Storage This NebGuide discusses management of hay harvesting with a large round baler. Specific management practices are necessary to maintain hay quality and minimize hay loss during harvest, transportation and storage of large round bales. Large Round Bale Storage Large round bale packaging systems allow one person to harvest, store and feed large quantities of hay for small as well as large acreages.
Good management is required to maximize effectiveness.
Losses in baling, transportation and storage of large round bales can far exceed the losses of rectangular bales unless the large round bale system is properly managed. Hay producers select large round balers over small rectangular balers because of their high capacity, lower cost, and lower labor requirements. One person with properly sized equipment can usually bale, store and feed all hay for most operations. Major disadvantages of large round bales include poor saleability on the open hay market, poor long distance transportability, and potential losses from baling, transporting, storage and feeding. These disadvantages can be minimized with proper management.