Harvesting: the Next Stage

The next step after the barley has been safely gathered in is to bale the straw. The straw needs to be dry before this can be done so it is turned in the sun before it is roared up ready to be baled. Nearly all our straw is baled into small bales. This suits our purpose best as it is used for bedding for sheep and horses.

The baler draws the straw up into the machine.

It is compacted down and folded into flaps in a bale. Then it is tied with string before it emerges from the baler.

Some of these pictures are taken fro opposite sides just to confuse things!

The bales then slide down into a sledge which collects the correct number together before they are released in a block.

The blocks are then lifted onto a trailer for transportation. That is one of our daughters on the top and the other driving the tractor.

They then may need to be manually adjusted into place.

The load is then secured and brought back to the barns for storage.

The whole process is labour intensive and has to be done before it rains. This year they just finished as the rain started. The job is not finished yet as the bales all have to be unloaded and stacked manually in the barn. Some will be used by us. The rest will be sold at £3 a bale.