What Kind Of Used Hay Balers To Get?

In these times that have proven to be financially difficult for farmers, one way to save money is by shopping the world of used hay balers. A baler can be a heavy investment, and going with a used model can prove to be smart for the cost-cutting farmer. And the good news is that, whether you're in TN, in TN or in Louisiana, you're likely to find affordable used balers near you.

But what kind of hay balers for sale will you find? Here are the common types you're likely to see as you shop the used market.

RECTANGULAR BALER:

As the name suggests, this is the baler which produces big rectangular bales. Each of these will be bound with several pieces of twine, all of which are then knotted. The bales produced by the rectangular baler are quite compact, but usually weigh more than round bales.

  • One of the main benefits of getting the rectangular baler is that the bales are easier to transport from one place to another than round bales are.

  • That's because there is always the risk of round bales rolling off of a flatbed trailer.

  • There's also the space-saving advantage: A rectangular bale of hay fits into the corners better, allowing a slab of hay to be better stored and transported.

  • In addition to all of this, the rectangular bales are better suited for large livestock feeding operations, in which tons of feed are rationed each hour.

SMALL SQUARE BALER:

You're less likely to find the small square balers on the used market, simply because they're not as common even on the new market. However, there are other countries where they're quite common. For instance, in Australia and New Zealand they're more common than even the large rectangular balers.

  • This kind of baler produces smaller rectangular bales that measure about 40 by 18 by 15 inches (Consequently, they're not true "squares").

  • Each bale is wrapped with either two, three or four strands of twine, which is then knotted.

  • The bales are small and light enough for a single person to handle by himself. The usual size is 45 to 60 inches.

The Process

In forming the bale, the hay is lifted onto the baler's pickup by tines. The hay is dragged (or augered) inside a chamber which runs the full length of the baler. A combination knife and plunger moves back and forth inside the chamber. The knife cuts off the hay at the place where it enters the baler chamber. The plunger then rams it rearwards and compresses it into bales. There is also a measuring device which measures the amount of hay being compressed. When it reaches the right length, it triggers the knotter which wraps twine around the bale, and then ties it off.

There are reasons to avoid this kind of baler unless it's just too good of a deal to pass up.

  • First, there is the cost of handling a large number of small bales.
  • Second, because they are so uncommon in the United States, it can be harder to find baler parts for that time when the baler breaks down. Still, this is an option.

STATIONARY BALER:

Before 1937, bales were wire-tied manually with a pair of baling wires. But before then, the baler was a stationary device, driven by power take-off and belt. The hay was brought toward the baler and was then fed in by hand. There are still stationary balers available today, especially on the used market, but they're different from the earlier models. Specifically, they are now powered by a tractor through the PTO instead of being powered by an internal combustion engine. The stationary baler is usually quite affordable, but due to the age of many of them on the secondary market, there's a better chance of them breaking down sooner.

These used hay balers can provide an affordable way of getting your farm work done at less money. But just understand that some will last longer with fewer repairs, and others, you might need to spend a bit more money to purchase.