Before milk, comes molasses

To maximise milk yields from forage remember to add Molasses!

For more information about our extensive range of liquids and to find your local merchant please call us on 0151 955 4850 or visit www.unitedmolasses.com to see if there is any potential damaging moisture present, and, when coupled with the wet bale marker will highlight the high moisture area of the bale or the entire round bale with a red food grade colour.

Once you have a full understanding of where and when you have a moisture issue, then it raises the question: what can I do to have a larger baling window above 15% moisture, pushing baling into the 16–30% moisture window?

At the PFC farm in 2022 we baled Italian tetraploid rye grass from 12–6:30pm, with moisture ranging from 12–26% with only a two-hour traditionally dry hay window. This was repeated similarly on the second day to clear 50ha of grass – 350-tonnes later there was 100% clean perfect hay in the barn for sale. The crop averaged 18% moisture with 722 litres of Baler’s Choice used at a baler safe acid, at a cost of £2,094. If we had lost 10% of the crop to a reduced-price market this would have cost around £14,000 and taken many more days to clear the hectares of hay. This is selling hay at £120 compared to substandard at £80. Yes, every market has di erent prices but the lost revenue from poor quality is signi cant.

We put in practice what we sell to prove the real-world results. Moisture in north Devon is our usual battle, with high humidity o the Atlantic and an average 42 inches (107cm) rain per year. The humidity in the air is our biggest battle, with hay increasing in moisture overnight predominantly from absorption from the ground. Utilising high quality products from moisture to application and bale management is essential to provide optimum baler output and forage quality. FG

In collaboration with its importer AIS, SVgroup, the parent company of the Schuitemaker, Veenhuis and Jan Veenhuis brands, is currently hard at work in the UK. With the Schuitemaker Rapide as the agship of the forage segment, the company is now expanding its presence in the UK agricultural market.

In 1986, Schuitemaker released the world’s rst dual-purpose loader wagon. Since then, contractors have only needed one wagon for both grass and maize – e ciently deployable throughout the harvesting season with just one smart investment, the manufacturer says. More than 30 years later, dual-purpose is the norm and the Schuitemaker Rapide loader wagons are an “indispensable tool for the professional livestock farmer and contractor”. Always ready for use at the moments that matter, to enable the professional to realise the grass and maize harvest without any problems, SVgroup says.

SVgroup delivers products and services to companies and institutions in the agricultural sector and ice control. It aims to enable customers to perform to the maximum in the moments that matter most, by supplying reliable machines that are easy to maintain, in combination with its service. Whether it is contractors needing to ensile as much grass as possible in a short period of time, arable and livestock farmers spreading manure throughout the season or road authorities in sudden winter conditions, the company says it ensures its customers can deliver a reliable and continuous quality of work, regardless of the circumstances. It develops, designs, produces and sells products under the Schuitemaker, Veenhuis and Jan Veenhuis brands.

O cial importer AIS (Agri Industry Solutions), meanwhile, focuses on innovative solutions to improve farming challenges. SVgroup and AIS are expanding their dealer network in the UK and are therefore always looking for opportunities.

The Schuitemaker Rapide is equipped with a trailing pick-up as standard – a unique technology in which the pick-up is positioned under the wagon. As a result, the wagon construction is more compact with the same load volume and you have maximum ground clearance for silage work.

Unlike a stinged pick-up, the Schuitemaker Trailing pick-up runs smoothly over a bumpy eld and swivels out of the way when it encounters obstacles. This gives you the best surface adaption and a guaranteed clean crop ow. In addition, the wide pick-up (up to 2.20m) with steering castor wheels enables you to pick up faster and more cleanly.

The combination of the unique

Schuitemaker Trailing pick-up, the RapidFlow feed roller and the powerful, smooth PowerRotor makes the loading process even easier, more economical and more e cient than ever before. This way you e ortlessly achieve the optimal result, SVgroup continues.

Schuitemaker distinguishes itself with a wide range of Rapide loader wagons in feeding wagon variant. The Rapide V models, as the feeding wagons are called, are characterised by the standard three rollers which, in combination with the cross conveyor belt, distribute the crop evenly at the feed fence. Thanks to the use of three rollers, the wagons can also be used to feed silage products, making them usable all year round, every day. Furthermore, the V-version has the same features as a normal Rapide. The cross conveyor belt is integrated in the tailgate and can bring the crop for cows on both the left and right.

The Schuitemaker Rapide can be equipped with an NIR sensor. This measures the dry matter content by means of near infrared spectroscopy. The loaded crop can be analysed immediately and the dry matter content can be seen on the terminal in the tractor.

The patented Schuitemaker Rapid Release crop press function at the bottom of the front panel ensures that no residual forage column remains behind. This enables the full wagon to be emptied quickly and completely in one smooth movement. This unique combination with the Rapid Stream front panel ensures optimum crop guidance.

Thanks to the Schuitemaker Autoload in combination with the simple on-screen controls, even inexperienced drivers can work easily and quickly. The torque meter in the driveline and the pressure on the Rapid Release front panel ensure that the entire loading process is carried out fully automatically.

The added value of a vital soil Getting the most out of the soil without exhausting it is vital for the agricultural sector. Biodiversity, good water and nutrient absorption all contribute to crop growth and workability of the soil.

Schuitemaker contributes to maintaining a healthy soil through a wide range of large tyres. In addition, innovative concepts such as the tyre pressure exchange system and the Schuitemaker Slidingaxle protect the soil structure.

Due to the use of high-quality materials, smart constructions and the unique Rapide concept, the Schuitemaker Rapide is the most maintenance-friendly loader wagon in its segment. Not only does this save time and energy, it also extends the life of the loader wagon. This way you can fully focus on the work in the eld, SVgroup concludes.

Learn more via www.agriindustry.co.uk FG