Mower Conditioner and Sorghum

Sounds like you are presently using a haybine? Are you looking to buy a discbine with flail? Uses fingers instead of rollers?

I had a jd 925 disc mower with the impeller. Worked great with millet

I used to cut it with a drum mower, followed by an old NI roller conditioner, 1 steel and 1 rubber roller.  Thing is, just because it can grow to 10' tall, doesn't mean that you SHOULD let it get that high!  The bigger it gets, the longer it takes to dry out!  When I used to cut it, I aimed for 4-5' tall, and even then, sometimes it took a week for it to dry out enough to round bale.

Yes, I currently use a Heston “haybine”. Mine happens to have 2 steel rollers. I intend to buy a disbine, haven’t decided on which one yet. JD is in the running. This summer I borrowed a new holland discbine with 2 rubber rolls. So I’ve never cut the stuff with a flail conditioner.

Dry down is not a concern since I chop it for silage.

I try to get it done at 5-6 feet, but that’s not always in the cards, and that’s still hard to imagine going through, even though I’ve never operated one with flails.

This year, most of it was 13-14 feet tall and still went through the New Holland just fine.

Glen, thank you! Looks like my concern is legitimate.

Do lots of hay acreage along with the sorghum.

Alex09(WI) wrote: In this part of WI, lots of dairy farmers grow Sorgum. My neighbor cuts it with a self propelled 14ft New Holland discbine. Has roller conditioners and cuts when between 4ft and 8ft high. Never had a problem going through the rollers.

Thanks. Yeah, I’ve done it no problem with rollers. There was a spot this year that was so thick and tall it had some trouble going under the lean bar and into the machine, but once inside the machine passed it through no problem.

Yes, it should wilt down some as it is very wet when first cut. Plus, I have to buy a mower anyway so I might as well get something that will work with everything I’ve got going. I’d have to buy a head and a mower for that way.

Never a perfect plan….and thanks for your input.

I have 956 moco with impellers. I mow
    Sudan for a customer, usually 6 feet high. No problem with impeller plus no worries with stones and rocks or plugging the rolls with a slug. I have been told by customers, grass hay dries faster with a impeller. There may be a little more leaf loss in alfalfa but keep the rpm's set on slow speed, no problem.

victoryallis wrote: Neighbor has a Deere with impeller and majorly regrets getting talked into the impeller.  He thinks it doesn’t dry as well.  Buy a 7230 NH and enjoy life.

Doesn’t surprise me at all. Hence the laughter and statement that it never fails.

Must use opposite inflection on your side of the state.