Matthew Nichols – M O Nichols Agronomy and Agriculture

Farmers Weekly Young Farmer of the Year Winner 2022

Independent Agronomist, contractor and farmer Matthew Nichols currently runs four Trimble XCN 1050 guidance screens with NAV 900 receivers supplied and installed by Russells on his fleet of self-propelled sprayers and tractors in North Yorkshire.

Matthew explains why they’ve significantly enhanced his business and machinery fleet.

Matthew Nichols became Farmers Weekly’s Young Farmer of Year winner in 2022 on the back of his passion for regenerative agriculture and his desire to implement the latest guidance technology into his fleet of self-propelled sprayers and tractors that form the backbone of his contracting business.

After graduating from Askham Bryan Agricultural College Matthew went onto to successfully set up his own independent agronomy business in North Yorkshire age 24 which would evolve and lead to the formation of a specialist contract spraying enterprise.

During this time Matthew took on his family’s 180 acre farming business, introducing and establishing additional break and cover crops using regenerative and minimum tillage techniques. The farm is also home to sheep and bed and breakfast pigs.

Matthew currently runs a pair of 2001 and 2015 Bateman RB25 and RB26 self-propelled sprayers equipped with 24m contour booms alongside a 2011 John Deere 7930 that’s primarily used with a Horsch CO8 direct drill. Matthew also owns a refurbished JCB Fastrac 185-65, his original spraying tractor, and up until recently also operated a newer JCB Fastrac 2135 4WS with a demount sprayer.

He now completes just over 5500 acres of independent agronomy, alongside 20,000 acres of spraying and direct drilling with this latter figure expected to double next year. Matthew says installing four matching Trimble XCN 1050 guidance screens and NAV 900 receivers operating with Trimble’s RangePoint RTX correctional service has enhanced his contracting business significantly.

“First and foremost, I wanted to install a uniform guidance system that was compatible with the older mixed fleet of machinery I operate, that would also give me the ability to update to ISOBUS in the future,” explains Matthew.

“The four Trimble XCN 1050 screens and NAV 900 receivers have enabled me to increase the efficiency of my entire contracting business in a simple, effective, and affordable way.”

“Secondly, I wanted to cross tramlines accurately with the Horsch C08 direct drill I operate, and also implement tramlines into cover crops and grassland with the sprayers I use.”

“The lightbar guidance system I originally ran from another manufacturer wasn’t advanced enough to achieve this as accurately as I wanted nor could it be upgraded to run section, and variable rate control on my sprayers.”

“However, I discovered a friend of mine had invested in a Trimble guidance system from Russells and he was very impressed with its accuracy and Russells knowledge of Trimble’s products.”

“It appeared to be exactly what I was looking for to take my contracting business forward using the older equipment in my fleet, so I took the plunge and bought four identical Trimble screens and receivers that were expertly fitted, integrated and set up ready for use by Russells technology specialist Robin Gibson.”

“They have transformed by fleet, and made my life so much easier as a result.”

“I currently run Trimble’s GNSS based RangePoint RTX correctional service through all four systems that are matched to Trimble’s EZ Pilot Pro automated steering system.

“The entire ensemble has allowed enabled me to improve spraying and drilling accuracy which in turn has reduced operator fatigue.”

“It’s a superb system for establishing precise and accurate tramlines on grassland and pasture.”

“The Trimble XCN 1050 screens have also enabled me to record and store job and field data, application rates, weather conditions, and chemical details that are easy to access and transfer between devices for cross compliance, and farm assurance schemes.”

“Having concise historical data to hand also enables me to make informed, accurate, and proactive managerial decisions on application timings, and chemical, and sowing rates.”

Matthew has also been impressed with the build quality, and design of Trimble’s XCN 1050 display screen.

“All four have proven to be very reliable and accurate, whilst the information they display makes sense and is crystal clear whilst you only have to tap the XCN 1050 screens rather than forcibly push buttons and widgets,” he says.

“Russells service and back up has been exceptional, and their specialist technicians have superb knowledge and understanding of Trimble’s entire product range enabling them to tailor a guidance package most suited to each individual customer’s specific requirements and budget.”

Russells extends its thanks to Matthew Nichols for his time and assistance with this testimonial

Core Fleet

2015 Bateman RB26 self-propelled sprayer

2001 Bateman RB25 self-propelled sprayer

2011 John Deere 7930 and Horsch CO8 direct drill

All supplied and fitted with Trimble XCN 1050 guidance screens, and NAV 900 receivers matched to EZ Pilot Pro auto steering systems by Russells.

North Yorkshire based agronomist, contractor and farmer Matthew Nichols invested in four identical Trimble guidance systems from Russells that were ideally suited to his mixed fleet of older tractors and self-propelled sprayers.

Matthew Nichols says the Trimble XCN 1050 guidance screens and NAV 900 receivers supplied and installed by Russells have significantly enhanced the performance and versatility of his 2011 John Deere 7930 and 2015 Bateman RB26 sprayer.

The NAV 900 signal receivers were easy to install and set up with the XCN 1050 screens says Matthew.

Matthew has been impressed with the design and layout of the four XCN 1050 screens he invested in. “The information they display makes sense and is crystal clear,” he says.

Matthew Nichols uses Trimble’s excellent EZ Pilot Pro automated steering system in conjunction with his XCN 1050 guidance screen in the cab of his 2015 Bateman RB26 sprayer.

Matthew says the Trimble guidance systems have not only improved spraying and drilling accuracy they’ve also reduced operator fatigue significantly as well.

Matthew’s Trimble XCN 1050 guidance screens, NAV 900 receivers, and EZ Pilot Pro steering systems are linked to Trimble’s RangePoint RTX correctional service which provides him with exceptional levels of accuracy.