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The return of Ursus to the Irish market in 2014 saw an increased interest in basic specification tractors. Already inhabited by the likes of Tumosan, Hattat and Zetor, this sector is becoming increasingly competitive.

Massey Ferguson also launched its 4700 Global Series tractors, while D&S Machinery introduced the Solis from India.

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The development of round balers leapt ahead in 2014, with Lely unveiling its continuous round-baler concept in the Netherlands.

Kverneland also unveiled a continuous round baler towards the end of the year.

Austrian manufacturers Pöttinger and Göweil entered the round-baler market with new products and some innovative design work.

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We were reminded of an integral part of Irish agriculture when toy model maker Ciaran Dunne built a 1:32 scale model of a single-row Armer Salmon beet harvester.

The sugar beet industry did not just help agriculture develop in Ireland.

It also fostered and developed the engineering expertise of much of our agricultural machinery manufacturing industry.

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September saw Eamonn Tracey return from the World Ploughing Contest in Bordeaux, France, where when won the world conventional ploughing title. Fellow Irish ploughman John Whelan also brought a medal home, after winning bronze in the world reversible class. It was a remarkable achievement for both men.

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The last show of the year was Agromek in Herning, Denmark.

There was much to whet visitors’ appetites at the show, including this neat crane arrangement from Danish firm Hymaco. It was designed to allow larger, trailed seed drills to be loaded by the same tractor operating the drill.

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In July, Fendt unveiled its all-new flagship 1000 series tractor range.

The 500hp Fendt 1050 is the largest model in the new series.

Powered by MAN engines and a new Vario transmission, it has 60in row crop capabilities that AGCO said is suited to North America and Australian agriculture.

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Austrian brand Lindner finally arrived on the Irish market. The franchise was secured by Plant Systems Ltd, based in Dublin, and owned and run by brothers Darren, Tommy and Shane Plant.

We tested the Lindner Geotrac 134EP, which offers Irish customers something different.

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Tractor quick-hitch systems seemed to be coming of age in 2014, with around three commercially available systems on the market. Two of these are Irish, one from Dromone Engineering and the other from Shanks Engineering.

Austrian farmer Johann Gangl has developed another, while the SIWI Combi-Hitch system is designed by Rasmus Helms from Denmark.

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Last spring saw the first of the new Landini 6 and 7-series tractors, as well as sister brand McCormick’s X7-series, arrive in Ireland. Both are built in Italy by ARGO and imported by D&S Machinery Ltd in Dublin.

Interestingly, ARGO actively promoted the new series on its major components, including the fact that it uses FPT engines, ZF powertrains, Carraro axles and Rexroth hydraulics.