Like with other product lines, we’ve seen features that were previously introduced on the largest machines brought down the range with mowers, offering increased throughput, easier operation and better protection of the moving elements.
It opens up this technology to medium and small-scale operations, as well as enabling contractors who work on these farms to offer a similar quality of work as they would on larger plots.
Noticeable trends across the market include gradually extending single-bed rear mowers beyond the 4m working width, enabling up to 8m of crop to be cut when combined with a front-mounted mower.
There has also been a shift in some areas to vertical folding, especially with the mower bed moving beyond 90deg to keep the weight over the tractor linkage. This isn’t a complete switch, however, as vertical folding units can make it tricky to navigate low bridges during transport.
Isobus control and hydraulic adjustment from the cabin ensure that operators can stay on the seat while also ensuring a high quality of work.
Claas
The Claas Disco mower range is comprehensive, with 34 machines in total, split evenly between mower conditioners and straight mowers, and then split between rear-mounted, front-mounted and triple mower setups.
Looking at the rear-mounted, single-bed machines, the range runs from 2.2m up to 4.2m without a conditioner and from 2.6m up to 3.4m with a conditioner.
A new feature for all side-mounted Disco mowers is a centre-of-gravity hitching system, which ensures that the mower bed, much like mowers with centre pivoting, has a uniform contact pressure over the entire working width.
The large suspension spring engages in the middle of the machine frame and the line of force of the spring runs through the centre of gravity of the mower.
The force is evenly distributed to the mower bed by the inner and outer support, resulting in clean forage and an undamaged sward, according to the company.
All models are built around the Max Cut mower bed, manufactured in-house, with a wavy leading edge that enables the discs to be mounted further forward, providing an increased overlap between the blades.
Every machine also features Active Float suspension, enabling the ground pressure to be adjusted from the tractor seat.
Fendt
The Slicer range from Fendt starts with a lightweight range running from 2.7m up to 3.4m, with spring-loaded collision protection and spring ground pressure adjustment.
Drive to the cutter bar is via an elastic V-belt, and at the headland the mower bed is angled upwards to ensure the machine clears existing swaths.
Centre-suspension models are also available, extending up to 4.5m. The central mounting enables the mower bed to travel 13deg up and down to follow ground contours, while hydro-pneumatic suspension enables the machine to “float”, and these models benefit from Comfort- Change quick-change blades and DriveGuard overload protection.
Sitting at the top of the range is the TLX mower, with centre suspension and working widths of 3.1m or 3.6m. These two mowers vertically fold over the centre of gravity for safe transport. TurboLift cutterbar relief is standard, with a pendulum action of +28/-18deg, as is the Safety-Swing collision protection system.
To reduce fuel consumption, it is possible to run the TLX at a reduced 850rpm speed, and the machine can be equipped with tine and roller conditioners.
John Deere
John Deere’s rear-mounted, side-pull and centre-pivot mower conditioners give customers the option of 2.4-3.5m cutting widths.
The rear-mounted single machine has up to 92 mobile V-shape steel tines, or 48 double fingers on the range-topping R350R, which has nine discs and a cutting height from 35mm to 65mm.
A neat feature in the R-series is the over-centre vertical folding system, which angles the mower 126deg, keeping the machine over the centre of gravity.
The side-pull S310R and S350R share the same impeller conditioner as the R350R, said to ensure a swift and uniform wilting process, leading to higher-quality forage with improved nutrient retention.
The side-pull S-series mowers feature a torsion bar suspension system, producing an even cut and can be adjusted separately on both sides, protecting the swath and keeping impurities out of the forage.
Two centre-pivot mowers are available – the C310R and C350R – with the larger one packing in 104 tines and a windrowing width of 1.1-2.7m. These feature a torsion bar suspension system, while the pivoting headstock enables tight turns of up to 90deg.
Krone
Sitting at the top of the Krone rear mower range is the EasyCut R 450, offering a working width of 4.47m, with horizontal folding and a telescopic counterweight that can be ballasted up to 500kg.
When combined with the company’s largest front-mounted machine, a cutting width of 8m is possible.
Because of the counterweight, the company says the tractor’s link arms are more evenly loaded, keeping the power requirement at just 100hp.
DuoGrip suspension is integrated to enable the machine to follow the ground across the full working width, with an integrated pendulum stop cylinder to pull the mower onto the outrigger arm on the headlands.
Standard equipment also includes hydraulically adjustable bearing pressure.
As with the rest of the EasyCut range, the R 450 is built around the EasyCut cutterbar, which is all-round welded and lubricated for life, with eight cutting discs and two mower drums. The patented SafeCut protection system and hydraulic impact protection work together to prevent damage if an obstacle is struck.
Further down the range, the EasyCut R 280 and 320 can now be specified with a hydraulic boundary swath board.
Kubota
Kubota’s mower range starts with simple, non-conditioning disc mowers, with sub-2m machines available. Starting at 2.4m, the DM range uses the Contra triangular discs, with three blades on each, mounted on a mower bed that can pivot 35deg up and down to follow ground contours.
Extending further is the centrally suspended rear units, running up to 4m. These have a compact vertical transport position, according to the company, as well as hydraulic lifting on the headland.
Hydraulic ground pressure relief is available, as well as quick-change knifes, mounted on the Contra blades.
Additional centre-mounted models with a choice of nylon or steel tine conditioners, running at 600 or 900rpm, are available in working widths from 2.4m to 3.2m. Like the plain mowers, these also feature a breakback system that moves the mower back and up.
For wider working widths, a SemiSwing steel tine conditioner- only range extends to 3.6m, bringing with it the hydraulic headland lift and the Contra cutterbar.
Two trailed models are also available, with SemiSwing conditioning, an option of a wide spreading kit, and spring geometry for ground following.
Kuhn Farm Machinery
Two new vertical-folding, centre-pivot models have been introduced to Kuhn’s GMD rear- mounted mower range. The GMD 3515 and 4015 both offer familiar features such as Lift-Control, Non-Stop safety and the Optidisc Elite cutter bar, with Fast Fit knives to reduce downtime.
The GMD 3515 has a 3.5m cutting width, increasing to 3.95m on the GMD 4015. Although these models were already available in the horizontal folding design, the new models have a 125deg vertical folding system, which places the centre of gravity behind the tractor for better weight distribution in transport.
It cuts rear overhang associated with horizontal folding and makes accessing gateways easier. When not in use, the mowers can also be stored in this position, helping to save space in sheds.
Lift-Control uses the hydraulic lift to reduce soil compaction and contamination, while the Non-Stop safety system moves the deck rearwards to pass around or over an obstacle, before returning to its work position.
To maintain forage quality, the mowing unit is attached to a central frame to offer a pendulum effect for ground contour following.
The Optidisc Elite cutter bar is said to handle a variety of conditions and has Protectadrive safety on the disc bearings to increase longevity and reduce damage from driveline shocks.
Kverneland
Plain disc mowers from Kverneland extend to nearly 4m working widths with the 2800M range, with four models featuring centre suspension for react ground following, as well as hydraulic spring adjustment and vertical folding to 125deg.
Unlike other brands within the wider Kubota Group, Kverneland uses round discs on its fully welded cutterbars, with overlapping C-profiles to guide the crop.
Each of the four machines also feature a non-stop breakback system in case of hitting an obstacle. Conditioner models are available in widths up to 3.6m, with the 3300MT range topped out with a Vario model that includes 400mm of hydraulic sideshift to ensure the optimum overlap.
The 3300MT also includes the QuattroLink four-arm suspension system, which enables the machine to move with the ground contours.
The flagship trailed machine, the 4332, is available with a left-hand drawbar or a centre-mounted version. It includes SuperFloat dual-action suspension, with additional protection of the cutterbar, and can be fitted with a swath belt to merge two swaths into one.
Additionally, it comes with a steel tine conditioning unit and, according to Kverneland, the fixed main frame and reduced number of moving parts ensure reliability and durability.
Massey Ferguson
Massey Ferguson offers nine models in its rear-mounted mower range, starting with three Farmer machines between 2.06m and 2.82m. These are lightweight, with the ability to pivot up or down to follow ground contours.
Moving up through the range, the Professional runs from 2.55m to 3.5m, with select models having the option of paired counter-running discs along the cutterbar, as opposed to centre running. The machines are fitted with a vertical folding system, taking the unit up to 90deg during transport.
Both the DM 255 and DM 306 can also be specified with the KC tine conditioner, which the company states can be coupled and decoupled in about 20 minutes to match the mower to the working conditions.
Three centre-supported rear mowers top out the range, enabling the cutterbar to pivot with the terrain. Running from 2.6m up to 3.6m, these have an updated cutterbar and the TurboLift hydraulic suspension system.
The TurboLift allows the operator to set the bed pressure of the mower, which is automatically recalibrated when the machine is lifted at the headland.
These are available with or without the tine conditioning unit and fold beyond 90deg during transport to keep the weight above the centre of gravity.
McHale
McHale offers farmers and contractors a single rear mower, the ProGlide R3100, with a cutting width of 3.1m. It comes with patented ground adaption technology that allows the bed to move back and up if it encounters small obstacles. If the mower hits an immovable object, mechanical break-back will be triggered.
The ProGlide rear-suspension springs are said to react instantly to ground contours, which results in a high-quality cut, even when working at high ground speeds.
This allows the mower to easily mow on rough or undulating terrain and still deliver optimum results. Cutterbar ground pressure can be set from the tractor cab, with the working pressure visually displayed on the clock, which is mounted on the headstock.
Once the desired pressure is selected, the cutter bar working pressure can be isolated from the tractor hydraulics with a mechanical tap.
The 3m ProGlide cutter bar is powered by a heavy-duty right-angle gearbox that is positioned behind the inner tophat. It also has a rounded low-profile front edge that lets the fully welded cutter bar move smoothly over the ground. Each mowing disc has its own protective safety mechanism – if a collision occurs, the mechanism will shear to protect the drive.
New Holland
New Holland offers the DuraDisc and DiscCutter rear-mounted mowers, with the former running with no conditioner and mechanical suspension, while the latter has two models with conditioning units.
Maximum working widths are 2.77m or 3.86m, with the DiscCutter range benefitting from the hydraulic Vari-Float suspension system, which enables the machine to follow ground contours.
Two trailed mowers are also offered, the DiscCutter C centre-pull, in working widths of 3.11m and 3.52m. A key feature of these machines is the TopSafe system, which lifts the cutterbar automatically when it comes into contact with a stone or obstacle.
This protection system has adjustable sensitivity via two springs, enabling the machine to continue offering a uniform cut regardless of the undulations.
Both models can be specified with either the PE finger, steel flail or rubber chevron conditioning units. To ensure that the full width of the mower is always used, the centre drawbar can be shifted to the right or left.
This maximises field passes and, according to the company, can increase throughput by working from one side of the field to shorten headland turns and boost productivity.
Rozmital
In October 2024, Rozmital introduced a new mower to its product line. The SD-300R is a rear side-mounted mower with roller conditioner. It has a working width of 3.01m and the mower bar is made up of seven discs, each with two blades.
Thanks to the double-sided mounting, the cutter bar and the frame are a firm unit.
The bar is suspended by coil springs and the machine has an overload-protecting friction clutch on the cardan. It is equipped with a roller conditioner, which the operator can disable if necessary.
Elsewhere in the range, the SD-20L and SD-24L lightweight rear side-mounted disc mowers have a working width of 2.03m and 2.38m, with five and six discs, respectively, each with two quick-release blades. With an area output of 2ha/hour and 2.3ha/hour, the machines are particularly suitable for small areas.
There is also the rear side-mounted disc mowers, SD-260, SD-300, SD-300C and SD-340, in working widths of 2.56m, 2.98m and 3.37m.
The SD-300C model is equipped with a finger conditioner. The double-sided suspension blades form a rigid unit with the frame and the machines follow contours hydropneumatically.
Samasz
Samasz builds its mower range around the PerfectCut cutterbar, with sliding skids and wear plates along the bottom to maximise durability, as well as the option to fit topping plates in place of the wear plates to increase the minimum cut height to 12cm for particularly stony fields.
The fully welded design includes indents between the discs that guide the crop into the optimum blade trajectory.
The range starts with the simple, lightweight KDT, with widths up to 3.4m, followed by the KDTC, which is available with the choice of a roller or tine conditioner, with working widths extending to 3.4m.
The KT range has the same maximum working width but benefits from hydropneumatic pressure regulation to adjust the ground pressure during operation.
Sitting at the top of the side-mounted mowers is the XT, with two models of 3.4m and 3.9m. It folds over 125deg for transport, placing the weight over the centre of gravity, and comes with the hydropneumatic pressure relief system. Hydraulic breakaway has been added.
Finally, the trailed KDC range is offered in four widths, topping out at 4.3m, with a suspension system that enables +/-63cm of movement at each side to follow undulations.
SIP
The SIP ALP range comprises the 220, 260,300 and 340 models with working widths of 2.16m, 2.57m, 2.99m and 3.40m. Suitable for farms in alpine areas and with smaller acreages, the ALP range is designed for safe and efficient work on demanding terrain. Side shift allows the mower to be shifted left or right for safe mowing on slopes.
These are simple, side-mounted, vertical-folding, belt-driven, plain-disc mowers with fully welded cutterbars. Direction of disc rotation can be altered after delivery if different width swaths are required.
The Silvercut range is available in both plain disc and mower conditioner variants, in 2.9m, 3.25m and 3.57m working widths.
Built around a chassis design with all-gear drive and bolted cutterbar, the Silvercut has hydraulic suspension, said to ensure excellent adaptation to the ground and a precise cut and clean forage in all conditions. It also features hydraulic over centre folding for transport.
Conditioner options available include plastic, steel and roller for leafy crops such as lucerne/alfalfa. Power needs start from 40hp for the Silvercut 300, topping out at 70hp for the Silver Cut 380.
All SIP disc mowers feature quick-release blades and the Disc Drive Safety system, a shear-pin above the gearbox disc drive for overload protection.
Tanco
Irish manufacturer Tanco blurs the lines of our update with its Autocut M9 and M10 machines. While offering the working widths of the largest butterfly units (8.9m and 9.8m, respectively), the trailed chassis is said to significantly reduce the size and power requirements of the tractor upfront.
The chassis features an Active Steering system that steers through a connection with the headstock. When the mower beds are lowered into the working position, this connection moves into a faster-reacting position to reduce striping when cornering in the field.
An additional benefit is the reduced rolling resistance and the ability to control the weight of the beds exerted on the ground.
Each of the mower beds is fitted with hydraulic breakback, enabling them to move back, up and over any obstacles they meet, as well as moving back into the working position once it is cleared.
Both models also feature a V-tine conditioner, with the tines designed with a slight hook at the ends to pick up and throw the crop. These are semi-swing moving against a Hardox stop, with a single bolt connecting the tine to the hanger.
Vicon
The Vicon Extra mower portfolio uses the Contra triangular discs throughout the cutterbar, with the 200-series available with counterweights and hydraulic lifting at the headland. It can also pivot 35deg up and down to follow ground contours.
Centrally suspended units feature non-stop spring-loaded breakaway and vertical parking, as well as a transport position that folds 110-125deg over the centre of gravity. The gearbox can be rotated 180deg to run the machine at 540rpm or 1,000rpm.
Eight or 10 Contra discs and three blades per disc are fitted, depending on the working width, and counterweights can be optioned up to 940kg on the flagship model.
The QuattroLink suspension system is fitted to flagship mower conditioners, as well as SemiSwing steel tine conditioners.
The 3.6m model can also be optioned with the Vario suspension, while a new breakaway system has been integrated across the full working width, with no limiting factors, according to the company.
Vicon completes its rear single- bed mowers with the Extra 900 trailed mower conditioner, with an optional spreading kit, spring geometry to follow contours and the option of a central drawbar on the 3.6m model.