Sommaire pour January 2025 de Profi

November has been a manic month for the autumn farm machinery shows taking place across Europe with a mixed bag of emotions from showgoers and exhibitors. The biannual Italian EIMA trade fair kicked things off and was well supported with a record 346,000 attending the five day show in Bologna. Most of the big tractor makes were keeping their powder dry until next November when the goliath, Agritechnica 2025 takes place. But even so there was a wide array of fresh machines being rolled out particularly those aimed at the smaller fruit and vineyard audience. It is only at a show like this that you realise the huge number of Italian manufacturers particularly when it comes to things that spin fast – power harrows and flail mowers are usually in…

CMatic versions of Claas Arion and Axion tractors are now available as a special Night Edition. Available on the Arion (550 and 660) and Axion (830, 870, 930 and 960), the limitededition models have custom grey paint on the rims, roof and side engine panels. The Claas logo on the side of the bonnet is white on a custom grey background, and Night Edition lettering is prominently displayed on the side of the bonnet. The emblem above the road light provides a nice finishing touch to the external design. Inside the cab, the lettering is added to both the steering wheel badge and floor mat, and there is an in-built Apple CarPlay radio.…

Polish tractor manufacturer Ursus has been bought by Ukrainian firm M.I. Crow for approx. €17 million. The purchase price includes the production plants in Dobre Miasto (manure spreaders, trailers and round balers) and Lublin (tractors). The new owner has also bought all machines and equipment within the plants, Ursus R&D projects, warehouse inventory, and the right to use the Ursus trademark. M.I. Crow believes that this is a new chapter in the history of the legendary Polish tractor manufacturer, and confirms there will be no layoffs and that significant investments will be made to increase the production capacity and revive the Ursus brand.…

12M POWERCHAIN Dalbo has stretched the working width of its Powerchain to 12m. Joining the existing 5.0m and 8.0m versions, a handful of pre-production units of the Powerchain 1200 were evaluated at farms in Denmark, Germany and Poland this season. Needing a minimum power of around 340hp, the flagship in the range is aimed at large farms keen to kill weeds at speed without using the sprayer. It is also possible to fit it with a seeding unit to establish a cover crop at the same time. Designed to work at speeds of up to 15km/hr, the two outer wings on the 10t implement fold up vertically to reduce the transport width to 3.0m. Priced at around £95,000, the first units will be delivered in January. WEED TERMINATOR The Weed…

Although it has its long serving Roll-Belt variable chamber baler range, for those users demanding something even more hardcore, New Holland has created the Pro-Belt. This line consists of two models: the small PB165 that produces bales measuring 0.90-1.65m in diameter and the PB190 for up to 1.90m bales. Both come in two flavours: SuperFeed with no chopping or the CropCutter with 13 or 25 knives. Our test machine was the 25-knife, Pro-Belt 165 which we used for packing away straw, hay and silage in a tricky season. CNH engineers have designed the Pro-Belt to be mechanically simpler with fewer moving parts than the Roll-Belt balers; the additional benefit is that it makes maintenance easier. To continue the theme, the chamber rollers and their bearings are noticeably bigger and heavier,…

With the new XDisc 710, Krone is responding to market demands for a direct-cut header with a larger working width that can be better matched with the potential output of today’s higher-capacity foragers. Yet there is more to the XDisc story than just increasing the working width up from the existing 6.20m version. Some background. There’s now a bigger area of alternative crops being grown to feed the likes of anaerobic digesters, crops that for one reason or another are better harvested directly rather than with a separate mowing pass. So, the designers have looked at other ways they could improve on performance and efficiency rather than just relying on taking a bigger bite of crop with the new model’s 7.10m working width. Powerful drive Compared with the 620, the…

Fuel tanks are exposed to lots of hazards - a protruding branch on the headland, a flying stone or flail… all can cause potential plastic piercing damage. Replacing a damaged tank can cost a significant wedge of cash making a possible repair all the more appealing. And it is sustainable, too. Roland Bräutigam has been involved in the production and development of plastic components for more than 35 years and is well versed in the welding of thermoplastics. For several years now, he has been offering plastic tank repairs through his company Kunststoffwerkstatt24.de in Germany. Which plastic? Most of the tanks used on agricultural machines are made either by rotational moulding or injection moulding. With rotational moulding, the moulds are constantly rotated to evenly distribute the liquid plastic whereas with…

JCB New to the Loadall line-up are top-spec Agri Pro versions of the 538-60 and 560-80, the former bringing the 50km/hr DualTech VT hydro-mechanical transmission to the 6.0m class for the first time. Agri Pro also features an uprated driveline with heavier-duty axles, wider tyres and a dual-axle power braking system to further raise the productivity potential of these machines. For high-lift operations – particularly stacking and retrieving bales – the new Loadall 542-100 combines 4.2 tonne lift capacity and 9.8m lift height with the 40 or 50km/hr DualTech VT transmission. Wheeled loader innovations include the 403E Full Cab, a battery-electric ultra-compact machine, while the latest JCB 435S heavyduty silage and muck loader gains more power and torque. Also on show will be the TM280 and TM280S which were launched…

PRACTICAL TEST Euromilk Rino FX1200 HD+ Vying for your attention in the busy diet feeder market is Euromilk which is handled in the UK by Shropshire-based H F Evans and Son. In four weeks time you can read about our experience with the Rino FX1200 HD+. DRIVING IMPRESSION JCB TM280S JCB is extending its telescopic wheel loader range with the 2.8t lift, TM280S which uses the firm’s DualTech transmission. DRIVING IMPRESSION Kawasaki Brute Force 750LE So the big Brute Force gets a fresh look, but what else has changed. We have been scrutinising the 750 to find out. PRACTICAL TEST Entertainment and handsfree cab comparison Who has the best sound system? And how well do the handsfree systems work? We have compared the various offerings from Claas, Deutz-Fahr, Fendt, John…

Yes it’s time to look to future events in 2025 and one to get things going for the outside season is Peter Love’s Bodle Street Green Charity Drive It Day, which this year takes place earlier than normal on Sunday 6 April in the village centre. The 2024 event saw 324 classic and vintage vehicles take part and over 60 tractors took part in the 10.15am morning road run. But that’s only just part of the day which sees preservation cars, lorries, steam, stationary engines and models coming to this small village in East Sussex. In the village hall especially for children and grown ups will be 10 model railways and other engineering models. All exhibitors will be given a free drinks and food voucher served by the village hall…

2 December Online Sale of Implements, Plant, Machinery etc. Dingwall Highland Marts, www.dingwallhighlandmarts.com 4 December Online Sale of Tractors, Machinery, Plant & Commercial Vehicles. Carlisle. Harrison & Hetherington, www.harrisonandhetherington.co.uk 6 December Online Plant & Machinery Auction. Brightwells, www.brightwells.com Plant & Machinery Sale. Shrewsbury Auction Centre, Bowmen Way, Battlefield, Shrewsbury SY4 3DR. Halls, tel: 01743 462620. 7 December Vintage Tractor Sale to include Vintage & Classic Tractors, Spares, Stationary Engines, Private Collection of Massey Ferguson Literature, Enamel Signs & other Petroliana. Hazle Meadows Auction Centre, Ross Road, Ledbury, Herefordshire HR8 2LP. H J Pugh & Co, tel: 01531 631122. Monthly Live & Online Machinery Sale. Holsworthy Livestock Market, Holsworthy, Devon EX22 7FA. Kivells, tel: 01409 253253. 9-10 December Cambridge Machinery Sale. The Saleground, Sutton, Ely, Cambridge CB6 2QT. Cheffins, tel: 01353…

This Massey Ferguson 6S.145 has been rebadged as an Eicher 3145 and is even finished with corresponding red rims and Eicher logos. The new paint job was requested by one of the Dutch Massey dealer Veldman’s customers. While it may seem a bit odd, Massey and Eicher had close ties a few decades ago and Eicher remains popular in the Netherlands. Massey acquired a 30% stake in Eicher when the two companies formed a partnership in 1970, in a deal where Massey supplied Eicher with engines and gearboxes, and Eicher provided Massey with narrow-track tractors and some heavier models. Massey upped its stake to 49.7%, and by 1973 the company owned more than half of Eicher. These shares were sold to Indian company Goodearth in 1982.…

10M POWER HARROW Believed to be the world’s first 10m power harrow, the Jumbo X on the Maschio Gaspardo stand is designed for 450-600hp tractors. Comprising a 3.0m central harrow, with a 3.5m unit on either side, the two-stage folding process sees the outer wings fold vertically. Another set of hydraulic rams then lowers the harrows to reduce the transport height to 4.0m (transport width is 3.0m). Some of the machine’s 7.5t weight is carried on the transport trolley when on the road. Working at speeds of 5.0-8.0km/hr, outputs of around 5.0ha/hr are said to be easily possible. France, Germany and Italy and the three main power harrow markets in Europe, and these three countries are likely to be the destination of the 10 pre-production units planned for the coming…

FARMEC TAKES ON OVLAC Irish distribution company Farmec has added Ovlac to its portfolio which also includes Mx, Sulky and SIP. Taking centre stage was this five-furrow reversible, the XPerience five-furrow with hydraulic auto reset, vari-width, cross shaft and full set of discs for a price tag of €34,750. DEUTZ-FAHR 5105 KEYLINE The 5105 Keyline is the most powerful of the new four model tractor range from Deutz-Fahr. Made in Turkey, these have a simpler spec and cost around £10k less than the Italian made 5 series. The Keline 5075, 5095, 5105 and 5105 Plus share a four-cylinder FarMotion 45 engine with the 75 not needing AdBlue. There is a choice of 40km/hr transmissions including a powershuttle which adds the Stop & Go brake to clutch function. The mechanically controlled…

Can you achieve more with less; less frills, less horsepower, less diesel and overall, less cost, but still get the job done? It is something that we've been pondering. Take mowing, for instance. For farms doing their own silage and who know their ground, is there always a need for multi-dimensional suspension? Likewise, do you have to have a conditioner? That crop conditioner conundrum is something only you can decide. Nonetheless we're still intrigued with the 'keeping it simple' aspect of mowing grass. If you have a tractor with a front pto, then there are some big gains to be had by hitching on a front mower. Add GPS guidance, and suddenly headland turn times are massively reduced compared to working in bouts with just a rear mower. Our rig…

Pöttinger wants to strengthen its arable line-up, and the Plano VT marks the first step in closing the gap in the firm’s shallow tillage cultivator range. There were a number of pre-series machines in the field this season, with production officially starting in January 2025. Initially, there will only be a 6.0m version, but other widths are to follow, according to Pöttinger. Compact and lightweight With an overall length of around 8.0m, the semi-mounted Plano VT6060 is up to 2.0m shorter than some of its competitors' machines. Pöttinger says the almost full spec version comes in at 7,652kg, which is also significantly less than some others. Power requirement is 180-350hp, depending on tines/discs format, working depth and soil conditions. Our tug for the day was a Steyr 6260 Absolut CVT…

No matter how hard manufacturers of fertiliser broadcasters try, it’s nearly impossible to spread granules at full rate right up to the edge of the field using a side-mounted boundary spreading system and expect zero application beyond the edge of the crop. However, there is an alternative: a central deflector and one extra pass along the boundary could be the solution to maximising yield up to the field edge while still being environmentally mindful. We wanted to review whether this relatively recent boundary spreading technology does indeed bring a real and tangible improvement to fert distribution accuracy. So, we brought together three fertiliser spreaders that use a central deflector for this test comparison. The test machines were an Amazone ZA-TS 4200 ProfisPro Hydro with 36m working width, a Bogballe M35W…

Globally, JCB reckons to be number one for telehandlers, accounting for more than one in every three units sold. Peak demand for ag machines is highest at harvest, but the popularity of the British designed and built Loadall is not limited to the farming community, construction models account for up to 70% of production. JCB also has a Loadall plant near Delhi, India, but all machines for the UK, European and North American markets are made at the firm’s world HQ at Rocester in Staffordshire. This is also the home for backhoes and site dumpers, but the focus of our visit was squarely on the Loadall. Big bits in-house Valve blocks and electrical harnesses are outsourced. So too are radiators, cooling packs, fuel tanks, mudguards, etc, but alli-mportant key components…

James Whitty was pronounced the Supreme British Ploughing Champion on Sunday 13 October as dusk descended at the end of a well organised 73rd British National Ploughing Championships, held at Thoresby Estate, Perlethorpe, near Ollerton, Nottinghamshire. On the Saturday the weather forecast was turned on its head when it was heavy showers from when the competitors set their opening furrows out in the sandy loam soil which in places was rather stoney, to when the sun showed itself through the clouds at just after 2pm when the plots were to be finished. Many did not have a cab and got a good soaking in the cold and very fresh conditions, but everyone smiled throughout the day. The site was excellent as were the marshals and friendly members of the Society…

AGCO NET SALES TUMBLE NEARLY 25% AGCO (parent company of Fendt, Massey Ferguson and Valtra) booked net sales of US$2.6 billion in the third quarter of this year. Down nearly 25% compared to the same three months of 2023, all regions were affected by the subdued demand for tractors and machines. In EME (Europe, Middle East) Q3 net sales were down 18%. Net sales for the first nine months of this year of US$4.93 billion were 8.4% lower than the US$5.28 billion for the same period in 2023. Industry retail tractor sales decreased 6.0% in Western Europe in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same nine months of 2023 with the weakest conditions in Italy, France and the UK. Demand is expected to remain soft and AGCO…

Claimed to provide 30% more stability, the Traxion CropCare is the first Vredestein VF row crop tyre for trailed and self-propelled sprayers. Previewed at the Italian EIMA show, internal tests show that the combined effects of the stabiliser ring in the central portion of the tread and a bead stabilizer enhance lateral stiffness by 30% compared to key competitor tyres. The Traxion CropCare will initially be available in two sizes (380/90 R46 and 380/105 R50) early 2025. More sizes will follow in the future.…

PEECON FEEDER Silage cut by the 2.2m-wide milling head on the Rapide XV-L concept is conveyed over the top of the Massey Ferguson 6S.155 to the 24m³ capacity trailed Biga mixer wagon. Dutch manufacturer Peecon says that the prototype fits any 150-200hp tractor with a minimum hydraulic oil flow of 150l/min. Attached to the tractor via a sub-frame, the twin conveyor design is said to provide the driver with good visibility. The company is even talking about a version with a tub capacity of 30m³, but for now the 24m³ prototype will be tested on a Dutch farm. If it does make it to the production stage then the expected €250,000 price tag (includes the tractor) is on a par with a dedicated self-propelled mixer wagon. One of the big…

Launched in its current form in 2012, the Arion series remains bang up-to-date thanks to a number of Claas revamps including the addition of the 660 model in 2017. Not only did this coincide with some notable hardware changes, such as a new front axle and suspension, but there were also some extra ponies popped under the bonnet. To find out if they are all there, we were keen to see the results of this month’s test Arion 660. As per the profi norm we packed our test tractor off to the DLG test centre. But before we delve into the stats, you may have noticed that our 660 is not sporting the usual Claas green but an optional metallic finish — subtle but striking, and also eye-wateringly expensive at…

The first thing that catches the eye about the S Series is its styling, which was co-designed by BMW designers … and that also includes the cab. This familiar piece of harvest office space comes from the X9, which we are now familiar with (see profi Harvest Special 2020). One key reason for this is the CommandPro controller and the G5Plus terminal, which is complemented by a new corner post display. Another is that amenities such as the leather clad seat that boasts heating, ventilation and a massage function can now be enjoyed on the S7, too. The whole package is rounded off by LED all round lighting, and, last but not least, the electric door closer — you only have to lean it close, and the door will automatically…

Around a decade ago, we got to put the then relatively new Kubota RTV-X900 through a ‘typical’ set of livestock chores (profi 05/2015). When compared to the existing RTV-900 that it replaced, the ‘X’ variant was certainly more comfortable, thanks to moving away from a ‘cart spring’ rear axle to a new fully independent rear suspension system. In terms of all out go, however, the newer model was as steady a performer as its predecessor. As power outputs of the RTV-900 and RTV-X900 are the same, this should have come as no surprise, but Kubota, however, did fit a different transmission to the RTV-X that we hoped would see more of that power reach the wheels. What does this have to do with buying a used RTV-X? The more powerful…

With production of the autonomous Aura diet feeder now underway, Kuhn is ushering in a new era. Not only does Aura mix and feed autonomously, but it can also drive around the yard to the silage clamps where it can load forage directly from the pit face. This means you no longer need to load feed bunkers or store blocks of silage in a feed kitchen. This not only saves cost on initial additional construction, but in the long term it also saves on valuable time. Speaking to a couple of French farmers who have been operating preseries versions, they also reported several other advantages. They also noted, however, that the Kuhn Aura will not be suitable for every farm … but more on that later. Years of development Kuhn…

I have often joked about WD40’s scent being so sweet that I could dam near wear it as cologne. However, after sampling the heady delights of Lidl’s home-brewed version of ‘Mechanic in a Can’ I think I may well give this one a try. Not all petrochemicals found in the farmyard have quite the same attraction though, with some being positively repellent. Used gear oil is a particularly pungent contender but none seem to have quite the staying power of good old diesel. Imagine, then, my wife’s barely containable joy at me entering the family home after having bathed in the stuff for two days… Having experienced some of the frustrating and continued fuelling issues besieging a local T130 Valtra, I offered to look a little deeper into some of…

JANUARY 2024 COVER STORY Springham Farm INSIDE Vineyard & Winery Show, CLM, Farm Construction FEBRUARY 2024 COVER STORY Supply chain pressures INSIDE Farm Expo preview MARCH 2024 COVER STORY Lambing at Hadlow College INSIDE Wiltshires APRIL 2024 COVER STORY SOES INSIDE Farm Expo preview M&A Brown & Sons MAY 2024 COVER STORY Protest highlights challenges facing farmers INSIDE Southern Farmers 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…

When some shows are going through a shaky situation Kelsey Media’s Fiona Mercer (publishing MD) with Gareth Beesley (division publisher) and show organiser Mark Woodward signed a deal on Thursday 24 October to see Tractor World stay at The Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire. This will see Tractor World take place here for the next four years. Organiser Mark Woodward said the show has been a great success since it was started in 2001 and continues to develop year in year out and saw its largest crowd in 2024 and that also applies to traders as well. “With the added edition of the new Kildare Hall it gives us more inside room for more development of the show,” he added which takes place on 22-23 February. Howard Pugh has already…

With over 70 tractors on offer at the 23 October Euro Auctions sale, there was a lot to interest the prospective bidders at their Leeds base. As ever they paraded onto the selling ramp in front of an expectant crowd with some top notch ready to work examples rubbing shoulders with those that were in poorer condition and needed restoration. As ever though, all sold. Here are some of the tractors that were on offer and the prices attained. First up were a selection of crawler tractors where a 2004 Caterpillar Challenger MT845 that was showing 8,710 hours on the clock came out on top when it sold for £22,500. Then came the regular tractors where the most expensive turned out to be a 2021 JCB Fastrac 4220 that was…

It’s with great sadness that we have to report the passing of the amazing Ron Greet of Broadhempston, Devon. He died at his home with his loving family and dogs by his side, on Wednesday 18 September 2024, aged 79 years. Those of you who were looking for tractor parts came in contact with him regularly and have nothing but good to say about him. He was a large man and a diabetic for decades, he made the best of his situation and was married to Gill and they had six children. The funeral service was held at St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Broadhempston on Tuesday 15 October and was packed to capacity, followed by a private cremation. Ron will be sorely missed by all collectors, but the business…