Updates aiming to keep balers top of the crops

With the hay and silagemaking season fast approaching, baler manufacturers have been busy releasing details of their 2021 model updates introducing added-value features or upgrading existing equipment for easier or more efficient operation.

One example with clear practical benefits is the weighing system built into the bale-wrapping platform of the Kuhn Balepack combinations. It weighs each bale as part of the continuous baling and stretch film wrapping process and then records and displays the rolling average weight of the previous three bales, which eliminates anomalies that may be caused by the machine moving over an uneven surface and, together with a record of the number of bales produced, provides an estimation of total field and overall yield.

Handy information, no doubt, for calculating winter feed and/or straw winter bedding stocks and for helping to make informed decisions on crop management.

Mchale has “gone large” with its latest variable chamber balers; the V8940 and V8950 can produce bales from just 60cm to 1.90m in diameter. That gives them the ability to produce a regular 1.20m diameter bale for hay and silage, or larger diameter bales for maximum handling, transportation and storage efficiency, especially in straw.

While the “40” model has stub augers and a plain rotor to take in material off the 2.1m camfree pick-up, the “50” has a crop-slicing mechanism with 15 knives to help get more material into each bale. Three rollers at the front of the chamber and three broad belts roll the bales with adjustable core density, with springs providing initial tension before hydraulic cylinders and a tailgate latch take over.

“Plus” versions of the related Kubota and Vicon variable chamber balers have received a number of tweaks to help enhance their performance.

The Vicon RV5216 and RV5220 and the Kubota BV5160 and BV5200 have a revised pick-up reel with 10mm longer tines and a higher-lifting crop roller to help handle larger swaths more effectively, wider stripper plates to improve cleaning in wet conditions, and larger gauge drive chain.

More durable main drive chains have also been introduced together with idler rollers with 45% larger bearings, a continuous internal shaft for added strength, increased lubricating grease capacity and improved shielding.

These upgrades are also introduced on the Kubota BV5160 Flexiwrap balerwrapper, which produces stretch film enclosed bales up to 1.65m diameter. A 14-blade crop-chopping system and spiral intake rotor are standard on this machine, whereas this is an option on the plain balers, which roll bales up to 1.65m or 2.0m diameter to suit different materials and end uses.

For producers and contractors who like to pack their silage into rectangular bales, Kuhn has updates for its SB machines, including a bale chamber now 75cm longer at 3.75m to match the range-topping SB 1290 id with its “double thump” split plunger.

Nine hydraulic cylinders act upon the chamber side and top panels to help produce consistently high-density bales, especially when packaging very dry material.

At the front, a powered crop roller press that actively follows the height of the swath helps with intake duties while changes to the pick-up reel tine layout are said to smooth crop flow into the pre-charge chamber.

HANDY INFORMATION: Kuhn Balepack baling and wrapping combinations can now be fitted with a weighing system and moisture sensor so grass yield can be calculated.