Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2024 i Profi

It is finally happening … new equipment prices are starting to edge back as demand wanes. Or at least that’s what I'm hearing from a few sources. In fact, one person suggested that a new order today could be around £10k less than units that dealers had ordered into stock, orders that could have been placed 12 months ago. On the surface this sounds good news for buyers, but it does mean trade-in values will take a tumble, too. However, the bigger question mark is what happens to these more costly stock machines or fresh trade-ins that now appear to be overvalued? Will dealers offer even less on tractors they are taking in to try and balance the scales, or will makers throw some sort of incentive to keep the…

Providing the ability for a one operator-controlled slurry application system, the Storth ContractorPlus umbilical trailer is described as a versatile and efficient way to transport slurry through a 3km system. The configuration can change, but the trailer can hold two reelers, compressor, toolbox/fittings storage, quad bike and engine pump station. Everything can be demounted, including the engine pump station where access is an issue. Built to travel on the road at speeds of up to 50km/hr, the trailer has load sensing air brakes and hydraulic service brakes along with under slung leaf spring suspension. The long drawbar provides plenty of space for an applicator to be carried on the tractor’s rear linkage. The Storth TRC, a simple tractor/pump remote control system for umbilical slurry application is also new. Controlling the…

The 2025 versions of the New Holland T8 Genesis tractors are said to offer the same look and feel, but then with more power. The new models: the T8.325, T8.355, T8.385, T8.415 and T8.440, use the same six-pot FPT Cursor 9 Stage V motor as the current models (T8.320, T8.350, T8.380, T8.410 en de T8.435), but then with a 5.0-15hp rated power increase. Tweaks to the engine software are said to improve fuel efficiency, and next year’s models gain new hydraulic remote valves and couplers. We will have to wait and see if there are any other changes. The order books are open in North America with deliveries starting from the autumn. It has not yet been communicated when the T8s currently available in the UK (T8.410/T8.435/T8.435 SmartTrax) will be…

The 10cm wider front section on the restyled Grimme RH20, RH24 and RH28 receiving hoppers helps to increase intake volumes, and the traffic light control system makes them an easier target for reversing trailers. Hopper floor speed can be set from 0.2 to 6.0m/min, and the revised Capacity Control feature allows it to be controlled by specifying the throughput rate in tonnes per hour. The deeper pockets of the floor are said to empty the hopper quickly, and the reduced incline angle of the hopper belt improves crop flow. Operated via the IBX 300 ISObus control unit or CCI 800 ISObus terminal, new functions include Remain Control. This measures the volume of crop still in the hopper when refilling to reduce the fall height. The VarioClean function is said to…

The new generation Pumas are now starting to reach dealers in increasing numbers, and they include a new top model, the 260 CVXDrive, which we have been scrutinising for this magazine’s tractor test. Key stats for the big cat extend to a rated output of 191kW/260hp and a maximum output of 205kW/280hp. On top of these figures comes the 20hp+ power boost when there is sufficient loading on the pto (while moving at more than 0.5km/hr) or when on the road (at more than 16km/hr), allowing it to crack the 300hp mark. As has been the case since the Puma entered production way back in mid-2007, the getup-and-go is provided by a 6.7-litre FPT engine, although this latest incarnation has to meet Stage V emission regs using a host of…

It has taken a while but ISObus is finally becoming more accepted by owners and operators in the UK and Ireland. If it all works as it should, then the implement’s job computer will show all of the critical information on the tractor-based terminal. But not only that, it can also be used for variable-rate applications when seeding and spreading as well as the full section control of precision planters, sprayers and fertiliser spreaders. The first part of this test deals with the basic ISObus functions that are offered on the cab terminals of the seven 300hp tractors. The job for the test was to operate a precision drill, in this example a Grimme Matrix 1800, through the ISObus screen. The second part of the test involved sowing a sugar…

Samson has certainly bided its time before completing its slurry applicator offering with a trailing shoe. Initially there was no additional capacity at the Viborg factory, but this issue was resolved when Samson bought the Göma premises in 2021. Then there were patent matters that required some patience. This gave the Danish firm plenty of time to take a closer look at what the competition was offering and develop its own new boom. TSB 1 and 2 The outcome is the Trailing Shoe Boom. The numbers in the model moniker refer to the number of macerators fitted. The TSB 1 range has working widths of 7.5m to 9.0m. These fold up vertically behind the tank, and the macerator/distributor is mounted centrally. The TSB 2 has two macerator units and folds…

Although this is our first look at the hydrostatic drive KTH4815-2 telehandler in Kubota colours, we have already had a chance to drive its sibling, the Giant GT5048 (profi 12/2020). No secrets here. The KTH4815-2 is essentially a Giant GT5048 in Kubota colours, both machines being manufactured by Tobroco-Giant in the Netherlands. KTH4815-2 power is courtesy of a Stage V complaint 1.8litre 36kW/50hp Kubota D1803 three-cylinder engine, the -2 element of the 4815-2 model differentiating it from the Stage 4 model it replaced. The remaining 4815 numbering indicates nominal engine power and a lift capacity of up 1.5t. The latter is dependent upon the counterweight fitted, more on which later. As an aside, Giant GT5048 numbering shows engine power first and lift height, 4.8m, second. As to other basics, the…

The popularity of the 6R series means that plenty of users have found ways of adding little tweaks here and there to make them their own. Most of the ideas sent in by profi readers revolve around things that can be quickly constructed for your tractor — holders for a second screen, additional storage as well as ways to make them even more comfortable to operate. If you have carried out any modifications to your 6R or other tractor or machine, then please get in touch as we would love to hear from you. Our contact details can be found on page 97; go on drop us an email. PULL-OUT TOOLBOX This reader used two sturdy pull-out runners to make a drawer for the toolbox that he mounted in the…

Efficiency is key,” points out MathewLewis, who, along with his brothers Thomas and Jack, manages a multi-pronged contracting enterprise near Carmarthen. The three brothers took over the reins of the business from their father in 2022 to create Lewis Brothers Contracting. Surrounded by dairy farms, the list of jobs undertaken primarily extends to more than 1,800ha of grass silage, slurry spreading and grass reseeding, with three excavators also on the firm’s books for groundworks and land drainage. Their father Martin started out with slurry spreading and then added cutting silage to the list of services in the late 1980s. These jobs still form the backbone of the operation for the new generation. When we visited, Jack was working in New Zealand, getting some additional experience, while Mathew and Thomas were…

There has been a lot of talk about NIRS and what advantages it can bring, not just on a forage harvester but more so when applying slurry, giving you instant analysis of the nutrient make-up so you can adjust the volume in real time to match the crop’s needs. Yet this technology doesn’t come cheap: the actual sensor will set you back at least £15,000 plus the additional unlocks, depending on exactly what you want to measure — slurry, fresh or ensiled forage, grains —and what type of machine you are fitting it to. Last year, Portadown-based Hunniford Farms started using a New Holland NIRS unit so it could be more precise with its slurry and digestate applications to a range of cereal, grass and maize crops. “We have always…

Out MAY 3RD REPORT Claas apart — Atles vs Axion We compared the first standard large tractor with a Claas badge to its current tracked 'equivalent'. The Atles 936 RZ takes on the Axion 960 TerraTrac. REPORT John Deere 7530 rebuild When B D Agri & Plant posted the photos on Facebook of its latest refurbishment project, a John Deere 7530, we had to find out more. For starters, the tractor needed a complete donor ROPS frame. TEST Seven ISObus systems — Part 2 Now we know how long it takes for our seven tractors to connect via ISObus, our test team determines how good they are at the all-mportant jobs of variable rate and section control. DRIVING IMPRESSION Evum Motor ACar How about this as an alternative to a…

John Deere has expanded its 9RX range with the 710 (max. 781hp), 770 (max. 847hp), and 830 (max. 913hp). Joining the existing 13.6l powered models from 539-691hp, the larger 18-litre JD18X block in the new models meets Stage V regs without DEF/AdBlue. The engine is mated to the new fully mechanical e21 PowerShift. The close spacing of the 21 gears is said to provide automation familiar from the e23 transmission. While the increased power of the new tractors requires a larger vehicle concept with new undercarriages, the minimum ground pressure of 0.58kg/cm² is comparable to the existing models. The larger CommandView 4 Plus cab provides a big increase in floor space, and the combination of the new cab suspension system and isolated subframe is said to reduce noise and vibration.…

Pöttinger Flexcare mechanical hoes can now be equipped with the optional Profiline comfort control system. Available on all machines up to 16 rows, it allows the hoes to be operated directly from an ISObus or other compatible control terminal. With load sensing hydraulics, each hoe element has a double-acting cylinder so it can be raised and lowered by tapping on the display. With GPS, it is also possible to control individual hoes automatically in wedge-shaped corners, overlaps and along field boundaries. The Flexcare is available in working widths of 4.7m, 6.2m and 9.2m. Power requirements are 80hp, 110hp and 150hp, respectively.…

The colourful wrap on this Massey Ferguson 8735 matches its trailed woodchipper to raise funds for Cancer Research UK and Young Lives vs Cancer. The tractor and Mus-Max chipper were bought by Martin Wiles, who owns a forestry company based in the Midlands. He commissioned his dealer, KO Machines in Coven, to colour match his new tractor to the distinctive blue and pink livery of his chipper. The original colour scheme of the chipper was added by Mus-Max dealer Ben Price in 2021 and, after Martin purchased the Massey tractor to run it, he wanted to continue Ben’s work in raising awareness for the two charities. Getting the tractor wrapped, and changing the colour of the bonnet grills from red to black is not the only change to the tractor.…

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So, why would a maker of belt spreaders want to enter the highly competitive world of rear discharge muckspreaders? SpreadPoint’s Richard Kane reckons there is a lot of similarities, particularly on the technology side, with rate control with a moving floor and weigh cells. There’s also the fact that, although the muckspreader sector is already well served, it is a lot less niche than belt spreaders, which have been the firm’s bread and butter since it started in 2019. With an eye to future growth, SpreadPoint has introduced a 6t and 8t range for farmers tackling their own workload, and the 9t, 12t and 15t line-up aimed at the more intensive user, as it has a much higher spec as standard. For instance, the tapered body is fabricated from Hardox…

When it comes to electric-powered farm kit, compact yard loaders seem to be one of the main areas where battery power makes a lot of sense. However, hydraulic demanding implements can soon reduce the battery run time, which is why Bema has turned to old techniques by using a modern take on ground drive for its sweepers. The new Sweezy models have been designed specifically for this growing electric vehicle market. There are two versions: one with ground drive; and another variant with its own independent battery system for smaller sizes. In theory, both of these drive systems could be retrofitted to existing machines if required. Weighted for grip The hard rubber tyres have a diameter of 447mm and are 125mm wide. The simple block profile tyres come from the…

This is a bit of a departure from our more normal used machinery articles. If you ring up the importers of Vervaet equipment, J Riley Beet Harvesters, and ask to look at its stock of used Hydro Trikes you will be asked if your Passport is up to date. Well not literally, but the widest choice of used models will be located at the Vervaet factory at Biervliet in the Netherlands. Riley in the UK work directly with the factory to support those looking for a used buy and are best placed to offer advice on what could be on offer to meet your needs and budget. The Hydro Trike name attaches to a machine that first appeared in 1990. These and subsequent models share the same tricycle design template…

The cost of mineral fertiliser has put a spotlight on making better use of organic fertilisers. But the nutrients from farm slurry may only be 50% effective. In order to prevent unnecessary losses in crop yields, you need to know what you are dealing with, so you can determine the ideal amount to spread for a uniform nutrient application and prevent uneven crop growth. NIRS is a viable option The nutrient levels in slurry are typically determined by using reference values or results from lab tests of isolated samples. But in both cases there can be significant deviations from the actual values, depending on the type of slurry, animal feed and how well it has been mixed in the store, be it a lagoon, tower or slatted tank. This is…

The difficulty in recruiting experienced staff is not just a problem here, it is also one faced by Dutch contractors and this is the main reason why businesses with umbilical spreading systems are investing in remote controlled pumps to remove a person from the operation. This includes De Groen Compagnie, which operates in an area around the village of Aartswoud, just a short drive north of Amsterdam. Slurry is one of the most important jobs for the contractor, which injects around 200,000 cubes a year in a season that starts with grassland from the middle of February and ends with arable land in September. This is all done by two identical 12m Schouten Spider SP C1230 umbilical-fed disc injectors, of which one arrived new in 2021 and the other in…

With my advancing years I can confirm that my tolerance for the shonky and the slipshod is waning. We, as a species, have been tinkering away and crafting for quite some time now, so why are we still surrounded by bad ideas or shoddy execution? Last time I went on a rant I had an inkling it may not be for the last time and thankfully had the forethought to leave the door open for subsequent volumes. Valtra ‘hand’ throttle Muscle memory is a wonderful thing. Spend a day or two in an unfamiliar cab, and all too soon you'll find your hands automatically reaching for the right lever and, more importantly, knowing which way to move it. Already well documented, my Valtra is bestowed with an overly responsive foot…

BOUMATIC FEED PUSHER BouMatic has added the Butler Gold Pro feed pusher to its growing range of automatic dairy systems. Joining the Shuttle Eco feeding robot and FlyPit bedding robot, the Butler Gold Pro, which is made by Austrian company Wasserbauer, uses patented auger technology to deliver feed to the feed fence. Operated via a 10 inch multi-touch display, it can also be accessed using a mobile device. The optional feed hopper adds small quantities of concentrates or minerals to the basic ration. Volumes are programmable and it is possible to fill the hopper automatically. NEW TEAM TO LEAD THE NAAC Cambridgeshire contractor Matt Redman is the new chairman of the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NNAC), with Chris Gardner taking on the role as vice chairman. “This is a…

The tartan wrap on this JCB Fastrac 4220 iCON was added to honour Scottish rugby legend and motor neuron disease (MND) campaigner Doddie Weir, who died of the disease in 2022. The colourful tractor is the brainchild of Doddie’s schoolfriend and director of crop services in the Scottish Borders, Douglas Stephen. He approached his JCB dealer, Kelso-based Scot Agri to build a special edition machine in support of the ‘My Name’5 Doddie Foundation’, a charity which Doddie founded to fund research into MND. The tartan tractor can be seen at various agricultural shows and rugby games north of the border this summer.…

With all of the measurements and specifications boxed off in part one, we can now switch our test attention to what these machines are like to use and live with. Our comparison is not just a 'what’s good and what’s bad', but we also delve into what different agricultural end users will find important. After all, an ag contractor wanting a clamp climber will have different needs to an AD plant, whose loader requirement is more lift, shift and dump. Getting to work In most cases on a farm you are going to be hopping on and off several times during the day, so reasonable steps and handles are a must. Access to the cab is very convenient on the Volvo: the lowest step is tilted out 15°, offering an…

Lemken went back to the design drawing board with its trailed Compact Solitair cultivator drill to come up with the DT series in 2021. We had an early look at the 4.0m version in the 6/2022 issue, but even back then Lemken was promising a 9.0m machine. And that’s the machine we focus on here. As on the smaller widths, the 9.0m drill comes with the choice of a short or long drawbar. The former is for tractors up to 3.0m wide, the other for those up to 4.0m. Depending on the tractor, steering angles of up to 90° are possible. Hitch options are a K80 spoon, ring or three-point linkage. The three-point headstock instead of a two-point cross shaft is reckoned to dramatically reduce vertical forces to the pivot…

Proving that there are several ways to skin the proverbial cat, German firm BHE Agrotec has come up with a new auger-based slurry applicator, which dispenses the nutrient-laden liquid just above the ground. Called the Rohrverteiler Typ 900, which roughly translates as Pipe Applicator Type 900, the outer wings fold along the side flanks of the host tanker like gull wings on a sprayer. When you reach the field, the entire package swings back and then down onto the gauge wheels in the middle and on the sides of the machine. Supported by the wheels, the boom then ‘floats’ just above the ground. But, most importantly, can the slots dotted along the boom evenly distribute the slurry? Aperture size is key According to BHE, the correct setting of the aperture…

With some basic knowledge and practice, you too can replace many of the essential components on a circuit board. We learned from computer scientist, teacher and developer of ISObus control systems Franz Höpfinger, from Schwindegg in Bavaria, a few tricks that will enable each of us to carry out minor circuit board repairs. He also tells us which tools are the main ones to have. A circuit board, also known as a PCB (printed circuit board), basically replaces the wiring of electrical components. Its core consists of a GRP plate (glass fibre reinforced plastic). Both sides of this plate are coated with a conductive layer of copper. Next, the board is divided into separate areas, which are shielded from each other. This, for example, can be done with a chemical…

Poor mixing, hard water, incorrect filters — all are reasons why spray nozzles can need cleaning. A regular careful check of the spray pattern and pulling the injector will immediately reveal when it’s time for cleaning. Sadly, the nozzle blocking deposits are often stubborn and typically collect in areas that are very tricky to get at. This is why many users will shy away from the tedious cleaning job. But there is some tech to make the job less gruelling, such as ultrasonic cleaners. These are not only relied on by opticians but also in many medical and industrial domains. The cleaning capacity ranges from no more than a few millilitres to several cubic metres. They all operate on the theory of targeted cavitation, meaning water is vibrated by a…

Autumn in the Vilstal valley in Lower Bavaria and the grain maize is being combined, potatoes are being lifted and there is plenty of activity on the veg farms in the area. One of these belongs to Martin Schuder, who farms around 190ha with his father. Of this area, 65ha is dedicated to cereals and maize plus there’s sugar beet (15ha), cucumbers (25ha), beetroot (20ha) and cabbage (55ha). During harvest they employ up to 100 seasonal workers on the farm, mainly for harvesting the cucumbers. “Back in 2020, we were also harvesting the cabbage by hand,” explains Martin. “But it became increasingly difficult to find seasonal labour.” The cabbage goes for processing into tinned foods, which means mechanised harvesting is an option for the German farm. “We attended a demo…