Our new tractor has arrived.
It’s certainly very comfy, and seems to have lots of grunt, which I’m certain its primary driver Jack will respect, provided that he spends one of the best a part of 2,000 hours a 12 months in it.
See additionally: Mike Neaverson – New tractor costs make me hanker for previous package
In regards to the creator
Mike Neaverson
Farmlife opinion author
Mike is a potato farmer and unbiased agronomist from Lincolnshire. A former scholar columnist for Farmers Weekly, he had a 12 months farming in New Zealand, a few stints in Antarctica and 5 years working in administration for a giant farming firm. He got here again to South Lincs and arrange his personal firm in 2017, beginning his potato operation from scratch, and working solely on rented cropping licence land. His father is a 250ha tenant arable farmer and Mike can be concerned virtually in that enterprise.
I’ve pushed it for roughly six minutes and, so far as I can inform, the principle distinction from its predecessor is that it price considerably extra.
It’s additionally received matt-black rims and a few chrome trim on it too – which I’m instructed are cool – however had been I to use the identical styling to my pickup, then people would possibly effectively assume that I’ve industrial pursuits outwith the authorized definition of agriculture.
I sat for 5 of my six minutes attempting to determine which sequence of small buttons and touchscreens I needed to press with a purpose to assign the hydraulic couplings to {the electrical} switches to tip the load of pig muck on the again and I used to be imagining what my grandfather would have product of the scenario.
“My tractor used to have a giant lever to try this,” he would have mentioned. And it was about then that I realised I’d assigned the proper spool to the mistaken change and was about to deposit 12 tonnes of porcine guano in the midst of the yard.
So I briefly hankered after the now trendy classics of my youth. The Massey 3075 would begin religiously, however there endeth the functioning electronics.
You would want the nice Lord in your facet must you want to grow to be excessive vary.
The JD 1640 was garbage even earlier than it had a misadventure within the Tydd Lower, requiring its second, ill-fitting cab.
The 7710 was a correct unit, however to place its energy down it wanted a entrance weight extension so comically lengthy that you just weren’t solely certain which postcode it wanted to be insured in.
On steadiness, I believe we’ll preserve the brand new one with its air suspension, huge tyres, RTK steering, refrigerated lunchbox, ergonomic joystick and isobus sprayer. I would even get to drive it a bit, too.
