Heath Engineering To Return to LAMMA

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Heath Engineering To Return to LAMMA: After a hugely successful debut at LAMMA 2017, Heath Engineering has confirmed it will be returning to the 2018 show on stand B77, which will be held on January 17-18 at the East of England Showground, Peterborough.

The innovative British manufacturer has been producing agricultural equipment for over seventy years with many customers learning that equipment carrying the ‘Heath Engineering’ name is synonymous with machines that are built to do the job and will last.

Heath Engineering To Return to LAMMA

The Heath Engineering brand and its state-of-the-art technology certainly caught the eye at the LAMMA 2017 Innovation Awards after the family owned business scooped a certificate of merit for the Farm Machinery & Equipment Innovation Award.

Amongst the vast portfolio of Heath Engineering farming equipment, it is products such as the Heath Super Grab which continues to take the industry by storm. In the past year, the company has reported that sales have increased by 125% on the Super Grab – and it’s easy to see why.

The Heath Super Grab is a truly innovative solution to large bale handling. A bale grab with a total ‘free release system’ enables safer bale stacking and loading. Holding of the bales is provided by four uniquely designed Hardox tines. The Heath Super Grab is able to handle 1200mm x 1200mm x 2400mm, 1200mm x 900mm x 2400mm and 1200mm x 800mm x 2400min bales either vertical or horizontal in operation.

Visitors to the Heath Engineering stand can also expect to see a great line up of equipment which includes the following products.

Heath Super Spike

The Heath Super Spike is a bale handling spike specifically designed with road safety transport in mind. Built with strength to allow a 1.5 tonne carrying capacity, the tines fold away for safe road transport position, while the safety bale bar extends for safe bale handing.

Heath Safety Forks

The Heath Safety Forks is another safety focused product. The pallet tines have been designed to fold away for road transport making roadwork safer, while all controlled from the cab.

Heath Super Dozer

With the Heath Super Dozer you can always fill your grain sheds to capacity. This innovative telescopic grain dozer gives an extra 1500mm of powered push. The telescopic and carriage mounting points ensure a fold up vertical position for safe road transport between grain stores and farms.

Heath Super Bucket

The Heath Super Bucket is a high capacity 3 tonne grain handling bucket for farmers that require the fast loading of lorries – saving both labour resource and money.

Heath Handling Jib

The Heath Handling Jib has been specifically designed for use with non-telescopic materials handlers to allow extended handling of one tonne bags safely.

Heath Folding Mirror Kit

No more smashed mirrors from accidental reversing into shed walls! The Heath Folding Mirror Kit is a unique hydraulic fold-up mirror for use on telehandlers with pick-up hitches. It is linked into the pick-up hitch hydraulics of the vehicle to enable operation from within the cab.

Heath Mole and Super Mole

The Heath Mole and Super Mole are robust mole drainers to suit tractors from 100hp to 500hp. Both models come fitted with low disturbance cutting discs and low ground pressure tyres. The Heath Super Mole legs are fitted with floating independent linkages to cope with undulating ground conditions and changing subsurface conditions.

For more information, please visit www.heathengineering.co.uk or call Heath Engineering on 01608 682062

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MClassic Hydraulic Loaders Introduced

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MClassic Hydraulic Loaders Introduced: Distributor AgriArgo UK has introduced a front-end loader for the new McCormick X2 Series compact tractor line-up with mechanical parallel linkage fitted as standard for ease of use and added safety.

The McCormick MClassic 25 loader adds to the versatility and usefulness of the 43hp, 47hp and 54hp mechanical drive X2 Series tractors, giving them the ability to load and re-handle materials from manure and feed to gravel and soil, or to lift bales, pallets and small bulk containers.

MClassic Hydraulic Loaders Introduced

“The X2 Series tractors – which replaced our GM models – are small but durable machines that are often used as scraper tractors on dairy farms and for different paddock management and grounds maintenance applications,” says Ray Spinks, general manager and sales director.

“With a loader fitted, the little tractor becomes even more useful, especially as it can get into buildings and other locations that are denied to larger, more powerful tractors and handlers.”

With a lift capacity of 740kg from the ground to the full lift height of 2.60m, the McCormick MClassic 25 loader will typically handle a 530kg payload (measured from the load centre) when equipped with a multi-purpose bucket.

To minimise the risk of spillage back on to the operator – especially important on X2 tractors without a cab – mechanical self-levelling of the attachment is fitted as standard.

“This feature also makes the loader easier to use, of course,” notes Ray Spinks. “Once the bucket or fork has been crowded back, it will remain in the chosen position as the loader arms are raised.”

A quick-attach faceplate makes it easy to switch between different implements and a hydraulic third service is installed for operating attachments such as a muck fork with grab or a four-in-one bucket.

Boom and implement carriage movements are controlled by a cable joystick, making it easy to manipulate the loader and position it accurately.

The lack of joint welds in the loader’s one-piece curved arms adds to the durability of a design that, in its lowered position, keeps the attachment as near the front of the tractor as possible for compactness and good lift performance.

And the matching shape of the combined parallel linkage arms and tip/crowd cylinders not only gives the loader a neat appearance but also ensures the best possible forward visibility.

Two drop-down legs, and quick-attach mechanical and hydraulic couplings, make it easy to remove and mount the MClassic 25 loader, which is available with a selection of performance-matched attachments.

The McCormick X2 Series tractors come with a 12×12 or 16×16 speed transmission, synchro shuttle, and four-wheel drive with a rear diff lock and front limited slip differential.

They can be had with an open operator’s platform and ROPS roll-over protection or with a fully enclosed cab to provide added comfort in all weather conditions.

The new loaders can also be fitted to their predecessors in the McCormick range, the GM Series tractors.

McCormick MClassic 25 loader for 43-54hp X2 Series tractors
Lift height to pivot pin 2.60m
Height beneath level bucket 2.40m
Dumped bucket clearance 2.05m
Dump angle – full height 50deg
Crowd angle – ground level 46deg
Lift capacity – full height 740kg
Payload – multi-purpose bucket 530kg
Standard equipment includes mechanical parallel lift, cable joystick control, quick-coupling hydraulic hoses, quick-attach latches, drop-down parking legs.

For more information go to mccormick.agriargouk.co.uk

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2020 Vision On Soil Biology

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2020 Vision On Soil Biology: A new generation of greenkeepers are promoting the huge benefits that soil biology can bring to course management.

That was a key message soil specialist Joel Williams delivered to course managers, head greenkeepers and grounds professionals attending Soil Biology Ltd’s seminar ‘Getting Ready for 2020’ at Harpenden Common Golf Club on 14 November.

2020 Vision On Soil Biology

For too long, greenkeepers had focused on the chemical and physical dynamics of turfcare, he stressed, in some cases without sufficiently considering the third key element – biology.

It is now clear that by nurturing relationships between grass plants, bacteria, mycorrhizae and other soil life such as nematodes, greenkeepers can dramatically improve course conditions year-round, he argued.

By adopting a soil biology approach, clubs can attract greater usage and more members, while enabling greenkeepers to deliver course maintenance more efficiently – a message chiming with young greenkeepers rising through the ranks.

“We are beginning a transition from a mainly mechanical approach to soil and turf health to a balanced focus as part of an integrated system that includes biological processes and systems,” Joel stated.

Mounting pressure on greenkeepers to find alternative applications amid tougher EU controls on applied chemicals had moved soil biology up the agenda, Joel told the audience.

Harpenden Common head greenkeeper Sean Brocklehurst, who sits on BIGGA’s Young Greenkeepers Committee, revealed how soil biology practices and processes using applied products such as zeolites, had transformed “extremely wet, unplayable greens” into golfing surfaces sustaining year-round playability.

“The club has attracted more business because of the improved playing conditions, which in turn allowed us to invest further in improving aesthetic appearance right across the course,” he said.

The greens team works closely with a consultant from Soil Biology Ltd, who visits the club regularly to ensure the strategy is working optimally.

Attending the seminar in his role as course manager at The Richmond Golf Club, BIGGA Chairman Les Howkins added: “No longer is soil biology on the edge of course management as perhaps it was 20 years ago.

“Soil biology has always been vital to turf health but what is critical now is greenkeepers’ understanding of it, enabling them to manipulate it for the benefit of course conditions.”

Outlining the principles of soil biology, Joel discussed the functions, roles and interactions of soil life in golf greens – introducing key groups of organisms in the soil ecosystem.

Delegates learned how to advance soil biology and leverage the most from turf soils by understanding total, exchangeable and soluble nutrient pools, including the biological link to foliar-applied inputs.

Integrated pest management concluded Joel’s overview as he peered into the frontiers of soil biology, turf health and sustainable, resilient golf greens.

Sponsored and developed by Soil Biology Ltd, `Getting Ready for 2020` also included overviews of the products and programmes the company provide for sportsturf maintenance.

Email Paul Adams at paul@soil-biology.co.uk or phone Hillery Murphy on 07342 640650 to learn more about how to introduce soil biology into a course management strategy.

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Golf Club And Street Signs Targeted

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Golf Club And Street Signs Targeted: Despite it possibly being a joke to some, many dedicated golfers were not amused.

Greenkeeper, Joe Khumalo and staff, were left open-mouthed when they discovered a yield sign, complete with the pole, stuck in a hole on the number 5 green at the Dundee Golf Club last Wednesday.

Golf Club And Street Signs Targeted

The flag had been tossed to one side. “There must have been more than one person responsible because this sign and pole are heavy,” said Joe.

He explained that the number 5 green is not near to any of the boundary fences and those playing what they thought was a clever joke may have even driven a vehicle onto the fairway to ‘deliver’ the pole.

“It must have been stolen from a street corner nearby. Some months ago the Illovo Drive/Tugela Street street sign was discarded on green number 15. We do not know if someone has a problem with us at the golf club or if they are trying to be funny. Either way, they must stop it as this golf club is for everyone’s use and we should all look after it.”

Joe said he was thankful that the yield sign had not damaged the green as the club on Friday hosted their biggest competition of the year, the Dundee Corporate Classic.

The Courier contacted Frikkie Coetsee of the Endumeni Traffic Department who said he would send officers to the golf club to collect the stolen street signs.

“It is always around the end of November and December that we see a spike in vandalism in the town of our street signs. We can only think it is bored youngsters who are on varsity or school holiday. They should remember that vandalism is a criminal offence and charges will be pressed against offenders. Having a criminal record will seriously dent your chances of finding a job. Those with information regarding the vandalism should please contact the municipality or the SAPS.”

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