News & Events

Appleby Golf Club’s long-serving course manager Steve Campbell and his assistant Grant Dougherty do all the mowing on this 18-hole Cumbrian moorland course. Time is therefore at a premium, and anything that saves this precious commodity without compromising course quality is a real bonus.

So when Nigel Hurst of John Deere dealer Henry Armer & Son gave a demonstration of the company’s new Quick Adjust (QA) cylinder mower cutting units to course managers in the area, Steve saw them as a highly practical addition to his armoury, and genuine time savers.

He already owned a John Deere 2500E hybrid electric greens mower, so he bought a second machine equipped with QA units from Armers. Impressed with their performance benefits, he also decided to upgrade the cutting of tees and surrounds by buying a new 8000 E-Cut hybrid mower.

“We usually do the adjustments in the shed, but the job can be done just as easily out on the course now,” says Steve, who has been in charge of course maintenance at Appleby for 27 years. “All you need is a gauge and a drill. It’s been easy from day one – anyone can do it.

“I reckon we save about an hour each time we make an adjustment, so over the year that’s a lot of time saved, which we can spend doing other vital jobs around the course. Obviously the biggest time saving is at the beginning and end of the main cutting season when height changes are more frequent, but spring and autumn are when there’s most of the other work to do anyway.

“Quick adjustment of the cylinders is a real benefit to us, especially because you don’t even have to take the units off the machine, which used to be pretty tough sometimes.”

Steve Campbell cuts the tees and surrounds twice a week during the summer and used to use a 72in triplex mower, but says his new 8000E is already giving better results. “I now get a wider 80in cut, and the five floating units tackle undulations so much better than the old machine,” he says.

“Before, I had to lower the cut just to reach some parts. Now, I can keep the cut up and get a really good, consistent finish. Turning on the tees without marking makes the job so much quicker too – I love the 8000E’s three-wheel manoeuvrability.”

John Deere has launched its first mobile phone app in the UK and Ireland, following the introduction of the John Deere FarmSight wireless technology strategy.

The free JDLink mobile telematics application allows arable farmers and contractors in particular to monitor and manage their equipment fleets on the move, from a smartphone. While the app does not have as much functionality as the full JDLink system on a laptop or desktop computer, it does include the following features:

- multiple machine mapping;
- directions to machines (based on Google maps);
- ping and share location of machines;
- view and acknowledge message alerts.

After downloading the app, customers who already have a JDLink account can simply log in and check their machines’ location and service status. Non-users can use a Demo function to explore the features provided.

The newly developed JDLink Inside telematics machine monitoring system includes hardware and a JDLink Ultimate subscription for the following John Deere product ranges – new 2012 models are being supplied with a complimentary subscription for the machine’s first year:

- new Stage IIIB compliant John Deere 8R Series and 7R Series tractors;
- new Stage IIIB compliant John Deere W660, all T-Series and all S-Series combines;
- self-propelled forage harvesters.

John Deere’s proven multi-brand satellite guidance system is now available as a more fully integrated solution for other makes of tractor and older John Deere models.

New AutoTrac Controller will be featured on the John Deere stand at Cereals 2012 in June, as part of the company’s AMS (Agricultural Management Solutions) precision farming display. It provides non-John Deere and mixed fleet users in particular with the same benefits and advantages as the established AutoTrac automatic steering system.

These include less operator fatigue; consistent accuracy, with reduced overlaps and misses leading to increased productivity and machine efficiency; less wear and tear on equipment; and typical fuel savings of 10 to 15 per cent. Experience with AutoTrac has shown that automatic guidance can achieve savings of between £6000 and £10,000 a year on a 500ha arable farm, for example.

AutoTrac Controller provides fast line acquisition and can be used at all accuracy levels, including the free StarFire 1 signal (30cm), StarFire 2 (10cm) and StarFire RTK (2cm). It operates with John Deere’s AMS GreenStar 2 1800 and GreenStar 3 2630 displays plus the StarFire iTC and 3000 satellite receivers to provide improved accuracy and repeatability, compared to other universal steering systems. It is also compatible with John Deere’s iGuide automatic implement guidance and GreenStar documentation systems.

AutoTrac Controller needs to be fitted by a John Deere dealer, which may take one or two days depending on the level of modification required. Currently it can be fitted to selected John Deere 6000/6010 and 7000/7010 Series tractors plus Fendt Vario, Case IH Steiger and Case IH MX Magnum models – further information on approved platforms can be found at the www.StellarSupport.com website.

In addition to AutoTrac Controller, the Universal AutoTrac 200 aftermarket steering kit continues to be available for more than 300 models of John Deere and competitive self-propelled machines, including combines and foragers as well as tractors.

Lincolnshire businessman and former champion motorcycle racer Roger Burnett has a long-term development plan in place to make Laceby Manor Resort & Golf Club near Grimsby the premier golfing venue in the region.

Having taken ownership of the club in May 2011, Roger has invested in improvements to the clubhouse, course and greenkeeping facilities, including the recent purchase of a new John Deere course maintenance fleet from local dealer F G Adamson & Son of Swanland, North Ferriby.

Bought on a John Deere Financial five year lease package with maintenance, the new fleet includes two 2500E hybrid electric greens mowers, a 7700 PrecisionCut fairway mower, 2653B tees & surrounds mower, 1600T wide area rotary rough mower, 3720 compact tractor with cab and 300CX front loader, Aercore 1500 tractor-mounted aerator and a CX Gator utility vehicle.

The club will also mark its 20th birthday this summer by hosting Adamson’s regional John Deere Team Championship golf tournament for local clubs on May 30th, from which the winning team will join the National Finals at De Vere Slaley Hall in Northumberland next September.

“Locally, Laceby Manor is well known as one of the best natural settings for golf, but it’s been underdeveloped,” says Roger Burnett. “I believe it has massive potential to become not just a first class golf course, but also the premier wedding venue in the area. We are therefore building an extension to the clubhouse, and we also have a planning application in for 36 lodges to provide suitable accommodation.

“To provide the right golfing experience, the course needs to be in tip-top condition, but it hasn’t been, because of the previous lack of investment. We now have the opportunity to put this right with our new machinery fleet, and with the appointment of a new head greenkeeper in Rob Bradley. Rob has recently joined us from Allerthorpe Park and brings additional experience, knowledge and resource to the existing team.

“Local golfers have always liked the layout of the course, but overall standards had slipped – people’s expectations in terms of customer service these days are very high, therefore we have to replicate these high standards out on the course. The improvements to the clubhouse have already resulted in an increase in membership of nearly 30 per cent, and this latest investment will undoubtedly help us to attract even more new members over the coming months.

“The choice of machinery was very much governed initially by our requirement for a new machinery shed, so the greenkeeping staff would have the right facilities to operate from and maintain the equipment efficiently. After a poor experience with our previous supplier, I felt we should look at John Deere, and Tony Jenkins of Adamsons gave me the confidence that we could work with John Deere to achieve our objectives.

“Any business likes to have fixed costs, with no hidden surprises, and the finance terms were extremely favourable – it really feels like we’ve got John Deere’s support for what we’re trying to do with the course, because of the way they’re supporting the investment.

“I just want the course to be the best it can possibly be,” adds Roger Burnett. “From the point of view of membership recruitment, this investment makes a big statement to both current and potential new members that we mean business, and that we are serious about providing the best golfing experience in the area.”

John Deere dealer Templetuohy Farm Machinery Ltd has taken over the Co Wicklow trading area from Derek Plant Farm Machinery, providing full sales, service and parts support from its existing branches at Enniscorthy, Co Wexford and Portlaoise, Co Laois.

Following some internal reorganisation, four full-time staff have been appointed specifically to support customers in Co Wicklow. Two experienced TFM salesmen, Ken Goggin and Peter Breen, are now looking after the new area in addition to their existing responsibilities, while John Conroy (ex-Matt Buckley Tractor Spares and John Deere dealer Murphy’s Garage Headford) has been taken on at the Thurles branch to handle sales in Co Tipperary.

A new service technician, Philip Driver, has been appointed to cover the West Wicklow area, while a second technician vacancy has been advertised and should be filled shortly. Both these technicians’ service vehicles will stock a range of fast moving parts, and the dealership will provide guaranteed next day parts delivery from the Enniscorthy and Portlaoise branches to ensure continuity of supply and service to John Deere customers in Co Wicklow.

Templetuohy Farm Machinery, which was established at Thurles in 1981, is also launching a new hire fleet service across the whole of its trading area, which includes a fourth branch at Clonmel, Co Tipperary. In addition to John Deere’s full line of agricultural equipment, TFM’s other key franchises include Caterpillar and Schaeffer farm loaders, and Lemken ploughs and cultivation equipment.

John Deere’s latest award-winning round baler and forage harvester technology will be featured on the company’s stand at Grassland UK 2012 at the Bath & West Showground, Somerset in May.

The revolutionary Fast Release System (FRS) featured on new 900 Series variable chamber round balers, which employs a unique ‘curtain’ design to replace the traditional heavy rear door, won an innovation award at the FIMA fair in Zaragoza, Spain in February. Now in production for the 2012 season, the 960 and 990 model balers employ this state-of-the-art technology to significantly improve baler output, bale density and operator comfort, which can lead to savings of up to an hour a day during harvest.

Working together with the exclusive full-frame design for reliability and durability, FRS speeds up the bale ejection process by enabling the operator to unload the completed bale in less than five seconds, which is up to 10 seconds faster than a conventional machine.

The 900 Series balers are available with a choice of 2.2m wide RotoFlow or MaxiCut 13- or 25-knife precutter high capacity pick-ups, and produce bale diameters from 80 to 160cm and 80 to 185cm respectively. Both balers are ISOBUS certified and can be equipped with a GreenStar 1800 display for controlling most of the key machine settings and functions.

The SIMA 2011 Gold Medal award winning Tractor Implement Automation (TIA) system is also now available as an option on the 900 Series balers. When operated with a tractor featuring ISOBUS, a continuously variable transmission and electronic SCVs, this baler automation system also significantly reduces the harvest workload – instead of the driver having to stop the tractor to open and close the rear of the baler, TIA manages everything using simple fingertip controls to complete the baling process.

John Deere’s advanced HarvestLab constituent sensing system for the 7050 Series self-propelled forage harvester range was also awarded a DLG Silver Medal at Agritechnica 2011.

The system has been enhanced for 2012 to sense additional maize silage quality parameters, such as protein, sugar, starch, fibre (ADF/NDF) and ash content, either on–the-go on the forager or as a portable stationary unit for use by both farmers and feed nutritionists. This is designed to help silage producers manage their feed rations and additive calculations more efficiently, and to provide better control of feed costs.

There is also a new interest free finance offer available from John Deere Financial on all new John Deere round balers ordered by 30th April 2012, in the UK only. The offer is for 0+36 monthly payments at zero per cent interest, with the amount financed limited to 50 per cent of the retail value.

As usual, other credit profiles are available on request, and the availability of finance is subject to status and terms & conditions – further details are available at www.JohnDeereFinancial.co.uk or from John Deere’s UK dealers.

John Deere Financial has announced two new interest-free finance programmes for UK customers.

The first is available for golf and bowls clubs, who may order any new golf & turf machine from John Deere dealers at any time from now until 31st May 2012. The offer is for 1+1 annual payments at zero per cent interest, with the amount financed limited to 60 per cent of the retail value.

Under the second scheme, all UK business customers may buy any new John Deere compact utility tractor with 1 + 2 annual payments at zero per cent interest, until further notice. In this programme, the amount financed is limited to 50 per cent of the retail value.

As usual, other credit profiles are available on request, and the availability of finance is subject to status and to terms and conditions – further details are available in the Special Offers area at www.deere.co.uk or from John Deere dealers nationwide.

The Guild of Agricultural Journalists and John Deere Limited have announced the dates of this year’s training course for potential agricultural and horticultural journalists - Sunday to Tuesday July 8 to 10, 2012 (plus three days’ work experience to be arranged for successful applicants).

Now in its 20th year, the course is designed to support one of the principal aims of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists - that of promoting schemes for the provision of suitable entrants into agricultural and horticultural journalism.

Many of today’s journalists and PR executives working in the land-based industries received an early boost to their careers from winning a place on previous John Deere Training Award courses - they include 2011 course member Rhian Price, who joined Poultry World in January as a new reporter, and course winner Matthew Sharp, who is now busy freelancing for Farmers Weekly, Farming Online, the National Farmers Union and Newcastle Journal’s farming section.

The John Deere Training Award is aimed at graduating students keen to work in the agricultural and horticultural media, and at journalists or public relations staff who have less than 12 months’ practical work experience.

There are 10 places available on this annual course, which is in two parts. The first two full days, at John Deere’s headquarters in Langar, Nottingham, involve lectures by experienced training consultant David Mascord, with practical exercises that cover the main media sectors. The final three days see each of the selected course members given practical work experience at one of a range of specialist magazines, newspapers or PR consultancies across the UK.

At the end of the course, each person has to write a news story for judging by an expert panel. The winner receives a £250 cheque and the handsome John Deere trophy, with an informal presentation taking place later in the year.

Those interested in attending the course, who must be studying or resident in Great Britain, have until Friday May 25, 2012 to return a completed application form available to download from the www.deere.co.uk website or direct from the course organiser Steve Mitchell of ASM Public Relations, tel: 024 7630 8912, mobile: 07717 213182 or e-mail: steve@asmpr.co.uk

The course is completely free of charge, although successful applicants are expected to cover their own out of pocket expenses. For further details please contact Steve Mitchell.