The first customer to take delivery of a tractor from new McCormick dealer Yorkshire Handlers put it to work getting land ploughed and spring barley sown to supply the farm's bull beef operation.
"The land has been that wet we've had to sow almost everything to spring corn instead of winter wheat and barley," says Bill Thompson at Bellwood Farm, Butterwick near Malton. "We had to work the land a lot more to get it into shape so the extra power of the new tractor has been very welcome."
Yorkshire Handlers, based at Murton just outside York, took on the McCormick franchise for East Yorkshire in April and supplied two new tractors within days.
One customer saw a 92hp C-Max being taken for a spin through a nearby village on the day it arrived at the dealership and bought it two days later; Mr Thompson bought his new tractor from stock shortly after that.
His McCormick MC130, with 126hp from its Perkins four-cylinder engine, replaced a 102hp version that had been the farm’s main tractor for the past nine years.
The newcomer has easily handled a four-furrow plough and 3m power harrow-seed drill combination establishing spring barley and will also be put to work on a round baler.
"Apart from the extra power, I've noticed the new tractor is a lot easier on fuel," says Mr Thompson. "Maybe it’s because it’s more on top of the job, especially on our heavier ground; but in any event, it certainly uses its fuel better.”
Engine apart, the most obvious change on the tractor is the new four-post cab, which provides better visibility to both sides but is just as spacious as its predecessor. Ventilation and air conditioning have been improved with new outlets helping to clear the side windows on misty mornings and there is a roof window for the first time.
A longer wheelbase for added stability with heavy implements and a revised braking system requiring less pedal effort have also been introduced since Mr Thompson’s earlier McCormick MC was available.
The MC’s generous drive and hydraulics package comprises a 16x12 or 32x24 creep transmission with power shuttle and four-speed powershift, and a load-sensing variable flow pump for economical hydraulic power.
Automatic power take-off management for headland turns and electronic operation of the three-point linkage and draft/traction control system are also included.
“The controls are quite familiar from my earlier tractor without over-many knobs, which I like," says Mr Thompson. “The MC105 was our first McCormick and it’s been a very good tractor; I'll be very pleased if the MC130 performs as well.
“Having dealt with Phil Robinson at Yorkshire Handlers for the past 12 years, I certainly know it will be well looked after," he adds.
