Stock Choppers

We chop and bale about 1,000-1,100 acres of corn stalks a year and the old chopper is getting a little on the worn side. Been using a 20 foot chopper with cupped knives, and pull a 12 wheel rake. Am thinking about going with a rotary (bat-wing) type. Probably a 20 foot JD. Anyone have any experience with both of these? One advantage would be the JD would fold up for road travel. Thanks

Rotary rakes may be the best thing since the introduction of sliced bread but they appear to have many moving parts that will wear out. My 14 wheel H&S hi-capacity rake folds up to travel the roads. It will also rake any width between 8 ft and 27 ft.

The rotary mower will not pickup the stalks as well and they will be much longer. We bale 15-20 thousand bales each fall. On our own we always use a stalk chopper on. You get more in each bale of better quality bedding.

If you just want to cover acres and don't need/want shorter bedding than you may be happy with a rotary mower (bat wing).

We use a bale processor and the longer stalks do not work as well. Also in years where the stalks still have a lot of juice in them, the ones that are mown off with a rotary mower will take longer to dry out. Some times several days more.

As for a rake to use on corn stalks. A good wheel rake is the fastest and the simplest for corn stalks. We have been using a 14 wheel Sitrex rake now for 4-5 years. The frame is good and heavy. I just buy new complete wheels every 3-4 years. The wheels can be boughten complete for around $100 EACH. Cheaper than buying a bunch of teeth separately and installing them.

If you do decide to go with a rotary mower make sure and get the deep suction blades. They will pick the stalks up better than the normal blades. Also do not go 10 mph mowing and they will shred the stalks better. Still not as good as a stalk chopper but maybe good enough.

I know Hiniker and others make a windrow stalk chopper. They discharge the chopped material out the back on the left side. I have never owned one but thought I'd get one of those if I ever baled stalks. Lots of guys have them around here.