Why are bales of hay round on the east coast and square on the west coast?

Question

Why are bales of hay round on the east coast and square on the west coast?

Answer 1

Why is pizza thick in the midwest and thin on the east coast?

Answer 2

Years ago, you had three choices, small 2 wire or string square (rectangular when you consider length) bales that usually weighed 70-80 pounds max, 3 wire square bales that would weight up to 120 pounds or so and small round bales, which were about the same length at a small square and weighed about the same.  The 3 wire bale was popular in the west, the 2 elsewhere.

Then came big round bales (800-2000 pounds) and big square (up to maybe 800 pounds).  The big squares are popular out west and are becoming popular in the midwest.  The biggest advantage is that they can be stacked more easily on a semi.  It's easier to stack squares that circles.  They can also get more hay on the truck.  Big round are still popular with those that bale and feed their own hay.  They shed water, can be left outside (the big squares can't) and are very simple to move when feeding.

To answer your question, a lot of alfalfa hay out west is transported to either domestic or export markets, hence why they have always wanted a larger "package".

Answer 3

I live on the east coast and we mostly make large round bales. We make round bales because it is cost efficient, they can be left outside and are fairly easy to feed. We know people who also make smaller (100# or so) square bales. A few of the dairy farms around here buy large, square alfalfa bales from the midwest and Canada.

Round bales and square bales of both sizes can be found anywhere. In the east, the large square bales are generally imported. Our farms are much smaller (few in my area are more than 1000 acres, most average in the 200-300 acre range) than the ranches out west. Our equipment generally costs more to repair and parts usually need to be ordered. A round baler is a fairly compact piece of equipment and doesn't take up much room. A large square baler does, so it is awkward for storage and transport. All of these reasons contribute to why the large square bales are more popular in the midwest and west. Not to mention a lovely "crop" us Northeastern farmers have that virtually the rest of the country doesn't: rocks.

Answer 4

most of the west has less rain fall than the east out west you can stack square bales outside and they will keep with very little waste because there is less rain fall in the east square bales must be put inside or corved in some way round bales of hay will keep better than square bales when left outside in the weather

Answer 5

We have both round and square bales in Michigan.

Answer 6

Because the people in the West know what they're doing.

Answer 7

So, what are they in the North and the South ?   tee-hee!

I think this depends upon the type of livestock fed, the number of livestock fed ,  and the type of grass; because the grass hays dry differently.   I think it also has to do with how the animals are cared for.    Horses may be in stalls, so the big round ones ........way too heavy to carry, but  portions can be pulled off,  according to how much the animal needs to eat.....  so hay  is  not wasted and  to not let the horse get too much to eat and make a fat belly.  

I think larage herds are given the large rounds bales, usually seen in the pasture,  and horses are mostly given the square.

Here, we have several kinds.....    large round rolls,   very large square/rectangle shaped - alfalfa hay comes this way,  and  smaller "square" bales of  quality grass.

Answer 8

i live in the east, and we have both... it just depends on what ur using the hay for

Answer 9

...i live on the eastcoast and i've only seen square bales of hay