Bale throwers

Erik Ks farmer · Jul 27, 2013

Why is it that bale throwers never caught on in the midwest? I like to have some small squares to feed around calving time and it seems to me that would be the way to go with limited help around. Around here there's a few NH stack wagons and a few accumulators and grapples but that takes a little too much capital for 500 bales a year.

Larry NEIL · Jul 27, 2013

I see lots of throwers around here...I use and accumulator and a bale grab myself, but I'm kinda the oddball in these parts.

Wheat Farmer · Jul 27, 2013

A lot of 2 row and 3 row stack wagons here is the Upper Arkansas Valley (Salida CO) Even for 500 bales a used one would save you lot of back breaking work as long as you had a high barn to unload in. last year we were moving 160 bales in a 30 minute 6 mile round trip. know of a 2 row pull type for sale, but don't have a price it yet.

Bruce from Can. · Jul 28, 2013

Eric, I can only guess that climate is the reason. Where I live in Ontario Canada,our weather is much the same as the northeast USA. Lots of dairy,and big old Dutch stlye barns, and frequent rains. Makes it real good for growing hay, but it has to be kept inside under cover, or it will rot very rapidly. So small square bales of hay have to be put under cover as soon as they are made,and kicking them from the baler on to a wagon was just a improvment over the bales sliding up a shoot on to the wagon Where someone would have to stack them. On my farm I have gone the whole gamit,from dropping the on the ground,up the shoot, then thrower. The best is The method that matches your work force. For me, that now means big round bales, I can do by myself. Still have my kicker wagons,but can't find any one that waants to handel bales,at a reasonable wage. Here I would have to give$13-$15.00 per hour.And I would need 2-3 workers,just too costly. Bruce

Ken Macfarlane · Jul 28, 2013

They are common here too but you are sort of limited to short
bales. I personally don't like them because I spent alot of time
unloading them. Much prefer a hand stacked wagon. We also have
an ez-trail basket we've tried the last couple of years that works
really well.

kevinecwi · Jul 28, 2013

Myself and two brothers was probably the biggest reason, although one time we did have the neighbor fill his kick wagons for us and we always used a bunting pole to push the wagons up the barn hill onto the barn floor to unload... the kick wagon got stuck in the door opening because they were too tall. We unloaded one of those wagons on the incline of the hill then the other two we restacked onto our flat racks and pushed them up as we always did.

Erik Ks farmer · Jul 28, 2013

Labor is exactly the same here, Bruce. Can't find anyone who wants to work on a farm any more, my own brother even quit me. I bale most all my hay in big rounds, but still like to have a few squares on hand. I don't like leaving squares sit out overnight either, it's a great way to get a rain.

notjustair · Jul 28, 2013

Erik, I couldn't agree more. Must be regional - I have never in my life seen one in person. Must be related to those tedders I hear they have invented.

The neighbor bought a grapple for the skid steer that is very slick. It is a couple thousand dollars of slick though. You should see the mess the last group of hired kids made in the barn trying to stack bales. Who would have thought farm labor was a lost art.

Josh in Pa · Jul 28, 2013

Here throwers are the norm and I wonder why we don't see
stack wagons? If your set up (shed wise) for a stack wagon,
you can probably get one cheaper than a thrower and a few
wagons.
Josh

Bale throwers

Erik Ks farmer

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Larry NEIL

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Wheat Farmer

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Bruce from Can.

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Ken Macfarlane

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kevinecwi

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Erik Ks farmer

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notjustair

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Josh in Pa

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