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covering East Anglia and the Midlands
BALING & WRAPPING
At KUHN, we have been innovating for over 190 years to preserve the feed value of your forage
KUHN offers the most versatile range of balers and wrappers available on the market. Our balers are built with field performance, quality and density in mind, while our wrappers perfectly complement KUHN’s cost-efficient, ecologic and ergonomic bale wrapping solutions
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BALER-WRAPPER COMBINATIONS
LARGE SQUARE BALERS
World’s largest production tractor at Cereals 2025
The world’s largest production tractor and a host of new spraying technology will be key draws to John Deere’s stand at Cereals 2025, demonstrating the latest innovations available to farmers.
A first look at the eye-catching 9RX 830 will give farmers the opportunity to see how the new 913hp tracked machine has been designed with power, comfort and productivity in mind.
John Deere will also be showcasing three of its sprayers – the 340M self-propelled, and the R740i and R962i trailed models.
John Deere tactical marketing manager Chris Wiltshire said: “There will also be an op-
In the Sprays and Sprayers Arena, farmers at a range of scales can see how the latest application technology can improve accuracy and efficiency.
With a maximum boom width of 36 metres, the 340M is designed for tight spaces. It is highly manoeuvrable for awkward-shaped fields and narrow access roads but still accommodates large diameter tyres for minimum ground pressure.
Trailed options
Growers looking at trailed options can see the 24-metre R740i which has the unique PowrSpray dual-circuit solution system, with benefits including fast
– as well as the Individual Nozzle Control (INC) Pro upgrade, which will be on show for the first time at Cereals.
Accurate applications
Special INC Pro technology improves application accuracy and reduces chemical usage, saving the operator money.This takes the stress out of maintaining a constant speed during conventional applications.
It works by using pulse width modulation technology to deliver a consistent application rate at constant pressure, producing the same size droplets, whatever the speed of the sprayer.
The S and T combines make
A wide range of tractors will also be on stand, including the new 5M, new 6M and tracked 8RX 410 with eAutoPowr. John Deere has also added the 5M 130 to the range, broadening the upper power class portfolio with up to 135 horsepower.
New transmission
Available with new transmissions and integrated AutoTrac functionalities in the dashboard, the new John Deere 5M tractor is a versatile machine in the field and on the road.
With a range of models offering a wide variety of horsepower from 95hp to 250hp, the new 6M provides operators with power, durability and speed with a top speed of 50kph, as well as new integrated technology such as a new corner post display.
Johann Tasker | T: 07967 634971
E: johann@ruralcity.co.uk
The 9RX 830 packs a 913hp punch – more than enough for most farms
Advertising sales: Danny Lewis | T: 01502 725862
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Advertisement production: Jade Soanes | T: 01502 725840 E: jade.soanes@micropress.co.uk
Essential Farm Machinery is published monthly for farmers 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.
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Cutting-edge kit on display in Sprays and Sprayers arena
Precision technology will take centre stage in the Syngenta Sprays & Sprayers arena at Cereals 2025.
The Sprays & Sprayers programme promises a powerful showcase of cutting-edge crop protection technology, with live demonstrations from leading sprayer manufacturers and precision farming innovators.
Against a backdrop of rising expectations around efficiency, environmental stewardship and compliance, this year’s arena will highlight how the sector is advancing through smarter, more targeted spray applications.
Visitors can expect to see self-propelled and trailed machines, compare models sideby-side and speak directly with technical experts on everything from nozzle choice to software integration.
“Product choice and efficacy is vital when it comes to crop protection strategies, so is the way that they are applied,” explains Harry Fordham, agronomy stewardship manager for Europe at Syngenta.
Up to 50% of product performance depends on application technique, making demonstration and education crucial, adds Mr Fordham.
Highlights from individual machinery and sprayer manufacturers will include:
Amazone
Returning to the arena, Amazone will showcase its self-propelled Pantera 7004 and 4504, the trailed UX Super, the UF 02 mounted sprayers and the FT 1502 front tank.
The Pantera 7004 builds on everything growers appreciate about the 4504 to a larger 6,750-litre model. With boom widths from 21m to 48m and a spray pack that mirrors the UX trailed sprayer range, performance has been optimised across the board.
Following success on self-propelled and trailed models, the ContourControl boom guidance system is now available on the UF mounted sprayers, says Amazone’s David Thomson.
“The addition to the UF range means operators will now benefit from the boom being able to follow uneven topography without impacting precision,” explains Mr Thomson.
The AmaSelect technology, featuring smart individual nozzle switching, further enhances accuracy with curve compensation for even dose rates across the boom while turning.
Fendt
The popular Rogator 600 from Fendt returns to the arena, joined by the new Rogator 645 Gen 2, a compact yet powerful solution tailored for small to medium-sized farms.
Powered by a 235hp engine and fitted with a 5,000-litre tank, the Rogator 645 Gen 2 of-
fers boom widths from 24 to 39m, providing flexibility for a wide range of field sizes and cropping systems.
“Built on AGCO’s class-leading independent chassis suspension, the Rogator offers two working heights - 75cm and 120cm under-chassis clearance - providing unrivalled stability and crop clearance throughout the season,” explains Fendt’s Ant Risden.
“Its fixed track width of 1.85-2m can also be upgraded to a hydraulic track adjustment system, stretching from 1.8m to 2.25m for optimal crop row compatibility.”
The machine comes with a manual five-way nozzle body, with optional two- or four-way electric nozzle bodies for enhanced control. An integrated NovAtel Smart 7 GPS receiver ensures further precision.
“Manoeuvrability is another standout feature, with a tight 3.14m turning radius – ideal for headland work and tight gateways.”
Sprays & Sprayers line-up:
• Agrifac
• Amazone
• Bateman Sprayers
• Berthoud Sprayers
• Chafer Machinery
• Crop Angel
• Fendt
• Hardi Sprayers
• Househam Group
• John Deere
• Knight Farm Machinery
• Kverneland
• Merse Agriculture/Bargam
• Sands Agricultural Machinery
“With multiple tyre configurations available and road speeds of up to 50km/h (optional), the Rogator 645 Gen 2 is equally at home on-road and in-field.”
Supporting its high output potential is a 785-litre/min centrifugal pump and the OptiFlow high-capacity filling station, complete with a 60-litre induction bowl capable of transferring liquids at 220 litres/min or 33kg/min of powders.
John Deere
John Deere will demonstrate three of its sprayers at this year’s event: The 340M selfpropelled model and the R740i and R962i trailed sprayers, offering solutions for farms of all sizes.
Growers interested in trailed sprayers can see the 24m R740i in action, which features the unique PowrSpray dual-circuit solution system for rapid filling and more hectares sprayed per day.
For those needing more reach, the 36m R962i features John Deere’s See & Spray technology – capable of spotting green weeds on brown soils – as well as the Individual Nozzle Control (INC) Pro upgrade.
INC Pro improves application accuracy and reduces chemical usage, saving the operator money. It takes the stress out of maintaining a constant speed during conventional applications by using pulse width modulation technology.
But it’s not just all about big kit. With a maximum boom width of 36m, the 340M is designed for tight spaces, making it ideal for smaller farms and fields.
It is highly manoeuvrable for awkwardshaped fields and narrow access roads, but still accommodates large diameter tyres for minimum ground pressure.
Tyre pressures are critical if you want to get the best from your tractor, trailer or towed implement.
TractAir’s PTG Central Tyre Pressure control system will save you fuel, minimise ground compaction and reduce tyre wear by allowing you to maintain the correct tyre pressures for varying loads, field conditions and speeds.
As tractors and trailers get heavier and travel at higher speeds, efficient braking is becoming more important.
Tractair Air Brake Systems deliver the powerful, controllable fail-safe braking that is required by modern road safety laws and regulations.
To find out more about CTIS and Air Brake Systems visit the website below.
Making its debut at Cereals 2025, the Stocks Turbo Jet 10 Hydraulic (HD) provides users with maximum airflow for higher application rates at working widths from 10m up to 15m.
The Turbo Jet can also be run at faster forward speeds and can be set up to apply full-width – in bands or in rows as required with outlets either blanked-off or doubled up as necessary.
The hydraulic fan can be remotely mounted, making it simple to integrate with different host machines. Remote mounting also enables the fan to be sited away from dusty areas.
“Where we can see the Turbo Jet 10 Hydraulic answering a lot of growers’ calls is for a high accuracy, high-capacity applicator,” says Stocks AG sales manager Sean Stanfield.
“UK and export customers as well as our OEM partners have been calling for a Turbo
Turbo Jet gains hydraulic fan for increased output
Jet with a higher capacity fan to work beyond 10m – we anticipate that it will be a real game-changer.”
Product is metered by a rotary feed and delivered pneumatically. But instead of an electrically driven fan, the Turbo Jet 10 HD has a multi-blade, 1400cfm (cubic feet per metre), 4-inch hydraulic Crary fan.
This fan offers a maximum operational RPM of 6,000 and a 4cc motor, which offers an output to match most drills. This allows the tractor’s oil flow requirement to be kept low at between 27 and 65 litres/min.
Range of tests
Testing has been carried out on a range of product including slug pellets, wheat, barley, oilseed rape and Avadex. Working at 15m and applying a precise, low-rate of granules, it produced a low coefficient of variation of just +/-5%.
The Turbo Jet 10 HD has one metering seg-
ment per outlet allowing for precision metering and the standard range of 50mm diameter feed block kits are offered for common seed and granule sizes and application rates.
A high-rate, 59mm diameter, large feed block kit is also available for the Turbo Jet 10. This will feed product to the wider working widths, high application rates at standard widths or low weight, high volume products up to the 15m working width.
The new Turbo Jet meets demand for higher application rates
Claydon to show new products at Cereals
• Cost-effective crop establishment
• Flexible drilling system boosts soil
• Range of machinery on exhibition
UK machinery maker Claydon will exhibit the latest additions to its OptiTill crop establishment range at next month’s Cereals event.
The Claydon stand (No. 1016) will feature the company’s new NutriSeeder, which enables farmers to establish cover crops easily and economically, fitted to a 7.5m Straw Harrow. A range of other machines will also be on display.
Sales manager David Furber said: “We will use the event to showcase our ability to offer flexible seed/fertiliser placement, meeting the requirements of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) schemes and those who are growing companion crops.
“The fact that also we have this option available on our 3m M3F Evolution and 6m T6 trailed drills demonstrates how we can offer flexible drilling systems that can benefit the soil structure and crops.”
Claydon NutriSeeder
Given the increasing interest in regenerative farming, cover and companion crops the NutriSeeder, which has been proven on the Claydon family’s arable farm, will be a popular addition to the range.
Two versions are available for the Claydon Straw Harrow, a single 200-litre hopper with a single metering mechanism, or a twin-hopper design with dual metering systems.
operator, as best practice is to leave the Straw Harrow down so as not to release weed seeds or drop clumps of straw.
Fitting different metering wheels/sections enables seed rates to be adjusted up to 30kg/ha for wheat, 15kg/ha for grass seed and 25kg/ha for cover crop mixes, at a forward speed of 15kph.
Eight spreader plates at the front of the Straw Harrow distribute seed evenly in front of the implement’s standard 14mm or optional 16mm-diameter tines which create a shallow tilth up to 30mm deep, ensuring good seed to soil contact.
Prices of the Claydon NutriSeeder, which incorporates an integrated loading platform that makes it easy to fill the hopper(s) from
Twin metering units deliver either mixed or separated seed/fertiliser flows to the rearmounted drill, a simple airline box selector diverting the flow of material to the distribution pipes or combining the total output into one pipe.
An ISOCAN terminal controls all front hopper functions and allows variable rate seeding, depending on the task controller and licence key.
The Evolution Front Hopper costs £27,291, is supplied with small, medium or large diameter interchangeable metering wheels to suit a wide range of seeds and fertilisers.
The latter allows two types of seed to be applied at the same time and mixed in the distribution head, providing high capacity and accurate metering while avoiding seed separation in the hopper.
Both NutriSeeder models incorporate a hydraulic fan and electronic control with forward speed rate mechanism. On headlands, the NutriSeeder is started and stopped by the
gle hopper version and £15,495 for the twinhopper model.
Evolution Front Hopper
With a total capacity of 2750 litres, split 45/55%, the Evolution Front Hopper is pressurised to ensure reliable high-volume material delivery to the rear distribution heads.
Weighing 730kg, it measures 2476mm wide, 1803mm high and 1619mm long, incorporates two hopper sensors providing ‘low level’ and ‘empty’ warnings, a toolbox and foldable front footstep.
Options include 550kg of ballast, packer wheels with passive steering and wheel scrapers and a light-vision kit with front work lights, two external and two tank cameras.
Evolution Drill Toolbar
The Evolution Drill Toolbar can be used in conjunction with the Evolution Front Hopper and is available in widths of 3m, 4m, 4.5m, 4.8m, 5m or 6m, costing from £32,871 To £65,178.
The standard specification includes one distribution head with 38mm seed delivery hoses, but a second distribution head can be optioned, allowing fertiliser to be supplied to either the front leading tine or rear seeding tine.
Claydon will showing its new NutriSeeder and its Front Hopper (below) on Stand 1016
The Agricultural Engineers Association has appointed Siân Pritchard as its first ever female president in the organisation’s 150-year history.
Based in Shropshire, Ms Pritchard is managing director of Kuhn Farm Machinery – a role has held since 2009 following various machinery manufacturing roles on the continent. She took up her new post on 1 April.
Key focus
Successfully leading the Kuhn brand over the last 16 years, her passion for encouraging young people into the industry has always been a key focus –and is one she hopes to develop further in her time as AEA president.
“Not enough young people know about our sector and many simply don’t see it as a career option – that must change,” she said.
Siân Pritchard appointed new AEA President
The AEA’s ‘We are Land Based Engineering’ campaign is there to inspire the next generation and highlight the opportunities for young people in agriculture. No one else is going to tell our story for us, we have to show how great it is.”
Tools such as social media had a crucial role in recruiting the next generation, said Ms Pritchard. “This is where our next engineers are taking their inspiration from. We need to be the ones to provide them with it.”
“It’s a tremendous honour to serve as president in this special anniversary year. It marks a century and a half of innovation, resilience, and contribution to UK farming, food production, land management and the wider economy. The sector faces some very acute challenges and by adapting, evolving, and leading, we’ll con-
Siân Pritchard: tremendous honour
Triton is now accepted as the leading option for extending the drilling window in catchy conditions and increase yields over other direct drills by deep soil release directly beneath each seedling.
This is why the Triton is the right choice for growing the the most profitable crop sequence that is vital.
Continuous Winter Wheat with occasional early drilled spring wheat for grass weed control is the most profitable simple low cost cropping solution.
Please call us to discuss why we are so sure of this 'rotation' and why the Triton is essential to getting the spring wheat cleaning crop up and tillering by mid March to ensure a yield more akin to to winter Wheat and less vulnerable to spring seed bed drought.
Application success for agronomy service
• Range of services offered to farmers
• Increased demand for applications
• Works in challenging soil conditions
AShropshire farm contractor and agronomist has built a successful business providing a range of application services –including slug pelleting, Avadexing and general spraying.
Andrew Wade, who launched OptiGro in 2019, saw an opportunity to support the agronomic input advice he was already giving to farmers with his own application service. He says it was one of the best business decisions he’s ever made.
“The business model I operate today is closely based on my former company i-Gro – originally set up in 2016 in partnership with former colleague and agronomist Luke Hardy – which started out as an add-on service for local farmers in Shropshire and Staffordshire.”
Rapid growth
The business rapidly developed into something much bigger and, by 2019, we had expanded our customer base into Derbyshire, Warwickshire, Cheshire and parts of Wales before Mr Hardy decided to leave the business to concentrate solely on agronomy.
“Due to the increased seasonal demand for our services, particularly within an already congested spring and autumn work window for both growers
Demand is high for multiuse air seeder applications, says Andrew Wade
to meet the significant increase in both autumn timed Avadex application and cover cropping as a key move towards more sustainable farming practices.
“
It’s a key part of our business
Mounting the Multicast on a L2-522 Kubota tractor means it performs on the heaviest land
“Demand from farmers for multiuse air seeders such as the Multicast has always been a key part of our business, largely because these applicators can perform many tasks to simultaneously reduce the number of passes and lower fuel costs.”
‘No-brainer’
With wet autumns making crop establishment increasingly challenging, Mr Wade says investment in a second Multicast was really a no-brainer to meet demand for Avadex applications from customers making drilling decisions
itself many times over during the last five years.
“However, in 2023, in view of the wetter autumns, we decided to mount our second 12M Multicast 400 on an even lighter L2-522 Kubota tractor, enabling the machine to perform in even heavier conditions without any rutting or damage to the soil surface.”
The set-up was simple. Mr Wade took a lightweight Multicast applicator weighing around 250kg and mounted it onto a two-tonne tractor. This was run on high-quality Michelin Xeobib 600 tyres designed to operate on much heavier tractors at lower pressures.
Versatile system
“The result was a light and versatile system able to cope with the extreme soil conditions. Working at optimum speeds of 10-12 kph we can readily achieve up to 60ha of Avadex application or cover cropping per day, even when factoring in additional time spent travelling from farm to farm.
“For greater accuracy we combine the Multicast’s own rate controller with the Trimble GPS unit on each tractor to ensure the application rate, forward speed and accuracy of placement are as precise as possible for customers.
“To keep down-time to an absolute minimum we tend to service and repair the applicators at our Shifnal HQ, with Techneat’s excellent aftersales support team supplying replacement parts within 24 hours,” says Mr Wade.
“Given the volume of work that we do with the Multicasts, we now stock key replacement parts such as the hydraulic fan and twin spreader plates on site, even though a breakdown of any kind is rare with this type of machine.”
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.
Suffolk family in spotlight on farming podcast
Afather and daughter from Suffolk have spoken about their passion for farming after appearing as guests on a popular new podcast series.
Colin and Sarah Tween oversee a fully arable operation at the 285acre Hall Farm in Onehouse, largely growing wheat, barley, oats and winter beans.
There is a long farming tradition in the family, with three generations working across multiple farms across Suffolk and Essex.
Colin and Sarah have become the fifth family in the UK to feature on Talking Crop, a new podcast launched by Goodyear Farm Tires to celebrate farming families across the UK.
Sarah, aged 30, said: “It was a real honour to be asked by Goodyear Farm Tyres to feature on their new podcast.
“Of course, there are days when being a farmer is extremely tough, like in any career, but we see it is a real privilege to have the chance to grow up, and work, on a farm.
“My mum and dad still run the farm and I moved out a few years ago, but
I ensured I only moved five minutes down the road because I wanted to be able to come back and assist very regularly.
“I currently work for a food testing laboratory company and help out on the farm when I can but long-term I’d love to be on the farm more.
“To be able to tell our story on Talking Crop was fantastic and hopefully it resonates with farmers across Suffolk and beyond.”
Tractor Run
During the podcast, Sarah also talks about her involvement in the Pink Ladies Tractor Road Run in Norfolk which will be staged for the 21st time this year and has raised more than £1.2 million for Cancer Research UK’s Breast Cancer Fund.
She added: “It’s a fantastic event to be involved in and you see hundreds of women, many of who have borrowed tractors, on a 20-mile tractor run around the streets of Norfolk.
“To have raised so much money is phenomenal and when the parade of both modern and vintage tractors
comes up Harleston High Street, it’s hard not to have a tear in your eye because it’s become such a massive event.”
The Talking Crop podcast is available on all major podcast platforms.
Colin and Sarah Tween with Rock ‘n Roll Farming podcaster Will Evans.
Monitoring • Remote Control • Deployment • Planning & much more
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.
