If the number of product launches is any indication, there’s a sense of anticipation in forages this year. In this edition of Machinery Guide, you’ll see that mower conditions and self-propelled windrowers make up an exciting segment of offerings from manufacturers wanting to “make hay” in 2014. Check out these descriptions, first, then get ready to spend some time making a few extra rounds, ensuring you cut a little deeper and get more details and specifications on this year’s field of new entrants.
From the Manitoba Co-operator website: Kubota makes play for Canadian hay tools market
Read Also
Summer Series: Old machines,new technology
One of my first jobs was working as a mechanic’s helper at a farm equipment dealership in the late 1970s….
Hesston WR9800 Series Self-propelled Windrowers
Introduced at last month’s World Ag Expo in Tulare, Cal., the Hesston WR9800 series of self-propelled windrowers is built to deliver better fuel efficiency, more power and higher speeds. Importantly, the WR9870 and WR9860 also have an improved environmental efficiency thanks to their Tier 4 final engine design. Operator comfort has been upgraded since the 2011 introduction of the WR series, with a smooth and quiet ride courtesy of the GlideRider rear-axle suspension system. Another important feature is the ergonomic control handle, complete with nine user-configured and programmable control buttons, with two standard buttons. That puts all machine and header functions in one easy-to-use handle.
John Deere W235 Self-propelled Windrower
Deere’s new W235 Self-Propelled Windrower offers the latest in the company’s line up and features more horsepower to drive on through tough conditions, plus a larger cab for operator comfort. The W235 also offers AutoTrac and the CommandCenter display for fingertip access to all controls, meaning improved efficiency on the job. There’s even greater choice in the W235, configured to a rotary that will be compatible with 994 and 995 heads, and a draper, which will be compatible with the 600D head. It also comes with a 6.8L Final Tier 4 engine, with 235 horsepower, an increase of nearly 18 per cent compared to the previous model.
Case IH DC3 Series Disc Mower Conditioner
Simplifying the path to high-quality hay is the goal of the new Case IH DC3 Series Disc Mower Conditioner, designed to improve drydown for improved hay quality along with higher profits. Case says the new design provides closer and cleaner cuts with a new cutterbar design and wide discs, meaning you get more hay in the windrow and leave less in the field. The new design also simplifies making adjustments, so you won’t even need tools in the field to set the conditioners, swath doors or the swath board. A simplified drive system will also help minimize horsepower consumption, thereby reducing maintenance needs.
New Holland Speedrower Series
High speed and smooth operation are just two of the objectives with New Holland’s Speedrower self-propelled windrower series. The company says the result is a design that will let you get the job done faster while enjoying industry-leading comfort, control, power and performance. The IntelliSteer integrated auto-guidance system can eliminate overlaps, with accurate cutting from one to eight inches. A three-range hydrostatic transmission option translates into a top speed of 24 m.p.h. — billed as the fastest in the industry. Plus there’s independent hydraulic header flotation, meaning an operator can adjust flotation separately for the right or left side without leaving the cab.
Vermeer MC Series Mower Conditioners
New at Vermeer is a line of mower conditioners designed to incorporate productivity, flexibility and convenience into one powerful machine. Three models of mower conditions are available — the MC2800, the MC3300 and the MC3700 — with cutting widths varying from 9.1 feet to 12 feet. At the heart of this series is the modular, shaft-driven Q3 Cutter Bar, which brings lower horsepower requirements and shear protection, making it more fuel-efficient with minimal gear-to-gear interface. Changing blades or repairing a sheared device is made even simpler — and safer — thanks to the Quick-Clip Blade Retention system and Quick-Change Shear Ring.
