Sometimes less is more, and the need for complex technology isn’t always the answer, just a well-built, simple machine to do the job efficiently.
Farming equipment manufacturer Hustler Equipment recently released an innovative range of front-end loader and tractor attachments. Manure scrapers, bale slicers, bale forks, silage grabs, bucket grapples, shear grabs, bedding buckets, chain harrows and more are joining the popular Softhands bale handlers and Swifthitch 3-point linkage quick hitches that have forged the brand’s reputation for durability, ingenuity and ease of use around the world.
This 100% mechanically or hydraulically driven equipment stands out for its simple yet smart engineering.
“Here at Hustler, it has always been about solving a problem that farmers face. No matter how hard the task is, we believe that there are always clever solutions that can be implemented that don’t require to be overly sophisticated,” says Brent Currie, CEO of Hustler Equipment. “We were sometimes asked why we chose to expand our range of equipment with relatively simple machines when we could have stood out with more complex technology. After all, we have the know-how in-house … It seemed to me that the best decision was to continue to design machines that are easy to use, of excellent quality, efficient, affordable, easy to maintain and above all, long-lasting,” continues Currie.
The brand-new range is particularly suited for dairy farmers who need efficient, low-maintenance equipment, without the bells and whistles.
The new Hustler SwiftBlade front-end loader or 3-point linkage mounted manure scraper is an excellent example. Made for cleaning down feed pads, holding yards and dairy sheds, the implement features a robust frame with a 1.5-inch thick SBR rubber blade offering abrasion and impact resistance and has a working life of around three years in normal use. Once worn, the blade can be flipped and deliver another three years of service. To accommodate different tractor sizes and a range of operating conditions, the blade height can be easily adjusted. With ease of use in mind, fold down support stands are positioned on each side of the machine to deliver easy pickup and dropoff after an area is cleared. Measuring 102 inches wide and 33 inches tall, SwiftBlade LM260 weighs in at around 440 pounds.
Another interesting one is the Hustler BaleSlice LX190, a front-end loader attachment designed to cut bales in two before dispensing them along feed passages or feedout wagons and remove net and film in one easy go. The clamp is made of a seven-tine general-purpose fork with a welded prominent HB500 steel blade on the upper edge. With the knife raised, it can be brought down to secure a bale or other material carried on the tines. A secure and positive four-hook wrap removal system gets a firm grip on the plastic and the netting beneath. The location of the hooks (at the back and top of the grab) means that minimal feed is held back and wasted.
Once in position, the blade is brought up through the bale and the silage simply drops from the plastic – a few shakes and it’s all out! The loader can then drop the plastic at a convenient spot for storage until it is ready to be sent off for recycling. Being 74.8 inches wide, the BaleSlice LX190 is ideal for 4- and 5-foot bales.
For those who need to bridge the gap between large-scale feedout wagons and manual feeding, the CakeBucket LM180 auger bucket is the perfect tool! Capable of holding up to 1.7 yd3, Hustler CakeBucket easily handles a large variety of loose dry feed such as corn, grain, beef cake, pellets, mineral and more. A hydraulically driven auger coupled with two agitators allow for continual material flow, preventing bridging. Enabled with TwinFeedTM, it can discharge out to the left-hand or right-hand side of the bucket, which increases usability in any feeding situation – troughs, feedbunks/pads, against head-bails, fencelines or just general feeding in the pasture. Tactical feeding is only one way to use the Hustler CakeBucket. The machine also provides a solution for operations wanting to feed out grain on the front while simultaneously feeding hay or baleage from a bale feeder at the rear of the tractor. With its compact design, the Hustler CakeBucket is ideal for feeding in confined or tight feed pad/barn situations.
Among the total of nine new attachments launched on the market by Hustler, one last piece of equipment is worth mentioning here: the loader-mounted SpreadR+ LM180 bedding bucket. Ideal for dairy barns with or without cubicles, it can spread a large variety of materials such as chopped straw, sawdust, peat, bark, wood shavings, sand, lime and more, up to 13 feet away. The bedder can be loaded from the top or can be used to scoop up materials from a pile, thanks to a sturdy 4.3 x 0.4 inch HB500 cutting edge. A mixing shaft – with adjustable speed – located at the bottom of the bucket distributes the material evenly on the belt that can then be discharged to the left or to the right-hand side. With a capacity of 2.6 yd3, the bucket embarks two hydraulic motors and polyamide rollers.
And we save the best for last! True to its word of designing equipment that is built to withstand the test of time, the entire Hustler Equipment’s new attachment range is backed up with a four-year warranty for peace of mind.
“The new range is offering great solutions for many dairy operations, and we are thrilled with the amazing feedback we’ve received from producers so far. It saves on diesel, time, labor and resources by not having to outlay the large investment of more complex or bigger machinery,” concludes Currie.
About Hustler Equipment
From humble beginnings on a farm in 1961, Hustler Equipment has grown its business on global demand by staying at the forefront of an industry where technological developments are constantly emerging, and discerning buyers are seeking to improve their efficiencies. Some attachments are exclusive to North America; check out the Hustler Equipment’s attachment range at www.hustlerequipment.com/attachments or reach out to Hustler’s Minnesota office at (855) 430-0010.
