Anyone Still Using Single Chop Forage Harvesters?

mikefoxo

Are there many still around? I see a few vintage lads do them up and bring to shows etc. Would the quality of silage produced be better than round bales? The reason I ask is we couldn't get a forage harvester on our farm because the (right of way) track is full of mature trees with overhanging branches, and it would be a major job to cut them back. But you could bring down an old forager and tackle.

It's not something I'm seriously contemplating right now but you never know what the future might hold:D

case5130

The uncle gose on hire with a 53in tarp cuts about 200 acres with it each year she's showing her age but gets the job done

blue5000

Local blacksmith has the bottom half of a taarup chute as a hood over the fire, does this count as use?

frazzledhome

blue5000 wrote: »

Local blacksmith has the bottom half of a taarup chute as a hood over the fire, does this count as use?

I was going to say I've one fencing a gap. A New Year's Eve many years ago, suited and booted passed a field where weanlings had broken out of beet tops. Wasn't going to change to move them. My mates and I got them back I went home and first yoke I saw the right size was the single chop. Manoeuvred it into place with loader, still there.

Bullocks

Ah lads , they're not that bad .
We used one up until last year , a 60" gyro . We did our own and for two others (about 150 acres ) without any bother .
The only reason we changed wss that we bought a wagon to save getting help drawing it in .
That's the disadvantage to a single chop , you will need two trailers for drawing it in and its not easy to get help when you want it in good weather .
There is nothing wrong with single chop silage , its longer chopped than wagon or sp silage which is no harm

Nekarsulm

Two neighbours here share one. Cut about 30 acres each every year. They paid €400 euro for it about 6 years ago. Its a 50inch (I think) JF, and they drive it with a 7610.
Not a bother with the silage, best if you have diagonal bars in your feed barrier. Young bucks used to precision chop, are best kept away from buck-raking it, as they only roll it into balls..............:D

Bullocks

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Two neighbours here share one. Cut about 30 acres each every year. They paid €400 euro for it about 6 years ago. Its a 50inch (I think) JF, and they drive it with a 7610.
Not a bother with the silage, best if you have diagonal bars in your feed barrier. Young bucks used to precision chop, are best kept away from buck-raking it, as they only roll it into balls..............:D

I started buckraking singlechop when I was 12 on an old international loader with a very stiff joystick . My arm was on fire the first night but I was so happy with my job that I was willing to let it fall off before complaining !

Buzwaldo

mikefoxo wrote: »

Are there many still around? I see a few vintage lads do them up and bring to shows etc. Would the quality of silage produced be better than round bales? The reason I ask is we couldn't get a forage harvester on our farm because the (right of way) track is full of mature trees with overhanging branches, and it would be a major job to cut them back. But you could bring down an old forager and tackle.

It's not something I'm seriously contemplating right now but you never know what the future might hold:D

If the lane is that tight, would you get a silage trailer back up it?

mikefoxo

Buzwaldo wrote: »

If the lane is that tight, would you get a silage trailer back up it?

Ya would yeah, just not the 300 hp-ish Claas forager the local fella has:P

Big Wex fan

Bullocks wrote: »

I started buckraking singlechop when I was 12 on an old international loader with a very stiff joystick . My arm was on fire the first night but I was so happy with my job that I was willing to let it fall off before complaining !

I used either a fordson major or a ford 5000. All that reversing up the pit played havoc with my neck for years. 10 acres a day was a good day!

agriman27

Local man used to cut my silage uses an NC side mounted single chop he bought it new in about 1996. I'd say he cuts on average 300-400 acres every year since, they're an unbelievably robust machine takes everything put in front of it. The nc also has the best blow of any make in any conditions. The worst thing about single chop is its not wilted which can leave it a bit sour but it keeps really well in the pit even when opened

DarByrne1980

i know dis isnt an example of usage - but i actually always thuough that the old single chop silage harvesters were my fav piece of farm machinery. as the OP said lads do have dem at vintage shows and the like. but sadly youd see plenty of dem rusting away in da corner of farmyards in bushes and scrub. probably beyond restoration.

Bullocks

agriman27 wrote: »

Local man used to cut my silage uses an NC side mounted single chop he bought it new in about 1996. I'd say he cuts on average 300-400 acres every year since, they're an unbelievably robust machine takes everything put in front of it. The nc also has the best blow of any make in any conditions. The worst thing about single chop is its not wilted which can leave it a bit sour but it keeps really well in the pit even when opened

Are those NCs a mutil chop ? If it's the one I'm thinking of they are a good strong machine alright but it chops a little bit shorter than the single chop .

The single chop wouldn't have it wilted alright , funny enough we pulled back the cover of the pit this morning for a peak (first time we made wagon silage ) and the old boy is not happy with how dry it is . He reckons it will be going off quicker than we will be using it . Time will tell I suppose