John Deere has officially opened its European Technology and Innovation Centre (ETIC) in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

It will help develop technologies for the firm’s customers throughout Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East.

“John Deere invests approximately four per cent of its equipment sales revenue into research and development – around $4.5m every working day,” said agricultural & turf division president Mark von Pentz at the ETIC opening.

The centre currently accommodates around 90 engineers, computer experts, technicians and administrative personnel. Their main focus will be on the development of intelligent solutions, the integration of electronics into tractors and harvesting equipment, and on related technologies that help to automate machine operation, reduce operator fatigue and increase machine productivity in the field. Staff numbers will gradually increase over the next few years to around 200 employees.

NFU Council, the organisation’s governing body, has resolved to call for an outright ban on flying Chinese lanterns due to ongoing concerns about the risks posed to animal welfare, food safety and the environment.

The NFU had previously called for a voluntary ban on lanterns that use wire in their construction but having reviewed the evidence of their impacts and remedial moves by manufacturers to date, Council members agreed the NFU should lobby the Government for a complete ban such as those imposed in Germany and Australia.

NFU acting director of communications Terry Jones said: “We have given manufacturers, as well as suppliers, time to take on board our concerns over the sale of these lanterns and move to a safer and more environmentally friendly solution.

“While we have seen some movement by manufacturers and suppliers to biodegradable eco-lanterns, Council members felt that the moves were too little, too late.”

UK registrations of agricultural tractors (over 50hp) reached 7772 units in the first six months of 2010, a decline of 15.7 per cent on the same period in the previous year, reports the Agricultural Engineers Association.

“Since reaching an extraordinarily high peak in March 2009 (on a moving total basis) the market has been in steady decline to a level closer to the average for the last decade and is presently running at an annual rate of a little over 13,500 units,”  comments AEA economist Chris Evans. “The rate of decline has been easing - in June it was 4.7 per cent - and it is expected that the second six months may be more akin to the level of sales of last year, if somewhat lower.”

All regions show a decline on last year but the lowest percentage fall was seen in the South East, down eight per cent, followed by Northern Ireland at minus 9.8 per cent. The biggest falls were seen in the Midlands with the East Midlands area down 23.3 per cent and West Midlands down 20.6 per cent.

The NFU and NFU Scotland have worked with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to clarify the use of red diesel at agricultural shows.

Farmers and growers will now be able to use red diesel legitimately in machines such as tractors and telehandlers for travelling to, from and participating in, agricultural, horticultural or forestry events; educating and developing skills within the industries; and promoting the industries to the general public. The rules will let farmers and growers take part in events such as local ploughing matches and use their machinery for activities including setting up their local show.

However, HMRC notes that travel should not, generally, exceed 15 miles and the use of the rebated fuel must not be for the commercial gain of the owner of the vehicle.

The Institution of Agricultural Engineers’ (IAgrE) campaign to increase student membership, which began in 2001, has recruited over 2400 students with  just over ten per cent  retaining membership once they have completed their studies – for most other institutions it is an average of three per cent.

“For the Institution to continue to prosper we need the support, ideas and creativity of younger students and engineers during their early years.  We want to be the natural choice for students engaged in agricultural engineering, providing links to appropriate levels of expertise,” said IAgrE Chief Executive Chris Whetnall.

Membership for students is free, subsidised by the Douglas Bomford Trust.  IAgrE visits colleges and universities regularly to strengthen links with them and to date 17 colleges are academic members with IAgrE supporting events and open days.  To encourage raising the professional status of agricultural engineering IAgrE is also working

towards attracting more lecturers and college principals to join and to encourage more colleges to become supporters of IAgrE membership.

Deliveries of utility All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) to dealers recorded by the AEA ATV/Quad Group decreased by 4.7 per cent in 2009 to 7423 units.

Group Chairman, Phil Everett of Polaris Britain Ltd, commented:  “Considering the overall economy, the Utility ATV market has performed reasonably well – particularly when compared to the Sports and Leisure ATV market, for example.

“This market was also affected by price increases across all manufacturers due to adverse currency exchange rates and increased production costs. A good example of the resilience of the UK market is the comparison with the largest ATV market in the world which is the United States; this market was 28 per cent down on 2008 – which in turn was 29 per cent down on 2007, with similar sharp declines amongst southern European countries.

“Overall the industry responded well to the challenges of 2009. I believe we are in a stronger position now to move this segment of the market forward during 2010, and also to continue to offer strong support to the utility sector during this coming year.”

Deutz-Fahr main dealer Pallisers of Hereford is to open the company’s first Agricenter this month.

Already an established and successful format in several Western European countries, the Agricenter is a Same Deutz-Fahr initiative which enables customers to shop for parts they require, selecting items from display shelves before taking them to be checked out.

At Pallisers, some 250 square metres has been allocated to allow a browsing area for customers seeking parts for their agricultural and groundscare equipment. Many of the parts are either SDF branded or sourced from key suppliers such as Sparex or Draper Tools.

“I see the launch of the Agricenter as an important development of our business,” says David Palliser. “For the first time our customers will have access to a wide range of parts – from oil filters to service their tractors to new blades to fit on their ride-on mower, and thousands of other items.”