Tractor test

Terrion ATM 5280

Built in the East using bits from the West

While Terrion won’t be a familiar name, some UK farmers might have stumbled across the firm’s stand at a European show. Even though the product is assembled in Russia, a big proportion of the tractor’s components hail from the West. And that’s largely why we decided to take a closer look at the 195kW/265hp ATM 5280

Practical test

Practical test: ATV vs UTV comparison

The long and the short of it

Is the long reign of the ATV as farming’s small workhorse coming to an end? Andrew Pearce and Andrew Faulkner weigh up the pros and cons of the ATV/utility vehicle argument, along the way putting some figures on respective performance and economy

Driving impression

New Holland T7.210 tractor

Blue to the core

The T7.210 represents a number of firsts for New Holland. It’s part of the new SCR-equipped family, which is now starting to roll off the Basildon production line, and it also drives through a new compact Auto Command CVT. Worthy of a more in-depth look? Absolutely. Mervyn Bailey takes the new ‘T’ out for a spin

Vicon RV 4216 round baler

Back in the round baler business

After selling its former baler factory to French machinery giant Kuhn, Kverneland daughter brand Vicon is now back in the round baler business with both fixed- and variable-chamber machines. Andrew Faulkner takes a tour of what is likely to be the UK’s best-selling Vicon model, the variable-chamber RV 4216

Krone BiG X 700 forager

BiG X MANs-up

Hard to believe, but it’s a decade since German maker Krone produced its first BiG X forager. The latest version should please operators and give the marketplace a healthy stir, so to see what’s new we cast an eye over a prototype 700

Fendt 939 Vario

390 laid-back horses join Fendt stable

Later this year will see the arrival of Fendt’s flagship 939 Vario. With power peaking at 287kW/390hp (metric hp), it’s the strongest yet; here we look at the technology and take a brief early drive

Livestock equipment

Butler overhead feeding system:

More food please, Jeeves

An Austrian machine that can, unattended, push silage closer to feed barriers 14 times a day – and provide a tantalising taste of concentrate as it does it – is making its mark on a dairy farm in Scotland. Andy Collings ventures north of the border

Used machinery

New Holland TL/TL-A tractors:

Don’t confuse ‘simple to drive’ with cheap

New Holland TL and TL-A series tractors originally spanned 65 to 95hp in TL guise, the firm subsequently bracketing 72 to 100hp as the more cutely curved TL-A. So what should you look for ‘used’, and how much should you pay? James de Havilland reports

Workshop

Service: Kuhn Euromix 1 mixer-feeder wagons

Keep the cook in the kitchen

For info on the best way to service Kuhn’s vertical-auger mixers wagons, we turn to UK service engineer Richard Pearse. Andrew Pearce (no relation) supplies the notes and pictures

Machine management

Switching from dairy to arable farming:

Out of the parlour and onto a tractor

The decision to finish dairying and focus fully on arable and beef production has paid off for Derbyshire farming business, M Holmes and Sons – but at some expense. With a doubling in the farm’s cropped area, a complete rethink of the cultivations regime was required by the Holmes family, as Nick Fone discovers

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 UK contractor charges Contractor price guide 2011: Fence erection – post and wire inc wire £3.45/metre

Tractor guide 2011

Our tractor guide shows max engine hp for draft work and, if available, max hp with boost. Other columns: Engine (T = turbo, E = electronic fuel and/or engine mgt, capacity in litres); shuttle (P/S = power shuttle, S/S = synchro shuttle); transmission; hydraulics (G = gear pump, P = piston pump, M = manual spools, E = electric spools, max output in litres/min); and linkage (E = electric control, M

Around the world

  • Argentina sizes up Oz market
  • The next generation
  • Storing slush differently
  • Tony is on a mission

Report

EIMA 2010:

Big tractor roll-out

Fresh top-end tractors dominated proceedings at last month’s Italian EIMA show, with new emission-compliant models from McCormick, Deutz-Fahr and John Deere supported by a hint of things to come from Valtra. Steven Vale reports on these and a host of the other new machines on display

Eurotier 2010:

German feast

There were plenty of clever new milking robots at last month’s Eurotier livestock show in Germany — along with a long list of other developments that are likely to hit the market over the next couple of years. Steven Vale joined the gathered masses