Massey Ferguson® Introduces Three RK Series Rotary Rakes

Feb 22, 2013

Massey Ferguson® a global brand of AGCO (NYSE:AGCO), introduces three new rotary rakes, designed to help hay producers optimize hay quality and create windrows that increase baling efficiency and capacity.

The new models expand the RK Series line of rotary rakes from Massey Ferguson to offer more options that help both small and large operations produce quality hay. All three models help speed drying time because they sweep the hay or forage into a uniform windrow. Their gentle action helps maximize leaf retention for optimum protein content, resulting in more valuable hay.

“Rotary rakes form more even windrows without roping or plugging, and the tine angle and gentle sweeping motion result in a cleaner crop in the windrow,” says Dean Morrell, product marketing manager for Hay and Forage. “In addition, the tines on these rotary rakes last two to three times longer than tines on traditional wheel rakes.”

The new durable RK Series of rotary rakes includes three models. The RK3802 single-rotor rake is designed for smaller tractors without hydraulic valves. This model offers a three-point lift system and is an economical upgrade for producers using vertical-fold wheel rakes. The RK3845 is a 21-foot model available with a transport chassis, and the RK3879 PRO model is a heavy-duty model with a 27-foot working width, also featuring a transport chassis. Both larger models are dual-rotor rakes and are equipped with steerable rear wheels on the transport chassis for greater maneuverability on tight turns during raking and moving from field to field.

These dual-rotor models also feature “jet effect” rotor lifting. When the rotor is lowered from headland to working position, the “jet effect” lets the rear of the rotor touch down first (like an airplane landing), which prevents the tines from scalping the soil surface and contaminating the windrow. This also helps extend the tine life.

Standard on each dual-rotor rake with transport chassis is the exclusive ROTORFLEX™ suspension system, which allows rotors to gently “float” from front to back and side to side, so the baskets work together to gather the crop into a more uniform and manageable windrow in uneven, rough terrain.

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Video: Veteran Farmers: A Legacy of Service in Rural America

Veterans Day is a time to honor the men and women who have selflessly protected our freedoms and values. And for some, the transition from military service to civilian life brings them back to the farm.

At Farm Bureau, we believe it’s important to not only celebrate veterans but also those who continue to make a difference in agriculture and their community. We've partnered with Farm Credit to establish the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence to shine a light on those who have continued to go above and beyond to serve their communities.

This year, we recognize retired Colonel Joe Ricker as the inaugural Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence winner. Joe served over 30 years in the Army before retiring from the Pentagon and completing tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Since leaving the Army, his commitment to excellence in farming and enriching the lives of veterans has blossomed in a myriad of ways in both his local community of Wilkinson, Indiana, and across the country. Joe grows apples and raises bees on his farm in Indiana. Joe founded “Veterans IN Farming,” an organization, now with more than 1,100 members, dedicated to providing veterans in Indiana with the tools and training to succeed in agriculture.

The American Farm Bureau Federation is an independent, non-governmental, voluntary organization, comprised of and directed by farm and ranch families who engage in all types of food, fuel and fiber production.