Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2025 i Tractor & Machinery

I meet a lot of interesting people connected with farming in this job and, in addition to seeing their tractors, I always enjoy chatting with them about the changing face of UK agriculture. Some are positive about the future, while others take a more pessimistic view. But the indisputable fact is that the industry is on the move. Of course, farming has always been subject to change, like all other businesses. The on-going refinement of agricultural techniques – and the equipment used to implement them – have been an inevitable consequence of progress. However, the big question is where will it all end? A quick internet search threw up some interesting figures. In 1934 there were about 840,000 workers employed on UK farms but, by 1964, that figure had halved…

Following an extended period of lobbying and consultation by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC), it can now share this Registration Policy Update from DVLA. The FBHVC is very encouraged by these outcomes, not only with the revised policies but also with a clear change to a more sympathetic and pragmatic approach to the registration difficulties sometimes faced with older tractors. DVLA has announced updated policies to modernise the process for notifying it when a vehicle has been repaired, restored and modified. Like-for-like repairs and restorations will no longer need to be reported to the DVLA, and more modified vehicles will be able to retain their original identities. The Minister for the Future of Roads, Lillian Greenwood said: “We know how much love, time and effort goes into…

I have just read the article about Brian Kettell and how vintage tractors are beneficial for health (Going for it!, September, 2025), and I absolutely agree with him. A friend of mine (Henry) suffered a very bad stroke during Covid times, and is still on the long road to recovery. I help him as much as I can up at the farm, and he’s had many tractors over the years. One afternoon, a few years ago, we were ‘down the wood’ and Henry said to me: “I’ve just put a new battery in the Fordson Major and need to get it up to the workshop.” I replied: “How are you going to get it up there?,” to which he answered: “You’re going to drive it!” I was speechless for a…

DIY project in this issue – 1967 Lamborghini 1R project initial assessment; Marshall 12/20 paintwork completed; MF 35 gear lever replacement; Zetor 3045 gear selector pin refurbishment When you hear the name ‘Lamborghini’ you don't automatically think of tractors. Even I, as a confirmed tractor nut, automatically associate that famous Italian brand with the Countach; the sports car that was most schoolboys’ dream machine during the 1980s. So, when Adam Knights contacted me about his Lamborghini 1R tractor that he wanted me to paint, I jumped at the opportunity to tackle a project that was going to be both different and exciting. Adam sent me a few photographs of the tractor before he delivered it to me and, from what I could see, it appeared to be in pretty much…

ORDER TODAY! JANUARY 2025 COVER STORY Underrated Case 1056 XL INSIDE British Ploughing Champs, Zetor collector, Ford 5000-based conversions FEBRUARY 2025 COVER STORY David Brown 780 DIY resto INSIDE MF 2005 Series, Chamberlain giant, Case/IH merger, Vicon spreader, Clay work MARCH 2025 COVER STORY John Deere 4350 restored INSIDE JCB Fastrac, IH 1468 V8, Fordson E1A Majors, De-stoners, Festive runs SPRING 2025 COVER STORY Ford 3000 buying guide INSIDE LAMMA report, JD 6030, David Brown 1410/1412 profile, Amazing models APRIL 2025 COVER STORY Full MF 135 buying guide INSIDE Ford Force II, NH balers, Tractor World, Best of British, County 4000-Four MAY 2025 COVER STORY Fiat 160.90 saved INSIDE Euro ploughing champs, MF 2680, Dexta buying guide, Ford 600 Series profile JUNE 2025 COVER STORY Rare Marshall 904 XL saved…

In pursuit of excellence As if competing in the British National Ploughing Championships wasn’t hard enough in its own right – working under the close scrutiny of expert judges, battling against the best in the land and having to perform in front of crowds of expectant spectators – this year Mother Nature threw in her own curve ball just to spice up things even further. Sunday dawned with the event’s Allesley site, near Coventry, cloaked in thick fog that, at times, was so dense that seeing the marker poles at the far end of the plots was virtually impossible. This made achieving that all-important, straight ‘opening up’ even more difficult than usual. Nevertheless, the plough-off competitors persevered admirably and should be congratulated for their efforts. Here’s Bruce Richardson, from Kelso,…

NOVEMBER 9TH-15TH, 2025 As you read this, the Fendt Future Zone at the Agritechnica show in Hanover, Germany, will be presenting Fendt’s latest technological advances. Highlights include a new Fendt e100 Vario with a battery-electric range-extender from GreenIng making its debut. The rangeextender is mounted on the front linkage while, on the back, there’s a precision seed drill set-up to operate with relay cropping and a row- and lane-detection local guidance system. “This ground-breaking system operates independently of GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) to use environment sensors which follow land contours precisely and dynamically without tramlines, a swath or a series of plants in advance,” explains Fendt’s Ed Dennett. Also on the stand the recentlylaunched Fendt 800 Vario features a new cab with a new lighting concept and options for…

IMPLEMENT NEWS The cost saving and ecological benefits of establishing crops with the Claydon Opti-Till® System will be the focus of the company’s exhibit at next year’s LAMMA show, taking place at the NEC on January 14th-15th, 2026. Claydon’s display will include its latest Evolution Drill Toolbar and Front Hopper, together with a 6m T6c Hybrid trailed drill with multiple hoppers, 3m M3F Evolution mounted grain and fertiliser drill, 7.5m Straw Harrow, NutriSeeder and Mole Drainer. “As a commercial farming business, the Claydon family understands the significant challenges from rising input costs, volatile markets, increasing environmental pressure and the need to remain profitable,” David Furber, sales manager UK and RoI for Claydon, states. “Never has it been more important to work smarter, not harder, which is why farming businesses all…

12TH OCTOBER, 2025 Quite an assortment of classic tractors gathered on Ogmore Castle field (by kind permission of Rob Williams) for the start of this year’s tractor run, although the pristine Willys Jeep also present must have been the oldest outfit on the field. The event was run by the Glamorgan Iron Horse & Vintage Society, with its chairman, Rob Carter, assisted by Dave King, the society’s treasurer. The two judges – Rees Lean and David George (who have been carrying out this duty for a number of years) – chose Jeff Banfield’s classic Ford tractor as this year’s winner. More than 40 tractors left the field at 10.30am on a 15-mile run across the Vale of Glamorgan, that included a ‘re-fuelling’ break at a well-known pub! This part of…

Over the past year or so I’ve come across a number of working farmers who are placing ever-increasing reliance on the use of classic tractors from the 1980s and ‘90s. It’s almost as though there’s something of a quiet revolution taking place, with people turning away from the latest, all-singing, all-dancing, electronics-dominated machinery and the typically eye-watering investment that’s required to buy it. Instead, these farmers are opting to invest their hard-earned cash in tractors that were designed and built before the widespread introduction of allencompassing electronic control systems. And they’re doing so not because the older machines deliver trouble-free ownership but because, when the inevitable problems do strike, they can usually be fixed on a DIY basis, without the need for a laptop-wielding technician from the local dealership. Cambridgeshire-based…

You may remember, some years ago, I wrote about my friend, Cyril Creasey, ploughing across the road from me with a team of horses back in 1948. Well, on September 30th this year, the committee of the Vale of Glamorgan Ploughing & Hedging Society decided there was a need to change the venue of its annual ploughing match due to the ground conditions being too dry at Dimlands Farm, in the Vale of Glamorgan. So the convoy of committee members followed Richard Anthony to Stormy Down to look at an area that had had more rain in August, and it was decided to hold the competition there. Stormy Down had been an RAF airfield during the Second World War. It was a grass airfield and I had cut hay off…

On December 6th, auctioneers HJ Pugh will be staging its always successful Christmas vintage and classic tractor, lorry, car, model and stationary engine sale at its Ledbury HQ, in Herefordshire. This year the sale will feature signs, memorabilia and an enormous literature collection that once belonged to the late Nick Baldwin. This amazing resource, which was housed in 30 cabinets at his north Devon office, features commercial vehicle, tractor, plant and steam volumes of original literature, and much else besides. So make a note in your diary so that you don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance. You can find out more about this sale, as well all the other auctions HJ Pugh runs, by visiting the website at: hjpugh.com…

Alan Thomas Proper tractor with levers and not buttons. Many, many happy days! Chris Pietz Couldn’t keep the heads from moving and then they would always leak antifreeze. Turned down the injection pump and then improved head gaskets and cooling tube worked. Called them 1594s. Russell Fastraxx What a fabulous display of classics. Well done to Lord Muck! Mark Smith Can remember trying one out against old Ford TW in the mid-80s. Good tractor, but loved my TW Jack Spratt Good machine, nice cab and very economical. Jess Singh Nice mirrors! Grenville Mark Stuart Wright Mark Smith: The Big Fiats walked over everything around in that era. Nothing on the market under 200hp had a detuned 8.1-litre turbo Iveco Afio marine engine like the Big Fiats. As a demo driver…

Vogelsang is set to launch an even larger version of the XSplit screw press separator. The XSplit XS30-80 offers a throughput of up to 175m3 per hour, making it the most powerful model in the range. “The new XS30-80 has been developed for larger farms and biogas operations to enable high volumes of slurry and digestate to be processed faster and more efficiently,” explains Vogelsang’s Andy Hayhurst. The new version joins the existing range of XSplit separators, which includes both fixed and trailermounted models and the XSplit Compact. “We now have an XSplit to fit all farm sizes,” Mr Hayhurst added. “The Compact is firmly aimed at smaller farms and offers flexibility at an entry-level price. The XSplit can be fixed or provided on a purpose-built trailer for contractors and…

November 12th-14th November Auction – online, telephone and commission bids only Mathewsons tel: 01751 474455 mathewsons.co.uk 18th November Auction of agricultural tractors, combine harvesters, implements etc. Cambridgeshire Cheffins cheffins.co.uk 22nd November Auction of automobilia, petroliana, enamel signs and advertising collectables. Machinery Saleground CB6 2QT Cheffins cheffins.co.uk 26th November Thrapston Collective Machinery & Equipment Sale Bletsoes tel: 01832 732241 27th November-7th December South West online timed auction of tractors, diggers, machinery etc. Stags stags.co.uk 28th November Kidderminster Machinery Sale The Gallops Stanklyn Lane Stone DY10 4AR Halls tel: 01743 450700 28th November Online timed machinery collective auction Edward Buckland edwardbuckland.co.uk December 1st December Online sale of implements, machinery etc. Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd dingwallhighlandmarts.com 1st-2nd December Cambridge Machinery Sale The Saleground Sutton Ely CB6 2QT Cheffins tel: 01353 777767 3rd…

When sugar beet began to be grown commercially in Britain, back in the 1920s, it was intended to offer an alternative to the importation of sugar cane. The advantages of a home-grown source of this sweet commodity were obvious, and the practice was destined for great success. However, the crop wasn’t the easiest to grow or harvest. It was a hard, labour-intensive process but, as time passed, machines were developed that started to make things easier. Harvesting this valuable crop was a back-breaking job so the mechanisation that followed provided labourers with welcome relief. In this article I’ll be starting an investigation into the history of sugar beet harvesting and will begin by tracing the evolution of the early harvesters. HARVESTING BY HAND The very nature of the sugar beet…

Sugar beet is a dirty crop; its large tubers grow mostly under the soil and the autumn/winter harvesting season often results in less than favourable weather conditions during which they have to be lifted out of the ground. One unfortunate, knock-on consequence of this is that all the soil that’s inevitably left sticking to the beets adds to the cost of both transportation and processing at the factory. It all has to be cleaned off and disposed of, which eats into profits. Developments made to mechanical sugar beet harvesters gradually improved the efficiency with which excess soil was removed from the beets, using various combinations of metal webs and turbines. But even after all that, the beets can still be left too dirty, and that’s where the cleaner/loader comes into…

16TH AUGUST, 2025 This sale saw more than 100 tractors go under the hammer, plus separate sales for tractor spares and farmyard equipment. As you’d expect, the tractors included were wide-ranging in terms of make, model and condition, so there was plenty for bidders to go at. One of the main attractions was the selection of Ford and Ford-based tractors being offered, with one of the first to be sold being a fully restored, 1973 Roadless 115. This grade-4 condition machine really caught the eye with its front weights, and sold for £11,500. Another Roadless which had been with its previous owner for 27 years, was a 1976 105 model (also in grade 4 condition) and it found a new home for £10,200. A little bit later a restored but…

The prices shown on the following pages are based on tractors sold at auction, on the internet, privately and from some overseas markets, too. Prices change as time progresses, and it’s not always an upward trend, but you will get a good indication of what’s currently happening in the market by referring to our guide. If you are thinking of buying a tractor, here are a few pointers to help you. Should you be looking for something specific, weigh up your options – particularly if you have a limited budget. If it’s a popular model, then it’s not always to your advantage to go for the first one you see. If a fault is highlighted, make sure you have a good idea of how much it will cost to repair,…

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