From large livestock operations to the part-time hobby farmer, New Holland has you covered.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Dan Valen, Director of Product Marketing for New Holland North America, at the 2017 Farm Progress Show to get the details on three of our faves from their new lineup.
Methane powered concept tractor
New Holland is no stranger to finding clean energy solutions. For more than a decade through its Clean Energy Leader strategy, New Holland has developed the world’s first 100 percent compatibility with Biodiesel, the world’s first hydrogen tractor concept – NH2, the first propane fueled tractor prototype and the first T6 Methane Power tractor prototype.
So New Holland’s latest development in its vision for the sustainable future of farming should come as no surprise — a methane powered concept tractor.
“Beyond anything we have talked about before, this machine has got really futuristic styling and representation of what future cabs can look like in terms of technology and innovation,” Valen said.
The 6-cylinder NEF methane engine delivers 180 hp and 740 Nm: the same power and torque as its standard diesel equivalent. It has the same durability and service intervals, and generates up to 30 percent running cost savings. The innovative tank design, using a composite layered tubular structure, enables a full day’s autonomy in line with an equivalent diesel model.
“Basically customers that are looking to be able to do anything in which they do today with their machines- power, torque, any application- they can do with this machine at up to a 30 percent lower total operating cost and be able to do that without the need for depth or any other expensive or complicated emissions equipment,” Valen said. “It’s a pretty significant technological innovation.”
In real field conditions, the methane powered concept tractor produces at least 10 percent lower CO2 emissions and reduces overall emissions by 80 percent compared to a standard diesel tractor. Its environmental performance further improves when fuelled by biomethane produced from crop residues and waste from farm-grown energy crops, which results in virtually zero CO2 emissions.
The brand imagines the farm of the future as being completely energy independent: a farm that produces not only food, but also the biomass it needs to generate the energy it uses to run its operations and power its tractors and other machinery.
Valen said there about 400 digesters in North America today. With a digester system, any dairy, beef, poultry, or swine operation can actually produce their own fuel right on site.
“So literally farmers would be able to grow their own fuel just from animal and food waste on farm today,” Valen said.
BigBaler Plus
The newly-unveiled BigBaler Plus line-up features enhancements that take baling to a new level of productivity and efficiency.
“Our customers told us they wanted to increase bale density in order to maximize trailer and storage density and reduce the number of bales they needed to handle, thereby improving efficiencies and profitability. To deliver the ultimate baling performance, the BigBaler Plus series large square balers provide more consistent bale density and productivity of the highest capacity,” Valen said. “The new Bigbaler Plus models increase density by 10 percent, which mean there are 10 percent fewer truck loads from the field, 10 percent less time bale handling time and 10 percent less storage space needed.”
The BigBaler Plus balers are equipped with the MaxiSweep pickup and increased plunger strokes per minute which contributes to maximizing speed and the ability to create dense, well-shaped bales at up to 110 bales/hour. With a choice of crop processing models and standard models, both full and partial bale chamber ejection and tire/axle combinations for any terrain, the BigBaler Plus series ensures outstanding performance in any crop.
“In addition, the latest BigBaler Plus large square balers are engineered to deliver consistent bale weight and density,” Valen said. “We were able to align the density and efficiency requirements of operators with maximum trucking capacity. That means we expect to see both lower cost-per-bale when compared to balers with lower density capability and lower transportation costs compared to ultra-high density balers.”
Valen said another benefit to the balers is the 10 percent more hay that goes under the roof which means less hay sitting outside and less spoilage, which can lead to better production from animals and better weight gain on animals because they have better quality hay.
RF Series Fixed Chamber Round Balers
For customers that may be interested in productivity and efficiency, but maybe have a full-time job in town and would like to come home in the evening and bale hay, the RF Series is the product for you, Valen said.
Designed for simplicity and ease of use, the RF Series balers are reliable, durable, and affordable to own. These new models will provide an entry point for part-time famers who can take advantage of existing tractors with as low as 40 PTO horsepower and are the perfect solution for operators who want to bale on their own schedule.
“This new RF series of round balers allows them to do just that at a very economical price point,” Valen said. “Hook a compact tractor up to a round baler and within two minutes they are out baling hay — without any of the complexity of some of the larger very productive machines — at a much lower price point and able to bale hay up to 80 percent moisture.”
