With a trend towards cutting more silage for bales in Wales, Euros Puw, a farmer and contractor near Bala, purchased his first i-BIO+ in 2020 to help manage his increasing workload.
“Baling demand has increased since we started out in 1984. We used to bale a maximum of 50 acres on the larger farms but now that has increased to more than 150 in some cases. We almost reached 5000 bales this year and we would not have managed this without the new i-BIO+,” he says.
The unique twin-reel film binding and KUHN’s INTELLIWRAP system has enabled him to increase his output without compromising on silage quality. The twin-reel film binding system provides a consistent bale, saves cost on plastic, and can be operated quickly by one man. The i-BIO+ is also ISOBUS compatible with multiple in-cab controlled functions.
“It was the perfect fit and complements the capability and capacity we have been able to achieve with our other KUHN balers.”
Mr Puw uses a KUHN FB 3135 film binding solo baler but needed another machine to cover more acres and increase his output.
“We had John Deere balers before the 3135, but we have been so impressed by the film binding because it offers a greater level of protection. The high-capacity reel, drop floor, and the unique pick-up drive disengage to deal with blockages, are also great features for us. We were also trying to find another similar machine that could manage the smaller fields quickly and efficiently.”
He wanted a smaller machine because the conditions often lead to him operating on softer ground, so the lighter i-BIO+ offered the opportunity to minimise compaction.
“We often work in 2.5-3-acre fields and the ground can be heavy, so it is better to pull the 3.7 tonne i-BIO+ than a 9 or 10 tonne combination baler. It is also easier to manoeuvre into tight corners.”
Mr Puw operates in a short window, with many farmers requiring only one cut each year. This demand, and the often-wet conditions in Wales, means he has to work efficiently to cover the ground. Each season he bales between 600 and 650 acres, producing 4500 to 5000 bales.
“To manage this level of demand we needed a baler that we could just grab and go with. The i-BIO+ is the perfect machine to bale in small fields quickly,” he explains.
With the i-BIO+ he can manage 30 bales an hour and often does 300 in a day. The FB 3135 is capable of 450 to 500 and he also wraps a further 300 bales following behind a neighbour’s baler. This enables him and his team to bale and wrap 1100 bales per day in the right conditions.
“The i-BIO+ can manage more than a quarter of a total day’s work and that makes a big difference if that day is the only dry one in the week,” he says.
KUHN offered five years interest free finance on the i-BIO+ which helped with his decision- making. He also has a very good relationship with local dealer AgriPro Services, who supplied the i-BIO+.
“It is a cost-effective machine that filled the gap we needed, and we have been really impressed with the speed and quality of the bales. It has certainly increased our capacity which means we will feel more confident about taking on further acres next season,” he concludes.
