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From Ploughs to Min-Till: How the Sumo Trio Is Changing Cultivation Across the industry, more and more farmers are rethinking their approach to cultivation. With increasing focus on soil health, efficiency, and fuel savings, many are moving away from traditional plough-based systems towards minimum tillage — or min-till. Recently, we had the pleasure of supplying a customer with a Sumo Trio, a versatile piece of equipment that perfectly illustrates this shift. Designed to reduce the number of passes needed while still achieving excellent soil conditioning, the Trio is helping growers save both time and fuel without compromising results. The move away from traditional ploughing Ploughing has long been a trusted method for preparing seedbeds, but it comes with drawbacks — from higher fuel use and time demands to potential disturbance of soil structure and organic matter. As input costs rise and sustainability becomes more important, many farms are now exploring alternatives that maintain yields while improving long-term soil condition. What is minimum tillage? Minimum tillage aims to prepare the soil with fewer operations and less disturbance. By reducing the number of passes, it helps retain soil moisture, protect earthworm populations, and maintain structure — all key factors for healthy, productive land. It’s a practical, forward-thinking approach that aligns with modern farming’s environmental and economic priorities. The Sumo Trio in action The Sumo Trio combines deep loosening, surface cultivation, and consolidation in a single pass. Its design allows for effective soil movement, residue mixing, and compaction relief — all while maintaining a level finish ready for drilling. This versatility makes it ideal for farms transitioning from plough-based systems to min-till. Our recent delivery of a new Trio marks another step forward for one of our local customers, who wanted to improve efficiency and reduce the time spent preparing fields. After discussing their needs and soil conditions, we recommended the Trio as the best-fit solution for their system.
What We Do Before Delivering Your Machine When you invest in a new piece of farm machinery, you want it ready to work the moment it arrives in your yard. That’s why we carry out a PDI – Pre-Delivery Inspection – on new machinery before it leaves our dealership. Think of PDI as the final quality check that ensures your new tractor, topper, or implement is set up correctly, safe to operate, and fully prepared for its first job. Here’s what goes on behind the scenes: A Full Mechanical Check Our team inspects the machine from top to bottom. Every nut, bolt, hose, and moving part is checked and adjusted to make sure everything is tight, secure, and operating as it should. Fluids and Filters We check and top up all fluids, including engine oil, hydraulic oil, and coolant. Filters are inspected, so you can start working without worrying about maintenance straight away. Setup and Adjustments No two farms are the same. That’s why we configure your machine for real-world use – setting tyre pressures, calibrating hitches, and making adjustments so it’s ready for the work you’ll be putting it to. Diagnostics and Updates Modern farm machinery often comes with advanced electronics. We run diagnostic checks and install the latest software updates to make sure your machine runs smoothly and efficiently. Safety First Your safety is our priority. We carefully test lights, brakes, PTO guards, and other safety features so you can operate with peace of mind. Handover and Operator Familiarisation When your machine is delivered, we don’t just drop it off. We’ll take the time to walk you through the controls, explain key features, and answer any questions so you feel confident before you get started. Why PDI Matters PDI might not be something you see, but it makes all the difference. It ensures your machine not only looks the part but is fully prepared to perform from day one. It’s our way of making sure your investment works as hard as you do.
Why Coolant System Care Matters Recently, our workshop welcomed a Massey Ferguson 7618 for a scheduled transmission repair and service. What started as a routine job soon highlighted the importance of preventive maintenance – and why small issues left unchecked can lead to costly downtime. The Service & What We Found After carrying out the service and running the engine, our technician noticed that the tractor wasn’t reaching its optimal operating temperature. Instead, it was running cold – a clear sign that something wasn’t right. The most likely cause? Faulty Thermostats. To confirm, we removed the thermostat housing and found the root of the problem: a significant build-up of sludge in the cooling system. Why Coolant Maintenance Matters Sludge in a coolant system forms when coolant isn’t regularly changed or maintained properly. Over time, it can: Restrict coolant flow Prevent the engine from reaching normal operating temperature Lead to overheating or further component damage In this case, the thermostats had failed and stuck open, preventing the engine from running as it should. While the Massey Ferguson 7600 series are reliable workhorses, even the best machines need regular coolant checks to stay in top condition. The Outcome With replacement parts fitted and the system flushed, the tractor was soon repaired and back to work. Thanks to catching the issue during a service, downtime was limited to just a couple of days – far less than the costly delays that can come from ignoring coolant maintenance. The Takeaway This repair is a great reminder that preventive maintenance is always cheaper than downtime. Regular servicing and coolant system checks not only keep tractors running efficiently, they also prevent small problems from becoming big ones.
From Ploughs to Min-Till: How the Sumo Trio Is Changing Cultivation Across the industry, more and more farmers are rethinking their approach to cultivation. With increasing focus on soil health, efficiency, and fuel savings, many are moving away from traditional plough-based systems towards minimum tillage — or min-till. Recently, we had the pleasure of supplying a customer with a Sumo Trio, a versatile piece of equipment that perfectly illustrates this shift. Designed to reduce the number of passes needed while still achieving excellent soil conditioning, the Trio is helping growers save both time and fuel without compromising results. The move away from traditional ploughing Ploughing has long been a trusted method for preparing seedbeds, but it comes with drawbacks — from higher fuel use and time demands to potential disturbance of soil structure and organic matter. As input costs rise and sustainability becomes more important, many farms are now exploring alternatives that maintain yields while improving long-term soil condition. What is minimum tillage? Minimum tillage aims to prepare the soil with fewer operations and less disturbance. By reducing the number of passes, it helps retain soil moisture, protect earthworm populations, and maintain structure — all key factors for healthy, productive land. It’s a practical, forward-thinking approach that aligns with modern farming’s environmental and economic priorities. The Sumo Trio in action The Sumo Trio combines deep loosening, surface cultivation, and consolidation in a single pass. Its design allows for effective soil movement, residue mixing, and compaction relief — all while maintaining a level finish ready for drilling. This versatility makes it ideal for farms transitioning from plough-based systems to min-till. Our recent delivery of a new Trio marks another step forward for one of our local customers, who wanted to improve efficiency and reduce the time spent preparing fields. After discussing their needs and soil conditions, we recommended the Trio as the best-fit solution for their system.
What We Do Before Delivering Your Machine When you invest in a new piece of farm machinery, you want it ready to work the moment it arrives in your yard. That’s why we carry out a PDI – Pre-Delivery Inspection – on new machinery before it leaves our dealership. Think of PDI as the final quality check that ensures your new tractor, topper, or implement is set up correctly, safe to operate, and fully prepared for its first job. Here’s what goes on behind the scenes: A Full Mechanical Check Our team inspects the machine from top to bottom. Every nut, bolt, hose, and moving part is checked and adjusted to make sure everything is tight, secure, and operating as it should. Fluids and Filters We check and top up all fluids, including engine oil, hydraulic oil, and coolant. Filters are inspected, so you can start working without worrying about maintenance straight away. Setup and Adjustments No two farms are the same. That’s why we configure your machine for real-world use – setting tyre pressures, calibrating hitches, and making adjustments so it’s ready for the work you’ll be putting it to. Diagnostics and Updates Modern farm machinery often comes with advanced electronics. We run diagnostic checks and install the latest software updates to make sure your machine runs smoothly and efficiently. Safety First Your safety is our priority. We carefully test lights, brakes, PTO guards, and other safety features so you can operate with peace of mind. Handover and Operator Familiarisation When your machine is delivered, we don’t just drop it off. We’ll take the time to walk you through the controls, explain key features, and answer any questions so you feel confident before you get started. Why PDI Matters PDI might not be something you see, but it makes all the difference. It ensures your machine not only looks the part but is fully prepared to perform from day one. It’s our way of making sure your investment works as hard as you do.
