A mammoth choice of round balers keeps growers and stock farmers supplied with equipment to package hay, silage and straw, either “naked” or wrapped in film to protect the contents from the elements and maintain quality.

In this year’s Ultimate Guide there are numerous updates from manufacturers as they continue to develop their machines to improve performance, durability or operator convenience.

Case IH

New bodywork with more modern lines marks out the “ReFresh” versions of the Case IH RB344 baler, which uses a chain and slat mechanism to create bales supported on a roller in the base of the chamber.

Detailed engineering changes and upgrades accompany the new look of this entry-level machine, which makes bales of 1.25m diameter and is available in rotor feed and rotor cutter versions, the latter with 15 knives slicing the incoming crop.

See also: Driver’s view: Paul Brute’s McHale Fusion 3 Plus baler-wrapper

Fendt

The transition to a complete Rotana round baler line-up has been completed, with the Rotana 160 V replacing the earlier-generation 4160 V model and its various configurations.

Making bales up to 1.6m using a trio of rollers – one in the base of the chamber, another two positioned high at the front to encourage rotation – and four belts, the newcomer was previously available only as a combi baler-wrapper.

Stub augers and a spiral tine rotor sit between the pick-up reel and bale-forming chamber, to which sets of 13, 17 or 25 knives can be added for crop slicing.

Krone

The Comprima and VariPack baler ranges from Krone have been adjusted by dropping the Comprima V 150 and its 17-knife XC variant in favour of the “Plus” model introduced last year and, likewise, the non-chopping version of the VariPack 190.

And incoming models are non-chopping versions of the VariPack V 165 Plus and V 190 Plus previously introduced in chopping guise only.

The VariPack differs from Krone Comprima balers in using belts to form bales and they feature a new intake with a tine rotor that has auger flight sections at each end rather than separate stub augers.

Heavier-duty Plus versions have a “W” formation rotor and 26 knives, automatic tailgate lift/lower as standard, and larger standard and optional tyres.

Kubota

The “Plus” designation is also used by Kubota to identify its latest round balers – the BV5160, BV5160 Flexiwrap and BV5200 – which have a revamped five-row pick-up reel with longer tines, wider stripper plates to improve tine-cleaning in wet crops, and a redesigned crop press roller that lifts higher on stronger arms.

Front-end drive chain specification has also been uprated and “idler” rollers guiding the five bale-forming belts now have larger bearings and full-length shafts for increased strength.

Kuhn

While the comprehensive line-up stays the same following last year’s introduction of the heavy-duty, high-spec VB7100-series balers, Kuhn has introduced a moisture meter option for all its variable-bale-size machines.

It can be installed on new balers as well as examples already in service, and helps operators monitor the dry matter of forage being baled.

A bale-weighing option for the wrapping table of Kuhn fixed-bale-size FBP and variable-bale-size VBP baler-wrappers is said to provide a decent estimation of total baled forage and straw production by providing a rolling average of the last three bales made.

Massey Ferguson

Net binding can now be replaced by stretch film application on the Massey Ferguson RBC 3130F Protec baler-wrapper combination as an option.

This facility makes recycling easier by using the same material for both binding and wrapping, and film binding can be used to enhance water shedding from straw bales stored outside.

McHale

While the biggest round balers typically make a 1.8m-diameter package, McHale has gone further in developing its new VB8940 by taking the bale-forming chamber to 1.9m diameter.

That enables it to contain more than 11% extra hay or straw in each bale at equivalent densities, and 30% more than the manufacturer’s existing 1.68m V6740 machine, in part thanks to increased bale-density potential.

The VB8940 non-chopping machine and its VB8950 15-knife crop-chopping variant use three belts to form bales, supported by a trio of rollers, with a choice of new five-bar cam track or six-bar cam-free pick-up reels followed by larger stub augers and a larger-diameter feed rotor.

There is also a redesigned intake area and drop floor to encourage an even flow of material with less risk of blockages, and a bale kicker is part of the package.

A new Expert Plus control console with large graphic display provides essential information, in-cab selection of soft or hard bale cores, and steering guidance for an even bale shape, said to be more accurate than before.

New Holland

Upgraded drive chains and sealed bearings design to prevent dust contamination are among changes to the New Holland Roll-Bar baler design, which uses a pair of rollers and two chain and slat assemblies to form 1.25m-diameter bales.

Now identified as the Roll-Bar 125 and replacing the BR6090, the latest model also has shapelier new body panels that open upwards with gas strut support for easier access.

In addition, a shock absorber has been added on both sides between the main frame and tailgate for a smoother closing action.

Two versions are available – the Rotor Feeder using stub augers and a “W” formation intake rotor to which a hydraulic reverser with free-run clutch can be added for easier unplugging of blockages, and the Rotor Cutter with up to 15 knives installed.

Pottinger

Impress balers coming out of Pottinger’s new factory in Austria have a number of technical changes designed to increase the bale weight potential of the machines, simplify bale-binding options, and add a film-on-film wrapping option.

The latest models are identified as the Impress 3000-series, with a new colour scheme, and cover the same model variants as before, comprising a 1.3m steel roller machine and variable-bale-size models producing packages up to 1.55m and 1.85m in diameter.

All are available to different levels of specification and equipment, and as baler-wrapper combinations.

While the floating pick-up and up-and-over intake rotor assemblies are unchanged, a new binding unit is common to all, with feed and tension now controlled outside the chamber rather than by the bale core, and with the ability to use 1,400mm-wide material for good coverage of the bale shoulders.

All models can be equipped with a rear-mounted binding unit to feed in stretch film as an alternative to net dispensed from the front, to provide added weather protection to bales stored outside or combination machines to simplify recycling by using the same material to secure and wrap bales.

On higher-spec Pro models, the main binding unit can be used to apply stretch film to the bale circumference, with the new Power Control 3.0 terminal maintaining separate settings for the two.

An optional LED lighting package that includes strip lights behind the side panels is also available for Pro models, while baler-wrapper models have increased film roll storage capacity.

Vicon

Higher-spec drive chains said to be stronger and more wear-resistant, cast iron housings and centralised greasing for the driven bale-forming rollers, along with bigger bearings, increased grease capacity and full-length shafts for the non-driven rollers are among detail changes to Vicon 5200-series balers.

In addition, pick-up reel swath collection in all conditions is claimed for the 10mm-longer tines, wider stripper plates for improved cleaning in wet crops, and a crop press roller that lifts higher on stronger arms with internally mounted bearings to eliminate crop wrapping.

The changes apply to the 1.65m max bale size RV5216 and its FlexiWrap baling/wrapping variant, and the 2m bale size RV5220, which now have the “Plus” suffix to distinguish them from their predecessors.

Wolagri

With production of the Wolagri R500 having resumed under the control of Italian manufacturer Tonutti, machinery dealer Marrs of Methlick has started importing the mini round baler alongside the similarly diminutive Bargam machine.

Previously imported by Rekord Sales, the Wolagri R500 is a scaled-down roller baler with 19 aluminium rolls forming 57cm-diameter bales in a 63cm-wide chamber.

Hydraulic tailgate pressure is relied upon to regulate bale density once the core has been formed, and as an alternative to the open-throat design of the base model, the Super version sports an intake rotor to help get material flowing smoothly into the chamber.