In this issue..

ON FARM OPINION
The new 9 Series tractors top out at 340hp and
have TTV continuously variable transmissions.
switched to a Deutz 6160 TTV and a 7250
TTV, which sit alongside the existing Fendt
724 and a 716. So far he’s been really
impressed with the new arrivals.
“The TTV ensures plenty of horsepower
gets to the ground,” explains Ben Brown.
“We never actually felt that we were getting
the power through the wheels of the 240hp
Fendt 724.”
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The move also introduced the farm to
Deutz’ precision-farming system called
Agrosky. Essentially this is an auto-steer
system that allows drivers to focus on fine
tuning and adjusting implements while the
tractor guides itself.
High precision service
The Agrosky system receives signals
from all available satellites and offers a high
precision service, claims Deutz, especially in
hilly areas and where there are obstacles
such as trees, hedges and telegraph poles
in the field.
“Being ISOBUS compatible means we
can run our 24m Knight Trail Blazer 4200-litre
sprayer through it as well as our Horsch
drill,” says Ben Brown. “We also use a
single-screen computer called Agrosky I
Monitor, which we find is an easy-to-use
interface with the technology, capable of
configuring and managing a whole host of
on-board functions.”
It’s been a core focus of the farming
business to fully embrace GPS technology to
get the most from available arable land, so
running the entire tractor fleet off the Agrosky
system was a major plus point, he adds.
Fuel costs have been further reduced and
time has been saved because there’s no
overlapping and headland management
has improved.
“We run to 2.5cm accuracy through RTK.
It cost £8000 for the full Agrosky RTK GPS
and ISOBUS-compatible package to be
installed in the Deutz 7250, compared with
around £20,000 for a retrofit system in most
other tractors.”
A key part in the decision-making process
when deciding on the Deutz was the view
of the operator and it became clear he
favoured the new brand, preferring its
cab design and relatively straightforward
controls.
“Fendt runs on a Deutz engine and Bosch
electronics anyway, so the two tractors are
very similar in that respect,” points out Ben
Brown. “The major difference however was
on price –– we reckon we’ve saved in the
region of £20,000 and £35,000 with the
Deutz 6160 and 7250 respectively.”
There’s better fuel economy, too –– a
saving of around 10 l/ha, he reckons. “It’s an
operator’s tractor –– anyone can jump in and
drive it but it takes a skilled operator to get
the full potential out of the machine. Settings
can be fine-tuned to ensure it runs efficiently,
aided by the tractor computer.
“We’re confident that Deutz is up to the
job –– the tractors are proving to be reliable
and offer good fuel economy. We’re also
lucky to have an excellent dealer close by.
Fendt’s a difficult tractor to beat, but in our
situation and all things considered, Deutz
gives it more than a run for its money.” ■
The 9 Series has been styled to give the tractors
an aggressive yet user-friendly design.
72 crop production magazine december 2015