Mower conditioner ... Impeller or roller??

[blueriver]

I'm going to plant 30 acres of Pearl Millet ... it will require a mower conditioner. I have yet to own one therefore you guys with experience talk to me.

From my understanding there are two types. The Impeller which is a disc mower and the conditioner is like a flail mower. The Roller also a disc mower with rubber rollers as the conditioner. Pearl Millet is a fast growing tall grass that you cut at 36-42" tall with a stalk about the size of a pencil and will need conditioning. One guy I talked to says to use a batwing mower and chop it up ... don't know about that.

My local dealer has 2 used one's about the same condition, the Impeller is $3500 and the roller type is $6500 ... which way to go is the question.

 

[RickB]

The key descriptive word in your question is grass. That makes my preference flail conditioning. If your primary crop is a legume, the debate gets more spirited.

 

[blueriver]

The key descriptive word in your question is grass. That makes my preference flail conditioning. If your primary crop is a legume, the debate gets more spirited.

Okay ... grass. A flail type would be suitable for Millet, bermuda, bahia, prarrie and native grasses.

 

[bigbull338]

if it was me id get the 1 with rubber rollers.the steel rollers shatter the stems.an you just want them cracked so they dry quicker.

 

[blueriver]

if it was me id get the 1 with rubber rollers.the steel rollers shatter the stems.an you just want them cracked so they dry quicker.

Very good point ... are the rollers worth 3K more?

 

[RickB]

Flail conditioner and steel roller conditioner are two completely different systems. Flail conditioner systems were developed in Europe where grasses are the predominant hay crop. Flail conditioned grass crops will dry quicker than roll conditioned grass crops. Properly adjusted, flails will rub the waxy coating from grass stems & leaves, allowing moisture to evaporate. The technology is proven and effective, and your crop is right for that system.
Given two machines in similar mechanical condition, spending an additional $3000 for roll conditioning would be a waste of money and probably a functionally inferior choice to boot.

 

[bigbull338]

well let me put it to you this way if i was buying a discbine mower/co id buy the 1 with the rubber rollers.we used to cut millet an haygrazer with an mow/co with rubber rollers.

 

[RickB]

well let me put it to you this way if i was buying a discbine mower/co id buy the 1 with the rubber rollers.we used to cut millet an haygrazer with an mow/co with rubber rollers.

And if I had never used anything else, I'd probably feel the same.

 

[bigbull338]

i looked at 2 new discbines last year 1 with steel rollers an 1 with the rubber rollers.an i didnt like the steel rollers at all.an my buddy was the 1 thinking about the discbine.an he knew we had run mow/co before going to disc mower.so if i was me id buy the rubber roller rig.

 

[D7E]

Just for grass hay a drum mower with flail conditioner is my favourite . It will dry faster than any type of roller .
I like sickle haybines with rubber for alfalfa .