Versatility and reliability key to ‘quick, short’ hay season

• Murray River farmer and hay contractor Scott Douglas will be relying on the versatility and reliability of his New Holland T7 tractors and 1290 Big Balers ahead of a ‘quick, short’ hay season

Murray River farmer and hay contractor of 35 years, Scott Douglas, of D&S Contracting, is predicting a short baling season with lower yields following dry conditions in the New South Wales western Riverina and northern Victorian Murray River regions.

Scott's properties include 2,400 acres in Barham in NSW western Riverina and 300 acres under irrigation in Leitchville in northern Victoria, where he grows lucerne and hay and runs beef cows.

During his time farming in the region, Scott has owned roughly 24 balers. Ahead of this baling season has taken delivery of two New Holland T7 tractors and two 1290 Big Balers, adding to a New Holland Pro-Belt Baler he bought last season. All of his new machines were supplied by Rural Group Echuca, part of the AEH Group.

Scott emphasised the need for versatile and reliable machinery to succeed in an industry with so many seasonal variables.

“New Holland balers are a reliable piece of kit, have low maintenance costs, and retain their value should I want to sell them down the track. The 1290 balers are a long-term investment in the future of our contracting business,” Scott said.

“I really like the technology in New Holland balers, especially the automatic start-stop feature of the Pro-Belt Baler. It ensures consistent bale quality, as it wraps each bale precisely without operator intervention, preventing any overruns.

“The tube wrap turned out perfectly uniform, making all the bales look like a roll of lifesavers. Overall, the system works wonderfully.”

Scott says the winning combination has been the pairing of his new New Holland square balers and Pro-Belt Baler with his New Holland T7 tractors.

“The T7s from New Holland have been a great addition to the fleet. They’re versatile and ‘all-rounders’. They’re big enough to get the job done, but still light and manoeuvrable for the smaller jobs,” he said.

Scott’s contracting business has been producing bales for the region’s dairy and beef farmers for almost four decades.

“We produce a lot of round bales for dairy farmers because they often lack on-farm storage for square bales. In contrast, we do more square bales for beef farmers across the river, and they are also more efficient for freight,” Scott shared.

“We also know that if the weather looks uncertain, we produce more round bales because they can tolerate slightly higher moisture levels. This makes them easier to manage compared to square bales, which need stricter moisture control due to fire risks in storage.”

"I’ve tried all the colours under the sun but have consistently returned to New Holland for their service, support, and price point,” he said.

Like any business, customer loyalty and reputable service has been integral to D&S Contracting’s successful operations over the years. Contributing to the quality service that Scott’s customers expect has been the New Holland additions to the fleet.

New Holland dealership, Rural Group proudly part of the AEH Group, with branches in Cobram, Echuca and Shepperton share Scott’s emphasis on the need for reliable, versatile, and efficient machines on local farm operations.

Sean Morey, Rural Group - General Manager, said machine uptime, no matter the season, was integral to the success of the dealership’s customers.

“As such, we pride ourselves on the support and service we have been able to provide people like Scott to ensure that their machines are meeting their needs and are performing during baling.

“Our three branches are collaborating to enhance customer experience by linking roles. Recently, we added a guidance specialist to cover all three branches to keep pace with technology, supplementing AEH Group’s existing national guidance specialist.

Our goal is to strengthen our staff foundations to enhance the after-sales experience for farmers and contractors across the region, covering all aspects of agriculture from broadacre to niche markets.”