There will be a lot of straw to be handled in the coming weeks and that’s why Darren Bailey’s review of the new Krone Premos 5000 mobile pelleting machine is so timely. With machines such as the Premos we could be on the cusp of a revolution in handling and utilisation of thousands of tonnes of straw on Irish farms.

We provide an update in the latest range of tillage machinery from Lemken. We also look at the plant updates from the Doosan and Bobcat ranges, as Adare Machinery gets ready for next month’s Ploughing 2016. Keeping with the hybrid mood from last week, our motoring page features the luxury BMW X5 hybrid, where it’s easy to be enthusiastic about its performance while less so about its price.

We give a pictures report on the Lismore Castle silage event run by Melleray Vintage Club.

Machinery news in brief this week

Telescopic loader market lifts – the builders are back

The boom in the Irish telescopic loader market is another indicator that the building economy is on the turn. The latest figures from the Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) Registration Service show that more than 200 new telescopic loaders were registered in Ireland up to the end of July this year. Based on this figure, it is estimated that the market will rise to close to 250 new machines this year, the highest level since 2008, the year the bottom fell from the market that at its peak in 2006 accounted for over 1,100 machine sales.

Krone buckets for Embrace Farm support

Farmhand has teamed up with long-time main dealer Tom Shaw Farm Machinery (TSFM) of Dromoyle, Birr, Co Offaly, to support Embrace Farm at this weekend’s Tullamore Show. Embrace Farm provides support to bereaved families who have suffered a loss due to a death on the farm. “When we considered what charity to work with, Embrace was an easy choice. They do fantastic work and have been a life-line to many farming families who have suffered the ultimate loss,” said Scott Shaw of TSFM.

TSFM will be accepting donations of €2 in exchange for a Krone bucket at the show.

Mahindra takes 35% share in Finnish combine maker

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, part of the huge Indian based Mahindra Group and one of the leading volume tractor manufacturers in the world, has entered the world combine harvester business through a partnership with Finnish combine maker Sampo Rosenlew.

The deal means Mahindra will acquire a 35% equity stake in Sampo Rosenlew. Its combine business accounts for 70% of net sales selling to over 50 countries, with Ukraine, Belarus and North Africa its largest export regions. With the new Mahindra deal, Sampo Rosenlew is expected to develop a range of combine harvesters for developing markets as well as speciality crops.

Sampo produces the John Deere W series compact combines. It also produced combines for Same Deutz-Fahr and Massey Ferguson. Same Deutz-Fahr bought 10% of the company in 2003.

AGCO, the owner of Massey Ferguson, took a further 10% share in 2011 and AGCO’s combine factory in Breganze, Italy supplies some parts to Sampo. Sampo also has been a joint venture partner in Algeria with combine manufacturer CMA Sampo S.p.A.

AGCO adds to grain lines

AGCO has bought Cimbria, a Danish-based seed and grain equipment company, in a deal worth close to €310m. Cimbria has expanded into high growth markets of grain-and seed-importing countries such as Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries, while previously it was predominantly focused on exporting countries.

It also improved its manufacturing efficiency, which included the opening of a new plant in the Czech Republic.

The AGCO deal is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2016. AGCO already owns GSI, a leading supplier of grain handling and storage equipment. Cimbria sales are concentrated in Western Europe with growing exposure to Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

BKT gets Deutz-Fahr tractor approval

BKT tyres was announced as an original equipment supplier for Deutz-Fahr tractors with Agrimax tyres now fitted to the new 6, 7 as well as the 9 tractor series tractors recently launched. Deutz-Fahr has chosen the best of the Agrimax line-up, the specific range for modern high-power tractors, and in particular the Agrimax Force, Agrimax RT 657 and Agrimax RT 765.

Indian manufactured Agrimax Force tyres will be fitted to the new Deutz-Fahr 9 Series, while the Agrimax RT 657 has been chosen for the 6 and 7 Series tractors. The BKT Agrimax tyre range is distributed in Ireland by Agrigear of Bailieborough, Co Cavan.