Joe Gathercole has been in farming since 1976 and reckons his new Branson 4520R compact tractor is "the best compact tractor I've ever used."
He took delivery of the first 47hp Branson model sold in the UK, last October and has worked through the winter with it during some testing weather conditions.
"We grow everything here," says Joe (52) of Littleport near Ely, Cambridgeshire. "On this smallholding we grow potatoes, carrots, cauliflowers, cabbages and beans and the amount of cultivation requires a lightweight tractor that can handle a power harrow and a double plough."
Joe bought his Branson, supplied by RIKO, from local dealer Gordon Harrison of Old Farm, Ely. And it has proved a triumph. "One of the best-built tractors I've ever seen," says Joe.
"It's the build quality that is so impressive with superb positioning of the controls and the most comfortable tractor to drive.
"It really has been designed with the end-user in mind and I cannot fault it for the way it handles." Dealer Gordon Harrison says: "It is the first Branson we have supplied and we have been very impressed with it on all counts. Joe particularly wanted a tractor around this size for his smallholding. He has been delighted with it"
Says Joe: "It's a great tractor with a fantastic PTO link to arms that lift up and the cut-off feature is a real safety bonus."
He has been using his Branson 4520R with a power harrow, double plough and three-point discs.
