New labour and energy saving farm machines at Midlands Machinery Show at Newark Showground

Farm machinery dealers are set to showcase new kit, driven by the move towards regenerative farming, robotics, and data-based decisions.

Visitors to the Midlands Machinery Show will be able to see the latest and most popular options first hand, at the two-day event at Newark Showground.

Low disturbance tillage, more technologically advanced tractors and robotic machines are becoming more popular with farmers.

Chandlers managing director Gavin Pell said: “After root crops or pigs there is certainly a place for ploughing to reset the land, but many growers are moving towards regenerative systems which leave the soil profile and structure intact.”

For farmers carrying out less and lighter cultivation, there is a matching trend away from very large tractors.

The new 260-280hp Gen7 Fendt 700 series tractor is among the new machines set to be on display. It reduces soil compaction by lowering tyre pressures in the field, explained Mr Pell.

Given increasing pressures on the cost of farming, many growers are looking for machines reducing their operating costs.

Dani Bond, general manager at Mzuri, added: “The Mzuri Pro-Til and iPass drills use tines to generate a small amount of tilth which the seed is placed in and efficiently reconsolidated to maximise germination rates. The flagship Pro-Til one-pass drill remains a popular choice with growers looking to reduce establishment costs compared to conventional systems.

“We are looking forward to the Midlands Machinery Show where we hope to showcase both the Pro-Til and iPass, alongside our new low-disturbance subsoiler the Rehab.”

Jonny Newton, depot manager and area sales, at Russells, added: “Most farmers are increasing tractor size but, in some cases, reducing fleet size due to staff shortages and smaller working windows.

“These tractors are also more technologically equipped than their predecessors. GPS guidance has also become more popular over recent years with most farmers having some form of guidance.”

Some growers are looking at dispensing with tractors altogether in some applications, in favour of robots and a fully autonomous, solar-powered robot capable of precision drilling and weeding has joined the line up.

The FarmDroid uses ultra-accurate GPS to record exactly where it places each seed and works around them when weeding. It will also be on display at the show.

“We believe robotics will form the backbone of the next major step in technological development for agriculture,” said OPICO managing director James Woolway.

“The timing couldn’t be better with rising energy costs, labour issues and environmental factors at the forefront of UK farmers’ minds. FarmDroid ticks so many boxes in all these respects.”

“As input costs rise, collecting and analysing data from tractors and farm machinery to improve operational efficiency is also a growing trend,” added Farol director Kevin Newman.

“We are collecting data to pinpoint inefficiencies which we can help to improve.

“A key talking point at the moment is idle times. When diesel was 67p per litre last August, leaving the tractor on might not have been at the front of everyone’s mind, but at £1.10 per litre, there is a significant cost.

“We have been working with farms and their operators to try to help them improve idle times where possible.”

The Midlands Machinery show runs from November 16 to November 17, at Newark Showground, showcasing this up and coming farming technology.