Modern farm machinery show (PICS)

We had a small farm machinery show on this last few days here in Northern Ireland...My two lads wanted to go so they jumped outta school at noon and we travelled to the show an hour west of our place. Ths show is aimed at the smaller livestock farms in that area, and it is obvious that more and more farmers are moving back to doing their own work instead of paying for contractors(custom operators) to do it......
The current trend is to keep the cows inside and haul fresh grass to them(wonder how long that will be trendy?) So we have many specialised outfits to cut and lift the grass without damaging it...


We have many local companies making slurry tankers....and hedgecutters! 2000 imperial gallons is the most common size

Redrock make some of the best machinery, but it is expensive. Their TMR feeders are excellent the one on their stand has the optional knife chopping attachment...


Johnstones make loader attachments, silage shear grabs,shear buckets and bale handling equipment......

This hydraulic bale fork is dual purpose, the tubes cover the tines for lifting and stacking wrapped silage bales without damaging the plastic wrap. The forks can spread hydraulically to let the bale stack on top of the previous row, then for feeding the tubes can be removed to reveal the spikes or tines....opened out the tines will lift two bales or closed for one

Our offering from MF, This size of tractor is becoming the norm here(120-140 hp)

And the Deere lineup, this new range is fast undoing any good the 10 series did for Deere, But I am sure they will address it soon......They are still popular anyway?

The new Kubota... Not very popular here!

Deutz from Germany originally, now part of Same Deutz Fahr(SDF)

And the equivilent Same....

JCB displayed their range of Farm-handlers......

New Holland were out in force....sorry about the photo quality!

Trailed silage harvesters are making a comeback....

Sorry guys my picture upload has gone slow more some other time if you like?
Sam

That first unit looks a little like a modern version of the old Hesston StackHand. I assume they don't pack the hay in to a loaf like the StackHand did. These things were for dry hay and corn stalks.
We green chopped green hay in to a bunk feed wagon and hauled it to the dairy cows for a lot of years using a flail chopper,but grazing fell back in to favor because it was such a time and fuel saver.

Just wondering why they don't fence in the pasture and let them graze ?
Save hauling in all that grass and away the poo.

Spent the first 2 weeks of June this year in Ireland, 6 days in Londonderry and the rest touring the west, south, and east. We flew in and out of Dublin. Put on 2400 kms on the van driving on the left while shifting gears with the left hand. Quite a mental work-out. Went to a agricultural fair at Ballymoney and saw some equipment like this. Found the eastern side of Ireland very much like here in the Ottawa Valley in eastern Canada only a bit more "compressed". Best part though were the people.....Ron

Mike, herds have got too big and the farms too small so walking distance is the problem.....Smaller herds may be the answer?
...........Sam

Tobe serious Samm,what is wrong with the Range(R) series??If a lot of people are(feel) like me,then I will never own any of these new 6xxx-7xxx.I wouldn't trade any of my 7010s or 8010s even up for one.

That would be fine if the pasture and the cows were located together but when the grass is a mile down the road from the cows doesn't work so well.

Back in the early 60s, we had a neighbor, that designed and build a "fresh grass" stack wagon, much like your fist picture. His problem was he was trying to store the hay for winter use. I wasn't packed tight enough to make silage out of it, and to loose to cure.
As to walking distance for bovines, you ought to see how far cattle will travel in the western states.

4020.....Glad you enjoyed our 'wee sod' and you got the name of the city right!!!! Many here don't/won't call it right!
..................Sam

Sam, thanks for posting the pics. I enjoy seeing what you have available on the other side of the pond. Jim

Seems engines are giving plenty of hassle, between management systems and head gaskets....Common enough in Deeres since the 20 series and even breaking cranks. They definitely need very, very clean diesel.............Sam

Thanks for posting pictures. It is interesting to see other machinery from other parts of the world.

I was a "fresh grass stacker" many years ago. The farmer that I worked for would cut grass in the late fall, and bale it in six inch long bales then pick me up when I got out of school. He would drive along a row with his pick-up with sides on it, and I would walk along beside with a fork and pick them up and pitch them into the truck. Then he took them back to the farm to feed out that evening.

thanks for the pictures ,the national farm machinery show is
coming up in feb. it is one of the biggest in the us ,it indoors in
louisville ky , that grass harvester looks like it cost a fortune
,we dairy farmed in the 70 and green cut alfafa and fed 70
head every day during the growing season ,cows stomp in the
ground more than they ever eat ,dad would say, cows milked
like crazy , we kept an old m farmall hooked to the chopper,my
ant. puller today ,thanks again it brought back good memores
tom in ky

Just below you in the St.Law valley in NNY. Amazing how times have changed with the equipment! Once upon a time there were 4 farms on my back road and the "big" tractor was a Super 90 and at least 6 "wee" 65s that I know of. The Massey dealer was acrost the river in Canada, Hamilton I believe. I'm not even allowed there any more.

Thanks Samn,I was thinking new this year,but too many things I didn't like on them.I think all these Tier 4 engines are going to bite them all in the backsides.