Innehållsförteckning för December 2024 från Profi

Money, money, money. That’s what it’s all about this month. But, then again, when isn’t it? First up, of course, we have had Mrs Reeves’s ‘eagerly anticipated’ baby, The Budget. I’m writing this page just hours after the good lady had retaken her seat in The House, so there’s been insufficient time to properly digest the full ramifications of her edict for farming. No doubt, the fall-out detail will become clearer over the coming months, although our initial impression is that, putting it mildly, the final result isn’t great. In the weeks leading up to the pronouncement, much was made of the potential reductions to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) and the effect this would have on Inheritance Tax planning. Worst case scenario, we were looking…

Kemper appears to be testing a 12m-wide maize header that gobbles up 16 rows of maize in a single pass. Readers may recall that the company surprised visitors to Agritechnica 2013 with a concept study of a monster 15m-wide and 20-row header. The burning questions now are is the 16-row (eight large drums) unit is also a concept study and how does it fold for transport? For now, both Kemper and John Deere remain tight-lipped. Having already made a 20-row unit, there would seem little point in developing a smaller concept study. The serious betting money will be on this one making it to the commercial stage. Incidentally, it’s a grainy image, but the cab on the John Deere forager looks different.…

Steering comfortably Christian Benne is an arable and dairy farmer who also operates a digester. He uses the ErgoSteer steering joystick on his 728 Vario which has no front loader fitted on it. “Especially when planting and hoeing maize on slopes and when swathing, we don’t find turning around all the time very ergonomical,” he says. “With the joystick, we can work in an upright sitting position with the seat swivelled and the steering wheel hinged up. The driver now appreciates this so much that he even reactivates the joystick when driving in the yard.” However, there is also one point of criticism, as the 728 Vario also does a lot of transport work. When folded down, the joystick gets in the way when steering and getting on/off the tractor;…

Pacam is a Dutch company from Rotterdam. The name stands for Purchase Association Construction and Agricultural Machinery — a purchasing association for construction and agricultural machinery. Pacam was founded in 2017 following a company history of refurbishing and trading used construction machinery. It attaches great importance to using components from reputable European makers in the machines it assembles. The semi-finished yard loader including its hydraulic cylinders, axles and chassis comes from a Chinese supplier. Pacam says 70% of its loaders are sold to the agricultural sector and 25% to gardening and landscaping businesses. These customers prefer the LF version with a different front end and significantly shorter boom, which develops more lifting power at a reduced lifting height. Pacam sells primarily in Germany, Benelux, Austria and Switzerland, but, as of…

JCB 418S LOADING SHOVEL Year: 2016 Condition: Good Hours: 4,700 Comment: Sold by original supplying dealer with partial history. Fully prepared. Worn 620/70 R26 tyres. Pick-up hitch. Sound choice for muck and bulk handling. Price: £52,500 JCB 418S LOADING SHOVEL Year: 2016 Condition: Good Hours: 4,500 Comment: Sold by original dealer with full history. Fully prepared. JCB Auto lube system. 50% 620/70 R26 tyres. A JCB dealer prepared 418S can deliver good service but arguably not the best choice for intensive clamp work. Price: £54,500 JCB 418S LOADING SHOVEL Year: 2016 Condition: Fair Hours: 9,250 Comment: High hour 418S with poor history. Looks better in the pictures than in the metal. To be dealer appraised but likely to be a trade sale. Worn 620/70 R26 tyres. Entry level pricing. Price:…

Loaders can be the prime movers and the most versatile machine on lots of farms. So, it’s definitely well worth taking a closer look at these jacks-of-all-trades for potential improvements, even if it is just a simple mod. A word of warning, though. It is critical to pay attention to operational safety, noting that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) may not necessarily be happy with every modification. Still we are hoping our readers will show some common sense. Safety is king. SAFER ROUTING ELECTRICS This yard loader is used with an electrically powered infrared weeder, so it obviously requires an electric cable to be routed from the loader to the attachment. The hydraulic side-shift on the weed killing attachment can snag the power cable when the loader is raised.…

Four years ago, F & T L Stanier built their first dedicated bulk potato store with climate management and monitoring. The next step was to build a second store, taking some of the lessons learned from the first build. The first store is fully controlled, with adiabatic cooling and a refrigeration system, which can also add heat if needed. The Stanier business grows 200 hectares a season for crisping and chipping, which they store from October through to the next summer aiming to be empty just before next harvest, so optimal conditions are essential. Potatoes can lose 10% of their weight through dehydration in good storage, this ramps up in less ideal conditions. Storing 1,250 tonnes and loosing 10% of the weight is no small number – if someone took…

4 November Auction of Tractors, Quad Bikes, Commercial Vehicles, Implements, Machinery, Small Tools & Equipment. Longtown Mart, Townfoot, Longtown, Carlisle CA6 5LY. Cumberland & Dumfiesshire Farmers Mart, tel: 01278 791215. 6 November Timed Online Collective Sale of Tractors, Plant, Vehicles, Trailers, Machinery, Tools & Spares. Clarke & Simpson, www.clarkeandsimpson.co.uk Online Sale of Tractors, Machinery, Plant & Commercial Vehicles. Carlisle. Harrison & Hetherington, www.harrisonandhetherington.co.uk 6-7 November Online Machinery Sale. Lawrie & Symington, www.lawrieandsymington.com 8 November Online Plant & Machinery Auction. Brightwells, www.brightwells.com 9 November Vintage Auction at Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show. Newark, Showground, Lincoln Road, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 2NY. Brown & Co, www.brown-co.com Collective Sale. Hexham Auction Mart, Tyne Green, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 3SG. Hexham & Northern Marts, tel: 01434 605444. 11-12 November Cambridge Machinery Sale. The Saleground, Sutton,…

Kramp has announced that its Cultivate a Generation grant scheme supporting farmers, agricultural engineers, and students will continue into 2025. There are seven grant categories: engineers, arable farmers, livestock farmers, young farmers, small and large contractors, and family support. Winners will be drawn monthly throughout the year. Kramp will add £10,000 to last year’s amount, meaning £40,000 is available in 2025. This will be topped up further using the proceeds from Kramp’s LAMMA stand. “The Kramp shop at LAMMA is there to show farmers the range available to them when they visit a dealer supported by Kramp’s retail offer,” said Des Boyd, sales director at Kramp UK. “We’re pleased to make our LAMMA shop not-for-profit by donating the proceeds to our Cultivate a Generation grant fund.” In total, 44 grants…

Described as ideal front loader tractors, the MF 5M Series (replaces the 5700M) comprises six tractors from 95hp to the new 145hp (was 135hp) top model. Finished in the new family exterior styling, on the inside the four-pot 4.4l Stage V motor remains, but while 5700M customers were able to choose between a synchronised 12x12 mechanical or Dyna-4 transmission, the six 5Ms are only available with the latter. This provides clutch-free control of 16x16 speeds with a 40km/hr Eco top speed. Fuel tank capacity is up 24% to 198l, and a new PTO switch is added to the rear fender on the left-hand side. Other options include a new cab suspension system, uprated air conditioning system and new LED work lights. All models can be equipped with automatic steering, and…

END OF THE ROAD FOR KAWECO The operations of Royal Reesink’s loss-making Dutch subsidiary Reesink Production (mainly active under the Kaweco brand name) will be discontinued at the end of this year. Well known both in its homeland and overseas for its slurry tankers, grass and arable land slurry injectors and silage trailers, Kaweco has a long history of transforming the Claas Xerion to a dedicated slurry machine. Production at the Dutch factory in Hengelo has been scaled back, and only service and warranty work will be carried out until the end of this year. NEW RANGE OF ANTIFREEZE AND COOLANTS Don’t let winter catch you off guard, says the Witham Group, which has just launched the QualGuard range of antifreeze and coolants. The range includes two new products which…

Bednar has launched two knife roller ranges; the Speed Chop SC-F and Duracut TE. Available in working widths of 7.5m and 12.5m, the Duracut TE is a heavy-duty trailed implement with 940mm diameter rollers for chopping tough crop residues, such as maize and sunflower stubbles. Mounting all five rollers individually to the frame allows them to follow ground contours, and the rollers can be ballasted to a maximum of 1.24t/m. The two outer units fold towards the front of the frame for transport. Tyre size is 700/40-225, and both implements fold to a width and height of 3.0m and 4.0m, respectively. If 7.5m and 12.5m is a tad too wide, and you are seeking a bit more flexibility, then the Speed Chop SC-F can be front or rear mounted, either…

Since spring 2019, our featured 6185 TTV has been grafting away as the successor to a 6190 TTV (Tier 4i/Stage IIIB) on a mixed farm. The long-term test tractor has now clocked up more than 3,100 hours, primarily running in front of an 18m³ slurry tanker with a 15m dribble bar applicator. The Deutz also operates a 3.0m power harrow mounted drill and an eight-row Becker maize drill. High performance, frugal consumption When it comes to discussing performance of the 6185, the owner is no doubt: “It’s a real powerhouse!” He is also very happy with its diesel consumption, as the tractor can be driven with fewer revs thanks to the stepless transmission. This means the 280-litre fuel tank is big enough to last a day. There have also been…

Initially, the Horsch Leeb sprayer line-up was geared to large farming businesses. However, to provide dealers with a range of smaller-scale products, there was no way of avoiding a mounted sprayer range, which the firm duly introduced in 2021. And it has been logically named the CS, meaning Compact Sprayer. But the sprayer division has stuck to its guns when it comes to high-end features, and the biggest model is the 2.2CS which has a tank capacity of 2,200 litres. Add the 1,800-litre capacity front tank, and the combination turns into something of a "mini self-propelled sprayer". However, the focus of our test is the smallest machine, the 1.4CS with a nominal volume of 1,400 litres and actual volume of 1,600 litres. In between the two aforementioned models is the…

When we were told by Merlo UK that we would have one of its new compact telehandlers to test this autumn we started making some plans for some lighter weight loader work – the sort of stuff that wouldn’t be over-taxing for a little load-lugger. And then we re-read our emails – we’d been offered a Turbofarmer 30.7. In old school Merlo model numbering that’d be a 3.0-tonne machine with the ability to reach 7.0m high – not the performance characteristics you’d normally expect of a ‘compact’ handler. So, we thought we’d better double-check. The response was somewhat curt. Yes, the 30.7 will squeeze through a 2.0m wide gateway and yes, it’ll limbo under cladding rails just 2.2m high and yes, it’ll lift a maximum of 3,000kg. However, with some…

There are two key stats that put the JCB 514-40 in a class distinct from its larger siblings. First up is the three-cylinder Perkins engine with its output of 19kW/25hp. This means there is no requirement for exhaust emission treatment, saving the need for a DPF or AdBlue. Positioned on the right between the axles, the 1.1 litre engine is distinctly ‘old school’ in its clutter free layout, with easy access to the oil dipstick and all of the filters with the bonnet open. If you want even greater access, the lower shield is easily removed after loosening a few bolts. The 27-litre fuel tank and hydraulic oil reservoir are both located at the rear under a cover released via a lever in the cab. Next up is weight. Without…

You've just settled down in the kitchen with a brew and a biscuit when you suddenly remember: “Crap, the cows are still locked in the feed barrier!” If you are chuckling in agreement, then we have good news for you. German livestock barn equipment outfitter Kristen is now offering a technology that makes life easier for dairy farmers — the Future electric lever. The system is basically an internet-controlled electric motor that opens and closes the gate for stock, even if you are several miles away from the barn, which, on thinking about it, could be extremely handy. Using feed barriers instead of neck bars for restraint The installation of a feed barrier in a dairy or cattle barn is a hotly debated topic. Opponents argue that these are too…

Loose tines can't pierce a bale properly, or on a silage grab they can tear at the clamp face. In fact, when they are really bad, you can possibly snap a tine. Most of the time, retightening the tines will get you out of trouble, but, if you haven't done this soon enough, the bushes can become so worn that no amount of tightening is going to fix things. In such a scenario you can weld new sleeves into the worn holes or replace the existing sleeves. Choice of tine holders First, take a look at the type of tine holder that is currently fitted. Many bale spikes have factory-fitted sleeves. If these are worn, you can cut them out with a grinder, remove and replace with a new bush.…

It’s almost midday — the calm before the storm. A crop of barley will be going under the knife. With 13 Fortschritt combines, the harvesting armada, led by Gerd Mittag, slowly sets off from the Hohenfinow estate in east Germany. Difficult start After opening the field and cutting the first few bouts, the crew suffers its first setbacks — a smoking V-belt, a jammed cutterbar. Nevertheless, calm is restored, as the team is all too familiar with such mechanical hiccups. Even though the machines from Fortschritt were technically advanced, they did suffer from some reliability shortcomings. “We had to improvise a lot back then, because spare parts were not always available,” recalls Gerd Mittag, Even though he is retired, Gerd’s Fortschritt dungarees are his dress code for the summer. Since…

Tis the season for obligatory gift buying, as is made abundantly clear should you be unlucky enough to patronise the high-street. I know I'm not alone here, but, when it comes to gifts, I've been dubiously branded 'bad to buy for', and on the odd occasion, 'downright ungrateful'! Yes, readers, I can almost hear your incredulity — Moi, ungrateful? Pants and socks are traditionally a good backstop, and rightly so if you consider the often long hours spent in their harsh working environments: dark, high levels of humidity and a slight risk of running into some local flora and fauna. Having said this, socks still need to be selected with a degree of care, as there are few falls from grace quite like that of fresh socks that go from…

COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION ORDER TODAY! OCTOBER 2023 COVER STORY Sarah Calcutt INSIDE National Fruit Show preview, ploughing match results NOVEMBER 2023 COVER STORY Perry Court Farm INSIDE Vineyard & Winery Show, The Golden Boot, JD Richmond & Son DECEMBER 2023 COVER STORY The Oaks Poultry Farm  INSIDE National Fruit Show review, End of year property review JANUARY 2024 COVER STORY Springham Farm INSIDE Vineyard & Winery Show, CLM, Farm Construction FEBRUARY 2024 COVER STORY Supply chain pressures  INSIDE Farm Expo preview MARCH 2024 COVER STORY Lambing at Hadlow College  INSIDE Wiltshires APRIL 2024 COVER STORY SOES INSIDE Farm Expo preview M&A Brown & Sons MAY 2024 COVER STORY Protest highlights challenges facing farmers INSIDE Southern Farmers JUNE 2024 COVER STORY South East Forestry INSIDE JD Richmond & Son JULY 2024…

The new three-model range of M7004 tractors have much in common with the outgoing M7003s. This includes the 6.1-litre four-pot Kubota engine (130-175hp) and the same six-speed powershift or KVT stepless transmission options, and there are no changes to the model numbers. Main updates include the repositioned cooling pack at the front of the engine for better access to key components, and the new design of the fuel and DEF tanks with integrated steps makes it easier to get in and out of the cab. The automatic assisted parking brake is also new. The K7004 heading to Lamma in January will be finished in an orange and black wrap to mark the 50th anniversary of Kubota in Europe.…

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Did you know over 9,000 farmers currently benefit from our unrivalled advice? If you want to know what they know, take a look at some of our subscription offers where you'll get the latest news, updates and guidance, as well as our unique DLG tractor tests delivered to your door, every single month. Subscribers can also enjoy free access to our 28-year in-depth test archive, PLUS receive access to a complimentary digital copy of Agricultural Trader and Farm Machinery every month. Guarantee you make the right choice when purchasing machinery by subscribing to pron today. Makes a great gift! "I would highly recommend the magazine to other farmers and contractors interested in operating their machinery more efficiently"Thomas Robinson, farmer & contractor, Whiddon Down "profi’s impartial, independent tractor tests are…

The ErgoSteer steering system can be retrofitted in less than one hour, and there is even an installation video to show you how to do it. For our test, we retrofitted the steering system to a 728 Vario tractor. To do this, the conventional left armrest is replaced with a new version that can then be adjusted in length, height and angle using clamping screws. It uses the existing holes to mount to, but a harness with two connectors must be routed behind the seat to the top right of the roof. A Y-plug is inserted into the InCab socket and used to transmit the signals from the ISObus-based system. Then another plug is connected to the three-pin socket for the power supply. This is something Fendt is going to…

Just €26,000 for a farm loader with 25hp? But what do you get? From a technical point of view, there seems to be hardly any major differences to the well-known brands, at least at first glance: the Pacam 2525 boasts a 25hp Perkins engine, whereas the hydraulic components come from Bosch-Rexroth and Linde. Engine at the limit Fire up the engine, and the lack of adequate sound insulation is quickly noticeable. The front and rear axles have separate hydraulic motors. The little engine has its work cut out pushing the cold oil around the system, so, if you want a bit more of an instant start and go, then Pacam will direct you to the next model in its line-up, the 3025, which has a Kubota engine working through a…

When it comes to its 5.0t class wheel loader, Volvo is nailing its colours to the mast of battery packs and electricity. Indeed, to be super clear, it has even put ‘Electric’ in the model name. We were able to use the new L25 Electric and take a look at the technology. Lithium-ion battery Under the bonnet is a 48V six-cell lithium-ion battery and the corresponding control unit. Volvo suggests a total battery capacity of 40kWh, which it reckons is sufficient for an average of four to five hours of mixed use, excluding idle time. Once the L25 operator is no longer using the steering wheel or joystick, the main electric drive switches off to conserve power. Then as soon as the operator touches the steering wheel and joystick, drive…

When JH Agro first marketed the compact, rail-mounted bedding system, the MiniStrø, 20 years ago, it showed the out-of-the-box thinking from the Danish company. Today, a considerable number of those systems, which have a 1,000-, 1,500- or 3,000-litre hopper, are found inside cattle, pig and poultry barns outside of the firm’s native Denmark. In addition to both long and short straw, the MiniStrø bedding systems can also be used to distribute separated slurry or sand. The sales demand for automatic bedding systems for large and deep-bedded sheds is noticeably increasing — but not yet in the UK or Ireland. JH Agro is picking up on this trend and is currently working on its next project, the MaxiStrø bedding robot, which still moves on overhead rails but has a lot more…

Aworn diet feeder — and an ageing tractor in front of it — prompted the Casey family to contemplate an automated feeding system. For the past six months, the cows at Carnhill Holsteins have been catered for by a Gea DairyFeed 4500 autonomous diet feeder, which trundles around the buildings throughout the day and night ensuring there is enough fodder along the feed fence. And it is a move that seems to be paying off; an extra 2 litres per cow per day, along with increased butterfat and protein levels. But there are other benefits, too, as Cloughmills farmer Conor Casey points out: “It was taking us around two hours per day and 25 litres of diesel to do the feeding. The robot uses 40kW per day — we are…

Shropshire grower Bradley Farms has worked with specialist supplier IPT Technology to develop a temperature control system based on ground source heating that could have the potential for considerable savings when growing crops as well as making use of renewable energy generated on the farm for crop storage. Established in 2009 by Phil and Amy Bradley, the business is based near Shrewsbury and transitioned from contract livestock rearing seven years ago to growing fruit. “We met at Harper Adams and Amy went on to work at Berry Gardens, a major fruit grower in Kent,” explains Phil. “We became interested in growing blueberries as they are a more flexible crop than other soft fruit such as raspberries, with a longer harvest window and improved storage qualities. The downside of this is…

TRACTOR TESTS. PROFESSIONAL. INDEPENDENT. UNIQUE Driving impressions. Used machinery. Workshop. Management. Technical TEST CLAAS ARION 660 205HP AND ALL THERE PRACTICAL TEST Samasz XT-F302 and XT340 Low power requirement, high output. We've been operating the front and rear XT-F302 and TX340 plain mower combination to see what a simple set-up can achieve behind a mid-size tractor. Quite a lot as it happens. LIVESTOCK Kuhn Aura Two years ago, we took a look at Kuhn’s autonomous diet feeder, the Aura. Now there are hints of full series production starting and an on-sale date, so we get an update on how the autonomous project is progressing. Out DECEMBER 13th PRACTICAL TEST New Holland Pro-Belt 165 New Holland has an interesting round baler within its range, the Pro-Belt 165. You can read about our experiences with this…

If you have a story, or an event, please do get in touch: peterlove@madasafish.com, TEL: 01323 833125 Well the pace of sales is just starting to slow down, but we still have at least four to go. The trend on the second hand market has been stronger than ever as has the preservation scene as we survey all that has been going on here. It was all eyes on the Patrick Edwards finale sale on Saturday 14 September at Langley Farm, Clanfield, Bampton, Oxfordshire. I have known Patrick for decades and he has been a true gentleman to deal with as has Derek who ran the parts business and was seen at all of the major shows with the stand, they will be sadly missed. The sale had elements for…

A dynamic new web application has been designed to enhance health risk management for beef and sheep farmers and their vets. Developed by SRUC’s Veterinary Services team and funded by the Scottish Government, HerdPlan empowers farmers and vets to collaboratively create proactive health plans, efficiently and in an organised manner, ultimately enhancing productivity and increasing farm income. Herdplan revolutionises health planning by moving beyond traditional paper methods. This new online tool allows the entire farm team – including farm staff, vets, nutritionists, and other advisors – to work together efficiently on health planning and conduct regular risk reviews. By ensuring vaccination strategies, infectious disease protocols, biosecurity measures, and other important tasks are prioritised and updated in real-time, HerdPlan enhances overall health risk management. HerdPlan also simplifies compliance with health plan…

Unveiled by Vineyard magazine in 2021, this celebration of UK vineyards, growers, winemakers and wines has grown year on year, with more stands, more features, more opportunities to do business and, of course, plenty of great wines to sample. Organisers this year took the brave decision to add a third hall to the show, held at the Kent Event Centre in Maidstone, and were rewarded by an impressive uptake from exhibitors, with the result that visitors will be able to chat to representatives from around 130 different companies at this year’s event. From viticulturists to label designers and from machinery dealers to specialist equipment manufacturers, the Vineyard and Winery Show will bring together a huge range of suppliers, advisers and potential collaborators. “We increasingly hear from people who have done…