The objective of this study was to develop a research platform using a John Deere 425 Hay Cuber and to evaluate inield densification of grass-based biomass for energy fuel sources. The hay cuber was repaired, modernized, and instrumented to provide a stable test platform on which to quantify and evaluate operating parameters. Bermudagrass was chosen as a model for cubing energy grasses such as Giant miscanthus and switchgrass. Lignin sulfonate binder was added to windrowed bermudagrass at 27.6 kg/tonne (50 lbs/ton) to increase the lignin content to that of energy grasses. The material output from the cuber was collected and separated into cubes and fines to evaluate the effectiveness of densification operations. Bermudagrass treated with binder produced significant regressions that accounted for 83% of variation in production parameters.