Baling small square bales from center of field, out

big lar · Jul 13, 2012

My father before me, and I always bale beginning the 2nd row in and go clockwise around until we reach the center of the field; then go back and bale the outside row; hopefully the bales have been moved.

However, I see some farmers starting from the inside then work out, the argunment being you avoid dropping bales on the 1st row, What do others do and what are the thoughts/benefits of either way.

Obviously, I do not use wagons or kickers, New England fields are too small, mine at least!

High Compression · Jul 13, 2012

If I'm chasing my rake through the field (typical for us) I follow the rake where ever it goes. If the field has already been raked, I do my outside three rows. Outer to inner clockwise to drop the bales furthest out toward the outside, then bale may field back and forth. Generally I have help and bales are either pick up or moved out of my way. On occasion, I have to leave the air conditioning to move a bale or tow.

OldGinTractors · Jul 13, 2012

A older fellow that customed bale for many years told me he waited last to bale the two outside windrows because that's where that limb would be raked up in the windrow, thrust breaking a needle or something. Better to have 90% baled and broke down than only 10%.

rankrank1 · Jul 13, 2012

No set part of the field for me . I typically bale whatever part of the field first that has received the most sunlight/wind (and is therefor the most ready and driest) and work my way towards the portions of the fields that have received the least sunlight/wind. My fields are shaded on 3 sides and consider that the sun angles change with the weather seasons. The portion of the field that I bale first in the Spring will not be the same portion of the field that I bale first in the Fall due to the changing sun angle relative to Earth.

To me the absolute most important factor is having sufficiently dry hay to avoid a barn fire or the chance of moldy hay. Any other inconveniences are secondary considerations or nonfactors altogether for my small operation ( That said I would not change my philosophy if I was a large operation either).