First Of Its Kind Square Bale Stacker

First of its kind square bale stacker HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Bale Handling (5) 12-5-36 "My new automatic square bale stacker lets one man handle more hay with small square bales than he could with big round bales," says Larry Zimmerman, New Richmond, Wis., who builds the new automatic "Zimmie Stacker" haymaking system that complements Zimmerman's original hand-operated stacking system featured previously in FARM SHOW. The "Zimmie Stacker" trails behind your baler and stacks groups of six bales together in triangular-shaped stacks that can be left in the field to cure. Zimmerman makes a front-end loader attachment that picks up two 6-bale stacks at a time and a rear-mounted fork that picks up four stacks. "One man bales with a tractor and then transports bales just like with round bales. It makes square bales as easy to handle as big round bales. But it's a better system than round bales because square bales are higher quality due to less leaf loss. You can bale sooner after cutting because my bale stacks let hay cure in the field. Not only is hay green and leafy months after harvest, but it's also loaded with digestible protein otherwise lost to leaf loss, weathering, and high heat. Heat damage to protein is eliminated." According to Zimmerman, ventilation during curing is the key to high-quality hay. "Grouping six bales on edge allows air to move through the gaps between the three bottom bales as well as around bales. You can bale wetter hay, up to 40% moisture, because the bales will finish curing in the stack in the field rather than in the barn, avoiding the hazards of heating. Earlier baling means you save more leaves, which flatten out against the bale during a rain, weatherproofing the stack. The exposed sides of the bales weather only about 1/4-in. deep. Inside, the hay stays green and leafy." Zimmerman's original stack system is built around a manually-operated 6-bale stacking sled pulled behind the baler. Bales are hand-stacked by a person riding on the platform. As each pyramid of bales is finished, the frame is "tripped," allowing the pyramid to slide off. The new automatic stacker uses the baler's plunging action to push bales up a chute to the trailer's stacking mechanism. It uses a ground-driven wheel to power sorting and unloading actions. Deflector plates and sorting arms create the unique stack formation. The stack rides on staggered teeth which drop simultaneously to dump a completed stack. The teeth instantly snap back to receive more bales for nonstop stacking. It's all done with the baler operating at full speed. There are no stops for wagon unloading or unhitching. Sells for $3,250. - For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Larry Zimmerman, Rt. 5, Box 38, New Richmond, Wis. 54017 (ph 715 246-4890).

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