Fendt UK & Ireland Testimonial Brochure

Harvesting Efficiently with Fendt.

But don't take our word for it.

Read what our customers say about their Fendt Combines.

It's Fendt. Because we understand Agriculture.

fendt.co.uk Fendt is a worldwide brand of AGCO.

Contents Officially introduced in 2017, Fendt combines have become established in the UK and Ireland, giving customers the dependable, durable and reliable service they have come to expect from Fendt. Starting from nothing, we now have over 100 machines in the field, trusted by our customers with one of the most crucial operations in the farming calendar. From functional fivewalker combines, proven six-walker combines right up to our single and twin rotor combines, there is something for all customers in the Fendt combine range. Combines can be specified with a number of different headers from our in-house FreeFlow, PowerFlow or SuperFlow headers and now also Geringhoff TruFlex draper headers. We do hope you enjoy reading the following stories from customers who have entrusted their harvest to Fendt and this will give you the confidence to invest with Fendt in the future.

L Series.............................................................................................................page 4 J Dorey...............................................................................................................page 6 K Robson...........................................................................................................page 8 C Series...........................................................................................................page 12 B & F Potatoes............................................................................................... page 14 G Shepherd.................................................................................................... page 18 Ideal................................................................................................................ page 22 TW Grant........................................................................................................ page 24 Belmont Farms.............................................................................................. page 28 Belvoir Farming Company........................................................................... page 32 Germany Farms............................................................................................ page 36

L Series

Model 5255 L 5255 L MCS 5255 L PL 6275 L 6275 L MCS 6275 L PL

kW 179* 179* 179* 225** 225** 225**

hp 243* 243* 243* 306** 306** 306**

No. of Walkers 5 5 5 6 6 6

* Max. performance (ECE R 120) **Max. performance with PowerBoost (ECE R 120)

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J Dorey Located on the East coast of Ireland, Co Meath has some of the most productive agricultural land the island of Ireland has to offer. Nestled on a hill and overlooking the surrounding picturesque countryside and with views of the Irish Sea is home to the 6th generation Dorey family farm. It is here John Dorey farms a mix of winter and spring sown crops consisting of beans, oil seed rape, wheat and barley. In addition to growing crops on his home farm, John also carries out a planting and harvesting contracting service for a small number of local farmers.

However, John is not a typical farmer as he shares his time in the fields with the skies over the world as a long haul Boeing 777 pilot. For the most part, John’s role as a pilot complements the time required to manage his crops.

However the unpredictable Irish weather can sometimes pose challenges during the peak work load of sowing and harvesting crops.

As a man that uses technology to navigate through the skies, it is not surprising that John has found favour with machines from Fendt. Having admired and looked with interest at Fendt tractors for a number of years, John decided to purchase a Fendt 516 Profi Plus in 2017 for primary work like cultivations. A second older Fendt 716 with 16,500 hours was added to the fleet in 2018 which is used for spraying and grain carting during harvest.

series 5225 for the 2019 season.

Having completed 3 seasons in sometimes varied conditions from lodged crops, tall oil seed rape and wet fields, John is very pleased with how his Fendt combine has performed. The L series combine has harvested approximately 500 acres per year where output and fuel consumption have been ahead of John’s original expectations. Fuel consumption is averaging between 27-29 litres per hour. According to John, the combine is made even more compact and manoeuvrable being ParaLevel equipped, especially useful when negotiating

narrow field entrances. The support provided in terms of combine set up and tweaking to improve performance, from his local Fendt dealership ‘Farmworks Machinery’ comes in for praise from John.

As air travel gathers pace again, John will replace the cockpit of a Fendt L series Combine for that of a Boeing 777 but for now, to complete the 2021 harvest, John is helped by his sons Sean & Liam using machines built by Fendt.

When John decided to update his combine for the 2019 season, although Fendt was not an established combine brand in Ireland, due to his experience of Fendt technology with his 516, he deemed the Fendt combine was worth investigating further. A demonstration of an L series 5 walker 5225 impressed in terms of output but with minimal grain loses. The familiar feel of the operator controls and the overall compact nature of the machine were further reasons why John decided to purchase an L 6

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K Robson “For its cost and size, it has proved excellent. I enjoy driving it, we achieve a great sample, grain losses are low and straw is handled gently and left in great condition for baling.”

“Conditions change a lot during the day – particularly moisture levels, and the electric sieve adjustment helps us achieve maximum work rates while maintaining an excellent grain sample and minimising losses,” continued Kevin. “The cleaning area is very large for the size of combine, so we rarely lose grain over the sieves, although on steep slopes they become the limiting factor. A small reduction in the working speed solves the issue.

East Yorkshire-based Farm Manager and Fendt 6275L combine operator, Kevin Robson.

A six-year-old Fendt L-series straw walker combine continues to provide cost-effective harvesting for an East Yorkshire farm.

The Fendt 6275L was chosen for use on a farm near Foxholes in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Approximately 330ha of arable crops include wheat, potatoes, peas, and winter barley. Oilseed rape was also in the rotation until recently.

Cereals are grown for premium markets. Barleys consistently achieve malting quality while wheat is sold for milling when the growing season is favourable but otherwise goes for feed. Many farms in the local area have livestock and almost all the cereal straw is baled by a contractor and then sold.

Favoured design The Fendt combine was purchased in 2016 from local main dealer Wilfred Scruton Ltd, after it worked the 2015 harvest as the dealer’s demonstration machine.

The farm’s previous combine had also been supplied

by Scrutons, and back-up from the after-sales team was excellent during the nine years it was owned by the farm. “We buy most of our machinery from Scrutons,” explained Farm Manager, Kevin Robson who is also the 8

combine’s main operator. “Knowing such good backup was available meant that when our existing Laverda combine was due for updating it made sense to replace it with the Fendt. It’s far superior,” he added.

The 6275L has six straw walkers, a 306hp engine and was purchased with a 7m FreeFlow header. The farm has some steep slopes, but Kevin said the combine is never short of power. “It harvests approximately 250ha per year, and we can clear 20ha in a day without trying. Because we aren’t chopping straw, the engine usually operates at 50–60 per cent of its capacity, and we achieve a typical working speed of 3.5kph in wheat yielding 4t/ha. Conditions are often tough going because of high straw volumes, our proximity to the coast which means moisture levels tend to remain high and some steep slopes.”

Kevin says the Proline cab is comfortable and well equipped. Vision all around is excellent and all the controls are to hand. The air conditioning is very effective and little dust enters the cab.

Useful automation The Fendt has far more automation than the Laverda, and most working adjustments are carried out from the seat.

“Because we have a lot of slopes the ParaLevel version which keeps the separation and cleaning systems level would be an advantage, so this is something I feel we should include next time the combine is changed.”

Superb separation The farm’s Fendt 6275L has Multi Crop Separator (MCS) Plus for enhanced threshing and separation. A Power Feed Roller (PFR) ensures an even feed from the table to the intake elevator, and the MCS Plus separating concave separates more grain from the straw before it reaches the straw walkers.

MCS Plus can be engaged from the cab for heavy working conditions such as when straw volumes are high or when crop moisture content is higher, but the extended concave can be disengaged for reduced power demand and grain damage when it isn’t needed. “Compared to the Laverda, the MCS Plus was a revelation,” stressed Kevin.

“Higher speeds can be maintained even when conditions are very difficult, as grain is effectively separated from the straw. On our farm and with our damp climate, we never disengage it as straw damage remains low, and it’s always giving us an advantage.”

Kevin said the FreeFlow header feeds well, even when crops are laid and damp although care was needed when harvesting oilseed rape in the past to prevent wrapping around the auger.

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Best straw quality Because the straw is baled and then sold, keeping it in good condition is a priority. “Even with MCS constantly engaged, the straw quality is excellent,” said Kevin.

“Our regular contractor works for a lot of farms and he commented that our straw is usually the best he bales.”

Ownership costs low The combine had recorded 100 hours in its first demonstrating season and it has accumulated an additional 1,000 hours during its five harvests on the farm.

Most servicing is carried out on the farm but if repairs are needed during harvest, then the Scrutons workshop team responds quickly. “Repair and maintenance costs have been very low, and apart from routine maintenance all we have needed are a few new belts, an engine sensor, a transmission oil cooler, and this year we needed a new knife drive gearbox. The knife drive was similar to the one on our previous Laverda which never caused a problem, so the failure was just bad luck.”

Fendt and dealer package Asked whether the combine will be replaced by something similar, Kevin confirmed that this is likely. “A rotary combine wouldn’t offer significant advantages for us, and we like the straw quality from the straw walker model,” he explained. “Our current Fendt has its limitations, but for its cost and size it is excellent. I enjoy driving it - we achieve a great sample, grain losses are low and straw is handled gently and left in great condition for baling.

“Even with the MCS enhanced separation system constantly engaged the straw quality remains excellent,” said Kevin.

“Our regular contractor works for a lot of farms and he commented that our straw is usually the best he bales.”

East Yorkshire-based Farm Manager and Fendt 6275L combine operator, Kevin Robson.

Farm Manager Kevin Robson with the Fendt 6275L combine and Wilfred Scruton Ltd Area Sales Manager James Falkingham.

Farm manager Kevin Robson is the combine’s main operator, and he described the cab as comfortable and dust-free, and said the controls are all within easy reach and the level of automation is excellent.

East Yorkshire-based Farm Manager and Fendt 6275L combine operator, Kevin Robson.

“Reliability remains good, so we probably won’t update it for another two to three years but when we do then I would expect its replacement to be a similar Fendt model but with ParaLevel added, and supplied again by Scrutons for the excellent back-up.”

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“With enhanced separation provided by MCS Plus, we maintain higher speeds even when conditions are very difficult, as grain is effectively removed from the straw. On our farm and with our damp climate we never disengage it, as straw damage remains low and it always gives us an advantage.”

A Fendt 6275L straw walker combine which completed its sixth harvest on an East Yorkshire farm in 2021 remains efficient and reliable, and continues to impress its operator.

The Fendt 6275L is equipped with MCS Plus which has proved an advantage for harvesting crops with a high moisture content which are typical on the East Yorkshire farm.

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C Series

Model 5275 C 5275 PL 5275C PLI 6335 C 6335 C PL 6335 C PLI

kW 225* 225* 225* 265* 265* 265*

hp 306* 306* 306* 360* 360* 360*

No. of Walkers 5 5 5 6 6 6

* Maximum power incl. boost

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B&F Potatoes “The sample quality is always excellent. We often compare settings between the combines to achieve the best possible results, but the Fendts have no problem extracting grain from the straw even though when we check the swath, we find full stalks with empty ears still attached due to the gentle crop handling. They do a brilliant job.”

Yorkshire farmer and Fendt 6335C PL user, Richard Bannister.

Extra flexibility, excellent straw and grain quality and the reassurance of top-class dealer back-up were all priorities when a Yorkshire family farm changed from using a single Fendt hybrid combine to two smaller Fendt straw-walker models.

Potatoes are the primary crop for the Bannister family which farms just over 800ha in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Trading as B&F Potatoes Ltd, farm partners John, Richard and Steve Bannister also grow vining peas, beans, winter barley for feed and spring barley for malting, as well as wheat for milling and feed. Borage is grown as a health food ingredient on part of the farm. The land is a mix of owned and contract-farmed - mainly in one block in the Yorkshire Wolds and just a few miles from the sea where steep slopes, a damp climate and prevailing winds can create challenging conditions for cereals harvesting.

“We used a rotary combine before the Fendt 9490X hybrid, 14

then ran the Fendt for three years very successfully,” explained Richard Bannister. “The service we receive from the Area Sales Manager James Falkingham and the rest of the team at our local Fendt dealer, Wilfred Scruton Ltd is superb, so although we considered it sensible to look at alternative brands when changing the combine last year choosing Fendt again was a fairly easy decision.”

Limited harvest windows Because of the location opportunities for harvesting are often limited by the weather, and the combines rarely start until conditions have improved in the afternoon. The farm doesn’t have its own grain drier, so the priority is to achieve high work rates when the crops are in optimum condition and moisture levels are low. Wheat and bean straw is chopped and incorporated, and barley straw is baled and swapped for pig and chicken manure and slurry from local farms, so achieving tidy rows of swathed straw in good condition for baling is essential.

Added flexibility “Often our barley was ready when crops on contractfarmed land were also fit for harvesting, and with just the one combine we had to compromise as we couldn’t be in two places at once,” continued Richard. “We liked the simplicity of running one combine but thought that operating two machines would still provide the high work rates, but also allow harvesting in two different locations when needed. And although we always enjoyed excellent reliability from our previous Fendt combine, there was the added reassurance that if one suffered a breakdown then the other could continue working.”

The Fendt 9490X hybrid with a 30ft PowerFlow header was replaced by two 6335C PL straw walker combines with 23ft FreeFlow headers in time for the 2021 harvest.

The straw walker models were selected for their gentle straw handling to ensure quality for baling, and ParaLevel

(PL) versions were chosen for the steep slopes. Both combines were fitted with Trimble GPS guidance, yield mapping and moisture monitoring.

Challenging first harvest “Conditions during their first harvest were quite difficult as frequent showers as well as misty, damp air kept crop moisture levels high and we also had quite a lot of laid barley,” said Richard. “However, the FreeFlow headers are a simple design and work brilliantly, and we cut close to the ground to pick up the laid crops and losses were minimal. We probably travelled slightly slower than with the PowerFlow table previously, but they did a great job and the crop fed in well.”

Richard said that most working days were short due to the conditions, and the largest area harvested in one day was 50ha between the two combines in a crop of wheat yielding 12t/ha, when grain moisture didn’t drop below 16.5 per cent. The ground and swath were checked throughout the day and losses remained under 0.25 per cent. “The sample quality is always excellent,” stressed Richard. “We often compare settings between 15

the combines to achieve the best possible results, but the Fendts have no problem extracting grain from the straw even though, when we check the swath, we find full stalks with empty ears still attached due to the gentle handling.

They do a brilliant job.”

Losses remain low on slopes The ParaLevel self-levelling system has proved worthwhile.

“ParaLevel was recommended by the Scrutons Area Sales Manager, James Falkingham, and it allows us to maintain the same speed on slopes as on level ground without over-loading the separation and cleaning system.

When we are trying to get as much done as possible when conditions are suitable that makes a big difference.

Losses just don’t increase.”

The Skyline cab is popular with both operators who describe it as comfortable and well-equipped, and the main 10.4-in Varioterminal is easy to use and allows almost every aspect of the performance to be adjusted from the seat. This includes distribution of chopped straw from the chopper, and due to the farm’s windy location this is used frequently to maintain an even spread and prevent chopped straw being blown into standing crops.

Performance and efficiency Asked how overall work rates for the two new combines compare to the previous single, larger machine, Richard said he believes productivity has increased. “It’s hard to tell as each season is different, but whereas we achieved 50ha in one day between the two combines this harvest, I estimate we would have managed 40ha with the previous machine in similar difficult conditions. There were days when we did more in previous years, but that was when conditions were drier.”

The grain tank of the 6335C ParaLevel is slightly smaller than the standard version, but Richard said it suits the farm well. Using 14t grain trailers allows both combines to empty full tanks on the move.

Average fuel consumption for the 6335C combines when harvesting wheat and chopping straw is approximately 16

32 litres per hour. “Each machine uses less fuel per hour than the previous larger 9490X which isn’t surprising, but over the harvest we estimate that total consumption was similar. Daily checks are quick and easy, and the few teething problems on the new machines were sorted immediately by the dealer. Service Manager Oliver Vasey and Service Technician Andrew McKinley are both excellent, and when we phone with problems then they or another team member either explains how to solve the issue over the phone, or turns up in the field within half an hour.”

Pleased with decision One combine was purchased and the other is on longterm contract-hire. “Moving to two smaller combines did worry us a little, so we hired one machine so that if we later regretted our decision, we could more easily change it for a bigger model. During our first harvest we achieved the work rates we needed, gained flexibility, and benefitted from excellent grain sample quality and low losses. Straw quality for baling was quite good from our previous machine, but it’s even better from the new combines. The only disadvantage is needing two operators rather than one, but that hasn’t been a problem.

“Our experience of Fendt tractors as well as our previous Fendt combine suggests that longer term reliability should be good, and we probably won’t change the two combines again until maintenance and repair costs become an issue. We have heard good reports of the Fendt Ideal, including its gentle straw handling, so when we do next upgrade it’s something we might consider - we are very unlikely to move away from Fendt or our dealer.”

Trading as B&F Potatoes and farming in the Yorkshire Wolds, the Bannister family replaced a single Fendt hybrid combine with two Fendt straw-walker models giving them the flexibility to harvest in two locations simultaneously.

Experience of Fendt tractors and back-up from local main dealer Wilfred Scruton Ltd meant that although other brands were considered, the decision to buy Fendt again was always likely.

“ParaLevel was recommended by the Scrutons area sales manager James Falkingham, and it allows us to maintain the same speed on slopes as on level ground without over-loading the separation and cleaning system. When we are trying to get as much done as possible when conditions are suitable, that makes a big difference. Losses just don’t increase.”

“We liked the simplicity of running one combine but thought that operating two machines would still provide the high work rates, but also allow harvesting in two different locations when needed. And although we always enjoyed excellent reliability from our previous Fendt combine, there was the added reassurance that if one suffered a breakdown then the other could continue working.”

Yorkshire farmer and Fendt 6335C PL user, Richard Bannister.

Yorkshire farmer and Fendt 6335C PL user, Richard Bannister.

Richard Bannister says the Fendt Skyline cab is well-equipped and allows almost every aspect of the combine’s performance to be adjusted from the seat.

Wilfred Scruton Ltd Area Sales Manager, James Falkingham (left) with Richard Bannister and the farm’s two Fendt combines.

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G Shepherd “We produce crops of good quality for our target markets and achieve respectable yields but operate in an area where conditions for harvesting can be challenging, Our Fendt 6335C maximises harvesting opportunities while minimising straw damage and it achieves an excellent sample with very low losses.”

Farmer Graham Shephard – Bridlington, North Yorkshire.

Changing to a Fendt 6335C straw-walker combine from a competitor brand rotary model five years ago has proved a good decision for a Yorkshire family farm.

Trading as L&J Shephard & Sons, Graham Shephard farms at Fraisthorpe, near Bridlington close to the Yorkshire coast. The all-arable farm comprises approximately 300ha of owned and rented land and cropping includes wheat, barley, oilseed rape and spring beans.

Wheat is grown for milling or feed, barley is for malting, and all the straw is baled by a contractor and swapped for muck from a local pig farm. Located just a few miles from the coast, damp air and sea mists restrict harvesting opportunities, and the combine must achieve a good sample with low losses while also keeping the straw in good condition.

Successful demonstration The Fendt was selected following a demonstration by 18

and I can easily tweak the settings to suit conditions as they alter through the day.”

local dealer Wilfred Scruton Ltd. “We have always found the Scrutons team easy to deal with, and buy most of our machinery from them,” explained Graham. “The Foxholes depot is local and when breakdowns occur the engineers usually get us working again quickly. When our previous combine was due for replacement the dealer’s Sales Specialist, James Falkingham recommended the Fendt.

It impressed us during the demonstration so we placed an order, and it continues to suit us well.”

Good results Steve Carl has been the Fendt’s only operator since it arrived new. “We tend to cut very low as the straw is valuable to us, and even though conditions are often damp due to our coastal location, the large sieve area makes it easy to achieve a good grain sample with minimal losses,” he explained. “Most separation and cleaning adjustments are made from the cab and when I have achieved optimal settings for each variety, then these are stored in the terminal. Each variety has different harvesting characteristics so having the settings recorded and ready to use the following year is a help,

User-friendly features Steve likes the Skyline cab and describes it as comfortable and quiet and says the visibility all around is excellent.

Infinite travel speed control allows fine adjustment to optimise work rates and two speeds can be stored. “That is a really useful feature,” stressed Steve. “When harvesting barley my usual harvesting speed is approximately 4kph, but where there are areas of laid crop then this is reduced which gives me time to monitor the table and reduces flow through the separation system while the damp crop is processed. With the two speeds saved I just push the joystick to the left to select the lower speed and then to the right as soon as I am passed the laid area to return to 4kph.”

The FreeFlow table provides an even flow of crop to the threshing system and helps minimise losses in all crops and especially laid barley. For harvesting oilseed rape, a Zurn table extension is fitted which Steve describes as ‘brilliant’.

Proved reliable The Fendt had recorded almost 800 drum working hours by the end of harvest this year and remains very reliable.

Steve looks after routine maintenance and daily checks and annual servicing is carried out by the dealer. “It’s very easy to look after and there is little daily maintenance.

Breakdowns are rare, and since it was new it has only had one new belt, one new chain and a new clutch which was replaced in its first season. Apart from those items only service and wearing parts have been needed.”

Steve said his only suggested improvement concerns the sensor skids for the automatic table levelling. Small stones can become jammed preventing the skids 19

from closing which causes the table to tilt and dig into the ground. “It’s a minor problem and easily solved by modifying the skids which is on our list of jobs for this winter,” he added.

Plenty of power “We have large straw volumes to process as we cut the stubbles so short, but we rarely use the chopper and power isn’t an issue,” added Steve. “The only time more power would be an advantage is when we are harvesting beans and chopping the straw while unloading on the move. An auger full of beans is like trying to pump gravel, so we close the chute at the bottom of the tank to restrict the crop flow and reduce the system load.”

Maximising opportunities “We produce crops of good quality for our target markets and achieve respectable yields but operate in an area where harvesting windows are often limited by the weather,” added Graham. “The Fendt copes well, but as with any other combine there are limits and when sea mists come in during the day then we have to reduce the speed or stop until conditions improve. However, despite dealing with high straw volumes, we can always harvest when neighbours with other brand combines are working, so we are confident that the Fendt is maximising our opportunities to work.

“We average 25 to 30 hectares of harvesting on a good day, with minimal straw damage and achieve an excellent sample with minimum losses. With annual servicing by Scrutons the 6335C has proved a cost-effective and reliable harvester during its first five years, and we know we can rely on back-up from our dealer.”

A Fendt 6335C straw-walker combine which has completed its fifth harvest on a North Yorkshire coastal farm remains reliable and achieves the farm’s harvesting objectives including an excellent sample and minimal losses while leaving straw suitable for baling.

Operator Steve Carl says the Skyline cab is comfortable and quiet and he says driver aids including full adjustment of the separation and cleaning systems from the cab and the ability to save preferred settings for each crop and variety are an advantage.

“When our previous combine was due for replacement the dealer’s Sales Specialist, James Falkingham recommended the Fendt.

It impressed us during the demonstration so we placed an order, and it continues to suit us well.”

Farmer Graham Shephard – Bridlington, North Yorkshire.

“We average 25 to 30 hectares of harvesting on a good day, with minimal straw damage and achieve an excellent sample with minimum losses. With annual servicing by Scrutons the 6335C has proved a cost-effective and reliable harvester during its first five years, and we know we can rely on back-up from our dealer.”

Farmer Graham Shephard – Bridlington, North Yorkshire.

Pictured with the Fendt 6335C combine are (l-r) operator Steve Carl, Thomas Shephard with his father Graham and Wilfred Scruton Ltd Sales Specialist, James Falkingham.

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Ideal

Model IDEAL 7 IDEAL 8 IDEAL 9 IDEAL 10

kW 336* 401* 483* 581*

hp 451* 538* 647* 790*

No. of Rotors 1 2 2 2

*Max. performance with PowerBoost (ECE R 120)

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TW Grant “There has been considerable interest from other farmers in our Ideal 8PL, and they are watching how we get on with it. It’s still the new kid in town, but in terms of performance, features, grain and straw quality, we don’t think other brands match it.”

“We had decided to increase the header width from 30 to 35ft for extra output and to improve straw quality for baling.” Stewart continued. “We make round bales for our own use and to sell to local livestock farms, and we also sell many square bales, so straw quality is very important.

Using a 30ft header, the tractor and trailer wheels ran on the swath and where it was flattened it took longer to dry. A wider header would provide space for tractors and trailers to travel alongside the combine without running on the straw.”

Stewart Grant, TW Grant, North Scotland.

Changing brand after more than 50 years was a success A north Scotland-based family farm which grows malting barley for local whisky production has benefitted from increased work rates and reduced grain damage since investing in a Fendt Ideal 8PL. Owned and managed by the Grant family, the mixed farming enterprise comprises five farms within a sixmile radius. Approximately 410ha of arable cropping includes winter and spring barley, and there is an indoor Charolais-cross beef fattening enterprise for which feed is produced from the winter barley and straw is used for bedding. There is also grassland rented out for grazing.

Barley for whisky Several whisky distilleries within 15–20 miles radius of the farm, provide a ready market for good malting barley.

Of 280ha of spring barley grown by the Grants, 40ha is for a seed contract and the rest is for malting. Almost all the winter barley is for feed.

Four generations of the family have farmed in the area, 24

and just one brand of combine was used for more than 50 years. “Our steep slopes mean we need a combine with slope compensation and four-wheel drive,” explained Stewart Grant, who farms in partnership with his parents Margaret and Theo, and his wife Elaine. “We usually update the combine every six years and, although we have always been aware of other brands, few offered the capacity and specification we needed.”

The farm uses two Fendt tractors, supplied by local AGCO main dealer Ross Agri Services Ltd which has depots at Turriff and St Cyrus. At the 2019 Highland Show, Managing Director Martin Ross showed Stewart around the new Ideal, and suggested that it should be his next combine.

Change of brand After the 2019 harvest, when the Grant’s combine was due to be changed, it was expected to be by replaced by another of the same brand. However, an updated range didn’t include an equivalent model with slope compensation and four-wheel drive, so other makes and models were considered, including the new Fendt Ideal.

At Agritechnica that autumn, Stewart met Fendt UK product specialists and looked around the Ideal on the company’s stand. On his return to the UK, he visited an Ideal user in southern England and, having received very positive feedback, an order was placed for an Ideal 8PL with a 35ft SuperFlow header.

“We had looked at other options too, but a big attraction of the Ideal was that the front drive axles of the ParaLevel (PL) version can operate together to lift the front of the combine, allowing travel through narrow gateways without removing the header. We also wanted a combine with twin rotors as I feel they are gentler on grain. In heavy crops and when conditions were wet, the sample from our previous combine often included more skinned grains than were acceptable, and this was an opportunity to address that issue too.”

Flexible harvesting Harvesting winter barley starts as soon as grain moisture is down to 15–17 per cent, then the crop is crimped and treated with preservative, and stored for feed. Spring barley varieties are harvested at below 20 per cent moisture, when possible, although Stewart said he will harvest the spring crop at up to 25 per cent moisture if there is added pressure from adverse weather. The crop 25

is then dried on the farm to 14 per cent.

Having not seen an Ideal working before his own machine arrived, Stewart was immediately impressed. “Despite the header being five feet wider than our previous combine, the Ideal 8 travelled faster while achieving a cleaner grain sample with less damage, and losses were lower too,” he said. Average cutting speeds of 4.5kph in winter barley, and 5.0–6.0kph in spring barley were easily maintained, and Stewart commented that he could have travelled faster in the spring crops, but an additional grain trailer would have been needed to keep up.

Performance and productivity The Ideal’s ability to maintain its performance when conditions are challenging surprised him. “We have a very short opportunity to harvest when crops are ready and the weather is favourable,” he said. “We have to make the most of these opportunities to work, and even when grain moisture is up at 23 per cent the Ideal 8 seems to handle it just as easily, while still achieving an excellent sample. Sometimes our harvest runs into late September or early October, so having a combine which can operate during the shorter days in damp conditions is essential.

Checking in and under the swath there is very little grain to be found.”

Fendt’s IDEALbalance double grain pan cleaning system was initially regarded with suspicion by Stewart, but he quickly appreciated its benefits. “I was sceptical of the channels that direct the crop flow as they didn’t seem that significant. However, the design works very well. We have some ground that is so steep it exceeds the ParaLevel system’s ability to compensate, so the combine operates at an angle. With IDEALbalance we continue harvesting at the same speed as on the flat, and losses just don’t increase. When we are trying to optimise work rates it’s a big advantage over our previous machine.”

Grain is unloaded at up to 140 litres per second, but the rate is adjustable making it easier to top off trailers. Two full tanks from the combine fill each trailer. This has improved efficiency compared to the previous combine 26

which had a smaller grain tank, so trailers remained in the field for longer while the combine unloaded three times.

With up to 538hp available, the Ideal 8 has never been short of power, and Stewart said that when cutting uphill, chopping straw and unloading grain simultaneously, there appears to be no change in performance compared to when working on level ground. Fuel use has reduced, with savings of eight litres per hectare in winter barley and just under seven litres per hectare in spring barley, compared to the previous machine.

User-friendly controls Stewart said having Fendt tractors with similar controls was a help when getting used to the Ideal. “The Varioterminal and joystick are similar although the menus have different headings, but the operating logic is the same. Everything is adjusted from the cab, and the standard Fendt settings for each crop are reliable and achieve a good start, then I can make small adjustments to suit changing moisture content through the day.

“We use an iPad alongside the main Varioterminal which is used for GPS guidance, leaving the main display for setup and monitoring. We have used yield mapping for many years as it helps us identify areas where there might be issues to rectify, and the Fendt system works well.

“The cab is very comfortable. We upgraded to a premium seat which was probably worthwhile, there is plenty of room for a passenger, and the view of the header is exceptional. We hadn’t expected electric steps which pivot from the seat, but they make a real difference and save time.”

We had a few teething issues which were expected, and each time someone was with us to rectify the problem within a very short time even during the evening or at weekends,” he added.

Confidence in brand “It’s the first time we have ever purchased a combine without seeing one working first, either on our own farm or at a neighbour’s,” confirmed Stewart. “Because of the very limited opportunities for harvesting in this area, most farmers have relatively large combines for the area they farm compared with farmers further south. There are currently few Fendts – but I believe that will change.

“There has been considerable interest from other farmers in our Ideal 8PL, and they are watching how we get on with it. It’s still the new kid in town, but in terms of performance, features, grain and straw quality, we don’t think other brands match it. We will probably update it for another the same when it’s six to seven years’ old, and by then we predict that the series will have gained an excellent reputation resulting in high residual values and low costs of ownership.”

A Fendt Ideal 8PL with a 35ft SuperFlow header was chosen by a north Scotland-based family farm after more than 50 years using another brand.

The Ideal 8PL’s gentle grain handling means high work rates can be maintained to make the most of opportunities to harvest when weather is favourable

“When Martin Ross first showed me the Ideal, neither of us actually expected that we would end up buying one so soon - but I’m very pleased now that we did.”

“The cab is very comfortable.

We upgraded to a premium seat which was probably worthwhile, there is plenty of room for a passenger, and the view of the header is exceptional. We hadn’t expected electric steps which pivot from the seat, but they make a real difference and save time.”

Stewart Grant, TW Grant, North Scotland.

Back-up from Fendt and the dealer has also impressed Stewart. “It’s been fantastic from the start. The Fendt combine specialist, Ant Risdon, spent a long time helping us set up the combine initially, and remained on the farm while we got used to it. He has also returned several times since to demonstrate additional features and functions which I found particularly useful.

“Ross Agri’s team has been incredible too, especially the Turriff depot Service Manager Drew Gibson and Service Engineer Gavin Gray – I rate their service as exemplary.

Fendt tractors are also used by the Grant family, which enjoys an excellent relationship with local AGCO dealer Ross Agri Services Ltd.

Stewart Grant (pictured) is delighted with his decision to change combine brands and invest in a Fendt Ideal 8PL.

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Belmont Farms “We don’t want a complicated harvest - we just want to get it done, and the Fendt Ideal 9T consistently achieves high work rates and low grain losses without a fuss.”

Andrew Fletcher - Partner, Belmont Farms, Peterborough, Cambs.

A north Cambridgeshire farm is benefitting from increased output, ability to harvest in a wider range of conditions, and simpler farm record keeping since investing in a Fendt Ideal 9T combine.

The Ideal 9T replaced a competitor brand single rotor combine at Belmont Farms, near Peterborough.

Combinable crops on the arable farm owned and managed by the Fletcher family include approximately 500ha of wheat, 100ha of oats, 50ha of oilseed rape, 120ha of beans and last year there was also a trial of Canary seed. Potatoes and sugar beet are also within the rotation.

Impressed by demonstration “Our objectives when choosing the new combine were to achieve higher work rates and gain flexibility for timely harvesting,” explained partner Andrew Fletcher. “We saw an early version of the Fendt Ideal and were impressed by the design. Many years ago, we ran Massey Ferguson combines and liked the PowerFlow header which is similar to the range for the Ideal. We have a great relationship with the local AGCO dealer Chandlers and borrowed an Ideal 9T with a 35ft SuperFlow header on demonstration.

With its Dual Helix rotors and IDEALbalance cleaning system it easily outperformed our existing machine. The 28

rubber track design was far superior too and gave a much better ride. Following the impressive demonstration, we ordered a Fendt Ideal 9T with rubber tracks and a 40ft SuperFlow header.”

Wireless data advantage The Ideal 9T has Fendt Connect telemetry, and VarioDoc Pro which automatically records task information and exports it to the ‘cloud’ from where it can be downloaded by authorised users from anywhere with an internet connection.

Fendt Connect allows the combine’s location and operating status to be monitored in real-time through the Fendt Connect App. “We use the App throughout the day to check progress, and the Chandlers team uses it to locate the combine when servicing is needed,” added Andrew. “When we contact the dealer for support, the team is often already aware of any issues and expecting our call. They either talk us through solving problems ourselves, or if they need to attend then the issue has usually already been diagnosed through the fault codes, and they bring appropriate tools and the correct parts saving extra travel and downtime.”

Accurate field records With farm details preloaded within the task management software, each field is automatically identified as the combine crosses the boundary. If Andrew has created a harvesting task for that field, then the system asks combine operator, Kieran Oliver to confirm by touching the display that recording should commence. As the field is finished, data related to the task, the field and crop yields is automatically stored as a package and sent to the ‘cloud’. Andrew then downloads it into Gatekeeper where it is stored and available for analysis by the farm management software.

“Each field is treated as a separate package, and the system is simple for operators to use. Everything is automatic, so there is no need to remember to start and stop data recording,” continued Andrew. “When I send jobs to the combine for completion; instructions include the field name and location, the boundaries are already set, and the tramline track headings are detailed too. The same basic information for each field is shared across our tractor fleet as part of the work instructions, so for every task in that field the working strategy is similar.”

If for any reason a task hasn’t already been created, then Kieran can create one manually from inside the cab. With the base field information already stored, he only has to select the task type and location, complete the task, then export the work data to the ‘cloud’.

User-friendly controls As well as the main 10.4-in Varioterminal, the farm’s Ideal 9T also has an iPad linked to the main display. “I use the iPad to display field maps and some of the machine settings,” explained Kieran. “The displays ‘talk’ to each other and share the information. It’s a userfriendly system and it’s easy to find relevant settings in the menus. These are logically arranged in order from the 29

front of the combine to the rear.”

Kieran also likes HarvestPlus. This monitors the intake elevator working load and adjusts the travel speed to maintain a constant flow. Maximum speed and permissible losses are pre-set, and productivity is automatically maximised within these limits.

Manufacturer and dealer support The 2021 harvest was Kieran’s first operating a combine, but he said back-up from the Chandlers team as well as from Fendt Combine Specialist, Ant Risdon was excellent.

“They were aware that it was all new to me and provided plenty of support and instruction,” stressed Kieran.

“Despite its capabilities it is actually a very simple design and being able to adjust almost any aspect of operation from the seat through the Varioterminal is a big help.

Applying standard settings for each crop will produce a good result, then fine-tuning the system to suit the conditions is easy.

“It’s a very satisfying machine to drive - the cab is spacious, quiet and comfortable and I enjoyed my first harvest.”

flow to the rotor for processing, so threshing, separation and cleaning performance is always optimised. As well as high straw volumes last harvest, there was also a lot that was green even though the grain was ripe. Andrew said the header picked it up easily and delivered an even flow.

“We are very pleased with the Ideal 9T and having a combine with that much capacity was a definite advantage last harvest,” confirmed Andrew. It maintained impressive work rates while achieving excellent grain samples and with barely any losses, in situations which would have severely challenged our previous machine.

“Fendt Connect and VarioDoc Pro ensure important field records are accurately maintained, and we don’t struggle to manage the data as it transfers direct to our Gatekeeper system as each field is finished.

“The support from the Chandlers team and Fendt has been excellent too, including making sure the data handling technology performs correctly.”

“It’s a very satisfying machine to drive - the cab is spacious, quiet and comfortable and I enjoyed my first harvest.”

Andrew Fletcher - Partner, Belmont Farms, Peterborough, Cambs..

Cambridgeshire-based Belmont Farms selected a Fendt Ideal 9T combine with up to 647hp and Dual-Helix rotors to replace its previous single-rotor machine.

The Fendt Ideal 9T achieves impressive work rates. Fendt Connect wireless data transfer and VarioDoc Pro task management systems send data to the ‘cloud’ ready to download into the farm’s Gatekeeper management programme.

Effortless performance Although for the Ideal’s first harvest in 2020, crops were thinner than usual and easy to harvest, in 2021 conditions remained damp all day, and straw volumes were much higher. “The Fendt coped very well and made easy work of picking up and processing the crop in conditions where our previous combine would have struggled,” confirmed Andrew. “One of the most impressive characteristics of the Ideal 9T is that it so easily out-performs our previous combine without appearing to work hard, and it seems economical in terms of fuel use too.

“We don’t want a complicated harvest – we just want to get it done, and the Ideal 9T consistently achieves high work rates and low grain losses without a fuss. I find it very deceptive – after a day’s harvesting I’m often surprised how much has been achieved although I never feel we have pushed it to its limits.”

“Fendt Connect and VarioDoc Pro ensure important field records are accurately maintained, and we don’t struggle to manage the data as it transfers direct to our Gatekeeper system as each field is finished.”

Andrew Fletcher - Partner, Belmont Farms, Peterborough, Cambs.

Header impressed The Fendt SuperFlow header supplies a constant crop 30

Kieran Oliver says the VisionCab is comfortable and the Ideal 9T is rewarding and enjoyable to drive.

Kieran (left) with Andrew Fletcher.

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Belvoir Farming Company “In laid crops of storm-damaged wheat, the Fendt Ideal 10T with the Geringhoff 40ft header just deals with it effortlessly and produces an excellent sample with losses well below one percent.”

Keith Challen – Farm Manager, Belvoir Farming Company, Notts.

For a large Leicestershire arable farm which invested in a Fendt Ideal 10T combine last year, the timing was excellent as it made light work of the challenging harvest.

“It was the wettest ‘dry’ harvest I’ve known in 34 years of farming, but I actually felt less tired,” said Keith Challen, Farm Manager for Nottinghamshire-based Belvoir Farming Company Ltd. Keith’s comment refers to the 2021 cereals harvest when frequent showers and limited sunshine meant crops were rarely dry, although total rainfall during the period was little above average. Compounding the problem for many farmers were very high straw volumes, resulting from ideal late spring growing conditions. It was also Keith’s first harvest operating the new Fendt Ideal 10T, with joystick-controlled steering and a Geringhoff TruFlex draper header - and he credits his lack of fatigue on the user-friendly package.

The first Fendt tractor arrived on the farm in 1995 and is still in use. The current fleet includes three Fendt tractors, two Rogator trailed sprayers and the Ideal 10T combine.

Just under half of the land is owned, and the rest is rented on long term tenancies. Most is heavy, wet clay and Keith 32

explained that challenges include preventing ground compaction and reducing black-grass populations. A controlled traffic farming (CTF) regime has been adopted, and spring cropping has replaced some winter crops in the rotation allowing time for stale seedbed creation to aid black-grass control.

For many years, rotary combines of a competitor brand were used to harvest 1,200ha of combinable crops, although Keith also kept an eye on options available from other local dealers. The combines were updated every four years but, during negotiations for the purchase of a new Fendt sprayer, the B&B Tractors Group Sales Manager Colin Blood suggested upgrading to a Fendt Ideal at the same time. “Our combine wasn’t due for changing until after the 2021 harvest, but we had heard a lot about the Ideal from the B&B team during the previous few years. We were offered one of only a few new flagship Ideal 10T machines due to arrive in the UK last year and confirmed an order.”

Joystick steering Keith specified the IDEALdrive steering option, with an armrest-mounted joystick which replaces the conventional steering wheel. Draper-type headers had been considered in the past, but Keith felt that the Geringhoff TruFlex header would offer significant advantages for the new combine. These included optimised crop feeding to the intake elevator and rotor, and accurate ground contour following of the 40ft header, allowing stubbles to be cut shorter and ensuring that no crop was missed even on undulating ground.

“Joystick steering sounded a good idea and now, having used it for a full harvest, I wouldn’t go back to a steering wheel,” stressed Keith. “With no steering column there is a marvellous view across the header, and when turning on headlands it’s quicker and takes less effort.

It’s just pushed to the left or right, and as soon as the stick is released it returns to the middle and the steering centralises, whereas a steering wheel has to be rotated back to the correct position. It’s easier on the road too, as fine adjustments are made through small stick movements, whereas a steering wheel encourages over-steer due to the rear wheel steering. It’s a logical innovation and I wish it had been available 25 years earlier.”

Flex Draper header The Geringhoff header can operate in hinged mode which splits it into three rigid sections, or flex mode which allows flexing across the width and up to 300mm of vertical knife travel. Hinged mode allows the full range of reel height adjustment, whereas in flex mode reel movement is limited to prevent knife contact where the ground is very uneven.

“The more I use the Geringhoff header, the more I like it,” confirmed Keith. “Tilt adjustment allows the operating angle to precisely suit the crop and conditions. We had a lot of storm-damaged wheat last year which was laid flat 33

on the ground in all directions. Tilting the header forward allowed me to push the knife down under the crop, while the reel was set to pull the crop in over the knife. The straw was very damp, but I maintained a constant 6.5kph working speed as the crop fed cleanly into the header, and then the belts transported it to the centre of the table for heads-first feeding into the elevator. Very little was left in the field, and we maintained high outputs.

“Another benefit of the accurate ground following is that, even with its 40ft width, stubbles are shaved off close to the ground. It adapts to undulations quickly, and only a couple of replacement knife sections were needed during harvest.”

Impressive work rates Despite high straw volumes and damp conditions, average work rates of six hectares per hour were achieved harvesting first wheats yielding 10t per hectare. Early starts and late finishes were generally avoided due to high grain moisture content but, even so, between 55–62ha per day was harvested with time also taken for moving between fields.

“With the Ideal 10T, we benefitted from longer working days due to the header’s ability to pick up and feed the crop smoothly, and the thorough but gentle threshing and separation by the Dual Helix rotors. The IDEALbalance twin sieves provide a huge cleaning area, and even with large volumes of wet straw and in higher yielding crops, average losses were below half a per cent and never exceeded one per cent. There were barely any header losses, and none from the rotors,” emphasised Keith.

Keith said the Ideal’s VisionCab is spacious, quiet, and comfortable. Adjustments are easily carried out from the Varioterminal, and it is easy to achieve a good sample.

Half the straw is swathed for baling by a local dairy farmer, and the rest is chopped. Keith said that swapping from chopping to swathing and back again is achieved at the touch of a button in under one minute. Straw is spread across the 40ft cut width without needing full power, and adjustable spread bias maintains even distribution on windy days.

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An Ideal 10T with IDEALdrive joystick steering, a 40ft Geringhoff TruFlex draper header and an experimental, extra-long 12.2m unloading auger for improved CTF compatibility, made easy work of 1,200ha of cereals harvesting in challenging conditions.

Fendt Connect Fendt Connect telemetry allows the combine position and operating status to be monitored through a smartphone App. Authorised dealers can use it to check for fault codes and service requirements.

Keith said that it is difficult to accurately compare running costs as every harvest is different, but he believes that the Fendt’s fuel use per hectare of harvesting is lower than the previous machine, despite it having more power and achieving superior work rates.

Loyal to dealer and brand “We have definitely become a Fendt farm,” he concluded.

“The B&B Tractors team is fantastic. Colin Blood sits down

The Ideal 10T has a 17,100-litre grain tank which can be unloaded in just 81 seconds by the 210 litres/sec unloading auger. The unloading rate can be reduced in four stages, helping avoid spillages while topping off trailers.

with us, discusses what we need and the best way to own it, and we trust him. The engineers who looked after our Ideal 10T this year were some of the best technicians ever to visit our farm and we had complete confidence in their abilities. Support from Fendt Combine Specialist Ant Risdon was excellent too. He arranged for us to try an extended unloading auger for improved compatibility with our CTF system, and he called in several times to check that we were getting the most from the machine and was always available at the end of the phone. Between the manufacturer and dealer, we have exactly what is needed from a key supplier.”

“2021 was the wettest ‘dry’ harvest I’ve experienced in 34 years of farming, but operating our new Fendt Ideal 10T with IDEALDrive joystick steering and the Geringhoff 40ft header, was less tiring than driving our previous smaller combines, even after long days in the seat.”

Keith Challen – Farm Manager, Belvoir Farming Company, Notts.

Half of the straw is chopped, and the remainder is baled by a local farmer. Even with the straw spreader operating at less than full capacity in damp conditions, a 40ft spread width is easily achieved.

Belvoir Farming Company Farm Manager, Keith Challen says the Ideal’s VisionCab is very comfortable. With no conventional steering wheel, the view of the header is described as ‘marvellous.

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Germany Farms “We never had a problem with our previous combines or dealer, but the Ideal 10T and Geringhoff header performed even better than expected achieving efficiency and cost savings despite difficult conditions, so we remain very pleased with our decision.”

header was needed to maintain the work rates needed.

The Geringhoff header flexes and pivots to accurately follow ground contours and appeared the ideal solution.

Fendt VarioGuide auto-steer with RTK accuracy was specified to make the most of the extra width, and the Ideal 10T with a 40ft Geringhoff TruFlex draper header arrived for the 2021 harvest.

Chris Germany, Germany Farms, Notts.

A Fendt Ideal 10T which replaced two combines of another brand on a large Nottinghamshire arable farm is achieving similar work rates and improving harvesting efficiency.

“Changing from a system which worked well to something completely different, but which we hoped would be even better was a difficult decision,” commented farmer Chris Germany.

Trading as Germany Farms, the Germany family farms approximately 1,250ha of arable crops on owned and rented land in four main locations close to its base near Newark. Wheat and oilseed rape usually dominate the crop rotation, but unfavourable conditions for drilling during autumn 2020 meant that 250ha of spring barley replaced some of the wheat.

Reviewed operation The previous two-combine system worked well, but when both machines were due for updating it was an opportunity to review the harvesting strategy. “They both had 25ft headers, and one had worked five harvests 36

and the other had worked six, and both gave excellent service,” explained operator Tom Germany. “However, our harvest area had reduced by 80ha and my father who drove one of the combines was stepping back from full time work on the farm, so rather than ordering two more of the same size and brand we considered alternatives including one larger machine.”

The family enjoys an excellent relationship with AGCO main dealer B&B Tractors, and a Fendt Ideal 8 demonstrator was borrowed in 2019, followed by an Ideal 9 the next year. The latest model of the previous brand was also considered as the dealer back-up had always been excellent, but the family concluded that the most attractive option was a Fendt Ideal 10T, with a Geringhoff 40ft header.

Versatile header Conventional fixed 30ft headers had been tried previously, but on undulating ground including many old clay pits, shorter crops were missed and stubble was left uneven, so the farm continued using 25ft machines. However, to move to a single combine operation successfully a wider

Challenging conditions Excellent late spring growing conditions produced large straw volumes, but with up to 790hp available the Ideal 10T was never short of power. “It was a damp harvest from start to finish - rarely wet but never crispy dry,” noted Chris. “We grow milling wheats and aim to harvest the crop in peak condition, so starting and finishing times were strongly influenced by the weather. The Geringhoff header picked up laid wheat cleanly and delivered it ears first into the combine which helped maximise work rates.

It was very impressive.”

Damp conditions meant short working days during which the Ideal 10T averaged 50–55ha. “It coped well with the damp crop and high straw volumes, and the only overload warning occurred while harvesting green oats,” explained Tom. “If we had fallen behind and there was added pressure to get crops in to store then we could have worked later, but drying capacity became the limiting factor.”

Joystick steering Tom said the VisionCab is very comfortable, and he remains delighted with his decision to specify optional IDEALdrive – a small steering joystick on the left-hand armrest which replaces the conventional steering column and wheel. “I wouldn’t want another combine with a steering wheel,” he stressed. “The joystick is quicker and easier to use and steering lock to lock requires only small stick movements left or right.

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“It took an hour or so to get used to it, but after a day it felt strange getting into the car to drive home. With no steering wheel, the view across the header is exceptional which was a real help harvesting laid crops.”

Most settings are adjusted through the armrest-mounted 10.4-in Varioterminal.

IDEALharvest provides real-time visualisation of crop flow through the Dual Helix rotors and the IDEALbalance dual-pan cleaning system. “Being able to visualise what’s happening inside is a big help when optimising output, and helps me make fact-based decisions,” confirmed Tom. “The Ideal 10T has a huge sieve area so even in high yielding crops and on slopes, losses remain very low.”

HarvestPlus allows target crop throughput and travel speeds to be set, then the combine operates as close to these as possible while not exceeding specified grain loss limits. “It works really well,” stressed Tom. “Automatic speed adjustment lets me concentrate on the header and other aspects of the operation and reduces fatigue.”

Despite the conditions, the grain sample quality was excellent. After changing crops or varieties standard settings were applied, then Tom tweaked settings from the cab to optimise performance. “It’s very easy to achieve a good sample, and our Skyfall wheat came into store looking as if it had already been through a cleaner.”

The large 17,100-litre grain tank is emptied at a rate of 210 litres/sec which Chris describes as ‘phenomenal’. For topping off trailers the flow can be reduced in four stages, and the auger position is easily adjusted by the joystickmounted scroll wheel.

Straw quality is important as most is baled, and Chris said that although the crop is thoroughly threshed and separated the gentle handling means there is little damage, and the swath is left in good condition for baling.

Cost and efficiency Replacing two smaller combines with the Ideal 10T has reduced fuel use from 1,200 litres to 800 litres per day. “It

harvests a similar area to the two previous machines, but burns 30 per cent less fuel,” confirmed Chris.

During the 2021 harvest, the Ideal 10T recorded 220 cutting, and 270 engine hours, and reliability was excellent with only a few minor teething issues. Daily checks are quick and easy, and Chris said he is constantly amazed by the clean engine bay. “We blow it out with a compressor but there is hardly ever any build-up of dust and chaff, and the cooling pack remains clean. There are only four grease nipples on the header, and a few on the combine which require attention every 50 hours. Apart from filling with diesel there is little to do and compared to preparing the two previous combines we save a lot of time.”

Other efficiency improvements include grain handling.

Previously up to five trailers were left on headlands for filling, then fleets of two or three tractors shuttled them between the field and store. Last harvest two or occasionally three tractors and trailers were needed, which headed to the single combine for unloading on the move, then transported the grain straight to the store.

brands too.”

Happy with decision “Changing from two combines to one was a big decision, but we had confidence in the Fendt brand and knew we could trust our dealer. We were also certain that if a major problem occurred then a replacement combine would be available. Reliability proved excellent though, and it matched the work rate of our previous two combines while achieving an excellent grain sample with minimal losses.”

“We never had a problem with our previous combines or dealer, but the Ideal 10T and Geringhoff header performed even better than expected achieving efficiency and cost savings despite difficult conditions, so we remain very pleased with our decision.”

Nottinghamshire-based Germany Farms selected a Fendt Ideal 10T combine with IDEALdrive joystick steering and a 40ft Geringhoff TruFlex draper header to replace two smaller combines of a competitor brand on its 1,250ha arable farm.

Time is also saved when opening up and finishing fields.

Both sides of the Geringhoff header are equally narrow, and Chris said this makes it practical to work in either direction when cutting headlands, and it is also possible to turn and return rather than working in lands saving time for short work.

“We have used Fendt since 2010, and find the tractors comfortable, reliable, easy to operate, and their residual values are good. We feel they are more economical than most other brands too.”

Chris Germany, Germany Farms, Notts.

Fendt and dealer Almost all the farm’s machinery is bought through B&B Tractors. “We get on well with Group Sales Manager Colin Blood – we trust his advice, and the service from the workshop team is excellent. We deal with people who look after us, and B&B Tractors is a big enough dealer to guarantee the back-up we need, but still gives us the personal service we value.”

As well as the Ideal combine, the farm operates three Fendt tractors and a Rogator sprayer. “We have used Fendt since 2010, and find the tractors comfortable, reliable, easy to operate, and their residual values are good,” emphasised Chris. “We feel they are more economical than most other With one of the farm’s three Fendt tractors are (l-r) John, Tom, and Chris Germany, with B&B Group Sales Manager Colin Blood.

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It’s Fendt. Because we understand Agriculture. fendt.co.uk Fendt is a worldwide brand of AGCO.

www.fendt.com AGCO GmbH – Fendt Marketing 87616 Marktoberdorf, Germany

It's Fendt. Because we understand Agriculture.

Fendt is a worldwide brand of AGCO. All details regarding scope of delivery, appearance, performance, dimensions and weights, fuel consumption and running costs of vehicles reflect the latest information available at the time of print.

These may change by the time of purchase. Your Fendt dealer will be happy to inform you about any changes. The vehicles shown do not feature country-specific equipment.

EN/2001