"Reliability Lets Us Focus on Maximum Output."

Triple M Custom Farming has a heritage of farming in the San Joaquin Valley dating back to the 1930’s.  It was at that time when Rodolfo Mussi emigrated from Italy in search of a better life.  He found that better life just outside of Stockton, CA as an asparagus farmer.  

Three generations later, the simple asparagus farm has grown into a several thousand acre diversified crop farm called L & R Mussi Farms.  In addition to asparagus, they now grow tomatoes, walnuts, almonds, cucumbers, wine grapes, row crops and other field crops.  

In conjunction with still helping with the family business, L & R Mussi Farms, Rodolfo Mussi’s grandchildren, Garrett, Nathan and Nick, started their own custom farming operation called Triple M Custom Farming.

For several years, L & R Mussi Farms had used a local, custom baler for all of their baling needs.  In 2007, when the custom baler retired, Garrett, Nathan and Nick purchased their first Krone BiG Pack 1290 XC.  It was with this baler that Triple M got their start baling for L & R Mussi Farms as well as other operations in the San Joaquin Valley.  

Since the early days, Triple M has increased their fleet of equipment to include a Krone BiG M 420 self-propelled mower conditioner, multiple swathers, a Krone KW 782 tedder, several wheel rakes, four three-tie balers, two BiG Pack 1290 XC large square balers, a BiG Pack 1290 HS, a BiG Pack 1290 HDP, a BiG Pack 1290 HDP HS and a BiG Pack 1290 HDP II.

Triple M has been running Krone BiG Packs since they began their custom baling business.  When they were first looking for a baler, they decided to purchase Krone because they could maintain a quick ground speed while keeping high bale weights.  Over the years, those needs have not changed and Krone has continued to increase baler capacity and bale weights.  For these reasons, as Triple M continues to grow they look to Krone to meet their baler needs.  

In total, Triple M bales approximately 75,000 large square bales each year of corn stalks, straw, teff, sudan and alfalfa.  The majority of their bales are marketed to local dairies, while some of bales are sent to the export market.  The cost of trucking is always an important consideration when shipping bales.  To help keep the costs down, Nick depends on BiG Pack 1290 HPD.  High Density Press bales are up to 25% denser than standard bales, allowing trucks to be loaded to the maximum weight allowance and decreasing the amount of storage area required. 

Baling this many bales each year is demanding on equipment and that is just one reason Nick says he runs BiG Pack balers.  “For the number of bales we put on the balers each year, the BiG Packs are quite reliable machines.”  Reliability is key when it comes to getting the crop out of the field at the precise maturity level and moisture content. 

The capacity of the BiG Pack is a time saving feature that allows Triple M to quickly bale each field. The High Speed balers have up to 20% higher throughputs due to the increased size of the Variable Filling System.  This coupled with a higher number of plunger strokes lead to higher capacity and bale density.  Nick reports he can make a bale with 24 flakes, every 30 seconds with the BiG Pack High Speed.  

There are many convenience features the BiG Pack is equipped with.  The majority of the daily grease points are on an auto lube system so less time can be spent on maintenance and more time in the field.  The tandem axles and massive flywheel provide for smooth operation.  The full color, touch screen monitor allows for adjustments to be made quickly and easily.  

Not many operators can say they enjoy unplugging a baler, but Nick and his operators say this is one of their favorite features. They know they can push the BiG Pack to its maximum speed without the hassle of getting out of the tractor to unplug it.  If they reach the baler’s maximum capacity and it does plug, the operator simply lowers the RMPs to allow the clutch to reengage and push the slug through.  

Triple M Custom Farming has been depending on Krone BiG Packs for over five years now.  As their operation has grown and their baling needs have changed, the BiG Pack has evolved to meet their needs.  In the future Nick knows that as his needs continue to change, Krone will be there with a BiG Pack to meet them.