4 Tips to Get Round Bale Shape Right Every Time
Making “perfect” round bales can often feel more like an art than a science, but it’s an essential part of keeping forage fresh and ready to feed out for the winter. In this quick guide, Tama outlines bale shape tips to help you get it right every time.
1. Check windrow width and density
The width and density of your windrow (your row of cut and raked crop) dictate how easy it will be to pick up and form into a solid bale. For the best results, aim for windrows that are straight and roughly the same width as your baler’s pickup. Windrow density should be uniform, with the cut crop raked evenly across the windrow’s width to form an even “box” shape.
This will give a well-shaped bale with a strong edge, and will help prevent bales that are “hourglass” or “barrel” shaped, where crop has been unevenly fed into the centre or ends.
2. Refine your tractor driving technique
It isn’t always possible to make windrows perfectly straight and even or to get them to the same width as the baler’s pickup. In these cases, tractor driving technique becomes more important.
Narrower windrows require you to weave slightly as you drive to ensure the crop feeds evenly across the entire baler chamber. Keep your speed steady and weave equally to each side. This prevents the formation of lopsided bales.
3. Keep an eye on baler settings (and round bale density)
Getting the density right for your crop is an important part of ensuring bales retain their shape in the long term, especially if you plan to stack them. If you aren’t baling at the correct density settings for your baler model and crop, your bales are more likely to collapse or deform over time, and hay or straw bales won’t be able to shed water effectively.
To get shape and density right, keep an eye on your baler’s density gauge while baling. To double-check that settings are correct, you can also do the “thump test”: When hit, a well-formed bale feels solid rather than spongy, and will spring back from the impact rather than caving in.
Modern balers also come with shape indicators that show the shape of each end of the bale to help you keep an eye on how your bale is forming.
4. Get the wrap right
The final tip for producing the perfect bale is getting your wrapping right. Pay attention to:
- Type of netwrap: Specific products may be designed to perform better with wetter or drier crops, or may be better suited to whole crop silage.
- Baler tension settings: Netwrap that’s applied too loosely can bunch up or fail to secure the bale properly. Too tight, and you risk breakage.
- Number of wraps: The correct number of wraps to secure your bale depends on the wrap product and crop. Tama’s baling strategy guide covers the details.
- Edge-to-edge coverage: Your bale should be wrapped evenly across its full width. If the netwrap doesn’t reach the edges, you risk exposing the bale to moisture and subsequent spoilage.
Investing in high-quality wrap products, such as TamaNet+ Edge To Edge® or Tama EZ Web, also goes a long way towards ensuring wrapped bales stay secure, retain their shape and are ready to feed out when needed.
Need more help with baling? Reach out to the Tama Assist team or subscribe to Tama News for more top tips straight to your inbox every month.
