By Colin J. Cleary
Chances are making hay is a thought you’re not quite ready for…yes I know we are still working on wrapping up calving but wake up, it’s a blink away! Maybe you’re thinking of upgrading your baler with that nice tax return ;)! In this article we are going to look at a couple big square balers and round balers and discuss some of the benefits to each of them. Our good buddies over at Kubota, Krone Massey Ferguson, John Deere, and hooked us up with some sweet balers that are just what the veterinarian ordered for your Working Ranch!
Kuhn 2200 Series Round Balers
When it comes to livestock equipment Kuhn is without a doubt one of the best. Their new 2200 series round balers hold up to the name! These balers feature a variable chamber along with a wide pickup. Kuhn designed this pickup to maximize the full capacity of the baler to help get the job done when the weather is working against you. To help focus on ranchers’ individual needs, Kuhn has four intake options available for the new 2200 series balers; OptiFlow, which is an open throat intake design; OptiFeed, which is a non-cutting rotor; or a 14 or 23 knife OptiCut integral rotor.
Kuhn’s impressive ranch-worthy baler has three rollers and five belts to ensure a uniform bale, and, with the improved top bale chamber roller, backfeeding in short dry crops can be eliminated. As the bale grows so does the density thanks to Progressive Density, which results in a very firm bale with a moderate core to keep those cows loving every bale! To see if Kuhn’s new 2200 series balers will roll up perfectly for your outfit visit your local Kuhn dealer or go online at www.kuhnnorthamerica.com!
Kubota 4160 Round Baler
Now let’s switch it up for those who desire a more rounded mind! If you’re looking for a baler that can handle silage, hay or straw then Kubota’s 4160 variable chamber baler is right up your alley. This nice machine can roll up a 4’ wide and 5’ high bale with a 79” capacity. The efficient fork feeder intake system makes for a faster baling process, which no one will complain about. The bale chamber boosts 5 wide laced belts and 3 rollers which results in a smooth bale start every time no matter what the crop type. As the bale grows so does the density due to its belt tensioning arm subjected to steadily increasing resistance from the two hydraulic cylinders and spring tensioner.
To reduce wear and power requirements the main bale chamber drive is run by a heavy duty pitch chain along with a split drive gearbox. The brain behind the 4160 is the Focus III Terminal, which is a universal control that can be used with other Kubota implements. This monitor gives you full control of all functions from the seat of your tractor. This control box drives the binding automatically without any intervention from the operator. To learn more about this impressive ranch-worthy baler visit your local Kubota dealer or check them out online at www.kubota.com
Krone Fortima Round Baler
Krone offers some great haymaking equipment. The Fortima balers are a sharp-looking baler packed with awesome features. The Fortima baler can make a 4’ by 5’ bale, which all starts with the EasyFlow pickup. This pickup is camless with no cam track, which in turn offers huge advantages such as a simple assembly using fewer moving parts for extremely quiet running and reduced wear.
The Fortima baler, unlike many others, does not have belts. Instead, it relies on a heavy-duty chain and slat elevator that runs on massive guide and drive rollers. The use of more chain links distributes the load evenly, and with the massive rollers it increases the angle for the chain direction thus reducing wear on the elevator and increasing capacity. Krone was keeping the rancher in mind when they designed this baler; service and maintenance doesn’t get much easier than the Krone Fortima. Lubrication banks and automatic chain lubrication reduces wear and makes that not-so-fun chore of baler prep simple, helping you get to the field where you belong. Visit www.krone-northamerica.com for more.
John Deere L300 Large Square Baler
John Deere is back better than ever with their two models of Large Square Balers, the L330 and L340. The L300 series balers hold nothing back when it comes to the heartbeat of the baler, the drivetrain. This heavy duty drivetrain boosts a plunger that compresses the crop at 45 strokes per minute to increase the tons per hour you can bale…who doesn’t want to get more done in a day? The bale case has four compression cylinders, plus the 10-foot long bale case increases friction for a denser bale in any type of crop. The pre-compression chamber has a single fork system that compresses the crop before transferring it into the bale case. The L330 bale has an available 10 knife pre-cutter while the L340 baler has an optional 23 knife pre-cutter option with a slide out knife tray for easy maintenance, which is a must when the weather is right. How about tool free knife removal? Yes it’s true.
The simplistic monitor and hydraulic system can adjust the amount of pressure on cylinders against the bale case, which in turn keeps the density of the bales consistent when the moisture content changes. John Deere’s L300 series have a double tie knotter system with integrated lubrication system to make maintenance a breeze. To help keep the knotters dust free, knotter cleaning fans use air flow to help direct debris out of the knotters and also help keep twine clear from the twin box to the knotter. To see if one of the L300 balers is right for your Working Ranch check them out at your local John Deere dealer or online at www.deere.com
Massey Ferguson 2200 Large Square Baler
Massey Ferguson is no stranger to the large square baler market; as most ranchers know, their new 2200 series balers have some very impressive upgrades from their former 2100 series. With higher capacity, a unique ProCut rotary cutter and a double knotter system this will have any cowboy or cowgirl drooling. With large square balers density is key and Massey left nothing to spare to ensure dense and consistent bales. This new design pre-forms each flake into a pre-compression chamber before it moves into the plunger creating the perfect flake.
Wide and low, two words that have a lot of meaning with regards to Massey’s 2200 series pickups. This low profile design shines by pulling the crop from the pick-up with revolving packer forks and positively feeding the crop into the pre-compression chamber. A hydraulic lift with gauge wheels makes clearing obstacles a breeze.
Now the most important part of making a big square…the knots. Massey’s 2200 series balers feature a double knotter system, which maintains a perfect bale after it leaves the chamber, through transport, to the barn and to the feed yard! For more information check them out online at www.masseyferguson.com or at your local dealer!
Whether it’s round or square the herd never complains when good quality hay is being fed and the baler makers from Massey Ferguson, John Deere, Kubota and Krone sure know how to build a ranch worthy baler for your working ranch! As always I encourage you to get out and check them out for yourself to determine which baler is right for your needs!
