Trading as W. O. White & Son, south-east Scotland-based farmer, Neil White first used Valtra tractors 26 years ago, when he hired an 8150 to use on his Berwickshire arable farm. Despite heavy use over many hours everything still worked as well as when it was new, persuading Neil to buy an 8050 of his own.
Neil White on the Valtra stand at the LAMMA 2024 show.
“Since then, I’ve always had at least two Valtras,” he said.
“We own and contract-farm approximately 230ha and provide a contracting service specialising in strip-till direct drilling and combining.”
“I do most of the work, helped by my son, Harry during busy periods. We don’t employ any labour so dependable machines that maximise pro-ductivity and minimise owntime are essential.”
Cropping includes winter barley for brewing, winter oilseed rape, spring barley for malting and winter wheat which is for feed or distilled for whisky. Other crops include spring oats and spring beans, and land is rented out for potatoes.
“Apart from routine servicing, we’ve spent less than £500 on spares and repairs. It’s been amazing.”
Valtra T234 Direct designed with the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation tartan.
Reliable and versatile
“Back-up from Valtra and the various dealers has always been excellent,” Neil continued.
“The Ancroft Tractors team looks after us well, and we recently ordered a new N175 from the dealer. It’s replaced a 21-year-old 6400 which has worked 8,000 hours and, although it’s well overdue for updating, I’m keeping it because it remains totally reliable. Apart from routine servicing, we’ve spent less than £500 on spares and repairs. It’s been amazing.”
A larger T234 does the drilling and heavier trailer work.
“On steep slopes, the extra size and weight is an advantage,” he said.
“However, I chose the new N Series as it is nimble and more manoeuvrable with its 4cyl engine and shorter wheelbase. It’s primarily for spraying and fertiliser applications, but the extra power over the previous 6400 makes it more suitable for transport work too, when the T-series is working else-where. Both have Direct transmission, which offers significant advantages for tasks such as drilling.”
“Back-up from Valtra and the various dealers has always been excellent.”
“On steep slopes, the extra size and weight is an advantage.”
Neil with Scottish Valtra Area Sales Manager Martyn Atkinson.
The best option
Buying decisions are based on what is best for the farm.
“I don’t have to have Valtras,” stressed Neil.
“I choose them because they are ideal for our situation, and the operator environ-ment is much better than other tractors I’ve used. I have visited the factory in Finland twice, and although significant investment means that today it is almost unrecognisable compared to when I went many years ago, the company’s ethos and pride is unchanged.”
"When spraying, the autosteer system leaves me free to watch the spray boom on undulating ground to maintain the ideal height.”
Text David Williams Photo Tom Wragg, Helium Media
