In this article, we look at the new tractor and machinery introductions over the past 30 years that coincided with the annual National Ploughing Championships. The event has been a high point in the farming calendar for more than 30 years. Its importance is reflected in the fact that our annual Ploughing supplement has grown in size from 32 pages in 1986 to 92 pages this year.
Somehow, 1996 doesn’t seem that long ago and the tractors introduced then still seem fresh to the eye. That was 20 years ago and a lot has changed since then.
Looking back to 1986 and the changes in tractor design and scale are more significant over that 30-year period. Here, we give you just a glimpse of the events of those important two years in Ploughing and machinery history, starting with 1996.
1996
The World Ploughing Championships was staged in Ireland in 1996 and there was a huge attendance at the event, which took place at the Teagasc Oak Park Centre in Carlow in the first week of October. That was also the year Wexford ploughman Martin Keohoe was unsuccessful in retaining his world ploughing title from the year before. However, he did retain his national title.
It was also the first year that an international vintage tractor ploughing competition was held in Ireland, with competitors from England, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man taking part to make up a field of 53 competitors.
New Holland showed its new generation L35 tractors that were called the L series in Fiat colours and the 35 series in Ford blue. These tractors were fitted with Fiat engines throughout and included the Ford 4835 and Fiat L65 and the larger Ford 7635 and Fiat L95. That was the year that New Holland also launched its Irish-based finance wing as Ireland’s newest finance company, which is no longer operating.
Massey Ferguson introduced a sloped-bonnet version of the 6140 tractor. Same tractors showed its new automatic gearbox version for the Titan 146, 160 and 190 tractors that gave 27 forward and reverse speeds operated through manual, auto-power or auto-economy modes. This was also the first year that the Same Titan 160 model was fitted with a water-cooled engine, replacing an air-cooled unit.
Valtra showed its new 8750 Sigma power tractor with its claim of a unique engine power system to provide extra engine power at the PTO shaft. This was an early version of power boost in that the engine sensed an additional load on the PTO shaft and then automatically boosted the power by an extra 30hp to meet that demand, giving the 8750 up to 190hp for heavy-duty PTO work such as driving silage harvesters.
Deutz-Fahr introduced the first versions of the Agrotron tractor range with their sloping bonnets at Ploughing 1996. The tractors were then imported by IAM Agricultural Machinery and had their former air-cooled engines entirely replaced by four- and six-cylinder water-cooled Deutz engines.
Renault tractors were not yet part of the Claas family and were imported by the late Richie Davis, based at Collon, Co Louth. Zetor was part of the Motokov operation and was offering 40% discount on all tractors to entice farmers to buy at Ploughing 1996. The price of the Zetor 9540 was reduced from £31,870 to £19,122 in an effort to lift the market.
JCB introduced Quadtronic or four-wheel steering versions of its Fastrac models. The Fastrac 115 and 1135 with the Quadtronic all-wheel steer system were the highlights of the JCB stand that year.
The Moffett MFT tractor was introduced with the Ford 7740 and larger six-cylinder 7840-based units introduced in 1995 and the latest version created a lot of interest at the Ploughing in 1996.
Matbro was a strong player in the telehandler market, with the TR200, TR250 and TR270 popular among farmers. John Deere had agreed a deal with Matbro at the time and it introduced the new John Deere 4400 and 4500 telescopic loaders, based on the Matbro designs and with John Deere engines, for Ploughing 1996.
Merlo telescopic loaders were also introduced to the Irish market that year, with the announcement of El-Ge Engineering of Naas as the official agents. These Italian-built machines were fitted with Perkins engines and fully hydrostatic transmissions.
Claas also joined the telescopic loader market that year with the launch of the Claas 960 model at Ploughing 1996. This was a rebranded Sanderson loader and the start of the Claas entry into the farm handling market.
1986
Ten years before that, in 1986, the National Ploughing Championships took place in balmy weather conditions at Woodsgift near Urlingford, Co Kilkenny, in the second week of October. That was the year that Ford took over the New Holland operations to create Ford New Holland.
Massey Ferguson and Landini were being sold by Massey Ferguson Ireland along with the 200 and 600 Series Massey Ferguson tractors popular in the range. Within weeks of the Ploughing, Massey Ferguson announced the launch of the 3000 series models with their Autotronic and Datatronic systems. This concept in tractor design, with an electronic control of the three-point linkage, despite reliability problems, brought a significant change in tractor design among the volume manufacturers.
John Deere introduced the 50 Series tractors, an upgrade from the 40 Series, with claims of lower fuel consumption by using an eco-fan on some models. MCI and SG2 cabs were offered on some models in the new 50 Series range and Deere offered a 40km/h high-speed tractor option for the larger versions of the four-wheel-drive tractors which included four-wheel braking as standard.
The distribution of the Fiatagri tractor range had moved to Caterpillar dealers McCormick Macnaughton and the new smaller 66 Series tractors were introduced for the first time to the Irish market. The other plant machinery company to enter the tractor market that year was Pat O’Donnell & Co, as it became the Irish distributors for the Russian-built Belarus range.
Ursus importers D&S Machinery launched the new 47hp Ursus 3512 tractor that year, with plans to introduce a further four models later that year. Ford introduced the new small and more affordable 4610 tractor with an Irish-built cab produced in Longford by Longford GRP. Universal tractors, then imported by Curley Tractors of Kiltormer, Co Galway, introduced a new range of models, while still using the Fiat-designed diesel engines.
There was great enthusiasm in the contractor self-propelled silage harvester market, with sales of 56 machines in 1986. Mahon & McPhillips of Kilkenny introduced a new high-output self-propelled silage harvester in the shape of the Mengele SF6000, which was initially dogged with problems. That year, New Holland introduced the new S1800, S1900 and S2200 self-propelled silage harvesters, all powered by DAF engines. One of these original machines is still in the hands of Co Down contractor John Dan O’Hare.
Read more
Full coverage: Ploughing 2016
In this article, we look at the new tractor and machinery introductions over the past 30 years that coincided with the annual National Ploughing Championships. The event has been a high point in the farming calendar for more than 30 years. Its importance is reflected in the fact that our annual Ploughing supplement has grown in size from 32 pages in 1986 to 92 pages this year.
Somehow, 1996 doesn’t seem that long ago and the tractors introduced then still seem fresh to the eye. That was 20 years ago and a lot has changed since then.
Looking back to 1986 and the changes in tractor design and scale are more significant over that 30-year period. Here, we give you just a glimpse of the events of those important two years in Ploughing and machinery history, starting with 1996.
1996
The World Ploughing Championships was staged in Ireland in 1996 and there was a huge attendance at the event, which took place at the Teagasc Oak Park Centre in Carlow in the first week of October. That was also the year Wexford ploughman Martin Keohoe was unsuccessful in retaining his world ploughing title from the year before. However, he did retain his national title.
It was also the first year that an international vintage tractor ploughing competition was held in Ireland, with competitors from England, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man taking part to make up a field of 53 competitors.
New Holland showed its new generation L35 tractors that were called the L series in Fiat colours and the 35 series in Ford blue. These tractors were fitted with Fiat engines throughout and included the Ford 4835 and Fiat L65 and the larger Ford 7635 and Fiat L95. That was the year that New Holland also launched its Irish-based finance wing as Ireland’s newest finance company, which is no longer operating.
Massey Ferguson introduced a sloped-bonnet version of the 6140 tractor. Same tractors showed its new automatic gearbox version for the Titan 146, 160 and 190 tractors that gave 27 forward and reverse speeds operated through manual, auto-power or auto-economy modes. This was also the first year that the Same Titan 160 model was fitted with a water-cooled engine, replacing an air-cooled unit.
Valtra showed its new 8750 Sigma power tractor with its claim of a unique engine power system to provide extra engine power at the PTO shaft. This was an early version of power boost in that the engine sensed an additional load on the PTO shaft and then automatically boosted the power by an extra 30hp to meet that demand, giving the 8750 up to 190hp for heavy-duty PTO work such as driving silage harvesters.
Deutz-Fahr introduced the first versions of the Agrotron tractor range with their sloping bonnets at Ploughing 1996. The tractors were then imported by IAM Agricultural Machinery and had their former air-cooled engines entirely replaced by four- and six-cylinder water-cooled Deutz engines.
Renault tractors were not yet part of the Claas family and were imported by the late Richie Davis, based at Collon, Co Louth. Zetor was part of the Motokov operation and was offering 40% discount on all tractors to entice farmers to buy at Ploughing 1996. The price of the Zetor 9540 was reduced from £31,870 to £19,122 in an effort to lift the market.
JCB introduced Quadtronic or four-wheel steering versions of its Fastrac models. The Fastrac 115 and 1135 with the Quadtronic all-wheel steer system were the highlights of the JCB stand that year.
The Moffett MFT tractor was introduced with the Ford 7740 and larger six-cylinder 7840-based units introduced in 1995 and the latest version created a lot of interest at the Ploughing in 1996.
Matbro was a strong player in the telehandler market, with the TR200, TR250 and TR270 popular among farmers. John Deere had agreed a deal with Matbro at the time and it introduced the new John Deere 4400 and 4500 telescopic loaders, based on the Matbro designs and with John Deere engines, for Ploughing 1996.
Merlo telescopic loaders were also introduced to the Irish market that year, with the announcement of El-Ge Engineering of Naas as the official agents. These Italian-built machines were fitted with Perkins engines and fully hydrostatic transmissions.
Claas also joined the telescopic loader market that year with the launch of the Claas 960 model at Ploughing 1996. This was a rebranded Sanderson loader and the start of the Claas entry into the farm handling market.
1986
Ten years before that, in 1986, the National Ploughing Championships took place in balmy weather conditions at Woodsgift near Urlingford, Co Kilkenny, in the second week of October. That was the year that Ford took over the New Holland operations to create Ford New Holland.
Massey Ferguson and Landini were being sold by Massey Ferguson Ireland along with the 200 and 600 Series Massey Ferguson tractors popular in the range. Within weeks of the Ploughing, Massey Ferguson announced the launch of the 3000 series models with their Autotronic and Datatronic systems. This concept in tractor design, with an electronic control of the three-point linkage, despite reliability problems, brought a significant change in tractor design among the volume manufacturers.
John Deere introduced the 50 Series tractors, an upgrade from the 40 Series, with claims of lower fuel consumption by using an eco-fan on some models. MCI and SG2 cabs were offered on some models in the new 50 Series range and Deere offered a 40km/h high-speed tractor option for the larger versions of the four-wheel-drive tractors which included four-wheel braking as standard.
The distribution of the Fiatagri tractor range had moved to Caterpillar dealers McCormick Macnaughton and the new smaller 66 Series tractors were introduced for the first time to the Irish market. The other plant machinery company to enter the tractor market that year was Pat O’Donnell & Co, as it became the Irish distributors for the Russian-built Belarus range.
Ursus importers D&S Machinery launched the new 47hp Ursus 3512 tractor that year, with plans to introduce a further four models later that year. Ford introduced the new small and more affordable 4610 tractor with an Irish-built cab produced in Longford by Longford GRP. Universal tractors, then imported by Curley Tractors of Kiltormer, Co Galway, introduced a new range of models, while still using the Fiat-designed diesel engines.
There was great enthusiasm in the contractor self-propelled silage harvester market, with sales of 56 machines in 1986. Mahon & McPhillips of Kilkenny introduced a new high-output self-propelled silage harvester in the shape of the Mengele SF6000, which was initially dogged with problems. That year, New Holland introduced the new S1800, S1900 and S2200 self-propelled silage harvesters, all powered by DAF engines. One of these original machines is still in the hands of Co Down contractor John Dan O’Hare.
Read more
Full coverage: Ploughing 2016
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