I wouldn't even ride along on this rig.

[LouNY]

Stupid, why grow grain on a slope like that? Do they not have flatter ground for that purpose? I have been reading Louis Bromfield's books and this reminds me of the unsustainable farming practices that he talks about. I really hope that they are at least smart enough to be using no till practices.

I wasn't going to post this but the more I thought about it I decided to.
Calling productive work stupid is an asinine response.
That is simply amazing equipment being used to it's maximum. Side hill combines have been around for many years both in this country and many others. Much tillable ground is not "flat" and agriculture practices have been developed to work that ground.
Just observing those hill sides and not seeing any washes or gulleys I would say that they are doing very good practices.
To me your statement brings to mind a know all, do nothing position.
Simple looking at the grain heads and how well they are filled out shows the productivity of that ground.

 

[MossRoad]

Bet he doesn't have to spend thousands on auto steer/ trac, precision ag etc, plus has the skills and insight as operator to keep that combine upright.

If you read the comments in the video, it says the mechanism to keep it level is automated.

 

[MossRoad]

Right up there with a Menzi Muck used in a different application

About 30 seconds into that video, a guy comes sliding down the hill and says "UUUHHH!" Seems that part of language is universal!

Boy that's steep.

 

[jjeff]

If you read the comments in the video, it says the mechanism to keep it level is automated.

No, didn't read comments, Still, probably takes some skill to pick a proper line at that grade.

 

[turbo36]

Right up there with a Menzi Muck used in a different application

In order to operate on those extreme angles, that engine must have some kind of a dry sump oil pan.

 

[oldnslo]

If you read the comments in the video, it says the mechanism to keep it level is automated.

If like side hill combines is a simple pendulum system for keeping machine level while the head tilts. Newer machines may be using electronic systems today but was part of machine not an add on feature. Operator could also shut system off for road travel or manually tilt for service.

 

[bcp]

Hard to see in some angles in the video, but that excavator has a winch with a cable running up to an anchor out of sight above.

Bruce

 

[stuckmotor]

Hard to see in some angles in the video, but that excavator has a winch with a cable running up to an anchor out of sight above.

Bruce

Thanks for pointing that out. I didn't notice it.

 

[MossRoad]

In order to operate on those extreme angles, that engine must have some kind of a dry sump oil pan.

Rated for aerobatics!

 

[MossRoad]

Hard to see in some angles in the video, but that excavator has a winch with a cable running up to an anchor out of sight above.

Bruce

Yep. Someone posted more videos of them a few years ago. Hanging by a winch cable. Yerks!

 

[stuckmotor]

I still don't understand how Swiss grain farmers compete with those in countries with large flat fields. The additional cost of the leveling equipment and inevitable loss when a combine crashes down a slope would seem to make combines like that out of reach financially. Does anyone know whether farmers are highly subsidized by the Swiss government? Does the country have high protective tariffs on ag imports? Farmers in my area have largely switched to cattle and timber. The large flat fields in other parts of the country and world are more productive and even there many farmers go broke. Remember Farm Aid?

 

[California]

I still don't understand how Swiss grain farmers compete with those in countries with large flat fields.

That's one of several factors explaining why Russia wants Ukraine. Ukraine was the 'breadbasket' of the USSR. It's similar to the US/Canada wheat belt, with production that supports substantial export. There is little good farmland of comparable quality in Russia. I doubt Switzerland can grow more than just for local use, on their difficult terrain.

 

[stuckmotor]

That's one of several factors explaining why Russia wants Ukraine. Ukraine was the 'breadbasket' of the USSR. It's similar to the US/Canada wheat belt, with production that supports substantial export. There is little good farmland of comparable quality in Russia. I doubt Switzerland can grow more than just for local use, on their difficult terrain.

Way back when things started going down hill for Richard Nixon someone told me he was going fine until the US made a deal to sell wheat to the Soviet Union. Ukraine's harvest must have fallen short that year.

 

[MossRoad]

From here:

Does Switzerland produce half of all the food it needs?

So says the government as it tries to convince voters to reject a proposal calling for greater ethical standards in food production. Is it right?

www.swissinfo.ch

The reality is this: Switzerland imports more food than it exportsExternal link. In fact its food imports per capita are among the highest in the world, due in large partExternal link to its high population density and the relatively small area available for cultivation.

 

[stuckmotor]

The privileges of being a farmer in Switzerland

The agricultural sector is protected through import restrictions and state subsidies, but farmers receive a number of other privileges too.

www.swissinfo.ch

Whether Swiss grain producers receive special economic considerations or not there has to be enough money available to them to cover the cost of those combines. The closest I see to machines like that I see working around here, is those used by the utility crews that clear the rights of way.

My guess is that the farmers use their long winters to figure ways to maximize the "other privileges" and they add up nicely. The goal is probably to be able to produce enough edibles on their own to stay neural and ride out the next big war.