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Description: After forage is mowed (e.g., NAL #4830 to #4839), it is raked (e.g., NAL #4861 to #4868) into windrows sized to fit the pickup of a chopper or baler. Moisture content of 30 to 40% is preferable for ensiling (haylage), while 15 to 16% is the target for hay. Moisture content less than 10% results in excessive leaf loss during baling, while moisture greater than 25% often results in mold growth in bales. This baler, towed and powered by a tractor, makes small square bales bound with twine. Bales may be stacked by a person on the trailing wagon shown also in NAL #4870 and #4872. Alternatively, the bales may be dropped on the ground behind the baler (e.g., NAL #4873, #4874 and #4875) to be collected later. Some balers are equipped with a kicker to throw the bales into an enclosed wagon (e.g., NAL #4880, #4881 and #4882). The full wagon is towed to a central storage area where the bales are off-loaded on to an elevator and stacked by hand or dropped into a large storage area, in either case usually under cover to protect the hay from precipitation.
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