Justin Roberts

Justin Roberts Profile Picture

Justin studied at Welsh Agricultural College, Aberystwyth having first worked in both the feed and seed sectors of the industry. He has two decades of experience in writing about farm machinery, both vintage and contemporary across several publications. As an author he has written two books, including the history of the Nordic tractor and now resides in Co. Tipperary.

Celebrating 75 years of John Deere diesel tractors
Celebrating 75 years of John Deere diesel tractors

In the mid 1940s, as the war ended and the youth of America returned home, there was a surge in...

County: The choice of ploughmen everywhere
County: The choice of ploughmen everywhere

Ploughing is hard work – slicing through a soil’s structure, then lifting the weight of it and turning it over...

Vermeer buys in UK expertise in partnership with Bunning
Vermeer buys in UK expertise in partnership with Bunning

Vermeer Corporation is a well established provider of agricultural machinery into the North American market, focusing mainly on hay and...

New Sky Progress TF sows four products in one pass
New Sky Progress TF sows four products in one pass

Sky Agriculture (formerly Sulky) has recently unveiled what it suggests is a major advancement in seeding technology with its new...

Machinery: The impressive power behind Lovol Tractors
Machinery: The impressive power behind Lovol Tractors

Lovol tractors was once again at the The National Ploughing Championships, having had a busy summer visiting shows around Ireland...

Watson Silage Compactor increases pit capacity by 30%
Watson Silage Compactor increases pit capacity by 30%

The key to good silage is getting the air out of the pit or bale, reducing the potential for aerobic...

Case to complete renewal of Axial-flow combine models
Case to complete renewal of Axial-flow combine models

Case IH has become the name synonymous with axial-flow combines, although it was its then competitors, New Holland, who introduced...

Merlo Ireland to get serious about telescopic handlers
Merlo Ireland to get serious about telescopic handlers

The telehandler business in Ireland is already significant and is set to grow further according to Shaun Groom, general manager...

Massey 135 still rust free after 45 years of service
Massey 135 still rust free after 45 years of service

At first glance, there would appear to be little that is remarkable about the Massey Ferguson 135 brought along to...

New Amazone spreader is easier on the pocket
New Amazone spreader is easier on the pocket

All machinery manufacturers are feeling the pinch and are looking to offer budget versions of their more sophisticated models, and...

Machinery: Irish Rovers return after epic UK tractor run
Machinery: Irish Rovers return after epic UK tractor run

Setting off from the very northern tip of Scotland in the first week of May, on a cabless tractor, heading...

Plano fills Pottinger’s shallow cultivation gap
Plano fills Pottinger’s shallow cultivation gap

There has been much attention paid to ultra shallow cultivation over the last few years, and at a recent launch...

Fliegl takes the Cargos concept beyond forage harvesting
Fliegl takes the Cargos concept beyond forage harvesting

It was in May 2022 that Claas unexpectedly announced the sale of its Cargos range of forage harvester wagons to...

AGCO seeks slice of growing Indian tractor market
AGCO seeks slice of growing Indian tractor market

The latest chapter in the uneasy relationship between TAFE and AGCO has drawn the spotlight onto the Indian tractor market,...

Machinery: Chasing Deere with the International 3588
Machinery: Chasing Deere with the International 3588

One of the joys of vintage rallies is coming across the unexpected, and there was no more a delightful surprise...

Grey clouds at CEMA as big three in US still post profits
Grey clouds at CEMA as big three in US still post profits

The gloom has settled in over at CEMA, the umbrella organisation of the EU’s machinery trade associations, as manufacturers fail...

Latest Matrix precision drill goes lightweight
Latest Matrix precision drill goes lightweight

Among the updates and innovations announced by Grimme earlier this month, there was news of an overhaul of the Matrix...

Machinery Focus: Does Fendt appeal to the smaller farmer?
Machinery Focus: Does Fendt appeal to the smaller farmer?

Fendt itself does not pretend that it will match the requirements of all farmers, especially when it comes to price,...