This week we have exciting news for New Holland fans as CNH has just announced the purchase of the Kongskilde company, which is responsible for well-known brands such as JF and Overum. This move gives the machinery giant access to the tillage and extra forage machinery markets. The question is – will you be able to buy a blue mower to match your New Holland tractor?

In this week’s machinery section, I travel to Italy to see the latest offerings from Manitou, which has just released a new MLT range of telescopic loaders after three years in development that feature eight new design patents. This is to coincide with the growing telescopic loader market.

Darren Bailey meets a Galway-based contractor who has taken a new approach to reducing costs and increasing efficiency by purchasing two Hi-Spec K36 Kompactor trailers. We tackle the facts and fiction when it comes to towing trailers behind your car, van or 4x4 and finally simplify what is legal.

Michael Moroney takes a look at the tractor market over the past 30 years and asks if we will have a similar situation as 1986 when tractor imports from overseas were three times that of new tractors.