ProfiAugust 2024的目錄

Everyone has their favourite job on the farm, and I have to say that mowing has always been right up there for me. Only problem is that it’s also my Dad’s favourite job so generally he is the one who heads out to the field with what has to be one of the all-time greats in the world of mowing — a John Deere 1360. I can still remember when my brother arrived back in the yard from picking it up from the dealer, with an equally fresh out of the box New Holland 7840. While the latter has been gone from here for 10 years or more, the 1360 is still hanging on in there. For this season there has been a little change on my brother’s farm. I…

Details of a new agricultural machinery show in Paris which will be called SIA’PRO have been circulating. Due to take place at the exhibition centre in Le Bourget in the North of the French capital over three days from February 23rd. The machinery element of the show will run alongside SIA which takes place at the gates of Versailles. Organisers Comexposium and CENECA (Centre National des Expositions et Concours Agricol) the two fairs should compliment each other and help celebrate French agritculture. The indoor SIA’PRO event will have areas dedicated to robotics, data use and management as well as the usual array of farm machinery. Speaking of the new event, Jérôme Despey, president of the Salon International de l'Agriculture and president of CENECA said “With these two shows organized in…

There are four models in the relatively new 6 TTV range, starting with the 141kW/192hp 6190 TTV and going up to the 170kW/230hp 6230 TTV HD. We deliberately opted for the 6190 for our test, because not only does it have a new, smaller CVT (the SDF T7340 instead of the T7540 or T7560), but also a different Dana front axle — the M50 beam instead of the M60L used on the bigger tractors. The other models also have a slightly longer 8-15cm wheelbase. Together with a small radiator pack, the 6190 may fall under the 6 series umbrella, but you can see there are some significant hardware differences to the other models. Plenty of extra power, but… The punch is supplied by the familiar Deutz TCD6.1 L06 six-cylinder, 6.1-litre…

After an initial flourish, strip-till cultivation has taken time to establish in the UK, but as the benefits of working only the soil where the crop will grow become more relevant, it is gaining traction with more manufacturers offering a solution. Only disturbing the soil in the seeding zone can improve soil health, while allowing harvest machinery to travel more easily, reducing damage to the soil. Broadly speaking, strip till maize is based on a deep loosening leg and surface working tool, which conditions the soil in and below the seeding zone to provide a better growing environment for the plant, boosting yield potential. Seedbed preparation can be achieved in fewer passes saving time and costs, but there is also the opportunity for a pass in the autumn, followed by…

Spotting an opportunity to enhance visibility and add a bit of French flair, loader maker MX has revamped its U-series ‘utility’ loaders with a new boom profile and repositioned cross bar as well as a host of other refinements to make it nicer to use. Superseding the non-self-levelling and mechanical-levelling U400, is the U500 with the same ensuing two digit model number denoting the lift capacity, max working height and tractor power once you cross reference the spec sheet. For instance, the U512 featured here is suitable for 82kW/110hp up to 171kW/230hp tractors and has a lift height in the region of 4.0m to 4.20m depending on the host tractor. There are also two new additions, the U511 (4.20m, 1,430kg at max height) and now the biggest loader in the…

Case IH launched the Stage IV LWB Puma models in 2015, with the 6.7-litre, 24-valve FPT motor now having Hi-eSCR aftertreatment and the need for AdBlue. Enter the DOC Diesel Oxidation Catalyst and CUC Clean Up Catalyst but no DPF or EGR valve. The CVX stepless and Multicontroller powershift transmissions were pretty much carried over from the Stage III models but there are differences to the CVX unit. It retained the same four-range set up but power boost was now available in reverse, a point to note if you are after a rare reverse-drive tractors for power hungry duties such as working a triple mower. Case IH had also worked on the response of the CVX driving pedal to help make it easier to have smooth progress when accelerating, with…

ASSSEMBLE THE DISTRIBUTOR ROUTING THE OIL LINES CONNECTING THE LUBE POINTS HD HOSES FOR THE MAIN LINES SETTING AND FILLING…

It’s fair to say contractors N D Harper have a lot on. The business offers a portfolio of services from straw grinding to muck and slurry, all aspects of grass and silage work to combining and spraying. There’s also a dairy herd on the farm near Holmes Chapel in Cheshire. Reliable tractor power is crucial, so the business has found a solution in a bespoke hire arrangement with national plant and agricultural hirers Ashbrook Hire. “We have 11 tractors on permanent hire,” explains contracts manager, Jamie Taylor, “But can also pull in extra tractors from Ashbrook or owner-drivers as we need them.” He explains that the costs are managed - whether they need ten tractors or one - by controlling the size of their fleet so that they are not…

Nikki Koch is a one-man contractor focusing on forestry services as well as working at festivals and events. And his WF trac 1100 is fundamental to both parts of his business. "Among other things, I am the organiser of my own private festival at a castle ruin near here," explains Nikki, who lives in Wadern, just east of the Luxembourg border. “My WF trac pulls the drinks trucks and carries the sound equipment, the porta-potties and pretty much everything else up the mountain. There’s not a lot you can do by car there." Nevertheless, his main focus is on forestry. After all, the WF trac was developed with forestry applications in mind. MB trac heritage A supplier of Unimog accessories, Werner also became one of the most important suppliers of…

Visitors to the Royal Welsh Grassland Event last month in Aberystwyth were treated to an early look at Malone’s new rake. Not much is being said publicly about the pre-series machine which if Malone continues its usual trend will be given its official launch at the Irish Ploughing Championships in September. Badged the Proline 610, it is understood bigger models are also being tested this season. The machine on show is the first to cross the water to Britain with other units undergoing further testing mainly in Ireland as apparently they have done for the last two years. The model name refers to the 6.10m working width which is fixed but we can say it has both cam track and mechanical height adjustment. A closer look also reveals that it…

KVERNELAND ETRUCK The Siloking battery powered self-propelled diet feeder has swapped its single auger mixer for a twin auger tub allowing the capacity to increase; it is now 12-20m3. The lead-acid battery pack has been changed to one with lithium ion phosphorous capable of two to four mixes without recharging and projected lifespan of 3,000-5,000 full charge cycles. Prices start at £188,000 for the 12m3 version AGQUIP AGREEMENT WITH REDROCK Redrock Machinery and Agquip have entered a partnership which will allow the two Northern Ireland firms to prosper. Under the agreement, which was announced at the Balmoral Show, Redrock will take over manufacturing to a recently refurbished production area at its factory in Armagh. Agquiop’s own facility at Ballymoney will now switch its attention to research and development as well…

Although average forage chop length has generally improved on modern forage wagons, it’s still not as short as you will get from a self-propelled (or even trailed) chopper. This is where Pöttinger’s Jumbo 8000 hopes to close the gap, quite literally. Extra knives have been slotted into the chopping system, which now has a theoretical cutting length of just 25mm compared with 34mm on the 48-knife Jumbo 7000. The extra chopping ability has also resulted in a beefed-up driveline, which is now rated at a considerable 3,500Nm, so it does seem all the prerequisites for maximum throughput are in place. Indeed, the Austrian heavyweight greedily devours over 215t of fresh forage every hour when you have sufficient power up front. But more on that later. Our test machine was a…

Don’t fret. John Deere is not stopping production of the well-known 5G for special crops, a market that demands compact dimensions for squeezing between vine rows or under low-hanging tree branches. Like the Claas Nexos, for example, the 5G is built by Carraro in Italy and consists of four models spanning 75hp to 115hp. The 4.5-litre DPS A new addition is the 5ML, which John Deere builds itself in its Mexico plant. The new range offers more power with a rated output of 105-130hp. Like the standard 5M tractors, this is powered by the familiar 4.5-litre DPS four-cylinder engine, which is well proven. Thanks to EGR, DPF, DOC and SCR, it meets Stage V exhaust emission standards; in fact John Deere managed to shoehorn all of the necessary components under…

The original Puma LWB line up comprised 165, 180, 195 and 210 models at launch in 2007, all with a full powershift transmission. Powered by a variant of the now well established FPT 6.7 litre six-cylinder engine, these first gen models met Stage IIIa emission regs. In 2009, the range was expanded to include three CVT transmission Puma CVX models, the 195 CVX, 210 CVX and CVT only 225 CVX. Stage IIIb emission regs landed in 2011, with the same FPT engine family now equipped with an SCR exhaust system and the need for Ad-Blue. Nominal power outputs, again indicated by the model number, saw a slight hike, the range now being made up of the 170, 185, 200 and 215, with a choice of powershift or CVT transmission, with…

This can be a little confusing as the Stage V offering from late 2019 clearly got messed up by the pandemic, a second Stage V launch arriving for the 2021 model year. Easy to spot the difference between these Stage V tractors as the first ones look the same as their Stage IV predecessors, 2021 tractors gaining the new bonnet carried over to the current 2024 generation As before, there were three Multicontroller Stage V models, the 185, 200, and 220, CVX stepless transmission including the range topping Puma 240. To meet tougher emission regs, the engines were now fitted with Hi-eSCR2. Engine oil change intervals were extended to 750 hours or 18 months, the transmission oil change interval stretched to 1,500 hours. Revised features included a configurable quick-jump menu…

Every farmer has a preference, but we thought that it might be worth further fuelling the online debate with some pros and cons of the different ways to make silage. So, here we go. Throughput We don’t actually have that much to say about throughput. For the first time ever in one of our comparisons, a forage wagon delivered more crop (215t/hr fresh material, 70t/hr dry matter) than a self propelled (180t/hr FM, 59t/hr DM); both measurements purely focus on lifting grass and do not consider or include headland turns. The reasons for the results are simple. Firstly, Pöttinger now has a forage wagon capable of handling even more power, and, secondly, the 539hp self-propelled had to cut the grass to 23mm which is slightly less than the wagon. The…

If you are offered an 88kW/120hp tractor for 60,000 Deutschmarks, you know for sure this must be a tractor that is at least five years old and has clocked 2,000 hours, so the first few costly repairs are due. This is not true for Ursus. These tractors from Poland are brand new and yet not more expensive. We wanted to find out about this intriguing offer so took a closer look at the Ursus 1234 with 87.5kW/119hp. The Ursus 1234 is a model from the firm’s top range. In Germany, Ursus tractors are marketed in two model ranges: the small models from 2812 (28kW/38hp) to 4514 (59kW/80hp) under the MF design licenced by Ursus; and the high horsepower range from the 0932 (59kW/80hp) model all the way up to the…

The Sawbridges have been farming in Warwickshire, Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire since the 1730s, but it’s safe to say that it is now a very modern agricultural business. As Milton Keynes continues to expand, William Sawbridge farms 1,575ha of arable and grass on owned land, FBT and contract farming agreements at Lodge Farm, Castlethorpe – just six miles from the town centre. Meanwhile brother Philip Sawbridge has moved away from farming to run a business park alongside it. “The future of Milton Keynes is development and it is getting ever closer, so we may look for other land to crop and move away from this site in the long term, but we will always farm,” William says. But it in order to do that farming efficiently, J A J Sawbridge and…

Teagle chose the Royal Cornwall Show to show its new Tomahawk 6200H. Replacing the loadermounted Telehawk, the new version can also be attached to a tractor’s front or rear linkage. Available for the upcoming season, the Tomahawk 6200H retains the entirely hydraulic drive system. Capable of handling round bales up to 1.50m in diameter as well as 2.8m long squares, the 6200H has a loading door, something which was not on the first Telehawk models when it was launched in the 2014. It continues to use the Bluetooth connected control box which incorporates a pushbutton for pausing and resuming spreading. There is also an auto-reverse function for the cross beater to prevent it being overloaded and help tease the bale apart. The claimed spreading distance is up to 13.5m from…

BESSON BACK IN BRITAIN Last year French cultivations kit maker Gregoire Besson joined forces with Maschio to work on a joint approach for exports. Already operating in some 120 countries, the Italian manufacturer has a wide reach globally and while Besson’s current area is smaller there are significant markets such as Canada where it has a strong presence and Maschio does not. It is these areas where the two companies hope to build mutually beneficial arrangements with shared distribution networks – the Great Britain being one. “We’re keen to grow our exports but do so in a smart way,” explains Marc Besson. “We want to avoid merging existing dealer networks but plug the gaps where they exist for both companies. Between us we have an almost blanket coverage of the…

For the UK market, the option of adding a row of discs at the front on the Karat 10 has been one of the key talking points over its predecessor. This extra crop chopping ability has put the cultivator on the radar of growers currently running a tine and disc machine that may not have even considered the Karat 9 previously. Then there is the change in tine layout to help combat crabbing when working across slopes. So, plenty to consider, then. For our season-long test Lemken sent us the 4.98m wide Karat 10/500 KUA model, which is foldable (hence the K designation), overload protected using springs and shear bolts (U) and is semi-mounted (A). The three rows in the frame are home to a total of 16 tines. The…

Just when you thought there wasn’t room for another player in the slurry game another one pops up. But you’ve got to be careful how you say this one. Pronounced ‘Coom’, Kumm tankers are now being imported from Germany by Norfolk based J Riley – distributors of Vervaet beet harvesters and self-propelled spreading rigs as well as Bomech slurry kit and Evers cultivator-applicators. But with a myriad of different coloured tankers built in the UK and Ireland, why add another one to the mix? According to Rileys Kumm’s machines are top-end, top-spec application rigs designed for contractors focused on getting gallons on the ground as quickly as possible. And that claim has some credibility given the heritage of Kumm. Fifteen years ago German contractor Michael Kumm was struggling to find…

There have been numerous developments and model tweaks made that are not listed here. When ordering spare parts, it is important to include the tractor’s serial number (found on the rear right of the cab) and not just model year. New variant launch dates and availability vary. Always check a tractors actual specification as the date of registration may not reflect model year. Mid 2007: Puma 165, 180, 195, 210 Full Powershift, Stage III FPT engine Early 2009: Puma CVX 195, 210, 225, Stage IIIa, new Multicontroller armrest Late 2009: Puma 165, 180, 195, 210 new Multicontroller armrest. End 2010: Final production CVX 195 Early 2011: Stage IIIb Puma 170, 185, 200, 215 & Puma CVX 170, 185, 200, 215, 230 Early 2012: AFS 372 receiver with GPS & GLONASS…

Manually greasing a machine does have its disadvantages, which no doubt you'll be very familiar with: it takes time, and, no matter how careful you are, you end with some grease on you. And then there is the factor of whether you pumped in enough or too much. Manual greasing does have its advocates, though, who'll take assurance that every single grease point has been fed, and, if a line breaks on a auto lube system, it will run dry. For those users with experience of an auto lubrication system, they see the plus points of reduced daily maintenance and extended service life from bushes and pivots. To run through what is involved in fitting such a system, we tagged along with an engineer from Groeneveld-Beka to watch him rig…

It’s high time us farmers came clean — we can hide our shame no longer. Yes, Mr and Mrs General Public, it is our cows, our monocultures, our chemicals and our general hatred of the environment that are causing climate change. No, no, don't you go taking a long, hard look in the mirror and question your own lifestyle choices when we all know it’s those devious cows farting bits clean off the ice shelf. Although you, the public, are completely without blame in all this, I must commend some of you trying to do your bit with the uptake of electric vehicles — the tax benefits are simply a bonus to your savvy, virtuous decision. Saving money and the environment comes with added benefits, too, because we all know…

I an Legge is not one for doing things exactly the same way that everyone else does. His machine of choice on the silage clamp for example is not a loading shovel, but a reverse drive tractor. “We can get much more versatility out of reverse drive than we can any other tractor,” explains Ian Legge, who runs the family contracting business, A Legge & Sons from Thornbury, Herefordshire, along with his brother Graham. “And it’s a far more flexible choice for clamp work than any loading shovel, which can be very much a one trick pony,” he says. “Nor can you get a decent extended warranty on a shovel either, to match that of the tractors.” Ian adds that when you’re not sat staring out of the rear window,…