Big baler just the 'berries'

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 43, 17 April 1984, Page 9

Big baler just the 'berries'

Question: How long does it take one man, singlehanded, to gather, pack and tie 58 bales of hay, each weighing between 120014001bs (540-63 5kg) and measuring 8ftx8ftx5ft (2. 5x2. 5x1. 5m) from a 15 acre (6ha) paddock? Answer: 4 hours! This impressive feat was achieved by Waimarino farmer, David berry, on his Tohunga Road property a few weeks ago. "But there was nothing remarkable about that," said David Berry as he surveyed his handiwork, "it's the norm these days thanks to this piece of machinery which has been referred to as the 'Berry Family Baler'." This baler, one of two in the district, was acquired by the Berry family of Raetihi just over four years ago, and has changed what was a very ^Jabour-intensive operation, those earlier days, into a ^^apital intensive one. Brothers Bruce, Peter and David Berry, who all farm in the Waimarino, used to employ about six men each — three in the paddock and three in the shed — during the haymaking season. But this was not satisfactory, said David Berry. It was difficult to muster six

casual labourers at short notice in the Waimarino on the day when the weather seemed suitable for haymaking. David Berry, who said that this machine would probably cost in excess of $25,000 these days, was delighted that he should have been able to complete the job inside of four hours. "It's been one of the worst seasons on record with a mixture of sunshine, rain and showers. I've been lucky because this particular baler has enabled me to get in and complete the job between showers and without haviiig to muster casual labour at short notice." This Howard Rotavator baler which was made in the UK has the capacity to pack the equivalent of twenty conventional 60-701bs (2731kg) into one single bale. Each large bale is made up of cigar-shaped roll-like packs which can then be separated into manageable segments for ease of feeding out. But so heavy are the larger composite bales that only six can be loaded onto the farm truck at a time and the tractor has to be fitted with special clamps (each costing $1500) to grasp the extra large and heavy bales. David Berry explained that it was important to get these larger bales under cover more quickly than the

conventional round bales because the latter were more tightly 'thatched' than the bigger bales. The Berry brothers, David, Peter and Bruce shdre this 'family' baler.