6 BULLETIN 977, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGBICTJLTURE. 



same grade of hay in small or large bales. In some sections producers 

 could easily find out to what markets their hay is likely to be shipped. 

 Then, whenever it is within their power to do so, they should have 

 their hay properly baled with respect to size and weight of bale. 



The reasons for the demand for certain sizes and weights are 

 numerous and are not always based on facts. They will be discussed 

 in a subsequent bulletin dealing with the marketing of hay in ter- 

 minal markets. 2 In this matter the producer can easily afford to meet 

 the demands of the market. The only exceptions would be when the 

 proper-sized press could not be obtained or when the demand is for 

 such small, light bales that the minimum weight could not be loaded 

 into the ordinary sized box car. About the only way to overcome this 

 exception would be to sell the hay " shipper's track." 



If producers and country shippers could have the opportunity of 

 following their hay to its final destination and observing the effect of 

 improper baling, with respect to the number of broken bales and the 

 amount of loose hay that occurs when hay is improperly baled, they 

 would see that the loss caused by improper baling totals thousands of 

 dollars annually. 



Broken bales are caused by the improper placing of wires ; in some 

 instances, by the use of too few wires. 3 In some of the eastern mar- 

 kets two-wire bales do not bring so high a price as three-wire bales. 

 Dealers say that they are tired of the loss sustained .by two-wire 

 bales. The only way they can induce producers to use three wires is 

 by offering less for the two-wire hay than it is really worth as a feed, 

 or by paying a premium for three-wire bales. 



" ACCORDION " BALES. 



" Accordion " bales are not in demand when properly baled hay is 

 available. An " accordion " bale is one that will open out like an 

 accordion when the wires are taken off and it is pulled from both 

 ends. TJie charges are matted together and it is very difficult to sepa- 

 rate the proper amount for feeding each animal. This kind of bale is 

 caused either by overfeeding the pres.s or by using a type of press that 

 does not separate the charges or turn down the " overlap " at each 

 stroke of the plunger. 



Bales having sloping ends and ragged edges or improperly placed 

 wires are classed, by present rules, as improperly baled. The pressing 

 of improperly baled hay can be prevented only by the producer, be- 

 cause baled hay is in that small class of agricultural products which 

 remains as prepared on the farm until consumed. 



- Collier, G. A., and McClure, H. B. : Marketing Hay Through Terminal Markets. U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture, Bulletin 979. 



3 See McClure, II. B. : Baling hay. Farmers" Bulletin No.1049. 



