C2-Lancaster Farming, Foraging Around, Saturday, July 12, 2003
Custom Bale Wrapper
(Continued from Page Cl)
more than 20 local farmers.
The in-line wrapper makes a
good, tight wrap on the bales be
cause the lead roller that spools
out the white poly stretch film is
running slighter faster that the
roller behind it. This pre
stretches the plastic before it is
wrapped around the hay by
means of two rotating carriers.
A skid loader is used to lift
bales into the wrapper. The
whole machine inches forward as
it wraps and deposits finished
bales on the ground.
With remote control. Hoover
can run the whole operation by
himself.
While the manufacturer rec
ommends setting the machine
speed so that each bale is wrap-
Jay Ivan Hoover’s younger brother Cleason, right, feeds
a Fruit Loop to family dog Spot, while brother Gerald, left,
and nephew Travis Brubaker watch.
Project Grass Contest
(Continued from Page Cl)
Project Grass youth department
chairperson, said she was thrilled
with the youth participation in
the new contest, which is slated
to continue as an annual event.
Others involved in organizing
and judging the contest included
Genhy Christ, outstanding contest individual, studies a grass speci
men for identification. Photos by Dave Lefever
ped in four layers of plastic, Hoo
ver said he thinks that is “a little
thin.” He prefers eight to nine
layers to keep any livestock, ro
dents, birds, or weather from
breaking through the plastic.
Glenn Wenger and his son,
Burnell, recently had Hoover
wrap some alfalfa for them on
their dairy farm near Ephrata. It
was the second year the Wengers
made use of the wrapper. Weng
er said he was pleased with the
quality of last year’s baleage
when it came time to feed it.
Hoover’s ingenious wrapping
machine was made in Ontario,
Canada. Wrapping technology is
becoming a much more common
sight in the area.
“It’s something you didn’t see
five years ago,” Hoover said.
Dr. Marvin Hall, Penn State;
John Hudak, Natural Resources
and Conservation Service
(NRCS); Barry Isaacs, NRCS;
Carl Rohrer, Pennsylvania De
partment of Environmental Pro
tection; J.B. Harrold, Project
Grass grazing specialist; Tom
Calvert, grazing specialist; Kathy
Burnell Wenger, on tractor, goes over plans with Hoover for wrapping about 25 bales
of alfalfa recently at the Wengers’ dairy farm. Photos by Dave Lefever
Soder, USDA Agricultural Re
search Service (ARS); Brian
Burke, producer; Beth Hirt,
Centre County Conservation Dis
trict; Robin Heard, Pennsylvania
state conservationist; Tom Mat
ticks; western Pennsylvania con
ser vationist;
Tim Elder,
northwest Penn
sylvania grazing
Hoover runs the wrapper by remote control.
specialist; Laurel Hoffman, Arm
strong County Conservation Dis
trict; Malissa Toff, ARS; Brad
Michael, NRCS; Wes Gordon,
NRCS; Larry Stokum, NRCS;
Hunter McClelland; Suzette
Brought, southcentral Pennsylva
Marvin Hall guides the plant ID section of the contest.
nia grazing specialist; Kris Kib
ble, northeast Pennsylvania graz
ing specialist; Susy Fuka, NRCS;
and Candace Burke, Project
Grass Steering Committee chair
person.