TITLE THEME FARM
TITLE THEME FARM CONTRACTOR HASSE, HEESSEN THE TIME MACH Every hour counts during the straw harvest. That’s why high capacity machinery is crucial. In this respect, the BaleCollect brought a quantum leap in efficiency for contractor Dirk Hasse because it allowed him to reduce time involved in bale logistics by 60 %. The sometimes months-long drought of 2018 caused real problems for many farmers. One result was substantial reductions in yields, not only in grain but also the associated straw. The only silver lining hereby: straw could be harvested from many more fields, quality was very good and, finally, the time window for baling and transport was relatively long. “In the three years before, we had to battle through conditions that were considerably worse. For this reason, high work capacity during straw harvest is a real must for us,” relates farm contractor Dirk Hasse from Heessen in Lower Saxony. After the experiences of the wet summer in 2017, he decided to invest in additional machinery for improving straw collection. Starting shot was an enquiry from the Raiffeisen Landbund cooperative organisation asking 10
INE Dirk Hasse (r.) and dispatcher Jean Muschiol are satisfied with the first season results from the BaleCollect system. because during harvest he was able to slash bale field collection and transport time by around 2/3. THREE PLUS ONE the contractor if he could coordinate its straw collection operations in the future and transport straw from farms to the cooperative. Raiffeisen buys straw from many farms in the region and sells it on as merchant. For instance, straw is pelleted for marketing as horse bedding or litter for household pets: a successful transfer from agricultural to industrial product with associated price adjustment. With this in mind, the contractor did not tarry long before accepting the job, especially because the cooperation offered increased security through a contract over several years as well as a good earning opportunity. A requirement on the cooperative’s part was, however, that the contractor invested in a new Krone HDP big square baler and Krone BaleCollect trailer system. The new kit was delivered in spring 2018 and, even after the first harvest season, Dirk Hasse described this investment as a real quantum leap But how does the system work? The BaleCollect trailer is attached behind the big square baler. The Hasse baler is a Krone HDP 1290 XC powered by a 360 HP tractor. “For road journeys, the collection trailer is decoupled from the baler and reattached via telescopic drawbar allowing the trailer to follow exactly the track of the baler”, explains the farm contractor. “This means even routes with lots of bends still represent no problem.” Because both baler and collection wagon come from the same manufacturer, road worthiness certification presents no problem. Dispatcher Jean Muschiol explains: “We had two representatives for road worthiness testing at our depot. The machines passed without any problem. We were anxious during the test because, normally, new vehicles are plated by the manufacturer before delivery. But because of the early start to the harvest this wasn’t the case with this equipment.” This early start meant the new baler and the collection trailer were out on the stubble by July. Jean Muschiol, who accompanies new machinery to customers too, found operating the equipment to be self-explanatory. “The trailer is operated via the tractor ISOBUS terminal. The baling procedure is as usual while the completed bales are laid onto the collection trailer. From there, the first bale is either 11
