As farmers are getting busier and busier, time-consuming work such as bringing in bales in ones or twos can be a monotonous task. In many parts of the country, contractors have expanded their businesses and begun offering a complete service including mowing and stacking bales in their customers’ yards. In many cases, this works out as cheap for the farmer considering both time and fuel saved as the majority of contractors are set up to handle multiple bales at once.

Bale trailers

Traditionally, the majority of bale transport would have been done with standard bale trailers which involved a tractor and loader or a wheeled loader to load and unload bales in the field and back in the yard.

The major inconvenience with bale trailers is that bales need to be loaded on to trailers in the field and legally tied down before travelling on public roads.

The benefit of a bale trailer is that usually more bales can be carried when compared to a chaser with the option of stacking two rows high. Trailer length and its load rating will obviously be the deciding factor.

Bale chasers

The bale chaser concept has been around for many years now, but has really gained traction in the market in recent years. There is what seems to be a growing hunger from farmers to get the contractor to stack their bales, therefore making it justifiable for the contractor to invest in such kit.

The chaser concept is to lift multiple bales and carry them using the one machine without the need for fastening using straps or ropes, eliminating the need for a loader in the field, reducing both time and the number of machines involved. However, the limiting factor for the majority of bale chasers on the market currently is that they can only carry a maximum of 10 bales at once.

Perhaps there is niche market for a chaser that is designed to carry two rows of bales. The only problem with a design like this is that it’s inevitably going to be a more complicated machine, therefore a higher price tag will naturally follow. Then it may be more questionable for some contractors regarding the level of investment for such a machine.

Contractor views

Michael John O’Sullivan Co Cork

Based in Mallow, Co Cork, Michael John O’Sullivan makes in the region of 40,000 bales annually, 75% of which are transported and stacked. Michael John currently runs between three and four Herron bale trailers to shift bales from field to farm.

“At this stage, we have tried almost every possible way of transporting bales and still end up going back to the way we started. Trailers still work best. They’re the fastest, easiest way of transporting wrapped bales, causing the least amount of damage.”

Over the years, bale chasers have been tried, but never stayed long-term as trailers seem to be the best all-rounder.

“Comparing both systems, trailers have more benefits for us, moving 30,000 bales each season. In wet conditions, trailers can be parked inside the gate and bales brought to them whereas with chasers you are travelling around the field with an increasing weight before heading for the gap. Over time, you’re bound to have a bale end up in hedge or in a drain. Having a loader in the field quickly solves these sorts of issues.

“One thing I will say from experience is that if you’re using trailers and loaders, you need to be properly set up to do so. Transport and the correct handling of bales is an aspect many often overlook. Our trailers were made especially to suit. Little things like straight edges were rounded to reduce chances of bale tearing.”

Each trailer has features including ABS brakes and ball and spoon hitches. All are fitted with 385 R22.5 tyres, a size Michael John says suits well considering almost all their work is road work. This leaves replacements easy to source and not very costly.

Three loader tractors are used – a John Deere 6430 and 6150R and a Fendt 516.

“We moved away from bale squeezes. Now we use the JM Agri Design TR-3 elephant trunk bale handlers on each tractor which have improved the process more than you’d think. The elephant trunk concept contacts the bale in one central point instead of the two sides, so when you’re loading or unloading trailers there’s no fear of damaging other bales.

“When stacking in tight yards, you can start to turn the tractor and loader as soon as the bale is released whereas with a bale squeeze you need to be fully backed out of the bale before turning or you’ll burst it.”

Michael John noted that having skilled operators is just as important as the right machinery.

“Kevin Dennehy looks after all the haulage for me. You need a team you can rely on, knowing the job will be done right.”

Michael John finished by saying that although chasers don’t suit his enterprise, they work well for some contractors where factors such as labour and the extra machinery aren’t available. Bale chasing works well if you’re wrapping in the yard, because there is no fear of tearing plastic.

J O’Connell Farm Services, Co Clare

Located in Ardnacrusha, Co Clare, contractor and dairy farmer Ciaran O’Connell invested in a Keltec bale chaser in 2017.

Before buying the Keltec, Ciaran had been using a Malone bale transporter which he said was super machine if only it could have carried more bales at a time. Baling and transporting in the region of 2,300 bales yearly for both his own farm and his father’s farm, he wanted a faster way of moving his own bales in particular.

Ciaran bought the Keltec 10-pack to speed up the job and add to the contracting business with the hope of gaining customers along the way. Currently baling in the region of 16,000 bales annually, Ciaran chases and stacks roughly one-quarter of these, but there is a growing demand for the service.

“We have found since running the chaser, farmers, especially dairy farmers, some of whom we don’t even bale for, are now hiring us in to chase and stack their bales.

“I think this is mainly farmers wanting to save time, especially during second-cut when busy at other jobs. They want the hassle of what is a painstaking task using a single or double bale carrier when a faster option is available for a reasonable cost.”

Ciaran noted how the chaser concept suits his business better than bale trailers, having used both. This is mainly due to a reduced requirement for machinery and labour.

When stacking the chased bales, Ciaran uses his JCB 412 wheeled loader and JM Agri Design TR-8 double bale handler, which he said is a “game changer” in comparison to other handlers.

“I find charging an hourly rate the fairest way of all for both myself and the customer as it covers variables such as haulage over longer distances. A price of €70/hr including VAT is charged. Most jobs average 30 bales per hour, at this rate it works out to about €2.33 including VAT per bale chased and stacked, with distance been the biggest variable. Another benefit to an hourly rate is that typically farmer will be ready when you arrive meaning there are no setbacks – we can just get the job done.”

Ciaran feels that this is a service more and more farmers will avail of in due course considering the labour and time saved.