[Ag-eq] Hay balers

[Zach Mason]

I know more about the end product than the process of hay production. The
three bailing processes I'm most familiar with are small square, round, and
large squares. Small squares tend to be in the ball park of 40 Lb when at an
optimal moisture content. Rounds range because the diameter of the bail can
be adjusted. I think our New Holland bailer can make from 40''-60'' diameter
bails. Our good 60'' rounds weigh about 450 Lb. large squares are made
mostly in the mid-west to west because, less manual labor goes into making
them than the small squares, and the square shape allows for more tons of
products to be shipped per load than rounds. I don't have first-hand
knowledge of the weights or dimensions of the large squares, but I've read
on the web weights from 600-1800 Lb. 

Keep in mind this explanation is a gross simplification of hay bale sizes.
Within these three categories are sub sizes. Depending on which side of the
fence you're on, bail size may refer to the volume of the bail, or the
weight. Increasing the moisture content of the bail increases the weight,
not necessarily the nutrient value or bang for your buck. 

Depending on what the feed is being used for, I'd recommend testing hay for
its nutrient value. Mulch hay, for a garden or landscaping purposes doesn't
need to be high quality. Feeding lactating dairy cows, in my opinion, needs
to be tested so you know what you're getting. There's nothing worse than
killing livestock because of noxious weeds, mycotoxins, or because the feed
just didn't have enough protein or energy to keep them healthy. 

I'm always happy to look into the matter some more and answer questions.

Zac

-----Original Message-----
From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Nella Foster via
Ag-eq
Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2015 7:34 AM
To: Agricultural and Equestrean Division List
Cc: nfoster at extremezone.com
Subject: Re: [Ag-eq] Hay balers

Jewel:

I think you're on the right track, but not sure.  I should be able to
remember;
my Dad and Grandpa used to bale the hay every summer.  I know it is mown
first
and then raked.  There may be another step, but can't remember.  The raked
hay
is in rows.  I do remember that the baler was always breaking.  You have to
have the tention set just right.  The equipment is probably better than what
we
had 40 years ago.

Everyone is doing the hay around here.  It's been a difficult year due to
all
the rain.  We had a flash flood last weekend and a lot of hay got washed
away. 
Fortunately the flood just went across one corner of my field and nothing
was
damaged, not even my fence.

Nella


Quoting Jewel via Ag-eq <ag-eq at nfbnet.org>:

> How do they work?  I looked it up on WikiHow, but learned nothing.
> When I had my sight, eons ago, I think that I may have seen one at work.
> What I imagine happens is that the baler collects up the dried grass into
a
> hopper, and then a
> mechanical hand picks up a clump of grass from the hopper, drops it into a
> box the size of a
> bale,and that grass is compressed, and then another and another and
another
> clump is compressed
> until the box is full at which point, somehow or
> other, the twine is tied around the bale, the bottom of the box opens and
the
> completed bale drops
> onto a conveyor belt which then dumps it  on the ground ready to be
stacked.
> How does that sound?  Is it anything like what, actually, happens?
>
>            Jewel
>
>
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