Hundreds of buyers attended one of the most anticipated machinery sales of the year – held at the Abbots Ripton Estate in Cambridgeshire.
Machinery auctioneers Cheffins had 347 lots on offer and drew over 200 farmers and contractors to the sale, with a further 300 participating online on 18 November.
The sale was prompted by a shift in farming strategy, with the majority of land now being farmed by a contractor. It saw 90% of lots purchased by working farmers and contractors seeking cost-effective equipment.
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Interest included buyers from Ireland, Poland and across Europe. Highlights included two 2023 Claas Lexion 8600 Terratrac combines achieving £345,000 and £342,000 which sold to farmers in Lincolnshire and Northumberland.
A 2022 Horsch Leeb self-propelled sprayer sold for £209,000 to an Oxfordshire farming business. A 2022 John Deere 8RX410 went for £150,000 to another Lincolnshire buyer. A 2017 John Deere 8370RT tractor, which achieved £92,000, isbeing exported to Ukraine.
Strong attendance
Cheffins head of machinery Oliver Godfrey said: “We were heartened by the strong attendance and prices paid for machinery at what was arguably one of the most highly anticipated machinery auctions of the year.
“Our role at Cheffins is to support farmers, whether they are reinvesting, restructuring or looking for more cost-effective ways to run their businesses. At a time when the sector faces unprecedented pressure, it is encour-
Below: A 2017 John Deere 8370RT went for £92,000
aging to see buyers choosing secondhand machinery as a practical way to reduce their costs while maintaining efficiency.”
The rural professionals team at Cheffins were on hand to offer free advice throughout the day, supporting farmers navigating policy changes, cost pressures and planning decisions.
Mr Godfrey said: “The sale drew strong support from local farmers and the wider rural community – and it underlined the important role our auctions play well beyond the transactions themselves.”
Opico has added the Simtech range of direct drills to its portfolio of products.
The Simtech brand was established by George Simon in 2005, its trademark feature is an opener disc in front of a distinctive, patented T-slot coulter. The line-up includes mechanical box-drills and wider, more sophisticated pneumatic units.
The smaller, simpler gravityfed box drills start at 1.8m with the VT180 model aimed at the viticultural market and also include the popular TSG240 and TSG300 grass drills and TS300 arable direct drill.
With options for grass and arable, the range of air drills starts at 3m and runs through to the range- topping 6m TS6004A. Grain-only or grain and fertiliser split hoppers are available and additional metering units can be fitted for multi-species crops.
Uniform depth
Known for its ability to consistently place seed at a uniform depth in its own micro-environment, the Simtech design is well-proven in providing the ideal conditions for germination and
wide opening with permeable base for the seed. In grassland, growing roots from the existing sward are pruned –allowing newly placed seed to germinate and outcompete other species in existing leys. Where the drill is used to establish a new ley or arable crop, the seed is placed in a free draining, weatherproof micro-environment ideal for germination and early growth.
Consequently, forage and arable crops established using the T-slot system are able to thrive in both dry and wet growing conditions.
Having taken over the reins, OPICO will maintain the established Simtech hybrid distribution model selling the drills direct to farm and through specialist dealers.
The Lincolnshire-based distributor has set up an online shop where customers can purchase wearing metal and spare parts.
• Boosts productivity
• Latest software
• Saves time and money
The need for pinpoint accuracy when using a combine harvest er to pick up mown ryegrass crops led a Gloucestershire farmer to invest in a small tractor and mow er combination with MF’s latest guid ance software.
Ryegrass is a niche crop – but fits into the rotation well, says Dan Farm er, who works for PM Bennion, based at Drews Farm, Dymock. Previously the farm would use an MF 6718S to cut the crop. But the repeatability of bouts and overall efficiency of the work was lower than it could have been because it wasn’t fitted with guidance.
“We have three tractors with guid ance, but the MF 6S is so versatile it gets used the most out of all our machines,” says Mr Farmer.
the shared workload between Mr Farmer and owner Paul Bennion.
“Mowing the ryegrass is a key task, and going with the tramlines allows the combine to pick the rows up easily and avoids damage to the crop.”
Before using guidance, Mr Farmer would be guided by the tramlines. This regularly meant half rows at the end, reducing output and having to drive over already cut crop.
The Trimble RTX software running through MF’s Datatronic 5 screen al-
The farm purchased the MF 6S.180, equipped with MF Guide GPS, specifically for the ryegrass work. Its versatility and easy operation has meant it has quickly become his go-to machine for many other tasks, such as fertiliser spreading, bale carting, hedge cutting, and helping with maize haulage.
Mr Farmer admits the farm has been a slow adopter of guidance, with the MF 6S only the third tractor equipped with the technology in the large flee. But he says it’s now an essential feature on new machines.
The size of the MF 6S means it can carry out a wide range of tasks
tiliser in the spring.”
A further benefit of having the tractor equipped with guidance is the potential to unlock more features in the future, such as section control when using the fertiliser spreader, which Mr Farmer says will be a big consideration when the farm replaces its current spinner.
The MF 6S.180 is a four-cylinder tractor. This has fuel saving advantages over a six-cylinder tractor for the same job.
“I prefer it to the six-cylinder tractors for most tasks as it’s nimble and more comfortable to use. We’ve noticed than on general work and road haulage, it doesn’t use as much fuel as the bigger six cylinders.”
The farm has been MF users for several decades and this helps with having familiar interfaces and tractors that everyone can easily use. Another reason for staying loyal is the reliability, resales values and the support from local dealer Chandlers RFM. Previously, the farm dealt with former MF dealer Pallisers.
“We run a larger fleet that allows us flexibility should something go wrong, but dealer backup is still a big part of why we buy MF products. We have good relationships with the dealer and want that to continue for support and future purchases.”
An action-packed day of double celebrations saw digger maker JCB mark its 80th anniversary – and the 80th birthday of company chairman Lord Bamford.
JCB was founded in a 12ft x 15ft lock-up garage in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire by Joseph Cyril Bamford on 23 October 1945. Born on the same day, his son Anthony is the company’s chairman.
Celebrations began by stepping back in time to where it all began, with Lord Bamford unveiling a blue heritage plaque on the spot where the original garage stood in the High Street, Uttoxeter.
Lord Bamford’s father rented the lock-up garage – which had no electricity – for 30 shillings a week and it was there he made his first product, a farm trailer built largely from wartime scrap, which he sold for £45 at Uttoxeter market.
Mr Bamford stayed at the garage for 18 months until the owner asked him to leave because she didn’t approve of Sunday working. He then moved down the road to a stable block at Crakemarsh, a few miles north of the town.
Unveiling a plaque at Hollydene House, Uttoxeter, Lord Bamford said: “My earliest memory of the business is of me playing in my father’s workshop. Other than my time at school and my apprenticeship in France… I’ve been around ever since.
“We have developed the business and products along the way enormously. Probably one of the greatest pleasures for me has been developing products with our formidable
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