Growing cornstalks for bales

[urSp0il3r]

My friend is planting 50 acres of corn and asked me to bale the stalks. I have a lot of basic questions about this. First, what do I cut them with? I see "cornstalk kits" for rotary mowers like my CX-15. Are these kits an extra blade or a shield, and do I really need one to do the job? And after cutting, do I rake the stalks into rows like hay? My rotary hay rake works on hay, but will it work on these stalks?

I'm also wondering about the baling process itself. I have an NH BR760 silage baler.

Will it work for cornstalks, or do I need to make some changes to it?
Do I need to wrap the bales extra tight?
My biggest concern is if it is worth the effort at all. I know mushroom growers and farms with cows buy these, but what is a good price for a 4x5 bale?
Does baling cornstalks cause extra wear and tear on the equipment?

I'm hoping to learn from you all, since I don't have anyone to ask in person.

 

[r9nger_hf]

Baling cornstalks is a good way to earn extra money, but it's much harder on equipment than baling hay. The cornstalk kit for your rotary mower would be a good idea to keep the tough stalks from wrapping around the spindles and damaging your blades! As for your hay rake, that will work but you'll have to take it slow since stalks don't gather as easily as hay. Your baler should handle them fine, but a sharper knife system and a slightly looser bale will help prevent plugging. There's also no need to wrap them extra tight. Stalks are abrasive and cause wear on everything from pickup teeth to chains, so expect to do some maintenance afterward. Price varies by location, but you can typically get $25 to $50 per bale. I think it's a good idea to line up a buyer before you get started.

 

[anathall0]

Baling cornstalks is a good way to earn extra money, but it's much harder on equipment than baling hay. The cornstalk kit for your rotary mower would be a good idea to keep the tough stalks from wrapping around the spindles and damaging your blades! As for your hay rake, that will work but you'll have to take it slow since stalks don't gather as easily as hay. Your baler should handle them fine, but a sharper knife system and a slightly looser bale will help prevent plugging. There's also no need to wrap them extra tight. Stalks are abrasive and cause wear on everything from pickup teeth to chains, so expect to do some maintenance afterward. Price varies by location, but you can typically get $25 to $50 per bale. I think it's a good idea to line up a buyer before you get started.

Great tips! I'm in the Central Valley and tried baling cornstalks last fall after harvest, it was way harder on my gear than hay. Had to replace a few pickup teeth after just one field. I'm looking into that mower kit now. Do you find certain baler brands hold up better with stalks?

 

[r9nger_hf]

Glad to hear the tips were helpful, but sorry to hear about your pickup teeth! Stalks will definitely find the weak points on your equipment. As for baler brands, it's less about the brand and more about the specific model's design. Balers with heavier-duty pickups and a more robust chain and sprocket system will generally hold up better. A good, sharp knife system is also key to keeping the machine from getting bogged down. Some of the newer models with a solid floor and wider pickup definitely seem to handle the abrasive material better.