Farming Scotland Magazine (November - December 2109 Issue)

Scotland’s longest established national farming & rural lifestyle magazine

Tuathanachas Alba

magazine

AgriScot 2019 Preview 140 Years of Kverneland ATV’s Diet Feeders LiveScot 2019 LAMMA 2020 World Farming China (part 2) Made in Scotland East Coast Cured, charcuterie New to Market Smart Farmer Mobile App

£3.50

Artworks Featuring Richard J. Smith

December 2019

Travel Scotland New Lanark Breed Profile Limousins at Clury, Dulnain Bridge Country Woman Featuring Clair McPake Book Serialisation Final part of ‘Calum’s Road’ plus Beatha an Eilean s Scottish Country Life Market Review s Cooking with Game Farm Diversification s Trainview Talk s Lifestyle including our regular news sections and columns

contents

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December 2019

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28

102

MAIN FEATURES

BREED PROFILE

NEWS

21 30 43 82 106

90

6 11 20 38 42 76 78 92 94 100 102 104 105 113 116 124 142

Kverneland’s 140th Year ATV’s AgriScot 2019 Preview Diet Feeders LiveScot 2019

Limousins at Clury

TRAINVIEW TALK 103 Diary by James Cameron

COOKING WITH GAME

FARM DIVERSIFICATION

15 19

108 With Janice Hopper

St Martin’s Greylag Goose Haunch of Venison

BOOK SERIAL

FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND 16

110 Final part of ‘Calum’s Road

Award winning produce

112 Life on the Islands

MADE IN SCOTLAND 28

BEATHA AN EILEAN

East Coast Cured, charcuterie

SCOTTISH COUNTRY LIFE

Arable Potatoes Food Environment Farm Security Renewable Energy Science & Technology Beef Livestock Sheep Market Review Dairy Livestock Housing Forestry Estate Machinery Finance

121 With Linda Mellor

WORLD FARMING

COLUMNS

COUNTRY WOMAN

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122 Featuring Clair McPake

6 7 10 13 14 17 37 39 79

China (part 2)

NEW TO MARKET 40

Smart Farmer mobile app

TRAVEL SCOTLAND 80

ARTWORKS 114 Spotlight on Richard J. Smith

LIFESTYLE

New Lanark

145 A couple of ideas for Xmas

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

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

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

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

142 93 96 98 101 113 118 119 123 143 146 146

NFU Scotland Quality Meat Scotland The Vet NSA Scottish Wildcat Action Conservation Matters Scottish Land & Estates Southern Belle The Money Man People on the Move Book review

SUBSCRIPTION 120 Order your own copy here.

NEXT ISSUE Out 6th January. Featuring Tractors for 2020, Tyres, Dairy Expo, Renewables and much more.

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

COVER IMAGE: British Limousin

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

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

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

ISSN: 2041–918X

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arable editor's bit Support your local farm shop In Perthshire where we live, we are very lucky to have quite a few fantastic farms shops within 30 minutes drive of our home.

Each and every one of them is different but wonderfully similar, in that they all sell local farmed produce of the very highest quality.

Some have small cafe’s with lovely home baking, some have a restaurant and full professional kitchen creating an excellent range of meals, soups, puddings etc – all from their very own and surrounding farms.

And of course, there is Gin everywhere!!

In ALDI’s and LIDL, we also two supermarkets brands who are well known for supporting Scottish farmers, for which they are to be thanked for.

It is indeed a pity that many of the larger supermarkets are quite poor when it comes to promoting local produce or the Scottish brand.

We recently visited the farmers market at Bowhouse in Fife, and what a great set up they have there – look it up online to get yourself along for their next monthly market.

What I am driving at here, is that it is us, the people, who should be supporting our local farmers. No matter where in Scotland you are, or wherever in the British Isles you live – nothing compares in quality when it comes to food.

If our politicians can’t run a ‘**** up in a brewery’, then folks, it’s up to every one of us to get out there, shop local, and support our farmers.

Slàinte, Athole.

6

Scottish berry grower wins big at UK industry awards A Scottish berry grower has triumphed at the prestigious UK Fruit & Vegetable Awards held at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry in October, winning the coveted Wholesale or Foodservice Supplier of the Year and Marketing or Digital Initiative of the Year accolades.

Presented by Fresh Produce Journal, the UK’s leading trade publication for the sector, the awards are the only pan-industry fresh produce awards voted for by senior professionals working across the UK fruit and vegetable industry.

Named Wholesale Supplier of the Year, Angus Soft Fruits was recognised for its rapid growth in the ‘out of home’ sector, successfully implementing a strategy to grow revenues to £12 million in 2018 and achieving almost 100% growth year on year.

Angus Soft Fruits also triumphed in Marketing or Digital Initiative of the Year, which recognises the producer’s strategic marketing plan to

raise public awareness of its premium berry variety, AVA™ Berries. This year’s marketing campaign included partnering with Scotland’s largest running event, the Edinburgh Marathon Festival, as the ‘Official Strawberry Supplier’ to sample AVA™ Berries across the event weekend.

John Gray, Commercial Director at Angus Soft Fruits, said: “To win both Wholesale

or Foodservice Supplier of the Year and Marketing or Digital Initiative of the Year at the UK Fruit and Vegetable awards is a testament to the hard work and commitment of the Angus Soft Fruits team, who continue to excel in all areas of our industry.

It is incredibly humbling to be recognised in this way by our peers and I’d like to personally thank everyone who voted for us.”

Haith talking turnkey solutions at this year’s onion and carrot conference Visitors to November’s Onion and Carrot Conference in Cambridge will be the first to hear about Haith Group’s latest projects in the sector.

The specialist vegetable handling and processing machinery manufacturer is exhibiting at the conference on Wednesday 20th November for the 14th consecutive year.

Ken Hollingworth UK Sales and Ben Sutcliffe, Haith’s Trainee Sales Engineer will be on the company’s stand at the Cambridge Corn Exchange to talk about the Haith’s capabilities and latest innovations, which include developing turnkey

solutions for Stourgarden, the UK’s largest onion packer and working with WM Morrison to

develop a sophisticated carrot washing, grading and packing facility.

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In my view

arable “We’re very well known for designing and building excellent machines that carrot and onion growers rely on,” says Mr Hollingworth. “We’re also known for constantly striving to improve our products, but we don’t always have time to tell people about the new features we’ve introduced and the bespoke solutions we’ve developed for people. So, we’re going to use the Onion and Carrot Conference to do just that!”

Since starting in business in 1943, Haith has designed and installed over 1200 handling lines for carrot and onion growers and sold hundreds of washing, polishing and destoning machines and pre-soak tanks to farmers of all sizes as well as large pack house operators and food processors in the UK and around the world.

For more information about Haith either speak to Ken at the Onion and Carrot Conference or visit www.haith.co.uk.

Scottish growers on heightened BYDV alert High aphid numbers over the summer, coupled with short turnaround times between crops after the late Scottish harvest, and the loss of neonicotinoid insecticide seed treatment chemistry, are all set to put this autumn’s cereal crops at heightened risk of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) infection.

So says Alistair Gordon, regional technical manager in Scotland for agronomy firm Robertson Crop Services, part of the ProCam group.

He says even when a neonicotinoid seed treatment could be used in cereals prior to this autumn, crops emerging in early October in northern areas of Scotland, or later in milder southern areas, were particularly susceptible to BYDV infection.

Now, without that initial protection from a neonicotinoid seed treatment against BYDVcarrying aphids, he believes even crops emerging later will be at heightened risk.

“Historically, a neonicotinoid seed treatment gave an important period of protection,” says Mr Gordon, “but we’re now moving into unfamiliar territory. We will have to rely much more on timely applications of aphicide sprays.

“Additionally, because of the late harvest in Scotland this year, the turnaround to get winter crops planted is shorter. This leaves less time to destroy green bridges between crops, which allows more aphids to survive.

“At some point, frosts will become severe enough to check aphid activity. But until that point, it is important that crops are monitored closely and any threatening aphid populations dealt with promptly. Even crops emerging later into October could be at risk.”

When spraying against BYDV-carrying aphids, Mr Gordon urges growers to choose a pyrethroid insecticide with good persistence to achieve maximum duration of control.

However, a further issue for Scottish growers is aphid resistance, he adds.

“BYDV is carried by three different aphids – the grain aphid, the bird cherry-oat aphid and the rose-grain aphid.

Growers in Scotland are looking out primarily for the grain aphid.

However, resistance has become more of an issue recently, so correct spray timing and limiting the number of applications has become even more important.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Subscription details on page 120 www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

By John Cameron Balbuthie, Kilconquhar, Fife

The power of hindsight vision?

Just when we thought the ‘Brexit Scenario’ couldn’t get any worse – it has! The UK Government has now published the detail of the Tariffs which will be applied to agricultural commodities that are exported and imported between the UK and the EU in the event of a ‘no deal Brexit’ which at the time of writing looks highly probable.

We all knew that our agricultural exports to the EU which are currently tariff free would be affected to a greater or lesser degree by our departure from the EU but I guess few of us realised the financial extent of the new arrangements.

I will relate my remarks to the Scottish farming scene.

Our biggest export to the EU in volume terms is lamb which will be subject to a 48% tariff and beef subject to an 84% tariff with pork at 30%. On the arable side our wheat exports will be subject to a 53% tariff with potatoes at 11.5%. The list is comprehensive but I will confine my remarks to the more important Scottish commodities.

However our imports regardless of volume - from the EU into the UK – which is the other side of the story – are as follows – lamb 48% beef 45% - Pork 4% and for the arable sector – potatoes and wheat are tariff free as are eggs.

The various farm organisations will all no doubt provide us with the detail of the financial

implications of these tariffs but the great financial unknown conundrum at this time is of course the situation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. There the present proposal is for exports from Northern Ireland to the Republic to be broadly subject to the same tariffs as UK exports but – and it is a major but – any and all imports that Northern Ireland has from the Republic will be levied at a zero tariff! The consequences of that will take a bit of figuring out! But unless some changes to these proposals are forthcoming I can foresee a big increase in the ferry capacity between Scotland and Northern Ireland!

The potential financial implications of these tariffs on our farm economy are frightening. As I have pointed out in a previous edition the industry is already suffering from a lack of confidence for the future but if we are suddenly faced with these tariffs the effect will be felt not just by the farming industry – but right across the rural economy to the detriment of our whole social fabric structure – and our environment and all its implications.

It is long past time to get this matter resolved in a sensible practical manner. I can’t help asking the question “if we knew then what we know now – what would we have done?!”

7

arable Undersowing maize has soil health benefits Hutchinsons trials in Cumbria are showing how a low-cost way of undersowing maize with Italian ryegrass could have significant benefits for soil health.

The trials at the firm’s Smalmstown Farm demonstration site near Carlisle, kindly hosted by Mr & Mrs R Fisher, aim to find a cost-effective way of preventing the potential issues that can arise when bare maize stubbles are left over winter.

Under-sown grass can help condition the soil, prevent winter erosion and nutrient leaching, and potentially provide grazing, local agronomist Jim Clark explains.

It can also help dry the soil and improve ground conditions for cultivations or manure/ slurry applications ahead of following spring-sown crops.

“In some areas cover crops like brown mustard, fodder radish, stubble turnips or vetch,

can do well in a similar role, but they really need to be sown early in the autumn. A lot of cover crop mixes just don’t perform well enough in this region, especially if they’re being sown late after maize.”

In contrast, the Italian ryegrass can be sown in the summer into a

standing maize crop, so cover is already well established by the time the forager goes through.

In the Hutchinsons trial, a slug pelleter mounted on a selfpropelled sprayer was used to broadcast three rates of Italian ryegrass seed, at 3kg, 6kg and 9kg/ acre, into the five-foot high crop

on 5 July and results so far look promising, Mr Clark says.

“It rained two days later, so seed on the ground struck straight away and greened-up nicely with no detrimental effect to the crop.

It seems 6kg/acre is the minimum seed rate needed, while the 9kg rate looks as though you could graze heifers on it.

“Drilling Italian ryegrass as a cover crop after maize is popular in Holland where bare winter stubbles aren’t allowed. It is attracting more attention here, although drilling won’t work where plastic is on the ground until late in the season.

There’s also the extra cost.”

Broadcasting seed however, is relatively cheap given a typical contractor charge of £1/acre for slug pelleting and seed cost of £20-25/acre at the 9kg rate. “You could get away with 6kg/acre, which would cost nearer £15-17/ acre.”

FSOOTY 2020 seeks best farm sprayer operators

The Farm Sprayer Operator Of The Year awards are back for 2020 - to find and reward the best farm sprayer operators in the UK. The application of crop protection products is one of the most complex jobs faced on the farm. Today’s operators are faced with many possible challenges, 8

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along with demands for ever greater accuracy and precision.

Syngenta’s Farm Sprayer Operator of the Year (FSOOTY) award aims to recognise their professional approach, to share their skills and experiences and to help encourage further improvements.

arable It’s not about having the latest kit, but the aptitude and attention to consistently deliver the best possible results with every application, reports Syngenta application specialist, James Thomas.

“The use of plant protection products is under constant scrutiny, so it is important to use them safely and efficiently in a way that meets crop needs, as well as public, operator and environmental safety.

“It’s a tricky balance, but for many operators it comes as second nature. FSOOTY seeks to recognise and reward operators’ skills.”

All operators who can demonstrate ingenuity and an ability to meet these varying objectives by using agrochemicals effectively, are in with a chance of winning.

FSOOTY is run by Syngenta, in association with the Voluntary Initiative.

It’s simple to enter the first stage of FSOOTY – simply use the link https://www.syngenta.co.uk/fsooty

Non-chemical approaches needed to stop weeds winning, agronomist warns

Weeds are now tougher and harder to kill than ever, thanks to their increased resistance to herbicides, according to a leading agronomist.

New approaches are needed that tackle them without these chemicals, such as precision

weed monitoring, electric and foam weed control, Dr Nicola Cannon of the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) said.

Speaking ahead of the ‘Changing Face of Weed Control’ conference at the RAU this month, Dr Cannon, Associate Professor of Agriculture, explained: “Weeds have been one of the main challenges to farmers and gardeners ever since humans started cultivating the land. They compete with our crops for light, water and nutrients and so reduce yields.

“Herbicides have become a mainstay of conventional farmers’ weed control strategy, but, for a couple of decades now the cracks have started to show in this method of weed control as they have become ever more resistant to the herbicides applied.

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“Initially the weeds are only weakened and not killed and then in many cases previously susceptible weeds are able to continue germinating, grow and seed, thereby increasing the resistant weed populations.

“So, weed resistance, coupled with the lack of new products have left farmers facing huge challenges in weed control.

Previously available herbicides are being withdrawn due to either environmental or human health concerns.

“Growing crops with fewer or no herbicides requires different approaches, some traditional but also the adoption of innovative techniques, such as weed mapping and control solutions by techniques such as robot or drone spot spraying or physical removal.”

9

arable Crusoe shows its true character At its launch back in 2012, Crusoe set the standard for a new kind of milling wheat that offered very high yields, exceptional quality and agronomic characteristics.

Seven years later and Crusoe has had one of its best performing seasons sitting at the top of the AHDB Recommended List 2019 harvest results *for fully recommended Group 1’s with a yield of 11.49t/ha at 99% over control, 3% over Skyfall at 11.11t/ ha and 1% over KWS Zyatt on 11.31 t/ha.

“This really shows how robust Crusoe is in a high disease pressure, challenging year,“ says Ron Granger, arable technical manager with Limagrain UK. Crusoe’s protein results compliment those of its yields; 13% protein sees it at the top of

the Group 1’s, once again above that of fellow group 1’s, Skyfall (12.6%) and KWS Zyatt (12.7%) “With no issues around any of its physical qualities, Crusoe has become universally accepted by its growers and the millers as being a solid Group 1 which also meets export specifications, and this year’s harvest results confirm its position as one of the most consistently performing Group 1 varieties. “ Crusoe has stood out over a wide range different seasons and challenges because of its robust and consistent disease resistance, good standing ability and agronomics. “Septoria and yellow rust are by far the biggest threats in any season and Crusoe continues to show good resistance to both,” he says.

John (left) and Andrew Arbuckle are pictured with the books at Gloagburn Farm Shop, one of a number of retails outlets throughout the country which have been selling the books, which are also available via the RSABI website shop at www.rsabi.org.uk

Light-hearted Farming Books Raise £72,000 for RSABI The proceeds of two books, packed with farming stories, have collectively raised over £72,000 for RSABI, the charity which supports people working in Scottish agriculture.

The books – “Farming is a Funny Business” and “Farming Facts and Fake News” – were compiled by brothers Andrew and John Arbuckle who farmed near Newburgh in Fife.

The Arbuckle brothers are delighted with the phenomenal success of the books which they hope have raised many a smile in the farming community, as well as valuable funds for a leading Scottish agricultural charity.

RSABI has a team of dedicated staff who provide vital financial, practical and emotional support to individuals and families with links to Scottish agriculture.

The charity also offers support through a helpline, 0300 1114166.

“We were very pleased with the response from people involved in many different aspects of farming in Scotland when we initially put out an appeal for quirky tales and light-hearted

stories for our books,” said Andrew Arbuckle.

“Our hope was that we could raise a good sum to assist the vital work of RSABI through the sales of the books but we never dreamed that the result would be the sort of figure which has been achieved!”

Nina Clancy, Chief Executive of RSABI, said: “Our sincere thanks to Andrew and John for their superb efforts in producing two very successful books.

Both titles are available to buy in our online shop at www.rsabi.org.uk and would make perfect stocking fillers for this Christmas.”

“Farming is a Funny Business” and “Farming Facts and Fake News” are available to buy in a range of retail outlets around the country and on the RSABI website at www.rsabi.org.uk with the full £10 price going to support the work of the charity.

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

Call the helpline on 0300 111 4166 10

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potatoes Haith softens the blow with its patent-pending pro flow transfer chute Haith is set to innovate the transfer of delicate produce in pack houses and factories with the introduction of its patentpending Pro-Flow Transfer Chute.

The invention protects sweet potatoes, potatoes, carrots and other sensitive produce from bruising and damage when moving from one conveyor to another.

Haith has been testing the Pro-Flow Transfer Cushion at several UK sites over the last few months. Following reports that the new feature has dramatically reduced damage, Haith has put the chute on general sale.

Haith’s Pro-Flow Transfer Chute is completely different to existing methods of transferring crops between conveyors. The new product creates a trampoline effect by tensioning a loop of PVC material between two stainless steel tie rods. This creates an air pocket which cushions the crop as it is transferred.

The cushioning effect created

by Haith eliminates the bruising that can occur with gravity transfer.

Haith’s Pro-Flow Transfer Chute offers greater cushioning when compared to traditional steel chutes. While steel chutes can be padded, they are still subject to wear and when the soft landing detaches,

foreign body contamination can occur.

Haith’s Transfer Chute can be fitted to conveyors and machines, such as even flows and box fillers, with Haith’s design engineers considering the belt speed, drive roll diameter, drop height and produce type to tailor each chute to precise needs of each application.

“The Haith Pro-Flow Transfer Chute is a response to our customers’ needs,” says David Haith, engineering director of Haith Group. “In certain situations, the way traditional conveyor systems handle produce is too rough, and the crop can be damaged. The Pro Flow Transfer Chute is the solution to this problem.

“The best innovations are often the simplest but can make a huge difference. The Haith ProFlow Transfer Cushion may look simple, but its development has taken a lot of time and calculation.

Our hugely experienced design team have done an excellent job in developing the Pro-Flow Transfer Chute. According to our test sites, introducing the chute has practically eliminated damage to sweet potatoes, potatoes and carrots moving between conveyors.

“Many packers are now employing optical graders with

multiple outlets, up to 12 in some cases, to satisfy the increased demand for uniform sizing and appearance in the end pack.

The Haith Pro-Flow Transfer Cushion ensures that the vast majority of the crop meets the end customer’s requirement in terms of appearance.

“We will be incorporating the Pro-Flow Transfer Chute into all of our lines from now on and are looking at how we can retrofit it into existing systems.”

Incorporated as a limited company in 1964, Tickhill

Engineering, which trades as Haith has a long tradition of innovating vegetable handling.

The company invented the modern barrel washer in 1961, developed the brush roller bed in the 1970s, which was superseded in the ‘80s by the Hydro Flow washer. The company introduced the Self Clean washer at the beginning of this century.

To find out more about Haith and its range of vegetable handling equipment, please visit www.haith. co.uk, email sales@haith.co.uk or call 01302 831 911.

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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11

potatoes Tong’s new FieldLoad PRO lightens the load at M H Poskitt Ltd The first of Tong Engineering’s latest Fieldloader machine, the FieldLoad PRO, is proving to bring a dramatic reduction in loading times at one of the UK’s larger vegetable producers and processors; M H Poskitt Ltd. Better known as Poskitts, the family owned farming business based in Goole, East Yorkshire, was the first to receive delivery of the new FieldLoad PRO machine in September, after it was launched in January 2019 as part of Tong’s ongoing product development programme.

“The new FieldLoad Pro was launched at the beginning of the year, as a next generation machine based on our proven Fieldloader that we have manufactured for several years,” says Edward Tong, Managing Director at Tong Engineering. “Our product development programme focuses on equipment advances that ensure Tong equipment continues to meet industry requirements and market demands as they evolve, and the new FieldLoad PRO is the perfect example of that,” said Edward.

“The emphasis from growers on reducing ‘crop miles’ and soil on the roads continues to be a fundamental element when specifying new grading equipment,” explains Edward.

“In addition, changes in contract specifications for many growers has meant that loading crop straight

12

into bulker lorries at the field-side is an increasingly desirable way of doing things. And this is where we have seen great demand for the new FieldLoad PRO machine since its launch.”

At approximately 15 metres long in transport mode, the self-contained FieldLoad PRO configured for M H Poskitt Ltd features a high capacity reception hopper feeding Tong’s 6 Row EasyClean separator, renowned for its unrivalled cleaning capabilities in all conditions, on all crop types.

After crop has passed over the EasyClean, it is gently transferred to Tong’s adjustable PU spiral sizing unit with high-speed selfcleaning function, for effective removal of smalls. An insulated 4-man inspection cabin houses the machine’s intelligent Auto-Touch HMI touch-screen control unit and completes the system, before crop transfers to Tong’s new-style slewing and foldable 1.3m wide cart elevator for high capacity loading.

Fast and even lorry loading is achieved by Tong’s advanced WIFI operated touch-screen remote control, ensuring gentle transfer of crop into the bulker trailer. The new machine also comes complete with road-going lights, suspension, brakes and a super-silent onboard generator which provides power efficiency for in-field operation, which can be bypassed for mains power when operating on-farm.

“We already operate a Tong Fieldloader which has proved to be very reliable across the multiple sites where it is used,” says Guy Poskitt, Managing Director at M H Poskitt Ltd. “We have worked with Tong for many years and the advances in their equipment, backed up by their dedicated sales, installation and aftersales

support team means I can always be sure of maximum performance and minimal downtime,” said Mr Poskitt. “With increased contract demands we needed a second fieldloading machine, and I’m pleased to say that within the first few hours of running Tong’s FieldLoad PRO, we could see the efficiencies that the new system will bring.”

Diversification into verge harvesting wins Scotts ‘Best Innovation Award’ A Lincolnshire manufacturer best known for designing and manufacturing vegetable harvesting equipment has won a

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prestigious business award for its diversification into a new market.

Scotts Precision Manufacturing’s range of potato toppers has sold in

potatoes

Turning animal feed green: new partnership to develop seaweed potential record numbers this year, as has its Evolution Separator, which removes soil, haulm and clods from harvested potatoes. But it was its latest invention - the Vergenair - that, last week, won Best New Product / Innovation in this year’s East Lindsey Business Awards.

Commissioned by Lincolnshire County Council as part of a pilot project to assess the feasibility of harvesting grass clippings for use in AD plants, the Vergenair was conceived and built in just six months.

Scotts has designed the Vergenair in such a way that it can be easily connected to a conventional tractor. A large front-mounted boom mower cuts the grass, with the clippings sucked into a trailer by a powerful centrifugal fan. Scotts has designed the Vergenair so that it works with a demountable, two trailer system.

This allows the operator to fill a second trailer, while the full one is delivering the grass clippings to the AD plant for converting into electricity.

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A new Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) involving the James Hutton Institute and Davidsons Animal Feeds is exploring the possibilities of protein-rich UK seaweeds to replace some currently used ingredients in the production of ruminant animal feeds, with associated benefits in terms of meat quality and a reduced carbon footprint.

It is well-known that seaweeds are eaten by ruminants in the wild. There is considerable evidence of improvement in meat quality and health in animals fed with seaweed. This KTP project aims to pinpoint the ideal seaweeds for use in ruminant feeds based on their nutritional value, with a particular interest in protein content. This could reduce our reliance on produce imported from overseas.

KTPs create a dynamic three-way partnership between a company, a talented graduate (the KTP Associate who acts as Project Manager) and an expert academic team – in this case from the James Hutton Institute. Dr Gordon McDougall, a research scientist with the Institute in Dundee, said seaweeds have the potential to provide greener feeds to support Scotland’s enviable reputation as a producer of high-quality meats.

“Increased cultivation of seaweeds in the UK may help bolster our coastal communities by providing a new source of income. In addition, seaweed-plus feeds

KTP associate David Beattie is investigating the potential of protein-rich UK seaweeds to provide nutritious feed

may bring other nutritional benefits as they are rich in vitamins and minerals,” Dr McDougall said.

Over the next 3 years, KTP Associate David Beattie will work from a selection of candidate seaweeds of appropriate dietary suitability to produce prototype feeds at suitable volumes using Davidsons state-of-the-art feed mill.

Jim Berryman, Knowledge Transfer Adviser at the Knowledge Transfer Network which delivers the KTP programme, added “KTPs provide a very useful mechanism to link ideas and expertise to enable innovation, and this is a particularly exciting initiative responding to the ever more urgent need to seek environmentallyconscious solutions to a wide variety of challenges.”

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

potatoes The judges felt that Scotts had demonstrated an original and innovative approach to solving from scratch a challenge that was both affordable and versatile.

Working to a tight timescale, they turned theory into practice to develop a solution that is both of benefit to the environment and has strong commercial potential.

“This project has been amazing to work on,” says Derek Scott, managing director of Scotts Precision Manufacturing. “It was a tough challenge with no time for mistakes, but the feeling of satisfaction when we cracked it was brilliant. The idea that Nick Cheffin and Lincolnshire County Council came up with was so simple but turning it into a reality took a lot of hard work, but we did it. The verge harvester has attracted a lot of interest with several other local authorities investigating its potential. The machine has featured on national TV, with Countryside coming down to see us, and now, to be recognised in our home county is simply fantastic. I need

to thank all of the team at Scotts who worked so hard to bring the idea to life.”

Scotts Precision Manufacturing has recently celebrated its 25th year in business, with its milestone being its best ever. The company has sold out of its market-leading range of toppers and has sold 70 of its Evolution Separators to growers across the UK, Europe and North and South America. The increase in demand has led Scotts to seek support from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Lindsey Action Zone LEADER Fund, to undertake a £275,000, 6,000 square feet expansion of its Lincolnshire factory. Building work will be completed next month, and four new members of the team have been recruited including two apprentices, allowing the Scotts to increase production output for 2020.

For more information about Scotts and the Vergenair, visit www.https://www.scottsuk.com or call 01205 270 128.

crofting A fair and principled use of the convergence uplift

By Patrick Krause, Chief Executive, Scottish Crofting Federation Having righted the wrong concerning the CAP convergence uplift, whereby the £160 million has finally been allocated to Scotland as it should have been, it is now imperative that the use of this payment aligns with the principle under which it was devised in the first place.

The EU Multi-Annual Financial Framework set out the aim of redistributing CAP payments more equitably across the EU, so that all member states receiving less than 90% of the EU average would receive a funding uplift.

The UK only qualified for an uplift because of Scotland’s low average payments and Scotland has a low average due to very low per-hectare payments to crofters and hill farmers on the poorer ground.

It is therefore logical and just that the uplift be directed to those who enabled Scotland to qualify for it.

The farmers’ union has proposed that the money should be allocated across all Scottish producers, including those well above the 90% of EU average payment. This has gone down like a lead balloon in crofting areas and surely

emulates the unfairness which the UK government has practiced on Scotland, and which we all fought so hard to redress. We have won that battle, and it would be shameful were Scottish Government to do almost exactly the same thing now that the money is due to cross the border.

SCF, the crofters’ representative, agrees that the money should be used for increasing Basic Payments and should be allocated to currently active producers, but that is where we depart from the suggestions on distribution published recently. SCF believes that to follow the fundamental principle of convergence means that the uplift must be allocated to the areas falling below the 90% EU average threshold only.

There is work to be done on the funding mechanisms and targeting used to distribute the money in the most efficacious way, but at this point the basic principle on which the funds are to be allocated – the same principle under which the EU payment was made in the first place - is established and followed.

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cooking with game

St Martin’s Greylag Goose

By Wendy Barrie The symbol of St Martin of Tours is the goose for it is said he once hid in a stable of geese where their cackling gave him away and to this day Swedes celebrate with a special autumn feast. We sourced our wild goose from Orkney where they have permission to hunt Greylag Geese, much to the farmers’ relief! If you would rather someone else did the cooking why not join us for our Goose Dinner evening?

1 Greylag goose (3-4kg) 2 apples, diced 8 plums, halved & de-stoned Fresh thyme Freshly milled salt and pepper For sauce… Water to make approx. 500mls stock (by deglazing roasting pan) 200mls apple juice 2tbsps J Gow Spiced Rum 2tbsps blackcurrant / bramble jelly Freshly milled Isle of Skye Sea Salt and pepper 1tbsp cornflour

Sweet & Sour Cabbage… 1sm spring cabbage 4 rashers of Ramsays streaky bacon 1 apple, finely chopped 2tbsps Orkney Craft Vinegar 1tsp local honey Freshly milled black pepper 2 crushed juniper berries 2 bay leaves

Recipe & photography © Wendy Barrie

Ingredients:

Method: s 3EASON GOOSE INSIDE AND OUT lLL CAVITY WITH FRUIT AND TRUSS UP LEGS 0LACE GOOSE WITH BREAST DOWNWARDS ON A TRAY AND ROAST for 1hr at 150°C. Cook for a further 2hrs breast upwards, covered loosely in foil. s 2AISE TEMPERATURE TO ª# AND OPEN ROAST FOR THE LAST MINS TO GIVE A CRISPY SKIN "ASTE WITH GOOSE FAT 7HEN THE GOOSE is cooked the juices will run clear with no blood. s 3ET ASIDE GOOSE TO REST FOR MINS BEFORE CARVING -EANWHILE USE PLUM AND GOOSE JUICES FOR YOUR GRAVY STOCK 2EMOVE ANY remaining fat by spooning from surface. s 5SE THE GOOSE FAT FOR ROASTING POTATOES AND FRYING VEGETABLES s &OR GRAVY BLEND INGREDIENTS IN PAN !DD SLAKED CORNmOUR AND WHISK THROUGH BOIL UNTIL THICKENED AND SMOOTH 4ASTE TO ADJUST seasoning. s -EANWHILE CORE AND SLICE CABBAGE lNELY s (EAT A LITTLE GOOSE FAT IN A FRYING PAN WOK AND FRY BACON UNTIL COOKED !DD CABBAGE AND COOK OVER A MODERATE HEAT FOR MINS with apple and remaining ingredients until cabbage tender, adding a little water to release some steam for final cooking if necessary. Remove bay leaves before serving.

Serves 6 with sweet & sour cabbage, apple butter, butter toasted breadcrumbs and roast potatoes.

Scottish Thistle Award Regional Ambassador (2018/19) for Central, Tayside & Fife, Wendy Barrie www.wendybarrie.co.uk is a highly respected campaigner for local sustainable food, popular cookery show presenter and food writer.

Founder & Director of award-winning www.scottishfoodguide.scot & www.scottishcheesetrail.com Wendy is Leader in Scotland for Slow Food Ark of Taste & Member of Slow Food Cooks Alliance. www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND

Fruitful pickings for Scottish berry grower Scottish berry grower and supplier Angus Soft Fruits is celebrating a record-breaking season after producing more than double the amount of their premium AVA™ strawberries this summer when compared to last year.

So far this year, Angus Soft Fruits has increased the supply of AVA™ strawberries by 109% year on year, with the company putting the bumper season down to the milder spring and summer enjoyed across the north-east of Scotland, which helped to create optimal berry growing conditions. Angus Soft Fruits also believe the increased yield is thanks to the expertise of their exclusive group of growers, who are now more experienced

growing these premium varieties of strawberries.

Developed from years of research by Angus Soft Fruits’ in-house Breeding Programme, AVA™ strawberries have been bred for exceptional flavour, texture, appearance, and shelf life. AVA™ strawberries are also more resistant to disease, produce a higher yield and have been optimised for speed of picking and sustainability.

Lochy Porter, Chairman of Angus Soft Fruits, said: “At Angus Soft Fruits, we are committed to producing great tasting berries, and we are delighted with how this year’s AVA™ strawberry crop has performed. Thanks to our specialist Breeding Programme,

talented growing team, and a bit of luck with the weather, we’ve managed to deliver the highest

volume of AVA™ strawberries to date helping to satisfy increasing demand from customers.

Scotch Lamb campaign wins prestigious award Quality Meat Scotland’s Scotch Lamb, Naturally campaign has been named Marketing Campaign of the Year at the Scotsman Food & Drink Awards.

Scotch Lamb, Naturally beat competition from Edinburgh Food Festival and Tamdhu Speyside Single Malt to take home the

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accolade at the ceremony held in Edinburgh this week.

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) worked with integrated marketing communications agency Weber Shandwick to devise and develop the Scotch Lamb, Naturally campaign to encourage consumers in

Scotland to eat more Scotch Lamb PGI and learn more about its welfare and sustainability credentials.

The nine-week campaign in autumn 2018 saw a combination of television advertising along with billboard, press, digital, social media, radio and PR, and resulted in a 27% increase in spend per buyer and a 20% increase in volume purchased per buyer during the 12-week campaign period, according to figures from Kantar Worldpanel to the week ending 4th November.

Just this week, the newest phase of Scotch Lamb, Naturally launched with an intensive programme of marketing, advertising and PR activity in place across Scotland until the end of October.

Alan Clarke, Chief Executive of Quality Meat Scotland, said: “The brilliant results of the Scotch Lamb, Naturally

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campaign speak for themselves, delivering not only an increase in sales but also helping challenge traditional perceptions of how lamb is prepared and served.

“This success would not be possible without the work delivered by the entire marketing and communications team in helping share the industry’s hugely positive messages and raising the profile of Scotland’s world-leading red meat brands.”

The shortlist adds to recent success at the PRCA Dare Awards, where QMS took home In-House Team of the Year as well as the Consumer Relations award for Scotch Lamb, Naturally (with Weber Shandwick).

For Scotch Lamb recipe videos and inspiration visit www. scotchkitchen.com or follow Scotch Kitchen on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND

Local farmers launch bid to save Campbeltown Creamery

Scotland The Brand

Scotland’s Name Sells

By Ruth Watson

A group of 29 Kintyre dairy farmers have today launched a bid, and associated crowd-funding campaign, to save Campbeltown Creamery, producers of the worldfamous Mull of Kintyre cheddar.

Nestled on the southern tip of the Kintyre peninsula within a climate that ensures all year grass growth for the dairy herds which graze there, Campbeltown Creamery has been producing cheese, using the finest milk from the 29 farms in the area, since 1923 and making Mull of Kintyre cheddar since the 1970s.

This week, those 29 farms, all modern, committed and family-owned, have launched their campaign to purchase the creamery, and the Mull of

Kintyre cheddar brand, from current owners First Milk. The group, the Mull of Kintyre Milk Supply Cooperative, will fund the purchase through use of a levy from every litre of milk produced, in addition to external funding which is currently being sought.

A key element of the funding package will be today’s launch of the crowdfunding campaign which seeks to raise £50,000 towards the purchase. The group is encouraging the local community, foodies, suppliers, customers, businesses and anyone with a love of cheese to contribute to the crowdfund – further information can be found at http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ mokcheddar

Something tremendous is happening in Scotland and our farmers are at the heart of it. The recent Royal Bank of Scotland Economic Analysis report says our “exceptional record” saw Scottish food and drink exports make up 29% of all UK food and drink sales to overseas markets. The sector makes up 41% of manufacturing jobs in the Highlands and Islands, rising to over half of manufacturing jobs “along the Speyside Malt Whisky Trail”.

Scotland Food and Drink’s ‘Provenance Perceptions Research 2019’ shows ‘7 in 10 Scottish consumers believe it is important to have local sourcing of red meat, vegetables, soft fruit, fish and poultry’ and ‘69% of those living in Scotland and 32% of those living in the UK state they would be more likely to buy a product with Scottish labelling vs a product with an unspecified origin.’

The market research group, 56 Degree Insight, recently published their ‘Scottish Brands Index’ which looked at the effect of ‘Scottishness’ on buying

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habits. They asked respondents in Scotland, ‘if you were to see two identical food items available at the same price, one with a UK flag and labelled ‘100% British product’ and the other with a Scottish flag and labelled ‘100% Scottish product’, which would you be more likely to buy?’ The results: ‘56% would choose the product branded ‘Scottish’ whereas only 4% would choose the ‘British’ labelling.

The remaining 39% were ambivalent, saying it would ‘make no difference.’

Scotland Food and Drink’s ‘Showcasing Scotland’ has just been held with buyers from across the world keen to see what our producers have to offer. The last event generated £60 million of sales.

As we face an uncertain future, it is clear we have a strong asset: local provenance is good for business, making the most of Scotland’s reputation as a quality food and drink producer. This is vital to our national economy and to our rural communities in particular.

It pays to keep Scotland the brand.

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FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND In 2018, First Milk (a British farmer-owned dairy cooperative) announced plans to sell Campbeltown Creamery as part of a move away from smallerscale brands. This created an opportunity for a farmer-led buyout, aimed at saving the creamery and securing its future and the positive impact it has upon the area.

The dairy farming sector in the Kintyre Peninsula and nearby Gigha contributes £3.2m per annum* to the local economy. In turn, when additional, upstream, impacts are considered, a further £2.55m is added. The dairy sector in the area provides 117 jobs directly on-farm and a further 49 indirectly across Kintyre.

Community buy-outs also play a major role in the Scottish Government agenda and the opportunity to contain milk production and cheese manufacturing within a small radius helps in the context of a low carbon society where communities are strengthened and become more resilient.

The Scotland Food & Drink Ambition 2030 and its focus on brand, market development, people, skills, supply chain and innovation also highlights the importance of strengthening reputation around provenance and responsible growth in local areas.

Local dairy farmer, Thomas Cameron, said: “We are currently facing a huge and exciting opportunity with a clear mission – to secure the future of the Campbeltown Creamery for the benefit of the Kintyre community. We will also be in a position to save a wellknown brand and contribute to Scotland’s reputation as a Land of Food and Drink.

“Mull of Kintyre cheddar is said to be enhanced by the Angel’s Share of whisky that remains in the creamery building from its past life as a distillery.

The multi award-winning cheese is made with milk that all comes from within a 15-mile radius and from farms that are committed to securing their land for future generations and to contributing to the local economy.

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Importers Rewarded for Commitment to Scottish Red Meat Industry Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has recognised two importers for their long-term commitment to the Scottish red meat industry.

Rauch, a Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI importer from Germany, and Netherlands-based Scottish beef importer Zandbergen, received the awards from the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity, Fergus Ewing MSP during a reception on the QMS stand in Anuga, one of the world’s most influential food fairs.

Rauch, which buys Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI from AK Stoddart’s, specialises in fresh and processed meat products, supplying high-quality

German supermarket chains like Edeka, REWE or Famila, to just name a few.

The company has five main groups of customers which represent 13,000 stores plus more than 15,000 butchers across Germany.

Zandbergen, provide clients across Europe with a variety of premium meats.

The company was founded by two brothers, Cor and Ton Zandbergen who started their business in a local butcher shop in Leiden. They grew the business and became a leading company in the international protein supply chain.

Since 2006, the company been unwavering supporters

of Scottish beef, working with Millers of Speyside and importing large volumes to the Netherlands regularly.

Alan Clarke, Chief Executive of Quality Meat Scotland, said: “Rauch and Zandbergen are extremely valuable, staunch supporters of the Scottish red meat industry and it is our pleasure to present them with awards as a gesture of our appreciation.

“Both Germany and the Netherlands are important markets for Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb, with the German market, in particular, expanding quickly.

“Building on our existing strong market presence in these markets and, of course, across Europe and the rest of the world is imperative to ensure that retailers and consumers are aware of the quality, provenance and high production standards which the Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb labels guarantee.”

Mr Clarke added: “The Scots were pioneers of quality assurance and next year we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of our quality assurance schemes.

“These schemes underpin our brands and ensure the high standards of production, traceability and welfare that our customers around the globe expect.”

For more information on Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI including recipes, videos and tips, visit www. scotchkitchen.com or follow Scotch Kitchen on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Next issue out January 2020

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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!

food Cookery scheme benefitting thousands of Scottish pupils celebrates a decade of success A nationwide voucher scheme that has helped over 50,000 pupils learn to cook is now open for applications from secondary schools across Scotland.

The Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) Schools Meat Voucher Scheme gives home economics and hospitality classes the opportunity to learn about and cook with locally-sourced Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork.

The vouchers, which are worth up to £100, are available to any secondary school across Scotland, and are redeemable at local retailers and members of the Scotch Butchers Club.

Teachers are invited to apply for the vouchers via the Health and Education/Schools section at www.qmscotland.co.uk.

The scheme was developed in response to restricted budgets impacting on the opportunities schools are able to provide for young people to learn how to

prepare fresh, red meat dishes that are high in nutritious value.

Jennifer Robertson, QMS Health and Education Manager and registered dietician, said: “It’s extremely important that young people are given information as early as possible about the essential nutrients and vitamins they should be consuming and how a balanced diet that includes red meat fits into this. Ensuring this information is communicated forms an essential part of QMS’s health and education work.

“With schools facing restricted budgets we want to do all we can to support teachers in being able to offer an enriching curriculum, and so we’re really proud the scheme has helped thousands of young people learn essential cookery skills.

“It’s also really exciting to see the different ways the vouchers are being used across schools as part of wider projects, from butchery and preparation

lessons to food challenges in partnership with local retailers.”

With more than a third of Scotland’s young girls and women lacking in iron, red meat is an essential part of a healthy, balanced diet and is an essential source of protein, b-vitamins, iron and zinc.

Teachers have been quick to praise the scheme, with Rutherglen High School in Glasgow describing it as a “very beneficial scheme without which we would be unable to afford our project work.”

Using the vouchers, the school is planning a project for pupils to design a meal using Scotch Lamb, as well as designing dishes from different European countries, as part of a cross-curricular project in conjunction with the music department and social studies classes.

Teachers can learn more about the Meat Voucher scheme, as well as the range of activities QMS undertakes to

the role of red meat in a healthy balanced diet by visiting www. qmscotland.co.uk or following @ScotchKitchenSc. The full list of Scotch Butchers Club members can be viewed at www.scotchkitchen. com/scotch-butchers-club

Scotland Spends £1.5 Billion a Year on Takeaways Over a third (34%) of adults in Scotland are ordering takeaways every week, adding up to over £1.5bn a year, with the biggest spenders shelling out over £1,200 a year on their orders*.

Chinese was revealed as Scotland’s most popular takeaway (44%), followed by Indian (21%),

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Italian (12%) and a chippy (8%), according to research carried out by Censuswide on behalf of Specially Selected Pork.

However, our love of takeaways could be having an underlying impact on our health – more so than we think. When asked how much calories they estimate

to be in their favourite takeaway order, the average response was 1,026.

When compared to the amount of calories in an average Chinese takeaway of sweet and sour chicken, vegetable spring rolls and fried rice, the results are vastly different, with calories hitting 2,184 (Safefood).

On the back of this, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) wants to highlight the healthier options available to us as part of its Go Places with Pork campaign, which is encouraging people to swap takeaways for ‘fakeaway’ options by sharing a range of convenient, low-fat alternatives inspired by world cuisine and using Specially Selected Pork from Scotland.

With eating habits changing and young people aged 16 to 34 are significantly more likely to order up to six takeaways a week

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than those over 35, the campaign also hopes to inspire younger generations with recipes tailormade to suit busy lifestyles.

Kirsty Fox, Marketing Manager from QMS hopes the healthier options will satisfy cravings without compromising on flavour, commenting: “With takeaway orders on the up, we’re encouraging consumers to instead consider alternatives that are healthier, quick and easy to make and more affordable.

“We’ve created delicious dupes of the nation’s favourites, including sweet and sour, Chinese noodles, tikka and souvlaki, each made using Specially Selected Pork, which is sourced from trusted Scottish farms which are approved by the Scottish SPCA. The full list of stockists is available at www.scotchkitchen. com/scotch-butchers-club

Kverneland celebrates 140-year history Throughout 2019, the Kverneland Group has been celebrating a significant milestone – it is 140 years since Ole Gabriel Kverneland started his blacksmith business with the production of scythes, sickles and knives.

Based in the village of Kvernaland, 25km from Stavanger, Norway, OG Kverneland Fabrik can be counted as one of those agribusinesses that has been capable of withstanding the test of time.

He opened his small forge in 1879, and as a talented inventor, Ole Gabriel designed his own water powered spring hammer and began producing 7,000-8,000 scythes annually, with mass production techniques. This gave him the competitive edge he needed over his rivals who still used traditional, manual production methods.

By 1882, he developed his first plough and harrows soon followed.

While most of the business was geared towards horse-drawn equipment, by 1928, its first tractor-plough was created, and joined by a new series including muckrakes, hay forks, stone forks and harrows.

In the mid 1950s, the company looked towards further expansion opportunities and embarked on its first acquisition phase. Globus Maskinfabrikk

located in Brumunddal, Norway, was the first acquisition in 1955, and in 1973 Kverneland bought Plovfabrikken Fraugde in Odense, Denmark.

In 1983 the family owned company was listed on the Oslo stock exchange. This move provided the company with the necessary resources to further expand, and in 1984 Kverneland acquired Kyllingstad Plogfabrikk in Kleppe, Norway. And in 1986, Underhaugs Fabrikk in Nærbø, Norway, was also added.

During the 1990s, rapid growth came from the acquisition of mower and forager business Taarup, in Kerteminde, Denmark.

This also included the UK-based Kidd factory. Over the next three years, additional implement manufacturers were acquired, including Italian power harrow firm Maletti; German seed drill maker Accord; and German distribution company, Silo-Wolff.

In 1998, the Group acquired the Netherlands-based Greenland Group incorporating Vicon, and RAU for its high-tech sprayers and cultivators – these acquisitions made Kverneland Group the world’s largest manufacturer of farming equipment.

In 2009, Veenhuis’ loader and transport wagon division was

added to the fold, and a year later, a joint venture agreement with Gallignani led to a new range of round balers, wrappers and drum mowers, before full acquisition in 2012 resulted in the baler competence centre in Ravenna.

2012 was a milestone year, with Kubota Corporation acquiring the Kverneland Group, and taking full ownership since May 2012.

Today, the business is an internationally recognised company and brand, producing a wide range of arable and grassland machinery that also encompasses the very latest in precision farming technology, with ISOBUS equipment, virtual terminals and advanced section control.

Ole Gabriel Kverneland started his blacksmith business with the production of scythes, sickles and knives.

Glenside Tractors Ltd, Millknowe Garage, Campbeltown, Argyll.

Tel. 01586 553624 www.glensidetractors.co.uk Early manufacturing was geared towards horse-drawn equipment.

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140 Years of Kverneland

Heavy metal

Mouldboards are carburised for up to 12-hours to create the correct blend of strength and flexibility

When it comes to plough production and genuine wearing parts, a look behind the scenes at Kverneland’s plough factory in Norway reveals much more than just metal bashing.

The Klepp site houses over 160 work stations and

40 robots that process 25,000 tonnes of steel each year to deliver thousands of ploughs for customers around the world.

Bristling with science, innovation and cutting-edge metallurgy, it’s no wonder Kverneland remains the World’s

Agricultural Merchants Main dealers for Kverneland Ploughs

No1 plough maker, producing the world’s best ploughs.

While certificates from steel mills back up the credibility of raw materials, in-house metallurgists check to ensure all steel meets the bespoke formulation that Kverneland’s reputation has been built upon.

That formulation is called Sagitta steel, and along with specific heat treatment processes, it remains a closely guarded secret. And you won’t find it available anywhere else.

These processes give the correct balance between hardness and toughness. Kverneland mouldboards benefit from a particular heat-treatment process that gives them an extremely tough, almost wear-resistant exterior layer while keeping a soft core to let them flex when they need to.

Heat treatment is an essential part of the Kverneland plough manufacturing process – but getting the correct combination of strength and durability without making components extremely heavy, is where years of knowledge of applying heat comes into its own.

Wearing metal is also produced at the same time as complete ploughs, so you know original Kverneland parts receive the same heat treatment and hardening processes as

every new plough. Importantly, original parts are carefully tempered around every bolt hole to prevent cracking.

Did you know the factory has 10 furnaces, each holding 40 mouldboards in a batch for 12-hours. This carefully managed carburisation process ensures mouldboards are produced with the correct blend of strength and flexibility.

Following carburisation, mouldboards are carefully re-heated and pressed into the curved shape we so easily recognise.

Plough beams up to 8m in length are induction hardened to around 950-degrees C in less than a minute, before being cooled then re-heated to correctly temper the steel. This rapid heating process takes around 350kW of electrical power – the equivalent of 175 electric kettles.

Pins are put through a specially developed nitriding process at temperatures in excess of 1,000 degrees, to create an extremely hard-wearing surface that does not require lubrication.

Every completed plough body is robot-polished to remove any blemishes and leave the working surface with a shine deep enough to use as a mirror.

The polished surface makes it easy to remove the protective paint coating so your plough can get straight to work.

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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Robot-polishing creates a deep shine, making it easier to remove the protective paint coating so your Kverneland plough can get straight to work

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Netherton Tractors Ltd are proud to be associated with Kverneland and to be a part of their 140 year history.

We look forward to seeing you at the Scottish Ploughing Match.

Netherton Tractors Ltd.

Wheatstone Place

Tollmuir, Finavon Forfar DD8 3QG

Southfield Industrial Estate Glenrothes KY6 2SW

Tel: 01307 461222 Fax: 01307 850424

Tel: 01592 631497 Fax: 01592 770865

www.nethertontractors.co.uk

140 Years of Kverneland

Ploughs set for the future As part of its 140-year celebrations, Kverneland has revealed four new plough models.

For the mounted plough market, buyers can choose from 2300S, 3300S and 3400S, while the larger 6500S caters for those seeking a high-capacity semimounted model.

All models currently sit alongside existing EG, EO and PB ploughs, and benefit from features introduced on the i-Plough. These include the aero profile leg, central adjustment for both skimmers, and a revised leaf-spring design for auto-reset models.

All mounted models benefit from the i-Plough-derived folding headstock, allowing them to be towed like a trailer, during transport.

The three-to-five furrow 2300S is a newer version of the EG plough, which carried the 200 headstock, while four-to-six

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The 6500S is available from five-to-eight furrows, and gets a Cat III/IV compatible cross-shaft and a larger diameter depth/transport wheel

furrow 3300S is a newer version of the 300 version within the EG range. As headstock numbers also closely refer to tractor power, these newer ploughs can be used with more powerful tractors â&#x20AC;&#x201C; typically up to 330hp for the 3300S. The 3400S comes in five, six and seven-furrow builds, and is both on-land and in-furrow

compatible. Further up the range, the 6500S rubs shoulders with the PB, and is available from five-toeight furrows. This model gets a Cat III/IV compatible cross-shaft and a larger diameter depth/ transport wheel.

All new Kvenreland plough models can be specified with manual or hydraulically adjustable vari-width settings, creating furrow

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widths from 30-55cm, with auto correction automatically applied to front furrow and line of draft.

Point to point clearances can be specified as 85cm or 100cm, while underbeam clearance has been raised from 70cm up to 80cm.

A range of packer arms and integrated Packomat presses can also be specified.

140 Years of Kverneland

Lighter, stronger power harrows Much more strength and less weight are key developments on the latest S-series power harrows.

This lighter, yet stronger design makes the most of improved metallurgy with weight dropping by about 15%. This makes wider power harrows much easier to manage on lighter but more powerful tractors.

Changes are combined with a revised trough profile to improve bearing support while also resisting distortion. The S series feature a bolt-on headstock design that incorporates Cat II/III couplings, and swapping between couplings simply requires the headstock to be rotated through 180-degrees.

Initially, the S series offers in 3m, 3.5m, 4m and 4.5m working widths for tractors up to 250hp, and hydraulic folding models will follow. All get quick fit tines, with four rotors per metre, to provide effective soil movement.

As a power harrow drill combination, the E-drill Maxi Plus is available with a three-year parts and labour warranty

In addition, all Kverneland power harrows are now available with a three-year parts and labour warranty, available to those customers who register their machine online through http://my.kverneland.com and also have their machine serviced annually by a Kverneland dealer.

Terms and conditions apply, and

wear parts are excluded from this offer.

The same three-year warranty is also available on power harrow drill combinations, and choices have been increased with the arrival of the E-drill Maxi Plus.

Developed as a grain and fertiliser drill, but also suited to companion cropping, it features a 2,100-litre

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hopper, which can be divided as 60:40, 70:30 or 100:0.

All Kverneland power harrows can be combined with Kverneland seed drills, and with the advantage of using a Euro Connection, the coulter bar can be easily uncoupled allowing the power harrow to be used solo. Track markers are attached to the power harrow.

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140 Years of Kverneland

Intelligent implements ISOBUS control is now available on the Kverneland Turbo tined cultivator, to introduce intelligent cultivation solutions on 6.5m and 8m models.

It’s called the Turbo T i-Tiller, and sees depth and levelling adjustment carried out on the universal terminal, over a working range from 3-20cm.

This clever solution provides the ability to link soil data to the cultivator controls, to automatically alter the working depth to suit.

This smart solution avoids over-working the soil, when not required, which leads to reduced wear and tear, plus lower fuel consumption.

On-the-move Dynamic Traction Control can apply up to 1.8 tonnes onto the tractor’s rear wheels, through the cultivator’s front depth wheels, to improve grip.

Turbo T i-Tiller gets ISOBUS control for depth and levelling adjustment, plus Dynamic Traction control

Kverneland Turbo cultivators can now be equipped with a new tine, called the Triflex 400. Developed to offer greater strength and rigidity than the Reflex 200 version, the Triflex can withstand 400kg of pressure,

resulting in less vibration. Held in place by the proven Kverneland auto-reset leaf-spring system, the Triflex tine can also be equipped with Knock-on points, in 50mm or 150mm working widths.

Cultivator choices now include the Enduro and Enduro Pro stubble cultivators. Available in working widths from 3-5m in both fixed and hydraulic folding, the two types differ in rear packer control.

Where the Enduro Pro is hydraulically adjustable, and includes a parallelogram linkage to maintain machine attitude when the depth is adjusted, the Enduro is manually adjusted. And where the Enduro can operate from 5-30cm deep, the Enduro Pro can run deeper, to a maximum working depth of 35cm.

Intended to replace the CLC, both Enduro versions offer generous underbeam clearance of 87cm combined with a three-

row tine configuration, to handle high volumes of trash and organic matter.

Auto-reset Triflex tines offer 700kg of pressure, and a wide choice of bolt-on and Knock-on points can suit different working depths and the degree of soil movement required. That’s because the Triflex tine features two working zones.

The lower part of the tine has a reduced angle of 33-degrees to lift and crack soil, like a subsoiler.

Higher up, the angle changes to 73-degrees to promote mixing.

Triflex’s hollow design also combines strength and durability with the ability to flex. The latter can be sideways by up to 7cm, to increase the effectiveness of the tine’s performance.

Levelling tines and levelling disc systems can be fitted to the rear of the Enduro, and a wide range of packer roller types are also available.

The Enduro’s Triflex tines feature two working zones to combine deep loosening with shallow mixing

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

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

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

The Curious Craft of Curing

By Wendy Barrie Scottish Thistle Award Regional Ambassador (2018/19) for Central, Tayside & Fife Director of Scottish Food Guide East Coast Cured is a family charcuterie enterprise based in Leith. Initially Susie Anderson studied Textiles and Fashion Design at Galashiels leading to a career in galleries and social enterprises. When a gallery closure coincided with her maternity leave, it wasn’t only the start of their family - East Coast Cured was born too!

Steven meantime had studied History followed by a Masters in Middle Eastern Politics and by 2008 was working for Holyrood Magazine. At that time the craft beer scene was exploding so he followed a dream and taught himself brewing. His passion for food and cooking took him to France, working in a gastro pub and exploring culinary trends.

Back in Scotland he took a job with Stewart Brewing, working his way 28

Steven and Susie

up from cask washer to Brewer, gaining a wealth of knowledge in fermentation along the way.

He could see how a hobby could become a successful enterprise and over a few years, whilst

working in the whisky industry, his ‘hobby’ morphed into charcuterie, something both he and Susie love to eat!

Steven’s shift work involved long hours but also had useful

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blocks of downtime in which to perfect his craft. They started curing at home, in the loft, always planning ahead as to how they would scale up to become commercial one day. Even though their experiments were only for home consumption, their attic bore no resemblance to the average cobwebbed store for old toys! From its inception it was lined with food safe surfaces to enable thorough cleaning and its humidity was controlled. From then on it was East Coast Cured in miniature with a plan to replicate when ready! Whilst Susie was 100% on board they also had a young family to think of so whilst Steven was the alchemist en haut there was an understanding that he would eat his trials first and no one else in the family would for 48 hours!

Fast forward to 2016 and their shop on Restalrig Road was being refurbished with production underway. The building was a real find: close to home and with a disproportionate expanse of basement, ideal for curing rooms. Like fine wines and great whisky, real charcuterie takes time in addition to knowledge, skill and the best ingredients so it was 2017 before they were fully operational. Initially Susie and Steven focussed on the production side and launched their products at the Biscuit Factory Market in Leith, following with a monthly pop up on their premises and now open regularly with longer opening hours to follow soon. Their retail member of staff doubles as a production assistant – a smart move ensuring time is well spent.

There are always jobs to be done with all packaging and labelling taking place on the premises.

Their delightful emporium is small and perfectly formed but also, importantly, an opportunity for chefs and customers to visit, see the process for themselves and try before they buy, tasting a sliver and

pausing for thought as to which to go for. Susie and Steven are great believers in the power of sampling, albeit a pricy product to give away.

The vast majority of folk are merely making a choice on ‘which’ they will purchase, not ‘if.‘ The shop offers a valuable understanding of the craft and why it takes time to produce this Slow food. As we chat about their business, aspirations and the quality of their produce I smile at the number of meaty terms that crop up in our conversation: their modest budget cut to the bone, stripping back the fat, air in the system...we do it repeatedly without a thought!

Careful sourcing of raw ingredients is key to any awardwinning product and East Coast Cured is no exception, sourcing the best locally reared high welfare meats available including special limited editions with wild boar, Mangalitsa from Dalmeny Estate and Tamworth from Balcaskie, nurturing business relationships all the way. In the current climate with meat in the spotlight, their charcuterie is local, sustainable and you can eat a bit less, if you

must, and still be rewarded with intense flavours. Their customers tend to be ethical eaters and Steven and Susie are mindfull consumers themselves.

When starting their business they wanted to combine their skills to make safe and tasty products and create a thriving family business.

Steven may be the curing guru but Susie is at the helm when it comes to branding, business planning and the ‘arty stuff’ as Steven calls it! It really is a team effort and between them all boxes are ticked. Susie has arranged taste pairings with stouts, whiskies and wines and has more charcuterie events in the pipeline.

With around a dozen salamis, cured whole cuts including bresola and prosciutto, and the everpopular Nduja, perfect for risottos, stews, ragus and spread on warm bread, the Andersons are always inventing and experimenting.

Their chilli and stout salami had a wee cult following and their fennel sausage, a favourite of ours, was inspired by a visit to Tuscany.

Although Susie is the main contact for orders, Steven makes a point of being at Farmers’ markets to

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enjoy that precious contact with customers. Their produce is sought after from neighbourhood eateries to Michelin chefs and 5star hotels.

With multi awards, delectable produce and such passion and enthusiasm, what’s not to love – they even have a cat at home called Wendy! http://www.eastcoastcured.com Awards…

Porcini & Truffle Salami • Winner, Best Meat Product, Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2018 • Winner, Best Artisanal Product, Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2019 Whisky Oak Smoked Nduja • Winner, Best Meat Product, Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2019 Fennel Salami • Finalist, Best Artisanal Product, Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards 2019 Whole Range • Winner, Best Scottish Product, Scotsman Food & Drink Awards 2019

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ATV’s

Farming’s little workhorses A brief look at some of the models on the market

Honda’s 420 and 520 models updated Newly redesigned front bumper and grill further emphasizes the Foreman FA6 model aggressive styling. The updated, 50-watt LED (first seen on the Foreman IRS models) is now employed across the 520 Forman range.

The light operates independently of the 35-watt headlights for additional illumination when needed, but with the ability to be switched off, for example to prevent reflection off the front cargo.

New larger displacement 518cc engine (a 43cc increase through increased bore size); with updated mapping this provides stronger power and torque where it’s needed most.

In the low end and midrange there is quicker acceleration and improved ascending, hauling and towing. Retaining the overhead valve design with the balancer shaft gives a compact engine for improved ground clearance, low centre of gravity and reduced vibration.

A new shift map for DCT and Electric Shift-equipped models monitors engine rpm in real time, not just prior to the shift, to deliver smoother transitions from gear to gear. Both the TRX420 and TRX520 now adopt the two phases of operation Sport and Cruise. This allows a quick shift

or slower change depending on the throttle demand from the rider. This increases performance when needed with fuel range and economy on light throttle.

For DCT models, all-new manual-override capability allows the driver to manually change gears even when in automatic mode. This provides a new level of control, making it possible to downshift on corner entry or upshift on descents.

The transmission then reverts to fully automatic mode after a few seconds.

An all-new reverse-gear actuation mechanism for DCT and Electric Shift-equipped models makes shifting to reverse a one-lever, fully electric operation that is quicker, simpler and easier for all hand sizes. This simplified process is particularly helpful for work such as ploughing snow, mucking out or rounding up cattle when constant shifting between forward and reverse is required.

New guards extend the full length of the lower suspension arms for full coverage of the driveshaft and outboard CV joints.

A 1.9 litre utility box with weatherproof cover is added to the front deck. Designed to keep sundries like phone, First Aid within easy access.

John Deere expands 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 latest full-size Gator utility vehicles 30

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are designed to maximise yearround productivity and comfort.

Available from UK and Irish dealers since 2018, the brand new petrol XUV 835M and diesel XUV 865M models were

ATV’s 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 new cab incorporates noise isolation and sound dampening components, making it the quietest yet available on the Gator range. It also offers year-round weather protection and the heating system includes a windscreen defrost feature.

Both these new, 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 replaced 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 pick-up 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.

Additional changes 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.

The XUV 560E (nonpower steering) and XUV 590M (with power steering) Gator models both have petrol engines and now feature LED headlights as standard and an instrument cluster for easier

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operation. The new styling includes alloy wheels, which allow the suspension to follow ground contours more closely and thus improve grip. A seat belt interlock system provides a safer drive, by restricting the machines’ speed to 8mph (13kph) if the seat belt is not done up.

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ATV’s

Kawasaki ATVs for everyday tasks Kawasaki ATVs are designed for all-day comfort and durability to assist in everyday tasks. Whether you are tending to animals in rough terrain, repairing a run of fencing or require industry leading power, a Kawasaki ATV will help you get the job done. Available with either a 749cc V-twin or 271cc singlecylinder engine, swing arm or independent rear suspension plus variable limited slip differentials (LSD), the Brute Force range has a vehicle to suit a variety of needs and budgets. All Kawasaki ATV vehicles have CVT transmission as standard, contributing to ease of operation and leaving you free to concentrate on the terrain ahead. Kawasaki Brute Force ATV’s, the choice of professionals.

The Kawasaki Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS is designed for high performance off-road riding and

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boasts industry leading features.

The Electronic Power Steering marries a sturdy yet refined fuel-injected, water cooled, V-twin engine with a 567kg towing ability plus electronically selectable two or four wheel drive. The speed variable Electronic Power Steering (EPS) and revised steering column assembly contributes to improved handling and makes light work of changing direction on tough terrain. The double wishbone front suspension ensures generous wheel travel and minimal body roll to ensure safety on uneven ground. Rider control is improved by the specially designed handlebar grips and reduced vibration contributes to everyday comfort.

Adding security, the rear brake can be operated via either the handlebar lever or foot pedal.

Powerful twin, round headlamps

cast a broad beam when working in low-light conditions, perfect for those early morning feeds during the winter months.

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To find out more about Kawasaki’s ATV range, visit the website or contact your local Kawasaki Utility Dealer.

ATVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Agri PRO Special Edition from Polaris Building upon the existing Agri edition announced for 2019, the new special edition delivers the renowned performance of the best-selling Sportsman 570 and is loaded with hard-working features to make it the ultimate agricultural tool â&#x20AC;&#x201C; now with even more features to help get the job done. Equipped with carbon fibre foil and metal heat shields underneath the fuel tank, as well as a sealed battery, new independent rear suspension with stronger springs and durable steel racks on the front and rear; perfect for hauling the right tools for the job at hand.

A variable low speed limiter is now available on the Agri PRO edition of the Sportsman 570 EPS, that allows riders to restrict the speed to assist with low-speed tasks, such as mowing, towing, ploughing or spraying. With the reliable ProStar 570cc engine

with electronic fuel injection (EFI), high ground clearance

and dependable all-wheel drive, the new Special Edition allows

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riders to tackle even the toughest terrain and take on any task.

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ATV’s

Suzuki’s King of Quads Suzuki have recently released three new market-leading ATVs: the KingQuad 750 power steering and KingQuad 500 power steering / non-power steering models.

Since their introduction late last year, the new KingQuads have proven to be strong, reliable and durable as ever. They are truly Suzuki KingQuads through and through and are the result of 30 years of engineering expertise, refinement through feedback from customers, and an unequalled reputation for quality that Suzuki has earned by building each and every one of its ATVs. With engine and chassis upgrades, new features and aggressive new styling, the ATVs have been attracting a lot of attention at this summer’s agricultural shows. The chassis upgrades mean that all three models can now tow an impressive 600kg, an increase of 33% from

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the previous models. As well as this, the front suspension, steering system and rear stabiliser are all new, which combine to deliver excellent straight-line stability as well as sure-footed handling when cornering and improved manoeuvrability. The handlebars have also been raised which improves riding position, and comfort.

Major refinements and changes have been made to the engine unit to continue Suzuki’s reputation for high levels of performance and reliability. Suzuki has also introduced a range of features such as a handlebar-mounted headlight to improve visibility into the turn, plus additional storage compartments to help you carry more equipment. The new multi-function instrument panel is also easier to view and includes a service reminder icon, which pops up when the ATV is due for

its routine service. Then, once the ATV is in with an Authorised Suzuki Dealer for its service, the work itself has been made easier through the re-design of various body parts that make some components, such as the fuel filter,

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easier to access. Customers can also benefit from a courtesy ATV scheme, when theirs (any make or model) is in for repair (from participating Suzuki dealers).

See Garriock Bros.Ltd advert on page 34.

China The economics of scale â&#x20AC;&#x201C; part II

By Fiona Sloan

WORLD FARMING With the country feeding almost one third of the world population, it is difficult to generalise about farming practise in China, as the food production is as diverse as the country itself. Wheat and corn production areas in the north of the country have large land holdings, but farmers in the south are mostly individuals who manage their own small fields.

Inner Mongolia, for example, has suffered from significant grass erosion, through

poor ground management and overgrazing, particularly on the high grass lands. This resulted in a desert landscape, creating sandstorms when the wind blew and driving the storms south, affecting cities and lands as far as Beijing. In order to reverse this environmental issue, the state is planting huge numbers of trees and has restricted the number of animals grazing the high grass lands. The policy of animal numbers being managed,

was started in 2008, with some herds reduced from hundreds to as few as two animals. The success of managing stock numbers and fencing them in, has seen improved grass recovery and the numbers of animals which farmers can keep is rising accordingly.

Dairy production is a relatively new industry to China.

Until the last generation, milk and its products, was not part of the staple diet of the Chinese people.

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Now children are given free milk at school to improve their health and the government have been keen to embrace the mainly European technology, which has helped build substantial dairy enterprises throughout the country. The increasing number of large dairy farms and demand for dairy products for both home and export and the increase in diaries set up by Russia in China to circumvent the sanctions, as changed the way that many farmers work, with large numbers of smaller dairy farmers moving out of dairy and into growing maize alfalpha etc to support the growing industry.

Large imports of fodder are also sourced from the USA. In recent years, national policies have also been issued encourage and supporting land transfer from home-based farms to large-scale growing.

The number of large farms, is increasing rapidly in an industry which, was in decline over the past 30 years as small farmers gave up on their holdings and moved to the city. Now some are coming back as they see a potential investment for the future, through government support and technology.

Agriculture is the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest employer at 315 million labourers and the total output is the highest in the world, worth around ÂŁ700 billion a year to the Chinese economy. China is 35

WORLD FARMING the biggest producer in the world of rice, wheat, potatoes, apples, pears, cotton and pigs.

The pig industry in China has been devastated by African Swine Fever. Pork accounts for 60% of meat consumption in China and the devastating effect of the disease has seen prices rocket in the past year. Because of the vastness of the country, it is difficult to standardise the control and prevention of the disease and many of the smaller farmers in particular, have reverted to their own traditional ways of protecting and disposing of their stock which are ineffective.

The Government quickly issued a compensation scheme to disposed of the culled animals, whereby they would support the farmers in conjunction with local government. In some regions however the payments either didn’t get through of were unable to be paid in full by the local government due to the Chinese economy reaching its slowest pace in 30 years. Many farmers are trying to get their stock to slaughter, before the symptoms

show, to try and get some kind of return for them. Culling has however, led to the development of the “super pig”, which weighs in at a massive 500 kilos and has

been bred to try to produce more meat from less units.

With a relatively small acreage of this enormous country suitable for food production, food exports

still continue to rise and the future for Chinese agricultures looks to be reliant on a better infrastructure and a more accepting reliance on technology and communication.

South Australian solution to plastic food wrapping A fully compostable shrinkwrap for cucumbers has been developed in South Australia and is set to be launched on international markets.

The compostable wrap is manufactured by BioBag World Australia and took 12 months to develop in partnership with South Australian produce and packaging businesses IG Fresh Produce.It was launched in September as an environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional polyethylene plastic wrap and has already generated export interest from Qatar and South Africa.

IG Fresh executive director George Antonas said he was approached by South Australian independent grocer Drakes Supermarkets to develop a 36

compostable fruit and vegetable wrap to replace traditional shrink-wrap.

Antonas said the product was being used exclusively on cucumbers sold at Drake’s 38

South Australian supermarkets until October 16, after which it’d be available for a wide range of purposes.

“JP Drake put the challenge to us and so we gave them product

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exclusivity for the first four weeks,” Antonas said.

IG Fresh produce is a fruit and vegetable wholesaler located the South Australian capital Adelaide.

WORLD FARMING Antonas said a potential investment partner from Qatar had travelled to Adelaide for the product launch with Drakes. He expected to begin exporting cucumbers dressed in the compostable wrap to Qatar by the end of October, with

exports to South Africa and Europe to follow.

The bioplastic film is made from a compostable resin called Mater-Bi that uses substances obtained from plants including nongenetically modified corn starch.

Corteva Agriscience announces plans to open Centre of Seed Applied Technologies A new Corteva Agriscience Center of Seed Applied Technologies is set to open in south west France next year, helping Europe’s farmers get their crops off to the best start and achieve a successful harvest.

The Center in Aussonne is the first in Europe and the third worldwide. Expected to be operational by the end of 2020, it will focus on product development, with strong scientific investment that will bring new solutions to help farmers meet the challenges of a changing agricultural sector.

Corteva also offers a suite of Seed Applied Technology (SAT) solutions, which involve treating the seed directly, including Lumiposa® and Lumivia™ for insecticide seed treatment, Lumisena™ for fungicide seed treatment control, and Lumiflex™, a seed applied fungicide for corn.

Following the announcement of the partnership between Finnish agricultural technology company Pro Farm Technologies Ltd and Corteva Agriscience, the offering will include seed-applied biological products based on Pro Farm’s proprietary technology platform.

These tools help European growers combat abiotic and biotic stress and increase nutrient bioavailability, while sustainably enhancing the overall plant health.

Innovations in seed treatment ensure application dose accuracy, improved field performance and increased productivity for farmers. “Because Seed Applied Technologies involve treating the seed directly rather than applying in the field, they can help lower the environmental footprint of agriculture,” said Andre Negreiros, Seed Applied Technologies Leader, Europe for Corteva Agriscience.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Subscription details on page 120 www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

Helping our farmers

By Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing “Speaking out when faced with financial, emotional or any other kind of hardship is often one of the most courageous and difficult things an individual can do.

We as individuals, are too often afraid of putting our heads above the parapet for fear of how that simple action will be received and interpreted by those around us.

“Listening to the various individual stories at a recent roundtable hosted by RSABI, it is absolutely clear to me that the most important thing an individual can do when faced with any form of hardship is to put up your hand up and say I need help.

“With the nature of rural life often meaning that individuals can be isolated at a time of need, early recognition of the signs of hardship, whether emotional or financial, within rural communities is essential if we are to ensure they receive the necessary support before events get away from them.

“The work of organisations such as RSABI is therefore paramount in ensuring the continued wellbeing of rural communities through the provision of emotional, practical and financial support to individuals and

their families at their time of need. Listening to the impact RSABI has had on some of the individuals present at the roundtable was truly heartening and showed the real commitment and breadth of support available to those in need.

“And that is the key here. There is support available to help anyone who has the misfortune of experiencing hardship of any kind – illness, accident, bad weather, or financial.

There is always a route out of hardship, if you are prepared to take the initial step in saying you need help.

“Farming and food production can be a wonderful occupation, but with significant uncertainty facing rural communities and businesses today, I would encourage anyone who may feel like they are struggling, not to suffer in silence. But it is also important that individuals and communities work together, and reach out to anyone they are concerned about or who seems particularly isolated or vulnerable. There are people you can speak to who can help.”

RSABI Helpline : 0300 111 4166

environment Innovation Hub for Controlled Environment Agriculture launched in Dundee Agri-tech centre Crop Health and Protection (CHAP) and farming technology company Liberty Produce have launched the Innovation Hub for Controlled Environment Agriculture (IHCEA) at the James Hutton Institute’s site in Invergowrie near Dundee.

CHAP partnered with Liberty Produce to develop and build the IHCEA facility with funding from Innovate UK. The facility is a series of selfcontained units housing stateof-the-art equipment with a modular structure designed to create a flexible environment for research and development. With integrated cutting-edge LED lighting systems and patented nutrient delivery technologies, this unique research facility will enable collaboration between industry, academia and government to effectively tackle the barriers to widespread adoption of vertical farming.

Its purpose is to accelerate the development of sustainable food production year-round through resource-efficient, fullycontrolled systems.

The IHCEA is a key part of Liberty Produce’s Future Farming Hub, which will offer a wide range of services, including research and development and CEA training programmes within a commercial demonstrator system, as well as industry and academic collaboration opportunities.

The James Hutton Institute has welcomed the location of CHAP’s IHCEA and Liberty Produce’s Future Farming Hub in Invergowrie, in the context of the Institute’s drive for the establishment of Open Science 38

campuses at its sites and this has been facilitated by the creation of the Advanced Plant Growth Centre at Invergowrie as part of the Tay Cities Deal.

Fraser Black, CHAP Chief Executive, said: “We are excited to be partnering with Liberty Produce and the James Hutton Institute to establish the Innovation Hub for Controlled Environment Agriculture (IHCEA), in Invergowrie. This is a prime example of CHAP’s mission to harness game changing ideas from our creative and innovative partners to solve the problems industry is facing today and tomorrow. This is a progressive step in our ambition is enable the United Kingdom to become a global leader in CEA and augment the production of healthy food in a sustainable way.”

Zeina Chapman, Liberty Produce Co-Founder and Director, added: “Vertical farming is not yet sustainable; this partnership which has established the IHCEA and Future Farming Hub at the James Hutton Institute marks an advancement of our collective journey towards creating truly sustainable vertical farming technologies. The greater vision of Liberty Produce remains driving innovation that will enable us to meet our global crop requirements without harming the planet.”

Professor Colin Campbell, Hutton Chief Executive, commented: “This collaboration with Liberty Produce and CHAP marks the next step in the growth of the Institute’s Open Science Campus initiative and brings new innovative companies

to work closely with world leading science. This has been facilitated by Tay Cities Deal announcement to create an Advanced Plant Growth centre at Invergowrie and our other new investments there and builds on our track record of engaging with industry, research partners and the public.”

UK Government Minister Colin Clark said: “I am pleased to see the opening on this new Innovation Hub at the James Hutton Institute. We know that technological innovation is the future of sustainable agriculture

and Scotland is home to world leading resources and expertise in this field. The UK Government recognises the importance of this work and remains committed to funding research and development through our modern Industrial Strategy.”

It is hoped that the synergy between CHAP, Liberty Produce and the James Hutton Institute will provide a better understanding of total controlled environment technologies, drive innovation and accelerate the growth of the vertical farming sector in the UK.

Wildlife-friendly incentives must be designed with practical farming in mind National charity, the Countryside Restoration Trust (CRT) has welcomed comments by three conservation charities that £3 billion is needed to support wildlife-friendly farming, but has stressed this must be done

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with practical farming and food production in mind.

Tim Scott, CRT tenant farmer, says as a concept pioneered by the trust over 26 years ago, wildlife-friendly farming has been part of his ethos for nearly

environment

Keeping Calves Productive and Healthy in Cold Conditions Keeping Calves Productive and Healthy in Cold Conditions Milk replacer (20MJ/kg DM) required to support different growth rates in a 45kg calf under three weeks of age.

From Cooper, R and Watson, I (2013) ‘A guide to feeding and assessment of calf milk replacer’.

Livestock, 18(6), pp 216-222

three decades. However, so has running a productive and successful business.

“I support any funding that encourages wildlife-friendly farming. However, I also understand there’s growing pressure on British farmers to produce more nutritious food for a growing population, and in a sustainable way,” says Mr Scott.

“Whereas I have no doubt additional funding from government will support farmers with similar principles, more focus should be put on marrying the two – achieving profitability and farming sympathetically to wildlife.”

Simple changes on Mr Scott’s farm, such as over-wintering stubble, creating wildlife strips, bat corridors and mosaic fields, and planting over 4.5 miles of hedgerows, has meant it is now home to an abundance of wildlife.

This attention to detail has increased the number of

grey partridge, which has been recognised and awarded by Red List, resulted in over 26 species of butterfly and some of the highest hare populations in the area.

“At the same time, I’m producing crop yields over the national average, and frequently host farm walks to talk about novel methods of weed control,” Mr Scott adds.

Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, also recognised the farm’s success at the charity’s 25th birthday celebrations last year, describing Lark Rise as a ‘farming blueprint for the future’.

“I believe that with the right support, wildlife conservation and practical farming can go hand-in-hand and hope to see any future financial incentives consider both together. I would also welcome other conservation charities on to my farm to discuss how we spread this positive message,” says Mr Scott.

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With winter approaching now is the time to consider the thermal needs of your calves. A calf less than three weeks old has a lower critical temperature between 10 to 15°C and colder temperatures have a marked effect on energy requirements for maintenance, leading to lower growth rates and increased susceptibility to disease.

It is good practice to increase intakes of milk replacer during the winter, either by increasing the volume fed or concentration from 12.5% to 15% inclusion. Aim to feed at least 1kg of milk powder when the temperature is below 10°C to achieve the target 0.8kg growth/day for Holstein-Frisian calves (see figure below).

This will also help support the immune system and benefit future milk production.

Research by Cornell University showed that calves born in the winter produced 545kg less milk in their first lactation compared to summerborn calves. Also, for every 1kg of daily live weight gain preweaning, an additional 850kg more milk was produced in the first lactation.

Jackets are a great way to keep calves warm, meaning more energy is used for growth and to fight infection. Calves under one month of age will benefit the most. New-born calves do not have adequate fat reserves to help regulate body temperature and their high surface area to body size means they lose heat quickly in cold temperatures. Tips for using calf jackets: s -AKE SURE THE CALVES COATS are completely dry before fitting a jacket. s %NSURE THE STRAPS DO NOT rub and adjust for growth as calves get bigger. s "ETWEEN CALVES DISINFECT jackets with a licensed product for cryptosporidium, then wash at 60˚C to kill cryptosporidium eggs. s )F JACKETS BECOME WET

change them so the calf does not chill. Also ensure calves are not sweating under their jackets, again leading to chilling at nighttime. Remove during the day if sweating, then replace at night. s 2EMOVE JACKETS IN THE morning and not later in the day.

For more farm efficiency ideas and to read how other farmers are improving livestock productivity, visit www. farmingforabetterclimate.org, find us on Facebook and Twitter @SACFarm4Climate.

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

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Recording High Yields on Farm Machinery Safety Have you ever thought, when standing at the tractor shed door in the morning giving out the daily work activities to the farm operatives, about the potential something to go wrong? Any mistake could lead to a catastrophic life changing event that could affect the farm, the business, your family, staff members and their families.

Marc Skivington, a farm manager on an 1800ha mixed farm enterprise in Kincardineshire, thinks about farm safety awareness daily.

There are often times in the farming calendar where frustrating weather patterns and a high workload. We are known for working long hours and putting lives at risk for the farm without considering the consequences. In 2018/2019 there were 39 recorded fatalities making agriculture the deadliest industry in the UK. We are 20 times more likely to be killed at work than the national average.

The law states that agriculture vehicles, trailers and machinery are covered by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 which places a duty on companies and individuals to take precautions to make work as safe as practically possible. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 40

1998 (PUWER) dictates that farm machinery should be suitable for the task, properly maintained and guarded. To comply with legislation, daily checks must be carried out to ensure the machines are safe and in the correct working condition.

The recording of checks help demonstrate that a machine is well maintained and regularly checked particularly in the event of an inspection or accident.

Seeking a solution to this issue Marc sought advice from safety consultants and the HSE and opted for pre start check booklets for tractors, combines and forklifts and for machinery a planned preventative maintenance (PPM) folder to log checks and maintenance.

Marc Skivington commented, “although these measures were put in place, the paper system was still insufficient and gathering the data and logging checks remained challenging due to scale of the business. Lack of communication between farm operatives and logging maintenance became time consuming and a complete paper jungle” Marc observed that even with the paper system in place, he could not realistically be sure that the machinery he was providing for his operatives was safe and fit for purpose. This put the workers in unnecessary risk and exposed both himself and the farm. He knew ultimately that in the eyes of the law, safety responsibility stopped with him,

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so he began searching for another way to log checks of agriculture machinery.

Finding nothing, he decided the only option of ensuring his operatives were using machinery fit for purpose and recording maintenance was to develop an app designed by a farmer for a farmer!

After 18 months of effort and thanks to a grant from Aberdeenshire Council to assist with part of the design and development, Smart Farmer is a mobile app and cloud-based software system specifically designed for the agriculture sector to aid farmers and users of agriculture machinery to comply with the law. It allows you and your workers to record pre start checks on your machinery, securely recording the results online so they can be immediately shared across the farm.

You’ll maintain information on all your machinery in the system. A QR code sticker is placed on the machine to allow users to scan the code and bring up the machine’s profile and previous checks are presented to the user so they know the current state of the machine.

The lists of checks are based on the type of machine, you can

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add and remove checks for a given machine if required.

A unique traffic light system is used to classify the result of each check carried out: green for pass, amber for advisory, red indicates the checked item requires fixing before the machine can be used. This gives an immediate visual summary of the state of any checkable component of your machinery.

Amber or red checks can be accompanied with text and photos to describe the issues in greater detail.

Checks are logged on each use by the workers. Farm managers and assigned system administrators can with just a few clicks, get detailed live reports on the status of machinery: Which

machines are in use today, time they were checked, where are they being used and whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s using them. If there are any red flag items requiring attention, the system alerts the administrators immediately, reducing the time required to order spare parts and repairs can be carried out in the workshop, reducing risks of injury in the field along with reducing downtime.

Logging maintenance records is not required by law but keeping a maintenance log is required by many farm audits and Smart Farmer caters for this by saving the history of checks carried out on machines. You can analyse the maintenance history and use it to assist in the decision-making process when

buying replacement machinery in future, for example.

Smart Farmers goal is to contribute to the adoption of better health and safety practices in the industry. Recording your pre start checks is a good start on that path to Staying Safe and Staying Legal. A Safe Farmer is a Smart Farmer.

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Marc Skivington who recently successfully completed Managing Safely approved course by Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) commented â&#x20AC;&#x153;Raising safety awareness on the farm can become enjoyable once overcoming the significant factors, adopting safer practical methods that work for farmersâ&#x20AC;?

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farm security Farmers urged to join forces with police and carry out pre-winter security checks to fight rising tide of rural crime With the cost of rural crime rising in Scotland, leading rural insurer NFU Mutual has urged farmers and country people to forge links with police rural crime teams and carry out pre-winter security checks to tackle the rising tide of theft in the countryside.

The warning comes as the National Police Chiefs’ Council launches its Wildlife and Rural Crime Week of Action from 6-13 October.

NFU Mutual estimates theft cost Scotland’s farms, rural homes and businesses £1.6million last year – up 62% from 2017. Sharp increases being seen across the UK are being driven mainly by thefts of high value tractors, quad bikes and other farm vehicles – up 26% across the whole of the UK to £7.4m in 2018.

As winter approaches, NFU Mutual is concerned that rural thieves could take advantage of longer nights and fewer people being out and about in the countryside to target farms, rural businesses, and homes.

The insurer recommends that farmers go to the nearest road to their property and look at the impression their farm gives to criminals who drive round the countryside looking for easy targets. The start of winter is also a good opportunity to test whether locks, alarms, security lights and other security measures are in place and working correctlyNFU Mutual is a member and financial supporter of SPARC (The Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime) which co-ordinates rural policing across Scotland

and brings together a range of rural organisations to jointly tackle machinery theft, livestock rustling, livestock worrying, vandalism and other crimes in the countryside.

Martin Malone, NFU Mutual Manager for Scotland, said: “Crime is now a major concern to Scotland’s rural communities and as the main insurer of the nation’s farms, we are determined to do all we can to protect Scotland’s countryside.

“We strongly support SPARC and welcome the police’s Wildlife and Rural Crime Week of Action, which serves as a good reminder to carry out some prewinter security checks. Country people can also play their part to reduce rural crime by joining rural watch schemes to share

suspicious sightings with local farmers, the rural community and police.

“There is still a perception among criminals that there are easy targets in the countryside – and farmers and homeowners can do a lot to deter thieves by taking simple security measures. While today’s new breed of brazen gangs are increasingly staking out farms and operating in broad daylight, criminals will still seize the opportunity to work under the cover of darkness to prevent themselves being identified at this time of year.”

For more information and advice on how to beat rural crime in your area download NFU Mutual’s report at www. nfumutual.co.uk/ruralcrime.

New GAP cover launched to protect farmers from machinery loss Farmers whose machinery is written off or stolen can now protect themselves from being left out of pocket, thanks to a new GAP insurance policy.

Rural insurance broker Lycetts has launched a new guaranteed asset protection insurance (GAP insurance) product, specifically designed for agricultural machinery.

GAP insurance bridges the gap between the original amount paid for a vehicle or implement, and the amount an insurer will pay out, based on the value at the time of a claim.

In the event of a total loss, such as theft or a write-off, Lycetts’ new GAP insurance cover will help the farmer recover the agreed value, rather 42

than the market value usually offered by insurers.

Whilst widely offered for private vehicles, such as cars and vans, GAP insurance cover is limited in the agricultural machinery sector.

Andrew Hay, farm motor expert for Lycetts, said: “Farmers face increasing uncertainty of income in future, especially as farm support payments reduce.

“At a time when they are already feeling the pinch due to low commodity prices, farmers are having to contend with a significant increase in the cost of machinery which in part has been fuelled by the devaluation of sterling.

“Machinery depreciation can be significant drain on

farmers’ finances, accounting for a considerable portion of input costs.

“Lycetts’ new GAP cover will help provide a level of protection for farmers, so that they are fully compensated in the event of a claim.”

According to DEFRA’s Farm Business Survey (FBS), farms in England spent a total of £1.9billion on machinery in 2017/18.

When averaged across all farms, the average expenditure on machinery was £36,200 per farm.

“Anything that can provide a sense of security, such as Lycetts’ new GAP cover, can not only soften the financial blow but give farmers peace of mind.”

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Lycetts’ GAP insurance cover is underwritten by First Underwriting, and the premium is calculated by the insurer based on the value of the vehicle and an agreed depreciation rate.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Subscription details on page 120

AGRISCOT IS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

By Robert Neill, AgriScot Chairman

Robert Neill, AgriScot Chairman

AgriScot is your farm business event!

2019 will see Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s number one farm business event celebrate a 25th anniversary, when AgriScot takes place at Ingliston in November. It is 25 years since the foundations of AgriScot were laid, when the first ever DairyScot event was held in 1994.

Over the years, AgriScot has fully evolved to now cater for every sector of the agricultural industry.

I am proud of what AgriScot has become in the past 25 years, the floor space allocated to businesses, products and services has tripled and there are now over 240 trade stands showcasing the best products and services the industry has to offer.

The business seminar programme has grown significantly over the years, with the NFUS political debate, traditionally featuring a head-to-head between union big guns and Scottish Government Ministers, and further seminars on topics from renewable energy to rural law, becoming star attractions of AgriScot. The live demonstrations of beef cattle handling and management techniques draws big crowds, as does the main ring announcement of the coveted farm of the year awards, across the arable, beef, sheep and dairy sectors.

Thanks to the continued support of our sponsors and trade stand holders, AgriScot remains free to attend, including free parking, and is all under cover from the November weather.

To speed up your entry on the day remember to register in advance through the Scot JCB Sponsored Fastrac entry system: https://agriscot.co.uk/registration/ I look forward to seeing you on 20th November.

Robert Neill, AgriScot Chairman www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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Your farming business event AgriScot, “your farm business event”, will take place on 20th November in the Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston.

This year will mark 25 years since the foundation of AgriScot.

Back in 1994, in its original format as DairyScot, the event very much had a focus on that sector. However, moving with the times and mirroring changes in the wider industry the event transformed into AgriScot in 2001 and now has wide appeal to professionals from all farming sectors.

In this special AgriScot preview edition of Farming Scotland Magazine, we take a look at what visitors can expect from AgriScot 2019:

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Tradestands AgriScot 2019 will feature over 240 trade stands and a machinery hall packed with the latest information, innovation and advice to help today’s farmers get the most from their business.

Business Seminars The free to attend business seminars at AgriScot are a major attraction year after year. For 2019 the packed programme will include political debate, new entrant advice, digital accounting and a sneak insight into the Oxford Farming Conference.

Workshops And Demonstrations A main ring demonstration of beef cattle management

techniques and workshops with appeal to all farming sectors will take place throughout the day.

Showcasing Best Practice AgriScot seeks to demonstrate, showcase and reward best practice. Part of this aim is delivered by the Farm of the Year Awards. Awards are made annually to nominated farms, judged by the assessors to be the best, arable, beef, dairy and sheep units in Scotland.

Developing The Next Generation The AgriScot Business Skills competition encourages young farmers, students and other young agricultural professionals to demonstrate and further

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develop their farm business management skills. The final of the competition takes place on the day of AgriScot with the winner presented with a cheque for £1000 courtesy of sponsors, Dairymaster.

Showcasing Innovation To further the AgriScot aim of showcasing new and innovative products, services and thinking, each year the AgriScot Product Innovation Award is presented.

The award is open to all AgriScot trade stand exhibitors and is judged by a panel of expert judges on the day prior to AgriScot, enabling award certificates to be proudly displayed to visitors on the big day.

New Product Launches AgriScot is the number one winter business event for new product launched. The event has regularly hosted the UK public debut of machines from major manufacturers such as John Deere.

Top Cattle On Parade Top dairy cattle from throughout the British Isles make an annual pilgrimage to AgriScot to compete for the prestigious Super Cow and Super Heifer titles.

Indoor Comfort AgriScot utilises every available square metre of the huge exhibition hall complex at the Royal Highland Centre. With the whole event undercover, it can cope with the worst of Scottish November weather.

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AgriScot 2018… they said what?

AgriScot On Social Media

Feedback from last year The first thing that struck me was the buzz! I had some specific people to see and this is a great opportunity. AgriScot is great for networking and business.

Bill Gray, Arable Farmer

We have had a very busy day. The new 9000 forager harvester range has attracted a lot of interest. Farmers at AgriScot love to talk tech and get an insight into new and future products.

Michael Warden, John Deere

AgriScot has been very good for us, we have seen people from all over Scotland, England and Ireland. People like the fact that this is a free event and come to do business. I hear feedback that farmers sometimes don’t get to summer shows as they’re too busy, but this is an ideal time of year for working farmers.

Dave Badder, Isuzu UK

There are plenty of chances to network at AgriScot and the variety of trade stands presents some brilliant business opportunities. One of my friends even had a job interview!

Amelia Lynch, Vet AgriScot is the place for making professional contacts and getting business advice.

Hugh St Joseph, Beef Farmer

AgriScot is very active on both Twitter and Facebook.

Look out for increasing activity as the 2019 event approaches, and on the day of AgriScot.

Twitter is an especially useful platform for AgriScot

visitors and exhibitors to interact and exchange information.

Please follow @AgriScot and use #AgriScot to share your views, find out more about exhibitors’ products and services, discuss seminar topics and interact with other AgriScot visitors.

NZ judge to preside over AgriScot

The dairy cattle judge for this years’ AgriScot has been announced as New Zealand farmer and pedigree breeder, Selwyn Donald.

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Selwyn milks 400 cows on the outskirts of the Featherston Township approximately an hour’s drive from New Zealand’s capital city Wellington.

Commenting on his AgriScot appointment, Selwyn said: “My ancestors came over to NZ – I’m the fourth generation to farm here – from Ayrshire.”

“We run New Zealand’s longest established pedigree Ayrshire cattle studs, suitably named ‘Arran’!”

“With all of this family history, I am very excited about AgriScot!”

The Arran herd is not only long established, it has also achieved significant show throughout New Zealand. A major highlight for Selwyn was when he won Supreme of the Ayrshire Breed at the 2016 NZ Dairy Event.

Success has also been forthcoming for the other breeds run by Selwyn, who is the only exhibitor in the 10 years that NZ

Dairy Event has been running to have won the Intermediate Championship in the Holstein, Ayrshire, Jersey and Combined Breeds (once with a Milking Shorthorn and once with a Brown Swiss) Sections.

Selwyn is also no stranger to judging, being New Zealand’s most travelled judge of any breed. Major shows he has judged at include NZ Dairy

Event 10 Year Celebration Youth Show 2018, and the New Zealand Royal Easter Show (Ayrshire and Holstein Friesian). He has also judged internationally at Royal Shows in Australia (Sydney, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane), at Louisville in the USA and also in South Africa. Closer to home Selwyn has judged at The Great Yorkshire show, UK Dairy Day and the Royal Ulster Winter Fair.

“It’s a privilege to be invited to return to the UK to officiate at AgriScot. I have been very impressed with the cattle when judging in Britain previously and I believe I will see the best of the best at AgriScot.”

“The UK is my favourite part of the world to judge in and I am looking forward to catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.”

“I have never judged in Scotland, but I visited the Highland Show a few years back and always wanted to come back sometime. Now I get the opportunity to judge AgriScot it’s a dream come true! Hopefully my daughter will be able to come too and will get a chance to see where we started out from.”

This years’ AgriScot, the farm business event, will take place on Wednesday 20th November, and will feature classes for Ayrshire, Holstein, Jersey and Red & White classes.

A new class, first introduced in 2018, for Any Other Breed, will also make a return. The show classes culminate in the prestigious Super Heifer and Super Cow awards, which each come with a £1000 prize pot for eligible cattle.

In total, £25,000 in prize money will be up for grabs thanks to the generous support of sponsors including NWF Agriculture, Moredun, Turcan Connell, Kilpatrick & Walker and others.

AgriScot, “your farm business event”, will take place on 20th November in the Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston.

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Register now for Fastrac entry AgriScot 2019 will take place at the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh on 20tha November, but visitors are encouraged to register their attendance much earlier than that, in order to beat the potential entry queues on the day.

Fastrac online registration, sponsored by Scot JCB, is open now.

Martin Dare, who organises the event on behalf of the farmer led AgriScot board, stated: “Thanks to the support of our

sponsors and trade exhibitors we do not charge visitors for entry to AgriScot, but simply ask that they register online in advance.”

“Whilst we will have registration desks available on the day at all entrances, we

would strongly recommend that, in order to avoid having to queue, visitors take advantage of our Scot JCB sponsored online Fastrac registration at the AgriScot website www.agriscot. co.uk “

All systems go for Silage Competition The AgriScot Silage Competition, where samples are subject to a live ‘taste-testing’ and commentary in the main ring is proving to be an increasingly popular attraction at the event.

AgriScot chairman, Robert Neill, who commented: “AgriScot is attended by a great many livestock farmers and, indeed, contractors, for whom quality silage production is hugely important.”

“We are always looking to showcase best practice at

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AgriScot and rewarding the fruits of successful silage making is part of that overall aim.”

“The commentary around the live analysis, in our main ring, with judge Hugh McClymont has proven to be a great attraction at the past couple of AgriScots.

Even more so last year when Hugh was joined by guest judge Jimmy Warnock with his request for ketchup to help with his silage tasting!”

“I am delighted that Jimmy Warnock will once again

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act as guest judge for the competition.”

The AgriScot silage competition has classes for “dairy” and “beef/sheep” clamp silages and also big bale silage. Entries can be from any cut of silage. There is also a special young farmers class for producers under 26 years of age to enter any pit silage.

The 2018 competition, which attracted a record number of entries saw Jamie McIntyre, Milton of Cullerlie, Aberdeenshire take 1st prize in the beef and sheep category clamp silage category, with a sample analysing at 30.5DM and 11.6ME and a crude protein of 13%.

First place in this dairy section was awarded to J Kerr & Sons of Kirkland’s farm, Carnwath. Cut on the 18th of May, the earliest cut of all finalists, this sample analysed at 37.5 dry matter, 12.9 metabolizable energy and 14.9 crude protein.

The second and third placed silages in the dairy section were both produced on certified organic farms. The blue ticket was awarded to, a 40DM, 12.6ME, 15.5CP silage from Rob and Andrena Shanks, organic unit, Queenscairn, Stichill, Kelso with third place going home to Torr Organics Dairy, Castle Douglas.

The big bale silage class attracted some top-quality entries, with the latest cut – 22nd of August – of all finalists, a sample entered by Graeme Mather, Shandford, Brechin coming out on top in this section.

This red ticket winner had an analysis of 64.8DM, 12.1ME and 14.7CP. Robin Campbell of Cally Mains, Castle Douglas won 2018 young farmers section.

The 2019 competition will see prizes worth over £5000 awarded, courtesy of Watson Seeds.

AgriScot competition a great opportunity for young farmers

Young Farmers, young agriprofessionals and students from throughout Scotland have

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been entering an AgriScot competition aimed at developing their business skills.

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A £1000 cash prize will be provided to the winner of the AgriScot Business Skills Competition courtesy of competition sponsors, Dairymaster, Heather Kerr, a lecturer at SRUC and the new co-ordinator of the competition commented: “Taking part in the AgriScot Business Skills competition is a valuable learning and development experience.”

“I myself am a previous winner of the competition, and I found the whole process extremely useful in terms of my personal development, and of course on my CV.” “The experience will be further enhanced this year as we have the Clydesdale Bank on board to offer coaching and mentoring to each of the finalists in the run up to the final.”

Heathers’ words are echoed

by another previous winner, Andrew McGregor, recently appointed as chairman of the SAYFC Agri Affairs group: “Being involved in the qualifier and then the final for the AgriScot Business Skills competition was a real challenge and was a good introduction to planning projects on farm. As a young person in farming there are not many chances to be the main decision maker when it

comes to major investment, so to get the experience doing that within a competition is a great opportunity” Initial entry to the competition is in the form of a short essay on a pertinent agricultural topic, or question, set by the co-ordinator.

The best entrants are then invited to take part in regional heats – covering the North and South of Scotland. Heats are held on farm in late October, with competitors assessed, usually by the host farmer and a guest judge from the wider industry, across a range of key farm business management tasks. From the regional heats, finalists will then emerge to compete at the final on the day of AgriScot, 20th November. The competition final will involve competitors evaluating and reporting on a designated innovative product or service showcased at the event – “how could this benefit a farming business” being the question posed.Andrew Denniss, a Relationship Manager with Clydesdale Bank, was an assessor for the competition in 2018 and commented:’From my own experience judging the AgriScot Business Skills Competition has filled me with confidence regarding the future of farming in Scotland. All the entrants were highly motivated and forward thinking.”’

“I hope that we see such high calibre candidates for the 2019 competition and I am super keen to help the finalists prepare for their AgriScot challenge - either myself or one of my Clydesdale Bank colleagues look forward to helping and providing muddy boots advice to the next generation.”

AgriScot, “your farm business event”, will take place on 20th November in the Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston.

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A look at some of this year’s exhibitors Abbey Machinery

When livestock eat feed they partition the feed to milk, meat, live weight gain, maintenance, their calf. Up to 85% if the feed is undigested and comes out as waste.

Slurry offers so much positives to the farm once it is stored, mixed and applied in the right way, at the right levels and at the right time.

Attention to detail on the timing of applying slurry, choosing the correct application rate to deliver the crops required nutrients and selecting the appropriate application technology has the potential to significantly reduce

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purchased chemical fertiliser bills on farm.

Abbey Machinery have a range of low emission Slurry Applicators to significantly reduce ammonia emissions to the atmosphere and trap more of the nitrogen to fuel plant growth.

The benefits of these machines are how and where they deliver the slurry onto the soil to harness more fertiliser value from the slurry, shorten rotation length, reduce carbon emissions, minimise foliage contamination, reduce unwanted smell, reduce fertiliser bills, and much, much more.

Recent trial work carried out

by Teagasc in Ireland earlier this year, highlighted 85% more grass growth from slurry when applied with Abbey’s Vertical Trailing Shoe vs Splash-plate (when applied on the same date, same field and same application level).

So, it is a win for the farmer and the environment.

Abbey Machinery ‘Guide to better Slurry Management’: 1. Storage & Preparation of Slurry – agitate slurry into a liquid homogenous mix.

2. Slurry Transportation - safe transport of slurry to the field.

3. Application Technology – to maximise the fertiliser value from slurry and reduce environmental emissions.

4. Environmental Considerations – reducing odour and ammonia loss. In the UK it is estimated that 135m of Nitrogen is lost to atmosphere from slurry, as a result of method of application.

5. Minimising Compaction – compacted fields can result in £210/ha less output. Tanker size and wheel choice all have a bearing.

6. Nutrient Management –

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application technology and nutrient sensing to get more from slurry.

BASF

BASF launch new rodenticide bait at AgriScot.

BASF have announced the release of Storm® Ultra Secure, a brand-new rodenticide bait.

The product contains 25 parts per million (ppm) of the active substance flocoumafen and is now available to farmers through country retail outlets.

Monitoring crop stores and farm buildings to prevent

infestations of rodents and other pests is crucial. Rodents consume and spoil stored produce, spread disease to humans and livestock, attack growing crops and damage buildings.

In laboratory trials conducted

by BASF, rats were offered the choice between a controlled, nontoxic, appealing food source and Storm Ultra Secure. The results showed that rats chose to consume high quantities of the product even when non-toxic appealing food was available. Sharon Hughes, Global Technical Marketing Manager, for BASF explains “Storm Ultra Secure is more palatable and as a result is proving to be more effective in controlling farm rodents. Palatability is measured by the amount of the rodenticide consumed divided by the amount of the controlled diet consumed.

The standard for most wax block baits range between 0.5 and 1.5.”

In laboratory tests with Storm Ultra Secure, BASF recorded palatabilities as high as 11.3 being consumed by rats and even the lowest levels were at least 2. This proven palatability demonstrates that the new 25ppm bait is more effective than most 50ppm baits currently on the market.

Sharon concludes, “It is clear that rodents will continue to adapt, but none have built a resistance or tolerance to the flocoumafen active in Storm. By making Storm Ultra Secure more palatable we have created a 25ppm product that farmers can use to effectively control rodents on their farm.”

Rodent activity should be monitored all year round and farmers should look for signs of rats and mice at least weekly especially before harvest.

BDC Systems are the UK leading supplier of Grain drying, handling, cleaning, storage, ventilation and mill/mix equipment. They offer a full range of machinery from world leading manufacturers including Skandia, Akron SVEGMA, BM Silos, SOBY, JKF, Denis, Kongskilde, Zanin & Aagaard.

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 2020 and were delighted with the level of interest and enquiries from last year’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

BDC Systems

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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.

B D Supplies B D Supplies are a well established family business.

Supplying a comprehensive range of Animal husbandry equipment, specialising in Hoof trimming equipment 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

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market. This side of the business has grown considerably, with 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, including this year our range of powdered mineral feeders for both Dairy, Beef and Sheep farmers.

At the 2019 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’.

BvL

A further option unique to BvL is the availability of special coatings and hardened components for where the mixer is going to be used with more abrasive, higher dry matter rations, making this option particularly suited for beef cattle rations and large dairy herds.

Also on display will be a BvL Mega 180 shear grab. This robustly built grab is designed so as to provide a clean cut leaving a clean face to the clamp.

Castle Agri

It’s 40 years since BvL introduced the first vertical feed mixer wagon to the market, during which time the company has grown to become one of the world’s leading manufacturers of diet mixers.

Today, the BvL V-MIX range of diet feeders covers a wide range of machines, available in single, twin and triple augers variants and in capacity from 3.5m3 up to 46m3. A wide range of specifications and options are available on each machine, allowing them to be tailored to exactly meet the needs of all types of farm and livestock.

At this year’s AgriScot, BvL will have on display a 17m3 capacity, twin auger, single axle diet feeder. As on all BvL feeders the powerful mixing augers are made from high quality steel with Hardox leading edges and adjustable knives with mixing wedges in the mixing hopper. Between them, these features ensure that the ration is thoroughly mixed and mix quality consistently maintained.

A unique feature of all BvL diet mixers is the patented EDS (Exact Dosing System) discharge. This is designed to provide consistent, even forage discharge that is deposited in a loose swath. With doors on both the left and right hand side of the feeder, this provides complete feeding flexibility and even allows for the mix to be deposited on both sides simultaneously. A wide range of additional discharge door options are available, as is a discharge conveyor on all models.

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Castleagri is a sole agent for all Moscha Slurry Spreading equipment in the UK and Ireland, and is also sole agent for (Scottish) Murray Handling Equipment in Ireland.

The Moscha Swivel spreader is affordable to all farmers and contractors at a fraction of the cost of any of its competitors. It can be retro- fitted to any tanker within twenty minutes. It’s savings are enormous.

The spread system is unique. It reduces the speed the slurry leaves the spreader by 33%, as compared to a splash plate. It converts all gas and mist into big droplets and this is the secret of its success. The ammonia and nitrogen cannot escape from the droplet when it’s being thrown through the air, and won’t be released until it breaks when it hits the ground. This means we have much less smell and emissions in the air with this system, compared to the splash plate.

There is very little contamination of the grass, as the droplet goes right down to the ground and doesn’t flatten any grass. Therefore the regrowth is much faster and the stock will graze the grass after two weeks.

It doesn’t put a blanket of slurry on the grass. You have

a droplet, a clean patch and a droplet and this system of spreading doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t cause any harm to worms which are vital to soil health and structure.

It produces a super even spread without any black lines and this has been tested with fertiliser trays. Because of this even spread, which no other slurry spreading system has, it will grow more grass.

The swivel spreader has major advantages over its competitors as regards compaction as it has the widest spread width and is the lightest spreading attachment (12kg). The swivel spreader can spread up to17m (56ft) with a single spreader and 24m with a Duo. The spreader empties the tanker 30-60% faster than a splash plate depending on the model. There are 3 different models for tankers depending on the size of the pump.

We have 1,100 of these sold to date to very satisfied farmers

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and contractors who really appreciate the environmental and financial benefits of the spreader.

To view spreading, type CASTLEAGRI into YouTube.

Craven Concrete

Craven Concrete is a specialist producer of concrete components for agriculture and industry.

Here at Craven, we have over 25 years experience in designing, manufacturing and installing concrete products on farms and industrial sites across the UK. Concrete remains one of the most versatile and economical

of construction materials and Craven Concrete has vast experience in its application for agriculture and industry. The result is products which are proven, tested and refined to meet modern working practices and conditions.

Additionally, Craven Concreteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own steel fabrication workshop supplies products to complement its concrete structures, therefore Craven Concrete is able to design, fabricate moulds and cast special structures to all specifications.

Craven Concrete has its own dedicated HGV drivers and vehicles which provide an excellent standard of service delivering its precast products throughout the UK. Our most popular products are described in the Agricultural and Industrial sections on our website if you wish to head over and have a look. Should you require any further information or fixing details of these products

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or maybe you have a project to discuss, please contact us. Our experienced and dedicated sales team will be more than happy to help.

Call us on- 015242 61145 Or Visit our website- www. cravenconcrete.co.uk ED&F MAN

Molasses blends could play a key role in driving dairy and beef production from forage while maintaining rumen health this winter.

Most dairy and beef farmers are entering the winter with considerably higher forage

stocks but Richard Dobson from ED&F Man warns that diets will need careful balancing to exploit the value of forages and maximise rumen health.

“The key to achieving a more profitable winter will be to drive dry matter intakes and then to optimise the use of forage through an efficient, healthy rumen,” he comments.

Grass silages are generally drier, with higher NDF and lignin contents making the forage more difficult to digest. At the same time they are lower in the rapidly fermentable carbohydrates needed to feed the fibre digesting bacteria, suggesting a requirement for increased starch and sugar in supplements.

“One option is to feed more cereals. While providing the rapidly fermentable carbohydrate, they can bring a potential acidosis risk. This is where molasses blends can fit in. By substituting an amount of cereal with a molasses blend, you

increase the supply of rapidly fermentable carbohydrates with no raised acidosis risk. They also help balance the supply of rumen fermentable protein.

“By increasing fibre digestion and maintaining rumen health, molasses blends also help increase dry matter intakes.”

To optimise rumen fermentation, he advises formulating diets to include 6-8% sugar in the dry matter with a high proportion of six carbon sugars.

“In the current market, molasses blends may appear uncompetitive compared to cereals but the benefits can be significant. For a 32 litre cow being fed 1kg/day of a molasses blend, the extra cost will be less than 0.05ppl with the overall feed cost being less than this time last year. Is it worth risking performance for such a marginal saving, rather than keeping the diet and rumen consistent?

Visit ED&F Man at AgriScot, Highland Hall Stand 94.

EQ Accountants

Improving Farm Financial Management.

Data is everywhere. How your farm business harnesses and utilizes that data to help you make better decisions is key to your prosperity. That is true of technical farm data and financial farm data.

But how much time and effort do you spend making sure your financial data is up to date, relevant and then used to inform your decision-making process?

Farm financial record keeping has often been viewed

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as a necessary compliance chore completed to satisfy HMRC with VAT returns or annual tax return submissions, and bank managers with annual historic financial accounts. All well and good but this information looks back, is often many months out of date and doesn’t really provide the farmer with data that can be used in day to day decision making.

It doesn’t have to be this way. EQ Accountants, leading tax and business advisors to the Scottish rural sector, have always encouraged their clients to take a different approach to maintaining and utilizing financial information, so that it informs discussions and the decision-making process.

Recent innovations in cloud applications are making this even easier.

Early adopters of cloud based accounting systems including Xero, EQ Accountants were also Scotland’s first Gold Partners of Figured, a complete online livestock, crop and production

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tracking, farm budgeting and forecasting tool.

Xero and Figured work in real time and allow the whole farm team, including advisors, to collaborate around the same data, wherever they are working.

This approach will be showcased at a special seminar at AgriScot (12noon – 1pm) where you can hear first-hand from EQ Accountants, Xero and Figured about how they can help your farm business. You can also visit the EQ Accountants stand (stand 106) to hear more.

Farmdata – a division of Landmark Systems

Cattledata Mobile App launching at AgriScot 2019.

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Farmdata – a division of Landmark Systems is exhibiting in The Highland Hall Block 10 at AgriScot. As a result of joining forces with Landmark this year, there is an exciting new product being unveiled for the first time.

Cattledata Mobile has been developed to complement the well-established and popular Cattledata program, which is already renowned for being one of the easiest to use herd record systems on the market.

Cattledata Mobile now enables users to maintain their cattle records as they happen on their phone or tablet.

Occurrences, such as breeding information, health treatments, movements and weighing can be recorded individually, by group or by location so input is quick. Users can look up any animal’s record to examine its history.

All data is synchronised to and from the Cattledata desktop program, ready for

direct submission to BCMS if necessary. Along with the EID facility in Cattledata users now have a complete range of options to record cattle information.

Due to its immediate success, Cattledata Mobile has been entered into the AgriScot Product Innovation award category.

For those needing to record field activities, visitors to AgriScot will be able to see the latest version of Landmark’s crop recording software Geofolia.

This also has an App meaning that users can spend more time in the field and less in the office.

New to Geofolia for 2019 is Greenscan – the satellite crop analysis tool which is included as standard. It has helped users to spot problem areas from above, enabling them to make the best product application decisions.

Geofolia users have commented on how invaluable the tool is for comparing performance of different varieties and drilling dates too, which in turn helped

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them to plan next year’s cropping.

Allistair Gray and George Paterson look forward to welcoming visitors to the stand.

Farmplan

Staying compliant and meeting legislative requirements with your cattle will always be at the forefront of your actions, but with Farmplan’s Cattle Manager software you can make the most of a range of features that can positively impact the performance of your herd.

Our software can help you optimise the lifecycle of your cattle from start to finish, as Cattle Manager can provide you with a range of metrics that will allow

you to monitor performance immediately. From accurate calving details to direct links with breed societies and pedigree trees, and much more, you can record information against each animal and monitor their progress over their lifetime.

Cattle Manager gives you the ability to record specific feed details and additional costings while you can also import or enter the weight of your cattle, which can allow you to build up a full picture of performance. This insight can then be used to make decisions about the future of your cattle, whether that is breeding or selling. Key information such as sale prices, weights and slaughter data can be imported or entered, providing you with greater visibility in regards to the performance of your herd.

There are a range of reporting options available, from gross margin to calving interval reports, which you can make the most of and this can provide you with the evidence you need to

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help you make positive business decisions in the future.

Find out how Farmplan can make staying compliant simpler and herd management easier, from linking with ScotMoves to integration with EID devices and managing your medicinal records.

Join us on stand 80 at this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s AgriScot to explore how we can help your business or call our sales team today on 01594 545000 to book a one-to-one demonstration.

Foster Sales Company

Foster Sales Company is a family owned and run manufacturer of wholly British machines.

Everything we offer for sale is

manufactured in Beverley in East Yorkshire. Adam Drewery will be on the stand to meet customers old and new.

We are proud to have a stand at AgriScot to support our dealer network and farmers in Northern England and especially Scotland.

The show is a great showcase of farming business in Scotland and we hope it is another positive year for Scottish and generally British farmers. On the stand at AgriScot we have our D600 Forage Box, the smallest in our range. This machine is a traditional feeder for clamp silage and other feeding supplements. Standard models have a reversible hydraulically driven floor and cross-conveyor, both with independent variable speed control. The timber sides and floor are tantalised so they will outlast any mild metal alternative.

We offer a range of front and rear discharge machines from 6m to 10m , and can change them to suit bespoke feeding requirements.

Other Winter products include our range of Front and Rear

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Mounted Yard Scrapers, all with our unique design of the headstock and blade mounting point behind the blade. This gives a cleaner scraper and a more even wear across the blade.

Our range of Rotary Slashers and Super Scrubcutters are still in demand this time of year, and we have a machine to suit 40 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 125+ HP. Available with chains and blades to suit all terrains and conditions the UK has to offer.

We have a range of other products which can be found in our price list, pop along to the stand and pick one up or you can download from our website; or email Adam and he will be happy to send a pdf copy for you. www.fostersalecompany.co.uk adam@fostersalescompany.co.uk Giltspur Scientific

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 Hi Spec

Slurry and muck are valuable commodities and at this year’s AgriScot Hi-Spec Engineering will be focussing on the extensive range of muck and slurry handling machinery manufactured by the company in addition to their popular range of diet feeders.

For spreading solid muck, on display will be the unique XCEL 1250 rear discharge spreader

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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 Hi-Spec 3500 TD-S (TandemAxle Standard) tanker with a Julia 106 rain gun. The tanker is fitted with a high speed parabolic suspension running gear fitted with commercial air/hydraulic brakes, hydraulic top fill, and LED strobe beacon and rear lighting. Options available for the tanker range include a Turbofill high capacity filling system, Autofill, anti-lock braking, GPS and a wide range of dribble, trailing shoe of injector disc applicators.

Representing the wide range of diet feeders available from Hi-Spec will be a T18 vertical feeder. This is fitted with a front feed out door

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with a 36-inch elevator and teaser roller system, with a second door on the left-hand side. It features a programmable DG600 weighing system and a movable bale ring.

As with all Hi-Spec vertical feeders the T18 feeder 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.

Kilwaughter

Kilwaughter manufacturer

Lime is a of innovative

limestone based products, trading across the Republic of Ireland, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, supplying limestone products into agriculture and construction industries. One of Kilwaughter’s developments is MasterCAL. A high protection bedding lime is a blend of 97% pure calcium carbonate and hydrated lime.

Limestone Sales Manager at Kilwaughter Lime; Kevin Havekes states: ‘MasterCAL users continue to comment on their ability to maintain low Somatic Cell Counts by using the product, without tissue damage to the livestock that has been associated with other bedding materials. Further, users comment on the ease of using the product, citing that lower levels of dust generated during use contribute to a healthier working environment for themselves and their livestock.’ G-Lime granulated lime usage among farmers is

growing year after year, in no small part due to their ability to apply the product through their own equipment, without the need to hire in a contractor.

Many farmers who are regular users of G-Lime are taking the ‘little and often approach’ to applying lime. Kevin Havekes is Limestone Sales Manager at Kilwaughter Lime, and is a fully qualified under the BASIS and FACTS training schemes.

Kevin states: ‘Soil in the field tends to acidify at a rate of 0.1 – 0.2 pH per year, depending on soil type and other farm specific factors. Many farmers are finding that they can avoid this acidification by applying as little as 75 kg/ac G-Lime each year, thereby getting the most value they can from fertilisers and avoiding the peaks and valleys in field performance that can be associated with mass applications of traditional agricultural lime at extended intervals.’

Both Kilwaughter Products are available throughout merchants in ROI, GB & NI.

Ideal for: - Clearing woodland rides and bracken - Cutting fire breaks in heather on moorland - Contract and clearance work for gorse and rubbish Made in Britain

Foster's range of heavy duty ROTARY SLASHERS and SUPER SCRUB CUTTERS are the ideal machine for the clearance of gorse, heather, bracken and rushes.

From 40HP to 150HP+ there is a machine to suit your requirements.

- Cutting wetland rushes

GG2000 Super Scrubcutter fitted with cutting chains and rear deflector

For a leaflet or more info and advice contact: Sales Tel : 07901 338473 email: sales@fostersalescompany.co.uk website: www.fostersalescompany.co.uk 64

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Krone UK

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

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Clean air innovation aids productivity.

A new dust control system available on straw bedding equipment will be one of the innovations on show from KUHN Farm Machinery at AgriScot.

Available on new equipment, or as a retrofit upgrade for existing machines, the Cleanstraw facility reduces dust in livestock buildings by applying a fine mist of water to straw as it is distributed.

It 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 pump which provides water at a flow rate to apply 1 litre of water per 100kg of straw, without slowing the machine’s normal performance.

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 without the Cleanstraw facility.

The Cleanstraw system is available on Kuhn’s Primor straw bedders that operate with the Polydrive hydraulically disengageable belt system that drives the feed rotor, and on the Profile Plus range of mixer wagons that have a bedding capability.

KUHN’s unique and patented film binding system will also be featured at AgriScot, with the technology being displayed on the company’s i-Bio + combination baler wrapper. The system eliminates the need for an initial layer of netting to be placed around the cylindrical side of the bale, instead using a layer of standard wrapping film to fulfil the same function.

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“Unlike other film binding systems which use wide mantle film for binding, the KUHN system uses two standard 750mm stretch film rolls to fully encapsulate the bale,” explains KUHN product specialist, Katie Calcutt.

Kverneland

With greater emphasis placed on straw shredding, the Kverneland shredder/bedder range is being expanded with the introduction of the trailed 863 model. It features improved crop flow and a greater range of adjustment from the cab, lending itself to better processing of straw.

The 863 joins a range of bale shredder/bedders that includes mounted and trailed models, with a variety of body sizes from two to six cubic metres capacity.

The new 863 version brings a smaller diameter beater, creating a more open design to handle larger volumes of straw. And combined with hydraulic comb adjustment, affords greater regulation of material flow through the machine.

“It’s now possible to hold the bale off the rotor, to slow the intake when shredding large, dense bales,” explains Kverneland feeding specialist Dan Crowe.

“And opting for a hydraulic ram to regulate control means faster response and smoother operation too. It means there’s less chance of blocking this machine, when handling poor quality straw.”

Under-pinning the new 863 is a six-stud axle offering greater durability, while drive to the bottom rotor is now via four-vee belts. And with chain drive to the bed, there is more power available

to positively feed straw into the shredding rotor.

While finer control and fine output is likely to appeal to those operating in sheep sheds, the increased performance means blowing performance can deliver up to 28m of throw.

In addition, the 863 gets and a two-speed gearbox, to suit a wider variety of materials. The ability to slow the machine also helps to drop material from the chute into an adjacent feed trough for example, for those using the shredder/bedder to discharge feed.

Major Equipment

Grass and slurry experts Major Equipment Ltd are returning to

AgriScot 2019 with a selection 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, an award winning rotary mower that bridges the gap between a traditional grass topper and flail mower. Designed to do the work of a flail, the Major Cyclone requires a 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 at AgriScot to see the award-

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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.

McHale

McHale will be displaying a wide range of machinery on our stand at this year’s AgriScot show taking place on November 20th. McHale will be showcasing their latest products by displaying the new McHale Fusion 3 Pro, the new McHale V6750 Variable Chamber Baler and the new McHale C490 Straw Blower & Silage Feeder.

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

The new McHale range of variable chamber balers will also be on the display. This range is comprised of the McHale V6750 15 knife chopper baler and the McHale V6740 non-chopper baler.

Both machines feature a brandnew look with panels opening upwards to allow for greater access to the machine. Fitted with 3 belts as standard, the McHale range of V6 balers can produce a bale from 0.6m (2’) to 1.68m (5’6”). A full width single belt is available as an optional extra if required.

McHale’s offering in the silage feeder and straw blower

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range now extends to four models.

This includes a new larger C490 model that the company will also be launching at this year’s AgriScot. The new C490 will be the flagship model in the C4 range of silage feeders and straw blowers. The new machine has a 6.85m3 loading volume. McHale claims that the machine can handle three 5ft round bales of forage. The C490 has the C4 Expert Control Console. Its functions include floor movement, comb control, loading door control, rotor control, floor direction and speed. The chute is joystick controlled, allowing the operator to adjust its height and direction.

Merlo’s experience in innovative technology has resulted in market leading telescopic handlers across the agricultural sector. With machines ranging from 6-11 metres with a lifting capacity of 2.7-5 tonne, Merlo are sure to have a suitable fit for you. Visit our stand, 148, on Wednesday 20th November to find a machine that is right for you.

New Holland

Merlo

New Holland Agriculture extends acclaimed T6 tractor range with the new 6-cylinder T6.180 Auto Command™, T6.180 Dynamic Command™ and T6.160 Electro Command™ models.

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New Holland Agriculture further widens the extensive T6 range with 3 new 6-cylinder models: the T6.180 Auto Command™ and the T6.180 Dynamic Command™, which will make their first appearance in the French market at SIMA, and the new T6.160 Electro Command that will be presented to the public for the first time at the Paris exhibition.

Sean Lennon, Head of the Tractors Product Line, explains: “New Holland has a proud history of leadership in this segment, with extensive choice and a unique offering. The new 6-cylinder model introduces a new level of performance into this segment with a highly versatile tractor that delivers more torque, more engine braking and more stability.

Today there is more choice than ever for our customers, and a T6 that matches the requirements of every farming operation.”

6-cylinder performance now matched to the award-winning

Auto Command and Dynamic Command transmissions The new models introduce a new level of performance to the T6 range, with the powerful NEF 6-cylinder 6.7 litre engine, a robust and proven solution from the longstanding NEF family widely adopted on T6 and T7 tractors.

The new engine features an optimized EGR-free combustion for efficient operation, coupled with an HI-eSCR after-treatment system to comply with Stage IV (Tier 4B) emissions standards – a patented and maintenance-free solution that delivers reduced operating costs.

Thanks to the 6-cylinder engine, the T6.180 delivers up to 12% higher torque than 4-cylinder models, with low-end end torque that significantly helps in pulling away performance, and increased torque at mid engine speeds, which improves engine lugging in transport and field applications.

The new 6-cylinder engine delivers maximum torque of 740Nm at

1500rpm, compared to the 700 Nm of the 4-cylinder.

Northern Dairy Equipment

Northern Dairy Equipment Ltd. are manufacturers and suppliers of the pre milking teat scrubber for dairy cows providing a consistent prep routine where other systems fail to reach.

The equipment once installed cleans, sanitises, and stimulates cows teats in quick time ,every time providing a cost saving alternative to other pre milking routines and also speeding up the pre milking process.

The warm water massage by three rotating brushes provides a fast stimulation and milk let down along with high detergent biocides giving a double sanitiser mix which is administered fresh for each teat

helping to reduce the incidence of mastitis and cross contamination.

By eliminating the use of paper towels. medicated wipes etc. routine efficiency is greatly improved and savings can be achieved.

Low maintenance of the equipment along with professional and experienced advice is the key to our success.

A working demonstration can be seen on our trade stand at AgriScot where our Technical Installation engineers will be available to discuss the system and supply any further details that you may require.

Opico

OPICO’s focus this year at AgriScot is on forage and grass

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productivity. As margins are squeezed and production costs continue to rise there is no doubt that well-managed grassland, which provides economic feed throughout the year, has an increasingly important role in on-farm profitability.

OPICO grassland products at AgriScot include the Sward Lifter along with a Grass Harrow with Air Seeder. Removing compaction from grassland with a grassland subsoiler is widely acknowledged to boost grass growth and allow earthworm populations to increase; it also benefits herd management as improved drainage enables an earlier turnout and extended autumn grazing.

Whether reseeding or overseeding, OPICO’s Grass harrow and Seeder is well equipped to do the job and is essential for maintaining productive grassland.

An alternative heavy duty machine is the one pass HE-

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VA Rejuvenator, designed to reseed or overseed 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. HE-VA’s water ballastable Grass Roller with variable weight, HE-VA rolls technology and optional tines or shattaboards, provides an easily transportable, multifunction solution to spring rolling.

Maschio’s flail mowers are widely recognized as being some of the toughest on the market.

The heavy duty Buffalo 280 front/rear is frequently used for challenging terrain and has even mulched Christmas tree stumps!

Also on the stand will be a C Type rotary cultivator that can be fitted with an optional seeder for one pass reseeding on thin or stony ground.

Taking up most of the space on the stand will be Strautmann’s Giga Vitesse forage wagon, the continuous flow pick up (CFS) and chop length of a Strautmann forage wagon is perfectly suited to a multi-cut forage system.

Alongside will be a double auger Verti-Mix diet feeder, the stepped flight design of the Vario2 auger tumbles the ration giving a more homogenous mix faster, saving valuable time and reducing fuel.

Penderfeed ARROWQUIP cattle handling equipment has been developed by practical people applying animal behaviour characteristics to their products.

QUIETNESS is achieved throughout the crush by using nylon bushes on the hinges and rubber absorbers on all the access panel slam bolts. The moulded heavy duty rubber floor provides cattle with sure footing and silence when they are in the crush. The ratchet type rump bar fingers are made of nylon which are quieter than steel but provide the same level of security. All sheet metal panels are caulked to stop the panels from rattling to help make ARROWQUIP crushes the quietest on the market.

SAFETY for the cattle and the operator. The curtain style 70

straight headgate opens a full 760mm. top to bottom ensuring the animal will not choke and the operating handle can be used anywhere along the side of the crush. The hygienic rubber floor reduces stress and is supported by a 5mm. steel floor pan which has drainage holes. The full length parallel squeeze ranges from 197mm to 750mm. ensuring safe handling of all sizes of animal.

ACCESS. Removeable and reversible access panels and side access doors allow unobstructed access to the animal on both sides. The neck access panel is also removeable. The split door vet cage provides the handler with increased safety and the foot operated bottom gate locks in position when engaged and can be squeezed with the crush.

The sliding rear gate protects the stockman from cattle waiting to enter the crush. An optional head holder is available.

QUALITY. All locking mechanisms have a lifetime guarantee. Q-catch models have a 5 year warranty and the rest is guaranteed for 12 months.

Every piece of equipment undergoes extensive testing

by ARROWQUIP engineers who are specifically dedicated to livestock handling. The research and development team are continually designing the equipment to make it the best it can be to help farmers handle their livestock.

elevators, augers, belt conveyors, twin trace conveyors, aspirator pre-cleaners and much more, to complement the range of inhouse designed and manufactured continuous mixed flow driers & belt driers. Capacities range from just 8tph all the way through to 1200tph (based on wheat at 750kg/m ), meaning solutions can be provided for small farms to commercial grain stores.

SiloMaster have developed a new range of flat bottom & hopper bottom silos, that Perry of Oakley Ltd. have some exclusive rights to. The silos will be designed & manufactured to the highest specification, using quality materials, with an ethos of “on-time, right the first time!”.

The new silos will proudly adorn both the Perry & SiloMaster logos, as a symbol of both companies co-operating together to provide customers with a complete solution, tailored to individual requirements.

The partnership between the two companies will allow them to offer a complete solution, supporting other dealers, from concept, to layout & design, through to manufacture, supply, installation & on-going support.

To find out how Perry of Oakley Ltd. could take your project from concept to reality call +44 (0)1404 890300 or email sales@ perryofoakley.co.uk Polaris ATV’s

Perry of Oakley

Perry of Oakley Ltd., the UK’s most experienced manufacturer of grain handling & drying equipment, have teamed up with SIloMaster, to help offer customers a complete handling, drying & storage solutions of the highest quality.

Perry of Oakley Ltd. manufacture a complete range of chain & flight conveyors,

The Agri Edition Sportsman 570 EPS has all-new features making it the perfect agricultural workhorse; carbon fibre and metal heatshields, sealed battery, durable steel racks on the front and rear, and new rear shock springs. The Sportsman 570 EPS Black Edition features black 12-inch aluminium rims, matching the black design, as well as a premium LCD gauge. It is also fitted with a fully-integrated Polaris Heavy-Duty 2,500lb winch

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as standard, and has an Electric Braking System (EBS) for more control on descents or when pulling heavy loads. Built for battle with a heavy-duty chassis paired with a 570cc ProStar® engine featuring dual overhead cams and Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) to power through around the tightest corners and conquer the toughest terrain.

An industry’s best all-wheel drive (AWD), unapparelled 11.25” of ground clearance. The Sportsman was the world’s first ATV with legendary Independent Rear Suspension (IRS), a feature that made it as popular as it is today. Its rock-solid design has 9.5” of wheel travel to minimize body roll and keep the ride smooth, allowing you and your passenger to dominate any obstacle with ease and perfect comfort.In addition to the two Special Edition models, Polaris have also revealed brand-new colour options on the Sportsman line-up for this year; the Sportsman 570 now comes in White Lightning, whilst the Sportsman 570 EPS is also now available in White Lightning. In addition, the Sportsman 570 SP, loaded with the premium SP package, now comes in Radar Blue.

Hunter Special Edition Polaris announces the new Hunter Edition lineup for 2020, complete with Polaris Pursuit® Camo finish available for the Sportsman 570 EPS, Ranger XP 1000 EPS Deluxe and Ranger EV models.

The Sportsman 570 EPS Hunter Edition comes with front and rear racks for enhanced storage capability, front and rear brush guards for improved resistance to damage from delving deep into the forest, as well as hand and thumb warmers for added rider comfort.

Pottinger

Having been producing grassland machinery since 1871,

Pottinger can rely on decades of experience when developing new products. This is no more evident in the development and recent introduction of the innovative IMPRESS range of round balers.

Now fully available are the baler wrapper combination models. Available in both fixed chamber (125FC) & variable chamber (155VC and 185VC) models the innovation continues, with industry leading output and features.

All models feature the patented LIFTUP Rotor technology which offer the perfect flow of crop into the bale chamber, this guarantees the best possible bale start and shape. The patented FLEXCUT knife bank suspends the knives from above ensuring the knife bank remains clean even in the most difficult situations. Ease of access is unrivalled thanks to the waist height EASY MOVE slide out knife bank, this also allows

maintenance and sharpening to take place conveniently.

Prior to the wrapping unit, the smooth hassle-free bale transfer ensures efficient bale transfer even on a slope with an inclination of up to 40%.

The Pottinger designed and built twin satellite wrapper unit features satellite arms mounted from below the table, this is to increase wrap stability and application. The fully automated and adjustable wrapping system ensures high working speeds of up to 36 rpm. This ensures maximum productivity and efficiency is achieved whilst keeping a consistent quality of forage, no matter the operating conditions.

All baler wrapper combinations models are configured in the PRO format.

This configuration consists of ISOBUS-compatible system, a super large 2.30 m pick-up, load sensing hydraulics and up to 32 knives in the FLEXCUT

knife bank which produces a theoretical chop length of 36mm.

Powerwasher Services

PWS was started by Jack Whitecross in 1983.

A former dairyman, he saw a requirement for Powerwashers in the agricultural market. He concentrated on this sector for a few years before branching out into many other industries.

The main product being Powerwashers before expanding the range of equipment to include Air Compressors, Generators, Sweepers, workshop and space heaters to name some of the machines now for sale, service and hire.

The company is now run with daughter Liz and son Jim

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at the helm and a further 4 family members involved in the office, stores and engineers.

The company now has 21 employees on board, this is due to the increase in sales of machines which in turn requires more engineers to service and maintain them.

As a company PWS take great pride in their back up service and being the largest company of itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s type in Scotland goes to prove that their customers have confidence not only in the products that they supply but in the aftersales that PWS provide, resulting in repeat business continuing to help the company expand.

Delighted to be exhibiting at AgriScot again this year the team are excited to showcase their equipment and prove that their products do the job for farmers.

Some of these can be seen in the milking area at the show where they have Powerwashers working to keep things clean behind the scenes.

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Pop on the stand where you will be made welcome and can see the machines or pick up some literature. If you are interested in replacing any of your equipment the PWS team can give you advice, arrange a no obligation demonstration or can discuss looking after the machine that you have at the moment even if they did not supply it.

Ritchie

sure that the cattle are ready when you need them to be.

The Beef Monitor also provides you with added insight of your heard by identifying issues you may not spot straightaway such as frozen pipes or feed inefficiency. Easily set-up and operated, the data is stored in the cloud for viewing on any computer, tablet or smart phone enabling monitoring at your fingertips.

the end of 2019. Robert has been involved within the slurry equipment handing market for over 35 years and is by definition one of Storth’s “Experts in Slurry Management”.

Storth would like to take this opportunity to thank Robert for his hard work and wish him all the best for his retirement Teagle Machinery

Storth

as landscaping, processing materials for green biomass energy, as well as agriculture.

Tom Teagle (Sales Director) says “We would like to thank all of our Customers, UK dealers, International Distributors and members of the team at Teagle for their contribution to this significant milestone”. For any information on our products please call our Sales Team: 01872 560592 or visit our website: www.teagle.co.uk And of course, come along and see us at AgriScot.

Tramspread

The Ritchie Beef Monitor is a weigh unit with a difference. By taking several readings a day for each beast will provide you with an average weight at any point during the day or night, without additional labour or the hassle of moving the cattle, causing stress for both stockman and stock.

Putting you in greater control.

After installing a Ritchie Beef Monitor unit in a finishing pen, the cattle access the water trough by stepping on the weighing platform. Using compatible EID ear tags an accurate weight of each beast can be recorded and sent to the cloud every time they go to water. This enables beef finishing units to closely monitor the growth rate of their cattle.

Average daily weights and average daily live weight gains are recorded and calculated for you using the website and handy app, suitable for smart phone or laptop, enabling the stockman to determine how the stock are performing at a glance.

The average LWG allows progressive farmers to ensure that their cattle are at optimum weights when sent to the abattoir.

Reducing the risk of receiving over-weight penalties, whilst ensuring the cattle are at their premium weight. The tracking of LWG allows the management of cattle nutrition to speed up or slow down the growth to make 72

Storth Ltd would like to extend a warm welcome to AgriScot 2019 for both our past, present, and future customers. We will be displaying a number of products from our slurry management range; special note should be given to the NEW “FarmerPlus” Tanker Trailing Shoe and “FarmerPlus” Dribble Bar. From 2025 farmers and contractors will be required to spread slurry and digestate using only low emission spreading equipment. Storth have specifically developed these machines to meet the guidelines provided by Defra and minimise ammonia emissions.

This year’s show has also provided us with the opportunity to announce that Alister Shanks will be joining our team as the new Area Sales Manager for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Alister has worked within the agricultural sector for over 25 years, initially starting as an apprentice for J.S Montgomery and more recently in a national sales role. Alister has been with us for a couple of weeks and is quickly finding his feet. Please call at our stand number 144 and introduce yourself if you have any slurry management issues you would like to discuss.

This leads us to our final announcement which is that Robert Wilson will retire at

Hot on the heels of their 75th anniversary, Teagle Machinery celebrates as the 20,000th Tomahawk Bale Processor rolled off the production line on 9th September 2019. In 1984 the Tomahawk range was launched with the ‘Lightning’ model, with a retail price of £700. Over 30 years and 20,000 machines later the flagship Tomahawk C12 Calibrator retails for £69,905 and features an electric regulation system for driverless operation, with Bluetooth controls for remote operation. Through continual investment in product development the Tomahawk range has grown to be the cornerstone of the company’s portfolio which now features 14 models and contributes around 50% to Teagle’s annual sales.

Much has changed since this family-owned business was established in 1943. The company now employs around 200 staff from its base near Truro in Cornwall and exports to over 50 countries world-wide on a regular basis. Continual investment in production technology utilising robot welding, CNC machining and powder coat paint has positioned the brand as a market leader in the straw processing sector on an international stage with Tomahawk machines found in specialist applications such

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Tramspread will promote safe, sustainable and innovative slurry equipment at AgriScot Innovative solutions to slurry application and storage will be available on the Tramspread stand (215 in the Upland Hall) at AgriScot. With over 30 years experience of providing the best slurry equipment for farmers throughout the UK, the Tramspread team offer an unrivalled service to help utilise slurry in all areas of agriculture.

Tramspread will exhibit the latest remote controlled, engine driven pump unit with compressor. The Bauer SX2000 slurry pump is powered by a 170hp diesel engine and controlled via a high specification SIL Vision IV remote control.

The 140 cubic feet per minute compressor and divert valve are also remote controlled, giving the operator unparalleled information and control via a large colour display. Flow and pressure can also be monitored with the addition of flowmeter and pressure gauge. This adds a further degree of safety and accuracy for the operator.

Working with German manufacturer Reck, Tramspread

are exhibiting the Torro and Porco slatted floor mixers. These mixers fit between the slats in livestock housing, avoiding the need to remove slats, which reduces the danger of mixing the slurry collected below.

Reck’s slatted floor mixer can be inserted through slats as small as 17mm and enables safe mixing with little disruption to livestock. This makes pumping easier and reduces the need for farm workers to risk going below to attend potentially dangerous blockages.

Working with Albers Alligator and HexaCover, Tramspread are able to advise on ways to contain slurry and lower emissions. With Defra’s commitment to lowering emissions, through the clean air strategy, it is likely that all slurry will need to be covered by 2027.

Tramspread offer a variety of solutions to cover existing lagoons and a range of bag tanks that can be used for temporary or permanent slurry storage.

Find out more by visiting Tramspread at AgriScot.

UFAC

Utopia – a new second generation transition supplement.

Utopia, a new supplement from UFAC is formulated to meet the specific nutritional requirements of transition and early lactation cows.

“We expect a lot from transition cows,” Mike Chown from UFAC suggests. “They have got to safely deliver a calf and recover from the stresses of calving before quickly going from zero milk production to producing a significant volume with good solids. We ask them

to do all of this without suffering any metabolic disorders.

“Utopia is a unique supplement combining glycerine, fatty acids, amino acids and minerals to help improve health, productivity and fertility in transition and high yielding cows.”

Early lactation cows have a high demand for glucose which drives milk production but is also vital as the fuel for the immune system in the event of disease challenges. Utopia contains rumen-inert glycerine, the most efficient source for glucose production by the liver.

A balanced blend of highly digestible rumen inert fatty acids boosts energy density and help reduce body condition loss while choline helps keep the liver efficient to reduce the risk of ketosis.

Utopia contains high levels of vitamin E and organic selenium to help boost the immune system and reduce

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the risk of infection during transition.

Long chain Omega 3’s, EPA and DHA from the most effective marine sources help strengthen the immune response and play a crucial role in improving conception rates and reducing early embryonic deaths.

“Finally, transition cows need a supply of essential amino acids. If any amino acid is limiting the consequence is yield depression, reduced milk protein and compromised fertility. In most transition diets this is methionine so Utopia supplies it in a highly effective rumen-inert form.

“Utopia helps cows transition effectively, doing all that is expected of them while making high yielding cows better equipped for the challenges they face.”

Visit UFAC at AgriScot, Highland Hall stand 29 or call Mike Chown on 07827-249157.

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VikingGenetics

ProCROSS driving up profitability.

The use of three-way cross breeding in dairy operations is a popular topic at present. With more farmers using the system, the results of taking such a strategy are now starting to show.

Andy Williamsons and his father run a herd of more than 600 cows in Cheshire, a 360- hectare dairy farm (194 hectares owned, and the rest rented) located near Nantwich. Andy is the fourth generation of dairy farmers, and his predecessors are recognized for being one of the first farm families who introduced North American Holstein cows into the area.

Five years ago, health problems were unsustainable.

“We were facing problems with feet and legs and high culling rates, affecting the efficiency of the whole operation”, says Andy.

They were looking for a more efficient and healthier cow and were introduced to the only scientific proven crossbreeding, ProCROSS which is a combination of VikingRed, Montbeliarde and VikingHolstein.

After using ProCROSS, 50% of the herd has genetics from the three-way crossbreeding and the plan is to extend it to the whole herd.

The Williamsons work closely with VikingGenetics United Kingdom and the family are improving health, fertility and longevity in the herd. “The culling rate lowered from 34% to 28%”, Andy explains, while adding that they are achieving high in-calf rates with an average production of 9,500 Kg ECM, with 3,9% milkfat and 3.4% protein.

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A scientific proven combination A 10-year study made by the University of Minnesota in the United States, showed that the three-breed cross of Holstein, VikingRed and Montbeliarde produces lifetime profit of 33% greater than those from pure Holstein.

The financial advantage of ProCROSS was demonstrated to come from a wide range of factors including greater lifetime weights of fat and protein, better fertility, fewer health treatments, higher calf and cull values, and improved rates of survival.

Vogelsang

directly depositing the liquid manure under the crops.

The BlackBird incorporates the next generation of Vogelsang’s precision distributor ExaCut ECQ. The distributor is located in the center of the boom – the perfect position for ensuring that the liquid manure is distributed precisely and evenly. Large diameters and flow distribution plates keep the flow under control and ensure a high distribution accuracy of the liquid manure. In order to make maintenance of the ExaCut ECQ quicker and easier, Vogelsang has also altered its maintenance concept, adding a large maintenance port to allow direct access to all the system’s internal components. As such service work can now be carried out without dismantling the precision distributor or dismounting the cover and the outlet hoses and feed lines connected to it.

Yara

Vogelsang launches new trailing shoe linkage “BlackBird”.

With its “BlackBird” trailing shoe linkage, the machine construction company from Lower Saxony, Germany, is launching an effective trailing shoe linkage with a flowoptimized liquid manure discharge. “When it came to developing this new technology, we took into account the findings from our flow simulations as well as the flow rates of the liquid manure and tested a number of different shapes. The result is an ideal combination of a flow-optimized discharge that deposits the liquid manure even more precisely and a new skid geometry that separates the crops even better,” explains Henning Ahlers, Head of Sales Germany at Vogelsang.

The new, long, beaklike shape helps to ensure a controlled and even flow of liquid manure through every discharge, thus preventing the crops from getting contaminated during manure spreading. By actively applying pressure, the BlackBird’s pointed skid is better able to penetrate the soil, ploughing a small furrow for

Take control of your grass with Yara.

How can you ensure your grass gets off to the best possible start? How can you promote strong yields, healthier livestock, and improved fertility? Yara, one of the UK’s leading providers of crop nutrition solutions, will be attending AgriScot 2019 to discuss and demonstrate the best ways to unlock greater outputs on your farm, with a focus on the best fertilisers and micronutrients in order to get the best results possible.

Yara will be available to discuss their solutions, with a focus on their Booster range of grassland fertilisers, and their YaraVita Micronutrient range: Booster Range Yara’s Booster range are unique fertilisers specifically designed to drive strong grass growth and improved livestock performance.

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This selenium-enriched range of fertilisers has a product to suit all grassland purposes, starting with the nitrogen and sulphur product Nutri Booster, which uses calcium ammonium nitrate as its N source. Other products include two NPKS compounds – Stock Booster S and Silage Booster – which are specifically formulated to meet the requirements of grazing and silage swards respectively.

Selenium is vital to the fertility and health of livestock, helping to prevent issues such as retained placentas in cows and ewes, white muscle disease in newborns and plays an important role in maintaining low milk cell counts.

The Booster range contains nitrogen as nitrate and ammonium. Nitrates are the most efficient form of nitrogen and are key to achieving optimum yields.

Sulphur is included as calcium sulphate – highly soluble and therefore more available to the crop, ensuring your grass has an adequate supply of this important nutrient.

Yara’s Booster range offers a uniform, high bulk density granular fertiliser for even spreading over wide bout widths.

Every granule contains all essential ingredients – removing segregation and ensuring an even application of all nutrients.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE looks forward to meeting you all at AgriScot.

Come along to our stand at Highland Hall.

Have a go at our putting competition and say hello.

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renewable energy

Record for Scottish renewable electricity production Energy trend statistics published recently show renewable electricity generation in Scotland to be at record levels.

Commenting on the figures, Scotland’s Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said: “These figures on renewable electricity generation are tremendous. The amount generated in the first half of 2019 has reached

yet another record – having increased by nearly 20 percent to 14.9 TWh, when compared with the same period in 2018. Indeed, the quantity of renewable energy generated in the first half of 2019 is now 51% higher than in the first half of 2016, when it was just 9.9 TWh. “For 2018 itself, we now know that revised data suggest

that the equivalent of 76.3% of Scotland’s gross electricity demand was generated from renewable energy resources and, for the first time ever, more than half (54.8%) of Scotland’s gross electricity consumption was met by onshore and offshore wind energy alone.

“The growth in wind energy has largely been driven

by Scottish Government and industry working closely and collaboratively and I am greatly encouraged that, despite years of unhelpful UK Government policy changes the total installed capacity of renewable energy in Scotland increased by 1.2 GW between July 2018 and June 2019, or more than 11%, to a new record of 11.6 GW.”

Optimisation will save landowners money and increase hydro asset lifespan Writes Dylan Roberts, Operations & Maintenance Manager at renewable energy consultancy Dulas Ltd. Hydroelectricity is a major success story for many landowners, and 85% of the UK’s hydro-generated electricity now comes from Scotland.

However, with the recent ending of the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT),

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it now makes more financial sense than ever for landowners to optimise existing sites and infrastructure to ensure that they operate at peak performance and continue to provide a return on investment.

The perceived costs of Operation and Maintenance (O&M) over the life of an asset has frequently led to schemes being repaired on a reactive basis, only making significant repairs or upgrades once the functioning

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of the asset has already been compromised - which then often requires significant downtime to repair.

While owners may feel that running assets more leanly from an operational perspective may save them money, the old adage ‘prevention is better than a cure’ tends to ring true - something that is backed by life cycle modelling.

In contrast, the benefits of regular maintenance schedules are well documented; extension to the operational life of schemes, improved health and safety, better conservation of assets… all solving significant issues ranging from premature machinery replacement to reduced overtime costs for adhoc repairs.

Landowners need to be aware that a reactive approach to asset maintenance will result in underperforming, financially inefficient hydro schemes. By working with experienced thirdparty O&M experts to manage existing assets and increase generation, landowners can reduce operating costs and risk, increase revenue, and extend the lifespan of their assets.

renewable energy

New energy scheme offers little financial guarantee Landowners who are considering installing renewable energy systems must be aware that attractive financial returns are no longer guaranteed – so it’s vital to budget correctly.

According to independent power and energy specialist Roadnight Taylor, the new Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) – which supersedes the Feed-In Tariff (FiT) – does not set any base price for renewable electricity, and only ensures a payment of more than 0p/kWh for power exported to the grid. As a result, landowners need to take a much more considered approach to their investment.

“In the days of the FiT, farms and estates could put solar panels on the roof and get paid a subsidy for all generation as well as a guaranteed floor price for any electricity exported to the grid,” explains senior consultant Richard Palmer.

“Many had hoped that the new SEG would set a minimum

price for export - like the FiT - but it has not done so. Instead, it only guarantees that operators will have access to a market and are paid more than 0p/kWh at all times of export.

“As such, the SEG is neither smart or guaranteed, it is not a replacement to the FiT and is arguably now only a secondary consideration,” he adds. “With no guaranteed payments, it is important that landowners now focus on sizing schemes to their site’s energy demand, minimise any surplus exported to the grid and pay close attention to tariff structures.”

Anyone interested in installing renewable technology should first analyse historic data from a half hourly meter or install half hourly metering/monitoring to profile demand, suggests Mr Palmer.

They should then consider all existing generation assets before looking at the most suitable technology, whether that’s solar,

wind, anaerobic digestion, battery storage or combined heat and power.

“Many operators with existing installations opted out of the FiT base price and instead achieved higher export prices through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs),” he explains. “This will still be a good option for those schemes of a suitable scale.

But for small-scale operators on the SEG alone, the lack of a guaranteed price or contract length is a risk due to exposure to falling electricity wholesale markets and the potential lack of competition, leading to an undervalued export price.”

Any new renewable installation or addition to existing schemes after 31 March 2019 will not be eligible for the FiT, but should ideally be built to comply with the SEG so that operators can access the available markets.

The SEG applies to the main renewable technologies, up

to 5MW, subject to eligibility criteria including a requirement to meter half hourly. The scheme comes into effect from 1 January 2020 with the full range of SEG tariffs being available from this date.

“There are still opportunities to significantly reduce electricity bills through small-scale renewable projects,” says Mr Palmer. “But there needs to be a change in mindset across the industry – too many developers are recommending unsuitably large installations, which will never deliver decent returns and may potentially create significant losses. There is no one-size fits all any more – it’s vital to undertake a professional strategic review of a business’s energy demands and tailor the solution to fit.”

For more information call 01993 830571 or visit www. roadnighttaylor.co.uk

NFU backs biomass heat works! campaign calling out government on rural decarbonisation policy The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has pledged its support to the Biomass Heat Works! campaign, the biomass heat industry’s call for UK Government to act now, protect approximately 46,000 jobs, extend the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme (RHI) and raise fossil fuel duties to help meet carbon emission targets.

Following the launch of the NFU’s own blueprint vision to cut carbon emissions to net zero within farming by 2040, the 55,000 member-strong organisation has extended its support to the campaign given that many of its members use or have diversified into using biomass as a renewable energy heat source.

Biomass in rural areas can create successful, workable circular economies across farming, agriculture and forestry sectors and is often the most viable and lowest carbon option available to businesses and households in offgas grid areas.

Given the UK Government’s pledge to cut carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, it is essential that rural households and businesses aren’t left behind their urban counterparts when it comes to future heat decarbonisation strategies, especially given that many of the biomass heat industry’s 700+ supply chain companies operate rurally.

The NFU’s backing of the Biomass Heat Works! campaign is a huge boost and one which

has been welcomed by industry leaders.

Neil Holland of the UK Pellet Council, which along with the Wood Heat Association is delivering the Biomass Heat Works! campaign, explained, “We’re delighted that the NFU have pledged its support to the campaign as a vast number of its members up and down the country are advocates of biomass heat.

“There is a much bigger picture that the Government needs to urgently consider here, and that is by extending the RHI and specifying biomass as the most proven and commercially-ready solution to decarbonising heat in rural areas, we can also create a highly sustainable rural economy, good employment opportunities

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and business growth in agricultural industries going forward.

“Clear synergies exist between the UK Pellet Council, Wood Heat Association and the NFU, so we are highly supportive of the campaign.”

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science & technology

First direct cloud-to-cloud solution for ag engineering Up to now, farmers and contractors with a mixed machinery fleet can only record, process and document their data using the respective equipment and web portals of the individual manufacturers.

With new DataConnect, CLAAS, 365FarmNet and John Deere have created for the first time a direct, manufacturer independent cloud-to-cloud solution. In a similar way to ISOBUS, customers can now exchange their data via a common interface as well as control and monitor their entire machinery fleet using their favourite system.

With DataConnect, users can choose their preferred data platform from a specific manufacturer while also being able to transmit data from other machines via the new interface.

This means that the data is still

available in the John Deere Operations Centre, CLAAS TELEMATICS or 365FarmNet portals, but can be exchanged in real time from one cloud to the other. The key benefit to the user is that all the necessary machine configurations are available in one system.

DataConnect enables the exchange of all important machinery data, including current and historical machine location, fuel tank level, current working status and forward speed. Transmission of agronomic data is also being planned.

With DataConnect the companies involved also wish to share their experience of cloud-tocloud communication with ongoing Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation (AEF) projects. This is why the architecture of this new interface is designed to support existing industry standards.

Retrofittable Intelligence Easy automation with iQblue connect by LEMKEN So far, the possibility of utilising data from existing mechanical implements and feeding them into farm management systems

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has remained wishful thinking for most farmers. Also, the technology available on the market is often too expensive

or too complex. This is why LEMKEN has developed iQblue connect, a highly versatile retrofitting kit which converts existing technology into smart machines for modern farming processes. When combined with Tractor Implement Management (TIM), the device allows numerous functions of purely mechanical implements to be automated and at the same time integrated into digital documentation.

TIM means that the tractor performs work functions which are triggered by the implement.

Operators merely need a single iQblue connect module, which can be used with a range of implements. The module is

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connected to the tractor via its ISOBUS interface. It also features GPS and a mobile data connection for communication, for example with the farm management system. Data is transmitted via the agrirouter, a cross-manufacturer platform for exchanging data between machines, farmers, contractors and software applications.

Depending on the intended use, a sensor kit is permanently installed on the implement to record the required information and pass it on to the iQblue connect module. No further equipment is needed on the implement, as the tractor is used for controlling implement functions.

science & technology With the first available version of the application, a plough is fitted with a sensor to determine the current working width. iQblue connect then calculates the target working width from the GPS position and transmits this information to the tractor to initiate the relevant adjustment of the working width ram. The working width is then adjusted via the tractor’s hydraulic system. With

semi-mounted cultivators, the working depth can be detected by a sensor. iQblue connect receives the width section-specific target working depth from maps provided by the agrirouter, compares the actual and target data and subsequently sends a command to the tractor to adjust the working depth. Additional applications for a range of different implements are being planned.

Drone regulations explained

Farmers are being urged to fully understand the legal implications of drone use and seek training ahead of new 2020 regulations.

New regulations published on 21st June by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will require farmers to become more aware of how to deploy drones on their land. However, despite having been published, the EU unmanned aircraft regulations will not come into effect until July 2020. This gives farmers and other operators the opportunity to prepare for the proposed changes to drone use.

Cranfield University is a leader in aerospace research and the use of drones in agriculture. Through the Agrifood Training Partnership (AFTP), Cranfield is offering farmers, agronomists, and anybody likely to use drones in agriculture, the opportunity to learn how drones can be used responsibly and effectively to monitor and manage crops.

Dr Monica Rivas Casado, who will tutor a flexible e-learning online course entitled

‘Drones for crop production’ which starts on November 18th explains: “The use of drones in agriculture is increasing.

However, regulations governing the use of drones in all areas are becoming more complex. It is therefore important that farmers understand how drones can benefit crop production whilst also being able to use drones within the regulations set out by the CAA.” “Drones offer farmers an opportunity to view crops quickly and efficiently. The efficiencies drones offer can save crops from disease and feedback vital information about how well crops are establishing. However, it is crucial that farmers understand how to deploy drones safely and effectively on their farm by being aware of these new regulations,” says Monica.

For more information on the course offered by AFTP through Cranfield University visit https:// www.aftp.co.uk/course/dronescrop-production/single_course

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NEXT

GENERATION This Next Generation column is a collaboration between the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth Next Generation (RASC) and NFU Scotland Next Generation.

This month, RASC has asked guest writer Alana Black from Australia (now living in Scotland!) to share her insights into the Netherlands.

Recently I joined four other Rural Youth Project delegates and fifteen Scottish Enterprise Rural Leaders on a mission to “think different” about our communities and businesses.

Social enterprise, and how rural organisations – such as Herenboeren Community Farm – are positively impacting the community, is a pillar of Dutch innovation.

Herenboeren Community Farm is a hub of 200 families (approximately 500 people) working in the community supported agriculture model, and as an organisation they rent 20 hectares of land and employ a full-time farmer.

Participating families pay a once off fee of 2000 to join plus a weekly contribution of about 10 per person in the household and in return the family receive a weekly portion of vegetables, fruit, meat and eggs.

This “feel good farming” between farmers and consumers through community supported agriculture is one that builds trust through transparency and understanding.

Although, in order to stop decline of rural economies, we need to recognise that it isn’t purely a geographical issue, and to ensure their strong continuation we need urban

consumers to buy into regional communities. To do this, the learning journey focussed on the power of storytelling for agricultural and rural enterprise to inspire delegates to use it as a foundation in bridging the urban/rural divide.

Businesses like PigMe, where pigs are farmed and raised in fields, forests and meadows over 10 locations close to the consumer with dedicated caretakers, are using their evocative story to drive promotion. PigMe’s adaption of ancient farming practices in semi-urban areas coupled with savvy social media marketing has resulted in an emotional buy-in from consumers and high-end retailers with minimal businesses overheads.

With 26% of the Netherlands landmass underwater, the Dutch have had to innovate and utilise urban spaces to meet food requirements and has subsequently built the world’s first floating dairy on Rotterdam’s Harbour.

Although not a wholly commercial enterprise, this proof of concept challenged all on how we see traditional agriculture and as the first ever visitors to see the facility in production we all walked away inspired.

Travel Scotland

Where Industry meets the Land New Lanark

by Janice Hopper Once a bustling, noisy mill town, where the power of the River Clyde fuelled the looms and occupied the workers from dawn till dusk, New Lanark is renowned as a site of industry. It turns out that its farming links are stronger than one may first assume.

New Lanark is still a working mill, albeit on a far smaller scale than during the heyday of the Industrial Revolution. Much of its wool is sourced from the British Wool Board, but Scottish sources include Uradale Farm in Shetland and The Woolshed in Orkney.

Today, visitors to New Lanark can witness yarn being created on the looms. The production process is explained, from blending and teasing, to carding, banking and spinning, with the modern emphasis on quality, education, heritage and experimentation, rather than mass production.

New Lanark boasts a world first, producing the first organic

tartan, with much of the wool sourced from HRH Prince Charles’ flock at Highgrove. The tartan was initially designed by Lochcarron of Scotland. The raw wool was scoured at Hawarth Scouring, before arriving at New Lanark for blending, carding and spinning into yarn. The process was regulated throughout and certified by the Soil Association, and the tartan was listed with the Scottish Register of Tartans in 2015. Finished products, including organic wool and tartan, are for sale in the Mill gift shop.

Look out for a rich range of textiles and accessories, toys and clothing.

Another popular treat at New Lanark is sampling its ice cream, which has garnered awards at the Royal Highland Show. Around one hundred flavours have been created, including bespoke recipes for individual restaurants and hotels.

Flavours have included Jammy Dodger, Irn Bru and Raspberry Cranachan. The ice cream is made

on site, to a traditional recipe, in the historic Mechanics’ Workshop building. The milk comes from Graham’s Dairy in Stirling, and on average between 800 to 1000 litres of ice cream is produced per week.

All profits from the ice cream sales are funnelled back into the not-forprofit New Lanark Trust.

Every month, a Makers Market takes over the mill, as visitors peruse good and stalls from Scottish designers, artists and creatives. Exhibitors include the likes of Langloch Farm Botanics. This Lanark-based social enterprise blends herbs grown on the farm to create a line of toiletries and cosmetics — think Lemon Balm and Calendula soap, and Rosemary and Frankincense Lip Balm. The products are created

by Langloch Botanics volunteers, who gain work experience, training and support, and have the opportunity to build confidence, life skills and self-esteem.

New Lanark

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Modern New Lanark offers a fulfilling weekend away, with a four star hotel, self-catering cottages, hostel, swimming pool, restaurant and café on site, but it’s the history of the mills that attracts many visitors to this Unesco World Heritage site.

New Lanark village was established by David Dale in 1785, and the cotton mills operated from 1786 onwards. The conditions in many mills were so poor that their cruelty was summed up by poet William Blake in his work ‘Jerusalem’, referring to them as the ‘dark, satanic mills’, but in Scotland things were being done slightly differently.

David Dale’s approach was more philanthropic, certainly by the standards of the day. The son of a poor grocer, he’d worked his way up the ladder, from a weaver’s apprentice to a wealthy textile merchant. His staff at New Lanark worked long days, from 6.00am in the morning to 7.00pm at night, but he provided his workers with high quality, clean housing, and the food provided was considered good for the times; as much as porridge as the workers wanted for breakfast, and a hearty simple dinner such as thick barley broth. It turns out that many of Dale’s staff came straight from the fields, farms and crofts of Scotland.

One of the biggest impacts on the Scottish countryside, agriculture and rural lifestyle is arguably the Highland Clearances.

When the clearances removed people from the land, replacing them with profitable sheep, many islanders and country tenants were forced to abandon their homeland and venture wherever they could to find shelter and work. Dale wanted to let people know that they had no need to emigrate, because families could secure housing and salaries

Travel Scotland in New Lanark. It’s said that one of its key streets, ‘Caithness Row’, was named after the first Highland residents who settled in the village. He also set up mills in Oban, Stanley in Perthshire and Spinningdale in Sutherland, trying to mitigate the flow of Scots from the countryside, overseas.

The links to the Clearances don’t end there. In 1791 a ship called The Fortune, set sail from the Isle of Skye bound for America. On board the ship were Highlanders planning to emigrate, but a strong storm forced them back to Greenock. The passengers were lucky to be alive but they were destitute. Dale found many of them work, accommodation and a new life in New Lanark.

In 1800, David Dale’s son-inlaw Robert Owen took over the running of New Lanark, building on its philanthropic aims. Owen was a key figure in the Scottish Enlightenment and he planned to run the mill on progressive principles.

Admittedly the mills depended on raw cotton, with its hugely controversial farming background.

Information boards within New Lanark explain that the rise in cotton spinning mills across the UK

David Dale

made demand for the material sky rocket. The source was American cotton plantations manned by African slaves. It could be easy to criticise any mill owner for playing a part in the cotton supply chain, but it’s possible to appreciate the impact Robert Owen had on his own doorstep. Owen made sweeping changes in Scotland, setting a precedent regarding the treatment of mill workers and their families. The children were educated and weren’t permitted to work till at least the age of ten, the babies had a nursery made available to them, and it’s argued that his template of the Village Shop (where the prices were low and the profits channelled back into a local school and institute) was the basis of the cooperative movement.

New Lanark has always had farming links, from cotton and wool, to milk, ice cream and herbs, but this site offers far more than that. In an era when modern slavery and working conditions are making headlines in both industry and agricultural communities alike, “New Lanark is a unique reminder that the creation of wealth does not automatically imply the

The mills at work

degradation of its producers” Unesco.

Other Activities - Experience a ghost ride to learn more about New Lanark’s history, as young worker, Annie Macleod, tells her story.

At New Lanark visit the school rooms, village shop, workers’ houses and Robert Owen’s home.

Get back to nature with a walk to Corra Linn, a powerful and dramatic 30 metre high waterfall.

For further information visit newlanark.org, and for hotel, cottage or hostel stays explore newlanarkhotel.co.uk.

Langloch Farm soap

The Annie Macleod ghost ride at New Lanark

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DIET FEEDERS

Diet Feeders A selection of models to choose from…

Diet Feeders from Abbey Abbey have a unique range of 17 vertical auger Diet Feeders (from 8 to 33.5 cubic metre capacity).

These machines have many benefits: • Unique low auger profiles.

• Inflected top knife for improved bale processing and mixing time.

• Extendable knives and two counter knives for improved processing time.

• Gear box is mounted high up into the auger for improved stability and working life.

• Industry leading exit space in their feed out-doors for rapid feed-out time.

• Variety of door locations and feedout options (i.e. elevators, sliding and raising conveyors and feedout rotors).

• Single, twin and now tri-auger options.

• Machines can be customised to suit the farm.

New ‘Plus Range’ – VF2450, VF2650, VF2850, VF3050 models - monster models with extra strength, versatility and longer working life.

• 50% thicker auger for extended working.

• Strengthened gear box mounting, with a wider base for improved support and strength.

• New horizontal and tilting monitor support.

• Monitor comes with serial port and auto-on for added versatility.

• New door wedge to give a more even and rapid feedout.

• Safety Platform for easier viewing into the mixing chamber.

• Option of new parallel tubular top retaining ring to reduce any feed waste during mixing.

Cows diets are complex well processed and mixed TMR’s improve digestion, prevent the animal selecting nutrients, allow an even digestion of feeds throughout

the day, allow animals to come to the trough at different times and yet get the exact same mix. These are just some of the benefits of Abbey Diet Feeders.

New Vario Volume system ensures flexible container volume for BvL mixer wagons Bernard van Maschinenfabrik & Co. KG (BvL) has introduced a new Vario Volume extension system as an option for almost all its range of trailed mixer wagons.

The Vario Volume attachment is hydraulically raised to increase the container volume by approx.

30 cm. This effectively increases the volume in a twin auger mixer by up to 3.5 m .

When the feed is mixed and chopped, the Vario Volume extension can then be lowered again in order to be able to drive into low or restricted height buildings if necessary.

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For components that require a lot of space when mixing, such as straw bales, etc., the Vario Volume is a useful aid as it simply and effectively prevents feed components from spilling over the container edge.

The new BvL Vario Volume extension can also be fitted to feed mixers with a rear-mounted 2.0 straw blower. The straw blower is mechanically driven and has a high throughput of about 300 kg of straw per minute, which can be thrown up to 30m.

The stone trap and the softstart aid, round off the straw blower product range.

DIET FEEDERS

Vertical feeders from Conor 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. 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

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tub at the beginning of mixing while also producing a wave effect during the mixing process.

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DIET FEEDERS

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 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.

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, self-propelled 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 favoured 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.

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

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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

DIET FEEDERS 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.

Kongskilde complete diet mixers for long and continuous operation Dairy herds are steadily increasing in size, and there is a trend towards heavier diet mixes and longer mixing times. Diet mixers must be able to produce up to as many as 6-7 mixes per day and mix for longer.

The Kongskilde diet mixers comes with features like the new HD-transmission line on their largest diet mixers. The robustly

constructed gearbox is equipped with an efficient oil-cooling system that ensures a constant and optimal operating temperature for continuous operation under heavy load.

Kongskilde diet mixers has options like the Mix+ concept that has proved to be a huge success.

Mix+ is a wear part concept with replaceable parts for the front

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edges of mixer augers, meaning that the Kongskilde diet mixer continues over time provides a far more uniform mixing quality and that the augers last longer and with reduced maintenance costs.

The FeedManager and ProFeed+ software brings a unique overview of the ingredients to be loaded according to a predetermined feed plan and then

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DIET FEEDERS compares what has been fed. This gives the farmer the possibility of better control, analysis and rerporting.

The Kongskilde diet mixers are modular constructed enabling tailor-made solutions for farmers encompassing features like: • The standard range with discharge doors • The M range for straw bedding and professional feeding • The B range for professional discharge with cross conveyor at front • The X-range - the flexible 4-in-one cross conveyer belt solution (flat – side shift – elevator right and left)

New FLEXILIFT tilting conveyor added to KUHN’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 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.

“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.

Kverneland Siloking gets wifi data transfer Data transfer for feed ration management has taken a positive leap forward with the latest Siloking developments, focussed on intelligent networks. This cloud-based system uses a wifi link between the feeder’s control 86

screen and the user’s smart phone.

“It’s not an App-based system, but one that uses a web portal, through an internet browser using Siloking’s free, feed management software,” explains feeding

specialist Dan Crowe. “Livestock farmers can create feed components and animal groups on the farm office PC, in addition to loading and unloading programs, and transfer the data to and from the Siloking feeder by wifi or USB stick.”

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“The convenience of this new system makes it easy for the loader operator to see what ingredients are needed, simply by using their smart phone or tablet, without requiring a second control box,” he says.

DIET FEEDERS “It is a simple, and easy-to-use process.”

Choosing Data T or Data E systems gives access to these advanced systems, and an adjustable appetite setting allows users to identify ration shortages, allowing compensation in the mix by up to 10%.

Additional developments include two new models in the Siloking Selfline System 1000+ range. Aimed at those who need to make the most of payloads and travelling between feed units, the 3225-25 and 3225-27

offer tub capacities of 25 and 27 cubic metres respectively.

But where most selfpropelled feeders of this size are on a twin-axle chassis, these use a triple-axle design with air suspension, to spread the payload and reduce axle loads.

With actively-steered first and third axles, the minimum turning radius is 7.7m. Power comes from a Volvo Penta 7.7-litre engine offering 286hp, and with service intervals doubled from 500 to 1,000-hours, a reduction in operating costs is possible.

New Powermix Plus 24 30 diet feeders from Shelbourne With those farms committed to dairy and beef farming continuing to grow in size, many now require greater capacities than the largest models in the existing Powermix Pro diet

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feeder range are able to provide, without compromising mixing and feeding times. This has led to the creation of new 24 and 30 cu m Powermix Plus models to complement the Powermix

Pro machines of up to 25 cu m, which remain in production.

Key features include replaceable lower tub liner sections, a first for Shelbourne Reynolds, aimed at helping maximise machine life and minimise lifetime running costs.

“With many farms increasing herd sizes around existing buildings, Powermix Plus machines have been designed to offer higher capacities and swifter processing and feed-out times without greatly-increased dimensions,” explains Neil Smith, sales and marketing director at Shelbourne Reynolds.

“To meet the needs of businesses that may be mixing up to 150t/day of feed, we’ve created a machine that’s been beefed up in a number of key

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areas, ranging from the axles to the tub design and from the feedout conveyor to the gearbox.

However, dimensions have been kept compact, with the 24 cu m model only 3.0m tall and 2.8m wide at the top of the tub.”

Chassis specification includes a 24-tonne capacity tandem axle with parabolic spring suspension, 435/50 R19.5 tyres and robust steel mudguards.

Air braking and a steering rear axle are optional.

“By designing the new Powermix Plus with a bolted-in lower liner which can be replaced relatively quickly on farm, we are aiming to help users maximise the life of their machine and the value of their initial investment, while minimising operating cost over its lifetime.”

DIET FEEDERS

The Strautmann Verti Mix 2401 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.

Strautmann Verti-Mix wagons range from a single auger with capacity of 7.5m twin to a triple auger machine with 45m capacity.

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. The double auger 2401 (capacity 19m3 – 24m3) is the most popular model in the UK and is typically suitable to feed out between 190 and 240 animals.

Once the mix has been processed it is all about feeding out. Strautmann’s 2401 has many discharge options to suit individual needs and to ensure optimum fodder feed-out – from single and double doors to a cross conveyor and a new V conveyor designed to feed over a feed barrier or into a trough.

Strautmann Verti-Mix mixer wagons also offer flexibility and can be configured to meet individual farm requirements.

Optional features on the 2401 include a two-speed gearbox to give the flexibility of using a smaller 100hp tractor to pull the feeder if needed; magnets can been fitted at the top and bottom of the augers to catch any stray

metal pieces in the ration; stainless steel wear plates can be fitted on the leading edges to confer extra longevity, various weighing options are available, a mineral feed funnel can be added as well as rear view lights, camera and monitor. Alternate draw bar and hydraulic options also can also be specified among other options.

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.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE and SHOOTING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Subscription details on page 120

Agricultural Merchants Main dealers for Kverneland Diet Feeders

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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breed profile

Breeding quality Limousins at Clury

By Katrina Macarthur

Walter and Hollie Cruikshank

The Cruikshank family’s Clury Limousin herd from Dulnain Bridge, near Grantown-onSpey, has become well-known across the country since its establishment more than 20 years ago.

Father and son Pat and Walter, together with Walter’s wife Dawn, and their children, Hollie and Kyle, farm 300 ploughable acres at Clury, which is home to 55 pedigree cows and a strong herd of 70 Limousin cross and British Blue cross cows.

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Around 20 heifers are kept on as replacements every year, with both herds run as one and calved in the spring and the autumn.

Cows are brought inside in November, when spring calves are weaned and introduced to a silage, straw, minerals and barley diet, and return outside to grass the following May. Autumn-born calves receive the same diet but are weaned as late as possible to avoid mastitis in the cows.

“The Limousin is a dualpurpose breed which has the ability

to be used as both a terminal sire and produce home-bred replacements with plenty shape and style,” said Walter. “The breed produces a high yield meat killing out carcase and you only have to look at how many Limousins are sold through marts every week to see how popular the breed has become.”

Having initially used the Limousin as a terminal sire on Aberdeen-Angus cross cows to produce home-bred replacements for crossing back to the Limousin, the Cruikshanks purchased their first pedigree female Partridge

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Heidi, at a dispersal sale in 1996.

She was later joined by Hartside Lavinia, which was bought as a maiden heifer for 2000gns before being AI’d to the well-known Broadmeadows Cannon.

That combination went on to produce the family’s first bull to be sold at auction - Clury Omega Red, which made 5000gns when sold at the old Perth Bull Sales. Her second daughter to Broadmeadows Cannon, went on to breed the herd’s top price to date of 21,500gns for Clury Vanityfair in 2006.

breed profile While numerous other females were purchased at dispersals, the family also imported females from France to introduce fresh bloodlines. Still to do this day, some of the herd’s most noted stock bulls have been bought out in France, including the family’s first five-figure purchase, the 10,000gns Sultan.

Another successful French stock bull purchased in 2008 was Tahitien, which bred some of the best females found in the herd today, while the first calves of the 14,000gns Glenrock Matrix, arrived on the ground this spring.

Purchased at Carlisle in May, 2018, he is a full brother to the 125,000gns Glenrock Illusion.

More recently, the family sold the first son of the French stock bull named Larry, for 4200gns. This was a March, 2018-born bull named Clury Odion, which is bred out of Clury Julia.

Kyle, who is currently studying agriculture at SAC Edinburgh, is now a qualified AI technician and plans to experiment on the pedigree cows with various sires. A home-bred bull named Clury Nemesis has also been retained for home-use.

“When buying bulls, the bloodlines and eyes are your merchant so we aren’t influenced by figures,” commented Walter.

“Our herd is pretty much closed now and we tend to select on width and temperament when choosing our replacements.”

Aside from the herd’s top price of 21,500gns, other leading prices for bulls include 9000gns twice and 8000gns achieved this February at Carlisle, for Clury Novak. Bulls are also sold offfarm to regular customers with one in particular from the Isle of Skye, who has purchased four bulls from Clury over the years.

With the majority of females retained for breeding, heifers are rarely sold off the farm although they have peaked at 4900gns for Clury Bodica. She was sired by the French bull Snoopy and was sold at the herd’s sale of draft females at Carlisle in 2008.

Out with the pedigree cows, the family run a successful commercial herd, producing

A young stylish bull calf at Clury

quality calves and store cattle which regularly command top prices when sold at Dingwall and Highland Marts’ Dingwall Centre. A top draw of weaned calves is sold through the sale ring in October, which this year sold to a top of £1080 and averaged 237p per kg.

A second batch of calves is sold at Dingwall in November, with the remainder kept on for various sales throughout the spring.

The family regularly picks up tickets in the show ring at local shows such as Grantown and Nairn, and just recently

reaped three awards in the Scottish Limousin Club’s herd competition. These included two second prizes for the best large herd and the best young female born in 2018 for Clury Olga, while the French bull Larry, took third place for the best progeny by one bull award.

Clury stock bull Larry

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beef Scotch Beef Back on Menu in Japan Scotch Beef PGI, one of Scotland’s most iconic foods, is back on the menu in Japan for the first time in over 20 years.

An order of Scotch Beef PGI, supplied by West Lothianbased processor AK Stoddart’s, reached Japanese shores and its arrival was celebrated at an official showcase event in Japan as part of the Rugby World Cup celebrations.

The event, organised by Scottish Development International and supported by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), took place at the New Hall, situated in the British Embassy and was attended by influential Japanese retailers and food importers.

Alan Clarke, Chief Executive of Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) said there is a fantastic opportunity for Scotch Beef in Japan – a market which is worth £127m to UK farmers over five years. He said discerning Japanese consumers have a hunger for high-value, highquality Scotch Beef - a premium product that is renowned across the world for its excellence and

taste, as well as its leading levels of traceability, assurance and welfare standards.

“Scotch Beef was the first European red meat product to be granted the coveted European Protected Geographic Indication (PGI status) which reflects the unique provenance and quality of this product, and the farming methods behind the production of Scotch Beef are very much part of our Scottish landscape and heritage,” said Mr Clarke.

“We look forward to further developing opportunities to promote and showcase Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb in Japan.”

External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “I’m delighted that the people of Japan can once again enjoy one of Scotland’s most iconic food products. Our red meat sector is a genuine success story and one I am committed to continue to champion at home and overseas.”

Scotch Beef became Scottish Rugby’s Official Healthy Eating Partner in January 2019. As part of the partnership, QMS will deliver

a range of activities with Scottish Rugby over the year, including an initiative to raise the profile of the importance of healthy eating as part of Scottish Rugby’s schools programmes.

The Scotch Beef brand’s sustainability credentials have also

been highlighted in the partnership.

For more information on the Scotch Lamb, Scotch Beef and Specially Selected Pork brands including recipes, videos and tips, visit www.scotchkitchen. com or follow Scotch Kitchen on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Scotland’s Beef and Lamb Exports Top £82 million The value of beef and lamb exports from Scotland has increased to over £82 million in the past year, according to the results of the annual exporters’ survey conducted by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).

Speaking at Anuga food and beverage fair in Cologne, Germany, Kate Rowell Chair of QMS, revealed that Scotland’s exports of red meat increased in value by 9% in the year ending July 2019.

During a reception held on the QMS stand, Mrs Rowell said that even though Brexit uncertainty is casting an extremely unwelcome shadow over European and 92

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international trade, the figures clearly demonstrate overseas demand for our world-renowned brands – Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI. “We have promoted Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI at five international trade shows this year which have been instrumental in strengthening our relationships with our muchvalued, long-established overseas customers who recognise all that sets our beef, lamb and pork apart - our quality assurance and animal welfare messages to our sustainability criteria.

“We also continue to seek out and welcome new export

opportunities. New business leads from these fairs have been shared with all our processors resulting in new markets and customers coming on stream in the coming weeks,” said Mrs Rowell.

Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity, who also spoke at the reception, said: “Scotland’s red meat sector continues to go from strength

to strength with this survey providing the latest evidence of this fantastic growth. This just goes to show the strength of our globally renowned reputation for high quality and provenance, with products like Specially Selected Pork, Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb central to this success. The red meat sector is a genuine success story and one I am committed to continue to champion at home and overseas.”

Managing the risk of Grass Staggers Recently, there has been a large increase in cases of hypomagnesemia (Grass Staggers) in beef cows.

SAC Consulting, part of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), has now issued advice to farmers combat the problem, which is caused by a lack of magnesium.

Experts warn that lactating cows, older cows and cows under nutritional stress are most at most at risk.

Magnesium is not stored in the body and a daily dietary intake is required and there can be various reasons why cows fall dangerously low in magnesium: · Poor weather conditions, like we have had of late, can be a stress trigger. Low pasture covers and poorer weather also can mean cows fall dangerously low by not eating enough · Lush grass in autumn can be low in magnesium and have a high passage rate so less magnesium is absorbed.

Magnesium is absorbed in the rumen and it is also thought that high rumen ammonia levels, due to excess protein in lush grass, can also interfere with magnesium absorption · High potash levels in grazing grass can antagonise magnesium absorption

It is likely that a combination of the above reasons will contribute to clinical cases. A good target is an overall intake of 25g/day of magnesium. Grass can be variable but on average has around 1.6g magnesium per kilogram of dry matter so if a cow eats 10kg of dry matter (around 50kg of grass) this is 16g of magnesium.

This may be adequate under normal conditions but if she eats less or there are antagonists to absorption, it will not be enough and staggers risk is high. Straw has less than half the magnesium of grass and silage.

Robert Ramsay, SAC Consulting’s Senior Beef Consultant, said: “While it is common practice with setstocked spring-calvers to receive supplementary feeding, including a high magnesium mineral in the autumn, producers who have recently changed to paddock grazing have been concentrating on maximising output from grazed grass.

“This year, grass covers are good on these systems and supplementary feeding may seem unnecessary. However, advice to producers is to use magnesium licks/buckets and make sure your stock have access to them at all times, particularly when turning cattle into a new paddock of lush grass.”

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NFU Scotland

beef

Dr Gemma Miller is a researcher at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) A ground breaking fellowship with NFU Scotland will pull together the scientific evidence around greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon sequestration in agriculture and its impact on climate change.

Newly appointed Fellow, Dr Gemma Miller writes: “The purpose of the Fellowship will be to pull together the scientific evidence around greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon sequestration in agriculture and its impact on climate change – particularly focusing on the distinct role of agriculture in Scotland.

“I have a background in researching GHGs and carbon sequestration within the agriculture and land-use sector (ruminant livestock production, agricultural soils, peatlands and forestry), which puts me in a good position to help bring clarity to some of the more contentious issues within the industry.

“The agricultural industry is under ever increasing pressure to reduce GHG emissions, to meet national and international climate targets.

“However, the debate surrounding the impact of agriculture on climate change often becomes bogged down by opposing claims, misinterpretation of facts and repetition of myths.

“If the agricultural industry in Scotland, as a whole, can agree on what the current state of play is regarding agricultural emissions and environmental impact, it has a much better chance of moving forward in taking action to further reduce GHG emissions and in improving the image of Scottish agriculture.

“Science plays a role here in two ways: “Firstly, by defining the role of agriculture in climate change in terms of emissions and sequestration. Scientists both physically measure GHGs in the field and build computer

models which can accurately predict GHG emissions and sequestration from agriculture under current and changing conditions. There are lots of different methods that are applied to achieve this, and these vary from study to study.

“I’ll be creating some materials which will provide a clear and concise summary of the facts, how these are backed up by scientific evidence, and the level of confidence we have that the values reported are accurate.

“Secondly, science is shaping the response to climate change through development of agri-tech solutions, developing and rigorously testing GHG mitigation strategies, leading research in soil science, agronomy, animal nutrition and health; informing policy through economic analysis and behavioural science and understanding the wider impacts through ecological and environmental science.

“So I’ll also be writing a series of blogs over the next few months which will focus in on ground-breaking research being undertaken across the SEFARI collective (SRUC, Moredun, the James Hutton Institute, BioSS, The Rowett Institute and the Royal Botanic Gardens) and beyond, so watch this space!

“Environmentalists, in a short film with The Guardian, have recognised that natural climate solutions can make a massive difference, so our farmers and the people who manage our landscapes really are, and need to be considered as, part of the solution to the climate crisis.

Dr Gemma Miller is a researcher at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and newly appointed Fellow with NFUS. The Fellowship is being funded through the SEFARI (Scottish Environment, Food and Agriculture Research Institutes) Fellowship scheme.

www.nfus.org.uk

livestock Auctioneer offers sales advice and encourages farmers to Think Thainstone ANM auctioneer Rory Livesey provides sale advice and encourages Angus and Perthshire farmers to Think Thainstone during the autumn sales season.

The ‘Think Thainstone’ campaign launched by the Mart has been well-received by the farming community and widely reported on by agricultural media which continues to raise the profile of the Aberdeenshirebased Mart and the benefits of using its auction ring.

The opening of the AWPR has made Thainstone more accessible than ever before and customers are seeing savings between 45 to 60 minutes when travelling North. Farmers get paid on the day, receive free overnight lairage for their stock and there is also online bidding at major auctions and regular

video streaming of sales for those unable to attend in person.

Mr Livesey is reporting an increase in store lambs coming forward for sale at Thainstone.

He said: “The market is a bit cautious at the moment and we are seeing more store lamb producers looking to sell their stock ahead of the impending

Brexit date. With a lot of lamb finishers in Aberdeenshire, Thainstone regularly has a large and active ringside of buyers competing for stock.

Be coccidiosis aware with calves this autumn Farmers with autumn calving herds are being encouraged to be vigilant for coccidiosis during the high-risk period, of three to four weeks post weaning, especially if the weather is mild and damp.

Phoebe McCarter, NADIS veterinary advisor, explains that coccidiosis remains a major issue across the industry and outlines how a combination of good husbandry, testing and prompt treatment with an appropriate coccidiocide can help gain control of the costly disease.

Prevention with good husbandry “Many herds are still calved outside during the autumn, so one of the first things to consider is whether your field is likely to harbour disease risk, as coccidiosis

oocysts can survive year-to-year from previous stock,” she says.

“I’d also recommend fencing off any stagnant water or natural watercourses, as these can harbour higher levels of the parasite.

Similarly, poached areas around troughs and feeders make for oocyst survival conditions, so frequent relocation of these is key.”

Indoor calving herds have different risks to monitor for, so it is vital to ensure bedding is kept clean and dry, with sheds are cleaned down and disinfected appropriately.

For further information on coccidiosis please visit https://www. nadis.org.uk/disease-a-z/cattle/ coccidiosis-in-cattle/ and to find out more about Baycox, please contact your local Bayer territory manager.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Out January 2020 94

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Scotlands’ beef and lamb exports review Whilst attending one of the world’s most influential food fairs in October, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) Chair Kate Rowell announced that the value of beef and lamb exports from Scotland has increased to over £82 million in the past year. This was according to the results of the annual exporters’ survey conducted by QMS. At Anuga in Germany Mrs Rowell said that even though Brexit uncertainty is casting an extremely unwelcome shadow over European and international trade, the figures clearly demonstrate overseas demand for our worldrenowned brands – Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI. “We have promoted Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI at five international trade shows this year which have been instrumental in strengthening our relationships with our muchvalued, long-established overseas customers who recognise all that sets our beef, lamb and pork apart - our quality assurance and animal welfare messages to our sustainability criteria,” said Mrs Rowell.

“We also continue to seek out and welcome new export opportunities. New business leads from these fairs have been shared with all our processors resulting in new markets and customers coming on stream in the coming weeks.”

The results of the QMS survey also revealed that exports of beef have reached the £50m mark, with the EU accounting for around 97% of beef exports by value and volume in the same period.

By far the largest markets for Scotch Beef were France and Monaco, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Collectively these accounted for a combined 62% of

Scotch Beef export sales by value and 60% of the volume.

Austria and Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg, and Denmark, Sweden and Finland were also important destinations, with combined sales totalling nearly £7.5m.

Sheepmeat exports from Scotland totalled £32m, with the EU accounting for around 98% in value and more than 99% of the volume of sales. According to the QMS figures, France remains the most important destination for Scotch Lamb.

While overseas demand for fifth quarter products remained important for balancing the carcase, generating almost £4m of revenue, sales are estimated to have fallen back from the previous year but still remain a significant opportunity.

The announcement was made during a ministerial reception, held on QMS’s stand at Anuga, which welcomed the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity, Fergus Ewing MSP. Two importers were also recognised at the reception for their long-term commitment to the Scottish red meat industry. Rauch, a Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI importer from Germany, and Netherlandsbased Scottish beef importer Zandbergen, received the awards from the Cabinet Secretary.

livestock Lower carcase weights are not an issue for Charolais users Major beef processor plans to reduce carcase weights from October are offering great opportunities for the Charolais breed as finishers look for adaptable and flexible animals that meet changing consumer demands.

The weight drop of between 20kgs and 40kgs per carcass depending on buyer, also brings with it new penalties for heavier beasts which, when coupled to a six-year low in pricing, means bigger challenges that this particular breed is well set to meet.

“Finishers need an animal that is a great food converter and therefore finishes quickly, so they can finish more animals in order to make money,” says Charolais chief executive Peter Phythian.

“This is where the modern Charolais fits so well. We see this as a big opportunity for the breed as finishers are going to be looking for animals they can turn around more quickly.”

The industry’s belief is that processors are acting on pressure from the retail trade, who want smaller prime cuts to meet declining consumer demand for red meat.

Norman Gammie farms in partnership with his brothers at Mains of Gallery in Montrose and, as well as running 400 sucklers, buys in between 1500 and 2000 stores at around 500kgs to finish over 120 days.

“We would have got to 750kgs with the steers, but now we’ll have to make sure we don’t go above 700kgs,” he explains.

“With a killing out percentage of between 54% and 56% we’re going to have to monitor cattle very carefully. This will mean better than ever management and more regular weighing.”

He says heifers don’t pose as much of a problem, as they usually finish below 400kgs, but that the problem lies with the bullocks. A 20kg drop in the weight limit at £3.50kg means a loss of gross income of £70 per beast.

“We’re very committed to Charolais animals, and we’ll have to select more carefully in the future. We will be looking for lighter store animals, and they are available, as we need a 150-200kg liveweight gain to get a margin.

“I don’t believe we’ll change breed, the Charolais is well suited to this job, we’ll just select more carefully and manage them more closely.”

He pointed out that he would have to look at turning over more animals to stay in profit, and said his longer-term concern was that the weights would keep decreasing as there’s already a premium available for animals under 380kgs. This may mean changes in management in the future.

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livestock North Ayrshire Monitor Farm Maximising Business and Livestock Efficiency Improved handling systems and electronic identification (EID) in cattle has helped Girtridge Farm in North Ayrshire to become safer and more efficient whilst helping to improve cattle performance.

With EID tagging in calves likely to be introduced in 2020, farmer John Howie has been taking part in an industry led pilot trial investigating how EID technology can enable him to keep accurate records and ensure traceability is maintained while cutting down on time spent visually reading tag numbers and recording data.

John Howie runs the 140-hectare Girtridge Farm, the North Ayrshire Monitor farm, in partnership with his mother and sister. They currently finish around 230 cattle all year round, some housed and others from grass.

At last week’s North Ayrshire Monitor Farm meeting, held on Wednesday 25 September, at Girtridge Farm, Dundonald, attendees heard about John’s work to utilise EID tags and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) readers

to monitor cattle performance and make management changes based on the information to increase production and overall efficiency.

“We’ve gone from using pen and paper to record our data, to a new UHF reader fitted to the crush which is saving a lot of time. It has made data recording easier and a much more pleasurable experience,” said John. “Although we’ve only recently introduced the tags, the ability to have the readers fitted to the crush will improve overall productivity and will, over time, help us to better track weight gain and allows us to identify which cattle are performing for us.”

The Howies have also introduced an auto-drench gun to compliment the new EID technology which was demonstrated to attendees at the meeting. The auto-drench gun uses Wi-Fi and automatically adjusts the dosage according to the weight of the cattle.

For more information about the monitor farm programme visit www.monitorfarms.co.uk

New global animal feed ingredients matrix launched The latest data behind 260 raw animal feed ingredients and in excess of 40,000 nutrients, including new amino acids (AAs) and insect proteins, has been published within the new global ingredients matrix, Premier Atlas.

The matrix, authored by Premier Nutrition, provides the animal feed industry with the most up to date and precise ingredient values for efficient

feed formulation, explains Premier pig product director, Mick Hazzledine.

“There are some exciting developments on the horizon for the animal feed industry, which is reflected in the 59 new ingredients included in this edition of the matrix,” he explains.

“We’re now seeing greater availability of crystalline amino acids, which allow us to more www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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livestock

The

VET

Pedicure Sir?

accurately match nutritional requirements to the animal, with less waste.

“There’s also a lot of interest in alternative proteins, such as insects, which could provide a useful nutrient contribution in the short to medium term.”

Premier Atlas provides a comprehensive description of listed ingredients, as well as their production, anti nutritive factors and processing details.

In particular, it also details the levels of 17 digestible AAs, for both pigs and poultry, in over 200 feed ingredients.

“Importantly, while we currently use lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan and more recently, valine in monogastric diets, the potential for isoleucine, arginine and other amino acids is looking very promising,” he says. “Therefore, as future market requirements become clearer, the industry now has 98

the information required to meet them.”

As supply increases and prices fall this information will support the industry to meet growing requirements for more sustainable diets which are lower in protein and soya, adds Mick.

“Armed with this information, we can help our global customers and their farmers stay well informed ahead of emerging trends.

“The data also enables rations to be reformulated when commodity prices fluctuate, to maintain a consistent nutrient supply and animal performance at the lowest cost,” he says.

Premier Atlas is available in published format and as an interactive digital tool, E-Atlas, exclusively to Premier Nutrition clients. Academics and researchers may receive a copy via info@premiernutrition. co.uk.

When it comes to the various pieces of machinery and equipment that we use in the practice we have a plethora of maintenance and services agreements that keep them safe and legal to use as well as in good working order so that they do what we need them to do, when we want.

Although its an ongoing cost it ensures we get better value for our outlay in the long term and having contracts means it is done on time and we don’t forget about it.

I’ve spent most of the last few weeks trimming up bulls feet, some lame and some just overgrown. It’s actually a very satisfying job getting the feet trimmed back to a good shape and then balancing the two claws so they weight bear evenly. This is a bit of essential maintenance that should be carried out regularly just like on any other bit of equipment we use.

Now is an especially good time before bulls are being housed for the winter. Don’t just trim the feet when there is a lameness problem or when they look grossly overgrown, in my experience all bulls will benefit from a trim and balance even when their feet look quite good. It’s surprising what you find sometimes when you turn them over, The mechanics of weight going through the hind feet tend to put more pressure through the outside claw, that’s stimulates it to grow faster, so making it bigger and longer than the inside

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By Andy Cant Northvet Veterinary Group claw. This imbalance, if not corrected, changes the gait and conformation of the legs and how they stand and move, putting stresses and strains on joints higher up the limb. It must be like wearing a bad fitting pair of shoes Another common finding when you turn the feet up is a big lump of horn at the inner edge of the sole. This puts weight through the hoof at exactly the wrong place nipping the solar horn between the pedal bone in the hoof and the horn overgrowth, this leads to the solar horn stopping growing and the formation of an ulcer.

So again routine trimming to hollow out the horn at the inside and return weight bearing to the sole adjacent to the walls of the hoof saves the day.

It’s amazing what else you unexpectedly find on a routine trim; stones, bits of grit, abscesses, under run soles, cracks…it goes on, but if you find them you can sort them out before they become a major problem So consider a foot trim as a bit of equipment maintenance - I can assure you your bulls will thank you for it and repay you by working all the better!

livestock Pioneering technology to advance Scottish cattle traceability A revolutionary electronic identification (EID) system to track and monitor Scotland’s cattle herd is being showcased to the farming industry from this autumn. The system enables the tracking of Scottish cattle throughout their entire life and evidences the provenance of Scotch Beef.

The proposed new system uses advanced Ultra High Frequency (UHF) scanning technology bringing greater benefits in its use and flexibility combined with Low Frequency technology which is more rigid and inflexible.

The ScotEID database will bring together all farm livestock movement records within one central source and will lead to the removal of paper passports.

ScotEID, which manages the database for recording animal movements in Scotland, has designed and developed the pioneering new recording system for the Scottish herd.

It will incorporate births, deaths and movements of cattle, replacing the British Cattle Movement Service’s (BCMS) Cattle Tracing System (CTS) for Scottish cattle keepers and provide an online line service and with the introduction of bovine EID and an Online Herd Register.

The new system embeds data experience from research and development and current data management by ScotEID, with the use of UHF technology bringing a number of new benefits. Not only will it be straightforward to use, but it will improve the speed and accuracy of traceability, according to Bob Yuill, director of ScotEID. Mr Yuill says: “When the system is adopted in Scotland, then all movements to and from markets and to abattoirs will be recorded using UHF technology which is good from both a health and safety perspective but also for ease of use.

“Using electronic ID tags, electronic reading and electronic data transfer will reduce the administration burden and recording errors for the livestock sector and be safer in terms of requiring close handling of cattle. It will also help to futureproof the recording process.”

Mr Yuill adds: “The existing CTS systems have reached the end of their viable operating lives and can no longer efficiently be sustained or accommodate the changes that are required for cattle EID. “Ultra High Frequency (UHF) technology is being used, and supported by industry leaders, because of the benefits it brings with regards to being user-friendly and offering benefits in terms of health and safety. We will be able to explain in more detail, and answer questions that interested parties may have, during our roadshow events.”

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Scotland is rightly proud of its traceability system which helps to ensure world class animal health, welfare and farm standards all of which mean that Scotch Beef has an enviable position as a leading brand.

The continuing development of ScotEID will conclude with it being a whole life, multi species system for all farm livestock in Scotland. The technology will bring benefits through multianimal scanning capabilities at marts and slaughterhouses.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Subscription details on page 120

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sheep Setting the sheep farming record straight NSA welcomes the need for measures to reduce global warming and address species decline, as outlined from the Committee for Climate Change and the UN nature report.

However, it is concerned that some of the recommendations relating to agriculture and food are unbalanced, based on inadequate science, and understands little about the UK sheep industry in its criticisms of red meat production.

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker explains: “It is really frustrating to yet again see our extensive livestock sectors caught up within criticisms of agriculture and their impact on climate change and biodiversity, and little mention of other damaging activities, that may be less popular to criticise. It is seemingly OK to offset emissions from flying around the world through carbon sequestering actions such as tree planting and peatland management, but

not OK for a farm to do its own internal offsetting.

“Yet again livestock farming appears to be an easy target that is fashionable to attack while the reality is that farming methods in the UK contribute positively,and could do even more with the right incentives. In particular, the role of grazed grassland, rotational and permanent leys, in building soil organic matter, soil biology, and storing carbon is ignored. Many of the climate change assumptions regarding ruminant livestock farming are based on global systems of production that are very different to our mainstream methods here in the UK. UK sheep and beef systems are predominantly grass based and grazed, and operate in harmony with wildlife, rather than a feedlot style production that is based on crop production, feed processing and transport.”

With almost weekly headlines claiming agriculture is responsible for many of the environmental

Blackface ewe and lambs on Auchnacloich

and health problems facing todays population, the National Sheep Association (NSA) alongside supporters British Wool are readying themselves to counteract these arguments in a series of honest and informative evening meetings to be held over the Autumn and Winter.

The meetings, titled ‘Setting the sheep farming record straight’, will be open to all sheep farmers and will include discussions

that explore facts and statistics about the UK sheep industry demonstrating the sectors role as part of the solution, rather than the cause, to arguments surrounding climate change in particular.

The meeting in Scotland will be held on 7th November at 7pm within Forfar Livestock Market.

For further information please contact NSA Head Office on 01684 892661 or email enquiries@ nationalsheep.org.uk.

Prime Lamb Prices Remain Subdued Although very similar to 2017, prime lamb prices continue to trail last year’s levels by 8%, according to the latest market analysis by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).

The number of lambs slaughtered in the UK between May and the end of August was up nearly 5%, reflecting the effect of weather on lamb production in 2018 compared to 2019. Auction market throughputs through September continue to run ahead of last year.

This extra volume of prime lamb along with higher carcase weights will have constrained market prices.

However, according to Stuart Ashworth, Director of Economics Services with QMS, the expectation is that the 2019 lamb crop will be lower than last year on the back of a 3.9% reduction in the UK breeding flock reported in December 2019.

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“Publication of the English June 2019 census results support this expectation by reporting a decline of 1.5% in the English lamb crop,” said Mr Ashworth.

“Given the higher levels of lamb slaughterings so far this year, this would suggest a tightening of prime lamb supplies to come over the coming months.”

Trade data from HMRC shows a substantial reduction in deliveries of sheepmeat into the UK from New Zealand in the first seven months of 2019 and also significant increases in UK exports.

“This change in trade pattern reduced the quantity of sheepmeat on the home market by almost 9,000 tonnes in the three months to the end of July, more than offsetting the increase in the volume of sheepmeat leaving UK abattoirs and resulting in the home market being more tightly supplied,” said Mr Ashworth.

sheep Student’s research impresses professionals at Sheep Veterinary Congress

Not everything is doom and gloom!

By Maime Paterson Upper Auchenlay, Dunblane

A student’s research revealing the need for improved communication between vets and sheep farmers impressed delegates at a major industry conference.

Tayla Harding shared the results of a survey she devised and carried out for her Royal Agricultural University (RAU) dissertation with an audience of industry professionals at the Sheep Veterinary Congress this month.

The title of the Applied Farm Management student’s presentation was ‘Understanding the level of interaction between the Sheep Farmer and Veterinarian in the South West of England and the reasons for this’.

Her work at the RAU, whose campus is in Cirencester, found that vets and farmers both believed that a high turnover of vets in practise and lack of specialist knowledge

surrounding the sheep sector were barriers to regular interaction between the farmer and vet.

Farmers placed cost as the biggest reason for lack of interaction, and this was also mirrored in the responses from the veterinarian data, where cost was also detailed as the main reason alongside market prices and value of stock.

Another significant finding was that many farmers were not aware of ‘Flock Health Clubs’ set up in practise. On the other hand, farmers who were actively participating in the clubs found them invaluable.

This suggested that although communication does occur between the farmer and vet there are several aspects which need improving both on both sides, to develop a healthy working relationship which promotes excellent communication.

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Back in the Spring of this

phenomenal rise in demand

year,

for

and prices at recent sales in

the back-end sheep trade

Lerwick. Demand for tups

were beyond gloomy, they

has been much better than

were

positively

Stygian.

anyone expected, and the

Brexit

uncertainty

would

atmosphere at the Kelso tup

send the store lamb trade

sales was positively cheery.

crashing through the floor,

One

while breeding sheep would

demand for breeding stock is

be unsaleable. Plans were

that suckler cows are being

being made by government

replaced by sheep. Another

for schemes to compensate

is that the effects of the Beast

farmers for expected losses

from the East are manifesting

and in August in the run-

themselves as a shortage

up to the Lairg hill lamb

of gimmers and cast ewes.

sale,

braced

Also the late summer has

themselves for the start of

produced an abundance of

the onslaught. It never came.

grass, and if there’s one thing

The trade held firm, and in

that farmers can’t abide, it’s

fact the price of smaller long-

grass that’s not being eaten.

keep lambs increased, a

And, of course farmers can’t

pattern which has persisted

just switch off their ewes until

throughout the store sales

the politicians finally agree

season. These small lambs

what to do about Brexit.

will be kept and sold in the

Farming life goes on, and with

Spring of next year when who

much gloom emanating from

knows what the domestic

the beef sector, and a wet

and export trades will be like.

and difficult harvest still under

That’s a gamble!!

way, there are currently not

the

predictions

producers

It’s been a similar story for

breeding

explanation

for

the

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females,

But out of the blue, the sheep

even for the little Shetland

trade is one of them. Who’d

sheep which have seen a

have thought?

LIVESTOCK MARKET REVIEW

Market outlook

By Katrina Macarthur The number of cattle in Scotland has now hit a 60-year low with overall numbers of cattle in the UK having fallen by 1.4% on the year.

According to data released from Defra this summer, declines were evident in almost all categories of stock, from suckler and dairy breeding animals, to those intended for slaughter at the tail-end of this year and next.

In Scotland, figures as at June 1 showed a significant fall in the suckler herd with numbers of female beef cattle aged one to two years of age having decreased from 196,104 in 2018 to 192,661 in 2019.

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Numbers of female beef cattle aged two years and over with offspring have also fallen by almost 7000 head on the year from 424,250 in 2018 to 417,383 in 2019.

However, suckler cows aged two years and over without offspring have seen a slight increase on the year from 79,123 to 79,554.

Overall, the number of all categories of cattle fell by 28,000 head with beef numbers at 699,477 in 2018 and 689,598 in 2019. Given the fall in the number of both calves and male animals, this would indicate a

slight tightening of supply next year.

In contrast, sheep numbers in Scotland have made a recovery in 2019 with 116,000 more lambs on the ground on June 1 compared to the previous year due to better weather throughout the spring.

However, sheep one years of age and over for breeding has seen a -6.8% with overall numbers at 631,743 in 2018 and 588,744 in 2019.

The total number of sheep has increased by 1.3% from 6,586,399 in 2018 to 6,669,100 in 2019.

Meanwhile, the latest data from Defra, reported that 1.19m

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clean sheep were killed in the UK in September. In the year to date, almost 100,000 more cull ewes have been killed this year with 146,600 head killed in September.

While cull ewe carcase weights declined slightly, having been exceptionally high earlier in the summer due to large volumes of grass, lamb average carcase weights increased 200g month on month to 19.5k.

The total sheep meat production was 26,900 tonnes for the month, which is up 8% or 2100 tonnes on the year, although this is 1900 tonnes lower than August.

TRAINVIEW TALK

DIARY

Trainview Talk Our new diary page

By Valerie Orr who runs Trainview Livestock with partner James Cameron The three B’s Brexit, beef prices and bloody weather and each seem to be continuing to cause some degree of frustration to all just now.

Our cattle at least are looking well despite the weather however recent rain is causing a great challenge to access our main grazings with wet tracks and guttery gateways, even the forklift taking straw out struggles.

Our homebred stock bull, Prince is now out from the cows as he has been sold to the Woollatt family in Chepstow. Better known for their Longhorns, he is their first stock bull for their up and coming Shorthorn herd.

After being posted for sale on social media, he was bought unseen on the strength of his pictures and pedigree, a son of Chapelton Duke a Stirling champion and Ballyvaddy Princess our foundation cow that’s won numerous show’s in Scotland and NI. We have had 3 years work out of him and with our AI syncro a disaster going by returns, we were very glad to have him!

We had worked hard to tighten the calving up and now it’s going to be back to a

drawn out process. One factor was a bad batch of semen, we sacrificed a straw for our vet to test and it was found to be unviable pointing to bad handling during transport.

Thankfully the seller has stood by it but it has set us back a year not getting those genetics.

Another factor was 2 Prids falling out so we will be back to CIDRs next year! Hopefully when we pd the cattle it won’t be all bad news.

We will of course be Bull Sales bound in October with two of our own beef shorthorn bulls. Also a Charolais from the Smeatons Bombax herd where I help with the sale cattle on Sunday mornings. It’s a record entry of bulls, good if you are looking to purchase, for sellers maybe not so much.

Sadly a neighbour Charlie McQuattie is leaving to live in Ireland with his family and giving up most of his Highland ponies.

We have been able to take on some of his grazing which is almost on our doorstep, when you have near a 2hr round trip each day to check a herd of 40 every mile closer to home adds up. As sorry we are to see Charlie leave I told him he should of done it 2 years ago!

Charlie has racked up 49 years showing Highland ponies and Vendeen sheep at the RHS only broken when he judged it and peaked when he brought out the Highland pony breed champion in 2012, there will be few around who could boast the same.

With the new grazing we have branched out and bought some Herdwick ewes and look to cross them with a Downland tup with a view for lamb for the freezer and to sell some lamb boxes. It’s a shame some lamb can get a bad name but after having a Ryeland lamb in the freezer this year my faith in great tasting lamb was restored. Minority and rare breeds have their place and the sooner we look beyond the EUROP grading system the sooner we can get back to focusing on taste and eating quality rather than aiming to fit in the supermarket packaging.

We have been doing some preparation for housing with Valerie’s Dad helping with some shed improvements. The calves also got their IBR and pneumonia vaccinations just leaving them to get their backs clipped when they do come in.

We have been hard on selection

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with just two bull calves kept entire along with 4 good heifers retained as replacements. The remaining calves we are unsure whether to sell off their mothers or gamble the beef price come the new year. It’s hard to see it being any lower which is hard to bear when the calf crop is the most consistent we have had.

As a change to the livestock I am back to my seasonal Ghillie work for the grouse and red deer stag season on a Perthshire estate. It’s a long day fitting in feeding bulls and getting home for the kids bedtime. Valerie also has to juggle in the daily drive round the cows and any stock work with the boys on tow. Despite the slight strain on the home work I really enjoy it. It’s a job done very much the traditional way and helping to keep jobs in these remote areas. With one new hotel in the area £15 for a starter and £300 a night the money brought into the local economy would be hard replaced. And who could blame anyone for wanting to visit the Cairngorms, as one Ghillie climbed out of her Argocat, she looked around and said, ‘This is just fantastic!’

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dairy GEA DairyRobot increases yield and reduces costs Kirkton of Beath Farm is a dairy and arable enterprise which started in 1894, run by David and Alice Thomson and son Fraser. The family were milking 135 cows and were experiencing the challenges of labour costs and pressure to spend time in the dairy while managing seasonal busy periods at their arable business. In 2016, they started looking at automation as a way forward which would be able to solve these problems.

“Our goals starting this project and the main reason to invest was to increase milking the cows from 2 to 3 times a day, increase capacity and run our

dairy enterprise with reduced labour costs,” says David Thomson. The project included refurbishment of their dairy and changing to cubicles from straw bedded courts, as well as adding automated milking robots.

The family looked at the competitive market and what was on offer including local dealer support. They built a close relationship with GEA dealer DairyFlow and flew all the way to the Netherlands to see the GEA DairyRobot R9500 for themselves. Impressed by its fast attachment, yet simple operational design and confident in the support they would receive

from DairyFlow, the robots were going to be more than just a purchase.

David is of the opinion that the flexibility that the technology provides is a big thing to consider, especially for mixed farms like his. “Automated milking system just makes life easier. Very much a good thing for family farms,” he says.

An added benefit was that one supply unit can connect to three robots, therefore reducing costs.

The biomass boiler provides free hot water and the milk cooling costs are minimal because of high capacity plate cooler with a slow steady throughput.

So they made the decision to invest in the future of their business and go from their 10 x 20 Westfalia SwingOver parlour to purchasing three GEA automated milking robots.

As David says: “It’s been a lifestyle change.” First milking was in January 2018 and after months of hard work, they now look back at the decision as most definitely the right one. The robot has reached its targets in reducing cell count and mastitis rates on farm while increasing milk yields. Now they are milking on average 3-4 times a day and bactoscan averages 11 and cell count 165.

Pioneering service to help farmers cut feed waste and drive profit margins Dairy farmers across the UK can now benefit from Alltech® Navigate™, a pioneering advice service that aims to increase profit margins by a minimum of 1.2 pence per litre through reducing feed waste and optimising input utilisation.

Presenting at UK Dairy Day, Ian Leach, Alltech retail programmes lead, explained that results from the latest Alltech feed waste reduction and utilisation on-farm pilot study, which looked specifically at higher-efficiency UK dairy herds, highlighted that feed waste could be costing as much as £216.00 per cow, per year.

“However, the reality is that this figure could be much higher depending on the system in place. For example, results from our first pilot study2, which assessed a broad spectrum of dairy farms, revealed that the average waste value per cow sat at £522.44 per annum,” he said.

“Based on a 200-cow herd, this could lead to financial losses 104

of up to £105,000 over 12 months.

Tackling feed waste therefore offers a huge opportunity to boost the bottom line and while it is a challenging area, there are practical steps that can be taken.”

Alltech® Navigate™ aims to support the dairy industry on the journey to higher business resilience.

“The advice service, which is free to access, involves a simple three-step process; assess, analyse, action. A two-hour onfarm assessment looks at detail into the four key areas where feed waste can occur, including; in the field, during storage, at feed-out and inside the cow,” explained Ian. “Data collected during the assessment is then analysed using the programming tool in order to produce percentage losses, and monetary values, to illustrate the financial pinchpoints,” he added.

“Finally, a concise report, containing actionable recommendations, is generated

to help farmers make wellinformed strategic decisions on what steps, and potential investment, is required to help reduce feed waste and optimise input utilisation.”

Andrew Henderson from Independent Feeds, who has experienced the impact of Alltech® Navigate™ first-hand, believes the advice service is fundamental to the future of the UK dairy sector.

“Feed is the single biggest variable cost on farm,” he said.

“It’s therefore key that farmers are taking steps throughout the entire feed process to manage factors that can be controlled, such as forage quality, cow health and fertility, and feed conversion efficiency (FCE).

For more information and to explore our interactive farm, please visit: www.alltech.com/uk

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE and SHOOTING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Subscription details on page 120

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Livestock housing from Pre-formed Solutions Pre-formed Solutions Limited manufactures Concrete Panels to suit your purpose. These panels can be used for a number of applications ranging from stock houses, feed passages and grain stores, to silage clamps and storage bays.

Our manufacturing operations have the ability to form a range of panel sizes for many functions.

We can vary lengths widths and depths.

They offer a strong, resilient material which can endure tough conditions. Being manufactured using high strength, quality produced structural concrete, batched on site, they offer protection against fire, without the need for expensive fire resistance applications.

Concrete Buildings These buildings are strong, light and airy. Spans are from 14’ (4.3m) to 165’+ (50.2m+). These buildings provide bright clear span solutions for agricultural, industrial and commercial needs as well as personal storage and equestrian arenas and stables.

The covers have a 30 Year life expectancy and come with a 10year warranty.

We have just added to our range of water troughs Our Water Troughs are made from C50 strength fibre reinforced Quality Concrete, using only quality assured/tested Aggregate and Concrete Sand.

The fibre reinforcement acts as two layers of A252 mesh. All troughs are made at our site in the Scottish Borders.

ECP offers four sizes of Water Troughs: 300 Gallon 1.25t 100 Gallon 800kg 100 Gallon Tall 800kg 100 Gallon Shallow 800kg 50 Gallon 400kg 20 Gallon 150kg Each unit weighs are approximately and based on being empty. Due to their weight they just need to be placed in position and are ready to be connected up to your water supply.

This offers substantial labour and cost savings on installation, and protects against livestock moving the troughs.

Our 100 Gallon Water troughs allow the service box to be positioned in the middle or at the end of the trough. The water inlet point can be from the side or end of the service box, enabling the troughs to fit in almost any position and allowing the troughs to be split into two for dividing fields or pens. The water inlet point is above the water level conforming to new Water Board regulations.

2.25m (7ft6in) and 3m (10ft) and is suitable for a number of applications, Grain storage Salt storage (with building cover) Aggregate storage Coverall building Support Crash Barriers Depending on your use and needs the FS Blocks can support 100mm (4”) or 150mm (6”) panels.

The FS WallingTM System has been designed to work with a proven building system.

Combining the two products allows large buildings to be erected quickly and economically.

Bespoke Concrete Solutions Any concreting work considered.

If you cannot find what you are looking for on the market, we may be able to help you. In the past we have made bespoke pieces for clients. Please ring to discuss any potential work, if you would like someone to come and see your site where an innovative solution is required please get in touch.

To find out about all of our products and services, call our number on our advertisement or visit our website: www.preformedsolutions.com

Free Standing Wall Units FS Walling System Our own design and copyrighted system unique to Pre-formed Solutions. The FS WallingTMallows our PreStressed concrete panels to be supported without the need for steelwork to be erected on site.

Additionally, the blocks and panels form a movable system which is durable and cost effective.

The walling can be erected to three heights 1.5m (5ft), www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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LiveScot & Native Pony Winter Fair Saturday 23rd November 2019, Lanark Agricultural Centre, Lanark Excitement and enthusiasm is building for this years’ LiveScot event with some of the best primestock in the country attending, this is sure to be a show not to be missed!

Our LiveScot event on 23rd November, is fast approaching, with beef cattle and sheep entries now closed. Now in its sixth 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 2019, 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 the reigns as Chairman and an impressive line-up of judges will select the best of the best in the show rings.

Being held on the same day as LiveScot for the first time will be the Native Pony Winter Fair, having ran previously in conjunction with the Clydesdale Winter Fair. We are excited to add another event to our itinerary on the day.

Following its success last year, we will once again run the Smithfield beef ribs and saddle of lamb competitions where we hope to have another fine display of meat.

As well as our large sections of Beef Cattle and Sheep we have sections for Dairy Cattle, Young Handlers, Poultry, Shepherds Crooks, Silage, Hay & 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

‘Adore Derriere’ the Overall LiveScot Champion in 2018 from Wilson Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse, Monzie which sold to B & T Kitson Butchers, Yorkshire

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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

Choice Classes – Murray Lauchlan Young Stocksperson Competition – Mr & Mrs R McNee Dairy Cattle – John Gilmour Open Sheep Classes and Overall Breed Championships – Malcolm Stewart Single Ewe Lambs & Young Handlers – Malcolm Couborough Jnr Grain, Hay & Grass Silage – Hugh McClymont Crooks – Alex Mair (reply awaited) Poultry - TBC Baking & Crafts – TBC

LiveScot Judges: Open Cattle Classes and Overall Beef Championship – Dougie McBeath Commercial Calf Classes & Young Handlers – Craig Robertson Butchers Cattle and Housewives

LiveScot Auction Sale Times Sheep ............................... 3.30 pm Champion and Reserve Sheep ............................... 4.15 pm Beef Ribs ......................... 4.30 pm Cattle ............................... 4.45 pm Champion and Reserve Cattle ............................... 5.30 pm

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 23rd November.

Entry: £10 (Under 14’s: free)

2018 Overall Champion, a pair of Beltex X lambs from Messrs Hall, Inglewood Edge, Dalston and Reserve Champion from J & T MacPherson, Pitsundry Farm, Bankfoot

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Premier Meat Exhibition 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 13, with the live judging at Caledonian Marts’ Stirling mart followed by the judging of the carcasses and presentation of

Gavin Ross of Ross Bros, Wardhead who was the exhibitor of the 2018 PME Champion Beef Carcase and Alison Ritch from Orkney, Breeder of the Champion Carcase

awards on Saturday, November 16, 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.”

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

Overall Championship line up of Sheep Carcases from the 2018 Premier Meat Exhibition

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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 Aileen Ingram, East Comalegy, Aberdeenshire and the live lambs by William Shearer, Burnbrae, Strathaven.

The beef carcasses at Bridge of Allan will be judged

by Alan McNaughton with a representative from France judging the sheep carcasses.

A feature of the competition is the Young Livestock Producer classes confined to exhibitors aged from 14 to 26 years which has been very successful since its introduction in 2013 to encourage the younger generation into the livestock industry.

The Premier Meat Exhibition is run in tandem with the SNFSC’s two other events – the Native Pony Winter Fair on Saturday, November 23, and LiveScot on Saturday, November 23. Both events are held at Lawrie and Symington’s Lanark Mart.

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 107

farming diversification

Diversification for the Greater Good

By Janice Hopper

Devil’s Porridge Museum

When we explore agricultural diversification it’s usually an exciting development, fully embraced by the farmer or landowner: a development designed to attract additional income streams. With Armistice Day upon us, Farming Scotland explores how farmland has been diversified, requisitioned and repurposed for the greater good.

Our focus is the Solway Firth, and the story starts at the Devil’s Porridge Museum. This museum commemorates H.M. Factory Gretna where nine miles of land was required to build the world’s biggest munitions factory. During WW1 the British soldiers on the frontline experienced a terrifying shortage of ammunition, referred to as the ‘Shell Crisis’, and H.M. Factory Gretna was built in an urgent response to this.

The land required was swiftly commandeered. The site 108

ran from Scotland into England.

It comprised of comparatively cheap farm land, the majority of which was owned by one landowner, Lord Mansfield.

He was paid £118,000 for 5490 acres. £110,000 was paid to other landowners for a further 3744 acres, but such compulsory purchase orders occasionally met colourful resistance. In Longtown a farmer set his prize bull into a field that was being surveyed by Government officials because, apparently, they didn’t report to the farmhouse or introduce themselves. A farmer in Dornock, not only found his farm purchased and subsequently destroyed, but his white stallion was commandeered by the army for use in France. Whilst alleviating the terror in the trenches was the priority, it sees that farming families faced huge change and uncertainty with very little say in the matter.

The first sod for H.M. Factory Gretna was cut in August 1915. After construction began, archive images reveal buildings going up as neeps grow in the foreground, but Gretna certainly delivered. The factory produced up to 1000 tonnes of RDB cordite per week, and employed over 30,000 people at its peak.

It was dangerous work, due to potential explosions, and side effects included workers (many of which were women) losing their teeth as acid eroded their gums.

Just as the land had been swiftly acquired at the beginning of the war, at the end of the World War 1 it had to be dispersed of.

When hostilities ceased, 4636 acres of factory land was taken over by the Scottish Board of Agriculture, but it wasn’t entirely clear what to do with it. Various proposals were put forward, such as turning the land

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into small holdings for returning soldiers. When the ideas failed to come to fruition H.M. Factory Gretna was passed to the Disposals Board in August 1921 to be sold off. Once more, new ideas were on the table. Could it be a location for a sugar refinery, could a farmer demolish the military buildings and return the countryside to agricultural land?

It appears there was no master plan for the post-war years. An auction was held in 1924, selling off individual small holdings and properties.

Turns out that history has a habit of repeating itself. With the advent of WW2, the Gretna site was identified as a potential military storage depot. The land was requisitioned once more.

Other farms facing a similar situation were Broom Farm and Chapelcross Farm. From 1939 Broom Farm was known as Powfoot Munitions Factory

farming diversification biplanes and Magister trainers.

But the history of Chapelcross Farm was even more dramatic.

Its mountainous surroundings made it an unlikely choice for an airbase, but from 1942 Hurricane and Typhoon pilots from around the world were training at the farm, which was now known as RAF Annan. Heroes include ace pilot Dennis ‘Hurricane’ David.

The famous Glaswegian boxer, Jackie Paterson, also served at RAF Annan. Farmers and rural residents had the skies above them transformed, as pilots practised skilled manoeuvres, curling high in the sky and sweeping desperately low. Fatal crashes were also a relatively regular hazard, due to the mist, mountains, and the inexperience of the young pilots.

After the Second World War, Chapelcross Farm, or RAF Annan,

was reimagined as Chapelcross Nuclear Power Station. Again, local farmers who’d perhaps secured grazing rights on the airfield stepped aside. For those with concerns about what was produced on the site, how it might affect the land, air, water, people and animals, it must have been challenging times. On the other hand many locals had worked alongside top secret government operations for generations, welcoming reinvestment in the area. Chapelcross produced substances, such as Tritium, until it was passed to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in 2004. The story of Chapelcross continues today: the site is currently undergoing a lengthy process of decommissioning, with site clearance planned for the end of the 21st century.

The legacy from conflict and

tension is extensive, and it spans generations.

Farmers and their families in the Solway Firth area contributed in so many ways to the war effort, during both the first and second world war and the Cold War. They took in evacuees, sent from cities and targets such as Glasgow, Rosyth and Clydebank.

Prisoner of War camps were regularly situated in remote areas, with POWs billeted to work on local farms. The war touched the farming community in so many unexpected ways. This Armistice Day we honour the soldiers, but also thank the farmers, munitions workers and people of the countryside for their contribution, losses and sacrifices. devilsporridge.org.uk For more info read The Solway Military Coast by Sarah Harper

Photographs courtesy of the Devil’s Porridge Museum

after it was requisitioned by the Ministry of Supply. The tenant farmers are said to have moved to a farm near Dumfries after their land was commandeered from Kinmount estate.

The workers at Powfoot were often referred to as ‘Broom Lassies’, after the name of the farm, but when toxins turned some of the workers’ faces yellow, they also earned the nickname, ‘Canary Girls’.

Again, predominantly female workers, were attracted by the good wages and the chance to play their part in the war effort, although occasionally there were fatalities, including acute yellow atrophy of the liver due to exposure to TNT. The RAF also made its mark on the area. Broats Farms became better known as RAF Kirkpatrick, home to Tiger Moth

Discovering the large vats where the ‘porridge’ was made

Getting a sense of the trenches

Women mixing the devil’s porridge

Learning about making munitions

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BOOK SERIALISATION

The last man out of Arnish

In August 1977 a memo was sent from Inverness to the regional council’s subdivisional engineer in Portree, asking him to cast light on a certain homemade road between Brochel Castle and Arnish in the north of Raasay. Three weeks later, following a trip to Raasay, the engineer replied to his director of roads and transport.

“This is the road that gained considerable publicity a few years ago,”wrote the engineer from Skye, “as it was constructed over a number of years by a sole crofter. …It can only be traversed with a Land Rover and is generally extremely rough, with steep hills and many bad bends. The existing surface is generally very loose and rough . . . The road is, of course, unadopted.

“To bring this road up to a standard suitable for adoption, you would be talking in a price of well over £100,000 [over £420,000 today].” At least it could be said that, after half a century and the loss of 98 per cent of the population of northern Raasay, Inverness was looking seriously at the road between Brochel and Arnish.

Calum MacLeod was, as score of journalists and broadcasters would discover, excellent copy.

His road was an irrefutable achievement. But if the man behind it had been slightly less intriguing, less charming, less perfectly rounded in his presentation of the independent but beleaguered Gaelic crofter resisting with infinite wile and resourcefulness the baleful forces of government, it might never have gained quite so much publicity.

That is not to say that Calum MacLeod presented an artificial 110

Picture by David Carslaw

In the end, Calum MacLeod got his way and Highland Council adopted and tracked the road to north Raasay. And he had, as Roger Hutchinson writes, in the concluding part of our serialisation off his acclaimed book, one final journey to make on it.

Calum’s Road begins

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front. He did not, because he did not need to. He was fully aware of the power of his case and the seductive charms of his culture and way of life. He needed no persuasion to advertise them. And if the broadcast result was a little more Brigadoon than he, knew the reality to be, he could shrug and chuckle.

Early in 1979 another divisional engineer visited the road. Upon his return to Skye from Raasay he scribbled his impressions in pencil upon a sheet of paper. “The existing road has been constructed,” he wrote, “over the past 10 years by Mr Callum MacLeod No 1 & 2 South Arnish assisted by Mr Parks No 3 & 4 periodically. The road has been constructed from a plan proposed by an engineer from the Royal Engineers some time ago. Mr MacLeod had the assistance of the Dept of Ag and Fisheries in the form of labour and machinery where blasting was required.

“Otherwise, he has constructed the road himself, building drystone retaining walls where the road is in need of embankment and forming a roadbase of rock and gravel from the borders along the length of the road. The horizontal and vertical alignment of the road, considering the location and volume of traffic, are adequate and basically what is required to bring the road to adoptable standards is a small amount of rock excavation to widen the road at various points, some drain work, 4’’ of bottoming throughout, basically to regulate the surface and bitmac surface.”

On 13 February 1979 the Scottish Development Department acknowledged that the proposal to upgrade and improve Calum MacLeod’s road from Brochel to Arnish through a Township Road Grant “does seem to be eligible”.

The cost, Highland Council estimated, would be £45,000 (£150,000 today). “We would expect the SDD”, a council official told the press, “to make a decision on whether or not to provide a grant within six months. Only if they do provide a grant will we act.”

A year passed, in which Calum’s road became a victim of the local authority spending cuts, before the application,

Picture by David Carslaw

BOOK SERIALISATION

Calum’s Cairn

with a revised estimated cost of £80,000 (£230,000 today) was approved. In November 1980 Calum MacLeod’s landlords, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, formally gave Highland Regional Council permission to cross the common grazings in northern Raasay “for the purpose of carrying out improvements to the Brochel–South Arnish township road”. Four conditions were attached to this permission. The last one stated that “The Highland Regional Council shall maintain the said road in the condition in which it is, consequential upon the completion of the work to be carried out.”

On paper at least, Calum MacLeod had won his long war.

The former enemy had committed itself to reparation. Calum was a Christian, and was not given to gloating. But he was also a Celt, and was inclined to rhapsody. He wrote a ballad to recall the concept, immortalise the toil and celebrate the imminent final stages of his highway.

In February 1982 the Scottish Development Department approved a grant of £101,612 to Highland Regional Council towards improving and surfacing the road between Brochel Castle and Arnish. The road squad began, as Calum MacLeod had himself begun two decades earlier, at Brochel.

The road was finished, more or less, by the end of 1982. Between Brochel Castle and a turning place a hundred yards above Calum’s crofthouse in South Arnish there lay at the end of that year almost two miles of smooth and navigable road. It was a single-track highway, of course, but it had twenty passing places to permit the safe transit of northbound and southbound traffic.

“There was my father, just at the end of our house. He was in his wheelbarrow, with Coll, the white collie, on watch” On Tuesday 26 January 1988, Calum MacLeod finished his midday meal and went outside to continue working. “He’d had his lunch,” said his daughter, “and went out of the door, but he didn’t come back in for his mid-afternoon cuppa.

“My mother thought he was busy doing something, or had met somebody and would be chatting.

Then she realised that it was getting dark and wondered, ‘Where is he?

The cows have to be fed.’” She took her Zimmer frame or her walking sticks and went outside, and all the cows were at the end of the house looking through the gate.

She wondered what the cows were doing there, and she looked further round to find my father there, just at the end of our house. He was

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in his wheelbarrow, with Coll, the white collie, on watch.

“I think he had sat down on the wheelbarrow because he felt unwell. We assume it was a heart attack. The family was prone to them. It probably was a heart attack – cholesterol, all these things we hear about now.

“Father contemplated what would happen to him without my mother, but I don’t think my mother ever in her wildest thoughts imagined that he would go first.

My father was that well and my mother was not. He would find her lying on the floor, and that used to frighten my father. She wasn’t allowed to go upstairs if he was outside.”

Calum MacLeod was laid to rest on Friday, 29 January 1988 in a graveyard in the south end of Raasay on a wooded hillside facing east. He was seventy-six years old.

He was joined by his wife, Lexie, who had lived to within three months of her ninetieth birthday, in January 2001.

Unlike previous generations and unlike his own father, Calum MacLeod did not have to be taken by boat from Arnish to the cemetery in southern Raasay. The hearse was driven to his door.

“Calum was the last man to come out of Arnish,” said his former neighbour Donald MacLeod, “down the road he built with his own hands.”

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Beatha an eilean

Àrainneachd na Croitearachd Tha seachdain dhripeil air a bhith aig Coimisean na Croitearachd.

Uair sa bhliadhna as t-Fhoghar, bidh sinn a’ toirt na Coinneimh Bùird a-mach à prìomh bhaile na Gàidhealtachd agus ga cumail ann an coimhearsnachd croitearachd. Tron àm agam mar Choimiseanair, tha sinn air a bhith air diofar eileanan gu an Iar agus gu Tuath, agus thadhail sinn ann an Gallaibh, Cataibh agus Siorrachd Rois. Am-bliadhna, shiubhail sinn gu Taigh an Uillt ann an Earra-Ghàidheal tro bhailtean croitearachd air taobh tuath a’ Ghearasdain.

An-dràsta ’s a-rithist, agus sinn a’ dèanamh ar n-obair làitheil, faodaidh sinn fàs caran iomallach bho na tha a’ tachairt le croitearan. Tha na coinneamhan poblach sin thar luaich mar dhòigh air sinn fhìn a thilleadh gu na cùisean sin agus gu na dùbhlain ris a bheil croitearan a’ dèiligeadh. Chan eil e na iongnadh gu bheil sgeulachdan matha rin cluinntinn a dh’aindeoin nan dùbhlan sin.

Coltach ris a’ mhòr-chuid de bhailtean croitearachd, tha diofar sgeulachdan ann a thaobh obrachadh croite agus cleachdadh croite, agus chan eil an sgìre mu chuairt Thaigh an Uillt idir diofraichte.

Chuala sinn sgeulachd a bha fìor dheimhinneach a thaobh ionaltradh gnìomhach far a bheil luchd-earrannan a’ toirt làn fheum às an talamh ionaltraidh agus cuid de bheachdan iomairteach aca airson feabhas a thoirt air agus a stiùireadh agus a chleachdadh fad-amail, agus far a bheil mòran de na co-dhùnaidhean dèante leis a’ ghinealach òg, le aonta bho luchd-earrannan nas sine.

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Sgrìobhadair, Daibhidh Caimbeul Coimiseanair Croitearachd Tha comas air a bhith a-riamh aig fearann ionaltraidh air feadh nan sgìrean croitearachd air cothroman fhosgladh do luchd-earrannan. Tro ionaltradh eachdraidheil air stoc agus ruith chlubaichean chaorach, gu cleachdadh nas nuadh-aimsireil airson lùth ath-nuadhachail, far a bheil croitearan air buannachd fhaighinn bho an còraichean air roinn co-ionann de na toraidhean a tha lùth gaoithe air a tharraing gu h-àraid don Ghàidhealtachd.

B’ e toradh pàipeir air atharrachadh gnàth-shìde aon de na puingean deasbaid bu mhotha a bh’ againn aig a’ choinneimh Bùird, a tha mar a tha fios againn na chùis chudromach gu làithreach. Tha mòran air a ràdh

mu na buaidhean is èifeachdan a tha aig àiteachas air a’ ghnàthshìde ach faodaidh sinn fhàgail aig feadhainn eile nas eòlaiche na buannachdan sin a dheasbad.

Ach, tha e soilleir gu bheil an siostam farsaing air toradh stuic air a lìbhrigeadh le croitearan agus leis an t-siostam croitearachd, a’ gabhail ris gum faod cuid de na h-aon bhuaidhean ri toradh àiteachais prìomh-shruthach a bhith ann, le buannachdan gun tomhas don fhearann agus don àrainneachd nach eil rim faotainn tro mhodhan tuathanachais dian.

A thaobh fearann ionaltraidh, tha mòran den fhearann stèidhichte air structar mònadh a tha mar a tha fios againn na

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stòr fìor luachmhor air stòras càrboin. Tha mòran den luach seo air a ghleidheadh dìreach leis a’ chaitheamh fharsaing air na raointean mòra sin de fhearann, a tha na ionaltradh aotrom le dùmhlachdan stuic ciallach a chaidh a chruthachadh o chionn còrr na 120 bliadhna.

Agus mar a tha sinn a’ dèiligeadh ri àm sa bheil mòran atharrachaidh ann an toradh àiteachais, tha e a’ coimhead glè loidsigeach gum bu chòir an seòrsa cleachdaidh air fearann agus a tha air adhartachadh tro chroitearachd do na ginealaichean ri teachd, a bhith aig cridhe nan atharrachaidhean, gu h-àraid ma tha sinn mar a tha mòran den bheachd, a’ dol a ghluasad gu siostam taic a dh’fhàsas mòran nas cuimsichte air liubhairt bhuannachdan poblach mar iomlaid air inbheisteadh poblach.

Tha fearann ann an gabhaltas croitearachd, tro nàdar a chòraichean leantainneachd, ancòmhnaidh air fhaicinn leothasan aig a bheil am fearann ann an dreuchd gleidhidh le uallach a chur air adhart chun an ath ghinealach ann an suidheachadh nas fheàrr na bha e aig an toiseach, agus gu h-iongantach tha seo ancòmhnaidh air leudachadh gu a shuidheachadh eag-eòlasach cho math ri a shuidheachadh toraidh.

Bhiodh e math smaoineachadh gun tarraingeadh na cleachdaidhean àrainneachdail deimhinneach air an gleusadh le croitearan thar ghinealaichean, an aithne agus an duais air a bheil e airidh ach a tha air a sheachnadh cho tric, an àite cleachdaidhean ‘tiùrr suas iad – tionndaidh a-mach iad’ a chithear cho tric san earrann fharsaing àiteachais san RA – tha sinn beò an dòchas.

forestry Machine for planting forest plants goes into new phase field tests in November

The presence of rodenticides within Scottish wildlife

By Lydia Peters, The Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies

The development of the planting machine Plantma X is moving forward. In November, field tests will begin and in spring 2020 the machine is expected to be put into operation.

Work on the upcoming planting machine, Plantma X, which is being developed by Grangärde Konsult & Innovation in collaboration with Sveaskog and Svenska Skogsplantor will enter the next phase.

-Development work goes according to project plan. There are only a few components left to assemble and later in November field tests will begin, says Roger

Johansson, Business Area Manager at Svenska Skogsplantor.

The first prototype of the planter is planned to be put into operation in the spring of 2020 when it will prepare and plant approximately 400 hectares on Sveaskog’s fields in the southern and northern Bergslagen. During the summer, Plantma X will operate in southern Norrland and in Västerbotten.

Developing this planting machine is a big step towards improving the efficiency and profitability of the rejuvenation business, concludes Roger Johansson.

Rodents are attracted to farms by food stores, where they can spoil feed and transmit diseases. Although rodenticides represent the most efficient and the most commonly used method for rodent control, they also pose a threat to children, pets and wildlife through the significant risk of primary and secondary poisoning by ingesting poisoned carcasses.

Earlier this year we examined the levels of rodenticide in the livers of 49 wild-living cats collected mostly as a result of road traffic accidents.

We detected rodenticides in 61% of the cats and at levels known to cause illness or death in other mammals. Older cats had higher levels of the toxins, suggesting repeated exposure over time and not just from one-off events. Rodenticide levels were similar irrespective of the hybrid status of the cats, which isn’t surprising given that previous work by Scottish Wildcat Action shows wildcats inhabit agricultural land and visit farmyards. The health risk posed by these toxins is a threat to domestic cats and our critically endangered wildcat.

Many other studies have provided evidence of these toxins within Scottish wildlife, including the red kite and the barn owl. Rodenticide residues

have been found in 90% of tested barn owls. These findings indicate that rodenticides need to be used in a more measured and considered manner in outdoor spaces.

Second-generation rodenticides were developed in response to growing resistance to first-generation rodenticides and present an increased toxicity and greater ability to accumulate within living tissues.

Secondgeneration rodenticides are almost exclusively used to control rodent populations around farms, even though first-generation rodenticides would be appropriate in most cases and pose a much lower threat to non-target species.

The Health and Safety Executive strongly recommends farmers call on pest control professionals to ensure rodenticides, including secondgeneration rodenticides, are only used when necessary, and measures are put in place to help decrease the risk to non-target species. Furthermore, preventive measures can be undertaken by farmers, such as keeping food in sealed stores and repairing leaky pipes to make farm buildings less attractive to rodents. Visit thinkwildlife.org for more advice.

www.scottishwildcataction.org

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LAMMA’20

Bumper LAMMA’20 show…guaranteed!

The LAMMA show is set to build on its reputation as the UK’s largest agricultural event dedicated to showcasing innovation when it returns to its new permanent indoor venue at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham next January.

Over 95% of stand space has already been sold for the 2020

event, following the triumph of LAMMA’s NEC debut earlier this year. So far 577 previous and new exhibitors have confirmed their attendance to show a host of UK and global machinery and technology.

In addition, the event will also host a new feature, Farming 4.0, highlighting the expertise,

flair and passion for innovative technology that exists in UK Agriculture to encourage the new blood the sector needs to help underpin its future.

LAMMA’s move to the NEC in Birmingham brings together all farming sectors under one roof to do business in a thriving environment. The event also provides a great opportunity to network and discuss the latest events affecting agriculture.

Many conversations will centre on the latest Brexit news and how to react to it, while climate change and carbon issues will no doubt be a hot topic in the livestock hall, which is now sold out.

“UK agriculture finally has a show to rival its European counterparts and we believe LAMMA’20 will be even bigger and better than the last,” says AgriBriefing group events director Elisabeth Mork-Eidem.

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“The NEC provides a very comfortable environment in which to view and discuss the vast array of agricultural kit on show and to talk business, leading many exhibitors at LAMMA’19 to comment on the high quality of conversations they had with visitors.

“The overriding feedback was that the new indoor venue proved ideal for a national event of this size and stature, showing our agricultural sector in the best possible light.

“This has been underpinned by the highly encouraging uptake of stand space for the 2020 event.

In all, 11 halls at the NEC are set to host more than 700 exhibitors, reflecting LAMMA’s reputation as the UK’s most diverse and innovative machinery, equipment and services show.”

Many exhibitors will unveil new tractors, combines, drills and cultivation equipment,

LAMMA’20 feeder wagons and forage machinery, as well as a wide range of innovative technology.

Warren Rivers-Scott, UK and ROI managing director of Bednar FMT, a new exhibitor for LAMMA’20, said: “The decision for Bednar FMT to make its UK debut at LAMMA’20 was, for me, an obvious one. With over 400m2, we will be able to show some of our offerings including specifically design CTF approved machines, including other new releases.”

Rachael Groves, marketing coordinator at AgriArgo UK, a long-term exhibitor at the event, said: “Based on the positive feedback and high level of enquiries from both customers and dealers alike at LAMMA’19, we will be returning in 2020 to build on our success with the Landini and McCormick brands.”

Kate Bennett of Kuhn Farm Machinery said: “LAMMA is very important to the industry and it will only grow from what it is today. It’s a great shop window for everyone to exhibit their innovations and machinery.”

Fendt UK and Ireland marketing manager Richard Miller said: “We at Fendt are extremely pleased to announce our return to LAMMA in 2020.

“The event is a tremendous opportunity for us to showcase our new products and the

opportunity to talk to existing and potential customers about their business requirements for 2020 and beyond. It is also an opportunity to support the fantastic industry that we all work in.”

Herefordshire farmer Ally Hunter Blair said: “I thoroughly enjoyed attending LAMMA’19 and I look forward to going back to see how the show develops in 2020. It is important for the UK to retain a show of this calibre and I hope it continues to go from strength to strength.”

East Yorkshire farmer Jono Dixon said: “LAMMA’19 in my opinion was a huge success.

Provided LAMMA’20 attracts a similar quality of exhibitors to last time I think we can look forward to another excellent show.”

Join the farming revolution!

To help address the needs of younger people entering the industry, LAMMA’20 is launching a brand new zone, Farming 4.0, to highlight UK farming’s expertise, flair and passion for innovative technology that will help underpin the future of food production.

It aims to encourage new talent into agriculture, challenging the outdated perceptions of working in agriculture and educating new entrants about all avenues of farming, including technology, robotics and digital.

“The zone will cover training and development which plays a fundamental role in the future of farming, especially in the machinery sector where so much exciting technology is being introduced at a rate no-one would have thought possible a few years ago,” said Ms Mork-Eidem.

Alex Macdonald-Smith of aerial data specialist Drone-Ag said: “It’s great to see a big show like LAMMA dedicating itself in part to the next agricultural revolution with the new Farming 4.0 zone.

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“Drone Ag is going to be releasing Skippy Scout soon, and we’re very excited to be showing off this brand new, innovative technology within a dedicated zone.”

Visitor registration opens To help make the most of their time at LAMMA’20, 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 7th and Wednesday 8th 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.

Advance registration is not compulsory – visitors can register at the entrance but may face a delay entering the event.

LAMMA’20 will take place at the NEC on Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th January 2020.

Parking and entry to the event are free.

For further LAMMA information see www. lammashow.com 115

estate Cairngorms Nature Farm Award 2019 winner announced The winner of the Cairngorms Nature Farm award 2019 has been announced and this year it is Heather Rae from Ballinluig, near Grantown-on-Spey who has been selected from a shortlist of entries.

This special award rewards farmers or crofters who have made a substantial contribution to the natural environment around them. The award was judged by a panel of judges representing both Cairngorms Nature and the farming community.

Heather grew up in Inverness but wanted to take on the running of her grandmother and great uncle’s farms, which she eventually did at a young age.

After visiting Ballinluig the judges were impressed with her high environmental and animal welfare standards. They were also impressed that Heather never takes the easy route if she doesn’t believe it is the right thing to do, all of the choices she makes are made with the habitats and species on the farm in mind. She was

recently advised to ‘spray off’ an entire field to treat some weed species, but being conscious of soil health and the negative impact that blanket spraying could have, she and a neighbour co-operated and invested in a weed wiper so that they could target certain species instead, leaving soil structure largely untouched and allowing natural processes to take place. Heather has also made a real effort to improve her species rich grasslands and woodland cover on the farm, as well as converting a holiday cottage which is currently used by a number of charities.

Lucy Ford, Cairngorms Nature Community Officer presented the award to Heather last week. She commented, “Heather is a worthy winner, her farm has been in Agri-Environment schemes continuously for nearly 20 years. She has undertaken multiple planting schemes on her holdings providing a future source of shelter for her farm animals and habitat connectivity.

Heather runs the farm, whilst

bringing up three children on her own and she still manages to find the time of help and advise other farmers and crofters– a truly inspirational winner” On finding out she had won Heather Rae said, “I am delighted to have won this award, I work closely with my agent Jenny McCallum to make sure that all

the environmental work on the farm fits the landscape and the farming system. I want the agrienvironmental work to improve the landscape which will, in turn, improve the farm” Heather received a plaque as recognition for her good work as well as a prize of Sunday lunch for 4 at Muckrach Hotel.

Palace Young Apprentice following in the steps of Scone’s famous plant hunter Kieran Bruce, a budding young apprentice gardener from Craigie in Perth, has been awarded an exclusive gardening apprenticeship place through Rural Skills Scotland Modern Apprenticeship scheme at Scone Palace Estate. The prestigious 116

apprenticeship sets young Kieran on a career path that was also the starting point for one of Scotland’s most famous plant hunters, David Douglas, best known for his namesake the Douglas Fir, who also started work as an apprentice to the head

gardener at Scone Palace in the early 1800s.

Brian Cunningham, Head Gardener at Scone Palace and a regular presenter on BBC’s Beechgrove Garden, recruited Kieran to help out on the estate this summer and was so impressed

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with his interest in gardening that he approached Scone Palace’s CEO with a mission to help Kieran stay.

Brian commented: “Kieran has been brilliant. He actually trained as a joiner but really enjoys gardening and we didn’t want

estate to lose him. I started my career in gardening as an apprentice and I wanted us to do our bit for the community and horticulture by inspiring and developing the next generation. I had a chat with our CEO and we decided that the Rural Skills Scotland Apprentice Scheme was a good way to keep Kieran and to help him develop his trade. We had a relationship already with Rural Skills Scotland so I got in touch with them to ask about their modern apprenticeship scheme.”

More information on Scone Palace is at www.scone-palace. co.uk

National Student Award opens for entries A new national student award is set to encourage involvement in land reform and help with the work of the Scottish Land Commission.

The Commission is shaping the debate around urban and rural land reform, to improve the productivity, diversity and accountability of the way Scotland’s land is owned, used, and managed.

Research underpins its work so that decisions and recommendations are thoroughly evidence based, and the Commission uses a wide academic network to provide research on key land reform issues. Its new student award is open to any student studying at a Scottish academic institution who undertakes a land reform related piece of research.

The successful student will contribute research to help take forward the Commission’s work, covering everything from land value tax to new models of community ownership. Research areas of particular interest this year are: • The potential to deliver affordable housing in rural communities; • Motivating behaviour change in relation to land; • How land reform can help combat climate change;

• Models of cooperative land ownership; • The role of local governance in furthering land reform; and • How land reform can realise human rights.

Speaking about the award, Hamish Trench, CEO of The Scottish Land Commission said, “We want to develop new approaches to make the most of Scotland’s land and help to build future research capacity to support land reform. We first offered an award last year through the University of the Highlands and Islands it is great that we can now extend the award nationally so that any students interested in land reform can take the opportunity to work with us and explore issues, gather evidence and spark debate and understanding.”

To apply for the award, a single grant of £1000, students are asked to outline their project and show how it connects to a Scottish Land Commission workstream as well as detailing how it will benefit the applicant’s student experience.

To find out more and download an application form, interested students should visit www.landcommission.gov.scot/ studentaward. Applications close on 24 January 2020.

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estate

Good news for farmland wildlife Dr Dave Parish, Head of Lowland Research, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Scotland It is an exciting time for the Interreg North Sea Region PARTRIDGE project in which the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust is a partner. Originally due to finish in 2020 it has been extended until 2023 to provide more time to further our demonstration activities.

The project (Protecting the Areas Resources Through Researched Innovative Demonstration of Good Examples) aims to show practitioners and policy makers across northern Europe some simple, practical ways to help Grey Partridge and other farmland wildlife, and in so doing, how agri-environment schemes might be improved in the future to better support farmers in their efforts to achieve this. There are 10 demonstration sites across northern Europe with activities coordinated by the

Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, with help from our many partners.

Our demonstration sites in Scotland at Balgonie and Whitburgh are looking great with the new flower blocks maturing nicely and supporting a range of farmland birds and other wildlife. These blocks provide year-round resources for wildlife but require minimum intervention after establishment, ideal for farmers and biodiversity.

Grey Partridges at Balgonie, for example, are doing well, with spring pairs increasing by 36 per cent since the project began and autumn numbers stable at around 28 birds per 100 ha, despite this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wet summer.

There is no better way to get a message across than getting the wellies on and showing others what we are trying to do on the ground,

and a very important part of the project is showing farmers and policy makers what we are doing and how. We regularly take groups round the sites including a recent farmer group and some advisors from SNH. These visits also provide a great opportunity to canvass the opinions of others: our ideas might be wonderful but if farmers think they are unworkable, we are wasting our time. This is something we want to explore further with a questionnaire we are developing with partners, to see what farmers across Europe think of agrienvironment schemes and how they might be improved.

The survey should be available during early 2020 so keep an eye out for more details.

For more information about the project, please visit our website: http://northsearegion. eu/partridge/

East Cairngorms Moorland Partnership a stronghold for mountain hares Estates in the East Cairngorms Moorland Partnership (ECMP) are preparing to undertake the second year of mountain hare monitoring using the new methodology published by Scottish Natural Heritage last year.

In the last few months of 2018, Balmoral, Invercauld, Mar and Glenavon estates surveyed 10 sites covering a total area of 40 sq km (15.4 square miles), all of which were on grouse moors.

Mountain hares were observed in all survey areas, with an average of 16 mountain hares encountered per kilometre walked by surveyors. In SNHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commissioned research into mountain hare counting methods, an encounter rate of 8 hares per kilometre walked suggested an estimated density of between 57 and 136 hares per square kilometre. That would suggest an estimated population of at least 2,000 mountain hares on the area that was surveyed, around 13% of the ECMP moorland managed for grouse.

These results need to be treated cautiously as 2018/19 was the first year of counting using the new methodology.

However, surveys in the ECMP area revealed both the highest individual count and an average that was markedly higher than across all Scottish sites counted during 2018/19 with the same methodology.

The surveys conducted in the ECMP were based on the night-time counting methodology set out in the SNH report, which specifies the use of either lamps or thermal imaging equipment to count

estate hare populations by walking replicated, randomly selected transects. Mountain hares are usually most active just after sunset. The SNH commissioned report demonstrates that, by comparison, daytime counts detect only a fraction of the hares observed during night-time surveys of the same transects.

Ross MacLeod of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, who provided training in undertaking the SNH survey technique, said: “Last winter’s counts indicated a robust population of hares on the grouse moors surveyed. Accurate data on mountain hare numbers in rural Scotland has been limited up until now but the new counting methodology provides valuable information at a time when there is a lot of discussion about their numbers.”

Will Boyd-Wallis of the Cairngorms National Park Authority said: “We are pleased to see that the counts indicate a strong population of mountain hares on East Cairngorms

Moorland Partnership estates.

We look forward to working with other estates to collect further data”.

Angus McNicol of Invercauld Estate said: “We were not surprised to see a good number of mountain hares on the extensive area we surveyed last year. Our keepers have reported stable populations for many years but their expertise is sometimes discounted. The East Cairngorms Moorland Partnership region is true mountain hare country and it is clear that the techniques employed to manage land for grouse shooting also benefit wild mountain hares”.

Nationally, nearly 70 gamekeepers and land managers across 47 estates have attended formal training, led by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, to implement the best practice approach to assessing mountain hare populations, in order to manage them sustainably for the future. This training is about to start again for 2019/20 season hare counts.

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#Route2050

By Eleanor Kay, Policy Adviser (Agriculture & Forestry) at Scottish Land & Estates At the time of writing, there is still much uncertainty about Brexit, so many would be forgiven for not wanting to think about where Scottish land management will be by 2050.

However, farmers and land managers more than anyone understand that a long-term view is crucial to the success of a rural business, constantly evolving to meet the challenges on the horizon.

As an organisation representing producers, land managers, landowners and rural businesses, we want to spark debate about the future and what will be expected from Scotland’s land.

To that end, we have published our #Route2050 – A direction of travel for Scottish land management to 2050, a paper which contains a series of ideas that we believe can enable rural businesses which are resilient, efficient and thriving.

In Route2050, we identify a number of aims, decade by decade, but also highlight four overarching priorities: enabling rural businesses to understand their carbon footprint and ways to reduce it; increasing access to skills training and knowledge for improving efficiency; access to capital and knowledge to improve productivity and resilience, and improving the use

of data by government and business to target investment.

The ideas in this paper are just that, ideas, ready to be challenged and refined as we gain clarity on issues such as trade and as new science and thinking develops. It isn’t a rigid plan of how things should be done, however, it is only by farmers, land managers, the government, environmental organisations and wider society working together that we can create a plan for the future of land management that is realistic, workable and helps Scotland lead the way in achieving our netzero emissions target.

Within Route2050, we maintain that investment will still be required in our rural areas but importantly, it is not about continuing the status quo – we need to encourage the most appropriate land use and best practice in order to deliver a vibrant rural ecosystem able to deliver for society, the environment and economy. We want policy which incentivises farmers and land managers to ensure they can continue to fulfil the important roles they currently play and adapt to new and different challenges in future. This is a debate we encourage, and we urge those within Scottish farming to play their part in leading the conversation.

For more information www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk Telephone : 0131 653 5400

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Gamekeepers, underkeepers, syndicate members, students and estate staff worked over the spring and summer months focussed on the shooting season. They prepared the ground, nurtured young birds, kept them safe and watched them grow. On The Glorious Twelfth the doors swung open to celebrate the start of the shooting season.

I wondered how many shooting estates had to plan their shoot days differently?

Had they briefed their staff and given them the skills and the know-how to deal with an uninvited mob? A few estates south of the border have had to cope with opposing groups turning up hoping to disrupt the day’s events with aggressive and threatening behaviour, and generally cause havoc.

If you have been involved in country sports for a long time it is likely you will have met someone dead set against shooting. I know I have, but the difference a few years ago (how the world has changed!), if someone was against the sport they would air their disapproval. It was usually a single individual, who wasn’t violent and didn’t destroy property. They were never feared, just flagged up as a bit daft and subject to a little ridicule at lunch-time in the bothy. Shoot Captains would do their best to talk to the individual but were rarely successful in negotiating a peaceful alliance.

The country sports sector is spending more and more time

by Linda Mellor

SCOTTISH COUNTRY LIFE in the news, and the negatives often out-weigh the positives.

All shooting sports are a hot topic (Commonwealth Games 2022) and are constantly being scrutinised, and criticised. Of course we are not perfect, (show me an industry that is!) and some people do let the side down. There would be something seriously wrong with a sector claiming to be perfect and without fault or flaws.

There are individuals quick to damn the industry, they generally refuse to see any good or listen to reason or accept researched evidence.

They tend to have loud voices and platforms from which to preach. The sector has been slow to react. We don’t want to be drowned out by the repetitive claims. There is a lot of knowledge wrapped up in country sports, a great example is the training students receive via rural colleges. This is their base plate to building

an enviable outdoor skill set, a solid career, and the knowledge could be shared along with the successes and positives.

This may open the doors to a wider audience, and attract more people curious enough to come and take a look into the real countryside, and not the media-hyped version. Maybe it could attract more youngsters interested in a rural career?

I have lost track how many times I have been in conversation with ill-informed people who think anyone with a gun goes around senselessly murdering everything in sight.

These people have fixed views so goodness knows how they function in their personal and professional lives with such closed minds. Some are considered highly intelligent yet they are incapable of accessing their grey matter to be inquisitive enough to ask questions and seek out more information to give them a balanced standpoint, based on facts.

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We have heard all the old, tired messages. Now is the time to start doing things differently, and revamp our delivery methods, find new topics and ensure the messages we are sending out, as an industry, are educational, interesting and informative with an open invitation for all to take part. When we start to do things differently, we allow change to happen.

Make people curious, show them how they can benefit, and how it may improve their lives. Many other industries use subtle techniques and offers to encourage people to dip their toes in. So, why can’t the country sports industry do this? How amazing is a deer stalking experience? It can be life-changing, life-affirming or whatever you want it to be. You are trained to shoot a rifle, the stalker will have a management plan in place and select the deer. Your knowledge of the countryside will increase considerably, you will harvest a beast, and in doing so, make way for stronger genetics to prosper, prevent over-grazing and crop damage.

The organic meat is enjoyed by many, and the health benefits overtake other meat put on the table in most UK households.

Shameless Book plug: My new non-fiction paperback ‘For the Love of Country Sports’

by Linda Mellor, is available on Amazon (paperback and Kindle).

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country woman

Clair McPake

By Linda Mellor

Clair McPake, 31 years old, was born in Edinburgh, spent part of her childhood in Haddington before she moved to the Highlands. Family holidays were often in Aberfeldy, where they spent their time walking and fishing on the Tay, where her dad taught her to fly fish when she was eight years old.

Clair had a love of country sports and everything associated with them. Clair said, ‘from a very young age I always had dogs, they were my first love!

Leo was my first cocker, and I enjoyed attending my local gundog club, Moray Firth 122

Gundog Club, and going to the training evenings and competing in working tests.’ Clair went beating on the local shoots, and spent most of her time outdoors, ‘I also had horses and ferrets, and we kept chickens, sheep, pigs, ducks and geese. Growing up in the Scottish countryside gave me so much freedom, and I was able to do what I wanted.

I would go everywhere on my pony, I’d take a picnic and we’d set off through the forests and to the Cromarty Firth. It was such a good grounding because I had the chance to go out and learn things for myself’.

Her dad was a gamekeeper, ‘it was him that gained me a few of my firsts; first trout, first stalk, first lamping experience and first shoulder thumping shot of a 12 bore at 9 years old! He is now a deer stalker and fishing guide and when I go back home, I love nothing more than looking out and seeing the beautiful red deer dotted around on the vast hillside and trying to spot salmon and sea trout in the river’.

Spotting red deer can be a very localised experience as Clair’s parents, Carol and Stephen, have some rather large garden visitors. ‘My mum and

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dad have been living on the Gobernuisguach Estate (part of the Reay Forest Estates), Altnaharra, for the last 8 years and the stags became friendly when my dad started feeding them, they would eagerly await him going out to the hill with bales of silage. He also trails nuts out in the front paddock where the stags will graze happily beside the ponies in the winter time when they come down for a bit of warmth. Bruce was the first stag to be the most bold, that started with mum throwing out veg scraps and it quickly progressed to him appearing at

country woman the kitchen window and then the back door for a rich tea biscuit!

The others cottoned on fairly quickly too and they now all come to call!’

‘I now live in Hertfordshire where I work alongside my partner who is the Head Keeper at Hexton Manor’. Clair is the Shoot Administrator and Shoot Hostess. She takes care of the shooters’ hospitality, and is responsible for the shoot administration and accounts, shoot day bookings and liaising with sporting agents. They run more than 30 shoot days, and for the last three seasons, and before they took on an apprentice Underkeeper, Clair used to spend most of her time outdoors working on the shoot. Living and working on a commercial shooting estate meant her time was taken up with training their cocker spaniels and helping to run simulated game days outside of the shooting season. Clair said, ‘we get our birds quite early in June to ensure they are at peak fitness for start of the season in October.’ Previously, she would have had to spend much of her time dogging-in from dawn until dusk when the birds started to grow and wander, she said, ‘it was a challenge finding the time to do everything and keep our family of four fed and watered!’

Her passion for dogs is still very much to the fore, ‘I think I have about 20 dogs in my kennel,’ she said, laughing. ‘I have had a couple of litters of cocker spaniels in the last couple of years, I breed mainly for our own kennel, I did actually keep an entire litter once!, but I will sell through word of mouth.’

She also had a young Clumber spaniel, he is almost a year old, and ‘is super sweet, and a very different character to all the others.’

Clair enjoys game shooting and deer stalking when she is not working, ‘I have been lucky enough the last couple of seasons to have been invited to some beautiful shoots around the country and shot on our own beaters day. She has stalked and shot a Sika stag, and a Chinese Water Deer buck that turned out to be gold medal. In September, Clair and one of her friends, took a flight from Luton to Inverness, and headed to her parents for a country sports filled weekend.

When they arrived on the Thursday, they went straight out for target practice. It was a windy and showery start when they set off the following day to stalk red deer. ‘My dad was spotting deer, and we found a small group of stags, a six-pointer and two younger ones. We had to take the long way around the hill to stalk into them, and then they laid down. So, we lay in the heather watching and waiting, the sixpointer got up, turned around then settled down again.’ Eventually, the stag stood up, and moved into the correct position for Clair to take her shot. ‘It was the perfect shot, right in the engine room.’

It was an amazing, and moving experience, and all the more special because it was with my dad, he had waited a long time to take me out on my first stag.’

The following day they went out fishing, and Clair caught, and released, her first grilse, and her dad taught her how to Spey cast.

‘It was an incredible weekend!’

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE and SHOOTING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Subscription details on page 120 www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

Southern Belle The only thing necessary for miss-information to succeed, is for good men and women to do nothing As an industry, we constantly seem to be battling against a sea of abuse from all corners and while everyone seems to have a platform, we as farmers are failing to get our voices heard.

A friend, who had contributed £11,000 and given his farm over to training for a government badger vaccination/cull, was informed the week before, that it had been cancelled, with no prospect of getting his money back, “as it might go ahead next year.”

The Solway & Tyne Texel club video, of the top price ram lamb being sold in Carlisle in 2015, has recently been banned by Utube, as it is similar to dog fighting and cock fighting! What??

Last month, the BBC’s Jayne McGubbin described beefburgers as “dirty and “filthy” and that a good alternative for a BBQ is grilled watermelon. TOO MUCH!! I wrote in disgust at this description of our beef and was told that these terms were commonly used for foods “which we know we should only eat occasionally”!! Says who??? They flew the watermelon half-way round

the world. How big a carbon footprint is that?? Too many questions and not enough answers.

In the 1960’s children thought milk came from a bottle, now they think it comes from a carton! We are not getting our message across. Five hundred farmers in Thainstone last week, couldn’t get an answer from a panel of TEN, as to why beef is down £200 on the year and we are still “discussing” labelling after 5 years!

We are 75% selfsufficient in beef and we are sending trade delegations to Japan to promote Scotch beef!! Surely, we should be promoting it more here? We don’t need to send it to the other side of the world!

Stop leaving it to everyone else to do it for you, because it isn’t working. Get your computer or your pen out and get writing. It doesn’t take long and you WILL feel good when it is done.

Let’s ALL take some direct action.

It is time WE took responsibility for our own future. Saving our industry IS our future and our lives.

For some it is just their job.

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machinery New KUHN dealer appointed for southern Scotland and northern England KUHN Farm Machinery has appointed Johnston Tractors as a dealer for southern Scotland and northern England.

The appointment will see all three of Johnston Tractors’ depots at Carlisle, Dumfries and Appleby become official stockists and service support dealers of KUHN’s full range of agricultural machinery.

“We are delighted to welcome Johnston Tractors as an official KUHN dealer,” said Sian Pritchard, Managing Director of KUHN UK. “This longestablished company has all the credentials necessary to provide expert sales and aftersales support to KUHN’s customers in this region. We feel sure they will work effectively with KUHN across our broad range of products and we look forward to a long and successful partnership

with the Johnston Tractors team and their customers.”

Commenting on behalf of Johnston Tractors, Managing Director Howard Johnston said: “We are delighted to have been appointed by KUHN as their new business partner. In an everchanging world, we see the addition of the KUHN brand to our portfolio as an important strategic move for the future. The farm equipment industry is going through a period of consolidation brought about by merger and acquisition activities of major global brands. Our future partnership with KUHN, alongside our other independent franchises, further strengthens the range of mechanisation solutions that we are able to provide to our customers.”

For more information go to www.kuhn.co.uk or www. johnstontractors.com

New GD range telehandlers from Dieci The new Dieci Telehandler GD range line up makes for impressive reading. Having studied customer needs and requirements for a new Telehandler, Dieci have produced a class leading range of Telehandlers with new cabs designed by Giugiaro ,offering soft touch materials obtained from the automotive sector with excellent thermal and sound insulation, unique to Dieci, a new cab suspension system giving the operator more comfort, new switch and cab layout offering a very airy feel with excellent 360’ view.

Additional new features include camera systems, 124

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perimeter lighting, auto greasing systems. New boom suspension system, load sensing hydraulics, Dieci continues to manufacture with class leading components for durability and reliability.

Customers comment on the excellent pushing ability of the new Dieci GD range due to the new drive systems with the double limited slip axles and wet inboard brakes. The latest generation of Kubota and FPT engines are used dependent on model. Watch out for a new high capacity Agri Pivot that will be launched at Lamma show 2020.

Further information can be found at www.dieci.com tel: 01258 817997.

machinery Save time, manual labour and feed bills with the new Wessex BFX-180 Here’s a round bale feeder from Wessex that can be mounted to both tractors or telehandlers and lets you feed either side.

The new Wessex BFX-180 has been designed to meet demand, say Wessex, and is ideal for the livestock farmer who needs a machine to feed out silage, hay, haylage or chopped material.

In fact, this versatile machine reduces time and manual labour with a saving of up to 20% on feed bills by reducing wastage. What’s more, the BFX-180 is simple to use with three easy stages to prepare for feeding: spiking the bale and, with the wrap removed, lowering it onto the cradle and auto-engaging the headstock ready to lift and complete. There are no electrics involved, making

maintenance easy, and the bale feeder comes with three-point linkage as standard. It’s ideally suited to use with smaller loaders for agile yard work and optional loader brackets are available.

Speed of operation is what this bale feeder is all about, with the convenience of feeding out from both sides complemented by another key feature: the detachable loading headstock with ‘Quiklatch’ system enables fast and easy reloading without the need to unplug hydraulics. The BFX-180 can handle round bales up to 6’ x 5’ (1.2m x 1.2m or 1.8m x 1.5m) with a weight up to 1000kg. You would, of course, expect a machine of this nature to be built to handle the toughest conditions and close inspection reveals a High-Density

Polyethylene (HDPE) feeder floor for zero corrosion and minimal material leakage. That’s ideal for crumbly or wet bales and the 5500kg load-rated roller chains and strong chain bars make it

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perfectly suited for use with heavy silage bales. There are only two grease points for low maintenance and high strength bolt-on bale spikes easily deal with tight bales. www.wessexintl.com

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machinery The Mule Pro-MX from Kawasaki On display will be the latest edition to the MULE family, the MULE PRO-MX, powered by a single-cylinder 700cc engine which benefits from a smooth transmission. The ‘Shinari’ design chassis means that the frame can flex and return to its original shape, benefiting the durability, handling and ride comfort as well.

This machine is the ideal mid-size partner for both work and outdoor pursuits.

The MULE PRO-DX is the utility vehicle of choice for many professionals such as farmers, gamekeepers and grounds-care experts, offering a class-leading 453kg capacity low tipping cargo bed and 907kg towing potential. Life is made easier with the Electronic Power Steering, electronically selectable 4WD/Rear Diff lock, tilt steering and more.

Kawasaki’s largest ATV quad comes in the form of the mighty Brute Force 750.

Designed for high performance off-road, the Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS boasts industry leading features including speed variable Electronic Power Steering (EPS) plus powerful torque and allday working performance from its 750 cm3 V-twin engine. Add greater chassis control, plus a host of new features and the more you experience the Brute Force 750 4x4i EPS, the better it gets.

With the assistance of two Kawasaki dealers in the form of Quadcare Ltd and Thomas Murray Agricultural Engineers, Kawasaki are delighted to be showcasing their product and greeting guests at the 2019 AgriScot event.

The Air Compressor and Pressure Washer Specialists

Great choice of McCormick tractors for grassland and arable work at AgriScot Dealers supplying and supporting McCormick tractors in Scotland will be on hand to explain the latest models, specifications and features to AgriScot visitors at Ingliston near Edinburgh on Wednesday, November 20.

Bob Bain, McCormick area sales manager for Scotland, says AgriScot provides a good shop window for the tractors.

“It’s at a good time of year and the audience is focused on resources to run their businesses successfully – whether it’s the pedigree livestock, management systems, stock handling equipment, field machinery or tractors,” he says.

“The McCormick range offers a very rounded line-up of tractors, covering engine

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

01772 862948 email: sales@bateman-sellarc.co.uk www.bateman-sellarc.co.uk

(continued on page 128)

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machinery power from 43hp with the X2 compacts to 310hp with the X8 VT-Drive.”

Dealers being represented on the day include Tim Hurst of TH Engineering at Dumfries; David Walkinshaw, Hamilton Tractors, Carnwath, Lanarkshire; and Argyll Engineers, Oban, Argyll & Bute.

For them, a good mix of McCormick tractor sizes and spec levels suits the dairying, beef/sheep and mixed farming enterprises of south-west and west Scotland – whether farmers are looking for a loader tractor from the 70126hp X4, X5 and X6 ranges, or something more powerful for field

work such as the four- and sixcylinder X7 Series.

Further east, these models plus the X7 Series tractors with power outputs from 141hp to 225hp are staples for dealers A B Wight Engineering at St Boswells, Scottish Borders; John Drysdale Agricultural Engineers,

Kinross; AL Agri, Forfar, Angus; and Brian Smith Agricultural Engineers, Cornhill near Banff, Aberdeenshire.

“The X7 Series tractors make a very attractive power unit for all sorts of applications and there’s plenty of choice to suit different requirements and preferences,” says Bob Bain.

Opico Grain Dryers – over 50 years and still going strong OPICO grain dryers have been helping farmers to protect their investment and maximise the return from their harvests for more than 50 years. Easy to install and relocate when necessary OPICO recirculating batch grain dryers do not require vast expenditure on handling equipment.

Available as gas or diesel fueled models, with 3 phase or PTO drive. These efficient, reliable and completely selfcontained units constantly recirculate the grain to ensure thorough, consistent and economical drying.

Inside the burner chamber of a diesel fueled Magna dryer is a steel barrel lined with heat retaining bricks, similar to those used in a storage heater. This is OPICO’s unique Duax Heat Core which effectively allows for less switching between high and low flame to maintain an even drying temperature. The

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end result being a cleaner burner, more even drying temperature and reduced fuel usage Gas fueled GT dryers are fueled by LPG and provide clean, cost effective, controllable and heat. LPG is vaporized in the dryer and burnt in a ring burner to achieve high temperatures and an even safe heat.

Automated models work continuously and require minimal labour allowing greater daily throughput so farmers are able to keep pace with harvest and get on with land work or establishing next year’s crop.

Farmers embrace technology across all aspects of their business and grain drying is no different. An automated setup reduces the time needed to manage the dryer (keeps in touch via SMS text messages) and even allows them to continue to dry while they sleep! Furthermore, the action of the built-in cleaner improves hectoliter weight.

OPICO understands the importance of reliable back up at an often stressful time of the year which is why OPICO dryers

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are sold through a trusted dealer network with trained service engineers who are available to help whenever you need their support.

machinery New self-propelled sprayers from John Deere John Deere has launched its next generation of self-propelled

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sprayers, manufactured at the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Horst factory in

The Netherlands. With the new R4140i 4000-litre capacity and

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R4150i 5000-litre capacity machines, engineers have further increased performance, precision, safety and operator comfort.

The focus of these latest developments has been on improving sprayer output while ensuring that the highest possible application quality is maintained and also delivering an improved operator environment. The premium design cab offers a new generation operator interface with fully integrated technology, such as the John Deere universal 4640 display mounted on a new armrest.

JDLink telematics for wirelessly transferring data both to and from the sprayer is available as standard, including free activation for five years.

An upgraded lighting package improves visibility at night, both when working in the field and filling the sprayer with chemicals, to ensure maximum productivity in all conditions.

The new cab is available at two specification levels depending on customer requirements, as well as with optional Category 4 operator protection to meet the latest safety regulations.

Both models are available with steel booms from 24 to 36m wide, and continue to use John Deereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading PowrSpray solution system, with direct rate control for fast filling and highly accurate application rates.

Combined with the innovative, automated AirRinse system, this reduces the solution systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dead volume to as low as 5 litres for maximum cleaning performance.

machinery John Deere launches new large square balers John Deere has added three new models to its range of large square balers, the L624 (70cm high by x 120cm wide), L633 (90 x 80cm) and L634 (90 x 120cm).

These will be available for the 2020 season and replace the L1500 Series, while the single tie knotter 1424 and 1424C large square balers are no longer available. The new machines feature increased performance and operational safety as well as lower operating costs.

Due to short harvesting windows, customers are looking for baling solutions which offer maximum reliability, optimum performance and higher bale weights. John Deereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new L600 Series large square balers have been designed to improve

productivity by up to 15 per cent and bale weight by up to five per cent.

The L600 Series machines are fully ISOBUS compatible, which allows the operator to adjust and control various settings using all available ISOBUS displays. The newly designed precutter can be controlled from the cab via the ISOBUS display, and features knife group selection with a choice of 0, 11, 12 or 23 knives.

This is a big improvement in operator comfort, as you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to leave the cab to select different knife groups and can continue working without any restrictions.

For better monitoring of harvesting conditions, John Deere has also made further

improvements to the machineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s moisture sensor. This now has a wider measurement range of

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9 to 40 per cent, instead of 11 to 34 per cent on the previous models.

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machinery New top-of-the-range JAGUAR from Claas The addition of a new top-of-therange model, the JAGUAR 990, is at the forefront of a number of updates and new features available across the JAGUAR 900 and 800 ranges for next year.

These include the adoption of the latest CEBIS touchscreen based control concept across the whole JAGUAR range, plus a change to more powerful Stage 5 engines for the JAGUAR 900, a new additive system and a 42-knife chopping cylinder, plus the availability of dynamic steering.

For 2020, all JAGUAR 900 machines will make the move to Stage 5 engines developing more power and providing an increase in torque. The JAGUAR 800 range will continue to be powered by Stage 4 compliant engines, with

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the move to Stage 5 coming in time for maize harvest.

Topping the JAGUAR 900 range of forage harvesters, the new JAGUAR 990 is powered by a 925hp MAN engine. The MAN V12 has a displacement of 24 litres and a 850hp version will also be used in the JAGUAR 980. The JAGUAR 970 moves to a new MAN D4276 straight six, which develops 790hp from its displacement of some 16 litres.

With a displacement of almost 3 litres per cylinder this promises a stable power curve with sustained torque, giving the JAGUAR 970 the best figures in its class with regard to fuel consumption per tonne of harvested material. The power output of the JAGUAR 960 and 940 models has also increased.

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machinery Krone expands Swadro rake portfolios Krone has launched the Swadro TC 1370 as a replacement for the Swadro 1400 Plus.

The new model is a four rotor rake designed specifically for contractor and professional operators.

Hydraulic rotor suspension â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that can be adjusted on the move â&#x20AC;&#x201C; replaces spring suspension.

Soft Down drop control (integral vibration damping) gently lowers the rotors into work (JetEffect). The headland lift height is adjusted directly from the tractor cab.

Operators can now set the electric rotor height from the terminal in the cab, either for each rotor separately or for all rotors in synch after defining one rotor as the main unit. It is possible to retrieve one of two programmable heights from the terminal to adapt to varying conditions on the move.

Adjustable headland lift copes with variation in headland swath height. Rotor arms extend automatically to the preset work and swath width as they lower into work.

Swadro TC 1370 has a working width from 10.80m

to 13.70m, which is a 20cm increase on the Swadro 1400 Plus. Swath widths are from 1.40m to 2.60m.

The Krone LiftTine is designed to increase forward speed without compromising on crop losses, whilst reducing

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contamination from soil and stones. The LiftTine can increase forward speed by as much as 20%. The tine arms on the two leading rotors have four LiftTines while the rear two rotors increase from four to five LiftTines per arm.

The lubrication and maintenance free, Duramax cam track, provides accurate control of the tine arm to produce a perfect box shaped swath.

For ease of road transport and improved operator safety there are a number of new features: two transport tyre dimensions, 620/40R22.5 or 710/35R22.5 with bogie wheels matching these tyre sizes; 16x6.50-8 with the standard 620s and 16x9.50-8 the option with the optional 710/35R22.5 tyres; and the compact rear end has LED lights and warning panels for adequate road safety and good visibility in work

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machinery Massey Ferguson’s best sellers move up to the ‘NEXT’ level of straightforward and dependable performance Massey Ferguson is delighted to announce the launch of its high specification ‘NEXT Edition’ tractors.

Massey Ferguson has created the ‘NEXT Edition’ versions by combining elements of the MF 5700 S Essential and MF 7700 S Exclusive packages with further performance and comfort enhancing features, wrapped up in an exclusive and distinctive livery.

This straightforward package delivers unrivalled levels of performance and great value for money to enhance productivity for dairy, mixed, arable farmers and contractors.

“We just simply looked at our customers’ needs in these segments considering our bestselling tractors, as well as the

preferred options, equipment and transmissions,” says Francesco Quaranta, Vice-President Sales & Marketing Massey Ferguson Europe & Middle East.

Massey Ferguson is introducing two new NEXT Edition models in the MF 5700 S series – the 110hp, MF 5711 S Dyna-4, 130hp and MF 5713 S Dyna-4.

Both tractors are equipped with the renowned Dyna-4 semi-powershift transmission as standard. This offers exceptional performance in the yard, field or on the road – offering 16 forward and 16 reverse speeds all selected on one lever, without using the clutch.

Theseagile,highlymanoeuvrable tractors offer excellent visibility over the slim dashboard and narrow steep-nose bonnet. With

its left-hand Power Control lever, the Dyna-4 transmission provides straightforward control to change direction, shift speeds

and select neutral. Together with the boosted hydraulic flow, this makes them the ultimate loader tractors.

Samson Introduces New Slurry Tanker Series Samson TG is a brand-new series of slurry tankers from Samson built on known and proven technology from both the Samson PG and PG II series and so including wellknown and patented features of Samson-products, like the Samson Ejector.

The TG slurry tanker differs from the current PG II series in that it is designed to meet special needs coming from SaMSON export markets, i.e. like France, Germany and other European markets.

All tankers of the series are e.g. prepared for the Samson Ejector.

In contrast to the PG II, the tanker can only be equipped with a max. 3.8 t lift, which, though, can be combined with most of Samson’s leading implements.

In general, the development has focused on a total weight as low as possible and a more limited range of options. Samson TG is available in a version with 18 and 20 m3.

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Filling done easy with Samson Ejector Samson TG will primarily use Samson’s patented ejector vacuum pumping system, which can pump even the most demanding fluids. The system is widely used in several of Samson’s markets.

The vacuum is only generated in the ejector pipe system and not in the entire slurry tanker. This helps to minimize the weight of Samson TG just like with the current Samson PG II. The ejector system can build a very high vacuum, under optimal conditions down to -0.9 bar. The Samson Ejector system has a filling capacity of up to 6000 L/min.

The Samson TG can be combined with several different filling systems: external filling through hopper placed at the top of the tanker - or with ejector combined with filling spout, hose

with filling pump on the side of the tanker, via single or double articulated side arms (SAP1 and SAP2) or via a front arm pump placed on the front of the tractor (FAP).

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Thus, Samson TG is excellently suitable both for slurry collecting and distribution from not easy accessible underground slurry stores or lagoons as well as of digestate.

machinery K Two buy Warwick Trailers to triple capacity and offer full product range One of the biggest British manufacturers of muck spreaders, trailers and farming machinery, K Two Sales, has bought Warwick Trailers increasing capacity for production of their high-quality muck spreaders and to offer a full product range of trailers.

K Two is a family run business who manufacture high quality muck spreaders and trailers, they are well known for their build quality and excellent customer service. In recent years they have seen an increase in demand for their machines across the UK and worldwide.

The purchase of Warwick Trailers has increased the size of their production facilities to nearly 80,000 square foot, giving them the space to produce more muck

spreaders and to be able to offer a complete range of trailers across the agricultural industry.

Warwick Trailers has been trading for almost 70 years will continue to produce their well established and trusted trailers under the new ownership of K Two. ‘’We are very pleased to officially announce that K Two has bought Warwick Trailers. This is a significant milestone in K Two’s history and will give us the opportunity to increase production of our muck spreaders and trailers for the farming market.’’ Explains Robbie Polson, K Two Sales Director. ‘’We are now able to offer the largest range of trailers in the industry.’’

With the purchase of Warwick Trailers and the launch of their

Duo Mk6 Muck Spreaders, a range of heavy-duty rear discharge muck spreaders that use twin vertical beaters, and their Roadeo Compact and Push Trailers, often described as the next generation of bulk haulage, K Two are set for increased growth year on year.

It’s great to see a British manufacturer investing in their future and achieving growth even with the Brexit uncertainty there is today.

For more information on K Two and their range of rear discharge muck spreaders, tipping, compacting and flatbed trailers, visit: www.ktwosales.co.uk

WILKS BROTHERS Main dealers in Perthshire for DEUTZ FAHR & KRONE Machinery

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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machinery Vogelsang VX Series gearless rotary lobe pumps: 55 percent lighter At Agritechnica, Vogelsang will be presenting the VX186GL gearless rotary lobe pump, the first pump for the agricultural sector that has no synchroniser gearbox, which makes it run exceptionally smoothly. This is due to the 4-wing lobes, which are designed to work in conjunction with the two parallel connected hydraulic motors to deliver constant torques on both pump shafts. When used in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s standard 30 m3 tank sizes, the gearless pump type in the VX Series offers a weight saving of around 100 kg to 150 kg, up to 55 percent. This

allows the transport capacities of the vehicle to be increased or the vehicles to be driven with reduced ground pressure.

The compact construction of the rotary lobe pump makes installation on the vehicle easier and is exceptionally easy to maintain. The lobes are lighter and can also be installed individually as no fitting keys are required. There is no need for a gear oil change.

This makes the rotary lobe pump low-maintenance, while also causing less wear to the lobes due to the lower shaft deflection.

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machinery New TurboDisc 3 coulter on Pronto DC drill from Horsch HORSCH has announced a number of updates for its highly regarded Pronto DC disc drill including a new TurboDisc 3 coulter, new PowerDisc parallelogram coulter and the addition of RowControl.

The new TurboDisc 3 double disc coulter builds on the proven capabilities of the previous generations to achieve a perfect seed placement for an even broader range of requirements and soils.

During the development stage the main focus was on precision and stability. An almost invisible component, the inside scraper, was carefully optimised to increase operational reliability in extreme conditions.

The new PowerDisc parallelogram coulter is ideal for difficult conditions and provides

precise seed placement even on coarse seedbeds. The double disc coulter is equipped with very large bearings designed to be extremely stable and durable. Experience from the Maestro single grain seed drills has been built on and similar to the Prontoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s well-proven TurboDisc coulter, two seed coulters run behind one tyre of the packer.

The SectionControl distributor tower RowControl with single row shut-off is now available for the Pronto DC, making overlaps and seeding windows a thing of the past. This saves seed, fertiliser and micro-granular compound.

Tramlines can be created in any row and the track-spacing and track width can be produced in every combination.

Due to its sophisticated seed and air management, the RowControl distribution tower can shut off individual rows without affecting the cross distribution of

D-K-R

AGRICULTURAL SERVICES LTD. Main Dealers for JOHN DEERE Tractors

D-K-R AGRICULTURAL SERVICES LTD. Westfield, Coulter, Biggar, Lanarkshire ML12 6HN 4EL s &!8 E-Mail: dkrcoulter@hotmail-com 138

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the machine. In practice, it makes sense to combine individual rows to small groups.

I-Manager from HORSCH introduces a new ISOBUS

operational framework for software and hardware. The objective of the new I-Manager hardware and software is to create a platform which can handle the metering of an almost unlimited number of sections and components.

Following the success with the Leeb LT, this intuitive handling concept has now been optimised and extended for the seed drill sector. The system has many new functions that facilitate the adjustment, handling and monitoring of the machines. The farmer can configure the display on the terminal interface according to his requirements. The objective is to include a fully diagnoseable system in all sectors of seeding technology.

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE Out January 2020

machinery Vaderstad WideLining awarded the Agritechnica Innovation Award 2019 The innovative tramlining planting system Väderstad Tempo WideLining that does not lower silage maize yields, has been awarded the Agritechnica Innovation Award 2019 silver medal.

WideLining is the worlds’ first tramlining system to spread liquid manure in a standing silage maize crop. Rather than having to shut off row units, WideLining automatically changes the row spacing on the planter, which keeps all row units planting at full capacity.

“We are very proud and glad to be awarded with silver medal at the Agritechnica Innovation Award 2019,” says Väderstad SVP sales and marketing Mattias

Hovnert. “Tempo WideLining is an important innovation to further develop our planter Tempo and give our customers another good tool on the machine to potentially increase the yield even more.”

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The WideLining system will premier at Agritechnica in November 2019 and it will be available for the high-speed planter Tempo V 6-12 from the second half of 2020.

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machinery Novacat / Eurocat Alpha Motion Pro from Pottinger Pöttinger - the grassland specialist - delivers innovative innovations to mowers for the best forage in the 2020 season. For many years, farmers around the world have been impressed by revolutionary ALPHA MOTION front mower technology. With the new PRO models, the enjoyment of mowing takes on a new dimension. The new PRO range consists of the

NOVACAT 261, 301 and 351 ALPHA MOTION PRO disc mowers as well as the EUROCAT 311 ALPHA MOTION PRO and ALPHA MOTION PLUS PRO drum-type mowers. The disc mowers can be used without conditioner with swath doors or in combination with an ED tine conditioner or RCB roller conditioner. The PLUS versions of the drum mowers are available with ED tine conditioners.

Like the MASTER models, the new PRO models are attached to the tractor using a three-point mounting. This makes them easy to attach to any tractor, regardless of size. The cutter bar is easily accessible thanks to the folding front guard. This makes it easier to clean and change the blades.

The cover can be easily removed to provide convenient access for adjusting the suspension springs. The central greasing points on the headstock represent an additional simplification in terms of servicing. The optimised drive train does not require a safety chain for the PTO shafts.

Naturally, the proven kinematics of the active support frame have also been used on the new PRO version. On conventional headstocks only the leading linkage responded to bumps in the ground. With the ALPHA MOTION headstock the entire carrier frame adapts to the ground contours. Each movement controls the carrier frame to ensure a “floating cut”. Even at high speeds and over wet ground, which results in a unique conservation of the sward. The mower is guided harmoniously over each bump in the ground, which means that it is less stressed and wear is reduced.

This extends the service life, as does the powerful cutter bar featuring TRI DRIVE for better power transmission.

The engineers at Pöttinger have also come up with a new look: the new models are eye-catchers with their very sleek, modern design.

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machinery New HORSCH schemes keeps self-propelled sprayers in top condition HORSCH has announced three new schemes to provide customers with additional confidence and support when purchasing a Leeb self-propelled sprayer.

PremiumCare provides fixed price dealer servicing on the latest Leeb 6.300 PT and 8.300 PT self-propelled sprayers and is available as a stand-alone scheme. This is complemented by PremiumWarranty that covers all service parts against breakdown for up to five years and can be added to a PremiumCare service scheme. The two schemes are ideal for sprayer owners wishing to fix their maintenance costs, helping to improve their business cashflow.

PremiumUsed is a manufacturer defined audit with more than 200 checkpoints that ensures used

Leeb PT270 and PT280 selfpropelled sprayers still meet their original rigorous performance and reliability benchmarks. The checklist has been developed by HORSCHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sprayer engineers

to cover all critical and wearing elements. Once completed by the dealer technicians, customers can be confident that the used machine has been serviced and returned to original factory standards.

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The PremiumUsed schemes will extend to trailed sprayers shortly with a view to adding the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s drilling and cultivation equipment in the future.

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finance Clydesdale Bank reaffirms support for Scottish Food & Drink sector The annual Scotland Food & Drink conference recently took place at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh, with over 400 businesses and stakeholders attending from the food and drink sector in Scotland.

Clydesdale Bank was proud to be the headline sponsor for the event.

The theme of the conference this year was based around how companies in the sector could build stronger brands through storytelling. With reference to famous campaigns and stories from iconic Scottish brands like Irn Bru and Johnnie Walker, businesses shared their own accounts of how they were able to build messaging that brought them customers and grew their stature in the market.

Whilst there was inevitable talk of Brexit, great products backed by strong branding, underpinned with Scottish provenance, were the main source of focus.

Agriculture, in conjunction with the wider food & drink sector, is a key part of supporting business customers at Clydesdale Bank. With a proven track record of supporting the sector and linking the primary producers to the food & drink economy for over a century, it’s fitting we continue to sponsor Scotland Food & Drink’s headline event their annual conference.

Speaking about the event, Brian Richardson, Head of Agriculture at Clydesdale Bank, said: “Whilst there is some uncertainty at the moment around

Brexit, the focus was very much on looking forward and building on the success of the food and

drink sector, which is now worth almost £15 billion to the Scottish economy – a gigantic figure.

Intelligent Growth Solutions attracts further US AgriTech investment to Scotland Intelligent Growth Solutions Ltd (IGS), the Scottish-based indoor AgriTech and Commercial

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Lighting business, announced today a further raise of £1.6 million in the second and final

close of its Series A funding.

The £1.5 million received from globally established agri-investor

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Ospraie Ag Science (OAS), coupled with an additional £100k from Agfunder, brings IGS’ total Series A fundraise to £7 million.

Ospraie Ag Science (New York City) joins existing Series A investors S2G Ventures (Chicago), the most active agrifoodtech investor globally in 2018; online venture capital firm AgFunder (San Francisco); and the Scottish Investment Bank in the investment round.

Ospraie brings 25 years of agriculture investing experience to IGS, and its investment in the company is its first step towards building a global platform in the indoor AgriTech market.

Dwight Anderson, Chief Investment Officer at Ospraie Ag Science commented: “IGS has tremendous potential to transform the way food is produced and supplied, and our investment – Ospraie’s first in

finance

THEMONEYMAN

the indoor agriculture market and in Scotland – is a testament to our strong belief in the success of IGS’ technology. The benefits of IGS’s Vertical Farming align well with our mission of helping farmers do more with less. We look forward to leveraging our significant agriculture network to help IGS grow its business to meet the market’s demand for sustainable solutions.”

This latest raise allows IGS to further expand its market presence through global sales operations for both AgriTech and Commercial Lighting.

Demands for its systems are high with the first deployments expected in early 2020.

IGS Chief Executive Officer David Farquhar said: “The further investment of £1.6 million is a hugely exciting one, not only for our business, but also for the Scottish economy.

Ospraie has chosen IGS as its initial investment target in the

indoor agriculture market, and also as its first investment in Scotland, which is a substantial endorsement of our technology and approach to date. Working alongside our other investors in this Series A funding we are in a really strong position to take our offering to a global market and meet the demand that is growing almost daily.

“The pressures of climate change are real and clear and our technology and systems have the ability to play a part in addressing how we produce and supply food sustainably and productively all over the world. Our customers in the commercial property world are equally keen to adopt IOTenabled smart lighting to create better indoor climates for their tenants and visitors alike.”

IGS has designed all its products to be highly pragmatic, flexible, modular and scalable in line with market expectations.

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Can you See the Wood for the Trees

By Charlie Carnegie In these uncertain and worrying times for Agriculture, one thing that is certain is that forestry and woodlands remain attractive both from an Investment and from a taxation perspective. I am not qualified to talk about the Investment opportunities but thought it might be worthwhile highlighting a few tax points.

If woodlands are ancillary to a farming enterprise, by way of shelter belts or used to provide firewood or fencing then they should benefit from 100% APR (Agricultural Property Relief) from Inheritance Tax. However if woodlands are managed on a commercial basis and once this has been ongoing for two years then the land would qualify for 100% Business Property Relief from Inheritance Tax. Commercial basis means that they are run with a long term view of selling Timber and generating a profit.

If the activity includes say paintballing or glamping in tree houses then Holdover relief, Rollover Relief and Entrepreneur Relief could apply for Capital Gains Tax. Consideration needs to be given to which relief gives the better answer depending on the requirements of the Estate. For example it may be beneficial to claim APR if it increases the agricultural activity associated with a farmhouse.

Another tax advantage of this is that any profit on these timber sales escapes both Income Tax and Capital

gains Tax. It follows that any costs incurred in planting, maintaining and harvesting the timber does not attract tax relief.

Although the cost of standing trees escapes Capital Gains Tax the underlying land does not.

The practice of growing and harvesting short term coppice is not treated as forestry but is classed as farming. This relates to the stems of high density perennial tree species at ground level at intervals of less than ten years which could mean that tree nurseries could qualify for APR. For VAT purposes, if run commercially then all the Vat incurred in respect of the establishment costs can be reclaimed even though it may be many years in the future before any sales are made at which point VAT shall be charged at the standard rate.

Charlie Carnegie is a partner in the Perth office of Campbell Dallas and can be contacted on 01738 441888 for further information.

Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

V Insurance V Mortgages V Pensions V Investment V Life Assurance

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Charlie Carnegie is a partner in the Perth office of Campbell Dallas and can be contacted on 01738 441888 for any further information

ARTWORKS Sporting and wildlife artist Richard J Smith talks about his country life south of the border I live on The Gaddesden Estate in Hertfordshire in the old keepers cottage. I help out with the shoot, do the deer stalking (fallow and muntjac mostly with the occasional roe) and look after our tiny chalk stream. Unfortunately this little waterway has seen better days due to abstraction but I have had great success with kingfishers taking to a purpose built nest box, so things are looking up.

Just outside my studio there lies a small wood of about eight acres. At it’s highest point I have

a high seat leaning against a commanding Scots pine which gives me a pretty good view of most of it’s ground, the flight ponds, a couple of rides and the plantation. It’s haven for wildlife.

Apart from the deer, I sit there quietly and it’s surprising what comes close. A stoat stalking a rabbit, a sparrow hawk taking a pigeon, a tawny owl staring from an opposite branch or even a tiny treecreeper working it’s way in a spiral up a tree trunk. During the winter months if you were

to look over my right shoulder through the frosty pines down the valley at sunset you could be in Scotland. Imagination plays a big part in my work. I usually start new pieces with a strong abstract design but it is important to me to study my subjects first hand. I am an avid fisherman. I’m trying catch as many different species on the fly as possible although I’m not too clever with the double hander but I am probably best known for my paintings of fish and water.

Over the years I have been lucky enough to travel the world but now with my new little terrier I am quite content staying at home and ‘painting from my doorstep’.

For further details view www.richardjsmith.art or call 01442 255743

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lifestyle

A little something for Christmas…

Celebrate Christmas Cow Style

Something for her Go bold and bling with this equestrian-inspired fashion jewellery collection. Designed

by Equetech and exclusive to the brand, the Snaffle Bit Collection includes crystal diamanté stone encrusted and plain, drop pendant necklace, bracelet and ring. The perfect gift for your horse mad bestie!

Prices start at RRP: £ 18.50 for plain Snaffle Bit Ring and RRP: £19.95 for crystal version.

Something for him

Christmas is just around the corner so this year why not mix things up a little with a bit of a twist!

Lauren Terry is the Artist behind Lauren’s Cows. Painting only cattle, her artwork captures the personality of each individual animal while encapsulating all the physicality of the breed. Exhibiting across the country, Lauren has built a strong reputation in the agricultural community, becoming known as ‘The Cow Owners Cow Artist’, even being featured on BBC Countryfile. Working from photographs, when not in the studio, you can find Lauren in the fields getting up close and personal with cows.

‘The attention to detail in her paintings is incredible, she manages to capture each cows’ individual character with her brush strokes.

We love seeing our Highlanders in her artwork.’ Tracy Shepherdson, Ruston Highland Cattle.

Each painting is full of fun but when it comes to Christmas Lauren really pulls out all the stops!

‘I have so much fun at Christmas, designing something really unique. I think the Christmas Cows are such a huge hit with cattle farmers as they really speak to them! After all what makes you smile more than a Cow in a bobble hat!’ says Yorkshire artist Lauren.

Whether it be cows dressed in Fairy Lights, making friends with Robins or catching snowflakes these ‘one of a kind’ Christmas Cards will really make you smile.

You can find Lauren’s Cows cards, along with art prints and homeware at www.laurenscows.com.

Finding a decent pair of breeches for men can be a challenge, but Equetech’s men’s breeches collections combine quality with great design and finish at a great price point. The Men’s Foxhunter Hybrid Breeches are ideal for those who like to compete. Hard-wearing with exceptional support with multidirectional stretch for excellent comfort and shape retention, they are ideal for a day in the saddle competing or out hunting.

RRP: £108.50 Sizes 30” - 40”.

The Equetech stock and tie collection will also ensure that those finishing touches don’t get overlooked.

Prices start at RRP: £6.95 www.equetech.com

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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Diana McGowan NFU Scotland has strengthened its communications team with the appointment of Diana McGowan as its Senior Communications and Publications Manager.

Diana joins the Union after working as Communications Manager at Forestry Commission Scotland from 2005 to April 2019, when she became Publications and Internal Communications Manager for Scottish Forestry.

As well as general communications and media support, Diana’s main roles will involve the editing and production of the Union’s flagship monthly magazine, Scottish Farming Leader, as well as annual publications like its annual report.

Luke Barnard The appointment of Luke Barnard as precision farming specialist, in addition to his role as area service manager for all of Ireland, strengthens the support available to dealers supplying Landini and McCormick tractors throughout the UK and Ireland.

Luke (27) joined the Argo Tractors operation with several years of technical experience working in machinery dealerships to add to his National Diploma in Land-Based Technologies gained with triple distinctions from Riseholme College in Lincolnshire where he lives.

“I’m loving the job,” he says. “It involves a lot of travel, especially to our dealers in Ireland and to the Argo Tractors factories in northern Italy for detailed technical training, but it’s nice to wake up looking forward to going to work.”

Athole McKillop Leading land and forestry consultancy Galbraith continues to expand its presence and range of services across Scotland and into the North of England, following its merger with Land Factor in April 2019. Newly appointed partner, Athole McKillop, joined Galbraith from April and has now stepped into the role of head of forestry. Athole is a previous chairman and remains a board member of Confor. He has a wealth of specialist forestry and rural land management experience across Scotland and Northern England.

Nigel Hemphill The Animax Animal Health Company a market leader in trace element supplementation has announced the recent appointment of Nigel Hemphill as their new Commercial Director. Mr Hemphill has more than 25 years’ experience in the Agribusiness sector. Prior to joining Animax he was Sales Manager with ForFarmers N.V. which has annual sales of around 10 million tonnes of animal feed and is the EU market leader.

Speaking of his new appointment, Mr Hemphill said he was” delighted to be joining Animax who are the market leader in trace element supplementation for livestock.

Page Turner’s

BOOK REVIEW Potatoes – not just the lifeblood of Ireland

Edinburgh based publisher, Birlinn Ltd, have released what may well come to be considered one of the most profound books on Scottish history to have been written in decades: Insurrection: Scotland’s Famine Winter by emeritus professor of history at the University of the Highlands and Islands, James Hunter. You may well recognize Hunter as the author of the Saltire Society’s History Book of the Year, Set Adrift Upon the World. He is an award-winning journalist as well as historian and in his review of Set Adrift Upon the World, David Ross of the Herald commented ‘his scholarship is breathtaking’.

Scotland’s potato crop of 1846 was ravaged by blight.

For a nation reliant on this humble harvest, the result was both social and economic crisis and led directly to an uprising by ordinary folk. For those in the crofting communities of the Hebrides and the West Highlands – already suffering from absolute poverty – the crisis turned to imprisonment, starvation and death. On the island of Barra, it was ‘the sort of crisis a later age would call a humanitarian catastrophe.’ Barra, like many other crofting communities had given over nearly all the arable land to potatoes. It had nothing to fall back on. No alternative foodstuffs were available in the quantity required. Cockles and a very small amount of meal were often all the people had to eat. Potato blight ‘reduced

field after field, plot after plot, to a sickeningly reeking mass of blackened, rotting vegetation’.

Landlords ‘showed next to no concern for the faminethreatened people living on their properties’. The deadly typhoid spread.

Hunter presents the human face of those living and dying in the worst effected areas. Entire towns and villages rose up in protest and riot at the rising cost of the meal that replaced potatoes as people’s basic foodstuff, women protested against the imprisonment of their men-folks (some sentenced to transportation to penal colonies in Australia for their role in riots), fathers and mothers feared – with good reason – for the very life of their children ‘falling-away’ before them. Harbours were blockaded, the grain trade brought to a standstill and the army, sent in to restore order, turned on the protesters.

Jim Hunter’s remarkable and inspirational book brings the dramatic events of these forgotten times back to the reader. He has produced a moving, well- researched work of micro-history with lessons for our time. Slowly the protesters demands for cheaper food won concessions but the price they paid was high indeed.

Insurrection: Scotland’s Famine Winter by James Hunter is available now.

Birlinn Ltd, £20 hbk.

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