If you have been considering adding a mower conditioner to your farm or ranch, finding a brand and model to meet your operations needs is best done before hay season is in full swing.

Operators who want to run a machine built for rugged conditions, convenient maintenance and innovative features — meet the Vermeer mower conditioner lineup. Vermeer offers four mower conditioner models at different cutting widths to tackle a variety of crops:

• MC90 mower conditioner
• MC105 mower conditioner
• MC120 mower conditioner
• MC150 mower conditioner

Let’s go through the standard features and technology seen throughout all four models in the lineup, as well as unique features that may vary by model.

Standard features throughout Vermeer mower conditioner lineup

These are the features or components that are found on each of the four mower conditioner models offered by Vermeer.

Q3® cutter bar

Convenient maintenance and durability come standard with the Q3 cutter bar system with a 3-year cutter bar coverage.

Three components make up the Q3 cutter bar:

• Quick-Clip® blade retention system
• Quick-Change™ shear ring
• Quick-check oil

The Q3 cutter bar is designed to make it quick and convenient to check and replace those key components, making maintenance in the field quicker than ever.

Swivel gearbox

All four mower conditioners are equipped with a front swivel gearbox. This component helps you to make sharp turns and maneuver into and within the field easier.

Hydraulic pitch/tilt adjustment

Hydraulically powered pitch/tilt adjustment allows operators to change the angle of the cutter bar blades – with no tools required. Being able to adjust the cutter bar blades with ease can help you maximize your yields while minimizing field damage. This can be especially helpful if you need to adjust to different crops and field conditions frequently.

Hydraulic suspension

A hydraulic suspension system helps you to achieve a consistent, clean cut. When navigating through fields, you can experience more adaptive flotation throughout changing field conditions. If you look at competitive models, most require tools to manually adjust your floatation. When running a Vermeer mower conditioner, you can conveniently adjust the machine down pressure with the twist of a knob. The hydraulic suspension system also decreases wear on certain machine components, maximizing the life of your mower conditioner.

Topping stops

Uniquely designed topping stops allow you to suspend the cutter bar with ease – and without contacting the ground or requiring topping shoes. This becomes especially useful in wet or rocky field conditioners when ground pressure needs to be minimized. If you tackle thicker-stemmed crops or want to protect new seedlings from the cutter bar, topping stops help to cut the crop efficiently by keeping the cutter bar higher above the ground.

Key differences between mower conditioner models

These features and components will differ between the mower conditioner lineup. If you want to learn more about a specific model, your local Vermeer dealer can help you determine which model will be best suited for your farm or ranch’s needs.

Mower styles

The side-pull style pulls the mower on the side of the tractor. The MC90 and MC105 are both side-pull styles and are considered an economical option for small- to medium-sized operations.

The center-pivot style found on the MC120 and MC150 provides more versatility by pulling from both the left and right side of the tractor. This can also improve maneuverability throughout the field by turning and working around obstacles easier.

Cutting width

With Vermeer mower conditioners, the most obvious distinction throughout the model lineup is the machine cutting width.
Farmers and ranchers of all sizes can find a good fit for their operations with a variety of hay conditioner sizes to choose from. The MC90 is the smallest model at 9 ft (2.7 m), with widths increasing to 10.5 ft, 12 ft and 15 ft (3.2 m, 3.7 m and 4.6 m). The number of acres you harvest per year can help determine which size is well-suited for you.

Tractor availability

If you’re looking at the machine width and still unsure which model would be the best fit for your farm or ranch, consider what tractors you might be using with your mower conditioner. If you tend to have multiple tractors free to hookup that vary in horsepower, you may have more options as to which mower conditioner model you could run. When evaluating your available tractors and finding that you may be more limited with your horsepower options, then your decision on which mower conditioner to purchase is more straightforward.

Rubber or steel roller

When you purchase any of the four Vermeer mower conditioners, you will select between a rubber or steel roller design. Depending on what type of crops you are growing will determine what roller style will work best for your operation. Vermeer mower conditioners are suited to tackle a variety of crops like alfalfa, cane, triticale, sorghum sudan and grassy crops.

When forage is going into the mower conditioner, it gets cracked or split by a rubber or steel roller. This helps air flow to more of the crop to dry-down faster.

Rubber roller conditioners work best with legumes and leafy, fine-stemmed crops. Rubber conditioners provide improved leaf retention and help to maximize the crops nutrition by crimping the crop gently. If you’re usually harvesting bulky crops with a sturdy stem like grasses or cane, a steel roller will work best to condition the crop. Steel rollers will break the crop easier and provide additional air flow when compared to rubber rolls. This allows for more air flow to the crop, meaning a quicker dry down than you would experience without conditioning the crop.

Hitch options

All Vermeer mower conditioner models have two patented hitch options: a drawbar swivel hitch or a 2-point Quick Hitch. Both feature a balanced pivoting connection and allow operators to complete a single-person hookup. Built for operator convenience, both hitch options can help you get out to the field in no time.

After learning about what features on Vermeer mower conditioners can benefit your operation, you can be better equipped to find the right hay equipment. If you have additional questions or want to check out a mower conditioner for yourself, be sure to get in touch with your local Vermeer agriculture dealer.

Vermeer Corporation reserves the right to make changes in engineering, design and specifications; add improvements; or discontinue manufacturing at any time without notice or obligation.

Equipment shown is for illustrative purposes only and may display optional accessories or components specific to their global region. 
Please contact your local Vermeer dealer for more information on machine specifications.

Vermeer, the Vermeer logo, Equipped to Do More, Q3, Quick-Clip and Quick-Change are trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the U.S. and/or other countries. © 2025 Vermeer Corporation. All Rights Reserved.