Agritechnica has rightly assumed the title of being the world’s biggest farm machinery event and the huge exhibition held this week in Hanover, Germany, did not disappoint. The farm machinery companies of the world turned out in style to show their latest machines to a huge European audience, which included many Irish visitors.

Two years ago, there was an emerging trend of the potential of the electric drive systems to replace hydraulic and pto system drives. That trend continued into the 2013 show as more and more companies were offering this as an option in development plans.

There was an array of tractor models at the show. The Chinese entrants at the lower end of the power spectrum were on smaller stands, while the German market-leading models from Fendt, John Deere, Deutz-Fahr and Claas dominated the bigger stands.

The move to Tier 4/Stage IIIB engines was in evidence everywhere.

The tractor and engine companies have invested hugely to comply with these emissions regulations, often to the detriment of other new machinery technologies that would enhance the machines to a level where they would be equally fuel efficient and carbon clean. Across the machines, there was evidence of strip seeding and strip tillage operations.

Tyre manufacturers were there in strength with a host of new concept ideas to help to reduce soil compaction and reduce fuel consumption. There is more scope for fuel savings in this area.

On these pages, we give you a flavour of the event.

  • We will have more pictures next week