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.

Thread also in machinery forum.

 

[An ancient git]

We've wrapped in field for 27 years now , no probs , with 6 layers of wrap on Square bales . My local contractor moves them and stacks (he doesn't have a BBaler) , but works carefully with , maybe 2-3% needing a bit of tape . Cost per bale varies a bit , depending on distance , General cost to do runs at from £1 - £1.50 depending . Kit is Tractor + trailer and a Squeezer grab on the Telescopic Handler .

 

[Sid]

We've wrapped in field for 27 years now , no probs , with 6 layers of wrap on Square bales . My local contractor moves them and stacks (he doesn't have a BBaler) , but works carefully with , maybe 2-3% needing a bit of tape . Cost per bale varies a bit , depending on distance , General cost to do runs at from £1 - £1.50 depending . Kit is Tractor + trailer and a Squeezer grab on the Telescopic Handler .

How far is that moving them?

 

[Skintagain]

We still have some in field lol! Wrapped then it never stopped raining.

We have a lad that can come and move 300 bales with a trailer and not rip a bale. We had someone else move 200 last year and ripped 40 he won't be returning. Someone good won't damage any on triple wrapped unless he's unlucky

 

[Sid]

We still have some in field lol! Wrapped then it never stopped raining.

We have a lad that can come and move 300 bales with a trailer and not rip a bale. We had someone else move 200 last year and ripped 40 he won't be returning. Someone good won't damage any on triple wrapped unless he's unlucky

How long did it take him to move the 300 and how far did he travel?

 

[jendan]

We still have some in field lol! Wrapped then it never stopped raining.

We have a lad that can come and move 300 bales with a trailer and not rip a bale. We had someone else move 200 last year and ripped 40 he won't be returning. Someone good won't damage any on triple wrapped unless he's unlucky

Have you checked them to see if no crows or other birds have not been landing on them?

 

[Skintagain]

How long did it take him to move the 300 and how far did he travel?

100-120 per day I think 7 miles - this was out of a stack and then re stacked before Christmas. Could be quicker if pushed I suppose but a couple of bust bales and it wouldn’t be worth it.

 

[Sid]

100-120 per day I think 7 miles - this was out of a stack and then re stacked before Christmas. Could be quicker if pushed I suppose but a couple of bust bales and it wouldn’t be worth it.

12 hour day?
£36/hr?
110 bales.
£3.92/bale

 

[Skintagain]

12 hour day?
£36/hr?
110 bales.
£3.92/bale

I think it worked out @ around £3.00 per bale. I ran him The few odd ones at end to save another load.

 

[Skintagain]

Have you checked them to see if no crows or other birds have not been landing on them?

We are using them steady away as and when we can get to them with double spikes on back of tractor. No damage but the land is high lying so not many trees etc to encourage birds

 

[Sid]

I think it worked out @ around £3.00 per bale. I ran him The few odd ones at end to save another load.

Happy with the cost?

 

[Anymulewilldo]

We've had them wrapped in the field for years now. Our contractors will stack them if we wanted them too but it's a fair wait as they do no sera King while they could be baling. It adds just over £3/bale too the bill. Move ours ourselves as much as we can. 2 tractors and trailers, loader with squeeze on one and we are away. Might damage 3/4 a year if that.

 

[Skintagain]

Happy with the cost?

I guess so yes. I intend to buy a squeezer so I’m not stuck but in all honesty I haven’t got the time to be doing it myself and I will probably bust more too.

 

[dinderleat]

Bales are handy but bloody time consuming and costly compared to clamp.

 

[I thats it]

We move all ours (max 1.5mile) with double bale carriers, 1 tractor has front and back the other has a back plus stacker on the front loader. As long as its not too far we find its the best way

 

[Skintagain]

We move all ours (max 1.5mile) with double bale carriers, 1 tractor has front and back the other has a back plus stacker on the front loader. As long as its not too far we find its the best way

That sounds keen.

 

[michael N123]

I will off moved and stacked 650-700 this year with Mchale bale nippers on the loader and a bailey trailer 14 at a time

Bailey trailer has No Rust or sharp edges so never rip any on the floor

faster stacking them aswell as pull trailer right in front of the stack.... what’s the point in handling them twice leading them to a wrapper

 

[michael N123]

We still have some in field lol! Wrapped then it never stopped raining.

We have a lad that can come and move 300 bales with a trailer and not rip a bale. We had someone else move 200 last year and ripped 40 he won't be returning. Someone good won't damage any on triple wrapped unless he's unlucky

40 out of 200 is bad going just have to remember to drive straight at the bale and straight away from the bale.. if you do rip one 9 times out of 10 it’s because your driving into it/away at a angle

 

[DeeGee]

Plenty of trailers let’s you load say 100 bales off the field and into the yard.
Ideally have two Loadalls and three trailers going with one loader in the field and one in the yard, tractor ferrying to and fro to really shift them quickly to the stack.
But with plenty of trailers at least the bales can be loaded and got off the field to the yard and away from crows, and then unloaded the next day if need be.
Maybe not ideal, but just my way of doing things.