Chopper Cuts Bedding Cost HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Bale Handling (5) 3-3-18 "It makes bedding go almost twice as far," says John Nystrand, Jr., Sugar Run, Pa. U.S. distributor of Wic., a first of its kind Bedding-Chopper for baled straw or hay, manufactured by Wic, Inc., of Wickham, Quebec, Can. "Just one bale processed in this machine will bed 30 to 40 cows," Nystrand told FARM SHOW. The machine is operated by a 5 hp. gas engine (3 hp. electric motor optional) and processes baled hay or straw or other bedding material at the rate of one bale per minute. Length of cut can be adjusted. Chopped material is spread uniformly under each cow from front to rear of the stall. "Twine can be left on the bales without bothering the machine but we recommend removing it as individual bales are dropped into the hopper," the manufacturer points out. In addition to bedding cows, sows or other animals,-the BeddingChopper is also suifed for feeding baled hay, and for mulching strawberries and other speciality crops. The feeding hopper accommodates bales of any length. Height and width can be up to a maximum of about 18 in. Forty sickle sections in 4 rows chop the hay. A stone guard protects against larger rocks. If a small rock should go through the machine, the most damage it would do is probably break a sickle section or two, according to the manufacturer. Suggested retail is $1,195. For more details, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, John Nystrand, Jr., Route 1, Sugar Run, Pa. 18846 (ph 717 746-1951).

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