mini hay balers

[ford15005]

Has anyone any experience or knowledge about mini hay balers? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Estimate I have about 30 acres in pasture. I do not have any livestock, so no need or desire for round bales. In addition, I'm not excited about "throwing" 40+ lbs regular size bales. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Thinking there would be a niche market for the mini bales besides my own personal use in the garden, etc.

 

[L3650]

mini baler

something like this...


http://www.farmshow.com/issues/27/03/270302.asp

 

[ford15005]

Yes, a mini hay baler like that or something smaller than your standard size square bale. Thanks for your response. Surprised no one else has answered.

 

[sandman2234]

I was watching this post, since my Dad (at77) still hauls most of his own hay. Being 1000 miles away, all I can do is tell him to be careful.
Didn't have much to add, as I had no clue what was available.
David from jax

 

[scesnick]

I think you are right . A small bailer ( with a smaller price tag ) would probably sell pretty good. I know I would buy one. It would be great for my horses. 1 bale = 1 serving !!!

 

[KYErik]

You can pick up an old "full size" hay baler in working order for $300-$400. These older models have a bale size adjustment that can make all your bales just 6 inches (maybe 3-5 pounds) long if you would like them that tiny. I have an old new holland model 68 baler and unfortunately my adjustment came loose- before I knew it, I had made about 30 bales just 12 inches long. My hay buyer didn't mind too much- but I did give them 3 for 1 pricing on those bales...

 

[MFL]

Mike,

Just saw your post, and thought you might be interested in these.

http://www.agriquip.com/star/index.shtml

Nowhere near the cost of a full size, can be run by just about any tractor and you have the option of twine or net binding. If you have horse people in your area, you could do some busines! 30 acres, if well maintained, will yield A LOT of small rounds.

 

[Beccs82]

There is also a baler called Wolagri that bales 40-70 lb. (dry) round bales. The website is WolagriUSA, Home To The Three Foot Round Baler in case you are interested.

 

[schmism]

You can pick up an old "full size" hay baler in working order for $300-$400. These older models have a bale size adjustment that can make all your bales just 6 inches (maybe 3-5 pounds) long if you would like them that tiny. I have an old new holland model 68 baler and unfortunately my adjustment came loose- before I knew it, I had made about 30 bales just 12 inches long. My hay buyer didn't mind too much- but I did give them 3 for 1 pricing on those bales...

i was going to say the same thing....

the old sq bailers had some sort of adjustable lenght setting so they were always the same crossection... just shorter in lenght to give you a smaller bale

 

[pekabu]

Mike,

Just saw your post, and thought you might be interested in these.

AGRIQUIP.com :: Star

Nowhere near the cost of a full size, can

Are you sure on the price part? 25k list for a square and 13k list for the round. I don't do hay but it seems to be around the same prices I have seen quoted here. I guess it would be cheaper by not having to buy a bigger tractor.

 

[zzvyb6]

My 1953 JD 14T baler can make shorter, lighter bales simply by adjusting the length measuring wheel. I've made some 1 flake bales on occasion and some 6 footers (by mistake) too. Then there's the question of how are you gonna pick 'em up and where will they go. My NH pick-up wagon likes a certain, fixed size or else bad news. Good for landscaping and temporary water stop measures, too. I also like the smaller bales for a 55 gal drum burner to keep the cold hands and tools warm during those special projects that pop up in only in cold weather. Baled weeds work great for this. Just the cost of using more twine, though.

 

[JoeinTX]

I've seen this small balers before, square and round, but know little about them.

The only thing I can add is that these small bales are getting popular. Walk into a Sears or Garden Ridge or Wards or Party City and these things are all over the place and "on sale" for $20 a piece at least.


Not bad work if you can get it..................

 

[DAP]

I've seen this small balers before, square and round, but know little about them.

The only thing I can add is that these small bales are getting popular. Walk into a Sears or Garden Ridge or Wards or Party City and these things are all over the place and "on sale" for $20 a piece at least.


Not bad work if you can get it..................

$20 ....


.....

$20 .. hmm .....

 

[JoeinTX]

"$20 ....


.....

$20 .. hmm ....."



Yep, it was seasonal and short term, but the local joints were asking upwards of $20 for a 12x20 wrapped bale for retail sale. Insane, but, okay for the suburbian holiday display one-upper over the neighbors......

There are smaller bales....8"x12" and so on that are used for table decor and so on. Looking on eBay I'm seeing these and similar for around $8 a bale right now with shipping.

Makes one think about those little toy balers, eh?

Mini Hay Balers


Again, here's another area where consumer demand trumps any real ag demand. The same with what we call "broom-weeds" here. They are a field pest but coveted for decoration purposes and some pay a lot for them.

 

[Luremaker]

I've seen this small balers before, square and round, but know little about them.

The only thing I can add is that these small bales are getting popular. Walk into a Sears or Garden Ridge or Wards or Party City and these things are all over the place and "on sale" for $20 a piece at least.


Not bad work if you can get it..................

$20 for a mini bale of hay ... not bad is right, but around here I can go to my local pet shop and buy 8” x 11” mini bales of timothy hay, straw or alfalfa for $5.69 + tax CAD, that's less than $5.00 USD per bale plus they are shrink wrapped in plastic.

 

[kyspartan]

heres a link to the guy that i bought my tractor off of he has the same equipment that agriquip has without their name for alot cheaper
Hay and haying equipment, balers and implements.

 

[DDT]

These is getting me very interested.

 

[rogdan]

I have seen an advertisement in the back of a magazine lately (Popular Science?) for a mini square baler. It was size adjustable and marketed for decorative bales. I belive this was a non mobile unit and could be run by under 40 HP tractors but who wants to tote the hay to the baler?

 

[slowzuki]

I've thought about making a forced draft hayburner to heat the shop. It would have to have a good fan because the old hay smells so bad when smouldering.

I also like the smaller bales for a 55 gal drum burner to keep the cold hands and tools warm during those special projects that pop up in only in cold weather. Baled weeds work great for this. Just the cost of using more twine, though.

 

[Z-Michigan]

$20 for a mini bale of hay ... not bad is right, but around here I can go to my local pet shop and buy 8” x 11” mini bales of timothy hay, straw or alfalfa for $5.69 + tax CAD, that's less than $5.00 USD per bale plus they are shrink wrapped in plastic.

Yesterday in the pet supplies section of a grocery store I saw a 24oz (1.5 lb) plastic bag of chopped alfalfa ("Sun cured"!!!) for $3.99 US. At that rate a typical square bale of hay would go for $145! Since we have 4.5 acres of pure alfalfa growing we would love to sell it all at $2.50 a pound, but somehow I think the middleman would be getting most of the profit in this chain. (Just think, though - our little farm could generate $53,000 a year in crop sales off 4.5 acres!)