How to HAY SWEEP instead of baling hay (day 1)

I built this hay sweep instead of buying a baler to bale hay. I googled "hay sweep" and engineered it from the old pictures I included in this video.

The tractor is a John Deere 790 with a model 70 loader. The hay sweep is 10' wide. It attaches to the bucket with chain and two binders. The frame is pair of 2.5"x2.5"x1/4" angle irons. The 13 stakes (sweepstakes?!) are rough sawn ash 1.75" thick, tapered, 6'2" long (that's what I could get out of a board, nothing special about the length) and spaced every 10 inches. Smaller angle and flat iron make a backboard.

Get to the shop and make one yourself!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• making
• hay
• sweep
• haysweep
• bale
• baling
• baler
• haystack
• farm
• pasture
• John
• Deere

[BowmanFarm]

As long as the hay is kept dry, loose is the best for maintaining hay quality. The disadvantage is moving it, especially hauling it down the road.

[BowmanFarm]

Yep, the 790 mows and does everything.

[shaunbaker04]

Loose hay keeps better? how so? Baled hay is densely packed and sheds water and has way less surface area per pound of hay. Your way behind the times but if that works for you I guess thats all that matters eh?

[KB1PTH]

round bales would keep outside better then loose hay. It is a matter of preference really we use a round baler here.

[GRASSorMUCK]

@BowmanFarm would you cover the pile with plastic after?

[gunhillandassociates]

Do you use the 790 for cutting hay as well?

[Bottleshooter8]

That's pretty neat. You don't see too many people making loose hay anymore.

[1mouranty]

man, thats great