MACHINERY AND TRACTOR The Korean-built Kioti compact tractor may be a more familiar sight on the golf course, but for a Bedfordshire dairy farm it has proved to be more than up to the task of scraping. Jane Carley reports.
Kioti shows beef on dairy farm W hen W.A. Infield and Son’s scraper tractor broke down four days before Christmas 2018, it is fair to say they were in a bit of a predicament. Farmed by Richard Infield, operator Julie Humphreys and brother-in-law George Saunders, Ouse Farm is home to 200 cows and followers, milking 120, and the family business is one of just eight dairy farms remaining in Bedfordshire. Mr Infield says: “We had a relatively modern, albeit 11-year-old, compact tractor for the job and the gearbox went. We were not sure what we were going to do without it in the middle of winter.” Buildings comprise 100 cubicles plus a straw yard and a new covered feeding yard, so there is plenty of concrete to scrape. “The broken-down compact had itself replaced an old Fordson Major, but finding another traditional scraper tractor at short notice was not an option as their collectability has made them scarce and pricey,” he says.
A modern compact tractor, the Kioti CK2810 is working well on scraping duties for W.A. Infield and Son.
its predecessor, the Kioti CK2810 is powered by a 3A193 Daedong three-cylinder engine and has a two-range, pedal-operated hydrostatic transmission with cruise control and power steering. Mr Saunders says: “It is very easy to drive and manoeuvrable around the buildings, which is key for scraping.
Cubicle brush Left to right: George Saunders, operator Julie Humphreys and Richard lnfield.
Local dealer Farm Serve had demonstrated a Kioti compact on the farm earlier that year, although Mr Infield had not planned replacing his scraper tractor imminently and had not looked at any others. A phone call confirmed a 28hp version of the Korean-built tractor could be on the farm straight away.
The tractor also does duty with a front mounted cubicle brush, purpose-built by Suton Machinery.
“The tractor arrived on December 23 and we breathed a sigh of relief,” says Mr Infield. Offering a bit more power than
Farm facts n Business: W.A. Infield and Son, Tempsford, Bedfordshire n Cropping: 170 hectares grass and cereals n Stock: 200 cows and followers, milking herd of 120 averaging 10,000 litres each n Staff: Three full-time
“Shortly after it arrived, we had the front linkage fitted and Suton Machinery has made a special cubicle brush for us, which makes it a really useful outfit around the buildings. The tractor came factory fitted with the front spools and loader joystick, which is used to control the front linkage, so we did not have to pay extra for those.” The brush also makes for a more balanced combination, says Mr
It is very easy to drive and manoeuvrable around the buildings, which is key for scraping GEORGE SAUNDERS 8 | JULY 2020
MTM p8 9 July17 BB RM JR.indd 2
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14/07/2020 14:52