LAMMA will kick-start the new year as the first show of 2023, returning to its January timeslot at the NEC in Birmingham. CPM previews some of the show’s features and the machinery, technology and innovation that will be on display.
“Data and machine automation can reduce fuel costs and save valuable time.”
By Melanie Jenkins
LAMMA will once again open the doors of the NEC to farmers and industry professionals on 10-11 January 2023, to showcase some of the best-known names in the world of agricultural machinery, equipment and technology.
“We look forward to welcoming the farming community back to LAMMA once again,” says Nichola Bell, of Agriconnect, which organises the event. “With sustainability, production efficiency and food security at the top of the industry’s priority list, LAMMA is the perfect place for farmers and business owners to find the right tools and strategies help them achieve their goals.”
It’s anticipated that more than 700 manufacturers, dealers and distributors will fill 11 halls at the NEC, to display some of the latest products, knowledge and services available to farmers and producers across the arable, horticulture and livestock sectors.
Alongside exhibitors, visitors can expect a number of other features at the show which will offer a chance to learn, network and explore new ideas.
Visitors will see a return of familiar features like the Farm Safety Zone, the ability to earn CPD points and a wide range of seminars on contemporary topics in agriculture.
They can also anticipate another Future Farming Trail – formerly known as the Farming 4.0 Trail – which will highlight exhibitors and products at the show with the potential to revolutionise the industry. The trail aims to explore the role of data, robotics, autonomous machines and advanced devices, and how these are becoming more important on-farm, particularly as the UK works towards the net zero goal. By taking part in the trail, visitors will get a first look at the machines and technology that could help to redefine farming and help re-imagine what’s possible.
In other news, LAMMA’s Innovation Awards are back for 2023. According to show organisers, the awards are returning due to popular demand. For years the Innovation Awards recognised and rewarded innovation and advances inside the agricultural industry and now they are back to help celebrate new advances.
As before, the entries will be judged by an independent panel of industry experts according to a range of criteria including design innovation, practical impact, the sustainability of the product and its impact on the environment. The awards aim to provide a quality platform for exhibitors to introduce ground-breaking innovation in agricultural machinery, technology, equipment and services to the market.
There are six categories in total: arable innovation, livestock innovation, digital innovation, future farming innovation, the IagRE Ivel Award best environmental award and the LAMMA founders trophy for best innovation 2023.
Another award returning for 2023 is the Young Engineer Award. Like last year, the award will be aiming to champion an individual or collective of young engineers who have created or worked on a piece of agricultural machinery, equipment or technology which significantly improves efficiency, profitability or sustainability on-farm.
The show will also be hosting LAMMA Torques, which will include speaker sessions and debates on the latest industry developments and issues.
The show will also be hosting LAMMA Torques, which will include speaker sessions and debates on the latest industry developments and issues, plus visitors will have the chance to put questions to experts.
Topics being discussed at the show include silage management, regen agriculture and carbon, future farming and alternative fuels, getting in and out of farming, the future of agricultural policy and cost-saving sessions.
And aside from all the wealth of information and innovation promised to be available at the show, a number of exhibitors plan to present some of their latest developments and launches.
Syngenta is one of these and the company will be presenting its new EvoPac product packaging in the UK for the first time. Designed in collaboration with growers, the aim is that the packaging should significantly reduce operator exposure while filling.
The EvoPac features a central high flow opening to provide a stable coupling onto the easyconnect closed transfer unit. EvoPac is made from a rigid recyclable polymer, with integral moulded grips for quick and safe handling. The translucent packaging has been designed to be easy clean and should also enable operators to see precisely how much has been transferred during sprayer filling, and when the packs are fully clean with the system’s auto rinse.
The new packaging will be available for a range of Syngenta products this year, with a transition to replace all liquid packaging over the coming seasons.
And this isn’t all. Syngenta will also be introducing the GranuPac, developed specifically for Nemathorin granules to enable faster and cleaner operation during potato planting. The 20kg packs include moulded grips for safer handling and a new fast ring-pull opening. The system fits all existing hopper connectors. The new GranuPac will start to appear on farms during the 2023 season.
Syngenta will also use LAMMA to launch developments in the company’s digital agronomy toolbox to advance precision crop management and that further help operators work more effectively and efficiently, it claims. This season will see major advances in the BlightCast disease forecasting system for potato growers, as well as the Quantis Heat Stress Forecast to optimise timing of applications.
It’s anticipated that more than 700 manufacturers, dealers and distributors will fill 11 halls at the NEC.
The show will see Fendt return to the halls of the NEC and the company brings with it the new 700 Vario Gen 7 which features a 7.5-litre AGCO Power engine with outputs of 203hp for the 720 model and more than 300hp for the top 728 model.
According to Richard Miller of Fendt, LAMMA is the ideal place in the UK to launch the tractor. “The NEC is a fitting location for the show. It helps to raise the overall profile of the agricultural industry in the UK and enables Fendt to show the best that we have to offer the farming public.”
Larger machines including the new Katana 850 forage harvester and latest Ideal combine will also be on show, as well as the Tigo VR forage wagon and the Rotana round baler.
Technology will again be a hot topic at LAMMA and the FendtONE onboard/offboard concept will be available for visitors to experience. Data-driven farming is being more widely adopted as a precision-led method to improve agricultural efficiencies and FendtONE demonstrates how data collected by machines in the field can help make operational decisions in the farm office, says Richard.
Syngenta will be presenting its new EvoPac product packaging in the UK for the first time.
“Data and machine automation can reduce fuel costs and save valuable time. FendtONE has been designed to offer the data needed to make important decisions that will drive the efficiencies needed in today’s market,” he adds.
Valtra will be fillings its stand with members of its fifth generation models, the latest of which is the Q Series, a 230-305hp range of tractors. These have redesigned cabs, the latest transmission and engine features, remodelled smart display and a new look. The firm will also be demonstrating a number of its SmartFarming tools live for visitors.
Claydon is another manufacturer which is planning to highlight new models, in the form of its Evolution range of mounted drills. Each of the drills in the collection is designed for direct drilling but can also be used after consolidation in both ploughing and min-till situations.
Fendt returns to the halls of the NEC bringing with it the new 700 Vario Gen 7.
There are a total of nine models in the Evolution range, with working widths of 3m, 4m, 4.5m, 4.8m, 5m and 6m, which incorporate nine, 13, 15 or 19 tines. Most models feature a 1910-litre hopper, but the 3m Evolution 3MF and 4m 4MRF versions include a 2700-litre tank with a 50:50 split between seed and fertiliser. The larger hopper is designed to help increase productivity, while second and third hopper options are for applying multiple types, varieties and sizes of seed.
All Claydon Evolution models feature a hydraulic fan, Artemis metering control, tramlining facility, front tine/17.8cm A-share configuration, double rear toolbar and road lights. Typical daily outputs range from 20ha for the 3m Evolution, which requires a minimum of 150hp, up to 40ha for the 6m version, which needs a minimum of 300hp.
The new range incorporates additional features which aim to improve operational functionality. Seed depth adjustment is controlled hydraulically, improved access to the metering unit allows easier calibration, while front-mounted discs which are operated hydraulically from the tractor seat can be specified as an optional extra.
Other features include quick-fit knock-on/knock-off coulter options for the standard leading tine and A-Share to low disturbance twin disc and tine options. Multiple seed tool options allow a wide range of crops to be drilled across different soil types and situations, while the quick-change facility allows fast, easy modification when required. A large, easily accessible toolbox incorporated into the step frame is also standard.
The firm will be showcasing its 3m seed and fertiliser version alongside a 4m hydrid T4 trailed drill. Claydon will also present a 7.5m straw harrow and a 4m TerraBlade inter-row hoe.
Claydon is planning to highlight new models at LAMMA, in the form of its Evolution range of mounted drills.
Additionally, visitors can expect to see machines from Dale Drills’ range at the show. Specifically, the firm will be taking its 6m Eco M Seed Drill, Mounted Tine Drill and its Meir Soil Conditioner.
Specialist sprayer manufacturer Micron will also be exhibiting at the event, and visitors to its stand can expect to see a range of products from the firm, including the Varidome – a band sprayer for cost-effective inter-row weed control in vegetables, sugar beet, oilseed rape and other row crops.
In addition, the firm will be bringing its Micron Envrio shielded sprayers, which are tractor mounted and designed for eliminating persistent weeds such as blackgrass in field margins and general weed control in vineyards, orchards, as well as along fence lines and pathways.
The firm’s WeedWiper will also be on display. This non-drip tractor/vehicle-mounted weedwiper is for treating bolters in sugar beet and tall weed control in grassland, arable and environmentally sensitive areas.
Hi-Spec Engineering plans to bring its new high-capacity compact tanker, the TS-R, to the show.
Moving to tankers, Hi-Spec Engineering plans to bring its new high-capacity compact tanker, the TS-R, to the show. This is available in a range of capacities from over 9000 litres, up to just shy of 18,200 litres.
Spreading options for the TS-R include the Hi-Spec Trailing Shoe applicator, which is offered in working widths of 7.5m, 9.0m and 10.5m. Alternatively, there is the 7.5m wide Hi-Spec Dribble Bar, which folds down to just 2.55m for transport.
With a narrower width and fitted with a commercial tandem-axle on 710/50-R26.5 tyres and semi-recessed mudguards, this means that overall width and height are reduced allowing the tanker to be manoeuvrable in restricted operating spaces.
Centre stage on the BvL stand at LAMMA will be a 33m3 V-Mix Plus 3S triple auger mixer.
Also on display will be a Hi-Spec SA-R (single axle recessed) tanker, which has capacities from 6100 litres up to 13,600 litres, and the XCEL 1250 rear discharge spreader. This spreader uses a combination of a shredding rotor fitted with 22 heavy duty chains and 12mm Hardox flail heads. The machine is designed to achieve an even spread pattern up to 24m, with a 12t capacity and typical discharge time of three to five minutes. It’s also able to spread all material types, such as farmyard manure, sludge cake, muck lime, wood mulch and chicken compost.
Centre stage on the BvL stand at LAMMA will be a 33m³ V-Mix Plus 3S. According to the firm it’s seen a considerable increase in UK sales of its Plus triple auger mixers in recent years. “It’s not uncommon to see a 17m³ or 20m³ diet feeder being replaced by a 30m³ plus triple auger machine,” says BvL’s John Molton. “Not only does it save a lot of time, but because users are perhaps only doing three mixes instead of six, overall ration consistency is improved considerably.”
At the other end of the size scale the firm will also be displaying a 12m³ single auger machine and information on the Dairy Feeder Go app. This is a new entry-level version of the cloud-based BvL V-Connect Dairy Feeder system.
This article was taken from the latest issue of CPM. For more articles like this, subscribe here.
