Keith Challen opts for another Fendt

My head has been buzzing with ideas since my visit to the LAMMA show. The organisers should be congratulated for organising a brilliant show, which was well run, with entry and parking still free.

With a list as long as my arm, I set out on what turned out to be a two-day crusade. High on the list of priorities, I wanted to find out some facts rather than fiction regarding the storage and use of tractor diesel now its got a higher biodiesel content, Regular turnover and good water filtration should be sufficient to avoid problems.

A final look round the new Fendt 800 series prompted an order for a new 826 to take on the role of transport tractor relieving our 15-year-old old Fendt 514 with 9000 hours of trouble-free service. Although capital cost was higher than other makes, after taking into account residual value, reduced fuel use and repair costs, the new Fendt was the cheapest to own in terms of £/hr.

Meanwhile, on-farm, the crops can’t quite decide whether to start growing or not as temperatures yo-yo from -6C up to +10C and back down to -6C again.

Although we have had a heap of snow, I can’t help but feel we need some rain. At depth, our heavy clays are dry and very cold, but not yet ready for the bottom test – as a YTS student I was told: “Don’t drill spring crops until you can bare your bottom on the soil and feel no temperature difference.”

Winter is an opportune time to catch up on staff training, first was first aid, and both John and Antony are now qualified to give the kiss of life. God hope I never need it. Next was an ATV course which proved to be very useful with plenty of common sense and, finally, PA4 so any of us can spread slug pellets.

FARMER FOCUS ARABLE: keith challen