Farmers Guide April 2023

Out & About

With Farmers Guide editor Rachel Hicks and the team

Tuckwells hosted a launch event for Grimme UK in Ipswich on 16th March, where customers and industry experts gathered to discuss the latest state-of-the-art root crop technology. Farmers Guide brand manager Liam Bull is pictured (far left) with (l-r): Ed Hodson (Grimme), Patrick Graf Grote (Grimme), Andy Sampson (Tuckwells), Tony Rook (Tuckwells), Tom Howlett (Grimme), Kevin Coombs (Tuckwells), Paul Co ey (Tuckwells), Tom Mason (Tuckwells), Rob Wilkinson (Grimme), Steve Smith (Tuckwells), Gary Farrington (Tuckwells), Adam Johnson (Grimme), Sam Jones (Tuckwells), Shane Martin (Tuckwells), Henry Pakenham (Tuckwells), Martin Seabrook (Tuckwells), and Rhys Taylor (Tuckwells).

Machinery editor David Williams has been busy again this month; this time, visiting the Valtra factory in Finland, as the company celebrates 10 years of o ering “Unlimited” choice. See the full report on page 53.

Farmers Guide had a stand at the FarmExpo event at the Kent Showground on 1st March, where the team chatted to farmers and growers about both Farmers Guide and sister publication Fruit & Vine, as well as nding out the latest news from clients. Pictured on our stand are (l-r): Farmers Guide director, Greg Goulding; Lemken GmbH & Co head of export, Dirk Hollinderbäumer; Farmers Guide senior sales executive, Jana Moyes; Lemken UK Ltd general manager, Paul Creasy; Lemken UK area sales manager Steve Plumb; and Farmers Guide sales and marketing executive, Rosanna Sweet.

Farmers Guide’s sales executives Rosanna Sweet and Sam Wilson are pictured at FarmExpo with Cambridge Tractor Sales’ owner Francis Holohan and his partner Rebecca Everitt. The pair were showcasing the Tu Mac Trailers which the company imports from Ireland.

The British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) Roadshow has been travelling the country to meet members and get their feedback. Farmers Guide sta writer Henrietta Szathmary attended the Wales meeting, which took

And finally…

In a church, in a rough part of town one Sunday morning, the vicar said: “Anyone with ‘special needs’ who wants to be prayed over, please come to the front by the altar.”

With that, Sam got in the queue, and when it was his turn, the vicar asked: “So young man, what do you want me to pray about for you?”

Sam replied: “Vicar, I need you to pray for help with my hearing.”

The vicar put one of his ngers in Sam’s ear, then placed his other hand on the top of Sam’s head; then he prayed and prayed, with the whole congregation joining in with great enthusiasm.

After a few minutes, the vicar removed his hands, stepped back, and asked: “Sam, how is your hearing now?”

Sam answered: “I don’t know, I ain’t due in court ‘til Thursday.”

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Input variability makes calculating an ‘average’ cost of growing the 2023/24 UK wheat crop very di icult

When

On a recent call, I was asked what I thought the average price of wheat will be for the 23/24 trading year, says Openfield’s head of compliance, shipping and research, Cecilia Pryce (right). A great question, which we would all like to know the answer to; but if you were given a number, do you think it would change the way you market your grain? After all it may be lower than you believe it should be to cover your costs, or so high you believe it to be unreasonable. The fact is none of us know the answer, but we have all seen how nervous the global markets have been over the last year and all had opportunities to sell, but some still held back. We are all individuals, with different motivations and reasons for doing what we do – but maybe it’s time to assess how you approach the coming season.

The vagaries of weather, politics and logistics will unfortunately be with us most years; but the last 12 months has also seen a dramatic price swings in both inputs and sale prices which is a rare combination. This input variability makes calculating an ‘average’ cost of growing the 2023/24 UK wheat crop very difficult, but hopefully you have all calculated your farm numbers and will now see what is needed this spring and then

plug in the final yield. My concern is some may not have looked at ‘their’ numbers and will piggyback on what they hear elsewhere.

Ultimately, this may be a very unwise move, especially if they bought their fertiliser at lower prices or farm in a completely di erent way. If ever there was a season to know what your costs are, it will be this coming year! In the coming months there will be breaking news stories that will move the grain markets – be that due to dry conditions, weather extremes or more global uncertainties. These will then be matched with uctuations in demand. As prices rose in the last year, demand fell for some products, especially animal feed; but with many prices reverting to a more ‘acceptable’ level, how long will it be before we start to see demand increase again? Not only that, will there be enough crop globally to feed an increase in demand?

The trick for any market is to find a balance and not to

seesaw between extreme price movements. Historically the global grain markets have largely managed this, but the last 12 months may encourage more of you to be cautious, leaving too much at one end of the seesaw when a rebalance is needed. If this is your chosen marketing approach then please keep your eyes open, on your toes and really understand your cost of production. Crop years 2007/8, 2010/11, 2012/13, 2022/23 have been the recent years of global price rises caused by a number of factors, but mainly weather-instigated. Land is finite, both in this country and globally, but the world still needs feeding every day. The amount eaten depends largely on price, and that price will be monitored and influenced by governments, food and energy price inflation is a real killer and free markets will always exploit opportunities until price equilibrium is restored. The time line that that takes is the uncertainty, but in the case of the UK it took a nominal 10 months to drop wheat prices by £150 per tonne.

Fertiliser matters

Further reductions in European gas prices have resulted in some manufacturers now being able to increase fertiliser production, explains Openfield’s fertiliser manager, Lucy Hassall. There has been a large number of plants that were either switched off or running at significantly reduced rates when input costs were soaring.

As a result of this, the UK is starting to receive more offers of ammonium nitrate, however with the recent softness in the market there has been some reluctance to commit to large vessels at present, meaning we could see fewer options on imported AN for top up requirements in the short term. There are offers of UK manufactured nitrogen for April delivery that has been competitively priced against imports since terms were offered at revised prices in February.

The industry is still awaiting confirmation from Defra relating to the urea consultation for “Option 4” being introduced to restrict the application window for urea. FG

The Openfield Partnership: More than just grain

Our weekly grain market report is available as a podcast.

Why not listen to ourlatest views* on the Wheat, Malting Barley, OSR and Pulses markets and get the latest prices too? Simply search for“Openfield – OpenView” on Spotify, ACAST, iTunes and Amazon Music.

deciding how and when to market your grain, it’s important to use your own on-farm gures, and not blindly follow what has been said elsewhere.

Richard Barrow runs A&B Contractors in North Devon, they o er a range of services including muck spreading.

Richard runs a eet of Teagle muck spreaders, all of which are from the Agri Range and all three are the Titan 10 model. Richard explains why he chose this range.

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"As we are contractors, there is a lot of travel on the roads, the sprung drawbar, commercial axle and air brakes make for a safe and smooth ride, even when loaded. They're great spreaders and farmers or contractors will have no problem with them.”

"The Titans are so robust, built well and extremely reliable."

Corteva and LEAF announce next Resilient & Ready farms

The sustainable farming initiative from Corteva Agriscience and LEAF, Resilient & Ready, has selected the next two farms to embark on the three-year programme.

The Graham family has been at Lodge Farm in Nazeing, Essex, for nearly 100 years. But Bryony Graham and her brother, Archie, say the 300ha site has become increasingly di cult to work with, with recent wet autumns compounding the problems experienced. “We farm very heavy clay,” Bryony explains. “Working on soil like this has always been a challenge, but

the past three wet autumns have made it even harder to establish winter crops.”

The family has already diversi ed from its arable operation, setting up a successful wedding and events business and branching out into renewable energy through a recently-installed biomass boiler. By integrating agroforestry, the boiler will be fed by 7ha of short-term willow coppice.

Nick and Lucy Tyler of Kingsplay Farming Company in Heddington, Wiltshire, have focused on animal health and welfare in recent

Grange Machinery joins forces with Manns

Grange Machinery has extended its dealer network with the appointment of major dealership Manns. A family-run company based in East Yorkshire, Grange Machinery manufactures agricultural machines and wearing parts that it says o er a ordable solutions to farmers.

The range specialises in adaptable low disturbance toolbars and standalone looseners; Grange Machinery has also recently launched the Strip-Till Preparator.

Part of the Claas global agricultural machinery business, Manns has seven depots in East Anglia, Kent and Leicestershire selling the

years and are now keen to incorporate more sustainable and environmentally positive farming techniques into their business. Nick is the third generation of his family to run their mixed 850ha farming business, which comprises dairy, beef and arable enterprises. Lucy, who is also a veterinary surgeon, works alongside Nick and their sta .

The rst Resilient & Ready meetings with the new farms took place recently. Anyone who would like to follow their journeys can do so at www. corteva.co.uk/resilient-andready

full range of Claas machinery plus Horsch’s cultivation and seeding products, among other franchises.

The range will be showcased with Claas and Horsch machinery at Manns’ forthcoming Geared for Growth demonstration tour which will run from 4th April to 10th May.

Food Standards Scotland launches on-farm safety scheme

Farmers are being urged to be on their guard this spring and help protect livestock from the deadly consequences of lead poisoning. Discarded materials around farmland, including car and electric fence batteries, or ash from where lead has been burned, can prove fatal to animals if digested.

Young livestock, turned out into the eld for the rst time at this time of year, are particularly at risk due to their inquisitive nature within new

Dealer appointment strengthens European presence

UK vegetable handling equipment manufacturer Haith Group has appointed Remach BV to represent it in Holland and Belgium.

Established in 2019, Remach specialises in supplying sorting, washing and packing machinery to arable farmers, agricultural companies and processors and will o er the full range of Haith equipment and undertake servicing and maintenance.

The agreement was signed shortly before Remach’s open day in Ens on 10th March.

As part of Remach’s open day, Richard Haith showcased the latest version of the company’s Root Veg Polisher at the event – a stainless steel 3m by 14 roller model with carrot speci cation brushes, direct drive and a semi-automatic sample washer.

For more information about Haith Group and its products or Remach, visit www.haith.co.uk or  www.remachbv.nl

UK agricultural tractor registrations – February 2023

surroundings.

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is reinforcing its on-farm safety messaging, with Stuart McAdam, the organisation’s head of incidents, saying that lead poisoning can have a devastating impact for farmers and can put consumers at risk.

“Lead is a highly toxic metal which can cause slow or stunted growth, blindness, infertility, birth defects and death. Not only are health impacts on stock distressing, but there are nancial

implications such as veterinary fees, carcass disposal and loss of market value.

“We know farmers are very serious about the health and welfare of the animals in their care, however, because incidents of lead poisoning often peak in spring when cattle are put out to pasture we’re re-launching our on-farm incident prevention campaign. Lead batteries, old paint, bon re ash and ytipping are the primary causes of lead poisonings.”

February generally sees relatively small numbers of tractors registered, as buyers wait for the new registration plates from the beginning of March. This year was no exception, with only 487 agricultural tractors registered during February 2023. That was 15% fewer than in the same month last year, although the higher level of registrations in January means that the total for the year to date was still 6% higher than in the opening two months of 2022 and was close to the recent average for the time of year.

Month: 487 units -14.7% change (compared with February 2022)

Year to date: 1,131 units +5.6% change (compared with January–February 2022)

New test for potato residues launched

A new test has been launched by Euro ns Agro UK to help potato growers with pesticide residue testing. The test can be booked online and comes at a time when some farm assurance schemes have implemented the need to test every year, or to have an evidence-based justi cation for fewer tests.

The potato industry is expected to make signi cant changes to the way potatoes are stored after the loss of approval for chlorpropham (CIPC). This may include the use of other chemicals like maleic hydrazide and 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene. Farm assurance schemes are keen to see crops tested for potential residues to prevent chemicals being transferred to the food chain.

Discussing the UKAS accredited pesticide residue test for potatoes, Euro ns

Agro UK’s Sophie Cath, says: “The tests can be booked and paid for online, and results from samples that are sent directly to our laboratory take between three and four weeks.

“By using our tests, growers will receive vital data to ensure products are t for purpose and will be able to provide evidence to regulators and consumers that potatoes are safe by demonstrating that any residues present are below regulatory limits, or MRLs,” Miss Cath adds.

Kverneland Group acquires Phenix Agrosystem

Kverneland Group has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in French company BC Technique SAS, which produces the Phenix Agrosystem brand of interrow cultivators, rotary hoes, guidance interfaces and tine harrows.

This latest acquisition is a move that provides access to range of sustainable farming solutions, enabling growers to achieve e cient, accurate and consistent mechanical weed control.

While the Phenix brand

will continue to be available in those markets where it currently exists, these premium products and solutions will be introduced as Kverneland products, available through the Kverneland dealer network.

The portfolio includes the Helios star-wheel equipped rotary hoe; Lynx guidance interface with colour scanning self-steering camera for use with any existing hoe; and the high-tech X-Green guidance interface solution that can be equipped with up to two

Väderstad aquires Thyregod A/S inter-row cultivators

Väderstad has acquired the parts of the Danish company Thyregod that produces a full product range of inter-row cultivators. The acquisition includes all intellectual property rights to Thyregod’s inter-row cultivator product area – the TRV range, including the Swingking. Väderstad will take over the responsibility for the inter-row cultivator business on 1st June.

“Our new and existing farmer customers will increasingly use inter-row crop cultivators and it is essential that we include them in our product range,” says Väderstad UK’s sales and marketing manager, Andy Gamble. “We have already identi ed that in the future many of our Tempo farmers will move to more mechanical solutions for weed control.

“As there is usually a challenge to match an inter-row cultivator to a seeding machine, Väderstad can now o er farmers a complete solution,” he says. “Adding an inter-row cultivator to our product range also optimises our future Proceed concept in cereals.”

colour scanning self-steering cameras.

In addition, the product range includes the Onyx series of row-speci c tined hoes o ering working widths from 3–12m.

Product speci cations and pricing details are still to be announced, with the rst models expected to arrive during spring 2023.

Polaris UK adds Bruce Hopkins Ltd to its dealer network

Bruce Hopkins Ltd is the latest dealer to join the Polaris UK network, covering Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Buckinghamshire areas.

“The main reason we approached Polaris is because we know that they o er quality products and provide a wide range of options to suit all customers,” William Hopkins said. “We knew it was

something that was missing from our range, and thanks to Polaris we are now able to o er a full range of products in the ATV and UTV market. We are also getting asked more and more about what electric products we can o er so with the launch of the Ranger XP Kinetic it will be a great draw for a lot of our customers.”

The new Polaris dealer

will be o ering the full utility line-up – including Sportsman ATVs and Ranger UTV models. Bruce Hopkins also o ers full servicing and genuine Polaris parts and accessories. It currently has the Ranger Diesel and Sportsman 570 as part of their demo eet to introduce new customers to the Polaris brand so they can see what makes them so versatile.

Initially, the inter-row cultivators will be sold under the Thyregod brand, and manufactured in Thyregod’s production facilities in Denmark. From June 2024, they will carry the Väderstad brand and more details about this will be announced prior to Agritechnica 2023.

Global agriculture giants team up to reduce data fragmentation

Yara and Syngenta Group have entered into a partnership with Varda, a new ag-tech start-up founded by Yara. The two companies want to accelerate the adoption of Global Field ID; a new technology standard that helps facilitate eld data discovery and data sharing in the agriculture and food industry.

Varda digitally maps agricultural land and assigns unique IDs to land plots, creating a ‘QR code for elds’, delivered to users via an API. The aim of the service is to create a ‘common geospatial language’ for the whole industry.

For farmers, Global Field ID means improved connectivity between their digital farming tools and more e cient communication with stakeholders beyond the ‘farmgate’.

The service is currently available in France and the UK and will be progressively released in Brazil, the US and key European agricultural markets in 2023, with plans for further expansion in coverage and features going forward.

Recognise risks when planning T1s

With a large area of wheat sown relatively early, and some high biomass crops coming out of winter, disease risk could be relatively high approaching the important T1 fungicide, according to agronomy rm Hutchinsons.

While colder conditions in many areas during February and early March slowed disease development, relatively few places experienced the extremes of cold needed for a signi cant reduction in inoculum, the rm’s head of integrated crop management, David Howard (pictured), says.

“February was quite cool and dry in general, but many places still saw intermittent rain, which helped keep septoria and yellow rust ticking over on older leaves in the base of some crops. At the moment at least, pressure still looks relatively high.” A T0 fungicide, often focused on yellow rust, will have helped manage early pressure, but it is vital to continue monitoring crops closely so T1s can be adapted to the situation on the ground. Mr Howard also recommends growers consider the risk factors they cannot see, and not get lulled into a false sense of security if disease pressure appears low.

“We have seen before how quickly septoria and yellow rust can take o from a seemingly low base if/when conditions are conducive, so spray programmes must insure against the ‘hidden’ risks, as well as what we can see.”

Drilling date for septoria

For septoria, drilling date has a big in uence on underlying risk, and even if little disease is visible, it is hard to know how much is in the latent phase yet to express itself, he explains.

Conversely, yellow rust is generally favoured by later drilling, although this is a very dynamic pathogen, which also makes disease risk hard to

predict. “We are seeing more new races able to infect crops earlier, cycle faster, and potentially erode genetic resistance.

“The T1 fungicide, as with other treatments, therefore provides a valuable insurance policy against hidden risks, while controlling any disease that has started establishing within crops, and helping manage the overall level of inoculum carried through to T2.”

Timing is everything

Traditionally, T1 fungicides are applied around growth stage 32; however, Mr Howard says to ensure the target leaf three is fully emerged before treating, which usually occurs between GS 31–33.

Barley fungicides

“This can only really be identi ed with careful plant dissection, so don’t rely on calendar date.”

Indeed, two years ago, cool, dry conditions in April slowed crop growth, resulting in some T1s going on too early where growers focused more on calendar date than crop development, he notes. This compromised coverage of leaf 3, and meant spray intervals to the ag leaf application were stretched, just as disease pressure surged following rain in April and May.

“Many older actives lack the curative ability they once did, so an adequate T1 is essential to avoid putting undue pressure on later applications by expecting them to control high levels of disease inoculum. This is particularly important for resistance management and protecting the future of key actives.”

Product choices

Septoria is generally the focus of T1s, and Mr Howard says recent years have seen a gap develop in the potency of new chemistry, such as fenpicoxamid + prothioconazole, or uxapyroxad + mefentri uconazole, over older SDHI/azole fungicides.

For curative septoria control, he therefore favours newer chemistry; however, SDHI/ azole products, such as bixafen, uopyram + prothioconazole, have been e ective in trials where timed well in protectant situations.

“The challenge is identifying whether situations are truly protectant or curative, especially if disease is still in the latent phase, so close inspection and assessment of all risk factors is fundamental.”

Where rust control is required, benzovindi upyr + prothioconazole remains the best option, while strobilurins could be included at T1 as a protectant strategy against rust, he advises.

There were variable responses from including folpet last year, possibly re ecting the conditions, but long-term experience shows the multisite chemistry is a good addition to programmes, helping manage septoria risk, providing some e ect on rust, and for resistance management, he adds.

“With highly diverse isolates of septoria and rust, it is hard to know how they will respond to fungicide chemistry, so using multiple modes of action ensures a greater chance of success, and helps safeguard products for the future.” FG

The T1 is crucial for protecting the largest leaf in winter barley, allowing plants to support developing tillers and maximise yield potential, Mr Howard says.

“Remember, barley is less able than wheat to compensate for early tiller damage, and ear number drives nal yield.

“That said, barley is inherently less responsive to fungicides than wheat; although yield responses of 1.5–2.5t/ha are typical, winter wheat can vary wildly from 1–5t/ha, depending on the season and variety.”

There are many good fungicide options at either timing in barley, with bixafen, uopyram + prothioconazole and uxapyroxad + mefentri uconazole-based products both providing good all-round disease control, Mr Howard says. Older chemistry in bixafen + prothioconazole or benzovindi upyr + prothioconazole also has a place. “As always, tailor product choice to individual situations.”

Trials show folpet can improve protection against key barley diseases, with ramularia recently added to the label. “However, it is a contact-acting protectant, so needs to be used twice within a programme, before disease takes hold, for optimum e ect.”

The weather will change on its own timetable, I’m primed and ready for the ag leaf, and Revystar ® XE at T2 will ensure a quality wheat crop.

Considerations for e ective disease management for the season ahead

Weather patterns over recent years have resulted in relatively low disease pressure; however, this does not mean there will be low disease pressure again this year. Growers need to ensure they know the risk associated with the variety they are growing and its drilling date and then use this knowledge to consider how to adapt fungicide inputs.

Considerations when planning fungicide programmes

Variety: Knowing the varietal resistance, from the AHDB Recommended List (RL), is the starting point to managing disease risk and there is a bene t of good all-round resistance as an insurance policy in protecting yield.

Dr Joynt said: “Twenty years of data from AHDB RL trials where untreated and treated trials were co-located allows us to see the bene t of fungicide programmes on those crops, giving an average increase of 2.13t/ha.

Susceptible and resistant varieties show a yield bene t to increasing fungicide inputs although this is far greater in susceptible varieties, so in order to maximise the economic margin, fungicide inputs can be adapted with varietal resistance.”

The e ective septoria resistance rating is in uenced by other factors which need to be considered when planning the appropriate fungicide strategy.

Drilling date: A dry mild autumn in 2022 gave favourable drilling conditions and the average drilling date for winter wheat across the UK is approximately 7–10 days earlier than in recent years.

Mr Dennis said: “Growers need to be aware that a change in drilling date will a ect their variety’s septoria risk. Data from 25 trials over ve years shows that where crops are drilled two weeks earlier than 7th October, the e ective septoria resistance rating on the RL list is decreased by 0.6 points. Growers will need to consider whether, in order to control septoria, a

more robust fungicide strategy is required.”

Dr Joynt added: “If you have a susceptible variety sown early, it will require a higher input programme to achieve the same yield as a late sown resistant variety.”

Mild autumn temperatures

The accumulated temperature data from ADAS Rosemaund in Herefordshire shows towards the end of February, it was 90 degree days warmer than the long term average, equivalent to 7–10 days.

Dr Joynt said: “This a ects the e ective septoria resistance rating of the variety; crops can be considered being drilled 7–10 days earlier than they actually were.

“Moving into the spring, the baseline level of septoria is high in many crops because of these high accumulated temperatures over the autumn.”

Cold December

The weather patterns of autumn and winter have had an e ect on the relative balance, in terms of risk, of yellow rust and septoria.

The risk of yellow rust is generally a little lower this season. Dr Joynt explained: “Later sowings are more susceptible to yellow rust and in combination with a very cold December, this has worked to control this disease.”

Weather prior to T2

Weather conditions in the approach to the key T2 timing drive the level of disease in the crop when that fungicide application is made. Conditions after T2 determine how the disease subsequently develops.

Mr Dennis said: “It can’t be assumed that just because pressure feels low when T2 is applied that it will remain low. In 2021, growers found themselves in a protectant situation when the T2 was applied but conditions following application actually led to rapid disease development.”

Impact of crop physiology on septoria risk

NIAB TAG work in 2021 showed how variety in uenced how uniformly the ag leaves emerged.

Mr Dennis said: “2021 was a cool spring with crops growing slowly but actually the principle remains the same for any year. Researchers made regular visits to a variety trial, all drilled on the same day and evaluated what proportion of ag leaves had emerged. They found a gap of potentially 10–14 days between the rst ag leaf and the last ag leaf emerging for any given variety.”

Leaf layer emergence dictates the time exposed to septoria infection and with considerable variation in date of ag leaf emergence within a variety, targeting the precise day to spray is exceptionally challenging.

Mr Dennis said: “There is a very good chance that some of your ag leaves are already infected if you wait to ensure all of your ag leaves have emerged, putting yourself in a curative situation. If you go early to avoid curativity, then this can be problematic because not all of the ag leaves have emerged.

“Chemistry with the exibility to counter these issues is key. Revystar XE delivers exibility.”

Mr Dennis explained: “Because Revystar XE is proven to be the most curative product in the market it gives more exibility, so growers are able to wait for full emergence of the ag leaf without having to go too early and compromise full leaf coverage with fungicide.

“If Revystar XE is used earlier, it gives very good curative activity on leaf 2 reducing the movement of disease onto the ag leaf.

“Even with the strongest genetics, there are still signi cant increases in yield by keeping the dose rate of Revystar XE up. One litre/ha Revystar XE is the recommended dose rate at the T2 timing, and at this rate Revystar XE will cope with whatever the season brings.” FG

Crop management:

What does it take to break wheat yield records?

In 2022, Lincolnshire farmer Tim Lamyman smashed two yield records. His crop of Champion winter wheat yielded a phenomenal 17.96t/ha, and his Tardis winter barley, a staggering 16.2t/ha – both are more than double AHDB’s averages for the year. But how did he do it?

There’s no short answer to this. Mr Lamyman has a very experienced and knowledgeable team, a highly analytical yet open mindset and pays microscopic attention to the details – starting with variety choice.

Variety data

“I need all the data on each variety if I am going to grow it. If I haven’t got that, then it’s just a guessing game,” he says.

Mr Lamyman rst realised Champion’s potential back in 2021. Having previously recognised the variety’s yield and disease scores, he grew a small area and observed other potentially record-breaking characteristics. “The seed heads are phenomenal – up to 15cm long with over 90 seeds of bold grain, and a fantastic ability to compensate for thinner areas,” he says. “It’s high tillering and it’s large, erect leaves allow light to penetrate deeper into the canopy.”

Capturing sunlight is a key element of Mr Lamyman‘s winning strategy and is in-line with an underlying principle of tackling growth-limiting factors. “It’s usually the main limiting factor in the UK,” he says. “In 2022, we were able to capture more sunlight than ever before, and that is the main reason we broke records. We managed to keep plants greener for longer with two elements – fungicides and nutrition.”

E ective nutrient and crop protection programmes

Developing the most e ective fertiliser and crop protection programmes is very much a team e ort with Bionature’s Mark Carter and BASF’s Andrew Smooker contributing to the decision-making. Andrew’s knowledge and expertise is applied to the fungicides and disease control elements of those crop protection programmes.

Sown on 24th September 2021, the winter wheat crop rst received a couple of herbicide applications designed to target black-grass. The spring season kicked o with a fertiliser application on 3rd March. In total the crop received around 300kg/ha of Nitram, with further applications being made on 15th April and 12th May.

On 5th March, a combination of Moddus (trinexapac-ethyl) at 0.05-litres/ha; NKHDelta at 2.5-litres/ha and YaraVita Boratrac 150 at 0.5-litres/ ha was applied.

With water and nutrient access sitting alongside sunlight on the list of potential limiting factors, ensuring strong and healthy root growth is essential. It is why NKHDelta – an amine form of nitrogen from Bionature UK that improves rooting, enabling plants to better access soil reserves – is included within the programme. The Yara BoraTrac serves to address a boron de ciency, while Moddus (trinexapac-ethyl), a plant growth

Pictured (l-r): Tim Lamyman and Robert Lamyman, with BASF’s Andrew Smooker and Phillippa Overson. regulator applied little and often throughout the season, moderates growth without bringing the crop to a standstill.

Regular leaf tissue testing keeps the team informed of how well treatments are working and whether future applications need tweaking.

The next application, made 10 days later, comprised 200kg/ha of Kieserite, which supplied 100kg/ha of sulphur trioxide and 50kg/ha of magnesium.

Fungicide programme begins

On 28th March, the fungicide programme began. Mr Lamyman‘s T0 combined the fungicide, Toledo (tebuconazole) at 0.15-litres/ha, with the growth regulators Moddus (trinexapac-ethyl) at 0.05-litred/ha and 3C Chlormequat 750 at 0.5-litres/ha. Completing the treatment was a mix of macro and micro-nutrients in the form of NKHDelta at 2.5t/ha and TipTop at 2-litres/ha.

At T1, on 25th April, the crop of Champion received: a combination of fungicides, namely Revystar XE at 1.2-litres/ha and Toledo (tebuconazole); growth regulators Moddus (trinexapac-ethyl) at 0.05-litres/ha and 3C Chlormequat 750 at 0.5-litres/ha; and, crop nutrition products NKHDelta at 2.5-litres/ha, XStress at 1-litres/ha and YaraVita Mag o 300 at 0.5-litres/ha.

When choosing fungicides, there’s a wholecanopy approach. Controlling septoria on lower leaves, prevents inoculum build-up through the canopy as the season progresses. It’s a strategy that accumulates yield potential by producing and protecting high crop biomass.

Mr Smooker’s challenge was to develop a crop protection programme that worked alongside Mr Lamyman’s other input approaches: “As well as providing outstanding disease control, we wanted to maximise healthy canopy duration and biomass. The Revysol combinations were pivotal in achieving this.”

Greening e ect

T2 was also about disease control and nutrition. The fungicides were Myresa at 1.2-litres/ha and Syrex at 1.2-litres/ha, which contain revysol, xemium and F500.

“These newer, modern revysol-based fungicides are known for their greening e ects as well as their impact on nitrogen use e ciency,” notes Mr Lamyman. “But really it is the combination of the fungicides and the nutrition that has enabled us to capture more sunlight. One of the major e ects of F500 and the nutritional products is the prevention of leaves rolling, as they slow down ethylene production on days that exceed 25ºC.”

T3 saw the nutrition programme come to aconclusion with XStress at 1-litre/ha, TipTop at 2-litres/ha, CalFlux at 0.25-litres/ha and a late season magnesium boost, through YaraVita Mag o 300, at 0.25-litres/ha. These nutritional products sat alongside the fungicides Proline 275 (prothioconazole) at 0.55-litres/ha and Azo n Plus (azoxystrobin) at 0.25-litres/ha.

The last of the crop protection product, Toledo (tebuconazole) went on at T4 at a rate of 0.3-litres/ha. FG

Forage and energy maize markets set to welcome promising new maize variety

more favourable sites RGT Bluefoxx will give you outstanding yields at a very competitive price point. It produces a big cob with lots of starch and a decent amount of ME, which is exactly what most dairy farmers want.

“In the AD sector, there is an increasing trend towards higher yielding FAO 180-190 material, which Bluefoxx ts perfectly. Chasing big yields can mean harvesting a crop that’s not fully mature. That’s no good for anyone – you cannot produce methane from water, so you need maturity to produce good starch and energy yields.”

New maize variety RGT Bluefoxx looks set to be an excellent t for both the AD and forage sectors thanks to its strong agronomic package, timely maturity and high yields.

That’s the opinion of Nigel Walley, seed manager at Agrovista, who has added the variety to the company portfolio this season.

“I’ve been looking at RGT Bluefoxx closely for three years and I’m very con dent with it,” he says. “The variety has good early

vigour and produces a really nice, strong looking plant, which has good disease resistance, is relatively stay-green and consistently produces very well- nished cobs. It is everything we want in a mainstream forage and early AD variety. In the forage sector on

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ever-increasing quest for cell wall digestibility can be at the expense of lignin levels. There is a very fine line between digestibility and stem integrity – the variety may look untouchable on paper but if it suffers serious lodging issues any benefits associated with increased cell wall digestibility have been totally lost.

RGT Bluefoxx is the rst maize variety from RAGT Seeds that Agrovista has included in its portfolio; a move that adds valuable genetic diversity to the company’s maize o er, says Mr Walley.

“All breeders have good varieties but they also have their weaknesses. Some are having serious issues with fusarium which can lead to lodging issues, particularly from early infections that can cause significant stem degradation.

“Other breeders are chasing the ultimate feed value, but this

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“The cell wall issue is not as prevalent as fusarium when it comes to lodging, but where it is apparent in a variety it is not pretty. RGT Bluefoxx is not going to su er either of these problems; it provides a good balance of all the key factors in a strong agronomic package at a competitive price.”

David Ramdhian, head of forage crops at RAGT Seeds, believes RGT Bluefoxx has a strong future.

“Throughout screening trials in recent years, RGT Bluefoxx has appeared to be a consistent variety in terms of performance, whereas some varieties can be very erratic in their early stages.

“This is a good trait to have on farm and bodes well for its future. We believe it is a very reliable choice that will appeal to a wide range of maize growers aiming for forage and AD markets.” FG

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Exposed barley at higher risk?

It has been another dry and warm start to the year, and many have taken the opportunity to give a short-lived crop like spring barley some additional start time. But will increased disease pressure have an impact?

January 2023 has only just fallen short of the record-breaking January of 2022. England had an average of 77.6 hours of sunshine, a few hours short of the 80.7 recorded in 2022. That pattern continued, with February being one of the mildest on record.

Research has shown yield advantages between February and April drilled spring barley as slight, but straw is longer and for those chasing markets it is easier to hit N specs.

But, as with all things, there is a downside and that is increased disease pressure. Prime Agriculture agronomist Philip Simons (right) says his growers were all ‘drilled up’ by February 21st. Normally that wouldn’t concern him but winter crops are carrying a surprising amount of net blotch and rhynchosporium this season given that rainfall hasn’t been signi cant.

This follows a recent pattern; wet weather diseases like rhynchosporium appear to be coming through the winter well despite drier conditions. Last season, it was checked by dry weather continuing into April and May, but it doesn’t mean it will this year.

Impact of seed-borne infection

Research carried out by SRUC has shown the impact of seed-borne infection. This results in the disease developing inside fresh shoots and roots before expressing itself during January or February. Of course, the seed treatment arsenal isn’t what it was. But it could be down to changing farm practices – a green bridge acting as a reservoir.

Mr Simons is already earmarking the possibility of a T0 for winter crops and a twospray programme for spring crops.

Normally when it comes to spring barley, the decision is one spray or two; this season, it could be where to place your big guns. Fluopyram in Ascra (prothioconazole + bixafen + uopyram) has proven to be a potent option, and Revystar (mefentri uconazole + uxapyroxad) has also shown to be a strong choice.

For Mr Simons, he would prefer to keep the big guns back for the T2 timing. This is where the greater yield response is generated, especially if ramularia poses a threat.

crop so it cannot compensate like wheat by increased grain size. You’ve got to hit 700 heads/ m2 to preserve crop potential,” he says.

With the reliance on prothioconazole he thinks it is advisable to make use of the range of actives in the barley toolbox. Several options exist including strobs. Where disease pressure is high, coupled with varietal susceptibility, then it is likely to be Ascra followed by Revystar, or Siltra (prothioconazole + bixafen).

Sensational Sensation

Mr Harrison’s area is dominated by established hybrid favourites but Sensation is a variety that has caught his eye. Breeder DSV claims good yields, good straw strength and speci c weight.

uopyram little

Bayer’s Grant Reid agrees, but says pulling Ascra forward is worth considering if pressure is particularly high. “Ascra is a strong ramularia option but if rhynchosporium and/or net blotch are a concern then it is a sensible strategy. Typically, the T1 is the better timing to get on top of rhynchosporium and net blotch. Siltra is still a very good option, but uopyram is a little more active against net blotch,” he adds.

In the wetter west, agronomist Stephen Harrison (right) rarely advises February drilling so doesn’t have the same concerns with spring barley. He also doesn’t have much in the way of thick and forward winter barley – but he shares Mr Simons’ concerns, and a threespray programme is his ‘go to’ approach. His programme starts around GS30, although he would opt for cyprodinil as a holding spray should disease pressure be high, especially if mildew is a concern.

That GS30 spray will be a robust broadspectrum protectant like Ascra. This is followed by two further sprays between GS39 and GS59. The reason for opting for a product like Ascra at GS30 is to protect barley tillers. “Barley is a sink limited

But more importantly, it comes with barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) and Type 1 and Type 2 barley yellow mosaic virus (BYMV) protection. With seed dressings gone and broadacre insecticide applications also a thing of the past Mr Harrison is looking for alternative options. The loss of control options has also coincided with milder winters and fewer frosts, meaning aphids are on the wing earlier and for longer.

longer.

For BYMV, the Type 2 strain is now

For BYMV, the Type 2 strain is now prevalent in Europe. Regardless of whether the Type 2 strain is here, for Mr Harrison Sensation’s resilience is a de nite bene t. “For those that have the problem, there is no option but to rely on variety resistance. Sensation is a step ahead of anything else,” he notes.

But he does feel it needs a good PGR strategy. He considers it a bit ‘leggy’ and has a slight concern with straw strength. As a result, it is likely to get a PGR with both fungicide applications. FG

Reliable variety delivers on yield for gold award-winning grower

After scooping the top spot in the 2022 Yield Enhancement Network (YEN) Milling Quality Awards, wheat variety Crusoe has proven its reliability for Norfolk farmer Chris Eglington.

More than 150ha of the 400ha farm near Dereham is down to Group 1 milling wheats, divided evenly between Crusoe in the rst wheat slot after peas or oilseed rape, and Skyfall as a second wheat.

“We’ve been growing Crusoe for at least eight seasons, and it is a very reliable variety,” Mr Eglington says. “It’s not necessarily the highest yielding, but it performs every year.”

This performance was clearly demonstrated last harvest, when his YEN entry won Gold in the YEN Milling Quality Awards, with a protein content of 14.4%, speci c weight at 80.7kg/hl, and Hagberg of 355 seconds. This bucked the trend in a season characterised by high speci c weights and Hagberg falling numbers, but generally lower protein content.

Mr Eglington acknowledges optimising yield and achieving full milling speci cation is a ne balancing act, but says Crusoe has generally met the grade every year he has grown it.

His YEN-winning crop was managed no di erently to other milling wheats on the farm, which has operated a controlled tra c system across the entire area for the past decade.

For the 2022 YEN crop, grown on a good medium loam eld, the preceding Aspire oilseed rape stubble was allowed to green-up for as long as possible, before cultivating with an 8m Väderstad Carrier in early September. Wheat was then drilled within a couple of days, using the farm’s 8m Väderstad Rapid, rolled, and a residual herbicide applied.

“We use variable seed rates, based primarily on the soil’s clay content. There are 13 di erent soil types on the farm, from sand to strong clay, and in some cases the subsoil is di erent to the topsoil.

“Generally, the lighter the land, the lower the seed rate, whereas on the heavier land we’ll increase rates, as it is usually harder to create the optimum seedbed. Having said that, conditions were so good last autumn, some of the heavier land established better than the lighter ground.”

Little and often nutrition

After many years of growing milling wheats, Mr Eglington recognises the importance of optimising crop nutrition to achieve both yield and the quality required by end users.

Variable rate potash, lime (where required) and nitrogen applications are used across the farm, and he has worked closely with grain buyer Camgrain, and in the past with Sainsbury’s, to optimise nitrogen inputs and protein.

“Although there’s a lot of pressure to reduce nitrogen use on farms, there’s no escaping the fact that if you want to get a good milling wheat crop with high yield and high protein, unfortunately there is no other option than to make sure the crop has enough nitrogen. Being a few kilos under could take away the premium and be a big money loser.”

He favours a “little and often” approach, based on his experience of growing milling wheats, and in-season crop monitoring to ne-tune requirements.

Although the preceding crop can a ect residual nitrogen levels in the soil, given the uncertainty over how much will be available and taken up by the plant, Mr Eglington prefers to use regular tissue testing as a means of adjusting nitrogen programmes to crop need.

“We haven’t really done much soil testing, but do use the Yara N-Tester to test what’s in the plant tissue, and then the N-Sensor to apply nitrogen

where it’s needed, and less where it’s not, so you end up with a very even crop.”

On average, rst wheats typically receive a total of 280kg N/ha, with second wheats getting an additional 10–15kg N/ha, due to the lower residual nitrogen after the preceding wheat crop.

Nitrogen is normally applied as four splits of solid granular fertiliser, but will sometimes be supplemented with a small amount of liquid urea towards the end of the season (June) to help build grain protein if required.

Keeping crops clean

A standard four-spray fungicide programme is used across all of Mr Eglington’s wheats, from T0 through to T3.

“We don’t cut corners in terms of timing. It would be very unusual for us to miss out one of the main fungicide sprays, but we will alter products according to the weather and disease pressure at the time. AHDB benchmarking data shows we generally spend slightly less than average on fungicides, but spray slightly more frequently.

“Again, it’s a little and often approach. Fireghting disease is a lot more di cult than going out there and preventing it in the rst place.”

Disease-wise, he says Crusoe is a predictable variety with no signi cant problems. “We know brown rust can be an issue later in the season, so we treat crops accordingly to manage that risk.

“We have tried other milling varieties in the past, but and have come back to Crusoe because it is a reliable variety,” he concludes. FG

Chris Eglington 2022 YEN results

Area: 3.2ha (8 acres)

Variety: Crusoe

Yield: 10.9t/ha (90% of estimated yield potential)

Protein: 14.4%

Speci c weight: 80.7kg/hl

Hagberg: 55s

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Getting more from your crop protection to maximise returns

With a busy spring workload on the cards, incorporating an adjuvant in with T0 and T1 sprays could help optimise the e ciency and e ectiveness of the whole tank mix, according to Stuart Sutherland, technical manager at Interagro.

Despite the March cold spell, many crops are full of promise following the kind winter and forward crops may be awaiting their rst PGR, says Mr Sutherland. That said, a spring weed tidy up, and early nutrition and fungicide application might also be on the cards, making for some potentially complicated mixes that could jeopardise crop safety and e cacy at the start of the season.

“The problem is, sprayer operators will be mixing products in very cold water, as well as hard water, both of which make the mixing process trickier. With products added via the induction hopper individually, you might not even know you’ve got a mixing problem until you get blocked nozzles. Only products fully dissolved can be taken up by plants.”

A simple solution is to incorporate an adjuvant into the tank before adding crop protection products, and Mr Sutherland says Interagro’s Kantor could o er growers a number of bene ts this spring.

“Kantor is a unique adjuvant that emulsi es all components of a tankmix, so they homogenise more easily and remain thermodynamically stable even in cold water.”

As well as improving compatibility, Mr Sutherland claims that Kantor is the only adjuvant to bene t the full mixing and spraying process end-to-end, meaning that all products in the tank will bene t

from drift reduction, improved spreading/retention and uptake into the leaf.

Thinking ahead to the coming weeks, Mr Sutherland notes: “It’s important to remember that curative activity for current fungicides is not as good as it used to be, so protectants should be applied in good time, before infection starts, with optimal coverage on target leaves.

“This is where Kantor will help provide the most secure form of protection because it reduces surface tension on the leaf so spray droplets can spread out and be retained properly across the whole area. As protectants can’t move on the leaf, they will only protect the parts of the leaf the spray covers. Coverage of contact herbicides in the tank will also be improved on target weeds.”

As well as cold water being likely to cause mixing challenges, it can also cause hardened cell walls in plants, so early growth regulation and weed control could be reduced if cold weather remains at the time of application, warns Mr Sutherland.

“This is another area where Kantor can help aid uptake, but in a safer way than many alternatives,” he explains. “It works by increasing the packing density of active ingredients at the cuticle, which increases di usion into the leaf, compared with most adjuvants which only disrupt the cuticle wax.” FG

Giving weed control in spring crops a boost

deliver better than 95% of control including shepherd’s purse, red dead nettle, speedwell, poppy, chickweed and mayweed.

“Alternatively, Tower can also be used as an early post-emergence contact treatment (when the grassweed target has one or two leaves) when it will deliver a level of performance on a par with its pre-emergence function. Its e cacy at the post-emergence timing will however be hampered in excessively

With spring drilling well underway, it’s a crucial time to nalise weed control strategies.

For di cult grass and broad-leaved weeds, that means ensuring a range of active ingredients are applied at the optimum timing(s) and rate, and that full coverage is achieved by selecting an appropriate spray nozzle and water volume for the weeds being targeted.

Using a range of active ingredients in a single tank mix is one way of easing workload pressures, with pre-mixed formulations eradicating any concerns regarding product compatibility and speeding up the sprayer lling process. Using premixed products also reduces the amount of empty spray cans and packaging that will need to be recycled.

According to Adama’s Dr Bill Lankford (pictured right), spring germinating weeds can be controlled in springsown wheat and barley with Tower, a unique three-way formulation of chlorotoluron, di ufenican and pendimethalin.

“Tower’s unique triple-active formulation can be used either as a pre-emergence treatment, or as a post-emergence application to

provide standalone control of annual meadow grass, common chickweed, mayweed and common poppy and many other broad-leaved weeds,” Dr Lankford explains.

For spring barley elds with a history of di cult black-grass or rye grass, there are on-label and EAMU options to add additional modes of action such as prosulfocarb or ufenacet to the pre-emergence mix.

Tower contains 250g/litre chlorotoluron, 40g/litre di ufenican and 300g/litre pendimethalin and can be applied at a maximum individual dose of 2-litres/ha.

dry conditions, so the best advice in spring is to apply as a pre-emergence treatment to insure against dry conditions post-drilling.”

Post-approval biological assessment data also shows Tower to give good control of a number of non-label weeds including groundsel, fool’s parsley, fat hen, eld bindweed, black bindweed and small nettle; all of which proved susceptible from pre-emergence up to two leaf growth stage. FG

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In addition to its use in spring barley and spring wheat, Tower has also recently received a new label approval for use in spring rye and spring triticale and is one of only a handful of herbicides labelled for grass weed control in these crops.

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Optimise herbicide applications for e ective weed control this spring

Maximising herbicide e ciency will be key for growers wanting to e ectively control weeds whilst reducing their inputs this spring.

FMC commercial technical manager, Mat Hutchings, says that as the price of input costs continues to rise, many farmers will be aiming to reduce their inputs to save on costs and minimise their environmental impact this season.

“Herbicides are fundamental for the control of spring germinating weeds in winter cereal crops, and it will be di cult to achieve optimum margins if herbicide inputs are reduced. It’s a real balancing act,” he comments.

Therefore, he recommends that growers should aim to maximise the performance of their applications, where appropriate, through tank mixing, cultivation and by tailoring herbicide applications around seasonal conditions.

“Tank mixing allows growers to apply their chosen products to a crop in one pass, reducing compaction and helping to reduce labour and fuel costs,” says Mr Hutchings.

Sulfonylurea (SU) herbicides are a group of products which are e ective at controlling weeds.

“Ally Max SX is an example of a co-formulated SU herbicide, which contains metsulfuron and tribenuron. It has wide weed spectrum when applied alone but can also be used with an appropriate partner product if the weed spectrum dictates. It is a good choice for growers looking to maximise their herbicide performance,” he explains.

On top of choosing a suitable herbicide, Mr Hutchings urges growers to consider how cultivation could help reduce weed pressures. For example, choosing to direct drill could help discourage weed germination. Contrastingly, using more traditional cultivation techniques could encourage weed germination and allow stale seedbed weed control ahead of drilling.

“When growers are considering these options, they should always speak to their agronomist and decide which methods suit their land before making any signi cant decisions,” he advises.

Mr Hutchings also suggests that growers remain aware of weather conditions which can signi cantly a ect weed growth and consequently, herbicide performance. Ideally any herbicide applications

made should be targeted at smaller actively growing weeds to give the most e ective control. Where this is not possible growers should consider increasing herbicide rates or water volumes to improve coverage, especially on weeds like groundsel which can become large very quickly and can develop waxy leaves in windy, dry conditions.

“Weed control can be challenging but it’s always better to reduce the risk of a problem before it becomes a major challenge later down the line,” he says.

“Although some growers may be tempted to make cutbacks with products, I’d recommend always working with your agronomist to investigate how you can optimise

applications rather than compromise them,” concludes Mr Hutchings.

For more information on SU herbicides, speak to your agronomist or visit https://fmc-agro.co.uk FG

Control system “evens out spray application”

Knight Farm Machinery’s new Vario Select control system enables users to achieve totally even spray application when working on uneven shaped eld margins and around xed in- eld obstructions.

The system works by using combinations of four di erent capacity spray nozzles at each spray point to o er up to 16 di erent application rates, typically from zero to 800 litres/minute.

The machine can also spot spray from a prescription map, with volumes changing according to the severity of the weed, pest or disease problem.

Vario Select o ers a exible rate control, including turn compensation with the ability to instantly switch between nozzle types, a feature particularly suitable for liquid fertiliser users, says Brian Knight: “Vario Select’ includes a simple computerised nozzle selector which lets the operator dial in the target rate, required droplet size, minimum and maximum pressures

and the working speed range. It then displays the available working range.

“The operator can also ask the system to recommend the best choice of nozzles for any particular job.

“Vario Select uses well-recognised technology; is fully integrated with the sprayer’s computer system and is fully Isobus compatible.”

It uses a gyroscopic system to adjust output along the boom in curved tramlines, which ensures that, no matter how much slower the inner boom tip is going and how fast the outer tip, applications are adjusted along the boom so that the application rate remains absolutely even right across the working width. FG

Optimised disease risk management

E icient weed control with potential financial benefits

Providing advanced technology for progressive farmers, Garford Farm Machinery o ers the “latest technology” for e cient weed control on farm. Garford manufactures a range of robotic mechanical weed control products, including the Robocrop precision guided hoe, InRow weeders, babyleaf salad hoes and hooded sprayers; all with band spraying equipment as an additional option if required. Garford also supplies mechanical weed control products with manual guidance.

Garford says it has been a leader in camera-guided interrow and in the row cultivators for

many years. The longstanding partnership between Garford and NIAB enables research projects focusing on inter-row hoeing for black-grass control. There is substantial evidence indicating that this is a key component of weed management in the future. NIAB’s ndings predict that understanding the costs involved with migrating to new techniques will become a priority. NIAB also highlights how inter-row cultivation requires some additional capital investment, yet the operating costs are low, making this an attractive o ering.

The nancial bene ts of interrow cultivation could outweigh the cost of herbicide use, with the inter-row cultivation costing £15/ha, according to Garford, which is four times cheaper than achieving that additional control with herbicides.

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Plan now for

e

ective pre-em weed control in potatoes

Potato growers should tailor herbicide choice to weed burden and plan application strategy in advance this year for best control, advises Certis Belchim technical manager James Cheesman (pictured).

He says there are two ways to apply potato herbicides. The rst is a single application of residual products to tackle emerging weeds, mixed with a contact herbicide to take out established ones. Bene ts are that it gives time to regroup after

planting, and only one pass is required with the sprayer.

However, it is carried out just a week or so before emergence, which means there is a risk of soil being drier, which can reduce the e cacy of some residual actives.

“There’s also a greater chance of emerging potatoes coming into contact with residual and contact products, particularly if weather delays application, which can knock the crop,” explains Mr Cheesman.

If time permits, a split approach is the second option. This sees a lower rate of residuals applied early as soon as the ridges have settled. Growers can then follow up closer to emergence with a top-up dose, combined with a contact product, to burn o anything that has snuck past the rst application. It also increases duration of residual control.

This is the route preferred by Mr Cheesman, who has advocated split dose weed control for a long time. Alongside the advantages outlined, it also provides an opportunity to add a greater diversity of actives into the programme without risking crop safety.

An example is pendimethalin, which must be applied at least seven days before emergence, and is strong against polygonum weeds like knotgrass, and fumitory. Used as a holding spray, it is well within this label timing restriction and helps shore up control of problem weeds ahead of the second residual-plus-contact hit.

“For a second spray, Praxim (metobromuron) is a good choice, as it can be used up to cracking of ridges. However, every e ort should be made to apply pre-emergence if using it with a partner,” he explains.

Where opting for a single application strategy, an e ective

recommendation is Praxim (metobromuron) alongside a metribuzin-based product.

This combination should be teamed with a contact PPO-inhibitor product such as Gozai (pyra ufenethyl), which is ideally suited to the early season window.

“It’s much stronger on key targets such as mayweed, groundsel, chickweed, common poppy, and eld pansy compared to the other PPOinhibitor option, carfentrazone-ethyl.”

Mr Cheesman adds that the combination of soil-acting products in the Praxim-metribuzin mix gives good control of broad-leaved weeds and some grasses up to canopy closure.

Trials show Praxim is most e ective when used at rates of 2.5–3-litres/ha, with 2-litres/ha the minimum advised rate for short season crops like salads.

“Although metribuzin is a useful piece of chemistry, some varieties are sensitive to it, but Praxim has the bene t of being compatible with all soil types and varieties. So where applying to metribuzin-sensitive varieties, use Praxim alongside alternative residuals like aclonifen, prosulfocarb or pendimethalin, depending on the weed pro le being targeted,” concludes Mr Cheesman. FG

Limited post-em herbicide options in potatoes means it is crucial that growers make the most of applications that go on before the crop comes up.

which means there is a risk of coming into contact with residual

Second year of trials success for beet nematicide

Garlic-based nematicide NEMguard DE proved its worth in independent sugar beet trials for a second successive season, despite the low risk of docking disorder in 2022, says Certis Belchim.

BBRO crop protection scientist Dr Alistair Wright says the 2021–22 trials in Yorkshire and Thetford were very encouraging.

He comments that NEMGuard performed as well as Vydate, plants were healthier from establishment relative to the untreated, and root fanging symptoms were signi cantly reduced.

However, it was just one season and BBRO, supported by manufacturer Ecospray and marketing company Certis Belchim, established fully randomised trials during the 2022–23 campaign to build the body of data.

It has again improved root quality, Dr Wright says: “There is a perfect dose response to NEMguard from the Yorkshire site, with an improvement in root quality seen as the rate increased, despite it being such a low-risk season.

“Everything looks positive from what we’ve seen so far and should build con dence.”

With the start of 2023 drilling imminent, he advises growers: “Get soil testing done as soon as possible, get your drill ready and if you have

an FLN issue and risk is high, use it in 2023,” adds Dr Wright.

BBRO guidance on application rate is to continue using NEMguard DE at 10kg/ha.

However, the dose response seen in the 2022–23 trials suggests that growers can move up to the maximum individual dose of 20kg/ ha rate to get a healthy payback.

“Even if FLN pressure is moderate, growers should see a return at the current value of sugar beet [£40/t]. If it turns out to be a wet year, the case is even stronger,” adds Dr Wright.

Certis Belchim’s eastern technical account manager Jeremy Booth urges growers to ensure their applicators are serviced and calibrated ready for NEMGuard DE application this spring. FG

Strength

•Confidence across the bout width

•Shatter resistant

Uniformity

•Zero segregation

•Even spread for even growth

Accuracy

• Unrivalled accuracy up to 54m

•Increased wind resistance

Environment

•Half the ammonia emissions of urea + inhibitor*

*DEFRA, NT2605

“ Everything looks positive from what we’ve seen so far and should build con dence.

“If lifting fodder beet, choosing high yielding, high DM varieties that sit deeper in the ground – such as Cagnotte, can pay dividends as when lifted and put into the clamp they tend to keep fresher for longer. Cagnotte also has considerable advantages over other fodder beet varieties in that it is available as primed seed.

“Primed fodder beet seed – seed that has been pre-germinated – enables faster germination, helping a newly emerged crop to establish more quickly, overcoming unpredictable weather conditions, and enabling the young crop to grow away from pests such as aphids and ea beetle. With only one or two aphicides available at present, and applications limited to only one use per product, primed varieties can o er signi cant bene ts.

Selecting the right fodder beet variety to maximise returns

If grown correctly, with the right establishment and input strategy, fodder beet will outyield many other forage crops and provide a consistent and reliable high-energy feed source for livestock, says Adam Simper, national grass, roots and environmental seeds manager for Agrii (pictured).

According to Mr Simper, the rst step must always be to understand the type of livestock you will be feeding fodder beet to, and the feeding system you want to employ – will it be grazed in the eld, or will you be lifting it?

Mr Simper says: “If it is going to be grazed, it is important to select a variety with a low–medium dry matter (DM), ideally ranging from 14–19%. Low–medium DM varieties suit both cattle and sheep; however, on variety choice, you also need to look at varieties that sit with 40% or more of their root out of the ground,

o ering healthy leaf retention with low disease susceptibility to mildew, rust and leafspot.

“Remember, most fodder beet puts on a signi cant amount of yield in the last three months of growth, so it’s important to have that healthy leaf structure to capture as much sunlight as possible allowing maximum photosynthesis to take e ect. Varieties that sit above the soil also have better grazing intakes for sheep and cattle. Of the varieties out there, Jamon – a medium DM type, is a particularly good t for either grazing in situ or lifting to chop and feed into a total mixed ration (TMR) herd fed system. However, if you are planning to graze fodder beet in the eld, medium to light free-draining soils are also essential –particularly when outwintering stock.

“Although achieving high yields is important, I would always place consistency ahead of out and out yield. Finding a variety with exactly the right DM percentage to suit your farming system and learning how to manage that variety is the key, often growing two or three di erent varieties for better harvest risk management is even better.

“Fodder beet is also an excellent break crop in a mixed farming system, providing an excellent entry for either spring barley or a spring grass reseed. If grazed in situ, you also have animal manure going back into the soil as a cheap source of fertiliser,” concludes Mr Simper.

Agreeing with Mr Simper’s analysis, seed specialist Emily Pick, of independent seed breeder Elsoms Seeds, sees new fodder beet varieties as the key way for growers to improve yield consistency in varying and, often, challenging growing seasons in the UK.

Ms Pick says: “New versatile varieties such as Lempa, which we selected to replace Splendide in Elsoms portfolio, are a step forward given that new genetics bring a yield advantage and improved disease resistance. Lempa’s rose red roots have a nice conical shape, making it a clean lifting variety with low soil tare and a high proportion of the beet sitting above the ground.

“Lempa proved to be the highest yielding variety in Elsoms’ own trials in 2021, and with a medium DM of 15–16%, good tolerance to bolting, and rhizomania resistance it’s an exciting addition to our fodder beet range,” she concludes. FG

Yield and consistency are still key – but consider your farm system requirements rst, says Adam Simper of Agrii.

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Fodder beet: Consistently high yields despite variable seasonal conditions

depth root. We usually associate high dry matter fodder beets with deep rooted varieties, so Fosyma, with a relatively high proportion (35%) sitting out of the ground, bucks the trend. This makes it suitable for grazing in situ as well as for lifting and it carries less risk of soil contamination than the deeper-rooted varieties.”

Another key advantage of Fosyma is its high tolerance to bolting. It is one of the least likely varieties of fodder beet to bolt. This is particularly bene cial in more extreme seasons, such as the cold spring in 2022, followed by warm weather which can encourage bolting.

Fosyma has been included in the trials since 2019 and has been available to UK growers for the past two years.

High yielding and rhizomaniatolerant variety Brick is in second place, with a dry matter yield 9% above the control and a dry matter content of 22.8%. It is slightly deeper rooted than Fosyma, with 25% of the root out of the ground. These characteristics give the variety excellent winter hardiness, Limagrain says.

Flexible option

New trial data from Limagrain UK, published in January 2023, shows that new fodder beet varieties are raising the benchmark for dry matter yields, along with having the ability to produce consistently high yields in varying seasonal growing conditions seen in the UK in recent years.

Limagrain UK has run trials on its Lincolnshire site since 2008, and compared the performance of commercially available varieties of fodder beet.

“We’ve seen signi cant improvements in dry matter yields in the past decade, particularly among newer varieties,” says Limagrain UK’s forage crops product manager, John Spence (pictured). “These varieties are raising the benchmark and achieving record yields. They o er a consistently high energy and dry matter home grown forage for

livestock diets.”

In the latest ranking, the new variety Fosyma has an average dry matter yield of 14% above the control variety Magnum, equivalent to more than 2.5t DM/ha. “It has 21.3% dry matter, and it is one of only a few varieties which are rhizomania tolerant and with good resistance to powdery mildew, rust and leafspot,” adds Mr Spence.

variety Magnum, equivalent to 21.3% dry matter, and it is adds Mr Spence.

Medium-depth root

Fosyma has other proven bene ts that add to its appeal. “Its high dry matter is combined with its medium-

A more established variety that has held its popularity in livestock diets is Robbos due to its exibility, combined with high yields. With only 60% of the root in the ground, it is ideal for grazing sheep and cattle, and it o ers a dry matter content of 19.8% – putting it among the best for

shallower-rooted varieties of fodder beet. Robbos has been included in the Limagrain UK annual trials since they started in 2008 and it gives consistent and reliable results.

“Fodder beet is really showing its colours as a consistent and reliable livestock feed,” adds Mr Spence. “We see very little variation in yields within a variety between cold, wet or dry seasons.

“Even after the dry summer of 2022, the crops still produced outstanding yields, and this was even more pronounced among the newer varieties such as Fosyma, which maintained yields achieved in the previous year and well above 20t DM/ha.

“So, for the same growing costs, farmers can produce signi cantly more dry matter per hectare by opting for the higher yielding fodder beet varieties.”

Sown in April, fodder beet is harvested from October onwards and can be fed in a total mixed ration or ad lib with maize silage, or it can be grazed in situ.

Limagrain UK publishes its annual trial data, available to all growers to enable them to make informed decisions. There are no recommended lists for fodder beet. Limagrain UK’s latest fodder beet trial results are available from its website: www. lgseeds.co.uk/product/fosyma FG

“ We’ve seen signi cant improvements in dry matter yields in the past decade, particularly among newer varieties.

The flexible broad spectrum pre-emergence herbicide for potatoes

Praxim has no soil type or varietal restrictions and can be used up to cracking of the ridges. With tank-mixing flexibility and adjustable dose rate, Praxim offers proven performance for establishing your potato crop.

Swan engineering

UK manufacturer of root crop handling and processing equipment for the farm and factory BUILT LIKE THEY USED TO BE

IPL Inchture have worked with Swan Engineering on a number of site projects over the past 5 years. Swan offer innovative solutions where an off the shelf solution isn’t available. All projects have been completed to a very high standard, from initial concept through to installation and aftercare with build quality being exceptional. We look forward working with Dale and his team on future projects.

I have worked with Swan Engineering, in my capacity as Head of Engineering in 3 different companies over a period of 13 years. They have always exceeded my expectations with quality, delivery and service. They are always my first choice for bespoke fabrication and problem jobs.

Respected UK root crop equipment manufacturers join forces

Two well-known UK manufacturers of high-end root crop processing and packing equipment have joined forces to provide complete turnkey solutions to customers on an international scale.

Agrimech Ltd was founded in 2009 and is leading the way in weighing, bagging, palletising and advanced robotic systems. Agrimech already has a growing worldwide customer base, with equipment sold in North America, Canada, Europe and Asia.

“We were looking for a reliable, like-minded company who build equipment to the same high standard as Agrimech, to partner with and expand our range to the full production line,” said Agrimech managing director Darren Smith.

Swan Engineering, founded in 2010, has developed and manufactured a full range of root crop processing equipment, from tipping through to grading, washing, drying, inspection, bulk storage and box lling.

“We build the whole production line right up to the weigher which is where Agrimech’s machinery takes over for the complete end of line solution. It’s a perfect partnership. We have already taken orders from as far a eld as Canada for potato washing equipment so we are excited about what the future holds,” said Swan Engineering managing director Dale Swan.

Both companies are experiencing rapid growth and have exciting expansion plans in place for their manufacturing facilities, personnel and new top of the range equipment, all coming soon. FG

Plan ahead for big savings on seed costs

Farm-processed seed o ers the combined bene ts of top-quality seed and big savings in costs, says NAAC. It is preferable to select seed from your best land or where you will get a bold sample. Try to select seed from a eld that does not have a history of other kinds of cereals in the rotation in the previous couple of years. Big seed is higher in germination and vigour. Be prepared to take seed from another eld if your seed crop ends up being a thin sample.

It is best to pay particular attention to controlling problem weeds such as wild oats, brome grasses and cleavers. Black-grass is easily cleaned out of seed, so its

presence in a sample is not a reason to reject your seed crop.

It is best practice, but not essential, to get your seed tested for germination. Try to store your seed where you can get easy access to it when the seed processor turns up on your farm. Some farmers tip their seed in the back of the barn and some tip the seed at the front of the heap. Some farmers store their seed in trailers or bins and some in 0.5t or 1t bags. If storage is a problem, then please speak to your NAAC Mobile Seed Processor who will try to arrange their visit to carefully t in with your needs.

For more information visit: www.naac.co.uk FG

Monitoring pea moth thresholds vital for pea growers

PGRO research and development manager Becky Howard spoke to Farmers Guide editor Rachel Hicks to discuss the importance of monitoring pea moth traps.

Late spring- ying pea moth is the most common non-aphid pest in peas, appearing from mid-May onwards. While the pea moth doesn’t really cause a yield issue, it does lead to a quality issue for both combining and vining peas as the caterpillars feed on the peas inside the pods, causing chewing damage which has a quality impact on peas for human

consumption. Ideally, everyone who grows peas should be monitoring for pea moth, as it can tell growers exactly when they need to spray. Traps should be ordered and ready to go out at the beginning of May, in time for monitoring. Once the traps are out, growers should try to monitor them three times a week if they can. Camera

monitoring traps which go o once a day in the morning are available which automatically provide a daily cumulative number of adult pea moths caught in the traps. However, with standard pheromone-based Delta traps, farmers should check on them every two or three days, count the number of moths on the card, and record the number each time they visit.

For combining peas, the threshold for adult pea moths is 10 moths in the trap on two consecutive occasions.

For vining peas destined for the frozen market, this threshold is di erent as the tolerance of damage is much lower. In this case, traps would be used as a guide to when the pea moth has started ying, and growers then calculate the spray date from when they rst start to see moths.

Once the number of moths has reached the threshold, growers can go to the PGRO’s website (www.pgro. org) to nd a predicted spray date which is calculated based on their threshold date.

The eggs are laid on the foliage when the moths y into the crop, then it takes between 10–20 days for those to hatch. This hatching time is what the tool is predicting, using both actual and forecast MET data, which

gets more accurate the closer it gets to the spray date.

Once growers have a predicted spray date, crops that have reached the rst pod stage, or that are owering, should be sprayed. If the crops have not reached those stages yet, spraying should be delayed. Any crop with green pods is susceptible to damage, but it’s important not to apply the pyrethroid too early as this can leave crops open to later caterpillar damage. Harvest intervals also need to be considered, especially in vining peas.

LS Plant Breeding (LSPB) is o ering a limited number of free Delta pea moth traps to help growers optimise control/non control timings, and the company would also like to use this as an opportunity to learn more about the pea moth and growers’ approach towards it. As such, LSPB has set up a growers’ group on its website, with the aim being to get pulse growers together so that the company can help to grow these crops more widely and more consistently while ensuring that its breeding aims are always focused on the requirements of growers as well as end users. Visit https://lspb.eu/growers-club/ to register. FG

PEA

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New grant funding makes precision application tech more a ordable

A new round of grant funding has made precision farming technologies such as auto-steering systems, GPS guidance light bars, variable rate application controllers, slurry ow monitors and slurry analysis sensors more a ordable in England.

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) published details of the latest round of Farming Equipment and Technology Fund (FETF) grants on 9th February 2023. The new scheme o ers grant funding for speci c items of equipment and technology for farming and is divided into two main categories: Productivity and slurry items (Annex 3), and animal health and welfare items (Annex 4).

A selection of Topcon Agriculture’s precision farming products are eligible within Annex 3 of the new round of funding, including: Topcon SI-21 Lightbar steering guidance system (£306 grant contribution); Topcon AES-35 Electric Steering system for older, non-steer-ready tractors (£1,051 funding); Topcon Apollo CM-40 variable rate sprayer ECU, Topcon ASC-10 variable-rate fertiliser application controller, Topcon Artemis variable rate seed drill controller and Topcon Athene SM-1 spreading controller (£1,850 funding).

Topcon Agriculture’s range of slurry ow rate monitors (£2,134 funding) and inline slurry nutrient analyser (£10,803 funding) are also eligible under the new scheme.

“With input prices remaining elevated – albeit it at a slightly reduced level compared to last year’s highs – there remains a signi cant need for arable and livestock farmers to maximise the production e ciencies of their respective systems,” explains Richard Reed, managing director of LH Agro, Topcon’s preferred distributor and installer in the UK.

“One way to improve e ciencies and achieve meaningful cost savings is to apply inputs as accurately and time-e ciently as possible, either by using variable rate applications, or simply by ensuring tractors, sprayers and implements are being steered and operated accurately.

“The nancial assistance available through this new round of FEFT funding makes these technologies much more accessible to a wider proportion of the country’s farm businesses and enables farmers and farm managers to ensure costly inputs are applied at the right rate, the right time and in the right place.

“We’re therefore pleased to see

that the government continues to recognise the value and bene t these technologies can deliver, and we look forward to working with farmers to enable them to take advantage of this latest round of funding.”

For more information about the Topcon equipment mentioned, please visit www.lh-agro.co.uk or call LH Agro directly. FG

Getting ready for the big push at harvest

Following on from another successful grain pusher season last year, Ceres Machinery says it is anticipating even greater numbers this year. But time is running out – to avoid disappointment, the company advises placing your order for the Barn-Stormer Grain Pusher now, to be sure you get yours in time for harvest 2023.

The Ceres Barn-Stormer Grain Pusher offers you an efficient and reliable method for controlling your cereal storage, the manufacturer says. The 2.5m wide blade is shaped to propel your materials effortlessly; its smooth design without grain traps provides clean operation

to avoid the risk of cross-contamination, both inside and outside your buildings. The blade is fitted with a long-lasting, hard-wearing rubbernylon replaceable wear strip which glides efficiently over wooden, vented and polished or tamped concrete floors with ease.

The large, centrally-mounted tube is not only light and robust, it also increases visibility and manoeuvrability round doorways, ducts, vents and beams. Sufficiently braced from the blade and the headstock, this gives the BarnStormer the best strength-to-weight ratio in its class, Ceres continues.

The Barn-Stormer has a variety of applications beyond cereals; for example, it has been used to move coal, wood chips, biomass, animal feeds, salt, silage, animal waste and even aggregates.

The Barn-Stormer is available in a large variety of lengths, from 3.5m up to 16m. It ’s built to order to suit your telehandler or loading shovel, whatever bracket configuration you may have. All models of the Barn-Stormer are also available as an expandable version (the X range), which allows the length of the implement to be extended by the addition of extra sections of tube, thus increasing the versatility and longevity.

The Ceres team can advise on the optimum length of grain pusher for you, to increase the speed and efficiency of this task, so that with practice, large trailer loads can be elevated in two or three pushes, with less shunting backwards and forwards, and booming in and out, saving time during the busiest season.

This also increases the lifespan and fuel economy of your telehandler/loading shovel, and preserves the grain store floor, reduces tyre wear and increases traction through better weight distribution of your machine, Ceres concludes. FG

Dealer expands territory into Su olk

G&J Peck Limited has been announced as JCB’s agricultural dealer for Suffolk. The company has been a JCB agricultural dealer for over 37 years, selling the full range of JCB agricultural machines across Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk. The dealer has now secured premises in Framlingham and is currently awaiting planning consent for change of use from an automotive dealership to an agricultural dealership.

G&J Peck Ltd director and JCB brand manager, Jon Wareing is delighted by the response from new and existing customers in the area. “Although we haven’t been able to move into the new depot yet, we are already providing a full sales and support service for customers. Our sales team members are working from a temporary office close to where

the new depot will be located and are fully equipped to deal with product enquiries and provide demonstrations. We have already taken many orders for Fastracs, Loadalls and a wheeled loader, and our sales team has enjoyed a busy start to the year. The news that we have expanded our trading area has been very well received.

“We have a service manager and service team also based locally, and they have been busy looking after machines sold by us as well as others supplied previously by other dealers. It's been clear that customers are keen to take advantage of the first class support that a dealer of our size can provide.”

Jon expects the new Pecks depot, which will house the sales, parts and service teams, to open shortly. FG

Cost e ective tyres that last

Ascenso has become a popular choice since arriving in the UK agricultural scene in early 2021, o ering cost-e ective, high-performance tyres, the manufacturer says.

The farm radial tyres all come with 65k speed ratings and the latest mud breaker technology which ensures better selfcleaning properties and maximum traction for optimal performance in and out of the eld.

The tyre range includes well over 400 sizes for various purposes, including key agricultural fitments such as the 560/60R22.5 floatation tyre, 460/70R24 loader tyre and many more. Ascenso also offers a seven-year warranty on farm radial tyres and five years on bias.

The brand has Original Equipment (OE) status on manufacturers’ products, including Fliegl, Househam Sprayers and Larrington Trailers, with more manufacturers currently testing the tyres.

Tom Bush, director at BA Bush & Son Ltd said: “We have seen a great response to the products, and with the arrival of Ascenso’s range of VF technology in the coming months, we feel the brand will soon cater for all aspects of the agricultural tyre market, making it the go-to brand for farm owners and contractors.”

Ascenso is looking to introduce an additional 300 new sizes in 2023, taking the full product range to nearly 800.

BA Bush is in talks with many OE manufacturers to test the VF line up, Mr Bush concluded.

Ask your local tyre dealer about Ascenso tyres, or visit: www.ascensotyresuk.co.uk FG

Machinery app launches new functionality

13,000 active pieces of machinery.

towards best practice.

MeritAgCheck has launched a new, innovative report exporting functionality. The app is used to record daily machinery checks, document compliance and helps users manage defects, all at the touch of a button.

Since its launch in spring 2020, the paperless service has started to revolutionise how machinery and vehicles servicing, inspection and checks are documented, according

to its creator Safety Revolution. Feedback for the system has been very positive with over 3,500 users now on the app, completing thousands of weekly checks, for over

After an initial upload of equipment using the MeritAgCheck dashboard, managers and operatives can start interacting with the app. Vehicle, machinery and building servicing and checks are reported, which can be set to be checked on a daily, weekly, monthly, or six-monthly basis. Operators can easily document any defects or problems as they work through a daily checklist, which takes no more than ve minutes to ll in. The system can generate management reports and health and safety documentation, which can be easily linked to pieces of kit.

MeritAgCheck is also designed to reduce the risks of inadvertent noncompliance, by o ering the ability to send out customisable noti cations and reminders to individuals, when inspections and services are due; as well as when your sta ’s licenses or training records may be due for renewal. It’s not unusual to have more than 200 itemised machines that, in line with HSE law, should be checked on a frequent basis and MeritAgCheck provides a one stop space to store, manage and utilise this information, helping you and your team to work

The MeritAgCheck team is constantly listening to user feedback and over recent months has created report exporting functionality for the app. Whilst the recording of that data is made simple, e cient and useful, the new introduction of the report exporting feature opens up endless possibilities for you and how you use that data, MeritAgCheck says.

Managers can now download, save and print o the reports generated. For example, a report for all upcoming statutory requirements required for machinery and equipment can be gathered at the touch of a button and exported. Your information can now be utilised in the way that best suits you, app creators say. Whether it be for general interest, to inform business decisions and budgeting choices, or whether it is used in audits and inspections, you will be able to export 35 di erent types of report, presenting trends and statistics across your machinery and buildings.

The MeritAgCheck app can be downloaded from the app store, or visit www.meritcheck.co.uk for more information. FG

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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

Prioritising the customer:

Tractor manufacturer celebrates 10 years of "Unlimited" choice

Agco-owned Valtra is celebrating 10 years since it started o ering its tractor customers the widest range of options in the industry. David Williams visited the factory in Finland to nd out more.

Valtra tractors are built in Suolahti, Finland, where there is almost constant daylight in the summer, and deep snow and long, dark days during winter. The factory is one of the biggest employers in the region, and almost 1,100 people produce approximately 46 tractors per day. As well as the modern assembly line where the most frequently ordered options and extras are tted during manufacturing, there is also a separate building – the Unlimited Studio – added 10 years ago, where skilled engineers work their magic to install bespoke accessories and equipment ordered by customers from any of the 75+ countries where Valtra has dealers.

Customer is the priority

“We will install whatever the customer wants, as long as the tractor remains legal for road use,” explained Valtra vice president marketing, Mikko Lehikoinen.

Valtra was one of the rst companies to o er tractors in a range of colours – allowing owners to personalise their machines. Now 10 colours are available on the main line, and an in nite range are available through the Unlimited

Studio. “No two customers are the same, so being able to provide a unique speci cation to meet speci c requirements through the Unlimited Studio is very powerful,” continued Mikko. “For the dealer, it’s something they can o er which those representing competitor brands can’t, but the real priority is the customer – it’s all about how they feel about their machines.”

Valtra began o ering a customisation service in 1992, but it wasn’t until 2013 that the Unlimited Studio opened to meet growing demand. The most speci ed options are tted on the production line, but approximately 36% of tractors go on to visit the Unlimited Studio before leaving the factory.

The Unlimited Studio has proved popular with customers including the Finnish military and municipal users such as local authorities and airports. Demand for bespoke colours and paint nishes can be met, and accessories including special lighting and radio systems can be tted – all covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.

Finland’s climate means that Valtra tractors are widely used for snow clearing in the country, and

heavy-duty mounting brackets and window de-icing systems are in high demand. For forestry applications too, the Valtra brand has a strong reputation, and Valtra has recently added an extremely durable universal mounting bracket to which a range of Unlimited options can be easily tted or removed.

For agriculture, the Unlimited Studio meets demand for complex hydraulic and smart farming upgrades as well as cameras and lighting systems. Wheels and tyres for special applications can be tted, and demand for central tyre in ation is increasing. Cab and body panels, and wheel rims can be prepared in any colour. Other popular requirements include high performance sound systems, and trim and seat coverings in a particular nish or colour. A con gurator allows customers to explore the huge range of options readily available online, but the Unlimited Studio allows anything else to be discussed, and priced if tting it to the tractor is feasible.

“The advantage for customers is that almost anything that they require can be tted at the factory, by the specialist team – it’s a one-stopshop,” explained Valtra UK business manager, Andy Miller. “For dealers, it allows them to o er a unique service, with everything covered under the factory warranty.”

The popularity of Unlimited for agricultural users is highlighted by the fact that 75% of tractors receiving the Unlimited treatment have been bought for farming applications, while forestry accounts for just 7%.

UK sales

The UK and Ireland is one of Valtra’s biggest markets, taking 9.7% of production volume. France accounts

for 18.7%, Germany takes 13.4%, and although more than half the tractors sold in Finland each year are Valtra –the home market is relatively small, so this accounts for only 8.2% of the tractors produced.

Valtra’s UK and Ireland market share is increasing and stands at approximately 6% currently. Signi cant improvements and upgrades in recent years including one of the most attractive cabs in the market have helped, and the new Q-series tractor line-up with 230–305hp is a hard act to beat in the size segment.

“Like other manufacturers we have been a ected by component shortages which have extended lead times,” explained Andy. “We have a superb range of tractors to o er, and customer interest has never been higher, so our current order book is the longest it’s been. Although we delivered a very large number of Valtra tractors to UK customers last year, if lead times had been shorter then total sales would have easily exceeded 1,000 units.”

Q-series deliveries starting

Q-series tractors are a perfect t into the new, versatile 300hp market segment, where exible ballasting, a high level of comfort and a generous standard speci cation make the tractor suitable for year-round use –for eld and transport applications.

Farmers Guide enjoyed an exclusive pre-series model test drive last August, along with a small number of customers – many of who placed orders soon after as a result.

First deliveries of dealer demonstration and customer machines started this month, and with the new model due to be

in full production shortly, this should provide a healthy boost to Valtra’s market share in the UK and overseas.

Unlimited special editions

Marking the rst 10 years of Valtra Unlimited, during which more than 15,000 Unlimited machines have been delivered, two special equipment packages are being o ered for the N-, T- and new Q-series tractors.

The Full Edition includes an Unlimited branded stainless-steel plate on the air intake, similar branding on the ignition switch surround, a special steering wheel logo, Unlimited-branded oormats and a black leather logo embossed seat, plus an Unlimited-branded siderail. Extra equipment includes an additional roof-mounted USB socket and a phone holder with wireless charging. Customers also receive tools, a cleaning pack and Unlimited-branded clothing.

A Light Edition is similar but doesn’t include the leather seat or clothing.

Range of options displayed

The factory visit, in mid-March, provided an opportunity to view and try out many tractors from the

smallest A-series to the Q-series, working with a selection of implements. Deep snow – usually present at that time of year, meant that snow clearing machinery from small ploughs to large blades and snow throwers for airport use could be demonstrated. Suppliers included Nokian tyres, Piippo hydraulics, Kesla, Vuomet, Noremat, PTG and Arctic Aebi Schmidt, and representatives from all the companies were on-hand to explain features of their equipment.

Typical market sectors represented included agriculture, aviation, forestry, municipal and other specialist areas.

Agricultural options

Highlights for agricultural users included PTG Central Tyre In ation (CTI) – available through the Unlimited Studio. Fully integrated, using air from the standard tractor compressor, the system is Isobuscompatible and controlled through the SmartTouch display. Connection to the front wheels is through external pipework, but customers can specify either external pipes or a tidier internal supply through the rear axle when a bar axle is tted. The main bene t of CTI is that pressures can be optimised for use in the eld and on the road, without needing a separate compressor and without the operator leaving the cab. In ating tyres from 0.8 Bar for eld work to 1.4 Bar for transport takes 8–10 minutes, but reducing pressures takes just a few seconds. An uprated system, which in ates tyres up to 10 times more quickly, is expected to be available shortly.

Improved vision

Valtra previewed its Unlimited View camera system at LAMMA earlier this year, but it was demonstrated e ectively at the working day. Consisting of high-de nition cameras and a high-de nition display, the system increases operational safety for a range of

applications. The cameras come with magnetic mountings, and for standard eld operations a typical set up would include a single camera at the rear of the tractor, and one on each side of the front weights or weight box, pointing to the left and right. Images from all three cameras can be displayed on the screen simultaneously or separately. The main bene t Unlimited View o ers over conventional systems is that images are analysed by built-in arti cial intelligence software. Anything moving is automatically highlighted within yellow borders on the display. This can include pedestrians, cyclists, animals, and other vehicles, so for an operator pulling out of a eld gateway onto a public road or footpath, the operation is much safer.

At the Valtra event, the front cameras were attached on either side of a front-mounted snow plough, and manoeuvring on the snow-covered tracks with trees obscuring the view to the sides, and pedestrians and other tractors present, the bene ts were quickly obvious.

The system is so clever that it recognised and highlighted people in the cabs of other tractors nearby.

Hydraulic Side Limiters

Piippo Hydraulic Side Limiters were demonstrated. These are tted in

Valtra Unlimited View uses highde nition cameras, a high-de nition display and arti cial intelligence to recognise, and alert the driver to, potential hazards including moving people, animals and vehicles. The in-cab display shows hazards highlighted within yellow borders.

place of standard chains to limit rear linkage side movement and sway.

The kit consists of a pair of double-acting hydraulic rams,

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connected to the tractor’s hydraulic supply, and controlled through an Isobus link to the SmartTouch terminal. The user adjusts the rams to provide the required amount of side movement, just as he would using conventional chains but without leaving the cab, and adjustment is also possible on the move.

Each ram has an integral pressure release which helps absorb shock loads and prevents damage. Additional bene ts include easier implement attachment as each arm can be controlled and moved in or out individually. The arms can also be adjusted as a pair, moving in parallel or in opposing directions.

One UK farmer who has experienced the bene ts is Steve Cope, of Cope Farming in Shropshire. Steve owns two Valtra T-series tractors, and he invested in his rst pair of Hydraulic Side Limiters when large attachments caused the standard limiting chains to jam or fail. “We use a large plough and cultivators, and a heavy silage compactor,” he explained. “We needed a reliable system to limit the free movement, particularly for travel on the road. The hydraulic ram adjustment allows us to secure the implement and prevent sway during transport, and to easily increase the free movement for operation in the eld.

“It’s also proved helpful when hitching up implements as the operator can move the arms into exactly the right position from the cab. There is less time wasted getting in and out of the cab and it’s safer.”

Bright work lights

A curved array of LED lights was demonstrated on a tractor tted with a side-arm hedgecutter. The lights mount to the top of the cab facing the cutting head and provide bright light for safe and e cient operation, even on dull days and for working at night.

Many additional lighting options are available, and Valtra works with preferred suppliers to obtain solutions for bespoke requirements.

Smart loading and handling is possible using Valtra’s Precision Lift & Load app, available through the Unlimited Studio. Operators can monitor and record the quantity and weights of loads handled and set working parameters for the loader.

Kesla re ghting trailer

With a tank capacity of 10,500 litres, the Kesla self- lling, re ghting trailer is designed for use in remote forestry locations. The trailer’s systems are powered from the tractor’s PTO and drive to the water pump is hydraulic. High pressure water cannon nozzles, mounted on the crane arm, accurately direct water at targets up to 30m away, with control from the cab ensuring the user remains a safe distance from the re. Powered axles are an option with hydraulic drive to two or all four of the hubs. The water tank and pump unit are easily removed, leaving the trailer and integral crane available for conventional tasks such as timber haulage and extraction.

Valtra tractors are frequently chosen for forestry work. At the event, the new Quad Link universal mounting bracket was displayed carrying a Kesla crane (above left and right). The bracket attaches to the tractor in front of the cab and behind the rear axle, and is easily tted and removed using the rear linkage arms to lift and pivot the assembly. This adds convenience when the tractor is needed for other tasks where the crane isn't required.

Rear back-hoe

A heavy-duty back-hoe was operating at the event. Suitable for use with N- or T-series tractors, this model has a 6.38m maximum reach from the swing point and can load at heights up to 3.35m. An impressive 41.2kN digging force is available with a bucket, and maximum digging depth is 5m. The backhoe can be operated from the cab or by using an optional remote control. FG

Dealer announces new territory in Norfolk

DeLaval dealer T H White’s territory now stretches from Wales to the Norfolk coast following the opening of a new depot in Norfolk.

T H White has extensive knowledge of dairy operations o ering installation, parts, servicing, and support for conventional and robotic parlours across the southwest and is now expanding eastwards as a substantial DeLaval dealer in southern England.

When the Norfolk dairy business Taylor IMS decided to close activities, a pledge was made by T H White to invest in the Attleborough-based operation and develop it to further support dairy farmers on the eastern side of the UK.

Adrian Lovegrove, divisional

director for T H White said: “We are very excited about this project, and we’ll strive to establish, maintain, and grow relationships with Taylor IMS customers.”

T H White’s current dairy depots in Frome, Somerset and Huntley, Gloucestershire will be supplemented with the additional facility in Attleborough, Norfolk.

Steve Taylor, of Taylor IMS said of the move: “We are delighted to become part of T H White and can reassure our customers they will continue to see the same friendly faces o ering the very best customer service with our new dealer brand.”

This territory expansion will take immediate e ect, with Taylor IMS winding up activities thereafter. FG

Dealer adds Italian imported mobile grain drier to range

Thorburn Group is now distributing Agrex mobile dryers, imported from Italy. The company has teamed up with Perry of Oakley, who will represent the south while Thorburn Group will serve as dealer for the north.

The driers o er a number of bene ts, including more uniform drying and less fuel usage due to no centre auger, and allow for unattended operation thanks to remote connectivity, Thorburn says.

Agrex driers are not new to the UK, however it has been some years since there has been an o cial dealership for the brand. Not only is this a great opportunity for farmers to try this drier out for themselves, but it is also very convenient for those who already own one, Thorburn reckons. Both companies will have Agrextrained engineers who can provide servicing and stock spare parts.

Hawthorns Estate Farm purchased the 20T mobile drier back in 2017, but after a year upgraded to a 34T AGD45.

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Owner Chris said: “The drier has been straightforward to operate and has not needed any mechanical work to be carried out. We are pleased to know that Thorburn Group and Perry are representing Agrex driers, which gives us peace of mind during the harvest period.”

Thorburn Group also o ers a range of steel frame buildings and fabrication services. Contact Ross at Thorburn Group to enquire about an Agrex drier or visit www.thorburngroup.co.uk FG

As Trimble authorised dealers, we offer a wide variety of precision agriculture solutions including hardware, software, cloud-based applications and positioning services.

Displays

Guidance control

Steering systems

Flow and application control

Software packages

Open day sheds light on grain drying and handling options

Roy Mitchell of Lofthillock Farm in Aberdeen, hosted an open day on behalf of Master Farm Services, attracting over 70 visitors from across Aberdeenshire.

Many were Master Farm Services customers who have already installed its mobile driers. They were looking to understand how they could signi cantly increase the e ciency of their existing grain handling systems by improving intake and then discharge of grain into store, ensuring they could achieve maximum grain storage.

Farmers were also looking at options around new grain stores and mobile driers, and for ideas on how to design grain handling projects to maximise storage capabilities.

Visitors saw host Roy Mitchell’s upgraded grain handling plant, which consists of Skandia grain handling equipment installed alongside a Master Farm Service

mobile drier, delivered by Master Farm Services, BDC Systems and Ravenhill. Roy spent the day talking to visitors and answering questions about his system and the signi cant bene ts it has delivered.

“My new plant is a huge success. It is very easy to operate, has signi cantly reduced my grain handling, with no need to employ additional harvest sta , and drying my own grain I can market it to whom I want when I want. I think my return on investment will be pretty quick,” Roy said. FG

Popular spreader combines carrying capacity and manoeuvrability

Bunning’s Lowlander MK4 range features nine models with capacities from 7.5–15t. The 105 TVA sits in the middle, o ering users strong build quality, substantial carrying capacity, plus manoeuvrability in small yards and lanes, Bunning says.

The twin vertical auger (TVA) machines allow accurate application of farmyard manure and other products. The Lowlander 105 TVA o ers 12.6t carrying capacity and a body width of 1,500mm, helping smaller users take control of spreading in-house to minimise contractor/hire costs and increase application timeliness.

The design includes full width socket- t oor slats, with 80 grade 16mm oor chains that are standard on Bunning spreaders up to the Lowlander 150 MK4 15t

spreader. The oor design ensures that the whole oor is cleared, and an even ow of product is presented to the augers for consistent spreading. The twin vertical augers are dynamically balanced as standard, helping to improve reliability and longevity.

Farmers using narrow lanes and tight gateways can opt for a narrow body pressing, which features a narrower axle and reduces the overall width of the spreader by 100–2,820mm when tted with 580/70 R38 tyres. Another option is a rear canopy that covers the rear beaters during spreading, forcing the material to be spread via the bottom blades. It’s aimed at light materials such as chicken litter, lime and compost, allowing even spread at low application rates. FG

Post driver is a “powerful, reliable tool”

Specialist contractor Ben Rodenhurst invested in his rst Easy Petrol Post Driver in 2019 after seeing a demonstration. Whilst he already had a vehicle-driven post knocker for volume jobs, the Easy Driver makes all the di erence when space and access is limited.

It is powerful enough for all sorts of ground conditions and when necessary, Ben has taken advantage of the useful Pilot Core attachment available with the post driver set.

“When faced with really tough dry ground, just getting that small core of earth out and getting some water soak really helps.”

Ben uses it for 3, 3.5 and 4in posts and the interchangeable threein-one multi adapters in the Easy Driver Box set gives the versatility for all sorts of posts sizes. Now a permanent tool in the van, he sees the Easy Driver as a complementary tool alongside his xed post knocker. It saves a lot of time and e ort and proves invaluable when access is limited or for small quick jobs where the handy portable size works best.

The Easy Post Driver is a reliable, portable tool that is easy to operate safely alone, he adds.

“I always like to invest in good reliable brands and Honda power with 4-stroke engines don’t let you down. I also look after my tools and have had it serviced by EPPD with no problems at all.”

For further information visit: www.benrodenhurst.co.uk; or www.petrolpostdriver.com FG

East Lincs open day showcases dealer o ering

Ripon Farm Services Ltd staged a successful open day for customers of its Louth depot in mid-February. David Williams was there.

The open day was the rst at the depot since Ripon Farm Services acquired the premises and trading area from RBM Agricultural, and it was intended to show o the range of products and services available from the dealer. Brands featured included John Deere, Kramer, Dalbo, Kuhn, Greencrop, Martin Lishman, Sumo, Spearhead, Bomford, Bailey, Spread-a-Bale, HiSpec, Stihl, Husqvarna and Bunning.

New and returning customers

“I was very pleased with the level of support from new and returning customers,” said Ripon Farm Services regional manager, Ben Moseley. “There were lots of enquiries regarding new machinery as farmers and

contractors are keen to invest to become more e cient, including in technology that will allow them to be more precise in their eldwork and with crop treatments.

“We are extremely fortunate in having John Deere as our main supplier, as the manufacturer enjoys a strong reputation for being at the leading edge of precision farming technology.”

Optimism within industry

Ben commented that the general mood among visitors was reassuringly positive. “It’s a good signal for the year ahead that there is so much optimism within the industry. People are keen to do business with us and we look forward to a busy year.” FG

Grant con rmation encouraging sales

Ripon Farm Services supplies large numbers of slurry tankers and other slurry handling equipment through its depots.

Greencrop UK sales manager Howard Chantry was at the open day, and he commented that with more farming diversity within the dealer’s larger trading area, more products from across the range are being stocked and sold by the team.

“We know farmers and contractors have been waiting to place orders with the expectation that slurry handling and application machinery will be included in the new round of grants available, and now that this has been con rmed we expect a very busy year. Demand for slurry separators remains constantly high as farmers are keen to handle and store slurry more e ciently.”

Short lead times

Sets of Dalbo rollers displayed at the event attracted many enquiries. “The best sellers in this area are 8m working width, but 12m versions are also in high demand,” explained Dalbo UK general manager, Steve Atkin. “We have dealt with Ripon Farm Services since the Dalbo UK subsidiary commenced trading in 2010, and the dealer is a very good partner, strongly committed to the brand and happy to carry stocks ensuring short lead times for customers.” Steve (right), is pictured next to Ripon Farm Services area sales manager, Mark Manders, and Dalbo UK sales manager, Thomas Atkin is on the left.

Range-wide demand

Kuhn representatives enjoyed a busy show. “The Ripon Farm Services team does a great job for us,” commented non-inversion crop establishment specialist, Rupert Greest. “Since acquiring the Louth depot and extended trading area, we have seen a growth in sales of grass harvesting products and spreaders, and sales of tillage machinery in the area are increasing too as the sales team raises customer awareness of what is available. Power-harrow drill combinations have proved particularly attractive to farms in this area.

“Across the UK, we’ve enjoyed a busy start to the year and the supply situation has improved. Shorter lead times as well as increased stocks held in the UK mean that for most cultivation products and drills, we can still o er delivery in time for eld operations this spring.”

Kuhn parts specialist for the north of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, James Fox said that customers can usually rely on a next-day parts supply. “Even if dealers don’t have the part on the shelf then the item can be shipped for delivery the next day from our UK base in Telford,” he explained. “If it isn’t in the UK and is ordered early enough, then it can be shipped from France to our dedicated parts team at Telford and still be with the customer the next day.

“The MyKuhn app gives customers access to manuals and parts lists for their Kuhn machines, allowing them to identify the correct parts easily and place orders online which are then supplied and billed through their selected dealer.”

Pictured (l-r) are Rupert Greest, James Fox and Nigel Donkin.

Latest technology

Pictured looking at Kuhn spreaders at the open day are members of the Bonnet family who trade as SJ Bonnet & Son and farm at the Dairy Farm, Sloothby in Lincolnshire. The enterprise is mainly arable, but also has beef cattle and chickens. “We came to have our moisture meter checked by the Martin Lishman team, and to look at the spreaders,” explained Gordon Bonnet. “We deal with Ripon Farm Services when we need parts for our John Deere combine and are keen to keep up with the latest technology.” Pictured with Kuhn representative, Nigel Donkin are three generations of the Bonnet family at the event: (l-r) Nigel Donkin, Gordon Bonnet, Gordon’s grandson Charlie, and Gordon’s son (and Charlie’s uncle), Paul.

Moisture meter clinic

The open day featured the popular Martin Lishman grain moisture meter clinic, where customers could bring moisture meters for checking and calibration. For a reasonable charge, the meters are calibrated using samples of various crops of known moisture content, and if they are within the required parameters, then a certi cate is issued. If they fail the test, then the customer has the option to let the Martin Lishman team retain the device for repair. Pictured testing his meter is Nick Brook of CW Brook & Son – farmers based at Binbrook in the Lincolnshire Wolds, who was accompanied by Rory Barnes-Browne who helps on the farm. Martin Lishman production technician, Adam Gelsthorpe supervised the moisture meter test.

New 10m telehandler

Kramer’s latest 10m telehandler was displayed. The KT3610 was the dealer’s stock machine, and a second, similar handler is already operating as a demonstrator.

“Orders were placed from October, and deliveries started in January,” explained Kramer representative Cli ord Scaife, who is pictured (right) with Ripon Farm Services commercial director, Richard Simpson.

Versatile cultivator

A Sumo Low Disturbance subsoiler on show was awaiting delivery to Mawthorpe Farms, at Alford, Lincs. The farming operation is a Velcourt-managed farm, and the cultivator has been chosen mainly for secondary cultivations and will also be used with a liquid fertiliser applicator and a mounted seeder to establish oilseed rape. “The exibility appeals,” explained trainee manager William Clark (right). “It can be used with low-disturbance soil loosening legs for deeper operation or tted with wider feet for shallow cultivations. We needed something which wouldn’t disturb the soil, but the ability to cultivate more aggressively when we need to will be an advantage. The hydraulic overload protection is a bene t and will save time replacing shear-bolts.”

Arable machinery operator Nichols Aldrich said that the service from the Ripon Farm Services team is excellent. “We can’t fault it,” he stressed. “We deal mainly with area sales manager Mark Manders and are very well looked after.” Other products supplied by the dealer include a Sumo Trio subsoiler and a John Deere Gator, and Nichols said that a Kuhn topper and a Spearhead ail are potential future purchases from the Louth depot.

Getting the best from technology

As demand for precision farming products and services grows, Ripon Farm Services continues to invest to ensure customers can obtain maximum bene ts. There are currently ve specialist team members working within the Ripon Technology division.

“There is less room for errors, as input costs are higher and margins are tighter,” commented Ripon Technology precision agriculture specialist, Josh Beavers. “Customers can’t a ord not to know where they are applying crop treatments and whether the correct amount is being applied.”

Josh said that the amount of technology available can make it di cult to navigate systems initially. “Many of our customers didn’t grow up with digital devices, but our systems can still provide them with lots of useful information including fuel use for speci c tasks with only minimal operator interaction. Our role is about helping people get the best from their investments.”

Josh gave the example of John Deere’s 6M-series tractors, which a few years ago were rarely expected to be working with precision farming and guidance equipment, but now the technology is available as a factory- tted option.

“Our team of demonstrators and machine installers make sure that those new to the technology understand the basics when machines are delivered, then they visit again after a few weeks to explain more advanced features,” he said. “A bene t of John Deere is that the machines, systems and software are all from one company and designed to work together. Our job is to nd out what customers want to achieve and how they want their systems set up. As a larger dealer with many depots we have huge resources and experience from a big team, but customers are still looked after by local representatives with valuable local knowledge.”

Quality brands

Groundcare technician, Mike Holden is pictured with Stihl machinery in the Louth depot showroom. “We still sell more petrol chainsaws than battery versions,” he explained. “Stihl products are very well made, and the KombiSystem which consists of one power unit and a range of attachments is especially popular. When one looks at the driveshaft thickness and quality and compares it to other brands, it’s clear to see that the Stihl is designed to last. I use a Stihl chainsaw on my own farm, and although it’s 20 years old, it starts and runs like new.”

Mike said that most of the time he is preparing and servicing John Deere compact tractors and lawn tractors. “John Deere machinery represents excellent value for money when customers buy into the brand.”

Improved comfort

The John Deere 8RX tracked tractor displayed had been purchased by R Caudwell Produce Ltd. Based at Ludborough, Lincs, the farming operation grows arable crops including wheat, barley, oilseed rape, beans and vining peas, and the new 8RX replaced the farm’s previous 8370RT twin-track crawler. “We haven’t had an opportunity to use the new tractor in the eld yet,” explained assistant manager Mark Storr. “It will spend most of its time pulling drills where the turning action will reduce soil disturbance on the headlands.”

Operator Taron Lee said he is very impressed by the comfort. “I liked the previous tractor, but this is exceptionally smooth on the road and I nd the cab more comfortable.”

Dealer service and product experience encourage repeat business

A mixed arable and beef farming enterprise trading as J & JR Appleby is based at Grange Farm, South Somercotes, Louth. Family members are pictured at the open day: (l-r) Sophie, Kevin and Roland Appleby and Mary, Sam, Jacob and Andrew Haith. “We dealt with RBM at the Louth depot previously and were always looked after well, so we are very happy that the team remained when the trading name changed to Ripon Farm Services,” explained Andrew. “We use a Kramer 4t capacity, 7m telehandler which was one of the rst supplied when the dealer took the brand on. It will be due for changing soon and has proved so reliable and successful that we will almost certainly opt for another the same.”

We offer the full product range of ZIEGLER HARVESTING machines wit a lot of additional equipment: corn headers, rapeseed knives and complete kits, rapeseed headers, pick-up systems for swath harvest, sunflower headers and the biggest range of header trailers on the EU market for all combine harvesters. Discover the world of ZIEGLER HARVESTING for the UK at ABREY AGRICULTURAL.

my previous combines, but the Ziegler 4WT trailer was the obvious choice for the new, wider 45ft header.

Build quality and ease of

use

tempt dealers and customers to header trailer range

As demand for higher capacity combines continues to grow, sales of trailers capable of transporting the wider and heavier headers are also increasing. One company which has seen a big rise in demand is Abrey Agricultural. David Williams reports.

Based near Sa ron Walden in Essex, Abrey Agricultural is the o cial UK importer for Ziegler products. The German manufacturer o ers a range of high-quality header trailers and specialist combine headers –including versions for oilseed rape, sun ower and maize harvesting. The header trailer line-up includes singleaxle models suitable for headers up to 7.7m working width and weighing up to 3.6t. Close-coupled, tandemaxle trailers can carry headers up to 9.5m and weighing up to 3.6t, and double-axle trailers with a steering front axle and a xed rear axle will accommodate headers up to 10.7m and weighing up to 6t.

Exceptional manoeuvrability

While UK sales of all the trailers are increasing, the Abrey team has experienced a signi cant rise in the numbers of enquiries and sales of its agship Four Wheel Turn (4WT) trailers. These transport headers up to 12.5m and with weights up to 6t or 7.2t depending on their construction, but the biggest attraction for users is their ability to accurately follow the same line as the tractor wheels when manoeuvring, making it easy to turn into tight eld gateways from narrow lanes – typical on many UK farms.

Premium products

Abrey Agricultural managing director, Toby Abrey commented that he feels fortunate to have such a great range of products to o er, and highlighted features which make the 4WT trailers so popular. These include:

• V-Lock system for easy attachment and securing of the

header to the trailer

• Main frame painted to match the combine brand colour – powder coated and oven-baked

• Galvanised supports keep the trailer looking new – for enhanced residual value

• Accurate following and turning into gateways whether behind the combine or a tractor

• Standard tyres 260/75-15, but with options up to 22-ply

• Heavy-duty, 10t-rated axles

• Heavy-duty, twin-beam construction available on 40, 45 and 50ft header trailers

• 40mm/50mm drawbar eye options

• Overrun braking (so trailer always brakes e ectively whether behind the combine or a tractor)

• Back-up from the o cial UK importer – spare parts readily available.

Agco dealer view

Main Agco dealer, Chandlers Agricultural recommends Ziegler headers – especially to customers operating Ideal combines with the widest SuperFlow or Geringho headers. “We don’t use any other brand now,” explained Chandlers harvesting dealer principal, Sean Stan eld. “When we assemble the trailers after shipping, everything ts perfectly, and they are incredibly well made.

“Customers love them, and they tow like a train. We use a Ziegler 4WT trailer to transport our demonstration combine headers and, often when we turn up on a farm, the rst thing customers comment on is the way the header trailer negotiates turns. Headers lift on and o easily and

lining them up is never a problem.”

Sean said that Ziegler has also developed a version of the trailer to transport heavier ex Draper headers. “Since last year, we have been able to supply Geringho Flex headers as an approved option for Agco Ideal combines, and our demonstration machine was very busy last harvest. The Geringho header, with its ability to ex, requires extra support for transport and it’s heavier, but the specially designed Ziegler trailer makes it as easy to move about as a conventional header.

“The back-up from Ziegler and the Abrey team is always excellent, so the trailers are an obvious choice.”

Essex-based farmer’s experience

Essex-based farmer, James Nott farms near Clare, and he replaced two John Deere combines with 35ft headers, with a single John Deere X91100 with a 45ft header, just before the 2021 harvest. He chose a Ziegler trailer.

“I have always got on well with Toby Abrey and the rest of the Abrey Agricultural team,” he said. “I used two di erent brand header trailers with

“Ziegler’s build quality is very good – better than any other brands I have tried, and the trailer does just what it was bought to do. It turns easily through narrow gateways and the wheels follow the path of the tractor precisely. There have been occasions when I have watched it enter a eld and doubted whether it could make the turn, but then it just does – it’s very successful.”

Trailer success led to header purchase

In recent years, James has diversi ed into growing grain maize. A small area was grown as a trial for the 2021 harvest, more was grown successfully last year and now an even larger area has been planted for the 2023 harvest. A conventional combine equipped with a specialist maize header harvests the grain and, after becoming convinced of the crop’s bene ts, James ordered his own 12row Ziegler header for his John Deere X9 combine from Abrey Agricultural through his local John Deere dealer, Tuckwells.

Several brands were considered before James ordered the Ziegler. “I’ve been very impressed by the build quality and performance of the Ziegler trailer, and I know that the Abrey team will provide excellent back-up, so buying a Ziegler header through Tuckwells, which also supplies and looks after our combines seemed the obvious choice.”

Recommends Ziegler

Tuckwells group sales combine specialist, Steve Bucket said that he always recommends Ziegler trailers to customers. “Toby and the rest of the Abrey team are very easy to deal with and the Ziegler trailer is so good,” he stressed. “We’ve seen a big increase in numbers of four wheel-steer trailers sold recently as this sort of arrangement is essential for moving ex headers over 30ft cutting width on the road.” FG

Specialist dealer set to welcome visitors to open day

great reputation within the farming community for service and sales of ATVs, we were increasingly asked for additional services.”

The company now boasts a huge range of ATV accessories to satisfy the needs of not only the farming community, but also game keepers, large estates, high net worth individuals and an ever-increasing amount of the general public, who rely on knowledgeable sta with much experience to help them.

With a second branch near Bury St Edmunds, Anthony continued: “Our business started in the servicing of machinery and still today, I'm proud to say that for both our branches service is a priority. Having a machine down can mean a loss of money, and no-one wants that.”

Plenty of MKM’s sta will be on hand to chat, there will be machinery demonstrations, complimentary drinks and snacks, and a chance to win fab prizes, along with super ‘on the day’ deals to take advantage of.

The inaugural MKM open day has come about due to the phenomenal

growth of the company over the last couple of years. MKM has built its reputation over the past 38 years on a site that it still occupies today. Initially, the company based its business on the agricultural sector, taking on various ATV franchises – starting initially with Suzuki, and now encompassing

Kawasaki, Honda and CF Moto.

The company continues to build on its reputation with the ATV business and, of late, has added more value to an increasingly wide range of customers. As was pointed out by managing director Anthony Deacon: “Even though we have a

Today, the company holds franchises not simply for ATV/UTV but also Honda lawn and garden products, Iseki compact tractors, Kress and Stihl mowers and equipment, and the Brian James Trailers franchise, to name but a few.

The team looks forward to meeting visitors in Marston Moretaine on 20th April. FG

Compact tractor and mower range on show at open day

Iseki will be showcasing its range of tractors and mowers at the MKM Agriculture Open Day on 20th April at its Bedford depot.

Iseki prides itself on having produced “class-leading” compact tractors and mowers for over 90 years speci cally designed for turf maintenance. Iseki claims its compact tractors have the highest lift capacity to weight ratios on the market. Compact, lightweight and manoeuvrable, they are “ideal for small holdings, contractors and dairy farmers”.

Beginning with the most compact tractor in the range, the 23hp TXGS24 has hydrostatic transmission, independent rear and mid PTO, up to three auxiliary valves with optional front loader, mid mount decks and collector making it the ideal multipurpose groundcare tractor, Iseki reckons.

Next is the TM and TH range with

15hp to 35hp models available and a three-point linkage lift capacity of up to 1,100kg. Both the TM and TH range come with a choice of either hydrostatic or mechanical transmissions to allow ease of use and ultimate control. Perfect for keeping sports pitches in pristine condition and powering a variety of implements, the compact size and high lift capacity o er manoeuvrability without the risk of damaging the turf with heavier machinery, Iseki says.

Should you be limited on budget

but not want to compromise on horsepower and lift capacity there is the premium economy TLE range. O ering 40–55hp engine options, hydrostatic or mechanical transmissions, spacious operator platforms, lift capacity of up to 1,200kg and optional pick-up hitch (55hp model), all without compromising on quality, reliability or functionality, the manufacturer reckons.

To complete the portfolio is the high speci cation TG tractor available with ROPS or a factory tted air con cab, up to 67hp and lift capacity of 1,600kg, hydrostatic, IQ Dual-Clutch or PowerShuttle transmission for ease of use.

Visit Iseki at the open day to nd out more or visit: www.iseki.co.uk FG

The powerful ISEKI TXGS24 23hp tractor in a sub-compact size makes it incredibly versatile and highly manoeuvrable, perfect for a wide range of tasks whether you are mowing, transporting items using a trailer, running implements on the mid and rear PTO or using the front loader moving bulk materials about.

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{farm sale}

South Norfolk dispersal sale enjoys big attendance and high prices

A late February farm machinery dispersal sale arranged by Durrants Machinery Auctions on behalf of WBA Gaze & Son proved extremely successful and attracted buyers from across the UK and overseas. David Williams was there.

The sale featured a wide selection of modern, well-maintained tractors and machinery which had been used on the Gaze family’s farm at Roydon, near Diss, along with a huge selection of ‘included’ lots entered by more than 30 local farmers. An extended period of dry weather prior to the sale meant that most local farmers were up to date with eld work, so many took time out to inspect the items on o er and to socialise with others from the farming community.

Change to contract farming

The sale was due to a change in farming policy for the land at Grove Farm, following the passing of farmer, Ben Gaze. His son, Robert Gaze, explained to Farmers Guide that Ben had been due to celebrate his 71st harvest last year, but passed away in June. The land will be contract-farmed.

Good, honest sale

“We had acted for the vendors previously,” explained auctioneer Richard Prentice. “The family was pleased with the attendance as well as the results achieved, and it was an extremely successful day.”

Richard estimated that 300–400 people attended the auction. “It was a good, honest sale which demonstrated the strong appetite for high quality, well-maintained machinery – especially with low hours.

“The Claas tractors sold particularly well, and we were stunned by prices achieved for some of the older tractors among the ‘included’ lots – especially a 2007 Massey Ferguson 6480 and a 2004 Massey Ferguson 6470. Bids were ying for the other Massey Ferguson tractors too, and the prices achieved for trailers were high.”

Machinery widely dispersed Successful bids saw machinery distributed to trade buyers and farmers throughout the UK. Several items went to new homes in Ireland, and Polish buyers bid successfully too.

The auctioneers were Nick Durrant who started the sale, Richard Prentice – who sold most of the Gaze family’s machines, and Nicholas Rudge who sold many of the ‘included’ lots. FG

Two large sprayers o ered for sale from the farm included this 1999 Bateman Hi-Lo RB16 self-propelled, with a 2,500-litre tank, a clean water tank and 24m booms. It had worked 8,981 hours and was displayed on Alliance Agristar 540/65R30 otation tyres with 90% tread and was sold complete with an additional set of Michelin AgriBib 320/85R34 rowcrop wheels and tyres with 50% tread but which were quite perished. It sold for £13,500.

Beef cattle feeders were sold in pairs, and prices ranged from £60–£75.

Construction equipment included this petrol engine-driven vibrating packer which appeared in good order and made £60.

Anvils are always in demand. At just 44cm long this example was easier to handle and transport than most, and it had a broken top corner. The winning bidder paid £110. The ve weights pictured beside it achieved £50.

The farm’s 2013 Dowdeswell 145 Series MA 6f (5+1) reversible plough had been protected from the weather and was in very tidy condition. With plenty of remaining metal and tted with skimmers, it sold for £6,200. Inset – Richard Prentice takes bids for the Dowdeswell plough.

The farm’s John Deere 6310 4wd loader tractor was a 2002 model, registered on an 02-plate. Like the farm’s other tractors, it was in superb condition for its age and attracted competitive bidding. It was on Good Year Optitrac tyres – 480/65R24 at the front and 540/65R38 at the back – all with 50% tread but some stone damage. The tractor displayed local Ben Burgess labels on the number plates, but JF Sales stickers on the panels. The tractor had worked 8,393 hours and was sold with its John Deere 631 front loader, pallet tines and a dirt bucket. It made £22,000.

A Claas front tombstone weight block (far right) made £10. Five front 35kg tractor wafer weights sold for £35 (left), and these four wafer weights (centre) sold for £50

These assorted hand tools had been well looked after and were in excellent condition. Attracting a winning bid of just £6, they were one of only a few bargains on the day.

Two drills o ered included a Kuhn HR4002 4m power harrow drill combination, comprising an Accord pneumatic DA drill unit with a packer roller, bout markers, wheelmark eradicators, following tines and a stand. The combination sold for £4,400.

Beside it, a 2013 Mzuri Pro-Til one-pass drill with twin hoppers and trailing tines was in superb condition and attracted plenty of interest. The winning bid was an impressive £22,000.

An excellent selection of ‘included’ tractors was available for bids. These two Massey Fergusons had both come from the same farm. On the left – a 2007 6480 Dyna-6 4wd, registered on an 07-plate and which had worked only 3,605 hours was in excellent order. It had Pirelli 380/85R28 front tyres and 460/85R38 rears – all with 40% tread. It carried its Bruce Hopkins dealer stickers and sold for a very impressive £30,200.

The 2004 6470 with Dynashift transmission beside it was also impressively tidy. On an 04-plate it had worked just 4,620 hours and was on a mix of Michelin, Alliance and Firestone tyres with 10–60% remaining tread. It made £20,000.

This 2002 Massey Ferguson 8240 PowerControl was registered on an 02-plate and in very good condition. Still with its original Norfolk Farm Machinery dealer stickers, it had worked only 5,407 hours and had been on the same farm since new. It was bought by farmers and contractors BL Clarke, based at Morley St Botolph – just a few miles from the sale, and close to the farm where the Massey Ferguson had spent its working life to date.

Pictured – three generations of the Clarke family with their new tractor (l-r) Andrew Clarke, Sarah Applegate, Brian Clarke (Sarah’s father), and Thomas Applegate (Brian’s grandson). Brian explained that the new tractor will be used mainly for cultivations, and it appealed because of its low hours and because its history is well known to the family.

Brian also commented that he has received and read Farmers Guide every month since the magazine started. He looks forward to its arrival and uses it to buy new and used farm machinery, and to sell surplus equipment. “I’ve sold everything I ever advertised in it,” he said.

Maintenance machinery included this Shelbourne Reynolds HD60T Powerblade hedge cutter with a 41- ail head which was in superb condition despite being 13 years old. With its original Nicholsons supplying dealer stickers, it sold for £8,600. Beside it, a Spearhead Batwing topper – new in 2015 and which had also been supplied by Nicholsons – made £8,500.

This set of McConnel Consolidator 8m hydraulic folding rolls came with breaker rings and levelling boards. New in 2017, it was sold just in time for this year’s spring drilling and made £11,600.

From a local farm, this JCB 526-56 Agri telescopic handler was new in 2011 and registered on a 61-plate. The hours were relatively low at 4,562, and it came with a hydraulic rear trailer hitch and a dirt bucket. Carrying Nicholsons dealer stickers, and on BKT 460/70R24 tyres with between 20–40% tread, it was missing a rear mudguard but was otherwise tidy and it sold for £18,000.

Sumo Trio subsoilers have a great reputation, and this 3m model carried M&C Agricultural stickers. It sold for £9,000.

carrying its original

supplying dealer stickers and a G-pre x registration dating from 1989, was in good, original condition. It was on BKT 540/85R28 front tyres and 460/85R38 rears, with 20% and 80% tread respectively. The recorded hours were 12,551, and it sold for £5,500.

 An impressive set of Gaucho GAXHR 38-26 trailed 4m folding discs with a rear press sold for £3,000. There was considerable interest in the discs as Richard Prentice took the bids.

Machinery

In excellent condition, this 2019 Weaving 6m Stubble Rake attracted competitive bidding, before eventually selling for £7,500. Richard Prentice accepts bids while Nicholas Rudge clerks.

Another entry from a local farm, this Case CS86 tractor with a Chillton MX40-85 front-end loader carried its Agri-Linc dealer stickers. It was on Alliance Agristar 420/70R24 front, and Good Year DT810 520/70R34 rear tyres with 90% and 20% tread respectively. Dating from 2002, the tractor loader combination achieved an impressive £17,000 winning bid.

There were several materials handler attachments on o er, including this Albutt round bale squeeze with pin and cone mounting brackets which sold for £700, and a Covenbrook big bag lifter with similar mounting brackets which made £590.

A winning bid of just £2,500 secured this very original and tidy Massey Ferguson 50B loader backhoe which was sold with ditching and trenching buckets. New in 1979, the digger was registered with a T-su x and had hydrostatic transmission.

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In exceptionally tidy condition for its age, this 1997 Sanderson TL7 telescopic handler carried an R-pre x registration and had recorded only 3,318 hours. With a hydraulic pick-up hitch, it attracted competitive bidding and achieved a £12,600 winning bid.

large, 20ft Warwick Bros atbed trailer with hydraulic lift was new in 1996 but remained in excellent order. It sold for £2,800.

vintage

was in very tidy condition and sold for £80.

Spread-a-Bale bale choppers and spreaders are always in demand when they appear at farm sales, and this 2019 Maxi version was no exception. In tidy condition, it sold for £7,400. Right – auctioneer, Nicholas Rudge accepts bids for the Spread-a-Bale.

Safe fuel storage and transport is a priority for farmers and contractors, and this 2015 Bailey high-speed, tandem-axle bunded mobile 2,000-litre fuel station with an electric pump ticked all the right boxes. It achieved a winning bid of £6,600.

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Johne’s “hugely

on UK sheep farms

Johne’s disease is the most important of the iceberg diseases, infecting up to 79% of sheep ocks in the UK, research suggests. Yet only 2% of farmers are thought to be aware their ocks are a ected, with the greatest nancial losses coming from subclinical cases. Sarah Kidby spoke to Dr Peers Davies, about the latest research conducted by his research group at the University of Liverpool.

The prevalence of Johne’s in sheep ocks in England, Wales and Scotland, ranges from 59–79%, according to four separate studies carried out by Dr Davies and Dr Worsley, University of Liverpool, since 2018. The gure varies in di erent parts of the country and depending on which animals are being tested, with cull ewes being the most sensitive group, as expected. Prevalence in this context is the proportion of ocks and individuals that test positive for the bacteria that causes Johne’s, not just those that develop clinical disease.

“All of the studies report very high prevalence – vastly higher than any of the other iceberg diseases, and more than double the prevalence of the next most common iceberg disease: border disease. It really pulls Johne’s out from that group of ve diseases as being the one that we need to be most aware of,” he explains.

The proportion of ewes that test positive within the ock varied even more widely, from around 2% all the way up to 75%. It’s thought this is impacted by how long Johne’s has been in the ock, how intensively the ock is managed and how genetically susceptible the breeds are.

Impact of sub-clinical cases

Most animals su ering with the disease will likely be culled for productivity reasons long before they reach the nal visible stage of the disease, typically because they scan empty, so most farms may be unaware Johne’s is the cause. A survey of nearly 650 farmers in 2013, published in 2019, revealed less than 2% of respondents knew they had Johne’s in their ocks – whereas the true gure is likely to be closer to 60–70%.

A key part of the problem, Dr Davies believes, is that we don’t use production KPIs in sheep farming enough, meaning there is a lack of quantitative data on how ocks are performing.

To focus only on animals that show overt signs of disease is “missing the point” as the biggest nancial losses “are almost certainly associated with sub-clinical disease”, he says.

Researchers consistently found a signi cantly higher number of Johne’s-positive animals in groups that scanned empty compared to

ewes who scanned in-lamb from the same ocks.

“What we think is happening is that Johne’s is causing in ammation in the gut, which is making sheep less e cient at absorbing nutrients, moving them into negative energy balance. When they’re struggling, the rst thing they’re going to sacri ce is their reproductive system and they become more likely to scan empty,” Dr Davies explains.

Ewes are therefore removed from the ock, which drives a much higher level of forced culling. “The Johne’spositive ocks are running a much younger ock, with signi cantly higher replacement costs – around 30% compared to around 22–24% typically for negative ocks.”

In infected ocks, the proportion of three-, four- and veyear-old animals drops to around half the number seen in uninfected ocks, ndings show.

“This has a massive impact because we're taking ewes out when they should be at their most productive in their third and fourth pregnancy, but those culls aren’t always being investigated.”

Testing and control

A blood sample is available but can only pick up Johne’s at a very late stage and cannot di erentiate between vaccinated animals and those with natural antibodies. Faecal PCR tests are more sensitive and for that reason should be used by vets for screening. Laboratories have done far more work on cattle PCR tests than sheep so there is a lot of

variability between labs; Dr Davies says he has found the APHA lab to be particularly sensitive and appropriate for screening.

To detect whether Johne’s is present, Dr Davies recommends four pools of ve samples each from cull ewes. To understand how the presence of Johne’s might be causing losses in the ock, farmers and their vets can test two or more pools of cull ewes and an equal number of pools made up of healthy, in-lamb ewes to determine if there are more positive pools among the cull ewes.

Unlike other diseases such as Maedi Visna, the test and cull approach does not work with Johne’s, as the diagnostic tests cannot pick up infections early enough, Dr Davies advises. Management approaches to reducing transmission and infection are generally very labour intensive and “extremely di cult to the point of being impractical” for commercial lamb producers.

Vaccination is often the most straightforward method of control, he adds. A one-shot-for-life vaccine, Gudair, is available and costs around £3 per dose. The decision whether or not to vaccinate is one to take in consultation with your vet. Where it is deemed to be appropriate Dr Davies recommends only vaccinating replacements to minimise wasted doses and adverse reactions. The vaccine must be used in early life to be e ective – between 1–6 months old, but ideally around 4–5.5 months of age, he says. Farmers should be thinking about vaccinating after weaning.

Dr Davies and Dr Worsley are currently working to develop a calculator allowing farmers to input their replacement costs and ock fertility to determine what Johne’s is costing them, and therefore if it is cost e ective to vaccinate. FG

under-recognised”

to catch a killer

Johne’s Disease is a ‘silent killer’ known to be present on 64% of farms tested*. Many of these farmers were unaware their flock was infected. You may have those sheep that just don’t do well, even though their teeth seem perfect and they are not lame. The affected animals literally waste away. These are signs that you may have Johne’s Disease in your flock.

Lambs may have been infected at birth but Johne’s Disease does not show noticeable clinical signs until sheep are 2-4 years old. They can be shedding bacteria well before they show signs of disease, causing infection to spread throughout the flock unnoticed.

Gudair® is a one shot vaccine against Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, shown to reduce mortality by 90% in infected herds** and significantly reduce the impact of clinical disease.

% 64 OF UK FLOCKS INFECTED*

Sheep health: Small changes for big returns

After the government recently launched the rst stage of its Animal Health and Welfare Pathway, Sarah Kidby spoke to sheep vet Charlotte Mouland, of Synergy Farm Health, about how sheep farmers can get the most out of the funded annual vet visit.

After delays to the roll out of some government grant schemes, it was announced in February that livestock farmers can register for a funded annual vet visit under the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway. For sheep, £436 funding is available for eligible farmers with 21 or more sheep. Whilst the government has key health priorities for each livestock sector, the review will be highly speci c to each farm, and is designed to go above and beyond normal health planning. Areas that sheep farmers may want to explore include iceberg screening of ewes; investigating lameness; nutrition work, particularly at the time of lambing; or trace element pro les. Alternatively there may be more speci c issues such as neonatal lamb losses, growth rates or fertility (e.g.

barren rates etc). Practical things farmers may wish to do with the vet time include ram MOTs, semen testing, blood sampling or body condition scoring of ewes.

To make sure you get the most out of the scheme, Charlotte recommends trying to nd a sheep-interested vet and having a discussion ahead of the review visit, using some key performance indicators to ascertain the areas you need to focus on.

Under the scheme farmers are required to complete faecal worm egg counts. Ninety-eight per cent of farms are thought to have anthelmintic resistance to at least one of the

products available. “Gut worms are a huge drain on lamb growth rates and using drenches that aren’t working properly is a waste of time and money. We need to come up with a sustainable plan for using the products that work for that farm, in that location, at that time of year. And the only way to do that is to establish what’s working for you.”

After the review farmers will receive a report with recommendations on how to target key health priorities. “Small changes in management can lead to big changes in productivity, whether that’s chasing down a barren percentage or working on strategies to increase lamb survival, lameness strategies or working to increase the body condition score of ewes. It’s about making hopefully subtle management changes to increase ock productivity and pro tability,” she said.

One ock Charlotte works with managed to reduce their neonatal lamb losses from around 30% to less than 10% after some fairly simple bloodwork revealed an iodine de ciency. “That’s a huge increase in lambs for sale at the end of the season from not a

huge amount of investment.”

Similarly, treating lame sheep is costly both in terms of medication and time so investing in a vaccination programme could lead to greater return on investment, she added. “We know that in ocks with higher than 2% lameness, there’s a cost bene t of using Footvax, the only UK licensed vaccine for foot rot. Simple changes like that can make a big di erence.”

Whilst the review will be speci c to each farm, the government’s key health priorities are:

• Internal and external parasites, mastitis, iceberg diseases and those inducing abortion

• Lameness – as the biggest driver of antibiotic use, this is high on the agenda from a welfare and antibiotic guardianship point of view, Charlotte said

• Ewe sustainability and optimising body condition

• Improving pain management during tail docking and castration.

Biosecurity, while not speci cally

mentioned on the government’s priority list, is another area sheep farmers may wish to consider, particularly if they’re buying and selling sheep.

Industry reputation and global trading, for example with EU countries, could also bene t from making improvements in some of these areas. “Lame sheep are very visible on the side of the road,” Charlotte noted. “There is also a big conversation to be had around opinions on tailing and castrating,

Eprecis contains Eprinomectin, a highly effective endectocide against gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep(1)

Highly effective in lactating sheep compared to an eprinomectin pour-on(2)

With >99% efficacy in lactating ewes compared to untreated animals(3)

Eprecis injection is associated with increased milk yield in treated ewes compared to untreated(4)

Zero milk withhold(5), ideal for milking flocks

Subcutaneous injection with good syringeability and low dose rate 0.1ml/10kg(6)

No need to part the fleece along the animal’s back

consumer perceptions on that and what we can do to improve –whether we can o er better pain relief and nd ways to reduce, re ne and replace those methods.”

There are, however, limitations on available pain relief as there are no licensed products for sheep –

although products like Meloxicam can be used via the cascade under veterinary direction.

To nd out more speak to your vet or to register visit https://applyfor-an-annual-health-and-welfarereview.defra.gov.uk/apply/registeryour-interest FG

Injectable wormer now available for sheep

The targeted, zero-milk withdrawal injectable wormer Eprecis is now available for use in sheep and goats as well as cattle. Eprecis contains eprinomectin as its active ingredient and is an easy to administer, highly e ective endectocide with broad spectrum activity against gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep, according to Ceva Animal Health.

In sheep, the e cacy of Eprecis injection against gastrointestinal nematodes is 99.6% versus 86.1% for a pour-on formulation (Bordes et al, 2020). Furthermore, the same study showed Eprecis is associated with higher plasma levels of eprinomectin and has a higher e cacy compared to eprinomectin pour-on in dairy ewes naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes. This is also achieved using ve times less active than a pour-on formulation.

The injection can be given subcutaneously and there is no need to part the eece or coat along the animal’s back. It has excellent syringeability and a low dose volume (0.1ml/10kg) allowing accurate dosing of animals, Ceva says.

It is available in 100ml and 250ml CLAS vials, which research shows are 33% better for the environment than glass vials, are shock resistant and ergonomically shaped for ease of handling (references available on request).

For further information contact your local Ceva Animal Health territory manager or contact Ceva directly.

Top tips for hygiene at lambing time

Hygiene around lambing is a crucial aspect of sheep farming. The impact of high levels of hygiene cannot be understated, playing a key role in preventing the spread of infection and disease amongst your ock. Rebecca Downing, of Westpoint Farm Vets, shares her advice.

Some simple, a ordable, and achievable changes can often be implemented to achieve a reduction in disease, medicine usage and lamb mortality.

Hands: Lack of hand hygiene is one of the main causes of disease transmission between animals. The introduction of bacteria from unwashed hands into lambs’ mouths and

ewes’ teats can overwhelm the animal’s natural defences and result in the development of watery mouth in lambs and mastitis in ewes. To combat this:

• Wash hands with diluted disinfectant solution before assisting with lambings, when handling lambs and when checking suckle re ex

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• Wear arm-length disposable plastic gloves during assisted lambings

• Change gloves or wash hands between each ewe, especially when checking her bag.

Lambing pen: A high load of bacteria in the environment causes stress on young lambs and their immune systems, which aren’t fully developed until later in life. This can limit growth rates, as ghting o infection uses valuable energy which could otherwise be put into growing.

Individual lambing pens should be cleaned, disinfected and rebedded between each use, and the same done regularly for group pens. Straw is one of the cheapest and most e cient ways to maintain a hygienic environment as it keeps lambs dry and away from bacteria. When bedded deeply it also helps to provide a warm environment, therefore reducing the risk of hypothermia developing.

After lambing: Dip navels with 10% iodine as soon as possible after birth to prevent navel and joint ill, as the umbilicus remains open for a time after birth, providing a fast-track route for bacteria to enter a lamb’s system.

If supplementing colostrum, take steps to ensure that is has been freshly made up or stripped o ; avoid using colostrum that has sat uncovered in a bucket for any length of time as this is the perfect medium for bacterial growth. Ensure that the container and feeding equipment such as stomach tubes have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. This also applies for any bottle-fed lambs. FG

info@hydor.co.uk | 01725 511422

Ms Jones lambs 400 primarily Beulah Speckled Face ewes from 10th March onwards, and would traditionally blanket treat all ewes with a wormer in May. But with the support of independent sheep consultant Lesley Stubbings (pictured), who was

involved in the research project, she was able to target wormer use to only those ewes that needed it, cutting total wormer use last year to just 37%.

The study, a European Innovation Partnership project, found nutritional stress, as measured by a loss in body

condition score (BCS), was the key to determining which ewes had the highest faecal egg count (FEC) and when this occurred relative to lambing.

Previous advice has been to only worm ewes with a low body condition score, but following recent research, the recommendation is now to target ewes losing body condition in the six weeks up to lambing.

On Ms Jones’s farm, ewes are body condition scored at scanning and then again when given their clostridial vaccine in mid-February. Anything that has lost condition is marked and drenched with the long-acting wormer Cydectin 2% LA at lambing.

Cydectin 2% Long-Acting Injection has a worm persistency period of up to 111 days. Its long persistency means it can help reduce the risk of pasture contamination and therefore reduce the need to treat the lambs, saving time and money, and reducing the number of wormer doses on the farm. However, its use must be considered carefully to get a balance between preventing anthelmintic resistance and controlling worms.

Although the data is yet to be analysed, Ms Jones believes the new worming policy has resulted in

fewer worm counts in the lambs and treatments.

"We regularly FEC lambs from six weeks old until they are sold. We think we used less drench in the lambs last year, but we will know once we have analysed the data.

"Working with Lesley has given me the con dence to move away from blanket treating and only to target those ewes that need it. We must do what we can to reduce wormer resistance," she added.

While the project has now ended, Ms Jones has continued to target wormer use in the same way, earmarking ewes losing body condition this year, to be targeted with Cydectin at lambing.

Ms Stubbings commented: "Just because you have a low body condition score ewe, it doesn't necessarily mean they are the ones to treat. It's those ewes that are losing condition that are the ones to target," she said.

“By worming in this way and using a long-acting product, farmers can reduce pasture contamination without blanket treating ewes.”

Zoetis vet Ally Ward urged farmers to embrace the new advice from the study and use Cydectin responsibly, working with animal health advisers to understand what’s happening on their farm. FG

Fife farm impressed with sheep handling system

Balcaskie Estate is in the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland and covers 2,000ha with a mixture of let farms and in-hand farming operations. Last year, they purchased a Racewell HD4 Sheep Handler from Te Pari.

Shepherd Ewan Ramage commented: “The Racewell Handler has been great to work with, it’s been very simple to set up. Generally, we use it for drafting lambs, getting weights for them; we can put them into separate groups so we know roughly what lambs are ready to go this week and we know roughly how many lambs we’ve got to go the next time, but we also use it for drenching lambs, crutching ewes, and just general sheep work really.

“It has a tipping mechanism on it so we can tip the ewes out and open the back up so we can go in and see bags, feet, tail ewes anything like that.”

Giles from Te Pari delivered the system and stayed on the farm for an hour to make sure it was set up they way wanted – “he’s been brilliant”, Ewan added.

The system has resulted in less aches and pains at the end of the day as less bending and manual labour is required. “Any sort of tool that can help like that is a big bonus for the farming community,” Ewan concluded.

Find out more at www.tepari. com or contact the company directly. FG

Forage Analysis Assurance Group

email: roberta@faagroup.co.uk

www.faagroup.co.uk

Feed Adviser Register

email: far@agindustries.org.uk

www.agindustries.org.uk/feed-adviser-register.html

Managing mineral nutrition and SARA in spring calvers

that Omya’s product gave the highest calcium availability at 94.4%.

SARA risk

One of the problems caused by feeding cows on high starch, low bre diets with large amounts of fermentable carbohydrates is the risk of SARA. “SARA is more common early in the lactation,” says Mr Bonsall. “There is also evidence that cows in their rst lactation are at a higher risk of acidosis. It’s important to remember that SARA isn’t just likely during housing, grazed cows are also at risk because spring grass is high in sugar and low in bre.”

SARA is caused by the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in the rumen. As feed is digested, VFAs including acetate, propionate and butyrate are produced. If this happens quickly, as it does with high sugar and starch rations, then the pH in the rumen drops. An animal is said to be su ering from SARA if the pH stays low (between 5.2 and 6) for a prolonged period each day.

The prolonged decrease in rumen pH leads to changes in the microbial population and can damage the lining of the rumen. Symptoms include reduced feed intake, weight loss, decreased milk production, and lameness.

The addition of a calcium carbonate-based bu er such as OmyaFeed C MgO to a high energy ration will help manage nutrition in two ways. Firstly, by providing readily available calcium and magnesium nutrition to the lactating cow, and secondly, bu ering rumen pH to prevent the incidence of sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA).

“OmyaFeed C MgO is a compacted feed supplement made from micronized ground calcium carbonate and magnesium oxide,” he says. “When added to the ration as a supplement, it o ers farmers an e ective solution for SARA and helps prevent mineral de ciencies in both housed and grazing systems.”

The calcium and magnesium in OmyaFeed C MgO are readily bio-available, which is particularly important for dairy cows. Calcium is a key component of milk, with about 1.2g of calcium in every litre of milk produced. Mr Bonsall explains: “A lactating cow needs up to four times more calcium than a dry cow. If she doesn’t get enough calcium, milk yield and quality su er.”

Meeting demands

During early lactation, when milk production is highest, the demand for calcium is also at its peak. A cow producing 30kg of milk per day may require up to 60g of calcium per day to maintain milk production and prevent metabolic disorders such as milk fever. It is generally acknowledged that calcium is more readily available to the cow when provided as a mineral supplement than as part of forage or other feedstu s.

Magnesium is an essential nutrient for many physiological processes in dairy cows, from bre degradation in the rumen to milk fat synthesis in the mammary tissue. It’s important that the

magnesium source is easily absorbed otherwise de ciency will follow, alongside symptoms of grass staggers.

Mr Bonsall says OmyaFeed C MgO has proven bioavailability for dairy cows, as shown in independent trials at IRTA in Spain. “We measured calcium and magnesium absorption in dairy cows and found that even with lower calcium intake in the cows fed with OmyaFeed C MgO, there was no signi cant di erence in the amount of calcium digested. That shows more e cient calcium absorption. For magnesium, the intake was a bit higher, but the absorption di erence was 60% higher compared with a conventional mix.”

In another trial, scientists measured calcium absorption of OmyaFeed C MgO against seven commercially available products and found

SARA can be prevented by adding OmyaFeed C MgO to the ration, Mr Bonsall notes. It is required in lower amounts than other rumen bu ers, such as sodium bicarbonate, at only 130g per cow per day. This creates space in the ration for other feedstu s or can help reduce the overall ration cost. In trials, cows supplemented with OmyaFeed C MgO spent fewer hours per day with pH lower than 5.8 than those supplemented with sodium bicarbonate, without a ecting milk yield or fat content. Milk proteins were also higher, which gave a better fat: protein ratio.

Mr Bonsall concludes: “OmyaFeed C MgO is proven to both prevent and cure SARA as well as providing readily available calcium and magnesium to the lactating cow. Because of its formulation, it is palatable, breaks down easily on ingestion and is easily incorporated into the feed mix without settling out. At only 7p per cow per day, it o ers dairy farmers a cost-e ective way of maintaining healthy cows and calves, whilst maintaining high volume milk production.”

For more information visit: www.omyaagriculture.com/omyafeed FG

As dairy farmers across the UK are now well into spring calving, managing nutrition is essential to ensure healthy calves and maximise milk production. Omya animal feed expert David Bonsall o ers some guidance...

Magnesium “top of the agenda” for grazing cattle this season

With recent weather variations, keeping ahead of magnesium de ciency by analysing forage and providing supplementation where appropriate will be key as cows are turned out to grass this season, advises Dr Alison Bond, technical services manager at Rumenco.

Recently calved cattle or those that were housed over winter will be particularly susceptible to magnesium de ciency, Dr Bond notes. As recent weeks have seen variations from warmer weather to

snow and sub-zero temperatures, now that temperatures are rising again and grass growth is improving, we could start to see magnesium de ciency.

Keeping on top of this is essential,

Feeding barrier and head yoke combined in one product

The Agri-Kit Comfort Self-Lock is a feeding barrier and head yoke in one, which is ideal for the safe handling of animals when working alone, the manufacturer says. This cattle headlock can be used for any animal treatment including arti cial insemination. Having a multi-purpose feed barrier removes the need for AI stalls which saves space and investment.

Key features include:

• Waved top for cow comfort

• Heavy duty product

• Can be connected for long runs

• Rubber brushed for noise reduction

• Can be adjusted for animal safety

• Reduces bullying amongst animals by providing a protected feed space

• It’s possible to operate up to 50 cattle headspaces from one operating handle

• Inclining the panels can allow total elimination of rubbing on the animals’ shoulders, neck and withers

• Junior and bull head locks are available.

Agri-Kit utilises the latest technology of laser cutting and computer controlled forming to provide cost e ective, competitively priced head yokes. All Comfort Self-Locking Yokes are hot-dipped galvanised and can be supplied at any length to meet requirements.

The self-lock features a double swing mechanism which allows the cow to pull her head out of the bottom if she loses her footing.

For further information on the Comfort Self-Lock, or a range of other comfort, feeding and drinking products, contact Wilson Agri or visit: www.wilsonagri.co.uk FG

Dr Bond says. “While the clinical signs are very obvious, potentially resulting in death quite quickly, there will be a lot of sub-clinical issues a ecting growth and intakes that we’re not aware of. Making sure there’s a magnesium supplement if required will be important.”

She adds: “Suckler cows can bene t from magnesium supplementation almost all year round. We know plenty of farms that would put a high magnesium supplement out all year round just to cover o that risk.”

As we see increasingly unpredictable weather, forecasting when magnesium de ciency may occur could become more challenging. “Even last year when we had the summer drought the weather started to pick up and that grass started to grow again. We had issues at all times of the year that wouldn’t usually be a problem.”

It’s also worth looking at minerals and vitamins overall in your forage, especially if this is not something your farm has done regularly, or if you’ve recently changed your fertiliser usage, for example, she points out. Get forages analysed to nd out what you’re working with in terms of energy, protein, mineral and vitamins – and whether forage

quality is high enough to achieve your targets. Speci c requirements will vary depending on the farm; for example for breeding suckler cows energy and copper will be important for fertility, hitting targets and getting them back in calf quickly. Blood sampling can also be useful to help build a picture of what’s going on and make better decisions.

Last summer’s drought was a prime example of the importance of planning ahead, as grass growth and energy intake dropped away when the hot weather hit, resulting in growth checks for many farms, Dr Bond says. Predictions indicate there will be high temperatures again this summer, so making a plan will be key to ensure farms are not left short. On the other extreme, very wet weather and oods can also dilute the available nutrients.

Previous studies by Rumenco have shown that supplementing with extra energy in a block or bucket towards the end of the summer can stretch out the grazing season.

As we look ahead to summer, thinking about what you want to achieve and how to make the best use of forage will be important to make sure you go into the next season in the best possible form,” Dr Bond concludes. FG

Can-Am has launched the next generation of mid-cc Outlander ATVs with the new Outlander 700 and 500, and the Outlander Pro HD7 and HD5 – the biggest Can-Am ATV launch of the past 10 years.

For 2023, the new Outlander recreational line-up includes the standard models, the DPS 500, DPS 700, X mr 700, MAX DPS, and MAX XT 700. The Outlander PRO HD7 and HD5 haul, tow, and can store more than any other ATV on the market, Can-Am claims. The new Outlander PRO utility line-up includes the standard PRO models and PRO XU models.

An all-new rear facing 650cc single cylinder, liquid cooled,

fuel injected Rotax Advanced Combustion E ciency (ACE) four-stroke engine design and con guration are complemented by a new integrated transmission design and pDrive clutch, for “class leading power and towing capabilities”. Thanks to ECU calibration and di erent camshaft designs, the 700 and PRO HD7 models have 50hp and 41ft-lb of torque, while the 500 and PRO HD5 models have 40hp and 37ft-lb of torque.

All 500 and 700 machines are equipped with the new pDrive primary CVT transmission for smoother shifting, increased durability and feature L/H/N/R/P gearing. The PRO HD5 and HD7 machines are equipped with a new pDrive primary CVT transmission that also features work calibration along with extra L/H/N/R/P gearing. Both the Outlander and Outlander PRO platforms share a selectable 2wd/4wd with Visco-Lok†, Visco-Lok† QE or Visco-4Lok with auto-locking front di erential drivetrain o ered according to the packages.

A new tubular steel chassis design, front and rear arched A-Arm suspension con guration o er the new platforms “class-leading suspension travel and ground clearance”. Both the recreational and utility models are equipped with 9.75in of double A-Arm front suspension travel with twin tube shocks upfront, and with 10.25in in the rear. The PRO models feature sti er suspension tuning to allow for working conditions and heavier payloads. The combination of the chassis and suspension design create “unrivalled” ground clearance, handling, and stability, with up to 13in of ground clearance on certain models.

WORKS HARD. DRIVES EASY.

Riders will notice increased knee room and more spacious oorboards. A thick and durable seat also takes comfort to the next level and reduces noise and chassis feedback. Complementing the new pDrive primary CVT transmission is a more ergonomically friendly shift lever with a smoother grip and re ned shifting experience.

Outlander and Outlander PRO both come standard with incredible storage capabilities, starting with the new 1-gallon integrated glove box compartment. Select models also feature a magnetic phone mount and USB port for charging devices.

The new platform is available with 125 di erent LinQ accessory options. The vehicle accessory options are broken down into three categories, front cargo area, handlebar interface and ergo zone, and rear cargo area. There are ergonomic accessories like heated grips and windshield options. Storage accessories for the front and rear of the vehicle for things like gun racks, chainsaws, and just about any other necessary tool. Utility accessory options include items like a winch, plow, and auxiliary gas can. Performance accessories include items like skid plates, snow trax, and HID lightning options. FG

Next generation of ATVs promise to deliver “unmatched value”

A natural alternative to spring fertilisers

EASy BioN is a consortium of eight di erent natural soil-borne bacterium; bacteria that cycle ‘locked in’ phosphates and potassium within the soil, converting it to plant available macro and micro-nutrients.

Arti cial fertilisers have been in use in the last 80–100 years and have greatly increased production – but at a nancial and environmental cost, resulting in higher input and maintenance expenses for farming equipment and the land. These higher input costs do not necessarily re ect on the farmer’s monetary returns.

Dave Edwards, fth generation farmer and senior director of Edwards Agricultural Supplies, advocates for land management methods that re ect the principles our great grandparents and their ancestors used to treat the land, whilst incorporating modern sustainable natural inputs.

The relationship between soil, microbiome and plant is paramount when creating healthier soils. All life requires a food source, yet many overlook the needs of the microbiome when determining their soil management plan. Bacteria populate the root zone, enabling the conversion of non-soluble minerals into plant available forms, absorbing nitrogen from the atmosphere for storage in root nodules for the plant to use as and when it needs it. They assist with the transportation of

nutrients and water to the plant, whilst feeding o the plant exudes. This symbiosis is fundamental to healthy natural crop management.

To assist in replenishing lost soil bacteria, Edwards Agricultural Supplies has worked with Biolevel, the UK’s foremost agricultural microbial product specialist, to develop EASy BioN. This is a consortium of eight di erent natural soil-borne bacterium; bacteria that cycle ‘locked in’ phosphates and potassium within the soil, converting it to plant available macro and micro-nutrients. BioN also contains nitrogen xing bacteria that absorbs atmospheric nitrogen and transports it for storage in nodules on the roots, giving the plant access to nitrogen as and when it’s needed. The atmosphere contains 78% free nitrogen. By using nitrogen xing bacteria your plant can harness up to nine months of nitrogen.

Working in synergy with EASy BioN, Edwards Agricultural Supplies has developed a proprietary blend of seaweed and humate to feed both plant and bacteria. Seaweed extract has long been known to encourage root growth, however, its mode of action is highly intricate; it has a complex biochemical composition, feeding your plant more than just chemical units. Humic substances are decomposed plant and microbial material. They are large complex molecules purported to stimulate plant root growth and development, having an almost hormone-like activity. Humic substances have an alkaline pH, which provides favourable conditions for biological activity and chemical reactions, improving the physical structure of the soil by ‘opening up’, adding oxygen and enabling the soil bacteria to further multiply and provide the plant with more nutrients.

To nd out more visit www.soiladvisory.co.uk or contact the company directly. FG

MILK IT

and make the most of the rumen buffer that gets the job done

Maximise milk yield without the risk of SARA with OmyaFeed C MgO, a palatable rumen buffer made from nely ground natural minerals. It can be used as a preventative or curative solution for SARA in high-yielding dairy cows fed a high starch, low bre diet.

Just 130g of OmyaFeed C MgO per cow per day is required for effective rumen health, compared with more than double the amount of sodium bicarbonate/calcium carbonate mix. This saves money and creates space in the ration for further feed materials. OmyaFeed C MgO is very cost effective at just 7p/cow/day.

To nd out how you can milk the advantages of OmyaFeed C MgO, contact:

David Bonsall on 07773 180664 or email david.bonsall@omya.com.

MAXIMUM MILK YIELDS WITH NO RISK OF SARA MORE SPACE IN THE RATION JUST 7p PER DAY, PER COW.

The impact of heat stress on fertility

Fertility is one of the major factors a ecting the e ciency of any dairy herd and good fertility allows for a nancial and sustainable herd. Heat stress interferes with several reproductive processes causing a noticeable depression of conception, Galebreaker writes.

The impaired reproduction is caused by an increase in body temperature when cows are exposed to heat stress conditions. Heat stress occurs when the cow is generating more heat than it can lose through its environment. Improvements to dairy production are resulting in higher yielding cows, which produce higher levels of metabolic heat. While high

yielding cows create a more e cient and sustainable business, it also means that cows can experience heat stress at lower external temperature and humidity levels.

What are the e ects of heat stress on fertility? Heat stress can impair the function of hormones, resulting in larger follicles and delayed ovulation. To cover the science brie y,

A guide to supplementing colostrum at calving

larger follicles may contain postmature eggs that are not competent for fertilisation. Some studies show that heat stress depresses LH secretion and compromises its function, which releases the egg at the wrong time (Wolfenson & Roth, 2019). In addition, heat stress increases the secretion of FHS causing the larger number of follicles growing. Heat stress also a ects the development and rate of growth of the early embryo, resulting in early embryonic loss (Dei, 2020).

How do you know if heat stress is a ecting fertility? Farmers often look at milk yield as an indicator of heat stress. However, data collected

IgG, which equates to 22 Brix when measured with a refractometer. In new guidelines, it is now recommended calves receive a minimum of three litres within the rst two hours of life and additional 3–4 litres within 6–12 hours of birth – for a total of 6–7 litres of high-quality colostrum within its rst 12 hours of life.

“To be delivered to the blood supply, IgG molecules are absorbed by the small intestine, and rapidly decline after 12 hours of life. This makes timing critical to maternal colostrum absorption,” adds Ms Hall.

To meet the recommended benchmarks for passive transfer, she recommends producers stop relying on calves to suckle unsupervised and to test colostrum quality with a refractometer.

by Mark Scott (Cargill) suggests that milk protein yield drops at a Temperature Humidity Index (THI) of 68; however, at a THI of 57 oestrus activity reduces inseminations in the herd and at a THI 65 conception rates drops. So, before milk yield even begins to drop fertility has already been detrimentally a ected and if the THI is sustained for longer than a 24-hour period or occurs on consecutive days then it is likely to a ect fertility for a further three weeks (Mark Scott, Cargill).

If you are an all-year-round calving herd then the sustained heat during July and August could continue to cause you problems the following spring, with a disruption to the calving pattern resulting in a gap in calves being born.

To reduce heat stress, building design should be assessed to ensure there is su cient inlet of air and an outlet for the exhaust of warm, stale air (e.g. open ridge). Natural ventilation can be increased by removing boarding and exchanging for a product which allows variable ventilation, and also provides weather protection when needed. Mechanical ventilation such as traditional fans or innovative cooling tubes can further enhance cooling within the shed. FG

being delivered into the rumen.”

When colostrum quality is below the recommended 22 Brix or below the minimum six litres, supplementation is required. To capture the bene t of passive immunity from on-farm pathogens, Ms Hall recommends maternal dam colostrum from a cow on the same farm. When it is not available or is going to take too long to thaw out for the rst feed, supplement with a full fat colostrum powder sourced from UK herds like Nettex’s Calf Colostrum Double Strength. This can support calf performance when calves are not receiving su cient good quality maternal colostrum. It also contains growth factors, hormones, vitamins and minerals.

Industry research has found 61% of dairy calves and 20% of suckler calves left to suckle the dam for colostrum did not receive enough IgG antibodies for successful passive transfer.

Emily Hall, livestock farmer and product manager for Nettex, says: “Passive transfer of diseaseghting antibodies from the

dam is reliant on feeding enough high-quality maternal colostrum as quickly as possible after birth. Simple management measures can be taken to ensure more passive transfer success rates to give calves a stronger start to life.”

For successful passive transfer of IgG antibodies, colostrum quality needs to be a minimum of 50g/l

“Studies have found 20–25% of calves don’t feed from the dam within the rst eight hours of life and few consume enough colostrum within the peak absorption window. Feeding colostrum via a bottle is preferable since the sucking re ex allows milk to go straight into the abomasum for fast absorption by the small intestine. While tubing is preferable to leaving the calf to suckle the dam, it will delay absorption by 2–4 hours due to

Collected from Scottish farms speci cally for UK herds, Nettex’s colostrum range is free from TB, Johne’s and EBL. It is also of known quality and has been tested for safety and e cacy – giving producers a quick and convenient colostrum supplement. Ms

Hall concludes: “Calf Colostrum Double Strength is a great option to deliver high quality bovine colostrum to calves in a short amount of time.” FG

Here’s how and when to supplement calves with colostrum to ensure a good start to life.

Grants available to help farmers in England

Shearwell Data has provided a handy guide to equipment available under the Farm Equipment and Technology Fund 2023.

FETF grants o er farmers in England a contribution towards the cost of buying new technology or equipment from an approved list of ‘productivity and slurry’ items and ‘animal health and welfare’ items. Grants range from a minimum of £1,000 to a maximum of £25,000 per theme.

Shearwell Data supports livestock farmers with ear tags, EID readers, software, handling and husbandry equipment. As a farmer-owned business, Shearwell Data says it understands farmers’ needs and challenges. All products are trialled on its own farms before going into production.

The company has a variety of products for sheep and cattle that are eligible for grant funding, including its Stick Reader, X6 Stock Recorder, Weigh Head, Panel

Readers and Sheep Auto Drafting Crate. Visit www. shearwell.co.uk to view the company’s handy guide to Shearwell’s eligible products.

If you live in central or eastern England and would like more information, please contact Liz Speller directly or call Shearwell’s head o ce. FG

Increasing fertility with optimal heat detection

Serving the right cow at the right time is crucial for high reproduction rates. Precise heat detection puts farmers one step ahead in fertility management, smaXtec explains.

High conception rates and overall fertility are critical to the economic success of dairy farms and to improving overall herd health and productivity. However, visual oestrus detection requires many factors to be considered and is very time-consuming.

With its unique bolus technology, smaXtec says it o ers much more than a traditional heat

detection system. Thanks to the unique position of the smaXtec bolus and the highly accurate measurement of inner body temperature, drinking behaviour, rumination and activity, the system provides “unrivalled data” from inside the cow. This allows the best possible insights into herd’s health and reproduction, reducing the need for intensive visual observation by the

farmer, the company explains.

With smaXtec sending heat detection alerts via phone or PC, farmers can be con dent that the cows can be served at the right time. Farmers can signi cantly increase insemination success while reducing hormone use, labour and thus costs due to missed heats. Not only does smaXtec detect cows in heat, but it also indicates the optimal insemination time window. This results in a higher conception rate, better calving index and, ultimately, improved pro tability, smaXtec continues.

Using smaXtec, farmers have access to insights on an individual animal and herd level information around the clock. Customers report that they have achieved higher fertility rates and shorter calving intervals as a result of the system. One of them is Peter Wood from Derbyshire: “We nd that the heat detection from smaXtec is second to none. Our conception rates have lifted because of this reason. The calving index has improved by 18 days since we started using smaXtec. So, putting it into real terms, money: smaXtec has paid for itself already, just on the calving index.”

Early detection of diseases and improving overall herd health is equally as important and a key factor of reproductive success on any dairy farm. By measuring cow health data continuously and precisely, smaXtec o ers an outstanding system for early disease detection, allowing for the earliest possible intervention when necessary. This way, smaXtec enables farmers to manage their herds in a proactive rather than reactive way, ensuring consistently high milk yields and pro tability. FG

Time management is the key to a successful calving season

Farmers who manage their time correctly during calving season will save money as well as a lot of hardship. Whether you farm full time or part time, there is an a ordable way to make this challenging time of the year a lot easier, says Moocall.

Calf mortality throughout calving season is most often caused as a result of dystocia problems or di culties during labour. The majority of losses occur with heifers who can tend to have a more stressful rst time calving or cows that are in calf to a known di cult calving sire.

Close attention and early intervention where possible is required in order to ensure any signs of complications can be addressed by the farmer when needs be. From here, you can take the necessary steps in order to pull a live calf to the ground and give it the best start to life.

According to Teagasc, all farmers need to target their mortality rate to be as low as 2.5% at birth and no more than 5% at 28 days.

The Moocall Calving Sensor is a

non-invasive, tail mounted device that is “absolutely invaluable” when it comes to time management at calving. It measures the cow’s spinal contractions and tail movements to accurately predict the onset of calving to the nearest hour.

As a farmer, all you need to do is turn the device on and place it opposite the vulva on the cow’s tail. Moocall will then notify you by text message and app notification once calving activity is taking place. With over seven years on the market and over 16,000 customers worldwide, the company says it has proven what a valuable piece of technology its Calving Sensor is and all the great benefits it can bring to farmers.

Visit www.moocall.com or contact Moocall directly for more information. FG

Taking steps to improve reproductive success

Heat stress considerably reduces fertility in lactating dairy cows and impacts the reproductive system weeks before ovulation. Hormone levels fall and oestrous expression is reduced, making it harder to detect cows in heat, explains Gary Walker, Dalton Engineering.

Inseminated cows also have reduced conception rates and a rise in early embryonic loss is common as newly formed embryos are less heat tolerant during days 0-7 of development. Consequently, days open will rise.

Heat stressed dry cows reduce DMI with negative implications for milk production in the next lactation. In-utero heat stress can permanently change tissue structure and function in o spring. Studies show calves from heat stressed mothers have lower birthweights, impaired colostrum absorption

and potentially reduced immune function and lower liveweight gains. The resulting milk production of daughters from heat stressed mothers is negatively impacted for up to three lactations. The productive life of daughters and granddaughters is also reduced. Taking measures to alleviate heat stress in milking and dry cows is crucial to reproductive success. Improving ventilation and providing high speed air using fans to aid in the cooling of cows is a management decision. Make adjustments to housing to reduce the severity of the heat stress experienced by cows, and target high risk areas such as collecting yards where heat production and humidity is high. Targeting the lying areas will reduce standing times – and do not forget the dry cows! FG

Holiday let proves a huge success for Somerset farmers

consistently high number of bookings they achieve for us, but they’ve also helped us enormously by connecting us to trusted partners such as hot tub and accommodation providers – all of whom are vital in us achieving the high standards that keep our customers coming back for more.”

Determination to keep innovating

Having sold his international pig breeding business in 2014, Jeremy Barber and his wife Sarah diversi ed into holiday lets and have managed to achieve consistently high bookings and customer reviews. We spoke to them to nd out the secret to their success. Ask Jeremy and Sarah what they are most proud of about their award-winning holiday let business, and the answer is quick and clear – the reviews. Set within 350 acres of rolling woodland countryside on the Devon/Somerset border, Peckmoor Farm Lodges has become one of self-catering specialist Hoseasons’ most popular locations over the last seven years, boasting an impressive average customer review score of 9.7/10.

It’s exactly what the couple hoped for when they made the decision to sell Jeremy’s international pig breeding business in 2014 and diversify into holiday lets. Opening with just three units in 2016, the pair have since added a further 13 luxury log lodges, with the most recent arriving last summer.

Hoseasons has been Jeremy and Sarah’s exclusive agent from the start, helping not only to market the location and secure bookings, but also to provide access to its large network of industry contacts and suppliers – something Jeremy says has been vital in achieving Peckmoor’s signature high-end vibe.

“We’ve built a very good exclusive relationship with Hoseasons over the years based on the

Luke Hansford was a business development manager when he rst visited Jeremy and Sarah at their working farm nine years ago. Now senior vice president business development UK at Hoseasons’ parent company Awaze, he says Peckmoor is the perfect example of what can be achieved when a farmer with land and a drive to succeed works in partnership with the experts in self-catering holiday lets.

“It’s incredible to think what these guys have achieved in what is a comparatively short space of time when it comes to vacation rentals. When I visited for the rst time, it was clear Jeremy and Sarah had a clear vision of what they wanted to achieve, but they had a lot of work to do to get there. They were so passionate about the type of location and service they wanted to o er and I’m proud that we’ve been there every step of the way to help them on that journey. Peckmoor really is one of our most outstanding performers in terms of bookings and repeat bookings now and that’s in no small part down to their determination to keep innovating and investing to make sure they stand out from the competition.”

The ner things

Peckmoor is currently part of Hoseasons’ Autograph Lodge Holidays Collection – 62 luxury lodge escapes aimed at couples looking for an indulgent UK getaway featuring the ner things

in life, including bubbling hot tubs, u y towels and luxury toiletries.

But such has been its popularity in recent years, it will soon feature as one of six locations invited by Hoseasons to launch its soon-to-be available Autograph Plus range – a collection of the ‘best of the best’ Autograph locations that have really gone the extra mile to give their customers an even greater holiday experience.

So what’s next for Peckmoor? Jeremy knows he has to keep looking forward to stay relevant and attract new customers. The farm already has planning permission for another two lodges and Jeremy is also looking into ways to make the park more energy e cient, but the next innovation looks like it could be of the four-legged variety:

“The fact we are a working farm is a big draw for our guests,” he says, adding: “Not only do they get to relax in a beautiful countryside setting, they also get to experience nature close up in a way many people don’t get a chance to. We’re into the lambing season now and guests also love getting up close to our horses, alpacas, pygmy goats and Highland cattle. I’d also love to get some more exotic animals too. A zebra is on my wish list but I’m going to have to get that one past Sarah before it happens!”

Luke Hansford adds: “We are incredibly proud of our partnership with Peckmoor Farm Lodges, and we share Sarah and Jeremy’s excitement as we look ahead to the future of their holiday rental accommodation.”

If you have a farm diversi cation project in mind and would like to nd out more about how Hoseasons can help you bring your vision to market, visit www.hoseasons. co.uk/market-through-us or contact the team directly. FG

DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS RESTORE OUR HABITATS

A NEW PLAN FOR THE PLANET

Biodiversity Net Gain provides a huge opportunity for landowners and farmers in England to diversify their income and build long-term business resilience through habitat creation.

Here at Environment Bank, we have developed a risk-free model enabling easy access to this new income stream. It maximises the value of

Earn over £27,000 for every hectare of habitat

creation

low-yielding land over 20 hectares and secures guaranteed payments for a 30 year term that start immediately on lease completion.

Species-rich grassland, woodland, rewilding sites or wetland – join the many farmers diversifying their income and rewriting futures by creating amazing spaces to restore nature. Visit

Habitat banks creating a net gain for English farmers

Planting has begun on a farm in Buckinghamshire as part of a nationwide scheme to restore nature through biodiversity net gain (BNG). We talked to landowner Joseph Soul about his involvement in the privately funded Environment Bank scheme, which is already providing an alternative income stream for him and many others.

Environment Bank is the UK’s market leader specialising in biodiversity net gain (BNG) units. Under the Environment Act 2021, BNG will be mandatory for new developments and infrastructure projects from November this year. It is working with a range of farmers and landowners across England to identify parcels of land (typically upwards of 20ha in size) where a signi cant uplift in biodiversity can be made through creating habitat banks.

Currently, habitat creation is happening at quite a pace. There are 20 sites underway and an additional 60 scheduled to commence over the year ahead.

Planting the seed

One such site is in Milton Keynes where planting has begun on a 38ha site nestled between existing forests and an ancient woodland. Wood Farm in Emberton is owned by Joseph Soul (pictured above). Joseph was looking to diversify the income of his farm by creating high-quality, landscape-scale habitats including neutral grassland, lowland meadow, hedgerows, and dense scrub. He already has a campsite on his land, so he was eager to diversify in a way that would complement this business enterprise and yet still work alongside crop cultivation and grazing.

Environment Bank works with landowners and farmers to ensure

that their land is converted in a way that will bene t their needs as much as the needs of nature. In Joseph’s case, it was considered that a greater range of nature would increase the quality of the land, create a better landscape to visit whilst ensuring long term business viability through numerous income streams.

He said: “I have worked throughout the process with a team of expert ecologists who seem to have no end to their knowledge. As much as I know my land, they know exactly which species and habitats will bene t its unique needs and increase its quality for years to come.”

This restoration project will be fully established over the next 10 years, and it will be subject to continuous monitoring and support from Environment Bank’s team of expert ecologists throughout this period. It will then be maintained and managed for a minimum of 30 years by Joseph to generate income for a xed term and potentially beyond.

About habitat banking

The concept of habitat banks was pioneered by prominent ecologist Professor David Hill CBE, one of the founding members of Natural England. His team are now working with farmers and landowners across England, tapping into thousands of hectares of land to restore our natural habitats. Environment Bank

says its work is pivotal to the achievement of the government's ambitions for nature recovery and a net-zero future.

Habitat banks need to be secured on land for at least 30 years, prior to the November 2023 legal requirement of the Environment Act 2021 deadline that all planning permissions granted in England will have to deliver at least 10% biodiversity net gain.

Since launching its multi-awardwinning habitat bank scheme last year, Environment Bank has seen enquiries soar, and it is looking to establish over 2,000ha of habitat banks over the next few years.

In return for managing the habitat, farmers and landowners receive funding for a minimum of 30 years. This opens up a new avenue of welcome economic yield for many rural communities, who have struggled nancially with Brexit in recent years, and now, the cost-of-living crisis.

Financial bene ts

A crucial bene t of Environment Bank establishing a habitat bank for farmers is that they retain ownership of the land, with Environment Bank taking a lease interest. The management plan is tailored to suit the landowner’s existing land management strategy and sources of funding, as well as ensuring the most tax-e cient solution.

Environment Bank pays up to £27,000 per hectare over a 30-year period with xed annual uplifts to counter in ation for the management and lease of the land, as well as a generous welcome bonus. Being already fully funded, Environment Bank typically arranges lease and management payments within 20 weeks of registration, and covers all costs for establishing and managing the habitat banks, extending to legal and tax advice where appropriate. It has a ready-made solution, so unlike brokerage models, farmers do not have to manage the complex implementation process or take any of the risk of the scheme failing. All of that sits with Environment Bank.

To talk about creating a habitat bank on your land, contact Environment Bank directly or visit www.environmentbank.com for further information. FG

Potential tax impacts of diversification

As farmers continue to be encouraged to diversify their businesses, as well as making decisions on what the diversi cation will involve, there are also the hurdles of local planning and funding constraints. Not to be forgotten are the potential tax impacts of the diversi cation and early thought should be given to these, advises Ensors agricultural consultant Graham Page (pictured).

partnerships, but extraction of funds for the proprietors’ own needs will impact on the overall tax charge of the operation and will need some careful planning.

Farm holiday lets proving a popular choice with the public

to these taxes is

Salter & Mckenna has undertaken a number of projects providing accommodation on farm; these include, holiday lets, shing and shooting lodges. These are proving to be very popular with the public and provide a very good source of income.

considered. Many

The mode of operation needs to be considered. Many diversi ed enterprises are administered through limited companies that are created either from the outset or after the early years of operation.

Despite the imminent increase in corporation tax rates, limited companies generally pay a lower rate of tax on their pro ts in comparison to sole trades or

Capital Taxation is another important area covering both Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax. Generally, the exposure to these taxes is reduced where the diversi cation consists of conducting a trading business, as opposed to rental generation which is considered more along the lines of an investment activity.

a trading considered the lines of an

Finally, VAT will need some thought. Diversi cation can create some signi cant issues over recoverability of VAT and the competitiveness of pricing of the end product, but with careful planning the financial effects can be minimised. FG

MAKING OUR AVAILABLE EXPERTISE

High-quality units provide yearround income; although occupancy rates are lower in the winter, good quality accommodation with heating and electric are still proving popular for mid-winter breaks.

Planning and Building Control is required for these units. Ensuring you comply with the regulations is important and ensures that you end up with a high quality and safe product and that you comply with legislation.

There is a wide range of units from converted barns to new bespoke units.

The process starts with an appraisal of your site; this will include assessing your target market. You can apply to the council for pre-application advice prior to submitting a planning

application, or just submit a planning application. The pre-application advice that the council provides is often useful particularly if you are constructing a new building, as they will indicate what the council considers acceptable and what the key planning issues are. The planning process takes around eight weeks from validation to getting a decision; sometimes it may take longer and this usually occurs when the council requires more information.

If you are considering this form of diversi cation, then Alice or Cameron at Salter & Mckenna would be pleased to help you through the decision making and planning process. FG

Creating a brighter future with trees on farms

A Norfolk farmer is helping to fight the nature and climate crises with hundreds of native trees.

Watching his young woodland grow is bringing joy to sixth-generation farmer George Atkin and his family. The new native trees, including oak, wild cherry and Scots pine, were planted to capture carbon and create wildlife habitats. Planted in winter 2016 with help from the Woodland Trust, the 283-hectare mixed farm in west Norfolk is already reaping the benefits.

Investing in tomorrow

George planted half a hectare of trees, filling gaps in the canopy of an existing wood and creating a new block of woodland close to the farmhouse. The Trust’s MOREwoods scheme was the perfect fit for the project, providing expert planting advice and subsidised trees from assured tree nurseries.

“These woods marked the start of an environmental journey for me, the foundation of ensuring the farm is passed on in a better condition for the next generation,” George explains.

Planting and management

Once the saplings were dug in, wood chip was laid to retain moisture in the light, sandy soils. A 400m hedge was also planted to link up the two woods, acting as an important corridor to help wildlife move between them.

“I had a great deal of help from friends,” George continues. “It was very hard work over the course of two weeks, but well worth it in the end!”

The new trees are now partly managed as coppice to provide wood fuel for the farmhouse, and partly for nature, where the understory will be improved with shade-loving woodland

species. Now hooked on planting, George has already created a traditional orchard full of local varieties too.

Exploring more opportunities

With an appetite for more trees, an agroforestry system could be on the horizon for George. This would involve planting native trees in alleys between arable crops which could then be harvested for fuel or timber.

“I am very thankful to the Woodland Trust,” concludes George, “not only for the trees but more importantly UK sourced woodland regeneration and new plantings. I hope they continue to help communities, schools, farms, landowners and individuals to do their bit for improving and increasing our country’s native woodland.”

Start planting with subsidised schemes

From creating a shelterbelt to harvesting your own wood fuel, the Trust will provide tailored advice on the best species and methods to achieve your goals. Experts will visit your site, guide your application from start to finish, and arrange tree delivery and protection.

His future plantings will be made even more eco-friendly by using fencing or denser planting to offset losses in place of plastic guards for protection.

Finally, George plans to collect seed from some of the farm’s oldest trees so he can propagate his own trees.

Reap the benefits on your farm

Trees should be in every farmer’s toolbox. They help boost productivity, resilience and the health of the environment – with no need for trade off with food production. At George’s farm, the trees are bringing added benefits as windbreaks for crops, shelter for livestock and enhancing the landscape character.

The Woodland Trust, with generous funding from Lloyds Bank, offers expert advice and funding to make your planting project a success. For anyone planting over half a hectare, the MOREwoods scheme is ideal – it’s already created more than 3,500ha of woodland in the UK.

‘‘

These woods marked the start of an environmental journey for me, the foundation of ensuring the farm is passed on in a better condition for the next generation.

George Atkin

Consider legalities to prevent problems further down the line

Diversi cation can open up lots of new opportunities for farmers and landowners, but several legal issues need to be considered to prevent problems further down the line, says Warners Solicitors:

• Business structures – If your new diversi cation business is not agricultural, you might want to set it up as a new business. There are various bene ts to doing this; it protects your existing business if the new diversi cation project is not successful and it can help preserve valuable Inheritance Tax (IHT) reliefs

• Supplier contracts – It is important to make sure that any contracts you have with suppliers and customers are clear and legally binding; this will protect you in case anything goes wrong

• Employment contracts – If you need to take on new sta for your diversi ed business, you need to make sure you are aware of your obligations as an employer. As a

bare minimum, all employees must be provided with a written statement of their terms of employment. You must also adhere to minimum wage and workplace pension requirements

• Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief

(BPR) – Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) can help reduce or even eliminate IHT on agricultural and other qualifying assets. However, converting buildings and land from agricultural purposes may mean that the right to APR and BPR is lost.

As a rural law practice, Warners Solicitors says it has an established relationship with farmers. The company has a dedicated team of agricultural and landed estate solicitors who all have a detailed understanding of the issues of relevance to rural landowners. Find out more at warners-solicitors. co.uk FG

Farm Diversification

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 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.

The company has invested in modern manufacturing facilities and its products adhere to all industry standards. Its quality control systems are designed speci cally for the manufacturing of precast concrete retaining walls and fencing products. NPC Ltd’s structural engineering resource has over 25 years’ experience in precast concrete product design and implementation.

Contact the company directly to discuss your requirements, or if you prefer, a member of the team can come out and visit your site. FG

Woodland creation can help you generate income

of carbon units via the WCC. You can nd out more in the Forestry Commission’s Carbon factsheet.

Timber: Growing timber to sell to the commercial timber trade can generate a reliable short or long-term revenue stream for your business. The best quality timber can be sold for sawlogs and converted into construction materials, whilst small roundwood can be sold for fencing, pulp and chipwood products.

Woodfuel: Wood for fuel can be sold to local markets in the form of logs, kindling and well-seasoned rewood. Kiln-dried hardwood logs, split, bagged and certi ed ‘ready to burn’ can fetch premium prices.

enhance livestock welfare, and boost soil health.

Generating income is dependent on a variety of factors including the size, type and composition of your woodland, as well as your overall objectives and local markets.

There are a variety of ways in which woodland creation can boost your business’ revenue:

Carbon: By registering newly created woodland with the Woodland Carbon Code (WCC) and the Woodland Carbon Guarantee prior to planting, you can sell carbon

units to the government or on the private market from as early as ve years after planting and help to o set your business’ carbon emissions.

Woodland creation projects can generate a generous return, with carbon prices ranging from £10 to £30+ per unit. Typically, woodland projects can produce in the region of 100 units/ha to over 500 units/ ha over 100 years – generating anywhere from between £1,000/ ha to £15,000+/ha through the sale

Recreation and leisure: Woodlands designed for recreation and leisure can o er new and exciting opportunities to diversify your business. Woodland creation can create suitable habitats for game that could generate an income from shoots. Idyllic woodland settings appeal to holiday makers looking for camping and glamping experiences as well as sporting activities.

Integrating trees into your farming system: Combining trees and shrubs with crop and livestock farming systems is known as agroforestry. This management approach can increase farm productivity, support nature,

Growing trees in between crops, otherwise known as silvoarable agroforestry, is between 10–14% more productive than monoculture arable systems (The Woodland Trust, 2015). Integrating trees into the same area of land as livestock is known as silvopasture agroforestry. Silvopasture can increase soil health by capturing nutrients, limit soil compaction caused by animals, and increase in ltration rates. Trees can provide shelter for livestock, resulting in improvements to animal welfare and an increase in production (Soil Association, 2019). Grants and support: There are a range of grants and support available from the Forestry Commission and its partners to help with the costs of woodland creation. You can nd more details by visiting www.gov.uk/ forestry/tree-planting-overview

Useful links:

• Woodland Carbon Code: https:// woodlandcarboncode.org.uk

• Woodland Carbon Guarantee: gov.uk/guidance/woodlandcarbon-guarantee

• Woods and Carbon factsheet: gov. uk/government/publications/thebene ts-of-woodland-creationwoods-and-carbon FG

Woodland creation can help you to diversify your business and generate reliable revenue streams, whilst delivering environmental bene ts that support your land management goals, nature, and society.

Make money by planting trees

Tree planting can complement your farm business, giving you the chance to diversify, generate extra income, increase farm productivity, and enhance your land.

TIMBER

CARBON UNITS

WOODFUEL

LEISURE ACTIVITIES

IMPROVE SOIL QUALITY

SUPPORT BIODIVERSITY

NATURAL FLOOD MANAGEMENT

PROTECT CROPS & LIVESTOCK

Grants and advice available now from the Forestry Commission and our partners.

Visit gov.uk/new-woodland-england

Free app proves “invaluable” for Surrey farmer in BNG project

Fourth generation mixed farmer Tim Hopkin has undertaken planning for biodiversity net gain as a means of diversifying his farm’s income stream through upfront funding to enable the implementation of a regenerative agriculture plan.

Tim developed the free land management tool Land App in 2015 to help farmers maximise the pro tability from their land, when he was faced with the loss of his own family farm.

Now, working with Surrey Wildlife Trust advisors, Land App has been “invaluable” in drawing up future plans, assessing costs and working with professionals to review opportunities for making the farm pro table, whilst working with nature. “The costs and time saved with Land App mean we would recommend anyone setting up a free account if they are considering diversifying their farm,” he says.

Land App allows farmers to work easily and e ectively with advisors, minimising burdens and costs as much as possible, as farmers face the uncertainty and challenges that come with losing basic payments.

“We’re trying to remove all blockers for farmers to make the best-informed decisions possible and working collaboratively is essential here to help them ensure they have a viable business going forward. Entering the market would otherwise be di cult and expensive, and risks leaving people behind. The platform seeks to ensure this won’t happen,” Tim concludes.

To nd out more visit: www.thelandapp.com FG

New grant funding initiatives could facilitate diversification

Round two of the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund will get many farmers thinking about how best to buy new machinery for their business –but you can also use the new grant funding initiatives to diversify into a whole new revenue stream, says Rural Asset Finance.

The tech grants will pay up to £25,000 and 40% of the cost of speci c machinery, but many farmers are also thinking about the longer term – and realising the overarching Farm Innovation Fund can help secure their entire future.

Diversi cation possibilities are endless, and these projects become more feasible when using government grants as a deposit and funding the rest through specialised rural asset nance, the company explains. This not only

gives you the funds you need, it helps protect your own cash ow, preserving your own funds for unforeseen working capital requirements until your new venture starts to pay for itself.

Rural Asset Finance o ers tailored repayment schemes on xed-term, xed rate loans secured on land and buildings, often in combination with equipment nance, also on xed-term, xedrate hire purchase or lease.

“We understand farmers’ challenges and are committed to helping them fund the future they want, whether that’s traditional farming, green energy installations, innovative food production or environmental protection and sustainability,” says founder Matthew Smart.

For more information, visit www.ruralasset nance.com FG

Software to help you save time and work smarter

Forget the clunky spreadsheets and paper records –Farmplan Business Cloud is a complete accounting solution designed speci cally for the agricultural community, the company says. The handy software means that those more time-consuming and complicated data entry tasks become e ortless, so farmers have more time to do what you do best. Whether on the farm or in the o ce, you can access and share your data from any device, anywhere, and automate those time-stealing tasks.

Farmplan Business Cloud allows farmers to stay in control of their data and choose who can access what, from family members to trusted advisors. Keeping data safe and secure ensures they’ll always be compliant with current regulations.

The software is designed to help farmers make informed

decisions, such as: Where is a farm performing well? What needs to happen so the business can grow?

Farmplan Business Cloud allows farmers to analyse their business in as much detail as they need, so they can answer these questions and more.

The software is capable of handling data for all types of enterprise, from traditional farm enterprises to farm diversi cation projects, helping farm businesses grow with ease, Farmplan says.

It also o ers the added function of being able to automatically bring transactions in from the bank and post them direct to the ledgers, so you can manage money in one place. FG

Make everyday business tasks easier with Farmplan Business Cloud

Forget the clunky spreadsheets and paper records, Farmplan Business Cloud is a complete accounting solution designed specifically for the agricultural community.

TIME SAVING

Access and share your data from any device, anywhere, and automate those time-stealing tasks.

SEAMLESS COLLABORATION

Connect with your stakeholders and choose who can access what.

GUARANTEE COMPLIANCE

Make sure you are always compliant with MTD legislation changes.

MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS

Analyse your business with real-time, accurate data.

Farmplan has saved me hours of work, from neatly reporting to quick updates on the go.

MANAGING YOUR FARM’SMONEY IN ONE PLACE HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER.

Blue baling power for the UK

Some of you may have seen the blue baler from Austria already. The manufacturer Göweil is known for high-quality bale silage technology – not only for round, but also for square bales.

Designed speci cally for grass silage, the G-1 F125 Kombi is made for taking on the UK’s tough eld conditions, Göweil says. The baler-wrapper combination machine is particularly robust and “the perfect baler for achieving the best forage quality bales”. With 30 knives, the cutting length of the grass is only 35mm, which is the keystone for high forage quality. In addition, Auto-Flow-Control prevents clogging of the rotor, ensuring a perfect ow of material into the chamber where the forage is densely compacted and either bound with lm or net. The attached wrapper unit then wraps the bale in lm immediately, preventing air from entering the bale.

However, it was in fact the wrapping technique that made Göweil famous. At the end of the 80s, the company had already set a new benchmark with the invention of the concept of a xed wrapping table with a rotating wrapping arm. Since then, the Austrian family business has further developed this approach over the years and expanded its product range to 14 di erent bale wrapping models.

The range includes wrappers for round or square bales, as well as stationary or trailed models, providing options for all types and sizes of farms. They all come with either a single or a double wrapping arm as well as a lm stretching unit and a lm cutter. The models also distinguish themselves by how much of the work ow is automated, as well as if they have a bale pick-up or a bale tipper. But there are many more features to customise your machine individually and exactly for the particular usage needed, Göweil reckons.

Another special feature is that Göweil’s square bale wrappers are able to wrap round bales and some of them can wrap two square bales at once –saving up to 20% of lm.

Not satis ed with revolutionising wrapping technique, the Austrian company’s goal became to make the whole process of silage baling as e cient as possible. That’s why the company began to experiment with combining balers and wrapping machines together. In 1997 it achieved another breakthrough with this idea and was rewarded

with the silver medal at Agritechnica for presenting a baler-wrapper combination with a John Deere baler and a Göweil wrapper.

“Rockstar baler”

Göweil soon realised that with a third-party baler you can really only control half of the process and so the company decided to start working on its own baler. The vision was clear: a baler for the best possible silage quality, that was also robust and durable. In 2014 the time had nally come – Göweil presented its own baler, a solo baler and of course also available in combination with a wrapper. The G-1 F125 was born. The machine soon became a star all around the world.

With the invention of the LT-Master, Göweil has also done pioneering work in the segment of stationary baler-wrapper combinations. First known as a baler for maize-silage, the machine is used worldwide to bale numerous di erent materials like sugar beet pulp, industrial hemp, alfalfa, CCM, and even trash.

Göweil says it does not do things halfway and of course has also thought about the handling of the bales. Specially developed transport and opening devices are made for transporting and feeding bales to livestock.

The company also o ers a knife sharpener for keeping baler knives in top cutting form, as well as high-lift buckets for transporting materials of all kinds, as well as for snow removal, grading, and many other tasks. In other words, an all-round talent for everyday use.

Göweil’s claim is not only to have high-quality machines for demanding customers on the market, but also a reliable service to avoid any downtime. The customer service team is committed to solving any problem as quickly as possible and to delivering spare and wear parts to customers in the blink of an eye, Göweil says. Customers all over the world appreciate this service.

All of Göweil’s machines are designed and made in Austria. About 300 employees put their expertise into the development of the products every day. Most of the product developers are farmers themselves who use these machines and know exactly what is important. Last year, the growing company opened a second production site to meet the high demand for its products.

All in all, Göweil is an ambitious company with a high-quality product range for demanding farmers and contractors, and anyone interested in baling silage should take a look at this company for themselves, Göweil concludes.

If you are interested in seeing Göweil’s G-1 F125 Kombi live, do not miss the opportunity to take part in some of the planned demonstrations. Sign up on Göweil’s website or email the company to learn more about upcoming demo dates. FG

Balers & Bale Handling

Unique bale handler attracts interest in the UK

Since making its o cial UK debut at this year’s LAMMA Show, the TR bale handling range – which was pioneered by farmer’s son and engineer Joe Moynihan – has piqued the interest of farmers and contractors across the UK due to its high output and unique approach. Sarah Kidby caught up with Joe for an update on the business.

First developed for Joe’s family farm in Ireland, the TR bale handling range from JM Agri Design uses a patented over-arm design which signi cantly reduces damage to plastic wrap on the bales. It also has signi cantly higher output compared to a conventional handler, which has made the range attractive to contractors and farmers alike.

Having proved highly popular in Ireland, the range o cially became available UK-wide at LAMMA in January, where there was a great deal of interest from visitors, particularly the agship TR-8 model, Joe says. JM Agri Designs is launching an online facility in mid-April which will allow customers to purchase machines from its website with quick, free delivery. From its new UK base, the company says it will be able to o er delivery within 3–4 working days if the machine is in stock.

Depending on the model chosen, the TR range can improve e ciency by anything from 25% up to 115%, the company says. The TR range can

comfortably put through 100,000+ bales without any issues, compared to 20,000–30,000 with a conventional handler, which has been a “big winner” for contractor customers, Joe says. The rst TR machine was originally developed to reduce bale damage on Joe’s own family dairy farm, and this remains a key bene t of the machines, which are able to grip round bales on the at faces where there is more than double the plastic wrap. The TR range can approach a round bale from any direction, unlike other bale handlers which can only be approached from one side. It’s also possible to switch from handling round to square bales of any size without any adjustments. The over-arm design additionally means it can grip bales at any angle. The arm supports two large rotating rollers to ensure bales are handled without risk of damaging the plastic wrap. These rollers, along with all other pivot points, have composite bushings and grease points tted as standard. A check valve is also tted

The TR Bale Handler Range

as standard on all TR bale handlers to ensure a consistent grip is maintained on the bale, for safe transportation and minimum damage.

The range consists of three models. The TR-3 single bale handler is designed for tractor loaders, and the TR-4 is for loading shovels and telehandlers. Both are over 25% more e cient for both loading and unloading than conventional bale handlers, JM Agri Design reckons. The agship TR-8 machine is a double bale handler that o ers up to 115% greater e ciency for both loading and unloading bales than a conventional loader-mounted single bale handler. It includes an in-cab control box allowing each arm to be operated independently or in tandem.

Users of the TR range report being surprised and impressed by the output of the machines, which allows operators to work faster with “next to no damage”, whilst being less fatigued at the end of the day. With tractors getting bigger, bonnets are getting longer, and visibility is reduced as a result. The fact that the TR has a central over-top arm means the main workings are directly down in front of the bonnet – so there’s less for the operator to watch, Joe explains. Bigger contractors in particular appreciate the increased e ciency the TR-8 model o ers, as it provides a solution to bottlenecks in the yard.

The company has now sold 2,500 machines in Ireland and the UK since the range launched in Ireland in 2015. It is working with UK dealer GP Smart & Son, based in Alford, and is working to expand its dealer network in the coming months.

Machines come with a full-year warranty and spare parts are stocked in the UK for nextday delivery.

For more information visit:

• https://jmagridesign.co.uk

• YouTube: @jmagri-design8493 FG

Balers & Bale Handling Keep a weather-beating card up your sleeve

dictating when you can bale. Precision moisture sensors are essential to professional baling and key to producing an excellent end product.

PFC has been selling the twin star wheel system since 2002, with some major manufacturers taking this as a factory option or a eld-installed kit. The system works for all baler types and sizes, and requires zero calibration.

The precision is market-leading around the world, with a +/-1% accuracy. There is no other balermounted product on the market to match it in terms of accuracy and zero calibration requirement.

instrument says it is safe, who takes the nancial hit of bad bales or, worst case, a barn re?

Following the very easy hay season of 2022, it is easy to get complacent and hope for more of the same for 2023. But, as we all know, no two years are the same – every season, the weather is the primary topic driving discussions. In fact, last week a friend described farmers as the biggest professional gamblers in the world, as we gamble with prices and the weather every day.

Precision moisture sensors

Once the hay and straw season is over, once again moisture is the key driver

I also want to mention brie y competitive products such as rub pads and hand probes – which are cheaper, but they have signi cantly less accuracy. Bear in mind that if you are baling with moisture, but the

AgriSolutions

Microwave systems can be as accurate but have a signi cant limitation in that they must be calibrated to crop type and density. I ask the question, therefore: When the operator is in the eld, what do you calibrate against to know you have accurate data?

Zero calibration

The twin star wheel system requires zero calibration and is accurate in all

Precision Moisture, Wet Bale Management and Applicator Systems for all balers

• World leading accuracy on moisture sensors with a +/ 1% accuracy

• The twin star wheel system has been copied but still only provides 3% accuracy so buying from PFC provides confidence in the knowledge you have the best product and support.

• Adding to the moisture sensor is the wet bale marking system. the operator sets the moisture limit and any flake on a square bale or the average bale moisture for rounds will be highlighted for separation during the stacking process preventing possible bale spoilage via moisture migration in the stack.

• Application equipment can be in the form of a digital manual system or the fully automatic system depending on your requirements. Front linkage to baler mounted with a large stock of baler specific installation options.

• Adding in the strongest hay preservative per litre on the market allows for addition baler productivity for your hay baling enterprise or straw when the weather is catching up with the combine.

THE CONTRACTORS CHOICE

GET READY AND HARVEST GOLD!

EXTREMELY HIGH THROUGHPUTS - EXTREMELY CONVENIENT

The 5th generation BiG Pack is made for the highest output and advanced operator comfort. Packed with features like twine boxes that open and lower hydraulically and now hold 15kg balls. The adjustable VFS is laid out for even heavier bales, double-knotters that produce no twine tails, the KRONE PowerClean and much more! Discover the new BiG Pack 1290 HDP VC. Are You Ready To Pack A Punch?

BiG Pack

1290 HDP VC

baled crop types. The system uses twin discs in a round baler to provide the same accurate data. Sending a 10V signal between the star wheels creates a resistance data to calculate the moisture. With the conventional baler, you should always mount the sensors on the bottom of the chamber; for a round baler it should be 20–30mm o the bottom roller;

and for large square balers the sensors can be mounted top, middle or bottom.

The conventional baler generally leaves crop that is on the bottom of the row towards the bottom of the bale, with round balers providing faster moisture response to conditions at the bottom; while the mechanics of the pre-chamber of the large square baler means

MOULTON BALE GRAB RANGE

M

that the top, middle and bottom of the row is inverted to evenly distribute through the depth of the bale. If you are not working with a factory-prepared baler, then there are speci c instructions and locations for the sensors.

Entire bale pro le

Measuring through the entire bale pro le allows for any dry and wet spots to be averaged evenly and so provides the precision you require.

After all, if you only measure a single contact point, is this a drier or wetter part of the bale? The data is measured nine times per second, with a rolling three-second average updated every one second. This means that every one second, the system updates with the previous three-second average which enables the operator to rely on the data received.

There is, on all the systems, an average moisture for the previous bale. The 7 Series Pro system, which is the base unit for the fully automatic applicator, also provides complete job data, averaged for the entire job, date and time with optional GPS location. The system works via Apple or Android phones and tablets or

is fully integrated into three of the major large square baler producers, depending on product speci cation.

Three key rules

The three key rules for baling with precision and pro t are:

• Know your actual moisture

• Only bale in the correct moisture window

• Use preservative to open the window and handle the moisture when required.

PFC o ers an extensive range of wet bale management tools and application systems. The applicators can be fully automated with Isobus control to simple digital manual systems. Applying Baler’s Choice preservative accurately and e ciently is achieved, with every machine o ering precision at its core. FG

BBG2, F8BB, F10BB

BBG2

Designed to handle 3 smaller high density bales up to 900mm wide, or 2 larger 1200mm bales. Bales may be handled in both directions relative to the back frame. 2,600mm overall length, 2,400mm wide (excluding gathering bar), 800mm high at back frame, 640kg weight.

F8BB

A flat 8 sized bale grab of very heavy duty constr uction, fitted with larger claws. Suitable for handling flat 8 packs of conventional bales or up to 2 high density bales. 2m length, 1.6m width, 350kg weight.

F10BB

A flat 10 bale grab of very heavy duty construction, fitted with larger claws. Suitable for handling flat 10 packs of conventional bales, it has 5 rows of claws, this gives full cover on 2 high density bales.

2.5m length, 1.7m wide, 395kg weight.

Baling for a better tomorrow

The high performance Tama Cycle Netwrap is the latest step in Tama’s eco-baling revolution. By replacing virgin resources with recycled and reprocessed materials, the company says it offers a first of its kind ecologic solution for crop baling products.

After revolutionising the baling industry by producing premium netwrap with much longer rolls and using less plastic per bale compared to other brands in the market, Tama says it is now taking a further step in its environmental revolution.

Tama Cycle Netwrap, which has a black and green zebra pattern, offers users the “ultimate baling experience”, the company reckons, with two major environmental benefits. Firstly, it is manufactured using significant percentages of post-industrial waste, and secondly, the product packaging includes 40% post-consumer, recycled material.

In addition, the core is made of recycled paper and contains less plastic per bale, making for a lighter net.

More information is available at: www.tama-uk.co.uk FG

Stack covers “more important than ever” this year

With straw being very dry this year, farmers who have not covered their stacks are su ering higher losses, as the stacks are absorbing more water, explains Will Reed, of ProStraw Systems. Covering stacks is therefore particularly bene cial this year as waste has increased from the usual average of around 10–15%, to 20%, Will adds.

ProStraw Systems’ British-made stack covers now cover 250,000 tonnes of straw around the UK, with 500 covers in service. Farmers who use the covers say they are easy to put on and robust in harsh weather conditions. The life expectancy of the system is 5+ years under normal operating and weather conditions.

One Essex farmer, Chris Chamley, said he had found other stack covers di cult to secure, either being blown o or allowing water in through holes, but the pole system on ProStraw’s product meant they are easy to secure e ectively. It has also taken the farm’s waste down from up to 25% of the stack with no sheet, to virtually zero, meaning the covers paid for themselves within the rst year.

Another key bene t of the stack covers is safety – the potential risks of working at height is often cited as a reason for not covering stacks. The ProStraw stack cover system is designed and mechanically tted so it is not necessary to leave the ground. FG

The covers have been ever more popular with more and more people coming back to add to their existing cover collection, we have also added many valuable new customers. Saving 1015% of waste on an outside stack is ever more important with rising costs across the industry.

Please contact us for more details

Please contact us for more details

BALE BARON UK

A LEADING SUPPLIER OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY

01403 887720

info@balebaronuk.com

www.balebaronuk.com

A NEW DIMENSION IN HANDLING

FOLDING GRASS FORKS

• Available in 12ft, 14ft and 16ft wide variants

• 12ft with Industrial and Q-fit pick up

• Industrial pick up for 14ft and 16ft wide models

• Hydraulically operated side extensions

• Exceptional visibility through the fork

• Integrated hose storage to protect couplings and hoses

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

• Smooth tine wear faces to prevent material build-up

Specialist in small bale machinery

Bale Baron o ers a range of products to suit your baling needs, including:

• Marcrest Bale Baron: A small bale packer designed to make small bales easy to handle. It packs 21 bales into a tight pack, quickly picked up and moved like you’d move a big bale. It takes just one man and a machine to load and stack bales in Bale Baron packs. The tight packs can be quickly loaded onto lorries for delivery. The Bale Baron can make 21 and 18 bale packs and a nine-bale pack for wrapping as haylage. Bale Barons can be run directly behind a baler or as a separate pickup model, with a capacity of up to 1,200+ bales an hour, depending on the model and tractor’s oil ow, increasing your productivity and the value of your forage. Bale Baron UK

has new and used Bale Barons in stock

• Inagra Vewi: Small bale wrapper designed to wrap 110 bales an hour. It requires no manual labour and incorporates a threebale accumulator. Bale Baron has new Inagra Vewis available for the upcoming season

• McHale: Front and rear mowers, rakes and tedders in stock PDI’d and serviced by McHale trained technicians

• Düvelsdorf: German-engineered harrows, rollers and overseeders, both new and used in stock

• FJDynamics: A ordable, retro t autosteer with RTK (2.5cm) accuracy. Easy to use with plenty of useful features.

The company also carries a full complement of spares and has comprehensive workshop facilities. FG

Balers & Bale Handling

Discount o ered on full range of balers

All new machines, including the FB, VB, FBP, VBP, SB and i-BIO models will be available with £500 o the net price. Three new Kuhn Baler Centres were added in 2023 including Rea Valley Tractors, R S M Beares and Malpas Tractors, bringing the total to 14 including:

• Guy Machinery, Lancashire

• Johnston Tractors, Rosehill Industrial Estate, Cumbria

Kuhn Farm Machinery is o ering a £500 discount on the full range of Kuhn balers. The o er will be available from a network of dealers throughout the UK including nine specialist baler centres.

Kuhn Baler Centres were set up in 2020 to provide sales and servicing coverage across Great Britain, with dealership sta receiving enhanced training and businesses constantly stocked to supply essential parts.

The o er is valid from now until 31st July 2023, as part of the continued ‘Go Further With Your Forage’ initiative, and will include all xed, variable, round and square balers.

Kuhn Baler Centres o er dedicated demonstration events and comprehensive online support through the MyKuhn customer portal.

• Johnston Tractors, Myers Lane, Penrith, Cumbria

• Johnston Tractors, Dumfries and Galloway

• Hardwick Agricultural Engineering, North Yorkshire

• Robert Davies Machinery, Shropshire

• Collings Brothers of Abbotsley, Cambridgeshire

• Rea Valley Tractors, Ashbourne

• Malpas Tractors Lathom, Lathom

• Malpas Tractors Holmes Chapel, Cheshire

• Oliver Landpower Stratford, Warwickshire

• Oliver Landpower Colchester, Essex

• RSM Beares Stoke Cannon, Devon

• RSM Beares Coads Green, Cornwall. FG

“Productive and safe” bale handling solutions

Whatever your bale handling requirements, Albutt Ltd says it has the solution. With over 60 years’ experience in the manufacturimg of attachments, the company claims to have developed a range of “market-leading” bale handlers – from the single round bale F100 spike right up to the mighty F650HX Bale King.

and F410 are available for round bale requirements.

For unwrapped bales, Albutt o ers a range of bale spikes, at grabs and upright grabs with each range having options for multiples of bales. At the top of this range is the F650HX Bale King. Capable of securely grabbing and carrying four 120x90 bales, the company says this is the tool for loading large numbers of bales safely and e ciently.

Customer feedback influences development

Tanco manufactures a comprehensive range of bale wrappers at its factory in Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, Ireland factory, and distributes to over 40 countries worldwide.

the arms working individually

For wrapped bales, Albutt reckons it o ers a solution for every bale to be picked up however you wish. In the square bale range, the F450 and F470 Contractor pick up bales from the ends, selecting the area of the bale with the most wrap, giving the capacity to carry two bales at a time and with the arms working individually so the bales aren’t dragged, which would damage the wrap.

For productive and safe bale handling solutions, speak to the team at Albutt directly. FG

Its range of wrappers consists of both conventional turntable and satellite type machines. Tanco says its products continue to set new benchmarks in the industry, commenting that it is commitment and obsession with innovation that drives the business towards the next great idea.

Tanco says customer and operator feedback was a strong driver in the development of the Q-Series. This led to signi cant changes being introduced, such as longer bale rollers, proportional oil ow, indexed bale rotation, gear driven satellites and adjustable width of the bale rollers. Load sensing is also available on the Q-Series.

2.45m. The F352 picks up the the bales to be placed tight

The F450 opens up to 2.05m and the F470 opens to 2.45m. The F352 picks up the bale over the top, allowing the bales to be placed tight up against each other and the oating arm design allows the bales to be pushed in tight. The F301

A strong relationship with customers has been built based on trust and reliability, with shared values and priorities.

In 2020, Tanco introduced the Q-Series square and round bale wrapper which replaces the 1540EH; and just like the 1540-EH, the Q-Series can be either used on tractor front or rear linkage, or on a telehandler/loading shovel.

The company explains that feedback from Q-Series owners and operators after the 2020 season was very positive, as these signi cant changes have given them higher output, more versatility, value for money and better operator comfort. In the development stages, customer feedback was as much an in uence in the development of many of the new unique features on the current range of Tanco bale wrappers as it was on features to retain within the machines. FG

Turbofarmer 35.7

Don’t settle for second best

ENGINE 136 LIFT HEIGHT 6.6 LIFT CAPACITY 3.5

Merlo Turbofarmers provide unique, top-performing and user-friendly machines. These models are incredibly versatile and will support you in your everyday work. The compact dimension of the TF35.7 is equipped with axels fitted with epicyclic reducers ensuring fast and precise work.

merlo.co.uk

Strong customer support for respected brand

Nicholsons is a family-run business which has specialised in agricultural services since 1938. Its sales and engineering team has extensive knowledge within the agricultural industry, and the company says it is proud to be one of the leading partners for McHale.

Nicholsons has been supplying balers, bale wrappers and other McHale equipment for over 25 years, across the whole of Norfolk and beyond.

New and improved bale packer unveiled

The business holds an extensive range of stock, to ensure availability for the season ahead.

It also employs a fully dedicated service engineer who has been supporting the McHale products since day one with a focus on backup and service support.

Constantly innovating, McHale now produces a wide range of products with a particular focus on grassland machinery, which Nicholsons is pleased to supply.

Over 90% of McHale machines produced are destined for the export market through a dealer and importer network which has expanded to 55 countries around the world, illustrating that McHale is well received by the industry.

Nicholsons says it enjoys a strong relationship with McHale, as the two companies share the same family values, both priding themselves on strong customer support and focus.

If you would like to know more about the McHale machinery range, please contact Nicholsons directly or visit the company’s McHale stand at the Su olk Show on 31st May–1st June. FG

Arcusin has a policy of continual development to improve its range of specialised bale handling machinery, for both big bale chasers and for the conventional bale packing machines. This year the company has seen the new model Arcusin Multipack E14 for the rst time. It boasts several improvements, enough to warrant the model number change to E14.

This new E14 model has ve knotters which makes it possible to put four pack strings onto a much shorter bale of just 80cm long. Customers can still choose the bale length that they want to produce from approximately 75cm to 120cm when using four or ve pack twines.

This E14 model has a new touch screen control box which can collect

more data about the machine’s usage and performance. Data collected is downloadable using a USB stick to include bale yield data from speci c eld locations on a farm, which the operator can input.

The new control box incorporates a maintenance plan that can be updated by the operator as maintenance tasks are completed. Also, production of the packs is made as compact as possible by the addition of an adjustable top compression door that matches the rear lower compression door to the main packing chamber. This allows for accurate adjustment of the top and the lower rear doors to suit the baler that is being used, which maximises the compression on the pack. FG

Cultivating soil solutions

The Guttler Supermaxx range simply stands out as the ultimate cultivation companion. Built to perform, the Supermaxx offers exemplorary stubble clearance and the most technically advanced spring tine system on the market.

Scan here to find out why you should be using a Supermaxx.

To find out more call 01670 789 020 or visit www.woxagriservices.co.uk

highly versatile stubble cultivator

The Güttler Supermaxx claims to be the most versatile stubble cultivator available on the market. Its modular, ‘customisable’ design allows con guration of this machine to suit any operator, any condition, and any application.

Simple, reliable, and e cient machinery has never been more important. Protecting and maintaining the soil structure, tackling blackgrass and weed control, and battling increased fuel and labour costs are only some of the challenges of modern agriculture. With a simple, straightforward concept, the Güttler Supermaxx could be exactly what you need, reckons UK importer Wox Agri Services.

Standard tine arrangement across the board

Standard to the whole range of Güttler Supermaxx models is the tine arrangement. The 45 x 12 x 660mm sprung tines are all tted with reinforced helpers. They are tough and durable but, most importantly, allow a high frequency vibration which produces an even tilth, will bring loosened weeds to the surface and incorporate stubble, chopped

straw and any other crop residue. Tines can be set to work in very shallow conditions and increase incrementally by 1cm with a simple pin arrangement. Tine depth is maintained with front mounted gauge wheels if there is no rear roller, or by a rear mounted Güttler Roll x Roller.

Whilst the tine spacing between the tines is set to an optimum 12.5cm, the tines of the Supermaxx machine are set over ve or seven rows and it is this spacing between the rows that spaces the tines to allow trash and stubble to pass seamlessly through, explains Wox.

Optional features set machine apart

Rollers: The Güttler lightweight synthetic ultra roller for soil consolidation is well known throughout the market. The unique hard wearing but lightweight option of the synthetic ultra Güttler roller

Options for a complete range of widths, mounted or trailed versions:

can be tted to all of the ve-row versions of the Supermaxx machine. Depth control of the tines will be controlled by the roller – if no roller is tted the depth of tines is accurately controlled by gauge wheels and the rear levelling tines.

Levelling options: Levelling boards and additional harrows. Whilst standard machines are supplied with a single levelling harrow of 12mm sprung tines mounted behind the tines, options are available to t an additional harrow or parallel levelling board behind the tines in any con guration to suit. This may be directly behind the existing harrow giving a ‘double row’ e ect, between the tines and roller or directly behind the roller.

Hydraulic ripper boards and paddles: Hydraulically operated paddle boards are tted in front of the tines on the trailed 9m, 10m and 12m versions of the Supermaxx as standard. These can be modi ed and tted with 12mm ripper board plates if desired, and hydraulically operated ripper boards can be tted to mounted machines.

Tine options: A wide range of tine points are available for the tines:

• 8mm thick reversible points are tted as standard

• Hard wearing, reinforced tungsten tipped points –approximately 5–6 times the longevity of standard points

• 200mm wide stubble point with double bolt attachment

• New hard wearing GF200 forged

stubble point with double bolt attachment now available.

Patented lock washer: Patented Wox ‘lockwashers’ are available for the tment of tungsten tipped points to ensure secure tment of the point to prevent loss during cultivation operations as tine vibrations can easily loosen standard bolt and washer tments.

Seeder options: Fitment of seeders. Convert this machine to a tine seed machine by tting a Güttler hydraulic seeder unit. The 410-litre seeder as supplied on the Greenmaster system is ideally suited to the Supermaxx system, Wox says. Simple tment of seeder and access platform will result in a system perfect for establishing cereal and cover crops, the company adds.

New patented direct seed coulter boots are now available to deliver seed directly into the tine slot.

Compatibility with Güttler range

The Güttler range of consolidation rollers are a perfect complement to the Supermaxx range, according to Wox. In particular the trailed Master and Magnum range tted with 45/50cm cast iron rings in unique ground contouring frames giving complete soil coverage, leaving an ideal loose crumbly nish with rm consolidation beneath. FG

Compact disc harrow finds favour in UK for straw incorporation

The Lemken Rubin 10 has been well received by UK customers for primary cultivation work, especially where intensive straw incorporation has been required on a range of soil types.

The discs are arranged to produce symmetrical forces on both implement sides. The three central discs on the Rubin 10 have been

o set along the longitudinal axis to ensure that they are able to work collision-free across the full width at a line distance of 12.5cm.

COMPACT DISC HARROW RUBIN 10

The Rubin 10 features surfacehardened DuraMaxx discs with a diameter of 645mm as standard. The new disc leg design with multiple

STRONG IN ACTION, FLAT AND INTENSE.

bends provides plenty of clearance to prevent blockages. Each concave disc in the Rubin 10 is now equipped with an overload protection with dampened return to minimise frame loads. The overload protection pockets are welded to the frame to keep the discs perfectly on track.

An impact harrow behind the rst row of discs improves the crumbling e ect and distributes soil and organic matter in the direction of travel, while the rear impact and levelling harrow distributes the soil to form an even, level surface.

All folding versions feature hydraulic depth adjustment as standard. The semi-mounted compact disc harrows are optionally available with depth control wheels, which ensure even working depths in variable soils and precise pass alignment along slopes.

“The Rubin 10 gave impressive results in summer/autumn 2022,” says Paul Creasy, Lemken UK’s general manager. “In extreme conditions the Rubin 10 did not fail to penetrate hard, dry soil and allow straw to mix with soil to initiate the straw breakdown process.”

The Rubin 10 has working widths of 2.5m to 7m and is available with a range of rear roller options to suit the customer’s requirements. FG

New options for combi cultivator

The Patriot from Cousins of Emneth is the ideal combination tool for straw incorporation, the manufacturer reckons.

Rigid loosening tines set at 600mm centres can work between 150mm and 400mm deep as required. Depth is controlled by a pin adjustment on the rear press. It’s followed by two rows of 500mm diameter disc units, each with maintenance free bearing. Units are mounted individually

on rubber suspension at 250mm centres. The disc sub-frame assembly is quickly adjusted hydraulically for working depth on the move. Finally, Patented Razor rings (650mm diameter) control the overall depth of tillage and leave a rmed ‘weatherproof’ corrugated nish. Standard spacing is 200mm, with optional spacing of 150mm. Further options include a 610mm toothed packer or 610mm coil (50mm x 50mm x 6mm box section). There is

Min disturbance cultivator gets redesign

Agriweld has redesigned its wellknown Min-Disc for 2023 – the minimum disturbance cultivator features a new arrangement for more effective working, the company says.

A row of aggressor discs at the front chop and mix the trash, as well as clearing a path for the 20mm legs behind to come through, which prevents the legs blocking with debris. A second set of aggressor discs behind the legs works any untouched ground, meaning the full 3m width of the machine is worked effectively.

The discs are faced at an angle which is designed to channel the soil inwards, removing the need for side guards.

The auto-reset version offers the ability to lift the legs out of work and run with discs only.

The Agripacker compresses and levels the worked till to leave a weatherproof finish. It also features hydraulic depth control giving the ability to lift the Agripacker through 90 degrees to adjust the weight on the rear of the Min-Disc while working – as well as shortening the machine while travelling. The Min-Disc is available in a 3m width.

For more information call the company directly or visit www.agriweld.co.uk, where you can also find details about how to book a cultivation demonstration on your farm. FG

pin adjustment for depth, adjustable scrapers and Press Rings at the back.

New options now include the

option of Less Lift tines, giving less disturbance and a lower horsepower requirement. FG

The Top Disc™ is a linkage mounted high speed compact disc harrow, fitted with the new Open Channel™ soil to soil roller, for fast and efficient cultivations.

Individually rubber mounted 510mm diameter discs and maintenance free bearings.

Open Channel™ rings are set at 150mm centres with a 600mm diameter.

3m rigid, 4m & 5m folding working widths are available.

01945 584600 sales@cousinsofemneth.co.uk www.cousinsofemneth.co.uk

Lincolnshire farmer-owned co-operative invests in 36 tippers

Fruehauf’s Nick Annan discusses why Britain’s only national grain marketing and arable inputs co-operative, Open eld, is taking delivery of 36 sloper smoothsider tippers from Fruehauf as part of the company’s expansion plans.

The 72m3 trailers started arriving towards the end of 2022, making the short journey from Fruehauf’s base in Grantham to the nearby Lincolnshire rm. Further new tippers are due for delivery every month through to July, joining a mixed eet of vehicles aiding Open eld’s 2023 growth ambitions.

The size of the deal underlines the agricultural company’s major investment in renewing and expanding its transport eet.

The eet has grown by more than 40% as the farmer-owned co-operative expands its grain marketing and input deliveries

business.

The agreement also showcases the co-op’s continued con dence in Fruehauf, which has supplied trailers to Open eld for more than 20 years.

Keith Hughes, head of fleet at Openfield, says: “The quality of Fruehauf trailers is excellent. That’s why we have such a long and fruitful relationship with the company. And now it’s under the ownership of MV Commercial, we have even more trust in Fruehauf’s ability to manufacture and deliver trailers to meet all our requirements.

“The new tippers are part of our eet expansion and replacement programme as we grow the business in 2023 and they serve our business perfectly. They are versatile and can easily accommodate di erent types of load.”

Based in various depots across England and Wales, the tippers are primarily being used to transport grain from farmers to customers who manufacture some of the best-known British food and drink brands. Open eld is also a national fertiliser distributor and manufactures and delivers quality seed to farmers.

The sloper smoothsider tippers, which will average 100,000km per year, are speci ed with Dawbarn Hydroclear electric sheets, reverse and loading cameras, as well as onboard wi- enabled PM 1155

weighing systems and 150mm high hoods.

Owned by around 4,000 British farmers, Open eld sells approximately 17% of the UK marketed grain every year to some of the biggest food and drink brands, as well as being one of Britain’s largest grain exporters.

Fruehauf says it is the UK’s leading manufacturer of rigid and tipping trailers. The products are built to last, with quality at the heart of everything the company does.

Acknowledged for its precision engineering, the company has 90% of the market share for tipper and planked trailers. Fruehauf is now applying its legendary quality, design, and construction excellence to the rigid market. FG

Compact the workload with push-o trailer

The addition of the Kompactor trailer follows in Hi-Spec’s tradition of focusing on the design and manufacture of innovative new products.

The Kompactor is available in two sizes – the K36 (22ft) and K40 (24ft). A demount version is also available, which will provide users, such as contractors, increased value and versatility by being able to swap the trailer body with a HiSpec vacuum tanker body.

Central to the Kompactor is the hydraulically operated headboard which is powered by a three-stage hydraulic ram.

For compacting, with the heavy-duty tailgate shut, the headboard can be used to compact material such as grass or maize silage, so increasing the load carried by up to 30% compared to a conventional trailer. This results in increased productivity, reduced travelling and associated operating and fuel cost saving bene ts.

To empty the Kompactor, having raised the tailgate, the headboard is then fully extended and, depending on the load, has the capacity to completely empty the trailer in as little as 40 seconds. Because the load is pushed o and so avoids the need to tip the trailer body, the Kompactor is ideal for use in areas where conventional tipping trailers cannot access.

The Kompactor is lighter in weight compared to a conventional trailer, as its design engineers out traditionally required elements such as lifting rams and the necessary bracing. This results in a lighter trailer which is capable of carrying increased loads and will help reduce compaction. FG

Multi-talented o ering in trailer range

In 2011, Belgian agricultural machinery manufacturer Joskin presented a completely new machine concept that it claims “revolutionised the world of agricultural transport” – the Drakkar. This trailer o ers a conveyor belt combined with a mobile front wall. 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.

Joskin explains the Drakkar has a unique, high-speed unloading system using a hermetic conveyor belt coupled with a mobile front wall. This “revolutionary” system allows 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.

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

The British

Established 90 years

Sole UK Distributor for Goodyear Vintage Tyres

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

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

Demand grows down under for British-built trailers

Rough roads, high-speed haulage and short weather windows mean trailers in the UK need to be robustly designed to cope with such circumstances. Those built strong enough to withstand our conditions are now increasingly nding favour in the arguably tougher Australian environment.

Based south of Melbourne, in Warragul, Victoria, McLaren Agricultural Machinery was founded six years ago by Stuart McLaren, son of an Essex contractor, who moved to Australia 13 years ago. Today, his business is an importer or regional agent for a number of key manufacturers from the UK and Europe; and since 2020, that has included Richard Western, the Su olk-based trailer and muck spreader maker.

“Manufacturing costs here are extremely high, so there isn’t

a strong domestically-built trailer market, and farmers are willing to pay for well-built, well-designed trailers from countries with a stronger trailer-making industry, in particular the UK,” explains Stuart.

“I built up a customer base here and a reputation for importing direct drills and other British agricultural equipment I’d had experience of back home. Customers started asking me about trailers, particularly for silage, and having been based not far from Richard Western back home, I knew their products well. That led me to enquire about an import arrangement with the company, and in 2020 I brought in the rst batch of trailers here.”

Those soon sold, and through marketing, advertising and wordof-mouth, the company now sells Richard Western trailers and muck spreaders across the country. FG

Trailer brand goes from strength to strength

Oliver Landpower has been a distributor for Nugent Trailers since 2017, and during this time has seen the brand go from strengthto-strength. Nugent produces a wide range of engineered, quality and robust trailers to cope with all applications and has become well known for innovation and durability.

The Nugent range includes quality livestock, atbeds, utility, plant, tipper and ATV trailers. In 2022, Nugent introduced a new tiltbed and crane model to its portfolio.

The patented Nugent Dual Drive parabolic suspension system modernises the trailer. Fitted as standard, inserting a secondary rubber damper between the chassis, along with a unique pivot slipper

plate, an additional suspension element ensures springs are fully engaged on compression and rebound cycles to cancel out vibration and reduce suspension chatter. With additional damping e ect, it also reduces stresses on the chassis, body frame, tow couplings and limits shock waves to the vehicle. The reduced vibrations ensure that there is much less wear and tear on the chassis, giving the trailer a longer service life and therefore less maintenance costs.

Oliver Landpower carries a large selection of trailers in stock, which are available from all branches, with Nugent Specialist being based in Kings Langley and Tingewick. Partexchange, nance and full service facilities are available. FG

Trailers

“Quality trailers at an a ordable price”

Throughout the 150 years and the ve generations that have developed and grown the Fleming brand and the company, one constant has remained and that is the commitment to the Fleming core values.

Over the years the company has developed a business strategy of ‘servicing from stock – stocking for service’ providing value for money machines through the machinery dealer network to over 20 countries worldwide to date.

Fleming machines and dealers are supported through a well-stocked spare parts department, o ering a prompt and e cient service to all its

customers.

Spanning such a long period in history that has seen major technological changes, booms and recessions, the company says it has remained committed to providing its customers with products and service which align with its values of quality, strength and value for money products.

Fleming Agri is currently building 12 and 14t silage/grain trailers and has availability for 2023 orders.

The trailers o er many features as standard. They are tted with a full-length sprung drawbar which, together with the multi leaf suspension system creates a smooth and stable ride. Both models are tted with 550/45 22.5 oatation tyres as standard.

Silage extension sides are available and are fully galvanised. The lighting kit on the machines are full LED for safe and reliable road use.

Fleming Agri says the trailers feature excellent standard spec and o er superb value for money. For more information contact the company directly or visit www. eming-agri.com FG

Specialist root trailers for hire

Irelands Group is an everexpanding family-owned company based in Lincolnshire, o ering the hire of specialist root trailers with lower sides to aid safe transit of root crops.

The company has a large stock of 14/16t root trailers available all year round. All trailers come fully maintained and serviced with a brakes e ciency test carried out prior to collection.

Irelands operates from four depots at Carrington, Sutterton, Market Rasen and Stamford; the company sells, buys, hires and services machinery and equipment, as well as providing parts for its comprehensive range of franchises.

In January 2022, Irelands was awarded the Stewart Trailers franchise for Lincolnshire. Stewart Trailers, based in Aberdeenshire in Scotland, produces a full range of tipping trailers, at trailers, low loader trailer and livestock trailers and is widely recognised as a premium brand.

Irelands has a long history of

supplying trailers, and has a great team of specialist technicians and engineers with many years’ experience in servicing and maintaining all makes of trailers. It is BAGMA (British Agricultural & Garden Machinery Association) trained and has its own mobile rolling road for in-house or mobile on farm trailer brake testing, which is unique in Lincolnshire.

To further strengthen the Irelands brand with trailer safety, the company is now an exclusive agent for Transcover aftermarket sheeting systems in Lincolnshire.

Transcover is a “leading” expert in the design and manufacture of load-covering sheeting systems. You can now purchase these from Irelands and have them tted by the company’s trained workshop. FG

Ensuring each trailer is “perfect for the customer’s needs”

The name Philip Watkins Ltd is renowned in the agricultural industry for both the quality and innovation of its wide range of agricultural machinery. Founded in 1996, all machinery is designed and manufactured in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

SAS Agri Ltd has been the Philip Watkins dealer for Norfolk and Su olk since 2020. During this time, SAS Agri has worked closely with Philip and his team to deliver bespoke trailer solutions for customers. Dameon from SAS Agri comments: “Philip and his team allow us to cater to customers’ individual needs; their full in-house design and manufacturing facility allows us to oversee every stage of the bespoke manufacturing process and build to the customer’s speci cation, ensuring each trailer is perfect for the customer’s needs.” All trailers can be equipped with:

• A choice of air or oil brakes

• Tyres of your choice

• Sprung axles and drawbar

• 6, 8, or 10 stud axles

• Full commercial speci cation

• Front and back bale racks

• Various strap boxes

Bespoke WATKINS Philip WATKINSLtd

• Di erent track widths to suit row crop work

• Loading ramps.

SAS Agri also holds in stock a selection of Philip Watkins at trailers in both 28ft and 32ft.

trailer solutions. 28ft and 32ft flat trailers in stock Please contact Dameon on 07548 829587 for information on bespoke Philip Watkins trailer solutions