When American manufacturer Staheli-West demonstrates its hay steaming machine, it lines up an impressive combination consisting of a steamer, square baler and bale collector. We peaked under the steamer’s panels and asked why this machine is used

It’s a funny old world, here in Europe farmers carry out all sorts of operations to try and bale hay and silage in as dry as possible conditions, but American farmers use a steamer to add moisture to the material before it is baled. They have various reason for doing so.