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Latest reviews and tests

4X4S

On test: Dacia Duster 4x4

There are certain sacrifices to be made if you want a sparkling new car on the cheap and they usually involve slack performance, low-grade interiors and unremarkable looks. The lure…

4X4S

On test: Suzuki Jimny SZ5 Allgrip

Suzuki has breathed new life into its long-in-the-tooth Jimny with a new model that it hopes will emulate its predecessors’ sales figures and pass the million-unit sold mark in the…

HEADERS

Claas updates its combine header range for 2020

German manufacturer Claas has updated its header range to complement its recently launched Lexion combine models, with the new offerings including its widest-ever front and a greater range of draper-type…

4X4S

On test: Subaru Forester

Over the years, Subaru has made everything from pickup trucks to rally cars, but these days the company says it has sharpened its focus on SUVs. That makes the new…

COMBINES

Video: Claas launches biggest-ever Lexion combine

Claas has just won the most recent hand of combine manufacturer Top Trumps after it launched its most powerful Lexion machines yet. The headline-grabbing flagship 8900 is the biggest in the…

4X4S

On test: Land Rover Discovery Sport

Since its introduction back in 2014, interest in Land Rover's Discovery Sport has boomed, and sales now total a whopping 350,000. At the time, it was Land Rover's get-me-out-of-here ticket…

Tractors

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401+HP

Video: Fendt's 943 MT twin-track crawler on test

Agco has breathed new life into its flailing twin-track fleet with a major rebranding and upgrading exercise for the long-in-the-tooth Challenger tractors. And the firm’s prairie monster range needed some…

TRACTORS

Video: On test - John Deere 6250R v 7250R

The 250hp tractor market is bulging at the seams, so picking the model that provides the best balance of power, chassis size, transmission and fuel consumption requires careful consideration. In…

TRACTORS

On test: Valtra's 100hp A104 HiTech4

Valtra is on a relentless offensive to ram-pack its tractor ranges with near limitless engine, transmission and cab spec combinations. The latest versions to be flung into its smallest A-series…

TRACTORS

Video: We try out John Deere's monster 8400R

If you missed our test report from the week we spent with John Deere’s monster 8400R, you can now watch the video to give you a flavour of what the…

MACHINERY

Video: 110hp Armatrac 1104 on test

Turkey has become something of a hotbed for small tractor manufacturing and one of its most recent exports is beginning to make headway in the cost-conscious UK market. The Armatrac…

401+HP

Video: On test - John Deere 8400R

Over the past couple of decades, tracked tractors have established themselves as the go-to cultivations power source for many 500ha-plus arable growers, thanks to their ability to skip lightly across…

TRACTORS

Video: 400hp reverse-drive Valtra S-series on test

Valtra has finally let its heavyweight S-series loose on the 400hp tractor scene and, armed with lorry loads of torque, a proven driveline and a redesigned cab, promises to unsettle…

TRACTORS

On test: John Deere's quick-fit EZ Ballast weight system

Adding ballast to a cultivation tractor is a time-honoured method of delivering maximum grip and making the most of the ponies it has to offer. Traditionally this has come in…

Telehandlers

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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.…

TELEHANDLERS

Telehandlers on test: Kramer KT407

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…

TELEHANDLERS

On test: Manitou returns to pivot market with its MLA-T

It might have a chequered past in the world of pivot-steer loaders, but Manitou has returned for another crack at a market monopolised by its old enemy, JCB. The French…

MACHINERY

On test: JCB's 419S loading shovel brings extra muscle

Officially launched at Paris’ Sima show in February, JCB’s 419S loading shovel is now rolling down the firm’s Staffordshire production lines. As the main middleweight model in the company’s ag-spec…

TELEHANDLERS

Telehandler test: 5 mid-sized loaders battle it out

This winter’s big machinery test is all about lifting and shifting as we thrash out the winners and losers in the rigid-framed telehandler market. Although a little thinner in participants…

Tools, clothing and other equipment

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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

On test: Electric strimmers give petrol-powered performance

Battery and brushless motor technology has improved so much in recent years that even power-hungry machines such as brushcutters are beginning to go fossil-fuel free. At a recent press event…

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…

MACHINERY

Farm welly boots on test - which is the best buy?

The wellington boot might be a farming institution, but how much thought really goes into replacing your worn-out rubber workwear? Some stingy wearers refuse to fork out more than £20…

4x4s, cars and pickups

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4X4S

On test: Dacia Duster 4x4

There are certain sacrifices to be made if you want a sparkling new car on the cheap and they usually involve slack performance, low-grade interiors and unremarkable looks. The lure…

4X4S

On test: Suzuki Jimny SZ5 Allgrip

Suzuki has breathed new life into its long-in-the-tooth Jimny with a new model that it hopes will emulate its predecessors’ sales figures and pass the million-unit sold mark in the…

4X4S

On test: Subaru Forester

Over the years, Subaru has made everything from pickup trucks to rally cars, but these days the company says it has sharpened its focus on SUVs. That makes the new…

4X4S

On test: Land Rover Discovery Sport

Since its introduction back in 2014, interest in Land Rover's Discovery Sport has boomed, and sales now total a whopping 350,000. At the time, it was Land Rover's get-me-out-of-here ticket…

4X4S

On test: Mitsubishi Shogun Sport

The words Shogun and sport aren’t obvious bedfellows, but Mitsubishi has shoehorned parts of its mud-flinging, diesel-slurping, 4x4 king into a more practical SUV package that bears exactly that name.…

4X4S

On test: Toyota Land Cruiser Utility

Embellished with diamond-cut alloys, rubber-band tyres and enough sporty-looking trim to fit in at a touring car race, the average SUV isn’t built with serious off-roading in mind. But over…

4X4S

On test: Jeep Compass SUV

Almost every four-wheel drive passenger car that you might see on a farm today can trace its inspiration back to the original Jeep. Land Rover designer Maurice Wilks famously had…

4X4S

Jeep adds luxury to rugged off-road Wrangler

Despite selling fewer than 300 models to its small and devoted band of followers last year, Jeep has decided to invest healthily in a new Wrangler model that brings with…

ATVs and UTVs

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ATVS AND UTVS

On test: Polaris Ranger Diesel UTV

A new Kubota engine, uprated suspension and redesigned cab mean Polaris now has a farm-friendly Ranger Diesel to match its petrol-powered range. Keen Farmers Weekly readers may remember we tried…

ATVS AND UTVS

On test: E-Bike is nippy farm runaround

A mountain bike might be an odd sight in the pages of Farmers Weekly, but the machine we are about to feature already boasts a couple of agricultural customers. The…

ATVS AND UTVS

Video: Petrol or diesel UTVs: which are best?

So… which UTVs are best - petrol or diesel? If we put the issue of fuel cost and convenience to one side for a minute, it becomes an easy decision…

ATVS AND UTVS

On test: John Deere Gator XUV 855M buggy

Diesel might be the current fuel of choice for farm buggies, but there’s a new wave of petrol-powered machines looking to reverse that trend. To find out which colour of…

ATVS AND UTVS

On test: Kawasaki Mule Pro-DX buggy

Diesel might be the current fuel of choice for farm buggies, but there’s a new wave of petrol-powered machines looking to reverse that trend. To find out which colour of…

ATVS AND UTVS

On test: Honda Pioneer buggy

Diesel might be the current fuel of choice for farm buggies, but there’s a new wave of petrol-powered machines looking to reverse that trend. To find out which colour of…

ATVS AND UTVS

On test: Can-Am Traxter HD8 buggy

Diesel might be the current fuel of choice for farm buggies, but there’s a new wave of petrol-powered machines looking to reverse that trend. To find out which colour of…

ATVS AND UTVS

On test: Polaris Ranger XP1000 buggy

Diesel might be the current fuel of choice for farm buggies, but there’s a new wave of petrol-powered machines looking to reverse that trend. To find out which colour of…

Arable

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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…

Sprayer technology keeps wider booms in balance

Sprayer operators who appreciate the time- and stress-saving advantages of technology will appreciate the efforts Chafer designers have gone in developing the firm’s latest Guardian and Sentry trailed machines. Isobus…

Livestock

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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…

ASSESSING PERFORMANCE

Livestock buyer's guide: EID readers compared

Electronic identification provides a real opportunity for farmers to assess performance and improve efficiencies by identifying best performers. While it can be quite costly to implement, depending on the system…

LIVESTOCK

Buyer's guide to latest dairy monitoring technologies

Gadgets and devices to monitor dairy herds are becoming commonplace. There are established precision technologies for heat detection and rumination, and these remain the most widely used technology in dairy herds.…

LIVESTOCK

Buyers guide: 6 options for calf housing compared

Investing in calf housing that meets the animals’ needs and dovetails with the farm system can improve productivity and save thousands of pounds in reduced costs and poor performance. Calves…