Didn't make it to the sale last night. Stayed home and mowed grass instead.
Just as well as I have been looking for a haybine and there was one at this sale. Never been able to buy one at auction. Picked up the local county booster and was one for sale a lot closer. Called the gut about 6:30. Must have still been in bed as he didn't answer the phone, but called back just a few minutes later. I was there by 7:30 and it is a pretty decent New Holland 479 Haybine. Good rolls, cutter bar, tires and sheet metal. Wrote the check for $1200.00 and after a struggle, we finally got it on the transport lock. Hooked it behind the Jeep Grand Cherokee and towed it home. Boy, does that take up a lot of road with the 9 foot cut. Didn't get any mailboxes though. Took county roads and very little traffic.
My main concern was if my Case 700 would have enough hydraulic power to raise it. I took off the 3 inch cylinder and replaced it with the 3 1/2 inch cylinder from my cultimulcher. With engine just above idle, it picked it right up. Hoses are even the right length. Only need to check it over and give it a good grease job and be ready to cut hay.
My second cutting alfalfa is really growing fast and starting to bloom now and about 15 inches high. Hope to get that in before July 4, but predicting more rain from Sunday through Wednesday.
The custom hay job is still on the field. I reraked the windrows this morning. Still standing water in the field and a lot of the hay was still saturated uderneath. Just have to work th higher, drier parts of the field to get anything baled. 5 inches of rain the last 10 days is not good for down hay.
Gene