With their balance of simplicity, flexibility, performance and value – today’s modern front-mount mowers are an advantage any serious farmer should consider. Mowing efficiency on the farm is a battle of inches. There are cutting widths to consider, as well as performance and price.
Like any battle, the right decisions can save you time, resources and headaches, while the wrong ones can leave you disappointed and less productive. A sound strategy for forage production begins with the right disc mower for your operation, and the latest precision-engineered front-mount disc mowers may be the fresh approach to forage production you’ve been looking for.
Adaptability meets affordability
The case for a front-mount disc mower begins with its adaptability for your existing tractors. Instead of spending your budget on a more expensive single-purpose self-propelled windrower or tractor, you can gain an edge in affordability. Self-propelled windrowers are hindered by the seasons; they aren’t usable in the winter months and occupy more space than a front-mount disc mower.
Thanks to the availability of front three-point hitch and PTO configurations on tractors today, adding a front-mount mower to your operation is an advantage. In fact, the latest front-mount mowers are so efficient they can be used on tractors with as low as 80 HP. Even if you don’t currently have a front three-point-hitch-equipped tractor, there are possibilities to retrofit your existing tractor with a front three-point hitch and PTO – making it more economical to add a front-mount mower while adding versatility to your tractor during the winter season.
Think front-mount snow blowers. If you’re looking to buy a new tractor, it’s also a good idea to consider equipping it with a front three-point hitch and PTO since it is a versatile feature and increases the value of the tractor down the road.
The versatility of the front three-point hitch and PTO paired with a front-mount disc mower is a combo put to good use by Jamie Visser, a farmer who works near Norfolk, Ontario. His current front-mount disc mower allows him to use his tractor year-round. He also noticed this setup boosts his overall efficiencies.
Greater cutting widths
Front-mount disc mowers also greatly expand potential cutting widths. High-quality models are built with durability in mind and are lightweight to allow for easier transport. This makes the latest 9- to 11-foot-wide front-mount disc mowers a great option free of the cumbersome hassles self-propelled windrowers present. If you are already using a side-pull or centre-pivot disc mower, the front-mount disc mower can be paired with it – enhancing your cutting width without having to invest in a larger tractor or more expensive mower package.
When matched with a butterfly unit, you can achieve even larger working widths of 30 feet or more. This means you can cut more crop in one pass, which also means less wear on your tractor and equipment – saving you time, fuel and maintenance costs. Some front-mount mowers offer a triangular triple-bladed cutting disc designed to give more cuts per second. This innovation increases output and cuts cleaner, while at the same time reducing the load on the cutter bar for smoother power delivery.
This sentiment is once again echoed by Visser; he reports his front-mount disc mower can cover double the ground with one operator. The noticeable increase in productivity has prompted him to expand his equipment to include a triple mower to his operation.
The front-mount disc mower’s light weight is also a great bonus that helps with his work. “My custom work business calls for a lot of road travel; the front mount mower gives us the flexibility to do road travel hassle-free and a lot quicker than a self-propelled windrower. I’d be limited to 16 feet with a self-propelled unit, but the same single operator can cut 30 feet with the triple mower setup,” Visser says.
He adds, “I can open up fields easier now, without trampling crop; no section is accidentally missed or is inaccessible – it’s a trouble-free piece of equipment.”
Consistency is key
Today’s forage harvesting equipment has more capacity than it ever has, whether it be a round baler or self-propelled forage harvester.
Consider that with a front-mount mower and a pull mower, you are doubling your cutting width. Build on that with a butterfly configuration and you are practically tripling your mowing capability. This means you could potentially reduce your cutting time in half or more.
A quicker cutting delivers a more consistent final product. The hay can be mowed more quickly and will dry at the same rate.
Labour efficiency matters
Modern farming operates at a challenging pace. The doubling or tripling of cutting width provided by a front-mount disc mower also results in significant gains in farm labour efficiency. Worker shortages are having a serious effect on Canadian farms, and every hour of an employee’s time must be put to maximum use. According to the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, prior to 2020, Canadian farms were facing a labour gap of 63,000 positions. This is predicted to nearly double to 123,000 by 2029. Even pre-pandemic, four in 10 employers in Canadian agriculture were not able to find all the workers they needed.
Farmers therefore need to keep operator efficiencies in mind when they make equipment decisions and not only consider capital costs. A front-mount disc mower is a smart investment to address both opportunities.
Made for many mowing methods
Whether you currently use a roller conditioner or a tine conditioning mower, or don’t require any conditioning at all, a precision-engineered front-mount disc mower can work with any system. Whatever your strategy, you aren’t limited in terms of conditioning method by adding a front disc mower to suit your operation.
Up-front and professional
The latest front-mount disc mowers present a hard-working value proposition to farmers looking for versatility, cutting performance and ease of use. They are a cost-effective solution that delivers similar results to more expensive self-propelled windrowers and can also work with the tractors you already use on a daily basis. You can double your cutting width when used with your existing side-pull or centre-pivot mower. In ideal conditions, they can help you harvest faster, which saves you time and reduces wear. Add these all up, and it’s clear front-mount disc mowers deliver a triumphant new approach to forage production.
