Fixed chamber silage bales have smaller diameters. The ground speed of the baler should be lower than speeds used in making field-cured hay. Downshifting one gear should help to guarantee a tighter, denser bale. A dry-matter density of 10 pounds per cubic foot is considered ideal. Some baler manufacturers recommend retrofitting older balers with kits that aid in baling wet forage.
Many manufacturers produce balers specifically for making balage.
Some recent models of both fixed and variable chamber balers include knife mechanisms to chop the forage allowing increased density. UK research found using a 'chopping' baler increased silage bale weights by about 300 pounds at the same bale diameter. Traditional bale spears can be used to move round bales of silage, but have the disadvantage of puncturing the plastic if the bale is moved after wrapping. Wrapping the bales after they have been moved to their place of storage will avoid puncturing the plastic. Another more expensive option is the hydraulic bale squeeze that mounts on the front end loader.