21 minute read
Return of a live Cereals event
Cereals 2021 at Boothby Gra oe, Lincs in late June provided the rst opportunity for many farmers to inspect new and updated machinery launched last year. David Williams reports.
The show was smaller than in recent years, with many large brand names missing from the machinery line-up. However, there was still plenty to see as Covid-19 restrictions had prevented many public launches and demonstrations in 2020, so most stands had new machinery and innovations displayed for the rst time.
Precision farming products
The sprayer demonstration arena provided an opportunity for visitors to see crop application machinery in action throughout the two day-event.
Pictured (l-r) are Trimble eld applications engineer Lee Clarke, Paul Thompson and Vantage area sales manager for central England Richard Larke.
Vantage displayed the latest Trimble precision farming products and demonstrated Trimble’s Farmer Core software which is part of Trimble Connected Farm and which helps manage precision farming data. “Accurate record keeping is becoming essential, and our connected farm system uses AutoSync to transfer data wirelessly and safely without the need for USB sticks,” explained Vantage ASC area sales manager for the East Midlands, Paul Thompson. “Data ow is important, and the system synchronises information between the o ce and the machinery eet including eld boundaries and A-B lines. It’s easily shared with third parties too, such as contractors working in the same elds so it’s exible and practical, and work data can be emailed to the farmer when the job is completed. Having reliable data helps users make informed decisions.”
Improved cab
A new Claas cab is standard on Househam Air Ride and Harrier self-propelled sprayers. The Air Ride comes with tank capacities of 3,000, 3,500, 4,000, 5,000 and 6,000 litres and the Harrier line-up includes 4,000, 5,000 and 6,000 litre versions. Househam marketing manager Olivia Tant (left) and HR and o ce manager Danielle Pole are pictured with the Air Ride sprayer tted with the new, improved cab.
New agship model on display
Pecks Agritrac Case IH brand manager Graeme Matthews (left) is pictured with Case IH demonstrator Ed Watson and two Case IH tractors which were both displayed in the UK for the rst time. The Magnum 400 Rowtrac is the new agship model in the Magnum line-up with extra power and a new 21x5 powershift transmission designed to cope with the high working load. Also displayed was the new Puma 240 long wheelbase which boasts fresh styling, extra power and a new front linkage shared with larger Optum models. There are new cab steps with an optional wash tank installed behind, and CVX models have upgraded transmission software. The rear linkage and hydraulic layout is improved for easier access.
Making the grade
A new optical grader for beet, onions and potatoes is being tested by Downs and is expected to be available next year. “UK customers have expressed considerable interest having seen details on the French website,” commented Miedema Mercer Machinery representative Russell Blight (pictured). “Many growers are experiencing sta shortages and the optical sorter reduces the number of people needed to run the grader.”
On the KRM stand; a new automated tractor and trailed implement connection system attracted interest. The Combi Hitch includes a front, tractor section and a rear section which is connected to the implement. It allows a trailer or trailed implement to be disconnected and reconnected without the operator leaving the cab, and it is available with or without a PTO connection, and is rated for tractors up to 400hp. “It’s ideal for our Bredal trailed spreaders,” explained KRM managing director Mike Britton. “It’s a top-quality product made in Denmark and we started offering it last year. Many contractors tow their spreaders behind loader tractors for one-man operation but getting in and out of the cab to unhitch the spreader for each filling takes a lot of time. With Combi Hitch, the PTO, hydraulic services, electrical connections and Isobus cable are all disconnected and reconnected automatically and a contractor using the system reports a connection time of just 4.5 seconds – helping him achieve higher daily work rates.”
The Combi Hitch with an integral PTO connection costs £13,230 for the tractor unit, and £7,840 for the implement section.
High-capacity handlers
Demand for higher capacity telehandlers is increasing, according to Merlo general manager Shaun Groom. “It’s partly due to the handling requirements of AD plants and larger grain stores, but it’s also because more has to be done with reduced labour so bigger loads are moved at a time,” explained Shaun. “All Merlo UK telehandlers come with a trailer hitch and are fully homologated for towing, and 40kph transmission ensures efficiency for transport tasks and movement between sites.” Shaun is pictured (right) with Merlo dealer Agriscope director Marc Shaw.
Rear wheel steering has been added to trailed sprayers from Hardi. The new Aeon sprayer is the flagship to the trailed range and comes in 4,200 and 5,200-litre capacities with Delta Force or Twin Force booms. Existing Navigator and Commander trailed sprayers retain their hitch geometry steering systems. The Aeon has a new colour scheme and hydraulic pivoting mudguards which move with the wheels to help prevent mud being thrown up. A new plumbing system includes a larger 35-litre induction bowl with 120 litres/min liquid flow for improved container rinsing. Hardi southern area territory manager Peter Wiles is pictured with the new Aeon sprayer.
Rear-wheel steering for trailed sprayers
John Deere featured the new X9-series high capacity combine which was displayed for the first time after a small number of test units operated in the UK last harvest. (See Farmers Guide’s Sept 2020 issue for a full review.) The 8RX four-track crawler tractor was demonstrated by several dealers early last year before Covid-19 restrictions prevented events continuing but was on the Cereals stand this year and attracted considerable interest. The 7R 350 tractor and R700 trailed sprayer were also both new on the stand.
“The 8RX has proved very successful, particularly in the Eastern Counties, but also elsewhere,” explained John Deere marketing manager Chris Wiltshire (pictured). “It’s replacing twin-track, and larger four-track crawlers as well as large, wheeled tractors and as well as offering advantages for big arable farms, it’s proving ideal for vegetable and salad producers who have to be able to operate whatever the conditions.”
New slurry treatment system
Vogelsang promoted its new SyreN slurry treatment system. An IBC of sulphuric acid is carried in a holder on the front linkage, and the pH of slurry is constantly measured as it is applied to the field. When the pH is too high, then acid is added to the flow to reduce the pH to 6.4, locking in the ammonia to maintain its nutrient value and reducing the smell. The process also adds sulphur.
“It’s a Danish design and Vogelsang bought the rights to manufacture it in-house,” explained Vogelsang UK sales manager Sion Williams. “It’s available now and users are likely to be able to access grants to assist with the purchase price of £75,000 which includes the analyser, hardware and pipework, and the nozzle system.”
Having launched a new zero-till drill at the Groundswell event a week before; iZona followed up at Cereals with demonstrations of the new drill, but also launched a completely new low-disturbance subsoiler. Managing director Martin Lole (pictured) explained that there is strong demand for a low-disturbance soil loosener for use in reduced tillage regimes, as most models currently available leave the land needing further cultivation before drilling. “The problem with direct-drilling is that compaction still occurs and needs removing. Our new cultivator leaves residues on top and doesn’t bring clods to the surface. The residue flow is excellent as the leg spacing is 500mm with a 750mm stagger, so it copes easily with large amounts of trash. Shear-pin rather than hydraulic leg protection is used, as keeping the legs rigid ensures that the optimum eight-degree working angle for the feet is maintained.”
Points knock on for quick and easy replacement and wings are available in 100, 150 and 250mm widths. Carbide tips are used along the edges of the wings and on the points. The rear 600mm packer has been specially designed to focus pressure on the areas where most disturbance is likely, to reconsolidate and leave a waterproof slot. The price is expected to be approximately £22,000 on farm.
New low-disturbance subsoiler
Modular tine cultivator
The SuperMaxx tine cultivator from Wox Agri Services is available in 3, 5, 6 and 7m mounted versions and 9, 10 and 12m trailed formats. It has heavy-duty tines capable of breaking down large clods to create a seedbed. Mounted models come with a synthetic Ultra plastic Guttler packer to ensure a consolidated, level surface.
The SuperMaxx has a modular construction and, although the standard format has ve rows of tines it is possible to add two extra rows at the rear and increase the space between tines for improved trash ow. Managing director Geo rey Wox (pictured) explained that most interest has been from farmers for creating stale seedbeds to tackle black-grass, as well as for straw incorporation and seedbed establishment. The implement can also be used within direct-drilling regimes where supporting cultivation is required.
Also on the stand was a tine seeder with a new, patented tine system. Available in 3, 6 and 8m working widths, its primary roles will include grassland establishment, and cover crops within a regenerative agriculture regime. Availability is very limited for this year but orders can be placed for delivery in 2022.
Strong interest in high-horsepower tractor
Pictured on the McCormick stand are (l-r): David Eley, Ben Agar, Josh Clayton, Sam Spall, Joel Robinson, Naomi Bell and Donna Oakley.
“We are delighted with the latest McCormick tractors and nd the McCormick UK team very supportive with their excellent parts supply, service back-up, warranty and sales promotions,” explained Su olk Agri-Centre director David Eley.
“The high horsepower X8 has created a lot of interest and we have a long list of customers waiting to try our X7-624 VT Drive demonstrator as soon as there are stubbles to work,” he continued. “We represent excellent brands including McCormick, Amazone and Krone, and with our superb workshop team we provide top level back-up which we know is expected by professional users.”
Wet weather drilling
The Triton Seed Drill is designed to allow autumn drilling to continue on heavy land farms, even when wet winter weather stops other drills from working. The unique seed coulter design creates ideal conditions for seed germination and establishment whether the season is wet or dry. With no rear press or roller wheels and 770mm tine spacing there is little risk of blockage. The drills have a very low power requirement, so establishment costs are low, and the simple but rugged drill frame allows the drill to be used as an inter-row weed hoe too. A horizontal leg extension is a new option, which acts as a sledge in wet conditions for accurate contour following without needing to use the wheels.
The 6m version with a 4,000-litre hopper weighs 3.8t, and costs approximately £55,000 explained Peter Goodall (pictured) who is assistant manager on a Northamptonshire arable farm which uses a Triton Drill. Cambridgeshire-based Team Sprayers managing director Danny Hubbard said that while sales in recent years have been increasing steadily, there has been an additional surge of orders this year as farmers and contractors opt to buy British for security of parts back-up. “We are busy but can still guarantee eight-week lead times for smaller mounted sprayers and up to four months for larger mounted models and trailed sprayers. Our latest Arian 2 mounted sprayers are selling well and have quickly acquired a reputation for being quite bomb-proof among users,” he added.
Danny is pictured (right) with Ernest Doe Power Dartford branch and sales manager Nick Booth. “The Arian 2 is a great sprayer and we have seen strong demand from vegetable growers as the booms can fold individually, allowing the tractor to remain in the tramlines while working around obstructions and against diagonal headlands, and it is also convenient for headland turns where space is limited. It’s competitively priced too,” commented Nick.
Three seed types in a single pass
Amazone UK managing director Simon Brown is pictured with a Condor 12m high-output drill. The Condor is available with either 25 or 33cm coulter spacing and comes in working widths up to 15m. The trailed drill has a 7,800-litre pressurised main hopper divided into three sections allowing three di erent seed types to be drilled in a single pass. This makes it ideal for farm-made cover crop mixes. The pressurised tank ensures that seeds of di erent densities ow evenly through the venturi to maintain a constant mix. The Condor is designed for direct drilling and has a 12mm chisel shaped opener. Up to 200kg pressure is available but Simon suggested that as the point pro le naturally pulls down into the ground, relatively little pressure is usually needed. “Lower costs of establishment, reduced soil movement and 25cm row spacing allowing mechanical weed control to be used and reducing disease pressure are all attractive features,” he concluded.
Grain moisture monitoring system
BDC o ers grain handling, storage, drying, cleaning and ventilation products, and key brands include Skandia elevators and conveyors and Svegma continuous- ow dryers – both from Sweden.
“We exhibited our moisture monitoring system which was developed during the past ve years,” explained managing director Andrew Head (pictured). “It continuously takes samples from the wet and dry grain elevators and logs the results. Data can be viewed remotely, and the operator can set the required moisture content; then if this varies the dryer adjusts automatically to correct.
“Two dryers with fully automatic control based on the dry grain data will be operating this harvest. The main advantage is reduced labour requirement - as if the dryer can be relied upon to run automatically then it releases a sta member for other activities. Everything is continuously monitored. Operating data is stored and can be downloaded, so for those o ering contract drying it’s easy to generate accurate reports for customers.”
BDC’s monitoring system costs approximately £12,000.
Sales of Fendt tractors are strong and the new FendtOne operating system which has been introduced only on certain models is proving popular, commented Chandlers (Farm Equipment) Ltd dealer principal for the Fendt brand Paul Kettle. “The new terminals are very user-friendly and have everything in the right place making it easier to make the most of the tractors’ features and potential,” he added. “The new Fendt MT Vario rubber-track crawlers are also popular with their new CVT transmissions making them easier to use and more versatile, and the track suspension which o ers a comfortable ride on the road. Fendt Ideal combines are also proving a success for British farms, and we look forward to demonstrating them this harvest when large straw volumes in this year’s crops will show their true potential.”
Paul is pictured (left) with Chandlers managing director Gavin Pell.
Spraying technology can target weeds by species
The latest Agrifac Endurance self-propelled sprayer was displayed, equipped with AICPlus spraying technology which can recognise weed species and target spraying accordingly. Vegetation is identi ed by colour and shape and development is ongoing, but Agrifac expects strong demand from cereal growers. The Endurance displayed was one of two demonstration machines touring the UK this year, and it has an 8,000-litre tank and 36m booms, although booms up to 54m are available. Also displayed was a Condor 5 demonstrator, available in 4,000- and 5,000-litre versions and equipped with the plant recognition technology. Pictured with the new Endurance sprayer are managing director Chris Armitage and marketing manager Georgina Gamer.
New roller packer displayed for the rst time
J Brock & Sons displayed the latest version of its Campaign tine drill, in a 12m working width. “We have received very useful feedback from users of the previous versions and have used this to further improve the design,” explained managing director and Campaign Drill designer Philip Brock. The hopper holds 5,000kg of seed and working widths up to 13.35m are available. A new chassis improves access to the metering systems, there are bigger main and wing wheels, and the seed distribution pipework is re-routed so that it folds neatly but also allows optimum seed ow at high rates.
“Interest is from larger farms, and many are existing customers,” stressed Philip. “This autumn we expect to be very busy as the new design has increased the number of requests for demonstrations.”
First time exhibiting for trailer rm
Larrington Trailers exhibited for the rst time and managing director Richard Larrington and his team were busy explaining features and bene ts of a new central tyre in ation system. “We were approached to build trailers on rubber track assemblies for a customer, but they were so heavy and expensive that we looked at tyres capable of operating at extremely low in ation pressures in the eld instead,” he explained. “Higher pressures are needed for road work so a central tyre in ation system was sourced.”
Richard said that a major drawback of most systems used to adjust pressures in the eld is the time it takes to in ate large oatation tyres. His system uses a compressor driven by the tractor’s hydraulic supply which provides up to 200ft3 of air per minute. Power-beyond allows compressor operation only when needed, saving fuel, and wear and tear.
“With on-board tyre in ation we can run the tractor tyres at 0.5 Bars in the eld, and the trailer tyres at 1.0 Bar - then in ate them to the ideal pressures for road work in under two minutes,” he explained.
Larrington Trailers is the o cial importer for AgriBrink in ation systems and the version displayed costs £16,950 tted.
Autonomous eld robot demonstrated
Cousins displayed its new open channel roller packer which was designed for the TopDisc cultivator for the rst time. The roller is available separately to retro- t to existing machines, but managing director Laura Cousins explained that it works best for shallow cultivations and most demand is for spring seedbeds. “It’s been a very busy show for us and I think everyone is pleased to be out and about and enjoying a return to normality,” she said. Pictured on the Cousins stand are (l-r) David Howard, ???, John Cousins and Laura Cousins. The AgXeed Agbot autonomous eld robot was demonstrated, having been brought over specially from the Netherlands. Costing approximately 220,000 Euros with no PTO or auxiliary hydraulics, or 260,000 Euros with a PTO and an external hydraulic supply, the robot has diesel-electric drive and up to 156hp available. Implements mount to a standard three-point rear hitch. Claas has recently invested a minority stake in the company with the intention of sharing autonomous vehicle technology. AgXeed says the Agbot will be available commercially next year and is keen to appoint UK dealers although it will supply direct initially.
Home-saved seed drives demand for seed dressers
McArthur Agriculture specialises in grain storage and processing machinery, and is the UK importer for JK Machinery cleaning, sorting and dehulling equipment. “It’s a really good range of smaller scale grain processing equipment,” explained managing director John McArthur. “The manufacturer has considerable experience of integrating its units into systems to form processes and our relationship allows our customers to share that experience to achieve e ective solutions. Demand for seed dressers is high, from farmers wanting to clean home-saved seed to others who have diversi ed into speciality crops. Demand has grown as farmers want to add value to what they are producing, and we can supply JK Machinery dressers o ering work rates from 0.5t/hr upwards.”
Techneat displayed its new Microcast Drill Mate with a new metering cartridge capable of handling products from micro-granules to slug pellets, and which is expected to generate considerable interest for establishing seed mixes and cover crops. It is gravity fed and comes with integral GPS rate control, allowing rates to adjust automatically to suit the travel speed. An in-cab console provides control and with the GPS receiver on the machine itself it comes as a fully self-contained unit. With a 200-litre tank and a single outlet to supply the drill venturi, it costs £3,134. Director James English is pictured with the new Drill Mate.
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Single belt reduces losses in fragile crops
The V6750 round baler from McHale o ers the features and reliability needed by professional farmers and contractors. The version displayed had an optional single belt and automatic greasing and McHale area sales manager Kieran Hughes, pictured with the machine, explained the single belt o ers advantages for working in dry, brittle, and fragile crops as it helps reduce losses.
He said McHale is enjoying a very busy year. Mowers were launched by McHale ve years ago, and Kieran explained that a new wider 9.4m butter y model has recently been added to the range replacing the previous widest 9.0m version. All rear mowers come with vertical stands which save space during storage, and make them easier to attach and remove from tractors.
Wet winters see strong demand for drainage services
Long-established Miles Drainage Ltd reported a busy show with many enquiries for its services. “By May we have usually nished eld work and are waiting for harvest to start work again on the stubbles,” explained Miles technical sales manager Colin Webb. “However, following two wet winters there is particularly high demand this year, so we are still working in July.
“Most work is in the East and South-East, and we are also seeing strong demand for our mole drainers and for mole drainer refurbishment.”
Colin is pictured (left) with contracting manager Andrew Wright.
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