Contribution from the Bureau of Markets and Crop Estimates 
H. C. TAYLOR, Chief 

Washington, D. C. Vv November 17, 1921 
THE WEIGHING OF MARKET HAY. 
By G. A. CouuisEr, Investigator in Hay Marketing, and H. B. McCuurg, Specialist 
in Hay Marketing. 
CONTENTS. 
Page, Page 
Weighing by the bale_____._______- i | Types of scales compared _—_—_——___ 28 
Weighing at warehouses___________ a Reliability of weighmaster ________ 28 
Weighing on wagon scales_________ 13 Proper. LeCOrdSss 2 2a es 28 
Weighing on railroad track scales__ 24 

A better understanding is needed among those interested in the 
marketing of hay as to the weighing methods in use throughout the 
country. It is the purpose of this bulletin to describe the various 
methods and practices now in use, so that the merits of all may be 
studied and compared in order that those methods which are an 
improvement over others may be adopted for the improvement of 
marketing facilities, and that careless, inefficient, and unprofitable 
practices may be discontinued. 
There are four general methods of weighing hay. These are by 
the bale, by the truckload on hand trucks, by the wagonload or 
motor truckload, and by the carload, but for each method there are 
numerous variations caused by the use of various kinds of scales, the 
manner in which the weights are obtained, and the method by which 
they are recorded and preserved for future reference. 
WEIGHING BY THE BALE. 
Weighing hay by the bale is practiced principally by producers 
and balers in certain sections of the country, the timothy-producing 
sections of Michigan and New York probably being the most repre- 
sentative. Hay is sometimes weighed by this method in terminal 
markets, where tagged weights are recognized as official* or when 


1By “official” is meant that the agency, by whose authority the certificate is issued, 
guarantees the correctness of the statements contained therein and assumes the liability 
for any loss or damage which may be caused by any errors on the part of its agents. 
i 
