Innehållsförteckning för January 2021 från Profi

Developed for European conditions, the K4 disc for Kelly Engineering’s Diamond harrow is claimed to improve weed control and provide complete soil coverage at depths from 2-4cm. Slotting between the existing CL1 and CL2 disc options, the increased accuracy of the 330mm diameter K4 is due to its light weight (11kg/disc unit) and narrower distance between the disc units. Suitable for use on a wide range of soils and conditions, operating speeds are 12-14km/hr and power requirement is around 24hp/metre. Diamond harrows made in South Australia extend up to 24.0m. The research and development remains in Australia, but European machines have been manufactured in Germany since 2017. Kelly Engineering is looking to appoint a network of UK and Irish dealers and hopes to demo one of the three European-built models currently in the…

CNH tractor operators can now benefit from sitting more comfortably. Superglide Suspension has developed a kit to replace the mechanical spring set up with a pneumatic system. Jamie Hawkins of the Dorset based business has spent the last 18 months optimising the kit which he originally developed for his own tractor. “I spend about half my time driving tractors and the other half in the workshop as I have an engineering background,” he says. “When I was younger I adjusted the suspension on every car I had so when using our own T6.160 I thought the suspension could be a lot better so I started fitting different dampers and interest from other users has spurred me on to develop a kit and set up Superglide Suspension.” Kits are available for…

Key features from larger Vaderstad Spirit pneumatic drills, such as active seed coulter pressure, adjustable following harrow pressure and automatic headland sequence control, are now available on the 400C/S (4.0m). As well as the seed-only 400S, the latest Spirit is also available as the 400C Fix (places fertiliser in 5.0cm wide strips at 125mm row spacing ahead of every seed row) and 400C InLine (applies a starter fertiliser in a separate outlet to the seed coulter). Equipped with a high-capacity hopper and fan, production of the new drills, which come with updated hydraulics, will start early 2021.…

The RSM 1370 tops the new fivemodel (270hp-366hp) RSM 1000 series in development. Unveiled at the Agrosalon show in Moscow, the Stage IIIa QSL9 block comes from Cummins Kama (joint venture between Cummins and Kamaz). The exterior styling is not the only difference to the current 1000 series (1370 and 1400 models), and inside the cab the RSM 1370 has a new armrest and software. Other upgrades include new hydraulic and exhaust systems, and now on in the options list is a front linkage/pto. Production of the RSM 1000, which is based on a Canadian built Versatile, range is planned to start early 2022 at a new facility on the outskirts of the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. Until then, the existing 1000 series models, which have been assembled in Russia since…

All of our tractor test contenders, irrespective of their size, head out to the DLG centre at Groß-Umstadt. This world-renowned test station has a sophisticated rolling road test bed on which it can measure/record fuel and AdBlue consumption through a number of simulated typical farm chores and, importantly, produce comparable results. Some of you may recall we were missing the Powermix summary table for the Claas Axion 960 model that we tested back in the spring of 2020. Due to scheduling issues, we couldn't repeat the transport section in time to hit the publication date. Claas Axion 960 The new measurements from the DLG rolling road test confirm our initial thoughts from the dyno results. In draft work the infinitely variable transmission, 323kW/440hp tractor was about 5% better on fuel…

Why do slurry tankers have a dribble bar or trailing shoe applicator hung on the back? The obvious reason is that tank makers took their existing product and added an applicator to the most suitable location, the back-end. On top of that, it's a system that undeniably works if you're wanting to change distribution systems during the season or remove the applicator unit altogether to save weight and revert to using a splash plate. Yet this rear boom position also has some clear downsides. First, there's the tail-swing, even with close-coupled dribble bars; and, second, the applicator removes weight from the drawbar — just think of a seesaw, with the axle being the pivot. Some tank makers have been known to add a ballast box under the tank to counter…

Up until now, the Lintrac range was only available with the stepless ZF TMT11 transmission, as we found out in our 4/2019 tractor test. However, Lindner has now extended the Lintrac family by adding powershift 95LS and 115LS models. With a Stage V engine, these two newcomers take over from their Geotrac counterparts. Perkins is still providing the grunt, with the 3.6-litre 904J-E36TA replacing the 3.4-litre motor in the Geotrac 94EP. The new engine punches out 102hp in the 95LS and 10hp more in the larger 115LS. A combination of a particulate filter and SCR unit fed from a 20-litre AdBlue tank are used to hit the Stage V target. Particulate filter regeneration takes place automatically. The electronic hand throttle with its rotary dial offers two speed memories. There's also…

Lowlander vertical auger muck spreaders follow a design format that employs a moving floor that feeds material to the rear augers that shred and spread it. Simple. The ‘problem’ of course is that there is no such thing as ‘typical’ muck, those that use these machines on a contract basis typically spreading everything from hugely variable FYM, semi-solid slurries right through to industrial by-products to include sticky powdery materials such as gypsum. Each of these presents a different spreading challenge, but most expect one machine to spread the lot. A further demand is consistent spreading accuracy over a wider spread width to help reduce in-field trafficking. Add the ever-growing demand for high rates of productivity and it should come as no surprise that these muck spreaders have evolved. Add subtle…

To find the answer we started with a 2007 Agrotron K110. This four-wheel drive, 87kW/117hp Deutz-Fahr still has a working life ahead and makes a good candidate for an upgrade, coming from new with only a brace of 55W halogen work lamps front and rear. Serviceable enough glow worms and typical of the time, but they leave big pools of darkness to either side – so not much help with wider equipment. Things are a bit better up front thanks to twin forward-facing lamps on the mirror brackets and half-decent headlights; with some adjustment these threw a cone of yellowish light for a reasonable distance. The object was to fill in the blanks to either side of the cab and boost visibility forward and back. Having weighed up the space…

Dutch Dumper The prototype of the 2.65m wide, 3.17m high and 5.60m long vehicle first broke cover at the country’s TKD construction show in 2016. Assembled at a facility in Waddinxveen, south of Rotterdam, the machine stamped with serial number one was delivered to a Dutch earthworks contractor. All steel fabrications, including the oil and diesel tanks, chassis, cab, and skip, were outsourced. With CE-approval, new models will be powered by Stage V engines. It remains to be seen whether it will ever see the light of day, but a smaller 12-tonne Dutch Dumper is on the drawing board. The exact skip size remains under wraps, but the company is talking about a capacity of around 10 tonnes. This autumn’s wet weather plagued the north-west European forage maize harvest, with…

JCB says the 100% electric 525-60E provides the same 2.5t lift capacity and 2.0t maximum load at 6.0m as the diesel model. Looking almost identical to the diesel-powered model on the outside, on the inside a 96v Lithium-ion battery resides in the space normally reserved for the diesel engine. The battery powers two electric motors, a 17kW version for the driveline and a 22kW unit to power the hydraulic system. Plugged into a standard 240v, 16A electrical supply, the on-board charger takes eight hours. The optional universal charger provides a top-up in as little as 35 minutes. The battery can be charged 5,000 times, which we are informed, equates to around 10,000 hours of operation. Cab interior noise levels are a quiet 66.7dB.…

The KS475, the German manufacturer’s first four-row haulm topper, can be front or rear mounted. Tractor power requirement is a claimed 68hp and the pto-powered topper works on ridges spaced at 75cm or 80cm. Height adjustment is controlled via the linkage arms and spindles on the support wheels, and chopped haulm is deposited between the ridges. The suction effect of the flails is said to be powerful enough to tackle haulm lying on the ground. The options list includes an end-tow drawbar for the 3.5m-wide machine and road lights. It is not yet known when the KS475 will arrive in the UK.…

The dual fuel (hydrogen and diesel) technology on this New Holland T5 tractor claimed to reduce CO² emissions by at least 40%. Officially called H2 Dual Power, and the result of joint development work between Dutch company Jos Scholman and New Holland, the tractor retains its standard Stage V FPT diesel engine. Pressurised to 350 bar, the five steel hydrogen tanks housed on top of the cab hold around 470kg of hydrogen gas (11.5kg hydrogen). Mixed with air and diesel, the tanks are said to contain enough hydrogen for eight hours of operation and the tractor can still run on diesel. Currently only available for the T5.140 AutoCommand, the H2 Dual Power hydrogen kit is offered through New Holland’s Dutch dealer network.…

Available in widths of 30m, 32m and 36m, the 6,300-litre Aero GT60.1 pneumatic boom spreader replaces the AGT 6036 in the Kuhn range. Upgrades on its predecessor include a 25% increase in the maximum application rate, which says the company, is due to a bigger air intake and larger capacity pipes. The Aero comes with a new metering system and the upgraded control unit creates greater compatibilities with ISObus terminals. Other improvements include simpler calibration, maintenance-free fan unit bearings and material thickness of all wearing elements has been increased.…

If you're in the market for a 120-180hp tractor there is a huge amount of choice — stepless or powershift transmission, manual or electric spools, four- or six-cylinder. That’s right, most manufacturers now offer a tractor, even at the top end of this bracket, that's the same horsepower but with two cylinders lopped off the front. Same chassis, different engine This naturally raises the question: ‘is it worth investing in the more expensive six-cylinder block, or will the smaller motor be the better choice for your workload?' To address this dilemma we decided to compare two New Holland T6s that are pretty much identical in every way bar the engine, comparing them both on the test bench and in the field. The T6.175 (four-cylinder block) and T6.180 (six-cylinder engine) both…

When hopping into the Vario 200 of old, you felt the heritage of the classic Fendt tractor. With its mechanical cross controller tucked down beside the seat and the simplistic transmission controller, it was all a bit ‘form should follow function’. And there was good reason for this. The relatively compact tractor was aimed at the no-frills purchaser — if you wanted more gadgets, then step up to the 300. Tech upgrade Today, however, Fendt seems to have had a change of heart with this latest generation Vario 200 and thrown everything bar the kitchen sink at the five-model range, which can be specified in Power, Profi and Profi+ levels of trim. This has all coincided with the move to a Stage V compliant AGCO Power three-cylinder, 3.3-litre motor, expelling…

The first Krone Big Pack square balers hit the market back in 1993, and next season will see the fifth generation head to the field. Offered alongside the ‘HighSpeed’ range will be the Big Pack 1270, 1290 and 1290 HDP with or without the familiar VariCut (VC) chopping system. This is one of the changes to the new range, as it comes with 51 (VC51) or 26 knives (VC26) for a nominal chop of 22mm or 44mm, respectively. On our pre-production 1290 we liked the job being done by the chopping unit, the control box allowing five setting options. Note that the single-piece drawer pulls out, as highlighted in our big baler group test (profi 4/2019) with the Big Pack 1290 XC. Packing a bigger wad The Variable Filling System…

More and more tractors are leaving the factory auto-steer ready, so you only need to add a receiver and task controller to make the system fully operational. With these systems the steering is controlled by a hydraulic valve, and they rely on the operator terminal to be the interface. However, in 1994, when our AgroStar 6.21 first landed on farm, auto guidance was very much in its infancy. But there is no reason why classics should miss out on this modern tech; in fact, many GPS equipment suppliers offer kits to do just that. Solutions for older tractors For our classic project we recruited Vantage Agrometius, which distributes and installs Trimble auto guidance systems in Germany and the Benelux countries. In principle, auto guidance can be retrofitted to any tractor…

The biggest plus point of a weigh cell fertiliser spreader is its ability to maintain an application rate regardless of weather conditions or granule consistency, by frequently weighing the remaining product in the hopper and adjusting applications accordingly. When coupled with GPS maps, an ISObus task controller adds the benefit of adjusting the working width and spread pattern to cater for irregular field shape to altering the throw of product for border spreading. Generous spread widths and sub-metre section control also allow fertiliser spreaders to challenge sprayers for accuracy of application, points out Amazone UK’s managing director, Simon Brown. “Amazone’s section control systems work on a feathering pattern, rather than the black and white on/off with a sprayer nozzle and so, unless the sprayer is fitted with individual nozzle shut-off…

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Suitable for cultivating at depths down to 5cm, the DeltaCut share encourages weed seeds and volunteer cereals to germinate evenly and is also suitable for incorporating cover crops. Supplied as standard with a quick-change (tool-free) system, the optional carbide coating is claimed to increase the life expectancy of the 35cm-wide shares by up to five times. Available on the full Karat 9 range from 4.0m to 7.0m, the DeltaCut increases the number of options to eight with working depths down to 30.0cm.…

Potato growers in the market for a new self-propelled four-row harvester have another one to choose from; the six-wheeled Dewulf Enduro. Powered by a 450hp Stage V Scania engine, main features include the new tandem axle, haulm topper, 200t/hr ring elevator and new armrest and joystick. The discharge elevator reaches over four rows to unload on the move when opening up a field. Two prototypes were tested this year, and the first 4x75cm production versions will be available next season. A four x 90cm version is planned for France and we understand that a UK edition is unlikely to be available until 2022. Siloking 300+ self-propelled wagon The latest self-propelled mixer wagon from German manufacturer Siloking, the SelfLine 4.0 System 300+, is available in four twin auger models from 19.0m³…

Not only is the Efecta CE12000 suitable for conventional and min-till situations Bednar reckons it is also capable of direct drilling. The 12.0m drill can work at speeds of up to 20km/hr and has a claimed output as high as 200ha/day. The ISObus-controlled newcomer uses the same pressurised seed hoppers as the Omega, but in a larger 6,000-litre capacity format, which can be split (3800:2200) to apply seed and fertiliser at the same time. Leading equipment options includes wavy discs or a levelling board. There are four metering systems and four distribution heads. The double disc drill coulter sections attach to the frame via a parallelogram, which says the company, maintains a constant depth of seeding across the full working width. Row spacings are 12.5cm or 16.7cm. The rear section…

Flexrow is the name of a concept that provides push-button control of drill and planter row spacing from the tractor cab. Developed by Swedish company Landberg Solutions, the technique uses a new and patented hydraulic actuator concept developed by the Saab aircraft company. Integrated into a drill or planter tool bar, a 3.0m-wide four-row concept was tested this season, but it is possible to fit numerous units to a tool bar up to a maximum width of around 10.0m. The main focus is with trailed machines where the elements are located at the rear. The next step is to seek partners to develop it to the commercial stage and the goal is to have something to show at the next Agritechnica in November 2021.…

The Stage V 16.4-litre Scania V8 in the VT7138 develops over 3320Nm of torque at 1400rpm and a maximum power of 710hp. The base machine is unchanged to the VT7028 it replaces, and the VT7138 continues to run on the same six powered wheels (Mitas 900/60R42), inhouse developed CVT and 32,000-litre slurry tank. Main changes include the centrally-located exterior side panels and fenders, which like the fuel and hydraulic oil tanks, are made from polyester. All daily maintenance and service points are now grouped together. The first of the new models will be delivered in the spring.…

According to Fendt, the 716 is exactly the same horsepower as the 516, so comparing these two stepless transmission tractor models would have made perfect sense (refer to 'Technical data…' panel) as the follow-up to the New Holland feature on the preceding pages. But, at the time of the test, Fendt could only supply a 718 to go against the 516, a power difference of about 20hp from what are otherwise near-identical tractors. Or are they? 718 scales almost 1.6t heavier With its 2.78m wheelbase, the six-pot Vario 718 model is around 22cm longer than the four-cylinder 516 Vario. Despite the 1,710kg higher kerb weight (8,310kg), the six-cylinder tractor is superior in terms of payload: thanks to a gross weight of 12.5t, the payload for the 718 is 4,190kg. However,…

Admittedly, most Claas Jaguar owners have probably never questioned the firm’s own grass pick-up, simply because it works. And all good forager operators will know its limitations, pulling back on the stick when they see a big lump, before shouting some ‘encouragement’ at the rake driver to leave better rows. So, when it came to testing the Kemper C3003 Maximum on a pair of Claas 960s we were not expecting to see much of a difference in forager performance throughout the season-long test in a variety of crops and conditions. The host foragers were a 2010 494 and a newer 498 in its third season. Both machines were fitted with a 36-knife drum carrying a half set of knives for chopping forage as short as 7mm for biogas plants and…

While moles can be an infuriating pest to deal with, our German counterparts have a larger and even more destructive foe — wild boar. Various manufacturers have come up with tools to rectify the damage, and one of them is Craco, which offers the PlanierProfi to level even the deepest of 'boar-ed' ruts. Mulcher and scarifier At the heart of the PlanierProfi are a couple of counter-rotating flail rotors. The front rotor spins in the direction of travel, shredding the grass sods that have been ripped up and slitting the ground. The rear rotor works in the opposite direction, distributing the soil and organic matter. There are 62 flails on each rotor of the 2.65m wide version (there is also a smaller model with a 2.25m working width). The 124…

Applying fertiliser on a fragmented farm is often a two-man operation. It certainly was for Josef Holz, with his tractor and spreader having to be accompanied by a tractor loader and trailer to keep the broadcaster topped up and in the field. After a bit of brainstorming, he came up with the featured trailed hopper system, which has halved the labour and machinery required for his application work. Helping on the project were two friends, who are well versed in mechanical engineering. The first step was to shorten the length of a double-axle trailer to just under 4.0m. They then fabricated a 10m³ stainless steel hopper with a funnel-shaped bottom and added an auger to fill the spreader. Although a conveyor belt would have been kinder on the fertiliser, it…

A traditional farming business in every sense of the word, the Wills Estate encompasses agricultural, equestrian, forestry and shooting enterprises, and at its heart, a family home. The enterprises work together in a way rarely seen in modern times, under the guidance of manager Hamish Gairdner, and the family which purchased the 800ha Edgcote, Oxfordshire holding in 2005. Mr Gairdner also manages their mainly grassland estate in Rutland and a Scottish sporting estate. The majority of the land is ring fenced, with 62ha outlying at nearby Byfield, while some equipment is also shared with Rutland. At Edgcote, cropping encompasses milling wheat, oilseed rape and spring beans or barley, with two wheats grown to space out rape in the rotation. Harvest capacity “With 670ha going through the New Holland CR9.90 combine,…

Weighing in at 5.6kg without a bar and fluids, the 2.6kW/3.5hp Stihl MS271 is a 50cc saw that has long ticked all the boxes to make it a decent all-round farm saw choice. Now with the latest Light 04 guide bar, the established MS271 power head remains unchanged, but Stihl claim that by combining it with its new Light 04 bar and RM3 chain, performance is increased by up to 20% when compared to the established Rollomatic bar alternative. Sounds great, even more so when the prices for this latest set up are pretty similar to the previous offering at £550 and £560 (ex.VAT) for 14 and 16in (35 and 40cm) models. Will going for this slimmer, and slightly lighter chain and bar combo really make that big a difference?…