The Profitable Farming Company has launched a new Baler’s Choice automatic preservative application unit suitable for use with round and conventional balers.
The new Commercial 500 Series Automatic Applicator is different from the current Standard 400 Series Automatic system in that it is modular in design, so allowing additional or future features to be quickly and easily added. It also incorporates a number of new features for greater application accuracy and to further automate the system.
One of the biggest benefits of the new 500 Series Applicator is that for the first time it means that the Profitable Farming Company can now offer a fully automated Baler’s Choice application system for fixed-chamber round balers; the current 400 Series Applicator is only suitable for variable-chamber balers.
Other new features on the modular 500 Series include the availability of round baler tailgate sensors and a ram sensor on conventional balers. These sensors record when the tailgate is opened and shut on a round baler and when compared with when the Crop Eyes on the pick-up are activated, the control unit is able to accurately calculate the baling speed, and so allow for this when monitoring and automatically changing the application rate as the crop moisture content varies.
On conventional balers, the 500 Series Applicator uses a sensor on the ram to count the number of strokes made by the baler, allowing the control unit to record the number of wads made, and hence bale length, which can then be monitored and a consistent length maintained.
Central to the 500 Series Applicator is an Isobus-compatible communications hub that is fitted to the baler. This can be used as a stand-alone system to record and monitor crop moisture content and output data.
The hub is linked to twin moisture sensors in the chamber (discs in round balers, star wheels in conventional balers) that record the moisture content of the crop as it passes through the baler. Also linked to the hub are the Crop Eye sensors on the pick-up that monitor the flow of material and turn the system on or off accordingly, and the tailgate or ram sensors.
The output and moisture content information gained from these sensors is collected and stored by the communications hub, and can be viewed on a touch screen control unit in the cab. Using the Job Record function, up to 300 field records can be stored and subsequently downloaded onto an Excel spreadsheet. The touch screen provides complete control and allows a wealth of information to be accessed, such as date, time, tonnes baled, speed of baling and highest or average moisture content for each bale or on a field basis.
This module takes the system a stage further and includes everything needed to use the 500 Series Applicator to accurately apply Baler’s Choice preservative at crop moisture contents of between 15-30 per cent.
Linked into the communications hub is a three-pump applicator unit that feeds a set of spray nozzles above the pick-up intake. Tanks are available with capacities of either 110 or 220 litres, with mounting kits suitable for a wide range of round and conventional baler make and model.
Using the information gained from the moisture and output sensors in the bale chamber, the communications hub will automatically alter the application rate as the crop moisture content varies over a range from 1.9-7.6 lit/t.
The target and actual application rate, plus the total amount of Baler’s Choice applied, can be monitored and recorded on the cab display and then downloaded for future reference.
The Baler’s Choice preservative is designed for use on either hay or straw. Traditionally for the best quality, hay or straw needs to be baled at below 15 per cent moisture. Above this the quality will deteriorate and moulds develop, resulting in dust and wadding. The Baler’s Choice preservative avoids this and enables the crop to be safely baled at up to 30 per cent moisture.
To achieve this, Baler’s Choice uses a safe form of propionic acid that is buffered down to a near-neutral 6.0pH, making it safe to handle and non-corrosive for machinery. It also contains citric acid to ensure baled material remains green and fresh.
For further information visit: www.profitablefarming.co.uk.
