Small square bales - stem length

[patrickr321]

Hi all

Just completed our FIRST EVER hay harvest. We decided to do some small square bales to sell to the local community (horse feed, small animals etc). Compared with the round bales, the length of the stems in the bales is very short. It's almost what I'd describe as chopped hay. Is this normal? Looking at the way the baler works, it does cut the hay as it's packed into the chamber and rammed? So I'd expect it to be more chopped than the round bales. What do people expect when they are buying small bales?

Thanks

 

[puppet]

I think you have described the reason perfectly

 

[Goweresque]

People buying small bales will know what to expect when they get them. You won't have small bales that are any different to all the other ones out there, all small balers work on the same principles.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I've noticed big bale hay is smashed this year as well as straw , dried to quick I suppose and gone brittle

 

[TripleSix]

Hi all

Just completed our FIRST EVER hay harvest. We decided to do some small square bales to sell to the local community (horse feed, small animals etc). Compared with the round bales, the length of the stems in the bales is very short. It's almost what I'd describe as chopped hay. Is this normal? Looking at the way the baler works, it does cut the hay as it's packed into the chamber and rammed? So I'd expect it to be more chopped than the round bales. What do people expect when they are buying small bales?

Thanks

Yeah it ends up with a lot of short stems as when the packer fingers pull the grass into the chamber it tends to fold the stems and then they're cut by the knife

 

[Turnip]

Yeah it ends up with a lot of short stems as when the packer fingers pull the grass into the chamber it tends to fold the stems and then they're cut by the knife

Slightly off topic but interested in how these machines work. Would this be correct for the Massey Ferguson inline balers as well?

MF 1840

The MF 1840 small rectangular baler employs a ‘centre-line’ design in which the crop flows through the machine in a straight line – working like a mini large square baler, improving efficiency because the crop is not turned before entering the chamber.

www.masseyferguson.com

 

[patrickr321]

I've noticed big bale hay is smashed this year as well as straw , dried to quick I suppose and gone brittle

Yes, it has all dried REALLY quickly

 

[patrickr321]

Thanks all. Nice to know that it's as expected.... Now we just need some customers. Trouble is, everyone else is selling at the same time! We're selling for £4.

 

[TripleSix]

Slightly off topic but interested in how these machines work. Would this be correct for the Massey Ferguson inline balers as well?

MF 1840

The MF 1840 small rectangular baler employs a ‘centre-line’ design in which the crop flows through the machine in a straight line – working like a mini large square baler, improving efficiency because the crop is not turned before entering the chamber.

www.masseyferguson.com

I've never actually looked at an inline conventional baler.
I assume they're similar to a Heston type machine but scaled down

 

[davidroberts30]

smashed stalks with the tedder

 

[milkloss]

Had to eject a few over dry rounds early as the baler was just smashing the hay to dust and couldn’t turn the bale anymore where the crop was a bit thin.

 

[7610 super q]

Be the least of your worries selling hay to horsey geezers / geezettes.

 

[Loftyrules]

Thanks all. Nice to know that it's as expected.... Now we just need some customers. Trouble is, everyone else is selling at the same time! We're selling for £4.

If it's in the shed keep it there, could be a long winter, lots of people feeding winter stock now.

 

[yoki]

Thanks all. Nice to know that it's as expected.... Now we just need some customers. Trouble is, everyone else is selling at the same time! We're selling for £4.

A lot of horsey people still conform to the rule of not feeding fresh hay, and very, very, few of them buy the hay before they need it.

When I was selling hay I never considered trying to shift it much before Christmas, and it always got easier as the winter progressed.

 

[jpd]

On display at a local show sun

 

[Wisconsonian]

If your small bales look more chopped up than other small bales you've seen, it could be because of small windrows, a feeding problem, or hay dog/spring problem. Mostly it varies with the hay and is expected with small bales.

 

[Will 1594]

If it's in the shed keep it there, could be a long winter, lots of people feeding winter stock now.

Plenty about
know some one who has just had superb quality hay from southern scotland cheaper delivered ,than what some locals are selling for in norfolk

 

[bobk]

No need to rush selling hay , it always sells one day

 

[robs1]

On display at a local show sun

Looks like the two brothers who have bought the baler are keeping a close eye on it

 

[jpd]

This really surprised me.i thought they were built by hesston