New front and rear mower combination allows producers to efficiently cut and condition more acres in less time; select configuration best suited to their needs

The all-new Hesston® by Massey Ferguson® DM1300 Series Butterfly Mower System being unveiled this fall provides professional producers with a reliable, smooth-cutting disc mower configuration that can be best suited to fit their needs. The system is comprised of a single DM 1340 model front-mount mower and two DM1398 model rear-mount mowers, which may be combined to provide cutting widths up to 30-feet, allowing producers to quickly and efficiently cut and condition more acres per day. The mowers are designed to gently cut and condition forage for quick drying and optimum quality of the final product.

"These new mowers further expand the Hesston lineup of hay and forage products tailored to just about any hay and forage need," explains Dean Morrell, product marketing manager for hay and forage. "And, the all-new DM1300 Series Butterfly Mower System is perfect mower combination for producers who need to cut even the biggest jobs down to size."

All three mowers that make up the DM1300 Series feature a low-profile, light-weight compact modular angle cutterbar. The cutterbar uses a double-bevel gear design to provide even power transfer to all of the mower units' discs and reduce horsepower requirements. Cutting height can be variably adjusted between 1.5- to 2.8-inches with a simple-to-reach central hand crank.

Standard, low-profile rock guards and a built-in skid plate add structural support and help shield the cutterbar from unnecessary damage.

The DM1300 Series mowers offer a spring-tine rotor and four-way adjustable conditioning comb that create a loose, well-aerated swath allowing crop moisture to be quickly discharged into the atmosphere. Also, the tine conditioner gently removes the crops' wax coat rather than crushing forage during the conditioning process, helping retain valuable nutrients for higher quality forage.

The front-mounted model DM1340 is built on an overhead frame that allows a large range of movement - 17-inch headland lift and 26-inches of total up and down tilt - to minimize the impact of surface unevenness and prevent the mower from gouging into the ground. An integrated hydraulic cylinder, in combination with the front hydraulics, provides a 22-inch vertical travel range. The DM1340 mower unit also features a hydraulic side-shift capable of moving 8-inches side-to-side to help cut around corners.

The rear model DM1398 mower units are mounted at the tractor's center of gravity, allowing them to freely hug the contours of the terrain while reducing the load placed on the tractor's lift arms. These mowers feature a Turbo Lift System (TLS) to help improve cutting quality. The system allows the mower to adapt to ground contours independent of the ground profile and cutterbar setup, so the cutterbar glides into dips and depressions.

These rear-mounted mowers also feature an impact SafetySwing protection system to prevent damage caused by objects encountered in the field. Each mower unit can independently swerve back and up around the slanting axle when striking an obstacle, also protecting the drive shafts from damage. Once the obstruction is passed, the mower will return to its working position under its own weight, meaning time-consuming stopping or reversing is not necessary.

Transporting the DM1300 Series Butterfly Mower System has also been engineered for simplicity and practicality. Because the mowers are mounted on the tractor with a low center of gravity, they can be transported smoothly down the road even at higher speeds. To help conserve space in the barn or machine shed, the mower can be parked in its upright transport position.

"We realize that every farm is different and that every producer has different needs," says Morrell. "That's why we've designed a mower system that can be easily suited to any farming operation or need, whether it's a front mower working in tandem with a pull-type disc mower conditioner, or a front-and-rear mower configuration. The bottom line is these mowers allow you to cover more ground each day."

For more information about the Hesston by Massey Ferguson DM1300 Series Butterfly Mower System, visit your local Massey Ferguson or Hesston dealer.