Essential Farm
covering East Anglia and the Midlands
Unrivalled spreading precision!
AXIS MOUNTED FERTILISER SPREADER
Spreading widths of 12 to 50 metres
Capacities from 1,000 to 4,200L
Very high flow rate of up to 500kg/min
‘EMC’ regulation to adjust the left and right application rates independently February
Good demand for quality second-hand machines
Strong interest in second-hand machinery is seeing high prices paid for modern agricultural equipment at auction.
A timed online sale hosted by auctioneers Cheffins on behalf of Somerset-based D H Patten Contracting attracted bidders from across the UK and Europe – competing for 50 lots of premium and well-maintained farm machinery.
Highlights from the sale included a 2023 John Deere 6R250 tractor which achieved £115,920 when sold to a local farming business. This was followed by a 2016 New Holland combine harvester which achieved £95,220.
Robust prices
A 2014 Krone Big Pack trailed baler went for £62,100. Similarly, a 2019
they sold to an Irish buyer and a local farmer buyer respectively.
Cheffins director Charles Wadsley said: “We have continued to see strong demand from end-user buyers in the agricultural sector, helping to support robust prices.”
Recent months have seen a noticeable uptick in Scottish buyers – bolstered by the Basic Payment Scheme and a recent record harvest – looking to renew their fleets or upgrade machinery for the year ahead.
Significant savings
“Demand for quality second-hand kit and increased sales had helped to underpin machinery prices, keeping them buoyant in spite of the current political landscape, while still offering a significant saving in comparison to buying new.”
Auctioneer Fisher German has also reported strong demand for quality
Cheffins sold this John Deere on behalf of DH Patten Contracting
Below: Recent sales included 200 lots on behalf of R&R Gardiner
second-hand machinery and equipment. It recently sold 200 lots on behalf of client R&R Gardiner, near Banbury, Oxfordshire.
“Demand for quality kit has increased
Auction expert Ginny Banham said: “Second-hand farm machinery is selling well at the moment. With the cost of new equipment continuing to rise, more farmers are turning to second-hand purchases and that demand is pushing prices up.”
Like Cheffins, Fisher German offers on-site and online auctions. It was a challenging time for agriculture, said Ms Banham, but the second-hand machinery market was creating opportunities for buyers as well as sellers.
Essential Farm Machinery
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Essential Farm Machinery is published monthly for farmers and growers in the eastern counties and the Midlands. It is mailed with Anglia Farmer and Midland Farmer magazines and is also available at selected farm machinery and supplies outlets. © Countrywide Publications 2026 Published by Countrywide Publications, Fountain Way, Reydon, Suffolk IP18 6DH T: 01502 725800 Printed by Micropress Ltd, Suffolk T: 01502 725800
Right:
Demos and testing woo NEC crowds
Apacked stand and plenty of hands-on tool testing throughout the event saw Knipex enjoy a successful two days at last month’s LAMMA event.
Exhibiting alongside distribution partner Kramp, the Knipex team spent time talking tools, demonstrating product benefits and meeting customers old and new, with plenty of professionals keen to put their equipment through their paces.
Live demonstrations included some of Knipex’s best-known solutions, including the CoBolt compact bolt cut-
ters, designed with precision cutting edges for soft, hard and piano wire.
“The lively response on the stand showed just how much professionals value the chance to get hands-on with tools and see performance up close,” said Knipex area account manager Tim Hale.
The compact cutters handle bolts, nails and rivets with ease, using a joint design and lever action for high performance with minimal effort. Also on display was the Pliers Wrench XL, in a 400mm length, offering opening widths of up to 85mm.
Designed for gripping, holding, pressing and bending, the tool features fast push-button adjustment directly on the workpiece and high lever transmission for strong gripping power. It has zero-backlash jaw pressure to prevent damage to sensitive components.
The 560mm Cobra XXL High-Tech Water Pump Pliers was another popular demo, showing the push-button adjustment on the workpiece, fine adjustment for a comfortable grip and the tool’s self-clamping action on pipes and nuts.
Ernest Doe adds Merlo franchise
Merlo UK has announced the appointment of Ernest Doe as an authorised agricultural dealer for the telehandler manufacturer.
Effective from 1 February, the appointment will see the Merlo brand added to the line-up of agricultural machines across Ernest Doe’s 19 depots in East Anglia, South Lincolnshire and south-east England.
Ernest Doe brings decades of experience and a reputation for quality and customer care. Add-
ing Merlo telehandlers to the line-up reflects the firm’s recognition of growing demand for versatile, high-performance handling solutions, it said.
Merlo UK national sales manager Owen Buttle said: “We are ensuring farmers across key regions have access to Merlo’s innovative telehandlers and outstanding aftersales support.”
Merlo has also appointed Farmstar as an authorised dealer for South Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire.
Crop Storage Control
with crop moisture content probes for more informed
• Monitors up to 16 stores from one system
• Up to 32 wireless temperature sensors per store
• New moisture probes for improved crop management
• Additional sensors available: temperature, humidity & CO₂
• All data logged securely in the control box
• Energy-saving automatic ventilation control
Ernest Doe sales director Graham Parker and Owen Buttle of Merlo UK.
Strong interest in tools and equipment at LAMMA
Exhibitors reported strong interest in tools and equipment at last month’s LAMMA event.
Jefferson Tools said it attracted good visitor engagement with high footfall as it returned to the agricultural machinery and equipment exhibition, using the two-day event to strengthen relationships
ity helped drive engagement across
en the chance to win £2,000 worth of
McCormick appoints new dealer in Cambridgeshire
Tractor manufacturer McCormick has appointed Ibbetts as its official dealer in St Neots, Cambridgeshire.
The partnership marks an important step in expanding McCormick’s support network across the region, providing customers with access to the full range of McCormick tractors – alongside parts, servicing and technical support. With a strong reputation for customer care and agricultural expertise built over generations, Ibbetts said it was ideally positioned to represent McCormick and support farmers in the surrounding area.
pearance of rally champion Frank Kelly, who joined Jefferson Tools on the stand alongside his iconic Baby Blue rally car. Jefferson produced 500 limited-edition posters of the
Argo Tractors commercial director Richard Haines said: “Their 175 years of expertise, and commitment to customer care make them an ideal partner for the McCormick brand as we continue to grow our presence in the region.”
Ibbetts managing director Tim Ibbett said: “McCormick’s product range, reliability, and focus on supporting farmers aligns perfectly with our values.”
Richard Haines of Argo Tractors (left) and Tim Ibbett
New model added to hedge cutter range
Kuhn Farm Machinery has added to its Multi-Longer range of hedge and verge cutters with the introduction of a 6.1m model.
The 6157 e-TPAL joins the Multi-Longer 7457 e-TPAL as telescopic, left-handed machines, designed specifically for UK and Irish users, says Rhodri Jenkins, Kuhn’s grassland product specialist.
He said: “The 6157 is likely to be a popular model with UK contractors and farmers, offering the right balance of compact dimensions for road work and excellent reach for field hedges and ditches.”
The Multi-Longer 6157 e-TPAL is fitted as standard with the e-ASSIST system. This maintains a constant cutting head angle on the machine for an even and consistent finish via an electronic parallelogram, using sensors to control the position.
An automatic lift float in all positions for roadside mowing is also part of the feature, while a hydraulically powered debris blower can be mounted on the rear of the Multi-Longer to leave surfaces clear of trimmings.
Mr Jenkins said: “Working on uneven field edges can cause issues while trying to maintain a level finish and this feature aims to make it easier.”
The e-TPAL feature also includes the EP joystick, offering the control of all four proportional movements at the same time. Combined with Kuhn’s VT 61 terminal, this provides instant
Dependable Under Pressure
Kuhn’s range of hedge and verge cutters
display of key machine data and quick access to settings
The machine is only available with the STABILINK axle mounted brackets, which can be connected to the tractor in under 15 minutes, for greater assurance at full reach. A heavy-duty A-frame is in development.
A standard 1.2m wide head, or optional 1.5m wide unit, (24 or 28 Tflails respectively) allow users to build a machine tailored to needs.
Why Swath?
• Cheaper than spraying off with Glyposate & Pod stick
• Shorter harvest interval (10-14 days) from swathing, therefore OSR is harvested before wheat is ready.
• Less vulnerable to losses from weather
• Cheaper to harvest as more of the plant is dead therefore easier to thrash/chop.
• Also able to swath Borage, Peas, Echium, all organic crops
