Machinery Hay and Forage Motivated to make hay Machine packages innovative conditioning with durability. By Laurie Bedord Laurie Bedord Laurie Bedord grew up in Rochester, New York. In 1997, Laurie joined the Successful Farming team as its office manager. In 2004, she was promoted to editor and covered new products. Her coverage expanded to include precision farming technology and livestock. Laurie retired from SF in 2023. Successful Farming's Editorial Guidelines Published on September 30, 2011 Close Hesston has been a pioneer in the hay and forage industry time after time. In its 50-plus-year history, the company has introduced innovations like the first commercially available self-propelled windrower in 1955, the first center pivot sickle mower conditioner in 1974, and the first center pivot disc mower conditioner. "We've established a reputation for our ability to deliver equipment that features unmatched innovation and technology," says Dean Morrell, product marketing manager for hay and forage. The company is adding to the brand's lineup of haymaking tools by unveiling its newest machine – the Hesston 1363 mower conditioner – to help growers make high-quality hay. Attention to details "The all-new Hesston 1363 10-foot side-pull disc mower conditioner is no exception to that standard," Morrell says. The cutting and conditioning innovations on this 10-foot side-pull disc mower conditioner include heavy-duty RazorBar technology, steel-on-steel conditioner rollers, and a strong overhead frame. The RazorBar cutterbar has a cast iron spur gear design and a thinner cutter profile, which means the machine provides a closer cut and reduces scalping. These gears can easily handle rocks the unit may encounter in the field, which significantly reduces the risk of damage to the cutterbar. "One of the many advantages of the Hesston 1363 is its ability to crimp hay through the use of steel-on-steel rolls." Steel-on-steel conditioner rolls crack the plant stem every 2 to 3 inches, breaking the stem open, which releases moisture and reduces drying time. This preserves leaf quality of the hay and allows for optimal nutrient content. A herringbone tread pattern on the rolls feeds the crop evenly on both sides to form even windrows. "One of the many advantages of the Hesston 1363 is its ability to crimp hay through the use of steel-on-steel rolls," says Morrell. "This crimping action actually preserves valuable nutrient content that is contained in hay leaves, making for a high-quality end product. When leaves are crushed or damaged and protein content is lost, the quality of the hay is reduced significantly." If you prefer a crushing conditioner action, rubber-on-rubber rolls are also available. Their shallow lug design minimizes leaf damage. Built on a strong overhead frame, the mower conditioner provides a header lift of up to 20 inches over headland windrows. This added height means the mower can easily be guided and carried over obstacles and ditches or waterways. Suggested price for the Hesston 1363 mower conditioner starts at $24,900. Learn More AGCO Corporation www.masseyferguson.com Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit