Farm & Ranch

Texas crop and weather, Nov. 10, 2015

Published

10 years ago

November 11, 2015

NTFR

By: Blair Fannin

Cattle prices softening due to U.S. herd expansion

Writer: Blair Fannin, 979-845-2259, b-fannin@tamu.edu

Contacts: Dr. David Anderson, 979-845-4351, danderson@tamu.edu

Dr. Clark Neely, 979-862-1412, cbneely@tamu.edu

COLLEGE STATION – The nation’s beef cattle producers are in expansion mode and record-high cattle prices have likely seen a top, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service livestock marketing economist.

“Over the long term, we are continuing to expand and prices are coming down from record highs because we are expanding herds,” said Dr. David Anderson, College Station. “We are starting to increase supplies and calf prices have been coming down. However, we will still see high prices since it will take some time to build our inventory back up.”

Calves continue to be sold at local auction markets across Texas as part of fall livestock activities. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin)

Dr. Clark Neely, AgriLife Extension small grains specialist in College Station, said recent rains will help forage and wheat growth, benefiting stocker cattle operators across the state. “As of right now with all the rain we’ve had, we’ve got full soil profiles,” he said. “Right now we are just having issues with portions of Central, South Central and Eastern Texas getting the crop in the ground. The High Plains and Rolling Plains did get it in the ground in a timely manner and have an above-normal crop rating. With all the moisture we’ve had, we’ve got good grazing potential for stocker cattle operators.”

Beef demand continues to be strong and Anderson said this has helped during times of record retail prices.

“I don’t think we’d have had prices where they were if it weren’t for consumer demand,” he said. “If you put consumer demand and price together, I think that’s pretty compelling for higher prices.”

Anderson pointed to the rise in gourmet hamburger chains across the U.S.

“You have this huge growth in these specialized burger restaurants,” he said. “This coincides with one of the fewest supplies of cows in several decades. The second driver is the popularity of Texas style barbecue. We’ve seen huge growth in barbecue restaurants nationwide. This comes at a time when we’ve also got the fewest cows. Overall, this is the strongest demand for beef in 25 years.”

Beef cattle demand continues to be strong during times of record retail prices, said Dr. David Anderson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service livestock marketing economist, College Station. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin)

Looking ahead to future cattle prices, Anderson said there are currently 2 percent more cows and 2 percent more calves in the U.S. than a year ago.

“Through 2017, I’ve got every quarter of the year projected with more beef production than the year before,” he said. “I think we can continue to look for strong cattle prices and positive-side demand for beef.”

Recent declines in calf and cattle prices are largely due to record-high cattle weights resulting in more beef production, Anderson said.

“More imported beef and reduced exports are pressuring prices lower, too,” Anderson said. “But, as the fed cattle backlog is reduced, then price will rebound higher.”

Anderson said for the first quarter of 2016 he projects Southern Plains #1 500-600-pound steers at around $216 to $222 per hundredweight. Second quarter prices in 2016 are projected at $220-$227 per hundredweight, while third quarter prices are projected at $215-$224 per hundredweight. For the fourth quarter, Anderson projects prices to be $207-$216 per hundredweight.

Currently, some estimates of annual cow costs are around $700 per cow. Factoring in an average selling price of $1,100 per head for calves leaves cow-calf producers in a profitable position.

Dr. David Anderson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service livestock economist, College Station. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo by Blair Fannin)

“But, longer term, increasing cow numbers and beef production means prices are headed lower,” Anderson said.

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

SOUTH: Scattered showers continued through parts of the South Region during the past week. Most of the rainfall occurred in the northern and western parts of the region. Forage on range and pastures showed very good improvement. In the northern part of the region, peanut crops were being harvested and winter oats and wheat crops were mostly planted in the Atascosa County area. La Salle County received more rainfall during the past week, as it had the previous week, helping improve range and pastures throughout the county. Live Oak County also received rainfall of 1 to 5 inches. Range and pastures greened up well, throughout the McMullen County area, as a result of continuous rainfall, but forage growth slowed down due to cooler temperatures and shorter days. Cattle body condition scores remained in fair shape. In the eastern parts of the region, mild conditions persisted throughout the Jim Wells County area. Wheat producers were hesitant in planting wheat this year, as most had a difficult time harvesting their crops during the wet spring months. Row crop producers, on the other hand, were set for a good start on next year’s crop growing season. In the western parts of the region, wet conditions remained. Heavy rainfall fell across the Zavala County area. Cotton ginning activities were completed in two Zavala County gins. Also in Zavala County, pecan harvesting was completed, prior to the rainfall event at the end of the week, and no supplemental feeding activities took place due to good to fair grazing conditions on range and pastures. In the southern parts of the region, the Cameron County area remained saturated. Some fields have begun to dry out, but it will be a while before any field activities take place. Spring planting was halted due to fields remaining saturated throughout the area. Despite wet field, range and pasture conditions, there was plenty of good to excellent forage for livestock grazing. Also in Cameron County, corn fields were progressing well. In the Hidalgo County area, fall corn progressed, and sugarcane harvest will begin soon. Fall vegetable crops progressed well in the Starr County area.

Download or preview a two-minute MP3 version of this report

COASTAL BEND: Recent light rain added to good soil moisture conditions. Winter pasture planting was almost complete with early-season moisture providing favorable growing conditions. Some producers were top-dressing fertilizer. Low-lying areas of the Guadalupe River flooded and caused problems with some of the pecan harvest. Cattle continued to be in good condition with calves weaned and sold at local auction markets.

SOUTHWEST: Adequate moisture was received throughout much of the area as a result of recent rains. Winter pastures have benefitted from rainfall and range conditions were showing signs of improvement. Field conditions continued to be wet after recent rainfall. Pecan harvest has slowed due to wet conditions. Wheat and oats had been planted and were emerging. Planted wheat and oats were looking good with recent rains. Native winter grass was in good condition as a result of rainfall. In many cases, fields were still too wet to get into because of recent heavy rains.

SOUTHEAST: In Walker County, the rain has helped the past two weeks. Cool-season forages, small grains and legumes, had germinated and began to grow. Wet field conditions in Brazos County prevented many cotton farmers from completely destroying harvested fields. Volunteer cool-season annual grasses were emerging. Grimes County had another weekend full of rain and high winds. All standing water has subsided. Fields were stable enough to drive a tractor on and hay was being baled. In Montgomery County, recent rainfall allowed producers to become involved with winter annual planting. Temperatures were still above average, which promoted Bermudagrass growth recovery. Fort Bend County recently received more than 9 inches of rain. Some cattle producers have planted ryegrass for winter forage. Livestock were in good condition.

SOUTH PLAINS: In Floyd County, warm dry days have helped harvest activities. Nearly all corn and milo harvest was complete. Cotton was the main focus now and was progressing nicely. Heavy dew or moisture the past three weeks has caused Swisher County farmers to stop harvest and wait for drier conditions. Pasture and range were in good condition with light supplementing reported. The wheat crop was excellent and stocker cattle were moving onto wheat at a steady pace. A bumper year for haygrazer was expected, but sugarcane aphid colonization in these fields has drastically lowered the protein content making a surplus of fair condition hay available in the $45 to $50 price range per round bale. Bailey County producers had several mornings with light frost and one morning low of 22 degrees. Harvest continued for all crops. In Cochran County, soil moisture levels were in good condition. Peanut and corn harvests were finished. Cotton, sunflower and sorghum harvest was ongoing. Pasture, range and winter wheat were all in good condition. Lubbock County received frost in low areas with one morning low of 33 degrees. A freeze is needed to condition remaining crops for harvest. Cotton harvest reached the halfway point, with harvest furthest along in the Slaton area. In Garza County, cotton harvest resumed after rainfall with approximately 20 to 25 percent of the crop harvested. Yields were coming in a little better than expected due to warm weather late in the growing season that allowed the late crop to mature. Range and pastures should improve over the next few days due to rainfall on cool-season grasses. However, some locations were limited due to weed pressure. Cattle were in good to excellent condition with no supplemental feeding being reported. Scurry County had mild weather last week and received no rain. Cotton harvest will resume once producers can get back in the fields.

ROLLING PLAINS: Fall-like weather prevailed over the past several weeks in the Rolling Plains. Thus far, there has been no early freeze/frost, which could be beneficial for cotton producers, especially in fields that were planted late. Early planted fields have been defoliated and producers were beginning to harvest. This year’s cotton crop was variable with some fields very poor, while others were in excellent condition. With cotton prices very low compared to previous years, producers were looking to cut costs and were defoliating fewer acres than in the past. Some producers were opting to wait for a freeze. Over the past few weeks moisture was recorded and has helped rangeland and pastures. Wild ryegrass has flourished. This has helped ranchers save money on supplemental feeding costs. Winter wheat was looking better as producers have finished planting fields and have just enough moisture to hopefully get the wheat up and going in a reasonable amount of time. Grazing may be limited due to late planting. Range and pastures were in good condition as were livestock.

CENTRAL: Continued rainfall has caused erosion, leaving producers out of the fields due to soggy conditions. Washed out bridges prevented transfer of equipment. Oats already planted have emerged; wheat was up in some places with some being flooded or held back and stunted due to the extreme wetness. Cotton growers lacked dry days to harvest their crop. Growing conditions were good for small grains. Cooler temperatures have arrived. All counties in the region were reporting soil moisture as good, while overall range and pasture conditions were rated at 95 percent. Overall crop conditions stood at 85 percent and overall livestock conditions in the region were rated at 95 percent.

FAR WEST: Cooler, fall-like temperatures were reported district-wide with producers awaiting the first frost. Livestock producers were finishing fall work with calf weaning weights reported on the heavy side. Pregnancy rates on heifers and mature cows were all very good. Overall condition of cattle good. Clean-up bucks have been put out to finish the breeding season. Cotton harvest was in full swing with average yields and good lint quality. Fall planted onions had emerged and were at the two-leaf stage. Pecan shucks were opening, but needed the first frost to assist in defoliation. Pastures and rangeland were in good condition.

EAST: More rain was received across the region causing conditions to go from extremely dry to extremely wet. Fields remained saturated. Most counties reported subsoil and topsoil moisture levels adequate or surplus. The rain caused some decline in vegetable crops. Lakes and ponds were overflowing. Damage assessment continued from flooding in Henderson County. Anderson County reported a tornado in a lightly populated area of the county, which caused minimal damage to trees and fences. The Trinity River was out of its banks in many places. Winter pastures were coming up for those who planted before the rain. Rain came too late for summer pastures to produce, which led to many producers feeding grain and hay to livestock. Cattle remained in fair to good condition. Market sales has slowed due to the inability to gather cattle. The cattle market showed steady to slightly higher prices on calves and slaughter cattle. Feral hogs were moving and causing damage.

WEST CENTRAL: Days were warm with cool nights. Scattered showers were reported in most areas. Recent rains improved soil moisture and helped decrease chances of wildfires. Cotton harvest was delayed due to wet conditions, but will be back in full swing as conditions allow. There was some concern regarding lint quality due to weather conditions. Early planted winter wheat has emerged and was in good to excellent condition. Wheat planting will resume as soon as fields are dry enough to start sowing. More wheat will be planted as cotton comes out and conditions allow. Sesame harvest was underway. Range and pasture conditions improved with recent rains. Winter pastures were coming along and should provide good forage soon. Lots of cool-season annuals were emerging in pastures, including Texas wintergrass. Livestock were in fair to good condition. Supplemental feeding was underway. Cattle prices have moderated somewhat. Sheep and goat markets continues to be strong. Early variety pecans were harvested.

NORTH: Topsoil moisture varied from adequate to surplus. Rainfall amounts have varied across the county from 1 to 3 inches. Nighttime temperatures were cooling off. Rains were beneficial for newly planted small grains and winter annual pastures. Warm-season grass production was coming to a close. Cool-season grasses were starting to grow. Many small grain farmers were still waiting to plant. Hay supplies seemed to be adequate, but the quality overall was not as good as usual. Wheat struggled due to weather patterns. Ponds were filling. Livestock were stressing as temperatures fluctuated. Feral hog activity increased.

PANHANDLE: Texas Panhandle temperatures were near normal. Moisture was received in the north and northeastern counties. Amounts ranged from a trace to 1.5 inches. Soil moisture was rated adequate. Peanut yields have been average to below average. Sorghum was nearly all out of the fields. Cotton harvest was almost halfway complete and yields appeared to be average to above average. Deaf Smith County producers were running combines in corn and grain sorghum fields. Corn harvest was starting to wind down with a good week of harvest activity. Dryland grain sorghum was lodging. Recent winds caused lodging to become more of a problem. Sprouting of grain in the head was also a concern. Winter wheat was being planted in many fields where corn was harvested. Wheat in general looked good and many early planted fields were starting to be grazed. Hall County wheat and pasture conditions improved due to rains. Cotton harvest slowed because of rains and wet mornings. Cattle conditions continued to improve. Rain and wind in Hansford County slowed harvest. Some fields of corn and milo were starting to lodge from rain and wind.

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Farm & Ranch

Tumble Windmillgrass

Published

3 days ago

April 15, 2026

NTFR

By Tony Dean

Tumble windmillgrass is a short, compact perennial bunch grass that is adapted to almost every corner of Texas. It can grow on almost any soil, but prefers coarse textured soils.

The most obvious characteristic about Tumble windmill is its large seed head sporting 10 to 16 laterally spreading branches, each approximately two to six inches long, arranged in one to three whorls.

When mature, the seed head will break off and be caught up in the wind, making Tumble windmill one of the great wanderers of the plains. It can tumble great distances, spreading itself in the process. This wanderer seems to like parking in your garage on windy days, as well as dancing around windy corners of buildings and any other place the wind decides to carry it.

Tumble windmill can also spread by short stolons. The upper leaves are very short, while the lower leaves are often much longer. The leaves are light green with a purplish seed head that fades to pale reddish at maturity.

Tumble windmillgrass provides poor forage for livestock and wildlife, although most grazers will use the forage in early spring when tender.

Since Tumble windmill can grow in poor soil conditions, it is useful as a component for a prairie grass mix used on disturbed areas. This grass does not usually dominate a pasture but can often be found in smaller amounts. Proper grazing use along with rotational grazing can cause the plant to be replaced with higher successional plants.

Farm & Ranch

Looking for Low-Maintenance Poultry? Geese are Your Answer!

Published

5 days ago

April 13, 2026

NTFR

Unless you are a fan of Dickens and Doyle, geese probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of poultry. But maybe they should be. And the aim of this article is to get you acquainted with the aristocrat of poultry.

Let’s start with the basics. Geese are domesticated waterfowl. Twelve breeds are recognized by the American Poultry Association, but dozens more are available. Much like ducks, all domestic geese breeds descend from two species. The overwhelming majority of breeds originate from Greylag geese (Anser anser). This species is native to Europe and Central Asia. These are the stockier, heavy geese that feature prominently in German fairy tales as a symbol of wealth and which Victorians loved to consume at Christmas. These geese come in various sizes, colors and dispositions. Here are a few examples: Cotton Patch geese are a small, variably-colored, extremely heat tolerant landrace native to the South. These were raised to consume weeds in cotton fields in the days before commercial herbicides. They are quite rare today and lay a variable number of eggs. American Buff geese are medium-sized, tan colored, very docile geese of uncertain origin. They are excellent meat birds. They are decent layers and wonderful mothers. Toulouse geese are the largest breed at up to thirty pounds. This ancient French breed is dark grey in color. They are bred to become very fat and so must be managed carefully to maintain fertility. They are very gentle, but require somewhat more shelter than other breeds.

A native of parts of China, Mongolia and Russia, the Swan Goose (Anser cygnoides) gave us both the Chinese goose and the African goose. Both have large bulbs on their heads and are similarly colored, but are otherwise very different. African geese are quite large, maturing at around twenty pounds and prized for their meat. These gentle giants are often recommended for beginners. Chinese geese are the egg champions of the goose family. They produce multiple clutches in a year, equaling up to a hundred eggs annually. They are small geese with males weighing about twelve pounds and females ten. They are nervous and the loudest breed, but this makes them suburb as “watch geese” and perhaps the best all-purpose breed.

Now that we are a bit acquainted with various breeds, we can find out just why someone may want to keep geese. Before we go over their benefits, you may be surprised to learn something surprising about geese. Geese are so rarely seen in the United States today that they can seem unusual, even exotic. As such, you may reasonably expect that geese are hard to manage, require expensive feeds and must be waited on hand and foot. The surprise is that geese are actually significantly easier to take care of than chickens. In fact, I would venture to day that geese are the lowest maintenance poultry there are.

Geese are unique among poultry in that the vast majority of their diet is made up of grass. Some meat birds are raised entirely on grass. It may be a good idea to supplement their grass with some chicken feed and scratch grains, but you will find that, when grass is plentiful, they will generally not bother with anything else. Geese are excellent pasture birds. A simple wire pen that can be moved every other day is enough to keep them happy. Unlike chickens, geese do not scratch up a yard and are not nearly as messy as ducks. If moved promptly, the area they occupied will swiftly grow back greener, thanks to all the free fertilizer, which they produce in abundance. Few geese can fly with any proficiency and even then, only when they are young. One wing’s feathers can be easily clipped, if their escape is a concern.

Geese are also almost absurdly hardy. They not only love rain, they seldom if ever go inside. Shade and perhaps a windbreak are their only real needs for shelter. In sub-freezing temperatures, they will scorn a shed and simply sit in the snow. There is a reason that goose down is so valued for comforters. It is extremely good at keeping them warm. The clever little birds know exactly when they need to bend down over their feet to keep them warm and hide their heads under their wings for the same purpose. In the summer, geese require shade and access to water at all times, but are otherwise unbothered. Geese keep their bodies very clean and are, owing to a small oil gland and their meticulous grooming, waterproof. They will soil water almost instantly, so do not worry about keeping it clean, just be sure they have enough. Without water, they may die in the heat and regardless (like ducks) cannot keep their bills and eyes clean, which could cause disease. Provide multiple water tubs to reduce fighting. Geese will dig up the mud around their waterers, so they should be moved each time they are filled. They will appear to be eating the mud, but are actually filtering it in the water through the serration in their bills. This is to find food, as well as small rocks for their gizzards. With a bit of caution, geese will weed a garden for you and clean it up at the end of the season.

Geese need little more from you than water, basic protection from predators and grass. In return, they offer a number of benefits.

In the first place, Geese offer a dark, rich, beef-like meat. Geese are often butchered between twelve and twenty weeks old. At this time, their weight will vary by breed, but as an example, the commonly raised meat breed Pilgrim geese will weigh around thirteen pounds. The carcass weight will be about sixty to seventy percent of the live weight. If one cares to process it, goose fat is highly valued in the culinary world and contains almost no saturated fat. It is comparable to olive oil and may be used in the same applications.

Especially if you have selected the Chinese goose, eggs are another offering of your new favorite poultry. These eggs are roughly the equivalent of three chicken eggs. A fried goose egg, sausage or bacon and a pancake makes a very nice dinner or hearty breakfast. Alternatively, you can incubate and hatch goose eggs quite easily. The goslings are so valuable that it’s a wiser financial move to only consume the first couple of eggs laid in the spring, which are usually infertile. Goose eggs are easily candled without any special equipment. Infertile eggs or those that die early on can be blown out and made into painted or dyed eggs.

If you hate waste, and wish to use all but the “honk,” so to speak, the feet are rich in collagen and highly prized in the rest of the world. The liver of a goose is extremely healthy and famous as foie gras. A more familiar byproduct of butchering is down, which can be made into extremely valuable bedding. Be sure to clean and dry feathers carefully first. If raised by hand and handled very often, geese will be quite friendly to their owners and make loyal pets. Some people will actually hold their geese in their laps and gently pluck the down from their flock.

Lastly, geese are often kept as watch animals. Geese are extremely observant night and day and will loudly complain when they see something unfamiliar anywhere in the vicinity. It takes a very short time to learn the difference between the normal sounds of geese and the sound of their panic. Please know that while they may scare away small predators and they are nearly always too big for hawks, a goose is largely defenseless against most predators. Keeping geese near a livestock guardian dog is a great idea. The extremely intelligent birds will rapidly learn the dogs are a source of safety and will alert the dogs to anything they see as a threat. Geese can usually be kept with other poultry without problems. They will not directly protect their avian brethren, but the others will learn to hide when the more observant geese voice a concern. In mixed flocks, the noble geese stride around the yard, aristocracy among poultry.

Geese are immensely versatile, the most low-maintenance poultry there is and should have a place on any property.

Farm & Ranch

Changing the Way We Handle Hay

Published

4 weeks ago

March 22, 2026

NTFR

Few machines have reshaped livestock operations as much as the round baler. Before its arrival, haymaking was slow, labor-intensive, and limited by the storage and handling of small square bales. The round baler mechanized the process, producing large rolls that could be handled with tractors instead of back-breaking labor. Today, those big bales are a familiar sight across Oklahoma, Texas, and much of the world, stacked along fence lines or dotting pastures.

The modern round baler traces back to the mid-20th century. While early versions of hay-rolling machines appeared in Europe in the 1940s and 1950s, it was a man from Iowa who brought the design into practical use in America. In 1971, Vermeer Corporation, led by Gary Vermeer, introduced the first large round baler that could be mass-produced and widely adopted. His design gathered hay into a chamber, rolled it into a tight cylindrical package, and then wrapped it with twine before ejecting it onto the ground.

This solved a long-standing bottleneck. Small square bales required enormous labor — lifting, stacking, hauling, and feeding by hand. One person with a tractor and round baler could do in hours what once took a crew all day. The new bales were weather-resistant, stored easily outdoors, and reduced spoilage. They also fit well with the larger scale of modern cattle operations.

By the 1980s, other manufacturers such as John Deere, New Holland, and Case IH offered their own models. Improvements included variable chamber sizes, better pickup systems, and stronger tying methods. Round balers quickly became the standard for beef and dairy producers in Oklahoma, Texas, and beyond.

Though models vary, the principle remains the same. The baler picks up cut hay from the windrow and feeds it into a chamber with belts, rollers, or chains. As the hay circulates, it rolls into a tight cylinder. Once the bale reaches the set size — often 4×5 or 5×6 feet, weighing between 800 and 1,200 pounds — the machine stops feeding, and the bale is wrapped for storage.

The result is a dense, weather-resistant package that can be moved with a tractor spear or loader. Unlike small square bales that require dry storage, round bales can be stacked outdoors, especially when wrapped correctly.

The biggest evolution in round baling since its invention has been the way bales are bound. Early machines used only twine, usually sisal or synthetic. Twine is inexpensive and reliable, but it has drawbacks. Wrapping a bale with twine can take up to two minutes, slowing production. Twine also leaves more exposed surface area, allowing moisture to penetrate and spoil hay.

Net wrap was introduced in the 1990s as a solution. Made of high-strength polyethylene, it wraps the bale quickly — usually in 10 to 20 seconds — and covers more surface area. This tighter, more uniform wrap sheds water better and reduces spoilage, especially for bales stored outside. Net-wrapped bales also hold their shape better, making them easier to stack and transport.

Producers must weigh cost against efficiency. Net wrap is more expensive than twine, both in material and in required equipment, but many ranchers find the savings in time and hay quality worth the investment. Twine remains common for operations feeding hay quickly or storing it under cover, while net wrap dominates in large-scale or commercial setups.

In recent years, bale film wrap has also entered the market. Similar to plastic used in silage, film wrap can seal bales almost completely, reducing spoilage even further. While more expensive, it is gaining ground in wet climates and dairies where feed quality is critical.

The round baler is more than a machine — it changed the rhythm of haymaking. Producers can now harvest, bale, and store hundreds of tons of hay with a fraction of the labor once required. In regions like Oklahoma and North Texas, where cattle herds are large and hay is often stored outdoors, round balers became indispensable.

The machine also influenced land use. With the ability to bale quickly and efficiently, ranchers could harvest larger fields and manage forage with precision. It also reduced dependence on hired labor during peak hay season, a major benefit as rural populations declined.

While square balers still have their place — especially for horse hay and small-scale operations — round bales remain the workhorse of modern cattle ranching.

From its introduction in the 1970s to its widespread adoption today, the round baler has proven to be one of the most influential farm inventions of the last century. It solved the labor bottleneck of haymaking, improved storage and feed efficiency, and fit seamlessly into the mechanization of modern agriculture.

Whether wrapped in twine, net, or film, those big round bales are more than just scenery on a country road. They are symbols of an innovation that continues to save time, labor, and feed across ranch country. Like the steel plow, barbed wire, and windmill, the round baler is an invention that permanently changed the way we work the land.

References

Vermeer Corporation. History of the Round Baler. https://www.vermeer.com

John Deere Equipment. Hay and Forage History. https://www.deere.com

Oklahoma State University Extension. Hay Storage and Preservation.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Net Wrap vs. Twine for Round Bales.

Farm Progress. “Round Balers: The Machine That Changed Haymaking.”