Kubota tractor wins on versatility
Cotswold farmers Anthony and Rob Emmerson looked at several contenders to satisfy their need for a 130 to 140hp tractor that was truly versatile across their mixed operations. The decision they ultimately made was one that an increasing number of farmers are coming to by putting their confidence into a Kubota.
The father and son Emmersons run Swyre Barton Farm north of the village Coln St Aldwyns near Cirencester. Son Rob is the fifth ‘known’ farming generation in a family that was originally based in Nottinghamshire. Anthony moved down to the Gloucestershire farm in 1995, with Rob going into partnership with him in 2012.
They farm a total of around 800 acres, of which about half is rented grassland from the neighbouring estate and other local farms for the beef herd and flock of sheep. With the home farm devoted mainly to arable and countryside stewardship, they feel they have a well-balanced mix to cope with the ups and downs of farming fortunes.
Hence the need for a tractor that could cross the divide. “We wanted a good all-rounder that would serve first as a stockman’s loader tractor but that could also handle everyday jobs on the farm, running grassland machinery, pulling trailers and doing a certain amount of arable top work,” says Rob.
“We were trialling demos of a variety of makes and thought we would give Kubota a try. We knew we fancied a change from the other makes we have around the farm and Stuart Wilkieson (Lister Wilder’s Area Sales Manager) popped in one day at the right moment – that’s how it came to be included. We told Stuart what we were looking for and he came up with the M6132 and loader.”
Developed entirely by Kubota, the revolutionary M6002 series was introduced in 2020 with dairy livestock and mixed farms as its target. The range is equipped with a four-cylinder engine offering three horse power levels (121hp, 131hp and 141hp) with an additional 20 hp power boost for transport operations. This engine has an extended cleaning interval of
the diesel particulate filter from 3000 to 6000 hours to improve maintenance performance. Additionally, it comes with a big 230-litre fuel tank for long working days.
The transmission is completely new, with an eight-speed powershift with progressive adjustment designed for high speed and heavy towing capacity. It includes a new Xpress restart function that controls the master clutch directly via brake pedal activation, allowing the driver to stop the tractor without using the clutch pedal.
Rob is delighted with his M6132. “You talk to people nowadays and you hear of a lot more Kubota tractors around here and across the country as a whole, including the bigger M7 series,” he says.
“We are certainly impressed. We wanted a very simple, straightforward stockman’s loader tractor that could do the grassland work, but also cope with some of the lighter arable tasks. We are impressed by the M6’s power as well as the level of comfort and visibility in the cab – you could quite happily work in it for hours at a time.”
“The M6 makes a great loader tractor and the loader is in itself very impressive, quick and smooth. Attaching and detaching from the tractor is quick and straightforward and so we don’t have to carry it when we are doing the land operations. It’s a very versatile tractor and good value for money compared with other makes.”
Rob also has praise for Lister Wilder who, when faced with Covid delays on delivery, provided a demo tractor to fill the gap.