Machinery

The dealer’s Agricultural Supplier of the Year award went to Dalbo. A large product display included the Rollomaster seedbed cultivator which was shown for the rst time in the UK. Front Guttler discs break up clods and level and consolidate the ground ahead of four rows of spring tines. These are followed by a rear levelling board and a Cross-kill roller press. “Two prototype machines worked in the UK last year, and both users were so impressed that they bought them,” explained UK general manager Steve Atkin. “The 6m version is easily pulled behind tractors of 175–200hp, and the cultivator achieves a level seedbed ideal for establishing precision drilled crops such as sugar beet and maize.”

Steve said that demand for MaxiRoll heavy rolls has increased. “We saw a lot of interest last autumn, and enquiries and sales have continued. The MaxiRoll can be tted with various front attachments including levelling boards and harrow tines, and as growers focus on min-till establishment regimes there is increased demand for heavy rolls to level ground left uneven by the light cultivations.”

Pictured with the new Rollomaster seedbed cultivator (l-r) are Dalbo UK sales manager Thomas Atkin, Ernest Doe area sales representative based at North Walsham, Michael Massingham, Ernest Doe Power area sales representative based at Ringmer, Ryan Edwards, and Steve Atkin.

(Pictured below) Steve and Thomas Atkin present the Dalbo European Dealer of the Year award for 2022 to Ed Perry.

On the Bednar stand, the SwifterDisc cultivator, Efecta drill and MZ mulchers attracted most attention. The SwifterDisc fast, shallow cultivator is available in working widths from 3–18.4m, but the XE12400 Pro 12.4m version displayed is one of the best-selling models as it is ideal for controlled tra c farming regimes.

The Efecta drill was displayed on optional rubber tracks which have proved popular on wider versions, and the MZ mulcher with a heavyduty, armour-plated galvanised steel deck and walking axles was also on show, and is one of the best-selling products in the Bednar range. “Bednar MZ mulchers have been fantastic,” explained Ernest Doe Power area sales representative, Ben Halliday who is based at the Fakenham, Norfolk depot. “Customers love the galvanised deck, and the mower is easy to maintain. An optional fan for the top of the deck keeps it clear of trash in dusty working environments.

“We also sell a lot of the SwifterDisc cultivators as they are easy to pull, allowing use with smaller tractors and saving fuel. With mounted seeders, customers establish cover crops in a single pass.”

Working demonstrations of Stihl batterypowered products were popular. Stihl key account manager, David Tingle looks after the dealer account, and he said that interest in battery-powered models was unbelievably high for both domestic and professional applications. The new MSA300 professional battery-powered chainsaw launched last year is selling in high numbers, as well as the batterypowered KombiSystem which allows users to operate a range of working attachments with one power unit. “Ernest Doe & Sons has achieved very high sales during the past year,” he added, “through its showrooms as well as sales representatives out on the road. Being able to share and access stocks between so many depots has also worked well.”