CEREALS LAUNCH FOR NEW CULTIVATORS

Great Plains' new range of market entry cultivators were the centre of attention on the company's stand at a successful Cereals event, where the company did healthy business on both days.

And with so many farmers contemplating how to restructure damaged soils this autumn, machines like our SLD and DTX were also subject of plenty of enquiries from stand visitors.

“Our stand was very busy both days, and we are very pleased with the level of enquiries and interest from customers, who were generally in very good mood considering the problems they have had to overcome in the past year”, says David Holmes, UK Sales Director.

“The new market entry specification machines were very well received by both farmers and dealers. Many of them complemented us on the greatly extended range of rear rollers that we now offer, and the fixed angle of the disc angles which mean these versions of our machines are both lighter and cheaper than the full specification models. They say they will appeal to farmers who do not need the level of sophistication or adjustability of the main models.

“We also received a good number of enquiries for the Centurion drill, which is highly encouraging as sales are increasing healthily, and we are getting excellent feedback from users in the UK and across Europe”.

CZECH EVENT SUCCESS

Some 160 dealer and company personnel attended Great Plains International's European Training Days, held at Kamen – some 50 miles from Prague in the centre of the Czech Republic.

Over 30 of the company's machines were shown at the event, although the extensive schedule of working demonstrations could not proceed due to the extraordinary amount of rain that had fallen in the country in the weeks leading up to the event.

Among the machines exhibited at the event was the range of market entry specification cultivators that were also shown at Cereals, this event marking their introduction to a broader European audience.

Daniel Rauchholz, President of Great Plains International, says these machines extend the company's offer to farmers:

“They mean the company now offers a much wider range of cultivators than before, and bring Great Plains' market-leading standards of design and build to a huge range of farmers who could not otherwise benefit from them.

“Reaction from both farmers and distributors attending the event was very positive, and we are confident that they will help us increase demand for our products across all markets, including some that we have not been active in before.

“The event offered us an important opportunity to discuss with dealers and their customers what they need, which will help us make sound decisions on machinery development, something we look forward to continuing in future”.

Simon Revell, European Exports Director says the event highlighted the breadth of the company's portfolio: “We had a number of newer dealers at the event and have received tremendous feedback from them. The event also served a valuable purpose for Great Plains staff from America, who were able to talk with people from right across Europe and get a sound picture of both the potential and the pitfalls of the market – something that will help guide future decisions”.

Here are comments from a selection of other delegates:

John Chapman, Product Specialist for Power Farming Group: “The event was excellent and everybody appreciated hearing the experiences of Great Plains staff and talk with delegates from all over the world and share experiences with them”.

Steve Lewis, Genesis Distribution, Northern Ireland: “I am very impressed with the new products and the quality of finish. Some of the new rollers – especially the HD – will be relevant to Northern Ireland and the new market entry specification cultivators will be attractive for people looking for a competitive price”.

Andrew Walker, Peacock & Binnington, Lincolnshire: “I was very impressed with the knowledge and experience of the Great Plains staff who made presentations, and there was a great mix of delegates with whom to discuss the issues raised. The new cultivators offer some useful options for UK farmers”.

Ruslan Timov, Great Plains Agro: “We had 13 people from three dealerships at the event and they were most interested to hear about Great Plains' approach to one-pass oilseed rape establishment; vertical tillage and the Yield-Pro planter, all of which are new to the country. One-pass oilseed establishment does have potential to reduce costs, but it needs to be proved in Russian conditions”.

FIELD DAYS DRAW CROWDS

Farmers from the Czech Republic and Slovakia got an earlier opportunity to see a huge selection of Great Plains machines when they attended the Case Field Days – also held at Kamen - where almost 40 of the company's machines were on show.

While the planned programme of field demonstrations could not be completed, Vasek Madl from AgriCS says the quality of the technical presentations made during the two days ensured the visitors had an enjoyable and profitable time:

“We had an audience of over 4,500 people over two days, and the technical presentations covered a wide range of subjects.

“Some of these related specifically to aspects on the machines themselves, such as transmissions and engines, and others dealt with agronomic issues like restoring soil structure and Great Plains' thoughts on one-pass oilseed rape establishment.

“Farmers in the country are positive because this year's yield prospects are very good, although commodity prices are lower.

“We had a lot of interest in the SL700 and SL600, as well as the Aqueel 7.6m roller, from those farmers looking to save time and costs cultivating, and those looking to conserve moisture.

“The Twin-Row maize planter, which has been doing good work in field trials in the country, is also attracting attention”.

NEW ZEALAND WELCOMES CHAPMAN

Power Farming Group – Great Plains' distributor in Australia and New Zealand – is strengthening its presence in the latter country with the appointment of John Chapman as Product Specialist for seeding and cultivation equipment.

John (39) has spent 15 years on managing farms in Suffolk and Norfolk since graduating from the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester with an MSc in Farm Management.

He expects that practical farming experience to be valuable in his new role in New Zealand, a country he already knows well. He started work at the beginning of July and will be joined in the country by his wife and daughter soon:

“We have visited the country several times in the past and loved it. It is an ideal country with a great climate and plenty of outdoors activities.

“This new job offers me lots of challenges, and I expect the practical experience I have gained to prove valuable when deployed in a different way.

“My experience with rotations involving many different crops means I have used many cultivation techniques, as well as a wide range of cultivators and drills to achieve quality seed beds and successful crop establishment in all sorts of conditions and soil types.

“I believe this experience will enable me to help famers and contractors who are looking to buy our products in a practical, agronomic and experience-led manner”.

Graeme Leigh from Power Farming Group says John's appointment marks a new trend for the company:

“We really value John's working knowledge of agronomy. We expect him to offer a fresh angle on some of the applications we are trying with Great Plains' British-built tillage range in crops other than cereals and oilseed rape. New Zealand farmers are currently very receptive to current trends from Europe.

“We are taking a very similar course of action in Australia, where we expect to appoint an agronomist into a key role as well”.

SET TO SAVE COSTS

One of Great Plains' Centurion drills is set to make a major impact on the profitability of an Essex farm by reducing the amount of cultivation needed ahead of the drill.

Michael Symons bought the drill to work at Grange Farm, Latchingdon, Chelmsford, Essex following a successful trial this spring:

“We previously used a tined drill but it simply would not work last autumn, so we talked with Ernest Does and decided to try the Centurion this spring.

“It drilled 200 acres for us – a mixture of spring barley, oats and linseed – and the crops all look very good, and if we hadn't had the drill I am not sure we would have got anything drilled at all. We did one pass with our Simba X-Press this spring and then drilled.

“We did 80 acres of drilling for a neighbour who had left the stubble overwinter. We spread the straw with a hay tedder, then did one pass with the X-Press then drilled, and the crops look very good”.

In the longer term they expect the drill to help reduce crop establishment costs. They prepared seedbeds for their old drill with two passes of the X-Press and one with a power harrow:

“We think the Centurion's cultivation ability will enable us to cut out the power harrow pass, and possible one of the X-Press passes as well, which would make a major contribution to reducing our costs”.