[start2finish]

We currently own a Agri-Metal PTO straw-blower, for those not aware it is equivalent to a 20hp engine unit.

We can blow approx 50-60 bales an hour slightly more than a acre maybe 1.25 acre mulched seedbed in an hour. Using three men, one driving tractor (could feed blower), one man holding hose, and one flaking in square bales of wheat straw.

Anyone use either, and how efficent?

Anyone had experience with the round bale blower(PTO)

We grow our own wheat, and bale the straw ourselves. Round bales would be less labor on that side for sure.


Thanks for your input in advance.

[Paul]

Round Bale machines are nice, fast and reduce your labor by large amounts. Your tractor needs are going to increase , you'll need at least a 85 hp tractor bigger is better! Don't count on getting close to the house with one this size even thou you are shooting 50' with it, you don't have the control that you have with a tube machine. Most here are used for parks and the cheaper soccer fields. Using it on 2 acre lots seems a bit like over kill. Your only talking 3 to 6 hours vs larger equipment, larger trailers, bigger trucks and more of them. Now if you where doing more acreage in the 10 to 30 acres per day (one site size) then I think they are great. one acre site just don't seem to cut it for the expense.

[start2finish]

Well we have an 966 international close to 100hp new rebuild 500 hrs ago ( 13000 lb) , an 856 international 85 or so hp (12000), and a John Deere 7520 approx 125hp (18,000 lb)
Tandem dump, two goosenecks tag alongs, farm trailers, (trailer poor LOL) since we no longer have tobacco (first year without it) we don't have the dependable labor readily available to harvest 6000 square bales the round bales would be convienent.
We would still plan on filling about (5) 48' van trailers with square bales for sale if we switched. But I am planning on replacing our square chopper or adding a round bale shredder/chopper , I'm still not sure. ???????????

[NCSULandscaper]

i prefer engine driven with hose.....ive used the smaller skid units with hose and the larger finn with chute......the finn is nice on large wide open areas, but i would prefer the skid mount just because some jobs i dont need a tractor on and can throw this in the back of a truck and get into small tight areas with less mess and cleanup. I rarely hand shake straw anymore and rent a blower whenever possible(will be buying one soon). And i am the same way i bale my own straw...cost me 46 cents per bale instead of the $3-4 cost of buying them from someone else.