A young contractor and forage merchant has taken the major step of buying a new tractor for the first time to help develop his business.
Adam Goodall was a farm manager in Suffolk involved in buying and operating 200-500hp tractors before he set up his forage and contract services two years ago. His first new tractor is a more modest machine at a little over 100hp.
"But it's just as important for my business," he says. "I was paying out several thousand pounds a year hiring extra tractors and a telescopic handler but my new McCormick tractor and loader does the job now."
Through his Goodall Agriculture business, Adam leases grassland alongside the River Orwell at Trimley St Martin near Felixstowe and elsewhere to produce 12,000 small bales of hay a year.
He also advises farming estates on how to meet the requirements of different conservation and other 'greening' schemes, creates action plans and then carries out the field work required, such as hedge cutting and field margin and ditch management.
"When I started the business, I had to be very careful not to spend too much on equipment, so the only tractor I've had until now is an old Ford 7910," says Adam. "It does the job but its 14mph top speed is a bit tedious for hauling bales and travelling between different locations."
Having kitted out with a mower, tedder, rake and baler for hay making, Adam's first upgrade was a higher performance baler, which delivers a lot more output and bales of more consistent size and shape.
Now, the McCormick X4.70 tractor has joined the operation to operate these implements, along with a flat-eight grab for handling bales using the McCormick MClassic 60 loader.
"I didn't fancy buying a used loader tractor off a livestock farm because they get a pretty hard life," says Adam. "So I set out to find a good deal on a new machine and Agri-Hire came up with the best offer on the McCormick X4.70.
"To be honest, I hadn't considered a McCormick because my last experience of one at college was of an old model that no-one wanted to drive," he adds. "But when I had a look at the X4 tractor with Jeremy Waspe at Agri-Hire, I was surprised at how they've come on."
McCormick manufacturer Argo Tractors has been transforming its tractor line-up, introducing six new ‘X’ generation ranges over the past 18 months with more to come.
The X4 Series is one of the newest, comprising seven models from 64hp to 107hp and featuring new transmissions, new compact four-cylinder engines and a new cab providing good all round visibility, a smart interior and well laid out controls.
Adam Goodall’s example has the 107hp engine and is fitted with a 16x16 synchro shuttle transmission – a power shuttle version with additional features is also available, along with numerous pto configurations for full power and economy operation.
“The cab is surprisingly spacious for this size of tractor, which overall is very compact, and it’s comfortable, with the joystick loader control positioned in just the right place for me,” says Adam. “It pulls a 500-bale trailer load really well, so I’m looking forward to working it on the baler and other machines through the year.”
The tractor is set for a busy workload: “I guess I’ll probably put 1000 hours a year on it,” he says. “And when it comes time for another upgrade I’ll definitely take a look at the bigger tractors in the McCormick range.”
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