This year’s Balfour Hay Day, hosted by the Balfour Farmers’ Association with AFGRI as main sponsor, was once again a tremendous success, with farmers from all over South Africa attending the day to find out more about the latest equipment and technology in haymaking. Many of them return year after year to keep up to date with the latest developments in haymaking equipment.
Almost 1 500 visitors attended the special day at a new and larger site on the R23, only 5 km outside Balfour on the road to Heidelberg. Much to the delight of the organisers, even more people attended this year’s event. During the day, various brands display their equipment and farmers can choose and select what works best on their farms. However, the event is not only about the equipment but is also a chance for farmers from all over the country to come together, share their knowledge and learn together.
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- Farmers study the grass and discuss its quality.
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- Farmers study the quality of the grass after it has been cut.
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- Farmers shared their knowledge.
Farmers can compare hay equipment and talk to representatives from the various brands to gain more knowledge. This helps them determine which equipment they can use to successfully make hay to meet their farming needs.
Several agricultural companies shared information about their products with farmers, such as grain storage services, animal feed, water storage and animal health, among others.
Some of the exhibitors who showcased their products included John Deere, New Holland, Case IH, CLAAS, Landini, Valtrac along with Mahindra, Jupidex, Orbach Agri, Rovic and Massey Ferguson.
John Deere
John Deere’s tractors not only attracted attention with their equipment but also showed how efficiently they can be used in the field by towing other brands of hay equipment.
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- John Deere’s 6195M tractor towers over the young visitor.
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- Excited Volkie learners at John Deere’s baler.
Rovic
Rovic showed off their V-rake, which ensures fast, neat and consistent windrows. With simple adjustments and high-capacity performance, farmers could see how the V-rake effortlessly delivers hay of the highest quality.
John Deere’s 6195M tractor towing Rovic’s V-rake.
New Holland
New Holland once again showed why its equipment is considered a stalwart in the field. The Roll-Belt 150 baler, pulled by their new methane gas tractor made its first appearance at a hay day in South Africa, impressing visitors with its efficiency and reliability. Equally impressive was New Holland’s Speedrower® 200 Plus, which once again lived up to its name as an agricultural workhorse.
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- New Holland’s methane gas tractor.
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- New Holland’s Speedrower® 200 Plus.
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- Derrick Coetzee from New Holland with the Speedrower® 200 Plus during this year’s Balfour Hay Day.
CLAAS
CLAAS once again impressed farmers with its Jaguar 960 and Xerion 12 650.
These tractors are known for their ability to manage high-volume crops, with excellent efficiency and low fuel consumption.
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- CLAAS’s Jaguar 960 and Xerion 12 650.
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- CLAAS’s Arion 400 tractor towing a wheel rake.
Massey Ferguson
Massey Ferguson’s MF 5M.125 is a multi-purpose tractor that has been given a new look. The tractors deliver 125 hp (93 kW) and feature a Stage V engine, improved hydraulics and optional precision farming technology for efficiency.
The Massey Ferguson MF 5M.125 tows a wheel rake.
The Massey Ferguson MF 5M.145 is part of the new multi-purpose tractors that offer more comfort and smart technology. The tractor delivers 145 hp (107 kW) fitted with an AGCO Power 4.4L four-cylinder diesel engine and a 198-liter fuel tank.
The Massey Ferguson MF 5M.145 comfortably pulls a cutter.
The MF TW 160 is a pullable model that loads, wraps and unloads the bales itself – it offers the versatility and efficiency that farmers want.
MF TW 160 is a pullable bale wrapper.
The Balfour Hay Day exceeded all expectations and farmers were able to return to their farms with more knowledge about the diverse types of equipment that they can use on their farms for haymaking success.
