HC Beales and Co First Impressions of the Fendt 728 Vario

HC Beales & Co Sets New Standards with Fendt 728 Vario Gen 7

August 16, 2024 Machinery

A Norfolk-based farming and contracting business was one of the first in the UK to take delivery of Fendt’s latest 728 Vario Gen 7-series tractor, and feedback so far is entirely positive.

The new Fendt was chosen by HC Beales & Co and supplied by the Thurlow Nunn Standen (TNS) Attleborough depot team. Working in partnership with Hardingham Farms nearby, HC Beales farms 2,425ha of its own arable crops while also providing a contract farming and general contracting service for other farms in the area.

The eight-tractor fleet owned by HC Beales includes only two Fendts currently, although this number is expected to increase. “We had a single brand fleet previously including a tracked tractor for primary cultivations, but our stony land meant rubber track wear was too expensive to justify so we looked at alternatives,” explained Managing Partner, Charles Saffell. “We look after our soils and try to avoid compaction, which is why we liked the tracks, but we could see that investing in a wheeled tractor with VF tyres and central tyre inflation (CTI) would work better.”

The farm’s previous tractor brand wasn’t available with an integral CTI system. Charles and his team were keen to avoid vulnerable, external pipework, so they looked at Fendt tractors with built-in VarioGrip CTI instead.

“Hardingham Farms uses two modern Fendts and rates them highly, so we discussed our requirements with TNS Area Sales Manager, Jolly Bullen. He arranged a demonstration which proved successful, so we ordered a Fendt 936 Vario with VarioGrip CTI, which arrived last autumn,” Charles continued.

The Fendt 936 Vario performed well, establishing crops with the farm’s Horsch Pronto 8m drill, so when more land was taken on in this spring and an additional 300hp tractor was needed for cultivations, drilling, spraying and transport tasks, a new Fendt 728 Vario with VarioGrip was the obvious choice. It arrived on the farm this February and was one of the first of its type sold in the UK.

“For a tractor with more than 300hp, the manoeuvrability is exceptional,” Charles confirmed. “Drilling with the 4m power-harrow drill combination, it will turn back on itself rather than working in lands, saving time.”

*The Fendt 728 Vario Gen 7 supplied by Thurlow Nunn Standen to Norfolk-based farmers and contractors, HC Beales & Co was one of the first of the new models sold in the UK.*

High torque, low revs

Fendt’s iD management concept keeps the revs as low as possible and maximum 1,450Nm torque is produced at only 1,300rpm. “We notice the difference between the Fendt 728 Vario and tractors of other brands of similar power. When we are spraying the engine runs at only 800rpm but there is plenty of torque to maintain the required travel speed, and it’s so fuel efficient that just one tank of diesel lasts three full days.

“Sometimes we share implements between the tractors, and the 728 Vario has so much torque that it’s hard to tell the difference between it and the 936 Vario at times. The bigger tractor achieves slightly higher work rates, but the 728 Vario comes surprisingly close, and that gives us extra flexibility when we are working under pressure.”

A Sumo Trio nine-leg, 4.5m deep cultivator is pulled by the 936 Vario, and a six-leg, 3m version is used with the 728 Vario. “We tried the larger implement behind the 728 Vario and it pulled it, but the 3m is a better match,” Charles continued. “With Michelin AgriBib 2 VF710/70R42 rear tyres and VF600/70R30 fronts set at optimum working pressures, the 728 Vario runs out of revs before it loses traction. The pulling ability is impressive for a relatively light and compact tractor.”

The 728 Vario has the standard 165 litres/min hydraulic system. This easily maintains a constant drill fan speed, even when additional hydraulic services are in use.

Fuel efficient

The 728 Vario appears very fuel efficient, and Charles quoted figures obtained this spring during various activities.

Drilling with the Lemken Solitair 4m power harrow drill combination; the 728 Vario consumed an average 29.97 litres/hour during a 12.5 hour working day, during which it established 28.5ha of crops. This is equivalent to 13 litres per hectare, including travelling time and headland turns.

With the Kockerling Profiline 6m cultivator, the Fendt consumed 36 litres of diesel per hour to achieve an average 8ha/hour rate of work.

Average consumption across all applications since the tractor arrived is 3.56 litres/hour.

“Even though the 728 Vario is proving very economical, when it’s replaced we will specify a larger fuel tank. The standard 450 litres capacity is usually adequate, but for demanding PTO applications and heavy cultivations then a bigger tank would allow longer working days in the fields.”

The ride quality is excellent – superior to any of our other tractors.’ - Norfolk farmer and contractor, Charles Saffell – HC Beales & Co. — *‘The ride quality is excellent – superior to any of our other tractors.’ – Norfolk farmer and contractor, Charles Saffell – HC Beales & Co.*

Servicing

Daily checks are quickly and easily carried out. The tractor has an optional reversing fan which keeps the cooling system clear of loose debris. “We use a set of triple mowers for grass and wholecrop harvesting, and although these are usually mounted on another of our tractors, we specified an optional front PTO for the 728 Vario to allow its use as a back-up. The reversing fan will be an advantage for that application,” Charles explained.

Precision farming

The 728 Vario has the latest FendtONE cab and operating concept, allowing operators to set up the displays and controls to suit their preferences and the task.

RTK guidance is used for field mapping and autosteer, and the drill and fertiliser spreader utilise the tractor’s ISOBUS connection. “The ISOBUS system works well,” commented Charles. “The spreader software needed updating, but the drill connected immediately, and the Fendt controls make it particularly easy to operate both implements.

“Our other tractors require two monitors – one for GPS guidance and the other to control implements through ISOBUS, but FendtONE allows us to switch the guidance display to the dashboard screen – directly in front of the operator, leaving the armrest-mounted terminal for ISOBUS. The controls are well designed and extremely operator friendly. Everyone who uses the 728 Vario likes it.”

*Pictured with the Fendt 728 Vario Gen 7 tractor are HC Beales & Co, Managing Partner, Charles Saffell, and Thurlow Nunn Standen Area Sales Manager, Jolly Bullen.*

Reliability and verdict

In the first four months since it arrived this February, the Fendt worked 441 hours and was completely reliable, with no minor teething issues. “It’s well thought out and I’m very impressed,” Charles concluded. “It’s quite compact for the power, but the ride quality is excellent – superior to any of our other tractors. The cab is quiet and spacious, the controls are user-friendly and even when we attach implements that should be too big for it, it gets the job done. The torque is phenomenal and the VarioDrive transmission makes the most of the power available and gets it down to the ground.”

Charles expects to keep the 728 Vario for up to five years or 6,500 working hours. “We get on well with TNS Area Sales Manager, Jolly Bullen, and his colleagues at the Attleborough depot, and expect to purchase more Fendt tractors with VarioGrip for our arable farming enterprise in future.”