Know How / Farm maintenance Must reads How to build a quality machinery shed on a sensible budget John Deere makes it easier for owners to repair tractors Winter tyres on farm vehicles - should you fit them? Borders farmer takes drainage in-house with DIY tile plough Case studiesSee all WORKSHOP SKILLSMade in Britain: Two UK ag engineering firms on the riseBehind many big-name machinery brands is the story of a fledgling engineering firm starting out from scratch. We meet two entrepreneurs with outfits on their way up. See also: High-end bespoke… CEREAL DRILLSYorkshire farmer assembles a pair of tine drills for £10kRecent autumn drilling campaigns have been a real slog for crop producers, with periods of extreme weather limiting work windows and leading to poor establishment. And that's all the more… FARM MAINTENANCEBorders farmer takes drainage in-house with DIY tile ploughChain trenchers, drain jetters and mole ploughs are quickly becoming the must-have accessories for arable farms contending with unrelenting rainfall events. But several UK growers intent on keeping their drainage… WORKSHOP SKILLSLincs grower’s bespoke harvester lifts 70k pumpkins a dayEach autumn, millions of pumpkins are plucked from their fields, carved into ghoulish lanterns and displayed with tealights flickering at their core. The process of getting these orange gourds from… FARM MAINTENANCEWhy Cambs farm invested in its own tractor-mounted trencherWhen a portion of their land began identifying more as lake than field during winter months, Stephen and Richard Mead were forced to invest in some drainage. Quotes were sourced… WORKSHOP SKILLSHow a Wiltshire-based mechanic built his own hedgecutterLuke Compton likes a workshop challenge, so when he needed a new hedgecutter he decided it would be far more satisfying to build rather than buy one. Complex geometry and… Practical adviceSee all FARM MAINTENANCEHow to build a quality machinery shed on a sensible budgetAs a general rule, farm machinery sits last in the pecking order when it comes to bagging precious shed space. And when it does get a roof over its head,… MACHINERY MAINTENANCE20-year-old John Deere telehandler gets perfect £20k refurbIt’s boom time for noughties farm machinery, with demand surging for mechanically sound workhorses devoid of the electronic and emissions-related aggravations of their successors. While John Deere, Case IH and… FARM MAINTENANCEWhat to look for when buying a farmyard CCTV systemAs the nights grow longer, darker and danker, so does the window of opportunity for unscrupulous ne’er-do-wells to pilfer from farmyards. Sadly, there’s no single answer to keeping undesirables out,… MACHINERY MAINTENANCELatest technology for putting out harvest machinery firesIt’s hard to imagine given the sogginess of the past 12 months, but there’s always a chance we could be in for a tinder-dry harvest, à la 2022. That year,… CULTIVATORSTips for picking the best cultivator wearing metalReplacing cultivator legs, wings and points can be a depressingly regular and ruinously expensive pastime for those working in the nation’s most abrasive soils. But instead of hunting around for… FARM MAINTENANCEHow to fix farm tracks with an adapted road graderBouncing along potholed farm tracks is an unpleasant business, putting unnecessary strain on tractors, implements and their operators. But with input costs through the roof and margins tight, shelling out… Machinery maintenance MACHINERYTotalEnergies lubricants: Power, performance, protectionFor over 60 years, TotalEnergies has been the trusted partner for farmers worldwide, delivering tailor-made lubricants that keep your equipment running smoothly in all conditions and seasons. Our Agri Range… MACHINERY MAINTENANCEAmazone makes soil-engaging parts choice easier for farmersAmazone has introduced a new parts range naming scheme to more clearly differentiate between regular items and those with enhanced wear characteristics. “Original” identifies parts that meet Amazone’s minimum quality… MACHINERYBook your New Holland winter maintenance today and prepare your ...Before storing your machine for the winter, make sure it's in peak condition with a full check-up at your local New Holland dealer. A professional winter service helps prevent hidden… MACHINERY MAINTENANCEKubota, KV and Vicon to sell genuine parts through TerrakoOnline genuine parts purchasing is being rolled out for Kubota tractors and Kubota, Kverneland and Vicon implements in the Terrako marketplace, where registered users are shown stock availability across a… More articles Workshop skills WORKSHOP SKILLSWin up to £500 for your farm inventionTime is running out to enter Farmers Weekly’s annual Farm Inventions Competition and be in with a chance of bagging a share of the £2,550 prize pot. As ever, we’re… WORKSHOP SKILLSWin a share of £2,550 in FW's Farm Inventions CompetitionIf you’ve been burning the midnight oil building a new machine, modifying an existing implement to transform its performance, or developing a neat gadget that saves time, money or hassle,… WORKSHOP SKILLSCustom cultivator towed by steel rope transforms steep fieldsFew things irk John Roberts more than unproductive farmland, even when it’s clinging to a precipitous hillside. But having flipped a tractor and rolled five times while trying to improve… WORKSHOP SKILLSFW Inventions Comp opens for entries with £2.5k prize potIt’s time for another season of Farmers Weekly’s long-running Farm Inventions Competition. With a back catalogue containing thousands of ingenious ideas, there’s nowhere better to read about workshop builds that have saved… More articles VideoSee all MACHINERYVideo: How to fit trailer air brakesWe’ve shown how you can get your hydraulic trailer brakes up to stratch, but if you want ultimate stopping power you should consider updrading to air. Why air? Installation: part… Speedy tyre bead breakerA pneumatic tyre bead breaker designed specifically for agricultural tyres could significantly speed up tyre changes, according its manufacturer. The GTABB-01 from American firm Gaither is a one-piece, air-powered tool,… MACHINERYFence post driver buyer's guideIntro Falling weight type Vibrating type Self-propelled Specs & Prices For a job as seemingly simple as knocking in a fence post, there is a remarkable number of features, options,… MACHINERYVideo: How to get the best from your sprayerJames Stafford Top 10 tips Videos Sprayers are one of those bits of kit that need a good dollop of TLC to keep them running at their best. We talked… InsightsSee all TOOLSWhy farmers are installing ultra accurate CNC plasma cuttersA growing number of farmers are opting to tool up with engineering-grade workshop equipment to produce their own machinery parts. And when it comes to carving out perfect sheet metal… TOOLSHandy tools and equipment to ease farm fencing jobsA rich bounty of tools and equipment awaits those keen to ease the process of erecting agricultural fencing. Here are some of the options. See also: How to make fence posts… MACHINERYMajor trimming hedges and fuel costsYou could say that when it comes to hedge-cutting, Michael Tomlinson is a bit of a perfectionist. He’s been doing it since 1982 and serves a wide range of agricultural…
