ISSUE 51
Replacing a single rotor, side-delivery rake with a twin rotor Kverneland 9472C has saved time for one Cornish farming family when it comes to silage-making. EXTRA ROTOR BUYS TIME
“Instead of running up and down to put two single rows together, we can now create a good-sized swath in one pass,” explains Ben Symons, of Great Hammett Farm, St Neot near Liskeard. “It now takes us half the time to row-up our grass. And depending on whether we’re chopping or baling, the hydraulic swath width adjustment makes it easy to match our trailed forager’s pickup or make a wider swath for the baler.” The 250-acre family farm runs 220 head of cattle and a flock of 200 ewes, with grass, kale and turnips grown in rotation, along with a whole crop mix of spring barley and peas. “Home grown forage holds the key to profitability for us,” explains Ben, who farms with his mum, Jenny, pictured. “We have the kit and the labour to get the job done, taking two 50 acre cuts each year, along with 2-300 round bales that are baled and wrapped for us by a neighbour.” The decision to increase rake output was one not taken lightly.
“With some narrow lanes and high-sided verges to negotiate, we had to do a lot of measuring to make sure the rake would fit down the local roads,” he says. “We’ve had to reposition the lights to prevent them being damaged.” Supplied by Vincent Tractors, the 9472C’s rotors carry 11 tine arms with four tines per arm. Actively steered wheels and headstock geometry combines to deliver sharp 80- degree turns, and a working width from 6.2-7.2m brings operational flexibility. “The rake does a lovely job, and makes a fantastic swath, even with our whole crop mix,” he says. “And a neat, tidy swath is far more easily chopped by our forager.”
“The rake does a lovely job, and makes a fantastic swath, even with our whole crop mix.” Ben Symons, farmer
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