Baler
A baler is a piece of farm machinery that is used to press together a cut or raked crop (such as hay or straw) into bales. As the baler drives over the crop, its blades cut the crop to size, creates a tightly packed bundle, and binds the bale with twine.
Types of Balers
The baler binds the crop into a round or rectangular shape for transportation and storage. Different farm balers can produce various size and shape bales. Smaller rectangular bales are best for more smaller farm operations. Small rectangular bales are more easily handled and weigh only about 50 pounds. Bigger rectangular or round bales are produced by much larger pieces of farm equipment. These bales can weigh as much as one ton (or 2,000 pounds) and require specialized equipment to transport them. In the case of small bales, the baler either drops the bales on the ground to be picked up later or uses an ejector to throw the bale into an open trailer towed behind the baler. Large heavy bales are left in the field for later pickup.
History of Balers
Before the 19th century, hay was cut by hand and typically stored as haystacks. In the 1860s, mechanical cutting devices were developed and, from these, came the modern baler. In 1872, Charles Withington invented a machine that cut crops and then used a knotting device to bundle and bind hay. In 1936, a man named Innes invented an automatic baler that tied bales with twine. An improved version of Innes's invention was created by Ed Nolt in 1939. Nolt's baler was more reliable and became commonly used.
Price of Balers
Depending on the size and type of baler, a new machine may cost between $15,000 and $50,000.
The baler binds the crop into a round or rectangular shape for transportation and storage. Different farm balers can produce various size and shape bales. Smaller rectangular bales are best for more smaller farm operations. Small rectangular bales are more easily handled and weigh only about 50 pounds. Bigger rectangular or round bales are produced by much larger pieces of farm equipment. These bales can weigh as much as one ton (or 2,000 pounds) and require specialized equipment to transport them. In the case of small bales, the baler either drops the bales on the ground to be picked up later or uses an ejector to throw the bale into an open trailer towed behind the baler. Large heavy bales are left in the field for later pickup.
History of Balers
Before the 19th century, hay was cut by hand and typically stored as haystacks. In the 1860s, mechanical cutting devices were developed and, from these, came the modern baler. In 1872, Charles Withington invented a machine that cut crops and then used a knotting device to bundle and bind hay. In 1936, a man named Innes invented an automatic baler that tied bales with twine. An improved version of Innes's invention was created by Ed Nolt in 1939. Nolt's baler was more reliable and became commonly used.
Price of Balers
Depending on the size and type of baler, a new machine may cost between $15,000 and $50,000.