large baler

This is what people often argue about in the fields and in workshops: is it really necessary?large balerOr is it just a waste of money and fuel. Many people think that the larger the bale chamber, the better - bigger bale, faster work. But in practice, everything comes down to a lot of nuances, which you learn about only after several seasons and, to be honest, a couple of unsuccessful purchases or settings. I’ll try to break down what it looks like from the cabin and from the side of the repair pit.

The race for cubic capacity: where is the limit of reason?

Modernlarge balersroll-type cameras often offer chambers from 1.8 to 2.5 meters wide. It would seem that take the most spacious one and go ahead. But here is the first pitfall: tractor power. For a unit with a chamber width of 2.2 meters and the formation of a bale with a diameter of 1.8 m, a tractor is needed not just with a high hook force, but with a certain reserve in the hydraulic system and PTO. I have seen cases where farms, having bought a powerful press, waited for months for a suitable tractor, and the equipment stood idle.

The second point is infrastructure. A large bale weighing under a ton is a problem for transportation, storage and subsequent distribution. We need reinforced trailers, more space under the canopy, and a loader of the appropriate class. In one of the farms near Voronezh, after switching to giant rolls, they had to completely change logistics, which ate up all the savings from reducing the number of people walking across the field.

And the third, most important aspect is the quality of pressing. A large chamber does not guarantee a tight bale. It all comes down to adjusting the feed rollers, belt tension and, of course, the moisture content of the mass. If you set it up incorrectly, you end up with a loose “pie” that will fall apart during the first transportation. You have to constantly balance between feed rate and pressure in the chamber, especially on uneven terrain.

Not just size: what to look for in design

Let's leave marketing slogans aside and look at the hardware. For me the key nodes inlarge balerThere have always been: 1) a feed system with a bottom pick-up, 2) a net or twine winding mechanism, 3) camera drive hydraulics. They determine whether the unit will work in the field or become a headache.

Let's take a picker for example. Wide-cut models (from 2.2 m) often have separate rakes or auger feed. The first option is simpler, but it can clog on thick, laid-down masses. An auger is more efficient, but more difficult to maintain and requires attention to clearances. One of the Chinese presses that we tested had an auger installed, and it performed well on alfalfa, but problems with winding began on rapeseed straw.

The winding system is a separate story. For a large bale, reliable mesh feeding and uniform tension are critical. Cheap plastic guides often break at low temperatures, and a weak tension mechanism causes slack, causing the bale to unravel. The ideal option is a backup system with control sensors, but this is not found on every model.

Operating experience: everyday life in the field and unobvious problems

I'll tell you with a real example. Last season we worked with a baler fromHulunbuir Machinery Manufacturing Company ?Jiujia?. The model was from the line of large roll-up ones, the chamber was 2.3 m. The first thing that was noted was the well-thought-out overload protection system on the PTO. In our conditions, with frequent small stones in the windrows, this saved the gearbox more than once.

But there were also difficulties. The instructions for calibrating bale density sensors were too general. I had to use a trial method, almost by eye, to set the parameters for different straw moisture contents. On their websitecn-fascar.ruLater we found more detailed technical bulletins, which helped. By the way, the company positions itself as a modern integrated enterprise for intelligent production for agriculture and livestock farming, and this was felt in the service support - consultations were received promptly.

The biggest non-obvious problem encountered was the effect of bale width on bale stability when stored on a slope. Wide rolls, if they are not dense enough, tend to “slip?” and become deformed. I had to change the stacking pattern. This is not written in any instructions; this is purely field practice.

Comparing with the “average”: is it worth the overpayment?

Frequently asked question: why takelarge balerfor a lot of money, if you can get by with two medium ones? The argument is obvious: two units of equipment mean two tractors, two operators, double consumption of fuel and lubricants. But the calculation is not always straightforward.

On a large farm with huge areas and uniform fields, one powerful press will give an increase in speed and reduce the number of equipment on the field. But if the fields are scattered, with access problems, then the maneuverability of two medium-sized vehicles may be more advantageous. We thought for ourselves: with an area of ​​500 hectares or more under forage crops, the transition to a wide-cut press paid for itself in three seasons. But this takes into account the fact that we had a suitable fleet of tractors and storage facilities with a hard surface.

Another aspect is versatility. Large balers are often designed for monoculture or a specific type of mass (for example, hay). Trying to bale wet silage can result in uneven density and silage problems. Average cars here are sometimes more ?omnivorous? due to the smaller chamber volume, which is easier to control.

Looking to the Future: Trends and Practical Considerations

Where is development heading?large balers? Judging by the new products at exhibitions and the experience of such manufacturers as the one mentionedHulunbuir company ?Jiujia?, the main trend is the intellectualization of the process. We are not talking about drones, but about systems for automatically adjusting bale density depending on the speed of movement and readings from humidity sensors in real time. This is no longer science fiction, such options are appearing.

But for ordinary households, something else is more important - maintainability and availability of spare parts. Sophisticated electronics are good as long as they work. And in a dusty field, after hitting a hummock, it is the first to fail. Therefore, when choosing, I always advise looking at the modularity of the design: is it possible to quickly replace the camera hydraulic cylinder separately from the entire frame? How is access to the winding units organized? On the websitecn-fascar.ruin the product section of their presses you can see that some models are assembled according to the block principle, which facilitates maintenance in conditions of time pressure.

The final conclusion that I made for myself:large baler— it’s not just a “big car?”. This is the central element of the technological chain rebuilt for it. Its purchase should be part of an overall plan for modernizing feed procurement, taking into account all logistics and equipment fleet. Otherwise, the giant will turn out not to be a workhorse, but a very expensive and useless toy, idle in the far corner of the workshop. The choice, ultimately, always depends on the specifics of the field and the economics of a particular farm.