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Baling small square bales: custom rates by state
Small square bales, per bale. 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 - small square bales outlier ⚠ -47% vs. the cross-state median ($1.88) for “Baling small square bales”. |
$1.00/bale | $0.50 – $1.50 | 16 | median $1.00 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Nebraska 2026 Baling small square bales with wire tie, (average lbs/bale = 66#) few responses |
$2.50/bale | $1.50 – $3.00 | 3 | most common $3.00 | PDF p. 12 · calculate |
| Nebraska 2026 Baling small square bales with twine tie, (average lbs/bale = 60#) |
$1.94/bale | $1.10 – $3.00 | 5 | most common $1.10 | PDF p. 12 · calculate |
| Kansas 2026 Baling small square bales with twine |
$2.56/bale | $1.00 – $5.00 | 9 | — | PDF p. 16 · calculate |
| Kansas 2026 Baling small square bales with wire |
$1.85/bale | $1.00 – $2.75 | 10 | — | PDF p. 16 · calculate |
| Ohio 2026 Small square bales - Baled and Dropped on Ground outlier ⚠ -40% vs. the cross-state median ($1.88) for “Baling small square bales”. |
$1.12/bale | $0.52 – $2.00 | 13 | median $1.00 | PDF p. 6 · calculate |
| Missouri 2025 Small square baling |
$1.88/bale | $1.00 – $3.25 | 6 | median $1.75 | PDF p. 4 · calculate |
| Indiana 2025 Small Rectangular Bales (25-60 lbs.) outlier ⚠ -40% vs. the cross-state median ($1.88) for “Baling small square bales”. |
$1.12/bale | not published | 9 | — | PDF p. 3 · calculate |
| North Dakota 2024 Baling (Wire or Twine Included) - Small Square Bales, 250 lbs or less outlier ⚠ +60% vs. the cross-state median ($1.88) for “Baling small square bales”. |
$3.00/bale | $1.00 – $9.00 | 6 | — | 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.
All included surveys say their rates cover fuel and the operator unless otherwise noted; rental items exclude them.