700 Series loaded with next gen upgrades

Launched recently in Wadenbrunn, Germany, the new 700 Series Gen 7 promises a host of upgrades and changes.

700 Series loaded with next gen upgrades

You would be excused for being confused with the model numbering of the new Fendt 700 Series. Named the Generation 7, it is being offered alongside the current Generation 6 and, for now, a proportion of the two ranges share identical bonnet numbering and near identical power outputs.

The new range of five models extends from the 720 to the new 728, with the three lower numbered 700s remaining as a Generation 6 variant.

Power for the new range is now delivered from a newly developed, Fendt-only, AGCO power 7.5-litre, six-cylinder engine. This marks a move away from the Deutz-supplied powerplant of the existing models.

Power output for the range extends from 203hp to 283hp. The new 728 flagship is unique in being offered with a Dynamic Performance (DP) power increase adding an additional 20hp, pushing the maximum power to 303hp.

Claiming to operate differently to a conventional boost, DP does not require specific criteria to be reached for the power increase, but monitors the power demand and changes the

The VisioPlus cab includes an upgraded seat with six configurations and individual user position memory.

peak power accordingly. The 728 operates at a claimed 30.5kg per hp, with a maximum ballast capacity of 15 tonnes.

A redesigned transmission now

The flagship 728 offers a boosted power increase of 303hp and 15t ballast capacity. The 700 series Gen 7 occupies a power range of 203-303hp.

Launched recently in Wadenbrunn, Germany, the new 700 Series Gen 7 promises a host of upgrades and changes. Toby Whatley reports from the event. 700 Series loaded with next gen upgrades

shares functionality with the larger 900 and 1000 Series including the VarioDrive transmission, which operates as an all-wheel-drive, not a switchable four- and two-wheel drive design.

The VarioDrive concept essentially powers the front and rear axles separately from individual hydraulic motors.

Power distribution

In practice, the design is claimed to offer improved power distribution and a compact turning radius as the front drive can actively pull the front of the vehicle when turning, instead of being fixed in a permanent ratio to the rear.

The new transmission allows an increased top speed of 60kph delivered at 1,450rpm, in addition to the introduction of the Fendt iD concept, again inherited from the larger models. The principle is to direct the machine functionality towards a lower power, high torque performance with a main engine working range of 1,400-1,700rpm. This, combined with a lower end peak torque, is claimed to offer fuel consumption reductions.

The improvement in manoeuvrability and a steering angle of 52 degrees is also aided by a new cooling system, another concept shared from the 1000 Series. Using a hydraulically-driven cooling fan, the velocity and air flow are not mechanically connected to engine speeds.

This allows the cooling pack to be smaller and operate at varying loads depending on the environment, not engine rpm.

The Gen 7 models have been developed from a completely new chassis with a wheelbase of 2.9 metres. This positions the range 50mm shorter than the existing 800 Series which, despite occupying a similar power range and lacking the FendtONE operating system, is remaining within the current Fendt product offering. The VarioGrip tyre inflation system, currently found on the 800 Series, has been transferred as an option to the Gen 7.

Further upgrades and changes to the Gen 7 include flat-face hydraulic couplings which are claimed to offer improved pressure connection, reduced flow constriction and leak-free connection and removal, reducing oil waste and contamination.

Filtration

Changes to the VisioPlus cab include the option of category 4 filtration, offered for the first time. It is designed to prevent ingress from chemical powders, liquids and vapours. The standard cab set-up offers category 2 filtration.

Visibility to the front and rear has been improved, with the addition of automotive-style, flush-fit cameras linked to the in-cab terminal. Aligning to the automotive functionality, six seat configurations are now offered, with options including massage functions, multi-stage heating/ cooling and seat position memory for specific users.

Vario Gen 7 models are expected to be available from autumn next year, alongside the existing 700 Gen 6 and the 800 Series. Prices are yet to be announced.

Flat-face hydraulic couplings allow improved hydraulic flow and reduced oil leakage.

Affordable access to variable rate drilling

A drill conversion kit has provided an affordable route into variable rate drilling for one Wiltshire grower. Geoff Ashcroft reports.

For Sean Richards, the ability to move into variable rate drilling with a low-cost drill conversion is a development that makes technology affordable to all.

Mr Richards of Lordswood

Farm, Sherston, Wiltshire, says:

“We have a first generation six-metre Kverneland Tine Seeder drill that was bought new in 2006.

It is a brilliant bit of kit for establishing cereal crops on our farm, in almost any conditions.

“Our preference is to plough and power harrow to keep on top of black-grass control and to create the seedbed quality we want for our mostly heavy clay land,” he says.

“Though there are seams of stone and brash running through many fields, plus heavily shaded areas under trees, for example, that would benefit from a different approach when drilling.”

In recent years the farm has gradually been adopting more precision farming techniques to help improve operational efficiency. GPS auto-steering has been introduced on the farm’s two MF tractors and the combine to maximise efficiency at any working width. Targeting of fertiliser applications has also been improved using a Kverneland Exacta TL Geospread with auto section control and auto start-stop, which has enabled the farm to make the most of variable rate N, P and K applications.

Applications

Through soil scanning and soil samples taken as part of his Rhiza subscription, Mr Richards has been moving more progressively into variable rate applications.

“We’ve been applying variable

Sean Richards is pleased with the low-cost, variable seed rate conversion for his drill.

Preferring manual seed rate control for last year’s crop, Sean Richards opted for three preset rates. rate P and K for 10 years and variable rate nitrogen for the last two,” he says.

“We’ve also been gathering yield maps over the last seven years too, which has given us a historical picture that highlights progress and efficiency improvements across the farm.”

He says that, perhaps more importantly, the data is also highlighting areas which are underperforming.

“We’ve already pinpointed several areas where variable seed rates are now worth trying – mostly to lift some of the poorer patches we’ve identified. Where we have shaded areas near woodlands or questionable headlands, these areas could ultimately be taken out of crop production and managed differently, if variable seed rates fail to deliver a worthwhile improvement,” he says.

Every change that is made is then monitored by field walking throughout the season.

Until recently, the path to variable seed rate capability has been cost-prohibitive, says Mr Richards.

“The challenge for us was, how do we get into variable rate drilling for sensible money? Until we came across Omnia’s E-Seed conversion, the only other option meant trading in our 16-year-old drill for a newer model with electric drive.”

Swapping the drill was, he says, simply too costly across the 242 hectares of cereals he grows.

Cost

“It’s all about economies of scale. While we do work with a neighbour, which almost doubles our acreage, we would still need a lot of additional work to justify the cost of changing the drill,” he says.

“Besides, there’s nothing wrong with our Tine Seeder. It uses a robust, accurate Accord seed metering unit which is driven by a land wheel. The only drawback is the seed rate you set is the one you get – with this early model and its Mueller control box, there’s no ability to adjust seed rates on the move, let alone have it follow a seed map.”

Affordable access to variable rate drilling

The first generation Kverneland Tine Seeder uses three rows of tines and mechanical seed metering drive, making it an ideal candidate for conversion. An E-Seed electric motor has been fitted in place of the land wheel drive.

He says the Omnia E-Seed kit provided a cost-effective option. The conversion kit includes an electric motor to substitute the land wheel drive with an Omnia Connect variable rate controller providing a WiFi network that allows connection to the drill’s electric seed metering drive.

This is managed through Omnia’s iOS-based E-Seed app, using a tablet mounted in the cab. Uploading a variable seed rate map to the app then enables the seed plan to be followed by the drill.

“It cost me £5,000 to buy the kit and fit it onto our drill. There was some fabrication work required to create brackets so the electric motor drive could be correctly located on the drill frame, and that was it.”

Autumn 2021 was Mr Richards’ first season with the E-Seed and to get a better appreciation of the process, he opted for full manual control of the seed rate.

He says: “It takes a little while to trust the tech with any new system. So I spent last autumn watching and learning from the tractor cab. I had three fixed seed rates in the app, which simply let me change seed rates by tapping buttons, for those areas I felt needed a bit more seed.

Presets

“The drill doesn’t have halfwidth shut off, so it was simply a matter of changing between preset values to increase or decrease seed rates for the full 6m working width.

“We’ve yet to fully scrutinise our yield maps to see if any changes impacted on harvest, though there is scope to improve what we do with our inputs.”

His seeding process is one that sows the headlands either first or last, depending on soil moisture. Then it’s a matter of using GPS to sow all the tramline runs across a field, then filling in the bouts as he works back towards the field gate.

“I can make wide sweeping turns which minimises any soil disturbance. And using my tractor with auto-steer, as soon as I get near the next A-B line, the auto-steer does the rest and steers the tractor in.”

He says output is around 40 hectares per day, with the drill having now covered more than 324ha since the E-Seed conversion was carried out. Mr Richards says the system has worked well, with 100% reliability as a seed metering drive unit for a variety of crops he has sown.

“Our cultivations strategy is based around black-grass control and our rotation includes oilseed rape, winter barley and winter wheat. We won’t drill any wheat until October and we’ve learned the hard way that when it gets wet, we stay off the land until spring.”

With renewed confidence for autumn 2022, Mr Richards intends to upload variable seed rate maps when wheat drilling starts in late autumn.

Seeding maps

“I’ve been using Rhiza for variable rate fertiliser maps and the same team will be creating my variable rate seeding maps. These will be emailed straight to my iPad and uploaded into the E-Seed app,” he says.

“Then the iPad is put in the tractor cab where it connects by WiFi to the drill.

“It is quite straightforward to use and easy to see where the next improvements could be found.

“This could be through yield improvement or a reduction with input costs – either way, it won’t take long to recover the cost of the variable rate drill conversion kit.”

It is quite straightforward to use and easy to see where the next improvements could be found

SEAN RICHARDS