Hitting the Schuite spot
The Schuitemaker Rapide 580 has long been of interest to me, as I’ve had a hankering to see it up close and learn more about the unique trailing pickup these machines run. I’m not aware of any other brand of loader wagon, baler, or forage harvester using a similar pickup system.
Despite the time of year (early August), we managed to arrange an outing to see the machine at work. Obviously, you’ll be scratching your head wondering what any contractor would be doing with a 38 cubic metre loader wagon at this time of the season.
However, arriving at the paddock for a machinery test of the Schuitemaker Rapide 580, New Zealand North Island contractor Ollie Hawke from Phil Hawke Contracting, based in the Waikato district, assured me there was no silage being made: it was a cut and carry operation for a local cow farm.
Cut and carry is pretty common in areas with goat farmers. However, it’s the first time I had come across this feeding system
