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Baling large round bales: custom rates by state
Large round bales, per bale. Wrap and bale size vary; see each row. Rates are per bale.
Survey averages, not quotes. These are averages of what people reported in extension surveys. Use them as a starting point for a conversation, not as a price. Survey years differ (2024, 2025, 2026); values are not adjusted for inflation or diesel prices.
| State · survey wording | Average | Range | Responses | Median / mode | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa 2026 Hay baling - large round bales with wrap |
$15.75/bale | $12.00 – $20.00 | 39 | median $16.00 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Iowa 2026 Hay baling - large round bales without wrap |
$13.15/bale | $10.00 – $20.00 | 11 | median $12.00 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Nebraska 2026 Baling large round bales with net wrap, (average lbs/bale = 1,559#) |
$17.88/bale | $12.00 – $25.00 | 26 | most common $20.00 | PDF p. 13 · calculate |
| Kansas 2026 Baling large round bales with net, over 1,500 lb check ⚠ The table header reads “Dollars per Acre” but values and text are per bale. Stored as per bale. |
$18.96/bale | $14.00 – $25.00 | 54 | — | PDF p. 16 · calculate |
| Kansas 2026 Baling large round bales with net, under 1,500 lb check ⚠ The table header reads “Dollars per Acre” but values and text are per bale. Stored as per bale. |
$16.06/bale | $12.00 – $20.00 | 51 | — | PDF p. 16 · calculate |
| Ohio 2026 Large round bales - Baled and Left in Field |
$11.98/bale | $8.00 – $15.00 | 23 | median $12.00 | PDF p. 6 · calculate |
| Missouri 2025 Round bale with net wrap, over 1,000 pound bales |
$18.87/bale | $10.00 – $35.00 | 15 | median $20.00 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Missouri 2025 Round bale with twine |
$17.20/bale | $10.00 – $25.00 | 5 | median $17.00 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Missouri 2025 Round bale with net wrap, under 1,000 pound bales |
$15.00/bale | $11.00 – $18.00 | 6 | median $15.00 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Indiana 2025 Large Round Bales (5 feet wide) |
$19.58/bale | not published | 13 | — | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| Wisconsin 2025 Baling round bales - 5x6 |
$13.40/bale | $8.00 – $20.00 | 5 | median $12.00 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Wisconsin 2025 Baling round bales - 4x5 check ⚠ The “Small Bales” and “4x5” rows have identical average, range, median and count (11.83, 7.50–16.00, 12.00, n=9). Possibly a duplicated row in the source. |
$11.83/bale | $7.50 – $16.00 | 9 | median $12.00 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Wisconsin 2025 Baling round bales - Large Bales (>1500 pounds) |
$11.43/bale | $8.00 – $15.00 | 7 | median $11.00 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| North Dakota 2024 Baling (Wire or Twine Included) - Round Bales, Over 1,500 lbs |
$15.27/bale | $5.00 – $60.00 | 13 | most common $15.00 | PDF p. 2 · calculate |
| North Dakota 2024 Baling (Wire or Twine Included) - Round Bales, 1,500 lbs or less |
$12.99/bale | $5.00 – $30.00 | 21 | most common $15.00 | PDF p. 2 · calculate |
Minnesota and Illinois: no state survey, so they are not listed or counted separately. Iowa’s 2026 rate above is often used as a reference there.
Bar: shaded = published range, dark tick = average (scaled to the highest value on this page). “Few responses” = fewer than 5.
What’s included and how ranges differ
- Indiana: Where shown, the range is the average ± one standard deviation (only published when 30+ responses).
- Iowa: Range excludes the single lowest and single highest response.
- Kansas: Range as published (state rows).
- Missouri: Range of responses.
- Nebraska: Range is the minimum and maximum reported. “Most common” (mode) also shown.
- North Dakota: Range is the minimum and maximum reported. “Most frequent” (mode) also shown.
- Ohio: Range is the minimum and maximum reported.
- Wisconsin: Range is the lowest and highest reported.
All included surveys say their rates cover fuel and the operator unless otherwise noted; rental items exclude them.