Latest news with #Multifarmer
Agriland
31-05-2025
- Automotive
- Agriland
Merlo Multifarmer clocks 100 hours in just six weeks
First impressions count and it has been nearly two months since the Guinan family of Tullamore, Co. Offaly won a year's use of a Merlo Multifarmer 34.7, giving them enough time to get used to working it and discover its strengths. Overall, the Guinans are finding the Multifarmer a great addition to the farm, making the tasks around the yard quicker and easier. They are particularly enthused about the manoeuvrability of the machine with the four-wheel steering enabling it to spin around the yard more quickly than the tractor and loader it is replacing for the time being. Hearty engine Power is never an issue either – the 140hp Deutz engine has yet to meet its match and moves the 6.6t machine with a convincing rapidity, even with a heavy bucket of stone attached, which in this case can amount to a further 2.7t. The 140hp Deutz engine is set at a slight angle in the frame Tested on an agitator, there was no issue with the power available at the power takeoff (PTO) either. The PTO drove the pump as well as any tractor on the farm and jobs like this go to prove the versatility and ability of the Multifarmer to fit in to the system when other machines may be tied up. Multifarmer goes mowing Other non-loading jobs the machine has been tasked with include pasture topping with a standard mounted disc mower on the rear linkage. While this would usually be the job of a tractor, it was given a go with the Multifarmer despite it being a standard right-hand machine on a loader with a cab to the left. Although fitted with a three-point linkage, the Multifarmer is used mainly for loader work such as pushing up the muck heap The combination worked well, although there was an extra niggle in addition to the reduced vision to the right, which was that the release cord used to unlatch from the transport position had no clear way into the cab. Having to dismount from the loader to release the mower bed was not a major inconvenience, but – as suggested by Kevin Guinan, owner of the Co. Offaly farm along with his father Michael – it was a situation that could be improved upon with some sort of opening in the rear of the cab. There is no clear pathway for a mower release cord into the rear of the cab. The ride and comfort of the cab is another feature admired by both Kevin and Michael who have now spent over 100 hours between them using the loader. Full cab and boom suspension add up to a smooth ride, with the bonus that the whole frame can be tilted slightly to either side. Kevin said he has already made good use of this feature when loading a lorry for a neighbour that was parked on a slope. The frame can be tilted to either side, thanks to the rams located between it and the axles, seen here on the right. It is a small feature, but it made a big difference to the the ease of the job and is something that has greatly added to the appeal of the machine. However, Kevin pointed out that there is no auto return to level it out afterwards. This may appear a minor omission but is a niggle he feels should be addressed by the manufacturer. Heavy lifting There is no complaint about the lifting performance of the machine. Some trackway maintenance required stone to be shifted with the bucket. Michael Guinan told Agriland that, according to the on-board weigher, 2.7t of stone can be carried, which is around three times as much as the Guinans' own loader. The Multifarmer has proven to be a useful tool around the yard and sheds of the farm Yet the Multifarmer handled this weight with ease and precision, allowing this job, and some tree clearance, to be performed quickly and safely, far more so than would have been possible with the Guinans' tractor. The hydraulics are quite quick, according to Kevin. The boom lifts and extends swiftly, but not so fast that it could be judged as unsafe. Attaching implements is also a breeze, with Kevin having great regard for the single central locking pin. The central locking pin for attachments is a great hit with Kevin When approaching the end of its reach, or return, the movement of the boom slows down for the last half metre or so, creating a cushioning effect and stopping it banging against the travel stops. This is another small feature perhaps, but makes for a calmer operation and – along with the suspension already mentioned – the user experience is smoothed out, making for a less tiring day. Joystick joy Control through the joystick is another item appreciated by the Guinans. On the rear, there is a selector switch for direction, and here opinion differs. Michael finds it particularly useful whereas Kevin still prefers to use the lever mounted in the traditional place below the steering wheel. The cab interior and control layout draw praise, with the joystick being highlighted as workable and precise However, the neutral button on the top, next to the boom and external service switches, is used by both and pressed before dismounting, ensuring the loader stays where it is while there is nobody in the cab. According to the Guinans, he air conditioning/heater works well, keeping the cab glass clear of condensation, though the filters at the rear top of the cab appear to be vulnerable to water ingress and the area is avoided when using a pressure washer. They are probably quite safe, but reassurance is required. The large grain bucket is a useful attachment but not always best suited to stock-related tasks Being a cab on a farm vehicle, the floor quickly accumulates spanners, pins, and the usual mix of odds and ends. A toolbox mounted on the outside is an item that would be immeasurably useful. If the Multifarmer was owned by the Guinans, they might have already added one, but having one fitted as standard would be a bonus. From within the cab, the engine fan can be reversed to clear the radiator, producing a satisfying cloud of dust and debris when it is engaged, Verdict so far It is often said that a materials handler of any type soon becomes the busiest machine on the farm, and this appears to be the case at the Guinans. With over 100 hours of use within just six weeks, they are obviously finding plenty of work for the Multifarmer, and this in a quieter period for such machines, especially here where the silage pit is filled by contractors and bales have not yet been made. For next winter, Ronco have added a silage grab to the prize pot It is unlikely that there would be this intensity of use if the Guinans did not find it of value and convenience. Generally speaking, they are delighted with how it has worked for them so far. Yes, there are one or two niggles, as there will be with any machine, and maybe this particular model might be a little too large for the farm, especially with the grain bucket supplied. But the Guinans keep climbing on board every day and will be pushing the 1,000-hour limit come the end of the trial year – that is the real judgement of any tractor or loader.
Agriland
21-04-2025
- Automotive
- Agriland
Watch: Offaly family win Merlo Multifarmer competition
Merlo is on a mission to bring the benefits of telehandlers to Irish farmers and, to help this campaign along, it has awarded the use of a Multifarmer 34.7 for a year to the winner of a mega competition held in conjunction with Agriland. The winner of the competition, first announced at Ploughing 2024, has the free use of the telehandler for a year, or 1,000 hours, whichever comes first, and along with the loader itself there will be a bucket, pallet forks, and a muck fork/grab as part of the package. Michael Guinan from Co. Offaly is the lucky farmer drawn from the hat of 35,000 entries, and he will enjoy the use of the machine on the mixed beef and dairy unit he farms with his wife Concepta, and son Kevin. The family-run farm has 120 cows on a split holding of 300ac, utilising two Lely robots to cope with the milking, while bull calves are raised to finish at 18-20 months, making 380-400kg plus. However, this is not a standard black and white herd; the breed is Montbéliarde, which originates in the east of France where the milk is appreciated for its cheese-making qualities. The Montbéliarde breed is rare in Ireland but it performs well in both both beef and dairy enterprises Bridging the gap Daily farming operations on the Guinan farm are faced with a significant challenge in that the Grand Canal neatly divides it into two with an original stone bridge crossing the cut – a bridge which is not designed for modern machinery. A tight turn onto a narrow bridge imposes severe restrictions on machinery use This, unfortunately, means that a good deal of roadwork needs to be undertaken throughout the year as wider and less manoeuvrable tractors have to undertake a six-mile round trip to the other side, although stock and smaller machines can cross the bridge. Currently the tractor fleet comprises two McCormicks, one with a loader, and a John Deere that is also fitted with a loader, although it is the McCormick which does most of the materials handling. Yes, it's meant to look like this. The chassis can be levelled to the left or right to compensate for uneven ground The farm has already carried out some research into upgrading the loader tractor, with a used loader of a different brand considered, but now that the opportunity has arisen to try the Multifarmer out for a year, the timing has been ideal for this Offaly farm. Loader type Michael's other son, Damion, has experience of telehandlers in the UK and has been urging his father to consider this type of loader. With the arrival of the Merlo Multifarmer, the practicalities of using this type of machine can be fully put to the test. One of the first field tasks for the Multifarmer will be preparing the maize ground Michael himself is already an enthusiast of the Multifarmer concept, which takes the basic design of a normal telehandler and attaches a three-point linkage, hydraulic services, and a power take-off (PTO) to the rear of the frame that extends further backwards than a normal telehandler chassis. Unique to Merlo It is this feature that is of particular interest to the family, as the ability to use the Multifarmer for field tasks as well as the usual lifting and loading jobs, gives the farm a powerful addition to the tractor fleet. The versatility gained by taking a loader and enabling it to work as a standard tractor is greatly appreciated by the Guinan family One of the first tasks the machine, outside of the yard, is power harrowing the maize ground, which, as Kevin points out, will nicely bed the Deutz engine in and confirm just how well it can cope with field work. L-r: Cormac Farrelly, managing director, Agriland, winning farmer, Kevin Guinan, and Helen Selkin, Merlo The loader was supplied by Merlo agents, FJS Plant of Kildare, and officially present by Cormac Farrelly, managing director of Agriland, and Helen Selkin of Merlo UK and Ireland this week. Farrelly said: 'We were delighted to partner with Merlo to provide a farmer with the opportunity to carry out a multitude of work on farm over the course of a year, that they might not otherwise have been able to complete without equipment such as the Multifarmer. 'I hope it makes the operations on the Guinan farm that bit more feasible over the coming 12 months and no doubt this exceptional piece of kit will be put to immediate use.' Helen Selkin of Merlo added: 'For Merlo, the Guinan family are actually the ideal winners of this competition. 'The Multifarmer is going to do everything that they need; traditionally they have been using a tractor loader and they're really excited to see what this machine is going to give them.'
