Hay Operation Specializes In Small Square Bales

Hay Operation Specializes In Small Square Bales HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Bale Handling 5 J D Russell Hay & Straw Inc produces two-tie small square bales of alfalfa-orchardgrass hay and straw on over 1 000 acres in northwestern Ohio Vol 45 No 5 There is a robust market for them especially among horse owners As such the farm specializes in racetrack-quality hay and straw which they ship nationwide The Russells got a slow start in the hay business Neither John nor his wife Denise are from farming families but they started raising hay in the 1980’s when John’s employer needed some for his cattle They began with about $500 in equipment and managed only a few acres but slowly scaled up the operation over the next two decades Today this family-run farm produces about 200 000 bales of hay and straw each year All seven of the Russell’s children have been involved in some capacity with several planning to take a more active role in the business long-term Over a typical summer J D Russell Hay & Straw’s fields are harvested four times Each field is cut with two New Holland self-propelled mowers with Circle C conditioners Once the grass reaches the ideal moisture level it’s baled into uniform 60-lb bales which are stored in various hay sheds on the property Russell has tinkered with a self-propelled hay fluffer/tedder to improve drying rates He’s also continuously striving to improve baling efficiency with his small square bale equipment - a constant challenge when managing equipment that has been commercially ignored for close to 30 years The farm also emphasizes soil health All fields are limed to keep the fields around 6 8 pH and fertilizer is applied at a rate of 100 pounds of 6-15-40 per ton of hay removed For the grass mix the farm aims for a 50:50 mix of alfalfa and orchardgrass That requires approximately twelve pounds of coated alfalfa seed and eight pounds of orchardgrass seed per acre J D Russell Hay & Straw Inc stands out for its shipping strategy The farm can fit 777 bales in a 53-ft van trailer - 111 more than most of their competitors By creating smaller denser bales that reach the same weight as standard sizes it’s possible to use every cubic inch of trailer space for more tons per load all at the same freight rate Paired with customized JCB telehandlers that make it possible to rotate a tier of 21 bales in any direction the farm can load a full trailer in just 45 min Even the property itself has been designed with large trucks in mind offering ample room for making tricky maneuvers The farm’s customers tend to be feed retailers and racetrack trainers as well as an equestrian college J D Russell Hay & Straw Inc only sells hay by the semi-load Contact: FARM SHOW Followup J D Russell Hay & Straw Inc 7187 Devils Hole Road Pemberville Ohio 43450 ph 419-466-7945; www jdrussellhay com

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