Essential Farm Machinery

Essential Farm

covering East Anglia and the Midlands

STRIGER 100 STRIP-TILL SYSTEM

Exceptional output and work quality

The STRIGER is the perfect agronomic tool developed by KUHN for strip-till. In the row, you benefit from soil preparation, just like a conventional machine and in the inter-row, you capitalise on the advantages of direct seeding while preserving a cover of residue.

“By using the STRIGER,we have halved our fuel usage and tripled our output compared to our conventional system”

Neil Sharpe,

TH Clements

A new dimension in handling

The JCB Folding Grass Forks are perfect for the handling of silage or any loose material. Extensively tested to ensure efficiency and productivity and maximised for your machine, available in 12ft, 14ft and 16ft wide models. Scan the QR code for more information and to request a price.

Tractor drivers urged to stay safe at work

Farmers and hauliers are being urged to remember safety when it comes to loading and unloading on farms.

Electricity distributor UK Power Networks has been talking to landowners and site managers asking them to warn agricultural contractors and farm workers about the overhead cables on their land.

The company’s safety team has renewed their warning following the death of a skip driver in the eastern region when part of the vehicle was raised and touched overhead lines.

Nationally, two people are killed by incidents involving overhead power lines every year. Farming and road haulage contributed to 30% of all overhead line incidents across East Anglia and south-east England.

Safety advisor Ros Forbes said: “It’s really important that landowners or site managers remember to brief all staff, and anyone visiting with equipment that operates at height, about

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and growers in the eastern counties and the Midlands. It is mailed with Anglia Farmer and Midland Farmer magazines and is also available at selected farm machinery and supplies outlets.

Published by Countrywide Publications, Fountain Way, Reydon, Suﬀolk IP18 6DH T: 01502 725800

Printed by Micropress Ltd, Suﬀolk T: 01502 725800

chinery should always to be vigilant, plan ahead and to look up and around to be aware of their surroundings.”

Never raise the bed of a tipper trailer or lorry underneath an overhead power line or drive under the line with the body of the vehicle raised. Drivers should unload elsewhere and use a vehicle that doesn’t pose a risk near overhead power lines.

Ms Forbes said: “Another thing to

Find out the maximum reach of all machinery and consider how it can be used safely.

Mark overhead and underground power cables on farm maps and inform all staﬀ, contractors and visitors where they are situated

Download the What3Words app in case you ever need to explain your location to the emergency services.

Look Out Look Up: Always look around you before loading or unloading, using tipper trailers in ﬁelds and when stacking.

Take extra care in dark or poor light especially when tired.

Stay alert: Remain vigilant when using GPS auto-steer systems. Always assume power lines are live even if they are damaged

Know how to exit your vehicle in case of an emergency and keep at least ten metres away from fallen power lines.

Stay in the cab, or, if you need to get out jump well clear so that no contact is between you, the vehicle and the ground at the same time

be careful of, is changing the landscape or land use – for example by building up the land or adding hardstanding or access routes below existing power lines.”

Thousands of bright yellow stickers are handed out each year by the power company, to be stuck inside farm vehicle cabs reminding drivers to work safely, and what to do in an emergency – including calling 105.

The only completely natural product. Stand-alone. Truly sustainable. Excellent efficacy. Sequesters carbon during growth. Flexibility of timing.

Minimal weight loss in store. Curative and preventative. No MRL.

One day withholding period. No persistent residues on crops or in stores. Approved for use on organic crops. May be used in multi-use stores.

The

choice.

steps towards correct sprayer setup 6

well-maintained sprayer, correctly set up, is essential for accurate application and optimal efficacy, while avoiding any risks to the operator, bystand-

if you are using a mounted sprayer.

The optimum pressure depends on several factors, such as tyre type and size, machine weight, and the amount of field and roadwork to be done, so a compromise may be needed. Refer to tyre manufacturer recommendations or speak to a representative about optimum pressures.”

Start by getting the sprayer out of the shed, and walk around it to check all the components individually for cleanliness and con-

The whole machine has to be fit for purpose, so look at everything from the hitching and steering points on a trailed or mounted sprayer, to the tank, filters, hoses, and electrics.

Perishable rubber components, such as drip control valves, and water ingress into electrical solenoid valves are potential problem areas to watch. Also check PTO guards, beacons, work lights and tyres are in good condition and free from defects.

Open out the boom and check the general condition of joints, hydraulic rams, pivots, etc, and boom movement, which should move and reset itself to the centre.

Sprayers must be tested annually for farm assurance, so check that your sprayer has a valid, in-date NSTS certificate, and book a test where appropriate.

Ideally, the sprayer will have been put away. But there is no harm in washing it out again with clean. Doing so also provides an opportunity to check for leaks at the same time.

Although water will do the job, some product labels require a specific tank cleaner to be used, and even if not, cleaners can be worth using occasionally to ensure everything is given a good clean, particularly if you are concerned about potential sulfonylurea residues on sensitive crops.

Remember, all washings must be disposed of correctly, which can be quite complex in the absence of a designated washdown area and biobed system, so seek advice or speak to your agronomist if you are in any doubt.

Inspect and jug test the nozzles for damage and ensure that they are within tolerance for desired application rates. Cross reference the flow rate against manufacturers data – and check nozzles are correctly aligned, Mr Baxter advises.

Take the opportunity to evaluate whether current nozzles are delivering the coverage you need to get the most from products. It’s a complex area, so discuss the options for nozzle choice and water volume with your agronomist.

Recent years have seen an industry trend towards lower water volumes to improve work rates, but there is a risk this could be compromising coverage and efficacy in some situations.

Sprayer setup is not just about the spraying components. Other factors, such as running the correct tyre pressures can also help improve boom stability in the field and minimise potential compaction of tramlines, says Mr Baxter.

Although many sprayers have self-levelling systems, these can be put under greater strain if tyre pressures are uneven. Don’t forget to also check the tractor tyre pressures

It is always worth operating the sprayer with clean water to check for leaks and ensure the on-off mechanism and anti-drip valves are working correctly Run the sprayer at a minimum of 5 bar to check for leaks. If there are no leaks, pressurise the sprayer to operating pressure to check that the pressure reading – gauge or electronic – is operational and correct.

Finally, make sure that the correct PPE and a complete first aid kit (including eyewash) is available to the sprayer operator. At the very least, PPE should include a face mask, gloves, and spraying overalls.

Also consider things like a spill kit, fire extinguisher, signage, and an action plan or emergency contact numbers in the event of an accident. Take time to make sure everything is in good order to reduce the risks of downtime once things get busy.

With relatively narrow windows to apply products at the optimum stage, anything we can do to avoid lost time and keep sprayers working properly has to be worthwhile.

3. Ensure tanks are empty and clean

2. Check tyre pressures

6. Check PPE and first aid

4. Look for leaks

5. Test nozzles

Equipment - Livestock - Feed - Fertiliser - Seed - Cash Flow

Diversification Projects - Building - Debt Consolidation

Equipment - Livestock - Feed - Fertiliser - Seed - Cash Flow

Diversification Projects - Building - Debt Consolidation

• Finance from £10k to £5m

• Excellent rates

• 6-month to 20-year terms

• Tax efﬁcient

• Simple, quick phone application

• Decision within 24-hours

• Bad credit history, large debts... No problem!

• High street banks unsupportive

• Tenant farmers welcome

We bring the personal touch back into farm ﬁnance. For the personal touch, ring George Bridgman on 07522 731193 george.bridgman@abﬂtd.co.uk

Hugh Pearl Lane Drainage has over 60 years experience of contracting, and can supply all of your drainage and trenching requirements from design to construction.

New sprayer range targets medium-sized enterprises

Suffolk sprayer manufacturer

Landquip, known for its large wide-boomed sprayers, has introduced a new range of mounted machines for the 2025 season.

With boom widths from 12m to 15m and tank capacities up to 1200 litres, the cross-rear-fold XRF range fits between Landquip’s smaller 6-10m amenity sprayers and the larger 18-30m arable sprayers with aluminium booms.

Landquip says enquiries from growers and dealers inspired the company to design the new range, which is targeted primarily at small and medium-sized arable and vegetable growers requiring a high specification sprayer with robustly constructed booms.

Tank shape

Ideally suited to tractors of 80-150 hp, the XRF machines are compact close-coupled sprayers offering good weight distribution with tank shapes that result in a low centre of gravity. The 12m XRF 1012 with 1000 litre

tank weighs 850kg.

High-grade polyethylene tanks available in 800, 1000 or 1200 litres have ultra-smooth, easy-to-clean in ner and outer surfaces. They include a drainage sump which aids washing out and minimises water use.

Constructed of the same polyethyl ene material, the 65 litre system wash tank, 20 litre hand wash, and 30 litre swing- out low level chemical induction bowl complete with can wash, hopper wash, and agitation jet, all come fitted as standard equipment.

The close-coupled heavy duty cross rear fold boom – requiring one double acting tractor spool valve - folds to a narrow 2.6m, adding to the machine’s compact size and ease of transportation in and out of narrow gateways.

Equipped with stainless spraylines, mono or tri-jet nozzle bodies can be specified fitted with ISO colour coded long life spray tips in moulded acetal resin, an extremely hard-wearing polymer.

Landquip’s new range is for mediumsized arable and vegetable growers

Both the left- and right-hand booms have independent spring suspension, 2-directional break-back tips and adjustable protection skid. A high lift height mast enables boom spray heights from 0.3 to 2.1 metres using a single acting tractor spool valve.

The new XRF mounted machines are built to customer requirements with the following choices of 3, 5, or 7 electric switching sections, GPS rate control, GPS mapping and auto section control, and pump sizes to meet all application volumes.

Retail prices for the new sprayer range start at £12,750 + VAT.

JCB appoints new dealership for south Lincolnshire

JCB has appointed Thorncliffs as a new agricultural machinery dealership with a well-established pedigree to provide sales, parts and service support in south Lin colnshire.

The appointment of Thorncliffs becomes effective on 1 May. It follows a decision by long-standing JCB dealer G&J Peck to focus on its Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk territories.

Modern premises

Based at modern premises in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, Thorncliffs was set up in 2018 by Edward Roach and James Wetton to thoroughly prepare used JCB Loadalls, wheeled loaders and Fastrac tractors for re-sale.

Both Mr Roach and Mr Wetton have many years of technical and sales experience in JCB agricultural products. Thorncliffs has proved a great success, setting high standards of

and parts storage to routinely service and repair JCB machines – and supply new machines from JCB’s Fastrac and materials handling ranges.

Mr Roach said: “This is an exciting opportunity to create a new retail dealership exclusively for JCB agricultural equipment, which we have grabbed with both hands to build on the success of our used equipment

and hire operations.

“Over the past seven years, we have invested heavily in new premises, facilities and staff, which will act as a real springboard to supporting new customers to the business, starting a new chapter that will allow us to grow.”

“Adding parts, service and new equipment sales to our existing hire and used machine operations will build Thorncliffs into an allencompassing business offering different options for farmers and contractors to use JCB agricultural equipment.”

Twin hold roll pin blade removal system and backward leaning air borne upper blade for trash lift and ease of trash flow

Seed depth tail 40mm deep holding the seed at correct depth and placing seed on either side of seed terrace

Seed depth tail 40mm deep holding the seed at correct depth and placing seed on either side of

Downward

Next Generation Patented Drilling Blades

Triton launched its unique deep soil engagement direct drill in 2018 to give plough based yields from direct drilling. 6 years later we are consistently achieving higher yields from the Triton than from ploughed trials on our own land. The Triton is the only all weather seed drill on the market that gives the ﬂexibility to grow maximum proﬁt autumn sown crops whilst reducing blackgrass from late drilling... several manufacturers are now also claiming all weather capability... if these are false claims then the farmer’s new approach will be thwarted.

SOIL SURFACE

Drilling at 40mm depth

Downward facing upper blade holds field surface in place minimising soil

Drilling at 40mm

tungsten tiles for reduced draught and soil disturbance Downward facing

Buying a blade drill is now an open and shut case. Why? Because only the Triton drill has a slot closer

Triangular

Triangular tungsten tiles for reduced draught and soil disturbance

Potato grower benefits from connected tractor fleet

Data from a fourstrong tractor fleet is providing valuable information to monitor work output for a Norfolk potato grower

Staying with one brand and dealer has always offered great benefits for potato grower HG Bliss Farms – and the latest upgrade to a MF 8S Dyna-VT tractor is maximising the farm’s ability to record and monitor work outputs.

The farm has grown potatoes for decades. But tracking data for carbon calculations was only previously possible by manually recording each litre or hour worked. That is now much easier thanks to the the MF Connect telemetry system.

Most potatoes are bagged on site for the fish and chip shop trade, while some are grown on contract for McCains. McCains requires good carbon credentials – and so does British Sugar when it comes to sugar beet, wheat grown for biscuits and marrowfat peas.

Patrick, Alex and Vicky Clabon are fifth and six generations handling daily farm operations at Three Holes near Wisbech, while Vicky’s parents, Gabriel and Jill Bliss, still take an active interest in the business.

MF Connect is helping to meet data recording and compliance requirements, says Patrick Clabon. “It allows

us to accurately record how much fuel each machine is using daily, or to do a specific job,” he explains.

“We then use this figure when supplying carbon and emissions data to the end user. It makes tracking machinery use and hours much easier and will also be useful for Sustainable Farming Incentive agreements.”

Fleet management

The fleet at HG Bliss Ltd extends to two MF 7S.180s, with Dyna 6 transmissions, and an MF 7726S Dyna-VT.

The latest addition, an MF 8S.265 Dyna-VT, replaced a five-year-old MF 7726S at the end of 2024.

Running the same brand of tractor has benefits throughout the year for operators switching between machines and sharing data, such as GPS

MF Connect is helping to meet data recording and compliance requirements, says Patrick Clabon (second from right) pictured with (lr) Ben Searle, Alex Clabon, and Jimmy Bruce

waylines. The farm has its own base station and runs the Trimble guidance system supplied by MF. Alex says using the same brand and operating system minimises problems or mistakes.

“We have fulltime staff but also casuals when we are busy. Running the same brand of machine with identical interfaces means everyone is familiar with the operation and we can switch tractors easily. Using MF Guide across all machines is also straightforward, as we only learn one GPS system and become familiar with it.”

MF 8S arrival

Running the same brand of tractors across the fleet brings benefits when sharing data

The latest MF 8S.265 to arrive on the farm has been seen a big improvement on the previous models, with a spacious cab providing better visibility and additional comfort on the road.

The tractor carries out most of the heavy tillage work, such as ploughing and subsoiling, and main operator, Jimmy Bruce, says he has been impressed with it in the first few months. He says the Protect-U gap between the cab and engine has made the cab much quieter than his old model.

“The cab is a big upgrade, with much better visibility, and all the controls and the screen fall to hand easily. The gap between the bonnet and the cab stops noise transfer from the engine and it is noticeable how quiet it is when I get back into one of the other machines. Pulling our six furrow Lemken, it only uses half a tank of diesel throughout a whole day, which is much less than our old tractor, and

Approval secured for out-of-sight drone spraying

AUK-based company has won Civil Aviation Authority approval to operate its agricultural drones out-of-sight when applying liquids and granules to crops.

AutoSpray Systems obtained the special licence from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) last month. The milestone marks a significant advancement in agricultural drone applications, unlocking commercial opportunities across multiple sectors.

The company provides aerial pesticide applications, specialising in agriculture, forestry, amenity, and horticulture. It is the exclusive UK

Continued from p10

can pull the plough faster than before.”

importer of XAG Unmanned Aircraft platforms for crop care.

Risk assessment

With this approval, AutoSpray can now legally operate its 120kg agricultural drone for spraying liquids and spreading granules across agriculture, horticulture, forestry, and other land-based sectors.

Unlike previous restrictions that limited operations to within 500m of the remote pilot, this allows them to operate without distance limitations, subject to location-specific risk assessment.

The MF 8S was ordered in Exclusive spec, which is the highest MF offer. This included front weights to make adding and removing ballast much easier, and the additional FieldStar 5 screen in the cab, allowing guidance and ISOBUS to be viewed on separate screens.

Local dealer TNS has supported the farm for many decades and even built some of the sheds on the main site. Patrick says the business is looked after well by the service and sales teams and the backup is an essential part of staying with Massey Ferguson machines.

“Our history with TNS goes back over 60 years and, as a company celebrating 150 years in business this year, we can’t fault them. The pedigree and heritage is immense, while the sales and service are second to none. Our relationship is such that we often speak to James Thurlow and Chris Tew directly and have regular catchups. The service engineers, parts and workshop will always

The milestone is a big advance for agricultural drone applications

AutoSpray director Andy Sproson said: “Historically, our low-level drone operations were restricted by distance regulations, limiting their full potential.

“This authorisation significantly expands our ability to scale sustainable land management solutions, reinforcing our commitment to innovation in aerial agriculture.”

go the extra mile to keep us going and this has always been the case.”

Replacements are planned each year, with the oldest tractor being replaced annually. Workloads run into 1,000-hours per year and the aim is to keep all tractors in warranty and hopefully sell them with some of the five year or 5,000hour warranty remaining.

Along with excellent dealer support, part of the reason for staying with MF is the good residuals at trade in. By purchasing well equipped tractors, this helps to secure better returns when trading them in, says Patrick.

“It boils down to the cost to change when pricing up a new machine. We could buy a more expensive brand, but considering the initial price is much higher, I believe we aren’t gaining by running these over MF. They hold their value so the cost to change is still good when they are five years old. The tractors, backup and general service from MF and TNS means we aren’t looking to change tractor brand.”

Approval was testament to the dedication and collaboration of multiple industry and academic experts, said Mr Sproson.

This includes SEAD artists - a group which acts as a singule voice and point of contact for the agricultural and environmental industry when they are looking to interact with drones and new technology – speaking with one voice.

It is an initiative that supports an evidence-based data approach to facilitate environment and agriculture which will be as inclusive of all users and operators, and representative bodies as is reasonably possible.

Additional information would be released in due course, said Mr Sposon. AutoSpray Systems will be hosting an open day with live demonstration flights week on Monday 28 April in the Greater Manchester area.

Spring upgrade for popular drill range

Kuhn Farm Machinery has updated its Espro trailed drill – including a redesigned operator platform, new straight disc option and lighter version of the 6m model.

The updates focus on the 3-6m models. They comprise the 3002 (3m), 4002 (4m) fixed, and 4002 R and 6002 R (6m) folding units – all of which are introduced as upgrades to the existing 3000, 4000 and 6000 drills.

Better placement

The new models will begin production in spring 2025, says Kuhn arable specialist Edd Fanshawe. The upgrades mean better seed placement and more consistency in tricky conditions, he adds.

“Wheel design and layout, headland turn customisation, and Vistaflow valves, are all qualities that highlight how versatile and accurate the drill is.”

Hopper access and operator safety has been improved with a new midheight platform, that spans the full

length of the hopper and automatically folds when the drill returns to transport mode.

This prevents overreaching to split bags and allows full visibility into the hopper. A half open mode – one side of the drill folded while the other remains in work position – improves loader access to the hopper for filling.

A new hopper cover has an automatic winding and locking system.

A straight disc option – for reduced soil disturbance across each pass – can replace the standard 460mm concave notched discs. It ensures soil moves only in the narrow band where the disc runs, reducing the power requirement and preserving soil moisture.

The Espro 6m 6002 R is 700kg lighter than the outgoing Espro 6000 model it replaces. This will help to reduce soil compaction and fuel consumption, making a high-output drill easier to pull.

“The new series of Espro is safer, lighter and more compatible with different establishment systems. It offers agronomic benefits, with accurate

Kuhn has updated its 3m, 4m and 6m Espro trailed seed drills.

seed placement and even soil consolidation, alongside operational ease through easy filling and setup.”

Keeble Brothers KB

Agricultural Machine Manufacturers

Keeble Brothers started over 40 years ago as South Woodham Ferrers was being developed. Over the years, we’ve worked extensively with the local farming community developing our machines, including our heavy duty cultivating Subsoiler designed primarily for the heavy Essex soil.

As part of the continued development, we have now incorporated low disturbance techniques. As per current farming trends, we have also developed specialist smaller machines for use with today’s more powerful smallerwheeled tractors. At the same time, we’ve moved into the world of viticulture (as that has developed in our region) with a specialist Keeble Vineyard Cultivator.

We manufacture and stock all wearing parts for all our machines in-house at our depot and work closely with our users in developing new wear parts for speciﬁc and bespoke needs. Over the years, we’ve also worked extensively with farmers putting up structural steelwork for buildings and building conversions, while also taking care of repair work to all manner of agricultural machinery.

Compact Progressive ready for work

Progressive machine working

New-style Vineyard Cultivator

Progressive in transport

Compact Progressive working