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Last month we shared the first blog in a three part series answering the question, “Why buy your baler from us?”. That blog, which can be found here, discussed our obsession with quality. This month, we will give another reason why you should feel confident making a baler purchase from Tractor Tools Direct--we offer products with unique features not found on other brands. First off, our balers are not the same as others you may have seen. Yes, I know - when you first start researching mini …

April’s blog discussed the first step of the baling process--mowing. This month’s blog will give tips for the next step--tedding. What is a tedder? A tedder is an implement that is used to fluff and spread hay to decrease drying time. Tedding is typically done after the hay is mowed and before it is raked into windrows for baling. Many hay mowers, unless they have a built-in conditioning system like our Ibex TS51C and TM67C drum mowers, tend to windrow the cut crop into a tight pile that …

At Tractor Tools Direct we specialize in small-farm hay equipment, but did you know that our Ibex Mini Round Balers are popular with pine straw producers too? Their compact size and maneuverability make them a perfect choice for harvesting straw between the narrow tree rows of a pine plantation. Read on to learn more about this alternative use for mini round balers. The southeastern United States is home to countless acres of pine tree forests which are managed not only for their timber, bu …

Hopefully before you’ve even decided to embark on the hay baling adventure, you’ve thought about where you are going to store the bales you produce. The task of baling hay is far too much work to let bales rot in the field. Here are some tips to keep your bales dry and efficiently organized. The best storage for hay--especially the small round and square bales produced on a small-farm operation--is in a barn or shed. The barn should be free of leaks and well ventilated. Air circulation is impo …

What if we told you that there is an easy and affordable (even free) way to ensure that you get the most out of your new equipment--and even protect your investment? What if we told you that it is so easy that you can do it from the comfort of your recliner? Guess what? There is! It’s simply reading your implement’s assembly, operator, and parts manuals. So, why is reading your manuals so important? Many people who have purchased similar pieces of equipment before, simply figure they already k …