A feeding mechanism for a crop baler having a quick feeding device including hay guides which can be deflected by a semi cylinder compression mechanism. The hay guides guide the hay into the bale chamber. A cutting device is provided to divide the continuously fed hay into segments of hay to be placed above and below the compression roller. The mechanism also includes a method of storing a segment of hay while the baler binds the bale in the bale chamber with twine. The mechanism stores hay at the precise time the baler binds the bale in the bale chamber and clears the storage area while the next bale is being made. The mechanism will slow the speed of the semi cylinder, quick feed, leaf stopper cutter, and knotter needle system when binding a bale to allow the baler to operate at a higher speed when not binding the bale.
