Scottish Borders beef and arable farmers Alan and Kevin Trotter are the latest to roll up the shutter doors and reveal the good, the bad and the ugly of their machinery fleet.

How did you get started?

We farmed across five different patches in Durham up until 1987, when we took on the farm near Kelso – at the time there was a lot of Borders ground up for grabs and we picked this one in the end. It suited us because the land grows a good crop of wheat and the hills aren’t too steep.

How loyal are you to different brands?

We have run Fords and New Hollands ever since we started farming back in 1966.

Over the past few years we have tried various Valtras through our JCB dealer – Kelso Harvesters – that have performed pretty well power-wise.

We like New Holland’s cab layout, though, and for simplicity we would rather keep them all the same brand to save having to buy new duals and row-crop wheels.

See also: What’s in Your Shed visits an Isle of Wight contractor

Who is your favourite dealer?

Lloyds tractors at Kelso is our reliable source of all things New Holland and Kelso Harvesters provide the JCBs. We have good relationships with both and a lot of their teams have been there for years, so they look after us if we ever need parts or support.

Favourite piece of kit?

The trailed Kverneland mower is probably the most reliable machine on the farm. It came in 2008 and has never caused any bother. We can also cover some serious acreages with it once we get going and it leaves a clean cut and a tidy row, unlike the JF mower we had before.

Least-favourite piece of kit?

A Reform Muli 600, which we ran as the tractor unit for a 24m Knight demount sprayer. On paper it was perfect for us, particularly because it was light enough to travel when ground conditions were wet.

It came in 1994 for £12,000, and we probably spent the same amount again on repairs and parts to keep it running until it finally left seven years ago on the back of the scrap man’s wagon.

Everything that could go wrong did go wrong – it had a new gearbox, a few new clutches, new driveshafts and even the Perkins engine caused us grief. It just couldn’t cope with the weight of the sprayer and the steep ground.

Latest purchase? What do you think of it?

We bought an ex-hire T7.260 in November to replace a New Holland 8560 and Ford TW15. So far it has been impressive in the field and seems to have good pulling power on the road.

Oldest piece of machinery still at work?

A 9ft Kidd roller that we have had since it was new in 1968. It snapped in half a couple of years ago but we managed to get it welded back together. Ideally we would have something a bit wider and we have thought about joining another one to the back of it with a ram to push it in and out, but so far we have not managed to find a second-hand one in decent enough condition.

How long do you keep your machines?

We have not got any strict policy; we just judge each machine on how reliable it has been. If we smell a bit of trouble coming, then we usually decide to replace it.

What’s next on your wish list?

A new sprayer to replace the Kellands Agribuggy, which is now 12 years old and due an upgrade. A replacement Agribuggy looks quite expensive, so we will probably go for a second-hand Househam. The cab looks nice and it fits our bill in being lightweight but powerful enough to get up the banks.

Most embarrassing machinery mistake?

We had a Fiat M160 on demo, which our worker took out ploughing. The nuts on one of the back wheels became slack and the wheel came off – though, fortunately, the only damage was to the studs and nuts.

Most expensive spare part you have had to buy?

The gearbox on the Kverneland feeder went bang a couple of years back. The ring gear disintegrated, so the input shaft was spinning but there was no drive coming out on the other side. The replacement box was £4,500.

What’s your best invention?

A 4m press Kevin built in 2014. We weren’t getting good enough seed beds on the heavier land, so we now try to press the ploughed ground a couple of days after it has been turned over, provided the weather is good.

It does a great job of levelling the fields – particularly any untidy ploughing in awkward corners – and has also allowed us to go up a gear when drilling, so we can cover about 30% more land every day with the new system.

We looked at buying a new one but the prices were just too high. Instead, the rings, bearings and shafts came from Agricast in Lincolnshire for £2,500. The bushes came to £600 and the rams were £250, so the total build was about £9,000 including the steel, Simba pigtail tines and levelling paddles.

We also made use of various parts lying around the yard, including the big front ram from a JCB digger and the axle and wheels from an old lime spreader that was destined for the scrap man.

What couldn’t you live without in the workshop?

We can fix most things with the gas torch, a magnetic drill and the MIG welder. The powered hacksaw is also just the job for building gates – we have made 70-odd for the various sheds over the past few years.

Do you buy second-hand?

Yes, but it really depends on how much work it’s going to do. The New Holland 8970A came second-hand last year, as did one of the KV ploughs. The combine was two years old when it arrived on the farm, but we knew it had been looked after so it wasn’t like taking a punt on something from the classifieds.

Favourite/least-favourite job?

If the weather’s good, you can’t beat a day’s combining. Operating the grain dryer has to rank as one of the worst jobs on the farm as you are stuck in the shed and covered in dust all day.

What’s your everyday transport?

A 12-reg Land Rover Defender 110. It’s a shame they have stopped building them – we might have to galvanise the chassis to make sure it lasts a while.

Best tractor you have ever had?

The New Holland 8560 that we traded in for the new T7 was a great tractor. We had it new from Lloyds in 1996 for £45,000 and it clocked over 10,000 hours without much complaint. We were reluctant to get rid of it, but it was beginning to get a few niggly problems, particularly with oil leaks. The lift pump was always a bit unreliable towards the end too, so it was probably best to move it on.

Biggest machinery bargain?

We bought an Albion wagon with an aluminium body back in 1977 for £300 – you could get a lot for your money in those days. It ran on the road for three years before we converted it into a tractor-drawn bale trailer. It stayed on the farm for another 30 years before we sold it to the scrap man for £400.

What would you buy if you won the lottery?

Some more land would be nice, but it takes a bit of finding around here and farmers are usually priced out of the bidding. We would also get a new fleet of machinery, concrete all the tracks and yards, and maybe put up a couple more sheds. A holiday home in the south of France would be good, too.

Any machinery toys/classics lurking in the shed?

We’ve got an old Massey Ferguson potato planter, which is still in pretty good nick, and a Ford 3000 that was restored a few years ago. It’s a good runner, and we have taken it to vintage ploughing matches in the past.