The new Quadtrac range has been unveiled in Prague. The range now spans the 355hp to 608hp bracket, with max power a whopping 391hp to 670hp - making the range-topping 600 the most powerful production tractor available. Case-IH has also announced that for these new models it will be adopting SCR technology to meet engine regs.

There's a host of new features, all of which you will be able to hear about in next week's magazine and shortly on www.fwi.co.uk - however here's a brief snapshot of the new features:

• 12.9l two stage turbo FPT Cursor engine(on the 350 there's an 8.7litre FPT bloc)
• HIgher capacity axles
• More cab space
• Mullti-controller armrest
• New higher capacity transmission
• 428litre/min hydraulics
• Car quality paint job

and much more..

There are also five new Magnums, ranging from 235hp to 268hp - max power toping out at 389hp on the 340. In the Puma range - there are eight new models, ranginf from 131hp to 230hp - all available with CVT tranmission in the form of Case-IH's CVX.

I'm just off out to see them working in the field so will post pictures later on tonight...

So, the Lincolnshire police have pimped a tractor out in police livery - and I think you would agree it looks pretty sweet.

The tractor will be out and about at farmers markets, livestock marts and dealerships and will be used to promote how seriously the police are taking rural crime. It will also be treated with something the NFU is championing - SmartWater - a DNA marking soultion that's simply dabbed onto the uneven surfaces of the tractor. It's almost impossible to remove, and each bottle contains a unique code registered to the owner. The solution glows under ultraviolet light, but is invisible to the naked eye. 

Of course, the 20mph legal limit for tractors may inhibit what the JD 6630 can actually catch, but watch out dumper trucks, mopeds and drunken bicylists... 

So, after a lot of hype - the Fendt forager has finally been unveiled at the company's renowned field days in Bavaria.  

The Katana 65, so named say AGCO after a Samurai sword used in Japan to slay Jaguars, boasts a 650hp MTU engine. For those unfamiliar with the engine manufacturer, it was a subsidiary of Daimler and is the first of its size to boast SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction). This means that the Katana is also the first forager to get urea-based exhaust treatment to meet the Stage 3b regs due to come in next year.

Full technical specs of the Katana are still sketchy. In fact, it's going to be quite some time until the machine is actually on sale. To begin with, it will use Kemper grass and maize headers (an interesting choice given Kemper is owned by John Deere).

Next year, six pre-production prototypes will be at work in Germany and across Europe.

There were hints at the launch that this 650hp version is just a taster of more to come. In fact, AGCO is investing heavily in a production facility near Leipzig that will be primarily responsible for the production of the Katana among other harvest machines.

AGCO's first foray into the world of forage harvesting, will test the dealer network, both abroad and in the UK. That is why, says Richard Shelton of Fendt UK, the machine will not be available on sale until 2014 over this side of the channel. Test machines will undoubtedly be running over the next few years, however they won't be placed with customers until 2013, when the Katana will also make its debut at the UK's grassland event Scotgrass.

Fendt appreciate that providing forager back-up is critical for both contractors and farmers, which is why initially it's rumoured that the forager will only be available through key dealers in selected areas capable of providing this level of service.

While it won't be around for a couple of years yet, the Katana is sure to put the cat among the pigeons in the UK forager market. In fact, AGCO reckons that within a few years Fendt will account for a double-digit market share both here and in Europe. While this may sound an optimistic claim, the forager market is growing, so there could be room for a newcomer.

The company is also aware that, in a bid to provide a full range of grassland machinery, it's 50% ownership of Fella will provide a key opportunity. According to Martin Richenhagen, CEO of AGCO, there will be a considerable amount of investment into research and development and in the future he hinted that Fendt-branded grassland machinery could be a possibility.

So, while owning a Fendt forager may still be a while off for UK farmers and contractors, AGCO has a fair amount to put in place in a relatively short amount of time.

Until then, I reckon this go-kart could be a good option.  

Krone yesterday launched three new Big X forager models. Instead of the traditional Mercedes engines, the Big X 700, 850 (825hp) and 1100 (1031hp) now use MAN blocks, and in the case of the larger models, no longer use twin engines, but V12s. The smaller 700 model uses a V8 engine that puts out 690hp.

Other new features include a new cab, a new joystick (the machine no longer uses a Fendt-style control lever) and a hydraulic-drive cooling fan.

The 850 and 1100 monsters also take the same main frame as their smaller 700 stablemate, due to the fact they don't have to fit two engines in - so the mighty 1031hp 1100 seems little more imposing than the other models.

As well as launching the new Big X Models, Bernard Krone (senior) officially handed over the reins to his son, Bernard (junior).

This all happened during a glitzy Circus affair - it's not all writing and geeking at these press events (well - sometimes!)

Father and son team Bernard and Bernard Jnr Krone. 

Just had this sent into me by a reader:

The list of caption options - he pointed out - is endless.

I'm thinking: "Just one more cake, luv, and we'll be able to get the tractor to market and back"

That's pretty lame - why not post some suggestions and the best one will be used in next week's Farmers Weekly

We're still keen to post other pictures of wacky things - send your pictures to emily.padfield@rbi.co.uk

As hedgecutting goes - this isn't the most health-and-safety-conscious option on offer. The fact that you have to also hire in a small crane makes it perhaps not the most cost-effective method either.

But, on the upside - at least you don't have to squint your head!

We love these example of crazy machinery goings on - so email any you have to emily.padfield@rbi.co.uk Thank you!

If you'd just won £850,000, what would you buy? For farmers, it would inevitably be a piece of shiny kit, but it's not usually the top of the list for professional golfers.

However, South African British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen has splashed some of his winnings on yes, you've guessed it - a tractor. To be exact, a 125hp John Deere 6630 Premium.

The South African sealed a seven-shot win at St Andrews last Sunday and is currently en route to the Scandinavian Masters.

"Being a farm boy it was one of my big dreams and I bought myself a nice John Deere tractor for my farm back in South Africa," according to the 27-year-old. "John Deere is very close to my heart. It's for me to drive around on and I made sure there was enough space for my little daughter Jana to sit beside me. We're going to have a lot of fun."

For the full story click here 

Deere are trying to find a picture of said tractor - which we will post as soon as we get it!

Just seen this on YouTube - has anyone heard anything? It's the 'new' Claas Lexion 670 at work in Hungary...

I'm not a great fan of cyclists as a rule, but seeing this Dutch chap's pimped penny farthing made from tractor parts, could change my mind...

There's a cool video on YouTube too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnxoQshddDk (this is the Chinese version as couldn't locate the other one for some reason.)

Firstly, I'd like to apologise for the distinct lack of posts over the past few weeks. It's been a bit of a hectic time - Cereals, European press trips, me moving house and finally me stacking my car this week (picture below). Yes, it was my fault and no I wasn't paying enough attention. On a more positive note, everyone was ok and it's only my insurance premium that's to suffer!

It got me thinking that perhaps us machinery journalists are better at writing than actually operating - this is my boss's Peugeot after running into a police car (yes, really!) last November.

To continue my pink theme, I've just had this picture from the guys at New Holland. Just goes to show that there's more pink kit out there than you would imagine!

On another pink-related note (I will try to get off the pink track soon!) - the landlady of my previous house, Liz Higgs, is cycling from John O'Groats to Land's End as part of a team taking part in the Deloitte Ride Across Britain. Obviously, any team tackling a challenge like this should have a support vehicle, and this one is tastefully wrapped in... PINK!

Called 'Angels Delight', the team of three will be raising money in aid of ParalympicsGB. To see how they're doing and to sponsor them click here: http://www.justgiving.com/angelsdelight