Both CNH and Agco have shown a cultivator or a planter on their stands at previous editions of Agritechnica, but the possibility of these two ‘full-liners’ coming with a complete range of arable kit for the European market is a step nearer following John Deere’s announcement that it has bought Monosem. You can be certain the news has sent shock waves through both CNH and Agco, who must surely be feeling the pressure to act quickly to seek a strategic partner, or acquisition, to boost their product portfolios with arable equipment. New Holland is making no secret of its desire to offer a full range of cultivation equipment in Europe, and at an Agco press conference at Agritechnica this week, senior management expressed a desire to do something similar. It is unlikely we will hear anything before the show ends this Saturday, but everyone in the farm machinery world is in Hanover this week. One thing we can be certain of is that the discussions are in full flow and the news of some sort of deal can be expected sooner rather than later.