Hay baler - GIF

[BuffaloJohn]

The big round bales solve some storage problems too. Even left outside the loss from the outer layers degrading is less than the loss on small bales just from handling and storing inside.

Somewhat better storage space utilization with the big round versus small round and much better than 2 tie, but round bales don't pack as densely as big rectangular. The round bales are roll packed where the rectangular bales are ram packed, so gravity versus hydraulics. Yes, you could leave the big rounds outside in the rain, stacking them outside was a royal pain as the rain wouldn’t run off if you stacked them more than one layer, so tarps were needed and it cascaded from there.

Going to rectangular meant a place to store, but I could get way more stored. I even got to the point that I would specify the bales to be 7’6” instead of 8’ in length so I could pack the storage easier since I was moving two or three bales at a time.

Glad I don’t do hay anymore, I don’t miss feeding with the wind blowing little bits of hay into you face, getting into all the spaces between jacket and your skin… nope, don’t miss that at all…