Although market conditions remain tough for UK farmers, recently there has been some signs of revival in the key crop and dairy markets, with a number of milk buyers raising their pence-per-litre prices and arable commodities benefiting from the fall in the value of sterling. And while this is making imported equipment more expensive, it is putting domestic producers of equipment such as sprayers, diet feeders and hedge trimmers at an advantage in their home market. So there were some signs of optimism at last week’s LAMMA show, with manufacturers and importers reporting a steady if not spectacular level of serious enquiries.

Zetor’s UK operation chose the event to unveil an additional version of the base-spec four-cylinder Major tractor (above) that it introduced three years ago.

Where the standard CL models are equipped with a four-speed, three-range 30km/h transmission and have 61hp or 75hp power outputs, the additional Major HS tractor is a 76hp machine with a two-step powershift, doubling forward speed numbers to 24, plus a hydraulic powershuttle and 40km/h top speed.

Cab revisions include a new adjustable steering column, improved instrument panel and more luxurious seating. Pivoting front mudguards have reduced the turning radius to 3.9m and fuel tank capacity is up from 80 to 120 litres.

Spraying contractors and large-scale tillage farmers are the target audience for a forward control conversion of the JCB 4000 series Fastrac launched by eastern England sprayer manufacturer Landquip.

Developed in conjunction with Scottish JCB dealer AM Phillip, the new machines, based on the 4220, can accommodate 3,500-, 4,000- and 4,500-litre tanks and booms up to 44m.

A tri-fold narrow-folding boom design means transport width is 2.6m. The tractor unit retains its CVT transmission and 60km/h road speed capability.

Landquip says the sprayer can be demounted in no more than 15 minutes and swapped for a spreader unit.

Two years ago, Lindner announced a deal with Dublin-based Plant Systems to bring its tractors into Ireland and at LAMMA, the same firm was helping the Austrian tractor maker to put its machines in front of UK farmers for the first time, with a view to seeking an importer.

In addition to an example from the range of conventional Geotrac models of 76hp to 133hp, the firm had on display its four-wheel steer Lintrac 90, a conventional-type four-cylinder 102hp tractor, but with a 20° steering rear axle.

In addition to improved manoeuvrability, Lindner says this configuration provides greater stability and safety when turning on slopes. The tractor also features a ZF continuously variable transmission.

Among the other relatively new tractor names at the show was Armatrac, the tractor brand of Turkish firm Erkunt, which appointed a UK and Ireland distributor, AS Tractors, early last year.

The firm has since invested significantly in raising its profile at LAMMA, taking a large covered stand and having a large sponsorship presence.

AS says it is continuing to seek dealers in the UK and Ireland for its Perkins and Deutz-powered machines.

Its focus remains firmly on the livestock farm sector, with a range of four models from 50hp to 110hp.

There was plenty of new handler news at LAMMA, with Manitou grabbing the limelight by choosing the show to unveil a prototype machine that signals its intention to return to the articulated telehandler market after five years’ absence.

Few details were available on the new MLA machine, with a full launch likely at February’s SIMA show in Paris, but clearly evident was a new wider, deeper cab design with improved skyward vision, plus significant restyling.

The engine is likely to be a Deutz powerplant of around 140hp and maximum lift capacity/height stats are likely to be in the region of 3.5t and 6m respectively. Manitou was staying tight-lipped on likely transmission choice, though.

Meanwhile, new from Caterpillar are D-spec TH telehandlers, with maximum reach now extending up to 10m – the smallest model lifts to 6m.

There’s a revised cab interior with optional new screen display for instrumentation that also incorporates load charts and can display the view from an optional reversing camera.

Also new is a revised joystick with F/N/R shuttle switch now on the rear rather than the front, plus more effective air conditioning.

Realignment of the cab, seat and boom pivot have improved the view rearwards.

In AGCO’s temporary building, one of the largest on the show site, Fendt was showing its full combine and forage equipment line for the first time.

The range mirrors that offered by Massey Ferguson, with straw walker and twin-rotor hybrid combines from the Laverda plant in Italy, plus a full set of mowers, rakes and tedders made in the Fella factory in Germany.

Both Laverda and Fella are owned by MF and Fendt parent AGCO, but the launch of the machines in green stems from AGCO’s plan to develop distinct distribution channels for the two brands, either through different dealers or through the existing AGCO dealer having separate facilities and staff dedicated to each brand.

Also showing a large lineup of implements at the show was Kubota, courtesy of the integration into its agricultural tractor line of a range of machinery from Kverneland.

The latter retains its own dealers and Kverneland and Vicon brands, but in UK areas where there is scope to increase market coverage, Kubota’s ag dealers are also being offered a full range of orange-liveried products from mowers, rakes and tedders to twin-disc fertiliser spreaders.

In Ireland, though, Kubota says it is still at a much earlier stage of deciding how it might market Kubota-branded kit through its ag tractor dealers.

Keenan chose LAMMA to give a UK debut to its first vertical auger diet feeder, which comes about courtesy of the Alltech-owned firm’s collaboration with Italian firm Storti.

The range of VA models includes 18m3, 21m3 and 24m3 single-axle machines, 24m3, 27m3, 30m3 and 33m3 tandem-axle types, and 36m3, 40m3 and 44m3 versions with triple axles.

Key features include front right and rear left discharge doors, tungsten-coated auger blades and two additional blades located at the top of each auger, claimed to provide faster bale processing.

The company is promising further product news at SIMA in late February.

Picture 10

Direct drill specialist Claydon, which this year is marking 15 years in the strip tillage drill business, now has a 3m trailed version of its hybrid drill, previously only available as a mounted model.

Also new from the firm is a 4.8m addition to the trailed hybrid range, slotting into the line to target farmers on 24m tramlines who are unable or unwilling to invest in a 6m drill. The move broadens the firm’s trailed range to five models (3m to 8m).

Picture 11

The result of its acquisition of Vogel and Noot’s plough business, Amazone now has a second, lighter range of ploughs to add to the Cayron range it developed itself and builds in one of its own factories in Germany.

The new Cayros line comprises three- to six-furrow fully mounted models which are split into five series according to the power of the tractors they will be paired with.

At the bottom are 3/4f models for tractors up to 120hp, with a 78cm clearance and interbody clearances of 95cm and 102cm.

Next come 4f to 6f models for tractors up to 140hp, 200hp and 260hp, and then the XS Pro range for tractors up to 380hp.

One of the more unusual machines on show was the Dutch-built Holaras silage spreader, imported into the UK and Ireland by WM Agri.

Designed to work on clamps being filled by a forage wagon, it spreads grass evenly across the clamp using rotary finger action, distributing the material evenly without the need for excessive use of a buckrake.

The hydraulically powered 6m folding implement is available for fitting with either three-point linkage or a materials handler headstock.