Way OT Baling wire?

Usual practice here in wheat/barley country is for the combine to cut and thresh the grain. The straw is put out the back of the machine into 'straw spreaders', just a couple of big whirling blades that spread it out behind the machine. If the straw is to be baled later, the straw spreaders may be removed to leave a swath of straw or if they are not removed then a side delivery rake puts it into swaths for the baler.

Plastic twine is a real problem. It doesn't deteriorate and thus lays where you drop it for years. People who run sheep do not want to use it as it gets in the wool and renders it unsaleable. _Most_ people using twine tied bales are careful to retrieve the stuff and dispose of it properly but I had a neighbor that just let it drop and lay there. His barnyard was pretty much of a 'yellow lawn' from all the ends stickign out of the mud. I also recently hit a piece at another farm with my chainsaw which promptly wound up in a big, snarled ball around the drive sprocket and in the chain. Didn't even try to clear it until I got home.

Harry K

Reply to
Harry K
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Ooops, forgot.

Now that straw is being used for fuel and building panels, a change in procedure has occurred. The combine cuts the grain as high as they can (trying to get just the head and a very short stem), that is followed by "swathers" that cut the standing stubble right at ground level and lay it in a swath for the the baler.

Harry K

Reply to
Harry K

Or the combine can dump the straw directly into a towed bailer.

Reply to
krw

I'm your age and I was seeing baling wire used as teen in CA. I'm no baling expert, not having spent time on a farm since I was a kid, but I know I've never been without a roll in my tool box in over 45 yrs. You can still get a roll in almost any automotive store. I hadda dig out that roll and jury-rig something as recently as a yr ago. Don't leave home without it! ;)

nb

Reply to
notbob

Bailing wire is the old farmer's version of duct tape. It's properly disposed of by placing it over a fence post, after breaking open the bail.

Re: the straw disperser. I saw a guy who walked into one when it was whirling. It flattened him like he'd been hit by a truck. No lasting damage, but he claimed that he never had to part his hair again.

Reply to
Nonny

true, I just haven't seen that out here. The current practice where straw is baled seems to be 'leave high stubble and swath it'.

Harry K

Reply to
Harry K

Some examples, in case anyone is interested:

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Reply to
krw

dealers at the time) were mounting balers to the back (mounted right to the combine frame) of White and Massey combines back in the late sixties/early seventies. I think they did a couple John deere units as well, but I'm not sure (I worked for a White dealer at the time)This was before the big bales were common - and it would spit roughly 70 lb bales of straw out the back like water-melon seeds.

Reply to
clare

Since the last time I was on a farm to see this done, late 60's, that makes me not feel like a complete MO.

I am willing to admit that it might have been a baler towed by a combine but I swear standing wheat went in the front, seed was loaded to a hopper and bales were pooped out the back.

So, thanks for your post.

Colbyt

Reply to
Colbyt

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