Small Farm Hay Production: The Case for Making Your Own Hay At Tractor Tools Direct, we bring haying independence to small farm operations. Our lines of commercial-duty, high-quality implements for compact tractors make hay production possible for small-acreage farmers. In this blog, we will discuss the reasons why these farmers may want to make the

Net Wrap Versus Twine—Mini Round Balers Here at Tractor Tools Direct, we have recently added a line of more affordable net-wrap mini round balers. Because of that, we are fielding questions about which type of baler is better—net wrap or twine. In this blog we will discuss the pros and cons of each so that

The Belt Rake—An Exceptional Choice for Small-Farm Hay Production Here at Tractor Tools Direct, our Ibex Belt Rake has become one of our very best sellers. At the same time, it is also a product with which most of our customers are unfamiliar until they find it on our website. For this reason, this month’s

The Versatility of the Power Harrow Many people are familiar with the use of power harrows for market gardens. These machines are perfect for seedbed preparation and weed control. However, their design makes them perfect for other jobs as well–on the small farm and beyond. First, let’s look at the design of a power harrow.

Getting Started in Small-Farm Hay Production You own a small farm with a few animals. You’ve decided you want to make your own hay. Maybe you’re tired of paying high prices for hay. Maybe you’re constantly disappointed by the quality of hay available. Maybe you’re fed up with the contract hay baler who doesn’t think

Tedders and Small-Farm Hay Production In a recent blog post we shared some tips for decreasing moisture levels in baled hay. Probably the most effective tip given was to prevent high moisture levels before even baling. One way to do this is with the use of a tedder. Here at Tractor Tools Direct we are

Mini Round Balers for Pine Straw With December and the holidays in full swing, pine trees are on many people’s minds. Therefore, it seems to be an appropriate time to discuss an alternative use for pine trees. Many may not realize it, but the southeastern United States is home to countless acres of pine tree

Preventing Hay Fires: Tips for Decreasing Hay Moisture Levels Last month we discussed how to calculate winter hay needs. Besides the fear of not having enough hay in the barn for winter, probably one of the next greatest fears for those dealing with forage is barn fire caused by improperly stored, excessively moist hay. It

Livestock Winter Hay Needs With winter coming on, it is time to make sure that you have enough hay in the barn to last until your pastures are growing again next spring. While there are many factors to consider when calculating winter hay needs, we are giving you some conversions to simplify the process—and even

Words from the Field Last month in our blog “Haymaking Equipment for Sheep and Goat Owners” we discussed the ways our compact hay equipment, especially our mini-round balers, can increase the efficiency and productivity of sheep and goat farms. This month, we would like to share the first-hand account of one of our customers, Ron