Farming Scotland Magazine (March - April 2020 Edition)

Scotland’s longest established national farming & rural lifestyle magazine

Tuathanachas Alba

magazine

Balers Sprayers Cereals 2020 Irrigation "EEF %XPO

Topics Countrymen UK Clubs & Farm Tourism Breed Profile Aberdeen Angus in Forfar Travel Scotland Dumfries House

In Focus Polaris ATV’s -ADE IN 3COTLAND Birken Tree World Farming The Windward Islands

Cooking with Game Venison Wellington Northern Isles News New section from Orkney & Shetland

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April 2020

3COTTISH #OUNTRY ,IFE s "EATHA AN %ILEAN &ARM $IVERSIFICATION s -ARKET 2EVIEW s &LAVOUR OF 3COTLAND including our regular news sections and columns

contents

24 Irrigation Cereals 2020 Balers Sprayers Beef Expo 2020

TOPIC 20

COOKING WITH GAME

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116 Venison Wellington

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Food & Drinks Awards

Countrymen Clubs

Dumfries House

From Orkney & Shetland

BREED PROFILE 72

Aberdeen Angus in Forfar

MARKET REVIEW 83

A tough twelve months

MADE IN SCOTLAND

TRAINVIEW TALK

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BEATHA AN EILEAN

85

Birken Tree

IN FOCUS

92

Diary by James Cameron

Life on the Islands

WORLD FARMING

SCOTTISH COUNTRY LIFE

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93

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Polaris ATV's for 2020

The Windward Islands

FARM DIVERSIFICATION 44

Inspirations!

With Linda Mellor

BOOK SERIAL 94

Part 2 of ‘Into The Peatlands’

TOPIC

WOMEN IN AGRICULTURE

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96

Farm Tourism

All Editorial & PR enquiries to EDITOR Athole Murray Fleming Tel. 01738 639747 E-mail: mail@farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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TRAVEL SCOTLAND NORTHERN ISLES NEWS

FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND 16

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MAIN FEATURES 21 26 46 62 70

April 2020

Introduction with June Guyer

All Advertising enquiries to ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Athole Murray Fleming Tel. 01738 639747 E-mail: mail@farmingscotlandmagazine.com

NEWS AREAS 6 12 18 29 38 40 42 74 75 78 80 82 84 86 90 91 97 115

Arable Potatoes Food Genetics Organics Science & Technology Farm Buildings Beef Livestock Dairy Sheep Pigs Investing in People Estate Forestry Northern Shooting Show Machinery Finance

COLUMNS 6 7 9 13 15 17 19 37 41

Editor’s Bit In my view R.S.A.B.I. Hutton Institute Crofting Scotland the Brand Farm Advisory Service Scottish Government Farming for the Climate

ADVERTISING MANAGER Barry Tweed Tel. 01738 550157 Email: barry@farmingscotlandmagazine.com

72 76 79 81 87 88 89 115 118 118

The Vet NFU Scotland NSA Scotland Conservation Matters Scottish Land & Estates Southern Belle The Money Man People on the Move Book Review

SUBSCRIPTIONS 117 Order your own copy here.

NEXT ISSUE Out 4th May. Our Royal Highland Show Preview Edition. Featuring also Scotsheep, Scottish Game Fair, Milking & Dairy Equipment, Shearing, Potato Equipment and Open Farm Sunday.

ADVERTISING Please call 01738 639747 or email mail@farmingscotlandmagazine.com

COVER IMAGE: Intrigued by the camera.

ADVERTISING MANAGER Trevor Knights Tel. 01738 447378 Email: trevor.knights@farmingscotlandmagazine.com

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Christina Fleming Email: christina@atholedesign.com COPYRIGHT This publication has been produced and published by ATHOLE DESIGN & PUBLISHING LTD who are the copyright owners. No reproduction, copying, image scanning, storing or recording of any part of this publication without the permission of ATHOLE DESIGN & PUBLISHING LTD. Contents disclaimer: FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE is not responsible for any factual inaccuracies within press information supplied to us. Any concerns regarding such matters should be directed to the supplier of the materials.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE is designed, produced and published by Athole Design & Publishing Ltd., Tolastadh, 18 Corsie Drive, Kinnoull, Perth, Scotland PH2 7BU. Tel. 01738 639747 est 1994

ISSN: 2041–918X

©ATHOLE DESIGN 2020

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arable Sugar beat to return to Scotland

editor's bit Beware the forked tongue!

Over the nearly thirty years of running my company, I have learned many things and gained a pretty good instinct of when something is right or maybe not.

The way someone says the right sounding words, but your inner alarm bell goes off – I am sure you know what I mean.

On the subject of maintaining quality standards on imported produce (postBrexit), I have some concerns due to the phrases being used by a certain Boris Johnson.

Rather than retaining the same current standards, his replies recently to the question of farmed imports from the USA, have all been answered with “Of course we will have high standards”.

This IS NOT the same thing as ‘retaining the current standards’ and in my opinion is ‘political waffle and missdirection”.

I fully trust the NFU to fight the good fight to maintain the highest standards for our farmed produce, but who will protect our markets (and by association our reputation) from the lower standards of other nations?

Boris? – There goes my inner alarm bell again!

Slàinte, Athole.

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Almost fifty years on from the closure of the Scottish Sugar Beet factory in Cupar, a Rural Innovation Support Service (RISS) group aims to look into the feasibility and steps required to reestablish the crop and its processing in eastern Scotland.

The 2020 driver is to contribute to climate change mitigation, rather than sugar for human consumption, and the decarbonisation of industry to meet Scotland’s greenhouse gas reduction targets, by producing bioethanol as a fuel additive and new plant-based biotech products.

Scottish Enterprise commissioned the UK bioeconomy consultancy, NNFCC, to produce a report, published in summer 2019, which identified that a refinery would need up to 20,000ha of sugar beet from arable land of class 3.1 or better, within a 30 to 60 mile radius of the refinery plant’s location.

Commenting on the news, Iain Riddell from SAC Consulting who is facilitating the group says: “The feasibility of reestablishing the growing and processing of the crop in Scotland has brought together stakeholders with the will, the knowledge and the capability to make the vision reality.

“A resurrected crop and a new refinery could offer a huge opportunity for agriculture to contribute to CO2 reduction and in the creation of new plant derived products, but farmers will also have to factor in the feasibility, risk and reward of growing a crop that is new to most of them.

“We have experience of producing the closely related energy beet crops for AD and the growing of fodder beet for livestock , and it

should be possible to grow sugar beet, but comprehensive trials will be required to assess yield,

sugar content and hardiness of modern varieties in Scottish conditions.

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In my view

arable Six steps for sward success after wet, mild winter Barenbrug forage grass experts discuss plan of action for getting fields back to full fitness

Step one: Make a forage plan.

Do you know how many tonnes of dry matter you need to feed your stock this year? And what nutritive value it should be? If not, take some time to work out the farm’s forage requirement for the year to allow for effective grassland management planning.

Step two: Walk all your fields with the Good Grass Guide: As soon as conditions allow complete a visual assessment of your field/s.

Those that need most attention will be easy to spot. If pastures look an unhealthy shade of yellowy green, that’s a clear indicator of stress.

Patchy areas of growth are also a definite sign of compaction and poor soil structure. Use the good grass guide to note the information in the records section.

Step three: Dig deep for a solution: The best way to assess the extent of any damage is to dig a pit to around 30cm or to the depth of any pan. Take a close look at the soil structure. If the grass roots aren’t penetrating below 10cm then you are dealing with a clear case of compaction.

Another sign is the water content of the soil. If the soil is bone dry from 7-15cms down then you have compaction. Compaction can drastically affect the growth rate and rooting structure of

newly sown grasses – reducing productivity by 10-20%. It can also prevent the uptake of nutrients; restrict drainage; and ultimately cut down on the number of working days you’ll get from a field.

Step four: Soil sample: Maintaining grassland soils at a pH of at least 6.2 and P&K at index 2 is fundamental to successful grassland productivity. Soil pH can have a massive impact on grassland success and high levels of water, like we’ve seen this winter, can drastically affect pH. Just a small decline in target pH to 5.5 can reduce grass yields by 35 to 40%: the more acidic the soil, the greater the chance of lock up – which makes vital nutrients unavailable to plants. Invest in a broad spectrum analysis, not just a basic sample to give a better picture of the trace element balance, paying particular attention to the calcium to magnesium balance, and allow for better liming and fertiliser choices.

Step five: Correct any issues: There is little point in completing steps 1 – 3 if you don’t address the issues where you find them.

By leaving problems unrectified, production, soil health and profitability will only decline further.

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By John Cameron Balbuthie, Kilconquhar, Fife

What next for quality standards on imported produce?

Well, we are now out of the European Union but I doubt if we are going to be without problems in the future.

One of our main fears – and it is a genuine fear – is concerning the assurances we had recently from the ‘good and the great’ regarding the maintenance of a level playing field in respect of imports of food following future negotiations on the new trade agreements.

We had – or so we thought – cast iron assurances that any food imports would have to be of a similar quality and standard as our own produce with all the qualifications of QMS and the other UK organisations.

These assurances came from our DEFRA Secretary of State Theresa Villiers and Michael Gove who is forecast to be in charge of the new trade negotiations. Now it appears that food imports will have to be of ‘high standards’ and come from countries with ‘approved growing conditions’ – whatever that means. You must make up your own mind!

The other renewed pressure that the livestock sector is under at the moment is the current media frenzy to persuade consumers to reduce consumption of meat and dairy produce. Much of the evidence for this is biased

and factually incorrect but it does put a significant responsibility on QMS and other organisations to refute these erroneous statements.

A surprising comment in this respect came from the Macmillan Cancer Support – who undoubtedly do a lot of good work – but on this occasion they misguidedly called for a ‘meat free day’!

Considering the amount of support they get from the farming industry – particularly the Young Farmers Association – this doesn’t seem a particularly well considered move – apart from being based on incorrect evidence!

Having said all that on the positive side the sheep trade is holding up remarkably well and leaving a reasonable margin for the lamb feeders.

It remains to be seen whether the recent health problems in China will affect the new level of sheepmeat exports from New Zealand to China – which is undoubtedly one of the main reasons for the present sheepmeat prices.

With all this adverse publicity being thrown at the industry just now it was reassuring to see that well known agricultural journalist Eddie Gillanders reminding us of that well known and apt phrase ‘don’t criticise farmers with your mouth full’.

Memories can be short!

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arable Step six: Sward rejuvenation or replacement: By condition scoring your grassland (step 2) you will know which fields are in the poorest condition and so, which should be prioritised. Once soil structure and fertility issues have been addressed, new leys can be drilled into place or overseeding can occur. If the aim is to get grass producing quickly then it’s best to overseed with a mix of

fast growing vigorous tetraploid ryegrass species. These will start delivering results after six to eight weeks of establishment – improving ground cover and giving a real spring boost to yield and quality. But remember, overseeding is only a short-term solution. For longer-term results on problem pastures it is advisable to replace the grass with a more suitable ley come the autumn.

Restricted roots set to put wheat on the back foot Restricted growth of vital moisture and nutrient-absorbing roots could cause serious setbacks in winter wheat crops this season, unless steps are taken to remedy the problem, says ProCam regional technical manager, Nigel Scott.

But while limited root growth is no surprise in late-planted fields, because crops have had less time to grow, rooting problems are also evident in this season’s early-planted crops, he says, and there is a relationship in wheat that says the longer the roots at flowering, the higher the yield.

“Early-drilled wheat crops have established well,” says Mr Scott, “and test digs have indicated they have developed reasonable crown roots.

However, because they have sat in waterlogged soils over winter, growth of their finer adventitious roots, which are the ones that seek out moisture and nutrients, has been poor.

“As well as having limited root structures, late-established crops have also had less time for tillering.

“Meanwhile, because of excess winter rainfall, some leaching of soil nutrients has been inevitable. Otherwise, these nutrients would have helped.”

In response, Mr Scott says improving root mass should be a key focus this season, along with improving tiller production where necessary to attain the optimum number of ears per square metre.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Next issue out May 2020 8

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arable Top oilseed rape varieties on deferred payment offer from Hutchinsons Crop production specialists Hutchinsons are offering growers the opportunity to defer payment on seed purchased before 31 March 2020 for leading oilseed rape varieties LG Aurelia and Acacia.

“Seed for these varieties purchased before the end of March this year will not have to be paid for until June 2021,”explains David Bouch, Hutchinsons seed manager.

“We have launched this offer to help spread the cost of seed on the very best oilseed rape varieties, as we recognise the challenges that the wet autumn has thrown at many growers in terms of managing their budgets over the next eighteen months.”

“By signing up to this offer, growers will have access to varieties with the highest gross output (GO) and the very best technical attributes on the 2020/21 AHDB Recommended List, giving them the greatest chance at growing a profitable oilseed rape crop.”

“Both varieties are bred by Limagrain UK and their success is a reflection of the company’s focus on breeding high yielding, trait-loaded varieties suitable for the UK farmer, “explains Vasilis Gegas, Limagrain’s OSR European Portfolio Manager.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Subscription details on page 117

RSABI Highlights Need for Vigilance During Spring Period

Mags Granger

As the busy period of spring work approaches, RSABI, the charity which supports people in Scottish agriculture, is urging farmers and others to be vigilant for signs of a stress.

With the main lambing and calving season just around the corner, the charity is highlighting the importance of an open discussion about mental wellbeing.

According to Mags Granger, RSABI Welfare Manager, there are a number of signs to look out for, in others and ourselves, which could be indicators that all is not right.

“It is important that we are vigilant all year round for any indications that something may be wrong – with ourselves or with a friend, relative or neighbour,” said Mrs Granger.

“However, it is more important than ever to look out for signs that people may be feeling pressure at this time of year when farmers, and others involved in agriculture, are at particular risk of stress due to long hours and tiredness.”

According to Mrs Granger, the signs to look out for include someone looking unusually dishevelled or perhaps drinking more alcohol than they would usually.

People who are affected may be grumpier than usual and reluctant to go out and about or answer the phone as well as failing to prioritise important tasks.

The key, said Mrs Granger, is to look for a change from what is normal for the individual causing concern.

Mrs Granger is also urging people not to ignore any signs which become evident.

“Ask if everything is ok. If there is something wrong, the sooner that help is sought the better,” she said.

“The stark reality is that every week one farmer in the UK commits suicide so it is much better to ask and see if you can help, than to wish you had asked, after it is too late,” she added.

Mrs Granger also emphasised the need to talk as openly as possible about mental wellbeing. “One in four of us will experience mental health problems at some point in our lives and the ability to discuss mental health openly is key to tackling the issues which lie behind it.”

The main thing, she said, is to be able to listen in the case of someone who may have mental health problems.

“Don’t expect to be able to

suggest answers for all the problems another person is going through. You are not expected to fix everything but you can listen and encourage them to seek help.”

RSABI runs a confidential helpline (co-funded by the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland), 0300 1114166, which people from Scottish agriculture are encouraged to call if they are in need of support. The helpline operates from 7am to 11pm 365 days a year.

RSABI provides emotional, practical and financial support to people involved in Scottish agriculture.

The charity is currently helping 25 – 30 new clients every month and increasing its number of supporters is vital to ensure it can meet demand going forward.

RSABI is, therefore, seeking to double the memberships of its individual, business and corporate membership schemes by autumn 2020.

Membership of RSABI’s Individual Supporters’ Scheme costs just £25 a year – great value at just £2 a month.

More information on becoming a supporter can be found on the website www.rsabi.org.uk/Donate .

If you would like to learn more about RSABI and the good work we do please contact the Development Officer in your area. Also, look out for them contacting you!

Call the helpline on 0300 111 4166

arable Call for policy makers to protect pollinators Pollinating insects could thrive if improvements are made to agri-environment schemes across Europe, a new study led

by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has found.

More than 20 pollinator experts from 18 different countries looked at a range of wildlife habitats on farmland – named Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) – to determine how well they support insect pollinators such as bumblebees, solitary bees and hoverflies.

Despite significant investment in EFAs, the study – published in the Journal of Applied Ecology – found they are failing to provide all the resources insect pollinators require.

With over 70 per cent of crops worldwide relying on insect pollinators, it highlights the need to create a variety of interconnected, well-managed

habitats that complement each other in the resources they offer.

A decline in the number of insect pollinators has been attributed to intensive farming and the associated loss of flowerrich habitats which provide food, nesting and breeding sites.

In a bid to decrease the environmental impact of agriculture, the 2014 EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) defined a set of habitat and landscape features that farmers needed to incorporate in order to receive basic farm payments.

Researchers from SRUC joined forces with 22 pollinator experts from across Europe to evaluate how different EFA options varied in their potential to support insect pollinators – under both standard and pollinator-friendly management, as well as the extent of farmer uptake.

They identified substantial opportunities to improve the quality of agri-environmental habitats by implementing pollinator-friendly management practices. These would not only increase the abundance of resources in a habitat, but also the range of resources.

The findings of the study, which was funded under the Cost Action Super-B – Sustainable Pollination in Europe programme, will be used to inform the CAP post-2020.

Lead researcher Dr Lorna Cole, an agricultural ecologist at SRUC, said: “With the CAP post-2020 fast approaching, our study highlights that to effectively conserve pollinators, we need to improve habitat quality. With different habitats offering different resources we also need to focus on increasing habitat diversity to ensure that our countryside provides the range of resources that pollinators require.”

Get to grips with grain markets at Cereals 2020 Grain marketing is a key aspect of any arable business, yet getting the best out of it can be tricky.

That’s why the Cereals Event has introduced a new feature for 2020.

The Grain Exchange is a platform covering every element of grain markets, from innovative crops and new market opportunities, to budgeting and risk management. “The Grain Exchange is an incredibly useful new element and we are really looking forward to the seminars we have lined up,” says event director, Alli McEntyre. “They will provide growers with all the grain market information they need to drive profitability and stability in the years ahead.”

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Running across both days of the event, the seminar programme will feature a number of industry experts, including Amy Reynolds from the International Grains Council, who will take visitors through the outlook for the grain markets.

For more information visit www. cerealsevent.co.uk.

potatoes Advice on how to reduce CIPC residue levels with store cleaning The Potato Industry CIPC Stewardship Group (PICSG) has warned potato growers and buyers against applying sprout suppressant Chlorpropham (CIPC) at 2020 store loading.

The popular active, previously used on over 90 per cent of the circa 3.5 million tonnes of potatoes stored in Britain, had its approval for use withdrawn by the European Commission on 8 January.

The maximum ‘use-up’ period of nine months was set by the EU, with member states able to set their own date within that timeframe.

This means the last possible use-up date is 8 October – during the very early stages of potato store loading in a typical season.

This date has now been officially confirmed as the use-up date in the UK. Dr Mike Storey, chair of the PICSG, said that businesses who have not been monitoring technical messages will be at risk of crops not passing inspection.

This summer’s potato crop is likely to come out of store after the new, as yet unknown, maximum residue levels (MRL) for CIPC come into force. It will pay to start preparing as soon as stores begin to empty.

Store cleaning is a fundamental part of managing a store and will become increasingly important as the industry looks to reduce CIPC residue levels in store.

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Not sure where to start?

According to AHDB Potatoes, these four simple steps will help reduce CIPC residue levels and keep a clean store overall: 1. Keep it dry Use a vacuum for removing loose dust, and a stiff brush or chisel to move any more firmly attached deposits*. Washing with water is not recommended. *treat deposits as you would any other plant protection product, wear appropriate PPE and dispose of waste appropriately.

2. Let it breathe Let free air move through your store via open louvres and doors, so that any CIPC residue present in the store environment can be released.

3. Catch some rays Boxes should be left to weather outside to encourage the natural breakdown by the sun’s UV rays of any CIPC present in the timber.

Space them out so that exposure to light is maximised while ensuring that it doesn’t cause a Health & Safety hazard.

4. Write it down Keep a record of when and how you cleaned your store.

This evidence will likely prove valuable in demonstrating that the Industry is taking a pro-

active approach towards keeping residues down.

Going forward, cleaning will be one of the key pillars of industrywide efforts towards minimising CIPC residues, and is likely to be one of the conditions imposed for a temporary MRL (tMRL).

Other efforts include the establishment of a store cleaning protocol that will apply to a variety of storage situation, something that industry stakeholders across the value chain and regulators are working closely on.

Information on alternative products is available on the AHDB website’s storage hub.

And, to help store managers prepare, AHDB is offering free one-to-one potato store visits via its new Storage Network.

The visits are designed to help businesses prepare for life after CIPC. Store managers in the United Kingdom can sign-up for their visit via the AHDB storage hub or by calling +44 1406 359419.

Open eyes to Maxim seed treatment Effective seed treatment will quickly build a bigger and stronger root systems, which can support higher number of

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tubers with more even size and maturity at harvest.

Frontier Agriculture potato seed treatment specialist, Paul

potatoes Overton, reports the company’s extensive trials with Maxim (fludioxonil) have shown it will consistently enable more eyes to open and stimulate extra rooting.

“More viable eyes that increases stem numbers per hectare is key to increasing overall yields,” advocated Paul.

“Our controlled environment trials at Sutton Bridge, have repeatedly shown the earlier and stronger root vigour with Maxim treatment.

“In the field that has translated to more even initial eye movement in the box, and typically means crops are faster to reach 100% emergence.”

He believes achieving a more consistent crop with the seed treatment has benefits for agronomy right through the season.

Frontier’s dedicated store at Sutton Bridge has been designed specifically to accelerate seed-borne diseases on seed lots. “If we can identify seed issues before planting, it gives the chance to make the best decisions on what treatments to recommend,” advised Paul. “We also get a better understanding how to work with specific varieties and for different markets to achieve the optimum performance for growers.”

Growing salad varieties, for example, he reported combinations of ethylene and Maxim has shown to stimulate far greater shoot numbers.

With varieties which have the capability for branched stolons carrying extra tubers, such as early maincrops Brooke and Taurus, it makes the control of Rhizoctonia even more important, he pointed out.

“Stolon numbers are the absolute framework for carrying tubers and increasing the yield potential. With the Maxim treatment the cleanliness and vigour of the stems is incredible, so growers and agronomists can really begin to influence potato plant population dynamics for higher yields and marketable quality.”

Fludioxonil is particularly well suited as a seed treatment, since it is relatively immobile in

Agroforestry can help deliver shift in land use needed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions

The recent recognition by the UK Committee on Climate Change of agroforestry as a key action to help deliver the major shift in land use needed to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 has been welcomed by researchers based at the James Hutton Institute.

Agroforestry is a land management system which combines livestock farming and forestry. It can help with the first two policy objectives outlined by the CCC report – to increase tree planting and encourage low-carbon farming practices - as well as having animal welfare and biodiversity benefits. It also helps to diversify farm income leading to increased social, economic and environmental benefits for land managers and users at all levels.

This system is a major focus of work at the

Institute’s Glensaugh farm, which aims to be a climatepositive farm: one that contributes positively to climate mitigation, retain as much water and biodiversity as possible, be adapted and resilient to changes in the climate, while at the same time being financially sustainable. Watch a virtual tour of agroforestry at Glensaugh.

Professor Deborah Roberts, Director of Science at the James Hutton Institute, says agroforestry can be a hard sell for farmers: “There are many potential benefits from agroforestry, from a production point of view but also in terms of biodiversity and we know that farming in the future will have to take into account much more than just producing food.

“At the moment however the purposeful integration of food and forestry

production on the same area of land is seen as an odd thing to do. From the farmer’s perspective, it’s a huge investment, a huge decision to make. To make that decision farmers need support.”

To learn more about agroforestry at Glensaugh, visit our Agroforestry at Glensaugh website or experience a virtual tour of agroforestry at the farm.

The James Hutton Institute is a world-leading scientific organisation working to resolve global challenges in food, climate, energy and water security. The Institute works in partnership with people, organisations and governments to enhance sustainable environmental, social and economic development to deliver practical solutions for our shared future. www.hutton. ac.uk

The James Hutton Institute is a world-leading scientific research organisation working to resolve global challenges in food, climate, energy and water security. The Institute works in partnership with people, organisations and governments to enhance sustainable environmental, social and economic development to deliver practical solutions for our shared future. www.hutton.ac.uk www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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potatoes the soil and stays surrounding the tuber and protecting roots for longer. “Over repeated seasons we have seen no issues with crop safety, so advocate getting the maximum dose possible on to the tubers,” advised Paul.

“Treatment in store pre-planting is controlled, convenient and saves another task for planter operators.”

Work by Frontier, along with Dr Stuart Wale at SRUC Craibstone, has shown earlier application had beneficial all round benefits on skin diseases, including black dot, silver scurf, skin spot and Fusarium, along with Rhizoctonia. Research with tuber dip tests and hand applying seed treatment with a paint brush to individual dormant eyes demonstrated the crop safety and that applying the full dose achieved more consistent results, right through to field yield and tuber quality.

For growers buying in bagged seed, their unloading into boxes within 48 hours of arriving on farm is an ideal opportunity for Maxim treatment, he highlighted. Over past seasons most of the seed treatment has been applied at source or by specialist contractor on-farm. However many growers are now kitting up with their own applicators, for convenience and greater selectivity on which seed to target for specific fields or risk situations.

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New appointments signal further growth for Tong Tong Engineering is building on a year of significant growth, with the announcement of two new directors, and two new appointments within its sales & projects departments.

Following a strong year for sales of the company’s industryleading vegetable grading and washing solutions in 2019, 2020 is set to be a milestone year for the company, with a new state-of-the-art Tong

production facility scheduled for completion in the Spring, whilst the company also marks 90 years since its engineering roots first began, back in 1930.

“We had an exceptionally busy year in 2019 and we have some very exciting times ahead of us,” says Edward Tong, Managing Director at Tong Engineering. “Our latest appointments have been made in line with our growth

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objectives; so that we can continue to grow and build our business upon strong and dependable partnerships with our customers, employees and suppliers, whilst exploring new markets and opportunities for growth.”

Tong Engineering is pleased to announce the appointment of Neil Martin as Operations Director, and Teresa Morgan as Finance Director, both of which

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potatoes

crofting Looking forward to 2020

By Patrick Krause, Chief Executive, Scottish Crofting Federation Neil Martin (L) Edward Tong, Teresa Morgan (R)

will enhance continuity and expertise across the Board.

Neil started his career at the company as Buyer, when Tong acquired Peal Engineering in 2005.

During his time at Tong, Neil has progressed through the business, gaining a deep understanding of the company’s visions and values, as well as the industry’s ongoing requirements, making him perfectly placed to ensure the

customer remains at the heart of Tong’s strategy and operations as the business expands.

Newly appointed Finance Director, Teresa Morgan, joined Tong in 2015 as Head of Finance.

Over the past 5 years, Teresa has conducted all financial aspects of the business, and brings strong analytical and commercial attributes to the ongoing growth of Tong.

When you read this we will have officially left the European Union and will have entered a transition period of one year, at the end of which, it has been proclaimed, we will walk away completely whether there are deals forged with Europe or not.

We have a year to ensure that we have markets for our meat, our seafood, our livestock, our croft produce.

This may be outwith Europe but hopefully we will retain good trading links with our biggest market. We also need to develop our home markets. We have very high quality products, both from land and sea, and getting more of that into our own outlets would be no bad thing, if the consumer is willing to pay for quality.

There is understandable emphasis on climate change mitigation and crofting has very strong credentials in environmentally friendly food production whilst also managing much of the UK’s greatest primary carbon sink, the peatlands.

This year will see the Less Favoured Areas Support Scheme being revised, with the intention to change to something along the lines of the European scheme for Areas of Natural Constraint.

This is an opportunity to move support to those fragile areas that really need it.

Those trying to produce in these areas face other natural constraints. The damage caused to crofting by the plague of geese in the Western Isles is ruinous; sea eagles are taking more lambs as their population grows and deer are teeming unchecked in many areas.

SNH seem impotent so is it time that agricultural funding is used to control predators and pests?

It is widely recognised that the Crofting Agricultural Grant Scheme, a lifeline for crofters, doesn’t work as well as it should, but this is something that is being reviewed and will be improved in the coming months.

Crofting law reform has been put on hold but the National Development Plan for Crofting will continue to be worked on, with the intention of publishing it in 2020/21, and will advocate various initiatives being taken to help crofting flourish.

There is a lot going on for crofting and, despite problems should the divorce settlement not go well, there are opportunities and good things happening too. Let’s be optimistic for 2020.

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FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND

Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards aims to showcase excellence Scotland has long enjoyed an enviable reputation worldwide for the outstanding quality of its natural larder and its thriving £14bn food and drink industry is testament to the passion and commitment that almost 19,000 Scottish food and drink businesses bring to this vital sector.

The huge growth in consumer interest in food provenance over recent years has led two food and drink media specialists to launch a brand new awards programme to recognise and reward the many producers, suppliers and retailers who are helping reinforce Scotland’s well-earned reputation for producing some of the best food and drink on the planet.

The Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards is being launched

by Helen Lyons, who has extensive experience bringing awards programmes to fruition, and Antony Begley of 55 North, the Glasgow-based publishing house specialising in food and drink retailing. Both are thrilled to have enlisted the support of Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), a centre for excellence in food science, as one of their key partners.

Launched at Scotland’s Speciality Food Show on 20th January, the Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards aims to throw a spotlight onto the vast array of fantastic quality branded and own label food and drink products available in Scottish retail outlets today.

Helen Lyons said: “The Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards aim to seek out and 16

recognise businesses and enterprises of all sizes from all corners of Scotland. Interest in provenance, locally and nationally sourced products has arguably never been higher than it is today.

These new awards aim to provide a fantastic platform to bring more producers and retailers together.

Our goal is simple; we want to bring producers and retailers together to get more of Scotland’s fantastic products onto the shelves of more stores throughout Scotland.”

Entries will be welcomed from all companies that produce and market products in Scotland for the Scottish retail marketplace, from discounters to supermarkets, from convenience stores to farm shops and everyone in between.

The awards will open for entries in January and will close in May. Judging will take place during June and July with the awards presentation taking place in October 2020.

Helen Lyons

Podberry, the healthy pea snack, bursts into 2020 with more exciting new partnerships Scottish snack brand Podberry has announced a number of exciting new partnerships to start 2020. A demonstration of the growing demand for healthy and tasty snacks these new collaborations will allow easier purchase of Podberrys delicious

freeze-dried pea snacks, both in the UK and overseas across the Middle East.

The first partnership, with supermarket chain Lulu, will see Podberry stocked on the shelves across the Middle East. The first pallet for this partnership will be

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delivered, via the supermarkets UK hub, in late January with products reaching the Middle Eastern consumers soon after.

The second new partnership is with UK based distributor The Bay Tree who will list Podberry from February this year. With a

FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND

Scotland The Brand

The Staff of Life

By Ruth Watson

Geoff Bruce, Director of Podberry

fleet, based in Devon, distributing throughout the UK The Bay Tree will allow much easier access to Podberry for independent suppliers interested in stocking the product throughout the UK. In addition to both of these partnerships, Podberry will also be featured in Januarys The Goodness Project’s deliveries.

Inclusion within this subscription box will mean more consumers, with an existing interest in vegan and natural products, will be introduced to this unique, tasty and healthy snack.

Originally launched in 2019 the last year has seen a number of exciting developments for Podberry. With listings in Morrisons for their initial two flavours in August, a second launch of two further flavours in September and a partnership with Officedrop to end the decade 2020 promises to offer even further exciting opportunities for the Scottish brand.

The UK’s first freeze-dried seasoned snack product made with Scottish-grown produce comes in 20g single-serve packs and four delicious flavour variants. Initially developed with help from experts in New Zealand, the fresh peas are harvested and frozen in under two and a half hours before undergoing a freeze-drying process prior to flavouring and

packaging. This, and the fact that unlike other snacks the product is never fried, means consumers are guaranteed the highest level of nutrients and flavour in every pea.

Created with understanding around a growing demand for healthy and convenient food products, Podberry are high protein, low in fat, gluten free, vegan friendly and 1 of your 5 a day with no compromise on flavour.

Geoff Bruce, Director of Podberry, said of the new listing: “We learnt a lot in 2019 with the launch of Podberry and hope that 2020 offers us even more exciting opportunities which allow us to get our delicious and unique snack product to the consumer.

“Demonstrating the national, and global, growing demand for healthy snacks which don’t compromise on flavour, convenience or quality the two deals, with Lulu and The Bay Tree, as well as our inclusion within The Goodness Projects boxes are a brilliant start to our year.

“Despite these positive moves we don’t plan to stop there. We hope to secure more exciting deals over the next 12 months and are working hard to ensure that Podberry becomes common sight in shops, both big and small, here and overseas.”

Bread is a fundamental part of our culture yet we often overlook the part it plays in our diet. A Scottish food revolution is looking to change the way we connect with the humble loaf. The Common Grains Conference was held in Scotland at the end of last year, attended by farmers, crofters, millers, bakers, and more; professionals determined to put real bread back on our tables and real bakers back on our high streets.

“Scotland’s farmers have grown bread grains for thousands of years, there is no reason why they can’t provide our daily bread using local grains from varieties our forebears relied on,” says Andrew Whitley of ‘Scotland the Bread’. He is a baker with a passion for a fair deal for farmers and good food for all. “We want to work with farmers to grow bread grains for their local communities using nutrientdense varieties which mean people feel full on less – that takes pressure off budgets and belts.”

It might be hard to see how locally-grown but more

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expensive food can be more than niche given the emphasis on price over quality in supermarkets and the economic hardships so many face. Changes to procurement which work in conjunction with regenerative farming to bring freshlybaked bread from local bakers and local farms into our public facilities is vital, agrees John Castley, of the Wild Hearth Bakery, in Perthshire.

“There is a real movement towards the use of local grains from local farms in local communities. We have to look backwards to look forwards, to better understand the grain and unlock its potential,” he says.

His goal is to see schoolchildren enjoying wholemeal bread from historic grains with a farm to toasting fork connection.

People support what they value and they value what they know. As farmers face an uncertain landscape, the answer for many may well lie with being known for providing the food which nourishes their local communities.

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food

Food Standards Scotland collaborates with Scottish businesses to tackle food crime Food Standards Scotland has announced 17 food and drink industry partners have pledged to support its Scottish Food Crime and Incidents Unit (SFCIU) so far, in raising awareness of food crime and how to report it.

Collaborating organisations include Seafood Scotland, Scotland Food & Drink, Quality Meat Scotland, Crimestoppers and Safe and Local Supplier Approval (SALSA).

SFCIU Head, Ron McNaughton, said: “Food crime costs the UK economy around £1.2 billion each year and it’s vital we tackle it to uphold Scotland’s well-deserved reputation for food that’s safe and of the highest quality and standard.

“We’re delighted to have support from key organisations which encourages food crime reporting as well as setting a standard for others. We rely on working with partners, and intelligence we get from industry is vital in helping us bring criminals to justice.”

Any knowledge or suspicions of food crime can be reported to the SFCIU’s free and confidential Scottish Food Crime Hotline, run in partnership with Crimestoppers, on 0800 028

7926 or the secure online form.

SALSA’s Scheme Development Manager, Bonnie Joplin, said: “Consumers expect that the food they buy is safe and is what it says it is.

“It’s important that everyone along the food chain works together to tackle food crime – that’s why we are proud to support this initiative and the great work of the SFCIU.” Food Standards Scotland recently collaborated with Professor Chris Elliott, Director of the Institute for Global Food Safety at Queen’s University Belfast, on a video examining key issues facing industry and businesses when tackling food crime.

Professor Elliott said: “With complex supply chains and so many elements involved in bringing food to consumers, it is vital we work with industry and provide as much support for producers and suppliers as possible.

“The SFCIU’s collaboration with industry harnesses an information-sharing approach in Scotland and across the globe, setting a gold standard in the fight against rogue operators.”

More information on the SFCIU and how to be a supporting partner, contact Food Standards Scotland: marketing@fss.scot

Debate offers policy makers food for thought Scotland could learn much from the Nordic countries when it comes to sustainable food production and lowering the rate of child obesity.

This is according to the project manager for the Nordic Food Policy Lab, who was speaking at a free public debate on food policy taking place in Edinburgh recently.

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Mads Frederik Fischer-Møller, who is also senior advisor for food policy for the Nordic Council of Ministers, was joined at the event by Professor Corinna Hawkes, Director of the Centre for Food Policy at City, University of London.

Organised by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), the

debate explored what should shape 21st-century food policy.

For example, human and animal health; environmental sustainability; human rights and social justice around food availability and quality; as well as international trade and standards.

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Professor Sarah Skerratt, SRUC’s Director of Policy and chair of the debate, said: “Policies have been in place for decades to regulate food production and many aspects of consumption – not only in farming, but also for supermarkets, restaurants, kitchens and so on.

food

Use the Tenant’s Improvements Amnesty to BrexitProof Your Business

Mads Frederik Fischer-Møller

“As the world changes, new food policies are now being debated and developed in Scotland, the UK, in Nordic countries, and across the globe, as our systems of supply-anddemand become increasingly interlinked.

“At this important debate, we looked at changes we’re seeing in how our food is produced and think about how policy should be shaped accordingly.”

Mads Frederik Fischer-Møller said: “Scotland and the Nordics have very similar terrains and cultures and it is clear there is much we can learn from each other. The Nordics, for example,

are often seen as leaders in sustainability and we have the lowest child obesity in Europe. It was good to look at what Scotland might be able to learn from Nordic food policy and what ideas we might be able to adopt.”

Prof Corinna Hawkes said: “Food offers solutions to so many problems in the world today. At the same time, it’s a world of so many differing opinions and conflicts. I was delighted to have the opportunity to air and listen to the many views out there.”

Give us today our daily bread – took place at the Grassmarket Centre, Edinburgh on the 28th February.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Subscription details on page 117 www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

Brexit still provides many unknowns but for tenant farmers there are some important elements of future-proofing your business that you absolutely can do now. This includes agreeing your improvements under the Tenants’ Improvements Amnesty. The clock is ticking – you only have until 12th June 2020 to do this.

Historically the process required to qualify an improvement for compensation was complex and often wasn’t followed.

The amnesty gives the opportunity to rectify this, even where the correct notice wasn’t given or process followed. Many tenants won’t be thinking of giving up their lease but should still make taking up the amnesty a priority because in the future the rent calculation will be based on the productive capacity of the farm with the equipment provided by the landlord, and it will be important to be able to discount the value that the tenant’s improvements bring.

What type of improvements are covered? The list is extensive but includes

agricultural buildings, drainage, fencing, works to the farmhouse, slurry stores and silage pits.

Though there is a formal route which relies on serving of various legal notices, it is recommended that where possible the informal process is followed, and this reduces the expense and stress for all concerned.

In the informal process the tenant identifies the full list of improvements they want to register and sits down with the landlord to discuss them.

It isn’t essential to have evidence but it is strongly recommended as this makes things considerably simpler for the landlord and will make the process swifter and more straightforward.

There are various sources of help and advice but the best place to start is the Scottish Land Commission who have lots of information including comprehensive lists of eligible improvements and various templates: https:// landcommission.gov.scot/ our-work/tenant-farming/ amnesty-on-tenantsimprovements 19

topic

Nationwide launch of Countrymen UK Clubs Allows men with health issues to access support services in an environment they understand Two farms in Aberdeenshire are among the first to become part of Countrymen UK. Buchan Community Farm in Maud and Touchdown Memorial Home for Horses in Moray are looking for members to join a brand new venture designed to allow men with health issues to access support services in an environment they understand and can relate to.

The farms have become part of Countrymen UK, a registered charity with an exciting new nationwide initiative providing a unique solution designed to support the increasing isolation of men who find themselves unable to access outdoor work and leisure environments because of their deteriorating physical or mental health or changing social conditions.

The countrywide launch of Countrymen Clubs aims to help men become more resilient to the life changes they experience as a result of rural

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isolation and ageing. The Clubs are particularly keen to recruit older men who have long term health conditions including Dementia, Parkinson’s and other limiting long term illnesses, but are open to men of all ages who experience rural isolation and deteriorating physical or mental health. Typically the men will have an affinity with the outdoors and may have worked in farming, horticulture or in other outdoor environments.

The idea behind Countrymen UK is for all men, regardless of their mobility or cognitive levels, to have the opportunity to participate in healthy, active and social activities in a safe and supported countryside or farm environment to the benefit of their physical and mental wellbeing.

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery, more than a dozen Care Farms and Gardens across the UK have signed up to become Countrymen UK Social

Franchises and are aiming to recruit members, together with volunteers, to their newly formed Countrymen UK Clubs.

The Countrymen UK Clubs were developed as a result of an initiative by Future Roots - an organisation which runs programmes in Dorset for both young people and adults. It is part of the ‘care farming’ movement, which aims to harness the therapeutic potential of farming practices.

Future Roots and Countrymen UK founder Julie Plumley explains, “The unique combination of activities taking place outdoors reflects our belief, underpinned by recent research*, that getting back to farm and countryside environments and green spaces, overcomes isolation and has a positive impact on physical health and mental wellbeing.”

The Clubs also help the wives and carers of the members, providing an opportunity for

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respite as well as the chance to socialise and gain mutual support from one another.

One Countryman, Dan Hodgeson, commented, “I was depressed and isolated. I missed the life I once had in the countryside and had little contact with people outside my family. That’s all changed now. I love being outside again.

It brings back memories. It’s become a new adventure for me - a healthy adventure. And I’m surrounded by people who share my interests.”

Countrymen UK Clubs run several sessions every month throughout the year.

Some members attend only one session, while others attend multiple sessions - it’s entirely up to them and a small charge is made for each session.

For more information about Countrymen UK go to www. countrymenuk.org or email: admin@countrymenuk.org or Tel: 01963 210789.

IRRIGATION

Irrigation Taking care of land and crops

Greencrop expand their Irrimec irrigation range Greencrop Irrigations new Elite irrigators from Irrimec has gone from strength to strength and the new 800 range introduced into the UK last year is a welcome addition.

Starting from 600m up to 900m long and 110mm to 150mm hose diameter.

The Elite range of machines are designed with the professional grower in mind.

The drum is driven from a cut gear ring positioned on the outer diameter on both sides of the drum. Unlike a chain drive, the hose drum is driven by a low-torque gear drive, which is positive and low wearing. Drum bearings are now fitted with an auto lube cartridge. The turbine drive retains Irrimec’s patented partial flow “Turbimec” system, The new dosicontrol pro computer has built in GSM,

ability to record hours worked and water used among other diagnostics.

The chassis’ are constructed of large steel frames using a 5mm thick box section. The hydraulic legs are 50% larger with built-in internal rams for improved weather resistance and are designed to exert a central push against the drum for added stability.

The Elite is supplied with a full hydraulic system with the control levers now mounted on its own adjustable stand at the front of the machine. This can be adjusted to the right or left hand side of the drum, therefore when turning the drum into the work position you are always in the line of sight to position the trolley in the correct row, making the machine set up easier. The trolley lift frame is now lift or

lowered by its own hydraulic rams so with the legs pushed hard down into the ground the trolley frame can be lifted out of the way for when the gun trolley arrives home, The hose guide has not one but four metal bearing rollers guiding the hose onto the drum.

Gun trolleys are self-pivoting, have been made 50% stronger,

are fitted with wheel weights and have a double support wheel for the hose.

The machines are all on tandem axle chassis, with a large wide range of tyres For further information on our complete range or Irrigators and pump sets go to www. greencrop.co.uk

One of the new Irrimec Elite 800 series, 600m and 700m irrigators working in the UK last season

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IRRIGATION

Irrifrance machines from Javelin Irrigation Systems Javelin have been supplying Irrifrance machines into the UK market since the early 80’s and in 2018 Vegcraft became dealers for all of Javelin Irrigation’s products in Scotland.

The Javelin product range for 2020 continues to introduce new machinery with increased structural dimensions, allowing a broader range of hose diameter size and length options to give a larger choice for various applications. These machines have the high-specification Irridoseur 5 computers which gives the user full control over water application rates. Along with fully hydraulic operation on the larger reels as standard and the optional advantage of GSM control, irrigation no longer has

to be the time consuming task it once was.

The most popular machines in Scotland have the been the Optima 1032 110mm x 500m and the Optima 1037 110mm x 550m. The standard specification machine has been a double axle for extra stability, hydraulic turntable, legs and jack. The Komet Ultra 140 Vari-Angle fitted on a galvanised offset trolley.

These machines will be stocked in the above sizes this year.

Javelin dealer Vegcraft, based in Angus, offer a local point of contact for sales and after-sales service and equipment, all from the Javelin catalogue including; booms, diesel engine pump units, rainguns and Rovatti pumps.

Accessories such as Irrifrance, Wright Rain compatible and Bauer type pipework and fittings plus Javelin/Murphy engine monitoring equipment are readily available from stock in order to help reduce down-time during the important summer months.

For further information or assistance regarding your irrigation or pump requirements for the forthcoming season, please contact Vegcraft on +44 (0) 1241 860204 or Javelin Irrigation direct on +44 (0) 1507 607175.

Time saving hose reelers for fast, far reaching irrigation from Tramspread Tramspread has developed a range of reelers and hoses that save time and help farmers bring irrigation to hard to reach areas.

Through the use of a twin hydraulic drive the Tramspread random wrap reeler has ample power to quickly reel in or out up to 1000 metres of 4or 5-inch hose or 800m x 6” hose. The galvanised spools, or bobbins, can be easily and quickly removed from the robust carrying frame by simply removing two securing pins to lower the reel to the ground.

With the addition of another 1000m spool, extra capacity can be economically gained without 22

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the need to purchase another complete reeler. Tramspread also offers a low cost, single hydraulic drive, 600m version of this reeler.

The random wrap reeler has also been developed to be gear driven. This offers more power and gives better torque when reeling in. Being gear driven the reeler suffers less wear, is faster and more reliable, than chain alternatives. Explaining the benefits of the reelers, Edwin Baker from Tramspread says, “These reelers are built out of heavy-duty steel and are a reliable piece of kit in the field.

Reelers are one of our best-

IRRIGATION selling products and each one is made with attention to detail and a commitment to quality.”

To accompany the reelers there are a variety of hose options available for effective irrigation across all terrains.

A flexible thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) hose such as that manufactured by Golmer and Hummel (GH) can even be driven over when out in a field.

The GH Hilcoflex PU has a woven core which makes it more resistant to punctures and much lighter than comparable nitrile hoses.

A lightweight option with a non-kinking and non-snaking design is the Snap Tite irrigation hose. “These hoses are a great option when long distances need to be travelled with a hose.

The tough, durable, smooth polyurethane composition of the hose makes its perfect for agricultural irrigation use,” adds Mr Baker.

Snap Tite also manufactures polyurethane lay flat hose.

Traditional PVC lay flat hose incorporates spiral reinforcement sandwiched between stiff layers of PVC. Whereas the manufacturing process of the lay flat hose creates a strong yet pliable hose that resists abrasion, cracking, puncturing and weathering. “There is such a wide variety on the market, we stock thousands of metres because demand is always high,” says Mr Baker.

Choosing the correct couplings to accompany any hose can be as important as the choice of hose. Though small, the correct couplings will prevent leaks, help withstand significant torque and make it easier to maintain and repair equipment.

“We supply Bauer and Storz couplings. The Storz couplings are unsexed and have a unique swivel which helps to reduce hose twisting. This protects the hose, reduces unnecessary wear

Tramspread 100m Random Wrap Reeler

and will help prevent leaks,” concludes Mr Baker.

The Tramspread random wrap, tractor mounted reeler

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offers robust build quality and a powerful twin hydraulic drive capable of reeling up to 1000 metres of hose.

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Made in Scotland Scotland is blessed with its fair share of the world’s best produce when it comes to natural heritage foods indigenous to our climate. We benefit, by enlarge, from steady rainfall and reasonable sunshine, the Gulf Stream and maritime breezes. Sure we have midges and haar but who has beef, lamb, shellfish, berries and game like us? Our dairy farmers are diversifying into high quality ice creams, cheeses and yoghurts and we have Scottish heritage grains grown commercially for the first time in over a century!

Indeed over fifty Scottish foods have been officially recognised as among the world’s valued heritage foods on Slow Food’s International website.

With such fabulous and intrinsically Scottish foods, past, present and future, this regular feature will focus on Scotland’s natural bounty and the folk who have used their ingenuity, passion and business acumen to use the produce in their own imitable ways.

Birks O’ Aberfeldy

By Wendy Barrie Scottish Thistle Award Regional Ambassador (2018/19) for Central, Tayside & Fife Director of Scottish Food Guide

When Rob and Gabrielle Clamp first met, little did they know birks would bring them together! Gabrielle is from Lyon, a qualified chiropractor with a strong interest in holistic treatments and nature’s methods of healing. She was working in Scotland when she met Rob, originally from Caithness, who was at the time working for the Forestry Commission as the District Forester, managing forests and establishing large scale mixed woodland from Skye and Strathspey right across to Inverness-shire, all the while becoming increasingly interested in native species.

Both Rob and Gabrielle wanted a project they could work on together, using their skills as forester and healer, following their passion. During this time they spent many happy hours in Highland Perthshire, among the ancient Birch woodlands, until one day they bought a refreshment, a bottle of birchwater, and realised their favourite place could also provide them with a business enterprise, using Rob’s knowledge of 24

Photographs ©RobClamp

With thanks to Bosse Dahlgren for his Nordic Birch traditions contribution!

Birchwater & cup

forestry and Gabrielle’s skills in natural health remedies.

Realising that the sap available on that day was imported from Finland not Scotland they decided it was about time there was a ‘homegrown’ version available!

Birken Tree was born and with only two months to go before tapping time there was much to be done before the sap rose in early spring. Permission was sought and granted from landowners and Rob and Gabrielle embarked on their quest. That first season they harvested 400litres from a small number of trees and the rest is history! A small family

enterprise, now into its third year of production, that has great potential and is good for our planet not having travelled halfway around the world to get here!

Scotland has over 100,000 hectares of birch woodland – that’s approximately two million trees. Birch has tended to be overlooked in favour of fastgrowing conifers for timber yet it has much to offer. Birch sap is harvested over three weeks, usually from around the end of February to sometime in March and tastes pure and fresh.

With many health benefits, it is

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naturally low in sugar and very refreshing. Its anti-oxidants, essential minerals and amino acids help to balance the body’s pH and it is a most enjoyable health tonic. Birchwater is perfect for poaching fish, can be used in desserts and makes a great mixer for cordials and spirits.

Birken Tree also harvest spring leaves that are dried and sold as Birch Tea, traditionally known for its anti-inflammatory properties and reduction of fluid retention. Beneficial for healthy skin, it can help with acne and contains several anti-oxidants.

Nutritionally speaking, birch has one more jewel in its crown, Chaga, a fungus generally specific to birch that can be sustainably harvested, processed and sold as a tincture. Chaga is rich in multiple vitamins and minerals and has long been used in medicine for treating inflammation, restoring immune systems and balancing hormones, with many independent studies into its potent healing powers.

Over in central and northern Scandinavia they value birch forests highly, not only for

Clamp family

healing powers but also for the environment they create. The biodiversity of birch woodland, often in combination with a few juniper bushes, offers homes to an abundance of creatures from animals grazing to insects, yellow hammers, cuckoos and black grouse. The woodland floor can be rich in fungi and berries and the wood is prized for its qualities and characteristics for handicrafts. Furthermore the high temperatures it reaches when burnt, gives off an unmatched heat in those Nordic log stoves!

Saplings harvested in springtime are still used to keep thatched roofs in place.

For traditional turf roofs, layers of birch bark are placed under the turf to ensure it is entirely waterproof. This is still common in Norway and very environmental – totally natural

Birch tapping

with no plastic or synthetics involved!

Birch bark is used when trying to start a log fire in nature in the pouring rain! The bark is full of tar that burns beautifully even when wet and bark is also used indoors rather than our Scottish custom of newspaper twirlies!

There was a tradition to make brooms from birch twigs, bound together with a sapling, and they also were made into highly effective whisks for the kitchen by removing the bark from twigs and fixing a bundle together. A dumpier version with bark intact was used as a dish brush.

When it comes to cheese making all tools were made from birch because it has antibacterial properties and good hygiene is vital in cheese making for a successful product. Larder and cellar shelves for maturing cheeses were always made

from birch; wooden moulds for cheeses and even butter troughs.

At Easter time Swedes go out in nature and bring back a few birch branches to decorate homes, hanging them with colourful feathers and painted eggs. When they are brought into the warmth the bare twigs start to open their buds and the glimpses of green add to the beauty and a feeling for spring. It is quite a sight to see.

Birch logs were used for fuelling big baking ovens as the birch flavours were imparted to the dough and as important as the intense heat they generated.

Birch branches were harvested in winter for sheep, goats and horses who loved the twigs, giving them extra micro-nutrients. The ash was used as a cleaning agent on laundry day and as a fertiliser for fields, being rich in calcium and potassium with a high pH and trace amounts of micro-minerals.

Swedish farmers would plant birch where animals went grazing: providing shade for the animals; birch planks for furniture; harvesting of sap; logs for heating and pulp for paper. As birches are thinned the remaining mature trees have great beauty and been the subject of many poems and songs across Scandinavia – it’s not just Burns who eulogises about the birks!

Whilst some of these traditions have dwindled in recent years there is a definite resurgence and the benefits of birch are once more being appreciated.

So what about Scotland where birch branches were once used to smoke hams and keep the fires going for distilling whisky?

Fast-forward to present day and Rob is now working with Cardney Estate by Dunkeld, managing their forest, planting new woodland…and birchtapping with Gabrielle. They plan to host group events there in the near future and another exciting development is their soon-to-belaunched Sparkling Birchwater, already with advance orders.

With birchwater boarded on Slow Food’s Ark of Taste it is internationally recognised as part of Scotland’s heritage food culture and should not be underestimated! For their beauty and poise, their wealth of uses and their contribution to our sustainable environment, go on, plant Birch rather than Contorta …you know you want to!!

‘Birken Tree is supported by Rural Perth & Kinross LEADER Programme 2014-2020: The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development: Europe investing in rural areas’

Glean Liobhann

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Cereals 2020 Preview

Cereals 2020 is rapidly taking shape, with several new features in the pipeline including a Young Farmers’ programme and technology demo ring.

The leading outdoor arable event in Europe, Cereals offers a one-stop shop for farmers, contractors and agronomists, with all the latest technology and advice in one place. And this year – under the new management of Comexposium – is set to be a game-changer, explains event director Alli McEntyre.

“This year, we have a larger, dedicated team, who have been working closely alongside the industry to increase the technical content and relevance of the Event,” she says. “Feedback from last year was extremely positive – despite the appalling weather – with visitors awarding the overall event a score of 87% and exhibitors rating it at 96%. But we want to evolve the show and make it the best it can be, so have taken on board industry advice to make it as relevant and practical as possible.”

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New features for this year include a Young Farmers’ Club programme with a focus on sustainable businesses and a demonstration area for robotics and new technologies. There will also be a Grain Exchange for fresh ideas from grain marketing companies, an improved event layout and more crop plots featuring leading and award-winning varieties.

Perennial favourites like the NIAB Soil Pit, Syngenta Sprays & Sprayers Arena, and working demonstrations will be returning – with more than the odd practical twist – and the improved theatre programme promises to challenge and inspire, she adds.

“The overarching theme of Cereals 2020 is ‘Sustainable Solutions’ and we promise to deliver that – covering everything from practical farming and financial advice to climate change and political issues,” says Ms McEntyre.

“Farmers are facing challenging times, but that also brings opportunities. We have pulled together a forward-thinking

programme that we hope will help visitors to navigate the current difficulties and emerge stronger and better-equipped to take their businesses forward.”

Seminars AHDB Theatre Integrated Pest Management: Getting more from less With resistance to pesticides out of control, this session explores new strategies to get more from less in managing weeds, pests and disease.

Capitalise on changing demands With Brexit behind us and a new Agriculture Bill starting to take effect, this session explores the outlook – and opportunities - for UK arable farmers.

Natural capital; making good farming pay Farmers can play a key role in managing ecosystem services for society; from carbon sequestration to flood risk management, air and water quality. This session

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explores how farmers can tap into the opportunity.

Adapting to ELMS The Government’s Agriculture Bill places environment and other public benefits at the heart of any new support for UK farmers.

This session explores how arable businesses can, and are, adjusting to the new opportunities.

Young Farmers and Sustainability Theatre New to Cereals this year, this theatre will kick off with a NFYC Breakfast reception for Young Farmers hosted by Cambs YFC. Routes into farming As the basic payment is phased out the industry is likely to undergo a massive restructure, opening up new opportunities. Find out how share farming and other joint ventures can provide a route into the sector for new entrants.

Climate Change This session explores what steps are needed to achieve net zero

CEREALS 2020 carbon emissions on arable farms and how to tackle the climate change impacts already being felt on farms.

Skills for the future The skills needed to run a successful farming business are vastly different to those of the previous generations. Find out what they are and how to acquire them.

Careers session with jobs board Tilling the land is just one important slice of a very large job opportunity pie in food and farming. Hear the stories of individuals who have made careers in everything from journalism to farm work and science.

Sustainable Systems Healthy soil is the key to sustainable arable farming. Hear from farmers who are utilising minimal tillage, co-cropping, controlled traffic and other practices to improve soil health and productivity.

Succession planning Succession planning is the hardest conversation for young farmers to broach with their families. Find out how to navigate this fundamental business change so that all parties emerge with a positive future.

Game-changing advice We all need help sometimes.

Whether it’s managing finances, changing farm strategy or tackling mental health challenges, this session explores how farmers can turn their business or life around by seeking advice at the tight time.

Dragon’s Den business challenge Submit your innovative business plans and go head-to-head in our Dragon’s Den challenge.

Finalists will pitch their ideas to the audience, and there may even be an investor or adviser on-site to help turn ideas into reality.

DIT Innovation and Tech Theatre Data and Digital Innovation This session explores the latest innovations in digital and data – and how farmers can access

the value that lies in disruptive technologies.

Crop health Explore the new technologies in crop disease and fertiliser management including smart tools, new products and techniques.

Farm-led innovation Many of the best innovations come from farmers. This session explores the inventions, research and new answers coming from farmer-led innovation.

Plant breeding Find out how plant breeding techniques like gene editing and sequencing, alongside increasing collaboration between researchers and industry, are creating crops and varieties that are fitter for the future.

Precision Farming: Technological developments Precision farming is advancing in huge strides. We profile the latest technology, from autonomous robots to mechanical weeding, spot spraying and laser weed control.

Beyond the farmgate – meet the end users Meet the end users for your crop and find out why they have such stringent specifications. In addition, discover the common pitfalls in grain sale contracts and how to avoid them.

New market opportunities Whether you’re considering growing maize, rye or grass for anaerobic digestion plants,

miscanthus for animal bedding, or short rotation willow for biomass boilers, this session will have plenty to inspire.

Budgeting and risk management In a volatile market, how can you ensure you cover your costs and sell for a profit? Hear from trading experts about how to use options to protect against pricing drops or benefit from future market rises.

Applying precision technology on farm Hear from farmers who are implementing precision technology on farm to improve efficiencies and environmental outcomes.

Grain Exchange Innovative crops and how to market them As consumer demands change and supply of soya from around the globe looks increasingly unsustainable, take a look at alternative protein crops, both for human and animal consumption.

Cereals stand number 839

Grain outlook Get the lowdown on international and national grain markets: What does the year ahead hold? With Brexit, ongoing trade deals, extreme weather and changing livestock demands there is plenty to catch up on with our marketing experts. www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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CEREALS 2020 Be a merchant for a day See if you can beat the market in our grain marketing simulation.

Win a prize for the best average over a simulated season.

Forecast the future competition Predict what the spot feed wheat price will be by Cereals 2020 and win a prize for the closest on the day.

Innovation and Tech demo ring A new addition to Cereals this year, the Innovation and Technology demo ring is sure to inspire, with a wide variety of novel equipment on display. See the latest robots, drones, and innovative weed technologies in action. Compare cutting-edge spray nozzles in our live demonstration and learn how the new closed handling spray systems work.

Choice Cereals Back by popular demand, the Choice Cereals area will feature around 5ha of crop plots covering all of the key market leading

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and candidate cereal and oilseed rape varieties. Compare over 30 varieties of wheat and more than 20 of barley, alongside oilseed rape, linseed and novel crops, with experts on hand to offer guidance in choosing the most appropriate varieties for your farm.

Syngenta Sprays & Sprayers Arena See a huge range of sprayers go head-to-head, with levelling technology put to the test on our new bumpy track. And get up close to the action in the new pre-demo ring, where manufacturers can run through the key technology on the latest kit.

NIAB Soil Pit Get below the surface and take a worm’s eye view of the soil profile.

Hear from the experts on how to identify and alleviate potential problems, and compare the rooting abilities of different crops, as well as how they can be used to improve soil structure the natural way.

Working demonstrations See the latest tractors and cultivation equipment in action in our field-scale working demonstrations and find out which solutions are best for your farm.

Drainage demonstration After this year’s incredibly wet winter, many farmers will be re-evaluating their on-farm drainage. Come along and see how replacing or improving field

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drains can benefit crop health and soil workability.

Box – key facts The Cereals Event will be held on 10-11 June 2020 at Chrishall Grange, Duxford, Cambridgeshire. For more information visit www. cerealsevent.co.uk. Tickets are now on sale, with early bird sales priced at just £15 and group discounts available.

genetics VikingGenetics´ female genomic testing now available in the UK VikingGenetics is expanding its range of services with the launch of female genomic testing and corrective mating packages.

The services promise to offer the United Kingdom (UK) dairy producers the benefits which have helped earn Nordic dairy cattle their reputation as both the healthiest and highest producers of fat plus protein in the world.

The genomic testing service will not only provide UK producers with an overall economic index with which to rank the youngstock in their herds. It will also provide genomic figures for over 40 different traits, including unique VikingGenetics indexes, such as hoof health and general health.

The genomic testing service will also help producers make better decisions about which females to rear, to inseminate to sexed semen or breed to beef. It will allow them to see how their cattle rank on the economic index, Nordic Total Merit (NTM).

Alongside genomic testing comes the launch of VikingGenetics’ corrective mating service. Called VikMate, the service will enable producers to quickly and easily identify bulls which complement each animal in their herd. The service will help minimise inbreeding and avoid undesirable recessive genes.

A particular innovation of the mating service is its flexibility. This allows farmers to use a pre-defined genetic index or to customise their own to meet their specific breeding goals. These could be to maximise milk price under their particular payment structure or to focus on issues in need of correction within their herd.

“VikingGenetics has been selling cattle semen in the UK for over 10 years and we are delighted our bulls now feature highly on the UK’s national rankings for all of the major dairy breeds,” says Kenneth Byskov, Senior Project Manager at VikingGenetics. “To us, it is a logical extension that we

introduce services which will help our customers make the best use of these genetics within their herds. It is also notable that the breeding programmes in our respective countries have never been more similar.”

Matthew Stott, Director at VikingGenetics UK Ltd, adds: “We are all striving to produce an efficient, sustainable cow with innate good health and resistance to disease which produces high quality milk.”

VikingGenetics is a farmer co-operative spanning Denmark, Sweden and Finland which has had a long-term focus on breeding for health. Driven by a highly regulated veterinary framework and a requirement to minimise the use of medicines, the co-operative leads the way on improving many health and related traits through genetic improvement.

In the Holstein breed, VikingGenetics boasts three

of the top 10 daughter fertility improvers in the highly competitive UK and international proven bull ranking. For the Ayrshire/Red and Jersey breeds, the co-operative completely dominates with eight and nine out of 10 respectively in the breed rankings for the UK’s Profitable Lifetime Index (£PLI).

“The UK’s £PLI and NTM have extremely similar formulae,” adds Mr Stott. “Both indexes reward milk quality,

VH Dent RC daughter no 31472-8114 from Gaardsted Højgaard IS Løgstør

VR Tundra daughter no 931 Newton from Torttila Annamari ja Tuomo Hämeenlinna

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IN

Polaris and their 2020 line-up

Sportsman 570 eps agri pro edition

Since their founding in 1954, Polaris been making high-quality products and broadening the view of powersports—whether it's launching the snowmobile industry, reinventing ATV categories year after year, developing the first purpose-built military vehicle, introducing a radical 3-wheel moto-roadster, or getting people to explore the outdoors by providing a network of ride and drive adventures.

66 years ago, the founders of Polaris created an early snowmobile to better travel through northern Minnesota winters. Ever since, that same ingenuity and ability to Think Outside has driven Polaris and their brands forward as they pioneer product breakthroughs and enrich experiences that help people work and play outside.

In 2019 Polaris launched the best in class utility vehicle, the new RANGER Diesel. The model redefines refinement with the introduction of a brandnew diesel engine and updated chassis, along with superior levels of comfort, handling and driving capabilities that make it even more durable, dependable and capable.

Best In class Ranger Diesel The new RANGER Diesel is made to perform to the highest standards for years to come. The all-new three-cylinder Kubota diesel engine is the most powerful engine in its class. Paired with more consistent power and better torque distribution for a smoother ride, the new engine offers a lower cost of ownership, built for the heavy-duty long haul.

The exterior design captures the essence of RANGER, boasting an aggressive style with its all-

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new one-piece chassis. More rugged throughout with reduced flex, the new chassis design is even more robust for an improved ride. Internally, the RANGER Diesel has enhanced ergonomics for ultimate comfort; the wider chassis seats three people with plusher seats, increased storage, and more legroom to get in and out of the vehicle easily. With all improvements being the result of customer usage analysis and feedback, the new RANGER Diesel has been developed for less engine noise in-cab and upgraded technology like a new digital gauge for a refined look and feel.

RANGER Diesel is built for the job at hand, and every job after that. With 1,134kg of towing capacity and a 720kg payload capacity. The RANGER Diesel also has the highest ground clearance in its class of 33cm - a 20% increase from its predecessor.

The RANGER Pro Shield Cab System offers three-times better dust sealing than the competition, with multiple windshield, door, rear panel and roof options to fit any situation.

Featuring an improved door fit and tip-out functionality, the RANGER Diesel is better equipped than ever to get more done, year-round.

From their entrepreneurial roots as a mechanical shop, Polaris have grown into a global leader with more than 30 brands and multiple services responsible for the company’s growth into a major influencer on powersports.

In recent years, they've pushed the boundaries of their industry and expanded beyond powersports into adjacent markets, like commercial and military vehicles,

IN

Polaris ATV’s for 2020 and electric vehicles, where they can add value.

Polaris support and serve their employees, customers and the communities in which they work, live and ride through a commitment to quality and safety and environmental stewardship.

Under their guiding principle of Best People, Best Team they are committed to helping their employees unleash their full potential and develop their skills to thrive in a customer-centric environment.

They lead a business that is driven by innovation and Polaris continues to Think Outside by offering a diverse portfolio of best-in-class brands which reflect who they are as well as their pioneering approach to always improve how their customers work and play outdoors. Öhlins Special Edition Such as working with market specialist to create limited edition machines. Polaris have formed

Polaris Hunter Family

a partnership with Öhlins who deliver the next generation of advanced suspension technology

with premium Öhlins shock absorbers. With Polaris’s years of experience in the ATV market,

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and Öhlins performance-driven innovation, enhanced riding capabilities and premium

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IN

Polaris ATV’s for 2020 finishes, the new special edition Sportsman sets the bar even higher with an unprecedented offroad experience.

The new special edition Polaris Sportsman 570 EPS SP allows riders to stay focused on the trails ahead and be confident to push their limits. Designed in close collaboration with Öhlins, the model benefits from an upgraded ride with more traction and control, better overall vehicle balance with improved stability and manoeuvrability, as well as maximum grip in all conditions, especially when cornering.

The inclusion of Öhlins suspension technology enhances ride quality with optimised damping characteristics and a monotube shock design, providing better response and durability. The spring stiffness has been increased by 20% on the front, and 35% on the rear, reducing body pitch and roll gradient while improving cornering performance and

Polaris Sportsman 570 Ohlins

high-speed stability. The Öhlins dampers also allow for quick and simple spring preload adjustment with nine different setup

possibilities to suit any riding condition.

In addition to the Öhlins dampers, the Sportsman 570

EPS SP Öhlins Special Edition features eye-catching yellow springs on the front and rear, a premium Turbo Silver paint

MAIN DEALERS FOR POLARIS ATV’S

Argyll Engineers Ltd Glenshellach Terrace, Oban, Argyll PA34 4BH Tel. 01631 565011

OFF-ROAD VEHICLES

www.argyllengineers.com 32

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IN

Polaris ATV’s for 2020 finish, as well as black aluminium rims, black handguards for added hand protection and style, and a front brushguard for an extreme, rugged look.

Bespoke Agricultural Sportsman The Polaris Sportsman 570 EPS Agri Pro has been specifically designed for agricultural use, includes carbon-fibre and metal heat shields, durable steel racks, new rear shock springs, electronic power steering, engine braking system and a sealed battery.

Making your new Agri Pro ready to take on any farming task and with the full range of Polaris engineered accessories, you can equip your Polaris to take on any challenge.

Special Hunter Editions For those who look for the sporting edge, the Sportsman 570 EPS, Ranger XP 1000 and Ranger EV are now available in the Hunter edition, finished in Polaris Pursuit Camo. The

Ranger 570 EV

Polaris Sportsman Hunter comes with a winch, front and rear racks and brush guards, and a 556 kg towing capacity. Specially

designed for outdoor pursuits, the Ranger EV’s electric advantage and the XP 1000 EPS’s 1,134 kg towing capacity, you can enjoy

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your outdoor pursuits or just get any job done in comfort.

2020 brings these new models to the Polaris line-up, all available

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IN

Polaris ATV’s for 2020 with 0% finance, your desired Polaris is much more accessible.

Purchasing these models, or any other new Polaris, with 0% finance is simple with the scheme available over two years with 2 + 22 monthly payments up to a maximum of 80% of the Recommended Retail Price in conjunction with Rural Finance.

It’s available for new Polaris ATVs, UTVs, and Sport and Leisure vehicles (excluding Youth) and can include up to £1,000, excluding VAT, of genuine Polaris accessories making your Polaris bespoke to you.

The availability of the 0% finance through Rural Finance is subject to status; the offers and warranty are subject to terms and conditions. Available in the UK, excluding the Republic of Ireland. The finance offer ends on 31st December 2020.

Polaris Protection Polaris takes machine protection very seriously and have worked

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Ranger D with Feed and Bales

with Datatag for over three years.

Polaris fits the Cesar Registered Schemes Security devices to all its models across the whole range

as standard. Cesar, approved by the AEA (Agricultural Engineers Association), and Datatag have over 225,000 registered machines,

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and have the benefit of reducing costs to some insurance policies, check with your own insurance provider, as a Datataged machine

IN

Polaris ATV’s for 2020 is four times less likely to be stolen, and if it is, six times more likely to be recovered, so you can be confident your new Polaris is protected.

As well as machine security the riders safety is of up most importance, Polaris have teamed up with Easi offering, with all new Polaris purchases you will receive free Easi training for one operator. The Easi training, RRP £180, is run by the European AllTerrain Vehicle Safety Institute.

The four-and-a-half-hour training course is available for operators over the age of 16 and aims to maximise the safety of Polaris riders, covering riding techniques, clothing, PPE (Protective Personal Equipment), pre-ride inspections and environmental issues. And as an additional benefit to the purchase of a second hand machines, Polaris will cover 50% of the cost of the training when purchased via a registered dealer.

2020 SxS Racing Championship Polaris Britain are title sponsor for the 2020 SxS Racing Championship. The partnership has been going since day one and remains strong, helping to evolve the UK SxS Racing Championships to where it is today, providing riders of all ages the excitement of the racetrack in one of the class leading RZR

SxS Racing Catherine Simpson

machines or Polaris Ace for the Youth class.

The season runs from the end of April through to October with seven rounds at venues throughout the country. The dates take into account other major UK Championship race dates for other disciplines and include gaps for the two biggest European events which drivers are encouraged to attend. As well as being spaced to help with machine maintenance and to hopefully capture the good weather!

The venues will dictate the race format – Short Circuit or Enduro. The Polaris British Short Circuit Championship has grown and improved year on

year, becoming the UK’s premier racing championship for all makes and models of SXS. The classes in the Championship include 1000cc Rookie, 1000cc Expert, Open-Class Rookie and Open Class Expert. So, whether you’re a motocross veteran or looking to get into competitive motorsport for the first time, you will find a home at the SxS Racing Championships.

Building on the success of the Polaris British Short Circuit Championship, The Polaris British Enduro Championship was established in 2016. Each round consists of a two-hour race with vehicles being released at staggered intervals. Although all vehicles will be on the track at the

same time, your real opponent is the clock! This is a marathon not a sprint, controlled and precise driving is rewarded. Push yourself and your vehicle to the limit for two hours.

With so much to offer a visit to a Polaris dealer is recommended for full details, any special deals, and to see the extent of the Polaris range and accessories. With a network across the country your Polaris is not far away and can become an integral part of your farming, land management business or your outdoor pursuit companion.

Polaris Think Outside. www.polarisbritain.com

Participating Scottish Polaris Dealership contacts AGRICAR Dundonald: 01563 851900 Forfar: 01307 462281 Laurencekirk: 01561 378888 Stirling: 01786 430970 www.agricar.co.uk ARGYLL ENGINEERS Oban: 01631 565011 www.argyllengineers.com

BIXTER GARAGE Bixter, Shetland: 01595 810303 www.polaris-bixtergarage. co.uk LINLATER ENGINEERING Stenness, Orkney: 01856 851000 www.linklaterengineering. co.uk

McLAREN TRACTORS Dingwall: 01349 867521 www.mclarentractors.co.uk

WM ROSE & SONS East Linton: 01620 860348 West Linton: 01968 660777 www.wmrose.co.uk

OLLIE ATV Banff : 01261 455088 www.ollieatv.co.uk PATERSON ATV Dalbeattie: 01556 610249 Newton Stewart: 01671 908530 www.patersonatv.co.uk

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The Windward Islands

By Fiona Sloan

WORLD FARMING When thinking about Caribbean, we imagine long sandy beaches and blue seas. The Windward Islands, however, are populated by people who are in constant danger of hurricanes, taking away the progress they have made since starting again after the last one. In 2017, Hurricane Louise hit and devasted the Islands.

Immediately following the hurricane, aid was strictly humanitarian, as many people had lost their homes as well as their livelihoods.

Agriculture had to take aback seat until people had roofs over their heads. The Islands were major exporters of bananas but had previously hit in the 1990s

by Black Sikatoga, an air-borne pathogenic disease which thrives

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in high humidity, devastating the industry. The farmers were still trying to re-establish the bananas, when Louise hit and wiped them out.

After the hurricane, CARDI (Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute) focused on the resilience in the sector and were already looking at diversifying into new crops but generations had earned their living in one crop and were still in the early learning stages of creating an entirely new and diverse industry.

Free training courses were being run for to all farmers who wanted to learn and with an average farm size of three acres for roots and vegetables, and seven acres for those growing trees, it was imperative that

farmers engaged to save their business otherwise the land would be sold for housing or for planting trees.

New citrus plants, coconut trees and avocado bushes have been brought in from Israel as a foundation stock to try and diversify farming. Agriculture is very important in the rural communities but with no income or exports, the community can’t afford to import staples, which has led to food inflation.

The institute is now creating model farms and trialling different varieties of coconut, water, oil or milk. Casava has been a staple in the islander’s diet. It is a type of tuber, which can be dried into a cereal type product but it is high in cyanide so needs a safe system

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of production and the Institute is conducting training on the growing and processing of casava, as it grows so well on the islands. .

Fungicide is important, due to the wet humid climate where it is too wet to grow tomatoes outside and too humid to grow them under cover. However, effective sprays of the past have been banned and nothing has yet been found to replace them so resilient strains of fruit are being tested often by crossing the new strains with the older indigenous plants but this takes time.

The main problem for these small farmers is capital. There is funding available, including the EU development fund, which is being used to develop new plants and a future strategy. The

WORLD FARMING government is shifting its focus towards tourism and service industries and with no incentive for young farmers to stay in the industry, the future looks a bit hazy for these farmers.

It is Looking to a business model like those in Antigua and Barbados to combine tourism and agriculture, but everything about Dominica speaks of rural agriculture. Without a thriving diverse agricultural industry, the island will eventually have to import all of its food unless the focus on agriculture eventually enables the benefits to trickle down to the local community.

Young people have seen their parents struggle and they want something different. If they can have a viable industry, they

will stay on the land and not go working in the hotel industry.

New crops like carrots cabbage, yams and sweet potatoes are beginning to look profitable alongside the bananas and coconuts, and new trials with sorrel are looking promising.

The balance in the eco system is upset either by the pesticides been ineffective or pests, which they have never had before, being blown in. Working alongside the farmers it is important that the level of impact is able to be measured to help long term.

The depth of knowledge which the farmers have of traditional methods has been transferred to CARDI and disseminated to make future developments workable.

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2019 CAP payment strategy

By Scottish Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing My priority has always been to deliver as much certainty and stability for farmers and crofters as I can.

That is why I published in December the 2019 CAP payment strategy setting out when Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 payments would be made.

I am confident that we will meet, the targets in this strategy, which builds on a solid track record in recent years of getting monies to farmers, crofters and land managers as promptly as possible.

So despite opposition utterings, the IT system is now working and stable; and last year all the payment targets were met or exceeded.

So far this year, we have made £409 million of 2018 basic, greening and young farmer payments.

We have made £46 million of coupled support payments – and we are still the only part of the UK to provide this extra support directly to farmers and crofters.

In Pillar 2, we have paid out £3.5 million in forestry grants, enabling Scotland to exceed its tree planting target.

We have also paid out £19.5 million in AECS, and £63.3 million in LFASS – again, until recently, we were the only part of the UK to provide additional support to those farming on the most marginal land.

With Scotland taken out of the EU against our wishes, I was not prepared to allow that to happen without providing Scotland’s farmers and crofters with as much financial stability as possible.

This government therefore put in place a national loan scheme giving eligible farmers and crofters 95% of their basic payment entitlement at the earliest point.

Through the scheme, £334 million was paid out in October to 13,837 claimants; this was two months earlier than any other part of the UK. In addition to the basic payment loan scheme, in December I announced the LFASS loan scheme, and to date we have paid £38.2 million to 7,595 claimants.

Combined the two loan scheme have so far paid £378 million to eligible claimants.

My objective has been putting money into farmers and crofters hands as quickly as possible giving them a degree of financial certainty during an uncertain time.

The above represents 69% of the total £550 million due to be paid out by June.

The remaining basic, greening and young farmer payments begun reaching bank accounts in February with those who chose not to take up the loan offer being prioritized.

Pillar 2 payments will begin in early April with our intention to complete all the majority by June.

As I have set out here, this government is showing our commitment to supporting our agricultural and food producing sectors through actions. Actions that are putting monies in bank accounts, enabling farmers and crofters to plan for the year ahead.

organics Aerostar-Exact and Aerostar-Rotation

Terrington Machinery has the right Einböck for you, the AEROSTAR-EXACT Tined Weeder and the AEROSTARROTATION Rotative Weeder!

The AEROSTAR-EXACT does not only convince by the exact functionality but by the precise adjustment possibilities too. It is very simple: for the AEROSTAR-EXACT the tines of 7mm x 600mm long are always set in light “on hold”.

This can be done hydraulically from the tractor seat. A notice on one of the outer cylinders helps to find the desired tine position.

The support wheels are adjusted,

that way the weeding elements run absolutely parallel to the soil during operation. The pin of the top linkage should be about in the middle of the long hole.

The AEROSTAR-ROTATION is a rotative weeder with high flexibility in use.

Rotating working tools uproot the weeds, encourage tillering and crack even hard soil crusts without any problems. The star wheels are mounted on an incline, therefore the efficiency of weed control is more thorough. Furthermore, the wheels are very insensitive to organic residues.

That’s why this machine is perfectly suited for mulch-tillage. Even at low working speed as often required for sensitive crops, the AEROSTAR-ROTATION does very effective work.

6.5 mm thick steel tines, casted into an inclined plastic disc do the job. Each of these 50cm big star wheels are suspended separately.

Therefore, they adapt perfectly to any surface irregularities. The discs are mounted at a line distance of 15cm on sections of 1.50 m.

The inverted arrangement of these inclined mounted discs from the middle of the machine prevents a possible side pull.

Visit www.terrington-machinery. co.uk to see the complete range of available machinery including the Aerostar and Chopstar inter-row hoes, with or without camera guidance for the organic farmer.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Next issue out May 2020 Subscription details on page 117 38

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organics Organic Research Centre starts 40th year at new headquarters The Organic Research Centre (ORC) begins its 40th year at new premises. Committed to organic sector scientific excellence and knowledge exchange, the organisation is now operational from Trent Lodge in Cirencester.

The relocation follows a rethink of the charity’s business model since the departure of long-standing CEO Nic Lampkin last year. The decision was made to sell the ORC’s previous headquarters, Elm Farm near Newbury, with the proceeds providing long-term stability, a source of investment income for core funding, and scope to invest in the organisation for the future.

The new premises are situated next to the Royal Agricultural University (RAU), which will help boost the ORC’s industry relations

and collaborative activities as well as providing a base for research.

“We see this relocation as a great opportunity to enhance the ORC’s strategic links and positioning,” says Mike Turnbull, chairman at the ORC. “The majority of staff are moving with us and the team will be led by our new CEO, Lucy MacLennan. The ORC’s status as an independent charity won’t change.”

Mr Turnbull says the new three-year business plan builds on the ORC’s unique strength in combining scientific excellence with practical experience to deliver real benefits on the ground.

“A key part of the strategy is a change in our approach to securing contract funding, while maintaining our unique way

of delivering research using participatory methods.

“Rather than reactively responding to bidding opportunities, we intend to prioritise areas of research and knowledge exchange that play to our strengths and develop pilot projects in these areas in advance of making bids for external funding.

“A benefit will be greater control of the research agenda and less reliance on opportunities that funders happen to favour, although there’s a place for the latter as well, provided the work we bid for fits with our strengths. We’ll be investing some of the proceeds from the Elm Farm sale as ‘seed funding’ over the next two years to support the change.”

Organic faces a challenging time over the coming

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months. Biodiversity is under unprecedented pressure and the future for UK farming and food supply is uncertain in light of Brexit and the Agriculture Bill.

“We’re confident we can continue to be a driving force in the British organic movement from our new home,“ concludes Mr Turnbull.

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science & technology

Drone’s eye view without eye watering costs Hundreds of excited farmers and agronomists who have been on a waiting list will soon be the first to use a new crop monitoring app.

Skippy Scout, the mobile phone app developed by Drone Ag uses artificial intelligence to offer guidance on crop health, pests and weed control. Following its launch, and gold innovation award at LAMMA, Skippy will be available for farmers to buy from March 2020.

The crop scouting software, which significantly reduces the time it takes to monitor and evaluate crop problems, will be available to farmers for as little as £30 per month. “Over 300 early users worldwide tested version one of the software in 2019,” says Drone Ag founder, Jack Wrangham. This has created a waiting list for version two, which will be available on 1 March. In just one year Drone Ag expects to subscribe over 1,000 users in the UK alone.

2021 and 2022 will see further launches in the USA and Africa with a projected 10,000 users worldwide by 2023.

Skippy Scout is an autonomous software package that flies drones to points plotted by the farmer using a normal mobile phone. Mr Wrangham says: “Farmers do not need to have prior understanding of drones or the ability to fly a drone because the software will do it all for them. Skippy users will use maps on their phone to simply touch the points in a field they want to see images of. The drone flies to these points and sends the images to the phone. Once delivered, the artificial intelligence in the app analyses the images and provides data on green area index (GAI), pests and weeds.”

A single user software license is available for £30 per month which is less than the average 40

mobile phone contract. There is also relatively little investment needed to buy a suitable drone. “A Mavic Mini is a perfectly suitable drone for crop scouting and can be bought for just £450. This would make the annual use of Skippy £810”, says Mr Wrangham.

A key benefit of the Mavic Mini is its weight. “At just 249 grams it falls one gram below the threshold for registration,” explains Mr Wrangham. Drones

under 250 grams do not need to be registered with the Civil Aviation Authority which will save farmers time and hassle with paperwork. “All you need is your smartphone and a drone.

When you register for Skippy you can be in the air monitoring your crops on the same day,” explains Mr Wrangham.

Drone Ag has also considered the likelihood that the drones may be damaged. A partnership

with drone specialists Heliguy means that Skippy Scout users will be offered replacement drones, and repairs to damaged drones. “It is important that farmers don’t experience significant downtime with any piece of farm machinery and drones should be no exception,” concludes Mr Wrangham.

For full details of the packages available go to www. droneag.farm

EasySet 2 in-cab operating terminal for ZA-V The more comfortable and precise solution in machine operation As an alternative to the more common hydraulic shutter actuation found on the entrylevel ZA-V fertiliser spreaders, AMAZONE now offers the EasySet 2 in-cab terminal.

EasySet 2 offers electric shutter operation at the push of a button.

No hydraulic connections are required for the shutter actuation, but just a 12 V power connection for the in-cab terminal.

The EasySet 2 in-cab terminal does not require menu navigation. This means that each button only has one function making it very easy to use. In this way, the shutter slides can be opened and closed electrically

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on both sides or just to one side when spreading in short work. The desired application rate is entered into the terminal and can be changed in single increments or in increments of ten during the spreading process.

This eliminates the need to climb down from the tractor and manually adjust the setting scale on the back of the machine.

science & technology The new EasySet 2 is able to adjust the shutter position in combination with a speed signal and thus can react to a change in forward speed by automatically adjusting the size of the outlet opening in relation to forward speed. This means that the application rate remains constant even at varying forward speeds.

If the Limiter V+ electric border spreading device is being used for border spreading, it can be actuated at the push of a button on the EasySet 2. By means of plus and minus keys, it can be also adjusted in height and so strongly influences the effect on the fertiliser to varying degrees in its throwing range. In

Top tips for calving Robert Ramsay, Senior Consultant, SAC Consulting

this way, it is very convenient to switch, from the tractor cab, between side, border and water course spreading or to optimise those respective settings without leaving the cab.

In addition, EasySet 2 has an integrated hectare meter so that the user always has an overview of the machine output.

PARIO automatic instrument revolutionises soil particle size distribution analysis

Labcell, the UK distributor for METER Group is introducing the METER PARIO soil particle size analyser, also known as the PARIO soil texture analyser. Unlike traditional techniques, the PARIO instrument is fully automatic, thereby eliminating the risk of human error and avoiding invasive actions that could disturb the suspended particles and introduce further errors. Once the soil sample has been prepared, the PARIO runs unattended, with results ready in around 6 to 8 hours. The PARIO comes with user-friendly, comprehensive software for data

inquiry, visualisation, evaluation and export. As the PARIO is part of METER’s LABROS system, it can be combined with the HYPROP, KSAT or WP4C to enable a soil’s physical and hydraulic properties to be characterised fully.

Labcell is the sole UK distributor for the METER range of instrumentation. Download detailed data sheets directly from Labcell's website at www.labcell. com or contact the company with specific enquiries or to request a demonstration by telephone on +44 (0)1420 568150 or email mail@labcell.com.

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With most of the suckler cows in Scotland calving in the spring, now is a timely opportunity to highlight some top tips for calving which will pay dividends in the long run.

1) Fail to prepare and prepare to fail. Go through your calving kit and make sure you have everything you need. Think about all the eventualities, from iodine for navels, new calving ropes, lubricant, antibiotic, anti-inflammatories…the list goes on. A couple of hours spent sorting things out now will be greatly appreciated when you are in the thick of it.

2) Consider investing in a calving camera.

With less labour available on farms, many farmers have invested in a simple Wi-Fi or 4G calving camera which means that cows can be monitored remotely. This technology is well proven and is easily installed. A calving camera can be picked up for just a few hundred pounds and will pay for itself in its first year.

3) Colostrum is vital.

Calves need colostrum as soon as possible after birth. While most calves born naturally will get up and suckle, those born with assistance or via a difficult calving are far

less likely to consume adequate colostrum in the first few hours of life.

It is worth considering tube feeding all calves born with assistance with 3 litres of its dam’s colostrum immediately after birth. Although easy to use, powdered colostrum contains fewer antibodies than fresh colostrum and should only really be used as a last resort. Taking time to draw colostrum off the cow is always the best option, provided you can do so safely.

4) Keep a record of your losses. Even the most optimistic farmer knows that there are likely to be losses. Recording losses allows you to highlight issues and have good discussions with your vet, how many cows aborted, how many still births, how many neonatal losses did you have?

Vital information which can be used to save calves in the future.

5) Take care of yourself.

As an industry we have an unacceptable record when it comes to health and safety, with calving cows often highlighted as a particularly risky task.

While we strive to save as many calves as we can, no calf’s life is worth more than yours. Don’t take unnecessary risks.

For more farm efficiency ideas and to read about measures other farmers are putting in place, visit www.farmingforabetterclimate.org, find us on Facebook and Twitter @SACFarm4Climate.

Farming for a Better Climate is funded by the Scottish Government as part of Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service www.fas.scot

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FARM BUILDINGS

Concrete slurry channels from Craven Concrete These robust precast concrete slurry channels come in all different sizes. Each channel unit is cast with two lifting sockets in the top for lifting and fitting, and they can be laid onto a compact hardcore bed. The channels also have a rebate cast into each end for sealing with flexible mastic

so as to accommodate movement in the joints during installation and settlement, giving a long and leak-free life. End units, tees and corner units are available for all sizes of channel. We are also able to supply solid concrete or galvanised steel covers and slats to suit the channel.

Cemfloor by McGraths awarded BBA Certification Cemfloor by McGraths are pleased to announce that after extensive testing by the British Board of Agrément, Cemfloor has become the first cement based liquid screed to be awarded BBA Certification in the UK & Ireland.

Padraic McGrath, Head of Research & Development said that the Certification was “the result of a continuous commitment to ensure that Cemfloor is of the highest standard. The BBA issued this certificate after a rigorous testing period that showed the reliability and high quality of our product.”

Cemfloor is a high-performance cement based, free flowing, self-compacting liquid screed.

It is suitable for a variety of applications and is only installed by fully approved and trained applicators ensuring quality is never compromised. Its fastdrying properties ensure floor coverings such as tiles and vinyl can be applied sooner than some traditional screeds.

BBA certification is recognised throughout the construction industry as a symbol of quality 42

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and reassurance. Since its launch in 1966, the BBA has been providing independent, expert product approval and certification for manufacturers, so that they can be confident that their products and systems will be selected by architects, designers and specifiers who need to know that their chosen items are safe and fit-for-purpose.

Cemfloor has been used in many high-profile projects including Royal Wharf, Battersea in London and Capital Docks in Dublin. Speaking on behalf of Cemfloor, Keith McGrath said the BBA Certification marked the start of a very exciting year for Cemfloor, which continues to go from strength to strength since it first came into the UK market 3 years ago, following on from 5 years successful growth in the Irish market. “In July this year, we will begin manufacturing the product within the UK maintaining our supply postBrexit, growing our sales and technical team making Cemfloor the leading cement based liquid screed in the UK.” Located in Cong, Co Mayo and part of McGrath’s Limestone

FARM BUILDINGS

(Cong), which produces a large range of concrete, stone and road surfacing products, Cemfloor binder is manufactured and tested onsite before being supplied to our growing group of Distributors across the UK

& Ireland. McGrath said that being both a manufacturer and a Distributor was an added advantage for the company as “we are involved at all levels of production from the quarry to the final pour”

For further information and to find your nearest supplier of Cemfloor cement based liquid

screed, please go to our website www.cemfloor.co.uk or contact info@Cemfloor.co.uk

Pre-formed Solutions Limited Pre-formed Solutions Limited specialises in the manufacture of high quality pre cast products.

These products offer fast, efficient and affordable solutions for a number of applications.

Pre-formed Solutions Limited is based in the Scottish Borders. With good transportation links to the North of England and throughout Scotland. They manufacture a range of concrete water trough and feed troughs as well as other pre cast products.

Pre-formed Colution can also supply Pre-Stressed Concrete Panels Their quality product range includes:Concrete water/ drinking troughs, Concrete feed troughs, Pre-stressed panels and

Precast Free Standing Walling system (FS Wallingtm).

Their concrete water troughs offer a quick solution for animal drinking needs as there is no need to spend time securing them down. The concrete troughs’ sit under their own weight. The concrete water troughs have a drain plug so can be used in fields as well as inside.

This is the same for our concrete cattle feed troughs as a 10ft section weighs 2.5t making them probably the biggest and strongest in the precast concrete trough market.

Call Pre-formed Solutions now on 01835 850 747, or send an email for more information at info@preformedsolutions. com or visit them on site. www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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farming diversification

Diversification - Inspiration from a Floral Festival

By Janice Hopper The snowdrop festival burst into bloom in January 2020, and it’s blossoming until the 11 March. Over seventy properties participated, under the umbrella of Discover Scottish Gardens, and a host of activities, from flower pressing and printing, to crafts and camps, were held to engage and entertain visitors.

Many farmers are seeking inspiration when it comes to diversification, so what can the farming community learn from this burgeoning festival?

Celebrate What’s Under Your Nose As farmers diversify, looking at different ways to monetise what you have and what you’re good at, is a common theme. The first point to consider regarding the snowdrop festival, is that the attraction (the snowdrops) is a flower that some of these estates simply happen to have growing on their land anyway. Others have worked tirelessly, like many farmers, to expand their crop, add different species, nurture their plants, and widen their snowdrop offering. It’s worth trying to identify something on the farm, that you virtually take for granted, that could be a potential financial draw.

Example - Jacksons at Jedburgh has set itself up as a agritourism farm diversification project, offering family events, tours, arts and crafts, and children’s parties.

‘Festival’ Fun Terminology counts - adding the word ‘festival’ was clever. To an outsider it sounds friendly, fun and makes the public feel they’re welcome to visit each venue and participate. If a few farmers got 44

Snowdrops at the National Trust for Scotland’s House of Binns

Craigduckie hut exterior

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farming diversification

Grace and Beth

round a table and worked together, ‘pick-your-own-strawberries’ could be transformed into a cohesive Fruit Festival or Strawberry Festival. In the days of customers appreciating low food miles, provenance, buying local, avoiding plastic, the October Holidays could become Scotland’s Tattie Festival. The days of local children working over the holidays, picking potatoes for pocket money, may have died away, but perhaps there’s a place to welcome families, share a little knowledge and sell your wares.

If farmers don’t wish to stretch to a ‘festival’, an ‘experience’ is another option.

For Example - Grace Noble rears Highland Cattle near Banchory, and runs a Highland Cow Experience. For £16 a head, visitors can get close to these iconic Scottish animals, groom them, receive a tour and a talk from Grace and her Stockman, take photographs and then sample some fresh stew.

Participate at Your Own Pace A festival may sound like a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be. Some participants in the Snowdrop Festival are going all out, offering tours, talks, art exhibitions and even Snowdrop Camps, but they started small.

Cambo is one of the leading estates in the festival, but it began

The Shetland Pony Experience on Burra

welcoming visitors to see the snowdrops back in 1990s, with an honesty box. This slowly progressed to a trestle table and an urn, selling tea, coffee and biscuits. The next step was potting up snowdrops to sell.

Their success didn’t happen overnight.

Today, Cambo has the infrastructure in place, the shops and cafés, they have staff who are used giving tours and engaging with the public. But other snowdrop venues, are still welcoming visitors for only one or two days. And the atmospheric Armadale Castle in Skye, stated that though the castle’s closed during January and February, visitors are welcome to explore the gardens during daylight hours in return for a donation.

Being part of a ‘festival’ can be a very straightforward or as allconsuming as you wish it to be.

Example - Crofting family Barbara, George and Elaine Tait run the Shetland Pony Experience on Burra. Visitors meet the ponies and foals, guide them around an obstacle course, before enjoying a beach walk. This experience slowly developed from the Tait’s background in running a riding school.

Practicalities Admittedly farms aren’t playgrounds, there are health

and safety issues, and many landowners don’t want the public traipsing around their farm, or wish to install toilets or facilities for visitors. Plus, there’s only so much time in a day for a busy farmer. It’s best not to dismiss diversification ideas out of hand, but be realistic about what’s achievable, both financially and mentally.

Seasonality Seasonality really helps focus customers’ minds; if something only happens for a few weeks of every year, there’s a greater incentive to get out the door to experience it. With the Snowdrop Festival there’s a definite window of opportunity.

Much the same could be said of strawberries, apples, lambing, potatoes and bales - harness the transience and temporality of an event.

The Snowdrop Festival also works exceptionally well as it’s drawing people to venues in low season, the shoulder months when attracting custom is that little bit tougher. Farmers may understandably not wish to deal with the public when the harvest has just come in, or when they’re up all night lambing, so consider what your land has to offer during the low season.

Example - The Roberts farming family run Craigduckie

Shepherds Huts glamping in Fife.

They offer farm tours for guests all year round, but their USP is a new lambing experience.

Families can feed, water and bed the ewes, check the pre-natal shed for signs of lambing, and bottle feed the young lambs.

Be Yourself Attracting more customers doesn’t have to mean utterly transforming what you do. The National Trust for Scotland’s rangers and gardeners often run talks and tours for the public, but from January-March many of these experiences have a snowdrop focus. Cambo runs camps for children throughout the year, but the February event has a snowdrop theme and it’s classed as a ‘Snowdrop Camp’. In some cases it’s a simple twist on something a venue already offers.

Admittedly dealing with the public and keeping tours to time does require a skill set in its own right, but if you’ve got the personality then you’ve probably got knowledge and experiences worth sharing.

And if anyone feels that the Snowdrop Festival is a one trick pony then look out for Scotland’s National Daffodil Festival on 1112 April. It’s currently being held at one location, Backhouse Rossie in Fife, but great oaks from little acorns grow.

Janice Hopper is a freelance writer based in Aberdeen who’s written features, copy and social media text for a range of publications and clients. Her Scottish family travel blog, Scots2Travel.com, covers child-friendly short breaks, attractions and activities. www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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BALERS

Balers Some of the new & current models available for 2020

New high-density flagship introduced to Case IH LB large square baler range Farmers and contractors seeking to pack more material into every bale to reduce handling requirements and transport costs could benefit from the latest model added to the top of the Case IH LB 4 XL large square baler range for 2020. With new designs and components throughout, the LB436 HD is capable of creating bales with up to 22% greater density than the LB434 XL model, which

produces the same 120 x 90cm bale size and remains in the range.

Features unique to the LB436 HD include a new main gearbox and mid-ship gearbox with gearshift overload protection for high power transfer and driveline safety. In addition, an innovative new twine knotter system is designed to boost productivity while eliminating field litter and bale contamination. The LB436

Agricultural Merchants Main dealers for CLAAS Balers

Visit our website for new and used tractor & machinery stock lists and older model/refurb parts lists

www.jandwtaitltd.co.uk Sparrowhawk Road, Hatston Industrial Estate Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1GE

Tel: 01856 873003 / 872490 Email: info@jandwtaitltd.co.uk

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BALERS HD is fully ISOBUS Class 3 compatible, meaning not only can it be controlled from an ISOBUS terminal in the tractor cab, but the baler can also control the tractor’s actions, such as increasing forward speed in light areas of swaths, to automatically boost workrates.

Built around a heavy-duty frame, the chassis of the LB436 HD has been constructed to withstand the loads imposed by a high-density system.

The drawbar, kept short to aid visibility and manoeuvrability, is bolted to this, and is easily adjusted for the height of different tractor hitches, while the top section of the feeding chamber is an integral part.

Benefits for the customer include minimal stress on both baler and tractor.

The 2.35m pick-up fitted to the LB436 HD features a mechanically-driven top-assist roller and roller windguard to ensure effective crop transition

even in large swaths. Tines are steel coil types of 5.5mm diameter, and are set across five

tine bars rather than the four of other Case IH LB models, for swift, clean crop gathering

during the highest output baling.

Pivotable gauge pick up wheels are an option.

New heavy duty Rollants from Claas The latest Rollant 540 and 520 fixed chamber round balers have been completely redesigned and include new rollers, a stronger chassis, a new drive concept and ease of maintenance, all ensuring high performance, excellent reliability and a long service life Both Rollant balers produce a 1.25m diameter bale, the Rollant 520 bale being 1.20m wide and the 540 bale 1.22m In the fixed chamber, the Rollant 540 has 15 newly redesigned rollers all made from 4mm thick steel and the Rollant 520 has 16, of which eight are made from 3-mm-thick sheet

D-K-R

WILKS BROTHERS

AGRICULTURAL SERVICES LTD. Main Dealers for John Deere Balers

Main dealers in Perthshire for KRONE Balers

3ALES s 3ERVICE s 0ARTS Repairs for a wide range of Agricultural Machinery Murthly, Perthshire, PH1 4HG Tel: 01738 710381 Fax: 01738 710581

D-K-R AGRICULTURAL SERVICES LTD. Westfield, Coulter, Biggar, Lanarkshire ML12 6HN 4EL s &!8 E-Mail: dkrcoulter@hotmail-com

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BALERS steel, and the other eight from 4-mm-thick sheet steel. The ribbed profile of the rollers ensures precise rotation of the bale, even under moist conditions. Storage and power transmission functions are performed by the heavy duty stub shafts that can be individually replaced if necessary, like the rollers themselves.

The rotor, main drive and tailgate rollers are fitted with Zubakki 1.25-inch (Rollant 540) or 1.00-inch (Rollant 520) drive chains. The oil lubricating the chain is pumped from the large storage tank by an adjustable eccentric pump. Lubrication is not tied to throughput – the oil is distributed as needed, precisely on the chain link pivot points.

The baling pressure is controlled via the horizontally mounted tailgate closing rams.

For maximum bale density, pressure of up to 180 bar can be applied to the rams. Optionally available is the MPS II system.

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With this system, three of the compression rollers pivot into the chamber for additional bale compaction, early bale rotation and a perfectly uniform bale shape.

Both the Rollant 540 and 520 balers are available either with the ROTOCUT chopping system or with the ROTOFEED feed rotor.

The Rollant 520 is also available with an assister feed rake. The crop

is picked up cleanly and efficiently with a 2.10-m-wide controlled pick-up (1.85 m on the Riollant 520 with assister feed rake). A crop guard is available as optional equipment.

New variable chamber wrapping balers from John Deere Built for high productivity and output, John Deere’s C451R and C461R variable-chamber wrapping balers are the latest additions to the company’s round baler range. These new models combine Deere’s most productive variable chamber baler design with proven, premium wrapping components, to provide a wrapping baler that fully meets the needs of all farmers and contractors.

As with the existing C441R fixed chamber model, the C451R

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BALERS and C461R feature a full-frame chassis built for reliability and strength. They also use the revolutionary Fast Release System first introduced on the 900 Series round balers in 2012 – which have since been replaced by the V451R and V461R models – in conjunction with a high capacity feeding system.

Building on these strong foundations, the main focus in the balers’ design has been placed on their performance and ability to work in heavy, wet grass crops in addition to meeting today’s customer needs for dry straw.

They are true all-rounders when it comes to producing both high output and up to 1.85m bales with consistent density, chop quality and shape in all crop types.

There is a choice of feeding systems using a high capacity MaxiCut HC rotor with 13 or 25 knives, controlled from the cab.

The pick-ups feature a five tine bar cam track design with 6mm

tines and stainless steel stripper bands to increase durability. A new, reinforced wear-resistant Hardox steel rotor also adds to the machine’s overall high performance and strength.

Like the rest of the John Deere round baler range, the C451R and C461R utilise the well proven inline rotor concept which efficiently transfers all types of crop through to the bale chamber, reducing any

possibility of crop build-up and uneven feeding. Both versions also incorporate a full width parallel drop-floor system operated from the tractor cab, which enables blockages to be removed instantly.

Krone launches range of compact high capacity round balers Krone has launched its new range of compact and high capacity round balers – Comprima Plus.

The four models include the solo Comprima F 155 XC Plus (with the well-proven semi variable chamber for 1.25–1.50m diameter bales) and Comprima V 150 XC Plus (variable chamber for 1.00m–1.50m bales) plus a combined baler wrapper version for each model.

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BALERS The combination baler wrappers twin dispensers orbit around the bale at 36rpm for shorter wrapping cycles, an improvement of 6 seconds over its predecessor. Bale transfer to the wrapping table is fast and reliable with the help of a bale lifter. On the table, which is made up of tubes and chains, the bale is rolled for optimum wrapping.

The machine can store up to 12 film rolls in the compartments

where they are protected from the ingress of dirt.

Comprima Plus has a camless pick-up and five wavy rows of helical tines designed to evenly distribute material across the full width of the feed chamber and the XCut rotor cutter.

The precision cutting system is available with 17 or 26 blades with cutting lengths of 42mm and 64mm. For maximum crop flexibility they can be selected

in groups of 17/8/9/0 and 26/13/13/0. The rotor is made from extra tempered steel with a hard wearing edge on the cutting system to ensure extended use and stability.

Novogrip belts and sturdier chains and sprockets ensure bale roll is not compromised. The variable chamber models now feature electric density control, which allows operators to adjust the bale density from the cab.

LED lights help operators monitor the wrapper and the net application system. More LEDs under the panels make servicing an easier job too. Automatic oil and grease lubrication is standard specification on Comprima Plus for minimum service and maintenance.

All Comprima Plus machines can either take film or net wrapping and a weighing system is available for the CF and CV models.

Kubota baler range continues to evolve Fixed and variable chamber Kubota balers include one fixed chamber and two variable chamber models, plus a FlexiWrap balerwrapper combination that heads up the range.

The fixed chamber BF3255 offers Superfeed and 14-knife Supercut variations, producing bales measuring 1.20 x 1.25m.

Variable chamber BV models bring enhanced technology, with drop floor and PowerBind net application.

Using a drop floor mechanism suspended on a parallelogram linkage, the BV models now offer shorter unblocking times from improved clearance at the front of the baler - the area most at risk of blockage.

The BV5160 and BV5200 produce bales with diameters of up to 1.65m and 2.0m respectively. Models use five

endless belts, while a closed chamber system affords immediate bale starting.

All Kubota round balers are equipped with PowerBind, which eliminates the need for feed-in rollers. It is a tying system that has been engineered to avoid interference from external factors such as windy weather and crop types.

Net is injected directly into the bale chamber using the PowerBind arm, which maintains net tension at all times and delivers repeatable accuracy with consistent net injection.

Its operation starts when the bale is 90 per cent complete, as the PowerBind arm moves forward, in preparation to inject net. This functionality adds to reliability and productivity, simply by eliminating time the bale might need to pick up the net.

As a result, PowerBind provides one of the fastest net wrap processes available, which means less time spent tying and more time spent baling.

The FlexiWrap baler-wrapper combination is based on a BV5160

mounted on a twin axle chassis with a twin-satellite wrapper.

During operation, the wrapping table moves up to the rear of the baler to collect the bale, allowing baling to continue while the wrapper seals in forage quality.

New large square balers from Kuhn Kuhn Farm Machinery has launched its new SB range of large square balers for 2020. The series includes the SB 890 (80 x 90cm bale size), the SB 1270X (120 x 70cm), the SB 1290 (120 x 90cm), and the extreme density SB 1290iD (120 x 90cm).

SB balers have been developed with an improved crop intake system compared with earlier models. A new crop guard design, combined with increased torque on the rotor and feeder fork driveline, gives these models up to 15% higher intake

capacity and greater endurance.

The torque regulation system monitors pressure on the driveline, including the crank angle position sensor and plunger rod load pins. Picking up different pressures in the plunger cycle, the operator is guided to feed extra material into one side of the machine to achieve higher bale weights that lead to increased handling and transport efficiencies.

Machines have been designed with full accessibility for maintenance and inspection (continued on page 52)

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BALERS as a key consideration, and safety is given priority with features such as solid steps and a guide rail on the knotter deck. Driver comfort has been increased with upsizing of the flywheel to 485kg, so the operator will rarely feel the plunger strokes in the cab. Load sensing hydraulics

are included as standard, with this system being used for axle locking, knife steering, roller cut and bale ejection. It also blasts an air stream over the knotters to keep them free from debris.

Kuhn’s widely used and proven Integral Rotor system is used on all models, ensuring

optimum crop flow into the baler. All rotor types have easily replaceable Hardox tines for extended working life.

Machines are equipped as standard with a double-knotter binding system with electronic twine monitoring suitable for increased density bales.

As with the earlier LSB range, Kuhn offers the option of an extreme high density baler, with up to 25% higher bale density.

The SB 1290iD provides the potential for increased handling, transport and storage efficiencies in all situations, most notably in the growing market for energy crops.

Massey Ferguson’s trailed round bale wrapper range Massey Ferguson has introduced the MF TW 160, its new trailed round bale wrapper model. This model enhances the Massey Ferguson range, in addition to the existing MF TW 130, introduced in September 2018.

“The introduction and the development of our wide range of implements and green harvesting machines embody Massey Ferguson’s willingness of offering a complete solution to its customers as a full-liner manufacturer. A product for every need, an answer to every request: Massey Ferguson perfectly addresses any customers’ expectations” says Francesco Quaranta, Vice-President Sales, Marketing & Product Management, Massey Ferguson Europe & Middle East.

The new MF TW 160 is a reliable and robust wrapper, developed for more demanding work and providing high output with the largest bale sizes (up to 1250kg weight).

It features a heavy duty welded frame and loading arm that can be adjusted to accommodate bales between 0.9m and 1.60m in diameter.

It is fitted with a width adjustable active bale discharge system that lifts the table to catch the bale and gently lower it to the ground, eliminating any film damage. During the process a foot stand lowers to transfer the bale weight to the ground reducing stress on the tractor’s hitch.

In addition to this, an optional baler tipper is available to prevent the bales from rolling in hilly conditions, improving safety and reducing by up to 15% the time

required for transport/loading and for bale collections in the field.

Depending on the crop and conditions, the operator can

easily adjust the required number of film layers.

The pre-stretching device is designed to work with 500mm

or 750mm rolls and can be set at 55% or 70% stretch for tighter wrapping and reduced film consumption.

McHale Fusion 3 Pro The McHale Fusion range has become the machine of choice for Farmers and Contractors around the world. Last season, McHale offered 3 models in the Fusion Range, The Fusion 3 entry level machine, The Fusion 3 Plus with film binding technology and the Variable Chamber Fusion Vario, capable of making a bale from 2’6” up to 5’6”.

To date, the Fusion 3 and Fusion 3 Plus fixed chamber

models have been the most popular machines in Ireland and are noted for their patented bale transfer, high speed vertical wrapping ring and strong resale values.

Like the Fusion 3 and the Fusion 3 Plus, standard features on the McHale Fusion 3 Pro will include; 2.1m Pick-Up, High Capacity Rotor, 25 Knife Chopper Unit, Unique Bale Transfer, High Speed Vertical

Wrapping Ring, Knife Pressure Display, Knife Position Sensor, Drop Floor Unblocking System, Drop Floor Sensor, 18 Roller Bale Chamber with Heavy Duty Shafts, 50mm Double Row Chamber Bearings, Heavy Duty Chains, High Performance Netter Unit, Automatic Progressive Greasing System, Hydraulic Cut & Holds, Film Break Sensors, Continuous Oiler System and Fully Automatic Cycle. (continued on page 54)

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BALERS At this year’s AgriScot, McHale will launch the latest addition to the Fusion Range – The McHale Fusion 3 Pro. This machine slots in between the McHale Fusion 3 and the McHale Fusion 3 Plus, giving the operator access to a lot more options such as net & density adjustment, bale moisture recording, bale weighing system and cameras.

Kieran Hughes - McHale UK Sales Manager said: “The McHale Fusion range of integrated baler wrappers are recognised worldwide for their unique patented bale transfer, vertical wrapping ring and high output. The McHale Fusion 3 Pro provides new levels of operator comfort with its large touch screen monitor, in-cab net and density adjustment, inbuilt camera, and faster wrapping speeds along with a host of other features.”

Vicon balers go heavy duty Vicon has strengthened its round baler line-up range with the introduction of an all-new, high capacity fixed chamber baler.

Engineered for use in heavy silage conditions the FixBale 500 incorporates an 18-roller bale chamber – up from 17 rollers in previous models - with two rollers located in the base of the chamber to give additional support with heavy, wet silage bales.

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Bale density is managed by a new hydraulic density system, designed to ensure consistent bale quality in all conditions.

A new 2.3m wide pick-up, designated XL+ has also been introduced and incorporates an extensive series of upgrades over previous Vicon pickups.

An extra tine has been added on either side, increasing the working width by 10cm; a new

five-bar tine reel incorporates a cam track located at both ends, while each tine bar is supported on four bearings. Tine length has been increased by 10mm and the gap between the stripper plates has been reduced for improved performance in wet crops.

Capacity has been increased with the introduction of a new larger diameter intake rotor, along with a revised drop floor

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system. The drop floor package uses a more rounded profile under the rotor and also has a parallelogram action – extending clearance under the front and rear when lowered.

One of the few carry-over items from the existing range of Vicon balers is the well proven PowerBind net injection system to provide consistent and reliable net application. This mechanism accurately places the tail of net directly into the bale chamber, without relying on traditional feed rollers or the use of gravity.

The FixBale 500 incorporates heavy-duty bale chamber rollers and driveline components developed for the FastBale nonstop baler wrapper. This includes a split driveline, while the bale chamber and rotor feature 1¼” pitch drive chains. Chamber rollers all run on 50mm diameter bearings, with double-row roller bearings used on all main load points.

The FixBale 500 is available with 15 or 25 knife SuperCut pre-chopping systems and is equipped as standard with automatic chain lubrication and auto-greasing.

topic

Scotland’s farmers turn to tourism to support incomes after BREXIT • Almost half of farmers (48%) are planning to set up or expand diversification schemes – a figure which has doubled since 2018 • The UK’s exit from the European Union has sparked a 2020 ‘diversification drive’ ahead of the biggest shakeup in agricultural funding for decades • Tourism and recreation playing a major role in Scotland’s diversification schemes • Leading rural insurer, NFU Mutual, publishes report to help farmers plan successful schemes to make their farms more sustainable • Almost half of UK farmers are planning to pursue diversified income streams to support their agricultural businesses, according to new research from leading rural insurer, NFU Mutual.

With changes to Government support and the way Britain trades with the rest of the world ahead, farmers are diversifying their businesses to boost profitability and fortify their farms for the future.

Forty-eight per cent of farmers are planning to set up or expand diversification businesses following Brexit, moving into new areas such as tourism, recreation, hospitality, retail and renewable energy.

This figure has doubled since NFU Mutual carried out similar research in 2018 and found 23 per cent of farmers were planning to expand or start diversification enterprises.

The sharp increase in diversification comes as agriculture undergoes the biggest change to funding in decades following the UK’s exit from the European Union.

In a report published today (Friday, 7 February), NFU Mutual provides advice on 56

setting up new diversification businesses and looks at a range of successful schemes from wedding venues and glamping to kefir dairy products and cosmetics.

Rich in natural capital, many of Scotland’s farms are making the most of the tourism and recreational opportunities their location brings. NFU Mutual’s report highlights Scotland’s Portnellan tourism enterprise.

Faced with an unsustainable future as a dairy farm, the ScottPark family capitalised on its location on the shores of Loch Lomond to establish a successful accommodation and leisure diversification business.

Realising that the fourth generation of the family could

be the last at Portnellan without major changes, 28 year old Chris Scott-Park set up a small business providing speedboat tours of the loch.

Chris and his father, David, also converted buildings and the farmhouse to provide high quality holiday accommodation while building up a grass-fed beef herd.

Their efforts have made Portnellan one of the Loch’s top tourist destinations, as well as remaining a family farm.

“When planning the longterm future of Portnellan, we looked at the assets we had – the landscape, our land and buildings and even the farmhouse. We met the National Park, the NFU, and NFU Mutual and through that we

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created a whole farm business plan.

“We’ve really built it ourselves, promoting it through the website and using channels like Facebook, Instagram and Tripadvisor to help people find out about us. It’s something I really do enjoy doing - I’ve taken my passion for Loch Lomond and turned it into a business.”

Martin Malone, NFU Mutual Manager for Scotland, said: “Scotland’s farmers are looking for new business opportunities in order to spread their risk as we adapt to trading outside the EU and with major changes to government support for agriculture on their way.

“Scotland’s farmers have always had to adapt to changing

topic times, and a number have been diversifying for decades. But even more are seeking ways now to support their agricultural work with new ideas and protect their farms for present and future generations.

“Whether it’s building holiday cottages, launching a wedding venue, or opening a farm shop, not only can these new businesses supplement the existing farm, they often provide other members of the family with a crucial role in the business.

“Our research shows nearly half of farmers are either looking into setting up new businesses on their land or expanding existing diversification ideas, with a quarter planning to diversify in order to create business opportunities for family members.

“However, farmers need to do careful research and costings before they start converting cow sheds into cafes.”

Having been on the diversification journey himself, Chris Scott-Park advises: “Take advantage of your location - are you in a tourist area? Do you have walking or cycle paths going past your front door? Make use of what you have got, for example an unused building, and don’t be afraid of competition - but try to look for ways to be different.”

The report stresses the importance of detailed planning to minimise risks to the public and employees and make insurance of new diversification schemes straightforward. It also highlights the importance of looking at the financial implications of setting up nonfarming activities to avoid higher Inheritance Tax Bills.

NFU Mutual’s report, together with a series of videos and podcasts produced to help farmers considering diversification, are now available to download here. nfumutual. co.uk/diversification NFU Mutual advice for farmers considering diversifying Diversification means using your farm’s assets, such as its land, buildings or machinery to develop a new business activity.

Diversification ventures usually

set out to provide additional revenue and can complement the agricultural activity or may even, over time, replace it.

Before you start, consider: • Do you have the skills, resources and commitment to make it work or would it be a distraction from the core farm business?

• Have you fully reviewed your farm business and identified strengths and areas where you can add value to your existing model?

• What are your assets – from people, land, location, buildings, finance to skills – and have you realised their full potential?

• What market and demand is

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there for your diversification venture?

• What makes your farm unique and sets you apart from the competition?

• Have you asked the experts for advice? For example, speak to insurers at the planning stage to ensure you understand the risks and have the right level of cover to meet your needs.

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Travel Scotland

It’s a mix of Fertiliser and Fine Furniture at Dumfries House

by Janice Hopper Dumfries House sits in 2000 acres of land. The 18th century country house, designed by the Adam brothers, boasts a remarkable collection of original Thomas Chippendale furniture. The house contains 59 Chippendale pieces, and with individual elbow chairs valued at a cool £1.5 million, visitors can understand why the interiors grab the headlines, but the estate is also immensely proud of its farming and produce.

The house and estate was saved by the intervention of His Royal Highness, Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay in 2007.

The public is aware that His Majesty’s been passionate about food sustainability, provenance, organic produce, and good animal husbandry, long before it was a commonplace talking point, so it’s hardly surprising that the estate

rears its own animals and grows its own crops.

Farm From 2009, the estate’s Home Farm was farmed by the Morrisons supermarket chain, allowing them to develop their farming practices, and explore efficiency and sustainability. The farm came back under the wing of the estate in 2015, and it’s currently run by farm manager and education farmers, John and Denise Richardson-Rowell.

It’s home to a mix of native breeds, a particular passion of His Royal Highness. Sheep have included Castlemilk Morrits, Cheviots, Boreray, Lleyn and Suffolk crosses. Cattle breeds have featured Aberdeen-Angus, Vaynol, Beef Shorthorn and Whitebred Shorthorn.

The

farm was declared organic in 2019 after an intense two year conversion process, and much of the livestock is now sold at auction to organic breeders.

Farm-to-Fork at Woodlands Restaurant Dumfries House has a farmto-fork approach, keeping food miles low. Much of the quality meat reared on the estate makes its way to the Woodlands Restaurant. The restaurant serves evening meals, with menu highlights such as Crisp Pork Belly and Butter Poached Langoustines to start, and Chateaubriande or Roast Lamb Rump of Scottish Lamb as mains. But Woodlands is also gaining a reputation for excellent Sunday lunches. The serving staff explained that the

Walled Garden Dumfries House’s five-acre walled garden is one of the biggest in Scotland. As well as the practical side of providing produce for the kitchens, it’s a tourist destination in its own right. Visitors enjoy a relaxed stroll through the flower beds, past the fountain, before dipping into the lush greenhouses that house an unexpected beehive.

The doors of the hive can be opened, enabling a close up glimpse of honey production.

Other gardens across the estate include The Rothesay Garden, The Woodland Garden, The Education Garden and the newly redesigned Front Garden.

Education Farm The estate has a strong public facing, community focussed educational role, in the shape of Valentin’s Education Farm, which opened in 2017. This facility aims to allow children to understand and experience where their food comes from.

The farm has collaborated with the Rare Breeds Trust to enable youngsters to learn about native livestock conservation; little ones meet Landrace pigs, Scots grey chickens and Cröllwitzer turkey (apparently a personal favourite of His Royal Highness).

Dumfries House

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meat for the roast (lamb, pork and beef) comes from farmers such as Jim Nisbet and his son James, who have taken land on Dumfries House Estate. The chicken comes straight from the estate’s own farms. The diners’ choice of roast is dished up beautifully on a chunky wooden platter, alongside hearty Yorkshire puddings and a host of vegetables straight from the Walled Garden.

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Travel Scotland Education Gardens Following on in the healthy eating vein, The Pierburg Building And Kauffman Education Gardens provide an introduction to gardening, food production and the use of fresh produce as a link to healthy eating. A scheme called ‘Growing Together, Cooking Together’ was put in place, promoting healthy lifestyle choices and encouraging pupils to learn about food in an ‘outdoor classroom’ environment. Pupils from local schools learned how to harvest vegetables from the estate’s garden and prepare a hearty soup. In an era where many children only see soup emerging from a can or carton, harvesting and creating their own dish can be an eye-opening experience. Other activities focus on plant science, sustainable gardening, encouraging wildlife and protecting soil.

Training What makes Dumfries House stand out are the sheer levels of educational and training processes and programmes in place. As visitors explore the grounds they repeatedly hit upon objects with a creative back story. For example, the Woodland Shelter was designed by students on the Prince’s Foundation Summer School.

The design was brought to life by twelve trainees on the foundation’s Building Craft Apprenticeship programme.

Equally, the handsome Doocot located near the lodge, was built by trainee stonemasons and lime plasterers.

The public can also join the learning experience. The estate hosts multiple events, including ‘Make It Mondays’. From Stone Carving and Lettering, to Breadmaking for Beginners,

there’s ample opportunity to try something new.

Explore the Estate Putting the farming and produce aside, Dumfries House and its estate are an outdoor treat.

Around 2000 six foot high yew trees make up an extensive maze, located next to the renowned Adam bridge, which was designed by John Adam in 1760 as part of the main approach to Dumfries House. Nearby a new Chinese Bridge is a complete contrast in design. It’s said that the bridge’s oriental influence complemented Chippendale’s Chinese style that shines through the furniture of Dumfries House.

The bridge design was submitted in 1899 but never built, until it was brought to life in 2016, and officially opened by the Duke of Rothesay. The Category A listed Temple Gate at the end of the estate, is a further piece of stunning stonework.

Dumfries House offers a lot for children to do too. An Adventure Playground has obvious appeal, but The Morphy Richards Engineering Education area can keep youngsters busy for a surprisingly long time, moving water from place to place, through a series of screws, cups and pipes. Again, the emphasis is on learning through hands-on experiences.

only. It’s an unexpected riot of colour - the bold yellows of the Chippendale chairs in the Family Parlour, the rich blues of the Drawing Room furniture and four poster bed within the Family Bedroom, the detailed paintwork of the Pewter Corridor, and the blush of pink in the Murano glass chandeliers adorning the Pink Dining Room.

To imagine this collection separated and dispersed to the highest bidders around the globe seems unthinkable.

Accommodation -Many guests enjoy a short break on the estate as it offers quality selfcatering/B&B accommodation within the North Lodge. Twentytwo 5 Star ensuite guest rooms and cottages are available. The lodge is a historic building in its own right, built in 1750 and referred to as the ‘Garden Cottage’, it became the Factor’s house before its transformation into classic Scottish guests rooms. The finish on the rooms and cottages is immaculate, and they offer a home from home, metres from the attractions on the estate.

From finery to farming, Dumfries House offers a rich mix of history, heritage and hands on horticulture in a quiet corner of Ayrshire. Saving this estate did actually require a Prince in metaphorical shining armour, and thankfully the public can continue to experience this property and all its treasures.

The Maze at Dumfries House estate (by Katielee Arrowsmith, SWNS Media)

Inside Dumfries House Entry to the house itself is unmissable, and by guided tour

Chinese Bridge

Trudi Morrison of Dumfries House instructs pupils during Cardonald Primary School visit

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NORTHERN ISLES News

Historic North Ronaldsay dyke in safe hands The North Ronaldsay Trust has appointed Sian Tarrant as warden to look after the historic dyke which keeps the rare breed of seaweed-eating sheep on the beach and off the valuable grass fields. Sian Tarrant secured the job on North Ronaldsay after a search which prompted interest from around the world.

Sian, who is originally from East Sussex, studied marine biology at St Andrews University and had been volunteering with the National Trust in North Devon. She secured the job with an interview which took place over Skype on her phone while she was sitting in a car park in Snowdonia.

Sian said she had fallen in love with island life while working with seals in a number

of places in Scotland, including the uninhabited Orkney island of Eynhallow. Sian, 28, said the job was "quite daunting" because so much of the dyke was in an "unfavourable state." But she continued: "There's such a long history linking the islanders with the dyke. I hope that I can continue their labour of love, and repair it."

Alison Duncan from the North Ronaldsay Trust said Sian was "very well suited to the job."

She said the post, funded through the North Isles Landscape Partnership, will make "a huge difference" to maintaining the dyke. "But in more recent years we've had bigger breaches of the dyke, and it's more difficult for just the folk on the island to build that up."

In the past, the community has tackled that problem by running an annual Sheep Festival, when volunteers come to work on the dyke.

Sian will work with the Sheep Festival and said she also wanted to enlist people outside Orkney through things like volunteering and working holidays.

Rousay Ferry chaos The ferrying of livestock, from Rousay to Tingwall was thrown into chaos one mart morning

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when local farmer, Laura French, was denied permission to load her sheep onto the B&F Kemp

lorry, as she would normally do.

In fact, the lorry wasn’t even allowed to be loaded onto the MV Eynhallow at Tingwall so Laura had no choice but to return her lambs, some 50 of them, to the field from whence they came. “I was gutted, because I thought we were going to get them across.

So, to get them turned around at the last minute was a nightmare,” said Laura.

The problem was, according to a visiting Maritime and Coastguard inspector, that when a high sided vehicle, such as the B&F Kemp lorry, was loaded on to the ferry, it obstructed the view of the skipper, therefore was deemed unsafe. So there and then any vehicles over 3.66 meters were not allowed to use the MV

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Eynhallow. Meanwhile farmers on Rousay were left stranded not knowing what to do regarding getting their livestock off the island to the mart. One Rousay farmer, Branwen Bourn pointed out: “We rely entirely on the high sided vehicles to take our cattle off the island and to take straw from the mainland to Rousay.

It is a very serious problem and will have a serious impact on the wider Rousay community.”

Orkney Ferries acted quickly to resolve the issue, albeit a temporary solution, by placing the MV Shapinsay on the Tingwall/Rousay run with the MV Thorsvoe on the Kirkwall/ Shapinsay route while the MV Eynhallow is tied up awaiting a permanent solution.

Classic tractors sold from Brindister Farm Head-turning tractors which sold for almost £30,000 collectively at auction have found a new home in Northern Ireland, while four stationary engines at the same event were snapped up by a collector in Malta.

Around 100 people gathered at Brindister Farm to see the items – along with hundreds of other lots – sold off.

The sale was organised on behalf of the Nicolson and Hunter families, and represented the last of a collection built up by their respective fathers, Nicolson Brothers, during many years.

The collection was a particular passion of the late Bertie Nicolson, whose brainchild it was to stage a

pageant of vintage tractors at the Cunningsburgh Show.

Charitable causes are set to benefit from the sale, with £2,000 due to be divided equally between four worthy causes.

The rare Ferguson Brown tractors were key among the attractions, and a silence fell among the crowd as bidding took place.

The final bid came from tractor enthusiast Gordon Bell, of Moira, near Belfast.

He secured the first tractor, made in 1936, for £15,200. He also bought a second, similar model, for £14,500.

The first tractor bore the serial number 132 and was fitted with a Coventry engine. Mr Bell

was swayed by its power take off, or PTO system – a technical

piece of equipment which not all Ferguson Browns had.

Sisters to towards their farming future A 40-strong crowd turned up for Shetland’s last Monitor Farm meeting recenlty– an event which drew the three-year programme to a conclusion.

But Kirsty and Aimee Budge, who took on the project to expand their knowledge and skills, are still looking ahead.

The sisters operate the 750 acres at Bigton Farm – which

has been the focal point of the project. They hope to see further collaboration in the future to help the industry improve.

They also hope to see a rekindling of support from Shetland Charitable Trust to help encourage more younger entrants into farming and crofting.

Saturday’s meeting was the 18th in a series which aimed to share advice among farmers and crofters to boost profitability and sustainability.

It gave visitors the chance to hear about changes the sisters had made to lamb finishing, forage crops and breeding their own replacements.

They also heard of ways the Budges have explored

diversification through the sale of “beef boxes” and findings ways to attract more visitors to the farm.

Kirsty and Aimee clearly love findings ways to educate people about farming practices.

Around 200 people attended an Open Farm Sunday event at Bigton in 2019, and the sisters have signed up for a repeat exercise this year.

The sisters, both still in their twenties, took on the mammoth task of running the farm after the death of their father Bryden in a farming accident in 2014. During that time they have benefited from help and advice of family members, as well as the wider farming community.

In association with

info@orkneyfarmer.co.uk Tel: 01856 876406

www.shetlandtimes.co.uk Tel: 01595 742000 www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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SPRAYERS

Sprayers Latest news on new sprayer ranges and technology

New line up from Amazone

Spring 2020 sees a complete new line up to the Amazone sprayer range. On the mounted models, the UF02 now offers not just a top-end, high-tech solution, but is also now available, instead of the usual ISOBUS option, with either the simple AmaSet+ switch box or AmaSpray+ speed related control box if required and boom control is now also via the tractor spool valve; tank sizes on offer are either 1,600 litres, or the top of the range 2,000 litres. Boom widths start from 12 m and go up to 30 m 62

with a range of options to suit all farm sizes.

The wrap around front and rear combination is now with the increased capacity of 3,500 litres with the introduction of the FT 1502 front tank. The front tank is completely integrated into the rear tank for seamless filling, mixing and emptying without any operator input.

The UF 01 range continues in just the 901 or 1201 option with the bigger 1501 and 1801 models now being discontinued.

The UX Special has also been revamped for 2020 with a new bigger capacity 5200 litre model and the introduction of the 380 l/min pump meaning now boom widths up to 36 m.

The UX 01 Super is now offered also with the state-ofthe-art, active ContourControl boom guidance that gives accurate nozzle positioning above the crop at high forwards speeds, light levels and in any topography. Plus the unique SwingStop system gets away from any boom tip swing caused

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by sudden braking, steering or tractor bounce and roll.

The boom height is automatically chosen depending on nozzle spacing with the spacing being selected from the seat via the AmaSelect individual nozzle control. AmaSelect gives individual nozzle shut-off on 50 cm spacings, a choice of seven different nozzle configurations on the move depending on pressure range or rate control as well as in-cab selection of nozzle type for switching from liquid fertiliser to low drift nozzles, etc. AmaSelect, through

SPRAYERS CurveControl, can now also be used for evening out the application rate when spraying around bends as well as having the ability to interchange between 50 cm or 75 cm rows for band spraying in row crops such as sugar beet or maize.

The new SpotFan nozzle targets the spray chemical to the target with minimum wasted overlap.

The Pantera 4503 also sports the new Amazone in-house software that makes operation so intuitive with all automatic functions such as spray rate, section control and new boom guidance all triggered from one button boom.

On top of this, the 4503 has an upgrade to a Stage V emissions compliant engine, new LED lighting packages and improved storage facilities. Of course, the immaculate ride and driver experience is brought over from the out-going 4502 model The completely new grey colour scheme brought in across all models easily identifies the new range.

The new Bargam Spraymax trailed sprayer New for 2020, Merse Agriculture based in Duns is pleased to announce the new Bargam Spraymax trailed sprayer to the UK market. This machine has been in development for some time and will replace the Fox and Compact machines. The Spraymax has been designed to be a market leading sprayer offering tank sizes of 2500-6500 litres and 18-36 meter booms.

All the newest technology is fitted which boasts a huge spec list as standard including in cab controls of filling valves, spraying system and cleaning system.

The Spraymax also boasts a new agitation system which pre selects nozzles inside the main tank electronically depending

on tank volume to get the best agitation possible without foaming the product. The pump

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is a 380 litre AR pump as standard with hydraulic drive to eliminate PTO shaft fouling

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SPRAYERS when turning and this also supports 3” plumbing for fast filling and boom recirculation for even distribution throughout the boom.

Individual nozzle control also comes as standard with Arags

Sele-tron system which can be upgraded for independent nozzle selection in the cab for additional output in the field without having to leave the tractor seat.

The Spraymax is Isobus compatible as standard but we

can supply a range of controllers and GPS systems to control the sprayer functions, hydraulics, steering axles and auto height functions as necessary.

This machine is fully loaded with impressive spec and

technology for those looking for all the bells and whistles, however for the less demanding customer we can also offer a more conventional spec machine with basic controls starting from £34950+Vat on farm.

FarmGem appoints S&K Sprayer Services for the UK and Ireland

FarmGEM are very pleased to be able to announce that as of the 1st of January 2020 the appointment of S&K Sprayer Services of Alford, Lincolnshire as their sole importer for the UK and Ireland. The S&K team

have many years’ experience in the crop spraying industry and are already supplying and supporting their own “Nitro Bar” front mounted tank and liquid fertiliser application systems and “Smart Spray” a technically

advanced band spraying system throughout the UK and Ireland.

Their Team of engineers will be providing parts and service support for all new and existing machines. S&K will be talking with the existing dealer network

to introduce themselves and their plans and hopefully confirming their continued commitment to selling our robust range of crop sprayers. Cliff will remain the sales link between the distributor and dealers to the factory.

New self-propelled sprayers Leeb 6.300 PT and 8.300 PT The new self-propelled HORSCH Leeb PT sprayers have been developed to offer increased flexibility, comfort and precise application. Two tank 64

sizes are available, 6,000-litre and 8,000-litre, increased ground clearance and a new ComfortDrive chassis concept offer a new level of driving

comfort. The unique and awardwinning boom control system, BoomControl, is now available in boom widths up to 42m and up to 42 sections.

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The ComfortDrive chassis with central frame and hydropneumatically spring-loaded individual wheel suspension is a completely new development.

SPRAYERS

Active level regulation provides superb driving comfort on the road, in the field and on slopes.

The wheel hub drive provides automatic load-dependent stepless drive and an anti-slip control.

The front cabin layout optimises weight distribution and the all-new cabin offers excellent visibility and space.

The new ErgoControl armrest focuses on simple, safe and comfortable handling of all sprayer function. To guarantee maximum user protection the spacious cabin features Category 4 air filters to clean the cabin air. A new 310hp Tier 5 engine meets the latest emission standards.

Two tanks will be available to meet different customer requirements; a 6,000-litre tank made of polyethylene and an 8,000-litre tank made of stainless steel. Both versions are equipped with the continuous inside cleaning system CCS

Pro with automatic washing program and can be operated

easily from the cabin. The efficient stainless-steel rotary

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pump provides a filling capacity of 1,000 litres per minute.

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SPRAYERS

Trailed sprayers from Kuhn

Kuhn Farm Machinery has recently added four new models to its range of Oceanis trailed crop sprayers: the Oceanis 5002, 5602, 6902 and 7702 machines have tank capacities of 5000, 5600, 6900 and 7700 litres respectively and are available with compact, all-aluminium booms in widths of 24 to 48 metres.

The new sprayers are fully ISOBUS compatible, enabling them to be controlled from a single in-cab terminal such as Kuhn’s CCI 1200 console. A separate Isoclick control box which places the key sprayer controls (section control, boom height and angle) within fingertip reach can also be used. The new sprayers are also CANBUS compatible and can be operated via Kuhn’s Visioreb or REB3 controllers.

Each new model is available with Kuhn’s Multispray system which uses electric nozzle holders to enable in-cab nozzle selection, automatic nozzle selection to 66

suit the forward working speed and to maximise the accuracy of variable rate applications, plus individual nozzle control to reduce overlapping.

Kuhn’s e-Set cleaning system automates the tank rinsing sequence, making the Oceanis 2 extremely safe and efficient to use, while a new Closed Transfer System (CTS) chemical induction bowl – the Easyflow system – further enhances operator safety by enabling chemicals to be added

and chemical containers to be cleaned without the risk of the operator coming into contact with any harmful substances.

Kuhn’s self-levelling boom system – Boom Assist Total Pro – keeps the spray boom in the optimum position and height irrespective of field and crop conditions, thereby increasing spraying precision and reducing spray drift. This system is equipped with a ‘hybrid mode’ which uses three sensors to distinguish

between crop canopy and ground level, thereby improving spraying accuracy in high density crops such as oilseed rape or potatoes, or where the crop has lodged.

All four new Oceanis models are fitted with easy-rinse polyester tanks with internal baffles for improved machine stability.

Drawbar, axle, parallelogram and boom suspension systems provide additional stability and boom security when spraying and during transportation.

The Landquip InTrac trailed sprayer range Landquip's InTrac trailed sprayer range continues to be at the forefront of modern sprayer design.

Sprayers being fitted to tractors with air can benefit from Landquip's boom blowout system which works by

pressurising the boom plumbing with air to spray out (or return to tank) chemical residues in the boom - prior to washing out making after-spraying cleaning easier, quicker, more efficient, environmentally friendly, and less wasteful.

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High flow boom distribution plumbing has been enhanced to allow the blow-out system and to improve recirculation and offer instantaneous sprayline purging - enabling even application of 1200+ litres/hectare across boom widths of up to 48 metres.

SPRAYERS

Polyethylene 2500 to 6000 litre tanks have an extremely smooth inner surface making them easy to keep clean by powered rotary wash heads using clean water from large capacity wash tanks. The low centre of gravity tank design is shaped so as to dissipate liquid surge making the machine stable in the field and safe on the road.

An efficient sump and intank stainless steel multi-outlet agitation tubes ensure thorough mixing of the liquid throughout the spray application.

Riding on air or Aeon rubber spring suspension, the machines efficiently apply large volumes of liquid fertiliser through

Landquip's Umbrella 7-outlet fertiliser jets.

High volume hydraulic or PTO driven piston diaphragm or centrifugal pumps can be specified, with outputs from 3001300 l/min.

Extra features include GPS auto section switching and auto boom height control.

The whole unit creates little more ground compaction than a self propelled that often has only two thirds of the capacity of a trailed machine.

Landquip also offers the Electrac trailed tracker with hydraulic steering drawbar and the Spraymarc with a mechanical tracking system.

NEXT ISSUE FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE OUT MAY 2020 also SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS ON PAGE 117

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SPRAYERS

Lemken expanding its field sprayer range Lemken is to expand its field sprayer range New Orion trailed field sprayer with laterally folding aluminium boom Field sprayers with tank volumes between 4,000 and 6,000 litres which are very much in demand among farmers and contractors.

What they want most are ease of operation, excellent flushing performance and a boom control that consistently maintains the optimal distance to the crop.

Lemken has now launched the Orion, a new trailed field sprayer in this segment with an aluminium boom, working widths from 24 to 39 metres and numerous features that support customised configurations in line with individual needs.

The robust, yet light aluminium boom folds two or three times laterally, depending on working width. It is parallelogramcontrolled and balanced via an axial rotary mechanism in the centre section. Lemken’s AdaptiveBalancingControl (ABC) ensures a good boom position with the centre of gravity below the pivot point.

The optional proactive boom control results in the individual boom arms adapting directly to uneven terrain or changes in the crop. A circulation line with individual nozzle control in the boom provides for precision.

The Orion is available with tank volumes of 4,000, 5,000 or 6,000 litres and a 620-litre clean water tank.

Inside the tank, a powerful hydraulic injector agitator ensures that spray fluid is available at the optimal concentration, even if the sprayer has been standing for some time.

Thanks to the electronic fill level indicator, operators always know how much fluid is in the tank.

The drawbar is attached to the lower link and permanently suspended for reliably smooth handling. An automatic, loaddependent brake adjusts the braking performance for greater

operating safety. Depending on the tank volume, the Orion features a telescopic axle or flanged axle, which allows the implement to be operated with different track widths. Mechanical or pneumatic axle suspension are available, as is Ackerman steering with fully automatic true-track following.

With a maximum width of 2.55 metres, even narrow town roads are easily navigated.

The Orion features ISOBUS and is therefore very versatile in its operation and networking.

Lemken MegaSpray implement

control allows the sprayer to be controlled both on the implement itself, via the Opus terminal, and via an ISOBUS terminal in the cab.

This field sprayer is easily integrated into digital networks via the agrirouter, the new crossvendor data exchange platform, to connect it to then next Machine Management machine planning and documentation system, for example, or a field database. The first series of the new Orion will be available from the summer of 2020.

Vicon sprayer range continues to grow Vicon continues to add more high-tech sprayers to its iXtrack trailed series, including new T4 and T6 versions.

Sitting above the iXtrack T3’s 2,600-litres and 3,200-litres tank capacities, the larger T4 comes in with 3,400-litres, 4,000-litres and 4,600-litre tank sizes, while an all-new flagship model boasts 6,400-litres and 7,400-litre capacities.

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Depending on model, boom options across the range include the HSS steel version from 1840m, and the HSA aluminium boom from 21-33m.

Vicon’s iXtrack T series is based on a single-spine chassis with a central frame produced from high strength, low alloyed heavy-duty steel. This affords a low centre of gravity with higher flexibility and durability

than previous designs, making it more suited to the rigours of field work, in addition to high-speed road transport.

Boom performance comes mostly from a suspended parallelogram rear frame, with its working height managed by the dual ultrasonic sensor-controlled Boom Guide Comfort. A more advanced three-sensor Boom Guide Pro version is available,

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bringing positive and negative lateral movement on each side of the boom.

A further development is Boom Guide ProActive, which gains two additional levelling sensors on wider booms, allowing faster reaction to changes in ground terrain via the central slope correction cylinder.

The iXtrack range is fully ISOBUS compatible, and

SPRAYERS with new iXspray hardware and software, operators can take advantage of an intuitive touchscreen with smart electronics. Plug and play compatibility is available with any certified universal terminal, including the Tellus GO and Tellus PRO terminals.

Extended functionality through the IsoMatch Grip multi-function joystick allows operators to assign up to 44 fully customisable functions. ErgoDrive headland management combines spray start/ stop, boom raise/lower and axle steering lock/unlocked, all with a single button press.

Up to 15 boom sections can be configured, or for the ultimate in overlap management choose iXflow E for individual nozzle control and remote operation of nozzles through a smartphone App.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS ON PAGE 117

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BEEF EXPO 2020

NBA Beef Expo 2020 to be held at brand new Humbleton Park Auction Centre, Darlington, 28th May 2020 Burke Beef Trophy also to be awarded at NBA Beef Expo 2020 The 2020 NBA Beef Expo, the largest technical beef event in the UK, will be held at the grand opening of Darlington Farmers Auction Mart’s (DFAM) new state-of-the-art Humbleton Park Auction Centre on Thursday 28th May 2020.

For the first time, the Burke Beef Trophy will also be awarded

to the best commercial pair at this year’s Beef Expo, demonstrating the commercial viability of cattle breeding and beef production. The prestigious award is widely seen as the pinnacle of cattle breeding in the UK and will be awarded to commercial cattle for this year only, to mark the occasion of the opening of the new auction centre.

Entries for the major cattle competitions are being actively encouraged, as we gear up towards the highlight of the beef industry calendar.

Entries for the Burke Beef Trophy pairs class are open to cattle entered into the NCCS, and can be a pair of bullocks, a pair of heifers or a bullock and

Baby Beef Champion 2019 - GH and AH Roberts. Reserve Wilkinson and Marwood

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heifer, but each pair must be owned by the same exhibitor.

Andrew Lazenby, CEO of the Royal Agricultural Society commented, “The RASE is delighted to support the presentation of the Burke Trophy at this year’s Beef Expo, and we’re looking forward to an impressive entry of cattle to showcase UK beef production.”

The Burke Beef Trophy will also be awarded to the Pedigree Beef Interbreed Pair at the South of England Show, which takes place from 11th – 13th June.

Entry forms and schedules for the Beef Expo NBA Commercial Cattle Show (NCCS) will be sent to exhibitors in the middle of February, and will also be available at www. nationalbeefassociation.com/ beef-expo/, with entries closing on 27th April 2020.

Gwyn Edwards of Corwen, Denbighshire will be judging the Native and Continental classes, as well as the Supreme Championships. Dafydd Lewis of Carmarthenshire will be judging the Baby Beef classes, Baby Championship and Young Handlers competition. Both will judge the Burke Trophy pairs class.

BEEF EXPO 2020 The awards are judged over 10 classes. In 2019 some 123 head of cattle were entered into the awards, along with 14 entries in young handler classes, with competition expected to be just as spirited in 2020.

For the fifth year, the South Devon Herd Book Society is holding its Performance Championships, inviting performance breeders from across the country to compete. This technical event is a showcase for Breedplan performance-recording South Devon herds, to highlight the importance of Estimated Breeding Values as a tool for breeding selection.

Each class will be judged on inspection of the animals, and on their performance (Quality Beef Index for each bull and Suckler Replacement Index for each female) and will be placed accordingly. From these winners the Male, Female and Breed

Beef Show Judging NBA Beef Expo

Champions will be selected. The Championships will be judged this year by Mrs Anne Tully from Brixham, Devon.

The Society is anticipating around 25 entrants across the classes, with entries open to animals between 1 and 2.5-years of age. Performance Championship entry forms will also be available from the NBA Beef Expo website, with entries closing at the beginning of May. Bringing together the very best in British commercial and pedigree cattle, equipment, groundbreaking developments, and show classes for everyone involved in the industry, NBA Beef Expo is a celebration and exploration of everything British Beef has to offer.

The NBA is delighted to be able to hold its flagship event at the new state-of-the-art auction, business and conference centre,

located just two minutes off Junction 58 of the A1, celebrating the grand opening with DFAM following huge investment and an extensive schedule of building works.

In fact, records of a cattle mart in Darlington date back to the 11th century. Move forward 1000 years or so then and the wait to finally move Darlington Cattle Mart out of the town is almost over.

DFAM’s Stephen Dodsworth explains, “The state-of-the-art new auction centre offers much more than a mart for the local farming community. Our sister company Vickers and Barrass will relocate their Crook office to Humbleton, offering a wide range of sales, lettings and professional services.

“The premises will also boast both internal and external letting units with many exciting prospects on the horizon. Halls Construction are making efficient headway with the build project as the imminent move gathers pace,” he adds.

Plans are in place to not only continue the current livestock and machinery sales calendar, but to expand both existing and new sales areas. Current curfews imposed by the council at times make life difficult for both the running of the business and the residents of Darlington.

The new facilities, perfect location for transport links and onsite house will open many doors from a practical point of view,

according to Mr Dodsworth.

County Durham based S&A Fabrications, a Beef Expo Silver Sponsor, has played a key role in the new development.

Managing Director Simon Pelly explains, “As the primary steel manufacturer and erector for the new Farmers Market, S&A Fabrications are delighted to be involved in and sponsor the first major event from the premises, the NBA Beef Expo.

“Having built many cattle buildings and Roundhouses for pedigree and commercial breed beef producers, we’re also looking forward to being part of the exhibition and greeting some of our customers as well as talking to some new ones,” he adds.

A full seminar programme and working machinery demonstrations will be announced shortly, as well as farm tours and the Beef Industry Dinner, this year being held at Wynyard Hall, Tees Valley.

Drawing in 4,000 beef farmers annually, the NBA Beef Expo is considered a major showcase for pedigree and commercial breed societies who want to promote the quality of their cattle.

Displaying some of the finest examples of British breeding anywhere in the UK, this year’s event will also focus on the importance of the livestock marts both for trade and for wider rural communities. Farmers, exhibitors, agricultural companies and interested members of the public also use the annual event to network, do business and share knowledge, as well as seeing the crème de la crème of British beef cattle.

Exhibitor trade stands and Breed Society bookings are still being taken, again full details available by visiting www. nationalbeefassociation/beefexpo/ or by contacting Katie Pearson on 07393 452544.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available by contacting Katie Pearson on 07393 452544 or katie@nationalbeefassociation. com Visitor tickets are available online and are free to NBA members.

Cattle judging at NBA Beef Expo

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breed profile

Native Aberdeen-Angus breeder awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours List A native Aberdeen-Angus breeder from Forfar has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Years Honours List

Geordie and Julia Soutar

Geordie Soutar, who is based at the 135-acre Kingston unit, on the outskirts of Kingsmuir, has been credited with saving native Aberdeen-Angus from extinction and is hugely recognised all over the world for his and his family’s efforts in keeping and maintaining a global genetic pool of native Angus cattle.

Since the establishment of the Dunlouise herd in 1995, owners Geordie and Julia, son Duncan and daughter Louise, have attracted 72

huge interest from all over the globe for semen, embryos and live cattle from their nine original cow families which date back 200 years.

“When I found out in November that I was receiving an MBE, I was surprised but absolutely delighted,” began Geordie, who will be the sole representative from the county of Angus heading to Buckingham Palace.

“I have huge belief in native Aberdeen-Angus cattle and have

supporters from all over the world in what I do. It’s great to be credited for breeding cattle as its really just a way of life for me and the family.”

Initially, Geordie worked with Forfar auctioneering company Scott and Graham, and spent a lot of time working with cattle, particularly AberdeenAngus, before becoming a grain merchant in the local area.

It was then he decided to look into buying his first Angus cattle.

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“From the 1970s onwards, breeders were looking for size and power in Angus cattle so by the time I was looking to invest in native-bred cattle, there was less than 50 left in the country, with the majority bred from North American bloodlines” said Geordie.

“We knew it was going to take some time to find progeny which weren’t crossed with imported genetics and travelled as far south as Devon and up to Aberdeenshire to do so.”

breed profile Geordie and family have now secured all nine families, having purchased the first female in Carlisle and the second at Perth. This has led them to be the only herd in the world with all original nine cow families.

Wife Julia and children Duncan, who has a masters degree in mechanical engineering and daughter Louise, a vet near Kirremuir, are heavily involved in the running of the 50-cow herd which is appropriately named after them.

Aberdeen Angus Bull

Around 700 people flocked to Kingston in June, 2017, when they held an on-farm production sale of live animals, embryos and semen due to the strong demand and interest for low cost, grassfed cattle from breeders all over the world.

Individual lots sold to breeders in various countries, with a top price of 16,000gns paid for Dunlouise Newman, while six frozen Dunlouise Red Nessie embryos sold for 6600gns each.

“The Dunlouise sale really moved things forward and added another dimension to what we do,” said Julia.

Since the production sale, the herd has increased exports all over the world.

“Breeders in Uruguay want cattle that can survive in a hard environment and finish solely on grass using no implants to produce a high-quality beef carcase,” said Geordie.

“In Australia, it’s the native Angus that continues to meet supermarket specifications. They want smaller carcases at 280kg, finished entirely off grass but still marbled with 12ml of back fat.

“Overseas breeders want cattle with a vital organ capacity so they can utilise poorer forage in harsher environments.”

Breeders from South America tend to buy semen straws in big quantities, with one breeder having purchased 1700 straws in one go for using on two herds of more than 10,000 cows.

Geordie also pointed out that the native cattle can survive droughts in Australia and recover far quicker than other AberdeenAngus genetics.

Bulls from Dunlouise have also been sold to pedigree and

Kingston farm

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commercial breeders throughout the UK as they look to breed low cost, grass-fed cattle.

The herd calves all year round and females are regularly flushed to meet demands from overseas breeders.

Cows are capable of calving inside or out without assistance, producing smaller but vigorous calves which are always quick to their feet and sooking.

Calves are weaned at eight to nine months of age and no creep feed is provided, with bull calves fed oats and turnips and heifers given silage only. Those not kept on for breeding can be finished solely off grass at 300-320kg within 1820 months of age and are sold to MacDonald Brothers Butchers in Pitlochry and Aberfeldy.

Sheds at Kingston are not suitable for feed wagons so the cows only receive home-grown silage or hay, and get turnips added to their diet prior to flushing.

“We are fairly rigid when it comes to retaining stock for breeding as Louise and I will go through them thoroughly, and if we have to look at them twice, we castrate the bulls and put the females for finishing,” he added.

The Soutar family is extremely confident that the beef produced from their grass finished cattle is of a very high quality, as it has been shown to be high in Omega 3, and believe more breeders in this country will eventually look to breeding with more sustainable cattle, such as the native Angus.

“There is no question about it – these cattle are going to be the way to go,” said Geordie. “They’re sustainable, low maintenance and can meet the demands of smaller carcases, yet can still produce smaller but equally thicker steaks, allowing them to be cooked medium rare. If consumers say they are going to eat less meat, they’ll certainly eat better quality beef.”

Julia, who is equally as passionate about the breed, concluded: “It’s got to the point where we can’t produce the animals, embryos and semen fast enough. The demand is constant and we have built up a network of breeders and friends in many different parts of the world.”

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beef Innovative procurement model for beef industry trialled by ALDI Aldi has announced an innovative new way of sourcing fresh Scotch Aberdeen Angus Beef that is hoped will provide a long-term, economically sustainable solution for farmers, processors and retailers.

The new Beef Cross Dairy Supply Chain model integrates the Dairy and Beef supply chains from farm to retailer and will give Aldi’s Beef Farmer partner a mutually agreed guaranteed price per kilogram for Scotch Aberdeen Angus Beef over each 12-month period. Led by Aldi in partnership with Scotbeef, G Barbour & Company, Harbro and Genus ABS it is believed to be the first end to end contracted integrated scheme of its kind in Scotland where a farmer, processor and retailer are working together collaboratively.

For several years Scottish Beef farmers and producers have been experiencing severely depressed prices. In the last year alone there has been a sizeable reduction in the wholesale price of Beef which, combined with uncertainties around future support payments for the industry, has forced some farmers to consider their future in the industry. Renowned for its provenance and domestic sourcing, Aldi is committed to offering customers the highest quality Scotch Aberdeen Angus Beef in all 91 Scottish stores. In support of Scottish farmers and the Scottish Beef industry, Aldi has developed the innovative model in the hope of providing a long-term solution for the sector which can be progressively scaled up in coming years.

Aldi’s new farmer partner, Richard Barbour, of G Barbour & Co, beef farmers based in Crocketford, Dumfries & Galloway commented: “This is a positive development for our industry and we’re proud to be working with a forward-thinking supermarket like Aldi to develop an innovative new model for the 74

procurement of Scotch Aberdeen Angus beef.

“Over recent years the Scottish Beef industry has experienced severe price pressures, with many cutting livestock numbers or even exiting the industry all together. By Aldi guaranteeing a fixed price per kilogram for the Beef we produce each year, it will allow us to forecast further into the future and provides more certainty going forward.

By taking away pricing volatility, Aldi’s Beef Cross Dairy Supply Chain model reinjects an element of certainty and confidence into what is such a crucial industry for Scotland.”

The model uses Aberdeen Angus Beef Cross Dairy Calves.

Dairy cows must give birth to one calf annually in order to produce milk and this model uses local dairy cows, which have been artificially inseminated by an Aberdeen Angus bull, to produce an Aberdeen Angus Beef Cross Dairy Calf.

In the new model Richard will buy Aberdeen Angus sired calves from a select group of local dairy farmers, which will then remain on his farm for the rearing, growing and finishing stages of beef production, before being sent to Scotbeef’s state of the art abattoir at Bridge of Allan.

Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “Aldi is the largest retailer for Scottish Origin Beef and we’re consistently the strongest supporter of the domestic Scottish Red Meat industry as demonstrated by our performance in NFUS Shelf Watch during 2019. We believe this is the right thing to do to support the industry in the long term and is the next evolution of our local Fresh Meat sourcing strategy.

“By bringing together partners at each stage in the supply of Scotch Aberdeen Angus Beef, we are confident our

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Beef Cross Dairy Supply Chain model will create a product of consistent high quality.”

“We’re excited to be working with the Barbour family to trial the model this year and hope to be able to roll it out more widely across the Scottish business over the next five years.”

Last year, Aldi introduced a new traceability programme across its premium Specially Selected Aberdeen Angus Scotch beef range, which allows the supermarket to match cuts of meat with the animal of origin, guaranteeing full traceability.

The programme; DNA Traceback®, works with the supply chain to enable Aldi to trace every piece of Specially Selected Aberdeen Angus Scotch beef back to the animal by matching the DNA of the beef product to the animal, which ensures more accurate levels of transparency and accountability for both its customers and suppliers.

livestock New Look QMS Cattle & Sheep Assurance Standards Launched Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has revamped its cattle & sheep assurance standards, making them more user friendly, with simple easy to read content that clearly explains each standard and its importance.

Around 10,000 livestock farmers who are members of Quality Meat Scotland’s cattle & sheep quality assurance scheme will shortly receive this year’s updated standards document, published today (24 January 2020).

Over 90% of Scotland’s breeding cattle population, around 80% of breeding sheep and almost 100% of significant pig farming businesses are members of QMS farm assurance schemes.

The standards behind the six QMS quality assurance schemes – which also cover pigs, feeds, haulage, auction

markets and processors - are reviewed regularly and updated annually to ensure continuous improvements are made to keep pace with legislative, technical and other changes.

“Before any changes are incorporated into these standards they are thoroughly discussed and agreed by the committees which oversee the annual review process. Membership of the cattle and sheep standards committee includes representatives from relevant areas of the industry including farming, processing and auction markets as well as the Scottish SPCA,” said Alan Clarke, Chief Executive of Quality Meat Scotland.

This broad range of knowledge and expertise helps to ensure any changes necessary to meet consumer and retailer expectations, and to keep pace

with technology and other changes in our industry, are also practical and workable at grassroots level.

“Although our quality assurance standards are predominantly used by scheme members and farm assessors, they are also publicly available to a wider audience including consumers and retailers.

With reassurance about the way animals are looked after becoming ever more important to consumers, confidence in these standards is essential to underpin the integrity of our premium Scotch brands,” added Mr Clarke.

The majority of the standards in the new document were already built into the assessment process

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of the previous standards. The key changes relate to a previous recommendation that farms receive an annual veterinary visit and that the annual review of the Animal Health Plan health and performance records is carried out in conjunction with a vet. This is now an official requirement.

After a successful pilot rollout of spot checks, a further programme of planned spot checks is included as part of an on-going focus on farms which have, on several occasions, failed to meet full compliance with key risk standards. The existing process which sees spot checks undertaken where concerns are raised about a farm which is in the scheme, will also continue.

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livestock

The

VET Paradigm Shift – what is it, do we all need one and where do you get it?

I love tradition and all that goes with it whether that’s Scottish music, with its different timings and known layout, the Kirkwall Ba’ game with the barricades lining the street, looking like a riot was about to happen if you didn’t know better or the different idiosyncrasies in the farming world of the local Parishes and Islands in Orkney. There is some-thing comfortable, familiar and predictable about it that makes it all seem right.

That is the way we see things, the lens through which we view life, our paradigm. It is very difficult to change or shift your paradigm, it is after all our upbringing.

But does that hold us back, as Henry Ford allegedly said “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you always got” So there is merit in going out of our way to see things differently, from a different perspective, to try and find another way as it may well be to our benefit.

The trouble is, if your anything like me, your busy, chasing your tail and trying to keep others happy so you revert to your experience of what has previously worked and don’t stop to think too much of radical new ways of doing things. In the veterinary

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“The Scots were the first in the world to introduce quality assurance schemes to underpin our standards of red meat production and we are very proud of what the industry has achieved. Spot checks allow us to manage reputational risk and provide assurance to consumers

By Andy Cant Northvet Veterinary Group world thankfully we are forced to stop and think it’s called CPD (continuous professional development) and encouraged to practice reflective learning ie not just learning stuff parrot fashion but taking time to think perhaps of something new!

An opportunity for paradigm shift to occur.

Seeing how others do things and learning from them can also be an eye opener. What can be applied from other parts of the world or other industries to our own situation. Learning from others situations can bring on a paradigm shift.

Often though a paradigm shift is brought on by a bad experience or event which in hind-sight may have been prevented had we only thought of it earlier.

In our rapidly changing world it takes a lot to stay ahead of the game. Find yourself a paradigm shift it may make all the difference.

“By three methods we may find wisdom: First by reflection which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest” Confucius. .......oh and where do you get it? Well I’ve been in NZ for the last few weeks and have found plenty!

as well as underpinning the ongoing credibility of our brands and assurance schemes,” said Mr Clarke.

Members will receive a copy of the updated standards by post in the coming days. The standards are also available to view online by visiting the QMS website.

New easy-to-use colostrum bags are unique in being reusable

Dairy Spares has launched the Trusti Colostrum Bag which is unique in being the only reusable bag on the market.

In addition, the bag design includes a large surface area to speed freezing and thawing, a robust and convenient handle for holding or hanging, and a wide neck for faster filling and easier cleaning. Bags hold up to 4 litres of colostrum and are suitable for use in pasteurisers.

New Zealand company Antahi, who designed and produce the Trusti Colostrum Bags, advises bags are suitably robust to provide five uses, making them a more costeffective and environmentally friendly choice than single-use colostrum bags.

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The thorough cleaning and sterilisation of the bags inbetween uses is important and strict instructions are provided. A cleaning brush is also available separately from Dairy Spares.

The Trusti Colostrum Bags come in starter kits of 4 or 10 bags, together with two different feeding tubes. The 4-bag kit is £67.90+VAT, and 10-bag kit, £84.90+VAT. Trusti bags are also available in packs of 10 retailing at £42.90+VAT and 50, retailing at £179.00+VAT. A Dairy Spares cleaning brush – with blue fibres for safe use in other milk vessels too – costs £9.35+VAT. For details of their local stockist farmers can contact Dairy Spares on 01948 667676 or visit www.dairyspares.co.uk.

dairy Zoetis win 2020 Rabdf Royal Dairy Innovation Award Zoetis’ CLARIFIDE® Plus heifer genomic test was crowned winner of the Royal Dairy Innovation Award at Dairy-Tech 2020.

With genetic testing key to predicting a heifer’s potential – providing information about the genetic merit of the animal – testing with CLARIFIDE Plus predicts both the animal’s potential and their ability to reach it.

CLARIFIDE Plus is the only test to incorporate health and wellness traits in addition to the production traits delivered by standard testing. This unique genomic test builds on the offering of CLARIFIDE, delivering proven results on wellness. It also means it is not only possible to predict the future potential of an animal but also the ability of that animal to remain healthy and fulfil its potential.

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Phil Cullinan, commercial manager precision livestock farming, Zoetis says: “It’s fantastic to have won this award and for our new CLARIFIDE Plus test to have been recognised within the industry. We look forward to rolling it out on more farms moving forward, helping businesses improve welfare, performance, sustainability and profitability.”

Tim Downes, head of judges, admits this year’s competition was particularly tough with healthy entries of excellent new and innovative products.

He says: “CLARIFIDE Plus were judged winners by the panel for the way the selection of animals now encompasses the Dairy Wellness Profit Index which is adding health traits when testing the new generation of dairy calf replacements.

“It’s very exciting that animals twice as healthy can be chosen – improving lifetime productivity alongside less disease incidence.

In addition it is a financially sensible choice for the modern

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dairy farmer and a worthy winner of this award.”

The Royal Dairy Innovation Award is for research and development in the field of dairy farming and is awarded for the

most practical, relevant product or service which is, or likely to be, the most significant innovation for the future of dairying from a company exhibiting at Dairy-Tech

The Award takes the form of a framed certificate signed personally by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne and is to be retained by the winning entrants.

Dairy farm to host vegan-friendly farm tour

The Ethical Dairy, the UK’s largest cow with calf dairy farm, is to host a Farm Tour specifically designed for vegans and people following plant based diets. The one off event has been developed to create a ‘safe space’ where visitors with concerns about farming can ask questions directly to the farm team.

It’s part of a programme of events and workshops created by the farm and cheese maker in response to requests from members of the public for more information and handson experiences. Other events will include cheese making workshops, a morning milking viewing and a tour of the farm.

Wilma Finlay of The Ethical Dairy said: “This event is about breaking down barriers and recognising that there are many different reasons why people make the dietary choices they do, and as producers of food we are respectful of the choices our customers make. For example, we have many regular customers who are themselves following plant-based diets but buy dairy produce for their children or partner.

“The idea behind these events is basically to share our experience, explain why we do

things the way we do and, where possible, to share our skills. We have welcomed visitors onto our farm for many years, in fact it was feedback from those Cream o’ Galloway visitors that encouraged us to try cow with calf farming in the first place.

So we are very much looking forward to running these new in-depth farm events, explaining our approach and creating a safe space where people can ask questions about our farm.”

Rainton Farm, home of The Ethical Dairy brand, committed to permanently following cow with calf farming last autumn after successfully concluding a three year pilot. While conventional dairy farming practice separates cows and calves within a few hours of birth, the Rainton model sees male and female dairy calves remain with their mothers for 5-6 months before being weaned.

The innovative approach to dairy farming, which is claimed to deliver environmental and animal health benefits, has attracted widespread interest, so much so that the Scottish Government recently announced funding for research into their farming system by Scotland’s rural college, SRUC.

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NFU Scotland

dairy

Now that Brexit day has past, everything has changed but nothing is different Writes Andrew McCornick, President, NFU Scotland We remain in an increasingly volatile and challenging world. We have the threat of diseases, both human and animal. The degree of unrest in the middle east is concerning and we must deal with the continuous disruption in trade created by countries taking individual positions despite WTO rules and agreements.

We are entering into this melee as a nation of just over 60m rather being part of a bloc of over 500m. Our intention is to build new trading agreements with our biggest trading partner along with the rest of the world in very short order.

We do not have the same leverage or power that we had but we may be able to be more fleet of foot and flexible to our specific needs and market/trade needs There is an enormous responsibility to get this right.

We must throw everything at it in a short amount of time because what happens beyond that is only possible if we get negotiations from now until the end of 2020 right.

The whole team must understand this and work together to do it.

Politicians must put politics aside during this phase of Brexit and work for the greater good - the politics can re-emerge once this is done The UK is a net importer of food and yet there’s no reference to food security in this bold new world that we are entering.

The 2020’s are going to be massive decade and there are going to be a lot of bumps

along the road, possibly collateral damage, but there are inevitably going to be opportunities.

I believe the opportunity to refresh and renew our industry from the stagnation that CAP has created and the failure to understand the market which support through the CAP has perpetuated.

The public have different expectations now of rural Scotland than at the time we entered the common market.

We are expected to deliver on all these as well as the necessary provision of food.

This comes at financial cost undeliverable at current market returns. Legislators and policy makers must deliver on their side or it simply won’t work.

For us, as an industry of farmers and crofters, the bigger challenge is the negotiation of our future trading relationships with the EU and the rest of the World as it effects significantly our markets and how we will be able to do business going forward.

NFUS has stated from the very beginning that we do not want agriculture and food to be a bargaining chip in these trade deals or to be sacrificed in the quest for cheap food.

With the implementation/ transition period ending on 31 December, we have a very short window on ensuring we strike the right deal on trade, access to labour, establishing a new agricultural policy platform and securing the necessary funding.

The industry’s support for NFUS has never been more crucial.

www.nfus.org.uk

sheep NSA Sheep Event 2020 celebrates the diversity of UK sheep industry NSA Sheep 2020 will recognise the value of all aspects of the UK sheep industry and celebrate the diversity of the sector.

Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, says: “Despite everything that has faced sheep farmers in recent years, the industry is in a secure place and is ready to face the next hurdle.

“The structure and variety of systems in the sector is recognised as its strength, and means we fit the direction which is being set by all governing bodies.

“To recognise this positive change in outlook, this year’s Sheep Event will celebrate

our industry diversity, through highlighting the range of breeds, systems, business sizes and people who work within it.”

Firmly established as the principle technical sheep event, NSA Sheep 2020 will provide knowledge and inspiration for producers to fine-tune their business. Held on Tuesday 28th July 2020, at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, it is free to attend for NSA members.

Phil explains: “We’ll once again be joined by leading sheep industry experts, along with over 250 trade stands, and

there’s a packed programme of free technical seminars, demonstrations and workshops.”

Following the success of previous years, NSA will also be running a day of farm tours prior to the event on Monday 27th July 2020, which will include visits to two leading sheep farms.

“We’ll be visiting two contrasting sheep farming systems, highlighting again the diversity within the industry and how different business models can be successful.

“Following years of uncertainty, we appear to be nearing a time where the whole

of British agriculture may have clarity as to which direction we’re heading. Sheep farming has never been more critical to the wider industry and environment, with several government Bills linking the benefits that sheep production has to restoring the countryside, demonstrating the critical role we have in British Agriculture.

“NSA Sheep 2020 is an essential visit for anyone in the sector and will celebrate the breadth and depth of UK sheep farming.”

For more information on the event, visit www.sheepevent. org.uk.

Shepherds urged to feed more good quality colostrum Shepherds are being urged to feed newborn surplus lambs more good quality colostrum during the crucial first 24 hours of life because up to 80% of UK sheep producers may not be feeding enough.

According to results from the annual Volac Lamlac surplus lamb rearing intentions survey, carried out at the end of 2019, only 20% of shepherds plan to feed the industry recommended 210ml per kg of newborn lamb liveweight.

“Just before Christmas we received feedback from more than 300 UK sheep producers about their surplus lamb rearing practices. Encouragingly, more than 85% said they always make sure they administer colostrum to any surplus lambs. However, many should feed a greater quantity to give these valuable young animals the best start in life,” says survey co-ordinator Samantha Sampson from Volac.

Ms Sampson explains that all lambs reared off the ewe must be fed good quality colostrum 80

or a high-quality replacement if maternal colostrum is unavailable, such as Volac Volostrum, as soon as possible after birth.

“Ideally, colostrum needs to be administered within the first two hours of life, with at least 210ml/kg liveweight being taken on board within the first 24 hours as a minimum.”

As the UK sheep industry moves into its peak lambing season, Volac is urging sheep producers to pay particular attention to this early life colostrum feeding.

“Vital antibodies cannot get into the unborn lamb via the placenta, so must be transferred via colostrum,” Ms Sampson says.

“Colostrum is the key to survival for newborn lambs.

It is a highly nutritious energy source that not only provides vital antibodies to protect against disease, but also gives the lamb energy to get up onto its feet and get going. The first few hours are key, as this is when the gut wall www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

sheep is at its most permeable, allowing the large antibody molecules to be absorbed.”

Maximising the number of lambs sold per ewe put to the ram is one of the key benchmarks for a successful sheep enterprise.

With lamb prices forecasted to remain firm during 2020, it looks like it will undoubtedly pay to make every lamb count.

“Neonatal lamb mortality continues to be a challenging issue for the sheep industry but improving colostrum management and feeding practices could make a significant

difference on many farms. Once surplus lambs have received enough of this essential first feed during the first 24 hours of life – or a proven alternative such as Volac Volostrum – they can then move onto a performanceformulated ewe milk replacer such as Lamlac to make the most of their significant early life growth potential.”

More detailed advice on rearing any 2020 surplus lambs effectively is available at www. lamlac.co.uk Alternatively speak to your local Volac Business Manager.

Clydesdale bank confirmed as major sponsor of NSA Scotsheep 2020 Clydesdale Bank has been named as the major sponsor of Scotland’s national sheep event NSA Scotsheep 2020.

The biennial event, organised

by NSA Scotland, will be take place on Wednesday June 3, at Over Finlarg, Tealing, Dundee, by kind permission of Robert and Hazel McNee. “Clydesdale Bank is delighted to be sponsoring the NSA Scotsheep event at Over Finlarg, which is a great venue and provides a real focus for the sheep sector at this important time of change post-Brexit,” said Brian Richardson, UK head of agriculture for Clydesdale Bank.

“Our team looks forward to meeting producers at the event and we are pleased to be main sponsors.”

Previous NSA Scotsheep events held across Scotland have attracted thousands of livestock producers from all over the UK and this year visitors will have the chance to see first-hand how the McNees have developed both the farm and their business since moving to the 740-acre unit nine years ago.

“Over Finlarg is an ideal unit for hosting such a prestigious event,” said event chairman Willy Millar, who runs a beef and sheep enterprise at Huntingfaulds, Tealing.

“Robert and Hazel McNee are well-known for breeding topquality livestock and there will be something of interest for everyone on the day. Field space for trade stands is currently filling up fast so we would encourage those interested to come forward.”

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Subscription details on page 117 www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

Scottish farmers in Brexit Limbo!

By Maime Paterson Upper Auchenlay, Dunblane Brexit’s done, but there’s

million ‘convergence’ money

plenty waiting to be dusted.

and the extra £51 million

The

new

recommended by the Bew

Agriculture Bill has had its

Review, but while it is unwise

first reading and English and

to inspect a gift horse’s

Welsh farmers now have

dentures, none of it gives

a

understanding

us any clue of where the

of the future direction that

government wants Scottish

they are expected to take

farming to be in 5 - 10 years

and

time or how it wants us to get

government’s

clearer

which

elements

of

farming are most likely to attract

financial

there.

support.

Ministers claim that they

‘Public goods’, CO2 mitigation

can’t make progress until they

and the environment take

know what will be devolved

priority, nevertheless there

to Scotland. Fair enough,

is acknowledgement of the

but surely they have some

importance of sustainable

ideas for their own strategy

of food production and for

for Scottish farming. If they

the first time, a nod to food

do, they’re certainly keeping

security. There is no mention

them securely under wraps

of protecting food standards,

which

which is a matter of great

planning near-impossible for

concern, but at least English

farmers. It doesn’t help that

and

Welsh

farmers

makes

long-term

have

the political parties are now

some idea of what to expect.

starting to gear up for the

The same can’t be said

2021 Holyrood election and

for Scottish farmers who

ministers will be increasingly

have no inkling of what

reluctant

the

government

anything long-term on this

has in mind for the post-

side of it. The extra £210

Brexit era. Yes, there are

million to tide us over the

assurances that support will

policy gap is most welcome,

continue at the current level

but Scottish farming could

for a few years, and there

remain in limbo for some

is the added bonus of £160

time yet.

Scottish

to

commit

to

pigs

A matter of control While farmers like the idea of controlling piggeries and crop stores remotely, using an app on a smart phone or tablet, they are not yet ready to do away with the conventional control panel with all its knobs and buttons.

This is the provisional conclusion from surveys carried out by Anita Woolf, research student for Reading-based technology company, Farmex, in advance of the launch of Dicam 2 at the British Pig and Poultry Fair.

Dicam controllers are widely used to manage temperatures and other functions in livestock houses and crop stores, both in the UK and internationally. Dicam 2 will be a much more powerful model, offering a number of remotecontrol options.

Anita is conducting surveys into the farming community’s attitude to the need for retaining the traditional panel-mounted interfaces when there is the potential to increase flexibility

using an app without installing a control panel at all.

Interestingly, there is a fairly even split. “Broadly, while both sides show interest in the app, there is a definite reluctance to let the panel-mounted interface go, even if it costs more,” said Anita.

Those favouring the panel feel it’s useful to make changes in the room where you can ‘see’ the environment. They also worry that new livestock handlers using an app would just use the technology and look at numbers rather than the animals in their charge. Loss of connectivity is also a concern.

However, the portability of the app allowing changes to be made off site, and the fact that it would be free, are seen as distinct advantages.

Farmex managing director, Hugh Crabtree, says that farmers will be offered both options and predicts that the market will eventually favour remote access.

Anita Woolf interviews a farmer at the recent LAMMA exhibition to gauge reaction to controlling piggeries and crop-stores remotely, using just an app on a smartphone or tablet

Anita Woolf demonstrates how Dicam2 can be controlled by an app, but the new control box can also have a display and controls as shown

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LIVESTOCK MARKET REVIEW

A tough twelve months

By Katrina Macarthur

Last year was a tough 12 months for beef producers, as deadweight prices started the year slightly below the previous year but fell almost continuously throughout the year, with prices 8% lower in 2019 than in 2018.

The average annual price of rearing calves was considerably lower than in 2018 but the price of older store animals didn’t seem to follow the same trend. Bull and heifer calves dropped between 17% and 29%.

In the last two months of 2019, the deadweight price increased by 2% between October and December,

and saw the steer price increase by 8% over the same period.

Prime cattle levels continue to be well below average for the time of year, with reports suggesting that demand is weaker although export demand is helping to make use of the current kill.

Further reports suggest that frozen stocks are now lower after the Christmas season although there is still little appetite to rebuild levels.

In the week ending February 1, the GB all prime average remained steady at 331.9p per kg. The overall

steer price remained static, while the R4L price slightly increased and heifers rose just 0.8p to level at 333.4p.

Lamb farmgate prices recorded in the week ending January 29, saw the GB liveweight OSL SQQ increase by 4p to 216.63p. Throughputs were back 6% on the week to 98,000 head as the current wet weather has hampered lamb finishing.

Meanwhile, UK grain prices increased into the new year however, towards the end of this month, global wheat markets have recently seen declines.

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Improved weather during parts of January has allowed for increased field work, although progress is heavily dependent on location and soil type. A sizeable increase in spring crop area on the last year is anticipated, with winter acreages this season heavily affected by persistent rainfall across the UK during the tail end of 2019.

Season to date inclusions of barley in feed production remain strong and are up 9.3% on the year, while wheat inclusions are back 3% year on year and maize back 7.5%.

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Investing in

People

Tracey Roan takes NFUS Ambassador Award NFU Scotland and NFU Mutual’s prestigious Ambassador Award has been presented to Dumfries and Galloway dairy farmer Tracey Roan for her outstanding advocacy of the farming industry in general, and dairying and Dumfries and Galloway in particular.

Established in 2009, the Ambassador Award was set up to recognise those individuals who, through their own efforts, have played an influential role in communicating the work, challenges and the value of Scottish food and farming to a wider audience.

Tracey was announced as the winner of the NFUS/NFU Mutual Ambassador trophy at NFU Scotland’s annual dinner, attended by more than 430 guests and delegates, and held in Glasgow (6 February). She received the award from NFU Scotland President Andrew McCornick and NFU Mutual chairman, and former NFU Scotland President Jim McLaren.

Director of Regions and Regional Manager for Dumfries and Galloway, Teresa Dougall said: “I am delighted that Tracey has received our NFUS Ambassador of the Year award. At both a regional and national level, we have been working with Tracey over the last few years from when she first approached us, looking for our support in setting up the Dumfries and Galloway Dairy Women’s Network.

“Tracey worked tirelessly to establish this group for ladies in her region, providing the meetings, training and 84

social events that they wanted.

Her drive to promote this group continues as does her commitment to the wider sector and family business.

“Tracey represented our sector on the South of Scotland Economic Partnership and has recently joined the NFUS Dumfries and Galloway Executive Committee.

“Tracey and the family also featured on Series 2 of This Farming Life and through this, we were able to see and hear about her passion for the industry. This is what we look for in an ambassador and the award has gone to a worthy winner.”

NFU Mutual Chairman, Jim McLaren added: “The establishment and development of Roan’s Dairy by Tracey and the whole Roan family makes her a fantastic advocate for the

role that farm diversification can play in growing a farming business.

“It is also great to see, through the Dairy Womens Network, the crucial role of women in agriculture getting the support and recognition it so richly deserves.”

Biograph Tracey Roan is married to Steven, who, along with his family are the 6th generation of dairy farmers. Steven and Tracey farm at Boreland of Colvend, near Dalbeattie, with their family Andrew and Lucy and they milk more than 200 pedigree Holstein cows. In 2015, Tracey, her husband, and her in-laws, established Roan`s Dairy, with its distinctive ‘pink udder’ branding.

Tracey’s participation in the Rural Leadership Programme was

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an important factor in setting up the new venture. Roan’s Dairy supplies fresh, free range milk to doorsteps and local businesses throughout Dumfries and Galloway. Diversification into a milkshake bar has seen the company attend more than 30 events a year including the Highland Show, local agricultural shows, festivals, motor shows, the local civic week and weddings.

Tracey was appointed to the board of the South of Scotland Economic Partnership in January 2018. The Partnership brings together the key public sector organisations that support economic growth in the South of Scotland, together with the private, third and education sectors. Tracey also sits on the local community council and has also recently joined the BBC Scotland Rural Affairs Advisory Committee.

TRAINVIEW TALK

It’s great to see the nights finally on the turn and we can start to think of Spring on the horizon. January has also brought us our first 3 calves of the year, we have had a little problem with a hard navel in one and scour in another so the lime wash has been out and we will tighten up on ensuring adequate colostrum before the main batch calve in April, although both have made great recoveries.

There’s something to be said for watching calves racing round a freshly bedded court with the tails in the air!

More good news, we have sold a bull calf to a pedigree herd in Shetland.

James Dodge of the Aith herd picked 8 month old ‘Lovat’ unseen on the strength of his pedigree and pictures on social media. Valerie and I both think a lot of this young bull with plans to show him and a trip to the Bull sales next year but we are pleased the Dodge family also see his potential. Lovat is line bred to some of the fleshiest bulls in recent history and goes back to Balmyle Scorpio seventeen times, we also believe his mother could have more Royal Highland Royal show and Perth bull sales champions in her breeding than any beast alive today.

Our congratulations must go to Geordie Soutar who has been awarded an MBE for his work in not only saving the original population Native Aberdeen Angus breed but successfully selling the genetics from his Dunlouise herd to every major beef producing country in the world. If Geordie hadn’t done this then all the original blueprint of the breed would have been lost forever. The Angus breed is a success story unapparelled in the livestock industry which started on a farm less than

DIARY

Trainview Talk Our new diary page

By James Cameron 10 miles from us. The breed now dominates the world beef industry indeed there are more Angus calves born in America than all the other breeds put together and many of the other breeds have been turned black in not so much tribute but to take advantage of a very successful beef marketing company where black hided cattle get a big bonus. It’s safe to say there is a wide range of phenotypes within in the Angus breed today and the opportunity to bring back a touch of the real Angus character through Native Angus is not to be

shunned in a time where we really need to think hard how we produce beef.

Valerie spoke some months ago about her thoughts on going back to work after maternity leave vs taking a career break while the boys are young, unfortunately the sums didn’t add up so she has returned to work.

However, as a compromise she has been able to cut hours down to just 2 days a week, it’s all a balancing act!

With another round of bull sales just past the Beef Shorthorn bulls sold away despite the gloom over the

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beef trade and it was pleasing to see another rare breed the in the Lincoln Red having another good sale. Andrew Mylius of St. Fort who has stuck with the breed through thick and thin had an excellent line up of bulls and heifers.

However, Andrew couldn’t have been as happy as our eldest son Alec. Andrew, who I’m sure had plenty of other things to think about took the time to draw Alec a picture of ‘Daddy’s car and cow trailer’.

Alec held on to it all day and proudly showed anyone he could and when Raymond the auctioneer shouted, ‘just wave out for a bid’ the wee lad couldn’t help himself, with hand and picture raised at high speed and we nearly got a bull!

The very first interbreed champion at the Royal Highland Show was a Lincoln Red and this year the breed classes have returned after an absence of 15 years. Let us hope the breed continues to flourish, the need for fleshly, easy kept suckler cows is more important than ever and the Lincoln ticks a lot of boxes. They are another breed that has a rare ‘Original Population’ like the Native Angus and it was great to see one top the sale.

The winter months bring some time for reflection and time to have a good hard look at how things are going. One area we would like to improve is our grass utilisation.

Rotational grazing seems to be the way to go to increase output meaning we wouldn’t have to rent so much ground.

But therein lies the problem, as solely seasonal graziers how much do you invest in setting it up when there’s no guarantee of the grass the following year. Some blue-sky thinking required perhaps, well a few of those would help the grass grow!

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estate European conservation accreditation awarded to Dumfries & Galloway estate A sporting estate in a remote glen in Dumfries & Galloway, which welcomes tourists from around the world, has received a prestigious accreditation which recognises landowners who are committed to best practice in conservation, habitat and wildlife management.

Covering 2000 acres, Auchenbrack estate in Tynron has been accredited

by Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES) following a rigorous assessment by an independent accreditation organisation, who were particularly impressed with the estate’s work in enhancing the habitat of protected species including red squirrels, black grouse and ring ouzels.

Arthur Sweerts, owner of Auchenbrack Estate said: “We are delighted to receive WES accreditation which recognises the important work we are doing to help wildlife flourish on our estate. We are so fortunate to have protected species including squirrels, black grouse and ring ouzels and we are doing all we can to protect and grow their numbers.

“Our woodlands provide important shelter and breeding opportunities for birds and other wildlife, while our farming practices follow best practice ensuring good quality soil and high quality livestock.”

WES, which is supported by the Scottish Government and

Scottish Natural Heritage and managed by Scottish Land & Estates, aims to promote the best habitat and wildlife management

practices, build recognition and raise standards through the introduction of an objective accreditation system.

Speyside grouse moor at forefront of groundbreaking golden eagle conservation A Highland estate is encouraging other land owners to get involved with a ground-breaking Scottish golden eagle conservation project after eagle chicks were donated to the project.

As one of the first estates involved in the pioneering South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, Pitmain and Glenbanchor Estate, a 12,000 acre estate near Kingussie, volunteered to have some eagle chicks which fledged on its land translocated to the Moffat Hills in the south of Scotland.

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The Project has been set up to reinforce the low numbers of golden eagles in the Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway.

The Project team has successfully translocated four golden eagles from the Scottish Highlands to the south of Scotland, including one eagle chick from Pitmain and Glenbanchor Estate. Support from estates in the Highlands, Dumfries & Galloway and the Scottish Borders plays a pivotal role in helping the iconic species continue to grow and thrive in the south of Scotland.

estate SLE welcomes improved ratings system for sporting rights and deer forests Important technical changes to the calculation of non-domestic rates on shooting rights and deer forests have been welcomed by Scottish Land & Estates.

The rates, reintroduced as part of the Land Reform Act 2016, saw valuation notices issued to proprietors which was followed by a substantial number of appeals entered to the Scottish Assessors Association (‘the assessor’).

Following extensive discussions with Scottish Land & Estates’ working group – which includes a number of industry experts – SAA has agreed to make adjustments to ratings which will hopefully resolve outstanding appeals and streamline the next revaluation of entries in 2022.

The changes introduced include: • Area exclusions • Quantum threshold reductions • Location adjustments and end allowances • Ability to make adjustments for commercial forestry entries where crop damage of 10% or more can be demonstrated

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Next issue out May 2020

Update on AECS and the Game & Wildlife Scottish Demonstration Farm, Auchnerran

By Dave Parish, Head of Lowland Research, Scotland, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust

Last year was the first for the Game & Wildlife Trust’s Scottish demonstration farm at Auchnerran on Deeside to be in the Agri-environment and Climate Scheme (AECS).

This scheme offers payments in return for implementing environmental measures and has allowed significant progress in replacing the farm’s dilapidated fencing, much of it dating back to the 1960s, so that now we can better control the movement of the sheep and grazing pressure in various areas. We also now have access to a further 70ha or so of rough grazing, which altogether puts the farm in much better shape for the future.

One of the key AECS prescriptions that we’ve

chosen is ‘wader grazed grassland’ (reduced stocking density to protect wader nests) which applies to 55ha of pasture in total, reflecting the importance of Auchnerran for breeding waders. Other prescriptions we have put in place on the farm include ‘wild bird seed for farmland birds’ (seedbearing crop-mixes that provide food for birds over winter), ‘forage brassica crops for farmland birds’ (providing invertebrate food and shelter), ‘water margins in grassland fields’ (to buffer water courses from run-off) and some new hedge planting. The hedges comprise a mix of species including goat willow, dog rose and hawthorn, which should provide valuable www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

food and shelter for a range of wildlife, from nectar for pollinators to nesting sites for pheasants.

Our annual monitoring of key wildlife groups on the farm will help illustrate what kind of effect these new measures might have, and our long-term aim is to develop novel prescriptions to give farmers more options to choose from in agricultural grasslands.

On the farm the 2019/20 shooting season hosted ten fast-paced rabbit days and three mixed species days that were again hugely popular with our guests and we will be looking at more on-farm activity such as this in the coming year as our small shooting enterprise develops.

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No time to waste

By Eleanor Kay, Policy Adviser (Agriculture) at Scottish Land & Estates It’s been a busy period for agricultural legislation in both Westminster and Holyrood. The Rural Economy and Connectivity committee have continued to take evidence on the Agriculture (Scotland) Bill while in Westminster, a bill has been tabled to ensure direct payments can be made for 2020 and the longawaited UK Agriculture Bill has returned - with an air of déjà vu.

Where the bills differ, however, is in setting out a path for future rural policy beyond any transition.

English farmers now have certainty on the direction of travel beyond their seven-year transition.

The new Westminster bill makes it clear what English farmers could be paid for, including improving the environment, enhancing public access, activity to mitigate climate change, enhancing soil quality and others.

Scotland is right to deliver its own rural legislation but with a fiveyear funding commitment from Treasury, the sector must soon have an indication as to what our future priorities will be and what ambitions the Scottish Government holds for the rural economy beyond 2024.

There is a clear message coming from the sector including those set out in

our paper ‘#Route2050: the future direction of land management in Scotland’ - that after nearly 50 years of being tied to the CAP, we have the chance to reward and invest in farming and wider land management, tailored to Scotland’s requirements.

The Farming and Food Production Future Policy Group (FFPFG) represents an opportunity to be bold and ambitious in our future policy but whatever their recommendations, delay is likely with little time until the next Holyrood elections.

The Climate Change Bill has also laid down a challenge for land management and has been followed with a new net-zero report from the Committee on Climate Change. Given we already have the recommendations of the Agricultural Champions and National Council of Rural Advisors, which were so welcomed by the sector, there is a case to respond to the growing uncertainty by updating the FFPFG terms of reference and accelerating the outputs from this influential group.

The danger is the terms of reference begin to hold us back rather than driving forward.

With the clock ticking, there is no time to waste.

We need to be clear on the level of ambition we have for Scottish agriculture.

For more information www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk Telephone : 0131 653 5400

estate Wildlife park for sale in beautiful Perthshire

Leading independent property consultancy Galbraith is exclusively marketing the sale of Auchingarrich Wildlife Park, an established wildlife park nestled in the picturesque Perthshire hills on the outskirts of the village of Comrie.

The business has been privately run by the Scott family for over 10 years who have made many improvements under their ownership to create a wildlife park of the highest standard. It benefits from year-round trade and has witnessed good levels of growth in recent years with average visitor numbers in excess of 60,000 and the threeyear average turnover in the order of £585,000.

The park includes the Torlum Coffee Shop, two indoor play areas, an outdoor adventure playground, an array of exotic and farm animal enclosures, a hatchery and animal feeding pens including wildcats, meerkats and otters. Four bait and fly-fishing ponds are on site and are stocked with rainbow trout from Easter until October.

Also included in the sale is Auchingarrich Farmhouse, a traditional stone property centrally located within the

grounds which extend in total to around 131 acres (53 hectares).

The house offers a wealth of accommodation with five bedrooms (one with en-suite) and three reception rooms, three bathrooms and a separate study.

The property enjoys a good level of privacy, set in attractive grounds with a landscaped garden overlooking a duck pond to the south.

Harry Stott, senior associate in commercial property, who is handling the sale for Galbraith, said: “Auchingarrich Wildlife Park is located in a highly soughtafter location ideal for tourism related business. The business has a proven financial track record and is of an exceptional standard.

“Many improvements have been made under the current ownership, not least the development of a network of internal roads and pathways leading to the animal enclosures and attractions. The park has been immaculately maintained and is very well presented. The sale of Auchingarrich Wildlife Park will very much appeal to the lifestyle buyer seeking their next adventure in a stunning part of rural Perthshire.”

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estate The land is generally Grade 4(2) as rated by the James Hutton Institute for Soil Research and approximately 45 acres is laid to grass for rough grazing and has been divided into animal enclosures. Approximately 50 acres comprises woodland with a mix of broadleaves and conifers.

The remainder of the land encompasses the café and sheds serving the wildlife park along with the car park. The land is not IACS registered and accordingly does not claim single farm payment entitlement.

The wildlife park is located approximately six miles west of Crieff and 23 miles east of Perth.

The surrounding area is known for its unspoilt countryside with

dramatic mountains, glens, lochs and rivers. Loch Earn is located a short distance to the west and is renowned as a haven for watersports, fishing is also available on the River Earn and the famous River Tay. The Loch Lomond and Trossach National Park lies to the west and is known for its outstanding beauty and is a major visitor attraction.

The A85 which runs through Crieff and Comrie and lies a short distance to the north of Auchingarrich Wildlife Park is a major tourist route linking Perthshire to the West Highlands.

For sale through Galbraith, price available to interested parties on request.

New police wildlife crime training welcomed by SLE New police training to detect and investigate instances of wildlife crime has been welcomed by Scottish Land & Estates.

Announced by Cabinet Secretary Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Police Scotland in January launched a new wildlife crime investigators course to enhance capability in this complex area of local policing.

Sarah-Jane Laing, Chief Executive of Scottish Land & Estates said: “We are fully supportive of increased resources to tackle wildlife crime alongside tougher penalties for those who are convicted so this is a positive announcement by government.

“Equipping police officers with the specialist training and knowledge they need to investigate wildlife crime should aid detection rates and hopefully lead to more offenders being brought to justice.

The government’s wildlife crime report published last month highlights that despite a decrease in the level of wildlife crime in Scotland over the past five years there remains a clear need to maintain momentum on this issue.

“For those found guilty of such reckless acts, we continue to call for longer prison sentences and bigger maximum fines for the most serious wildlife crimes. We also believe that enabling police to use and manage surveillance cameras under strict RIPSA* procedures where evidence suggests there could be acts of wildlife crime, could act as a real deterrent and could lead to more prosecutions.

This would enable those police officers who are about to embark on their new training to work even more effectively in the future.”

Southern Belle Enough!

Sometimes something happens, which is just a step too far and becomes the straw that breaks this camel’s back. It happened this week, when two national charities, decided that the way to raise funds, was to encourage everyone to stop eating meat.

Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support, a truly amazing bunch of people, with whom I have had a close connection for 21 years, jumped on the vegan bandwagon, to try to raise money. What their overpaid, under achieving senior staff (not their nurses) failed to recognise, was that the farming industry is one of their hardest working support groups and many of us organise fund raisers, coffee mornings and auctions, to which we all donate our financial support and our time.

Something just snapped in me and others and we made a stand. With the support of this fabulous industry, thousands of us rallied and to date my Facebook post has been shared over 1800 times and Macmillan have agreed to stop “actively promoting”

this campaign as “ it has not brought in the number of registrations and won’t reach the projected income we expected.” Ya don’t say!

What about the income you’ve just lost?! A distinct lack of insight into the people who support them and the hope of support from a group of people who trade on hearsay and misinformation, brought this industry together to stand up for ourselves at last. We need to stop this nonsense and just say NO! Enough is enough! This industry feeds a growing population, who have no idea where their food, meat or vegetables, comes from and feel they have the right to criticize our lifestyle, despite the fact, it supports theirs.

Well done farmers, farmers wives, women married to farmers, men married to farmers, indeed all industry people who support their community and their charities. If some of these so-called activists had the morals of the people in agriculture, the world would be a better place.

Stand up for yourselves… no one else will. Very proud of this amazing industry!

*Regulation of Investigatory Powers Scotland Act 2000

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forestry

Finding the finest farm woods in Scotland The annual search to find Scotland’s finest farm woodlands has begun - with two prizes of £1000 up for grabs.

Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards 2020 celebrates the programme’s 35th anniversary and builds on its biggest-ever year in 2019, with both farm woodland competitions returning after a fierce contest in 2019.

There is an ‘open’ Farm Woodland category and a specific award for younger farmers or crofters (and/or their forest managers) aged between 16 and 40 on deadline day, 31st March.

Commendations in the overall Farm Woodland Award 2019 stretched from Peebles-shire, where Peter Gascoigne farms, to Dalry in Ayrshire (W Shanks at Kerslochmuir, managed by Scottish Woodlands Ltd) and a croft woodland at Lagandorain on the Isle of Iona.

The overall Farm Woodland Award Winner was Kilrie Farm, near Kirkcaldy, Fife (owner John Drysdale and forester Kieran Kelly) and the ‘Young People’ Trophy - new for 2019 - was won by crofters Lynn Cassells and Sandra Baer for Lynbreck Croft, near Grantown-on-Spey in the Cairngorms.

The judges said Kilrie Farm was “an excellent example of an integrated woodland on a farm” where the owners had “displayed a tremendous enthusiasm and pride in what had been achieved over the years [with] plans well in place to achieve a viable and sustainable woodland enterprise.

Already, the woodlands are generating significant employment and plans are in 90

place to look at adding value from the forestry business.”

Explaining why trees are so important at Lynbeck Croft, Lynn Cassells said: “We have tried to achieve full integration of the trees and woodland into the croft business. They are a valuable asset in terms of shelter for animals and fuel for us – as well as everything they do for biodiversity and soaking up carbon.”

The Young People Award was gifted by sponsor Scottish Woodlands Ltd, while SAC Consulting sponsors the overall Farm Woodland Award.

Angela Douglas, Executive Director of Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards, said: “We are very grateful to SAC Consulting and Scottish Woodlands Ltd for helping to establish the Farm Woodland Awards with the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland - and to all our very generous sponsors.”

She added: “2019 was a hugely significant year for trees in Scotland, with planting targets surpassed - including the creation of a large number of small woodland areas on farms - plus full devolution of forestry policy and the centenary of the 1919 Act. We were delighted to celebrate that by honouring a range of brilliant winners. Now the challenge is to find more wonderful winners to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Awards in 2020.”

Fergus Ewing MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy, who has presented the awards for the last three years, said: "The winners represent those exceptional individuals and groups who create fantastic spaces to

allow us all to enjoy our forests and woods.”Other awards in the programme include the popular Crown Estate Schools’ Trophy, won in 2019 by Earthtime Forest School Nursery in Duffus, Moray, with Levenmouth Academy, Buckhaven, Fife, named runnerup for helping to plant 8,000 trees beside the school.

Also returning Awards are: Community Woodlands (two competitions: small and large

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community woodland groups); New Native Woods; and Quality Timber (three competitions: new commercial wood; multi-purpose forest or whole estate; and a single stand/compartment or small wood) Entries must be submitted by 31st March 2020.

For the full list of awards, criteria and entry forms, go to www.sfwa.co.uk

The Northern Shooting Show 2020 8th & 9th May It’s not long now until the UK shooting community descend on Harrogate in North Yorkshire to make it the nation's shooting capital for the weekend of 8th and 9th of May for the Northern Shooting Show at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

In it’s fifth year it now boasts even more top exhibitors in the exhibition halls with the added bonus of outside demonstration areas to try optics, airguns, and other accessories. There is also a huge 500m clayline allowing you to try shotguns from many of the top manufacturers free of charge as well as clay shooting instruction from CPSA. Hazel Bank Shooting Ground will be running the competitions if you fancy having a go. You can even try muzzleloaders for the thrill of black powder guns.

It really is a one stop shop for anyone looking to buy a shotgun, rifle or airgun or indeed any shooting accessory or item of specialist clothing rather than spending days visiting multiple shops. Most shooting organisations are attending with free advice for members and non members alike. The show has the largest selection of new and used guns in one place on one day so don’t forget your shotgun and firearms certificates.

If deer stalking is your thing then a visit to the Deer Focus Area with everything deer related including hunting, stalking and deer management is a must.

The area also aims to educate visitors, and associations will be there offering best advice clinics and answering questions. Watch

the gralloching demo followed by cooking lessons from expert chefs.

For gundog enthusiasts there’s the huge Gundog Field with great competitions whatever your skill level and with generous prizes, together with Stoneycairn Gundogs offering their popular gundog clinic and demonstrations and also a seminar area. There’s also everything from feeds, dog beds, training aids, to quads and 4x4 vehicles and a multitude of game products in the NGO sponsored Gamekeeping Area.

There are talks areas and you can meet and listen to well know experts from across the shooting and conservation world. There are also historic arms to see and to buy from a variety of organisations and retailers.

The whole show has a great ‘game fair’ feel about it and has everything for a family day out.

Dogs are welcome on site but are not allowed in Halls 1 and 2 but there are creche facilities available.

Kids not only get in free but are encouraged to take part in clay shooting, airgun shooting and archery, so you can make it a family event. Look out for a very special offer for children to take part in multiple activities for one low price of just £9. Follow the event on facebook or instagram for more information.

Early bird ADULT Tickets are still on sale at £13 so book now before they go up in price. Go to www.northernshootingshow. co.uk/tickets

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Beatha an eilean

Bha adhbhar glè chudromach is deatamach aig croitearachd Sgrìobhadair Rod MacCoinnich, Neach-Gairm Coimisean na Croitearachd Tha am Bòrd taghte seo de Choimiseanairean Croitearachd air faisg air 3 bliadhna a fhrithealadh a-nis. Tha na 3 bliadhna sin air falbh gu luath agus tha mòran fhathast ri dhèanamh san 2 bhliadhna mu dheireadh de ar gabhaltas mus tig an ath chuairt de thaghaidhean ann an 2022.

Thòisich sinn le bhith a’ cur eòlas air an dreuchd agus a’ tighinn gu tuigse air modh-obrach agus pròtacal, reachdas croitearachd, poileasaidhean, plana gnothachais, plana corporra agus gach nì uile a tha an lùib a bhith nad bhall de bhòrd buidhne poblach neo-roinneil de Riaghaltas na h-Alba. Gu ruige seo mar bhòrd, tha sinn air coimhead thairis air mòran iomairtean ùra.

Nam measg sin, tha sgioblachadh air a’ mhòr-chuid de phròiseasan riaghlaidh an dèidh sgaoileadh a-mach a dhèanamh air tighinn gu co-dhùnaidhean; ag eagrachadh thagraidhean gus dòchas nas fhìor a thoirt do thagraichean air am builean; tha sinn cuideachd air fàs nas fhaicsinniche agus nas fhasa conaltradh rinn le bhith a’ frithealadh fhèilltean àiteachais agus tachartasan tron bhliadhna, agus chaidh gabhail ris an seo gu deimhinneach le fiosrachadh math air ais. Tha sinn ag obair gu dlùth le luchd-ùidhe croitearachd eile agus tha sinn a’ tuigsinn gum feum sinn uile obrachadh còmhla gu math croitearachd san fharsaingeachd.

Tha Bòrd a’ Choimisein a-nis riaraichte gu bheil am buidheann a’ ruith gu math agus leis an 2 bhliadhna a tha againn air fhàgail nar n-oifis, bu mhath 92

leinn stiùireadh a ghabhail gu beachdachadh ro-innleachdail air “Croitearachd san Àm ri Teachd” agus amas air ar ciad bheachdan a thaisbeanadh do Riaghaltas na h-Alba nas fhaide air adhart ambliadhna.

Tha croitearachd an lùib a leithid de thaobhan den bheatha anns na sgìrean croitearachd, chan ann a-mhàin dhaibhsan a tha na lùib gu dìreach ach don mhòrchuid de choimhearsnachdan dùthchail. Mar a thuirt aon de bhuill a’ Bhùird o chionn ghoirid, feumaidh sinn bruidhinn a-mach barrachd mu chroitearachd agus na buannachdan na lùib, agus ar beachdan a chur an cèill gu

poblach. Tha sinn ag amas air seo a dhèanamh oir tha saidhbhreas mòr de fhiosrachadh agus de dh’eòlas againn sa Choimisean.

Tha croitearachd mar mheadhan air cleachdadh fearainn agus tuineachadh sluaigh, a tha gun choimeas.

Airson siostam croitearachd a tha air a dheagh chothromachadh agus air a dheagh ruith, feumaidh sinn uile ar pàirt fhìn a choileanadh gu h-àraid leis na dùbhlain mhòra ris a bheil sinn a’ cothachadh gu làithreach, lethid gleidheadh sluagh ann an sgìrean iomallach, toradh biadh ionadail, atharrachadh gnàth-shìde, neodrachd càrboin, agus bith-iomadachd agus gun

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an sin ach beagan dhiubh. Tha dleastanasan croiteir a’ freagairt dìreach don mhòr-chuid dhiubh sin – a bhith gu h-àbhaisteach a’ còmhnaidh taobh a-staigh 20 mìle, àiteach, cumail suas agus gun mìfheum no dearmad a dhèanamh air a’ chroit. Tha foillseachaidhean da rèir sin air na foirmean cunntaissluaigh bliadhnail agus is e riatanas laghail a th’ ann do luchd-gabhail agus croitearan-seilbhe uile am foirm sin a lìonadh agus a thilleadh ro 31mh Màrt.

Is fhiach a thoirt fanear gu bheil an sgioba Còmhnaidheachd is Cleachdadh Fearainn (no ‘dleastanasan’) aig a’ Choimisean air sgrùdaidhean a thaobh briseadh dleastanais a mheudachadh, agus tha an cuid saothrach air toradh ann an croitearan “neochòmhnaidheach” air am briseadh fhuasgladh agus air a thighinn gu bhith a’ còmhnaidh, no air a’ chroit a shònrachadh no thoirt air fo-ghabhail le cead bhon Choimisean. Tha an sgioba dhleastanasan cuideachd a’ cuimseachadh air cùisean a tha aithrisichte mu amharas air brisidhean air na dleastanasan a chaidh ainmeachadh.

Bha adhbhar glè chudromach agus deatamach aig croitearachd nuair a thòisicheadh na h-achdan croitearachd ann an 1886, agus tha croitearachd fhathast cudromach san latha an-diugh airson na h-aon adhbharan san fharsaingeachd.

Obraicheamaid uile còmhla gus an obraich agus gu soirbhich croitearachd.

The 2020 salmon fishing season on the Tay opened in style at Meikleour Fishings on January 15th, 2020.

Our traditional Scottish countryside ceremonies are popular with anglers of all ages, and many others from our local communities. These types of events open the doors wider, so everyone can look in and take part. There is always a warm welcome!

I enjoy the diversity of the day and speaking to people and finding out about their love of the outdoors, and of fishing. Singer songwriter Dougie MacLean, OBE, was Meikleour’s special guest, and what a treat it was to hear him sing his famous hit, ‘Caledonia’ on the riverbank by the Ferry Boathouse. That day, there was something particularly moving about him singing his song at a traditional fishing event on the banks of an ancient Scottish river. The words echoed around in my head for days as I tried to work out why it had been so touching.

It is all about our love for Scotland and the outdoors.

We are surrounded by history and tradition, in fact, we have it in such abundance, people come from far flung countries to sample it. Tourists love our countryside and our country sports; they spend money to come to our shores to taste and saviour the Scottish flavour.

by Linda Mellor

SCOTTISH COUNTRY LIFE Many people visit Scotland and decide to stay, they buy land, bring up families here, run businesses, employ locals and run shoot days.

They integrate into the local communities and take a pride in their Scottish interests.

They invite friends from their country of birth, I am sure everyone forms a queue in the hope an invitation comes their way because, visiting Scotland is an event, and to experience the Scottish culture, traditions and hospitality are top of their agenda. There is an expectation of having a great time, and they won’t be disappointed.

During the shooting season of 2019/2020, I had the pleasure of being a guest on a number of shoots across Scotland. Two themes repeated at every venue: generous hospitality and a collective passion for country sports. From the

grand Georgian country house on a beautiful estate to the draughty loft above a barn on a farm shoot, the hospitality was endless and the enthusiasm never faltered. Everyone mucked in to make the day run like clockwork: guests were ferried around to each drive and showed to their peg, beaters worked their dogs to ensure all the shot game was picked up at the end of each drive, and food was piping hot when everyone headed in for lunch. All aspects of the day’s shoot were taken care of. Even at the end of a cold, wet and windy day, the game was respectfully laid out and group photos taken of the beating and pickingup teams, shooting guests, shoot captains, gamekeepers and underkeepers.

A remote and small driven shoot ended my shooting season in style. We met in the lodge and introductions were made over fresh coffee and hearty portions of homemade cheesecake (first time I’ve had cheesecake for an early preshoot snack!). The weather was cold, bright and dry as we set off for the first drive of the morning. The guests shot well, and made the most of the sporting pheasants and woodcock, the gundogs worked tirelessly, and a light lunch was enjoyed in the field to make the most of the available January daylight.

A shoot day is rich in social

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interaction for all: meeting old friends and making new ones. There were no sharp edges, judgement or criticism because we all share a common interest in the Scottish outdoors.

The group was made up of people from different locations in Europe, a range of backgrounds and professions: people with experience of country sports and those completely inexperienced but their enthusiasm and interest in the day never waned.

They loved how the day was structured, they embraced meeting new people and finding out more about them, and took delight in being part of the mechanics of the day and being photographed out on a shoot in the Scottish Highlands.

We ended the day on a small but satisfying bag, and all retired to the comfy seats around fireside, and ate locally caught and smoked trout, followed by locally stalked roast venison and wine. One of the shooting guests, a local deerstalker, played his accordion as the Saturday afternoon light faded. We sat around, soothed by the Scottish music, warmed by the fire and whisky. It was a fitting end to my shooting season, a day out in good company, fine sport, and endless hospitality.

This is what it is all about, allencompassing enjoyment of a Scottish shoot day.

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BOOK SERIALISATION

Time travels in a waterlogged world In the second exclusive extract from his new book, Robert Crawford looks at what Scotland’s peatlands can tell us about the past - from the Industrial Revolution all the way back to the Ice Age

Kirkconnel Flow, near Dumfries and Flanders Moss, is typical of many Lowland raised bogs. It is 98 per cent water and 2 per cent organic matter. The major vegetation is sphagnum moss and cotton grass. Formed 10,000 years ago, it would have grown from pits and depressions left after the last glaciers retreated.

As the pits filled with vegetal matter, the sphagnum mosses grew and layer upon layer, gradually separated themselves

The peat corer on Kilconnel Flow

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from the land and water around and beneath them, and became almost entirely dependent on rain for nutrients.

As my wellies sink further into the peaty water, I take a look around me. It’s mid-morning and we are suitably kitted out in waterproofs and wellies, heading into bog. In the lagg fen birch trees fringe the bog and a willow warbler is invisible but for its song, which starts with a high note then descends as it

progresses. Two buzzards wheel overhead, gliding, one in wide circles, the other tighter, but with an amazing gracefulness. A roe deer stands motionless in the woods fringing the bog. Cabbage white butterflies dance drunk on the pale spring sun.

My friend Dave had invited me to join this group led by his colleague, Dr Lauren Parry of Glasgow University, to take some core samples from this peat bog near Dumfries. From these cores, palynology, the study of pollen samples, reveals a hidden world that is both biological and historical.

Out on the Flow the flimsy coring tool used by Dr Parry to dig down into the bog is like a thin spade attached to a metal tent pole. It is of Russian design – the Soviets carried out a large amount of research on their huge peat reserves when isolation and Cold War politics forced them to look within their own lands for fuel and warmth. It is thrust

down into the moss, then rotated to extract longitudinal samples of peat, then retrieved. Different depths are reached by the simple addition of another metre of tentpole shaft.

“The bog’s ability to store this carbon for longer even than tropical rainforests interests environmentalists” The blade of the corer slips smoothly into the flesh of the bog down about 30 cm through the living top 20 cm or so of the bog, the acrotelm, and into the start of the catotelm, the layers of dead plant material.

Here we are not only looking at distance in terms of centimetres but also in terms of time: this first core goes back about 150 years. Organic material tends to decay quicker in this level because it is more exposed to the atmosphere than in the deeper layers, where oxygen is absent.

In it can be found evidence of man’s activity – fly ash rich in

Wellington boot sinking into the sphagnum moss

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BOOK SERIALISATION carbon from industrial processes spewed from factory chimneys and coal- (and peat-) powered fire stations. The bog’s ability to store this carbon for longer even than tropical rainforests interests environmentalists, though it is unable to hold quite as much.‘Carbon capture’ is a buzzword in current moorland regeneration schemes.

The chart shows the rising growth of pollution from industrialisation since 1850 Dr Parry shows us a chart showing tephra deposits (rock fragments from volcanic eruptions) found in samples similar to this core of peat, highlighting the slow but rising growth of fallout

Peat cutting implements

pollution in the atmosphere caused by industrialisation since 1850, then the rapid increase from the 1950s to 1979, then the subsequent decline. Individual man-made incidents, such as the sudden increase in radioactive particles following the Chernobyl nuclear accident, sit alongside strata showing natural disasters like volcanic eruptions – traces of the eruption of the Hekla volcano on Iceland in 950 have been found in many Scottish peat bogs. After its eruption again in 1104 Cistercian monks, who a few years later settled at nearby Dundrennan Abbey, described the volcano as ‘the gateway to Hell’, a fiery opposite to the wet passage to the underworld of the bog people.

Another length of pole is added to the corer, down goes the blade; the deeper it plunges, the further back in time we travel. Evidence of volcanic ash from earlier eruptions has been uncovered and, perhaps surprisingly, lead particles plumbed into the depths of a Scottish bog beyond Hadrian’s Wall during the Roman period – think of all those pipes needed to supply water to their baths.

Under the bog, too, lies a network of channels and rivulets formed by uneven compression of the decaying peat over the centuries.

While proxies such as pollutants, volcanic ash and pollens can tell us what was happening in the atmosphere or growing in and around the bog at different times, the peat can also reveal subtler environmental changes. An increase in sea salt in an inland peat core suggests a period of stormier weather, where winds carry spray far inland.

The weight of accumulation of deteriorating sphagnum means that after the first 1,000 or so years the age represented by a centimetre of core levels off. The red colour of the core comes from the cotton grass and sphagnum. Changes in colour or tone can result from different types of sphagnum or cotton grass being more prevalent at different periods, due to environmental changes favouring a particular sub-species.

Add another pole and deeper down in the third core are the remains of tiny testate amoebae preserved in the peat. Looking through a x40 magnification microscope you would see their hard shells, which they would have constructed using particles from surrounding vegetal material. Scientists can tell from these shells which plants were growing in the bog at this time and thus determine whether it was a wet, dry or intermediate period.

On our second last core, taken at about 6 metres, there is a birch root. It is common to most peat bogs that birch trees were growing just before the bog was formed. There is no clear or agreed reason for this, but it has

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been suggested that intervention by man in the felling of these birches was a major factor.

On Shetland when this level is reached during domestic cutting, specially sharp tools have to be used and these slabs of peats are known as ‘widdys’.

Two curlews fly overhead, their excited call a fanfare for the wobbling, swaying insertion and extraction of the final core sample – about 7 metres of thin metal rod, bending, like a curlew’s beak.

We all feel a sense of wonder that we have been able to travel so far back in time Then, as if by some kind of magical process, this preposterous, low-tech time machine, awkward and gangly, is extracted and to our astonishment the core has a tiny piece of peat at the very top and then all is smooth grey clay. The contrast with the rich browns, reds and fibrous texture of the peat is stark. We have reached the edge of the last Ice Age. There is no vegetation to be seen in the sample, just the stark postglacial sediments, layers scraped off old rock and laid down in this forbidding world. The change from no organic strata in the Ice Age to the present interglacial of peat and plant matter is very sudden. It is this peat bog, perhaps formed 10,000 years ago, that we see today.

The fanfare of the curlews had a purpose – we all feel that we have experienced something special, a sense of wonder that we have been able to travel so far back in time.

Into the Peatlands: A Journey through the Moorland Year by Robin A. Crawford is published

by Birlinn, £12.99. Readers of Farming Scotland can purchase copies at a special price - £10 (inc p&p in the UK). To order please phone Booksource on 0845 3700067 and quote FS2020. A second book by Robin A. Crawford, The River: Journeys Along the Tay, will be published in July.

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Women in Agriculture Scotland An introduction With organisation Chair June Guyer

June Guyer

Often women are a silent yet major player in a family farm business; dealing with paperwork, preparing for the accountant, registering livestock, assisting with stock or tractor duties, ordering supplies, leading on diversified farm projects and supporting everyone.

There are many more female roles in the agricultural industry – lawyers, accountants, land agents, lecturers, journalists, grain specialists, livestock and deadstock specialists and vets to name but a few. However in spite of their qualifications and experience, often these people are overlooked and forgotten in invitations to trade conferences and events in favour of a named male colleague. When given the opportunity to attend a male oriented meeting, some feel ostracised and unwelcome.

In the spring of 2015, the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland (RHASS) hosted a table of 10 agricultural ladies at a women’s business luncheon in Glasgow. In spite of 300 people there, they remained at their table, enjoying the chance to talk with similar minded women.

As a result, they decided to offer a similar opportunity to more ladies 96

from the agricultural sector and so “Women in Agriculture Scotland” was born. The Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS) were exploring a similar theme at the same time and collaborated to develop the idea further.

“Women in Agriculture Scotland” is now an unincorporated association of individuals from SAYFC, NFUS, Savills, RBS, RHASS, RSABI, SAOS, Women’s Enterprise Scotland (WES) and the farming sector, who are advocates of the promotion and progression of women. They held their first conference in November 2015 at RBS Gogarburn in a bid to support, inspire and develop women in Scottish agriculture to achieve their aspirations and create a more progressive, successful and inclusive industry, and, despite it’s name, the events are open to men and women.

Inspirational speakers have included artisan dairy producer, Katy Rodger; Minette Batters, first female President of the NFU for England and Wales and Stevie Mitchell, buffalo farmer. Talks have covered practical issues such as sustainability, cyber crime, digital tax preparations; practical

workshops on resilience through business planning, making your voice heard together with trade stands offering advice on rural administration, advisory services and diversification ideas.

They have challenged the ‘it’s aye bin’ mentality which often pervades the industry as well as highlighting the possible need to review lawyers, accountants or banks from time to time.

While the Association has made aware the importance of keeping abreast of technology, it has also raised sensitive issues such as the dependency on non-farming members to help out on farms due to illness or injury.

June Geyer, Chair of the organisation, is actively involved in the day to day running of her family’s engineering and farming businesses in Fife, which includes her husband and two sons.

She said, “I have taken home some of the topics such as making sure our wills have been kept upto-date, land registration has been arranged and powers of attorney are in place. By attending these meetings I have made contacts which have been of great use to our family businesses and been able to

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help share ideas and best practice with others. It’s great to find someone from the corporate world sitting alongside someone who physically runs a farm, swapping knowledge and experiences, giving access to practical advice through networking.

“It has given us great pleasure to receive comments after the events from young people who have been inspired to further their career, from those who have made new contacts relevant to their business and help discover training suitable for their needs. Some have gained new confidence to attend industry meetings. As a result new business diversification ideas have been taken home and put in practice; some have changed jobs or found more effective methods of work, all learned by example from others.”

Women in Agriculture Scotland will be holding their AGM at the Royal Highland Show where they will be looking for new committee members to extend their cause.

For more information on Women in Agriculture, search for Women in Agriculture Scotland on Facebook.

machinery Teagle Titan Muckspreaders get an Impressive Revamp Titan rear discharge muckspreaders are designed and manufactured by Teagle Machinery at its manufacturing plant at Blackwater in Cornwall.

Just over 180 staff are employed at the factory, with around 10% committed to product development in the R&D Department. To accommodate market growth and expansion of the Titan product range a new manufacturing hall was opened in 2015 with a dedicated shot-blasting facility and large curing oven for the paint process underlining the commitment and dedication to the product range from this British, family owned business.

During 2019, development of the Titan range focused on

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machinery larger models, from 15 to 20m3, to complement the existing 6 to 14m3 machines. To meet the high expectations of professional operators, who typically operate higher horsepower tractors on larger farming enterprises, or as contractors. The mantra for the Teagle R&D department on this project has been “Spreading Performance, Durability and Reduced Service Intervals”.

In their product development, Teagle’s designers make use of experience gained from a customer base that now expands across the frontiers of six continents with customers in countries as diverse as Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Canada and Kenya.

The introduction of a number of revisions for the flagship Titan 15 and 17 models (capacity to 20m3) at the back end of 2019 included larger 18mm diameter bed chains, a redesigned drawbar providing improved ground clearance and a variety of hitch

options (swivel, ring, clevis, K80 ball).

For the 2020 season these larger models will see further updates including a unique tubular rear bed drive shaft for improved stability, removing the need for a central drive shaft support bearing. Drive from the bed gearbox is via an upgraded 75mm diameter rear bed shaft (which can be removed for maintenance through the side of the machine without interfering with the rear beater assembly).

Upgraded rear sprockets are now 33% heavier in duty than their forerunners to further improve durability. A number of these refinements have been introduced into the specification of the smaller Titan 10 and 12 models for 2020.

To ensure that operators of Titan spreaders gain the greatest benefit from the nutrients in their manure, the focus of the designers is on optimising the discharge beaters to ensure that

muck is effectively shredded and evenly spread behind the machine, continually.

From 1st January 2020, in addition to the refinements listed above, all large capacity Titan (10 / 12 / 15 / 17) models incorporate Heat Treated Boron steel Auger Flight and Tips as standard specification.

Boron steel is pre-heated to over 1000oC providing wear

resistance 6.5 times greater than mild steel and significantly longer than other hardened steels tested for agricultural use. The flexural strength of Boron (twice that of mild steel) offers much improved tolerance to damage by foreign objects in the muck pile. The New Titan Boron Steel Beater assembly also incorporates heavy-duty, oversized top bearings.

New suspended front axle option brings greater working comfort to Case IH Quantum tractors

A new suspended front axle option is now available for Case IH Quantum tractors, bringing to the speciality tractor sector the same levels of on-road and in-field comfort that operators of larger models in the Case IH range already benefit from, helping to reduce fatigue and increase productivity.

The new suspended front axle suspension option has been designed by Case IH engineers along similar lines to the established design proven on larger tractors. Utilising a swing arm design connected by a saddle-type pivot, the layout of the suspension system means the structure is

particularly robust which ensures no friction is created between the saddle bar and the front axle.

With its pivot centre located in a higher position than on alternative systems, the suspension provides higher levels of rolling comfort.

There is +/- 3° of movement at the compression end-stop position, and +/- 8° at all other positions.

Suspension height can be set up manually from the cab, and this also allows any front implement to be attached and adjusted more easily. The system has four ride modes to suit all applications: locked, soft, medium and hard.

Additional features have been developed in order to (continued on page 100)

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machinery further improve the driving experience of the new suspended front axle Quantum models.

These include automatic ride height control, which ensures the full travel of the suspension is made available regardless of the load on the front axle.

An anti-dive/squat feature is designed to maximize tractor stability even when heavy implements are attached, while axle roll control balances the oil flow between the two cushioning cylinders, providing greater stability and comfort in hilly terrain.

The new suspended front axle option can be ordered on Quantum V, N and F models specified with a cab, and is available whether the tractor is fitted with front axle brakes.

Operation of the front linkage, where specified, is unaffected.

New Gator is the most comfortable ever

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Next issue out May 2020 John Deere’s new premium XUV 865R Gator is the most comfortable model ever produced in the company’s popular cross-over utility vehicle range. This 23hp diesel-powered model combines the established high performance of the XUV 865M with a wide range of additional operator friendly features, including a luxurious cab environment.

Standard specification includes a continuously variable transmission with on-demand four-wheel drive, power steering, fully independent suspension and an attachmentready electrical system. The quiet, fully equipped cab provides comfortable car-style seating for up to three people when driving off-road, as well as easyopening door handles, a fully opening windscreen and a proven, extremely efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.

In addition, the cab features an attractive tancoloured interior that has been ergonomically redesigned, with the easy-to-use automotivestyle controls now conveniently located in the centre of the dash.

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The streamlined roof moves water to the outside edges, and both the high-level front and rear lights are set below the roof line for better protection.

The R trim specification also provides the fully enclosed cab with a wide range of extra standard features, including an adjustable 40/60 bench seat, tiltable steering wheel, sun visors, a windshield wiper and washer plus electrical wiring for attachments, as well as high- and low-beam LED headlights.

The XUV 865R Gator is powered by an 854cc threecylinder, liquid-cooled OHV diesel engine producing 23hp at 3600rpm, with a top speed of 31mph (50kph) in high range.

The true 4WD system has an auto-locking front differential and dash-mounted electronic rocker switch for easy operation.

To complement the robust frame, the vehicle is equipped with four-wheel independent suspension. This has been designed to provide a smooth ride and optimum load carrying ability over challenging terrain, without compromising ride quality or vehicle stability.

machinery Kubota Unveils a “Dream Tractor” Half century after exhibiting its first-ever concept tractor at the Japan World Exposition held in Osaka in 1970 (Expo ’70), Kubota has unveiled “X tractor cross tractor -” to commemorate the 130th anniversary of its founding. Equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) and electrification

technology, this “dream tractor” is a completely autonomous tractor that represents the future of farming drawn by Kubota. Kubota will continue developing products to realize smart agriculture with cutting-edge technology to address the challenges facing Japanese farmers.

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In Japan, while an increasing number of farmers retire due to aging, the average scale of farming continues to grow as a result of the contracting out of farm operations and the accumulation of farmland for efficient management. In order to address the challenges which farmers are facing such as labour shortage and low operating efficiency, it is urgently necessary to introduce smart farming.

Since launch of AGRIROBO tractors in 2017, Kubota has expanded autonomous agricultural machinery the AGRIROBO Series. Now Kubota unveils this concept model with numerous advanced technologies, such as

AI and electrification technology, in anticipation of the full-scale introduction of smart farming which is continuously expected by farmers.

Kubota will continue developing technologies for labour-saving and precision farming in order to address the challenges for Japanese agriculture, which include the aging of farmers and labour shortage. Kubota aims to realize the affluent society through production of foods by providing high-value-added agricultural products required by markets efficiently, improvement profitability and reducing environmental loads.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE

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machinery New Fendt forager combines power and comfort

The new Fendt Katana 650 selfpropelled forage harvester is now available to order following its UK launch at LAMMA and world debut at Agritechnica. The 650 replaces the outgoing 65, has a price tag of £418,263 and will be available to test in the summer of 2020 for delivery in 2021.

The new model offers a balance of power and efficiency to give farmers and contractors operational savings and efficiencies. “The combination of power improvements, cab refinements and enhanced cutting ability make this machine a real step forward for Fendt. I don’t think an operator using a 700hp alternative would find the Katana any less powerful in the real world. We are really excited to bring this new model to the UK,” comments Dan Woodward, Fendt forage products specialist.

The Katana 650 offers more power, with 25 horsepower added to the existing MTU 6-cylinder in-line engine, to bring it up to 650hp overall. It also boasts a new intake and processing system which improves crop flow and increases cutting capacity. New 104

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roller conditioner crackers have been introduced to improve the quality of the harvested crop and reduce the power and fuel requirement. For the operator, the new cab brings a quieter driving experience facilitated by coated glass which has reduced noise levels by three decibels, and also benefits from improved ventilation.

Fendt’s ‘BalancedGrip’ allwheel drive system makes the new model more versatile and provides greater stability in undulating fields. “BalancedGrip takes data from a gyroscope and detects the weight transfer on all corners of the harvester to manage which wheels power should be sent to. This makes it ideal for almost any field type and gives the machine greater stability,” says Dan. The cutting speed, efficiency and longevity of the knives has also been enhanced in the new model. Two new roller conditioners, new crackers that expand the cut length to 30mm, and an enlarged 300mm roll diameter have increased the flow capacity by 21%. However, the

machinery new machine also boasts a drop in fuel consumption of 12%.

The ergonomics of the new machine is a feature Fendt believes will help position the Katana as a potential market leader. Dan says: “I’ve driven this new model and for me the comfort and quiet that has been achieved will make it attractive to farmers and contractors. The seating position and controls are designed around the operator to the extent that even

the thumb controls for the header and spout have been reversed to make them more intuitive.”

The new model’s in-cab ventilation system uses a variable fan that features a reverse function which can be triggered by the operator automatically from the cab. The fan controls the air flow by adjusting the angle of each blade. It therefore clears the coolers of deposits and fine dust particles which reduces the need

for time consuming interruptions during long periods of use. “We see it as a way to utilise downtime.

Whilst the wagon is unloading the operator can engage the fan and be ready to go when the wagon returns,” says Dan. Maintenance has also been considered, with the design of the new harvester giving operators better access to the heart of the machine. New service openings give direct access to the knives

which helps to maintain moving parts more easily and safely.

Fendt has also introduced a new knife sharpening system that adjusts continuously to reduce wear and provide a smoother, more consistent chop.

Contracting trailer offers one tractor, one-man umbilical system from Tramspread A new umbilical pump trailer offers contractors and farmers the potential to save time and money by only requiring one tractor and one operator.

Designed and manufactured

by Tramspread, the Suffolk based slurry specialists, the pump trailer is used by its contracting division to reduce manpower and cover the highest acreage using just one tractor. Laurence Baker from Tramspread explains: “We used this trailer to spread 300,000 cubic metres of slurry and digestate in 2019. It has proven easy to use and reliable, so we have started producing trailers to order. Technology offers time and money- saving options to farmers and we believe that this trailer will be a valuable tool to contractors like us in the future.”

Unique to the design is an SIL remote control that Mr Baker and his team have helped to design.

This, combined with pressure sensors and a flowmeter, allows the entire umbilical system to be accurately operated and monitored by just one man. Fitted with Tramspread’s Raven Box mapping and recording technology, the unit can also report the areas treated and the quantity of slurry utilised.

“The combination of knowing the speed of flow and being able to control it remotely is key to the

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machinery

time and equipment savings this trailer offers. The unit also keeps a record of the slurry utilised so operators can measure how effective each application is and

improve distribution in the future,� says Mr Baker.

The contractor pump trailer is powered by a 175 horsepower Iveco engine coupled to a Bauer

SX2000 pump which is capable of pumping up to 300 cubic metres per hour depending on distance and hose diameter. The long drawbar enables an applicator, such as a

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dribble bar, to be carried on the tractor’s rear three-point linkage while towing the trailer.

Up to 2,000 metres of drag hose is carried on two galvanised

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machinery detachable spools located at the front of the trailer, while a further 1,000 metres is carried on the tractors front 3-point linkage via a powerful twin hydraulic drive reeler, giving a total system capacity of 3,000 metres. Over the twin sprung high-speed axles there is a large 900 litre fuel tank. Mounted over the fuel tank is a compressor which is also remote controlled and a suction hose loading area with two large toolboxes.

New JCB Fastrac 4000 Series tractors with added productivity

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Next issue out May 2020

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A refreshed range of JCB Fastrac 4000 Series tractors has been introduced with uprated axles for increased payloads and

durability, along with new tyre options and a locking front axle differential for increased traction in the field.

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The upgrades also include a factory-fitted precision guidance option and engines with an auto shut-down feature and extended

machinery service intervals that help further reduce total cost of ownership.

John Smith, Managing Director, JCB Agriculture said: “Fastrac 4000 Series tractors continue to win over new owners and operators with their unique combination of speed, comfort, road safety, field traction and fourwheel steer manoeuvrability – all of which contribute to increased productivity.”

Maximum power and torque outputs are unchanged at 175hp, 208hp and 235hp but running costs are reduced thanks to the new Auto-Stop feature, which eliminates unnecessary fuel use by shutting down the engine after a period at idling speed, and engine oil and filter service intervals extended from 500 hours to 600 hours.

New axles The new heavy-duty JCB axles that deliver power from the stepless (CVT) transmission have 33% higher load ratings than before and increased durability thanks to larger hubs and bearings and larger kingpin bearings – upgrades

that will be especially beneficial for tractors engaged in high-draft load work or when fitted with new tyre options that help deliver even higher levels of traction in the field.

Permitted gross vehicle weight is increased, so larger externallymounted brake discs are fitted

all round to increase braking performance, and at the front, the axle differential is a larger, hydraulically-engaged locking design rather than a limited slip unit to further enhance tractive effort when conditions are slippery underfoot.

New JCB Loadall 53260 telescopic handler for livestock farms

The Loadall 532-60 AGRI features JCB’s new Command Plus cab with its industry-leading combination of space, all-round visibility and quietness.

John Smith, Managing Director, JCB Agriculture said: “This machine brings the advantages of our large platform Loadall telescopic handlers, such as the hydraulic performance and all-new Command Plus cab, to operators who need a 3 tonne, 6.0m telescopic handler.”

The Loadall 532-60 slots into JCB’s telescopic handler range with the same lift capacity as the new-generation 532-70 at 3,200kg but in a shorter and slightly narrower package. www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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machinery Yamaha introduces new tracking device to keep ATVs and farmers safe Yamaha ATVs are now available with class leading tracking devices supplied by partner and vehicle security specialist Datatool. The Datatool Stealth S5 device will be supplied free of charge with new ATV models to offer farmers safety, security and peace of mind.

The technology is connected to satellites so the devices can be tracked throughout the UK, mainland Europe and beyond.

The vehicle position is recorded every 15 seconds and data is uploaded to the cloud every two minutes, providing a permanent record of every journey. To protect the ATV, the device creates an ‘invisible geo-fence’ which if broken sends a message to a 24/7 operation centre who

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inform the owner and can inform the police if a theft is in progress.

Yamaha ATV Manager, William Kay has welcomed the new addition to the range saying: “Farmers often work alone and are vulnerable to thieves attacking them for high value machinery such as ATVs. Whilst theft is a big issue, this technology also works to inform farm managers in the event that one of their workers has an accident to make sure assistance reaches them as soon as possible in an emergency.”

Research carried out by the NFU shows thefts of high value machinery from farms is rapidly increasing. The increase between 2017 and 2018 was 12% and predictions suggest this

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is likely to have risen again in 2019. The NFU offers guidance to farmers including fitting a tracking device. Therefore, if the Stealth S5 is fitted to an ATV, Datatool has an agreement with the NFU that a 12.5% discount on insurance will be offered.

The Stealth S5 is approved

by Thatcham and has been rigorously tested to operate as an effective deterrent and recovery device for ATVs. It retails at £249 plus VAT. However, Yamaha is to offer the device free of charge, so farmers only have to pay £99 dealer installation and a monthly fee of £9.95 to retain the services of the 24/7 operation centre.

Mr Kay adds: “Technology is forever evolving and devices such as the S5 are crucial to reducing ATV theft, protecting farmers and offering peace of mind to owners. We hope that everyone buying a new Yamaha ATV will adopt this technology and make the most of its features and benefits.”

machinery SlurryKat welcomes Royal visitor A leading Northern Ireland Agricultural machinery specialist has been given a Royal nod with a visit from Princess Anne.

SlurryKat, based in Waringstown, welcomed Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal in January.

The Co. Armagh firm is at the forefront of innovative slurry handling solutions for Agricultural and Bio-Gas industries.

The Princess was led on a tour of the production facility

by CEO Mr Garth Cairns. HRH was given a briefing about the components used for building tankers and shown 3D CAD models of the equipment.

She viewed laser cutting machinery and the welding process before being briefed about the construction of umbilical systems, components and attachments.

The tour concluded in SlurryKat’s new state of the art painting and final assembly facility, where the Princess observed the painting process and final assembly of the products.

SlurryKat staff and members of Mr Cairns’ family were introduced to HRH. The Princess was invited to unveil a plaque to commemorate her visit and was presented with flowers and

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a miniature model SlurryKat tanker by Joshua, (4) and Sofia (2) Cairns.

Mr Cairns commented: “It was an honour to host the HRH The Princess Royal at SlurryKat and share my journey of the past 13 years of the company with her.

“It was fantastic to be able to showcase some of the engineering expertise that Northern Ireland has to offer.”

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machinery Horsch appoints Carrs Billington Agriculture for Northern England and South Western Scotland Horsch will be partnering with Carrs Billington Agriculture to provide its full range of cultivators, drills and sprayers to customers in Northern England and South Western Scotland.

Machinery Sales Director Ian Gate said ‘this is a great franchise for Carrs Billington.

Horsch is known for producing excellent farmer-focused machinery that performs well. It is a great fit with our tractor and grassland franchises, and we look forward to a long and successful partnership with them.’

Horsch machinery will be available from the six Carrs Billington machinery depots at

Annan, Barnard Castle, Carlisle, Hexham, Morpeth and Penrith, with comprehensive service and support from each depot.

“Carrs Billington has a reputation for excellent customer service and we’re delighted to be partnering with them,” said Stephen Burcham, General Manager at Horsch UK. “Our latest range of machinery, including the innovative Horsch Hybrid Farming system, enables our customers to meet farming challenges and be more productive. Partnering with Carrs Billington will allow us to effectively deliver those benefits to customers.”

HIDROMEK HMK 102B SUPRA 2018 MODEL 400 HOURS WORKED STREET PADS FULL SPEC MODEL STRICKLAND HITCH PERKINS 100HP ENGINE 1 YEARS WARRANTY £57,000 + VAT

CANYCOM S25A SWIVEL SKIP TRACK CARRIERS FOR SALE,1 YEARS WARRANTY KUBOTA ENGINE FORWARD AND REVERSE CONTROLS £28,000 + VAT

Visit our stand at: Avenue F, Stand 125

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machinery New slurry separator helps meet government demands Legislation relating to slurry storage coupled with high rainfall is forcing some farmers to make significant investments to manage ever increasing volumes of slurry. However, Stallkamp is offering a new slurry separator that reduces contaminants, removes solids and offers farmers a way to reduce the volume of stored slurry.

Stallkamp launched the PSS 2.2-400 ComPress at Agritechnica in 2019 and has now made it available in the UK through slurry specialists Tramspread. Commenting on the product, John Tydeman from Tramspread says: “Storing slurry has been hard for many farmers this winter because rainfall has been so high. Separating is a

cost-effective way to reduce the overall volume of slurry. It also creates a more manageable solid manure and a better quality liquid slurry that is easier to apply using dribble bars or a trailing shoe.”

The new machine uses a screw pump to suck slurry through a contaminant filter that filters foreign objects such as stones and rubber mat residues. The filtered slurry is then transferred to a separator with either a 0.5mm or 1mm screen that extracts the dry matter leaving nutrient rich liquid.

For some farmers the dry matter offers another source of income because it can be sold for arable use. However, most dairy farmers can utilise it as

bedding material because it has an estimated 30 percent dry matter and offers a significant saving. “The liquid only loses approximately 10 percent of its N, P and K value so is still a valuable input for grassland. It also benefits from the filtration process which removes potentially harmful impurities and helps grass to absorb the nutrients more efficiently,” says Mr Tydeman.

Legislation demands that all farmers have sufficient facilities to store slurry and poultry manure produced in a yard or building.

This applies from 1 October to 1 April for pigs, and poultry and 1 October to 1 March for other farming operations. Slurry stores must also have the capacity to

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store all rainfall and any wash water that accumulate during these periods. “For farmers with fluctuating or increasing herd sizes, abiding by this legislation can be hard. However, a screw press offers a cost-effective way to manage slurry, prevents the immediate need for further storage and provides the best dry and liquid products for farm use,” concludes Mr Tydeman.

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finance

Reaching for the Clouds Farmplan to launch cloud-based accounting for agriculture industry Farmplan to launch a full cloudbased accounting solution in 2020 to complement its existing range of accounts programs.

Cloud solutions offer a number of benefits, easier and more efficient communication, immediate access to real-time data and minimising manual data entry.

Anne Cianchi, Farmplan Project Consultant, discussed the development of Farmplan’s cloud accounting solution: “Although a wide range of cloud accounting software is already on the market, many of these are not specific to agriculture…and none of these offer the complete bookkeeping package – until now. Farmplan’s specialism in this sector allows us to develop a tool which not only enables farming businesses to take advantage of cloud functionality, but also provides the agriculture-specific functionality for which we are well known. This deep industry knowledge and our focus in the sector will ensure that we can put the needs of farms and rural businesses at the solution’s core.”

Development is being completed in stages, and Farmplan have been working closely with their customers to identify and prioritise the most important functionalities.

The first phase will include features such as an accountant’s dashboard, multi-user, user permissions, bank feeds, bank rules and agricultural specific terminology.

For example contras, deducted charges from a sale or purchase, are commonly found in the farming industry, and require separate VAT for both the sale and expense. If a farm sells some cattle, the market will charge commission 114

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which is then deducted before the net amount is paid.

Most mainstream accounting applications – including major cloud offerings – are not able to handle contras directly, requiring complicated and timeconsuming adjustments to deal with them correctly. Farmplan’s solution handles contras seamlessly, without the need for unnecessary extra work.

Anne continued: “This is only the beginning for our cloud-based solution. Our focus is to produce a highly valuable management tool which will combine the extensive functionality of our existing desktop system with the benefits of cloud functionality, such as improving accuracy and providing better analytics, by linking with other online tools and resources.”

In addition to providing the agricultural tools Farmplan’s customers require, the cloud software package will also include telephone, email and inapp support from an outstanding support team, plus training from our dedicated training department, all backed by a wealth of knowledge in accounts and agriculture.

“We know from customer reviews that our support is highly valued, and we are therefore totally committed to continuing our unrivalled service across cloud and desktop products,” added Anne.

“This cloud offering will be an additional product to our existing range of Business Manager programs, but it will not replace these systems.

Development of both cloud and desktop systems will continue.

We will keep customers informed as the development progresses, but please be sure to check our website - www.farmplan.co.uk

finance Is your accounts software farmer-friendly?

With a new Tax year approaching in April, many farms’ financial years coincide with it and it’s often a good time to re-appraise your current accounting system.

HMRC’s Making VAT Digital commenced in 2019 for most farm businesses, forcing many away from their manual ledgers and onto often confusing generic accounting software.

This left them trying to adapt their farm books to fit a standard book-keeping system.

Farm Accounts has quite a few idiosyncrasies when compared to other business sector accounts; self-billing invoices and enterprise gross margin reporting to name a couple, and when trying to adapt a mainstream accounts program to handle these areas, coupled with all the extra accountancy jargon, it can lead to a frustrating experience for farmers without a background in accountancy. This can leave them having to contact their accountants for help – at a cost!

Sum-It Computer Systems have been developing software for farms across the UK since 1983 and their Total Farm Accounts Software is designed specifically to address all aspects

of farm accounts in a very practical and easy way. It makes “doing the VAT” much less of a chore. Then submitting your VAT Return direct to HMRC is simply just a push of a button.

Sum-It’s Total Farm Accounts also reports your figures in the formats you recognise, highlighting where you can make cost-savings and be more efficient. And, at the end of the year, you can transfer your data straight to your accountant, as Sum-It provide a free service to enable accountants to access their client data.

Furthermore, because Total Farm Accounts is PC-based, it doesn’t need a high-speed broadband connection to function – when your internet’s down it doesn’t stop you doing the books. Should you need a helping hand, Sum-It’s friendly support team, many with agricultural backgrounds, are available for telephone help, 8am to 8pm.

To find out more, just watch a demonstration video at www. sum-it.co.uk or call Sum-It on 01844 213003.

Company sets golden charity goal to mark 50 years in business A company which helps JCB customers to buy their machines has set itself a golden charity goal in celebration of 50 years in business.

JCB Finance – one of the biggest lenders to the UK’s construction and agricultural industry – is marking its milestone ‘birthday’ today (February 12th) with a pledge to raise £50,000 for children’s charity the NSPCC. The money will be raised by a series of fundraising activities throughout 2020 – and to kickstart the campaign, JCB Finance is donating a JCB 8008 micro

excavator to be auctioned online, with all proceeds going to the charity.

Set up on February 12th, 1970 under the name JCB Credit, JCB Finance has expanded massively from its humble beginnings, with JCB Chairman Lord Bamford as one of its original Directors.

Today, JCB Finance provides hire purchase and leasing options for UK business customers and supports the JCB UK dealer network, facilitating the purchase of more than 250,000 new and used JCB machines over the past 50 years.

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THEMONEYMAN Reform of Inheritance Tax

By Charlie Carnegie At the time of writing we have not yet had the first budget of the newly elected Government, so I shall probably revisit this article following any relevant announcements on the 11th March.

For many years now there has been generous relief from Inheritance Tax on Agricultural Property and Business Property but it appears that those reliefs may be coming to an end or be subject to a major overhaul.

Recently the Office of Tax Simplification issued two reports on IHT and more recently the All-party Parliamentary Group (APPG) issued an informal report on reviewing inheritance and Intergenerational fairness so that would suggest that there is a very good likelihood that the government is looking closely at IHT reform.

The APPG report does recommend that the most widely used reliefs are maintained, namely the 100% exemption on transfers to a spouse either during lifetime or on death, similarly for gifts to charity to remain exempt. They suggest the current Nil rate of £325000 per individual Estate should remain.

The more radical proposals are that the 7 year rule, gifts out of income and the very generous 100% relief for Business Property and Agricultural Property be scrapped all together as they believe these reliefs play a key part in Estate planning, which clearly they do.

To compensate for this they go on to propose that there should be a simple Annual exemption of £30000 and any gifts made over that during lifetime should be taxed at 10%. IHT on death, instead of being the current 40% they suggest a charge of 10% on chargeable amounts up to £2m and 20% on the remainder.

Currently a parent can pass down Agricultural Property to their children potentially free of any IHT and their children inherit it at full Market Value as at the date of death which means that the children could then immediately sell the property without any Capital Gains tax payable as there would have been no gain made.

APPG propose a change to the assets being inherited at the original cost, which for assets which have been owned for many years could prove very problematic to ascertain.

I hope that the budget has not thrown up any big surprises and that if anything they just announce that a major consultation exercise is to be carried out with any possible reforms not until 2021.

Charlie Carnegie is a partner in the Perth office of Campbell Dallas and can be contacted on 01738 441888 for any further information

cooking with game

Venison Wellington a la Carmichael!

By Wendy Barrie

Ingredients: 200g venison haunch steak 250g fresh mushrooms, diced finely (cultivated or wild) 150g spinach/nettle leaves Wild marjoram/thyme Summer Harvest rapeseed oil Isle of Skye Sea Salt Freshly milled black pepper 50g butter 1pkt puff pastry/ 300g home made rough puff 1 beaten egg to glaze

Photograph Š Wendy Barrie

During Foraging Fortnight I had the pleasure of taking the stage with Steve Martin, Chef at Carmichael Bistro at Carmichael Estate in Lanarkshire. Thanks to Terri Carmichael’s foraging skills we were able to make use of wild ingredients from the estate and look forward to doing so again come May. In the meantime here is my variation of Steve’s fabulous dish with their estate venison. www.carmichael.co.uk

Method: s )N A FRYING PAN HEAT A DRIZZLE OF OIL AND SEAL THE SEASONED VENISON ON ALL SIDES n A MINUTE OR SO ON EACH OVER A HIGH HEAT 3ET aside to cool. s -ELT THE BUTTER IN THE NOW EMPTY PAN WITH A DRIZZLE OF OIL AND SAUT� ALL THE MUSHROOMS WITH A FEW MARJORAM OR THYME LEAVES until mushrooms are thoroughly cooked through and dried out – they have an incredibly high water content you need to expel.

Set aside to cool. s .EXT WILT YOUR LEAVES FOR A FEW MOMENTS BY STEAMING 3ET ASIDE TO COOL AND DRY OFF s 4O BUILD YOUR DISH PLACE A DOUBLE LAYER OF CLINGlLM SUFlCIENTLY LARGE TO HOLD YOUR MEAT ON THE WORK SURFACE &IRST SPREAD WITH a layer of leaves then a layer of mushrooms, keeping back some for the top. s 0LACE VENISON ON TOP AND SPREAD WITH REMAINING MUSHROOMS 2OLL UP THE VENISON IN THE MUSHROOMS AND LEAVES USING THE clingfilm to assist you. Twist ends to form a firm roll and chill. s 0RE HEAT OVEN Ž# s 2OLL OUT PASTRY ON A LIGHTLY mOURED SURFACE n ABOUT THE SIZE OF AN AVERAGE CHOPPING BOARD 'LAZE PASTRY WITH EGG 0LACE THE ‘roll’ (minus clingfilm!) onto pastry and parcel up, placing the join on the underside. Lift carefully onto a lined baking tray. Glaze once more with egg, adding decorations and glazing again. s "AKE FOR MINUTES UNTIL PASTRY GOLDEN THEN REDUCE HEAT TO Ž# FOR A FURTHER MINUTES FOR A MEDIUM COOKED VENISON s 2EMOVE FROM OVEN AND ALLOW TO REST FOR MINUTES BEFORE CUTTING THROUGH THE MIDDLE Serves 2 persons with rowan jelly as accompaniment.

Scottish Thistle Award Regional Ambassador (2018/19) for Central, Tayside & Fife, Wendy Barrie www.wendybarrie.co.uk is a highly respected campaigner for local sustainable food, popular cookery show presenter and food writer.

Founder & Director of award-winning www.scottishfoodguide.scot & www.scottishcheesetrail.com Wendy is Leader in Scotland for Slow Food Ark of Taste & Member of Slow Food Cooks Alliance.

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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Jim Bird Haith has strengthened a key area of its business with the appointment of Jim Bird.

Mr Bird joins the leading designer and manufacturer of vegetable handling equipment as a Project Manager.

Jim will oversee projects from the point of order, through design, installation and into after-sales.

Jim joins Haith's project management team, working alongside Steve Barley, Mike Matthias and Joe Marks, all of whom report to Duane Hill, Sales Director.

"Our project management capabilities are one area that separates us from the competition," says Mr Hill. "Our ability to handle every aspect of a project gives our customers incredible confidence and has been cited several times as one of the key reasons for awarding large contracts to us.

"We've known Jim for several years, and he worked with us on a very large project to deliver several new lines for one of the UK's largest potato processing companies.

"It's great to have him on board as a full-time member of the team."

Jill Hewitt Jill Hewitt has been appointed to CEO of the National Association of Agricultural Contractors (NAAC), following the retirement of Duncan Russell.

Jill has a wealth of previous experience having previously run the organisation from 2000-2013, before a family crisis forced her to step down. However, she remained active in the organisation, being retained as a consultant and leading the NAAC’s political and technical work in the interim.

Commenting Jill said, ‘I am delighted to be back at the helm of the NAAC at such a critical time for the land-based industry.

With over 90% of farmers using a contractor it is vital that the NAAC is at the forefront of political negotiations to ensure that we are properly recognised in a post-Brexit era.

To make certain contractors have a bright future, we need the industry to be united and represent ourselves as professionals, demanding fair and equal treatment at Government level to allow us to invest in the new technology and innovation coming our way.

My aim is to retain a high political profile for the industry, whilst also making certain that members can rest easy at night, confident they have all the information and back-up they need to sustain a legally compliant, safe and professional business.’

Jill is a Fellow of the Institute of Agricultural Management and is a Churchill Scholar.

Jaroslav Fiser & Robert Husar Doosan Bobcat EMEA has announced two new product management appointments for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. Jaroslav (Jarry) Fišer has been appointed Product Line Director for the Bobcat compact loader range in EMEA and Robert Husar is now Product Line Manager for Bobcat Mini-Excavators.

Based in the Dobríš ˇ headquarters in the Czech Republic, Jarry Fišer is now responsible for leading the Skid-Steer and Compact Track Loader, Backhoe Loader and future loader product lines in the EMEA region. ˇ Robert Husar has been promoted to Also located in Dobríš, the position of Product Line Manager for Bobcat Mini-Excavators in the EMEA region.

Page Turner’s

BOOK REVIEW FREEDOM COME ALL YE

Hamish Henderson: Collected Poems, edited

by Corey Gibson Writing in the Scottish Review of Books in 2009, Ray Burnett talked of Hamish Henderson’s ‘limitless vision of Scotland’s place in the world, his irreducible faith in the human spirit, his awareness of the politics of culture, the power of poetry and song’. This new, collected edition of his poetry from Polygon is the first published since his death in 2002, and shows the variety of Henderson’s work. Here you will find some of the very best poetry written about the Second World War, rollicking folk ballads, and his great ‘Freedom Come All Ye’, often referred to as Scotland’s alternative national anthem.

Henderson was born just over a century ago, in Blairgowrie on 11 November 1919. He spent his early years with his mother Janet on a farm in Glenshee until they moved south to find agricultural work in England. It was Janet who immersed him in the songpoetry and traditions attached to working the land. This was to be the driving passion of his life and the bedrock of his own poetry, his internationalist politics, and his activism: freedom and power comes from the people and is expressed in communal song rather than in rarefied, bourgeois poetry.

At the outbreak of war in 1939, Henderson served as an intelligence officer attached to the 51st Highland Division, first in North Africa and then in the liberation of Italy. A pacifist, Henderson was devoted to the eradication of fascism during the war and for the rest of his life. You could say that his war poetry falls into two categories: first there are the songs that he collected, published as Ballads of World War II (1947), marching songs and riffs on radio broadcasts such as ‘The Ballad of the D-Day Dodgers’ or ‘The 51st Highland Division’s Farewell to Sicily’; then there is

his personal poetic response to the experience,Elegies for the Dead in Cyrenaica, which won the Somerset Maugham prize in 1949. Henderson bet a proportion of his award, £10, on the Grand National at 66-1. When his horse came in, he travelled to Italy to work on philosopher Antonio Gramsci’s Prison Letters. While there, the Olivetti family (of typewriter fame) gifted him a voice recorder, which was to set him on the path of collecting Scottish ballads and lead to both the Scottish Folk Renaissance, and the birth of the School of Celtic Studies at the University of Edinburgh.

Editor Corey Gibson calls the book, a ‘ceilidh of writing’, a great community celebration.

Henderson the soldier, folklorist, political activist, poet, songwriter, and leader.

Gibson has added a number of previously unpublished poems from the Henderson Archive, where there are boxes and boxes of unattributed material, gems still to be discovered.

Henderson presents a unique challenge to an editor trying to solve problems of authorship.

Believing that poetry was the voice of the people, his greatest and most unusual ambition as a poet was to be ‘Anonymous’.

There is nothing anonymous about this monument to him; it is a fascinating gathering of his astonishing work.

Hamish Henderson: Collected Poems, edited by Corey Gibson, is published by Polygon (£14.99 pbk) www.polygonbooks.co.uk