Home Forums Miscellaneous Topics Rural Living Combines are gone

Combines left and the hired man and I got after the oat straw. I love the sweet smell of fresh oat straw. Sold most right off the wagon and the last three wagon loads were put in the pole barn before 1.9 inches of rain came.

That's a good way to handle it. For some reason or another, I always hated handling square bales of most any kind.

The small square straw bales are in demand at the local horse and goat farms and to a lesser extent at a couple of small pig farrowing operations. I get a good price for them otherwise I wouldn't mess with them.

Like James, I don't miss that. I was in better shape back when.

I always did prefer bucking straw bales over hay bales.

Wonder why that was.

Oh, I'd say it might have had something to do with straw weighing about half of what hay does.

Looks like the old MF square baler makes some nice bales still. Dad said our old MF 12 made some of the best bales he's handled... great corn crop in the background also.

Your last picture shows up on my facebook market place. Thought I recognized it. Small world or someone stole your picture. For sure straw bales are easier than hay. Lighter and not as scratchy. Stacked a bunch when I was younger.

I hate those small square bales. Back in the 60s I hauled and stacked in hot Kansas barns, it seemed like a million of them. They were alfalfa bales. Made about $20 a day, but beer was $5 a case.

Always remember my first day baling for a particular farmer. Hot as hell, bailed all day and into the evening, tired, thirsty, hungry. End of the day grabbed a lawn chair next to the rest of the guys and out comes the cooler. Was looking forward to an ice cold pepsi when an ice cold beer was handed to me, even better. I was 16, but back then things were a bit different and if you worked a hard day, age didn't seem to matter much. Most refreshing beer you will ever drink. Was probably like $12 a case, less for keystone.

Need I remind everyone of my feelings about baling?

I miss it. A couple hours of handling square bales would help the fond memories fade, I am sure.

Roundoak do you let the kicker do the work or stack them or stack the back couple of rows only or some combination? Hate to get wacked by a flying bale. lol

Oh, yes. Please do!

Well, since you requested it: one of the most hateful damned activities ever devised by man (actually probably by Satan).

Me too! Dad didn’t buy a round bailer till I left for college.