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Independent farm machinery information for farmers and contractors
In his New Year message, NFU president Peter Kendall says that, while demand for food should remain steady, the production of home-grown goods could plummet in 2009.
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AgriArgo UK Ltd is a new company established by the ARGO Group to handle sales, distribution and after-sales support of Landini, McCormick and Valpadana tractors in Britain.
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After signing up with Valtra at the end of last year, Hampshire-based AGCO dealer John Seale Ltd looks set to be the Finnish brand’s top-selling UK retailer in 2009.
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Drawing on technology within its Maxtron and Rootster sugar beet harvesters, Grimme has introduced a sugar beet cleaner loader for crops grown on medium to heavy soils or in conditions where there is a lot of haulm.
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… is the theme of this year’s Joint Venture Farming Group (JVFG) conference, which is due to take place on Feb 10th at the Greetham Valley Golf Club, near Oakham, Rutland.
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Ahead of the silage ground preparation season, Lincs-based importer Opico is introducing two HE-VA heavy grass rollers that fold to a 2.7m width for transport.
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Headline news from this week’s LAMMA show is that SW Agriservices and Moore Unidrill have joined forces to manufacture a new drill – the Versadrill.
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The addition of four new triple mower combinations means that Claas now offers a total of eight ‘triple’ models, including the 9.1m wide Disco 9300C Contour – the widest triple mower on the market, according to its maker.
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Sprayer maker Berthoud reckons its new Ulys vertical-folding boom provides improved stability due to its central pivot system, anti-yaw and auto angle correction.
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Just one of a number of tractor-pulling pictures sent into the profi office over the past couple of days, this particular example shows a pair of Claas tractors giving a helping hand to a struggling Scania.
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The UK’s tractor sales network continues to undergo change, with the announcement that McCormick has signed up another five new dealers to market and support its Italian-built products.
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US corporate giant AGCO has this week reported record results for the 2008 financial year, with net sales of $8.4bn – a 23% increase on the same period in 2007.
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Combining forces with neighbouring farmers can reduce production costs, but only if the business is well planned, Jamie Gwatkin, Benchmarking Consultant for the Joint Venture Farming Group told the organisation’s annual conference at Greetham Valley Golf Club, Rutland.
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Bryce Suma Post Drivers has recently launched the Suma Profi Supreme model, complete with a telescopic mast and a new mast lubrication system.
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Prices for P & K fertilisers have risen by nearly 800% over the past six years, and that trend is set to continue, according to fertiliser supplier K&S Kali – formerly Potash UK Ltd.
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The restyled Ford Ranger pick-up puts in its first European public appearance at the Geneva Motor Show next month, ahead of going on UK sale later in the year.
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New Holland’s specialist willow header is due to be demonstrated on 18th and 19th March at the Steven’s Croft biomass power station, near Lockerbie.
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John Deere has invested €3.7m in a new biomass boiler system at its Zweibrücken factory in Germany – to reduce the combine/forager plant’s greenhouse gas emissions by up to 3,500t a year.
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According to Wisconsin-based Farm Equipment magazine, CNH has introduced a new line of tractor-powered implements in the US that will be offered to both Case IH and New Holland dealers.
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The National Association of Agricultural Contractors has elected a new Chairman – Mike Simpson, who runs MC Simpson (Contracts) Ltd at Winterborne Kingston near Blandford in Dorset.
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AgriLIVE Smithfield is a new technical event particularly aimed at all involved in the red meat industry – from field to fork – and replaces the Smithfield Christmas Fair that was previously staged at the Bath & West Showground.
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Deutz-Fahr is in the process of updating its compact telehandler line-up with the addition of three new models, all powered by 102hp Tier III Deutz TCD 2012 four-cyl engines.
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Land Rover has announced that, as from today, all Defender 110 station wagons featuring the firm’s Utility Pack will gain a classification change – from M1 passenger carrying to N1 Light Commercial Vehicle.
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The new 2010 Land Rover Discovery 4, 2010 Range Rover Sport and 2010 Range Rover were launched today at the New York International Auto Show.
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Austrian machinery manufacturer Pöttinger is now fitting the heavier duty Jumbo chopper unit on to its mass market Torro self-loading forage wagons.
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Visitors to next month’s Grassland UK can expect to see John Deere’s new Premium line of round balers, which the firm is previewing prior to them going on sale for the 2010 season.
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MX distributor Chillton Agricultural Equipment has launched a new range of bale handling attachments for tractor loaders and telehandlers, complete with a new letter and number classification system.
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Lincs-based Opico claims that its new HE-VA King Roller will be the widest and heaviest range of hydraulically folding roller on the market when it is launched at the upcoming Cereals Event.
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For those interested in seeing Berthoud’s Raptor self-propelled sprayer in action, the machine is being demonstrated for the first time in the UK this week.
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More milk from less feed – that is the claim by Keenan for its new Mech-Fiber system, which majors on the way ingredients are mixed and presented to the cow, rather than the formulation of the actual diet.
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Visitors to next week’s Grassland UK at Shepton Mallet will be able to see one of only four reverse-drive Case IH CVX 195 tractors in the UK.
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Schaeffer Loaders UK & Ireland is the new operation set up by Belfast machinery dealer Cyril Johnston to handle sales and service of the extensive Schaeffer family of pivot-steer loaders and telehandlers.
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Following on from Kuhn’s acquisition of the Kverneland Group baler division in 2008, the French company demonstrated a reliveried FBP 2135 fixed-chamber baler/wrapper for the first time at yesterday’s Grassland UK event, held alongside the Bath & West Showground.
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This week Oxon-based John Deere dealership Farol has officially opened its new depot in Midhurst, from where it will cover the Hampshire and West Sussex areas.
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Among the raft of new developments on display at last week’s Grassland UK demo was the pictured transport wheel for Kemper’s flagship ten-row maize header.
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Boasting capacities of up to 12,000 litres, Dammann trailed, demount and self-propelled sprayers are set to make their UK debut at this year’s Cereals Event (Jun 10/11).
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Brazilian-built Jacto sprayers, which are shipped to the UK by Gloucs firm Kellands Agricultural, are now being distributed in New Zealand by Hustler Equipment Sales.
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Machinery maker Horsch set about celebrating its 25th anniversary this month by introducing a new 3m tractor mounted cultivator drill, a high capacity chaser bin and also revealed plans to re-enter the self-propelled sprayer market.
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Often criticised for its double cab pick-up’s bed capacity, Mitsubishi Motors has now introduced a Long Bed option for the popular five-seater L200.
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French machinery giant Kuhn gave a UK debut to its Euromix Plus 70 feeder/bedder range at this week’s Beef Expo event, staged at The Three Counties Showground, Malvern.
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The Irish farm machinery industry is facing its most challenging circumstances for many years, according to Eamonn Tinney Jnr, president of the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA).
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Amazone plans to unveil its 6m wide Cayena 6000 drill at this year’s Cereals Event, due to be staged on June 10/11 at Vine Farm, Wendy, Cambridgeshire.
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Shropshire-based manufacturer and importer Harry West (Prees) plans to launch a new range of vertical-auger diet feeders at the Royal Highland Show on June 25-28th.
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Claas’s Xerion systems tractor has been awarded with a Silver Medal by the Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) for its ‘versatility and practicality’.
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New Holland has upgraded its T7000 Power Command tractors, so that all electronic-spool powershift models will now benefit from the SideWinder II armrest fitted as standard.
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Despite occasional heavy rain showers, the 2009 Cereals Event attracted a record 26,500 visitors, around 13% more than the attendance figure for 2008.
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Finalised in the week before Cereals, Cornish manufacturer Teagle Machinery has signed up to distribute the Dutch-built Tulip range of arable equipment in England, Wales and southern Scotland.
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Raven Industries and Seed Hawk have announced a collaborative agreement for developing solutions to enhance air-seeder technology, according to US-based Farm Equipment magazine.
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The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers has announced that the 2010 Dairy Event and Livestock Show will take place at the NEC, Birmingham.
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In 2008/09 the National Sprayer Testing Scheme (NSTS) tested machines that cover 82.6% of the sprayed area, comfortably beating the scheme's target of 80%.
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With a UK harvest kick-off imminent, rural insurer NFU Mutual is advising farmers to take all possible precautions to reduce the risk of combine fires this summer.
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The compact, four-wheel-drive Deutz-Fahr Agrolux 60 and 70 tractors are designed specifically to appeal to livestock farm and amenity buyers.
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Terra Transport makes use of old but refurbished Holmer beet harvesters as an alternative carting option to conventional tractors and trailers.
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UK registrations of agricultural tractors (over 50hp) in the first half of 2009 were 0.5% (42 units) below the level of a year earlier at 9,224 units, according to the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA).
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US machinery giant Deere & Company has announced that it plans to significantly expand its farm, forestry and construction operations in Russia.
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Recognised at last week’s Royal Show New Equipment Awards, the new OxyGenerator Super 6 grassland aerator is also capable of spreading slurry and dirty water.
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Claas plans to change how it distributes its machinery in Ireland, with the firm’s current importer, Harvester Machinery Ireland Ltd, ceasing to trade as from October 1, 2009.
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Two of the bubble-like biodomes of the Eden Project in Cornwall loom large in the landscape as a biodiesel-fuelled New Holland tractor pulls a passenger land train back to the car park.
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The latest announced change to the Kuhn grassland machinery range, following the French firm’s purchase of the Kverneland factory at Geldrop in 2008, is the addition of drum mowers.
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Here’s an opportunity to acquire one of only 100 die-cast John Deere 5430i SP sprayer models (1:32 scale), finished in gold and packaged in a special collector’s box.
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The RABDF will claim another ‘first’ for the Dairy & Livestock Show this year when visitors will not only be able to kick tyres but also drive some of the tractors being exhibited.
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AgriArgo UK is offering a comprehensive insurance scheme for Landini tractor owners – to protect against unexpected component replacement bills.
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Steve Dowling (Bedfordshire), Charles Grewcock (Norfolk) and Richard Ledger (Kent) have made it through to the final of Goodyear’s Farming Innovation campaign, with the winner due to be announced on October 10 at the British Ploughing Championships.
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John Deere is sponsoring the mixer/feeder wagon demonstrations at The Dairy Event & Livestock Show 2009 at Stoneleigh Park, Warks on Sept 16 and 17.
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Due for launch at next month’s Dairy Event & Livestock Show, the Spreadwise-distributed Bauer FAN Bedding Recovery Unit (BRU) separates undigested fibres from slurry to produce a dry, clean and low-cost form of bedding.
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The first combine to use cylinder threshing and a single separation rotor has been developed by Claas to suit mixed enterprise farms that like the output potential of rotary technology but also want to bale their straw.
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Silage contractors looking to boost mowing capacity have two high output self-propelled options for next year from Krone – the BiG M 400, which replaces the current BiG M II, and the all-new BiG M 500.
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With a faster travel speed and the option to fit turbine or roller cleaning systems – not to mention a likely list price advantage of around €30,000 – Grimme hopes the Rexor will capture a bigger slice of sugar beet harvester sales than the tracked and wheeled Maxtor has achieved.
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Tractor Spectacular & Food Festival is taking place at Berryfields Farm Shop, Meriden, Warwickshire, on Saturday 5th September from 10.00am to 3.00pm.
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Built around a modular aluminium frame, the Austrian-built 12m/40ft Biso Ultralight 800 combine header is said to weigh in at around 4t, which is up to 2t lighter than the firm’s existing 12m Crop Ranger VX1200 unit.
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Enthusiasts for the ISObus concept of ‘plug and play’ control terminals, which can be used with any number of compatible implements, will welcome the new venture started by six European farm equipment makers.
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Deere & Company has announced that 367 manufacturing employees of the John Deere Harvester Works in East Moline, Illinois, will be placed on indefinite lay-off later this month due to reduced market demand for the factory's products.
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Suffolk-based Griffith Elder has introduced new models of the ‘Weigh Grain’ specifically for the Australian market, where they will be used on chaser bins and mother bins to fill trucks.
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Debuting at this week’s Dairy Event, the Strautmann ‘C’ belt front cross conveyor offers tub mixer discharge heights of 0.8m to 1.5m within a narrow feed passage.
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UK growers are reporting higher yields and a more even crop in 2009 from using the variable application of nitrogen, according to Berkshire-based Soyl.
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The new Hesston-built Massey Ferguson 2140, which pumps out 800mm wide x 700mm high bales, joins the company’s MF 2100 large square baler family.
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Kuhn Farm Machinery has a new three-bale model at the top of its dual purpose feeding and bedding equipment range with the introduction of the Primor 5570.
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Lincs-based Opico plans to debut its largest ever batch drier at this year’s UK Grain Event, which is due to be staged on November 3 at Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire.
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County Cork dealer Atkins Farm Machinery is hosting its second Ferri hedgecutter demonstration day this Friday (Oct 9) at Limerick Road, Tipperary Town, and expects around 250-300 people to attend.
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The arrival of the new standard 200 tractor is another significant development for Fendt – and rather more significant than its modest hp rating might suggest.
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Laverda has upgraded its combine line-up for 2010 with the Italian combine manufacturer now fitting the Free Flow cutterbar, which is available on the M Special Power models helping boost output by a claimed 15% over traditional headers.
Other changes include a new beefed up hydrostatic drive unit for the M Special Power, LCS Series, Rev Series and self levelling models allowing them to deal with tougher conditions.
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The Kverneland Group is introducing its second generation ISO Bus terminal – IsoMatch Tellus that can be used to control any ISO Bus compatible implement.
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Over harvest 2009 Horsch has been testing a pre-production monster chaser bin with a capacity of 34m³, the bin is reckoned to be capable of carting more than 25t of cereals from combine to field headland, where it then discharges its load in less than 90 seconds.
Overload height is in excess of 5m, so it is comfortably able to transfer its contents into an artic bulk trailer.
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Trailer and muck spreader manufacturer Richard Western has gone ‘continental’ for its latest slurry tanker range – revealed at the Dairy Event & Livestock Show – by introducing features that should help contractors to handle a demanding workload more efficiently.
Instead of an integrated chassis and tank, the two are separate, so the tank can have a painted or galvanised finish and the chassis an integral hydraulic linkage for operating a slurry injector.
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Telescopic handler manufacturers keen to widen their market are targeting farmers with ‘traditional’ buildings where access and head clearance are often limited and Claas is no exception – its re-designed 3 tonne to 6m model, the Scorpion 6030CP, has been shrunk to attract operators who previously could not get such a machine in their sheds.
On standard 20in tyres, the newcomer stands 2.2m to the top of its cab roof; width is down to 2.29m and it’s shorter too.
A 24in tyre version stands a bit taller but has better traction and ground clearance.
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Among the array of new machines Lemken will be unveiling at Agritechnica next month are a quick couple close hitching system for mounted sprayers and a variable width boom.
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Northern Ireland firm Redrock Engineering has called in administrators following the double whammy of reduced spending in the agricultural market and the economic downturn in the construction sector.
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JCB has announced that 2008 was its sixth successive year of growth for its agricultural division with sales up 14% helping the firm achieve pre-tax profits of £39 million on a turnover of £2 billion during 2008.
In the same 12 months the firm produced 57,000 machines down from 72,000 in 2007 but still retained its position as the third largest construction equipment brand with a share of 10.8%.
“After several years of growth, 2008 was very challenging for the construction equipment industry,” said chairman Sir Anthony Bamford.
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Standen Reflex has brought the Ploeger AR-3W three row self-propelled potato harvester to UK shores after success with a trailed machine of the same configuration.
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Not only is Case IH looking to increase its top forward speed to 60km/hr it is also introducing an anti-lock braking system and a number of novel features using this technology.
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Slurry equipment manufacturer Pichon is to offer a range of rear discharge muck spreaders that have been jointly developed with fellow French firm Dangreville.
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Veenhuis has developed a partition system for its slurry tankers that prevent maximum weight limits being exceeded on the road while improving stability.
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The 7400 range of CVT tractors from Massey Ferguson now mirrors the semi-powershift 6400 line up thanks to the introduction of the 7497 and 7499.
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Zetor is giving customers a taste of the future by revealing its Maxterra – a new range that will span 135hp to 175hp when it reaches the market.
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Lemken’s Kristall mounted cultivator comprises two rows of tines, which are fitted with the new TriMix point for greater mixing with reduced risk of blocking.
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Lemken has been busy with its sprayer line-up for Agritechncia, adding new smaller Sirius models and putting its own touches to the trailed Albatros.
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John Deere has won a DLG Silver medal for its new top link arrangement that allows the operator to hitch up to mounted implements without leaving the seat.
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McCormick has bred some new life into the MC range of tractors with a new four-post cab similar to that introduced on the CX within the past 12 months.
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As previewed on these web pages yesterday, the concealing curtains were finally raised on Deutz-Fahr’s XXL 1630 eight-wheeled tractor earlier today.
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It is entirely feasible that a Russian manufacturer could be the first firm to break the 400hp barrier for a conventional, non-artic tractor.
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Aimed at markets where transport widths over 3m are not an issue, Sulky is exhibiting the smallest of its tine direct drills – the 12m Seed Master.
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Farmers could soon have even more choice in the cultivator drill market, as the pictured 6m Mustang outfit from Hatzenbichler is set to land on UK shores once it has finished at Agritechnica.
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Achieving the ultimate in boom stability was the fundamental build criterion for Challenger when designing its RoGator 635, 645 and 655 self-propelled sprayers.
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Austrian drill maker Pöttinger has redesigned its 3m and 4m Terrasem trailed cultivator drills so that they are more in line with the C6 and C8 models.
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Sporting a yellow colour scheme to help it stand out from the rest of the red Lely kit is the firm’s Tornado RPC445 baler wrapper combination.
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Väderstad is extending its stubble cultivator line up with the Swift that goes on sale for in 2011 following further field tests next season.
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Krone is making its front mounted mower easier to set-up with the tension springs now contained in the headstock for setting the suspension system.
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Massey Ferguson has announced a number of new options for its 3600 V, S and F as well as the cabbed GE specialist tractors, which are used in orchards and other niche applications.
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A front mounted fertiliser distribution boom for crops grown in beds or rows is the latest development for Horstine’s AirStream granular applicator.
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Next year Lemken will be celebrating 50 years of operating in the UK and to mark the occasion will have a golden plough on display at LAMMA along with a range of new machines for 2010.
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Standen-Pearson has developed a new front mounted Powavator for incorporating Nematicide chemicals into the top soil layers, which it will be showing at LAMMA.
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The Same Deutz-Fahr Group has announced a distribution agreement with Kuhn allowing it to continue selling the Geldrop produced balers, wrappers and drum mowers under the Deutz-Fahr name.
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Claas Group financial results for 2009 show that while sales overall dropped by 10.4% to €2.9 billion its core Western European market held steady at €2 billion and overall profit before tax is €112.3m.
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Having developed a fully mounted 9m version of its Multidisc cultivator, manufacturer Tulip says there is now a request for a 12m model from Australian farmers.
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Cenius is the latest mounted cultivator from Amazone, which can be used to create a shallow tilth in stubbles for volunteer or for deeper soil and trash mixing.
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Several new machines from Massey Ferguson will be making their LAMMA debut including the 8900 Xtra telehandler which gets a number of comfort enhancing features.
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New Holland has joined forces with the British Bee Keepers Association to raise funds for research into why the bee population is in decline.
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Induction hopper manufacturer Watson and Brookman are to fit the Hypro EU ProClean rotating nozzle as standard helping operators reduce the time it takes to clean containers by half.
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Quicke and Trima parent company, the Ålö Group, has announced it will be closing two of its European plants and moving production of loader attachments to China.
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