Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2023 i Profi

We're back in the seat of the Fastrac 4220 for this month’s tractor test. Or should that be back in the new refreshed Icon cab? Find out more on page 14. And so it begins. There are always a good few press launches over the summer months as manufacturers roll out what they've been working on… be it tweaks to an existing product or some fresh thinking that'll hopefully tempt farmers and contractors into spending again and keeping the factory order books full. But the coming months are looking even more manic than usual, particularly September, and it’s all down to Agritechnica in November, the first time the exhibition will have taken place in four years. Yes, there have been other shows over the intervening period, yet it’s fair to…

Twin row-crop wheels have been introduced for the Vervaet Quad 550 self-propelled slurry applicator by UK importer J Riley. Configured with a 75cm spacing, this allows an additional dose of digestate to be spread on growing maize. Rather than fitting single row crop wheels with add-on dual-wheels, the welded design of the twin row-crops effectively creates a single wheel with a pan and rim each side of a tubular centre section. In common with the Quad’s conventional wheels, a variety of tyre sizes and options are available, although the most popular tyre is Michelin’s SprayBib VF 380/90 R46. “The dual row-crops make it possible to apply digestate with minimal crop damage when historically you couldn’t,” explains Matt Carse, managing director at J Riley Beet Harvesters (UK). “In addition, two contractors…

The IC-Light+ camera on Lemken Steketee mechanical hoes captures the near-infrared range for easier detection in crops with a high proportion of blue in the leaves. The standard IC-Light camera system distinguishes between shades of green and red. The additional hues of blue captured by the IC-Light+ is said to be beneficial when working in onions, leeks, broccoli and red cabbage. Allowing young plants or those with a fine structure to be better identified and shown, the new camera system is claimed to be capable of working in onions the size of a pin! Operated via the IC-Light terminal, it allows hoeing as close as 2.0cm from crop plants at speeds of up to 15km/hr. Detecting up to five rows of plants at a time, the camera controls the steering…

The low centre of gravity and wide tyres on the SF132 allows the self-propelled baler to safely tackle 45-degree slopes. Flagged up as a compact, manoeuvrable, low weight (around 6.0t) and high-output machine that is ideally suited to working in small fields, it was made by Swiss farm machinery firm Lisibach Maschinenbau. Best known its homeland as a manufacturer of static maize balers and wrappers and as a maize baling contractor, the grunt in the self-propelled machine comes from a 4.4-litre Perkins 97kW/132hp four-pot block. All four wheels are powered (front wheel steering) and the maximum speed of the four-range hydrostatic box is 40km/hr. With a length of around 5.0m, and a height and width of approx. 2.5m, the pivoting chassis allows the machine to turn sharply on headlands. This…

Even though the chassis and axles are new, you'd be doing well to tell the 4220 Icon apart from its predecessor, which we tested back in the 7/2018 magazine. The 6.6-litre AgcoPower motor still does its job under the bonnet, although it now meets the stricter Stage V emissions regs. This was the predominant reason why we wanted to test the new model and see if it deserves a spot on your tractor buying list. So, off to the DLG test centre. AgcoPower with Stage V First port of call was the dyno to measure how much power was making it to the tail end. Here the pointer stopped at precisely 134.6kW/180.5hp with the engine spinning at rated speed — so not a fantastic start. Better news is that the…

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Did you know over 9,000 farmers currently benefit from our unrivalled advice? If you want to know what they know, take a look at some of our subscription offers where you’ll get the latest news, updates and guidance, as well as our unique DLG tractor tests delivered to your door, every single month. Subscribers can also enjoy free access to our 27-year in-depth test archive, PLUS receive access to a complimentary digital copy of Agricultural Trader every month. Guarantee you make the right choice when purchasing machinery by subscribing to profi today. WHAT OUR SUBSCRIBERS SAY “I’ve been subscribing to profi for the last 15 years because it keeps me up to date with modern technology and we refer to it when buying machinery” Mark Riddle,…

When you look at the specification for John Deere’s top 8R, 8RX, 8RT model, the 410, you will notice it only comes with the powershift E23 ‘box, as the Waterloo-built AutoPowr CVT can't handle the maximum 443hp delivered by the big 8. With many customers wanting a stepless transmission, the Americans had to come up with something, but, rather than beef up the existing bits, the team opted for a more future-minded solution. Electricity instead of hydraulics This 'solution' turned out to be the E-AutoPowr transmission; the hydraulic pump and motor are replaced by an electric generator and an identical electric motor. So, how does it all work? The diesel engine powers the alternator/generator to produce the electricity for driving the electric motor. This, in turn, drives the sun gear…

Providing an existing extended warranty in still in place and that warranty covers the first five years, it can be extended to cover a further three years up to a total of 8,000 hours at the discretion of the supply dealer and Fendt. The few 900 Vario MT models that have entered the used market to date will typically have north of 4,500 hours on the clock and sold for upwards of £195,000. Dealers suggest these tractors were typically sold initially with a five-year warranty option and that it is worth purchasing an extended warranty for peace of mind. What is believed to be the highest hour Fendt MT in Europe is an MT 940 Vario operated by Lincolnshire Field Products. Working over an area covering around 6,900ha with multiple…

Around half of the tractors supplied for our tests have their tyre valve positioned on the inside of the rim, making adjusting the pressure to suit different tasks and conditions that bit more tricky than it needs to be. One neat alternative is to fit a tyre pressure control system, which will regulate the tyre pressure in all four wheels (and can also do the same for trailed kit if it has the correct hardware) at the press of a button. But such convenience comes at a price: anything from £5,000 to £17,000, depending on the make and level of sophistication — refer back to our comparative test in the 9/2022 issue for more details on that. A significantly cheaper alternative is to use an airline, which plugs into the…

Basically, there are two different ways of adjusting the pressure in central tyre inflation systems — single-line and dual-line — and the pros and cons of both are outlined on the next page. Now IWN says it has succeeded in combining the advantages of the dual-line system with those of a single-line approach. At the heart of the VariQtire development is a cunning valve unit that is fitted to each wheel. When air hose pressure is 3.0 bar or less, the valve opens and allows the air to escape from the tyre, getting it ready for field work. Alternatively, when the pressure is increased to more than 5.0 bar, the piston in the valve switches so no air can escape from the wheel and the tyre starts to inflate. We…

It’s not leaving the farm, I'll fix it!" Albert Buhmann has an almost lifelong bond with "his" Valtra T160: as a young boy, he was allowed to sit with his godfather on the then brand-new workhorse. A family connection So, it was no surprise when as a 23-year-old he vetoed against the tractor leaving the yard with a damaged clutch after clocking more than 21,000 hours of service! Back in 2004, when the T160 first pulled into the yard with its snazzy metallic red finish it was taking over as the main prime mover on the arable and beef cattle farm in Neundorf, Thuringia in eastern Germany. There was hardly a job that the Valtra didn’t tackle — ploughing, cultivating, mowing, carting silage. Albert was always along for the ride.…

How many farmers compromise on tyre pressure, relying on one setting that will meet the needs of speedy roadwork but may not extract the best performance when in the field? The main reason for this, more often than not, is the time it takes to alter the pressure, particularly on jobs where the tractor is in and out of the field on a regular basis. “We normally operate our tyres at about 14 pounds pressure, though we know that we should be down around eight in the field and up to 20 on the road,” explains PJ McGrath of Tullamore-based Tara Agri. “But lowering the pressure really does make a difference; we noticed this when pulling the seven-furrow Överum with our Valtra 8550. Using the old rule of thumb, of…

Many of the proven features from the Kuhn VB3100 series have been retained, but the new four-model VB3200 series comes with new features and options. The first two models; the VB3255 (0.80-1.60m diameter) and VB3285 (up to 1.85m), are aimed at farmers looking for a multi-purpose and easy to operate machine. Main updates include new side and front covers, automatic chain lube system, additional cleaning roller in the bale chamber and the ability to lower the floor and knives hydraulically from the cab in the event of a rotor blockage. Designed for larger-users, the VB3260 (0.80-1.60m) and VB3290 (up to 1.85m), deliver 10% more capacity than the current VB3160 and 3190 models. This is achieved by a front roller with spring-loaded crop tines for improved pre-compression and crop flow, and…

UK TRACTOR REGS IN THE PLUS 6,777 tractors were registered in the UK in the first six months of this year, reports the AEA. An increase of around 6.0% comparted to the same six months in 2022, this year’s numbers were boosted by a buoyant June where registrations rose by more than 20% to 1,128 units. SMALLER SENSORS FOR I-SPRAY The sensors fitted to the latest version of the Kuhn I-Spray smart spot application concept are not only more compact but also twice as light as the previous versions. Positioned directly on the boom without any extensions, I-Spray will be available in limited quantities early next year on mounted, trailed and self-propelled Kuhn sprayers. MORE KUBOTA FOR GGM Kubota (UK) dealer Gibson’s Garden Machinery (GGM) has widened its portfolio and…

This is not our first interaction with Amazone’s semi-mounted plough — we had a look at the Tyrok 400VS for a driving impression in the 02/2022 magazine as an eight-furrow. Since then, a six-furrow version has been added, while a nine-furrow remains the biggest. So let’s meet our test candidate, which we used throughout last autumn — a Tyrok 400 6+1 V with hydraulic vari-width, a boltedon extra set of bodies and the new STW35 slatted boards. Amazone says that this new board was developed for medium and heavy soils, but it should also work well in lighter stuff. More on that later. Space saving With four folding parking stands, the plough can be stood in its transport position, helping save space provided that the ground is firm and level.…

Hardi has had good success in the UK with its long-serving Commander range, first introduced in 1997 and updated in 2005 and again in 2011. So, it makes sense to keep it in production while the Aeon slots into the range above it, not necessarily in tank capacity but in terms of specification. And although it was first unveiled nearly four years ago the first machines only landed in the UK last season. Not an improved Commander The two sprayers share very little, the Aeon actually has more in common with the Evrard Meteor R-Activ which is sold in France in blue/white with the option of Pommier aluminium booms. The Aeon has a completely new chassis, tank, back frame, steering system and electronic controls. It is available in two specification…

The 8R410 was also equipped with John Deere’s new tyre pressure control system. For this, the tractor has a belt-driven double-piston compressor with a displacement of 720cm³. This is operated via an electric clutch and, with the 12mm pipes, ensures an effective filling volume of 610l/min with the engine at rated speed. The hardware is reckoned to take just under eight minutes to increase the pressure by 1 bar with the largest size tyre option (VF900/60 R42 tyres and VF650/60 R34). Dropping the pressure is even faster — releasing 1,000l/min, the pressure is reduced by 1 bar in less than 5 minutes. The factory-fit system is a single-pipe set-up that is not permanently under pressure thanks to special valves on the wheels. Instead, the valves are opened or closed by…

Transmission Vario with Tractor Management System, forward-reverse shuttle and stop. Multi-function joystick with cruise control, engine speed memory, automatic modes and controls for hydraulics. Varioterminal 10.4’’ touchscreen and key control Guidance and performance software system Standard Trimble/NovAtel Contour Assistant, Smart Connect, telemetry and agronomy packages to include ISObus machine control, Section Control and Variable Rate Control. Seek advice–a wide range of systems are available. Cab Mechanical cab suspension, air sprung Super Comfort and Instructor seats. Height and tilt-adjustable steering column. Stepless ventilation fans with automatic climate control. Window blinds. Parallel wipers front and window wash/wipe rear. Electrically adjustable heated rear view mirrors. Radar sensor Chassis SmartRide suspension with ContantGrip. Infinite track adjustment. Compressed air option. Rear linkage and drawbar External lift controls. Capacity 11,500kg. Cat IV drawbar with Cat III…

When visiting farms Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors often find faulty pto guards. However, the condition of the shaft itself, as well as the guard, contributes to safety issues. Also, if a pto shaft doses fails the entire machine will come to a stop. In most cases it will not be possible to find a replacement quickly, especially for implements that require high drive power, because the pto shafts are matched to the machine. Lutz Katerbaum, owner and managing director of Landtechnik Möckern in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, advises his customers to have shafts serviced annually. His company is a dealership for both Bondioli & Pavesi and Walterscheid and offers maintenance, repair and conversion work for pto shafts and overload protection clutches. Fitting size Driveshafts transmit immense forces from the tractor…

There’s something about farming that gets under your skin, and, even if you leave to follow another career, for many there’s a desire to return to the agricultural sector. This is what happened with Tom Voyce. Having grown up on the family farm in Cornwall, he had a successful professional rugby career in England and then became a trader in the city commuting from Northumberland where he had settled with his wife and children. Three years ago, he researched the local contracting market before identifying a niche opportunity with vegetation management, so he took the plunge, buying his first remotecontrolled flail robot in 2020. Today the business has evolved with a growing fleet of specialist machines. “There are not many doing this sort of work in the moorland and highlands.…

Selecting a Vervaet Hydro Trike self-propelled rather than a large trailed slurry tanker was part of a wider change of farming system at Taylor Farms of Swalcliffe, near Banbury, Oxfordshire where a considerable area of cereals is grown but nothing is combined. A decade ago, Taylor Farms was a relatively conventional family-run arable farming business growing high-yielding combinable crops on owned and contract-farmed land. But a desire to increase the organic matter levels of the farm’s 380ha of light sandy Cotswold brash inspired the construction of an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant. “Although we get enough rainfall it’s not strong wheat ground, and it was noticeable that our soils were getting poorer,” explains James Taylor. “It seemed to be a case of either increasing cattle numbers or going into chickens to…

Well, that was a bit hectic. Thanks to the country doing a depressingly believable impersonation of the Gobi desert over the past month, crop growth has halted and in some cases gone backwards. Faced with what little crop had managed to grow and then wither away, grassland farmers understandably took the decision to take what little was there and hope for better next time. The problem was that this decision was taken almost unilaterally at the same time, causing those charged with harvesting all these acres to have 'a bit of a busy spell'. As things became unbearably hot, thanks to a new pair of ventilation fans yet to be delivered, moods were further darkened by the unyielding hard-baked ground conditions, giving man and machine a thorough beating. After a…

Sitting between the existing VT30 (14.5cm) and CCI800 (20.3cm), the new VTI60 completes Kuhn’s range of ISObus terminals. Designed for users looking for a large (14.5cm) colour touchscreen, in addition to its soft keys, 12 backlit hard keys have been added on the right-hand side. The hand grip on the rear makes it easier to manage on rough terrain. VTI stands for Virtual Terminal ISObus and the new terminal is in the process of being ISObus-certified for a number of functions. Connecting directly to the tractor’s nine-pin ISObus socket, an optional harness is available if the tractor does not have the necessary socket. Scan now to get our weekly news email…

In our recent Profi Twitter poll, we sought opinions on whether respondents would be open to granting a manufacturer complete access to the data systems on their machines. Approximately 48.4% of participants expressed their willingness to allow manufacturers full access to their data systems. Conversely, 51.6% of respondents preferred to withhold such access, maintaining control over their data. We will be sharing another poll on our Twitter page in the coming weeks, so make sure you head over to @profitractors (or scan the QR code). Next time we will be asking are you planning on going to Agritechnica in November? Our polls only last a few days so make sure you keep an eye out and as always, we’ll post the results right here. We appreciate your participation and look…

Kuhn will premiere an autonomous solution for arable farms at Agritechnica in November. Called Karl, and described as another gigantic R&D project after the Aura livestock feeding robot, Kuhn CEO Thierry Krier confirms that the work started over six years ago and that four generations of prototypes have been evaluated. Speaking at an international press conference at Saverne in France, Mr Krier says that the current version is finished. He stresses that Karl is not a tractor. “We are an implement manufacturer and it was born from tools,” he comments. “It is the final part of a solution we believe is right for the European market.” Described as not just a robot but a machine that can do much more, other than the name and that it runs on rubber…

Separating slurry is becoming a hot topic, especially with dairy farmers looking to export nutrients and make the most of available storage space. Forage growers, too, have learned that the valuable liquor can be used more effectively on grassland, while the solid fraction is ideal for arable crops. But separators are not something everyone wants to buy or be tasked with operating. This is where Borger and Stade identify the opportunity for the large capacity TwinSep mobile separator, which could be operated by a contractor. Although it’s worth noting that, where the separated solids are going to be used for green bedding in cubicles, you should ideally invest in your own machine for hygiene reasons. Two separators The mobile TwinSep is built on a HGV trailer and consists of two…

Launched at the tail end of 2017, Fendt 900 Vario MT tracked tractors are assembled in the same Jackson, Minnesota plant that built Challenger MT700 series. Although these now Fendt branded Vario MT models have a very firm Marktoberdorf stamp upon them, there is plenty of heavy US engineering built into these ‘green’ MT models. A 900 Vario MT is most definitely a Fendt but it retains a strong American accent. AGCO took over Caterpillar Challenger production back in 2002, so blending European and US thinking into 900 Vario MT has clearly not been a rush job. AGCO also intended to make the Fendt MT closer to a wheeled tractor in terms of its overall versatility, and certainly more than was the case with the Challenger MT700 series. One aim…

Pre-owned Challenger MT700 models, including the last 348hp to 438hp MT700E series, are readily available. Our used guide to these models (profi 08/2018) suggests these make a sound buy, although since that report appeared, MT700E models went through a period when engine problems started to become common. If you are in the market for earlier B and C models, these have Caterpillar engines that are dependable as long as the oil is changed to schedule. The short running D series have AGCO Power of a different design used in the MT700E series and this is not known for any specific problems. The original AGCO Power unit in the MT700E was, and remains, a good performer but the problems some users experienced proved severe enough for ACGO to replace all engines…

Tractors are now typically clad with radial tyres rather than cross plys. Their volumes have been increased over the years, although diameters have not followed suit (see the illustration “The volume is growing”). Lots of air, lots of load capacity The advantage of more air in a tyre is that the wheel can carry a higher load. Or vice versa: the larger the tyre volume, the less air pressure is required to carry the same wheel load. The new carcasses with IF (High Flexion) or VF (Very High Flexion) technology offer a 40% higher load capacity or reduced air pressure. However, tyre technology cannot overcome “the field/road dilemma” (see the illustration to the right). A high inflation pressure leads to deep ruts in the field, which costs a lot in…

Understanding the demands of modern agriculture and developing that knowledge into an agricultural tyre that will last the distance are the main goals for Continental Tyres. Manufacturing tyres is just one of the components of this multi-faceted business as the parent group Continental AG, more commonly known as Continental or colloquially as Conti, is a German multinational automotive parts manufacturing company also specialising in brake systems, vehicle electronics and tachographs to name a few. Little bit of history With a pedigree in tyre production stretching back to when Continental Tyres was founded in 1871 in Hanover, the company left the agricultural market back in 2004 when it sold its agricultural interests to Mitas in the Czech Republic. When Mitas was taken over by Trelleborg in 2016, Continental reclaimed its brand…

While novel-looking, rear-mounted tractor loaders solved an issue in the early days of the three-point linkage and lighter, twowheel-drive front axles, today they're seen as a bit of an oddity compared to their front-mounted alternatives. That said, there are still companies selling such implements. Back in 2010, Fendt designers believed they had a Eureka moment with the Cargo R, a rear-mounted loader that could be partnered with its larger 200hp+ tractors that had the reverse-drive option. This latter point meant operators didn’t have to peer back over their shoulder and makes the maximum use of the increased load-carrying capacity of the rear axle. Front loader handicap One of the major downsides of a front loader is restricted forwards visibility, especially if the loader isn't removed when not needed, along with…

Out AUGUST 25th REPORT Wiping away the weeds A farm-made weed wiper has enabled a Bedfordshire farm to reduce the burden of herbicide-tolerant wild oats to a manageable level. Discover the full and interesting story behind the machine that now has nearly a decade of weed control experience behind it. DRIVING IMPRESSION Claas 12.650 TerraTrac A Xerion with a difference. Our test team takes an early look at the new Claas flagship, the 653hp 12.650, which is expected to reach the UK early next year. USED MACHINERY Weaving GD direct drills Weaving GD drills have moved on since we first reviewed the prototype unit back in June 2015, with models now spanning work widths from 3.0 to 8.0m. If you're thinking of investing in a pre-owned machine, don’t miss our…