THE HAY BARN GLOSSARY

Bale - A large package of grass, hay, or straw that has been tightly bound with twine or wire and sometimes wrapped. E.g., a bale of hay.

Baler - A farm machine that packs and ties (or wraps in plastic) field-dried hay into bundles, called bales, for convenient handling, storage, and shipping. It ordinarily picks up hay that has been raked into rows and packs and ties it into round or rectangular bales to be picked up by truck. Some modern balers include automatic stacking or loading devices. Very large bales are often stored in the field and moved with front-end loaders. Nearly all hay in the United States is baled.

Bermudagrass – A perennial, warm-season forage that can be used as a standing forage well into the winter if managed properly (fall fertilized and/or plenty of leafy material available for grazing) and supplemented with protein adequately. The more efficient your grazing management, the longer Bermudagrass will last. The problem with Bermuda is that it tends to lay down more during wet falls and where livestock have access to all of the pasture at one time (trample damage).

Bid - Willingness to buy at a stated price according to specified conditions.

Broker - A person paid a fee or commission for acting as an agent in making purchase or sales.

Bunchgrass - the general name for assorted hardy forage grasses of the genus Andropogon and other genera which grow in tufts. Common varieties include fescue and ryegrass. They spread from the crown of the plant. Mowing high protects the crown and ensures the survival of the grass.

Buyer's market - An abundance of goods available permitting buyers to be selective and to buy at a lower price than had previously prevailed.

The Hay Barn Glossary