Baling corn stalks

[Paul N]

I had a neighbor ask me to round bale some corn stalks for him, which I've never done before. I've heard that it's hard on a baler, so I'm kind of reluctant. The owners manual doesn't mention corn stalks. Does it take a different pressure setting than alfalfa, grass, or straw? Anyone out there have any advice? I have a NH BR7060 with net wrap.

 

[Tx Jim]

I've baled corn stalks with my JD 467 with no problems. I cut the stalks with a 15 ft batwing and then raked then with a 14 wheel rake. I've heard baling stalks causes premature wear but my baler still bales hay just fine at 17,000 plus bales.

 

[bjr]

What is the end purpose of baled cornstalks? Do they make animal feed? Or are the just easier to get off the field? bjr

 

[Paul N]

bjr, cornstalks are used primarily for bedding, but can be fed if your desperate. They have very low feed value.

Tx Jim, do you change the pressure setting on the belts?

 

[Tx Jim]

No I left the pressure the same. The corn stalks I baled were substituted for roughage during a drought.

 

[powerpace]

The corn stalks can be rough on tires. When we used to disk them under under they had to be soft. The R1 tires have a soft sidewall and the stalks would gouge the rubber. If you are running the rows it may not be as bad.

 

[kevin37b]

Biggest problem is keeping the pickup out of the dirt .

 

[Tx Jim]

Biggest problem is keeping the pickup out of the dirt .

Keeping pickup teeth out of dirt isn't a problem on my JD 467 as it has gauge wheels on both ends of pickup plus a crank height adjustment plus a hyd cylinder to raise/lower pickup.

 

[Paul N]

Keeping pickup teeth out of dirt isn't a problem on my JD 467 as it has gauge wheels on both ends of pickup plus a crank height adjustment plus a hyd cylinder to raise/lower pickup.

New Holland has the same setup, but there is still the stubble, and ridges left from combines and tractors, wagons etc. With today's GMO corn, those stalks are pretty tough. I decided to pass on this job.

 

[sixdogs]

I see the stubble as one of the greater issues. You aren't dealing with radials on your tractor or "stalk stompers" to flatten out the remaining stalk ahead of the tractor and will likely see some tire damage however little you do. Modern stalks are bred to be tough as nails so they stand a long time if harvest is late and don't blow over during the summer. Come spring around here nearly all of the stubble is still standing.