Farming Simulator 25: Straw Harvest Pack – Straw Pellets, Machinery & Production

With the Straw Harvest Pack, released on August 12, 2025, GIANTS Software brings back one of the series’ most established and popular expansions in a modernized form. In earlier entries, Straw Harvest was considered the benchmark for realistic straw and bale processing. Now the concept returns to Farming Simulator 25 in an updated, more detailed, and technically refined version – complete with new machines, production chains, and an expanded economy that redefines the role of straw in agriculture.

From classic balers to industrial pellet production, the Straw Harvest Pack offers a complete processing chain that runs from harvest to sale. Players can not only bale and store straw, but also process, refine, and sell it at a profit. This puts the by-product of many crops at the center of the farm economy.

The pack combines technical precision with gameplay depth. It introduces new brands, expands production logic, and opens up new ways to increase efficiency on any farm – whether in single-player or on large multiplayer servers.

Pellet production from straw in Farming Simulator 25

At the heart of the Straw Harvest Pack is the fully integrated pellet production line. This facility enables you to turn ordinary straw into high-quality biomass pellets that can then be sold or used for energy generation.

The production process begins as usual with the harvest. After threshing, straw swaths can either be collected with standard balers or processed directly into pellets using the pack’s new machines. Particularly impressive is the new Krone pellet press, digitized in collaboration with GIANTS Software. It allows shredding, drying, and pressing to be carried out in a single pass.

This production chain is not only economically compelling but also mechanically demanding. Players must pay attention to moisture, storage temperature, and transport logistics. Efficient operations can make straw a primary source of income for the first time.

New straw machinery: Krone Premos 5000, balers, and logistics

The Straw Harvest Pack adds a range of machines tailored to processing and transporting straw. Alongside the return of the popular Krone Comprima balers, several new models have been introduced, including modern bale wrappers, conveyor systems, and storage technology.

A highlight is the Krone Premos 5000 pellet press, which can be used in the field or as a stationary unit. It features original sound recordings and authentic animations. Operation involves multiple steps, making the work more realistic and more demanding.

Also new are optimized bale conveyors and stackers that make loading large quantities easier. Hydraulic controls have been refined, and vehicle physics respond noticeably more precisely. Loading trailers or conveyor belts feels more natural and less jerky.

For fans of traditional farming, the pack also offers nostalgic models from earlier decades, now harmonized with the modern physics engine of Farming Simulator 25. This blend of tradition and innovation gives the DLC exceptional depth.

Straw pellet market: prices, outlets, and logistics

A key aspect of the Straw Harvest Pack is the expanded economic chain. Straw pellets, bales, and other by-products now have their own market prices that adapt dynamically to supply and demand.

Pellets can be sold at specialized industrial facilities or further processed in the new biomass plant. This produces energy and generates by-products such as fertilizer or residues, which in turn feed into other production chains. The result is a closed-loop economy that rewards strategic thinking.

The new transport logic also matters: due to the greater weight and volume of bales, logistics routes must be planned efficiently. Players delivering over long distances benefit from rail loading stations or larger trailers, which the pack also introduces. The combination of economic simulation and realistic logistics management makes this expansion especially appealing.

Automating production processes: conveyors and priorities

The new facilities in the Straw Harvest Pack are fully functional production systems. Setting up the pellet plant requires space, energy, and resources. Players must provide electricity, water, and occasionally additives to keep the system running.

Once activated, production can be managed via a clear menu. Here you can set throughput, storage capacities, and priorities. Automation also plays a larger role: conveyors, feeders, and storage robots work autonomously once correctly connected.

This system adds a new layer that sits between classic farm management and industrial control. Experienced players who enjoy optimization will find plenty to dive into.

Buildings and infrastructure for straw & pellets

The Straw Harvest Pack expands not only the machinery lineup but also your farm’s construction options. New storage halls, conveyor belts, and drying facilities are available, all designed specifically for straw and pellets.

The buildings are modular. Players can build small setups or entire industrial complexes that integrate visually and functionally into their existing operations. Each hall features its own lighting, ventilation, and animated elements, creating a convincing industrial atmosphere.

The architecture is inspired by modern agricultural operations in Germany and Northern Europe. This creates a realistic contrast to the wide open spaces of the Plains and Prairies Pack, with which the Straw Harvest Pack pairs beautifully.

Sustainability: biomass and environmental bonuses in FS25

An important thematic aspect of the Straw Harvest Pack is sustainability. Using straw as a renewable energy source is central to the DLC. Pellet production ensures surplus material is put to good use instead of rotting unused in the fields.

This mechanic is also rewarded in gameplay: producing and selling pellets improves your environmental balance over time, which positively affects subsidies and loan terms. Environmental protection thus becomes a measurable part of the economy.

Here, GIANTS Software sets a standard for a realistic and responsible farming simulation. Energy production from biomass is conveyed credibly and adds an educational component to the game.

Tech, performance, and graphics in the Straw Harvest Pack

As with previous expansions, the technical quality is excellent. Machines, buildings, and effects have been modeled with great attention to detail. The pellet production animations are particularly impressive: dust, particles, and material flow are depicted realistically without noticeably impacting performance.

The soundscape is another highlight. The clatter of machinery, the rhythmic pressing, and the hiss of hydraulics create an immersive atmosphere. Straw and pellet textures have also been overhauled – they look denser, more structured, and more realistic than ever.

Even on mid-range systems, the game remains stable thanks to significantly improved optimization. Those with powerful PCs can enable all details and lighting effects to experience the DLC’s full potential.

Multiplayer strategies: roles, servers, and teamwork

The Straw Harvest Pack truly shines in multiplayer. While one group harvests in the field, another can prepare pellet production. The interplay between farming and industry becomes a genuine team effort.

Because the production chains are more complex, the pack is ideal for dedicated servers. You can assign distinct roles – drivers, technicians, production managers, or logisticians. This clear division of labor strengthens the sense of community and significantly increases efficiency.

Multiplayer synchronization runs stably thanks to improvements from Patch 1.9, even with large facilities and many moving objects. This makes the Straw Harvest Pack an ideal addition for collaboratively managed operations.

Conclusion: Straw Harvest Pack – a recommendation for sustainable farming

The Straw Harvest Pack is more than just a machinery add-on – it’s a new way of thinking about farming. GIANTS Software shows how a by-product can become a central economic factor. With realistic production processes, economic depth, and technical precision, the DLC elevates the simulation to a new level.

Players who enjoy complex workflows, optimization, and industrial production will find countless opportunities here. Whether as a small farm with a compact press or a large operation with a pellet plant – the pack adapts to any playstyle.

Combined with your own Farming Simulator server from 4Netplayers, the Straw Harvest Pack reaches its full potential. Stable performance, flexible mod management, and high server capacity make it possible to farm sustainably together – efficiently, realistically, and with a focus on the future.

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