Abstract
From consultations with three experienced farmer-custom operators, two systems were selected for the development of baseline costs for collecting corn stover residue as bales. One system consisted of a combination of shredding-windrowing operations followed by round baling. The other system consisted of separate shredding and windrowing (raking) operations followed by large rectangular baling. Round bales were collected using a pull-type round bale transporter equipped with a loading arm and stacked in storage using a telescopic loader. Rectangular bales were collected using a self-propelled automatic stacker wagon that stacked the bales automatically. An average distance between the farm and storage of 8 km (5 miles) was assumed. The calculated cost for all operations up to and including stacking in a covered storage was $21.60/dry Mg ($19.70/ dry ton) and $23.60/dry Mg ($21.40/dry ton) for the round baling system and for the rectangular baling system, respectively. The difference in cost of the two systems was due to the additional raking operation and higher capital cost of equipment for rectangular baling and transport and smaller load for the rectangular bale transport.