5ft bales

[j6891]

Any negatives/positives to moving to 5ft rounds. Will probably get a contractor in next year for baling so having a think out loud on changes.
Are they cheaper to make? Less wrap for a start. How about for wrapping silage I presume there is a saving.
Anybody make/use 5ft silage and how do you handle it?
I presume my soft hands grab might struggle to pick up a 5ft bale of silage?
Cheers

 

[Tim G]

I can think of two issues with a 5ft silage bale, weight and having to change the gearing on the bale wrapper.

 

[jamie]

I make 5ft bales here. Less time stopped whilst baling and less bales to move, both in summer and in winter. Use less net too. Wrapping them, there is a lot of wasted wrap on the ends of a 5ft bale so don't think it's worth it. Also are there many wrappers that can do them that big? I tube wrap them so it's fine.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Useless if you ever want to sell any

 

[Tim G]

And just thought of a third....
Fitting it in a ring feeder.

 

[BredRedHfd]

Will fit in a ring feeder fine. I do 5'6 hay rounds. May pull a bit out around the edges at first. As for wrapping, 4'6 plenty big enough physically.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I make them into 6’2 rounds….a lot less handling

 

[Highland Mule]

I can take 14 of 4’ bales on a 16’ IW behind my landrover.
I can take 8 of 5’ bales on a 16’ IW behind my landrover.

 

[j6891]

Baler combi like a fusion churns them out don't they?

I can think of two issues with a 5ft silage bale, weight and having to change the gearing on the bale wrapper.

 

[j6891]

I make them into 6’2 rounds….a lot less handling

Straw presumably? Just single bale spoke front and back?

 

[j6891]

I make 5ft bales here. Less time stopped whilst baling and less bales to move, both in summer and in winter. Use less net too. Wrapping them, there is a lot of wasted wrap on the ends of a 5ft bale so don't think it's worth it. Also are there many wrappers that can do them that big? I tube wrap them so it's fine.

A Grays wrapper? Have you had to beef it up to take the weight of a 5ft? Presume you are just using a bale spike to handle?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Straw presumably? Just single bale spoke front and back?

Straw and hay

 

[dannewhouse]

McHale will wrap them.
Need a telehandler to lift them though.
As for wrap usage.
We have pushed above 4ft 6 to get more in bales.

 

[jamie]

A Grays wrapper? Have you had to beef it up to take the weight of a 5ft? Presume you are just using a bale spike to handle?

Only went to 4ft 9 with the grays. I replaced the wooden bearings before going so big but it managed fine. Wasn't wet stuff.

I've a new tube line that handles 5ft bales fine.

Yeah use double spikes. 90hp nh manages them with plenty of weight on the back.

 

[Ben B]

McHale will wrap them.
Need a telehandler to lift them though.
As for wrap usage.
We have pushed above 4ft 6 to get more in bales.

Nah mate of mine made 5.5 ft silage bales had a 120 hp tractor on the job sore on gear in my opinion. Only lifted one at time and wreaked his bale unroller. Told him it was a darft at the time we only do 135 cm silage bales and their heavy enough. Good dry material too so the belt balers can make some bale out of them.

 

[j6891]

Only went to 4ft 9 with the grays. I replaced the wooden bearings before going so big but it managed fine. Wasn't wet stuff.

I've a new tube line that handles 5ft bales fine.

Yeah use double spikes. 90hp nh manages them with plenty of weight on the back.

What's your new tube line wrapper if you don't mind me asking? If keeping the system as simple as poss i.e bale spikes front and back for collecting and feeding out in ring feeders I think it's a good idea.

 

[Agri Spec Solicitor]

We made 4 ft 6 bales by accident before we got to grips with controlling the diameter from our fixed chamber, but adjustable baler.
Transport width 9 ft plus on an 8ft 2 “ trailer. Tight fit on our trailer and struggle to get 4 on second layer. Different trailers would be ok.
Harder to strap on narrower trailer.
Tear some film on straggling briars in narrow lonnings. More of a challenge on roads and in gateways. Can’t see much to rear.
But extra weight in haylage no problem for our gear and goes in ring feeders just fine.
Prefer 4 ft for selling as that is the standard package folks expect.
With hay we sometimes stack like cans nipping the flat sides with the double spike and its rollers off. Our A to Z spikes are not over generous in opening width so we need to be much more accurate picking them up. Annoying when it’s hot and I am tired!
It’s personal preference maybe and we just find 4 ft bales nicer to move around.
If we wanted huge bales I think a square baler would be the way to go.

 

[jamie]

What's your new tube line wrapper if you don't mind me asking? If keeping the system as simple as poss i.e bale spikes front and back for collecting and feeding out in ring feeders I think it's a good idea.

Confusingly it's a tube line. I don't think there's any connection to the Grays tubeline. They are made in Canada.

That's what we do if wrapping in the same field or use a traileyre if not. Generally wrap them in the fields they will be fed out in.

 

[jondear]

Had some 6 ft straw once god they were awkward !

 

[Huno]

Any negatives/positives to moving to 5ft rounds. Will probably get a contractor in next year for baling so having a think out loud on changes.
Are they cheaper to make? Less wrap for a start. How about for wrapping silage I presume there is a saving.
Anybody make/use 5ft silage and how do you handle it?
I presume my soft hands grab might struggle to pick up a 5ft bale of silage?
Cheers

Wider on a road trailer!! 4ft6 is my choice on the highway