Straw - square or round?

[MaisiesDad]

Always chopped or let someone come and bale and take our straw. Looking at buying a baler nothing fancy to bale our own. So barley and oat straw - rounds or hesstons? Pros and cons please??

 

[Derrick Hughes]

If its for your own use then rounds, as good as anything bar they take a bit more room up, if your selling then would depend on your market , but if its not masses then go with a 4 string or a quadrant, opposite to most so more chance of selling next harvest if there is a glut

 

[Shughie McFee]

square baler for cardboard

 

[mixed breed]

The only plus is, If it rains there's no panic with rounds, they can stay put in the field and they don't hurt, where as squares the rain will go straight into them.

 

[bobk]

Square every time . rounds are shite .

 

[Ceri]

Square Square Square every time. 6 strings every time, great to lug great to stack gold standard. Don't buy a 4 stringer if ur going square they're bloody awful to lug & awful things to stack....
Rounds are a last resort for us these days.

 

[M-J-G]

Have you got spare time or a spare driver during harvest? Along with a spare tractor.

Square balers aren't cheap, and those that are can be expensive to run.

Round balers are cheaper and can be put on a 100hp tractor if needs be.

For hauling, handling and storing squares are a no brainer, as long as you can move them or at least stack them up if weather turns wet.

 

[M-J-G]

Square every time . rounds are shite .

How constructive

 

[Northeastfarmer]

If you have a hayshed and a straw chopper then squares....if you don’t then rounds

 

[Bossfarmer]

for those using round belt balers for outside storage what psi do you set the 3 parts of the bale at?

 

[robs1]

Assuming you are going to sell it then square, if you want it for your use then round, far better for weather so no rush to shift them, better for grass too either hay or silage, cheaper to buy too.

 

[Highland Mule]

Surely it depends on how many you're going to have and what labour effort you have spare. I'd be tempted to say to stick to using contractors, unless you've got a decent acreage to do.

 

[Hilly]

I’d go square if at all
Possible.

 

[DeeGee]

In some areas round straw bales are actually preferred by livestock farmers but are not generally available from merchants because nobody wants to carry them far etc. Therefore if you have a good local market for rounds they could well be a good seller.

They can also be stored outside or at least left out for a few weeks if need be, and as has rightly been said a round baler should be cheaper to buy than a square and have a lower power requirement. So it might depend somewhat on local straw demand in your area.

 

[Bald Rick]

As a buyer of straw, 6 string square every time if we can get it. Suits a spread-a-bale to a T

 

[An Gof]

How constructive

Harsh but true

 

[Bury the Trash]

Rounds every time here love my round baler squares often are literally shite.

Harsh but true

rubbish.

you are just another bull sh.itter.

 

[unlacedgecko]

In some areas round straw bales are actually preferred by livestock farmers but are not generally available from merchants because nobody wants to carry them far etc. Therefore if you have a good local market for rounds they could well be a good seller.

They can also be stored outside or at least left out for a few weeks if need be, and as has rightly been said a round baler should be cheaper to buy than a square and have a lower power requirement. So it might depend somewhat on local straw demand in your area.

I can spread a round bale by hand. It’s a long term solution.

I have spread 6 string bales by hand, but it’s only a temporary measure. Rounds are much preferred.

 

[An Gof]

Rounds every time here love my round baler squares often are literally shite.

rubbish.

you are just another bull sh.itter.

No it’s not rubbish it’s a fact. The output that can be achieved in clearing straw baled in 120x90 square bales compared with p*****g around with round bales is incredible.
But if it suits you you carry on ....

 

[Fendt516profi]

Well your all wrong the answer is triangle