Bringing in the Equipment

In Crop, Farm Life, Harvest, Machinery by Laura CrossleyLeave a Comment

The time has come to cut and bale hay. Suddenly, we’re looking like a shockingly legit operation.

My dad Dave and his friend Duane have all the right equipment after decades of family farming. Not to say that we would have never tried this flying solo with the Allis-Chalmers. We certainly would have given it our best shot – but all is made much, much easier by having some longstanding farm wisdom to guide the way.

And, you know, the right tools.

Dad spent the evening tuning up the old baler and getting it ready for the week ahead. Isai watched his every move while I snapped a few photos. As the sun slowly set over the woods, the grungy machine roared to life. Covered in sweat and grease, he proclaimed it ready to roll.

We’ll watch the predicted rain over the next 24 hours or so. Depending on the moisture on the ground – the next few days will involve cutting the pastures with the swather, raking it into rows and following behind with the baler.

The bales will likely be stored to feed the cattle through winter. “What cattle?” tends to be our most common question. In the coming months, it’s likely that we will fence off the pastures and start to acquire a small herd of our own. With the hay out, that process can finally begin.