Bellon and the Zerbini Family: a fifty-year story of trust and innovation
What happens when premium Parma dairy farming meets Bellon’s advanced mowing technology?
Today we take you to Fidenza, to the Zerbini family farm, a historic operation managing over 650 hectares of land and a herd of 700 cattle, including Holstein-Friesians and the prized Vacche Reggiane (Reggiana cows). Here, where milk is produced for the Parmigiano Reggiano supply chain, forage quality is the absolute foundation of the farm’s revenue.
The challenge: flawless performance on heavy clay and wet soils
Working the land in the Parma region means dealing with heavy clay soils. As Mattia Zerbini explains, the first forage cut in spring must often be carried out in wet conditions. In these contexts, standard disc mowers risk accumulating mud and damaging the sward.
“The solution is the Bellon drum cutterbar. The bottom of the drum moves without damaging the ground and doesn’t get clogged with mud, allowing us to work even when the soil is wet.”, Giuseppe Zerbini
Trust built to last across generations
The relationship between Bellon and the Zerbini family has lasted for a remarkable 49 years. It began with Lamberto Bellon and has continued through children and grandchildren, evolving into a bond that goes far beyond business. Currently, the Zerbini farm operates several Bellon mower-conditioners, all chosen for specific technical features:
- Drum system: Vital for operating on heavy clay soils until at least June.
- Roller conditioner: Essential to accelerate drying without losing the precious alfalfa leaves.
- Reliability and support: The peace of mind of having spare parts delivered within 24 hours whenever needed.
Innovating together: the new Combi-D680
The collaboration with the Zerbini family allows Bellon to field-test its machines under widely varying conditions. For summer cuts, when the ground is extremely dry and hard, the farm recently added the new 6.8-meter Combi-D680 disc cutterbar. This solution tackles dry soil while reducing vibrations and the risk of breakdowns, proving a product range capable of meeting every seasonal need.
Proud to stand alongside professionals who carry forward the Italian agricultural tradition with passion and expertise.