like grass hay because alfalfa will lose its higher quality feed value after a certain point when you bale alfalfa it should have a kinda of very light Green tinge to it but it well be dry

[@mcleanfarmsryan3897]

Tom Biggerstaff yeah more like the Nicholson fluffer Tedder which is similar to pequeas fluffer Tedder or they had a crimper

[@krickette5569]

I'm a new subscriber and I've been watching some of your older videos. While watching your December video about amending clay soil I noticed you have a metal can that you dump wood ashes in, and that it's sitting on your porch. I couldn't tell what your porch is made of so I decided I'd send you a message. One of my cousins was doing that, dumping ashes into a metal container on their porch and the heat from the metal container got So hot that it started a fire in the middle of the night and burned their home down. Just wanted to let you know to be cautious.

[@CountryViewAcres]

Dont worry. We never put hot ashes on our porch.

[@krickette5569]

@@CountryViewAcres Good for you! I'm really enjoying your channel!

[@rickdearmont9950]

Either sell extra hay or get more hay eaters. Like a cow?

[@rkthing55]

I vote miniature horses. Your wife would love them!!

[@logansfarmingvideos7823]

keep the rpms and pick up a gear

[@kiwe50]

Why don’t you use the water from the pond to water the hay field?

[@callummckeonagri1483]

Could do with cleaning up that tractor.it would be looking good

[@christinahewitt3876]

I own a 17.000 acr alfalfa hay besnes ae D we don't ted are hay

[@lukes2656]

You’re obviously like 8 years old so just don’t....

[@frankcoldwell4424]

You keep mentioning a lack of rain, but you have a large lake so why not run a pump to a farm sprinkler for the hay now and then?

[@CountryViewAcres]

Time and $$$

[@sland8547]

I would never use a Tedder on Alfalfa. Loose to many leaves. Just let it dry naturally. Would be better if you had a cutter crimper. I use a JD 1209. Works great. Get something like that and get rid of the sickle mower.

[@sland8547]

1500 RPM is a good speed..

[@jiricandra9513]

watering the grass from the lake?

[@casid9929]

Would Loctite work to keep the bolts from coming loose?

[@CountryViewAcres]

I am sure that would help

[@jeffkasler1716]

Sixth gear at low idle

[@huntermeadows7709]

Does a Tedder line hay for the bailer

[@CountryViewAcres]

The tedder spreads hay out to dry better. A hay rake piles it up for the baler. There are some rotary rakes that will do both. This one only teds the hay.

[@louisianausmc0331]

Run that tractor around 1800 - 2200 rpm.

[@salmonhunter7414]

In Canada hay is selling at 5 dollars a bale and they can not keep up.

[@salmonhunter7414]

@Brad Roon I am talking of small squares.