On Friday 18th The English Apple Man accepted an invitation to NP Seymour's 'Open Afternoon'
NP Seymour invites growers to come and see the UK's first electric Fendt e107 V Vario
Accompanied by my son Stuart, who works for the NFU, we intended to only stay for an hour or two!
BUT it was such an enjoyable afternoon spent with Nick Seymour and his daughter Claire Seymour and several old friends who were also invited to the afternoon, we spent quality time discussing the 'new and older Fendt tractors' that have been integral to our farming lives over 40 years. Nourished by cold drinks (it was a hot afternoon) and fuelled with a tasty barbecue cooked by Claire's son Eli, and served by Mandy Hounsell Education officer for National Fruit Show and a close friend of Claire.
"Started by Nick and Barbara Seymour in 1974, our family-run business is today headed up by the second-generation, Claire Seymour, who remains dedicated to helping fruit farmers, hop growers, packhouse managers, and vineyard owners with all their equipment needs".
The English Apple Man has held huge respect for Nick Seymour and FENDT Tractors for circa 40 years. Back in the mid 1980's we had a very wet spring and one day while spraying on a very sloping orchard, my tractor driver could not get up the slope in such slippery conditions, so we attached our older David Brown 885 and tried pulling with two tractors. At that time we were using a quite powerful FORD Tractor, the newest of our tractors; but that did not work either!
At that point of desperation, I rang Nick Seymour and asked if he still had the FENDT 206P tractor he had demonstrated to me a few weeks earlier. YES he replied! Would you bring it over and demo it in this tricky situation I asked?
Later that morning Nick arrived, filled the sprayer with water and drove the Fendt and Sprayer down the slope, turned at the bottom where the slope was steepest and "effortlessly drove back up the slope" - well the price of the New Fendt (a bit over £12,000) which had been 'deemed' too expensive 2 weeks earlier, suddenly became very reasonable!!!
That FENDT became the most dependable workhorse on the farm, Spraying, Mowing, Collecting apple bins etc at harvest and when I sold the farm in 1991, still commanded a second hand value of more than £6,000.
Below: Claire and Nick Seymour with UK's first electric Fendt e107 V Vario
Claire Seymour looks to the future!
"At NP Seymour, we have always been proud to champion new technology for specialist fruit and vine growers. Continuing our 50-plus-year tradition of supplying customers with only the best in innovation from world-leading manufacturers, we're delighted to announce that we will soon be taking delivery of the UK's first electric Fendt e107 V Vario tractor.
We know just how long growers have been waiting for a zero-emission tractor. With the arrival of the Fendt e107 V Vario, we mark a significant step forward in sustainability for viticulture and orchard management.
This ground breaking tractor combines all the trusted functionality of Fendt's narrow tractors, which we have been supplying to British fruit growers for over 40 years, with a fully electric drive system. This offers growers the perfect opportunity to meet sustainability targets, reduce carbon emissions, and dramatically cut diesel costs.
"We're very proud that Fendt has recognised the importance of the British fruit industry by prioritising the delivery of this unit to the UK so soon after the tractor's launch, and that they have also chosen us, NP Seymour, as the trusted dealership to introduce this milestone innovation to growers."
The Fendt e107 V Vario is no longer just a concept. After years of following its development, we now have access to a tested and fully functional machine designed and ready to handle all tasks in orchards and vineyards.
Equipped with a powerful 100 kWh battery, the Fendt e107 V Vario delivers a continuous power output equivalent to 75hp, with the familiar Vario transmission ensuring a smooth driving experience. Growers can expect a typical operating time of four to seven hours on a single charge, with a rapid recharge option available to boost the battery from 20% to 80% in under 45 minutes.
"The e107 V Vario really is an electric version of the existing Fendt 200-series that growers already know and love - all attachments and implements are fully compatible, and operators will be sitting in the same comfortable cab environment," said Claire Seymour.
"Switching to electric does not mean sacrificing on specifications or performance, and it should also deliver some significant maintenance benefits. With no engine oil, filters or fuel system to maintain, Fendt says that growers should expect to see their scheduled-maintenance bills fall substantially. And for growers generating their own electricity from solar power, this tractor will also provide significant fuel savings too."
Line of Fendt Tractors
Below: Looking back across the site, past the Barbecue area with the Traction Engine to the right and Buildings housing engineering and offices
Below: The OCLL Q Wector 3 sprayer
Engineering and Manufacturing
Claire adds: "NP Seymour has manufactured specialist equipment for many decades. Since Nick started as a mobile engineer in 1974 he has gone on to design and fabricate many notable pieces of bespoke equipment for farmers and growers in the UK.
This includes the first sheep-shower conveyor dip, as well as our range of table top strawberry sprayers, which are all made to measure from our Avon Works site.
As well as custom building products, from sprayers to tractor mounted picking platforms, our team of skilled engineers can also modify your existing equipment to ensure that it fits neatly onto different tractors or within your changed requirements.
"If you have something specific in mind too, we can also produce one-off manufactured or specialist pieces of equipment to suit your individual situation and growing requirement"
Below: Strawberry tunnel sprayer designed and built by NP Seymour (in construction)
Below: Nick and Barbara Seymour have a wonderful collection of historic machinery. This was the first, a 98 an old Traction Engine bought by Barbara Seymour and added to over the years with various musical fairground pieces
Below: Time for the Barbie!
Since my introduction to Fendt 40 years ago I have been a complete fan of this example of German engineering. There are many excellent tractors of outstanding engineering, but there is something about a Fendt that sets it apart from others!
Below: My Journal from 2014 celebrating NP Seymour's 40th anniversary
Click on: NP Seymour 2014
That is all for this week
Take care
The English Apple Man