Winterizing Your Hay Baling Equipment With winter approaching, it is time to remind of our customers of the importance of machinery maintenance. Now that the hectic harvest season is coming to an end, more time can be found to clean and service machinery. Then, once spring rolls around again your machinery will be in tip-top

Rake or Tedder? Do I Need Both? Farmers who want to make the jump to baling their own hay often ask about the differences between tedders and rakes. They also often ask if they can get by with one or the other. In this blog we will discuss the differences between these two implements and

Non-traditional Uses for Mini Round Balers When you think about baling with a mini round baler, you tend to picture a perfectly windrowed, rectangularly shaped, 3- to 5-acre hay field under blues skies and warm temps. However, here at Tractor Tools Direct, we would like to suggest some out-of-the-box uses for mini round balers. Uses

Small Farm Hay Production: Choosing a Hay Rake Choosing a hay rake for your small-farm operation can seem like a daunting task. The choices for hay rakes are many. Different regions of the country seem to prefer different styles of rakes. In this blog we will break down their similarities and differences so that you

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