Baling Hay Evolution

6/5/2019

Sometimes the SIMH goes back so far, I wonder who will remember the song or the artist. This morning it was The Oak Ridge Boys—remember them? Originally founded in 1945 as the Oak Ridge Quartet. They’re still going, but obviously, not the same members. Their most popular era was the 70s and 80s when they hit both sides of the music genre with a country flair list of crossover to pop songs. This morning, “I’ll Be True To You” was rolling around in my head. They may be better known for “Y’all Come Back Saloon,” “Thank God For Kids,” and “Elvira!”

The other thoughts of the morning were about hay. That’s right, hay. You know, the stuff horses, cattle and goats eat—even rabbits eat it, et al. But what came to mind is the results of an article I read on LinkedIn, a social-work-related medium. A friend from my days in central Alabama who grew up on and around farming, posted an article about two young men who have invented an edible wrap for large bales of hay! To some of you, that may not be a big deal, but it is a great step forward and in the right direction for farmers if it is cost effective. 

“Puttin’ up hay” was never a job farmers loved, it was just the best way to make it through Winters. Hay was field stacked for decades, turning in the animals to munch, or taking away from the stack as was needed, perhaps fo hundreds of years. Baling the hay was actually invented in the late 19th century and was part of the “industrial revolution” which included the Reaper, Thrasher and other modern farm equipment. Those hay balers sat in one spot and loose hay was pitchforked up on a trailer, wagon, or sled and brought to it. After About 50 years or so, pull behind balers became more available because of automatic “baling wire fasteners” (or ties.) 

Baling wire was dangerous to the stock as sometimes all the wire would not be collected as it was cut off the bales and could get ingested, doing damage especially in horses and bovine stock. About the time I was exposed to farming (mid 50s) as cheap (and never very good) help, all the farmers were investing in a light weight baler which tied lighter, looser hay bails with baler twine, first made from hemp, then after the end of WW2, was a more common sisal twine. Still that twine could tie up the digestion of certain stock, especially smaller and younger stock.

Then along came the giant round bales we now see stacked in the fields. Originally the “spin” on the hay was the only binding used, but it wasted too much hay as it aged or would loosen as it was hauled. So, they bound the giant bales with a synthetic material which, itself, was efficient but trouble-some to dispose of properly. Now these two young farmers have invented something as edible to the livestock as the hay itself is. Man’s great sense of ingenuity revisited! over and over until they get it correct!

I admire what my young friend is doing in his area of agriculture and he and his wife with their two children and I applaud his notice of the edible bale wrap. Sometimes, we oldsters are glad to see the youngsters doing great things and the world can draw a breath of fresh air!

Incidentally, my first hire to a farmer for “puttin’ up hay” was moving wired bales from field to sled—I had to drag them, too heavy for me to pick up. So, the farmer “taught” me how to drive the tractor, which didn’t work, either. My wages were $4 per day, only worked one day, and that farmer never paid me…a couple of lessons learned: 1.) Never work for that guy again—and I didn’t. But, 2.) I wasn’t worth a flip to farmers if I wouldn’t learn or if I didn’t grow up enough to do what I was told. 

Farmers taught me more than I can relate, but in a short period of time (a few days or a couple of weeks) they taught a boy what he liked and didn’t like about labor; they taught gratefulness for food and drink, and they taught respect for your elders, the land, the crops and the animals. Oh! to bring back those lessons for young teenage boys today. Living here in NEAL, we do get to see some who are learning these things, part of the pleasure of living here.

There is no philosophical difference in the work ethic as years roll past. The only difference at 12-13 and at this old an age? Only the tasks at hand. The principles are the same.

Thanks for reading, the Elder