In this week’s machinery section, it’s all about the grass as we focus on getting ready for the big harvest. The cold snap this week will have halted growth, and contractors are also urging farmers to roll fields, which probably should be avoided in poor weather. We look at the factors that affect grass quality in the silage pit, and the improved technology to make the job easier. Alistair Chambers looks at the problem of compaction; with machines getting bigger, more pressure is applied to the soil. We also look at wilting grass, and the big machines set to take on the harvest this year. In the UK, one of John Deere’s most popular models is still paying its way on the farm.