Table of contents for March 2022 in Profi

Profi|March 2022

Dear Reader

Flicking through Twitter, there are lots of farmers and contractors making the most of the dry conditions across the UK and Ireland. Proving the point, It’s certainly not every year that you'll see dust rising off the rings when rolling spring-sown crops. Locally, there also isn't the usual amount of mud on the road from the start of the slurry spreading season. But then, with the recent increase in fertiliser prices, the consensus is that many farmers are holding off on applying the large tonnages of muck and slurry that would normally be spread at the start of the season. Throughout the year, farming equipment trade bodies the Agricultural Engineers Association (UK) and the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (Ireland) send out their monthly bulletins on tractor registrations, giving…

2 min

Profi|March 2022

Güttler SuperMaxx 70-7 Bio cultivator: Tine tilling versatility

Although the SuperMaxx has been in the Güttler price list for some time, the range has been expanded and refined over the years. As it stands today, the tines on the 3.0m to 9.0m wide line-up can be spread across either five or seven rows. The Bio moniker on our test machine means it has a following harrow rather than a roller at the rear. For the five-row and 3.0m-6.0m cultivators, Güttler has a lightweight plastic prisma ring press, these versions identified as ‘Culti’ rather than ‘Bio’. The 6.0m model we looked at in the 9/2017 issue had the packer. No roller We used the SuperMaxx 70-7 Bio on our test farm for nearly two seasons doing all sorts of cultivation work. The 2.5t implement was used with 200hp to…

6 min

Profi|March 2022

FIELD TEST OF IMPLEMENTS FOR THE CLAAS SCORPION 960

Bressel und Lade supplied suitable implements for the practical test of the Scorpion 960 (table with technical data in test equipment). All units were neatly finished and had no issues attaching to the Scorpion. The buckets had a welded, redpainted angle indicator at the back for parallel ground control. We noticed the following things during use: The heavy bucket had stiffeners and a raised rear wall and the optional wearresistant bottom and cutting edge 500HB. Threaded break-out tines are available as an option. The large bucket has round side panels for clean loading. Due to the optional raised rear wall screen, it holds 5.2m3 of maize silage and wood chip, and about 3.57m3 of grain. The sturdy bucket grab had an optional bolted, three-part reversible cutting edge. The grab with…

1 min

Profi|March 2022

NEW X-CUTTER DISC FOR CATROS

Another shallow tillage option coming from the Amazone camp is a new disc for the Catros. Dubbed the X-Cutter, it has a sine-wave-like design to produce more surface tilling without biting in too deep, as on the Väderstad CrossCutter. Each disc has six waves to produce a working width of 13cm. The 480mm diameter discs can be retrofitted or factory-fitted on Catros+ and Catros-XL harrows. On the 3.0m XL, serrated hollow discs are used on the outboard disc so that the transport width is not exceeded, although we think an X-Cutter disc on a linkage would have been a more elegant solution.…

1 min

Profi|March 2022

Ploeger AT5104 self-propelled: Four filler

The Dutch manufacturer has quickly come a long way with its AT machines, which began with the launch of the three-wheeled 400hpScaniapowered AT4103 (16.0m³) at Agritechnica in 2017. The five-wheeled AT5105 (26.0m³) being tested in the field the next summer followed the same blueprint, using the same ZF Eccom CVT, chassis, four-point suspended Claas cab, software and controls. It also shares the same front end, but with a more powerful 13-litre Scania six-pot block that kicks out 410kW/550hp. The main difference was the larger slurry tank and the two rear mechanically-powered and steerable axles (mechanical disc brakes on both axles). Who buys them? The global market for three-, four-, five- and six-wheeled application vehicles is estimated to be around 200 units a year (split roughly 50:50 between four-wheeled and three-…

6 min

Profi|March 2022

I WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME …

… to understand the different cleaning systems on offer and what can be changed … that a picking off table can be retrofitted to an unmanned model … camaras are not an over costly retrofit … Standen can rebuild/refurbish any model but need time to do the work … it may be possible to upgrade certain parts of an older model to enhance its dependability … to read the operators manual for basic setting advice and daily servicing needs … to seek help and advice before committing to buying a harvester from a non-specialist supplier…

1 min

Profi|March 2022

FURTHER READER TIPS

Drop rate control in easy reach Timo Sauer has also tweaked his 5140. He used the first two stages of the six-position hitch switch when raising and lowering pto-powered mounted kit. This allows him to limit the lift height and lower the attachment completely. Since there is no drop rate function on the first lowering position, Timo has installed an adjustable throttle in the hydraulic line to the linkage so he can alter the drop rate. Additional grease points Claudia Schenkel installed additional grease points to the track rod ends on her Maxxum 5140. The tie rods can now be lubricated occasionally to minimise wear and extend service life.…

1 min

Profi|March 2022

GYS induction heaters: Heat without fire

Oxy-fuel gases have warmed up steel on farms since Adam were a lad. With good reason: if the equipment is properly maintained and if the operator follows well-defined procedures, oxy-acetylene in particular is a safe and effective way to heat a wide range of material thicknesses. And you can cut and weld with it. But while the equipment itself is relatively cheap, cylinder rental and gas isn’t. Moreover, the two safety-related ‘ifs’ above generate enough concern that, in these risk-averse days, some companies have banished gas from their workshops. Yet things still seize up and get bent. So what’s the alternative? Induction heating heads a very short list. While it’s much more of a single-trick pony – at least at farm level – that trick is a pretty neat one:…

5 min

Profi|March 2022

John Deere 7530 versus John Deere 6230R: Nippy Deere packing a punch VS the comfort model with CommandPro

The 7530 struck a chord and became a firm favourite in many contractors' yards, especially if it was fettled to gain a few extra horses. Indeed, the 7530 model still commands strong secondhand values, ticking the box of being relatively compact, light in weight and with a useful amount of grunt. The same Deere Power Systems 6.8-litre power source is also fitted in the 6230R, albeit with several changes to meet the more stringent exhaust emissions. But how do you muster up to another 75hp (on the largest model, the 6250R) from the same size of block? One of the big changes between the two generations is the turbocharging. The 7530 model relies on Deere’s PVS variable geometry turbo, where the blades of the impeller are adjusted. The PSS version…

4 min

Profi|March 2022

New kit for 2022: Fresh in the field for 22

The cancellation of Agritechnica has put a spanner in the works for several machinery manufacturers that were planning to launch new product at the biannual show. While some of the concept machines will undoubtedly be tucked away until the next big machinery event of 2022, namely SIMA in November, there are lots of other tractors, telehandlers and other kit getting ready to leave the production line for their first season. But it is not just new for 2022 machines that have missed out on Agritechnica, the German show would have provided visitors with the first opportunity to see many recently launched tractors and machines under numerous very large roofs. Typical examples include New Holland’s updated HD cab, Deutz-Fahr’s new Stage V 7 TTV and the recent flurry of new Case…

14 min

Profi|March 2022

In brief — Grassland

Holmer ups the power With 652hp on tap from the six-pot Mercedes-Benz Stage V engine, the 650 is the most powerful Terra Variant so far. It is also the first to use the LV3000 CVT, which drives 100% hydrostatically from 0-5km/hr and changes to mechanical drive in the main working range (12-15km/hr). The 650 is currently available with a 21m³ capacity Zunhammer slurry tank (Harvest Special 2021, page 8). Holmer plans to show it at EuroTier 2022 in November. Vredo slurry machines The Dutch company planned to bring one of its new 15.0m or 18.0m Profi XL injectors (October 2021, page 8) to Agritechnica, plus, the linkage mounted SSU umbilical hose unit (May 2021, page 8). SIP merger and tedders Previewed at the French Space show last September, the working…

1 min

Profi|March 2022

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

We’ve made eight changes to this picture of a Deutz-Fahr Agrotron 6180P tractor cab. 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 the 22nd February 2022 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 Bergmann TSW 2120 muckspreader were correctly identified by: Karolina and Tom Jefferson, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire. Congratulations! THE DIFFERENCES WERE IN THE FOLLOWING SQUARES: B7, B/C2/3/4, C5/6, C8, D3/4, E5, E8, F2 ORIGINAL NEW To submit your answers, please visit profi.co.uk and look for the Competition tab. YOUR ANSWERS…

1 min

Profi|March 2022

NEWS

REVERSE DRIVE MERGER Benefits of the two reverse drive Respiro mergers from Austrian manufacturer Reiter include good visibility of the working units and eliminating driving over the material. Claimed outputs of the R6rd (6.0m) and R7rd (7.0m) are 4.0-8.0ha/hr and 5.0-10ha/hr, respectively. Suitable for use in grass, alfalfa, hay and straw, the two belts can deposit material to the left or right, or both sides. The lack of a central swath option not only helps to reduce the complexity but also the weight; the 3.38t R7rd is half that of the 6.40t trailed R9 profi (R6rd weighs 3.15t). Transport width is 2.4m and height 3.5m (R6) and 4.0m (R7). Standard belt widths are 700mm (R6) and 1.0m (R7 - optional on R6). The belts can be stopped for the last…

16 min

Profi|March 2022

System of slurry incorporation and yield: Scores on the doors

As part of last month’s practical test looking at different tanker-mounted cultivators incorporating slurry, we wanted to assess what impact the different systems had on yield. So we followed the crop through to harvest. The host farm’s test field had been sprayed with glyphosate to kill off the cover crop mix and volunteer beans. Afterwards, in mid-April, the farmer applied 120kg Nges (72kg NH4, 53kg P2O5, 109kg K2O). The NIRS sensor on the Kotte slurry tanker consistently controlled the application rate in line with the target nitrogen rate on a per hectare basis. Slurry was applied in several bouts using a Meyer MixF disc harrow and GG tine cultivator as well as a Kuhn Striger strip-till cultivator. A month later, in May, the maize was planted with a variable-rate drill.…

2 min

Profi|March 2022

Kuhn SB1290 ID Omnicut baler: Faster in, faster out

With its patented double plunger arrangement, French firm Kuhn has a unique selling point for its 120x90cm big square baler. And in our 2019 comparison test, the design proved how well it can work. However, there was still room to boost output even more, by making some subtle changes. New intake The pick-up on the latest generation SB1290 ID still has five rows of tines. Kuhn sticks with cam track control, as it allows the pick-up tines to rotate slower for a gentler handling of the crop. At the same time, the firm’s engineers have widened the pick-up by 130mm, so that it now measures 2.05m tine-to-tine. The tines themselves have also now changed, with five instead of four coils, and they are made from 5.5mm steel rather than 5.2mm.…

4 min

Profi|March 2022

Zürn Top Cut Collect weed harvester: A new dawn for arable weed control?

Every cereal grower is aware of pernicious weeds like black grass. A single plant has the potential to shed 2,000 seeds and each one of these can possibly survive in the soil for ten or more years, just waiting for a chance to germinate. A ticking time bomb of a weed and far from being the only one that is proving increasingly difficult to control. Over in France, Romain Bouillé farms 250ha in the Seine et Marne region of the Paris Basin. A member of a 1,200ha arable farming community, he offers contract services including grain and sugar beet harvesting. He has first-hand knowledge of the weed problems of the region and has long recognised that herbicide resistance is a growing challenge. Cereals can no longer be economically grown in…

7 min

Profi|March 2022

Barn lighting — seven common myths: Science sheds light on myths

Bright, brighter, brightest! With the advent of LEDs and their greater range of colour, it has become too easy to add extra lights, to the point we have overshot the mark, something that Dr Daniel Werner is certain of. Following his doctorate, he has been working on the topic of lighting in livestock buildings and its effect on the stock housed inside. Dr Werner has completed a wide range of research including the ‘I_LED Dairy Cattle project’, in which ethologists (the study of animal behaviour) Prof Dr Klaus Reiter and Prof Eberhard von Borell have also been involved. The results of this research are not only interesting but make you sit up and take notice. COMPARING THE HUMAN EYE TO THAT OF CATTLE Technically speaking, light is electromagnetic radiation that…

11 min

Profi|March 2022

UNDERSTAND THE CLEANING SYSTEM

On T2 harvesters, the Double OMEGA cleaning system is the most popular but consider the roll type fitted. These can be varied and swapped to suit salad, seed and main crop potatoes as well as other root crops. The Double OMEGA system is claimed to be gentle but still aggressive enough to provide good cleaning. The trick is to understand how it works and to set it up correctly. Varying the settings to suit prevailing conditions is the key. All the rollers are adjustable for speed, set height and direction, with the whole table adjustable for angle. The odd setting tweak can have a noticeable impact upon cleaning and clod separation performance. The larger chassis of the T2XS harvester enables it to be offered with a ProClean OMEGA cleaning system…

1 min

Profi|March 2022

3D printing: Straight off the printer

Since 3D printers have become more affordable, and as long as you have the skills to input the required data, one can be a worthwhile investment, even if it’s only for occasional use. And farmers are already employing the technology, or at least that was the experience of our German colleagues when they asked readers to send in their creations. There was an enormous variety of submissions, including brackets for milk buckets, repaired joystick buttons and components for drills and fertiliser spreaders. We hope you enjoy the read. Maybe you'll be sufficiently inspired to have a go. Bracket for feeder bucket After drinking from the teat bucket, Simon Auclair’s calves would throw their bucket out of the holder. To avoid this happening again, he printed a retainer. This secures the…

7 min

Profi|March 2022

SOME SAMPLE APPLICATIONS

NUTS AND BOLTS STRAIGHTENING SHAFTS, PULLEYS, SPROCKETS…

1 min

Profi|March 2022

Green and yellow, through and through

We visited the 7530 on the TK-Energie biogas farm in Germany where we were joined by Thomas Upgang and his 6230R from the neighbouring village. Thomas owned the 7530 until 2011 before he sold it to the biogas farmers who have mainly been using it for haulage work ever since then. It pulls an 18m³ slurry tanker from Briri and a 45m³ foragerfilled wagon. In addition to these tractors other treasures can be found in the new machinery building: a 7810 and a 6810 with 12,000 hours on the clock complete the Deere fleet.…

1 min

Profi|March 2022

In brief — Tractors and telehandlers

Bobcat updates The seven-model range of R-series agricultural telehandlers covers lift capacities from 2.6t to 4.3t and lift heights from 6.0m to 8.0m. The redesigned cab has a wider door and single access step and the revised interior provides more storage space, a new air suspended and heated seat and new multifunctional joystick (August 2021, page 10). Claas loaders The new range-topping 1913 (222hp) and 2014 (249hp) Liebherr-powered Torion wheel loaders and equally new 1511P (January p10, 2021) would almost certainly have been in Hanover. The Varipower 2 transmission in the small frame Scorpion 635, 732, 736, 741 and 1033 is also new for this season (January 2022, page 8). Manitou MLT The MLT961-160V+L (6.0t/9.0m) is the most powerful Manitou telehandler in the NewAg XL range. The 156hp Stage V…

1 min

Profi|March 2022

Subscribe and save!

What our subscribers say “I would highly recommend the magazine to other farmers and contractors interested in operating their machinery more efficiently.” Thomas Robinson: Farmer & contractor; Whiddon Down “We’ve subscribed to profi for the last 20years – the information and advice is invaluable.” Adrian Boaden: Dairy farmer; Helston; Cornwall “It’s fair to say that over the years I have saved the cost of my subscription many times over.” Mark Greensit: Farmer; Ripon “profi’s unbiased, honest reports are really worthwhile and help us choose which machines to buy.” Tom Sewell: Sewell Farms; Arable farmer & contractor; Maidstone; Kent I would like to subscribe How to pay Please post this form to: profi Reader Service Centre, Kelsey Publishing Ltd, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding ME18 6AL, UK…

1 min

Profi|March 2022

Valtra G135: All G-ed up and ready to go

The G series is a fine example of the advantages of being part of a larger collective. Launched at the end of 2020, the relatively new addition to the Valtra line-up shares an AGCO platform with the Massey 5S — good company to be associated with. For Valtra, the 105-135hp G series pops in between the small A series (75-135hp) and the larger and heavier N series models (135-165hp). Agile four-cylinder with plenty of power Our test tractor was the top model, the G135 in fully-loaded Versu spec. In contrast to the HiTech and Active versions, this has the full accompaniment of armrest controls, including a joystick and terminal. Since the bodywork paint on some of the test tractors we've had of late were suffering from an ‘orange peel’ finish,…

11 min

Profi|March 2022

Claas Scorpion 960 telehandler: Well-proportioned heavyweight

When our Scorpion 960 was delivered, we thought Claas had perhaps made a mistake and sent the wrong test machine. At first glance the telehandler, which without attachments is just under 6.00m long, 2.50m wide and 2.65m high, doesn’t give the impression that it has the wherewithal to lift 6.0 tonnes. Even when it was being driven off the truck, the 960’s manoeuvrability gave us the impression of sitting on a smaller machine. And the turning circle with four-wheel steering confirmed this: Less than 8.50m – which we measured as usual to the outside of the wheels – is impressive, The subsequent trip to the weighbridge, however, provided some clarity: a figure of 11,790kg in test specification without an attachment left no doubt – it was indeed the Scorpion 960…

12 min

Profi|March 2022

Amazone Cobra 7000-2TX cultivator: Snake bares its teeth

Originally due to be unveiled at the Agritechnica exhibition, the Amazone Cobra is designed to spread straw and encourage seeds to chit at its minimum working depth of 3cm. Or you can pull out the stops and sink it to 13cm. Produced at Amazone’s Leipzig plant, the eight-row cultivator will initially be offered in working widths of 6.0m and 7.0m when it hits the market this summer in limited numbers. Other widths will be added in 2023 when production will also be ramped up. With or without roller Depending on the intended end result, the rear roller can be removed and replaced with an optional two rows of tines. If a roller is fitted, then it is used to carry some weight, along with the integrated jockey wheels at the…

6 min

Profi|March 2022

Rauch DeePot 25.1 fertiliser applicator: Going underground

Although the DeePot 25.1 is still at the design prototype stage, Rauch decided to recently present the new machine as part of its 100th anniversary celebrations. The company reckons there is potential for this type of granular placement in crops such as maize, beet, potatoes, OSR and vegetables — basically anything that is grown in wider rows. And the potential 20% saving in costly nitrogen should certainly attract the interest of growers. Another big plus for the DeePot 25.1 is avoiding greenhouse gases, especially ammonia and nitrous oxide. The prototype DeePot 25.1 holds 2,500 litres of fertiliser, and it runs on two adjustable gauge wheels that can be altered to match the desired track width. Behind the hopper is a foldable toolbar that can be equipped with anything from two…

4 min

Profi|March 2022

Standen T2 trailed potato harvester: Simple name hides decades of development

STANDEN PEARSON T2 Year 2011 Condition Good, but will need preparation Comment: Picking off table. Double Omega. 36mm digger web. 40mm sieving web. Hydraulic sliding axle. Soft drop cart elevator. 560/60 R22.5 left and 420/85 R24 right tyres Price £29,000.00 STANDEN PEARSON T2 Year 2011 Condition Excellent, ready for work Comment: Picking off table can be fitted. Double Omega. 36mm digger web. 45mm sieving web. Hydraulic sliding axle. Soft drop cart elevator. 560/60 R22.5 left and 420/85 R24 right tyres Price £45,000.00 STANDEN PEARSON T2 Year 2013 Condition Good. Fully prepared Comment: Unmanned - Picking off table can be fitted. Double Omega. 36mm digger web. 40mm sieving web. Hydraulic sliding axle. Soft drop cart elevator Price £65,000.00 STANDEN T2 Year 2014 Condition Good. Fully prepared Comment: Unmanned - Picking off…

12 min

Profi|March 2022

Case IH Maxxum 5140: Classic Maxxum enjoys a makeover

Usually, our tuning articles cherrypick tips from readers on various makes and models of one type of machine, be it a combine, drill or a mower. But on this occasion were honing in on one specific tractor, a Case IH Maxxum 5140. This particular 5140 was built at Neuss in 1992, around 300km from the home of its current owner German farmer and mechanic Matthias Schöllig, who has breathed new life into his classic Maxxum with a diverse range of modern features. We were so impressed by the level of detail that we paid him a visit. Armrest and side console Matthias designed a new armrest and side console, which houses a cross control lever for operating two spools. Later CS drivers will quickly spot the Multi-Controller joystick; this is…

5 min

Profi|March 2022

GIGANTIC MACHINES IN MINIATURE SIZE

Hop harvester … Remember the “crop intake aid” on the previous double page? This 3D-printed hop harvester with accumulator on a scale of 1:32 also comes from the same reader. … with accumulator The chain-and-slat floor, sides and chains can be moved on the accumulator. They are suitable for Siku Control tractors. The lamp mimicking a hop cone in the background is also self-printed. Printed front loaders This reader modelled and 3D-printed a Stoll FZ60.1 front loader complete with parallel lift control to a scale of 1:32. Like the original model, the loader couples to the tractor with brackets. He needed about 10 to 12 hours to make the realistic model.…

1 min

Profi|March 2022

Yorkshire farmer/contractor, Nigel Thornborrow: Ones and Zeros

Of late it has taken a little more persuasion than usual to rouse the mouse on the treadmill within my ageing laptop. Which got me wondering: ‘How old must the poor creature be?’. A quick search has revealed that Mr Mouse, his treadmill and the contraption he powers are 12. Twelve! I’m quite sure, then, that Editor Bailey will have little doubt who to blame when the technical equivalent of a stone tablet lands in his inbox every month. It’s a good job for Mr Mouse thatt my phone handles the pictures, as sending a few big JPEG’s could just about finish him off. So it’s time for an upgrade, then? No, not necessarily. In reality it’s the reliabilitylity of the old computer that has kept its replacement at bay…

3 min

Profi|March 2022

Interview with the SV Group: Schuitemaker + Veenhuis = SV Group

Mr de Graaf, you have been the new managing director of SV Group since February 2019. How did it come about? Gerrit de Graaf: After I had worked for a supplier for the automotive industry, I was in talks with Wadinko for about a year. Only a short time later, the situation arose that both Veenhuis in Raalte and Schuitemaker in Rijssen asked Wadinko for possible support. Who or what is Wadinko? de Graaf: Wadinko is a regional holding company whose aim is to promote companies and thus jobs in the regions of north east Polder, Overijssel and south west Drenthe. Its aim is for long-term participations and a sustained growth in the region. A participation in a company that has good prospects to grow consists of providing venture capital…

6 min

Profi|March 2022

In brief — Arable

Kuhn Espro The latest version of the 6.0m trailed min till seed drill is available with full width front press wheels and track eradicators. An additional hopper can be specified for all models in the range from 3.0m-8.0m. Other new Kuhn machines include the trailed Prolander 6000 (6.0m) and 7500 (7.5m) seedbed cultivators which are now available with harder wearing carbide tips and strengthened tines (November 2021, page10). ROPA Maus and Panther The 30.0m³ bunker on the Ropa Panther 2S can be emptied in 50 seconds. The new 796hp harvester is available for the coming season (November 2021, page 10). The larger and wider cab on the 354hp Maus 6 provides more storage space and room for a passenger seat and cooling box. Production versions will be available for the…

2 min

Profi|March 2022

COMING UP IN THE NEXT ISSUE!

Out on MARCH 11th PRACTICAL TEST New Holland RB125 Combi Keen to know how the Roll Bale 125 Combi tackled massive rows of Irish grass? Then don’t miss our April issue, in which we reveal the results of our season-long test. DRIVING IMPRESSION Cast Loaders 33TLX Carbon We try out a relative newcomer to the UK compact loader market, the Italian-made Cast Loaders 33TLX Carbon. AUCTION Green fleet up for sale Three foragers and 10 tractors appear on the long list of kit going under the Symonds & Sampson hammer as part of M P Bennett’s dispersal sale. We travel to Dorset to see how much used kit is fetching. MACHINE MANAGEMENT Tech for contracting Aiming to provide a premium service to customers, Lancashire-based contractor Mark Conder invested in two…

1 min