Jim Breen

Jim Breen Profile Picture

Jim Breen is from a farming background. He studied Engineering in University College Dublin. He worked for agricultural media outlets and, most recently, was the mechanisation advisor for DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs) and engineering programme manager at CAFRE (College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise). He now lives in Offaly.

Table: Tractor sales up in the US, but major worries loom
Table: Tractor sales up in the US, but major worries loom

Sales of new agricultural tractors in the US were up last month (compared to April 2018) in almost every category....

New ‘Innovation Centres’ in Japan and Europe for Kubota
New ‘Innovation Centres’ in Japan and Europe for Kubota

Kubota Corporation, which is headquartered in Japan, is establishing new ‘Innovation Centres’ – one in Japan and another in Europe....

Fully-electric ‘utility’ tractor can run for ‘up to 8 hours’ on a charge
Fully-electric ‘utility’ tractor can run for ‘up to 8 hours’ on a charge

North American entity Solectrac is on a mission to garner support for its electric tractor. The so-called ‘eUtility‘ model costs...

Grimme to partner with ‘world’s largest manufacturer of rotary tillers’
Grimme to partner with ‘world’s largest manufacturer of rotary tillers’

Grimme has announced a 50:50 joint venture to develop and sell potato (and other root crop) machinery in India. Grimme...

MF to launch new 75-95hp tractors
MF to launch new 75-95hp tractors

Massey Ferguson is launching three new 3700 AL Series tractors. With 75hp, 85hp or 95hp, these models are designed for...

‘A significant slowdown in incoming orders is expected’ – CEMA
‘A significant slowdown in incoming orders is expected’ – CEMA

The ‘general business index’ across the farm machinery industry in Europe has “deteriorated significantly for the first time since the...

What’s the average power of a new self-propelled forager?
What’s the average power of a new self-propelled forager?

580hp is the approximate average horsepower of a new self-propelled forage harvester (of all makes/brands, excluding Rostselmash and Gomselmash) sold...

Krone is now building 320 BiG X forage harvesters each year
Krone is now building 320 BiG X forage harvesters each year

Krone is now building approximately 320 BiG X self-propelled forage harvesters each year at its factory in Spelle, Germany. The...

‘Smaller cousin’ sprayer to spread its wings at Cereals 2019
‘Smaller cousin’ sprayer to spread its wings at Cereals 2019

The new Chafer Defender self-propelled sprayer (pictured above), which offers “all the benefits of its larger cousin – the Interceptor...

Battery power of today ‘not feasible’ for bigger tractors – Fendt
Battery power of today ‘not feasible’ for bigger tractors – Fendt

A report by German publisher/outlet Top Agrar suggests that the energy density of current-generation batteries is not suitable for use in...

Sales of new tractors bounce back in the UK
Sales of new tractors bounce back in the UK

Sales of new (agricultural) tractors have recovered in the UK, after a troubled start to the year. Data from the UK-based...

Big debut for Italian-built self-propelled sprayers
Big debut for Italian-built self-propelled sprayers

Mazzotti self-propelled sprayers will make their UK show debut under the John Deere banner at Cereals 2019 in Boothby Graffoe,...

Is a ‘right to repair’ law on the way for US tractor owners?
Is a ‘right to repair’ law on the way for US tractor owners?

Outlet/publisher TechDirt reports that Minnesota may be the first US state to pass a so-called ‘right to repair’ law. According to the outlet,...

AEA elects new president – from Landini/McCormick parent company
AEA elects new president – from Landini/McCormick parent company

The UK-based AEA (Agricultural Engineers Association) has elected a new president – namely Adrian Winnett (pictured above), managing director of Argo Tractors’ operations...

Auction report: 1968 Doe 130 sells for a whopping £71,000
Auction report: 1968 Doe 130 sells for a whopping £71,000

A 1968 Doe 130 (pictured above) sold for £71,000 (plus 5% commission; no VAT) at an auction on Saturday (April...

Is this the ultimate accessory for baling and wrapping contractors?
Is this the ultimate accessory for baling and wrapping contractors?

Laois-based machinery dealership Bailey Machinery Sales (BMS) has just launched the Grizzly WrapMaster onto the Irish market – ahead of...

Table: How are new tractor and combine sales faring in the US in 2019?
Table: How are new tractor and combine sales faring in the US in 2019?

Last month (March) saw “mostly positive” numbers for sales of new agricultural tractors and combine harvesters in the US. However,...

Sales are up at ‘world’s biggest monthly auction of tractors and farm machinery’
Sales are up at ‘world’s biggest monthly auction of tractors and farm machinery’

Cheffins, which claims to conduct the “largest monthly sale of second-hand tractors and agricultural machinery in the world”, has reported...