Freeman balers and exporting hay

[jimg]

Freeman seems to be very popular here in the NW but wondered how far from this area theyre known and preferred. I had never heard of them before yesterday. I was studying a hay production display at the fair yesterday and they figured highly in that. I stuck up a conversation w/ the guy manning the booth and he told me all about them. I see that there are a couple mentions of them in this forum.

That hay production display (mentioned above) was pretty interesting. It seems a fair amt of hay (Timothy) in the Ellensburg area is exported to Japan and China. (Im sure this practice must be common in the NW.) Its baled into small sqs (14 or 16") which is trucked to a separate facility where its compressed again, cut in half lengthwise and rebound. I was surprised given Ellenburg's climate (dry, warm, sunny and breezy) they make 4 day hay -- seemed very long to me. The reason given was moisture levels in the hay must be abnormally low so it will survive container shipping. I was also amazed at the prices being paid, $250/t max for 1st cut and $150/t max for 2nd. Those prices, for premium hay, seemed astronomically high but the guy at the booth insisted they were real. Most farms in that area do 2 cuts at 4t/a. Thats a lot of hay! Making hay out here is a really diff drill than in the E. Its a great eudcation for me and Im loving it!

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Freeman has a great reputation but there are very few dealers around the east coast. I do know of a farm that runs a couple Freeman's in WNY but he is the only one that I know of.