Machine Bales Standing X-Mas Trees

Machine bales standing X-Mas trees MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous 9-6-35 A new machine invented in Oregon bales Christmas trees before they're cut letting growers prepare for the seasonal rush weeks in adyance. Inventors Jon and Jerry Crew, who operate a 43-acre tree farm near Estacada, say that being able to bale standing trees streamlines their operation, solving the biggest logistical headache in the business of raising trees for market. They now leave baled trees in the field as long as possible so they'll remain as fresh as possible. Tree baling consists of wrapping the tree in twine so it's ready to ship. Before the Crews' invention, trees couldn't be "baled" until after they were cut. Jon, an industrial electrician, and his father Jerry, who worked as a jet mechanic for United airlines, worked closely on developing the machine. Two men operating the machine can bale 80 trees per hour working as much as six weeks ahead of harvest. The baler weighs 450 lbs. and mounts on a tractor 3-pt. It consists of a baling circle-which can be moved from side to side so the operator can bale two rows on either side of the machine in one trip through the field. The baler can handle up to a 9-ft. tall tree. Five remote control buttons electronically control the operation and the tightness of the wrap and the spacing of the baling string can be easily adjusted. The baler works on as small as a 15-hp. utility tractor. The baling ring rides up and down on a steel mast. It requires just 2 operators compared to the 4 or 5 people needed to run a conventional tree baler after trees are cut. The new "Crew Cut" tree baler sells for $6,000, comparable in cost to conventional balers, according to the Crews. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Crew Cut, 22399 S. Springcreek Road, Estacada, Ore. 97023 (ph 503 631-3781).

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