Farmers Guide January 2023

Performance on a new scale. Packed full of technology, such as a newly developed engine with Fendt iD low-speed concept, the intelligent VarioDrive driveline with variable all-wheel drive, combined with high-performance hydraulics with a delivery rate of up to 220 l/min, make the Fendt 700 Vario Gen7 a pioneer in the 200-300 hp class. Learn more: fendt.com/nextgen700

The Doe Show has been a rm xture in the agricultural, construction and groundcare industries calendars since 1960. Held during the rst week of February every year, the Doe Show attracts huge crowds to our head ofce at Ulting, Essex and is by far the largest agricultural, construction and groundcare machinery dealer in the UK, possibly Europe.

Year on year, the show continues to grow in size and popularity and this year we are introducing a completely new layout, as well as a dedicated area for Viticulture machinery, in addition to all the usual favourites! We will have heated marquees, free hot soup and refreshments and there is plenty of free parking directly opposite the show.

As always, we will have large display areas devoted to Case IH and New Holland products, as well as those of all our major implement manufacturers such as DalBo, KRM, Lemken and Shelbourne Reynolds. We will also be showcasing our newest franchise, Horizon Agriculture Drills on their own dedicated stand as well as demonstrating the new FarmDroid in our Tech Zone.

We have increased the size of our construction zone and will be featuring all our manufacturers including Hyundai, Thwaites, Bomag, Atlas Copco and Epiroc, along with the popular demonstration plot that is always a great crowd pleaser, along with the vintage tractor demonstrations including the beloved Doe Triple D!

Out & About

With Farmers Guide editor Rachel Hicks and the team

To mark the 125th anniversary of Ernest Doe founding the business in Ulting, Essex, third and fourth generations Daphne

The CMatic Experience Days were the rst event of their type at the Claas Experience Centre adjacent to the company's UK base at Saxham, Su olk, and allowed guests to nd out about and experience the bene ts of the Claas CMatic in nitely-variable transmission in a variety of applications. Find out more on page 119.

At the CropTec Show, Megan Armstrong of Microgenetics was discussing the company's SwiftDetect rapid crop disease detection tool, which is now available for use in OSR to detect light leaf spot.

And finally…

A farmer went to his local pub and ordered a glass of Champagne instead of his usual beer.

The woman sitting next to him at the bar commented: “Well, how about that – I’ve just ordered Champagne as well!”

“What a coincidence!” the farmer said. “This is a special day for me though – I’m celebrating.”

“Well, fancy that – I’m celebrating a special day too!” said the woman.

“What a coincidence!” the farmer said again, and as they clinked glasses, he asked: “What are you celebrating?”

“My husband and I have been trying to have a child for a long time, and today I found out that I’m pregnant!”

Farmers Guide attended the handover of four new John Deere tractors to Su olk- and Essex-based Philip Liverton Ltd – see page 133. Pictured (l-r): Tuckwells' Ben Cave and Paul Co ey; Farmers Guide's Sam Wilson; Tuckwells' Molly Weir, and Bridget, Philip and James Liverton.

“Well, what a coincidence!” said the farmer. “I’m a chicken farmer, and all last year my hens were infertile, but today they’re laying eggs again.”

“That’s great!” said the woman. “How did your chickens become fertile again?”

“I used a di erent cock,” he replied.

The woman smiled, clinked his glass, and said: “What a coincidence!”

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By the time you read this we will have traded almost six months of the 2022/23 grain year, says Open eld’s head of compliance, Cecilia Pryce (right). I feel it’s safe to say it’s been like no other season and that all in the industry have had to deal with many curve balls. Harvest was early, fast, and dry for many, with crops performing better than expected given the weather, but there is still much debate around the size of the main crops.

This point is one that disappoints me every year. How come the rest of the world can con dently produce a crop number in a timely manner but the UK, with all our gizmos and knowledge, still has to wait until 15th December. The market volatility is huge domestically and globally, yet there seems no urgency to help UK agriculture with more timely releases of data and even an update on the future of ELMS.

It’s also amazing how HM Customs and Excise Trade Data is still on a two-month lag, yet the rest of the world is publishing pretty much ‘real time’ data. Yes, there may be some retrospective corrections, but with digital customs entries you can’t tell me we can’t speed up the ow of information! Luckily for us, much of the rest of the world is better at statistics, so at least we will have data to show what ships

are coming this way in real time, courtesy of other nations and their data. It’s data and knowledge that moves markets and the real time data that is currently owing from the Ukraine grain corridor is probably one of the largest “market stabilisers” that there is. Anything that has been shipped is recorded and it’s impressive. The three Ukraine ports shipped 4.2 million tonnes of commodities in October, which shows where there is a will or a contract, and the price is right, anything is possible.

From the rst ship that sailed on 1st August to the end of November, 506 ships departed, carrying a total of 12.337 million tonnes of 17 commodities going to 29 di erent countries. I know it’s a UN initiative, but it proves data is available and this adds stability to markets.

The world called for a solution to a problem and it happened; but what happens next? The corridor has been extended for another 120

days, but how much more tonnage has Ukraine got to ship?

Again, the world needs data in order to decrease price volatility and restore confidence that there really is enough to go around and literally feed the world. The world’s population keeps expanding, the politics seem to take up more and more time, but grain is largely a freemarket product that trades globally from countries in surplus to those in deficit.

The Ukraine has travelled a very difficult path since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, as have the EU Agricultural Policies; and now the UK stands on its own post-Brexit, I wonder what we are capable of with poor data? We have seen taxes, quotas and export licences but as the world moves forward, we all know that cereals and oilseeds are a very basic necessity for any and all countries globally. We don’t know what will happen in the future, but no country can afford to forget about food security and the need for timely accurate data in order to prevent price volatility. I feel we may currently be asleep at the wheel which may cause issues soon!

Fertiliser matters

Phosphate and potash are vital nutrients for maximising yield potential, comments Openfield’s fertiliser manager, Lucy Hassall. This season, due to costs, some growers may be considering reducing PK inputs and adding risk to yield potential. Whilst not advising a cut back of PKs, supplying some fresh readily available nutrient at peak uptake may partially help to reduce the risk. Applying NPKS compounds is an efficient way of doing this by giving the crop a fresh dose of phosphate and potash, along with the nitrogen and sulphur when demand is greatest.

uptake

Early applications give crops the best possible start in the spring, as they look to put on growth before soils are warm enough to mineralise nutrient. Also, with NPKS compounds every granule contains a consistent amount of all nutrients; not only this but you are also increasing the number of sites per square metre, particularly important as phosphate has such limited mobility and a good coverage is essential. FG

Spray manufacturer o ers new intelligent front tank solution

work with other sprayers too.

Horsch has introduced the new Leeb FT front tank, an intelligent spraying technology that mounts to a tractor’s three-point linkage and o ers additional spraying capacity. Available in 1,200 litre and 1,800 litre capacities, the Leeb 1.2 FT and 1.8 FT complements the brand’s recently launched Leeb CS rear-mounted sprayer but will

Design of the Leeb FT has been carefully considered with compact dimensions and an optimised centre of gravity. When combined with the Leeb CS, it o ers up to 4,000 litres of spraying capacity in a highly exible and manoeuvrable format.

The Leeb FT uses a standard coupling triangle to ensure short set-up times and easy handling without the need to manually couple hydraulic lines.

The Leeb FT Basic can be used as an additional water

tank with a 2in suction line towards the rear, without agitator and cleaning. It can be combined with all trailed Leeb models. The higher speci cation Leeb FT Pro is completely integrated into the software and the water circuit of the Leeb CS and features its own agitator and cleaning.

Featuring Isobus control with an intuitive interface, the Leeb FT has lighting integrated in the front tank and an optional camera system for a better overview of the space in front of the machine.

Agri-tech innovator upgrades to larger workspace

Agri-tech company B-hive Innovations has relocated to a new research and development premises to bolster its operations in the fresh produce industry. The move will enhance its project delivery and commercialised entity capabilities and follows major Innovate UK and Defra-backed funding into work that will sustainably change the way that potatoes are grown, stored and transported.

B-hive has relocated within the Lincoln Science

and Innovation Park to the new Alchemy Building – a dedicated facility for R&D specialist occupiers that has been supported by the European Regional Development Fund and regional partnership body, the Midlands Engine.

The Alchemy Building, part of the continual development of the Science Park, is a stone’s throw from B-hive’s previous o ces at Boole Technology Centre, where the company was launched in 2017.

In September, B-hive, along with several commercial and academic partners, was awarded £2.06M by The Farming Innovation Programme, to investigate new methods that will contribute towards a net zero carbon supply chain for potato crop.

The move will also see one of B-Hive’s commercialised entities HarvestEye Ltd occupy the entire existing o ce, helping to enhance new product development and after sales support.

10th CropTec Show helps growers to navigate tricky times ahead

The arable sector has challenging times ahead, but the resounding message from CropTec’s 10th anniversary show last week was that there are numerous opportunities for farmers to improve e ciency and embrace new markets.

The event brought together forward-thinking growers, agronomists, advisors and technical experts over two days for seminars, discussion

and networking.

Harvest 2022 had generally been favourable, with strong prices o setting rising input prices, but next year will be “a very di erent story”, said Harry Henderson of AHDB in the opening seminar.

“The increased input prices will come home to roost with the crops in the ground this autumn and next spring,” he said. Net margins would be

considerably lower, and losses were expected for spring barley and oilseed rape crops.

Reducing and making best use of inputs need to be central to plans going forward. “One thing is clear, we need to retain more inputs on the farm and not lose them through leaching and erosion,” said George Cook, senior farm business consultant with Andersons.

Dealers support in-house apprenticeship

The high level of support from the Claas dealer network for the new, industry leading in-house apprenticeship based at the Claas Academy at Saxham is evident in the fact that the new course starting this autumn is fully booked.

The new in-house apprenticeship scheme was introduced to help raise the standard of newly quali ed engineers. Claas UK says that by “growing our own”, the company can ensure that the engineers of the future have been fully trained on the very latest Claas machinery and that they have the skill set to keep them abreast of technological advancements within the industry, including key franchises o ered by the Claas dealer network.

During their apprenticeship, the students will study for a Level 3 Apprenticeship Standard in Land-Based Service Engineering Technician, delivered by dedicated Claas trainers alongside specialist product trainers from the main Claas Academy.

Frustration at government failure on nature-friendly farming

The Soil Association says it was disappointed to hear reports that the delayed review of nature-friendly farming reforms may come as late as February.

Environmental and farming groups were expecting a signi cant update on the future of ELMS on 1st December when environment secretary Thérèse Co ey addressed the CLA conference.

The Soil Association welcomes the environment secretary’s comments that food production and protecting nature can be “symbiotic”, with her saying: “The choice is not producing food or doing environmental schemes, it’s about making space for nature and that must go alongside sustainable food production. They are not mutually exclusive.”

But the speech left English farmers – who are facing huge pressures – still desperately lacking the details they need to both manage their businesses and activate a shift to nature-friendly farming.

Free advice on navigating farm subsidy polices, and on how to build resilience through agroecological practices, is available to any type of farmer (not just organic) with the Soil Association’s farming team.

Bobcat has extended the company’s quick coupler portfolio with a full selection of new mechanical pin grabber systems available for the entire Bobcat mini-excavator line-up. The company says they are ideal for use in many applications.

As well as speed and

versatility, the reversibility of the new mechanical pin grabber couplers allows operators to work closer to walls or under pipes. Pin-on attachments are also simple to attach; an attractive feature for rental businesses and their customers, increasing the adaptability of machines and the return on investment.

Thanks to the thoughtful hook shaped engineering design of the coupler, the bucket does not fall when unhooked. A perpendicular

lock system ensures there is maximum safety when working with Bobcat miniexcavators.

There are no greasing requirements and very few moving parts with no maintenance requirements (other than a daily inspection), guaranteeing that these are hassle-free couplers. The open and simple design is meant to work in mud – so mud does not get trapped in the system and block the mechanism.

Breathing life back into Scotland’s neglected crofts

Confusion over crofting regulation is fuelling challenges around neglected crofts and preventing young families from accessing land and moving to rural communities. There is a growing problem around crofts being held onto by crofters who are no longer able to actively work them or are being left to those who reside away – and in doing so, are failing to comply with

Crofting Duties.

SAC Consulting has been helping individuals to better understand their options, to maximise the potential of their croft and to support the next generation in getting a foot hold in the industry.

Subletting is an option, allowing a new crofter to get started or expand with low capital costs and they will also have access to the Crofting Agricultural Grant

RSABI invests in young farmers’ mental health

For the rst time in the UK, a mental wellbeing app is being rolled out to young farmers in a pilot scheme to support young people in the Scottish agricultural industry.

RSABI is working with the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs (SAYFC) to trial the Thrive Mental Wellbeing app in three of its clubs across Scotland. The app, available

to almost four million users worldwide and approved by the NHS, includes access to a live in-app chat feature with quali ed therapists available at the touch of a button.

The rst time the app has been adopted within the agriculture industry in the UK, those taking part will be able to access a wide range of resources on mindfulness, relaxation techniques and

Scheme – funds of up to £25,000 which can be used for capital projects, such as the construction of agricultural buildings, fencing or drainage.

Assignation, which is the permanent transfer of a crofting tenancy, can be even more positive as it allows a secure future for young crofters to build homes and invest in longer return projects such as shelter belts and sheds.

Weed specialist invests in artificial intelligence

With its IC-Weeder AI, Lemken has already launched a hoeing machine which reliably distinguishes between sugar beets and weeds, even under high weed pressure. The relevant software was developed by the Dutch AgTech specialist Track32, in which Lemken has now acquired a holding. Lemken is therefore seizing the opportunity to develop technologies of the future in-house in collaboration with such a competent partner.

Anthony van der Ley, managing director of the Lemken Group, is pleased that the current investment establishes a sound basis for continued cooperation in the future.

Track 32’s founder Joris IJsselmuiden explains: “As a company that specialises in software and arti cial intelligence, we also develop solutions for arable farming and greenhouse processes. With Lemken as an investor and client, we will be able to concentrate even more on the further development of our software and will bene t from closer proximity to end customers.”

Lemken says that this investment also o ers additional bene ts besides great market potential, namely in terms of sustainability: the agricultural machinery specialist is con dent that machines equipped with this technology will make a major contribution to regenerative agriculture.

Innovative poultry vaccination technology becomes more widely available

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

For those who need further support in-app therapy is available with quali ed in-house therapists between 8am and 8pm to chat con dentially about any worries or stressors.

Fully funded by RSABI, the service is being trialled in Aberfeldy, Biggar and Bell Baxter Young Farmers’ Clubs for the next 12 months.

MSD Animal Health UK Ltd has developed its innovative Sphereon vaccine technology to increase the convenience of poultry vaccination on-farm.

Developments have been made to extend the range of vaccines this technology is available for. Sphereon technology works by freezing live viral vaccines into small, highly soluble spheres which dissolve in water to provide a quick and convenient method for vaccine mixing.

“The highly soluble spheres o er a much quicker alternative to traditional vaccine methods such as glass vials and e ervescent tablets,” explains Katie Pitman, technical veterinary adviser at MSD Animal Health UK.

Sphereon technology was previously used exclusively for Infectious Bronchitis (IB) vaccinations, but vaccinations against Infectious Bursal Disease and Newcastle Disease have now also been introduced to the range.

Quality over quantity: Limited number of new arrivals bring big boost to the AHDB RL

AHDB’s online edition of the Recommended Lists for cereals and oilseeds (RL) 2023/24 may feature fewer new varieties than previous Lists, but some of the newcomers deliver large yield increases, especially in barley and oilseed rape.

Launched on 28th November 2022, the latest RL sees the rst new winter malting barley and winter oat varieties for several years.

The latest update was released alongside details of a major review of the RL, which aims to help the variety trialling project keep pace with the industry’s evolving requirements.

Paul Gosling (right), who manages the RL at AHDB, said: “We’ve seen relatively few new varieties on the lists this year. Several years of plant breeding advances mean the recommendation bar is set high. Relatively few candidate varieties performed better than the best listed varieties to secure a recommendation.”

New barley varieties RL 2023/24 includes several new barley varieties that bring strength to yield and disease resistance.

The winter barley list includes

the rst malting variety to be added since 2018. Buccaneer, marketed by Elsoms Seeds and bred by Sejet Plant Breeding, o ers a signi cant yield increase over the established two-row malting varieties, Craft and Electrum, alongside good disease resistance.

George Goodwin, technical manager for Elsoms Seeds, said:

“With a treated yield of 99.7%, Buccaneer is almost 4% ahead of nearest competitor Electrum, and o ers growers the bene ts of both a high untreated and treated yield, due to its excellent disease resistance package.

“On brown rust it scored an impressive 8.1, with a 7.2 for control of rhynchosporium, and in all NL trials it has shown very low susceptibility to both net blotch and brackling.

“With a current amber listing from the Malting Barley Committee, it has performed consistently well in malting trials showing good hot water extract, WORT viscosity and

Beta-glucan levels. Based on the current malting test results we are very con dent that Buccaneer will achieve full malting approval status by December 2023. Seed will be available for autumn 2023,” he concluded.

Two new two-row and one new six-row hybrid varieties add strength to winter barley feed yields (compared with current favourites). The two rows are Bolivia, from Agrii (bred by Nordic Seed), and LG Caravelle, from Limagrain. The latter o ers a particularly high yield in the East region of 2% above hybrids, and an exceptionally high speci c weight for a winter barley, of 71.8kg/hl. It is an early maturing variety with sti straw; both important characteristics for a winter barley.

The new six-row hybrid SY Nephin, from Syngenta, is notable for its disease resistance rating of 8 for rhynchosporium.

There are six new spring barley varieties under evaluation by the Malting Barley Committee (MBC): three for brewing, two for brewing and malt distilling, and one for malt distilling. These o er improvements in yield and/or disease resistance (compared with the current market leaders, RGT Planet and Laureate).

The spring barley list sees feed variety Hurler added. Bred by Secobra and available through Agrii, high yield is its standout feature.

Mr Gosling commented: “RL 2023/24 delivers exciting potential for brewing and distilling. However, it is a tough market to break into, with varietal success determined by end users. As varieties can fail to make the grade, farmers should talk to merchants before growing them.”

Ongoing commitment

KWS’ ongoing commitment to breeding spring barleys that deliver in the malthouse and the eld has been underlined by the addition of KWS Curtis to the 2023/24 AHDB Recommended List, says the company’s cereals product manager, Dr Kirsty Richards.

“The rst of a pipeline of similar high performers now entering RL candidate trials, KWS Curtis is a strong all-round variety bred speci cally to be easy to grow and manage whilst meeting the demands of the supply chain in an increasingly carbon footprint focused future.

“It’s a high yielding 2-row variety that outperforms the best in class for quality whilst delivering the highest spirit yields/ha of crop combined with reduced levels of carbon emissions throughout the production cycle.”

According to KWS UK spring barley breeder Dr Henry Barber, KWS Curtis’ resilience and performance has been tested in a variety of growing conditions across Europe with the variety having an agronomic pro le perfectly suited to the UK.

“It’s a variety that performs well across the country with treated yields of 105% of controls in the East and 103% in the North and West regions with an average yield of 104% for the UK as a whole.

“These yields have been remarkably consistent over the last three years of trials despite very di erent spring seasons. Untreated yield is very high at 93%, too, giving growers a range of production options.” KWS Premis and KWS Nelis follow in the path of KWS Curtis, being high performance spring barleys with signi cant production and environmental potential, he reckons.

It’s a Group 1, but not as we know it!

KWS LADUM

n Taking top-quality spring breadmaking yields to the next level n UK yield 7% ahead of Mulika n Excellent disease package including a 7 for Septoria tritici

If you want to take your spring wheat yields to the next level, then take a closer look at KWS Ladum. It’s the rst of the next generation of spring wheat varieties for the UK market that brings top milling and baking quality with highly productive yield levels, a massive 7% ahead of the market leader Mulika when spring-sown.

Scan the QR code to nd out more www.kws-uk.com

“Both varieties are currently progressing through the MBC testing system with KWS Premis being evaluated for brewing only and KWS Nelis as a dual-purpose variety.

“Both have very similar yields, quality potential and agronomic properties to KWS Curtis alongside its proven consistency across di erent growing seasons and regions of the UK.

“KWS Premis and KWS Nelis are now entering AHDB candidate trials for harvest 2023 and we have high hopes for them, too.”

Winter OSR

The winter oilseed rape list features three new UK-recommended hybrid varieties: Vegas and Turing, from LS Plant Breeding (LSPB), and Attica, from Limagrain. Turing and Attica have especially high yields in the North region.

Recommended for the East/West region, Murray, from LSPB, has a high yield and a resistance rating of 8 for stem canker. Recommended for the North region, LG Wagner, from Limagrain, achieved the highest yield in this region and is a shorter hybrid with sti stems, combined with good light leaf spot resistance and good stem health.

A new conventional variety for the UK, Tom, from CBI, o ers a small yield increase but adds options for this important seed-market component. The list also includes Beatrix from DSV – a new Clear eld variety for the North region.

Long-awaited winter oat RL 2023/24 features the rst newly added winter oat variety since RL 2018/19. Cromwell, from Senova, o ers good yield and grain quality. New spring oat variety RGT Vaughan also features good grain quality.

RGT Vaughan is the rst spring oat from RAGT to appear on the AHDB Recommended List after achieving full approval this autumn.

“This new variety features a powerful combination of high grain quality and good disease resistance,” said RAGT technical sales manager, Dr Cathy Hooper.

“Its speci c weight is one of the best on the 2023/24 list at 52.3kg/hl, which is the second highest on the AHDB’s ve-year report.

“RGT Vaughan also features consistently low screenings, at 2.3% over a 2mm sieve, and a decent kernel content of 72.9%. weight.”

The variety also stands well, thanks to its good straw strength that delivers an untreated lodging score of 7, and

it is early ripening, providing extra insurance at harvest.

“RGT Vaughan features the best combination of untreated yield, at 93%, and disease resistance among its comparators, including an 8 for mildew and 4.4 for crown rust,” continued Dr Hooper. “Along with its good agronomic characteristics and yield, this suggests a spring oat with a very bright future,” says Cathy.

Winter and spring wheat

For winter wheat, the latest RL includes one new UKFM Group 2 bread-making variety, KWS Ultimatum, and one new UKFM Group 3 biscuit-wheat variety, RGT Wilkinson. The list also adds two new feed varieties for the East/West region: hard-textured Oxford, from DSV, and soft-textured LG Redwald. The latter requires careful lodging management. There is also a new soft Group 4 for the North region, KWS Zealum, which is likely to be of interest to the distilling market.

Three new varieties have been added to the spring wheat list, o ering good grain quality and yields: UKFM Group 1 KWS Harsum, which has particularly high yield, and UKFM Group 2 varieties KWS Alicium and KWS Lightum.

Strong breeder portfolio

“The total number of wheat varieties we have on the 2023/24 AHDB Recommended List stands at 13 and it is likely around 40% of the wheat harvested in 2023 will be a KWS variety of one type or another,” commented KWS UK country manager Will Compson.

“Our varieties span all four production groups, be it premium speci cation Group 1 milling wheats like KWS Zyatt, varieties with high untreated yields like Group 2 KWS Extase, Group 3 biscuit making options or outright barn llers like Group 4 KWS Dawsum.”

KWS UK wheat breeder Mark Dodds said all ve KWS RL wheat additions add something new to the current range of UK cropping options.

“Group 4 soft variety KWS Zealum, for example, is a great example of a resilient wheat that delivers strong eld performance with excellent yield potential for growers.

“Recommended for the North of the country, KWS Zealum has an average yield of 102% in this region which rises to over 106% when it is drilled before 25th September.

“This is an important characteristic for Northern growers, most of whom would complete the vast majority of their wheat sowing before this date.

KWS Ultimatum brings the high untreated yield performance growers have come to expect from the KWS Group 2 stable along with excellent grain and eld performance, Mr Dodds reckons.

“KWS Ultimatum achieves a commendable yield of 101% of controls for the whole of the UK, fractionally behind KWS Extase, but this rises to 103% for the North.

“It delivers great performance in the second wheat spot, where 60% of milling wheats and 40% of wheat overall is grown, achieving 102% of controls and it performs equally well on heavy and light soils.”

KWS Harsum is a Group 1 spring variety in the same mould as existing RL variety KWS Ladum, whilst KWS Alicium and KWS Lightum are exciting new Group 2 options, explained KWS spring wheat breeder Dr Reiner Bothe.

“KWS Harsum becomes the highest yielding spring-sown Group 1 variety on the RL at 102% of control just fractionally ahead of KWS Ladum and some 7% ahead of the next variety in the class.

“Harsum’s good protein content is complemented by a high HFN and the best speci c weight in the Group 1 spring sector at 78.3kg/hl.

“With 7s for mildew, yellow rust and septoria plus OWBM resistance, the variety has one of the best agronomic packages in its class.

“Meanwhile, Group 2 KWS Alicium couples outstanding yields with fabulous grain quality, breadmaking performance and OWBM resistance and represents a new type of genetics for the spring wheat milling sector thanks to its German parentage.

“With a treated yield of 105% it’s a real high performer with grain quality to match. A 13.3% protein content, HFN of 346 and speci c weight of 80.3kg/hl really do set a new benchmark for its class.

“Solid agronomic performance with an 8 for mildew resistance and a 7 for septoria rounds out the package making it one of the most complete added-value spring-sown options there is.”

KWS Lightum is another spring-

sown Group 2 variety which o ers growers high yields and excellent grain, featuring a protein content of 13.4%, HFN of 325 and speci c weight of 78.4, he points out.

“Like its new KWS stablemates, Lightum also has OWBM resistance coupled with excellent disease resistance including an 8 for mildew resistance, 7 for brown rust and 6 for septoria contributing to a strong disease package.”

British-bred DSV Oxford becomes the company’s latest British-bred hard Group 4 winter wheat to join the AHDB Recommended List with a performance very close to the highest yielder in the class DSV Champion, said DSV UK’s Sarah Hawthorne.

“DSV Oxford is another success of our Wardington-based breeding programme combining high treated and untreated yields with a robust disease package borne out of our breeding station’s relatively westerly location.

“Our focus in recent years has been on balancing high outright yield potential with consistency of production and robust agronomics focused on giving UK producers an added layer of security in an increasingly di cult production environment.

“Recommended for the East and West region, DSV Oxford follows DSV Theodore, still the cleanest wheat on the new 2023/24 AHDB RL, and the highest yielding hard Group 4 winter wheat DSV Champion sitting neatly between them in terms of performance and agronomics.”

New standards for yield

Despite requiring careful lodging management, LG Redwald sets a new standard for high yielding wheats, yielding 107% in the UK, 107% in the east and 109% in the west. As a soft wheat, the variety also o ers potential for distilling.

The variety has an excellent disease resistance pro le, with very good septoria resistance as well continued over…

as orange wheat blossom midge (OWBM) resistance.

“It is an exciting variety that should deliver for growers in 2023/24, if supported with good agronomic practise to ensure it meets its full potential on farm, and comes at a time when growers are looking more than ever to maximise output in order to maintain pro t in times of increasing costs,” said Ron Granger, Limagrain’s arable technical manager.

Next step in BYDV resistant wheat

The next generation of BYDV resistant wheats comes a step closer to market following the promotion of RGT Grouse to the AHDB Candidate List 2023.

RGT Grouse is a Group 4 hard variety on a Santiago genetic background, with good yield potential and disease resistance.

It is the latest in the pipeline of RAGT Seeds’ ground-breaking Genserus BYDV-resistant varieties and has the added bene t of resistance to orange wheat blossom midge.

“This is the rst of several varieties coming through with this double resistance, enabling many growers to produce insecticide-free wheat, which

has obvious attractions within all markets,” said RAGT’s cereal and OSR product manager, Tom Dummett.

“RGT Grouse is a slower developing type, so is highly suited to earlier sowings when the risk of BYDV is at its highest,” he adds.

“It is a good-looking wheat with a prostrate autumn and winter growth and high tillering capacity, as well as excellent tiller retention that lends itself to a denser canopy.

“Ear fertility is good, with an outstanding bright nish.”

Anticipating keen demand for the variety, RAGT has fast-tracked seed production, so signi cant quantities of commercial seed will be available for autumn 2023, when the variety will be up for full recommendation.

“RAGT is the rst company to introduce the BYDV resistance trait into a commercial wheat line in Europe,” says Tom. “The resistance trait o ers protection from the day the wheat is planted to the day it is harvested, for less than the cost of a single pyrethroid spray.

“It greatly simpli es crop management, removing the need to monitor and control aphid populations with foliar-applied insecticide sprays while bene ting the environment.” FG

Latest UK Pesticide Guide to be released

This January sees the publication of the 36th edition of the UK Pesticide Guide – the authoritative reference for all approved pesticides and adjuvants. With a dedicated editor keeping track of new entrants, changes to approvals and addition of relevant EAMUs, the guide aims to ensure you have all the information at your ngertips to assist in those crop protection decisions.

Among the additions for 2023 is cinmethylin, BASF’s new entrant o ering a new mode of action against black-grass – although its introduction does highlight the implications of Brexit with it not being approved for use in Northern Ireland. Keeping track of approvals, and indeed any removal of approvals, has

now become a year-round requirement.

To meet this demand, BCPC also produces the online version of the guide, updated throughout the year, keeping growers up to speed with all the changes while also adding the sophisticated search and compare functionality across di erent elds including formulations, uses, dose rates, maximum total dose and/or latest timing of application, along with the pests or diseases controlled and EAMUs.

When you subscribe to the Online UK Pesticide Guide, you also get a 50% discount on your hard copy purchase. BASIS/ NRoSO points are available.

To place your order visit www.bcpc.org, or e-mail publications@bcpc.org FG

Trials suggest microbiological-based products o er significant yield increases

Bioelements Ltd is a member of an international team. Its area of expertise is in making di erent species of antagonistic microorganisms compatible while developing multicomponent products. In 2019, it appointed Croptek Bio Ltd as its UK national distributor and with Croptek Bio, they have undertaken numerous trials using microbiological-based products in agricultural crops.

The use of microbials is not new to farming but their use, either as part of a conventional program or to improve yields in organic farming, makes a huge di erence in sustainability and environmental impacts. Bioelements also o ers a range of products for animal wellbeing, bedding, waste treatments of animal slurries and poultry manures which reduces nitrogen losses to both the atmosphere and land drains. All of its products are approved for use in organic farming.

During the time Croptek Bio has been working with Bioelements, the trials it has carried out have shown signi cant yield increases and improved quality and storage characteristics in carrots, potatoes,

maize, cereals and OSR, when used as part of a programmed approach.

The microorganisms included a range from a catalogue of over 130, then built into a product from a single species through to consortias of up to 32 di erent strains of complementary, job-speci c microbes. With the experience gained, both in the UK and throughout Europe, it is possible to tailor recommendations to soils, dependent on all the variables they naturally face from soil type and de ciencies, climatic stresses, and crop speci c requirements to market healthy crops throughout the year. FG

How do you know if you have fertile soils?

A fertile soil is not simply one that’s had fertiliser applied; it must be a balanced ecosystem that, when structured correctly, can cycle air, water, and nutrients e ectively. An in-depth soil audit provides you with the tools to make informed decisions that could ultimately save money.

Soil is more complex than just P, K and Mg – you must consider its structure, pH, biological status and carbon potential; so many variables, each with their unique in uence on the soil’s performance.

Is your ground compacted, and sticky when it gets wet? Perhaps sandy and always ‘hungry’? Measuring the soil will help you manage its strengths and its limitations. That’s where good data interpretation comes in. For example, most crops need phosphorus, and its availability can be in uenced by soil’s calcium, pH, biological activity, and even how wet it is plays an important role.

Good soil analysis should be considered essential for monitoring soil health. Balanced soils have better capacity to store and exchange nutrients and with enhanced structure, conditions for air and water

expand, making a more conducive atmosphere for life to prosper.

Since the 1990s, Soil Fertility Services says it has helped farmers reduce fertiliser inputs, with tter crops that require fewer fungicides and a lower reliance on insecticides. Liberating the soil’s locked-up tonnes of N, P and K could save you money.

In a time of increasing costs, decisions for soil and crop fertility must be based on sound information – remember to “Measure it, Monitor it and then Manage it better”. FG

Good establishment for spring barley

Many farmers will be planning to sow spring barley crops in 2023. Good establishment in the spring is the key to good yields and grain quality. Wellestablished crops have a better root structure, which helps the crop to withstand prolonged dry periods and gives better access to nutrition in the soil. Trials have proved that sowing big seed with the appropriate seed treatment is the best way to get a rapid establishment.

Rapid establishment also helps to suppress weeds and so can help to save costs on herbicides. One of the key nutrients to consider with spring barley is manganese.

The best way to provide manganese in the early stages,

according to NAAC, is by using a seed treatment. That way the crop does not su er a check in growth during the rst few weeks. Crops that have a good supply of manganese during establishment often show better resistance to diseases such as powdery mildew, so some savings on fungicides can be possible. Good quality certi ed spring barley seed may be hard to nd for spring 2023 and will probably be expensive. Farm-saving your own spring barley seed will be the best option to keep costs down whilst keeping seed quality high.

Your NAAC mobile seed processor can assist you in getting your spring barley crop o to the best possible start. FG

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KWS Sassy is a non-GN producing spring malting barley that has been tried and tested by the UK distilling industry. It is fully approved by the MBC for malting and distilling and continues to deliver one of the highest speci c weights and the lowest screenings of currently listed spring barleys – all key attributes for the maltster and grower alike.

Scan the QR code to nd out more www.kws-uk.com

Spring barley variety options for 2023

Here is an overview of the different spring barley options from Syngenta:

LAUREATE: The number 1 spring malting barley in the UK

• Full MBC Approval for brewing and malt distilling

• Consistent yield in every region, every year

• Excellent disease resistance and high untreated yield

• High demand from maltsters making it a secure marketable

FAIRING: Grain distilling specialist

• The only variety with Full MBC Approval for grain distilling

• Earliest variety to ripen

• The highest Rhynchosporium resistance rating

• Excellent grain quality with very high specific weight and low screenings

SY SPLENDOR: Feed variety with excellent grain quality and straw

• Consistent yields across all regions

• High specific weight

• Rapid growth habit and establishment

• Stiff straw and good resistance to brackling

New for 2023

There have been seven new spring barley additions to the AHDB Recommended List in 2023. The two newest offerings from Syngenta are exciting new malting quality spring barleys, SY TENNYSON and SY SIGNET.

SY TENNYSON: Joint highest yielding spring malting barley

• Under test for brewing and malt distilling

• Consistent yields across all regions and years

• Moderate maturity and good resistance to lodging

SY SIGNET: High potential spring malting barley

• Under test for brewing

• Very strong disease resistance with excellent untreated yields

• High resistance to lodging and brackling

Both these varieties need to complete further industry approvals, they are the next generation of varieties and are ones to watch for the future.

How to make the transition to more sustainable farming practices

Rising costs, changes to farm support, and increasingly extreme weather events, have hastened the need to build more resilient production systems that harness natural processes and reduce the need for arti cial inputs.

The quest for answers on how this can be achieved was re ected in the over-subscribed Hutchinsons inaugural Agroecology Conference in November, where industry leading experts and growers shared their views on how to make the transition to regenerative farming practices.

Chairing the conference, Hutchinsons head of Agroecology, Ed Brown (right), pointed out that agroecology is not something to be considered in isolation but should be encompassed into best practice and can be achieved through a well thought out step by step transition process, that starts with asking “why?”

“Whether you’re a farmer that has already moved to a more resilient farming model, or are just starting out, the most important question is to ask yourself ‘why?’. Why are you doing what you are doing, and how will changing this bene t your farm?

“Then set yourself an action plan

– don’t try to do everything at once and avoid jumping onto trends – there is no silver bullet as every business has di erent aspirations and skill sets.”

Everything starts with soil

Soil health is widely recognised as a cornerstone of sustainable farming systems, and establishing a baseline measurement will allow you to make the best decisions to move forward, said Hutchinsons head of soils, Ian Robertson (below). Being in a position to reduce inputs, change cultivation techniques or understand how cover or catch crops might bene t the soil, has to start with the soil, he said.

“I always say the machine is irrelevant – it is what the soil needs that should drive the decision – for example a

change in cultivation strategy.

“So, before making any signi cant structural or operational changes, it is crucial to understand the physical, chemical and biological make up of the soil. These factors make up the unholy soil alliance and each is as important as the other.

“You cannot manage what you don’t measure. By creating a baseline measurement of the soil, it removes the guess work and helps to avoid making fundamentally wrong

decisions,” he says.

Creating a soil benchmark will allow you to:

• Understand the di erence between pH and bu er pH- allows for an understanding of soil function

• Know the cation exchange capacity – how big is your soil

• Bulk density and texture – what is your soil’s structure; chocolate sponge cake or brownie?

• Organic matter – di erent layers from LOI OM, dumas carbon, active carbon, carbon to clay layer

and C:N ratio

• Extractable nutrients – what are your reserves, focus on cycle rather than adding more on, how is soil structure a ecting this?

• VESS physical soil structure test, water in ltration, worm count.

“It is possible to do all of this using a Healthy Soils assessment and build on this using the unique data from TerraMap, said Mr Robertson, who

encouraged the audience to take advantage of these services.

However, for a clearer picture of the levels of biology in the soil, Mr Robertson suggested the Soil Life Monitor (PLFA) test which is a lab test measuring the levels of bacterial, fungi and protozoa in the soil, as well as the diversity of microbial biomass.

“This is a very useful test to see how diverse your soil biology really is, the more the diverse, the better nutrient cycling and the more the soil will give you back.

“Once a baseline of all these factors has been established, create a report or action plan that all of the teams across the business are fully engaged with it.“

“Highlight the shortcomings and nd ways of overcoming them, be realistic about speed of change and introduce changes over a 8–10 year rotation. Most of all, get started!”

E ciency substitution and redesign

Internationally-renowned agroecology consultant, Joel Williams, (left) presented a technical insight into a methodology to help make the transition from

conventional farming practices to a more sustainable agroecological approach.

“E ciency is about ensuring that any conventional practices are implemented to their full optimum. Substitution is the replacing of these conventional practices by more alternative practices or ecologically intensive models. Redesign is the nal stage where the practices are completely decoupled from input dependency to being compatible with nature conservation and establishing a reliance on biodiversity and natural regulation,” he explained.

“The rst two steps are very important, but it is 'redesign' that will make the bigger impact and change to the farming system, so it’s important not to get trapped in these initial stages,” he warned.

Reduce reliance on bagged nitrogen using ESR model

Plants need nitrogen to build proteins and for this they convert the nitrogen into a useable form i.e. of amino acids. However, nitrogen is generally applied to the plant in the form of inorganic bagged forms of ammonium or nitrate, on which the plant then expends energy converting into organic forms.

“So, it would make sense to provide the plant with organic forms of nitrogen to reduce the energy needed for this process, making it more e cient.

“There are two ways of doing this, by reducing losses or using a di erent form of nitrogen, for example, foliar nitrogen,” he says.

“Foliar applications bypass soil imbalances; there are no nutrient lockups to navigate, no leaching, less volatilisation and foliage can continue absorption when root uptake is poor. So this generally means less N is required and the overall process is more e cient.”

He acknowledged there are many variables that impact foliar e ciency around formulation, application, crop characteristics and environmental conditions.

“There is also a high nutrient requirement for this process,” he added.

“If we are to take this further than simply improving the e ciency of the products we are using and look at a substitute for fertiliser this can be achieved using liquid forms such as bio fertilisers, sh hydrolysates or through a dry soil-based application of compost or manure.”

However, it is important not to get stuck in this stage or to react too quickly to poor results and to recognize that this substitution stage

can be unreliable,” he says. “For example, we know that there can be issues with consistency of some of these products and there are mineral constraints which can limit biological nitrogen xation.”

“So, whatever the system or practice, it has to be managed, and importantly the product has to go into the system that is designed for it to work.”

Mr Williamson pointed out that to take the next step to Redesign, consider a practice that decouples from input dependency, which in this example could be diversi cation with legumes into the system through eld margins, or in the eld with cover crops.

“How can legumes really help reduce N dependency? he asked.

“It’s not just about integrating them as cover crops so they release their N on decay. It is also possible to share N in real time from legume to cash crop through companion cropping or intercropping.

“As legumes grow, they release root exudates; some of which are amino acids, so when a legume root system and non-legume root system grow side by side, the legume releases amino acids as root exudates and the nonlegume companion can scavenge these.”

He pointed out this is emerging work and not yet truly optimised.

“There is more work to be done on this and we are nding new answers all the time to help redesign systems to help the transitional process.”

The farmer’s perspective

Two farmer speakers, at di erent stages of their agroecology journeys, shared their respective journey.

Ben Taylor-Davies, aka “Regen Ben”, is well along his journey of adopting regenerative practices on the farm at Ross-on-Wye. His approach is to focus wholly and solely on four basic principles:

1. Public integration of the farm

2. Diversity, diversity, diversity

3. KISS (Keep it simple, stupid!)

4. Appreciation of deprecation

Harry Heath, who hosts the Helix Agroecology farm in Newport, Shropshire, believes the best advice he can give is to be open-minded. “To get o the conventional treadmill, you have to think di erently, recognise it’s not all about the crop and continually question everything you do.”

To hear more from the farmers, watch the video of their presentation by visiting www.hlhltd.co.uk/ resources/ FG

The

PGRO has announced

Vivaflor

Biostimulant for use in Viticulture

The Descriptive List, launched at the end of November at CropTec, o ers six new combining peas and one new winter bean, with the possibility of up to four spring beans being included at a later date, pending National Listing. This is more than double the number of new varieties which debuted on the 2022 list.

Despite drought conditions and record temperatures throughout the growing season, trials were conducted successfully and the varieties grown across the country demonstrated impressive consistency in terms of yield and disease resistance.

PGRO senior technical o cer Christopher Judge commented: “2022 has been a year with a lot of changes. But, not only have the trials run successfully, but the data produced by the Descriptive List is reassuringly consistent.

“High-yielding varieties have maintained their good performance, and other traits such as disease

ratings also retain similar scores to before with the addition of new supporting data. For example, the list now includes a score for downy mildew and rust on winter beans.”

Two yellow combining peas –Glam (bred by Senova) and LG Ajax (Limagrain) – are new additions to the list, while the three new green peas are Butter y (LS Plant Breeding), KWS Gotham (KWS), and Kiravi (Senova).

New variety of marrowfat variety Takayama (LS Plant Breeding) has made the list, joining as the highest yielder in that category, achieving a 96% yield.

Bonneville (Senova) is the only new winter bean addition to the 2023 list. Its yield is above average at 102%, and it has the second highest protein content on the list.

• Activates plant hormones for improved reproductive health

• Reduces issues with fruit set caused by environmental stress

• Improves homogeneity of berries, evens cluster weight and increases overall yield www.npp-ag.com

VIVAFLOR contains GA142 (seaweed ltrate), boron 26.8g/L, magnesium 68.8g/L and sulphur 136.6g/L.

VIVAFLOR is a registered trademark of UPL. © UPL Europe Ltd 2022. Use plant protection products safely. Always read the label and product information before use. Pay attention to risk indications and follow the safety precautions on the label.

www.farmersguide.co.uk January 2023 26

which are Genius and Futura (both LS Plant Breeding), LG Stego (Limagrain) and Focus (Saaten Union), but at the time of writing have not yet received UK National List status, therefore cannot be added to the Descriptive List at this time.

Should National Listing be granted, PGRO will add these varieties to the list which is published at www.pgro.org

Combining peas

Kameleon (114%) and Orchestra (111%) remain the top-yielding yellow peas. New addition Glam (Senova) has a yield of 108% and has the latest maturity of the yellow peas.

New addition LG Ajax (Limagrain) has a yield of 103% and has good resistance to powdery mildew.

Carrington remains the top yielding green pea at 115%, while Butter y (LS Plant Breeding) also performed well with a yield of 109% and has an earlier maturity and larger seed size than Carrington.

KWS Gotham (KWS) and Kiravi (Senova) are both later maturing varieties with competitive yields, 107% and 105% respectively. Within the green category, LG Aviator and Greenwood have resistance to powdery mildew – an increasingly important trait.

Carrington, Bluetime and LG Aviator have the highest downy mildew rating (8).

New variety Takayama (LS Plant Breeding) has become the topyielding marrowfat with a yield of 96%, 10% more than Sakura. It also has a better downy mildew rating (6) than all the other marrowfats on the DL.

Winter beans

Bonneville (Senova) is the only new winter bean addition to the 2023 list. Its yield is above average at 102%, and it has the second highest protein content on the list.

Ratings for downy mildew in winter beans have been added to the DL. Most varieties have scored a 5 for downy mildew, with Vincent (7) and Norton (6) having higher ratings.

Spring beans

Lynx remains the top yielding variety (107%). It has a good downy mildew rating (7) and has been one of the highest rated varieties since its addition to the list.

Despite having a low yield (92%), Yukon has the best downy mildew rating (9) and is the earliest maturing variety on the list.

Four new high yielding spring bean varieties have performed well. These are Genius and Futura (both LS Plant Breeding), LG Stego (Limagrain) and Focus (Saaten Union). These four new varieties have not yet received UK National List status.

Performance of current and new varieties

According to breeder LS Plant Breeding (LSPB), the latest PGRO DL con rms the performance of its current and newly added pulse varieties for UK growers.

The new DL for spring beans is once again headed by Lynx, which is joined by LSPB’s varieties Ghengis, Victus, Macho, Vertigo and Yukon.

It is worth noting that the LVC variety Victus (low vicine/convicine) is now closing the yield gap with conventional varieties, while Yukon continues to combine the earliest maturity with highest downy mildew on the DL.

Yukon is the earliest maturing variety on the 2023 PGRO Descriptive List for spring beans (DL) with a rating of 8, making it a major contender for growers in the north of England and Scotland in particular.

Yukon also has the highest possible downy mildew resistance rating of 9 on the DL, a clear advantage for all growers – whether in the north or south of the country.

To add to these key agronomic values, Yukon has a very high thousand seed weight (TSW) of 622 giving it excellent marketability by producing a good sample for Egyptian buyers who form the main human consumption export market for UK-grown beans.

This high level of TSW is also a plus for the equally important UK aquaculture market for dehulled beans.

Yukon’s other agronomic characters are its high standing ability at harvest of 8 and its resistance to rust of 5.

The variety’s yield ranking in trials is likely a ected by its early maturity as – unlike most farm situations – all varieties in trials, whether early or late maturing, have to be combined together.

a ected by its early combined together.

Michael Shuldham (pictured), pulses product manager for LSPB, commented: “We believe that Yukon will nd a rm place with UK spring bean growers where its bene ts will put it alongside its stablemates in our portfolio, such as the market leading variety Lynx, at the top of the PGRO DL.” FG

North Barn, Manor Farm, Milton Road, Impington, Cambridge, CB24 9NG

www.lspb.eu/pulses Tel: +44 (0) 1223 236808 www.lspb.eu

Forging a new path in plant breeding for pulses

This new collaboration has a strong commercial focus and will bring new and additional investment into pea and lentil breeding locally in Saskatchewan, increasing competition, and creating a strong environment to foster innovation.

Developing new and better performing varieties of peas and lentils is the focus of the breeding collaboration. Farmers’ priorities and greatest production challenges are at the forefront of the breeding programme, with major areas of focus including resistance to root disease in peas and lentils, increased protein content, and overall improvements in yield performance under varying conditions.

Breeding will take place in Saskatchewan for the bene t of Saskatchewan producers. “We are excited for this new direction in pulse breeding for farmers in Saskatchewan. It is important to continue fostering innovation and competition in

pulse breeding and to bring new perspectives to challenging on-farm issues like root rots and herbicide resistance,” says Shaun Dyrland, chair of SPG board of directors. “We believe this new collaboration with Limagrain on pulse breeding will allow for targeting grower priorities and ensuring that growers’ direction and voices are at the table helping to drive new varieties.”

The new Limagrain Field Seeds breeding and research programme will be based in Saskatoon, where a dedicated pulse breeding team will be created, bringing new expertise in breeding, pathology, molecular genetics, and eld trial evaluation to the region.

This technology-driven program will lead to higher performing varieties being made available to producers more quickly by deploying all available technology to both shorten the breeding cycle and accelerate seed production.

“Limagrain is very committed to producing plant-based proteins. Saskatchewan is at the heart of global pulse production, so it makes perfect sense for Limagrain Field Seeds to extend its existing cereal breeding research in Saskatoon, and to now include these two pulse crops reinforcing our commitment to Saskatchewan,” remarked Régis Fournier, CEO of Limagrain Field Seeds. “Collaboration is a core value for Limagrain and partnering with SPG, a fellow farmer-led organisation is a crucially important component.”

Both SPG and Limagrain have farmer-based boards of directors. This is an important pillar to this new collaboration, which was developed

around shared values to support and foster pro table growth and opportunities for Saskatchewan farmers.

The collaboration has SPG and Limagrain sharing in upfront investments, with future royalties from the sale of new varieties to be shared. SPG will provide input on breeding priorities and ensure that farmers’ voices, needs, priorities, and challenges are driving the goals of the programme every step of the way. FG

Will Pillinger, pulse breeder for Limagrain UK believes European and UK markets can expect to see the bene ts from this incredibly signi cant pulses breeding collaboration in the near future through combined technology and genetic diversity. “The partnership with Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG), has increased our investment in genomic selection and speci c trait related genetic markers for peas, beans and lentils.

“This increased global pulse breeding will have an immediate impact on the ability for Limagrain UK to access accelerated improvements in yield, quality and disease resistance and it should not be too long before we see these attributes on UK farms.”

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Organic fertiliser is “six times stronger than FYM”

Cloud Agro Ltd specialises in soil health and crop nutrition, delivering sustainable solutions for farmers who want to make a positive environmental impact with optimum nancial returns.

The company works collaboratively with scienti c and agricultural institutions to jointly develop laboratory protocols and farm products which are rigorously tested and proven in on-farm eld trials.

Cloud Agro explains its services and products make it possible for producers, for the rst time, to accurately measure and e ectively treat the “burn rate of nutrients” exported during harvest, together with the “burn rate of humus (organic matter)” expended during mineralisation.

The company supplies Smart Feed, which is a 100% natural organic fertiliser and soil conditioner, under the brand name FutureGro. FutureGro is an upgrade to the traditional practice of manure and green waste application, being a high-quality, fully decomposed organic

fertiliser that adds nutrients, improves soil structure, and stimulates microbial action. According to Cloud Agro, it is six times stronger than FYM and a whopping 50 times more e ective than green waste. With FutureGro, as the plant grows stronger with enhanced nutrition and more balanced soils, crops can ward o disease vectors and pest attacks. However, Cloud Agro stresses that animal manure does the opposite: its application leads to the spread of weed seeds, disease vectors, and pathogens.

Repeated application of FutureGro helps nutrients become more available to crops, making soil more fertile. Over time, less chemical fertiliser is needed. Apply FutureGro, on average, 1t/ha twice a year to your soil to see healthier crops and 25% higher yields this season. FG

Extra post-em active boosts weed control

Bayer o ers an additional active – thiencarbazone – in its post-em line up to improve weed control in wheat.

The active is in the three-way coform Atlantis Star (mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron + thiencarbazone) which boosts grassweed and broad-leaf weed control compared to other post-ems.

According to Bayer’s Tom Chillcott, it will o er a 5–10% uplift in control of susceptible grass weeds and widen the broad-leaf weed spectrum compared to the next best postem Paci ca Plus (mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron + amidosulfuron). But he o ers a note of caution that it doesn’t change the situation with resistant weeds.

“Any discussion around postems is overshadowed by resistance,” says Mr Chillcott. “We know it’s out there, and that quite simply on some farms and elds an ALS-inhibitor (HRAC Group 2) post-em is not the right option. But we also know from mesosulfuron sales and resistance testing that there are lots of places where the improvement in control o ered by Atlantis Star will help a lot. There are still some susceptible black-

grass populations out there, and even more so when we talk about ryegrass.”

In 20 trials, Atlantis Star averaged 60.5% control of black-grass versus 56% for Paci ca Plus – this included some elds with enhanced metabolism resistant black-grass. The results are similar for ryegrass control and better for brome. Some 16 trials showed 85% brome control for Atlantis Star and 75% for Paci ca Plus, additional work at Bayer’s Chishill weedscreen has shown an even greater improvement against meadow brome and rye brome.

Bayer reckons Atlantis Star also has a lot to o er farmers dealing with broad-leaf weeds. It provides good control of a wide spectrum of problem weeds including cranesbill, poppy and mayweeds.

The new active is in the same mode of action group as its coform partners mesosulfuron and

not a sulfonylurea like mesosulfuron.

Thiencarbazone is taken in by the weed through the leaf so applications timing and technique will be very important. “Atlantis Star is approved for applications between GS13 – 32, from 1st February. Post-emergence herbicides are very sensitive to application conditions, lots of things have to be right to get a good result,” comments Mr Chilcott.

“Active growth, good drying conditions and a ne–medium spray which can settle on the targe are essential. Particularly in February, the target will be small and drying time limited. It’s better to apply one tank in optimal conditions than try to do too much and have the active washed

away by rain or dew. Patience is vital, and so is prioritising elds to spray where you expect the most bene t.”

The approved rate for Atlantis Star is 0.333kg/ha which delivers the same amount of mesosulfuron as a full rate 0.5kg/ha Paci ca Plus as well as thiencarbazone which provides the all-round weed control boost. There are no additional restrictions on tankmixes and following crops compared to other mesosulfuron post-ems so it will be easy for farmers to upgrade immediately in their current system. Physical and biological compatibility data for tank mixes will be available from Bayer in early spring for farmers looking to do a joint T0/ post-em spray. FG

CLAAS CMATIC – Performance Driven

Tackling rodenticide resistance on UK farms

more rats with the mutated gene and creating an even wider issue of resistant rodents throughout the area.

This phenomenon leaves farmers with an infestation of rats, which will potentially go on to spread disease to workers and livestock, destroy equipment or property, contaminate feed, and ultimately cost them a lot of money.

BASF’s new “resistance-breaking” rodenticide, Selontra, features the active cholecalciferol, which breaks the cycle of resistance and makes infestation control possible in as few as seven days.

reduced potential of any build-up of poison within the body, helping farmers to balance performance and environmental impact.

If you’re experiencing issues with rodents on your farm and suspect you may be in an area of resistance, enter your location at https://rrac. info/ and ensure you choose a bait with cholecalciferol as an active ingredient, such as Selontra.

From extensive damage to machinery and equipment to loss of pro t through spreading of disease and contaminated animal feed, rats and mice can cause a host of serious issues for farmers.

However, the growing issue of rodenticide resistance is one that many farmers may unknowingly be facing when it comes to controlling

these pests. Many rats are now resistant to baits containing rst- and second-generation anticoagulants, which feature difenacoum and bromadiolone as the active.

While these traditional baits should control non-resistant rodents, the growing populations of “superrats” will be una ected and will continue to reproduce, thus breeding

The soft block bait causes death from hypercalcaemia; the accumulation of too much calcium in the blood. This results in rodents stopping feeding, on both the bait and any available food on the farm, in as little as 24 hours after consuming a lethal dose. Thanks to these fast-acting results, any risks such as the spread of disease, damage to property, and additional bio-security contamination can be quickly minimised.

Cholecalciferol is not persistent in the environment. It is also ‘non-bioaccumulative’ and readily metabolised, meaning there is

To help raise awareness of rodenticide resistance and encourage best practice across UK farms, BASF has launched a new digital portal o ering farmers an interactive rodent control training programme.

The Real Results Virtual Farm CPD portal, which has been developed in partnership with experienced industry instructor and rodent infestation problem-solver, Oliver Madge, guides users through various modules exploring di erent areas of rodent control, before completing the CRRU-recognised exam for the Safe Use of Rodenticides.

Visit BASF’s Real Results Virtual Farm and begin the course at www. basf-ruralhygiene.com/rodent-course

To nd out more and become a certi ed Selontra user, visit www.training.selontra.com/ FG

Learn and network at FarmExpo

Farm Expo, a free-to-attend event for the farming community, will be returning to the Kent Showground on 1st March 2023 to showcase the nest calibre of machinery, goods and services from national and international suppliers.

More than 100 exhibitors are expected to attend the event to promote their latest goods and services, with live demonstrations and experts on hand to showcase some of the most innovative products currently on the market.

that organises the event, said: “Farmers have never before faced as many challenges as they do now, so it is more important than ever Farm Expo brings farmers the knowledge and innovation needed to help their businesses not just survive but thrive.

“With the range of exhibitors and other resources on o er, Farm Expo is an important date in the calendar for farmers to meet their peers and see developments in the industry.”

What is the Future Farming Resilience Fund?

The Future Farming Resilience Fund (FFRF) is a free service available to farmers in England. Funded by Defra, the aim of the programme is to help farmers understand how changes in the industry will a ect their businesses.

energy, carbon, biodiversity, business structure, landlord and tenant relationships, nance and succession.

The purpose of the scheme is to provide con rmation that a business is performing well and o er minor recommendations regarding how it operates.

Guest speakers will also join the event, taking part in our exclusive seminar, to share their successes (and failures), and give professional advice on farming and land related topics.

Julian Barnes, chairman of the Kent County Agricultural Society

Farm Expo is currently accepting trade stand applications, with inside and outside stands of varying sizes available to suit all businesses. To secure a great space, book by the end of December at www.kcas.org.uk/ farm-expo/ FG Kent County Agricultural Society farm-expo/ FG

Berrys is able to deliver this service in person on a one-to-one basis and offer recommendations for the future based on business performance.

The provision of this advice is particularly timely, not only because of reducing BPS payments and the uncertainty over how these will be replaced, but also because of global issues such as rising interest rates and inflation.

The advice provided is tailored to each individual business and might include matters of diversification, renewable

In a time of great uncertainty, an opportunity to undertake a thorough review of business performance at no cost is of great value to farmers. Any information provided to Berrys is treated in complete confidence and will not be used by Defra.

To find out more about the FFRF, and what services Berrys could offer you, please contact Will Davies (pictured) at Berrys directly or visit www.berrys.uk.com.

You can also complete a registration form at https://cutt.ly/ jMIiuRa FG

Attracting over 40,000 visitors each year, LAMMA o ers an invaluable opportunity for the farming industry to network, share knowledge, and do business. Over 700 exhibitors will showcase the latest machinery, technologies, services and tools in the agricultural space.

The show celebrated its 40th anniversary last year, proving

its value to both farmers and companies, big and small. Similar to previous years, visitors will see machinery launches, UK debuts, global brands alongside small manufacturers, o ering a fantastic range of products to suit every budget and interest.

What’s more, this year’s LAMMA show will also have a wide variety of

features for all to enjoy. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn about the future of agriculture by taking part in The Future Farming Trail, access support and advice at the Farm Safety and Security Zone, and collect CPD points from DairyPro and Basis on both days of the event.

In 2023, LAMMA will once again provide a platform for young engineers to showcase their talent and become more sustainable, e cient, and pro table by hosting the Young Engineer Awards. Last year’s winner, Stephen Davies, will be exhibiting at the show with his DTec 200 feeding and mixing bucket on display, serving as an inspiration for aspiring engineers.

The Innovation Awards will also return due to popular demand, celebrating innovation and advances in the farming industry and providing exposure to agricultural manufacturers.

An exciting feature of this year’s event will be LAMMA Torques, a chance to listen in on industry debates and speaker sessions discussing the latest developments and issues in farming. Topics will include regenerative agriculture, alternative fuels, silage

management, cost-saving sessions and the future of agricultural policy.

Those driving to the event can simply put B40 1NT in their sat nav and follow signs to the show from motorways and major routes. Once parked up, visitors can take a free shuttle bus to the show entrance or walk along the signposted footpaths. Those arriving by train or plane will also have access to direct services to the NEC all day.

Nichola Bell, head of events at Agriconnect, is looking forward to welcoming visitors to LAMMA once again: “With sustainability, production e ciency and food security at the top of the industry’s priority list, LAMMA is the perfect place for farmers and business owners to nd the right tools and strategies help them achieve their goals.”

As always, registration for the LAMMA show is free and tickets can be booked at lammashow.com FG

Keep Your Grain Cool & Dry

Technology to detect moisture in grain stores

The novelty in testing technology is the AW-Wert measurement system, AW-Control for short. The system allows not only temperature monitoring but also simultaneous control of the bearing via the AW value. The availability of water for physical, chemical, microbial and enzymatic processes is described by water activity, the AW value, and is of great importance for the shelf life of the grain.

The complete system is Plug n'Play i.e. You do not need electrical specialists for this. Simply plug in the required components, the measuring and control system is ready. You can monitor the warehouse from anywhere in the world via one device. Ventilation is fully automatic or, if desired, also manually. • No storage losses • Fans only run when needed

Working demos of innovative grain store ventilation control system at LAMMA

The AW Control System is an “important step forward” as, unlike other systems on the market, it measures the activity of water (aw) as well as temperature and humidity, says Steve Chapman of grain handling and conditioning specialist Agro Hanse UK, which distributes the system in the UK.

Alongside the rest of Agro Hanse’s grain handling and conditioning range of products, the Schmelzer AW system will be featured on the company’s exhibition unit at LAMMA 2023, where visitors will be able to see working demonstrations of the innovative grain conditioning control system.

The sensors are particularly sophisticated in detecting both temperature and moisture levels in grain stores and react rapidly in switching fans on and o , Mr Chapman says. There is demand in the industry for longer-term storage, and with the rise in grain prices, farmers can get much more value from the crop if they can keep it in a manageable state for longer, with minimal labour. Automated systems also mean farmers avoid frequent manual checks on the store.

Measuring water activity

Agro Hanse reckons most automatic grain store systems rely on the monitoring of ambient relative humidity and temperature uctuations in the grain but not moisture, which leaves time for problems to build up in the store – making them more di cult to reverse. Instead, the company says systems should measure the temperature, the water activity (aw) value and the intake air humidity of the fan, because temperature and aw value can be converted into an increase in grain moisture. Intake of ambient air with high relative humidity % must be prevented to avoid an increase in the aw value.

Monitoring the activity of water is an

important step forward for grain store control systems, Mr Chapman says. Aw is a measure of the available water in or around a material, e.g. a grain of wheat. The aw value is temperaturedependent so it’s important to remember that an increase in temperature also increases the mobility of water.

So how does this di er from the standard moisture content we usually refer to? It is not always widely known that two identical grains can have the same overall moisture content but can still have very di erent aw values. Virtually no damaging microorganisms will grow below an aw of 0.6, and typically the limit to aim for is 0.65.

How does the Schmelzer system work?

The Schmelzer Silo AW Control System, which includes sensor measuring rods, venting systems and fans, will only operate fans within pre-set parameters. The fans’ automatic controls ensure optimal conditioning of the grain or bulk material at all times, Agro Hanse says, which can lead to signi cant reductions in energy consumption. This means that if the pre-set aw value is exceeded, the assigned fans switch on during a set runtime, then there is a rest period to measure the aw value and the temperature. If the measured value is exceeded, ventilation continues again.

If the value falls below the measured value, those values are recorded every 15 minutes and sent to the server. It is reassuring to remember

that every single monitoring point is in constant contact with the individual fan controls, which leaves no margin for error. Because a single sensor can take multiple readings at one metre intervals, the system can highlight a problem whether near the surface or deep inside the store.

Ventilation is avoided:

• If the system is outside pre-set operating time

• If the set aw value is not reached

• If the fan is switched o manually

• If the ambient conditions do not allow ventilation (weather too humid or too warm). The Schmelzer AW Control System is available in the UK from Agro Hanse. To see a working demonstration and nd out more about Agro Hanse’s full range of grain conditioning products, visit the company’s stand at LAMMA.

Alternatively, Schmelzer o ers the facility to login to a test account where you can view an actual setup of the required components which are installed in one the Schmelzer’s testing facilities.

This sample setup can give a closer view of the advantages and simplicity of the online software without the need to create a live account and without the need to install hardware components on your site.

In addition to this facility, Steve Chapman of Agro Hanse, together with a technical representative from Schmelzer, can provide a demonstration which includes a fan with control box and sensors and shows the advantages and how the system works. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 8 Stand 8.730

Suzuki has been working with Datatag and tting its Cesar forensic marking system for over 10 years, but has recently bolstered its security o ering by partnering with Datatool to t a Thatcham-accredited tracking and immobiliser system as well.

The Datatool Stealth S5+ tracker

and immobiliser actively protect the ATV against unauthorised movement as well as providing hotwire/forced ignition protection. It has been developed for the harsh environments that ATVs must withstand. Waterproof with a builtin antenna, the Datatool Stealth

is a cutting-edge tracking device which bene ts from a UK-based 24/7/365 theft monitoring team and is 4G-enabled for superior tracking abilities as well as providing tow-away alerts and key cloning protection. In addition, the Datatool App enables customers to see the location of their ATV in real time, as well as journey history so you can see where the vehicle has been used, Suzuki explains.

Suzuki’s range currently comprises of three versatile models; the KingQuad 500 and 500XP as well as the KingQuad 750XP (XP denotes power steering). These robust utility ATVs are the culmination of years of re nement and their high levels of technical speci cation and ease of handling give riders con dence on any terrain, making them suitable for several applications including hill and lowland farming, estate management and use on equestrian properties, the company says.

Suzuki’s position as a leading supplier of ATVs to the UK

agricultural and land-management markets has been strengthened by the new security package and by the recent announcement that it is beating the supply-chain issues being experienced in other sectors, with a healthy stock holding that is ready and waiting for its network of dealers to access for con rmed customer orders.

Mark Beeley, head of ATV and marine for Suzuki GB, said: “We’re pleased to be able to include these security features within the cost of our ATVs. A Suzuki KingQuad is an invaluable asset to a wide variety of businesses, particularly in the agricultural industry, so we understand the need to protect them as much as possible. We hope customers will see the new tracker and immobiliser system as another added bene t and an additional reason to choose Suzuki.”

Customers can nd out more by seeing Suzuki at the LAMMA show on the 10th and 11th January at the NEC or visiting: www.atv.suzuki.co.uk FG LAMMA show: Hall 7 Stand 7.436

Join us at the LAMMA show! Hall 6 Stand 6.850

“ The Datatool App enables customers to see the location of their ATV in real time.

According to Campey, it is a widely compatible and practical user-friendly system, working in straight line or in curved modes, guiding machinery with precision (operating to within 2.5cm accuracy)

Trustworthy,

We’re

Every

– with multi-sensor integration to accommodate all eld shapes, sizes and operator working preferences.

The FJDynamics autosteering technology has an online coordination platform which helps with

decision-making by synchronising information to boost e ciency, yields and revenues.

Agriculture grassland specialists, Campey Agriculture, will also be displaying grassland rejuvenation solutions through a range of machines from Vredo overseeders and Evers Harrows.

All the machines play an essential role in reliable grassland rejuvenation, the company says. Vredo’s range of Agri Seeders have gained a reputation for 96% germination rates, with the Crop Drill System (CDS) given the Ivel Award and Silver Arable Innovation Award at LAMMA 2020.

The CDS enables the Vredo to sow arable crops directly on corn stubbles without any tillage at a 15cm row distance, extending the machine’s use, reducing establishment fuel costs and promoting soil health. The unit keeps its well-known features for grassland overseeding (7.5cm), making it the only machine that can overseed on grass and arable land, Campey claims.

Even with a healthy

establishment of grass, compaction through grazing and heavy machinery use can lead to ooding and weak, poor grass growth.

Campey Agriculture o ers Evers grassland maintenance products to combat this, including the GPG range of spring tine harrows. Evers front harrows are often used in combination with an overseeder. These harrows activate the soil, break up and disperse lumps of slurry and muck, and stimulate new grass growth providing a grassland weeding harrow, levelling, and harrowing in one pass.

The levelling bar of the frontharrow levels molehills. The intensive cultivation of the sward with the heavy-duty harrow tines, removing weeds, combing out dead grass, activating soil life, removing the thatch layer from the sward, enhancing the growth of the existing sward. And in combination with an overseeder, overseeding can be done in one go.

The Campey Agriculture team will be on the stand with these machines at LAMMA. For more information visit www.campeyagriculture.com FG LAMMA stand: Hall 6 Stand 6.500

Tyre brand returns to LAMMA after 2022 launch

Over the last two years, Ascenso Tyres has become the fastest growing brand in the o -road tyre industry, now producing over 380 sizes across ve segments, including agriculture, industrial and construction, material handling, earth mover and forestry. 2023 will see this growth continue with the introduction of new patterns and sizes, including a range of VF technology tyres, the

company con rms.

Ascenso Tyres was brought into the country by BA Bush & Son, and the brand now covers the whole of the UK, available as far north as the Shetland Islands all the way down to the South West, in Devon and Cornwall. Returning to LAMMA 2023 was a must, the company says, and the BA Bush and Ascenso Tyres UK team also recently had a stand at the Midlands

Machinery Show.

The BA Bush & Son team also recently travelled to India to visit the Ascenso team and tour the state-ofthe-art Ascenso manufacturing plant. The contingent met with the senior team at the plant in Panoli, Gujarat, as well as the head o ces in Mumbai.

The state-of-the-art facility in Panoli is spread over 127 acres and has a manufacturing capacity of

70,000Mt built in two phases. The Ascenso factory has an enormous stock of tyres ready to send with very short lead times as well as the best container ordering programme of any manufacturer, the company claims.

Ascenso is an o -highway tyre brand owned and promoted by Mahansaria Tyres Private Limited (MTPL). It is the third such venture by the renowned Mahansaria family. In their journey of more than three decades, they have built two leading OHT tyre brands with global footprints.

MTPL says it builds and bene ts from the experience, knowledge, and successful track record of the fatherson duo, Ashok Mahansaria and Yogesh Mahansaria, the promoters and owners of MTPL.

Ascenso has also won numerous environmental and quality awards, meeting the requirements for ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management Systems, ISO 14001:2015 –Environmental Management Systems, and ISO 45001:2018 – Occupational health and safety management systems; as well as Preliminary Edge Certi cates, for various blocks at its Panoli manufacturing plant. FG LAMMA stand: Hall 6 Stand 6.330

From simple Visser palletisers to the Symach’s “all singing, all dancing” alternatives and from the incredibly accurate Manter weigher baggers to the tough and reliable Sack Filling Company stitching line they will, along with expert back-up, help to keep your packhouse both profitable and fully operational. David Harrison Handling Solutions Ltd are proud to have possibly the UK’s largest stock of used and refurbished potato handling equipment.

Automation equipment manufacturer appoints new dealer

continually expanding into wider markets and continues to develop and provide a wide range of automated packing, sorting and palletising equipment.

from their Lincolnshire based depots.

In addition, Bradley Engineering will provide higher level manufacturer support to Burdens throughout the agreement.

Burdens Group and Bradley Engineering Ltd have struck a new dealership agreement which will see Burdens o ering the range of Bradley Engineering automation equipment for both handling, sorting and packing produce, and its agship range of Agristack robotic palletisers.

South Lincolnshire-based New Holland dealer Burdens Group is well known for its specialist vegetable machinery division which supplies and supports a range of specialist machinery for the fresh produce and vegetable markets.

Meanwhile, Bradley Engineering, based in Wisbech in North Cambridgeshire, is a manufacturer

of robotic agricultural automation equipment. Their machines service potato, fresh produce, and all manner of packhouses large and small at an a ordable and competitive price.

When asked to comment on the new dealership, the company’s managing director Richard Bradley said: “Bradley Engineering is

“When looking into such a big step as establishing dealerships, careful consideration must be made as to the type of company which we go into partnership with. Service certainly comes before sales with us, and Burdens Group re ects this with its history in the sector. “We are excited to work with Burdens and proud to announce them as a new dealer for our equipment. We will be working together to ensure the level of customer service and aftersales care which customers receive is maintained,” Mr Bradley explained.

Burdens Group will take on a full dealership of Bradley Engineering products, seeing them o ering full sales, service, and parts support to farmers nationwide.

The partnership between the two companies will see Burdens undertake, alongside Bradley Engineering technicians, the installation of the machines from the start and continue to provide aftersales care to customers

Adrian Harrison, head of the specialist vegetable machinery division at Burdens Group, said: “Burdens are excited to announce that we will be working with local manufacturer Bradley Engineering. Together we will o er cost e ective robot palletising solutions and associated equipment for our customers in the vegetable, salad and root crop sectors.

“This will be backed up by Burdens’ already excellent aftersales support. These new products will further strengthen our existing portfolio o ered throughout the UK and Ireland.”

The two companies will appear together on the Burdens Group stand at LAMMA 2023, showcasing both Burdens and Bradley Engineering products now available. Those interested are welcome to discuss their automation equipment requirements with company representatives. FG LAMMA stand: Hall 8 Stand 8.424

Research-backed establishment range displayed at LAMMA

British manufacturer Mzuri will be showcasing its single pass establishment range on its stand at LAMMA.

Visitors to the Mzuri stand will see not one, but two drill ranges on display including the agship Pro-Til and the newest addition to the range, the iPass. Whilst di erent in design, both ranges have been built on Mzuri’s core concept of balancing the commercial needs of an arable enterprise, with the necessary principles for good soil health and e cient crop establishment.

Data gathered through extensive British and global trials from the Mzuri Research and Technology Centre in Poland have found when compared to conventional establishment, Mzuri technology can achieve:

• Six-fold reduction in CO2 emissions

• Six-fold reduction in fuel consumption

• 30% greater water retention in the soil

• 15% more organic matter in soil within ve years

• 50% reduction in mineral fertilisation

• Eight-fold increase in the population of earthworms

• Four-fold increase in the number of soil microorganisms

• Two-fold cost reduction.

From rst development by farmer and engineer Martin Lole, Mzuri technology has been adopted across three continents where it delivers reliable, consistent seeding in a range of soil types and climates, the company says. The manufacturer attributes this far-reaching uptake to a series of innovative features of the Pro-Til and iPass that provide growers with a range of bene ts from commercial, operational, and environmental perspectives. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 19 Stand 19.360

Hydraulic products supplier boasts significant stock levels

Family-run manufacturing company

Burnett & Hillman will be exhibiting at the LAMMA show, to promote new products and easily accessible ways to order parts.

Established in 1965, the company now has over 60 permanent members of sta and operates from a custom-built facility, supplying a variety of hydraulic products to an international customer base.

In addition to approximately 8,500 parts listed in its online catalogue, it also produces a vast array of bespoke items made to speci c and exacting customer requirements.

The company says its original mantra was: “If we haven’t got it, we can’t sell it”, something it still holds to today with its impressive stock levels.

Burnett & Hillman supplies to all sectors of industry, with agriculture at its forefront. “We pride ourselves on our quality, stock holding and value for money

parts, along with an exceptional level of customer service,” the company says.

It is based 10 miles from the outskirts of Bristol, on the periphery of the village of Wrington, where it rst began making hydraulic adaptors. In recent years, Burnett & Hillman has exhibited in the UK and internationally to promote, not only its services, but Great British manufacturing. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 18 Stand 18.264

●

Header helps grass-growing enterprise get ahead

Harvesting grass grown for seed is now simpler and quicker for Rauceby Farms thanks to a new pick-up header tted to its Massey Ferguson combine harvester.

The company grows around 44.5ha of grass for seed on the 700ha it runs near Sleaford, Lincolnshire, and previously harvested the crop using a conventional header.

While that did an e ective job, it was slow and farm manager Richard Ward was worried that harvesting such a large volume of a green crop might be damaging the combine itself.

Grass is grown in two-year leys in the arable rotation, and normally harvested in mid-July, with the straw being swathed and baled as hay for the farm’s 1,000 ewes.

Previously the grass was harvested when still green, which set the combine harvester a severe test, says Richard: “We have grown grass for nearly a decade and had always direct combined it before. Progress was always slow because we were putting a green crop about three foot tall through the combine and had to work very slowly.

“It was a noisy process too, and I was constantly worried that it might

be doing damage to the internal workings of the combine itself.”

So he opted for an alternative system and settled on the PickUp header made by German manufacturer Ziegler, which is imported to the UK by Abrey Agricultural.

This uses nine collecting belts – each equipped with 36 pick-up springs/ ngers – to pick the crop o the ground cleanly and present it for threshing.

This year, for the rst time, the grass was mowed and left to wilt for four days, before being picked up with the header. The improvements were spectacular, Richard reckons: “In the past it might have taken seven or eight days to harvest the crop with the combine working at between 2–3kph in a standing crop, in which the stalks and stems were still green.

“This year, we had it done in around two and a half days working at up to 13kph in the swaths. The

combine itself didn’t have to work nearly as hard because the seed was much drier and much easier to thresh.

“Although that is turning what was a single job into two separate operations, both of them are much more e cient. And we have the additional bene t that our drying costs are much lower than previously.”

In this summer’s dry conditions, the

grass only stayed in the swath for two or three days, but Richard is con dent the system will work in a more conventional year when it might take longer to dry.

The header could be used on oilseed rape too, he suggests, if he decides to reinstate them to the rotation:

“Swathing could be an option for harvest, especially if restrictions are placed on the use of glyphosate for desiccating the crop.” FG

placed on the use of glyphosate for LAMMA stand: Hall 12 Stand 12.314

LAMMA stand: Hall 12 Stand 12.314

ZPU

PICK UP SYSTEM

Available in 3, 4, 5 and 6m working widths, this pick-up allows easy and efficient swath harvesting for crops including rapeseed, peas, beans, lentils and a wide range of similar crops. The collecting belts are hydraulically controlled and equipped with overload protection. Each belt section has 36 springs and all aspects of operation are easily controlled from the cab. The 61cm diameter collecting auger features multiple disc-clutch drive, and an optional upgrade is available for even smoother crop flow.

The covers have been ever more popular with more and more people coming back to add to their existing cover collection, we have also added many valuable new customers. Saving 10-15% of waste on an outside stack is ever more important with rising costs across the industry.

Here’s a bit of Festive Fun that could win you a ProStraw Systems black soft shell jacket. T-shirt and beanie hat. Look closely at both pictures to see if you can spot all ten di erences It might not be as easy as you think!

The Parkland Agro-Master range of three and ve bale Accumulators are perfectly tailored to get your harvest done. They o er the solution of controlled-tra c, reducing compaction, and halving the time it takes to collect your bales. We have both new and used Parkland Bale Accumulators in stock now Please contact us for more details

Paddy, Will and the ProStraw team look forward to seeing you on 10th & 11th January for LAMMA at the NEC in Birmingham

In the meantime, we hope you and your loved ones stay safe, and we would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful and Prosperous New Year

For a closer look at the two pictures and to enter the prize draw, go to our website www.prostrawsystems.co.uk

Submit your contact details together with the ten di erences you’ve spotted Competition closes on 1st February 2023

E iciency is key for maximising straw yield

What a di erence a year makes – from the longest harvest to the shortest, covering your product has never been so important, writes Will Reed of ProStraw Systems.

The ProStraw Systems straw stack cover has proven to be a great asset for people stacking straw outside. As the bales are not as tight as usual, we have found that the rain is having more impact and ingress into the bales, so getting them covered has been more important than ever before. We have had a fantastic number of new customers this year, as well as people buying more covers to go with their existing systems.

In East Anglia we have experienced the driest harvest since the 70s, with barely a drop of rain meaning we have been baling the driest straw we have ever seen.

The relentless hot weather – well into the 30s most days – meant that

we took the decision not to bale in the heat of the day and instead started in the early hours of the morning and nished by lunchtime. In this rare season we didn’t have to turn a single piece of straw, so our cost of production was as low as

we could get it.

The downside to all the dry weather was that the density of the bales was not as tight as we would have liked it to be – we have seen this across the board from every farmer and baling contractor.

Importing the Parkland bale accumulators has proven yet again to save massive amounts of time and extra cost. Coupled with the baler, this technology o ers the solution of controlled tra c, reducing soil compaction. The range of three and ve bale accumulators will help you save time, fuel and labour costs, as well as avoiding wear and tear on your valuable machinery by dropping the bales on the headland. We currently have new and used machines in stock ready for the 2023 season.

Come and see us at LAMMA for more information. Any questions you have, we will be able to help you, and you can see our products up close and personal. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 6 Stand 6.406

Heavy-duty trailer tyre launches with superior lifespan

Apollo Tyres is introducing a new Vredestein agricultural tyre developed speci cally for the heavy-duty trailer sector. The new Vredestein Endurion Trailer is a premium tyre solution that raises the bar in terms of robustness, comfort and tyre life, the company says.

The Endurion Trailer features a directional tread pattern design, with unique non-parallel curved blocks, that delivers superb selfcleaning properties. Furthermore, the large rubber contact area in the middle ensures excellent driving comfort and exceptionally long tyre life. The addition of a heavy-

duty carcass with steel belt and a reinforced ring guarantees extreme robustness, and outstanding stability during heavy duty transport.

The new Endurion Trailer will be available from January 2023 in the following popular sizes:

• 560/60 R 22.5 IMP TL 165D

• 600/55 R 26.5 IMP TL 169D

• 650/55 R 26.5 IMP TL 173D

• 600/60 R 30.5 IMP TL 173D.

The tyre will be available to see and discuss along with the full agricultural range of tyres at LAMMA 2023 on the Vredestein stand. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 6 Stand 6.520

Slurry solutions to appeal to a wide audience

Kaweco says it is very pleased to be able to exhibit at LAMMA again this year. The company is best known in the UK for its Xerion technology. The powerful Xerion in combination with a gooseneck, build-up or semitrailer tank is the perfect solution for many customers, Kaweco reckons. Besides this, more than 150 trailed slurry tankers are produced in the Netherlands every year. As such, Kaweco will be exhibiting a Xerion Saddle Trac and a Pro II.18 PTW trailed slurry tanker at LAMMA.

The Xerion Saddle Trac is equipped with a strong 462hp Mercedes engine. Because of the hydrostatic-mechanical drive, the machine has unprecedented pulling power, Kaweco says. The build-on tank is made entirely of epoxy resin and has a capacity of 16,000 litres.

900/60R42 tyres can be mounted on the Xerion Saddle Trac, which can be optionally equipped with a tyre in ation system. In addition, there is no track overlap due to the use of the Xerion’s Crab Steering mode. All this means that the soil is spared as much as possible.

The Pro II is equipped as standard as a simple machine but can be expanded to a richly equipped contractor tank by means of the extensive option package. For example, there is a lifting device available with a lifting capacity of 3,250kg. Various dosage options are also available for both vacuum and rotary lobe pumps. The Isobus control from Kaweco makes fully automatic dosing possible. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 12 Stand 12.220

Four new machines make LAMMA debut

Forage machinery specialist Krone will be showcasing its latest product developments at LAMMA 2023 –including the world’s widest front folding mower, a fully automated wrapper and its new 980 wide body BiG X forager.

wraps until the event.

To nd out more about the latest grassland machines and to see the new GX wagon, visit Krone at LAMMA, taking place on 10th and 11th January 2023 at the NEC in Birmingham. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 19 Stand 19.530 brand new GX wagon, a moving

Krone will also be launching the brand new GX wagon, a moving oor multipurpose agricultural trailer. It will be the rst time the machine has been seen in the UK, with the ner details being kept under

Jumbo loader wagon to launch at show

Pottinger is set to launch its new Jumbo 7000 at LAMMA 2023, a loader wagon that has been designed for maximum performance and e ciency, with all the core components to match a high hp tractor.

The company’s agship 7000 range consists of three models (without rear beaters) which boast DIN volumes of 40, 47 and 54m3. Protection up to a torque of 3,500Nm and a power limit of 500hp allow the loader wagon to deliver high throughput rates.

With its new drive concept, rotor and 48 knife chopping system, the Jumbo 700 loader wagon can achieve a theoretical chopped length of 34mm. In addition, the knife bank conveniently swings out from

under the wagon for easy access, and the central knife release system is operated using a control panel on the side.

Moreover, the patented, intelligent front panel enables a unique loading and unloading strategy to optimise the loading process. As a result, the Jumbo 7000 can always make optimum use of the space inside the loading chamber.

The Autocut knife sharpening system also enables the knives to be sharpened automatically on the loader wagon. Permanently sharp blades can reduce fuel consumption by up to 15%.

The machine will be displayed at the Pottinger LAMMA stand in January 2023. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 6 Stand 6.310

Visit us at LAMMA, Hall 6 / Stand 6.310

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The all-rounder in the Krone transport fleet which hauls all kinds of crop and cargo. Farming is about logistics and flexibility is key for the success of your business. As an all-round machine, the KRONE GX general purpose wagon ticks exactly this box. It was designed to a unique concept which allows you to haul nearly any type of agricultural cargo. The secret of the GX versatility lies in the ingenius design; the floor is a moving fabric floor which is linked to the headboard. For unloading the floor and headboard are pulled to the rear by hydraulic chains.

Brand new Ferrari product to launch at LAMMA 2023

Standen Imports is delighted to be launching a completely new Ferrari product for precision salad and vegetable establishment at LAMMA 2023. As well as the new product, the stand will include the rst Ferrari Futura 5 row 5 robot automatic module transplanter with 60cm row spacing as well as a Ferrari Futura Max planter, Fastblock block planter and a Remoweed Interrow and interplant weeder.

There will also be a comprehensive display of Forigo agricultural, horticultural and compact machinery including bedformers, stone buriers, power

harrows, rotovators and ail mowers. From Ortomec, there will be a 8300-160 self-propelled harvester head, and from ARC there will be manual and automatic bunching and labelling equipment on display.

In terms of the company’s own range of machinery, visitors to the stand will see the new Standen SR200 planter, as well as a two-bodied bedformer displaying a convex and a square body, which is perfect for light soils and leaves a square pro led bed – allowing an even feed to the destoner. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 8 Stand 9.230

Spreading straw: How to make cost savings

Since introducing Spread-a-Bale to bed up youngstock and dry cow housing, signi cant cost savings have been made to Dale Farming’s straw spreading operations across multiple sites, accommodating approximately 3,000 cows.

“We’ve been able to take ve tractors out of the system worth between £30,000 and £40,000 capital plus the saving per unit on running costs,” said Ed Dale of Dale Farming.

“Each tractor tied up a chopper blower which was slightly more di cult to use and operate, whereas Spread-a-Bale requires just one tractor or materials handler and is truly self-loading from the stack.

“Overall, I like the simplicity Spread-a-Bale has introduced to the straw spreading operation,“ Mr Dale added, saying they require very little maintenance.

“Consequently, Spread-a-Bale is quicker to operate; time savings amount to between 25% and 50%. Furthermore, there’s de nitely less dust, and when added together, the bene ts are making a contribution towards reducing each unit’s carbon footprint,” he concluded.

Neil Simcock (pictured), who

manages one of Dale Farming’s Shropshire based units with 460 cows, says his Spread-a-Bale is en route to pay for itself within two years. With the machine cutting straw costs by 30% last winter and signi cantly reducing labour time spent on bedding up youngstock, Mr Simcock claims it’s one of the best investments they ever made. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 20 Stand 20.390

The new HX series of tractors from South Korean manufacturer Kioti o ers a new e cient, comfortable and cost-e ective option for farmers looking to buy a tractor in the 90–140hp sector, the company says.

The Kioti HX is powered by a Kioti 3.8-litre 4-cylinder Stage 5 turbo charged engine. The series consists of three models: The HX9010, rated to 90hp; the HX1001, rated to

100hp; and the HX1201, rated to 115hp, all with an automatic ondemand PTO boost of 10hp.

Featuring a comfortable and luxurious cab, with fully adjustable

air suspension seat, LCD dashboard and ergonomic controls, a twostage mechanical transmission with a 4 x 4 powershift arrangement provides 32 forward and reverse gears, o ering a maximum speed of 40kph. The ‘E-shift’ allows gear changes on the move without using the clutch pedal.

With versatility in mind, the HX features a Cat 2 rear hitch with a 4.4t lift capacity, two rear double acting services and a rear PTO with 540, 540 ECO and 1,000rpm options, which can be engaged manually or via the automatic mode linked to the rear linkage. Operators wishing to increase the versatility of their HX can do so by fitting an optional front linkage and PTO or a front loader, operated by an integrated four-way control lever.

tractors in the compact tractor sector, we are excited about what performance, comfort and ease of operation the HX will o er farmers looking for a cost-e ective and practical 4-cylinder, circa 100hp tractor. Our ve-year, 3,000hr warranty provides certainty around cost of ownership.”

The popular K9 utility vehicle (UTV) from Kioti is now available with an optional factory t cabin. Speci cally designed for the K9, the fully enclosed cabin provides complete protection from the elements, whilst the air-conditioned cabin heating ensures the operator and passengers travel in comfort.

operator and passengers with a new CVT homologated road speed of 50kph and speed sensitive power steering.

In addition, the new K9 is also equipped with a new CVT transmission with a homologated road speed of 50kph and speed sensitive power steering.

the HX tractor series to

“The addition of the HX tractor series to the Kioti range, means we now o er a serious contender in the popular 90–140hp sector,” explains Patrick Desmond (pictured), general manager of Kioti UK. “Having spent the last 20 years establishing Kioti

Capable of carrying two passengers, in addition to the driver in the cabin, and a payload of 500kg on the large rear platform, the K9 is well suited to numerous tasks around the farm. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 12 Stand 12.420

Parts supplier’s 35th year celebrations extend to LAMMA 2023

with the Sumo GLS and grassland legs and is designed to deliver mediumdepth cultivation with minimal soil disturbance.

William believes the GLX o ers one of the lowest costs per acre available, primarily as it features extensive tungsten reinforcement on the leading edges, hard facing on the body and a redesigned wing to protect the xings.

2015: “Today, we o er more than 1,200 di erent wearing parts, spanning disc blades and press roll rings through to subsoiler parts and custom packers and everything in between.

“As well as the GLX, we’ve seen a considerable increase in orders for pins, bushes and axles,” William continues. “These parts are often damaged by excessive vibration, which can be caused by hard ground, just like we saw over the summer.

Agricast has announced that its 35th anniversary celebrations will continue until LAMMA, with the company planning to use the January event as a giant birthday party – inviting visitors to its stand for some very special deals.

The UK’s specialist supplier of replacement wearing parts turned 35 on 17th November. William Robinson, Agricast’s managing director, said he will delay price increases on the company’s GLX, LDX and STX points for

people ordering them at LAMMA.

Agricast’s GLX point was one of the company’s best-selling parts in 2022.

Introduced in December 2020, the GLX point is backwards compatible

Sales of the GLX point contributed to a very joyful 35th anniversary for the Agricast team, as the milestone coincided with the company reporting its best-ever quarter of trading, with sales in July, August and September being the same as all of 2017.

William said factors leading to the unprecedented demand for Agricast’s products include drought conditions, disruption in the production of large OEMs, rising fertiliser prices and the higher cost of living.

He added the company supplies over 200 tonnes of roll rings per year to customers, and has signi cantly increased its range of products since

“We’ve also seen a lot more orders for spares to t traditional large cultivators, which were needed to penetrate the elds this year and may have been in storage for ve or six years.

“The third growth area has been in our packer range, particularly our LCP-600, which keeps costs down by utilising recycled rings.

“We are very much looking forward to LAMMA and having all of our bestselling parts on show alongside some very special o ers for visitors.”

For more information about Agricast and its range of replacement wearing parts, visit www.agricast.net or visit its stand at LAMMA. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 20 Stand 20.328

‘Fantastic five’ tractors heading to LAMMA

The fantastic five comprises: the FT25G, the industry’s first all-electric compact tractor; the FT26, the brand’s best seller for a compact performance; the FT6050

and 6075E, two of its biggest hitters when it comes to productivity; and its small but mighty FT22.

comments: “This is the most comprehensive selection of tractors we’ve taken to LAMMA and the reason for that is visitors respond incredibly well to the Farmtrac range, quality and value and we want to give them a close-up look at what the brand has to offer. The show has become a key event in our calendar, so it was right to make LAMMA 2023 our biggest yet.”

Most people in the industry have heard of the all-electric FT25G by now, Reesink says – it’s gone from strength to strength since it launched at LAMMA a couple of years ago. It’s been praised for bringing zero emissions, minimal noise and vibration, high energy efficiency, and low operating and maintenance costs, to the UK’s farming sector. It’s acknowledged by electric vehicles and technology enthusiasts in the industry for demonstrating how businesses can benefit from greener technology without compromising on productivity.

Alongside the FT25G will be the FT26, with its universal appeal for those who need results in tight areas. The popularity of this model stems from its light and narrow body that effortlessly fits

in smaller indoor spaces, as well as its short turning radius which makes it highly manoeuvrable and opens the product up to multiple audiences – such as smallholdings, equestrian centres and growers. Plus, it has an impressive 750kg lift capacity at hitch point, Reesink continues.

The most compact in the range, the FT22, will also be making an appearance. It may be small, but it’s packed with performance possibilities, o ering great value and plenty of scope with a wide range of customers thanks to it being available with turf, agricultural and industrial tyre options.

Rounding out the crew will be the FT6050 and FT6075E utility tractors. Designed with next generation DPF technology, the largest models in Farmtrac’s utility range bring the utmost power from their eco-friendly engines with low emissions but much more fuel economy for cost-effective operation. And it doesn’t come at the expense of performance: with a 47hp and 75hp engine, respectively, both tractors offer best-in-class torque to carry out heavy work, Reesink reckons. FG LAMMA stand: Hall 18 Stand 18.630

New grain handling solutions on show for the first time

“Prior to harvest, information is entered into the app around the elds to be harvested. Once combining starts, before tipping grain, users simply open the app and input the eld the grain has come from, and Grain Balance does the rest,” sales director Andrew Head explained.

Latest developments to BDC System’s Moisture Monitoring System (MMS) (pictured) will be another rst for BDC at LAMMA ’23.

Automated packing solutions provider to make its debut at LAMMA

One of the UK’s specialist suppliers of robotic and automated packing solutions will make its debut at LAMMA ’23, showcasing its range of robot palletisers, weighers, sack placers, and stitchers.

that.”

At LAMMA ’23, BDC Systems Ltd will be demonstrating Grain Balance, a new post-harvest software application which runs on any smartphone, for the rst time in the UK.

Developed by Skandia Elevator, Grain Balance’s Grain App allows farmers to easily and accurately measure, in real time, the loads of grain arriving on farm to go into storage, the eld in which it was grown and the yield per hectare.

“We have now engineered our MMS so that not only does it monitor the moisture content (mc) of the crop going into and out of the drier, it now automatically controls the discharge rate of the drier should the mc fall below or rise above the prede ned levels, ensuring that the crop is discharged at a constant mc.

“The MMS’ ability to automatically control the drier means that the drier’s energye ciency is greatly improved. Energy is not wasted by over drying the crop,” continued Andrew. FG LAMMA stand: Hall 8 Stand 8.410

Pace Mechanical Handling has recently completed its 250th installation and has been appointed the sole UK and Eire importer, distributor and service partner to TMI sl. In light of these accomplishments, Pace’s director, Nick Cesare, thought now was the ideal time for the company to appear at LAMMA.

“Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in enquiries and orders from packers and growers looking to increase e ciencies and cope with labour shortages,” commented Nick.

“[...] we feel that our partnership with TMI takes us to another level, and we’re keen to really promote ourselves to growers and packers. LAMMA is the perfect place to start doing

Visitors to Pace’s stand at LAMMA will be able to nd out about TMI’s latest innovation, Ilerbox – a unique protection system for palletised products. Like all of Pace’s packing solutions, Ilerbox reduces the number of people required and lowers the number of costly pallet boxes used.

Pace’s solutions have proven popular with packhouses and vegetable growers, being faster and less expensive than traditional packing methods. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 8 Stand 8.952

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New trailer designs increase versatility

A trio of trailers o ering users the option to switch bodies to increase versatility and safety will be shown by HM Trailers at LAMMA 2023.

The Essex-based manufacturer will be displaying a pair of Hook-lift trailers, in HL-16 and HL-20 designs with the former sporting a new HalfPipe rock body, alongside a body prop version of its HM 1517 grain trailer.

The body prop on the HM 1517 grain trailer allows the body to be removed without the need to mechanically lift it o the chassis. A supporting leg on each corner allows the various hydraulics to be disconnected before the bare chassis can then be driven away and tted with other bodies, including a tanker, atbed, and rock unit. The changeover takes an hour to complete, with the added bene t of the body staying free of contamination and damage during storage.

Keeping speci c bodies for their designated jobs will increase longevity and as Grant Perry, owner of HM Trailers explains, this option may appeal to farmers over a Hook-

lift design.

“The body prop grain trailer allows farmers to run a high-spec trailer chassis with a removeable body, without the added weight of a Hook-lift design. We have seen that farmers want additional versatility from their trailers, but many don’t require regular changes to justify a Hook-lift model. This option allows grain units to be swapped after harvest, avoiding damage and contamination from winter jobs.”

The smaller of the two Hooklift models will display the HM19 Half-Pipe Rock body, aimed at users requiring a dedicated unit for carting bulky materials. The bene ts of the half pipe design include the selfcleaning nature, allowing all cargo to exit the trailer without becoming lodged in the front corners. The model on the stand will be a 15m3 design with a standard hydraulic tailgate.

Grant continues: “We had users asking us for a Half-Pipe body for

HM Trailers prop body.

Hook-lift rock body.

the Hook-lift chassis to cart rock, aggregates, soil, and other bulk materials. It is proving more versatile than the at-bottomed dump trailer option and is a cross over from commercial dump trailer and Hook-lift design.”

Farmers are interested in ways to make their investments go further and, along with being able to switch

between di erent bodies, from a safety aspect, it means maintaining only one set of wheels and brakes, the company said. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 19 Stand 19.260

Trencher provides “ideal farm drainage solution”

The AFT100 tractor-mounted agricultural drainage trencher is designed to create e cient land drainage, preventing the soil from becoming saturated.

This allows crops to ourish, obtaining the right level of moisture to encourage good root development and natural growth. Plus, the land always remains accessible for machines. AFT Trenchers reckons it is the most economical way to improve crop yield.

A tough trencher for tough digging conditions, the AFT100 is suitable for tractors from 90–150hp+, with either a creeper or hydrostatic gearbox.

It’s tted with an overhead hydraulic lift pipe reel carrier and

pipe chute. The trencher has been designed to stay within the width of the tractor and very close to the threepoint linkage, making road travel safe and easy. It can also be supplied with a complete and automatic laser system to ensure a perfect grade.

Due to its extensive utilisation by farmers and contractors across the globe, the AFT100 has been proven to work reliably in very harsh conditions, even coping with large stones without any di culties, AFT Trenchers says.

It will match the stability and performance of large self-propelled trenchers at a fraction of the cost, making it a very a ordable and valuable tool for farmers, the company adds. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 6 Stand 6.956

LAMMA visitors to see

low emission slurry application

Major Equipment (Intl) Ltd is returning to LAMMA with an exciting machinery line-up, including Cyclone agricultural mowers and its own low-emission slurry application systems. The Major 7.5m Dribble Bar and Trailing Shoe applicators feature a universal adaptor with adjustable height for maximum exibility and improved ow.

Major applicators are designed to accurately apply slurry to the soil surface while minimising nutrient loss and ammonia emissions. Both units have 30 outlets spaced 260mm apart for even and precise distribution of liquid material in long and short grass.

They are easily mounted onto the back door of a vacuum tank without welding or fabricating, making them ideal for retro-

system

tting, the company reckons. Brackets with settings in 60mm increments allow either unit to be set according to tanker height, making the system adaptable to any tanker make or model. They can also be used with the existing splash plate left in place.

Best in class components are used in the applicators’ construction. A Vogelsang ExaCut macerator is centred on both units to deliver optimal cutting results and eliminate blockages. Made of high-strength steel and galvanised, the spreaders are built for work in caustic environments. For safe and legal road use, a full lighting board is tted as standard. There is a double self-aligning pivot hinge with easy access grease point on each wing for increased durability. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 8 Stand 8.640

Global brand to launch new ATV at LAMMA

Following last year’s success, Kymco is excited to once again be attending LAMMA in 2023 with its core premium range of ATV products. Models like the MXU 700 ABS EPS and the MXU 550 EPS will be on display, as well as a brand-new ATV that will be released at the show.

Kymco is proud to showcase the rst look at the new MXU 465, the rst L7, road legal ATV from the company in the UK. The MXU 465 o ers the manoeuvrability of a MXU 300, combined with the power and capabilities of the MXU 550. The unit is expected to arrive on mainland UK in January 2023 and will be launched at Kymco dealers soon after the show.

Kymco is also excited to announce its new partnership with vehicle security company Datatool, which is now available on all the company’s

ATV products. With a 96% protection and recovery rate, Datatool o ers extra security and relief to Kymco customers.

Kymco is continuously looking to expand on its dealer network across the UK and Ireland and has franchise opportunities for dealers in the south of England, middle of Scotland and the whole of Ireland. Please visit the company's stand at LAMMA to discuss further details with national sales manager Neil Keeble. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 20 Stand 20.190

Innovative bale handler range comes to the UK market

The TR bale handler range was rst developed for Joe Moynihan’s own family farm, as they were having issues with bale damage when unloading. Having worked for agricultural contractors, then as a design engineer in Ireland and Australia, Joe designed and built the rst TR machine for the small dairy farm. Finding it worked well, he continued to make manufacturing improvements, before giving up full-time employment to start his own business, JM Agri Design, and selling the rst TR-3 single bale handlers in 2015. It was immediately very well received by local farmers and contractors and since then the company has made 2,500 units, sold predominantly in Ireland, and grown from a team of one to seven. The TR-4 single bale model and the “exceptionally fast” agship TR-8 double bale handler were later added to the range.

One of the main reasons for the company’s success, Joe believes, is its unique approach to bale handling.

Many of JM Agri’s customers swapped out their existing conventional bale handler for a TR because of its build quality, e ciency and user-friendly machines, Joe explained. Its contractor customers, for example, reported getting an average of 2–3 years out of conventional bale handlers before needing repairs or replacement.

The TR range can comfortably put through 100,000+ bales with no issues, compared to 20,000–30,000 with a conventional handler which was a “big winner” for a lot of the big contractors.

Depending on the model chosen, the TR range can improve e ciency by anything from 25% up to 115% on the agship TR-8 model, JM Agri Design reckons. A key bene t, according to Joe, is that the range uses a patented over-arm design which signi cantly reduces damage to the plastic wrap.

“The main cause of damage in conventional bale handling is when you put it into the stacks, you damage the bale beside it, and we were able to eliminate that,” Joe said. “Not only

that but our bale handling range can approach a round bale from any direction, whereas you’re restricted with other bale handlers as you can approach from one side only.”

In addition, the TR range can switch from handling round to square bales of any size without any adjustments.

The most common feedback the company hears from its Irish customers is that operators are impressed and surprised by the output. They can work faster with next to no damage to the bales – but are less fatigued at the end of the day. With tractors getting bigger, bonnets are getting longer, and visibility is reduced as a result; the fact that the TR has a central over-top arm means the main workings are directly down in front of the bonnet – so there’s less for the operator to watch.

“Overall, it makes a tedious job a lot more pleasurable,” Joe said. “Basically, it’s doing the job of two machines. It’s particularly popular with the bigger contractors with 2–3 balers in the eld. There’s generally a bottleneck in the

The agship TR-8 model can improve e ciency by 115%, JM Agri Design says.





The TR-3, designed for tractor loaders, features the patented over-arm design to minimise bale damage.

yard for stacking bales, but the TR-8 is a solution to all that; they can keep up with any number of bales coming in.”

Range heads to LAMMA

Whilst there are a few dozen TR machines already in the UK, JM Agri Design is o cially bringing the range to the UK market at LAMMA 2023. The move follows investment into its production facility and bringing robotic welding to the manufacturing process.

“We’re a young company but we’ve had high sales and success in a relatively short period, which is simply due to the products themselves,” Joe said.

The company is currently developing its network of UK dealers and expects to have around a dozen by silage season in April/May. In the meantime, you can purchase online from its UK-based website, which is set to go live in early January, and it can deliver anywhere in the UK through its courier network. Machines come with a full-year warranty and spare parts will be stocked in the UK for next day delivery – although the machines are straightforward and reliable, so wear and tear issues have been very seldom. Replacement parts are often due to operator damage, Joe said.

All three models in the range will be on show at the company’s stand at LAMMA, and the team will also be available to answer questions. FG LAMMA stand: Hall 9 Stand 9.346

New bale packing machine for 2023 season

Arcusin UK Ltd is o ering a new model Multipack machine for the 2023 season. The new Arcusin Multipack E14 conventional bale packing machine can be seen on the Arcusin stand at LAMMA 2023.

The new model o ers up to a maximum of ve bale pack securing twines, making it possible to use four packing twines to secure a bale pack with a bale length of just 80cm long. Other model improvements include a larger bale pushing at plate that operates with a square push to improve the control of bales entering the chamber. Once the bales have entered the bale pressing chamber, the new E14 model has improved bale pack compaction achieved by using

more compaction bars and more accurate rear door adjustment for both the top and the bottom doors.

The new model also o ers the option of producing smaller bale packs of 10 or 12 bale packs, with the use of a bale restriction frame that can be adjusted to suit all the pack sizes or removed to produce the standard 14 bale packs.

The machine now has an updated touchscreen control box with self-diagnostic software and data collection, which is all built into a new smaller control console that will appeal to the next generation of farmers and contractors, Arcusin says. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 20 Stand 20.530

Beet harvester proves a firm favourite in Yorkshire

The new harvester replaced a machine from another manufacturer for this season’s campaign. It was speci ed with a rollerbed primary cleaning system, which was rst introduced by Vervaet as an option for last season’s beet campaign, and has swiftly proven itself to be a rm favourite.

“We’ve been lifting sugar beet

since the late 70s,” explains Robert Todd. “We got our rst six-row tanker harvester in 2000, and I feel that the Vervaet has been the best tanker that we’ve had so far. Our customers are happier with this machine, and we’re getting more beet in the tank which at the end of the day is what they need.

“We chose the 625 because we’ve

known [J Riley sales manager] Matt Carse for a number of years, and trusted him, and we were looking for backup which we’d not had in the past,” says Robert. “I can honestly say that this is one of the kindest harvesters we’ve had on sugar beet. The shares have been able to work the beet out with their taproots. The

rollerbed, which is now hydraulically adjustable, evenly feeds the turbine, then six cleaning turbines behind that give plenty of cleaning but can also be run slowly, winding the beet through them and keeping the taproots intact.

“When conditions get more di cult you can speed up the rollerbed to remove more muck and give the turbines less to do, and I feel we’re getting more tap roots in the sample in the tank.”

He adds: “I’ve found the 625 very easy to operate, it’s so simple to drive. It has one of the best steering systems out of any machine we’ve had and stays on the row. We’ve had the best day with this machine that we’ve had so far, lifting 52 acres on a 14-hour day, so I’m really pleased with its output.

“The service from Rileys has been absolutely superb, and also from Vervaet themselves,” he concludes. “This backup is what you need, as you can have the best machine in the world but if you haven’t got the backup, there’s no point.”

J Riley Beet Harvesters will be exhibiting another model from the comprehensive Vervaet range, a fourwheel Q-616 equipped with turbines at the LAMMA 2023 event. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 12 Stand 12.566

New addition completes sprayer range

Precision farming and drift reduction are two important issues when it comes to sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural solutions. Leaders in tackling this challenge with innovative crop sprayers and cutting-edge technologies, Agrifac is introducing the nal piece of the Condor product range puzzle at LAMMA; the Condor Vanguard – “ready for the future and compliant with all European regulations”.

With a tank capacity of 6,000 litres and a driving speed of up to 50km/h, it gives the market exactly what it needs, Agrifac reckons. More high-quality yield is achieved more e ciently, due to the fast lling, fast cleaning technology and fast

folding booms. Like all self-propelled sprayers available from Agrifac, the Condor Vanguard is equipped with the most innovative and high-quality options, which takes it into the top level of precision farming and drift reduction, the company adds.

With a maximum vehicle width of 255cm and a tank capacity of 6,000 litres, the Vanguard completes the Condor range. It o ers stable boom and higher capacity as the basis for optimum coverage, minimal drift, variable spraying technology and ‘spot spraying’ at plant level. The Condor Vanguard can be used exibly thanks to a 75cm adjustable track width and is available in two variants of track widths: 180–300cm. FG LAMMA stand: Hall 9 Stand 9.250

“The future of application technologies”

The Hardi PulseSystem can minimise environmental impacts by eliminating drift and preventing under and over-dosing, Hardi says. It’s currently available on the conventional Delta Force boom on Aeon and Navigator, plus the Twin boom on Aeon, which Hardi says already has best-in-class drift reduction and penetration characteristics.

Alongside this, the Danish in-house manufactured pulsewidth modulation system, Hardi PulseSystem, is an essential step forward in controlling where pesticides are deposited, directly from the driver’s seat, Hardi reckons.

Combining two innovative driftreducing technologies, Hardi has developed an application solution with the potential to deliver spray directly into the crop where the

plant needs it, with the least amount of drift, improving e ciency and reducing costs.

By opening and closing the nozzles, PulseSystem can keep the nozzles open from 30–100% at the same pressure ow while ensuring the droplet size is una ected, regardless of working speeds. Drift is minimised while the ow rate is optimised, as the desired droplet size can be maintained throughout spraying operations.

PulseSystem works with a single nozzle on/o – at a width of 36m, control of all 72 nozzles at a single nozzle level. This can be done via a digital eld map and savings of up to 90% are possible.

Hardi Aeon and the PulseSystem demonstration unit will be at LAMMA 2023. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 9 Stand 9.250

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Increased functionality for remapping software

Avon Tuning Agri & Plant returns to LAMMA in January, moving to a bigger stand to showcase professional agricultural engine remapping and highlight the potential for new agents to join the network of authorised installers.

The Dimsport remapping equipment used and distributed by AT Agri & Plant now has increased functionality, allowing agents to remap virtually any tractor on the market via the OBD port, including the latest Tier 5 machines.

Gareth Jones, from AT Agri & Plant, says this improvement allows

more users to experience the bene ts of remapping: “The demand for increasing work e ciencies through remapping is growing and the new software allows the latest tractor models to be remapped for both power increases and fuel saving bene ts.

“We had a great rst appearance at LAMMA in May, and we have taken a bigger stand to showcase how accessible and safe remapping is to the agricultural market.”

Also on the company’s stand will be the Dimsport DF2TR workshopbased dyno, aimed at dealerships and engineers looking for a stationary dynamometer capable of testing tractors up to 330hp.

For those interested in becoming an AT Agri & Plant authorised agent, a fully kitted out service van will be on display to show the type of software required when installing new maps on farm. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 7 Stand 7.600

Storing water for next season

Briggs Irrigation will be exhibiting at LAMMA this coming January, o ering exible and e cient abstraction solutions to farmers who irrigate.

This year’s drought resulted in abstraction restrictions for farmers in a number of river catchments across Norfolk, Essex and Su olk. Soil moisture de cits continued long after the rain returned and by the beginning of November, East Anglia had seen just 52% (328mm) of its average annual rainfall.

With early November’s downpours making little di erence to ow rates in water courses, managing water storage – where it is available – has seldom looked more important for farmers who irrigate. Adequate pumping capacity is essential, as irrigation specialists Briggs Irrigation understand.

The company’s managing director Adrian Colwill said: “We don’t know how much rain will fall over

winter but we know that growers are keen to take advantage of every opportunity to store water when conditions allow.

“Our quiet and e cient dieselengined pumpsets provide exible abstraction wherever it is needed.

Together with our UK dealers we will do our best to provide customers with all the support they need over the winter months.”

For further information see www.briggsirrigation.co.uk FG LAMMA stand: Hall 6 Stand 6.720

Manufacturer introduces new additions to its product line-up

Cousins of Emneth will showcase updates to its current product range at LAMMA ’23, exhibiting machines  including the Patriot, Top Disc, Mounted Less Lift, Oil Drill and HZ Rolls.

The Crop Check now features replaceable blades, making this the ideal machine to roll, break and bruise cover crops ahead of the drill, Cousins says. Its Less Lift has been updated to include the trailed folding version, following on from the success of the mounted version. With a working depth of 8–12in with the step change leg, it aims to prove that sometimes less is more, with less disturbance, lift, mixing, moisture loss, fuel consumption and carbon release.

The Step Change Leg can also be retrotted to all existing Cousins V-Form Soil looseners, giving users more versatility.

Also on the stand will be the 12m HD HZ Rolls, including new updates.

O ering more additional weight per metre than any model in Cousins’ rolls range, they provide excellent ground following, a full range of ring options at 22, 24 and 26in, and a three-year ring and axle warranty, the company says.

“We strive to continually update our products to suit the ever-changing market and help farmers solve the problems they face in the eld, and look forward to welcoming customers old and new at the show,” director Laura Cousins comments. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 12 Stand 12.252

Company o ers “quality buildings at sensible prices”

Quality buildings at sensible prices are often hard to nd – largely because the two objectives are usually incompatible, says Browns of Wem.

For more than 75 years, the company has specialised in the design and construction of steeland timber-framed buildings which stand the test of time and work hard for their value.

Shropshire-based, familyowned company Browns has built a vast array of buildings ranging from small garden sheds to 5,000t grain stores. Browns buildings can be seen across the entire UK and Channel Islands – serving clients from all sectors of the agricultural, equestrian, commercial and leisure industries.

Commenting on what makes agricultural buildings work, director

we aim for.

“Our team of experts can advise on what suits your requirements and o er advice on design and materials accordingly. Whatever issues may arise, Browns can o er cost e ective solutions to ensure your building works hard for its money, in harmony with the landscape and the surrounding environment.”

Whether you are considering a new agricultural building, extending existing storage or simply a loose box or garden store, contact Browns of Wem directly or visit: www.brownsofwem.com FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 20 Stand 20.694

The power, the pressure…

Hugh Crane (Cleaning Equipment) Ltd is the manufacturer of the Commando range of independently powered pressure washers and jetting equipment and will be exhibiting again at LAMMA in 2023.

Commando machines are ideal where arduous duty cycles occur and reliability is important. They can be easily transported to virtually any terrain where power washing is required and have been built to comply with BS EN ISO 9001: 2015 standards.

The Commando range o ers a choice of petrol or diesel engine powered machines, as well as PTO driven or hydraulically powered units to suit individual applications. The range includes barrow, skid, trailer, vehicle and bowser mounted units, meaning there is always a package to

suit the customer’s individual needs.

The Honda petrol engine-powered range includes the 250P, 350P and 500P barrow mounted machines, with the 500 series o ering the option of electric start or auto intelligent engines for maximum fuel e ciency.

Whereas, the diesel range includes the Hatz single cylinder 500D and twin cylinder 1030U series machines and the Isuzu three-cylinder 3000 series. A wide choice of four-cylinder diesel engine units are available for larger applications, with pressures ranging from 200–500 Bar.

Commando machines are available to buy, lease or hire. For more information, contact the company directly or visit the team in Birmingham this January on their stand at LAMMA. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 12 Stand 12.516

A/C parts supplier covers over 100 ag brands

Stocking over 50,000 airconditioning parts that cover more than 100 agricultural machinery brands, AP Air is a leading supplier of A/C system spares and supplies in Europe.

Aligned with brands such as Denso, Sanden, SPAL, Bergstrom, RedDot and Burgaflex, AP Air provides a choice of quality OEM and aftermarket air-conditioning solutions on a next day delivery service to UK mainland.

The company, which was established in 2010, says its technical knowledge is second to none when it comes to identifying or finding alternative parts.

A one-stop-shop for service parts, tools and consumables, AP Air is also the UK and Ireland distributor for the Italian A/C charging station specialist, Oksys. With a three-year warranty* and installation provided as standard, AP Air’s Oksys machines are available for both R134a and R1234YF, whilst specs range from basic through to high performance, so all budgets and needs can be met.

A City & Guilds approved centre, AP Air provides in-house and on-site air-conditioning training courses. To discuss how a charging station could benefit your business, and to learn more about the company’s F-gas and technical training courses, visit AP Air at LAMMA or head online to www.apairltd.com FG LAMMA stand: Hall 7 Stand 7.624

*Subject to terms and conditions.

A committed partner to the ag sector

Major UK steel stockholder, Barrett Steel Limited, has over 150 years of heritage. Family-owned, the group is made up of 29 sites and holds over 120,000 tonnes of steel stock, making it capable of supplying a wide scope of agricultural projects across the UK.

Whether customers require lasered kit parts for trailer fabrication, or to fabricate an entire agricultural building, Barrett Steel says it has the steel to suit requirements. In addition to its stock and processed steel ranges it supplies a wide range of safety and access solutions such as crash barriers, grain meshes and handrail

and walkway options – perfect for creating mezzanines or step overs.

Barrett Steel says it is committed to providing innovative and exceptional service to the agricultural sector by continuously investing in the latest processing machinery and materials handling equipment.

Customer needs and community support are at the heart of everything, ensuring Barrett Steel is always your local steel stockholder, the company claims.

For more information about the company visit www.barrettsteel.com or visit the team at LAMMA. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 7 Stand 7.432

New ground engaging innovations for 2023

With over 30 years of development in ground engaging products, Bourgault Tillage Tools UK (BTT UK) says it is well placed to help UK manufacturers and farmers in their quest to deliver better and more cost-e ective cultivation and drilling machines.

Product versatility is the key to success in the UK, due to the small land mass with such varying soil types, topography and climate, and therefore not one product or system is ideal across the UK, BTT says.

New products on display on the BTT UK stand at LAMMA 2023 will give farmers and

manufacturers food for thought, the company promises.

Maxlife is a new, exciting addition to the range. The process infuses tungsten carbide chippings into a full range of ground engaging products to deliver economically up to six times longer wear rates. Part of the range on show includes the new Maxlife weldable wear strips, which are a cost-e ective way for farmers to deal with speci c wear problems.

The proven Bourgault VOS system has been widely used successfully in the UK on many Horsch Sprinter and CO machines for many years, the company adds. It is now pleased to announce that after ongoing eld trials this autumn, the VOS replaceable tip system will be available as a tine conversion for the Weaving Sabre Tine, Amazone Cayena and Kuhn Megant drills. FG LAMMA stand: Hall 6, stand 6.140

Innovative bale wrapping solutions at LAMMA

With more than 30 years’ experience in manufacturing premium silage lms, Coveris is presenting some di erent bale wrapping solutions at LAMMA ’23.

without adjustments, simpli es bale trading and e ectively protects bales from external factors, during a guaranteed one-year outdoor storage period.

protects bales from a guaranteed one-year Unterland R: more sustainable bale collected agricultural

reckons. It also o ers a double-

FarmFilm Performance: Known on the UK market for over 30 years, this product is now available under the Coveris brand. It has high puncture and tear resistance, and the multi-layered material o ers longstanding performance and crop protection in any weather, Coveris reckons. It also o ers a doublesided adhesion that ensures the tail stays intact on the bale.

Unterland Crystal: A transparent recyclable silage lm that maintains the same quality as standard-coloured lms. Switching from coloured to transparent lms can o er considerable savings in the recycling process, Coveris says. The lm ts on all wrapper types

roll. During testing by around the world – in

wrappers – it maintained the

Unterland R: Newly launched for more sustainable bale wrapping, it contains at least 30% recyclate from collected agricultural lms. Twenty litres of mineral oil can be saved per produced roll. During testing by trusted Coveris partners around the world – in di erent weather conditions, using various conventional wrappers – it maintained the exact same quality regardless of environment. UK farmers can reduce their carbon footprint by 23% by switching to Unterland R, Coveris claims.

The company’s UK Films Science Lab at Coveris Winsford also provides state-of-the-art technology and market-leading expertise. FG

Irrigation

and slurry specialist returns to LAMMA

Greencrop is the sole UK importer of Irrimec Hose Reels and Pumpsets. The company has o ered the Elite range of Irrimec Hose Reels since its launch in 2016. The Elite range was designed with the professional grower in mind, who demands reliable and easy to operate irrigation systems that require simple maintenance.

In early 2022, Greencrop also became the sole importer of Kemper GmnH maize headers and grass pickups for the UK and Ireland. Kemper is well known for its innovative solutions and superior quality. All machines are manufactured in Germany and Greencrop keeps a range of

headers in stock in the UK.

What’s more, the company also specialises in slurry handling solutions and is a distributor of the unique Sepcom Separator. It has a strong knowledgeable dealer network across the UK supplying AD plants for anaerobic digestion, farms and food waste.

Greencrop o ers a complete range of equipment to handle and process slurry, including pumps, pipework, and tankers. Its dribble bars and trailing shoes are manufactured to order here in the UK. The Greencrop team can mount any system to your existing tanker and o er a full range of umbilical solutions. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 6 Stand 6.840

FARMFILM PERFORMANCE

PERFECT FOR ROUND AND SQUARE BALE WRAPPING

Farmfilm Performance has remained a UK manufactured film. It is designed to work on all types of bale wrappers. The unique blend of Farmfilm Performance ensures a high puncture and tear resistance perfect for round and square bale wrapping.

LAMMA display reflects increased demand for triple auger mixers

Centre stage on the BvL stand at LAMMA in January will be a 33m3 V-Mix Plus 3S, re ecting a considerable increase in interest the company has seen for this size of diet feeder.

Over the past year, BvL has seen a marked increase in UK sales of its larger V-Mix Plus triple auger mixers, with over three times as many machines sold in 2022 than in the previous year.

This includes the recent order for the largest triple auger machine in the BvL range – the 46m3 V-Mix Plus – which will be one of the largest trailed diet feeders working on-farm in the UK.

“For consistent yield and milk quality you need a consistent ration mix. Cows don’t like change,” explains BvL specialist John Molton. “It is not uncommon to see a 17 or 20m3 diet feeder being replaced by a 30m3+ triple auger machine. Not only does it save a lot of time, but because they are perhaps only doing three mixes instead of six, overall ration consistency is improved considerably.”

He adds that operating cost for a triple auger machine will also be notably less than for a similarsized twin auger. “If, for instance, you compare a 32m3 twin auger machine with a similar-sized triple auger, because the hopper on the triple is lower and longer, it will be considerably easier to drive, so for the same size of machine you will use less fuel and it will not be as hard on the tractor,” says Mr Molton.

To reduce load on the tractor and make the V-Mix easier to drive, BvL o ers a Powershift gearbox which

incorporates a reduction gear with integral hydraulic clutch. This allows the V-Mix to be started in a low gear and for PTO speed to be increased under load up to full mixing speed, reducing strain on the complete drive train.

Also on display at LAMMA will be information on the Dairy Feeder Go app, which is a new entry-level version of the cloud-based BvL V-Connect Dairy Feeder system. The latter is an essential aid to ensuring feed consistency and will be free for customers ordering a new machine.

The cloud-based Dairy Feeder system makes it extremely easy to share and view ration mixes and herd information. The TMR mix can also be uploaded to the V-Mix diet feeder control terminal so that the ration can be accurately replicated mix after mix.

Meanwhile, the Dairy Feeder Go app is an easy way to get started with digital feed management. The app allows users to enter their animal groups, feed components, and rations upon registration and make changes to their data as needed.

When feeding is complete, the feeding accuracy of the load can be displayed in the form of a report. It is also possible to view and print the loading schedule to obtain an overview of the rations.

For more information, visit www.bvl-farmtechnology.com FG LAMMA stand: Hall 7 Stand 7.710

Innovation. Experience. Strength.

Our range of self-propelled and single, twin or triple auger trailed feeders with capacities from 5m3 up to 46m3, all available with a wide range of specications and options, makes BvL the ideal solution for all your livestock TMR needs.

Quality mixer ... Quality mix ...

Powerful mixing augers with adjustable knives ensure thorough mixing of all types of feed, including bales. Gentle mixing, consistent ration quality. The patented EDS discharge system provides an extremely consistent, uninterrupted loose ow of forage to both sides if necessary, even without the optional cross conveyors or elevators.

Quality assured ... The

New tine seed system makes LAMMA debut

For the rst time, Wox Agri Services will display the Greenmaster Tined Seed 300 at LAMMA 2023. “The next generation of grassland management machinery”, it has a patented seed tube tine delivery system, allowing optimum seed to soil contact, Wox says.

From 2.5m through to 6.0m, the machine was rst seen at Agritechnica 2020.

With the addition of the Quattro ripper board and the trailed Mayor or Master roller, the machine o ers broad acre farmers and contractors a sustainable way forward to maintain, improve and give full reseeding in both inverted and non-inverted situations, Wox reckons.

The well proven Supermaxx range has matured into a huge range of mounted and trailed machines from 3–12m, with options to facilitate all variations of tillage.

Meanwhile, Wox Agri Services’ range of drag hose equipment continues to expand with a series of updates and modi cations to the Walrus PTO driven pump.

Couplings and pipe management can never be far away from the applicator’s forethoughts. The range of metal 360 couplings and adapters, and many other products, will be on show at LAMMA.

Wox says it is looking forward to welcoming its visitors to its stand in January.

Visit Wox’s new website for more information: www.woxagriservices.co.uk FG LAMMA stand: Hall 9 Stand 9.430

Sprayer model and drain jetters on show at LAMMA

The GM-R Sprayers GX-Trail 3600 model comes with a 3,600-litre polypropylene tank with full agitation system. Chassis is a pickup hitch drawbar with auto steer axle by gyro, riding on air suspension.

As the stainless steel chemical hopper comes as standard with a big can wash (20 litres), with full internal washdown after use.

The triple fold boom on pantograph provides a compact unit with no overhang towards the tractor cab, and an approximately 2.5m transport width makes for a safe unit on the highway.

Using a Teejet Matrix 908 computer, all controls are on one screen. There are also hydraulics functions for boom and steering, 12 section auto section control by GPS and auto application.

Meanwhile, Mitchell-Rowlands has over 25 years’ experience working with its Dutch supplier

for Drainjetters.

The company says it has the knowledge to build Drainjetters to your requirements and after sales support.

From a standard 300m manual control through to 700m with full wireless control, the choice is yours, the company says. Some innovative features include programmable length of drains, "unbeatable" automatic repeat system (ARS) double telescopic arm for wide dykes and the latest search and locate blockage detector up to 4m depth. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 6 Stand 6.714

Embrace the benefits of low disturbance drilling

soil health, JJ Metcalfe & Son Ltd says it is here to help.

The company has expanded its range of 12mm direct drill points and 100mm winged points, which now come in three different lengths – 175mm, 200mm and 225mm. The 200 and 225mm points have been adapted to take two pieces of tungsten on the tip, preventing metal degradation and extending the life of the points.

The hard facing on the rear of

the 12mm points has also been extended to minimise tip wear, and the seed is placed at the bottom of the slot beneath the residues of the previous crop.

The system was originally designed to allow conversion of the Horsch CO and Sprinter series drills to a no till system, but JJ Metcalfe & Son has now adapted the range to convert other makes of drill such as Amazone Condor, Cayena, Weaving, Jockey, Seedhawk, Virkar and Ultima.

Development is continuously

underway to extend the range of conversion arms available to allow the conversion of other drilling systems in the future.

If you would like to discuss the benefits of low disturbance drilling, give the team a call or visit the company’s stand at LAMMA 2023.

to allow the conversion of drilling, give the at FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 18 Stand 18.636

Smarter tyre option for spring applications

G T Bunning and Sons will return to LAMMA showing a spreader equipped with a large diameter, narrow tyre aimed at farmers wanting to reduce crop damage when spring top dressing.

Bunning’s Lowlander 120 HY HBD features a set of Alliance 580/85 R42 IF tyres, o ering a longer tread pattern and bringing the machine’s overall width down to 2,820mm. This tyre option helps farmers retain the otation bene ts of IF tyres and is better suited to tramline widths when travelling through growing crops.

Ben Johnson, UK and Ireland sales manager for G T Bunning and Sons, says it will appeal for several reasons: “The 120 HY HBD model on the stand allows a 19.1cu m load due to the

built-in ared side extensions, but crucially features a shorter wheelbase than the bigger Lowlander 150 model, so it will lessen crop damage when turning on the headlands.”

Elsewhere on the stand is a Lowlander 120 HY TVA that features the recently redesigned large diameter bottom spreading blades for increased accuracy, and a 105 TVA will also be shown, aimed at smaller farms wishing to utilise their own manures.

“Demand for accurately applying organic manures continues to grow and our range of spreaders and technology can help to reduce input costs through precise spreading,” concludes Mr Johnson. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 6 Stand 6.730

The Plug&Cool team will be back at LAMMA 2023 with a few additions to their exhibition stand, including the all-new grain cooling fan with improved e ciency, which launched this year.

Plug&Cool product development engineers used their knowledge and experience to carefully test each model, measure the air ow, and look for ways to improve the fan’s energy e ciency. With rising energy prices on everyone’s mind,

Plug&Cool is extremely pleased to launch an upgraded cooling fan that it claims is the most energy-e cient, low-volume grain cooling fan on the UK market.

The fans are available in various sizes, ranging from the 130kW

Airspear to the 2.2kW grain store fan, which is the most powerful grain cooling fan available, the company says. Plug&Cool is so con dent in the quality of its fan products that its o ers a veyear manufacturer’s warranty as

standard, as well as an in-house repair service should any accidental damage occur.

Not only has the interior of the cooling fan been improved, but the outer casing and electric motor have also undergone an attractive makeover, with the Plug&Cool orange and grey being the new colours of choice. You’ll certainly be able to spot them in the grain pile, the company says.

Plug&Cool marketing manager, Rael Bearman comments: “The LAMMA show is a key event for us at Plug&Cool. It’s a fantastic opportunity to meet potential new customers as well as farmers who have used our products in the past. We listen to the needs of farmers and try to improve our products based on the feedback we receive. It’s also great to network with other exhibitors and our national distributors.”

Since its inception in 2017, Plug&Cool says it has grown year after year and is now the largest stockist of agricultural grain cooling fans in the UK. Its full range of products will be on show at LAMMA 2023. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 8 Stand 8.504

Austrian bale wrapper strives for perfection

Göweil is an Austrian company that has specialised in baling and wrapping technology since 1988. The company produces round balers and balerwrapper combination machines suitable for various crops such as grass silage, lucerne, maize silage, sugar beet pulp, and many more.

In addition, Göweil specialises in the production of round and square bale wrappers, bale handling and bale opening technology, knife sharpeners for agriculture, and high lift buckets. Göweil says its range o ers particularly robust and durable products, all of which are designed and manufactured by highly skilled sta using state of the art technology and equipment in two purpose-built factories in Upper Austria.

The company adds that it has long

been renowned for its development of individual bale wrapping technology, and many bales in the UK have been wrapped using the unique equipment from Austria.

The decades of experience building bale wrappers and silage balers gave Göweil the expertise to enter the round baler market in 2014 with the introduction of the G-1 F125 solo baler and the G-1 F125 Kombi baler-wrapper.

This ultra-e cient, high throughput baler-wrapper has been turning heads across the European continent and beyond since its introduction and is now doing the same in the UK, Göweil reckons.

Visit the Göweil stand at the LAMMA show in Birmingham to see the G-1 F125 Kombi. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 10 Stand 10.110

TAKING OFF IN THE UK

Compact tractors and

Iseki UK & Ireland will be exhibiting at LAMMA 2023, showcasing compact tractors from the TG, TLE and TH ranges alongside examples from its range of collecting mowers.

Compact in size but with all the accessories and speci cations of larger agricultural tractors, the 40 to 67hp Iseki TG tractors are ideal for easy access around farms where space is limited.

Features include a choice of three power shuttle transmissions: mechanical, HST or dual-clutch; as well as high-capacity linkages of up to 1,600kg, draft control, headland management, airconditioned easy access cab, rear services and joystick-controlled mid-mounted services as standard.

Meanwhile, the TLE tractors from the company’s premiumeconomy range are equipped with simpler controls and features but retain the same build quality and reliability, Iseki says.

Powered by either a 40hp or 55hp Iseki diesel engine, the tractors are available with HST or mechanical transmissions

mowers

on exhibit at LAMMA

and linkage capacities of up to 1,200kg. They’re suited to many tasks around farmyards, estates, stables and greenhouses.

Lastly, the TH tractors are available with either 35hp or 50hp Iseki engines and come with HST transmissions and a choice of ROPS or air-conditioned cabs. The linkages have a capacity of 1,200kg and rear services and joystick-controlled mid-mounted services (cab model) are standard.

To book a demonstration, contact your local dealer or visit www.iseki.co.uk FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 12 Stand 12.240

G-1 F125 Kombi // The Baler-Wrapper for True Professionals

Saveco Environmental is a member of the globally operating Wamgroup that has specialised in bulk materials handling since 1968. The company supplies state-of-the-art sludge, slurry and e uent pre-treatment solutions to customers across the UK and the Republic of Ireland for use in biogas plants, livestock farming, municipal and industrial wastewater sectors.

Saveco will be showcasing its agship Sepcom separators and green bedding machines at the LAMMA show alongside its local network dealer Mastek.

Delivering innovative, marketdriven and industrially manufactured products, Saveco says it has a proven track record of success.

The company aims to supply the most comprehensive range of equipment available, serving as a onestop solution for its customers and ensuring the highest possible quality product and service is provided at a fair price.

Meet Saveco’s sector sales specialists and see the separators in action at LAMMA in January 2023. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 6 Stand 6.910

New grassland combination set for launch

Bullock Tillage is launching a new “competitive and a ordable” 3m grass harrow, Grass Plus 3.0, at LAMMA. A complete solution to grassland maintenance, it can also sow cover crops and other small seeds, Bullock says.

An adjustable levelling plate at the front levels mole hills and residue. Behind the levelling board are three rows of adjustable 10mm thick tines for tine angle aggression, to create optimum seeding conditions.

The rear 450mm diameter prismatic roller is ideal for reconsolidation, and hydraulically

adjustable so tine depth can be altered on the move, Bullock says.

Grass Plus can be tted with a 200-litre airseeder which distributes seed to a full-width spreader plate positioned between rows two and three of the harrow, ensuring the seed is covered by the third row of tines and reconsolidated by the prismatic roller.

It comes with in-cab constant speed control box with push button adjustments for fan and rotor speed, along with a low-level sensor warning light.

The 200-litre hopper has an agitator in the base. A forward-facing clear plastic window at the front allows operators to observe the seed tank level. A complete set of sowing rotors for applying di erent types of seed come as standard. To provide on/o control for headland turns a top link sensor switch is wired into the control box system.

GPS control will be available as an option. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 6 Stand 6.822

New eco-baling solution is “first of its

kind”

UK manufacturer Tama says it o ers a rst-of-itskind ecologic solution for crop baling products. High performance netwrap Tama Cycle is the latest step in its ‘eco-baling revolution’, replacing virgin resources with recycled and reprocessed materials.

The company had previously produced premium netwrap with much longer rolls and using less plastic per bale compared to other brands in the market.

Tama Cycle Netwrap, which has a black and green zebra pattern, o ers “the ultimate baling experience”, according to Tama, with two major environmental bene ts:

It is manufactured using signi cant percentages of post-industrial waste

The product packaging includes 40% postconsumer, recycled material.

In addition, the core is made of recycled paper, and there is less plastic per bale giving a lighter net.

Tama UK is a manufacturer of twine, netwrap and stretchwrap with the main baling machinery manufacturers. This partnership provides a highquality range of products speci cally tailored to suit all crop baling equipment, the company reckons. Tama says it o ers unrivalled customer support, technical expertise and distribution excellence.

For more information visit: https://www.tama-uk.co.uk FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 12 Stand 12.322

World’s largest clear span grain silo erected

Sukup Manufacturing Co says it has designed and produced the world’s largest clear span grain storage silo – which was erected in 2021 and is located at Golden Grain Energy, Mason City, Iowa, USA. It has a diameter of 50.29m and is 47.24m tall to its peak, with a colossal total aerated storage capacity of 60,000 metric tonnes.

Sukup Europe’s UK sales manager, John Statt says: “Although this huge aeration silo far surpasses the grain storage requirements of your average UK farmer, it does illustrate the scale of the innovatively designed and engineered silo storage and drying

systems that we produce, along with, grain handling equipment and grain dryers to go with them.”

Sukup Europe will be exhibiting at LAMMA 2023, displaying its stirring, drying silo system which it says is one of the most cost e ective and e cient all-in-one grain drying and storage systems available. It has the added bene ts of low labour and energy requirements.

The Sukup drying silo display will be on the McArthur Agriculture stand with their team specialists on hand to discuss the bene ts of the system. FG

LAMMA stand: Sukup Hall 8 Stand 8.710; McArthur Hall 8 Stand 8.644

91235

Sukup Europe Ltd Unit 2C, Gunby Lea Farm, Grangewood, Netherseal, Swadlincote DE12 8BE www.sukup-eu.com

New H2O precision moisture sensor

The starting point to baling quality product is the new H2O precision moisture sensor, which provides the operator with accurate moisture data with no calibration required, according to Pro table Farming Company. Accuracy at +/- 1% is market leading, with a moisture reading range of 8–70%, the company adds.

The ‘plug and go’ wet bale marker sprays a red or blue food grade colour when the operator-de ned alarm point is reached, so bales that exceed the 15% moisture safe baling range can be easily identi ed and separated.

The third piece in the puzzle is the new, fully automatic application system, 7 series CropSaver, which is fully integrated with BigBaler. Utilising the baler onboard sensors in collaboration with CropSaver’s

precision sensors monitors the baler performance and crop changes –allowing preservative to be accurately applied as conditions change.

CropSaver preservative is safe for the baler at pH6.0 and provides market leading strength when compared to litres per tonne required, PFC reckons. CropSaver allows hay and straw to be baled safely up to 27% for the BigBaler and 30% for the round and conventional baler.

The new 7 Series is the “ultimate tool to assist your baling operation”. It o ers improved understanding of moisture in crops and allows users to manage high moisture bales with the wet bale marker – or for the “ultimate bale management”, using CropSaver acid with the automatic applicator. FG LAMMA stand: Hall 9 Stand 9.426

Sprayer manufacturer heads to LAMMA

British sprayer manufacturer Team Sprayers will be exhibiting at LAMMA with a selection of its trailed and mounted crop sprayers, including the Leader 4, Sigma and Alpha models.

The Leader 4 sprayer is part of Team’s trailed range and features boom widths from 24–36m and tank sizes of up to 5,000 litres. It features boom stabilisation and computerised boom switching, GPS and steering options, as well as electro-hydraulics enabling boom folding combinations.

The Leader 4 also incorporates a low-folding boom design which, along with the pro led tank, gives the sprayer a low centre of gravity and maximises machine stability both in the eld and on the road.

Whereas, the Sigma and Alpha are both mounted models. The Alpha range has been designed as a low cost, simple to use sprayer and comes in 600, 800 and 1,000-litre tank sizes and boom widths of up to 12m. The Sigma is a larger mounted model, available in tank sizes from 800–1,500 litres with a 12m rear folding boom in manual or 18m for the hydraulic version.

Team managing director Danny Hubbard said: “As with all our sprayers, these models have been designed to be robust yet simple to use, o ering years of strength and durability for farmers. We’re looking forward to exhibiting them at LAMMA.” FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 9 Stand 9.310

Servicing, spares and repairs on all oil-fired driers

Oil red grain drier specialist K&J Engineering was established in 1982 and o ers servicing, spares and repairs on all makes of oil- red driers, including Alvan Blanch, Allmet, Bentall, Carier, Farrell, Perry Tornum, Svegma, Wilder and many more.

The company’s large range of on-the-shelf stock is ready to be dispatched for self-assembly or alternatively it can supply and t.

K&J says its team of highly trained and quali ed NICEIC and Trading Standards approved engineers carry out nationwide servicing to keep your driers up and running in top condition, allowing you to rely on

it when you need it most. It o ers a 24-hour breakdown service during harvest and aims to have customers up and running within 24 hours, regardless of location.

The engineering design team are specialist in designing and manufacturing bespoke control panels to operate and run as per your individual speci cation, the company adds.

For more information or advice about any of K&J’s services, please do not hesitate to contact one of the team directly or visit www.kjengineering.com FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 9 Stand 9.406

Arian 2 Mounted Sprayer

The boom is very compact when folded away, which is great for us as we move around a lot between farms. It’s brilliant in the field and very easy to operate. I have been really pleased with it and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.

New trailed rake for central swath delivery

SIP is introducing its new Star 930I28 TC trailed rake for central swath delivery, which has a working width of up to 9.25m and capacity of 13ha/hr.

The robust external steering mechanism enables a turning angle of ±75.5 degrees for easy operation and perfect tractor tracking, SIP reckons. The drive system consists of a Y-drive that reduces the load on the PTO shaft.

The special 3D+ exible rotor mounting allows both rotors to move independently of the chassis, and,

in combination with the hydropneumatic suspension and triple walking tandem axis, provides 3D tracking on uneven surfaces and excellent ground adaptation as well as sequential rotor lift (take-o e ect).

On the basic model, the angle of partial lift of the rotors is also adjustable by +/- 10 degrees, allowing the machine to be adjusted according to the amount of forage or size of the swaths. The rotors’ parallel lift from a partial to an upright position ensures safer operation on

sloping terrain.

The new arch-shaped chassis design o ers more room for manoeuvring when passing over the swaths. The higher rear frame also ensures a quick and easy passage over the swaths when raking larger grass

mass and forming larger swaths. The machine o ers excellent price-quality ratio and is therefore the perfect solution for medium to large farms and contractors, SIP says. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 20 Stand 20.370

Drilling tools “speed up maintenance and repairs”

Holemaker Technology’s range of VersaDrive drilling tools, which will be showcased at LAMMA, speed up essential metalwork maintenance and emergency repair of agricultural machinery, the company says.

These double-hardened portable tools promise to work up to 15 times faster than traditional methods and are the rst range of portable cutting tools that can be used with Impact Wrenches for high performance. This exibility means it is easier to make repairs in remote locations and x equipment in the eld without the need for a costly trip to the workshop, Holemaker reckons.

The range includes many innovative products such as ImpactaTaps, which are widely used for cleaning and restoring damaged threads, and Impact Reamers, which are used to keep the job moving when a hole is undersized.

Holemaker Technology will also be demonstrating the UK-built range of

industrial magnetic-base drilling machines, which are custom designed for the quick-change Versadrive tooling to speed up metalworking.

Craig Hutchinson, the regional sales manager for Versadrive in Northern England, Scotland and Ireland said: “The Versadrive tooling is increasingly getting adopted in the agricultural market, due to the challenges of maintaining a wide range of equipment in di cult conditions. The speed has to be seen to be believed, so don’t miss our live demonstrations at the LAMMA show alongside the Milwaukee and Alan Wadkins Toolstore team.” FG LAMMA stand: Hall 18 Stand 18.524

Energy saving control systems showcased

Soaring energy prices and recordbreaking temperatures during the 2022 harvest forced farmers to spend more than ever on energy to cool and protect their crops.

Crop storage specialist Martin Lishman Ltd says it has devoted continuous research and development over many years into storage systems that make the postharvest stage as e cient as possible.

The company’s Barn Owl Wireless system will be on display at LAMMA. The system enables users to monitor crop store temperatures from anywhere in the world on any internet-enabled device, but it’s the system’s automatic fan control element that makes it very energy e cient.

Utilising Martin Lishman’s wireless fan controllers, almost

any cooling fan can be connected to the Barn Owl Wireless network and controlled automatically. In automatic mode, the system uses a choice of control programmes and only turns the fans on when it is most e cient to do so, which results in faster cooling and can save at least 40% on energy bills in the process, Martin Lishman says.

Managing director Joel Capper says the company has seen a signi cant increase in smaller scale farms now opting for a Barn Owl Wireless control system. “The modular design means the system can easily be tailored to any size store,” he says.

See the latest developments and discuss your storage requirements with the team at LAMMA. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 7 Stand 7.450

Rear discharge spreader range o ers a variety of benefits

Built to a high speci cation and large working loads, West rear discharge spreaders can achieve a spread width of up to 12m (40ft). The units are particularly suited for farmyard manure. With the optional hydraulic rear door, they can also be used with poultry muck and semi-solids.

The twin rear vertical rotating beaters operate at a powerful 400rpm from the PTO input drive of 1,000rpm. For trouble-free maintenance the rear beaters are tted with replaceable blades and feature a protected two-piece driveline with a PTO and slip clutch.

The rear discharge machines are tted with large diameter tyres to minimise any ground pressure and are fully equipped for road use with hydraulic brakes, a hand brake and lighting.

The wide mouthed design of the main body allows for easier loading when operating with modern telehandlers equipped with wider buckets. With the introduction of body extension boards this increases the operating capacity, which in turn alters the model number to re ect the increased capacity.

The M14–M18 models are supplied standard with a multi leaf sprung drawbar.

Additional options are available for these machines – electric in cab controls for the bed chains, mudguards and weighing systems are a few of the optional items.

Six di erent models are available in the West Maelstrom Rear Discharge line up ranging from 8–18m3. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 8 Stand 7.560

Upgraded Trinity six-row haulm topper to launch at LAMMA

The heavily revised Trinity 54B xed six row haulm topper will be released for the rst time at LAMMA 2023.

“We have spent a signi cant amount of time looking for improvements on our entry level topper [...],” said managing director Derek Scott.

“To help manage the load better, every e ort has been made to bring the mass of the topper as close to the linkage points as possible. A move to a monocoque style chassis design has been adopted with less box section material being used,” he continued, saying this both reduced overall weight and increased the rigidity of machine.

Mr Scott added: “The gearbox is now mounted centrally to reduce changeover time from front to rear mounting. This gearbox is now also available in standard form or with an optional [...] 150hp rated version for those customers

operating larger tractors in excess of 200hp.

“Improvements continue inside the hoods with a new de ector design which removes weight and better de ects debris into the valley bottoms. To further reduce the central ‘dead’ area where the rotors meet, a ‘T’ type blade has been developed to provide increased removel of haulm between the tractor wheels,” Mr Scott explained.

For more information, visit www.scottsuk.com or contact the company directly. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 8 Stand 8.900

New partnership broadens machinery company’s o ering

Mastek has formed a new partnership with the Italian group Wam, which means Mastek can now o er the full line-up of Sepcom and Chior separators, pumps, and mixers. Wam has a strong background in screw conveyors and has 20 manufacturing plants worldwide, Mastek says. The product line has grown substantially over the years to cover many industries, including concrete, wastewater, anaerobic digestion, food waste, abattoirs, sewage and agriculture.

Mastek says it has a wealth of knowledge in separator systems to suit farms from 100–1,500 cows plus, and with increasing pressure for farmers to store their slurry for longer winter periods, the volume

saved by a separator makes a lot of nancial sense.

Sepcom o ers a polymer modular auger for the standard unit, enabling operators to achieve greater durability and reduced maintenance costs, as sections of the auger can be replaced without a costly complete auger. The other brand under the Saveco umbrella is Chior, which brands Wam’s full line-up of long shaft and submersible pumps and submersible mixers to suit di erent applications on farms of all sizes.

If you are looking for any kind of pump, mixer or full separation system, the team at Mastek would be more than happy to assist. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 6 Stand 6.900

How renewable energy can help farmers control their costs

Farmers are continuing to face high energy costs, and while the Energy Bill Relief Scheme has provided some respite, many are looking to renewable energy as a means of cutting costs.

Large agricultural roof spaces are ideal locations for solar PV systems, and many farmers are already enjoying the following benefits:

Commercial returns – solar PV installations can be configured to deliver significant savings on energy bills, or to operate as an energy generation and export system as part of a diversified farming operation.

Affordability – solar panel costs have fallen by up to 60% since 2010, meaning payback times on some installations are now falling below just five years.

Reliability – accurate forecasts

of annual solar power generation now exist, allowing agricultural businesses to plan their energy generation and consumption and reduce their exposure to volatile electricity prices, especially when solar PV systems are combined with battery storage.

Speed of deployment –agricultural solar and battery storage projects can be delivered in less than 12 months from conception to completion.

Reduced environmental impact – solar power is zerocarbon at the point of use, allowing farm businesses to reduce their carbon emissions, improve the sustainability of their operations and help address climate change.

To learn more, speak to Caplor Energy, a farm-based renewable energy business, at LAMMA 2023. FG LAMMA stand: Hall 18 Stand 18.742

Expert knowledge of grain drying and storage

Thompson’s Engineering specialises in the design, supply and installation of grain drying and handling solutions, with a dependable team of installation and service engineers.

With expert knowledge of grain drying and storage from a fourth generation farming background, Thompson’s says it knows rsthand what it takes to make grain handling at harvest as e cient as possible. Projects range from intake pit replacement to full drying scheme design and installations.

Its service team is ready to look after any issue or breakdown at any time because, come harvest, time is money, the company says.

Thompson’s works across the UK agricultural and industrial sectors, providing customers with a transparent quote from the

right supplier for your needs. All installed to the highest standards and serviced regularly to maintain your system while making sure you achieve the best results, the company adds.

Thompson’s says its engineers are highly skilled, working within the guidelines of the company’s Safe Contractor Accredited status, so customers only receive dedicated professionals working in a safe and timely manner.

The company says its expertise in providing bespoke solutions is well renowned and it will support you and your business for years to come.

At LAMMA, the company will be showcasing a new product for the UK and examples of its successfully delivered projects. FG LAMMA stand: Hall 8 Stand 8.728

compromise on build strength and quality” for cultivation range

The 3m setup with high or low disturbance leg options on the Awemak Sherp are protected by sprung auto reset. The standard hydraulic 3-point linkage couples directly to the Ozyrus discs with minimal down time to separate and connect as required. Using hydraulic linkage allows ultimate precision adjustment to the depth control of both the Sherp disturbance legs and the 3m discs, UK distributor PFC reckons.

Ozyrus discs have as standard, two rows of 12 discs with 560mm diameter, active side screens, de ector board between the row of discs, straw tines, hydraulic depth control, LED lights and steel ring packer. Various rear rollers and packers are available with the option of doubling up to have a twin roller or packer.

The Sherp and Ozyrus combination provides e ortless working e ciency, PFC explains, as the operator can adjust the working depth of the two components on the go to suit ground

conditions and soil types. Being able to separate the two components allows more varied jobs to be carried out. Chitting grain after harvest is the main consideration and utilising the discs to work the top 1cm then reconnecting before drilling to work the ground prepares an ideal seed bed, PFC says.

On the PFC test farm, min till has been used successfully to replace the plough, dramatically reduce establishment cost and improve time management of continuous wheat. FG LAMMA stand: Hall 9 Stand 9.426

“No

Mobile grain driers added to range

Perry of Oakley Ltd is now an o cial distributor for the Agrex range of mobile driers, which spans from 5–55m3.

Models from 7.5–25 tonnes have the unique feature of an external auger, meaning access for servicing is easier, especially if there is a problem when the drier is full, and it is quicker to collapse down if moving the drier. With no centre auger, the heated air ow is more

uniform in the cone plenum. This increases performance and provides more uniform drying. In addition, no heat is transferred to the centre auger which means less fuel usage, Perry says.

The external auger also allows the drier to have an independent mixer in the bottom and a control slide to control the rate of grain mixing during the drier process. There are fewer motors which means more reliability and a smaller electrical requirement which can be a very important consideration for some farms, the company adds.

They feature semi-automatic or fully automatic control panels to allow unattended operation and remote connectivity via a mobile data network.

The mobile driers will be fully supported in the UK. Thorburn Group will handle all enquiries in Scotland and north of the M62, while Perrys will handle the rest of the UK, Wales and Ireland.

Contact Perrys directly for all handling, storage and drier requirements. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 8 Stand 8.720

The new Hi-Spec TS-R tanker is available in a range of capacities, from 2,000 up to 4,000 gallons. The tanker body is fully supported and is carried on a commercial tandemaxle, tted with 710/50-R26.5 tyres and semi-recessed mudguards.

The combination of narrower

width and lower rolling resistance tyres keeps soil compaction to a minimum. Moreover, the design o ers the bene ts of reduced overall width and height, making the TS-R a more nimble tanker ideal for use where operating space is restricted.

As per standard, the Hi-Spec TS-R is tted with a sprung drawbar featuring a swivel hitch. The barrel is made from 6mm British steel and incorporates internal ba es and anti-implosion rings. The TS-R is also equipped with a powerful Jurop pump and can be speci ed with a wide range of lling options.

Meanwhile, spreading options for the TS-R include the Hi-Spec Trailing Shoe applicator, which is available in working widths of 7.5, 9.0 and 10.5m. Alternatively, there is a 7.5m wide Hi-Spec Dribble Bar, which folds down to just 2.55m for transport.

In addition, on display will be a Hi-Spec SA-R (single axle recessed) tanker. Capacities on the six-model SA-R series are from 1,350 gallons up to 3,000 gallons. All SA-R models are tted with commercial brakes and the show model is on 750/60 R30.5 Alliance 181D tyres.

The tanker body is built from 6mm thick British steel, is tted with a Jurop vacuum pump and incorporates internal implosion rings. The show model will also be tted with a Vogelsang Blackbird trailing shoe applicator.

Also on the Hi-Spec stand will be the Hi-Spec Xcel 1250 rear discharge spreader. Unlike other rear discharge spreaders, the Xcel 1250 is unique in that it uses a combination of a shredding rotor tted with 22 heavy duty chains with 12mm Hardox ail heads.

These are mounted under a 4mm Hardox hood that shreds all the material to an even consistency, which is then spread by two spreading rotors. An adjustment plate on the shredding rotor hood evenly places the manure onto the spreading discs to ensure an even spread.

The Xcel 1250 has the capability to achieve an even spread pattern up to 24m. It has a capacity of 12 tonnes, typical discharge time of 3–5 minutes and is able to spread all types of material such as farmyard manure, sludge cake, muck lime, wood mulch and chicken compost. FG LAMMA stand: Hall 6 Stand 6.220

New vision for labour e iciencies

At LAMMA ’23, Tong Engineering is set to demonstrate its latest handling equipment advances that focus on overcoming post-harvest labour challenges.

The company says its FieldLoad PRO and Caretaker mobile graders have proved particularly popular again, with the latest automation tech and optical sorting options being key drivers for upgrades. Several Caretakers have been manufactured with integrated optical sorting facilities and this is now available on the latest models of the FieldLoad PRO.

2022 saw record sales of the FieldLoad PRO, which o ers a more streamlined post-harvest handling process, requiring fewer operators and no unnecessary carting of soil as all soil and debris is left in the eld, Tong says. The FieldLoad PRO

with Tong’s EasyClean separator is a particularly popular speci cation.

Tong’s 2022 optical sorting live event has shown the bene ts of integrating optical sorting for stone and debris removal. Sales director Charlie Rich says customers who speci ed machines with camerasorting facilities have seen signi cant cost and time savings due to a dramatically reduced reliance on the workforce. Yield also noticeably increased due to sorting consistency.

Tong will also showcase its range of vegetable washing solutions, alongside the latest models of its box and big bag handling equipment. This includes Tong’s MonstaFill box ller and the new JetFill big bag ller.

For more information: visit www.tongengineering.com FG LAMMA stand: Hall 19 Stand 19.220

Grain store dehumidifier o ers alternative to gas burners

With input costs rising faster than outputs, it’s more important than ever to investigate long term solutions when it comes to crop storage, especially when the equipment can last over 25 years, says Farm Electronics.

The company recently designed and installed its rst DryGrain De-humidi er for a 2,000-tonne grain store in Lincolnshire.

This o ers an alternative to using gas burners to achieve the correct temperature and humidity levels within the grain store, without the need for recurring LPG costs, the company says. While the de-humidi er unit will increase electricity usage, this can be reduced by using renewable energy on-site.

Engineering sales director, Alex Gadsby, explains: “The equipment works by taking the ambient air through the rst coil in the dehumidi er unit; this cools the air, freezing the moisture out and creating cold dry air. Then the air passes

through the second coil where it heats up the air, so you are left with warm, dry air that gets taken down the central duct by the axial or centrifugal fans and directed through the drying oor and the grain. Getting the properties of the air going through the grain at an optimum level means that run times for the equipment will decrease and you will achieve a more even drying rate through the store.”

For more information, contact Farm Electronics directly. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 8 Stand 8.134

‘Advantage’ concept continues to gain momentum

Joskin is continuing to strengthen its ‘Advantage’ series production concept, particularly with the regular addition of new ranges and models. It o ers all users the possibility of getting high-performance, superequipped equipment at the price of a standard product.

Launching the concept in January 2019, Joskin wanted to prove that it was possible to produce highquality, well-equipped machines at a ordable prices. Each Advantage machine is fully equipped and comes

at a low price, Joskin says.

To achieve this, the company relies on a manufacturing process with assembly lines, which was until then not used in the agricultural trailer industry. Advantage machines are assembled on dedicated assembly lines and manufactured in identical series, allowing Joskin to achieve economies of scale. In three years, more than 4,000 Advantage machines have left the Joskin factory.

The Advantage family is now growing with the series production

of new ranges and models. Joskin continues to expand its Advantage range with new references. A total of 10 models have been produced in Advantage version over the past months, from the Drakkar multipurpose trailer to the Volumetra slurry tanker, Tornado muck spreader, Trans-KTP construction tipping trailer, Trans-CAP agricultural tipping

trailer and Scari ex meadow aerator. The latest examples are the Wago bale trailers and the Ferti-Space2 muck spreaders.

For more information visit: https://my.joskin.com/sites/ advantage?#Home-show FG LAMMA stand: Hall 12 Stand 12.570

Sound advice is key for new buildings

Choosing a supplier and purchasing a steel-framed building is a big decision – but given the soaring costs of raw materials it has never been more important to get the best advice from your supplier, says Fowler & Gilbert Ltd.

The privately owned, independent company recently moved into a new, larger purposebuilt ve-acre production facility in Market Drayton, Shropshire. It aims to provide clients with highquality buildings at an a ordable cost, alongside second-to-none customer service.

It produces around 300 buildings a year for a range of agricultural, as well as equestrian and industrial purposes, delivering them nationwide. The company has completed projects from the top of the Scottish Highlands to Cornwall,

and from the Isle of Man to Norfolk.

The sales team will discuss requirements at length to ensure customers’ needs are met, while the drafting department is equipped with the latest Tekla software, allowing them to model any steel building. Meanwhile, the production team ensures work is organised and of the highest standard, using bespoke quality control measures for CE Mark compliance. The company also has its own in-house teams of steel erectors.

Together, the company says its hard-working team can deal with all aspects of designing, manufacturing, and erecting steel portal framed buildings.

For advice on new building projects contact the company or make an appointment. FG LAMMA stand: Hall 7 Stand 7.430

Crop baling products promoted at 2023 show

Major crop packaging manufacturer Cordex will attend LAMMA 2023, presenting its crop baling products: Baler Twine, Net wrap, Stretch lm and Sisal, referenced by more than 6,500 customers, across 60 countries.

Cordex says it brings the highest quality products to farmers and contractors, with competitive prices, and world-renowned customer service and back up. It says it understands the importance of talking to, and listening to farmers and contractors, which is why it continues to invest in LAMMA.

A continuous commitment to improving quality and creating new products in a sustainable production environment is resulting in growth that not even the pandemic has slowed down, Cordex reckons. One of the company’s bestsellers, ‘the Silage Kit’, is an innovative pallet consisting of a combination of Silacord (stretch lm) and Maxxnet (net wrap). Cordex

describes it as a simple, single pallet innovation delivering an all-product solution for silage or haylage in the most agile way possible.

Cordex’s range of products are referenced all over the world: Maxxcord (pink) twine is referenced in important markets such as the UK, France, Australia and North America. Premium net wrap brand Maxxnet has become a success in France and Australia and Silacord lm is a bestseller in Germany, Cordex says.

The company promises quality assured manufacturer expertise, knowledge and solutions direct to UK farmers and contractors. FG LAMMA stand: Hall 7

Stand 7.464

Eco drill range returns to LAMMA

Dale Drills will be showing its awardwinning Eco range of no-till drills at the LAMMA show. Launched just over 10 years ago at LAMMA and winning three awards including ‘Best New Product or Innovation’, the range has gone from strength to strength, the company says. Available in working widths from 3–13.5m, the Eco comes in four di erent layouts to suit di erent farm sizes.

for the Farm Equipment Technology Fund, making it even more popular with farmers on a budget.”

A 6m Eco M will be available to see at the LAMMA show. The drill is tted with 24 Eco-Drill assemblies, each tted with two 12mm wide, low disturbance, tungsten carbide tines, followed by a steel, self-cleaning, depth setting press wheel.

“Our most popular model is the Eco M,” explains company director, James Dale. “The M is our midsize o ering, available in widths from 3–8m and suitable for work in conventional, min till or direct seedbeds. The Eco range is eligible

Drilling assemblies are attached to the main chassis via a parallel linkage and are lifted and lowered via individual hydraulic cylinders, providing unrivalled depth control across the width of the drill, Dale Drills claims. FG

What if you could simply create the perfect seed bed?

down, Cordex reckons. bestsellers, ‘the Silage daledrills.com info@daledrills.com 01652 653 326 THE FUTURE OF EFFICIENT CROP ESTABLISHMENT

Matching products to farmers’ needs is key for machinery company

Garford Farm Machinery Ltd is a development, manufacturing and distribution company supplying high quality products to the UK and international agricultural market. Garford manufactures a range of robotic mechanical weed control products including Robocrop precision guided hoes, in-row weeders, baby leaf hoes, guided hooded sprayers, spot sprayers and side shifts.

The company was set up by the Garford family in 1986, and has since joined the Zurn Group,

to continue to provide advanced technology within hoeing for progressive farmers.

Specialising in row crop equipment, the company says it is recognised as a world leader for its range of products, which use cameras and image analysis software to locate the position of the crop and guide the tractor mounted equipment left and right to follow the crop row as necessary.

As well as servicing its customer base in the UK, the specialised Garford Farm Machinery products are sold worldwide. The company prides itself on listening to farmers and identifying their needs, then through the custom build manufacturing facility, providing unique equipment, speci c to its customers’ requirements.

If you would like more product information or to discuss e cient weed control, get in touch with the team directly. FG LAMMA stand:  Hall 19 Stand 19.466

The Hauer XB Bionic II – the only front loader featuring central lubrication –will go on show at LAMMA 2023.

For professional users and high-performance applications, Hauer o ers ex-factory automatic lubrication for all pivot points which are supplied by an autooperated piston pump on the front loader, saving time and lubricant. Other stand-out features of this second generation XB Bionic II are the styling, a reduced weight and excellent view to attachments, Hauer says.

XB Bionic stands for the patented

Hauer X-kinematics and integration of tipping cylinders, and mechanical parallel control elements inside the boom for full protection of all working elements and fast and easy cleaning.

Developed and manufactured in Austria and based on ve years of collective experience by the large number of Hauer service and premium partners, the wellproven loader is further optimised for professional use on 50–400hp tractors.

Hauer reduced the weight of the boom by using high-quality materials and signi cantly improved visibility to the quick-coupling carriage –excellent for compact tractors and lightweight highland tractors, the company reckons. The cross beam has been relocated to provide an excellent view of the pallet fork and a mid-mounted camera is available to ensure great visibility on high horsepower tractors, Hauer adds. Furthermore, boom-mounted LED lights illuminate dark areas.

For detailed information contact Hauer service partners or visit www.h .co.at/en/ FG LAMMA stand: Hall 19 Stand 19.630

“Ultimate superstar” among tined weeders

Einböck is expanding its weeding technology product programme with a newly developed precision tined weeder.

The Aerostar-Fusion demonstrates its advantages particularly in special crops such as vegetables and herbs, but also in hill-crops, says importer Terrington Machinery Ltd. The premium weeder scores with indirectly spring-loaded tines that can be set very easily and extremely precisely for sensitive operation. Furthermore, common eld crops such as maize, beets, soya, etc., can be weeded in extremely early stages of crop growth with excellent results, the company explains.

In all aspects, such as tine arrangement, adjustment and mounting, wheels, frame design, etc., the premium weeder is the ultimate superstar in the tined

weeder segment, Terrington reckons.

Just like its Aerostar siblings, the adjustment of aggressivity is done without bowden cables, making the ‘Fusion’ user-friendly and reliable. Working in higher crops (e.g. cereals, soy, maize etc) is no problem at all, says Terrington. The special frame design ensures smooth operation and durability at the same time. Extreme exibility is also provided by the individually placeable support wheels and the unique, adjustable frame.

The premium weeder is available for the coming season in a limited number of pre-series machines.

You can see the AerostarFusion at work on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3X909D5 FG LAMMA stand: Hall 19 Stand 19.240

Safe solutions to persistent dirt on roads

Persistent dirt such as solidi ed mud, grain, dirt or rubber marks can be a risk on public roads, as well as on construction sites, in gravel pits or biogas plants.

The bema scraper unit, by manufacturer bema GmbH, can easily scrape coarse and stubborn dirt o the roads to prevent road closures and even accidents, the company says. Using the machine in combination with the high-pressure water unit can achieve an even more thorough clean.

The Scraper unit can be installed on bema 75 Dual, bema 35 Dual and bema 30 Dual. It is mounted

instead of the collection hopper and controlled by hydraulic cylinders.

Meanwhile the water unit can be installed on the rear of the tractor. It has a 2,000-litre storage tank and pump with operating pressure of 120 bar/50 bar. The spray bar on the sweeper is equipped with up to 11 high pressure nozzles, depending on the width of the machine.

Contact Howard Marshall Engineering directly for more information, visit www. bemasweepers.co.uk, or visit the Howard Marshall stand at LAMMA. FG LAMMA stand: Hall 20 Stand 20.320

Looking back on a busy year

As Miles Drainage (20) Ltd looks forward to the LAMMA Show being back in its regular January slot, it re ects on what has been a very busy 2022 for the company.

Other than installing land drainage schemes, Miles Drainage has also been engaged as drainage consultants on a number of utility and cable projects for its own clients, contractors and energy companies.

As drainage projects can cause considerable disruption to farming operations, the company recommends remedial drainage advice to be considered as part of the preceding negotiations.

Miles Drainage provides a full design and installation service for all types of remedial drainage requirements and o ers extensive experience on major cross-country utility projects.

Remedial drainage is recommended for areas that are likely to contain existing land drains or drainage systems and/ or where the soil contains clay. The works will generally involve the installation of one to four land drains complete with permeable back ll, running parallel with the working strip boundary.

All proposed drainage works are permanent installations, except where the existing drainage scheme is regularly water jetted. In these cases, all drains are to be reinstated across the cable route.

In addition, Miles Drainage o ers installation and maintenance service for all types of farmland. For further information or advice, contact Miles Drainage (20) Ltd directly. FG

LAMMA stand: Hall 12 Stand 12.250

Five myths around biodiversity net gain

As biodiversity net gain (BNG) moves from being a buzzword to reality, Mark Russell, partner at Carter Jonas, thinks that there are several myths that should be busted early in the process.

Myth 1:Size matters – the larger the better. A larger site is likely to be more effective from an ecological and conservation point of view. In terms of commerciality, it may also be cheaper per unit to create and manage. However, a small site in the right place can work where a developer needs a particular habitat in a particular place, such as a small bit of wetland or a pond. In addition, as the industry around BNG gets organised there will be aggregators like Carter Jonas who can bring the benefits of scale (in terms of management and relationships with developers) to a number of smaller sites from different landowners.

Myth 2: Anyone can do it. Well, yes and no. Yes, if the site is in England and you have control of the site for 30 years from when the units are used, you can be part of the market. So a tenant can join in if

they have a long enough leasehold interest. However, given that we may be talking about landscape and land use changes that go well beyond the 30 years of the scheme, we suggest that you discuss this with your landlord rst. Even where there is a shorter-term lease in place ( ve-year FBT for example) you are not excluded, but a higher level of co-operation with your landlord will be required.

Myth 3:This will devalue my land. If you want to sell up, will it add or detract value? The answer might not be the one you think. The simple view is that land with a restriction and lower intensity agricultural use will be worth less than before. However, if one has created a guaranteed income stream for 30 years or via the landscape change uplifted the value of the whole farm, then the overall impact on your asset might be a positive one.

Myth 4: It will be viable anywhere. Probably not. As with anything to do with property we always need to go back to ‘location, location, location’. When dealing with BNG we need to add ‘condition, condition, condition’ into the mix. As BNG is linked to development, how far you are from a centre of development is also important (but do also see myth 5 below).

The Defra metric reduces the e ectiveness of a BNG unit the further it is away from the linked development. Currently there is debate as to where the boundary will be for the purposes of calculations should it be local authority boundaries, county area or landscape character areas (most likely to be a mixture of at least two of these) – we should know once the regulations are published.

Myth 5: It's all about BNG. No it's not and whilst BNG is grabbing the headlines because it is close to

having a framework against which value can be created, ESG and carbon should also be considered. These are not so location speci c and will provide a second- and third-income stream into a habitat bank.

In terms of the commercial relationships being created in this market, it is working exactly like the renewable energy market did 15–20 years ago. You are changing land use for a long period of time in return for an income stream (even where this is wrapped up in a lump sum). Fifteen to 20 years ago, we all thought that was complicated; now everyone can understand the process.

Just like the development or renewables land market, options will beused to secure land to build habitat banks with credits being marketed in advance to ease the up-front cost for developers and landowners alike.

The choices are the same as any other new farming enterprise – you can do it yourself and take on the risk (and reward) or rent out your land and let someone else take the risk, with a middle option in between.

One point that really needs to come across is that the payments made by a developer to a farmer/ landowner are not a capital receipt. They are a rolled up income stream that will be fed down to the land manager over the 30-year period. This takes some getting one’s head around, but essentially where 200 units are created and sold for say £4M, that is not a receipt that can simply be taken and rolled into buying the next 400 acres of land. It is a pot of money that will provide an income stream to the land manager for the next 30 years. It is a business model where the work required is paid for in advance – just don't forget you still need to deliver the contracted outcomes.

For more information, contact Mark Russell on mark.russell@ carterjonas.co.uk or 07967 555737. FG

Get ahead of the game and catch up on your mole ploughing

The leg creates an open slit, which allows circulating air to dry out the consolidated substrate and create an even longer lasting drain. The risk of debris and trash build-up is greatly reduced not only by the angle of the leading edge, but also by the large 560mm diameter serrated disc, which has ample clearance within the frame to prevent congesting and aid free rotation.

The UniMole is built with longevity in mind, extending both the lifespan of land drains and its components. These include the Hardox 450 full-length skid, leg and headstock pin inserts, which offer up to four times greater life expectancy than mild steel. The leg is also protected by a choice of

two sizes of shear link, which offers protection when using the UniMole in unfamiliar ground.

Both main pivots have greaseable sprung steel bushes with EN24 pins. The hard-wearing ceramic expander, which comes as standard, maintains its shape throughout wear by rotating freely on its axis, and it has a convenient stowing position when out of work.

The Ceres team believes the UniMole offers the best all-round performance, whether working on grassland, stubble, pre-worked or in-crop conditions. The product brings an over 100-year-old design up-to-date, making it suitable for efficient, modern farming and contracting applications. FG

After a long dry season when a lot of drainage was put o , catch up on your mole ploughing with the Ceres UniMole Mole Plough and save over 50% on headland turning time and disturbance compared to the out-dated trailed mole plough.

With ever-rising input costs, there is now a cost-effective mounted mole drainer that works, Ceres says. The Ceres UniMole brings you the best of both worlds, combining a traditional trailed beam mole drainer with the speed, manoeuvrability and convenience of a mounted machine.

The Ceres UniMole creates minimal surface disturbance with its unique hydraulic entry and withdrawal system, which allows its leg to run smoothly in and out of the ground. The hydraulic ram automatically extends and contracts, which reduces ground heave and lessens the pressure exerted on the tractor.

This mechanism prevents the unsightly exposed crater at the end of each run, which is normally associated with mole ploughing, making this machine perfect for zero till, minimum till and pastureland. To save time in the autumn, it can also be used in a juvenile crop in the early spring.

In addition, the Ceres UniMole’s wide beam creates a high pressure point over the foot and bullet to prevent premature lift and shatter and reduce ground disturbance, and to allow the ceramic expander to create an even force to consolidate the subsoil.

{farm sale}

Cheshire auction well-timed to miss the rain

The sale was on behalf of the executors of A & E Mitchell – deceased, and was at Mollards Farm, Gawsworth, near Maccles eld. Historically a dairy farm, in later years the enterprise had featured sheep and arable crops including root vegetables.

“Whittaker & Biggs had acted for the Mitchell family for quite a few years,” explained sale organiser and auctioneer George Pullin. “We had an interesting mix of lots to o er and a good number of people attended the sale day – most of whom were farmers, but there were also dealers from the area purchasing machinery for resale, and some of the lots sold to

equine establishments. Most buyers were local, but the slurry tanker went to a buyer from Wales and some of the lots went to Shropshire.”

Larger lots sold well

The auctioneers included George, as well as Whittaker & Biggs partners, John Wilson and John Robinson. “A few of the grassland machinery lots could have achieved higher prices in the spring due to seasonal demand,” continued George. “However, some of the bigger lots sold very well, and we were pleased with the overall result and so were the vendors. There was no shortage of bids, re ecting

demand for competitively priced, sound machinery and we look forward to similar dispersal sales in the spring.”

Di culties loading

Torrential rain showers blighted the lotting up day, but the sale day was dry while the bidding continued, then turned wet while the sold lots were being loaded. “Conditions were incredibly di cult, and we had to hire in a 360-degree tracked excavator for loading as anything else would have caused far too much damage to the sodden ground,” explained George. FG

With a C-pre x registration from 1985, this Land Rover 90 hard-top had recorded 52,535 miles and was described as a "perfect

project". Including two spare wheels, it sold for £11,600.

Skid-steer loaders are relatively rare at farm auctions, but this sale contained three – two of them were ‘included’ lots from local farms. The host farm’s Clark Bobcat 310 model, powered by a petrol engine, on good tyres and sold with a front bucket achieved a winning bid of £1,100 from a dealer.



One of the sale highlights was this very original Ransomes 801 combine with an 8ft cutting width. Dating from the mid 1960s, it had the series number 031473. It appeared in good order for its age and had been kept under cover. The winning bid was from a farmer who paid £1,200.

Auctioneer, John Wilson is surrounded by sale day visitors as he takes bids for the combine.

A Case Uni-loader which hadn’t been used for a while made £1,025 and was also bought by a dealer, and a Bobcat 443 with a bucket made £2,500.

The

Trailers on o er included this timber sided and oored Marshall. It made £750.

Auctioneer,

A LONG WAY TOGETHER

AGRIMAX V-FLECTO

No matter how challenging your needs, AGRIMAX V-FLECTO is your best ally when it comes to soil tillage and haulage applications. The tyre features excellent traction along with enhanced driving comfort both in the fields and on the road. With the exclusive VF technology, AGRIMAX V-FLECTO can carry very heavy loads with a lower inflating pressure even at high speeds providing reduced soil compaction, best self-cleaning properties as well as fuel economy.

AGRIMAX V-FLECTO is BKT’s response in terms of both technology and performance for highpower tractors.

Tel: +44 0151 728 4171 bkt_enquiries@kirkbytyres.co.uk www.kirkbytyres.co.uk

Transmission benefits highlighted at customer experience days

Tractor owners and users attended a series of driving experience days in early November at Claas UK to learn more about the CMatic in nitely variable transmission. David Williams was there.

The CMatic experience days started with a presentation about the company, and then attendees were given guided tours around the impressive Claas UK headquarters including the sales, service, parts and training facilities.

Then followed a brief presentation and walkaround explaining the design and operation of the Claas CMatic transmission. The afternoon session included six workstations providing opportunities to try Arion, Axion and Xerion tractors tted with CMatic transmission in a range of working situations at the Claas Experience Centre.

Each day was limited to just 12 attendees so that everybody had the opportunity to interact with the sales team and the tractors.

First CMatic experience days

“It was the rst time we have we have run this type of event and it has been extremely succesful,” stated Claas UK customer care coordinator, Emily Baylis. “We had a fantastic response to the CMatic mailshot sent out in July which initiated enquiries for the CMatic event, It was great to meet so many customers from across the UK and Ireland, learning more about their businesses and tractor requirements.”

CVT pioneer

Claas began its CVT transmission development in 1968, when it wanted a more exible drive system for combine harvesters. The HSG

project involved building a prototype high-horsepower tractor initially to test the transmission concept, and then development work continued with the intention of distributing a range of tractors in collaboration with Daimler-Benz. However, the project was shelved for several years until Claas continued its own highhorsepower tractor development, and the rst Xerion was launched in 1978.

In 2003, a majority share in Renault Agriculture was acquired and the Claas conventional tractor range evolved, including the largest Axion models which gained a CMatic transmission option in 2008. In 2013,

Claas began o ering its own EQ CMatic CVT transmission as an option for mid-size Arion 500/600-series tractors.

The current target is to produce 20,000 tractors at the Le Mans, France factory each year.

Successful event Claas UK tractor and materials handlers product manager, Michael Ives said that the CMatic experience days were a success. Michael continued: “Some had never tried our CMatic transmission or even owned a Claas tractor, so we were able to increase awareness of what we o er.

“The only disappointment was

the wet ground conditions which prevented eld work, but even so everyone spent a lot of time in the seats, allowing them to get to grips with the controls and debunk a few myths. Where there is an option, almost half of Claas tractor buyers already choose CMatic, but we expect its popularity to increase as the bene ts become more widely known.”

E cient, simple and reliable

At the event, Claas emphasised the e ciency, simplicity and reliability of the CMatic transmission. Michael

…from previous page

Ives said that although power losses are slightly lower in a mechanical powershift gearbox, the e ciency gains achieved by operating engines for more of the time within their most e cient speed range when a CVT transmission is used will more than compensate.

At working speeds between 5–20kph, Claas Axion 800- and 900-series tractors transmit a

Precise control

Henry Sammons is a tractor operator for Much Wenlock-based TR Craig & Sons. “I work on a mainly arable farm where we already use Claas tractors, including an Axion 830 and an Axion 870 – both with CMatic transmissions, as well as an Arion 650 with a Hexashift gearbox. Claas combines have been used for many years and we currently operate a Lexion 760,” he explained.

minimum of 83% of the drive mechanically through their four–range CMatic transmissions, and smaller Arion 500- and 600-series tractors with two mechanical speed ranges achieve at least 60% mechanical drive at the same speeds. Michael Ives said this means drive losses are extremely low.

Farmers Guide caught up with all 12 event participants at the Claas Experience Centre. FG

Bridgenorth mixed farm

Bridgenorth, Shropshire-based Rob Pugh from RH Pugh & Sons was at the event. The family farm is predominantly arable cropping, but there are also 200 beef cattle including a suckler herd, followers and calves which are bought in. A Lexion 760 combine is owned as well as Arion 650 and Axion 830 tractors and a Quadrant 2200 baler.

Rob said that Claas machinery is liked for its reliability, and back-up from the Morris Cor eld team is superb.

“The Hexashift transmission on our Arion tractor is good, but it can’t compete with the CMatic Axion,” he stressed. “We have a lot of steep banks, and the CMatic automatically adjusts the gear ratio and engine revs and power to maintain a constant travel speed, whereas the Hexashift limits us to the ratios available. The CVT transmission is ideal for drilling as we can slow down gently for the ins and outs and keep the drill’s air system running at a constant speed. With no xed gears it’s a big advantage.

“One of our objectives in attending the Claas day was to try the latest models, as our Arion 650 was bought in 2013 and will soon be replaced. We will de nitely have another tractor with CVT transmission, and it’s likely to be a Claas. We’ve had demonstrations of competitor brands, but Claas is right up there in terms of reliability and build quality, and the back-up from the Morris Cor eld team is always excellent.”

“Excellent experience of the combines led to us buying our rst Claas tractor – an Arion 640. The current Arion 650 does general farm work such as fertiliser applications and transport tasks, and the two Axions do the heavier work including most cultivations. The CMatic transmissions perform well and operate smoothly in the eld and on the road. In automatic mode the engine revs are maintained within the most e cient working range, making the most of the torque and reducing fuel consumption.

“Another big advantage of CMatic is when hitching up implements and trailers – just feathering the foot pedal allows extremely precise control.”

Henry said that when the Arion is replaced, he will recommend upgrading to a CMatic transmission. “I’ve used other brands and the Claas is much smoother, and the ride quality of all the Claas tractors is excellent. The opportunity to meet the tractor specialists and nd out more about these CVT transmissions was useful and I’m glad that I attended the day.”

Henry is pictured with Claas UK technical trainer for tractors, Tom Venni.

Has to be CVT

Mark

was

Morris Cor eld customer

open day. Trading

JM Gennard,

family has an arable farm producing cereals and owns a Lexion 570 combine, a new Scorpion 736 telehandler and a Quadrant 2200 baler. “We deal with Morris Cor eld for the after-sales service and because we get on well with Claas products,” Mark explained. “If we get a problem then we rely on ‘Geordie’ to come and x it.”

Mark said that an Arion 660 was trialled earlier this autumn, and he is keen to borrow the demonstrator again for spring drilling.

“It will have to be the CMatic, as we wouldn’t have anything other than a CVT now,” he stressed. “I also use the tractor to provide a contracting service for other farmers in the area which includes a lot of de-stoning, so the in nite speed control is ideal. I was impressed by the Claas premises and team at the experience day. There was an opportunity to provide feedback and the Claas representatives listened.

Latest in-cab terminals

Contractor Dave Lea (not pictured) of John Lea & Sons doesn’t use Claas tractors currently, but he commented that he is more likely to in future after attending the Claas event. The family business is based near Much Wenlock in Shropshire, and Claas machinery supplied and looked after by Morris Cor eld includes a Jaguar 970 forage harvester, two Lexion 760 combines and two sets of reverse-drive triple mowers plus two four-rotor rakes.

“We have dealt with Morris Cor eld for at least 40 years, and receive excellent service,” Dave explained. “We had a Claas tractor with CMatic transmission many years ago, but it was changed for another brand. Recent models feature many improvements, and, during the experience day, I was impressed by the Claas Easy precision farming systems and the latest in-cab terminals which are particularly user-friendly. Next time we have a tractor to update, Claas will be considered.”

Jockey

The Jockey tine seeder drill

4 rows of tines at 16,6 cm row spacing and 60 cm underbeam-clearance for perfect trash flow in min-till conditions.

2800 ltr seed hopper with radar-speedcontrolled metering for precise seed rates.

Only 140 hp needed to haul the 6 m working width using 5 ltr/ha fuel.

Front cross-board for best levelling on ploughed fields.

Unique Double-STS-roller gives targeted reconsolidation of the soil just where the seed sits.

Comfort important

A larger tractor of another brand is also operated and due for replacement, so Andrzej was keen to try the larger Axion models as a potential replacement. “We travel long distances between work areas, so comfort is very important,” he explained. “We tried other brands, but we really like the Arions and get on well with the Claas dealer, so we feel that a bigger

probably suit us well.”

User-friendly

Shropshire-based farmer Keith Cambidge runs a mixed farm with his brother. Trading as Trustees of TG Cambidge, the enterprise includes dairy cattle and arable crops. The machinery eet includes the farm’s second Scorpion telehandler, as well as an older Arion 640 and a new Arion 660 CMatic along with a competitor brand which spends most of its time powering a feeder wagon.

“We like Claas as the back-up is superb – not only from our local dealer, Morris Cor eld, but also from Claas UK,” said Keith. “I also drive a Claas combine for a local farmer, and the aftersales support is second to none.

“I came to the CMatic event to nd out more about these transmissions. Our Arion 660 is our rst tractor with CVT transmission, and it seemed a great opportunity to learn how to get the best from it. The latest controls are very similar to the combine in terms of the layout and operating logic, which is a help when getting into the combine at the start of harvest after a 10-month break as everything is quickly familiar.

“I also like being able to allocate the joystick buttons for di erent tasks. For power harrowing and drilling I need the same hydraulic spools, but I prefer to operate them using di erent joystick buttons. The Claas is very user-friendly.”

Keith said that he has visited the Claas Saxham site previously for combine operator courses. “It’s changed a lot and the new buildings are impressive.”

Claas eet

Trading as ER Goodwin & Sons, the Goodwin family has farmed and o ered a contracting service in the Malpas area since 1945. Now the business involves Clive Goodwin and his brother John, and Clive’s sons Lee – who is pictured at the Claas event – and Richard who manages a local beef herd and works on the family farm.

A large machinery eet includes two Jaguar forage harvesters, Lexion and Dominator combines, three Liner rakes, Disco mowers and Quadrant square balers. “We had one of the rst self-propelled Jaguars and have always used Claas combines. Nothing compares to Claas,” Lee said.

There are no Claas tractors on the eet currently. “We had an Arion 650 several years ago but replaced it with another brand. However, Claas tractors have come a long way in recent years so now we are considering an Arion 660 and are also likely to purchase an Axion.

“I learned a lot from the day spent at Claas and it persuaded me that the CMatic transmission is the one to choose. It’s easy and comfortable to use and very simple. We use GPS guidance, and the opportunity to nd out and try the Claas Easy precision farming systems was useful too.”

Lee said that it was his rst visit to Saxham since the new buildings were completed. “The facilities are mindblowing, such an improvement,” he commented.

Back-up from dealer

UK

Ives. Jack attended the event as he is looking for a main tractor

his family’s mixed farming enterprise. Applications will include manure spreading, drilling and fertiliser applications. “We had an Arion 650 with a Hexashift transmission on demonstration from our local dealer, Morris Cor eld,” he explained. “We use a competitor-brand tractor currently, but the back-up from our Claas dealer is very good so we were keen to try the Claas.

“The CMatic event was useful. I have driven other tractors with CVT transmission in the past, but the Claas system is very easy to use. Having found out more about the advantages, including the ability to maintain constant engine and PTO speeds for tasks such as drilling while being able to in nitely vary the forward speed, I will certainly opt for the CMatic transmission if we buy a Claas.”

Prefer Claas

Edward Owens of FJ Owens & Co said he bene tted from attending the event. The Owens family farm is at Welshpool and the main enterprise is livestock and a contracting service is o ered using the farm’s tractors.

“We use Claas already and rely on Morris Cor eld,” Edward explained. “Our current eet includes an Axion 830 on a 67-plate, plus a new Arion 470 which was the rst of its type in the country and we have a Renault, too.”

The farm’s Axion is due for replacement, and it will be replaced by a newer version of the same model.

“We receive excellent back-up from the Morris Cor eld team, so although in the past I often considered di erent tractor brands, we stuck with Claas for the service. However, the more recent Claas models are excellent, and I don’t think there is any other brand I would prefer now. They are comfortable and have the best cab and axle suspension of any I’ve tried. If our new Arion 470 had been available with CMatic transmission then we would have speci ed it, as there are many bene ts including simpler operation and increased working e ciency.

“The day at Claas was very useful and I enjoyed meeting the team.”

Con dent in CMatic

Southwell, Nottingham-based farmer Ed Hammond attended the day with the farm’s machinery operator Phil Hurt. Trading as John Hammond & Co, the family farm is mainly cereals with additional crops including sugar beet and potatoes. “We already deal with Claas Eastern at the Markham Moor depot and are impressed by the support we receive for our Lexion combine. We take advantage of the service packages which are very coste ective, and so we are looking at buying Claas tractors too,” Ed explained. “Our main tractor is due for replacement next year, and as part of our move to regenerative farming techniques including reduced cultivations and soil disturbance, we think that an Axion Terra-Trac would o er signi cant advantages for eld work and drilling.

“We are establishing more cover crops and use a direct drill, but we also need a tractor capable of primary cultivations to prepare ground for potatoes. We borrowed a demonstration Axion a few years ago but didn’t buy one at the time, and the latest models feature signi cant improvements. The new display terminals are logical and user-friendly, and Phil and I agreed that the ability to operate them through the touchscreen or manual controls is an advantage.”

The opportunity to nd out about the CMatic transmission from product specialists was considered particularly valuable. “They explained it clearly so that we now know how it works, and understand its capabilities as well as its limitations,” he said. “Having been stung by expensive gearbox repairs on other brand tractors in the past, I’m con dent that whatever else might fail during the rst 20,000 hours worked by a Claas tractor, it won’t be the CMatic transmission.”

Ed said that seeing around the new Claas buildings has given him even more con dence in the brand. “Claas and its dealers conduct themselves well, and this sort of well-organised day is a much better use of our time than attending shows. It was personal and gave us exactly what we needed, rather than just looking at static machines on a stand.”

Great dealer team

Contractor, Chris Vallone is based at Much Wenlock in Shropshire. He has a self-propelled sprayer and o ers a general contracting service using his own tractor.

“I get on well with the Morris Cor eld team, but don’t run a Claas tractor currently,” he said. “But I was impressed after trying the di erent models for the afternoon. They are user-friendly and comfortable, and the Claas Saxham premises is unbelievable.

“If I change to a Claas tractor, then I have no worries regarding the back-up that will be available from Claas and my local dealer.”

New mobile app launch planned for popular land management tool

Land App, which helps farmers improve the pro tability of their land, is launching a new mobile app in 2023, which will serve as an on-the-ground companion to its popular web application. Users can gain early access to the app and a enjoy range of bene ts by joining as a beta user.

Land App, which now has nearly 13,000 users, allows farmers, and anyone involved in land management, to map their baseline holding and create a ‘digital twin’ of their land. You can also plan future scenarios to make an informed choice on the best way forward for your business, and collaborate with neighbours and other relevant parties.

The new mobile version will build on this by allowing farmers to access Land App while out in the eld, from any Android or iOS device (mobile or tablet).

The mobile app allows users to quickly locate their work, accurately measure and monitor their progress and seamlessly share information with their team. Land App says it’s useful for everything from habitat surveys to stewardship reporting, giving users the ease, exibility, and reliability that they need in order to capture information about land, property and nature in the real world.

Users can access their desktop maps out in the eld and nd their location by searching OS or what3words. It’s possible to measure length and

quickly calculate areas and snap to their GPS location. Furthermore, you can take photos on the ground, upload photos from your device and sync photos to your desktop. You can also share photo location details, link photos to your plans and collaborate with your team.

It’s available to users of Land App’s professional subscription, on all Android and iOS devices.

Land App is in the nal stages of the mobile app’s development and will make the rst version exclusively available to beta users in 2023.

Beta users will have the following bene ts:

• A discount for the rst three months after the app o cially launches (should you choose to install it upon release)

• A chance to take advantage of Land App Mobile months before everyone else

• An opportunity to take part in shaping the app’s current and future development

• Regular updates on the app’s progress and

roadmap. To join the Beta testing group, visit: https://share. hsforms.com/1Rx7sCVo5Sx WbPmxEAXDvNgboock. If you have any questions about Land App Mobile, please email support@thelandapp.com FG

YOUR LAND

make the Land App as accessible as possible, for as many people as possible. For this reason, the Land App is free for everyone to

Our

New finance options for commercial needs

TNS Finance has, for many years, o ered funding for predominantly agriculture equipment bought from their depots, and been very successful in o ering its customers a one-stop nance solution.

In an ever-changing commercial market, the company recognises that its customers buy a broad range of assets from di erent suppliers, yet still could be looking to nance these acquisitions.

Woods Asset Finance is now able to provide funding for a wide range of commercial assets (excluding cars) regardless of supplier. Both new and used assets can be funded.

In addition to agricultural equipment, other industry sectors eligible for funding include transportation (HGVs, buses & coaches and trailers), construction, plant hire equipment and associated machinery. Buildings can also be considered for nance on a case-bycase basis.

TNS Finance has access to well established credible funders, who can o er a wide range of nance options with exible terms to suit

individual repayment options at competitive rates.

The following funding options can be o ered to business users:

• Hire Purchase

• Finance Lease

• Contract Hire

• Operating Lease

• Sale & HP Back

• Sale & Lease Back Re nancing

To discuss funding for any purchase you have planned, visit www. woodsasset nance.co.uk or contact Alan Yetts directly. FG

Unleash the potential of redundant farm buildings

For many farmers and farming businesses, enhancing farm income from sources other than conventional farm production makes sense. These diversi cation projects will require some form of planning consent, either through a full planning application or the use of permitted development rights.

Wilson Wraight is involved with a number of diversi cation projects including holiday lets, change of use to dwellings, glamping sites, and dog exercise areas, and has had several recent successes with the change of use of existing buildings to commercial uses.

There is so much scope to enhance value and income through the implementation of change of use rights that it’s worth taking stock of redundant buildings to unearth potentially untapped value.

Dan Hewett, the company’s head of planning, commented: “Despite the ongoing debate around reforms to the planning system, there remains considerable scope to enhance value and income through the implementation of diversi cation projects.

“Our service is tailored to unlocking these opportunities through the planning system and our experience enables us to cover the strategic promotion of sites through to the project management of development schemes via planning applications or appeals.”

Wilson Wraight’s Planning Consultancy team would be delighted to discuss options for farm diversi cation or to assess the potential for land to be brought forward for residential or employment uses. FG

Woods Asset Finance provides funding for a wide range of new and used commercial assets for business users, regardless of your sector or suppliers.

Here are just some of the assets we can help you finance:

• Agricultural and forestry machines and equipment

• Commercial vans, heavy goods vehicles and trailers

• Construction equipment and machines

• Manufacturing equipment and machines

• Material Handling and li ing equipment

• Printing equipment

• Crop storage facilities and equipment

• Buses and coaches

• Computers and IT solutions

• Plant hire equipment

For more information, please feel free to contact Alan to discuss any purchases you have planned that requires funding.

Alan Yetts

Business & Finance Manager

T: 01353 863038

E: alanyetts@woodsassetfinance.co.uk

Powered by the

How to make more of buying for less

As the UK’s largest buying group, AF Group is often asked if the annual price of membership is worth it. The answer is yes. To show you how, the group has pulled together a few examples of how it saves its Members money – and how the savings can more than cover annual membership fees, sometimes in a single transaction/order to its procurement teams.

Fuel for thought: Why pay more?

The task: For every Member ordering fuel we use our proactive account management technique. Guidance from the AF Fuels team is given depending on direction of market prices for the day(s) ahead.

AF action: Members can bene t either from ordering before market increases or by deferring for a day or two if prices are easing.

The result: Take a look at these examples:

• Member A: 15,000 litres EN590 saving £637.50 – after market swing of 4.25ppl

• Member B: 23,000 litres EN590 saving £977.50 – after market swing of 4.25ppl

• Member C: 18,000 litres GTL saving £810.00 – after market swing of 4.5ppl

• Member D: 35,000 litres derv saving £4462.50 – after market swing of 12.75ppl

• Member E: 2,300 litres kero saving £164.45 – after market swing of 7.15ppl.

The saving: Annual membership fee can be more than covered in a single transaction/order.

Fertiliser: Working the basics of buying together

The task: In October 2022, Member A was looking to purchase 104 tonnes of protected urea to cover the rest of their business’ spring nitrogen requirements. The Member couldn’t take delivery of the fertiliser before January.

AF’s action: At AF, with no hidden agenda on margin per tonne etc., we were happy to advise our member that the market was heading for a drop between October and the New Year. So, we advised that, with their permission, we would hold onto their requirements and form a bulk order of several Members’ protected urea requirements to get a better deal.

The result: We pulled together a requirement of around 1,000t of urea and worked with supply to get the best deal possible for our bulk requirement. We negotiated post-Christmas delivery along with a delayed payment deal for the 20 or so Members that came together to ‘pool’ their requirements into a large order.

The saving: AF saved the farmer Member over £10,000 and obtained delayed payment terms which wouldn’t have been available for a spot order.

Moving parts: The AF machinery team

The task: Our Members want to keep their existing businesses and new projects running smoothly. Hiring in equipment often makes more sense than running your own and we are the ones to turn to for getting the right machine for the job on site when needed.

AF action: We use our buying power and the fantastic relationships we have nurtured with our suppliers to o er fantastic hire rates with di erent suppliers across the country. Tractor, telehandler, plant and tool, through to vehicle hire, are all available at preferential rates to AF Members.

The result: In response to recent orders, we were able to get these deals: • 7m JCB Agri Super usually £525 p/w but with AF it’s £415 p/w

• 14-tonne digger usually £670 p/w but with AF it’s £460 p/w

• Genie Z45/25 std rate £340 p/w but with AF it’s £260 p/w.

All plus VAT. Transport charges will vary depending on location. We can also negotiate terms for a longer hire, normally 12 months plus. Most of the national and plenty of local independent hire companies are on the AF suppler base. So, whatever job you are planning, from plant hire to punctures, wearing parts to tools, your AF machinery team is here to help.

The saving: Recouped the cost of AF membership with a couple of weeks’ hire and carried on saving throughout the year.

Energy: Cutting out unnecessary extra charges

The task: We know too many farm businesses pay annual costs on their energy contract that are often left on default prices, with suppliers charging monthly on the energy bill or in annual contracts with providers that charge fees in excess of £420 a year.

AF action: AF can provide signi cant savings on the cost of annual meter operator agreements and data collection costs required for supplies with half hourly meters.

The result: AF assists Members by securing lower renewal rates than they can achieve directly with current suppliers. Over the past three months, in a very volatile market where actually being able to obtain a contract o er has not always been straightforward, we have continued to deliver savings to Members as the rst step to bringing new energy sites into the main AF portfolio.

The saving: AF is able to provide competitive agreements for a ve-year contract (which is standard for this industry service/arrangement) and savings can be as high as £200 per annum per supply. Savings have over the period ranged from 3.5% (£397) to 24.5% (£1,388) which goes a long way to repaying the annual cost of membership.

Fuel cards

The weekly fuel card prices o er a heads-up on the following week’s price and a similar opportunity to either ll up and save before prices increase, or the ability to hold back and ll up the following week when prices are reducing.

Regular monitoring of the swing in weekly prices on fuel cards o ers an easy way to make substantial savings on your fuel with savings of 3–7p per litre, or avoid additional

prices of 3–7p per litre simply by timing when you ll up your eet of vehicles.

This is a valuable insight to some of our Members’ operating eets and allows them greater control over fuel costs.

Interested to save on your farm business inputs through belonging to AF? We’re here to help. Call us on 01603 881 881, email info@af.farm or visit www.af.farm

Dependable machinery needed for growing fleet

Four new John Deere 6R-series tractors and four Gator HPX815E UTVs have joined the eet of Su olk- and Essex-based farmer and contractor Philip Liverton. David Williams saw them delivered.

Philip and his family farm at Dennington in mid-Su olk, and their main machinery hire and contracting business is based at Ardleigh in Essex. Trading as Philip Liverton Ltd, the company specialises in long- and short-term hire of grass and hedge cutting and ground maintenance machinery. This includes a large eet of tractors – many of which are tted with side-arm verge cutters, and a range of implements including grounds maintenance machinery, cultivation equipment and seeders. A large eet of robotic all-terrain tractor units suitable for use on steep banks and other challenging terrain is also available to hire with a range of implements including heavyduty ails. Plant machinery includes mini- and mid-size 360-degree excavators and a eet of JCB telehandlers.

Hedge and grass maintenance

The contracting operation is mainly ground care and includes a contract with Essex Highways to maintain roadside verges and hedges in the region. Many farmers and landowners in Su olk and Essex also rely on Philip and his team to maintain hedges and conservation areas. Other activities include forestry work and combine harvesting, and he also o ers a swathing service for oilseed rape and specialist crops. This includes approximately 800ha of borage each year.

Growing family business

“We rely on modern, reliable machinery which is easy to use,” explained Philip, who runs the family business with his wife Bridget, daughter Abby, son James and an experienced team of managers.

“We have approximately 20 tractors of a mix of brands. Most are on our hire eet, we use a number for contracting and some are on our own farm. We get on particularly well with John Deere tractors and our local dealer, Tuckwells. We have 14 John Deere tractors from 35–215hp.”

The latest arrivals include a 6R.215 and three 6155R tractors. “The three 6155R machines are being tted with 8m McConnel side-arm hedgecutters for hire to the Environment Agency and will work all over the UK,” continued Philip. “The 6R.215 will be used on our own farm.”

The right speci cation

The four new tractors all have AutoPowr in nitely variable transmissions. “We always specify this type of transmission as it’s ideal for hedge and verge cutting and mowing, but it improves the ease of

use and working e ciency of other tasks too,” emphasised Philip. “The 6R.215 also has the CommandPro joystick control which is popular with operators.”

John Deere telematics are standard, and Philip said that this o ers signi cant advantages for the hire eet. “We can see where they are located and how many hours they have worked, allowing us to keep an eye on the service requirements. It’s easier for dealer service engineers to nd them too, especially if they are operating in remote locations.

“Telematics is something that is becoming more important. We are using precision farming systems on our own farm and when we are contracting we can monitor our costs accurately including fuel use and the time taken to complete tasks and ensure we are pro table.”

Tractors on the contracting eet work up to 2,000 hours per year. All John Deere tractors are bought with an extended warranty and servicing is carried out by Tuckwells, apart from some older machines which are maintained in-house.

Fleet addition

The four John Deere Gators are a new addition to the hire eet. A Gator which had been used on the farm for several years recently went out on hire for the rst time, and Philip said that this has resulted in demand for more similar vehicles for long- and short-term hire and for a range of applications.

Other machinery supplied by Tuckwells in recent years includes JCB Loadall telehandlers, a Väderstad drill, trailers and ground care machinery. “We are well looked after by the Tuckwells team and there are depots within just a few miles of our farm in Su olk and our yard in Essex,” said Phil. “The Ardleigh, Essex depot sales manager Paul Co ey looks after our account and we nd him very easy to deal with. His initial suggestion was to upgrade two tractors, then we increased the quote

to three, before eventually ordering the four as a result of the attractive deal he put together. He was also able to nd us four John Deere Gators with an ideal speci cation for our hire eet, so those were added to the order.”

John Deere core

“I’ve known Philip since soon after he started his business, and I have always admired the way he spots

opportunities to grow his business in di erent sectors and is willing to invest in the right equipment,” con rmed Paul.

“He has run John Deere tractors since he started trading and, although he uses other brands too, the John Deeres have always made up the core of his eet. Tractors remain in short supply, but we had these four available. I thought immediately of Philip as I knew he

had tractors which were due to be updated and these had the ideal speci cation.

“John Deere tractors come with a high speci cation as standard, and I know that Philip is keen to make the most of features such as the telematics which will help his team manage the large eet. He is always looking for new opportunities and I’m very grateful for his continued business.” FG

Precision farming

The Tech Zone, which featured at one event before Covid restrictions forced changes, is back this year – with the latest innovations in precision farming technology including GPS guidance, automatic machine control and telemetry – and manufacturer and dealer specialists will be onhand to explain features, bene ts and capabilities.

Ground care displays

The new under-cover ground care zone which featured last year will be replicated, but with even more working demonstrations. Stihl will attend with its tour bus, and the Husqvarna Ceora robot mower will be in action. The new HR380 out-front

Essex early spring event will mark 125 years of trading

The annual Doe Show at Ernest Doe & Sons Ltd Ulting, Essex depot will take place as usual during the rst full week of February, with a completely new look as the dealer celebrates 125 years since company founder Ernest Doe took over the blacksmiths shop where he had worked as an apprentice. David Williams reports.

The 2023 event will be the 63rd Doe Show, and it will run over three days from 7–9th February. As usual, it will feature stands representing all the machinery and equipment franchises held by the network of 19 Ernest Doe and Ernest Doe Power depots which cater for customers across East Anglia and the South-East, and there will be exclusive special o ers available for orders placed at the event.

New layout

The layout this year is completely new. “After an online-only event in 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions, and a more open but still restricted event last year, we are pleased to be planning the 2023 Doe Show to provide the best possible experience for our visitors,” stressed Ernest Doe sales director Graham Parker. “There will be more weather protection and covered stands will have extra heating. We will also have large numbers of tea and co ee pods around the site, with hot soup available too.”

Leading agricultural brands

Agricultural machinery displays will feature the latest Case IH Puma 260CVX with up to 300hp available, as well as the New Holland T7.300. Both tractors were announced last autumn at European shows and will be available to order at the event for delivery later this year.

Ahead of the Doe Show, a commitment to ensuring rapid availability of the most popular tractor models from both Case IH and New Holland has resulted in large stocks being held at Ulting and other depots.

The Horizon Agriculture franchise is new. It was taken on in late spring last year and the

DSX No-Till seed drill will feature prominently at the event. The drill was selected for its ability to successfully establish crops into undisturbed or pre-cultivated ground – satisfying customer demand for a machine which can work in a wide range of conditions. “Since we took on the franchise, demand for this drill has been strong, and we have committed to build slots this spring to ensure that customers can receive their drills quickly even though general availability will be quite limited,” explained Graham.

Build slots have also been reserved with major brands including Lemken, Marshall Trailers, Dal-Bo and Shelbourne Reynolds, so that even if particular models aren’t in stock when customer orders are placed, they will usually be quickly available.

The latest SIP grass harvesting machines will be on show, and there is plenty of stock arriving to satisfy customer demand in time for the coming season.

Some of the ex-hire and used ground care machinery available.

rotary mower from Ransomes is expected to generate many enquiries from large-scale and professional users, along with the Mean Green Evo and Rival commercial battery-powered rideon mowers which operate for up to eight hours between charges.

Bigger construction zone

The popular construction zone has been given greater prominence. “Larger numbers of people from within the construction industry have attended recent events,” continued Graham.

“The new layout will be more brand-led, so that exhibitors can display their machinery and equipment ranges better, and it will be easier for visitors to see what’s available. We took a lot of orders for diggers and dumpers last year at the event and expect new Hyundai HXA-series mini excavators from 1.0–8.5t to be a big attraction when they are shown in public for the rst time,

Large numbers of ex-display, ex-hire, ex-demonstration and second-hand machines will be available to buy on the day this year.

Machinery

following their recent launch at the German Bauma show. They o er increased fuel e ciency plus a more comfortable working environment – including air conditioning as standard on cabbed machines. There is an expanded line-up too and we will have the 8t version available for demonstrations after the Doe Show.”

Thwaites dumpers also sell in large numbers and forward ordering and a commitment to keeping machines in stock means that availability remains good, and customers buying from Ernest Doe bene t from short lead-times. Doe Show visitors will also be the rst in the UK to see the new battery-powered, three-tonne model, due to enter production later this year. The dealer sales team expects this to be extremely popular, and orders will be taken at the event. A large selection of Bomag compaction equipment will be on show, from hand-held tools to tandem-axle rollers as well as the latest autonomous models including the BMP8500 which is designed for operation in trenches.

Other brands which will feature include Epiroc breakers as well as Atlas Copco compressors and lighting systems.

New Fruit and Viticulture display

A designated Fruit and Viticulture display area will feature for the rst time. A new department was recently created to cater for the needs of this growing market sector, o ering a newly assembled list of quality franchises and support from an experienced team. As well as new narrow

fruit and vineyard models from the New Holland T4 and Case IH Quantum tractor ranges, a New Holland Braud grape harvester will be on show. New franchises include Ideal fruit and vineyard sprayers; Dondi – which manufactures inter-vine mechanical weeders, tine and disc cultivators, and low-disturbance subsoilers; as well as several others. Long-established agricultural machinery suppliers Teagle and KRM also manufacture special narrow versions of some products for orchard and vineyard work, and these will be on show in the new display area.

Buy used on the day

The Doe Show is famous for the huge array of clearance, ex-display, ex-hire, ex-demonstration and second-hand machinery on o er – all brought to Ulting for the event from the dealer’s other depots. An online auction managed for the dealer by Che ns proved very successful, helping negate the risk of Covid restrictions for the 2021 and 2022 events, but this year there will be no auction and everything is available to view and buy on the day.

Vintage in action

Popular attractions such as the vintage ploughing and cultivating demonstrations will feature as usual, including several Doe Triple-D tractors working only yards from where they were built.

Tools and workshop equipment

The indoor display of workshop equipment, tools and farm sundries is always popular, and many

items can be purchased at reduced prices during the three days. Milwaukee tools were added to the brands available from the dealer last year, and a large selection will be on show. The country clothing display also returns this year, including a huge selection of clearance items at signi cantly reduced prices.

Enjoyable event

“We are looking forward to marking 125 years of Ernest Doe & Sons trading, and the Doe Show will provide a tting start to the celebrations,” con rmed Graham. “As well as featuring all the latest machinery there will be displays marking the company’s history and the business expansion from its early days to the present time.

“We know that those involved in the industry like to meet with our teams and agree deals, and the 2023 Doe Show will provide the ideal opportunity. Whether customers are looking for new or used agricultural, construction or specialist equipment, it will be well worth attending this enjoyable event.” FG

New features on high-tech harvester: lower consumption, better harvesting quality

For the 2023 season, global farm equipment supplier AVR is planning a major upgrade of the actuation method of the All Conditions Control (ACC) digging unit’s depth control mechanism. With the ACC digging unit, users can harvest either using diabolos or probes, without exerting any pressure on the ridge.

Following thorough review, the control technology responsible for depth control when harvesting using probes is now a lot more accurate.

This means the digging unit, and as a consequence the whole machine,

can be operated with more stability than ever.

Immediate advantages for the user include:

• More comfort for the driver: the control performs very well under all circumstances (e.g. in case of spray tracks, on inclined terrains etc.), making manual intervention no longer necessary

• More precise control also improves harvesting quality. A potato harvester’s performance is largely determined by the accuracy of the harvesting depth.

Harvesting should not be too deep or too shallow, and the less soil enters the harvester, the less processing is required. This reduces the load on the machine, resulting in a higher harvesting speed, less wear and a lower fuel consumption per hectare

• At higher speeds, the control –and as a consequence the whole machine – remains remarkably stable.

All of these advantages are o ered by the AVR Comfort Drive, found

in the new Puma 4.0. Meanwhile, each Puma is also equipped with the necessary modules for machine connectivity, including AVR Connect.

AVR Connect is an online reporting tool for all machine activities and a repository for both on- and o - eld machine data. AVR Connect makes more data available to users, enabling a more e ective use of machines and resources. Users can also monitor machines remotely, and there are options for remote diagnosis.

What’s more, AVR o ers an optional Trimble NAV900 GPS sphere ex-factory, including a one-year RTX precision subscription. Precision GPS is a must for accurately collecting data, such as yield measurement at the Puma’s picking-o table.

Lastly, at a time when fuel prices remain record high, Puma’s fuel consumption is very low owing to its e cient Volvo engine, sophisticated hydraulic system, lightweight construction and large tire sizes.

This is especially the case when harvesting occurs at slower speeds, such as 1,250 rpm. For example, based on data from all connected Puma 4.0s, the average consumption per engine hour (not just harvesting hours) was 27.6-litres/hr for the 2022 harvesting season. FG

Next-level planting

With the Puma 4.0, AVR introduced the world to a robust, high-tech harvester, o ering more comfort, lower fuel consumption, and an even better harvesting quality.

As machinery is getting more and more expensive, using asset nance is a very cost-e ective way of ensuring you have the right machine to do the job e ciently and e ectively, therefore increasing productivity.

Gavin Dixon Finance Solutions Ltd (GDFS) o ers a professional and e cient service to ensure that any

business looking to buy a new or used asset obtains excellent nance at competitive rates. GDFS can also

tailor the payments to suit your business cash ow.

Services include the completion of all documentation at a place and time to suit you, as well as liaising with the dealer, therefore removing the stresses normally associated with obtaining nance and purchasing assets.

GDFS deals with a wide range of funders who all specialise in business-to-business nance and is able to assist with car, van, lorry, excavator or machinery purchases.

Moreover, GDFS o ers a wide

range of products, hire purchase, nance lease, operating leases and loans and can also use your unencumbered assets to raise cash for your business.

The company believes communication is the key to a good succession. It is very important to involve all the parties in discussions and GDFS recognises that each business is unique and therefore each solution should be speci c to the individual operation concerned.

What GDFS o ers is professional and reliable services in the businessto-business nance sector in the South West of England, each of them tailored to suit your speci c circumstances. GDFS says you can depend on its professional experience to nd the right solution for you – con dently, quickly and without complication.

GDFS is based in Bridport, West Dorset, and aims to support businesses in the Dorset region by assisting their growth and making purchasing machinery a more a ordable option.

If you want to nd out more about how GDFS can help your business, do not hesitate to get in touch for no obligation advice. For more information, visit www.gd nancesolutions.co.uk FG

NORAC Boom Height Control Systems available for select

Reduce Operator Stress

• Operators no longer have to continuously look at the boom

• Allows operator to focus on drive path

• Operator can go faster

Cover More Acres

• Work day and night – sensors do not need light to “see”

• Take advantage of low wind conditions at night

• Spray faster – no manual boom adjustments

Other Benefits/Features

• Boom height control systems may offer other features such as Headlands Assist so that the boom can be automatically lifted and lowered at the end of the field

• Satisfaction guaranteed

Maintain Proper Spray Tip Height

• Increase application efficiency – get the most from your spray

• Too low = Streaking

• Too High = Drift Issues

• Ensures chemical application is not wasted due to improper boom height

Protect Sprayer From Damage

• Accurate control

• Avoid ground strikes

• Prevents downtime from repairing bent booms and broken spray nozzels

Hybrid Mode™

• An advanced crop sensing feature for in-crop spraying that eliminates the need for the operator to take manual control of the boom in a row crops or adverse situations such as lodged, thin and uneven crop

POWER TO ENHANCE YIELD

More power. More productivity. More uptime. Less complexity. Cummins Performance Series engines deliver benefits to farmers and equipment manufacturers alike. Higher power means more machine capability. A simpler design means easier installation and maintenance.

performance series

New branch investment ensures best customer experience

The new premises replaces a temporary depot at Empingham, from which the dealer team looked after customers for 18 months after taking on the additional Rutland trading area for John Deere in 2020.

The o cial opening was performed by Oakham mayor, Sally Ann Wadsworth, accompanied by Ben Burgess company director Ben Turner, and watched by more than 100 dealer sta , supplier representatives and visitors.

Large trading area

Ben Turner gave a brief speech highlighting the dealer’s progress since it started trading in 1935, and especially after it took on the John Deere franchise in 1963 while the brand was still relatively unknown in the UK. Including the new Oakham branch, the dealer now looks after customers across East Anglia and the East Midlands from a network of seven branches.

Ideal location

The new site is on Hawksmead Park – a modern industrial estate on the outskirts of the town with superb access from major roads. Ben Turner pointed out that the location is ideal, being central within the Rutland trading area for maximum customer convenience. “We are delighted to have found such a superb site,” he told Farmers Guide. “There is plenty of space for the sales, service and parts departments including a large workshop capable of accommodating the largest modern machines, and lots of space outside for parking and storage.

“Our sales and service teams moved in six months before the o cial opening while construction work was still progressing, and the facilities proved ideal.”

Farms of all types and sizes

Ben said that the Rutland area includes a broad spectrum of customers, including arable, livestock, dairy and mixed farms ranging from smaller traditional enterprises to larger estates and contract-farming operations. There are also equine businesses, and the prominent site will attract domestic customers, too.

“There is potential demand for most of the products we o er, from the biggest combines to compact tractors, mowers and grounds maintenance equipment. News of our presence in this area has been well received, and we have been looking forward to nishing the new building and welcoming new and existing customers to this event so that they can meet our team and see what we o er.”

Oakham branch manager, Robert Burdock said that the open day was enjoyed by customers, suppliers and the dealer team. “More than 400 customers attended. During the afternoon there were groundscare enquiries from local authorities and schools with large grass and woodland areas to maintain; then, in the evening the attendance was almost all local farmers keen to view the latest products and see around the new depot.

“From the John Deere range, the new 6R 150 was a star attraction, along with the Mazzotti sprayer which many of the farmers present hadn’t seen previously. Avant loaders and Kramer handlers also attracted attention, and there were sales enquiries for products from most brands represented – and we will be following these up into next year.”

“Our suppliers and sta did a great job of looking after everyone and making the event so enjoyable and I’m grateful for all their support and hard work.”

In the Kuhn display area, Kuhn parts specialist Sarah Govier is pictured with non-inversion establishment and spraying specialist Rupert Greest (centre) and area sales manager David Smith.

“The new Ben Burgess branch is ideally situated to supply and look after Kuhn products in the new trading area,” explained David. “The mix of farms in the region means there is strong demand for both our livestock and arable machinery ranges. We are very pleased with the new depot and believe it will result in additional sales.”

Bailey

said that

though most

“Our most popular models are still 16t and 18t, but that varies by region with the size and type of farms in each area,” he said. Stephen (left) is

…from previous page

McConnel territory sales manager, Paul Jinks said that all the Ben Burgess branches supply and look after his company’s products from both the agricultural and horticultural ranges. The latest RC28 radio-controlled robotic mower with a petrol engine driving through electric wheel motors was displayed and is capable of working on slopes up to 55 degrees – partly due to the underslung cutter deck which lowers the centre of gravity. The 6.5m Power Arm hedge cutter was also on show – and is one of the most popular models supplied by the dealer.

Zurn UK managing director, George Dance is pictured (right) with Ben Burgess group’s western harvesting and precision ag manager, Paul Moss and a stand highlighting the Zurn Top Cut Collect – which cuts and collects the seedheads of weeds standing taller than the crop. The Top Cut Collect was available for the rst time in the UK last harvest and proved very successful in the ght against black-grass. George was also promoting Zurn’s combine attachments including side knives, header trailers and the Premium Flow header which is available in working widths from 22–40ft and uses a belt feed from the knife to the auger to optimise crop ow. “I’m extremely impressed by the dealer’s new branch,” said George. “Even though it is obviously in a prominent location there is still plenty of space around the buildings for storage and future expansion.”

Can’t praise dealer enough

John Deere machinery displayed included the latest 6R-series models. Pictured with a 6R.150 are (l-r) John Deere harvesting territory sales manager Charlotte Pheysey, customer Charles Leadbetter and his combine operator James Hague, and Ben Burgess group’s western harvesting and precision ag manager, Paul Moss. Trading as Eastern Farms Ltd and based near Huntingdon, Charles and his wife Anna own and manage a large farming enterprise and rely on Ben Burgess to supply and look after most of their machinery. “The Ben Burgess team provides excellent support,” said Charles. “We work closely, and the team is like family – they never let us down and if a machine can’t be repaired quickly then they always nd something to use in its place. They have helped us build our business –it’s a strong partnership and we work well together.”

Open day visitor Louise Scott is pictured checking out the Mazzotti sprayer with her son Harry and daughter Zena. Trading as Farmer Lou, Louise breeds pigs, sheep and cattle and supplied the meat for the popular hog roast at the event.

Members of the Ben Burgess and manufacturer teams were busy throughout the event explaining features and bene ts of Väderstad drills and cultivators which were prominently displayed. Pictured (l-r) are Väderstad regional service manager for the South-East Ian Hale; regional sales manager for Central England Rowland Dines; market development manager Andrew Gamble; Ben Burgess Oakham branch manager Robert Burdock; Väderstad practical sales support Colin Hurt and managing director Michael Alsop.

The Leadbetter’s John Deere eet includes 8RX- and 9RX-series tracked tractors, and a John Deere X9-1100 combine with a 45ft header which was new for the 2022 harvest. “The combine performed well and gave us the higher productivity we had hoped for. It was also our rst combine with John Deere Machine Sync which allows the combine driver to temporarily take control of the tractor and trailer operating alongside during unloading. That was a real game changer and ensured we could ll the chaser wagon on the move without risking a spill.”

For James, driving the new X9 was his rst season on a combine. “I had driven a combine of another brand, but only brie y,” he stressed. “The X9 was quite daunting at rst, but the controls are similar to John Deere tractors which helped, and the automation helped me make the most of its impressive capacity.”

Members of the Letts family – farmers and contractors based at Finedon, near Wellingborough – are pictured nding out about John Deere’s precision ag systems. (l-r) Luella Letts, Ben Burgess Oakham branch precision ag specialist, John Lane, Henry Letts in the seat, David Letts behind the seat, Oscar Knight and Frankie Letts.

Bunning UK

and

Ireland

sales manager

Ben Johnson (pictured) commented that Ben Burgess is a long-standing dealer for the Norfolkbased manufacturer. He said that larger manure spreaders of 12t and above are popular across the trading area and as well as stocking and selling the

“We nd John Deere so far ahead of other brands when it comes to practical technology,” con rmed Charles. “The support we received while getting used to the X9 was superb. The Ben Burgess team constantly checked that everything was running smoothly, and representatives from John Deere made sure we knew that they were available too. I just can’t praise the manufacturer and dealer enough.”

Machinery

range, the dealer also has a hire eet available for customers.

Battery powered loader

Demand remains high

“Mazzotti sprayers o er a very high speci cation at a competitive price,” explained John Deere product sales specialist for cropcare for UK and Ireland, Mark James. “We now o er self-propelled sprayers from 2,500–6,000 litres, and since John Deere purchased Mazzotti in 2017, the brand has opened up a whole new sector of the market. Smaller models with mechanical drive o er a cost-e ective solution and come in 2,500, 3,000 and 3,500-litre capacities in one chassis size. They are ideal for hill work and for smaller farms. The mechanical drive is more powerful than typical low-speci cation hydrostatic systems, and as well as coping better with slopes, the sprayers will also cope with tough wet eld areas in a challenging season.” Mark is pictured (left) beside divisional sales manager for turf products, Chris Meacock and key accounts manager, Mark Smith.

The rst dealer demonstration of a batterypowered Kramer telescopic wheeled loader in the UK drew lots of attention. The electric model has been available in Germany for ve years where it quickly proved popular, and in the UK there has been demand from agricultural users as well as from garden centres, and for specialist applications where diesel or petrol engines aren’t suitable.

“The new Kramer battery handlers complement electric models in our other ranges including Gator utility vehicles, mowers and hand tools,” explained Ben Burgess sales director David Fairman, who is pictured (right), next to Kramer representatives Andrew Dixon (left) and Cli ord Scaife. “It’s only our second full season selling Kramer, but we already have more than 150 machines out working even though supplies have been limited. Our most popular models include the 4t 7m, and 5.5t 9m telehandlers – they are the bread-and-butter sizes which cater for most of the agricultural market. They are superbly made, very reliable but still competitively priced.”

Greencrop is a division of Ben Burgess specialising in irrigation as well as clean and dirty water handling solutions and liquid separators. It also supplies Kemper grass and maize headers for most brands of forage harvester across the UK and Ireland. “Kemper headers are selling well,” explained Greencrop UK sales manager Howard Chantry. “Demand remains high for our Greencrop and Irrimec pumps. We have supplied Irrimec since 2019, and smaller pumps in the line-up are chosen for applications including drip irrigation which can o er better water use e ciency than traditional high application rate systems.

“Dribble bar and trailing shoe slurry applicators have also sold in larger numbers in the past year – partly due to cost subsidies available through grants.”

Howard (left) is pictured with Matthew Hipperson who assists with Greencrop sales.

Cold pressing your own crops for oil

Producing oil from crops can be an opportunity for UK farmers to add value to their business. Crops such as oilseed rape, axseed, sun ower and even hemp are ideal for cold pressing and producing oil.

Hamish Campbell of R Oil has been pressing oilseed rape, grown on the family farm, for 13 years. R Oil uses a system of 12 Kernkraft presses (sold through Aquahelios), which operate 24 hours a day and only ever needed three spare parts.

R Oil were recently visited by the Two Hairy Bikers when doing their Food Tour of Britain series, who

wanted to feature oilseed rape oil grown in Gloucestershire.

Kernkraft have been manufacturing oilseed presses for over 20 years for customers worldwide. The presses can process anywhere from small volumes of 3–15kg/hr to 500–2,000kg/hr using the largest press in the range.

Additional value comes from the by-products of the pressing process, which can be used to make pelleted animal feed, GF our, or sun ower cake. By adding a Kernkraft Concentrator to the system, human grade protein powder can also be obtained. Other potential uses include cosmetics, green fuels, lubrication oils, CBD oil, and even in paints.

The Farming Transformation Fund could help UK farmers with capital expenditure for purchasing oilseed press systems. For further information, contact Aquahelios head of technical sales, Derek Tolley. FG

How to mitigate machinery supply chain worries

There have been plenty of reports on the machinery supply chain shortages over the past two years, whether it’s washing machines, tractors, cars, or telehandlers, with 2023 predicted to carry on in a similar fashion.

However, the way to mitigate the e ects of such shortages on farm productivity has been talked about less widely. Ashbrook machinery hire has recently seen a surge in customers turning to them for the answer.

Managing director, James Ashbrook, said: “We have seen an increase in the number of customers utilising both shortand long-term hire in order to get around the issue of machinery supply. We purchase our eet

at least 12 months in advance of usage, meaning that there’s always supply when the demand arrives.

“As we have one of the largest independently owned eets of JCB telehandlers, Case IH tractors and Farmlifts, we have excellent relationships with both manufacturers.

“Consequently, this means we have the right machines for farmers when they come to hire. In addition [...], hiring a tractor, telehandler, or trailer means that costs are xed once the agreement is in place. There’s no need to worry about spiralling outgoings and a depreciating asset on the books.

“It really is a solution which more and more farmers are turning to,” James concluded. FG

Cost-e ective slurry cover

An innovative and highly adaptable solution to covering slurry stores or lagoons of any size is now available in the UK from slurry management specialist Tramspread.

Hexa-Cover is comprised of recycled polypropylene segments which oat to create a exible but e ective cover. The hexagonal pieces t together and o er an e ective way to signi cantly reduce emissions and provide a cost-e ective slurry cover solution.

John Tydeman from Tramspread explains: “With mounting government and public concern over emissions, we are seeing a much higher demand from farmers looking for a quick and cost-e ective solution to covering slurry.

“Hexa-Cover is popular because it doesn’t require planning permission, professional installation or maintenance and is a fraction of the cost of other slurry

covers,” John says.

Covering slurry can be costly because of the size, shape and location of the tank or lagoon. Creating new storage may require planning permission and greater capital outlay. Whereas, Hexa-Cover is an innovative and adaptable product that can cover any slurry tank or lagoon and prevents 95% of harmful emissions being released.

Hexa-Cover pieces oat on top of any liquid, t together to ll the space, block light out and trap gas in, whilst also helping to prevent crust formation. The product is heat-, frost- and wind-proof, with a life expectancy of 25 years. FG

Apprentices graduate as programme celebrates 30-year milestone

The largest cohort of John Deere apprentices to date gathered at a graduation event at the Crowne Plaza in Nottingham in November, to celebrate their achievements.

Trained at John Deere’s Apprentice Training Centre in Upper Saxondale, Nottinghamshire, apprentices are employed full time at dealerships, allowing them to develop the knowledge and skills required to deliver exceptional customer service to agricultural and professional groundscare customers.

Delivered by ProVQ, the courses feature a mix of practical and theory in classroom and workshop environments, learning a broad range of subjects from basic engineering skills to optimising the most advanced machine technologies.

Ag Tech and Turf Tech candidates study towards the land-based service engineering technician quali cation (Level 3), while Parts Tech students complete a retailer apprenticeship standard (Level 2). The

programmes include on-the-job training and assessment as well as up to eight weeks at the John Deere Apprentice Training Centre.

At the event, Ag Tech graduate Jack Ramsey from the Tuckwells dealership in Ardleigh, Essex, (pictured below with John Deere branch training manager, Allan Cochran) was named the winner of the Ag/Turf Tech Apprentice of the Year for 2022, winning a John Deere toolbox.

Tuckwells MD, James Tuckwell said: “Jack has worked incredibly hard and it’s a just reward for him to receive this recognition from John Deere. This is an enormous accolade and we at Tuckwells are all very proud of him. He is an example to all of us.” FG

New hedge, grass and stubble cutters feature at Northants open day

The demonstration, in late October, was well attended by existing customers of the host dealer from the local area, but there were also many who had travelled much further –specially to see the new machinery working.

Stars of the event included a new heavy-duty ex-wing rotary mower designed for demanding applications such as stubble mulching. There were also new telescopic variable forward reach side-arm hedge cutters in action for the rst time at a public demonstration.

High-output mowers

New Multicut mowers come in Ecoline and Proline versions of 4.8, 6.5 and 8.3m working widths, and they will be available from January. The Multicut 480 replaces the previous 460 version, and the Multicut 650 replaces the Multicut 620. The new 830 model with an 8.3m cutting width will be a new addition to the range. The biggest change compared to earlier models is a at top, which replaces the previous stepped top design for easier cleaning, and reduced trash and seed transfer between work areas. There is also a styling change as both versions are in grey – replacing the previous green

nish. Base Ecoline models have xed axles and three blades per rotor and will appeal for typical demanding farm use. Higher spec Proline models have wider wheels, walking axles and Hydragas suspension which was an option before – ensuring improved stability for operation on uneven ground. Proline models also have the proven Starcut Knife cutting system with six blades per rotor, for higher work rates and quicker plant decomposition, making them ideal for mulching large areas of cover crops.

All models with cutting widths over 5m have ve rotors.

New range agship

The Stubble Master series is also revamped and comes in 5.3, 7.5 and 9.3m working widths. Decks are Hardox steel and, like Ecoline and Proline versions, they have a at underside and top. The guide wheels are stronger, and the rotor drive gearboxes are each rated to 225hp with slip-clutch drive protection, and they come with a seven-year gearbox warranty. Star Cut blades are standard with six hard-wearing boron blades per rotor. The top blades are cranked upwards close to the deck for optimum mulching performance. The lower blades have a winged rear edge to increase air movement and circulation of chopped material for intensive mulching. A blade tip speed of 90m/ second is claimed to be the fastest on the market. The widest 9.8m model was demonstrated cutting maize stubble.

“We expect strong demand for stubble management, as well as for high-use applications,” explained Spearhead director of sales and

marketing, Antony Prince. “During pre-production trials in Denmark, a test machine cut 3,000ha of grass three times during the season to encourage regrowth and optimise grass seed yields, and it performed very well. The smallest 5.3m model weighs 3t and costs from £45,000, and the widest 9.3m weighs 9t and costs £95,000. These heavy-duty models will appeal to users operating in intense environments or with very large grass areas to manage including larger farms and estates and airports.”

Variable forward reach

A local contractor demonstrated his new Twiga Pro VFRT174 side-arm mower. “It’s the rst time we have o ered a side-arm cutter with a telescopic boom and variable forward reach,” continued Antony. “We previously o ered telescopic machines in arm lengths up to 6.5, 7.0 and 8.0m in our Pro Range, but demand has grown for the variable forward reach too. Operation is easier where space is limited and it’s easier for the driver to keep an eye on the cutting attachment too.”

Warks-based contractor

The demonstration machine is owned by Southam, Warwickshirebased contractors JH Kirkham & Son. Matthew Kirkham (pictured) explained that he runs the business with his son, Chris, and that their main activities include manure application, baling and hedge cutting. “We used another brand previously but wanted the ability to cut two years’ hedge growth, so we opted for a new Spearhead with an SP15 1.5m rotary head. It leaves a much tidier nish than a ail and has double the work rate or even more, and for trimming it uses far less power and fuel than a ail – there is a de nite di erence.

“We had a telescopic side arm before, but this is our rst with variable forward reach. It’s much easier to use, especially for cutting around

poles and the wide rotary head helps us work around obstructions more easily too. Attle eld Farm Machinery and Spearhead have both been very helpful and we wouldn’t hesitate to choose the same again.”

Mini Pilot controls

A Twiga Mid T65 side arm hedge cutter was demonstrated with new Mini Pilot controls which are now available on Mid and Classic versions, whereas top Twiga Pro models have Pro Pilot touchscreen controls. “I do approximately 2,000ha of hedge cutting per year as well as forestry contracting,” explained owner Nick Burbage who runs a contracting business from Blakesley, Northants. “This is my rst Spearhead, and it replaced another brand. Henry and his team at Attle eld Farm Machinery are local to me, and I had heard great reports regarding the back-up available. Soon after the machine was delivered it developed an oil leak on a Saturday afternoon. I expected to wait until the Monday for a repair, but an engineer came out immediately and I was working again within a few hours. I give the dealer 11 out of 10 for service.

“The Spearhead brand is brilliant too. I had to wait for the machine after placing my order, but it was well worth it and now I wouldn’t change brands.”

Nick said that this is his rst hedge cutter with hydraulic front ap and roller adjustment, and that being able to constantly adjust the ap to suit the conditions makes a big di erence to the ease of use.

The Spearhead Twiga also requires less power than his previous cutters and he is saving fuel. “It’s on my John Deere 6430 and, compared to our previous hedge cutter on the same tractor, we have reduced fuel consumption by 4.5–6.5 litres per hour which makes a big di erence to our operating costs with fuel prices at their current level.”

Nick said that he enjoys reading Farmers Guide every month. “It gives us everything we need in the way of news about machinery, forestry, farm buildings and contracting. We no longer need the magazines we used to pay for, so stopped our subscriptions.”

Successful event

Attle eld Farm Machinery director Henry White is pictured with Jack Norton and Antony Prince. “We took on Spearhead four years ago, and the franchise has proved a great success. We specialise in sales, service and parts, and although most of our customers are local, we also look after users from

across the UK.

“The new Proline mowers have been especially well received by our customers. Stepped decks on previous models trapped debris, so users complained that a lot of time was spent cleaning them after use. The new at decks stay cleaner, and any trash that does accumulate is easily brushed o . The mowers are popular with farmers and contractors maintaining larger areas, as well as smaller elds which are cut frequently to avoid high residues and achieve a ne nish. All Spearhead mowers are well made and extremely durable, but the new Stubble Master models are amazing, and o er unbeatable build quality and

performance for the most demanding applications.

“New Pro-series side-arm mowers are also selling well, and we are supplying more with rotary cutting heads rather than ails to large farms and estates as well as contractors. The work rates are incredible. Users like them as balance issues don’t a ect them in the same way they would a ail, they have a wider cut width which makes it easier to work around obstructions, and it’s easy to achieve a great nish trimming grass at the base of a hedge.”

Excellent support

Henry said that the demonstration day was a great success. “Most who came were already our customers, but we

also welcomed potential Spearhead users who took advantage of the opportunity to seek the opinions of farmers and contractors already using the machines.

“The Pro Pilot touchscreen controls attracted a lot of interest. There is a choice of three joystick user pro les which are set just by touching the screen, and users can easily set and store operating parameters for di erent situations and attachments. Software updates are easily installed to ensure machines always provide best possible performance and reliability. The touch terminal and joystick combination are very user-friendly and it’s standard on Pro models, whereas Mid and Classic variants come with Mini Pilot controls.” FG

Pictured with the new John Deere machinery (l-r) Tuckwell,

Pictured

{farm sale}

Tractor variety tempts the bidders at Cambridgeshire dispersal sale

An attractive selection of tractors of di erent makes, models and ages was on o er at an onsite auction arranged by Che ns in late November. David Williams was there.

The dispersal sale was on behalf of Wilbraham Farms and resulted from a change in farming policy by the owners who are having the enterprise contract-farmed, rather than farming it in-hand. Most of the machinery from the all-arable farm was available to buy, and the selection included modern as well as classic and some vintage equipment. The current farm manager, Phil Baynes, is staying on under the new farming regime, and he commented that a lot of the machinery had been on the farm since it was new, and most was supplied and maintained by local dealers.

Good time of year Che ns auctioneer, Oliver Godfrey said that the sale proved very successful. “We had a good selection of well-maintained machinery to o er from the farm, bolstered by some very attractive ‘included’ lots and everything sold well.

“The attendance included many local farmers as well as some trade buyers, and we had over 220 registered online including many

from overseas. Most lots were bought by end users, but the tractors were split 50/50 between trade buyers and farmers. Highlights included a Ford 7840 which sold particularly well, and a John Deere from an Essex farm which went for only a little less than it would have cost new almost 20 years ago. The two main tractors from Wilbraham Farms – modern Massey Fergusons, both sold well too. They were in lovely condition, well maintained and looked after, and both bought by farmers,” he explained.

Oliver said that late autumn is usually a good time for farm dispersal sales. “With most eld work completed, we often nd farmers and contractors from the local area come along to see what’s on o er, and to socialise with friends in the industry.

“We were very lucky with the weather for the Wilbraham Farms sale, as it rained while the indoor lots were sold and then was dry while we were outside. It was a good, genuine dispersal sale and the farm owners and our auction team were very happy with the results.” FG

Tine

One of the more unusual lots was this Ford 6710 2wd, dating from 1978 and registered with an A-pre x plate. It had been on the farm from new and had its original Cameron Gardner front loader. The tractor had worked 4,870 hours, including the last 2,600 on a replacement Powerstar engine. The front tyres were mixed Good Year and Supreme 10.00-16 with 40% and 80% tread respectively and the rear tyres were Danubiana 16.9R34 with 40% tread. The Ford was in very tidy condition for its age, although the seat upholstery as well as the cab lining near the door were both worn. It sold for £10,200.

Tractor

This

Another

Ideal for larger farms, this 4,000-litre capacity Kongskilde

4024

pneumatic fertiliser applicator had a 24m working width. With a PTO-driven fan, an Avadex/microgranule kit, and Trelleborg Twin 404 800/40/26.5 wheels and tyres it was an ‘included’ lot and made £9,500.

hydraulic

This KRM M2W fertiliser applicator was a 2007 model, and still carried its Ernest Doe dealer stickers. It sold for £1,400.

New in 2020, this Marshall BC/25 10t tandem-axle, steel bodied atbed trailer was on 12.5/80-15.3 tyres and wheels, and in excellent condition. It achieved a winning bid of £5,800.

Beside it – a single-axle 1,000-litre bunded fuel bowser complete with pump and delivery hose sold for £2,200.

This ‘included’



The farm’s biggest tractor was this Massey Ferguson 7726 Dyna-VT 4wd. It was registered on a 66-plate and new in 2016. It carried its original Thurlow Nunn Standen dealer stickers and was on Michelin VF 600/60R30 front tyres with 40% tread, and 710/60R42 rear tyres with 90% tread. The tractor had a 50kph transmission, air brakes, and front axle and cab suspension, and it was equipped with Isobus. In excellent condition inside and out, it had recorded 6,780 hours and sold for £43,500.

An



Nearly 30 years old, this 1994 Ford 7840 Powerstar SLE 4wd had a

front linkage and was on Pirelli TM700 420/70R28 front, and Trelleborg TM700 520/70R38 rear tyres – all with 95% tread. The tractor had worked 6,944 hours and was in very good, original condition. It made £17,400.

and

An attractive ‘included’ lot, this Fendt 936 Pro 4wd was a 2008 model registered on a 58-plate and it was in superb condition. It came with a front linkage, hydraulic top link, six rear spools, two front spools and air brakes, and it was shod on Trelleborg 600/70R34 front, and 710/75R42 rear tyres which all had 60% tread. The Fendt carried PHR dealer stickers, and it was one of two tractors entered into the sale from a farm near Sa ron Walden in Essex. The vendor explained that it had arrived on his farm as an ex-demonstrator with only 300 working hours and was now being sold with 6,047 hours recorded. The winning bid was £68,500.

This ‘included’ Ford New Holland 4630 2wd was registered with an H-pre x in 1990. The front tyres were 11.5/80-15.3 Good Year, and the rears were Olympic 16.9-28 with a turf pattern. The cab was tidy for the age, but the seat needed re-covering. The tractor had recorded 1,680 working hours and still carried its Ernest Doe & Sons Fulbourn depot dealer plates. It was sold with a good set of 7.50-16 front, and 13.6R36 rear agricultural tyres and wheels, and achieved a winning bid of £8,500.

The 2011 HeVa Combi-Lift 5-leg subsoiler (right) had hydraulic disc and disc roller adjustment and was in good condition. With its Thurlow Nunn

Beside it – the Tim Howard 3-leg

£3,200.



From the same farm as the Fendt, this John Deere 8420 4wd was a 2003 model, registered on an 03-plate. It came with four rear spools and was on Firestone IF 600/70R30 front tyres with 70% tread and 650/85R38 rears with 25% tread. It had recorded 8,408 working hours and had remained on the same farm since it was supplied new by local dealer, Ben Burgess. The winning bid of £53,000 was fully justi ed by the tractor’s superb condition and was only a little less than the tractor would have cost new.

Machinery

The Land Cruiser Commercial shares its design with the standard passenger version. Drive is mainly through the front wheels, but the all-wheel drive system distributes power to the rear when needed. The vehicle is available in long or short wheelbase variants. The same 2.8-litre diesel engine is shared, and either a six-speed manual in the Utility speci cation, or a sixspeed automatic in the Active variant.

Well designed and nished

The model supplied for the Farmers Guide test was the short wheelbase (SWB) in Utility speci cation.

Ruggedly made, well nished and looks the part. Inside, the seats are durable, the steering wheel is chunky and comfortable, and controls are logically arranged. Doors open wide for easy access, and there is plenty of space for taller drivers.

Behind the front seats is a substantial load retaining mesh barrier. The two rear side windows are blanked out, and the area usually used for rear

seating is converted to a at oor.

Practicality

Toyota quotes a total load space volume of 1,574 litres, and the maximum load capacity is 593kg. Based on the two-door standard Land Cruiser, there is no side access to the load area, but the long wheelbase (LWB) version is based on the four-door standard vehicle, so loading from the sides is possible.

The rear door is hinged on the right and opens to the side, which means a large space behind the vehicle is needed to open it fully. However, if smaller items are being loaded the top section of the rear door opens –hinged at the top.

Maximum towing is 3,000kg, and we tried the vehicle towing a loaded trailer on- and o -road. There is a huge amount of torque, and a constant speed is maintained without changing down the gears even when climbing steep slopes. Acceleration is brisk, making it easy to pull away from junctions.

Power and performance

The 2.8-litre, 4-cyl engine is quiet and smooth. It develops 204hp, and the maximum 420Nm of torque is produced in a wide band from 1,400–3,400rpm, making the vehicle extremely forgiving and easy to drive.

There is a low range too, selected by a twist control on the dashboard. The rear di erential can be locked electronically for extra traction, using a button beside the range selector. Test-week economy was impressive, averaging 38mpg in a wide variety of situations from towing to travelling o -road. On one longer journey it achieved 43mpg.

Comfort

Double wishbone front suspension and four-link suspension with coil springs at the rear provides a great combination for transporting people and load carrying. The seats are supportive and comfortable, and they contribute to the ride quality. Some short wheelbase vehicles give a choppy ride, but this wasn’t the case, although the longer version should be

According to Toyota, the total load capacity is 1,574 litres, and up to 593kg can be carried. As well as the side-hinged

even better.

The view from the driver’s seat is very good. The front corner pillars are narrow, and the side windows are large. The protective load mesh is tough, but isn’t so thick that it interferes with the view through the rear window.

One impressive feature of the vehicle design are the external mirrors. These are large and perfectly located to obtain the best possible view down the sides of the vehicle, and for reversing a trailer they are ideal.

O -road

The Land Cruiser has good credentials for o -road use too, and certainly adequate for most UK farm situations. It has 205mm of ground clearance, an approach angle of 31 degrees, a departure angle of 25 degrees and a climb angle of 42 degrees is quoted. Maximum wading depth is impressive at 700mm. The week-long test certainly didn’t push the vehicle to its limits in terms of challenging terrain but crossing plough furrows at eld edges and trailer ruts during sugar beet harvesting wasn’t an issue, and it steered in and out of deep ruts on a woodland track with ease – and without needing to select low range or lock the rear di erential.

Verdict

The Land Cruiser Commercial proved excellent. It comes with the right level of equipment and is comfortable and a pleasure to drive. Towing capacity of 3,000kg will satisfy most farm requirements, and the rear load space capacity is ideal for transporting replacement parts, sacks of feed and livestock bedding and workshop tools. The vehicle looks the part – it’s business-like and solid, and extremely well nished with no squeaks or rattles. It’s well thought out, and the all-around vision is excellent. Nimble on-road and capable o -road, it also has a very tight turning circle.

The number of genuine 4x4 commercial vehicles to choose from has reduced in recent years, but this would be well up our list of candidates. FG

Celebrations mark new depot opening and a new franchise

The new state-of-the-art depot has been constructed on a green eld site, adjacent to the dealer’s previous depot which it had long since outgrown.

“Trading as RW Marsh Ltd, we moved into the original Ulceby Cross depot in 1995, and celebrated its o cial opening in February 1996,” explained Claas Eastern sales director Will Tuxworth. “Our team was just six people, and the workshop would only accommodate a single combine plus two tractors at a squeeze. This new depot is superb – the workshop is six times as big as before and open plan, and it provides a much better working environment for our service team, and it will help us give customers an even more e cient service.”

The new premises includes a large showroom, parts, service and sales o ces, and plenty of space outside for parking and storage. There is also room for future expansion as demand for the dealer’s products and services continues to grow.

Pichon tankers

As well as celebrating the new depot opening, the dealer announced that

Pichon slurry tankers have been added to its list of carefully selected suppliers. Pichon was bought by Samson in 2019, but until now the brands have been supplied through separate dealers in the UK. “We have sold Samson tankers since 2018 and they appeal to farmers and contractors handling slurry intensively due to their top-level build quality and sophistication,” Claas Eastern franchise manager, Richard Sharman told Farmers Guide. “Pichon tankers are also very good quality, and for those who don’t require quite the same high performance of the Samson products, they o er a cost-e ective alternative. We are very pleased to o er our customers the choice of two such respected brands.”

Popular event

Also on show were the latest products from Claas, Lemken, Horsch and Portek, and dealer and manufacturer product service and sales specialists were busy all evening explaining features and bene ts to the hundreds of customers who attended.

See the Farmers Guide February edition for a full event report. FG

SOIL SURFACE

Downward facing upper blade does not hook grass weed seed up from below stale seed bed and field surface

Next Generation Patented Drilling Blades

Have you ever found grass weeds in the drill row and assumed it was in the seed?

All other tine drills have upward facing chisel tines which hook grass seed up from below the stale seed bed into the top 5cm germination zone.

The Triton blade design is vital in making sure the drilling pass does not create its own grass weeds in the clean stale seed bed.

Drilling at 40mm depth

Downward facing upper blade holds field surface in place minimising soil eruption in the stale seed bed

14cm deep lower blade takes blade deep below ground for air drainage and rooting

Celebrating a lifetime of machinery

I have been lucky. Writing about tractors and machinery for farming magazines can be a good way for someone with an interest in power farming progress to keep up to date – and my writing career has been a long one.

My rst contact with advanced new farm equipment technology came before I started my writing career. I was still a student when agricultural engineers at Reading University completed the development of the world’s rst driverless robot tractor during the mid-1950s, and the tractor was taken to one of the university farms where I was among the students forming the rst audience to see it perform in a eld. The guidance equipment, which was attached to an International Harvester tractor, followed a network of buried wires carrying signals to control the steering and other functions such as starting, stopping and speed adjustment.

had become an increasingly signi cant issue during the 1960s, followed in the 1970s by the introduction of regulations aimed at limiting driver exposure to noise in the cab.

The guidance system performed well, but the student audience was not impressed, partly because of the tractor’s performance limitations and also because of the cost of installing and maintaining the guide wires. Our negative verdict was supported when a commercially produced version of the robot tractor was available for sale a few years later, and attracted little interest.

Driver safety improvements

Probably the most welcome mechanisation development I have seen during my writing career has been the improvements to driver safety and comfort; a development that has applied generally to self-propelled equipment, but particularly to tractors. The tractors I drove when I was employed as a harvest help in the early 1950s lacked a cab, and a padded seat was an unusual luxury, but change was on the way as driver comfort became an increasingly important sales feature.

Farmers and contractors were increasingly willing to pay for a cab that could improve their own tractor driving comfort, and employees were more willing to continue working in adverse weather if they were o ered cab comfort including a padded seat, and with heating and sound insulation. Noise levels in tractor cabs

Four-wheel drive

While driver comfort has been on a welcome upward trend during my working career, other growth areas have included the demand for the extra traction e ciency of 4wd. Putting the power through four wheels instead of two can be a much more e cient method of turning engine power into drawbar pull, with advances in the structural technology of tyres allowing work to continue in a wider range of ground conditions. The loser in this situation has been the demand for tracklayers which have experienced a sales downturn in the UK tractor market, while some of the bene ts available from rubber tracks have recently increased their popularity on combine harvesters.

Industry ups and downs

I have been writing about various aspects of power farming since the early 1960s. The industry has su ered both ups and downs, and when my connection started there were still some results from the post-war sales surge which had attracted new names into tractor and machinery manufacturing. Some of the sales expansion had been caused by equipment shortages created when tractor and machinery manufacturers were required to switch to military equipment production during the war years. Post-war Britain was also an attractive destination for American tractor companies wanting direct access to what was then the British Empire and, later, to the European market. The list of American companies starting tractor manufacturing or assembly activities in the UK during the period after the war ended included Allis-Chalmers, Case, International Harvester and Minneapolis-Moline, and they joined Ford and Massey-Harris who were already established as leading UK manufacturers.

Some of the manufacturing expansion was also due to a surge of new British-owned companies that started tractor production

after the war, many of them making complete tractors while others developed conversions based on standard production models. The failure rate among the British newcomers in both categories was high with most of the companies disappearing as the market became increasingly competitive, but a notable exception is JCB with its ongoing Fastrac success, and there have also been a number of continuing long-term successes for British companies building selfpropelled machinery, including sprayers.

Although tractors and self-propelled equipment have remained at the forefront of my interest during my working career, I have also had plenty of opportunity to observe progress in eld machinery generally. Balers have remained a special interest, probably because of the time I spent as a harvest helper handling conventional straw bales one at a time with a pitchfork. Machines for grouping small bales for handling in at-eights or other batched group arrangements have made a big contribution to handling e ciency for straw and hay, and these must be welcome developments for those who work on farms, followed by further advances through the introduction of big bales, both round and square. I remember an occasion when illness kept another harvest helper at home for a day or two, and I had to work single-handedly with a pitchfork loading straw bales into a trailer in an 80-acre eld. My work rate was not impressive –but at least the situation won an apology from the farm manager.

In spite of a dislike of bale handling with a pitchfork, mine has been a career with more ups than downs – and thanks go to Farmers Guide and other publications for providing the opportunities to bene t me. FG

Colston said.

On a positive note, there are high quality, relatively cheap and easy to use testing tools available for both worms and liver uke.

Lungworm in cattle has been variable this year but followed a similar pattern to other parasites, with a minimal challenge in summer and a resurgence in August to October. SRUC’s veterinary investigation o cer Heather Stevenson con rmed lungworm diagnoses remained steady this autumn but concerns over treatment failure were a common reason for submitting samples for testing.

Ruminant health: Key trends of 2022

Whilst we saw the usual challenges of coccidiosis and nematodirus in spring, the extremely hot, dry weather in much of the UK during summer 2022 resulted in an unusual parasite season. Worm egg count data from Elanco suggested virtually no worm challenge over the summer as lifecycles paused, according to ruminant technical consultant Matt Colston. However, many of the unhatched worm eggs left on pasture survived until the rains came in autumn – resulting in a massive larval challenge a few weeks later, on a scale we haven’t seen before, he added. Speaking to Farmers Guide in late November he said: “Even now, we’re still seeing huge worm egg counts. One sample last week showed 15,000 eggs per gram. Usually, we’d be getting worried if we saw 500 eggs/g.”

Despite this, many farmers were using unnecessary worm drenches, which highlights the importance of regular testing to avoid wasting time and money. “For beef, sheep and dairy farmers, money’s going to get tighter, and you can’t a ord to be spending time, money and resources on things that aren’t worthwhile,” Mr Colston added.

SCOPS recently reported high worm burdens in UK lambs, resulting in signi cant losses, from poor growth rates to deaths. This situation has likely been exacerbated by the fact that many of this year’s lambs have not met enough of a challenge from worms over the summer to stimulate their immune systems, points out independent sheep consultant Lesley Stubbings (pictured). “Lambs on forage crops also need to be monitored, because if they took a signi cant burden on to the crop with them, these worms may have multiplied over the autumn to levels where they are a threat. Worms can complete their lifecycles on forages other than grass, so don’t get caught out,” she adds.

SRUC Veterinary Services similarly reported a peak in diagnoses of parasitic gastroenteritis, as well as low selenium levels, in ill thriven lambs

in the last few months of the year. Guidance shared via the AHDB recommended checking the worm egg counts of ewe lamb replacements and store/fattening lambs as soon as possible, then monthly. Trace element status should also be assessed, especially if concentrates are not being fed. Blood samples could be used to check for exposure to liver uke using the ELISA test.

Zoetis vet Ally Ward also urged farmers to monitor animal growth rates and faecal egg counts, treating where necessary, to ensure productivity is not a ected by the high worm challenge.

It was a similarly unusual year for blow y strike, with more cases potentially being seen in September and October than the summer, Elanco data suggests. This was due to a combination of warmer weather in these months providing ideal conditions for blow y, and the fact that the e cacy period of preventative treatments used to cover the normal blow y period had run out. “While most lambs would have gone by this point, those that remained would have been exposed to signi cant risk at a time when a lot of farmers weren’t expecting it,” Mr Colston said.

Blow y season is starting earlier and lasting longer thanks to milder winters – with cases still being reported at the time of writing in November. Ms Stubbings says the season is now around eight months long, a scenario with no easy solution. Farmers will need to be more vigilant in keeping back ends trimmed and checking animals daily, though the latter can be challenging to achieve, she noted.

When it comes to managing internal parasites in an increasingly unpredictable climate, regular testing will be key. “We’re fairly certain that the weather patterns are going to get more unpredictable, so the only advice we can give is replace routine treatment with routine monitoring, and treat when you need to,” Mr

Meanwhile, when it comes to liver uke, the overall challenge is expected to be low but the bulk of the country is likely to see a challenge later in the season than usual – in December/ January rather than September/October – but it will be so variable that it’s impossible to give even a regional idea of what will happen, Matt said. However, another factor to consider even in very hot dry weather, is that for those farms that do have a liver uke problem, snails are isolated to small, wet areas of the farm, which is also where livestock go to drink, Ms Stubbings points out. Commenting on 21st November, Heather Stevenson said there had not yet been any recorded sheep deaths due to acute liver uke infection.

Despite a generally delayed parasite challenge in 2022, parts of the UK such as the west coast and north of Scotland, didn’t experience the heatwave in summer, so the parasite picture there was completely di erent.

The e ect of rising input costs

With farmers facing exorbitant input costs, veterinary medicines can be one of the rst things to be trimmed back, but it’s important to make sure this doesn’t result in losses, Ms Stubbings advises. Feed contracts for the coming winter reveal an approximate 25–30% hike in feed costs, she adds, so getting the most out of your forage and knowing the quality and quantity available, is key for minimising the amount of supplement fed. In many cases, there are signi cant savings to be made if forage is analysed and/or grazing is allocated e ectively, Ms Stubbings says.

Furthermore, while the cost of veterinary medicines is by no means insigni cant, the consequences of disease can be far more costly –for example replacement costs if ewe losses rise by 1–2% because of lapsed vaccinations. Whilst it can be tempting to focus attention on cutting inputs, output still matters to o set the increased costs. Cutting vaccinations could put enterprises in jeopardy, Ms Stubbings warns, so improving e ciency elsewhere is doubly important.

Reducing environmental impact

As farmers continue to face pressure to meet tough environmental targets, reducing the impact of endemic diseases such as sheep scab and BVD should be a top priority for 2023, according to Nigel Miller, chairman of the Ruminant Health & Welfare Group.

“The production, cost and welfare gains of control are clear, as are the challenges of tackling what are versatile and highly infectious conditions [...]” he commented. “On some farms

As weather patterns become increasingly extreme and unpredictable, input costs continue to rise, and farmers face ongoing pressure to reduce environmental impacts, approaches to managing parasites and disease will need to adapt.

Livestock editor Sarah Kidby reports.

parasitic worms, liver uke and respiratory conditions present ongoing challenges impacting performance, compromising welfare and leading to a potential increase in mortality levels.”

According to the group’s report, Acting on methane, a 10% reduction in emissions from livestock is feasible through achieving a highhealth status across the national herd and ock, with further reductions possible through changes to breeding and feeding systems.

“As an example, studies show that gastrointestinal parasites in lambs lead to a minimum 10% increase in greenhouse gas emissions, while liver uke infection adds an extra 19 days to the time to slaughter in cattle, adding 2% to the greenhouse gas footprint of those cattle,” Mr Miller said.

Pathway priorities

The government’s Animal Health and Welfare Pathway is set to o er funding opportunities for enhancing animal health, welfare and productivity, and reducing environmental impacts.

Initial priorities for cattle include tackling BVD, lameness and mastitis, as well as improving pain management during disbudding, dehorning and castration through greater adoption of prolonged anaesthesia. Another focus is improving welfare at pasture through better drainage, shelter, gateways and tracks that support normal behaviours. And nally, upgrading housing, as many farm buildings are not optimally designed

for cattle, especially calves – so the Pathway will encourage improvements in ventilation, cow comfort, loa ng areas and enrichments such as scratching brushes.

For sheep, the focus will be on tailored health screening to address endemic diseases that cost the sector £85 million a year – starting with internal and external parasites and associated anthelmintic e cacy, mastitis, iceberg diseases and abortion. Additionally, reducing lameness, improving ewe sustainability and optimising body condition. Finally, the government says it wants to support licensing and uptake of pain

relief, for improved pain management during castration and tail docking.

The rst annual Health and Welfare Reviews began in September 2022 ahead of the o cial launch to all eligible farmers in January 2023. This involves an annual vet visit, diagnostic testing, reviewing biosecurity and medicines use and bespoke advice on actions and available support. It is initially open to farms eligible for the Basic Payment Scheme with more than 10 cattle, 20 sheep or 50 pigs. Future schemes due for launch include capital grants, disease eradication and control programmes, and payments by results. FG

Evidence-based probiotics for calves Q&A:

QWhat does ‘cross talk’ between the gut and the lungs mean for calves?

A: The gut microbiome is now clearly seen to be a major instigator of immune health, not only for the gut but also for lung health. Probiotics enhance the gut microbiome which then produces higher amounts of SCFA (short chain fatty acids), which are now known to be the signalling mechanism from the gut to the body’s immune systems and especially to the immune system of the lungs. ‘Cross talk’ between the gut and the lungs is now a proven scienti c concept and is the ‘buzz word’ in modern immunology (see Figure 1).

Provita Protect is the only veterinary probiotic whose claims and proven e cacy have been accepted and authorised by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD). The unique probiotic strains in Protect provide an optimised gut microbiome, producing the all-important improvements to the gut, the immune system, and the lungs.

This new concept of ‘cross talk’ explains not only the healthier gut and lower incidence of scours seen with a licensed probiotic such as Provita Protect, but also explains the signi cantly lowered incidence of calf respiratory disease – which is seen as a bonus when calves receive Provita Protect,

as has been evidenced by farmers who keep repeatedly using the product for this dual e ect (see Table).

QWhy has there been a resurgence of interest in calf probiotics?

A: There has been a resurgence of interest by veterinary surgeons in proven and e ective probiotics, as alternatives to antibiotics. This has been triggered by a number of recent issues, including the global increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in food animals and its likely transference to humans – and the worldwide push back on the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry. In addition, there have been new EU regulations on prohibition of prophylactic and metaphylactic use of antibiotics. Finally, there has been increased emphasis on the idea that prevention is better than cure and avoidance of disease is better than treating it – both nancially and on welfare grounds.

Why should you use a licensed product?

A: There have been very many unproven and substandard ‘probiotics’ on the market for quite a number of years now. The situation has arisen because in the early days, probiotics were de ned as ‘live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, could confer a health bene t on the host’. In other words, it was a ‘possible e ect’ rather than a ‘proven e ect’.

Furthermore, quality control, characterisation of microorganism strains, shelf life of product, number of strains, and regulatory approval of manufacturing premises were not required at that time.

Hence, unproven, unsubstantiated, and unreliable products remained the majority of ‘probiotic’ products on the market and were easily accessible by farmers and vets. The lack of standardisation and the lack of proof of any kind of e cacy for the product made it extremely di cult to distinguish between what was a scienti cally evidence-based e ective compound and what was a totally useless product.

A number of companies do not identify the types and numbers of viable organisms in their products at the time of use, nor have they performed any clinical trials to validate and prove their product. The result is a lack of credibility for the eld of probiotics as a whole and uncertainty as to which products may bene t animal patients.

Q QWhat have eld trials shown?

A: Field trials of Provita Protect in young calves revealed reduced incidence of scours and respiratory disease, as well as better growth rates.

Key ndings:

• Calves treated with Provita Protect on arrival performed better and were healthier than control calves. Incidence of scour was signi cantly lower in treated calves at 14 days (P <0.05)

• 52.5% of control calves remained healthy throughout the trial compared with 89% of the treated calves

• A signi cant decrease in pneumonia was evidenced in treated calves. 17% of control calves were treated for respiratory disease compared to 5% of the treated calves

• Incidence of scour plus respiratory disease was 49% in control untreated calves and 11–20% in treated calves

• Provita Protect was at least as e ective as antibiotics in scouring calves (together with electrolytes)

• Calves were heavier at weaning once they had received Provita Protect

• 10% liveweight gain increase over untreated controls

• Control calves showed an average of 17.88kg growth over the ve-week rearing period, whereas treated calves gained 19.67kg and had less disease, incurring less money spent on treatments and antibiotics

• Laboratory tests and analysis showed Provita Protect retained adequate counts of live viable organisms for at least ve months. If containers are sealed and kept at 2–8ºC, the shelf life has been shown to be 18 months. FG

Calf scour prevention is better than treatment

now licensed to boost antibodies against both F5 (K99) and F41 E. coli adhesins – the most commonly isolated mbriae taken from calves su ering with infectious diarrhoea3. This new license claim means this established vaccine combines the broadest calf scour protection available with unique user convenience,” says Dr Baxter-Smith.

Dr Baxter-Smith adds that Bovilis Rotavec Corona also contains the most prevalent rotavirus strain in Europe4, which minimises the chances of a calf scour protection breakdown due to di erences between vaccine antigens and the ubiquitous antigens on farm5.

Salmonella dublin and Salmonella typhimurium. Bovilis Bovivac S may also contribute to reducing S. typhimurium contamination of the environment.”

Management of coccidiosis and cryptosporidiosis

“Alongside good hygiene practices, strategic use of anticoccidial treatments such as Vecoxan will often be necessary to manage the challenge of coccidiosis in your calves – and, importantly, allow longer-term immunity to develop without loss of performance or disease.

Survey work suggests cattle producers are pretty much unanimous in the view that preventing disease in their youngstock will lead to better later life productivity; 99% of farmers either strongly agree (78%) or agree (21%) that this will be the case1

Consequently, vets are now encouraging clients to review their calf scour management protocols, reports Dr Kat Baxter-Smith from MSD Animal Health.

“By reviewing your colostrum management practices and assessing your calf rearing environment, your vet can highlight potential improvements to your system. If frustrating scour problems in 1–4-week-old calves are taking up too much of your time and impacting stock growth rates, then immunity-led disease management approaches should be considered,” she says.

However, Dr Baxter-Smith adds

that the reality is that infectious calf scours can be caused by di erent types of pathogens, including viruses (e.g. rotavirus and coronavirus), bacteria (e.g. E. coli and Salmonella spp.) and parasites (e.g. cryptosporidia and coccidia).

“Unfortunately, all these pathogens are present in the UK farming environment and often scour outbreaks can be caused by a mix of di erent infectious diseasecausing organisms2. Sometimes you can feel a little helpless when trying to manage calf scour issues, but your vet is there to support you, so please ask for advice.”

Whatever the mix of infectious organisms implicated in any calf scour outbreak, vets are now able to o er cattle farmers a wide range of vaccines and other e ective disease management products.

Management of key viruses and bacteria

Vaccination of the calf’s mother with Bovilis Rotavec Corona between 12 and three weeks before calving boosts colostrum quality, helping you to feed high levels of antibodies against rotavirus, coronavirus and E. coli in early life. Calves gain protection by drinking this forti ed colostrum from their vaccinated mothers.

“Bovilis Rotavec Corona is

“The vaccine also comes with unique practical bene ts – because alongside the wide vaccination window usage opportunity (12–3 weeks pre-calving), a broached product vial can be used for up to 28 days after rst opening*.

Vet, RAMA and farmer feedback suggests these bene ts are particularly useful in a mix of both dairy and beef suckler systems,” she says.

“For example, nearly three quarters of farmers (73%) see vaccination as a critical part of disease prevention for calf scours 1 . Dam vaccination to boost colostrum antibodies can certainly help you take control of infectious scour problems caused by rotavirus, coronavirus and E.coli .”

Bovilis Rotavec Corona is available in 5, 20 and 50-dose packs from both veterinary professionals and the agricultural merchant trade.

“If a salmonella problem is diagnosed, dam vaccination with Bovilis Bovivac S will also induce appropriate colostral antibody production – this time against

“If cryptosporidiosis is a particular problem on your unit, you can reduce parasite replication and excretion with Halocur. Halocur contains 0.5mg/ml halofuginone lactate,” says Dr Baxter-Smith.

With such a mix of di erent infectious scour-causing organisms causing problems on UK calf rearing units, correct diagnosis will always be important. Please contact your vet for further advice and support so that they can help you implement the most e ective disease management approach for your farm. FG

*Please refer to the product label or SPC for further information.

References:

1. Herd Futures Survey (2021). MSD study ref: ABC2021HF.

2. APHA 2018 report https://www.gov.uk/ government/statistics/veterinary-investigationdiagnosis-analysis-vida-report-2012.

3. Kolenda et al. (2015) A systematic review and meta-analysis of the epidemiology of pathogenic Escherichia coli of calves and the role of calves as reservoirs for human pathogenic coli. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. Mar 12;5:23.

4. Kaplon J et al. (2013) Impact of rotavirus vaccine on rotavirus genotypes and calciviruses circulating in French cattle. Vaccine. 31(20): 2433-40.

5. Papp H et al. (2013) Review of group A rotavirus strains reported in swine and cattle. Vet Microbiol. 165 (3-4): 190-9.

Milk fever is the most common metabolic disorder of dairy cows and impacts their welfare and productivity. Readily available forms of calcium can be given around the time of calving to reduce the risk of clinical and sub-clinical milk fever, or as a supportive therapy following intravenous infusion of calcium.

Taking the stress out of calving season

smaXtec’s health monitoring system, which recently won the AgriScot Product Innovation Award, o ers reliable calving alerts and continuous health monitoring to help farmers improve management, animal health and economic success during calving season.

The company says its health system provides helpful features for dairy farmers to improve health management and farm results, which is especially valuable during calving season. Knowing the exact time of calving is crucial in dairy farming: it enables farmers to make all the necessary preparations in time for a trouble-free birth and to keep a close eye on the cow during and after calving.

smaXtec sends a calving alert on average 15 hours before calving begins. The bolus technology and precise temperature

measurement (±0.01°C) allows smaXtec to reliably detect the change in inner body temperature, which decreases when the calving process starts. This allows farmers to take all necessary measures to ensure a problem-free birth, but there are other bene ts, smaXtec says.

The continuous and precise measurement of inner body temperature, drinking behaviour, rumination and activity all allows early detection of diseases long before visible symptoms appear. This way, farmers know immediately if any health problems occur post-calving, and farmers can

even avoid milk fever completely, the company claims. In the early stages of milk fever, inner body temperature and rumination drop. The bolus can detect the slightest changes to these parameters and send an alert, allowing the farmer to intervene and prevent a severe disease progression, or avoid the disease outbreak altogether.

Moreover, smaXtec says it now o ers the only technology worldwide that measures water intake of every individual cow. Especially after calving, adequate water intake is crucial for the cow’s health, su cient feed intake and thus milk yield. With smaXtec TruDrinking, farmers are always up to date on each cow’s drinking behaviour and can thus ensure optimal water supply, the company explains.

smaXtec says its bolus technology enables farmers to take the right action at an early stage. In this way they bene t from easier calvings and avoid risks during this critical period, such as retained placentas or uterine infections. This leads to fewer post-natal problems as well as milder disease progression and reduced usage of antibiotics. The result: a good start for cow and calf, a healthier herd and a consistent milk production.

AgriScot judge Alan Laidlaw, who is CEO of the Royal Highland Agricultural Society of Scotland, said during the awards ceremony: “[...] smaXtec really stood out as a game-changer. It’s a system that o ers immense scope for improving cow health and welfare by delivering real time data and in-depth insight at a glance. smaXtec are deserving winners.”

For more information visit: www.smaXtec. com FG

The proven HEALTH SYSTEM.

With early detection in health, heat & calving!

“The smaXtec system monitors when the temperature drops. Then the likelihood of the calving will increase. We‘ll get a notification about 12, 18 hours ahead of calving, which allows you to pick her out in an individual calving pen or make sure she is in the right group well ahead of time.”

Cleave, smaXtec customer, Cornwall, 180 cows

Preparing for a successful spring calving

su cient water supply. Plan for the worst. If the need arises, where will you restrain the cow for a di cult calving/caesarean? I highly recommend a calving gate as it safely restrains the cow and gives great access to the left ank of the cow in case a caesarean is needed.

Equipment and supplies: Make sure you have all the equipment you will need. Halter, calving ropes, calving aid, lubricating gel, arm length gloves, buckets, strong iodine for navel dipping, calf stomach tube and/or feeding bottle, arti cial or frozen colostrum, calf jacket, ear tags, and rubber rings for castrations.

Minerals and trace elements:

Most grass silage-based diets will be insu cient in certain trace elements such as copper, selenium, and iodine. Using a speci c pre-calving mineral supplement will additionally help to prevent milk fevers. Supplement either with trace elements by bolusing

the cows, or with pre-calving minerals by top dressing the silage, or by providing appropriate mineral licks.

Vaccination: If you are vaccinating against calf scour diseases (E.coli, rotavirus, coronavirus) make sure you vaccinate the cows at least three weeks before

the rst calf is due to allow a good level of antibodies to be produced in the colostrum.

Calving area: If you use calving boxes, clean and disinfect them ready for rst use. Make sure there is good lighting, adequate restraint, and a suitable water trough with

Safety: Always think about safety during the calving period. Cows with calves can be dangerous. Keep the cattle calm by keeping quiet and calm when working with them. Never put yourself or others at risk. Avoid going in with cows and calves on your own. Don’t turn your back on a cow or heifer around calving time. Always consider the fastest way to get out of danger should the need arise. Where possible restrain the dam of the calf before attending to the calf. Take note of any aggressive cows and mark them for culling. Remember to wear gloves and wash your hands before eating/drinking/smoking to protect yourself from disease. FG

It is said that preparation and planning prevent a poor performance. When it comes to calving, our primary targets are easy calvings and low calf mortality/strong healthy calves. With calving only a couple of months away, many preparations will already have taken place, but there is still time to address a few issues, writes Andrew Richmond of Westpoint Farm Vets.

Feed Adviser Register (FAR): Understanding nutritional quality and using this to formulate feed rations optimises livestock productivity, ensures feed production e ciency and minimises environmental impacts. Professional support and quality feeding advice is available from members of FAR, which has strict entry criteria based upon training and experience. Over 1,100 feed advisers are registered to provide advice for dairy, beef, sheep, pigs and poultry.

Farmers can also be con dent that registered Feed Advisers can help them reduce emissions and implement the best feed regime. Contact FAR directly to nd out more, or to nd registered feed advisers visit: https://www.agindustries.org. uk/feed-adviser-register.html

Forage Analysis Assurance (FAA) Group: High input costs and possible forage shortages, mean getting the maximum potential nutritional value from silage in a

ration can make a real di erence to yields and costs. Nutritional analysis of silages provides farmers and feed advisers with essential information for formulating rations. Forage from grass, whole crop or maize is still one of the most economic feeds for ruminants and a valuable resource.

FAA provides quality assurance for the analysis of silages. The group is formed of laboratories and silagerelated businesses and is dedicated to ensuring that reported forage analysis results are accurate and can be relied upon.

Silages are naturally variable materials and sampling methods and di erent techniques available for analysis can a ect the reported results. FAA members take part in regular pro ciency tests to ensure quality and conformity from a range of methods.

Handheld NIRS instruments are often used to provide an immediate result on site. It is important here to make sure that the sample tested is representative of the silage and that the instrument is regularly calibrated, and results are backed up with those analysed in a laboratory.

For Mr Foulkes, who farms 2,700 ewes in Anglesey, testing the silage clamp before and throughout the lambing season helps him work with

his feed advisor on adjustments as they work their way through the pit. “It also allows us to tweak purchased feed rates to complement the silage, meaning we can meet ewes’ requirements and optimise performance at the most e cient cost,” he explains.

Meanwhile, dairy farmer Mr Crank, from Cheshire, has placed increased emphasis on silage quality over the past three years. “Getting more from forage has helped keep our concentrate feed rates per litre of milk under 0.3kg/litre. By testing silage, we can monitor quality as we work through the clamp as well as year on year, allowing us to know when to make changes to the diet and what we can do to improve for next season.”

North Wales beef farmer Mr Thomas added that regular analyses have helped him optimise bought-in protein concentrates.

Visit the website: www.faagroup. co.uk to nd out more about FAA members, learn safe and correct farm sampling techniques for silage bales and clamps and watch a short video about forage analysis.

Make sure your forage analysis service is an FAA member and has achieved the FAA quality mark for con dence in the results. FG

Get a faster return on investment with Charolais

Charolais is the premium cattle breed that allows farmers to keep more cows and sell more beef, according to the British Charolais Cattle Society. Due to its rapid growth, Charolais can be slaughtered as early as 12–14 months of age, producing higher quality beef with improved tenderness.

Reaching maturity faster also means Charolais cattle can deliver return on investment much sooner, making them a more lucrative breed for beef farmers, the society reckons. Spending less time on farm also reduces maintenance costs per animal and lowers methane and carbon emissions as fewer facilities are needed for less time.

In addition, the rapid growth and carcass attributes of Charolais cattle lead to weaned calf producers

getting paid premium prices for their livestock, with second summering nishers also selling well.

According to the society, “no other bull works harder for the farm, the plate and the planet” – the Charolais o ers ‘added’ value to the beef sector by producing sustainable and pro table suckled calves.

Over the coming years, the society expects the Charolais to become even more prominent on British farms, as it is always looking for innovative ways to keep moving forward, such as genotyping.

The society’s upcoming white gold female sale will take place in Carlisle on 20th January 2023, led by auctioneers Harrison & Hetherington.

Catalogues are available to view at www.charolais.co.uk FG

New self-propelled diet feeder unveiled

Lucas G has launched a compact, high-performance, self-propelled machine, Autospire Compact, designed to operate in old and new buildings. The U-shaped frame design accommodates the tank to reach an overall height of 2.52m, with a consistent ground clearance of 25cm. The tank design reduces the machine’s overall width to 2.40m.

It has a steered rear axle with a large turning angle of 54 degrees and a short turning radius of 6.50m for improved manoeuvrability.

The panoramic glass cab o ers 360-degree vision and ensures precise silo approach and silage unloading when preparing the ration from the top to the bottom of the silo. The cab is equipped with a heated windscreen as standard,

and the pneumatic seat is coupled to the armrest to maintain control on the move. Control elements are easily visible and accessible, and the joystick is the Comfort PRO control. The machine can be equipped with six optional working lights. In addition, it has a hydrostatic drive with two-foot speeds for smooth and precise control.

While Autospire Compact is Lucas G's entry-level self-propelled diet feeder, a 156hp 4-cyl tier 5 engine provides a forward speed of 25km/h. At the loading mill, power provided by the 500-bar highpressure motor reaches 116hp. A left or rear trap door is standard and can be equipped with an elevating conveyor or side conveyor under the trap door. FG

Sexed semen produces a 90% sex bias for female o spring (Butler et al, 2014), while conventional semen leads to a surplus of unwanted male dairy calves which can increase the risk of dystocia compared to heifer calves and have a low economic value (S.A. Holden, S.T. Butler, 2018).

Dr Jude Capper, livestock

sustainability consultant and ABP chair in sustainable beef and sheep production at Harper Adams University, believes demonstrating that farmers are making industry-wide positive changes to improve consumer trust, is the biggest challenge in maintaining healthy levels of meat and dairy in future diets.

“The sustainability bene ts of using sexed semen mean that it is an increasingly popular choice for farmers to reduce unwanted male o spring, improve calf welfare, enhance genetic gain and increase pro tability, making it a win/win for both farmers and consumers.”

While the cost of sexed semen straws is still higher than conventional semen, the conception rate (CR) for sexed semen has improved over the last few years and is now only about 5–10% below that of conventional semen (Chebel, R.C., and T. Cunha, 2020). A recent study (M. Kerby et al, 2021) revealed that heifer synchronisation using a six-day progesterone device/ two dose prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF) protocol using sexed semen achieved a conception rate to rst AI of 53.5% and 62% in spring blockcalving and autumn block-calving herds respectively. When the spring calving costs were analysed, the net bene t of the synchronisation programme was considered to be an underestimate at £88.55 per heifer.

The use of progesterone releasing devices improve the quality of preovulatory follicles (Patrick Lonergan, 2011; M.C. Wiltbank et al 2014), provide a longer duration and enhanced expression of oestrus enabling better

detection (H. Lopez et al, 2004), o er more predictable ovulation (Block, A, et al, 2006; Walker, WL et al, 1996), and competent oocytes (Patrick Lonergan et al, 2011), while enhancing endometrial function (P. Lonergan et al, 2013) and optimal embryo quality (Rivera FA et al, 2011; Diskin MG et al, 2006). Prid Delta delivers the highest circulating progesterone levels (T Van Werven et al, 2013) of any device on the UK market as a result of the 29% larger surface area in contact with the vaginal wall and the fact that it contains 12% more progesterone per device.

“Sexed semen is a rapidly growing alternative to conventional semen for the arti cial insemination of dairy cows and by 2021 over half of all semen sold into the dairy industry was sex-sorted, jumping from a 32% share the previous year (AHDB survey, 2020),” says Katherine Timms BVetMed (Hons) MRCVS, ruminant veterinary advisor at Ceva Animal Health. “Progesterone is the mainstay of fertility management protocols in the UK and the use of progesterone releasing devices, such as Prid Delta, before the use of FTAI protocols can enhance conception rates to rst AI.”

Speak to your vet for further information. FG

References available upon request.

When researching mats for his new slatted shed, beef farmer Jim Orr initially looked at the black rubber slat mats on the market, visiting a number of farms. He found one recurring problem – all the mats came up and/or curled up and expanded.

After a recommendation from a neighbour he instead installed Comfort Slat Mats last year. His cattle have since seemed “very comfortable”, “less stressed” and have “a lot less bother with their feet”. He says the mats have “not moved an inch” since installation which was one of his main concerns with alternative black mats.

Special features of Comfort Slat Mats:

• Snap-lock xing mechanism: Grips the side walls of each slat and requires no bungs or screws to hold the mat down

• Curved surface on top: Moves animal waste away from the

oor, creating a dry, clean environment. When cattle walk on the mats, their weight creates a at surface to walk on. Once they move o the mat, it returns to a curved surface which helps displace waste

• Unique air-cushioned core: Creates ‘grip’ through the cattle’s hoof sinking into the mat

• Mats are tailormade to t each slat.

Amanda of D. Birch Milking Equipment, agents for Comfort Slat Mats, says the company prides itself on great service and gets “phenomenal” feedback on the mats, as well as lots of repeat business. FG

Beef farmer says slat mat is “best on the market”

British dairy farmers are facing increasing pressure to maintain high welfare whilst also improving sustainability and productivity. Swapping to sexed semen for heifers and genetically advantageous cows can signi cantly contribute to progress.

Quality beef genetics can add value back into smaller crossbred calves

As part of GB Calf Week in November, the participants of an ongoing trial discussed how quality beef genetics can improve the value of smaller statured, crossbred calves in a webinar hosted by AHDB Dairy. Henrietta Szathmary reports.

Great British Calf Week is a large collaborative event led by the AHDB and NFU that celebrates the progress achieved by the industry since the launch of the GB Dairy Calf Strategy in 2020. Responding to the industry’s view that smaller crossbred cows produce lower spec calves that cannot make the grades for slaughter, a trial was conducted to investigate the value of these animals when combined with good beef genetics. The three participants – Gwyn Jones, vice chair of Ruminant Health and Welfare, dairy farmer Chris James, and Richard Phelps of ABP Food Group –have all worked collaboratively over the past year to address the issue. During a webinar chaired by AHDB Knowledge Exchange manager Laura Awdry, the group discussed the work they have undertaken to highlight the untapped potential of these animals.

One of the key aims of the GB Dairy Calf Strategy was to end on farm euthanasia of bull calves by 2023, Mr Jones said, and the number

of calf euthanasias has fallen sharply since the strategy launched, said Mr Jones. Explaining the background of the recent trial, he said a contact in New Zealand told him about successful trials using quality beef genetics on crossbred cows to produce good quality dairy beef, using top bull Bruno, a Belgian Blue. Having learned of a Welsh farmer who used semen from Bruno extensively in his crossbred herds with good results, Mr Jones met with ABP’s Richard Phelps to nd a solution to the crossbred cow issue.

Excited by the prospect of producing highquality beef from these crossbred animals, Mr Phelps agreed to conduct a trial on ABP’s research farm in Shropshire. Despite being aware of the challenges associated with smaller stature cows, the team was interested to see what good genetics can achieve in terms of pro tability.

For the trial, ABP purchased 49 crossbred calves at six months of age, all sired by Bruno. According to Mr Phelps, the team was pleasantly

surprised with the quality of the calves’ conformation when they arrived on the farm. At the time of the webinar, 37 of these animals had been slaughtered, with the rest continuing to grow well. Mr Phelps said the average age at slaughter was 19 months, with an average carcass weight of 289kg and killing-out (KO) percentage of 51%. Moreover, the carcasses demonstrated desirable attributes and most achieved a grading of R4L.

Meanwhile, the average daily liveweight gain (DLWG) in the crossbred herd was 0.9kg/day, which is relatively high given the animals were grass-fed with no supplementary feed. However, Mr Phelps said this should be taken with a pinch of salt, as ABP’s research and development unit has excellent grazing.

To illustrate how the Bruno-derived calves performed against the Holstein cross herd, Mr Phelps revealed the latter went o to slaughter at 18 months of age, achieving an average carcass weight of 323kg, a KO percentage of 52% and an average DLWG of 1.08kg. Regarding classi cation, Holstein cross carcasses performed similarly to the trial herd at R-3.

While the Holstein cross system performed slightly better than the Bruno model, it shows that smaller stature crossbred cows can still produce industry standard dairy beef calves when combined with good bull genetics. The trial will now move onto the meat quality analysis phase to see how Bruno’s o spring compare in taste with other animals reared at ABP.

Chris James, who farms approximately 1,200 head of dairy cows in West Wales near the coast, also trialled some Bruno semen in 2021. So far, he has been pleased with how the calves are developing, with the herd being outwintered as of mid-November 2022.

Mr James has been rearing his own calves on the farm for the past 10 years, having made the decision to see the calves as an opportunity rather than a nuisance. His herd is primarily made up of NZ genetics and consists of Aberdeen Angus, Belgian Blue, Stabiliser and Friesian cows.

Although Mr James and his team have used considerable crossbreeding in the past, they are slowly moving towards establishing a pure black and white herd. He said the aim is to produce heifers that weight at least 560kg at slaughter, which is more likely achieved from larger stature cows. FG

New trace element options for sheep flocks

EnduraBol bolus technology features ‘single point erosion’ that ensures consistent and reliable delivery of ve trace elements and three vitamins for up to six months for sheep weighing over 40kg, Nettex says. Nutrients include high levels of manganese, zinc, iodine, cobalt, selenium and vitamins A, D3 and E.

The range includes EnduraBol Sheep and EnduraBol Sheep + Copper. EnduraBol Sheep contains no copper and is suitable for sensitive breeds and high copper areas. EnduraBol Sheep + Copper includes the same trace element and vitamin availability of EnduraBol Sheep with a bonus daily supply of 18mg of copper.

“In the nal two months of pregnancy, 75% of lamb foetal growth takes place which puts a huge nutritional demand on the ewe,” says Nia Williams, nutritionist and marketing manager for Nettex. “As pregnant ewes head into this key period ahead of lambing, supplementing trace elements is essential to ensure foetal development and support the future performance of both the lamb and the ewe.”

Regardless of the time of year, all classes of stock on forage-based diets require supplementation of

trace elements and vitamins due to their inclusion within forage varying signi cantly depending on soil type, weather conditions, plant species and fertiliser applications.

“Trace element bolusing is ideal for optimising supplementation by providing a consistent and steady release of the nutrients to ensure all of the sheep are receiving their daily requirements for an extended period of time,” says Mrs Williams.

Using the EnduraBol gun, boluses are administered with the Microbullet, which reduces the risk of calci cation and ensures controlled erosion of the bolus. Once the bolus has dissolved over six months within the rumen, the Microbullet will begin to breakdown.

EnduraBol boluses are engineered with a wax protection cap that covers the single point of erosion to ensure it doesn’t start releasing until it enters the sheep.

Each pack contains 40 boluses and 40 microbullets to service 40 sheep weighing over 40kg.

“Manufactured in the UK and available globally, EnduraBol boluses utilise patented technology developed and perfected by Rumbol Products Ltd, which has been tried and trusted by farmers for over 30 years,” concludes Mrs Williams. “This is an exciting technology to now be available to sheep producers.” FG

The bolus technology features ‘single point erosion’ for consistent and reliable delivery of ve trace elements and three vitamins for up to six months for sheep weighing over 40kg. Nutrients include high levels of manganese, zinc, iodine, cobalt, selenium and vitamins A, D3 and E.

As ewes reach the critical pre-lambing nutrition period, farmers have a new option for trace element supplementation with Nettex’s launch of the new EnduraBol Sheep range.

Optimising bird welfare during housing

Following the introduction of the poultry Housing Order on 7th November, Poultry Health Services clinical director Sara Perez-Palacios, explains how to further reduce the risk of avian in uenza in laying and rearing ocks, and ensure that bird health and welfare is optimised during the housing period.

Working with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) on many AI outbreaks has given Poultry Health Services a wealth of practical experience in dealing with these cases. Keeping birds indoors reduces the risk of contact with wild birds, but good biosecurity on site is still crucial to prevent this disease. Movements of people, vehicles and equipment between sites remains your main risk. Questions to ask yourself include: have you done your AI risk assessment? Have you identi ed the critical areas on your farm where AI could be introduced? Have you got a contingency plan to store eggs if you were in the restricted area following an outbreak of AI?

It is always best to plan ahead and have all the documentation and procedures needed in place whilst you are not a ected by an outbreak.

Optimising bird health and welfare

Whilst every farm is di erent, there are three main areas to assess whilst the birds are kept indoors: Environment control: As the pop holes will be closed, the air ow in the sheds will be a ected. Therefore, the air quality may deteriorate, particularly in naturally ventilated houses. Now is the time to check what the CO2 and humidity levels would be in your shed if the pop holes were closed. Environment monitoring tools have become more a ordable over the years and you can now buy a good quality, portable meter to measure CO2, temperature and humidity all-in-one online for less than £100.

Remember that light intensity inside the shed will also be a ected by closing the pop holes and this may result in more oor eggs or

Still time to claim 130% capital allowances

Under the super-deduction from the 2021 Budget, poultry farmers looking to introduce solar panels can claim 130% capital allowances on qualifying investments, for expenditure incurred between 1st April 2021 and 31st March 2023.

Under the super-deduction, for every pound a company invests, its taxes are cut by up to 25p, notes SecurCom, electrical contractors for the poultry industry. This change makes the UK’s capital allowance regime more internationally competitive, lifting the net present value of our plant and machinery allowances from 30th in the OECD to rst.

Under measures announced in the Budget,

businesses can still bene t from three signi cant capital allowance measures:

• The super-deduction – which o ers 130% rstyear relief on qualifying main rate plant and machinery investments until 31st March 2023 for companies

• The 50% rst-year allowance (FYA) for special rate (including long life) assets until 31st March 2023 for companies

• Within Freeport tax sites, companies can access new Enhanced Capital Allowances (ECA+) and companies, individuals and partnerships can bene t from an increased level of Structures & Buildings Allowance (SBA+) for investments

in the birds becoming unsettled. Luxmeters are useful tools that will help you to adjust the light intensity accordingly and ensure that there are not dark spots in the sheds.

Bird behaviour: Aggression, vent pecking, smothering and cannibalism may develop as the birds are kept indoors. These undesired behaviours can be prevented (or reduced) through a combination of light management and environmental enrichment. The use of string bunches, pecking blocks and Lucerne bales encourages the birds to explore and forage, which reduces the inter-bird interaction. There is also some evidence that leaving a radio on in the shed reduces aggression and makes the birds less susceptible to stress due to external noises. There are a variety of pecking blocks for di erent purposes and it is always best to discuss the options with your vet.

Finally, there are some products that are added to water or feed that can have a calming e ect on the birds.

Bird disease: Respiratory diseases tend to be more prevalent in the winter and may be exacerbated by poor ventilation. Most ocks are now vaccinating against infectious bronchitis in layers and this should continue during the Housing Order. We would recommend contacting your poultry vet if you are seeing sub-optimal production, egg quality issues or mortality.

In winter, we tend to see fewer red mites and worms. However, we recommend proactively monitoring levels of red mite and worms throughout the year. Red mite monitoring can be done using red mite traps, which are provided by us at Poultry Health Services and analysed at our diagnostic laboratory. This allows you to plan strategic treatments. We also recommend monitoring worm egg levels with regular worm egg counts performed every six weeks. This allows you to assess the worm burden in your ock and target treatment when there is evidence of increased worm eggs.

In summary, the Housing Order should help us control the spread of AI, but this is only one of the many steps that are necessary to stop the spread of the disease. If you need biosecurity advice, help with your AI risk assessment or wish to discuss a health monitoring programme for your birds or which products are available in the market for di erent conditions, please do not hesitate to contact any of our poultry vets. FG

until 30th September 2026.

Electrical contractor SecurCom carries out all types of installation from complete project managed systems for new build sites and refurbishments to the addition of the smallest fan or feeder circuit. Other key services include CCTV, alarm systems and biosecurity measures. FG

The rst step towards biosecurity is to control access. Digital alarm systems can use automatic sensors to sound an alarm if there are unauthorised people in the building. Sta are asked to identify themselves at the alarm unit using their ngerprints to form

a database of permitted persons. If someone cannot be identi ed or ignores the prompt, an alarm will sound via a warning horn, ashing light or a phone alert. A log le is also available to all authorised parties containing details of the various

poultry housing

comings and goings.

For high value stock, fresh air ltration is key to e cient hygiene protocol, and this may become more commonplace within the industry. Mechanical lter systems minimise the amount of virus that

can enter the building through incoming fresh air. Equal and positive pressure ventilation systems have higher investment costs but can provide excellent protection for your livestock. The fans must withstand the additional di erential pressure caused by the lters, so energy-e cient options are always advisable.

Positive pressure ventilation requires an intelligent control which aims to reduce the amount of un ltered air in the building to an absolute minimum. Although the initial outlay for a new fresh air ltration system may be considerable, more and more customers are choosing to go down this route. This could be the result of economic losses from a previous viral infection or the increased risk of infection from being in a high livestock density area.

On a nal note, it’s a good idea to regularly change the chemical in your foot dip, as heavy soiling a ects disinfection e ectiveness.

For further information on Newquip, the sole UK mainland supplier of Big Dutchman pig and poultry equipment, contact the company directly or visit www. newquip.co.uk FG

Marketing and exports confirmed as top priorities for pork levy spending

As part of AHDB’s Delivering the Future of Farming event, representatives of the pork sector council sat down with strategy director Angela Christison to answer questions and expand on the three priorities outlined in the pork sector plan. Henrietta Szathmary attended the online event.

Published in November, the pork sector plan has been built upon levy payer’s views regarding the type of work AHDB should carry out on their behalf. It incorporates discussions between members of the sector council on how to best distribute levy funds based on available evidence and the feedback received via AHDB’s Shape the Future campaign.

Similar sector plans have been set out for the Beef & Lamb, Cereals & Oilseeds and Dairy industries.

Mike Sheldon, who currently chairs the pork sector council, said the campaign incited considerable engagement from the industry, with survey respondents representing more than 50% of the pigs produced and more than 75% of the pigs slaughtered.

“We set out to make the relationship between AHDB and levy payers tighter and more responsive so that AHDB could respond more quickly and more directly to the challenges facing all our levy payers,” Mr Sheldon said.

According to the results of the survey, there was a very clear message from levy payers

Prepare poultry houses for warm weather and AI

In 2022 poultry farms were tested by intense heat waves and large-scale avian in uenza outbreaks. To add to the challenges, farmers struggled to get equipment to replace any seized up fans.

Hydor, specialist manufacturer of agricultural ventilation, warns that a repeat could happen if farm buildings are not adequately prepared in time, which could lead to dangerous conditions for livestock and a ect farmers’ bottom lines.

Hydor is urging farmers to start preparing by assessing the air ow, looking at their ventilation equipment and replacing any fans well ahead of time.

suggesting that priorities be shifted in favour of pre-farmgate work, with a particular focus on marketing, exports and reputation.

As such, the council set out how funds have been allocated to support work in these new areas of focus over the next ve years. The process involved making some di cult decisions that have been heavily in uenced by current market conditions and the expected 20% reduction in levy funds, from £9.7m to £7.9m, AHDB said.

Marketing a top concern

Marketing has been identi ed as an area of high priority in the pig sector and therefore will receive 40% of the total spending pot. Work in this area will continue to promote pork to everyday consumers as a healthy and reasonably priced protein.

To get the message across, AHDB has been organising seasonal campaigns such as Feed the Family for Less or Mix Up Midweek as well as communicating with consumers via various media platforms.

At the same time, AHDB said it had to cut

Farmers can turn to Hydor’s Agri-Max range of chimney fans, which includes its recently launched Agri-Max Tube Fan, the company says. The industry-standard round chimney tube fans, available in four universal model sizes (630mm, 710mm, 800mm and 910mm) can be used as a direct replacement for any existing fan unit, making it easy for new and retro t installations.

Constructed from quality components with agriculture in mind, Hydor’s fans are assembled, balanced and packaged at its ISO 9000 and ISO 9001 accredited UK manufacturing facility, which ensures that, at every stage, fans are built and tested to the highest standards.

Hydor says its technical engineers can assess what fans farmers will need to provide enough

funding to certain initiatives such as the Pig Health Scheme, the Real Welfare programmes and the employment tool Pig Pro to ensure essential programmes can continue to run.

Pork sector council member Rob Mutimer said AHDB is unique in the way it can market pork to producers, in that it is the only organisation that works with all the major producers and supermarkets. He said that as far as marketing e orts go, AHDB prioritised pork over other sectors this year to safeguard its largest and most valuable market.

Meanwhile, around a third of levy funds will go towards identifying new export markets and maintaining current ones. Mexico and Vietnam are among the recently unlocked destinations for British pork, according to council member Mark Haighton.

Moreover, the AHDB said it will continue to work to attract new customers via organising overseas fairs and hosting tours for foreign delegations. Recently, a Vietnamese delegation was given the opportunity to visit a UK abattoir and nishing farm and learn about how topquality British pig meat is produced, Mr Haighton said.

Lastly, 27% of total funds will be spent on promoting and protecting the reputation of the British pig industry in the wider market. Independent council member Hugh Crabtree said work in this area involves challenging misinformation, providing data and statistics, maintaining high animal health and welfare standards and educational work, amongst others.

Mr Crabtree added that AHDB also has an important role in facilitating an industry-wide response to activist organisations, working in collaboration with the NPA and the NFU.

To uphold the industry’s reputation in the long term, he said AHDB needs to continue informing consumers about the value of pork, how it’s produced, where it comes from, with a particular focus on young people.

Responding to the pork sector plan, NPA chief executive Lizzie Wilson said: “We broadly agree with the priorities identi ed – export development is key to our ability to maximise the value of the carcase and AHDB has an important role in maintaining the industry's reputation.”

The AHDB will continue to provide opportunities for levy payers to raise their concerns and is open to rearranging its priorities based on future challenges.

The pork sector plan is available to download from ahdb.org.uk/sector-plans/pork FG

air ow into buildings and constantly circulate fresh air for livestock.

For more information, visit: https://hydor. co.uk/agri-max-chimney-tube-fans/FG

Agri-Max Chimney Tube Fan

Designed, built and distributed in the UK, the Agri-Max follows industry-standard chimney sizing to be a direct replacement for your existing fan unit.

Helping farmers prepare for government inhibitor ruling

Ahead of new government guidance, Omex Agriculture has launched a new urease inhibitor called NitroShield that has been demonstrated to reduce ammonia emissions from urea containing fertilisers by more than 70%, alongside lifting winter wheat yields by 0.3t/ha and grain protein by 0.2%.

Defra has announced new rules on ammonia mitigation for urea fertilisers, which include the use of liquid UAN fertilisers.

The new ruling means that from 2024, unless mitigation measures are implemented, any fertiliser

containing urea such as UAN applied after 1st April each year must include a urease inhibitor. This excludes urea solutions for foliar applications.

The Omex research and development team have committed substantial e ort to ensuring

farmers are equipped with the most e ective inhibitor at the most e cient rates. NitroShield, Omex’s new urease inhibitor, has undergone three years of rigorous trials. It meets the government target of reducing ammonia emissions by 70%, promoting sustainable food production.

Adding NitroShield to liquid nitrogen applications can help farmers meet this requirement and improve e ciency at the most e ective application rates. With less ammonia lost to the atmosphere and contained in the soil, the nitrogen applied alongside this innovative urease inhibitor is better utilised by crops, the company says.

“Urease inhibitors work by blocking the urease enzyme from hydrolysing urea, which causes ammonia losses,” explains Omex technical development manager, David Booty.

“NitroShield gives reliable reductions of over 70% in ammonia emissions when mixed with Nitroflo or Nitroflo S grades prior to application,” he says. “The choice of whether to add it or not should be made on farm, on the day according to the date of application, soil and weather

conditions and any other mitigation factors, such as if fertiliser is incorporated within 24 hours.”

David recommends that NitroShield should be routinely used for all nitrogen applications after 31st March unless signed o as unnecessary by a FACTS-quali ed adviser.

“Rates can be reduced when soils are neutral or slightly acidic, or the crop canopy provides full coverage of the soil, the ambient temperature is not expected to be more than 15ºC within 24 hours of application, or a FACTS-quali ed advisor has recommended,” he says.

Omex is also here to help farmers unsure of how the new guidance a ects their operation. “We’ve worked hard to ensure farmers are equipped with straightforward advice ahead of the ruling” explains Laura Edmonds, marketing manager for Omex.

“Our information includes how farmers can reduce emissions from urea containing fertilisers, how the new scheme will be managed and ultimately how NitroShield will work in their operation to reduce ammonia emissions”.

For more information, visit: www.omex.com/NitroShield. FG

Delivering Crop Nutrition

The one-stop-shop for all your crop nutrition needs

Bionature UK’s liquid formulation TipTop has proven very popular and user-friendly, the company says. With high P and K prices and new legislation, farmers are looking at alternative solutions for supplying these essential nutrients. TipTop o ers:

• A liquid 20:20:20 NPK formulation also containing magnesium, boron, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and zinc in trace form

• A fast response liquid fertiliser for producing very quick biomass increases after application

• Product performance is based on the quality of the formulation the nutrients are suspended in, which allows for a rapid uptake of the fertiliser through the leaves of the plant while removing any restrictions on yield potential.

Bionature UK’s sustainable solutions allow the company to increase production by reducing the supply of

nitrates which is ever more important. Its expert team has years of experience gained at the company’s Centre of Excellence in Lincolnshire and knows how to bring the best out of soils and speci c crop varieties using Bionature UK’s bespoke range of liquid products.

All eight products have unique properties and can be used individually or as part of a programme.

Contact the company to nd out how it can boost your farm’s productivity and help increase pro tability. FG

Current global fertiliser supply means that it’s vital to get the most out of every granule. Now you can create windless fertiliser spreading conditions at the ‘touch of a button’ for a wider application window and increased accuracy.

Winds can be strong or light, blow from different directions, a constant speed one moment and in gusts the next - so the effect of the wind on the spread pattern never stays the same. Now available across the ZA-TS mounted and ZG-TS trailed spreaders range - the NEW standalone Amazone WindControl system means that the effect of the wind on the spread pattern is permanently monitored and automatically compensated for. More clever thinking from Amazone.

WindControl constantly monitors the crosswinds ensuring an optimum spread pattern at all times.

www.amazone.co.uk

Online portal for farmers to launch in 2023

With the pressure of needing to get more out of machinery but not necessarily having the time to research how to improve e ciency, 2023 sees the launch of Amazone‘s new portal, myAmazone for farmers.

Amazone has always provided online, state-of-the-art technical advice and support to help farmers get the best out of their Amazone machinery.

Regardless of whether you need to adjust settings for your fertiliser spreader, want to get some tips on how to carry out pre-season maintenance checks on your maize drill, look up some spare parts, or winter frost-proof your sprayer, that information is now easier to nd than ever.

myAmazone for farmers is a solution that gives farmers direct access to all the important information they need to get the best out of their Amazone machinery at the tip of a nger.

By registering your business on the myAmazone portal and adding the serial numbers of your machines,

all of the above services become accessible with just one click. You will also be able to connect with your local dealer who is always on hand to provide specialist eld service and a local spare parts supply. What’s more, you will also have direct access to Amazone’s customer service through the portal.

myAmazone for farmers not only provides a one-stop shop for getting the maximum

performance out of your machine, but also o ers registered users an extra year’s manufacturer guarantee as well as access to the new sevenyear perforation guarantee against rusting. These are applicable for all ZA-V, ZA-TS and ZG-TS spreaders from 2022 model year onwards.

Owning machinery can be a costly venture these days, so it pays to get the best out of what you have. Registering at myAmazone for farmers will allow you to do just that, the company reckons.

Upon launching, farmers can register their businesses at https:// amazone.co.uk/myAmazone.

In addition, Amazone‘s SmartLearning portal is an online video training platform that o ers the chance to learn the ins and outs of using a new seed drill without having to leave the comfort of your own room. The material includes all Isobus terminal operations, for instance, TaskController and SectionControl, all neatly explained in clear, user-friendly videos. FG

High fertiliser

prices

make

correct

spreader set-up even more important

For the past two years, fertiliser prices have been steadily increasing, and the sharp rise in 2021 is still looming over the industry with no change expected in the short term.

AHDB gures for October 2022 showed imported ammonium nitrate (AN) at £870/t; an increase of 67% on the previous year, with September gures up by 120%.

The gures released by AHDB early in 2022, when fertiliser prices were increasing rapidly, suggested lowering nitrogen application rates by up to 30%.

Even with November 2022 prices, the recommended rate was reduced by 40kg/ha comparted to standard RB209 recommendations.

Making the best use of the available technology, such as weigh cells, section control and variable rate applications can all help stretch fertiliser supplies.

Spreader testing is also of great value when it comes to e cient fertiliser usage. Calibration is an important aspect, however, achieving an even spread is essential to getting the best value and utilisation by the crop. This evenness of spread, or coe cient of variation (CV), should ideally be below 10%.

According to the FACTS/ECOPT calculator, a spreader with a CV of 20% could lead to nancial loss of up to £19/ha. Such loss can be easily avoided with a much less costly NSTS test. FG

New digestate additive “

helps o set fertiliser cost ”

The new Digest-It slurry additive from Origin Fertilisers is a live liquid biological bacteria that has been used in digestate for the rst time and has been well proven to signi cantly reduce ammonia emissions and increase ammonium nitrogen levels in slurry. The trial took place at a 1.2MW anaerobic digestion plant in Lincolnshire.

The 20.3% increase in ammonium nitrogen was shown after a 12-week period following the application of Digest-It. A further 29% reduction in oven dry solids has translated to the digestate being easier to pump, which in turn has reduced machinery wear and fuel use, along with shortening lling times.

As an outcome of reducing solid content, the digestate has a thinner consistency and is therefore easier for the plants to absorb following application to the soil. Plants aren’t using as much energy to search for nitrogen, and nitrogen losses through volatilisation are reduced.

Callum Norman, speciality sales manager at Origin Fertilisers, who was involved in the trial, says that while the headline increases make excellent reading, the wider bene ts of applying Digest-It shouldn’t be overlooked.

“The treated digestate had less nitrogen content than the untreated product. The upshot here is that the same amount of land can have 13% more digestate spread on it before NVZ limits are reached, which could be hugely bene cial for growers on smaller acreages with excess digestate to spread.

“We are really pleased with the results of the trial. The environmental bene ts, such as reduced volatilisation due to the conversion of ammonia into ammonium, and supplying good microbes to the soil, will be a huge bene t to all farms and help contribute towards agriculture reducing its emissions,” concludes Callum.

From a nancial perspective, the Digest-It trial returned a 2:1 cost bene t and only requires one application so reduces the labour requirement compared with additives that need ongoing applications, Origin says.

The results have been collected from samples taken every two weeks, during the closed period of the digester after application, and then compared with previous samples taken. The feedstock for the plant is a consistent mix of forage maize and rye, which translates into a 6kg/N/ tonne value. FG

Updates for latest version of mounted spreader

The latest generation of Kuhn Farm Machinery’s Axis range uses an updated spreading module, which delivers an in nitely adjustable spreading pattern and boasts an increased hopper capacity, alongside a redesigned chassis for up-rated payload capabilities.

The Kuhn Axis 50.2 is at the top of its range, featuring a 12–50m spreading width and 3,200–4,200-litre hopper capacity.

All Axis machines are equipped with wear resistant VXR+ coated spreading vanes as standard and

use Kuhn’s CDA (Coaxial Distribution Adjustment) system for accurate metering at high speeds.

The Axis series also uses Kuhn’s EMC (Electronic Mass Control) technology to meter fertiliser ow by measuring each spreading disc’s

drive torque. As such, fertiliser ow from each disc is constantly measured and automatically adjusted to maintain a precise application rate across the machine’s entire spreading width.

The EMC system is available in two versions: the PTO powered M EMC mechanical system, and the hydraulically driven H EMC version.

Moreover, Kuhn’s Vari Spread system features electrical actuators that continuously alter and adjust the spreading unit’s drop points, outlet positions and disc rotation speed to allow adjustment of spreading patterns across the machine’s entire

working width. The system can be controlled either manually or via GPS to prevent over-spreading at eld margins.

What’s more, Kuhn Optipoint automatically controls aperture by opening and closing at the headlands to minimise over or under application whatever the shape, size, density or air resistance of the fertiliser.

The system works through pre-programming all the relevant information into the Kuhn CCI, Quantron, or third-party control box to determine the optimum aperture opening and closing point in conjunction with GPS guidance. FG

App update provides increased accuracy and accountability

The tablet-based Navi App for KRM spreaders has been updated for the coming season with Google Play integration to simplify uploading shape les for variable rate spreading, as well as downloading ‘as applied’ maps for traceability.

The Navi App allows the spreader to be controlled via an Android tablet through a Bluetooth interface known as Navi Com. With the new update, the downloaded maps can now also be overlayed on Google Earth providing a quick visual reference.

Sales of bigger capacity, higher speci cation spreaders continue to increase as customers seek further e ciencies. The vast majority of the machines KRM has supplied for the coming season are equipped with weigh cells for fully automatic calibration, ensuring the target application rate is always applied whether spreading at a blanket or variable rate.

Weigh cell-equipped machines designated ‘W’ can be controlled via KRM’s own Calibrator Totz, which features a full colour touch screen for ease of use, or via Isobus, which allows customers to take advantage of the