Table of contents for September 2022 in Profi

No we haven’t developed a rubber fetish but there is certainly a tyres and tracks theme going on in this issue of profi. We are now starting to see a few more manufacturers offer factory fit central tyre inflation/pressure systems but there is an even bigger list of suppliers in the retrofit market which must tell you that there is demand for such technology. While German farmers and contractors have been using CTIS, the Dutch would appear to be even bigger fans of running their tyres at the optimum pressure. Looking at what you can get for your money our colleagues at German profi have been comparing eight systems, not just checking at how long it takes for these systems to release air and pump the tyres back up, but…

JOZ, the Dutch slurry and feed pusher robot manufacturer, has added milking systems to the portfolio following the acquisition of Fullwood Packo. Creating a new brand, Fullwood JOZ, the product ranges in conventional and robotic milking continue unchanged. Fullwood JOZ dealers have automatic access to JOZ products, and the company plans to invest heavily in new ones and will continue to refine its milking systems, especially in the area of software and data collection. With a dealer network in 80 countries, Fullwood’s headquarters and production site will remain in the UK, as will the offices in the Netherlands and Belgium. Scan now to get our weekly news email…

Sharmans Agricultural has agreed to acquire the business of Louth Tractors, the Case IH main dealer for the central and northeast Lincolnshire area. The deal has been agreed by both parties and the process is now underway to finalise the details over the coming months. Louth Tractors will operate as normal but under the new ownership and management of Sharmans Agricultural and the Barclay family. The agreement seeks to achieve continuity for both the Louth Tractors team and customers, while enabling Sharmans to expand its’ business. All employees will transfer as part of the agreement and the existing branch location in Louth will initially be retained while new premises are developed.…

Capable of handling round and square bales, the all-new RS Agri Sabre 900+ trailed bale processor can chop straw for TMR feeding or bedding cubicles, shred straw for loose house bedding and feed clamp or baled silage. The twin VariFeed conveyors on the 9.0m³ machine automatically speed up, slow down, reverse or stop depending on the beater load. This is claimed to produce a better quality product, reduce the risk of a blockage and save fuel. The hydraulic gate of the VariChop system for feeding chopped straw has 15 stationary blades. Push-button operated, straw is processed through a manually adjustable concave and chop lengths can be set between 20-60mm. Shorter lengths are achievable using a finer concave. Straw is chopped with 84 angled blades, 16 swinging flails and 15 stationary…

Central tyre pressure control isn't a new thing, but it is starting to attract a bit more interest, especially now that these systems have appeared on the factory-fit options list for a growing number of manufacturers. Farmers and contractors in Germany, and to an even greater extent the Netherlands, have more experience of these systems, which is apparent when you look at the list of suppliers active there. Here in the UK, automatic tyre inflation has been on the Unimog list of tricks for decades, but Tractair is the name that springs to mind when you think retrofit solutions (we looked at how to install the PTG system with them in the 5/2016 magazine) and, as recently as last year, Larrington started importing the AgriBrink solution from Canada. To obtain…

In the intervening years since AGCO bought the Fella grassland range, the mower line-up has received a number of updates. We dropped some grass with the Fendt Slicer 310F and 960 triples to assess the potential of this non-conditioner combination. Direct hitching So, let’s dive straight in. The tractor’s front linkage couples directly to the Cat II headstock on the Slicer 310F. There are a couple of height settings for the lift arms and three for the top link. The mower is supplied ready for having side cameras, or Fendt offers the inexpensive £155 option of fitting mirrors. The headstock pivots +/-7.5° transversely to the direction of travel, a coil spring ensuring it always comes back to the centre point. The side guards are folded manually, or for £696 this…

With the launch of its new 114hp-136hp 6C tractor range Deutz Fahr has taken the unusual decision to add simulated steps to its homebuilt CVT gearbox. Potential purchasers now have the option of choosing from the company’s confusingly titled ‘Powershift’ manual stick-shifter, its in-house built TTV stepless box or this latest variant – the RV Shift. Using the same mechanical underpinnings as its CVT stablemates, the new option brings 20 computer-generated steps in the forward travel range and 16 in reverse all through a simple to operate interface that you can jump on and drive says the maker. It’s a slightly baffling concept but Same Deutz Fahr isn’t the first manufacturer to do it. When Fendt was battling to break into the fiercely powershift-loyal North American market in the early…

Mercedes-Benz in a way confirmed that a Unimog was never a farm tractor alternative by launching its MB Trac way back in 1973. Although broadly sharing engine and transmissions with the then current ‘light’ Unimog 406 and 416, the non-suspended rear axle and central cab of the MB Trac proved more suitable for general in-field duties than a fully suspended standard Unimog with its truck style cab. MB Trac production ceased in 1991, but the Unimog continued to be offered, including ‘AG’ spec models with a factory fit rear threepoint linkage and pto and cleated ‘off road’ tyres finding niche agricultural sales. Offered with a host of options such as a front linkage and pto, plus the option of numerous hydraulic outlets, there were specialists offering demount sprayers, spreader bodies…

At this stage of the JD 6800 rebuild, we had hoped to bring news of fitting a new Zuidberg front linkage and pto package, but whilst the ‘kit’ is ready, a great deal of work that was not in the original plan has had to be carried out. Far more has needed attention since the previous article. In chronological order, work has been done on the rear linkage, rear and front axles, axle hubs, engine auxiliary belt tensioner, running gear assembly plus a lot of extra cleaning, blasting and painting. This and a lot more besides needed to be fitted in between normal work with the added complication of Lynx attending various shows up and down the country. In the following pictures and captions, the projects progression is outlined with…

Seed distribution across the rows is arguably more of a talking point than a practical problem, but no one would argue that the more even the distribution the better the chance of uniform plant spacing. We measured across the row seed distribution in rape and wheat, plotting the results in a graph and calculating the coefficient of variation, CoV. The smaller the CoV, the more precise the seed distribution (CoV assessed to DLG standards). The minimum quantity of seed in the hopper required to maintain the seed rate, or the theoretical residual quantity, is obtained by weighing wheat seed remaining in the hopper from the point where it can no longer flow to the metering units. Figures from Lemken. To gauge the pneumatic blowers fuel consumption, we ran the drills…

Proprietary systems have many plusses, but it’s a pain when they lock you into the brand. Understandable perhaps, but still a pain. Recognising this, Agra-GPS first developed the JD-Bridge to free John Deere’s StarFire equipment for use with other makes of tractor, combine and self-propelled. More shackles disappear with the company’s new Chameleon RTK Guidance unit, handily known as the CRG. Bridge that gap In early 2021, a change of operating frequencies left some ITC StarFire receivers unable to use SF1 and SF2 correction services. The free alternative (EGNOS) potentially degraded accuracy, leaving the options to buy a new JD receiver, upgrade to RTK or use Agra-GPS’s ITC Extend box. Agra-GPS started work on another option in 2019. Its CRG combines a very capable GPS receiver and JD-Bridge into one…

Tyres: Fendt 939 Vario Gen6 Cheveley Park Farms consists of multiple units spread from Cambridgeshire through to mid-Norfolk growing a wide variety of crops across a range of soil types. The Fendt 939 Vario we’re looking at is based at company’s Lower Farm, Narborough, Norfolk, where the surrounding area consists of sandy Breckland and chalky loam. An agreement with a large potato grower to carry out cultivations and planting sees the operating area extended even further afield. The tractor in question, a Fendt 939 Vario Gen6, was delivered new in September 2020 by Thurlow Nunn Standen when it replaced a 66-plate 936 Vario. The 939 is joined on the farm by a 20-plate 930 Vario, and a new Fendt 1167 Vario MT crawler has been ordered to replace a hired…

Spanning 230hp to 305hp, the new Q series plugs an increasingly important gap in the Valtra line up between the T255 (235hp) and S274 (300hp). But just how Finnish is the new range of tractors? The engine is the Scandinavian 7.4-litre, six-cylinder block mated to the AGCO two range stepless transmission that is made in Germany. In fact, the mechanical underpinnings of the tractor are almost identical to the Massey 8S. So, they are the same but different, a reminiscent of when Saab got hold of the Vauxhall Vectra and created the 93. For instance, Valtra has added its Aires pneumatic front axle suspension system, apparently developed its own software and used a T-series style cab. “The Q Series is a high-quality tractor with a capital Q and customers deserve…

There was a clear majority winner in last month’s profi Twitter poll which asked: ‘In view of rising diesel prices, are you actively considering using alternative fuels or switching to electric vehicles?’ As you can see from the results, most of you are not considering a switch with a huge 92.3% choosing ‘no’. We will be sharing another poll on our Twitter page in the coming weeks so make sure you head over to @profitractors for where we’ll ask: ‘Do you use a drone on your farm?’ We’ll be giving you four scenarios from you to pick from: To inspect crops To take aerial pictures or video To check livestock I don’t own a drone We look forward to hearing from you.…

AGVANTAGE TAKES ON DAMMANN SPRAYERS AgVantage UK is now an authorised distributor of the German-made Dammann sprayers imported by Chantry Dammann UK, offering sales and support to customers in East Anglia and across the south-east of the country. Founded at the end of 2020, AgVantage is also home to the full line of Dewulf and Miedema brands. CNH TO LEAVE BURR RIDGE CNH Industrial is moving out of its North American HQ and R&D facility at Burr Ridge near Chicago. The roughly 44.5ha (110-acre) site has been put up for sale. Staff will relocate to new North American headquarters at Oak Brook, in the neighbouring state of Illinois. The move is currently targeted for mid-to-late 2023. GRIMME TURNOVER UP NEARLY 10% Grimme Group (Grimme, Spudnik, Asa-Lift, Internorm and Ricon) turnover…

The Dutch manufacturer produced a record 60+ self-propelled slurry machines this year, and sold the highest number ever in the UK through its British importer J Riley Beet Harvesters. Vervaet claims to enjoy a market-leading position across Europe with its self-propelled slurry machines. “However, we have been a little behind in the UK mainly due to not always having the right machine to meet British demands,” comments sales manager Jonathan Hoekman. “But the Quad 550 self-propelled slurry applicator was designed with the UK market in mind, and it is proving to be the right machine.” Incidentally, this year’s sugar beet campaign will mark the 30th anniversary of J Riley Beet Harvesters (UK) as a Vervaet importer. “I’m extremely excited to see the new developments that Vervaet has made within the…

Crowds flocked to see a host of drills designed for regenerative agriculture working the ground conditions at Groundwell’s Hertfordshire based site last month. A range of drills were put through their paces planting directly into a standing cover crop in difficult, dry ground conditions. And the minute the drill had covered a short stretch of ground, visitors got straight into the flattened crop to inspect the slots of each machine. Here is a low-down on some of the key aspects of a selection of the machines demonstrated at the show. NOVAG Novag made its second appearance at Groundswell with its T-ForcePlus 650 model. The 6.0m unit has 36 openers, boasting up to 500kg downforce per unit and up to 18.75cm row spacings. The drill is equipped with a split hopper…

Kubota has been able to offer Vicon fixed- and variable-chamber round balers in its own orange livery for several years. We tested the smaller of the two balers, the BV5160 Plus, which produces a bale measuring up to 1.65m in diameter; the BV5200 goes up to 2.0m. Our machine was the SC14, meaning it had the 14-knife chopping system; Kubota also offers this with 25 knives or a simpler rotor-feed, non-chop baler for those predominantly doing straw. In the UK, the SC14 version has proved to be the most popular. Drawbar with potential UK and Irish BV machines only come with the bottom-mounted drawbar to suit pick-up hitches. We married the BV5160 with a John Deere 6155R and 6210R, whose powers were enough to operate the machine with ease, as…

While rotary rakes continue to dominate the grass rowing-up sector due to their simplicity, cost and availability of different working widths, there are now more mergers coming to market with the promise of reduced soil/crop contamination and more diverse swath sizes. Pöttinger’s first foray into this segment is the Mergento VT9220. Hydraulic drive The Mergento is towed from the lower links with a Cat IIIN spacing. To ensure there is enough oil flow, a Walterscheid pto shaft drives three pumps: one for the pick-up and for each of the merging belts. And because an oil cooler is not ideal in dusty conditions, Pöttinger has used the frame of the drawbar for the reservoir, its surface area keeping the oil cool enough. The final part of the hitching up process are…

Externally there isn't much to separate the new R9500 from the old, the only noticeable difference being the nose-shaped style of the stainless casing. Most of the emphasis has been on reducing maintenance and repair costs: for example, certain seals only have to be changed every six months instead of every three. But first things first. In-liner yes, but… The special feature of the Gea robot is ‘inliner-everything’ meaning that once the cow enters the milking box, all of the teat cups are immediately attached and, at the same time, all four teats are cleaned with warm water, stimulated and pre-milked. Consequently, with the ‘in liner-everything’ principle, arm movements under the udder are minimal, saving time and energy. And because there is no cleaning brush going from teat to teat…

1976 Square cab 424 variants including the U1000, U1300/L, U1500, and U1700/L. Nominal power 100 to 170hp. The earlier round cab or bullnose Unimog were given new model designations, U600/L, U800/L, U900 and U1100/L and are also known as the light series. (L for long wheelbase variants). Entry level U404 with design roots back to earliest models retained in production. 1980: U404 (Unimog S) ended. 1985 Light and medium U407 and U427 1988 406 and 416 series dropped, 437 series introduced 1992 Light model U90 (408 series) and (418 series) introduced. Different to other models and aimed more at municipal and utility sector. 408 features an asymmetric bonnet lower on the driver’s side. 418 models feature a slanting bonnet for good view of front mounted attachments. Ladder frame chassis revised…

In the first part of our drill system comparison (profi 8/2022), we considered hooking up the units, the ease of filling the hoppers and their respective capacities (seed only). Here we consider calibrating the drill, emptying the hopper, seed distribution across rows and, of increased relevance, fuel consumption. Our basic findings are summarised in the table ‘Measurements compared’ and in the graphs ‘Seed distribution across the rows’. Our measurement methodology is outlined in the box ‘How the measurements were made’. Differences in detail All four models were equipped with electronic metering with a controller that made setting the seed rates and calibration a lot easier. All we had to do was activate calibration mode, allow the system to run through the process and weigh the collected seed. This weight was…

So, you have the ideal used tractor but it isn't booted with the tyre size that best fits your needs. Don't fret as you are not alone: this is a topic regularly discussed with tyre product specialists and suppliers. Owners will consider changing tyre sizes for a whole variety of reasons, such as replacement cost, tyres that are better suited to the workload or just to make the tractor look better — after all, you have to admit there is something about a well-booted tractor that makes it stand out. We asked a number of tyre firms with a rep on the ground to see what points need to be considered. Trelleborg stepped up to the plate providing advice on shodding our example, a 2015 Maxxum 125 EP (that’s a…

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Could it be the quite simply tortuous temperatures of late, or the equally tortuous hours worked, that have led my usually long fuse to become somewhat shorter? It’s not just me, as recently there was an undercurrent of envy and contempt from all those in the silage gang toward the one man with ice-cold air conditioning. He didn’t help matters by rubbing it in and wearing a bloody hoody whilst the rest of us were down to our redneck tuxedos. Normally I would have felt bad for covering his shiny new tractor with grass but, frankly, he was asking for it. So he damn well got it! Even when I’m not being casseroled in my own juices and am once more sporting a healthy length of fuse, there is still…

TRACTOR TEST Massey Ferguson 8S.265 Dyna 7 There’s no denying the visual appeal of the stylish 8S.265? Check out the October issue to find out how the flagship model, driving through a seven-step powershift transmission, fares in our comprehensive full test. PRACTICAL TEST Krone Vendro tedder With the UK and Irish markets booming for wider mounted tedders, we've been testing the 10-rotor Vendro 1120 to see how this Krone machine performs in the field. USED MACHINERY McHale C460 bale processor The trailed C460 has been available since 2011. With the capacity to process up to two x 1.20m round bales, or a single 2.40m square bale, other models have since joined the range. All of them share the same design template, although the odd development means there are a few…

REA VALLEY TRACTORS SWITCHES FROM DEERE TO NEW HOLLAND Taking effect from November, the move will see the blue brand represented for all of Shropshire, part of Staffordshire, Cheshire, parts of Lancashire as well as mid and North Wales. RVT currently has four branches, employing 130 staff. There are also changes on the JCB front, as the Sudbury depot is to become a dedicated JCB Agriculture sales, service and parts outlet for customers in Staffs, Derbyshire, Shropshire and mid-Wales. From January next year Cheshire will be added to the list from a new depot – an area currently served by John Bownes at Winsford. COMBINE JOYSTICK STEERING OPTION The Idealdrive joystick steering system is now available to replace the steering wheel on the Massey Ferguson Ideal 7, Ideal 8 and…

The new digging unit on the latest Rexor 6200 (30m³) and 6300 (45m³) is said to provide more powerful and intensive cleaning. Fitted with seven cleaning rollers as standard, Grimme says that the redesigned unit can be guided precisely along the row and at the optimum height, improving the auto pilot’s steering behaviour when cornering. The newly designed external frame provides the operator with an unobstructed view of the roller table and digging unit, and both Oppel wheel and digging unit are equipped with a lighter and maintenance-free scalper. Standard equipment includes the CCI 1200 ISObus terminal and SmartView video system, and the revised Rexors are equipped with a telemetry unit that enables a connection to the company’s customer portal. Live information from current work progress is shown on a…

Aimed at small to medium-sized farms, the new three-model range of five straw-walker machines deliver more power and come with additional features. There is a new top model; the 260hp Activa 7344. This is joined by the 226hp 7343, and 185hp 7342. The Stage V block in the smallest model is a four-cylinder 4.9-litre version. The grunt in the other two comes from a six-cylinder 7.4-litre engine. Main in-cab changes include the new seat-mounted armrest, air-suspended seat and electronic control of the three-speed hydrostatic transmission. Setting of the independent front and rear concave adjustment is also electrically operated from the cab. Other updates include being able to quickly change the concaves when moving between different crops, and the modular grain pan comes from Massey’s larger combines. Fitted with removable plastic…

Robert The Belgian made Robert range of kit is now on sale in Ireland through Stafford Plant Solutions. There were three key machines on show, a loader mounted straw blower, a trailed bedder and a root chopping bucket. Focusing on the P210, a 2.1m3 capacity straw blower, this is the €24,500 trailed version with twin beaters – it also comes as a mounted model. A hydraulic-activated clutch is used to engage the lower rotor which then uses a chain driveline to power the top. Both the knives and the paddles are bolted in place. Like the rest of the machine, the 300° swivel chute is operated from the control box. SlurryQuip SlurryQuip has come up with a steerable front reeler. Richard Fitzpatrick points out that the unit can be tilted…

After comparing spec elements such as the payload, unloading times and running gear last month, we are now focusing more on the brand-specific details and the not so popular job of cleaning and maintenance. The following trailers took part in the test: Bergmann HTW 45S Claas Cargos 750 Trend Joskin Silospace 2 540D Kaweco Radium 255S Krone TX 460D Schuitemaker Siwa 720W Strautmann Giga-Trailer 460DO One downside to forage trailers is that there are more moving parts compared to a tipper, especially if it has the rear dosing rotors, so servicing needs to be quick and easy. Of the trailers in our group, Strautmann is the only one to fit grease banks, making servicing the shaft bearings a straightforward job. Both Joskin and Kaweco offer these as an option. With…

These two Polaris UTVs have not really changed a great deal since we did our UTV and ATV group test (profi 9/2018) but both the SP570 and XP1000 on test were supplied with the maker’s Full Premium cab, a relatively new option making this a good point to start. On the two-seat SP570, the cab feels small once the doors closed but this a ‘proper’ cab that feels far more comprehensive than just a set of extra doors. When the widows are wound up the small cab area soon gets cosy, even without a heater. Misting up was a bit of a problem on damp chilly mornings, but one that was easily resolved by winding down the windows. That’s right, the doors have wind down windows, the glass dropping completely…

Chassis A Unimog has a chassis designed to allow a degree of flex to accommodate working over extreme terrain. Made from high grade steel, the chassis is not known for corrosion problems. Repairs or weld-on additions need to be carried out in accordance with strict criteria to avoid compromising the chassis flexibility. Suspension Live front and rear axles with portal gears to allow increased ground clearance with relatively small wheels and tyres. Coil springs with hydraulic dampers. Axles themselves have single longitudinal pivot point with torque drive shafts connecting via the differentials to the gearbox. These tubes prevent longitudinal movement of the axles, whilst still allowing limited vertical movement. Lateral axle movement controlled by Panhard rods and transverse links with axle articulation of around 30 degrees. Disc brakes standard from…

Tractor ergonomics have come a long way, and this includes the steering wheel, not just its size but keeping the powershuttle and indicator stalk all within finger-flicking reach. These attributes tend to go out the window if you retrofit an auto-steer system that requires the original wheel to be replaced by a generic unit, with an integrated motor to do the turning. This is where SteadySteer wins: it simply fastens to the spokes of the OEM wheel; you don’t even have to remove it from its spindle. The SteadySteer’s predecessor, the OnTrac 3 (MDU-G4 steering motor), boasted this same feature but went with a wrap-around handcuff locking system that’s also utliised by other manufacturers. What makes AgLeader’s own unit that bit better is that it’s less bulky and the motor…

We’ve made eight changes to this picture of a JF-Stoll VM 14-2 SB diet feeder. Simply locate our changes and then mark them on the gridline picture at the bottom of the page. Submit your answers (A1, B2, C3, for example) via our website profi.co.uk by August 9th and we’ll pick one correct entry at random. Don’t get too competitive — it’s just for fun! The differences spotted in last issue’s picture of a Kuhn VBP 2160 baler wrapper were correctly identified by: Denzil Howell Kingscourt Co. Meath Ireland Congratulations! THE DIFFERENCES WERE IN THE FOLLOWING SQUARES: B/C5, B/C8/9, C/D3, D/E5, D9, E7, E/F3/4, /G7/8 ORIGINAL NEW To submit your answers, please visit profi.co.uk and look for the Competition tab. YOUR ANSWERS…