A practical checklist

  1. Use the bales unit for a known bale count.
  2. Write the bale format and recognizable size description in notes.
  3. Separate different bale types or fields when their counts were recorded separately.
Illustrative recordA worked example

Harvesting · Hay West · August 6 · 42 bales. Notes: “Large round bales; size recorded by operator as 5 × 6 ft; weights not measured.” This is a count with context, not a tonnage estimate.

What to avoid

Do not convert a bale count into weight using an assumed average without labeling the assumption. Size, crop, and conditions can change bale weight.

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