How We Make Hay in Rural NZ | FULL PROCESS

Every summer we mow, ted, windrow, and bale 500 - 600 conventional hay bales over two paddocks (10 acres/4 hectares), with gnarly old equipment we had to figure out how to use and maintain. We sell about half the bales, and the other half feeds our animals over winter.

We decided to document the whole four-day process this year, complete with drone footage for some unique and interesting perspectives! It's a stressful time of year, but one of the most rewarding activities when it all goes to plan.

The equipment we use is 50 - 80 years old, some of which we bought from the old owner of our homestead, including a UFO Mini Twin (mower), PZ Haybob (tedder), and a McCormick International Harvester (baler). All powered by our trusty old Fiat tractor.

Make hay while the sun shines!

Quick links
0:00 Preparing for mowing
1:15 Mowing (day 1)
7:05 Preparing for tedding/raking
13:12 Tedding/raking (day 2)
14:56 Fixing the tractor
16:44 Tedding/raking (day 3)
19:12 Windrowing (day 4)
21:51 Preparing for baling
25:36 Baling & stacking (also day 4)

Follow us

[urob]

The good wife seems pretty good with heights sitting on top of the trailer hay bales. Excellent idea with putting wooden pallets on the ground to put the hay bales on top to stop the hay getting mouldy. It does pay to do the maintenance during your off peak times before next harvesting season. In the early years in New Zealand the practice for neighbours would offer to give a helping hand during haymaking, as it was a normal occasion for the wife and neighbours to provide lunch & a drink and bring it to all the workers.

[rubiesmilo]

It is so lovely to see husband and wife working together. This is a beautiful video.

[thr]

My sister here in East Central Wisconsin, USA has an old farmstead (125+ years). She has several pieces of equipment that still has wooden spokes in the steel wheels (no rubber) and wooden hitching poles. At one time, we think they were used by horse teams.

[Travis_Rivers]

That is the first 3 point hitch Tedder I've ever seen that's really cool 😎

[susanneguzman]

Wonderful how you are reusing older equipment and managing to live a natural and beautiful life. God Bless you both and 👍🏻Keep Up the good work and thank you for sharing; I love country life❤️

[dejavuwampas]

Awesome video, nicely shot and narrated.
I grew up on a farm in northern USA. We made hay just like you do, complete with older equipment. Throwing bales around helps turn young kids into adults quickly.
Thanks for the nostalgic trip. I’m glad to see that the family farm is still alive somewhere in the world. Small family farms are dying off here in the States. Sad, actually.

[craigross]

Nice video, FYI early hay bobs like the 300 are intended to be used in the anti clock wise direction. This is due to the steering mechanism basically only works one way, unlike on later models like the 380 they can be steered in both directions. This will prevent dragging and damage to the tyres and the rake/tedder frame cracking when turning to the right which can be a common probblem with old rakes. Cheers

[skipmole]

With regard to the Haybob, you are using it to ted with the wheels in their raised position. This is the rowing up position and you can see the machine is throwing the grass sideways rather than upwards. By lowering the wheels, you can get the rotors at a steeper angle to the ground and thereby throw the grass upward to get air under it and through it.
Your PTO shaft is the right way round.

[herbhouston]

It's a beautiful home you have and a fine family. It's good to see you have fun in the midst of all the hard work. Many years ago, I'm 77, I baled a lot of hay and straw... so I know how hard the work can be, but you make watching you all work a bit of fun for me. Thank you for posting this and sharing part of your lives with us. Be safe and God bless you.

[thr]

As a teenager & college age, I usually stacked bales on the flat rack hooked behind the baler wearing: a hat, gloves, shorts, sneakers & socks. Yup, my right knee area & back of my forearms would be pricked up from the hay stems, but at least I was cool. I usually baled 2nd crop in July (WI USA) and it was 90F / 32C - usually only 5, 000-10, 00 small square bales for our dairy cows, heifers, calves & sheep.

[parchechuletaovero]

Bautifull to see a happy couple working on the farm .Cheers from Argentina

[randymonninger]

Thank you for sharing us your video made hay 35years hard back breaking job I enjoy it God bless you all wonderful family

[robinfrazier]

Well you are a lovely couple and may GOD bless you both with all you need . Rob.

[gnaniraj]

Great and amazing. Really Hardwork. I have no words to express my solidarity as a farmer except Admiration. Farmers are God's representatives as a replica creator.

[stewedwards]

We made hay in the UK as you do and interesting that we do many things exactly the way you do such as pallets under the stack, saves the bottom row. Think you have one small maintenance job that would be good to address, the slip clutch on the baler flywheel is probably seized as your square drive is showing signs of twisting, it has probably not been released for 30 years. It is just a matter of undoing the spring bolts and breaking the rust weld on the clutch plates and then run it loose (slipping) to shine it up. We left the slip clutch bolts slackened off over winter and then before use partially tightened them and gave it a slipping run before setting it correctly (spring length 1-5/16”, there are 7 of them).
Everything costs but would certainly recommend a socket set and spanners, adjustable spanners round off nuts, filler plugs etc which eventually becomes a pain.
Wonderful video, beautiful countryside and you are a great team together.

[terrywelford]

I used to work hay baling in the UK in the 50's, we used to have a steel sledge towed behind the baler on which we would(me) stack the bales three high and a couple deep then push them off the back of the sledge, used to make collecting really easy, like you videos and your farm

[northrockboy]

the world needs more small farms and farm kids

[tunintunin]

I love hard working normal people. Subd. and liked. Greets from Herzegovina.

[cadcad]

Your videos are beautiful to watch. Young love is an amazing journey so savor every moment you have together! We have been married for 54yrs. & it has been a magnificent adventure!
When you drained the gearbox on the bailer, the fluid was milky at first, indicating that somehow water is entering the gearbox during the offseason.

[m.syassin]

Active and simple > Nice people . God bless you .