The machine of this invention provides for the forming of large round bales, weighing from a half a ton to a ton, from a windrowed fibrous material such as hay or the like, transporting the bales to a storage position, and releasing the bales at the storage position. A pair of transversely spaced swing arms are supported on a portable frame unit for up and down pivotal movement between bale releasing positions projected rearwardly of the frame unit to forwardly projected bale forming positions, and for pivotal movement toward and away from each other in either the bale forming or bale releasing positions therefor. A rotatable material wrapping and bale supporting spindle is carried at the free end of each arm so that when the arms are in their bale forming positions, the spindles project inwardly toward each other from the opposite ends of a bale forming compartment that extends transversely of the frame unit. With the swing arms in their bale forming positions and on a forward advance of the frame unit along a windrow, the windrowed material is picked up and directed into the bale forming compartment where it is engaged by the spindles for wrapping thereon. As the material is wrapped it is yieldably confined about the spindles to give satisfactory compactness or density to the completed bale. When the bale is completed and while in the bale forming compartment it may be transported to a storage position. At the storage position and while the bale is supported on the spindles, the swing arms are pivotally movable to their bale releasing positions, in which they are then pivotally moved away from each other to release the formed bale from the spindles.