Most of the dry stock men in this area go for Wagon silage, explained William Beckett, when we called to see him recently.

William Beckett, of Beckett Agri, Mayfield Services Ltd, Kilconnell, Ballinasloe, runs three Strautman GV CFS 3601 Wagons, all purchased in 2011. “We started with two, but had to take on an additional unit due to demand this year” says William. “We have had some experience with the earlier Strautman Super Vitesse model” and found them to be “bullet proof”. Our choice was therefore made easy when we came to selecting the new machines, we especially like the CFS system. We bought the machines from local Dealer Terry O Neill in Clonberne. It’s comforting to know that service is close by if you need it.

CFS System: Continuous Flow System.

“We liked the CFS system on the Strautman, when we saw the new brochures in February, but just didn’t realise the full benefits until we came to use the machines. The material is well spread over the whole pickup, which means no lumps being presented to the chopping mechanism-- you don’t have to wait for another lump to push through the first one any more “laughed William. In addition, we found that we can push through maybe up to 20% more in acre terms, than we could with the older machines. On power requirement, William feels that these new machines are much easier to drive, due to the new CFS feeding system. “You know the tines are not in rows anymore”, he said.  “The cam system is gone and the tines on the pickup are now in a helical layout—just like a spiral--- it just means that there is a nice flow of material to the knives at all times”.  “You know, we haven’t broken even one tine this year and by now each wagon has around 500 acres done. How about knife breakages? “No breakages on knives either” said William, “indeed with the type of grass quality this year we have just turned the knives for the first time”, so downtime has been nil in 2011.

How do you manage the three machines? “It really depends on the draw. If we have a very long draw, then we use all three machines together, in this way keeping up a steady stream to the pit. If the draw is shorter, we use two. We try to keep a steady flow of material, and a balance at the pit face. Occasionally we will have the Self Propelled and a wagon working side by side, we can even use the wagon as an additional trailer if needs be”

“Business is good right now, despite all the doom and gloom in the news”, said William. It was nice to come away positive from this lovely part of Galway.