Horse-drawn Haying in a Day with a 24-foot Mower

Joe spends a morning with Jason Julian while he uses his new 24-foot horse drawn walk behind mower to cut 20 acres of hay. Jason explains how the mower works, its benefits over tractor powered equipment and all its bells and whistles.
Jason first explains why he wants to get hay mowed and baled in one day. He runs a grass fed dairy in which the cows eat mostly baleage. He does not have the option to supplement with grain. He wants his hay to be cut, dried and baled in the same day (target is 55% moisture) because it retains the most carbohydrates. He can get the hay baled before the leaves are dried therefore retaining the most carbohydrates. If the hay is crimped/conditioned, the leaves dry first.
The reason Jason is so excited about this mower is that he can cut more acreage with only one teamster and four horses. He does not want to use more tractors.
Comparison with his son using a tractor and disc bine.
Tractor - $20,000 Mower - $36,000
Disc bine - $25,000 4 horses
9000 rpm=more maintenance 650-800 strokes/min=less maintenance
6-8 acres 6-8 acres/hr
1 gallon diesel/acre 1 qt gas/hr
Jason says the mower is used in steep ground with small fields in Ohio without a problem. It can mow lodged hay (hay that has been knocked down).
We ride along on the mower while Jason explains how it works. The mower has many features including:
3 - 9 foot sickles activated separately (one in front center and one on each side). German sickles.
1 rotary sickle to handle hay around the gear box. This produces a 24 ft cut. 650-800 strokes/minute.
Foot pedal sickle activation for safety
Ground stake with pneumatic drive used during hitching
Front and rear steering. (cannot steer with the horses)
Sickle box hidden in the tongue accessed from cart. Holds gloves, spare sickles.
Honda Engine - 23 Hp
2 or 4 horse neck yokes
holes for 2 or 4 horse eveners
Hydraulic reservoir
Gas Tank
Spring platform
Self leveling seat
Rear tongue for transporting mower (pulled backwards)
Hydraulic brakes
Rubber tires
The mower was designed and manufactured by Jonas Schlabach and his sons at Family Farm Innovations in Millersburg, Ohio with some design help from I&J Manufacturing.
For more information on the mower:
Family Farm Innovations
4549 TR 156
Millersburg, OH 44654
330-893-0591
Jason Julian
715-560-0554
Purchase a copy of this video:
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