Baling Hay

In the early years we used a small circa 1970’s New Holland baler which is pulled behind a tractor and runs off the tractor’s PTO. We now utilize a Vermeer round baler and processor.

Pat Stice bales small field by cabins. The baler feeds the windrow of hay up the pick-up reel and into a platform where two large tines stuff hay to the bale chamber. Two rows of twine are guided up around what will soon become a bale. Precision timing is essential for the twine knotters and knives to work properly. A plunger hammers the hay tight, rhythmically packing each bale. Rear springs at the end of the bale chamber are tightened or loosened with hay moisture conditions to control bale packing consistency. Just as a sewing machine out of time will not sew, a baler out of time will create sloppy bales unsuitable for transporting without breaking.

We pull an accumulator behind the baler which guides eight bales into a two row, four across set. Each set is released to sit in the field until it is picked up.