Specifications.pdf

Synopsis and Specifications

The USDA-NRCS Plant Materials Center in Manhattan, KS has a need for a specialized forage harvester such as the RCI 36/ John Deere 1565 or equal mower combination research plot forage harvester to harvest study plots of native warm season perennial grasses and cool season cover crop plots in support of its work to advise NRCS technical standards and specifications. To be determined an acceptable equal, minimum specifications that the forage harvester must meet are:

1. Must have diesel engine (PMC has bulk diesel fuel but not gasoline) of 35 hp or greater with hydrostatic power train for ease of maneuvering in small plots/efficient use of staff time.

2. Must be capable of cutting, processing, weighing, and dumping harvested forage/biomass of tall grasses such as Panicum virgatum, Andropogon gerardii, and Sorghastrum nutans. Sampled material must be cut several times to facilitate use of sampled material as weed suppressing mulch in foundation seed production fields.

3. Must have enclosed cab with climate control to allow sampling in all weather conditions while adhering to worker health and safety guidelines.

4. Must have an output to record plot weights after each harvest that is visible from the operator’s position. Hopper must be capable of holding between 40 and 50 cubic feet, hopper must be able to be emptied from the operator station for efficiency of emptying machine. Efficiency of time to collect biomass samples is the main component of the need for this machine at the KSPMC.

5. Cutting head or header of unit must be 36 in width to match up with existing plot planting equipment, remotely (hydraulic preferred) controlled, adjustable to at least 10 inches of ground clearance, and be adjusted during use by the operator. Overall width of machine must be 50” or less to work within the constraints of the small replicated plots used to conduct research at the KSPMC

6. Must be highly maneuverable for work within study plots and turnkey operable when received

7. Machine must be delivered to Manhattan PMC no later than Dec.1 ,2019.

Synopsis and Specifications