Die-Hard Hesston Fans
Efficient equipment, reliable service and a brand that listens to its customers keeps the Monteiros loyal to the Hesston brand.
By Sabra Morris | Photos By Jamie Cole
Running three large dairies, Mike and Manny Monteiro understand the importance of identifying efficiency, especially in an era of economic uncertainty.
The alfalfa, wheat and silage corn the Monteiros grow and harvest at all three dairies allow them to satisfy 50% of their total feed needs for roughly 14,000 cows. Another plus: “We can control the moisture in our feed and the quality because we can get in the field when we want,” says Manny.
The brothers trust Hesston equipment for their harvesting. “I like Hesston because it’s just good, simple equipment that works,” says Mike, who turns to Quality Machinery in Hanford, Calif., for cutting and baling equipment. “Because I am a large farmer, I deal with a lot of equipment dealers,” he says. “Quality Machinery easily outshines them because they have a better parts department and employees that want to help you become successful. If I need a part after hours or on weekends, I’ll always have an answer as to whether the part is in stock within 30 minutes.”
The Monteiro family’s relationship with Quality Machinery dealer Gary Garrett goes back to the late 1960s when Garrett did business with the elder Manuel Monteiro (Mike and Manny’s grandfather), and has continued ever since. Today, Mike owns and operates Hesston 8500, 9635 and 8550 mowers, four Hesston 8450 swathers, one Hesston 4755 baler, two Hesston 4760 balers, two Hesston WR9770 windrowers, and he added two Hesston 2150 balers to his fleet earlier this year.
AGCO listens to its customers, according to Mike. “I was impressed about eight years ago when AGCO invited me to go to Orlando, Fla., to join in a study session with my peers from all over the U.S. to discuss what ways we thought they could improve the Hesston large baler,” he says. And they did. “They added an axle to carry the unit and two more tires to increase flotation so the unit rides smoother in the field. They also beefed up the stuffer.”
Mike adds that, as long as quality and service remain top-notch, “I will absolutely continue to use Hesston products.”