As combinable crop farms prepare for autumn crop establishment, Knight Farm Machinery highlights the technology its sprayers offer to help operators ensure best results from both sprayer and herbicide investment, particularly on pre-emergence and early season spraying.
With full soil coverage the aim for pre-em application, low-drift nozzles are advised. Some application specialists suggest alternate forward and rearward-facing nozzles can help to achieve full coverage, especially on cloddy seedbeds.
Agronomists advise that pre-em herbicide applications are made as soon as possible after drilling, with the boom set at 50cm from the ground and the sprayer travelling at no more than 10–12kph, for maximum boom stability. Sprayer boom end protectors, if removed, should be refitted to ensure tips cannot touch the ground.
Isolating vehicle dynamic movement from the boom is critical to its stability. On Knight Trailblazer and self-propelled sprayers, the air suspension cushions against vehicle movement, while booms of 28m and under have a standard heavy-duty back-frame and a combination of spring, hydraulic and aeon blocks to cushion pitch, roll and yaw.
Tri-fold booms wider than 28m feature Knight’s unique 4D back-frame, with the usual pitch, roll and yaw compensation complemented by an additional pivot point taking care of vehicle lateral dynamics.
Knight mounted sprayers feature a cushioned vertical frame, while trailed and self-propelled models use pantograph arms which are cushioned using accumulators. Back-frame locking is standard to level the back-frame assembly, providing safe boom folding.
Boom height and levelling can be specified as manual operator controlled, DC1 – which is automatically-controlled boom height plus back-frame tilt giving synchronised left and right boom inclination – and DC2, with automatically-controlled boom height, independent left and right boom inclination, and plus/minus control of horizontal positioning.
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Tramspread had been producing slurry spreading booms for a decade when it begun contracting with an umbilical spreading system in 1998. For this task company founder Terry Baker designed the first purpose-built Contractor Trailer engine driven pump unit (EDPU).
It was 24ft long and fitted with a used Iveco six-cylinder turbocharged engine driving a Bauer SM3500 pump via a Comer gearbox. It was controlled by a Murphy control panel. Remarkably, this original engine is still working for Tramspread Contracting with over 25,000 hours on the clock.
The contracting enterprise expanded rapidly, and a second Contractor Trailer was soon produced. These early single-axle versions used commercial trailer axles without suspension and carried a tractor-mounted 1,200m or 1,400m hose reel.
The second-generation Contractor Trailer was introduced in 2013 having been redesigned using first-hand contracting experience. It was new from the ground up, with a longer 8.6m chassis, twin-axle running gear, suspension, 435/50R19.5 wheels and tyres and hydraulic brakes.
The front section was reconfigured to carry two 1,000m random wrap hose spools. A larger fuel tank placed between the axles more than doubled capacity to 900-litres. A compressor was placed above the front axle, with room for a work platform and two large tool boxes over the second. The EDPU sat at the rear and was skid-mounted for easy removal if required.
These purpose-built units carried everything needed by a slurry spreading contractor with a self-contained engine-driven pump, compressor for blowing out the drag hose, hose spool carrying locations and storage for oils, tools, couplings and anything else needed. No straps were needed, saving time during loading and unloading, with the spools secured by locking pins.
Field testing of the prototype by Tramspread Contracting identified the need for a longer drawbar and greater rear ground clearance when reversing up lagoon banks, and these features were incorporated into production versions which proved to be very successful.
Further modifications in 2022 saw the Contractor Trailer widened by 200mm to accommodate Doda and Cri-man pumps specified by some customers and higher-output compressors.
Current standard specification includes a six-cylinder FPT engine and air-brakes. Compressors of 140 CFM, 180 CFM, 260 CFM and 425 CFM outputs can be fitted, and a suction hose transport kit is optional. Remote control options include a Tramspread Teletram 2020 GSM system or Tramspread SIL Vision IV radio remote control.
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Sam has continuously expanded his farming operations in Staffordshire over the past five years. He now manages a larger-scale operation, milking 350 high-yielding Holstein cows on one site, overseeing the dry cows on another, and running a robust contracting arm of the business from a third location. With such an extensive and busy setup, having reliable machinery is crucial for Sam.
Right-hand machine
The Dieci Mini Ag 26.6 has proven to be an invaluable asset across all his sites, acting as his right-hand machine. “Its compact size and agility allow me to navigate around the yard easily and safely,” Sam explains. “It’s brilliant for all the sites, each of which has tight spaces, and the Dieci handles everything we need.”
The Agri Mini’s exceptional manoeuvrability in confined areas, combined with its powerful control, excellent handling, and precision in movement across its three steering modes – front, concentric, and transverse – ensures smooth operation even with heavy loads.
Boasting a lift capacity of 2,600kg, a lifting height of 5.73m, and a horizontal extension of 3.2m, the Mini Ag is a powerhouse. “I believe it can handle even more,” Sam adds. “With its hydrostatic transmission, it operates effortlessly and remains surprisingly stable, even at full reach.”
This high-performing transmission ensures the optimal speed-to-power ratio for any condition. The combination of the electronic throttle and inching pedal allows for slow and controlled driving while maintaining maximum boom speed. Additionally, each Mini Ag is equipped with a stability control device that continuously monitors the vehicle’s stability in real time, preventing any unsafe movements when safety limits are approached.
Standing out from the crowd
The Dieci Mini Ag 26.6 is designed to meet the demanding needs of modern agriculture, Dieci says. Its compact dimensions allow it to access tight spaces and navigate easily around obstacles, making it ideal for farms with restricted access areas. The machine’s robust construction ensures durability and longevity, capable of withstanding the rigorous daily tasks on the farm.
The cab is designed for operator comfort, with an ergonomic layout that reduces fatigue and increases productivity. The all-in-one joystick provides intuitive control, allowing operators to perform multiple functions seamlessly.
“We operate a couple of tractors and two telehandlers, but the Dieci stands out,” Sam continues. “Its handling is superb, and the all-in-one joystick provides full and safe control of the vehicle, enabling quick shifts between forward and reverse.” He further praises the Mini Ag’s steering and overall control, describing it as light, responsive, easy, and safe.
“The Dieci’s low profile makes it accessible and comfortable for everyone to use – even my Grandad can just step in,” Sam jokes. “And being such a high-performing machine, anyone can get all the jobs done around the farms.”
Sam’s previous Dieci clocked 6,000 hours and was the sole handler on his farm when he had 270 dairy cows. “This Mini Ag is just over a year old, and we’ve already logged over 2,500 hours. It’s regularly serviced and heavily used, but it has never let us down. Out of the two handlers we have, I know which one I’d choose. The Mini Ag is so comfortable that you can spend all day in it. The controls are easy to use, and the cab is well laid out.”
Indispensable
Dieci’s R&D team has invested considerable effort in optimising the cab’s ergonomics, making the controls intuitive, simple, and comfortable, thereby easing the operator’s workload.
Loaded with advanced technology, the Dieci Mini Ag features an on-board computer that displays all operational information in real-time, clearly and uncluttered. This technology ensures that operators have all the information they need at their fingertips, enhancing efficiency and safety.
Supported by the Dieci network, dealership support remains a top priority. Sam confirms: “The support we get from the dealership is excellent. They stay on top of all maintenance and servicing requirements.”
Sam concluded: “Even though we’ve added a bigger machine to our fleet to assist, we simply couldn’t function efficiently without the Dieci Mini Ag. It’s indispensable to our operations.”
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The right ATV for you depends largely on the nature of your land and enterprise, Suzuki explains. If you’re spending long hours in the saddle, routinely riding over very rough country, towing large loads, or using heavy attachments then choose the KingQuad 750XP (XP denotes independent suspension and power steering).
This model features QuadMatic 4-wheel drive, fully independent suspension, an advanced and improved engine braking system, and an impressive towing capacity of 600kg. The powerful 722cc engine, tuned for smooth power and torque delivery in all situations, makes it ideal for agricultural and sports use, as well as trail riding, the company reckons.
On lowland farms, estates and equestrian properties, the KingQuad 500X offers an ideal balance of features, toughness and easy handling. Also featuring 4-wheel drive, fully independent suspension and an advanced engine braking system, it has true off-road capability.
The 493cc fuel-injected engine’s cylinder head and piston are specially designed to provide power and torque across the rev range, making the 500X equally suitable for towing, using attachments, or just as a great work horse.
For the more demanding conditions of hill farms, or if you’re regularly in the seat all day, the power steering model (KingQuad 500XP) would be the choice as this model offers even greater control, precision and fatigue-free riding.
Joyce Campbell, fellow Suzuki ambassador and sheep farmer at Armadale Farm in the Scottish Highlands, said: “The Suzuki quads we use on our hill farm are vital tools for the smooth daily running of our business. They are reliable, comfortable and very nice to drive with their power steering system. When we’re gathering or checking sheep, out on our hill, they handle the rough terrain safely with ease.
“We would not be able to lamb and calve outside each spring, without our Suzuki quads to move and check our livestock. It speaks volumes that I’ve been a happy Suzuki customer for over 18 years.”
Paul Childerley, owner of Childerley Sporting Ltd and Suzuki ambassador, added: “I have been running Suzuki quad bikes for well over 10 years with fantastic satisfaction and reliability for the job. With day-to-day gamekeeping and estate duties, ATVs are put through their paces by myself and the team, maximising their use for all types of work over a variety of terrain and in all weathers. Suzuki ATVs are always reliable, easy and very comfortable to drive.”
Every Suzuki ATV customer can currently benefit from a fantastic trade-in offer, with 10% off the RRP of a new KingQuad when trading in any brand of quad bike in part exchange.
For more information, T&Cs and to discover the range, visit the Suzuki website.
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The 3m setup with high or low disturbance leg options on the Awemak Sherp are protected by sprung auto reset.
The standard hydraulic 3-point linkage couples directly to the Ozyrus discs with minimal downtime to separate and connect as required.
Using hydraulic linkage allows ultimate precision adjustment to the depth control of both the Sherp disturbance legs and the 3m discs. This setup is a version of a Horsch Joker.
The Ozyrus discs have as standard, two rows of 12 discs with 560mm diameter, active side screens, deflector board between the row of discs, straw tines, hydraulic depth control, LED lights and steel ring packer.
There are various rear rollers and packers available with the option of doubling up to have a twin roller or packer.
The Sherp and Ozyrus combination allows on-the-go adjustment of the working depth of the two components to suit ground conditions and soil types.
Having the ability to separate the two components facilitates more varied jobs – chitting grain after harvest being the main consideration, and utilising the discs to work the top 1cm then reconnecting before drilling to work the ground, preparing an ideal seed bed.
Visit the PFC website for more tillage information
With over 6,000 units built, this fully drop-down trailer combines safety and ease of use. With a step of only a 140mm when in loading position, livestock tripping risks are minimised.
A three-component synthetic rubber floor coating guarantees anti-slip and sound absorbing properties, and also is particularly comfortable for the animals.
The Betimax RDS is standard fitted with a cross-sprung drawbar suspension, ensuring a comfortable and safe drive for both the driver and the livestock.
Available in single or twin axle versions ranging from 5–9m, there is a Betimax for every need and work, Joskin reckons. Whether it’s moving cattle around the farm, or more intense livestock haulage. Thanks to standardised production, the trailer can be fitted with different inner gates or sliding door.
A large choice of loading gates – e.g. pivoting and/or on rails, full length or telescopic from 2–4m – can also be ordered with the trailer or retro-fitted at any time.
A cover, toolbox or brush holder are other options available to custom build your trailer.
The Betimax models are available in painted or fully galvanised versions, with the latter ensuring a long lifespan.
Joskin Betimax trailers are also available as an Advantage series from stock.
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Farm contractors have high expectations for machinery, so it’s no surprise to see Major tankers as their choice equipment, the manufacturer says. Major tankers stand out because of the exceptional design and build: “All our tankers have a separate chassis supporting the barrel, unlike other tankers where the tank and chassis are one unit,” says James Cox of Heysham-based Major Equipment Ltd.
“This means 80% of the weight is carried on the tanker’s axle and the remainder is carried on the tractor drawbar. This design prevents cracking from the stress of pulling heavy loads and for longer distances.”
Major offers four classes of tankers – Agri, Contractor, Alpine, and Tandem – for specific use or requirement. All barrels are produced from 6mm steel and fitted with road safety features including breakaway cable, hydraulic brakes, and rubber buffers on drawbar for easier towing and smoother journeys.
These features are important for John Nurse and his pig finishing enterprise at Harleston, Norfolk. He uses the 4,000-gallon, tandem axle Major Tanker to collect all the liquid waste and surface run-off and recycle it to local farmland to help improve soil fertility.
“Some of my customers are located up to 30 miles away, so road safety specs are very important to me,” begins John. “Manoeuvrability is also a big point – the rear steering axle is an absolute necessity to get in and out of small field gates.
“I feel I have a very reliable and efficient dirty water management system,” adds John. “The galvanising and robust design of the Major 4000TDM gives me long-term reliability and a lot of flexibility with my customers.”
Major has three options for precision slurry application. The dribble bar is the simplest system and works well on both grassland and arable crop. The trailing shoe is optimal for applying slurry in heavy clay soil and works in grass longer than 8cm.
The Major Dribble Bar comes in 7.5m, 10m and 12.5m working widths. The Trailing Shoe comes in 6.4m and 7.5m working widths. Major also offers the TX-Xtreme Trailing Shoe for use in rough and undulating ground conditions.
All units are fitted with the powerful Vogelsang macerator and are galvanised for extra protection against corrosion. Either system can be used with an existing splash plate. The 7.5m Dribble Bar and 7.5m Trailing Shoe applicators can be easily retrofitted onto any tanker make or model.
The Disc Injector or shallow injection system is very effective at returning nitrogen back to the soil. The Major 5.2m Disc Injector combines soil fertilising and furrowing with a working depth from 20mm to 60mm. It works best on short grass swards, placing slurry 5–6cm below the surface.
Visit the Major Equipment website for more information.
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The Motion Head 90 is an option on the Multi-Longer models and allows 360-degree head rotation – aiding flexibility when cutting in tight areas. For lanes and roads where it is impractical to have the arm swung out to the side in a traditional cutting action, the arm can stay folded behind the tractor, with the head simply turned to cut the material to the side. This still allows full height movement on the arm in tight areas, which isn’t always possible with the arm at the side.
All the Motion Head 90 movements are controlled via the electronic proportional EP joystick, which enables quick and precise adjustments to the main and outer arms, pivot, and head position, to ensure accurate cutting. This is particularly useful on gateways, banks and roadside verges. The EP joystick is combined with Kuhn’s VT 31 screen, which allows operators to view oil temperature, hours worked, and adjust hydraulic flow to various functions to improve control.
With a workload of over 350 hours a year, Terry Mason is the main operator of Kuhn’s latest Multi-Longer 5757 SPAL at Bidwell Barton Farm in Devon. The machine replaced an ageing trimmer in September 2023, with the Motion Head 90 kit and dealer backup major factors for choosing Kuhn.
As it is the first one in the country, Terry couldn’t see it working before committing to buy. However, conversations with dealer, RSM Beares, and watching videos of the head in action, were enough to convince him.
Terry explains the Motion Head 90 feature has proved an excellent option for the narrow lanes around the farm, which are only just wide enough for the tractor.
“We don’t have to unfold the hedgecutter arm to the side of the tractor, which has always limited cutting angle and height. The Motion Head allows me to change the angle and means the arm can stay folded to the rear and the head can be turned to cut the hedges. It has increased the speed and quality of the work.”
Terry says it has also been a significant bonus when cutting gateways and verges. He continues: “Pivoting the front of the head up when cutting ditches and gateways is very useful as it can follow ground contours closely. It is more accurate than just raising the head in a fixed horizontal position as we can angle the cutting rotor to ensure we get a close cut without constantly changing the position of the tractor. The flexibility wouldn’t be possible with a normal machine.”
Visit the Kuhn website for more information.
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The new heavier-duty MF DM 9614 TL offers a 9.6m working width, while the larger MF DM 10114 TL has a 10.1m working width. The two new models will be available alongside the established and streamlined MF DM 8612 TL and MF DM 9614 TL mowers.
All new models are equipped with the latest heavy-duty, spur gear cutterbar and a conditioner is fitted as standard. There is a choice of the tined ‘KC’ version, or ‘RC’ roller, which now features drive to both rollers and a more aggressive ‘steel on steel’ option, for heavier crops such as lucerne.
‘Pro’ models include Isobus control, allowing operators to automate functions to improve ease of use and forage quality. Conditioning intensity can be adjusted to match the crop and produce a uniform dry matter.
The Pro models also connect the front and rear mowing units, offering manual or automatic side shift for the front mower, to reduce missed areas on hills. The system automatically adjusts the ground pressure, via MF’s TurboLift, in relation to the rear mower. GPS section control lifts the mower on the headland to avoid previously worked areas, while the rear mower automatically raises and centres when reversing.
All ‘Pro’ models are also available with a belt grouper that transfers crop to the centre to form swaths from 1.6–3m wide. New sensors on the system monitor the belt units’ position and automatically adjusts this to maintain the optimum centre of gravity.
Six new twin rotor rake models
Meanwhile, there are six new Massy Ferguson RK twin rotor rakes with working widths from 7.6–10m. Building on the proven design, the new models feature Isobus operation (Pro), speed related height adjustment, as well as section control and maintenance-free rotor heads.
A new flexHIGH speed-dependant raking height system automatically raises and lowers the machine to maintain the optimum working height, reducing contamination and increasing output.
All rotors feature maintenance-free heads, while a standard switch box or load sensing on the Pro models, allows individual control of the rotors. Section control is available on all new models to increase accuracy and reduce contamination by automatically lifting and lowering the rotors according to the GPS position.
A new MyMemory option makes it faster and easier to change between fields by saving the working height, working width and swath width before switching to the transport position. A new gearbox design allows all models below the largest MF RK 1102 TRC Pro to fold to less than 4m high without removing any tine arms.
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Agri-Spread has been supplying fertiliser, lime and bulk flowable product spreaders in the UK for nearly 20 years through its distributor Dales Agri Sales Agency. The AS2000 and AS1000-2K Series offer high spec features and advanced precision technologies – but with a functional design to reduce input costs, Agri-Spread says.
The company’s precision spreading technology is designed to give farmers the tools and information to make informed decisions based on in-field conditions. There is increasing demand for large capacity, high spec precision spreaders, as farmers battle the rising cost of materials and input costs. High accuracy and traceability are also key drivers in the market.
To keep pace with these demands Agri-Spread has carried out a major upgrade to its existing AS2000 and AS1000-2K Series.
The main addition to the AS2000 Series range is the 2K spreading deck system. With the 2K spreading deck system being so successful, the AS1000 Series was recently upgraded to incorporate the 100% stainless steel 2K adjustable spreading deck as standard across all models.
The redesign of the spread deck, hopper and disks/vanes was developed through independent Test Hall accreditation to validate different spread patterns.
A key aspect of the spread deck upgrade was the re-engineering of the vanes – a key part of achieving target spreading width. The process change also included tungsten carbide heat treated coating of the vanes to give superior wear and impact resistance, leading to longer lifespan for the end user.
Fertiliser settings have also been finetuned. Spreading range options now include three disk/vane and hopper vee types, Z2 (12–24m), Z3 (18–28m) and Z4 vanes (28–36m) spread widths.
Agri-Spread offers a large range of fertiliser twin-disc trailed and hopper mounted spreader options able to spread fertiliser to 36m. These are available in hopper capacities from 6–16.8m3 in the AS 2000 Series models and 2.6–13.9m3 in the AS 1000-2K Series models. The hydraulically driven spinner discs give optimal control of the spinner disc speeds for normal spreading, boundary spreading and various section control spreading options.
With Isobus automatic rate control, fertiliser flow is constantly measured and automatically adjusted to maintain a precise application rate. Meanwhile, the variable rate application is compatible with precision farming prescription maps.
Load cells are mounted on a double chassis design, which ensures they are shock-proofed and read accurately, Agri-Spread continues. Dynamic spreading mode provides on-the-go auto calibration and auto rate control. This ensures accurate delivery of product with varying densities. The fertiliser load is weighed in the hopper five times per second, and the data used to adjust the fertiliser’s flow rate to give accurate application rates – regardless of forward speed and product density.
For more information, visit the Agri-Spread website.
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