Description
Operate hay stackers, bale wagons, and loaders to collect, stack, and load hay bales in fields and yards. Inspect bale quality, maintain equipment, and build safe, stable, weather-protected stacks while coordinating with baling and hauling crews.
- • Follow safety procedures for working around moving equipment and elevated loads; use required PPE.
- • Operate hay stackers, bale wagons, telehandlers, and forklifts to pick up and stack bales in fields and yards.
- • Adjust, service, and clean stacking equipment; report malfunctions to supervisors.
- • Monitor machine sounds, gauges, and hydraulics to detect problems; stop operations to troubleshoot.
- • Attach and change bale clamps, spears, grapples, and elevator chutes; connect hydraulic and electrical lines.
- • Set pickup arms, conveyor speeds, and stack patterns from cab controls to match bale size and conditions.
- • Load and unload hay bales onto trucks, trailers, or into storage stacks safely and efficiently.
- • Align, square, and tier stacks for stability and airflow; place dunnage as needed.
- • Tarp and secure stacks; install straps or netting to protect from weather and wind.
- • Inspect bales for moisture, density, broken twine, and contamination; segregate wet or damaged bales.
- • Guide bales on conveyors to prevent jams; clear blockages using safe procedures.
- • Drive tractors or trucks to move hay, trailers, and equipment between fields and stack yards.
- • Coordinate pickup routes and loading with baling crews and truck drivers to meet schedules.
- • Record bale counts, stack IDs, locations, moisture readings, and weights in logs or mobile apps.
- • Maintain yard housekeeping, fire lanes, and dust control; remove debris around stacks and equipment.
- • Calibrate and use bale counters and moisture meters; verify readings with spot checks.
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Agriculture
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
