Bale moisture probes are great once a bale is made, but trying to determine moisture of a hay swath is another challenge entirely. Most methods — including drying down a sample and doing some quick math — still take more time than is ideal, especially if hay is drying quickly and is intended as ensiled… Read More
AGCO is introducing the latest in their baler lineup: the Massey Ferguson RB 4160P Protec combo baler. The unit, which produces 4-by-5-foot bales, combines all the features found on the RB Series silage balers with an integrated bale-wrapping unit, allowing producers to harvest and ensile high-moisture forages in one process. Whether harvesting forage for a… Read More
Farm management and cropping practices can be complimentary to a livestock operation. Making use of all the months of the year can be quite the challenge, but Chris McLaren, of Larenwood Farms near Drumbo, Ont., has managed to do just that by integrating a cereal rye into his rotation. In this episode of The Sharp… Read More
Woods Equipment has been around since the 1940s and was one of the first companies to produce tractor-mounted rotary cutters. The BrushBull rotary cutter has been around for quite some time as well, with many improved iterations since the original. The latest model made its debut at the National Farm Machinery Show at Louisville, Kentucky,… Read More
Strautmann’s new self-loading forage wagon line, the Magnon, launched at Agritechnica in Hanover, Germany, is the biggest in its range. “That’s a completely new machine, designed especially for big farms, using it for silage making…with a completely new system on the pick-up,” says Strautmann’s Felix Rademacher. The new Flex Load pick-up system uses elastomer plastic… Read More
Krone’s BiG X 1180 was on display at Agritechnica in Hanover, Germany in November, and the company claims it’s the biggest in the business. According to Krone’s Henrik Feldmann, the machine focuses on maneuverability and maximum capacity. “And highlights on the machine is, of course, the lift cab, that allows you to lift the whole… Read More
Complete with a huge 925 horsepower engine, Claas has released two new forage harvester models that, for the first time, are offered with tracks. Matt Jaynes, Claas of America product manager for self-propelled forage harvesters, says that the new Jaguar 990 and 960 are available with Terra Trac, for rider comfort, reduced soil compaction, and… Read More
Forage producers can rake up to a 30-foot swath with the New Holland Rolabar 230 twin basket forage rake. New Holland product marketing manager George Rigdon says the high-capacity rake is a good fit for producers looking to increase overall efficiency and productivity by reducing the number of field passes. The manufacturer unveiled the Rolabar… Read More
Automated feed pushers save time and reduce workload. These robots can free dairy producers from the constant grind of pushing feed back within reach of their animals. It’s a win/win, as having feed within reach of the animals is just part of the recipe for higher feed intake and great milk production, too, notes Gravin… Read More
Looking to cut your hay close, clean, and quick while conditioning it for faster dry down and nutrient preservation? If that’s the plan, it may be time to take a closer look at New Hollands’s new Discbine 209 and 210 disc mower-conditioners. The side-pull mowers were rolled out at the recent Farm Progress Show at Boone, Iowa…. Read More
The new Massey Ferguson RB Series silage baler is engineered for durability, reliability, and high throughput, according to AGCO. It’s the first silage-specific baler ever offered by Massey Ferguson, says Matt LeCroy, tactical marketing manager for hay and forage at AGCO. He says the RB Series is a tough, heavy-duty choice for producers who bale corn… Read More
Yes, Guinness has a record for hay mowed in an eight hour period. And a custom haying operator near Greeley, Colorado holds that record, as of July. Tate Mesbergen says he was inspired to attempt breaking the record while visiting Agritechnica in Hanover, Germany last November, when he saw a Polish manufacturer advertising how its… Read More
John Deere’s new 9000 Series self-propelled forage harvesters claim to deliver both high-capacity harvesting and forage quality. The 9000 Series harvesters, which provide up to 400 tons of throughput per hour, debuted last week at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa. In this video, Deere senior marketing representative Shaun Fritchey explains how the four new models… Read More
Whether driven by a respect for operator time, a desire for simplicity, or a means of drawing down input costs, the agriculture industry has seen a movement towards fewer manned vehicles. Many farmers have moved to no-till and straight-cutting, and some silage operations are now skipping the swather too, with the help of Italian-based agricultural… Read More
Claas has extended its track technology from combines and tractors to forage harvesters, with Terra Trac now being trialed on the Jaguar line, with a feature designed to reduce scuffing when turning. The option to use tracks, according to the company, means increased traction, and lower rut formation, complete with an automatic reduction of contact… Read More