New Stacking System Weatherproofs Bales

New Stacking System Weatherproofs Bales HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Bale Handling (5) 3-5-18 Larry Zimmerman, a Wisconsin dairyman turned welder, dares to call his haymaking system "weatherproof." His unique system is built around a special bale stacker which places hay bales in a triangle self-drying stack to be left in the field. "Because you can bale earlier, you save more leaves and end up with higher quality hay," Zimmerman of New Richmond, points out. He designed and builds two stacker models (6 bale and 30 bale), both of which pull behind the hay baler. A person riding on the platform handstacks a pyramid of bales on the stacker frame. As each pyramid of bales is finished, the frame is "tripped," allowing the pyramid to slide off. "It's all done with the baler operating at full speed. There are no stops for wagon unloading or unhitching," explains Zimmerman. "It beats the weather because you can bale ahead of a rain and leave the stacks in the field. Or, part-time farmers can bale all weekend and haul the stacks in later." Zimmerman notes you can bale sooner after cutting because the bales will finish curing in the stack in the field. "If there's any heat build-up, it's dissipated harmlessly to the air rather than building up inside a barn or mow. Heat damage to protein is eliminated. My protein tests have never been lower than 161/2% and have gone as high as 24%," says Zimmerman. Here's how he explains the "weatherproof" effect: "Earlier baling means you save more leaves. These flatten out against the bale during a rain, weatherproofing the stack. The exposed sides of the bales weather only about 1/4 in. deep. Inside, the hay stays green and leafy." The 30-bale unit is actually two 15-bale stacks side-by-side. Up to 45 bales can be hauled in from the field at once using a front-end loader attachment that can carry 15 bales, plus 30 bales on the stacker itself. Because of the shape of the stacks, they can then be set one on top of the other in stacking bales at headquarters. The 6-bale model sells for $580, and the 30 bale unit for $1,800. The front-end loader attachment for carrying a 15-bale stack sells for $300. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Larry Zimmerman, Zimmerman Welding, Rt. 2, New Richmond, Wis. 54017 (ph. 715 246-4890).

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