Fertiliser, roller and weeder for cereals

Over the past few weeks, despite rainy and windy conditions, we have completed the remaining tasks on the cereal fields: fertiliser application, rolling, and weed control. With this work finished, the next machine to enter the fields will hopefully be the combine harvester. As usual, we like to carry out these operations in the order mentioned in the title.

Regarding fertilisation, in recent years we have been using YaraVera™ AMIDAS with excellent results. This year we’ve had to make a change, since the fertiliser used often depends on availability at the supplier’s warehouse. We therefore applied ENTEC® EVO™ 24 (+15 SO₃), which contains sulphur, at a rate of 225 kg/ha. Together with the basal fertilisation applied at sowing, this provides enough nitrogen for a good yield, provided rainfall conditions remain favourable.

Once the fertiliser has been applied, the next step is rolling the ground. This process serves three main purposes:

1. To consolidate the soil and improve root–soil contact
2. To press down stones, reducing potential issues during harvesting
3.  To help incorporate the fertiliser and reduce losses due to exposure

Finally, for cereals, we carry out phytosanitary treatment to eliminate broadleaf weeds. As it has been a very wet winter this year, we’re taking this opportunity to apply a fungicide, which will help maintain plant health.

The following products were used:

• Dingo (2,4-D 30% + Florasulam 0.62% w/v. SE). Dosage: 0.7 l/ha
• Trimur (Tribenuron-methyl 75% WG). Dosage: 15 g/ha
• Geriones (Tebuconazole 25% w/v EW). Dosage: 0.5 l/ha

With all these tasks completed, the crop is now well established and on track for the coming months. From here on, the weather will play a key role, so we will continue to monitor the fields closely and hope for a favourable season ahead. Here are a few videos of these works... we hope you like them.

Versión en español.

Sowing season 2025. Crop summary

It has been a few weeks since we finished the sowing campaign, and we would like to summarise our crops and also take this opportunity to introduce you to our friend Nemesio's Gil seed drill.

Regarding the crops we sow, as we have mentioned on other occasions, we mainly rotate crops with pulse vegetables and some sunflowers. Pulse vegetables are working quite well for us because they are inexpensive to grow (mainly because they do not need fertiliser) and also leave very good stubble for the following year's cereal crop... hence why they are called soil-improving crops. We notice this especially with the yeros, which means that the barley for the following year is always slightly more advanced in its growth than ther fields that have not had yeros. The problem with yeros this year is the very low selling price (€170/tonne).

Another pulse crop that is performing very well is pardina and verdina (Ston) lentils. This type of lentil is not as delicate as the Castilian lentil, as it can be harvested with a combine harvester, and its selling price is quite attractive (around €600/tonne). This year we have also sown vetch, whose main challenge is harvesting, as it tends to stay very close to the ground… so we will tell you later how this crop turns out.

As for cereals, we continue to avoid wheat and focus on barley. We have been using Medinaceli barley for years with excellent results, but this year we were short on seed and sowed Záncara barley, which also yielded good results for many farmers in our village last year. Finally, we have sown some Rumboso triticale in areas with a high rabbit population… Some fields are seriously affected by rabbits, which cause significant damage.

We would also like to take advantage of this sowing-related post to introduce you to our friend Nemesio's Gil seed drill. What makes it special? As you can see, the hopper is mounted at the front of the tractor, while the rear only carries the sowing system. This has one main advantage: it allows you to use a high-capacity seed drill with a smaller tractor (Nemesio has the Fendt 314 Vario Profi+). As you know, seed drills (colloquially known as “octopuses”) usually require high-powered tractors to operate smoothly, especially when transporting them and when manoeuvring on slopes at the headlands. With this type of seed drill, a medium-power tractor works without any problems as the weight of the machine is distributed. It is a very good option!

Versión en español.

Fendt 718 — It’s Finally Home

Usually, when we talk to you about new machinery, it’s after visiting farm fairs, thanks to our sponsors, or through followers and friends who invite us to see equipment at work on their farms. This time, the story is different: we are the ones welcoming a brand-new tractor to our own farm: the Fendt 718 Vario Power+ 😀

This brand tractor was something we had often considered, but for financial reasons we kept postponing the decision. After two good harvests in a row (2022 and this summer, while 2023 was a disaster…), we finally took the step and we visited our official dealer: Librado Group. With their support, we plucked up our courage and made the purchase. It feels a bit like a leap into the unknown, but ultimately it’s an investment we need to be able to work in parallel with two tractors: the new Fendt 718 and our Deutz-Fahr M600 Agrotron. Our John Deere 5720 has become too small for our needs, l, and we hardly use it for grain anymore, focusing instead on woody crops such as olives and almonds.

Regarding the Fendt 718 Power+, these could be the key features

• 6.1-litre, 6-cylinder Deutz engine (max. torque 818 Nm at 1,500 rpm)
• Vario ML 180 transmission
• Air-suspended cab and Fendt ONE driver’s seat
• GPS auto-steering and ISOBUS connection
• Hydraulic pump: 160 l/min
• Front three-point linkage with 870 kg counterweight
• Rear lift max. capacity: 10,360 daN
• Speed range: 0.02 – 55 km/h
• Michelin tyres: 540/65R30 (front) and 650/65R42 (rear)
• Rear PTO: 540, 540E, 1000, 1000E
• Unladen weight: 7,790 kg / Max authorised weight: 14,000 kg

On 17 September, the tractor arrived at our farm, and of course we took a few photos to capture the moment that you can see here. We’ll be sharing many more once we start working with it, for now, we’re waiting for the autumn rains to begin before putting it to the test.

Versión en español.

Fendt 600 Vario Series. High-power tractors with 4-cylinder engines

Let's start by putting the evolution of 4-cylinder tractors into context, so we can clearly see the leap Fendt has made with its new 600 Series. A few years ago, 4-cylinder tractors were primarily focused on the mid-power range (around 100 hp). These tractors were mainly used for support tasks such as spraying, fertilization, and seeding with small drills—tasks that require less pulling power but benefit from high maneuverability and low fuel consumption.

However, things changed when 4-cylinder tractors began reaching up to 180 hp, such as the Fendt 516. These tractors were no longer just for lighter tasks; they were versatile enough to handle heavy-duty work like pulling large cultivators, fast disc harrows, or ploughs.

With the new 600 Vario series, Fendt goes one step further offering a tractor with a 4-cylinder engine, but clearly positioned in the high-horsepower segment with up to 224 hp in the Fendt 620 model. So, based on this vision, I was eager to get to know this new 600 series and it didn't disappoint. We will now tell you about our working day and explain the main features of this new series.

Over the Christmas holidays, we had the opportunity to visit Luquero Pinilla Farm in Chatún (Segovia), where they had just received a Fendt 620 Profi+ Vario. One pleasant surprise on our arrival was that they already owned five other Fendt tractors (including a Fendt 728 Gen7), so they were very familiar with the brand (you can see more in our videos). In this farm they are very dedicated to fruit and vegetable crops such as potatoes, carrots, onions, leeks,... and some cereals. A very horticultural area that is always very interesting to visit.

The main features that we highlight of the new Fendt 600 series are:

• New AGCO Power CORE50 4-cylinder 5-litre engines.
• Fendt iD low-rev concept and Dynamic Performance system for extra power.
• Four models ranging from 164hp to 224hp.
• VarioDrive transmission.
• Reaches 40 km/h at 1,100 rpm and 50 km/h at 1,300 rpm.
• 2.72m wheelbase.
• Unladen weight of 7.7 tonnes and maximum permissible weight (at 50km/h) of 13.5 tonnes.
• Hydraulic pump up to 205 l/min.
• Up to 65 litres of removable oil.
• Fendt ONE cab and operator's cab Fendt ONE.

In the final part of our day in Chatún (Segovia), we went to the field where we could see and test the tractor at work. Victor, one of the three brothers on the farm, pointed out several things he saw in the tractor, such as:

• Fuel Efficiency: The engine’s fuel consumption is impressively moderate and compares favorably to 6-cylinder engines.
• VarioDrive Transmission: The tractor experienced minimal slip, showing just 2%, while other tractors with different transmissions were closer to 10%.
• Turning Radius: The turning radius is very small (around 10 m), making it ideal for horticultural work where space is often limited.
• Fendt ONE Cab: The Fendt ONE cab remains one of the best in the market in terms of comfort and ergonomics.
• Versatility: The tractor is highly versatile for horticultural tasks that require high hydraulic flow and excellent maneuverability.

In short, a new Fendt 600 series that replaces the prestigious Fendt 700 Gen6 series and that we are sure to see many tractors in our Spanish fields. We were really impressed by it!

Versión en español