by Donna Hogan

Wishing a prosperous and safe New Year to our readers from Catalyst Communications, Hot Line Farm and Antique Monthly Update.

To understand hay balers of today is to appreciate their history, which dates back to the 1800s, when a stationary press was hand operated to bale hay to feed horses. In the 1860s, mobile balers, operated by several people, were used.

During the 1930s, tractors pulled mechanical balers and with the use of hydraulics in the 1960s, the round baler was soon developed and continued to be further advanced to become what they are today.

So as the spring hay crop waits for winter to break, farmers are getting their hay equipment ready to begin the first cutting and making decisions on what they need to update.

While a new baler may not always be in the budget, our monthly update can be your guide to what others are paying for used balers at auctions.

The following are a sampling of hay balers sold at recent auctions in Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

• A pair of 2016 Hew Holland Roll-Belt 450 brought $ 11,000 and $ 15,000 at auctions in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, respectively.

• Three 2005 Vermeer 605M round balers sold at a Missouri auction for $ 8,000, $ 9,270 and $ 10,500, respectively. http:// www. hotlineguides. com / newsletter-sign-up

• Three round bale New Holland BR740A models equipped with net wrap, sold for $ 5,100 in Wisconsin, $ 8,250 in Pennsylvania and $ 9,800 at Ohio auctions, respectively.

• Two Claas Variant 280 and 380 round balers sold for $ 8,000 and $ 13,000 at auctions in Missouri, respectively.

• For the buyer looking for an economy baler, two Gehl 1710 round balers sold for $ 120 in Iowa and $ 100 in Nebraska, respectively.

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* NOTE: Due to popular demand the 2025 Guides will once again show the price averages, by year, in the equipment specifications area.

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