Blog
What Is a Belt Rake—and Why Is It Ideal for Small-Farm Hay Production?
At Tractor Tools Direct, our Ibex Belt Rake has quickly become one of our top-selling products. Interestingly, it's also one that many customers haven’t heard of—until they find it on our website. So in this month’s blog, we’re diving into the question: What is a belt rake, and why is it such a great choice for small farms?
What Is a Belt Rake?
While belt rakes have been widely used in Europe for years, they’re gaining popularity here in the U.S.&mdas
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Aug 1st 2025
Hidden Gold: Cutting Hay in Waterways for High-Nutrient Forage
On many small farms, waterways, buffer strips, and other marginal areas are often overlooked. They may be too narrow or damp for row crops. But with the right approach these spaces can produce surprisingly nutrient-rich hay–especially valuable for cattle. With proper timing and compact equipment from Tractor Tools Direct, turning these areas into productive forage zones is both smart and sustainable. Why Waterway Hay is Worth the Effort Hay grown in waterways tends to be hig
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Jul 25th 2025
Why Buy Your Baler from Tractor Tools Direct? Quality, Innovation, and Support You Can Count On
We know you can purchase equipment elsewhere, but at Tractor Tools Direct, we’ve built our business around one core principle: 100% customer satisfaction. Not every company can say this! This commitment drives every decision we make—from the products we offer to the support we provide. That’s why when it comes to balers, we stand behind them completely. If they didn’t live up to our standards, we wouldn’t be selling them. Period. When you purchase a baler
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Jul 17th 2025
Haymaking for Horse Owners: What You Need to Know
For horse owners, few things are more important than quality hay. Horses are picky eaters with sensitive digestive systems, and poor-quality forage can lead to health issues, wasted feed, and high replacement costs. If you have the land and equipment, making your own hay can be a smart and rewarding way to ensure consistent, high-quality nutrition for your animals. But it’s not just about cutting grass—it’s about knowing what horses need and using the appropriate tools to g
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Jul 9th 2025
Yes! Cutting Height Matters in Haymaking
When it comes to haymaking, one of the most crucial decisions a farmer or producer must make is the cutting height. The height at which you cut your forage plays a significant role in the overall quality and yield of the hay, as well as the long-term health of the pasture. Below, we’ll explore why cutting height matters, highlighting the benefits of getting it right and the risks of cutting too high or too low. Impact on Forage Quality Cutting height directly influences the nu
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Jul 1st 2025