A baler (10) for making large cylindrical bales (30) is equipped with a device (50) for controlling the placement of a bale (30) after it is discharged. The discharged bale control device (50) is coupled to a main frame (12) containing a baling chamber and is selectively operated such that front and rear bale control members (90, 114, 134) of the device (52) are respectively located behind and forward of a space into which a completed bale (30) may be discharged. Thereafter, the bale control members (90, 114, 134) are moved to the rear in to a location wherein the front bale control member (114) holds the discharged bale (30) to the rear of a path (44) traced by a discharge gate (34) when it swings between a raised discharge position and a lowered baling position. The rear bale control member (90, 134) engages a discharged bale (30) so as to halt the rolling inertia imparted to the bale (30) during discharge, the front and rear bale control members (90, 114, 134) thus cooperating for locating the bale (30) at rest. Once the bale (30) is at rest, the rear bale control member (90, 134) is moved to a bale-clearing position wherein the rear bale control member (90, 134) may move forwardly relative to the bale (30) without coming into contact with the bale (30).
