You can mow, rake and bale faster and more efficiently with a number of the new hay tools, which debut on the market for 2017. Nearly all of the major companies that produce hay equipment are bringing out at least one new model for you to consider as you look to the next haying and forage season.

MacDon introduces a mower that will appeal to many people because of its narrow transport width on the road. If you live in hay country, you know it often involves traveling back roads, some still with one-lane, narrow bridges. This ultra-slim machine in transport position may deserve a look.

Case IH brings a new large square baler to the market for 2017. Massey Ferguson is thinking about raking the hay to prepare it for big efficient balers such as that one. An MF rake attachment allows you to roll three windrows into one for faster baling, which should produce more uniform bales, based on more consistent windrow size.

If you’re in the market for mowers for hay and forage situations, check out the MC4500 mower conditioner, or the TM 1210 trailed mower, both recently introduced by Vermeer, Pella, Iowa, home of the Vermeer Mile of manufacturing plants for various Vermeer products.  

Claas debuted two new round baler models at recent shows. The 620 Rollant features a fixed round bale chamber. McHale brings out the 991 High Speed bale wrapper if you want to get those round bales wrapped in a hurry.

You may also want to check out the new hay rake on the market from Darf. Learn more about this rake and all other products using the contact information provided on each product.

Rake for smaller fields
The new Farm King RR420 Rotary Rake works well in smaller fields. It has working with of 13.8 feet and a transport width of 6.5 feet. An adjustable front cylinder allows the operator to fine-tune the rake’s pitch. Base list price is $7,400 for the 14-foot model shown. For more information, see a Farm King dealer or see farm-king.com.

Faster hay rake
The new 1017 overhead Darf hay rake handles hay gently even at high speeds. The wheel rake design allows for faster field operation than a bar style rake with less leaf loss, the company says. Base list price of the model shown is $35,000. For more information, contact Darf, Schafter, Calif., at 800-342-9222 or see nikkelironworks.com.

Storage site bale wrapper
Wrapping a bale at the storage site can reduce the possibility of tears during transport. Price Brothers Equipment is bringing SaMasz Spin Stationary Bale Wrapper to the U.S. Powered by the tractor's hydraulics, it allows for farmers to wrap bales on-site. It is also equipped with a bale counter displaying the number of bales wrapped. It can wrap bales up to 4 feet and can be mounted with a simple three-point hitch. To learn more about the SaMasz Spin Stationary Bale Wrapper, contact Price Brothers Wichita, Kan., 877-957-9577 or visit samasz.com.

Floating hay rake
Farmers can now float over uneven hay ground and not miss a flake. The new 3100 series H&S Action Rake offers single suspension for each rake wheel. The individual suspension allows each rake wheel to adjust to ground conditions. And when raised, this rake will clear any windrows. A simple crank system allows farmers to adjust down pressure on each side. For more information, contact H&S Manufacturing, Marshfield, Wis., at 715-387-3414 or visit hsmfgco.com.

Lock and load baler
Kuhns Manufacturing has a solution for help in those small square baling operations. The combination of the AF4 bale accumulator and the EGF8 economy grabber allows farmers to lock and load bales for transport. The AF4 accumulates and dumps groups of four bales on the ground. The operator first picks up one group of then moves on to pick up another group for a total of eight bales to be stacked on a wagon. The grabber mounts on the front of small 40-hp tractors, while the accumulator is pulled on the rear. The products can be sold separately, but company reps say farmers will like the duo. For more information, contact Kuhns, North Bloomfield, Ohio, at 877-296-5851 or visit kuhnsmfg.com.

More powerful hammermill
The 1,000 RPM of Art's Way hammermill makes for faster silo feeding and bagging in the new Hammer Blower. Geared toward the large dairy market, the Hammer Blower allows farmers the options of filling a silo or bagging up silage. A simple vent adjustment allows the blower to change to fit the farmer's need. For more information, contact Art's Way Manufacturing Armstrong, Iowa, at 712-864-3131, or visit artsway-ag.com.

Dense bales
Kubota's new BV4160 Econo is a round baler that will create dense bales. This model packs a bale diameter of 4 feet wide by 5 feet high with a 67-inch pickup capacity. The new twine binding systems was designed to keep the system trouble-free while providing reliability bale after bale. The bales it produces will have moderate cores but tight outer layers. For more information, visit with your local Kubota dealer. You can find one near you by visiting kubota.com.

Get bales covered edge to edge
The new extra-wide binding comes standard on all 400 Series Variant balers from Claas. As with all Claas balers, the Variant is designed so wrapping takes place where you can see it. These balers are set up to operate with 48-inch edge-to-edge net wrap or an extra-wide 51 inches. Transitioning from one size to the next is as easy as moving a few pins. The new Claas 465RC Variant lists for $57,000. Get more information at claas.com.

Speeding up the mowing operation
The new 10 Series trailed mowers, including the TM1410 from Vermeer, is perfect for operators who want to get the job done in a hurry. With the unique Q3 Cutter Bar, two-point Quick Hitch hook up, a nitrogen-charged accumulator suspension system and the patented Quick-Clip Blade Retention System, these units are easy to run and maintain, providing more stress-free mowing. The TM1410 lists for $61,800. Get details at vermeer.com.

Single, double or triple windrows are possible
The new Triple Windrow Attachment from Hesston by Massey Ferguson can make single, double or triple windrows for unmatched versatility in your haying operations. Made exclusively for Hesston windrowers, the TWA will save time when baling or forage harvesting, giving you flexibility to handle all kinds of conditions. It provides an even, consistent windrow and has adjustable angle control to provide accurate crop placement. Get details at masseyferguson.us.

New large square baler covers more ground
Case IH just rolled out its new LB434XL 3x4 large square baler to help high-volume hay producers cover more ground in a day. With improved capacity and greater bale density, this reliable baler produces uniform bales. Operators will notice a 31.5-inch-longer bale chamber that delivers more bale density, decreasing the bale count and handling costs, and helping producers reach new markets. You can learn more about the new baler at caseih.com.

Grab and go
Handle big round bales and other big objects with ease with a new series of grapple buckets from Land Pride. The GBE2500 series comes in three widths: 90, 96 and 108 inches. The 90- and 96-inch models have four grapple tines, while the 108-inch model has five tines. The grapple unit features two hydraulic cylinders, one on either side. The buckets are designed to fit on various models of equipment. Contact land Pride, Salina, Kan., at 785-823-3276, or landpride.com.

Narrow transport mower
MacDon introduces a new rotary mower series for farmers who need a large cutting capacity, but who must transport the mower to the field along narrow country roads. Available as the R-116, pictured, in a 16-foot cutting width, or the R-113 in a 13-foot cutting width, this rotary disk mower swings around into road transport position so it is narrow going from field to field. In the U.S., MacDon is based in Kansas City, Mo. Call 816-891-7313 or visit macdon.com.