Saturday, October 17, 2026 · Montana

Markets Feeder Cattle $3.38/lb ▲ +0.1% Live Cattle $2.28/lb ▲ +0.5% Wheat (HRW) $7.04/bu ▼ -1.3% Diesel (ULSD) $4.72/gal ▲ +1.5% as of Oct 17, 04:00 MT

Tag: baler maintenance

A self-propelled swather parked beside a freshly cut Montana hay field with a windrow drying in the afternoon sun and foothills in the distance

Farm Equipment

The Knotter That Tied Clean Last Fall Ties Half a Bale This June, and the Hour You Skip in the Shop Is a Day You Lose in the Windrow

First cutting is no time to find out your swather sickle is worn out or your baler knotter is dropping half-tied bales.…

Harry Ward · September 19, 2026

A swather and round baler parked in a Montana ranch yard being serviced before first-cutting hay, with a cut field and foothills behind

Farm Equipment

Go Through the Haying Equipment Now, Because a Broken-Down Swather in a Weather Window Costs You the Cutting

First cutting waits on nobody. A weekend spent servicing the swather, baler, and rake before you drop the sickle keeps a good…

Harry Ward · July 20, 2026

A swather cutting a green alfalfa field on a Montana ranch with foothills and open sky behind it in early summer light

Farm Equipment

Don’t Let a $4 Bearing Cost You a Cutting: Keeping Hay Equipment Running

First cutting is no time to be hunting parts in town. A few habits around the swather and baler keep you in…

Harry Ward · June 23, 2026