McCormick X7-660 Tractor Mark Baker Engineering.

Somerset agricultural engineer Mark Baker Engineering supports YFC fund-raiser with tractor loan.

Rodway Young Farmers Club members studying at Bridgwater College’s Cannington Centre in Somerset had the use of the latest addition to the McCormick tractor range to help mount their Grass to Maize charity fund-raising event recently.

The 165/175hp McCormick X7.660 VT Drive tractor loaned by Mark Baker Engineering at Ilminster, Somerset hauled grass cut for silage and handled cultivations work as the YFC team sought to prepare a grass field for a crop of maize in less than 24 hours.

“After chopping the silage crop and hauling it to the clamp, we spread muck on the field, ploughed it, went over twice with a power harrow and had it ready for drilling,” says 18-year old organiser Adrian Netherway, whose family farms near Tiverton, Devon. “Thanks to the YFC members collecting donations and the generosity of local sponsors, we raised £3000, which will be handed over to The Farming Community Network and Help for Heroes charities.”

Mark Baker praised the fund-raising effort: “I was very pleased to support Rodway Young Farmers by supplying our demonstrator McCormick X7.660 VT Drive tractor,” he said. “I hope the students enjoyed driving this new CVT tractor; it shows just how easy it is to drive – it’s not overly complicated compared with other CVT tractors, yet it delivers all the advantages and productive characteristics of a tractor with a stepless transmission.”

The smooth VT Drive transmission is available in four-cylinder McCormick X7 tractors with 136hp to 166hp max output for draft work, and 146hp to 175hp boosted for pto implements and transport operations. There are also two six-cylinder models with 171/181hp and 180/194hp outputs.

The standard Premium specification includes electric spool valves and other advanced features accessible through a neatly laid out seat-mounted console, with ‘tech’ options such as the Data Screen Manager 12in touch screen, GPS guidance and fast-steer available.

Adrian Netherway commented that all the students enjoyed driving the new tractor.

“Come and try one for yourself,” says Mark Baker of the McCormick X7 VT Drive demonstrator he runs from his dealership at Ilchester, Somerset.

The stepless drive McCormick X7 VT Drive in action during Rodway YFC’s charity fund raiser at Bridgwater College’s Cannington Centre in Somerset.