Customer Profile:
Kevin Borgen
Chatfield, MN

Krone Equipment is “Built Heavier”

On a beautiful sunny day in Chatfield, MN we find Kevin Borgen on his cattle operation. Borgen, his brother and nephew run the operation. He has four cuttings a year that add up to about 2,000 bales that are mostly alfalfa with 400-500 corn stalk bales for bedding. He uses all the bales for his cattle operation of 90 dairy cows, 90 beef cows and 160 calves.

Borgen originally had another brand of rake but switched to running a Krone SW 900 nine years ago. “I switched to a Krone rake because they are built heavier,” stated Borgen. The 26 heavy-duty tubular tine arms and five durable tines per arm, depending on the model, will move even the wettest crop. This combination creates a very clean and well-shaped windrow that any baler can easily pick up.  The rotors are completely enclosed with semi-fluid grease filled bevel gear drives, which ensures uniform lubrication in the gearbox and is maintenance free. With cardanic suspension the rotors follow all ground contours to maintain an even working height, especially on uneven ground.

Borgen uses a BiG Pack 1290 XC to bale his hay and cornstalks. He had a BiG Pack 890 3x3 large square baler and commented, “the BiG Pack 890 was built to be bullet-proof.” Last year, Borgen switched from his BiG Pack 890 to a BiG Pack 1290 XC 3x4 large square baler. A major reason why he switched from the BiG Pack 890 to the BiG Pack 1290 XC was the ability to stack the 3x4 bales more efficiently because of the size and there are fewer bales to move. In addition to fewer to move, 3x4 bales are easy to move and they stack on trucks nicely for shipping while getting more weight per bale. With the X-cut cutting system he can use up to 26 knives to achieve the optimal cutting length.

One of Borgen’s favorite features on the BiG Pack 1290 XC is the EasyFlow pick-up. The EasyFlow pick-up is camless and runs at a 30% higher speed than conventional cam track pick-up. The pick-up exceeds the chamber width of the baler so even the widest windrow is consumed. With the camless pick-up there are fewer wear parts while continuing to pick-up the heaviest crop with ease. Gearboxes and drivelines drive Krone’s BiG Packs, not chains.  Borgen said that this was a big improvement when he switched from a competitive baler to a BiG Pack. The gearboxes and drivelines reduce down time, wear and transfer power more efficiently. He enjoys how the BiG Pack 1290 XC pulls nicely with the steerable tandem axle. Driving on uneven roads and fields are not a problem with the tandem axle reducing ground pressure.

Another favorite feature of Borgen’s on the BiG Pack 1290 XC are the knotters. “The BiG Pack 1290 XC doesn’t miss tie,” noted Borgen. The durable knotters tie a double knot once at the beginning of the bale and then again at the end to ensure a secure bale every time. No need to worry about debris in the knotters because Krone has that covered. Compressed air is used to clean the entire knotter area to guarantee a clean surface. This keeps the knotters clean from debris even in extreme conditions.

Borgen enjoys his BiG Pack 1290 XC because, “I don’t have to fix anything.”  He works with Minnesota Ag Group out of Plainview, MN for all his maintenance, sales, and service needs.  A trustworthy dealer is an important asset to any producer.  The dedication of Minnesota Ag Group helps Borgen and his brother run a successful dairy operation and Krone’s dependable and durable equipment continue to be a key asset to their dairy.