Innehållsförteckning för Harvest 2021 från Profi

Horsch is looking to further increase the popularity of its Pronto universal seed drill series with several efficiency increasing updates on the 3.0m to 6.0m DC models. The new ISObus control concept and touch screen terminals are said to simplify machine handling, adjustment and monitoring and relocating the fan to a higher position on the new hopper (4,000 litres now available on the Pronto 6DC) is designed to prevent dust and dirt from entering the metering and distribution system. The split hopper provides improved accessibility and the calibration process has been improved. Options include the RowControl for individual row switch-off to eliminate overlaps, the WorkLight pro LED headlight system and 400-litre capacity MiniDrill. The Pronto 6 DC will soon be available with a 45cm (18”) diameter tyre packer for 40km/hr road…

John Deere 8R Series tractor drivers can now monitor and adjust tyre pressures with just the push of a button using a new central tyre inflation (CTIS) system. Available ex-factory on 8Rs fitted with independent link suspension, the fully integrated system is operated from the CommandCenter display. Using an on-board compressor, tyres can be deflated for field work to increase their footprint by nearly 25%, with a reduction of up to 3psi in ground pressure. Benefits include two to four percent less wheel slip, reduced compaction and fuel consumption, and increased pulling performance. It takes less than four minutes to lower the pressure from a 710/75 R42 and 650/60 R34 combination. The pressure in the same tyres can be increased from 0.8 to 1.8 bar in under six and a…

Available in seven, eight and nine furrow versions, the semi-mounted reversible Tyrok 400, the new flagship in the Amazone plough range, is for 400hp class tractors. Main features include the SpeedBlade plough body, the patented extra-large front shin of which is said to reduce wear on the main mouldboard. SmartTurn and AutoAdapt are also new. At the headland, the fast turning (takes nine seconds to complete) SmartTurn procedure is hydraulically slowed down twice just before the end. This results in a damping effect which reduces stress on the materials when the cylinder is retracted. AutoAdapt automatically adjusts the front furrow hydraulically when the overall working width is changed on variable furrow width models. Mechanical furrow width adjustment is standard as is hydropneumatic suspension of the support wheel. The options list includes…

This internet portal offers a structured presentation of the operating instructions and spart parts lists. It also enables the operator to evaluate performance parameters in real time, which we liked. In the future it would be helpful to have postharvest access to the machine settings, yield records and harvest chain tracking data. The portal is very operator friendly in that it collects the data autonomously, without intervention from the operator. Occasionally we had difficulties in making a clear transition between jobs, but as this is offered as a free service we didn’t mind.…

New Holland makes life easy for those who are interested in its new CH combine. There currently just two variants, level land CH7.70 and the side-hill CH7.70 Laterale. As the Smart Sieve system carried over from the CX range will compensate for slopes of between 17% to 20% (in grain), the standard model with the 8.53m Varifeed header developed specifically for the CH is likely to be the default UK and Irish spec choice. Simple. The word ‘simple’ is quite apt when describing the CH as well. The drum and concave are carried over from the CX6.90 (more on this later) with a rear beater directing crop from the drum to a pair of longitudinal rotary separator tubes. Unlike the CX, the CH does not have a secondary Rotary Separator…

Modern combines don’t stint on ways to take load off the driver — push button set-up, forward speed control, autosteer and the rest. So, if the crop, conditions and field size allow, overlapping automations could free up the operator while the combine looks after the shop. Of course, one eye still has to be kept on the work, but the load is less. And that opens the door — at least in theory — to multitasking. To find out what operators make of the prospect, researchers from the University of Hohenheim’s Agric Machinery Department recently quizzed 312 combine drivers. Exactly how much the attitude of UK operators reflects those of their German counterparts is an open question, but the survey’s results make interesting reading. Before dipping into the analysis, check…

LONG TERM TEST Case IH Optum 270 CVX Case IH has just announced details of the new generation Optum, but how has the current range performed? We speak to one user to find out Out on OCTOBER 22nd PRACTICAL TEST Stubble challenge Forget about skinning cats, there are several ways to work a stubble field to encourage seeds to chit. We have been exploring everything from a flail topper to a tine cultivator and various incarnations of discs and straw harrows to see what they can achieve. REPORT Harvesting thyme If you are still hungry for harvest, pick up the next issue to see what is involved in getting thyme from field to fully processed in less than four hours. PRACTICAL TEST Schuitemaker Rapide 6600 Following on from our earlier…

Massey Ferguson has extended the 8S Series upwards with the 285hp 8S.285 and 305hp 8S.305. The standard transmission in the new flagship is the Dyna-VT, which is a new option on the other five models. The new automatic mode in the Dyna-VT allows operators to use the Multipad lever or foot pedal to alter forward speed, while it automatically sets the optimum engine rpm according to speed and load for smoother operation and reduced fuel consumption. The 8S.305, and all 8S Dyna-VT tractors, come with Exclusive specification, which along with the multifunction armrest and Multipad controls also comprises Datatronic 5 and right pillar mounted vDisplay terminal, active cab suspension, automatic air-suspended seat with damping system, four electric spool valves, 16 LED work lights and a larger fuel tank. The 8S.285…

In addition to handling silage, Krone’s GX is also suitable for transporting cereals, OSR, potatoes, sugar beet and even straw bales. There are two models, the tandemaxle GX 440 (44m3) and triple-axle GX 520 (52m3). Built using a patented single frame concept, telescoping side panels reduce load-over heights hydraulically by up to 700mm. The contents are unloaded using a full-width floor belt in combination with a moveable headboard. Rubber strips seal the sides to ensure small seeds remain inside the body and an acrylic glass panel provides operators with a clear view into the cargo space. Unloading times of the GX 440 are under 40 seconds (50 seconds for the GX 520). The optional discharge rollers can be bolted to the tailgate when not in use to allow the wagon…

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. Developed specially for Holmer by Kessler, the box drives 100% hydrostatically from 0-5km/hr. This changes to mechanical drive in the main working range (12-15km/hr). The top speed of 40km/hr is reached at a fuel-saving 1,250rpm. Joining the 435hp Terra Variant 435 and 585hp Terra Variant 585, the 650 is currently available with the 21m³ capacity Zunhammer slurry tank (same as the 585). The 850-litre diesel tank, 95-litre AdBlue tank and hydraulic oil tank are all arranged on the left side of the vehicle to improve accessibility. A new 12.1-inch display and joystick can be found in the cab and the…

Massey Ferguson’s new five-model range of 6S tractors peaks with the 180hp 6S.180 (max. 200hp). Replacing the 6700S Series, the new four-pot models are said to deliver the power and torque of a larger six-cylinder model, but with all the benefits of a smaller tractor with a 2.67m wheelbase and 4.75m turning radius. Examples of the controls first seen on the 8S tractors include the new Multipad and 9” Datatronic 5 touch-screen terminal. The cab also contains a new air conditioning system and the air-suspended seat is equipped with an automatic damping system. The transmission choice on all models is the Dyna-VT Super Eco, or the Dyna-6 Super-Eco, semipowershift with AutoDrive. The new Super Eco version of the Dyna-VT reduces fuel consumption by achieving 40km/hr at 1,450rpm. Rear lift capacity…

Alliance has added new sizes to three of its ranges. The 372VF, the firm’s flagship VF tyre for tractors and self-propelled harvesters is now available as the VF710/60R34. Developed for tractors and sprayers, the 363VF high-speed steel-belted tyre comes in the new sizes of 380/105 R50 and 480/80 R50. Designed for machines that spend a lot of time on the road, main features include good traction and self-cleaning characteristics in the field and low vibration and noise on the road. The steel-belted 585 telehandler, backhoe and compact loader tyre is now also available in the sizes 305/70 R16.5 and 265/70 R16.5.…

It's not just the 630mm intake and drum that separate the Big X 630 and the other narrow-body choppers from Krone's big and wider range. There are also some key differences in the engine department. While the higher-horsepower units currently use Liebherr motors, the Big X 630 is powered by a transversely mounted MTU in-line sixpot. The engine has a single-stage turbo and produces 480kW/653hp from the 15.6-litre block, which Krone says delivers a continuous chopping power of 452kW/615hp. And the machine can sit at 3.0m, making it a real contender for ag contractors navigating narrower roads. OptiMaize spec All the options available on bigger capacity foragers are also offered on the Big X 630. Our test machine had the full accompaniment of options including OpitMaize for maize work. The…

Material flow through the CH combine is easily understood. From the elevator, crop is pulled through a 1.56m wide, 607mm diameter, eight-bar threshing drum, the speed of which is controlled by a new hydraulic variator. This process rubs the crop against a 14-bar sectional concave that provides a wrap angle of 85° (open) to 121° (closed). It’s also possible to move the hinged top section away from the drum to reduce how aggressive the threshing is to improve straw quality and to protect the grain. Next comes the four-paddle, 395mm diameter beater, under which there is another small concave. This is the end of the threshing element of the combine, with no Rotary Separator as fitted to CX models. The threshed incoming straw mat now passes to twin 3.45m long,…

The land of multitool knives, triangular chocolate, skiing and a wide variety of cheeses. In respect of the latter, the so-called ‘hay milk’ is the main ingredient, as it is in many of Switzerland's other dairy products. Dairy cattle are fed exclusively with the finest hay, which is harvested on the steep slopes in the mountain region. In summer, the cows on the mountain pastures are mainly left to look for their own food — dairy cows do not get any silage. Almost 1,000 different species of herbs grow on the Swiss mountain pastures, which help give the hay its lovely smell and the very special aroma to the milk, which has a higher value of omega-3 fatty acids. All about gravity Some nifty kit is needed to collect the…

Wine growers have not escaped the challenges of recruiting staff for tending and harvesting their vines, and, as with other aspects of modern agriculture, mechanisation is providing an answer. But coming up with a machine capable of navigating steep slopes that drop 4.0m for every 5.0m you move forward, with a mix of clay and gravel and wet grass sods, has proved a challenge. Last autumn Peter Hoffmann from CH Engineering delivered what is reckoned to be the first harvester capable of tackling this steep terrain to contractor Mark Sanders, who together with his wife also runs Sanders and Sanders winery. Viticulture and its challenges The vines require attention throughout the year. In January/February, growers start to prune, which encourages uniform ripening. Another job is tying up the vines, which…

Timeliness is critical for John Dorey, which is one of the main reasons he upgraded his combine to an ex-demo Fendt 5255L PL in 2019. While the annual 200ha annual workload may well raise the eyebrows of some growers in the east of England drylands, in County Meath the Irish weather can be anything but certain … apart from the fact that you're likely to get rained off several times during harvest. Proving the point, when John demoed the five-walker combine late in the 2018 season it was in some tough conditions — a crop of oats that had been flattened by those old foes, wind and rain. And while the combine was tested by the conditions, they did show exactly what the Italian-built combine was capable of. In the…

The Azurit 10, the latest version of the precision drill, can drill more crops and also apply microgranules. In addition to the existing four-, six- and eight-row possibilities on the outgoing Azurit 9 (row spacings from 70 to 80cm), the Azurit 10 can also drill six or 12 rows on a 50cm row spacing. This increases the range of applications to include soybeans and sunflowers. The 200-litre capacity MicroHub 5 granular applicator is new. Controlled via the on-board terminal, the metering unit is operated electrically and granules are pneumatically delivered to the seed furrow. Application rates are from 1-40kg/ha. Retrofit kits will be available for the previous Azurit 9 machines. Other new features on the Azurit 10 include automatic seed singling for maize, and a fertiliser monitoring system that automatically alerts…

Amazone’s UX7601 (8,000 litres) and UX8601 (9,000 litres) UX Super trailed sprayers close the gap between the previous largest single axle UX Super 6201 (6,200 litres) and tandem axle UX Super 11201 (11,200 litres). The new chassis on the two newcomers results in an ideal weight distribution and good ground clearance. Boom options include the Super-L3 (39, 40 or 42m), which is equipped with the ContourControl active boom guidance system and the SwingStop active vibration damping system as standard. With pivot points at 12, 24 and 33m and the optionally available reduction joints on the boom outer sections, the Super L3 boom offers the flexibility for use at reduced working widths. One-sided independent folding up to the inner boom section is an advantage for negotiating obstacles. The two piston diaphragm pumps…

A belt-driven square bar and paddles on the lifting unit on the Panther onion and bulb harvester guide crop into the machine. Individual hydraulic control allows the speed of the paddles and digging web to be increased or reduced. A joystick controlled self-centring lane adjuster ram ensures crop loads in the centre of the lifting unit. Switched on/off from the cab, once the joystick is released the harvester automatically recentres itself. Material is then transferred to a longer main web and onto another mechanically driven one before reaching the transfer web. The higher and stronger active fingers lining the sides of the new cart elevator ensure the crop remains inside before reaching the trailer, and the joystick controlled turret style steering system is said to provide precise control when the…

The double-arm EasyWrap 165 T (trailed) round bale wrapper joins the mounted 150 launched last year. Capable of lifting 1.65t bales with a maximum diameter of 1.65m, the wrapping speed of up to 40rpm is faster than the 36rpm of the 150. Controlled from a cab-based ISObus terminal, all main functions, such as film roll replacement, can also be operated via a separate panel on the machine. The wrapper couples to the tractor linkage with the help of a headstock that swings into position and couples to the lower link arms and it is possible to adjust the arm to the size of the bale without tools. Wrapping is triggered automatically by a sensor plate. The film is 750mm wide and offers a pre-stretch of either 55% or 70%. Once…

To see what Grimme’s latest two-row harvester hold in store, we put it to work in a 100 hectare field of starch potatoes on Luneberg Heath in Northern Germany. This region is known for its predominantly sandy and slightly loamy soils that often contain significant levels of stone. Our machine was fitted with the ClodSep finger comb, with the EasySep rollers being available as an original fit option. Tractor attachment and operator control Attachment to the tractor is straightforward and fast. In addition to the brake and electric lines you have the three load-sensing oil lines, the ISObus connector and hydraulics. The K80 Scharmüller spoon and the Walterscheid drive shaft tick all the boxes. The same applies to the storage point for the pipes which has been revised since our…

First seen at the DLG show in Frankfurt in 1984, the unusual vehicle was jointly developed by fellow Austrian companies Steyr and Pöttinger. Initially available from both brands, Steyr called it the 8300 and in Pöttinger colours it was known as the Mex-Mobile. It was the latter which was on display at the German show, which was the forerunner to Agritechnica. Dutch dairy farmer Hendri Doze’s 120-strong dairy herd is milked by two newly-installed Lely A5 robots, but the silage making process is a truly classic affair. The backbone of which is his 1983, Steyr 8300 which is believed to be one of just three active survivors in the Netherlands and we enjoyed seeing the classic chopper in action in both grass and maize. A long-running Steyr fan, the farm’s…

Located bang in the middle of Asia, Turkmenistan ranks as one of the largest cotton producers in the world. Although the 1.6 million hectares of agricultural land is vast, it only accounts for a modest 1% of the country’s area. Situated on the Caspian Sea, the climate is baking hot in summer and bitterly cold in winter. Keeping it simple The main crops are wheat, rice and cotton. The shrub-like cotton plants are sown as a row crop, with three-wheel tractors used for sowing, row work and harvesting. There are a good number of base spec Claas Axos 340 models in a special three-wheel configuration. The Axos is largely based on the Celtis, one of Renault’s last developments before the Claas takeover. These feature a four-cylinder, 74kW/100 Perkins motor with…

A clean grain sample is primarily the result of two variables — work rate and a consistent flow of material into the threshing system. The first link in this process is the cutting system on the combine header. Heavy wear and damage in this department will force the operator to reduce the forward speed, and at worst it can down the thresher. The following pages list a number of tips for maintaining the header knife, fingers and lifters. Our advisers are Schumacher’s product specialist Florian Schneider and after-sales manager Max Balkenhol. The forged system The forged system is the original cutting system, consisting of forged guards that are bolted to the underside of the table edge. The cut is made in the gap between the section and the bottom part…

Rotary combine harvesters have established a reputation as the ‘big beasts’ of the cereal harvest, achieving massive outputs while staying within a manageable size for road travel and movement within fields. One or two rotors carry out the threshing and separation steps, using centrifugal force to remove the grain from the straw. Arguments for single vs twin rotors centre around simplicity and the ability to work in difficult conditions against crop quality and power consumption. Concerns about straw – and to a lesser extent grain – quality due to the action of the rotors have been a limiting factor in the universal adoption of rotaries, especially in mixed farming areas. However, the latest designs overcome this, especially with the advent of driver-friendly automation of settings whereby the machine works with…