I grew up on a JD 800 and also spent plenty of time on IH 400 plus an old pipe frame Owatana..

I don't know how many miles of ditches your going to do ? but , if your thinking  this route, I would say in the end it would be cheaper to just buy the hay...

you haven't had fun untill your on the hyway with a jd 800 , an the drive chain breaks going down to the wheel.!!    couple fast 360's right there on the hyway..  left wheel , if it had been the right wheel, I'm not sure I'd be here.   (real high grade and steep bank), and thank God a car was not comming from the other direction at the right time........

How cheap is ditch hay anways ??  full of hard ware for consumption.........all said and done..