Farming Scotland Magazine (November - December 2018)

Scotland’s national farming & rural lifestyle magazine

Tuathanachas Alba

magazine

Farming Travel Guide Shetland

Cooking with Game Xmas Venison

Exotic Farming Mighty Shetland Ponies

World Farming United Arab Emirates

Country Woman Featuring Tracy Ferguson

Topic Women in Agriculture

Beatha an Eilean Life on the Islands

£3.50

AgriScot 2018 Preview ATV’s Diet Feeders Premier Meat & LiveScot 2018 Lamma 2019

December 2018

plus Scottish Country Life s Flavour of Scotland s SWI Artworks s Machinery s Investing in People including our regular news sections and columns

contents

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december 2018

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MAIN FEATURES

EXOTIC FARMING

24 29 64

78

66 72

ATV’s AgriScot 2018 Premier Meat & LiveScot 2018 Lamma 2019 Diet Feeders

SCOTTISH COUNTRY LIFE 107 With Linda Mellor

FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND 18

COUNTRY WOMAN 108 Featuring Tracy Ferguson

Scotch Beef showcased

COOKING WITH GAME 19

Xmas Venison

WORLD FARMING 22

United Arab Emirates

Women in agriculture

FARMING TRAVEL GUIDE SCOTLAND 62

Shetland

BOOK SERIALISATION 70

BEATHA AN EILEAN 110 Life on the islands

111 Limited Edition offer

SWI

Final part of: Walking with Cattle

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

ARTWORKS 113 With Mary Ann Rogers

NEWS 6 13 21 59 60 61

80 82 89 90 96 100 105 106 114 126 129 130 132

Beef Livestock Pigs Dairy Sheep Estate Forestry Horses Machinery Finance @Home Lifestyle Cars

COLUMNS

WHISKY

112 Memories of the Glasgow Garden Festival

TOPIC 28

Mighty Shetland Ponies

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Arable Potatoes EU News Investing in People Organics Renewables

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

6 7 11 17 20 23 61 81 83 88 97 99 103 104 106 109 128

Editor’s Bit In my view R.S.A.B.I. Hutton Institute Farmers Market Scottish Government Farming for the Climate The Vet NFU Scotland Quality Meat Scotland Crofting N.S.A. Scotland Conservation Matters Scottish Land & Estates Equine Angle Southern Belle The Money Man

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

130 131 Rural Style 134 People on the Move 134 Book Review

SUBSCRIPTION 69

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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

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arable editor's bit AgriScot here we come!

Well here we are, and another year almost over!

I am getting closer to one of those major lifetime milestones, but for now I wont tell you which one, but looking back, I think I was quite young when I started this magazine (LOL).

Anyway, enough of that!

Looking to the very near future, we have a stand once again at this years AgriScot event on the 21st November, and we are really looking forward to meeting many of you there.

Once again we will have plenty of magazines to hand out, including our sister title Shooting Scotland too. Our Putting Competition of course will be fun, and for the very first time ever, we will be able to ‘sign up’ subscribers on the day in greater numbers than ever before, so please do come along to say hello.

AgriScot is always a great event for the magazine, meeting and greeting you all, but also as a platform for so many people to see the magazine for perhaps the first time?

I enjoy the encouragement and comments that we get, and they are always very much appreciated.

We are also about to recruit a new team member who will be working on increasing our retail reach throughout the nation, along with taking on new clients and helping to grow the whole magazine as we proceed into the New Year and beyond.

So great plans afoot here in Perth, and great plans are afoot at AgriScot too.

Maybe see some of you there.

Enter the Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year 2019 now Yes it’s competitive, and yes there has to be one winner. But FSOOTY is also great fun for everyone to enter and to be involved in the camaraderie between sprayer operators, according to Syngenta Application Specialist, Scott Cockburn.

“Everyone who enters has the same application challenges and frustrations, so there’s a huge amount to gain from sharing the solutions. One thing that’s repeated every year is that everyone finds they learn something new from other operators and can improve the way they work,” he reported.

“Previous FSOOTY finalists remain firm friends and continue to share experiences, long after the competition is over.”

That’s the real reason to give it a go this year, even if you never entered FSOOTY before.

Look back at the annals of FSOOTY history and most of the overall winners have entered and been finalists in previous years. Why? Because they’ve learned from the

experience and from other entrants, to continually get better each time.

At this year’s Cereals Event presentation, Wiltshire operator, Andrew Woolley, was the overall winner for 2018, on his third appearance in the finals. “It’s been a great experience once again,” he said.

“You get to pick up so many tips and ideas through both the competition and from the other entrants, through videos, social media and meeting up.

Operators can enter FSOOTY 2019 direct on the Syngenta website www.syngenta.co.uk or through the dedicated application advice website, Ei Operator.

Making sense of Yield maps With combining over its time to mull over the 2018 yield maps.

This year rather than look at the

good ones, ignore the bad ones and then put them in a draw never to be seen again, consider

Slàinte, Athole.

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“It’s a really good process and I would strongly recommend anyone to give it a go,” added Andrew.

Farmers and agronomist are also urged to encourage their operators to enter and get the benefits of being involved.

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how this data can be used to make changes that will improve next year’s profitability, is the advice from Charles Wright, Farmacy agronomist in the East Midlands.

Where poor areas can be identified this year compare these with the historical ‘field performance’ - but remember that in such a difficult season it’s important not to jump to conclusions, he says.

“However, if historical performance has been poor and this has been born-out again, why assume 2019 will be any different?”

“It’s really important to understand better where the profit or loss is coming from

In my view

arable

By John Cameron Balbuthie, Kilconquhar, Fife

Decisions needed on Brexit within a field and manage this accordingly – this could mean managing higher yield potential areas to push for even higher yields if they are not treated as the field average.”

“Conversely in the higher performing areas of the field is there anything limiting even better performance and could these areas be improved?

“Doing this in a coherent and effective way that considers all of the factors that may be affecting that particular field or area of the field is the challenge – but one that Omnia’s unique field performance mapping facility overcomes.”

Using Omnia yield performance mapping, it’s possible to identify and map areas of fields by categorising them in terms of the consistency of performance such as poorly consistent yield, good consistent

yield etc- and adapt crop management accordingly.

This is exactly what Charles has done with one of his clients J & S Bealby, Lodge Farm, near Grantham in Lincolnshire.

“Yield maps in 2018 confirmed a poor performing headland due to a combination of heavy soil and high shading from woodland,” he points out.

“This area will now form part of a mid-tier stewardship scheme planned for 2019. Income from Stewardship on this strip will make a positive contribution to the farm profit, rather than the loss from cropping it.”

So before you put your yield maps back in the draw for another year, think about how to use this valuable data about your fields to help you make the right cropping decisions for the coming season.

First wheat-specific soil inoculant launched by Plantworks A new biological soil inoculant developed specifically for wheat has been launched by bio-fertiliser specialists PlantWorks following successful field trials in 2017 and 2018.

An extension to the Kentbased company’s Smart Rotations product range, the SR3 formulation for wheat works by establishing beneficial plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPR) in the soil that enhance crop performance.

Specifically, the inoculation boosts the crop’s ability to take up essential nutrients, improves drought tolerance and water use efficiency, and imparts other benefits such as increased resistance to pests and diseases.

Trials on five arable farms of varying size and farming system showed that the targeted PGPR for wheat produced a highly significant increase in ear counts and a positive trend in grain weights.

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At last Agricultural Ministers in the various parts of the UK are beginning to make comment and take some decisions regarding the ongoing Brexit crisis.

Not all the comments are helpful or constructive as far as the farming industry is concerned but on the positive side Agricultural Ministers on both sides of the border have given assurances that support of some sort will continue until 2022 along the lines of the present arrangements, although there may well be some new criteria requirements.

How much of these new requirements will be acceptable to farmers is of course the critical question.

The much more important matter of our future trading terms and arrangements with the EU is still however far from clear as is the situation regarding our future seasonal labour requirements.

It is now becoming clear that in certain parts of the country there have been some losses due to lack of labour and I am beginning to get the feeling that some of the industry’s longer term decisions and strategies are now coming under pressure from the present uncertainty about the future.

In the livestock sector it is difficult to ascertain whether this caution is due to the Brexit scenario or the possibility of a

shortage of – or the price of – winter keep. It is also interesting to note that the recent trend of farm machinery sales was down.

Perhaps of even more importance was the Government’s decision to appoint a ‘Minister of Food’ – the first time since the era of the Second World War. That in itself is quite a major decision and begs the question ‘is there something on the horizon of which we are not aware’? Let us hope it is a matter of prudence!

As always trying to finish on a positive note – I had the pleasure recently of interviewing a number of the group of Scottish Young Farmers who are shortly to undertake an official visit to California on an agricultural tour. I have to say I was most impressed not only with their obvious knowledge and expertise of the industry which they had, but with their determination and enthusiasm to succeed – whatever the outcome of Brexit of which they were all aware of the range of implications. Some of them had obviously put more thought into the future than some of our own politicians!

I’m sure the farming industry joins with me in wishing them all a most enjoyable and educational visit. I am looking forward to listening to them on their return.

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arable The research also provided strong indicators on the most efficacious use of the product.

“We recorded a better yield effect in crops that received a dual application of PGPR, in autumn and spring,” reports Jamie Stotzka, head of the farming team at PlantWorks. “Also, we saw an amplified response where the PGPR was applied in soils containing significant levels of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), whether the AMF was applied as an additional treatment or present in the soils naturally because of a sustained no-till conservation agriculture approach.

Where AMF is present, plants are healthier and have significantly more efficient root systems, so it is entirely logical that the PGPR was more effective in these situations; these observations of PGPR and AMF working effectively

in tandem is consistent with PlantWorks’ overall philosophy and supports our Smart Rotations principles.”

The SR3 PGPR product for wheat is supplied in five-hectare packs comprising a 50ml sachet of bioinoculant in liquid state and the required one litre of biostimulant.

The product should be mixed with clean water for application through standard spraying equipment at a recommended rate of 200l/ha. It should ideally be applied after drilling in the autumn, with best results achieved with a repeat application in the spring at around T0 or T1. The recommended retail price for the product for dual application is £30.00/ha + VAT. Details of where to obtain SR3 for wheat can be found at http://smart.plantworksuk.co.uk/ distributors/

Optimise late drilling, starting with variety choice

Select the right winter wheat variety for the late drilling slot to avoid unnecessary yield penalties Delayed or late drilling of winter wheat, considered to be from mid-October onwards, is now common practice on farms today particularly for black-grass management, in a second wheat situation and for those who are drilling wheat after sugar beet or potatoes.

However, late drilling presents a unique set of challenges to the crop; soils will inevitably become cooler and wetter as winter draws in so it is important to proceed with care and consideration in order to get the crop well established.

“It is important to make a distinction by choosing varieties that will cope well rather than be challenged by the situation,” Limagrain’s Ron Granger says.

“Get it wrong, and you could be facing fairly substantial yield penalties, yet this is totally avoidable.”

“Characteristics of wheats that suit this slot are strong tillering and vigorous, combined with good rooting attributes and a semi prostrate prostrate growth habit in the winter.”

He adds that as a consequence, crops drilled later will not have been in the ground as long as those drilled earlier in the autumn, so the chosen variety needs to be quick off the blocks in the spring, once growing conditions are favourable.

“This is especially important where there is black-grass as you need a variety that will compete with its rapid growth rather than sit and tiller flat to the ground, eventually becoming smothered by it.”

“The theory is not complicated, and this is why LG Skyscraper and LG Motown suit the blackgrass situation over a variety like LG Sundance which is high tillering with a late plant development in the spring.”

Go back to basics to improve fertiliser efficiency With 40% of fertiliser lost to leaching and volatilisation, growers are being urged to improve soil health to increase nutrient use efficiency (NUE), protect the environment and maximise profit margins.

George Hepburn, biological soils expert at QLF Agronomy, 8

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explains that fertiliser is one of the biggest input costs on many farms, and as prices have risen by 31% on last year, it is important to ensure applications are as efficient as possible.

“However, poor soil health means that a lot of growers aren’t getting the most out of their

arable fertiliser,” he says. “For example, as much as 40% of nitrogen can be lost to leaching, immobilisation by soil microbes, denitrification and volatilisation. This leaves growers out of pocket due to wasted resources and potentially reduced yields, “In addition, there’s environmental impacts to consider, and these are likely to rise up the agenda in light of Brexit and the Agriculture Bill,” he adds. “For this reason, improving soil health should be a key consideration.

It will help soil biology work properly, allowing better nutrient movement from the soil to plants, increasing NUE and therefore, reducing fertiliser wastage.”

George encourages growers to go back to basics to improve soil health and improving soil structure is the first step.

“Soil structure is the foundation of nutrient efficiency as it helps soil microbes thrive, meaning they’re able to mobilise nutrients more effectively and make them more available to the plant.”

As a starting point, George advises going out with a spade, or in extreme cases a digger, to physically look at the soil.

“The presence of deep rooting systems, good soil aggregation and abundance of visible soil life are all key indicators of healthy soil structure,” he says.

“To test this, look at how far rooting is going down and whether or not there are any fine hair roots. It’s also useful to smell the soil – healthy soil smells almost like dark chocolate, and anaerobic soils have an unpleasant smell.

“Assess the aggregation of the soil to see if it’s crumbly or compacted, and check for soil life, such as millipedes, beetles and worms, the latter should be around 10 to 20 per spade in a healthy soil.

“Compare soil in the field with that from under the hedgerow where soil health and structure won’t have been affected by cultivations or compaction.”

Once you’ve established the state of your soils you can start to put a plan in place to improve them.

Liquid fertiliser has positive impact on farming Replacing a granular fertiliser application system with liquid fertiliser is having a significant impact on a 10,000 acre Scottish arable farming enterprise, where workload pressure and logistical issues had started to have a detrimental impact on cost effectiveness and efficiency levels.

RM and JF Seed is run

by David Seed and his two

sons Angus and Daniel from the family farm located in the Borders. The northern area which includes some land in Stirlingshire – is managed by Angus while his brother looks after the Borders area of the business.

Liquid fertiliser plays a major role in helping to reduce pressure on the system during busy workload periods and also

CERES AGRI SERVICES Independent Agricultural Consultant Quality Grass, Forage & Environment Mixtures Available Full Agronomy Service (Serviced & Supply Only) Special Offers on Grassland Soil & Leaf Analysis Calcifert Granular Lime Contact Andy Cheetham

Mob: 07958 516894

Email: ceresagriservices@gmail.com

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arable helps to justify three modern self propelled sprayers.

The company moved away from granular fertiliser three seasons ago having weighed up the pros and cons of both approaches.

Labour and machinery costs associated with loading and unloading fertiliser bags, maintaining old and largely poorly positioned storage buildings (some old cattle barns), application accuracy and being able to demonstrate due diligence all played a part in making the decision to switch.

Supplying all liquid fertiliser is the manufacturer of suspension and solution fertiliser OMEX, which has recently opened a nitrogen depot at the Port of Dundee. The company installed 22, 50t steel storage tanks around the farming enterprise.

“The OMEX facility at Dundee demonstrates a commitment by the company to the area,” says Angus. “We have been very happy with the service from the Tyne, but it does give us confidence going forward that we aren’t going to be left wanting – we are impressed with the speed of the OMEX delivery service. The drivers know where the tanks are positioned on the farms, which are filled up before

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the season starts and periodically during the year when stocks are low.”

Last year the Seed’s applied 3,210,000 litres of liquid fertiliser across the entire farming acreage – equating to 750 sprayer fill ups.

“The benefit of moving to liquid is that we can include sulphur in with the nitrogen, which means we only have to apply the P:K using a trailed Bredal spreader and a KRM mounted machine.

Some nitrogen is still applied as a solid when the sprayers are all employed elsewhere.

Angus observes that since moving to liquid fertiliser, uptake of nitrogen by all crops has much improved, as has the crop evenness. He also says that now having had experience of both granular and liquid systems, accuracy of granular fertiliser to 24m or wider was compromised.

“Where liquid nitrogen has been applied, headland yields have increased by about 25%,” he says. “Yields across the rest of fields have remained similar.

Given that most of our fields are small as much as 25% is therefore headland, so it’s critical to maximise yields in these areas.

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arable

Summer Fundraising Campaign Hits the Heights

Cover crop trials provide insight into slug activity

By Paul Tinson

Contrary to popular perception that cover crops can further increase slug pressure over the winter period leading to problems with spring crops, a recent trial undertaken by Natural England has shown otherwise.

The field-scale trials, carried out in Oxfordshire and Hampshire, showed that cover crops such as mustard, winter vetch and forage rye, did not significantly increase slug populations compared to wheat stubble.

“Growers were encouraged to grow multi-species mixes of cover crops in the autumn to reduce nitrogen leeching,” explains Andrew Russell, Catchment Sensitive Farming Officer for Natural England.

Five to six plots per location were planted with cover crops, and a field of wheat stubble was used as a control. Mats baited with layers mash were placed in each plot, and slug numbers were monitored on a weekly basis.

“We didn’t want to incidentally increase the need for slug pellets, by encouraging the use of cover crops,” he says. “As this could potentially increase

metaldehyde usage and have an adverse effect on the positive work we’re doing to protect water quality.

“We monitored slug pressure in the crops, and found little difference in pest pressure between the cover crop plots and the control stubble field. We also discovered that slugs had aversions to particular crops, such as mustard.”

“Increased nitrogen capture levels were also seen in the fields with cover crops, with N capture ranging from 21 to 62 kgN/ha across the sites.”

Cover crops have grown in popularity in recent years, as knowledge grows around the wider benefits they can bring to arable rotations, explains Geoffrey Bastard, Technical Specialist at Certis.

“Cover crops bring benefits to soil structure, organic matter (OM) and overall soil health, which is a key factor in producing healthy crops.

“However, as with any crop residue or stubble on the soil surface, slugs can naturally be an issue,” he adds. “Rolling

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We are celebrating following a triumvirate of events that have raised record funds for RSABI. As reported in the June edition, 135 people walked sections of the route across Southern Scotland with volunteers Gregor Caldwell and Andrew Leggate covering the entire route coast to coast in just 12 days.

The grand total of just over £20,000 kick started the campaign that saw the Great Glen Challenge, sponsored by Ledingham Chalmers, solicitors, raise a further £65,637 at the end of August thanks to the efforts of corporate partners and 26 teams from across the wider agricultural industry.

A few days later Royal Bank of Scotland hosted a Gala Sporting Dinner for RSABI and My Name’5 Doddie Foundation at Gogar supported by a host of stars from Scottish sport and international rugby. We were able to raise a fantastic

£44,000 to be split equally between both charities.

Significant funds such as these allow us to help more and more working farmers; a cohort that has seen a rise in demand for services recently, with over 80 farmers and crofters having made contact with RSABI since April this year. This specific support varies from those looking for someone to talk to, opening up communications between farmers, statutory agencies or creditors, to help for those struggling to meet their families’ essential costs.

Peter, a farmer who RSABI recently helped said “RSABI take the pressure off – they are exactly what farmers need”.

To allow RSABI to increase support, to plan ahead and keep delivering, our supporter scheme provides important regular donations from individuals and businesses, including farms, across the country.

Help us support people in Scottish agriculture by signing up today – please visit www.rsabi.org.uk to make your donation or call 0300 111 4166

RSABI Great Glen Challenge raises a record £65,637 to support people in Scottish agriculture

arable fields when moisture is present to create a consolidated seedbed is recommended, and monitoring for slugs in the field is key.”

Ferric phosphate slug pellets are also an important part of controlling the pest and fit well with an IPM strategy. “Ferric phosphate has a low environmental profile and is suited to catchment sensitive farming areas, with no buffer zones required.

“A high-quality pellet such as Sluxx HP, also has the added benefit of anti-moulding protection and improved durability in wet weather, which is vital for the unpredictable weather that autumn typically brings.”

“When it comes to planting in the spring, ensure that crop residues are incorporated properly to help increase OM and reduce slug breeding habitats. Cultivation choice and ensuring a consolidated seed bed will all help to encourage quick establishment to get spring cereals up and away from slugs,” he says.

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CSFB with suspected pyrethroid resistance needed People are being asked to submit live samples of cabbage stem flea beetle (CSFB) with suspected resistance to pyrethroid insecticides for free testing.

AHDB-funded monitoring work has tracked the rise of beetles with resistance to pyrethroids (applied at recommended field rates) over the last few years.

CSFB samples from right across the winter oilseed rape production area are required to provide an accurate picture of resistance in the UK. Steve Foster, who coordinates the screening work at Rothamsted Research, said: “We’ve already received many samples from the South East this season but we need more samples from other parts of the UK too, including Scotland.”

“So far, 25 samples have been screened at the equivalent of a full field rate pyrethroid application. Of these samples, many were relatively resistant.”

The screening evidence reinforces the point that any decision to apply pyrethroid insecticides must be based on risk. Failure to do this places additional selection pressure on resistance mechanisms and results in increasing control issues in subsequent years.

If a pyrethroid application is deemed necessary, full recommended field rates should be used. If the application is not effective and cannot be explained by factors, such as poor spray coverage, then it is likely that the population is resistant. In such cases, further pyrethroids should not be applied, as it will continue

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to select for resistance and harm natural enemies.

Sampling guidelines, treatment thresholds and recently revised resistance management guidance can be accessed via ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/ cabbage-stem-flea-beetle AHDB is also asking people to guide investment in pest monitoring services over the next five years by completing a short survey.

The survey, which closes on 30 November 2018, can be accessed via cereals.ahdb.org. uk/pestsurvey

Next Issue FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE January 2019

potatoes Haith partnership with Alan Mackay secures first order A partnership between specialist vegetable handling and processing machinery manufacturer Haith Group and Alan Mackay Machinery (Forfar) Ltd has secured its first order.

Just one month after agreeing to work together, Alan Mackay Machinery has sold a Haith roller spray application table to an Angus potato grower.

Based in Forfar, and with a depot in Rothienorman, Alan Mackay Machinery became a Haith Sales & Service Partner to give Scottish farmers and growers easier access to the Haith range of specialist vegetable handling and processing machinery.

“We have lots of customers in Scotland, but we wanted to make it even easier for them to work with us,” says Duane Hill, Sales Director at Haiths. “Before this partnership, we only usually had two members of our team covering Scotland and while this hasn’t been a problem, working with Alan Mackay will mean we can work with more farmers at the same time and respond more quickly and more efficiently to enquiries, which will be good news for our customers and us.

“Alan Mackay is an established and respected company, which has tremendous knowledge of our markets and now, thanks to our training and support, they will be able to sell and service our machines.

“Scotland is home to many quality growers, and we want to ensure they have access to the best machines on the market. We’re confident that this partnership with Alan Mackay will see even more Scottish farmers taking advantage of our class-leading box tipplers, washers and graders.”

Established in 2004, Alan Mackay Machinery is best known for offering a wide range of farm equipment, including VALTRA tractors, AMAZONE, MCHALE, SUMO tillage equipment, KRONE forage solutions and now Haith’s vegetable handling equipment.

“We’re delighted to be working with Haith. They are the leading specialist vegetable handling and processing machinery manufacturer in the UK and have the most extensive range of machinery available,” says Alan Mackay, Managing

Alan Mackay with Haiths Ken Hollingsworth

Director at Alan Mackay Machinery. “Being able to offer their range to Scottish farmers and growers means that we are better placed than ever before.

As well as offering advice and developing solutions for farmers, we will also be servicing machines to keep them running efficiently. We are also extremely

impressed with the build quality of Haith machinery. I am sure this partnership is going to be great news for everyone involved in Scottish food production. “ For more information about Haith Group and its products or Alan Mackay Machinery, please visit www.haith.co.uk or www.alanmackay.co.uk/

Tong launches next generation Fieldloader PRO Tong Engineering, leading UK manufacturer of vegetable handling equipment, has announced the launch of its next generation Fieldloader machine, the Fieldloader PRO. Based on the same principles as Tong’s proven Fieldloader,

which offers in-field and onfarm cleaning and loading of crop, the Fieldloader PRO has been designed with even greater flexibility, transportability and the gentlest handling in mind.

“Talking to our customers, there is a definite emphasis on

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reducing ‘crop miles’ and the amount of harvest-related soil on the roads by loading crop at the field side,” says Edward Tong, Managing Director at Tong Engineering. “The Fieldloader PRO will receive and clean crop at high capacities straight from

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potatoes trailers filled by the harvester, ensuring soil and debris is removed from crop in the field, whilst significantly reducing unnecessary transport of crop from field to farm.”

COMPACT, GENTLE & QUIET At under 10 metres long in transport mode, the selfcontained and compact Fieldloader PRO features a high capacity reception hopper feeding a choice of crop cleaning units. The Fieldloader PRO is built with a spacious 4-man inspection area before crop transfers to Tong’s new-style foldable cart elevator which cradles crop deep into the bulker trailer. The new machine also comes complete with a supersilent onboard generator, which provides power efficiency for in-field cleaning, or can be bypassed for mains power when operating on-farm.

“What makes the Fieldloader PRO different is the multiple

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cleaning options available to customers, as well as the new wider cart elevator which can be specified up to 1.5m wide,” says Edward Tong, Managing Director at Tong Engineering.

“The new Fieldloader PRO is designed to be extremely versatile; it is suitable for multicrop use, working effectively on potatoes, carrots and onions.

Customers can also choose any Tong cleaning unit as part of the machine, including our advanced EasyClean separator available with Auto-Touch HMI controls.

Our high-speed PU coil cleaning system and star coil cleaning units are also available. The customer really can configure the Fieldloader PRO to meet their exact requirements.”

Built upon a heavy duty chassis, the Fieldloader PRO can be easily transported on the road from field to site, and features robust support legs for ultimate performance during operation.

Like all Tong equipment, the

new Fieldloader PRO is built with Tong’s Blue Inverter Technology, offering all electric inverter variable speed drive for the very best energy efficiency.

Tong’s industry leading AutoTouch HMI controls with intelligent diagnostics and maintenance features are also an option on the new machine.

Depending on specification and

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crop type, the Fieldloader PRO can be built to effectively clean and load up to 150 tons of crop per hour.

“This next generation machine has been designed as a complete in-field crop cleaning and loading powerhouse that will ensure growers can respond quickly and efficiently to contract demands,” added Edward.

potatoes Researchers and Agronomists Unite Behind Call for PCN Testing AHDB Potatoes has launched a new guide to help potato growers test for Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN), a pest that costs the industry over £25m each year.

The release of PCN: Sampling and laboratory guide draws on AHDB funded research, conducted by Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) and BioSS, measuring the effectiveness of soil sampling techniques ahead of PCN testing.

In a further effort to ensure the guide offered practical and relevant advice, AHDB ran through the results of its research at a conference, which was attended by over 40 prominent agronomists and researchers with a keen interest in PCN.

Dr Sue Cowgill, Senior Scientist at AHDB, who chaired the conference, said: “The research provides clear and usable results, and the conference allowed us to discuss these with those out in the field and provide an open forum to gain opinions on the most effective way to share the information with growers.”

Data from statutory sampling and recent AHDB funded research, conducted at Harper Adams University, had shown that PCN is moving into areas and fields where it has not previously been found.

“PCN is a damaging pest, and once it is in your soil, it is very hard to remove” said Dr Cowgill.

“The first step for any grower is to find out if there is PCN in the

field, and if there is, what species is present. Once you know this information, you can make the best decisions for your farm and you’ll also be assisting the industry as a whole by helping to control the pest.”

Patrick Mitton, chair of the Nematicide Stewardship Programme, attended the conference. He said: “The new PCN sampling guide is a welcome update to the understanding of PCN detection, management and control.

“The guide is an important contribution to knowledge exchange, bringing together the latest scientific research and practical experience of sustainable integrated management techniques, which

will be of importance to both advisors and growers alike.”

The conference was also attended by representatives from the laboratories that provide testing for PCN. Presentations were made to the group following work by Dr Kim Davie as part of her AHDB funded research fellowship at SASA. Dr Cowgill said: “The aim of the work was to provide clarity to the industry on the protocols used by laboratories, and ultimately improve the consistency and usefulness of test results.”

The AHDB publication, PCN: Sampling and laboratory guide is available to download and order in hard copy now at potatoes.ahdb.org.uk/PCN

Dewulf celebrates 30th anniversary of the R3060 with attractively priced RA3060 Essential Dewulf, full-liner in agricultural machines for the cultivation of potatoes and root crops, launches the RA3060 Essential, a standard configuration of its acclaimed self-propelled 2-row sieving harvester with an attractive starting price of 288,000. This variant of the R3060 is being produced in celebration of the 30th anniversary of this machine.

The manufacturer has combined decades of experience building the R3060 with feedback from growers to develop a unique, universal standard configuration.

All the elements for a successful crop, at a keen price A great many of the familiar features of the R3060 can be found on the RA3060 Essential.

Moreover, the harvester is

equipped as standard with LED lighting, eight infrared cameras and an axial module. The Quick Change System for quickly changing between harvesting kits for various crops (e.g. onions) is also included as standard equipment. The machine is available at its highly competitive price of 288,000 by being offered as a standard package

with limited options. Depth control, automatic steering, an upper hedgehog unit and a haulm topper are not included in the machine configuration, for example. The haulm topper is, however, available as an option at additional cost.

Decades of unrivalled experience in an attractive package

Your produce will stay fresher for longer with our wide range of energy efficient storage solutions

BRADLEY REFRIGERATION LTD 929 Abbeydale Road Sheffield S7 2QD Tel: SHEFFIELD 0114 553 7780 Email: agriculture@bradley-refrigeration.com www.bradley-refrigeration.com

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15

potatoes Based on the experience with, and feedback from growers about, the R3060 throughout the years, Dewulf has developed a standard configuration: the RA3060 Essential. This harvester is being produced in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the R3000, the very first self-propelled 2-row sieving harvester on three wheels with gooseneck steering, introduced in 1989. Since the introduction, the full-liner has continued developing its 2-row harvester and further optimizing the production processes. The RA3060 Essential is the result.

A new self-propelled harvester at a pre-owned price On the one hand, Dewulf is aiming the RA3060 Essential at agricultural contractors and growers who are looking for increased capacity at low cost. On the other, this machine will also appeal to growers who are having a hard time deciding between the purchase of a pre-owned selfpropelled harvester or a new trailed

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2-row machine with wheel drive.

10th variant of the acclaimed R3060 Time flies, and the RA3060 Essential is already the 10th variant

of the R3060. No other selfpropelled 2-row sieving harvester can be as closely configured to a grower’s individual needs as this machine from Dewulf. Last year,

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for instance, the manufacturer launched a version with two haulm rollers in response to requests for better handling of potato varieties with extreme haulm growth.

potatoes Potato farmers feel the heat of variable weather As extreme weather events increase in frequency, Sara Maslowski, senior analyst at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) for potatoes, reviews how this year’s weather conditions have affected the potato crop and prices when compared with a more ‘typical’ growing season.

The 2018 season so far has been characterised by weather extremes, from snow in April delaying planting to one of the warmest summers on record. This has resulted in unusual market trends and has exaggerated differences amongst regions, growers and market sectors.

Following a high production year and a well-supplied market in 2017, low potato prices provided little financial incentive for growers. As a result, the 2018 season saw plantings drop by 3% to the third lowest on record of 119,000 hectares. A planned lower area was likely exacerbated further by challenging planting conditions in the spring.

What followed was a summer of near record hot, dry weather across the UK and Europe, not seen for over a decade. This has led to an industry in two halves; fields with irrigation available, estimated to be around half of the planted area, and unirrigated crop.

Where irrigation has been available, unsurprisingly crops are generally faring better.

However, even for these crops, yields are reported as down, particularly tuber size, and there are reports of secondary growth.

Unirrigated crops, particularly those on lighter soils, are reported to be suffering badly, lacking yield and with secondary growth and skin finish issues.

A national divide is also likely to develop, with crops in Scotland, on the whole reported to be faring better than England.

This was seen in the drought year of 2006, when yields in Scotland were around 25% higher than England, on average.

Price reactions In a typical year a relationship would be evident between the available supply and exfarm prices at the start of the new season, which could give indicators to how the season would play out.

For example, in 2012/13 growers’ stocks at the end of March were low at 0.8 million tonnes, which led to the season ending with a high AHDB freebuy average potato price of just under £237 a tonne. However, ample supplies from harvest 2013 coming onto the market resulted in a drop of around £147 a tonne between the last old crop price of 2012/13 and the first price of 2013/14 season.

Heading into 2018/19, AHDB’s end of March stocks survey suggested that a large amount of the crop was still available in growers’ stores. This would typically add pressure to prices, resulting in a smaller difference between the last old crop price and the first new crop price (as can be seen in 2013 and 2014).

However, the 2018 season behaved in a different way. A combination of the lateness of supply coupled with industry concerns around the size and availability of the new crop, has meant that the 2018/19 season started with prices around £190 a tonne higher than at the end of the previous season.

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Ever thought about growing ‘plant teams’ for improved yield?

Dr Ali Karley, James Hutton Institute Peas grown with barley or faba beans with wheat can produce more yield together (over-yielding) than when grown separately in monoculture. This was the finding of scientists at the James Hutton Institute in their trials of cereal-legume species mixtures as part of a Europe-wide project – DIVERSify - to understand the potential benefits of growing different crop species together in the same field.

Crop species mixtures or ‘plant teams’ – are known to improve also yield stability between seasons and locations, reduce pest and disease damage and enhance climate stress resilience in agriculture.

Experimental trials being carried out at the institute, and at partner sites across Europe, are testing combinations of different varieties of cereals and legumes in mixtures compared to each variety in monoculture to see which variety characteristics work together best, giving most over-yielding.

Last year, we focussed on 50:50 mixtures of spring barley and pea, grown for grain, and spring wheat and faba bean, grown for silage.

The best-performing variety combinations were repeated this year and extended to

include a larger number of species combinations, including lentil-barley and oat-faba bean, as well as testing a wider range of sowing ratios.

These trials, along with those at our partners’ sites across Northern Europe, were exposed to prolonged high temperatures and low rainfall so it will be interesting to see whether these plant teams performed differently to the monocultures under these demanding conditions.

We weren’t optimistic about the lentil combinations when the crop was sown between snow showers in April, but they matured and were harvested successfully.

Farmers interested in finding out more about plant team cropping in Scotland can visit the project website (www.plant-teams.eu) or attend our intercropping Field Labs organised to help farmers trial plant teams, run jointly by the James Hutton Institute, SRUC and Soil Association Scotland. For further information, email diversify@hutton.ac.uk.

To learn more about the James Hutton Institute’s research on Scotland’s rural economies and sparsely populated areas, visit www. hutton.ac.uk.

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FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND

Aldi launches first 36-day matured Scotch Aberdeen Angus steaks ALDI is now selling Aberdeen Angus Scotch Beef steaks that have been matured for a grand total of 36-days, and consumers can get a taste of the action for only £3.29.

ALDI has added six extra days of maturation to its Specially Selected ribeye, sirloin and rump Aberdeen Angus steaks, meaning the range is now the longestmatured selection on the market compared to any other UK retailer.

All the products are PGI[1] certified Scotch Beef, which means the meat is guaranteed to come from animals born and reared on assured Scottish farms.

The scheme guarantees that the farm and processors meet the most stringent animal welfare and natural production methods, so that consumers can be sure they are buying produce of the highest quality.

By increasing the aging time, the flavour and tenderness of the meat is enhanced and thanks to ALDI, consumers can now enjoy restaurant quality steak at a fraction of the price.

The move is part of ALDI’s wider commitment to the Scottish fresh meat industry through

its long-standing partnership with Scotbeef. ALDI recently announced it had entered into a new six-year deal with the red meat processor designed to help support Scotland’s red meat industry by allowing consumers

to choose exclusively Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb PGI-certified products across its everyday ranges.

Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “The majority of supermarkets

currently sell steak that has been matured for between 21 and 30 days. By maturing the finest quality PGI-certified Aberdeen Angus Scotch Beef for a full six days longer we can deliver a more intense and complex flavour.

Scotch Beef Showcased at Top St Andrew’s Day Dinner Scotch Beef PGI is set to be centre stage at the annual St Andrew’s Day Dinner, held at the five-star Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort and Spa on Thursday 29 November 2018.

A stellar line-up of six renowned Scottish chefs have been working with Savour St Andrews over the past six months to create a spectacular menu for a dinner celebrating the very best of Scotland’s larder.

Martin Hollis, executive chef at the hotel which is a member of Quality Meat Scotland’s Scotch Beef Club, will be joined by a host of top ranking Scottish chefs to create the meal. These include Geoffrey Smeddle of The Peat Inn Restaurant with Rooms; Duncan McLachlan, Playfair’s Restaurant and Steak House; Mat Majer from The Adamson; Sharon Munro of St Andrews Links; and Jamie Scott from The Newport. (continued on page 20)

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cooking with game

Roast Haunch of Venison with Festive Trimmings

By Wendy Barrie Venison is delicious tender meat, versatile and perfect for celebrations too. This Rothiemurchus Forest Venison was shot out on the hill. Famous for their estate venison, customers can expect it all year round from their lovely farm shop or contact them direct. Stalker Peter Ferguson selects beasts very carefully as it’s vital to have a consistent taste and quality. It should always be extremely tender and not taste ‘gamey’ – chefs describe Rothiemurchus venison as ‘velvety’. Their red and roe deer live on the Cairngorm Hills and ancient forest as they have for thousands of years. Philippa says, ‘About 35 years ago Johnnie learnt the basics of being a butcher so he could develop cuts of venison that were quick and easy for busy families to cook and we have been selling venison from our Farm Shop since.’ https://rothiemurchus.net farmshop@rothie.net Ingredients: Approx. 1.3kg Rothiemurchus Forest Venison – rolled haunch Scottish rapeseed oil Isle of Skye Sea Salt & freshly milled pepper A few spring onions / young leeks 1 large carrot Small branch of rosemary Cornflour to thicken gravy Accompaniments… Chestnut & Spinach Roulade Potatoes (Arran Victory/Maris Piper are perfect for roasting) Brussels Sprouts Rowan jelly Chive buttered crumb topping

Chestnut and Spinach Roulade Ingredients A bag spinach 25g butter A twist of freshly milled black pepper& a light pinch of Isle of Skye Sea Salt 100g cooked chestnuts, coarsely crumbled 2tbsps natural yoghurt 3 large eggs 25g ground almonds Lingonberry/cranberry sauce to fill

Serves 6-8 Scotland’s foodie, 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, Slow Food Chef Alliance Member & 2018/9 Regional Ambassador Finalist, Thistle Awards.

Recipes & Photos © Wendy Barrie

Method: s 0RE HEAT OVEN # AND LINE A 3WISS ROLL TIN WITH BAKING parchment.

Method: s 2INSE SPINACH -ELT BUTTER IN PAN TO WILT SPINACH OVER MEDIUM s 0RE HEAT OVEN # (EAT A SPLASH OF RAPESEED OIL IN A heat. Drain, return to pan, season and snip with scissors. Cool casserole on the hob and sear venison on all sides. Season a little then blend in yoghurt, egg yolks, almonds and chestnuts. and place in oven to roast, lid off, for 15 minutes. s 7HISK WHITES TO SOFT PEAKS AND FOLD INTO MIXTURE 3POON GENTLY s -EANWHILE PEEL POTATOES QUARTER AND PAR BOIL $RAIN AND into the prepared tin. place in dish for roasting. Dice carrot and slice greens finely. s "AKE FOR MINS UNTIL GOLDEN WELL RISEN AND SET s ,IFT OUT CASSEROLE 0OUR HOT WATER FROM KETTLE ONE THIRD UP s ,AY OUT A SHEET OF PARCHMENT SPRINKLED WITH EXTRA ALMONDS venison, adding carrot, rosemary and onions. Season. s 4URN OUT SPREAD WITH lLLING AND ROLL 7ILL REMAIN WARM LOOSELY Return to oven, lid on, now at 160 C, for 12-15mins per wrapped in tin foil.

500g for medium.

Serves 6-8 s 4O MAKE ROULADE FOLLOW METHOD BELOW "AKE IN OVEN WHILST venison cooking. s 2EMOVE VENISON FROM OVEN ,IFT OUT HAUNCH AND SET ASIDE for meat to rest for <20mins wrapped in foil. Turn oven up to 200 C and roast off potatoes. Now itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to boil trimmed sprouts in lightly salted boiling water for 5-7mins until soft but not overcooked. Drain and keep warm. s #OMBINE CHOPPED CHIVES MELTED BUTTER AND WHOLEGRAIN breadcrumbs for a tasty garnish. s &INALLY DISCARD ROSEMARY BRANCH AND ADD A SPOONFUL OF cornflour dissolved in cold water to the venison gravy. Bring to boil, stirring, to thicken sauce. s 4O SERVE SLICE VENISON ONTO HEATED PLATES WITH VEGETABLES

sauce and roulade. Delicious for cold cuts the following day!

FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND Cooked by Chef Hollis, the main course will showcase the versatility and outstanding taste of Scotch Beef PGI with Black Isle Scotch Beef Fillet, Short Rib ‘Osso Bucco’, Shallot, Pommes Mousseline and Swiss Chard.

Local farmer, John Bell will attend the dinner with Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) to talk about the dedication, care and stockmanship skills behind the production of top quality Scotch Beef PGI. The chefs will be supported by students on the night from Cupar’s SRUC Elmwood Campus and Fife College and, from profit made at the dinner,

each college will receive a £500 bursary to be used for further hospitality training.

Chef Martin Hollis of The Old Course said: “We are once again delighted to be hosting the St Andrew’s Day Dinner at the Old Course and look forward to welcoming guests to this unique culinary experience.”

For more information, inspiration and delicious Scotch Beef recipes visit www. theScotchKitchen.com or visit us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @ScotchKitchen.

For information on foodie events in St Andrews, visit www.

SavourStAndrews.com

Double Triumph for Scottish Berry Grower at Prestigious Industry Awards Scottish berry grower and supplier, Angus Soft Fruits has triumphed at this year’s Co-Op and Scotmid Scottish Supplier Awards held recently in Glasgow, winning not one, but two prestigious awards.

This is the first year the two convenience retailers have joined forces to recognise the high-quality produce of both supermarkets’ Scottish suppliers, which between them stock over 1,800 Scottish lines. Heading up the heavyweight industry judging panel and using his expert taste buds to find the foodie victors was Scottish Michelin Star chef, Nick Nairn.

Winner of ‘Own Label Supplier of the Year’, Angus Soft Fruits was recognised for its role in driving the retailer’s berry category forward. This summer Angus Soft Fruits has more than doubled its supply of AVA™ strawberries to Co-Op when compared to 2017 levels, boosted by a targeted marketing campaign across Scotland and the North of England.

Having supplied berries to the Co-Op for over 20 years, the award was also recognition of the quality of commitment and service to the supermarket chain.

The berry grower was also awarded ‘Fresh Product of the Year’ for its AVA™ Rosa strawberry variety, sold exclusively at Co-Op. Angus Soft Fruit’s AVA™ strawberries are developed through their research and design facility, the Angus Breeding Programme, which has the primary aim of bringing new selections to market that have improved flavour, appearance, shelf life, disease resistance and yield than current varieties.

magazine Supporting

FARMERS MARKETS IN SCOTLAND Aberdeen Country Fair www.aberdeencountryfair. co.uk Alford Farmers’ Market www.spanglefish.com/ alfordfarmersmarket Argyll Country Markets katie@barbreckfarms.co.uk Ayrshire Farmers’ Market www.ayrshirefarmersmarket. co.uk Balerno Farmers’ Market www.balernovt.org.uk Blairgowrie Community Market www.strathmoreglens.org Cairndow and Loch Fyne Farmers’ Market katie@barbreckfarms.co.uk Campbeltown Farmers’ Market katie@barbreckfarms.co.uk Clarkston Farmers’ Market enquiry@ lanarkshirefarmersmarket. co.uk Cupar Farmers’ Market www.fifefarmersmarket.co.uk Dundee Farmers’ Market lorna.mckenzie@dundeecity. gov.uk Dunfermline Farmers’ Market www.fifefarmersmarket.co.uk Edinburgh Farmers’ Market www.edinburghfarmersmarket. com Edinburgh - Stockbridge Farmers’ Market www.stockbridgemarket.com Falkirk Farmers’ Market howard.wilkinson2@btinternet. com Fencebay Farmers’ Market fencebay@aol.co.uk Forfar Farmers’ Market www.angusfarmersmarket. co.uk Glasgow Farmers’ Market Mansfield Park www.citymarketsglasgow. co.uk

L to R is Rob Mould (Angus Soft Fruits Senior Account Manager) and Darren Schlosser (Angus Soft Fruits Senior Technical Manager).

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Glasgow Farmers’ Market Queen’s Park www.citymarketsglasgow. co.uk

Greenock Farmers’ Market matthewmcs2000@aol.com Haddington Farmers’ Market pjdesign@dunbar.org.uk Hamilton Farmers’ Market www. lanarkshirefarmersmarket. co.uk Hawick Farmers’ Market eg.sangster@btinternet.com Inverurie Farmers’ Market e: ronreid2@aol.com Kelso Farmers’ Market www.kelso.bordernet.co.uk Kirkcaldy Farmers’ Market www.fifefarmersmarket.co.uk Linlithgow Farmers’ Market forumevents@yahoo.co.uk Loch Lomond Shores Farmers’ Market forumevents@yahoo.co.uk Lochwinnoch Farmers’ Market david.oneill@clydemuirshiel. co.uk Lockerbie Farmers’ Market www.lockerbiefarmersmarket. co.uk Milngavie Farmers’ Market matthewmcs2000@aol.com Montrose Farmers’ Market www.angusfarmersmarket.co. uk Oban And Lorn Markets admin@lorn.org Overton Farm Farmers’ Market www. lanarkshirefarmersmarket. co.uk Paisley Farmers’ Market enquiries@ayrshiremeats.co.uk Peebles Farmers’ Market johnbolton1@btconnect.com Perth Farmers’ Market www.perthfarmersmarket. co.uk Portpatrick Farmers’ Market foodstore@auchenree.co.uk St Andrews Farmers’ Market www.fifefarmersmarket.co.uk Stirling Farmers’ Market StirlingFM@aol.com.

Stornoway Farmers’ Market kennylhhp@btopenworld.com

For your market to be listed mail@farmingscotlandmagazine.com

EU NEWS

By Chris McCullough

EuroTier: High tech, low tech and no tech livestock innovations Ensuring farming is as efficient as it can be is one of the major goals of the huge EuroTier Show in Germany this November showcasing the latest innovations for livestock production.

However, those innovations that make jobs easier for a farmer don’t always have to be super expensive and full of sensors, buttons and batteries as visitors to this year’s event will discover.

Something as simple as reinventing the humble calf feeding bucket will also feature

at the show among the glitz and glam of the latest all singing all dancing high tech robotics.

EuroTier is classed as the world’s leading trade fair for animal production and is held every second year. Upwards of 150,000 visitors are expected to visit this year’s event traditionally organised by DLG, the German Agricultural Society.

The show will run from November 13 to 16 at the Hanover Exhibitions Grounds and will house 2,526 exhibitors from

62 countries exhibiting modern animal production solutions in over 260,000 square metres of space.

German exhibitors form the majority with 1,484 in attendance but overseas exhibitors are increasing each time with the Chinese now the largest group of foreign exhibitors with 254.

The second highest group of foreign exhibitors come from the Netherlands with 207, followed by France, 128; Italy, 120; Spain, 85; Denmark, 70; the

United Kingdom, 62; Austria, 55; Turkey, 55; Belgium, 51; Poland, 49; Canada, 31 and the USA, 29.

Exhibitors from countries such as Morocco, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Paraguay and Uruguay are taking part in the trade fair for the first time this year.

Each EuroTier the organisers receive a number of entries for their prestigious awards which presents one gold medal and 25 silver medals to whichever products they consider to be worthy of commendation.

Over half EU’s soya beans now supplied by United States THE United States has doubled its share of suppling soya beans to the European Union over the period of a year.

According to the latest figures announced by the European Commission the US now supplies 52 per cent of the crop to the EU. This is double the supply the US sent to the EU in the previous year and makes it the main supplier.

The EU currently imports about 14 million tonnes of soya beans per year as a source of protein to feed its animals,

including chicken, pigs and cattle, as well as for milk production.

“Soya beans from the US happen to be a very attractive feed option for European importers and users thanks to their competitive prices,” it said.

European Commission Juncker issued a joint statement with US president Trump following a meeting in Washington on 25 July, in which the two sides agreed to increase trade in several areas and products, notably soya beans.

In order to monitor the evolution of trade in soya beans, President Juncker put in place a reporting mechanism according to which imports from the United States increased by 133 percent compared to the same period in the previous year from July to mid-September.

EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Phil Hogan, said: “I welcome the latest trade figures which show that we are delivering on the commitment made by Presidents Juncker and Trump to increase trade, particularly in relation to soya beans.

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“This reflects both our longstanding trade relationship and the potential to achieve so much more by working together to build on that relationship.”

The report from Europe said current figures show that imports of US soya beans to the EU have been continuously increasing over the past weeks.

It added: “Compared to the first 12 weeks of the 2017 marketing year EU imports of soya beans from the United States are up by 133 percent at 1,473,749 tonnes.

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United Arab Emirates WORLD FARMING

The same despite its differences

By Fiona Sloan

The United Arab Emirates, is a country in the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman and Saudi Arabia on its land borders and Qatar on its sea border. A federation of seven emirates, the best known of which are Dubai and Abu Dhabi, it has around 9.2 million inhabitants, of which nearly 8 million are expatriates, working in the oil, gas and related industries, the mainstay of this gulf state. Before oil was discovered in the 1950’s, fishing and pearls, were the most important industries in the region and both still remain important to the country today.

There are 38,000 farms in the UAE, of which 60% are in Abu Dhabi’s eastern and central areas.

These primarily grow date palms, vegetable and fruit crops such as tomatoes, bell peppers, lemons, kale and beetroot, all of which are mostly grown in greenhouses.

The development of the dairy industry in the region has also been significant in recent years. The dry climate is ideal for producing quality milk, although there is always the lack of water and high temperatures to contend with.

The UAE’s popular image, is of camels, oil, high buildings and wealth and with huge areas of unproductive sand, agriculture has been, until recently, the domain of small, family farms, relying on traditional methods and irrigation systems, which go back to Roman times. With an increasing itinerant population, the need for 22

increased food production has seen progressions in the dairy industry in particular. Large state of the art units have been developed, to cope with large numbers of cows and ensure that the systems are conducive to reducing heat stress in the cattle, which ultimately affects production. Specialised air conditioning units, roofs which deflect the sun’s rays and cold-water showers, have proved to be an effective way of increasing milk production and with government assistance, the industry is set to continue to supply the increased demand for all milk-based products. Specialised milk products such as enhanced

Vitamin D milk, are seen necessary to improve the health of a nation severely lacking in Vitamin D. Agriculture is a difficult business in such an arid land, where it represents less than 2% of the national income. Like here is Scotland, it is seasonally dependant but rather than our perennial worry of too much water and not enough sun, theirs is the exact opposite!

With an annual rainfall of just 120mm, underground wells and desalinated seawater, keeps farming viable. New innovations in bio saline agriculture, hydroponics and the development of crops better suited to the

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climate, is paramount, if this gulf state is to cope with the increasing food consumption, which is climbing by 12% annually.

Currently 85% of the country’s food is imported, therefore, it is imperative that sustainability in farming, horticulture and fisheries are developed and implemented quickly and effectively. The government are actively looking and trialling projects to future proof their food supplies using specialised laboratories both on and off farm and even testing plants in space on their ability to cope in different environments.

With a very low rainfall however, the success of such schemes,

WORLD FARMING fundamentally relies on the availability of water.

Soil-less farming solutions, new greenhouse technology, which uses less water and energy than the conventional types and advanced hydroponics, represent the UAE’s strategic approach to food security and sustainability, which has been developed in partnership with the UN Food and Agriculture Association. It has also developed a highly sought-after industry with the ability to store and package food from other countries for re-

export, improving the balance of payments in the food sector.

Like all other countries in the world, The United Arab Emirates finds itself with the same issues despite its differences and a need to develop and change farming practise to ensure a sustainable food source for a quickly increasing population.

UK Government should pay Scottish hill farmers

Field Farm Tours are running a study tour to UAE 8th-19th March 2019 wwwfieldfarmtours. co.uk

By Rural Affairs Secretary Fergus Ewing Scottish hill farmers have been denied around £14,000 each over a six year period by the UK Government. Fact.

This is not an unsubstantial amount, and I would ask your readers to imagine how they would feel, if they were owed that amount of money.

Unimpressed would be an understatement I would reckon.

Now imagine that you agreed to participate in a review on how this situation had arisen. Where you had agreed in principle what that review would cover, who would carry it out and how each side would be represented.

But then the other party, suddenly moved the goal posts without your consent, and what was being suggested for that review you had signed up to was now a pale imitation of what you thought you had agreed to. Again, I would reckon you would be rather unimpressed.

Well that is the situation Scottish hill farmers are in

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now. A situation not of their making, but one in which they are being treated unfairly by the UK Government.

We are now in a position where the UK Government has announced a review, without having addressed specific concerns raised by me about the review’s remit.

Notably the UK Government has ruled out in advance of the review commencing, reconsideration of past decisions or future allocation of funding post 2022.

I am clear that any review must be independent, must look at past and future decisions, and have full and proper access to all relevant documents pertaining to this issue. We cannot allow this review to simply become an exercise in playing for time in delivering funding to Scotland’s farmers which is rightfully theirs. The money was earned in Scotland and should be returned to Scotland. Anything less than this is completely unacceptable.”

ATV’s

All Terrain Vehicles the small and powerful workhorses

John Deere’s Gator range Offering the company’s quietest ever cab, more room for both driver and passengers and an extremely efficient heating system, John Deere’s fullsize Gator utility vehicles are designed to maximise yearround productivity and comfort.

Available from UK and Irish dealers in early 2018, the petrol XUV 835M and diesel XUV 865M models were preceded by the restyled HPX 815E, XUV 560E and XUV 590M Gators, which feature new model numbers and several specification updates.

The 54hp XUV 835M and 23hp 865M offer power steering, a CVT transmission and a top speed of 37 or 31mph (60 or 50kph) respectively, plus a tight turning circle and optimal weight distribution for superior off-road performance. For extra versatility, these Gators can be fitted with a wide range of

over 90 attachments from snow blades to winches, and feature a large 42-litre fuel tank to keep the vehicle running longer between fill-ups.

The spacious, pressurised cab can accommodate three people, for off-road use only.

This cab incorporates noise isolation and sound dampening components, making it the quietest yet available on the Gator range. It also offers yearround weather protection and the heating system includes a windscreen defrost feature.

Both these sleekly styled XUV Gator models feature ample legroom and a tiltable steering wheel to help reduce driver fatigue during long working days. The versatile and durable cargo box has a load capacity of 454kg, while towing capacity has been increased by a third to 907kg and total payload capacity is 680kg.

The diesel powered HPX 815E Gator utility vehicle shares its new styling with the XUV 855M model, which replaces the 855D. The 815E’s updated cargo box also has a load capacity of 454kg and both the sides and the tailgate, which has a pickup style one-handed latch, can be easily removed to provide a flatbed-style load bay if

required. The durable composite construction of this industry leading cargo box makes it dent, rattle and rust-resistant.

Additions to this model include a new digital dashboard, powerful LED headlights and a restyled front bumper, to improve handling and operation particularly in challenging terrain.

New “Shinari influenced” Kawasaki MULE PRO-MX launched Delivering all the rugged, reliable and adaptable attributes

that Kawasaki’s MULE utility vehicle brand is justifiably

famous for, the new Kawasaki MULE PRO-MX range for 2019 relies not only on a torque laden 700cc CVT single-cylinder equipped engine but also benefits from the Shinari design philosophy. Describing how the main frame of the MULE exhibits an elasticity that enables it to bend without breaking and return to its original shape, Shinari is similar to how a hunting bow or fishing pole behaves delivering, in the case of the MULE, pliant, responsive handling allied to a life-long work ethic. Size-wise the PRO-

MX offers a seductive balance between compact and full size UTV’s. Whilst the dimensions are conveniently small, the carrying and towing capacity is seriously impressive at 317kg and 680kg respectively.

Turning in just 4.2m, the PRO-MX has the sort of features previously found on full size machines such as electronic power steering on all but the entry level Standard model, disc brakes front and rear, independent front and rear suspension, a contoured bench seat and even a tilt adjustable steering wheel. (continued on page 26)

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ATV’s Now with doors as standard, the convenience extends to an automotive style dashboard, quadruple headlights and a

combined storage capacity under the hood and seat of 14.4 litres.

Looking for all the world like a mini pick-up, the MULE PRO-MX

range is predicted to find favour not just with commercial customers such as those in the farming community but also hunting and

sporting users and those that simply seek the comfort, convenience and durability of this “go anywhere – do anything vehicle”.

Polaris has it covered Now is the time to make a great saving on a new Polaris Ranger Diesel. These robust and powerful Rangers feature Polaris Active Descent Control for smooth, controlled hill descents, automatically braking all four wheels (when switched to the appropriate setting) on steep inclines for greater safety.

Handling and ease of driving is made lighter and smoother as well with Electronic Power Steering fitted as standard, making all-day riding a more comfortable experience.

Add to this there is currently a 0% finance offer available on the Ranger Diesel and to make life even more comfortable you can have a free half cab, with a limited period offer. Purchase a new 2018 Polaris Ranger Diesel HD EPS EU or Ranger Diesel

HD EPS Tractor from selected Polaris dealers between 1 October 2018 and 21 December 2018 and you can receive the free half cab promotional package. The package includes 1x fixed glass windshield, to keep the weather at bay, and a washer/wiper kit with battery connection kit.

The Polaris 0% finance scheme is available over two years with 2 + 22 monthly payments up to a maximum of 80% of the Recommended Retail Price. So you can take advantage of lower monthly payments and Polaris also has one of the widest ranges of accessories available. The 0% finance can include up to £1,000 excluding VAT on genuine Polaris ATV and UTV accessories, although of course you are already part of the way there with the half cab promotional package.

Naturally, terms and conditions apply to both the 0% finance offer and the half cab promotion and you can find out more by contacting

participating Polaris dealers.

Visit www.polarisbritain.com/ promotions.html for more details on both offers.

Suzuki’s new ATVs are the King of Quads Suzuki has recently launched two all new and impressive ATVs

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– the KingQuad 750 with power steering and the KingQuad 500

available in power steering/nonpower steering models.

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Chassis upgrades mean that both models can now tow an impressive 600kg, an increase of 33% on the previous models.

Suzuki has also introduced sharp styling and a range of riderfriendly new features including a handlebar-mounted headlight to improve visibility into the turn plus additional water-resistant storage compartments to help you carry more equipment.

In addition, the front suspension, steering system and rear stabiliser are all new, which combine to deliver excellent straight line stability, sure footed handling when cornering and improved overall manoeuvrability. The handlebars have also been raised which improves the riding position, allowing for longer and easier rides.

Impressive refinements have also been made to the tried and tested engine to

ATV’s continue Suzuki’s reputation for high levels of performance and reliability. The new multifunction instrument panel is also easier to view and includes a service reminder icon, which notifies the rider when the ATV is due for its routine

service. Couple this with newly designed body parts that allow easier access to key components such as the fuel filter, means that customers will benefit from easier and lower cost servicing.

All of these new features created unrivalled attention of

the new KingQuads during this summer’s agricultural shows across the UK. These new models are a result of 30 years of engineering experience, refinement through feedback from customers and an unequalled reputation for quality

that Suzuki has earned through building each one.

The all new and class-leading KingQuad models have just arrived into the UK and are now available from selected Authorised Suzuki Dealerships, starting from £8,878.80 RRP (including vat).

New Kodiak 450. A force of nature With over 40 years’ of experience in the production of All Terrain Vehicles, Yamaha is widely recognised as one of the leading manufacturers of rugged and reliable models that come with a high build quality as standard.

The current Yamaha ATV range features a line up of functional and attractive models from 700cc through to 50cc that cover both the Utility and Sport & Leisure segments. By giving all of our customers a wide choice of durable and reliable models that are both easy to use and straight forward to maintain, Yamaha has reinforced its position as one of the most solid and respected ATV brands.

Yamaha’s ATV range is further strengthened and expanded with the introduction of the new Kodiak 450 EFI and Kodiak 450 EPS models that will be available from summer 2017.

Inspired by the hugely successful Kodiak 700, the Kodiak 450 is a new mid-sized utility model that has been specifically developed for both professional and leisure customers whose key priorities include all day comfort, functionality, and ease of use.

The Kodiak 450 EFI and Kodiak 450 EPS models are ready to set new standards and exceed our customers’ expectations in the important mid-sized utility segment. Aimed primarily at professional users in the agricultural, forestry and equestrian sectors, the Kodiak 450 sets new standards in terms of functionality, all day comfort and ease of use.

At the same time as being a rugged and reliable worker, the Kodiak 450’s userfriendly features and full-sized ergonomics also make it an

ideal model for private owners who appreciate the quality and reliability that come as standard with every Yamaha ATV. The Yamaha brand is built on the solid foundations of technical innovation and class leading quality, and these enduring values have made the company one of the most successful and respected names in both the 2-wheel and 4-wheel markets.

The Kodiak 450 is a premium quality mid-sized utility ATV that has been designed and manufactured to the same high

standards as every model in our popular range. Yamaha will never compromise on this total commitment to quality and reliability, and it is this clear and consistent philosophy that has helped to make Yamaha one of the most trusted brands amongst professional and enthusiast ATV riders.

The Kodiak 450 is an ultra capable utility ATV designed for both work and leisure use, and is aimed at a wide range of customers who are looking for a robust, affordable and attractive mid sized all rounder.

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The compact body design has been inspired by the best selling Kodiak 700 that has proven to be one of Yamaha’s most successful and enduring ATVs. The Kodiak 450’s user-friendly ergonomics ensure all day riding comfort, whether working on the farm or in the forest, or leisure riding with friends.

The newly designed luxury seat has plenty of cushioning and support, and the natural lowstress riding position is designed to distribute the rider’s weight evenly for enhanced comfort on all types of terrain.

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topic

Leading Land Agency Welcomes Women in Agriculture

Daragh Connon

ONE of Scotland’s most prominent land agents has shown its commitment to the Scottish Government’s Women in Agriculture initiative by supporting women in the rural sector.

The initiative, formed following the ‘Women in Farming and the Agriculture Sector Report’, indicated that women are a crucial part of the national farming effort but are nonetheless a group whose contribution continues to be marginalised.

Launched by the First Minister in 2017, the initiative aims to raise awareness and improve gender equality in farming and agriculture, as well as encourage an ethos of enabling all individuals in the sector to apply and develop their skills and abilities.

Leading land and estate agency Bell Ingram has been providing support and professional development for women in this arena, most recently strengthening its team 28

in Forfar with the appointment of a new assistant land agent.

Bell Ingram now has 12 women working in what was previously a male dominated sector and believes that the mix of skills and genders between the team members enables the firm to bring a more rounded service to its clients.

22-year-old Daragh Connon, from Banchory, Aberdeenshire, has joined Bell Ingram immediately following her graduation from Scotland’s Rural University College (SRUC).

She will undertake two years of on the job training, known as an Assessment of Professional Competence (APC), to become a Rural Chartered Surveyor.

She said: “I’ve really enjoyed my time with Bell Ingram so far, everyone in the office is so nice and completely supportive.

“Although I am originally from a farming family, I’ve always had an interest in rural activities and tried a few to decide what I wanted to do as a career. Whilst I do still enjoy

them, I found that I was always drawn back to farming.

“When I was in college, I didn’t actually consider this as an option until I was around halfway through my degree. The rural APC pathway appealed to me as it meant I could learn and work at the same time.”

Daragh’s honours degree in Rural Business Management should stand her in good stead for pursuing a career in the sector.

At Bell Ingram, her dayto-day work currently sees her assist with a variety of land management tasks, including cropping plans, farm and estate management and property letting.

Daragh added: “The range of services and diversity of the firm means that every day is different and exciting.

“In my time at college, there were few other women on my course and I only have one friend who has pursued a similar path to my own. Towards the end of the four years, there were more

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women coming through but they were still far outnumbered by males.

“If I had any advice for a woman considering a career in this sector, it would be to just go for it. Don’t worry about what others might think and be willing to work hard to get to where you want to be.”

Malcolm Taylor, Head of Land Management and Partner in Charge of the Bell Ingram Forfar office, said: “Daragh has been a very welcome addition to the team in Forfar.

“Her enthusiasm and attitude to her work bodes well for her future and will act as an example to other women looking to develop a career in agriculture and rural land management.”

Established 117 years ago, Bell Ingram has 130 professional staff across 11 UK offices including: farm, estate and forestry managers; chartered surveyors, estate agents, architects, planners, and building surveyors; and tourism, GIS mapping, and renewable energy specialists.

A visit to AgriScot can boost business resilience

By Robert Neill, AgriScot Chairman

Robert Neill, AgriScot Chairman

It is an honour to Chair AgriScot and build on all the hard work of my predecessor, Andrew Moir, and the team. I think it is particularly impressive, that thanks to their endeavours in bringing on board enthusiastic sponsors and trade stands – to whom we are hugely grateful – AgriScot remains a free to attend event for visitors.

We have subtly changed the ethos of AgriScot this year. The event is no longer billed as “the farm business event” but instead, is now “your farm business event”.

We want to emphasise that AgriScot is for you and for your business.

It is heartening to read the feedback reports from previous years; AgriScot has consistently exceeded the expectations of

visitors and trade-standholders.

As Chairman, I find it an exciting prospect; working with my team of Directors to ensure that the event remains relevant and valuable to you, our fellow farming professionals, and that such high levels of satisfaction are maintained.

We believe, that key to ensuring that the event continues to be held in such high regards is having the right mix of consistency and innovation. With this in mind, you will notice a few tweaks to the event this year. The farm of the year awards have gone from strength to strength, with the addition of the arable title in 2017 a great success. Having looked closely at the whole stable of farm of the year awards, early this year we decided to change the dairy award to allow nominations in the

same format as our other awards.

These awards, across the livestock and arable sectors, are a great way to showcase farms that we might all learn something from. I look forward to seeing the 2018 award winners announced – this will take place in the main ring at 12 noon, when finalists from all four awards will be welcomed into the ring and the arable, beef, dairy and sheep winners announced.

Sticking with the dairy theme.

We have introduced a new ‘anyother-breed’ class to our show classes and hope to see breeds such as British Friesian, Dairy Shorthorn and Brown Swiss alongside our regular line up of top-class Holstein, Ayrshire, Red & White and Jersey cattle.

There is no doubt that, with Brexit fast approaching, we are

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moving into uncertain times and unchartered waters – probably more so than at any time in my farming career. To my mind, this is why AgriScot is such a key date on the calendar. First up in the seminar rooms is your chance to hear directly from the policy makers and politicians, followed by a packed programme of business seminars. The exhibition halls are full to bursting with new ideas, advice and innovation and the whole day is designed to help you make your business perform at its best, whatever the economic or political climate.

I extend my utmost thanks to all of you, our visitors, sponsors, tradestand-holders and exhibitors for your support and wish you all a profitable and successful AgriScot.

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Register in Advance

each year. With any event of this scale, it is important that we are mindful of visitor safety and security. Therefore, this year, we would like to make sure that every visitor is registered to attend.”

“We will have increased numbers of registration desks available at entrances, but in order to avoid having to queue to register, I would strongly recommend advance registration via our website at agriscot.co.uk.”

RHASS chairman to guest judge AgriScot silage AgriScot 2018 will take place at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston on 21st November, but visitors are encouraged to register their attendance much earlier than that, in order to beat the potential entry queues on the day.

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Martin Dare, who organises the event on behalf of the farmer led AgriScot board, stated: “AgriScot attracts farmers and other agricultural professionals from all over Britain and further afield.”

“We are now seeing visitor numbers upwards of 11,500

Jimmy Warnock, MBE FRAgS, chairman of the Royal Highland & Agricultural Society, will be the guest assessor for this year’s AgriScot silage competition.

This is a keenly contested competition, which has £5000 worth of prizes up for grabs courtesy of sponsor, Watson Seeds.

Initial entry is by email, with farmers asked to submit their

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analysis reports. Those with the best analysis are then invited to enter a sample for judging at the farm business event in November.

In 2017, for the first time, the live sample assessment was carried out in the main AgriScot showring, with a critique given by independent assessor Hugh McClymont to great acclaim.

This year Mr Warnock has agreed to join Hugh in the assessment and commentary.

Competition organiser, Andrew Best, explains more: “It was great to see the silage competition at AgriScot take a more prominent part in the proceedings on the day.”

“The live assessment and critique gave visiting farmers much more of a chance to learn about the winning samples, and some of the secrets behind their success.”

“For 2018 we believe that this could be an even more interesting and informative attraction, and we are therefore delighted that Jimmy Warnock has agreed to come on board to assist Hugh McClymont.”

“We have witnessed a very different grass growing season in 2018, certainly when compared with 2017. I have no doubt that this will be reflected in the silage analysis reports received.”

“The take home message I got from Hugh McClymont’s

thoughts on the 2017 samples is that “silage is concentrate in a clamp, so attention to detail is essential”!”

“I know from speaking to some of our customers that the settled dry period this year certainly allowed time to give attention to detail, even if the drought led to smaller crops. It will also be interesting to see how some of the cuts taken later than normal to compensate for poor growth rates, fair in terms of quality.”

The competition is open for entries to 4 classes: dairy farm

clamp, beef / sheep farm clamp, big bale and young farmer (any

grass silage produced by a farmer under 26 years of age).

AgriScot Arable Farm of the Year grows on Following the success of the inaugural Scottish Arable Farm of the Year award at AgriScot 2017, the call for entries to the 2018 award was sounded back in the summer.

Sponsored by SoilEssentials, and organised by AgriScot and AHDB, the Award aims to demonstrate best practice in sustainable crop

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production and farm business management.

Previous winner Aberdeenshire farmer Peter Chapman will be assessing this year’s entrants

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alongside farmer and past AgriScot Chair Andrew Moir.

“I think this award is a great initiative,” Mr Chapman states “It gives you the chance to step back and have a close look at your business, assess your strengths and weaknesses, and of course it is nice to get a wee bit of recognition from your peers.”

In addition to the recognition for a job well done, the award recipient will also win a bespoke precision farming package from SoilEssentials. giving them the opportunity to analyse vital data with the most up-to-date technology.

For project facilitator Gavin Dick the Award not only aims to showcase some of the industry’s best farms but supports the drive towards a more resilient arable sector.

He says: “We want to encourage businesses to future proof themselves in an increasingly volatile environment, to adopt tools such as benchmarking to get a more in depth understanding of their business and make informed decisions which will ensure they are sustainable long-term.

“Awards like the AgriScot Scottish Arable Farm of the Year which highlight best practice and demonstrate the benefits of adopting new tools and techniques, help drive our industry forward.”

A shortlist of three farms, drawn from all the entries, will each reach receive a visit from the assessors. The recipient of the award will be announced in the main ring at AgriScot at 12 noon on Wednesday 21 November.

Nina’s on board

Nina Clancy, Chief Executive of RSABI, has been co-opted on to the Board of AgriScot, the farm business event.

Welcoming Nina on to the AgriScot Board of Directors, new Chairman, Robert Neill, stated: “Nina will be a great asset to AgriScot, she brings a depth of rural business knowledge which will complement the farming and cross sector expertise of our existing Directors.”

“We have always had a close affinity with RSABI, which will be further strengthened by the appointment.”

Nina is also a director of SAOS, the farmer co-op and food industry collaboration body.

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The AgriScot Board of Directors, chaired by Robert, is responsible for setting the overall strategy and direction of the event.

The AgriScot Directors are: Chairman – Robert Neill Representing NFUS –John Kinnaird, Gilmour Lawrie and Hamish Dykes Scottish Dairy Cattle Association – Jimmie Baillie, Robert Hunter and John Cousar Trade Stands – Graham Baxter (Harbro) and Andrew Rettie (McCaskie Agriculture) Machinery Representative – Alan Watt (Pottinger) Co-opted – Nina Clancy

By Invitation – Sandy Wilkie and Hugh Neilson

New dairy cattle class to debut at farm business event AgriScot, will this year feature an entirely new class in the dairy cattle show programme.

The event, which encompasses all farming sectors throughout its packed exhibition halls and seminar rooms, has long been renowned for its outstanding dairy cattle show. The 2018 show will see £25,000 in prize money up for grabs thanks to the generous support of sponsors including NWF Agriculture and Davidsons Animal Feeds amongst others.

For 2018, by popular demand, a new section for ‘Any other Breed’ has been introduced alongside the traditional, Ayrshire, Holstein, Jersey and Red & White classes. The new class, open to both in-milk heifers and cows, aims to attract exhibitors of breeds such as the

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Brown Swiss, British Friesian and Dairy Shorthorn.

AgriScot Chairman, Robert Neill, commented: “Our board of Directors, which includes 3 directors representing the Scottish Dairy Cattle Association, is tremendously proud of the magnificent show of dairy cattle exhibited each year at AgriScot.”

“Going forward, we are keen to open up the show classes to encourage exhibitors of other breeds to take part. These breeds may not be numerically strong within the national herd, but nevertheless we believe there are some top-class cattle out there and we look forward to welcoming them along to our show ring.

Next Issue FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE January 2019

Kevin Wilson to judge top dairy cattle

Kevin Wilson from Wood Farm, Thursby, Carlisle is the man charged with presiding over the cattle show classes at AgriScot 2018.

Mr Wilson runs 440 pedigree Holsteins on 700 acres. The herd, which is housed all year, averages 10,300litres of milk at 4.2% Butterfat and 3.4% protein from

a diet based on grass and maize silage and whole crop wheat.

The farm also supports 400 ewes, including pedigree Texel and Beltex flocks.

The Holsteins at Wood Farm are run under the Warnelview prefix. Warnelview cows are themselves no strangers to showring success and, in breeding and commercial traits, 100 of the cows are rated as excellent.

The herd is also a renowned breeder of pedigree Holstein bulls, with 35 sold each year to make their mark in other renowned herds. Around 150 surplus milking heifers are also sold each year.

Kevin Wilson has judged at the Great Yorkshire, the Royal Welsh, the Cheshire and various county shows across England.

To date his only judging stint

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north of the border was at Castle Douglas.

“I am very much looking forward to judging at AgriScot. I love judging dairy cattle and expect to see some tremendous cows and heifers forward at Ingliston.”

“It will be very interesting to see some of the other breeds coming in to the AgriScot ring. I like a cow, of any breed, which clearly exhibits dairy strength. That for me, above all, means good udder attachment and veins and 4 good legs and feet.

I am sure I will see all of that and more at AgriScot.”

Dairy cattle judging at AgriScot is split in to heifer and cow classes and culminates in the prestigious Super Heifer and Super Cow awards, which each come with a £1000 prize pot for eligible cattle.

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Scotch Beef and Scottish Sheep Farm of the Year Award showcase the best of the best The AgriScot Scotch Beef Farm of the Year and AgriScot Scottish Sheep Farm of the Year awards, sponsored by Thorntons Solicitors and supported by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), set out to find, and reward, Scottish farms which exemplify the best in beef cattle and sheep production.

These awards help to raise the profile of the dedication and passion of the cattle and sheep farmers in Scotland who work hard to produce top-quality Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI and the fantastic stock management skills the industry is renowned for.

The 2018 recipients of both awards are set to be announced in the main ring at AgriScot at 12noon and will each receive a £500 cheque plus a £250 Scotch Beef Club restaurant voucher to celebrate their success.

New open nomination format for Scottish Dairy Farm of the Year The announcement of the prestigious Scottish Dairy Farm of the Year title is once again set to be a highlight of the AgriScot event.

For 2018 the AgriScot directors have taken the decision to bring the Scottish Dairy Farm of the Year title in line with their other awards and open it up for nomination.

AgriScot Chairman, Robert Neill, commented: “We are delighted that the Scottish Dairy Farm of the Year award now follows the same steps as our other awards, i.e. it 36

is open for entry to every dairy farm in Scotland.”

“This is a great opportunity to highlight dairy farms in Scotland with potentially awardwinning stories to tell.”

Convenor for the new format dairy award, Gilmour Lawrie, a dairy farmer from Ayrshire, former Gold Cup finalist and long serving member of the AgriScot Board of Directors, commented: “AgriScot is now a major event in the farming calendar, with huge relevance to every sector in agriculture. Our beef,

sheep and arable farm of the year awards have helped to further the overall ethos of AgriScot, i.e. to showcase and highlight innovation and best practice.”

“Everyone involved in AgriScot is proud of how our previous dairy farm of the year award recipients have all lived up to this ethos. I am delighted that this year, the award has been opened up to other potential worthy recipients, who can also provide a model of best practice but may have been overlooked in the past.”

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“In the new format, there are countless reasons why a dairy farm could be shortlisted.

I can think of examples such as an innovative diversification project, a first-class grassland management plan, an outstanding team of staff.”

“I am delighted that Ice Robotics have again agreed to sponsor the award and that George Templeton of Knowe Farm and Robert Neill join me on the assessment panel. We are all very excited about championing the Scottish Dairy industry.”

A look at some of this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exhibitors A&K Elphinstone

Introducing the Cow & Calf Catcher Crate in consultation with farmers, veterinarian and welfare of animal standards.

The Cow & Calf Catcher Crate has been manufactured for the safety of both handler and animal. This piece of equipment can be used by one person rather than a number of people setting up handling gates. The preferred option to mount your crate is a tractor or loadall.

The crate will be fitted with attachments and hydraulic fittings compatible with your own machine.

The Crate measures 2mtrs x 3mtrs long longer dimension in line with the length of the loadall

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approx. weigh is 550kg similar weight to a bag of fertilizer.

Standard height of crate is 2mtrs but can be heightened on request.

Standard crate comes painted but can also be purchased fully galvanized.

Head yoke is located at the front right hand side of the crate enabling easy access for vets to perform caesarean births if required. It is essential a halter is fitted to ring slide when being used when calving and the animals head is released from the head yoke to prevent a choking incident.

Internal hinged gate is located next to the head yoke with ropes on the yoke and one end of each end of the two gates a combination of the three ropes ensures the animal is held securely.

The galvanized calf pen is located at the opposite side of the head yoke enabling easy access and if the cow is outside the pen it allows the handler easier access

to the loadall cab. This small pen carriers a new born calf securely having its own floor. When not in use it can be folded away taking up little space.

Other uses: Easy transfer of bulls from field to trailer, Safe working environment to dose or tag a new born calf.

BDC Systems

BDC Systems are the UK leading supplier of Grain drying, handling, cleaning, storage, ventilation and mill/

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mix equipment. They offer a full range of machinery from world leading manufacturers.

The Sales team cover the entire UK and Ireland and have vast experience in designing and planning projects in conjunction with a network of local dealers in both agricultural and industrial applications. Area Manager for Scotland and North of England John Wilson is based in the Scottish Borders Nr Melrose, has been well placed to support and develop the business in the area.

BDC Systems are once again exhibiting at AgriScot 2018 and were delighted with the level of interest and enquiries from last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s show, which lead to a very successful year.

BDC SVEGMA Continuous Flow Grain Driers, ranging from 8tph up to 100tph, are well proven in all conditions and crops in Scotland & North England. Skandia Grain handling equipment are market leaders in UK and BDC Systems

as sole UK distributors offer a full Sales, Technical & Service support with extensive Parts stock in UK. Should you be needing to look at upgrading or replacing your Grain Drying / Handling equipment, give John Wilson call Tel: 07468 698188. Email: john@bdcsystems.com or visit the BDC Systems stand at AgriScot 2018. Check out our website www.bdcsystems.com and follow us on Facebook.

BD Supplies

B D Supplies have been established for over 18 years.

Originally being a supplier of Animal husbandry equipment, specialising in Hoof trimming

equipment ranging from KVK Hoof Trimming Crates (winning ‘Gold’ in the Royal Highland Technical Innovation Award 2016) to knives and bandages, cattle handling equipment, electronic weighing, ear tags and general agricultural supplies and farming products.

With expansion in the last few years to incorporate Biomass Wood Pellets, becoming fully BSL registered and offering both bagged and bulk deliveries into the domestic and commercial market. This side of the business has grown considerably in the last twenty four months, with two lorries specifically designed to deliver bulk pellet in their optimum form.

Agriculture is still a huge area and we are always looking at bringing new products to the UK market and promoting products we feel have a benefit in the UK farming industry.

At the 2018 Agriscot we will be showcasing all our products,

offering customers, both old and new, to come onto our stand and have a look at what products may help them in their day to day running of their farming enterprise.

We pride ourselves on being different and like nothing better than being asked for a product which may have been seen abroad or is no longer common to the market place and we can research and find for our customer.

We pride ourselves on customer service and to us ‘the customer does come first’.

Biocell Agri

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“Biocell Agri Ltd are the yeast specialists. Our live, microencapsulated strain of yeast has full EU approval for Beef, Dairy and sheep, and is now has full SOPA and OF&G certification.

By using the yeast to maintain rumen health, we improve dry matter intake and feed conversion whilst improving amino acid supply to the gut. We therefore achieve higher daily liveweight gains in growing and fattening cattle (and lambs), better grades and faster finishing.

In dairy cows, we improve yields whilst maintaining milk quality.

In a year of forage shortages and increased purchase feed costs, it is crucial we get as much out of our diets as possible. Biocell Farm mix helps us to achieve this.

And as we approach the winter, now is the time to treat tanks, sheds and lagoons with our slurry inoculant, Slurrycell.

Less mixing, lower fuel costs, reduction of crust and more

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available nitrogen are just some of the benefits of treating slurry with our unique blend of bacillus.

By reducing the ammonia levels we are also reducing scorch on swards, and contractors report a near total eradication of blockages.

Visit us at Agriscot, or call us on 01776 820647 / 07718 905625 Bimeda

Dipping ceased to be compulsory in 1992 leading to a greater incidence of sheep scab with an estimated 60-fold increase in disease on UK farms..

In spite of having 4 medicinal active ingredients licenced and available in the UK, we are still struggling to get this disease under control.

Scab is still a major concern for UK sheep producers as it has a significant impact on the health, welfare and productivity of affected animals.

Treatment In the UK we have four options for controlling sheep scab. A key consideration for parasite control strategies is ensuring that we use the correct active ingredient at the correct time.

When we use dual endoand ecto-parasiticides for sheep scab control (the macrocyclic lactones) we are targeting both internal and external parasites.

When we dip (using Diazinon) we only target external parasites.

The highest incidence of sheep scab occurs during the winter months. At this time of year gastrointestinal roundworms are generally present in lower burdens and less likely to cause disease requiring treatment than during the grazing season.

To continuously expose these small burdens to anthelmintics (wormers) increases the rate of development of resistance.

SCOPS mirror this sentiment: “For the macrocyclic-lactone (clear 3-ML) wormers there has been a marked increase in recent years, probably linked to their widespread use as endectocides for the treatment of sheep scab.

Action to try to preserve this group is now imperative.”

A recently published paper showed the first evidence of resistance of the sheep scab mite to the endectocides (injectables)4. If you have any doubts about whether a sheep scab treatment has been effective or not then please report it to the manufacturer and/or VMD as well as asking your own vet to investigate and determine if treatment has been successful.

For full advice on sheep scab visit our stand at AgriScot.

Boehringer Ingelheim

Innovative medicines for people and animals have for more than 130 years been what the research-driven pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim stands for. Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the industry’s top 20 pharmaceutical companies and to this day remains familyowned. Day by day, some 50,000 employees create value through innovation for the three business areas human pharmaceuticals, animal health and biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing.

In 2016, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of around 15.9 billion euros. With more than three billion euros, R&D expenditure corresponds to 19.6% of net sales. Social responsibility comes naturally to Boehringer Ingelheim. That is why the company is involved in social projects, such as the “Making More Health” initiative.

Boehringer Ingelheim also actively promotes workforce diversity and benefits from its

employees’ different experiences and skills. Furthermore, the focus is on environmental protection and sustainability in everything the company does.

01344 746959 www. calfmatters.com Visit the Boehringer stand to learn how to get ahead with calf health.

Cotswold Dairy Eqpt

Cotswold Dairy Equipment Ltd will shortly be celebrating 50 years of service by introducing several new or improved products.

EXTENDED RANGE OF DAIRY WATER HEATERS The very popular range of Cotswold all-stainless steel heaters has now been extended from 240 gallons / 1080 litres by the addition of a 300 gallon / 1350 litre version and a 330 gallon / 1485 litre version.

HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEMS Based around the Cotswold range of water heaters is a range of heat-recovery versions with internal heat exchangers for direct connection to heat sources like milk chillers, biomass boilers etc. These designs are capable of substantial energy cost-savings for the ecology-conscious dairy farmer.

1000 CLUSTER FLUSHERS The company has just installed its one-thousandth Cluster Flush system, bringing dramatic reductions in cell counts to dairy farmers all over the world.

The Cotswold WASH STATION now comes with an inline pressure valve to guard against higher water pressures found at some locations.

NEW WALL-MOUNTED UDDER WASHER Recently introduced is Cotswold’s re-designed wallmounted 25-litre coil-udderwasher. This fully-insulated unit

incorporates an internal heatexchanger producing continuous pre-heated warm water at full mains pressure.

NEW WALL MOUNTED HEATER Also Recently introduced is Cotswold’s re-designed wallmounted water heater. This new 25-litre heater runs off a 3kw element and is fully insulated.

EXTENDED RANGE OF SOLENOID VALVES The company has extended its selection of solenoid valves to include the popular CEME ” and 1” ranges, as well as Asco lowpressure high temperature directacting valves in 1” and 1 ” sizes.

NEW WEB SITE: CotswoldDairy.co.uk The new website contains lots of technical data, illustrations and explanatory videos, as well as downloadable product manuals and a downloadable Cotswold catalogue and price list.

It is well-worth visiting the site to familiarise yourself with the extensive range of quality products the company produces.

ED & F Man Targeting fresh calvers with the most effective energy sources will reduce the risk of negative energy balance, helping cows settle into lactation and start cycling sooner.

The ED&F Man Glyco range of four high performance liquids based on cane molasses and glycerine, combined with syrups and high regulated release protein to provide fresh calvers with a targeted energy supply to make the most of forages. The syrups and regulated release protein are effective sources of rumen degradable protein to balance the fermentable energy from molasses and glycerine.

“While total energy fed and energy density are key concerns when getting cows established in lactation, it is also essential to consider the availability of the energy sources as they will affect the performance of the total diet,” explains ED&F Man’s Richard Dobson. “This will be particularly important this year with forage stocks under pressure.

“To reduce negative energy balance it is vital to stimulate dry (continued on page 42)

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matter intakes by improving fibre digestion in the rumen. Molasses is a source of effective six-carbon sugars and proven to stimulate intakes and digestive efficiency.

“Cows need glucogenic energy to stimulate glucose production, which is the driver of milk production. Molasses and glycerine are both glucogenic energy sources that help increase milk production in the first 100 days and keep cow in better condition.”

Visit ED&F Man Highland Hall Block 37 Farmplan

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Is your business’ turnover more than £85,000? If so, then the way you submit VAT returns is changing. From April 2019, HMRC will no longer accept manual entries and you’ll need to keep all of your records digitally to remain compliant.

The Government are calling this Making Tax Digital for VAT (MTD).

For more than 45 years, Farmplan has supplied accounts software to the agricultural industry. Visit our website or come and see us at AgriScot on stand 80 to uncover the practical implications of MTD for your business. Whilst you’re there, ask about Cash Focus, our entrylevel bookkeeping solution – fully compatible with MTD – and available from just £198 plus VAT annually.

Also on show is Gatekeeper Express+. New for 2018, this entry-level crop recording solution has been created with ease-of-use and affordability

as its core focus. Designed to simplify compliance, speed up job management and field recording, Gatekeeper Express+ is ideal for arable and mixed farms with a simpler range of requirements.

These will sit alongside our established Livestock management software, already used to manage 18% of the national herd. Find out how Farmplan can make staying compliant simpler and herd management easier, from linking with ScotMoves and pedigree societies, to integration with EID devices.

Join us on stand 80 to explore how Farmplan’s solutions can help your business grow or call our sales team today on 01594 545000 to book a one-to-one demonstration.

Giltspur Scientific

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Giltspur Scientific Ltd based in Northern Ireland, was established in 1991. The founder Dr E F Logan OBE, BVM&S, PhD, FRCVS, FRAgS, FSB invented the renowned plastic orthopaedic shoe for dairy cows known throughout the world as Cowslips or Sabottines.

Cowslips have improved the welfare of millions of cows worldwide by reducing the pain inflicted by lameness.

Lameness is the third most costly disease affecting dairy cows. It decreases feed intake and mobility thus reducing milk yield and profitability. By fitting a Cowslip to the healthy claw of a lame cow, the sore claw is raised and weight is transferred off the affected area.

This alleviates pain, prevents further injury and allows a rapid recovery. Feed intake and milk yield levels will return to normal.

Cowslips are available in FOUR sizes:

COWSLIPS ORIGINAL – Manufactured in 100% PVC with a unique non-slip raised latticed sole, of sufficient height to elevate a diseased digit off the ground.

Used on Jerseys, Guernseys, Ayrshires and Heifers.

COWSLIPS PLUS – Are longer and wider than the Original, with a length of 130mm. The sole is tapered with a deeper heel, designed to wear more evenly, reduce stress at the heel and take weight off the flexor tendons.

Used on Holsteins, Friesians and Beef breeds.

COWSLIPS XL – Are wider than the Plus shoe and half an inch longer. They have been ergonomically engineered with a rounded moccasin toe for extra comfort and fit.

Used on North American Holsteins and for large/ abnormal claws.

COWSLIPS DOC – Are 5mm wider and 14mm longer

than the XL shoe. The Doc was developed in response to demand for a wider and longer shoe.

Used when extra width and length is required and can be used on bulls.

For enquiries, contact Giltspur Scientific Ltd: Tel: +44 (0) 28 9332 2040 Email: info@giltspurscientific. com Web: www.cowslips.com Hi Spec

The Hi-Spec Engineering stand at AgriScot will this year be concentrating on the extensive range of diet feeders in addition

to the muck and slurry handling machinery manufactured by the company.

For spreading solid muck, on display will be the unique XCEL 1250 rear discharge spreader which uses a combination of rotary chains with flails to achieve a good break-up of material, which is then spread by a pair of spinning discs. Also on display will be a 10 cubic yard Hi-Spec SS1000 side spreader which, as with all side discharge spreaders is built using heavy duty 5mm thick steel.

Representing the Hi-Spec slurry tanker range, will be a HiSpec 2600 SA-R (Single-Axle Recessed) tanker with a 7.0m Storth dribble bar. This features a stepped axle to reduce overall height, fitted with commercial brakes, a Jurop vacuum pump and Vogelsang Exactacut macerator.

The wide range of options available include a Turbofill high capacity filling system, Autofill,

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anti-lock braking, GPS and a wide range of dribble, trailing shoe of injector disc applicators.

For slurry stirring, Hi-Spec will be displaying the Super 300 which is suitable for 80HP tractors and has an output of 3,000 gallons per minute. Carried on the 3 point linkage with a hydraulic top-link, the mixing spout can revolve around a wide arc to ensure complete mixing of the pit. The Super 300 is top-fill ready as standard, with a simple manual switchover between pumping and top-filling.

Representing the wide range of diet feeders available from HiSpec will be a T18 vertical feeder.

As with all Hi-Spec vertical feeders this features a low pitch mixing and chopping auger that creates a simple cycle action and is fitted with eight self-sharpening knives. A specific feature of Hi-Spec Vertical Auger feeders is their ability to quickly and efficiently incorporate complete bales into the mix.

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Krone UK

Kuhn Machinery

Krone UK Ltd, are a leading supplier of hay and forage harvesting equipment who understand that forage matters.

As a leader of innovation, Krone UK Ltd will be exhibiting at this year’s Agriscot Show a range of machines demonstrating how we can help you produce affordable quality forage without compromise. On display will be a selection of Krone EasyCut Mowers, KW Tedders, SWADRO twin rotor rakes, Comprima round balers, Forage Wagons and BiG X Forage Harvesters.

With features such as the SafeCut disc protection system for mower beds. The lift tine for Swadro rakes, designed to collect the crop at a higher work rate whilst minimizing crop contamination.

Plus the award winning Comprima round baler with its EasyFlow camless pick up for the best crop collection, Novogrip baling system producing perfect bales and the SmoothRide tandem axle for the smoothest ride.

To find out about Krone’s special show offers or for more information on the full product range please come along and visit the Krone stand.

KUHN Farm Machinery has introduced a dust control system to its range of straw bedders: available as an option on new equipment, or as a retrofit upgrade for existing machines, the CLEANSTRAW system reduces dust in livestock buildings by applying a fine mist of water to straw as it is distributed for bedding purposes.

The CLEANSTRAW system comprises a 64-litre water tank and three misting nozzles mounted at the exit of the straw blowing chute. The nozzles are fed by a 12v/15amp pump which provides water at a rate of 1.8l/ min, enough to treat 12 to 18 bales of straw with 1 litre of water per 100kg of straw.

Applying a mist of water at this rate preserves the straw’s absorbency potential whilst eliminating excessive levels of airborne dust by reducing the amount of time that these particles remain suspended in the air: trials have shown that the air in a typical livestock

building will be dust-free within 30 seconds after straw-bedding with the CLEANSTRAW system has ceased, compared to several minutes under normal conditions.

This creates a cleaner, more comfortable and more productive environment for cattle and farm workers who will be less susceptible to inhaling dust particles and other impurities.

The CLEANSTRAW system is available for all KUHN machines equipped with a POLYDRIVE blowing turbine: these include the PRIMOR range of straw bedders and feeders and the PROFILE PLUS range of mixer wagons with straw bedding capabilities. The system is automatically activated when the POLYDRIVE system is engaged and can also be armed or disabled via an in-cab switch: this enables users of a combination straw bedding and feeding wagon to turn the system on when blowing straw for bedding, or off when dispensing feed.

Landmark Systems

Landmark Systems has rural business management at its core through its software consultancy, supply and support. The KEYPrime brand represents relevant, easy to use and MTD compliant accounting and property management software, whether web-hosted or locally installed. The new release of KEYPrime (7.5) has some exciting new accounting features to make life in the office easier. The Auto Match bank feed allows bank transactions to be imported directly from a bank statement, or transactions download. This provides an immediate time-saver on the process. New transactions can be created from the bank statement import using some of the information already available – date, amount, transaction type, trader, for example. This may open up a different way of data entry, one that is more automated with less errors.

For those businesses preparing a cashflow budget then they can find benefit in KEYPrime calculating VAT for the cashflow report.

When creating a budget, the facility is there to enter a time lag between trade and cashflow to represent the variation between the two. The purchase of fertiliser that has a 90-day credit term agreed offers a good example here.

Simple functionality to ensure that budgets can be created accurately. (continued on page 46)

Y Stand No . 215 in Upland H all

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For those farmers wanting an easy to use system with a quick set up AND some good reporting functions then Landmark’s KEYPrime Intro (an entry level cashbook system) is worth a look at AgrisScot. New clients can select a bespoke installation and be up and running with a relevant coding structure within seconds, thus making the step up to a suitable system compatible for electronic VAT submissions in April 2019 quick, easy and stress

free. Landmark’s award winning development and support teams have worked hard to make the HMRC MTD scheme a routine transition for KEYPrime users.

Major Equipment

Grass and slurry experts Major Equipment Ltd are returning to AgriScot 2018 with a strong line-up of equipment from their extensive range of agricultural machinery.

With products renowned for durability, reliability and easy operability, Major Equipment designs equipment with the owner in mind – machines strongly feature versatility and low running costs, deciding factors for farms and businesses

looking to reduce maintenance bills and machine downtimes.

This is evident in the Cyclone Mower, a rotary mower that bridges the gap between a traditional grass topper and flail mower and AgriEngineering Gold Medal winner at the 2016 National Ploughing Championships in Ireland.

Designed to do the work of a flail, the Major Cyclone requires 25% less power consumption than a typical flail, saving time and fuel costs for users.

The heavy duty machine is increasingly the instrument of choice for clearing crop stubble, pasture topping, and land clearance in Scotland and around the world.

Call to the Major stand 182 at AgriScot 2018 to see the award-wining Cyclone Mowers and a selection of slurry tankers and slurry application systems.

For more information call Major Equipment Ltd on 01524 850501 or visit www.majorequipment.com.

McCormick Tractors

The most powerful and most productive tractor ever to carry the ‘McCormick’ name will feature centre-stage at the AgriScot event on Wednesday, November 21 in the Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

The 264hp version of the all-new McCormick X8 VT-Drive will be displayed by Argo Tractors, representing a three-model range that also encompasses 286hp and 310hp versions.

“The McCormick X8 VTDrive has taken the McCormick range into a new performance class and is the culmination of a big investment in new product development by Argo Tractors,” says Adrian Winnett, general manager for the UK and Ireland.

“It’s the ultimate expression of the efficient power and performance 46

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that the ‘McCormick’ name represents.”

Apart from the performance delivered by a unique combination of ZF heavy-duty stepless transmission and BetaPower

by FPT engine, the tractor has great driver appeal from the commanding position of the Premiere cab, which provides all the modern control technology expected of a tractor like this but in an easily accessible form.

A touch screen terminal on the seat-mounted control console gives access to powertrain, hydraulics, pto and other settings to optimise the tractor’s performance for different applications, and ISOBUS capability is available to control compliant implements.

Fingertip switches provide proportional response from the flow and timer programmable electric spool valves and Topcon guidance up to RTK level, as well as functions such as section control and variable rate application, is also available.

A choice of displays provides hands-free auto steering to ease the driver’s workload and provide the ultimate in precision and productivity.

“Quite apart from its technical features, the styling and size of the X8 VT-Drive gives the tractor great presence,” adds Adrian Winnett. “Enthusiastic tractor drivers will enjoy that – and we’ve added the bonus of including the eye-catching McCormick metallic ‘ruby red’ paintwork as standard to give it stand-out visual appeal within the McCormick range.”

McHale Engineering

McHale will be exhibiting a wide range of machinery during the AgriScot show at stand number 176 including the McHale Pro Glide range of Front & Rear Mowers and the Orbital High Speed Round Bale Wrapper.

McHale will be exhibiting the McHale Pro Glide F3100 Front Mower and the R3100 Rear Mower from their Pro Glide Mower Range. All Mowers are fitted with 3.1 metre cutter bars with steel tine conditioners. McHale have developed unique patented ground adaption technology which delivers 3 dimensional ground contour tracking and allows an arc of movement from left to right and forward and back movement adjusting to changes in the contours of the ground. The McHale B9000 butterfly mower is now available with hydraulic width adjustment.

McHale have harnessed the proven vertical wrapping ring technology used in the McHale Fusion to produce the McHale Orbital High Output Bale Wrapper

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which is capable of keeping up with multiple balers. Once the bale is loaded onto the bale wrapper, the high-speed vertical wrapping ring can apply four layers of film to a 1.25 metre bale in approximately 18 seconds or six layers of film in less than 25 seconds.

McHale will be showcasing their Fusion range and also on display will be the F5000 range of Fixed Chamber Balers, the V6 range of Variable Chamber Balers, the McHale C4 range of Silage Feeder & Straw Blowers and a selection of round bale wrappers and handlers.

Mole Valley Farmers

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Mole Valley Farmers is introducing a new, own brand, fresh cow rehydration drink at AgriScot 21st November 2018.

MoleCare Recover is a highly palatable post-calving drink designed to help address and prevent metabolic challenges around calving and maximise the performance of the cow something that fits with the Mole Valley Farmers’ Lifetime Dairy initiative.

It’s well recognised that a cow’s feed consumption drops around calving, putting her at risk of extreme negative energy balance. Unless managed, this has the potential to lead to metabolic problems such as milk fever and ketosis.

However, less recognised is the drop in water consumption at this time, which can compound the issue. Vet Nick Barradale of MoleCare Vets says getting a sufficient volume of water into the cow is essential for the “fluidity” of the rumen and feed intakes.

He adds: “The salt levels in what a cow drinks are also important. In the same way that a marathon runner may take on an isotonic drink, cows requires salts such as sodium and potassium to restore hydration status.”

As such, providing cows with MoleCare Recover rehydration drink can help cows “bounce back” from reduced dry matter intakes.

The specialist drink also includes available calcium, which is vital considering the cow’s calcium demands increase three fold at calving, putting her at risk of milk fever, which is estimated to cost dairy farmers £421 a case (Macrae A. and Esselmont R. 2015).

MoleCare Recover also includes: Glucose - a readily available energy source Rehydration electrolyte salts - to help the cow rehydrate post-calving and have a smooth transition into lactation

Essential nutrients - vitamins, minerals and trace elements Beta Carotene - to help promote fertility status and a successful ovulation in early lactation For more information on MoleCare Recover and NADINS visit the Mole Valley Farmers stand on 219 at AgriScot.

MSD Animal Health

The cost of disease on farm can be devastating. The estimated cost of pneumonia in a suckler calf is £82, £43 for a dairy-bred calf. The annual cost of BVD

infection can amount to as much as £90 per dairy cow, and around £37 per beef cow. Whatever the disease - IBR, Johne’s, scour, leptospirosis, salmonella – they all impact productivity, cost and animal welfare. And the effects aren’t just financial. You could lose a blood line you have cultivated over generations and productivity be impacted for the rest of a surviving animal’s lifetime.

Disease? Not On My Farm! is helping farmers work with their vets to take a preventive approach to disease. From biosecurity to vaccination, good husbandry to better hygiene, we are helping you move from struggling with the unpredictable cost of disease towards the controlled, known investment of preventive herd health.

Don’t let disease ruin your farm. Come along to stand 100, meet the Disease? Not On My Farm! team and take home some goodies to get you started. (continued on page 50)

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Assess the risks of disease for your stock Prevent disease by reducing these risks Improve health, welfare and productivity Find out more: facebook.com/ notonmyfarm twitter.com/notonmyfarm Disease? Not On My Farm is a campaign brought to you by MSD Animal Health: For technical or productrelated queries email: vetsupport.uk@merck.com For stock, order and customer service queries email: a h - c u s t o m e r- s e r v i c e s . u k @ merck.com

farmers can visit www. strautmann.co.uk or contact their local Strautmann dealer – details of which can be found on the website, or by contacting OPICO on 01778 421111.

Opico

We hope you will join us at our stand at Agriscot 2018.

You can find us just outside the entrance to the main hall where we will be exhibiting our 400 hp PTO chipper. It’s an opportunity to see the scale of the chipper and get an idea of what it could do for you.

It will chip to your preferred specification and produce up to 50 tonnes per hour of high quality woodchip. We hire it out by the hour with one of our operators so we hope you can drop by to have a look.

Pentland Biomass has been in the biomass fuel business since 2006. Since that time, we have chipped over half a million tonnes of biomass fuel with our commercial chippers and installed hundreds of biomass boilers including 3 large ones at Pentland Plants, our parent company. Two of our large boilers heat 5 acres of greenhouses for Pentland Plants and the other one powers our drying floors. The floors dry thousands of tonnes of woodchip and logs which keep our customers across central Scotland, and beyond, warm every winter. As you can imagine, we are always in the market to buy softwood and hardwood so would be delighted to discuss purchasing these at any point.

Pentland Plants and Pentland Biomass is a family business operating from our site in Loanhead, at the foot of

New low cost ‘no frills’ small mixer wagon to be launched at Agriscot In response to farmer demand for a low cost ‘no frills’ small mixer wagon, OPICO will be launching the Strautmann Verti-Mix 1201 into the UK at Agriscot. This has a mixing capacity of 12m3 and requires only around 60 hp to run. It retails from £22,911+VAT. The Verti-Mix 1201 has the same exacting quality of build and engineering as the rest of the Strautmann range, including the Vario2 stepped auger which reduces mixing time. The standard specification of the 1201 includes the Digistar EZ2500 simple weighing system, an enclosed hay ring, a wide-angle PTO, direct hydraulic control and a single door discharge. A twin door discharge and various sizes of discharge elevators are available as optional extras.

The Verti-Mix 1201 can be seen on the Opico stand at Agriscot [on 14th November].

Or, for more information,

Pentland Biomass

the Pentland hills. It would be great to see you at the Pentland Biomass stand at Agriscot or if you would like to get in touch about woodfuel supply and production, you can give us a call on 0131 4407949 or drop us a note on info@ pentlandbiomass.com.

Perry of Oakley

Turn-Key Grain Handling & Drying Solutions From Perry of Oakley Ltd With 70 years’ experience in the manufacture of materials handling, drying & storage equipment there are few types of projects that Perry of Oakley Ltd have not provided a solution for. Perry of Oakley Ltd. provide high quality machinery to a wide variety of industries, including farms, commercial grain stores, waste & aggregate industries, feed & pet food, pharmaceutical & biomass industries, and many others.

Perry specialise in the manufacture of chain & flight conveyors, aspirator pre-cleaners, belt & bucket elevators, belt conveyors, augers & screw conveyors along with their range of grain driers & belt driers. Perry can also source products such as rotary cleaners, colour sorters, destoning equipment and full feed mill/flaking mill equipment, meaning they can provide full turn-key solutions to a wide variety of industries.

All of Perry’s machines are designed & manufactured in the UK based factory from high quality galvanised steel. Their range of handling equipment is available in capacities from 10tph to 1000tph, it can convey lengths of up to 150m

and elevate to 40m. With a full range of accessories available, their products become a versatile option for handling a wide variety of materials.

Perry have 3 main ranges of equipment, agricultural (860tph), light-industrial (60150tph) & industrial machines (150-1000tph). Each range has been specifically designed for its application, this helps ensure Perry’s machines stand the test of time. Perry are so confident in their range that for a limited time they are offering a 10 year guarantee on their agricultural range of chain & flight conveyors*.

To find out more about Perry of Oakley Ltd.’s range of handling & drying equipment call +44 (0)1404 890300 or email sales@perryofoakley. co.uk Pottinger

As we see an increasing area of high value forage crops being grown for both the livestock feed and renewable energy sector, the demand increases for high output mowing and swath merging systems.

Traditional mower collectors utilise steel tined conditioner units to propel the mown crop onto a pair of conveyor belts to place both swaths on top of the centre swath from the front mower.

However the downside of such traditional mower collector systems is that the tine conditioner rotors are just too aggressive for such high energy crops as forage rye, whole crop silage, lucerne and clover grass mixes etc.

The aggressive nature of the conditioner tends to lead to high grain and/or leaf losses. Its these critical parts of the plant that contain the much needed sugars and nutrients essential (continued on page 52)

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to the best fermentation once ensiled. In an effort to address this issue Pottinger are pleased to introduce the all new NOVACAT CROSSFLOW system.

On display at this years AGRISCOT event will be the NOVACAT A10 CROSSFLOW making its UK debut at the event. This unique large triple mower combination offers cutting widths of up to 10 mtr when used in conjunction with a front mower. Full hydraulic adjustment of the working width that can also be linked to the tractors steering angle sensor offers automatic adaption to the tractor as it turns.

The cut crop is simply collected by a mechanically driven auger from the rear of the cutterbar. The large diameter robust augers deliver the crop to the centre of the tractor with minimal damage and a low power requirement.

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For more details and a closer look at this unique system do be sure to visit us in the Highland Hall at this year’s Agriscot event.

Powerwasher Services

Powerwasher Services Celebrate 35 Years in Business.

Back in 1983, former dairyman, Jack Whitecross saw a gap in the market, although there were companies selling power washers, the industry lacked a repair service. This is when Powerwasher Services was established. Today, the

PWS team of 20 is a real family business run by daughter, Liz, and son, Jim, with Jack continuing to keep a watchful eye on things.

The company supply, what they feel to be, top quality brands.

Along with Honda, Yanmar, Wilms, Thermobile, Numatic, Pramac and Nuair. Powerwasher Services main manufacturer is MAC International, they have worked with them since 2002 and have won ‘Dealer of the Year’ for every consecutive year since then. The first MAC Avant power washer was sold to Greenpark Garage in Montrose and to this day remain a customer.

Over the years the product range has expanded. Not just supplying, the business now, hires, services and repairs power washers, compressors, heaters, floor sweepers, scrubber driers, generators and vacuums. They will work with the customer by offering site surveys and demonstrations to find the right

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piece of equipment for the job and if they can’t they will build it. They also sell a wide range of janitorial supplies and cleaning products. With all this, they now have a customer base of over 4,500, throughout most of Scotland, from Inverness in the North down to the central belt in the South.

Who would have thought way back then that they would be here now!? As their business has continued to grow from strength to strength over the years, they find themselves excited about where they go from here.

Scottish Machinery Rings Association Staff from Scottish Machinery Rings Association (SMRA) will be on hand at AgriScot promoting a special rebate scheme which sees farmers and contractors eligible for a rebate of up to £3000 when they purchase a new Case IH tractor, combine or baler.

The rebate scheme has successfully run for 10 years and was negotiated by SMRA on behalf of its 7000 members.

A significant number of farmer and contractor ring members in Scotland have benefited from the scheme. which this year also signed up participating dealers in Cumbria and Northumberland.

Staff from the machinery rings will also welcome visitors to the SMRA stand at AgriScot to discuss all aspects of their work, from the traditional matching of labour and equipment supply and demand, to collective purchasing of utilities, fuels and other farm inputs.

Bruce Hamilton of Tayforth ring commented: “AgriScot provides a great platform for us to meet members to reflect on the past year and look at how we might help in the future.

Labour, which is increasingly in short supply, may become even more scarce with Brexit looming.

Our rings are often able to arrange

provision of larger machinery or extra labour when time is of the essence and a job needs doing, but I would urge members to take a more strategic view, speak to us in advance – AgriScot being a prime opportunity – to make plans in advance and help smooth the peaks and troughs.”

“The weak pound has helped to boost farm incomes across many sectors, however the value of sterling does not help with imported purchases. Now is the time to speak to our ring staff to hear how our joint purchasing power and negotiated discounts and rebates could save you money.”

Shearwell

Shearwell offer a complete solution - Tags, readers and software, designed to work together to help your business.

Shearwell’s Representative, Carol McKenna supplied a 3 way auto draft crate (HD3) to the Marchants, from Dumfries and Galloway. She recently caught up with them to find out how they are benefiting from the system.

“We purchased our HD3 around 18 months ago now and have gone from strength to strength with it. We were looking for a handling system that could allow us to record performance data from our flock as well as be able to autoshed and clamp. I carry out the majority of the sheep work on my own and the automatic features of the HD3 have saved me a great deal of time and effort whilst gathering data at the same time. We find that drafting lambs in to

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weight groups at weaning has saved us time but also helps target grazing better, which in turn improves performance of the lambs. The FarmWorks software programme is easy to use, and allows us to very quickly analyse weight gain figures between numerous breeds and management groups.

We have recently added the automatic drench gun to the system, which brings another level of accuracy, and data recording to our system without adding any more work. The Te Pari equipment is very well made and durable and is contributing a lot to the development of our flock and how we manage our ewes and finishing lambs.”

Since 2015 Shearwell has been the official UK supplier of Te Pari products. These include sheep management crates, weigh heads and load bars for cattle and sheep.

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For further details visit www.shearwell.co.uk or call head office 01643 841611, South of Scotland Rep Carol McKenna 07714 744686 or North of Scotland Rep Jane Thomson 07788 209438.

Shelbourne Reynolds

Shelbourne Reynolds will be exhibiting models from both the hedge cutter and livestock equipment ranges. The 660T trimmer model is a new model aimed at both the contractor and the farmer. The 70HP hydraulic system is taken from the well proven 700 series and features twin cast iron high output pumps. The frame is an uprated version of the 500 series frame which brings the total weight for the 6m telescopic model the 660T in at 1650kg which enables it to be safely fitted to most larger 4 cylinder tractors.

The 6m telescopic arm geometry is taken from the HD760T and features 1.2m of telescopic movement making the machine a compact 4.8m when retracted.

Control is provided by an electronic proportional joystick system.

The 457 is another new trimmer model, this is based on the 5m reach 450 model but features a longer 5.7m boom, this additional reach makes it a genuine contender as a farm hedge trimmer capable of cutting even the larger hedges.

This machine is available with either cable controls or oil proportional joystick controls.

Shelbourne Reynolds have also recently updated their Livestock Equipment ranges, the 3 model cubicle bedder range now incorporates a single piece heavy duty belt running on cage rollers to improve longevity. The CB150 will be on display at the show. The Powermix Plus twin auger range of diet feeders is now available in 16, 18 and 22 cubic metre sizes. The new machine features a new tub design which improves bale chopping speed, all models are shorter to improve turning access and the 12.5mm thick lower sidewalls improve longevity. Single axle and tandem sprung axle models are available all with Shelbournes proven front mounted webbing conveyor capable of elevating up to 4â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 6â&#x20AC;? to both sides of the machine.

Storth Machinery

Ammonia Gas is a major contributor to air pollution across the globe and at Storth, we knew we could do more to help reduce air pollution. Following intense research, we designed and produced a complete range of Slurry Handling Machinery, to suit the ever-changing needs of Farmers and Contractors worldwide. We listened to and responded to our customers and designed a complete system, starting with the cow, ending back in the field.

As most Gas Emissions are released on the spreading of Slurry, Storth manufactured in our British based factory, a range of galvanised Dribble Bars to help assist with precision application, whilst meeting the most demanding needs of the agricultural market. This type of slurry application assists with the amount of nutrients available to crops, as traditional methods of spreading slurry see that most nutrients are lost in the atmosphere, releasing the harmful Ammonia Gas. Our range of Dribble Bars reduce the surface area of which slurry is exposed to, lowering nutrient losses by as much as 5% in comparison to Spreader Bars.

Every farm is different, therefore Storth developed a range of Dribble Bars to help accommodate most farmers and as such, the Vertical Fold and Sequence Dribble Bar were made. The Vertical Fold Dribble Bar incorporates a close coupled central frame design, giving narrow transport width, as well

as the strength to facilitate the optional HD Female A-frame.

Prior to slurry being applied to the ground, it is processed by the Macerator, giving an evenbetter consistency to the slurry being applied. The Sequence Dribble Bar uses an intuitive folding design, which enables compact storage of our wider dribble bars. This reduces transportation height and width issues associated with Dribble Bars of 7m or more. To find out more, please visit our website www.storthmachinery.co.uk Teagle Machinery

Teagle Machinery has been the UK distributor of the Centerliner range of Fertiliser Spreaders since 2010. Working alongside Tulip Industries, the family owned manufacturer based in Holland, the partnership has successfully developed sales of the Centerliner and a range of Cultivation Products through the Teagle UK dealer network.

For the 2018 season, the top end of the Centerliner range has been extended to incorporate a new series of electronic control models with capacities extended (continued on page 56)

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to 3,650 litres. The new SXe and SXi models will adopt the popular and straightforward set-up procedures established over many years and apply the fertiliser through the reliable quadruple overlap system.

These tried and tested features consistently deliver accurate application and coverage.

The New SXe models have been equipped with the Easytronic control system for regulation and monitoring dependent upon tractor speed.

The speed is taken to the Centerliner direct from the tractor speed sensor or alternatively via a Centerliner Wheel Sensor Kit or GPS system.

Topping off the range, the new SXi Models are also equipped with the Easytronic control system. In addition, two weigh cells are integrated into the chassis to provide automatic calibration and weighed application rate according to tractor speed.

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Easytronic can be extended to provide headland management and the latest variable rate technology including GPS communication and ISOBUS protocols. Easytronic control units can also be used with the Teagle Polymat Seed Drill.

SXe List Prices start at £11,920.

For more details contact Jim Squires UK Sales Manager, Teagle Machinery Tel: 07794 689899 / e-mail jim.squires@ teagle.co.uk Tramspread Tramspread based in Suffolk specialises in Slurry and Digestate handling equipment.

The company was established in 1988 and started Tramspread Contracting Ltd in 1990, applying mainly pig slurry to arable land, in those early days approximately, 25% would be applied in the spring and 75% to land following harvest, using very basic application equipment. Things have changed a lot, these days we apply 70%.

In the spring mainly pig slurry and digestate as top dressing to cereal crops using 4 x 24m Dribble Bars and all the latest technology i.e remote control engine drive pumping Systems plus a Flowmeters feeding the information via an ISO bus connection to the tractor in cab data recording computer system allowing down loading full application maps etc.

Tramspread has also been working in collaboration with John Deere testing their new slurry lab monitoring system, all this hands on experience gives Tramspread a wealth of knowledge when it comes to storing, mixing, separating, pumping and applying slurrys & digestate.

Another area of change has been in drag hose diameters, there is still a large quantity of 4” still sold, 4 “ and 5” is getting very popular, demand for 6” hose is growing, this is mainly because some contractors are charging by the m3 and are wanting higher flow rates.

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Larger diameter hoses are also beneficial in retaining flow rates over longer pumping distances.

Tramspread has reacted to this demand by adding a new Trailed Random Wrap Hose Reel to its range of hose reels with a capacity of 2000m x 6” drag hose with its twin hydraulic motor drive.

It is well capable of reeling in 600m x 6” drag hose a time, this hose reel compliments the 600m single hydraulic motor drive and our bestselling 1000m twin hydraulic motor drive 3-point mounted random wrap hose reels with detachable spools.

Viking Genetics

Les Hansen, Ph.D. Dairy Cattle Genetics Specialist from The University of Minnesota, who has led several research projects regarding the crossbreeding system ProCROSS, presented the results of a study about feed efficiency and stated that ProCROSS cows are inherently able to convert feed more efficiently into milk solids compared to Holstein cows.

“Improved feed efficiency can be added to the list of advantages of ProCROSS cows over Hol-stein cows,” Prof.

Les Hansen stated in Lisbon, Portugal, last summer. The study was the research project of Ph.D. graduate student Dr. Brittany Shonka-Martin at the University of Minnesota, he explained. She compared 123 first-lactation cows (63 ProCROSS and 60 Holstein) and 80 second-lactation and third-lactation cows (43 ProCROSS and 37 Holstein) for dry matter intake, body

weight, height, body condition score, milk volume, and fat plus protein production over a three-year period.

All cows were fed the same TMR (Total Mixed Ration) twice daily in tie-stalls. Feed samples were collected twice weekly to determine dry matter content.

Feed intakes were recorded from days four to 150 of lactation. ” Fat and protein production (kg) was no different for the two groups during the first lactation or during the second and later lactations. However, the ProCROSS cows had higher percentages of fat and protein in their milk than the Holstein. For most milk markets, milk price is based mainly on the solids in milk”, Hansen said.

The trial also demonstrated that ProCROSS cows carried significantly more body condition, but were not different from the Holstein cows for body weight; ”The smaller frame sizes of the ProCROSS

cows combined with increased body condition enhances fertility and health which are advantages of ProCROSS cows over Holstein”, he added.

Vogelsang

Vogelsang Rotary lobe pumps - Save money and time with a Vogelsang Lobe pump.

Digestate/Slurry is a valuable commodity, and if used correctly can bring economic benefits, Vogelsang offers everything you need for liquid manure management, reliable pumping and application technology that can be counted on day after day.

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Vogelsang manufactured there first lobe pump in the 70s, over the years with improved technology have found they can offer the lobe pump to be used in numerus operations around the farm or Biogas plants.

More operators are finding that using the lobe pump, instead of the centrifugal pump for umbilical cord supply, can save them time and more importantly money, with exciting users saving up to 10 litres an hour on fuel, compared to when they use the centrifugal pump for the same application.

The same high output pump, can also be used to transfer or mix/homogenise the lagoon before pumping to the field.

Main Overview of the lobe pump, Self-priming from as deep as 5m, Reversible flow direction, variety of drive options. Easy to transport.

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Vogelsang Ltd have a high output PTO drive for demonstration please call Sion Williams on 07817 986561 for more information.

Yara UK

Fertilizer has always been a safe investment. Applying the optimum level of nitrogen will return a healthy yield and good quality grass, whether you’re growing it for grazing purposes or looking to reduce feed costs through better silage management.

Return on Investment Figures These calculations are based on all applied nitrogen coming from mineral N. The

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other variable and fixed costs associated with growing silage have not been factored in. * For 1ST cut and with an application of 120kg N/ha, you can expect to produce 5.5 t DM/ ha, with a nitrogen cost of £88 per ha (AN at £255 t). This will produce 20 t FW/ha of silage, valued at £25 tonne/FW giving you £500 per ha. That’s a return on investment of 5.7 to 1! * On your 2nd cut with an application of 90kg N/ha, you can expect to produce 2.5 t DM/ha, with a nitrogen cost of £66 per ha (AN at £255 t).

This will produce 9 t FW/ha of silage. Valued at £25 tonne/FW is £225 per ha. That’s a return on investment of 3.4 to 1!

Make your fertilizer work harder One of the most common hurdles in achieving this impressive return, is incorrect soil pH. On grassland, an optimum soil pH is 6.0. Achieving the correct soil pH allows the soil

biology and earthworms to thrive and break down plant residues, animal manures and release nutrients required for healthy plant growth.

Correcting soil pH will also increase the availability of NPK

(particularly P), ensuring you get a better return on your fertilizer investment.

Come and talk to us on stand 60 at Agriscot about how to achieve the best return on your fertilizer investment.

Farming Scotland Magazine invites you to come along to our stand, 161 Lowland Hall and enter our competition in aid of RSABI charity.

A great prize to be won!

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Investing in

People

John Deere apprentice of the year awards A total of 48 young service technicians have formally graduated from the latest John Deere Ag Tech, Parts Tech and Turf Tech advanced apprenticeship programmes, run in partnership with national training provider ProVQ. John Deere hosted its annual apprentice graduation ceremony earlier this year in Germany, with the apprentices visiting the company’s cab factory and European Parts Distribution Centre in Bruchsal before being presented with their awards at the John Deere Forum in Mannheim.

Four of the company’s apprentices won overall awards for the 2017 graduation year.

Ewan Edwards of dealer RBM Agricultural Ltd, Louth was named Ag Tech Apprentice of the Year, for which he received a crystal plaque, a certificate and vouchers for workshop tools worth £250.

Sean Murphy of Charlies Groundcare in Newtown was awarded Turf Tech Apprentice

of the Year and joint Parts Tech Apprentices of the Year were Max Evans of Tallis Amos Group in Bristol and Jack Norman of Masons Kings in Exebridge.

All three also received a crystal plaque and certificate, and the same value vouchers.

The presentations were made

by Deere & Company’s Region

2 training delivery manager Dr Lutz Schueppenhauer and John Deere Limited’s newly appointed branch training manager Allan Cochran.

Emma Tristram wins Nick Bird Award Emma Tristram from Axminster in Devon has won the 2018 Nick Bird Award, at Harper Adams

University, for her dissertation on heat stress in dairy cows.

The Nick Bird Award was set up by Reading-based Farmex in recognition of the work carried out by Nick Bird, a director of the company who died in 2013. His 17 years of working in the field of realtime monitoring of pig production has had a significant impact on the industry and, increasingly, other livestock sectors.

The Award – a perpetual trophy and a cheque for £500 – is for an outstanding piece of written work that involves recorded observations of an agricultural process, data analysis and interpretation with demonstrable added value for farmers.

“Emma Tristram’s dissertation provided an excellent insight into a very topical subject. A comprehensive literature review preceded clever use of field data to identify an index of heat stress in a dairy herd. Emma went on to use established assessments of cost implications for dairy farmers due to the negative impact of heat stress. Using knowledge and data in this way is exactly what the Nick Bird Award is all about,” said Farmex managing director Hugh Crabtree.

Emma, who achieved a 2:1 BSc degree in Agriculture, said she noticed, on placement, that cows on a few farms had lower summer fertility and one farm in

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particular was interested to see if heat was the main factor. This led to the use of data loggers to collect information on heat and humidity in relation to cow fertility within the dairy herd and this was analysed to find a link.

The impact of heat stress on fertility is costing farmers a lot of money and she suggests that the benefit of putting in heat abatement such as fans or sprinklers looks viable from just current fertility losses.

Emma plans to use part of her prize money to further her career as a ruminant nutritionist and has just started a job in this field with West Country company, SC Nutrition.

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organics Organic Ayrshire Farm Wins National Innovation Award

The team from Ayrshire farm Mossgiel, certified by the Scottish Organic Producers Association, was last night awarded the ‘Innovation in Farming’ accolade at Scottish Land and Estate’s Helping it Happen (HiH) awards.

Mossgiel was one of three finalists in the ‘Innovation in Farming’ category, sponsored

by Douglas Home & Co, and it was their commitment to organic farming for a sustainable future that saw them scoop the prize.

After beginning their sustainable journey in 2015, Mossgiel now supplies the milk from their herd directly to businesses and consumers across the west coast of Scotland.

They’re continuing to make 60

waves within the industry with their bid to become the UK’s first plastic-free organic dairy farm.

The team at Mosssgiel have taken back control of their future, and have ensured a sustainable future for generations to come.

Nina Clancy, Chief Executive of RSABI and one of the Helping It Happen judges said: “The fact that Mr Cunningham and his family broke with traditional marketing methods and took back control to turn the business around was inspirational. This type of innovative thinking is what will be needed going forward to tackle ever-increasing pressures on farming businesses. Telling people the story of where their food comes from is so important

and Mossgeil has a great story to tell!”

The ‘Helping it Happen’ campaign from SL&E aims to highlight how landowners and rural businesses across Scotland play a key role in enabling and supporting success in rural areas.

Bryce Cunningham, farmer at Mossgiel, had the following to say about their win: “Since we began our journey to reconnect forks with farms, we have had many exciting times which our hardworking herd of people and cows have both loved and been challenged by; especially me.”

He continued: “To receive an award for doing something you love is absolutely incredible and we are hugely grateful, but

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it’s not why we do what we do. We want to help the people of Scotland connect with their local, passionate, hard-working food producers in a sustainable, Scottish, Organic food system” SOPA’s Policy Manager Debs Roberts added: “We were absolutely thrilled to find out that Mossgiel had won the Innovation in Farming award.

The work they are doing to build a sustainable business is such a fantastic example to farmers everywhere that you don’t have to be governed by low milk prices. That’s not to say it’s easy, Bryce and the team work phenomenally hard to supply their customers and to continue building a sustainable legacy for future generations.”

renewable energy

Large-scale solar makes a comeback

Large-scale solar power projects are set to make a comeback as costs decline – and landowners should act now to secure rental agreements.

According to independent power consultant Roadnight Taylor, demand for large-scale solar is set for a revival, with developers returning to the market after three years of impasse. “In 2015 the Government announced the end of the Feed in Tariff and Renewable Obligation incentives, which killed the solar market,” explains chief executive Hugh Taylor. “Since then, the renewables industry has been waiting for a time when the cost of solar technology has reduced sufficiently to make further schemes worthwhile.”

Solar costs have since reduced by 20-30% a year, at the same time as wholesale energy prices have soared by nearly 60% which means developers are back in the market. “Solar operators are starting to secure power purchase agreements with large corporate organisations like Amazon and Google, which have committed to using 100% renewable energy,” says Mr Taylor. “These operators anticipate the first schemes to

be built in 2019, with the pace picking up into 2021 and 2022.”

This means developers are already on the lookout for suitable sites. Typically, these will be upwards of 40 acres, relatively flat and in an area of good solar irradiation, he adds. Importantly, they will also be in an area with good grid connection capacity remaining. “Ground rents will vary considerably depending on the site, but offers can exceed £150,000 a year for a 25-year lease for larger schemes.”

However, it’s important that landowners act fast – because grid capacity is severely limited.

“If there is capacity on your part of the network it will only be enough for one scheme. If you’ve got a good site you need to secure that capacity for yourself before someone gets in first.”

To get the best deal, it’s also vital to act independently from a developer, warns Mr Taylor. “You should take professional advice – our ‘Stop/Go’ study costs from £350 to see whether a site has true potential. We can then secure the grid rights for you, and market your site to multiple developers so you retain control and get the best terms available.”

Colostrum is important – but why?

A good colostrum protocol is the foundation stone of reducing calf disease and consequently maximising calf survival and growth rates.

In the weeks leading up to calving, the cow produces immunoglobulins, otherwise known as antibodies that are too large to cross the placenta. Instead, they are stored in milk, thus forming colostrum. These antibodies are absorbed by the calf through the gut and released into the blood stream. The cow forms these antibodies in response to infectious agents in the environment and this is the basis of the neonatal immune system.

Dam colostrum is therefore best as the immunoglobulins produced will have been made in response to infectious agents that the calf is also likely to encounter!

As soon as the calf is born, the ability of the intestine to absorb these antibodies begins to reduce. At 12 hours old the amount absorbed is halved and after 24 hours barely any antibodies will be absorbed. For this reason, it is essential that a good feed of colostrum is given within 2 hours and certainly by 6 hours after birth to maximise the

amount of antibody absorbed.

As a rule the first feed should be 10% bodyweight followed by a similar sized feed within 12 hours of birth. Studies have shown that a calf would have to suckle continuously for 20 minutes to receive sufficient colostrum.

Due to both cow and calf factors this is unlikely to happen and intervention to feed colostrum is often required.

On the basis of this knowledge, a good colostrum protocol should start with ensuring the cow produces colostrum with high immunoglobulin content.

Ensuring cows are in an appropriate body condition score pre calving is a good place to start and vaccinations can be used strategically to boost antibody production.

Discuss with your vet if taking blood samples to assess cows’ energy and protein status may be appropriate.

Colostrum quality can be checked before feeding using a colostrometer and excess high quality colostrum can be frozen and used in the future.

Monitoring the success of colostrum transfer in calves can be done by blood sampling between 24-hours and 7-days of age.

For more ideas on improving farm efficiency which can in turn reduce the farm carbon footprint, see www.farmingforabetterclimate.org and 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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Farming travel guide Scotland Tales from Shetland

by Janice Hopper Shetland is known for its archaeology, its endearing ponies and Viking connections, but when you look more closely, many of its key sites and visitor attractions focus on farming, agriculture and land management. Historically, life on this remote archipelago could be challenging, so managing resources, essentially knowing where the next meal was coming from, was crucial.

A key example of a renowned attraction with a rich farming back-story is Mousa Broch. Many visitors set sail on a fifteen minute crossing from mainland Shetland to the Isle of Mousa to ascend the broch that dates back to 300BC, or to watch the gannets and storm petrels on this renowned RSPB Nature Reserve. But the island’s farming history holds its own interest, as Mousa was inhabited until 1853 and self-sufficiency was key.

When visitors dock at Mousa, before them stands Ham House, built around 1770 as a fishing booth for curing. It was also a sight for dipping Shetland sheep, as the purpose-built troughs behind the building testify. Standing in proud ruins is the lifeblood of the island, Knowe House, as it was the farm that supported the wealthy merchants living in the ‘big hoose’, known as The Haa. Visitors should

Jarlshof - Courtesy of Visit Scotland

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Docking at Mousa

also look out for the remains of Click Mill where the millstones were driven by water from a nearby loch. And explore Horses Haad, a site where Shetland Ponies were corralled until the 1980s.

From Mousa, return to mainland Shetland and head south to Sumburgh to visit the globally renowned archaeological attraction, Jarlshof. Spanning 4000 years of human history, agriculture is at the heart of many

of the ruins, as settlers built, rebuilt and refashioned buildings over time. Jarlshof was considered to be a prime site for a settlement due to fertile land for agriculture, good grazing, and its position above the natural harbour of West Voe. The earliest ruins centre around a warming hearth, and remains reveal stone querns in which grain was ground into flour. Middens suggest a daily life of growing grain, collecting shellfish and keeping cattle and sheep. A Jarlshof farmhouse dates to AD1300, and a Laird’s House symbolises the wealth and power Scottish landowners accrued.

Jarlshof provides snapshots of rural life over four millennia in one historic location.

To discover more about Shetland’s history the islands’ capital of Lerwick beckons, but en route drop by the Mackenzie Farm Shop in Cunningsborough for a pitstop in the café and to pick up local produce. From there, stop at the Croft House Museum in Dunrossness. This mid-nineteenth

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century Shetland croft was occupied until the late 1960s. It reveals that working the land was the job of the wife and children, as the main source of income and food was the sea. The man of the house would be a fisherman, seaman or whaler, leaving the family behind to tend to the crops and any livestock. Inside the croft uncover traditional box beds in the ‘Ben end’ (the bedroom), and explore the kitchen, known as the ‘But end’.

From crofting to grain, Dunrossness is also home to Quendale Mill. Built in 1867 to process the Quendale Estate grain, the mill has been lovingly restored.

Visitors watch a short video featuring local people recounting their stories and experiences of the working mill, before a self-guided tour reveals crofting artefacts, and tells the history of the industrious building.

From Dunrossness drive north to Lerwick. In the islands’ capital, the Shetland Museum provides a thorough overview

Farming travel guide Scotland of the archipelago, touching on Viking history, textiles, fishing and whaling, and agriculture is a key focus. Shetland crops are highlighted, such as the Shetland Black potato, and a display reveals a small house from around 1750 that would have sheltered around a dozen people. At the front a pig wanders around, as fish and woollen socks dry in the breeze.

Shetland’s specific history of land use is explained. People farmed and lived within a ‘toon’ or township, situated within a dyke.

Land outwith this was known as the ‘Scattald’, common land used by all. It was a communal existence, with poor and good land divided relatively equally, and everyone clubbing together to mow the hay and ensure everyone’s crops were harvested on time. But harvesting crops is no easy feat on these windswept isles. The museum touches on the sensitive history of emigration, explaining how Shetland’s population peaked in 1870 at over 30,000 people, but the following decades saw a rapid slump as islanders were evicted from their

Uninhabited beautiful Mousa, now home to sheep

crofts or took risks to seek a better life overseas, often setting sail for North America, Australia and New Zealand. For some emigration was an adventure, for others a desperate act of survival.

As well as its people, Shetland’s wool travels all over the world. Shetland Museum tells the story of the rise of Shetland knitwear in fashionable circles,

Life on the Land explored at the Shetland Museum

and the islanders’ efforts to protect it from cheap imitation.

Stylish Shetland Tweed and the delicate, gauzy Shetland Lace are celebrated, but of course, quality textiles require quality yarn. Whilst Fair Isle is known for its knitwear, it’s the island of Unst that gained a reputation for its spinning skills.

Preparing the raw wool is a labour of love in itself, as it requires to be carded, spun and doubled on a spinning wheel, bleached white, washed, stretched and prepped into balls, before the actual lacework can commence. The finished Shetland lace shawls are pieces of intricate beauty, and can take years to complete.

For a further lowdown on textiles dip into the nearby Shetland Textile Museum. Little knitted jumpers greet visitors upon arrival, and even the centre’s gate is knitted by renowned local craftsperson, Anne Eunson, using fishing twine rather than wool, and huge curtain poles in lieu of traditional knitting needles.

The knitting pattern is known as ‘Print o’ da Wave’ and ties in well with the building’s situation on the waterfront. As well as examples of tweed, knitwear and fine lace on display, it’s possible to watch spinning and knittings demonstrations, ask questions about the process and the industry, and purchase authentic souvenirs in the textiles gift-shop.

The wonder of Shetland is that it fascinates visitors with a range of interests. People flock to

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the islands for the bird watching, the landscape and scenery, the Norse connections, the food and the fire festivals, but for anyone with even a passing interest in farming, agriculture and livestock there are riches to explore.

Where to Eat - A Taste of Shetland Shetland Museum - One of the few eateries open on a Sunday, it boasts views out over the water and dishes up a range of local produce.

Fjarå - A relaxed, modern café, with sea views, fresh, healthy dishes, sumptuous cakes, coffee and cocktails.

Scalloway Hotel - Renowned for dishing up delicious Shetland fare.

Cornerstone Café - A handy, informal lunch stop in Scalloway.

Sumburgh Head - A café at a lighthouse? Expect jaw-dropping views.

Factbox Sail with Northlink Ferries northlink.com Visit Mousa with Mousa Boat mousa.co.uk Explore Jarlshof with Historic Scotland - historicenvironment. scot Read more about the Crofthouse Museum and Quendale Mill shetlandheritageassociation.com Tap into the big picture at the Shetland Museum - shetlandmuseum.org.uk Uncover textile history shetlandtextilemuseum.com 63

LiveScot & Premier Meat Exhibition Two great events in November Entries have now closed for the Premier Meat Exhibition which is firmly established as the largest of its kind in Europe and is again set to attract a huge entry of prime beef cattle and lambs from exhibitors across Scotland and the North of England.

Organised by the Scottish National Fat Stock Club in conjunction with Scotland’s leading meat company, Scotbeef, the M&S sponsored exhibition starts on Wednesday, November 14, with the live judging at Caledonian Marts’ Stirling mart followed by the judging of the carcasses and presentation of awards on Saturday, November 17, at Scotbeef’s Bridge of Allan meat plant.

“The Premier Meat Exhibition provides a national showcase for Scotland’s beef and sheep producers who are recognised throughout the world for the production of high-quality Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb, which has the protection of the EU’s Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) legislation to guarantee its authenticity,” said SNFSC chairman, John Bannatyne, Drumalbin Farm, Lanark.

“The exhibition provides the ideal opportunity to keep Scotland’s fantastic beef and lamb in the public eye at a time of great uncertainty due to Brexit.”

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The success of the exhibition since its inception in 1992 is largely due to the support of Scotbeef and the company’s biggest customer, M&S, who are the main sponsors and Scotbeef host the prize-giving lunch for all exhibitors, along with industry leaders and stakeholders in the industry. Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb are premium products in M&S supermarkets up and down the country.

Members of the Milan Butchers Association, who have had a long association

with the exhibition, are also regular attenders to present the association’s trophies for the best carcase suitable for the Italian market and best export lamb.

The live cattle will be judged at Stirling by well-known stockman, Alistair Cormack, Stuartslaw Farm, Allanton, Duns, and the live lambs by leading sheep producer, Andrew Baillie, Carstairs Mains Farm, Lanark.

The beef carcasses at Bridge of Allan will be judged by

Champion Carcase Presentation

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beef farmer and former meat wholesaler, Neil Stoddart, Halflawkiln, Tynehead, Pathhead, Midlothian, and the lamb carcasses

by Richard Henderson who is a procurement officer with Woodhead Bros of Turriff.

A feature of the competition is the Young Livestock Producer classes confined to exhibitors aged from 16 to 26 years which has been very successful since its introduction in 2013 to encourage the younger generation in to the livestock industry.

LiveScot 2018 Our LiveScot event on 24th November, is fast approaching, with beef cattle and sheep entries now closed.

Now in it’s fifth year at Lanark Market, LiveScot has gone from strength to strength in recent years, with visitor and exhibitor numbers increasing annually. Organisers are gearing up for a bumper show in 2018, with a significant prize fund up for grabs of £9000 in the cattle section and £3000 in the sheep section.

Local farmer John Bannatyne has taken over the reigns as chairman and an impressive lineup of judges will select the best of the best in the show rings.

Jason Wareham will take on the difficult task of choosing the overall cattle champions, while his wife Sarah will also be on hand to judge the commercial calf and young handler sections.

Both are looking forward to their trip to Lanark in November, where they expect the standard of cattle to be particularly strong.

“It’s a great honour to be asked to judge at LiveScot and I know there will be plenty quality cattle on show. I’ll be looking for an animal that’s full of meat, but with style and quality too – it’ll have to have the wow factor,” says Jason.

In charge of selecting the champions in the sheep section, meanwhile, will be Brian MacTaggart, farm manager for the past 40 years at Douganhill Farms, Castle Douglas. A stalwart of the prime lamb shows since the 1980s, Brian has won championships at Smithfield, the Scottish Winter Fair and the Royal Highland and has judged at many of the main events, including Countryside Live and the Scottish Winter Fair when it was held in Perth.

Brian says his lambs would be: “Well fleshed, without being overfat, and as near a pair as possible, with conformation to suit the breed or cross.”

New at LiveScot this year will be the Smithfield beef ribs and saddle of lamb competitions where

we hope to have a fine display of meat.

Aswell as our large sections of Beef Cattle and Sheep we have sections for Dairy Cattle, Young Handlers, Poultry, Shepherds Crooks, Silage, Hay, Potatoes & Grain and our quality show of Baking and Crafts.

With something for everyone this is sure to be a day not to be missed. Doors will be open from 8am with judging commencing at 8.30am in the sheep and beef classes.

The Trustees of the Scottish National Fat Stock Club look forward to welcoming you on the 24th November.

Judges: CONTINENTAL CLASSES AND OVERALL BEEF CHAMPIONSHIPS Jason Wareham,

Little Totlingworth Farm, Broadoak, Heathfield BUTCHERS CATTLE & HOUSEWIVES CHOICE CLASSES Jamie Scott, John Scott Meats, Sandyford Road, Paisley COMMERCIAL CALF SHOW & CATTLE YOUNG HANDLERS Sarah Wareham, Little Totlingworth Farm, Broadoak, Heathfield DAIRY JUDGE Glyn Lucas, Harrison & Hetherington, Carlisle SHEEP CLASSES, OVERALL AND BREED CHAMPIONSHIPS Brian MacTaggart, Douganhill Farms, Palnackie, Castle Douglas SINGLE EWE LAMBS Allan Wight Jnr, Midlock Farm, Crawford, Biggar

SHEEP YOUNG HANDLERS David Cunningham, Walkerdyke Farm, Strathaven POTATOES, GRAIN, HAY & GRASS SILAGE Johnny Watson, John Watson Seeds, Skateraw, Dunbar CROOKS Sam Smith, Mossfoot, Kirktlebridge, Lockerbie BAKING AND CRAFTS SECTION Isabel Haddow, Lawriesmuir Farm, Lesmahagow

Entry: £10 (Under 14’s: free) For any more information, please contact: Scottish National Fat Stock Club secretary Margaret Gray, on 07939 523575 Email: secretary@fatstockclub.co.uk Website: www.fatstockclub.co.uk

Champion - Miss Tees

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65

LAMMA ’19

LAMMA ’19 Exciting new era begins for one of the UK’s leading agricultural events An exciting new era for LAMMA begins in January 2019 when it opens its doors for the first time at the NEC in Birmingham.

The move promises a whole new experience for visitors, with

all stands at the UK’s leading agricultural event being fully under cover for the first time in its history.

LAMMA ’19, which continues to offer free entry and

Y Visit our LAMMA stand Hall 12, Stand 12.232

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car parking, will build on the show’s reputation as a key diary event for farmers, contractors, other rural businesses and their staff.

The 11 halls at the NEC are set to host more than 600 exhibitors who will show a vast array of the latest machinery, equipment and services to suit all sectors of the industry, whatever the budget.

Elisabeth Mork-Eidem, group events director at AgriBriefing, which owns LAMMA, says: “We are excited by the opportunities that the NEC creates for the LAMMA show. The NEC enjoys great links with the rest of the UK, making visiting LAMMA easier than ever.

“The new venue provides a professional, comfortable indoor venue that is appropriate for this key event in the agricultural calendar. Both visitor and exhibitor feedback has been incredibly supportive, with a lot of real excitement regarding this

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important development for the UK agricultural industry.”

The show will retain its informal, friendly atmosphere, which has helped make it such a draw with farmers from across the UK and beyond.

Ms Mork-Eidem adds: “Visitors will have a unique opportunity to explore the latest innovative technology from a wide range of companies, speak to the experts and see all the kit up close – and all whilst staying warm and dry!”

Richard Miller, marketing manager at Fendt, reflects the views of many exhibitors who have now booked into LAMMA ’19. “The move to the NEC is extremely positive; this is what is needed in the agricultural industry,” he says.

“Manufacturers have an opportunity to launch new products and customers can easily see what’s available and can plan their current and future business investments.”

LAMMA â&#x20AC;&#x2122;19 Practically all agricultural machinery and equipment will be represented in one form or another, including the latest tractors, combines, drills and cultivation kit, some of it on view for the first time.

However, the event will stay true to its roots, attracting not just large machinery manufacturers but also smaller agricultural engineering and machinery firms from across the UK. They will be showcasing a wide range of products and services, including new tackle, novel technology and every type of tool imaginable.

This combination of large and small, unique on this scale in the UK, gives visitors access to more innovative products than anywhere else on one site in the country. They can see these new products and compare them in real life, and quiz the manufacturers and suppliers face-to-face.

Plenty of professional development points for various

schemes will be on offer at LAMMA â&#x20AC;&#x2122;19, reflecting its status as a leading knowledge exchange event within the industry.

Two Dairy Pro points are on offer, up to six BASIS points per day (two for attending and four for completing questionnaires on the BASIS knowledge trail),

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and two NRoSO points per day.

The first LAMMA show at the NEC will take place on Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th January 2019.

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LAMMA ’19 Advance registration for fasttrack entry To help make the most of their time at the event, visitors are being asked to register in advance. This simple four-step process is now open at www. lammashow.com Badges will be emailed automatically within a few minutes of completing the form, ensuring visitors can walk straight through to the show when doors open on Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th January.

As well as enjoying fast-track entry into the show, visitors will be able to use their badges to share details quickly and easily with exhibitors.

Registration will also play an important part in the development of LAMMA. Ms Mork-Eidem says: “By making LAMMA a register-toattend event, we can continue to develop the show – the more we know about our visitors, the better we can tailor future shows to meet their needs.”

There are numerous bus and coach options from within the West Midlands area.

The closest airport is Birmingham Airport which is connected to the NEC by a free and fast shuttle to Birmingham International Railway Station.

A full interactive map of the show will be available on the website prior to the event, and showgoers can download the LAMMA app to plan their visit and find their way around the event.

Visitor wi-fi is available.

For more information on all travel options to the NE See www.thenec.co.uk/visitors/ getting-here A detailed show guide will be handed out at the LAMMA entrance gates on arrival. It contains a full listing of exhibitors and a map to help navigate around the showground.

Parking is free for the event.

The NEC is clearly signposted from all motorways and major routes. Once at the NEC ignore satnavs and look for LAMMA show signs. Once parked, visitors can take a free shuttle bus or signposted footpaths to the show entrance.

Birmingham International Railway Station is located within the NEC. For all events at the NEC, Virgin Trains offers 25% off advance tickets fares – see www.virgintrains.co.uk/nec

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For further information about LAMMA ’19 please go to www.lammashow.com For further LAMMA visitor information go to www.lammashow.com/visitorinformation

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69

BOOK SERIALISATION

The coming of the lorries In the concluding extract of her book, Terry J Williams finds out about the time when high streets would echo with the sound of cattle hooves – and the arrival of the first cattle trucks on Uist

Driving cattle along Dingwall High Street in the 1930s. Picture: Highland Livestock Heritage Society (HLHS)

‘On the Saturday, the yardsmen in Dingwall would walk all the cattle up to the mart,’ Kenny McKenzie says, remembering his childhood. ‘There would have been maybe two or three hundred being walked up. At 5:30am, we had to gather [the cattle from] the fields and walk them through the streets. We had to try and get them through before 6:30 or 7am.

Men with dogs gathered them up and we then placed men through the town to watch all the streets.

So we actually drove livestock 70

through the streets in Dingwall, very much to the disgust of the shopkeepers. Their customers were walking into the shops with that funny stuff stuck to their feet and they didn’t like it.’

The early-morning excitement would be over by the time young Beatrice (Trixie) Mackenzie arrived at work, though she needed to watch where she put her feet. ‘There’s seventy years since I started work as a young girl in Dingwall,’ she said. ‘It was a draper’s shop [on the main

street]. In the afternoon when the cattle would be going down to the station, some of them would come tearing down the street.’

As life returned to normal after the war, two young schoolboys couldn’t resist the lure of the mart: Ian Munro and his friend George McCallum. ‘After the school bell went, we went down,’ said Ian. ‘Our job was taking the stock to Dingwall station, and they’d walk right down the street.’

‘Some would just come down very placid you know,’

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said Trixie. ‘They would saunter down past the shop.’ Some, perhaps, but not all. Broken windows were a regular hazard.

George Tait remembered ‘going to Dingwall railway station, unloading wagons and walking the cattle up the street and it was always terrifying, wondering how many windows we would break.’

Ewen Macleod recalled similar scenes when cattle arrived off the boats in Oban. ‘Most of them came in to the railway pier and would come up from the

BOOK SERIALISATION pier and they would turn right a wee bitty, over the bridge. It’s just thunder, the way they went.

If a beast would see its shadow or sometimes one passed a shop window, you have three hundred cattle coming to a sudden stop.

The next morning, there’s a queue of folk at the mart office: “You’ve broken my mirrors on the car!”

“You’ve broken this!” “You’ve broken that!”’

Back in Dingwall, Trixie had an even more adventurous experience. She and a colleague were at work in the draper’s shop when the cattle came by on their way to the station. ‘The other lady that was with me, she was awfully frightened of the cows.

If she would hear them she would run through to the other end of the shop. It didn’t used to bother me because I was brought up in the country. Oh, quite a lot of them would look in. But, look, this one came right in and – I don’t know why, I jumped over the counter and slowly it went back out. No it didn’t do any damage but it was quite a big cow. You know, it just came in just as if [to say] how are you today. Oh, poor Bessie was absolutely paralysed with fright.’

By the time Kenny McKenzie started his career with the Dingwall mart in 1965, ‘trains still had livestock wagons but that was mainly for stock from the west coast, from Uist.

The bulk of the local stuff from, say, Easter Ross, would have come in by lorry – not such big lorries as today. If you went back ten years before that, there would have been stock walking into the town.’

‘Cattle movement follows the same routes,’ he added, ‘but it’s all done by lorry now.’ His own working life had spanned a remarkable period in the history of livestock in the Uists and Benbecula.

‘The first year I went over, 1965, that was the last year we did the complete droving,’ he said. ‘Nineteen sixty-six would be the first year that George McCallum took the lorries across and we did some droving and some shifting with the floats [livestock lorries].’

Lorries lines up outside Dingwall & Highland Marts today. The first cattle lorries were used in Uist in 1965

In South Uist, the Campbell brothers also witnessed the beginning of the end of walking with the cattle. Were they still helping when the floats came?

‘Yes, yes,’ said Simon, ‘loading from the sales, from the wee sales. No walking then, no.

And the floats just going straight on to the boat. You would put them on the side ramp.’ These were the hydraulic ramps of David MacBrayne’s new vehicle ferries, which transformed transport to and from the Western Isles. And did the new methods save time? ‘Och, you would be at them all day, even with the floats,’ said Simon.

Cattle destined for Oban might still have been walking to the boats at Lochboisdale at that time, Kenny thought, but, when other hauliers started to come out to the islands, Reith and Anderson decided to take all their cattle from the sales to the Lochmaddy pier head. Ewen Mackinnon from Skye, known to everyone as Ewen Crossal after the place where he lived and ran his haulage business, was one of the first to follow George McCallum’s lead.

‘After 1965–66, Ewen Crossal had lorries,’ said Kenny.

‘They weren’t big lorries; they would be twenty-foot containers and they might have taken fifteen or twenty in each one. The lorries

would cross from Uig in Skye to Lochmaddy and go down to the sales in South Uist.

‘We would shift everything up to Lochmaddy,’ said Kenny.

‘It would be a three-hour round trip, to go from South Uist up to Lochmaddy and back again on single track roads. They would load twenty cattle and go away up to Lochmaddy. Then they would come back down to another sale and take another load and it was a long day for these guys. But we had good penning facilities in Lochmaddy.‘ Gradually, one or two enterprising islanders bought their own lorries and local hauliers became available. One was Alasdair Macdonald of Ahmore in North Uist, where the last sale of the drovers’ week was held. Today, Alasdair’s lorries bear the sign – ‘A. Macdonald & Son Ltd.’ – and they carry many more than the 15 or 20 beasts of Ewen Crossal’s original floats.

‘We are getting more island stock coming into the Dingwall sales direct,’ said Kenny McKenzie. ‘Maybe in another ten or twenty years’ time, there could be even less people with stock. So the few who do have stock have to fill a lorry and take them down here. That happens all the time from the west coast – Gairloch and Shieldaig and all these places. There used to be

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sales round these places as well but they’ve all disappeared – every one.’

In time, the eight sales in the Uists and Benbecula were reduced to two with the construction of purposebuilt marts at the pier heads in Lochmaddy and Lochboisdale.

After a period of shared responsibility between Reith and Anderson and Thomas Corson, each mart was placed under a single auctioneering company.

Since 2002, Dingwall & Highland Marts Ltd has handled the sales in Lochmaddy, while the Lochboisdale mart is run

by United Auctions of Stirling.

With dwindling attendances and increasing numbers of livestock bypassing the island marts, is it still necessary to go out there?

Kenny believes it is.

‘We just have to try,’ he said.

‘The islanders are entitled to a living just the same as everybody else. The way this market is run, we’re there to provide a service.’

There may come a time when the Uist crofters say, ‘Ach no, we can’t do this any longer, we’ll just fill a lorry and come down.’

That day, if it comes, will mark the end the Uist sales.

This is an edited extract from Walking With Cattle: In Search of the Last Drovers of Uist by Terry J Williams, (Birlinn, £7.99) 71

DIET FEEDERS

Diet Feeders A selection of models to choose fromâ&#x20AC;Ś

Conor verticle feeders The Conor vertical feeder is the result of extensive field testing and its unique design ensures that even the toughest of bales are mixed quickly and efficiently. The design of the auger and the shape and angle of the tub allow a mixing process that is gentle on the fibre and is fast and exact in the mixing of all fodder components. The design of the auger ensures the ration is cut uniform and square. This increases the rumen â&#x20AC;&#x153;scrapingâ&#x20AC;? effect which increases saliva production which increases feed intake which increases milk yield. The mixing auger and tub are perfectly matched to give fast and homogenous mixing.

The blades are positioned to give a uniform cut along the length of the blade, this reduces blade wear and fuel consumption.

Through the use of a Conor diet feeder you can achieve

increased milk production per kg of feed and improved beef yield. You will be feeding a total mixed ration which improves digestibility in the rumen allowing cattle to extract more nutrients from their food and produce more milk or beef.

The gentle mixing process produces a better ration for your cattle. The position of the large one metre wide discharge doors on the corners of the tub is the optimum position for the even distribution of the ration. This gives even product flow and consistent fodder discharge and prevents fodder accumulation.

The tub has a sloped welded spill ring, this prevents forage from staying on the top of the feeder and it gives strength and stability. It also reduces waste and is very effective when handling bales.

The tub and auger are made from the higher grade S355 steel, this reduces wear and increases the lifetime of the feeder. The Conor feeder has long forward positioned counter knives. These help reduce material travelling around the tub at the beginning

of mixing while also producing a wave effect during the mixing process. Conor offer a low profile 15m3 feeder for producers with height and width restrictions but who need a large capacity feeder.

At 2.5m overall height it is quite low but holds 15m3.

Diet Feeders from Harry West Harry West (Prees) Ltd now offer the full complement of diet feeding options for your particular requirements.

In our ever changing times the demand to produce more for

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less cost has never been more prevalent and in the dairy / beef industry this is always a very topical issue.

The range of Diet Feeders available from this North

Shropshire based company cover every requirement of the progressive breeder and these include the West Diet Feeder, this paddle type mixer has won many RASE awards and is available in 12 m and 16 m capacities. This low power requirement, top quality mixing and high feed out design has been very successful and allows clamp silage to be processed to a very high standard.

For customers who require to chop material they can offer the full range of Seko machines, these top quality horizontal and vertical design machines gives us, up to the minute design and a statement of being The Best Unifeed for our market.

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The Seko Samurai 5 horizontal range of machines gives us capacities of 5 cu/m up to 30 cu/m in various configurations consisting of trailed, selfpropelled and stationary units.

The simple design consisting of 2 augers with 4 convergent windings along with stationary and auger blades give a very good chopping and mixing effect as favored by their many customers.

Seko also have a complete range of vertical diet feeders called the Tiger series with capacities of 9cu/m to 45cu/m in self-propelled trailed and stationary version We believe that Harry West Prees Ltd has a diet feeder to suit any product and every farm.

DIET FEEDERS

Hi-Spec Vertical Auger and MixMax diet feeders

With its range of Vertical Auger and MixMax paddle type feeders, Hi-Spec Engineering Co Ltd offers one of the widest ranges of diet feeders on the market, with a wide range of options to suit all types of building and feeding system.

The Hi-Spec Vertical Auger range of feeders is available in both single and twin auger variants and sizes from 7m3 to 32m3.

A specific feature of the HiSpec range is its ability to quickly and efficiently incorporate complete bales into the mix, due to the unique knife arrangement, which also allows the Vertical Auger mixer to be used with lower horsepower tractors. The Vertical Auger range uses a low pitch mixing and chopping auger that creates a simple cycle action and is fitted with eight selfsharpening knives one of which runs close to the body of the Vertical Feeder. This ensures that once the mix is drawn up by the auger, as it falls back down the side it continues to be chopped and mixed, ensuring a quick and thorough mix can be consistently achieved.

The wide range of options includes various discharge

outlet positions or a variable height hydraulic chute or Cross Conveyor with elevator.

It can also be specified with the Digi-Star TMR Tracker fully programmable electronic weighing system. The Vertical Auger can also be fitted with a straw blower so that it can also be used as a bedder, or with a Root Washer and Cleaner so that root crops can be incorporated into the mix.

MixMax paddle feeders use the Hi-Spec Feed-Flo mixing system that features a single angled rotor arms to provide thorough end-to-end mixing and a light fluffy ration without the need for multiple augers.

The mix is discharged through a hydraulically operated door through a teaser roller that makes it easy to adjust the flow rate and provide an even, consistent feedout.

A total of seven single and double axle MixMax models are available, ranging from 10m3 up to 24m3. Options available on the MixMax include the Digi-Star Tracker programmable weighing system, a hydraulic or fold-down elevator and the Root Washer and Chopper for incorporating root crops into the ration.

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DIET FEEDERS

Jeantil Diet Feeders Jeantil have been producing high quality livestock machinery for over four generations.

Trail blazer in the realm of precision spreading, bale shredders, slurry disc injectors, tankers and diet feeders.

The Jeantil range of diet feeders starts at 8m3 as a single auger machine and goes up to a tri auger model at 38m3. Within this leading range Jeantil offer various different discharge options including cross conveyor and conventional doors.

Jeantil auger dimensions and design guarantees fast and accurate mixing and distribution thanks to its unique double scraping system. Because the auger has two identical lower flights it ensures that the hopper is completely empty. Combined with standard 7 tungsten carbide knives this system ensures a sharp and accurate cutting of

product. Manual counter knives are also as standard with a hydraulic option available which aid in the agitation of product and increase mixing time.

All Jeantil diet feeders come with industrial spec planetary gearboxes which are mounted into a reinforced section of the chassis of the machine.

Agricultural Merchants Main dealers for Kverneland Diet Feeders

The other major reason for a reinforced chassis is to support the load cells belonging to the

New FLEXILIFT tilting conveyor added to KUHNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trailed mixer wagons KUHN Farm Machinery has upgraded its range of PROFILE trailed mixer wagons with the addition of a telescoping and tilting distribution conveyor belt.

The patented FLEXILIFT conveyor is available as an alternative to a standard crossconveyor on all new KUHN PROFILE mixer wagons and is designed to make it easier to distribute feed in buildings where

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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weighing system. This ensures a very accurate weight reading and provides a very accurate ration.

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space is limited: the reversible, cradle-shaped conveyor can be offset laterally via a telescoping mechanism to distribute feed to either side of the mixer wagon.

One end of the conveyor (either left or right as determined when ordering the machine) can also be tilted by up to 45 degrees, enabling feed to be delivered to troughs up to 1.2-1.3 metres in height.

DIET FEEDERS “Unlike other variable height distribution systems which typically use two separate conveyors – one crossconveyor and one tilting belt – the FLEXILIFT system uses a single, continuous belt to ensure all feed is distributed cleanly and accurately without any material

being lost in the joint between two separate conveyors,” explains KUHN Product Specialist, Katie Calcutt.

The tilting end of the FLEXILIFT conveyor is raised and lowered by a connecting rod system which enables feed to be distributed at a range of heights

without the conveyor needing to extend beyond the mixer wagon’s original footprint The conveyor itself uses an endless PVC belt with a vulcanised weld for extended product longevity. It is driven by two hydraulic motors – one at each end of the conveyor

– for improved belt traction irrespective of which side feed is being distributed to. “Unlike stapled seams which can be prone to premature wear, the FLEXILIFT system uses a hardwearing, vulcanised belt for added longevity and reduced wear and tear,” Katie adds.

Electric feeder joins the Kverneland range With 100% electrical power for traction and mixing, the innovative Siloking e.0 eTruck is the latest self-propelled diet feeder model to join the Kverneland range.

The eTruck 1408 series comprises three models. There are two single auger units offering eight and 10 cubic metre capacities, and a larger twin auger, 14 cubic metre capacity model.

This zero emissions, almost noiseless feeder range relies on electrical power for its auger mixing, plus driving functions. Its powertrain components have been well-proven in the lift truck sector, while energy storage and capacity comes from an 80-volt DC battery system taken from the industrial vehicle electrification industry.

Clever packaging has created a straightforward and uncluttered machine. The 1200kg battery pack mounts above the drive axle, behind the cab and also contributes to ballast to help boost traction when unladen.

Being rear-steered by a double-wheel configuration,

the eTruck offers generous manoeuvrability.

All UK-supplied models will be equipped with the 620aH heavy-duty battery pack said to be sufficient power to allow a 10 cubic metre model to make five mixes per day. With a predictable work schedule, where feeding takes place at the same time every day, there is ample opportunity to recharge the batteries when the machine is not in use. A fast charger option is also available.

D-K-R

AGRICULTURAL SERVICES LTD. Main Dealers for JEANTIL Diet Feeders

Order your

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Subscription Form see page 69

D-K-R AGRICULTURAL SERVICES LTD. Westfield, Coulter, Biggar, Lanarkshire ML12 6HN Tel. 01899 220897 FAX. 01899 221413 E-Mail: dkrcoulter@hotmail-com

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DIET FEEDERS

AD sees Shelbourne diet feeders move into mixing slurry and silage

Thorough mixing of materials going into anaerobic digesters is essential if maximum gas production is to be achieved, according to AD advisers, and increasing numbers of farmers

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and operators running AD plants are turning to cattle diet feeder technology to achieve this.

Among them are two dairy farm businesses which have installed auger-type static mixers

to blend digester-destined silages with slurry before the resulting mix is transferred to the digester dome itself. At the Velcourt-managed Melbury Estate in Dorset, where the milking herd totals 700 cows,

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a specially-commissioned 46 cu m static mixer has recently been installed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We use a 22 cu m Shelbourne Reynolds Powermix Pro for feeding the cattle, and when

DIET FEEDERS our original AD plant mixer required replacing in late 2016, we commissioned the same firm to design a unit to take its place,” explains farm manager Allaster Dallas.

“The company sent a design engineer out to us to understand what it was we wanted, giving us the opportunity to have designed exactly what we required, from the tub size to the gearbox strength.”

Installed in April 2017, the new 46 cu m Powermix Plus Bio 46 mixer blends wholecrop rye and grass silages, plus some slurry from the dairy unit to aid breakdown and methane

formation once the mix has been transferred to the digester itself. The resulting methane powers a 750kW gas engine, feeding electricity into the local grid.

Strautmann vertical mixer wagons OPICO is the UK distributor for the Strautmann range of vertical mixer wagons which are available with single, twin and triple augers, with capacities of 7.5m to 45m³. The Strautmann self-propelled range of single and double auger mixer wagons was introduced to the UK last year.

All Strautmann diet feeders are fitted with the unique Vario² auger which has a “stepped” flight design meaning the ration is tumbled. This not only improves the mixing and nutritional intake but in doing so also reduces the time taken and thereby reduces fuel usage making it more than a rapid efficient mixer wagon.

Somerset farmer Darren Coombes recently commented: “Mixing time is quicker with the new design augers, so now we are ready to feed out just five minutes after the last ingredient is added” James Woolway, MD at OPICO has also observed that “the Vario2 auger also produces a “fluffier” and more palatable feed and that feeding a highquality ration is only one part of supplying the cow with her nutritional requirements. The

other key part is ensuring she eats it!”

Strautmann Verti-Mix mixer wagons also offer flexibility and can be configured to meet individual farm requirements.

Once the capacity had been decided upon, discharge, controls and weighing device can all be

specified. The mixing tub design is also patented and provides the container with additional rigidity but it also adds flexibility, by enabling attachments to be added, increasing the capacity of the mixing tub.

As well as being equipped with the unique Vario² auger,

all Strautmann diet feeders are backed up by strong and reliable support, both from the network of Strautmann dealers and by OPICO’s dedicated technical support team.

All Strautmann mixer wagons come with 3 year gearbox warranty.

s -ANURE 3PREADERS s $IET &EEDERS s 'RAIN AND 3ILAGE 4RAILERS ALSO Please check out the SEKO RANGE OF $IET &EEDERS ECO LINE PRODUCTS

Harry West (Prees) Ltd Lower Heath, Prees, Whitchurch, 3HROPSHIRE 39 "4

Tel: 01948 840465 www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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exotic farming scotland

Small but Mighty Shetland Ponies

By Janice Hopper Shetland is known for rare beasts.

The Papa Stour Shetland Hen, the Shetland Duck, the Shetland Goose, the Tufted Shetland Hen and the Wet Salt-Cured Ling of Shetland Islands all listed on the Slow Food Movement’s Ark of Taste. This ‘Ark’ highlights small-scale quality productions and creatures that are potentially at risk of extinction within a few generations. But another treasured and truly iconic animals of the islands is the endlessly endearing Shetland Pony.

These world famous animals have humble origins, roaming and grazing the common land or ‘scattald’ of Shetland. A bit like Highland Cows, Shetland Ponies give birth in the great outdoors, and live out their lives in the landscape. Free ranging, hardy and resilient, the ponies’ cute appearance hides a tough character.

Worked by crofting families for key jobs such as transporting the peat, they were also sent down the mines in the 19th century when it became illegal for children to work underground pulling coal wagons.

Instead, these tough, tiny ponies hauled the goods from the bowels of the earth.

Today, Shetland Ponies are still bred professionally and as a hobby. There are several ways to get up close and learn more about these endearing but resilient animals. Those with the travel bug can set sail to Unst, where free range ponies roam and graze at leisure and can be photographed by the roadside.

The nearby island of Noss was once the home of one of the best stud farms in the region, run by the Marquis of Londonderry. A small museum tells the story in the former stud buildings. But for 78

something more intimate head along to any of the Shetland Pony Shows held throughout the year.

The shows are a vital shop window. Events are held in Unst, Walls and Voe, the Cunningsburgh Agricultural Show attracts a good selection of ponies, and the Viking Pony Show (also held in Cunningsburgh) is a key event in the diary. The Viking Show is prestigious, yet informal, meaning visitors can casually turn up, see the ponies in their pens and ask the owners any questions. The pony breeders are generally proud and happy to chat about their prize animals.

We met Amanda Slater just as she entered the ring with Breckenlea Flair, who went on to win a prized rosette. She’s been working with Shetland Ponies since she was thirteen years old. Young breeder Kristin Wishart, was in attendance with her grandfather who showed

Odin Jamieson and his mother Charli Smith hanging out at the Viking Shetland Pony Show

her the ropes and inspired her.

Both Amanda and Kirstin both mentioned the dreaded winter feeding as the toughest aspect of caring for Shetland Ponies.

Barbara and Elaine Taite of the Shetland Pony Experience

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Costs of transporting ponies to the mainland, or attracting visitors to view and collect ponies were also mentioned by breeders, so the island habitat that shaped

exotic farming scotland these beguiling animals naturally bring its own constraints. In terms of paperwork, all ponies are registered in a stud book in Perth (the Shetland Pony Stud Book Society was established in 1890, and today HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Society’s Patron) and the animals require passports, so standard administration covers and protects breeders, customers and ponies alike.

After discussing the pros and cons of Shetland Pony ownership, we came across more poignant stories, such as meeting a mother who started working with Shetland Ponies when she was pregnant. The diminutive ponies were easier to handle than standard size ponies or horses.

Her child is autistic and nonverbal so the pair have discovered a bond through the ponies. The animals calm the child down, as it’s easier to deal with ponies compared to other activities, situations or people. Rearing the ponies, taking care of them and attending the shows provides a connection, a shared passion that unites and occupies them.

Shetland Ponies, due to their size, have always been popular with children, but it’s clear that with particular children this experience can be far-reaching and impactful.

Most youngsters blossom in the presence of animals, but you don’t need to know a breeder to

Kristin Wishart

groom or ride a Shetland Pony.

In early 2018, Barbara and Elaine Taite launched the ‘Shetland Pony Experience’. Situated in Bridge-End in Burra, the women spent 26 years breeding ponies, running the Merkisayre Shetland Pony Stud and Shetland Pony Riding School, and they’re keen to introduce more people to Shetland’s most famous ponies.

The experience runs in three sections. Firstly visitors meet the mares and foals outdoors in the animals’ natural habitat, and the basic history of the breed and the

everyday reality of taking care of a Shetland Pony is explained.

Visitors get a chance to pet and photograph the animals, and ask any questions. Then the group head indoors to the 400 square meter riding facility to brush and groom the animals. Only the smallest guests, i.e children aged over 4, get the chance to tack up and experience a supervised ride on one of the riding school ponies. Finally, visitors lead the ponies down to Minn Beach beach, which offers scenic photo opportunities, and beach hacks

for children can be organised.

Guests so far have included locals, Scots, international arrivals off the cruise ships, and, on one occasion, wealthy Russians helicoptered into the island with the special request that the ponies wear Fair Isle jumpers. The Taites have clearly welcomed a wide range of clientele.

The latest positive news in the Shetland Pony fraternity, is that the prestigious Annual Breed Show will be held in Shetland in 2019. Next July, the Clickimin Complex in Lerwick will host all creatures great yet small, with a mix of evaluations, open door days, parades, dinners and dances. Other dates in the diary include the Shetland Pony Grand National, which forms part of the International Horse Show, at the Olympia Horse Show in London in December 2018.

Putting the big London events to one side, ultimately, seeing these animals roaming in the Shetland countryside is a real highlight. An authentic experience. And proof that small animals can be big attractions.

Discover more at:facebook.com/ ShetlandPonyExperience shetlandponystudbooksociety.co.uk shetlandponybreeders.com shetlandponygrandnational.net

The Shetland Pony Experience

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beef Kate Rowell Sets out Initial Priorities in New QMS Role Quality Meat Scotland’s new chair, Kate Rowell, is spending her first few weeks in post travelling around Scotland to hear from people involved in all aspects of the Scottish red meat industry.

Mrs Rowell and Alan Clarke, QMS Chief Executive will be visiting auction markets, abattoirs, farmers and butchers as far afield as Dingwall and the Scottish borders during the coming weeks.

Her priority is to meet those working in different parts of the Scottish red meat chain and to hear their views and opinions as well as learning in greater depth about the challenges and opportunities which different parts of the industry face.

“I am extremely keen in my initial period in post to get out and about and hold as many face-to-face meetings with those working in our industry as possible.

“Having been a QMS board member for three years, and as a working farmer myself, I am familiar with many of the challenges our industry faces.

“However, it is essential, in my view, to speak direct with those involved and to hear at first-hand their thoughts on the potential opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.”

Mrs Rowell, who took over the reins as chair of QMS from Jim McLaren at the start of this month, said she is already enjoying her new role.

“I am very proud of our industry and of the range of services QMS delivers to support it. During the meetings taking place in the coming weeks, I will be emphasising the breadth of the activities QMS undertakes, with what is a surprisingly small team of staff.

“There is, though, always room for improvement and we will be very much taking on board feedback from the industry as our board and staff start the planning phase for next year’s activities.

“We have a very clear strategic focus as an organisation and it is essential that we miss no opportunity to deliver strongly for our industry in the period of evolution and change which lies ahead.”

Beef Efficiency Scheme Scottish Government opens events on winter nutrition and grazing availability to all farmers and crofters across Scotland In response to concerns that this year’s weather conditions will result in Scottish farmers and crofters facing feed and fodder shortages this winter, Scottish Government is allowing all farmers and crofters open entry to Beef Efficiency Scheme (BES) events scheduled this autumn.

Running from October to early December 2018, these events will provide free advice and guidance to farmers and crofters on how to provide plentiful food over winter, maintain the wellbeing of livestock and optimise beef enterprise performance.

Events will include presentations from SAC livestock experts on cattle nutrition to release 80

genetic potential and optimise beef enterprise performance, as well as workshops on soil and grassland management by independent farming specialists 5Agri.

Advice will cover a range of topics including, the importance of soil structure and drainage, sward renewal, upland management, a review of grazing systems, forage crop options, winter feed best practice and yield optimisation.

Event programmes will include Q&A slots and dedicated discussion time so that attendees get the opportunity to ask questions.

To book on to an event or for more information, visit http:// besevents.eventbrite.com or contact the FAS Advice Line on 0300 323 0161 or email advice@ fas.scot.

Limousin increases number of genetic evaluations

In a move to further strengthen its genetic evaluation service for all producers, the British Limousin Cattle Society has now increased

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its number of genetic evaluations from three to six each year. This comes hot on the heels of its recent development incorporating the

beef slaughter records from six national processors, reported in July of this year.

This important development means that EBV (Estimated Breeding Value) and GEBV (Genomic Estimated Breeding Value) results are as accurate as they can be at any given time. In turn, this enables timely marketing by breeders and, crucially, ensures the information is fully up to date for commercial producers using it in the breeding decisions they need to make.

The Limousin Society and its members are committed to genetic improvement for the benefit of commercial producers. The work is part of a larger body of activity

The

all laid out in the Society’s 10 Year Breed Improvement Plan, which aims to provide a nationwide population of Limousin genetics that remain market-ready for all types of commercial producer at any given point in time.

As business pressures come into sharper focus the interest in Limouisn cattle and performance information, through EBV’s and GEBV’s, on both sides of the sale transaction is intensifiying.

Providing evidence of this, the Society’s website which hosts its on-line herdbook (www. taurusdata.co.uk) has had well over a remarkable one million page views since the start of the year.

Farm study reveals potential solution to reducing antibiotic use in cattle

A new study has revealed dramatic findings that could provide the answer to the UK’s on-going challenge to reduce the widespread routine use of antibiotics in calves being reared for the food chain.

Research showed an average 43 per cent drop in the administration of antibiotics to calves that were treated with an oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) Solacyl®.

Almost one million beef calves coming from the dairy sector are reared annually

in the UK. The majority are initially reared at specialist units, typically from around four to five-weeks-old to four to fivemonths-old. This is a high-risk period for calf pneumonia and consequently when antibiotics are used most frequently.

The issues are put under the spotlight in a new white paper from Dechra, “Enhancing welfare and combating antimicrobial resistance while maintaining productivity on calf units”, available for download at www.dechra.co.uk/campaigns/ solacyl.

VET One Sandwich Short of a Picnic?

By Andy Cant Northvet Veterinary Group You will no doubt have seen the reports of outbreaks of African Swine Fever which is sweeping through China and more worryingly appears to be heading in our direction through eastern and now central Europe.

Despite its name this viral disease of pigs travels very well it would appear, and most recently has been reported in Belgium. It has huge economic and welfare implications with this highly infectious disease causing many animals to die within 10 days.

So how is it spreading so quickly? The story of the 2001 Foot and Mouth outbreak shows how it can happen. As with the Foot and Mouth Virus the African Swine Fever virus can survive in smoked and cured meats as well as in frozen products.

The epidemiological studies into where the 2001 F&M outbreak started showed it to be a field containing pigs next to a main road where there was a layby.

The theory is that some well meaning picnicker in the layby was eating a sandwich containing imported meat

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and threw their unfinished sandwich containing the infected meat into the field for the pigs to eat. The rest is history!

This why feeding swill to pigs is unlawful now – it’s a recognized disease risk.

The exotic diseases mentioned above grab the headlines when they appear and the government steps in to take responsibility for eradicating them but there are other diseases that are endemic on your farm that may not be headline grabbers and we can become complacent in our biosecurity measures where the onus is on the animal keeper to recognize and contain disease.

It is worth reviewing your biosecurity as diseases can change and our understanding of best practice can also change.

Make sure you have strategies for stopping disease coming onto your farm and control measures to stop what ever is already there spreading.

And as for your ham sandwich – eat it yourself – doing anything else would be crazy!

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livestock “Biosecurity shouldn’t be underestimated when tackling IBR” says vet Emily Postlethwaite Bovine respiratory diseases like infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) are estimated to cost the industry between £50 and £80 million per year and have a severe impact on cattle health .

Despite this, IBR is still endemic in the UK causing disease and, in worst cases, death in cattle unnecessarily. We spoke to vet Emily Postlethwaite of Marches Vets, Herefordshire to find out what steps can be taken to prevent IBR. “IBR is caused by Bovine Herpes virus 1 (BHV 1) and is brought into the herd from cattle with active infection, or by asymptomatic cattle with latent infection. This is a bit like a cold sore in humans as animals don’t necessarily show clinical signs but can be shedding large quantities of virus to naïve

animals. “Latent shedders then act as a reservoir of infection to the main herd, so it’s important to take blood samples to identify any animals that have had previous exposure to the virus and are therefore at risk of being a carrier.” She adds that although IBR is generally seen in cattle over six months, it can be seen in youngstock, so shouldn’t be ruled out when investigating any infection. “Direct transmission of the virus occurs by nose-to-nose contact but can also be spread by bodily fluids such as semen or mucus so easily transferred by people or equipment. “In housed cattle, respiratory viruses can spread rapidly so biosecurity is essential to prevent the transfer of infection across age groups.

Cattle are at risk of airborne

infection within five metres of an IBR infected animal, so sick animals must be quarantined in a separate air space. “Having stringent biosecurity protocols in place should never be underestimated. For example, the use of double fencing to prevent nose-to-nose contact, disinfecting clothing and equipment as well as strict hygiene on the yard all contribute to a disease-free herd. “Controlling disease in an environment where multiple cattle are brought in from unknown sources can be tricky.

If this is the case I recommend quarantining and blood sampling to determine their health status before mixing with the main group. “Vaccination also plays a key part in minimising disease within the herd and I recommend

farmers talk to their vet to find the right strategy for their farm,” says Emily.

Visit facebook.com/notonmyfarm for more information on improving your biosecurity.

Allflex Livestock intelligence launches new Young Stock calf monitoring application Allflex Livestock Intelligence, an Antelliq company, has announced the launch of the Allflex Young Stock dedicated health monitoring application for newborn calves up to six months old. It also announced the introduction of SenseHub, the new version of its SenseTime modular cow monitoring solution.New The Allflex Young Stock application is a unique solution for monitoring young cattle. It enables farmers to detect the onset of health issues very early, preventing impact on the growth curve or future performance and reducing drug use and mortalities.

With the Young Stock application, and the recent addition of its reproduction monitoring application for 82

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heifers, Allflex has significantly expanded its holistic livestock monitoring approach to cover all the different animal populations on farms of any size.

The Young Stock application is available with the new SenseHub™ cow monitoring solution and the Heatime® Pro+ system.

Expanded coverage and flexibility with SenseHub SenseHub is the new generation of Allflex’ marketproven SenseTime cow monitoring solution, which delivers actionable information on the reproductive, health, nutritional and wellbeing status of individual cows and groups.

The new name reflects the current expansion to monitor more animals in different

populations on the farm, and further planned evolution to connect with varied identification and management technologies, making SenseHub the heart of comprehensive animal wellbeing and performance data collection and analysis.

SenseHub offers comprehensive coverage of different farm populations, expanded support for any farm size, and enhanced flexibility to support multiple different application plan levels and tag types on the same farm.

Additionally, SenseHub offers a choice of devices and payment options.

Current users of SenseTime can upgrade to SenseHub at any time, protecting their investment in existing tags and system components.

Four air outlet options to achieve the stack effect in livestock buildings

There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to ventilating livestock buildings.

As cattle give off body heat, it rises to the roof and escapes through purpose designed outlets, drawing in fresh air at low level.

This process, commonly referred to as the stack effect, is essential for naturally ventilated livestock buildings.

“For natural ventilation to occur without the environment becoming too draughty or too stagnant, buildings must be

designed for the stack effect to proficiently manage the air inlet and air outlet cycle,” explains Stuart. “As livestock exhale warm, humid air, they’re also releasing any bacteria and viruses they are carrying. Buildings designed for the stack effect create a healthier environment by removing harmful elements through air outlets.”

According to the “Livestock building design and material guide for natural ventilation”

by Marley Eternit, there is no

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NFU Scotland

livestock

Meeting the challenges head on

By President Andrew McCornick There is no question that we are facing significantly more volatility in our industry than ever before, and these levels of volatility are more extreme.

Weather plays a big part on how we manage our businesses and mitigating for that should be a part of our view on how we plan ahead.

That very same weather can impact on our market as well and, again, can either add another challenge or an opportunity.

Since the beginning of July, our 12-week long # N F U S H o w D o Yo u P l a n campaign encouraged farmers, crofters and the wider industry to plan ahead, look at alternatives on feeding, grazing and bedding and collaborate with one another.

It was a great success. It has gained significantly more traction than a lot of the other projects that have been aired since the rains of 2017 followed by the drought of 2018. In general, farmers and crofters acted to put themselves in a better place going into an uncertain winter.

My own business has seen its challenges. As a livestock producer in the west coast of Scotland I know I need to buy straw for my stock for the winter. The arable sector could see this as an opportunity to bale more straw and cover the

potential extra fertiliser cost from not having the straw to incorporate into the soil from its sale.

One positive outcome from the campaign has been more people baling their straw rather than chopping.

These synergies need to be further developed as we battle with climate change, which unlike Donald Trump, I am beginning to believe in.

Cattle could be overwintered on the arable side of Scotland on arable byproducts or waste and straw.

This would help to add organic matter to our arable farmland which would also enhance soil structure over time. Less damage would be done in the west trying to keep stock in wetter conditions and would help soil structure. These outcomes could result in more productive farmland and more environmental benefits.

I am pleased that new thinking is starting to develop about what we do and how we do it and how we can help one another and ultimately our business of farming and crofting.

Remember, this is something we as farmers did for ourselves and we should acknowledge that more of this kind of collaboration and planning can only be good for us.

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livestock “one-size-fits-all” standard for air outlets. Optimum conditions can be created through a number of products and designs. Below, Stuart outlines four air outlet options.

Unprotected open ridge sections Air passing over the roof is deflected upwards by the open ridge flashings creating a vacuum to enhance the draw of air from the building. Unprotected open ridge sections are typically used in buildings with a central feed passage.

Protected open ridge sections A protected open ridge has a covering to minimise rain ingress and can be built with a traditional fibre cement soffit strip or polycarbonate soffit strip. When engineered with polycarbonate soffit strips, more natural light is allowed into the building while also avoiding hot spots caused by low level rooflights.

“The air gap width in open ridge sections is determined by the building’s livestock

capacity but must not exceeded 300mm in width due to HSG 33 requirements,” explains Stuart.

“However, Marley Eternit can assist with design advice to obtain the optimum air space while adhering to health and safety guidelines.”

Spaced roofs According to Marley Eternit’s ventilation guide, when roof sheets are installed with a gap between each sheet, buildings can easily achieve recommended air outlet space.

“Spaced roofs are another great option for buildings with high stocking density of adult cattle, where there is a requirement for additional air outlets,” adds Stuart.

Breathing roof When additional air outlet space is needed for high stocking densities, installing semi-compressed fibre cement profiled sheets as breathing roofs, in conjunction with open ridge sections, is an effective way to achieve sufficient ventilation outlets.

Alltech’s poultry manager awarded prestigious accolade

John Cooper, Alltech’s poultry business manager has been awarded the coveted title of poultry supply chain champion at the British Poultry Awards, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the industry. He received the prestigious award at a ceremony held in London on 20 September 2018, with his work

on helping the industry tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) being highly commended by the judges.

Over the last five years at Alltech, Mr Cooper has worked closely with both poultry meat and egg producers, and the supply chain, to develop and deliver practical solutions to the challenges faced.

With AMR a key area of focus, he has been an advisor in the development of Alltech’s Antibiotic Reduction Programme, working collaboratively with key leaders in Alltech’s global network and the UK poultry sector to deliver the best possible on-farm nutritional solutions.

Following his win, Mr Cooper, who has worked within the sector for over 23 years, said he was humbled to receive the accolade and is very proud of the fact that the UK is leading the way in reducing antibiotic usage.

“I’m incredibly passionate about the poultry industry and determined that the sector (continued on page 86)

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livestock continues to progress and prosper in the face of challenges. In my role at Alltech, I can support poultry producers with advanced nutritional technologies and it’s highly rewarding to be able to aid progression both at farm level and within the supply chain.”

Looking ahead to the future, Mr Cooper said he is excited to continue his work with Alltech in the UK and further afield in Europe.

“I see the UK poultry industry as the best in the world and while we can constantly strive to improve ourselves, I feel we have a responsibility as an industry, and as a company at Alltech, to also help other countries who may not be as advanced, reach their targets.”

Belgium spends 1million euros to stamp out swine fever The Belgium government has released €1m for the culling of more than 4,000 commercial and domestic pigs in the African swine fever infected zone.

According to the Belgian farming organisation Boerenbond, the funds will be used to reimburse the pig farmers for the culled animals and the operational costs involved.

The European Commission has already indicated that it will guarantee co-financing of 50%

for the operation, which with a few weeks of the virus being discovered in wild in Belgium’s Luxembourg region, near the French border.

However, the number of confirmed cases in wild boar continues to rise. The figure currently stands at 96, with all cases located within the original infected area.

With Belgium doing its best to keep the virus out of the commercial herd, it has received some good news.

“Hopefully other export destinations will soon agree with the regionalisation principle,” Boerenbond said.

The EU adopts a regionalised approach where areas of a country that are free of disease can continue exporting.

The UK’s National Pig Association (NPA) has urged pig farmers and keepers to not feed kitchen or catering waste to pigs to help prevent the spread of the disease.

SlurryKat Lead the Way with New Green Bedding System Industry leading slurry equipment manufacturer SlurryKat are set to unveil another new innovation at this year’s National Ploughing Championships with the Irish and UK launch of the Doda Green Bedding System designed for use in the Dairy, Beef and Anaerobic Digestion industries.

Green bedding systems have been on the market for a number of years however some systems have demonstrated poor performance and dry matter that was not high enough to replace traditional bedding methods such as chopped straw or wood shavings. Green bedding is becoming increasingly popular Ireland and the UK after fuelled by its successful use in the USA and Europe. In Holland for example, they have been using green bedding for the past number of years with over 5000 farms now having converted to the green bedding system.

The new Doda Green bedding system offers many environmental and economic benefits, as well as increasing the health and wellbeing of the livestock, meaning they perform much better with proven increased production of milk and daily live weight gains.

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With the new Doda system it is now easily possible to achieve separated dry matter fibre of approximately 50%.

What makes the Doda system different from all the other systems on the market is that it has a unique blower system

on the discharge of the screw press that lifts the dry matter of the material by approximately 10% and produces an attractive fluffy bedding material that is super absorbent. The entire Doda system extremely compact and can be easily installed on any

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farm. Additionally an automated pre mixing system can be added if required for the raw slurry, while the whole system is independently controlled by an automated control panel which can be set to the farms individual needs.

livestock New CLEANSTRAW system reduces dust in livestock housing

KUHN Farm Machinery has introduced a dust control system to its range of straw bedders: available as an option on new equipment, or as a retrofit upgrade for existing machines, the CLEANSTRAW system reduces dust in livestock buildings by applying a fine mist of water to straw as it is distributed for bedding purposes. Being launched at the UK Dairy Day at the Telford International Centre on 12th September, the CLEANSTRAW system comprises a 64-litre water tank and three misting nozzles mounted at the exit of the straw blowing chute. The nozzles are fed by a 12v/15amp pump which provides water at a flow rate of 1.8l/min, enough to treat 12 to 18 bales of straw at a rate of 1 litre of water per 100kg of straw.

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Applying a mist of water at this rate and in this way eliminates excessive levels of airborne dust by reducing the amount of time that these particles remain suspended in the air: trials have shown that the air in a typical livestock building will be dust-free within 30 seconds after straw-blowing with the CLEANSTRAW system has ceased, compared to several minutes under normal conditions.

“Reducing the amount of dust in livestock buildings has a number of advantages,” explains KUHN Product Specialist, Katie Calcutt. “It not only creates a cleaner, more comfortable and more productive environment for cattle, but also for farm workers who will be less susceptible to inhaling dust particles and other impurities which may be present in the straw.”

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Exporters fly the flag for Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork

Scotland’s meat exporters were flying the flag for Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork recently in Paris at SIAL - one of the world’s most influential food fairs.

Ten Scottish exporters attended the event where Quality Meat Scotland’s stand highlighted the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status of Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb.

The Specially Selected Pork brand was also promoted to importers from around the world.

With an exhibition size of over 284,000 m², the trade fair attracted over 160,000 trade visitors from 194 countries, making it a major event for many of Europe’s most influential buyers.

Exporters from around Scotland were joined by staff from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) to promote the Scottish red meat industry to buyers and traders from across the globe and highlight the quality assurance, provenance and welfare that underpin each of the brands.

Alan Clarke, QMS Chief Executive who attended the show said: “Every major meat exporter in the world was in Paris. It was therefore vital that Scotland’s exporters had a strong presence at the show, highlighting what sets Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork apart from their competitors in terms of quality and reputation.

“SIAL is a fantastic platform to reinforce and strengthen our key brands and offers exporters from Scotland the opportunity to secure valuable business on the world market.”

The presence at SIAL in Paris, as well as other international trade shows and activities, is funded by the £2 million fund of AHDB red meat levies ring-fenced for collaborative projects which is managed by the three GB meat levy bodies – AHDB, HCC and QMS. The ring-fenced fund is an interim arrangement while a long-term solution is sought on the issue of levies being collected at point of slaughter in England, for animals which have been reared in Scotland or Wales.

pigs Delivering multiple benefits with manure management

The management and treatment of manures and slurries from livestock production is becoming an increasing issue around the world. The potential of manure to cause environmental harm and contribute to climate change when not correctly stored, handled or applied is significant.

However, manures and slurries also represent a valuable resource and can return valuable crop nutrients to farmland in a way which does not rely on energy-

intensive industrial processing.

Because of this, depending on how it is managed, manure can either exacerbate or mitigate climate change and environmental pollution.

The scale of the challenge In the European Union some 1.4 billion tonnes of manure is produced each year, the majority of which needs some form of management. This can range from simple, relatively low cost

methods – such as appropriate storage enabling it to be applied at the correct time – to more complex techniques such as treatment using separation and concentration technologies or anaerobic digestion (AD). However, estimates suggest that less than 10 per cent of the EU’s manure is currently actively managed.1 Manure management is particularly required in the most concentrated areas of livestock production, as in parts of France,

Germany, The Netherlands and Spain. On a national basis, France is the largest producer of manure accounting for more than 263 million tonnes of pig, poultry and cattle manure each year.

However, on a per-area basis The Netherlands has the largest production as its annual figure of 72.5 million tonnes is produced by a country with an area of just 40,000 sq. km, creating real challenges in terms of utilisation and disposal.

Exporters fly the flag for Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork Scotland’s meat exporters were flying the flag for Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork in Paris recently at SIAL - one of the world’s most influential food fairs.

Ten Scottish exporters attended the event where

Quality Meat Scotland’s stand highlight the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status of Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb. The Specially Selected Pork brand was promoted to importers from around the world.

With an exhibition size of over 284,000 m², the trade fair attracted over 160,000 trade visitors from 194 countries, making it a major event for many of Europe’s most influential buyers.

Exporters from around Scotland were joined by staff

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from Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) to promote the Scottish red meat industry to buyers and traders from across the globe and highlight the quality assurance, provenance and welfare that underpin each of the brands.

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dairy Fabdec, pioneers in milk cooling Fabdec Ltd, the only UK manufacturer of bulk milk tanks, have been evolving their DARI-KOOL range of milk tanks for nearly 60 years. With their experience in milk tank manufacturing and cooling technology, and with options for cooling and storing from 1,000 to 40,000 litres, Fabdec’s DARI-KOOL brand continues to provide energy-efficient solutions to meet the needs of the modern dairy farmer.

Over the last 20 years Fabdec have developed other products for the dairyman with the focus on products to enhance the cows’ health and performance. This has involved fertility and udder health products.

Recently a new product was introduced that is proving really useful for hoof health. It is known that more than 20% of cows suffer from lameness. However, not all of these cases are visible as cows instinctively try to hide any weakness. Farmers and vets realise this and recommend a

footbath in order to harden the hoof and to maintain the herd’s wellbeing. Fabdec have now developed FOOT-WASH Plus, an automatic self-replenishing bath. Per set number of cows the bath will drain, rinse, refill and dose in the selected product solution for the day.

The overwhelming demand for this product had led the company into new markets, and it was well received at the US World Dairy Expo in Madison, WI this October.

The British dairy industry is one of the most, if not the most advanced industry in Europe.

This is because the British have always invested in modern technologies. We believe that Fabdec have played and will continue to play a crucial role in supporting this direction.

Contact Fabdec’s Scottish sales representative for further information: Phil Scott: 07775922717 Email: Philip.scott@fabdec.com

Boehringer Ingelheim launches Bovikalc Dry, oral supplement for dairy cows Boehringer Ingelheim has launched Bovikalc® Dry, an oral mineral supplement to help support the drying off process in dairy cows, at UK Dairy Day 2018.

Bovikalc Dry® joins original Bovikalc (a calcium bolus for reduction of the risk of milk fever) to extend the range from Boehringer Ingelheim. Bovikalc Dry helps support the natural decrease in milk production at the end of a lactation cycle.

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Reduced milk production helps to reduce milk congestion in the udder, and the associated discomfort.

Bovikalc Dry contains the anionic salts ammonium chloride, calcium chloride and calcium sulphate. Cows should receive two boluses, orally, which dissolve within 30 minutes in the rumen, where the anionic salts are released and then absorbed.

dairy The dry period is a crucial resting period in a dairy cow’s lactation cycle, giving the udder the opportunity to repair and regenerate between lactations, but the drying-off process can be a difficult, uncomfortable and stressful period1,2. Cows may still be producing considerable amounts of milk and the accumulation of milk in the mammary gland can lead to udder distention and engorgement3.

Discomfort from udder distension during drying-off may cause reduced lying time, with cows resting for shorter periods in an attempt to relieve pressure on the udder4. It is also a high risk period for mastitis4, particularly in high-yielding cows.

Cow welfare can be improved at drying off with attention paid to reducing pain from udder engorgement, and monitoring for signs of mastitis with early intervention where infections are present.

Mathieu Maignan, Boehringer Ingelheim Bovikalc Dry, brand manager, says: “The addition of Bovikalc Dry to the Bovikalc range is evidence of our continued investment in this important area of dairy health and welfare.”

Dairy farmers should talk to their vets about improving cow welfare during dryingoff and ask their local animal health specialist for Bovikalc Dry.

Dump bucket with non-return valve safeguards milk quality Dairy Spares has extended its range of dump buckets with the introduction of the Vaccar dump bucket which has a non-return valve built into the lid. This prevents milk being sucked back into the vacuum pump in the event of an overflow, thereby safeguarding milk quality. This is a feature being stipulated by some milk buyers.

The Vaccar dump bucket is made of stainless steel and holds 30 litres. The lid is designed to stay on the bucket even when not under vacuum, making it easier to handle.

The Vaccar dump bucket costs £150 + VAT. For more information farmers can contact their local stockist or call Dairy Spares on 01948 667676, or visit www. dairyspares.co.uk. www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

dairy Potential savings in cow hygiene at housing With winter housing fast approaching, dairy farmers are being advised to review their cow hygiene products as simple changes can be made to support hygienic milk production whilst saving on costs of teat disinfectant.

Whilst out at grass, cows are at greater risk of environmental challenge and skin damage, so hygiene products need a wider specification to ensure effective cleaning and protection is achieved.

“However, this should be reviewed at housing, as the scale of challenges on the cow change,” explains Rob Kelly, Global Marketingdirector Diversey, the manufacturers of the Deosan range of hygiene products. “Whilst the need to control hygiene is still absolutely paramount, the approach needs to adapt, and specifically, a clearer focus on Strep.uberis and E.coli should be considered.

Both areenvironmental bugs that can cause significant issues with housed animals, particularly if tightly stocked.

“The requirements of your products need to move from wide spectrum bacteria control to products that centre around soil removal and rapid disinfection.

High emollient content is less of a pre-requisite during housing

for cows in milk, as weather and skin protection is less of an issue.

“Make sure you are using products that are proven and fit for purpose. Look out for proof of efficacy, using EN test approvals, which set a European

standard for all hygiene products.

EN 1656 tests against bacteria and 1657 against Yeasts. The product should kill 99.999% of notified bacteria –get familiar with the quality of the product being used.

Lameness prevention top of the agenda following hard, hot summer Lameness prevention in dairy herds should be a top priority as the hot, dry weather of the summer and the subsequent poor feed quality have had

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the potential to cause greater lameness problems heading into winter.

“Many cows underwent substantial heat stress over the summer,” says Dr Reuben Newsome, farm vet at Synergy Farm Health.

“They experienced prolonged periods of standing, which cows do to diffuse heat when hot in an attempt to cool down. In addition, some farms struggled to maintain body condition, possibly due to reduced feed intakes in the hot weather coupled with poor forage availability.”

Standing for long periods

can contribute to sole ulcers and claw horn lesions (CHL), which this summer was compounded in some situations by cows losing body condition resulting in a reduced fat pad in the hoof.

“Hopefully if this occurred, they were treated as early as possible, as if left untreated it can cause long-term, often irreversible, lameness.”

Dr Newsome explains the lack of forage available in recent months has led to cows being in poorer condition heading into the winter, so this year more than ever it’s important to get on top of any lameness issues.

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“Winter housing increases the risk of lameness,” he explains. “If feet are more fragile and cows are more prone to lameness, we need to act now to stop it getting out of hand,” he says.

“I would advise farmers to conduct a full lameness MOT, prepare for winter housing carefully and give prompt, effective treatment to get cows back on track.”

He recommends regular mobility scoring of the whole herd to determine which cows are lame and to plan the treatment needed.

sheep Impact of Weather on Lamb Crop Highlighted in Census Figures The June 2018 Agricultural Census published by the Scottish Government reveals the effects of the harsh spring weather on this year’s lamb crop.

There were 8% fewer lambs on Scottish farms than at the same point in 2017, with numbers sliding by 272,600 to 3.14m head. This left the Scottish lamb crop at a fiveyear low and 3.9% below its 2013-17 average level.

An analysis of the data shows that the national lambing percentage dropped from a 21st century high of 128.3% in 2017 to a five-year low of 122.9% in 2018, which was around two percentage points below both its five and ten-year averages.

However, points out Iain Macdonald, Senior Economic

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Analyst with Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), the lambing percentage did not fall as far as had been feared.

“Indeed, the challenging winter and spring of 2012/2013 had seen the lambing percentage fall as low as 118.7% in June 2013. This year, part of the reason for such a sharp fall in lamb numbers was a significant fall of 4% in ewe numbers on 2017,” observed Mr Macdonald.

Given that ewe numbers reported in the December census had been slightly above year earlier levels, this unfortunately points to an increase in ewe mortality.

Elsewhere in the British Isles, sheep numbers are reported using slightly different categories, but it is clear that lamb numbers have also fallen.

“However, these declines have been to a lesser extent than in Scotland. In England, the lamb crop fell by 1.4%, on

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a 1.3% higher breeding flock, while the Northern Irish crop contracted by 2% on a 1.1% smaller ewe flock,” he said.

sheep In the Irish Republic, lamb numbers declined by 2.9% on a marginally increased breeding flock.

“Combine the three and you get a reduction of around 2% in lamb numbers on a slightly increased flock, with a threepercentage point reduction in lambing percentage.

“A smaller lamb crop appears to have had an impact on slaughterings. At the UK level, Defra statistics point to an 8% year-on-year decline in slaughter numbers in the June to September period, with GB auction volumes down heavily over this period.

“The size of this fall suggests that lambs have been taking longer to finish than last year, perhaps signalling that numbers will begin to recover in the final quarter of 2018,” said Mr Macdonald.

In Scotland, while store sales volumes have fallen in line with the lamb crop, down 8%, provisional figures for slaughterings at Scottish abattoirs show a decline of only 1%, perhaps suggesting that fewer Scottish lambs have been crossing the border this year.

In addition, once higher carcase weights have been factored in, the volume of lamb produced

by Scottish abattoirs was only a fraction lower than in the same period of 2017.

Looking at the wider European market, lamb production appears to have risen, placing some downwards pressure on farmgate prices relative to last year. After a slow start to the season, processing picked up enough in the Irish Republic in August and September to raise throughput at exporting abattoirs by 3% in the June to September period.

New intensive finishing feed for end of season lambs

UK sheep producers now have access to a highly cost-effective end of season lamb finishing feed, thanks to the launch of a new alkalised concentrate from FiveF Alka Limited.

Trials suggest new Alkalamb boosts lamb daily liveweight gain and feed conversion efficiency when fed at the same rate as a

traditional finishing concentrate.

Margin over feed was better as a result.

“Feeding end of season lambs becomes costlier the older lambs get. These animals typically take longer to finish because feed conversion ratio (FCR) is increasing at this stage of their growth. Consequently,

crofting UK agriculture from Westminster viewpoint

By Patrick Krause, Chief Executive, Scottish Crofting Federation The relevance of the recently released agriculture bill, setting out the UK secretary of state for agriculture, Michael Gove’s intentions for agriculture in England and Wales, to Scotland’s crofters is yet to be seen. One would assume that as the UK government will be setting out an agriculture framework for UK there will be some leakage of Mr Gove’s quite radical ideas into the Scottish system.

The indignation expressed by Scotland’s cabinet secretary for rural economy, Fergus Ewing, particularly at the prospect of certain aspects of agriculture in the bill being claimed to be reserved (when agriculture is devolved), is justifiable, and should be supported by us all. However, whilst the ‘power-grab’ is a battle to fight, it must not be confused with the overall direction of the agriculture bill.

We of course hope to see some of the ideas in the UK bill borne out in Scottish policy with the continuation of crofting support and an equitable system that supports ecologically sound production and compensates for natural constraints. We want to see a more focussed results-based use of public money, replacing the current income support that, as Mr Gove put it, “gives the most from the public purse

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to those who have the most private wealth”.

An important issue that is not covered in the bill is the ‘convergence uplift’, in effect a refund from the EU to UK due its overall low level of CAP payments. Scottish Government and stakeholders have long argued that the refund, worth some £190 million, should come to Scotland in its entirety as it is our low payments that bring the UK average down low enough to justify the refund. The UK government stance has been that the refund gets divided up amongst the UK nations and in an announcement this week launching an agriculture review, UK government said that the convergence issue will not be revisited. We can certainly also be indignant at that.

On the plus side, Mr Gove confirmed future farm support payments will not depend on the Barnett formula – a population-based calculation.

This is important as Scotland as Scotland has a low population density. Instead, the review will consider each country’s individual circumstances, including environmental, economic and socio-economic factors, as well as farm numbers and farm sizes, so we may get some of what we want.

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sheep increasing traditional concentrate intake can be expensive and is often risky because the practice can adversely affect the health of the rumen,” explains Rob Smith from FiveF Alka.

Alkalamb is a lamb finishing concentrate based on alkalised wheat with a pH of 8.5. The alkaline nature of the nut means that late season lambs can be fed it ad lib to accelerate finishing time but with a reduced risk of rumen acidosis.

“The practical trials we have conducted suggest the new feed will facilitate a smoother transition from grazing to an intensive late season finishing system. Promoting a healthier rumen through alkalisation will also boost overall lamb vitality,” Mr Smith says.

Alkalamb nuts are available this autumn from a number of approved FiveF Alka feed manufacturers.

Call the FiveF Alkaline on 01200 613118 for further information.01200 613118

Dumfries Farming Family Strive to Maximise Potential of their Flock

The Duncanson family at Marchbank Farm, Beattock, have taken significant steps over the years to maximise productivity from their sheep flock and were ideal hosts for a recent Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) workshop entitled, “Are Ewe Ready to Breed?”

The focus of the workshop which was led by sheep specialist, Fiona Lovatt of Flock Health Ltd, was to maximise the potential of a flock through paying particular attention to nutrition, health, genetics and condition scoring.

Husband and wife team Sandy and Mary Duncanson run the 400-hectare upland farm with their younger son, Niall (24). The majority of the farm is permanent grass but around 65 hectares is ploughable and used for silage for the stock of 70 Shorthorn/Aberdeen Angus cross suckler cows and 1050 ewes.

As start-up farmers in 1989, the Duncansons slowly built up their stock on their first Crown Estate tenancy before being offered Marchbank, a bigger farm, in 2002. Their sheep flock 98

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is a work in progress with mules being phased out and replaced with a Lairg-type Cheviot base ewe, but it has been closed for the last three years.

Last year Aberfield tups were used for the first time and the family are delighted with the progeny, so the plan is to retain some Cheviots pure but cross some with the Aberfield, keep the females and use a Texel as the terminal sire.

“Our scanning percentage for the crossing ewes in January was 186 per cent,” said Sandy Duncanson.

“We believe the Aberfield will bring a degree of prolificacy to the flock but we do not really want scans much more than 190 per cent as this is a very wet, exposed farm and we do not want too many triplets,” he added.

The family agree that genetics plays a part in improving productivity but better management and improved grassland is crucial.

“The hill ewes normally scan around 162 per cent which has improved since we started feeding them half a pound of beet pulp per head during and

sheep for a couple of weeks after tupping,” said Mary Duncanson.

The in-bye ewes are not fed concentrates at tupping but are flushed on grass, usually silage aftermath.

The Duncansons work very closely with their vets in Lockerbie, carrying out blood tests and mineral profiles to identify and address any trace element deficiencies. They now bolus the ewes pre-tupping and pre-lambing with copper, cobalt and selenium with good results.

The family also use teaser tups on the in-bye flock and find that 87 to 90 per cent of the ewes lamb in the first 17 days from 1st April.

“We believe that getting the nutrition and health of the ewes right, combined with using teaser tups helps us to have a more compact lambing and nearly all the in-bye ewes have lambed before the hill lambing starts on 18th April,” said Mrs Duncanson.

The flock is tribendazole resistant so they try to house each batch of lambing ewes for at least six weeks as part of their fluke management strategy and also to give the ground a rest so there is plenty of grass cover for ewes and lambs being turned out in early April. Ewes carrying triplets are housed from scanning in January.

Son Niall explained: “The ewes are fed as high a quality silage as we can produce in a TMR system in order to lessen our reliance on bought in feed.

Both feeding & bedding of the ewes is mechanised to simplify the system and ensure that

it is generally a one person operation.”

One of the key messages to come out of the QMS workshop was that ewes should be at target condition score of 3-3.5 when the tups go out and now (between weaning and mating) is the best time to safely adjust condition score without impacting on reproduction.

Fiona Lovatt stressed that ewes are likely to have come through this summer leaner than usual and farmers need to act now to increase body condition score (BCS). Leaving it too late, flushing and tupping thin ewes will only give multiples which will lead to greater issues as pregnancy progresses.

It takes at least six weeks on good pasture to increase one BCS and requires almost double a ewe’s maintenance requirements, so farmers were urged to tackle it now while grass is still growing rather than leaving it until later when pasture is needed for the winter.

At the workshop, Dr Lovatt shared research that showed that weaning between 90 and 110 days makes no difference to the lambs but is of huge benefit to the ewes. As a result, the Duncanson’s have decided to wean their ewes 10 days earlier than their usual 14 weeks.

Although the family cull hard and carry no passengers, they are keen to explore any reasons behind ewes not reaching targets.

At the workshop, “iceberg” diseases including OPA, Johnes and Maedi Visna were highlighted as potential causes of underperforming flocks.

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Advertising works!

By George Milne It was great to see Scotch lamb being advertised on television, I hope you will have had an opportunity to have seen the advert. In 30 seconds it sums up the “Naturally” reared product, highlighting some great, suggested lamb dishes.

The opening scene of the wonderful Scottish hills and iconic scenery really demonstrates just how important the link is between where our hill sheep live and graze and the wonderful countryside that is a result of many generations keeping sheep in the hills. Sheep farming has in fact created a landscape for tourists and visitors alike to recognise what is renowned worldwide as Scotland.

It shows how important it is to have people living and working in many remote parts of Scotland, as without sheep there would be no people. Yet here we are in talks with Scottish government around future support for our hill farmers that receive Less Favoured area support scheme payments ( LFASS). Recently we met with Government officials to discuss LFASS and the proposal to use a parachute system under EU law, which will see LFASS payments reduced by 20% for 2019 year for payment in 2020 and then reduce further to 20% for 2020. Our purpose in meeting was to

discuss and emphasise the vital importance of LFASS payments for the many farmers and crofters that receive a payment. At the end of the day in nearly all cases this support money is spent in the local rural area to support other businesses, local shops and rural community life.

We hope under future talks and discussion that a way forward can be found to avoid this reduction in 2019 and 2020. Here we are supposed to be leaving the EU soon and yet we are still hamstrung by their rules. I am not saying leaving the EU is right or wrong, but what I can say is Scotland or the UK never seems to have the authority in deciding new schemes, rules ,or inspection criteria, yet the UK is the biggest sheep producing country in Europe by a long way. Surely that should give us the right to lead on the rules and regulation around support schemes for our sheep industry.

I hope the advert has inspired you try our wonderful Scotch lamb and that might encourage you to purchase Scotch lamb on a more regular basis.

There is nothing that would give us as farmers more satisfaction than to know that our product was being recognised, appreciated and enjoyed by our consumers in Scotland.

estate Plans to maximise venison in domestic and international markets

Bob Prentice, Downfield Farms; Marie Gougeon, Minister for Rural Affairs; Bill Bewsher, Chairman, Scottish Venison Partnership

DEER STALKING REQUIRED COMPLETE DEER MANAGEMENT STRATEGY, DISCREET, PROFESSIONAL & QUALIFIED STALKERS Looking for stalking land, any locations and all aspects considered, amenity, commercial & culling.

Good rates offered along with added capital value.

JOHNNY READHEAD 07776 995284 jonathonreadhead@yahoo.co.uk

The first ever strategy for Scotland’s wild and farmed venison sector has been launched, with the aim of bringing together the wild and farmed deer interests for the first time, and setting out nine “key area” for growth across the sector.

Those key areas include skills-building initiatives, a fund to support new entrants to venison farming and the need for further research and development.

Speaking from Downfield Farm venison processing plant in Cupar, Fife, Minister for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon said: I am delighted to help to launch this strategy for this exciting, burgeoning sector in Scotland’s food and drink success story.

Venison is a premium food, renowned for its quality, provenance and health credentials, and its reputation continues to rise in both domestic and international markets. We know the venison market in the UK alone is estimated to be worth around £100 million per year and demand has been increasing year on year. With this strategy in place, the sector in a Scotland now has a fantastic opportunity to meet rising demand, displace imports and target new market opportunities.

I welcome that the industry has come together to develop a plan that will build on the strong foundations put in place by the venison pioneers in Scotland. Deer

farming and management play a significant role in supporting a thriving and sustainable rural economy and this strategy will support our shared wider ambitions to grow it.

And it’s very fitting to launch the new strategy on Scottish Venison Day and during Food and Drink fortnight, the annual celebration and promotion of Scotland’s food and drink sector.

The Scottish Government looks forward to working with the sector to take forward the actions contained with the strategy.

Bill Bewsher, Chairman, The Scottish Venison Partnership, said: “Venison producers and processors in Scotland, both wild and farmed, will take very significant encouragement from this new strategy.

We are exceptionally fortunate that on the one hand we have a rich asset in our wild deer as a sustainable source of healthy food and, on the other, increasing enthusiasm and undoubted potential to grow our farmed venison sector to meet expanding markets both in the UK and elsewhere. This strategy points all of us in the right direction with a set of common goals for 2030 and we are grateful for the additional support forthcoming from government in helping us to meet them”.

James Withers, Chief Executive of Scotland Food & Drink, said: “There is huge potential for the Scottish venison sector (continued on page 102)

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estate to grow and key to unlocking this will be a strong partnership between industry and government. This new strategy will act as a catalyst to drive growth, build our reputation and ensure that rising UK demand for venison is met from high quality, Scottish suppliers. The ambition of the sector is great to see and it will make venison an increasing part of Scotland’s food and drink success story”.

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A rare opportunity to buy your own piece of wilderness in a truly spectacular location Galbraith and joint agents Goldsmith are pleased to bring to the market the Fearna Lodge Estate which lies near the attractive fishing village of Lochinver and about two hours from Inverness.

This is a rare opportunity to purchase one’s own piece of wilderness with a superb modern five-bedroom lodge together with approximately 735 acres of land with red deer stalking, rough shooting, duck flighting, salmon fishing and trout fishing on numerous trout lochs.

Extending to around 735 acres, this compact Highland estate is perfect for those seeking a manageable mixed sporting estate. Fearna is within just a few

minutes’ drive of one of the most spectacular and unspoilt stretches of coastline in Scotland with some of the UK’s finest beaches, including the renowned beaches of Clachtoll and Achmelvich.

Sitting in an elevated, private position overlooking one of the principal estate lochs, the modern lodge was built in 2012 and it benefits from 360 degree views of the stunning Sutherland scenery. Extending to some 3,600 square feet, it offers spacious open plan living with floor to ceiling glass walls to make the most of the beautiful views.

The Estate lies in a National Scenic Area and also in the UNESCO North West Highland Geopark. It offers excellent holiday rental potential and also potential for a sizeable woodland planting scheme.

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Handling the sale for Galbraith, John Bound says: “Fearn Lodge estate is the perfect rural retreat and a fine example of a wilderness property with contemporary comforts.

The well-appointed modern lodge comes complete with solar panels, underfloor heating on the ground floor and a large wood burning stove, guaranteed to warm you up after a long day on the hill.”

The Lodge is spacious, bright and comfortable and the five bedrooms are each served by their own bathroom offering flexible living accommodation.

There is a timber framed double garage with kennel and floored loft area.

Richard Seaman, of joint agent Goldsmiths, adds: “This is the ideal place to escape the confines of modernity and

Curlew now need agreed action plan for survival in Scotland September saw the gathering of a number of experts in various aspects of curlew life-history at Battleby near Perth, for discussions on how we reverse the worrying declines of curlew in the UK and Scotland in particular.

Organised by Mary Colwell and an array of other organisations, including GWCT, the meeting aimed to address the 59 per cent decline in curlew in Scotland over the last 20 years, a massive 16 per cent happening in the last five years alone, and what action can be taken to save the species. This is the latest in a series of such meetings with others held in Northern Ireland, England and Wales.

The decline in curlew, especially in the last five years, appears to be most severe in Scotland and Wales, but research to date suggests the primary causes are the same across most of the UK, these being: loss or degradation of breeding habitat and low breeding productivity because of predation on eggs and chicks by generalist predators.

Dave Parish, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust’s head of lowland research in Scotland and at the Trust’s Scottish demonstration farm at Auchnerran spoke at the conference on the potential use of predator control as a tool for increasing productivity. He said:

“This was a really important meeting with regard to the future of the curlew in Scotland where, to be blunt, we are now working to save the species and farmers can play a significant role in making this happen. We know from research undertaken by GWCT at Otterburn that good predator control can result in an increase in the number of curlew chicks produced in an area and that this in turn can drive an increase in curlew populations. It is important that land managers have this tool available to them and are appropriately trained if they are new to predator

control, as this can result in very fast improvements in curlew fortunes when done properly.

“With input from r e s e a r c h e r s , conservationists, land managers, the Scottish Parliament and collaborative work through the Working for Waders initiative, in which GWCT is involved, we hope that this meeting will result in the production of an agreed action plan with appropriate support to see it implemented where it’s needed in Scotland.”

Without generalist predator control, significant further decline in curlew numbers can be expected

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over the next few years.

However, rapid and significant increases in breeding populations can be achieved by implementing predator control. Importantly, such control – whether lethal or non-lethal - must be legal, should focus on the period February to July, would ideally involve collaboration between neighbouring landholdings to ensure it is done at an appropriately large scale, and should only be undertaken by competent practitioners.

Further information from: Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust Tel: 01738 551511

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estate enjoy the breath-taking solitude this estate offers. Climb the rocky outcrops, explore the undulating moorland, fish the private hill lochs and maybe catch a salmon on the small spate river which is a tributary of the Inver”.

Fearna Lodge Estate is for sale for offers over £900,000 through joint agents, Galbraith, and Goldsmiths.

For further information please contact the Inverness office of Galbraith on 01463 224343; inverness@galbraithgroup.com or Goldsmiths in Edinburgh on 0131 4766500; info@ goldsmithestates.com A video of Fearna Lodge Estate is available at the following link: https://vimeo. com/288507859/97b1dd8ed5

Call for contributions to help shape new approach to managing Crown Estate Scotland assets An initiative aimed at increasing the social, economic and environmental value from land and property has been launched by Crown Estate Scotland.

The Value Project will identify all of the different types of benefits generated from the Scottish Crown Estate, which includes 37,000 hectares rural land, the seabed and 620 sq km of foreshore. Findings will guide decisions on managing the Estate. The approach will be developed and shared with other organisations to encourage best use of land and property across Scotland.

Crown Estate Scotland is keen to hear from a wide range of people with knowledge and expertise about land, property and different types of value to help ensure the widest range of benefits are taken into account.

Simon Hodge, Crown Estate Scotland Chief Executive, said, “We know Scotland’s land and natural resources are fundamental to our way of life, our economy and our culture. We want to understand how different uses of the land, coastline and seabed that make up the Scottish Crown Estate impacts on jobs, climate change, food and energy production, and the resilience of our communities.

“This project will give us the full picture of the different types of value generated by the Estate 104

so that we and others can manage it in a way that really benefits Scotland.”

Crown Estate Scotland – which leases land and property and passes all revenue profit to Scottish Government for public spending – has recruited Courtney Hyde Peyton, a sustainability professional with 25 years of experience in built environment, resource use, investment and rural development, to lead the two-year project.

Activities such as offshore wind generation, farming, marine leisure, mountain biking, wild river fishing, and aquaculture will be assessed to identify what types of economic, social and environmental value are generated.

Crown Estate Scotland will also measure the benefit the different activities generate for public finances.

Courtney Peyton said, “This is a really exciting project. We want to take public benefit assessment to a new level and place it at the heart of decision-making. I think this work will help Scotland become a recognised leader in using our natural resources to deliver lasting value for this generation and those to come.”

Crown Estate Scotland aims to share initial findings of The Value Project towards the end of 2019.

For updates, please follow @ crownestatescot

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Uncertainty continues in Scotland

By Sarah-Jane Laing, Executive Director at Scottish Land & Estates The publication of the Agriculture Bill by the UK Government has moved the dial on somewhat on what the post-Brexit landscape will look like south of the Border – but in Scotland many questions are raised about what it could mean for our farming sector.

The general thrust of the Bill produced few surprises for farmers in England, with the direction of travel towards public money for public goods well trailed in advance. This includes support for better air and water quality, improved soil health, higher animal welfare standards, public access to the countryside and measures to reduce flooding.

The proposed seven year transition, starting in 2021, will see current direct payments phased out as the new Environmental Land Management (ELM) Scheme is brought in. The introduction of the ELM includes promises to be less onerous and involve less bureaucracy – an objective which all land managers around the UK would like to see realised as we move away from the CAP. Very few parts of the published Bill directly legislate on Scotland, with part six on the creation of a domestic Producer Organisation regime and part seven ensuring the UK’s compliance with the WTO Agreement on

Agriculture obligations among the less headline-grabbing sections which do pertain to Scottish interests.

Yet, with less than 150 days until Brexit becomes a reality, like every sector, farming and other landbased businesses across the UK are anxious to learn the fine detail of what the future will hold in terms of trade, labour and regulation.

Establishing a UK wide framework for agriculture as soon as possible is part of this process in order that food producers are not disadvantaged depending on where they are based.

In Scotland, such uncertainties are coupled with a concern the new Bill will lead to us reacting to policy in other parts of the UK - rather than leading the debate and developing a system that serves Scotland’s specific needs.

SLE has been supportive of the increased recognition of the value of public goods delivered by agriculture, especially in upland areas.

This concept if firmly embedded in the UK Bill and is being explored in Scotland too.

The Scottish Government’s Stability and Simplicity consultation has sought to formulate answers on what will happen during a fiveyear transition phase until 2024, but the industry needs to quickly understand what we are transitioning to - and prepare accordingly.

For more information www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk Telephone : 0131 653 5400

forestry

A new vision for forestry

Views are being sought on a new draft Forestry Strategy for Scotland which aims to make the most of precious forestry resources and help cement the country’s reputation as a responsible global citizen.

The draft strategy sets out a long-term vision to inspire and stimulate a shared national endeavour to sustainably grow more trees to enhance our woods and forests both to make a greater contribution to Scotland’s climate change ambitions and to deliver more economic benefit for years to come.

The launch of the consultation, which runs for 10 weeks, is a key element in the delivery of this year’s Programme for Government.

Launching the consultation at Newbattle Abbey College, Dalkeith, with forestry and rural skills students, Mr Ewing said; “In April next year, the forestry devolution process will have been

completed and forestry in Scotland will begin a new chapter.

“Scottish Ministers will be fully accountable for forestry and two new forestry agencies will come into being.

“It is only fitting that we also establish a new, long-term vision for forestry that increases our woodland area and delivers more economic, social and environmental benefits whilst protecting and enhancing our forest resources so that they provide more benefits for more people in 50 to 100 years’ time.

“It is also fitting that this Strategy is being developed in Scotland’s Year of Young People because our young people will grow up with our trees, and reap the benefits for themselves and their children.

“I would encourage everyone with an interest in the future of forestry to submit their views.”

The draft strategy, once finalised in 2019, will act as a

10 year framework for action, concentrating on three key areas: - increasing the contribution of forests and woodlands to sustainable and inclusive economic growth, especially in rural communities; - protecting and enhancing Scotland’s valuable natural assets, ensuring they are resilient and contribute

to a healthy high quality environment; and - ensuring that more people are empowered to use forests and woodlands to improve their health, well-being and life chances.

The draft consultation will be open online until 29 November 2018.

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horses Shaunie Greig retains her title in the Equithème Leading Pony Showjumper of the Year Championship

Equine Angle

By Melanie Scott

Photo Courtesy: 1st Class Images

Scotland punches its weight

Shaunie Greig hailed her “one in a million” pony after joining an exclusive Horse of the Year Show club. The Scottish teenager retained her title as Equithème Leading Pony Showjumper of the Year on Casino Royale VIII, and in doing so became the first combination to win the prestigious class twice in a row since Nicola Loffett and Kangaroo won 51 years ago.

Shaunie was in unstoppable form, blazing around the jumpoff course in a time of 32.22 seconds to win by more than three and a half seconds from runner-up Madison Heath, riding Flavia, with Faye Sutton and Robe Ruadh taking third.

Nine combinations made the jump-off from 24 starters in a competition that featured all the members of Great Britain’s gold medal-winning European Championship team from earlier this year, and it did not disappoint.

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But Shaunie, who is from Clackmannanshire, proved to be in a different league on a pony owned by her grandmother Anne as she highlighted why so many astute judges in the sport are predicting a glittering riding career for her.

Few among a bumper crowd in the Andrews Bowen International Arena at Birmingham’s Genting Arena would disagree, and they roared their approval as Shaunie posted the most emphatic of triumphs.

“I didn’t really think we were going to do it again, but we managed it,” she said. “I knew he could be as quick as that, though. It was amazing. I got in the arena, and I just thought I am going to give this my all. To win it twice in a year is amazing, and I just want to thank everyone who supports me so much. He is a one in a million pony, totally amazing.”

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It’s reassuring to know that despite the relatively small number of horses in Scotland that we can certainly hold our own at the pinnacle of the horsey equestrian calendar.

At the Horse of the Year Show, held at Birmingham’s NEC, Scotland was well represented with several wins throughout the five days.

While the Scottish showjumpers were firing on all cylinders’ with Shaunie Greig and Lucy Stewart both taking a win apiece in the junior and senior classes, the showing competitors enjoyed one of their best years on record.

The first two days are reserved for mountain and moorland ponies, both flat and working hunter classes, and Fife’s Kirsty Aird claimed two M&M WHP classes in succession - the 133cm and eventual overall championship with Gwen Rae’s Fell stallion Greenholm Emblem and the 143cm with Cheryl Mackintosh’s Connemara gelding Woodbank Smokey Sam. Also in the plaited working hunter ponies

Dumfries rider Hannah Sloan claimed the intermediate title and the reserve championship with her great performer Tinka’s Flash.

A winner at HOYS with Hannah’s brother Stuart, this marked Hannah’s final working hunter pony class as she is now too old and they now will concentrate on horse workers and eventing competitions.

The Scottish-bred fiveyear-old 138cm riding pony Drakemyre Puttin’ On The Ritz claimed the overall children’s riding pony championship. Also from Scotland was the winner of the ridden Highland pony class, Benbreac of Croila, bred by the late Cameron Ormiston and owned by Melanie Stanford.

One of the furthest travelled competitors would be Isla Miller, who travelled from the very north of Scotland to ride the sixyear-old Clydesdale Stobilee Zac to stand reserve in the British Heavy Horse Ridden Championships.

Also finishing runner up was Dumfries rider Zara Weir and Beech Hall Ryan in the 143cm working hunter pony.

by Linda Mellor

SCOTTISH COUNTRY LIFE I hope everyone is out in the Scottish countryside making the most of the shooting season? We’re all aware the start of the grouse on the Glorious 12th wasn’t as monumental as everyone had hoped as dates were cancelled, days reduced and some postponed. Loaders, picker-ups and beaters and their dogs have had to look at other ways of filling their empty diaries. The lack of grouse days creates a negative effect flowing out to local businesses who support the shooting industry like hotels, pubs, clothing and other retailers.

I wonder what the downturn numbers are regarding fuel consumption attributed to shooters, because 99.9% of us have to drive to shoots?

All too often on a shoot day people have to travel for miles, spend a night or two in a hotel, eat, and drink. It is tough going everywhere. The cancellations have hit the estates and the keepers hard, these men and women have worked all year focussed on the opening of the season. There are no magic spells to transform the seasons and the effects of a harsh winter and an extended dry spell in the summer. They are hard to get around. Nature tries to adapt but the harsh reality is survival of the fittest.

Nature and the outdoors can never offer any guarantees, and our weather system is changeable. All the gamekeepers and their teams

have worked hard to be ready for the start of the season and can only approach it with a full commitment so the low grouse count and the cancelled dates must hit them hard, and not just financially. Working towards one goal and being prevented from achieving it is difficult to overcome, but they do. They carry on with their workload regardless and remain hopeful of an upturn.

If anyone is in a gamekeeping role and concerned about how they are coping or how they are feeling or if they are under pressure please take a look at the Gamekeepers Welfare Trust, they are always on hand to help (in many ways) https:// thegamekeeperswelfaretrust. com/ The pheasants are great gamebirds to enjoy, and an ideal way to make the most of them is by taking them home after a shoot day to share with family and friends, to

cook and enjoy. It’s positive to see so many companies and individuals doing their thing within the countryside sector to promote game and inspire others to give it a try, it’s one of the healthiest choices available, and just look at the range to choose from: pheasant, grouse (if you’re lucky), partridge, pigeon, duck and venison. The British Game Alliance http:// www.britishgamealliance. co.uk/ has been set up as the official board for the UK game industry. Take a look at the range from Wild & Game https://www.wildandgame. co.uk/ Locally, Venator Pro Ltd in Perth have launched a new range of game seasoning called Taste Gone Wild, take a look www.venatorpro.com The last show on my calendar was the Galloway Country Fair at Drumlanrig, I took a trip down there on the third weekend in August.

After the drive, my first visit is

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always for freshly made coffee from Linton & Co van and some entertainment from The Sheep Show (a great laugh).

My timing was good because in the Buccleuch Fox Hounds were in the main arena. Just as the rain started, I went for a mooch around the food and craft tent. The fair is set in the grounds of Drumlanrig castle, a stunning backdrop and a beautiful estate, there’s always plenty of car parking and even in the rain it is well drained with no boggy, muddy patches.

One of my favourite hotels, The Meikleour Arms, http://www.meikleourarms. co.uk/ was in the national news over two weekends in September with two great recommendations in The Times.

It’s heartening to see travellers, tourists, anglers and shooters are enjoying Meikleour’s warmth and hospitality; the food is exceptional and the comfort levels first class, I highly recommend it as a place to eat, stay and visit all year round, you will not be disappointed.

If you are an angler you should have 15th January 2019 in your diary for the opening of the Tay and the start of the salmon fishing season at Meikleour, it is always a great day out and a treat to see lots of fisher men and women fishing on the Tay, supporting the Angling for youth development charity http://www.afyd.co.uk/ and having fun. The Meikleour Arms provides the food. See you there!

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country woman

Tracy Ferguson

By Linda Mellor

Tracy Ferguson lives in the Scottish Borders and is full immersed in the countryside. In 2016, Tracy moved to Scotland to run the Roxburghe Shooting School of Excellence, she is the senior shooting coach and runs professional clay & game shooting tuition and a range of target based activities and corporate events including Archery, Tomahawk throwing, air rifles, clay pigeon shooting, fly fishing and golf. Tracy said, ‘I was brought up in the London suburbs and worked most of my life in the centre of Town, so I did not have a great understanding of the country way of life - I suppose the closest I came to spending time in the country was when my parents took me to Epping Forest, or to pick strawberries!’

Scotland was a place Tracy used to visit, ‘I discovered Scotland many years ago, on business trips and started to take holidays there.

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On one such break, I stayed in the Scottish Borders and never forgot what a wonderful place it was.’

‘If you told me 10 years ago, I’d have my own shooting school in the Scottish Borders, would be teaching and taking people on guided deer stalks, teaching clay and game shooting, loading on grouse and being a part-time gamekeeper, I would, of course, have laughed uproariously!’

Happily settled in Scotland, Tracy married Stuart in May this year, on Seilibost beach, Isle of Harris and has a busy professional life with the Roxburghe Shooting School. Shotgun shooting is a sport Tracy was first introduced to about eighteen years ago. She had never lifted a shotgun before a Hen weekend in Norfolk, ‘the instructor gave me, what felt like, a ton weight in my shoulder, I could barely lift the thing. I did hit a few unlike my pals, who were all

put off, but something about the experience got to me.’

After visiting her local gun shop, Tracy was invited to their Sunday shoot and booked a lesson with their instructor, she said, ‘With a well fitted 20 bore, I practically hit every target he presented to me, suffice to say I was addicted.’

Tracy joined her local club, applied for her shotgun certificate and bought her first shotgun.

For the first few months she shot and won most of the ladies’ competitions and started going to other shooting grounds. ‘Our club was entered in the Essex clubs championship and I came second in the ladies entry having only shot for six months.’At weekends Tracy enjoyed competing, and helping other people get into shooting. An instructor suggested that she take the CPSA (clay pigeon shooting association) Instructors course.

She took time out and changed the

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direction of her life, she left her job in central London and in 2005, she started the Frock Stock and Barrel Clay Pigeon Shooting School.

Inundated with people wanting to try shooting, Tracy created themed shooting events like ladies days, have a go sessions, Valentines and Mothers days.

Tracy was one of the CPSA tutors and assessment team, ‘I was then asked by the British Army to assist in coaching in the army development team and joined them in Cyprus for two seasons.’

In addition to many events organised by Tracy throughout the year she also designs and runs dedicated Ladies clay shooting days every quarter, these days are hugely popular with all ladies; from complete beginners to experienced shots. Tracy has been organising events since 2005 and appreciates and understands what makes a great day out for the girls;

country woman great sponsors, shooting tuition, competitions, fun prizegiving followed by lunch or afternoon tea all served up with lots of fun and laughter. Everyone is welcome to come along and give it a go, her days are great for encouraging and supporting women of all ages and levels of skill. If you are curious about shotgun shooting and interested in trying it out then Tracy’s days are ideal as a taster.

Tracy said, ‘our ladies days are second to none!’

‘When I have the time, I love to take my shotgun or rifle and my dog to one of our many hides and shoot pigeons or stalk roe deer. Sometimes I just watch the wildlife go by, it’s not all about killing, it’s understanding and having a real appreciation for the life that has given itself so that we can eat more healthily than I’ve ever done before. I butcher and prepare everything I shoot for the pot. How many people can say they know where their dinner has actually come from or how it’s processed? How many people can

be proud of what’s on their plate having stalked, shot, butchered and dressed it, then cooked and served it to their family? That is the best feeling when family and friends say how delicious it is!’

‘I have a fox red Labrador who is 15 months old and I am learning to train her to pick up on game and track deer for recovery. The two of us, sitting in a hide watching the roe bucks, does and kids feed, the hares play, the pheasants go up to roost and badgers bumble by, I get real joy from watching the expression on her face when she sees something she’s never seen before!’

‘I am in this idyllic place unlike any other, the amazing unspoilt scenery, the history, the people and the rural way of life here never fails to amaze me and every day is a school day, I learn more and more about where I live and the lives and history here. If I never went back to London, I would not care! www.roxburgheshootingschoolco.uk http://frockstockandbarrel.co.uk/

Permits available for local rivers 26 Allan Street, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, PH10 6AD Telephone 01250 873990 email: shop@kateflemings.co.uk

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Southern Belle Dear BBC, Why, Oh Why, Oh Why…..

Having grown up in a family, where the 6 o’clock news was sacrosanct, I have of late, become increasing more sceptical and disillusioned on the “accurate” reporting, for which the BBC has been famous for nearly a century. Watching the recent documentary on “The Dark Side of Dairy” I was furious at the way this perfectly legitimate and highly regulated trade in calves from the dairy industry, was portrayed like dealing in a black and evil market. The reporter was contradictory and slanted, to the point of stating the calves were from Scottish farms, when they clearly had English tags in them.

As an investigative reporter, how could she “loose” a stock truck in Ireland and pick it up again on the Continent, to discover the calves are now 18 months old and still reach a rational conclusion!?

Having travelled recently with a group of American dairy farmers, who have similar issues to ourselves, it was very interesting to hear the other side of the Judge Cavenagh debate, to that given by the BBC

(and others) and some of the facts, which were never reported here. How odd??

So should we in fact start to suspect that “Fake News” does exist?

I’ve always relied on the BBC for a fair representation of the facts but in a recent Jeremy Vine programme, on mole catching to prevent damage to historic lawns, he interviewed a lady mole catcher (a novelty apparently…not in my family!) After she clearly stated how she caught the moles, without using gas, he repeats to his next guest (for the protection of moles) that “she says she doesn’t use gas”. Yes Jeremy, that’s exactly what she did say, so why suggest that she might be lying?? After all, you clearly believed it and were horrified, when a lady golfer emailed into the programme to say, that their greenkeeper disposed of them by burying them alive!! Well done that woman!! Gardeners, farmers, lawn keepers and anyone who knows anything about moles, all laughing at your expense Mr Vine.

Get your facts right BBC and stop having an opinion.

That’s for us to decide.

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Beatha an eilean Croitear às aonais croit!

An Coimiseanair Dàibhidh Caimbeul

Nuair a bhios mi gam chur fhìn an aithne don phoball ann an dèiligeadh le cùisean Coimisean na Croitearachd, bidh mi glè thric ag innse mum dheidhinn fhìn mar chroitear às aonais croit, a dh’fhaodadh a bhith a’ coimhead neònach do chuid ach tha daoine bho na sgìrean croitearachd ga aithneachadh sa bhad.

Tha croitearachd glè thric mu dheidhinn a bhith ag obrachadh an fhearainn ach gun teagamh sam bith tha e tha e mu dheidhinn cultar, eachdraidh, ceangal ris an fhearann agus ris a’ choimhearsnachd ionadail. ’S e comharra dearbh-aithne a th’ ann glè choltach ri comharran ann an cluasan chaorach.

Aig a’ Choimisean, tha sinn a’ tuigsinn gu bheil croitearachd a’ dol fada seachad air àrach is tuathanachas stuic, buain bhàrr agus togail buntàta. Tha e mu dheidhinn coimhearsnachd, tha e mu dheidhinn in-ghabhail agus tha e mu dheidhinn dhaoine.

Tha e mu dheidhinn dhaoine a’ dèanamh diofar nithean leis an aon cheann-uidhe, glè thric anns na coimhearsnachdan as iomallaiche ag obair fa leth agus còmhla gus iad fhèin agus na coimhearsnachdan sa bheil iad a’ fuireach a chumail suas, fhad ’s a tha iad a’ dìon agus air sabaid airson mòran shochairean thar beatha na croitearachd mar a tha e an-diugh.

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Tha croitearachd gun teagamh sam bith mu dhèidhinn maoireachd air an Àrainneachd – tha mi dìreach air tilleadh bho bheagan làithean ann an Uibhist, mo cheathramh turas ann am bliadhna airson diofar adhbharan, agus bhlàthaich e mo chridhe a bhith a’ coiseachd tro mhachraichean Bhaile Raghnaill agus fiù ann am Beàrnaraigh air mo shlighe a ghabhail tlachd às na tràighean

geala falamh a tha a’ leantainn orra airson mhìltean air taobh siar nan eilean. ’S e a bhuail mi ann an da-rìribh an t-seachdain-sa, gur e raointean torrach do chroitearan nan Eilean a th’ anns na machraichean sin, gu h-àraid sna h-Uibhistean agus tha raointean de bhàrr fodair tighinn faisg air àm a bhuain airson a’ gheamhraidh a chuireas taic ri stoc thar nam mìosan fada

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fliuch a tha romhainn – nuair a bhios grian an t-samhraidh air na tràighean sin a’ faireachdainn glè fhada às.

Ach ’s e an fhìor sgeul mu bhàrr nan croitearan nach eilear tric a’ tuigsinn no ag aithneachadh, gu bheil iad a’ solarachadh nì nach eil tuathanachas ann an Alba a’ toirt seachad tuilleadh san latha an-diugh.

Aig an àm seo den bhliadhna mus tèid am bàrr a bhuain, tha obair bith-iomadachd iongantach a’ dol air adhart bho bheil creutairean, eòin agus mamalan beaga a bhios a’ còmhnaidh air na machraichean a’ faighinn buannachd. Bha sealladh de bharrachd thrìlleachain, churracagan, fheadagan buidhe agus eòin mara eile ann an aon achadh san robh an t-arbhar air a bhuain an latha roimhe sin, na chì mi tarsainn fearann torrach tuathanais Rois an Ear, dìreach iongantach agus sinn a’ gabhail tlachd à cuairt air an fheasgar.

Gun urrainn do chòig acairean de thalamh a tha air an ruith tro chroitearachd seo a dhèanamh agus fhathast a bhith a’ biadhadh ’s a’ cumail suas a’ chruidh a tha a’ leantainn orra a’ soirbheachadh ann an àireamhan mòra sna h-Uibhistean, a’ neartachadh mo chreideis a tha làidir mar-thà anns an t-siostam croitearachd, a dh’aindeoin a dhuilgheadasan agus fhàillingidhean.

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Each bottle is individually hand numbered within in its own silk lined presentation box.

Hand numbered tasting notes are included to enhance your whisky experience.

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Send to: Farming Scotland Magazine, Tolastadh, 18 Corsie Drive, Perth, PH2 7BU

Blooming marvellous effort that helped Glasgow blossom It may have been 30 years since a section of the south bank of the River Clyde was transformed from declining dockyard into a green space, theme park and adventure playground, but the Glasgow Garden Festival is still very fondly remembered Over five months, the festival attracted 4.3 million visitors and was credited with helping the process of reinventing Glasgow’s image.

Margaret Lamont was national vicepresident and led the committee that came up with the SRWI’s own contribution to this magnificent attraction. Here she recalls what she says was, “the experience of a lifetime”.

We have been reminded in the news that it is 30 years since Scotland hosted Glasgow’s Garden Festival.

Our organisation’s history would not be complete without a mention of our involvement at this wonderful festival which attracted thousands of visitors from June to September in 1988.

When HQ abandoned plans for an SWRI presence at the Festival (it could affect our three-day conference attendance in the autumn was the reasoning!) the South West Federation Ladies were rather disappointed.

I was national vice-president at this time, and a dedicated Ayrshire member. Some of the Ayrshire ladies felt we had missed an opportunity by not getting involved in this Festival.

However it didn’t take long before an excited group of South West Federation Ladies got together and said, “let’s do it ourselves.

“You can be our organiser”, they said to me.

I replied: “But we will need a committee and we will need to get moving” And so it was we very soon had a committee representing Federations from the South West, - including Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and Dunbartonshire - all eager to put this showcase in place.

I had been informed that new accommodation was being built within the craft village and if an Association was working for a charity then they could make use of a house for free.

So off we headed to Glasgow to view the proposed Garden Festival Home.

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You will be amused to learn that on our arrival we were given hard hats and shown around a building site...and a promise that our house would be finished in time.

Our committee discussed proposals for a nominated charity.

Margaret McConnell MBE, a member of Dundonald WI just so happened to be the regional organiser of Arthritis and Rheumatism Council for Research at this time, so our decision was easily made.

Her help and input throughout was invaluable to get our project moving. The most difficult part of this project was making up the rota so we decided to invite the Federations of Wigtown, Kirkcudbright, Dumfries, Arran and Bute to join us.

They were more than willing to help host our showcase whether it be for a day or even a week and also enjoyed time out to explore the Festival site.

The committee soon came up with a novel fundraising idea to make a rug 6ft by 3ft and the pattern would be the replica of a cheque. Visitors to our house would be invited to do a stitch or two and then pop a donation into our money box which was a big Noddy bank loved by children. We were fortunate in receiving all our wool needs from Templetons Carpet Company in Ayr. Our special charity rug was completed in 95 days. Children of all ages made their stitches, ladies came from here, there and everywhere to take part and the gentlemen had much fun showing off their needle skills to the ladies.

Our special charity rug raised the wonderful sum of £12,365 for Arthritis and Rheumatism Research.

Marion White, a Renfrewshire member, deserves a special mention as she came to the house at the end of each day (for 95 days) and took the charity takings to the bank.

The rug was presented to the Arthritic Association with much applause at the conference in September by secretary Anne Jenkins, Lanarkshire Federation, and treasurer Marion White, two wonderful ladies sadly no longer with us.

Over the three months each Federation was allocated time to welcome visitors, giving us the opportunity to display our lovely needlework and crafts in showcases.

Margaret Lamont has vivid memories of the Glasgow Garden Festival

Some ladies gave short demonstrations on various crafts while others enjoyed the social interaction and spreading the word of our great organisation to visitors.

As you can imagine many helpers were required to keep the house open seven days a week for thirteen weeks, but I am happy to say this was not a problem, indeed volunteers became so numerous that when an SOS came from the NFU for ladies to assist with stewarding its Down On The Farm stand, our members were happy to help.

Soon word spread about the success of our venture and fellow members from the Borders, the Lothians, the Glens of Angus, Perth, Stirlingshire, and elsewhere were eager to join in.

Their support and demonstrating skills were greatly appreciated as were the donations from Federations unable to be present.

The success of this project was due in no small way to an extremely dedicated committee and the enthusiasm from all who participated.

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I am sure there are still members out there with memories of their day at the Festival and will write to the magazine telling their own story.

For me The Glasgow Garden Festival was an experience of a lifetime, another great WI memory.

And memories I have aplenty having joined my first Institute at the age of 16.

Auchencloigh in Ayrshire was my first Institute, where I was an enthusiastic member from 1936 to 1944. Marriage took me to North Ayrshire where I became one of the founding members of Dalry and District SWRI which attracted 151 members in the first year.

Retirement and a house move took me to Loans Institute and more new Ayrshire friends.

I now live in Kelso in the Scottish Borders to be nearer family.

And guess what? I am a member of Broomlands SWI in Kelso, a great town Institute which has made a 97-year-old Ayrshire lass feel so welcome. My Rural friendships have been simply the best.

ARTWORKS With

Mary Ann Rogers Northumbrian artist, Mary Ann Rogers, paints vibrant watercolour paintings which reflect an in-depth knowledge of her subject matter, from her studio based in the wild Northumbrian countryside.

The local wildlife, along with her own menagerie of birds, feature in her work as well as the rugged and varied landscape.

Shortly after receiving the Award for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Best Selling Published Artistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by the Fine Art Trade Guild, Mary Ann had a stunning new studio built on to

her home, where floor to ceiling windows provide light and views from every aspect and create a wonderful welcoming entrance for visitors to her country house gallery.

It seemed a risky decision to become a self-employed artist, at the age of 26, divorced, with two small daughters and a mortgage but Mary Ann has managed to build a career which sees art collectors from all round the world seeking out her new work.

Mary Ann Rogers now produces a range of beautiful

and quirky tableware and gifts as well as limited edition prints and greeting cards, making her work affordable and the ideal gift.

When not working, Mary Ann spends her time following

the local pack of hounds, open water swimming, hill walking and in summer is an active member of Northumberland Crow Falcons, who hunt crows with falcons on horseback.

Mary Ann Rogers Gallery is open for visitors every week, details on her website www.marogers.com Tel. 01434 270216

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machinery Lemken trailed sprayer update launched LEMKENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Primus and Albatros trailed sprayers have been given technical and handling improvements, which will be available this autumn.

The Primus 10 and 12 has tank capacities of 2400 to 4400 litres and boom widths of 15m to 30m, while the Albatros 10 and 12 has capacities of 4000 to 6200 litres and boom widths of 15m to 39m respectively.

The smaller entry-level Primus has been completely overhauled inside and out, with clearer controls and all major connections are centrally integrated behind protective covers. The attractive design is enhanced by a more rounded profile, LED lighting and colour scheme.

The updated cab interior is now equipped with an intuitive graphical user interface on the CCI-50 terminal. A Differential

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machinery GPS receiver can be retrofitted for use with proven CCI apps for automatic width section control or parallel tracking assistance.

The Primus 12 and all Albatros

models feature ISOBUS as standard and can be operated using any compatible terminal.

A circulation line on the basic Primus means uniform spray fluid

is instantly available across the full boom width. EES models feature automated water hydraulics, and cleaning procedures can be controlled from the cab. A new

flexible drawbar allows operators to attach the sprayer either at the top or bottom position. The clean water tank capacity has also been increased to 320 litres.

SlurryKat Unveil Retrofit Dribblebar Industry leading slurry equipment manufacturer SlurryKat have unveiled another new innovation to the existing market by introducing a range of lightweight dribblebars that are designed to be retro fitted onto existing tankers or new units from various manufacturers.

With the threat looming of the all-out ban on splash plates imminent, there has never been a greater focus on alternative spreading methods, of which the dribblebar has been the most favoured and cost effective option to date.

SlurryKatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in house design team has developed a unique and

novel way to retrofit tankers with the new dribblebar system which allows the complete unit to be removed from the tanker in under 5 minutes, which leaves the tanker back in its original form of a splash plate and rear filling valves at either side which are still accessible without having to change the rear inspection hatch.

Further adding to its versatility, once the dribblebar is removed it can be subsequently mounted onto another tanker with a similar arrangement or with rear linkage without the need for any modifications.

The dribblebar unit is available in both 7.5m and 9m

versions all of which feature the usual reputable features expected from SlurryKat. Each

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unit is incorporated with the Vogelsang distribution head macerator which is well known

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machinery as been the market leader having proven to be the most reliable and effective macerator in the

last decade. Various options including spring back booms to protect the machine are available

if required. The larger the 9m version features hydraulically powered telescopically extending

booms which activate during the unfolding process, thus keeping the overall transport height low.

Opico has all your grass needs covered After the long wet winter followed by drought in many areas this summer grassland is in a poor state. This coupled with rising feed costs presents an ideal opportunity for farmers and contractors to repair and rejuvenate grass leys. Distributed under the OPICO, HE-VA and Maschio brands OPICO will have the right machine for the job. The following machines will be on display at Agriscot in the Lowland Hall, stand 190: OPICO Grass Harrows and Air Seeders, OPICO 3 leg sward lifter, Maschio Rota-Seeder and HE-VA grass rejuvenator. The OPICO team will be on hand to advise on which machine is best suited to individual requirements.

HE-VA’s Grass Rejuvenator is designed to over seed or reseed grassland. Its aggressive levelling board two rows of tines and “star” rings cultivate and level grassland or soil creating the ideal tilth for seed to germinate in.

Maschio’s Rota-Seeder enables one pass seeding and is particularly effective where soils are shallow or stony. The Maschio rotavator is fitted with appropriate blades to create a shallow tilth, together with an OPICO Air Seeder, to allow rotaseeding straight into burnt off leys or cereal/maize stubble.

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OPICO’s Sward Lifter is designed to alleviate compacted layers in the soil, opening up subsoil to improve drainage and air interchange without significant damage to the productive sward.

It is available with 3 or 5 legs and with shearbolt or hydraulic reset stone protection.

OPICO’s range of spring tine Grass Harrows have revolutionised harrowing grass over the last 20 years. With flexible beds adapting to the ground contours and with aggressive and adjustable spring tines to scarify and clean out the

sward, open up the soil surface, stimulate growth and encourage a healthier sward, more productive

grassland will follow. Partner Grass Harrows with an OPICO Air Seeder to over or re-seed as you go.

Next Issue

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE

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January 2019

machinery New mounted tine stubble cultivator from Kuhn The new machine, the CULTIMER M 300 is positioned as a lighter weight alternative to the rangeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other mounted machine, the CULTIMER L 300: instead of the L 300â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s three rows of 10 tines, the CULTIMER M 300 is equipped with two rows of seven tines. This makes the overall machine shorter and lighter and therefore suitable for use with tractors in the 75 to 135hp bracket.

The CULTIMER M 300 has a 3m working width and is capable of working soils to depths ranging from 50 to 350mm. Its two rows of tines are followed by a single row of eight levelling discs mounted on maintenance free hubs, and a roller bar. The working depth of the tines is easily and accurately adjusted using spacers, while the levelling discs are adjusted with a winding handle. An

optional hydraulic roller depth adjustment system can also be specified.

The new cultivator can be equipped with extra wide 480mm wing tines for stubble cultivation

after harvesting, deep point tines with an 80mm deflector to restructure the soil before drilling,

WILKS BROTHERS The Air Compressor and Pressure Washer Specialists

Main dealers in Perthshire for DEUTZ FAHR Tractors

The new 6 and 7 Series Tractors Manufacturers and suppliers, W Bateman & Co has an enviable reputation for manufacturing and supplying both domestic and industrial pressure washers and air compressors.

Nationwide DELIVERY on all orders

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01772 862948 email: sales@bateman-sellarc.co.uk www.bateman-sellarc.co.uk

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

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or 50mm points with straight deflectors for working soils at depth. Hard-wearing carbide tips are also available as an option.

Two safety systems are available: a traction (T) bolt safety system which activates at 3,000kg of pressure, or a non-stop mechanical (NSM) double spring system which activates at 600kg of pressure at the tine point and which enables the tine to shift sideways by 150mm before shifting vertically by up to 300mm. The CULTIMERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s levelling discs can also be specified with or without safety.

A choice of three 600mm diameter rollers is available: the light T-Ring roller which produces 130kg/m of pressure and is ideal for breaking clods and silty soils, the multipurpose T-Liner roller which produces 140kg/m of pressure and is designed for use in stony and wet conditions, or the rubber coated Packliner roller which produces 165kg/m of pressure and ensures maximum surface area tamping in light soils.

machinery Over 20 years importing the Homburg Draincleaner range

by Fentons of Bourne For over twenty years, Fentons of Bourne Ltd have been importing the Homburg Draincleaner range from Holland, offering the full range of Jetters from the Junior through to range topping Hurricane Contractor model.

All models use the same proven method of efficient drain cleaning by using a high volume of water through a low pressure nozzle for excellent flushing of the drainage system which when used as part of a regular maintenance plan on the farm will help to keep drainage working efficiently which in turn is reflected in the quality of your crops and yield.

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machinery The mid range Delta models have long proved the most popular choice for farmers and contractors which now offer improved functionality and ease of use options. The delta range offer 300,400 &

500m Hose length options and hydraulic functions allow easier set up and operation for the left and right angling and up and down movement. Wired and wireless control options can also be specified at point

of order to further add to the ease of use.

The recently added Delta HDD (Homburg Dynamic Drive) model which shares all of the same features as the std Delta now offers programmable

electronic control of the hose reel by simply inputting the length of the drain and literally press go!

This facility offers the ultimate ease of use allowing the operator to do the majority of the work from the comfort of the cab.

Maxxum 150 CVX from Case IH A new compactly-designed sixcylinder 150hp tractor equipped with a continuously-variable transmission is now available to Case IH customers, with the recent launch of the new sixcylinder 145hp Maxxum 150 CVX, to be offered alongside the established four-cylinder 145hp Maxxum CVX and smaller Maxxum models.

Until now, the Maxxum range has been based around four-cylinder models only,

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with four variants focusing on demand for compact, light, universal tractors in this sector.

However, recognising some customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; preference for a sixcylinder machine at the upper end of this power bracket, there is now an alternative to the fourcylinder 145hp Maxxum 145. In place of this tractorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 4.5-litre four-cylinder FPT engine, the new Maxxum 150 features a 6.7-litre power unit from the same Case IH sister company.

As with other Maxxum models, the Maxxum 150 is available with the ActiveDrive 4 four-step semi-powershift, ActiveDrive 8 eight-step semi-powershift (from early 2019) or CVXDrive CVT. The Maxxum 150 has the same 175hp maximum power rating with Engine Power Management as the Maxxum 145. Its torque rating, though, is greater, at 740Nm (measured at 1,500rpm) compared to the 700Nm of the Maxxum

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145. Like the engine in fourcylinder Maxxum tractors, the six-cylinder power unit in the Maxxum 150 meets Stage IV emissions regulations using patented Hi-eSCR selective catalytic reduction, a maintenance-free system with no exhaust gas recirculation.

Despite its different engine configuration, the Maxxum 150 retains the same 2,642mm wheelbase and 5,137mm length as four-cylinder Maxxum

machinery

models, another feature likely to appeal to farmers seeking compactness, manoeuvrability

and minimal soil disturbance when manoeuvring and turning at headlands. The Maxxum 150

is also the lightest, smallest tractor of its configuration and power output, and with

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an unladen weight of 5,020kg weighs just 130kg more than the Maxxum 145.

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machinery Trailed post driver brings hammer muscle to small tractors The latest innovation in fencing equipment from Bryce Suma is a high output heavy-duty post driver that can be operated by a tractor of modest size and weight.

Jock Bryce of the Kelso-based manufacturer points out that normally, Suma heavy-duty post drivers carried on the rear threepoint hitch need a substantial tractor to maintain secure stability on site and during road travel.

“But not everyone has need of a 120-150hp tractor, so our new Suma TR400 is a trailed design that can be operated by a small tractor, whether new or quite elderly,” he explains. “As long as the tractor can summon up a 2530 litres/min oil supply to operate the 400kg hammer at a sensible speed, then that’s all you need.”

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The Suma TR400 has all the performance and operating features of a top-end tractor-mounted post driver but with the added benefit of storage space for up to 20 strainer posts, 100 round or square fencing stakes or eight to 10 rolls of 100m net, plus barbed or plain wire.

The chassis houses a secure container for a chainsaw and other hand tools, there are tool trays for fencing gear on the drawbar and adjacent to the hydraulic controls, and vertical slots for storing wooden support blocks to place beneath the two stabilising hydraulic jacks.

These extend from the frame by the offside wheel and from the bottom of the mast as part of a package of hydraulic features that also provide mast side-shift and two-way vertical alignment.

Back-shift and side-shift enable the operator to precisely position the mast for driving fence posts or the patented integral hydraulic swing-around rock spike.

In addition, the drawbar design allows the chassis to be ‘jackknifed’ at up to 90 degrees to the

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tractor to get into tight or awkward corners and wheels set out wide with large flotation tyres provide good stability and flotation on soft ground.

As on all Bryce Suma post drivers, the mast on the new TR400 is a two-stage telescopic

design that provides 3.6m of hammer drop to strike the steel cap that holds and protects the post.

“The unique and patented auto tele mast provides the operator with a choice of any length of hammer stroke without having to make any adjustments to the mast itself,” explains Mr Bryce.

machinery Kverneland introduces new mounted plough series In response to increasing tractor power, Kverneland has introduced the ES250/LS250 mounted reversible plough

series, to sit above the existing ES200/LS200 models.

With improved strength and durability in mind, the new series has been developed to accommodate tractors of up to 250hp. Available in 5, 5+1 and 6-furrow builds, the ES250/ LS250 gains a heavy duty, Category III clevis-type lower hitch assembly, complete with a square-section cross-shaft.

The ES250/LS250 also benefits from a fully induction hardened turn-over assembly offering three times the increased strength over the ES200/LS200 models but importantly, without any weight penalty. In addition, a memory-type 100mm vari-width control cylinder is now fitted, as featured on larger ploughs in the Kverneland range.

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A higher underbeam clearance is now part of the specification for the new models. The ES250 measures 75cm, while the LS250 is slightly higher, at 80cm. All ES250 and LS250 versions can be specified with 85cm or 100cm point to point clearance, to suit surface trash.

ES models offer auto reset protection, while LS models use shear bolts. Hydraulic front furrow width adjustment, quick-adjust maize skimmers and an 18in plain rear disc complete the package for this new plough series.

The five-furrow ES250 is priced from £30,789, with the shear-bolt protected fivefurrow LS250 starting at £27,918.

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machinery New Horsch Leeb 4 AX Following the success of the market-leading Leeb LT and Leeb GS trailed sprayers, HORSCH has introduced the new entrylevel Leeb 4 AX to its line-up.

Featuring the same award-wining boom technology and built to HORSCH’s high standards, the Leeb 4 AX provides a more basic specification ideal for smaller farming operations.

Positioned just below the 4000 litre Leeb 4 LT, the 3800 litre Leeb 4 AX comes equipped with HORSCH’s BoomControl system. “We’ve had many requests from farmers looking for a smaller yet high performance and reliable sprayer that uses our renowned BoomControl system. BoomControl sets the standard for keeping the boom steady and close to the crop and the new Leeb 4 AX features BoomControl Eco with up to 30m booms and 50cm nozzle

spacing,” explains Stephen Burcham, General Manager for HORSCH UK. The 3800 litre plastic spraying tank is complemented by a 400 litre fresh water tank and is designed for easy cleaning.

A PTO-driven piston diaphragm pump is available with an output of either 270 l/min or 400 l/min.

Two multi-way valves control the suction and the pressure sides of the machine respectively and offer clear and simple control.

The 35 litre induction tank of the Leeb AX is similar to the one used in the larger trailed Leeb models and enables powders and granules to dissolve quickly and thoroughly.

BoomControl Eco enables the new Leeb AX to maintain a 50cm distance to the crop at operational speeds of up to 15kph. The working boom widths range from 18 to 30

metres, divided in five to nine sections and feature 50cm nozzle spacing as standard.

The drawbar can either be equipped with an upper or a lower linkage. An optional drawbar steering system that automatically follows the tractor tracks is available. Wheel track widths can be easily adjusted

from 1.5m to 2.25m, and the Leeb 4 AX is fully ISOBUS compatible and can be used with the well-known HORSCH terminals.

The Leeb 4 AX is available to order now and will be available for delivery in spring 2019 with retail prices starting from £43,000.

Conta ct Scott our THOM ish Dealer s J & S AS SHERR I M F F O N NETH ERTO TGOMERY N TRA CTOR S

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finance Specialist lender UK Agricultural Finance expands its product range UK Agricultural Finance has secured important funding from one of the UK’s leading institutional investors, enabling it to increase its offering to farmers.

The investment allows UKAF to build on the success in its bridge finance offering, to provide much-needed term funding for the rural community. The capital will enable UKAF to expand its loan book by £150m and is an important development as it continues to increase its financing offer.

“We can now provide loans from three months to seven years, secured against agricultural land and property to help farmers diversify, acquire more land,

build renewable energy projects, restructure, buy more livestock, help families with generational transfer and provide tenant farmers capital to purchase their farm,” says co-founder Robert Suss.

“This additional capital means we can help farmers sustain, grow and improve their businesses.

Securing it is testament to the strength of our team, risk management and business model.

“We are thrilled that this funding enables us to continue grow our activities with the UK farming sector, making a difference by giving more customers the access to finance they need.”

One in four businesses could be exposed to employment law claims Farmers are being urged to ensure they have the right employment law protection in place, after it was revealed that almost one in four UK businesses had experienced issues that could result in legal action last year.

In an increasingly litigious society, claiming for everything from PPI to personal injury has never been easier. As a result, employers are more likely to have an employment claim than a fire.

From misuse of social media, to staff disagreements, claims can originate from the least expected source.

Employment rights continue to be strengthened in the UK, leaving the uninitiated open

to claims that can cost many thousands of pounds. Even if successfully defended, a large legal defence bill will need to be covered. What may seem an innocuous issue, can quickly spiral out of control.

Unfortunately, most farms don’t have any HR support, or even any training on how to manage such a situation.

The ability to access the right advice quickly, and taking the correct action, is key, and can often prevent a situation escalating rapidly into a full-blown court case. The legal framework behind UK employment law is a minefield, something most will not have time to study.

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finance The insurance industry has reacted to this and offers a type of policy called Employment Practice Liability (EPL). This offers a defendant protection against the costs involved in a claim, such as legal representation and dealing with grievance issues (such as mediation), and often a

telephone helpline to call as soon as an issue arises. Remember, defendants will need to cover defence costs, even if in the right.

Thom Jones, on-farm adviser at Farmers & Mercantile Insurance Brokers (FMIB) explains, “I believe EPL should be part of every farm’s insurance

programme, when the farm has its own employees.

“You can only do so much and making a mistake with employment issues can be extremely costly. The right insurance can be the difference between a hefty legal and compensation bill, and a

withdrawn case and apology.

Look at it as your employment law fire brigade. “ Farmers & Mercantile can advise on suitable farm and employment insurance cover to suit individual requirements.

Visit www.fandmgroup.co.uk for details.

New banking partnership to support British farmers Farmers who are struggling to obtain funding for urgent or complicated projects can now secure finance through a new banking partnership.

UK Agricultural Finance and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) have joined forces in the first partnership of its kind, to offer responsible, secured loans to farmers who may not have immediate access to high street lending.

The agricultural lender founded in 2015 and backed by

leading financiers, family offices and private equity firms - has become the first agricultural specialist to join Capital Connections; RBS’s panel of leading alternative lenders.

Set up to offer complementary sources of capital to small and medium-sized businesses, Capital Connections signposts RBS customers to innovative sources of finance outside of its traditional high street arm.

“Mainstream agricultural lenders are very good at offering

conventional loans, but it can be more difficult for farmers to access funding for business development, diversification or restructuring,” explains Robert Suss, co-CEO of UK Agricultural Finance. “Often projects are urgent or complex, requiring a bespoke solution rather than an off-the-peg package.

“As agricultural specialists, we understand farmers’ needs, and can create a loan to suit their circumstance, whether that’s providing for delayed

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repayments or higher loan-tovalue ratios. We also believe passionately in responsible lending, helping to protect our borrowers, investors and the wider rural community.”

Ian Burrow, RBS’s head of agriculture and energy, agrees that traditional funding routes are not always the best option for businesses in the rural community. “Now UK Agricultural Finance will be able to provide loans to help farmers diversify or grow, ease

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finance generational transfer, or purchase tenanted farms, for example.

They are an ideal partner for us and complement the impressive and innovative range of alternative lenders already on the Capital Connections panel.”

Lord Davies of Abersoch, chairman of UK Agricultural Finance, says the new partnership will be transformational in supporting the farming community with access to flexible and reliable finance. “The pressure on British farmers to be

THEMONEYMAN globally competitive, innovative and eco-friendly is greater than ever. This partnership will enable us to provide more rural businesses and farmers with vital access to capital to enable them to diversify, sustain, grow and improve their businesses.”

Loans of between £100,000 to £10 million are secured against agricultural land and property across England, Scotland and Wales. Terms are available from one to seven years with a maximum loan-to-value of 65%.

Plan succession now before radical changes in tax New UK Government changes to the inheritance and capital gains tax regime could “massively affect” the agricultural industry Farmers have been prompted to put succession plans in place to minimise losses as the Government considers radical changes to the inheritance and capital gains tax regime.

It’s now only a matter of time before HM Revenue & Customs attacks these capital taxes, to the likely detriment of countless farming families, according to rural accountant Old Mill.

The current Inheritance Tax (IHT) legislation came into force in 1984, and is arguably due a revamp, according to the accountant’s director, Richard Haine.

“That has the potential to massively affect the agricultural industry, depending on how radical that revamp is,” he said.

HMRC has increasingly focused on and tightened the application of Agricultural

Property Relief (APR) in recent years, and with the Government seeking to raise tax revenues both IHT and Capital Gains Tax (CGT) look to be easy targets, he added.

Mr Haine said: “The Office of Tax Simplification has put forward radical changes to government, like scrapping all the IHT reliefs and introducing a flat rate relief instead. It is also discussing removing Principle Private Residence relief for CGT on houses, and might introduce a tax on lifetime gifts. There are some really big ideas being tabled.

“The capital tax regime is as favourable as it’s ever been right now, so it seems very logical to plan for succession now, with today’s tax environment, rather than wait for any changes to arrive.”

For farming families, this means handing down assets to the next generation as soon as possible, to make the most of current tax reliefs.

Next Issue FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE January 2019 128

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MTD is almost upon us

By Charlie Carnegie I wrote an article two years ago warning on the arrival of MTD, Making Tax Digital and the implementation date has crept up on us at alarming pace. It is now less than 6 months until 1 April 2019 when MTD shall start to apply to all VAT registered businesses with Vatable supplies over the current £85000 thresh-hold.

A recent survey stated that about a fifth of VAT registered farmers were unaware of MTD and of the remainder about 44% said although they were aware of MTD they had not actually researched into how that would impact on their business.

Just to clarify the starting point for the first MTD submission, it is for the first VAT period which starts on or after 1 April 2019 so if your quarters are May, August, November and February then the first MTD submission shall be for the quarter to 31 August 2019.

The other very important point which I need to stress is that although you may be VAT registered your Vatable supplies need to exceed the £85000, therefore you include zero rated and standard rated supplies but not those exempt or Outwith the Scope of VAT. For example the Single Farm Payment and all other subsidies do not count nor does property rental income (unless opted to tax).

In order to comply businesses need to use digital software programmes

which are able to submit data via the cloud (internet).

There are many cloud based programmes in the market like Xero, Sage and Quickbooks which all comply. Other software companies have packages which although not cloud based can be used to make the submissions.

The advantage with cloud based software is that you can access your data from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection as opposed to a desktop which has your data on a hard drive on a pc or laptop.

Spreadsheets can be used but you need to acquire a software tool which can convert it to a compatible format.

Exemptions from MTD can be granted on grounds of age, disability, remoteness or other reasons and if you think that may apply then you need to contact HM Revenue & Customs on 0300 2003700 quoting your VAT number and state your case for exemption.

Charlie Carnegie is a partner in the Perth office of Campbell Dallas and can be contacted on 01738 441888 for any further information

@home In the middle of darkest winter

Let there be light!

Noctis Flock Chandelier

Noctis Table Light

How about this?Atrue conversation piece with an interplay of dissipating shadow and radiant light. Steam bent curlicues of ebonised tulip wood and twists of opulent, golden brass circle together. Illuminated by three warm-toned filament bulbs, each intricate piece is in constant motion. A weightless rotation, an exhibition of eye-catching, elegant beauty. A signature chandelier, re-imagined.

Price: £3450 www.tomraffield.com

Noctis Urchin Cluster Light

Another cool light from Tom Raffield from their Noctis range.

Flexed to the brink and back. Three ebonised Noctis Urchin Pendants cascade from a sleek, spun metal top plate creating warm slithers of bright light in the dark. With an elegant, customisable design that invites personalisation, each pendant can be suspended at a different height allowing a showstopping configuration to take charge of your space.

Price: £1250 www.tomraffield.com

Or this? An arching curve of steam bent, ebonised oak towers up from a sleek brass base plate.

An alluring contrast of deep black and lustrous, polished metal. Modern.

Refined. Enticing. Our Noctis Wheal Table Light puts the lustre back in illumination and brings sophistication into any space.

Price: £245 www.tomraffield.com

Stag Head Silhouette Christmas Light

Well, we had to finish with a little rustic Scottish style charm!

Why not introduce a magical winter wonderland to your home with our spun sparkling stag head. Pop in porches, above fireplaces or in entrance ways, this mounted wall light introduces a warm white glow and striking feature wherever it goes!

Price: £54.99 www.lights4fun.co.uk

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lifestyle

Holland Cooper’s passion for style As a champion of British manufacturing, and the UK’s leading buyer of British wool, Holland Cooper last year bought 80,000 metres of Scottish wool and tweed – that’s one hundred times the height of the world’s tallest building – the Burj Khalifa.

A firm favourite with royalty and rockstars alike, the luxury British brand this month celebrates their tenth year in business. Founded in 2008 by Jade Holland Cooper, she has successfully led the brand to flourish through a recession and has gone on to become one of Britain’s best-selling brands, this year predicting a £2 million profit.

Jade is passionate about British manufacturing and creates her designs from Scottish woven wools and tweeds, made in factories across the UK, including one of the oldest wool mills in Scotland.

“I have always strived to maintain the luxurious British made touch with Holland cooper.

Trading Britishness has been at the forefront of my strategy from the outset. I was originally inspired by Sir Phillip Green’s speech at London Fashion Week in which he stipulated the

importance of improving our manufacturing units in the UK, not only for the industry, but also to boost the economic climate in the UK. There has since been a push for the fashion industry to move back to its production roots here in the UK,” comments Jade Holland Cooper. “

Holland Cooper is proud to maintain British made excellence by sourcing all their tweed fabrics in the UK and individually hand cutting and making all of their tweed garments in the UK. Through clever designs and techniques such as adding cashmere to tweed to feminise it, the traditional fabric

has been brought into the 21st century and is no longer just worn by the country set.

To shop the full collection including new in British made hats and the padded coat collection, please visit Holland Cooper Edinburgh, 10 Multrees Walk, EH1 3DQ

Christmas Gift idea…a waistcoat With Style The Butler Stewart Christopher Waistcoat in Harvest Brown is another new addition for this season. This classically styled singlebreasted waistcoat is fully lined in a complementary navy lining with full navy back and buckle strap. A beautiful addition that will be an instant improvement on his usual uniform of shirt and jeans/cords.

RRP: £195 Sizes: 38” - 46” www.butlerstewart.co.uk

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lifestyle A Winter Warmer!

RS rural

STYLE

By Helen Burness

Collar Great Style This Autumn

Fed up with being cold, wet and miserable? While we can’t do anything about the winter weather but British equestrian fashion brand, Equetech can help you stay warm, stylish and just a little happier as we head into the depths of winter life with horses.

The Equetech Lexi Long Packable Coat is perfect for the season ahead. This gorgeous coat comes in a delicious blackberry shade and features ‘Micro Bio-Down’ insulation for cruelty-free warmth.

Features concealed hood in collar, storm flap, two-way zip, deep front pockets and a zip to the back (so you can wear in the saddle too) Also features a beautiful Equetech bridles print lining. Oh, and did we mention it rolls up into a micro- package with a storage bag supplied? Ideal for when you need that extra layer.

RRP: £ 114.95 Sizes: XS - 3XL Blackberry. www.equetech.com www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

This time of year calls for a middleweight jacket that will take you through into the cooler autumn months with style. This Georgina Coat from British Designer label Butler Stewart, offers a fresh contemporary take on traditional tailoring and tweed.

Styled in a beautiful British extended Herringbone tweed with a tall funnel neck, this coat features six blue ridge corozo buttons, hidden seam hip pockets, inner security pocket and finished with a stunning metallic pebble grey lining.

An elegant jacket choice that you’ll wear for many seasons to come.

RRP: £445 Sizes: 8 - 14 Blue Ridge (shown) & Dark Navy www.butlerstewart.co.uk 131

cars The New Fiat 500 Collezione is here The new Fiat 500 Collezione special edition launches this weekend in a new Autumn guise.

Available with an exclusive new combination of colours, materials and details, the 500 Collezione will win over anyone who wants to stand out with distinctive flair, and loves cool looks and style without compromise.

Available in two versions, with grey soft top, the new 500 Collezione sports unique and original liveries, including the striking hatchback with standard fixed sunroof or exclusive convertible two-tone Avantgarde Bordeaux and Tech House Grey

combo called “Brunello” that evokes the glamour of fashion and the colours of autumn.

The car is also available in Avantgarde Bordeaux, Tech House and Crossover Black.

The brand-new Cortina Grey is appearing for the first time on this special edition. The exterior lines are embellished by a chrome trim on the bonnet and a copper-coloured beauty line, which matches the finish of the standard 16-inch alloy wheels.

Finally, the elegance of the car is sealed by the chrome-plated “Collezione” badge which adds a stylish touch on the boot and

reasserts the continuity of this model with the spring version.

The interiors also hint to the world of fashion in the pinstripe fabric interiors with techno leather inserts, Bordeaux 500 logo and black piping. A copper-

coloured line stands out against the body coloured dashboard and echos the exterior beauty line.

The new Fiat 500 also comes as standard with parking sensors and rain and dusk sensors for added comfort, practicality and safety.

Dacia Sandero named best small hatchback The Dacia Sandero has been named as the best performing small hatchback in the Honest John Satisfaction Index 2018.

The Sandero came out on top in the small hatch class with an impressive satisfaction rating of 93.8%.

Dacia was third overall in the list of best performing car manufacturers with a score 89.3%.

Daniel Powell, Managing Editor of HonestJohn.co.uk, said: “Proof that cutting costs doesn’t mean cutting corners on quality; the Dacia Sandero is the UK’s best performing hatchback

in the Honest John Satisfaction Index 2018, with drivers giving it an outstanding 9.89 out of 10 for reliability. Easy to drive, comfortable and practical, owners also rate the Sandero as a bargain with excellent build quality and affordable running costs.”

Based on the feedback of 10,000 car owners, they were asked to rate their cars in a variety of important areas, with drivers scoring them for reliability, ride comfort, fuel economy, practicality and performance.

Owners also ranked their cars for build quality, ease of use, safety and repair costs.

Louise O’Sullivan, Head of Dacia UK said: “The Sandero epitomises what we are all about at Dacia. This latest recognition by our owners shows why the car is so loved and why it really sums up our slogan ‘You

Do The Maths’ by providing an unbeatable combination of quality and affordability.”

The Dacia Sandero, starts at just £6,995, making it the most affordable new car on sale in the UK.

Mitsubishi Outlander PHEW tops plug-in hybrid UK sales The consistent popularity of the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has played a significant role in the brand’s revent September sales success. Mitsubishi Motors in the UK sold 3,233 passenger cars, a 35 percent increase compared to the same month last year, with the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV accounting for 1,325 of those sales, a jump of 9% compared to September 2017.

Of those sales, almost 40% were to private customers, people who desire a practical, all-purpose vehicle that can run on low-cost 132

electricity for day-to-day driving with petrol power for longer runs or when full SUV versatility is required.

Looking at the wider plug-in market, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV actually accounted for close to half of all sales of plugin hybrid vehicles to private customers in the UK in September, while an astonishing 78% of individual and small business users in the UK who bought a plug-in hybrid in September opted for a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, incentivised by low BIK rates,

low running costs and congestion charge exemptions.

Overall, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV represented 28% of the plug-in hybrid segment for

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the month. Year-to-date Outlander PHEV sales have topped 5,731 units, which equates to 17% of the total plug-in hybrid market in the UK.

Jeep is a great tow car Jeep was once again official tow car partner for this years Motorhome & Caravan Show 2018. It’s the third consecutive time the award-winning SUV manufacturer has backed the popular show in this way.

And Jeep marked the official support with free one-to-one towing experiences, brought in conjunction with The Camping and Caravanning Club. A fleet of Jeep Grand Cherokee and Compass vehicles were available for show-goers to

learn how to hitch up a caravan and tow it safely.

The brand also had an exhibition stand at the show, displaying some of its current range of award-winning vehicles: Jeep Compass, new Renegade and all-new Wrangler, which went on sale in October.

The Grand Cherokee’s 247bhp 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel engine and 3500kg towing capacity is more than enough to cope with a wide variety of

caravans, while new Compass has also proved itself as a good tow car with a maximum 1900

cars

kg towing capacity on the 2.0 MultiJet II diesel 140hp 4WD version.

Volvo V60 crowned 2018 Family Car of the Year The new Volvo V60 continues to collect prestigious honours, being named The Sunday Times Family Car of the Year at the first ever News UK Motor Awards.

The News UK Motor Awards celebrate innovation throughout the UK motoring industry, and are judged by readers as well as automotive journalists across News UK’s four news outlets – The Sunday Times, The Times, The Sun and talkSPORT. The latest accolade for the new generation of Volvo’s midsize estate car was announced at an awards ceremony in London on Wednesday. The V60 won from a shortlist featuring rivals from

BMW and Jaguar thanks to votes from readers of The Sunday Times’ and The Sun’s motoring websites.

Will Dron, Editor of The Sunday Times’ Driving.co.uk, said: “Volvo has long been a family favourite thanks to its hard-earned reputation for safety and practicality, but in recent years it’s been wowing us with stunningly cool designs, too, and the V60 estate has curves in all the right places. Combine that with its Scandi-chic interior, clever storage solutions and other family-friendly features, and it’s no wonder our readers voted it their Family Car of the Year.”

The V60’s success follows on from a glowing review by Driving.co.uk, which praised Volvo for “producing some of the world’s coolest cars”. The report highlighted the V60’s sleek design, the stylish and

uncluttered dashboard, and the spacious cabin and boot, concluding that the car “manages an impressive double act” as an “extremely smart executive cruiser and an unfeasibly practical family wagon”.

Aston Martin Vantage and DBS Superleggera scoop top accolades Aston Martin has achieved double success at the inaugural Motor Awards with The Sun and Sunday Times, collecting two prestigious awards at a starstudded ceremony in London recently.

The nominees for each award were chosen by a panel of motoring experts at News UK, before being put to a public vote.

In the ‘Best Sports Car’ class, the panel looked for cars that were breathtakingly fast around a race track, as well as being great fun to drive at sensible speeds on the public road. They described Vantage as “…the best Aston

Martin yet, an accomplished sports car that makes you proud to be British.” The Aston Martin Vantage was up against stiff competition in this category, but took the win from the Ferrari 488 Pista, Alpine A110, Porsche 911 GT3 RS and Audi RS4.

The award for ‘Best Designed Car’ went to the new Aston Martin DBS Superleggera, which also faced a strong category with the Bentley Continental GT, Ferrari Portofino, Lexus LC and Volvo S90. This time, the panel looked for models that are moving works of art, beautifullyproportioned inside and out,

and incorporating only the best materials.

Aston Martin Vice President & Chief Creative Officer, Marek Reichman, collected the awards on behalf of the company and said: “It is always an honour to receive recognition from within the

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industry, but it is a special honour to win a public vote. Both the Vantage and the DBS Superleggera provided unique challenges for us.

The New Vantage has the most powerful and provocative design language ever seen in a Vantage. A hunter, a true sports car.

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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Adrian Winnett Adrian Winnett, has been appointed General Manager at AgriArgo UK Ltd, the distributor of Landini, McCormick and Valpadana tractors in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Adrian is no stranger to the Argo Tractors product line, having worked as Landini sales manager for seven years before joining the UK arm of implement manufacturer Amazone, where he was appointed general manager in 2009 and then managing director in 2014.

Page Turner’s

BOOK REVIEW Into the Peatlands

A Journey through the Moorland Year

by Robin Crawford

Kate Rowell Borders farmer Kate Rowell has been appointed by Scottish ministers as the new chair of Quality Meat Scotland (QMS). Mrs Rowell, who has been a member of the QMS board since April 2015, will take over the role on October 1st when current chair Jim McLaren steps down after almost eight years at the helm. She is a fifth generation farmer running the 750 hectare Hundleshope farm on the Haystoun Estate, where the family have been tenants for 150 years. She runs the hill unit near Peebles with her husband Ed and their four children.

Tony Stevenson A new Head of Business has been appointed by rural business organisation, Scottish Land & Estates (SLE). Tony Stevenson has joined the organisation following an association with SLE stretching back to 2010. Previously working on a consultancy basis to oversee logistics and infrastructure for the SLE’s events calendar, since 2014 Tony has been drawing on his extensive business experience to facilitate new commercial and sponsorship opportunities for the organisation.

Chris Stockwell Chris Stockwell has joined AHDB’s team in Scotland as a Knowledge Exchange Manager for the dairy sector. Chris, who most recently worked as a nutritionist with East Coast Viners, has over 20 years’ experience working in the agriculture sector. Chris’s role at AHDB will involve working directly with farmers to help them improve their business and technical practices, and it’s a challenge he relishes.

Richard Knighton Tong has boosted its sales team with the appointment of a new Sales Manager who will help drive sales throughout the UK and overseas.

Richard Knighton has joined the company with over 30 years experience in root crop industry.

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Robin Crawford is an art historian and a bookseller – both caretaker and purveyor of the culture of our nation. He also has something of an obsession with peat - the natural storehouse of legend, folklore and memory to be found on the land from our lowlands to our islands.

The moving account of a mother’s love for her son is the surprising opening to a remarkable book. Angus Gillies of Lewis emigrated in the late 1870s, crossing the Atlantic and leaving his mother far behind.

She, on her next trip to the peat bank to collect winter fuel, discovered one of his footprints in the peat. She covered it in turf to keep it safe. For many years after her death her extended family continued to preserve the footprint and one day, more than a century later, Angus’ then ninety year-old daughter came to research her family tree. She was taken out to the same peatland and her distant cousins removed

the top turf to reveal to her the footprint of her father.

Robin Crawford captures this snap-shot of an island’s story in his new book, Into the Peatlands: A Journey Through the Moorland Year. The peatlands he describes are carved out for winter-fuel by crofting families living on the island of Lewis or studied for scientific research in the southwestern lowlands. The structure and content of the peat reflects the story of those who have worked these moors right back to the edge of the last ice-age.

The peat that sustained them is also a preserver –‘an organic time machine’ ¬– capturing not only footprints but pollen grains from a distant time in history, ‘revealing the first felling of trees to create agricultural land’.

Into the Peatlands: A Journey through the Moorland Year

by Robin Crawford is published by Birlinn.

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