What Is a Forage Harvester?
A forage harvester is an agricultural implement designed to harvest or pick up grass, feed crops such as corn, shred them and blow them onto a transport vehicle.
There are two main types: unit-type and flail-type, with the term “forage harvester” commonly referring to the unit type. The unit type consists of three parts: the header unit for harvesting or picking up grass, the feed roller for moving the material, and the cutter head for shredding.
There are three usage methods: direct attachment to a tractor, towed for use, and self-propelled. The flail-type harvests, shreds, and blows material onto a transport vehicle using flail blades. It is classified into single-cut and double-cut types.
Uses of Forage Harvesters
Forage harvesters are used in agriculture for harvesting and collecting feed crops such as grass and forage crops like rice and corn. They are also used to pick up and finely cut dried crops for collection on transport vehicles.
The collected feed crops can be used directly as fodder or processed into silage through fermentation in silos. Cutting and collecting in silos allow for more compact storage, approximately 1.5 to 2 times more than storing long crops as is.
The header unit is exchanged based on the feed crop being collected for unit types. Types include row crop units for harvesting long crops like corn, pickup units for collecting harvested grass, and mower bar units for cutting grass and other crops.
Features of Forage Harvesters
Forage harvesters simultaneously perform the tasks of harvesting, cutting, and discharging feed crops, typically with a transport vehicle running alongside to accumulate the cut material.
Advantages
Given that fields cultivating feed crops are often expansive, forage harvesters that can perform harvesting, cutting, and accumulation simultaneously significantly reduce work time. The reduced volume of cut crops compared to regular crops also leads to space savings, typically between half and one-third.
Disadvantages
Efficiency may decrease if the crops being harvested are wet, leading to potential work delays during heavy rainfall, such as the rainy season. Additionally, in smaller fields, the number of turns required may be higher, resulting in poorer efficiency than in larger fields. Due to its high initial cost, forage harvesters are more suitable for large-scale farms.
Types of Forage Harvesters
There are two main types: unit-type and flail-type.
1. Unit-type
Unit types can adjust between harvesting or picking up by exchanging the attachment unit. The mower bar unit is used for cutting, the pickup unit for picking up, and other specialized units for different crops. Unit types can be classified as tractor-mounted, towed, or self-propelled.
2. Flail-type
Flail blades rotate to perform simultaneous harvesting and cutting, with the shredded feed blown onto a transport vehicle. There are direct-cut types and double-chop types, the former blowing material simultaneously during harvesting, while the latter involves a secondary cut and blow after initial harvesting.
How to Choose a Forage Harvester
Unit types have higher initial costs and are suitable for large-scale farms. In contrast, flail types are more affordable and can be used with smaller tractors. Therefore, smaller farms may find flail types more suitable despite the drawback of uneven and larger cut lengths. However, the efficiency of flail types is generally lower compared to unit types due to their compatibility with smaller tractors. Therefore, for larger farms, unit types are more desirable. The choice of forage harvester should align with the scale of farm management.