FW's David Cousins rounds up some of the machinery news from this year's Cereals.

John Deere sells 4000 self-propelled sprayers a year in the US market, but the 5430 is its first offering in the UK market.

Though this model is built at Horst in Holland, the company has used its US experience of high-speed bump-prone spraying to design a sophisticated four-leg air suspension with 200mm of travel. Other key attributes of the 5430 are 215hp, 6.8 litre engine, 4000 litre tank and booms from 24-36m.

Unusually, it can also tow up to 16t, which could help contractors wanting to tow a bowser. Sales start later this year.

Landini’s prototype Powerlift telehandler, the first from the Italian company, got its first UK showing at Cereals. The unusual feature of this machine is its ability to work in reverse drive, with the change from one direction to another involving nothing more than the flick of a lever and a 180deg rotation of the seat. That would make it ideal for jobs such as topping, says the company.

The engine is a 150hp Sisu unit, max lift is 3.5t and max reach is 8.6m. Production at the Italian factory is due to start in September with sales shortly thereafter. The 3pt linkage can lift 4.5t.Picture ref: LandiniPowerlift

Edlington Vari-Roll was shown in prototype form at last year’s Cereals but has been updated since then. The principle is simple - the rear rolls can be slid in and out hydraulically to suit different jobs.

The 4.65-6.55m unit can operate as a 4.65m wide double roll behind a plough or discs to do an intensive rolling job, then extended to 6.55m to give maximum coverage behind a drill. It also means that someone upgrading from 4m cultivation kit to 6m equivalents doesn’t have to buy new equipment. Price is £6764 with 22in rings.