profi tractors and farm machinery news

Dropleg goes under the leaf

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Amazone, Lechler and Syngenta have come together to offer an under leaf spraying system dubbed Dropleg. The application system has been developed for crops such as dwarf beans, onions and other crops where spraying on top even with air assisted systems does not ensure sufficient application. The Dropleg application system has been developed over the years.

"In our series of trials we clearly achieved better results in crops where hidden plant parasites or viruses were, to date, either controlled insufficiently or not at all ", explains Dr Hans-G???nter Welches, Syngenta consultant. Lechler is now taking over production of the Dropleg system after altering its design to make them easier to use and more economically viable.

The lightweight design consists of plastic drag hoses. These ca have different nozzles fitted on one or both sides into a TwinSpray cap for under leaf applications. Using the Amazone carriers the Droplegscan be adjusted to match different row widths.

Sales of the Dropleg will be handled through Lechler while Amazone will offer its aluminium spray line carriers for its Q-Plus and Super-S booms which span 12m to 28m. Kitting out a 24m boom with 30 Droplegs on an 80cm row spacing is around ???3,500.

McHale 991 goes high speed

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT

The latest addition to the McHale round bale wrapper range promises up to 50% more output than the 60 bale per hour 991BE. Dubbed the 991 High Speed the new model features a pair of 750mm dispensers which are stepped so there is an overlap of film when it reaches the bale.

???Over the last number of years contractors have been asking for a higher output bale wrapper. This demand has come about due to baler output increasing and also the move by some contractors to wrapping bales with six layers instead of four,??? says John Biggins, McHale sales manager. ???We have tested the 991 High Speed against the 991BE. For the test we made sure that oil flow and table rotations were the same. What we found was the 991 High Speed could wrap 3 bales while the 991BE could wrap two.???

The bale lift arm is engaged at the flick of a switch and once the bale is in place on the four belt wrapping table starts rotating. Once the film is applied the 991 High Speed uses the cut and tie arrangement it shares with other McHale wrappers. The wrapper is also fitted with automatic film break sensors which will notify the operator and switch to one dispenser mode. Operators can also use the machine with just the one film dispenser working if they are down to their last roll of wrap.

Once wrapping is complete the rotating table stops and is raised to its tip position while the heavy-duty damper raises to cradle the bale a second arm is automatically lowered to the ground. This says McHale allows the heaviest of bales to be gently lowered eliminating any damage.

Using the in cab control box operators can choose which functions to carry out themselves depending on conditions such as loading and tipping. The control box also allows the number of layers being applied to be altered and select twin or single dispenser wrapping.

More warranty options from Deere

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT

John Deere has updated its extended service and warranty package, which now has three levels PowerGard Maintenance, PowerGard Protection and PowerGard Protection Plus. The new packages allow farmers to put in place a service contract and then build on the standard 12 month tractor and 24 month engine warranty.

???Increasingly, customers are demanding a maintenance plan to help them fix their costs, budget more accurately and allow them to focus on their main business. The new PowerGard programmes are specially designed to control these costs, remove the worry and allow farmers to choose the best plan to suit their individual needs,??? says John Deere Limited???s aftermarket sales manager James Morley. ???This is much more than a simple extended warranty programme; this is a complete maintenance and protection plan that allows the farmer to budget for the full operating costs of his tractor.???

PowerGard Maintenance is where the dealer calculates the routine servicing costs for that specific model and all the customer has to do is call for the tractor to be serviced. There is the option to pay for the servicing after it is carried out or with regular instalments or up front when purchasing the tractor.

The next level is PowerGard Protection which covers the powertrain components, excluding tyres and tracks, which are not caused by negligence, misuse, abuse or accidental damage. Protection Plus includes all key machine components.

Owners can choose how many years or hours they want the plan to cover up to a maximum of five years or 5,000 hours.

Manitou - don?t forget to avail of insurance discounts

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Having been one of the first to roll out CESAR Datatags across its range of agricultural and construction telehandlers, Manitou is reminding owners of insurance discounts. The initiative between CESAR and insurance company NFU Mutual has resulted in varying levels of discount depending on the level of security.

Available discounts are CESAR Only -12.5%, Thatcham Approved (P2) immobiliser only -7.5%, Thatcham Approved (P5) tracking system only -15%, CESAR plus an approved (P2) immobiliser ??? 20%, CESAR plus an approved (P5) tracking system -27.5%. To find out which immobilisers are Thatcham approved visit their website www.thatcham.org for more information.

CEGR for Stage 3b sub 100hp New Hollands

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT

With Stage 3B emission deadlines soon looming down on us New Holland has announced it will be using Cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation for is tractors under 100hp. As announced in our article earlier this year CNH will be opting for SCR on its more powerful tractors.

Fiat Power Technologies is very familiar with SCR having produced over 100,000 Cursor and Nef engines which are used in truck and other industries.

MF 8900 telehandlers get more Xtras

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT

As well as improved operator comfort Massey Ferguson is now offering a new cooling pack option for its 8900 Xtra telehandler range. Up to 20% more cooling capacity is provided by the larger radiators to keep the engine running cool even in the most arduous of conditions says the manufacturer.

In the cab operators are treated to a 30% higher capacity air-conditioning and heating unit as well as providing more room behind the seat. Ergonomics have not been overlooked either with a new steering wheel, armrest and control layout while the stability indicator has also been relocated.

Remember the sun? Well if it makes an appearance this year you will be able to use the new roller sunblind which replaces the previous flip down version. For night time work there are new front and rear work lights.

Quick fills with 10in arm

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Joskin is now offering a 250mm (10in) diameter filling arm to reduce tanker filling times. The new larger diameter arm is compatible with Joskin???s contractor spec slurry tankers, which are often fitted with high flow vacuum pumps.

As well as being larger in size the arm has double articulation and telescopic extension so it can reach depths of up to 4.0m.

Sumo breaks ground in Africa

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Compaction in Kenya is now being tackled thanks to the combined efforts of East Yorkshire farmer Michael Osgerby and manufacturer Sumo. Two years ago Mr Osgerby was approached by farmers in the Ngorengore district, north of the Masai Mara looking to improve yields by alleviating compaction.

Using his own experiences of the benefits of subsoiling the 900ha of heavy clay/silt soils, which was reclaimed from the sea that he farms at Sunk Island, Mr Osgerby approached Sumo???s Stweart Peckitt. Late last year a trailed auto-reset Sumo subsoiler was supplied to Kenyan farmer, Kevin Naylen.

After some initial trials Mr Peckitt went to Kenya to see what the machine was dealing with and be there for a demonstration day held at the end of January. Farmers travelled from over 200 miles away to see what sort of job the subsoiler was achieving compared to the more common heavy duty spring tine two pass system currently favored ahead of planting with a tine drill.

???The Subsoiler was alleviating compaction down to 18 inches, allowing rainfall to be absorbed in readiness for the dry season, as well as leaving the previous crop residue on the surface to protect the soil from the intense African sun,??? explains Mr Peckitt. ???They were able to see that the Sumo Subsoiler lifted and shattered the soil, making it ready for one pass with a drill, conserving moisture and saving time. And, because the cultivation is practiced along the contour, the deep profile left by the multipacker discourages erosion.???

The next step in the Sumo plan is to fit a seeder kit allowing cover crops such as oilseed rape or nitrogen fixing Sunn Hemp to be established. This will help condition the soil, but be desiccated when 10 inches tall, adding to the mulch of the previous crop.

???Following the success of the trials and the demonstration we are in discussions to supply more machines to Kenyan farmers and we are keen to market our Subsoilers to other African countries,??? says Mr Peckitt.

New Holland goes blingtastic

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT

To mark its award winning achievements with the T7060 and T7070, New Holland is launching special edition versions of the tractors with a bit of added bling. Dubbed Blue Power the T7060 Power Command and T7070 Auto Command tractors get a special blue paint job, reminiscent of the Maserati cars, there is also a chrome exhaust stack and front grille. Eagle eyed tractor spotters will also notice the yellow stripe on the bonnet decal has been replaced by a silver version. And just to scream out these tractors are a little bit more than your average New Holland there is also a Blue Power decal on the cab roof.

Both the T7060 and T7070 tractors are available with SideWinder??? II armrest, front lift, IntelliView III screen and ready to accept IntelliSteer auto guidance and front linkage. The Blue Power version adds an extra ???2,000 to the price tag and if the silver Ford 7810s are anything to go by these tractors could be a good investment in years to come.

Are you tempted by the bling factor? Have your say on our forum.

Eastern counties get RTK from Claas

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Claas is setting up an RTK network in the UK following trials last year. Having purchased licenses that allow it to establish RTK masts throughout the UK it has already established a network covering Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Lincolnshire and part of Leicestershire an area spanning some 250,000ha.

The next phase of the plan to be carried out this spring will see masts being added in Kent and the plan is to then move towards the west and other areas where there is demand for this service. Each mast can cover a radius of up to 30km depending on topography.

The RTK signal can not only be used by Claas GPS Pilot steering systems but also Trimble receivers using an Omnistar HP signal.

???For a farmer to invest in their own mast and receiver can be expensive, so by establishing our own network of masts, this will provide farmers with a far more cost effective means of benefiting from the accuracy that RTK provides,??? explains Edward Miller, precision farming product manager for Claas UK. ???To use the network, customers pay an annual subscription, which will provide access to the whole network, not just a single mast. This will be of particular benefit to contractors or farmers with different blocks of land that maybe straddle a couple of masts. In addition prior to subscribing, a survey will also be conducted to ensure that there is RTK coverage of the farm.???