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With a new year approaching, it’s time to assess your small farm’s equipment needs. The slower pace provided by long winter nights and dormant fields provides some time to research those needs. Let this blog serve as a kick-start to establishing or improving your small-farm equipment inventory by providing you with a list of criteria our own company uses when choosing what machinery to stock. Did you know that Tractor Tools Direct started on a small farm like yours? Owner and President Pat Good …

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 condition and ready to use. Below is a list of winterizing tasks for balers, mowers, and rakes. We’ve also provided a handy pdf version that can be printed off and taken to the equipment shed with you:  …

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 how to determine if both are necessary for your small-farm operation. However, before deciding which implement is right for you, it is first necessary to understand the workings of the hay mower that cuts the crop that is to be raked or tedde …

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 blue 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 that you might not have ever considered. Baling Leaves In heavily wooded areas, a mini round baler is the perfect size for baling leaves that can then be used for garden compost or animal bedding. Leaves ca …

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 can make the most sensible investment for your hay production needs. What is a Hay Rake? A hay rake rakes hay into windrows which are lines of hay that can be more easily picked up by a baler. It is a common misconception that …