Cumbrian Farming 2024. Spreading muck with a classic Massey Ferguson 399 Turbo & Conor spreader.

First outing of 2024 into the fields of Cumbria and following a phone call an unmissable opportunity to see a lovely Massey Ferguson 399 spreading the brown stuff onto the fields ahead of the spring cultivations. With it’s throaty bark, typical of a classic 6-cylinder engine, this 399 sounded even better with its addition of a TB turbo. Although the farm has much more modern tractors, the 399 has more than enough grunt to handle the Conor MX8000 spreader though it’s a big combination when it comes to manoeuvring it around the yard.
Clearing out the midden and loading the spreader is a compact Merlo P27.6 telehandler, a nifty little machine ideal for working in the tight confines of this traditional farm yard. For those with an eagle eye there’s another compact handler tucked away in the background , a classic from 30 years ago.(answers in the comments if you so wish to!) A very enjoyable (if a little bit wiffy!) morning out and many thanks to the owner for running the spreader at 540rpm so I didn’t get caked in the smelly stuff and for pressure washing the clart off my boots before I got back in the car! (Forgot my wellies in the rush to get out there!!)
Filmed in Cumbria March 2024.
If you enjoy my videos of farm machinery at work in Cumbria (and Southern Scotland), please consider subscribing. Likes and taking the time to comment (preferably positive ones) are always welcomed and I will try to reply as soon as possible although if I’m at work or out filming there might be a delay. Cheers, David.

[@balmesh]

Very nice, David. You don't often see the 399 about.

[@davidwinthrop7077]

Thanks Alan. No not so many of them around now as there once was! Cheers David

[@davidbrennan3613]

Immaculate massey and fine big muckspreader

[@davidwinthrop7077]

A great combination certainly David. Working well together! Cheers, David

[@jrstractors]

What a sound

[@davidwinthrop7077]

Isn’t it! A proper engine note!

[@damien3278]

Great looking 399

[@davidwinthrop7077]

Isn’t it Damien! Soundtrack to match too! Cheers, David.

[@paulthompson8467]

Brilliant video and such a tidy farm and immaculate machinery its nice to see the fields starting to dry up after such a wet winter 👍

[@davidwinthrop7077]

Thanks Paul. It’s a lovely clean farm and every time I visit it’s always spotless! Same goes for the machinery, always clean and well maintained. Yes good to see the fields drying up, it’s been a horrible wet few months! Cheers, David.

[@davidcollingwood1262]

Great video. Love the MF 399

[@davidwinthrop7077]

Thanks David. Yes that 399 is a belter of a tractor, old school 6-cylinder with raw power! Great tractors! Cheers, David.

[@jacooboophotography]

Nicely caught as usual David, great to finally see some field work going on!

[@davidwinthrop7077]

Thank you Jacob and you’re right, it’s so great to be out there in the fields again! Hopefully spring and a good summer is here at last! Cheers, David.

[@davew6170]

Brilliant!. We used to have a M reg 399 12/12 gearbox.

[@davidwinthrop7077]

Cheers David. 399 with a 12/12 a great tractor, great for shuttling back and forwards round a tight yard! Cheers, David

[@Scannell1977]

Good video very clean tractor one of the best in history 👍👍

[@davidwinthrop7077]

Certainly one of the best from Massey Ferguson, a proper no frills tractor with plenty of power to tackle any job. Pleased you enjoyed the video Tommy and thanks for adding your comment that’s very much appreciated. Cheers, David.

[@user-zh5vh7oj5f]

fantastic spreaders. when you think we used things like a kidd sideflinger in the past . when the flails would fall off. if its going to come out, its the back. basisically inderstructable. holds loads and gets the job done quicker. mind you , in the fields, it has to pretty dry because of the weight. no strings, rocks, or whatever is in muckheaps. had a beesnest once. couldnt get out, plus the heat. nightmare.

[@davidwinthrop7077]

I bet that was fun getting the bees nest out of there Paul? Yeh they’re great spreaders but I can remember when the side flinging rotaspreaders were the bees knees and almost every farm had one (rare to see one now in these parts) Big capacity but your right the field has to be dry (this field apart from the gateway) was just about firm enough because there’s some weight in there and your also right about string and rocks, not easy to get out and a mucky job when they get tangled up! Great comment Paul, thanks for that. Cheers, David.

[@user-zh5vh7oj5f]

you are very welcome. so many loaders for doing everything. some are better than others . if you have the good combination , stick with it.

[@davidwinthrop7077]

@@user-zh5vh7oj5f Yep! That little Kramer parked in the yard has been on the farm for years and is a cracking little handler that like the Merlo is fantastic for getting into the far corners of a traditional stock farm sheds.

[@OldSchoolNI]

Lovely 399 there David!

[@davidwinthrop7077]

It certainly is! A lovely tractor that’s been very well looked after, hoping to film some more of it working throughout the year. Cheers, David

[@kenwood8665]

Cracking video

[@davidwinthrop7077]

Thank you Rick and good to hear from you. Cheers, David.

[@user-zh5vh7oj5f]

tractors in general. so many over the years have done everything. but they get bigger and longer and more pricey. muirhill 141, 171. brilliant power. the list is endless. machines updated all the time. pull type forage harvesters, we all had them. now its different again. etc, etc.

[@davidwinthrop7077]

You’re right on every count! I remember not so many years ago when a 100hp tractor was considered a big machine on many farms round here and many of them drove trailed forage harvesters, did the ploughing etc. Nowadays it’s at least twice the power and more than twice the price but do they do any better job? The Massey 399 here is probably about 125hp but walks away with the muck spreader as if it wasn’t there! Ah Muirhill 141,171s, brilliant tractors, would love to see one working!

[@user-zh5vh7oj5f]

you are welcome.

[@frasermathers2287]

Hello David my friend. Hope you are keeping well and nice to see a video from you. That MF 399 sure was sounding sweet pulling that spreader and apart from the field entrance being wet, it was not marking the field too much. Never came across the Conor Spreader before, but seems to make a great job and leaving a nice even spread and was not overworking the tractor. Most of the guys round here run Ktwo with a lot of farmers just hiring one from my neighbour who has three of them. The little Merlo was coping well with the loading and the operator was real smooth. Had a shot of a Merlo about 15 years ago and have to say it was an ok machine, although I do like JCB when it comes to telehandlers. Thanks as always.

[@davidwinthrop7077]

Hello Fraser my friend and good to hear from you. I’m very well and it’s great to be back out in the countryside again! The 399 is such a lovely tractor with a lovely engine with enough torque to pull a house down as well as the heaviest of spreaders! Yes a bit soft underfoot at the gate but fairly firm land once in the field. It’s been very wet up here in north Cumbria, I know it’s winter but we could do with a nice hard frost! Yes I think the Conor is made in Ireland so as expected from there a well made machine though the Bunning range seem to be the most popular up here. Yes little Merlo a good machine, very handy for a stock farm with lower doorways and older buildings though the JCB Loadalls are still very popular round here. Great to hear from you Fraser, hopefully I’ll be getting out more to do some filming now the evenings are lighter. Take care my friend. Cheers, David.

[@jackfrench7240]

Proper tractor! Really enjoyed that. Is the old telehandler a Kramer?

[@davidwinthrop7077]

It certainly is on both counts Jack! Yes a proper tractor, 399 one of the best models Massey Ferguson ever made and this one having a turbo is a fantastic tractor, could pull a house down (or a fully loaded muck spreader!) without breaking sweat! You’re right, it’s a Kramer, a rare telescopic version. Great little machine, I’m hoping to film it in the near future. Great to hear from you Jack, cheers, David.

[@crimsonsunshine264]

Good video David many thanks! That 399 is a minter, hopefully you can capture some more of it on other tasks in the future 👍

[@davidwinthrop7077]

@@crimsonsunshine264 I’m hoping so too and I’ve asked the farmer to keep in touch if he’s out with it again so fingers crossed more footage to come of the 399 this year. Many thanks once again, cheers David

[@glynrogers1018]

Hi i drove a massey 365 on a e plate 2 wheel drive still going

[@davidwinthrop7077]

Nice one Glyn. That must be a black cab or an early silver cab 365 then? Great tractors and built to last! Cheers, David.

[@glynrogers1018]

@@davidwinthrop7077 hi silver cab used on the council in Cornwall grass cutting and trailer work for graves now on a veg farm up country I had it from new then we had a t s 100 4 wheel drive S

[@davidwinthrop7077]

@@glynrogers1018 Nice one! TS100 a cracking tractor too, still quite a few of those up in Cumbria.

[@rescuecow90]

Poor bugger! I did 10k+ hrs on 300 series masseys,I wouldn’t want to own one ever again.

[@davidwinthrop7077]

Take it you didn’t enjoy them?

[@davidbrennan3613]

Mighty little merlo

[@davidwinthrop7077]

Agree David. For a little machine it punches well beyond its weight and an ideal telehandler for working in a tight yard. Good to hear from you, cheers David.