Hi Gorapco,

I have a small hay operation like yourself, and run an 8 foot discbine 408 NH with a 70hp tractor without a problem. I would definitely use a discbine over a haybine, as you can run a discbine a lot faster (ground speed that is). If a discbine isn't within your budget, then a haybine over a standard disc or drum mower for sure. The conditioner is a godsend for drydown time, as an example, my neighbour runs a standard disc mower, no conditioner, and he needs an extra day or two dry down over me. I could easily swing another foot or two behind the 70 horse tractor, but the 8 footer is great for gateways etc. Having said that, my country is all flat, with no rocks. If you have large rocks, I would probably choose a haybine, and if you have hills, I wouldn't go any bigger.

I hope this helps.
Aaron.

 

Ditto!! I use a NH 408 discbine also, and am very satisfied! I run it with a Ford 5610 in 5th gear at PTO speed. Tractor has had a li'l twist to the smoke screw, so I'm guessing 70 HP as well.
HTH, Dave

 

No you don't need a haybine. A sickle mower will do the trick too. With the clover it would help the drying process to crimp it. To accomplish that you would need to follow a sickle mower with a crimper/conditioner, or find yourself a haybine, which would have the conditioner in it. If you want to spend a little more money the discbine would be the ultimate way to go. A 9 foot haybine can be handled by a 40hp tractor. A discbine wil take quite a bit more power to pull it.

 

Thanks Aaron, appreciate the input. I'm wanting to save as many trips as possible around the field. Hoping the Kubota M6800 is up to the task.

Rodger

 

My kubota m4700 pulls my standard 8 foot disc mower okay for it's size, I think your m6800 will have plenty of power for a 8 foot haybine!

 

I have an M6800 and it runs a JD 1209 MOCO on hills with ease. We bale about 45 ac each year and stayed within budget to upgrade over the years from sickle mower to a MOCO (haybine). Added a tedder last year, which cuts a day or so in drying.

 

Whether you can use a straight mower rather than a haybine/conditioner is going depend on the conditions in your area. Seems out in the midwest folks have much more cooperative weather, here in NE almost no one does *not* use a conditioner. Same criteria seems to apply to the use of a tedder - around here no one would try to make dry hay without one, in other areas there seem to be people who have never seen one!