How To Pick The Right Baler For Your Farm

Shopping for a hay baler can be overwhelming. There are so many models and features to consider!

Here at Middletown Tractor Sales, we strive to make your life easier. We gathered up the following tips to help you find the best baler for your needs. If you have questions or want to shop balers for sale, visit our dealership. We have locations in Fairmont and Buckhannon, West Virginia, as well as Washington and Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

Consider The Hay Type

Start with the state of the crop. Will you be harvesting dried hay or baling silage? Wet hay poses a few extra challenges to a baler, so it will need certain features and specifications accordingly.

The baler needs to be specifically designed with handling damp and heavy hay in mind. It can also come with heavier bearings and scrapers, which can clear away gummy debris (left behind by the wet hay) from the various parts.

Consider The Land

Next, think about where the baler will be used. If the area is relatively flat and full of compact dirt, most any baler will do. But if there are certain difficulties posed by the terrain, make sure the baler can rise to the challenge.

For example, consider getting a baler with wide flotation tires. These can more easily handle steep slopes and wet terrain - two obstacles that can cause traction, handling, and efficiency issues. The wide flotation tires distribute weight over a larger surface area, which improves the baler's traction. It also does less damage to the ground, which is a great added benefit.

Consider The Features

Balers can come with a wide range of features. These increase the cost of the model, but can boost the model's efficiency and save you time and money.

For example, a surface wrap feature is commonly sought after. This involves a certain type of material that gets wrapped around the hay bale.

John Deere® balers, for example, can be modified with a dealer-installed B-Wrap® kit. This cutting-edge surface wrap is designed specifically for hay bales stored outside. This surface wrap is able to protect the hay from ground moisture and weather. In other words, it offers similar protection that comes with storing the hay bales inside a barn - but without taking up valuable barn space!

This is just one example of a useful hay bale feature. Spend some time learning about the various possible features, the decide the ones that best support your farming needs.

Ready to shop balers for sale? Check out the selection at Middletown Tractor Sales. Let our expert staff help you find the perfect baler for your budget and farm. Contact us or stop by our dealership. We are based in Fairmont and Buckhannon, West Virginia, as well as Washington and Uniontown, Pennsylvania. We also proudly serve those in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Morgantown, West Virginia.