Telehandlers in Farming: Lifting Bales, Stacking Hay, and Loading Feed

Telehandlers are ideal when bales are stacked in multiple layers or loaded repeatedly into high-sided trailers. A compact tractor front-end loader remains useful for lower-level work, but its fixed geometry limits simultaneous height and reach.

Verify the heaviest bale weight against the load chart at the required height and reach. Since wrapped silage weights vary, always use verified data rather than estimates.

 

Choosing the Right Bale Attachment

Select an attachment based on bale type, wrap protection, control requirements, and capacity.

For wrapped round silage, Bobcat's bale handler with tubes uses rounded hydraulic arms to grip one or two bales, depending on attachment size and machine compatibility.

Use a bale handler with tines or a bale spike for unwrapped hay or straw where puncturing is not a concern. Always check bale size, quantity, and the attachment rating.

Use pallet forks for palletized farm inputs; they are not the primary choice for handling wrapped silage due to the risk of damage.

Before connecting any tool, verify the machine, carriage, hydraulics, and attachment-specific capacity.

 

Buckets for Feed, Grain, Straw, and Yard Work

Match the bucket to the material density:

• Light material bucket: Grain, straw, loose silage, mulch, and other low-density high-volume products
• Grapple bucket: Silage, bedding, brush, waste, or material that needs hydraulic retention
• Construction or digging bucket: Denser soil, sand, and yard-maintenance material where the machine and attachment are approved

Match bucket volume to material density. A large bucket filled with unexpectedly dense or wet material can exceed the load chart limits even if the attachment is approved.

 

Building Access and Maneuverability

Measure the entire route through older buildings: door height, feed-passage width, columns, turning area, and overhead clearance.

For tight access, the Bobcat TL25.60 is 1,840 mm wide and 1,930 mm high, featuring a 2,500 kg rated capacity and 5.9 m lift height. Its Bob-Tach carriage also provides access to approved Bobcat loader attachments.

 

Customer Experience

A compact footprint ensures that narrow doorways and low ceilings never hinder daily operations. Dairy farmer Michel explains why the Bobcat TL25.60 is the perfect fit for his farm:

"It's incredibly compact and navigates our restricted livestock layouts with ease. It fits inside our buildings effortlessly—perfect for our narrow structures and even versatile enough for our hen houses."

 

Larger agricultural telehandlers utilize Quick-Tach and offer greater capacity, lift height, and hydraulic performance. Multiple steering modes, including crab steering, assist in positioning the machine along barn walls and in confined yards.

On soft or changing ground:

• Keep the boom retracted and the load low during travel
• Avoid side slopes and abrupt steering
• Use routes with adequate bearing capacity
• Reassess conditions after rain or repeated traffic
• Follow the operator's manual for gradients and load orientation

Tire width can reduce ground pressure, but it does not eliminate the risk of rutting, sinking, or rollover.

 

V-Drive Continuous Transmission

For long loading and travel cycles, Bobcat offers V-Drive on the TL34.65HF, TL38.70HF, and TL43.80HF. This continuous transmission transitions smoothly from standstill to road speed without manual range changes, reducing interruptions during loading, yard work, and travel.

Standard V-Drive functions include:

• Cruise Control: Maintains the selected travel speed without continuous throttle-pedal input.
• ECO-Ride: Optimizes engine rpm once travel speed is stable to improve fuel efficiency.
• Stop & Start: Stops the engine during eligible idle periods, reducing unnecessary operating time, noise, fuel use, and emissions.
• Maximum Speed Limiter: Lets the owner or operator cap travel speed for a yard, road, or less-experienced driver.

While V-Drive improves comfort and efficiency, it does not increase load-chart capacity. Verify high-flow attachment requirements separately.

 

Customer Experience

Seamless transitions between loading and transport are critical during peak agricultural seasons. Farmer Christophe André notes the impact of V-Drive on his productivity:

"The continuous transmission means I no longer have to stop to change gears. On the road, the Cruise Control is a standout—it reduces pedal input and the machine operates much more quietly."

 

One Machine Across the Farming Year

Throughout the year, a single telehandler can move bales, fill feeders, handle grain and seed, clean yards, unload deliveries, and support seasonal maintenance with approved attachments.

The business case for a telehandler is strongest when these daily tasks keep the machine productive beyond the peak bale season.

 

Selecting the Right Agricultural Model

Assess your building dimensions and critical lift requirements. Record the heaviest bale or bucket load, maximum stack or feeder height, forward reach, daily hours, travel distance, hydraulic requirements, and ground conditions.

A compact model can increase productivity by fitting into every building. Upgrade to a larger HF model when high-volume bucket work, road travel, and long daily cycles are the primary requirements.

Sources and Further Reading

• Bobcat Agricultural Telehandlers
• Bobcat V-Drive Continuous Transmission
• Bobcat TL25.60 Agricultural Telehandler
• Bobcat Bale Handler With Tubes
• Bobcat Telehandler Attachments
• First impressions of Bobcat TL25.60 Agri – a customer’s view at a dairy farm
• Customer Story: Christophe André and Bobcat Telehandlers