The Automoteur Baler V 1.0 stands as a bridge between the one-man hay systems pioneered by Gary Vermeer in 1971 and the futuristic, autonomous concepts being developed today. It remains a favorite for operators who value speed, autonomy, and the satisfaction of a job done with a single, dedicated machine.
As it glides over the golden straw, the V 1.0’s wide pickup swallows the crop at a steady 17 km/h. Inside the cab, the farmer watches the fill level climb. At 90%, the machine’s internal logic automatically limits speed to ensure a perfect finish. Once the bale is complete, the rear chamber opens, and a perfectly wrapped cylinder rolls onto the grass—all without the farmer ever having to hit a manual "unload" key. The Legacy Automoteur Baler V 1.0
The tale begins in the late 1970s when companies like New Holland first experimented with self-propelled balers like the Model 166. These machines were designed to eliminate the need for a separate tractor, allowing one operator to navigate tight fields and steep terrain with better visibility and control. In the digital world of Farming Simulator , modders took this historical concept and "upgraded" it into the high-performance V 1.0 version. Features of the V 1.0 The Automoteur Baler V 1
As the morning mist clears over the virtual fields of Goldcrest Valley, the farmer climbs into the cab of the Automoteur Baler. With a turn of the key, the independent engine roars to life. There is no heavy PTO shaft to connect; the machine is a singular, streamlined beast. Inside the cab, the farmer watches the fill level climb
: It houses its own engine (often requiring around 140–150 HP), meaning it doesn't need to be hooked to a tractor.
In our story, the Automoteur Baler V 1.0 is the "crown jewel" of a small family farm. Unlike traditional equipment, it features: