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At Tractor Tools Direct we love hearing about our customers’ successes. Two years ago, Dave, located in MN, purchased a hay package from us containing an Ibex TX31 mini round baler, a belt rake, and a compact drum mower. Like so many of our customers, he wanted to bring haying independence to his small farm so that he would no longer be at the mercy of the farmer down the road who previously baled his fields. Having control of his own hay baling gives Dave more control …

The pasture has been cut, dried, and raked into windrows. It's hay day! Here are some tips to make baling day with your Ibex  TX31 Mini Round Baler run smoothly. Before heading to the field: Baling days are typically hot days, so dress in lightweight, light-colored clothing. Long sleeves and long pants are best for protecting your arms and legs from cuts and scratches when collecting bales. Be sure to bring along a large water jug so you can stay hydrated. Pack a tool kit with …

When baling hay, one of the decisions a producer must make is what type of bale binding to use. Hay binding materials include sisal twine, polypropylene twine, hemp twine, net wrap and others. This blog will discuss sisal twine.  What is sisal? Sisal is a fiber found naturally in plants of the agave family. These plants grow in the arid regions of Central America, Mexico and the American Southwest. Native to South America, the fiber has been used since pre-Columbian times but became …

The month of January may seem like a strange time to discuss the best time to cut hay, but why not use the slow winter months to prepare for a great baling season? Once the grass starts growing, you’ll need to be ready to spring into action! A haying season is divided up by its cuttings. In the northern regions of the US and Canada where the summer season is shorter, farmers aim for 2 cuttings a season. The middle regions aim for 3 while the southern regions might manage 4 or more in a good yea …