BOX FILLER

• Single conveyor with lowering end sections 1575mm long, centre section 1800mm

• Microprocessor controlled via probes

• Automatic box detection

• Auto plug and socket

• For boxes up to 1200mm high

• Doorstop bell for gentle crop handling

• Variable speed conveyor

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Very high standards

“We bought a second-hand Claas combine from this dealer in 2000, and when it broke down Will Tuxworth and his team looked after us well beyond the terms of the warranty,” explained local farmer, Andrew Pritchard. “Since then, almost every machine we have bought for our farm has been light green.”

Trading as A & AW Pritchard, Andrew farms at Red House Farm, Waddingworth. The family farm is mixed arable and livestock, and includes a new sheep enterprise using New Zealand Romneys as part of a strategy to diversify cropping including cover crops and herbal leys.

“We deal mainly with Will when we buy anything, and Andy (Smith) the service manager for servicing and breakdowns. Darren Coupland and his colleagues in the workshop are all very experienced and quickly solve any problems. Claas Eastern has very high standards when it comes to selecting dealer sta , and it helps when young, inexperienced sta are recruited and then trained in the Claas ways.”

Two Claas tractors, a combine and a Scorpion telehandler are used on the farm, and a third Claas tractor with a loader will join the eet in the spring. “We considered other brands but were fairly con dent that we would end up buying another Claas.”

Andrew is pictured on the right with his son, Edward (left) as well as Claas Eastern engineer Darren Coupland (centre).

Combine header upgrade

Gavin Bowser and his wife farm near Skegness and have been dealing with the Claas Eastern team for at least 25 years. Trading as Croft Marsh Ltd, Gavin bought his rst Lexion combine and a Challenger 55 rubber-tracked crawler with a plough, when land which had been rented out was returned and farmed in-hand again. Crops include winter wheat, spring barley, oilseed rape and spring beans, and the current combine is the third Lexion to have been used on the farm. “It’s a 2019 model, and we looked at changing it last year, but instead chose to upgrade to a new Convio header replacing the previous Vario version. It made a tremendous di erence, especially in matted and laid spring barley as we can almost shave the ground to reduce losses.”

Tractors include an Arion 660 CMatic and an Axion 870 CMatic, plus an older Arion 650 with a Hexashift gearbox which was recently purchased from the dealer. Gavin said that the Arion 660 will be used for general tasks, but that the other two tractors do the spraying and drilling – both jobs for which he wouldn’t have anything other than CMatic transmission in future.

The farm drill is a Horsch 6m Sprinter, and the sprayer is a Horsch 6GS with 42m booms, both supplied and looked after by Claas Eastern.

Pictured (l-r) are Claas Eastern workshop manager Andrew Smith, Horsch representatives Ian Gri n and Lawrence Gould, with Gavin Bowser.

Moving towards a reduced tillage

Trading as Pridgeon Farms Ltd, and based at Hogsthorpe, David Pridgeon and his son James were at the open evening. The farm is arable, and crops are mainly cereals as well as beans. The machinery eet includes an Axion 870, two Arion 650s, a Lexion combine and an elderly Caterpillar 75 rubber-tracked crawler and a Horsch Avatar drill, which were all supplied by the Claas Eastern Ulceby team.

“We are moving towards a reduced tillage crop establishment regime,” explained David. “It helped that the purchase of the Horsch was grant-aided, but the main reason we chose it was for the build quality and the exibility to operate in a wide range of conditions. This branch is the nearest machinery supplier to us, but we deal with the team because the products and service are so good.

“It’s great to see Claas investing heavily for the future. It demonstrates con dence in our industry and con dence in this area.”

David said he started receiving Farmers Guide four years ago and nds it useful. “I always see something of interest which isn’t covered by other magazines,” he con rmed. “We receive so many magazines, but Farmers Guide is the one we look forward to reading. The FarmAds section is good too – and whenever we have advertised surplus machinery the response has been good.”

Pictured (l-r) are Claas Eastern eld sales manager Jon Baxter, David Pridgeon and his son James.

Bird scarers in demand

The Portek product range is available from all Claas Eastern depots. Sales representative Stephen Butcher commented that bird scarers are always in demand. “The new Raptor is stocked which uses a range of audible distress calls to deter birds from damaging crops,” he explained. “We have a selection of kites, and our Cropgards provide a visual deterrent. The Laser Strike torches project laser beams which are also highly e ective and these sell in large numbers.

“We are very impressed by the new premises which is a huge improvement on the previous Ulceby Cross branch. It’s attractive and welcoming and there is plenty of room to keep products and accessories in stock. It re ects the dealer’s professional image.”

Stephen (left) is pictured with sales director Morgan David.

Attractive nance solutions

Claas Financial Services was represented at the event by sales director, Paul Baker (left), sales coordinator Kim Hall and regional nance manager Bob Taylor – who moved to his current role 10 years ago after previously working for RW Marsh.

“We are busy arranging out of season combine business currently,” explained Bob. “As well as providing attractive nance solutions for Claas machines we also nance other brands for existing Claas nance customers, and for those purchasing additional products from Claas dealers.”

Farm Trailers

Claas Western

Please contact your local CLAAS Western branch or call WESTERN Cirencester (Head Of ce) on Tel: 01285 863190 western.claas-dealer.co.uk

Please contact your local OLIVERS branch or call OLIVERS Luton (Head Of ce) on Tel: 01582 727111 www.oliveragriculture.co.uk

Drill

4 rows of tines at 16,6 cm row spacing and 60 cm underbeam-clearance for perfect trash flow in min-till conditions.

2800 ltr seed hopper with radar-speedcontrolled metering for precise seed rates.

Only 140 hp needed to haul the 6 m working width using 5 ltr/ha fuel.

Front cross-board for best levelling on ploughed fields.

Unique Double-STS-roller gives targeted reconsolidation of the soil just where the seed sits.