We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Machinery

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Baler?

By Lea Miller
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 15,026
Share

A baler is a machine that compresses and binds a volume of material into a round or rectangular shape for transportation and storage. In farm applications, the baler processes cut vegetation or hay usually intended for animal feed and is towed behind a tractor. In industrial applications, a stationary baler is used to compress and bind materials such as paper and cardboard in preparation for recycling.

Cut vegetation such as alfalfa, clover, or hay is chopped and left in the field in a narrow strip known as a windrow. A tractor pulling the baler moves along the windrow, where a row of teeth rakes the cut material up from the ground. The interior mechanism keeps the feed under pressure to compress it and continues adding material until the bale is the desired size. The bale is wrapped with twine or wire to secure it.

Different farm balers can produce various size and shape bales. Smaller rectangular bales are suitable for more modest, less-mechanized farm operations. They are more easily handled, weighing only about 50 pounds. Sizable rectangular or round bales are produced by large-scale commercial operations. These bales can weigh as much as a ton and require specialized heavy 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.

Power for a farm baler comes from the tractor that pulls it. Using a power takeoff, power from the tractor is diverted to the baling machinery. The horsepower of the tractor provides sufficient force for all the steps performed by the bailing equipment.

A round baler is often used for the production of silage, i.e., animal feed that is cut and baled while still green. The baled material is sealed inside plastic wrapping and allowed to ferment. This fermented feed provides better nutrition for livestock than dried hay during seasons when there is no harvest.

Industrial balers processing waste materials for recycling can be used alone or as part of an automated process that shreds or segregates materials before baling. A variation is called a baling press, which uses a large plate to flatten the material and then binds it into a bale. A vertical unit is top-loading and can be intended to produce only one bale before requiring manual unloading. A horizontal unit loads from one side and produces a finished bale on the other. Most industrial balers are powered by electricity.

Share
About Mechanics is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.aboutmechanics.com/what-is-a-baler.htm
Copy this link
About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

About Mechanics, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.