Bringing bales home today

morgan in ar · Nov 11, 2018

One of the places I bale hay on sold recently, and I have to move my hay off by the 15th. It gets dark way too early this time of year. It's supposed to snow tomorrow, so I finished the day by putting out the first bales of the year.
A view from the tractor seat:

And the view unloading:

David G · Nov 11, 2018

Mine is all sold and gone.

I am glad to have that done before it snowed, it is hard to load and move bales around when slick with rear drive tractors.

tomstractorsandtoys · Nov 11, 2018

Is the second pic a 3010 utility? I have a 3020 gas utility here. Tom

morgan in ar · Nov 11, 2018

Yes, 3010 utility.

farmersamm · Nov 11, 2018

Can't really tell from your pics, but you'll have much better results if you keep space between the rows. It allows the sides of the bale to dry after rain/snow. Keeps spoilage down.

Just enough to allow the water to run off the bale onto the ground, instead of onto the bale next to it.

Space between rows also gives room for the coyotes to get in there and hunt mice/rats. Nothing more frustrating than picking up a bale, and having the bottom drop out cause the buggers got in, and chewed the twine in half underneath the bale.

farmersamm · Nov 11, 2018

I forgot where I might have posted this pic, but it's a prime example of what I'm talkin' about.

I took some year old hay from a dood, as payment for replacing the door, and some other stuff, on his tractor.

He had his hay stored with the rows touching each other. You can see the damage over the year it was stored this way. That is preventable damage.

MJMJ · Nov 12, 2018

It really just depends on how tight they're packed together and how tight the bales are to begin with. I've done both ways and don't see an advantage to either. Sometimes you'll pull them apart and it looks like brand new hay. Other times water gets in and causes rot.

Tx Jim · Nov 12, 2018

IMHO rd bales stacked touching the rd part is not going to happen when my rd bales are stored. My neighbors that pyramid rd bales stored outside are a real mystery to me. I bet with the record rainfall of 24''+ since Sept 1 we're receiving this year will make the pyramid stacks become a lot less next year.

Destroked 450 · Nov 12, 2018

I've got about 300 rolls stored in a neighbors barn I cut hay off of, the rest we finished hauling home friday.
We stack some in pyramids outside but cover them with hay tarps.
I like to leave enough room between bales to walk through, also gives me room to take bales out of one row at a time with the tractor.

MJMJ · Nov 12, 2018

It's possible I misunderstood. I agree with them not touching the "round part". It's guaranteed to rot and be a mess. I've seen people pyramid them uncovered as well, they have to be giving up 25% of their hay to rot.
I was thinking of end to end. I'm not convinced either way is best, but pushed tight end to end has the potential to have the most rot. Or the least.

Tx Jim · Nov 12, 2018

My rd bales have little to no spoilage stacked flat end to flat end when stacked correctly & tight. I think all other things equal cover edge netwrapped bales are more prone to spoilage when stacked outside.

morgan in ar · Nov 12, 2018

I leave a little gap between them on the sides, never thought about leaving enough to walk through. I do butt them end to end. I haven't noticed too much spoilage, unless they are outside for about two years.

Bringing bales home today

morgan in ar

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