Using a Claas Hay Rake

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Farmer on the Prairie
P. O. Box 244
Gifford, IL 61847
Farmer on the Prairie is about my life on our central Illinois farm. My name is Seth and I am a young farmer with the desire to get things done and to keep the farm running smoothly. The farm is 740 row crop acres and 100 acres of pasture. We run about 100 grass-fed cattle and 1500 meat birds a year. Throughout my videos, you will get to know Dad, MommaD, and Sister. My brothers Josiah and Luke help us whenever there is a big project so they can feel important. We also have a part time employee Ben who is the comic relief. Because so many different things happen on our farm, there is never a dull moment. So tap that Subscribe button and come along for the ride!

[@johnperry5102]

the old rake does just as good

[@robynmorris2408]

Great video Seth. Comparing rakes was interesting. Thanks to your side by side we were able to see that the Old V rake seemed to do a very comparable job with the new rotary rake. Good luck in your search.

[@benhesterly462]

The old rake looked like it was doing a comparable job.

[@dougdiplacido2406]

Thanks for the lesson on raking. I learn more each time I see your videos. thanks for sharing.

[@asquithmainlines699]

I think you came to the right decision, more bang for your buck and I think that rotary rake was beating the alpha to death. It is too bad you couldn’t have given a close up of each swath to compare leaf loss. I am also on the prairies in cattle country in northern Saskatchewan and I don’t think I have ever seen a rotary rake up here.

[@hvlineman5227]

Excellent comparison and review of that rake.

[@sarabennett5983]

We have a international 684 and a john deere 2640 and a ford 4000

[@robertedwardchavez599]

Hello from Del Rio Texas

[@timothyshepodd7826]

Lots to juggle with every equipment purchase! Blessings.

[@downhilltwofour0082]

Thanks for sharing!

[@thomasonwhitson9704]

Great work

[@cabbyhubby]

Me & dad bought a German machine in the 80's I still got it and it runs, but it's been some kind of headache to get parts for it over the years. I won't do it again.

[@calvingatch5027]

love your content! i live on a farm in wisconsin and love every second! keep up the great work!

[@jeffreyworth5830]

Great job seth, stay safe. :)

[@jmfarms3555]

The biggest advantage of the rotary rake is you can rake a lot earlier without risk of ropping the hay. Yes they are more expensive per foot than a wheel rake. But i have had lots of times where i could rake , get the hay dry enough to bale before the neighbors across the fence could even start raking with the wheel rake, when both fields were cut at same time.

[@edwardsofin3593]

I am not a farmer right now, but I have watched other demos of rotary rakes, the PTO needs to slowed down... for sure... I have raked with a conventional rake back in my farm-hand days, the hay needs to be handled more gently. also if your dad wants to mow ditches get a five-foot horse-drawn IH mower and pull it with the tractor, I have mowed ditches with that,,, no rocks were thrown, the sickle bar does not throw rocks. wonderful drone footage, keep it all goin, I watch all your adds now that I know they benefit you.

[@7pdude]

you run the rotary rake quite fast which may lead to higher leaf losses. might wanna try slowing down the pto a bit and - if then needed - also your ground speed.

[@BWYinYang]

Great video, agreed with dad, its fancy n expensive

[@steveadams99708]

Another good video Seth. I miss the smell of fresh hay...

[@redeyedmongoose2963]

Old rake hands down

[@foxacresfarm7595]

Do you notice any large amount of leaf loss I know mikep7810 runs a rotary rake and they do majority alfalfa didn’t know if there’s less or more

[@cristobalpacheco4202]

If your dad doesn’t buy the rake he could afford to carry you for one more year!

[@michaelmactavish1728]

the kubota has new rakes out too

[@jjp1117]

Your a looser tell your mom to make you a sandwich and go troll another video

[@deerepasture]

Demo an Ogden Hay Runner, made in Illinois too!

[@codyh3890]

Claas makes pretty good smaller rotary rakes had a 550 and got rid of it 2 years after i bought it new. The 550 have undercarriage problems they aren't built heavy enough to carry that big of a rotor. We had alot of breaks and stress cracks after two years. I was very disappointed with it considering the money I payed for it. If u have the option i would check into the krone

[@robertcowden9484]

That rake beating the leaves off the hay

[@deerepasture]

Looks like a lot of leaf loss........

[@randaljohnson580]

We have a 12 wheel new Holland rake with individual springs on each row .Want do you think of vermeer twin rotary rake more money then a v rake

[@michaelmactavish1728]

i looked at a new 2019 kubota rakes wich they were pretty desent cheaper then any other rakes out there

[@marcelvanrijthoven7225]

I run my rotary rake at 380 RPM on the pto Going Raster puts un-needed wear and tear on the rake and to much leaf loss. And for raking hay rotary rakes are no good because it shatters the leaf and the quality needed is Brocken off and left on the ground so the baler won’t pick it up

[@mannsjm]

The old style rake seems to be much easier on leafy plants like alfalfa.

[@scottbeauchamp5824]

Could you tell much difference in the amount of dirt in the windrows?

[@lawsonfarms2078]

Be careful out there friend ,going under that rake while tractor running might get you a headache just saying crap happens 🤷‍♂️

[@7pdude]

even without the tractor running ... cylinders or hoses can fail

[@michael7423]

Please turn off your equipment when your crawling underneath for adjustments, stay safe and keep well!

[@timothymccartney9368]

Pto driven is always better

[@davidecompagni3900]

alfalfa is too dry, lose all the leaves.Raking is better in the early morning or on late evening with that type of rake !

[@patrickredmond468]

Looks like v rake was much better

[@BillAndersonNS]

With this rake it looks as though the tractor has to drive on top of the grass that is laying down. With the other v shaped rake isn't the tractor off to one side or the other? Edit: I guess not. I must be thinking of themower. Sry.

[@darylpressel6670]

Losing a lot of leaves , slow your RPM'S .

[@kiwifarmerpete5246]

Need to slow PTO down, you’re bashing all the leaves to dust, your old rake might be leaving more leaf on the ground but I bet there’s more leaves in the windrow

[@michaelmactavish1728]

the kubota tractors are most powerful tractors in the world and the cheapest brand on the market

[@debinbc]

Your new one is missing hay!!

[@farmerontheprairie]

Nope, it's called inexperienced operator of a rotary rake!

[@nathandejeu9063]

Seems to me like your running your pto too quickly , I would recommend running your pto and ground speed a little slower to prevent leaf loss I typically run ours around 350 -400 pto rpm

[@landonwalter7506]

Less moving parts on your old rake

[@ajskab99]

I looked at a rake just like that. Way to expensive for my operation and I don’t like making 2 passes to make a windrow.

[@creativevisuals9289]

The old rake is doing a better job imo. The new rake is too fast.

[@jackleigh4613]

Twin rotors are better 1500 rpm

[@BoydGilbreath]

I don't like it! It thrashes the hay too much. Good video.

[@andrewelliott7707]

Are you a dairy farmer

[@farmerontheprairie]

Check out my recent Q &A

[@icebabysnocain]

I am disappointed and alarmed that you went under a piece of machinery while the tractor was running. I know youth and haste can be a dangerous combination and that is how mishaps happen. I hope other viewers value you as much as i do and chirp you about it so you never forget again. Aside from that I enjoyed the vid. Peace.

[@creativevisuals9289]

You need to slow the demo rake down a bit, you're losing all the good stuff...

[@farrellford9579]

You are loosing the leaves! Not impressed

[@markiowa5437]

Dude... you live in Illinois- the home state of John Deere- the John Deere factories are just down the road. Your looking at a German made product- and they don't buy much from us. Buy local- support local workers, who in turn, buy your products. I won't support government (taxpayer) funded agricultural safety nets to our farmers, if they want to take their (some of it taxpayer subsidized) money and buy products from Europe. It's like the head of the Economic development division for Detroit, buying a BMW or Audi. What you thinking?

[@farmerontheprairie]

If John Deere or CNH made reliable hay equipment, we would think about buying it.