Successful haymaking: review of mowers for harvesting forage

May 26, 2020

Text: Yulia Belopukhova, agronomist, Ph.D. biol. sciences

The Federal Scientific and Technical Program for the Development of Agriculture until 2025 stipulates that in the current and next years the cattle population will be more than 17 million animals, and sheep and goats - 29 million individuals. To provide such a huge herd with the necessary amount of high-quality feed, appropriate equipment is required - first of all, mowers.

One adult cattle animal requires on average 8–14 kg of haylage per day, or about six tons of hay for the winter. For timely procurement of large volumes of feed, productive equipment is required. In addition, the unit must efficiently mow and lay all types of grass, ensuring good drying and further collection of the mowed mass, and also not trample the mowing or crumble the grass. For these reasons, you should take a responsible approach to choosing a car.

JOB NOT FOR EVERYONE

When preparing forage, the cutting height depends on the condition of the grass stand and the cutting time. On average, plants are harvested at a level of 5 ± 0.5 cm from the soil surface, since a decrease in this indicator by a centimeter leads to a 5% shortfall in the subsequent harvest. In addition, the quality of the feed decreases: in the aftertaste the synthesis of raw fiber increases and the accumulation of soluble, easily digestible carbohydrates is reduced. As a result, in natural meadows where tall grass grows, the first and second mowing should be carried out at a height of 6–7 cm, in the case of low plants - 5 cm, and the last harvest should be carried out at a distance of about 7–8 cm. For this reason, for harvesting equipment is not suitable for the care of lawns, garden rows, road slopes, golf courses, municipal areas and grass areas at airports, for example flail mowers-mulchers, units with grass collectors and others.

According to the engineering and technical characteristics, models of mowers for harvesting hay and silage are classified according to the method of attachment to the main machine - self-propelled, trailed, semi- and mounted; type of working body - with disk or segment knives; location relative to the tractor - front, side or rear; method of activation. However, users are more interested in the efficiency and profitability of forage harvesting, so these units are evaluated according to productivity, the size and characteristics of the landscape being processed, the characteristics of the cut grass, further harvesting and storage of the mowed mass.

Gasoline, electric, or maybe battery?

Advantages of electric mowers

1. Low price.
2. Highly environmentally friendly.
3. Small mass.
4. Silent.

Disadvantages of electric mowers

1. Low engine power.
2. Binding to the wire, its length.
3. Risk of electrical shock. You should always mow in rubber boots and only in dry weather.

Most people consider gasoline mowers to be more advanced, but it’s up to you to decide.

Advantages of gasoline models

1. High power.
2. No connection to the power grid.
3. There are no restrictions on wire length

Disadvantages of gasoline mowers

1. High noise
2. More weight
3. Low environmental friendliness.

Battery mowers combine both the advantages and disadvantages of both types. Such mowers are very mobile and environmentally friendly. The main disadvantage is the extremely low engine power.

DIVIDE INTO GROUPS

There are different types of mowers for making hay and silage. Thus, segmented implements lay a mass of grass in a thin layer, so they are convenient for harvesting cereal grasses for hay. In addition, they are easier to maintain and more durable, since they use fewer elements that require repair. Rotary machines are suitable for flat areas with a slope of up to 20º and consist of a support frame with disks, on the sides of which a slide is installed to slide along the soil. As the tractor moves, discs with blades rotate and cut the grass. Such mowers are usually more expensive than segmented units, but they are able to operate at good speed, delivering 1.5–2 times more energy for useful work. However, for making hay on medium-density natural meadows, farmers recommend using segmented mowers, for example with a Schumacher cutterbar, which is used at a speed of 4–5 km/h. Its main elements are secured with bolts and nuts rather than rivets, which allows you to adjust the gap between them and makes it easier to clear them of grass.

In general, it can be noted that with equal performance and efficiency indicators, you need to choose a model that, when mowing, crushes the grass mass to a lesser extent and clogs the soil with soil. According to this application classification, the huge fleet of mowers can be divided into several groups.

Frame

The most popular material for the case is plastic. It is lightweight, economical, and able to withstand light impacts. However, for working in difficult conditions, it is better to prefer a housing made of steel, or better yet, aluminum.

Steel resists shocks, collisions and scratches well, but if stored in improper conditions, it quickly rusts.

Aluminum can be called the best material for a body; it is lightweight, impact-resistant, and does not corrode, but the price of such products is very high.

WITHIN VISIBLE BORDERS

On small, that is, up to 100 hectares, natural and cultivated meadows, as well as on fields with a cereal-legume feed mixture, it is advisable to use light mowers with a working width of up to two meters. Among small farms, the most popular, including due to their low price of approximately $1,000, are chain-driven mounted rotary mowers from Wirax, Lisicki and Agrolead. According to the manufacturers, the machines, powered by the tractor power take-off shaft, are designed for mowing high-yielding field grasses. These models have a small working clearance, which ensures good performance and efficient swathing. However, users often note that these mowers are better used for making hay. In addition, the weak point of Polish units is the belts, since they are expensive, not sold everywhere and require tightening up to 3-5 times a day, especially when harvesting dense masses and succulent herbs. Also, this equipment has a fairly high shaft wear, to avoid which the bearings and lubricant should be regularly updated. Of the two models, the disc system of the Lisicki mower, which uses interchangeable gears, is more reliably protected from dust and grass, while the Wirax has a simple boot without bends. However, the second model has a more reliable and high-quality hub, and the frame has replaceable pins, which allows the mower to be installed on both mini-tractors and powerful equipment.

For cultivated meadows with an area of ​​100 hectares, implements from the KR series are suitable. They work smoothly, but require a lot of maneuvering when turning, since they do not lift the cutting tool. In this case, the meadow should be free of hummocks and depressions, since beating and cracking of the canvas may occur at the points of attachment to the rotor. On small slopes, it is worth using a KRR-1.9 mower with a belt drive of rotors and a working width of 1.9 m. On lands that are not contaminated with stones and with a slope of no more than 12º, a Kuhn GMD Select mounted disc mower is suitable for mowing low-stemmed grasses and then laying them in a swath .

Trimmers

The easiest to use are trimmers, and they are also the most versatile. A high-quality professional-grade brush cutter can not only level the grass on the lawn, but also make hay for the winter, mow down weeds on roadsides and farmsteads, and remove bushes in gardens and lawns. Some models of trimmers are called brush cutters - they can cope with young trees with a trunk diameter of up to 3 - 4 cm, without losing the ability to care for the lawn.

But on large, flat areas of lawns, where it is necessary to cut the grass at the same height, they are not entirely convenient - it is very difficult to achieve a stable position of the cutting part. A brush cutter, especially a powerful one, is a rather heavy and bulky tool. It is indispensable in hard-to-reach places, on difficult terrain, near fences, curbs, and on rocky soil.

By design, the trimmer is a fairly simple system consisting of an electric or gasoline engine (usually two-stroke) and a rotating head, in which there is a fishing line or metal string wound on a reel, the ends of which extend 15–40 cm on both sides and, when rotated, perform functions knives.

The cutting part can be mounted directly on the motor shaft when it is located at the bottom.

Or connected to it with a metal cable or rod (with an upper motor position). It should be noted that brush cutters with a top engine are much more convenient to use - they are balanced in weight and allow you to work for several hours in a row without much operator fatigue.

MORE POSSIBILITIES

Harvesting high-yielding hay and field grasses on an area of ​​0.1–3 thousand hectares requires more powerful equipment with a larger number of working parts and a working width. The potential of the machines is especially important during wet summers, since the grass needs to be cut quickly, efficiently and without unnecessary fuel consumption. In this case, when choosing a tool, you should remember that the larger its working width, the more productive it is, but a more powerful tractor is required.

On flat areas, the KSP-2.1 segment-finger mower can quickly cope with high-yielding haymaking, but the line of modern haymaking equipment for medium-sized farms is mainly represented by disc machines. When choosing a model, you need to take into account that the fewer knives, the lighter the grass they take. For example, the Italian trailed reversible flail mowers Farm 132 C with 40 knives and Farm 158 C with 48 cutting elements from Del Morino are designed for harvesting cereal grasses, Farm 186 C with 56 components is for forbs, and Farm 214 C with 64 knives is for cereals. a mixture of legumes, such as grains and alfalfa. The latest model provides a wide cutting range of 3-10 cm, has a reversible side shift, a durable double frame, adjustable guides and a rear roller.

The KDP-310 disc semi-trailer mower and the Berkut 3200 implement from Rostselmash, coupled with the MTZ-52 Belarus tractor, successfully cope with mowing timothy, ryegrass at the beginning of heading and clover at the budding stage. Among the advantages of the latest machine, users note the ability to control the working position from the cab using a hydraulic system and the ability to work in complex areas where sharp turns are required. In addition, the unit carefully places the mown mass in a row. Another option for mowing cereal grasses of uniform composition, such as timothy, bromegrass, ryegrass, wheatgrass and others, is the Bellon DL disc mower with a working width of 3.2 m in combination with MTZ-82 with a productivity of 3.5 ha/h. However, this company has models of implements with a different working width - 1.3–3.2 m, the choice of which depends on the volume of work per season and the power of the tractor available on the farm.

Can I do it myself?

The only difference between these mowers and those mounted on walk-behind tractors is their size. Therefore, it is possible to make such a device yourself, but this will require welding and plumbing equipment , as well as the ability to work with it.

In addition, you will need the ability to read and draw up drawings, because it is not always enough to simply repeat someone else’s design; you often have to redo or improve something.

If you are interested in making such a device yourself, we recommend reading this article.

FOR CHALLENGING CONDITIONS

If it is necessary to harvest natural and seeded grasses, as well as lay the mown mass in the swath between the wheels of the tractor, the L-501-02 and KDF-310 front-mounted disc mowers are useful. The thick cover of sown grasses, including fallen ones, is well trimmed by budget, that is, within 300 thousand rubles, mounted rotary implements KRN-2.1B and KRN-2.4 “Cosine”. The first is not hampered by weather conditions, a slight slope, uneven terrain and weeds, and due to eight plate knives mounted on hinges, the unit cuts the grass like a razor, laying the mass in an even swath, which facilitates the further work of the baler. However, these mowers must be used at high forward speeds, since at low speeds the grass wraps around the rotor nuts. For the same purposes, in the absence of stones protruding from the soil higher than 3 cm, and not in mountainous areas, the KDN-210 disk mounted unit is suitable.

It should be noted that the fastest in this class is the KRN-2.1M2S Premium machine, capable of operating at 20 km/h. In addition, due to the high speed and hardened steel on the edges of the knives, it almost does not injure the plants when mowing. Front-mounted wide-grab mowers Pronar PDF-390 and PDF301C for tractors and self-propelled devices with a front PTO show their advantages when working on large and complex areas. They are lightweight, durable, follow the terrain well, are equipped with a device for fixing the cutting height and operate at excellent speed.

Areas of application for rotary mowers

The equipment is quite compact and maneuverable. With its help you can mow grass along fences, around trees and various obstacles. One person with a rotary mower can cover a large area of ​​land in a short time.

Mounted implements are widely used in dachas and vegetable gardens. They are used by owners of country houses with large lawns, peasant farms, and poultry farms. In cities and towns, housing and communal services enterprises are equipped with mowers to maintain forested areas and city streets. The devices are great for working on uneven terrain.

HIGH GRASS

Succulent grass stands are usually harvested with special machines that mow and flatten the plant mass in one working pass. They release moisture from thick plants and even out the thickness of the grass layer, as a result of which different stems dry equally, and this process is accelerated by 1.5 times, and nutrients are better preserved.

When harvesting hay and haylage on flat areas without stones or hummocks, the semi-trailer unit FC 302G from Kuhn enjoys a good reputation. Using hydraulic cylinders, it is moved to the working position to the right or left of the tractor, providing shuttle mowing of the mass. The mower cuts and flattens the grass well, laying it in a windrow 4 cm high, but when it hits an obstacle, the cutting bar may break. Farms specializing in forage production should also pay attention to Krone front mowers. Thanks to the wide skids, these machines perfectly follow all the unevenness of the soil, leaving behind an evenly mowed and cleanly laid forage mass. In difficult areas, a Bellon D 6000 GM disc mower-conditioner will be required to harvest leguminous grasses and then form bales. It is maneuverable, perfectly follows the terrain and maintains a consistent cut. The Kuhn mounted disc units GMD 55 and GMD 66 Select with working widths of 2 and 2.4 m are recommended for harvesting mixed forbs.

Simultaneous mowing, flattening and windrowing of grass is carried out by a 4.2 Gearbox “Palesse ST42” implement, coupled with class 1.4 tractors with a PTO of 500 rpm. In a situation where you need equipment for preparing haylage and succulent forage for direct feeding or ensiling, the trailed mower “Euro-KIR 1.5” with a special mechanism for capturing grass, chopped into pieces about 5 mm in size, is suitable. The machine can also be set to mowing only. In this case, the mass is loaded into a trailer attached to the forage cutter using a standard hitch.

Let's sum it up

If you realize that a lawn mower is crying in your area, then when choosing, you should remember a few basic things:

• The first step is to determine the area of ​​your territory. The type of power supply for the future lawn mower will depend on this, as well as such technical parameters as cutting width and engine power. For example, for a local area of ​​500 m², a lawn mower with a cutting width of 39-42 cm is suitable.
• Determine the levelness of the area. Not every technique will be able to cut the grass efficiently if you have a hillock on a hillock and the hillock is driving you around. This point will be especially important when choosing a robotic mower.
• Think about the need for certain additional functions. For example, do you need mulching? What about side discharge? If you prefer a grass catcher, then maybe you shouldn’t overpay for something you don’t need?
• If you require comprehensive care, then you should consider buying a trimmer or garden tractor.

Such simple tips will help answer the question - how to choose a lawn mower for a summer house or for work in the city. We understand that finding the right garden tools is not easy. If you still don’t know which lawn mower is best to buy, then contact our specialists for help. We look forward to your feedback and will be happy to help you choose equipment that suits your needs.

SPEED PREPARATION

Due to climate change, the need for fast technology has increased. For example, when harvesting haylage, the KDC 301W trailed mower from SaMASZ is distinguished by its high productivity, which allows processing large areas. It is controlled from the tractor cabin using a CCI control terminal with a color touch display and has oval discs protected from impacts by protruding shoes. Rounded, flattened knives made of durable steel rotate at a minimum distance from each other. They are better than rotary mowers, provide a gentle cut at a height of 5 cm, cause little damage to plants and, as a result, ensure their good regrowth and greater grass collection per season. Rear-mounted Disco mowers from Claas are powerful all-rounders with a working width from 2.6 to 3.8 m and a spring balancing system that reduces the load on the soil by transferring part of the machine's weight to the tractor. Even at high speeds, these implements provide smooth running and economical consumption of diesel fuel, which is important not only for restoring the meadow and collecting forage, but also for the efficiency of the machine operator.

The mounted disc mower AMT 500 from Krone with a working width of 5 m is equipped with a cover for the conditioner for spreading the crop. The machine can be used to prepare wet hay for daily feeding after rain. The manoeuvrable KDF 390 front mounted attachment with Perfect Cut beam, 390 cm working width and 4 ha/h capacity provides excellent visibility for the operator. It features a quick, wrench-free blade change system and protection for rocky fields. The mower is mounted on a Massey Ferguson 6713 tractor, can be combined with various sets of machines for collecting green mass, follows the surface well, allows you to adjust the cutting height at the level of 9–12 cm, does not trample the grass, does not contaminate the feed with soil, and thanks to the side shift adapter, mows plants even on turns. Paired with a rear mounted mower, the Samba 280 processes 5.8 m per pass, which saves time, fuel, high productivity and low cost of hay.

Exotic lawn care machines

Practice shows that devices, machines and mechanisms that seemed unusual, exotic and even curious a few years ago very quickly become familiar and actively displace traditional systems from everyday life. Perhaps today’s exotic types of lawn mowers, which are increasingly used not only abroad, but also appear in our country, will not be an exception. These include hovercraft lawn mowers and robots.

Air Cushion Lawn Mowers

This type of lawn mower uses specially designed blades, which are also propellers, creating a directed air flow and lifting the unit above the ground to a small height. She hovers there on a column of air and mows the grass at a given level. Moving it over the lawn is extremely easy, as is maneuvering it.

Robotic lawn mowers

Robotic lawn mowers work without human intervention, based on the principle of the well-known robot vacuum cleaner. It is enough to fence the area with ropes stretched at a certain height and run the machine inside the perimeter - perfect mowing is guaranteed.

So far, the spread of these types of lawn mowers has been hampered by some imperfect designs and high prices. But we have already become accustomed to the fact that progress is inexorable and we won’t have to wait long for the active development of these areas.

Popular manufacturing companies

Today, lawn mower manufacturers have proven themselves well:

• Husqvarna . A company from Sweden, which is famous as a major manufacturer of garden tools and construction equipment. Official distributor of grass cutting machines for the elite NASCAR racing series.
• Makita . A company from Japan that creates electric and gas-powered tools for cutting grass. The manufacturer’s devices are distinguished by their reliability, long operating time and low cost.
• Hammer . A well-known manufacturer from Germany, which creates electrical equipment and garden equipment - lawn mowers and trimmers. A distinctive feature is the low cost of products and high-quality service under warranty.
• AL—CO . A German company that has existed since 1931. Practices in the creation of ventilation systems, auto components and high-end garden equipment.

The best lawn mowers for the garden

AL-KO 112856 Classic 3.82 SE

The lawn mower is designed for flat lawns with sparse grass . The cutting width of the grass is equal to the width of the lawn mower.

The wheelbase makes it very easy to maneuver around obstacles and holes.

Specifications:

• type - wheeled;
• lawn mowing width - 38 cm;
• possible lawn area - 500 sq.m.;
• collection for grass - hard, 37 l;
• lawn mowing height - 20-60 mm;
• cutting height control - yes, manual, 3 levels;
• throwing out the mown grass into a collection box;
• the engine is electric;
• power - 1400 W;
• engine speed - 3200;
• weight - 13 kg.

Advantages:

• lightness and maneuverability;
• quiet.

Flaws:

• raises a lot of dust.

Bosch ARM 37 (0.600.8A6.201)

Lightweight and maneuverable lawn mower from a German company . Easy to assemble and clean, it cuts a small lawn perfectly.

Copes with all irregularities thanks to its high power.

Specifications:

• type - wheeled;
• lawn mowing width - 37 cm;
• possible lawn area - 500 sq.m.;
• collection for grass - soft, 70 l;
• lawn mowing height - 20-70 mm;
• cutting height control - yes, manual, 5 levels;
• throwing out the mowed grass - into the collection box, back;
• the engine is electric;
• power - 1400 W;
• weight - 12 kg.

Advantages:

• build quality;
• noise level.

Flaws:

• very soft knife.

Oleo-Mac G 48 PK Comfort Plus

High-performance model that can reach maximum grass height; at the same time very economical .

The machine is almost silent, even at maximum engine operation.

Ergonomics is characterized by an adjustable handle that allows you to adjust the lawn mower to your height.

Specifications:

• type - wheeled;
• lawn mowing width - 46 cm;
• possible lawn area - 1400 sq.m.;
• collection for grass - soft, 70 l;
• lawn mowing height - 28-75 mm;
• cutting height control - yes, manual, 4 levels;
• throwing out the mown grass into a collection box;
• engine - gasoline, four-stroke;
• volume for work - 140 cu.cm;
• fuel tank - 1 l;
• weight - 25.4 kg.

Advantages:

• efficiency;
• high power;
• ease of use;
• unreliability and quality.

Flaws:

• in cool weather it does not always start immediately;
• The filling of the grass collector is up to 80% of the declared volume.

Huter ELM-1400

Electric model for mowing the lawn at the dacha . The plastic body protects against corrosion. The mower is environmentally friendly, ergonomic and almost silent.

The weight of the device is 10 kg.

Specifications:

• type - wheeled;
• lawn mowing width - 38 cm;
• collection for grass - hard, 40 l;
• lawn mowing height - 28-55 mm;
• cutting height control - yes, manual, 3 levels;
• throwing out the mowed grass - into the collection box, back;
• the engine is electric;
• power - 1400 W;
• handle - folds, adjustable in height;

Advantages:

• pays attention to obstacles;
• easy to maintain.

Flaws:

• stops when the grass catcher is full.

Daewoo Power Products DLM 45SP

The gasoline rear-wheel drive lawn mower guarantees a smooth ride and maneuverability . The design of the machine is a folding, aerodynamic knife of the highest strength.

The mower has a spacious grass catcher with an overcrowding indicator.

Specifications:

• type - self-propelled, rear-wheel drive;
• lawn mowing width - 45 cm;
• grass collection - soft, 50 l;
• lawn mowing height - 25-75 mm;
• cutting height control - yes, central, 5 levels;
• throwing out the mowed grass - into the collection box, back;
• engine - gasoline, four-stroke;
• volume for work - 142 cc;
• fuel tank - 1 l;
• weight - 28 kg.

Advantages:

• easy to start;
• cuts and collects perfectly;
• high quality.

Flaws:

• no mulching;
• there is no sideways ejection of grass.

“Put on your shoes” correctly

For farms with damp, soft soils, Vladimir Markov advises using a mower with wide tires with high tread to prevent slipping, compaction and damage to the turf. It's also a good idea to depressurize them before working in wet conditions, he advises. Whereas enterprises operating on hard rocky fields can get by with a standard set of tires and not change the tire pressure.

He also recommends that farmers with rocky fields do not buy rotary headers with quick-release blade locks, but replace them with a threaded mount. This will help reduce downtime due to blade replacement. “Yes, quick-release knives are more convenient and save the farmer a lot of time, but if the area is full of stones, they will constantly fly out when stones hit them,” notes Vladimir Markov. As another way out of the situation while keeping quick-release knives in the base, he recommends working at an increased cutting height - no lower than 7-8 cm. Then stones the size of a goose egg will pass unhindered under the beam.

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