Moving wrapped bales from fields to stack

[Sid]

With the move from wrapping at stack to now combination bakers more and more of us are moving wrapped bales.
Being wrapped slows the task down as have to be more careful not to damage the wrap.

How much would you pay to have someone come in with a purpose built machine such as a keltec or wilson super move.

Would you pay a fixed fee per bale depending on distance or would you prefer an hourly rate or even a combination of both?
Challenge is to make the job as cost effective for farmer BUT not make it so it leaves the contractor with only the real awkward jobs.

Would you expect the contractor to stack the bales as well or would it be on a individual basis between farms?

Bouncing a few ideas around atm.

 

[James]

The trouble I see with the likes of the keltec is you need plenty of space to unload and still need a loader to stack. I asked the price of a Wilson a couple of years ago it was £24k.

 

[Sid]

The trouble I see with the likes of the keltec is you need plenty of space to unload and still need a loader to stack. I asked the price of a Wilson a couple of years ago it was £24k.

Most farmers have a loader to stack as they have to feed bales.
Collecting and hauling is the challenge as I see it.

 

[Grassnslurry]

I hear of lads charging €70 an hour for keltec, super job from what i hear if you have the room to unload in the yards

 

[Sharpy]

Keeping the unload site clear will be a major challenge with this job, also if any bales are found to be ripped at feed out you will get the blame even if it was the farmer who damaged it when stacking so maybe better if you stacked as well.

 

[Hilti]

So yer man bales it , you cart it & farmer blogs flings it in a stack .... come winter mouldy bales due to careless handling - it couldn’t possibly be the bailer man & definitely not the farmers fault .....

 

[icanshootwell]

The most important thing to remember is a level area for unloading, I've seen some terrible rutted area's with drivers damaging bales because of it. A decent trailer is 2nd.

 

[Jerry]

I only do couple hundred wrapped bales a year so may be not relevant to this thread.....

But I moved back to wrapping at the stack last year and have had far fewer bales showing signs of mold.

I am very anal about moving bales, with 6 layers of wrap as all fed to sheep, but small nicks happened with the baler dumping the wrapped bale on the ground, picking up the bale, putting on trailer, taking it off and then stacking it.

The more time you touch the bale the higher increase risk....

 

[RhysT]

I guess one problem with a keltec would be the need to get bales out of awkward spots. Ideally would need a bale lifter on the front linkage, or someone to go round first to move them ready for the bale chaser. I guess not so bad in 15 acre fields. Not in welsh 5 acre fields!

 

[Hilti]

Minimal risk

 

[jondear]

Been picking up wrapped bales for 15 years or more as all contractors do it now ..
Can't see many paying to haul and stack again as most have got used to it .
Sometimes it's a race to get them in with several trailers when the birds strike!