ISSUE 51
Replacing one of its two, six furrow Kverneland ploughs with a nine-furrow PN has brought greater efficiency for Perthshire-based Fenton Farming. NINE FURROWS BRING GREATER EFFICIENCY
“We increased tractor horsepower, choosing a John Deere 8370R on 900-section tyres to replace a 7310R, which gave the opportunity to add more furrows,” explains Graham Fenton, pictured, with his brother Willie. “We did consider a 6300S, but the PN was far better value for money, and it also took us out of the furrow, ploughing on-land, which suited the bigger tractor’s wider tyres.” Based at Loanhead Farm, the family business extends to around 2,200 acres of which 1,500 is combinable, with the remainder growing potatoes. Seedbed preparation is split between deep cultivations and ploughing, with the latter accounting for the lion’s share of the workload. “With the output we can get from a total of 15 furrows, we can cover a lot of ground, though our remaining six furrow 3400S is more of a back-up,” he says. “The PN now does most of the ploughing, and being on-land, with guidance, the job is much more comfortable, and productive.” An 8+1 build using No.28 bodies and rear discs, the PN was supplied by Netherton Tractors, and is comfortably handled by the farm’s flagship 8370R. With field sizes from five to 115 acres and a mix of soil types across the farm, the brothers reckon the PN takes it all in its stride, with over 1,200 acres going over its boards since arriving at Loanhead Farm in September 2025. “We’ve just over 400hp available now, so this outfit does most of the work,” explains Willie. “With the depth wheel part-way up the frame, the manoeuvrability is great. This plough turns tightly on headlands, keeping downtime to a minimum.” Graham adds that the PN operates at a depth of 12in for potatoes, and 9in for cereals, with a manual furrow width set at 16in. “The quality of the finished work is superb,” he says. “The 28 bodies take some beating, and with our past experience of both Netherton and Kverneland, we're unlikely to go anywhere else for our ploughs.”
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