Vicon has introduced a new Dry Matter (DM) Sensor for disc mower conditioners, designed to provide real-time dry matter (DM) measurements at the very start of the forage harvesting process. The system aims to help farmers optimise silage and hay quality while reducing losses, improving efficiency and supporting more informed decision-making across the full forage chain.
Achieving high-quality forage continues to place pressure on livestock operations, with the need to balance feed value against cost, drying time and weather risk. A critical factor is managing dry matter accurately throughout the harvesting cycle. Traditionally, DM values are measured late in the process—either when the forage harvester enters the field or once the crop is already stored—leaving limited opportunity to influence quality earlier.
Dry matter insights from the moment mowing begins
Vicon’s new DM Sensor is positioned above the conditioner rotor, where it continuously measures the material flowing through the mower. Live data is displayed to the operator, providing immediate insight into the crop’s DM status and enabling rapid adjustment of mower settings or working strategy.
Per Sørensen, product director for disc mowers, says:
“The DM Sensor is a fully automated solution delivering real-time data during mowing. Instead of waiting until the end of the harvesting cycle, operators now have dry matter information from the very beginning—when it’s possible to influence the entire process most effectively.”
Armed with this data, operators can instantly adjust the conditioning intensity, switch between wide spreading and swath merging, or modify other machine parameters to optimise drying conditions.
Optimising the complete harvesting cycle
The DM Sensor also generates a field-specific heat map, giving operators and farm managers full visibility of crop conditions across the area harvested. These insights can help to:
- decide whether tedding is required
- optimise the timing of raking, merging, baling or forage harvesting
- prioritise fields based on dryness levels
- refine harvest routes by placing wetter fields later in the day
By integrating DM data into the wider harvest workflow, the system supports more efficient and profitable forage production.
Data for long-term optimisation
All collected data is available live and stored for historical analysis, supporting strategic decision-making across multiple seasons. Insights into field performance and crop condition can be shared with contractors, customers or agronomists to improve collaboration and advisory work.
With the introduction of the DM Sensor, Vicon adds a new level of precision to the mowing stage—helping farmers enhance forage quality where it matters most: right at the start of the process.
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