[sugartown farm]

Has anybody got any experience of mini balers. I made silage in barrels last yr. They were a Big success with the sheep especially as I added a wee drop of molasses to each barrel. With my 2 fields i got a contractor in to cut, bale and wrap Big bale silage... My mf35 couldn't work with the big bales and I was dependant on favours to get them shifted. Im strongly considering a small baler and wrapper for this coming yr. Any thoughts.

[Me]

I once made 400 small square bales to feed sheep. Nightmare and never again. Loads of labour, very, very heavy and when you lift them your hands slip on the frost/snow/ice and you rupture something vital, two pints of nr freezing water goes down your wellies etc etc. Wrap costs are obviously really high per ton of bale. I know its not quite what you meant by mini baler but its near enough. Better to buy a bigger tractor and move big bales

[Ina]

Is this the kind of baler you are thinking of?

http://www.fairisle.org.uk/agriculture/baler/baler.html

Fair Isle is the only place where I've seen one. I think the idea is great as you can move the bales without machines (at least short distances).

[stufe35]

2 immediate thoughts,
1. as said above a bigger tractor will be far cheaper than a baler and wrapper and potentially cost neutral as mf 35s.  Are very sought after,  you might straight swap for a mf 165 with loader. Or an industrial like an mf20..with loader.

2. If your contractor is using a modern round baler they can actually be set to produce bales of any diameter,  so get them made a bit smaller so your mf 35 can handle them.  I think standard sizes are 4 or 5 ft diameter, what size do you currently get made...?
You could get them done say 3.5ft reducing weight considerably.

Ps see massey ferguson 30e. On ebay as an example.