A new 7.25m version of the Carrier XL has joined the line-up.

The Vaderstad farm is similar to one owned by the company in Sweden and will be used to showcase the range of products and welcome customers, as well as for field trials of machines in development. The new farm is near Helmstedt in the Niedersachsen region. There are 50ha of land and an 800m2 machine hall which will be used for presentations and training. Vaderstad’s base is in Sweden, and the large hall contains a replica Swedish cottage in red with white corners, like traditional farmhouses close to the factory. The cottage will be used as offices.

Cultus HD

The Cultus HD is a tine cultivator, available in 4.25 and 5.25m working widths. Both versions are mounted, and Vaderstad claims that the design sets a new standard in the mounted tine cultivator segment, with no compromise on depth control and high field performance.

Maximum working depth is 30cm, and the tines are in three rows providing 27cm tine spacing.

“At the heart of the Cultus HD are the new heavy-duty Cultus HD tines,” explained Vaderstad director of tillage development, Wolfram Hastolz. “A key performance indicator for a tine is its ability to maintain high forces towards the soil. This is where the Cultus HD tines are unique. When they meet a heavy obstacle, the tine can fully release out of the soil to pass it, but on re-entering the soil it maintains full force to quickly return to its working position. This results in extremely accurate depth control, and excellent tillage results across the field.”

Welcome range addition

Vaderstad UK marketing development manager Andy Gamble said the Cultus HD is a welcome addition to the range. “At shows and dealer events, we receive a lot of requests from users of 3m machines for something larger and more capable, but who don’t need the ultimate performance of something like our TopDown or the Opus. The Cultus HD fills that gap in our line-up and provides a capable and cost-effective new option.

“There are also many situations where larger trailed cultivation equipment may be impractical, in particular where there are narrow lanes and tight field gateways to negotiate. Being fully mounted, the folding Cultus HD remains very manoeuvrable despite the wider 4.25m and  5.25m working widths.”

The new Vaderstad Cultus HD tine cultivator achieves excellent depth control.

User-friendly

Depth control is from the tractor cab, there is a hydraulic wing lock for transport and the new Dynamic Control levelling system ensures a good finish by ensuring that the levellers always operate in the optimum position – without requiring manual adjustment by the driver.

A wide range of Vaderstad points and MixIn shins can be fitted to the Cultus HD tines.

The Cultus HD enters full production in autumn next year.

Carrier XL range extended

A new 7.25m wide version of the Carrier XL disc cultivator has joined the line-up and, at the same time, all Carrier XL models have gained useful new features.

The new 7.25m model fills a gap in a range of working widths spanning from 4.25–12.25m. “The versatile Carrier XL benefits the farm by reducing the number of passes required, decreasing the machine cost per hectare and it provides the best possible start for the growing crop,” explained Wolfram Hastolz.

The Carrier XL is available with 510mm TrueCut discs, CrossCutter Discs or the new CrossCutter Disc Aggressive. It can be adapted  to suit different operating environments and  to produce different finishes by fitting any of a wide selection of front tools and rear packers,  and for convenient establishing of following crops – the Vaderstad BioDrill 360 mounted seeder is available.

Carrier XL models from 4.25–7.25m have all gained frame enhancements including a strengthened parallel linkage to hold the rear packer. New, clearly visible sight gauges display both the working depth and the front tool depth, and the XL 725 also comes with a unique high position scale for safe road transport.

Carrier XL 625 and 725 models can also now be equipped with a new wheel axle and 560/45R22.5 wheels and tyres approved for 40kph road transport.

The Carrier XL 725 can be ordered now, for delivery next autumn.

The new CrossCutter Disc Aggressive achieves intensive mixing even while working at ultra-shallow depths.

Ultra-shallow tillage

Available this month, the new CrossCutter Disc Aggressive extends the CrossCutter range of attachments. As the name suggests, the new version is designed for more aggressive operation and the discs feature sharpened TrueCut cut outs, for improved penetration capability in challenging field conditions and particularly in heavy soils.

The CrossCutter Disc Aggressive will also achieve better performance in heavy crop residues such as silage maize, heavy oilseed rape stalks or sunflower stubble, helping speed up decomposition.

Less power and fuel

Even though the shape is more aggressive than the original, the new version will still provide excellent performance working at ultra-shallow depths of 2–5cm and will move considerably less soil than conventional discs. This means less power and fuel is needed to achieve high working speeds and intensive mixing.

There are two sizes of CrossCutter Disc Aggressive – 450mm for a working depth of 2–3cm with the Carrier range of disc cultivators, and a 510mm version for working between 3–5cm with the Carrier XL. Both can operate at working speeds up to 20kph.

Each CrossCutter Disc is individually mounted on its own rubber suspended disc arm, ensuring excellent ground contour following capability and consistent results.

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The Koralin hybrid cultivator has an innovative tool combination consisting of discs and a tine with duckfoot sweep shares.

Koralin 9

The increasing restrictions of agrochemicals require machinery for controlling weeds with new combinations, to supplement previous procedures and secure crop yields.

For ultra-flat stubble working Lemken is introducing the Koralin hybrid cultivator with an innovative tool combination consisting of discs and a tine with duckfoot sweep shares.

This gives reliable control of weeds even in large areas or where straw has not been removed, the company says.

The symmetrical forward-running discs attached to secure leaf springs have already proved their worth as they are fitted to the Heliodor compact disc harrow. With a 510mm diameter, the disc generates an abrasive sub-soil profile, which prevents the share forming a layer of compacted soil below.

The discs can also be used systematically to perforate the soil at the bottom of the shares and promote drainage of surface water. In average to heavy soil conditions the discs improve the crumb structure of the soil during seedbed preparation.

The tines with duckfoot sweep shares have a 35cm cut and are arranged symmetrically in three rows with line spacing of 30cm and overlap each other by 2.5cm. They are secured to the main frame by a sprung overload device. This guarantees the necessary lateral and height stability, so that the shares can work over the whole surface for sustained periods.

At working depths of 2cm to a maximum of 10cm, the duckfoot sweep shares cut the roots of the weeds or cover crop horizontally like a knife. For this reason, the Koralin is best suited to repeated flat cutting at working depths, which are slightly increased each time. Shares are available with hard metal tips which increase life expectancy, reduce costs and subsequently reduce machine downtime to a minimum during the high season.

The depth guidance system fitted to the Koralin hybrid cultivator operates accurately by means of stabilisers within the device, which means that the roller can be replaced by a multi-row harrow for more effective weed control.

Heliodor 9

The Heliodor compact disc harrow can be used for both shallow stubble cultivation and for seedbed preparation. This makes the Heliodor 9 a versatile compact disc harrow with high working speed capability and low power requirement resulting in efficient cultivations, Lemken says.

The robust leaf spring elements ensure that the Heliodor works evenly and without blockage in high trash situations.

Farmers in the UK have found the Heliodor 9 extremely effective in the fight against blackgrass, according to the manufacturer. The machine has been used extensively where a shallow cultivation is required after harvest to get surface seeds to chit. The Heliodor 9 Disc harrow can do this ensuring all soil is cultivated across the full width of the machine. Even in heavy dry soils the individually sprung discs can use a shattering effect to penetrate the soil.

The mounted Heliodor versions with 3 and 4m working width, and the semi-mounted versions with 4–7m working width can be combined with Lemken’s pneumatic Solitair seed drill to create a cost effective and flexible cultivating and drilling system.

Larger farms and growers looking to a CTF system can achieve working widths of 8, 10, 12 and 16m in combination with the Lemken Gigant system carrier to achieve particularly high efficiency in cultivation operations.

The Rubin 10-disc harrow has proved popular for straw incorporation.

Rubin 10 disc harrow

The Rubin 10 has been well received by UK customers for primary cultivation work, especially where intensive straw incorporation has been required on a range of soil types, Lemken says.

The discs are arranged to produce symmetrical forces on both implement sides. The three central discs on the Rubin 10 have been offset along the longitudinal axis to ensure that they are able to work collision-free across the full width at a line distance of 12.5cm.

The Rubin 10 features surface-hardened DuraMaxx discs with a diameter of 645mm as standard. The new disc leg design with multiple bends provides plenty of clearance to prevent blockages. Each concave disc in the Rubin 10 is now equipped with an overload protection with dampened return to minimise frame loads. The overload protection pockets are welded to the frame to keep the discs perfectly on track.

An impact harrow behind the first row of discs improves the crumbling effect and distributes soil and organic matter in the direction of travel, while the rear impact and levelling harrow distributes the soil to form an even, level surface.

All folding versions feature hydraulic depth adjustment as standard. The semi-mounted compact disc harrows are optionally available with depth control wheels, which ensure even working depths in variable soils and precise pass alignment along slopes.

The Rubin 10 has working widths of 2.5–7m and available with a range of roller options to suit the customer’s requirements.

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Designed for primary tillage and seedbed preparation, the Carrier XT comes in 4.25, 5.25 and 6.25m working widths. It features a new, simple, and quick folding system through which the two sides fold vertically to the centre, and trailed models have the transport wheels at the rear, allowing the cultivation elements and packer to be lifted clear of the ground for reversing and making it easier to work into field corners.

Even working depth

The original Carrier had free floating cultivation elements, but the XT layout allows the weight and working pressure to be adjusted hydraulically to ensure an even working depth across the machine.

Front tool and rear press options

The new Carrier XT can also be equipped with a combination of front attachments, making it extremely versatile. With the front CrossBoard fitted; a Straw Harrow or the popular CrossCutter Knife can also be fitted – adding flexibility and reducing the time needed to switch attachments for different working conditions and crops.

The number of rear press options has also been increased including the ability to work with double packers which is expected to be an attraction, explained Vaderstad main dealer, Ben Burgess area sales manager David English, who saw a pre-production version of the new Carrier XT working in Sweden earlier this year. “It is exactly what many of our customers have been asking for.

The classic Carrier has a superb reputation, but it can only accommodate a single packer. Particularly for customers with heavier land, the wider spaced rings of a double packer would offer advantages in sticky conditions, as well as in light, puffy soils. Being able to fit a wider selection of front mounted tools makes it even more versatile. The XT will be a very popular addition to the line-up.”

Ben Burgess area sales managers Ben Conway (left) with David English.

Self-angling discs

Effective disc spacing is 125mm, and the standard discs are 450mm diameter, but 470mm diameter TrueCut discs with machined notches, or ultra-shallow CrossCutter discs can also be used. The range of working depths is 2–12cm, and a clever aspect of the design is that as the disc working depth is altered, the disc working angle adjusts to suit.

The discs of the original Carrier maintain a constant working angle regardless of the working depth, but the new Carrier XT has a new adjustment system that automatically alters the angle so that it is always optimised. For deep working the disc angle remains shallow, reducing the amount of soil thrown, whereas when working shallower the disc angle is larger, ensuring that soil across the full working width is moved.

Slurry incorporation

The new Carrier XT is available in mounted and trailed versions in all three working widths, and there is also a galvanised finish option for mounted versions for slurry incorporation.Production commences in October this year.

Exhibiting at Tillage-Live: Plot 2

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A 6m Lemken Kompaktor seedbed cultivator was trialled this spring by Suffolk-based Rougham Estate Farms.

Lemken’s Kompaktor seedbed cultivator is designed to crumble, reconsolidate, and level soils, leaving an ideal seedbed for spring drilling. The manufacturer claims that it creates ideal conditions for planting fine seeds such as sugar beet, onions, and oilseed rape.

Fine, level seedbed

The Kompaktor is available in working widths from 3–12m, and in rigid, foldable and foldable semi-mounted versions.

The 6m semi-mounted model supplied for the trial had four 1.5m roller and tine sections suspended from the main frame. Sections are individually mounted, allowing movement over and around obstructions.

Each section consists of a pair of 270mm flat bar rollers, two levelling boards and three rows of spring tines. The rollers form the running gear, and there is one at the front of each section and the other at the rear – with the three lines of tines mounted between. Working depth is set by adjusting the height of the tines relative to the front and rear rollers. A single adjustment is needed to set each tine bank and a parallelogram linkage ensures tines adjust evenly across the length and width.

Hydraulically adjusted levelling boards behind the front and rear rollers remove peaks and fill in troughs, and shatter clods thrown by the rollers.

At the back of the cultivator, a large 400mm crosskill packer roller crushes remaining clods and consolidates the ground, leaving an ideal surface for drilling.

The Kompaktor is designed to create a fine, level, and consolidated tilth ideal for drilling small seed crops.

Range of soils

Rougham Estate Farms, near Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk grows approximately 1,100ha of arable crops on a mix of owned and contract-farmed land with soils ranging from very light sand to heavy clay loams. Sugar beet is grown as a break crop on all soil types. Reduced margins in recent years have highlighted the need to optimise growing conditions to maximise yields but creating ideal seedbeds can be challenging, especially on heavy clay soils. For many years, power harrows have been used as they work in almost any conditions and can be relied on to leave an acceptable finish.

“We know that we can rely on power harrows to create a tilth, but they need a lot of power and fuel, and are very slow,” stressed Rougham Estate Farms arable manager Paul Cornwell, who also has his own agricultural contracting business specialising in planting and harvesting sugar beet. “We were keen to find out how the Kompaktor performed on our range of soils, and whether using it rather than the power harrow would produce a better seedbed for our sugar beet.

“Higher work rates were expected – which would give us added opportunities to prepare land quickly for drilling when weather windows occurred. We are also keen to exploit any opportunities to save fuel which has become a priority as prices are currently so high.”

Light land planting

On the lighter land, over-winter cover crops had been established after wheat or rye, and then sprayed off ahead of a pass with a low disturbance subsoiler.

Exceptionally dry conditions meant that the bar rollers penetrated well below the surface, and the tines had to be raised to prevent them working too deep. A large volume of loose, dry soil built up occasionally in front of the levelling boards, but hydraulic adjustment from the cab meant the operator could make fine adjustments on the move to keep the soil flowing. The two side panels prevented soil spilling out from the machine and bouts were perfectly matched without ridges or troughs. The Kompaktor worked well, and consolidation by the flat bar rollers and rear press helped retain valuable moisture.

The 6m cultivator is made up of four 1.5m sections. Each section has three rows of tines between a pair of rollers – one at the front and the other at the rear. Levelling boards follow each roller, and hydraulic adjustment from the cab means the operator can raise or lower them to adjust the amount of soil able to flow through. A rear crosskill packer roller crushes clods and reconsolidates the ground.

Heavy land challenge

The heavier land grew wheat last year, and stubbles had been sprayed off and then ploughed and pressed before being left over-winter. Dry weather during the weeks before cultivation meant that the surface had become hard and cloddy, creating a challenge for the Kompaktor. “Some of the ploughed and pressed ground was very hard on top, and after a single pass the spring tines hadn’t penetrated as much as we had hoped,” commented Paul. “We used the power harrow to prepare some of the land, and made a double pass with the Kompaktor elsewhere which proved successful. Even where two passes had been needed, preparing the land with the Kompaktor was still faster and cheaper than a single pass with the power harrow.”

The three rows of tines between the rollers are mounted on a parallelogram linkage. This means all the tines adjust as a group to work at equal depth.

Clods less of an issue

Paul said that the dry conditions and heavy soils produced clods which were very difficult to break down. “One of the main advantages of the Kompaktor is that any clods not broken or crushed are left on the surface. When we drilled behind the Kompaktor, the clod deflectors were able to push lumps on the surface to the side, leaving a fine tilth for the opener to work in, and to surround and cover the seed.

“There were fewer clods to be seen on the surface where the power harrow had been used, but when we dug down to check the seed rows it was obvious that the clods were mixed in with the finer tilth around the seeds instead. The rotary blade action had distributed the remaining clods throughout the working depth,” he confirmed. “Fine tilth around small seeds in the rows is needed to ensure optimal seed to soil contact, so the Kompaktor achieved better conditions for early and even establishment.”

Wheeltrack eradicators at the front of the cultivator easily removed compaction behind the tractor’s dual wheels, and the field surface was left level and ideal for drilling. “Rather than lift the cultivator onto its transport wheels for headland turns, we left it in the ground,” said Paul. “It turns easily, and the headlands are worked during each turn. Compaction is reduced, and in sticky conditions the rollers keep turning and remain clear of soil.”

Impressive fuel savings

Fuel comparison figures were obtained for the tractor with the Kompaktor, and with the power harrow.

The Kompaktor requires very little maintenance. All the main bearings are sealed for life, and the only grease points are on the folding pivot points – and need lubricating once per season. The ball on the lower linkage hitch point should be greased weekly.

For transport – the Kompactor folds for transport in under a minute and Paul said it tows well behind the tractor at high speeds on the road.

Not just for sugar beet

Lemken area sales manager Steve Plumb arranged the cultivator’s loan and helped to set up the machine on its arrival at Rougham Estate. “The Kompaktor is well established, and most of those working in the UK are in the Eastern Counties and East Anglia,” he explained. “It’s probably the best cultivator for preparing land for sugar beet, but the working principle and seedbed finish makes it ideal for other crops too, and we have supplied them to onion producers and to turf growers who also require the level finish and fine tilth.

“It’s a very versatile machine and it will achieve high work rates. Once a farm has invested in a Kompaktor – then we often hear of it being used to prepare seedbeds for a wide variety of spring crops.”

Side guards keep moving soil within the confines of the cultivator at typical working speeds of 12–14kph. Perfect bout matching is achieved without ridges or troughs at the join.

Increased flexibility

Paul said that during the long-term demonstration, the Lemken cultivator had proved easy to set up and use. Once a suitable depth setting was identified, then the only time it needed changing was when moving between light and heavy soils.

“I was impressed by its performance, and especially the high rate of work which means that enough land can be prepared in just a few hours to keep the beet drill working all day. It produces a good, well consolidated seedbed and it leaves the land level. Compared to the power harrow, it’s also quieter, more comfortable and it achieves a better finish too.”

Pictured with the Lemken Kompaktor are Lemken UK area sales representative Steve Plumb, and Rougham Estate Farms arable manager Paul Cornwell.

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The Multi-Leader XT plough can operate on-land or in-furrow. Wide offset allows use behind wider tractors in the on-land working mode.

Wide offset ploughs

The popular Multi-Leader plough range gains a new XT model for tractors up to 400hp which is available in on-land and in-furrow versions. Available with seven or eight bodies, the XT features a new draw line correction system which ensures a straight pull to increase operating efficiency, and reduce wear and fuel consumption. Offset adjustment capability allows the on-land version to work effectively on larger tractors up to 5.4m wide, including tractors on dual-wheels and tracked machines. It can also be used with a press arm, and variants with manual or automatic overload protection reset are available.

Variable-rate seeding is possible with Kuhn’s new 3m Sitera e drill. This features a mechanical metering unit with electronic drive – capable of manual or automatic GPS-based control.

Electric drive drill

A mechanical seed drill featuring electric drive which allows seed rate adjustment on the move has been added to the range. The Sitera e can be controlled through Isobus, the VT30 terminal, or Kuhn’s CCI800 or 1200 displays.

Product specialist Edd Fanshawe says that application rates of 1.5kg/ha–450kg/ha of all seed varieties can be applied precisely without changing or dismantling any parts which will save time, reduce waste, and increase seed application accuracy. Seed metering is through the Helica distributor which has a helical fluted roller. The seed application rate modulation can be adjusted manually or automatically by GPS when using an Isobus terminal with TC-Geo functionality. Using section control functionality, the seeder will also start and stop seeding automatically on headlands.

There are three 3m models – with Suffolk coulters, discs, or parallelogram Seedflex options. They are all compatible with HR1020-, 1030- and 1040-series power harrows which allow quick coupling and uncoupling of the drill unit. For faster drilling rates up to 15kph as well as reduced operating costs, the drills can also be mounted on Kuhn’s CD1020 seedbed cultivator.

The Optimer cultivator line-up has gained a new XL 12m model which is the first of its width to feature Steady Control – ensuring equal depth working across the width even on undulating ground. Pictured is the Optimer XL 6m model.

Wide stubble cultivator

A new 12m version of the Optimer cultivator is the first of its width to feature Steady Control, which maintains a uniform working depth even at higher speeds and on undulating ground and regardless of soil conditions, claims the manufacturer.

Steady Control adjusts the pressure across the five sections to ensure that discs in all the sections work to the same depth.

Working speeds up to 15kph can be achieved while maintaining a constant working depth. This will help larger farmers and contractors to cover the ground faster and more consistently at rates up to approximately 18ha per hour, explained Edd Fanshawe.

The Optimer XL range is now available in mounted and trailed versions in working widths of 3–12m. All feature independent 620mm discs which can work from 5–15cm deep.

The Optimer XL line-up includes models to suit tractors from 90–600hp, and the cultivators will improve residue management including maize stalks and green cover crops, and are available with five different rear packer options. Smaller models can also have the Kuhn SH600 seeder with a 600-litre hopper added; allowing cover crops or cereals to be placed during cultivations in a single pass.

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The drive unit boasts multiple and extensive sensor systems, which monitor the immediate surroundings and the implement attached; ensuring safe operation and optimum results as the primary objectives. Operators control and monitor the combination from a mobile device, transmitting jobs and job reports via a communication module and the agrirouter – the established data exchange hub.

An important design element of the process unit is that it is controlled by the implement and not vice versa. This detail was considered imperative for achieving optimum results.

The implement and the drive unit act as one integrated smart system. Based on Krone and Lemken’s long experience in the application of Isobus and TIM on their machines, the drive unit and implement communicate and interact, sharing literally all types of data.

The Combined Powers design concept brings further benefits; it was also developed to counter the increasing shortage of skilled labour in agriculture, plus it is intended to free farmers from spending such long days in the field. Instead, they will become system operators who merely monitor the process unit which delivers a consistently accurate quality of work. Thanks to its huge versatility, the unit is designed for year-round work and a long service life. Intensive trialling in all types of conditions and seeking feedback from farmers and contractors will continue this year.

Further information is available at www.combined-powers.com

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As with all the Awemak products offered by PFC, there is no compromise on build strength and quality, the company says. The 3m setup with high or low disturbance leg options on the Sherp are protected by sprung auto-reset. The standard hydraulic 3-point linkage couples directly to the Ozyrus Discs with minimal downtime to separate and connect as required. Using hydraulic linkage allows ultimate precision adjustment to the depth control of both the Sherp disturbance legs and the 3m discs.

The Ozyrus discs have two rows of 12 discs with 560mm diameter, active side screens, deflector board between the row of discs, straw tines, hydraulic depth control, led lights and steel ring packer. There are various rear rollers and packers available with the option of doubling up for a twin roller or packer.

The Sherp and Ozyrus combination is designed for efficiency as the operator can adjust on the go the working depth of the two components to suit ground conditions and soil types. Having the ability to separate the two components allows for more varied jobs to be carried out. Chitting grain after harvest being the main consideration and utilising the discs to work the top 1cm then reconnecting before drilling to work the ground preparing an ideal seed bed.

On the PFC test farm min till has been used successfully to replace the plough and dramatically reduce establishment cost and improve time management of continuous wheat.

Visit the website for more information.

3 WEEK SPECIAL – Further discounts available due to LAMMA cancellation cost savings.

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The site covered almost 300 acres in 14 different fields and was kindly loaned by D Harvey and Son. Visitors and competitors travelled from all over the country, but the event was especially important to locals as it is one of few shows being held in the area this year. The 70th anniversary show had been postponed for a year due to coronavirus, but the weekend allowed organisers and visitors to finally celebrate the milestone anniversary.

With the two previous Championship events ending in a good few inches of mud, the same fear came to organisers’ minds earlier in the week when torrential rain stopped all preparation on the site for a day. However, it dried well and everything went according to plan, and with mostly good weather over the weekend, it had made the hard land a little better to plough for the competitors.

Highlights of the day

First time plougher in the British Championships, Brian Baxter, from Forfar, Angus was the winner of the Reversible Final with 300 points, ploughing with a Massey Ferguson tractor and Kverneland plough.  He beat Peter Alderslade from Gateshead, Tyne & Wear by eight points, a good win as Peter has won the title eight times before. Alan Critchlow from Scropton, Derbyshire came third with 277 points.

Ashley Boyles, winner of the Conventional Final Plough-Off with his daughters Pippa and Megan, receiving his trophy from the host farmer and President of the Society of Ploughmen, Ian Harvey.

Ashley Boyles from Market Rasen, Lincolnshire won the Conventional Final for the fifth time, also ploughing with a Massey Ferguson tractor and Kverneland plough. Ashley won by a whisker as he had amassed the same points as Stuart Vickers from Sarn, near Malpas Cheshire. They both had 258 points, but rather than a tied place there is a ‘countback’ system in place where the aspects are worked back in a certain order to find the winner. Ashley won by having higher points in the general appearance of his ploughing. In third place, 12 points behind was Evan Watkin from Newtown, Powys who was unable to keep hold of the title he had won in 2019.

The Vintage Trailing Plough-Off Final was won by another Lincolnshire man, John Crowder, who lives at Sturton by Stow, near Lincoln, ploughing with a Fordson N tractor and Ransome RSLD Major plough. With 251 points, he had a 10 point lead from past British, European and World Vintage Ploughing Champion, John Milnes, from Penistone, South Yorkshire, who in turn was 10 points ahead of Trevor Johnstone from Wigton in Cumbria.

In the Vintage Hydraulic Final, Charlie Nicklin from Congleton, Cheshire used his Massey Ferguson 35 and Ransome TS54 with great effect to gain 258 points, three points ahead of Richard Ingram from Atherstone, Warwickshire who had been the reigning champion. In third place was John Sivewright from Blairgowrie, Perthshire with 238 points.

David Thomlinson from Escrick, near York retained his title when he won the Classic Final for the second time. David was driving a Ford 3000 tractor pulling a Ransome TS86 plough and he received 248 points, giving him a four point lead from Mac Simpson from Garstang, Lancashire.  In third place was David Hankey from Wrexham.

Jim Elliott, Horse Ploughing Champion receiving his trophy from Society of Ploughmen President, Ian Harvey.

The scores over the two days are aggregated to find the Champions for the Horse Ploughing and the High Cut Tractor Ploughing. The first was won by Jim Elliott from Maud, Aberdeenshire who was ploughing with Tom, a Shire X and Pat, and Irish Cob. Second place went to Martin Kerswell from Fordingbridge, Hampshire with his younger brother, David, from Buckfastleigh, Devon in third place. The High Cut Tractor ploughing champion was Ray Alderson from Darlington, County Durham, ploughing with a Ford 3000 and a Ransome RSLD No. 9 plough. Second place went to John Saunders from Carlisle, Cumbria.

The plots of the winners of the five Plough-Off Finals, the High Cut tractor champion and the Horse ploughing champion are then judged to find the Supreme Champion and this award was given to Ashley Boyles, who has won the title previously in 2017.

National and local companies exhibited with a wide variety of trade stands and there was also a new machinery demonstration area covering over 40 acres and an area featuring stationary engines, vintage tractors and equipment. Four Fowler BB engines were working, two named ‘Aries’ and ‘Libra’ owned by Stephen & Anne Kearton were ploughing, followed by ‘Tiger’ owned by Paul Marriott and ‘Master’ owned by A & AA Cook who were demonstrating steam cable cultivation.

Commenting afterwards, Sue Frith, chief executive of the Society of Ploughmen, organisers of the Championships, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to the Harvey Family for providing a site in such a picturesque part of the country.  We were made to feel so welcome by our hosts and the local people and there was a wonderful atmosphere over the two days. Our sponsors were extremely supportive and our volunteers worked tirelessly for a week behind the scenes to ensure our visitors would have an enjoyable weekend, which I think they did!”

Full results can be found on www.ploughmen.co.uk or requested from the Society of Ploughmen on 01302 852469.

Five Champions – the winners of the Plough-Off Finals, from left to right, John Crowder, Ashley Boyles, Brian Baxter, David Thomlinson and Charlie Nicklin.

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Tillage-Live 2021 is organised by the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) on behalf of the industry, and is heading back to Cirencester in 2021 with the event being held at Down Ampney after a year’s break in 2020.

The event, which is being held on Thursday 16th September, will showcase leading machinery manufacturers with demonstrations of crop establishment technology including ploughs, cultivators, sprayers, conventional, strip tillage and direct drills.

In the live demonstration arena, there will be an opportunity to see the machinery working not only in stubble but manufacturers will also get the chance to show off their machinery in several different cover crops. Once again, this area will also give visitors the chance to get up close and see a selection of sprayers that will also be running in this area throughout the day.

Tillage-Live remains the sole national annual working crop establishment event, and this year’s demo at Down Ampney will be the first chance for growers to see many of this year’s new machines in action, in real post-harvest conditions.

With working demonstrations from manufacturers including John Deere, New Holland, Kverneland, Amazone, Horsch, Kuhn, Lemken, Mzuri, Pottinger, Vaderstad and Opico the day promises a real insight into professional crop establishment techniques.

The event also includes a static exhibition area which provides an opportunity to discuss new ideas with industry-leading experts. This year’s knowledge trail includes a look at soils and cover crops as well as tyres and soil protection.

Event organiser, Kayleigh Holden explained: “The AEA are extremely pleased that Tillage-Live will be taking place at Down Ampney in 2021.

“The site near Cirencester offers excellent facilities for manufacturers to showcase their machinery to potential customers and visitors and we would like to thank Farmcare for hosting the event. Visitors and exhibitors can be confident that every step is being taken to ensure that the event is run to the highest standard and is Covid secure.”

This year Tillage-Live 2021 takes place on Thursday 16^th September at Down Ampney, Gloucestershire. The site is close by the A419; please follow the road signs to the visitor’s entrance to the event.

More information can be found at www.tillage-live.com. You can keep up to date with the event and the latest news on social media using #tillgrowspray.

Tillage-Live is organised by the AEA on behalf of industry exhibitors and has been held since 1992.

VISIT THE WEBSITE HERE

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