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Editor: Chris Thomas

County Organisers Office
Tunbeck Farm
Wortwell
Harleston
IP20 0HP

Tel/Fax: 01986 788209
Email: chris@normac.uk.com

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Next Issue March 2002
Copy for all articles, diary dates and advertising by the end of the first week of February.

Editorial

About a fortnight a go, as I was doing some ploughing, I was trying to dream up some features and ideas for this journal. One of the first thoughts that came to mind, (apart from a strong sense of panic) was that not a great deal had gone on in farming terms since the last journal in June. Reality soon took over when I remembered the events of the 11th September and all the ramifications that could result from this. This week, we are beginning to see Taliban troops retreating in the face of heavy American bombing and some courageous fighting by the Northern Alliance, and my guess is that by the time you read this, Bin Laden, or some of his henchmen would have been spotted by American spy satellites, and another chapter of world history would have been written. Or maybe not. What if there will be another air atrocity? What if for security reasons, most, if not all our airports were shut down, or maybe even our ports? All of a sudden, Great Britain Ltd would have to become self-sufficient. Who would the government, the super-markets and the general public turn to, to fill their bellies? Us of course, the agricultural industry would have huge demands put upon it to feed the nation. The government of the day will not be able to understand why we won't be able to. They would have forgotten that over recent times they have closed most of the agricultural research stations, forcing the best agricultural scientists abroad, They would have forgotten that they allowed animal do-gooders to dictate to them, and subsequently legislate against good farming practice in favour of being "kinder" to animals, and hence, forcing profits, and investment to practically zero. They would have forgotten too that they allowed diseased meat products into this country, which introduced two of the most feared epidemics into this country in as many years, namely swine fever and foot and mouth.
Of course, we all hope terrorist action, or any other atrocity will never happen again, but it just illustrates how precarious our food supply is, and how ill equipped we have become to feed ourselves.

Phew!, thank goodness I have got that off my chest. On to more pleasant things. One of the more pleasing aspects of NORMAC is the willingness of individual centres to do something to raise a bit of cash for local charities. You will see in this issue that several clubs have done just that, and I was lucky enough to be present when both Fakenham Centre and Holt Centre presented their cheques to several local good causes. Fakenham and Dereham had a collection box at their ploughing matches, and Holt Centre staged one of their famous ploughing marathons during the autumn, and then celebrated the event by putting on a sumptuous dinner-dance, which again was a great success. I am hoping that we will have a surplus after the County Ploughing Match, and that we can give a bit to the R.A.B.I. So congratulations to all concerned, and perhaps other centres may like to consider doing something similar for charities in their local area? May I thank again those that helped me at the County Match, and also to Ray Crowe for helping me at Tunstead back in September. May I, through these columns wish Ray's wife a speedy recovery from recent illness.

In my piece in the last issue, I asked for feedback on what we do and how you would like NORMAC to progress in the coming years. My phone still stays silent on the shelf. I would like your opinion, particularly on what you would like me to organise as a winter time technical day, or "meet the manufacturer" day, and also on a county wide social evening of some sort. Would you support them? Please let me know.

I am happy to confirm that next years Demonstration will be held on the 18th September at Sennowe Park, Guist, right beside the Norwich to Fakenham road, by kind permission of Mr. T. Cook and his manager, Adrian Howes, so book that date in your new Christmas diary! Don't forget also that we have the NORMAC Quiz Final and the Club AGM on Tuesday 12th February, at Easton College, starting at 7.30pm.
The quiz semi final, held just last week was good fun. If you haven't been before, why not come and see what you have missed!

That just about wraps it all up for now. Just leaves me to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a successful new year.

Chris Thomas

Club News

NORMAC County Ploughing Match
After a whole succession of wet weekends previously, I was very nervous we might be rained off for our own ploughing match scheduled for 14th October. However the day proved to be dry but a little foggy.

Fifty seven competitors eventually turned up from all corners of the country, including Cornwall, Yorkshire, Hertfordshire and Leicestershire, as well as from Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. Our Judges came from Essex, Suffolk and Lincolnshire, and my thanks go to them for journeying to Norfolk for the day.

If the weather was good, the ploughing conditions were near perfect. Sir John White had let us use a 14 Ha. field, and Poul Hoveson had cut the stubbles nice and short, with a minimum of trash. I had hoped for some Norfolk tractor dealers to come and plough some demonstration plots in an adjoining field, but for various reasons only Ben Burgess could make it and showed just what a good job can be done with modern tractors and ploughs.

As might be expected, ploughing was to a very high standard, and the results were as follows:-

The Ladies Drawing Match was won by Mrs. Bunting with 1 ½'' deviation, and the Gents. Drawing Match was won by Rex Hooks with ¾'' deviation

As there was no National Ploughing Match this year, this was not a qualifier, but the standard was as good as you could get anywhere. A collection was made at the gate for R.A.B.I. and a raffle was organised to help pay for the event. My thanks to centres who gave raffle prizes and to the girls who sold the tickets. My grateful thanks go to Sir John White and Poul Hoveson for allowing us to use his fields once again, to Messrs Konskilde, for the use of their show caravan, and to all NORMAC members who turned out to mark out and help on the day. With such a dry day in an otherwise difficult autumn, no one could be blamed for staying at home to catch up, but a few good old stalwarts were able to come along, and were much appreciated.- Thanks boys.

Dereham Club
First of all, an important notice to club members and anyone wishing to go to a Dereham Club meeting. The venue for club meetings has been changed.
Due to circumstances beyond control, club nights are no longer at the Millwrights Arms in Toftwood. Instead, Dereham Centre now meet at Dereham Hockey Club, Honeysuckle Drive, off Greenfields Road. (Very close to Atkin Farm Machinery)
If you are not sure how to find it, ring John Trimbee (Hon Sec), for a map.

Dereham Club have a Dinner Dance at East Tuddenham Village Hall on 14th December. If you are quick, phone David on 01362 695761 for tickets.

During the Summer, Jon Harvey, James and Mike Garrod took part in the EDP Ride for Life event organised for Quiddenham Childrens Hospice. Jon and James also took part in the 100 Miles Round Norfolk Ride, again for charity. Well done boys, how good it is for good old boys like you to have a good day out, a bit of fun and raise a bit of cash for a good cause as well!

The club day out to Caterpillar (UK) Ltd was a great success, with excellent hospitality and presentation. The most appreciated feature of the day was when "the boys" were invited to "play with the toys".

The Treasure Hunt was again very successful, everyone ending up at Low Farm, Primrose Green for a B.B.Q arranged by Bernard and Elaine Jones. The winners were Tamzin and James Garrod.

As a result of various raffles held at club meetings during the year, a donation of £260.00 was sent to Macmillan Cancer Relief. Well done to all Dereham club members.

Dereham Annual Ploughing Match - 7 October 2001
Dereham Farm Machinery Club held their annual Ploughing Match at Dillington Hall Farm, Dereham, Norfolk, by kind permission of Mr.T. Newton.

Surprisingly after 3" of rain in September and nearly 1" in the first week of October the ground conditions on the medium stony soil were near perfect for all classes of ploughs. The weather forecast for the Sunday was light rain and strong winds. Fortunately for us, we only had a few spots of rain around 10.00am and 12.30pm, not enough even to put a coat on, the rains and wind stayed away until after the prize giving.

I would like to thank all the members who helped mark out the field on the Friday afternoon before, and all those who helped on the Sunday to make it a most successful day, but sincere thanks to the competitors who supported our ploughing match again, where 27 plots were ploughed.

The final results were as follows:-

Raffle tickets were sold by Mr. Steven Austin who was given a lantern torch as thanks for his efforts in raising £135. some of which will be given to East Anglian Air Ambulance, our charity fund raising for the year.

Fred Milk - Ploughing Match Chairman.

Fakenham Club
They Make It - They Give It Away

At the November meeting of the Fakenham Club they presented the money made at their Ploughing Match to three charities:

East Anglian Air Ambulance £300
Age Concern - Fakenham Area Minibuses £300
St. Johns Ambulance £60

Ray Hall

Fakenham Annual Ploughing Match - 23 September 2001
The match was held on land provided by Keiths Farmers Partnership, and attracted 45 ploughs from as far away as Essex and Yorkshire. Conditions on the day were far from ideal, but competitors made the best of it and did some very good work.

The winners were:

A special mention to George Howell who collected £229.98 on the gate. Well done George.

The day raised £660. which will be divided between the Air Ambulance, Age Concern and the St. Johns Ambulance.

Thanks goes to those people that helped to make the day a success.

Ray Hall

Holt Centre Ploughing for Charity
As we made plans for this, the 11th Ploughing Marathon spanning a period of 22 years we considered ways to change what had become a very predictable format, but decided that the proven format could not be beaten. That is, if you want to raise a lot of money with the minimum of effort, why try to make it more involved with the risk that you could consume far more time and energy and yet raise no more money.

So we decided to stick to the proven formulae; 1 tractor, 1 plough, 100 acres of land, 1000 litres of diesel and 12 club members in order to raise a sum of money that our chosen charities would benefit from.

A conversation between Steve Mitchell and Richard Beadman of AGCO at Smithfield 2000 gave us the incentive to speak with Norfolk Farm Machinery about the possibility of them providing us with a Fendt Tractor for this year's effort. Steve Kittle very soon confirmed that they would be willing to provide us with a suitable Fendt and so the first part of the picture was in place. We then looked at the plough and with NFM having taken on the Kuhn franchise it seemed the logical step to secure a plough from the same source. Kuhn agreed to provide wearing parts for the NFM demonstration 5 furrow plough and the next step was now in place.

When it came to the 100 acres of land, we were very fortunate that our host for the previous 10 marathons, David Loads Farms Limited, were again willing to not only act as our host, but to provide us with a very large part of our sponsorship as we strive to achieve a figure of £3,000.00. We still needed fuel for the tractor and once again we turned to Steve Burrows at TOTAL Butler who duly obliged with 1000 litres of diesel. Now it was back to our members to provide the 12 drivers who would not only drive the tractor for the 48 hours, but who would bully/persuade any of their friends and business acquaintances to sponsor their efforts. As we prepared the rota, it was clear that some folk prefer to be in their bed at the normal time while others are happy to leave their wife in the middle of the night in exchange for the cabin of the Fendt tractor. As is now customary, our President, Edwin Jones got the Marathon under way at lunchtime on Friday September 21st by ploughing the first 4 hour stint and as in previous years it was a difficult one to beat with a heavy right foot (or hand) he covered a considerable area. Edwin was followed in turn by: Martin Fisher, Richard Mace, Niven Last, Andrew Gray, Steve Mitchell, Phillip Mitchell, Gary Pointer, Martin Savory, Karl Stoakley, Mick Daniels and to finish the effort, our always willing member Derek Lee.

We have over the previous occasions, been fortunate to have been provided with some very modern equipment, but the Fendt Vario has taken us a stage further in terms of in cab sophistication and it was a fact not lost on any of those who took part. It speaks volumes for the calibre of the Holt members that they can hop-off their Fordson Major and onto a Fendt Vario and feel totally at home. Or was it the very thorough training provided by Phillip Andrews when the participants went to Sculthorpe for some product familiarization!! Not only was the tractor new to many, but the plough was also previously an unknown to those involved, but it too gave a very good impression both in terms of quality of work and the wearing properties of its metal.

With the weather kind to us throughout the weekend, it was no surprise that we comfortably achieved our target by mid-day Sunday and by early afternoon everything was cleared-up, packed away until 2003.

Over the next 3 weeks everyone was busy collecting their sponsorship money and as a club we met on Thursday October 11th to collect all that had been raised. A total of £3,923.00 was the result which is a credit to everyone at the club who gained sponsorship which will benefit this years chosen charities; Marie Curie Cancer Care, East Anglian Air Ambulance, Myasthenia Gravis and Nystagmus Network.

On Friday November 2nd the club held a Dinner Dance at Pinewood Park when more than 100 members, friends and guests enjoyed a superb dinner. During the evening the cheques were presented to:-

Peter Mendham on behalf of Marie Curie Cancer Care
Leslie Heslin on behalf of Nystagmus Network
Diane Mitchell on behalf of Myasthenia Gravis Association.

Malcolm Greves

NORMAC Quiz Semifinal Night

I find it difficult to see why by tradition an important event in NORMAC's calendar is not better supported. Those that were there, (and there was more than last year) had a very enjoyable evening, a bit of fun, and later on a good selection of refreshments were provided, the evening being rounded off in the bar at Easton College.

Three centres couldn't muster a team, so a scratch team was made up of unsuspecting spectators and followers to allow us to run a full competition. My grateful thanks to those who took part in the spirit of the game.

After 5 rounds of stiff competition, the winners who go on to the final at the AGM, are Swaffham, Holt, Dereham and North Walsham. Nivan Last was "Top Man" with 18 points.

My thanks to all who took part.

Classic Farm Machinery
Development of the Combine Harvester. Part 2 1900 Onwards.

As a footnote to my article in the last Top Link, I mentioned that the Best Company and Holt Company amalgamated in 1925 to form the Caterpillar Tractor Company. At that time they ceased making reaper harvesters and sold all the manufacturing rights to Deere & Co. Now history has turned full circle and Caterpillar are selling Claas combines under their own name in the U.S. However, back in 1891, Benjamin Holt was still very much in the market and produced the first "hill-side" machine, capable of keeping the body of the machine level, and therefore the shaker shoe level on the steepest of slopes. This was before the days of hydraulics so how this was done by mechanical means I don't know.
These giant machines reached their zenith by about the First World War, because in 1910, in an effort to reduce both the initial cost and the cost to run by cutting down on the number of men on the machine, Holt brought out a baby machine with a 12ft. cut.
McCormick and Deering responded with a 2-man machine costing $1600 in 1917.

In 1910, the Canadian manufacturers Massey-Harris produced their first combined thresher. Still driven by land wheels, it was the forerunner of their No5 machine. A gigantic leap forward was made because for the first time, in 1922, an engine was fitted to power the threshing mechanism. They also offered a rasp bar type of drum for the first time. A few No5's were being evaluated in the U.K. by 1929. I believe one was operating in the South Creek area. Also in 1929, Clayton & Shuttleworth of Lincoln made a few combines to a similar design. 130 machines were built, mainly for export, but one remains and has been restored in Scotland. Unfortunately, Claytons suffered financial difficulties, and were taken over by Marshall's of Gainsborough and development was stopped.

In 1930, McCormick joined the Deering Machine Company and formed the International Harvester Company, but it was Massey Harris who were now the pacemakers in combine design. During the mid '30s, they offered the No 15, and in 1937, the "Clipper", both fairly low cost and driven off the tractor PTO. In Germany, August Claas developed the "Mah-Dresch Binder (MDB) combine during 1936 and 1937. This was made of wood and was the forerunner of the Claas Automatics which were quite common over here just after the war.

1938 saw a giant leap forward when Massey Harris offered the first self propelled combine to the market place. This was the No. 20, and had a 16 ft. cut and powered by a 65hp. Chrysler engine. Eight pre-production machines were secretly tested in Argentina before 925 machines were built for the 1938 harvest. This was said to be a little top heavy, so the problem was addressed in 1940 by the M-H 21. A real classic.
More than anything before it, the 21 revolutionised farming both in the US and over here. 1500 machines were shipped over here during the war on the Lend-Lease scheme, and over in the States, thousands were made. A contempory report from a small town in Kansas stated that over 2000 21's passed through in just 5 days. The story of the "Harvest Brigade" could fill another article, but briefly, 500 machines were organised to help bring in the 1944 wheat harvest. They started down south somewhere in the Texas area, and worked their way north, cutting a total of 1,019,500 acres. The top operator cut 3438 acres alone.

Back to the UK., the number of combines in use on farms in 1942 was 950. By 1944, that number had risen to 2500. Mostly MH21's and Allis Chalmers Allcrop's.
After the war, combine manufacture started in Gt. Britain. MH offered the 726, made in Manchester and later in Kilmarnock, Scotland. International made their B64 in Doncaster, and Ransomes as well as David Brown offered small trailed machines.

During the 1950's, the 726 was replaced by the 780, Ransomes offered the 902 in 1958 and Mann's of Saxham imported the Claas S.F self propelled machine. From then on things only got bigger. Higher throughput was achieved with an extra beater or various separation systems located just as the crop leaves the concave. These systems help to distribute the crop more evenly over the straw walkers, and hence, allowing a greater output Operator comfort and safety started to become an issue and cabs appeared in the late 1970's. In 1979, International Harvester developed the Axial Flow, followed soon after by New Holland. This was a radical redesign of the threshing mechanism, and required a 200hp engine. At that time the most powerful machine on the market. The latest big stride in combine development must be in the field of electronics, with yield mapping and recording systems now common-place on many farms. Using a GPS system, powerful computers lock on to space satellites, and can record the position of the machine down to a few centimetres. Grain flow monitors and moisture monitors measure the throughput, and all this information is stored in the computer ready for transferring to the farm office for evaluation. Used properly, this information is a highly important source of data for future farm management decisions.

Especially for Spud Bashers !

A new mobile washer designed for potato growers supplying the processing market is being introduced by Tong Engineering, Spilsby, Lincs.

Based on the traditional barrel washing principle, the new machine achieves a high throughput of up to 30 tonnes per hour at a low running cost. Achieved by recycling the water and requiring very low maintenance. The washer can cope with differing levels of soil on the crop, through varying the throughput of potatoes and also by operating a high pressure spray for cleaning really dirty crops.
Mud collected in the bottom of the machine is removed by an auger and is discharged through a shute into a skip or a trailer. Operation of the auger can be timed according to the level of dirt on the crop.
The washer has a tank capacity of 6 cubic metres, but water usage is small owing to recycling. The machine provides for stone and clod separation before the crop is washed. The potatoes also pass over an inspection table for up to 8 people.
Supplied with an in-built diesel generator, the machine is transported on a standard artic. Trailer. Cost approx £60,000

New Heavy Duty Ploughs Join Vogel & Noot Range

A new range of fully mounted ploughs to cater for the higher horsepower tractors have been added to the Vogel & Noot Euromat 3S range.
The XS ploughs are available in 4 to 6 furrow sizes with mechanical or hydraulic width adjustment and a choice of leg protection. Compared to the 220hp rated S models, the new ploughs feature a stronger headstock and beam, revised depth/transport wheel layout and other components up-rated to work with tractors up to 260hp.

Although the XS shares the same 150x150 main frame dimensions, the box section is thicker at 12mm. The tube that forms the foundations for the headstock is of a larger diameter. There are stronger turnover stops, and the offset slide for front furrow width adjustment is fabricated rather than cast. Mounting the depth/transport wheel to one side, rather than the end of the beam improves weight distribution and allows work closer to field boundaries.

The XS ploughs also introduce the latest steel hardening technology for mouldboards. The Permanit Carbon Plus process significantly increases wear resistance while still retaining some flexibility, otherwise they would just snap or shatter under stress. The process adds higher levels of carbon and provides an asymmetric hardening cross section through the steel. Wear resistance as the mouldboard wears is maintained for a longer period, maintaining good soil flow and finish, with wear resistance only petering out as the mouldboard nears the end of its useful life.

All plough models have 950mm (37in) point to point clearance, manure skimmers and leg deflectors on all furrows, disc coulter on rear body only.

New John Deere Range

A brief overview, I think, would be sufficient here. Detailed descriptions of the various models will be in forthcoming articles.

Tractors
No less than 24 new models of tractors have been announced with power levels from 53hp to 450hp. See table for full range.

The 5010 Series tractors replace the 5000 Series for lighter work on the farm. Engines range from a 53hp, 3 cylinder, naturally aspirated unit to a 80hp Turbo 4 cylinder power unit. Different transmission options include a 12 speed/ 30K box, a 24 speed, 40K box with/without an electro-hydraulic Hi-Lo option. All have 2wd or 4wd options.
On to the 6020 Series. From 80hp to 150hp, this is a 10 model range. 4.5 and 6.8 litre engines have been designed to meet strict emission standards and some models feature electronic governing. Engine oil drain down times have been extended to 500 hours. There is a bewildering choice of transmissions with many automatic features like cruse control and headland management systems. Perhaps the most interesting feature is the electronically controlled hydraulic cab suspension system, which provides a self levelling cab as well as protecting the operator from vibration and shocks. The cab also features the CommandARM control unit which groups all the major tractor controls together, and is integral with the tractor seat.
The new 160hp 7710 and 175hp 7810 tractors are now optionally available with 50kph AutoQuad ll or Autopowr step-less transmissions. Again there are many automatic features and a total of 20 forward and reverse speeds.
The new high horsepower 8020 Series tractors feature more power, higher lift capacities and greater operator comfort with the introduction of an optional independent front suspension system and Active Seat suspension. This is a fully adjustable, electro-hydraulic air cushion seat suspension system which senses and compensates for vertical movement, helping to provide for a smoother ride. The new front axle employs hydraulic cylinders working to create an independent suspension movement for each side of the axle. This means that each wheel maintains continuous ground contact whatever the conditions. All tractors in the range have the 8.1 litre engine with electronic governing and a new common rail fuel injection system. Transmissions are as in the previous 8010 Series. Lifting capacity at the link ends have been increased to a maximum of 11,000kg., And can be equipped with the largest front and rear tyres on the market. Tracked versions of the 8220 to 8520 are available with a choice of 4 different track widths.
Top of the range are the articulated 9020 Series. This is serious horse power stuff and is topped by the 450hp 9520, which is capable of actually generating 507hp. Available on wheels or tracks. As you would expect, it comes with all the bells and whistles including the new Service Advisor Outlet in the cab for computer assisted diagnostic and servicing facilities, as described elsewhere in this journal.

Balers and Other Equipment
The new range of combines are such a big subject, I will leave them to another issue. So on to balers, and the range now comprises 5 models. 3 are variable chamber models and 2 are fixed . Bale width on the variable chamber balers is 1.17m and diameter can be varied from .6m to 1.8m. Pre cutters help to make bales that are easily broken up for feeding or bedding. A hydraulically actuated mechanical reverser can be operated from the tractor cab, using the baler control monitor. Diamond tread pattern belts grip the crop, and roll it into a tight, dense core. A soft core version is available. Conventional twine as well as net wrap is available. Called CoverEdge, this wraps the entire edges as well as the rounded surface, and helps produce better shaped bales for transportation and moisture repelling qualities. Minimum hp requirements are from 45hp to 60hp.

A new baler/wrapper is being introduced into Europe, and will be on general release in 2003. Designed as a one man silage operation, this will bale and wrap using net or stretchwrap.

Other new machines launched recently include a range of mower/conditioners, both front and rear mounted as well as trailed centre pivot machines. Options will include a choice of impeller or urethane roll conditioners, wide spreading kit and windrow grouper.
Two new pivot steer telescopic handlers have also been launched. The 92hp 3700 and the 110hp 3800. The 3700 has a maximum lift capacity of 2 tonnes to a lift height of 4.7m, dropping to 1 tonne at the maximum forward reach of 2.7m. The 3800, being slightly bigger, will lift 2.5tonnes to 5.3m. Two transmissions are available, both with permanent 4WD. A CommandARM control console, similar to the one used in the combines, puts all the main controls at the drivers fingertips.
Three new Sprayers are introduced, with a choice of 15 to 24 m boom widths. These fold to less than 2.55m for transport. A new, robust frame and tank design has improved weight distribution, and keeps the centre of gravity close to the tractor. A three-point hitch triangle makes coupling up safer and easier. All valves, filters and a 60 litre induction hopper, as well as protective clothing lockers and a clean water supply are all situated on the left hand side. Three sprayer control systems are available, constant pressure, constant volume or automatic rate control. This in three different versions. Pressure, flow or a combination of the two. These are highly advanced CAN-BUS systems with GreenStar precision farming compatibility. A vacuum recirculation system is incorporated in the boom plumbing.

StarFire
As part of an integrated Agricultural Management System, StarFire is a highly accurate DGPS designed to pinpoint a machines location to 5cm. Using this system, Parallel Tracking can provide steering assistance to keep swath widths even and accurate and to provide maximum productivity. Used in conjunction with this , FieldDoc and JDLink, (Their names, not mine) send management of all arable operations to new dimensions.

Can I have an ice-pack now please!!!

Our Man in Minnesota

Members may recall in the last "Top Link" that we have a NORMAC member in the US taking a Degree course at Crookston, Minnesota. Here is his new report.

At the moment things are very busy with classes, tutorials etc. I have to take some general educational courses first, biology, maths, public speaking and I.T. The Agricultural classes start in earnest after Christmas.

Nearly all the land round here is family farmed, typically 250 to 3500 acres. Larger farms are further north, around the Canadian border. There are not many stock enterprises round here, just one or two large dairy herds that supply local outlets.
The main crops are wheat, sugar beet, barley, soybean, potatoes and maize for both combining and forage. All crops are spring sown, due to the severe winter weather and harvest is rather later than ours. The area is a bit like the fens, rather flat but fertile.

Harvest was pretty much over by the end of August in this area (earlier than us?-Ed),
which left the custom crews to continue their journey north to Canada to catch the last wheat's, beans and maize.
The focus here is now to getting all the stubbles ripped up. The more done now mean less in the spring. The ground will soon be frozen for five months or longer, so there is a good chance there will be no more land work until late April, so a great effort is made in the autumn. Also very much in mind was the forthcoming sugar beet harvest. This was completed in about three weeks, a 24-hour continuous operation.
The harvest system here is different to ours. Farmers use tractor drawn 6 and 8 row lifters, just to lift. The topping is done as a separate operation, sometimes a week earlier in an effort to speed the up the whole harvest. For farmers near to any factory, deliver their beet directly. Those who are a good way from the plant take their beet to a piling station where the beet are stored prior to processing. American Crystal then use an independent operator to haul the beet from the piling stations to the various factories. The processing campaign will last till mid May.

In my next report I will give some facts and figures on the five factories in this area. The weather has started to get colder, and snow will fall soon. I bid you all a happy Christmas and prosperous new year, and I look forward to writing to you in 2002.

Martin Tubby

Thanks Martin, same to you, we look forward to your next instalment. - Ed.

Service Advice In An Instant

John Deere's new Service Advisor computer based diagnostic system is a comprehensive source of all technical information on all John Deere products.

On newer self-propelled machines with diagnostic capabilities, including tractors, combines, and forage harvesters, the system is fully interactive. It has been under
Development with selected John Deere dealers for some time, and is now available to all dealers throughout the UK and Ireland.

Service Advisor enables the dealer technician to quickly identify problems and provide on the spot solutions, using a compact, field toughened laptop computer. The system includes all John Deere's printed operator and technical service manuals in a set of thre DVDs. These small disks contain the equivalent of over 400 manuals, many with more than 1000 pages.

The system has a dial up facility to enable it to connect to John Deere's DTAC (dealer technical assistance centre) solution database, so that service information is completely up to date at all times. The internet and e-mail are also accessible if required.

A special Service Advisor diagnostic port in the cab of newer products provides easy access and connection to the machine's operating systems, to enable the computer to receive diagnostic and performance information. John Deere service technicians can also use it to programme or calibrate the machine if necessary.

The computer interprets and explains the relevant machine service codes, and automatically offers appropriate solutions and recommended service procedures. Diagrams, drawings and photos can be enlarged on the screen to provide the necessary details.

If a problem cannot be diagnosed by these means, then it is possible through Service Advisor to connect into the various sensors on the machine and monitor information while it is running. The graphs and data produced can be transmitted directly to John Deere engineers to interpret, if the dealer technician needs help with the diagnosis.

In a recent example of Service Advisor in action, a customer of a John Deere dealer in East Anglia was experiencing an intermittent problem with his AutoPowr tractor defaulting to neutral. This could have been caused by any number of different components within the transmission, hydraulic or electronic systems, and by traditional methods could have taken a very long time to diagnose and solve.

In addition, since the fault was intermittent, this would have made it much more difficult to diagnose - often when the dealer technician visits in these cases, everything is working perfectly.

In this instance, Service Advisor was connected to the diagnostic port, and immediately identified a potential electronic fault. It then directed the technician to carry out a procedure designed to test all the electronic components of the AutoPowr system. By running this test a number of times, the intermittent fault was traced to a small magnetic switch in the left hand reverser control lever.

A new switch was installed, the problem solved and the tractor was back running as normal within three hours, far quicker than would have been the case without Service Advisor's help.

Taarup Bale In One Offers Higher Silage Quality At Lower Cost

The Kverneland Group has increased its Taarup grass machinery range with the revolutionary Bale In One (BIO) - a baler/wrapper which offers considerable cost savings by combining the two jobs on one machine, when compared with traditional baling and wrapping methods.

The ingenuity of theTaarup Bale in One system can be found in its combination of a fixed chamber round baler producing a 1.25m diameter by 1.22m wide bale, with that of an integral wrapping system, which seals in the silage quality while the bale remains within the bale chamber.

With outputs of about 30 bales/hr up to 45 bales/hr in ideal conditions, theTaarup BIO can compete with the output of balers working alone in silage, and can more than match the capacity of 'in-line' combinations. Physically, the Taarup BIO is not much larger than a standard baler - it weighs 3,000kg and is considerably more maneuverable than a combination wrapper.

Key to the Taarup BIO output is the speed of film application. Firstly, because the bale is wrapped before unloading, it needs only one and half layers of net. This also saves net wrap costs, with one roll capable of covering about 450 bales. Next, the film is applied using twin satellite arms, which rotate around the bale at 50rpm, applying four layers of film in about 12-15secs.

The two 750mm film dispensers are mounted inside a specially designed, 2.5m diameter ring, which encircles the bale. The ring is driven by two hydraulic motors fitted with nylon drive wheels, which are in contact with a high friction surface on the ring. Friction prevents the drive slipping and helps to quickly accelerate the ring to its working speed, as well as ensuring the dispensers stop in precisely the right position, to cut the film.

During wrapping, the bale is supported on a roller table formed from the lower six rollers in the base of the bale chamber. In the wrapping cycle, these rollers are driven hydraulically. The two hydraulic motors that power the wrapping ring are also connected into the same circuit. This independent hydraulic circuit is necessary to maintain the correct ratio between the speed of the dispensers and the roller table, to deliver a 50% film overlap.

Baler operation is similar to traditional fixed chamber machines, except that the chamber of the Taarup BIO is divided into two parts: 12 rollers in the upper section and six rollers in the lower part. The baling operation is mechanically driven, with a splitter gearbox dividing PTO power to chain drive to rollers on the left-hand side, and the pick-up and rotor on the right-hand side of the machine.

Before grass enters the bale chamber via a 2.10m wide pickup, the crop can be cut using 14 knives on an Opticut rotor. A sensor on the chamber monitors baling pressure and when the desired bale pressure is reached, an alarm sounds to inform the operator that baling is complete.

As soon as the operator stops the tractor and disengages the PTO, the wrapping sequence starts automatically. The upper roller section of the bale chamber, which is hinged at the front, is raised using two hydraulic rams, allowing the bale to be carried on six rollers in the base of the chamber - these rollers form the wrapper turntable.

Film is applied by the twin dispensers rotating around the bale at up to 50 rpm while the roller table, connected to the same hydraulic circuit, turns the bale around its circumference," he says. "After wrapping is complete, the back three rollers lower to form a ramp and the ring lifts up to allow the bale to roll off the back. This entire sequence takes just 12-15 sec to apply four layers of film.

An electronic monitor, using the same interface as other Kverneland equipment controllers, provides fully automatic control of the wrapping cycle. Operators can, however, change the wrapping cycle parameters as well as use the machine in semi-automatic or manual modes. The Taarup BIO has completed extensive testing and trials in Norway and the UK and is available for the 2002 season priced at £34,850.

The New Holland CX Range Of Combines

Being introduced now for the 2002 harvest season, a few CX combines have been evaluated in the UK, and one has been seen working in East Anglia. This range of 8 machines demonstrate the latest thinking from the New Holland design team. Built at Zedellgum, in Belgium, many major parts are interchangeable within the range, making them easier to build on the line as well as keeping spare part inventories lower at both national and dealer level.

When setting out their initial design criteria, the designers sought the opinions of a wide range of farmers and drivers, and one of the more important considerations was to provide the maximum capacity within a certain width, recognising that combines have to sometimes travel down some pretty narrow roads. And capacity they have, with 15% over current equivalent models. At the heart of the machines sits a reconfigured threshing and separation module, in other words, the drum, beater, rotary separator and straw flow beater.
The drum and concave, the two components that account for 90% of a combines threshing capacity, have been redesigned to give a drum diameter of 75cm and a concave wrap of 111 degrees. This combination gives a primary threshing area of 0.98 sq. m. on five walker machines, and 1.18 sq. m. on the larger eight walker machines. Larger than any other on the market, says New Holland. Behind the drum is a rear beater and a rotary separator, again larger than in previous models. Greater attention has been paid to the position of these components in relation to the walkers to improve crop flow. The trunking from the header has also been redesigned, with specially shaped elevator flights.

The TX series cleaning system is retained, as is the self levelling sieve. Sieve settings can now be set from within the cab. Grain tanks have a greater capacity and incorporate a central bubble up loading auger. The discharge auger has an astonishing capacity of 105 litres/second. The whole tank can be unloaded on 90seconds. A fully integrated yield monitor is fitted, as New Holland's own precision farming hardware has been developed for this machine.

The integral straw chopper incorporates a curved blade design which helps to give even spreading right across the width, even up to 30ft. Chaff is also sent through the chopper by blowers and spread simultaneously. A deflector plate is repositioned for leaving the straw in swaths.

New extra efficient engines are used, together with high speed drives to hydraulic and hydrostatic units. Drive belts for the threshing system and discharge auger are driven through electronically modulated multi disc clutch packs in a gearbox mounted directly on the end of the engine. On the larger machines, a 27hp power boost comes in automatically when the combine is unloading on the go, and when working at maximum power.

Cabs are now roomier and quieter, with a dBA rating of 74. All header and unloading functions are now controlled through a multi-functional lever on the armrest, which can be positioned independently of the seat.

Outwardly, the most striking part is the styling, with strong sweeping curves. All the panels are of steel and can be raised for servicing via gas struts.

Workshop Notes
Sharpening Twist Drills

How does a twist drill work? The usual conception of cutting is splitting a substance apart with a thin wedge or knife. However when we cut metal, a very different operation takes place, being more of a tearing action rather than cutting. All tools must have a "clearance". This is put on so that every part of the tool clears the work, thus allowing the cutting edge to cut. If there were no clearance, the tool would not cut, only rub on the work. Tools must also have "rake" to allow the chip to break away. It gives the tool a wedge like form.

It is difficult at first to see how rake and clearance comes into action in a twist drill, but a closer look will reveal both. Rake is built into the twist, and specialised drills can be obtained with more or less twist for drilling special materials.
Clearance is ground into the point of the drill, just behind the cutting edge. (see diagram). The metal behind the cutting edge is ground away by 12 degrees at the outside diameter of the drill. There are in fact two other clearances. The body of the drill is made slightly less in diameter, leaving a narrow land of the full diameter running down the edge of each flute. Also the whole drill is slightly tapered from point to shank. This allows all parts of the drill behind the point to clear and not rub against the sides of the hole being drilled.

Drill Grinding
When properly ground, the drill point should be central and the lip angles equal. A good guide is to hold two large nuts together, and to offer the drill up to the angle formed by the two nuts. For the fastidious amongst us, the correct included angle should be 118 degrees, but the 120 degrees formed by the two nuts will do a good job. See (A)
The clearance angle should be about 12 degrees. See(B) Without a drill grinding attachment, this is difficult to obtain, but with a little patience, a skill can be developed and you can soon make a dull drill work again. In order to obtain the right clearance, it must be ground in a path similar to that which it follows when being fed into the work (ie., points nearer the centre travel in shorter paths than those further out). In order to obtain this, the drill must be rocked back and forth in a sweeping semi-circular motion, starting at the cutting lip, and grinding back behind it to give your 12 degrees clearance. This must be done a little at a time on each side evenly.
What I usually do is hold a piece of 15mm copper pipe near the face of the grinding wheel, and lay the on top of this, 60 degrees angle from the grinding machine axis, and about 12 degrees down from horizontal. Offer the cutting edge until I just get a few sparks coming off the drill edge. I can adjust my angle until I see that the whole edge is being ground at once, then, I give the drill a slight twist clockwise, and at the same time, lower the shank end slightly as I grind a little harder. It is all done in a split second, a little at a time, and both sides equally. Another good checking gauge is to make up a piece of plate in the form of a 90 degree angle with a small pip formed on one inside face to support the shank end of the drill. A line can then be scribed by each cutting corner of the drill. As long as the two lines co-inside, then the drill is ground equally each side.(E)

Drilling Hints and Tips

1)	Use soluble or cutting oil for steel and malleable iron. Kerosene or turpentine for very hard steel. Cast iron or brass should be drilled dry. You can use a compressed air jet to cool the drill if it gets very hot.
2)	If the corners wear away rapidly, the speed is too high.
3)	If cutting edges chip, reduce feed or try grinding a little less clearance.
4)	Examine the turnings from each flute. They should be about the same. If not, then one lip is doing more work than the other and the problem should be addressed.
5)	When drilling deep holes, withdraw drill occasionally to cool the drill and remove chips that may have become trapped in the flutes.
6)	It is easier to practice drill grinding on a larger drill than a small one

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