Leifmark, LLC and New Holland Agriculture collaborated this fall on a corn stover harvesting project in Iowa. The project showed that stover harvesting is practical, noted Paul Kamp, Leifmark's Chicago-based partner, who coordinated the 520-bale collection.

New Holland Agriculture used the BigBaler 340 and its H9870 bale wagon in the test harvest. With its gearbox speed of 48 strokes per minute, the BigBaler 340 produces a 3x4x8-ft. bale about every minute. Low maintenance is another one of the key features of the baler. New Holland Agriculture’s Scott Wangsgard explains that the unit has an automatic greasing system.

The H9870 self-propelled bale wagon, Wangsgard adds, is simple to operate. Loading and unloading bales is done electronically from the cab.

Developing more efficient methods and equipment brings down the overall cost of stover, says Leifmark’s Kamp, whose company markets Inbicon Biomass Refinery technology in North America.

Wangsgard notes that this collaboration is an example of New Holland’s commitment to clean energy. The company supports renewable fuel and sustainable agriculture. For more information, visit agriculture.newholland.com.

Read more blogs from Lynn Grooms on the biofuels industry.

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