Table of Contents
Why is some hay round and some square?
The only difference between square and round bales is the type of machinery used. The shape of the bale won’t influence the nutrient content of the hay. Why have most of hay producers changed from making small square bales to large round bales? It is primarily due to the labor requirements for making the smaller bales.
Why are hay bales Square?
“Back in the 1950s and 60s, most hay was put up in square bales. These rectangular-shaped bales usually weighed 50-60 pounds. They were shaped in a way that they could be stacked in a hayloft or barn until they were needed, and this stacking was done by human labor.”
Why are some hay bales round and some rectangle?
The shape of the hay bales comes down to the baling equipment that is used. Older balers produced square or rectangular bales while newer balers usually produce round bales of hay. Hay for such bales must be dried for long periods of time between the time they are cut and the time they are baled.
When were square hay bales invented?
Many people argue that the small square bale is all but a history lesson . . . but is it? Nolt, a Pennsylvania Dutchman, invented the prototype for the small square baler back in the 1930s. His patent was purchased and mass produced during the 1940s.
Why do hay bales get wrapped in plastic?
Most farmers seem to have their preference on moisture levels. Bales at lower moisture may have little to no fermentation, but wrapping protects them from spoiling. On the other hand, moisture levels too high can cause clostridial fermentation with resulting high levels of butyric acid and ammonia.
Why do farmers roll hay fields?
SOILS need air spaces for drainage and nutrient exchange, so why roll down grass fields in spring? Fields may benefit from rolling when it is essential to push down stones which may damage machinery, or to create better plant/soil contact in puffy soils, after frost heave, or bad poaching.
Who built the first hay baler?
Farmers were saved from the backbreaking chore of slinging hay bales in the 1960s, when Iowa State agricultural engineering professor Wesley Buchele and a group of student researchers invented a baler that produced large, round bales that could be moved by tractor.
Who made the first square baler?
Nolt
Many people argue that the small square bale is all but a history lesson . . . but is it? Nolt, a Pennsylvania Dutchman, invented the prototype for the small square baler back in the 1930s. His patent was purchased and mass produced during the 1940s.
Why are bales of Hay Square?
Because square bales are easier to handle and transport, however, they offer one additional advantage: profit. For those who bale hay to sell, square is the way to go. The convenient shape is easy to handle and stackable, resulting in efficient delivery to buyers, whether on the other side of town or on the other side of the country.
What are the different types of hay for farming?
The two most common options are large round bales, also called rolls, and small square bales. Small square bales of hay are generally the better choice for smaller farms. The small bales are lightweight enough to be moved by hand (50-150 lbs.) and small enough to be transported in the back of a regular-sized pickup truck or flatbed.
What size hay bales should I buy?
The two most common options are large round bales, also called rolls, and small square bales. Small square bales of hay are generally the better choice for smaller farms.
How was hay baling done in the 1930s?
These early baling machines were stationary, and the hay had to come to it. Hay was carried by hand to wagons that then took the hay to these early balers, where the machine pressed the hay into square bales. By the 1930s, hay baling equipment could be pulled by tractors and pick up the hay from the ground.