Oliver Mark

United Kingdom

Machinery Editor at Farmers Weekly

@FarmersWeekly Machinery Desk 🚜

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Articles

Carbon Robotics ramps up output of weed-zapping LaserWeeder

2 weeks ago | fwi.co.uk | Oliver Mark

Precision-weeding specialist Carbon Robotics has revamped its ultra-accurate LaserWeeder to make it lighter, faster and more affordable. Like the original model, the G2 combines computer vision, artificial intelligence and laser technology to detect and zap weeds in a growing crop. But the latest iteration can do so twice as fast, thanks to upgraded Nvidia graphic processing units (GPUs) and more powerful 240w lasers.
Contractor Comment: Diversification key for JO Straughan and Co

3 weeks ago | fwi.co.uk | Oliver Mark

Fendt 728 and 724 © MAG/Oliver Mark JO Straughan & Co has been offering a comprehensive range of agricultural, plant hire and haulage services to customers in Northumberland and the Scottish Borders since 1955. Owner Roger Dickinson runs the business alongside his wife Sandra, sons Stuart and David, and daughter-in-law, Debbie. See also: Contractor Comment: Challenges of contracting on a small islandWe find out all about the business and some of the machines they use.
Wilderness Lighting unveils roof-mounted warning board

3 weeks ago | fwi.co.uk | Oliver Mark

Wilderness Lighting has launched a new roof-mounted warning board for farmers moving oversized machinery on the road. The eye-catchingly flashy array includes twin front and rear amber LED strobes and a pair of squat rotating beacons. These surround high-visibility chevron signage complete with “wide load” lettering.
RS Agri debuts new vertical beater muckspreader range

1 month ago | fwi.co.uk | Oliver Mark

Vertical beater muckspreaders are now available from RS Agri, the Hampshire outfit that, until now, had specialised in diet feeders and bale processors. Its Polish-built Atlas range initially encompasses several models from 9-16t, but bigger ones, and versions with horizontal beaters, are set to be introduced later this year. The current flagship is a 16-tonner that comes with two parallel floor conveyors.
What's in Your Shed? visits a one-man Carmarthenshire contractor

1 month ago | fwi.co.uk | Oliver Mark

Aled Jones © MAG/Oliver Mark What’s In Your Shed visits Carmarthenshire contractor Aled Jones, who runs a one-man operation with five frontlines tractors. Aled Jones Contracting offers spraying, fertiliser spreading, mowing, cultivating and drilling services.
Driver's view: Tom Lamb's 9-year-old Massey 7718 Dyna-6

1 month ago | fwi.co.uk | Oliver Mark

For many mixed and arable farms, Massey Ferguson nailed the sweet spot between power and size with its 200hp 7718. This was the middle model – and biggest small-framer – in the nine-strong 7700 range that took over from the 7600s in 2015, before being superseded by the largely identical ‘S’ derivatives in 2018.
Why FW's Contractor of the Year opted for £25k Siwi quick hitch

1 month ago | fwi.co.uk | Oliver Mark

There are many enjoyable tasks in farming, but wrestling with heavy, stiff pto shafts and soiling clean hands with oily hydraulic pipes that refuse to locate in their sockets definitely aren’t them. So, what a boon it would be to have a quick hitch system that automatically connects those essential means of power transfer between tractor and implement without having to leave the cab.
Inventions Comp 2025: Handy home-made fencing kit

1 month ago | fwi.co.uk | Oliver Mark

In this year’s Inventions Competition entries, fencing inventions featured prominently. These innovative gadgets and designs provide plenty of ideas to make the job of fencing fields easier and more efficient and best of all, they save on the outlay of buying new kit. See also: Handy tools and equipment to ease farm fencing jobsDavid Rowe’s fencing trailerAfter failing to find a suitable fencing trailer on the open market, Cornish farmer David Rowe decided to build one exactly to his liking.
Inventions Comp 2025: Low-cost sprayers, spreaders and cultivators

1 month ago | fwi.co.uk | Oliver Mark

Contractors and farmers reveal their cunning plans and projects to save on the budget with some clever sprayer, spreader and cultivator inventions. We take a look at some of the best entries to our Inventions Competition 2025. See also: How Essex farmer adapted one cultivator to do four jobsWill Monkman’s Avadex applicatorAfter seeing an increase in demand for Avadex application services, contractor Will Monkman of Malton, North Yorkshire, decided it was time to gear up.
Inventions Comp 2025: Workshop builds to ease livestock handling

1 month ago | fwi.co.uk | Oliver Mark

The livestock kit invention’s sent into this year’s Inventions Competition, showed off the ingenuity of farmers across the country. We look at some of the best entries. See also: On test: Sharper handling for Polaris Sportsman X2Robert Neill’s feed trailerFormer Farmers Weekly Farmer of the Year Robert Neill built an ATV-drawn cattle trough that can be moved around his fields in the Scottish Borders without making too much mess.