There's nothing like a tour of the
Grassland & Muck
2008 stands and working areas to get up to date with the latest
in forage and waste machinery. Here Peter Hill rounds up the newest
tackle on show.
Exhibitor stand/plot numbers
- Grass working plots 100-126
- Static exhibitor stands 200-540
- Muck exhibitor stands 900-915
GRASSLAND MAINTENANCE AND NUTRITION
* AerWay (531)
New range of slitter-type aerators and slurry incorporators with
adjustable lift tines to promote forage growth and nutrient
absorption.
* Dales Agri Sales Agency (333)
New range of Accuspread trailed fertiliser and lime
spreaders.
* Kellands/Multidrive
Tractors (411)
Multidrive tractor unit becomes self-propelled lime/fertiliser
spreader with New Leader Multiapplier body applying up to three
different materials using automatic rate control and digital
application map.
* Opico (101)
Bush Hog 320 series rotary scrub cutters in 1.5m, 1.8m and 2.1m
(5ft, 6ft and 7ft) sizes with high-rated gearboxes and heavier-duty
hood construction. Bush Hog 2715 Flex Wing high-capacity cutter
4.57m (15ft) with 235hp main gearbox.
Opico will reintroduce wide-working rotary
cutters like this 4.57m (15ft) Bush Hog 2715.
* Stocks AG
(511)
Stocks Turbo Jet VariSpeed pneumatic grass seed broadcaster for
harrows, capable of high-rate over-seeding up to 8m wide.
GRASS MOWING, TEDDING AND RAKING
*
Claas (121)
Additions to Disco Contour centre-pivot mowers - 2.6m and 3.1m
with tine-conditioning units. New design Liner variable-width
twin-rotor grass rakes with working widths up to 9m (30ft).
Improved Liner vari-width rakes are among
Claas newcomers.
* LandMec Pottinger
(117)
Novacat V10 tractor-mounted triple mower-conditioner (one front,
two rear) 8.7m to 10m (28ft 6in to 33ft) adjustable working width
plus rear unit hydraulic suspension, break-back and
working/transport configuration set-up. EuroHit 100-series grass
tedders with increased tine arms on some models - seven-model range
covering 5.4m to 8.86m.
Novacat V10 triple outfit's rear unit has
1.3m (4ft 4in) working width adjustment.
* Sunshine
Agriculture (100 / 529)
High-capacity vee-formation finger wheel grass rakes - 12m
(40ft) Millennium V20 7GW and 7m (23ft) Raptor V14 4GW capable of
operating at 24kph (15mph) - and tedder from the Tonutti range of
grass mowers, tedders and rakes.
Tonutti keeps the finger wheel rake concept
alive with wide-working vee-formation designs.
GRASS CHOPPING AND ENSILING
* Albutt (802)
New version heavy-duty 5.66cu m buckrake featuring high-tensile
Hardox steel tines for use with high-horsepower tractors.
*
Claas (121)
Jaguar 980 twin-engined 830hp self-propelled forage harvester
heads latest range features V-Max curved blade chopping cylinder,
tyre-inflation control system, auto spout control and colour CEBIS
monitor.
Claas Jaguar 980 uses twin engines for
chopping, just one for travelling.
* Ecosyl Products (209)
Revamped Ecosyler 08 ultra-low-volume silage inoculant
applicator is said to look better and be easier to fit and
maintain.
*
John Deere (113)
7750i Series self-propelled forage harvester equipped with
AutoTrac automatic steering and new Kemper 460 Champion 6m large
drum maize header with automatic control.
On show - John Deere's 7050i Series forager design with new
Kemper rotary cutter for maize.
* Kelvin Cave (504)
Non-corrosive acid preservatives - Add-F for difficult grass
ensiling conditions and Stabilizer for aerobic stability of
higher-DM forages. ClampFilm to stop top and shoulder waste in
silage silos.
*
Kuhn
Farm Machinery (126)
Gyrotedder 17002 uses 16 rotors to agitate swaths or spread
grass across 17.2m (56ft) but folds hydraulically to 2.4m (7ft
10in).
* LandMec Pottinger
(117)
Pottinger Jumbo Combiline dual-purpose self-loading and
harvester-loading forage trailers in 60, 66 and 72cu m capacities
with three-way folding front panel for self-loading compression and
harvester loading visibility.
Fold-down front panel on Pottinger Jumbo
Combiline helps driver see forage harvester fill the big-volume
load box.
*
New Holland (124)
Debut for 824hp FR9090 self-propelled forage harvester, flagship
of new series featuring larger chopping cylinder, more powerful
engines and new cab/controls.
* RECO
(107)
Mengele RotoBull self-loading forage wagons with new seven-tine
row and cam-track free pick-up plus galvanised body frame.
*
Strautmann
UK (110)
Giga-Vitesse 'Duo' self-loading or harvester loading silage
trailers - 30.5 to 42cu m capacities. Giga-Trailer non-tipping
silage hauler with hydraulic floor conveyor unloading, large
capacities and high specification running gear.
* WestMac (104)
With more knives and faster feed rollers, the trailed forage
harvester has increased output and is operated with tractors from
225hp.
Uprated JF-Stoll forager will take a lot of
power.
SILAGE BALING AND WRAPPING
* Ag Bag Systems
(527)
G9000 Europe internal compaction Ag Bagger silage storage system
is a pto-powered bagger that does not need a back stop - so gives
larger capacity and faster bag change-over.
* Amazone
(120)
Krone Comprima round baler featuring simpler pick-up with no cam
track and new NovoGrip bale-forming mechanism for higher densities
and throughputs with quiet, smooth running and low wear.
Krone's all-new Comprima balers feature a new
style of bale-forming mechanism.
*
Case IH (108)
Fixed-chamber RBX344 plus variable-chamber RBX454 and RBX464
round balers with 1.5m and 1.8m maximum diameters. Available with
tine stuffer or rotor feed and optional Serpentine Roller kit to
prevent grass wrapping around rollers, especially in wet
conditions.
Latest-spec balers are built in Poland rather
than the US.
*
Claas (121)
Quadrant 3200 big square baler with variable- or fixed-cycle
pre-compression and chamber feed system, plus higher input power
rating, for higher outputs, especially in more challenging
conditions. Improved Rollant 354 round baler.
* Cordex (401)
Cordex says Balecord Ultra Grip baler twine has 80% more grip in
the knot, resulting in heavier, denser bales (up to 20% more in
straw) combines with 10.5kg super pack spools to deliver greater
outputs.
Cordex Ultra Grip baler twine - said to have
80% grippier knots.
* Cotesi (448)
Platinum baler twine approved for big balers, drawing on special
raw materials and production technology for high strength.
* DA
Lupton (212)
New power packs for bale wrappers - Powerwrap PW175 for Taarup
7120 and PW178 for Tanco 280ARC.
* McHale Engineering
(109)
Fusion 2 integrated baler/wrapper features a new chassis,
chamber layout, net application system, control unit and simplified
transfer bale transfer.
Second-generation McHale Fusion has
improvements in most areas.
* Singleton
Agriculture (450)
Improved range of Choice fibulated plastic baler twines
developed with Cotesi to replace Hi-yield line.
* Tanco Autowrap (125)
Twin-satellite Tanco 1400 bale wrapper with speedy bale pick-up,
transfer and offload optional stationery set-up. Bale end-tipping
kit for Tanco 1300 roller lift-and-wrap to drop bales in the field
on-end.
* UAT (478)
UK-manufactured TamaNet Marathon 4200m round bale net - 40%
longer than standard '3000m' netwrap so fewer reel changeovers
resulting in improved baler output.
With 40% more net in each reel, Tama's
Marathon reels reduce stops to replenish supplies.
* Volac International
(468)
Topwrap 2000 bale wrapping film for up to 30% more output, 24%
less plastic and 10% cost saving per bale.
* Woodfield (535)
Factor parts for a range of balers.
SILAGE FEEDING
* Bomford Turner
(426)
UK-built Bomford Sila-Bed shred-and-throw distributor for straw
bedding or silage.
Bomford's Sila-Bed feeder-bedder.
* David King
Electronics (405)
Weigh System for telescopic handlers with digital display
showing weight measured by a proportional signal from pressure
transducer in the hydraulic circuit.
*
EasyFix
Rubber Products (319)
EasyFeeder lightweight shatterproof plastic for use with diet
feeders reduces labour, waste and bird contamination.
* Harry
West (230)
New design paddle-plus-auger diet feeder with revised
transmission for reduced power requirement and hydraulic drive to
high feed-out discharge rotor. Available in 12cu m and 16cu m
capacities for larger dairy herds.
Revamped Harry West diet feeder needs less
power.
MANURE AND SLURRY STORAGE AND HANDLING
*
Agchem Europe (901)
First UK showing of the 300hp Challenger TerraGator 2244
applications vehicle for manure and slurry spreading.
Challenger's new-look TerraGator slurry
spreader.
* DairyCo (458)
DairyCo formulates cost-effective solutions to improve slurry
storage systems and help plan for potential future spreading
restrictions.
* Greencrop
Irrigation (218)
Veneroni LC50 slurry mixer pump for all underground channels and
GCFYS tractor yard scraper adjustable from 1.8m-2.1m (6ft-7ft).
Plus 1000-litre highway fuel bowser.
* Hi Spec Engineering (252)
First-time out for Hi Spec Xcel manure spreader using hooded
flail and disc rear discharge spreading mechanism.
* Holme Farm Services (219)
Lite-Trac 240hp mechanical drive tractor unit with 24t gross/8t
unladen weight for spreading and spraying with quick demountable
bodies.
* K Two Sales (103)
Trio 18t single-axle manure spreader with three rear-mounted
horizontal beaters spreading up to 24m.
K-Two's big-volume 18t spreader has horizontal beaters.
*
Kuhn
Farm Machinery (126)
Pro-Twin Slinger 9150-litre front-discharge manure and slurry
spreader uses swinging hammer side rotor fed by twin augers.
* Major Equipment
(430)
The Pump Station mobile slurry pump separates debris and draws
slurry through a mesh filter, chops it using pto-driven blades and
moves it on to a distributor.
* Milbury
Systems (906)
Aeromixer low-rate aeration system passes air bubbles through
slurry to keep it fluid and reduce hydrogen sulphide emissions when
mixing and pumping slurry out of store, reducing health risks to
workers and livestock.
* Mixit Stirrers
(220)
Under-slat slurry stirrer with hinged frame enabling impeller
tube to be angled and inserted through small access holes in floors
suspended above slurry storage tanks. Can also be used in outdoor
lagoons.
*
Pichon (229)
Trailing shoe slurry injector - 7.5m with fibre macerator - to
deposit slurry to grassland without run-off or smell.
*
Schuitemaker Machines (106)
Trailing-shoe slurry injectors with galvanised frame/injector,
vertical cut and spread mill.
* Slurrykat (905A)
Redesigned Slurrykat umbilical slurry hose reeler range for
easier use and operation.
* Spreadwise (907)
Fully-galvanised 8m or 12m (26ft or 40ft) surface application
slurry dribble bar for use with umbilical or tanker application
systems. Electro-hydraulic folding, fibre macerator, 40mm hoses at
350mm spacing and optional flow-meter.
* Tramspread (911)
Duo combined umbilical slurry applicator boom and hose reel - a
cost-effective solution for transporting and laying out drag
hose.
Tramspread's Duo is an applicator and hose
transporter in one.
*
Trimble
Agricultural GPS (444)
AgGPS EZ-Guide 250 System light bar guidance with new Freeform
guidance pattern and 15cm to 20cm (6in to 8in) pass-to-pass
accuracy.
SILAGE AND MANURE HANDLING
* Landini
(337)
PowerLift 150hp 'teletractor' with three-stage boom lifting
3500kg to 8.6m, integrated 4500kg rear linkage/pto and reversible
driving position for mowing, etc.
PowerLift works as a handler but will also
mow a silage field or operate a straw shredder/blower.
*
Lynx Engineering
(417)
Stoll FZ tractor loaders with increased lifting capacities, new
mechanical parallel system, improved forward vision and new
construction.