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Latest reviews and tests

SPRAYERS

Driver's view: Josh Whitear's Amazone front-and-rear sprayer

Josh Whitear works at Netherley Farm Partnership, which won the YEN milling wheat competition this year with a crop of Crusoe that yielded almost 12t/ha. Farm facts Operator: Josh Whitear…

ATVS AND UTVS

On test: John Deere Gator XUV 865R UTV

When John Deere launched its 865 Gator at the start of 2020, it looked as though the American giant had intentionally blurred the lines between conventional UTVs and base-spec pickups.…

ATVS AND UTVS

On test: Corvus Terrain DX4 UTV

Corvus is the new kid on the block, launching its first utility vehicle in 2018 and dispatching it to the UK in 2019 via importer Boss ORV. The Spanish brand…

ATVS AND UTVS

On test: Polaris Ranger Diesel

Polaris hails from the US, where utility vehicles can be found thundering around the wilderness on prolonged hunting excursions. As a result, the Ranger can be furnished with all manner…

ATVS AND UTVS

On test: Kubota RTV-X 1110 UTV

Kubota is a long-established name in the UTV world, having started selling its machines into the agricultural market back in the mid-noughties. Originally, the Japanese firm produced buggies for golf…

ATVS AND UTVS

First drive: Segway Powersports launches 570cc Snarler ATV

Segway, the company of two-wheeled electric hoverboard fame, has launched a Powersports division that will build ATVs and UTVs for both work and leisure. It has a new factory to…

GRASSLAND AND MAIZE EQUIPMENT

Driver's view: Norfolk contractors' Claas Torion 1812 shovel

We get the lowdown on the Claas Torion 1812 loading shovel run by Norfolk contracting outfit Spring Farm Partnership. A pair of long-in-the-tooth loading shovels – a Volvo L110 and…

Tractors

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TRACTORS

High-hour horsepower: MF 6465 hits 21,464 hours

There are plenty of tractors out there with hour counts running well into the teens, but there are a select group of operators using frontline machines with more than 20,000…

TRACTORS

First drive: McCormick pins hopes on updated X7 tractor range

When its tractors were built in Doncaster on Case-IH underpinnings, times for McCormick were really rather rosy. The sub-brand of Italian firm Argo Tractors – resurrected after Case-IH merged with…

301-400HP

First drive: Case-IH’s Magnum 340 AFS Connect

Case-IH has cloaked its new Magnum range in an overcoat of technology as it bids to keep pace with the front runners in the high-horsepower tractor market. The original Magnum,…

TRACTORS

Video: First impressions - Fendt 1162 MT twin-track crawler

When Fendt announced it would be inheriting Challenger’s product range in Europe, questions centred on how the tracklayers and their crude powershift gearboxes – so obviously at odds with the…

201-300HP

First impressions: Deutz-Fahr's 287hp 8280 TTV

Deutz-Fahr has pinned its high-horsepower hopes on a new 8-series range that it reckons has the power, speed and hydraulic capacity to compete with the sector’s biggest sellers. There’s currently…

TRACTORS

Video: John Deere 6155R Autopowr on test

It's difficult to pick holes in Deere's well-rounded R-series. The cab is polished in general but the standout feature is the Command Pro joystick, which is easy to use, has…

TRACTORS

Video: Fendt Vario 516 on test

The Fendt Vario's 516’s four-cylinder Deutz engine might be low on displacement, but it conjures up an impressive amount of power and torque from its 4-litre capacity. It can’t quite…

TRACTORS

Video: Claas Arion 550 Cebis Cmatic on test

The Claas Arion 550 Cebis Cmatic's modest proportions and respectable power make it a handy all-rounder. After testing it, we think it’s better suited to drilling and top work than…

Telehandlers

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GRASSLAND AND MAIZE EQUIPMENT

Driver's view: Norfolk contractors' Claas Torion 1812 shovel

We get the lowdown on the Claas Torion 1812 loading shovel run by Norfolk contracting outfit Spring Farm Partnership. A pair of long-in-the-tooth loading shovels – a Volvo L110 and…

TELEHANDLERS

Video: Fendt's debut Cargo T955 telehandler on test

Not since the launch of JCB’s mid-engined, four-wheel steering Loadalls over 30 years ago has a telehandler defied convention quite like Fendt’s debut Cargo T955. Its hulking frame, high boom…

TELEHANDLERS

On test: Kramer’s KL60.8 loader

Kramer's KL60.8 offers the unusual combination of four-wheel steer and central cab layout, giving operators great views from a lofty perch and the manoeuvrability of equivalent telehandlers. That might make…

TELEHANDLERS

First drive: Manitou MLA-T 516 pivot-steer

Manitou has owned the Gehl and Mustang compact loader brands for more than a decade, but has only recently made the decision to start selling these machines in its own…

TELEHANDLERS

First impressions: JCB spends £6m on new telehandler cab

A new cab is the centrepiece of JCB’s latest-generation Loadall telehandlers and it promises to take comfort and practicality up several notches. Though the old version was perfectly functional –…

TELEHANDLERS

Telehandlers on test: Massey Ferguson TH 7038

In an extension of our telehandler test in the 4t lift and 7m reach category, we have taken a look at the best-selling rigid-frame machines from Kramer, Claas, Cat and Bobcat.…

TELEHANDLERS

Telehandlers on test: Caterpillar TH408D

In an extension of our telehandler test in the 4t lift and 7m reach category, we have taken a look at the best-selling rigid-frame machines from Kramer, Claas, Cat and Bobcat.…

TELEHANDLERS

Telehandlers on test: Claas Scorpion 741

In an extension of our telehandler test in the 4t lift and 7m reach category, we have taken a look at the best-selling rigid-frame machines from Kramer, Claas, Cat and Bobcat.…

Tools, clothing and other equipment

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TOOLS

On test: Cold water pressure washers – which is best?

Having a decent, easily portable pressure washer about the farm is always handy but, increasingly, it seems that what you buy doesn't always measure up to expectations. We put five…

CLOTHING

12 reusable farm gloves on test: Which are best?

Whether it’s filling up with fuel, connecting a pto shaft or wrangling with hydraulic pipes, a decent set of gloves will make the job far more pleasant. We know there…

TOOLS

6 handy new tools for the farm

Several big companies have been busy launching new farm-friendly tools, including ZF with its clever do-it-yourself oil analysis kit, Karcher with a new-look pressure washer lance and Draper, which has…

WORKSHOP SKILLS

Video: On test – 20 workshop tools recommended by farmers

Off the back of the low-cost tool, gadget and knickknack review we carried out last year, scores of readers got in touch with nifty suggestions of their own. Oliver Mark…

TOOLS

Video: 20 handy workshop tools, gadgets and knick-knacks

Having the right tool, gadget or knick-knack at hand can take some stress out of the most frustrating farm tasks. Here the Farmers Weekly Machinery team presents 20 potential gems…

FARM MAINTENANCE

£50,000 silage conveyor invention keeps mud off road

After a constant battle to keep mud clear of the road during the wet silage season of 2012, contractor-cum-engineer Joe Williams decided he had to come up with a hassle-free…

MACHINERY

Five 18V cordless grinders on test

Pokier batteries and high-tech motors mean many cordless power tools now promise performance to match their plug-in rivals. They’re not cheap, but are they worth it? To sort the good…

MACHINERY

5 pieces of handy timber-processing kit

Processing timber on farm can be a time-consuming and tedious business, but thankfully there can be decent rewards for those willing to put in some effort. As a guide farmers…

4x4s, cars and pickups

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4X4S

First drive: Land Rover's commercial-spec Defender Hard Top

After a near five-year hiatus, Land Rover has returned to a somewhat thinner commercial 4x4 sector, as the load-lugging derivatives of its latest Defender prepare to do battle with the…

4X4S

On test: Ford Ranger Raptor

The Ranger Raptor resides in Ford’s Performance stable, alongside the ST, GT and RS cars, and is the show pony in its big-selling pickup range. Its brash appearance, based on…

4X4S

On test: Isuzu D-Max AT35 pickup

Unremarkable yet eminently practical vans and pickups do the business for thousands of farmers across the country but, for a small minority, such understated transport just doesn’t cut the mustard.…

4X4S

Arkonik upgrade gives old Land Rover Defenders a 430hp V8

Land Rover lovers unconvinced by the exterior frills and fripperies of the new-style Defender can now have all the mod cons, and a V8 engine, shoehorned into an old model's…

4X4S

On test: New no-frills MWM Spartan 4x4

Mainstream vehicle manufacturers have all but abandoned the dedicated off-road sector in favour of luxury, mass-market soft-roaders that reel in the big bucks. That might seem like a smack in…

4X4S

On test: Lexus RX450H

Lexus and parent company Toyota pioneered the concept of hybrid cars and the plush RX450H SUV uses the same self-charging setup the firms have been pedalling for years. This delivers…

4X4S

On test: Volvo XC60 T8 AWD hybrid

Volvo has long been the last word in automotive safety, but its latest hybrid SUV has added ferocious performance and thrifty fuel use into the mix. The XC60 T8’s combination…

4X4S

On test: Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV

Since its launch in April 2014, Mitsubishi’s Outlander PHEV has been the go-to model for those wishing to dabble in the world of hybrid SUVs. Almost 52,000 have been sold…

ATVs and UTVs

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ATVS AND UTVS

On test: John Deere Gator XUV 865R UTV

When John Deere launched its 865 Gator at the start of 2020, it looked as though the American giant had intentionally blurred the lines between conventional UTVs and base-spec pickups.…

ATVS AND UTVS

On test: Corvus Terrain DX4 UTV

Corvus is the new kid on the block, launching its first utility vehicle in 2018 and dispatching it to the UK in 2019 via importer Boss ORV. The Spanish brand…

ATVS AND UTVS

On test: Polaris Ranger Diesel

Polaris hails from the US, where utility vehicles can be found thundering around the wilderness on prolonged hunting excursions. As a result, the Ranger can be furnished with all manner…

ATVS AND UTVS

On test: Kubota RTV-X 1110 UTV

Kubota is a long-established name in the UTV world, having started selling its machines into the agricultural market back in the mid-noughties. Originally, the Japanese firm produced buggies for golf…

ATVS AND UTVS

First drive: Segway Powersports launches 570cc Snarler ATV

Segway, the company of two-wheeled electric hoverboard fame, has launched a Powersports division that will build ATVs and UTVs for both work and leisure. It has a new factory to…

ATVS AND UTVS

How the ATVtrac tracker finds stolen bikes in under two hours

Millions of pounds’ worth of ATVs and farm buggies have been recovered thanks to retrofit tracking systems. The covert kits are fitted discreetly in the machine’s shell and ping regular…

ATVS AND UTVS

Video: Yamaha Kodiak special edition 450 on test

Yamaha fits the Kodiak 450 with its own single-cylinder petrol engine, which at 421cc is a little smaller than the branding on the bodywork suggests. The firm neatly dodges the…

ATVS AND UTVS

Video: Suzuki King Quad 4x4 500 AXi on test

For general farm duties, the Suzuki King Quad 500 takes a bit of beating. Its 493cc engine develops a reasonable 39hp, but when coupled with the company’s recently updated CVT…

Arable

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DRILLING

How new tech turns standard drill into variable-rate system

Thanks to a new drill-conversion kit, arable farmers hoping to adopt an adjustable-rate system can now simply and affordably convert any standard drill into variable-rate capacity. Developed by crop production…

BALERS AND WRAPPERS

Big baler innovations could help farmers cut costs

The latest batch of big square balers are packing even more straw into a heavier bale, which not only drives down the cost of baling, fewer bales also cuts down…

CEREAL DRILLS

New drill options for seed-bed fertiliser

New options for growers wanting to apply dry fertiliser when sowing spring cereal crops take different approaches to delivering the material, either down the same spout as the seed or…

PLOUGHS

A round-up of new ploughs at Cereals 2016

There was plenty of evidence at Cereals 2016 that ploughs still have a significant role to play, judging by the new and improved models that manufacturers had on display. Whether…

ARABLE

New tractor tyre technology offers 18% more traction

The tyre designer’s job, it seems, is never done. As tractors continue to gain power and weight to meet farmer demand for greater performance, new tyre designs are needed to…

14 useful machinery, tractor and arable apps for 2016

With more and more farming apps coming on to the market each month, we have produced a round-up of some of the latest and some old favourites to help you decide…

Round-up of the latest strip till kit to cut your cultivation co...

If it’s possible to cultivate only the ground where the crop will grow, why waste money moving soil across the entire field? That is the question posed by proponents of strip…

New Defy 3D nozzle: Sprayer operators give their verdict

Agrochemical giant Syngenta has launched its new Defy 3D spray nozzle, which will provide growers with improved grassweed control and reduced spray drift. The new nozzle is an evolution of…

Livestock

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HUSBANDRY

Video: 5 cattle clippers on test - which performed best?

Clipping dirty tails and coats should be a regular job on a dairy farm to protect milk quality, as dirty cows are more likely to get mastitis. Brand identification beneath…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

Buyer's guide to ketone testers for dairy farmers

Simple and quick tests that measure ketone levels in dairy cows are allowing farmers to act promptly with interventions to protect milk yields and herd performance. Subclinical ketosis can’t be…

HEALTH AND WELFARE

Buyer's guide: 5 of the latest cow brushes

Cows like a good scratch, so satisfying that instinct with a brush designed for the job can only be good for herd wellbeing. A happy cow will always perform better,…

SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENT

Slurry separation options compared

Dairy farmers are investing in slurry-separation systems amid tighter environmental controls. Balanced with the cost of increasing storage infrastructure to be compliant with nitrate vulnerable zone (NVZ) regulations, separation technologies…

DAIRY

Buyer's guide: Teat disinfection technology

As herd sizes increase and labour sourcing continues to create challenges, more farmers are turning to automated teat disinfection technologies to ease pressure in the parlour and promote efficiencies. Although…

DAIRY

9 new products to be showcased at Dairy-Tech 2019

After the successful inaugural show last year, Dairy-Tech is back for 2019 and will feature lots of the latest inventions and equipment on the market. New products at the event…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Video: Buyers guide to ad-lib lamb feeders

As lambing approaches and labour is harder to find than ever before, it could be time to invest in an artificial lamb feeder to lighten the workload. With a variety…