Whether buying or selling, you know how valuable forages are these days. And it’s expected to stay that way. But no matter what the markets do, putting up the highest-quality hay remains the goal. New products and technology in the Case IH hay and forage lineup can help.
Rising global demand for forages continues to bolster alfalfa prices. The U.S. beef cattle herd officially has entered an expansion phase. It will do so with 300,000 fewer acres of forages. Every acre, every blade of grass, every alfalfa leaf is important — and valuable.[Tweet “Putting up the highest-quality hay remains the goal. [email protected] #BeReady “]
Case IH recognizes the importance of helping livestock producers manage feed costs and of helping crop producers improve crop rotations and diversify their business. We’ve made outstanding advances in every phase of hay production. Give these products a look as you prepare for hay season:
New windrowers offer more horsepower and greater efficiency. 
The new Case IH WD4 windrowers offer industry-leading horsepower combined with Case IH Efficient Power technology. The four-cylinder WD1504 and the six-cylinder WD2104 and WD2504 deliver 150, 210 and 250 horsepower, respectively, and are equipped with our exclusive SCR-only exhaust after-treatment technology to meet Tier 4 B/Final emissions requirements.
WD4 series windrowers offer a factory-installed autoguidance system through the Case IH AFS Pro 700 control center. This, plus a new hydraulic steering system that features fewer linkages and pivot joints, can increase productivity and reduce operator fatigue.
Other Case IH hay-cutting innovations include:
- Draper headers that cover more acres faster
- Disc mower conditioners that simplify the path to high-quality hay
Get more hay in customizable bales.
The new RB5 series round baler delivers 20 percent more capacity than its predecessor. It’s available in three sizes — the RB455 (4×5-foot bale), RB465 (4×6-foot bale) and RB565 (5×6-foot bale). The baler meets every need and application, from dry hay to processed silage bales.
Feeder options. The new overshot feeder is standard equipment on the hay, silage, wide pickup and premium configurations. It creates a quick and even feed into the bale chamber. The rotor cutter and rotor feeder use an undershot feeder to more aggressively feed the crop into the bale chamber.
The undershot feeder’s hydraulic drop floor makes unplugging silage or other wet, rank crops a cinch. Simply lower the hydraulic drop floor from the cab and allow the plug to clear. The new roller windguard and five-bar pickup comb the crop off the ground for fast and even feeding.
Better, stronger. The RB5 series balers feature a redesigned pickup that has been strengthened from the inside out. Other enhancements include double spider gears, solid line bars and rubber-mounted teeth that provide five times the wear life of previous generation teeth.
The baler also has been made easier to operate with the Case IH ISOBUS-compliant control system. You now can run the baler through the AFS Pro 700 control center in a tractor and take advantage of the unit’s simple layout and a large touch-screen monitor.
Case IH has added several other new products to our livestock, hay and forage product lines. From tractors to cutting equipment to the LB4 large square baler, your Case IH dealer offers a one-stop shop to fulfill your specific haying needs.
