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.

Vital Recovery by TRACKER as Tractor Theft in Cambridgeshire Increases

Stolen vehicle recovery expert, TRACKER, is warning farmers in Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire to be extra vigilant after a recent wave of tractor thefts in the regions.  The North Level District Internal Drainage Board became the latest victim, when its £60.000 tractor was stolen whilst on site at Tydd Gote, Wisbech in the early hours of the morning.

Two hours after reporting the theft, the tractor was recovered in Essex on an articulated lorry along with two other vehicles.

The North Level District Internal Drainage Boardis in an area in the heart of the Fens that is heavily reliant on pumped drainage to evacuate surplus water from agricultural, industrial and urban properties.  Therefore the recovery of the tractor was vital in completing essential work.

Peter Leech has been appointed the new President of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers.  Peter has been Manager, Customer Support for John Deere in the UK & Ireland for many years and has just recently been promoted to the position of Regional Training Manager for Deere & Company.

Peter started his career with John Deere in 1971. He developed and initiated the John Deere Ag Tech, Turf Tech and Parts Tech  apprentice training programmes for dealers.  More recently he has been heavily involved in the development and implementation of the Landbased Technician Accreditation (LTA) scheme.  Peter said “It is a great honour to be appointed to this important and distinguished role and a great time to be leading a dynamic and growing Institution.  With an ever expanding world population and increasing demand for alternative energy solutions there has never been greater need for inventive, professional land based engineers and a professional Institution to support and represent them.”

Peter has been actively involved with the Institution for 18 years and was presented with an Award of Merit in 2005 for his work in connection with young people and education.    He is a Fellow of IAgrE and is registered as an Incorporated Engineer with the Engineering Council.   Until recently he was Chairman of the Education and Training Committee of the AEA, where he served a five year term, and was instrumental in leading that group through the development of the LTA scheme.  He is also a member of the Lantra Industry Group for land based engineering.

Kubota has introduced the M130X, its biggest tractor to date. Like the firm’s other tractors, the 132hp M130X is built entirely by Kubota, using its own engine, transmission, back-end and other components.

The M130X utilises the same four-cylinder, 6.1-litre engine as the MX128X that it replaces, but with a rise in gross power output to 140hp, and an increase in maximum torque to 570Nm at 1,200rpm, a 32 per cent increase. A new viscostatic fan means that the cooling function operates independently of the engine speed. Common rail system fuel injection has been introduced as part of a package to meet Euro 3B/Tier 4 emissions legislation. An electronic governor system, Work Kruise, enables the operator to keep engine rpm at a constant level, regardless of ground or work conditions. When used in conjunction with the transmission’s ‘Auto’ function this means that pto rpm is also kept constant, regardless of load on the implement. A new Dual Memory feature allows two engine rpm settings to be recorded, designed to offer a partial headland management system for a job such as mowing, or speed settings to be stored for different jobs.

JCB has updated its backhoe loader range with a new generation of machines in a series which was first produced in 1953. The latest range is designed to offer customers fuel savings of six to 16 per cent at typical daily work rates, largely achieved through the introduction of a new EcoDig system.

This system utilises three hydraulic pumps to provide the same hydraulic output at lower engine speeds, said to deliver average fuel savings of up to 15 per cent. Operators are able to select from two working modes, either Eco mode or low flow, to optimise productivity and improve machine control. The three pump design also offers faster performance of the Extradig extending dipper stick. Lower exhaust emissions and a reduction in overall noise levels are offered by the new hydraulic system and lower engine speeds

Power brakes are to be introduced on both 3CX and 4CX models, offering proportional braking throughout the pedal travel, providing operators with improved braking and reduced effort. JCB has also redesigned the pedal box in the backhoe loader cab, with an automotive style position to improve ergonomics. The power brake design ensures that there is full brake pad release when the driver comes off the pedal. This enables operators to better maintain road speeds and contributes to a further one per cent saving in fuel consumption. JCB will be adding the option of an automatic heated front windscreen on all 3CX and 4CX models later this year.