What kind of hay are you growing?

 

Also how are you mowing/conditioning it?

 

Short answer, Tedder.

Long answer, you can get both if you purchase a used Tedder and a manual applicator. The applicator price will depend on what your planning on applying!
For 90 acres I would get at least a 6 basket Tedder.

 

Tedder. I misread your post and thought you ment applicator on tedder.That might get a little messy.

 

I'd get the tedder, we still have horse people around here that won't buy hat thats been treated. Besides with a tedder you drastically reduce the chances of needing preservative.

 

I would also say a good tedder is a must. A preservative applicator could be a useful tool at times but likely you won't be using it every time you bale hay. A tedder on the other hand would be used each and every cutting and if you do happen to have some hay that gets rained on the tedder will be needed to fluff the hay back up where it will dry back out without molding.

 

In Arkansas....tedder

 

a krone tedder

 

Will be growing Bermuda, cutting with a NH disk mower on 28 day cutting. I have been looking for a 4 basket tedder for over 2 months. The prices around here are not like yall talk about $1200 for used 2 basket, $2000+ for a used 4 basket.

 

90 acres of one hay crop is going to be hard on scheduling. While you want to cut on a 28 day cycle, lil' ol' Mother Nature might have different ideas. E.g., last spring, my orchard grass was prime about May 22nd, but the weather didn't cooperate until June 16th.

Since you are south of me, you'll get a lot more gulf moisture. And get it earlier! This means that you'll typically need around 4 (or more) days drying time, but you'll be lucky to get it.

I would suggest both.

Get the tedder first, then get the acid applicator. The tedder can be used on every cutting; acid only when caught in the weather bind.

Just my thoughts....

Ralph

 

Both but delay the purchase of the $10,000 Fully automated computerized applicator . Get the one for $440 so you can just shot some prop acid on if you get in a jam.

 

Will be growing Bermuda, cutting with a NH disk mower on 28 day cutting. I have been looking for a 4 basket tedder for over 2 months. The prices around here are not like yall talk about $1200 for used 2 basket, $2000+ for a used 4 basket.

I paid 5K for a good used 6 basket, doesn't sound like your prices are too far out of line.

 

Bermuda grass, Tedder, cut before noon Ted that afternoon bale next day

 

Will be growing Bermuda, cutting with a NH disk mower on 28 day cutting. I have been looking for a 4 basket tedder for over 2 months. The prices around here are not like yall talk about $1200 for used 2 basket, $2000+ for a used 4 basket.

I got 2800 in trade last year for my 9 yr old NH163 man fold 4 basket on a new 4* krone so I agree that compared to here in va/pa, your prices don't seem out of line.

 

Bermuda grass, Tedder, cut before noon Ted that afternoon bale next day

That's what I am hoping for. I have 27 acres of midland 99 that I will sprig this year, And two other fields . I was going to cut one back couple weeks after green up to stager it off from the other one. Trying to give my self a 10+- day window for each field. I know It wont work out all the time just hope I can get it to work out some of the time to keep young tender grass.

 

Bermuda grass, Tedder, cut before noon Ted that afternoon bale next day

I've never grown Bermuda. You can do this in Arkansas?

Ralph

 

I've never grown Bermuda. You can do this in Arkansas?

Ralph

It would have to be a fine bladed grass, and I'm not a huge fan of cutting in the AM.
And the humidity would have to be low, breezy, and the big ball o fire needs to be scorching......might pull that off....doubt it's gonna happen with any consistency, and it ain't gonna be ready till late so might run into problems with dew point whilst baling late in the evening.

I have done this with Alicia Bermuda but all things have to be going for ya......something that doesn't happen all that often.

On the flip side, I usually wait till lunch to start cutting, Ted later that day leave it lay for a day and rake it on the second morning right about dew burn off.....bale right after lunch, squares that is.....

 

I'm in a different area so drying conditions are different, but I would tend to lean towards the tedder before the applicator. The tedder will add the cost of the purchase and the fuel/time to run it over the field. The applicator is going to have the purchase cost as well as adding more cost to every bale that you use it (I figure $0.17 to $0.22 per bale depending on cost to buy, application rate, etc.) Also, when you aren't using the applicator, you still have the purchase price to deal with and now you aren't getting any return on your investment.

The only reason I have an applicator but no tedder is that I found a great deal on a used applicator. Just waiting for a good deal on a tedder to come along.