Tractor test

Long-term test: McCormick MC115

Back to the Mc

This month McCormick is back in profi with a long-term test of the 91.7kW/123hp (ISO 14396) MC115 – a four-potter that packs a decent spec into a compact package. Mervyn Bailey finds out how this 3,095-hour example has gelled with its mixed-farming owners

Practical test

Practical test: Manitou MLT 735 120 LSU PS materials handler

All under control

Manitou’s unusual joystick makes operating the French company’s mid-range side-engined telehandler an enjoyable experience — after a while. We try it out on the firm’s MLT 735 120 model

Practical test: Krone Swadro 1000 rake

The rake’s progress

Last year we used Krone’s 10m twin-rotor, centre-delivery grass rake for a full season. A summary of its end-of-term report? Carefully designed, efficient and convenient. Read on for further details on one of Krone’s top sellers

Driving impression

Driving impression: McHale 991 High-Speed wrapper

It’s a wrap

Using two film dispensers has helped McHale to slash wrapping times while still maintaining a simple, cost-effective design. The McHale 991 High-Speed debuted last year, and Mervyn Bailey has been out to see just how much of a difference it can make

Driving impression: Deutz-Fahr Agrofarm 430

CVT for the stockman

Deutz-Fahr is on a mission to expand its CVT tractor offering from 100hp to 260hp – and possibly beyond. So, while there are already four CVT-equipped Agrotron models, it is now the turn of the little Agrofarm family to receive the TTV treatment. We take a closer look to see what the product has to offer

Schlüter Profi Gigant with 20-furrow Besson plough

She’s a one-off!

The tractor: Schlüter Profi Gigant – 650hp, 20t operating weight and eight 710/60 R42 tyres. The implement: Grégoire Besson semi-mounted plough – 20 furrows, 10t weight, 10m working width! Though neither machine is commercially available, this mightily impressive combination makes for quite a sod-flipping sight and can always be relied on to draw a crowd

Livestock equipment

Cattle identification:

Tags for teats

Automatic cow identification is becoming increasingly used in dairy herds. The advantages the technology provides, in terms of better and easier management, make such systems a ‘must have’ for today’s more progressive cattle enterprises. Andy Collings reports

Used machinery

Claas Scorpion telescopic handlers:

Third time lucky?

The early Claas Targo telehandlers suffered from reliability issues, so when their replacements, the Scorpions, were launched in late-2005, the new Claas handlers had to be spot-on from the start. James de Havilland reports

Workshop

From the workshop:

Simple solutions to perennial problems

Road building and keeping young livestock alive dominate this bunch of low-cost farming ideas, put together by Mike Donovan, who is always on the lookout for more cunning ag workshop-generated inventions. Mike can be contacted using the details at the bottom of page 39

Machine management

Liquid fertiliser for OSR establishment:

Feed, seed and cultivate in one pass

For joint venture farming group NDR Arable, the quest to reduce its fertiliser bill has resulted in some out-of-the-box thinking. One of the adopted approaches has been to use a liquid fertiliser applicator when establishing oilseed rape with a subsoiler

Around the world

  • Tiptoe through a waterlogged harvest
  • Shop the internet for your next tractor
  • Gasoline, petrol, lpg and… hydrogen
  • Getting its tillage act together

Report

Contractor price guide 2011:

UK contractor charges

The UK-based National Association of Agricultural Contractors has put together this guide of contractor charges for 2011 based on information from its members. Charges are shown in both acres and hectares. Prices will vary according to UK region, size of job, type of kit used etc

LAMMA 2011 show:

From strength to strength

The LAMMA show star continues to rise, with both exhibitor and visitor numbers up again on the previous year’s attendance figures. Nick Fone picks out some of the more interesting items of kit on display at the Newark Showground, Nottinghamshire

Electronics

Norac boom height controller:

Ultrasonic boon for spray boom levelling

Auto boom height control represents a real boon for operators. Although few machines come with this feature as standard, there are plenty of retrofit options out there. Here we study the Norac system in detail as well as reviewing some of the alternatives