"It's the most handy thing on the farm" says Welsh dairy farmer

For dairy farmer David Taylor, investing in a telehandler is about far more than lifting and loading. On his family-run organic dairy farm, near Ruthin in North Wales, the machine is at the centre of almost every daily task, from feeding cattle and handling silage to towing trailers and carrying out general yard work.

That is why, after years of running JCB machines, David made the switch to Merlo. Having started with a TF33.7, he has now upgraded to a TF35.7 and has no regrets about the decision.

"We were JCB before," he explains. "I'd always liked the idea of having a Merlo. I liked the lift capacity and the extra reach. I'd been looking at the literature over time and thinking about it."

The opportunity to change came when the JCB model he was using was discontinued.

"I thought, do we really want a discontinued model? The replacement wasn't quite there for us, so I thought now is the time to change."

Although changing telehandler brands can be a major decision, particularly when attachments are involved, David committed fully to the transition.

"We've changed all the attachments. They're all Merlo headstocks now, so everything is ready to go."

Immediate improvements
One of the first things David noticed after stepping into the TF33.7 was the difference in operator comfort.

"Comfort. Straight away it was comfort," he says. "It was the cab. There was more room in the cab. You weren't banging your elbows on the glass."

Coming from an older machine, the Merlo felt like a significant step forward.

"The Merlo was a more advanced, newer machine. Honestly, it only took a few days to get used to it."

That positive first impression has only strengthened over time.

"From day one it was fantastic," says David. "We've only had tiny little things, nothing that's stopped us working."

Built for farm life
The Taylor family milk just under 100 Brown Swiss cows and farm around 170 acres, supplying milk through an Arla contract while also producing award-winning Chilly Cow ice cream. As a result, their telehandler is constantly busy.

"The Merlo gets used for everything," says David. "We use a tractor less now because the Merlo does so much."

The machine is used daily for feeding livestock, handling bales, carrying silage, transporting materials and towing trailers.

"It's the most handy thing on the farm because it's used almost every day."

One area where David finds the Merlo excels is towing.

"We tow with it all the time. I've got a camera on the back of the Merlo, so you literally back up and don't even need to turn your head."

Combined with the hydraulic hitch system, towing becomes quick and straightforward.

"It's the easiest thing we've got on the farm that can hitch and move things. You get it bang on every time. It makes you look professional really."

Confident on the clamp
Silage season places heavy demands on any machine, but David says the TF35.7 handles the work comfortably.

The farm's first cut covers around 95 acres, with a second cut of around 70 acres. Once the contractor has filled the pit, David takes responsibility for finishing the clamp.

"The contractors do the bulk of the clamping with their JCB Loadalls and pack the silage as tight as they possibly can," says David. "Then I use the Merlo to finish the clamp and tidy everything up. You can just about sink the Merlo into it and it'll keep going."

These days, the Merlo is mainly driven by David and farm worker, Rhodri Jones, while dad Jim, now 82, has stepped back from machine work. The telehandler plays a key role during silage season, particularly on the clamp where reliability and stability are vital.

Working on heavily compacted silage means confidence in the machine is essential.

That demanding work was one of the reasons the family opted for wider tyres. The larger footprint improves stability and grip on the clamp, while also helping to spread the machine's weight more evenly. For David and Rhodri, who spend long hours behind the wheel during silage season, it adds an extra level of confidence when working on steep, densely packed silage.

"The Merlo will climb a clamp no problem at all."

Extra reach makes the difference
When David moved from the TF33.7 to the larger TF35.7, one of the biggest benefits was the increased lifting capability and reach.

"It was on and off whether to go for the 33 or the 35," he says. "On paper they're not really much bigger. It just feels bigger."

That extra clearance and capability have proven valuable around the farm.

"When we had the old JCB and we were stacking high, you notice that extra reach."

Today, David sees that reach as something he would struggle to do without.

"If somebody took it away now, I know what that machine can do. If I changed to something else, I'd be thinking, 'I can't reach that now. I can't quite get to that.”

The machine's performance has also impressed him when lifting heavier loads.

"A neighbour rang me and asked if I could move a tank that weighed over three tonnes. I thought I probably wouldn't lift it, but I picked it up no problem at all."

A place you want to spend time in
For David, perhaps the biggest compliment he can give the TF35.7 is that it is simply a pleasant machine to operate.

"It's a grand machine. I love that machine."

The combination of comfort, visibility and refinement means long days in the cab are far less tiring.

"It's just a really, really nice place to be."

Modern features also play an important role.

"If you shut the window it's quiet. You've got a heater when it's cold and the air conditioning is great in the summer."

Road performance is another advantage.

"It's smooth and you can fly down the road."

For a machine that may be used for multiple jobs every day, those benefits quickly add up.

Reliable local support
As important as the machine itself is the backup behind it. David's latest TF35.7 was supplied by Clwyd Agricultural, near Rhyl after the company became the local Merlo dealer.

"The price was very competitive," he says.

Servicing is carried out at 500-hour intervals, with dealer technicians visiting the farm.

"They come to us. No problem at all."

Reliable dealer support has helped ensure the machine remains productive.

"The mechanic's great. He does the job and looks after you."

The right machine for the future
With the farm continuing to grow and diversify, David needs equipment that can adapt to a wide variety of tasks. From handling silage and feeding cattle to supporting the family's expanding ice cream business, the telehandler has become indispensable.

Looking back, he believes switching brands was absolutely the right decision.

"It's great. From day one, it's been fantastic."

And when asked what he would miss most if the machine disappeared tomorrow, David's answer is immediate.

"The comfort, definitely. It's just a really nice place to be."

Then he pauses before adding the statement that perhaps sums up his relationship with the machine best:

"It's the most handy thing on the farm."

Rhodri Jones using the Merlo for added reach over wet concrete.