As the months go by, the farming landscape continues to change and take on different shapes. The rectangular fields that were once bare are now covered with crops, and some are spotted with round bales. It’s the changing of the seasons.

Although the technology to make round hay bales has been around since the 1940s, this particular farming practice didn’t become commonplace until the late 1970s and early 1980s. Traditional “square” bales are relatively easy to handle and they stack up neatly; but it takes a whole crew to gather a field of square hay bales and get them to the barn.

A field full of round bales, on the other hand, can be made in part of an afternoon by one person on a tractor, pulling a round-baling machine. Round balers are fast and they are more reliable than square-balers. Round bales, which typically weigh 700 to 900 lbs., are more moisture-resistant, and pack the hay more densely (especially at the center).

And, round bales add their own shape and beauty to the harvest landscape. It sure is pretty ‘round here. Read more here.

Until we walk again…