REGINA – Dave Heaton went back into his shop in Rockyford, Alta., after
listening to farmers at farm equipment shows last year. Now he’s back
with what farmers said they needed.
The manufacturer of farm and turf equipment had two new products at the
Western Canada Farm Progress Show held in Regina June 19-21. They were
a hydraulically driven power takeoff for skid steer loaders and a
76-inch grapple bucket capable of handling large round or square bales.
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Heaton’s company, Conterra Industries, builds graders and other tools
that can be mounted on three-point tractors and skid steer loaders.
“Farmers told our guys at the shows that they would sure like to have a
skid steer loader, but the machines lack ptos. Prairie farmers use a
lot of pto-powered equipment,” said Heaton.
“They said they’d love to have a skid steer loader, but the grapple
buckets wouldn’t handle round bales. They use round bales. So we built
them some new stuff. Now they can have their skid-steer loaders.
“We went from farmers straight to (research and development). We went
back to some of those same farmers to test the products for us and make
suggestions and then into production.”
The pto adapter mounts on the skid steer loader and has a built-in
three-point hitch.
Most loaders have a hydraulic system capable of producing 15 to 30
gallons per minute at 3,000 pounds per square inch.
Depending on the size of the loader’s engine and which of the three
Conterra pto adapters is chosen, the unit can drive anything from grain
augers to mowers, cement mixers and posthole augers. They can also
power a backup electrical generator for livestock facilities.
So far the company offers a six horsepower version that uses up to 12
gallons a minute, a 10 hp that requires up to 14 gallons and a 17 hp
that needs up to 18 gallons. They are priced between $3,300 and $4,000.
The Grapple Max is designed to handle round bales. Its swept, or cut
back, sides give good bale contact and the use of two hydraulic rams
and a 76-inch opening mean that most bales will fit into its steel jaws
while retaining reasonable side-to-side stability.
When open, an operator can enter and exit the front of the machine
between the lifting arms. The two arm design, versus a single or
central-post design, also provides good visibility.
The Grapple Max comes in four bucket width sizes from 66 to 84 in. and
sells for $4,000-$4,300.
“Skid steer loaders are really popular right now. Farmers are adopting
them awfully fast and horsepower just keeps growing. They’ve broken
through that 100 hp now and I can see them going even bigger. It
replaces the farm 40 hp chore tractor,” Heaton said.
