John Deere has updated and renumbered its round baler range for 2010. There are now eight basic models with a range of pick-up and feeding systems.

The new line-up includes the 623 and 644 fixed chamber balers, the 842, 852, 862, 854 and 864 variable chamber balers and the 744 wrapping baler, which is based on the 644 fixed chamber model.

Both 623 models are available in either Silage Special or MultiCrop versions. The MultiCrop option is aimed at farmers who want to bale silage and hay with a fixed chamber baler, but also want good performance in straw.

The front part of the bale chamber on this hybrid model retains the existing seven rollers, but the rear door replaces the other rollers with a conveyor, which gives better bale rotation in slick materials such as straw.

There’s a choice of three pick-ups. The 2m/2.2m HiFlow pick-up is intended to give high throughputs, especially in dry crops. The 2m/2.2m RotoFlow pick-up has a large-diameter, high-rpm rotor for higher throughput and a new drop-floor unplugging system. The 2m/2.2m MaxiCut pick-up offers either 14 or 25 pre-cutter knives.

All the rotor feed models – the 623, 644, 854, 864 and 744 – have the new drop-floor system. Operated from the cab, this aims to prevents blockages caused by the build-up of crop material. Variable chamber models now have an adjustable starter roll position for greater versatility, while all the balers get increased gearbox capacity and bigger chains.

All four Premium machines can be equipped as standard with the new 2.2m Maxicut 25-knife pre-cutter pick-up. This fine-chop pick-up gives four different cutting lengths from 40 to 140mm, or the knives can be removed from work for maximum versatility.

744

The 744 wrapping baler is now ISO-Bus certified and has the new CAN-Bus VTI 1300 display as standard. The Virtual Terminal Implement system replaces the previous combination of a BaleTrak Plus monitor and a GreenStar display unit in the tractor cab.

There’s also an automatic greasing system option that enables the operator to adjust baler lubrication from the tractor cab. Bale diameter on the 744 is adjustable between 1.25m, 1.3m and 1.35m and up to 12 rolls of film can be loaded.

644

The 644 fixed chamber baler delivers high-density bales for intensive silage operations. The netwrapping system has storage for three net rolls and options include a pick-up roller compressor, pivoting gauge wheels and an electronic bale shape indicator.

854 + 864

The 854 and 864 variable-chamber balers now produce 15% higher density bales of up to 1.55m or 1.8m diameter in all crops, from straw to silage.