In the second instalment of our stockman’s tractor testing series, this week we drive a Claas Arion 440 fitted with a Claas FL 80 front loader. Designed with loader work in mind, it tested well on the dynamometer and has plenty of features in a compact package. It’s a tractor that’s as much at home on a dairy or drystock farm as on a small tillage farm.

We tested it in a number of different situations including various loader tasks both inside and around the yard, implement attachment and towing a fully loaded dump trailer.

In our vintage pages, we were lucky enough to experience a real piece of history getting to drive a John Deere 4755. This American powerhouse was considered the leader of the pack in its heyday. Having spent its working life on a tillage farm in the UK, we travelled to Waterford to meet its owner who plans to use the tractor to earn its keep in a mixture of tasks.

In our motoring pages, Alistair Chambers got to see three new cars from Volkawagen. He previews the new Polo, T-Roc and Tiguan. These models are all very popular with Irish drivers and are expected to be a big hit when they arrive on the forecourts around Ireland.