Farm & Ranch

[AgriLife Today] Texas crop and weather report for March 15, 2016

Published

10 years ago

March 16, 2016

NTFR

By: Adam Russell

Back to normal, spring crops on track after prior years of drought and flooding

COLLEGE STATION – Producers around the state are finding conditions more favorable for planting early crops compared to last year, according to Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service reports.

Dr. Ronnie Schnell, AgriLife Extension agronomist in College Station, said corn and sorghum producers are on or a little ahead of schedule with plantings as soil conditions appear to be favorable because of winter moisture and timely spring rains. Fields in the Brazos Valley are in much better condition than last year, when torrential rains delayed plantings for months in some cases.

Schnell said some farmers started early to avoid possible delays. He said some corn is already emerging in the region.

“There was good winter moisture and a dry out that gave them the ability to get into their fields to plant before these recent rains,” he said. “I don’t think everyone was finished but there was a lot of activity and I think a lot of the fields are planted.”

Dr. Gaylon Morgan, AgriLife Extension agronomist in College Station, said cotton fields in the Rio Grande Valley were 80 percent planted and overall there have been few delays up to this point. Morgan said mild winter conditions spurred farmers to plant rather than risk rain delays.

“Most producers in the (Rio Grande) Valley planted earlier than usual because they were gun-shy after what happened last year when it was wet and stayed wet,” he said. “They wanted to get it in.”

Morgan said moisture levels were looking good around the state and that 2016 has been a return to normal so far — compared to prior years of drought and flood. He said soil in some areas would be full of moisture 2-4 feet deep, which would be beneficial to rooting plants between rains.

The rains were helpful to many areas and crops, but the precipitation and subsequent humidity is causing problems for wheat fields around the state, said Dr. Clark Neely, AgriLife Extension specialist in College Station. Wheat rust has been reported around the state, and recent rains and overall humidity levels could provide ideal conditions for the disease.

“There’s a lot of rust being reported and rain only helps facilitate the disease’s development,” he said. “The reports we’ve seen in January and February are indicative of a bad rust year.”

Warmer- than-usual temperatures put wheat two weeks ahead of schedule and have producers concerned about possible freezes that could damage fields. There were 5.3 million acres of wheat compared to 6 million acres planted last year, a 12 percent decrease.

Despite concerns, Neely said overall the wheat crop is in good shape. Most of the state’s production is concentrated in the Rolling Plains and High Plains areas, which benefitted from the recent rains, he said.

“All these rains that might have hurt us helped them,” he said.

AgriLife Extension district reporters compiled the following summaries:

CENTRAL: Counties in central Texas reported severe storms and 6-8 inches of rain over five days. All counties reported good soil moisture. Overall range and pasture conditions were reported as good while overall crop conditions were fair. Pastures were greening up and conditions were improving but supplemental feeding was still necessary for livestock. Cattle remained in good condition for most of the area. Small grains were looking good. While corn has been planted, some of those fields were drowned out by rains. The rain also stopped work in some fields for a few days. Fruit trees have bloomed. Tanks were full and rivers and creeks were running.

ROLLING PLAINS: Heavy rains fell across parts of the Rolling Plains. Five inches to 7 inches of rainfall resulted in some dangerous flooding. However, there was no report of missing livestock and stocker cattle were doing well. Lakes and ponds were full. Higher-than-normal humidity contributed to more disease issues in wheat. Some producers treated wheat rust. Others were trying to hold out as long as they could or were trying to figure yield potential and the economic feasibility of rust application.

COASTAL BEND: The reporting area received from 1.5-7 inches of rain, which provided a good boost to the soil moisture profile. But wet conditions were expected to slow agriculture activity. Temperatures remained higher than normal. Sorghum and cotton planting were expected to resume after fields dried. Corn planting was almost complete. Some replanting may be necessary in flooded fields. Rice planting made a comeback due to water availability from the Colorado River. Rice acreage was predicted to be close to pre-drought levels. Some fertilizer was being spread on warm season pastures and hay fields. Cattle were in good condition and continued to transition from supplemental feed to spring pastures.

EAST: Flood conditions existed after up to 20 inches of rain fell throughout the region. Many counties that reported dry conditions last week reported surplus moisture with creeks, ponds, and lakes overflowing. Pasture and range were mostly in fair condition. Most counties reported surplus subsoil and topsoil conditions. Cattle were being moved out of bottomland in Henderson County. Some producers had trouble getting into their pastures. Some gardeners reported losses of early planted crops. The Shelby County judge ordered a mandatory evacuation for residents living along the Sabine River and the Toledo Bend reservoir. Confirmed tornadoes were reported in Henderson County and caused major damage. Livestock were doing fair to good with supplemental feeding. Cows were calving and gaining weight. Livestock markets seemed to be more stable. Most classes of feeder heifers and steers ended steady. Slaughter cows were up and bulls were firm. Spring cattle work began. Bull turn-out was underway for spring calving herds. Feral hogs were causing problems. There were reports of hog hunter dogs contracting pseudorabies. Pollen from pine trees started to fall.

SOUTH PLAINS: In Cochran County, soil continued to dry out due to lack of moisture. Pasture and rangeland needed rain as producers continued to prepare for spring planting. Winter wheat would benefit from rain but continued to mature. Floyd County producers received three-quarters of an inch of rain, which helped winter wheat and provided good moisture to start planting next month. Wheat looked very good. Light rainfall was received in portions of Garza County, with amounts ranging from a quarter inch to half an inch. Producers continued to prepare land for cotton planting in the coming months. Most ranges and pastures were in fair to good condition, as warm season grasses were beginning to come out and beginning to grow in low-lying areas. Cattle concentrated on those areas and followed new growth. Cattle were in mostly fair to good condition with little-to-no supplemental feeding at this time. Rainfall was needed in most areas to fill the topsoil profile as subsoil moisture in pastures remained good. Lubbock County received needed rainfall this week, but it was spotty. Amounts ranged from a few hundredths of an inch to more than 1 inch. Land preparation continued, including application of fertilizer and herbicides and listing rows. Spot checks of several wheat fields indicated growth nearing the jointing stage. Scurry County producers received trace amounts of rain but more rain was needed. There was no precipitation reported in Yoakum County. Irrigated fields of winter wheat and oats continued to look good. Calm winds allowed grape growers to spray.

PANHANDLE: Temperatures were warm, dry and windy for most of the week. Some moisture was received. A good rain was still needed throughout the region. Collingsworth County received rain early in the week. Cooler temperatures and cloudy skies provided some good moisture. Wheat and pastureland was greening up due to heavy morning dew and high humidity. Spring round-up was beginning. Deaf Smith County producers continued field preparations for the coming planting season. Compost and fertilizer trucks were running as quickly as possible in preparation for planting season. The winter wheat crop was holding on and many producers started pivot irrigation on their wheat crops. Dryland crops were suffering from lack of moisture. The wheat crop was growing fast with much of the wheat breaking dormancy and needing moisture to continue its growth. Stocker cattle were still running on wheat pasture with more being added to graze the pastures out. Scattered showers were received across Wheeler County. Some areas received up to half an inch but more was needed for wheat. Pastures began to green up. Weeping lovegrass was growing and producers began to fertilize. Cattle were in good condition. Range and pastures was rated mostly fair to good.

NORTH: Rainfall amounts varied from about 1.5-3.5 inches around North Texas. Topsoil moisture varied from adequate to surplus. Bottomlands were flooded. Milder-than-usual temperatures were reported. Rains put a halt to corn planting; it was estimated up to 15 percent of the total corn acres were planted before the rains began. Cattle producers pulled cattle off winter annual pastures again because soils became saturated. Wheat looked better after two weeks of sunshine and warmer weather before the rains came. Signs of stripe rust have been reported in several fields and could be a problem this spring in most areas. Producers were debating on when and what to spray if they plan to harvest. Some producers said they would be better off grazing out the wheat. Winter grasses and legumes on range and pastures had ample moisture and could really come on with a forecast of warm weather and sunshine between possible rain on Wednesday and Friday. Bermuda grass and other warm-season grasses were beginning to green up earlier than normal due to the mild winter. Most producers hoped to avoid a repeat of last year’s spring flooding that caused low yields and complete failures of wheat, oat, milo and corn crops. There was very little greenbug activity so far.

FAR WEST: Culberson County received a trace of precipitation with very windy conditions finishing out the week. Glasscock County received up to half an inch of rain. Leaf and stripe rust was building in area wheat crops. Fields have been sprayed and more were set to be sprayed when weather permitted. Farmers continued to prepare fields for corn and sorghum planting. Pastures were starting to green and mesquite trees were close to breaking bud. Presidio County had cooler temperatures with nighttime temperatures below freezing. The week ended with very windy conditions and high fire danger. Bulls were out with cows and most calving was complete. Pastures were greening up. Portions of Ward County received up to a quarter inch of rainfall early in the week. Areas that received precipitation were showing response from annual weeds. Calving continued along with supplemental feeding. Upton County received some much-needed moisture. Farmers continued to prepare fields for this year’s crops. Livestock continued to kid and lamb out. Supplemental feeding of livestock and wildlife continued. Pecos County received a third of an inch of rain and mesquite trees were putting on leaves. Pasture and range conditions were poor. Winter wheat was fair. Subsoil and topsoil moisture was short.

WEST CENTRAL: Days were very mild with cool nights. Widespread rainfall was reported throughout the week in almost all counties. The rains should help boost spring grasses, non-grasses and winter wheat crops as well as improve soil moisture for spring planting. Field preparations for spring planting were underway but could be delayed until fields dry out. Winter wheat was in mostly good condition. Some wheat rust was reported. Range and pasture conditions continued to improve with green-up and growth. Warm season grasses and non-grasses were beginning to break dormancy in many areas. Fruit trees were beginning to bloom. Texas winter grasses continued good growth and winter wheat was being grazed by livestock as supplemental feeding continued. Livestock remained in fair to good condition, and cattle prices continued to hold steady. Some area lakes and ponds caught a significant amount of runoff. Rains also reduced range fire conditions tremendously.

SOUTHEAST: In Brazos County, the majority of corn had been planted. Significant rainfall across the county caused some flooding in low areas. In Grimes County, recent flooding replenished the soil moisture content but reduced the amount of days suitable to work in the field. Hardin County experienced historical flooding. In Montgomery County, rains were spread over the week, so flooding was minimal. Most areas in the county received 3 inches of rain with some areas receiving more than 7 inches. Brazoria County experienced three days of heavy rain but did not report measurements. More than 6 inches of rain fell in Chambers County. Some rice was being planted before the rain came. It could be a week before field work can resume. Fort Bend County received 3 inches of rain. Approximately 95 percent of corn, 85 percent of grain sorghum and 5 percent of cotton has been planted. Livestock were in good condition. Galveston County experienced very heavy rain for several days, which resulted in flooding and standing water in areas throughout the county. Soil-moisture levels throughout the region varied widely, mostly in the adequate to surplus range with surplus being the most common. Brazos, Galveston, Hardin, Montgomery and San Jacinto counties reported 100 percent moisture surplus. Rangeland and pasture ratings varied widely, with most rating from fair to very poor. Good ratings were most common. San Jacinto County reported 100 percent good pasture ratings. Hardin County reported 100 percent of pastures as very poor.

SOUTHWEST: Areas in the southwest received 2-4 inches of rain, which was great for spring planting. Peaches were in bloom and seemed to have received enough cooler temperatures as well. There were reports of rapidly increased weed growth as spring approaches. Cool temperatures after the rain followed by warmer temperatures increased spring growth of grass and forage. Livestock were in fair condition as lambing and kidding continued.

SOUTH: Rainfall was received throughout the region this past week, which improved soil moisture, range and pasture conditions and crop production. Temperatures were mild throughout the Frio County area. Wheat crops continued to develop, but there was some fungicide spraying to address rust. Potato and corn crops also continued to develop and were in good condition. La Salle County received about an inch of rain. Range and pastures continued to improve throughout the northern portions of the region. Soil moisture conditions were 100 percent adequate in the Frio County area and 80 percent adequate in the La Salle County area. The Brooks County area received rain after two months of dry conditions. An estimated 3 inches of rain fell in some areas and as much as 4.5 inches fell in other areas of the county. Farmers were watching forecasts and fertilized their fields before the rain. Soil moisture conditions were 100 percent adequate. Some much-needed rain fell in Jim Wells County. Most areas received up to 2 inches of rainfall from a strong storm system that moved northward along the coast. The moisture should ensure a good start to the crop-growing season in the Jim Wells County area. Soil moisture was 50 percent to 100 percent adequate. Crop producers can begin to plant crops in the weeks to come if all goes well. Kleberg and Kenedy counties averaged 5 inches over a 24-hour period. More rainfall was expected. Range and pastures will benefit greatly from the rainfall received but increased weed and pest problems were expected. Sorghum planting continued. Soil moisture was 70 percent adequate in the Kleberg and Kenedy counties area. To the west, favorable conditions continued in Dimmit County, which received significant rainfall. But additional rain was needed for range and pasture improvement. Around 4 inches of rain fell in Webb County and temperatures were cooler. Soil was 60 percent to 80 percent adequate in Dimmit County and 60 percent adequate in Webb County. A measureable amount of rain fell in Zapata County. Three inches of rain was reported in some areas. The soil was saturated in those areas. The rain was the first reported in more than two months. Some runoff occurred throughout the area. Soil was reportedly 50 percent to 60 percent adequate in Zapata County. Temperatures were hot and sticky before the storms and cool thereafter. Rain fell in Zavala County throughout the week and limited field activities to almost nothing. Producers reported weather conditions allowed them to do maintenance and repairs on equipment, since fields were too wet to do any other field tasks, including cultivation, planting and harvesting. A 100 percent surplus of moisture was reported in Zavala County. Livestock producers, with livestock on both native range and pastures or planted winter grazing pastures, were happy to receive rain. Overall, producers remained in a wait-and-see mode to assess the effects of timely rains on agriculture production. Widespread rain fell in the south and should benefit most agriculture production. Harvesting of sugarcane, citrus and vegetables was temporarily interrupted due to wet fields. Row-crop planting of grain sorghum and cotton was also slowed or halted throughout the area. Starr County received scattered showers. Between 2.5-5.5 inches were received throughout the county. Range pastures and recently planted row crop fields should benefit from the rainfall. Soil moisture conditions were 80 percent adequate in the Hidalgo County area and 90 percent adequate in the Starr County area.

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Farm & Ranch

Tumble Windmillgrass

Published

4 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

6 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.”