Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2025 i Profi

It’s so close you can almost smell all the new machines. We are, of course, talking about Agritechnica, and the whiff of fresh paint, currywurst and maybe a thirst-quenching weissbier … or three. Nearly every tractor maker will have a new product range at Hanover. The only notable exception is John Deere, though there are rumours of a revamped 6R on the way. Sadly we're told this won't be at the show, so we will have to wait and see if that’s true. Claas is trying to keep its Axion 9 under wraps until Agritechnica opens, as is Deutz-Fahr with its new cab models. Yet other makers have been less reticent, with recent announcements of several fresh-faced versatile workhorses, a lot of these aimed at filling existing power gaps. The…

FUSION PUSHING POWER A hydraulic-powered drive axle is a new option on the Plus version of McHale’s Fusion 4 combi balers. Sourced from Finnish firm Black Bruin (see profi 9/2024), the €30,000 TerraDrive axle uses hydraulic motors to drive the VF710 wheels that are part of the kit which helps boost traction on hills and soft ground conditions. When connected to an ISObus tractor, the drive system will automatically engage as the outfit is on the move, matching it’s speed and then stop when the bale is having the net/film binding applied. The motors don’t have any braking effect but the specification does include air/hydraulic brakes. O’DONNELL ENGINEERING This simple swing over trough was on show at the O’Donnell Engineering stand. The Tipperary business has been offering this for the…

It’s fair to say there are few surprises in today’s agricultural equipment world. The internet and social media have done away with any opportunity for manufacturers to keep prototypes hidden from public view. Whether it’s spy-shots or opportunistic bystanders enthusiastically grabbing whatever they can, it’s rare that any pre-production machine will stay under wraps until its official launch. One of the worst kept secrets of recent times has got to be JCB’s freshly launched 6000-series Fastrac. For the last ten years there’s been a glaring gap in the British manufacturer’s line-up and the firm’s model numbering did nothing to disguise it. At one end of the spectrum you had nimble 167hp-218hp four-wheel-steer 4000 models while at the other the much largerframed 281hp 8290 and 335hp 8330. Though the former were…

You can’t argue that New Holland certainly knows how to extract its full money’s worth out of a tractor design. The T7 and its predecessors have been on the global market for nearly 20 years, ever since they grabbed the baton from the now legendary TM. Apart from a few nips and tucks, the biggest of which was the addition of the CVT AutoCommand box back in 2011, not much has actually changed. That is, until now. Most elements have been tweaked, yet that doesn’t include the model numbering. While the T7.175 morphs into the T7.180, it joins the ‘new’ T7.190, T7.210 and T7.225, New Holland sticking with its boosted power rating as the model identifier. FPT’s 6.7-litre engine is still providing the ponies, but the power curve adopts a…

Increased amounts of ammonia in the air of a livestock barn not only pose an issue for stock but people, too. Put simply, in high concentrations it’s not going to do you or your animals' lungs any favours. Because of this health issue it is one reason why farmers in Germany are being denied planning permission, particularly in areas that fall under the flora and fauna habitat directive. Scientifically proven The good new is that it’s possible to reduce ammonia levels without investing in a very expensive air cleaning system — you just need to take preventative steps before the ammonia is formed. The primary reason that ammonia forms is that the animal faeces contain enzymes, which are able to break down the urea in the urine into ammonia. So,…

There have already been several bits of tractor news announced ahead of the popular German show. These include short wheelbase versions of the New Holland T7 (profi Harvest Special 2025), the JCB Fastrac 6000 series (driving impression begins on page 28), a whole bunch of new Fendt tractors (profi Harvest Special 2025)), and Xtra versions of the Massey 8S (profi 09/2025). Case IH, one of the last of the big-name manufacturers to hold a press conference this side of the show, confirms that the Quadtrac 785 (max power 853hp) and the new Optum (both covered on pages 12-13) will be on the stand. Speaking of big tractors, as you can read on page 8, Zoomlion will show the 1,200hp DX7004, and Agritechnica provides the first opportunity to see the Canadian-built…

Gather round, children, for I have a tale to tell. Pop the kettle on, break out that fancy box of biscuits you saved from last Christmas and lose yourself in a quest full of chatbots, careless couriers and complete lack of accountability. Once upon a time, whilst casually sifting the interweb for a new suitor, a simple country boy became seduced by an older, but highly attractive, Fendt. So smitten was our simpleton that he impulsively decided to dispense with any face-to-face courtship and went straight for commitment. Unseen, untested, ‘just stick it on a wagon and send it’ levels of commitment. Showing a glimmer of sense, our plucky half-wit knew that there would be a period of adjustment where he would get to know all the little character flaws…

AMAZING BIDDENDEN TRACTORFEST This year saw the Kent Agricultural Society introduce site capacity for the first time at the Biddenden Tractorfest. This was put in place to help manage visitor numbers whilst retaining the feel and essence of the show. The event was a sell out both days, seeing 19,000 visitors over the weekend of 16-17 August. In total, 324 tractors were booked to exhibit including the show’s first electric tractor, a 2025 Fendt orchard tractor entered by N P Seymour. The famous finale arena display saw 164 tractors joining together in the ring in glorious weather both days. Alongside tractors, there were seven full-size steam engines, over 40 scale steam miniatures alongside horticultural machinery, stationary engines, bygones, emergency services and a growing military section. Additionally there were approximately 200…

ORDER TODAY! JUNE 2024 COVER STORY South East Forestry INSIDE JD Richmond & Son JULY 2024 COVER STORY Fruit Focus preview INSIDE N P Seymour AUGUST 2024 COVER STORY FW Mansfield & Son INSIDE New Labour government. Fruit Focus review. Groundswell SEPTEMBER 2024 COVER STORY Incoming Government promises stability INSIDE Ploughing match fixtures OCTOBER 2024 COVER STORY Mousehall transforms into a sustainable distillery and winery INSIDE National Fruit Show preview NOVEMBER 2024 COVER STORY Charlton’s new packhouse and distribution centre INSIDE G J Elgar Construction DECEMBER 2024 COVER STORY Farmers flock to Westminster INSIDE National Fruit Show review JANUARY 2025 COVER STORY Farm construction INSIDE Charles Palmer Vineyards FEBRUARY 2025 COVER STORY South of England Farming Conference INSIDE Farm Expo 2025 preview MARCH 2025 COVER STORY Now could be the…

A well supported tractor run organised by the mum of a young boy who lost his life to a brain tumour five years ago has already raised more than £4,000 for charity. Mum Becky organised the event at Riggs Hill Farm, Otterden, in Kent in memory of Joey Ward-Bates, with the proceeds going to the Abbie’s Army charity. A total of 66 tractors were joined by other vintage vehicles to take part in the run, which was supported by sponsors including the Crawfords Group and Home Bake at Lenham. To support the appeal, scan the QR code: YORKSHIREMAN IS TOP OF THE WORLD English ploughman James Witty has been crowned the 2025 World Conventional Ploughing Champion. James, from North Yorkshire, won the world title and the Golden Plough trophy at…

Chinese tractor manufacturer Zoomlion will stun visitors to this year’s Agritechnica with a 1,200hp hybrid articulated tractor. Called the DX7004, and developed largely in-house, it is believed to be the world’s most powerful wheeled hybrid drive tractor. Power to the nearly 4.0m-high behemoth comes from a 700hp diesel with a peak torque of 4,500Nm. The other 500hp comes from electric motors in the hybrid (ECVT) powertrain, giving the DX7004 a peak power of 1,200hp! Claimed to set new standards in power, efficiency, and intelligent control, the hydraulic system is driven electrically and the DX7004 is said to be capable of covering up to 480ha in 12 hours of continuous operation. The new tractor uses Zoomlion’s EPiot driving system and AOS operating platform. This enables autonomous working at full speed with…

With a rated engine output of 197kW/270hp, the 870, is the biggest model in the 10,700kg, Claas Axion 800 range before crossing over to the heavier 900s. With its boosted output of 216kW/295hp, it falls into the same power and weight category as a Deere 6R250, Case IH Puma 260 CVX, Valtra Q, New Holland T7.300 and even Fendt’s new 800s. That’s some stiff competition in what is becoming a very hotly contested power bracket. Our farm/contractor owner gives us the low-down. This is the prime mover in the fleet, running alongside another 870 and a smaller Axion 810 plus several Fendts in Wesermarsch, northern Germany. The 420-hectare farm also operates a biogas plant, so, due to the workload, the owner opted for the Maxi-Care maintenance and service plan, hiring…

The power offering may be more or less the same on the Gen 4 Vario 500, but the engine and how it gets that power down to the ground has all changed. Since the stepless 500s arrived in 2013, they have been relying on a fourcyl Deutz motor, with the Fendt engineers saying at the time that its largest market of Germany wanted a German-made engine. But that has since all changed, with the Agco Power Core 50 from Finland now supplying the 134hp to 164hp in the four-model range. The 512 Vario has left the line-up. No replacement for displacement The 500 has swapped the previous 4.0-litre motor for a Agco Power 5.0-litre, which uses the same low speed arrangement as on the larger Fendt models; even the cooling…

VSäderstad’s Carrier and Carrier XT are both disc cultivators but there is a difference. To help understand what that is, it is worth having a quick recap. The ‘original’ Carrier still remains a strong seller for Väderstad and, although it has seen detail change since we last took a used buying look, these largely boil down to a few more choices of disc and roll combinations (profi used machinery 01/2010). Actually, a current Carrier doesn’t differ hugely from the later variants we considered as a used buy some 15 years ago. The ‘original’ Carrier remains as a shallow tillage implement, with the front tool and type of disc determining its role which tends to range from stale seedbed preparation, levelling cultivated/ploughed ground or incorporating heavier stubble and cover crops. Most…

According to Valtra, up to £17.50/ha can be saved with the new Smart Toplink. While the exact amount is debatable, the logic is very simple to understand. The farmer attaches the fertiliser spreader, fills it up, sets it to the recommended height and lengthens the top link to the required angle. As the amount of fertiliser in the hopper reduces, the weight applied to the rear of the tractor also reduces, resulting in the critical angle of the spreading discs tilting increasingly upwards. Various studies say this leads to a change in the distribution across working width, the application rate shifting from the centre to the outside. If you use the DLG test procedure as a reference, it states that the coefficient of variation of lateral distribution should not exceed…

Up until the mid-90s, the Norfolk manufacturer made trailers and muck spreaders. It was then that spreader sales really took off and by the end of the decade spreader production exceeded trailer numbers. This growth continued over the next 15 years, and in 2010, when spreaders accounted for 95% of output, the decision was taken to pull out of the trailer business. One thing that has not changed over the years is the location, bang in the centre of Gressenhall village, where the modest entrance to the yard reveals a mixture of buildings from the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s. The former 2.0ha (5-acre) footprint increased to 4.0ha (7.5 acres) in 2017 when a new 6,840m² fabrication building and paint shop were built to keep pace with demand. Commissioned in…

If you have a story, or an event, please do get in touch: peterlove@madasafish.com, TEL: 01323 833125 INSURANCE A number of road run and rally organisers are asking to see clarification of your insurance documentation when arriving on site. This includes from lorry and caravan insurance to your insurance on your tractor. A number have been found to be invalid and turned away by security staff and section leaders at such events. Do have your documents to hand and currently valid as things are certainly being tightened up in this respect and at one event 17 entrants had to be turned away and that is just one example. TRADGEDY AT RALLY On the evening of 9 August at the Severn Vale Vintage Club annual show in Gloucestershire the male passenger…

ÖVERUM BANKRUPT Swedish plough manufacturer Överum Industries, which is owned by German investment company Faircap, in bankrupt and in the hands of the receivers. Production has stopped and more than 70 jobs are at risk. The Swedish plough manufacturer has struggled with financial problems for some time, caused mainly by the weak demand in the current economic climate. CNH sold Överum in April 2024 to Faircap. The receivers are seeking a solution, including the possible sale of the factory. Source: Mechaman JCB DEALER CHANGES JCB is re-organising its agricultural machinery distribution in areas previously covered by Rea Valley Tractors. Sharmans Agricultural is extending its territory westwards to cover Derbyshire and Staffordshire up to the M6. Chandlers RFM’s expanded patch will include Shropshire and Staffordshire west of the M6, and the…

While there are over 30 different makes of diesel-powered yard loaders, only around six of the main players offer an electric version. These six manufacturers took part in this comparison test, though the 2,325kg Schäffer 23e was almost too light compared to others in the group. This is our list: ● Tobroco-Giant G2700 E HD ● JCB 403E ● Peeters Pitbull X27-50E ● De Schans Relly 1.8E ● Schäffer 23e ● Weidemann Hoftrac 1390e Our focus here is not on examining the good and bad of diesel versus electric; it is more about how the battery-powered machines compare to each other. To get some handson practical experience, we brought the half dozen machines on to a Dutch dairy farm where they were used for four weeks. Apart from the absence…

Knowing it had to do something quite different to make it stand out from the combi baler crowd, Krone went back to the drawing board to come up with the CombiPack HDP. We caught up with one of the pre-series units in some dry first-cut grass, where it was able to average a completely wrapped 1.30m bale every 42 seconds. So how does it do it? Hitch up and pick-up Starting at the nose, the drawbar has been kept nice and slim to maximise the amount of lock available before the tyres catch. A K80 spoon is the standard fitment. Two hydraulic rams allow the height of the drawbar to be altered, helping it to both match the tractor correctly and be used to give some extra ground clearance when…

Here we have a selection of major and minor tuning tips for Case IH Maxxum and Puma tractors. We're always fascinated by the creativity of farmers and contractors in finding novel solutions that make daily chores easier. Here we feature a number of those clever ideas, many of which require only a few basic tools to create and install. It’s time very well spent in our view. EXTRA DISPLAY MOUNT This owner installed a bracket for mounting an additional ISObus screen on the right-hand A-post of his Puma and Maxxum. Two M10 threaded holes are hidden behind the plastic trim for this very job. The position provides an ideal view of the display. TURNED LIGHTS On this Maxxum CVX, the brackets for the lights on the cab grab rails were…

The ability of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to access locations that can’t easily be reached on foot or in a vehicle, offers huge potential on agricultural and horticultural land, as well as in forestry and moorland settings. Many farmers and their agronomy suppliers are already using drone technologies to more accurately study and map land and crops for greater precision, and now interest is growing in deploying unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to apply plant protection products. Visibility and utilisation of drones in farming has expanded significantly since the launch of DJI drone supplier and Skippy Scout software developer Drone Ag in 2015, comments chief operations officer, Alex Macdonald-Smith. “As with all novel technologies, drones were initially considered to be fringe to mainstream agriculture. But the interest in sustainability, improving…

Atrailed spreader can represent a significant outlay and has traditionally been considered to be a contractor’s machine, where the primary need is to cover large acreages in a tight time window. “The majority of machines we supply go to contractors,” agrees KRM managing director, Mike Britton. “But as farms get bigger the efficiencies of running a larger trailed machine outweigh the cost and we’re seeing an increasing number going onto farms.” “While they are a ‘seasonal’ product, most customers would use them in the spring and the autumn - for a contractor the spring season could be February to May and the Autumn season starts as soon as the combines are rolling and only stops when it gets too wet, so that could be July to November. So, many contractors…

Kramp, one of Europe’s leading suppliers of agricultural parts and accessories, has confirmed its commitment to the UK farming industry by announcing it will stock the Vapormatic product range on kramp.com from September 2025. With a history spanning over 75 years, Vapormatic is a highly respected name among UK farmers and dealers for its reliable, high-quality parts. The announcement by Kramp follows the decision to close Vapormatic’s operations. “We’re incredibly proud to bring the Vapormatic brand into the Kramp family,” said Des Boyd, UK Country Director at Kramp. “It is a name that carries real weight in British agriculture and has been trusted by farmers and dealers for generations. “By combining Vapormatic’s strong legacy with Kramp’s scale, service and technical know-how, we feel we can have a really positive impact…