Editing Hay (section)

== Baling ==
[[File:Grass hay by David Shankbone.jpg|right|thumb|When possible, hay, especially small square bales like these, should be stored under cover and protected from [[precipitation]].]]
[[file:Heuballen Plastik Steiermark.jpg|thumb|A completely wrapped [[silage]] bale in Austria]]
{{See also|Baler}}

Small square bales are made in two main variations. The smaller "two-tie" (two twines to hold the bale together) or larger "three-tie" (three twines to hold the bale together). They vary in size within both groups but are generally popular in different markets. The smaller two-tie bales are favored in the hobby animal market and are preferred for their convenient size. The larger, three-tie bales are favored by producers wanting to export bales because of the increase of efficiency in transportation and also by customers for a better price per ton. The two-tie small bales are the original form factor of hay bales. [[Baler]]s for both types of small bales are still manufactured, as well as stackers,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://agriculture.newholland.com/nar/en-us/equipment/products/haytools-spreaders/stackcruiser-self-propelled-bale-wagons/models | title=Stackcruiser® Self-Propelled Bale Wagons }}</ref> bundlers<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.marcrestmfg.com/CA/en/group/bale-baron | title=Bale Baron &#124; Marcrest Manufacturing Inc }}</ref> and bale accumulators<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nordenmfg.com/bale-accumulator-systems/ | title=Norden MFG &#124; Bale Accumulators | date=3 May 2022 }}</ref> for handling them. Some farms still use equipment manufactured over 50 years ago to produce small bales. The small bale remains part of overall [[ranch]] lore and tradition with [[Hay buck|"hay bucking"]] competitions still held for fun at many [[rodeo]]s and county [[fair]]s. Small square bales are often stacked mechanically or by hand in a crisscrossed fashion sometimes called a "haystack", "rick" or "hayrick". Rain tends to wash nutrition out of hay and can cause spoilage or mold; hay in small square bales is particularly susceptible. Small bales are, therefore, often stored in a haymow or hayshed. Haystacks built outside are usually protected by [[tarpaulin]]s. If this is not done, the top two layers of the stack are often lost to rot and mold, and if the stack is not arranged in a proper haystack, moisture can seep even deeper into the stack. The rounded shape and tighter compaction of round bales make them less susceptible to spoilage, as the water is less likely to penetrate the bale. Adding net wrap, which is not used on square bales, offers even more weather resistance. People who keep small numbers of animals may prefer small bales that one person can handle without machinery. There is also a risk that hay bales may be moldy or contain decaying carcasses of tiny creatures accidentally killed by baling equipment and swept up into the bale, producing toxins such as [[botulinum toxin]]. Both can be deadly to non-[[ruminant]] herbivores such as [[horse]]s, and when this occurs, the entire contaminated bale generally is thrown out, another reason some people continue to support the market for small bales.

Farmers who need to make large amounts of hay will likely choose balers that produce much larger bales, maximizing the amount of hay protected from the elements. Large bales come in two types: round and square. Large square bales, which can weigh up to {{convert|1000|kg|lb}}, can be stacked and easily transported on trucks. Large round bales, which typically weigh {{convert|300|to(-)|400|kg|lb}}, are more moisture-resistant and pack the hay more densely (especially at the center). Round bales are quickly fed with the use of mechanized equipment. The volume-to-surface area ratio allows many dry-area farmers to leave large bales outside until consumed. Wet-area farmers and those in climates with heavy snowfall can stack round bales under a shed or tarp and use a light but durable plastic wrap that partially encloses outside bales. The wrap repels moisture but leaves the ends of the bale exposed so that the hay itself can "breathe" and does not begin to ferment. When it is possible to store round bales under a shed, they last longer, and less hay is lost to rot and moisture.<ref>{{cite web |first=Edward B. |last=Rayburn |title=Round Bale Storage Costs |publisher=West Virginia University Extension Service |url=http://www.caf.wvu.edu/~forage/roundbale.htm |access-date=2007-05-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070404143403/http://www.caf.wvu.edu/~forage/roundbale.htm |archive-date=2007-04-04 }}</ref>

For animals that eat [[silage]], a [[bale wrapper]] may be used to seal a round bale completely and trigger the fermentation process. It is a technique used as a money-saving process by producers who do not have access to a superior [[Storage silo|silo]], and for producing silage that is transported to other locations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Large Round Bale Silage |publisher=Penn State Cooperative Extension service |url=http://cropsoil.psu.edu/extension/facts/agfact9.pdf |access-date=2007-05-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060204194948/http://cropsoil.psu.edu/extension/facts/agfact9.pdf |archive-date=2006-02-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In very damp climates, it is a legitimate alternative to drying hay completely. When processed properly, the natural fermentation process prevents mold and rot. Round bale silage is also sometimes called "haylage", and is seen more commonly in [[Europe]] than in either the United States or [[Australia]]. Hay stored in this fashion must remain completely sealed in plastic, as any holes or tears will allow the entrance of oxygen and can stop the preservation properties of fermentation and lead to spoilage.<ref>{{cite web |author=Karen Spivey and Jackie Nix |title=Haylage |publisher=North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service |url=http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/onslow/AG/hay/haylage.html |access-date=2007-05-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071020181500/http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/onslow/AG/hay/haylage.html |archive-date=2007-10-20 }}</ref>