Investing in a Fendt Slicer mower has allowed Stuart Ranby Agriculture to increase the quality of the hay crop it produces with a cleaner cut reducing contamination across the acreage.
The Lincolnshire based contracting business produces around 400 acres per year of silage and hay and needed a mower that was easy to take on and off, but also simple to operate at a time of year when time is of the essence.
Olly Banton, operations manager at Stuart Ranby Agriculture, explains that the suspension control system on the rear mounted 3160 TLXKC mower was one of the impressive features and helped to protect the sward.

“A key reason for the purchase was the Slicer mower produced a clean finish on some hilly ground we farm and didn’t leave any strips or wispy bits of grass, even when going up an incline. The TurboLift system allows us to tweak the pressure on the go and it negotiates the undulations well. It is easy to set from the cab, too. "

“Hay machinery is often forgotten about in a big operation like ours but running modern equipment, such as the Slicer mower, means we can make hay efficiently. There is also the option to help some of our customers with additional small hay acreages they might have.”

The 3.1m Slicer TLX models feature Fendt’s TurboLift system, which offers sward protection via a central suspension to keep forage free of dirt. The central suspension mounting also means the mower’s weight is distributed well so it can be managed by a smaller tractor.
“A pressure release on the button on the headstock allows the mower to centre itself before we remove it from the bottom link arms after use. We usually run the Slicer on a Fendt 724 but sometimes this isn’t available, so it is handy that the low power requirement of the Slicer allows us to put a smaller tractor on it.
“The suspension means the mower is well balanced, and the weight is spread well so the mower doesn’t feel too heavy despite it being well built. It also folds through 120degrees for transporting on the road, which means the weight is positioned centrally to the tractor when folded and isn’t unbalanced to one side.”

To help shorten wilting times, the Slicer arrived with a KC tine rotor conditioner that gives the operator five options of intensity via a manual control lever. This lever adjustment alters the position of the counter comb next to the conditioner to allow consistent conditioning across the full width.
The design of the cutterbed has also been praised by Mr Banton, who has singled out the six large diameter discs, which offer a clean cut and have helped reduce maintenance.
“There are six discs that operate in pairs and feature fewer blades than our old model, which will reduce the cost when we come to replace a set. The blades are easy to change, too, so overall it takes less time to maintain.

“When in operation, the discs require less power to run than our old machine, which reduces fuel consumption. We will usually travel at 15kph or a bit faster if the ground allows and the discs keep up with this speed without an issue.”

The Slicer mowers feature a compact angle cutterbed which offers positive drive to all the mowing discs via a continuous hex shaft. This ensures that all the discs are spinning at the same speed to offer a quality cut, no matter the ground conditions, Mr Banton concludes