Versatile forage machines help producers make the most of time when baling high-quality hay
Time is of the essence when it comes to producing high-quality hay. Two new lines of hay-making machines — tedders and a silage-ready baler — from Vermeer will help producers efficiently take advantage of optimal time frames to get the most from their forage crops.
Together, the new 10-series TE tedders and 604 Pro Generation 3 baler will help ease the time crunch hay and forage producers feel when facing tight time frames as a result of things like inclement weather. Producers now have new options to help them make more high-quality hay— ultimately sustaining supplies for customers for whom such forage is key to their cattle and livelihood.
“The 604 Pro G3 and 10-series tedders are packed with new features,” said Vermeer Product Manager Josh Vrieze. “We want producers to be able to get into the field at the optimal times to maximize their crop quality, whether they’re producing dry hay or high-moisture forage crops.”
10-series tedders
Rain can be the cause of poor hay quality when it falls at the wrong time in the hay-making process. TE1710, TE2510 and TE3310 tedders, ranging in size from 17 ft (5.2 m) to 33.5 ft (10.2 m) — help speed up the dry down of hay to help overcome the quality losses that untimely rains can cause.
“If you’re actively looking to take control of your hay by reducing harvest loss and improving crop quality — consider the new Vermeer 10-series tedders. The 10-series tedders create a “bottoms-up” motion to rotate the dry crop to the bottom and the wet crop to the top, which helps producers evenly dry the crop,” said Vermeer Product Manager Shawn Wang. “These new tedders are built with an enhanced heavy-duty frame to move heavy, wet crop and get a nice, wide and even spread.”
The new 10-series tedders incorporate the exclusive Vermeer hook tines that help produce a “bottoms-up” motion to pick up and spread larger amounts of crop than conventional tedders with straight tines. Backed by a 3-year limited hook tine warranty, the tines on Vermeer tedders are built to last.
Tines that are staggered in length grab the drier hay farther down toward the ground. The implement’s rotating, “sweeping” motion at a trailed angle cuts down on ground contact, minimizing breakage and adding to the expected lifespan of the flexible tines.
University research shows tedding grass hay can help decrease forage dry-down time by as much as 20%-30%* compared to allowing the crop to dry down in the field naturally.
“The hook tines are a proven design and they reduce the required rpm to help minimize leaf loss. On the new 10-series tedders, we have further enhanced their durability and convenience with heavy-duty construction and user-friendly features.” Wang said.
604 Pro G3
Like the new Vermeer 10-series tedders, the 604 Pro G3 will help producers maximize the quality and value of their hay, whether producing dry hay or higher-moisture forage like silage.
High-moisture forage like silage is heavier than dry hay, resulting in more physical strain on the baler during operations. That’s why the 604 Pro G3 — a unique combination of toughness and versatility — was designed, manufactured and thoroughly tested by a team in Pella, Iowa, where the demands of high-moisture crops placed on balers and other hay-making equipment are well understood.
The 604 Pro G3 was built to exceed those demands. Steel body panels and heavy-duty components like large bearings, chains and rollers provide the toughness and longevity hay producers have grown to expect from Vermeer balers, even when baling wet, heavy forage crops.
A combination of features provides the versatility today’s hay producers demand when baling crops ranging from dry hay to high-moisture silage. The Atlas ProTM control system provides the operator real-time operational information in the field to make decisions, and Xtracut17 chopper system enables the operator to adjust knife settings.
“In the 604 Pro G3, producers can select from 0, 8, 9 or 17 knives to make the right cut for optimal bale density, silage quality and digestibility,” said Vermeer Forage Solutions Engineering Manager Ty Hartwick. “This chopping ability also minimizes feed loss and helps make feeding more efficient for cattle producers, with less required time in total mixed ration (TMR) mixers or feed grinders.”
The 604 Pro G3 enables the operator to efficiently and conveniently do more from the tractor cab with the Atlas Pro control system. The operator can monitor and adjust bale shape and density, as well as modify settings critical to producing the highest-quality bales based on crop and field conditions. In addition, the 604 Pro G3 features a new netwrap system that’s conveniently located on the back of the baler.
The combination of the new 10-series tedders and 604 Pro G3 represents a pair of hay tools producers can depend on to maximize silage quality while creating new efficiencies when working in the field. The new machines help free up producers to focus their energy not on finding the perfect weather window to make hay, but on making sure that hay exceeds the quality expectations of their cattle and forage customers.
“The 10-series tedders and 604 Pro G3 are packed with features that meet the needs our customers have expressed to us,” Hartwick said. “Especially in years when weather challenges hay and silage producers, the versatility, performance and toughness of these machines will help them make high-quality hay and baled silage even when an untimely rain would otherwise halt progress. These machines will help enable them to keep making hay.”
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