Abstract: A portable bale press for tobacco and the like. The press includes a wheeled support and a compression chamber on a pivotable frame on the support. A press head attached to the rod of a hydraulic cylinder is also on the frame and is movable into the compression chamber to form a compressed mass of tobacco in the compression chamber. Power is supplied for driving the press head. The pivotable frame which supports the compression chamber, hydraulic cylinder and press head and is shiftable between an inactive position for transportation of the bale press and an active position where the compression chamber of the press is in position for compression of tobacco. Releasable holding and shifting structure is provided for transferring the frame between positions and holding the frame in the active and inactive positions for tobacco compression and transportation of the bale press respectively.