{"id":1013,"date":"2026-07-21T05:30:06","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T05:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/?p=1013"},"modified":"2026-07-21T05:30:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T05:30:06","slug":"why-a-mixed-farm-in-the-riverina-needs-a-different-round-baler-to-a-dedicated-hay-operation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/bn\/application\/why-a-mixed-farm-in-the-riverina-needs-a-different-round-baler-to-a-dedicated-hay-operation\/","title":{"rendered":"Why a Mixed Farm in the Riverina Needs a Different Round Baler to a Dedicated Hay Operation"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mixed Farming \u00b7 Riverina NSW \u00b7 Equipment Selection<\/div>\n

One Baler, Three Jobs: Why a Mixed Farm in the Riverina Can’t Use the Same Machine as a Hay Contractor<\/p>\n

The specific demands of a cropping-and-livestock mixed operation \u2014 silage, hay, and straw in the same season from the same machine \u2014 and how to choose a round baler that handles all three without compromise.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The Mixed Farm Baling Problem Nobody Talks About<\/h2>\n

The Riverina region of southern New South Wales \u2014 the irrigated flats and dryland cropping belt from Wagga Wagga west to Griffith and south to Albury \u2014 runs some of Australia’s most complex farm enterprises. A single Riverina mixed farm might grow wheat, canola, and oats for grain; run a self-replacing Merino flock of 1,200 to 3,000 head; keep a small beef herd for backgrounding; and irrigate lucerne under pivots for dairy silage supply or export hay. These operations don’t want a baler \u2014 they want three balers in one.<\/p>\n

The problem is that the round baler market divides into two clear product philosophies: contractors’ high-throughput machines designed for one crop at high volume and speed, and hobby-farm light-duty machines designed for very small operations with minimal capital. The mixed farm sits uncomfortably between these two poles. It needs a machine durable enough to handle 800 to 1,500 bales per season across three or four different crops; flexible enough to switch from 35% DM lucerne silage in October to 15% moisture oaten hay in November and then to 14% wheat straw in December; and compact enough for the smaller paddocks and tighter gateways that mixed cropping country involves.<\/p>\n

This article maps exactly what those three baling jobs require from a machine \u2014 and where the key specification differences lie between silage, hay, and straw. If you’re currently running different contractors for different crops because you’ve assumed one machine can’t handle all three, this article challenges that assumption directly. For a practical guide to the oaten hay and straw baling tasks specifically, our article on baling oaten hay and straw on a mixed farm without a contractor<\/a> covers the technique in detail \u2014 this article focuses on the machine selection decision that precedes the technique.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"9YG-1.25<\/p>\n

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Three Distinct Jobs: What Each Demands From the Machine<\/h2>\n

Job 1 \u2014 Lucerne or Ryegrass Silage (October to December)<\/h3>\n

Silage baling on a Riverina mixed farm is the most technically demanding of the three jobs. The crop enters the baler at 60 to 70% moisture (30 to 40% DM), making it the heaviest material by volume that the machine handles. Correct silage baling requires: consistent chamber pressure to achieve 180 to 220 kg DM per cubic metre density (adequate for complete anaerobic conditions), a reliable net wrap application that seals the bale completely with no tail-end gaps, and a throughput rate compatible with the farm’s available baling windows between the afternoon mow and the afternoon wrap.<\/p>\n

The chamber pressure issue is the critical one: a fixed-chamber baler set for standard hay density will under-compress silage bales, leaving air channels through the bale cross-section that prevent fermentation from completing in the core. Variable-chamber balers self-regulate to target density regardless of windrow weight variation \u2014 a significant operational advantage across the variable first and second cut lucerne windrows typical of Riverina irrigated production.<\/p>\n

Job 2 \u2014 Oaten or Wheaten Hay (November to January)<\/h3>\n

Hay baling is the lightest-density job the machine handles \u2014 oaten hay at 14 to 17% moisture is approximately 30 to 40% of the volumetric density of silage at equivalent moisture, and the baler chamber load is correspondingly lower. The machine settings that produce a tight, well-formed 400 kg silage bale will produce a loose, under-compressed 180 to 220 kg hay bale \u2014 commercially unacceptable for sale and poorly preserved in outdoor storage. Variable chamber pressure that adjusts downward for hay is essential for mixed-crop operations.<\/p>\n

The hay baling job also requires a different tine height setting than silage \u2014 hay picked up from a ground-lying windrow typically needs tines 3 to 5 cm above ground to avoid soil contamination, while silage baling from a fluffier wilted windrow needs 5 to 8 cm clearance. The few minutes it takes to adjust pickup height between crop types is worth the effort: soil contamination in a hay bale is a quality defect that reduces palatability and introduces grit that accelerates bale-end wear on feed troughs.<\/p>\n

Job 3 \u2014 Wheat or Barley Straw (December to February)<\/h3>\n

Straw baling is the easiest job technically but presents unique wear considerations. Wheat straw contains silica phytoliths \u2014 microscopic silicon particles in the stem surface \u2014 that are more abrasive than grass or hay material. Operations baling significant volumes of cereal straw should expect pickup tine wear at 1.5 to 2 times the rate encountered in grass silage or hay. Budget for tine replacement at 600 to 800 bales of straw rather than the 1,000 to 1,400 bale interval typical for silage crops. Keep a tine replacement kit in the tractor toolbox and check tine condition every 150 to 200 bales during straw operations.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Baling Job<\/th>\nTypical Moisture<\/th>\nDM at Baling<\/th>\nChamber Pressure<\/th>\nTarget Density<\/th>\nKey Risk<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Lucerne\/ryegrass silage<\/td>\n60\u201370%<\/td>\n30\u201340% DM<\/td>\nHigh<\/td>\n180\u2013220 kg DM\/m\u00b3<\/td>\nUnder-compression \u2192 air pockets<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Oaten\/wheaten hay<\/td>\n13\u201317%<\/td>\n83\u201387% DM<\/td>\nMedium<\/td>\n130\u2013160 kg DM\/m\u00b3<\/td>\nOver-compression \u2192 moisture trap<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wheat\/barley straw<\/td>\n11\u201315%<\/td>\n85\u201389% DM<\/td>\nMedium-High<\/td>\n120\u2013150 kg DM\/m\u00b3<\/td>\nTine wear, dust contamination<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Fixed Chamber vs. Variable Chamber: The Decision That Matters Most<\/h2>\n

Why Mixed Operations Need Variable Chamber<\/h3>\n

A fixed-chamber round baler forms bales of a single fixed diameter regardless of incoming crop weight. The bale density adjusts by varying the net wrap tension and bale ejection timing, but the chamber itself cannot respond to the 3:1 difference in volumetric density between fresh silage and dry straw. In practice, a fixed-chamber machine set for silage density will either over-compress hay into bales that trap internal moisture and cause heating, or under-compress it into bales that are undersized and loose when the operator sets pressure correctly for hay.<\/p>\n

Variable-chamber balers use a system of adjustable rollers or belts that expand to accommodate different crop volumes while maintaining a set pressure target. The same machine forms a 1.25 m silage bale at 520 kg and a 1.25 m hay bale at 260 kg \u2014 both at the correct density for their respective preservation requirements \u2014 without manual adjustment between crops. For a Riverina mixed operation that may transition between hay and silage in the same week during the October to December overlap period, this seamless adjustment is not a convenience feature: it is the operational requirement that makes one-baler multi-crop management work.<\/p>\n

The Right Baler for the Riverina Mixed Farm<\/h3>\n

The 9YG-1.25 variable-chamber round baler<\/a> is specified for exactly the multi-crop mixed farm use case. Its 1.25 m bale diameter is the commercial standard for Riverina fodder markets \u2014 both hay buyers and silage contractors in the region use 1.25 m as the baseline bale format for truck loading, contract pricing, and storage calculation. Smaller-diameter machines (1.0 m) produce bales that are economical in film per bale but require more bales per tonne \u2014 increasing handling, transport, and storage footprint for the same feed volume. Larger machines (1.5 m+) are efficient for volume but can exceed loader lift ratings on the tractors that dominate mixed farm fleets in the Riverina.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"9GL-2.5\/2.9<\/p>\n

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The Full Equipment Chain for a Riverina Mixed Operation<\/h2>\n

Mowing and Windrowing: One Set of Equipment, Three Crops<\/h3>\n

The same principles of equipment flexibility apply to the mowing and windrowing chain as to the baler. A disc mower-conditioner that handles lucerne and ryegrass for silage also handles oaten hay and wheat \u2014 the conditioning rollers simply need to be disengaged or set to minimum pressure for dry hay crops where conditioning is not needed and can cause excessive leaf shatter. Many Riverina mixed farmers run a separate disc mower for cereals (simpler, lower maintenance) and a mower-conditioner for legume and grass silage work, then merge both crop types with the same finger-wheel rake.<\/p>\n

The rake is the single most versatile piece of equipment in the chain \u2014 a quality finger-wheel rake handles all three crop types without adjustment, merging the spread windrow into a consistent baling width whether it is a 35% DM lucerne mat or a 14% moisture oaten hay windrow. Picking the right forward speed for the rake is the main variable: fast (8 to 10 km\/h) for lightweight straw, slow (5 to 7 km\/h) for heavy green silage.<\/p>\n

Film Wrapping on a Mixed Farm \u2014 What Changes Between Silage and Non-Silage Crops<\/h3>\n

Silage bales require film wrapping with silage stretch film applied within 2 hours of baling \u2014 6 layers minimum, net wrap only (no twine), bales stored sealed until feeding. Hay and straw bales do not require film wrapping \u2014 they are finished with net wrap or twine only and stored uncovered or under open shed. This means the silage film wrapper is idle during the hay and straw baling periods, and the net wrap system handles all three crops.<\/p>\n

For mixed operations making fewer than 300 silage bales per season, a film wrapper is often not worth owning \u2014 wrapping can be contracted out while the farm owns the baler for hay and straw year-round. For operations making 400+ silage bales, the wrapper earns its keep within 2 to 3 seasons. The 9YCM-850 wrapper \u2014 if owned \u2014 is compatible with 750 mm and 500 mm silage film rolls and handles the same 1.25 m bale format produced by the 9YG-1.25 baler.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"9LZY-9.0<\/p>\n

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Common Mistakes When Running One Baler Across Multiple Crop Types<\/h2>\n
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\u274c Not Adjusting Chamber Pressure Between Silage and Hay<\/div>\n

The most common quality failure when transitioning between crops on a mixed farm. Silage chamber pressure settings applied to dry hay produce bales with internal moisture traps at the bale core \u2014 apparent externally as tight, dense bales but prone to internal heating from the moisture trapped in the compressed centre. Always reset chamber pressure when switching crop types and run 5 trial bales to confirm density before resuming full-speed operation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u274c Failing to Clean the Chamber Between Silage and Hay Operations<\/div>\n

Silage crop residue in the bale chamber \u2014 LAB inoculant, fermentation acids, high-moisture plant material \u2014 contaminates dry hay bales baled through a dirty chamber. The contamination introduces fermentation organisms into dry hay where they cause local heating and mould growth in the bale interior weeks after storage. Pressure wash the bale chamber, pickup, and net wrap mechanism between silage and hay operations at minimum.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u26a0 Using Silage Film for Hay Bales ‘Just in Case’<\/div>\n

Wrapping dry hay bales in silage film is not just unnecessary \u2014 it is counterproductive. Film-wrapped dry hay at 14 to 15% moisture develops condensation under the film in temperature-cycling conditions, raising local bale moisture and initiating mould growth that would not occur in the same hay bale stored without film. Net wrap hay, twine-tie straw, film-wrap silage \u2014 each to its appropriate binding.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Underestimating Straw Season Tine Wear<\/div>\n

Pickup tine wear from wheat straw is 1.5 to 2 times faster than from grass silage. Operators who service their baler on a grass-silage interval and use the same machine for 400 to 500 bales of straw find worn tines in the straw season that reduce pickup efficiency and cause windrow losses. Inspect tines at 150-bale intervals during straw operations and replace sets that have worn to 70% of original length.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Planning the Mixed Farm Baling Calendar<\/h2>\n

A typical Riverina mixed farm baling calendar for a 1,200-head Merino operation with 200 ha irrigated lucerne and 800 ha dryland wheat runs:<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Month<\/th>\nCrop<\/th>\nBaling Job<\/th>\nEst. Bales<\/th>\nKey Timing Driver<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
October<\/td>\nLucerne (1st cut)<\/td>\nSilage \u2014 6-layer wrap<\/td>\n200\u2013280<\/td>\nFlag leaf to 10% heading<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
November<\/td>\nOaten hay<\/td>\nHay \u2014 net wrap<\/td>\n180\u2013240<\/td>\n12\u201316% moisture, 3 days post-mow<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
December<\/td>\nLucerne (2nd cut)<\/td>\nSilage<\/td>\n200\u2013260<\/td>\nFlag leaf \u2014 tighter window in heat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Jan\u2013Feb<\/td>\nWheat straw<\/td>\nStraw \u2014 twine or net<\/td>\n250\u2013400<\/td>\nDry, low dust, 5 days post-harvest<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
March<\/td>\nLucerne (3rd cut)<\/td>\nSilage or hay (season)<\/td>\n150\u2013200<\/td>\nMonitor DM carefully in autumn heat<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Total<\/td>\n\u2014<\/td>\n\u2014<\/td>\n980\u20131,380 bales<\/td>\n3\u20134 month baling season<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

At this volume and calendar spread, a single 9YG-1.25 variable-chamber round baler operating on a 75 to 90 hp tractor handles the full season without throughput bottlenecks \u2014 the 980 to 1,380 annual bale total is comfortably within the single-machine capacity at 40 to 60 bales per hour across all crop types. The constraint is typically operator availability and weather windows rather than machine throughput.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Frequently Asked Questions From Riverina Mixed Farm Operators<\/h2>\n
\nCan I use the same net wrap for hay and silage?<\/span>+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Yes \u2014 net wrap is net wrap regardless of crop type. The silage film is a separate additional layer applied by the wrapper machine over the net-wrapped bale. The net wrap itself is applied by the baler in the final bale-forming step for all crop types. Ensure you are using UV-stabilised net wrap if bales will be stored outdoors for extended periods \u2014 cheaper non-UV wrap degrades and breaks down in Australian summer conditions within 3 to 4 months of outdoor storage.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nWhat is the PTO horsepower requirement for the 9YG-1.25 across all three crop types?<\/span>+<\/span><\/summary>\n
The 9YG-1.25 requires 55 to 75 hp at the PTO across all three crop types. The highest PTO demand is in dense first-cut lucerne silage at 60 to 65% moisture \u2014 maintain 540 RPM PTO speed in this condition and reduce forward speed to 6 to 7 km\/h to avoid torque peaks. Oaten hay and wheat straw baling is less demanding \u2014 forward speed can increase to 8 to 9 km\/h in these lighter crops without approaching PTO limits.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nHow do I calculate how many bales to make each season for feed planning purposes?<\/span>+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Start from the stock’s annual dry matter requirement, subtract what the farm produces as grazed pasture and purchased supplementary feed, and the remainder is the silage and hay bale target. A 1,200-head Merino ewe flock requires approximately 2.0 to 2.5 kg DM per head per day during supplementary feeding periods. For a 90-day supplementary period: 1,200 \u00d7 2.2 \u00d7 90 = 237,600 kg DM required from bales. A 1.25 m bale at 14% DM hay contains approximately 250 to 300 kg DM. Bale requirement for the supplementary period: 790 to 950 bales. Add 15% buffer for wastage and unexpected extended dry periods.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nHow should I store silage bales, hay bales, and straw bales from the same operation?<\/span>+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Store silage bales in a separate area from hay and straw \u2014 if a silage bale is punctured and begins aerobic deterioration, the off-gassing can contaminate adjacent hay in a confined storage area. Silage bales: gravel pad, shade if possible, single layer until 21 days post-wrap. Hay bales: any dry surface, can be stacked 2 to 3 layers, open shed preferred for premium quality. Straw bales: most tolerant of outdoor storage \u2014 gravel pad, single or double layer, outdoor storage for 9 to 12 months with modest quality loss at the outer layers.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nWhat is the resale value of a well-maintained 9YG-1.25 round baler after 5 years on a mixed farm?<\/span>+<\/span><\/summary>\n
A 9YG-1.25 round baler in good mechanical condition after 5 years of mixed farm use (approximately 5,000 to 7,000 bales total across hay, silage, and straw) typically retains 45 to 60% of purchase price in the Australian second-hand agricultural machinery market. The Riverina and Goulburn Valley have active markets for second-hand round balers where the 1.25 m format commands consistent demand from smaller dairy and beef operations upgrading from 1.0 m machines. Well-maintained machines with service records sell faster and at the upper end of this range.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n

\"9YG-1.25A<\/p>\n

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EverPower Baling Machinery \u00b7 Condell Park NSW 2200<\/div>\n

Discuss Your Mixed Farm Baling Requirements<\/h2>\n

Tell us your crop mix, annual bale volumes across hay, silage, and straw, and your tractor horsepower \u2014 we’ll specify the right baler configuration for your Riverina operation.<\/p>\n

Request a Quote<\/a> About EverPower<\/a><\/div>\n
+61 2 9708 3322<\/a>  |  \u2709 sales@silage-baler.com<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mixed Farming \u00b7 Riverina NSW \u00b7 Equipment Selection One Baler, Three Jobs: Why a Mixed Farm in the Riverina Can’t Use the Same Machine as a Hay Contractor The specific demands of a cropping-and-livestock mixed operation \u2014 silage, hay, and straw in the same season from the same machine \u2014 and how to choose a […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-applications"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1013","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1013"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1013\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1018,"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1013\/revisions\/1018"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1013"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1013"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/silage-baler.com\/bn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1013"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}