Latest reviews and tests CEREAL DRILLSDirect drills revisited: Horsch Avatar 6.16 SDFew farmers will have first-hand experience of quite as many direct drills as father-and-son team Lionel and Edward Shaw. Having got a taste for a low-till approach during a trip… CEREAL DRILLSDirect drills revisited: Novag TForcePlus 440 improves soilSince we visited Andrew Tucker last year, he has put another autumn and spring season’s worth of work through the farm’s 4m Novag TForcePlus 440 drill. It has performed well… CEREAL DRILLSDirect drills revisited: Mzuri Pro-Til 3T out, Avatar inThe transition from multi-pass cultivations to a no-till system is all but complete at Gillshaw Farm, the final piece of the puzzle coming last summer with the switch from a… CEREAL DRILLSDirect drills revisited: New 6m Amazone Cayena replaces oldOne Yorkshire business has been so content with the performance of its 2013 Amazone Cayena that it plumped for a like-for-like replacement when trading it in three seasons ago. The… CEREAL DRILLSDirect drills revisited: 6m Sly/Horizon BossSwithin Waterer was one of the first UK growers to purchase a Sly (now Horizon) Boss angled disc drill and he’s still using it six years on. The 6m Australian-inspired… CEREAL DRILLSDirect drills revisited: 3m Triton aids blackgrass fightWet weather was halting harvest progress when we caught up with Robert Hinchcliffe to see how he was getting on with his 3m Triton direct drill. While adverse conditions can… CEREAL DRILLSDirect drills revisited: Sumo swapped for versatile WeavingThere have been some changes since Farmers Weekly last checked in at Chestnut Tree Farm, with Tom Hounsfield previously running day-to-day operations and drilling done with a custom 4m linkage-mounted… TractorsSee all TRACTORSFirst impressions: New £250,000 Fendt 728 lands on UK soilWhat do you do when you’ve nailed the formula for a compact 240hp tractor that accounts for about half your annual sales? If you’re Fendt, you decide to change it.… 201-300HPOwner rates MF 8S.265 with Dyna E-Power transmission For a high-horsepower tractor with such a radical new design, Massey Ferguson’s 8S came into being with surprisingly little fanfare. Launched in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic in August… 401+HPDriver’s view: Louth Park Farms’ New Holland T8.435Buyers looking to harness some extra grip from their New Holland T8.435 can ditch the regular rear rubber and opt for a set of triangular track units instead. But rather… TRACTORSDriver's view: Fisher Farms’ Claas Axion 960 TTAfter dropping a teaser about its development of a half-track Axion at Agritechnica 2017, Claas officially launched 355hp and 445hp 900-series Terra Trac machines in 2020. Promising 15% more traction… TRACTORSDriver's view: Soanes Farming rates its John Deere 8RX 370John Deere’s 8-series tractors come in all shapes and sizes so, no matter whether you prefer four wheels, four tracks or two, there should be something that fits the bill… TRACTORSOn test: JCB Fastrac 4220 iCONThis time last year we pitted JCB’s Fastrac 4220 against a Fendt 724 Vario to see just how close the high-speed specialist’s in-field performance could get to that of a… TRACTORSOn test: John Deere's 6R 185 tractorAs the UK’s most popular tractor, brands of all colours and creeds have long been gunning for John Deere’s 6R 155, but it might be some friendly fire that finally… TRACTORSFirst impressions: Valtra's new Q305 tractorA two-year reshuffle of Valtra’s entire tractor range, including a new G-series and updates to the As, Ns and Ts, culminated this summer with the launch of a quintet of… TelehandlersSee all TELEHANDLERSDairy goes electric with Avant e6 pivot-steer telehandlerAfter 40 years of running Bobcat skidsteer loaders on his 60-cow organic dairy farm near St Davids, Wyn Evans opted for a completely different type of materials handler. Not only… TELEHANDLERSLightweight JCB 403 proves a hit for Pembrokeshire farmHarold, David and Berwyn Warlow run a brace of compact JCB 403 wheel loaders on their 300-cow dairy farm and beef unit near Narberth, Pembrokeshire. Duties for the pint-sized machines… TELEHANDLERSOn test: Fendt broadens Cargo range with T740 telehandlerThe world is littered with gizmos that no one ever asked for, yet somehow became integral to our lives. Lightbulbs, vaccines, airplanes and personal computers were all dismissed before they… TELEHANDLERSOn test: Bobcat’s revamped TL43.80HF telehandlerWhile JCB may continue to occupy the long-coveted throne in the competitive telehandler market, Bobcat is becoming an increasingly viable challenger thanks to a drastic interior upgrade for its new… TELEHANDLERSOn test: JCB's debut battery-electric Loadall - the 525-60EJCB has boarded the battery-electric bandwagon, with the first production models of its 525-60E telehandler now whizzing around inner-city building sites, industrial warehouses and posh equine units. But while those… TELEHANDLERSOn test: JCB's new TM420S pivot-steer telehandlerLaunched a couple of years ago, JCB’s TM420 was the biggest pivot-steer telehandler the company had ever built, offering a 4t lift capacity and more than 5.4m vertical reach. But… GRASSLAND AND MAIZE EQUIPMENTDriver's view: Norfolk contractors' Claas Torion 1812 shovelWe get the lowdown on the Claas Torion 1812 loading shovel run by Norfolk contracting outfit Spring Farm Partnership. A pair of long-in-the-tooth loading shovels – a Volvo L110 and… TELEHANDLERSVideo: Fendt's debut Cargo T955 telehandler on testNot since the launch of JCB’s mid-engined, four-wheel steering Loadalls over 30 years ago has a telehandler defied convention quite like Fendt’s debut Cargo T955. Its hulking frame, high boom… Tools, clothing and other equipmentSee all TOOLSOn test: Five top-spec electric chainsaws comparedThey might sound more like an electric carving knife than a serious piece of timber-felling equipment, but don’t be fooled… battery powered chainsaws mean business. In fact, such has been… TOOLSMakita v Milwaukee: Impact wrenches and combi drills testedThe latest generation of brushless combi drills and impact wrenches offer punchy power output in a compact package. Oliver Mark and James Andrews put high-spec 18V models from two of… TOOLSOn test: Cold water pressure washers – which is best?Having a decent, easily portable pressure washer about the farm is always handy but, increasingly, it seems that what you buy doesn't always measure up to expectations. We put five… CLOTHING12 reusable farm gloves on test: Which are best?Whether it’s filling up with fuel, connecting a pto shaft or wrangling with hydraulic pipes, a decent set of gloves will make the job far more pleasant. We know there… TOOLS6 handy new tools for the farmSeveral big companies have been busy launching new farm-friendly tools, including ZF with its clever do-it-yourself oil analysis kit, Karcher with a new-look pressure washer lance and Draper, which has… WORKSHOP SKILLSVideo: On test – 20 workshop tools recommended by farmersOff the back of the low-cost tool, gadget and knickknack review we carried out last year, scores of readers got in touch with nifty suggestions of their own. Oliver Mark… TOOLSVideo: 20 handy workshop tools, gadgets and knick-knacksHaving the right tool, gadget or knick-knack at hand can take some stress out of the most frustrating farm tasks. Here the Farmers Weekly Machinery team presents 20 potential gems… FARM MAINTENANCE£50,000 silage conveyor invention keeps mud off roadAfter a constant battle to keep mud clear of the road during the wet silage season of 2012, contractor-cum-engineer Joe Williams decided he had to come up with a hassle-free… 4x4s, cars and pickupsSee all 4X4SOn test: Suzuki Vitara SZ5 offers 4x4 at a sensible priceAt a time when a mid-spec Vauxhall Astra costs more than £30,000, Suzuki’s chipper Vitara 4x4 seems a mere snip at just under £26,000. Add to that the inclusion of… 4X4STested: Ford-built Amarok V6 is smart but not very VWThe humble pickup has undergone a marked gentrification over the past decade and few have been as pivotal in its transformation as Volkswagen. Even when it was first launched in… 4X4SToyota's rough and tough Land Cruiser, ugly but unrivalledStrangling emissions regulations, a slump in demand and a surge in competition has left farm-friendly 4x4s on the cusp of extinction. The iconic Land Rover Defender 90 copped it nigh… 4X4SOn test: UK's first electric pickup – the Maxus T90EVBuilding an electric pickup that can thunder along rough terrain, tow heavy loads and travel a decent distance to a charge is far from straightforward. On the one hand, stacks… 4X4SFirst impressions: Ford's new-look V6 Ranger WildtrakSeldom does a manufacturer enjoy such market dominance as that of Ford, with its Ranger pickups commanding a peerless 57% share of the sector in 2022. And the turn of… 4X4SOn test: Time for Ssangyong’s well-priced Musso pickup?After years doggedly plugging away at the UK pickup market, Ssangyong has suddenly found itself catapulted to a heady fourth spot in the sales rankings. Facetious it may be –… 4X4SFirst impressions: Volkswagen's new Ford-built Amarok pickupAfter four years in the shadows, Volkswagen’s Amarok pickup has returned – although all isn’t necessarily as it seems... It’s a Ford. Built in the Blue Oval’s South African factory… 4X4SFirst impressions: Ford's new V6 Ranger Raptor pickupWhisper it, but V6 engines are back in vogue – at least as far as Ford and Volkswagen's pickups are concerned. After years of depressing downsizing, initially to 2.7-litres, then… ATVs and UTVsSee all ATVS AND UTVSCan-Am Traxter 6x6 UTV is clumsy but offers plenty of gripFour-wheel drive has most of the bases covered when it comes to off-road driving, but there are a few renegades out there that think six will do the job better.… ATVS AND UTVSOn test: CF Moto challenges the big brands with new ATV lineWhile the West has been casually writing off Chinese products as cheap tat, its manufacturers have been beavering away to make them better… a lot better. The tsunami of throwaway… ATVS AND UTVSFirst impressions: Segway Fugleman UT10X Deluxe UTVFarmers looking for a cheap runaround now have the option of the Fugleman, a comparatively low-cost but surprisingly pokey UTV from Segway. The Chinese maker is a relative newcomer to… ATVS AND UTVSOn test: John Deere Gator XUV 865R UTVWhen John Deere launched its 865 Gator at the start of 2020, it looked as though the American giant had intentionally blurred the lines between conventional UTVs and base-spec pickups.… ATVS AND UTVSOn test: Corvus Terrain DX4 UTVCorvus is the new kid on the block, launching its first utility vehicle in 2018 and dispatching it to the UK in 2019 via importer Boss ORV. The Spanish brand… ATVS AND UTVSOn test: Polaris Ranger DieselPolaris hails from the US, where utility vehicles can be found thundering around the wilderness on prolonged hunting excursions. As a result, the Ranger can be furnished with all manner… ATVS AND UTVSOn test: Kubota RTV-X 1110 UTVKubota is a long-established name in the UTV world, having started selling its machines into the agricultural market back in the mid-noughties. Originally, the Japanese firm produced buggies for golf… ATVS AND UTVSFirst drive: Segway Powersports launches 570cc Snarler ATVSegway, the company of two-wheeled electric hoverboard fame, has launched a Powersports division that will build ATVs and UTVs for both work and leisure. It has a new factory to… ArableSee all DRILLINGHow new tech turns standard drill into variable-rate systemThanks to a new drill-conversion kit, arable farmers hoping to adopt an adjustable-rate system can now simply and affordably convert any standard drill into variable-rate capacity. Developed by crop production… BALERS AND WRAPPERSBig baler innovations could help farmers cut costsThe latest batch of big square balers are packing even more straw into a heavier bale, which not only drives down the cost of baling, fewer bales also cuts down… CEREAL DRILLSNew drill options for seed-bed fertiliserNew options for growers wanting to apply dry fertiliser when sowing spring cereal crops take different approaches to delivering the material, either down the same spout as the seed or… PLOUGHSA round-up of new ploughs at Cereals 2016There was plenty of evidence at Cereals 2016 that ploughs still have a significant role to play, judging by the new and improved models that manufacturers had on display. Whether… ARABLENew tractor tyre technology offers 18% more tractionThe tyre designer’s job, it seems, is never done. As tractors continue to gain power and weight to meet farmer demand for greater performance, new tyre designs are needed to… 14 useful machinery, tractor and arable apps for 2016With more and more farming apps coming on to the market each month, we have produced a round-up of some of the latest and some old favourites to help you decide… Round-up of the latest strip till kit to cut your cultivation co...If it’s possible to cultivate only the ground where the crop will grow, why waste money moving soil across the entire field? That is the question posed by proponents of strip… New Defy 3D nozzle: Sprayer operators give their verdictAgrochemical giant Syngenta has launched its new Defy 3D spray nozzle, which will provide growers with improved grassweed control and reduced spray drift. The new nozzle is an evolution of… LivestockSee all YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTCalf coats on test: Which works best for you?Numerous scientific studies have shown the benefits of using calf coats in the colder winter months. As well as improving weight gain in young calves that aren't yet able to… GRASSLAND MANAGEMENTHow to use digital rainfall gauges and what's on the marketThe rain gauge is one of the easiest tools farmers can use to measure precipitation. The concept of the original cylindrical cup and funnel design dates back to ancient Greece… LIVESTOCKCalf bottles and tube feeders on testIt is unsurprising many farmers are switching from bottles to buckets with teats for feeding milk to older calves. Our test, carried out over a four-month period at my family… HUSBANDRYVideo: 5 cattle clippers on test - which performed best?Clipping dirty tails and coats should be a regular job on a dairy farm to protect milk quality, as dirty cows are more likely to get mastitis. Brand identification beneath… HEALTH AND WELFAREBuyer's guide to ketone testers for dairy farmersSimple and quick tests that measure ketone levels in dairy cows are allowing farmers to act promptly with interventions to protect milk yields and herd performance. Subclinical ketosis can’t be… HEALTH AND WELFAREBuyer's guide: 5 of the latest cow brushesCows like a good scratch, so satisfying that instinct with a brush designed for the job can only be good for herd wellbeing. A happy cow will always perform better,… LIVESTOCK#Calfmatters survey: Have your say on dairy calf health nowThe annual Calfmatters survey is now live at www.calfmatters-survey.co.uk and runs until 9 August 2019. Results will be presented at UK Dairy Day, so why not take a few minutes… SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENTSlurry separation options comparedDairy farmers are investing in slurry-separation systems amid tighter environmental controls. Balanced with the cost of increasing storage infrastructure to be compliant with nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ) regulations, separation technologies…
