At forage conferences and equipment shows across the U.S., manufacturers are showcasing their latest and greatest in forage harvesting implements to meet growers' and custom operators' needs.

Here are a few getting special attention from harvesters:

The FR9000 Series self-propelled forage harvester from New Holland sports five models ranging from 424 to 823 hp.

“It's the biggest machine for sale on the market today,” says Dave Wilbert, the company's self-propelled forage marketing specialist. “It was designed for bigger capacity, has four feed rolls, a 34"-wide cutterhead and 10” crop processor rolls.”

Besides size, it boasts a few new features, he adds.

“It has what we call a VariFlow accelerator.” While the operator removes the crop processor in minutes to chop haylage, the VariFlow system moves the accelerator closer to the cutterhead to improve crop flow and save on horsepower. “There's less chance of plugging,” he says.

A “cruise control” option, called PowerCruise, automatically monitors engine load and cuts ground speed as it deals with heavy windrows. It speeds up as the crop gets lighter, Wilbert says.

Because the machine is larger, it's roomier to service. Its wheel base has been lengthened to keep the maneuverability of previous models.

Along with its proven Hydroloc feedroll drive system, the machine has an optional dual drive that allows the operator to adjust feedroll speed separately from header speed — while in the cab.

The cab offers increased visibility and controls are mounted to air-ride seats so controls move with the operator on rough terrain.

Its new 17' grass header is heavier with a bigger auger and is hydraulically driven so reel speed can match the machine's ground speed. A Metaloc metal detection system is also standard.

Kuhn's FC 703 RA disc mower-conditioner is a rear-mounted unit that cuts 23', says Brad Toellner, product specialist. It can only be mounted on a reverse station tractor.

“A hydraulic accumulator controls the suspension on the machine,” points out Toellner. “It gives a very good range of travel for the suspension and protects the mower on uneven terrain.

“The FC 703 allows the swath to lay out over 80% of the cut width,” while competitive models can do no better than 60%, he says. “Kuhn has always offered machines with a lot of flexibility in swath width.”

Transport width is 8'.

A wide-swath merger, from H&S Manufacturing, will be produced in limited numbers this spring, says Jim Kappel of the company's product support and development department.

The H&S Continuous Head Windrow Merger is 30' wide and features a self-contained hydraulic system. “It has very good maneuver-ability,” Kappel says. “This is our version of what needs to be done on the merging side to accommodate the wide swath.

“It adapts to a lot of different mower-conditioner sizes; we give a customer the option of laying his windrows out wider or narrower.”

A unique feature of the merger: a rotary wind deflector. As the hay is being picked up and converged onto the pick-up belt, the deflector keeps it flowing smoothly, preventing bunched windrows, he says. “A lot of customers tell me they can chop at least a mile and a half and sometimes two miles an hour faster behind our merger.”

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