How Much Does A Bale Of Straw Cost?

Straw has been used since ancient times as bedding for animals. As we know from our grandparents, it is a natural, biological, and ecological product that is clearly superior to other alternative products on the market (wood pellets, bentonite, silicate). The straws are carefully selected and through the baling technological process they are chopped, aerated, and pressed.

The cost of a bale of straw will depend on various factors such as the current market conditions, size, whether it contains alfalfa, and its type. For example, a bale of straw that contains alfalfa costs anywhere between $2 and $2.50, while for a small bale of straw without alfalfa you will have to pay anywhere between $6 and $10.

Plan on spending anywhere between $40 and $60 for a large round bale of straw. If you were to purchase by the ton, it will anywhere between $95 and $110.

There are also bales of pine straw, that are made of naturally shed pine needles. A small bale of this costs anywhere between $7 and $10.

Which are the additional expenses?

If you are not able to pick up the bales of straw from the seller, you may also have to pay for the transportation/shipping fees.

Bale of straw overview

The size of a standard bale of straw is 18” X 14”, but, depending on the baler, the length may vary. Some of the most popular lengths are 48 and 36 inches.

A smaller bale of straw would be enough to cover a surface of 2,000 square feet.

You might also like our articles on the cost of a bale of hay, a bale of cotton, or a grain bin.

You can purchase a small bale of straw from most nurseries and home improvement stores. But if you need many large bales of straw, you will have to search for these at a local supplier or online via related classified ad websites or Craigslist. Also, you can contact local farmers because most of them will be able to offer you some for sale.

Usually, decorative straw is bailed individually and is tied and packed with a wire.

Straw is different from hay in the fact that it makes a better mulch for your garden. In other words, straw is the stems or the stalks of grains from oats, barley, and wheat once these have been harvested. On the other hand, hay is the grass that was cut and dried for use as feed for animals.

Important things to consider

If you want to start growing vegetables in the garden, but the soil is of poor quality, you can practice cultivation in straw bales. This method is a new one that is expanding rapidly. Cultivating vegetables or aromatic plants in bales is a recently promoted technique for agriculture in small spaces or as a unique gardening option.

At the same time, the “straw bale garden” is also the ideal method for concrete spaces or where the soil cannot ensure good or healthy production. This technique is very different from soil culture and should be considered as a method of culture in a container. Each bale of straw can be considered a growing container.

Straw bales can also be used to build houses. This is a cost-effective option for those who do not have the necessary financial resources for a modern alternative and are willing to take care of the walls and roof.

Straw bales are generally used in the concept to fill the wooden structure of the house, strong enough to support the roof and walls. They can also be used to build load-bearing walls, the weight of the roof being in this case supported by bales, although this option is used less often.

Built from natural materials, good for the environment and for the human body, and available at affordable prices, houses made of straw bales are quite a popular trend among enthusiasts of eco homes, with low consumption of resources.

How is a house made from bales of straw?

Tips for saving money

Sometimes, when the mold gets to the bales of straw, you can get them for free. These can no longer be used for animals if they have mold and some farmers may give them for free. Search for this opportunity in the free section on Craigslist.

Keep an eye on the local farmers who have recently harvested their cereals. When clearing the area, they will just sell the bales of straw at a lower cost.

In case you are able to buy locally, you will probably be able to transport the bales of straw yourself and avoid the shipping fees.

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Alec Pow

Alec Pow is a thorough and methodical Financial and Business Analyst with over 15 years of experience in financial statement analysis, Foreign exchange derivative hedging instruments analysis, modeling, and risk management, with a long history of writing for big news publications like Forbes, MSN.com, Washington Post, and many more.

How Much Does a Bale of Straw Cost?