bunchers

A buncher is a piece of agricultural machinery used to gather and collect crops, typically hay, straw, or silage, into a more manageable form for subsequent processing, such as baling or transport. These machines are designed to sweep up loose material from the field and condense it.

There are several types of bunchers, with the most common being the side-delivery rake. This machine uses a series of tines, often made of flexible steel, that rotate to gather the crop into a windrow, a long, continuous row of cut or raked material. The speed of rotation and the angle of the tines can be adjusted to create different densities and sizes of bunches. Other types of bunchers include PTO-driven rakes and flail-type bunchers, which use rotating blades to chop and collect the material.

The primary function of a buncher is to consolidate dispersed crops into a concentrated line. This process makes it more efficient for balers to pick up the material, as they can collect a larger volume with each pass. Bunching also aids in drying hay by exposing more of the plant to air and sunlight. For silage, bunching helps in the even distribution of material when it's being ensiled. The effectiveness of a buncher depends on crop conditions, field terrain, and the specific design of the machine.