Offering maximum variety in a single series, the Blackbird range of trailing shoes come in four distinct model ranges, that are available in a variety of working widths from 7.5–30m, and Farmers Guide experienced several of the range in the field, with Vogelsang export manager agriculture, Hubert Schmidt talking through the details.

Vogelsang has also launched the X-Split slurry separator and a new macerator pump, both of which we were given demos of during a brief factory tour.

Founded in 1929, it was not until 1970 that Vogelsang ventured into the market they are known for today with the second generation of Vogelsangs inventing a rotary lobe pump.

By 1980 they were producing dribble bars and today the company is run by the third generation and is known almost exclusively for pumping, shredding, mixing and separating difficult substances. While agriculture does amount to around 30% of its business, Vogelsang is also prominent in biogas, wastewater, transportation and industrial industries.

X-Split

The new X-Split separator is said to be low-maintenance and easy to service. It combines a flexible stainless-steel screen with options for 0.5mm, 1.0mm and 2.0mm sieve screens with a robust stainless-steel auger. Sieve elements can be replaced individually and easily, and it can deliver flow rates of up to 45m3 per hour, with a dry matter content of up to 40% of the digestate or slurry.

The X-Split uses an elastomer sealing disc at the solids outlet and this is where the drive motor is also mounted to keep it safely away from any liquid. The pressing area can be quickly adjusted using a threaded spindle for a higher dry matter content. The separator can be supplied on a fixed or lifting frame with a variety of control options depending on the end user’s needs.

ExaCut ECM

The macerator, or distribution head, is the heart of every trailing shoe or dribble bar and Vogelsang says it is dedicated to making them the best they can be.

The ExaCut ECQ macerator, with its innovative eccentric adjuster, is the top-of-the-range model and available on all Blackbird models, but there is a new option, which comes with some unique benefits.

The latest ExaCut ECM eliminates the stop/start delivery that you often get with macerators due to the breather sucking in air, which can result in uneven slurry distribution.

There are no breathers on the ECM, so the delivery is not disturbed by air and the pressure in the chamber is constant, meaning the feed to the shoes is uninterrupted. This has been achieved with a completely redesigned cutter plate, and the whole unit is more compact and lightweight than the ECQ and comes with low wear and a long service life. Cutting knife life on the new ECM is expected to be around 60,000m3+.

When maintenance is required, the ExaCut ECQ is simpler, as the whole inner assembly slides out through a side opening in the case. It is said that it can be dismantled, serviced and put back together within an hour.

The ECM, on the other hand, is a little more involved as the compact body means that dismantling will need to be undertaken from the end plate with its numerous hose connections. The ECM also requires a slightly higher operating pressure at 0.3bar, compared to 0.2bar for the ECQ.

A single ECM or ECQ is good for injectors up to around 12m working width, with duel, triple or quadruple distribution heads used on larger bars. In the test area we were given a demonstration of the ECM’s ability to deal with solids during which we were invited to feed metal wire and rope into the macerator, which it dealt with effortlessly.

The Blackbird family

Originally launched in 2019/20 with 15 and 18m models, the Blackbird series has been revamped and relaunched under four new ranges, with a brief to make them lighter and stronger. The principles are similar to other injector bars, with a centrally mounted distributer head/macerator on the smaller models and two, three or four on the larger bars.

On every Blackbird the hose routing is optimised to ensure an even and consistent distribution to all outlets, with Vogelsang’s own tests indicating a maximum time of two seconds for liquid to reach all outlets at the start of spreading, with some smaller models taking less than one second, and a variable coefficient between outlets of no more than 1.4%.

They also come with a unique design of trailing shoe to deliver an even, narrow and vertical flow of slurry over the entire outlet length and have 12kg active pressure on the skids. The plastic, or cast iron and rubber, shoes are mounted on leaf springs and use minimal components for a simple assembly and reliable service. The shoes are also available in a double spout option for 12.5cm row spacings.

They come with four-point mounting or direct attachment, 3D collision protection on each side, mechanical or hydraulic section control, LED boom lighting, and DropStop spill prevention by swivelling the boom upwards when work is finished.

Blackbird Single

Named due to its one, centrally-mounted, ECL or ECQ distribution head, the single is available in 7.5, 9.0, 10.5 and 12m working widths and is ideally suited to small farms. When combined with a 2.0m tank width, the single folds up to deliver a 2.55m transport width.

It comes with a slimmed down and optimised rear frame for ease of installation and a low overall weight, with the range starting at just 870kg for the 7.5m version, increasing to 1,050kg for the 12m model.

The single range does not come with support wheels but does include Vogelsang’s 3D collision protection on all but the smallest model. The single is available with limited options to deliver an affordable trailing shoe.

Blackbird Pro

Currently available in two models – a 12m and 15m – the range is due to be extended to include an 18m version in the future. Both models offer weight savings over the outgoing versions, with the 12m coming in at 1,475kg – a saving of 175kg – and the 15m model shaving 200kg off the weight of the previous model at 1,550kg.

The Pro comes with two of the new ECM distribution heads, or ECQ if the customer prefers, and a transport width when folded of 2.99m. As the name suggests, it is offered as a ‘professional’ solution and as such comes with a wide range of options making it very individually configurable. The Pro is available with full headland management, which gives one button flow stop and fold, and one button unfold and flow start when lined up and ready to go again.

Blackbird Light

The Light range is, in effect, a lightweight version of the Pro and comes with fewer options. Like the Pro it is available in 12.0m and 15.0m versions with a transport width of 2.99m and comes with 3D collision protection, and uses two ECM macerators. However, the Light range uses plastic skids, as opposed to cast iron ones on the Pro.

Wear differences between the plastic and cast-iron skids are said to be negligible, with Vogelsang reporting no noticeable difference.

It has support wheels, and the same arms as the Pro, but comes with a more simplified mounting frame that continues to offer durability, but aids in keeping the weight down to 1,325kg and 1,400kg respectively.

Blackbird Max

The Max trailing shoe is still at the prototype stage and not yet commercially available, but we were still able to see the test model in the field during our visit. Available as a single model, the Max comes with four-stage folding that delivers three different working widths from one machine, with options to set it up at 21m, 24m and 30m working widths.

It comes with four distribution heads and the cab operated automatic section control will individually close off outlets that are folded and not being used when operating the Max at anything other than its full size. It does this via individual ‘balloons’ in each of the outlets that are inflated to close off the non-used hoses.

It can also have manual section control whereby hoses are closed off with valves at the distribution head when not needed. The Max can deliver a flow rate of up to 14,000 litres per minute and weighs in at 5,800kg.

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As a global manufacturer of agricultural technology, German company Horsch offers multiple solutions for cultivation, seeding and plant protection. Cambridgeshire-based Horsch UK teamed up with local dealer, Manns of Saxham, to showcase a selection of products from its extensive line-up at the demo day.

Among these were several models from Horsch’s well-known ranges, including Joker, Cultro, Avatar, Terrano and Fortis – but there were also three machines that were brand-new to the market.

A new versatile self-propelled sprayer

The Leeb VT on demo is only the second one to reach the UK. It is a self-propelled sprayer, with the VT in its name standing for variable track. It is available in two models, the 5.230VT comes with a 5,000-litre polyethylene tank and a 230hp, 6.7 litre, turbo charged six-cylinder FTP engine, and the 6.300VT, with a 6,000 polyethylene litre tank and a 300hp version of the same engine.

The variable track is adjustable from 1.8–2.4m as standard, or 2.05m up to maximum legal road width with certain tyre options. There are options for 40 or 50in wheel rims, which will affect the machine height, but there is also around 30cm of height adjustment as well to ensure a continuous 1.3m clearance in field mode.

On the machine’s left side, a panel opens up to give access to the controls, fill point, valves for cleaning and rinsing, induction and blow-out points for IBC work and a mixing area with a stainless-steel induction hopper. This comes with a tray table to put chemical bags on and a holder for a measuring jug. There is also a conveniently located display screen/control panel to monitor and control operation from this area. Intake and discharge are both dealt with using the same 1,000-litres/min pump.

On the opposite side of the Leeb, a matching panel opens to reveal a chemical locker and fill points for diesel and Ad Blue. At the business end there are boom options from 24m to 48m, all from Horsch itself. The model on display was fitted with a 36m boom and there are two versions of this: an 18/36 and a 12/24/36.

Up front, the cab is a new generation model from Claas, as found on the Claas combines and forage harvesters, and offers good space and comfortable working conditions with features such as air conditioning, an under-seat fridge/cool box and an ergonomic design. There are options to install almost all current terminal types to deliver a familiar user interface, and Horsch Connect delivers mobile control and remote monitoring.

Lightweight no-till drill with front tank

Ben Harrison, regional sales manager for Horsch UK, talked us through new Sprinter 6.25SL.

“Best described as a lightweight, no-till seeder that can be used in different cultivation systems, this toolbar machine is part of the Sprinter family of tine seeders from Horsch.

“The SL version is new and the 6.25 model offers a 6m working width with 25cm tine row spacings. It has tines with a press wheel behind, and a coulter from the Sprinter drill. Ideal for a lighter weight tractor, it has three-point linkage and is currently set up on a single outlet and available with different types of feet for different seeds.”

It can be used as a conventional drill, or you can set it up as a half-width system or with selective hosing, where you can drill one product every other row – although you can’t combine half width and selective hosing at the same time.

It is designed to be a direct drill with hydraulic coulter pressure, and with its tall frame, it will operate in stubble or cover crops, and run through trash.

Ben explained that there will be an additional following harrow available by the end of the year, which will help with levelling off when cultivating. It comes with all-independent controls on the depth wheels, which are very simple to adjust to allow the leg to go deeper or shallower, up to around four inches.

This 6m model is the only one in the Sprinter SL range at the moment, but plans are in place to extend the design to other working width options. There is also a disc version available – the Avatar SL – which, as the name suggests, features discs from the Avatar drill range. “The back end, i.e. the Sprinter SL, can be considered the slave, with the drill being what’s mounted on the front,” commented Ben.

The front is where you will find the seed tank, fan, Isobus system and the job computer. On the demo model, the Sprinter SL was teamed up with a Horsch Partner 1600FT seed tank. The Partner can be a single tank, such as the one on display, at 1,600 litres, or a double tank, at 2,200 litres, which can be split 60/40 or 75/25 for different seed types or a seed/fertiliser combination. Coming soon is a 2,500 litre tank that will offer triple tank working.

The double and triple tanks can both be operated as a single tank too, if required.

Designed to be compact to allow for best visibility forward, the tanks are also available with an optional camera system to aid in blind spot situations, such as pulling out of a farm exit. The hopper is pressurised, for a more efficent airflow and to achieve higher application rates, and the feed opening is large for quick filling with a front loader or telehandler.

“What we are looking at here are two completely separate new machines,” pointed out Ben. “The Partner can be coupled to a range of drills or seeders, and the Sprinter SL can be mated to a choice of front tanks.”

An update on a long-standing favourite

The Pronto range is one of the most established offerings in the Horsch portfolio, but it has received many updates over the years – the latest being the Pronto 7DC.

Ben explained: “It has a 7.2m working width, which fits into 36m tramlining, and the idea behind it is that, on average, the tractor power available on farms has increased to the point where the farmer who is currently pulling a 6m drill, should be able to pull a 7.2m – so when it comes to machinery replacement, this could be the ideal drill for them.

“It has a split tank, which is pressurised, and Horsch has relocated the fan away from the bottom, where it used to be mounted, to the top, away from the dust.

“It comes with new software called I-Manager, which has taken over from E-Manager and offers more flexibility for software developers to enhance features and add to it. This new software will be rolled out across the whole Horsch range as models are revamped.

“It can be run with grain and fertiliser or grain and grain, it has twin motors with a split roller and on the metering unit there is now an option to add a divider that will allow you to change the roller for different seeds without having to empty the tank. Option-wise you can specify a front packer, levelling boards and cultivation discs; plus you can opt for a system called PPF – precision placement fertiliser.

“It has a taller tyre packer, at 18in rather than 16in, which helps prevent bow-waving on lighter land and reduces rolling resistance requiring less power. The centre bearing in the packer for road transport has changed to a gimbal-type bearing to reduce stress on the packer when dealing with uneven roads. The tyres are now 10-ply, providing almost an inch of rubber, thereby much reducing the likelihood of punctures.

“At the back end, it has a slightly different coulter pressure setup, with a Paradisc coulter providing more positive pressure, up to 130kg, over the top of the seeding zone, providing more versatility in medium to heavy ground conditions.”

In summary, the latest Pronto 7DC is available with a large number of options, compounding its versatility, and is available with the new seed flow sensor system that uses sound to determine blockages before it back-fills.

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Until now, the Scorpion range consisted of eight models in total, with three in the ‘large’ range (746, 756 and 960), four in the ‘small’ range (635, 732, 736 and 741) and one double-extension model (1033). The model numbers refer to height, 6, 7, 9 and 10 metres, with the last two digits providing the lifting capacity, for example 3.5 tonnes for the 635.

This latest model revision applies to the four ‘small’ models, together with the 1033, for the 2025 model year. The 1033 retains the same capacity and name designation but the four ‘small’ models have all received a capacity uplift and hence have been rebranded as 638, 733, 738 and 742.

All revised models have seen enhancements in other areas, both internally and externally.

Improved power and new transmissions

Claas started building Scorpion branded telehandlers just after the turn of the century. The current 2024 series is the third generation and since 2021 has featured the Claas Varipower 2 drive system.

For the 2025 model year, the Varipower 2 transmission will still feature on some of the models, but the 738 and 742 machines will now offer Claas’ new Varipower 3 with a larger dual hydraulic motor that transfers up to 20% more tractive force to the wheels, while retaining the precise control found with Varipower 2.

All models in the ‘small’ Scorpion range feature the same engine, a 3.6-litre 4cyl Liebherr engine producing 140hp.

Updated cab design

The main differences you will find on the new models are in the cab, where several improvements have been made. The first of these is the door, which used to be all glass but is now half glass and half metal.

This not only helps to reduce noise levels in the cab, it also provides additional storage in the lower half of the door. The top section of the door folds back slightly further than the old model, making it more flush with the body, and the way that the top door is mounted has also been changed to make it more solid when fixed in the open position to eliminate vibration and rattle when driving.

Another important change that is not initially obvious, is that the protection frame/roll bar, which used to be internally mounted on the smaller models, is now fitted externally. This delivers more room within the cab and reduces the likelihood of knocking yourself on it when embarking or disembarking.

An important detail inside the cab is that the joystick is now mounted to the seat. Before it was separate and fixed to the side console, so any seat movement had to be countered by arm and shoulder movement if you were bouncing around on uneven ground. Now the seat and joystick move together.

The loader controls have also been modified. They are still hydraulically controlled, but now have electronic features built in such as automatic boom retraction, bucket shake and speed control of the hydraulics to make control a little bit more precise.

Other improvements include the steering column, which is completely new and now pivots from the top, rather than the bottom, allowing more floor space for the operator’s feet and ease getting in and out.

The air conditioning system is larger and more powerful than it was previously, and the controls are now at hand alongside the steering wheel, rather than mounted behind the operator on previous models.

The brake pedal, that used to be mounted from the floor, is now hung from the top, providing a more car-like feel, and the dash and side panel have been redesigned for neater aesthetics and to allow the placement of the joystick onto the seat. The seat itself is still a pneumatic Grammer model with different options available.

One subtle new feature is the fitment of cabin pressure relief valves behind the seat. Without these on the old models, the pressure build-up as the door was closed meant it didn’t always shut fully, but now it closes with ease.

External features and upgrades

The 635 and the 732 used to have a slightly shorter chassis than the other ‘small’ models. With this latest upgrade, the now renamed 638 and 733 models will share the same chassis as the others and have been increased in length by around 100mm.

To make up for the slight loss of turning circle that a longer chassis brings, Claas has increased the steering angle to bring the manoeuvrability back to where it was. This does mean that the two smaller models cannot have 500 width tyres like the others, and so are fitted with Michelin 460s as standard.

The Claas headstock is standard across the range, but an option that many will find useful is a lifting pin that fits into the centre of the frame onto which an optional crane hook can be fitted for lifting duties.

The headstock comes pre-drilled for this pin, and it comes with a capacity of 3.9 tonnes. The benefit of this option, over simply attaching chains or straps to the head stock, is not just its perfectly central location but that it also comes fully certified from the factory.

All UK machines come as standard with a pickup hitch, twin line hydraulic trailer brakes and a trailer socket. They also come with a single acting hydraulic service and free flow return as standard, with the option of a double acting service if something like a hydraulic trailer tailgate is needed.

A new feature for these latest models is an additional hydraulic pressure dump button at the rear. Hydraulics are powered by a load sensing 160-litre pump, and third service is standard front and back, with an option for a fourth service at both ends.

An optional leak off, large or small, for attachments that require it is also available. The four small models also have optional uprights with wear pads for boom support when pushing into a heap or mucking out a yard and pushing up against a wall, to reduce wear on the rear pin if the machine is not perfectly square.

Models fitted with air brakes have an additional connection installed by the cab steps to allow air powered machinery or a blow gun to be used for cleaning and maintenance.

An insider’s view

Michael Ives, product manager tractors and material handlers Claas UK, offered Farmers Guide his take on the new models. “Most of the new features that appear on the four small models are already standard on the larger range, so what this latest launch has done is to bring the whole range onto a more consistent plane.

The UK is an unusual market in as much as we tow with them and we use them on the road more than other European markets, so pulling performance is as important as their pushing capability. The transmissions and engines will be standard, with no option choices on either, so of the four-model ‘small’ range you will get Varipower 2 on the 638 and 733 and Varipower 3 on the 738 and 742.

“We offer a well-equipped telehandler and are competitive in the market for higher spec machines. In fact, all the improvements and added features have not adversely affected the price of the new models, with an increase of only around 1.5 to 2% compared to last year’s price list for the previous generation. The November EIMA show in Italy will be the first public showing of the new range, but orders are being taken now for delivery in early 2025.”

On test

The two machines on test represent the smallest and largest of the ‘small’ range with the 638 being equipped with Varipower 2 and the 742 having the new Varipower 3 transmission.

Sitting in the cab it is very difficult to tell the models apart. Even when underway, the differences in the two drive types is not really noticeable to the layman, although it becomes more obvious when towing.

The Dynamic Power system automatically adjusted engine speed as the joystick was worked, making using either telehandler very simple.

The new boom retraction button is a nice feature, as is the bucket shake function that is operated by holding the joystick to one side. The whole range also offers an automatic bucket return function that puts the bucket back in a previously saved position, which is great when performing repetitive tasks. These features all help to make life just a bit easier for the operator.

Other little touches we noticed have improved the driver experience were an audible indicator, which the previous models did not have and should ensure that the indicators are not accidentally left on, and a smaller steering wheel which made turning faster and a little more controlled.

Generally, all the controls were intuitive to use, meaning a less experienced operator should be able to go from zero to hero in no time at all, and generally the cab is comfortable, quiet and offers good all-round visibility.

The Varipower transmission provides great control on hills, holding the machine stationary either facing up or downhill without the need for brakes. Although we didn’t go above 30kph on the test track, the top speed of the whole range is 40kph.

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Terra Trac refers to the tracked versions of Claas’ agricultural machinery. Until recently, Terra Trac was only available on the Lexion combine harvester, the Jaguar forage harvester and the Axion tractor. Now, a new Terra Trac is available in the shape of the Xerion 12.

Claas dealer, Manns of Saxham, recently held a Terra Trac roadshow at R H Forrest in Suffolk, and Farmers Guide was invited to see and drive the Xerion 12 and Axion 900.

Tracks will spread the load of the machine over a greater surface area and are therefore much better for the soil. Less concentrated weight equals less compaction, and compaction has proven to be a serious problem with modern machines getting ever larger and heavier.

Soil compaction causes a reduction in pore spaces within the soil, oxygen deficiency, reduced micro-organisms and drainage problems, ultimately leading to reduced yields. While compaction is reversable, avoiding it in the first place will save both time and money.

Axion 900

The Axion 900 has been around for a few years and uses Claas’ traditional Terra Trac system of two wheels and an oval track, or ‘flat track’ as Claas calls it. This system is like that seen on the Claas combine and forager ranges with some modifications for cultivation draft work, such as a larger rear drive wheel.

A combine or forager will have equal-sized idler wheels, as it is designed more around carrying its weight vertically, whereas the Axion has the additional need to pull weight horizontally, hence the slightly larger rear drive wheel. The flat track system works as a friction drive unit and is particularly compatible in this horsepower category, with up to 445hp available.

The Axion 900 comes with 4-point cab suspension, Claas’ CMATIC continuously variable transmission and, in the Terra Trac version, delivers a claimed 15% more traction, 35% more contact area with the soil, and 50% less soil pressure than the wheeled version of the same machine. It also promises more flexibility in the choice of implements as the steering does not generate any lateral movement at the rear, so no side loading is transmitted to the implement.

The Xerion 12

The Xerion 12 was launched to some overseas markets around 18 months ago, but here in the UK we have had to wait a little while longer while Brexit-related road homologations issues have been overcome. The upside to this, of course, is that any early teething problems have been eliminated and the machines coming into the UK now are very much snag-free.

The Xerion 12 series is an extension to the long running range of wheeled high-output tractors that have been on offer since the late 1990s. The model on test in Suffolk was the Xerion 12.650, which, as the name suggests, offers 653hp. There is also a 12.590 model available with 585hp. The Xerion 12 is a new machine from the ground up with everything made bigger, but the Xerion DNA is still obvious.

The driveline comprises a 15.6-litre, six-cylinder Mercedes engine that, on the 650 version, produced 3,100nm of torque (2,850mm on the 12.590), which then goes through the constantly variable transmission. This delivers an easy and smooth drive when your implement is in the ground, and completely eliminates any ‘whip’ that you might get when changing gear with a traditional gearbox, and subsequently any wear that the ‘whip’ can cause on various components.

The obvious difference between this machine and any other Claas Terra Trac model is the triangular track drive system. These have been designed specifically to put large amounts of power to the ground and to pull big cultivators, and are unique in the Claas line-up to these two new models.

The Xerion 12 series has been designed as a field-based lugging tractor. There are no reverse drive options, no tool carriers… What you see is what you get. The two Xerion models mentioned are also sold as wheeled versions elsewhere in the world, but for the UK market they will only be available in Terra Trac configuration, largely due to the fact that putting 650hp through wheels required a dual wheel set up which makes them 5.5m wide and therefore not right for the UK market.

The tracked Xerion 12 can be used on the road, as it is within 3m width, and is said to be surprisingly nimble when used like this, despite its size.

New drive unit

Patrick Frawley, product manager for high horsepower tractors at Claas UK, talked through the design of the Xerion 12. “At the top of the triangle you have your large drive idler. We don’t use a friction drive system here due to the amount of power we are putting through it. Instead, we use a positive drive system whereby the track has lugs on the inside that locate into cut-outs on the drive wheel.

“One of the key benefits of the Claas design over other triangular systems on the market is that we have the tightest angle on the top of the triangle. What this means is that we have the greatest number of lugs located in the drive idler at any one time – eight and a half to be exact. Because we have a rigid frame, rather than an articulated chassis, we can use a straight, fixed driveshaft rather than one that needs to articulate with the chassis and the problems that that brings with this amount of power. This increases simplicity and reliability.

“The lack of articulation also brings other benefits such as integrating the exhaust and the air intake into the frame using space that would have to be kept clear in an articulated machine. This means that we don’t need to run the exhaust up the side of the cab helping to improve all-round visibility. It also means that overall, the Xerion 12 is a little shorter than an articulated machine, although it does mean it is also a little higher, which I see as an advantage as height allows you to look down, rather than across your implement. So, when using something like a cultivator, the operator can look down into the frame and see what more of the legs are doing.

“We have four track steering, as well as 10-degree forwards and 10-degree backwards movement on the pivot, which is around double what you would see on any other triangular track unit on the market. This in turn allows us to have a completely flat belt which means that the belt running along the bottom of the triangle is flat to the ground. The front and rear lower idlers are carried on separate arms with the front idler weight supported by a rubber silent block to reduce the effect of any bumps being driven over. This means that the drive unit is not fully suspended, like our flat tracks, but neither is it fully rigid, like some other triangular tracks. This sits somewhere in between.”

It’s all about the weight

Other notable features of the new model include the positioning of the fuel tank. With an articulated machine this would normally be placed over the rear axle, but Claas has again used the rigid chassis to its advantage and placed a tank behind the cab, and another behind the steps below the cab, both inside the wheelbase of the machine, close to the centre of gravity and helping to maintain that 50:50 weight distribution. Together, these tanks will hold 1,400 litres of fuel.

The base weight of the machine, without an attachment or any additional ballast is 25,500kg, which makes it good for high-speed discing, high speed tilling and drilling etc. As the machine starts working the ground and the speed drops to around 12kph, you can add 1,800kg on the front. Work a bit deeper or wider, and at speeds of around 9–10kph, and you can add another 400kg on the front. If you need to work at subsoiling depths of around 16in, with a 6 or 7m wide attachment, you can add a further 1,000kg on the rear, bringing the maximum weight up to 28,700kg. The ballast can be added or removed singlehanded with pallet tines in around 15 minutes.

In the cab

Claas has equipped the Xerion 12 with a purpose-built tractor cab, rather than using an existing combine cab. The seat comes with 40-degree of swivel in either direction, providing almost 90 degrees of rotation in total for additional comfort and visibility.

At the headland, this large machine is very sprightly in the turns thanks to the Claas dynamic steering system, with just small amounts of wheel input delivering good turning angles. In fact, it’s somewhat surprising just how tightly the Xerion 12 can manoeuvre. When turning, the rear tracks turn less than the front tracks, unless you spec the machine without a rear linkage, in which case all four tracks move equally.

Driving the Xerion 12 is child’s play. Just engage the AB line, drop the cultivator and tap cruise control and you can stretch out in that spacious cab while the technology does all the work. You don’t need to think about gear changes, and there is no possibility of stalling the engine as the CVT transmission just effortlessly delivers the right power to the tracks all the time.

The ride is smooth with the four-point cab suspension and semi suspended track system taking out the bumps in the field brilliantly. During our test drive we were pulling a 6m Horsch Fortis AS set at 10in deep and typically saw fuel burn of around 70 litres per hour and a work rate of 7.5ha per hour at a speed of 12kph.

Whilst the Xerion 12 has four track steering, when it is locked onto the AB line the rear tracks are fixed and the steering is just undertaken by the front tracks, which removes any twitchiness that you might experience with an articulated machine.

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The S7-850 and the X9-1100 are two of John Deere’s latest combine models, incorporating the newest technology to ensure the operator gets the best from their harvest every time.

Welcoming guests to a recent open day, Ben Burgess harvesting manager, Paul Moss, explained: “We have two pre-production machines with the latest technology, software and electrical architecture and thought it would be a great opportunity to have a field day where customers could come along and see them in action, and discover what this new technology could do for them.”

Both the S7-850 and the X9-1100 working at the event were model year 2025 machines.

New technology suite

John Deere combine marketing for Europe, Jonathan Edwards, delved further into the specifications. “Both models have predictive ground speed automation and harvest settings automation which is the new technology suite for the X9 and S7.

“The Harvest Settings automation replaces the previous combine advisor suite which featured auto maintain, where the operator would set a performance target but which still required the skill set to make the necessary adjustments to ensure the combine achieved that target.

“However, with the Harvest Settings automation, you put in the acceptable limits that you are happy with, and the software will constantly adjust settings as required to ensure it stays within the target.”

The Predictive Ground Speed part of the technology uses cameras and biomass maps to work out the optimum harvesting speed based on crop density, and will speed up or slow down the combine as required to keep the results within the specified target.

It will still look at loss level variator or rotor pressure, as it has done historically, as well as other sensor information, header height and coverage map information, which tells it where it has already cut the crop.

The S7 800, S7 850 and S7 900 models feature the JD14X 14-litre engine from the X9 in the 547hp, 579hp and 625hp versions respectively, while the smallest model – the S7 700 – has the JD9X 9-litre engine producing 467hp.

The S7 range also has an updated residue management system and an increased unload rate of 150-litres per second, and can be equipped with the machine sync system for easier unloading. They can also have auto track turn automation and grain sensing.

“The new electronic architecture is the foundation for more automation and steps towards autonomy,” commented Jonathan. “If, for any reason, the cameras can’t see, then the system will revert to just using the biomass maps. But with the combine lights fitted to these models, the cameras will also work at night. They can see things such as down crop, which the biomass maps won’t detect, so they work most efficiently together, but can work independently, if required. The key aims of these new machines are increased productivity and efficiency.”

Hardware behind the tech

John Deere harvesting territory sales manager, Mike Baker, showed Farmers Guide the hardware behind the technology and talked in more detail about how it comes together to deliver better performance and an easier time for the operator.

“We have put a lot of focus into the new cab and technology, as well as the two new engines that you will find in the S7 models.

“The JD14X engine has been designed from the ground up, which has allowed us to simplify it and still meet emission standards. Getting an existing engine to meet new standards usually requires adding complex systems. We have been able to reduce the complexity in areas such as the exhaust after treatment system. We have also seen a huge increase in fuel efficiency over the older John Deere 13.5-litre engine that was in previous models. Another benefit of this is that the AdBlue usage is also reduced. The old 13.5-litre engine was designed to be Stage 2 compliant and had to be modified to bring it up to Stage 5.

“This latest engine has been designed from scratch as a Stage 5; so much of what we have learnt about emissions control has been built in from the start. This brings the added benefit of lower build prices, and increased reliability due to lower levels of complexity. It’s all about adding value in the right places and increasing efficiency.”

Operating at optimum efficiency

Mike explained that you could be the best combine driver in the country, but with all the other distractions – whether that’s calls from the farm manager, managing logistics or thinking about other jobs that need to be planned and carried out – even the most skilled operator pays a little bit less attention to the job in hand than they should, leaving the combine operating below its optimum efficiency.

“This is where our Harvest Settings automation and Predictive Ground Speed automation come into play,” he said.

There are cameras on the clean grain elevator and the return elevator to monitor the cleanliness of the grain and what type of material is going through the return, and also to monitor the losses from the back of the combine. This information is fed back to the machine, which will make automatic adjustments to ensure the pre-programmed parameters are being met at all times.

Mike continued: “Previously, if the sample was too dirty, or the losses were too high, it required a good skill level and lots of experience for the operator to know what changes to make to bring things back in line. Now it’s just a matter of dialling in an acceptable number and the technology will do the rest.”

The operator has four parameters to programme in: Engine power limit, lost grain limit, broken grain limit, and material other than grain. Obviously changing one, is likely to have a knock-on effect to the others but, with each limit set, the machine will adjust and keep things within the requirements. The key is to have the machine doing the least amount of work, and therefore using less fuel, for the maximum output.

“There is always an optimum performance level, and it is interesting to see the combine making the changes. Sometimes you will see a change in a particular parameter and think, ‘I’m not sure I would have done that’, but then you see the sample quality remaining high, or even getting better, and you realise that the technology works in ways that even a skilled operator would find hard to replicate,” commented Mike.

The predictive ground speed technology uses four forward facing cameras and biomass map satellite imagery to adjust the combine speed proactively, rather than reactively, according to the density of the crop ahead.

The S7 also has new rotary management, so the chopper design now matches the X series. This means that the knives are now dimpled for better airflow through the chopper, rather than the straight knives that created a vortex; and like a golf ball they cut through the air cleaner, meaning you get less straw moving through the chopper for a cleaner sample.

In the field

Farmers Guide took a ride in the X9 to see how the autonomous features work from the operator’s perspective. The cab is noticeably quiet. The seat swivels, is air controlled and offers a massaging function and, with air conditioning, the cab provides a comfortable place to work.

All screens, controls and switches are well placed and easy to operate with numerous rocker switches that can be customised for each operator’s preference.

The display allows easy setting of the limits for grain loss, cleanliness of the sample, broken grain and engine power limits with a graph for visual reference.

The software can be set up to be grain specific but also country and even region specific. As the software makes changes to the machine settings, the setting being adjusted changes colour so you can see exactly what the software is amending, as it happens.

The display will also show a predictive yield map and actual yields being achieved – on the day of the event, yields approached 100t per hour regularly.

You can feel the combine speed up and slow down as the crop ahead thins out or becomes denser.

The machine even sensed areas of black-grass and slowed down when it reached them. With an A/B line set, during the demo the operator had little to do apart from turning on the headlands, which can also be automated, and monitoring the levels in the grain tank.

The emptying process was very quick, going from a full 16,200 litres to empty in under two minutes.

At the end, the display will tell you how long you have worked, how many hectares harvested, how many are remaining if you haven’t finished, fuel usage, average throughput, average yield, and even how long you have left to finish the field, which Mike commented is surprisingly accurate. These figures can help with decision making on the farm in terms of working out why one field may yield better than another in terms of drilling time and weather, chemical application or any other variables you may have between fields.

“What you can’t do in farming is buy more time. You can only be as efficient as possible in the time available, and these systems achieve that.

“They are basically like your best machine operator, all of the time. And this all adds up to between 10 and 20%, sometimes even 30%, increase in performance, which is like getting an extra week of combining over a 200-hour season,” concluded Mike.

Specs

S7

• Models: 700, 800, 850, 900
• Engine: 9-litre in 700, 13.6-litre in other models
• Engine power: 467, 547, 579 and 625hp
• Grain tank: 14,100 or 10,600-litre
• Unloading rate: 150-litres per second
• Fuel tank capacity: 1,155-litre
• Unloading auger length: 6.9 or 8.7m

X9

• Models: 1000, 1100
• Engine: 13.6-litre
• Engine power: 630 and 690hp
• Grain tank: 14,800 and16,200-litre
• Unloading rate: 162 and 186 litres per second
• Fuel capacity: 1,250 litres
• Unloading auger length: 9.45m

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Among the latest products to be unveiled were no fewer than five new Disco large-scale mowers, two swathers, a baler and four tedders.

Claas also took the gathered media on a tour of its factory site and explained how, for the past two years, it has been undergoing extensive restructuring and expansion to increase its production capabilities, and gave an insight into developments within the world of autonomous harvesting.

Disco large-scale mowers

For a quarter of a century, Claas claims to have been setting the standard in large-scale mowers when it comes to area output, durability and efficiency. To mark the anniversary, it has launched five new mower products consisting of four new mower-conditioner combination units and a single XXL mower. This means that Claas now offers a huge range of mower combinations with working widths ranging from 8.3m right up to 10.8m.

Entry level mowers for smaller tractors

The new Disco 8500 C Trend and 8500 RC Trend entry-level models bring some of the tried and tested features of the larger mowers in smaller working widths. This makes them ideally suited for tractors in the lower–mid range, with short wheelbase and power output from 160hp. The focus therefore was on the stable, lightweight construction, with a centre of gravity close to the tractor, and a low rotational and tractive power requirement.

The basic spec includes the proven telescopic arm concept, Active Float ground pressure – adjustable from the cab – and the fast-acting non-stop collision protection that pivots the arm over an obstacle before automatically resetting.

These models can be operated at just 850rpm and incorporate drive protection for each mowing unit, featuring the latest Walterscheid overload clutches. The C model boasts a tine conditioner, while the RC model has a roller conditioner. The latter of these can be fitted with an optional double roller drive with a scissor gear unit.

The conditioner plate incorporates Hardox reinforcement for extra durability while saving weight. Further weight savings have been made by doing away with the LS hydraulic blocks and hydraulic collision protection, which also reduces the purchase price.

High output, lower fuel consumption

The 9.3m Disco 9300 C Comfort and 9300 RC Comfort models are the next step up from the 8500 series and offer many of the same features. In addition, the V-shaped steel tines of the 9300 C model are designed to deliver higher throughputs with reduced fuel consumption.

Suitable for tractors of 180hp and upwards, both models are easy to adjust when it comes to conditioning intensity and deposition width.

The Comfort models can be equipped with optional automatic control of the Active Float system. When working on slopes, the ground pressure – a key factor determining forage quality, sward protection, power requirement and slope safety – can be individually adjusted on each side using the optional automatic slope system. This eases the driver’s workload and, says Claas, ensures consistently high results at all times.

Largest mower has increased working width

The largest model in the Disco range now has a 10.8m working width, up from 10.7m thanks to an increase in the arm’s adjustment range. The working width can also be reduced hydraulically or in synchronisation. Despite its large working width, the whole unit folds to a height of under 4m for road transport. As well as hydraulically controlled lifting, lowering and width adjustment, the unit can also be automatically adjusted using the programmable headland management system.

Faster, efficient baling and wrapping

The Rollant and the Rollant Uniwrap have been popular models of baler and baler-wrapping machines for many years.

The Rollant 630 RC Uniwrap incorporates much of the tried and tested technology from the previous existing models, but with added features to improve on its design and functionality. It combines good ground clearance with a low centre of gravity and has been strengthened in the important areas such as chassis frame, drive shafts, drive chains and rear tailgate mounting for improved durability.

It also offers a larger chain oil container, now holding 7.2-litres, for reduced maintenance and longer service life. To satisfy the demand for ever increasing bale weights, the frame and tipping cradle have been redesigned to be more stable and to allow adjustable bale diameter from 1.25m to 1.35m.

An optional Maximum Pressure System Plus, or MPS Plus for short, can be added to the Rollant. This pivoting 3-roller segment in the tailgate provides extra pressure to produce better compaction throughout the bale. The pressure supplied is controllable from the cab and can be adjusted between 60 and 120-Bar.

For bale wrapping, the 630 RC can use either net or film and, using technology adopted from the Uniwrap 400, it utilises a hydraulic brake on the wrapping table for reduced film consumption.

The wrapping drive operates at 36rpm, which speeds up the wrapping process, allowing the 630 to add six layers of wrap, with a 52% overlap, to a bale in just 23 seconds. There is also storage for up to 12 replacement rolls of film beneath a large maintenance flap where it is kept both clean and dry.

Swathing with or without a conditioner

Designed for dairy farms that do not need a conditioner because they require longer wilting processes or have less powerful tractors, the Disco 9300 Direct Swather is a large-scale mower offering full-width deposition for fast, effective wilting, integrated central swathing for effective field clearance, 18m mowing width consolidated to 12m swath and mowing with one-sided swath laying for clearing the field margin.

Without the conditioner, the Direct Swather can be operated with tractors from 180hp and is suitable for all crop types and conditions.

The tapered auger is placed close and parallel to the mowing discs to ensure consistent and reliable crop pick-up, even when the growth is uneven. Blockage of the auger outlet is prevented by a shear bar and knives. The top mounted auger drive enables the auger to be swung open hydraulically, allowing the unprocessed crop to be deposited across the full mowing width and can be swung open or closed individually or together via Isobus, even while mowing.

The Disco 9300 C Auto Swather uses a conventional steel tine conditioner to pick up the crop and feed it to the cross-conveyor belt that produces an airy and uniform swath. The resultant swath wilts quickly, even with dense crops and short periods of fair weather.

Manufacturing processes have been optimised for durability, while keeping the weight down, with laser welding and Hardox reinforced components and new drive rollers reduce noise levels for improved operator comfort. It also has a new stand design enabling easier attachment and removal while delivering space-saving storage in the folded position.

The Auto Swather Disco 9300 requires a tractor with an output of 400hp or more but produces a swath of a quality that requires lower power down the harvest chain. As with all Disco mowers, the 9300 models come with a Max Cut mower bed and Active Float suspension, and like all large-scale mowers the side arms have either mechanical or hydraulic non-stop collision protection.

More power and wider working width

The Claas tedder range already covers working widths from 4.5m up to 13m and now, with the launch of four new Volto models, they go all the way up to 15m.

The new models are the 1300T, 1300TS, 1500T and 1500TS. The new 13m and 15m models are available with a self-steering chassis (TS version) or without (T version). All four models feature a new frame and chassis concept, with optimal ground-contour following and soil protection, while offering simple operation and folding.

The new chassis comes with a wide axle and large tyres, to minimise rolling movements and deliver smooth and safe road travel, as well as a compact width, length and height when folded for improved rear visibility and manoeuvring.

They also come with a completely redesigned and stronger Permalink drive that delivers more power for less torque, due to an increase in shaft speed by 50%, and has been engineered for continuous peak performance across the full working width. A redesigned Permalink HD finger clutch and modular, oil filled rotor drives are unique features that set these models apart from others on the market.

All new models feature Max Spread technology with spreader arms angled at 29.3 degrees for optimum spread and a cleaner rake even in damp conditions or in heavy crops.

The 1300 models have 12 x 1.5m rotors and six spreading arms, while the 1500 models have 14 rotors. The spreading angle can be adjusted from 12 to 16 degrees on the rotors without tools and the raking height is adjusted centrally with a crank handle on the chassis frame.

From highly automated to autonomous forage harvesting

Speaking about how Claas defines the future route to autonomy, Magnus Rupp, project manager within the Claas Business Unit for Tractors and Implements broke agricultural development down into three eras: Mechanical, where machinery was developed to replace manual labour; Automation, where driver assistance technology such as Isobus and GPS steering lead on to hands-off co-pilot technology, such as the Claas CEMOS for tractors and combines or Active Float for mowers; and finally, full Autonomy, with the development of machines such as the AgXeed tractor or robotic milking machines, that are completely hands- and eyes-off, and can be operated from a distance.

The use of autonomy within a forage harvesting system does, however, throw up its own challenges, especially in regards to the larger working widths of mowers, tedders and rakes.

Added to this is the fact that grassland fields tend to be more variable in terms of size, contour and inclines, and experience wider environmental conditions. Another consideration is the higher risk of wildlife hiding in the sward.

As part of its path towards full autonomy, Claas is working with various outside partners to help develop features and functions that lay the foundations for full autonomy.

This includes work with companies such as Thermal Drones to develop technology that can identify wildlife, or inanimate objects such as manhole covers, in fields ahead of autonomous mowing so these can be avoided.

In the future, this technology will not  only be used on autonomous machines, such as the AgXeed, but also with autonomously driven tractors and harvesters that follow a previously planned route but have a driver and steering system.

Working in the field during the event was an AgXeed AgBot 2.055 W4 paired with a Claas Volto 1300T tedder. “While in practice this is fairly straightforward to prepare, the reality is a little different,” explained Philip Kamps, product manager for AgXeed.

“Thanks to job and lane planning, the use of the tedder is relatively easy to prepare, and the overview of the surroundings is very good thanks to the mown crop. Nevertheless, some work is still needed before the fully autonomous tedder with a large working width can be used commercially on a large scale. For this, the entire area in front of the implement must be secured by sensors.

“To achieve the goal of uncompromising work quality, the complex automation of parameters such as driving speed and rotor speed, as well as monitoring the spread pattern, are also required, which currently does not allow for guaranteed economic use,” adds Magnus.

“Until then, further automated work and functional processes will be incorporated into the forage harvesting chain, thereby easing the burden on the driver, and some of these solutions are already available on the market.” As to when we will see fully autonomous machinery harvesting grass, Magnus suggested this could still be “at least 10 years away”.

Roadmap for the future

With the product portfolio continuously developing and products becoming larger, more complex and more intelligent, the Claas Bad Saulgau production and assembly site has been undergoing a programme of expansion and restructuring over the last two years.

Operating under the codename ForageGO!, the site will see over €50m of investment in plant infrastructure and production facilities by 2025. The improved facilities will include a new 9,500m2 logistics centre, the roof of which will be covered with a 950kWp solar panel array.

The site, which employs around 800 people, is the Claas Group’s centre of excellence for forage harvesting, and the first phase of the project saw the production of Volto tedders and Jaguar crop flow modernised and transferred to a new assembly hall.

Site manager and managing director of Claas Saulgau GmbH, Uli Nickol, explained: “This phase makes a major milestone on our roadmap and lays the foundation for future growth.”

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Specialist potato harvesting machinery manufacturer, AVR has been producing self-propelled 4-row potato harvesters since 1975, and launched the Puma in 2006. Now on the fourth generation, the Puma remains the showpiece of the AVR range, with more than 550 units sold since its launch.

The heavy-duty and user-friendly machine can process up to 100 tonnes of potatoes per hour and can even continue working in wet weather conditions. With the Puma 4.0, the digging unit can also be converted for harvesting carrots or picking up onions.

Optionally, the machine can also digitally link with the online AVR Connect platform for increased efficiency. AVR Connect is an online reporting tool for machine activities, and records machine data, both on and off the field. The data it provides allows for a more effective use of the machine, such as applying precision farming techniques.

Exceeding expectations

Robin Griffiths is a potato grower from Shropshire. Farming around 1,000ha, Robin has been using his Puma for four seasons, having acquired it in 2021 to replace a different brand.

“It’s fantastic,” Robin commented. “It has good balance, does everything it should, is not too complex, performs very well, and is noticeably fuel efficient. It has met all my expectations, and then some.

“I also have a great relationship with the manufacturing team. They are farmers themselves and are therefore in touch with what I need from a machine like this.”

Although Robin has primarily dealt directly with the manufacturer and the support teams in Belgium and the Netherlands, local dealer TR Machinery has also offered invaluable back-up.

“When I bought the Puma, it was the first model of the latest generation harvester to be available in the UK and we suffered a minor teething problem which required a replacement part.

“Between the local dealer and the team in Belgium, the required part was located in Belgium, delivered to the UK and put in a taxi so that I had it in my hands the very next day. I really couldn’t have asked for more.”

In the field

“The Puma is a beautiful machine with a comfortable cab, which all the operators appreciate. It is so quiet that when I call them, that I can’t even hear the machine in the background and conversations can be held at normal levels. It also has a great camera system.”

Robin and his team of operators find the Puma to be very stable, and he says it operates at an impressive speed in the field.

He aims to harvest around 500t/day at peak times, and comments that the Puma will achieve 400 tonnes comfortably, so he has no complaints about performance at all. But what’s more impressive, Robin reckons, is the wide range of conditions the Puma can operate in.

“It has a very broad bandwidth when it comes to the weather. We had extremely wet ground throughout 2023 and particularly dry conditions in 2022 and it dealt with both satisfactorily with no damage. The machine has been refined in Europe for years, and is shipped all over the world where it will experience just about every type of weather and ground conditions, so it has been tested and proven in just about every combination we could throw at it.”

Data collaboration

Robin has not experienced AVR Connect as he bought a lower-spec machine, but has already decided that he’ll go with the option on his next Puma purchase. “I like the idea of the historical data it can provide, as well as fertiliser and GPS data.

“In Europe, farmers appear to be more collaborative when it comes to sharing this sort of information. In the UK we are less so, but I would definitely like to see a more collaborative approach adopted here.”

Future plans

While he’s aware that the Puma 4.0 is a versatile machine, Robin doesn’t have the need to convert it for alternative crops. “I don’t harvest carrots or onions, so I haven’t tested its ability in this area. I know others who do and would be happy to do so myself, if needed. Overall, it’s fair to say that I am very happy with the Puma 4.0. I hear there is a Puma 5.0 being worked on and will be very interested to see what changes they make, and what new features it brings because, as far as I’m concerned, they have got it just about spot on with the current model,” Robin concludes.

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When arable farmer Oliver Stennet, a partner in Culford Lodge Farm, decided it was time to buy a new slurry tank, he already had a very good idea of what features and functions he wanted, along with the prerequisites of quality, reliability and durability – and was prepared to invest in the best possible option in order to meet these requirements.

Veenhuis had previously been on Oliver’s radar, so he approached Tim Merrell, director of Suffolk-based Veenhuis dealer, Agri Industry Solutions Ltd, to find out what the options were.

Working with the customer

“When Olly was looking to replace his tanker, he had been considering a Veenhuis for some time, so we went to Agritechnica in Germany with him,” Tim Merrell explains.

“At the show, we sat down in front of the Veenhuis big screen configurator while Olly put his ideal spec together, talking through his requirements with us as he went. This allowed us to produce the exact machine that Olly required, built specifically for him to meet all his needs.

“Veenhuis have been producing bespoke tanks for nearly 80 years, so there is almost nothing they haven’t previously been asked for.”

The slurry tank range consists of four versions, from the basic Ecoline to the Premiumline ranges, with multiple axle options and tank capacities up to 30,000 litres. Although the entry level models are a more affordable option, Veenhuis will not compromise on the features that it thinks are important; for example, the company has never offered a splashplate so, while other manufacturers are having to adapt their equipment to carry a dribble bar or injector, Veenhuis has been doing it for years, explains Tim.

“Some of the equipment that Veenhuis consider to be standard, is not always required in the UK – so the basic range allows them to ‘dumb down’ their offering to keep costs down where those features are not required. While Veenhuis products are top end, they work hard to give the customer not only a very durable and reliable machine, but also as bespoke a product as reasonably possible.”

The decision-making process

Oliver comments: “At Agritechnica, the build quality of the Veenhuis really stood out. I spent over two hours with the specialist rep on the stand, and the knowledge he had about the product, and his enthusiasm for the machine, was astonishing. This, along with speaking to an existing Veenhuis user, who had been running their tank for around eight trouble-free years, gave me the confidence in the longevity and reliability of the product.

“The problem we have is that the spreading window is so tight that we simply cannot afford any down time as we need to spread around 180,000 tonnes. The unit does also have a hard time on our tracks, so investing in top-end build quality for robustness was an easy choice. “What we really like, too, is the ability to upgrade software features and functions as and when they become available.”

Of course, getting things right can take time, and for Oliver this meant it took around two years to get exactly what he wanted, from design to delivery. “We went through the options several times to ensure we were getting a machine that would last us for at least 10 years and be as future-proof as possible,” he explains.

Fine-tuning the spec

“We really wanted a top loading arm, as that is what we are set up for and it works well for our lagoons,” Oliver told Farmers Guide. “We have around 1,000 hectares with no roads, and switch between running to field from the lagoon or being fed from tanks. This is the reason we chose a 30t machine over a 20t model.

“It is very quick to load, taking around six minutes from the lagoon and possibly slightly faster when loading from a tank.

For the application, Oliver chose a Vogelsang 24m dribble bar. “We considered the 36m option, but with all our other equipment being 24m, it would have cost a substantial amount in tanker and boom upgrades, so it made sense to stick at 24m. I was originally looking at a positive slot dribble bar, but realised it couldn’t be used in an up position and therefore could not spread from height, which we require for some of our operations.

“The Vogelsang dribble bar is a ’best of both worlds’ solution that allows us to slot inject (albeit not quite as aggressively), as well as spread from height.

“It is claimed that, especially on early spring crops, it gives better contact with the ground to reduce volatilisation. We also wanted to ensure it folded up for travel, but in such a way that it didn’t spill if we take it on the road.”

Double pump set-up

The double pump set-up brings various benefits. “It’s a completely sealed tank, and uses a vacuum pump to start the loading process, while the bulk is loaded using a centrifugal pump.

“The vacuum pump can also be used to purge the lines at the end of work. This is important with digestate, as on warm days it can dry in the lines and cause blockages if not cleared,” explains Oliver.

The centrifugal pump is also used for discharge, which Oliver reckons works much better than a vacuum pump on booms over 12m. As the vacuum pump is only used to start the initial filling process, and to clear lines at the end, the tank operates at a low enough pressure that it is exempt from pressure vessel testing.

Operator friendly

Although Oliver rarely uses the machinery himself, he is keen to ensure that his operators are happy with his choices. “We opted for full auto grease on the booms and the tank as, with around 60 grease points on the tank alone, it will save a lot of time.

“Veenhuis also runs hydraulic positive steering system with twin rams, one for each side, which is a big improvement over the cables on our previous tank that would get clogged with mud and delaminate or break, leaving us with steering issues. It takes a little more effort to initially set up, but once done we can just hook on and drop off in around 10 minutes, which means if we get an issue with one of our tractors, we can switch to the second very quickly.”

Range of spreading options

The farm uses different types of slurry and has different requirements for application density, Oliver explained: “This machine will spread down to around five tonnes per hectare, but we typically deliver in the region of 15–20 tonnes per hectare. Typical digestate analysis is around 3.5–4.5kg per tonne, so we deliver around 90kg per 20 tonne load, of which 80% is available to the crop. We can also use food waste, which allows us to run up to 250 tonnes per hectare when required. We store our own slurry on site which is typically produced from food waste and digestate.

“One of the features we looked at was the NIR sensor, which would give us real time data on slurry analysis. This would work well on the digestate, but the other products change regularly and are watery and weak, so we are not convinced it would give us a correct analysis. Instead, we send a sample into the lab for analysis every two or three weeks.”

Efficiency and environment

Overall, Oliver says he is very happy with his Veenhuis tanker and is an firm advocate for the benefits – both financial and environmental – it will continue to bring. “We have only had the Veenhuis on farm for around three weeks but have spread around 7,000 tonnes in that time. Before that we were using a Samson PG25 that we bought second hand and ran for around 10 years, so it was overdue for replacement.

“While it was a significant investment, the Veenhuis was purchased to reduce our usage of bagged fertiliser, and if we can reduce the amount of ammonium nitrates, ammonium sulphate and urea we buy the machine will, in effect, pay for itself in five or six years. This year, we are looking at buying only around 60 tonnes of bagged fertiliser for our 1,000 hectares. Obviously, there’s also an environmental benefit of reduced bagged fertiliser use too, making our operation much more sustainable,” Oliver concludes.

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Having enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Case IH, this was the third event of its kind that Fram Farmers has run at Bentwaters Park. Established 64 years ago, Fram Farmers is one of the UK’s oldest and largest farmer cooperatives. Based in Framlingham, it is owned by 1,600 members from across the UK.

Fram Farmers fuel and machinery expert, Gordon Cummings, commented: “Although primarily a buying group, Fram Farmers is so much more than that. We are also an advisory group offering advice on a broad range of farm related subjects through our panel of experts. In addition, we have grain, fertiliser and fuel pools so, for example, we can forward-purchase a large quantity of harvest fuel for our members.

“We have had a partnership with Case IH for the last 24 years, which gives our members a special deal on new Case IH products. Obviously, the dealer also plays a hugely important role in this relationship, and our largest machinery supplier by volume, is Ernest Doe Power. Together, we all work for the benefit of the most important person in all of this – the farmer, and the best way to bring it all together is by hosting an event like this where we can let farmers drive and experience the Case IH range for themselves.”

Farmers Guide caught up with Ed Perry, general sales manager for Ernest Doe Power, who explained the rationale behind the day from the dealer’s perspective. “Case IH and Ernest Doe Power have worked with Fram Farmers for a long time. We wanted to give their members, as well as non-members, an opportunity to see the whole range of tractors that we have available – especially the new long wheelbase Puma and the Optum range, which we believe could rival anything else on the market.

“It’s called Arrive & Drive for a reason – and by getting farmers behind the wheel, they can experience first-hand what these tractors can do.”

Featured line-up

The highest hp machine featured on the day was the 580 Powershift QuadTrac, while the lowest hp model was the 90hp Farmall. In between, visitors could try out a Magnum in both wheeled and tracked versions, a couple of examples from the Optum range, and the Puma in both long and short wheelbase versions. The Puma has had a recent redesign which includes the cab upgrade that it shares with the Optum along with a new, larger 260hp engine.

There were also models from the Maxxum and Vestrum ranges, as well as the compact Farmall. Alongside these were a specialist fruit and vineyard tractor from the Quantum series, and a couple of examples of Case IH’s Farmlift telehandler.

Ed Perry commented: “We are very excited about the new long wheelbase Puma with its larger engine. The Puma range is a real ‘bread and butter’ tractor for us and is very popular in the arable-focused East Anglian region.

“The new cab, currently found on the long wheelbase version but soon to be added to the short wheelbase model, is a great development in terms of space and comfort. The Puma, together with the versatile Optum range are key products for Ernest Doe Power.”

Speaking post-event, Ed commented: “The day went very well – Fram Farmers, Case IH and our Framlingham branch, along with the EDP demo team put on an excellent event.

“We had fine weather for a change, which did unfortunately keep some customers away, but a lot of key customers did attend and took advantage of the opportunity to drive the full range of Case IH products, as well as talk to the Case IH product specialists and our own staff. All-in-all, it was a great success.”

Taking over the reins

Tom Sagen and Oli Beckerlegge from Colchester-based arable contracting company W Bradshaw and Sons were visiting just to take a look at the latest Case IH equipment, with a particular interest in seeing the 380 on tracks. Tom is taking over the reins from Oli in the near future, and currently runs a Case IH 230 tractor, two Fendts and a Case IH combine on their Fordham, Braintree and Great Bardfield farms.

Latest offerings

David Forde, an arable famer from St Osyth, currently uses a Valtra tractor on his 200ha farm. David told Farmers Guide: “I’ve come for a day out and to have a look at the latest offerings from Case IH. They have a very good range and the new ones look impressive. I’m not in the market right now, but will be looking for a replacement soon so it’s good to see what Case has to offer. It all comes down to price, at the end of the day.”

Pleased with Case IH

George Howe has recently started contracting in the north Essex and south Suffolk area. “We do a bit of anything that comes our way, including spraying, harvesting, tilling,” he told Farmers Guide. George has recently taken delivery of a Case IH 240 and has put around 200 hours on it to date.

“It is going really well, and I am very happy with both the tractor and the excellent backup up we have received from sales manager Paul at Ernest Doe at Sudbury,” he said. When making his purchasing decision, George said he liked the simplicity and ease of use, the back-up and great working relationship that dealing with a family-run dealership provides, as well as the versatility of the model chosen. “It will do every job that I need it to do. Before starting the contracting business, I had been driving John Deere and Fendt tractors but, as good as they were, I think the Case is my favourite. I am mainly here today to have a look at the range and support the guys that have been so supportive to me.”

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A number of machines were put through their paces, including the 6m Spirit seed drill and the well-known Tempo, which was drilling maize on the day. The team also demonstrated a 5m Top Down combination cultivator with newly-added E-Services.

At the top of the field, the 12.4m NZ Extreme – one of the biggest cultivators available – was put to work, pulled by a John Deere 8RX, while a Cultis HD425 cultivator performed well in the damp soil.

A Carrier XT625 disc cultivator was also in operation.

However, it was Väderstad’s prototype Proceed 6m drill which really got the attention of those attending.

Väderstad sales and marketing manager, Andy Gamble, discussed the various machines being put to work at the event: “The Tempo is a market leader in the UK, due to the fact that it’s a faster and more accurate planter.

“The NZ Extreme 12m seedbed cultivator was launched a couple of years ago, but is already proving itself in the field.

“The Top Down may not be new, but now our E-Services technology has been added. This is quite revolutionary, as it’s the first time we have put electronics on a cultivator, which allows you to map depths around the field, and it will alter the depth as you go, according to the map. This means, for example, that you can have deeper headlands or tramlines and it will adjust automatically for complete depth control.

“You also still have manual control from the cab, so if you think there is a hard spot, you can override the auto function and manually change the depth – without leaving the cab. Before, the operator would have had to get out of the cab and manually adjust the depth with spacers each time a change was needed.”

Andy went on to explain: “Although we don’t bring out lots of new products, when we do we like it to be revolutionary. With the Tempo we couldn’t just build a new model – it had to be better and faster. The Proceed is another example of Väderstad pushing the boundaries. It allows us to use a Tempo unit at 250 row spaces for precision drilling. By doing this, trials have indicated that seed and fertiliser rates can both be reduced by around 30%.”

Introducing the Proceed

Väderstad regional sales manager Nick Tinker explained some of the details and technical specs of the new Proceed: “It’s basically two Tempo TPVs hung under a main frame with a metering unit straight off the Tempo, but with a central fill that allows it to drill pretty much anything.

“From the central storage, the seeds are fed into a chamber where there are no electronics. The seed is carried by air down to the standard Tempo unit where it enters the back of the planting unit and is fed around to the seed pipe. The same air pressure then fires it down the pipe.

“The Tempo was originally developed for sunflowers but was then trialled with maize, sugar beet, OSR, peas and beans. Logic then dictated that we moved on to cereals. Once we had trialled it with a Tempo and proved it worked, we were happy to build it into the Proceed. Run as it is shown today, with everything on the ground, we could drill 22.5cm rows across the full 6m width of the machine. If you wanted to use it for maize or sugar beet, and you wanted 50cm rows, you can lift one bank out to operate it more like a traditional Tempo.” Although only currently available in a 6m version, there is a 12m model in development.

Following testing, Väderstad recommends a power requirement in the 240–250hp range.

“To use it for fertiliser you would need to add a front hopper, and we are currently using bits from other machines for that,” commented Nick. “In fact, anyone who knows their Väderstad equipment will notice that many of the parts used on the Proceed are used elsewhere in the range. The wheel frame is from a Carrier, the beam from a Top Down, there are two Tempos and the wheel packer features on a Rapid.

“The benefit, of course, is that all the parts are tried and tested. The Tempo has been around for 12 years, so we have every confidence in this new machine.

“The hopper size is currently 2,200 litres, but that may change. The 12m version will need a larger hopper, but you need to be mindful of the tractor on the front and the weight distribution.

“All disc drills need weight, which is why they are heavier than tine drills, but the benefit of that is that disc drills are generally more accurate at maintaining a consistent depth.

“The holy grail of drills is to be able to precision plant cereals and, although others have done it before, the output is historically quite slow. However, with the Proceed, speed is not an issue as air pressure maintains full control over the seed without any effect from gravity, slopes or vibration.

“There is still some ongoing development, but primarily this is in relation to the cosmetics. Farm scale trials have been conducted around Europe and enough crops have gone through it that we know that any design weaknesses have already been addressed and resolved,” Nick concluded.

Resounding success

Speaking to Farmers Guide post-event, Ben Burgess area sales manager, Ben Conway, commented: “Amid the challenges of coordinating logistics and ensuring the security of high-value equipment, our event was a resounding success. We extend our gratitude to the local farming family who provided a secure storage solution, safeguarding our Gen 4 & 5 screens and receivers.

“Our marketing team’s efforts and strategic social media presence culminated in a turnout of 200 potential clients – a result we are pleased with considering the late spring and recent inclement weather. The calm, bright, and dry day was ideal for showcasing our Väderstad machinery, including the premiere of the E-Services enabled 5m TopDown and the formidable 12.4m NZ Extreme.

“The 6m Tempo TPV drilling maize, along with the Cultis and Carrier XT cultivators, demonstrated their efficacy on a diverse 27ha field, kindly provided by Sentry Ltd. The event concluded with robust customer engagement and a swift order for the Carrier XT. We are immensely thankful to everyone who contributed to making the day a triumph.”

Hydraulic front disc depth control

Alan Coleman, a local contractor from Norfolk whose main enterprise is large square baling using a pair of Krone Big Pack 4×4 machines attended the day with his son. “We have had John Deere products in the past through Ben Burgess, although right now we are running Fendt,” commented Alan.

“We do have a Väderstad 4m Rapid drill, which replaced a rigid tine Vaderstad, and we are very happy with its performance. In fact, we can’t fault it. The hydraulic front disc depth control was a great feature. We use it on around 40–60 hectares. We are here just to have a look around today, with no specific plans to upgrade at this time.”

Better levelling ability

Rob Raven is a mixed farmer and farm manager on the Norfolk/Suffolk border with responsibility for around 2,800ha including combinable crops, potatoes, sugar beet, cattle and sheep. Rob is currently using a Väderstad Top Down and a Spirit drill and attended the event to take a look at the NZ Extreme, with a view of replacing a few older spring tine cultivators with one new one with better levelling ability.

Rob also currently runs a Horizon direct drill, a Dale tine drill and a Horsch CO. “Because I work across different farms, each come with their own kit and each with different land types. We have to deal with a fair bit of heavy land that requires direct drilling, but we also have some light land where conventional cultivation is needed. The weather this year has been challenging, but we are managing. We have finished spring drilling and what we have put in is coming up nicely. Autumn planting was challenging, and we didn’t get as much in the ground as we wanted – but it’s all been replaced now, and we are reasonably pleased with how it’s going.”

Moving into environmental schemes

Tony Watson and Sharon Wright farm next door to the demo day location, growing 160ha of maize, rye, barley and wheat, but are scaling down and moving more into environmental schemes under the SFI.

They are not currently using any Väderstad equipment but are customers of Ben Burgess through its John Deere dealership, and were attending to have a look at the range and see them in operation. “We are keen to have a look at the Top Down, as that is the sort of equipment that would suit our usage,” commented Tony.

Potential farm performance

Farmer Harry Williams and his partner Daisy Highland travelled up from Stonham, Suffolk where they work around 160ha of cereals, sugar beet and OSR. The main purpose of their visit was to see a demo of the Carrier, although the lighter soil at the demo site was possibly the wrong type to get a true representation of its potential performance on their farm.

They have run a Väderstad mounted box drill in the past, but are currently operating a Weaving Sabre tine which they are generally happy with; although when they experienced a dry harvest in 2022, it struggled to deal with the straw that hadn’t mulched.

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