Natural Selection

T
he groundbreaking organic
enterprise Laverstoke Park
Farm finds Fendt tractors the ideal
partners to boost productivity and
sustainability.
written by Jane Carley
A
n initial foray into the technology
saw a Fendt 818 Vario converted
to run on rape seed oil by a German
specialist two years ago, and Jody
Scheckter is now the proud user of
the first Fendt 820 Greentec model
and 207hp 820 models.
Alongside their everyday
farming duties, an
important role for the
tractors is towing ‘tractor
buses’ around the estate
in the UK. Deutz AG’s purpose built
biofuel system starts the engine using
a small amount of mineral diesel
and once the components are up to
temperature, switches over to pure
rapeseed oil.
for farmer and public visits.
Manager of Farming Karl
Barton comments that while any old
tractor could tow the buses, it is a good
opportunity for visitors to see the latest
in tractor technology close-up.
Although an initial plan to grow and
press rapeseed on a commercial scale
has not proved economically viable,
Laverstoke Park has a small press for
its own use, and remains committed
to the concept.
But it is in the field that the Fendts
really come into their own. The 1000ha
estate is mainly down to grass and
forage crops, so the green harvest
occupies much of their time, with 3500
round bales made each year.
To be ‘known as the
University of Organics’ is
quite an accolade, but it
is one that is fitting for
Laverstoke Park Farm, a
business which has invested
heavily in organic farming
with the aim of producing
“the best tasting, healthiest
food, without compromise”,
according to proprietor Jody
Scheckter.
The former world champion
formula one driver has
left nothing to chance in
his organic/biodynamic
enterprise, developing soil
testing laboratories with
state-of-the-art equipment and
an abbatoir dedicated to reducing
stress to the animals, and ultimately
producing better meat. Extensive
processing facilities ensure quality
down the line, and a full scale kitchen
has a capacity of 460 pies per hour.
The next step is an anaerobic digester,
which will take municipal and farm
waste and transform it into energy
to meet the farm’s requirements
and contribute to those of the
surrounding Hampshire villages.
M
r Scheckter’s approach
extends to farm machinery,
which he aims to run to the highest
levels of efficiency while taking
advantage of the latest technology
to help minimise its impact on the
environment. This naturally led
him to Fendt, which with its engine
supplier Deutz AG has pioneered
biofuel compatible tractors, allowing
Laverstoke Park Farm to power
its operations with all-natural,
environmentally-friendly rapeseed oil,
pressed from crops sourced locally.
Fendt Testimonial Special
NATURAL SELECTION
“Our aim as a business is to be
carbon neutral and self-sustaining
in energy within two years, and the
Fendt 820 Greentec is an important
element of that,” comments Mr
Scheckter.
F
endt has enjoyed a long
relationship with Laverstoke
Park, which currently has four
of the leading-edge tractors in
its fleet, with a 147hp 714 Vario
and 167hp 716 Vario sharing
the duties with the 186hp 818
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tel hotline: 01628 488441 email: uksales@uk.agcocorp.com
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nother important task is applying
laboratory formulated, nutrientrich compost from Laverstoke Park’s
own 40,000 tonne intake capacity
green waste processing facility. Solid
materials are spread to 24m with high
levels of accuracy using the latest
computer controlled spreader, while
the liquid ‘compost tea’ is applied with
a crop sprayer.
Tractor drivers Sid Cook, Richard
Gwilliam and Martin Lane say that
Fendt offers the highest levels of
productivity for these tasks.
The local Fendt dealer keeps
them fully updated with the latest
developments, recently offering
training to help the team get
the most out of the Tractor
Management System(TMS).
“For example I would always use the
joystick to lift front or rear implements
rather than having to operate the
levers.”
Another benefit of TMS that Richard
points to is the ability to monitor fuel
consumption and performance levels,
which has helped to amass some
useful data on the rapeseed-fuelled
tractors.
It has also shown the impressive
frugality of the Fendt tractors when
deployed for fuel-hungry work such
as mowing, using just four litres per
hectare when working at outputs up
to 11ha/hr.
R
ichard explains: “Our Fendt
818 and 820s are equipped
with TMS and the main advantage
is that you are always in the right
gear for the task and conditions,
which allows the engine to operate
at its peak performance. I find it
useful to work at maximum torque,
and it is possible to prioritise
engine revs to achieve this.”
He confirms that most of the time
he is able to work in automatic
settings, which allows him to
focus on the implement and the job
in hand, and he also makes maximum
use of the Vario joystick for optimum
comfort and thus productivity.
“It is possible to see a distinct performance
improvement with TMS – I use it as
much as possible and I would encourage
everyone else to do so,” says Richard.
S
id admits:
“I am not
computer minded
but these tractors
are extremely
straightforward
to operate. And
everything has a
purpose to make the
work more efficient.
For example,
electrical hydraulic
valves that allow
you to programme
the spools to your
exact requirements.”
While roadwork
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FENDT is a worldwide brand of AGCO Corporation
tel hotline: 01628 488441 email: uksales@uk.agcocorp.com
tends to be sporadic, Sid
comments that here too
the benefits of TMS can
be seen “It makes for an
easier drive on the road and
is much more comfortable
when going at higher
speeds.”
The 716 is fitted with a
loader, and is described by
the team as a useful loader
tractor, with good visibility
and all controls easily to
hand.
Routine maintenance
- plus full servicing of
the older tractors is
undertaken in
house and service
access and the
clarity of service
manuals comes in
for praise.
“But we also have
excellent support
from Listers at
their Reading
and Wallingford
branches,”
comments
Richard.
Fendt Testimonial Special
A
W
ith new projects
and developments
emerging all the time – a recent
public barbeque event is to be
expanded to a food and farming show
in the future, and neat rows of vines
mark the establishment of a proposed
winery – productivity will become
even more key for Laverstoke Park
Farm. And on that, Jody Scheckter can
be confident that Fendt can continue
to deliver.
F
or more information
on Fendt please
visit your local dealer or
telephone our brochure
hotline on
01628 488441
www.fendt.co.uk
Leaders Drive Fendt