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Mechanical Tree Baler

In 1960, for three main reasons, we started work on a mechanical tree baler. First, costs have been increasing. Labor costs have risen 60 percent in the last 5 years. Costs of material--moss, paper, and wire-for packing trees have also been increasing. Because nursery stock has been getting bigger, fewer trees have been placed in each bale; therefore, each bale was costing more to produce. Second, Minnesota has a very short packing season. There is a 5- to 6-week period be-tween the time the ground thaws and new growth starts. Weather is also a factor. We often have only 20 working days to ship 18 to 20 million trees. Therefore, the trees must be baled rapidly.


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Author(s): John Hall

Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Issue 67 (1964)