Squeeze-Type Big Bale Grapple

Feeding big bales allows workers with arm, leg, and back impairments to do chores without manually lifting and carrying small square bales of hay. Mounted to a skid steer or tractor loader arms, a hydraulically-operated Squeeze-Type Big Bale Grapple can reportedly handle (i.e., lift, rotate, transport, stack) bales of hay, straw, or silage weighing a ton or more. The round-bale grapple has curved tubular arms that open wider than the bale’s circumference then are drawn toward each other to tightly squeeze the bale. The square-bale grapple has straight tubular arms (about 4 feet long and 11/2 feet high); once the bale is positioned between them, the arms are retracted to tightly squeeze the bale. The sources listed below make models for big round bales and for big square bales. Horst and Spartan have models that can accommodate both types. (All come with hydraulic cylinders, hoses, and couplers.)

Cost: $2,000-$4,000

Impairment Category: Back, Lower extremity, Strength/endurance, Upper extremity