Dadnatron
Veteran Member
80ac of new kentucky bluegrass/orchard grass.
JD 5100e w/cab 100hp - 540 PTO speed
I am looking at purchasing a batwing for the above farm mowing. Intermittently, there might be some acreage left for haying, but the above is the maximal use I will have for the mower. There is no significant brush or saplings. This is straight up horse pasture. Ultimately, the pasture will be broken up into paddocks with runs between them. So the largest single paddock will likely be approximately 25 ac with several smaller. I will be purchasing a flail for cleanup work and will design the fences to fit the flail size. I will also likely purchase a fence row mower to decrease the string trimming, as much as possible.
I am looking for a mower which will help me get this accomplished with as much speed and quality final cut as possible. I'd like to get a 'flex flail' system, but I just spoke with Iowa Farm Equipment and they run $27K and up... so that isn't happening short of lotto.
I know that somewhere, whether this website or another place, I saw some information comparing the cut of the major brands of mowers, but I have not been able to find it again. To my recollection, some performed much better on pasture, with less windrowing and cleaner cut. But I don't remember which or what.
Given this is not an insubstantial purchase, I'd like to insure that I make as good a choice as possible.
I've never demo'd anything, but think I might begin at this point. But, I won't have a mature pasture for at least 2 years, so anything I do now won't really tell me much. At this point I have 11ac of fall drilled pasture with winter wheat sown in for erosion control. I need to mow the wheat down so the grass won't be shadowed. That is my immediate need. I know any of them can do this... but what I need is a better understanding of the likelihood of good outcome 2yrs from now.
I've looked at JD, Woods, and Rhino. I'm sure there are more around.
What are your thoughts and recommendations given the above needs?
JD 5100e w/cab 100hp - 540 PTO speed
I am looking at purchasing a batwing for the above farm mowing. Intermittently, there might be some acreage left for haying, but the above is the maximal use I will have for the mower. There is no significant brush or saplings. This is straight up horse pasture. Ultimately, the pasture will be broken up into paddocks with runs between them. So the largest single paddock will likely be approximately 25 ac with several smaller. I will be purchasing a flail for cleanup work and will design the fences to fit the flail size. I will also likely purchase a fence row mower to decrease the string trimming, as much as possible.
I am looking for a mower which will help me get this accomplished with as much speed and quality final cut as possible. I'd like to get a 'flex flail' system, but I just spoke with Iowa Farm Equipment and they run $27K and up... so that isn't happening short of lotto.
I know that somewhere, whether this website or another place, I saw some information comparing the cut of the major brands of mowers, but I have not been able to find it again. To my recollection, some performed much better on pasture, with less windrowing and cleaner cut. But I don't remember which or what.
Given this is not an insubstantial purchase, I'd like to insure that I make as good a choice as possible.
I've never demo'd anything, but think I might begin at this point. But, I won't have a mature pasture for at least 2 years, so anything I do now won't really tell me much. At this point I have 11ac of fall drilled pasture with winter wheat sown in for erosion control. I need to mow the wheat down so the grass won't be shadowed. That is my immediate need. I know any of them can do this... but what I need is a better understanding of the likelihood of good outcome 2yrs from now.
I've looked at JD, Woods, and Rhino. I'm sure there are more around.
What are your thoughts and recommendations given the above needs?
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