Essential Farm Machinery - December 2022

Hybrid Disc and Tine

Warning as criminal gangs target expensive tractors

• Big jump in large tractor theft s

• Boost security and lock up keys

• Police recover stolen machines

NFU Mutual is advising farmers and contractors to increase tractor security following a series of thefts from across East Anglia.

Initial claims estimates in recent weeks confirm a signficiant increase in the number of stolen tractors, with the UK’s biggest ru-

thefts by the end of 2022.

Highly-organised thieves using a stolen articulated lorry to haul away expensive tractors and loaders have raided farms in Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire. Criminals are also stealing tractor GPS kits, which typically cost £10,000.

In the latest raid, two nearly-new John Deere tractors were

stolen from a Cambridgeshire farm, together with a number of GPS kits. Both tractors were recovered within hours by Essex Police at Thurrock motorway services off the M25.

Organised crime

“We’re concerned that this series of raids could mark a return of organised tractor thefts from our farms,” said NFU Mutual technical engineering manager Bob Henderson.

“We haven’t seen this level of organised raids by tractor thieves for over two years. During the pandemic, we saw criminals turn their sights onto smaller, more portable kit but these latest tractor thefts show we need to up our game to keep thieves at bay.

“As the main insurer of the country’s farmers, we know that theft of vital vehicles and the GPS equipment that controls them is incredibly disruptive, causing anxiety and worry for families who live in remote areas.

“We’re responding to the new threat by helping farmers put effective security measures in place, and continuing to provide major support to enable dedicated police resources to tackle agricultural vehicle crime.”

Proactive policing

Detective Constable Chris Piggott, who has headed the NaVCIS agricultural vehicle theft unit for the past 10 years, said: “Proactive policing resulted in the quick

recovery of the two John Deere tractors recently stolen in Cambridgeshire.

“However, today’s organised criminal gangs have long tentacles, so farms are still at high risk. Gangs also tend to move their illegal activities to a new region when farmers and police increase security and local patrols.

“It’s clear that tractor thieves are now searching workshops and farm offices to find tractor keys and stored GPS equipment so it’s more important than ever to keep them locked away in a separate location to the vehicles.”

Last year, NFU Mutual invested £430,000 in rural crime initiatives – including support for an agricultural vehicle theft unit at the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service. It recovered stolen vehicles and machinery worth £2.6m last year.

The unit delivers intelligence, training, and works directly with police forces across the country to combat rural crime, in addition to joint international operations to recover stolen machinery from overseas.

For tractor security advice, watch the NFU Mutual video

JCB apprentice and graduate scheme opens to applicants

More than 150 new jobs for apprentic es and graduates are up for grabs at JCB after the company opened ap plications for its Early Careers Programme.

The Staffordshire digger giant has be gun inviting applications for its 2023 intake – with competition expected to be fierce after more than 2,000 people applied for places 12 months ago

Opportunities for 2023 include graduate ca reers in design and development, future tech nologies, electrical and controls, software de velopment, and sales and marketing – as well as a range of degree apprenticeships.

Rewarding careers

In addition, Level 2 assembly and welding ap prenticeships will be offered for new recruits from age 16+. The company will also be part nering with the JCB Academy to offer new TLevel qualifications.

Group HR director Max Jeffery said: “JCB

British farming on parade at Lord Mayor’s Show

he role played by farmers in producing the nation’s food while caring for the countryside was be showcased on the streets of the City of London last month.

An impressive state-of-the-art Massey Ferguson 8S.205 trac tor starred in the historic Lord Mayor’s Show on 12 November – alongside a 1952 Little Grey Fergie – demonstrating the in novation of British farming over the years.

The tractors were entered by the Worshipful Company of Farmers – celebrating its 70th anniversary this year – sup ported by the NFU, Massey Fer guson, Red Tractor and Surrey Docks Farm.

Master of the Worshipful Com pany of Farmers Richard Davies said: “The company is very proud to be a part of the Lord Mayor’s Show and supporting the role our farmers play in producing food for the nation.”

NFU deputy president Tom

Bradshaw described the proces sion as one of the highlights of the calendar. He added: “We can’t wait to get back on to the streets of London to support the Wor shipful Company of Farmers for another fantastic event.”

Farming’s participation in the parade was an opportunity to showcase the farming indus try to thousands of people on the streets of London – and to the mil lions watching on television, said Mr Bradshaw.

“I’m also pleased that once again we have the NFU’s cohort of Student and Young Farmer Ambassadors with us in London – a passionate and enthusiastic group – who represent the next generation of the British farm ing industry.”

Surrey Docks farm manag er Gemma Hooper said: “Mem bers of our Youth Committee aged eight up to 25 were in the parade proudly representing British farming and raising the profile of our city farms.”

Built in 1952, the Ferguson T20 was driven through the City of London by Gloucestershire farmer Peter Drinkwater

Hannah Hurdley says applying for the scheme was one of the best things she has done.

horsepower for the 720 model and more than 300 horsepower for the top 728 model.

Fendt’s Richard Miller said: “With an indoor event, we are able to showcase our products in the best possible way while also having meaningful and high value conversations with customers from the UK and further afield.”

New forager

Larger machines including the new Katana 850 forage harvester and latest IDEAL combine will be on show, demonstrating the Fendt range to all areas of agriculture, especially contractors and larger farms.

Technology will be a hot top-

tion can reduce fuel costs and save valuable time. FendtONE has been designed to offer the data needed to make important decisions that will drive the efficiencies needed in today’s market,” said Mr Miller.

Further tractors including the high horsepower sector models

new product in the ultimate shop window and helps us to reinforce our brand message with customers, both old and new.

“Fendt looks forward to exhibiting again in 2023.”

For full LAMMA details, go to www.lammashow.com

Revealed: New generation of greener engines

AGCO says the new engine featured in the recently released Fendt 700 Vario Gen 7 can provide almost carbon neutral operation.

The CORE75 engine (right) can run on recycled and potentially green fuels, says the company. Its futureproof design could see it further developed to run on hydrogen or become an electric hybrid, says AGCO Power engineering director Kari Aaltonen.

When run on HVO fuels, AGCO Power diesel engines are already close to carbon neutral, says Mr Aaltonen. Today, the primary challenge of product development is to get rid of the fossil carbon, or at least to radically reduce it, he adds.

“During the past couple of decades, AGCO Power has managed to reduce the emissions of the most harmful particulates and nitrogen oxide down to a fraction of the level they were a decade ago.”

The new engine is compatible with the renewable hydrotreated vegetable oil fuels – enabling up to 90% lower greenhouse gas emissions. But it has been designed to be compatible with future fuels such as hydrogen, ethanol, methanol and biogas.

Mr Aaltonen says the engine could potentially operate as an electric hybrid with further development. The AGCO Power CORE75 delivers 1450Nm of torque, the highest in its power class, he explains.

“The engine is designed to offer maximal torque at 1300rpm instead of the more typical 1500rpm.

“ This low-speed concept provides the best fuel

economy in the market today in its power class – 188g/kWh.”

Despite having fewer parts, the new engine is more robust, says Mr Aaltonen.

This simplified design makes it more reliable and easier to service. It also meets even the most stringent emissions standards thanks to an advanced emission aftertreatment system, which removes the need for an exhaust gas circulation

The CORE75 is the first in a planned wider range. It is a 7.5-litre, 223-kW unit designed for improved torque, fuel economy and reliability. The engine’s design and positioning also provides an improved turning circle and higher ground clearance.

The Fendt 700 Vario Gen 7 tractor will make its UK debut at LAMMA

Innovation Awards

Recognising

Future Farming Trail

Launches

Young Engineer Awards

From its inception, LAMMA Show was dedicated to showcasing young engineers within the agricultural industry

Farm Safety and Security Zone

Farmer Health Zone

Torques

Claydon to highlight Evolution drill range

Direct strip drill special ist Claydon will exhibit four of the company’s lat est products at LAMMA 2023.

The focus will be on the new range of Evolution mounted drills, all of which are designed for drilling direct but can also be used after consolidation in ploughing and min-till scenarios.

The model on show – the 3m seed and fertiliser version – will be exhibited alongside a 4m Hy brid T4 trailed drill, a 7.5m straw harrow and a 4m TerraBlade in ter-row hoe.

Claydon says the nine mod els in its new Evolution range of mounted drills take direct strip seeding to the next level. They incorporate enhanced operation al functionality with some of the company’s tried and tested fea tures.

The two-tine technology de veloped by Suffolk arable farmer Jeff Claydon in 2002 remains at the heart of every Claydon drill, a major benefit being its ability to cope with increasingly frequent weather extremes.

All conditions

It delivers exceptional versa tility in all climatic conditions, soil types and crops, yet moves soil only in the growing zone. The front tine removes compac tion, aerates the soil, and creates drainage in the rooting zone.

Meanwhile, the seeding tine deposits seeds in the surface tilth. Zonal cultivation means that the previous rooting and soil struc ture remains largely intact, al lowing worms to thrive and soil biota levels to improve.

With working widths of 3m,

The Evolution performs in all soil types, says Claydon

4m, 4.5m, 4.8m, 5m and 6m, the Evolution models incorporate 9, 13, 15 or 19 tines respective ly. Most feature a 1910-litre hop per, but the 3m Evolution 3MF and 4m 4MRF models have a big ger 2700-litre tank.

This larger tank has a 50:50 split between seed and fertiliser. The larger hopper increases pro

Syngenta unveils new spray innovations and technology

Araft of innovations and new technol ogies will be unveiled by Syngenta at LAMMA to aid more accurate and ef ficient spray applications.

The company’s revolutionary new EvoPac product packaging will have its first UK show ing at LAMMA. The pack is purpose designed to optimise results with the EasyConnect closed transfer system – set to become the industry standard for sprayer operators.

The EvoPac features a central high flow opening to provide a stable coupling onto the easyconnect unit. It is made from a rigid recy clable polymer, with integral moulded grips for quick and safe handling.

New visuals

Easy-clean translucent packaging enables operators to see exactly how much has been transferred during sprayer filling – and when the packs are fully clean with the system’s auto rinse.

The EvoPac can be used just as effective ly with conventional sprayer filling opera tions. New packaging will be available for a range of Syngenta products, with a transi tion to replace all liquid packaging over the coming seasons.

Also at LAMMA, Syngenta will introduce the GranuPac, developed for Nemathorin granules for faster and cleaner operation dur ing potato planting. The 20kg packs include

moulded grips for safer handling and the sys tem fits all hopper connectors.

The two-day event will see new devel opments launched in the company’s digital agronomy toolbox to advance precision crop management and that further help operators work more effectively and efficiently.

Syngenta says the coming season will see major advances in the BlightCast disease fore casting system for potato growers, as well as the Quantis Heat Stress Forecast to optimise timing of applications.

ductivity, while second and third hopper options for applying mul tiple types, varieties and sizes of seed are available to further en hance versatility.

All Claydon Evolution mod els feature a hydraulic fan, Arte mis metering control, tramlining facility, double rear toolbar and road lights. Typical daily outputs range from 20ha for the 3m Evo lution (150hp+) to 40ha for the 6m version (300hp+).

Vario Select evens out spray application

Knight Farm Machinery’s new Vario Select control system means spray applications remain even on irreg ular shaped field margins and around fixed in-field obstructions.

The system works by using combina tions of four different capacity spray noz zles at each spray point to offer up to 16 different application rates – typically from zero to 800 litres/minute.

The machine can also spot spray from a prescription map, with volumes changing according to the severity of the weed, pest or disease problem. Flexible rate control, includes turn compensation with instant switching between nozzle types.

Vario Select includes a simple comput erised nozzle selector which lets the opera tor dial in the target rate, required droplet size, minimum and maximum pressures and the working speed range. It then dis plays the available working range.

“The operator can also ask the system to recommend the best choice of nozzles for any particular job,” says Brian Knight.

“Vario Select uses well recognised tech nology; is fully integrated with the spray er’s computer system and is fully ISOBUS compatible.”

The EvoPac optimise results with the EasyConnect system

Agricast extends 35th birthday celebrations

Agricast has announced that its 35th birthday celebrations will contin ue until LAMMA 2023.

The replacement wearing parts supplier says it will use the two-day machinery show on 1011 January at the Birmingham NEC as a birthday party – prom ising visitors to its stand some special deals.

Price increases on the compa ny’s GLX, LDX and STX points will be delayed for people order ing them at LAMMA, added Ag ricast managing director William Robinson.

Best sellers

Agricast’s GLX point was one of its best-selling parts in 2022. Introduced in 2020, the point is backwards compatible with the Sumo GLS and grassland legs –and designed to deliver mediumdepth cultivation with minimal soil disturbance.

With prices starting at £37.50 per point, Mr Robinson believes the GLX is one of the lowest cost

options available. The points fea ture tungsten reinforcement on the leading edges, hard facing on the body and a redesigned wing to protect fixings.

Sales of the GLX point contrib uted to a very happy 35th anni versary for Agricast last month and the milestone coincided with the company reporting its bestever quarter of trading for the pe riod July-September 2022.

“Drought conditions over the summer, disruption in the pro duction processes of large OEMs, rising fertiliser prices and the cost of living have all hit farm ers and potentially led them to seek out cheaper suppliers of re placement parts, such as us.”

Agricast was established in 1987 to supply cast iron rings to Simba Machinery at the boom time for disc and press combi

nations. The company went on to supply many other UK man ufacturers with Cambridge roll and press roll rings.

The Agricast name evolved over the next decade as it start ed supplying direct to end users.

“Now, 35 years later, we con tinue to use the same reliable foundry to annually supply over 200 tonnes of roll rings across the UK and further afield.”

The Agricast team – with James (centre left) and Will Robinson (centre right)

Apprentice agricultural engineers collect awards

Twelve young agricultural engineering apprentices received cash awards at the Midlands Machinery Show in recognition of their talent and dedication.

Each received £500, paid in £250 instalments over a two-year period, with most looking to spend the money on tools.

The Newark and Notting hamshire Agricultural Socie ty (NNAS) launched the Mid lands Agricultural Engineering Apprenticeship Awards to sup port young people as they devel op their skills within the agricul tural engineering sector.

NNAS deputy president Pat White said engineers were vital

their hands dirty. These young sters will be huge assets for the industry for years to come.”

Award winner Robert Ward is a year into a three-year appren ticeship with John Deere deal ers Farol. He said: “I’ve always had a passion for repairing farm equipment and an apprenticeship is the best way to learn the prac

ond award instalment will help him to buy any remaining spe cialist tools he needs to work on a vast range of agricultural ma chinery. “I am proud, as not every one receives the award,” he said.

Promoting apprenticeships through awards was vital, said Andrew Walker, group aftersales manager at B&B Tractors.

various stages of training and try to take on a three-year ap prentice every year.

“We want to attract people with an interest in engineering. They don’t have to be from a farm ing background. Having the op portunity to work outside rather than stuck in a factory or car ga rage could be an attraction.”