Reliable allrounder fulfils every task
22nd May 2024
Robert Milne Ltd, based at Carcary Farm near Brechin, has a long history with the Fendt brand, which goes back to when the first tractors were imported to Scotland. Today, third and fourth generation, Ian and Sandy, still rely on a fleet of Fendts to manage 1,250 acres and 400 cows in milk, with a further 350 followers.
Read their story here
Having had other brands on the farm the family and its tractor operators moved to an entirely Fendt fleet in the early 1980s. Four 700 Vario tractors varying in age from 2002 to 2021 now fulfil all the daily work throughout the year.
“We have the 2002 714 and a 720 from 2015 that has 12,000 hours on it and runs brilliantly. We felt like we’d stepped up when we bought our first 720 in 2014, but the 2021 240 horsepower Gen6 is as good as tractors have got for us and it can tackle anything on the farm,” says Sandy.
With 1,250 acres of mixed cereals, grass and pasture land, there is always plenty for the Fendts to be doing. 380 acres of wheat, of which 80 is fed to the dairy herd as wholecrop, along with 160 of winter barley, 100 acres of milling oats, and 200 of spring barley for malting is partnered with 160 acres of multi cut silage, three-year grass leys on a four cut per year system.
“We sell 600 tonnes of barley, 1,200 of wheat and 350 of oats. We have a good relationship with a local contractor, JF Smith, but try to minimise our reliance on outside help. Chopping and umbilical work is contracted out, but we haul the grass ourselves,” says Sandy.
The 700 series Fendts all have a role to play, from feeding out with a Keenan MechFiber 400 to pulling an on-land 6 furrow Kverneland plough. Older tractors manage yard and lighter cultivation work whilst the newest Gen6 724 Profi Plus uses its impressive power to weight ratio to manage more demanding work.
“The 724 is the perfect allrounder. It is relatively light weight and nimble yet has 240 horsepower which, when ballasted with 600 kilo wheel weights and 1,800 kilos on the front, can pull either the on-land or in furrow plough,” he says.
The farm employs two operators, Graeme Spence and Rhori Deans. Both are happy and proud to be operating Fendts but suggest that the benefits go deeper than just the brand appeal. Rhori explains:
“Setting up any of the Fendts is easy, and, once the presets are saved, everything is just a couple of button pushes away. The latest FendtONE operating system, on the Gen6, is much better than the older models, there are fewer screens to scroll through and it is quicker to get going.”
He also explains that the GPS on the newer model has the facility to switch the view to the dashboard in front of the wheel, which reduces fatigue from constantly turning to view the larger screen on his right.
“The cab has improved in many ways, from the joystick to the screens and even the seat, but I am still fond of the older tractors we have here. The 2015 720 has to start every day to feed the herd with nine plus tonnes of wagon and TMR, and it is faultless,” adds Rhori.
This is a consideration that has been made each year by Ian and Sandy, who both want to balance the quality and reliability of tractors with overheads and depreciation.
“Ross Agri has been good to us, helping us to find the right models at the right time. We also have the confidence to put upwards of 8,000 hours on any Fendt because we know the tractors and the backup will always be competitive,” says Sandy.
The farm historically ran its Fendt tractors for 8,000 hours with finance over three years, and a further two years before changing or moving the tractor to lighter duties.
“The 2019 and 2021 models are both showing every sign that they can easily exceed the 8,000 hours we have previously targeted. We have faith in the resale values and have always had good trade-in offers from Ross Agri, so whilst we would normally trade in at 8,000 hours we have confidence that the tractors can do a lot more,” he concludes.
