{"id":1167,"date":"2026-07-28T08:41:07","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T08:41:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/cotton-stalk-baling-guide-equipment-and-field-tips\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T08:41:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T08:41:07","slug":"cotton-stalk-baling-guide-equipment-and-field-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/id\/cotton-stalk-baling-guide-equipment-and-field-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Cotton Stalk Baling Guide: Equipment and Field Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cotton Stalk Baling \u00b7 Crop Residue Management \u00b7 9YF-2200S \/ 9YFS-2.2<\/p>\n

Cotton Stalk Baling Guide: Equipment and Field Tips<\/h1>\n

Cotton stalks after harvest are among the most difficult materials to bale in a small square baler \u2014 woody stems, residual cotton fibre, embedded debris from the picking process and high spatial variability across the field all challenge standard equipment. This guide explains what field preparation is required, which machine features handle cotton stalks reliably and what markets exist for the finished bales.<\/p>\n

\n Lihat Rangkaian Baler Persegi<\/a>
\n Dapatkan Rekomendasi<\/a>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Why Cotton Stalks Challenge Standard Square Balers<\/h2>\n

The Physical Characteristics That Cause Problems<\/h3>\n

Cotton stalks at harvest maturity are woody, branched and thick-stemmed \u2014 significantly more rigid than any forage crop and comparable in hardness to dry sorghum at its toughest. After picking, the stalks are also irregular in orientation: some stand erect, others have been flattened by picker head pressure or wheel traffic, and sections of the field show a dense tangle of interlocked stems and branches that resist pickup and feeding uniformly.<\/p>\n

Beyond the stalk structure, cotton picking leaves residual lint fibre throughout the field. This fine cotton fibre has two effects on baling equipment: it accumulates around rotating shafts, pulleys and bearings at a high rate, wrapping tightly in a way that accelerates wear and can cause shaft seizure if not cleared daily. It also contaminates the bale material stream, adding a fibre content to the finished bale that can be beneficial (in some biomass applications) or problematic (in feed applications where cotton gin trash residuals are a concern).<\/p>\n

The third challenge is debris embedded in the field from the picking operation \u2014 wire fragments, gin stand hardware, seed fragments and small equipment parts that were lost during the season or picking process. These embedded objects damage knotter bills, knife blades and shredder components at a higher rate than in clean hay or straw fields. A pre-baling field walk to remove any visible metal debris is standard practice before cotton stalk baling.<\/p>\n

Field Preparation Before Baling<\/h2>\n

The Field Shredder Pass: Usually Required<\/h3>\n

In most cotton stalk baling operations, a field-mounted shredder or stalk cutter performs a separate pass before the baler enters the field. The field shredder \u2014 typically a heavy-duty rotary cutter or flail mower \u2014 chops intact cotton stalks into shorter segments (typically 100\u2013200mm) and lays them in a relatively flat residue layer across the field. This field-shredded material is much more manageable for the baler pickup than intact standing or tangled stalks.<\/p>\n

Field shredder adjustment is critical for baling performance: too long a shredder segment (above 200\u2013250mm) produces material that tangles in the pickup and resists even feed into the hammer-claw system; too fine a shred (below 50mm) produces a fine dust-like residue that the pickup cannot gather into a consistent windrow. Target segment length for cotton stalk pre-shredding before baling: 80\u2013150mm. After the field shredder pass, rake the shredded material into windrows \u2014 a merger or side-delivery rake rather than a rotary rake avoids further shredding of already-processed material.<\/p>\n

Moisture Window for Baling<\/h3>\n

Cotton stalks at low moisture (below 12%) are at maximum hardness \u2014 the combination of low moisture and high lignin content makes the stalk material extremely rigid. Baling at this moisture level places maximum load on both the shredder and the plunger, and shredder blade wear accelerates significantly in very-dry cotton. If possible, bale cotton stalks at 14\u201320% moisture \u2014 either shortly after picking before field drydown is complete, or after a light rain event that raises the field moisture without creating muddy conditions that prevent access. At 14\u201318% moisture, the stalks are measurably easier to shred and compress, reducing shredder blade wear and PTO demand while still producing bales that are dry enough for storage without mold risk.<\/p>\n

Pickup System Selection: Hammer-Claw Required<\/h2>\n

Pre-shredded cotton stalk residue after raking presents as a moderately dense windrow of irregular, partly interlocked segments. A spring-tooth pickup \u2014 the system on the 9YF-1700, 1900 and 2200 \u2014 can recover this material in well-formed elevated windrows. However, cotton fields regularly have sections where the residue is matted flat from field traffic, where the windrow is irregular or where short stem segments are below the minimum height for reliable spring-tooth engagement.<\/p>\n

The hammer-claw pickup on the 9YF-2200S and 9YFS-2.2 recovers these ground-contact and irregular sections significantly better than spring-tooth systems \u2014 the impact energy of the rotating flails dislodges and lifts material from the soil surface rather than requiring the material to be elevated before tines can engage. For cotton stalk baling where field residue coverage is uneven and sections of flat material are common, the hammer-claw system recovers more total material per pass and reduces the number of secondary raking and re-baling passes needed to clean the field.<\/p>\n

Note the shaft-wrapping behaviour of cotton lint: hammer-claw tine shafts collect lint fibre at a higher rate than spring-tooth systems because the rotating drum generates more airflow that moves lint particles toward the shaft. Check and clear the hammer-claw shaft during fuelling stops \u2014 clearing lint buildup takes 3\u20135 minutes per check and prevents the accumulation that leads to bearing damage over a full field day.<\/p>\n

\"9YF-2200S<\/p>\n

What the Baler Shredder Adds for Cotton Stalks<\/h2>\n

Processing Pre-Shredded Material a Second Time<\/h3>\n

Even after field pre-shredding to 80\u2013150mm segments, cotton stalk material entering the baler compression chamber contains woody segments that bridge across the 460\u00d7360mm cross-section and resist uniform compression. The baler-mounted shredder on the 9YF-2200S breaks these segments further \u2014 reducing them to 40\u201380mm pieces that pack with significantly fewer voids than 100\u2013150mm pre-shredded segments. The resulting bale is denser, heavier per unit length and more shape-stable in the stack.<\/p>\n

The benefit is measurable: in cotton stalk conditions, single-stage shredder bales from the 9YF-2200S consistently produce 15\u201325% higher density than the same pre-shredded material compressed without a baler-mounted shredder. At the same plunger length setting, this density improvement means fewer bales for the same field area (the baler processes the same weight of material in each bale, which simply weighs more per unit length) \u2014 which reduces the number of bale-handling operations needed to clear the field.<\/p>\n

Fan Cleaning Benefits for Cotton Stalk Bales<\/h2>\n

The 9YFS-2.2 adds a negative-pressure fan between the pickup and shredder stages \u2014 and cotton stalk conditions are one of the clearest use cases for this feature. Pre-shredded cotton stalk residue carries a high load of fine cotton field dust, soil particles from the picking operation and, depending on regional practice, residual gin stand dust from pre-field processing. The fan removes this fine particulate from the material stream before compression.<\/p>\n

For cotton stalk bales destined for markets where ash content or fibre cleanliness matters \u2014 mushroom substrate producers, biomass processing facilities that test ash content \u2014 the fan-cleaned bales from the 9YFS-2.2 consistently test lower in soil-derived ash than non-cleaned bales from the same field. For cotton stalk bales sold for feed or bedding, the fan also reduces the lint-and-dust cloud generated when the bale is opened and broken apart, which is relevant for operations where workers handle large volumes of cotton stalk bales in enclosed spaces.<\/p>\n

In cotton stalk conditions, the fan outlet screen requires particularly frequent clearing \u2014 cotton lint accumulates on the screen at a higher rate than in any other crop, potentially reducing fan effectiveness within a single field session. During cotton stalk baling, clear the fan outlet screen at every refuelling stop rather than the standard once-per-day schedule.<\/p>\n

\"9YFS-2-2<\/p>\n

Tractor Power Requirements for Cotton Stalk Baling<\/h2>\n

Cotton stalk baling with a hammer-claw and shredder-equipped square baler is one of the highest PTO-demand operations in the 9YF range. The 9YF-2200S minimum is 99HP PTO, but cotton stalk conditions in practice typically require 110\u2013125HP PTO for sustained operation at normal forward speed without engine labouring at peak shredder load events.<\/p>\n

Factors that increase PTO demand in cotton stalk conditions above the minimum specification:<\/p>\n

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Residue density variability:<\/strong> Cotton field residue is not uniform \u2014 areas of high stalk density from vigorous plant growth spike the shredder load well above the average for the field<\/div>\n
Embedded debris:<\/strong> Any metal or hard debris from the picking operation that reaches the shredder produces an immediate high-load event \u2014 the slip clutch may trip, requiring a stop to clear the jam<\/div>\n
Very low moisture:<\/strong> Below 12% moisture, cotton stalk hardness increases substantially \u2014 the shredder load can approach 30\u201340HP from the shredder mechanism alone in very-dry dense stalk sections<\/div>\n
High forward speed:<\/strong> Running at maximum speed in dense sections overloads the feeder and shredder \u2014 reduce speed to match the material rate the shredder can process without backup into the feeder<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

For the 9YFS-2.2 in cotton stalk conditions, a tractor producing 120\u2013140HP at the PTO provides comfortable operating reserve across the range of density variation typical in cotton fields. This power class (130\u2013150HP engine) is a standard commercial row crop tractor in U.S. cotton-producing regions and the appropriate pairing for serious cotton stalk baling operations.<\/p>\n

\"square<\/p>\n

Wear Rates and Maintenance in Cotton Conditions<\/h2>\n

Components Under Accelerated Wear in Cotton Stalk Baling<\/h3>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Komponen<\/th>\nCotton Condition Wear Rate<\/th>\nInspection Interval<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Shredder blades<\/td>\nHigh \u2014 abrasive soil, embedded debris<\/td>\nEvery 100\u2013150 hours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hammer-claw tine tips<\/td>\nModerate-high \u2014 ground contact in uneven residue<\/td>\nSetiap 80\u2013120 jam<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Knotter bills and knives<\/td>\nModerate \u2014 debris impact risk, cotton fibre tangling<\/td>\nEvery 50\u201380 hours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shaft bearings (all)<\/td>\nHigh \u2014 cotton lint wraps around shafts and seals<\/td>\nClear lint daily, lubricate every 30\u201340 hours<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fan outlet screen<\/td>\nVery high \u2014 lint accumulates rapidly (9YFS-2.2 only)<\/td>\nClear at every refuelling stop<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Budget significantly more maintenance time and consumables cost for cotton stalk baling compared to hay or straw. A conservative estimate: maintenance parts cost (blades, tines, belts) for a cotton stalk season will run 2\u20134 times the equivalent hay season cost for the same number of operating hours. Factor this into the economics of cotton stalk baling before committing to a season program.<\/p>\n

\"square<\/p>\n

Markets for Cotton Stalk Bales<\/h2>\n

Where Cotton Stalk Bales Find Buyers<\/h3>\n
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Biomass energy<\/div>\n

Cotton stalks have reasonable energy content per tonne of dry matter. Biomass power plants and pellet facilities in cotton-producing regions purchase stalk bales as a fuel supplement. Price per tonne varies with local energy market pricing and competing biomass supply; margins are typically lower than feed or specialty markets but volumes are large.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Cattle bedding<\/div>\n

Shredded cotton stalk bales used as dry lot bedding for beef cattle and horses in regions where straw supply is limited or expensive. Cotton stalk bedding is more abrasive than straw for prolonged contact \u2014 suitable for cattle but requires monitoring for equine applications. Bedding market pricing is typically between straw and corn stover pricing.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Substrat jamur<\/div>\n

Cotton stalk material is used in some oyster mushroom substrate mixes as a cellulose source. This market is small in volume but pays premium prices per tonne for clean, low-ash material \u2014 where the fan-cleaned 9YFS-2.2 bales provide a genuine quality advantage. Target buyers: small-scale specialty mushroom producers in Gulf Coast and Arizona cotton-producing areas.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Field incorporation<\/div>\n

Shredded and baled cotton stalks distributed on fields as a soil amendment, then incorporated by tillage. The baling step allows controlled distribution of residue on target fields rather than burning or plowing the full field mat. This is primarily a cost-management option for growers who need the field cleared for the next crop with minimal burning.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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PTO Driveline References for Cotton Stalk Baling<\/h3>\n
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\n \"agricultural
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Gearbox torque ratings and shaft standards for high-demand cotton stalk baling: Spesifikasi gearbox pertanian dan poros PTO<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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The high torque variability in cotton stalk conditions \u2014 from light lint sections to dense stalk sections \u2014 places shock-load demands on the PTO driveshaft that make correct slip clutch rating essential. See the Panduan ukuran poros penggerak PTO dan sambungan CV.<\/a> for applicable specifications.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Frequently Asked Questions \u2014 Cotton Stalk Baling<\/h2>\n
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\nDo I need a field shredder before using the 9YF-2200S on cotton stalks?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
In most cotton stalk conditions, yes \u2014 a field shredder pass before baling is strongly recommended. Intact cotton stalks standing 0.8\u20131.2m tall after harvest are beyond what even the hammer-claw pickup and single baler shredder can process reliably at any forward speed. The baler shredder on the 9YF-2200S is designed to further process material that has already been pre-reduced in size \u2014 feeding intact 1m cotton stalks directly into the machine risks blockages, shredder overload and knotter mechanism problems from irregular stem lengths reaching the chamber. Field shredding to 80\u2013150mm segments before baling is the standard procedure for cotton stalk operations. The exception: very young cotton stalks at early termination (stem diameter below 12mm, plant height below 60cm) may be processable by the baler without field shredding \u2014 test 10 metres of windrow at very low speed before committing to a full field run on young stalk material.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nWhat is the best way to manage cotton fibre wrapping on baler shafts?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Cotton fibre wrapping on shafts is a consistent problem in cotton stalk baling and must be actively managed throughout each field session rather than treated as an end-of-day maintenance item. The fibres wind tightly around rotating shafts, pulleys and bearing housings during operation \u2014 if left to accumulate, they compress into a hard mass that acts as an abrasive seal over the bearing surface, retaining moisture and accelerating corrosion of the bearing race. Daily schedule during cotton stalk baling: at every refuelling stop (approximately every 2\u20133 hours), disengage and wait for all shafts to fully stop before approaching the machine, then manually clear all visible fibre accumulation from the hammer-claw shaft, feeder pivot points, shredder shaft, fan shaft and all chain sprocket hubs. A hooked tool or compressed air directed outward from the shaft outperforms pulling by hand for this task. At end of day, inspect all shaft seals for signs of fibre intrusion past the seal face \u2014 intrusion at this stage means the seal should be replaced before the next session.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nCan cotton stalk bales be used as cattle feed?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Cotton stalk bales are very low in nutritive value as a feed ingredient \u2014 the woody stalk material is primarily lignocellulose with minimal digestible energy for ruminants. They are not recommended as a primary feed source. However, in drought-year situations where forage is scarce, shredded cotton stalks have been used as a very low-quality roughage supplement to maintain gut fill in beef cattle when better forage is unavailable \u2014 at low inclusion rates (no more than 10\u201315% of dry matter intake) and with full mineral and protein supplementation to compensate. The main concern with cotton stalk feeding is the presence of gossypol \u2014 a naturally occurring toxic compound in cotton plants \u2014 which can accumulate to harmful levels in monogastric animals but is generally tolerated by ruminants at low stalk inclusion rates in the ration. Consult with a livestock nutritionist before including cotton stalk bales in any ruminant ration at meaningful levels.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nHow many cotton stalk bales per acre can I expect?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Cotton stalk dry matter yield above the stubble cut height \u2014 the fraction harvestable by baling \u2014 is typically 0.8\u20132.0 tons per acre depending on variety, planting density and season conditions. High-yield cotton varieties in productive years can generate 1.5\u20132.0 tons per acre of above-ground dry matter; lower-yield or drought-affected crops may produce 0.8\u20131.2 tons per acre. At 1.5 tons per acre (1,361kg at baling moisture) and a 26kg average bale weight from the shredder model: approximately 52\u201358 bales per acre. Bale count is highly variable because pre-shredding recovery rate, rake efficiency and baler pickup performance in cotton residue conditions all introduce variability not present in clean hay windrows. Run a field yield test on 10 acres before projecting full-field counts for market planning purposes.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nIs the 9YF-2200 spring-tooth model viable for cotton stalks in ideal conditions?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
In ideal conditions \u2014 very well-formed elevated windrows after thorough field shredding to 80mm segments, dry non-adhesive field surface, no embedded debris \u2014 the 9YF-2200 spring-tooth model can bale pre-shredded cotton stalk material. The limitations are clear: it will leave a higher proportion of flat and ground-contact sections behind than the hammer-claw models, the absence of a baler shredder means compression of the pre-shredded segments is less uniform, and at low tractor power (50\u201360HP) the bale density in cotton material at standard settings will be lower than the shredder models can achieve. For an operation that has a 60HP tractor and occasionally needs to remove cotton residue from a small acreage, the 9YF-2200 is a workable option with adjusted expectations on recovery rate and bale density. For a commercial cotton stalk baling operation where maximum recovery and density are economic goals, the 9YF-2200S or 9YFS-2.2 is the appropriate machine.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nWhat are the fire safety considerations for cotton stalk baling?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Cotton fibre accumulation around hot mechanical components is a fire risk in cotton stalk baling that does not exist to the same degree in hay or straw operations. The lint fibres that wrap around bearing housings and shafts are highly flammable \u2014 a hot bearing from inadequate lubrication can ignite lint accumulation around it during operation. Preventive measures: (1) Never allow lint to accumulate beyond one refuelling stop between clearing cycles \u2014 clear all shaft areas at every stop. (2) Maintain all bearings within their lubrication schedule \u2014 an overheated bearing in cotton conditions is a fire hazard. (3) Carry a fully charged fire extinguisher rated for Class A fires (fibre and dry material) on the tractor at all times during cotton baling \u2014 not stored in the barn, but on the tractor within reach of the operator. (4) Avoid baling during high-wind conditions when flying lint can carry ignition risk away from the machine to standing crop or windrow material.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nDoes baling cotton stalks help with pest management on the farm?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Yes \u2014 removing cotton stalk residue from the field through baling is considered beneficial for pest management in cotton-producing regions, particularly for boll weevil and pink bollworm. Both pests overwinter in standing cotton stalk residue, and removal of that residue by baling (rather than shredding and leaving in place) reduces the overwintering habitat available in and near the field. Cotton State plant pest agencies in some regions encourage or require stalk destruction after harvest \u2014 baling satisfies the destruction requirement by physically removing stalks from the field rather than just shredding and leaving the residue in place. Verify your state-specific stalk destruction regulations before choosing between baling, shredding-in-place or tillage for residue management \u2014 some states specify minimum treatments and timelines that affect the baling window available after harvest.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n
\nHow do I price cotton stalk bales and who do I sell to?+<\/span><\/summary>\n
Cotton stalk bale pricing is highly regional and market-specific. In the U.S. cotton belt (Texas, California, Mississippi, Georgia and adjoining states), the primary buyers are biomass facilities, livestock bedding distributors, and specialty substrate producers. Typical price ranges per bale (18\u201328kg small square): biomass fuel \u2014 $2\u20134 per bale (low margin, high volume); cattle bedding wholesale \u2014 $4\u20137 per bale; specialty substrate (mushroom substrate producers) \u2014 $8\u201314 per bale for clean, documented low-ash product. Finding buyers: contact local ginning facilities who know which producers in the region are buying stalk material; biomass energy plants operating in cotton-adjacent areas (many publish bale purchase programs); and specialty crop producers through agricultural extension network contacts. Pricing cotton stalk bales at the correct market level requires knowing your total production cost per bale (field shredder fuel, raking, baling, handling and transport) before pricing \u2014 operations that under-price because they see cotton stalk as a byproduct they are “just recovering” can inadvertently price below their cost of production.<\/div>\n<\/details>\n<\/div>\n

Cotton Stalk Baling Equipment Recommendation<\/h2>\n
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Cotton stalk baling demands the 9YF-2200S (single shredder, hammer-claw, 99HP minimum) or the 9YFS-2.2 (dual shredder, fan, 99HP minimum) \u2014 not the standard spring-tooth models. Tell us your tractor HP and your cotton acreage and we will confirm the right model for your operation.<\/p>\n

\n Lihat Semua Baler Persegi<\/a>
\n Dapatkan Rekomendasi<\/a>\n <\/div>\n

America Ever-Power Forage Baler Equipment INC. \u00b7 1401 21st ST STE R, Sacramento, CA 95811<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Editor:Cxm<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cotton Stalk Baling \u00b7 Crop Residue Management \u00b7 9YF-2200S \/ 9YFS-2.2 Cotton Stalk Baling Guide: Equipment and Field Tips Cotton stalks after harvest are among the most difficult materials to bale in a small square baler \u2014 woody stems, residual cotton fibre, embedded debris from the picking process and high spatial variability across the field […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1167","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-forage-baler"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1167","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1167"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1167\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1167"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1167"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foragebaler.com\/id\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}