Just a photo from hay baling a few weeks ago...

John_PA · Jul 10, 2013

I thought I would share. This timothy field is 2 years old. Last year I made 3.4 tons per acre on this field. This year, I am just behind that, at 3.1 tons per acre. Timothy, with some red clover, but, mostly timothy.

It was so thick, the bulk of it fell over. It made that New Idea 290 haybine really earn it's keep!

Bret4207 · Jul 10, 2013

I realize Timothy is supposed to be old fashioned and isn't a modern, techie type hay, but I love it. Nothing makes better hay than a good stand of Timothy IMO. With some Red Clover mixed in it's just that much better.

Dick W. · Jul 10, 2013

I remember before Dad quit farming 50 years ago
that if I put alfalfa hay and timothy/clover hay in
front of the cows at the same time they ate the
mixed hay first.

donjr · Jul 10, 2013

I had a 290 about thirty years ago, and just about anything would make it talk.....

Don-Wi · Jul 10, 2013

We've got a 290 that we use for some smaller jobs and in the marsh grass. Works good, espescially with a new sickle. Fleet Farm was closing out their sickles for the Ford 535/NI 290 a number of years ago and we cleaned them out- I think they had 3 or 4.

We still have one that's in really good shape that we switch to when doing fine grass and the marsh because it cuts nicer. We pull it out when our neighbor wants to use it. We don't want him thinking it's too nice. Last time we got it back the jackshaft was toast so he don't get to use it anymore.

Donovan from Wisconsin

John_PA · Jul 11, 2013

Dad traded the WD45 with sickle bar for an almost new New Idea 290 back in 1971.

It does about 20 acres a year. I am quite an NI 290 mechanic now!

I will keep it running another 3 or 4 years, before it goes off to the better place.

I'd love to find a Ford 535 in mint condition to replace it. Even if I could find a 290 in mint condition, I will be glad to have it.

I really like this mower!

If timothy is a bygone crop, it doesn't bother me. I sell only to horse customers. I have quite a following. I don't do any alfalfa. I only do red clover and timothy. This year, I will do some mixed grass/timothy on 25 acres. Nothing I do has alfalfa. That is good, because the horses can't have alfalfa. Liver damage...

If this weather stops, I have 20 acres to bale first cutting. Haven't got a weather break to do it. Timothy is still standing strong. It is all green and happy.

Just a photo from hay baling a few weeks ago...

John_PA

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Bret4207

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Dick W.

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donjr

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Don-Wi

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John_PA

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