Farmers Guide March 2023

Farmers Guide

The Best of British Farming

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Out & About

With Farmers Guide editor Rachel Hicks and the team

platforms.

The FG team spent a busy three days at the 63rd Doe Show in Ulting. You’ll nd a full review of the event across seven packed pages, starting on page 51.

A very well-attended Dairy-Tech 2023 took place at Stoneleigh on 1st February, and when not manning the magazine’s stand, the team spent time catching up with advertising clients. They are pictured with Luke Rutterford from Oxi-Tech – the company which featured on the striking cover of our February issue. (l-r): Farmers Guide’s Will Taylor, Luke Rutterford, and Farmers Guide’s Zohra Mitchell and Greg Goulding.

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health launched new vaccine Fencovis, which o ers advanced calf scour protection, at Dairy-Tech. Pictured are veterinary adviser Becca Cavill and brand manager Scott Deakin.

Editor Rachel Hicks attended Fairking UK’s grower conference in February, where attendees received updated borage agronomy advice and enjoyed a tour of the new cleaning plant provided by Tey Farm Systems (see page 28). Pictured above are Fairking directors Andrew Fairs (left) and Peter Fairs. Pictured below are (l-r) borage processing machinery operator Terry Shadbolt, Penny Fairs, and Tey Farm Systems director Roger Fairs.

And finally…

Betty’s dog (a Schnauzer) seemed to be having some di culty hearing, and wouldn’t even come when called for food, so she knew something must be wrong.

She took him to the vet, who said the problem was excess hair in the dog’s ears. He cleaned both ears, and the dog’s hearing returned to normal.

The vet advised Betty get some hair removal cream from the pharmacist, and rub it in the dog’s ears once a month to stop the problem form recurring.

So Betty went to the pharmacy, and took some hair remover to the till. The pharmacist told her: “If you’re going to use this under your arms, don’t use deodorant for a few days.”

Bewildered, Betty said: “I’m not going to use it under my arms.”

The pharmacist then said: “OK, well if you’re using it on your legs, avoid body lotion for a couple of days.”

An exasperated Betty replied: I’m not using it on my legs, either. If you must know, I’m using it on my Schnauzer.”

“In that case,” the pharmacist said, “stay o your bicycle for about a week.”

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The recent UK customs data, published to the end of December 2022, showed the UK had shipped over twice the amount of wheat than we had by the same time last year, says Open eld’s head of compliance, shipping and research, Cecilia Pryce. Shock headlines if taken out of context, but a reminder of why we shouldn’t look and draw assumptions. Even more shocking would be if you are then told that the 576,000 tonnes that was shipped by the end of December 2022 is nowhere near the 1.9 million tonnes shipped by the end of December 2010. It’s interesting how the year can change how the trade ows; one year we import to cover shortfalls in crops, inelastic demand and quality concerns, and in other years we export – but in order to do this, there are some important factors that many may forget about.

The most important is that the price always must be right; or should that be, we must be price competitive with other origins that are also selling their grain. This may sound obvious, but there are so many variables that can move, be that transport costs, exchange rates, value placed on quality parameters, assurance status, payment terms or even how fast we can load a ship. Every element has a cost, and to be competitive we must be very aware of every cost element. The UK also needs to be able to trade

freely with the destinations that are looking to buy our goods and be trading on the same or similar terms to other grain sellers. Over the years grain has become a relatively easily globally traded commodity but there are still a few paperwork and system barriers. With the UK being an exporter of extremes –in 2015/16 it was 2.8 million tonnes, yet in 2020/21 it was only 209,000 tonnes – it’s important that everyone remembers to keep all doors open ‘just in case’ they are needed. This is similar to imports in a bad year such as 2020/21 where we imported 2.4 million tonnes of wheat versus 2019/20 where we imported just 1.05 million tonnes.

Another aspect to consider is our own domestic demand for grains, because over the years this has, and does, move. Ideally the UK needs around 22.7 million tonnes of combined basic cereals (wheat, barley and maize), but this has varied by about 1.6 million tonnes. Some years we don’t consume as much for livestock, ethanol plants or similar.

Price does ration demand, and demand changes due to availability of cheaper replacements or even less livestock or better extraction rates. BUT, as a trend, domestic demand is generally increasing, as it is globally.

The above is all very important when thinking about the future. What will our crop number be in ve years’ time? What will we be importing or exporting? What will the price of grains be? The long and short of this is that there is no answer, which makes farming a very uncertain place but if land keeps being withdrawn from production and yields and productivity don’t increase then I suggest anyone producing a crop will be in a relatively sound place. We all have to love our environment but ultimately, we also need to feed ourselves or others less fortunate than us. If the last few years has taught us anything it’s that ‘unprecedented’ is a word with big implications. We need to keep all doors unlocked, because you never know when you may need to open them and use them because of another unprecedented event, but we also need to think hard about what the unintended consequences

may be of human instigated policy changes.

Fertiliser matters

According to Open eld’s fertiliser manager, Lucy Hassall, during February there was a reasonable amount of interest in purchasing urea based on o ers that were available for the new season. The recent over supply we have experienced in the market seemed to kickstart o ers earlier than we would usually see; this created an opportunity to cover some of next season’s requirements at signi cantly lower levels than we had available last spring and of course during the volatility we experienced last year.

With an Indian tender for February and positions of urea being covered across Europe, it will be interesting to see if this brings some more stability to pricing in early March or if markets continue to remain volatile.

In comparison, AN remains in much shorter supply as many European manufacturers remain partly o ine due to the long term e ects of high production costs. It is likely that as we get to a period of new season o ers for AN, there could be restricted volumes available. FG

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Fundraiser to aid MND Association in memory of Su olk farmer

form of motor neurone disease (MND) and lost his life to the condition six weeks later on 14th March.

Tom Hitchcock from Ipswich, Su olk, is taking on the National Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association in memory of his late father.

A farmer of over 40 years, Tom’s father, Matthew Hitchcock of Hitchcock Farms in Elmsett, was forced to retire early due to ill health. In February 2020, he was diagnosed with an aggressive

As part of his fundraiser, Tom and ve friends will be attempting the Three Peaks Challenge as a winter climb on the 24th, 25th and 26th of March.

The group will ascend the Scottish peak Ben Nevis (1,345m) on the rst day, followed by Scafell Pike (978m) on the second day, and conclude the challenge with Snowdon (1,085m) in Wales.

“I feel that this is an appropriate challenge as when I was younger, my father used to take us to Wales and

we walked up Snowdon, and Devil's Cauldron as well as a few other peaks in the Snowdonia national park as a family on holiday,” Tom wrote on his JustGiving page. In the rst month of launching the fundraiser, the campaign has reached 90% of its £2,020 target, which has been set in memory of the year Tom’s father passed away. However, Tom is hoping to at least double that target, and with his father being a lifelong farmer, he now turns to the farming community for support.

To make a donation, visit Tom Hitchcock’s fundraising page at https://bit.ly/3SeLy6T

New climate change hub launched for forestry sector

The Climate Change Hub –which centralises the latest resources, information and guidance on climate change adaptation to support landowners, woodland managers and forestry practitioners in addressing climate change threats – was launched by Defra, Forest Research, Scottish Forestry and Welsh Government on 20th February.

Managed by Forest Research, the Hub

centralises and distils the latest information and UKFS (United Kingdom Forestry Standard) guidance on climate change adaptation to encourage uptake of adaptive practice by forest and woodland owners and managers. It provides concise information about risks from the changing climate, how to identify suitable adaptation measures and examples of how other managers are

Sencrop opens first UK facility at NIAB’s agri-tech incubator

Sencrop has been active in the UK for several years, working with organisations like the BBRO on cercospora prediction, and recently it joined forces with Frontier Agriculture to roll out a UK-wide network of 480+ connected weather stations, helping farmers and their agronomists to make better crop management decisions.

This most recent move to the heart of UK and international crop research is a great opportunity for Sencrop and NIAB to collaborate, says Mark Herriman, sales account executive at Sencrop. “It is a very positive step. NIAB has a long history of scienti c research and Sencrop can help with bringing some of that research to farmers.

“For example, NIAB has been working on a potato yield model which could be integrated into the Sencrop app.”

implementing adaptive practice.

To enable managers to make informed decisions for their own woodlands, the Climate Change Hub also includes detailed guidance through the decision-making process, step-by-step, including information about the online tools available to support risk management and species choice. More at www.forestresearch.gov.uk/ climate-change

Businesses awarded £154,000 research vouchers

Over £154,000 of funding has been awarded by Growing Kent & Medway to 11 businesses for research projects to improve the sustainability of the horticultural, food and drink sectors.

From reducing plastic in fruit punnets, cutting energy use in food processing, to extracting plant proteins

from seaweed, the wideranging projects each showed innovative approaches to overcoming sustainability challenges.

Vouchers worth up to £15,000 were issued to each business to provide access to the technical expertise and testing facilities at three research centres in Kent and

Medway. The group of winning businesses include fruit growers, packaging suppliers, processors, ag-tech pioneers, and start-ups working with alternative proteins.

New grant opportunities, as well as a second round of Business Innovation Voucher funding, will be made available later in 2023.

Also, while Sencrop already has a potato blight decision support tool, data NIAB holds on susceptibility of potato varieties to the disease could be used to re ne the tool, says NIAB digital account manager Charles Gentry.

The company hopes to grow its network of weather stations by working more closely with NIAB through Barn4, says Mr Herriman. “We will have direct access to station information and will be able to feed local data to NIAB agronomists to aid their on-farm decision-making.”

UK agricultural tractor registrations –January 2023

The number of agricultural tractors (over 50hp) registered in the UK in January was 644 machines. That is nearly 30% higher than the gure for the same month last year and the highest total for the opening month of the year since 2019. Despite a relatively low gure in December, that means registrations over the last four months were 10% higher than a year before. The recent growth is perhaps an indication that the disruptions to supply chains which led to longer lead times for tractors and other machinery are starting to ease.

Month: 644 units +28.8% change (compared with January 2022).

Grass breeder celebrates renewed R&D partnership

Recommended List, the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI)-Barenbrug grass genetics partnership has delivered a cumulative increase in grass yields of 0.5% per annum over the 30 years since its inception in 1991. A new agreement will see this partnership continue with con dence well into the future.

“The Barenbrug partnership has formed a crucial part of our successful breeding programme for a number of decades,” says Dr Gillian Young, AFBI’s grass breeder.

Dr Young is already working on varieties with traits such as improved nitrogen utilisation and root structures. Improved nitrogen utilisation will reduce the need for fertiliser, while maintaining overall productivity.

But it’s resilience to stress – particularly drought – that she believes will be the most important trait to seek out.

Many of these ‘new’ traits will be root traits. “Whether it’s carbon capture, nutrient e ciency, or drought resistance, the answer’s going to be in the roots – their length, diameter, mass, and so on. But we’ll have to introduce these without losing sight of the all-important above-ground traits –those to which we’re accustomed.”

UK red meat exports reach record levels

The value of the UK’s red meat exports has reached its highest levels since records began, worth a massive £1.7Bn last year, partially driven by the rising prices of meat. According to the latest data from HMRC, the total value of red meat shipments increased 22% year-on-year – with over 609,000 tonnes exported around the world, up 9%.

Beef exports brought the biggest boost, with the value of shipments up nearly 46% to £640M – driven by the recovery of trade with the EU. Pig meat exports reached £623M, up almost 10%, followed by sheep meat exports which were valued at £503M – a rise of 13% year-on-year.

AHDB international market development director, Dr Phil Hadley said: “Last year, we saw strong growth in some of our key target markets, such as Canada, Japan and Europe, which remains the UK’s most valuable market. We also saw new opportunities created for pork exports to Chile and lamb to the US, which both have the potential to help bolster these gures over the coming year.”

The clock is ticking for government to back British farming

On 21st February at the NFU Conference, the NFU warned that the clock is ticking for the government to ensure British farmers and growers can continue to feed and fuel a changing and challenging world.

Delivering the opening address at the NFU Conference, NFU president Minette Batters said: “There are three cornerstones on which a prosperous farming sector must be built and which any government should use to

underpin its farming policy. They are boosting productivity, protecting the environment and managing volatility.

“But the clock is ticking for those farmers and growers facing costs of production higher than the returns they get for their produce. It’s ticking for the country, as in ation remains stubbornly high, and the a ordability and availability of food come under strain. It’s ticking for our planet, as climate change necessitates urgent, concerted

action to reduce emissions and protect our environment. And it’s ticking for government –to start putting meaningful, tangible and e ective meat on the bones of the commitments it has made. Commitments to promote domestic food production, to properly incentivise sustainable and climate friendly farming, to put farmers and growers at the heart of our trade policy, and to guarantee our food security. It really is time to back British farmers and back British food.”

Public body sparks discussion on Scotland’s changing landscape

A new paper launched by Scotland’s leading land reform body hopes to stimulate discussion on the ways communities can bene t from land use change and investment for Scotland’s net zero ambition.

The Scottish Land Commission’s ‘Community bene ts from investment in natural capital’ discussion paper not only considers thinking on how local communities can bene t from changes in Scotland’s land, but showcases how investment in natural capital enhancement, restoration, and creation

projects can deliver a multitude of public, private, and community bene ts.

The paper draws together the Commission’s current thinking on some of the key questions about community bene ts from investment in natural capital, and highlights the need for major investment in Scotland’s land to ful l these on a local level while meeting climate demands. With an estimated £15–27Bn of investment required in Scotland to reach net zero by 2045, the Commission has proposed a de nition of community bene ts in

this context and a set of expectations about how community bene ts should be identi ed and delivered.

Community bene ts are packages delivering maximum value to local communities on a negotiated basis for long term use. These bene t packages arise from investment in natural capital enhancement, creation and restoration projects.

The ‘Community bene ts from investment in natural capital’ discussion paper can be found at www. landcommission.gov.scot/ community-bene t

Warning to growers after raid on Norfolk ag-chem store

A warning for farmers to be vigilant for product for sale from unknown or suspicious sources comes from the AIC following a raid on a major distributor’s store in Norfolk on 6th February.

Products stolen from the store included a large quantity of herbicides for spring use

in a range of crops including cereals, potatoes, and sugar beet. The names of speci c products taken are Grazon, Basagran, Artist, Broadway Star, Maister, Signum, and Paci ca Plus.

Hazel Doonan, AIC’s head of crop protection and agronomy, said: “Any

business or individual selling or supplying professional PPPs must hold the BASIS Certi cate in Crop Protection. Growers should be extremely cautious if they are o ered product that appears to be exceptionally cheap or does not come from a known and reputable distribution company.”

Leaf testing highlights climate challenges

The data from two seasons of the Bayer/NIAB CropCheck initiative illustrates just how unusual the last two seasons have been.

During June 2021, septoria came almost out of the blue. Until then, CropCheck qPCR septoria scores had been low apart from in the most susceptible of varieties, but the disease took o as warm and wet weather struck ahead of the Cereals event. Last season was almost a carbon copy – except what came out of the blue was yellow rust.

This poses the question of whether cereal disease control is becoming more challenging. It is worth some thought as despite ve varieties on the RL having septoria ratings of above 7, many of our wheat varieties and fungicides have a slight aw. Over half of the wheat area is down to just six varieties, all of which have a disease vulnerability. Our fungicide armoury o ers little in the way of septoria kick-back, some products that are more active are weak against yellow rust and no multisite is as consistent as CTL.

Less predictable

Project lead Greg Hanna doesn’t know whether disease control is more challenging now than in the past but he does feel it is less predictable. As well as the late yellow rust build up last season, CropCheck testing con rmed eyespot to be widespread, apart from the most southern counties.

As the rst positive eyespot results came in during April, so did yellow rust too. The rst was no great surprise given that it was leaf 5 of

RGT Saki at Scoughall Farm, East Lothian. As the season progressed, latent infection was found at other sites and in varieties considered resilient; Cranium (8) at Folkingham Farms, Sleaford, being one.

During May, a jump occurred. Quickly the disease was picked up elsewhere, including in KWS Extase at Fawley Court, Herefordshire; a variety thought to be highly resistant to all strains except 19/215.

But what was responsible for this late burst of the ‘yellow peril’?

The weather played a part. Met O ce anomaly charts show February through to May being warmer than UK averages and particularly conducive at between 10–20°C for most areas.

As spring turned to summer and temperatures increased further it took some time before CropCheck scores abated. Research has shown that yellow rust feels the heat and temperatures above 20°C should check the disease. That raises the question of whether new strains are circulating.

When it comes to why it took yellow rust so long to get going, despite conducive temperatures, Mr Hanna and Dr O’Driscoll feel it is again down to the weather. Although temperatures were favourable there was a distinct lack of humidity, which is what yellow rust needs.

In this case, spores will sit on the leaf until rain or heavy dew kickstarts them into life, which Mr Hanna

says is an argument for an SDHI. “Azoles don’t act on a spore until it has germinated but SDHIs do. If you have a protective and lasting layer of an SDHI like bixafen on the leaf it will prevent any spores that land from germinating.”

Life after tebuconazole

Mr Hanna believes with the loss of tebuconazole it inevitably means greater reliance on variety resistance going forward.

Dr O’Driscoll agrees and points out that three of those most popular six varieties have yellow rust ratings of 5 or less. “We all know the old adage of ‘the genetics help the chemistry and the chemistry helps the genetics’. If yellow rust management is going to be more of a concern, then growers need to spread their risk using the range of genetics available to them. We have a wide choice of varieties available on the Recommended List, many with yellow rust scores of 8 or higher.”

With tebuconazole widely used as a guard at the T0, its withdrawal is likely to lead to higher pressure at the T1. The good news is that strong fungicide performance was seen in a high-pressure yellow rust trial with Skyfall at Troston Farms, Su olk.

The T1 comparison showed products delivering robust doses of prothioconazole standing up well. The two stand-out products being Ascra (prothioconazole + bixafen + uopyram) and Elatus (prothioconazole + benzovindi upyr), with 0.8-litre/ha of Elatus and 1.0-litres/ha of Ascra delivering yields of 9t/ha.

“We knocked back T2 rates so we could get a good T1 comparison, and both gave e ective control. Interestingly, where we lifted prothioconazole rates from 130 to 156g/ha we saw a 0.5t/ha yield response, Ascra at 1.2-litres/ha lifting yield to 9.46t/ha, notes Mr Hanna.

Yellow rust control is dependent on timings not getting stretched and for a disease that cycles quickly and likes slightly cooler conditions Mr Hanna feels growers will need to re-think fungicide programmes. “In prone yellow rust areas or with susceptible varieties, it is important to damp down yellow rust ahead of GS32. A strob is the next best thing to tebuconazole so it is a logical alternative. It will limit strob use later in the season but it is important to start o on the right foot,” he notes.

He also thinks it will be wise to ‘beef up’ yellow rust protection throughout the programme. “We saw last year spray intervals stretched with leaf emergence slowed, exposing leaf 2 for longer. Those Ascra and Elatus T1 plots o ered su cient leaf 2 protection so that T2 sprays were applied to a clean leaf 1. However, plots without strong yellow rust actives at T1 saw infection establish on leaf 2 and where this was followed by weaker yellow rust mixtures at T2 the disease spread further.”

More good news is that it is looking like Iblon (iso ucypram) will be approved in time for next season. “It’s a potent septoria active with excellent yellow rust protection too. With the tebuconazole revocation clock ticking the arrival of approval is welcome,” he adds. FG

I’ll drink more tea from a ask than a mug, spring will feel busier every year, and Revystar ® XE will protect my wheat at T1.

Don’t base disease decisions on previous seasons

The 2022/23 season started quickly for many, and so has the spring. Warm February weather saw a quick return to eld work, re ecting what happened at the start of the season. With harvest ending early, many took the opportunity to get winter wheat into the ground early.

The good news is that most crops have come through the winter well, especially early drilled ones. The bad news is that reports of yellow rust and septoria have circulated since the turn of the year. We’ve been here before but a recent run of dry spring weather has helped check disease pressure. But don’t bank on a lack of April showers again, is the warning from AICC agronomists Patrick Stephenson (right) and David Lines.

April average rainfall at NIAB, Cambridge, is 42.5mm, but for the last six seasons it has been just 29.0mm, in what have been six turbulent seasons weather wise.

Mr Stephenson feels a substantial reservoir of disease could fuel foliar threats and advises growers not to base fungicide decisions on recent seasons. He believes decisions need to be based on risk. That demands a rounded appraisal of variety rating, when it was drilled, crop biomass and weather patterns and forecast –all essential to protect emerging

leaf layers.

His starting position for doing that is, well, at the start. Nip disease development ‘in the bud’.

That start could be at the T1, where a septoria resilient variety has been sown late; if not, then a T0 is a prudent investment. For susceptible yellow rust varieties, when prudence becomes a necessity, he considers a contact material like tebuconazole the best option.

T0 options for septoria

T0 options where septoria is a concern are multisite folpet or possibly defence elicitor Lamanarin (Iodus). He considers nothing is as reliable as CTL but both are alternatives, especially as wheat prices are still upwards of £200/t.

When it comes to the two key timings, he feels growers have a good arsenal to choose from. Ascra (prothioconazole + bixafen + uopyram), Elatus (prothioconazole + benzovindi upyr), Revystar and Univoq (prothioconazole + fenpicoxamid) are all likely to feature again, depending on disease spectrum and risk.

In his view, Univoq and Revystar

are the strongest septoria options. Elatus isn’t the strongest septoria option but is for yellow rust, with Ascra being a good ‘all-rounder’. With its high prothioconazole loading it is particularly useful where the stem-based complex is a consideration.

So, he sees the former two as more natural T2 ts and the latter two as more suited to the T1. But not exclusively, if leaves 3 and 2 are in a protective position ahead of ag leaf sprays then Ascra and Elatus still have a place.

Keeping leaf 3 clean is why the T1 is vital in Mr Stephenson’s view. He understands the need to target inputs accordingly but is uneasy about rates being cut below minimum recommendations, even if we see another spring drought. “Lower input varieties allow a degree of exibility but for the last two seasons some T1 rates have been extremely low. You are then relying on the weather to remain dry but if it turns, a few sharp rain events or a period of humidity can quickly change matters. It is likely rates have been a factor in the development of late disease pressure over the last two seasons,” he adds.

Varietal resistance

Herefordshire-based David Lines (right) probably sees as much septoria as anyone. Walking midSeptember drilled Extase and Graham in the middle of February, he didn’t have to look hard to nd the disease. It hadn’t made its way to new growth but it was there in the base of plants.

He is perhaps fortunate that the septoria risk in his area means many growers have heeded the warning when it comes to variety resilience and he doesn’t manage anything rated less than a six. But he warns that even the most resilient varieties aren’t resistant. “There is no such thing as an immune variety,” Mr Lines stresses.

He points out rating really depends on when it was drilled. “Drill in mid-September and you can knock as much as a whole point o a variety’s septoria rating. Dawsum and Graham have good ratings of 6.4 and 6.7 respectively, but these are going to behave more like a variety rated at 5.5,” he cautions.

He agrees that we have the fungicide arsenal to meet a range of disease scenarios and like Patrick that can include a T0.

He also sees a role for Iodus, and for those with more susceptible varieties in the ground, then he would advise Thiopron or folpet as useful T0 additions, and elsewhere for the most susceptible varieties.

the most susceptible varieties.

Ascra suits many T1 scenarios in his view. Rates will be tailored to variety rating, drilling date and environmental factors. He feels an azole + multisite does have a place but only for the most resilient varieties if later drilled and the weather has been kind. Revystar and Univoq will be held back for T2 applications, especially for more susceptible varieties.

There is also the issue of yellow rust spreading west. The disease was picked up in Extase at Fawley Court, Herefordshire, last season as part of Bayer’s CropCheck initiative, a variety considered resilient to all isolates apart from 19/215.

It probably is no surprise given the amount of Extase in the ground, Mr Lines saw the disease last year and mildew too. It could threaten lush crops again; however, he will only opt for a speci c mildewicide in severe situations. FG

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Boost disease control to protect cereal returns

The value of 2023’s harvest is predicted to remain relatively buoyant compared to previous years. It will therefore pay to ensure crops are properly protected against diseases this spring. That’s the advice from Adama’s fungicide technical specialist, Andy Bailey, who believes growers can power-up their disease programmes cheaply and e ectively with the addition of folpet.

“The ongoing e ects of the war in Ukraine and global factors including exchange rate uctuations and volatile weather patterns means many in the industry are expecting cereal prices to remain relatively buoyant, at least for the short-term,” Mr Bailey explains. “Growers should therefore ensure their crops are properly protected this spring; not only to safeguard yields, but also to ensure they achieve the quality needed for milling bonuses and malting premiums.”

Balanced approach

Mr Bailey recommends a balanced approach to crop protection, with the use of cultural and integrated disease control tactics used alongside chemical measures: “Key cereal diseases such as septoria and rusts in wheat and ramularia and rhynchosporium in barley can be di cult and costly to control,” he explains. “Especially as the erosion of the e cacy of many single site active ingredients means these fungicides will struggle to provide e ective curative action once diseases have taken hold.

“It’s therefore essential to stay ahead of infection by using cultural controls to reduce the spread of diseases and by applying a mix of alternating active ingredients and modes of action throughout the season. The addition of the multi-

site fungicide, folpet, provides a cost-e ective way of powering-up programmes to ensure crops are protected from the outset.”

Folpet has historically been used to provide protection against rhynchosporium in barley and septoria in wheat and gives useful added protection against rusts. For 2023, it is also approved for use against ramularia and net blotch in barley.

“The latest data from 54 trials conducted over a period of four years suggests that, based on a wheat price of £220 per tonne, the inclusion of folpet in spring fungicide programmes will deliver a ve to six-fold return on investment by increasing yields by an average of 0.265t/ha,” Mr Bailey claims. “That’s as a result of prolonged green leaf retention which results in better grain quality and yield improvements of up to 0.6t/ha.

“With the recent addition of net blotch and ramularia to its label, folpet’s scope of advantage is now even more wide-ranging, making it a key component in barley crops being grown for the malting market.”

Application timings

To control septoria in wheat, Mr Bailey explains that the key time to include folpet is at T1 when it will boost protection and help crops to stay ahead of the disease.

“Using folpet at T1 will help in all scenarios to avoid the need for curative activity,” he explains. “A subsequent application at T2 will maintain protection and help to keep the upper canopy greener for longer, thereby enabling the crop to capture more available sunlight and translate this through to yield bene ts.

“In high risk septoria situations, such as where a susceptible variety has been drilled early, protection should be brought forwards by applying folpet at the T0 timing, with subsequent applications made at T1 and T2 to power up the programme and provide season-long protection.”

For the control of ramularia in barley, the key time to include folpet is at T2: “But it can also be used in a programmed approach (at T1 and T2) which adds both rhynchosporium and net blotch control as well as improved greening,” Mr Bailey says.

Mr Bailey also reminds growers that the inclusion of folpet

helps to protect and prolong the e cacy of single site actives against resistance. He also advises that growers can power-up their fungicide programmes by switching from a standard formulation of prothioconazole to one of a higher quality: “Prothioconazole is widely used against a range of wheat, barley, oat, rye and oilseed rape diseases, but not all products are created equally,” he claims.

“Adama’s straight prothioconazole fungicides, Soratel and Magan, bene t from a unique formulation which uses a built-in adjuvant to enhance uptake and a solvent which improves the active’s movement through plants once absorbed. This ‘Asorbital’ formulation technology also promotes rain-fastness and, gramme-for-gramme, consistently outperforms other prothioconazole formulations in terms of cereal and OSR disease control.” FG

Strategic investment in sugar beet weed control

With sugar beet prices up signi cantly compared to last year –by as much as 50% where growers are willing to commit to producing a crop in 2023 and 2024 – it will pay to invest in an e ective weed control programme this spring.

That’s the advice from Adama’s herbicide technical specialist, Dr Bill Lankford (pictured), who claims that a well thought out weed control programme will deliver a signi cant yield response in sugar beet, with scope for a yield lift in the range of 10–20% compared to crops where weed control is below par.

“In recent years sugar beet growers have predominantly relied on phenmedipham based herbicides to control the majority of weeds,” Dr Lankford explains. “However, as weed ora has diversi ed as a result of changes in agricultural practices, and phenmedipham products have moved to less e ective suspension concentrate formulations as a result of legislative changes, relying on one key active ingredient is no longer adequate to provide complete control.”

A wider array of chemistries should therefore be used alongside phenmedipham, with actives such as metamitron, quinmerac, ethofumesate, clopyralid, dimethenamid-p and propaquizafop giving good results against many of the key yield-robbing weed species.

“The easiest of these actives to incorporate into programmes is metamitron thanks to its broad label, good crop safety and dual contact and residual activity. It also partners well with quinmerac which delivers added e cacy, especially in dry conditions thanks to its useful water solubility.”

Dr Lankford explains that adding metamitron and quinmerac enables sugar beet growers to heighten their

current herbicide strategies by targeting a wider range of target weeds including cleavers, bindweed, black nightshade, fool’s parsley and common eld speedwell.

“Of course, the inclusion of additional active ingredients into the tank mix doesn’t come for free, but growers can be assured that products such as Goltix (metamitron 700g/litre) and Goltix Titan (metamitron 525g/litre and quinmerac 40g/litre) will pay for themselves, especially where the weed burden is high.”

Dr Lankford explains that the application of a robust programme of early season weed control (either as pre-emergence or early postemergence treatments) will not only boost crop yields but can also help growers to manage workloads by giving some exibility in terms of application timings.

“Active ingredients such as quinmerac aren’t cheap,” Dr Lankford admits, “but where the weed burden is high and includes di cult to control species, its addition is more than worth it, especially at a time when sugar beet prices are so buoyant.”

In addition to its metamitron and quinmerac herbicides, Adama has also developed a co-formulation of phenmedipham (200g/litre) and ethofumesate (200g/litre).

“We’re also in the process of bringing a straight ethofumesate product which has a higher individual dose to the market so that growers can control established weeds more e ectively at the post-emergence timing,” concludes Dr Lankford. FG

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Sprayer setup essential for successful weed control

Spring is a key time for weed control in winter crops, and ahead of spring sowing. Herbicides and targets vary, but proper sprayer maintenance and setup, along with correct nozzle selection ensure e ective weed control in all situations.

In partnership with independent application specialist Tom Robinson (right), Bayer commissioned trials to assess how nozzle choice and boom height a ect drift and e cacy of Roundup (glyphosate). “We wanted to have better information on Roundup application to help farmers improve stewardship and performance,” says Bayer’s Roger Bradbury (left).

careful attention to spray quality. Too ne and it drifts away; but too coarse and it lands on the soil instead.

Look beyond the label for nozzle recommendations

The trials tested four nozzles at two boom heights (0.5m and 1m) spraying 100-litres/ha Roundup to a eld of spring wheat, which was used to simulate a stubble. The poorest performing nozzle was the 110 fanjet, which is the standard label recommended nozzle. It caused more drift without improving weed control.

Although the focus was (mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron

Although the focus was glyphosate in stubbles, the results are also relevant for other contact acting herbicides such as Atlantis Star (mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron + thiencarbazone). Here are the main ndings.

Stewardship and e cacy go together

“If you are spraying with lots of drift, you will get a worse result,” says Tom Robinson. “Drift is bad for

compliance and for the image of the farmer, but it also shows that application is less than ideal.” Contact acting herbicides need to land and settle on the target leaf which needs

The other three nozzles were the 3D, Hypro Guardian Air 75% drift reduction, and Lechler ID3 90% drift reduction. “The other three nozzles performed roughly in line with expectations,” says Mr Robinson. “The 3D gave the best control, but is prone to drift. The Lechler ID3 was

continued over…

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Herbicide + T0 tank mix advice

New biological e cacy data shows no loss in performance for tank mixes of Atlantis Star with fungicides. The optimum timing for Atlantis Star is in early spring when weeds are small but weather and workloads could see post-em applications pushed back towards the T0 timing.

Damage

was the least 'drifty' nozzle. The surprise result for the 3D nozzle at 1m is probably because of a temporary drop in wind speed during application.

…from previous page

the least 'drifty', but this resulted in slightly lower weed control. The Hypro Guardian is a good compromise option.

“In ideal conditions, up to force 2 winds with few stronger gusts, the 3D is the best option. At higher windspeeds, the Hypro Guardian or the Lechler are probably a better choice.”

Check boom height

Boom height is the single biggest factor in levels of drift; setting the boom to 0.5m above the crop is the most important thing to do regardless of nozzle choice. Setup and maintenance are important here because the boom must be stable to apply this low down. If it is unstable, the easiest x for the operator is to increase the height causing more drift and poorer spray coverage (see Graph).

Angling helps hit smaller targets

“Angling nozzles helps when hitting small upright targets such as grassweeds because more of the target is hit directly by the spray. For the 3D, the angle is set to 38 degrees, but other nozzles can be angled in a similar way to improve coverage,” says Mr Robinson.

Small di erences add up

The trial took place at 12kph in good spraying conditions against an easy target; but on farm, things can be more di cult, points out Mr Bradbury. “The di erences between nozzles and height were small but we have to consider the implications on farm. Any di erences would be magni ed at higher speeds, in more di cult conditions and aiming for a more challenging target – all of which might be true when farmers go out to spray this spring.”

He emphasises that forward speeds should be at a maximum of 12kph; any faster risks poorer coverage and control. Targets in spring can also be challenging,

over-wintered broad-leaf weeds and perennials both need high rates of glyphosate (1,440–1,800g) to get control. FG

Trials tested mixes at the T0 timing in early April with Arizona (folpet), Arizona + Variano Xpro (bixafen, PTZ, Fluoxastrobin), Arizona + Boogie Xpro (bixafen, PTX, spiroxamine), Aviator Xpro (bixafen + PTZ) and Ascra Xpro (bixafen + PTZ + uyopyram). All applied at the full label rate. For every combination, there was no reduction in weed control compared to straight Atlantis Star.

“Biological compatibility means there is no drop in performance, this is a step up from the standard physically compatible tank-mix guidance which is about safety,” says Bayer’s Tom Chillcott.

“These results will reassure farmers who decide to combine the T0 with weed control if there is a delay to the post-em. But it doesn’t change the overall advice to apply Atlantis Star as soon as conditions allow.”

Advice to protect blight fungicide e icacy

control of the disease. Furthermore, the strategy reduced the level of resistance in the blight population.

The research demonstrated that adding a mixture partner was the most e ective strategy, along with alternating sprays with di erent modes of action that was also a useful additional tool. The work also demonstrated that simply raising the dose of CAA fungicide or increasing the number of sprays would prove counterproductive, thus increasing selection and the incidence of a resistant strain.

“Our advice is for growers and

agronomists to follow the FRAC recommendations,” advocated Andy. “That includes to always mix CAA fungicides with a product with an alternative mode of action on blight, as well as to alternate sprays with di erent modes of action where possible. The overall number of CAA fungicides in the season-long blight programme should also be limited.

“Furthermore, maintaining spray intervals to assure preventative treatment and good application techniques to achieve full protection of the crop canopy will reduce the risk of any blight developing.” FG

The strain, EU_43_A1, had been identi ed in Denmark for the past four seasons, but never identi ed among the multitude of blight clones that make up the population in the UK.

Research has shown that not all EU_43_A1 are resistant to the CAA fungicide group, however ve outlier isolates in Denmark had been identi ed as resistant last season. Sensitivity monitoring programmes of the anti-resistance action group (FRAC) in 2022 showed “generally a full sensitive picture for CAAs over Europe, with a few suspicious isolates under further investigation”.

Reduced risk of further development

European research has shown that the gene mutation associated with CAA resistance is only observed in homozygous strains of pathogens, and is therefore a recessive trait in

any sexual reproduction creation of new blight clones – which signi cantly reduces the risk of further resistant strains developing. In previous reports, the James Hutton Institute has highlighted how di cult it is for blight pathogens to make the transition to the UK against prevailing winds.

Syngenta technical manager, Andy Cunningham (left), advises: “Revus (mandipropamid) remains as e ective against the UK blight population as has always been the case. The key challenge continues to be to assure that the CAA chemistry group e cacy can be protected as an essential tool for growers.”

He reported Syngenta’s dedicated European trial protocols, in the presence of high disease pressure and CAA resistant strains, had shown using mandipropamid in mixtures with alternative modes of action had always delivered e ective

Making Connections

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Reports of a single strain blight pathogen in Denmark where some samples were shown to be resistant to the highly important CAA group of blight fungicides, has reinforced advice for growers and agronomists to prevent it occurring in the UK.

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Borage: A break crop with the potential to be more profitable than wheat

Fairking Ltd is a family-owned and run company, and the UK representative for borage growing/production for DeWit, a Dutch company that owns New Holland Extraction. Rachel Hicks attended the Fairking Ltd grower open day in early February.

Fairking deals with the contracts for farmers to grow borage on a 100% buy-back basis, and is responsible for sourcing growers, cleaning and sending out seed for planting, giving agronomic advice, visiting farms to inspect the crops, helping with swathing timings and, in many cases with growers in Essex and Su olk, it provides a swathing service using one

its MacDon swathers.

Once the seed has been harvested, it needs to be cleaned – as generally it will contain too much admixture to go directly to the crushing plant. It also has to be brought to Fairking as each individual lot (from each grower) is kept separate and is individually tested for GLA content of the oil, amongst other qualities.

Fairking has been cleaning borage for 35 years using a cleaning line installed in the early 1990s. However, the volume of borage now being grown through Fairking has steadily grown, with over 100 growing contracts issued in 2022. As such, it now needs to handle 2,000t/year, representing 90% of the borage grown in the UK.

The cleaning line needed to be upgraded to cope with this volume and also conform to modern day working practices. Last year, Fairking owners Peter and Andrew Fairs commissioned Tey Farm Systems to design and build a modern, exible new cleaning plant.

On 7th February, Fairking held an open day and invited its growers to attend a morning conference centred around best practice, followed by the chance to view the newly completed cleaning facility. Sta from Fairking, Tey Farm Systems and Buhler were on hand to show an impressive turnout of 68 growers around.

The new facility created by Tey Farm Systems includes rotary dressers, gravity tables and an optical sorter, as well as a state-of-the-art dust extraction system which feeds dust and waste material into a briquetter to be burned at the power station in Eye.

Growing in popularity

According to Andrew Fairs, speaking on 7th February, borage growing is becoming more and more popular – Fairking has an additional 20% of the crop in the ground on contract this coming season, so the total area grown is expected to be around 12,000 acres.

Oilseed rape failed again?

David

Borage

Bruce Hill (Agronomist)

Borage gives an excellent entry for wheat. The late drilling date and short growing season allow good control of black-grass and provides ideal conditions to direct drill the following crop

Andrew Fairs is a farmer and borage grower himself, and says that in seven out of the last 10 years, the borage actually outperformed the wheat in terms of gross margins. However, he says, the challenge is convincing growers.

Welcoming attendees to the open day, Andrew Fairs commented that growing on contract only works if it works for both parties – so they feel it’s important for them to listen to their growers as much as it is for growers to know and follow best practice for growing borage.

Agronomy update

Crop Development Services Ltd novel crop specialist Neal Boughton gave an in-depth borage agronomy update at the conference. He explained that Peter Fairs has been keeping weather records in the Great Tey area for the last 45 years or so, and that the average rainfall over the last 10 years versus the 45-year average suggests we are getting drier springs and wetter winters.

With seedbed preparation therefore, moisture conservation around the drilling area is key for good germination. Seedbed preparation should preferably happen in the autumn, with the aim of removing soil compaction.

Drilling times and oil quality

Mr Boughton explained that drilling time has quite an in uence on the oil quality. A golden rules is "the lower the temperatures in the week before swathing, the higher the GLA levels in the seeds." There’s a tipping point at around 27ºC that causes the plant

to ‘shut down’ the chemical processes to produce oil, as a form of heat stress. Hence, Peter and Andrew are encouraging borage growers to drill a little later in the spring.

Mr Boughton says there is actually some evidence to show that later drillings automatically have higher GLA values, regardless of the temperature, but explained that more data is needed. He is therefore urging growers to supply drilling, emergence, swathing and harvest dates in order to have these data comparisons.

Can we maximise GLA levels in other ways?

The enzyme responsible for making that oil in the process needs zinc as a co-factor to function as e ciently as possible. So, could you add foliar zinc to assist borage and reduce stress during heatwaves? Mr Boughton is asking for volunteers to help with split eld trials to investigate this further.

Crop nutrition

Foliar applications of trace nutrients are advisable at rosette stage. You only need enough N to make biomass for a good tight swath – if you add too much, you increase mildew and lodging risk. Sulphur is more important as it helps the plant to utilise N more e ciently and allows the crop to produce higher oil levels.

If you have a eld which is even slightly de cient in boron, it’s important to consider adding that in order to maximise pollen production. Pollination is vital, and while other pollinators and wind can do a job to a certain extent, honey bees are essential – and the more hives, the better.

Placement of hives is important, including in the middle of larger elds if possible.

Pesticide use allowed on Fairking crops

Only the brand names on the Permitted Pesticide List are allowed. There are other EAMU approvals, but they are not safe for borage or leave high residues, so therefore are not suitable for some of the end markets (e.g. those producing for baby food).

Disease control

Mr Boughton says sclerotinia has been under-reported a lot in borage, as the sclerotia and the borage seed are very similar in colour and size.

Borage is extremely susceptible if the weather conditions are right at the time the crop is emerging and if there are spores around – it’s not only susceptible during owering, as it’s a later emerging crop and doesn’t respond like OSR does at owering only.

With mildew, the key advice is to treat it very early or lose control –there is no curative active for mildew in borage. There are some approved chemicals for mildew and sclerotinia which have to be used fairly early in the life of the crop, but the only alternative to protect against mildew after the early owering stage is elemental sulphur. Ammonium thiosulphate-type liquid products do not prevent mildew; only elemental sulphur is e ective.

Weed control

Pre-em metazachlor products are recommended, at a rate of no more than 1-litre/ha in total. However, do not apply if heavy rain is forecast as

it is highly soluble in water so can impact the seed.

Do not use chlopyralid products as they cause a hormone-type damage which results in distorted owers, no pollination and no seed set.

Centurion Max type graminicides now have an EAMU for use in borage.

Swathing timing and technique

In terms of the timing for swathing, Peter Fairs says this needs to begin “the day before the plant is losing more seed than it is making”, which should occur roughly 7–10 days after the rst seed drop.

It’s important to look properly at the canopy – the top may look ready for harvest, but the underneath may be less mature in comparison so Peter Fairs says don’t be afraid to hold back and lose some at the top as this will preserve the seeds still being made further down.

However, if you have hot weather and a less dense canopy with fewer side branches, you probably need to act more quickly.

In order to ensure successful swathing, it begins with the drilling – pre-drilling, elds should be level and rolled, and obstacles such as manholes and large rocks/stones should be avoided at drilling to prevent machinery damage at swathing. FG

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Check your soil is in balance before spring drilling

For growers planning spring cropping, now is a good time to think about whether your soils are going to provide the best environment for crop establishment.

Agronomist David McLellan says one of the easiest and key metrics when measuring soil health is pH.

“When soils become acidic, it can have a signi cant impact on the soil biology as well as the physical structure of the soil,” he says.

“We recommend having soils tested regularly, because not every eld, or every part of a eld, will have the same pH or the same nutrient levels. If you create a pH map of your farm you can use precision farming techniques to apply a granulated soil conditioner like Calciprill exactly where it’s needed.”

Omya Calciprill is made from nely ground calcium carbonate, granulated so that it’s easy to handle and spread using existing farm equipment. According to Mr McLellan, if you apply Calciprill now, you can correct acidity in time for spring drilling.

“The ultra ne particles of calcium carbonate in Calciprill react very quickly with the acid in the soil,

improving pH in a matter of weeks, compared with agricultural lime which takes months to achieve the full bene t.

“This will create a better environment for soil biology, improve soil structure and occulation, and allow the new crop to establish more quickly and strongly. There is another key bene t too. At the optimal pH of 6.5, nutrient use e ciency will increase, as more nutrients become available to the crop – saving you money on expensive NPK fertilisers.” FG

“ When soils become acidic, it can have a signi cant impact on the soil biology as well as the physical structure of the soil.

Maximise your nitrogen efficiency with Calcifert Sulphur

If the supply of nitrogen is not balanced with adequate sulphur, the nitrogen available for crop use may be excessive in relation to sulphur and therefore under utilised.

Trials of Calcifert Sulphur have resulted in:

Strengthening of the plant’s physical structure, helping to protect against disease, using sunlight and nutrients more efficiently

Improvements to spring barley yield where there was a sulphur deficiency

Increase in grass protein levels in three on consecutive silage cuts on grassland

Improved digestibility of grass forage

Improved soil structure and workability by reducing compaction caused by equipment and livestock

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Is sulphur the missing link between soils, crops and nutrition?

Sulphur is an essential mineral nutrient which has been perhaps overshadowed by talk about N, P and K.

Sulphur has a central role in the production of amino acids methionine and cysteine which are the building blocks of protein in plants, directly impacting on the nutritional value of human and livestock feeds.

Soil analysis carried out by Lancrop laboratories shows that there is an average sulphur de ciency of 85% across all soils tested. This suggests that not enough is being used across the UK and/or that the recommendations in the fertiliser manual are out of date and need re-evaluating.

Sulphur is also a readily leachable element which will need applying each year.

There is often confusion about the yellowing of crops, and which nutrient is de cient; sulphur de ciency shows in the younger leaves, while nitrogen de ciency will cause yellowing in the older leaves.

Sulphur applications facilitate the e cient use of nitrogen. In a time of high fertiliser prices, this is essential for productivity and pro tability. There is considerable evidence that the inclusion of sulphur increases yield and quality of crops grown, having an impact on the nutritional composition of crops harvested, Calcifert reckons. This leads to reduced feed costs in the livestock sector where bought-in feed costs are reduced due to the quality of the forage produced.

Sulphur also plays a key role in allowing N to be used more e ciently,

Same Field \ More Yield

producing greater yields for the same application of N fertiliser and with the potential to cut N rates due to improved utilisation. There is also research evidence that shows that its inclusion in a fertiliser program reduces the leaching of nitrates from the soil into water courses.

Calcifert has found improvement in yields and quality through its trial work across several crops.

Trials in OSR with Calcifert Sulphur 200kg, when compared with a control of zero SO3, showed an increase in yield of 1t of crop /ha.

Trials and farmer testimony have shown increase in both grain and straw yields through the application of Calcifert Sulphur. Further improving grain quality and passing standards for both bread-making wheat and malting barleys.

The use of Calcifert Sulphur on a grassland farm in Northern Ireland resulted in an improved pro tability of 1.3 ppl which was a result of higher quality forage, higher forage DM yield, and reduced bought in feed costs. Regular users report increased yields of rst cut silage from the early inclusion of Sulphur in the fertiliser program.

Calcifert LS11 has the dual e ect of liming and providing sulphur, ideal for early spring applications to ensure soil is in optimum condition.

This has shown increases of 10% grass DM yields due to the improved total sulphur application. FG

Polysulphate fertilisers increase productivity and quality, in a more sustainable way:

• Balanced nutrition benefits

• Increased nutrient use efficiency

• Better establishment and root development

• Improved yields and quality

• Reduce your carbon footprint

Ask your local distributor or agronomist for details.

Use SFI as catalyst for change

Farmers have been urged to use the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) Soils Standard as the catalyst to “raise the game” for soil health and crop productivity.

Speakers at a recent meeting of Essex growers organised by Farmacy acknowledged that SFI uptake had been below expectations thus far, possibly because some growers regarded the payments of £22/ ha (Introductory level) and £40/ha (Intermediate) as being insu cient.

Indeed, Defra announced in early January plans to make the SFI more nancially attractive by introducing a new SFI Management Payment of £20/ha, for up to 50ha of land entered into the scheme, to cover the administrative costs of participation. While this would be a welcome

addition to the amount available, Farmacy agronomist Jim Woodward said growers should still regard the SFI as “seed money” to invest in stimulating wider e ciency improvements, rather than a backpocket payment to compensate for BPS cuts.

“The Introductory level may only be £22/ha, but many farmers are already doing much of this anyway, so why not get recognition for it and challenge yourself to invest that money on things that will build productivity and deliver greater bene ts to the bottom line. Consider

it as a catalyst to raise the game.”

Baseline soil

The SFI’s soil testing requirements were a good starting point, head of soil health Ian Robertson (right) said.

“Rather than just going for a basic soil test to tick a box to get the payment, why not undertake more detailed testing that provides useful information to allow proper management decisions to be made on farm?”

The Healthy Soils Gold test, for example, examined a host of factors, from soil structure, pH (active and bu er pH), cation exchange capacity, and bulk density, to carbon, organic matter, biology and nutrient availability in kg/ha.

Baselining these complex chemical, physical and biological properties was essential to evaluate the e ectiveness of current management practices, and to make educated decisions about any improvements needed, he said.

The Omnia digital farming platform

made it far easier for farmers to pull soil and crop data together in one place, formulate management plans, and demonstrate compliance with SFI requirements, he noted.

“If we don’t understand the baseline we’re working from, it’s very di cult to manage resources and improve e ciency,” Mr Robertson continued.

Take nutrient use e ciency for example. Getting soils into a condition where nutrients were cycled more e ectively could have big bene ts in terms of fertiliser savings and crop yield, but it required a clear understanding of existing biology, soil structure, chemistry and plantavailable nutrition, he said.

“A typical wheat crop contains about 300–400kg N/ha by GS 87, and most soils in good condition can deliver 200–300kg N/ha, but only if they have the microbial activity to breakdown and cycle nutrients e ectively. That in turn is dependent on a host of other factors.”

More from soil

Results from Helix trials presented by Farmacy agronomist Andrew Spackman showed it was possible to replace some bagged nitrogen by using smaller amounts of more e cient foliar-applied fertiliser, but only if base levels in the soil had set a su ciently strong foundation.

He showed how methylated urea products, such as N-Durance, applied at T2 delivered 7kg N/ha to the crop, equivalent to replacing 30kg of bagged granular nitrogen fertiliser, with no detriment to yield.

“There may well be a place for products like this for improving nitrogen use e ciency, particularly in drier eastern counties where uptake of granular fertilisers can be challenging in dry seasons. But soils need to be in

the right condition to see a response.”

There were other impressive results from a placement phosphate fertiliser trial at Helix East last season, where Primary-P and Crystal Green showed a worthwhile yield response of 0.6–0.8t/ ha, Mr Spackman added.

“There’s sound logic behind the theory that placing phosphate around the seed and root zone where it’s needed will lead to better e ciency than broadcasting granular fertiliser, so it’s encouraging to see this supported in this trial. It may be another opportunity growers can consider to improve nutrient e ciency on their farm.”

Do what’s right

Mr Robertson said regenerative agriculture principles played a big part in improving soil health, but regen should not be seen as the only answer.

“Generally, the more soil is disturbed with fertiliser, agchems, or cultivations, the less contribution there’s likely to be from microbes.”

Research also showed that for 100kg/ha of applied nitrogen fertiliser, 1.6t of carbon was potentially oxidised from the soil, so there could be signi cant bene ts from reducing the reliance on arti cial fertilisers, he said.

“But the key is to understand what you need to do to your soil to make it right, not just follow trends or copy what others are doing.”

He noted an AHDB survey in 2018 that found 10% of land that was deep cultivated did not actually have any deep compacted layer, but 40% of soil with a deep pan layer was not cultivated. Don’t be scared of cultivating, but only do what’s actually required by the soil.”

Tips for improving performance:

• Identify your aspirations for soil health, crops and the wider

business

• Decide if these can be delivered by the existing farming system

• Baseline the current situation to show the starting point and highlight shortcomings

• Plan what needs to change to meet aspirations – be open-minded

• Do what is right for your business, don’t just follow trends

• Avoid trying to do everything at once

• Be realistic about the speed of change (soil biology needs time to change).

Business baseline

Baselining nancial performance was similarly important, especially as higher costs and commodity prices had “raised the stakes” considerably for harvest 2023, Hutchinsons farm business consultant, Gwilym Jenkins told the meeting.

“A conventional rotation still has opportunity to make as much money as previously with measured management practices, but your attitude to risk must be calculated as there is much more ‘skin in the game’ due to increased input prices.”

He outlined three key steps:

1. Understand the gures – update budgets, cash ow forecasts and gross margins as prices change. Recognise that the higher cost of borrowing may impact on buying and selling decisions

2. Measure and analyse performance – use yield maps to identify pro table areas; use soil sampling (including carbon analysis) to set a baseline for soil management policy; and analyse xed costs, especially machinery (consider costs/ha, replacement policy, changes to strategy, grant funding, etc)

3. Identify opportunities - growing crops is still the main opportunity, but consider other ways to build income and drive future productivity or e ciency gains e.g. diversi cation activities, grant funding, stewardship opportunities (CSS/ELMS).

4. “There are some good opportunities from schemes like ELMS, but look at it as an investment vehicle, and ask whether you can use that money to bene t the bottom line in other ways, rather than just as a way of propping up nances without BPS.” FG

Getting the most out of your nitrogen

In a season where nitrogen fertiliser costs are high, growers will be keen to optimise these inputs in order to get the best return on what is likely to be a large investment.

With four years of independent data showing a clear bene t in using Revystar XE (mefentri uconazole + uxapyroxad) within a crop protection programme, Revystar XE is a key benchmark for disease control in cereal crops, BASF says. Now, new research from ADAS has found that, as well as its proven disease control, Revystar XE also enhances nitrogen use e ciency (NUE) and yield in winter wheat, with the NUE de ned as the kg yield produced per kg of available nitrogen from soil and fertiliser.

Increased nitrogen use e ciency

Last season, disease pressure at the ADAS trial site in Herefordshire was low to moderate in a trial which looked at the e ects of fungicide on nitrogen use e ciency (NUE), with a range of fungicide and nitrogen applications.

Dr Pete Berry (right), head of crop physiology at ADAS, told

growers attending BASF’s recent Nitrogen & Fungicides webinar that the trial in a crop of Gleam (RL rating of 5.7 for septoria) found that the fungicide programme of 1-litre/ha Revystar XE + Comet + Arizona at T1 and T2 produced a statistically signi cant increase in NUE.

He said: “The NUE was signi cantly increased from 34kg up to 38kg under the Revystar XE programme.

“The increase in NUE was driven by both better uptake e ciencies, and nitrogen utilisation and again we found there were sizeable increases from the untreated to the fungicide treated.

“When we analysed the results we found there was a statistically signi cant increase in fertiliser uptake e ciency with the fungicide strategy of 1.5-litres/ha of Revystar XE at T2 taking up 62% of the fertiliser nitrogen; 8% more than the untreated.”

How did Revystar increase nitrogen use e ciency?

According to Dr Berry, the most likely

explanation for the results is that Revystar XE kept the crop greener for longer and so allowed the crop to ‘work’ for longer.

He commented: “The Revystar treated crop had more time to take up nitrogen from the soil and fertiliser and also longer to remobilise the nitrogen which was in the canopy into the grain and build yield.”

Work published by AHDB has shown that all of the top 4 leaves make an important contribution to yield in wheat. However, it is infections on the ag leaf and leaf 2 which have the greatest impact on reducing yield.

Dr Berry added: “The main reason these improvements occurred was because the grain lling period lasted longer, which allowed an increase in the thousand grain weight and so there was an increase in the yield.”

Increased gross margin at every nitrogen dose rate

In order to look further into the work carried out by ADAS on the role

of Revystar

on NUE,

Dr Jon Helliwell (right), business development manager at BASF, looked at practical economic data for the Rosemaund trial.

He said: “In this low disease pressure situation, the plots with no fungicide application showed increased yields as the level of nitrogen increased which con rms that nitrogen plays a central role in building yield and adding to gross margin.”

Dr Helliwell then looked at increasing doses of Revystar. He said, “We applied Revystar XE at T2 at 0.75-litres/ha, 1-litres/ha and 1.5-litres/ha dose rates and found at every dose of nitrogen, from 0kg N/ ha to the top dose of 360kg N/ha, every dose rate increase of Revystar XE added to gross margin after the cost of nitrogen and the cost of Revystar XE within the trial was accounted for.”

So, in terms of economic return regardless of the rate of nitrogen that growers apply to their crops, there is a value to investing in Revystar. Investment right up to full label dose of Revystar at T2 continued to improve economic return in this 2022 trial on Gleam.

E ect of reduced nitrogen on septoria levels and fungicide strategy

Because of the cost of nitrogen this year, many growers may be considering reducing the amount they apply to their wheat crops. Speaking at the BASF webinar, Dr Julie Smith, plant pathologist researcher at ADAS, said: “In our trials over the last two seasons, di erent rates of nitrogen had little e ect on septoria levels whatever the disease pressure and as a result there is no evidence that reducing nitrogen rates by 50kg N/ha, which appears to be what many farmers are considering, will alter which fungicide strategy is optimal.”

Nitrogen has a much bigger e ect on diseases like rusts and mildew because, as biotrophs, they need living plant tissue to continue growing, whereas septoria is able to continue growing on dead tissue.

She added: “Using a more resistant variety than Gleam in the trial would have resulted in lower disease; however, by chance this is exactly what we had in 2022 because of the season. I don’t think using a more resistant variety would have changed any of the outcomes of this trial.” FG

Assess and plan as crops approach GS30

Protecting your cereal crops this spring by planning your T0 sprays early will be vital to prevent the development of yellow rust infections in the crop, according to Will Ridgwell, Clayton Plant Protection.

Low-cost spring cropping options

Spring sown crops o er opportunities to save money on seed, fertiliser and crop protection products. They also help to spread the workload for establishment and harvest so easing pressures on machinery and sta at busy times.

With early-sown autumn crops now showing forward growth, the risk of infection increases every day. Growers are advised to assess disease risk in each eld and tailor T0 sprays e ectively to identify speci c elds or varieties which are more at risk to target rst for treatment. Growers know from past experience that an early start to yellow rust protection at T0, anywhere between GS25-30, is crucial. Early drilled crops and any varieties with a yellow rust score of 5 or below (e.g. KWS Zyatt, Skyfall, SY Insitor, RGT Wolverine and Gleam) should be a priority.

co-formulated products containing tebuconazole and prothioconazole such as Clayton Navaro and Clayton Trellis are ideal choices as they have a good knock-down e ect on yellow rust as well as having activity on other key diseases such as septoria.

“Straight tebuconazole product, Clayton Tebucon 250EW, is a good cost-e ective option where yellow rust is the primary target,” Mr Ridgwell suggests.

According to NAAC, farm-saved seed is the most cost-e ective option if you have suitable seed still in store, typically saving you £80–100/tonne.

crucial. Early drilled crops and score of 5 or below (e.g. KWS

Wolverine and Gleam) should highly resistant varieties, even

“We still see a yield bene t from fungicide applications on highly resistant varieties, even in a dry spring like 2022,” explains Mr Ridgwell.

He says

such as azoxystrobin at T0 triazoles. Clayton

“Growers looking for additional persistence or help with resistance management may want to consider a strobilurin such as azoxystrobin at T0 in combination with triazoles. Clayton Ozark would be a good choice in these situations,” concludes Mr FG

good choice in concludes Mr Ridgwell. FG

Your NAAC Mobile Seed Processor can help you obtain top quality seed by removing a high percentage of screenings where needed. Using your own seed can allow you to make exible decisions on cropping, removing the need to order your seed early to secure a supply of what you plan to grow.

Trials have proven that big, high-density seed will have the best possible germination and vigour to get your crop o to the best possible start. Thorough seed cleaning removes small seed, broken grains, insect damaged grains, weed seeds, bits of straw/cha /dust, bits of broken ears and other trash that might block your drill. This ensures that you avoid drill blockages when you are busy and minimises gaps in

the rows.

You can also improve your chances of getting a good establishment by selecting a combination of seed treatments that are tailored to each eld or block of land.

Your NAAC Mobile Seed Processor can assist you in getting your spring sown crop o to the best possible start and organise any seed testing that is required – visit www.naac. co.uk for more information. FG

Six steps to spring barley success

As spring barley drilling gets underway in some areas, Limagrain UK’s arable technical manager, Ron Granger, outlines six ways to get the most from the crop this season.

1. Understand end market/ contract requirements

End user requirements will in uence many agronomic decisions, particularly nitrogen strategy, so it is essential growers are clear about the quality criteria that must be met, says Mr Granger.

“Depending on the locality and the opportunities for selling to di erent end users or export markets, the barley crop you grow – and the agronomic inputs required – will be determined by the sector you target.”

This is particularly true for those dependent on hitting a certain grain nitrogen percentage to achieve the contract premium, notably distilling, which requires 1.65% N or lower, brewing 1.65–1.85%, and grain distilling at 1.85%+. Grain nitrogen is not a concern for animal feed.

2. Choose the right variety

In many instances, variety choice is also determined by the end user or contract chosen.

However, for those still to decide what to grow, Mr Granger recommends considering one of the dual use varieties, such as LG Diablo, which has good yield performance, with several end market opportunities, o ering an advantage over many varieties now listed.

“Newer recommended varieties certainly o er higher yield potential, and if contracts are o ered, then they are certainly worth considering. Dual use varieties o er growers exibility for the distilling, brewing and feed market sectors.”

3. Wait for good drilling conditions

Limagrain trials show earlier drilling in spring can improve yield potential, however, this is mainly only possible on lighter, more freedraining land, that will dry and warm quicker than a heavier soil type.

“Early drilling will signi cantly increase disease risk, so consider more disease resistant varieties for this situation,” says Mr Granger.

“Generally, patience is required to wait for

the right window of opportunity, when both the weather and soil conditions allow good seedbeds to be created with rising soil and air temperatures, to ensure rapid emergence and establishment, with continued plant growth.”

4. Optimise seed rate

A survey of more than 100 growers by Limagrain last year showed half (49%) of growers were typically sowing spring barley at 300–350 seeds/ m2, and most (76%) targeting a yield of 8t/ha.

This rate appears to be about right when drilling into good conditions, however Mr Granger says seed rates must be tailored to individual situations.

Limagrain trials comparing variety seed rates over various seasons and regions suggest that with more vigorous, higher tillering varieties, such as LG Diablo, the optimum seed rate is 350 seeds/ m2 when drilling into ideal conditions around mid-March.

However, this should be adjusted up or down depending on the weather, seedbed quality, moisture availability, drilling date, and the growers’ own experience on each site, says Mr Granger.

A lower rate of 300–325 seeds/m2 could su ce if drilling into an “onion bed” in March, but when forced to drill into April, due to the weather, or agronomic reasons, such as black-grass control, pushing rates up to 400–450 seeds/m2 may be more appropriate to achieve the optimum nal ear number and a competitive crop in a blackgrass situation, he advises.

5. Maintain tiller number

Once crops are established, Mr Granger says the best way to achieve high spring barley yield potential is to ensure high nal ear counts. The AHDB barley growth guide suggests nal target ear population should be around 775 ears/m2.

“It is interesting to note that in 2019, higher yield potential was achieved from even higher nal ear counts, approaching 800/m2 by harvest.

An 8–9 t/ha crop needs around 800 ears/m2, which at a 350 seeds/m2 rate, equates to around 2.5–3 tillers per plant at harvest.

“However, experience shows optimal tiller and ear counts may be underachieved in many situations, meaning crops fall short of achieving their full yield potential.”

The biggest issue is often the weather, Mr Granger acknowledges. Drought conditions will cause tiller loss, so he says to ensure numbers are high enough at the outset by selecting high tillering varieties, using an appropriate seed rate, and driving establishment and early rooting by implementing a balanced nutrition regime early in the crop’s development.

“Traditionally, spring barley was often seen as a lower input crop, with growers reluctant to increase nitrogen application rates in fear of exceeding maltsters' grain nitrogen limits. However, LG trials over many seasons of testing, indicate that using higher N rates can be bene cial.”

increase nitrogen application rates in fear

In the trials, a standard seedbed application of 120kg N/ ha was compared to a split nitrogen application of 150kg N/ha, with the additional 30kg applied at late tillering. This resulted in a yield bene t of 0.4–0.5 t/ha over a single seedbed dose, with little or no impact on grain nitrogen.

ha was compared to a split nitrogen

6. Optimise other nutrients

Alongside nitrogen, optimising other macronutrients, such as phosphate, potash, magnesium and sulphur, has proven bene cial to tiller retention and nal yield.

These should be applied in the seedbed or soon after drilling to promote strong rooting and early plant growth, Mr Granger advises.

“Tissue analysis of the young growing crop can help identify any shortfalls in nutrition before visible symptoms appear, and is a relatively inexpensive way of targeting a high yielding crop.”

Additional micronutrients, such as manganese, zinc, copper, iron, and boron, applied at the stem extension phase into owering, are also useful, ensuring a healthy crop and good ear fertility, whilst also helping secure high grain number and maximum yield potential. “Apply these independently with other key inputs, or as a multi-nutrient product.

“Spring barley is a fast-growing crop and if key nutrients are de cient at any time, yield potential will be compromised.”

At least two fungicides are recommended to maintain tiller number and healthy plants, including the awns and maximum grain development. Typically, the rst application is at GS 25–31, with the second targeted between GS 39–55.

“Of course, if the season dictates a low disease pressure, or a drought situation, exibility in fungicide input and timing should be adjusted for the nal yield potential in hand.

“Spring barley can move through growth stages quickly, so close monitoring of the growing crop is essential.”

For more information, see Limagrain’s spring barley agronomy videos: bit.ly/3jHEZwY FG

Meet the growers

Real farmers share the pros and pitfalls of their fruit-growing enterprises

Agronomy advice

Seasonal guidance to boost crop health and maximise yield

On-farm machinery tests

Machinery editor David Williams puts the latest fruit & vineyard kit through its paces

Special reports

Hot topics, event reviews and seminar write-ups

Industry news

The latest research, products, people and property updates you need to know about

Technical

talk

The technology and techniques behind growing, processing and packaging

Professional services

Expert tips for the e cient management of fruit-growing businesses

Psst... Have you heard?

Fruit & Vine magazine is available now!

It’s with great excitement that we are now able to produce a bespoke magazine for this booming industry, supporting British growers and producers of the nest fruits, juices and wines.

Just like Farmers Guide, Fruit & Vine is packed full of expert arable, machinery and industry editorial, relevant advertising from our clients and our famous classi ed section. In these pages, our readers can advertise their surplus machinery and equipment for free, printed alongside adverts from the biggest names in the industry.

If you would like to receive this magazine FREE six times per year, then sign up online at www.fruitandvine.co.uk or email us via hello@fruitandvine.co.uk –if you prefer, you can also call the team on 01473 794440. We love to hear from our readers, so get in touch if you’d like to be featured in a future issue, want to advertise in the pages or have some feedback.

Your new combine – ready for harvest 2023.

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Don’t miss out on the new round of grant funding

The next round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund –FETF 2023 – has been announced, which gives you the opportunity to fund the purchase of new equipment, from a list of eligible items, intended to improve productivity and provide environmental bene ts.

The new round of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF 2023) has been split into two themes – productivity and slurry, and animal health and welfare. You can apply for a grant of up to £25,000 per theme, and you can apply for items from one theme or from both themes. There are a variety of items to choose from, including the Ceres Sub-Line Grassland Subsoiler (Sward Lifter) and the Ceres Scorpion Tree Grab, both of which are available under the productivity and slurry theme. There are a variety of models of the Sub-Line Grassland Subsoiler (Sward Lifter) available, but to comply with the FETF 2023 speci cations, only the 3, 4 and 5 leg models are eligible for the grant funding. The Sub-Line is designed to achieve the maximum e ciency from your soil by lifting and shattering compaction, allowing air, water and nutrients to ow into the substructure, improving soil health and preventing ash run-o of water.

The row of leading discs can all be adjusted with one handle, which has six working positions and one out-of-work position. The discs can be kept in their optimum working position, cutting through the sward cleanly, allowing the leg to pass through without tearing the surface. Each of the contoured, low-draft legs are mounted in-line on the substantial frame, with two M16 shear bolts for protection. The flat, rear roller has simple dual turn-buckle adjustment to control the working depth of the machine, and leaves a neat, level finish across the width of the work. There is a galvanised, adjustable scraper mounted within the roller arms to prevent congestion and build-up.

As part of the Ceres Titanium range of products, which Ceres says are known for their unrivalled strength and durability, Ceres o ers the Scorpion Tree Grab, constructed from 100% Hardox. With its wideopening pincers, it can cope easily with large trees, right the way down to smaller branches and brush. From one, simple double-acting auxiliary, both pincers will keep an even pressure, even across varying diameters on the same trunk, thus

maintaining a rm and stable grip, no matter the terrain.

Designed for the harshest woodland conditions, the hydraulic rams are heavily protected by the framework and the headstock pipes and locking pins are shielded by a Hardox barrier.

The Scorpion is designed

SCAN ME

to suit telehandlers from 2t up to 6t lift capacity, as well as smaller loading shovels, so it is suitable for occasional farm use through to the toughest forestry clearance contractors, Ceres concludes. FG

‘IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH BY STEALTH’

Alleviate compaction, minimise soil burst and in turn grass weed germination with HE-VA’s Stealth.

Designed to satisfy the requirements of no-till and min-till systems, it is also suitable for use where repair to damaged soil structure is required e.g. headlands, tramlines or other high traffic areas.

• Scalloped, straight, front cutting discs

• Two rows of staggered ‘Hardox’ legs

• Discs and legs hydraulically controlled from the tractor seat.

• Tungsten hardened cast steel points

• Working depth of up to 300mm (12”)

• Adjustable leg spacing

• Range of seeders and fitting kits available

Stealth (leg and point) kits are available to retrofit to existing HE-VA Subsoilers, Combi-Discs and come as standard on the Evolution OSR seeder.

New book to explore the changing face of farming

Robert Ashton is set to publish a book on how rural life has changed over the decades, including stories on those who are bringing back the old ways. Robert shares his inspiration for writing the book...

I learned to drive on a Fordson Dexta when I was 14. It was 1969, and I had a weekend job on a dairy farm at Friston near the Su olk coast. That winter, one of my Saturday jobs was to collect a load of sugar beet tops, loading them by hand, then forking them o on the meadow behind the cowshed for the cows to eat. I enjoyed driving that tractor.

It was Christmas that year when my parents gave me a copy of George Ewart Evans’s book, Ask the Fellows Who Cut the Hay. This book, in which Evans tells the stories he heard his neighbours tell of how life was when they were young, fascinated me. Evans had written the book in the early 1950s when living at Blaxhall, a few miles from Friston, where I worked on a farm. I discovered that Russell Savage, the shepherd I knew, was the son of Robert and Priscilla Savage, who lived next door to Evans and featured

prominently in his book.

Over the next 50 years, I bought and read copies of all 12 of the books Evans had written about how life was changing in rural Su olk and decided that one day, I would write a similar book, showing how rural life had continued to change. I married into a Su olk farming family and spent the rst decade of my career selling fertiliser for Fisons, so had ample opportunity to see how elds and tractors were getting bigger, and the number of men working the land getting smaller.

I was 64 before I slowed down enough to think more seriously about Evans and the book I’d always wanted to write. I was now working freelance, so it was easier to stop work and become a full-time student at the University of East Anglia, graduating in 2020 with a creative writing MA. My dissertation was the rst three chapters

of Where Are the Fellows Who Cut the Hay? Each chapter takes something familiar such as milk, wheat or coal, retells some of the stories from Evans’s books, adds some of my own experiences, and then ends with examples my research revealed of people bringing back old ways.

I realised that just as cheap oil and gas had encouraged intensi cation in the 1960s and 70s, high energy costs today were prompting a return to regenerative farming practice, diversi cation and adding value to meat and milk by selling direct to the consumer. I saw that village shops are also making a comeback, now often in community ownership.

Where Are the Fellows Who Cut the Hay? will be published by Unbound, whose innovative approach is to crowdfund a hardback rst edition of each book. My book is now close to target, and you can pre-order your copy by visiting https://unbound. com/books/where-are-the-fellowswho-cut-the-hay/

RECORD MAKER IN TRANSPORT 1

SAVE MORE FUEL

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DLG-POWERMIX-TRANSPORT TEST 2.0 TOP 5 RANKING.

#1: John Deere 6250R / 6R 250¹ 348 + 16 349 + 14

PUMA 220 MC

#2: John Deere 6R 185² 358 + 28 363 + 31

#3: Case Puma 220 MC³

#4: Valtra T254 Versu⁴

#5: Fendt 724 Vario⁵

Since 2018, the John Deere 6R 250 is leading in the DLG-PowerMix-Transport Test 2.0 (Transport application)¹ – at 348 g/kWh Diesel and 16 g/kWh DEF, the 6R 250 delivered the lowest fuel consumption compared to all competitors tested so far¹. 6R 250 saves you more fuel on transport.

371 + 15

g/kWh (FUEL + DEF)

¹ Profi Test Results, Tractor-Test “John Deere 6250R: More Vario”, 06/2018; www.profi.de DLG-PowerMix-Transport Test 2.0 (Transport application): page 10 to 16; https://pruefberichte.dlg.org/fi lestorage/0618_John_Deere_6250R.pdf

² DLG-PowerMix Test Nr.7369; (www.dlg.org)

³ Profi 09-2019 page 10 to 16 (www.profi.de)

⁴ Profi 08-2018 page 10 to 16 (www.profi.de)

⁵ Profi 11-2021 page 14 to 20 (www.profi.de)

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New brands, new products and thousands of visitors at dealer event

Thousands of customers descended on the Ernest Doe & Sons Ltd Ulting depot in early February for the 2023 Doe Show. David Williams reports.

This year’s event was the 63rd Doe Show, and it marked the start of celebrations for the company’s 125th year of trading. “I’m really pleased – it was an excellent show,” commented sales director Graham Parker. “The nal day is usually quieter, but this year our teams remained busy dealing with enquiries and taking orders. We had new marquees where clothing, tools and sundries were displayed, and they were constantly packed with people taking advantage of the show o ers.”

Show bargains

The event is famous for exclusive o ers – available only for orders placed during the three show days. “As usual, we had a lot of clearance stock including exhire, ex-demonstration and ex-display machines, and it was all priced to sell. Those buying equipment could compare prices of brand-new machines on the trade stands and see that the discounted o ers were genuine. Large numbers of Marshall bale trailers were sold, and our stock of Maschio ail mowers sold out too,” he added.

Tractors and new drill star attractions

Case IH and New Holland had the largest displays, featuring latest models from all the product lines. Those ordering Case IH tractors bene tted from extra discounts across the range and a trip to the factory in Austria, and New Holland tractors were o ered with a ve-year warranty, ve free

services and 0% nance.

Horizon drills were added to the franchise list last year, in response to increased demand for premium products for reduced tillage crop establishment, and Ernest Doe Power general manager Ed Perry said that the two drills displayed were star attractions.

Other products generating large numbers of enquiries included KRM drills and fertiliser applicators, added Graham.

Construction machinery

Construction machinery was also in demand, despite recent news headlines suggesting the sector is in decline. “There was some trepidation regarding these products, but feedback at the show was overwhelmingly positive and we achieved a good level of business throughout the three days for Hyundai excavators and Engcon attachments – especially the Tiltrotator. An order was con rmed for 50 Bomag rollers, and there are many enquiries for our sales teams to follow up,” stressed Graham.

Awards

The Doe Show is the dealer’s opportunity to acknowledge suppliers which have provided exceptional support. This year, the Ernest Doe & Sons Ltd Agricultural Supplier award went to Dalbo, the Construction Supplier award went to Strickland UK,

continued over…

Innovative drill design

The dealer sold several Horizon drills last year, after taking on the new franchise in June. Two drills at the event attracted many enquiries, mainly from farmers already using direct drilling, strip tillage or no-till crop establishment techniques, but who were keen to nd out about the Horizon drill’s unique features. “The main motivation seems to be the reduced operating costs,” explained Horizon head of sales, Sam Illingworth. “Our disc design is extremely e cient, so smaller, lighter tractors can pull wider working widths, and the discs reduce soil disturbance and opportunities for grass weeds to establish.

“A challenge for most direct disc drills is hair-pinning, but our optional row cleaners run ahead of the discs clearing straw from their path. The cleaners have individual pneumatic pressure control which is set from the cab, as they need enough force to be e ective, but mustn’t penetrate and move the soil.

“The discs are angled and, as the drill moves forward, they naturally penetrate even in hard, dry conditions. The diagonal seed slot closes naturally with direct pressure from a press wheel. It’s a reliable and simple action,” he continued.

The modular design means sections can be added, up to a maximum 8m. Pictured with the drill are (l-r) Sam Illingworth, Ernest Doe Power and Horizon brand manager Ed Perry, Ernest Doe & Sons managing director Angus Doe and Ernest Doe general service manager Ken Smith.

and Best Groundcare Supplier was Wiedenmann. Coincidentally, the Dalbo European Dealer of the Year award was presented to Ernest Doe & Sons, also at the event.

Celebrating 125 years of trading, the show had a new format this year and feedback from visitors and suppliers was positive. Visitors arrived through a gallery of historic photographs and the display proved popular. Beyond this, smaller machinery, tools, accessories and

country clothing were displayed under cover in the new marquee, which proved to be very popular.

“The Doe Show is a good indicator of the year to come, and it gives us a good idea regarding feelings within the industry. Farmers and contractors are looking forward to a prosperous year and investing in the latest machinery. Our new fruit and viticulture display attracted new and existing customers from across the South-East, and the construction industry is buoyant too,” concluded Graham. FG

Compact tractors

The Iseki compact tractor and grass cutter range includes models from 23–65hp. The current best-selling SXG dedicated cut and collect mower series is being upgraded and new models are due soon. Improved collection, faster emptying, faster travel speeds, joystick hopper operation, an adjustable steering column and the addition of cruise control are among the improvements and, for the rst time, a dedicated rear discharge mower without collection will be available. “The SXG series has a strong reputation as the best cut and collect mower on the market,” suggested Iseki area sales manager Phil Sell. “The new models retain the best features including the cutter deck, but feature improvements where they will provide advantages.” Pictured (l-r) are Iseki UK product and marketing manager Richard Tyrrell; and area sales managers Phil Sell and John Cli ord.

Latest tractor attracts attention

New Puma agship

The recently launched Puma 260CVX, with up to 300hp, had pride of place on the Case IH stand. “We are experiencing high demand for models across the range,” explained Case IH area sales manager John McAuley. “The Puma 260CVX is likely to become our best-selling tractor in the high horsepower segment, with wide appeal for transport and draft applications. The superb new AFS Connect cab has already proved popular on the latest Optum models, with an excellent all-around view from the seat and a great working environment. The Optum 300 has similar power but will appeal more to those wanting a tractor for heavy draft work, with its higher permissible gross vehicle weight and superior lift capacity.”

John said he is delighted by the dealer’s investment in a division dedicated to the fruit and viticulture industries. “Demand is growing for specialist tractors for this expanding market, and the division sales manager, Tom Wheatley will be a big advantage with his considerable knowledge and experience, as he understands what customers need and can provide practical, useful advice.”

Pictured are members of the Case IH team at the event (l-r) customer care manager for UK and Ireland Amy Foord, John McAuley, country service manager for UK and Ireland Neil Macer, and key account manager Anton Stander.

Products for modern farms

On the New Holland stand, special o ers across the tractor range resulted in large numbers of orders placed at the event. Attracting most attention was the latest New Holland T7.300 with up to 300hp available and equipped with the Horizon Ultra cab. With the T7.300 are (l-r) Ernest Doe & Sons managing director Angus Doe, New Holland brand communications manager Dawn Wightman and Sue Hart who is based at the Basildon plant.

On the Opico stand, as well as within the precision farming display area, the FarmDroid robotic seeder and weeder attracted interest. Fitted with seeding units, the FarmDroid uses ultra-precise GPS guidance to record where every seed was placed, then it uses the information to accurately weed the crop using inter-plant hoes.

From the Maschio line-up, power harrows continue selling well, and rigid 3m models and wider folding models over 5m are most popular currently with the dealer’s customers.

“The 5–7m Torro has a 400hp-rated transmission,” explained Opico Maschio territory sales manager, Matthew Ashton. “Modern tractors often have additional boost power for PTO work, so buying the right implements is essential.”

Opico

NORAC Boom Height Control Systems available for select manufacturers

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 Patented

Machinery

Cultivators and rollers

The dealer’s Agricultural Supplier of the Year award went to Dalbo. A large product display included the Rollomaster seedbed cultivator which was shown for the rst time in the UK. Front Guttler discs break up clods and level and consolidate the ground ahead of four rows of spring tines. These are followed by a rear levelling board and a Cross-kill roller press. “Two prototype machines worked in the UK last year, and both users were so impressed that they bought them,” explained UK general manager Steve Atkin. “The 6m version is easily pulled behind tractors of 175–200hp, and the cultivator achieves a level seedbed ideal for establishing precision drilled crops such as sugar beet and maize.”

Steve said that demand for MaxiRoll heavy rolls has increased. “We saw a lot of interest last autumn, and enquiries and sales have continued. The MaxiRoll can be tted with various front attachments including levelling boards and harrow tines, and as growers focus on min-till establishment regimes there is increased demand for heavy rolls to level ground left uneven by the light cultivations.”

Pictured with the new Rollomaster seedbed cultivator (l-r) are Dalbo UK sales manager Thomas Atkin, Ernest Doe area sales representative based at North Walsham, Michael Massingham, Ernest Doe Power area sales representative based at Ringmer, Ryan Edwards, and Steve Atkin.

(Pictured below) Steve and Thomas Atkin present the Dalbo European Dealer of the Year award for 2022 to Ed Perry.

Heavy-duty mulcher

On the Bednar stand, the SwifterDisc cultivator, Efecta drill and MZ mulchers attracted most attention. The SwifterDisc fast, shallow cultivator is available in working widths from 3–18.4m, but the XE12400 Pro 12.4m version displayed is one of the best-selling models as it is ideal for controlled tra c farming regimes.

The Efecta drill was displayed on optional rubber tracks which have proved popular on wider versions, and the MZ mulcher with a heavyduty, armour-plated galvanised steel deck and walking axles was also on show, and is one of the best-selling products in the Bednar range. “Bednar MZ mulchers have been fantastic,” explained Ernest Doe Power area sales representative, Ben Halliday who is based at the Fakenham, Norfolk depot. “Customers love the galvanised deck, and the mower is easy to maintain. An optional fan for the top of the deck keeps it clear of trash in dusty working environments.

“We also sell a lot of the SwifterDisc cultivators as they are easy to pull, allowing use with smaller tractors and saving fuel. With mounted seeders, customers establish cover crops in a single pass.”

Working demonstrations of Stihl batterypowered products were popular. Stihl key account manager, David Tingle looks after the dealer account, and he said that interest in battery-powered models was unbelievably high for both domestic and professional applications. The new MSA300 professional battery-powered chainsaw launched last year is selling in high numbers, as well as the batterypowered KombiSystem which allows users to operate a range of working attachments with one power unit. “Ernest Doe & Sons has achieved very high sales during the past year,” he added, “through its showrooms as well as sales representatives out on the road. Being able to share and access stocks between so many depots has also worked well.”

The British Rubber Co.

Established 90 years

Sole UK Distributor for Goodyear Vintage Tyres

Agricultural, Plant and Industrial Tyres • Next Day Nationwide Delivery Guaranteed

The British Rubber Co now offers a wide range of agricultural trailer wheels and tyres We offer full assemblies or separate units as tyres and wheels alone New and part worn tyres are available, depending on your needs and budget

AGRICULTURAL TRAILER WHEEL CONVERSIONS

(subject to trailer directions and clearance)

215/75R17.5 (twin fitment) 245/70R17.5 (twin fitment)

235/75R17.5 (twin fitment) 245/70R19.5 (twin fitment)

possible conversion – 435/50R19.5 or 445/45R19.5 on 6, 8 and 10 stud wheels 11.5/80-15.3 12.5/80-15.3

possible conversions - 435/50R19.5 or 445/45R19.5 and 285/70R19.5 on 6 stud wheels

Available in 560 60 22.5 & 560 45 22.5 • Other sizes and options available

COMMERCIAL – AGRICULTURAL CONVERSIONS

385/65R22.5

possible conversions - 550/45R22.5 and 560/45R22.5 on 6, 8 and 10 stud 445/65R22.5

possible conversions - 550/60R22.5 and 560/60R22.5 on 6, 8 and 10 stud

Many other possible conversions – please call the office on 01274 585427 email: sales@britishrubberco.co.uk

www.britishrubberco.co.uk

Precision farming solutions

A precision farming products and services display, with manufacturer and dealer specialists on-hand to explain potential bene ts, attracted lots of interest. Among new Trimble products, the XN1260 terminal which will replace the current 2050 display was featured. The XN1260 has a larger memory, more processing power and doesn’t require a secondary module – making it easier to t.

Grimme machinery isn’t supplied by the dealer, but a stone separator with GPS-controlled rear axle steering was displayed. “We wanted to highlight what’s possible,” explained precision farming product specialist, Robert Last. “Our customer had problems as potato beds were established using precise guidance, but then the stone separator repositioned them slightly. A robotic weeder is used which relies on GPS data from the ridger, so the deviation sometimes resulted in plant damage. With its GPS-guided rear wheel steering the separator now follows the same A-B lines as the ridger, so rows remain exactly where they are supposed to be.”

Pictured with the separator are (l-r) Ernest Doe precision farming support, Mel Craig, precision farming product specialists, Robert Last and Sam Turnnidge, CNH precision farming specialist Sam Thompson and CNH precision farming marketing and sales assistant Kit Field.

High-capacity drill

Lemken displayed its new high-capacity Solitaire DT 6m drill, and the machine on show was the rst of its type to arrive in the UK. The DT replaces the Compact Solitaire, and the new model o ers a wider choice of front working elements including Heliodor or Wavy Discs. It also has a new seed metering system. Demonstrations and trials last autumn achieved excellent results.

“Ploughs, Karat cultivators and Rubin disc harrows continue selling in large numbers to Ernest Doe and Ernest Doe Power customers,” explained area sales representative Steve Plumb. “We have a great relationship with the dealer teams and their customers through all 19 depots.”

Feeders and hedge cutters

Orders were taken for several hedge cutters on the Shelbourne Reynolds stand. “Some were replacing existing Shelbourne Reynolds machines, but there were also customers moving to our range from competitor brands,” explained sales and marketing manager Neil Smith. “We remain busy supplying feeder wagons and the trend is noticeably to larger versions. We do more double auger models now, as farm labour shortages mean even smaller herds require large mixers to save time.”

Hedge cutters with variable forward reach are also becoming more popular. “Sales used to be mainly to contractors, but now many farms choose them for the improved operator convenience and comfort. Once you have had a model with variable forward reach, then you wouldn’t want to return to a standard model, and versions from just 6.5m allow use with smaller tractors.”

Pictured (l-r) are Ernest Doe North Walsham depot service manager Kevin Hemp, with Shelbourne Reynolds team members Neil Smith, James Swinstead, Adam Whitaker and Ian Taylor-Balls.

Grass harvesting products

A new SIP belt merger attracted considerable interest. Grass distribution options include to the centre or to the left or right, or simultaneously to the centre and to left or right. Working speeds up to 22kph can be achieved. Practical features include the ability to lift the beds independently when short-working, quick folding to 3m for transport and central lubrication which saves time. The bed has an adjustable hydraulic oating system and rides on spinning discs which are less likely to create sparks than traditional skids. A press roller with hydraulic adjustment ensures optimum crop ow. The price is approximately £85,000 on farm, explained SIP product support specialist Charlie Thompson (left) who is pictured with SIP UK sales director Martin Holden.

Available for this harvest

MacDon combine headers have been available from Ernest Doe & Sons for several years, but a recent agreement between CNH and MacDon means that the headers are now fully approved for tting to the combines and available as an option. “MacDon headers excel in a di cult harvest when other headers would struggle but even last harvest, when conditions were easy, it was obvious to anyone who saw them working that they o er productivity advantages,” explained Ernest Doe New Holland harvester brand manager, Matt Boardley. “We can also supply the headers to customers for other brand combines, and we have working widths up to 50ft.”

At the show, enquiries were received for CX- and CR-series combines, and Matt said that the dealer has plenty of remaining stock for this harvest. Orders placed during the event included a 1290 Plus large square baler and an RB150 round baler.

New Holland harvesting products specialist, Nigel Honeyman said that NIR sensors are now available for the range of combines, for retro tting to existing models and that they will be a factory- tted option for new machines later this year. “Signi cant advantages are available from being able to determine protein levels and other nutrient content in the eld,” he explained. “Grain meeting particular protein requirements can be stored away from grain which is below the required threshold, providing opportunities to supply to di erent markets or to blend crops later for increased returns.”

Pictured (l-r) are MacDon area sales and product support for UK and Ireland, Rob Brough, with Nigel Honeyman and Matt Boardley.

Grain condition monitoring

Martin Lishman displayed its new AgroLog grain temperature and moisture probe. The probes are designed to remain in the grain heap and, through a smartphone app, users can monior crop storage data remotely without having to frequently visit the store. Temperature and grain moisture is measured within the heap, and the probe measures ambient temperature and air humidity too. An integral sim card provides communication, and the cost is £289. Pictured are Martin Lishman sales director Joel Capper (left), with area sales manager Tom Pickering.

Tools and supplies

LED torches and worklights were the most popular items on the Sealey Tools stand. Combination drill polishing kits which include the power tool, and two batteries were also selling in large numbers, as the batteries are compatible with other power tools in the Sealey range. Pictured (l-r) are Sealey Tools representatives, Stacey Toynton, Stewart Logan and Tom Feakes.

Salt spreaders

The Logic stand displayed a range of ATV attachments including trailers, mowers, manège graders and a horse muck collector. Logic area sales representative, Oliver Minns is pictured, and he said that the company’s products are selling well, and that salt spreaders have been in particularly high demand due to the cold winter. Last year, like other manufacturers, Logic struggled to meet demand for mowers due to issues with engine availability, but large stocks arrived during the past few months, so there are plenty of ail and rotary models built ready for the coming season.

Precise application

Hardi’s new PulseNozzle spray rate control system is now available to order for delivery later this year. It is initially only for Navigator and Aeon trailed sprayers, but likely to become an option for mounted models too. Spray rate through each nozzle is constantly adjusted across the boom ensuring precise application. It allows full variable rate control, compensation during turns, and the ability to spot spray with precise targeting of treatments where required.

Pictured is Hardi sales director Peter Wiles.

Our solid, interlocking, slabs create instant hardstanding on any surface, whatever the weather, making them ideal for an immediate wet winter transformation or the perfect spring/summer project. Second to none when it comes to mud control, equally ideal to create alternative areas such as grass controlled turnout paddocks, lunge pens and riding areas. Mudcontrol slabs are a base and sub-base in one, so say goodbye to adverse ground conditions forever.

New spreaders displayed

The new DCM range of mounted spreaders was displayed by Teagle. Line S models have 1,500–2,000 litres capacity, and larger Line M versions have capacities from 2,000–4,200 litres. The top of the range M42 Iso is Isobus compatible and comes standard with 18–36m spreading width, but 24–45m is an option. It features electronic shutter control and 16 section spread width control. With the spreader are (l-r) imported products specialist Ben Combe; Ernest Doe Power Ashford branch manager Steve Pat eld, Teagle area sales manager Chris White and Ernest Doe Power area sales manager based at Dartford Nick Booth.

Wider

cultivator

The Cousins stand displayed the latest Crop Check roller with replaceable blades to extend the working life. The Crop Check is front mounted on a tractor and runs ahead of the drill, crimping cover crops and rolling them down in the direction of travel, to create a weed suppressing mat suitable for drilling into.

Also displayed was a trailed LessLift cultivator – available in 4, 5 and 6m working widths and complementing existing narrower mounted versions.

High speci cation weight box

The new Boxsmart front weight box featured on the Cherry Products stand. There are two versions. The standard model was launched late last year, and the Deluxe model is brand new, and was displayed for the first time at the event. The Deluxe box weighs 475kg empty and costs £3,900. Removable weights with pallet tine fittings are available in 600, 800 and 1,000kg sizes. Amber beacons and side markers are an option for the standard box but are included within the Deluxe specification which also has side lockers and a tool shelf in the top. Pictured with the Boxsmart are development manager Sam Cherry (left) and managing director Graham Cherry.

Increased spray accuracy

Pictured on the Knight sprayers stand are technical sales manager John Wooding (left) and area sales manager Cli Buck. The sprayer displayed was tted with a new Vario Select spray control option. Using Mueller electronics and Lechler four-way nozzle bodies, the system automatically selects the optimal nozzle combination to match the droplet size required and the forward speed. A boom-mounted gyro can be added for turn compensation – reducing the application rate for nozzles on the inside of the turn while increasing ow through nozzles outside to ensure correct application rates are maintained.

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We’re so confident in the quality of our hand tools that we offer a Lifetime Guarantee*. Whether you’re a professional mechanic or a DIY enthusiast, our tools will stand up to the job.

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New ATV sprayers

Sales director, Morgan David (left), and sales manager, Lee Chadwick are pictured on their Portek stand. New mounted and trailed SprayMaxx ATV and UTV sprayers were displayed, along with a petrol engine-powered wheeled strimmer, bird scaring kites, chainsaw sharpeners, post drivers and log splitters.

Specialist tractors

New Case IH Quantum specialist tractors for the fruit and vineyard industries were announced late last year, and rst deliveries are starting to arrive. Pictured with the Quantum 120F are Case IH marketing manager Charles Blessley (left) and area sales manager John McAuley.

Premium power tools

Milwaukee power tools were displayed for the rst time at the show. Battery-powered grease guns, impact wrenches and percussion drills were in highest demand, and there will be a much wider range of tools available later. Pictured (l-r) are Milwaukee area sales manager for power tools Prakash Bhudia, area sales manager for outdoor power equipment Dan Baker, and jobsite solutions specialists for outdoor power equipment Tristan Dixon and Mike Smith.

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Weed control without chemicals

On the KRM stand, spreaders and tine drills attracted most enquiries, but the Econet mechanical guided hoe also generated interest. “We have sold large numbers in the west of the UK, and there is growing interest from sugar beet growers and vegetable producers,” explained area sales manager for central England and North Wales, Ollie Rendle. “Most buyers have invested to reduce reliance on chemical weed controls within organic or regenerative farming regimes. Several have been purchased by contractors for under-sowing maize with cover crops, and the hoe combines well with our SMP direct drill which is available with 25cm row spacing which provides adequate clearance for the hoe to work.”

01473 327596

or email: enquiries@collins-skiphire.co.uk

Heavy-duty mulcher

The new Multicut 650 Proline heavy duty mulching mower was displayed by Spearhead. New models feature six blades per rotor for a thorough chop, rear walking centre and wing axles, hydra-gas suspension, a level top deck to avoid trash accumulations, and a seven-year gearbox warranty. “Most machines sold so far have been for Environmental Stewardship schemes, eld margins and stubble management,” explained area sales manager Jack Norton (pictured).

South East Ltd

We are the Avant Dealers for Essex and Hertfordshire based in Great Canfield

We are inviting all our existing and new customers to visit us on our OPEN DAY.

You will see a wide range of Avant loaders, including the NEW 645i and 650i, and attachments.

Fancy a Demo and Drive?

You will have the opportunity to test drive the loaders in our demo area, and see for yourselves (if you don’t know already!), how versatile these machines are.

Existing customers, you will have the opportunity to speak to our highly experienced engineers, should you have any questions, and gain tips and advice on the maintaining of your Avant.

New customers, you can meet our sales team who will guide and answer any queries you have about the Avant loaders and attachments.

GMS is our new company, started March 2022. With the experience of our engineers, we are able to repair, maintain and service most machinery and equipment, from tractors to sit on lawn mowers and trailers. With a fully equipped workshop and two service and repair vans, we are able to cover almost all breakdown predicaments, in order to provide a full repairs service to our customers.

Also new to GMS, are the two dealerships we have taken on – Kioti and Makita Kioti – With Kioti you’ll find a broad range of (compact) tractors, from 21 to 140 hp. There is always a perfect option for you, whether you’re looking for some assistance around your farm or on your estate. You can select the right model to make your everyday work easier, or even if you are looking for a real workhorse for the bigger, more demanding jobs, like on a commercial arable or livestock farm.

We will have Kioti stock available to view, demo, sell and hire on the day, and a few freebies to give away to existing and potential customers!

Makita – For all the power tool fans out there, we are about to become a dealer for the Makita full range! A new shop and stores for customers to come visit and purchase, is currently in the making.

At the open day event, you will be able to meet our Makita Team, who will also be bringing some stock and merchandise with them for our customers to purchase and order.

Weight Sensing Sprung Drawbar

System for operator comfort

Collared Dish-ends for increased overall strength

Patented ‘Double Trap System’ for maximum pump protection

From 1300g to 6000g (Standard, Recess, Tandem and Tridem)

Safety footwear for all seasons

According to statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), agriculture has the highest fatality rate per 100,000 workers, out of all the main industry sectors. Over the last ve years the average annual fatality rate was around 21 times higher than the all-industry rate.

With the demands of farm work changing so drastically depending on the time of year, to be safe, footwear needs to change with it, says V12 Footwear.

Autumn and winter: Protection from rain both above and below the boot in these wet months is crucial. A high-quality waterproof boot will ensure feet are kept dry and don’t become hot and sweaty. Also, consider the tread on your boots. For it to perform and keep you safe, it needs to be designed for outdoor and wet environments.

Keeping feet warm is just as important for long hours on the farm, so footwear with coldresistant insulation guarantees the focus remains on the job, not the temperature. V12 says its Tomahawk rigger boot ticks all these boxes.

Spring and summer: The average farmer walks 14,000 steps per day during the height of the growing season, and when the heat and the hours ramp up, comfort is key. A boot with a moisture-wicking, anti-fatigue comfort insole is crucial to keep aches and pains away during 12-hour days.

Increased steps mean increased risk of slipping, so to stay safe on loose and uneven ground, a tread with large lugs and wider gaps means no clogging. V12 reckons its Rawhide dealer boot is the best boot for the job.

Hot or cold, dry or wet, work on the farm won’t stop, and with it being so dangerous it’s important to stay safe and comfortable. It’s a case of being in the right boot at the right time. Head over to www.V12footwear.com to ensure you’re covered. FG

SCAN ME

Independent flotation and central pivoting of each section ensures superb contour following and even weight distribution across the full working width. From 12.3m to 20.3m.

• Floating wings and centre pivots Superb contour following

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Simple safe road transport

• Heavy duty design throughout Built for high workloads and built to last

• Heavy duty NG rings 20”, 22”, 24” Cambridge & Breaker or Cambridge only

With agriculture being the most dangerous industry to work in, high-quality boots designed for farming environments are important.

HBD spreader provides accuracy to smaller users

Smaller farms looking for the ability to accurately spread a variety of di erent products should consider Bunning’s Farmstar 80 HBD, to increase the timeliness of eld operations without the need for a contractor, Bunning reckons.

It is Bunning’s smallest horizontal beater and spinning disc (HBD) spreader. It features a carrying capacity of eight tonnes and spreading is handled by a single dynamically balanced 695mm horizontal beater on to 1.1m twin spinning discs.

The beater has reversible hardened Boron cutters on it to shred products, to maintain consistency and increase service life. This helps keep material uniform by breaking down lumpy manures before spreading via the spinning discs, with 12–36m application widths possible depending on the product. Spread width can be adjusted via ve blade positions on the discs, as well as an adjustable rear canopy to tweak the spread pattern.

A proven full width socket- t oor slat design, with 80 grade 16mm oor chains, is standard. The design ensures that the whole oor is cleared and that an even ow of product is presented to the beater.

The 80 HBD features a onepiece spinner deck gearbox, which is identical to the bigger Bunning spreaders, while all come with a standard three-year warranty. Extras include a wide-angle PTO, 240mm side extensions for additional load carrying, and Isobus compatibility with weigh cells and on the go rate control. FG

New main dealer for o -road vehicle brand

Layham-based Marst Agri has been appointed Corvus O -Road main dealer for Su olk. Boss ORV, the sole UK distributor of the Corvus Terrain range of 4x4 utility vehicles, only made the announcement at the end of January and within the rst week the dealer had already performed many demos at its farm location.

“We o er a big welcome to Marst Agri on joining the Boss/Corvus network in East Anglia,” says Boss ORV managing director Phil Everett. “We are delighted to have Mark Butcher, Stewart and Heidi join us on the Corvus adventure.”

Formed in 2017 by agricultural engineers Mark and Stewart, Marst Agri is a Merlo telehandler main dealer and it o ers a combined experience of over 40 years in

the eld. As such it is awarded accreditation for the conduct of Thorough Examinations, the lift truck, fore-end loader, telescopic handler and attachment equivalent of the car MOT.

“We’re proud to become a Corvus main dealer,” says Mark. “The Terrain DX4 has an excellent powerful diesel engine, superb, spacious cab with best-in-class storage and excellent suspension. Whether you’re in agriculture, construction or any rural industry the Corvus UTV is a worthy contender. Anyone interested in a demo is welcome to come and have a go at our yard in Layham.”

For more information about the Corvus Terrain range, contact the team directly or visit: www.bossorv.co.uk FG

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

Increased investment and a host of new products

Tyre manufacturer BKT is growing its product o ering and investing heavily in its already impressive Bhuj, India manufacturing plant. The company’s global sales exceeded $1Bn last year, and there are plans to double that gure within just three years. David Williams visited the factory and met the owners to nd out why the brand is so successful.

Balkrishna Industries Ltd (BKT) is a relative newcomer to the agricultural tyre market. The company was formed in 1987 to supply o -highway tyres lling a gap between expensive, premium brands and budget versions, to suit the average user. Since then, continued investment in research and development and meticulous attention to detail has paid o . Now the company’s huge range of more than 3,400 sizes of tyre includes high speci cation IF and VF radials capable of competing with other premium brands, and BKT tyres are listed as OE tment options by many leading tractor manufacturers.

Recent additions to the BKT o ering include rubber tracks, and tyres for special applications. Sales of over one billion US dollars were achieved for the rst time last year, and the company aims to double that gure by the end of 2026.

Successful investment

BKT has ve tyre factories in India, and the newest plant is at Bhuj, 850km north of Mumbai. The plant’s construction began in 2010 with a traditional site blessing and, by 2012 the rst solid tyres were produced. The plant is in an arid desert area, away from centres of population.

The area’s road and rail links are poor, there was no infrastructure to support the new plant and no local workforce. However, the 125ha needed was available there and two main sea ports nearby make it easy to ship tyres worldwide. Reservoirs were constructed supplying water for production and an 8km pipeline brings drinking water to the site. An electricity supply was connected from 13km away, although an onsite 40MW power station and solar panels currently provide all the power needed. Up to 7m depth of volcanic soil was removed and replaced by soil suitable for foundations and groundwork.

Labour supply issues were solved by an on-site village for workers and their families comprising modern, well-equipped ats accompanied by sports and social facilities as well as a supermarket and a medical centre. Approximately 900 families currently live on-site.

Research and development

One of BKT’s strengths is that the company builds its own tyre moulds, shortening lead times when adding new tyres to the range. Minor adjustments to optimise tread patterns can be achieved almost immediately,

allowing tyres to be produced meeting speci c requirements.

A state-of-the-art 10ha research and development centre at the Bhuj site was completed in 2017, allowing intensive testing of new tyres and technology, and contributes to the short lead times for new tyres. Compounds, carcase and tread designs are all thoroughly evaluated. “Having a testing centre at the factory is crucial,” explained joint managing director, Rajif Poddar.

A tour of the testing centre included simulators – developed with Volvo, where operators sit at the ‘controls’ of earthmovers and dumpers and ‘drive’ them around work sites. Impacts and loads are assessed, and the data helps the development team design tyres ideal for the intended tasks.

Testing systems include huge steel rollers which rotate with the tyres, applying pressure and resistance, allowing a long working life to be simulated within just a few weeks, and including side loads to replicate operation on uneven ground and slopes.

An outside test area comprises six types of tracks and allows tyre evaluation on vehicles before nal testing by customers.

The thorough testing results in an extremely low failure rate of less than 0.25%, even though the radial tyres come with a six-year warranty.

Tyre manufacturing is complex, and the factory tour included explanations of how rubber

…from previous page compounds can be created to optimise ride quality and tyre durability, and how combinations of layers achieve the desired results.

BKT president and director of technology, Dilip Vaidya explained previously to Farmers Guide that the company’s fastest development of a completely new tyre took just 45 days, but the average time taken is six months from start of design to supply – far quicker than most other manufacturers.

Catering for the future

Advanced construction techniques were used to create a new range of tyres for electric-powered tractors. The new tyres carry an E-Ready logo and BKT explained that reasons special tyres are needed include up to 30% additional unladen weight due to the heavy batteries; additional drive torque – especially when pulling away – so beads must achieve a rm grip to the rim and tread sections have to be optimised in terms of design and compound. Also, to achieve maximum working time between battery charging, the rolling resistance had to be minimised. This can account for as much as 20% of energy consumption, so the tread pattern, compound and sidewall structure were optimised. Noise levels are a ected by the tread

pattern, compound composition and tyre size, so these were also designed for quiet operation.

Track range imminent

BKT has also added Agriforce rubber tracks to its range – with general availability due later this year. There are three types for di erent applications – construction, harvesters and agricultural.

Harvester tracks available initially will include 450-90-60 and 450-90-51. Agricultural tracks come in 18-644, 18-6-53, 18-6-54, 18-6-58 and 18-6-59. Product manager, Hemant Sawant explained that current track production is ve tonnes, or 20–25 units per day, but by 2024 production up to 50 tonnes of tracks per day will be possible, and a new dedicated track manufacturing facility is under construction to meet anticipated demand. “Development started in 2017, and ve years later we have tracks being evaluated by customers who report excellent performance,” Hemant continued. “When we are satis ed by every aspect of their operation, then we will o er them on the open market and eventually for OE tment by machinery manufacturers.”

Rajif Poddar said he has been thrilled by the amount of interest already shown by machine

manufacturers. “It exceeded our most optimistic expectations,” he said. “The reason for the interest is due to the success and reputation we already have for our tyres.”

Heavy-duty solid rubber tyres

BKT also used the event to announce that solid rubber tyres will be available from the second half of this year. For industrial applications including forklifts and materials handlers, the tyres have holes through the pro le to provide cushioning and reduce shock loads and vibration. Three sizes will be available initially including 20.5-25, 23.5-25 and 26.5-25.

Specialist forestry tyres

A range of dedicated forestry tyres is also being added. “The key challenge is navigating forest terrain,” explained Mr Vaidya. “Our current agro-forestry tyres are suitable for use o - and onroad, on tractors and other specialist machinery, but the forestry tyres are exclusively for use o -road on forwarders, skidders and harvesters.” Designated ForestMax, the new tyres have eight plies and three steel belts and a special tread compound which withstands the high wear and tear typical in forestry applications.

Largest tyres

Larger tyres from BKT include its earthmover range. The biggest size currently is 46/90R57 – weighing 4,139kg per unit and standing 3,575mm tall. Each tyre is made from 28 separate components and each bead weighs 140kg. The tyres take 12 hours to cure in the moulds. Each tyre carries 63t, providing total weight carrying capacity of up to 240t across four tyres on a rear axle. BKT explained that the tyres not only achieve excellent load carrying ability; they are also designed for operator comfort which is essential in demanding quarry situations. Tyres with an even larger 63in rim diameter and weighing 7,000kg each are under development and due to be available

shortly. Moulds will be ready by May, and the tyres will be available to purchase from August, with a 5,000hour warranty and an 8,000-hour predicted working life.

Meeting demand

Recent completion of a new radial tyre production facility in 2021 has increased total capacity to 700 metric tonnes per day. Within the new 9ha building, tyres are manufactured from scratch, and the optimised working environment includes cooled air increasing comfort for employees. Automation includes robots performing repetitive actions including cutting rubber sheets to size, and for painting. Cameras automatically check production quality throughout the process. Like the other BKT buildings, a digital gallery displays production gures and real-time power consumption.

Rapid growth

When tyre production started at Bhuj, the site was just 123ha and represented a $500M investment. The current site is 258ha, but land recently purchased adjacent to the plant increases the area by almost 30% – to 323ha. The additional $0.5Bn planned investment includes tyre production facilities, but also a move into Carbon Black manufacturing on a massive scale. Carbon Black is essential for

The McCormick X6.4 has evolved, so much so that it received the “Tractor of the Year 2023 Best Utility” award. Confirming itself as the best tractor in its class. It features a more powerful and efficient engine, P6 Drive 6-speed powershift transmission, and new McCormick High Visibility Cab. Demonstrating the strength, e ciency and quality that makes a McCormick tractor.

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tyre manufacturing, and accounts for up to 25% of a tyre’s construction. The current Carbon Black production plant started operation in 2017, when 65,000t of the hard grade Carbon Black for tyre tread was produced. Production increased to 110,000t in 2018 with the addition of soft grade Carbon Black, and in 2020 with the combined production of both types reached 138,000t, increasing again to 165,000t last year. Almost 200,000t will be made this year, including Speciality Carbon Black suitable for use in paints, plastics and inks.

BKT has invested in a new approach to production at its plant –making the process more sustainable and reducing CO2 emissions. Energy produced as a by-product during manufacture helps power the plant. Approximately 70% of the Carbon Black produced is used by BKT, and

the rest is sold to external customers including tyre manufacturers.

Managing environmental impact

BKT is proud of its environmental credentials. Approximately 30% of the site area is green, and an onsite nursery produces bushes and trees for the plant. The environmental impact of tyre and Carbon Black production is monitored, and particulate and emissions gures are available to view at monitoring stations at the site. Emissions are approximately half the legal limits – which a spokesman explained are stricter in India than in most other countries. “When the plant is operating then we are creating emissions,” he acknowledged. “The key is managing the emissions to operate as cleanly as possible.” All water used is recycled and nothing is

…from previous page

discharged outside the plant.

BKT also acknowledges its responsibility to the local population and con rmed investment in a school for up to 1,800 pupils to be built adjacent to the plant, and which will also be available for use by adults out of school hours.

Future growth

In 2022, the BKT Bhuj plant achieved total tyre production averaging 436t per day, contributing to the company’s total sales of $1Bn. Development of the additional land and construction of the new tyre and Carbon Black production facilities is due to start soon, and Rajif Poddar expects them to be operating within just two years and by 2026 the company’s plan is to produce 600,000 metric tonnes of tyres annually. Up to 1,240 families and 400 apprentices recruited from colleges and seeking practical experience will be living in housing provided at the Bhuj site.

“We are not just a tyre company,” concluded Rajif Poddar. “Global tyre demand is growing, and we see no signs of it slowing down over the next ve years. Our vision is simple which is why it is certain.” FG

Sustainable farming

Farming in north-west India tends to be on a small scale. Agriculture employs 45% of the country’s workforce – equivalent to 230 million workers, but the average farm size is only 1.08ha, compared to 14ha across the EU.

Farmers Guide visited two farms approximately 200 miles north of Mumbai, both of which have diversi ed to remain successful.

The Va Vagdo SPK Farm at Olpad, near Surat produces 60 di erent crops at its 1.25ha site. Farmer Mr Raj Deep struggled to produce good crops when farming the saline soils using conventional methods, and eventually gave up, but tried again a few years later using an organic production regime recommended by an advisor, with the land ridged and complementary crops grown side by side. The ridges were created manually and no machinery is used except for a small tractor and trailer to move goods around the site. Up to 127cm of rain falls each year – all between July and September – which creates a challenge. Drip irrigation ensures e cient use and e ective take-up by the plants. Nutrients including cow manure and sugar cane by-products are sourced from local farms, and the crops self-seed so there is no need to replant each year. Mr Deep farms single-handed most of the time, with help from two neighbouring farmers during busy periods. The three farmers help each other with no payments exchanged.

The organic salad, fruit and vegetable crops are sold direct to customers, and achieve prices more than twice that of similar crops grown using arti cial fertilisers and chemicals in the area. “This is my ATM,” Mr Deep explained as he plucked a g from a tree.

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Orchid production at Vanita Farm started 15 years ago. Plants are grown under cover and above ground on a mat of coconut bres. No soil is used, and nutrients are provided through an irrigation system using drip tubes at plant level and from overhead sprinklers. The plants are sold to buyers across India. Farmer, Mr Sailor (pictured) said that the orchids sell for between 20–40 rupees (20–40p) per stem, and each plant produces stems for up to eight years.

Free mapping tool “invaluable” in challenging times

work done on individual farms, he adds.

Farmers Guide spoke to Harrison to nd out more.

Since rst trying out Land App back in 2017, it has proved very useful for CLM’s mapping needs. The Sussexbased land, business and property management consultancy mainly uses the free tool for mapping its farming clients’ Countryside Stewardship.

“One of the best features is the link it provides to clients’ Rural Payments data, so when it comes to doing BPS and Stewardship, it can pull across all the necessary information for making applications,” Harrison says. This makes the process faster and more accurate, and has helped to standardise the maps CLM uses.

More recently, Land App has incorporated lots of data sets into its data layer function, which is very useful for getting more information about the land, as well as new base map types such as UK Habitat

Classi cations. This has helped CLM with an increasing amount of ecology and habitat creation work.

The ease of collaboration is also bene cial. “Between colleagues it is useful as you can pull up the maps you are working on collaboratively and it saves any mapping changes made, as you go along. Various permissions and team functions allow you to select who can see the work if necessary, but to be able to share maps so easily is a very good feature.

“The capacity to share with clients is also very useful. Sending a link to a client to become an editor or viewer of the maps you are working on saves the need to go back and forth with emails and meetings, and can greatly speed up the process.”

Additionally, as part of a farmer cluster, it help to collate mapping

As with all technology, it takes a little time at rst to get used to the tools and learn your way around but “once you know how to import your RPA data and have a rough idea of the buttons around the side, you are pretty much there”, Harrison says. There are also useful guidance videos on the website, regular webinars and a chat function which is “very helpful”. A simple, free mapping tool will be a particular bene t for farms now, Harrison continues. As we enter a time of public schemes in the form of ELM, plus private schemes, farmers are required to provide lots of di erent data and evidence of actions being taken.

“Having a platform which has the functionality to represent all the information required by both farmers

and the scheme managers, but also the simplicity to allow you to carry out many of the functions you would on a GIS system with minimal complexity – and which is mostly free to use – is invaluable.”

For more information, or to sign up for a free account, visit: www.thelandapp.com FG

As we enter a time of public payment schemes in the form of ELM, having a simple, free mapping tool such as Land App is a real bene t, says Harrison Anton, farm and environment consultant at CLM, which has been using the app for six years.

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Cheshire contracting business N D Harper Ltd, provides a review of the new Case IH Puma 240 CVX, after 12 months of use.

Managing director Nigel Harper said it was a bold move to come away from a brand they knew and trusted. “Ashbrook o ered us an excellent deal on both the hire and the backup, which are vitally important when deciding how to up-scale our eet for the busiest months. It would have been a missed opportunity not to take it,” he commented.

“I’ve been really pleased with the fuel e ciency. In fact, we achieved a signi cant fuel saving with the new Case IH tractors versus our previous

John Deeres, which was very welcome as fuel prices were so volatile in the last growing season.”

Operator Jamie Taylor added: “The Puma 240 is the best tractor I’ve ever had on a plough. The power to size ratio is great, the CVX transmission is beautifully balanced and it’s really easy to match the speed to the job. It’s in nitely variable with the turn of a button. With our last tractor there was a big jump between B4 and C1, which was wearing after a long day in the seat. The top spec cab and ease of use mean I wouldn’t want to change again now.”

Contact Ashbrook Ltd for long- or short-term hire contracts. FG

Curtain installations give pig producers “total control of ventilation”

Two recent installations at pig farms in East Anglia have given the farms more stable temperatures and the ability to seal up buildings in case of storms. The farms have also reported cleaner pigs with less respiratory problems and a lighter, airier environment for animals and stockpersons.

One project saw curtains tted to two pig sheds measuring 140ft long in North Norfolk, near Holt. The farm required a manual system to control the temperature and keep the elements at bay in winter. Manual curtain systems o er good control of the climate in the building at a more cost-e ective price, and they can be upgraded to a fully automated system at a later date,

explains Tom Wright, managing director of Spring Farm Systems, which carried out the work.

The second project, at a farm near Stowmarket, Su olk, involved two 200ft-long sheds being tted with four 100ft curtains each. Each shed has four zones operated by a four-zone controller, each of which has its own temperature sensor, and a di erent temperature can be set. On bigger buildings, it’s vital to split the curtains to have more control over the ventilation due to variations within the building. This is most noticeable in spring; an easterly wind will often catch one corner of the building, causing variations of as much as 5ºC at the other end of the shed. FG

Update on carbon and BNG opportunities for UK farmers

In this issue, farm consultancy expert Mark Russell, a partner at Carter Jonas, provides advice for farming businesses on carbon, BNG and land market drivers. When it comes to carbon, inset and o set markets are becoming established so it’s time to make sure you have a baseline done.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) continues to create a lot of noise. The options open to you as farmers and how you relate to this part of the market are becoming clear –especially how to balance risk and reward.

The market requirement for o set land is not yet clear but estimates range around 6,000 BNG units per

year, translating into around 4,000 acres/year. Whilst this is a lot of land, when you spread it over 322 local planning authorities (LPAs), that is 12.5 acres of requirement in each LPA each year. With the requirement being every year, over the 30-year policy period that equates to circa 375 acres in each LPA area. Therefore, with habitat banks averaging around 100 acres, there is space for 3–4 in each LPA over that 30-year period. If you want to take advantage of this market, acting early is essential.

While that may sound negative, I am in fact very positive about how this can deliver a pro table farm business income stream, with BNG providing the springboard to talk about carbon, agroforestry, paludiculture, bene ts of public access, ESG investment by corporates, water resources management and a myriad of other natural capital elements that may be monetised in the future. Water is going to be a massive part of this and may be the next ‘nutrient neutrality’ issue to hit us.

The advantage for the carbon/ road to net zero world is that rather than being niche, it has mass market, landscape potential. It also falls into the category of ‘doing the right thing’, which can have real world bene ts such as lowering borrowing rates. Understanding your own potential route to net zero is a key part of this decision process.

One of my concerns over the last 20 years has been the lack of joined up research across agricultural land. The development of natural capital services provides the chance to really change this with farm clusters

and perhaps buying groups being potential vehicles to link farmers with universities and organisations in the research space. Control over your data will be important here and picking the right partner key.

When it comes to land market drivers, we are continuing to see upwards pressure on commercial land values, with limited supply and a number of buyers – especially for larger blocks of land. Recent deals in East Anglia re ect vacant possession values of between £10–11,000 per acre (grade 2, arable, non-irrigable). Natural capital buyers are bringing new money to the market and some of them can pay a multiple of agricultural land value where they have speci c developer requirements. So, similarly to the development world where we are used to doing ‘subject to planning deals’ there are now ‘subject to BNG requirement’ deals being agreed. Values range greatly and there is a whole new language within these sale agreements that we can help you to get right.

For further information contact Mark Russell MRICS on 07967 555737 or mark.russell@carterjonas.co.uk FG

Natural Capital Exchange

Q&A: Preparing for spring turnout

For this issue’s Q&A we spoke to Tonia Simms of Hampden Vets, part of the VetPartners Group.

What are the most common pitfalls around spring turnout?

A: For most animals, there are few pitfalls around turnout. A lot of people refer to grass as ‘doctor green’ and while there can be a degree of nutritional bene t from grass, the positive health response, in my opinion, is the fresh air and lower stocking density, leading to lower chance of an animal being infected by a pathogen.

However, my main concern as we see the climate changing is that there is an expectation as to the nutritional value of grass, that perhaps isn’t applicable anymore with lower rainfall and ash ooding/ poaching when it does rain. For this reason, it’s prudent not to turn your animals out and forget about them. It’s easier with dairy cows as they’re coming in every day, but beef and small ruminants shouldn’t be left to fend for themselves. Monitoring youngstock growth, adult animal body condition scores and grass growth is prudent to a successful grazing season – it is expensive to correct once animals are housed again.

What vaccinations would you recommend before turnout?

A: The vaccinations I recommend vary depending on herd/ ock status and other risk factors. The ubiquitous one would be for clostridial diseases in both cattle and small ruminants. This group of bacteria cause various syndromes, but most result in death, for example tetanus, black leg, pulpy kidney etc. The likelihood of this happening varies between farms or even elds, but your animals are more likely to come across clostridial spores if you have had recent ground works, a new ley, ood meadows

or if you are grazing low down in the sward and there is increased chance of soil ingestion. Various clostridial vaccines are available that are relatively inexpensive.

For sheep, some of the clostridial vaccines also include Pasteurella, which generally a ects lambs when there is a sudden stressor, e.g. weaning or a change in weather conditions. Covering with a pasteurella vaccine pre-turnout or from three weeks of age if already grazing will prevent these deaths, however, cover is only for approximately six months so a booster should be considered later in the grazing season.

For cattle, historically vets have recommended leptospirosis vaccination before turnout. However I personally suspect that most of the spread these days will occur during the housing period, cow-to-cow, so I would advocate vaccinating as soon as possible if it is diagnosed on your farm.

Finally, I would urge cattle farmers to consider lungworm vaccination. Again, the likelihood of infestation depends on the farm’s history and weather. However, as an industry we are trying to reduce the use of anthelmintics – using lungworm vaccination, rather than routine treatment, is a great step to promoting farm biodiversity.

What sort of parasite burden might we expect this season?

A: The long-range forecasts appear to be for another hot summer. While terrible for grass and crop growth, it is great for reducing parasite burden. However, last year when it did rain, at the back end of summer we got a massive ush of gastrointestinal parasites in all our species. For this reason, even if the weather is hot and dry, we still advocate taking faecal egg counts across the summer to monitor parasite burdens. Adult animals routinely do not need treatment for parasites but suckling calves, lambs and kids start taking on su cient grass to pick

up worms from about six weeks old. The lifecycle of most worms is approximately three weeks, so I would advocate taking your rst faecal egg count from about nine weeks old.

Obviously, this is going to be a ected by the calving or lambing period, when you turn them out, and the weather, but use this as a guide. Just be aware that coccidiosis can a ect young animals earlier than this, from about three weeks, so any ill thrift or loose faeces should be investigated by faecal egg count. Nematodirus will a ect lambs when a temperature change of 10ºC occurs.

Q QWhat about nutritional de ciencies?

A: The main nutritional de ciency I foresee is lack of grass, as we saw last year. Be mindful to monitor the body condition score of the adult animals and growth rates of the youngstock and consider supplementary forage feeding if either decrease.

Ironically, the trace element and mineral status of the cows is better if there is less moisture in the grass, as all molecules are concentrated. My main concern is that if it were to suddenly rain and there was a ush of grass for lactating animals, we would start to see magnesium de ciencies. Magnesium is not stored in the body, so if the intake is diluted by sudden lush grass, animals are prone to neurological e ects. If one animal is clinically a ected by magnesium de ciency (staggers), it is worth supplementing the whole group as it is likely that there will be some sub-clinically a ected.

Other trace elements to be aware of are copper, selenium, cobalt and iodine. Their availability in grass is widely variable across the UK so I would recommend blood testing your animals and getting analyses performed on forage so that any supplementation can take place if necessary, particularly at breeding times. FG

Farmers warned of heightened clostridial disease risk

are black disease, blackleg, malignant oedema, tetanus and botulism. In sheep, they include lamb dysentery, tetanus, pulpy kidney, black disease, blackleg, struck and braxy.

important factors, but control by vaccination is widely considered best practice, added Dr Lovatt.

Two leading livestock vets are urging farmers to vaccinate livestock for clostridial diseases in the run up to lambing and calving as more animals are outwintered and vaccine boosters missed. As sheep and cattle are grazed for longer periods, and on crops such as fodder beet and swedes, the risks may be increased, according to vets Joe Henry of Black Sheep Farm Health and Fiona Lovatt of Flock Health Ltd. This is due to exposure to the soil where clostridial spores are often present.

Vaccine supply issues over the past year could also put stock at increased risk if vaccine boosters have been missed.

Most farmers rst realise they have a problem when an animal is found dead. Mr Henry said: "Death from clostridial diseases is still a reasonably common cause, which is

frustrating when there are relatively cheap vaccines available to protect stock."

Pulpy kidney (Clostridium perfringens B) was the third most common cause of lamb death found in 2,733 lamb carcasses examined by Farm Post Mortems Ltd over a veyear period up to 2019 (SHAWG report 2020/2021). In the same period, pulpy kidney and lamb dysentery were among the top seven most common diagnoses in young lambs up to seven days old submitted to Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) over the same period.

Some of the most common diseases from clostridial spores in cattle

Pre-calving

EnduraBol Pre-Calver and EnduraBol High Iodine provide tailored supplementation for pre- and post-calving cows and heifers.

Spring calving beef and dairy herds are approaching a critical period for trace element supplementation, says Emily Hall, product manager for Nettex.

“The majority of foetal development takes place in the six to eight weeks leading up to calving. A huge amount of nutritional stores are going to go towards foetal development, requiring supplementation

during this period of essential trace elements and vitamins to support adequate growth, health and reproduction of both the dam and her calf,” explains Ms Hall.

With the addition of EnduraBol Pre-Calver and EnduraBol High Iodine to Nettex’s EnduraBol Cattle bolus range, cattle farmers have new options for their trace element supplementation programmes.

EnduraBol Pre-Calver consists of

The Livestock Vaccination Guidelines, published recently by the National O ce for Animal Health, categorise vaccination for clostridial diseases as one of the highest priority vaccinations for beef and sheep (category one). This means herds and ocks should be vaccinated as a default unless appropriate justi cations have been clearly identi ed by the vet and farmer working together.

Mr Henry added: "Vaccination has a good cost versus bene t ratio. If one cow is saved every 16 years in a 100-cow herd, the vaccine will have paid for itself. It's hard enough making money from suckler beef and sheep, and with single farm payments disappearing, farmers have to do everything to safeguard their stock.”

Good ock management and feeding practices are also considered

Vaccines are available that cover 10 di erent strains, such as Covexin 10 from Zoetis. Stock should be given two doses in their rst grazing season 4–6 weeks apart. From then onwards, all animals should receive an annual booster. Mr Henry recommended speaking to your vet about timings, particularly in spring calving herds.

For animals giving birth this spring, the next few weeks are critical for vaccinating pregnant stock to ensure o spring receive protection, said Zoetis vet Ally Ward.

"Giving cows and ewes a booster 2–8 weeks before calving and lambing will increase antibody levels in the colostrum and help to protect youngstock over the rst few months of life, as well as the mother for a year."

There is no milk or meat withdrawal for Covexin 10; it can be used for all types and classes of stock over two weeks of age. FG

two boluses that provide a sustained release of six trace elements and three vitamins for up to 120 days. Nutrients include high levels of copper, zinc, iodine, cobalt, selenium, manganese and vitamins A, D3 and E.

“For dams, the balance of these nutrients will reduce calving issues, aid in quicker recovery after calving and support hormone production for better conception rates,” she explains. “Unborn calves will optimise growth and development and have support in developing a healthy immune system.”

For cattle on primarily forage diets, especially those consuming brassicas and legumes, EnduraBol High Iodine is recommended. Also consisting of two boluses, EnduraBol High Iodine contains high levels of copper, zinc, cobalt, selenium, manganese and vitamins A, D3 and E, and has an average daily supply of 17.60mg of iodine to overcome likely de ciencies.

“Iodine is not stored within the body, therefore a continuous supply from the diet is required for normal production of the thyroid hormones, which control energy metabolism and metabolic rate. If de cient, calving can be delayed and slowed, calves can have poor vigour and the risk of still-births increases,” says Ms Hall. “Pastures and forages are often

de cient in iodine, while brassicas and legumes contain compounds that block iodine absorption –therefore requiring a higher level of supplementation in some circumstances.”

EnduraBol bolus technology features ‘single point erosion’ that ensures consistent and reliable delivery of trace elements and vitamins for extended periods. This slow and steady release allows the animal to optimise absorption while ensuring consistent trace element delivery over a long period, explains Ms Hall.

“This is a much better option than drenching or relying on feed consumption for trace element delivery. Drenches provide a large pulse of nutrients in a short amount of time that won’t be fully absorbed and feeding has varying intakes which often result in de ciencies spotted throughout the herd,” she says. “However, a bolus ensures every animal gets a consistent amount of trace element supplementation.”

EnduraBol boluses should be administered at least six weeks before calving using the EnduraBol gun. Each pack contains 20 boluses to supply 10 cows. FG

trace element bolusing supports calf and cow health and performance

“Independent trials have demonstrated significant increase in blood trace element status.”

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Managing lameness: Key tips from a veterinary lameness specialist

Lameness is a challenge, but digital dermatitis is very easily controlled and prevented. With 30% of cows a ected at any one time and probably almost 100% over a lifetime, there is lots of opportunity to improve and gain better foot health.

Prioritise foot hygiene

To prevent digital dermatitis from occurring in the rst place, the focus should be on foot hygiene. Once an animal is infected with digital dermatitis, she will carry the disease with her for the rest of her life. One way to manage this is through proper footbath use and identifying active lesions for timely treatment. The goal is not to focus solely on treatment but to prevent new infections by disinfecting feet, ideally every day, if not every milking. Footbaths are preventative, which is better than curative.

Cows with active lesions can be identi ed and promptly treated to reduce the pain and send the lesion to a healing state that does not infect other healthy feet. Footbathing also appears to help keep infected cows free from infection if done

properly at the right concentration of product. Using the footbath will require some tinkering and adjustment at various times throughout the whole year. It is almost like treating the footbath like a dial, where at certain times you will need to increase or decrease the footbath solution concentration and frequency of use to match the level of digital dermatitis in the herd. Therefore, monitoring and management of digital dermatitis on a continual (weekly) basis will make it cost e ective.

While formalin and copper sulphate are popular for footbathing, copper is not licensed due to its environmental toxicity and there are safety restrictions in place on formalin due to its carcinogenic properties. Eventually, the dairy industry won’t be able to use either.

Hoofsure Endurance range

Dr Nick Bell states that Hoofsure Endurance is “the only product I’ve ever trialled that has performed as well as formalin at preventing new lesions, and I’ve trialled a lot of products”. Hoofsure Endurance is well placed to help dairy, beef and sheep farms get on top of and control lameness. It is a proprietary footbath solution with over 40 trials across three continents. Notable research on cattle shows it is up to 44% more e ective than formalin and copper sulphate, with proven antibacterial activity. For sheep, an independent clinical study on the e ectiveness of footbath solutions found that 65% of sheep improved after one pass through a footbath containing Hoofsure Endurance at 2% dilution rate.

With innovation at the heart of Provita, the company’s dedicated research and development team has now developed a new and improved formula. Utilising proprietary technology, the new formula is 33% faster acting and provides more contact time on the hoof.

The product is safer to use and biodegradable. It’s also highly concentrated, allowing up to 500 cow passes per 200-litre footbath and up to 400 sheep passes per 100-litre footbath. The range also includes Konquest Hoof gel and Combat Hoof spray.

Co Cork farm tackles rising lameness issues

Provita recently visited a local farmer in Rathdu , Co Cork, who has used Provita Hoofsure Endurance for seven years in order to control lameness on his farm. Mortellaro was never much of an issue on the farm but unfortunately when cattle were bought in, the problem began to increase. Furthermore, other types of footbath solutions the farm tried did not help. He explains: “I use Hoofsure Endurance regularly throughout the year and increase frequency in the winter when the weather is not good, with cattle inside and the ground mucky. I nd that footbathing often at a low dilution rate of 2% keeps the cows’ feet in better condition. If I have an odd are up of digital dermatitis, I will spot spray individual cases with Provita Combat to help treat the problem and of course continue to footbath them.”

For special o ers on the Hoofsure Endurance range, contact Provita directly. FG

References are available on request.

Practical innovation at the heart of Dairy-Tech 2023

This year’s Dairy-Tech event has been hailed as the best and most successful show to date, attracting a record-breaking 7,000 visitors and 320 exhibitors – as well as playing host to 80 new product launches. Sarah Kidby attended the show to see some of the innovations on o er.

Crowds packed out the Dairy and Innovation Hubs at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire on 1st February, as speakers discussed a wide range of topical issues – from rising input costs, regenerative agriculture and carbon emissions; to the dairy industry’s reputation, funding opportunities and mental health. Keynote speakers also explored the state of the dairy industry in a panel discussion covering food security, trade deals and government support. Meanwhile, the Lameness Village was a popular new addition

to the show, featuring regular foot trimming demonstrations.

RABDF managing director Matthew Knight commented: “There was a de nite buzz on the show oor, with no spare seats or standing room for many Dairy and Innovation Hub sessions.

“Despite optimism in the sector over the past nine months, there is much uncertainty with milk price cuts, high input costs remaining, labour issues and increasing pressure to reduce emissions. Visitors had a

de nite requirement to understand better the market situation and how they can manage such pressures.“

Water intake monitor scoops innovation award

Dairy innovator smaXtec won this year’s Royal Dairy Innovation Award for its unique water intake monitor, TruDrinking. The award recognises companies exhibiting at the show with a practical product or service that provides the most signi cant innovation for the future of dairying.

The TruDrinking bolus was launched in November 2022 and is the rst product of its kind to accurately record individual cow water intake, helping farmers to optimise milk production and animal management. It records how often and how many litres of water a cow consumes a day using a bolus in the cows' reticulum, which measures changes to body temperature after each drinking. The information is then fed back to the farmer in real-time.

The technology can immediately detect any disruption to normal water consumption, which can be an early indicator of emerging health problems or ag an issue with the water supply. The bolus also records inner body temperature, rumination and activity. continued over…

In 2021 and 2022 feeding Equaliser® Cream improved milk income on UK farms by £2412 per month*, with an average uplift in milk butterfat of 0.33% within 7 days and 0.51% within 1 month of feeding.

Contact us today to maintain your herd performance this spring!

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RABDF council member, Tim Downes said the panel was excited about the TruDrinking technology as a way of monitoring water intake and temperature. When linked to the smaXtec app it provides a “great tool” for early detection of sickness and calving.

"Being able to check if cows are drinking su cient water has a huge impact on milk yield and cow health. In a strong lineup of entries this was a worthy winner of the RABDF Dairy Innovation Award and was well received by the audience who wanted to know more," he added.

When smaXtec was announced as the winner, smaXtec’s Chris Howarth said: “It was fantastic to have the opportunity to present to such an enthusiastic crowd at Dairy-Tech. Scooping the prize at the end of the day is a real achievement. The smaXtec team has received some phenomenal recognition for the system’s technological innovation over the past twelve months.”

New low-cost silo monitoring tech a hit with farmers

Collinson’s FeedAlert silo monitoring system provides a low-cost, innovative way for farmers to reliably monitor silo feed levels and take the hassle out of reordering. The strain gauge technology is suitable for all makes of silo; a quick and easily installation to the leg of the silo makes it ideal for both new and existing silos, explained Ian Wormleighton, director of silo monitoring. The system records a weight reading daily, data can be viewed on the local display and/or the app or portal dependent upon the model selected. It’s accurate to within 95% of a full load. “They give you a really good idea of what’s in the bin and when you’re going to run out,” commented Ian.

The response from users has been “incredible”, he added, with 1,200 FeedAlert systems now on UK farms since the product’s launch last May. Speaking at Dairy-Tech Ian said: “As this is new technology to the industry, we’ve seen many users trialling a single unit and we’re now seeing repeat orders coming in for additional systems as they go on to add them to other silos at their site.” Ian also added: “So many people here at DairyTech have told us they’ve run out of feed and don’t know what’s in their bins; FeedAlert will change that.”

The FeedAlert app shows users what’s in the silo and what free space is available, as well as the daily usage from the past seven days and a prediction of when feed will run out. Low level alerts are sent via email or

SMS so feed can be ordered in good time.

FeedAlert is a cost-e ective solution to silo monitoring, coming in at £450–550 model dependent, for precision monitoring the range also o ers a load cell model.

Separator attracts lots of interest

Visitors to the Vogelsang stand were particularly interested in the new XSplit separator, according to the manufacturer’s agriculture sales manager, Sion Williams.

“We were conscious that farmers and AD operatives need a separator that is easy to use and maintain,” he commented. “It’s a screw press separator suitable for dry matter content of up to 40%, which can be used as green bedding (32–34% DM) with a possible output of 50m3 per hour.

“We spent a few months designing the XSplit so it would be di erent from the other screw press separators. The main factor has been by mounting the gearbox and motor on the solid end, eliminating the need of a mechanical seal that you would see on most separators with the Gearbox and motor on the wet end.

“The Vogelsang QuickService concept enables direct access to the screen and screw for easy servicing and we hope the XSplit will be a popular product from the Vogelsang range.”

Rumen bu er range tackles butterfat dip

We spoke to Cargill’s Josie Hatch about the Equaliser Cream rumen bu er range, which is designed for dairy cows going out to grass, as well as those fed high levels of co-products

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with high oil content. It tackles the seasonal dip in milk fat that occurs as a result of the high oil content in grass which disrupts butterfat production.

“The Cream is a bu er product but it also contains other ingredients which hold the butterfat,” Josie said. “It’s been in the UK and Ireland marketplace for two years now and we see an immediate and sustained response in every farm we put it on.”

Data from Cargill’s nutritionists suggests that milk is improved by 0.33% fat within seven days and 0.51% within one month. This is based on a 155-cow average herd size in the UK, which would equate to savings of £2,412 a month. It’s also more sustainable that other products as it does not contain palm oil. In addition, Josie concluded: “The e ects are sustained so if you feed it before turnout the bene ts will be seen throughout the grazing season.”

Farmers warned over Q fever risk

Ceva Animal Health attended the show to highlight the risk of Q fever on UK dairy farms. Studies show positive

Q fever bulk milk samples ranging from 70% PCR positive in south-west England to 80% ELISA positive results across 255 UK herds.

Q fever has the potential to cost farmers over £7,000 a year in a 100-cow dairy herd, however the disease is frequently overlooked as other infertility causes are often investigated rst, which can lead to economic losses for farmers in the meantime, explained Ceva’s Renzo Di Florio. The disease, which is caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii, is also zoonotic which makes it a health risk to those in contact with infected animals including farmers, farming families, vets and abattoir workers.

Infection is generally through inhalation of aerosols and dust particles contaminated with the bacterium. The highest excretion level is observed in birth products at parturition or abortion (foetal membranes, amniotic uids, placenta). However, other frequent routes of excretion are vaginal mucus, milk and faeces. Coxiella burnetii is highly resistant in the environment

Have you heard of

Livestock

and can be transported by the wind for up to 11 miles, so slurry spreading on windy days should be avoided. The bacterium can also live for ve months in soil and up to two years at minus 20ºC and it thrives in dry environments. Rain and wet conditions can stop it spreading so easily.

spreaders – the Micro – a compact model that is aimed at farmers with smaller loaders and material handlers. It has proved highly popular since its launch last year, according to sales manager David Bull.

C. burnetii mainly through birth or abortion products, but also in vaginal mucus, faeces and milk4

health and production.

Do

to

on livestock

Weak newborn Abortion

Infertility

Stillbirth

Retained placenta

Premature calving

If you are seeing these signs in your herd without an obvious cause ask your vet about Q fever and diagnostics

DID YOU KNOW?

• Q Fever is endemic in GB dairy herds1

• It causes reproduction and fertility issues to cattle, sheep and goats2

• It is also a zoonosis, risking the health of those working with livestock

• It is caused by the bacterium

Coxiella burnetti

• Infection is generally via inhalation but also via faeces, milk and vaginal mucous

• Coxiella b. can be carried on the wind3,4,5

• Coxiella b. is persistent, surviving up to 5 months in soil6

Speak to your vet about diagnosis and vaccination if you are concerned about Q fever.

This information was provided by Ceva Animal Health Ltd, makers of Coxevac®

Diagnosing Q fever can be challenging as infected dairy cattle generally do not display symptoms, however signs include severe hyperthermia and rapid pneumonia in the acute phase with spontaneous recovery over seven days. In the chronic phase, Q fever primarily a ects reproductive performance in cattle and presents a serious threat to productivity. Symptoms include infertility (poor conception or increased calving interval), metritis, retained placenta, abortion, stillbirth and weak newborns. Infection may cause an increased calving to conception interval, as well as increased early pregnancy loss.

Most human cases are asymptomatic but 40% of people will experience acute disease which occurs as a u-like syndrome, and miscarriages can occur in pregnant women. Two per cent of cases become chronic and can lead to hepatitis and/or endocarditis.

The cornerstone of Q fever control is vaccination and a vaccine called Coxevac is available that signi cantly decreases the excretion of Coxiella burnetii, decreases abortion rates and helps improve fertility in dairy cattle. The vaccine can be safely used in pregnant animals and can help to minimise shedding from infected cows and protect naive animals, Renzo Di Florio concluded.

New

compact bale spreader

The new machine is ideal for 5ft round bales or half a rectangular bale, and is suitable for smaller 1–2-tonne lift capacity loaders. It features a single horizontal rotor that throws straw up to 15m on a 595kg lightweight steel chassis. Despite the new design, all mechanical mechanisms are proven components on existing M range machines.

2022 was the rst winter the product has been in the marketplace and David said sales have been very good both in the UK and the European market.

Also on show was the popular Midi HR machine, which has a single horizontal rotor that delivers straw in linear spread pattern, 1.2m wide up to 15m throw. Key bene ts of Spread-a-Bale machines include straw savings, as longer straw makes for a longer lasting bed; and time savings, reducing manual labour. There is also minimal dust, reducing the risk of pneumonic conditions, eye infections and injuries from foreign object missiles.

Green bedding separator exhibited

Bauer’s best-selling green bedding separator was among the range of products being exhibited on the company’s stand this year. Area sales manager Adrian Tindall explained that he introduced green bedding to the UK around 12 years ago, allowing farmers to recycle their slurry by taking out the undigested bres and using it for bedding dairy cow cubicles.

“ideal

for smaller loaders and material handlers”

Spread-a-Bale exhibited the latest addition to its M range of bale

Elsewhere on the stand were Bauer’s standard separators, the smallest of which is the S300 which continued over…

A disease that has the potential

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COCCIDIOSIS AND CRYPTOSPORIDIUM REDUCTION IN CALVES

Coccidiosis and Cryptosporidium, both diarrhoea causing infections common in young calves, can be fatal and are hard to treat.

Evans Vanodine recommends using Target Powergel and GPC8 in your cleaning and disinfection programme and following our calf pen cleaning routine to help reduce cases. This routine has been tried and tested and is shown to be e ective in destroying the oocysts which enable infections to spread.

Find out more and read the full article on our website.

can handle 150 cows’ worth of slurry a day, followed by the 655 which handles up to 300 cows, and the 855 which does 300+ cows. Bauer also exhibited two mobile, plug and play separators, as well as pumps, mixers and a slurry tanker.

“A whole new level of accuracy”

Agri-tech company Dyneval spoke to delegates at the show about its

innovative Dynescan semen analyser, a portable pen-side test that provides highly accurate results on semen quality. It aims to help farms to be more pro table and improve fertility management. As a plus, more e cient farms will have reduced carbon a footprints.

Tom Oxtoby, of the George Farm Vets in Wiltshire, has been using the product with his farming clients. It allows him to be proactive, especially

Calf health: Tackling coccidiosis and cryptosporidium

with block calving herds that need to serve a lot of cows in a short space of time to hit their fertility targets. By the time performance issues are identi ed at pregnancy scanning it’s too late.

Using the Dynescan Semen Analyser, he can advise farmers on which semen is likely to give the

Inevitably, however, calves will be exposed to viruses, bacteria and parasites in their environment, which can cause scours, respiratory problems or other diseases.

Through the use of a controlled disinfection programme, the number of infections and organisms to which the calf is exposed are reduced.

The health of calves should be a priority, as how they are looked after in early life a ects their adult life, which can essentially save both time and money.

Coccidiosis and cryptosporidium, both diarrhoea-causing infections that are common and potentially fatal in young calves, are hard to treat. However, prevention through good cleaning and disinfection is key to reduction.

best conception rates and which bulls to use more in xed-time insemination programs.

Taking the subjectivity out of semen testing is one of the main bene ts of the Dynescan Analyser, Tom believes. It can also be done there and then in the eld without the added time and cost of sending samples o to be tested. In addition, the product can help identify semen quality issues that occur after quality checks at the genetics company’s lab or factory, for example, during transport, storage or handling.

Whilst it’s early days, Tom has already identi ed some bulls that could have a ected conception rates. FG

as a thoroughly cleaned and disinfected pen aids the health of calves and reduces mortality rates. Therefore, it is important that housing management systems are optimised in order to prevent stress and limit the calf’s susceptibility to disease.

Evans Vanodine has tested and found the following system to be e ective in destroying the oocysts which enable the infections to spread, and it recommends this cleaning and disinfection programme to help to reduce cases:

• Remove all animals and portable equipment from the pen

• Remove any organic material

• Apply Target Powergel at 1:14 through a foam cleaner or low-

pressure washer (less than 70 bar). Allow a one-hour contact time before rinsing o thoroughly with clean water and allow to air dry

• Spray all areas thoroughly with a solution of GPC8 at 1:35, at a rate of 300ml per square metre. For best results apply as a foam

• Re t portable equipment and allow to air dry.

Protective clothing and equipment (PPE) must be available for all personnel. It is essential that the correct clothing and equipment is utilised when using chemicals to clean and/or disinfect.

Evans says its extensive product range, complimented by its hands-on approach, from technical support and farm visits to its in-house testing facilities and comprehensive literature, help provide customers with the tools and expertise to implement a successful and e ective hygiene programme.

To view and download Evans’ Calf Pen Best Practice yer or its Calf Hygiene Brochure, visit the Brochures section at: www.evansvanodine.co.uk FG

Having an e ective cleaning and disinfection programme is essential in modern calf house management,

Take the labour out of calving

The Moocall Calving Sensor, which appears in the new series of Clarkson’s Farm, reduces potential calving complications by notifying farmers when their cow or heifer is about to go into labour.

Attaching to the cow’s tail in seconds, the sensor sends an alert to the farmer’s smartphone around an hour before birth. No more staring at CCTV monitors on the o chance a cow is about to calve. The Moocall Calving Sensor continually monitors your cow’s condition day and night, allowing you to focus on other areas of your farm.

Modern farming is a fast-paced and increasingly stressful industry. To help today’s cattle farmer, Moocall technology solutions streamline and improve productivity, while minimising animal losses on farm, the company says. By alerting the farmer to an imminent calving, the Moocall Calving Sensor helps reduce unforeseen birthing complications by ensuring there is

someone present at the right time. Any necessary interventions, or even a call to the vet, can then be made as necessary.

With almost 17,000 satis ed users in over 65 countries, the Moocall Calving Sensor is a proven, fast, and easy way to help reduce calf mortality, the company says.

You can see the Moocall Calving Sensor in action on the new series of Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon Prime Video. Find out more at calvingsensor.co.uk FG

New tanker trailing shoe showcased at YAMS

Storth Machinery has recently extended its range of trailing shoes, o ering a whole new range of tanker and umbilical trailing shoes ranging from 9–30m.

These trailing shoes are designed for use on grassland and arable land for applying slurry directly to the soil surface with minimum contamination of the plant leaves. This also provides a quick delivery of nutrients to the root structure of the crop, Storth says.

One of the new machines, the Contractor L-Line 15m Trailing Shoe, was showcased at this year’s YAMS on 8th February.

The Contractor L-Line is a fully galvanised, horizontal folding trailing shoe consisting of two selfsharpening OptiCut Pro Macerators,

with the trailing shoe boasting a rapid folding/unfolding time to ensure a high work throughput.

Storth also o ers a tanker range of Farmer S-Line, Contractor M-Line, ContractorPlus and ContractorPro X-Trail, and the umbilical Contractor Trailing Shoe. With this range of trailing shoes, Storth reckons it can guarantee a suitable sized machine for all users.

All these tanker trailing shoes are retro t to a large range of tankers, new and old, to help farmers and contractors get the most out of their slurry without changing their tanker.

To nd out more about this new range of trailing shoes, get in touch with your local Storth sales rep or contact the o ce. FG

Manufacturing company bounces back after fire disaster

Following a catastrophic re back in November, which saw the entirety of Westermann’s stock and assembly hall reduced to ashes, the German manufacturing company has managed an almost impossible turnaround to get back up and running.

UK importers, SPA Power Machinery, says the Westermann team’s fast action enabled them to begin rebuilding and shipping new machines by January – “an incredible achievement”. The company found a temporary warehouse and got straight to work contacting all of its suppliers to arrange replacement parts and materials. Over 200 re ghters sought to extinguish the blaze, in which fortunately nobody was injured.

Westermann supplies farm cleaning equipment to 54 countries across the world. As a result of the re, it has decided to now focus its range on its best

sellers, removing a few of the less popular models.

The CM2 Pro Ride-On will now be available in hydraulic petrol and also electric, with multiple attachments for dairy scraping, feed aeration, lime spreading, and sweeping. The WR870 Pedestrian machine remains as it is, with poly and wire brush options for yard sweeping, and also weed/moss removal. And the Weed Ripper options are now available in the original WKB660 and smaller WKB330, with petrol and battery o erings.

Westermann is available across the UK and Ireland from SPA Power Machinery of She eld; contact SPA directly for more information. FG

with the FETF grant

2022 saw poultry farming tested by intense heat waves, recordbreaking temperatures, and large-scale outbreaks of avian in uenza (AI). Now, Hydor, is urging farmers to start preparing their farms by assessing the air ow and installing new e cient ventilation systems to safeguard their livestock this year.

To add to the challenges, farmers struggled to get equipment to replace any seized up fans and Hydor, the specialist manufacturer of agricultural ventilation, warns that a repeat could happen if farm buildings are not

adequately prepared in time. This could lead to dangerous conditions for livestock on poultry and broiler farms and a ect farmers’ bottom-line.

To avoid a similar scenario, Hydor says farmers can turn to its specialist

range of ventilation solutions, many of which 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.

Alongside this, farmers can now apply for the new farming and equipment technology fund (FETF) to help with the costs of purchasing Hydor’s ventilation solutions.

Andy Mann, general manager of the agricultural brands within Elta Group and parent company of Hydor, said: “Poultry farming was undoubtedly very challenging last year, but with good ventilation, risks to bird welfare and health, as well as farmers’ pro tability, can be signi cantly lowered. That’s why we urge all farmers to look at their ventilation equipment ahead of the warm season and to replace any fans well ahead of time.

“Our team at Hydor can help with this, and our technical engineers can assess what fans farmers will need to provide enough air ow into buildings and constantly circulate fresh air for livestock. On top of this, they can also provide some advice on how to obtain funding under the FETF 2023 grant.”

For more information on the AgriMax Tube Fan, visit: https://hydor. co.uk/agri-max-chimney-tube-fans/

For more information about the FETF Grant, visit: https://www. gov.uk/government/publications/ farming-equipment-and-technologyfund-fetf-2023 FG

Forage palatability and consumption increased through tailored nutrition

Providing grassland with nutrition as well as nitrogen this season will help farmers boost forage quality across the farm.

Making your fertiliser work harder should be a key focus for farmers before committing to spring grassland nutrition, and a balanced fertiliser blend targeting nutrient de ciencies could o er increased forage quality.

Tom Oates, nutrition agronomist at Origin Fertilisers, says the investment required in nutrition means growers should be aware of all the options, and a tailored fertiliser, such as Sweetgrass from Origin, will o er crops more than just nitrogen.

“Matching nutrients to soil and crop requirements can increase nutrient availability in the soil pro le and help to produce higherquality grass. Farmers looking to buy fertiliser for the season ahead should be making sure that any purchase is maximising their investment. Applying the correct fertiliser will result in the most e cient fertiliser,” comments Mr Oates.

Balancing nutrition

Testing the soil is key to understanding where de ciencies are, and this will help inform decision-making when purchasing fertiliser. The inclusion of secondary and minor nutrients, such as sulphur and sodium, allow the potential to reduce nitrogen, which is commonly the most expensive part, and a broader balanced nutrition will have a positive in uence on quality.

“Soil testing results allow farmers to take a tailored approach to fertiliser via Origin’s Nutri-Match range. A balanced fertiliser can correct the speci c nutrient de ciencies and provide the crop with su cient levels of the main nutrients involved in protein formation and forage quality.”

While the addition of sodium will not directly in uence grass growth, a minimum level in the diet is essential to maintain livestock health and performance, and its role in improving palatability shouldn’t be forgotten when

deciding on fertiliser strategies.

“Much of the sodium consumed by livestock is used in the production of saliva, which is secreted into the rumen to maintain a constant pH by neutralising acids formed by bacteria. Sodium supports synthesis of glucose and converts it to fructose, therefore making the grass more palatable, as the sodium has converted the sugars into more soluble carbohydrates,” adds Mr Oates.

Farmer viewpoint

Two years ago, Midlands farmer Andrew Hall (pictured) decided to change his fertiliser from a straight CAN (calcium ammonium nitrate) product to Origin Fertilisers’ Sweetgrass, after he realised his herd of 160 Ayrshires were too loose at the start of the year and struggled to retain quality forage in the rumen.

The cows still produced a good milk yield, but low fat content in the milk was becoming an issue, as Mr Hall explains. “We aim for 4.3% fat content in the milk, but this had dropped to 3.8% in the past, incurring penalties of 2ppl, which has had a big impact. Since we started using Sweetgrass it has remained constant, never dropping below 4.1%, and milk yield has increased, too.”

An investment in a larger tank has been required as the increased milk yield has outgrown the original tank. Part of the reason for the extra milk has been the reduced looseness from cows thanks to the addition of sulphur in the fertiliser blend. In the past, Mr Hall had never applied sulphur directly, but its presence has allowed more nitrates to be converted to useable protein and has helped the cows retain forage in the rumen. “The fertiliser has reduced looseness and kept the betterquality forage in the cows for longer. We have increased the value of grass across the farm and our milk yield,” says Mr Hall.

He has seen further bene ts from the cows grazing the swards tighter as the plants are more palatable further down the stem. This has also meant there are no long stems left that Mr Hall has previously needed to mow. Part of this is down to the addition of sodium in the fertiliser and, after the second year of use, the residual levels in the soil pro le have started to increase and in uence palatability.

“I believe plants can only use so much straight nitrogen, so it is about balancing the inputs. Our herd of Ayrshires milk well from a mainly forage diet, so getting as much nutritional quality consumed early is essential, and changing the fertiliser approach has helped achieve this,” adds Mr Hall.

The Sweetgrass blend Mr Hall chose was a 23N, 0P, 0K + 5Na + 5SO3. It was applied across three applications of 50kg N/ha, at monthly intervals in the spring. The bene ts to cow health and increased milk yield have meant the change to Sweetgrass fertiliser has enabled Mr Hall to maximise his home-grown forage. FG

What is Sweetgrass?

Origin Fertilisers’ Sweetgrass is a grassland fertiliser with increased sodium and sulphur content designed to raise sward palatability and nutrient availability to the plant.

Improved palatability of swards allows cows to increase their intake from grass, graze swards tighter, and improve digestibility through consuming better-quality forage.

Quality and e iciency key to farming/contracting business

A South Yorkshire family contracting business says investments in quality machines has been integral to its success. Farmers Guide nds out more.

The Watkins family, who built up their contracting business over the past 40 years, talk us through the machinery they run to deliver e cient arable and grassland operations in the 30mile radius of their home farm, near Rotherham.

Steve Watkins, alongside his two uncles and two cousins, are the third generation at Hall Farm. The family run T E Watkins and Sons contracting business, alongside farming their 1,500-acre arable farm, carrying out a range of services from grass, maize and whole crop silaging, to drilling, combining, baling and spraying. Its eet includes ve JCB fastrac, a Krone forager, Claas Lexion combine, Krone BiG Pack and an Amazone Pantera self-propelled sprayer.

High quality bales

“We made the switch last year to a Krone BiG Pack 1270 and we’ve been more than happy with the move. Although the baler was slightly more expensive than other options we looked at, we were won over by the quality of the machine and back up of spare parts available at crucial times of the year,” says Mr Watkins.

Their local dealer, Moore Farm Services is located just a few miles away from the farm and provides consistent and reliable support all year round.

“The baler performed fantastically in its rst season, having done around 11,000 bales already. It typically produces great bale weights even with dry straw. It can be exceptionally hard to get a good bale weight when it’s so dry because the straw is harder to compress, but

this hasn’t been an issue. This means when we’re selling our straw, we can get more tonnage onto a lorry which translates into lower haulage costs. This is important for our margins,” he says.

E ciency in all conditions

Having run foragers from another brand for 20 years and generally being very pleased by how the machines performed, the business was approached in 2016 by their local dealer to trial a Krone forager.

After a further two demonstrations in proceeding years, the family bought BiG X in 2019. They are now on their second BiG X, with the family being impressed with its ability to harvest both grass and maize for anaerobic digestors and livestock feed.

“Our workload signi cantly increased in 2014, with an increase in silaging for AD plants and it’s now the biggest proportion of our business, the maize we cut is feeding three digestors,” Mr Watkins says. “We were amazed by how the demo performed in terms of chop quality compared to our previous forager, particularly for the requirements for AD maize, where the maize is cut into much shorter pieces.”

Mr Watkins explains that they were ‘sat on a knife edge’ when it came to deciding between having another forager from their previous brand or making the move to Krone – the deciding factor became the ability to easily swap out the chopping cylinder.

“This was hugely important to us, so we could accommodate our

full range of customers,” he says. “Livestock customers often prefer their forage much longer so the animal can chew it for longer, which requires fewer blades and therefore, fewer chops per second.

“We’d previously had a 24-blade cylinder, which wasn’t cutting forage to the quality needed for AD; to rectify this, we were looking at buying a 36-blade drum and removing half the blades when chopping for livestock. This was going to be hugely time-consuming, which in the height of the season is something we wanted to avoid.

“Krone o ered two separate chopping cylinders, one with 20 blades and one with 36 blades. Both

cylinders use the same type of blade as each other, making it easier to manage spare parts.”

When upgrading to their second BiG X in 2021, there were a number of details that were attractive to the contractors, including a wider crop channel that helped improve e ciency in the smaller 580 machine.

“The 580 is more than capable of handling a 12-row header, with the e ciency of the six feed rollers –it takes in the quantity of maize with ease. It’s not about speed for us,” he says, “I’m a big believer in using the machine’s power to chop thoroughly rather than using its power to move quickly, to maximise e ciency.” FG

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Boost forage production with maize after first cut grass

Last year’s tricky conditions highlighted how di cult it can be to ll forage clamps when the weather refuses to play ball. Some producers were forced into taking a last-gasp cut of grass silage as late as October and November to ll the gap left in clamps following the dry summer. Growers may therefore need to think outside the box to ensure they produce enough homegrown forage this year, especially in the current climate of elevated purchased feed prices.

“Maximising production from home-grown forage must remain a priority this year, as forage, whether grazed or conserved, remains the cheapest way to feed dairy cows,” comments LG Seeds UK maize manager Tim Richmond. “Farmers with good stocks of high-quality forage will not only be less reliant on bought-in feed, but will also be able to formulate coste ective rations to suit their herd’s exact requirements.”

He adds: “Not all grass leys are as productive as others, with most dairy farms having some poorer quality, worn-out swards which aren’t able to yield the required volume or quality of forage. Ideally these elds would be reseeded to rejuvenate the sward, but delaying reseeding until the autumn may put this year’s forage yields in jeopardy. For farms where maize is an option, and provided the eld is suitable, bringing maize drilling forward to the spring could yield signi cant bene ts.”

Variety selection is key Mr Richmond explains that it is

silage being made and releasing more grassland for mid and late season grazing. Maize is also less expensive to grow than grass, as well as potentially saving on purchased fertiliser costs, as much of the nitrogen requirement can be supplied from slurry as opposed to bagged fertiliser.

Mr Richmond says that as long as maize is harvested in good time, there will still be time to establish a new grass ley ready for the following year. “Alternatively, in more marginal areas, a catch crop of forage rye or Westerwolds would be a good option with the land put back into grass or maize again the following spring.”

Attention to detail

To ensure the success of maize drilled later in the spring, “You must choose an early variety with good early vigour and an FAO less than 170,” Mr Richmond advises. “Gema, Prospect, Trooper and Dignity would all t the bill and will reliably provide a yield which is comparable with later maturing varieties, with the added advantage of being ready to harvest sooner, thereby allowing a successor crop to be established.”

whether the eld is suitable for maize, with those with compaction or waterlogging issues best avoided.”

in a wide selection of

possible to take either an early grazing or a slightly earlier rst cut of grass and still grow a successful maize crop. “Maize breeding programmes have resulted in a wide selection of ‘early’ and ‘ultra-early’ varieties such as Gema, Prospect, Dignity and Trooper which can reach maturity successfully in a shorter growing season and still produce a high yield of quality forage,” he says.

“These varieties can all be drilled successfully in early May, giving enough time for a decent early rst cut of grass to be taken beforehand. Alternatively, the eld can be grazed ahead of maize drilling, with this strategy potentially helping to protect the rest of the farm’s other grazing ground from poaching during the spring.”

If maize is drilled in May, it is essential that a suitable variety is selected, he explains. “Modern maize varieties can perform very well even if the growing season is shortened, but it is vital to make sure a suitable variety is drilled. Growers should also give careful consideration to

The bene ts of replacing a less productive grass sward for one season with maize include improved dry matter and energy yields, adding up to a signi cantly higher potential production from forage with even the most modest of maize crops providing an extra 14,000 litres per hectare compared to second and third cut grass silage.

With maize providing added security in terms of forage production, it may be feasible to reduce the quantity of third cut grass

In terms of establishment, Mr Richmond stresses that the seedbed should be prepared carefully with soil temperatures no lower than 8–10˚C at the time of drilling to ensure a rapid germination. As maize sown after grass can be at increased risk of wireworm and leatherjackets, a seed treatment such as Starcover Force should be used to help the crop develop as quickly as possible and grow away from the threat of damage.

“For farms where maize can be grown successfully, assessing the quality of grassland and replacing poorer quality swards with a crop of maize will boost overall forage productivity, o set the impact of higher feed prices and secure the best return from fertiliser,” Mr Richmond concludes. FG

Making high quality forage in unpredictable weather

PFC Agri Solutions o ers advice on maximising the baler’s output potential and making high quality forage in 2023.

We start 2023 with a mixed bag of weather from wet to dry and cold. For those producers looking to make high quality forage and maximise the baler’s output potential, a leading precision moisture sensor and xed rate or fully automatic application equipment is going to help meet these expectations. The

systems are available for all makes and model of baler.

2022 saw a very much easier hay and straw harvest but we all know that no two years are the same, so what will 2023 bring? Baling hay and producing a mould-free and dust-free product is essential. The moisture sensor allows the operator

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to see if there is any potential damaging moisture present, and, when coupled with the wet bale marker will highlight the high moisture area of the bale or the entire round bale with a red food grade colour.

Once you have a full understanding of where and when you have a moisture issue, then it raises the question: what can I do to have a larger baling window above 15% moisture, pushing baling into the 16–30% moisture window?

At the PFC farm in 2022 we

baled Italian tetraploid rye grass from 12–6:30pm, with moisture ranging from 12–26% with only a two-hour traditionally dry hay window. This was repeated similarly on the second day to clear 50ha of grass – 350-tonnes later there was 100% clean perfect hay in the barn for sale. The crop averaged 18% moisture with 722 litres of Baler’s Choice used at a baler safe acid, at a cost of £2,094. If we had lost 10% of the crop to a reduced-price market this would have cost around £14,000 and taken many more days to clear the hectares of hay. This is selling hay at £120 compared to substandard at £80. Yes, every market has di erent prices but the lost revenue from poor quality is signi cant.

We put in practice what we sell to prove the real-world results. Moisture in north Devon is our usual battle, with high humidity o the Atlantic and an average 42 inches (107cm) rain per year. The humidity in the air is our biggest battle, with hay increasing in moisture overnight predominantly from absorption from the ground. Utilising high quality products from moisture to application and bale management is essential to provide optimum baler output and forage quality. FG

“One and only” dual-purpose loader wagon sets foot ashore the UK

In collaboration with its importer AIS, SVgroup, the parent company of the Schuitemaker, Veenhuis and Jan Veenhuis brands, is currently hard at work in the UK. With the Schuitemaker Rapide as the agship of the forage segment, the company is now expanding its presence in the UK agricultural market.

In 1986, Schuitemaker released the world’s rst dual-purpose loader wagon. Since then, contractors have only needed one wagon for both grass and maize – e ciently deployable throughout the harvesting season with just one smart investment, the manufacturer says. More than 30 years later, dual-purpose is the norm and the Schuitemaker Rapide loader wagons are an “indispensable tool for the professional livestock farmer and contractor”. Always ready for use at the moments that matter, to enable the professional to realise the grass and maize harvest without any problems, SVgroup says.

SVgroup delivers products and services to companies and institutions in the agricultural sector and ice control. It aims to enable customers to perform to the maximum in the moments that matter most, by supplying reliable machines that are easy to maintain, in combination with its service. Whether it is contractors needing to ensile as much grass as possible in a short period of time, arable and livestock farmers spreading manure throughout the season or road authorities in sudden winter conditions, the company says it ensures its customers can deliver a reliable and continuous

quality of work, regardless of the circumstances. It develops, designs, produces and sells products under the Schuitemaker, Veenhuis and Jan Veenhuis brands.

O cial importer AIS (Agri Industry Solutions), meanwhile, focuses on innovative solutions to improve farming challenges. SVgroup and AIS are expanding their dealer network in the UK and are therefore always looking for opportunities.

Over 30 years’ proven foraging results

The Schuitemaker Rapide is equipped with a trailing pick-up as standard – a unique technology in which the pick-up is positioned under the wagon. As a result, the wagon construction is more compact with the same load volume and you have maximum ground clearance for silage work.

Unlike a stinged pick-up, the Schuitemaker Trailing pick-up runs smoothly over a bumpy eld and swivels out of the way when it encounters obstacles. This gives you the best surface adaption and a guaranteed clean crop ow. In addition, the wide pick-up (up to 2.20m) with steering castor wheels enables you to pick up faster and more cleanly.

The combination of the unique

Schuitemaker Trailing pick-up, the RapidFlow feed roller and the powerful, smooth PowerRotor makes the loading process even easier, more economical and more e cient than ever before. This way you e ortlessly achieve the optimal result, SVgroup continues.

The ideal zero grazing machine

Schuitemaker distinguishes itself with a wide range of Rapide loader wagons in feeding wagon variant. The Rapide V models, as the feeding wagons are called, are characterised by the standard three rollers which, in combination with the cross conveyor belt, distribute the crop evenly at the feed fence. Thanks to the use of three rollers, the wagons can also be used to feed silage products, making them usable all year round, every day. Furthermore, the V-version has the same features as a normal Rapide. The cross conveyor belt is integrated in the tailgate and can bring the crop for cows on both the left and right.

The Schuitemaker Rapide can be

equipped with an NIR sensor. This measures the dry matter content by means of near infrared spectroscopy. The loaded crop can be analysed immediately and the dry matter content can be seen on the terminal in the tractor.

Fast and complete loading and unloading

The patented Schuitemaker Rapid Release crop press function at the bottom of the front panel ensures that no residual forage column remains behind. This enables the full wagon to be emptied quickly and completely in one smooth movement. This unique combination with the Rapid Stream front panel ensures optimum crop guidance.

Thanks to the Schuitemaker Autoload in combination with the simple on-screen controls, even inexperienced drivers can work easily and quickly. The torque meter in the driveline and the pressure on the Rapid Release front panel ensure that the entire loading process is carried out fully automatically.

The added value of a vital soil Getting the most out of the soil without exhausting it is vital for the agricultural sector. Biodiversity, good water and nutrient absorption all contribute to crop growth and workability of the soil.

Schuitemaker contributes to maintaining a healthy soil through a wide range of large tyres. In addition, innovative concepts such as the tyre pressure exchange system and the Schuitemaker Slidingaxle protect the soil structure.

Simple and fast maintenance

Due to the use of high-quality materials, smart constructions and the unique Rapide concept, the Schuitemaker Rapide is the most maintenance-friendly loader wagon in its segment. Not only does this save time and energy, it also extends the life of the loader wagon. This way you can fully focus on the work in the eld, SVgroup concludes.

Learn more via www.agriindustry.co.uk FG

MILEAGE. MORE SILAGE

FOLDING GRASS FORKS

•Available in 12ft, 14ft and 16ft wide variants: 12ft, 14ft & 16ft with Industrial pick up and 12ft with Q-fit pick up only

•Hydraulically operated side extensions and transportation lock to ensure secure when folded

•Optional protection frame and lighting kit available for transportation

•Exceptional visibility through the fork, aiding a clear view of the tine length and 200mm spacing

•Integrated hose storage to protect couplings and hoses from damage

•Heavy duty 65mm pivot pins and bushes to ensure durability

•Smooth tine wear faces to prevent a build up of materials

Multi-cut grass silage o ered benefits in drought-hit 2022

with cutting, more of those making multi-cut tended to see higher silage yields and better quality, says Ecosyl silage expert Ken Stroud of the survey organiser, Volac.

Nearly half (45%) of the farmers in the multi-cut group had taken two cuts by the end of May, compared to 17% of the conventional group. This trend continued when the dry weather hit at the end of July. By then, nearly three times more farmers in the multi-cut group than in the conventional group had progressed to three cuts – 44% versus 15%.

High feed, fertiliser and fuel costs are pushing UK dairy farmers to look for ways of producing better silage in 2023. Those who made multi-cut grass silage during the droughted 2022 season tended to be better o , according to an Ecosyl grass silage survey.

Ecosyl surveyed more than 700 UK dairy farmers ahead of the 2023 season – three-quarters of whom made silage conventionally (cutting up to three times a year) and a quarter of whom made multi-cut

silage (cutting four times or more).

The vast majority in both groups (74% and 70% respectively) reported that growth of their grass silage crops had su ered from drought in 2022. But as well as making better progress

Even more interesting, Mr Stroud said, was the di erence in silage yields and quality. While 63% of conventional silage-makers felt yields were less than normal by the end of July, 53% said this in the multi-cut group. Over the season as a whole, 35% of conventional silage makers rated their 2022 grass silage quality as poorer than normal, compared with only 28% in the multi-cut group.

“At the other end of the scale, nearly twice as many multi-cut makers as conventional silage producers felt their quality was actually better than normal in 2022 – at 20% versus 12%,” says Mr Stroud. “Indeed, higher quality

was the most popular advantage of multi-cut silage identi ed by users of the system in the survey, with 60% saying this, followed by 50% naming more yield over the season as an advantage.

“Clearly, multi-cut isn’t immune to the e ects of drought, and it isn’t possible to make it on all farms, but the survey results repeatedly pointed to those who made multi-cut in 2022 being in a stronger position. Another advantage of a multi-cut system is that it puts some silage in the clamp early in case the weather turns too wet or dry later. This was named by 36% of users.”

Another highly-rated multi-cut advantage was the opportunity for more slurry applications – which can be useful for farmers cutting back on granular fertiliser.

“When survey respondents were asked what was likely to make them want to make better silage in 2023, averaged across both groups, 79% said high feed costs, 63% said high fertiliser costs and 49% said high fuel costs. Clearly there was good understanding among producers that making better silage can improve business e ciency and make better use of their fertiliser investment,” he adds. FG

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 ...

Increased demand for triple auger mixers

Over the past year, BvL has seen a considerable increase in UK sales of its larger V-Mix Plus triple auger mixers, due to the bene ts they o er in terms of ration mix consistency and reduced operating cost.

Quality mix ...

Powerful mixing augers with adjustable knives ensure thorough mixing of all types of feed, including bales. Gentle mixing, consistent ration quality.

Quality assured ...

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.

The livestock feeding experts

North: Paul McUrich - 07810 040100 / paulmcurich@gmail.com

South: John Molton - 07947 719985 / john.molton@bvl-group.de www.bvl-farmtechnology.com

Over three times as many were sold in 2022 compared to the previous year. This includes a 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 30+m3 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. Also by maybe only needing one mix instead of two for a group of cows, again group ration consistency is improved.”

He adds that operating cost for a triple auger machine will be considerably less than for a similar sized 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. You could easily drive the triple auger with a 150hp tractor, but for the twin you would probably need something bigger due to the depth of material that needs to be moved.”

As on all BvL feeders, at the heart of the Triple-Auger 30-3S

feeder on display are the powerful mixing augers, with Hardox leading edges and adjustable knives. The mixing chamber incorporates mixing wedges for a thorough and consistent mix, while the patented EDS (Exact Dosing System) ensures an even forage discharge.

Large diet feeders can be particularly hard on tractor drive trains, especially when starting and during the early stages of the mix. 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, so reducing strain on the complete drive train.

BvL also recently introduced the Dairy Feeder Go app, the new entrylevel version of the cloud-based BvL V-Connect Dairy Feeder system. This 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, and for the TMR mix to be uploaded to the V-Mix diet feeder control terminal, so the ration can be accurately replicated mix after mix.

For more information, contact Paul McUrich, BvL’s specialist for Scotland and northern England, or John Molton who covers the south of England. Alternatively visit www.bvl-farmtechnology.com FG

Revolutionising agricultural transport

In 2011, Belgian agricultural machinery manufacturer Joskin presented a “completely new machine concept that revolutionised the world of agricultural transport” –the Drakkar.

The Drakkar has a unique, highspeed unloading system using a hermetic conveyor belt coupled with a mobile front wall. This system allows a safe unloading without tipping, even in sheds or low places, without compressing the transported material. Whatever the type of product, the emptying speed of the

Drakkar is optimised to be less than one minute, Joskin reckons.

It can be used to transport all types of goods (silage, grain, pulp, beets, potatoes, vegetables, etc.) which ensures maximum pro tability for the farmer.

The hermetic, shock-absorbing and self-cleaning conveyor belt is pulled to a reel at the rear of the machine by two powerful hydraulic motors. Since the oor is ribbed and perforated, there is no suction e ect, allowing the belt to slide easily and without tensile stress.

When unloading, the front wall is pulled by the conveyor belt towards the rear of the body. It accompanies the material without compressing it for a complete emptying in one phase, and without residues. It does not exert any pressure on the

material. It is therefore a ‘pulling’ system, not a ‘pushing’ system, with all the advantages that this o ers: no compaction of the goods transported, continuous unloading and no pressure on the side walls, Joskin concludes. FG

Grassland management range finds favour on UK farms

The Güttler Greenseeder 600 has been available in the UK for several years, but with an increasing focus on grassland and the continued success of the Greenmaster 300, it has found a place in many livestock and arable farming enterprises.

The Greenseeder 600 has the important working elements of the 300 model, says UK distributer Wox Agri Services, including the patented ripper board tine, 12.0mm sprung tines with “exceptional adjustment” to cope with the perilous conditions when working with grass swards.

The Güttler Greenside is the answer to small seeding situations, Wox reckons, with the classic Prisma ring pro le roller giving instant seed-to-soil contact. Seeding grains in an arable rotation is well within the machine’s work scope.

Meanwhile the Güttler Greenmaster’s standard equipment includes a harrowflex with ripper board, two rows of 12.0mm tines, 410-litre hopper with hydraulic fan and 16 outlets. Small seeds are easily catered for with the standard feed rolls supplied and 1kg/ha can be achieved. Fitting the grass seed roll can cover seed rates up to 40kg/ha. Add the blue feed roll, adjust the spreader plates and seeding up to 150kg of grain/ ha is easily done, Wox says. Follow this up with the easily detachable master rollers with full pendular movement and seeds are pressed in just as the ‘sheep’s’ hoof would wish them to be pressed in! FG

High-quality machinery, with full back-up

AgVantage UK says it understands the importance of quality in farming machinery – which is why it imports only the best equipment, from brands such as Holaras and Dezeure.

Dezeure prides itself on the manufacturing of specialist trailers and is quickly becoming the go-to specialist for maize and silage operations, AgVantage reckons. Its world-class trailers are built with the highest quality materials and o er industry-leading features, not known to many standard trailer manufacturers, the company added. Dezeure trailers are designed to handle large loads, while still o ering superior manoeuvrability. Plus, they're made with durable materials that can withstand the

toughest conditions.

Holaras is well known for its high-quality silage and onion handling equipment. Holaras’ leading products are built to last and can easily stand up to the rigorous demands of a farm. “With Holaras, you'll get reliable performance, along with great e ciency from the products, helping your operations to run smoother than ever,” AgVantage says.

Not only are both brands leaders in their elds, AgVantage UK also o ers full back up for their products. This means that the all-round support from all of the brands combined provides second-to none customer care, the company concludes. FG

Slurry handling systems deliver quality forage for dairying families

Two dairy farming families in Ireland are reaping the bene ts of the 2300 Alpine Major tanker with 7.5m trailing shoe system, which allows them to use their resources wisely.

Victor and Rita Jennings milk 160 Holstein Friesians in the hills of West Cork, Ireland. While they have 190 acres of grassland, land availability adjacent to the parlour limits the family’s ability to expand the herd. Adopting a zerograzing system gives them the best yield performance. A 2300 Alpine Major tanker with 7.5m trailing shoe slurry application system allows the family to

use their resources wisely.

The Major Alpine range of tankers are designed for undulating ground. The dropped commercial axles lower the centre of gravity by 14 inches, lower than LGP class tankers. Combined with larger wheel recesses for greater stability on hills and high road speeds, the Alpine tanker is safe and solid, the manufacturer says.

RETROFIT DRIBBLE BAR

• 7.5m working width, 2.2m transport width

• Choice of Vogelsang or Mastek macerator

• Full lighting board is fitted as standard

• Can be used with a splash plate in place

• Parking stand and lighting board supplied as standard

• Retro-fits to the tanker back door

The trailing shoe system separates the grass sward to place slurry on the soil surface at the grass root for immediate nutrient uptake.

Within four to ve days after the grass has been harvested, Victor applies slurry at the rate of 2,500 gallons/acre. Within 25–30 days, the crop is ready for harvesting and feeding again. The surplus grass at peak growth times is taken out for bales which are fed during the winter months.

“The grass responds well to the slurry applied with the trailing shoe with minimal grass contamination

and we are soon round to harvesting again," explained Victor. “Because it applies the slurry right where it’s needed, it helps to avoid losses from both evaporation and surface run-o , which is nancially bene cial as well as being environmentally considerate.”

Ruairi Delaney changed from suckler to dairy farming in 2014 and opted for a robotic system. He milks 130 cows with two robots in a grassbased system in Co Mayo, Ireland. He installed a Lely grazeway to allow him to graze in an AB system, where cows move to freshly allocated grass every 12 hours. This exibility gives him time to focus on grassland management on the family’s 130-acre plot. The land around his farm is hilly, so a 2300 Alpine Major tanker with 7.5m dribble bar slurry applicator is used to recycle farm waste. The dribble bar applies slurry directly on top of the grass sward thus minimising nutrient losses and allowing stock to return more quickly to grazing.

Both the Major Dribble Bar and Trailing Shoe systems can be retro tted onto any tanker make or model and can be used with an existing splash plate.

For more information about Major Equipment’s slurry handling solutions, visit www.majorequipment.com or contact the company directly. FG

“Strength, longevity and superior cutting”

The Albutt Shear Grab range is designed to give users a strong, reliable option for cutting clamped silage. Trusted all over the world, the Albutt name is synonymous with a quality shear grab product, the company says. High-capacity rams, strategically placed, o er “unrivalled cutting power” with a Hardox blade leaving a smooth clamp face.

For maximum durability and strength, choose the Hardox tine models, says Albutt, the pioneer for using genuine Hardox tines in shear grabs. They provide 2–3 times better wear than mild steel, lengthening the life of the product and, as they are welded into the shear grab, eliminate the requirement to tighten tines as a part of routine maintenance.

The Albutt range varies from capacities of 0.7m3, ideal for skid steers and tractor loaders, right up to the 2.5m3

mighty shear king, which is ideal for loading shovels. Whether you are trying to load your diet feeder or anaerobic digester, Albutt reckons it has the right shear grab for you. For ease of ejection, a hydraulic push o is also available.

Albutt also produces a range of shear buckets; the rst created in 2017, based on the Shear King Mini. It featured Strenx Steel throughout the body, Hardox blades, bolt on wear pads and retained Hardox tines to support the bucket. Following its success the range expanded to 1m3 capacity right up to 2.5m3. FG

Forage & Silage

Variety of options is key to diet feeder range

With its range of vertical auger and MixMax paddle type feeders, Hi-Spec Engineering Co Ltd reckons it o ers one of the widest ranges of diet feeders on the market.

A particular feature of Hi-Spec diet feeders is the wide range of options, with various feed-out options available, ensuring they can be adapted to suit all types of building and feeding system, the manufacturer says.

Vertical Auger range: The Hi-Spec Vertical Auger range of V- and T-Series feeders are available in both single (V) and twin (T) auger variants and sizes from 7–32m3.

A speci c feature of the Hi-Spec range is its

ability to incorporate complete bales quickly and e ciently into the mix, due to the unique knife arrangement, which also allows the Vertical Auger mixer to be used with lower horsepower tractors.

The Vertical Auger range uses a low pitch mixing and chopping auger that creates a simple cycle action and is tted with eight selfsharpening knives, one of which runs close to the body of the Vertical Feeder. The chopping blades are adjustable and counter plates in the feeder

body ensure that once the mix is drawn up by the auger, as it falls back down the side, it is held so that the rotating auger can further chop the feed, ensuring a quick and thorough mix is consistently achieved.

As standard, both V- and T-Series feeders are tted with a Dinamica Generale DG600 display and weigh cells that allow a number of feed mix recipes to be recorded for di erent groups.

The wide range of options includes various discharge outlet positions or a variable height hydraulic chute or Cross Conveyor with elevator. It can also be speci ed with the Digi-Star TMR Tracker fully programmable electronic weighing system.

MixMax range: The Hi-Spec MixMax range of paddle type feeders range in size from 10–24m3, and are designed to be exible, sturdy and economical, with a long-lasting and simple design that ensures low running costs and low maintenance, Hi-Spec explains.

MixMax paddle feeders use the Hi-Spec Feed-Flo mixing system that features a single rotor arm with angled paddles to provide thorough end-to-end mixing and a light u y ration without the need for multiple augers. The mix is discharged through a hydraulically operated door via a teaser roller that makes it easy to adjust the ow rate and provide an even, consistent feedout.

As standard, all MixMax feeders are tted with Digi-Star weigh cells and programmable EZ3410 display. The speci cation also includes serrated knives, a reinforced double chassis, a 5mm thick body and a heavy-duty gearbox. FG

Our passion is helping farmers and landowners leave behind a landscape and industry to be proud of. Whether that be through greater financial security of the family business or ensuring a stable ecological environment that is fit to feed the future – we o er crop establishment solutions that make a real di erence.

Spring barley direct drill demo results reflect challenging season

The spring barley drilling trial was on a 650ha farm at Leadenham in Lincolnshire, and involved a eet of 10 drills, all di erent brands, and each establishing approximately 2ha of Laureate spring barley in the same eld on the same day (6th April 2022) to ensure that eld and weather conditions were similar.

Heavy land challenge

The event was inspired by farmer Andrew Ward, who trades as Roy Ward (Farms) Ltd. The farm includes some easy working lighter land on higher ground, but most is heavy clay (25%) with a particularly high (53%) silt content and 21% sand. Working conditions on the heavy soils are often challenging. Black-grass takes advantage of opportunities to thrive, so techniques to maintain control are a priority and a ect crop choice and timing of operations.

“We use a tra c light system to grade our elds in relation to black-grass density,” Andrew explained. “Previously we didn’t

grow winter wheat on land graded ‘red’ and planted continuous spring barley instead. But having adopted a rigorous black-grass control policy, grass weed populations have reduced and elds which were previously red are now graded yellow.

“We create stale seedbeds and spray o before drilling, then use one pre-emergence spray followed by hand rogueing during the growing season. The system works and blackgrass populations are low, but the risk is always present.”

Looking after soils

Despite being challenging to farm, the heavy soils are in good condition. Tracked tractors are used for most eld work to minimise ground pressure and compaction, and Andrew gave up ploughing in 2004 – when the plough was sold and replaced by a Simba Solo combination cultivator. Sewage sludge is incorporated to optimise organic content and improve soil structure. For autumn crop

establishment, a min-till system relies on the Simba cultivator which has heavy discs, cultivation tines and a detachable trailed press at the rear to prepare land for drilling ahead of a Simba Free ow drill. The Solo provides exibility in that the cultivator can be combined with the press or operated separately when conditions allow.

Reducing costs

The move to reduced tillage has been successful, and the Simba drill is also capable of direct drilling when conditions are suitable, and particularly in the spring. Cost savings can be achieved when the land is direct drilled, but the current Simba Free ow blocks frequently when high trash volumes are present in the autumn unless pre-cultivations are used.

Looking for the right drill

“Our current drill was never designed to operate in that environment,” Andrew explains. “I wondered if we needed a drill which can handle our heavy soils and high volumes of chopped straw and stubbles in the autumn, and cover crops in the spring, so the demonstration was arranged so that we could compare machines which we believe might o er a solution.”

Selected brands

Manufacturers which participated at the event were invited by Agrii and Andrew. One plot was drilled using the farm’s own Simba Free ow to provide a base standard for comparisons.

Drills involved included:

The farm’s Simba Free ow ................. 8m

Dale Eco 6m

Weaving Sabre ........................................ 6m

Horizon DSX.............................................6m

Amazone Cayena 6m

Claydon Hybrid 6m

Horsch Avatar 6m

Sky EasyDrill 6m

Sumo DTS 3m

Simtech T-Sem 3m

The day before the trial, all the drills were prepared for the expected conditions, and a tyre specialist optimised pressures for the task.

Conditions marginal

Conditions leading up to the drilling day were wet, and a soil pit dug the day before the event accumulated water overnight. The wet, heavy soil proved a challenge for all the drills, and it was interesting seeing the di erence between the seeding systems. As expected, the tine drills created considerably more tilth and surface soil movement, while some of the disc drills moved so little soil that visitors had to look closely to nd the lines where the discs had operated, even in the wet conditions.

Realistic situation

“You could argue that we shouldn’t have been drilling after the rain,” continued Andrew. “However, most years there will be occasions when we have to work when conditions are less than optimal, so pressing on and getting the crop in the ground was the right thing to do and re ected real-life farming.”

The rst crop to emerge was planted by Andrew’s Simba Free ow but, by ve weeks after drilling in early May, plants established by the other drills appeared to have caught up.

However, a eld meeting highlighted signi cant di erences in crop development. Plant roots in some plots were only 25mm deep, whereas in other plots they were almost 130mm. Generally, plots where drills had moved more soil were greenest, and plants had better roots.

Results table: Yields achieved

…from previous page

Drought pressure

Dry weather arrived and a severe lack of rain and soil moisture continued until harvest – putting crops under pressure across the UK.

At harvest, yields from each plot were measured and recorded, and the results were quanti ed including potential gross margins based on prices Andrew had achieved for all his commercial barley.

Understanding the results

Independent advisor on soils and cultivations, Philip Wright trades as Wright Resolutions Ltd, and he described the challenges the drills had faced and explained why the results are only a guide.

He suggested that factors which might have a ected performance included:

• The cultivation and drilling system already in use. (The eld hadn’t been direct-drilled previously)

• Variations in soil type and characteristics – even within the relatively small area

• Drills of di erent widths –particularly in the wet working conditions. Narrower drills required more passes to complete their plots which meant more of the ground had been compressed by the drilling tractor’s wheels

• Variations in tractor weight, and tyre size and speci cation –a ecting ground compaction

• The weather was also a major factor, and narrower drills were disadvantaged most by the wet conditions.

Conditions favoured existing drill

Interestingly, Andrew’s own, elderly Simba drill achieved the highest yield, but Philip suggested three potential reasons for its success.

• The 8m working width meant less of the wet ground had been driven on by the tractor wheels

• Similar drills have been used on the farm for many years, so the soil has become conditioned to the drill’s particular action

• It moved the most soil – in the exceptional, dry conditions of spring and early summer 2022, crop roots struggled to spread to nd nutrients. However, Andrew had applied fertiliser to the eld before drilling, and the thorough mixing action of the Simba drill made it easy for roots to access. “I was surprised by just how much di erence the easier access to the fertiliser made,” explained Philip.

Issues highlighted

Additional conclusions suggested by Philip included that in damp but rm surface conditions then a tine drill is more suitable, and speci c bene ts of a disc drill (including low disturbance, and ease of cutting through residues) become secondary.

Tractor tyre pressures have a greater e ect on results when disc-drilling very shallow compared to when using tine drills in wet conditions. There are minimal eradicator actions with a direct disctype drill, and a tine drill can loosen to drilling depth provided conditions

and tine geometry are suitable. Reduced tyre pressures available through using trailed drills o er extra bene ts in marginal conditions. If rain had fallen after drilling (to help incorporation of the surface applied fertiliser), then the disc drills which generated less soil movement would probably have achieved higher yields by accessing this fertiliser in a timely manner.

Too close to call Philip pointed out that the di erence in yields between seven of the nine test drills (5.49–5.80t/ha) is insigni cant, as variations could be due to other factors rather than the drills themselves – the plots being un-replicated.

Margin analysis

Agrii south region iFarm & Tech Centre manager, Steve Corbett provided margin analysis, based on Viterra pricing for a typical Laureate contract at £267/t for low nitrogen barley. He highlighted that the potential £684/ ha gross margin di erence between the highest yield achieved at £1,405/ha and the lowest at £721/ha means drill choice and establishment technique is signi cant, especially when farmers are seeking savings of just £20/ha by reducing their fungicide applications.

Steve also suggested that the

short spring barley growing season means there is less time for the crop to compensate for weather extremes than for autumn-sown crops.

Costs and returns

Andrew’s own gures suggest that using his current min-till system to establish spring barley provided typical returns of £1,714/ha for harvest 2022, whereas using a cover crop then direct-drilling reduced the gross margin to £1,164/ha – a di erence of £550/ha. “Using our current system of cultivating and then drilling seems our best strategy,” he observed.

Reducing tillage

Philip said that for those moving to reduced and zero-tillage systems, using strategic tillage including ploughing or other heavy cultivations when needed remains acceptable. “Andrew’s soils are a challenge as the high silt content means an armoury of equipment is needed to tackle problems, but a balanced approach will allow a system to develop which requires less and less soil movement and reduces costs.”

Trial conclusion

Asked whether the drill trial has helped him decide how to farm in future, Andrew said he believes that adding a wide, shallow cultivator and a tine drill to his machinery eet would add exibility for a range of conditions and help reduce costs. “This trial highlighted the challenges we face. When conditions allow, then direct drilling using the Free ow works well and minimises operating costs, and if intense cultivations are needed then the Simba Solo gives us the soil preparation we need. However, for situations where we could reduce cultivations then a wide, shallow disc cultivator would achieve high work rates and keep costs down. For high trash volumes in a wet season, then a tine drill would give us extra exibility.

“I’m a rm believer in reducing tillage which is why I was keen to have the trial, but we couldn’t rely only on a system of direct drilling and cover crops on our land.” FG

ERNEST DOE & SONS LIMITED

HORIZON NOW AVAILABLE

• Unique undercut disc design gives market leading penetration and closing

• In-cab controls for the rear closing wheels and pneumatic row cleaners makes operational adjustments easy

• A multitude of spec options with different row widths, hoppers, transport wheels etc available

• Parallelogram with 320mm of travel for market-leading seed placement

• Modular frame design so drills are expandable from 4m to 8m

• Full in-house liquid fertiliser solutions

For your nearest branch visit: www.ernestdoe.com/branches

Direct strip seeding makes a comeback after wet weather di iculties

Direct strip seeding produces more even crops more reliably, according to Paul Sheardown who returned to the Claydon Opti-Till System after the wet autumn of 2019 when traditional no-till direct drilling proved impossible.

The limitations of traditional no-till direct drilling were brought sharply into focus at Grange Farm, Wolsthorpe near Grantham, during autumn 2019; Paul Sheardown, the third generation

of his family to manage the land there, was one of many who found out the hard way.

“The combination of autumn cropping and no-till direct drilling had

worked well for several seasons, so our farming system, machinery and labour were all geared around that approach; but Mother Nature taught us a harsh lesson that year,” Paul recalls. “From the

middle of September, it didn't stop raining for long enough to sow any crops.

“It was frightening how quickly conditions turned against us. Being completely reliant on that approach, we had no other option to fall back on. Once our drilling window closed, we knew it would be spring before we could get back on the land. That was a very worrying time and completely changed our outlook on crop establishment.

“Minimising compaction has always been a priority because most of our soil is Blue Lias clay, which is so heavy it is used to make bricks,” Paul outlines.

Even though it is well drained and moled every six years, managing this heavy land correctly requires discipline and the right equipment.

All change

Paul continues: “For decades, oilseed rape had been our second largest crop, but that option was taken away in 2018 following a huge increase in cabbage stem ea beetle activity. Suddenly we could not grow what had been ‘a banker,’ black-grass was starting to become an issue, and the weather was increasingly variable.

“Two years prior, we had

constructed a 165kW anaerobic digester on our land at Sedgebrook and began growing maize to feed it. After the crop had been harvested the land could be wetter than following a cereal, so relying on traditional direct drilling to establish late-drilled wheat was a signi cant risk.

“It was often necessary to restructure the soil on headlands and in wheelings, but if we did that it pulled up clods which were very di cult to break down. Also, where soil was moved ahead of the drill it was easily re-compacted by any following operations.

“Having experienced the drawbacks of a heavy, cumbersome trailed drill which lifted on wheels that sunk into the ground in wet conditions we were keen to go back to a mounted design. In 2021 we bought a new 4m Claydon Hybrid, together with a 7.5m Claydon straw harrow to improve stubble management after harvest.”

Working at up to 25kph, the Claydon straw harrow creates a micro tilth in the top 30mm of soil, using the retained moisture for fast, even weed germination. It rakes out and destroys weeds at the cotyledon and one-leaf stage, removing a food source for slugs.

The unique in-line tine technology used on all Claydon drills moves the optimum amount of soil, only where it is needed – in the seeding and rooting zones. This creates tilth and drainage, aerates the soil, and alleviates compaction to create the perfect growing environment for fast germination. The soil between the seeded bands is left undisturbed and moisture is conserved for the plants to tap into. The undisturbed banks of soil support the weight of farm tra c, minimising the damage caused by wheelings and compaction.

The front tine has been designed to drill direct into stubble but can also be used in plough and min-till scenarios. It works on heavy clay and light sandy soils, baked out ground and wetter soils. It is this front tine that helps make the Claydon drill so versatile. And as extreme weather events demonstrate, when conditions make it di cult for other drills, crops can be established with a Claydon Hybrid drill, which o ers the option to switch over to the Low Disturbance (LD) kit for a minimal disturbance set-up.

Paul made a few additions to his Claydon drill and establishment system this summer, purchasing an LD kit which was used to establish turnips

and grass. However, its primary use will be for planting spring cereals into land which has been growing a cover crop over winter.

Getting back on track

“Autumn 2021 was very favourable, and everything was drilled when we wanted, with rain helping crops to germinate and grow away strongly,” Paul adds.

“As part of our plan to keep black-grass at manageable levels, drilling dates for winter wheat have been moved back, so the aim is to get everything in by 10th October. The Claydon Hybrid works well behind one of our two 220hp Valtra tractors at 12kph and typically covers 30ha a day. We run the leading tine 100mm deep and seed is drilled using the standard

175mm-wide A-Shares, except beans for which we use the 75mm spoons.

“Other farmers I talk to sometimes express concern about a potential yield-knock if they change to direct drilling or strip seeding, but we have never found that to be the case.

“Half of our wheat follows maize and the Claydon Hybrid is ideal in that situation because it provides more exibility and is an insurance policy against variable weather.

“We tend to use low seed rates to save on seed and I am very happy with the results. The rates are the same with the Claydon, but the headlands are much improved this year as a result of using the Hybrid drill; there are no signs of wheelings and the crops are looking much more consistent.” FG

With over 20 years’ direct strip-till experience, we know that Claydon drilling is good for your soil and good for your pocket. It dramatically reduces fuel consumption, doesn’t require huge horsepower to pull, aids carbon sequestration and reduces soil erosion. Worms just love it. And importantly, yields are healthy too. To discuss sustainable farming, call your local dealer or Claydon direct on +44 (0)1440 820327.

For when you want to drive down establishment costs and improve soil health…

New company formed following acquisition

Fentech has been fabricating Simtech machines for the past few years and has also been involved

in the development of the new UK models. It’s exciting times ahead for Simtech UK, expanding the range of

Excellent seed-to-soil contact, with minimal disturbance

JJ Metcalfe & Son coulters have a ne replaceable tungsten carbide tip, which cuts through the soil, ensuring excellent seed-to-soil contact, whilst moving the minimal amount of soil, the company reckons.

Designed originally to t Väderstad Seedhawk drills, JJ Metcalfe’s coulters have been developed to t a wide range of drills, including: Horsch CO and Sprinter; Köckerling Ultima and Jockey; Amazone Cayena and Condor; Weaving Sabre Tine; and most recently, its own design of a box section conversion which ts on 80 and 100mm box sections for the self-build specialist.

All coulters can be tted with a wide variety of tubes, enabling granular or liquid fertiliser distribution and the tips can be easily exchanged between 12–100mm spreader coulter.

If you would like any further

information or would like to discuss a future project, contact the JJ Metcalfe & Son team directly. FG

The new HQ is based in Lincolnshire and the original site in Su olk will remain in place to support the increased production requirements. The company is looking to expand further a eld to make use of its increased production capacity.

The Simtech machines were appealing from the start, due to their relative simplicity and low cost for such a capable, versatile machine. Crop establishment from the inverted T-slot system is very good even in the most demanding conditions, the company reckons. The unique environment created helps the new seedling with moisture retention, availability of light and warmth for the perfect germination.

The machines themselves are reliable and very well built with minimal moving/wearing parts, the company says. The range now covers up to 6m wide mounted machines with development of trailed machines in the coming months, while still maintaining the key features of the smaller drills. FG

TRITON... ADVANCED DIRECT DRILLING

Twin hold roll pin blade removal system and backward leaning air borne upper blade for trash lift and ease of trash flow

Seed depth tail 40mm deep holding the seed at correct depth and placing seed on either side of seed terrace

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.

Triton UK: 01223 891888 (EastAnglia & Midlands)

Triangular tungsten tiles for reduced draught and soil disturbance

Triton South & West: 07970 549012 (Richard)

SOIL SURFACE

Drilling at 40mm depth

Downward facing upper blade holds field surface in place minimising soil eruption in the stale seed bed

14cm deep

Buying a blade drill is now an open and shut case.. Why? Because only the Triton drill has a slot closer

lower blade takes blade deep below ground for air drainage and rooting

Triton South East: 07860 417643 (John) (Covenbrook)

Triton North & Scotland: 07712 831718 (Steve) (S.T. Gowan Agri)

Abington Farm Park, Great Abington, Cambridge CB21 6AX

Triton Ireland: +35387 4661024 (David Weld)

93722

Seed drill range goes from strength to strength

British manufacturer Triton Seed Drills continues to goes from strength to strength and, after six years and nearly 150 seed drills sold, there are still no Tritons available second-hand, the company says.

“This is the ultimate litmus test for a seed drill system,” says managing director Simon Chaplin. “Much of our strong sales growth is coming from customers’ neighbours or customers buying a second Triton.”

He adds: “In the early days of Triton we mainly referred to the slot closure system for two reasons: 1) it allows e ective seed drilling in almost any conditions, and 2) the patented slot

closure system is unique, giving an advantage over all other tine drills in marginal conditions.”

More recently, Triton has been referring to the drill’s other features, which it reckons are equally advantageous. With regards to the patented seeding blade, Simon Chaplin says: “10 years ago we switched from disc drills to tine drills because we were getting poor tillering

in tighter soils behind the disc drills due to no mineralisation.

“We bought two of the best known British direct tine drills and one from Germany. The tillering of the crops improved but the black-grass exploded. Even when we drilled late into a sterile seed bed, we were getting black-grass because all other tine drills have upward-facing coulters that scoop black-grass seed up from below

For perfect seed and fertiliser placement – let’s get straight to the point

two inches and deposit the weed seed in the germination zone – thus defeating the stale seed bed system.

“The Triton blade faces downwards in the top three inches of the ‘seed bed’, so black-grass seed cannot be brought up to the germination zone. This is another unique advantage of the Triton, with some previously grassinfested elds now only requiring rotational grass weed herbicides, leading to microbe-rich fresh unpolluted soils. In order to perform in this way, the Triton blade works three times deeper than any other tine drill so that it can draw itself into the ground by the lower half of the blade, which is a standard upward-facing design.

“This increased depth is only possible by virtue of the patented seed tail which stops seed falling too deep into the seed slot. The extra depth of the seed slot brings mineralisation right down the sides of the rooting zone, giving us tillering well in excess of any previous establishment system.”

Triton farms six units, from Kelso to Cambridge, with one Triton coulter drilling rape, wheat and maize and beans, without adjustment, into a wide range of soils, conditions and climates. FG

We all know that the key to good plant establishment is not only perfect planting depth control and excellent seed/soil contact but also targeted fertiliser application in the seed row.

So bring on the Primera DMC direct seeder which, with its integrated fertiliser hopper, does all of these things by the bucket load.

With a huge clearance from point to point, the chisel openers perfectly follow every little contour and cope with any amount of trash, so the Primera DMC is ideal for working in a cover crop, after a cover crop, after a cash crop or just well - drilling!

So if you are looking for a direct seeder that will cope with life’s up and downs - look no further than the Primera DMC.

Do not disturb: Drilling shifts to moving less soil

With Amazone’s Primera DMC direct tine seeder (pictured), the clue is in its name: Direct – Mulch – Conventional, as it covers all the options. The Primera has a row spacing of 18.75cm and comes in 3m and 6m widths. The unique chisel opener means every row keeps to that perfect sowing depth irrespective of how undulating the land is, Amazone reckons. The Primera has a seed hopper capacity of up to 5,800 litres which can be split into two for combined grain and fertiliser drilling or multiple seed varieties; a third hopper can be added for micro-granular or small seed application.

The 12m and 15m Condor tine seeders o er a 7,800-litre hopper which is divided up into three

sections for exibility. The drill folds down to 3m and is highly manoeuvrable. There is a choice of either 25cm or 33cm row spacings.

The Cirrus MinimumTill Disc uses a straight running, hydraulically pressurised wavy disc in front of the TwinTeC double disc opener on 16.6cm spacings. The front discs cut through surface trash and open up ne, moist soil for the sowing coulter to place the seed into. The seed row is embedded by the following Control 65 press rollers.

Amazone reckons the Cayena tine seeder is the ideal, multipurpose seeder. The hopper can be supplied as seed only, or combined grain and fertiliser, with both materials being metered down into the TineTeC coulter. FG

SEEDING COMBINATION SOLITAIR DT

Trailed seed drill with low disturbance options

Minimal draught resistance, an integrated compact disc harrow, comfortable operation and a large, divided seed hopper – that is the new Solitair DT seed drill, Lemken says.

To ensure good reconsolidation in the rst working step, the new Solitair DT features a leading tyre packer. For the second step of seedbed preparation, it’s equipped with a compact disc harrow with relatively large 465mm diameter concave discs, that are individually protected against overloads by leaf springs. If a reduced intensity of tillage is required, vertical wavy discs can be used instead of the concave discs, which penetrate the soil in line with the seeding coulter, reducing both moisture loss and the emergence of grass weeds.

Lemken UK’s general manager Paul Creasy commented that the

EFFICIENT LIGHTWEIGHT.

Maximum e ciency combined with highest precision – the new Solitair DT was designed according to these standards. The result is a seeding combination that is convincing in practice and saves diesel with ease.

OUR DRIVING FORCE: YOUR SUCCESS!

wavy disc set up had been well received on a pre-production machine in autumn 2022 in the UK during drill demonstrations.

The DT seed hopper holds a volume of up to 5,100 litres and is available in a dual hopper version. The dual hopper allows the Solitair DT to be used for combined seeding with fertiliser or for sowing di erent seeds. Two variants are available: with the single-shot version, the fertiliser and seeds are placed in a shared seed furrow, whereas the doubleshot version places fertiliser in a line below the seed level via separate fertiliser double disc coulters.

Lemken’s new Solitair DT is available in 4 and 6m widths with demonstration machines available around the UK and Ireland for autumn 2023. FG

E icient crop establishment creates healthier soils

Dale Drills' range of No Till Eco Drills o er users the opportunity to establish crops in an economically e cient way whilst ensuring healthier, more resilient soils, capable of growing higher yielding crops, the company says.

Features include low disturbance tines to keep horsepower requirement to a minimum of just 20hp/m (a 6m Eco M can be pulled with a 150hp tractor). This reduces fuel consumption whilst limiting the weight of machinery on the soil and preventing unnecessary compaction.

Independent drilling assemblies follow contours accurately, ensuring even depth control across the width of the drill, giving rise to a crop which emerges evenly. This feature also reduces the need for additional cultivation passes in order to level seedbeds, saving money and time.

An adjustable hydraulic pressure to drilling assemblies allows users to drill into any seedbeds, from rmer direct seedbeds to looser min till and even into conventional ploughbased seedbeds, reducing the need for multiple drills – again, saving money and time.

An adjustable row width from 12.5–25cm (5–10in) o ers users the versatility to plant crops at the optimum spacing for best yield, whilst the ability to place fertiliser and other products alongside seed optimises establishment.

Dale Drills will be making its drills available for short term hire throughout the UK this spring. If you are interested in trying a Dale Drill visit www.daledrills.com, or contact the company directly. FG

VENTA

Pneumatic seed drill and power harrow combination

ULTIMATE VERSATILITY

VISTAFLOW TRAMLINING VALVES

• Shut-off alternate rows

• Seed flow monitoring

• GPS tramlining Available on Espro and Venta drills.

The KUHN seeding range

VOS – Versatile Opener System

Sustainable Farming • Reduced Input Costs

1. Direct Drill into a wide variety of situations across a range of soil types.

2. Minimised soil disturbance and draft due to low rake angle design.

3. Less draft and reduced wear rates means a lower cost per hectare.

4. Even crop establishment due to greater consistency in seed and fertiliser placement.

5. Increased moisture retention due to low disturbance.

6. Creates a drainage channel ideal for wet conditions.

Direct drilling system “a game changer” for farms

Two farmers shared their experiences using Bourgault’s VOS (versatile opener system)...

Leigh Donger of Peacock Farm describes it as a “real game changer” and even had to double check the eld had been drilled.

“The main reason we changed was because of how VOS distributes the fertiliser; alternative openers just spray the fertiliser on the soil after the coulter. I wanted the fertiliser to be under the seed or at least under the soil. VOS does just this, plus I can go straight from rape seed to beans without changing

anything on the drill leg.”

Meanwhile, James Mayes of Bent eld Bury Farms (Sentry Ltd), said they had been min-tilling OSR ground and found it increasingly di cult to produce satisfactory seedbeds that allow for the timely and reliable establishment of the crop, without them drying out and losing moisture.

“I’d looked at a number of competing drill coulters but was always drawn back to the level of low disturbance of the VOS. We spent a few hours with Stuart from BTT UK discussing how the coulter would work and the types of soil conditions we’d expect to be working in, and we nally concluded the VOS would suit our needs. We have to date achieved an acreage of 4,655 and believe we will successfully break the 5,000-acre barrier.” FG

Horsch Sprinter direct drill comparison in Cambridgeshire. Righthand side: Bourgault VOS.

Wider row spacing option available

As interest in mechanical weeding grows, more farmers are looking to sow cereals at a wider row spacing to facilitate this practice. As well as opening the door to a range of weed control options, choosing a wider row spacing has several other bene ts: increased clearance within the coulter frame for better trash ow; reduced running costs as fewer coulter tips need changing and there is more positive pressure as the weight of the drill is divided by fewer coulters.

Alongside the standard 6m, 37row SM-P tine drill, KRM also now o ers a 6m, 24-row version with a row spacing of 25cm.

The SM coulters feature narrow Tungsten carbide tips which run at an attacking angle to pull

the tip into work. Each coulter creates a tilth as it pulls through the soil, creating ideal conditions for germination and strong root development. Straw and other residues are moved away from the row, ensuring seeds are placed in clear, moist soil. The undisturbed soil between the rows minimises the risk of weeds germinating and leaves a rm surface for following operations.

93399

For those requiring more output, KRM has an extensive range of mounted folding tine drills with working widths up to 7m. Options include Isobus, variable rate and section control. KRM also o ers a range of mechanical weeding solutions – contact the company for more details. FG

Switch to new drill proves successful for grower in Worcestershire

band of soil – typically 30-50mm –ahead of each disc coulter. This is important for Andrew as it reduces both the draft required and the volume of soil moved. It also lends itself to a one-pass, direct drilling approach when surface conditions are right.

“The u-drill gives me double the work rate while using the same, and sometimes less, fuel,” says Andrew. “It’s easy to pull, and the hydraulic fan drive avoids a xed pto. So tractor revs are between 1,500 and 1,700rpm.”

Andrew Symonds’ recent switch to Kverneland’s u-drill with MD disc has doubled output and reduced operating costs, as a diverse rotation and variable post-harvest conditions pushed him towards a more versatile drilling process.

“I looked for a drill that could work in a variety of scenarios including ploughed and pressed ground, onepass cultivated and direct drilling into stubbles,” explains Andrew of Lincomb Farms, Stourport-onSevern (pictured).

“While my 3m power harrow drill

combination could handle most conditions, it lacked a direct drilling capability, and had a high fuel burn with a relatively slow output,” he says.

Andrew’s 6m u-drill uses a front set of press wheels followed by two gangs of the minimal disturbance

MD discs – behind which is a second row of press wheels and nally the disc coulters. Surface levelling and nishing is achieved with a conventional harrow at the rear.

Kverneland’s MD discs are placed vertically and each moves a narrow

of seed – and feeding

crops or oilseed rape at a

The grain-only seed tank holds 4,350 litres –enough for two tonnes of seed – and feeding 36 coulters creates a 16.7cm row width. When planting cover crops or oilseed rape at a wider spacing, distribution head outlets are blanked o to suit.

“I’m very pleased with the operational exibility provided by the u-drill,” he says. “And the MD disc is de nitely the right approach for my soils.” FG

Exclusive partnership to give rise to new products

Spaldings has announced a new exclusive partnership with Dutch Industries. Spaldings prides itself on being a leading British distributor of after-market soil-engaging components for cultivators, subsoilers and seed drills. The company says its new partnership emphasises its strength in this area and its commitment to providing quality parts to customers.

The Dutch ‘Universal’ range (pictured) o ers a choice of easily tted low-draft points for singleand double-row seeding, band sowing and liquid or solid fertiliser placement.

They can be installed on a number of tine drill makes and models used in the UK and Ireland, with replacement bodies or frogs making it easy to convert to the new points, while the single roll pin securing them in place makes the openers quick and easy to replace.

A key bene t of the new agreement is that the engineering development departments of the two businesses will work together with a view to enhancing existing products and developing new

ones suited to European soils and establishment techniques. Spaldings’ own technical sta and advanced engineering technologies continue to develop product lines like its SPL Ultra range of high-performance subsoiler and cultivator points and wings.

With Spaldings’ in-house design and innovation, and its engineers now in regular contact with their counterparts at Dutch Industries, the company will develop new drill coulter products for the UK and markets elsewhere in Europe. FG

Big productivity in compact dimensions

a 6,300-litre double hopper and will soon be available with a triple tank or additional MiniDrill options. The hopper design is based on that of the new Avatar 8.25 and can apply up to four components.

The new Horsch Sprinter SL and SC drills bring the latest features and innovations of the large-scale Sprinter NT drill in a more compact format suited to UK farming, Horsch reckons.

The trailed 12m Sprinter 12.25 SC and mounted 6m Sprinter 6.25 SL drills feature 25cm row spacing and can be folded to the 3m transport width required for movement on UK roads.

The Sprinter 6.25 SL can be combined with the Horsch Partner FT to create a highly manoeuvrable mounted drill setup. Sales of preseries Sprinter SL and SC machines are available in 2023.

New Sprinter coulters: Both Sprinter SL and SC drills are available with Horsch’s latest tine coulters. There are di erent seed coulter

options from the Ultra ThinEdge seed coulter, that provides a 12mm wide seed band to ensure minimum of soil movement, the ThinEdge coulter with a 21mm wide seed band (ideal for sowing catch crops directly into the stubble), to the WideEdge tine seed coulter that has a 110mm wide seed band.

Sprinter SC trailed tine drill: A more compact version of the highly regarded Sprinter NT, the 12m Sprinter 12.25 SC complements a 3m transport width with a 4m transport height to make it even more manoeuvrable. It is equipped with

UNIVERSAL SERIES DIRECT DRILLING SYSTEM

The tines of the Sprinter 12.25 SC are hydraulically pre-stressed, with a coulter pressure up to 180kg, and can be retracted for transport. They ensure a high clearance between frame and surface as well as between the seed coulters making them ideal for direct or mulch seeding. The tines are individually depth-controlled with a press wheel and the 3-bar tine section and 25cm tine spacing o ers a straw-free and clodfree sowing horizon.

wetter conditions and on light and medium soils. As it is mounted, it is high manoeuvrable making it easy to operate in small elds.

As with the Sprinter SC, the tines of the Sprinter 6.25 SL are hydraulically pre-stressed and retractable and are individually depth controlled with press wheel. The 3-bar tine section and 25cm tine spacing ensures a straw-free and clod-free sowing horizon.

The Sprinter SL can be combined with either the Horsch Partner 2000 FT or Partner 1600 FT front tank to provide the metered components. FG the

Sprinter SL mounted tine drill with Partner FT front tank: The 6m Sprinter 6.25 SL is ideal for working in

THE ULTIMATE IN DRILLING VERSATILITY

You can switch from single to double shoot with just one roll pin

The ultimate in versatility with a choice of tip options to meet your specific crop, land, season and fertiliser requirements.

BENEFIT FROM:

• Lower draft, Tungsten tipped – designed to last

• Reduces soil disturbance – conserve moisture

• Saves time in the field – easy-to-change tips

• Replacement tips to fit SUMO DTS

• Adaptor frog to fit HORSCH

WORKING TOGETHER FOR HEALTHY SOIL, HEALTHY AGRICULTURE & HEALTHY LIVES

#FUTUREGROUND is our forward-looking vision; healthy ground where the future thrives and prospers. Our objective is down-to-earth yet ambitious: work together with our customers, combine our courage and passion, innovation and knowledge to contribute to the economic success of agriculture and support improvements in the climate and healthier lives. HORSCH.COM

TOGETHER FOR A HEALTHY AGRICULTURE

New drill range combines high capacity with seeding precision

Väderstad recently launched the Inspire 1200 drill, which is focused on bringing excellent seeding results to the 12m seed drill segment.

The 12m wide pneumatic seed drill o ers a high-capacity output at a low draught force requirement. Its adaptive double disc seed coulters system, paired with the Fenix III metering system, results in even emergence and strong crop growth, Väderstad reckons.

Inspire 1200 is available in two di erent models – Inspire 1200S and Inspire 1200C. The seed-only version Inspire 1200S is equipped with a 5,000-litre hopper for seeds. The combi version Inspire 1200C has

a 7,200-litre hopper holding both seed and fertiliser in two separate compartments, which is later mixed into the same airstream and placed together into the soil.

High drilling output is achieved with eight separate sections, which allows Inspire to operate with variable rate and sectional control down to 1.5m sections. Constant and even product ow from the hopper to the seed coulters is achieved via eight Fenix III metering units.

The heart of Inspire is its responsive double disc seed coulter system. To provide an aggressive working angle but with maximum penetration force, the seed discs are mounted in an O Set position. This has an excellent ability to adapt to any irregularities on the eld, thereby always keeping the seeding depth constant.

Inspire 1200C/S is equipped with the iPad-based control system Väderstad E-Control, which wirelessly connects to the Väderstad machine, enabling full access to its functions and data. You bene t from user-friendly remote setup and calibration, as well as real-time monitoring and control. FG

Direct seed drill “ideal for smaller farms and tractors”

British manufacturer Moore Unidrill relaunched the 2.5m Moore Unidrill at LAMMA 23. This means the ever-popular Moore Unidrills are now available with either 2.5, 3.0 or 3.5m working widths. Moore Unidrill has a long history in the direct drilling market and its current product range is particularly suited for farms looking to move less soil and practice more regenerative farming.

The Moore Unidrill is a universal machine, with its most common use being for reseeding grassland; however, it is also being used for sowing turnips, fodder beet, wheat and barley, to name a few. This makes it an ideal seed drill for small- to medium-sized farms looking for a machine that can sow a variety of crops, the manufacturer reckons.

Contractors also like the Moore Unidrill due the fact that it is built around a strong, fully-welded rigid chassis, with fewer moving parts compared to the older models or many of the other direct drills

TheRapidA… apowerfuldrillforfuturefarming

available on the market, the company adds. Direct drilling can be very demanding on the machine so a strong chassis with fewer moving parts is important to reduce running costs and downtime whilst in the eld.

Moore Unidrill says: “Research and development is important to us; we are constantly implementing feedback from users so follow us on social media or visit www.moore-unidrill.com for new options and features coming soon.” FG

RapidAoffersgreatdesignandaseriesof innovationswhichreducethemaintenance, improvestheperformanceandmakesdrilling simpler.Rapidcanbeequippedwiththe uniqueSeedEyecountingtechnology. Farmerscannowsetthenumberofseeds persquaremetrewithoutneedingtoperform calibrationtests.

Learnmoreatvaderstad.com

Irrigation and crop store monitors bring peace of mind and free up time

Third generation farmer Tim Young was struggling to manage the irrigation and storage of high value crops, such as onions, which saw him reluctant to leave the farm in peak growing season in case he missed a problem with an irrigator. An internet search led him to a simple solution...

Tim Young’s family bought Grange Farm at Hockwold, near Thetford in Norfolk in 1964. The 185ha unit consists of typical ‘Breckland’ free-draining, sandy-loam soils and supports root crops including onions and sugar beet. Combinable peas, wheat and stewardship land also gure in the rotation. The farm is within a designated SSSI – the Breckland Farmland Site of Special Scienti c Interest.

Alongside farming, Tim (pictured) also works as an agricultural consultant, meaning time spent o -farm. In the past this has been di cult, especially in the peak summer growing season when high value crops such as onions require irrigation. Adding to Tim’s anxiety levels, albeit later in the year, were concerns regarding his onion storage facilities – were they holding the onions at the correct temperature and humidity to minimise wastage?

“Onions in particular are a high value crop,” Tim comments. “Managing irrigation to optimise yields is crucial. Then, when the crop is in storage, it is imperative that the ambient temperatures are controlled or the crop can be lost.

“The summer months, especially in times of drought, saw me increasingly reluctant to leave the farm in case I missed a problem with an irrigator. Likewise, I would go to bed with one ear open to listen to the irrigation pumps. Then in the autumn and winter, regular monitoring of the stored onions was tedious, time consuming and it was di cult to achieve accurate results across the store.”

Making life easier

Seeking a solution and some peace of mind, an internet search brought Tim to the website of SoilEssentials, the precision farming specialists and its range of 7Sense smart wireless sensors.

“I had an inkling that some sort of remote monitoring sensors, for the irrigators and for the onion store could make my life a lot easier. The sorts of systems I had previously come across did not seem as though they would be right for me. However, when I found the 7Sense sensors on the SoilEssentials website I could see their potential immediately.

“Following my initial enquiry to SoilEssentials they supplied me with 7Sense irrigation sensors. I can’t believe how easy to operate they are. They mounted on my existing rain guns and I now have complete control and monitoring without having to constantly go to the eld to check what’s happening. The GPS tracker in the sensor lets me monitor the exact position of the rain gun at all times; I am alerted if there is a drop in water pressure or ow and there is even an alert if the trolley ips over. Basically, I can now keep an eye on the irrigator from anywhere and respond straight away if the system reports a problem.

“I have also given my agronomists access to the sensor monitoring app, so nothing goes unnoticed.

“In the height of the heatwave last summer and the four-night only water restrictions, I had to make sure I capitalised fully when I was allowed to use water and that the irrigators worked accurately and consistently at those times. The 7Sense irrigation sensor allowed this to happen, which is satisfying, as I foresee more of the same extraordinary temperatures, and probable restrictions in the future.”

Sensors “simpli ed my farming”

The next step for Tim, after solving his irrigator monitoring headache, was to speak to SoilEssentials again about options for onion store monitoring sensors.

“For the onion store, SoilEssentials supplied

7Sense sensors which monitor temperature, relative humidity, and CO2. Like the irrigator sensors these store sensors o er me 24/7 surveillance and peace of mind and will alert me if conditions in the store change. This system allows up to 32 sensors to be placed in locations throughout the store, all relaying information back to the app on my phone. What I’m particularly impressed with is how rugged and waterproof the sensors are and their ability to utilise wireless signals even through the walls and other obstructions around the stores.

“I am delighted with how both of my 7Sense systems have simpli ed my farming and allowed me to spend more time doing other things without worrying about onions! The recent FTE government grant helped to fund the sensors as the products fall within the productivity and sustainability precision farming arena. In the future I plan to add storage sensors to the grain store for registering the temperature, and relative humidity of the wheat, that will greatly help with my Red Tractor certi cation.”

He concludes: “SoilEssentials have their main o ce in north-east Scotland, but they have a consultant, Ed, less than an hour away from me and the advice and support I have had, and still get, from their whole team is great, making the distance between us irrelevant.” FG

After a hot and dry year when most farmers were unable to do any signi cant moling, it is time to plan what is needed for this year. We are hoping for an ideal moling year to catch up with the work missed last year. There is also a need to

understand that the stability of some of the established moles will have su ered due to the extreme trauma that the land has been through. Farmers need to check the condition of the drainage system on their land and physically check

the outfalls. Redundant drainage systems can be revitalised with rotational moling in heavy clay soils and ideal conditions. It is also worth considering moling in the crop when the land is drying out, especially in poorer crops.

The Sustainable Farming Incentive aims to encourage actions that improve soil health. Good drainage and regular/rotational moling go a long way towards improving soil structure and therefore a healthier soil for crop production and environmental improvement. Moling will help to deal with waterlogging, water runo and soil compaction as it helps to move water freely through the soil pro le into the drains and ditches.

Hankins Engineering Ltd has now been making mole drainers for over 40 years and the Maidwell Moler range consists of single, twin and three leg machines, mounted and trailed to t all needs. The machines are robust and have a unique pitch adjuster, incorporating a shear bolt for leg protection.

The Maidwell Molers are built and proven to withstand large tractors and crawlers and cope with trashy conditions due to a large swivelling disc. Press wheels are an additional feature if required. Hankins Engineering Ltd also stocks a wide range of moler spares at competitive prices and molers for hire. Ron is always available to o er help and advice if needed; contact him directly or visit the website or Facebook for further information: www.maidwellmoler.co.uk FG

Aluminium Fittings & Parts

The perfect fit for irrigation solutions

Wright Rain UK 2018, a quality name, providing a quality product. We are ideally placed to serve our dealers across the whole of the UK with our full range of aluminium pipes, fittings and parts available from stock. We specialise in agricultural and horticultural clear crop irrigation and land dispersal of dirty water.

The Wright Rain range of aluminium pipes and fittings are known all over the UK for their superior quality and durability, and have become the industry standard for many applications. Their light weight, strength and corrosion resistance makes them ideally suited for portable irrigation systems.

Quality is key for irrigation equipment range

Wright Rain UK 2018, the Doncaster-based specialist supplier of irrigation pipes and ttings, reckons it is ideally placed to satisfy the requirements of onion, potato, carrot, and sugar beet growers across the whole of the UK.

An extensive range of stock means the company is on hand to ful l your irrigation demands when needed. It specialises in agricultural and horticultural clear water crop irrigation and the land dispersal of dirty water.

The Wright Rain range of aluminium pipes and ttings is known globally for its superior quality and durability and has become the industry standard for many applications, the company reckons. Its light weight, strength, and corrosion resistance make them “ideally suited for portable irrigation systems”.

The aluminium pipes are manufactured from the

highest quality alloys, which combine high corrosion resistance with a minimal denting factor. Cast aluminium female couplers are seam welded by the Argon Arc process to one end of the pipe and tted with a high-quality rubber seal before dispatch. The male end of the pipe is rolled to provide a strong, smooth spigot, to which the aluminium band and hook assembly can be tted on delivery.

UK business is coordinated from the company’s new sales and central distribution facilities at Doncaster, together with a national network of specialist machinery dealers that provide local support to UK farmers and growers. FG

Wright

Maximising pumping e iciency, minimising lifetime costs

With the ever-increasing costs of utilities, Prime Irrigation says it can design and install highly e cient pump, pipe and control panel systems to help reduce lifetime costs for electricity and water consumption.

Prime Irrigation speaks directly to the grower to understand their system and site requirements. It then speci es the most e cient underground mains pipework systems for the irrigation ow rates required. Pump equipment with high e ciency electric motors is selected for increased e ciency. This signi cantly reduces energy use and provides long-term savings by only using the power required when operating with the PrimeTime 2020 variable speed inverter drive system, Prime Irrigation reckons.

The PrimeTime 2020 control panel is UK designed and manufactured, speci cally for the irrigation market and has been successfully used during recent years. Each panel is constructed based on a bespoke system design. The inverter drive(s) vary frequency based on system set pressure, and

pumped ow rate is monitored by Siemens’ mag- ow meter, for higher accuracy and reliability. The panel includes manual variable speed operation as well as surge and RCD protections, compliant with the 18th edition wiring regulations.

The mobile app connects to your pump remotely and the meter connectivity provides instantaneous and resettable ow read outs. This includes high pressure alarms, trips and high ow leak detection alerts sent via SMS, allowing you to adjust the operations of your

07770 991150

Drainage & Irrigation

New irrigation equipment on test

Briggs Irrigation has announced it will be launching new equipment later on this year, as part of the company’s ongoing drive to make irrigation systems more e cient and e ective.

Managing director Adrian Colwill said: “We are always looking to improve our systems and we began testing our latest prototypes last year. That test programme will be completed in the UK and Europe early in the new season. As soon as we are con dent our new models

have been fully tested under a full range of conditions, we can begin to make them available.”

He added: “We understand that some growers need to cut manpower and make their operations as e cient as possible. This is one area where we are looking to o er new solutions. Expanding our range also helps customers nd exactly the right unit for their farm.”

For further details contact Briggs Irrigation directly. FG

Keeping the ditches flowing

Ditching is not the most exciting task and normally the rst thing to be cut when nances are tight but to Fen Group, it’s a rm favourite. Whether it’s moving the water away from elds to stop them being waterlogged, or giving access to water for irrigation, good ditch maintenance is essential.

Fen Group was previously known as The Fen Ditching Company Limited, as the company was focused on ditching for local farmers when it started nearly 50 years ago.

Based in the heart of the Fens, it is perfectly placed to serve local farmers and internal drainage boards to maintain the ditches in the region. The company has since grown to cover all water and land management issues for farmers, IDBs, local councils and nature reserves. It knows many of its farmers’ ditches as well as they do, with regular visits.

Inexperienced maintenance

can be costly to correct and have severe implications for the farm yields. If ditches are not well maintained they become blocked or undersized, leading to surrounding elds being poorly drained, which can severely a ect crop yields. Fen Group also loves the opportunity also cut new ditches.

The company has a team of experienced operators who can carry out a wide variety of tasks: ditch maintenance, new ditch installation/construction, cott raking, weed basket, reed clearance, earthworks, embankment protection and consultation. FG

WATER WHEN & HOW YOUR CROPS NEED IT

• Booms for lane widths 10 - 96 metres

• Hosereels from 150 - 750m pipe length

• JCB-engined, silenced pumpsets

• Raindancer remote monitoring & control

• Fixtures, fittings, pipework and more... visit our website: briggsirrigation.co.uk call us on 01536 260338 or email: enquiries@briggsirrigation.co.uk

BOTTOM GRAIN STORAGE SILOS

• GRAIN WALLING

• GRAIN CONDITIONING

We are one of the world’s leading manufacturers of grain silos and storage systems. In addition to being CE Certi ed, our team of highly-skilled engineers manufacture all our products in-house in our dedicated manufacturing facility in Scunthorpe, UK. We supply into worldwide agriculture and industrial markets, providing customers with Eurocode and ANSI designs, when required

Cotswolds farm successfully navigates new building projects

I recently worked with some clients near Broadway who ran a substantial farming business on rented land and buildings. Through no fault of their own, they lost access to the rented buildings. They retained the rented land and bought 60 acres, but needed agricultural buildings to

make the business viable.

One of the main constraints of the site was that it was within the Cotswolds AONB which needed a good deal of input from us, and others, to ensure we could demonstrate that the impact on the AONB would be minimal. We took

on board comments from within the council and other parties who had an interest in the area. We managed to get three useful-sized cattle, storage and workshop buildings approved and allowed our clients to establish their new farming base.

My client’s farming enterprise

continued to expand over the next few years. With a large proportion of the farming income derived from sheep production, they needed to spread the business risk and seek alternative farming incomes. After much research and business planning, they identi ed that a modern, e cient calf and cattle rearing enterprise would be most pro table for the small area.

With this growing enterprise, alongside their existing farming business, we identi ed a need for an Agricultural Workers Dwelling on site. I am happy to say that this planning application was also successful.

My clients now have a base from which to run their successful business, bene tting from excellent farm buildings and a farmhouse. So, not only can they be present for the day-to-day management of the holding, they will also provide their young family with a farming business to aspire to run in the future.

To conclude, when you consider your planning application, think about your long-term strategy. What is your ultimate goal? This is where the role of a planning consultant can save you money in the long run. FG

Will your next crop cooling purchase back British manufacturing?

road plainings. It has several 11kW fans, installed in 2018, working in New Zealand for cooling superphosphate fertiliser.

Bringing together equipment from manufacturers in Devon, Somerset, Lincolnshire and Su olk, Evans & Pearce says it is proud of the grain cooling systems it has brought to the market over the past 55 years.

No matter your preference for cooling grain this harvest, Evans & Pearce says it has systems to suit a range of situations. The company has always believed in working with its suppliers as closely as it works with its customers. It is often suppliers that help the company solve the sometimes complex problems it is presented with.

Evans & Pearce’s fan range is all manufactured by Air Control Industries (ACI) based in Axminster, Devon – a company it has worked with since 1978. Evans & Pearce has sold ACI fans all over the world. Due to the robust fan construction, they have been used in demanding situations for cooling grains, peanuts, woodchip, horse bedding and even

The company’s Polycool ducting is manufactured by Polypipe Civils based in Horncastle, Lincolnshire. “We rst worked with them in 1998 alongside ADAS to trial the product and ensure the slotted area of our proposed new duct facilitated the air ow needed for successful crop cooling,” said Evans & Pearce managing director Rob White. “From humble beginnings the new plastic products gained a reputation for longevity and strength. With sales of Polycool pedestals now well beyond 30,000 since its launch, the merits of this type of duct are beyond doubt.”

He added: “Polycool Laterals linked to our range of high output EV fans are nding favour particularly in large, deep stores where pedestals are not always practical.”

For those growers that use a metal pedestal, Evans & Pearce reckons the Metalcool pedestals are the perfect answer. OSR proof, so they need no additional lter, they are very strong and more compact than their bulky plastic cousins. Metalcool is

perforated by pushing out a louvre rather than punching a hole; this retains strength as no material is removed from the base. Metalcool is manufactured in Su olk by West Engineering, which provides Evans with a wide range of spiral wound metal ducting and bespoke ttings. Over the years West has proven a strong partner, well equipped for the surprises that harvest presents, Evans reckons.

“We are very proud of the longterm supplier links we have forged, especially now. During the past few years, as in many industries, suppliers struggled with sta ng levels, uctuating material costs and limited component availability. They have supported us and to ensure continued product manufacture and therefore supply to our customers, we have reciprocated by settling accounts ahead of time to assist with cash ow and placing large upfront orders to assist with planning.” Rob continued.

Evans & Pearce’s long-term support of using British manufacturing has helped secure jobs in UK factories. Rob asks: “Will your next purchase of a crop cooling system enable you to say the same?” FG

Investing in your buildings to save on energy bills

Tag Insulation explains the bene ts of its closed cell insulation system, which can be used for many di erent types of buildings and surfaces.

This winter, it has become increasingly evident that the rising cost of domestic energy has plunged many thousands of people into fuel poverty. Many businesses also continue to struggle with rising energy costs and the price of fuel for machinery, for example.

Whilst we face challenging times, as springtime approaches, now is the time to consider making improvements that could save you money in 2023 and beyond, says TAG Insulation. With material costs escalating month on month, it will never be cheaper to improve your buildings and start saving money, the company reckons.

TAG says it continues to receive more and more enquiries regarding the improvement of older farm buildings for change of use. It o ers a 25-year material guarantee.

Other recent projects include improvements to stabling for several top equestrian centres throughout the country. It also completed an installation for a garage workshop in London, to insulate and contain and elderly asbestos bre cement roof. The alternative would have been complete replacement, with massive disruption in the surrounding residential area, as well as closure of the business for several weeks during the specialist removal. TAG claims it completed the work over one weekend with no inconvenience.

TAG has been involved with the closed cell insulation product for a number of years and says it has the experience to deal with any number of di erent problems. For example, damaged or leaking areas, strengthening, stabilising, insulating, and helping control condensation.

The company has carried out installations in a large number of buildings and projects over a long period of time and built up a strong reputation. As a result, it undertakes a substantial amount of work for its existing customers.

It o ers a nationwide service from a team of experienced people who will visit, advise measure and quote, all for free.

TAG’s closed cell system can be applied to many di erent types of buildings and surfaces and can extend the life of a roof, saving thousands of pounds compared to the cost of replacement, the company reckons. Once installed it will provide a stable

ambient temperature, all year round, prevent leaks and reduce sound. It is great for asbestos containment, stops further deterioration of the roof and is class 1 re rated, TAG adds.

The company’s spray foam systems are accredited by the LABC, KIWA, BBA, BDA and fully certi cated. No harmful chemicals are used, and the product is applied through a water blown spray system. By installing one of the leading insulation products available today you will not only insulate and protect your

buildings, but also save money and help save the planet, TAG claims. Contact the company directly for further information and advice. FG

Grain storage: Simple ways to be more energy e icient

Now is the time to start thinking about the condition of your stored grain, even if this year’s harvest hasn’t started yet. There’s every chance that we could face another heatwave this year, which brings the challenge of keeping your grain cool to maintain its quality. If you’re planning a new grain store for 2023, the Plug&Cool team says it can recommend a relatively low-cost solution for stored grain.

Using taller, 1.5m durable poly pedestals, combined with highe ciency grain cooling fans is an obvious choice, but there are also running costs to consider. There may be simple things you can do to reduce your energy bill like making sure your fan’s operation is controlled. Plug&Cool engineers

have worked hard to design and produce an upgraded, premium e ciency, aluminium fan to help with farmers’ running costs.

It’s also worth considering an automated system to control your fans so you have one less thing to worry about. The Plug&Cool Multi-Zone control panel is easy to use and will only switch on the grain cooling fans if the ambient temperature is cool enough, or if the grain temperature requires it.

As one of the UK’s fastest growing and largest stockists of grain cooling fans and equipment, Plug&Cool, along with its UK distributors, says it is on hand to ful l orders throughout the year. Contact the Plug&Cool team directly to discuss your requirements. FG

Agricultural bulk material retaining walls

Nationwide Precast Concrete is a new East Anglian precast concrete manufacturer based in Ardleigh in Essex. NPC Ltd produces a range of retaining wall and fencing products for the East Anglian and UK market.

The company says it is very experienced in the manufacturing of precast concrete, especially in the design and production of retaining wall systems. Its new fencing product uses its patented manufacturing system, providing the highest quality nished product that cannot be matched by traditional manufacturing methods, NPC Ltd reckons.

The company has an extensive range of retaining wall systems

which it believes will satisfy all agricultural applications. It can also design and manufacture bespoke units to suit site speci c requirements.

It has invested in modern manufacturing facilities and its products adhere to all industry standards. The company’s quality control systems are designed speci cally for the manufacturing of precast concrete retaining walls and fencing products, and its structural engineering resource has over 25 years’ experience in precast concrete product design and implementation. Contact the company directly to discuss your requirements, or book a site visit if you prefer. FG

DOORS BUILT TO YOUR EXACT SPECIFICATION

Steel, brick or timber structures, Shutter Wize Ltd has doors available to suit your needs in standard galvanised, powder coated or Plastisol finish with a variety of accessories available including remote control, key or push button operation.

Inspired by the latest technology in Pre-stressed Concrete Wall Panels, and with the desire to continue in meeting our customers' requirements regarding Quality, Design, Volume & Delivery...

...we have opened a new & improved manufacturing facility in Green eld, Flintshire, North Wales

• Brand new precision built moulds & tooling

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• Established Quality Assured products at competitive prices

• Design & Bespoke Project capability t: 01352 719182 or 01352

Underfloor ventilation system helps cut energy costs and boost crop quality

Low running costs and faster cooling speed are not always at the top of the speci cation list when planning the ventilation system for a new grain store. But with increasing ambient temperatures during storage, and larger store designs, e ective fast cooling has become more di cult to achieve.

Martin Lishman says its FloorVent under oor ventilation system o ers

fast, energy saving cooling in a coste ective package. Utilising the same high-air ow perforated tube as the company’s popular Pile-Dry Pedestals, FloorVent pedestals are spaced out across the store and use under oor ducts connected to highly e cient Pile-Dry cooling fans on the exterior of the building to expel hot air to the atmosphere.

Price Whitehead

Aimed primarily at new store builds, the FloorVent installation process can be completed using standard materials sourced from building merchants, which can greatly reduce installation costs. Retro tting existing stores is also possible: Martin Lishman recently supplied a FloorVent system for a refurbished 11,000t grain store in France.

“Placing fans outside the store allows warm air to discharge directly out of the building so it can be replaced by cool air drawn in through the building’s air intake louvres,” explains Joel Capper, managing director of Martin Lishman Ltd. “This removes the possibility of warm air being drawn back into the grain as

cooling takes place, and avoids the need for building extraction fans, allowing further savings on installation and energy costs. The addition of our automatic fan control and temperature monitoring systems can increase the e ciency of FloorVent even further.”

The FloorVent duct sections can be replaced with manhole covers, allowing di erent sections of the building to be used for storage in a exible manner, and to make loading and unloading easier. Some customers have even used this design feature for cooling di erent varieties of crop in the same store.

For more information on FloorVent, visit: www.martinlishman.com FG

Are your farm buildings working for you?

Farm buildings o er an opportunity for another source of income, and often that income can be far greater than the farming operations, says chartered surveyor Salter & McKenna.

Depending on your location and the type of buildings on your farm, some buildings may be suitable for conversion to residential – for either rental income or an injection of capital on disposal – or for commercial uses.

Salter & Mckenna has undertaken numerous conversions of farm buildings to residential and commercial uses. Commercial opportunities include holiday lets, farm shops, livery, commercial o ces, machinery dealerships, car sales, upholstery and brewing, to

name a few.

The starting point is an appraisal of the buildings and analysis of the opportunities available in your area. Once the appraisal has been completed, planning applications can be made to obtain consent for a change of use. Detailed construction drawings can be produced and Building Control consent obtained.

An important part of the building process which is often overlooked by farmers is the Construction Design Regulations 2015, the rm reckons. All construction work is covered by the CDM Regulations and farmers have a legal obligation to comply. Contact Alice or Cameron for further advice. FG

Now is the time to start planning your new building

With harvest coming up, now is the time to start thinking about your new building, says Harry Groome of FGA Group Ltd: “With there still being uncertainty with materials prices, which are now stable and in some instances starting to drop, it is the time to act to ensure you don’t get caught out with any market movements that could occur going forward.”

Soaring costs have impacted the overall cost of building projects, meaning farmers are generally taking more time to make decisions on buildings. But a building is for life and should be looked at as a long-term investment, Harry adds. Lead times, on the other hand, have improved signi cantly, making it easier for everyone involved to plan

a project.

FGA Group Ltd was founded by Harry and Julian Arrowsmith in 2020 and has since continued to grow, taking on more and more clients from across the country, which has been very positive given the economic situation, Harry says.

The company is focused on the supply and install of farm and industrial buildings nationwide. It provides the complete build from planning, groundworks, cladding, concrete slabs and the supply and erection of all buildings. FGA Group Ltd is also a distributor for the Mecmar mobile grain drier range, which includes models that can handle both small and large batches of grain, and are easily transportable. FG

Convenient product boosts poultry hygiene

You can improve the welfare of your chickens by ensuring clean housing as far as possible. It has never been more important for farm managers to maintain a safe and healthy environment for their birds by keeping poultry houses free from pathogens. In order to prevent the spread of disease, Big Dutchman has developed anti-roost wire for di users of exhaust air chimneys, acting as a deterrent to prevent birds from perching on the di user and depositing droppings. This convenient solution is ideal for houses

with high hygiene requirements. Available for all types and sizes of chimney, anti-roost wire is easy to install and maintain once installed correctly. Controlling bacteria by removing the risk of pathogens in droppings from entering the chimney, the aim is to keep disease in poultry houses to an absolute minimum.

Newquip is the sole UK mainland supplier of Big Dutchman pig and poultry products. For further information, call Newquip’s head o ce directly or visit www.newquip.co.uk FG

Farm Buildings

Top tips for safe and e ective use of pre-stressed concrete panels

of three tonnes, you cannot a ord to underestimate any possible risk.”

However, he added: “Concrete is a fantastic material and performs extremely well when in compression and steel performs very well in tension – hence the combination of the two provides an extremely strong structural component.”

Not appreciating the design, installation and designed use of pre-stressed concrete panels in any building could introduce problems, warns Mark Allen, director of Johnstruct Ltd.

“Fundamentally, understanding how pre-stressed concrete panels (PSCP) are made and ensuring they are used as designed, may make you rethink what you do to the panels in your steel frame building,” he explained.

Civil engineer Mark has been using pre-stressed concrete components for all sorts of engineering and practical applications over the years –however, PSCP can come with a

health warning. Mark explains: “Far too often, we ignore what we can’t see. Inside the commonly used PSCP are a series of pre-stressed/high tensile steel wires running through the concrete panels themselves. Dependant on the supplier/ manufacturing method and design, many of the lifting points rely on these internal strengthening wires to provide adequate or additional mechanical ‘lifting’ support strength. With some panels weighing in excess

Should any one of these internal pre-stressed wires become compromised or damaged, or are not installed during manufacturing, then the overall panel structural strength and/or its lifting capability could be majorly reduced. Mark advises buying from a reputable manufacturer with good quality assurance processes, that o ers a consistent quality product – rather than buying the cheapest PSCP available or even pre-used panels.

“We occasionally see panels damaged during transit or handling/ loading. Whilst this damage tends to be mainly cosmetic, with evidence of small chunks or aking of the concrete, or small bits missing from the panel edges, generally the PSCP integrity and strength is not compromised. Checks still need to be made though,” Mark continues.

More concerning is damage, whether accidental (e.g., from a vehicle impact with evidence of steel wire exposure or large cracks), or ‘man-made’ (e.g., from a neat ventilation duct being cut through the panel). This can have a signi cant impact on how the panel performs. Mark has seen panels with holes hacked out of them or disc cut to form an opening. The structural integrity will have been signi cantly reduced. It should also be noted that not all PSCP are designed to be double loaded; these are more prone to issues if damaged and the user is not aware of any design limitations. If your panels have been compromised in some way (or are being used in a way not originally intended), take care when loading the panel, whether it is to be used as a soil/ earth retaining wall or for your grain store walling, Mark concludes.

Johnstruct Ltd. covers Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Su olk. Farmers Guide readers are o ered free initial advice on planning, supply and installation of all aspects/turnkey solutions for all types of steel frame buildings. FG

Steel Framed Buildings

Farm Buildings

New shed improves farm’s e iciency at feeding time

Welsh farmer Mr Huw E Hughes contacted Graham Heath Construction for a building quote, as he was looking to develop his current farm and required a building that made feeding time much more e cient.

Huw rears young stock and runs a sheep enterprise producing lambs for the market and rearing replacement females.

He ordered a 100x40x15ft livestock building with a 4ft 6in cantilever, grey bre cement roof with alternating ridge and 20 roof lights, Yorkshire boarding cladding and 90mm thick concrete panels to a height of 2m. He says Graham Heath’s sta were very helpful from start to nish. “Nothing was too much to ask and I would de nitely recommend in the future.”

The aim of the new building was to try and make Huw’s farming system more e cient and save valuable time when it came to feeding and bedding the cows. A modern farm shed such as this ticks all the boxes in terms of e ciency, lighting and ventilation, he says.

They can now feed all the cattle indoors, improving e ciency and keeping silage waste to a minimum. Huw concludes: “I am particularly pleased with the head room we’ve got in the shed. It’s well-ventilated housing for cattle, as well as being a very well-lit shed, with four sky lights in each bay.”

Contact the company directly for a quote, or view current o ers online at www.gh-construction.co.uk/ o ers/ FG

JH Vaudrey & Son Ltd have been supporting farmers with their building requirements since 1993 and have a wealth of expertise when it comes to the requirements of today’s agri business. JH Vaudrey & Son Ltd can provide grain stores complete with the most up to date grain handling equipment, silos, dryers, and straw barns. We also provide a maintenance service to all properties and farm buildings.

JH Vaudrey & Son Ltd provides a complete design and build service and will even take care of the planning application for you. We will be pleased to hear from you and offer a friendly reliable service. To discuss your requirements telephone 01379 678459.

ALSO

Competition Winners

ANSWERS Quiz

1. Some of us may be enjoying a cheeky gin over Christmas... The second word of this brand is also the name of a teat disinfectant (8) SAPPHIRE

2. White and gold may make you think of glittering Christmas decorations. But what date in January 2023 is this white gold sale happening? 20th

3. This exciting new product sounds like another word for bearable (9) ENDURABOL

4. Pirates of the Caribbean has nothing on this new barley variety (9) BUCCANEER

5. What Hugh might you nd at the top of this new winter bean stalk? (10) BONNEVILLE

6. If knights were farmers, they might use this to reduce ammonia emissions from urea (11) NITROSHIELD

7. This King is feeling immobilised (8) KINGQUAD

8. Think big, think di erent – just like this Japanese company (6) KUBOTA

9. What is Maddie Green's job title? (5, 7) PARTS MANAGER

10. This grain cleaner sold for £220. Where was it made? (4,2,7) BURY ST EDMUNDS

11. Who described John Deere Machine Sync as a 'real game changer'? (7,10) CHARLES LEADBETTER

12. Approximately how many hours had the replacement Powerstar engine worked? 2,600

Spot the Difference:

Managing director Julie Goulding julie@farmersguide.co.uk

Director Greg Goulding greg@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 694454

GUIDE TEAM

EDITORIAL

Editor Rachel Hicks rachel.hicks@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 694459

Deputy editor/Livestock editor Sarah Kidby sarah.kidby@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 694450

Machinery editor David Williams david@farmersguide.co.uk

Sta writer Henrietta Szathmary Henrietta.szathmary@farmersguide.co.uk

ADVERTISING

Sales director Zohra Mitchell Zohra.mitchell@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 691888

Senior sales executive Jana Moyes jana@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 694457

Senior sales executive Joanna Blower joanna@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 694452

Sales executive William Taylor will.taylor@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 691888

Sales executive Sophie Smith sophie.smith@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 691888

Sales executive Rosanna Sweet rosanna.sweet@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 691888

Sales executive Chloe Fox chloe@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 794444

Classi ed sales manager Nicki Procter nicki@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 694456

Classi ed sales executive Samantha Wilson samantha@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 694455

Marketing manager Charlotte Harknett charlotte.harknett@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 691888

Brand manager Liam Bull liam.bull@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 691888

CAMBRIDGE MACHINERY SALES

The Saleground, Sutton, Ely, Cambs, CB6 2QT

FURTHER ENTRIES INVITED - Following record £5million sale in February - anticipated entry of over 250 tractors and 1500 lots in total

MARCH AUCTION: MONDAY 6TH MARCH 2023

APRIL AUCTION: MONDAY3RD APRIL 2023

COLLECTIVE TIMED ONLINE AUCTION

TIMED ONLINE AUCTION OF ROOT HARVESTING, HANDLING AND IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT

COMMENCES: TUESDAY 21ST FEBRUARY 2023 AT 9AM

CLOSES: THURSDAY 2ND MARCH 2023 FROM 12 MIDDAY

Please contact David Wilson on 07768 159978 or david.wilson@che ns.co.uk

On instructions from Ripon Farm Services Group

RIPON RACECOURSE, RIPON, NORTH YORKSHIRE, HG4 1UG

MAJOR AUCTION SALE OF EX-DEMO AND USED EQUIPMENT TO INCLUDE 55no. TRACTORS, 10no. COMBINE HARVESTERS, 14no. TELESCOPIC LOADERS, 5no. FORAGE HARVESTERS, 10no. RTV & GATORS, EXTENSIVE RANGE OF GRASSLAND MACHINERY, CULTIVATION EQUIPMENT AND TRAILERS ETC

•Harvesters

•Soil Separators

•Planters

•Bedformers

•Toppers

CATEGORIES INCLUDE:

•Graders

•Elevators

• Conveyors

•Weighers

•Box Fillers

•Irrigation Equipment

•Vegetable Equipment

Boxes

•Cultivation Equipment

•Palletisers

To include: Tractors: 42no. John Deere 2022-2001 R, M, 30, 20 and 10 Series, 3no. 2005 Caterpillar Challenger MT 765B, MT765D, 3no. Massey Ferguson 6499, 6170, 3080, New Holland T7.200, T6.155 Valtra T234, T174, S394. Combine Harvesters: 9no. John Deere T550, T660, S680HM, 2264 (2), 2056, 1188, 1174, 1075 Massey Ferguson 9380. Telescopic Loaders: Kramer KT447 (2), KT357, KL30.5T, 2506, 5085T, 520, JCB 536/70, John Deere 3800, Claas 7035, 6030, Manitou MLT629, 1050R, Merlo P34.7. Forage Harvesters:John Deere 8600, 7580i, 7480i, 7400, Krone 770 Big X, 12no. John Deere Gators.Also: extensive range of grassland machinery, mowers, balers, rakes, tedders, hedgecutters, cultivation equipment, drills, ploughs, rolls, fertiliser spreaders and trailers etc etc

THURSDAY 30TH MARCH 2023 AT 10.00AM

Sales and valuations undertaken nationwide Catalogues available from the auctioneers two weeks prior

FRANK HILL & SON

(Auctioneers and Valuers) Ltd

On Instructions from G North Esq T/A K S Bradshaw Manor Farm, Aldbrough, Hull HU11 4RN

DISPERSAL SALE

of 2 Low Hours Tractors, Combine, Sprayer, Farm Machinery, etc

Tuesday 28th March 2023 from 12noon

Vehicles etc: MF 7256 Combine (05); Fendt 724 (14); Claas Arion 640 (14); Househam 2000 Sprayer (03); Case 580G Digger (86); Sabo Gang Mower

Machinery: 2 Väderstad Drills; Lemken 5+1f Plough; KRM Combi-Drill; Simba DTX300 w/ OSR Seeder; Maschio 6m & 4m Power Harrows; 10m Rollers; Farmforce Cultivator; NH Weight Pack; JD 550 Round Baler; Krone AM243s Mower; Bailey 16t Corn Trailer (11); KRM Fert Spreaders; Ploughs; Corn Trailers; Subsoiler; Front Press; JCB Bucket; 12’ IW Trailer

To be sold by Timed Online Auction through Viewing Fri 24 March 1-4pm or Sat 25 March 9am-12noon

18 Market Place, Patrington, Hull HU12 0RB 01964 630531 • auctions@frankhillandson.co.uk www.frankhillandson.co.uk

93331

Symonds &Sampson

ON-FARM MACHINERY AUCTION

Tuesday 21st March 2023

Halls Farm, Metcombe, Ottery St Mary, Devon EX11 1SS

Genuine Dispersal of 2 Handlers, 3 Tractors, Van, Farm Machinery & Livestock Equipment

JCB 536-70 Agri-Pro Dual Tech VT (18), JCB 403 Pivot Steer (19), Claas

Ares 567ATZ with Quicke Q55 Loader (06), John Deere 2850 4wd (88), Shire 330 4wd (08), VW 2.0TDI Caddy (09), Strautmann Super Vitesse

CFS3010 Forage Wagon (12), McConnel HyReach Superior 550 (00), Kidd

450TC Straw Blower (14), Keenan Mechfibre 350 Mixer Wagon (13), Abbey

2500R Vacuum Tanker with Mastek 7.5m Dribble Bar (13), Ruscon DT14

Dump Trailer (07), West 10t Silage Trailer, Bale Trailers, Claas Disco 3050C

Plus Mower Conditioner, Claas Disco 3100F Front Mower Conditioner, Cherry 8’ KV Buckrake (14), Claas Volto 52 4 Rotor Tedder, Kverneland

6961 Twin Rotor Rake (15), Amazone KE303 Power Harrow (06), McConnel

Rhino 9 Topper, Einbock 5m Grass Harrows (17), Browns 4.5m Hyd.

Folding Aerator, Hardi 600ltr 12m Sprayer, Kuhn Axis 40.1W Fert Spreader (14), Hakki Pilke Eagle Log Processor, Twose 8’ Ballast Rollers, Ritchie

Bale Squeeze (Q-Fit), Spreadwise 4.5m Telehandler Mounted Stirrer (Pallet

Fork Mounted), MX Auger Bracket (Q-Fit), Becker Woodchuck 80STI with Tipping Kit, Albutt 8’ Bucket (Q-Fit), Strimech Shear Grab (Q-Fit), Various John Shepherd Feeders, Nilfisk pressure Washer, Fencing Equipment, Workshop Items, Dairy Sundries, etc.

Farm Dispersal of Modern Arable & Grassland Machinery and Equipment due to Restructuring of Farming Business

Wednesday 12th April 2023 At

Blenheim House Farm, Covenham StMary

Tractors and Machines: New Holland T7.185 range command (12), McCormick X70.50 (13), Zetor Forterra HSX140 (67) Massey Ferguson Delta 24ft Combine (14), Bobcat 43.8HF Teleporter (68). Equipment: Knight 24m trailer sprayer (13), Vaderstad Carrier 5m, Vaderstad Rapid A400s drill, Malone Procut 800 Mower, Rolland-20-29 15t grain trailer, Dowdeswell 4+1 Plough, Opico VF920HD rolls, Farm force 4m front press, Agri sweep pallet tine brush, Claas 375 RC Rollant, Strimech 8ft grain bucket, Ifor Williams 12ft livestock trailer, Rozmital Haybob, Murska 350S2 roller mill, Carre Prairial grass rejuvenator, Malone 6ft topper, Quantity of other arable and grass equipment, Quantity of livestock equipment. For all details and more information contact Oliver on 07395 570303 or oliver@masonsandpartners.co.uk

Contact Greg Ridout 07817 517467 or Rachael Holder 07772 310482

ON SITE AUCTION

On Instructions from P.H. Rains Ltd

At Cold Harbour Farm, Black Horse Drove, Cambridgeshire CB6 1EH

On Thursday 16th March 2023 at 10:30am

Viewing on Wednesday 15th March from 10am to 4pm

ONLINE AUCTION

NOW

National Online Timed Auction of Machinery, Straw and Forage

Bidding Opens Friday 17th March at 7am

Bidding Closes Monday 27th March at 12pm

Including Tractors: Massey Ferguson 7719S DYNA VT (20), John Deere 7830 (10);

Materials Handler: Merlo TF35.7 Turbo Farmer (18), Toyota FD25 Industrial forklift;

Vehicles: John Deere XUV865M Gator (20), Honda Fourtrax 4x4 quadbike (07); Self-

Propelled Sprayer: Bateman RB17 24m (15); Trailers: Marshall QM14 14t grain (15), AS Marston ACE14 14t grain (08), Gull 8t grain (77); Implements: Homberg Delta M135 drain jetter (21), Kverneland FHP 2m Plus side offset flail (17), Kverneland LB85-300 6f rev. plough (17), Cousins 4m Precision Seed Bed Harrow (08), HEVA 4m front roller with levelling boards (13), Kverneland 4m e-drill maxi combi drill with S-series power harrow (20).

Contact George Watchorn or Jon Clampin

•National Advertising

•No Haulage Costs

•Viewing by Arrangement

•Cleared

•10 Day Bidding Window

•No Sale, No Fee

Contact Simon Wearmouth or Peter Thompson

ON SITE AUCTION ON SITE AUCTION

On Instructions from Sturmec Ltd

At Home Farm, Sturton, Brigg, North Lincolnshire DN20 9DN

On Thursday 23rd March 2023 at 10:30am

Viewing on the 22nd March from 10am to 4pm

Including: Harvester: New Holland CR9080 Elevation combine harvester with 30ft header (09); Tractors: New Holland T8.360 50kph PowerCommand (12), Case Puma 240 50kph CVX (17), Case Puma 140 40kph (08), Massey Ferguson 65 (1964); Trailers: Bailey Trailers 16T twin axle (2015), Marston GLS12 12T twin axle with removable sides (00), Marston GLS12 12T twin axle c/w 1000l baffled water tank, Marston GRR120 14T twin axle with extensions (97); Implements: Horsch 4m Express 4KR drill (18), Amazone Catros 6m trailed disc harrow (20), Edlington 6m hydraulic folding contour rolls, Edlington 5.5m hydraulic folding trailed press, Cousins 4m front mounted hydraulic folding press (2020), Spalding’s 5 leg flat lift with packer roller, Lemken Juwel8 7 furrow (6+1) plough.

Contact James Walton or Anita Riggall

George Watchorn 07919 015675 george.watchorn@brown-co.com

Jon Clampin 07717 512498 jon.clampin@brown-co.com

On Instructions from W S Fletcher T/A Fletcher Salads & Others At Broadgate Nursery, Gedney Broadgate, Spalding, Lincolnshire PE12 0DG

On Saturday 1st April 2023 at 10am

Viewing on Friday 31st March from 10am to 4pm

Including: Tractors: John Deere 6320 Powerquad (03), Massey Ferguson 135 with Sanderson forklift (68); Vehicles: Iveco 35C13 curtain side van (14), Ford Transit curtain side van (95), Peugeot Partner 3 door van (02); Trailers: AW Trailers 5TLL drop deck low loader (21), Ex WD single axle trailer, Ferguson 3t trailer, other flat bed and dropside trailers; Implements: Hardi TRX1000 trailed 12m sprayer, Hortech Hortus Duo manual 3 row nursery planter (06), Fobro Bartschi Kulti-rotor bedformer, Lely Terra 3m power harrow with 6 leg pancracker, Lemken Opal 110 4f rev. plough; Nursery and Farm Shop Equipment: various rolls bird and insect netting, large quantity fruit trays and crates, various size bushel boxes, display units, scales etc.

Contact George Watchorn or Jon Clampin

James Walton 07920 496350 james.walton@brown-co.com

Anita Riggall 07966 597930 anita.riggall@brown-co.com

Visit brown-co.com

SCAN

Simon Wearmouth 07768 465744 simon.wearmouth@brown-co.com

Peter Thompson 07500 783360 peter.thompson@brown-co.com

Upcoming Farm Dispersal Sales

Thursday 9th March 2023 at 10.30am

Nettleworth Farm, Sookholme, Mans eld NG19 8LL

Ford Transit Custom Refrigerated Delivery Van (16’)

Ford Transit Trend 125 T 280 Refrigerated Delivery Van (13’)

Ifor Williams BU126 G Twin Axle Box Trailer

Bingham Butchery Trailer, Butchery Equipment, Shop Display Items, Specialist Catering Appliances, Tills, Café Furniture, Crockery, Sundries and E ects

FIXTURE LIST FOR UPCOMING SALES:

SATURDAY 8TH APRIL - Large Sale of Tractors, Machinery, Sundries & e ects to include Collectables and Classic Tractors-Lich eld

FRIDAY 14TH APRIL - Retirement Dispersal Sale -End of Tenancy to inc: Three Tractors, Quad Bike, Diet Feeder, Machinery, Livestock Sundries-Cheshire

THURSDAY 20TH APRIL - Reserved for Machinery Dispersal

SATURDAY 22ND APRIL - Reserved for Machinery Dispersal

Friday 31st March 2023 at 10.30am

Hadley Gate Field Farm, Blithbury, Rugeley, WS15 3HT

Massey Ferguson 7615 4WD Dyna 6 (15)

Massey Ferguson 5465 4WD Dyna 4 (09)

Land Rover Defender 90 (09-53,175 Miles)

International 784 2WD c/w Loader

Claas Dominator 96 Combine (15’ Header)

Kubota B7100D 4WD Compact Tractor

Sanderson 347TS Teleporter, 6 Trailers, Abbey Tanker, Machinery, Tools, Sundries, Bulk Bins and E ects

AUCTIONS

Catalogues are available to download at www.bagshaws.com Or call 01889 562811/ Email: olivia.fernihough@bagshaws.com

www.bagshaws.com

Dispersal Sale

We stock: R134A..................................POA Air conditioning service equipment •leak detectors •vac pumps •recovery machines AIR CONDITIONING PARTS FOR ALL FARM & CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES AT DISCOUNT PRICES

We accept all major credit cards charliepapworth@gmail.com

ATVs/UTVs

R Lintott Tel 01566 471493/07799 473374 (Cornwall)

Thursday 16th March 2023 at 10am

COMPLETE DISPERSAL SALE BY AUCTION OF FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT at Freiston, Nr Boston, Lincolnshire

St. John’s Farm

Beachamwell SwaffhamNorfolk

PE378FE ///bride.sneezed.cadet

Saturday 25thMarch2023

WALTON Eclipse 6072, 2007/08, very clean & tidy, always stored inside, been on farm from new. £30,000. A Lloyd Tel 07787 551081 (Norfolk)

bike, suit 16yr old, petrol

PANTHER four wheel

TLC. £545. D Leigh Tel 07502 661861 (Northants)

471321 (Northants)

To include: McCormick MC115 Tractor, MF 5455 &, MF 35X Tractors, International BTD6 Crawler, Toyota Ind. Forklift, Herald Motorbike, 5 Trailers General Farm Machinery & Equipment & Workshop Tools. Viewing 12 noon to 5:00pm on Wednesday 15th March and from 8:00am on the morning of the sale

For lotted catalogue & further information

Contact: Alford Office 01507 621111

Email: auctions@willsons-property.co.uk

382116

07974 748588 (Hertfordshire)

From 10amprompt

Viewing: Friday24Marchfrom 12noon

This sale includes:

Asparagus Harvesting and Processing Equipment; Claas Lexion 480 Combine; Ford & Case Tractors; Telehandlers; Tillage Equipment; Seed Drills; Simba Horsch Pronto 4DC Drill; Implements; Livestock Equipment; Trailers and Workshop Equipment

Catalogueavailableonline

T: 01336387180

www.barryhawkins.co.uk

BALERS & BALE HANDLING

CLAAS Rollant 374 RC, 2014, bale count 18657, vgc. £10,750. A Lane Tel 07843 556790 (Gloucestershire)

04-93750

POLYCROP poly layer, adjustable width up to 2m wide, bought new, only used on small farm, barn stored, vgo. M Dales Tel 07836 541127/01790 752306 (Lincolnshire)

Adams Tel 07812 367009 (Worcestershire)

BROWNS flat 8 bale grab, pin & cone fittings. £300+VAT. B Hull Tel 07969 974614 (Essex)

FARMHAND flat

Ex demo Amazone KG3001 Super Iso c/w 600mm steel packer roller up to 300hp, Twintec dbl disc coulters, hyd coulter pressure, 2000L hopper, quick empty flap, hyd fan drive, Twintec h/tines

disc cutter 3 point rear linkage Cat 2, 2.77m working width, 2.2m swath width profile blade, 7 discs/14

Ex demo Claydon Terrastar 6.3m, c/w depth wheels, marker boards & lights

NEW HOLLAND

T7.210 PC 4 mech rear remotes, front linkage, dynamic

Cenio 3000 Special mulch cultivator 3 rows of 10 shearbolt protected C-mix super tines, 40mm & 80mm shares, auto depth adjustment

New Larrington 14t Harvester trailer, 24' long, 4' sides, hyd tailgate, air brakes, roll over sheet, ladder, grain chute, 560/60R22.5 Trailbib tyres, 21030529

Amazone AD P403 air drill, KE4000 power harrow, pre em markers, AMA drill control box, Rotec coulters, exact following harrow, 2826ha

New Larrington 32’ flat deck trailer underslung suspension, twin line air brakes & LSV, front & rear ladder rack, 435/50R19.5 tyres

Fleming TR1 tipping trailer c/w removable mesh sides, reinforced sides, hinge points & floor, high tip for clean unloading, steel chassis with 5 stud single axle

Teagle Topper 9, 2022, incorporates a range of features to provide outstanding performance with ease of operation & maintenance, mount in front or behind the tractor 41030822

New Holland T7.245 PC SWII, Power Command 29x12 trans creep, 50kph+air, 540/540e/1000/ 1000e r/PTO, Class 4 HD f/axle with susp & brakes, vari ratio steering, arriving soon 41030807

19Fx6R Power Command trans 50kph, 540/540e/1000 r/PTO,

950L, bunded steel twin axle highway tow, 12v electric pump c/w flow meter, 4m hose & auto nozzle, high flow 1" filter for Adam pumps 11030569

Teagle Dynamo 8 roller mower adjustable offset, f/& r/rollers, swinging blades on spring steel holders, shearbolt PTO shaft protection 21030814

Ripon | 01765 692255

Brigg | 01652 650600

Darrington | 01977 795241

Keighley | 01535 632661

Louth | 01507 617588

Malton | 01653 695094

Market Weighton | 01430 872421

Ottringham | 01964 622341

Leyburn | 01969 621369

Retford | 01777 704823

Stockton | 01740 630254

www.riponfarmservices.com All prices + VAT 93281

POA

2019 BOM auger bucket, in excellent condition, had very little use, on bolt on Manitou brackets, any questions welcome. S Abbott Tel 07971 273563 (Warwickshire)

06-93481

CLEANER LOADERS

IN STOCK NOW NEW 2023 CTM5034 c/w pick off CTM PRECLEANER

For Cleaner Loaders & Surfers

Contact: Nigel Mountain Mob: 07785 972510 or Email: nigelm@ctmrcs.co.uk

BEET HARVESTERS

LELY Welger RP120 round baler, net & string, has baled about 300 bales/yr with us over 10+yrs, only selling as upgraded to a baler with a chopper. £2,950+VAT. R Lewis Tel 01550 777664 (Carmarthenshire)

2014 ROPA Panther 1 variable lifting unit with all round topper, 5600ha 6400 eng hrs, vgc

For all ROPA Machinery details

Contact: Simon Peacock Mob: 07717 416178 or Email: simonp@ctmrcs.co.uk

STANHAY 592 6 row sugar beet drill, good working order. £395+VAT. B Barker Tel 01379 384589/07768 286758 (Suffolk)

SLEWTIC bale spike to fit Euro 8 carriage, nearly new & hardly used due to change in farm policy, photos on request if needed, excellent condition. £350+VAT ono. B Anderson Tel 07887 802628 (Lincolnshire)

BEET EQUIPMENT

STANDEN Rapide Mk2 single row beet harvester, used every season to lift 30 acres, good working order & decent chains. £200. A Howell Tel 07528 729118 (Cambridgeshire)

AGRIFAC Quattro, 2012, 4551hrs, 4359ha currently, 4 cleaning turbines, camera system, 800/70R38 7 710/45R26.5 tyres, air con, recent new webs & flails, machine in good condition, more pictures available. S Harrison Tel 07984 092698 (Lincolnshire)

STANDEN Rapide Mk3A single row beet harvester, used every season to lift 30 acres, in good working order & decent chains, good condition. £200. A Howell Tel 07528 729118 (Cambridgeshire)

Plastic Water Tank 3” and 2” ttings, excellent condition, also selection of stainless steel water bowsers

Lely Lotus Stabilo 520 4 rotor Tedder 2015, 4 rotor, 5.2m wide, very little use, immaculate condition

Shelbourne Reynolds Mentor Rape Swather 1997, 3104hrs, 16’ header and transport trailer, nice original condition

Twose SS 250 Grassland/ Arable Subsoiler 2016, 3 shearbolt legs, water lled plain roller, very little use

Watkins 3m Front Press 2015, 700mm rings, two rows of leading tines, steering headstock, immaculate condition

Massey Ferguson 375 2wd Tractor 75hp, 18 speed, New 420/85 x 34 rears, 10.00 x 16, in super condition

Set of 4 Tractor Trelleborg Flotation Wheels 850/55 x 42 90%, 750/50 x 30.5 90%, t JD 7530- 6215R, bolt in centres

Howard Nordsen 3m Combination Drill 2012/2009, hyd drill lift, Su olk coulters, immaculate condition

Krone Easycut Triple Mowers, 2021, front F320CV, rear 8870CV, conditioners, 700 hectares from new, mint condition, will split

Marston Agricultural Services Hi-Lift Trailer 2010, 12 ton, 4m load over height, air brakes, had little use

Pottinger 3m Combi Drill 2012, Su olk coulters, 500mm packer roller, still on original power harrow tines

Tomlin Giant Fat Roll 10’ wide, 42” diameter, water lled, excellent condition

Cousins Hyd Folding Cambridge Rolls 22”/24”/30” rings 90% with breaker rings, 6.4 to 16.4

BEET EQUIPMENT (cont)

BUILDINGS & MATERIALS

£300

729118 (Cambridgeshire)

HERBORG root cutter, in good condition, 3 phase electric motor, runs really smoothly. £800+VAT ono. P Carthy Tel 07540 112175 (Staffordshire)

CTM 504 cleaner loader, 2016, 961hrs, very good condition, ready to go straight to work.

£14,750 ono. R Fennelow Tel 07825 598570/01945 870192 (Cambridgeshire)

MONOSEM drill cell wheels (5), with five 5mm holes, also 5 more with 5.3mm holes, one with 8 x 5mm holes, all unused in original packing. £100. P Beales Tel 07584 189359 (Suffolk)

BOILER PLANT / HEATING / OVENS

SCANFIELD multi burner, can be plumbed in to heat house or workshop or as an additional heat source, could save a fortune with the cost of energy now. £400. P Carr Tel 07773 753920 (Essex)

S SCOTT & SONS Steel Stockholders

Ltd

All types of steel available new and secondhand

Posts for grain walling and silage clamps

Galvanised roofing sheets, box profile and corrugated

Delivery service

01359 269378

10,000 wire cut bricks, good quality POA. M Robson Tel 07801 885520 (North Yorks)

08-89457

FARM shed, 18 x 16 x 5m to eves, 4” concrete panels plus two electric power roller shutter doors on 3 phase, without stanchions but includes timber purlins. S O'Dwyer Tel 07860 550088 (Northants)

OPTIMUM Climate 4 bay calf barn (OCCB), 2020, 20m x 6m, 2.5m H front, 2m H back, walls 52mm reinforced insulated polypropylene & fully insulated roof, some damage to end panel, each bay has access gate, feed trough & water bowl.

£8,000+VAT ono. J Evans Tel 07912 629667 (Shropshire)

Peter Wragge Supplies Ltd

ROOFING, CLADDING & INSULATION MATERIAL

t: 01449 737192

e: rob@peterwraggesupplies.co.uk www.peterwraggesupplies.co.uk

RECLAIMED grey roofing slates, 2 crates. £50/crate ono. H Davenport Tel 07841 529302 (Leicestershire)

SUPER Sleeve drainage 4", 6" & 8" c/w all collars, half the price of new. M Robson Tel 07801 885520 (North Yorks)

RECLAIMED oak beams (11), various lengths, shortest is 170cm, longest 440cm & 2 at 280cm. Priced at £5/foot buyer collects. H Davenport Tel 07841 529302 (Leicestershire)

COMMERCIAL HOK glasshouse, 20m x 20m, good condition, would need to be deconstructed by purchaser & moved, good. H Dale Tel 02073 184484 (Buckinghamshire)

ROOFING MATERIALS

LOG cabin, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, new fitted kitchen hardly used, rewired & tested, 40x20 splits, welcome to view, used as temporary accommodation whilst house renovation was completed. £50,000. J Dixon Tel 01359 259034/07823 555210 (Suffolk)

USED timber/wood, various lengths, large quantities, widths of either 5, 4.5 or 3”, taken down from farm buildings, solid wood. £1.15/m. T Roberts Tel 01279 850293 (Essex)

QUANTITY of paving slabs & bricks, Suffolk/Cambs border. A Coppen Tel 07826 030846/01223 290s89 (Suffolk) CHAINS

Hardy Roofing Supplies

08-93599

01622 832666 07939 114023

METAL SHEETS

•Galvanised and PVC coated steel•

•Corrugated or box profile•

•First and second quality•

•Non asbestos•Big Six and Std 3in sheets•

•Fittings and accessories•

www.hardyroofing.co.uk

50% higher ultimate tensile strength than standard chain Available from Chain Stockists

donghua.co.uk

COMBINES & HARVESTERS

STEEL girders (4), 24'

12"

6", all new. Offers. D Lawton Tel 01709 700606/07831 221034 (South Yorks)

BROOKLEYS 33362 wire cut new bricks (1600), some finials & pillar bricks. Offers. M Williams Tel 01438 880302/07860 217120 (Hertfordshire)

SPANISH polytunnels, 70 acres, mostly 8.25m wide, also 7.3m & 6.4m, 5 acres Cosy tunnels, 8.2m, 65,000m of metal strawberry tabletops. J Harrold Tel 07771 902808 (Cambridgeshire)

CLAAS Avero 240, 2011, 800 front tyres, C540 header with auto contour, 3D sieves, straw chopper, 2128hrs, 1675 drum hrs, vgc, owned from new. £58,000. A Lane Tel 07843 556790 (Gloucestershire)

f wafer

5

50kph, 4 speed manual trans, �xed cab, air seat, susp f axle, pivoting f mud guards,

trailer socket Iso7638 for abs, four valve package & power beyond, pump output 160l/min, f linkage from f valves, pick up hitch, Valtra guide submetre (Novatel), 650/65R42 F & 540/65R30 f Trelleborg TM800, twin beacons

Multi controller, 50kph, 4 spools, air con, radio, 600/65R28 & 650/75R38 Michelin 75% tread

Wheels & tyres 800 & 520 Trelleborg 75% tread, 30kph, premium cab, air con, radio, 4 speed trans, 25’ power�ow header

334ha drilled, isobus only, hyd fan, 4 rows of coulters, pair of sprung track eradicators, following harrow, pre emergence markers, track markers, led worklights, hopper light, transport lights, electric half width shut o�

7m boom, 3.7t lift, 40kph power shift gearbox, Manitou headstock, hyd locking pin, pallet tines, 1 f aux and 1 rear, twin line braking, hyd trailer hitch, led work lights, air seat, air conditioning, Good

460/70R24 at 60% tread

FARMERS - Advertise your ‘for sale’ and ‘wanted’ on-farm machinery for free. See coupon on page 250

MASSEY Ferguson MF 38 combine, 1992, 20' standard bed, 6 straw walker, 240hp Valmet engine, monitor in cab with variable controls, only 2500hrs, very good for age. £16,000+VAT ono. B Anderson Tel 07887802628 (Lincolnshire)

Specialists in new & refurbished combine harvester parts

See our ad on page 66

10-93484

CLAAS Dominator 106, 6 walker, 17' straw chopper, Merc 6, good condition, money spent where needed, new cave bars, belts where needed, chains & flights are good, had a new water pump, hydro good. £9,500. J Rayner Tel 07811 822973 (Ceredigion)

COMPRESSORS

Free advertising for farmers

CLARKE CFP9HND portable air compressor, new & unused, ideal for mobile use, includes most air tools. £540+VAT. A Upson Tel 07980 807604/01245 380061 (Essex)

CROP PROTECTION

BOOM extension from Priestman Mustang 120 Mk3 digger, in good working order, may fit other machines. £2,200+VAT. J Hurd Tel 01985 840260/01985 840039 (Wiltshire)

CX8070 2011, selflevelling, 25’ Vari-feed header, New Line TX34, 1990, self-levelling 17’ header. Will Slatter 07831 244269 (Warwickshire).

New Holland TX36 4400hrs, hydro gears, 20’ hi cap header, straw chopper, 800 tyres

contact John Hutchinson 07889 237534 email sandyhutchinson@hotmail.co.uk

MACHINES FOR SALE

2674/2176

CLAAS Lexion 580 TT, 2007, with 30' cutterbar for sale, 3800 engine/2889 drum hrs, laser pilot, new tracks in 2019, based near Stansted airport, Essex, in good working condition. R McGowan Tel 07585 224196 (Essex)

2117/1374

2219/1762

1986/1677

01733 841932

JOHN Deere 2054, 1996 P reg, 816 header & trolley, 2516 engine/2027 drum hrs, straw chopper, price includes VAT. £24 000. J Forster Tel 07507 615541 (County Durham)

16-FOOT knife for Massey Ferguson 7345S combine, 2012. £100. R Sinkler Tel 01377 270251 (East Yorkshire)

RABBIT traps for sale, 30 available. £8 each. B Hull Tel 07969 974614 (Essex)

CONCRETE breaker, came off Priestman Mustang 120 Mk3, sold as seen. £900+VAT ono. J Hurd Tel 01985 840260/01985 840039 (Wiltshire)

FOUR gas guns, surplus to requirement as no longer growing rape. £150 ono each. R McCheyne Tel 07973 408233 (Essex)

DIGGERS / DOZERS / DUMPERS

RARE 2t swivel hydraulic high discharge dumper, working order, 2 cyl Petter diesel engine, may suit farmers or small builder, useful for concreting. £3,900+VAT. J Hurd Tel 01985 840260/01985 840039 (Wiltshire)

DIGGER buckets, 12" & 18", 5T JCB hitch, had little use. £90+VAT each. M Pacey Tel 077520 09815 (Staffordshire)

KOMATSU PC138 US -11, 2018, 3225hrs but could alter slightly, quick hitch, 1 bucket, hammer lines, check valves, boxing ring, good tidy machine. G Jones Tel 07775 803197 (Cheshire)

MASSEY Ferguson 38 combine, 20' powerflow header, geo, completed last harvest without problems. £17,950+VAT. R Spencer Tel 07968 373049 (Warwickshire)

14 header c/w trolley. POA. M Robson Tel 07801 885520 (North Yorks)

\ FORTSCHRITT combine parts - several new general Case/IH Fortschritt combine parts available from stock. SBS Parts. S Scott Tel 07789 793721(T) (Suffolk)

JCB 85Z-1 8.5t digger, 2014, new engine, FSH, new bluetooth/ FM radio, 5760hrs (eng 1hr), new rubber tracks, offset boom c/w Tefra hyd quick hitch, piped, keypad immobiliser, w/lights & beacons, c/w ditching & 2 trenching buckets. £26,000 ono no VAT. B Daines Tel 07952 235161 (Essex)

KUBOTA U27 mini digger, top quality, 1300hrs, owner driver, 2019, 3 nearly new buckets, auto hitch, delivery possible by arrangement. £22,500 ono. A Potts Tel 07305 886769 (Norfolk)

FARMERS - Advertise your ‘for sale’ and ‘wanted’ on-farm machinery for free. See coupon on page 250

The Merridale rangeincludes fuelmanagement systems,fuelpumps anddispensers, fuelstoragetanks, tankgaugesandfuel managementsoftware forclientandweb-basedsolutions. Merridale systemsareinstalledatover4,000sites throughouttheUK,Ireland,ChannelIslandsandHolland.

Upto400,000vehiclesfuel everydayona Merridale system.

USED TRACTORS & MACHINERY

Kverneland LS85/250 6 furrow, shearbolt, hyd vari-width, 28 bodies, maize skims. In mint condition!

£18,500

GET READY FOR SPRING | USED CULTIVATIONS:

£12,250

Kverneland EG85/300, 6 Furrow,28 bodies,auto reset, 2014, V.tidy .................................

Kverneland ES85/200, 5 furrow, 28 bodies, Vari-width, auto reset, 2014, immaculate!.........

Kverneland 150B Vari width, 5 furrow, 28 bodies. New boards ...................................

Kverneland LD85/200, 5 furrow, new 28 bodies, Shearbolts, manual width adjustment.......

Kuhn 4m Combination Drill- Suffolk’s (Tidy Machine) .......................................................

USED SPREADERS:

Vicon RO-M, 3 bag, hopper cover, lights, border spread.....................................................

Vicon RO-XL, 5 Bag, hopper cover, lights, border spread, immaculate.................................

Choice of two KRM Fert spreaders (one basic, one weigh cell)...................................

USED FEEDERS:

Shelbourne Reynolds 25cu c/w steering axle, Tub Relined (V. Tidy)..................................

Siloking 22cu, twin auger, front left door + elevator, very straight.......................................

USED TRACTORS AND OTHER EQUIPMENT:

McConnel PA6085 1.5m TwinCutt head, Revolution Controls, 3pt linkage mounted............

Kubota MK5000, 1400hrs......................................................

Kubota L1501, 50hp, 4wd, scraper frame fitted, Tidy Tractor..............................................

Kubota M4062 ROPS, scraper special!, 3700hrs, 1000 hrs warranty remaining...................

Kubota M7151, 66 Plate, premium, 4000hrs, 50kph, front & cab sus, elec spools................

Kverneland Trailed 4232 Mower Conditioner..................................................................

Kverneland 3232 MoCo 3.2 m, Nylon conditioner............................................................

NEW STOCK AT LAST SEASON PRICES (CHEAP FINANCE AND 2 YEAR WARRANTY)

Kverneland TL1875 GEOSPREAD, 1 left

Kverneland CL1300 GEOSPREAD, 1 left

Kverneland 3232, 3.2m mower conditioner, steel tines, quick fit blades, over centre fold.....

Kverneland 3332, 3.2m front mower conditioner, steel tines, massive floatation..................

Kubota Tedder, 7.6m, 6 rotor ............................................................................................

FOR INFORMATION ON ANY OF THE ITEMS LISTED, PLEASE GET IN TOUCH. Battlefield Machinery Ltd, Knights Way, Battlefield Enterprise Park, Shrewsbury, SY1 3AB Tel: 01743 464100 battlefieldmachinery.com

▍Highestbuildquality

▍Designedtolastaminimumof10Years

▍MeetsATEXfordieselstandardswhereapplicable

▍Optionalreportingsoftware

▍Accurate,robust,reliableandup-gradable

▍UKdesigned,developedandmanufactured

FARMERS - Advertise your ‘for sale’ and ‘wanted’ on-farm machinery for free. See coupon on page 250

TOP PICKS IN PRE-OWNED AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY

High quality used equipment sourced and sold by experts

More stock available, contact:

FENCING & GATES (cont)

12-VOLT electric fencer unit. £40. D Lawton Tel 01709 700606/07831 221034 (South Yorks)

SECONDHAND fencing materials –posts, rails, boards, panels, etc, Suffolk/ Cambs border. A Coppen Tel 07826 030846/01223 290s89 (Suffolk)

GENERATORS

GENERATORS: diesel & PTO, quality used & new, est 25yrs. JSP UK Ltd. Tel 01432 353050 Mob 07774 742182 (Hereford)

GRAIN HANDLING/ STORAGE

BENTAL Simplex PTO fan, barn stored. £350. J Ramsey Tel 01653 628366 (North Yorks)

14-FOOT x 6" auger, 3 phase electric with soft start starter box, triple belt drive. £150+VAT. R Jones Tel 07785 583192 (Norfolk)

FOSTER 43' auger, on large wheels, chain drive, 6", 3 phase motor, barn stored, good working order. £750+VAT. R Jones Tel 07785 583192 (Norfolk)

GRIPPLE Torq tensioning tool, new & unused. £50. A Upson Tel 07980 807604/01245 380061 (Essex)

PTO Generators Static/Linkage Mounted

Full range up to 200KVA 2 year warranty, UK built Ring Anthony for details

P. Cowell & Sons Ltd

PLOT FEEDS

SEED & CEREAL ENGINEERING

Grain Cleaner Specialists

18-93440

07813 182054 01536 771246

WOLSELEY electric fencer (3 strand wire system), needs 6V battery. £50. R Sinkler Tel 01377 270251 (East Yorkshire)

FORAGE & SILAGE

Tel: 01772 653569 www.cowells.co.uk 21-93383

New and Secondhand Cleaners

Sieves and Spares for most makes

Test facility available

Grain Fans and other equipment available

Main Agents for

GRAIN dryer, gas fired with automatic humidity control. £750 ono. R McCheyne Tel 07973 408233 (Essex)

DEWALT 18v nail gun, bare unit, 5090mm nails. £180. A Upson Tel 07980 807604/01245 380061 (Essex)

NEW Holland FX 38 forage harvester, 2001, c/w grass header with hyd folding wheels, crop processor A frame, 4wd, air con, spout camera & LEDs, new turbo & alternator, engine 4482/drum 3150hrs, plus spare parts, average condition. £20,000+VAT ono. R BELL Tel 07929 755253 (Cumbria)

4-FOOT wide wrapped round haylage bales. £40 each. B Habgood Tel 01327 260620 (Northants)

35KVA generator, PTO tractor driven, 3 phase, Serial No 51 492/5, made for The Gloster Electrical Company by BKB Electric Motors Ltd, c/w PTO shaft (no guard), working. Cash on collection from Lowestoft NR32. £620+VAT. W Slater Tel 07770 946760 (Suffolk)

UK Supplier for Aeromeh Cleaner Aero Dynamic Range

Contact Robin on 07710 242015

Roy Edwards 07702 408833

Full engineering, installation & dismantling services

www.grainmachinery.co.uk

TWO 25hp electric fans. £750 ono. R McCheyne Tel 07973 408233 (Essex)

BOSTICH air nail gun, good condition, fires 50-90mm nails. £180. A Upson Tel 07980 807604/01245 380061 (Essex)

DORMAN diesel generator, 90kva, 3 phase, 32 & 16amp plugs & 240v twin sockets, 1150hrs, new coolant hoses, integrated diesel tank, used to power a grain dryer, in good working order, never let me down! Dry storage container avail. £3,000+VAT. M Burrough Tel 07860 246156 (Somerset)

HUTCHINSON grain auger, 7" x 47', 2014, 3 phase, intake hopper, jockey wheel, drawbar, vgwo, little used. £2,500+VAT. J Parkes Tel 07774 111484 (Worcestershire)

OPICO 380S 9T diesel fired grain drier, always under cover. £2,250+VAT. B Barker Tel 01379 384589/07768 286758 (Suffolk)

22-93483

STOCKADE ST400 contractor’s air stapler, very powerful, capable of using 50mm barbed staples, very good condition, c/w 2,000 staples. £350. A Upson Tel 07980 807604/01245 380061 (Essex)

ARROWHEAD R75 breaker & fence post driver, 2019, c/w 75mm spike, 120mm cup & 100mm dual lower & top hitches, suitable for excavators (6–14T) & 3CX, excellent condition. £4,500+VAT ono. A Towns Tel 07751 917839 (Lincolnshire)

CLAAS Jaguar 51 forager, for spares. £600+VAT. G Bagg Tel 07779 601519 (Somerset)

MEADOW hay in conventional bales, 5 mins from M25 Junction 28/29. W Chapman Tel 07931 313520 (Essex)

SIMPLEX 120t outdoor grain silos (2), 18' dia (7 rings high), stiffeners to outside. Free to dismantle. R Jones Tel 07785 583192 (Norfolk)

TOE tip grain bucket, 2m wide, only used for grain. £400+VAT. G Meadows Tel 07951 111182/01728 660577 (Suffolk)

10KVA PTO single/3 phase generator. £650+VAT. R Holder Tel 07887 560979/01473 658475 (Suffolk)

ARROWHEAD R75 breaker & post driver in excellent condition, suitable for excavators 6–4T & 3CX, c/w dual head stocks, 75mm spike & 2 driver cups, 120x80 and 100-80 rounds. £4,750+VAT. A Towns Tel 07751 917839/01427 754145 (Lincolnshire)

KRONE Big X 700 forage harvester, 2012, total 3415hrs, drum 2424/ header 1888hrs, 40 blade drum, rock protect, EasyFlow 300 pick up, very tidy machine, hitch, barrel carriers, additive systems, etc, will be removed before sale.

£82,500+VAT. G Jones Tel 07775 803197 (Cheshire)

01621828689

www.kjengineering.com

PRAMAC Protech P6000 6KVA diesel generator, 4446hrs. £1,100+VAT. R Holder Tel 07887 560979/01473 658475 (Suffolk)

Alvan Blanch|Allmet|Carrier| Svegma|Farrell|Bentall|Wilder| Vertec|Turner|Tornum|Turbodan|

SINAR grain sample spear for testing moisture & temperature in grain store. £150. L Blanchard Tel 07771 611728 (Lincolnshire)

2016, 4565ha, liquid fert app kit as extra, sensors on discs & tyre inflation system, extra wt pack, 3 bag – cap, Sumo link con, LED lights and road lights and rear cam Sam Smithson | 07849 828429

front packer, Track eradicators, hyd system disc, off set wheels, following harrow, preemergence markers Graham Milner | 07885 243761

system disc, pre em markers, bout markers, in line wheels, control box

Sam Smithson | 07849 828429

classic trailed drill, auto-reset f tines, hyd harrow bar, 2800L hopper cap, 33.3cm strip till row spacing, 9 auto-reset coulter legs, Tungsten duel & single points for coulters, semi pneumatic speed packer wheels, multi channeltouch

Dave Muir | 07580 982487

2013, 4906hrs, dual power, low profile cab, x3 spools, fitted with a Trima + 3.1 loader, euro carriage, third service, 380/85R28 & 18.4R38 tyres

Dave Muir | 07580 982487

2018, 2950hrs, power command classic, exhaust brake, 50kph, customer steer and AGR, 150L pump, 4 remotes, f link, cab pack 2, high vis window, 600/65R28 & 650/75R38 tyres

Sam Smithson | 07849 828429

6m Reach 1.2m head with hyd head roll, low pressure hyd proportional control 2012

Eddie Greaves | 07976 464028

Auto command, year 2021, 2609hrs, 50kph Eco, 600/65R28 710/70R38, AGR, elec rear remotes, 2x mid-mounts, rear exten,LED work lights, 2 beacons, HTS2, f link & PTO, intelligent trailer braking

10 rotors, 6 tines per rotor, 10.70m working width, very good order

Nev Kirby | 07970 805369

Power command side winder, 2013, 8206hrs, air brakes, Zuidberg 5T f link, 4 remotes, bar axle, 650/75R38 Firestone & 600/65R28 Trelleborg tyres

Alex Rickards | 07580 982612

side

flail c/w 0.8m head

R C BOREHAM & CO

New & Used Machinery

Chelmsford, Essex CM3 1HU

For all enquiries call: 01245 231320 or email sales@rcboreham.co.uk

S.R. Haylock

Eves: 01799 584626

Daytime: 07831 158848 or 07766 107610

Agricultural Machinery For Sale Cambridgeshire

All prices +VAT

Vaderstadt 830 Rexus Twin some welding but generally tidy, works well

plough o set for Cat challenger, tidy condition

Also: Ford 3000 2wd, original condition, Ex Beet harvester skid, Hiab crane with legs, suit farm trailer, tidy, Whites Hyd winch, good condition approx 10T, Grain bucket, good condition, Matbro brackets

Please see website for more pictures: www.srhaylock.co.uk

rcboreham.co.uk

air brakes 50K 6900hrs

14 reg MF 7618 4x4 Dyna 6 air brakes 50K 7500hrs

13 reg MF 7618 4x4 Dyna 6 7500hrs 50K air brakes

15 reg MF 7618 4x4 Dyna VT 50K 7500hrs

08 reg MF 6499 4x4 Dyna 6 FS CS 50K 7700hrs

11 reg MF 6495 4x4 FS CS FL 6900hrs Dyna 6

11 reg MF 6490 4x4 50K 7100hrs

18 reg MF 5710s 4x4 Essential Spec wth MF loader 3870hrs

10 reg MF 5475 4x4 FL PTO 6400hrs

08 reg MF 5475 4x4 4800hrs MINT

55 reg MF 5465 4x4

JCB 3185 Fastrac 4x4

T reg Manitou teleporter 4x4

1964 Fordson Super Dexta

J reg MF 135

R reg Ford 6600 with loader

Samsung 13t digger, 7900hrs

2010 Todd beet cleaner

Marshall 10T tipper trailer

Rowcrop Wheel for MF 6480

2016 Deutz 6130 C shift/loader, fully serviced – excellent

2009 Deutz 610, 140hp – this is tidy and ready for work

2016 McCormick X6-430, 130hp, 4700hrs – full spec, nice condition

2018 Dieci 40.7 teleporter, 2800hrs, JCB head, 4t–7m

2020 Deutz 7250 Warrior, 243hp, GPS, 2950hrs – pristine condition

This must be seen – well cared for, full spec – NOT TO BE

2019 New Holland Boomer 25 compact, turf tyres – immaculate £10,500

4t trailer, auto tailgate, wide wheel – ideal for horse yard £1,250

Bredal F2WS weigh cell fertiliser spreader, 3200L – really nice £9,500

Lely Tulip SX4000 spreader, 2200L capacity – tidy throughout..............................£2,950

Stanhay 690 6 row beet drill with applicators a bargain at £600

2021 Chapman TH200 grass harrow, electric controls for ATV £1,880

Hinimoto compact tractor with linkage – excellent condition – ideal for paddocks £3,250

2022 Lucas Raptor mounted straw blower, swivel spout – as new condition only £9,950

KRM 6m SM-P direct drill with ISOBUS controls

2022 demonstration model – 40 acres – unbeatable price £36,500 (new price £52,200)

2017 McConnel TOP9 heavy duty 9’ topper/wheels – as new condition £3,250

Demo Rabe 6 furrow vari-width plough/press arm – bargain £18,750

Fuelproof forklift mounted bowser 1000L, manual pump £1,350

Ferguson 3t rebuilt trailer (full dismantle) £1,975

McHale balers new & used models – ring for details

Selection of mounted chain harrows/rolls/transport boxes & mowers at keen prices

Portequip beef/calf creeps/hogg & sheep feeders – ex stock at prices to suit you

Deutz stock tractors – beat the price increase superb deals now waiting at our depot

Hayter/Stihl/Stiga – mower season coming soon

Visit our stores for old/new stock at keen prices

IN STOCK NOW

Trakjak

THE ORIGINAL AND BEST!

The safest way to change your tractor’s wheel

Capello Spartan

W/ Crop Headers

To fit all makes SPFH/ Combines 5.2-7.0m

LAST FEW FOR 2023 LEFT!

Graham Edwards

GET14 W Tri

Gate, int light, sp wheel,hurdle carriers, f/vent Dtag IN STOCK!

Albutt PF 600 Pallet

Tine Attachment

Ita 4 will lift 4 t/ tine!

Seriously

SOME OF OUR OTHER STOCKED ITEMS

Visit us on and

93353

GRAIN HANDLING/ STORAGE (cont)

NEW Way Benson drying fan. £20. S Mackman Tel 07599 526060/01406

330769 (Lincolnshire)

CRITTALL grain bin sheets (56), 3m x 1m, ready to load on your trailer. £42 each. P Beales Tel 07584 189359/01284 828360 (Suffolk)

CRITTALL grain bin panel, 9’10” long, 3’6” high. £30. R Sinkler Tel 01377 270251 (East Yorkshire)

GRASS MACHINERY

Manufacturers

Drive Over Floors Grain Stirrers Air Tunnels Gas Burners

Controllers & ACCS Equipment

PELLCROFT

t: 01526 342466 f: 343507 e: sales@pellcroft.com www.pellcroft.com

Drive Over Laterals

CLAAS WM20 twin drum mower, fair condition, sold as seen due to age. Best offer, buyer collects. W Cragg Tel 07885 799481 (Lincolnshire)