Making hay while the sun shines

The annual Balfour Hay Day held in Mpumalanga serves to whet farmers' appetites for the upcoming hay- and silage-making season. And this year's event, which was held on 19 January, was no exception. The latest equipment was demonstrated on lush, rain-watered veld, and farmers were spoilt for choice.

- Lindi Botha

MASSEY FERGUSON DM 357 DISC MOWER

A sturdy and economical solution for the small and medium farmer, this mower does not compromise on quality and finish, and boasts a host of features you would expect to find on larger, more expensive machines. It has a cutting width of 2,5m and each cutting head has shear pin protection, preventing damage in case obstacles are struck. The pins can easily be replaced in the field.

The flat profile of the mower is good for heavy crops and, combined with the standard stone guard and large hardened skid, ensures years of troublefree service. This mower provides an exact cut and high material flow without material build-up, leaving fluffy swathes and good-quality forage.

MCHALE F5400 NON-CHOPPER BALER

This entry-level baler, the smallest in the series, features a 2,1m pickup and smoother drop floor operation. It also delivers bales up to 10% denser. Features such as continuous greasing and oiling and the drop floor unblocking system help to ensure long life, reliability and a machine rugged enough to handle tough ground conditions.

The McHale F5400 comes equipped with a split-drive gear box that distributes power evenly. The star-shaped feed rotor behind the pickup on the baler ensures a high-capacity flow of grass into the bale chamber.

The rotating tines that feed the crop through to the bale chamber are designed for high output, while the star layout reduces the load peaks as the baler works in heavy swathes.