Farming Scotland Magazine (Nov-Dec 2015)

december 2015

Scotland’s national farming & rural lifestyle magazine

Tuathanachas Alba

magazine

FREE INSIDE 2016 Year Planner Wall Poster Farm Security ATV’s & UTV’s

Beatha an Eilean Our new Gaelic page ‘Life on the Islands’

Lamma Profile Mark Garrick Ltd

‘Isolation Shepherd’ Part one of our new book serialisation

Diet Feeders

In Focus Grass into gold

LiveScot 2016 4x4 Cars Flavour of Scotland Corbie & Cheip Seriously Good Venison and more...

£3.00

Our Farm Shop CastletonFarm Shop

Topic River fluke ART Ceramics by Sarah Coonan Plus Drovers Tales s World Farming s Livestock Estate s Beautiful Tractors s Country Woman Horses s Lifestyle s Cars including all of our regular news sections and columns

contents

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december 2015

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77

MAIN FEATURES

PRODUCT UPDATE

20

Farm Security

87

30

ATV’s & UTV’s

40

Lamma

46

Mark Garrick Profile

55

Diet Feeders

76

LiveScot 2016

91

4x4 Cars

Livestock Bedding

BEATHA AN EILEAN 96

Gaelic life on the islands

101

142

43

World Farming

81

Scottish Government

52

Renewable Energy

88

NSA Scotland

68

Livestock

89

Young Shepherd

80

Dairy

102 Conservation Matters

88

Sheep

103 Off the Hook

90

Pigs

104 Scottish Land & Estates

100 Estate

105 On the Peg

106 Horses

107 Equine Angle

110 Future Farmer

111 S.A.Y.F.C.

113 Gadgets

115 Online Savvy

114 Science & Technology

117 The Money Man

ISOLATION SHEPHERD

116 Finance

137 Rural Style

118 Machinery

140 RSABI

FLAVOUR of SCOTLAND

98

134 Country Woman

146 People on the move

136 Lifestyle

146 Book Review

23

BEAUTIFUL TRACTORS

WHISKY 97

IN FOCUS 15

Grass into gold

Corbie & Chiep, Seriously Good Venison etc

Special Limited Edition Offer

Part 1 of our book serialisation

131 Two more classic oldies

OUR FARM SHOP 29

Castleton Farm Shop

TOPIC 65

River Fluke

DROVERS TALES 78

Diary of Ken Headspeath

PUBLISHER/EDITOR Athole Murray Fleming Tel. 01738 639747 E-mail: mail@farmingscotlandmagazine.com

142 @Home 144 Cars

SUBSCRIPTION

COLUMNS

139 Getting your own personal copy posted directly to you is very easy.

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Editor’s bit

7

In my view

14

NFU Scotland

141 Ceramicist Sarah Coonan

19

Crofting

21

Farm Watch

NEWS

25

Let’s Cook

27

Farmers Markets

6

Arable

54

Farming for the Climate

16

Potatoes

69

Quality Meat Scotland

42

EU News

75

The Vet

ART

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Christina Fleming Email: christina@atholedesign.com

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

NEXT ISSUE Out on the first week of January, including our “Show Guide 2016” wall poster.

If interested in advertising or supplying articles, please call us on 01738 639747.

ADVERTISING MANAGER Trevor Knights Tel. 01738 447378 Email: trevor.knights@farmingscotlandmagazine.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. FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE is designed, produced and published by Athole Design & Publishing Ltd., Tolastadh, 18 Corsie Drive, Kinnoull, Perth, Scotland PH2 7BU. Tel. 01738 639747 est 1994

ISSN: 2041–918X

©ATHOLE DESIGN 2015

Join us on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/FarmingScotlandMagazine

arable editor's bit Always something new to bring you!

As many of you will know, I am always looking for new content ideas to help make FSM the ‘must read’ for everyone living and working in the rural sector.

In this edition we launch a new ‘book serialisation’ feature and we welcome a new column writer for our ‘sheep’ section.

And in addition, we are delighted to present a platform for one of Scotland’s greatest cultural jewels, with the launch of our Gaelic language page ‘beatha an eilean’ – Life on the Islands.

Recognising this wonderful native language of Scotland is in part a personal choice too, as our Production Director (and wife!) is a native speaker from North Tolsta on the Isle of Lewis, so we are delighted to make that connection to the Western isles and indeed the Highlands.

So what else is new?

Well, we will be making a major announcement or two within our next edition in January. All I can say right now is that they will be huge steps forward for the magazine.

Intrigued? Good, now you can make sure you buy the next issue….or subscribe of course!!!

Well, that’s it for now.

I look forward to meeting some of you at AgriScot of course, and to everyone else, I wish you a great festive time with your family and friends.

See you in the New Year.

Slàinte, Athole.

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Prevent volunteer beans making gappy crops Clumps of volunteer beans are threatening crop establishment and good grassweed control in autumn-sown cereals, warns Dow AgroSciences cereals herbicide expert Stuart Jackson.

Mr Jackson says: “We’ve noticed a marked increase in volunteers this autumn, which isn’t surprising considering the increased area of beans sown last season. Beans pose a double threat - not only do they shade grassweeds from contact herbicides, but larger clumps can reduce establishment leading to gappy crops.”

Following the withdrawal of mecoprop-p (CMPP) containing products, growers are looking for new solutions to control volunteer beans.

“Growers need to look at alternatives this year,” says Mr Jackson.

“Choose a product which controls both volunteer beans and rape as well as other broad-leaved weeds this autumn. This will help reduce weed shading of the grassweed target, giving your contact graminicide the best opportunity to work on grassweed control.

For those confused about the ALS sequencing and mixing rules, Mr Jackson has some good news.

“Despite popular misconception, florasulambased products can be used in the autumn and again in the spring, providing the total dose of florasulam does not exceed 7.5g/ha over the season. Splitting the dose means the autumn treatment only counts as one of your permitted applications,” he confirms.

This gives growers the option to use florasulambased Spitfire® in the autumn, followed by a spring application of another florasulam-based product such as Starane XL for cleavers and volunteer OSR control. www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

In my view

arable Simpsons Malt features in the Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250

Future prospects

By John Cameron Balbuthie, Kilconquhar, Fife

Family-owned Simpsons Malt has been ranked in the Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250; the league table ranks Britain’s mid-market growth private companies with the biggest sales.

The Berwick-upon-Tweed based maltsters produces 300,000 tons of malt a year, with its agricultural trading arms - McCreath, Simpson Prentice and John Guthrie sourcing the raw material, barley.

Simpsons Malt employs over 200 people and has reported sales of £156m in the last year, which qualified them to feature in the Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250.

Commenting on the ranking Richard Simpson, vice-

chairman of Simpsons Malt, said: “We attribute Simpsons Malt’s success to the continued hard work of our employees, our farming partners and suppliers and our amazing customers, who recognise our continued investment in both our maltings, in Berwick-upon Tweed and Tivetshall St Margaret, and in the company’s supply chain infrastructure. This investment aims to further strengthen our business and secure delivery of a consistently high level of product to our customers.

“As a business, being featured on the Sunday Times Grant Thornton Top Track 250 list is a privileged position that we’re very proud to be in alongside the other businesses in our region.”

The similarity between Farming Prospects and the weather could not be greater.

Both are totally unpredictable.

Even though a number of trends have now been established it is still impossible to determine with any accuracy if any particular sector of our industry will be profitable or not?

On the political front we now know the value in sterling of our new Basic Area Payments which represent a drop of about 6% of last year’s conversion rate. We don’t yet know what the actual rate per hectare for each of the three regions will be – but we do know that the overall level of payments will be less than last year.

We also know that there will be a calf payment scheme for the beef men with two rates, - one for mainland calves and a slightly higher one for island calves. We also know that there will be a limited ewe hogg subsidy for home bred hogs retained in the higher hill farming regions and that it will be around £70 per hogg subject to a per hectare maximum.

So far so good or perhaps less bad than we feared but what of the future for our commodity prices. On the arable side potato prices are certainly stronger meantime than last year but cereal prices continue to drag with certain prices not even covering their cost of production.

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On the livestock front lamb and beef prices are pretty flat with the lamb prices very dependent on potential exports. Current milk and pig prices are not doing producers much good although cheaper feed prices will help to limit losses. So, nothing there by way of assured improvements for the near future.

One thing we have been promised is that the present LFA Scheme (or Areas of Natural Constraint) will continue till 2018 before it is revised. No one is very sure at this stage what the new scheme – likely to be based on parishes – will do for them but the signs are it will reduce payments. I often think that we miss a trick in the LFA by failing to come up with a financial figure to represent all the other public and social and infrastructure benefits which flow directly from agriculture in these areas.

Everyone including our politicians accept these other benefits are real but – so far – no one or organisation has ever attempted to put a realistic figure on what agriculture in the LFA really contributes to the Scottish economy.

So come on you budding economists.

Here is an opportunity for you to make a real name for yourselves and help a large area of Scottish Hill Farming to get the recognition it deserves!

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arable Successful Season for BDC Systems

equipment has increased by 15% this season, due to competitive prices, extended warranties, quality products and quick deliveries. With the addition of catwalks, silo sweep conveyors and heavy duty curved machines up to 200tph capacity, the future looks very promising. As the official Skandia UK agent, BDC Systems keeps a vast amount spares for the equipment in stock

at its warehouse in Wiltshire for immediate delivery Ventilation equipment sales have also increased this year, with more new stores looking to install below floor ventilation systems, for ease of loading / unloading and even airflow through the crop.

Heavy duty level floor laterals, corraducts and ventilation fans from 0.25kw to 7.5kw are also available from stock.

New Yield Record for Winter Wheat in AFBI Variety Trials

BDC Systems Ltd reports another successful season for the well-known Svegma grain driers and Skandia elevating and conveying equipment. With continuous flow driers totaling over 630tph this season ranging from small 10tph indoor units to 75tph commercial driers, there has been a good variety of units installed this year.

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Apart from upgraded fans, burners and control panel the basic drier hasn’t changed significantly over the years which proves that the design was correct from the start. This means that spare parts are still available for driers over 30 years old.

Sales of Skandia’s range of elevating and conveying

A new record yield of over 14 t/ ha has been set in 2015 for AFBI winter wheat trials. In the recent harvest, two winter wheat varieties, KWS Barrel and Avatar, achieved over 14 t/ha in the variety trials conducted by AFBI Crossnacreevy.

Average yields of plots treated with fungicides in the trial at Limavady in 2015 were 13.0 t/ha, placing it 7th out of 27 trials in the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board’s (AHDB) UK trialling system. These yields were on average 2 t/ha higher than the 2014 NI trial average and 2.5 t/ha higher than the 5-year NI trial average for 2010-2014. Full results of the performance of the 49 varieties in trial in Northern Ireland in 2015 are available at www.afbini.gov. uk. In this article the varieties most suitable for the NI market, potential newcomers and the importance of disease resistance when selecting winter wheat varieties to sow, are discussed.

www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

arable Anti-GM Stance Not So ‘Clean and Green’ Suggests Professor Dame Anne Glover Speaking before 90 guests at SRUC’s annual stakeholder dinner, Prof. Dame Glover said that she would ‘defend to the death’ EU members state governments’ right to decide not to grow GM, as part of the democratic process.

However, she expressed concern about Scotland’s anti-GM decision because it suggested that scientific testing had not proven GM to be safe.

“Nothing has been more rigorously tested, she said. “The technology we use to produce GM is safe. If we could use

Opting not to grow Genetically Modified (GM) crops in Scotland might be an ‘old and dirty’ approach as opposed to

the ‘clean and green’ one those opposed to GM may believe it to be, according to biologist Professor Dame Anne Glover.

Early aphid hit to stop virus loss

Oilseed rape growers should be looking to target virus carrying aphids early to prevent yield robbing levels of virus infecting crops. Results of Plenum trials on a Syngenta Innovation Centre last season highlighted that hitting aphid populations as they built up protected in the highest yields.

Plenum application timed when the numbers of Myzus persicae caught in water trap monitoring in Hampshire started to increase, doubling from 10 aphids per trap to over 20 in the course of a week, resulted in over 6% higher yield, compared 10

technology that has been proven to be safe to make agriculture more efficient, with fewer inputs, we would be doing a good thing for the environment and for the quality of the food we eat.”

Prof. Dame Glover, who has formerly held posts as Chief Scientific Advisor to the Scottish Government and the President of the European Commission, was speaking in the wider context of the need for Scotland to embrace innovation in order to support sustainable agriculture to feed the world’s growing population.

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to treatment a week later, when aphid numbers peaked. Treatment delayed by a further week, when aphid numbers had begun to naturally decline, also resulted in lower yields. Untreated OSR yields were over 10% lower.

Syngenta Field Technical Manager, Pete Saunders, attributed the field losses from later aphid control to infection of TuYV (Turnip Yellows Virus). “Although last year was a relatively low risk season for aphid pressure and virus losses, the trial still demonstrated the importance of preventing infection in the first instance.

arable AFBI winter barley trial yields for 2015 up by 15% Results of the 2015 winter barley variety trials at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), funded by DARD and the AHDB (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board – formerly the HGCA), have just been compiled. The average treated yield of all varieties across two sites (Limavady and Downpatrick) in 2015 was 10.8 t/ha (86 cwt/ ac), 15% higher than the 5-year average. The average treated yields of all varieties in each of the two trials at Downpatrick and Limavady were 11.4 t/ha (91 cwt/ ac) and 10.2 t/ha (82 cwt/ac), respectively. In the UK context, the yields in AFBI winter barley trials rank 6th and 8th (Downpatrick and Limavady, respectively) out of 20 trials that range from 6.25 t/ha in Perth, Scotland to 12.05 t/ha in Hertfordshire, England (see http://

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cereals.ahdb.org.uk/varieties/ current-trials-and-harvest-results. aspx).

Yields of the six row varieties were exceptional in 2015. At Downpatrick, Bazooka, the new 6-row hybrid from Syngenta, was the highest yielding variety with an impressive yield of 12.4 t/ha (99 cwt/ac). At Limavady, Volume, the more established 6-row hybrid variety, topped the yields at 11.3 t/ha (90 cwt/ac).

On average, Bazooka out-yielded Volume by 2% in treated trials. In untreated trials, Bazooka gave an 8% increase in yield over Volume.

At Cereals 2015, Bazooka was billed as higher yielding with better disease resistance than Volume whilst maintaining similar specific weight. The AFBI trial data support this, although there is some degree of

variability depending on location.

Belfrey, Syngenta’s second new 6-row hybrid, yielded 2% and 5% lower than Bazooka in AFBI trials in the treated and untreated

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trials, respectively. So Bazooka appears to be the new six row hybrid frontrunner both in terms of treated yields and disease resistance.

NFUScotland

The way ahead

By NFU Scotland President Allan Bowie

The past year has been an extremely difficult one for many Scottish farmers, heavily influenced by the ‘perfect storm’ of global volatility and record rainfall affecting our industry.

At this particular time you need allies, whether that is a helping hand from a neighbour, a supply chain that values what we do or politicians that understand the practicalities of modern food production all these are important at this moment in time.

We have an element of control in some of these factors and our day to day business decisions will reflect this.

Confidence and stability is key to this and it concerns me that other factors out with our control can easily undermine any future plans.

That is why NFU Scotland has been very pro-active, with the help of members and other farming unions, in highlighting the great job that Scottish farmers do – whether that be livestock, cereals, fruit, veg or dairy.

While pushing for more British products on retailer shelves, we have also brought to retailers and the public’s attention good and bad practices on the shop shelves.

The discovery of significant volumes of imported lamb underneath Tesco banner’s proclaiming ‘The Best Scottish Lamb in Season’ was a slap in the face for our sheep farmers and one that has merited an apology from our biggest retailer.

In the past few weeks, we have met with the majority of major and discount retailers, stressing the industry’s concerns and insisting on more transparency and longer term

commitments. Sourcing policy and market signals are crucial in allowing us to adapt our businesses in the real world of farming and food production and retailers’ actions need to take account of this.

Many retailers are doing a good job with 100 per cent British and/or Scottish available year round in dairy, beef, lamb and veg/potatoes and we thank them for their support. Many are moving towards this and we will continuing to press for greater support and extended seasons for our produce on supermarket shelves.

This engagement with retailers is not about bashing our competitors from other countries but about getting retailer and consumer awareness around the food we produce, the jobs and rural economies that we support and a chance to compete on the shelves.

We also need political allies at this point and it is concerning to see the appointment of the new shadow Defra minister and her uncompromising approach particularly with meat production and consumption.

We have more than 75 per cent of land in Scotland classified as Less Favoured Area and our livestock do a fantastic job converting an unpalatable food source like grass and heather, into a protein source that tastes great.

Our land also supports a growing export economy worth millions and is at the centre of Scotland’s food and drink industry. The Union has yet to meet with the new shadow minister but I do hope she grasps the realities of farming and quickly gains the credibility needed for the job.

www.nfus.org.uk

arable Seed innovation aids Lucerne establishment

Innovative seed technology from Germinal proven to improve the establishment of the forage crop lucerne was one of ten entries selected for the UK Dairy Day 2015 New Product Zone.

The new technology, says Germinal, will help UK livestock farmers make better use of a valuable high protein forage option, thereby reducing feed costs and creating greater sustainability for their businesses.

“Lucerne has the potential to provide substantial dry matter yields of quality feed that is very high in protein, mainly as a conserved forage,” said Helen Mathieu of Germinal.

“Accurate drilling and good establishment to create the optimum plant population is essential with lucerne if best use is to be made of the crop. This has historically been challenging for many farmers in the UK, so innovation that will significantly

improve success rates with lucerne is a real breakthrough.”

Developed in France, the seed technology involves preinoculation of lucerne seed with Rhizobia meliloti bacteria and application of a multi-layered permeable coating that provides essential nutrients (SAS Energy) and seed uniformity to improve drilling accuracy. The treated seed is then supplied in measured packs (Precidose) to provide an optimum seed rate.

The technology has been shown in comparative trials to increase plant establishment by 14% and increase lucerne dry matter yield by 6% at first cut.

Germinal is now supplying cold-tolerant lucerne varieties bred for UK conditions treated with SAS Energy technology and in Precidose packs. The high ranking varieties Timbale and Galaxie are available for 2016 sowing, along with Galaxie Max, which is a blend of Timbale and Galaxie.

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IN

Scottish farmers turning grass into gold Three Scottish farms are taking part in Grass into Gold – a pioneering research programme exploring how proactive grassland management can improve yields and profitability.

Longlea Farm - Robert and Charlotte

In total, ten farms across the UK are involved in the inaugural Barenbrug scheme, which is supported by Dow Agrosciences.

The Scottish participants are: Mark Donald and Harriet Smith from Rhynaclach Farm in Stirlingshire, Craig Malone from Pitcairn Farm in Fife and Charlotte Baillie of Longlea Farm, South Lanarkshire.

Through Grass into Gold, each of the farmers is working closely with Barenbrug – a leading grass seed producer – to discover how to manage their fields more efficiently. To help increase farm profitability, Mhairi Dawson, Barenbrug’s Scottish grassland expert, is delivering tailored guidance, information and practical support via one-to-one liaison and regular farm visits. In return, each farm is keeping yield and performance data to monitor grass growth.

Just a few months into the programme, good progress is being made. Mhairi and the farmers have conducted field assessments and drawn up action plans to help address any persistent pasture problems.

At Longlea, Mhairi is helping the Baillies improve results at the three stages of their silage regime.

Rhynaclach Farm - Harriet and Mark

The farm, which covers 530 acres, has a 300-strong herd of Holstein cows, producing an average of 9,750 litres of milk each year. Feed wise the main focus is on silage production with around 3,400 tonnes pitted each year.

Robert said: “Typically we aim for a first cut in late May with two subsequent cuts. Once the final cut has been made the sheep graze the aftermath. We sowed three new seed mixtures in 2014 and seem to be getting good results but know we could do more to improve our swards, the quality of our silage and the amount of milk we produce.”

Mhairi said: “Our initial field assessment at Longlea showed the usual Scottish grassland challenges of high rainfall and heavy soils – which can hinder silage results. Docks are the main weed issue and there are some pH problems to tackle too. We are now in the process of prioritising some areas for soil sampling and overseeding.”

In Stirlingshire, Mhairi is working with Mark Donald and

Harriet Smith, who are in the early stages of setting up their sheep farming business; they have a ten-year lease via the Forestry Commission Scotland’s Starter Farm scheme. The couple have big plans for the farm, which has thirteen fields – all in need of work. With a variety of issues to tackle, including rushes, docks, compaction and pH problems, Mhairi has suggested mapping out the weeds to track growth, then spraying to remove them. In parallel, a programme of spring overseeding is being devised to make the most of each field’s characteristics.

Harriet said: “We’re still relatively new to farming and need to increase our knowledge of forage production and good grassland practice – so it’s great to be involved in an initiative that will close the gaps in our understanding. Lots of our fields are lacking in productivity so it’s going to be a steep learning curve.

We relish the prospect of working with Mhairi, who is also a sheep farmer.”

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At Pitcairn Farm, Barenbrug is working with Craig Malone who runs 400 Blackface ewes to produce mule lambs and buys in heifers to bull them and sell with calves at foot. From grass grazing is key for Craig who also produces a single cut of silage from around 30 to 50 acres. To improve silage quality, Mhairi is working with Craig to renovate an older block of land at the top of the farm.

After soil sampling in July, which showed low levels of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), Craig began a fertiliser programme to address the deficiencies. Matching crop off take will also be implemented over the coming year. Barenbrug has also supplied seed for the farm’s forage crop acres. Five acres have been sown with swede seed – ideal for post Christmas lamb feeding – and four acres have been sown with a blend of forage rape, stubble turnips and kale.

Mhairi said: “It’s been a busy start to Grass into Gold for our Scottish farmers. Each farm faces slightly different challenges but they all have one thing in common; they recognise the benefits of investing in grass as a crop and understand the positive impact it can have on farm finances. At a time of continuing price pressures, farmers needs to capitalise on every opportunity to improve profitability. Through Grass into Gold our aim is to show how simple, cost effective grassland management techniques can be used to great effect.It’s early days, and there is still lots to do, but hopefully we’ll see some good results next year.”

For further details about Grass into Gold farms: www.barenbrug. co.uk/grassintogold or contact Barenbrug: 01359 272000 / info@baruk.co.uk.

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potatoes Fresh potatoes marketing focus The Potato Industry Event ‘BP2015’ (www.BP2015. co.uk) takes place in Harrogate on 12-13 November, with seminars from key speakers including Nick White, head of marketing and corporate affairs for AHDB Potatoes.

Nicki will be focusing on ‘Opportunities for growth for the potato sector’ with an overview of marketing campaigns that aim to help change the way consumers think about potatoes.

The most recent campaign, in conjunction with Bord Bia (the Irish Food Board) and secured with EU funding, kicked off in October.

Aimed primarily at younger consumers, in particular 2534 year old females, activity positioned potatoes as a relevant and convenient food which is healthy, tasty and versatile.

Fun and impactful advertising appeared in high profile lifestyle magazines (Now Magazine, Closer and Heat) and on digital channels (MailOnline), using a cheeky potato character and a hero dish to show that potatoes are ‘more than a bit on the side’. Further activity included extensive social media noise, blogger and vlogger partnerships, recipe development and a nationwide PR campaign.

Nick White, head of marketing and corporate affairs

for AHDB Potatoes, said: “We really need to challenge consumer perceptions of fresh potatoes – particularly amongst younger age groups – in order to combat declining sales and consumption.

“Our highly visible programme was designed to engage with a core audience of young females, who are the most infrequent purchasers of potatoes. The integrated mix of traditional tactics, such as advertising and PR, combined with great social media and digital content, and partnerships with influential people active in health, cookery and fitness helped reach consumers at every opportunity; instilling positive shopping and eating habits that will benefit the industry both now and in the long-term.”

Industry collaboration is key to maximise the impact of marketing activity. Nick said: “Even with high profile campaigns, we see greater impact when growers, packers, retailers and distributors get behind it. To help, we introduced free levy-payer promotional tools available as part of our ‘One Voice’ initiative, including themed artwork, a host of new quickcook recipes (20-30 minutes), key nutritional messages and a YouTube video of our potato character. Full details and access to the material

can be found on our website: www.potatoes.ahdb.org.uk/ onevoice.

“With four in 10 shoppers making the decision to purchase potatoes at the fixture, it is important that we continue to offer them the guidance and inspiration they are looking for. Packers and retailers can help by including more varietal and nutritional information on-

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pack as well as recipe imagery and even quick-cook recipe ideas in-store.

“Together, we can really make a difference and help consumers re-connect with the category, building their enthusiasm and propensity to make a purchase.”

The full seminar programme and registrations are now live at: www.BP2015.co.uk

potatoes Grimme launches grader updates

A new sample taking system that gently picks and quickly presents a sample of the crop, has been launched by Grimme.

The sample is taken directly from the hopper before the separation and cleaning starts with minimal disruption to the crop flow.

A hydraulically driven conveyor is integrated at the transfer between the hopper and the cleaning unit with almost no drop. Sensors control the quantity of crop collected for the sample box.

Any surplus is returned gently and automatically to the crop flow.

An ergonomically designed operator stand allows an overview of the whole crop flow and the sample taking system without the need to bend over. Careful positioning

of steps allows the operator to safely take off the sample box.

For the exact weighing of crop during storing (in or out) a box weigh scale has also been developed for the Grimme GBF box filler series.

The two compact weighing modules are integrated to the box filler frame and are easily retrofitted.

The filling automatically stops or changes to the next box when the pre-set weight has been reached. All functions of the weighing device can be operated from the box filler operator terminal GBT 840.

A tare function especially when using different boxes is also integrated. A large LCD display shows the weight of the current box in 1 kg steps plus the number and the total weight of all boxes per day.

Tong launches advanced data capture potato technology at BP2015

Leading potato handling equipment manufacturer Tong Engineering will be promoting its latest range of equipment and new handling technologies at this year’s British Potato event in Harrogate on 12th and 13th November.

As official sponsors of the event, Tong will be present in Hall M, stand M6. Alongside a special limited anniversary edition of its market-leading box filler, the EasyFill, Tong will be launching its new data capture technology which will now be offered as an option on new models of Tong’s box filling equipment.

The new data capture module has been designed to offer enhanced features to

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Tong’s popular box weighing platforms, and works by scanning barcodes on boxes and subsequently recording vital crop statistics, enabling accurate and automated collation of crop information in real time.

“Whilst we have offered integrated weigh platforms as an option on our EasyFill twin box filler and single box fillers for several years, allowing growers and packers to fill boxes to a predetermined weight, the new data capture module offers a means of recording even more data relating to each box’s contents than ever before,” explains Edward Tong, Managing Director of Tong Engineering.

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potatoes The new box scanners automatically record each box’s identity and assign crop statistics including the box weight and grade size of crop, as well as time-stamping when the information is recorded.

The new technology also assigns traceability information from the crop’s load reference data, including details such as batch number, grower and variety. All data relating to that box is then automatically sent via ethernet connection to the operator’s SQL stockcontrol database, making stock control much more efficient and accurate, whilst allowing each box to be fully traceable to its source.

“Our new data capture technology is taking stock control for potato growers and packers to the next level,” explained Edward Tong, Managing Director of Tong Engineering. “It removes the need for manual recording of

box contents, increasing the accuracy of crop data, and automatically communicating this back to the stock database.”

“What’s particularly invaluable about the new technology, is that data is recorded and communicated to stock control systems in real time, making it very easy for growers and packers to see what stock they have at any given time. This allows for a much more efficient stock control process, ensuring growers and packers get even more value from their crop to meet a wide variety of contract demands,” added Edward.

Just across from Tong’s main stand in Hall M, as UK distributor for Swiss-based Visar Sorting equipment, Tong will also be demonstrating, alongside Visar, the company’s new optical potato sorter on stand M20. Following the success of Visar’s awardwinning optical carrot sorter,

the Visar Sortop potato sorter uses an infra-red HD camera to achieve a perfect 360 degree image of each and every potato that passes through the sorting machine, offering unrivalled potato sorting capabilities.

“Visar’s new potato sorter offers exceptionally accurate optical potato grading and we are very pleased to unveil the machine to the UK market, in action at BP2015,” commented Edward.

“From our market leading Caretaker mobile grader to advanced potato grading and washing facilities, we

Grimme makes upgrades to potato harvester range

Grimme has made several upgrades to its harvester fleet, making them more efficient in terms of output and running costs, without compromising quality. These upgrades will be specific to 2-row trailed and selfpropelled machines and will be available to order from the 2015 lifting season.

Upgrades include a revolutionary pneumatic clod and stone separator called AirSep and an active swaying stability control for improved digging performance called ComfortDrive.

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continuously develop our equipment to offer handling solutions that save costs and increase productivity. We are celebrating 85 years of engineering in 2015 and look forward to celebrating our 85th anniversary and discussing the latest industry developments with growers and packers at BP2015,” added Edward.

For more information on Tong Engineering and its latest range of potato handling equipment visit www.tongengineering.com or visit Tong on stand M6 at BP2015 and speak to a member of the team.

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AirSep efficiently separates stones, wet clods and haulm from potatoes by airflow. It has been successfully tested on the SV260 and the SE260 Off-set trailed harvesters.

ComfortDrive has been designed predominantly to reduce sway in off-set trailed and self-propelled harvesters fitted with large wheels.

Swaying is a physical condition that can reduce digging output and can be uncomfortable for the pickers. Reducing sway can increase digging speed by

potatoes up to 30 %. ComfortDrive is available as an option on the SV 260 2-row bunker harvester as well as the VARITRON 200 and 270 2-row self-propelled harvesters.

Further improvements specifically for 4-row harvesters include a new crop flow process that minimises damage and requires less maintenance, and on trailed harvesters VarioDrive, which gives the operator precision control of the mechanical first web.

The new crop flow process helps minimise blockages by using two active running rubber rollers connected to the rear axle that gently separates the crop as it moves

through the harvester. The crop is distributed over the full width rear of the axle onto the following separators.

VarioDrive allows the mechanical and hydraulically driven main webs to be infinitely adjusted to suit all digging conditions and can also be reversed at the push of a button to remove blockages.

It consists of an epicyclical gearbox with integrated hydraulic motor and is more or less the same size as the conventional mechanical drive.

Compared to the hydraulic systems VarioDrive has a 20% higher efficiency, which reduces the fuel consumption by 1l/hr.

Special readers offer on our own branded single malt whisky.

SEE PAGE 97

crofting It is not just a business decision By Patrick Krause , Chief Executive, Scottish Crofting Federation

As forecast, due to the appalling weather conditions early in the year we are now seeing the impact as livestock go to market. In the crofting areas we are hearing of serious reductions in lamb numbers and calves down on weight and “no bloom”.

With silage yields down by 50%, winter feed reserves are low and the demand will force prices of bought-in fodder up.

So naturally crofters are looking at what stock numbers they can support over the winter and are forced to make drastic decisions; the outcome being that herds and flocks are being reduced all over, in some cases by 50%, and breeding stock is being lost.

What is the Scottish Government response to this situation? At a recent weather-impact meeting a government official said that this is simply a business decision that farmers and crofters have to make. I can appreciate the sentiment, but is it really fair to say that when the whole system is not a

purely business model; it is based on incentives, manipulation by subsidy?

The situation is exacerbated by the threeregion system, where extensive grazers on R3 land are getting a mere £8 per hectare. The notion that this would be topped up by a sheep headage scheme is not working as, with such a poor flow of information as to whether they would qualify, people are reluctant to take part in the scheme for fear of the potential penalties that could ensue.

Crofters who would definitely get in were they farmers are excluded due to the averaging of common grazings. Even the industrial lobbyists who fought tooth and nail for a 3 region system are realising their error, and the problems it is causing in crofting areas.

So the government has to make a policy decision; are they willing to accept the consequences further down the production line and to local economies that will be the result of the loss of livestock from the crofting hills?

www.crofting.org www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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FARM SECURITY

Don’t become victim of crime this winter, Master Locksmiths Association warns farmers and landowners Farmers and rural landowners are being warned to review their security arrangements for this winter in a bid to reduce thefts of equipment and vehicles during the darker evenings.

The Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) – the leading trade association for the locksmithing profession is urging agricultural workers and landowners to take a closer look at what measures they implement to keep their equipment and property safe.

Here, Dr Steffan George, development director of the MLA, rounds up some of the best ways farmers can deter unwelcome visitors from their land…

Dr Steffan George

SCOTTISHCOMMUNICATIONS

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TEL: 01738 563000

Every year rural crime costs millions of pounds and causes untold anxiety across the UK. Rural areas present the greatest opportunity for thieves because of isolated houses and buildings, less lighting – especially during autumn and winter - fewer witnesses and the ease of being able to watch the owner’s movements.

Latest figures show rural theft cost an estimated £37.8m in the UK during 2014. Preventing crime in rural communities is a big issue at this time of year when farms become a popular target for criminals due to the long and dark nights, and farmers need to look at their premises and equipment with the eye of a thief.

The MLA advises farmers and rural landowners to consult an MLA-approved locksmith, who will be able to carry out a security assessment on property and recommend suitable locks and fittings, as well as providing input from a safety point of view.

Don’t be tempted to economise by buying cheap locks. It is worth investing in high quality locks, chains and padlocks, making sure that you use products that have been approved by an independent product testing house – such as Sold Secure – to provide peace of mind (visit www.soldsecure. com to check for their lists of approved products).

It is also important not to specify and fit locks or undertake repairs as fitting the wrong products can undermine security and affect insurance premiums and cover should the worst happen.

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Ill-secured and poorly maintained sheds and outbuildings are an easy target, as they present thieves with a relatively low risk and high gain opportunity.

Maintenance is vital as rusted locks, chains, hasps and staples, cracked panes of glass and rotted frames and sills are all features that opportunistic thieves look out for, so it is essential to perform regular and thorough maintenance checks.

Where appropriate use good quality padlocks with heavy duty hasp and staple on barn and outbuilding doors. It is ideal if the locks are fitted directly to the door, with two equally spaced locks from top to bottom. Controlling access to farmyards is important and this can be achieved through the use of quality chains and padlocks being used to lock all gates.

Farm machinery and plant is a hot topic at the moment following a spate of thefts and more tractors than cars are stolen these days. Theft of farm machinery tends to be organised and a tractor could be in a shipping container on a boat before the owner even realises it has gone. Farmers in the past have thought that they were safe in the country but organised gangs target remote locations as easier pickings. Every year tractors worth millions of pounds are stolen from British farms. Police say many are stolen to order and shipped abroad sometimes ending up as far away as Iraq and Afghanistan. Tracking devices have proved popular but are of little use when your property is in another country so instead of

FARM SECURITY trying to find your tractor after it has been stolen, try to stop it being stolen in the first place by locking down gates and outbuildings using locks, chains, bollards, wheel clamps, ground anchors and safes for locking keys away.

Other ways of improving security include alarms fitted

to outbuildings, outdoor security lighting – such as dusk till dawn and motion sensor lighting. CCTV systems and intruder alert systems are other important considerations as deterrence by surveillance is an increasingly popular measure, along with property marking/ tagging systems.

Ayrshire Rural Crime Awareness Day WHERE: Low Dallars Farm, Hurlford, Kilmarnock, KA1 5JW WHEN: Friday 2 October at 12.15pm Rural crime continues to be an increasing problem for the agricultural community and this awareness day will give practical advice for farmers and those in the rural community to protect their property.

The day will include workshops on fire safety, preserving evidence and power line safety.

There will also be a demonstration from Fog Bandit,

and opportunities to speak to leading agricultural insurer NFU Mutual about the latest crime statistics for the area as well as high-level officers from Police Scotland.

For further information or to attend the event please contact Regional Manager for Ayrshire Christine Cuthbertson on 07775 838 926.

Securikey launches brand new digital door locks Leading physical security product supplier Securikey has launched two new models as part of its best selling Keylex digital door lock range. The Keylex 700AR Series for commercial applications and the Keylex 700M Series for domestic use extend the options for customers requiring a high quality, user-friendly and quick to install access control solution.

The Securikey Keylex 700AR combines robust structure with adaptable functionality to meet a variety of customer requirements.

Perfect for use on LL standard duty, high security external door installations requiring either the Adams Rite 4710

or 4720ANSI Deadlatch, its narrow design also makes this model perfect for stile widths down to 60mm. It is particularly well suited for use on aluminium or hollow metal door sections. An inbuilt ‘free exit’ feature enables users to depart through the door without code entry, regardless of the lock status, ensuring strict control for those accessing the building while allowing a quick and easy exit for those who have authorisation to enter. If required, the ‘passage function’ feature allows free passage from both sides at the security manager’s discretion.

The 700M Keylex model is suitable for all residential external doors where a

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farmwatch Rural crime

Ollie Hamilton, Constable National Safer Communities. (Partnerships) Police Scotland along with its partners, NFU, Scottish land &estates, Elderslie estates and the local Farming and Rural communities are working more closely to combat crime.

As a result of consultation process with the communities and partners it was agreed that Police Scotland will provide a Crime prevention Booklet specifically for the rural communities.

The booklet had its official launch at the Royal Highland Show Ingilston and was well received.

Copies of the booklet are available to Download via the Police Scotland Website (Follow the links for rural crime).

Crime prevention is the key to keeping people safe as well as their properties and as a result, a feasibility exercise is currently underway with regard to a National Rural Watch scheme being implemented.

However most Local Policing areas have a Rural watch scheme in place and are actively encouraging Rural and Farming communities to join these schemes and participate, thereby reducing the opportunities for criminals to commit crime.

Sheep Worrying Police Scotland supports responsible countryside access and recognises the impact of sheep worrying (and the

worrying of other livestock) on the animals as well as the emotional and financial impact this can have on the farmer and any witnesses.

Countryside access rights extend to the walking of dogs as long as they are kept under proper control.

Specific criminal offences exist in relation of failure to keep dogs under control on farming and agricultural land.

Police Scotland is currently briefing its officers with regard to this particular crime and guidelines to follow when offences occur.

Quad Bike thefts There has been an increase in the theft of Quad Bikes from Rural communities mainly from insecure Sheds and Garages or bikes left unattended with the ignition keys in the ignition.

Police Scotland would ask that owners of the bikes remove the keys from the ignition when not in use and if practical lock the bikes in a secure garage or barn to reduce the chances of the owner becoming a victim of crime.

Quad bikes can have trackers fitted and is a good deterrent to preventing the theft however, despite this measure being applied if the quad bike is stolen, the police will have a far greater chance of recovering the quad bike and returning it to its rightful owner.

FARM WATCH column sponsored by

SCOTTISHCOMMUNICATIONSGROUP integrated security solutions

FARM SECURITY conventional multi-point lock is required and offers two modes of operation depending on the level of security required. In both instances, unless double locked, the inside lever is always operable so residents and visitors can easily exit the property, and there are various possible configurations to control access from outside by code or key. If required, the key override facility allows key holders access in all instances, which is more convenient as they do not need to know the user code. Featuring a narrow stile design, the 700M model is ideal for PVCu, aluminium and hollow metal door sections.

Both the 700AR and the 700M models are built to the same high standard as the rest of the Securikey Keylex range and will withstand many hundreds of operations per day for years of reliable service.

Their entirely mechanical

operation means that there is no complicated electrical wiring involved, ensuring quick and easy installation and straightforward use. Code combinations of up to 12 buttons can be set if desired, with over 4,000 selectable code permutations, and reinstating security is quick and easy if a code is ever compromised.

For added security, a slipping clutch mechanism protects against forced attack or vandalism from the outside and the brushed stainless steel buttons prevent usage being indicated.

Both models are suitable for use on all internal doors and external perimeter doors, including timber, aluminium, steel, PVCu and composite doors. Securikey extends the options still further by offering factory-fitted modifications such as extended fixings, spindles and free passage turns to suit doors up to 75mm

SCOTTISHCOMMUNICATIONS

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(700AR model) or 80mm (700M model).

Securikey’s complete range of existing Keylex mechanical digital door locks offer the perfect access control solution for nearly any building, whether domestic, light commercial or heavy industrial, thereby eradicating the need for keys, cards or tokens that could be lost, stolen or damaged. With four Keylex ranges depending on the level of security required, including Mini, Light Duty, Medium Duty and Heavy Duty, there is a model to suit any specification.

For those requiring information on the new Keylex 700AR and 700M models, or to receive advice on selecting a digital door lock to match specific requirements, Securikey is always available to help.

Please contact 01252 311888, email enquiries@ securikey.co.uk or visit the website at securikey.co.uk

BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN SUPPLIERS OF COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT PERTH

Est.1979

DIGITAL MOBILE RADIO RADIO HIRE ON-SITE PAGING SATELLITE PHONES CCTV ACCESS CONTROL SECURITY BARRIERS AND LIGHTING LONE WORKER ALARMS

22

ARRAN HOUSE, ARRAN ROAD, PERTH PH1 3DZ

TEL: 01738 563000

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FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND True to its roots Auchterarder’s new artisan delicatessen

Corbie & Cheip

Anne Schaeflein outside the shop at Auchterarder

Images courtesy of MaNeill Photography

Corbie & Cheip, a new artisan delicatessen with a difference, opened in the High Street in the Perthshire town of Auchterarder back in September, bringing with it an ethos rooted in community, traditions and responsibly produced food & drink from Scotland and other parts of the World.

The new eatery stocks tasty produce that has been sourced locally or further afield in Scotland, but it all comes from small scale producers that have values and a way of working that is in line with Corbie & Cheip’s ‘true to its roots’ philosophy.

By day, Corbie & Cheip sells a range of deli produce along with take-away/sit-in coffee, cakes and salads from the counter.

From November onwards the Corbie & Cheip Enotheque opens in the evening, providing Auchertarder with its own relaxed Wine Bar, serving a selection of wines by the glass alongside wines of the day. On the menu, the Enotheque will take the lead from its owner’s native Schnittchen, selling open style sandwiches, charcuterie and cheese platters as well as terrines and other eats to accompany the wines.

Suppliers range from close to home to far away: yoghurt and cheese comes from community run Loch Arthur Camphill Creamery in Kelso, which employs people with learning disabilities; the coffee, roasted on site, comes from all female coffee farms in Africa; the butter comes from Brenda Leddy, an 85 year old woman in the Borders who churns her own every week; and its handmade dog biscuits use milled animal

A cornucopia of delights awaits you inside

wheat from Carnoustie, with dog owners being able to leave their pets in the ‘dog parking station’ outside the deli whilst they make their purchases.

The deli also sells soft drinks and cold teas from LEMONAID+ and ChariTea. The drinks contain ingredients sourced from small, certified farming co-operatives in Sri Lanka and South Africa, where profits from the enterprise support education projects for children and keep health centers in operation.

Seasonality is undoubtedly a key and very recognisable feature of the brand and with the merriest of retail seasons nearly upon them, Anne has set the festive ball rolling. Available now for pre-order is Corbie & Cheip’s newly launched Christmas hampers, packed with a mouth-watering selection of the deli’s finest flavours.

While in store customers will be greeted by the smell of mulled wine and mince pies and, in true Corbie and Cheip flair, you can expect to see the Barley

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Bree’s own family recipe and traditionally made Christmas pudding featured alongside German artisan treats such as Lebkucken and Stollen.

The brainchild of German born Anne Schaeflein, Corbie & Cheip’s ‘true to its roots’ philosophy extends to not just its suppliers and the produce it sells, but also to the way it will engage with the Auchterarder community. The delicatessen buys surplus fruit and vegetables from local small holders and Anne plans to employ older local residents, in the hope that they can share their cooking traditions with her and Corbie & Cheip’s customers.

Anne said: “Corbie & Cheip has been a dream of mine for a long time now. My father had his own Bakery and Patisserie back in Germany when I was a child and, after working for 18 years in five star hospitality roles, my passion for fantastic produce and beautiful detail has been with me my entire life.

“The continental approach of sustainable shopping at local markets is something I feel very strongly about. For example, we will be asking our customers to bring back milk and soup bottles and bring their own egg cartons.

I also place a lot of importance on the heritage of recipes and passing on traditions to the next generation. I am passionate about meeting people who have developed a specific skill to produce something unique.

“I am so excited that this project has now come into fruition. I love sharing our incredible produce and values with the local community in Auchterarder.” www.corbieandcheip.co.uk 23

FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND

East Lothian dairy proves it’s a Big Cheese as business set for growth

“We were delighted to have recently been shortlisted as a finalist for Dairy Innovator of the Year at the British Farming Awards and we will continue to try new things. Our new soft cheese processing unit will allow us to offer new products, grow the business and break into new markets not only in Scotland but throughout the UK, and who knows, perhaps even export.“ David Hannon, Clydesdale Bank’s Head of Agribusiness, said: “We are pleased to continue our longstanding support of the McCreery family.

“Having worked with them since 1992 they have continually demonstrated their ambition and innovation. I am sure Yester Farm Dairies’ new products will help the business continue to develop and we look forward to working with them in the years ahead.

“Our specialist knowledge of and focus on different sectors helps to bring a challenge to the market giving small and medium sized business the speed and flexibility they require to fulfil their growth ambitions.”

Food Secretary launches application for EU protection of Forfar Bridies.

Yester Farm Dairies, a family business based in East Lothian, is expanding and will soon be adding an artisan cheese range to its retail repertoire, thanks to support from Clydesdale Bank.

The funding package is the most recent development of a partnership between Clydesdale Bank and the McCreery family which has lasted more than 20 years.

While Simon and Jackie McCreery’s Yester Farm Dairies has been growing steadily since it opened for business in 2003, the family has been farming for generations and moved to East Lothian in 1992.

Then, Clydesdale Bank helped support Simon’s father David, who still runs the farm with Simon and his brother Spencer, when he bought the farm after he moved to Scotland from Ulster.

Yester Farm Dairies operates alongside the family farm. As soon as milking is finished, milk is piped straight from the milking parlour to the modern pasteurisation plant on-site, where it is packed and distributed to hotels, restaurants and retail shops across Central Scotland.

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The most recent support will help Yester Farm Dairies set up a soft cheese processing unit which will allow them to produce traditional style mozzarella and spreadable soft cheeses in addition to cultured creams such as crème fraiche and sour cream.

As well as catering to existing customers across the Lothians and Borders, now the business will be able to grow and distribute to the food service sector across the UK. Currently, the business employs 18 staff. Within the next year, Simon and Jackie will look to add to increase their workforce by up to five additional employees.

Director Jackie McCreery said: “It is an exciting time.

We are really looking forward to getting our food service range off the ground over the next six months or so and then hope to develop an innovative retail range in 2016. The first trial batch is done and we will hopefully get final sign-off from our local environmental health officers shortly and so be able to sell products within the next six weeks.

An application has been lodged to gain European protected status for the much loved Forfar Bridie, following a working collaboration between two well-known Angus bakeries.

Scotland’s Food Secretary Richard Lochhead recently announced the Forfar Bridie Producers Association, a collaborative team made up of McLaren & Son Bakers and Saddlers of Forfar, were applying for Protected Food Name (PFN) status for the famous Scottish snack.

If successful, the status will offer Forfar Bridies protection against imitation and provide it with increased product awareness.

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The Cabinet Secretary said: “Achieving protected status for Forfar Bridies will ensure that consumers at home and across the EU have a one hundred per cent guarantee of the product’s authenticity.

“A Forfar Bridie is a delicious, traditional savoury Scottish snack. We already have other great Scottish foods, such as Stornoway Black Pudding, Scotch Beef and Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop, which have European protected status and are free from imitation. It guarantees the food’s provenance and supports local producers, like the Forfar Bridie Producers Association.”

FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND

Top Scottish Butchers Recognised in UK Awards

Roasted Cauliflower Soup with Seared Scallops

Serves 8 (as a first course) Cooking Time ~ 35 Minutes 8 fresh sea scallops 1 large head cauliflower, cut in florets 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided salt and ground pepper 1 medium finely chopped onion 1 medium leek, sliced

Three Scottish butchers shops have been revealed as finalists in the Meat Trades Journal (MTJ) Scottish Butcher’s Shop of the Year 2015 award.

A young Scottish butcher has also been selected as a finalist in the MTJ’s Young Butcher of the Year award.

The Scottish finalist butchers are: Boghall Butchers based at Boghall and Broxburn; John Lawson Butchers of Uphall and Patricks of Camelon, near Falkirk.

Additionally, Lisa Finnigan, of Davidsons Specialist Butchers in Inverurie has been selected as one of the UK’s three top young butchers.

The awards are supported by the Scotch Butchers Club, run by Quality Meat Scotland, which has around 300 member butchers committed to sourcing and clearly identifying top quality Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork from approved suppliers.

QMS Marketing Executive Graeme Sharp congratulated the three finalist businesses and their staff and Lisa Finnigan.

“Each of these businesses shares a total commitment to their craft and to providing a fantastic service,” said Mr Sharp.

“They also share great enthusiasm for the skills and depth of knowledge shared by butchers and in many cases passed from generation to generation.

“Our very best wishes go to all three Scottish shops, and to Lisa, for success in the award finals.”

The 2015 Butcher’s Shop of the Year Awards will take place at Aspire, Leeds on 12th November.

Caption: Lisa Finnigan (pictured demonstrating on the QMS stand at the Royal Highland Show) of Davidsons Specialist Butchers in Inverurie has been selected as one of the UK’s three top young butchers.

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1 clove garlic, finely chopped 1 pint/570ml of chicken stock or vegetable stock Add double cream to taste, about 5 flozs/150ml shaved Pecorino cheese truffle oil

Preheat oven to 200/Gas Mark 6 Place cauliflower florets on baking tray Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Salt and pepper to taste. Toss to coat. Roast, uncovered, 30 minutes or until tender and just beginning to brown.

While cauliflower is roasting, chop onions, leeks and garlic. In a large sauce pan heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions, leeks and garlic. Cook and stir 10 minutes or until soft.

Add roasted cauliflower, chicken stock, cream. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to simmer and cook covered, 10 minutes. Remove from heat and cool about 10 minutes.

Add soup in batches to a blender (caution, if soup is too hot it will explode out of the blender, so make sure the soup is just warm and place a towel over blender cover before blending). Blend until smooth. Return soup to pan. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Heat through.

In large frying pan heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium high heat. Pat scallops dry on both sides. Sprinkle scallops with salt and pepper, cook in hot oil 2 to 4 minutes per side, until browned and just opaque in centre.

Place one scallop in each shallow serving bowl. Spoon soup around scallop. Garnish soup with shaved Pecorino cheese. Drizzle with truffle oil. Serve immediately.

Sarah Mellersh runs One Day, Two and Four Week Cookery Classes, just 10 minutes from Perth.

To find out more :

www.letscookscotland.co.uk Tel : 07932 642605

FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND

Seriously Good Venison Their story so far, told in their own words Formerly Fletcher’s Of Auchtermuchty we became Seriously Good Venison in 2012 when Vikki, Fletchers’ General Manager, bought the business from it’s previous owners. Aside from the change of ownership and relocation of the farm and butchery, the business remains the same as it was for over 40 years.

Our deer farm is run by Bob Prentice and his wife Jane and is just outside Cupar in Fife. We specialise in locally produced, grass fed venison with no hormones, antibiotics or growth promoters.

Our deer are free range and are head shot on site, so there is no stress caused by transportation to an abattoir.

We think this is one of the main things that sets us apart, we ensure that there is no suffering before our deer are killed.

Not only is this important in terms of the welfare of our deer, but it also ensures that the meat is consistently of the highest quality, with no adrenaline residues present once the animal has been killed.

The short journey from the farm to the butchery means our carbon footprint can be kept as low as possible.

We have an extensive range of venison products including over 28 different cuts and 10 different manufactured products, including our famous Veniburgers™ and our sausages, of which we have over 12 different flavours. All of our sausages and burgers are wheat 26

free and are also available gluten free.

We hold a 3 Star Gold Great Taste award for our Venison Medallions, a 2 Star Gold Great Taste award for our Venison Sausages with Dark Chocolate & Chilli and a 1 Star Gold Great Taste award for our Venison Haggis.

We use as much of the animal as possible, so have very little waste. We make our own black pudding, haggis, pate, hough, stock and smoked venison. We find our offal is always in high demand.

Our wee veni pies are incredibly popular, especially with our customers at market. We serve them hot to eat right away or cold to take home for later. They are absolutely delicious, even if we do say so ourselves.

We have another business, Seriously Good Butchery, which is a cutting plant that provides a butchery service for other local farmers and smallholders. This

has given us the opportunity to source other great quality meats to diversify our product range with Seriously Good lamb, beef & pork, alongside our own venison.

We have been working very hard since last summer to develop the outside catering side of our business and now have regular ‘Street Food’ stalls at our weekly Edinburgh market and our monthly Perth market.

Along side these we have also increased our calendar of catering events, including food festivals, music events and are even in the process of planning catering for a wedding.

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One of the most exciting projects of the last 12 months has to be the development and launch of our Venison Black Pudding, a product that has never been commercially made and sold in the UK before.

We spent 8 months working alongside students at Queen Margaret University’s Gastronomy Department to develop the product.

We came up with the final recipe after the University organised taste panels and focus groups.

Since it’s launch the black pudding has proved incredibly popular and sells out in a matter of hours at every farmers’ market.

FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND We have also been inundated with interest from restaurants and deli’s UK-wide and it was used by chef Ben Harrison of the Gateway Restaurant at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh as part of a scotch egg for the starter at a VIP dinner.

We are currently in the midst of diversifying our product range.

Earlier in the year we started offering Highland beef on our website which we source from a small farm near Glenshee.

In the last couple of weeks we have launched our new ranges of rare breed pork and Hebridean lamb. The lamb and the pork are also very local coming from Crieff and Alyth, respectively.

We have ensured that all of our new products have the same provenance and traceability as our venison as well as the highest standards of best welfare practice.

The core business continues to thrive alongside all of this change and progress.

We still support our local farmers’ markets in Perthshire, Fife and Edinburgh as we have done since the Fletchers’ days but have gone on to add even more to our monthly calendar.

We continue to provide a first class online mail order service with every order being sent with hints, tips and recipe ideas We have picked up a great number of new customers many of whom have gone on to give us fantastic feedback.

Here are just some of the testimonials we have received in the last 12 months.........

Jenny, your venison was fab.

Will reorder and tell friends.

Many thanks. Glen Hello Delivery just now thank you. Our first tasting - of the steaks - very much enjoyed.

Regards Stuart Hatch Hi Jenny, Thanks so much for the amazing service, I look forward to trying all the different cuts! All the best, Ilya Hi Jenny Thank you for your help with organising my venison, I really appreciate the time and effort you have made to supply my order. I hope you also have a lovely new year and I will let you know how I get on. We are very much looking forward

to enjoying our meal with the family. Kathleen Wonderful to deal with people who really care, not only about the care of the animals, but also their customers! Fabulous experience and recommend that you go/ make contact as soon as possible for your own personal service.

Thanks Vicki .... (Facebook) Love their products. From mince to sausages and now even black pudding. We love Seriously Good Venison! (Facebook) High welfare, compassionate ethos, being on the farm from start to finish, reflects in the most beautiful venison, not only sustaining the body but feeding the soul....thank you for getting it right on every level... The gluten free sausages are AMAZING. (Facebook) Excellent company,polite ,friendly and where else 3 days before Christmas day, short notice can you get your venison delivered to your door the next day..quality produce and services.... (Facebook) Hearing such positive comments and praise from customers both new and old really does make us proud of all the hard work we put into the business that we love.

We continue to supply farm shops across Scotland and this is also a part of the business we have seen grow over the last year.

Customers are able to buy our venison on our website, at Farmers’ Markets in Edinburgh, Perth, Aberfeldy and throughout Fife.

We also attend various trade shows throughout the year, such as The Royal Highland Show, The Scottish Game Fair and the BBC Good Food Scotland.

We have a long standing relationship with many of our customers, both locally and across the UK. Our bespoke butchery service means the customer can have their venison butchered to exact specifications.

Our customers really do come first and we offer advice on both buying and cooking their venison, some of them genuinely phone us just for a chat sometimes. www.seriouslygoodvenison.co.uk

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magazine Supporting

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

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

Stornoway Farmers’ Market kennylhhp@btopenworld.com

For your market to be listed mail@farmingscotlandmagazine.com

FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND

Going food shopping?

Make your first stop, a farm shop A new campaign to encourage people to support their local farm shop has been officially launched today by Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment.

The First Stop Farm Shop campaign, funded by the Community Food Fund, is encouraging Scottish customers to make their local farm shop their first port of call when food shopping - before topping up at the supermarket if necessary.

As well as supporting their local farming industry, customers will be able to explore the wealth of local produce available to them.

The campaign has been officially kicked-off by the Cabinet Secretary who also marks today as the start of the first ‘Scottish Farm Shop Month’.

The First Stop Farm Shop campaign joins the wealth of ongoing activity in 2015 as part of the Year of Food and Drink celebrations.

The campaign focuses on four key themes of Provenance, supporting the Rural Economy, Health and Wellbeing and Education.

The initiative is led by Anna Mitchell and Andrew Booth from the Scottish Farm Shops Business Club and both also run their own successful farm shops.

Anna runs Castleton Farm Shop in Laurencekirk and Andrew runs The Store in Ellon.

A brand new First Stop Farm Shop website has also launched today featuring more information on the initiative, delicious recipes and profiles on farm shops participating in the project.

Aiming to encourage more people to make small changes to their grocery shopping habits by visiting their local farm shop, the first ‘Scottish Farm Shop Month’ comes at a particularly difficult time for the farming industry.

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Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment, said: “The First Stop Farm Shop campaign is a great way to encourage people to support their local farmers and really take advantage of the terrific selection of produce they have available to them - straight from the farm gate.

“Scotland has a fantastic natural larder, with some of the freshest, tastiest, most sought after produce in the world. There are almost 140 farm shops across Scotland, offering everything from fresh eggs, succulent Scotch lamb and beef, delicious dairy produce and so much more. For those lucky enough to live near a farm shop, I would

encourage them to make it their first port of call and support their local farmers.”

Anna Mitchell said: “It’s a difficult time for farmers across the UK at the moment. We want to encourage local customers to think local and show their support to the Scottish farming industry by shopping in a local farm shop before topping up in the supermarket.

“Scotland produces some of the best food and drink in the world and we want to showcase the amazing food and drink we have right on our doorstep.

“We already have over 30 farm shops from across Scotland signed up to the First Stop Farm Shop campaign. From Dumfries

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to Banchory, there are a huge number of family-run shops which offer customers some of the freshest food around.

“We’re not asking people to do their entire weekly shop in a farm shop, just to make small changes to their shopping habits and to visit a local farm shop first before going to the supermarket.

“We believe many people will be surprised at the wealth of fantastic seasonal produce available which is fresher than what they can find in their local Tesco, Morrisons, Asda or Sainsburys.”

Log onto www. firststopfarmshop.co.uk for more information on how to be part of the campaign.

Castleton Farm Shop

Castleton Farm is a family run business owned by the Mitchells.

The family bought the farm in 1992, inheriting a soft fruit crop of 15 acres. In 1999, the family took the decision to stop dairying to increase the soft fruit production to a commercial scale. Since then the acreage and production has grown each year to the current 102 acres of strawberries, 20 acres of raspberries, 60 acres of blueberries and 15 acres of cherries. The fruit is supplied

to multiple retailers, with the majority of the fruit going to Marks & Spencer, Tesco and ASDA. The Mitchells began farm retailing in 2004 when Castleton Farm Shop was established in the old filling station in the village of Fordoun. For the next 4 years, the shop was open seasonally from June until October with the range of produce being sold increasing each year. In 2008, a purpose built establishment was

opened at the end of the farm road, boasting spectacular views over the Howe of the Mearns.

The shop stocks delicious local produce, fine foods, gifts and more. The cafe proves very popular with a wide variety of dishes, ranging from breakfast, light lunches, paninis, salads, and an extensive specials board and desserts. In 2013 the cafe and shop was extended due to continued customer demand.

The number of seats in the

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O U R FA R M SHOP

cafe nearly doubled from 55 to 100. A second kitchen was added on which houses the production of the Berrylicious Jams, Chutneys and Sauces and all the homebaking and ready meals made for the shop. The Berrylicious Jams picked up a Silver Award in the Grampian Food Innovation Awards in 2013.

The Shop and Cafe is open 7 days a week Mon – Sat 9 – 5 and Sunday 10 – 5. The website is www.castletonfarmshop.co.uk

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ATV’s & UTV’s

ATV’s & UTV’s The small and powerful workhorses

Cub Cadet Utility Vehicle Whether hauling timber, maintaining large grounds or transporting people, the Cub Cadet 4x4 utility vehicle has everything you need for versatility and power. The 4 wheel drive can be switched between 2 and 4, on the move, and the Automatic CVT Transmission ensures that there are no gears to worry about. Heavy-duty locking rear differential drives torque equally to both rear wheels, supplying extra power, traction and control in severe conditions. The ISO mounted engine and transmission deliver smooth power, even at the top end. Furthermore these units are road legal for agriculture use as standard, and they come equipped with a fully approved ROPS roll bar.

With a notable 14.4 cu. ft. cargo box volume, that will carry an impressive 409kg at 25mph, the UTV is ready to work. However, it’s the details that add up to a better ride.

The automotive style half shaft drive design is fully enclosed for maximum protection, whilst 4 wheel hydraulic 8”/20cm disc brakes and dual circuit

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master cylinder give you sure footed performance with added confidence.

Powered by a 21hp Yanmar diesel engine, the Cub Cadet 4x4 runs cleanly, quietly and efficiently. The direct injection engine produces steady and constant horsepower no matter

what the job. A professional grade fully suspended driver´s seat provides the highest levels of comfort and with 23cm of ground clearance and extra wide wheelbase, a low centre of gravity ensures stability and comfort under extreme conditions. The independent

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dual A-arm suspension with coil-over shocks gives 20 cm of wheel travel for an unbelievably smooth ride, meaning you will cruise over the most challenging terrain for a remarkably comfortable experience that you only get from the best utility vehicles.

ATV’s & UTV’s

Honda FourTrax 420 Series For 2015/16, the 420 Automatic DCT incorporates IRS, and there’s more suspension travel at both ends—2.2 inches more in back—plus a new chassis, more ground clearance, a larger, more comfortable seat, larger front disc brakes for added stopping power, a new, larger rear carrier with flat plates for packing and tie-down convenience, and a new easy-toengage reverse lever, and it’s also available with an improved EPS system.

The 420 Automatic DCT is powered by a rugged 420cc engine, and features a five-speed automatic DCT with improved shift program and shaft drive that’s virtually maintenance-free.

Brighter headlights, increased electrical output, more fuel capacity, a larger, softer seat, and a new digital meter package are just a few features that add even more value to the 420 Automatic DCT.

The rest of the 420 series with swingarm rear suspension systems also returns for 2016, now

equipped with Honda’s new, easyactuation reverse lever. The wealth of driveline options includes

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2WD and 4WD models, manual transmissions, ESP for push-button shifting and automatic DCT.

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ATV’s & UTV’s

New fourpassenger Gator from John Deere John Deere’s XUV 855D S4 Gator utility vehicle is particularly suitable for anyone needing to transport extra people in addition to carrying materials, tools and equipment.

The S4 combines versatile off-road performance, work capability and comfort for up to four passengers. It has the same cargo box, towing and payload capacities as the XUV 825i model, at 454kg, 680kg and 635kg respectively, and features fully independent suspension.

It is powered by the same, proven 22hp three-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel engine featured on the current XUV 855D Gator; the S4 also has a top speed of 32mph, and comes with power steering as standard.

To allow for extra passengers or cargo space, the S4 features an easily convertible rear bench that folds down to provide a flat surface for extra storage.

A spacious under-seat storage compartment is also included.

The composite and metal hybrid cargo box on this new fourpassenger model continues the Gator tradition of durability and superior hauling capacity.

The John Deere XUV 855D S4 Gator is available in olive & black livery, and can be ordered with a variety of factory and dealer installed options and attachments.

Special readers offer on our own branded single malt whisky.

SEE PAGE 97 32

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ATV’s & UTV’s

Kawasaki add two new MULE’s to the pack Kawasaki has launched two new MULE’s to the pack with the introduction of the four-seater MULE PRO-DXT and twoseater PRO-DX. Both diesel, the models have been designed primarily for work applications where their hightorque diesel engines will deliver excellent performance and allow on-site fuel compatibility – little touches that make life a little bit easier and simple.

Hydraulic disc brakes are now fitted as standard to the front and rear and double wishbone suspension enable the wheels to drive over obstacles with minimum effect on the chassis.

The Trans Cab system of the PRO-DXT enables the flexibility to maximise either cargo space or people-moving potential. It can be changed from two-person mode to four-person mode in just one minute and by one person. In

two-person mode, the cargo bed capacity is 453kg and in fourperson mode is 158kg.

With a greater focus on cargo carrying performance, the PRODX features a long, flat cargo bed –

the largest in the MULE fleet in fact - which is easy to load from three sides, making it the workhorse of

D-K-R

AGRICULTURAL SERVICES LTD. Main Dealers for John Deere ATV’s & UTV’s

D-K-R AGRICULTURAL SERVICES LTD. Westfield, Coulter, Biggar, Lanarkshire ML12 6HN 4EL s &!8 E-Mail: dkrcoulter@hotmail-com 34

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ATV’s & UTV’s choice for customers who need to haul material. It has a dry weight of under 816kg which enables access to most weight-restricted areas.

Both models, available in Timberline Green, feature a

powerful 993 cm3 four-stroke diesel engine and produces 18kW (24PS) of power and 52 Nm of torque and have a towing capacity of 907kg. Fuel capacity is 30 litres and bright headlights

are complemented by auxiliary LED lamps.

Simon Riches, Kawasaki UK ATV and MULE Product Manager, said: “We’re really excited about launching the two

new MULE’s - they strengthen Kawasaki’s already robust range of utility vehicles and offer customers to chance to pick an off-road vehicle that’s perfect for them and their specific requirements.”

Kubota’s latest UTV has the X factor Kubota is set to cement its position as leaders in the dieselpowered utility vehicle market with the launch of its latest model, the RTV-X900.

The new model, whilst boasting the same rugged build qualities and superior reliability of the original RTV900, comes with a host of new features and benefits, all designed to meet the evolving demands of the market.

The RTV-X900 is fitted with a robust and powerful 21.6HP, 3-cylinder liquid cooled diesel

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ATV’s & UTV’s engine, ensuring dependable performance in even the most challenging weather conditions or terrain. Variable hydraulic transmission has been improved, too, with a new advanced VHT-X, which offers a wider torque band and large coolers to boost performance and durability.

Kubota’s unique dynamic braking, which provides additional braking power and greater driving control on descents, remains a key feature of the range, whilst the new model is fitted as standard with a high rigidity frame, which helps to isolate passengers from noise and vibrations whilst also ensuring the machine is durable enough to

carry heavier loads. Limited-slip front differential and locking rear differential brakes help reduce wheel spin, allowing greater control in wet conditions.

The new X-Series utility vehicle raises the bar on ground clearance too, thanks to an impressive 10.4” travel height, allowing the vehicle to

glide over lumps and bumps.

Height adjustable front and rear suspension also ensures the correct vehicle height, depending on load, allowing for a safe and comfortable ride no matter how heavy the load. The fully independent suspension system offers incredible ride comfort and quality.

0% finance on new Polaris ATVs and UTVs

Since October Polaris has been offering a limited period 0%

finance offer on new Polaris utility ATVs and UTVs.

Business users can arrange interest-free finance on new

Polaris ATVs and Rangers through Polaris finance partners Rural Finance, with the scheme offering payments over 22 months at 0% up to a maximum 80% of the Recommended Retail Price.

The finance offer can include up to £1,000.00 (excluding VAT) on genuine Polaris accessories. In addition to this NFU members can also benefit from 5% discount on selected new Polaris ATVs and utility vehicles. The world leader and European No.1 in ATV and Side x Side utility vehicles, Polaris has the widest choice of proven All-Terrain options and accessories and recommends visiting your nearest Polaris dealer to see the range, for full details and any special additional deals available. The availability of the 0% finance is subject to status and terms and conditions.

Polaris Britain 0800 915 6720 www.polaris-britain.com

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ATV’s & UTV’s

Kioti’s Mechron Diesel UTVs

Built on an extended Mechron 2210 chassis the new 2230 model is equipped with the same impressive features as found on current models. The same class

leading ground clearance and power steering feature as standard and the 2230 includes a large 500kg capacity cargo box that is 300mm longer than the standard box.

To extend the appeal of the Mechron range to a wider market Kioti are also launching a 4 seat diesel Mechron 2240 UTV. This has been designed to

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carry 4 passengers comfortably and carry a full load at the same time.

The Mechron 2240 UTV has been designed with front and back ‘walk-through’ design to offer plenty of leg room for the operator and passengers.

The rear cargo box is the same as on the 2200/2100 models, with a weight capacity of 300kg. A good feature on this new 2240 model is the large under seat storage box that is split into different “handy” sized sections.

Due to the longer chassis the frame rails have been double stacked for additional strength.

It has undergone prolonged high intensity testing in the US without any reports of chassis failure or damage. Hydraulic Power steering is included as standard CVT Hi + Low gear plus 2 or 4 wheel drive can be selected.

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ATV’s & UTV’s

The Suzuku KingQuad 400 Do you want a reliable, powerful and economical ATV that will help you rule the land for under £5,000? Look no further. Suzuki has recently announced that you can now save over £800 on both of their KingQuad 400 models, with the KingQuad 400 Manual transmission model now at just £4,999 ex VAT. The KingQuad 400 offers truly remarkable technology and capabilities to match. Both the Automatic and Manual transmission models are powered by a fuel-injected 376cc engine, which delivers plenty of power and torque for farm, forestry, estate and equestrian work. With selectable 2 and 4-wheel drive, high and low ratios, independent front suspension and dual hydraulic disc brakes up front, you can take on steep, wet and uneven ground with complete confidence.

The superior 235mm ground clearance alongside great towing and rack carrying capabilities, mean that you can transport whatever you need to with ease.

The 400 is also equipped with the Suzuki digital LCD multifunction display. An allin-one speedometer, odometer, trip-meter, hour-meter, clock and fuel gauge which means

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you can check your progress at a glance, even when the weather and terrain are challenging.

Plus, with the choice of fivespeed manual or fully automatic transmission, you can choose the model that perfectly matches your preferences, riding style and location. If durability, power and reliability are what you are looking for, the KingQuad 400 is certainly the right choice.

As well as all this, Suzuki also offer added benefits with every purchase of a new Utility

ATV, such as free Datatag security, exclusive to Suzuki, designed to deter theft, free EASI rider training designed to help you ride more skillfully and safely and a two-year warranty for peace of mind.

As well as this, the national network of Suzuki dealers offer expert support and servicing,

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and can supply a free Courtesy ATV when your ATV (any make or model) goes in for servicing, meaning your business can keep running. Suzuki also offers a free workwear kit consisting of overalls and body warmer, to keep you warm, dry and comfortable when out in the fields.

ATV’s & UTV’s

The Yamaha Grizzly 700EPS Powered by a high-torque engine housed in a durable and rigid chassis, the current Grizzly 700 EPS has made a name for itself as the biggest, toughest and most capable ATV in the Yamaha line up.

Featuring some of the most advanced rider-assist technology in the ATV world, the Grizzly 700 EPS has become popular with many different types of leisure riders and landowners who appreciate its ease of use together with its high levels of comfort, as well as the ability to transport its rider and cargo across extreme terrain where few other vehicles would dare to go.

Fully equipped with Ultramatic® transmission, as well as our push-button On-Command® drive system and Electronic Power Steering (EPS), this rugged and versatile performer is built to handle the most demanding trails and extreme ‘off-piste’ terrain, as well as being able to take on a range of jobs around the farm, factory or forest.

For 2016 the new Grizzly 700 EPS has been designed to build on the formidable strengths of the current model while also offering improved style, performance and functionality. Featuring restyled bodywork as well as a more powerful engine, larger 26-inch wheels and even greater carrying capacity, the 2016 Grizzly 700 EPS offers even higher levels of class leading performance, comfort, style and functionality.

The Grizzly 700 EPS also gets a newly designed front grill, front carry bar and front carry bar cover that give it a unique and more aggressive look to complements its ‘best in class’ performance. New LED lights front and rear give this ATV a contemporary and sporty image, and the new V- shaped blow-moulded carry bar cover and ‘eyebrow’ style bodywork accentuate the new model’s strong and purposeful face.

The front and rear fenders and new centre cover are also

restyled to match the Grizzly 700’s more forceful styling, and they incorporate new compartments for convenient and secure storage of personal items. With its larger 26inch wheels and integrated front and rear racks, the 2016 model has a more dramatic and imposing appearance that sets it apart from the competition, and underlines its position as the leading big-bore ATV available.

Yamaha’s flagship ATV gets an even bigger and more powerful engine for 2016, to give it classleading performance in extreme off road situations. Displacing 708cc, the new engine is 20cc bigger than the current model, and another significant change for 2016 is the use of a newly designed double overhead camshaft (DOHC) 4-valve cylinder head that gives increased running efficiency.

REEKIE GROUP www.reekie.co.uk

Branches: CUPAR 01334 652445 STIRLING 01786 477530 PERTH 01738 622471 www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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LAMMA to showcase the latest innovations in agricultural machinery for 2016 LAMMA 2016 looks set to build upon its enormous success as Britain’s largest agricultural machinery show, with the event taking place at the East of England Showground, Peterborough on January 20-21, 2016 With nearly 900 businesses booked to exhibit at the show, it promises to be a bumper display of every type of agricultural kit.

LAMMA is the only show where visitors can see and buy anything from a socket set to a combine harvester.

All the leading manufacturers will be present, and several are planning launches of new machinery. Many of the models launched at the Agritechnica Show in Germany in November will be making their UK debut at LAMMA 2016. In addition to the latest tractors, LAMMA provides visitors with the perfect opportunity to see companies and products you will not encounter at any other show.

From the first LAMMA Show in 1982, the original objective of showcasing new and innovative products from many smaller agricultural engineers around the country remains the same. It is particularly important that this tradition continues, but also on an international scale too.

First time exhibitors from as far afield as Lithuania and Poland will be welcomed to LAMMA 2016, along with a host of new faces from the UK and Ireland.

Machinery covers all agricultural sectors, from arable to dairy, estate management to vegetable production. Many specialist 40

Aerial view of show

Vast array of machinery for visitors to see

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products from a wide range of manufacturers can be viewed side-by-side for easy comparison, and realistic exhibiting costs encourage suppliers to bring their full ranges.

The unique Workshop Area also offers opportunities for original equipment manufacturers to find a wide range of component and aftermarket supplies specialists, grouped together undercover in Hall 4. Agricultural engineers and farmers wishing to stock their workshops or take on a home-build project will also enjoy this Aladdin’s Cave.

Livestock equipment and supplies, plus associated equipment such as forage machinery, can be found in and around Hall 8. Similarly, post-harvest technology will be zoned, as will root and potato machinery.

Other popular themed areas continue to grow – visitors can catch up with the latest developments in agronomy and meet contacts from the world of banking and business management in Hall 7. Headline sponsor AgriBank, the only bank run by farmers for farmers, will be at the heart of the show to present its lending services and discuss with farmers how it can help them diversify or expand operations.

One of the many avenues

Used equipment is a hugely important sector of the industry and this will be reflected in the Dealers’ Den. Leading online traders of used machinery and dealers with large second- hand fleets and specialist used kit publications will be exhibiting in Hall 9 – a great place to find out what is on the market and make contacts for a future purchase.

Diversification is a hot topic among farmers and a host of equipment which could inspire new business ideas will be on

show – from recycling machinery and construction equipment to forestry and groundcare tools and alternative energy sources.

Visitors can also top up their CPD totals with points available for NRoSO and BASIS schemes.

The longstanding LAMMA Awards for Innovation are perennially popular, Sponsored

by Swedish Steel, they pinpoint the most significant innovations from exhibitors at the show, as well as ingenious inventions

Meeting the buyers

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from farmers, which will all be prominently displayed.

LAMMA is a show which has something to interest every member of the farming team and still represents the best value work outing in the business, with free admission and parking.

The popular early bird breakfast continues, with a ‘full English’ served in the cosy Arena restaurant at a discounted price from 6.30am to 8am, it is the perfect way to start the day and plan your route around the show.

Show hours are from 7.30am to 5pm(4.30pm on the second day), so there is plenty of time to take it all in. The site is perfectly positioned for visitors travelling south, and Peterborough has excellent road and rail links (shuttle bus services will run from Peterborough station), with a choice of airports close at hand. As a major showground there is also a wide range of accommodation locally and many visitors are choosing to attend on both days.

LAMMA 2016 has long been seen as a fantastic way to kick off the farming year, meet up with friends and business contacts and celebrate all that is great about the machinery industry. See you there!

For more information, visit www.lammashow.com 41

EU NEWS

By Chris McCullough

Growing concern over CAP payments not being made in December The Scottish Government has been urged to “come clean” over its payment schedule for farmers’ CAP support payments.

It had been earlier hoped that Scottish farmers would receive their full payments in December but now the National Farmers Union of Scotland believes this will not be possible. It has called on Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead and the government to make part payments in November. The union say it has put constant pressure on the Scottish Government to keep industry fully informed of

progress in delivering the new support regime. Farmers are under pressure to make crucial business decisions but need to know a clear timetable of when payments are likely to be delivered, and also what the value of those payments are likely to be, in order to make those decisions. With applicants still waiting to receive details on both counts, NFUS has said that there is an urgent need for Scottish Government to share with the industry where it is in processing applications and when farmers and crofters can reasonably expect payments.

Derogation of greening rule NFU Scotland has stressed to the Scottish Government the need for an urgent derogation from the European Commission in relation to the planting of green cover crops under the new greening guidance of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The Union is continuing to work with the Scottish Government’s Rural Payment Inspections Division to find effective ways forward for greening, but has stressed that this issue needs to be addressed urgently.

The planting of green cover crops is the option that has been chosen by some Scottish farmers to abide by the Ecological Focus Area requirements within the new CAP – however, due to this year’s late harvest many are now facing problems getting the ground cleared and sown with the deadline 42

for establishing these crops now less than a week away.

NFU Scotland President Allan Bowie said: “For many of our members the lateness of this year’s harvest is unprecedented. Green cover is an environmental measure with the deadline set by Brussels but the alternatives facing farmers to meet the deadline would be worse for the environment.

“Harvesting crops in wet conditions risks causing damage to the land, which could take years to recover while cover crops planted in poor conditions will be at a real risk of failure. A crop that fails means that all the resources used to grow it are wasted.

“What we need is for the Scottish Government to seek, as a matter of urgency, a derogation from this Brussels rule, to give a sensible extension to the deadline.”

Europe announces 500m euro package to help struggling farmers A package worth 500m euros was announced by the European Commission in an effort to help farmers amid falling produce prices and poor demand. While EU Farm Ministers met in Brussels in September to discuss the package thousands of farmers took to the streets outside in protest. They came from every corner of Europe, including Scotland, to highlight their plight and were met by a strong line of police. Some farmers pelted chopped straw at the police lines who responded with water cannons to try and keep the farmers back. The police say 4,800 farmers and about 1,450 tractors made up the protest but lobby groups have raised the figures to 6,000 farmers and 2,000 tractors. The

Commission said it is announcing the comprehensive support package worth 500 million, in recognition of the difficulties being experienced by producers.

Speaking at the extraordinary Council of Agriculture Ministers, Vice-President Katainen said: “This package will allow for €500 million of EU funds to be used for the benefit of farmers immediately. This is a robust and decisive response. “This response demonstrates that the Commission takes its responsibility towards farmers very seriously and is prepared to back it up with the appropriate funds. This is particularly important, given other competing budgetary demands.”

Farmers’ basic payments hit by poor exchange rate Scottish farmers will be hit hard in their pockets by a weakening euro as this year’s exchange rate for the Basic Payment Scheme drops by six per cent. The exchange rate to be used to calculate support to be delivered through Scotland’s new scheme is 1 equals £0.73129.

This compares with the exchange rate for the 2014 SFP when 1 equalled £0.7773; 1 equalled £0.83605 in 2013 and a 2012 SFP rate of 1 to £0.79805. For the first time the exchange rate has been based on the average exchange rate across the whole month of September compared to previous years when the exchange rate was determined solely by the

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exact rate on September 30. The 2015 rate represents a six per cent reduction in the value of the euro compared to last year with last year’s figure representing a seven per cent fall on the year before.

Financial discipline across Europe, first introduced in 2013, will be applied at an estimated 1.4 per cent, affecting the new Basic Payment Scheme and coupled beef and sheep schemes. Europe has also entered a new budgetary period.

As a result, the overall ceiling for Scotland’s support pot, which fell from 597 million in 2013 to 580 million in 2014, is expected to fall again.

Cork farming in Portugal Farming for the future in the most traditional way‌ By Fiona Sloan

Like so many of us here in the North, I was beginning to feel the effects of the very long, very wet summer and finding I had a week free at the end of August I decided to head off to the sun for a week, writes Fiona Sloan When choosing a short break holiday I wanted somewhere easy and quick to get to with sun, a bit of history and preferably a farming interest, where like all farmers I could look over the dyke! Together with two farming friends we set of for Portugal. Only three hours in a plane and a hotel 20 minutes from the airport. Made it the prefect destination.

After a few days by the pool it was time to venture into the countryside to see what farming the Vilamoura area had to offer.

Vilamoura is situated in the southern Algarve region of Portugal and is a purpose built tourist resort, which was developed by a local banker and land owner in the 1960’s, when he decided to diversify into a small holiday letting business based around the

ancient harbour. The 2000 hectare site is now the largest of its type in Europe and a haven for tourists.

The surrounding countryside also attracts many people to the region and it quickly becomes obvious that agriculture is very extensive and traditional. The land is farmed by an older population with limited resources and only their traditional farming methods to rely on, which fits in well with the local multi- national tourism, on which the region depends so much. The friendly disposition of the locals and a willingness to incorporate their traditional methods towards the tourist market is a credit to them, however, one wonders where the next generation of farmers is going to come from. Portugal, like so many of the Mediterranean countries, is suffering from a mass exodus of young people looking for work in other countries.

We took a day long Jeep safari to off road the area and find out about the agriculture and discovered that the main source of

WORLD FARMING agricultural income in the area is cork. Now having drunk my fair share of red wine and champagne in the past, I was no stranger to corks but I had never thought about how it ended up in the top of my favourite tipple.

It takes two generations from planting to harvesting the cork trees from which the champagne corks are made as the tree is only ripe for top grade cork after at least 47 years! The cork bark is stripped from the trees in late spring and summer when the outer bark of this special type of oak becomes dry and fragile. The tree quickly forms new layers of cork, which can be harvested again in years to come, creating a sustainable crop for generations of farmers. None of the trees are cut down in the process and they are first harvested of their bark after at least 25 years.

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Cork harvesters are well sought after and well paid at around 100 Euros a day. The cork strippers work in pairs with one man clambering up the tree while the other remains on the ground. They chop delicately into the dead bark gauging its thickness by the sound resonating from their steel axe and the cork peels like an orange.

The lower grades or younger cork strips are processed into wine corks but there is also a multitude of products made from the cork ranging from shoes to shirts. It is popular as a fashion item to a home dĂŠcor item and everything in between and commands a good trade in the world market.

So next time you open a bottle of champagne, take a moment to think that the cork you just popped into the bin is probably older than you!

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WORLD FARMING

Rabobank Sugar Quarterly Q3: Is the Worst Over?

Raw sugar prices reached their lowest levels since late 2008, continuing the downward trend in Q3 2015. The weakening Brazilian real—coupled with concerns about the impact of slowing global economic growth on commodity prices in general—saw funds maintaining a net short position for much of the third quarter. It heaps further

pressure on a market already groaning under the weight of stocks accumulated over the last five years, according to the Rabobank Sugar Quarterly Q3 report.

Nevertheless, prices rebounded during September, amid a growing consensus that the 2015/16 international crop year should see a swing

to a global deficit (currently projected by Rabobank at 4.8 million tonnes), putting an end to an unprecedented five consecutive years of surplus and stock build-up.

“The fundamentals of supply and demand seem to be telling us that, from a producer´s point of view, the worst of the current price cycle may be over,” says

Andy Duff, Rabobank Global Strategist Sugar. “2015/16 will be the year sugar prices finally reverse the long downward trend we have had since 2011. However, international sugar prices are not determined by fundamentals alone. Global growth concerns and currency volatility, especially in Brazil, still have to be watched in the weeks and months ahead.”

Positive Dairying in the global marketplace Face the reality of global markets - and the price volatility that goes with them…that’s the message from independent agricultural economist Séan Rickard, speaking at the OMSCo conference this week.

The Positive Dairying: Winning in a global marketplace event saw dairy farmers, industry leaders and stakeholders pack the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham for a fascinating and thought-provoking day that saw a range of highly respected speakers delivering their thoughts and opinions of

the future of this vital British industry.

Séan focussed on the future options for those in this sector.

“UK dairy farming is now part of a global industry and is therefore subject to the vicissitudes of short term shocks to global markets, and longer term global trends,” he said. “Even relatively small mismatches between supply and demand lead to large fluctuations in price. Surviving dairy farmers must learn to cope with greater volatility.

“The dairy industry, and particularly UK farmers, needs

a new mindset: not only to deal with short term volatility, but also with the longer term global opportunities and sustainability challenges,” he explained.

Individual farmers have four options,” he added. “The first is to leave the industry. The second is to adjust by increasing productivity and/or increasing returns, which is obviously only an option where the farm has the scope and ability to improve. Thirdly, they can adopt a buffer capability strategy whereby you are able to weather an input or output price shock

Séan Rickard

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without substantial change or, lastly, make a radical change by investing in horizontal or vertical diversification which is high risk and, in truth, only a few will succeed here.

“Worldwide, the underlying trend in demand for dairy products is expected to rise at 2% per year and the removal of EU quotas gives the UK dairy industry an opportunity.

Remember, we have some of the best dairy dairies in the world,” he concluded. “This gives us enormous opportunities. Let’s take action now to get ahead.”

WORLD FARMING

Land “Grabbing” Grows as Agricultural Resources Dwindle As global agricultural resources shrink or shift, countries are crossing borders to obtain new farmlands “Farmland is lost or degraded on every continent, while ‘land grabbing’---- the purchase or lease of agricultural land by foreign interests---has emerged as a threat to food security in several countries,” writes Gary Gardner, contributing author of the Worldwatch Institute’s State of the World 2015: Confronting Hidden Threats to Sustainability.

About half of grabbed land is intended exclusively for use in agriculture, while another 25 percent is intended for a mix of agricultural and other uses. (The land that is not used for agriculture is often used for forestry.) Land grabbing has surged since 2005 in response to a food price crisis and the growing demand for biofuels in the United States and the European Union. Droughts in the United States, Argentina, and Australia, has further

driven interest in land overseas.

“Today, the FAO reports that essentially no additional suitable [agricultural] land remains in a belt around much of the middle of the planet,” writes Gardner. As a result, the largest grabbers of land are often countries that need additional resources to meet growing demands.

Over half of the global grabbed land is in Africa, especially in water-rich countries like the Congo. Asia comes second, contributing over 6 million hectares, mainly from Indonesia. The largest area acquired from a single country is in Papua New Guinea, with nearly 4 million hectares (over 8 percent of the country’s total land cover) sold or leased out.

The largest investor country is the United States, a country already rich in agricultural land. The United States alone

Bee harming pesticide wrongly approved by regulator says US Courts – implications for Europe and UK say Friends of the Earth The US Court of Appeal has over-turned the approval by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) of a controversial bee-harming pesticide, sulfoxaflor, classified as a ‘sub class’ of neonicotinoids, which has also been approved for use in Europe. UK Government approval is now needed before products containing sulfoxaflor can be sprayed on British crops.

In the US case, the Court said the regulators approved without adequate information about the ‘sub lethal’ effects of the pesticide over time on honey bee colonies.

Friends of the Earth bees campaigner, Sandra Bell, said: “US regulators have been caught

approving this harmful pesticide without proper evidence about the risks to bees. The European Commission recently approved this pesticide, despite being warned of potential risks to bees, paving the way for more bee harming products to be used in our fields.

“Pesticides should be tested rigorously before they are allowed to be used. The way they are tested and licensed for use in the US and in Europe is too full of holes to keep our bees safe.

“The US ruling should be a warning to the UK Government not to allow any new bee harming products to be used in the UK”.

has acquired about 7 million hectares worldwide. Malaysia comes in a distant second, with just over 3.5 million hectares acquired.

Land grabbing is precipitated by the growing challenges shaking the foundation of food production: the water, land, and climate that make crop growth possible.

Globally, some 20 percent of aquifers are being pumped

faster than they are recharged by rainfall, stressing many key food-producing areas. Land is becoming degraded through erosion and salinization or is getting paved for development.

The changing climate is projected to cause a net decline of 0.2-- 2 percent in crop yields per decade over the remainder of the century, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Food security: businesses want government intervention, to avoid long term risk A new report from WWF-UK finds that businesses want to see government taking bold actions to create a food system that serves citizens, the economy and planet alike.

Businesses must also actively seek opportunities to work together for sustainable food security, the report says, and the government must create the conditions to make it easier for businesses to collaborate to deliver long-term food security for all.

The report, produced with the Food Ethics Council, is entitled ‘From individual to collective action: exploring the business case for addressing sustainable food security’.

It looks at moving ‘from individual to collective action’ and concludes that sustainable food security delivers long-term business security.

It highlights the huge risks to business, people and planet if the food security challenge is not met head on – and the opportunities for businesses to join forces and work towards common goals.

Currently, 85% of global fisheries may be over their

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maximum capacity or over exploited, and 70% of all extracted water relates to food production. The world’s population and inequality in calorific intake are only set to increase.

The report finds that the widespread perception of the food security challenge is still limited to ‘needing more food’, rather than including equally important aspects such as access to food and the environmental impacts of food from field to fork.

A limited knowledge amongst businesses of how to deal with the range of issues associated with production – growing demand, climate change, deforestation, water management, fossil fuel dependence, soil fertility and biodiversity loss – further increases the risks.

Sustainability must be at the core of food production and consumption if true food security is to be established, the report finds. Defining the meaning of genuine long-term food security within a food business and across the sector is a crucial first step.

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Mark Garrick Ltd Agricultural Engineers Taking the Whisky Trail to the Laigh (pronounced Laich) of Moray, Evelyn Hood went to meet Mark Garrick to learn the story of this 15-year-old business.

Joskin, the Belgian farm machinery manufacturer, has the following at the beginning of one of their trade brochures: Given the continuous evolution of machinery needs for farmers and contractors, our multidisciplinary team is working every day to meet this demand. The team includes industrial draftsmen, field workers, engineers etc.

No mention, though, as I’ve noticed in so many similar brochures over the years, of the men and women who later take on the task of the maintenance and repair of their end products!

For a long time I have been seriously impressed by how agricultural engineers keep abreast of that continuous evolution of machinery needs by so many manufacturers, and when I met Mark Garrick, founder and company director of Mark Garrick Ltd, Agricultural Engineers at Brookfield, Birnie, near Elgin, I quickly realised I was in the

company of another of those hard-working, service-providing agricultural engineers whose dedication and dependability in serving the industry often goes unsung.

Mark Garrick is a native of Glenlivet. His father worked at the famous distillery, but now runs the renowned Heatherhills fold of pure-bred Highland cattle on his croft at, Roseneath, Glenlivet.

By his own admission, Mark loathed school!

“I couldn’t wait to leave,” he confessed. But there was to be no dodging a further education and he enrolled in a full-time one-year agricultural engineering course at Clinterty College, Aberdeen as part of a four year apprenticeship with Farm Services, Elgin.

By dint of saving hard, in due course, Mark was able to equip a small van with some engineering tools and in November 2000 set out to work on his own, offering an on-

the-farm repair and maintenance service. If at times he needed an extra pair of hands he was able to call on the help of a couple of pals.

But most of the time his was a solo agricultural engineering operation.

It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to realise the amount of self-motivation and drive such a step into such a business took.

But Mark says he had such a lot of goodwill from customers that this encouraged him to carry on.

One farmer helped by offering him the use of a shed in exchange for machinery maintenance work, and this allowed Mark to widen the scope of the repair and maintenance work he could do.

And, in his own words, “As the work increased, the vans got bigger and bigger!”

His ability to repair and maintain equipment from a wide range of manufacturers evidently greatly helped the steady growth of the business.

Joskin Ferti-space spreader in action

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In the years 2002 to 2003 he operated by means of a laptop in the van and a mobile phone.

“I could order parts by text message, arrange for next day delivery, and have the goods on the farm that day. Changed days now with a full-time secretary and three computers to see to the orders and the deliveries!”

A permanent base - in a shed In 2002 Deutz Fahr appointed Mark their repair service agent in the area and it soon became evident he needed a more permanent base than a van for the business - no matter how big the van! So, in 2003 he moved into premises in Elgin, and into what Mark describes as a small shed. He had bought the shed but it was surrounded by local Council ground which ruled out any thought he might have had of enlarging the premises there.

It was now that, along with his partner Jacqueline Clarke, Mark formed a limited company and began trading as Mark Garrick, Ltd, Agricultural Engineers.

Mark and Jacqueline both serve as Company Directors with Jacqueline - who prefers to be known as Jackie - being, formally, the Company Secretary.

This move was closely followed in 2003 by Deutz-Fahr awarding the company their dealer agency in Moray - in fact, in an area from Inverness to Turriff on the old Aberdeenshire/Banffshire border.

Ever since Mark had branched out on his own in 2000 he had been obliged at times to call on the help of a friend who is a freelance agricultural engineer and that arrangement had served Mark well. But with the Deutz-Fahr dealership, by 2003 it became clear that it was now essential to begin to employ full-time and permanent staff, so Mark took

MARK GARRICK LTD

A range of Same Deutz Fahr machinery is available from Mark Garrick

on the company’s first full-time qualified agricultural engineer. It was also now that Jackie, who had had a full-time job as a cook - and at the same time had done all the paperwork, invoicing, banking etc. for the business - gave up her work as a cook to work full-time with Mark.

In 2004, as new dealerships and agencies began to come on board, he volume of work increased and the first time-serving apprentice was taken on, as was part-time secretarial help to man the phone and generally assist with the paper-work.

From 2003 and the acquisition of the Deutz-Fahr agency Mark Garrick, Ltd. became the agents for Pöttinger grass and tillage equipment along with Tecnoma sprayers in 2006. Herron Trailers was added to the company profile in 2010, and new in 2015 were Redrock Machinery, and Joskin, the Belgian manufacturers I quoted earlier who make a very wide range of essential farm materiel.

Mark was also providing followup servicing for several other manufacturers who did not have agents in the area. Then came the addition of the Same and Lamborghini agencies which now includes Lamborghini Greenpro.

In addition to the list of dealer agencies, the company had the contract for the maintenance and repair of the Reekie Manufacturing’s Stone and Clod Separators and offered a repair

service for a very wide range of farm equipment Commensurate with the agencies and the repair work came the need for room to stock necessary spares, and by 2007 it was very evident that the company needed to find larger premises with room to expand.

In my conversation with Mark and later with Jackie I got the very strong impression that every advance this company has made has been the subject of affordability and canny consideration. In Mark’s own words, “On the premises we had in Elgin, there simply wasn’t room to display machinery, the office accommodation was very cramped, the workshop had become far, far too small, and there was no prospect of expansion because the ground around the shed didn’t belong to us.”

And it was fairly evident that there was little prospect of finding somewhere to meet all these criteria in the town so the solution seemed to be to find somewhere in the rural hinterland - not too isolated, easily accessible. The eventual location would have to be a permanent one with room to house current needs as well as accommodate future expansion.

In 2008 the ideal place was found - a three-acre site at Birnie only a few miles south of Elgin, and just off the A941 at Fogwatt.

Then began the planning process.

Mark and Jackie named the site - and the nearby house they have

built - Brookfield since there’s a burn that runs at one site of the plot “All the planning procedures took time,” Mark related, “but we did eventually get permission to build this shed for agricultural purposes with eventual upgrading

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to a building for agricultural business purposes.”

DIY- and some!

The foundations for a building 12 metres wide by 30 metres long were finally put down in 2010, and before I could ask Mark who had put up this most impressive building Mark was already volunteering the information.

“I put up the steel frame myself. David Paterson, General Engineers, in Elgin made the steel beams for me. I did the welding and the construction.

Then came the brickwork and the cladding and other aspects of the site development, done by subcontractors.”

One glance at the soaring and solid steel framework of this huge building made me realise this was no amateur DIY effort but the work of a highly skilled craftsman.

The end result is most impressive and central to a fiveyear development plan for Mark Garrick Ltd. Already there are designated areas for spare parts,

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MARK GARRICK LTD

Pottinger Jumbo Combine ready to be dispatched to customer

oil and lubricant storage, stores.

The engineers’ workshop is at the rear of the building and is set to be considerably enlarged. The current office is temporarily in a small Portakabin tucked into a corner of the building near the entrance but,

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in due course, there will be a larger permanent office and reception area. Also on the “in due course” list is a designated display area and a large parts showroom with someone in charge of parts and stores.

I have heard from more than one source over the years that one important aspect of an agricultural engineering business - indeed, of any engineering business - is not only to do a considerable amount of crystal-ball gazing and spot

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a coming trend in clients’ needs but also to have the willingness and structural flexibility to meet that trend. One example of this was well demonstrated by this company in 2012 when Mark Garrick Ltd launched its self-drive combine hire business. In Mark’s words, “This was a pretty big and enterprising step for a small company.”

Indeed, it was. But I reckon that such a step would not have been taken without a pretty canny assessment of its market potential, and one that is likely to be a subject of expansion in the future.

The final move to Brookfield took place at Christmas 2014 when everything was finally moved from Elgin.

“There’s a lot of organising still to be done to this site and within the building,” Mark commented. “It’s taking time to get the systems up and running as we would want and carry on the business of giving the expected service to our customers at the same time.”

MARK GARRICK LTD

Redrock slurry tankers ready to be delivered

The steady expansion of the business, since the early days of the first of the vans, has meant that Mark has had to take on a wide range of roles within the company.

It wasn’t until 2006 that, that, to assist Jackie the company took on part-time secretarial staf. This became a full-time position in 2007 with tne employment of Hannah Copland. In 2008 Shirley Devos took over from Hannah and currently shares with Mark the running of the parts and stores, over and above the normal secretarial duties of invoicing, correspondence, telephone answering, not to mention keeping up the supply of tea and coffee. Multi-skilling is quite a feature of working at Brookfield!

Aside from Mark Garrick himself, the company employs two qualified agricultural engineers - Robert Andrew and the recently qualified Steen Durno who earlier this year completed his studies at Oatridge, West Lothian and is a finalist for the Scottish Modern Apprenticeship Level 3 Awards.

And now Connor Morrison has lately joined the company as a new apprentice. To carry out on-site repairs, the company has three fully equipped service vans.

More staff in prospect?

I asked Mark if, within the carefully structured long-term development plan, there was a prospect of expanding the staff base of the business. He replied,

“As I’ve said, we definitely visualise employing a fulltime stores and parts manager.

I handle the sales side of the business myself and it would be ideal to have a dedicated sales person on board.”

Anyone joining the company on the sales side would find themselves dealing in some of the finest agricultural machinery in the business. Deutz-Fahr’s belief in Mark’s skills has been a very important factor in the development of Mark Garrick, Ltd. With his engineering knowhow, not to mention an acute awareness of customer needs plus the technological advances which put Deutz-Fahr in the forefront of all aspects of good farming practice, has kept the developing

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company well in the market frame in this part of Scotland.

The Brookfield warehouse is equipped with Deutz-Fahr diagnostic equipment and the means and knowledge to give a comprehensive repair and maintenance service to all DeutzFahr machinery.

But as Mark pointed out to me, there’s another very important factor in the holding of this agency. “Deutz tractors and so on are so very reliable that we have absolutely no problem in offering a prompt repair and maintenance service to customers up to 50 miles away. You just have to look at the reliability record of any of their equipment ranges.”

A quick perusal of a DeutzFahr catalogue shows what a large range of product they produce from the 11 Series Tractors of up to 440 horsepower at the very top of the scale of very high power machines, to the four models in their 9 Series ranging from 270 to 340 horsepower.

“A great middle range that,” said Mark, “ with very efficient full consumption without missing out on high power.”

At the lower end of the power scale I noted the fairly recently launched 5C Series with a horsepower range of from 89 to 118 horsepower - a real all-farm, general purpose workhorse by the sound of it.

It’s the sheer breadth of that horsepower range that surely makes Deutz-Fahr the multiaward-winning market leader it is. And their engineering and technological advances are not

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MARK GARRICK LTD

The framework going up for the new workshop

confined solely to their tractor manufacture but are equally applied to their other products including their combine-harvesters.

The C9000 Series combine with its very distinctive styling and cab ergonomics has become a familiar sight throughout the grain-growing regions of Scotland.

Naturally, Mark Garrick, Ltd,, stock a wide range of DeutzFahr spares, but I was surprised to learn - in these days of builtin obsolescence in everything from washing machines to car bodywork - that spare parts are still available for 30 to 40-yearold Deutz-Fahr machinery.

As Mark told me, “Some of the more upland places have wellmaintained Deutz-Fahr machines and it’s great to see them still able to do the tough work of hill cropping.”

Among the companies that followed on from the DeutzFahr agency are, all of them, producers of very high-quality goods. Among them Joskin that I mentioned at the beginning.

This family-owned company manufactures a wide range of farm equipment and accessories.

The Joskins launched their business almost 50 years ago and began specialising in the use of very high tensile steel and the most advanced forms of technologically controlled production methods.

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Slurry tankers and spreaders, meadow and arable manure injectors, spreading booms, muck spreaders, tipping trailers, monocoque tipping trailers, bale trackers and low loaders, and a highly innovative system they have named CARGO which is a single chassis with a range of container equipment that can be mounted on it.

And the Joskin list is far from complete at that. There’s livestock trailers, water bowsers, meadow aerators, pasture toppers and choppers, a before-sales and aftersales service - talk about a one-stop shop!

A problem solved..

It really is well within living memory that in arable and cattle-rearing parts of Scotland farmers - and particularly among those involved in continuous grain-cropping and the use of increasingly heavy machinery began to be aware of the serious problem of deep soil compaction.

Also, the earliest of the stone and clod separators pointed up the need for sub-soiling since the deep ridging necessary for the separator potato and bulb planting system demonstrated just now widespread the problem had become - a problem that was mainly solved by sub-soiling.

The sub-soiling range for which Mark Garrick Ltd. has the dealership is Sumo. Sumo

specialise in grassland sub-soiling with the aim of assisting farmers to optimise grassland yields and longterm sward maintenance.

And, having provided the means of improving grassland it is logical that among the other principal agencies Mark holds is that for Pöttinger forage management equipment.

Mark told me, “This year we sold a Pöttinger Jumbo Grassland Wagon from their 7210 combi-line complete with auto-sharpening knives. It’s not only the largest wagon of its kind in Scotland, it’s the only one!”

Other important agencies and dealerships the company has are for Redrock Machinery equipment, Tecnoma sprayers, SAMELamborghini small tractors, and Lamborghini Greenpro for lawn, golf course, and park grass management.

The reputation Mark and Jackie have built up for their company in the past 15 years is reflected in the other services the company provides. For instance, the new warehouse at Brookfield has a Dynanometer for testing tractor horsepower and engine power.

Fuel systems gauging is offered on site and they have installed a new hydraulic hose crimper.

In addition, they undertake repairs and maintenance for all makes of equipment that don’t have a local after-sales person or

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repair service. A good example of this was in the spring of this year when they carried out work on a Versatile Delta Track which had been imported from Canada by JPM Agriculture and supplied to a customer local to Mark. They also deal in, and repair and maintain, potato harvesters, carrot machinery and irrigation equipment.

The engineers regularly attend training courses and updating sessions on all equipment - a very necessary part of an agricultural engineer’s work given the extraordinary rate of technological developments in the industry.

After over an hour of conversation with Mark and Jackie in the Portakabin office I began to feel guilty for taking up so much of their time with my questions. But, truth to tell, I hadn’t noticed the time pass so caught up I was by the story of this company’s growth and achievements.

So I posed a final question.

What, I wondered, was the next goal for the company?

“Getting this building organised, “replied Mark. “The Five Year Plan includes the development of the farming consumables side. We are fully stocked at present with oil and lubricants but that is an area for growth. I’ve mentioned the development of a display area both outside and inside.

“There really is room for expansion all around, but we’ll tackle these developments in such a way that we can maintain and grow the repair and maintenance side at the same time. After all, it was a repair and maintenance service that allowed our company to get off the ground in the first place and we mean to keep the giving of a first-class service as the basis of our approach to all business.”

And I have absolutely no doubt they will do just that since a very important part of the longterm plan for Mark Garrick, Ltd, Agricultural Engineers, is that the young Garricks - ten-year-old Blair and seven-year-old Miriam - will continue the business their parents have worked so hard to build.

RENEWABLEENERGY

Mitigating the impact of Government cuts to wind energy subsidies It is an inescapable fact that storm clouds are gathering over the Government’s once heralded Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme, and whilst it is not over (yet), those wishing to make the most of it must take the initiative.

With the UK Government currently undertaking a consultation of the FIT scheme, understandable feelings of uncertainty and hesitancy amongst many developers within the onshore wind energy industry in particular have taken hold.

Proposed significant cuts in generation tariffs, the introduction of further degression mechanisms and capacity caps, the recent removal of the right to ‘pre-accredit’ and the loss of the Climate Change Levy exemption, have all combined to cast doubts on project viability and until the outcome of the review is known later this year,

the future of the sector remains uncertain.

However, options are available to those seriously considering, or who are committed to, developing small to medium scale wind farms and are willing to reassess and adjust their development proposals to meet this new reality.

Dr Darren Hirst, estate manager and renewables expert with Bidwells, Perth said: “Whilst the government’s proposals will inevitably have a significant effect on deployment rates, there are opportunities for development proposals to be ‘refined’ to mitigate some of their impact. It had become common practice for landowners and developers to install ‘de-rated’ turbines (turbines restricted to operate at less than their maximum capability) to maximise potential returns

New show format launched for Energy Now Expo 2016 With renewable energy surpassing coal as the leading electricity source for a whole quarter for the first time this year, the expanded Energy Now Expo 2016 in February promises to be a lively event.

According to government statistics released in September, renewable energy has outstripped coal by a record 25%, compared to the same period the year before, when renewables contributed 16.4% of electricity.

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With this news there’s been a new wave of interest in generating renewable energy, and farmers and landowners wanting to find out about the opportunities available should not miss the new format Energy Now Expo 2016.

Taking place at Telford International Centre, on February 10 and 11, 2016, the show is more extensive than ever.

The hall will be extended to twice the size, accommodating a total of 200 exhibitors.

under previously existing tariff bands. However, if the 100500kW banding is to be replaced with a 50-1500kw band then many of these turbines can be operated at their full rated capacity. For a de-rated 500kW turbine, for example, this could

boost annual production by 20-30% at no additional cost.”

New and improved turbines are also being developed with larger rotors to increase yields, sometimes without increasing tip heights – an important planning consideration.

Danish manufacturer of wind turbines appoints two UK dealers to install, supply and maintain their unique twin generator 25Kw turbines in the UK Berwick-Upon-Tweed based Maden Eco has been appointed to cover Scotland and Northern England, whilst Hallmark Power of Ashby de la Zouch will cover the south of Britain.

The twin generator SWP 25 turbine, which gained MCS accreditation earlier this year, is set to be the small turbine of choice, recommended

by Maden Eco to farmers, landowners and facilities managers. The engineering of this turbine, with both 6kw and 25kw generators, ensures that it can start to generate in wind speeds as low as 3m/s whilst also working efficiently at

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medium and high wind speeds.

As a result of this, outputs of 50,000 - 115,000Kwh per year are achievable depending on location. Simon Maden, Director at Maden Eco, commented on his company’s appointment: “We’re really excited to have the opportunity to work with Solid Wind Power and to be the sole accredited supplier of the SWP 25 across Scotland and the North of England. These turbines have been built with a focus on quality and design, and would be ideal for anyone considering making an investment in a renewable resource.”

RENEWABLEENERGY

Scottish Renewables Firm Launch Largest Solar Farm in Scotland this year Absolute installed a T4 40kW Chip Biomass boiler and 2 x 199kW Biomass boilers in their Aberdeenshire based production factory.

Director and Head of Solar at Absolute Solar and Wind, Andrew McGown, said: “We understand this project to be the largest solar farm installed and connected to the grid in Scotland, and it is a project we are incredibly excited to have been involved in. Solar makes great sense, enough Absolute Solar and Wind Limited Have Completed Scotland’s Largest Solar Farm with Mackies of Scotland.

Absolute Solar and Wind Limited in partnership with pioneering family business Mackies of Scotland have today announced the completion of the country’s ‘largest solar farm’.

Consisting of 7,000 solar PV panels generating 1.5million kWh of energy and

producing a saving of 850,000 kgs of Co2 emissions each year; the installation is the largest in Scotland to go live.

The site is expected to generate enough energy to produce more than 4milion litres of ice cream a year. The installation of the 1.8MW Solar Farm at the fourth-generation family run businesses in Aberdeenshire site is not the first time the two businesses have worked together. Earlier

Scotland shows support for solar energy with key guarantee The Scottish Government has announced that unlike in England and Wales it will retain the ‘grandfathering’ guarantee for solar under the Renewables Obligation.

The Scottish Government has boosted solar investor confidence north of the border by announcing that, contrary to what the Department of Energy and Climate Change has proposed for England and Wales, it will retain the ‘grandfathering’ guarantee for investment in solar.

Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing cited the need for “clarity and certainty” for solar projects to attract funding and reach financial close.

This is in the context of the UK Government’s proposal to close the Renewables Obligation completely for large commercial solar rooftops and solar farms as of April of next year, which applies across the country and which is a decision for the UK Government.

The Scottish Government has also announced it will not be reviewing the level of Renewables Obligation support for solar prior to the early closure of the scheme, as is being proposed in England and Wales in what is called a ‘banding review’. Again, this will help remove uncertainty and boost investor confidence for projects in Scotland.

sunlight falls on the earth’s surface every hour to meet world energy demand for an entire year. It’s great to see forward thinking companies like Mackies embracing this.”

“As with any new installation, we work directly with the client to understand their needs, their business location and their future ambitions.

From this, we are able to make recommendations with regards to the best renewable solution available to them.

BWE Partnership granted solar park planning permission Aberdeen-based BWE Partnership has announced that work is set to commence on its second solar park project, within Kinblethmont Estate near Arbroath, Angus.

Kinblethmont solar park will be a 5MW ground mounted, large solar PV project on farmland across a 26 acre site. The 3000 acre estate (comprising arable farming and woodland), is owned

by Robert Ramsay who has invested in biomass, solar and wind technologies for the site over the last few years.

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Full planning permission for the project was granted by Angus Council in September 2015 and construction is due to begin in early December. The solar park will produce enough energy to power around 3500 homes.

Ron Shanks, owner of BWE Partnership, said: “The construction of our first largescale commercial solar park is well underway and we’re delighted to have secured our second project, which is also our first site within an estate.

Potential sites have to meet a number of requirements and this site was specifically selected for development because of its excellent levels of irradiance and simple electricity grid connection.

“As specialists in energy development, we understand the potential solar energy has for land owners to maximise their income generation through land diversification.

Most importantly, the installation of a solar park contributes to green energy generation which continues to be a vital source of power for Scotland’s energy industry.”

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Supporting soils and protecting yields

By Dr Bill Crooks, Soil and Water Consultant, SAC Consulting.

Our daily farming activities are done with the confidence that our soils will function reliably and predictably and when things go wrong, such as failed drains or compaction, we have the knowledge and tools to address them. With an unpredictable climate our soils will need to be more resilient; three concerns which could increase in the face of a changing climate are: s )NCREASED VARIABILITY IN weather during land operations – It will be harder to avoid field work during poor conditions which increases risk of compaction. s $RAINAGE CAPACITY n HIGHER and more intense rainfall events will mean that water will need to be more effectively removed from the root zone to avoid yield penalties. s 3OIL MOISTURE HOLDING capacity – less reliable rainfall in the spring and summer will leave emerging crops at risk from drought.

The retention of crop residues and the application of organic fertilisers on an annual basis is the most important management tool to help increase the resilience of your soils from these risks. The annual process of biological decomposition is essential for both the retention and improvement of soil structure.

Most of this organic material will end up feeding next year’s crop but the resulting increase in biological processes will 54

improve soil structure which is the main characteristic that controls vulnerability to these risks.

There is no quick fix in terms of soil structural improvement and organic matter recycling is not the only factor, but it is one that every farmer can start improving on right away. The focus must be on maximising annual recycling of organic matter rather than “one off” applications.

Key management options: s !PPLICATION OF ORGANIC INPUTS such as composts and manures – these are often seen as ‘wastes’ but in the face of a changing climate they are becoming a vital soil management tool. s 2ECYCLING CROP RESIDUES n harvesting of straw can be a profitable second crop but its value as a soil improver when left in field must now be taken into account. s 2EDUCED TILLAGE n 4HIS IS not an easy option but when possible as much of the previous crops root system should be left intact underground.

See www. farmingforabetterclimate.org for other practical measures to improve farm efficiency.

Find us on Facebook and Twitter @SACfarm4climate.

Farming for a Better Climate is funded by the Scottish Government as part of its Climate Change Advisory Activity.

environment Beeswax attracts first bee sighting in Lincs in 100 years One of the UK’s most important crop pollinating bee species has been found in Lincolnshire for the first time in more than a century. The Andrena nitida, was identified in a new Syngenta Operation Pollinator habitat area created

by Beeswax Farming on its Nocton Estate, owned by Sir James Dyson.

Reporting the exciting find, bee entomology specialist, Mike Edwards, highlighted this was the first sighting of Andrena nitida in Lincolnshire since 1900, although it is relatively widespread through the south of England.

“It is very encouraging that habitat creation on farmland is helping some of these solitary bee species to recover in numbers, and to extend their range across the UK.” He highlighted that the Beeswax site had incorporated a wide range of ecological features beneficial to all bees.

“Andrena nitida is one of the many solitary mining bee species that play such an important part in pollinating crops and wildflowers,” he said. “They look very much like honeybees. However, their behaviour on flowers, and the fact they carry large amounts of dry pollen as they fly from flower to flower, makes them extremely efficient pollinators.

“Providing new food resources and refuges for nesting and overwintering can clearly bring results, as well as providing a hugely beneficial habitat for other pollinators and wealth of biodiversity,” he added.

Mr Edwards cited the increased diversity of the

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flower species now included in the Operation Pollinator Annual Wildflower Mix as being especially important for solitary bees. The Andrena nitida at Beeswax, for example, was recorded a number of times on the newly included Corn Chamomile. The wildflowers have provided an additional food resource and encourage bee populations, alongside oilseed rape and the increased area of field beans over the past season.

Beeswax Farming was delighted to have found the bee on the estate, as a testament to its commitment to enhance biodiversity. It welcomed the results of the independent monitoring of new wildflower field margins and designated ecological areas it had created entirely voluntarily on the farm.

The farming company has been working closely with Syngenta and the Campaign for the Farmed Environment (CFE) to create vibrant habitats that are more attractive to pollinating insects.

Lincolnshire CFE Coordinator, Barney Parker, added: “It is extremely exciting and rewarding that the investment and effort is paying dividends, in helping to increase the biodiversity and ecological value of the farm.

DIET FEEDERS

Diet Feeders Plenty of brands and models to choose from…

Abbey Diet Feeders

Abbey Machinery have been manufacturing both paddle and vertical diet feeders for decades and is one of Ireland’s longest established manufacturer of agricultural machinery. Their range of diet feeder offers a host of options and sizes to meet all customer’s needs and to easily fit within their current system requirements.

With feeders ranging from 8cu to over 30cu and available with a comprehensive choice of TMR (Total Mix Ration) management solutions Abbey Machinery continue to push the boundaries in providing customers with the range to enable them to maximise

efficiency and control their costs.

Consistency / accuracy is the key to providing a cost effective TMR mix and the Abbey special designed low power requiring augers provide this through their unique design and raised top knife. All feeders are standard with four point Digistar weighing systems to further enhance the accuracy.

The Abbey Diet feeder range of options include rear/front mounted PVC sliding elevators, rear door options give the flexibility to work within narrow passageways. A host of control systems featuring full Electric/ hydraulic or manual controls.

Individual mixer wagons for your agricultural enterprise from BvL

Compact and narrow – the twoauger mixers in the mixer-wagon series V-MIX Plus are available with 13, 15, 17 and 20 m3. So these mixer wagons can mix large quantities of fodder and at the same time they can deliver it in narrow feed passages. In the two-auger mixers the mixing wedges have an asymmetrical position – for optimized mixing process and fodder exchange between the individual mixing chambers. This arrangement combines an optimized flow of material with a high degree

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of volume utilization – and not least a lower power requirement.

The core of our mixing wagons in the V-MIX Plus series is the power mixing auger. It guarantees an extremely easy mixing process that is gentle on the fibre – so structure in the fodder retains better. The power mixing augers of our vertical mixing wagons are always adjusted perfectly to the form of the mixing hopper – as small as possible, but as big as necessary.

So the full volume of the hopper can be used, without to renounce

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DIET FEEDERS the demanded mixing quality.

That saves not only time but even money. By the way: The power mixing auger can be adapted optimally to various fodder types by adjusting its knives.

Structure of the fodder plays a vital role in ensuring that your cattle is cared for to the best possible extent. To avoid low PH-values in the rumen, the feed ration always has to retain a sufficient degree of structure.

This structure promotes rumination and the salivation that goes along with it. Also feed intake can rise and the hole feeding efficiency can improve.

The two-auger mixer wagons of the V-MIX Plus series offer farmers many different discharge options for their individual stable. Possible are: EDS-side discharges at the front and the rear, at the right and rear left, at the rear right and left in the corners or a cross conveyor in the front or in the rear.

Conor vertical feeders The Conor vertical feeder is the result of extensive field testing and its unique design ensures that even the toughest of bales are mixed quickly and efficiently. The design of the auger and the shape and angle of the tub allow a mixing process that is gentle on the fibre and is fast and exact in the mixing of all fodder components. The design of the auger ensures the ration is cut uniform and square. This increases the rumen “scraping” 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. The auger blades are protected from above by a 15mm protection plate profiled into the auger.

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 same fodder makeup with every bite for every cow reduces food wastage. 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

Sales and Repairs on all Agricultural Machinery Main Dealers for STRAUTMANN DIET FEEDERS

Also VOGEL & NOOT • SULKY • CHALLENGER • NRH • NC KRONE • SUMO • MERLO • MASSEY FERGUSON • FENDT Main Office: RAMPARTS BUSINESS PARK, BERWICK-UPON-TWEED, TD15 1UN Tel: 01289 331904 Fax: 01289 331530 Also at: PINNACLE HILL IND. EST, KELSO, TD5 8DW Tel: 01573 225213 Fax: 01573 226214 and MACMERRY, EAST LOTHIAN Tel: 01875 617323

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DIET FEEDERS the ration. This gives even product flow and consistent fodder discharge and prevents fodder accumulation. The heart of the Conor feeder is the SOM planetary drive

gearbox. With this gearbox the torque is transferred by a single piece drive shaft which gives excellent stability and endurance and has a low power requirement.

Diet Feeders for all purposes from Harry West Harry West (Prees) Ltd can now offer the full complement of diet feeding options for your

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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 we can offer the full range of Seko machines,

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DIET FEEDERS 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 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 favored by our many customers. Various options are

available to custom build the diet feeder to your individual requirements; this along with a very competitive price structure gives you a machine that will benefit your prized stock.

The Tiger range of vertical tub feeders gives capacities from 9 cu/m up to 41 cu/m in

Root crops cut down to size on Hi Spec feeders Root crops such as stubble turnips, stock grade potatoes or carrots can be an ideal, low cost source of livestock nutrition. However, using crops such as these and achieving even distribution throughout a complete diet mix can be difficult.

To overcome this problem, Hi-Spec Engineering Ltd has developed the Super Chopper.

Compatible with all models in both the Vertical Auger and the

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MixMax paddle-type diet feeder range, the Super Chopper enables root crops to be quickly and easily cut down to an optimum size for digestion, before being evenly blended into the diet mix.

The Super Chopper is mounted on the back of the Vertical Auger or MixMax diet feeder. After loading into the high capacity hopper, the roots are initially cleaned and any soil removed using a special cleaner

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either single, twin or triple auger designs, single or tandem axle options are available on the trailed machines along with side, front or rear discharge, various weigh system options, hydraulic or air brake systems, etc. to give you a machine to suit your system all at a very competitive price.

DIET FEEDERS chain. For heavily soiled crops, there is also the option to use water.

Having been cleaned, the roots are cut into small nuggets (between 25-40mm) using a spring loaded chopper bar. The chopped roots are then transferred into the main mixing chamber, where the mixing action of the augers or paddles ensures that the roots are fully and evenly incorporated into the rest of the ration.

The benefits of the Super Chopper are that by being able to incorporate chopped root crops into the diet mix, this avoids having to feed the roots separately using an auger bucket and also ensures that only the required amount is used, so the chopped material stays fresh.

Also the small chop size ensures that the root crop is easily digested for optimum nutritional value and because it is thoroughly incorporated into the ration, it avoids the problem of stock selectively eating.

Keenan Mech-fiber feeders Built using precision engineering techniques, and meeting the highest of quality standards, the Keenan mixer range is suitable for all herd sizes and types of operations. With the launch of the Mech-fiber 380 in 2013, the gap of being able to feed large numbers of animals with a compact machine was complete.

But that is only one side of what Keenan has to offer.

Each machine sold by Keenan is backed up by its InTouch technology division. This is a live review and support service, with our skilled nutritionists using simple technology to ensure that your animals get exactly what the need each day.

It provides constant improvement of you herd’s performance by giving you live information via the PACE Connect control box, a website application and telephone support. The service also gives you and your existing

feed advisor much more control of your feeding system.

Every new machine now comes as standard with the required hardware and a FREE 90 day trial of the review and support service. This 90 day window allows both you and your advisor the opportunity to experience the potential long term benefits of InTouch.

Full application of this precision feeding technology has

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been proven both scientifically and more importantly practically; to increase milk yield, drive down costs and improve margins. For a dairy farmer, the potential is up to 4 pence per litre within a 4 year period, that’s equivalent to £220 extra margin per cow. For the beef finisher, it is all about hitting the required market spec. Keenan customers are way ahead of the industry norm of 55% with over 90% achieving market spec.

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DIET FEEDERS

King Feeders King Feeders UK have been importing Zago products for almost 20 years and probably have the largest range of diet feeders and straw choppers in Europe. These range from small compact feeders and bedders to horizontal and vertical selfpropelled machines. These machines are currently being exported to 60 countries.

The King Feeder horizontal machine is still the flag ship of the feeder range- the four auger machine with a range size available from 5 to 35 metre capacity. This model has been

in production for over 20 years.

The King Feeder will process large bales in approximately 30 per cent less time than that of the vertical model also giving a more precise size of cut.

King Feeders UK also offer a wide range of vertical machines with capacity from 4 cubic metres to 50 cubic metres.

The larger static machines mainly being used for biogas installations. King Feeders UK have been trading for over 40 years and carry all necessary spares and offer nationwide service.

Kuhn mixer wagon with integrated bedding system Kuhn Farm Machinery’s new dual-purpose TMR mixer wagons – the PROFILE PLUS range – consists of four twinauger machines, all of which feature an integrated bedding

system for added machine versatility.

All four models in the PROFILE PLUS range feature a narrow body design to make them compatible with old and

W & A Geddes Ltd Main Dealers for BVL Diet Feeders

new farm buildings and feature a number of the same benefits as seen on the standard PROFILE 70 series of vertical auger mixer wagons These include a low loading height, compact external dimensions (the 15m3 model is just 2.42m wide and 2.83m high), right or left feed discharge door and a three-point electronic weighing system as standard.

The PROFILE PLUS range also features a front mounted straw-blowing turbine driven by KUHN’s patented POLYDRIVE system enabling it to throw 600kg of bedding material to a distance of 18 metres in just 4.5 minutes.

Available in capacities of 15, 16, 18 and 20 m3, PROFILE PLUS wagons use two independent vertical augers to accurately and quickly mix

W & A Geddes Ltd 7 River St, Wick, Caithness.

Tel: 01955 602207 Unit 3, 13-15, Ormlie Ind. Est., Thurso.

Tel: 01847 891651 Croftbank Garage, Victoria Road, Brora.

Tel: 01408 621220 60

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a range of feedstuffs, with adjustable counter-knives giving the ability to cut fibrous material to a pre-determined length. The small diameter augers reduce the range’s power requirement, with the 15m3 PROFILE PLUS 1570 compatible with 80hp tractors.

The straw output door uses KUHN’s asymmetric VENTIDRIVE design to optimise output flow and to ensure an even application of bedding materials.

A tilting feed conveyor and swivelling straw-blowing chutes are available as optional extras.

“The PROFILE PLUS range shares many of the features found on our established range of EUROMIX wagons,” explains Duncan McLeish, KUHN’s UK Sales Manager. “Key features such as the adjustable counterknives, electronic weighing

DIET FEEDERS system and customisable feedout options enable cows to be fed consistently and accurately, while the integrated strawblower adds to the range’s overall versatility and value for money, making the PROFILE PLUS perfect for the majority of modern dairy and beef farming enterprises.”

Kongskilde JF Diet Feeders Kongskilde JF is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of Vertical Complete Diet Feeders and have been active here in the UK for over 15 years.

Such has been the rate of growth in sales, that product updated have come think and fast over the last 3

years, with 3 complete new ranges and importantly for the UK the BX flexible delivery conveying system. The BX consists of a special 1 piece conveyor belt that can side shift to both the left hand and right hand side of the machine while also elevating up at an angle to allow feeding over barriers and troughs. When fitted to the VM 222BX model with bogie axle the maximum delivery height is approx 1.5m although with remote variable conveyor speed,feed can be thrown over this height if required.

The conveyor chassis consists of 3 separate frames that are seated on an hydraulically moving main chassis. Nylon rollers are employed to guide the 3 chassis elements as they are moved left or right. The one piece belt is a unique design with this type of conveyor and it is this 1 piece construction where much of the development

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has been placed. Unlike other similar solutions which use “sectioned” webbing type designs, JF’s engineers have come up with a clever way of guiding a 1 piece belt when it elevates by using hardox deflector plates to guide the belt. The belt has a strong anti wear coating on each side where the guide pieces deflect the belt during operation.

Two hydraulic motors on either end of the belt pull the belt from the top which is important in keeping belt tension and tracking correct.

The front panels of the conveyor are designed to allow the operator to see how much feed is on the belt during unloading.

First deliveries of the BX conveyor began in 2014 and it has proven to be a very popular choice for many of the new feeders delivered since. A BX conveyor feeder will be on display at Agri Scot in November.

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DIET FEEDERS

Redrock Vertical Mixer feeders “Complete diet feeding continues to offer dairy, beef and sheep farmers the most effective way of meeting their stock’s nutritional needs in full,” confirmed Redrock sales manager Mark Linden.

“Improving feed utilisation will be the cornerstone of farmers’ response to commodity price volatility. In practical terms this means making best use of the feeds that are available on farm and ensuring that ruminant animals are fed in line with their potential to produce milk or secure their daily liveweight gain targets.”

Redrock has always been renowned for the quality of its engineering solutions. But the company also offers clients a customised nutritional advice service, which is centred on a TMR Tracker system. This provides farmers with a total

solution in terms of managing feed costs and ensuring optimal performance from the various animals within specific groups.

Mark Linden again: “The tracker system is fully compatible with all herd or farm record systems. At its most basic level it will serve to check the programmed ration against that which is actually fed out. The system will also calculate and register daily feed costs, dry matter intakes and daily refusals.

“The new system also provides an integrated tracker function for on-line data exchange with nutritionists and advisors.

“In essence, the TMR Tracker is an integrated management system, allowing complete online data exchange between the farmer and Redrock “It can also be used to monitor all aspects of the feeding operation.”

The Redrock Vertical Mixer feeder range can mix everything from large round or square bales of silage, straw and hay, to precision cut silage, maize, meal etc. Serrated knives are used to efficiently chop fibrous

The Sherbourne powermix feeders

Since it’s launch in 1993 everything about the Shelbourne Powermix has been designed around customer requests and requirements. The latest Powermix Plus is no exception, after 3 years of design work and customer consultation the first production machines are now on farm.

The Powermix Plus range is designed as a compact twin auger range of machines, the design team’s brief at the start of the project was as follows, Model sizes of 16, 18 and 22 cubic metres, Shorter machines for greater manoeuvrability, Greater durability by using strategically using thicker, higher grade steel 62

foodstuffs to the length required for effective mixing and healthy digestion. The chopping process is augmented by two ‘counter knives which restrict the material as it is driven past them by the auger. These come as standard.

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, Faster, more efficient bale chopping through a smoother tub shape, Lower horsepower mixing requirement, Simpler design through incorporating the chassis into the tub weld assembly.

Three Powermix Plus models are available 16 m, 18m and 22m.

All models are available on either a single or tandem axle.

Faster bale chopping and less spillage has been achieved by designing a new shape tub with smoother sides and better transition between mixing chambers, the new shape allows material to move around the tub more freely, mixing performance is also improved. The front mounted door

DIET FEEDERS locks into position when closed to provide uninterrupted material flow. Faster chopping times are also attained through horizontally mounted auger blades, increased auger speed, and new straw ring design.

The new tub shape gives the additional advantage of a lower horsepower requirement.

Other new features include, The auger and tub is manufactured from high grade steel (S500) for maximum durability and life.

The lower side walls of the tub are manufactured from 12.5mm high strength steel. – The most heavy duty on the market, Improved front conveyor system with spring loaded belt tensioner.

Siloking range continues to grow

The Siloking trailed diet feeder range from Kverneland continues to expand and is now available with high capacity, triple auger models.

The Triple 36 and Triple 40 vertical mixer models offer capacities of 36 and 40 cubic metres respectively. To ensure tight turning and a high degree of manoeuvrability for these large volume feeders, both models are available with triple axle configurations. In such a format, the first and third axles are steered, which reduces the operating space needed for these high capacity feeders.

Overall height is 3.26m (10ft 9in), allowing access into traditional buildings.

Such dimensions, combined with multi-axle steering, combine to give these high capacity machines a level of agility that is comparable with smaller, lower capacity diet feeders. Wireless control, front cross conveyor, multiple rear discharge doors and heavy-duty tub magnets are available for these latest versions.

In the self-propelled Siloking line-up, models now meet Stage 4 emissions standards with four-

and six-cylinder engines that have adopted SCR emissions technology (selective catalytic reduction). This change is said to bring greater operational efficiency with fuel savings across the range, helping to lower operating costs.

The Prestige 1612 SCR model for example, now packs 150hp from its four-cylinder engine – an increase of 22hp over its predecessor.

Online management for feeding is becoming an increasingly important and inclusive part of the Siloking system. Such capability is contained within the Focus control box. This online/cloudbased system allows the end user to access and adjust rations, then transfer data between the office computer and machine control box.

Called online feeding management, the system also allows collection of data from the feeder, including filling, discharging and operator information. As the system is internet-based, it has a level of flexibility that enables a nutritionalist for example, to remotely access feeding data and make supplementary changes to compliment herd health. www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

DIET FEEDERS

Strautmann Vertimix mixer wagons The Strautmann line up includes models for nearly all farm applications. Single auger mixers include low axle and standard axle design models ranging from 7.5 m3 to 16 m3.

Twin auger models are very much in demand with five ranges from 12 m3 up to and including a 31m3. Narrow “K” versions are also available.

Strautmann mixers are good examples of a top quality well engineered product.

Hard wearing steels with low corrosive qualities are used throughout . The planetary gearboxes are rated well above the maximum loads for the particular model making them extremely reliable.

Although not the cheapest mixer wagons available to the UK farmer, when the entire cost package, over the life span of the machine is taken into

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consideration they represent excellent value for money.

When pricing up the cost of a new mixer wagon who takes into account the true saving you can get from low fuel use, time savings from fast mixing and unloading times second hand values and the ability to use a wider range of materials in the ration?

As mentioned above time and money savings are possible because of the low horse power requirement and fast mixing times. Even just a few minutes saving per load with one two or more loads per day will at the end of the year result in a large reduction in total overall costs.

End-users and owners appreciate these benefits from and will generally replace a Strautmann wagon for another Strautmann wagon when the time comes to change.

The heart of the Strautmann Vertical mixer wagons top performance is the large ” Vario” mixing augers. The flights of the auger are profiled so as to set the 8 mm hard steel blades at an ideal angle for cutting bales or loose material and

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keeping materials circulating.

More auger blades then most manufacturers also assist with this task. The smooth rounded hopper side walls, set to the perfect “Goldilocks” angle keep the power requirement low and assist with loading.

TOPIC

The Impact of Liver Fluke

By Rachel Mallet BVM&S MRCVS

Rachel Mallet is a veterinary surgeon and Territory Manager for Bimeda. Rachel is passionate about animal health and promoting best practice amongst farmers and animal owners.

Fascioliasis is the disease caused by liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica). Liver fluke is common on farms on the western side of Britain due to the increased rainfall however it is becoming increasingly established on the Eastern side. This is due to the increased movement of infected animals (particularly to and from farms with poor biosecurity measures) and changing weather patterns (increased rainfall and milder winters).

It is estimated that fluke costs the UK agricultural industry ÂŁ300 million annually. This cost accounts for veterinary treatment/investigation, poor performance, flukicides, condemnations and the cost of preventative measures (such as fencing off wet areas). By far the biggest cost is the sub-optimal performance of affected animals showing no obvious signs of fluke.

These sub-clinically affected animals cannot efficiently utilise their feed intake due to liver damage and will perform poorly. Infestation can reduce the market value of a finished animal by around 10%.

By taking action to control liver fluke liver condemnations can be avoided, performance improved and welfare maintained.

Disease can result in: -Reduced weight gain -Reduced milk production -Lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) -Lack of thrive in younger and growing stock -Reduced fertility -Death of stock -Poor welfare Chronic Disease Chronic disease occurs most commonly in cattle and occurs when small numbers of encysted larvae are gradually consumed.

This results in a prolonged period of migration of a smaller number of metacercariae through the liver parenchyma. Liver damage is less acute and so the hosts tend to survive allowing the fluke to develop in to adults in the bile duct.

The adult fluke shed eggs and these chronically infected animals are the main source of infection when the animals return to pasture.

Acute Disease Acute disease strikes when large numbers of immature fluke migrate though the liver parenchyma causing severe liver damage and blood loss. Sheep are more often affected by acute infection which occurs when large numbers of metacercariae

are consumed during their mass emergence in the late summer/ early autumn. Sheep often have positive fluke burdens, even in the presence of solid faecal pellets so sheep owners must be vigilant and should talk to their vet or SQP about taking remedial action in the Spring by using a flukicide targeting older fluke to prevent build-up of fluke numbers in the autumn.

Clinical Signs of Disease Cattle - Weight loss - Anaemia - Oedema - Diarrhoea - Infertility - Milk production drop - increased susceptibility to other diseases eg salmonella diarrhoea and blacks disease - Poor weight gain Sheep - Sudden death - Haemorrhage - Ill-thrift - Diarrhoea - Anaemia - Pale mucous membranes - Weakness - Icterus - Peripheral oedema

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Life Cycle The completion of the liver fluke life cycle is very dependent on environmental conditions- mainly temperature and humidity because they affect the following: The survival rate of the miracidium The rate of development of the cercaria Availability of the intermediate host Lymnaea truncatula (mud snail) Distribution of the intermediate host.

Below 10oC the eggs cannot develop on the pasture. Any eggs which are shed on to the pasture over winter and during spring tend to develop around April with their development accelerating as the temperature increases. By late spring large numbers of Miracidium will have hatched and be in search of mud snails for the next stage of their life cycle. The snails also tend to awaken from hibernation around 10oC which makes the liver fluke such an effective parasite.

Once the Miracidium find a snail host they burrow in to them through the muscular foot.

One Miracidium infecting one 65

TOPIC enzymes which will detect if any liver damage has occurred and also check for fluke antibodies. This is a really useful monitoring test which gives a long term indication of the fluke control strategy. The antibodies can persist for up to 9 months so a positive result indicates that the animal has been exposed to fluke within that time period- not that it is necessarily currently infected.

Bulk milk testing for dairy herds is very helpful for detecting any challenge.

A sample of milk from the bulk tank can be analysed for antibodies to fluke. As previously mentioned these antibodies can persist but if monitored regularly can alert you to a new challenge.

snail can produce hundreds of cercariae which emerge in the summer and autumn.

These cercariae form infective cysts known as metacercariae on the pasture.

After ingestion by the ruminant the juvenile flukes hatch from the metacercarial cysts in the intestines and migrate through the gut wall and locate the liver within a few days. They begin to burrow through the hepatic parenchyma towards the bile ducts. As they feed on the hosts tissues and blood they grow and develop rapidly causing increasing damage and haemorrhage as they increase in size.

The animals with a lower burden of metacercariae usually survive the acute phase of infection, during which the immature flukes migrate through the liver parenchyma. Once the flukes become established in the major bile ducts they mature and begin to produce eggs 8-10 weeks after the initial infection.

The eggs pass in to the intestine via the bile duct.

In the event of no subsequent invasion by immature fluke the liver parenchyma is able 66

to regenerate and regain functionality albeit with severe fibrous scarring.

Diagnosis The gold standard diagnostic tool is visualising fluke within the liver tissues. This may be an unplanned post-mortem following the sudden death of animals which have succumbed to acute disease (normally sheep) or can be carried out routinely in the abattoir at the request of the farmer. We often need to intervene without having access to post mortems and there are a number of tools available which can help detect infection.

Faecal worm egg count (FWEC) can be useful in chronic infection as the adult fluke shed eggs via the bile duct into the gastrointestinal tract.

It’s worth noting that they shed a relatively small number of eggs sporadically so it is possible that chronic infection may be missed. It won’t give us any information on immature fluke migrating through the liver as they are unable to shed eggs.

Blood testing is a useful tool. We can measure the liver

Control Veterinary surgeons are integral to ensuring a sound fluke control and prevention strategy.

They should integrate fluke control procedures in to herd and flock health plans based on the individual risk and history of disease. NADIS and SCOPs provide parasite forecasts so use these to your advantage to check the risk in your region.

Word of mouth from Vets, SQPs and neighbouring farms is invaluable for local knowledge.

In very high risk situations (farms with uncontrolled parasite burden, acute outbreak) it may be necessary to dose surviving animals as frequently as every 4 weeks until winter housing with a flukicidal drug active against the most immature stages.

In moderate risk situations dosing can be as infrequent as 10-weekly during risk periods.

Additional treatment(s) should be administered over winter to destroy any adult fluke residing in the bile ducts as these chronically infected animals act as a source of infection in the coming grazing season.

Ensure that you treat using the most appropriate active ingredient which is suitable for the risk at that time of year.

All animals must be dosed accurately as under-dosing

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predisposes to anthelmintic resistance. Remember that no flukicidal treatment is persistent so animals are immediately susceptible to infection again.

Any areas which are water logged should be drained or fenced off.

Ask the abattoir for feedback on the condition of the liver following slaughter.

If any sudden loss of sheep occurs on farm it must be investigated as it could be the first indication of a fluke problem.

All incoming stock should be quarantined. Treat any bought-in livestock with a product which can kill immature fluke and where possible keep treated animals on drier pastures or housed for 3-4 weeks.

Flukicides When deciding which flukicide to use you must consider which stage of parasite you are trying to target.

To prevent and control acute infestation in the late summer/ autumn you should use a product which is active against the earliest possible stages.

Triclabendazole is the only active ingredient which can kill the early immature stage.

Treatment of chronic fluke infection in sheep and cattle during the winter and early spring requires treatment with a product that targets the adult stages.

Bimeda have a range of products which can aid with fluke control: Endofluke (10% Triclabendazole).

Kills adult, immature and early immature fluke.

Endospec (2.5% or 10% albendazole). Kills adult fluke.

Bimectin Plus (10mg/ ml Ivermectin & 100mg/ml Clorsulon). Kills adult fluke.

When using any anthelmintic for the purpose of controlling fluke ensure you are using a product with an active ingredient which is appropriate for the life stage you are trying to control. If you are in any doubt contact your SQP or vet for advice.

livestock Trace element bolus underpins livestock performance on Scottish farms

Accurately supplementing trace elements with a slow release bolus has improved herd and flock performance on farms across Scotland.

John and Amanda Paterson have increased calving and lambing percentages at Hartbush Farm near Dumfries since implementing a programme of trace element supplementation for sheep and cattle with the Tracesure® range of boluses.

For father and daughter James and Alison Rich, who farm at Kierfiold Farm, Orkney, calf health has been transformed after they addressed a trace element shortfall in their suckler beef herd.

Trace element balance is essential for livestock with deficiencies associated with a weak immune system, poor metabolism, infertility and pregnancy problems.

Tracesure ®Cu/I uses leaching technology to release selenium, iodine, cobalt and copper over five to six months.

At Hartbush Farm, empty cow numbers had averaged 12 annually. After cows were bolused with Tracesure ®Cu/I 68

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there was just one. “We put 214 cows to the bull and only one failed to produce a calf and that was a cow that had previously undergone a Caesarian delivery,’’ John recalls.

There were similar results in the farm’s flock of 447 Scotch half-bred ewes, which are bolused with Tracesure®; this year all but 12 produced lambs.

“Halfbreds are not the most prolific but we still scanned at 192%,’’ says John.

Trace elements deficiencies can have profound effects on calf and lamb vitality and daily liveweight gains.

To counter trace element shortfalls, James and Alison bolus their cows with Tracesure ®Cu/I six weeks before calving.

They became aware that their herd of 130 breeding cows were short of trace elements when newborn calves lacked vigour. “We had to fight to get the calves to suckle,’’ says Alison.

Bolusing transformed the health of calves born that spring.

“The number of calves that we have to encourage to suckle is minimal, they are full of vigour,’’ Alison reports.

livestock Italian Importer Rewarded for Commitment to Scotch Beef PGI

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has officially recognized the Bennet group, based in Italy, for longstanding loyalty and commitment to Scotch Beef PGI. Piercarlo Botta received the importer award from Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment, during a ceremony on the QMS stand at Anuga, the world’s largest food trade fair. QMS has a significant presence this week at Anuga, where 10 Scottish red meat exporters are present.

Bennet group, which was established 45 years ago, owns 67 hyper markets and shopping malls located in the north of Italy. The group is firmly established as one of the most innovative and forwardlooking operators in the Italian fresh food sector.

The group began importing Scotch Beef from Scotland in 2006 as a customer of Bridge of Allan-based Scotbeef. Since then the two companies have worked closely to increase sales and widen the range of

products on offer with the main cuts Bennet currently imports being rump, knuckle, fillet, roast beef and chuck. Bennett also imports some Scotch Lamb.

“What impressed us from the start about Scotch Beef was its quality image and exceptional taste and tenderness – all of which are highly prized by our customers,” said Piercarlo Botta.

“Bennet has always focused on providing top quality fresh foods and our customers are impressed with the fact that Scotch Beef is produced in wide open spaces with the plentiful green pastures which Italians associate with Scotland.”

QMS Chairman, Jim McLaren, said: “Bennet has an impressive track record, established over almost five decades, of delivering quality produce for discerning customers and we are delighted with the support and dedication they have shown the Scotch Beef brand over the past decade.

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QMS Launches Video to Promote Safety at Calving Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has produced a short video to promote the importance of safety when working with cattle at calving, including a range of steps which can help reduce risk of injury or loss of life.

Dr Basil Lowman of SAC Consulting, a division of SRUC (Scotland’s Rural College), highlights a range of tips in a four point plan which he talks through in the video. Much of the advice in the video is also applicable to those working with animals in a bull beef system.

“Every farmer knows that even the most docile cows can sometimes be extra-protective towards their calves and therefore, all cows should be treated with respect,” said Dr Lowman.

“It is important for cows to be familiar with staff or family members who may be assisting with calving so they do not feel threatened by people they are less used to,” he added.

In the QMS video, Dr Lowman recommends some measures to reduce risks during indoor calving, based on simple planning.

He said: “Three to four weeks before calving is due to start, take family or staff members who will be working with calving cows into the calving area and identify the escape routes.

You should also check if you have a mobile signal in the pen so you can call for help if need be.”

He points out that a ring feeder can be a useful tool in a calving pen, either to keep between yourself and the cow or to jump into to call for help. Another possibility being successfully used by

some producers is erecting a temporary electric fence across part of the pen. This can give a quick escape to a safe area if needed and should be put in place two to three weeks before calving starts, to allow the cows time to learn to respect it.

In the unfortunate event of being knocked down by a cow, Dr Lowman said: “By far the quickest method to get out of the way is to roll away, so it is essential to make sure the gap under gates is large enough, and clear of muck or other obstructions, to get under.”

Looking at outdoor calving situations, Dr Lowman’s advice flagged up the value of having a vehicle close by. “Never be too far away from your vehicle; either to jump into or to roll under.”

He also recommends the use of a calf catcher or ring feeder when tagging calves so they can be handled safely, isolated from their mothers.

All the above are practical measures relating to planning or steps taken during calving. However the best preventative measure, according to Dr Lowman, is to cull aggressive cows from the herd and, in the case of very aggressive animals, their daughters too.

He pointed out that research shows that aggressive cows actually spend less time licking their calves and are generally therefore worse mothers. He also recommends selecting bulls with above average EBV’s for docility.

To view the video, please visit: https:// www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Dwn1r4uAG_s69

livestock Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb Showcased to Key Buyers

A group of key international food buyers have visited a Perthshire farm to learn about Scotch Beef PGI and Scotch Lamb PGI and the quality assurance, traceability and animal welfare which underpin the iconic brands.

The buyers, who were attending the Scotland Food and Drink Showcasing Scotland Event (6-9 October) at Gleneagles, headed to Cromlix Estate near Dunblane, owned by

the Eden family. Iain Malcolm runs the Cromlix farm business – a suckler herd of 170 cows and 1000 Blackface ewes - in partnership with his wife, Sarah, and son, Angus.

During the farm visit, organised by Quality Meat Scotland, the buyers – from Hong Kong, Singapore and Canada – were able to see firsthand the dedication, care and stockmanship skills behind the production of top quality Scotch Beef PGI. The farm is a member of QMS’s quality assurance scheme and while on the farm the buyers heard about the importance of animal welfare and about QMS’s “Animal Welfare and Wellbeing Charter” as well as QMS’s partnership with the Scottish SPCA. Emily Grant of QMS, who joined the buyers on the visit, said they were clearly very impressed with the quality of the animals and the natural environment they are being farmed in.

“Many thanks to Iain Malcolm and family for hosting an excellent visit. The buyers have gone home with a very positive impression of Scottish livestock farming and the dedication behind the production of Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb,” said Mrs Grant.

BVA new bovine TB controls in Scotland The British Veterinary Association (BVA) and BVA Scottish Branch welcome legislation in Scotland that will further protect Scotland’s livestock against bovine TB, which came into effect in October.

The new legislation will extend the regime of TB controls to specified non-bovine animals, including alpaca, sheep, and farmed deer. The controls aim to ensure that Scotland retains its officially TB free status. These controls include notification of the disease in specified non-bovine 70

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animals and compulsory slaughter of any TB reactors identified.

BVA Scottish Branch President Grace Webster said: “BVA and BVA Scottish Branch responded to the initial consultation on these disease control measures last December. We are pleased to see that the Scottish Government has put legislative measures in place to guard against an incursion of the disease into Scotland in line with our advice. We know that the disease in South American Camelids has an extensive and

livestock aggressive pathology, and has zoonotic potential, so these new controls show the foresight of the Scottish Government in animal welfare and agriculture as well as human health.”

BVA President Sean Wensley said: “We continue to work with our Scottish colleagues and the Scottish Government to protect

Scotland’s officially TB free status and welcome this new legislation, however we know that disease does not respect borders and that one of the surest ways to safeguard Scotland’s livestock against bovine TB is to ensure its eradication in the rest of the UK. BVA continues to work with all governments of the UK towards this end.”

New Video Highlights Farmers’ Pride in Quality Assurance A new video launched by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is highlighting the pride Scottish farmers take in membership of the industry’s quality assurance schemes.

The video, which has already been viewed more than 22,000 times on the QMS Facebook page, features three Scottish cattle farmers giving their views on the benefits of quality assurance to the beef industry in Scotland, and to their own farming businesses.

The farmers are Neil McCorkindale who runs 70 cows at Scammadale Farm near Oban; Leslie King who finishes around 150 cattle at Cairnfauld near Banchory and Andrew Kay who runs 170 cows based at The Gass Farm in Ayrshire.

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The “Pride in Quality Assurance” video shows the producers working on their farms and talking about the importance of quality assurance to provide the public with confidence about how animals are reared and the importance of animal welfare.

The farmers also describe their personal pride in being part of the world-acclaimed Scotch Beef brand. They highlight the benefits of quality assurance in terms of achieving the best returns for their animals and maximising their number of potential buyers. The video also sees the farmers urging non-members to consider the importance of quality assurance to the industry’s future.

In response to industry feedback, QMS launched a major

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livestock recruitment drive at the start of 2015 to increase the membership of the Cattle and Sheep quality assurance scheme and during the first eight months of 2015 more than 400 applications were received.

The video is part of a range of activities being undertaken to tie in with the 25th anniversary of the quality assurance schemes which underpin the Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork brands.

H&H Group Plc Creates UK’s Biggest Livestock Mart Operation Two major livestock auction companies H&H Group PLC (H&H) and St Boswell’s based John Swan & Sons P.L.C (John Swan) have combined to create the UK’s largest marts business, which will offer new opportunities to farmers in Northern England and the Scottish Borders.

The addition of the two John Swan & Sons marts in Newtown St Boswells in Roxburghshire, and Wooler in Northumberland, to the portfolio of seven operated

by Harrison & Hetherington in Cumbria, the Borders and

County Durham, creates the UK’s biggest livestock mart based marketing operation.

This acquisition brings together two well-respected livestock marketing businesses that both have heritages stretching back more than a century. The strength of the Carlisle-based H&H Group, which owns Harrison & Hetherington, will allow fresh investment in the marts to best serve farmers across Northern England and Southern Scotland, and further increases the group’s coverage into Northumberland.

Former Monitor Farmers Open Gates for Legacy Initiative A series of five one day events to revisit former monitor farms will be hosted by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) in the coming two months.

The monitor farms programme has been in existence since 2003 and to date has involved almost 50 farms funded mainly through the Scottish Government’s Skills Development Scheme, and supported by QMS, DairyCo, NFUS, HGCA and SOPA. The former monitor farms selected to be part of the QMS legacy initiative, with funding from Scottish Government, include: Torhousekie Farm, Wigtown; Cluny Farm, Forres; Plan Farm, Isle of Bute; West Cockmuir Farm, Strichen and Fearn Farm, Tain.

The monitor farm project involves the selection of a farm, typical of the area, as the monitor farm with a community group, comprised of local farmers and other related businesses, getting involved in management decisions to improve the efficiency of the farm.

The aim of the legacy meetings is to give the community group and host farmer the opportunity to review on-going projects beyond the normal life of the monitor farm and also to assess and learn from changes to the businesses.

An independent review of Scotland’s Monitor Farms Programme confirmed the farms

have been successful in practical and effective knowledge exchange and delivered a positive impact on farm practices and performance.

The evaluation assessed the success of the programme in achieving its core objective of improving the profitability of Scottish farmers and also identified learning and good practice in knowledge exchange.

“One piece of feedback which is consistently received from those involved in the monitor farm programme is that it would be useful to re-visit the farms to share some of the longer term benefits, which is exactly what the legacy project aims to do,” said Uel Morton, QMS Chief Executive.

“Key to the success of this programme has been the willingness of the monitor farmers to open their farm gates, their farm accounts and their own hearts to this project and we are grateful to the five former monitor farmers who will once again be opening their gates as part of the legacy project.

The Monitor Farm Legacy meetings, which are open to all and free of charge, will take place on the following dates:

Wednesday 11 November - Kenny Adams hosts at Torhousekie Farm, Wigtown, DG8 9BJ Thursday 26 November - Janet and Brian Hill host at Plan Farm, Kingarth, Isle of Bute, PA20 9LX Thursday 3 December - Robert and Ian Chapman host at Tophead Farm, Lonmay, AB43 8UY Wednesday 9 December - Robbie and Kirsty Newlands host at Cluny Farm, Rafford, Forres, IV36 2SJ Thursday 10 December - John Scott hosts at Fearn Farm, Tain, IV20 1TL For further information about these events and to register your place visit www.qmscotland.co.uk/events 72

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livestock British Limousin Chairman outlines society’s commitment to invest in breed genetic improvement BLCS Chairman John Phillips gives his first annual report to members at 44th Society AGM. “The £1 Million investment in the long range Limousin Breed Improvement Plan will very much be the central tenet of the British Limousin Cattle Society’s work in the coming years to ensure that the breed continues to provide producers with cattle that are profitable and that are adaptable to meet changing markets.”

This commitment to genetic improvement of the Limousin breed in the United Kingdom was the strong statement of intent from British Limousin Cattle Society Chairman (BLCS) and Whitland,

Carmarthenshire based breeder John Phillips at the Society’s 2015 Annual General Meeting held in Hereford in September.

The Limousin Breed Improvement Plan, published in 2014 and following two years of industry discussion, producer surveys, consultation and analysis, lays out 10 prioritised areas for investment that Mr Phillips stated were “innovative, wide ranging, long term and will drive even greater levels of breed performance.” The investment in the breed of over £1 million was, he noted, “a very strong statement to all sectors of the supply chain as to the breed’s future.”

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livestock Multiple diagnostics from one tissue sample promised by new development An easy-to-use tissue sampler enabling multiple diagnostic tests - genomics, parentage and disease resistance potential, for example - from a single ear notch will soon be available to cattle producers.

The new tissue sampling tag has been developed by Allflex Europe (UK) Ltd. It will enable farmers to use a single ear-tag notch to test cattle for BVDv status and retain the original

tissue sample indefinitely for further valuable tests.

Current BVDv tissue tag tests are single function. The process by which the tissue is examined in the lab renders it unusable for further tests. Allflex vet Dr Johan Meulemeester and his team have developed a new DNA buffer liquid in the tag mechanism that preserves the integrity of DNA extracted from the tissue sample. Once taken,

the sample can be stored long term.

According to Helen Sheppard of Allflex, the development heralds an exciting breakthrough in tissue sampling.

“Using a high welfare and simple to use single tag on farm to take a tissue sample suitable for multiple tests will appeal to numerous cattle producers,” she says.

“The rise in interest in

genomic testing as a farm breeding tool, combined with a need to diagnose disease, will make this new tag indispensable.

Being able to store DNA samples reliably and long term will have so many future applications. Right now, we expect this new development to be welcomed particularly by the meat industry, with traceability from farm to consumer being paramount.”

Better feed advice by FAR ‘Use a member of the Feed Adviser Register (FAR) for greater feed efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions’ – is the message being promoted to UK livestock farmers. The Register now has over 1100 members including advisers from all the leading livestock nutrition companies serving the beef, dairy, sheep, pig and poultry sectors. The Register also has a range of

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independent advisers for all livestock sectors.

Inge Verwoerd, Feed Sector Technical Support Manager at the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC), says: “The Register was originally developed in response to Government concerns about greenhouse gas emissions in the livestock industry. While other sectors of agriculture had professional registers of

members, there was nothing for the feed industry.

“FAR has filled this gap and we are developing a register that not only serves its original purpose but also provides real value to livestock farmers through feed advisers.

Farmers can be confident that feed advisers on the register are competent, not only to help them to reduce emissions from their livestock, but also to ensure that

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they are implementing the best feeding regime for their animals and increasing production efficiency.”

Ensuring feed efficiency through feed conversion ratios is particularly important at this time of low market values and feed advisers can help in this way to reduce costs where possible.

To qualify for Full Membership of FAR, feed advisers must have a minimum of 12 months’ experience in an appropriate role. Those with less experience can enrol as Development Members. After 12 months, during which their advice will be supervised by a Full Member of the Register and/or they have completed the necessary training, they can upgrade to Full Membership provided they can demonstrate their competency.

FAR Members have to renew their membership every twelve months following completion of the core competencies developed for that year. Advisers on the register are audited to ensure their training and experience is legitimate.

Members of FAR can be identified by their registration card, so farmers can be confident about the advice they are receiving.

Further information on the Feed Adviser Register can be found on the website: www. feedadviserregister.org.uk.

livestock Value of Colostrum Highlighted at Dumfries Monitor Farm Meeting The importance of colostrum has been highlighted as one of the significant lessons learnt by the Dumfries monitor farmers during their monitor farm tenure.

John and Amanda Paterson run approximately 250, mainly Simmental cross, cows at Hartbush, a 606 acre (245 ha) mixed farm, located just north of Dumfries. Hartbush, the most southerly of the Scotlandwide network of Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) monitor farms, is the only monitor farm focussing primarily on beef cattle finishing.

At the recent meeting, an open evening attended by almost 120 farmers and members of the agricultural industry, Mr Paterson listed some of the highlights of the monitor farm term. “A number of livestock health issues were addressed, with what we learnt about colostrum being the best,” said Mr Paterson.

Livestock farmers appreciate the value of early colostrum to new-born animals.

At the May 2013 monitor farm

meeting, veterinary surgeon Peter Hastings of Nithsdale Vets in Thornhill explained why it is important to make the most of the “once in a calf’s lifetime” opportunity to maximise the health benefits available from colostrum.

“Calves are born with no immunity to diseases. Colostrum contains antibodies which are large protein molecules.

Once absorbed into a calf’s bloodstream these antibodies form the basis of the calf’s immune system until it begins to develop its own immunity at around twelve weeks old,” Mr Hastings told the meeting.

“To get into the calf’s bloodstream, the antibodies need to be absorbed through the calf’s gut wall. The ability of the gut wall to absorb antibodies reduces from the point of birth until 24 hours of age, at which point antibodies can no longer be absorbed into the bloodstream. It’s therefore important that the calf suckles and takes in colostrum as quickly as possible.”

the vet

By Andy Cant Northvet Veterinary Group

Time to play our part Worm and fluke resistance to available anthelmintic products has no doubt been on your radar for some time especially in the sheep sector. SCOPS sets out good guidelines on how to best use the products we have to extend their usable lifespan as new products are few and far between.

The realm of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is similar but has the added significance of affecting human and animal health (the so called One Health). It is a hot topic and one that will continue to be so. It is accepted that overuse and incorrect use of antibiotics is one of the major drivers of resistance.

Veterinary antimicrobial use has in actual fact been stable over the last few years whereas on the medical side use has increased; despite this the finger still gets pointed at veterinary use as a source of AMR. The fact is that all sectors must now knuckle down and use best practice when prescribing antibiotics.

This is also a global problem and the control over the availability of antibiotics can vary in different parts of the world. Alleged stories of

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the Yangtze River being an antibiotic soup may reflect local prescribing practices and so efforts are being made worldwide to get everyone on board.

So what can we do at farm level to be responsible in our antibiotic usage?

1. Prevent and control infection. This is where biosecurity and health plans come in. No infection = no antibiotic usage 2. Use antibiotics wisely.

Correct dose and duration of course. Reduce blanket treatments eg initiate selective dry cow therapy.

Move away from using antibiotics important in human medicine.

The third important area is government helping to stimulate the development of new drugs and also new and faster diagnostics so that antibiotics can be matched to the causal infection straight away.

There no doubt will be more pressures to come on the use of antibiotics in farm animals but an animal in need should have the right to an effective treatment.

By showing continued responsible use we can hold on to that.

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LiveScot Saturday 28th November 2015 I’m sitting writing this article with less than 8 weeks to go until the biggest event in the Scottish National Fat Stock Clubs Calendar. The excitement and anticipation is growing not only for our exhibitors but for me (Margaret), the new Secretary for the SNFSC. LiveScot will once again be held at Lanark Agricultural Centre, Lanark. With this venue proving a huge success last year we hope to build on that for this year. With planning well underway for this event it is shaping up to be a great day out!

There will be something for everyone with Cattle & Sheep Judging, Baking & Crafts, Crooks, Silage & Hay, Grain, Potatoes and a Young Farmers Stockjudging which includes an Open section.

Plenty for you to see and do.

Judging will commence at 8.30 am in the Cattle and Sheep sections. With a superb line up of cattle guaranteed, the Main Hall will be buzzing with a great atmosphere. In the Cattle Section there have been slight adjustments in the classes to cater for all weights.

Hanging up their halters for this year are Mr & Mrs Vance, Bridgehouse, Newton Stewart who are both judging. Alister will have the unenviable task of placing the Cattle Section and Elizabeth is judging the Commercial Calf Classes.

We hope to encourage the young stocksmen to show off their skills by taking part in our Young Handlers Sections. The Cattle Young Handlers will be judged

by Mr Gavin Scott, and casting his eye over the Sheep Young Handlers will be Mr Bruce Lang.

There will hopefully be better access for Cattle to and from the 76

Cattle Champion

Prizewinning Cheviots

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LiveScot Main Hall showring as a door will be made in the corner of the hall, leading to the penning area. We hope this will improve the flow of the classes and keep everyone’s attention. With some of the best Cattle in the Country attending LiveScot the judging is sure to be a grand spectacle once again.

Also in the Main Hall area there will be some Trade Stands.

With recommendations coming to us after last year’s show we have decreased their size slightly to allow for better viewing and flow of people. There will also be a possibility of a tiered seating area in this hall.

Mr Steven Green will judge the Butchers cattle in their pens at 10.30 and the Housewives Choice animals will be judged later in the day, after being selected.

The Sheep judging will take place in the sale ring, where a strong turnout is expected. Mr Jim Craig is the Judge for the Sheep classes with Mr Willie Dunlop, Elmscleugh, Dunbar placing the 2 new classes in the Sheep section this year – Single Blackface Ewe Lamb and Single Scotch Mule Ewe Lamb. We hope these classes will appeal to exhibitors and spectators alike.

Please also take a trip through to the Cattle penning area where the Breed Stands will be along with the Stockjudging.

Crooks

The Main Foyer will be a hive of activity with all the following taking place: In the Baking & Crafts section Mrs Anne Kirkland and Mrs Margaret Russell will get their taste buds tested with all the baking entries when they undertake their judging roll. With kids classes aswell, we hope to see a good number of entries.

The Crooks section was well supported last year and we hope that will continue as they are really lovely to see with all their intricate details. Mr Hamish McDonald will be the one studying all the hard work and placing these Crooks.

The Potatoes, Hay, Grass Silage & Grain will be placed on the balcony of the Foyer with Mr John Paul deciding on the results.

These sections all justify a look as like the Cattle and Sheep sections there is an enormous amount of work put in to all exhibits.

With Christmas just around the corner we are holding a small Christmas/Craft Fayre. Just think, this will save you men a trip to the shops for the Wife’s Christmas Present. With a small selection of stand holders we hope this will develop for future years.

We are greatly indebted to all our Sponsors, Trade Stands, Exhibitors and Supporters for your encouragement once again for this years LiveScot. We really couldn’t run the show without you.

Our offerings, Cattle and Sheep Classes, Haltered and Unhaltered, Stockjudging – YFC and Open, Young Handlers, Silage, Potatoes, Grain Classes, Crook, Handicrafts, Baking, and Trade Stands – With £5 entry and under 16’s free with free parking this should make an enjoyable day for the whole Family!

Our Exhibitors year in year out support is greatly appreciated, and we hope you will enjoy the show and set up again this year.

Our Buyers, whether it be Butchers, Meat Wholesalers or fellow farmers – we thank you in advance as we hope to see you at LiveScot.

Over the next weeks all the final preparations will take place to hopefully make this an educational, fun and social day out. Make the most out of your day and see everything our fantastic event has to offer.

The Trustees of the Scottish National Fat Stock Club look forward to welcoming you on the 28th November.

Contact: Margaret Gray (07939 523575) - Secretary@ fatstockclub.co.uk

Young handler

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DROVERS TALES

I could write about the final shows of this season and the success or not but that would be boring. I could write about the difficulties and trials of this years’ silage making but that would be boring also.

There is only one really story since last time and that has been the fact that I had to let young Tom go!

Tom came into our lives about 18 months ago when Jock who helped me out said he was off to do something different. My daughter told me about Tom; he is a good friend of hers and she suggested him as a suitable replacement for Jock. It was a bit odd lad from the town with no agricultural experience and he wanted to come and work on a hill farm. I didn’t think there

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Good Bye Mr Tom

By Ken Headspeath Highland Drovers & Borland Farm was much chance that he would stick the job. However I was proven wrong, he excelled in all aspects of hill farming and was particularly keen on sheep which was

just fantastic. There has been many funny and not so funny things that happened through his time, such as crashing the Land Rover through a dyke and writing it off, managing to break 3 windows in the tractor in the same week, with the most dramatic being when one of the pallet fork tines fell off and came through the front window narrowly missing him. But despite this and many other incidents he was brilliant to work with. He was funny, had a very quiet and canny way around stock and he genuinely enjoyed hill farming and the lifestyle that goes with it. Things were all going well and he had said he would like to spend his entire career with us and we started investing in him by putting him through his trailer training and driving test, signing him up for a chainsaw course and as he had a particular interest in Zwartble sheep we sourced a small foundation flock and were just about to buy him 3 ewes of his own for his 18th birthday. Then something happened that I still find utterly amazing.

His parents installed a wood burning boiler and he asked if he could collect fallen wood from the rented farm

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Balvarran. The land lord was happy to allow him to take as much as he wanted and there are hundreds of tonnes on the estate.

The game keeper stopped me one day shortly before I was heading off for a couple of days racing my bike round Croft circuit. He asked me if I knew what had happened to the Ash tree in one of the fields. I didn’t know anything about it but once he said it had been cut down I couldn’t help my thoughts immediately turning to Tom and my stomach began churning.

Tom was having a day off and as I was just about to leave and as there was nothing I could do at that point, I headed off. While racing I found my mind drifting to the tree and actually thinking that it could not possibly be true, was it just a realistic dream!?

When I got home and finally met up with Tom he admitted that he had cut this tree down and had started stock piling wood to sell.

Asked why he had cut it down when I had told him he was not allowed to cut any wood without my agreement he said I didn’t think anyone would mind! This tree was planted in the 1930’s by my boss’s father. It was in the middle of a row of park trees covering 2 fields. The game keeper used the line of trees to flight ducks and pheasants over at height while hiding the guns from their view. He thinks now that the birds will go to the left or right of the guns and the drive could be ruined and valued that drive at £20,000!

I have gone through a mixed bunch of emotions over this but in the end there could only be the one outcome from the moment the saw touched the tree. I am now looking for someone else to help, how boring!

dairy Cost Effective Investment Future Proofs Family Dairy Farm Business A case study on D W Crichton and Sons. Burnside of Baltersan Dumfries Dairy farming has been part the Crichton’s family life at Burnside since 1950 when Andy’s father purchased the farm milking around 55 cows.

Andy Started milking cows in 1976 and since then with support from son Ritchie and wife Lesley the family farm has developed into a modern milking facility. The farm installed an Alfa Laval 10/10 low level jar plant in the mid 1970’s which was upgraded with ACR’s in 1993 and extended it to 14/14.

Choosing a New Parlour After over 36 years the old jar plant needed replacing. The plant had done well but the speed of milking was slow and there was no herd management system which the modern dairy farmer needs to optimise milk production and provide good cow health and welfare, and also to improve productivity and profit. Initially Andy sourced a second hand 5 year old16/36 Delaval swing over but the price to take out and reinstall

was still relatively high. At this time Andy’s milking engineers James Anderson of David Birch Ltd. suggested that they look at the price for a brand new BouMatic system.

Andy and Ritchie were taken to see two BouMatic Xpressway Rapid Exit Swing Over systems and liked what he saw. The BouMatic equipment had obvious quality benefits and unique features including gentle milking, good udder health, long life and robustness as well as state of art electronics. When it came to price the new parlour installed was no more expensive than the second hand DeLaval parlour they had originally looked at.

“With a tight budget we managed to achieve the installation of a high quality new milking facility which will allow us to expand our herd size to well over 150 cows in the future.”

New Parlour Features The new parlour does not have feeding which was quite a difference compared to the old system where cows were fed as they milked. BouMatic provided a new parlour including electronic milk meters, Flo-Star Max claws, plant washer, cluster flush and variable speedvacuumpumps.

The system can easily be upgraded in the future to provide automatic segregation and to collect extra cow data to help improve herd management by using electronic identification tags on each animal. The rapid

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exit system unique to BouMatic offered quicker cow turnaround and faster milking.

Number of Friesian cows = 120. Milking cows = 100.

Average yield = 8500 litres per cow. Farm Size 280 acres Partners – Andy, Lesley and Ritchie Crichton Tight Budget Requirements As a family run farm Andy had a decent but tight budget of to buy the milking system and carry out some extensive new building work (new parlour building, extended collecting yard and modifications to the barn). This meant that much of the building work would be done in house.

Only the installation of the new milking parlour and some specialist building, plumbing and electrical was contracted out.

The new BouMatic parlour was installed in front of the old parlour which kept it central to the rest of the Dairy infrastructure. The installation was relatively stress free thanks to Engineers from ElectroMech Agri and the local dealer David Birch Milking Engineers who ensured that schedules were kept and the quality was high.

When the first milking was carried out Andy and Ritchie were supported by four engineers from both ElectroMech (Main BouMatic d Dealership) and David Birch.

Milking went well and within a week the system and the cows were in tune with each other.

Milking has remained a pleasure ever since.

dairy Has the New Parlour met Expectations?

The parlour has been running now for over 4 months both Andy and Ritchie have been very happy with the performance of the new system and the effect it has made on the management of the farm.

• Milking times for 100 cows has been reduced from two hours to one hour so a saving of two hours per day. Both Andy and Ritchie milk the cows so this has given them more time to manage the farm.

• Cows no longer feed in the parlour and this has certainly helped cow flow during milking.

This encourages more contentment during milking as they are not competing with each other for feed in the parlour. The cows are normally found waiting to be milked in the collecting yard at milking times and once milked they move quickly from the parlour to the feed fence.

• The BouMatic milking system makes sure that the cows are milked gently, completely and quickly without compromising udder or cow health.

• Average bactoscans and cell counts are well within the norm.

• Mastitis, although never a serious problem has reduced and now only one case in the past few months and that to newly calved heifer.

• The cows themselves are happy and even the most

indifferent heifer takes to the milking system without fuss.

• Although only 100 cows are milked today once the milk price and profitability of the farm increases then the system can easily be expanded to cope with between 150 and 200 milking animals without the needed for any major further investment. “Making a family dairy farm into a profitable business not only needs hard work but also needs innovative and modern ideas for success.”

Future Plans The farm intends to increase the number of milking cows as soon as it is financially viable. The system will have an automatic backing gate once cow numbers increase.

The cows will be fitted with electronic collars and the farm will invest in even more herd management tools including automatic segregation. Again all these tools are relatively cheap and compatible with the new BouMatic system.

D W Crichton Ltd. have made a very cost effective investment in the future and are in a position, when milk price improves, to maximise productivity without much further expense on equipment.

Andy and his family team set out to improve farm productivity with a new milking facility but they had a tight budget. Because they were able to do much of the ground work etc. themselves they were able to deliver a high quality BouMatic milking system and dairy facility that will future proof the family business for the next 35 years at least.

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Flying the Scottish Dairy brand

By Richard Lochhead Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment “The Scottish dairy sector is facing a volatile global market recently and I have urged all big coffee chains across the country to get behind our dairy farmers by committing to sourcing Scottish milk – but there’s more to be done. I want to see our delicious Scottish dairy produce savoured not just at home, but also internationally.

It frustrates me that so many overseas buyers aren’t aware of our high quality dairy produce such as butter and cheese.

That’s why I’m so pleased that the Scottish Dairy Brand has officially launched to the international market. I’m feeling confident that the response we received at the Anuga food and drink trade show last month will soon lead to a great appreciation of Scottish dairy produce in buyers and consumers overseas. It has put the spotlight firmly on our offerings and will allow buyers and consumers to easily spot and purchase Scottish produce.

I was there when the First Minister unveiled the marque at the Royal Highland Show earlier this year and it was great to see it all come to fruition in Cologne.

The brand,and its marque, have been developed by the industry itself to raise the profile of Scottish dairy

produce, add value to milk and take advantage of the increasing international demand for products with a strong Scottish provenance.

The dairy sector is vitally important to Scotland and the Scottish Government is doing everything it can to help the industry find new opportunities – that includes introducing overseas customers to the huge range and quality of what we make, and providing excellent potential for further export growth. The sector can benefit from the growing global appetite for premium Scottish produce with unrivalled provenance, thereby adding significant and muchneeded value to Scottish milk production.

We already supply some of the world’s most sought-after produce – such as our exceptional Scotch Beef and Lamb – to high-end retailers and restaurants across the globe, and with increasing consumer interest in Scottish produce, this is a great time to be launching the new Scottish dairy brand to international buyers, retailers and chefs.

Our farmers work hard to produce the magnificent products we are fortunate enough to have and they deserve the plaudits and recognition that I am confident the Scottish Dairy Brand will bring.”

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dairy Two new alkalising technology options from FiveF Dairy farmers can now boost their use of cost effective homegrown cereals in cow diets by as much as 40% thanks to the launch of two new alkalising feed options from FiveF Alka Limited.

Speaking to farmers at UK Dairy Day in September FiveF Alka Limited director and nutritionist Malcolm Graham said the company was now able to offer every dairy farmer in the country a bespoke alkalised feed solution guaranteed to help them make the most of what they can grow on their own farm.

“Farm users of our alkalising technology are now feeding 2040% more of their home-grown feed materials, cutting feed

costs whilst also increasing milk output and improving longerterm profit factors such as cow energy status and fertility,” he claimed.

Mr Graham said that the availability of rumination monitoring technology associated with robotic milking systems – and the use of pH boluses to measure rumen stability over time – has allowed FiveF to develop new systems to make diet alkalisation as straightforward as possible.

“Data produced from monitoring rumen pH effectively has given us the confidence to greatly increase the starch and energy concentration of lactating cow rations without the risk of

acidosis. We’ve also been able to experiment with a number of different ration alkalisation

approaches, which means we now have a solution for every dairy farmer.”

Dumfriesshire farmer wins OMSCo award Ross Paton, who farms 350 hectares in partnership with his sister, Lee, at Tor Aucheincairn, Castle Douglas, near Dumfries, has won the OMSCo Chairman’s Award for outstanding membership contribution.

Ross is the current chairman of the Scottish Organic Milk Producers and has served as chairman to Caledonian Organics and the Auchencairn Initiative (2007 – 2013). He is

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also an OMSCo board member.

The combination of this, gives Ross invaluable knowledge and experience in the organic dairy industry.

“This award is in recognition of Ross’ peerless work in co-ordinating SOMPA (Scottish Organic Milk Producers Association),” explains Nicholas Saphir, OMSCo executive chairman. “Ross is a strong advocate of OMSCo values, and

works hard to drive them out across the membership.

“He is a true inspiration to all dairy farmers; a firm believer in the benefit of shared values and cooperation. He sees opportunities in teamwork, and is a true asset to the OMSCo board, giving us practical and commercial input, together with a wider outlook of future approaches for organic dairying.

“He’s passionate about organic dairying, always looking to gain

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knowledge and insight into new ways to improve the industry,” adds Nicholas. “His enthusiasm is felt across the membership and I am thrilled to award Ross with the recognition he deserves.”

Ross has been fully organic since 2001 and the farm consists of a 180 cow dairy herd, 50 hectares of cereals and up to 100 beef cattle. There is also 50 hectares of woodland which is sensitively managed for timber and leisure.

dairy Professional service from the Scottish Dairy Hub As the Scottish dairy industry currently finds itself in challenging times, Stuart Martin and his team at the Scottish Dairy Hub are here to provide professional advice and guidance to those producers who require it.

The Hub is a free, farmer information service which offers Scotland’s dairy farmers and service providers a one stop shop for information on any subject or requirement.

It is essentially a signposting service connecting the dairy sector throughout Scotland.

The Hubs working model is very simple, get in touch with any dairy related topic and they will help you get the answer. Not only should this free up farmers time, but it will make direct connections to the various companies that will add value on farm. For all the service providers feeding into the industry, the Hub can remove the marketing “scatter gun” approach and pin point them to farm business’s that seek their specific services.

The organisation has gathered fantastic momentum recently, the questions coming into the Hub have increased by over 80%. In the last month alone the Hub has dealt with questions around nutrition, feed, calf housing, staff training, and on farm processing. The most encouraging aspect to date is that farmers are reporting back that the Hub has made a tangible difference on farm with the advice it has made available.

In addition to the “one to one” helpline service the Hub offers, it is also working in a proactive manner to look at projects on a longer term basis.

At the current time in conjunction with Skills Development Scotland it is carrying out a review of the skills gaps in the Scottish dairy sector to identify the key training and development requirements. The outcomes from the review will allow the sector to source, initiate and coordinate appropriate

learning and development which will benefit all The Hub is a very accessible organisation and farmers can place

their questions via the website (www.scottishdairyhub.org.uk) or by email info@scottishdairyhub. org.uk.

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In addition they can be contacted by phone on Tel: 08454 755110 or Mob: 07500 766083 and by social media via twitter: @scotdairyhub.

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dairy On the cutting edge of intelligent and futuristic dairy industry solutions for 75 years Sealed Air’s Deosan® brand celebrates 75 years and is still innovating for the dairy industry today Deosan was at the side of British farmers in the war against bacteria when Churchill was urging people to “dig for Britain.”

Since then it has provided cutting edge solutions for dairy farmers and today, it has joined the digital era with a high-tech “brain” that manages farm hygiene, safety and efficiency.

Founded in 1940, Deosan aimed to set the gold standard in farm hygiene and introduced the first brand of sterilising fluid to the UK dairy market, replacing steam cleaning and ensuring clean milk and quality farm gate produce.

The company notched up a string of firsts as it went through a series of mergers and acquisitions – from the first ready-to-use iodine teat dip in the UK and the introduction of the first semiautomatic and automatic bulk tank washers, to the first nondisposable milk filter and the pioneering of udder washing and spraying with the first product specially designed as a spray.

Now, through the ownership and investment of Sealed Air, Deosan is introducing a range of solutions for 21st century agriculture as part of its ongoing commitment to support farmers in the production of quality milk.

the farmer be more in control of the operation.”

“This system gives clear investment returns to farms and ensures better quality milk with less residues or shelf-life problems. Export markets, new challenges and new standards are exerting growing influence and we have a clear role to play here,” Mr Kelly said.

At the centre of the range is Deosan Farm Intelligence, a software programme delivering farm advice that helps protect the livelihoods of dairy farmers by preventing disease and nipping problems in the bud. It provides a scientific, clinical and financial assessment of the bacterial threats in the daily milking process and quantifies the impact on the bottom line.

The programme analyses chemical inputs, current dairy herd health and milk quality status, identifying the losses and highlighting energy and water efficiency, producing a detailed proposal on how milk income can be increased and processes improved.

The system acts as the nerve centre for the deployment of a range of dairy hygiene products designed to combat the latest bacterial challenges faced by the modern farmer. It also recommends chemicals to help prolong the life of the moving parts in a modern milking parlour.

Rob Kelly, Global Agricultural Sector Leader, noted the increased importance of the range to Sealed Air’s complete farm-to-fork approach to hygiene. “As the impact of hygienic quality of farm produce becomes greater, farmers are looking to have better control of residues and a clearer, more direct route to maintain quality.

The new Deosan solutions help

About Sealed Air Sealed Air Corporation creates a world that feels, tastes and works better. In 2014, the Company generated revenue of approximately $7.8 billion by helping our customers achieve their sustainability goals in the face of today’s biggest social and environmental challenges. Our portfolio of widely recognized brands, including Cryovac® brand food packaging solutions, Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning and Diversey® cleaning and hygiene solutions, enables a safer and less wasteful food supply chain, protects valuable goods shipped around the world, and improves health through clean environments. Sealed Air has approximately 24,000 employees who serve customers in 175 countries. To learn more, visit www.sealedair.com

Experts outline future for dairy industry International dairy experts today outlined the future for the dairy industry.

Dairy UK Chairman Dr David Dobbin called on the industry to focus on growing added value sales to the domestic and export markets, as well as increasing the promotional activity of dairy products to the public.

Nearly 200 delegates from 20 dairy-producing countries attending the European Dairy 84

Association’s (EDA) Annual Congress were told that the prospects for the industry remain positive despite the global crisis this year.

Dr David Dobbin, Chairman of Dairy UK which is hosting the EDA Congress, said: “The fundamental cause of the adverse dairy markets of the last year was over-production with the growth in global milk production overtaking demand.

“However, our members are optimistic, not pessimistic, about their future. We are acutely aware of the challenges we need to overcome to succeed.

“We must develop an economically sustainable growth strategy, market led and focusing on growing in value not just volume.

“We need to build our competitiveness focusing on improving on product and process

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innovation and supply chain integrity. And we need to actively promote and educate emerging generations on the nutritional value of dairy products.

“While we look to Government and the EU Commission to help us create an environment where we can succeed, first and foremost we in the British dairy industry must take the lead and take control over our own destiny.”

dairy MOO Tests show nine in ten dairy herds in Scotland affected by gutworm The latest MOO Test figures from Merial Animal Health suggest that the productivity of nine in ten dairy herds in Scotland is compromised by high levels of gutworm5.

Merial Animal Health has been helping dairy farmers to assess the level of gutworm exposure in their herds since 2009 by supporting and promoting MOO Tests. This bulk milk test assesses the level of antibody to gutworm (Ostertagia ostertagi) in the sample and can determine if the herd’s gutworm exposure is low, medium or high.

At 94%, exposure to gutworm in Scotland is slightly above the UK average of 88%.

Data from five years of MOO Tests shows that whilst there was a steady reduction in

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the number of herds with a high exposure between 2009 and 2013 nationally, the figure rose in 2014. In 2009, 93% of herds tested high and by 2013 this had fallen to 71% but this rose to 88% last year5.

Whilst these figures show an overall reduction in exposure since 2009, levels of gutworm across the UK dairy herd are still very high. Those animals affected will suffer from the

negative impact of gutworm on productivity and fertility.

Between 2009 and 2014 35 MOO Tests were conducted across Scotland. During that time several areas of Scotland had significant numbers of herds with high gutworm exposure results. This included Wigtonshire (89%), Lanarkshire (100%), and Ayrshire (100%).

Sioned Timothy, veterinary adviser for Merial Animal

Health, said: “Gutworm can significantly reduce the productivity of the herd.

Although adult dairy cows develop immunity to gutworm that makes them resilient to outward clinical signs of infection, it does not prevent them from becoming infected with Ostertagia ostertagi. This parasite burden can reduce milk yield by as much as 2.6 litres per cow per day”.

Two Scottish farmers have won awards for best transition cow management Two Scottish dairy farmers have won awards in recognition of their good management of their cows through the transition period. The awards were based on the results of

monthly recordings of cow health and performance, taken using Premier Nutrition’s on-farm TMS service.

The TMS Award for best performance of cows through the transition period, as determined from the monthly on-farm results recorded by the TMS service, was split into two categories based on herd size.

Ayrshire farmer Craig Cochrane of Nether Craig Farm won the award for best performance in herds of under 250 cows. His nutritionist is Moira Davidson of Davidsons Animal Feeds. The excellent performance of Craig Cochrane’s herd through the transition period also earned him a further award: Winner of winners.

David Hyslop of Meinside Farm, Dumfries collected the award for best transition cow

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performance in larger herds.

Nutritional advice and support is provided by Jerry Trowbridge of LSFS. Premier Nutrition’s ruminant director Andrew Pine explains: ““The transition period is critical and sets the path for the rest of the cow’s life – her health, fertility and performance. Monitoring and managing transition is crucial not only for the cow herself, but for overall farm profitability, especially in such challenging times.

Premier Nutrition’s TMS Awards were presented at a dinner held the evening before the UK Dairy Day in Telford, hosted by Sky sports presenter Ed Chamberlin, with the awards presented by former England cricketer Phil Tufnell. The two celebrities provided an entertaining ‘question and answer’ session after the dinner.

sheep

Lambs to China

Ambitious enterprise benefits from new EID stick reader

Mamie Paterson, Upper Auchenlay, Dunblane With an estimated national flock of 130 million ewes, four times larger than the NZ flock, China is by far the world’s largest sheep producer. In recent years, the growing demand for lamb by the affluent Chinese middle class, pushed the price to well over £5 per kg and fuelled a rapid growth both in lamb production and lamb imports. The Chinese government has been encouraging smallscale lamb production, especially in the poorer northwest provinces, offering subsidies of up to £20 per head for the purchase of ewes and rams to establish flocks as a means of improving incomes. Despite this, it is predicted that growing demand for lamb in China will not be met by domestic supplies.

In 2012 China overtook France to become the world’s largest sheep meat importer, with NZ as its biggest supplier, mostly of frozen lamb. The vast potential market for high quality lamb products

offered by China has led to it becoming a beacon of hope for lamb marketing agencies which have been beating a path to its door.

However, the recent economic downturn and the slump in Chinese share prices hit the middle class hard, resulting in a falling demand for lamb, an over-supplied market and a price slump. The new Chinese converts to sheep production rapidly lost confidence after this first experience of the lamb price rollercoaster which is so familiar to UK producers, and responded by slaughtering their entire flocks, thereby adding to the surplus of sheep meat.

Clearly sheep production is not for the faint-hearted!

In the short-term, the prospects for lamb exports to China are less promising, but market analysts stand by their predictions of an expanding Chinese middle class adopting Western lifestyles and diets which will increase demand for lamb imports. Let’s hope they are right!

A lucky day was in store for Solihull farmer, Andrew Dickin, when he got the news he had won a Shearwell EID stick reader, and received the best price for his lambs at market so far this year all in one morning!

Andrew was automatically entered into NSA’s prize draw when he signed up to become a member of the organisation this year, making him the ninth recruitment campaign winner so far. Existing members can also qualify for the draw by recommending a friend or neighbour to join.

Andrew says: “The Shearwell EID Stick Reader

Moredun wins Innovation Award for Barbers Pole Worm Vaccine Moredun veterinary scientist Dr David Smith has received the inaugural Veterinary Record Innovation Award on behalf of the team who developed Barbervax®, a vaccine for the Barber`s Pole worm (Haemonchus contortus). The

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will be incredibly beneficial to my record keeping, which in my opinion is the worst part of the job. It’ll also help my back because I won’t have to bend down so much. I was helping a local farmer and existing NSA member scan some sheep when he recommended joining and how we both would stand a chance of winning a stick reader if I did. Bob Blanden, an NSA office holder, was scanning the sheep and they both suggested how interesting and informative the articles contained in the publications are, and this has certainly proved to be true.”

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award recognises innovation in the veterinary sphere.

The Barbers Pole worm is a globally important roundworm parasite of sheep and goats. It is a voracious bloodsucker causing anaemia which can readily become fatal. Barbervax is the

sheep first vaccine in the world for a worm parasite of sheep. It was registered for commercial use in Australia in 2014 where the worm has a major impact on the sheep industry. The vaccine was developed after many years of research at Moredun headed by Dr Smith.

Professor Julie Fitzpatrick, Moredun’s Scientific Director and Chief Executive, said “We are delighted to have received this award for Barbervax® in recognition of the innovative approach taken by the team in the successful development of this important vaccine.”

New Guide Highlights Versatility of Scotch Lamb

YOUNG SHEPHERD

What a year so far!

By James Rhys Baylis

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) is helping consumers understand the quality and versatility of Scotch Lamb PGI with the launch of a new guide.

A New Lamb Guide with recipes is a full-colour glossy publication which aims to inform consumers about what makes Scotch Lamb a cut above the rest both in production and taste.

The 127 page book is packed with delicious Scotch Lamb recipes and highlights why this exceptional red meat is guaranteed to come from

animals born and reared only on Scottish farms which are quality assured and make animal welfare a priority.

Suzie Carlaw, QMS Marketing Controller said: “One of the main aims of the new publication is to ensure that when consumers see the Scotch Lamb PGI label in supermarkets, butcher’s shops, or restaurants, they know why they can be confident that the meat they are buying is of the highest quality.”

For more information and recipe ideas visit www. scotchkitchen.com.

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As I was racking my brains for a good way to get my column started, it dawned on me that my very first column for Farming Scotland would coincide with the first anniversary of my move to Scotland.

It’s been a fantastic first year, living and farming here in Scotland, and I’ve learned and experienced so many new things since arriving North of the border that I wouldn’t have thought possible before making the move.

September was mostly spent racing to fill out all the various bits of paperwork and speaking to the relevant ‘powers that be’ in offices around the country to get myself registered to keep sheep before the Lleyn Society Sale at Carlisle on the 24th. I’d been interested in pedigree sheep breeding from the moment I began working with sheep, so I finally decided to invest some of my savings and get myself started in the world of pedigree sheep.

By the last week of September I’d managed to get all the paperwork sorted and the go ahead from the RPA and AHPA (the aforementioned ‘powers that be’), so I headed off to Borderway Mart in Carlisle with my Dad, who was up visiting for his birthday, for the Lleyn Society Sale.

I was looking for a small pen of gimmers to get me started, and while there was a huge selection of sheep to choose from, many of these were in larger pens which did limit my choice somewhat.

Luckily, I was able to come away with a nice pen of 5 ewes. These girls will go to Brightonhouse Designer, a Lleyn tup bought at Kelso Ram Sale, to help form the foundation of my flock.

Everything is now building towards late February, when the first of our commercial ewes should be due to lamb.

It’s going to be a long few months…

pigs Range of Global Challenges Weighing on Pig Prices Pig producers across Scotland and Europe are struggling to maintain margins, with a range of global factors affecting returns, according to Stuart Ashworth, Head of Economics Services with Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).

“The fallout from Russian restrictions on trade and the effects of African Swine Fever in Eastern Europe continue to weigh heavy on the market,” said Mr Ashworth.

European producer prices collapsed in late September last year and continued to slide until mid-January this year.

Since then there has been some modest recovery, aided by the availability of European Commision Private Storage Aid from March to midMay and finding alternative nonEU markets for pig meat.

“However, despite losing access to Russia and a decline in exports to Hong Kong of 40%, the European Union has found other markets and increased exports of pigmeat to markets outside the EU by 3.6% in the first six months of 2015. Growth has been achieved in trade with China, South Korea, Australia and the Ivory Coast.

However, competition from Brazil and a resurgent USA means that this trade is price sensitive” said Mr Ashworth.

Despite finding these alternative markets, a growth in EU pigmeat production of just over two percent in the first half of the year has left Europe well supplied with pigmeat.

“Consequently, the growth in exports outside the EU did little to increase producer prices and

currently the average producer price across Europe is around 10% lower than last year,” he stated.

According to the EC, the UK has fared slightly better than the average European producer, said Mr Ashworth, with a price fall of 6-7% in euro terms.

“In reality, though, Scottish producers are being squeezed harder than their European colleagues because in Sterling terms Scottish and UK producers are seeing prices around 15% lower than last year. With animal feed prices having fallen more slowly, profit margins in the sector have clearly come under pressure both in Scotland and across Europe.”

EC forecasts regarding short term future production across Europe suggest little respite for producers, production in the second half of 2015 is expected to be 1.5 to two percent higher than last year.

“Margin pressure will have contributed to a decline of six percent in the German and Polish sow herds recorded in June although other counties, particularly Spain, have seen some growth in sow numbers,” said Mr Ashworth.

Provisional June census figures from England show the breeding sow herd broadly unchanged on the year but indicate a decline in fattening pigs.

“Meanwhile, and in contrast to the number of fattening pigs reported in the census, UK

slaughter data shows an increase of almost five per cent in UK prime pig slaughterings over the past three months compared to last year. This has contributed to a slow slide in UK prices which have slipped around 1% since the start of August,” he observed.

The continued low producer prices across Europe have led the European Commission to consider, once again, opening private storage aid for pigmeat products where processors are

paid a contribution to storage costs for product they take off the market for a period of time.

In contrast to the scheme operating earlier this year, said Mr Ashworth, consideration is been given to storage aid being offered for some low value products, such as lard, for which the Russian market was particularly important.

By encouraging processors to store product, the hope is that producer prices will recover some lost ground.

ForFarmers and Trouw Nutrition are launching the new VIDA piglet feed concept ForFarmers has developed a new feed concept for piglets with Trouw Nutrition under the VIDA brand. The new brand range is aimed at piglets from day one through to the grower phase.

ForFarmers will be launching VIDA in the Netherlands, Germany, the UK and Belgium in early October. This will make it ForFarmers’ largest ever 90

international product launch so far.

Vida is the result of the first joint collaboration between two leading specialists ForFarmers and Trouw Nutrition, a daughter company of Nutreco,ForFarmers strategic partner. The new Vida brand is ‘powered by Milkiwean’ one of the best known piglet feed brands in the World. The

Milkiwean piglet feeding concept from Trouw Nutrition is underpinned by World class scientific research, product application and know how.

The unique collaboration between ForFarmers Nutrition Innovation Centre (NIC) and Trouw Nutrition’s dedicated R and D assets offers a level of innovative nutritional power not

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seen before.” The partnership’s knowledge of Raw Materials ,specific production facilities, and the combined scientific research facilities, together with ForFarmers strong customer relationships, specialist advice and local expertise makes Vida a unique and leading concept ,delivering a lifetime of ‘total piglet performance’.

4x4 CARS

4x4 cars A look at a few powerful ideas for your ‘car shopping’ around

New Isuzu D-max Fury special edition Having announced the new special edition D-Max Fury just last week, Isuzu UK has ensured it storms onto the market with the offer of highly competitive finance. The stunning Fury is available on contract hire from just £215 + VAT per month* when it went on sale in September.

Conceived specifically for the modern, yet budgetconscious buyer, the Fury offers a unique Magma Red metallic paint finish, bold 17-inch, fivespoke grey alloy wheels, dark grey metallic finish to the front grille – complete with a fiery red Isuzu logo at its centre – and

Cosmic Black door and tailgate handles. Gun metal grey heavyduty side steps complete the exterior look.

Buyers of the new D-Max Fury will benefit from more than just the purse-strings-friendly finance offer; Isuzu’s refined diesel engine returns a highly impressive fuel economy of 38.7 mpg (combined cycle), helping to keep running costs low. Inside, Fury features unique red stitching to key contact points such as the steering wheel and gear knob and dedicated Fury-emblazoned carpet mats.

Customers also have the option to upgrade the interior seat

upholstery to Limited Edition Black and Red Fury leather.

William Brown, General Manager at Isuzu UK, said: “Since it was announced earlier this month, the Fury has had a great reception from the dealers and prospective customers.

We want to ensure it appeals

Dynamic design and enhanced capability for land rover discovery sport Land Rover has further enhanced the visual appeal and capability of its latest premium, compact SUV with the launch of the Discovery Sport HSE Dynamic Lux at the 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show.

The Discovery Sport HSE Dynamic Lux features a number of exterior enhancements, including Narvik Black exterior details, body-coloured mouldings and door claddings and 20” Gloss Black wheels.

Combined with new interior colours and detailing, this new model creates a powerful and striking impression.

Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Design Director and Chief Creative Officer said:

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to the head as well as the heart and contract hire pricing from just £215 per month certainly helps it to stand out from its competitors.”

Like all new Isuzu models sold in the UK, the D-Max Fury will come with the company’s five-year, 125,000 mile warranty.

“The Discovery Sport Dynamic has been created to heighten the design appeal of the Discovery Sport. Gloss black is a key accent colour differentiator on the exterior, while the use of body coloured bumpers and door claddings emphasise its on-road, sporty presence. With the launch of the Discovery Sport HSE Dynamic Lux, we are offering our customers greater choice in the look and feel of their vehicle.”

The capability of the Discovery Sport is heightened by the introduction of All Terrain Progress Control (ATPC) for 2016. ATPC is an advanced system that enables drivers to set and maintain a steady speed in off-road conditions. Developed

by Land Rover’s industryleading all-terrain specialists, ATPC functions similarly to a cruise control system, operational between 1mph and 19mph. The system adapts the vehicle’s behaviour according to the terrain, allowing even novice users the control of an expert offroad driver.

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4x4 CARS

Volvo XC90 sets new standards Volvo Cars’ XC90 has been awarded the Top Safety Pick+ rating from the American Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The XC90 received a full score in all tests (crashworthiness and front crash prevention), excelling in both preventive and protective safety performance. The XC90 also scored top marks in recent Euro NCAP testing – further proof that XC90 is one of the safest cars on the roads today.

“The independent testing result from IIHS once again highlights the exceptional nature of the work we do at Volvo Cars in taking car safety to a new level.

Our combination of an ultra-highstrength steel safety cage with a patented front structure, advanced restraints and our standard auto braking system, City Safety, combine to deliver unparalleled performance,” said Cecilia Larsson, Director of Volvo Cars Safety Centre in Gothenburg.

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The IIHS crashworthiness category includes tests covering small overlap, moderate overlap, side, roof strength, head restraints and seats. Volvo achieved top scores in all of these tests and was deemed superior in front crash prevention thanks to the standard City Safety technology that is fitted in all new Volvo cars. The superior

rating for front crash protection makes the XC90 one of the first cars with standard equipment to receive a 2015 Top Safety Pick+ award.

“Volvo Cars is committed to its vision: by 2020 no one will be seriously injured or killed in a new Volvo car. Our work with solving real-life, real-world safety

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challenges is central to who we are at Volvo Cars. Recent research has shown how effective our auto braking technology is. We have achieved top scores in all independent safety testing that have been carried out. There is no question that the XC90 has set a new standard in car safety,” said Cecilia Larsson.

4x4 CARS

Mitsubishi’s new L200 pick-up has arrived Mitsubishi’s all-new L200 Series 5 pick-up has arrived at dealerships across Scotland

The all-new L200 Series 5 has already been named Best Pick-Up 2015 by judges at Auto Express – the UK’s top automobile weekly.

It has inherited the DNA of its predecessors and takes the pick-up concept even further.

The L200 Series 5 is an entirely new vehicle from the ground up, with significant improvements in 330 areas. The result is the ultimate vehicle for commercial duty, combined with SUV-like refinement in quality and dynamic performance. In all key areas the new L200 Series 5 is best-in-class.

These include fuel efficiency, performance, emissions and manoeuvrability plus combined carrying and towing. It is also the only pick-up that can be driven permanently in two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive on tarmac and off road.

The L200 Series 5 is more fuel-efficient than before, with a combined 42.9mpg, and returns the lowest CO2 figure in its class, emitting just 169g/ km. It has a turning radius of 5.9m and can carry and tow a combined 4.1 tonnes, outshining similar vehicles from other manufacturers.

Powered by the new 2.4-litre MIVEC turbo-diesel engine, it is available with 151 bhp or 178 bhp in a five-speed automatic or six-speed manual. And with its leather interior and clean dashboard layout, it’s even been likened to a premium, executive motor more than a pick-up truck.

The L200 is the biggestselling 4x4 pick-up in the UK. Mitsubishi has sold 130,000 here since its launch in 1987 – accounting for 20 per cent of the overall pick-up market – and 1.3 million worldwide.

The L200 range comes with a five-year warranty. They are also supplied with a 12-year anticorrosion perforation warranty and three-year pan-European breakdown cover plus home and accident insurance.

The all-new L200 Series 5 will go on sale in September.

Initially available in double cab, prices start from £19,749 for the 4Life, £20,749 for the Titan, £23,049 for the Warrior and £23,799 for the top-of-the-range Barbarian. The prices quoted are the commercial vehicle list prices. www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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4x4 CARS

Great Wall Steed gets update Two years after commencing volume vehicle sales in Britain with its value for money Steedpick-up, Great Wall Motors is launching the latest generation of the 4x4 double-cab onto the UK market, promising improved quality, a higher specification and even better value.

As before, the updated Steed blends style and practicality while retaining its position as the best value pick-up on the market.

One of China’s most successful car manufacturers and exporters, the company boasts impressive credentials in the production of pick-ups.

Great Wall has manufactured the bestselling pick-up in China every year since 1998 while globally the Brand has sold nearly one million vehicles.

Prices for the new Great Wall Steed start at just £14,998 (CVOTR) for the generouslyequipped Steed S model – the lowest price for any double-cab 4x4 pick-up in the UK – increasing to £16,998 for the top-of-the-range SE. Despite carrying a premium of only £1,000 over the old model, the 2015 Steed is packed with even more practical, standard features.

On sale from 1 October, the new Steed will be available through a carefully selected network of fifty dealers, many appointed in 2012 at the launch of the franchise in the UK. The dealers are mainly small, privately owned enterprises, hand-picked by Great Wall’s franchising team to reflect the brand’s values and philosophy and their ability to deliver the promised standards of customer service that will break new ground in the segment.

Typically Steed The vehicle retains its chunky looks, amplified by muscular wheel-arches and high ground clearance, but now with a slightly sleeker profile with the side indicators incorporated into the door mirrors instead of the front wing. The Steed is available in Titanium White and three metallic colours (optional 94

at extra cost) – Pearl Black, Sky Silver and Noble Grey. The Tracker special edition will be available in Titanium White and Noble Grey.

Inside the new Steed is where some of the more significant improvements are to be found.

Higher quality materials, such as that used on the seat facings and a sharper, more contemporary design of instrument cluster, creates a more comfortable and ergonomic feel to the cabin.

New technologies have been added to improve convenience and enhance the ownership experience, including a multifunction rear view mirror with automatic dimming and an outside temperature display. A tyre pressure monitoring system is also incorporated which will display the working pressure for each tyre.

Carrying capacity compares very well with established pick-up rivals as the cargo bed measures 1,380 mm x 1,460 mm x 480 mm (length, width, depth).

The Steed has a maximum payload of 1,050 kg and is now certified in the UK to tow 2.5 tonnes with a ‘braked’ trailer.

The increase in towing from 2.0 tonnes followed independent tests at the Millbrook Proving Ground in 2013 where it was put through stringent tests by an independent team of engineers and consultants, subsequently resulting in the Steed being fully validated by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).

The Steed’s capabilities as a durable and versatile loadlugger, both on- and off-road, is impressive. Under the galvanised steel skin lies a separate, rustproofed ladder-frame chassis, strengthened and braced by reinforced centre crossmembers, an impact-resistant rear beam and a reinforced cargo bed.

The Steed is fitted with an ‘on-demand’ part-time, fourwheel-drive system that delivers numerous customer benefits.

When slippery conditions are encountered on-road – or an allterrain capability is required off-road – the driver can select allwheel-drive simply by pressing a button on the dashboard, up to speeds of 12mph.

The advanced transmission system, manufactured for Great Wall by BorgWarner, is the dualrange type seen in other serious off-road vehicles. To further aid its usability, the Steed has selectable low-range ratio gears for when serious off-roading is encountered.

For 2015, the Steed is also equipped with rear disc brakes replacing the old drum units to increase stopping power and stability.

Engine The 2015 Steed uses the same free-spinning 2.0 Litre diesel as the previous model, now certified to comply with Euro 5 emission regulations. The water-cooled 1,996 cc power plant is fitted with a CAC (charge air cooled) intercooler system, state-of-the-

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art glow plug technology and a variable-geometry turbocharger (VGT). The variable geometry turbocharger features turbine blades that alter their pitch according to engine speed – to provide the Steed with high levels of pulling power throughout the rev range, and maximum torque from as low as 1,800 rpm.

With a long-stroke design for optimum torque generation, the Steed engine features an 83.1 mm bore and a 92.0 mm stroke, with a rigid block structure and direct injection fuel system to reduce noise and vibration while on the move. The Steed engine produces maximum power of 139PS at 4,000 rpm with maximum torque of 305Nm spread over a rev range of 1800 to 2,800 rpm.

Steed Equipment and ownership promise The Steed will come with a host of standard features typically offered only as high-cost options on competitor models, including 16-inch alloy wheels, daytime running lights, remote central locking, a Thatchamapproved Category 1 alarm, electric windows all round, airconditioning, heated front seats and for the 2015 model, the addition of a double-din Alpine CD/radio with USB/MP3 and Bluetooth connectivity and steering wheel mounted audio controls. An auto dimming rear view mirror is also now standard.

To make the Steed ownership proposition even more attractive, Great Wall Motor makes a highly-attractive, six-point promise to all its customers.

This comprehensive care package includes a six year / 125,000 mile mechanical warranty, a six-year antiperforation warranty, three-year paint warranty and three years of roadside recovery and assistance.

However, going over and above the industry expectations, it also includes inflation-proof fixedprice monthly service payments, and the policy of only invoicing for work previously agreed with the customer.

Beatha an eilean “Am fear a bhios fada aig an aiseag, gheibh e thairis uaireigin.”

(He who waits long at the ferry, will get across sometime.)

Sgrìobhadair Murchadh MacIllinnein Coimiseanair Croitearachd - Na h-Eileanan Siar Tha croitearachd agus na h-Eileanan Siar san fhuil agam.

Tha mo shinnsearan air a bhith nan croitearan anns an Sgarp, eilean beag suidhichte dheth costa an iar eilean na Hearadh, airson linntean. Ann an 1881, bha dà cheud duine air an eilean agus ann an 1971 ghluais an teaghlach mu dheireadh anns an Sgarp gu tìrmòr na Hearadh. Nam theaghlach fhìn, bha m’ uncail na phost agus na quartermaster coitcheann airson an eilein ach dh’fhàg e ann an 1969. Ghluais m’ athair coltach ri mòran eile a Ghlaschu an dèidh a’ Chogaidh Mhòir agus bha e ag obair air Abhainn Chluaidh. Thill mi dha na h-eileanan còmhla ri mo theaghlach ann am meadhan nan 80an.

Gu làithreach, tha mi nam Choimiseanair taghte airson na h-Eileanan Siar a’ frithealadh air Coimisean na Croitearachd, an riaghladair croitearachd. Tha mo phrìomh ùidh ann an croitearachd fhathast san Sgarp ged a tha mi a’ còmhnaidh le mo theaghlach ann am baile Aiginis far a bheil croit agam cuideachd. Tha an diofar ann an gnìomhachd croitearachd san dà chroit agam air a dhearbhadh, chan ann leis an astar rathaid eadar mo dhachaigh agus an Sgarp, ach leis an fharsaingeachd mara eadar an tìr as fhaisge ann an Hùisinis ann an ceann a tuath na Hearadh agus an Sgarp. Bidh àireamh bheag de chroitearan san Sgarp ag obair còmhla airson caoraich a ghluasad tarsainn na mara don Sgarp, ag ionaltradh thairis air mìosan an t-samhraidh. Tha an 96

caolas goirid seo de leth-mhìle fosgailte do shuailichean mòra a’ Chuain Shiair, a tha comasach air an eilean iomlan a shluigeadh leis.

Mar a thuirt aon nàbaidh uaireigin nuair a bha an t-aiseag duilich – “an ath stad New York!”

A dh’aindeoin gluasad ann an àireamh sluaigh, is e croitearachd agus gu h-àraid obair chaorach an snàithlean a tha a’ ceangal chroitearan Sgarpach an latha andiugh le an sinnsearan. Sna còig bliadhna fichead a dh’fhalbh, tha mi air crìonadh sònraichte fhaicinn anns an àireamh stuic a thathar a’ cumail. Tha mi a’ creidsinn gu bheil diofar adhbharan ann

airson sin, leithid aois chroitearan, an t-atharrachadh mòr a thaobh àireamhan dhaoine sna Hearadh leis an òigridh a’ fàgail airson cothroman cosnaidh air tìr-mòr.

Mar a bha ann am mòran sgìrean croitearachd eile, bha prìsean ìosal nan uan gu mu chòig bliadhna air ais a’ cur dhaoine dheth bho bhith a’ cumail stuic.

Tha crìonadh anns an àireamh de dhaoine le coin-chaorach air an trèanadh airson caoraich a thoirt a-steach às a’ mhòintich air a bhith na chnap-starra cuideachd.

O chionn fichead bliadhna, bha suas ri deichnear le sia coin no còrr airson trusadh agus sna

Getting boats ready for Scarp

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bliadhnaichean mu dheireadh tha seo air a lùghdachadh uaireannan gu ceathrar dhaoine agus dà chù, a tha a’ dèanamh an trusaidh nas duilghe agus nas fhaide.

Feumaidh trusaidhean a bhith ann co-dhiù còig tursan eadar a’ Mhàirt agus an Dàmhair. Ach, tha a bhith aig mullach Sròn Romul san Sgarp air latha fionnar soilleir a’ coimhead a-mach a Hiort agus dha na h-Eileanan Flannach, na dhuais dha-rìribh ann fhèin.

A dh’aindeoin nan nithean àicheil sin a tha air am mìneachadh, tha mi a’ creidsinn gu bheil mi air am-bliadhna air gearradh air ais fhaicinn anns na duilgheadasan a bh’ againn. Tha dithis chroitearan eile air tilleadh gu bhith an sàs gu gnìomhach, bha prìsean nan uan ged a bha iad na b’ isle na an-uiridh math gu leòr dhuinn, agus tha sgeama ùr taic nan othaisgean boireann aig Riaghaltas na h-Alba a’ coimhead gealltaineach aig an ìre seo, agus bheir e brosnachadh don ghinealach agamsa ath-thasgadh anns a’ bhun-structar agus gu deatamach leantainn air adhart coltach ri mòran eile tarsainn nan Sgìrean Croitearachd. Tha uachdaran an eilein air a bhith na stiùir làidir a thaobh inbheisteadh de £17M anns an taigh-staile ùr air an Tairbeart sna Hearadh, a’ cruthachadh suas ri fichead obair ùr àrd-ghnèitheil le tèarainteachd mu choinneamh an ama a tha romhainn. Mar sin, tha cùisean a’ dol am feabhas do na h-eileanan agus do chroitearachd san àm ri teachd.

The perfect gift for farmers, whisky lovers & collectors We are delighted to announce our very own Special Limited Edition Highland Malt Scotch Whisky.

Tuathanachas Alba (Gaelic: Farming Scotland)

16 year old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Specially selected for

Farming Scotland Magazine. £75.00* (P+P is included, UK only)

Only 76 bottles available.

Each bottle is individually hand numbered within in its own silk lined presentation box.

Hand numbered tasting notes are included to enhance your whisky experience.

*We are delighted to support the RSABI Charity.

We will donate £5 to the RSABI from every bottle sold.

TO ORDER YOUR LIMITED EDITION WHISKY ✂

1) Order by phone on 01738 639747.

(To reserve your order and arrange payment).

2) Or fill in the form below (enclosing your payment) Please send me

bottles of Tuathanachas Alba.

£ Payment enclosed. (UK ONLY)

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(Payable to Athole Design & Publishing Ltd)

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Send to: Farming Scotland Magazine, Tolastadh, 18 Corsie Drive, Perth, PH2 7BU

BOOK SERIALISATION

“‘Isolation Shepherd’ Iain Thomson was the last shepherd at Strathmore, at the top of Glen Strathfarrar, often held to be the most beautiful in Scotland, before the damming of Loch Monar in 1960.

Here, beginning an exclusive seven-part serialisation of his memoir ‘Isolation Shepherd’, he recalls a working life that was at once demanding and – at certain moments - idyllic.

The Strathmore ground was noted in the early stalking books as amongst the finest hill grazings in Scotland. In the 1870s it supported a surprising 3,000 sheep, together with about 50 cattle, as well as becoming a deer forest of considerable reputation. The sheep then were of a small unimproved Cheviot type. It was not the practice to sell lambs off the hill as we do today but rather to keep the wedder lambs and winter them on the low ground in eastern farming areas.

In spring the wedders returned to the glen where they would become a separate hirsel. Here they were kept until three, four or sometimes five years of age before they went to market. The quality and taste of the mutton produced under this system cannot be found today. It has a flavour superior to any meat I have eaten. The wedder stocks also produced a heavy and valuable wool clip.

Strathmore in my day ran two hirsels of sheep. The north side of the glen held a flock of 300 South Country Cheviots whilst across the river on the south side and along the extremely steep face of Meall Mhor carried a heft of 200 Cheviot Cross Blackface.

The latter were ewes originally of Cheviot stock which had been mated with a tup of the Blackface breed. Even under the less favourable ground conditions of a north-facing hill, these crosses, possibly due to their hybrid vigour, fared better. They were more prolific and milked a better lamb. From the Fifties onwards, 98

the South Country Cheviot breed found itself in declining popularity.

The market demand for a large carcase mitigated against these small, hardy sheep, although they subsequently became more important to the export market.

The 500 breeding ewes over which I held charge involved us in the gathering of two major hill areas.

The Strathmore north-side gathering involved around 12-15 miles of walking over high tops just short of 4,000 feet. Strathmore cottage itself was a little above 500 feet and the climbing undertaken put a lift in the step once you became hardened to it. To the south side of the main Strathmore glen the gather, being mostly on the one lengthy hillside of Meall Mhor, seemed more

straightforward and gave us less walking. It was nevertheless difficult and dangerous due to the steep and slippery nature of much of the ground. On this gather Iain MacKay was top man and followed the ridge and peaks using Roy, his old Skye collie. A large black and tan animal with a long head and powerful muscle, this rangy dog was a remnant of a useful collie type now almost vanished. Moving on a hill came naturally to him and Roy’s loping, seemingly unhurried stride actually covered the ground deceptively fast. He didn’t lie or creep about eyeing the sheep in the fashion of the modem Border collies of TV fame. Walking up steadily to his sheep, he would stand when required to stop, only lying down

The shepherd and family

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with reluctance and obvious disgust.

Roy was truly a dog of the high tops and the wide gatherings, and Iain clearing the ridges on a south side gather would make his veteran dog stand and voice ringing barks down the corries to hunt any top sheep away down to me as I worked the middle ground. This was a singularly difficult route, leading me along narrow ledges which, sweet with short natural fescue grasses, would tempt sheep into potentially dangerous positions.

The shepherd required both a head for heights and a sure foot which, as well as confidence in each movement, were essential safety factors. Gathering such ground the dogs had to be sternly checked from advancing rapidly towards sheep venturing precariously for a

BOOK SERIALISATION selected bite. Instead much noise or stone-throwing ploys proved safer, tactics designed to flush the sheep rather than drive them by force.

On odd occasions too much force without warning caused us to witness a sickening spectacle. The unfortunate sheep in sudden terror at spotting a dog dived unheedingly off the ledge, spinning over and over, falling perhaps 200 feet to bounce and thud, down to where the ground sloped out. A dramatic lesson for the shepherd warning him to step carefully and avoid such a result. To this day I still can hear in my mind the sickening wool-muffled thuds of a fatally falling sheep.

Sometimes, particularly Cheviots, if startled by a dog, galloped wildly down a steepish hillside. Whilst their front legs managed to hold a stride they lost control of the hind legs which hideously stretched out behind like the handles of a wheelbarrow.

The crazed sheep would not stop and might reach the bottom in this condition, their backs broken.

Recovery was impossible and out of kindness on the rare occasion it happened, I killed with a blow to the head from a handy stone.

Happily gruesome incidents of this nature seldom occurred and a smoothly moving gather on the south side of Strathmore filled a day with many pleasures. It combined the satisfaction of using one’s skill in dog handling with personal strength and sureness of movement. Sandy, the shepherd from the home estate, refused other than the lowest routes but using his good dogs rattled the gathering bulk along the glen bottom as we turned each lot down to him.

Though the best of shepherds, he admitted to having no head for heights or airy ridgewalks.

One south-side gathering I remember, Iain resorted to his usual trick (a practice frowned upon by the hillwalking and climbing fraternity) of rolling large boulders from the ridge in an attempt to frighten sheep holding refuge from our efforts on an impregnable ledge. Sandy, I could spot, two thousand feet below me, a minute figure strolling along on the easy lower ground, I dare say whistling

Author in the sheep fank of Strathmore

a carefree tune, for it happened to be a sunny heart-lifting day.

At a shout from Iain I guessed imminent danger. Only seconds elapsed, my forewarning materialised as a large spinning boulder crashed past just a hundred yards ahead of me. ‘Sho ho below,’ I bellowed to Sandy. The seconds it took for my call to reach the blythe shepherd proved almost fatal, for the whining missile hurtled towards him.

He stopped. I saw him look up.

Instantly he dived for the safety of a large stone which by good fortune lay at hand. From my nowcomplacent vantage poor Sandy looked for all the world like a tiny terrified spider scuttling for its corner. The boulder crashed past his shelter stone creating a mighty splash as it plummeted into the river.

Minutes passed. I focused my glass on his refuge. A face peered around the side, followed by Sandy who stood waving and screaming up at us. His exact words I will leave to your imagination.

The critical point at any hill gather focused invariably on the tactics adopted by the shepherds on reaching the shoulder of some of the large hills. If the hurrying sheep managed to gain a curving shoulder unchecked they made smartly round it and then away like the mischief into extensive hidden ground always safely out of sight. Hours later the truants could be spotted sneaking back to their own bit of hill when the gather was well past.

To prevent such a disaster, Iain MacKay,from the top of Meall Mhor on a south-side gather,

would gauge the progress of men and oncoming sheep. At a crucial moment he sped down the ridge, stick waving, glass bumping on his back to hold the sheep on the east end of Meall Mhor in a scoopedout basin known as Corrie Dun Beac. Here the thwarted sheep, held by a panting MacKay, gathered together milling and bleating as if discussing where the next escape route lay.

Closing on them, Iain and I commenced the drive down to the lower slopes where Sandy would have the bottom sheep rambling along calling for lambs and generally protesting. The process seen from a distance must have resembled lots of little snowballs rolling together as trickling lines of sheep, starting from the west, grew together in number until we joined them into one white, undulating mass on the eastern ridges.

Having pushed the bulk of the sheep together and down to the lower slopes of Meall Mhor we forded them across the Strathmore river in order to reach the path for the long drive down to the fanks. This forced swim often necessitated some force by dog and shepherd. A small cut, literally caught and thrown into the current made a dive for the other side, and the remainder grudgingly followed.

Already wet or hot, we thought little of plunging across after the sheep and in all the years of wading or wettings I didn’t suspect it to be the cause of any cold or complaint nevertheless it was obviously best to keep on the move. The bulked gathering we pushed down the

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pony path to the home fanks at Strathmore.

This final stage on a hot day found the odd sheep tiring.

Some in poor condition decided to flop down with head and neck stretched out, refusing to move further. All manner of tricks were tried to goad them along and if all else failed we tipped a handful of water into their ears. Occasionally the torture succeeded but once a sheep lay down it really intended to become a problem. Apparently breathing their last, they prostrated themselves at the side of the path.

Left for dead, a glance back after a hundred yards often revealed the corpse bolting back for the heights.

Fortunately this cunning practice did not spread through the flock which must indicate the limitations of their vocabulary.

We forced along the active sheep, and from a considerable distance their bleating progress was loud enough to warn Betty of the approach of men ready for a hearty meal. Lambs darted this way and that having lost their mothers in the birly tangle, the dogs dashed from side to side to turn in breakaways and press the white undulating column homewards.

Finally, with ewes and lambs secured in the pens and limping dogs stretched tired at the door we trooped into the stone-floored kitchen ravenous for the awaiting meal. In Highland custom our table accommodated anybody who came by at a meal time. Soup and venison stew could never taste better than after a long day sustained only by a cheese and oatcake piece.

If the night kept fine we would arrange to go down to the loch later that evening for an hour or two at the trout fishing. For us only daylight counted; time ran the outside world. We’d pull leisurely across to the mouth of the Strathmore river and if the fish were taking then a happy night’s casting and yarning was ours until we could no longer see the flies.

(To be continued in our next edition).

Isolation Shepherd by Iain R Thomson is published by Birlinn, price £8.99 99

estate Improve your Game shooting

By Linda Mellor The Scottish shooting season started on 12th August. It is amazing how fast the shooting season comes around and before you know it you are looking in your diary at your first shoot day or a number of shooting dates spread across the sporting calendar.

If you are unprepared it may take you, at best, a few drives to settle in or, at worse, the entire day could turn out to be an embarrassing and expensive write off. If you have not seen your gun since you last used it during the previous season you can improve your shooting with some practice and preparation.

As with many other sports, it is not uncommon to engage the services of a dedicated professional to assist you with your technique and improve the overall standard of your game.

However, some shooters appear to subscribe to the eternal hope they will shoot like a legend without any work or professional advice. Shooting requires a

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strong base to shoot well and with game shooting there is an infinite variety available with walked up, driven, rough and different gamebirds such pheasant, duck, grouse and partridge. To match the variety of birds you have also have to have a number of different styles of shooting up your sleeve.

In excess of 65% of shooters have never had their gun fitted correctly and to shoot accurately your gun has to fit you properly.

Most people buy a new or used gun and expect it to fit them.

We are all different shapes and sizes, most off the shelf guns are a standard fit or, if second-hand, they may have been customised to fit their previous owner. You would have to be very lucky to pick up any gun and find it is the perfect fit. The same goes for inherited guns, it may look great and is steeped in family history going back generations but each time you shoot with it you are unable to hit anything. Perhaps you own a gun designed for a

right handed shooter and you are left handed so the odds will be instantly stacked against you before you get out to the peg.

Gun fit is the first thing a coach will look at.

Iain MacGregor has been a shotgun instructor since 1981; he is the only ISSF (International Shooting Sport Federation) A class coach in Britain and is the Scottish team Commonwealth games shotgun coach. Iain said, “The most common issue is a badly fitting gun. If the gun stock is too long it will not sit in your shoulder correctly and it is liable to hurt when you shoot.

The comb height may be low or too high so the shooter may lift their head to see what they are shooting, get whacked in the face, dip the barrels and miss the shot. To shoot well you need a gun to fit you correctly and once the gun is mounted you should be able to look down the barrel of the gun and see out.”

Three or four lessons can put an average game shot on the way

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to being a good shot. One of the best routes to improving your skill is to shoot clays as they give you the opportunity to work in a controlled environment and repeat a technique. Iain said, “Everyone can take steps to improve their shooting and there is also no age limit, each month I coach an 83 year old. You can not achieve everything in one lesson but if you get started now you are on your way to improving even during the shooting season.”

Multiple world champion clay shooter and instructor Ben Husthwaite says professional coaching is key to starting a sport correctly and the cornerstone of developing your shooting skills for game and clay targets. Ben said, “If you want to improve your shooting you have to have instruction otherwise you are probably practising and reinforcing bad habits. It is important you consider shooting lessons as a long term investment in your shooting, and the earlier you do this, the better.”

Steve Harmson has been a fulltime keeper for more than 25 years on the Findrack estate, he said, “Even expert game shots need a refresher. If you have a shoot day coming up you should take your gun to the local clay ground to get some practice. If people turn up to shoot on a game day and shoot badly it makes it a hard day for everyone.”

Shooting has always played at part in Steve’s life, when he met his wife, Carol, he organised a first date on a shoot. They still shoot together and are looking forward to celebrating their 30th anniversary later this year.

“If people are new to shooting, in addition to booking some lessons, they should come along to a driven game day to watch what happens. They can observe the birds being driven over the pegs and guns shooting so when it comes to their day to shoot there will be no surprises. If we

estate have any novice guns we always ensure they have a minder to shadow them. The minder will be an experienced shot who can give good shooting advice and keep them safe. It is important people get a lot of enjoyment from their shoot day with us and they also feel relaxed and reassured.”

Being at ease with your shotgun is fundamentally important to your performance. Steve continues, “Everyone’s shooting is improved if they are not uptight about it and understand what is expected of them. If a novice gun has a great day and has been helped then they will want to do more shooting.

It is also a good introduction if someone is thinking about taking up shooting. Bringing new people into the shooting is really important for the future of the sport.”

If you look along a line of pegs on a shoot day you can easily spot those familiar with their guns as they will handle it safely and when they come to shoot their movements will be minimal, relaxed and confident.

When people are anxious the first thing that goes is their peripheral vision. The blood goes to the major organs (the body’s fight or flight response) so the blood supply to your eyes is less and as a result you won’t have peripheral vision and you will fail to see some birds. Steve says, “We have family shoot days. We are all relaxed and our focus is on quality and not quantity. I shoot about 12 days a year and on the morning of each shoot I am still like a kid in a sweet shop!”

Dick Hardy is the shooting tenant of two Angus estates; he is a retired gunsmith and gun shop owner and has represented Great Britain and is a former Scottish Champion. Dick says, “On a game day you have to know your own capabilities. An experienced shot will select the best birds and take great pleasure in shooting them. He will also avoid clashing with neighbouring pegs.”

He continues, “As a keeper you don’t want to see good birds pricked by poor shooting or being shot from behind, you want to see a nice clean shot and the head going back on the bird. I have

heard people saying when they have watched a bird coming from a long way off they often miss it because they mount the gun too early and have too much time to think about it. A high bird is most vulnerable when it is stretched out directly above you; every sinew of its body is exposed. When I am out on a game day I always like to shoot all my pheasants at 11 or 1 o’clock. Practising on driven clays is a good way to get your eye in especially if they’re off a tower; it is the classic game shot, high and fast over your head.”

Dick recommends one of the first things you should consider doing on a game day is taking a look around you, see where your neighbours’ pegs are and identify what he calls your ‘zone’. “If you identify your zone you won’t clash with your neighbour and stray across shooting birds in his zone. If you see a great bird and it’s not in your zone, ignore it and give your neighbour a shout so he can shoot it. You also want to be ready to shoot by having easy access to cartridges. Ideally, keep them on your person as bending down to a cartridge bag on the ground could mean you are taking your eyes of the birds and could miss two or three great ones. I like to shoot with two cartridges in the fingers of my left hand.

This means I can shoot the lead bird with my first shot, reload and watch for more birds.”

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The season ends on 1st February so there is still time to brush up your shooting skills.

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estate Scottish honeybees thriving on managed heather moorland New measures come into force for rodenticide use next summer

By Hugo Straker, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust

Rat control has always been essential practice in the countryside, but after 1st June next year the rules change and land managers without appropriate ‘proof of competence’ certification wont be able to buy professional rodenticides.

Without certification, gamekeepers, shoot managers, pest control officers and local authority staff will be restricted to using ‘amateur-pack’ rodenticides, or traps, shooting or terriers, unless they have a qualification for the use of aluminium phosphide gas.

The change is designed foremost to reduce the risk of rodenticide poisoning of nontarget species, eg buzzards, kestrels, barn owls and red kites.

NFU Scotland, has negotiated a separate agreement. Membership of any farm assurance scheme with an audited programme of rodent pest management will permit that person to buy and use professional rodenticides until 31st December 2017.

Rats are a risk to health, food quality and livelihood and representative bodies for shooting, gamekeeping and wildlife management have combined with the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) and BASIS Registration Ltd to

offer a new course, Rat Control for Gamekeepers, including certification for continued buying and open rural use of professional rodenticides after 1st June 2016.

Organisations including the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) have held two training courses. and more are planned. Members of GWCT, SGA, BASC and SCA are entitled to a £50 discount on the fee.

All who may require rodenticide training should get qualified quickly and just 9 months remains to do this.

The GWCT course has been assembled by those directly involved and having this qualification will be an essential part of every gamekeeper’s skill set.

Candidates successfully completing the course can continue to use second generation anticoagulant rodenticides in open areas for enhancing biodiversity, conservation of ground nesting birds, food security and human health.

Certificates are awarded to candidates who pass the post-course exam so they can purchase second generation anticoagulant rodenticide bait.

For more information on courses contact GWCT on 01738 551511.

Bees and honey producers are thriving across parts of Scotland thanks to a helping hand from one of the nation’s most iconic birds – the red grouse.

Despite long held concerns over a decline in the number of bees across the country – not helped by this summer’s inclement weather – rural estates are reporting a proliferation in bees present on moorland as they access Scotland’s iconic heather, something welcomed by the Scottish Beekeepers Association.

Heather moorland is most prominent on grouse managed moorland, where heather is a central part of the red grouse’s diet. Around 75% of the world’s heather is in the UK, with the majority of that on moors in Scotland.

However, it’s not only the red grouse that makes use of the heather.

Across estates in Tayside and Angus Glens, beekeepers

are positioning their hives on estates – in partnership with estate owners and gamekeepers – to increase the production of heather honey, fast becoming a famed Scottish food product to rival the acclaimed manuka honey.And in the Lammermuir Hills, there is a buzz around many of the region’s sporting estates that have been hosting honeybees producing heather honey that is in international demand.

On two of the region’s estates – Hopes Estate and Mayshiel Estate – hives are placed every August and September. The honeybees access the heather, producing a unique type of honey that contains three sugars instead of the standard two.

At this time of year, the hives are moved from the estate in order for honey production to begin, which has already begun to hit shelves at home and abroad.

Rural communities back Grouse shooting as key to their future New report highlights support for the benefits moorland delivers Communities in key rural areas of Scotland have voiced strong support for grouse shooting which they believe

makes a major social and economic contribution to the lives of local people.

The importance of grouse shooting and moorland management in supporting fragile rural communities is

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estate OFF THE HOOK

By Francis Red

highlighted in a new report (attached) published today

by Scotland’s Rural College and the University of the Highlands and Islands’ Centre for Mountain Studies at Perth College.

The report examines community perceptions and the socio-economic impacts of grouse shooting and moorland management in Scotland. The findings are also supported by the release today of ‘The Untold Story: Driven Grouse Shooting’ – a feature film made by gamekeepers from the Angus Glens Moorland Group demonstrating the impact on local communities.

The report focused on two areas of Scotland - the Angus Glens and the Monadhliaths, 26 moorland estates were surveyed covering over 100,000 hectares of land and included 266 households and 18 businesses.

The majority of these businesses benefited from spending by the estates and visiting shooting parties were viewed as a consistent and reliable source of income.

High numbers of respondents in both areas, 70% in the Angus Glens and 53% in the Monadhliath, recognised community and personal benefits of grouse shooting in their local area.

Speaking at the launch of the report in Edinburgh recently, Fergus Ewing, Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism, said: “The Scottish Government is committed to maximising tourism growth and to supporting field sports. Scotland offers the complete package of sport, a warm welcome, good food & drink and unrivalled landscapes and shooting makes a valuable contribution to the rural economy, including in the winter months.

Scottish Land & Estates welcomes plans to simplify residential tenancies Scottish Land & Estates has welcomed plans to simplify residential tenancies in new legislation introduced today but warned that more needs to be done to maintain supply and attract new investment to the private rented sector in Scotland.

The comments were made in response to the Scottish Government’s introduction of

the Private Tenancy Bill earlier today.

The organisation said there were many positive elements to the Bill but that certain elements could impact on rural housing supply.

Katy Dickson, Policy Officer (Business & Property) at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “The simplification of the tenancy

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estate The laws on succession

By Jason Rust Legal Advisor to Scottish Land & Estates The laws on succession, while highly complex and technical, are not merely of academic interest but have significant practical implications, especially for farming families – both owners and tenants. Much work has been undertaken by the Scottish Law Commission in relation to reviewing the law on succession and the issue came to the fore with a Scottish Government consultation which we now await the results from.

The consultation focused on three main areas: intestacy (dying without a will), protection from disinheritance and cohabitants.

The proposals around protection from disinheritance amend the existing legal rights rules, which apply both on testacy and intestacy and currently allow for a claim by a spouse/civil partner on a specified share of the deceased’s moveable estate.

The consultation provides for a fixed share for a spouse/civil partner and has two proposals for claims by deceased’s children. One is that the children would share a fixed proportion of the deceased’s entire estate.

The other proposal is that only dependent children would be entitled to apply for a capital sum determined by their needs.

In the context of a family business, dependent upon land, the extension to the protection from

disinheritance to include heritable property would appear to adversely affect the smaller family farm and tenanted farming sector.

Anything which would lead to a number of children being able to claim shares of land and buildings is likely to have a significant impact on farm viability. Family farms are unlikely to be able to sustain the level of payment required to meet a legal share claim while remaining viable as a business and unable to support multiple-owners and the level of investment required. Where substantial additional borrowing is required to meet a claim, even if it is obtainable by the principal beneficiary, it could well prejudice future necessary investment by them in the farming business as well as imposing an additional, and potentially unsustainable, financial burden.

As with individuals, businesses require stability to be able to plan for the future and so the type of radical reform suggested could have a significant long-lasting impact. Smaller businesses will not have the resources for professional succession planning and will be hardest hit, with the risk of fragmentation of farms effecting profitability and viability and thereby having a ripple effect in rural communities. All of which goes against the Scottish Government objective of having a vibrant rural economy.

For more information www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk Telephone : 0131 653 5400 104

regime is something that we have long argued for and it is pleasing that the Scottish Government has made a concerted effort to address the need for reform.

“The introduction of a single notice to leave system, with

robust and reasonable grounds on which to end a tenancy, is to be welcomed, and increased notice periods will hopefully address many of the concerns regarding security and certainty raised during the consultation.

‘Once in a generation’ Perthshire estate on the market One of Scotland’s finest estates has arrived on the market

The 6,000-acre Kinnaird Estate, elevated above Strathtay near Dunkeld, is being jointly marketed by Bidwells and Knight Frank for £9.6million. The sought-after estate has, over the years, been visited by the great and the good of the country, all drawn to its beauty, the fantastic sport on offer and its accessibility.

It has only had seven owners in its fascinating history and is being sold by the daughters of American heiress Constance Ward who are executors to her estate.

Constance was married to the late Reginald Ward, son of Sir John and Lady Ward who bought Kinnaird in 1927 and used Kinnaird as a sporting estate and lodge, visiting Perthshire for the seasons for about 10 weeks of the year and their parties became legendary.

When Reginald passed away, Constance moved to Kinnaird

permanently, moving into Balmacneil House on the estate and opening Kinnaird House as a five-star hotel in 1990 which, for almost two decades, attracted an array of well-known faces.

Latterly being run as a luxury guest house, Kinnaird holds many happy memories for the sisters and they wish that the next owner will be able to make the most of it as they have done over the years.

The estate is centred on the very comfortable Kinnaird House, with its attractive gardens and wonderful mature policies that contain some of Scotland’s oldest and tallest trees. There are a total of 15 additional estate houses/ cottages from which a holiday lettings business is run, staff are accommodated and the remainder are let. The farming is in hand which provides the purchaser with a great deal

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estate

On the Peg

by Linda Mellor of scope to take this business forward in whichever way they choose. Both the diversity and quality of the sport is unrivalled. The estate offers the opportunity of a “MacNab” (a stag, a salmon and a brace of grouse on the same day). There is a world class pheasant and partridge shoot with signature drives and one of the finest beats of salmon fishings on Scotland’s premier salmon river.

Rebecca Boswell of Bidwells said: “The sale presents a very rare opportunity to buy one of the most sought after and accessible sporting

estates in Scotland. It is the complete package.

“Together with Knight Frank we are delighted to be offering this property for sale as it has great diversity with a range of land types, income streams, sporting and residential assets. It is difficult to imagine a more rounded estate in Scotland.”

Kinnaird Estate is being offered for sale as a whole or in six Lots. For more information, please contact the Joint Selling Agents, Ran Morgan at Knight Frank (tel 0131 222 9600) and Andrew Wood at Bidwells (tel 01738 630 666).

Forestry is a real growth market Scottish forestry has performed well over recent years and remains a tangible asset and method of wealth diversification.

As an investment, UK forestry has outperformed Equities and Gilts over the past 20 years and with global demand forecast to out-strip supply by 2030, future returns look promising.

Emerging interest in new markets such as windfarms, biomass and carbon trading have all increased interest and buoyed forest property market values and recent sales have often seen forestry property guide prices exceeded. Market forces have also prompted demand for commercial forest properties to considerably outstrip supply and the combined result is an increase

in competition for the available resources and the creation of a ‘scarcity value’ “Forestry is not affected by the stock market and is attractive to those who wish to have, or increase, their land based assets,” said Raymond Henderson, head of forestry with Bidwells, Perth.

“Of an estimated 3.1 million hectares of woodland in the UK, representing 13% of the total land area, 1.62 million hectares is conifer woodland, 1.07 million hectares of which is located in Scotland. Timber production from softwood plantations in Scotland is set to rise steadily over the next 15 years from current levels estimated at 8.3 million cubic metres per annum to over 12.4 million cubic metres between 2027 and 2031.

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It has been a very hard year for everyone working on the land. The Combines were still out in the fields throughout October in an effort to catchup before the winter months.

Cameron Storie is the gamekeeper on the 5, 000 acre Balbirnie estate in Fife, he runs more than 50 commercial shoot days throughout the season offering guns duck, partridge, pheasant, teal, widgeon, pigeon, mallard, snipe, woodcock and grouse days.

“It has been a hard rearing season,” said Cameron.

“You really have to be on the ball when the wet weather presents challenges and this year we have had more than our fair share. I think a lot of keepers will have been affected and so have some of the farmers, if you looked around the fields last month you would have seen the harvest was delayed. The weather can really knock things back; I think we are up to 3 weeks behind. We had a lot of cold temperatures early on and also during the time when we had our first lot of

birds through the rearing sheds.”

Prolonged cold, wet weather makes rearing birds very challenging as it creates a breeding ground for health issues and weakens the birds’ immune systems.

Cameron said, “The summer was cold and wet which meant Hexamita was a big problem. I don’t think I have ever had to spend this much on medicine to treat the birds.”

Further north conditions have been equally challenging for Mike Hardy, gamekeeper at Glen Clova, he said, “We have been trying to keep the birds from drowning, we had two pens flooded and the constant wet weather brought on gapes and caused some stress for the birds.”

Cameron started shooting at Balbirnie in September and remains hopeful, he said, “Despite everything, we have made a good start and we are keeping our fingers crossed the weather doesn’t present more challenges.”

horses Scottish BHS Members share Golden Anniversary in Germany From start to finish the BHS Scotland 50th Anniversary trip to Germany was the equestrian trip of a lifetime for the fortunate members that filled the thirty places available, the happy age group with an age range between 84-12, came from all over Scotland including Orkney, Lewis, and the Borders.

Over three days the group watched over 500 horses, and experienced first-hand how with state support, dedication, discipline and an immense pride in their native horses, the German equestrian industry has become one of the most vibrant, successful and admired worldwide.

The visit coincided with the 50th Westphalian EliteAuction, where the first day was spent with a guided tour of the outstanding facilities, and viewing the schooling of the current 3 and 4 year old crop of these famous Westphalian performance and breeding horses. The bloodlines from stallions such as Rubinstein, Pilot, Cornet Obolensky, Florestan and current superstar Damon Hill were all on view as testament to the quality and success of the Westphalian sport horse breeding programme. Show casing their young talent from these great

dynasties makes the Westphalian Elite and Special auctions such a thrilling event.

Scottish BHS members were impressed by the dressage and jumping stars of the future and at the subsequent auction the top horse was sold for Euro 140.000 Day two was spent at the Nordrhein-Westfalisches [NRW] State stud in Warendorf, which began with a comprehensive tour, and was followed by a spectacle that has to be on every horse lovers bucket list – the grandiose and unforgettable “Stallion Parade” or ‘Hengstparaden’.

The history of the 185 year old state stud combined with the

German Riding School, which joined the stud fifty years ago – the same year as BHS Scotland came into being- as the ‘Centre of professional Cavalry’ is awe inspiring. There were 160 stallions in residence, less in the breeding season, when they are farmed out to breeding stations; warm bloods, thoroughbreds and cold blooded or draft stallions – the latter are kept to preserve endangered species and provide heavies for forestry work. The three hour parade was a breath-taking spectacle of dressage, long reining, driving, music and beautiful moving horses.

On day three we were taken to visit the hallowed ground and equestrian yard of the late Dr Reiner Klimke, arguably the father of classical dressage in Germany. We were treated to a personal master class by his son Grand Prix rider Michael Klimke. A tour of the yard, followed by schooling a range of horses from four to ten years of age, offered us a privileged insight into Michael’s training methods.

After generous hospitality Michael discussed how long horses take to mature, what to look for in a horse, especially a good walk and canter and gymnastic approach, and how to train riders focusing on the importance of the seat with feel and balance.

BHS Scotland Director Helene Mauchlen said: “Words cannot do justice to this trip; from the moment we checked onto Group “Young” at Edinburgh airport until we arrived home we were looked after royally and treated to such an inspiring, enlightening and spectacular equestrian holiday.

We are all indebted to Loraine and Ronnie Young for masterminding such a great beginning to BHS Scotland’s 50th Anniversary celebration year.

With the treble themes of horse power, agricultural heritage and education, the fourth BHS Scotland working horse day took place in blazing Perthshire sunshine in early October with eighteen different rigs and over 200 members of the public attending.

The packed timetable covered field work; ploughing, carting, harrowing, horse logging, work for individual ponies including deer saddles for the Highlands and peat carrying creels for the Eriskay pony, showing, turnout and care.The most popular feature demonstration being hay making by heavy horses from Dave and Robert Nelson, Benny Duncan and Ross Kinnaird along with 106

all their helpers. They used hay mowers, turners, kickers and rakes put through their paces alongside a Tumblin Tam which brought hay to the hand made stack. The climax of the hay-making theme was the operation of a pike or ruck maker

by Bill Allan, who had brought it all the way from Silloth in Cumbria to use in conjunction with a green crop loader behind Benny Duncan’s pair of Clydesdales.

BHS Scotland was indebted to all our performers including; Robert Sibbald and team, Ruaridh Ormiston, Helena Macdonald, Maggie Macrae, Mary McGillivray, Janice Kirkpatrick, Jen Roy and Andrew Whitaker for bringing their amazing

(Courtesy of Jim Crichton)

Make hay while the sun shines!

working horses and ponies, their machines and their harness.

The legendary BHs Scotland

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tearoom did a roaring trade in the traditional Scottish fare of soup and stovies.

horses

EQUINE ANGLE

Saddles and super stars!

Scott Brash makes showjumping history

By Melanie Scott

With the British Team taking home Silver at the recent Europeans, Childéric Saddles, the bespoke saddle brand were thrilled that two of the team members Gemma Tattersall and Wills Oakden were riding in their saddles.

Gemma, who was placed individually in 9th position rode every phase in her bespoke Childéric Saddles and commenting on her experience of her first senior championships for Team GB said: “They are amazing saddles because of their versatility. In the dressage saddles, they put you in the perfect position, allowing you to sit perfectly.

In the jump saddles, they allow you to maintain your balance throughout the course and to ride in a cross-country saddle, which weighs literally the same as a race saddle, is just incredible. The freedom of movement which they give the horses is obvious when you ride in them and Spike’s (Arctic Soul) performance at the Europeans show cased just how good the horses go and feel in these saddles” Other ‘Team Childéric’ riders included Michael Ryan who finished within the top 15 placings & Austin O’Connor, both riding for Ireland.

Prices start from £3,600.00 www.childericsaddles.co.uk

Visit

FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE website www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com Farming News – Commodity Prices – Weather Outlook Agri Pages Online Directory – Magazine Archives And so much more… www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

SCOTLAND’S Scott Brash has made history by winning showjumping’s biggest individual prize of 1m euros (£735,000) by becoming the first rider to win the sport’s Rolex grand slam.

Scott (29) from Peebles had already made history with back-to-back grand prix successes in Geneva and Aachen and he added to those by claiming the Spruce Meadows Calgary grand prix in Canada with this number one horse Hello Sanctos.

Speaking afterwards Scott said: “Words can’t describe it. It is the best feeling I’ve ever had. I didn’t think it could be done. It means everything.”

To win the title Scott was the only competitor to ride the second round cleanly and inside the time limit as he claimed victory and the Rolex Grand Slam.

Brash has been ranked world number one since November 2013 and the rider – now based in West Sussex - won team gold at the London Olympics in 2012.

“What can I say about Sanctos, he is the horse of

a lifetime,” he added. “He was unbelievable in the second round and he tried his heart out.”

Having already won the Rolex Grand Prix at Geneva’s CHI indoor show in in December 2014, Scott claimed the Rolex Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen in May. “Winning one of the equestrian majors was an incredible achievement, to win two was a dream come true, but to go on and complete the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is beyond belief,” added Scott.

Rodrigo Pessoa and Eric Lamaze have won all three showjumping majors, but Scott is the first rider to do it consecutively. In doing so he pocketed a $1.1m bonus plus a cool $500,000 for winning the competition in Canada.

In winning this unique challenge, Scott has proven that he is the one of the finest riders of his generation.

His achievement will go down as one of the most remarkable in the history of the sport, and will be talked about for years to come.

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horses Equestrian Tried & Tested

By Melanie Scott

Toggi Carmel waistcoat What they say: A practical and flattering quilted waistcoat makes it the perfect for layering.

Colours: Fern or vanilla Sizes: 8-20 Price from: £70 .00.

Review: This is a stylish waistcoat and is ideal for layering throughout the season. Can be dressed up or down with ease. It combines fleece with a fitted quilted section to give a flattering, feminine look and has handy zip fasten pockets. The fabric has a durable water repellent finish to keep it looking good for longer.

For more information see www.toggi.com, email info@toggi.com

Tuffa Nordic anti-slip boots What they say: Tuffa’s Nordic thermal anti-slip boots are ideal for the coldest days on the yard and can also be ridden in.

Colours: black.

Sizes: 5-11 Price: £59.99.

Review: These boots have specially formulated rubber soles that can be ridden in and the company say they won’t harden or become slippery in temperatures down to -10 degrees – hopefully it won’t be that cold this winter!

They are easy to put on with three touch and close fastenings and a snug fit round the ankle. They are also breathable so your foot doesn’t sweat and has a waterproof footbed. I particularly like the reflective strip at the heel of each boot for increased viability. A good price, they are an ideal boot to see you through the winter.

For more information see www.tuffaboots.com

Mark Todd Snug Hoody What they say: A practical hoody that is perfect for keeping out the winter chills when you’re out and about.

Colour: coral Sizes: xsmall to xlarge Price: £39.99.

Review: This cosy top is made from a good quality thick fabric, it is ideal to layer during the winter. It has a wide necked drawstring hood, front kangaroo-style pocket and neat stitched Mark Todd embroidery.

I particularly liked the colour, it certainly helps brighten up any wardrobe. It’s extremely comfortable and washes well. Good value.

Visit www.wefi.co.uk for stockists

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horses McTimoney practitioner undertakes research into the benefits to equines of new towing technology McTimoney animal practitioner, Dr Emma Punt from Leicestershire has been working closely with Jaguar Land Rover on new technology to make equine transport safer and less stressful for both the horse and owner.

Jaguar Land Rover have developed a new system that makes a trailer or caravan appear see through when being towed. This camera, called the “Transparent trailer” removes the blind spot when towing.

Also included in this new technology is a system called “Cargo sense” which warns the driver if there is abnormal movement in the trailer whilst towing.

Emma has been invited to be the research lead for the British Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association (BARTA) research project on transportation.

The project will be supported by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC). The research project aims to find out more about the physiological and behavioural responses of horses to transportation. Emma will use her McTimoney skills to help assess this. She will also see how Jaguar Land Rover’s Cargo Sense technology could be used to indicate horse distress.

Emma said, “Whether it is to help prevent road accidents and injuries to horse and handler,

or even to simply ensure your horse arrives at its destination stress free, I’m sure every owner would like to learn how

For more information go to www.mctimoney-animal.org. uk, www.bartacic.org or www. emmapunt.com.

Winter first aid essential When it comes to keeping dressings clean and dry, Golly Galoshes are ingenious waterproof, breathable and versatile leg gaiters which dispel the need for additional protective bandaging and also help prevent the horse interfering with the dressing and help eliminate direct contact with bedding or droppings.

Originally designed for ridden exercise, Golly Galoshes have also rapidly found a home in many yard’s first aid kits, due to their clever design. Quick and easy to put on and take off, Golly Galoshes also help prevent mud or sand getting underneath your horses’ dressing, so they can also be used on horses during winter convalesce turn-out or exercise.

Golly Galoshes are also machine washable, again making them a hygienic and practical first aid essential and feature secure hook and loop fastenings, full length zip with protective fleece lapel for security and comfort.

Prices start from £25.99 per pair Miniature Pony through to £34.99 for horse sizing.www. gollygaloshes.com

Three easy steps to a great bed this winter!

As the nights start to draw in and the days get shorter, your time with your horse is not only limited but also precious, so anything which can save you time (And indeed money) will certainly give you a winter glow!

Verdo Horse Bedding, the heattreated 100% virgin soft wood pellet bedding isn’t just low in dust and easy to manage, but it also absorbs up to three times it’s own weight in liquid, cutting down time spent mucking out and muck heap trips. Setting up a fresh bed also takes just three

easy steps…lay out bags on the stable floor, slice open bags,add water and leave pellets to swell up, pour bags out onto stable floor and fork over. Once your bed is set up, maintaining it is quick and easy and requires very little effort and time, as the growing number of horse owners swapping to Verdo proves.

To find out more information and to view a demonstration video, please visit; www. verdohorsebedding.co.uk RRP: £5.65 - £5.95 per 15kg bag www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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futurefarmer Can You See the Future?

That is the question Scotland’s Rural College is asking the nation’s children in their new art competition. School children of all ages are being challenged to illustrate their vision of the future of farming, either through a drawing or painting, or a video clip.

The competition – ‘The Future of Farming’ – is being organised by the Farm Management Team at SRUC and they hope to get children excited about farming in the modern day, and find out how they see farming, and potentially the human diet, changing in the future.

The competition was launched yesterday at SRUC Oatridge where P4 children from St Anthony’s School, Armadale, were visiting the Campus farm to find out more about agriculture today. They

heard about beef production, how sheep farmers monitor their animals using electronic tags, farm machinery, and of course, the art competition.

Competition organiser, Dr Cath Milne, said: “This is an industry which is constantly evolving; farmers are using robotic technology such as drones, while scientists are studying advanced breeding techniques to help produce healthy animals which will increase yields of important products such as milk and beef.

But in some areas the traditional methods still hold fast, for example shepherding and sheep shearing has changed little over the years.

We are really excited to see what children envisage when they think about the future of farming.”

Primary school aged children can enter one drawing, painting

Thinking of taking on new staff?

If you want to employ someone on your

farm, then a Modern Apprentice could be just what your business needs.

or collage (no bigger than A3) while secondary school age children should enter a short video depicting and/or describing their vision of future farming. All schools in Scotland will be sent details of the competition, advising all entrants to let their imaginations

run wild and interpret the brief in anyway they see fit.

For more information on the Farm Management Team or the art competition please visit the website at www.sruc.ac.uk/artcompetition, or contact farmmanagement@ sruc.ac.uk.

SRUC Elmwood Campus Said “Bienvenue” to French Exchange Students

To find potential employees who want a career in farming, all you have to do is register for free with Lantra Scotland’s confidential MA Connections scheme, which is supported by NFU Scotland.

We’ll then aim to match you up with a suitable trainee and show you how Modern Apprenticeships can benefit your business.

Call Lantra now on

01738 646762

or visit www.lantra.co.uk/MA-Connections

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Visiting the Elmwood Campus of Scotland’s Rural College was a real highlight for over 50 French horticultural students as part of a two week study trip to Scotland.

The Elmwood Campus recently welcomed students from Ecole du Paysage, Grenoble in what has evolved over the last

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15 years to become an annual event. Students and staff from both organisations shared their knowledge and experiences in horticulture training and SRUC demonstrated and showcased their excellent campus facilities including the community allotment, the woodland path,

futurefarmer

and the Busy Bee nursery garden which won an RHS award in 2013.

The French group spent a day with SRUC, and also visited several other locations across the country.

Phil Watkin, Programme Manager for Horticulture said: “It was great to welcome the school back to Elmwood. Our visitors were very impressed by the various classes and courses we run, in particular those open to the local community which range from pre-school nursery children

right through the age groups to retirement.

Phil also commented: “The more exposure the full-time students have to different cultures and approaches within horticulture, the more their overall knowledge of the subject will grow. This will result in greatly enhanced employment prospects both at home and abroad”.

Find out more information on the range of horticulture courses available part time or full time at Elmwood Campus.

Come and join us

By Rebecca Dawes

Benjamin Griffiths wins Nick Bird Award

Benjamin Griffiths, final year BSc student at Harper Adams University (HAU) has won the third Nick Bird Award, for his project on how tyre pressures affect tractor performance in the field.

The award was presented when he graduated with an honours degree in Agriculture with Mechanisation.

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

The award — a perpetual trophy and a cheque for £500 — is

for an outstanding piece of written work that involves recorded observations of an agricultural process, data analysis and interpretation with demonstrable added value for farmers. It is open to final year students at HAU. “Although this does not relate directly to the pig industry, we liked the fact that there was a strong potential benefit to farmers in terms of fuel economy that could come from central tyre inflations,” commented Farmex director Hugh Crabtree who was a judge along with his colleague, Dr Sadie Douglas. “The practical data was well thought-out and there is a sound scientific basis for its wider adoption by manufacturers.”

The Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ Clubs recognised the importance of taking stock and has established a new development programme.

Jenny Baillie who has been with the association for the last three years as West Regional Event Manager will lead the project taking on the role of Development Manager.

The key objective is to launch or re-establish clubs in areas that do not currently benefit from the Young Farmers movement. In 2014 they successful established Skye YFC and re-launched Strathspey. Earlier this year Ardumunchan YFC and North Argyll followed. Four clubs in 18 months is quite some feet but the association is continuing to drive forward and is set to re-launch Arran YFC in the coming months.

Jenny’s focus will be across Argyll and the island initially. Social networking is crucial for bringing isolated individuals together and in many cases forging friendships which will last a lifetime. With excellent work from charities like RSABI, support is being provided for the well-being of elder members of farming families and it’s important that SAYFC continue to ease the pressures of today’s youth working at home.

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Young Farmers’ clubs or junior agricultural clubs occasionally forget that they are charities themselves because they compete, socialise and travel. When caught up in the midst of YF festivities it becomes easy to forget they are continually learning new skills and developing confidence along the way!

She will be visiting other similar charities, speaking to college and school groups and working alongside local communities to establish new networks. With young people over the age of 16 spending nearly 20 hours a week online, Scotland’s youth are fast forgetting the art of talking.

People take different views on what they can gain from Young Farmers, some take part in everything with very few nights in the house and some fit the odd night out with friends around a busy working schedule or other interests. But the one thing that can be guaranteed is they never look back once they have joined!

If you would like to join to speak to Jenny about setting up or re-establishing a club, invite her to come and speak to your group, or offer support for the new development programme phone 0131 333 2445 or email jenny@sayfc.org 111

futurefarmer

14 Claas Apprentices graduate from SRUC Barony A record 14 students from the north of England, Scotland and Ireland, were presented with their Graduation Certificates on August 14th, having successfully completed the CLAAS Agricultural Technician Apprenticeship.

The Graduation marked the end of their time studying at SRUC Barony Campus near Dumfries. Also attending the awards ceremony were the latest group of students to join the CLAAS Agricultural Technician Apprenticeship scheme. This group of students were attending an Induction Day at the campus to mark the start of their course.

In addition to the students training at SRUC Barony, apprentices from the south of England undertake training at Reaseheath College in Cheshire, making CLAAS the only UK agricultural machinery company to offer two training bases for its apprentices.

Aside from their time at Barony the 14 successful students have worked at the CLAAS Group headquarters in Harsewinkel,

Farmers get free help to find new employees Local farmers should find it easier to get in touch with potential employees and learn about the benefits of Modern Apprenticeships, thanks to an initiative that’s being supported

by NFU Scotland and the Scottish Government.

MA Connections is being run by Sector Skills Council, Lantra, and provides a free and confidential service to farmers who are looking for new employees and to people wanting to take up a career in agriculture through a Modern Apprenticeship. By matching up jobs and job seekers in a single database, Lantra aims to save farmers and trainees time and effort.

Modern Apprentices are fulltime employees who are paid a wage and who are working towards a nationally recognised Scottish Vocational Qualification while learning from the skills 112

and experience of people in their workplace.

Employers, employees and training providers work together in partnership and Modern Apprenticeships typically take from one to three years to complete.

Trainees attend college for a certain amount of time to get a wider understanding of their job and this is arranged across Scotland through Borders College, SRUC, Orkney College UHI and Train Shetland.

Lantra also plans to pilot a multi-employer Modern Apprenticeship scheme enabling apprentices to gain hands-on work experience across different farms, helping them to gain wider industry experience to meet the needs of their college assessments.

To find out more about MA Connections, call 01738 646762 or visit www.lantra.co.uk/MAConnections

Germany and the CLAAS UK headquarters at Saxham in Suffolk, giving them an insight into the size and scale of CLAAS, a global company employing in excess of 11,000 people. The students also spent time training with key suppliers to CLAAS including engine manufacturers Caterpillar and Mercedes-Benz.

Having qualified, the young technicians will have access to additional training and development that will enable them to progress further. Having attained LTA Level 2 status, they will be able to move on to reach the more specialist LTA 3 (Master Mechanic) or LTA 4 (Master Technician) status.

Scott and Carys look to the Future Two young farmers from Northern Ireland and South Wales are celebrating this week after being named as winner and runner-up in this year’s Cogent Futures Programme.

Scott McLean (25) from County Antrim, Northern Ireland fought off tough competition to be crowned the winner while runner-up Carys Jones (23) from Monmouthshire, South Wales made history in this year’s contest as the very first female finalist.

The programme, now in its fifth year, offers a unique opportunity for participants to get their first taste of life as a Sire Analyst as well as providing a comprehensive introduction to genetics. As part

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of the competition, four shortlisted candidates Tom Hull from Lancashire, Andrew Patterson from Northern Ireland as well as Scott and Carys were assessed on their ability to select potential bull mothers and to match these cows to a suitable sire.

Scott realised early on that he had a keen interest in animals and took a weekend milking job at the age of thirteen for Bellemont Holsteins. It was his passion and knowledge for genomics that saw him storm to victory during final judging last week. Praised for the depth of his understanding of Holstein matings and global indexes, Scott pipped the three other finalists at the post and was announced the winner from a strongly fought field.

AGRI GADGETS Cogent taps into technology to target farm efficiency Cogent Breeding has once again relieved the headache of data management by announcing the availability of Farmwizard to its customers.

As one of the most efficient farm data packages available, Farmwizard collects information from across the whole farm and updates from cow to mobile smart phone in minutes, meaning everywhere from the tractor seat to the barn becomes the new farm office. Cogent’s launch of the software to its customers reinforces the company’s dedication to consistently source the most effective and profitable products for farmers across the globe.

The system allows farmers to record and look up information on any animal in their herd straight from their smart phone. Using its cloud-based technology, it instantly records births, deaths and stillborns as well as giving immediate access to medical records and calving data. The technology connects with third party databases including BCMS and APHIS to compare Farm Quality Assurance records, milk record links and milking parlour links. In addition, Farmwizard combines the instant alerts of PD+ with EID data equipment to collect performance data on tagged animals.

Farmwizard provides a datadriven solution that saves time and costs by allowing farmers to manage their herd using simple data transfer from phone to computer.

The system’s availability through Cogent ensures the company’s customers benefit from an effective software solution to keep their herd in the best condition and boost farm profits.

Cogent’s General Manager, James Hallett said: “The launch of Farmwizard to our customer base is yet another example of Cogent taking the best science and technology and bringing it to the commercial market. Cogent is constantly striving to ensure our customers have access to the right product to transform their businesses and Farmwizard

perfectly complements that aim.

I look forward to providing our customers with another solution that enables them to manage farm resources in a productive and profitable way.”

For further information, please contact Farmwizard UK Sales Advisor, Richard Gower on 07483 958 180.

Trelleborg ‘Hops’ To Space with New 3D Animated Movie Trelleborg is set to launch its third episode in its series of 3D animated movies. These provide effective and direct communications about its agricultural tyres to Trelleborg’s customers and the next generation of farming professionals.

Titled “Space Hops”, the movie was created using the latest, sophisticated, 3D animation techniques. In the third episode, Trelleborg’s animated cricket character is abducted and finds himself at Trelleborg’s Innovation Space Center. While on board, he assists in the development of the technological

features of Trelleborg’s premium radial agricultural tyre, helping farming professionals produce more, with less.

One such development is Trelleborg’s ProgressiveTractionTM technology, a new concept of agricultural tyres specifically designed to improve farming efficiency thanks to a double lug.

Operating on the soil at different times, the double lug progressively releases higher traction when required. The double lug also provides the tyre with better floatation capability, ensuring an even pressure distribution over the extra wide footprint. www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY Another of our sections where we explore the very latest advances in farming related learning and technology. All news for this section should be emailed to our usual address.

Schmallenberg vaccine vacuum filled by new entrant The unavailability of a fully authorised Schmallenberg virus (SBV) vaccine has been remedied by the introduction of Zulvac® SBV from Zoetis. It is a new SBV vaccine licensed for use in cattle and sheep in two doses at a three week interval, the second at least two weeks before mating. Supplies are available immediately.

Duration of immunity is six months in cattle and seven in sheep. At the recommended vaccination timing, this covers

British farmers urged to work in space Agricultural firms and farmers across the UK are being urged to apply for multi-million pound grants to work alongside space technology companies on projects to develop new ways of using satellites to improve food productivity.

Space technology is already being used to make food production more efficient and, in the process, meet the growing demands of an expanding world population that is predicted to reach more than nine billion by 2050.

The business lead ‘Satellites for Agri-Food’ consortiabuilding event in London on 7th October will bring together business, entrepreneurs, thoughtleaders and funders to address challenges facing the food and agriculture sectors, and assess what satellites can do to help.

Hosted by the Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN), it is open to all companies involved in the food, agriculture and space industries.

The event, which is free to attend, will also cover a new funding competition worth up to £3.75 million from Innovate UK, along with £18 million ( 25 million) available through 114

the European Horizon 2020 agriculture programme.

“Farming and the hightech space industry have the potential to significantly boost food production and help avoid a future global food crisis if they work closely together,” says Dr Andy Powell, a Knowledge Transfer Manager with the KTN supporting the UK Space Industry.

“Rising populations, reduced resources and climate change mean the agriculture and food sectors need to operate more efficiently than ever,” he adds.

“Satellites can revolutionise the sectors, helping producers and retailers provide enough quality food for people. Space technology is already helping monitor crops and livestock with pinpoint accuracy, optimising food transport and stocks, and improving operations by providing seamless communications across farms.”

“Our goal is for everyone to make new connections and create innovations,” says Dr Powell.

“Ultimately this will be great for all three industries - space, agriculture and food - as well as the UK’s economy overall.”

the window of susceptibility during pregnancy; in sheep from day 28 to 56, and days 70 to 150 in cattle. Animals infected during these periods are at risk of malformed offspring and subsequent stillbirth.

Vaccination combined with insecticidal measures to control the midge vector remains the most effective way of protecting the population [Ref 1], and ensuring a more unified level of immunity, according to Zoetis vet Carolyn Hogan.

Ms Hogan says that whilst there have been no confirmed diagnoses of congenital abnormalities in calves or lambs from APHA in 2014 or 2015, unconfirmed anecdotal cases have been reported.

“We do not know whether our ruminant population is immune or susceptible and neither do we know if another SBV challenge will appear. Vaccination remains the most effective way of ensuring valuable livestock are protected.”

New Holland to demonstrate latest PLM technologies at CropTec 2015

New Holland will be bringing its Precision Land Management (PLM) technologies to CropTec 2015 on 24-25 November and visitors will have the chance to view demonstrations of several of its auto guidance products.

John Downes, New Holland’s PLM product specialist, says: “Precision farming technologies are revolutionising agriculture.

They are becoming an essential tool for many farmers as they strive to reduce input cost, improve yields, and increase efficiencies. New Holland’s PLM products offer cutting-edge solutions to meet a wide range of crop management needs and

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budgets. Croptec provides us with the perfect opportunity to showcase our innovative PLM technologies.”

New Holland’s extensive PLM offering includes displays, guidance and telematics systems, mapping software, crop input control systems and data management software.

Demonstrations of New Holland’s EZ-Pilot™ assisted steering system; PLM™ Mapping software; a range of displays; and the new PLM™ RTK Connect correction service for accurate navigation will take place on the company’s stand throughout the event.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY R-Biopharm Rhône’s test kits monitor wine safety as UK consumption rises again

online savvy It’s nearly that time of year again…..

by Allan Bewley & Fiona Sloan Pedigree Farmer Web Design

As the UK’s wine consumption starts to rise again to record levels, an innovative Scottish science company has created new test kits which will help food and drink experts to measure the quality of wine produced.

Glasgow-based R-Biopharm Rhône has introduced a robust new smart analyser called RIDA®CUBE SCAN when used in conjunction with enzymatic tests detects organic acids, sugars and sulphite in wine which are indicators of wine quality. This new system can be used in laboratories, production facilities and is particularly suited for smaller businesses.

The test kit portfolio is being marketed to the drinks safety sector as the UK retained its

place as the sixth biggest wine consuming country in the world last year, just behind much more populous countries such as the US and China.

Despite consumption falling in the recession years - 1.6 billion bottles were drunk in the UK in 2012 - per capita consumption is expected to increase continually in the years up to 2018, with sales of sparkling wines such as Prosecco a big contributor.

With wine being made around the world in vast quantities - 23.4 billion litres were consumed in 2014 the importance of safety has never been greater and the RIDA®CUBE SCAN gives testing labs the ability to screen more quickly and efficiently.

AFBI’s ‘genetic bank’ points to the future for dairy herd improvement Scientists at the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) have recently completed a research project in which the detailed genetic profile of all cows and replacement heifers in its Hillsborough dairy herd has been obtained. This work was part of a project funded by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, and involved the genetic analysis of blood samples from the herd, which has one of the highest PLI (Profitable Lifetime Index) values in the UK. Examples which can be measured are the efficiency with

which they convert feed to milk, the efficiency with which they digest their food, their ability to lay down body tissue and to mobilise it when necessary, the amount of methane they produce, and their resistance to diseases. These are only a few of the many possibilities. While such attributes are often either impossible or too expensive to measure on commercial farms, some are precisely the ones that we need information about if we want to improve the efficiency and profitability of the dairy sector.

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I hate to use the C word this early in the year but with only weeks to go we will soon be thinking about ordering stuff online to arrive in plenty of time. Identity fraud is an increasing problem, so here are some pointers to help keep you safe from fraudsters.

The top 10 most used passwords include 123456, password and abc123!! The longer and more complex a password the harder it is for someone to guess or hack it. A good password should be at least 12 characters long, contain a series of numbers, letters (both lowercase and uppercase) and at least one symbol.

This can make passwords tricky to remember, however there are various management systems out there that can help with this such as lastpass or 1password.

These allow you to have one secure password and you can store your different passwords for various sites under one secure roof.

Here are some guidelines to keep you safe as you shop online;

s $ON T STORE CARDS OR personal details in browsers or online accounts s 3HOP AT FAMILIAR companies or research well.

If you haven’t heard of a company do a little research to make sure they are a legitimate seller.

Check any feedback and online reviews, look at their contact information and refund policy. s ,OOK FOR A LOCKED (4403 connection Before you enter any personal or financial information on a website check that it is secure. If you look at the address bar you should see that the web address begins with https and there should be a padlock icon to indicate that the site is secure. s /NLY CONNECT WITH SECURE WiFi Don’t use that free wifi in the coffee shop down the road to buy your shopping unless you know it’s secure. It’s better to wait until you’re home and connected securely to your own network.

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finance Record share investment for ANM Group Share capital investment in Thainstone-based ANM Group has reached a record level of £5 million, the co-operative announced in October.

ANM Group, one of the largest and most progressive producer-owned farming, food and finance businesses in the UK has welcomed almost 50 new members since its Annual General Meeting in April, with investment from new and existing members growing by £400,000 over the same period.

And the group’s executive directors – John Gregor and Grant Rogerson – say the membership benefits become increasingly apparent when set against a backdrop of challenging trading conditions in the agricultural industry, as well as the wider economic impact in the NorthEast due to the oil and gas industry downturn.

Grant Rogerson and John Gregor

Commercial vehicles, ie: pickups, vans, lorries from £175.00 on full fleet policies.

Private motor vehicles can also be added to such policies.

Inverness farmer reduced premiums from £2850 to £2123 Aberdeenshire farmer reduced premiums from £4208 to £3986

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Mr Gregor said: “The group provides an element of stability in testing times. One of our central functions is to represent and support members and their interests at stakeholder level with the Scottish Government: ensuring the industry is fit for the future.

“This year has seen significant challenges for many of our customers and members.

“We’ve seen a particularly poor summer; a difficult harvest and, looking ahead, there are considerable concerns around the new Basic Payment Scheme with well-publicised figures showing the North-East will be one of the worst-affected areas in Scotland.”

Mr Gregor says the record investment is recognition of ANM Group’s value to its members, and strengthens its position to build on benefits such as members’ loan schemes, livestock finance,

finance commission cap savings and share dividends. He adds: “The co-operative is particularly proud to offer a new entrants’ scheme, which has attracted 18 participants. It was set up in 2013 to provide financial and advisory support to those starting-out in the agricultural industry and, to date, has loaned £400,000.”

Mr Rogerson said the strength and diversity of the group, including land and property sales, events, catering and auctions, means the cooperative is consistently popular with both members and customers: playing a major role in the local economy. He added the wide range of industrial and commercial plant and machinery available at the group’s Saturday sales, held eight times a year, will prove increasingly attractive for individuals and businesses across a number of sectors, including oil and gas, amid a growing focus on cost efficiency.

Plant and machinery sales represent a significant annual throughput of £14.5million for

THEMONEYMAN the group. Mr Rogerson said: “These live and online auctions consistently attract around 3,000 lots, and are among the largest plant and machinery sales of their kind in the country with bidders travelling from across the UK. “Given the focus on cost efficiency, and the likelihood of increasing demand for second hand equipment, these sales will be particularly appealing because of the reassurance of the competitive price discovery mechanism, unique to auctions.”

And so far this year the group’s estates team, covering an area from Angus up to Caithness and Sutherland, has sold 21 rural properties, with 17 under offer; compared with 25 sales and no properties under offer for the same period in 2014.

“This shows that, despite all the challenges and concern faced across different sectors, and with the backing of our experienced team, there remains appetite and movement in the rural property market,” said Mr Rogerson.

Trio of expert advisers join Acoura Three of the most respected experts in the UK food and drink industry have joined ambitious risk services group Acoura.

David Gregory, Professor Lisa Ackerley and Ton Christiaanse have been appointed as strategic advisers to the board of the fast-growing food sector compliance business which operates in 28 countries across six continents. Gregory is making the move as he prepares to step down as chair of the food assurance scheme, Red Tractor, at the end of November after six years in office. A visiting professor at the University of Reading Centre for Food Security, a member of the industrial advisory board of the Roslin Institute and a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology, Gregory spent 26 years working for Marks & Spencer from where he retired as Technical Director in 2009.

Professor Ackerley is widely known as ‘The Hygiene Doctor’, and regularly appears on TV and radio offering expert opinion on consumer health matters. A Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner, she is also a Visiting Professor of Environmental Health at Salford University, Specialist Food Safety Adviser at the Royal Society of Public Health, and was presented with “The most Significant Contribution to Food Safety Award” from the Society of Food Hygiene Technology in 2011.

Ton Christiaanse will bring significant international expertise from his time spent working at board level with global food and drink organisations such as Vion, Sara Lee, Chiquita and Unilever over the past 25 years. The three heavyweight hires will help Acoura consolidate its position as one of the key players in food and drink supply chain consultancy.

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Overheads get Overlooked By Andrew Turnbull There are few businesses where it is more difficult to exercise financial control and discipline than in agriculture.

Generally income is dependent upon factors outwith the control of the farmer - weather, yields, world prices, supply and demand - to name but a few.

Because farmers feel helpless in controlling income, maybe there is a tendency to overlook possible cost savings. Is there an exercise to be done on the expense side of the P&L? Many costs can and should be scrutinised regularly: implement repairs, buildings maintenance, fuel, contract work and labour, haulage, fencing spring to mind.

How many farmers scrutinise their profit & loss accounts each year to really study what has gone out in overheads? If not done regularly this can be a sobering experience!

Often certain expenses are incurred year on year “because it has always been done that way”. Inertia is a very strong force.

Direct debits and standing orders are a handy way of paying bills but once in place they often get forgotten about. Are all your automated payments still relevant?

Blind loyalty can sometimes be expensive - have your suppliers become complacent and take for granted you will always use them without challenging their rates?

Increasingly, the average householder will shop around for alternative suppliers of heat & light, insurances (vehicle and general), phones & internet and all the other “incidentals”. It’s easy to jog along without stopping to question why certain costs are incurred ad nauseam. It’s not just domestic suppliers that should be challenged to justify their prices.....

Overheads get overlooked!

Andrew Turnbull CA is an Area Director, based in Perth, with First Independent Finance where he specialises in agricultural and industrial loans and finance.

His contact details are: Mobile: 07720 886272, Phone 01738 624671 email aturnbull@fIf.co.uk 117

machinery Increased throughput potential from 2016 LEXION 700 From the early days of the development of the first combine in 1936, CLAAS has concentrated on developing machines specifically designed to achieve optimum performance in European conditions.

When it was launched in 1996, the LEXION set a completely new standard for combine harvester productivity and 20 years later, the current LEXION 700 and 600 ranges still set the standard for high output, cost effective harvesting performance.

2016 will see the LEXION 700 range further evolve with

the introduction of a number of new features and improvements to the cleaning and residual grain separation systems, the straw chopper and electronics, including the roll-out further down the range of performance enhancing features previously only available on topof-the-range models.

Through the further development of the systems that surround the LEXION’s long established and well proven HYBRID threshing system, this results in further increases in combine performance, operational reliability, efficiency and driver comfort.

In addition to these new features, CLAAS has also increased the LEXION 700 range with the addition of a new hillside MONTANA version

of the LEXION 750, which like the larger LEXION 760 MONTANA will automatically self-level on slopes of up to 17 degrees.

Carrs Billington agriculture receive prestigious award Carrs Billington Agriculture have been awarded Krone UK Ltd ‘Dealer of the Year’ award for the second year running.

Awarded in recognition of Carrs’ continued commitment

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to and development of the Krone franchise they have proven once again that they have what it takes to be the premier supplier of hay and forage equipment in the north

of England and south west Scotland.

Over the last 12 months Carrs have worked closely with Krone ensuring they provide farmers and contractors an allround service whilst further developing their presence in the self-propelled forage harvester market with the Krone BiG X forage harvester.

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“We are delighted to be recognised as Krone UK’s ‘Dealer of the Year’” said Ian Gate, Machinery Director for Carrs Billington “We are eager to continue working with Krone to ensure that we remain the first choice for hay and forage equipment for all farmers and contractors in our region”.

machinery New John Deere machines make UK show debut at AgriScot John Deere’s new top-of-therange 8800 self-propelled forage harvester, 6R Series tractors and R Series front loader make their UK public show debut at AgriScot 2015 next month, alongside a smaller 5E Series tractor, HPX Gator utility vehicle and F440R fixed chamber round baler.

Three new models have been added to the 8000 Series range of self-propelled forage harvesters, which utilise advanced technology to reduce crop losses and boost performance, including new Active Fill Control (AFC)

for automated filling of trailers.

The machines are designed to provide customers with up to 15 per cent more productivity, increased uptime, lower operating costs and faster, easier maintenance.

As well as the 845hp 8800, the range now includes the 490hp 8300 and 761hp 8700 models.

Other advanced features on these machines include a GreenStar 2630 with touchscreen display and all functions conveniently located in the CommandARM, Remote Display Access (RDA) and AutoTrac automatic steering

with RowSense. Each model can also be equipped with HarvestLab, an advanced crop

analysis and documentation system that uses constituent sensing to improve forage quality.

area for better crop penetration and wetting. It has won a Silver Medal from the DLG at Agritechnica 2015.

The BoomControl Pro system, also awarded a silver medal at Agritechnica in 2013, sets the standard for the boom control systems. Sensors record the distance to the target area about one metre in front of the boom and then precisely adapt the boom height to the terrain.

With BoomSight, a laser scanner is installed on the roof of the tractor or sprayer cab and scans a range of approximately 20m to the left and right and 15m in front of the vehicle. Changes in field contours can then be relayed to the BoomControl Pro system much earlier, providing a wider and more detailed window in which to react.

A new range of Horsch trailed sprayers, the Leeb LT, will expand the company’s sprayer line-up.

Available in 4,000 and 5,000 litres with plastic tanks, the Leeb LT complements the Leeb GS range, which has tank sizes of 5, 6 and 7,000 litres, and will appeal to farmers who do not need the larger capacity machines.

Award-winning BoomSight from Horsch HORSCH has announced a wide range of new innovations and products for Agritechnica 2015 aimed at improving productivity, efficiency and yield. “As farmers ourselves, Horsch understands the challenges farmers face and builds the best machines to meet those challenges. Our innovative cultivation, seeding and spraying

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technology is extensively tested on our own farms and we work closely with our customers during development,” said Stephen Burcham, general manager for Horsch UK. BoomSight is a new boom technology that provides even greater control and enables the boom to be held closer to the target

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machinery The new Pottinger TORRO COMBILINE loader wagon The TORRO stands out with its new COMBILINE design, not only in appearance, but also with the latest technology on-board.

All expectations are catered for by the two TORRO 6010 L / D COMBILINE and 6510 L / D COMBILINE models with load volumes of up to 35 m DIN and versions with crop containment ropes offering volumes up to 36.5 m DIN. Even higher capacity, multi-purpose and equipped with 34 mm short chop capability, the new EUROPROFI COMBILINEs are ready for action. The power requirement is between 160 and 300 hp.

The proven 6-row floating pick-up with cam track at both ends ensures best possible ground tracking and clean forage as a result. New developments include the wind guard and an additional tracking roller, which is positioned on the wagon centreline behind the pick-up to improve pick-

up guidance over bumps. The parallelogram mounting for the additional tracking roller and the independent adjustment of the front jockey wheels are unique.

This guarantees a one hundred

percent float function. The tracking roller can be set up to 50 mm higher. This system excels in very wet operating conditions with deep tractor wheel marks: no sinking into wheel marks

and precise height control in all situations. The raw ash content of the forage is greatly reduced as a result. Consequently, clean forage promotes higher milk yield to increase success.

Best Tanks

Storage Tank Sales & Hire A wide range of storage tanks available in mild steel, GRP and stainless steel

12,500 Litre fully bunded fuel station with lockable roller shutter cabinet.

Many other options available up to 90,000 litres.

Also tanks for pot-ale, water etc.

Northbank Farm, Cameron, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 8PE

Tel: 01334 827090 or 07767 252267 email: info@best-tanks.co.uk

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The Air Compressor and Pressure Washer Specialists

Manufacturers and suppliers, W Bateman & Co has an enviable reputation for manufacturing and supplying both domestic and industrial pressure washers and air compressors.

Nationwide DELIVERY on all orders

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01772 862948 email: sales@bateman-sellarc.co.uk www.bateman-sellarc.co.uk

machinery Kubota has the Vision with new Limited Edition Grand X Series Kubota UK is helping its customers gear up for winter with the launch of its new ‘Vision’ campaign – a limited edition upgrade available on its high performance M128GXII and M135GX-II agricultural tractors.

Running until the 31st December 2015, Kubota’s promotion now means that with any new purchase of an M128GXII or M135GX-II model, customers receive a Vision upgrade pack (worth over £1000). The Vision pack includes enhanced LED work lights, enhanced LED driving lights, twin beacons and rear mudguard extensions, enhancing the product in readiness for the winter season.

Rob Edwards, business development manager for Kubota Agriculture, commented: “The launch of this limited edition campaign is all about adding value to our product and service proposition,

both to our dealer network and their end-user customers.

“We know it’s a challenging market out there currently.

However, despite this, I am pleased that our MGX-II Series is going

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from strength to strength. We believe that the introduction of our new Vision campaign will further help our dealers increase sales opportunities for this range of high performance farm tractors.”

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machinery Kingspan Titan’s New Generation of Premium Steel Fuel Tanks Kingspan Titan, the globalleading specialist in the design and manufacture of fuel storage solutions, has launched a new range of premium steel tanks for the safe containment of kerosene, diesel, gas oil and lubricants.

DieselPRO tanks are a highquality, versatile storage solution for fuel. They are available in a wide variety of sizes from 5,000 to 62,000 litres, either as sleek cylinders or in a rectangular design, and with storage or dispensing functionality. Each has been designed to surpass all current oil storage regulations for guaranteed environmental safety.

Commenting on the launch, Tony Strutton, Kingspan Titan DieselPRO Commercial Manager says, “DieselPRO represents a new generation of steel tanks. They have been cleverly designed to give users

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total reliability, flexibility and control, for absolute peace of mind. Because of this, and their suitability to virtually every application from farms, industry to commerce and of course transport depots, we’re

getting a lot of interest, not surprisingly!”

Every DieselPRO tank is double-skinned with an integrated bund capacity of 110% in accordance with PPG2. The tanks are also pressure tested and

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certified to ensure their integrity to BS799, then coated with two layers of anti-corrosive epoxy polyurethane finish prior to DFT paint testing. The tanks also come with a guarantee of 15 years with a designed life of 20 years.

machinery Mitas aims to launch PneuTrac in two years during 2016 to clearly position PneuTrac among tyre and track solutions offered on the market.

Mitas’ goal is to have all data needed for a successful market launch available by the end of 2017.

“The footprint and traction force of Mitas PneuTrac and rubber tracks are superior to

those of traditional pneumatic tyres. The next step is to compare PneuTrac and rubber tracks and see how close they will come,” said Andrew Mabin, Mitas’ sales and marketing director. “We are getting closer to a clearer release date being available. Our goal is to launch PneuTrac in roughly two years.”

New mixer wagon with integrated bedding system from Kuhn The development of the Mitas PneuTrac concept reached a new milestone with the start of field tests, which show the clear advantages of its larger footprint and better tractive force over standard but also IF agricultural

tyres. Thanks to positive progress in testing, Mitas has outlined its goals for further development of PneuTrac. The aim is to measure and compare characteristics of Mitas PneuTrac and rubber tracks

KUHN Farm Machinery will be displaying a new range of dualpurpose TMR mixer and bedding wagons at this year’s AgriScot show.

The KUHN PROFILE PLUS range of twin-auger TMR mixer wagons consists of four different

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models, all of which feature an integrated bedding system for added machine versatility.

All four models feature a narrow body design to make them compatible with old and new farm buildings and feature a number of the same benefits as seen on the

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machinery standard PROFILE 70 series of vertical auger mixer wagons.

These include a low loading height, compact external dimensions (the 15m3 model is just 2.42m wide and 2.83m high), right or left feed discharge door and a three-point electronic weighing system as standard.

The PROFILE PLUS range also features a front mounted straw-blowing turbine driven by KUHN’s patented POLYDRIVE system enabling it to throw 600kg of bedding material to a distance of 18 metres in just 4.5 minutes.

Available in capacities of 15, 16, 18 and 20m3, PROFILE PLUS wagons use two independent vertical augers to accurately and quickly mix a range of feedstuffs, with adjustable counter-knives giving the ability to cut fibrous material to a pre-determined length. The small diameter augers reduce the range’s power requirement, with the 15m3 PROFILE PLUS 1570 compatible with 80hp tractors.

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Vaderstad launches new versatile precision drill

Vaderstad has developed a new precision seed drill based on the well established Tempo with a number of unique features including a unique row unit that can be easily moved to vary row

spacing, and therefore making it suitable for a range of different crops.

Tempo V is a three-point linkage, telescopic machine for up to 12 rows. The machine can easily be switched from 12 rows with 45cm row spacing to 8 rows with 75cm spacing, for example. It is available in seven different models.

The number of row units varies from six to twelve depending on the model, and working widths are between 4.2 and 6.6m depending on row spacing.

The drill frame is designed so that row units and fertiliser coulters can be moved to any position. Odd row numbers (such as 9 rows with 600 mm spacing) can also be handled on the same frame.

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The row units – with the PowerShoot technology that is insensitive to vibrations – are the same as on other Tempo models, allowing precision high speed drilling.

From 2016 Tempo will be equipped with a new seed meter in aluminium. The new seed meter has an emptying hatch for easy cleaning when changing crops.

There is also the option of a 22mm drilling system mounted in the new seed meter for crops such as pumpkins and large sunflowers.

Tempo V also features a narrower fertiliser coulter, enabling mounting at 45cm row spacing and is capable of being set at various depth settings and handling loads of up to 150kg.

machinery New addition to the Axion 800 Series Claas has added an even more powerful model to its successful AXION 800 model series, the AXION 870, which is equipped as standard with the continuously variable CMATIC transmission.

The AXION 870 has up to 295 hp at its disposal thanks to its CPM (CLAAS POWER MANAGEMENT) system and is equipped with the tried and tested 6-cylinder FPT engine, which has a 6.7 litre displacement and fulfils the Stage IV (Tier 4) emissions standard.

With this new flagship model, Claas continues its ongoing programme to develop the AXION 800 model series, which now incorporates seven models ranging from 205 to 295 hp.

The FPT engine in the AXION 870 uses the CLAAS POWER MANAGEMENT (CPM) system. At speeds above

14 km/h and whenever power take-off work is being performed, the system automatically provides additional torque and an extra 15hp of power through the electronic engine control system.

Overall, the new AXION 870 is 31 hp more powerful compared

to the AXION 850 CMATIC, despite having the same operational weight. This makes the AXION 870 suitable for an even larger range of applications in fast-moving field work, for power take-off work and for road travel.

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Like the entire AXION 800 model series, the AXION 870 will also be equipped with a new front axle as standard. It is up to 380 kilograms lighter than the previous axle and allows an increase in the permissible gross vehicle weight of up to one tonne.

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machinery New JCB Loadall telehandler JCB will unveil an array of new developments to its Loadall range at Agritechnica 2015, including its innovative Tier 4 Final engine strategy and improvements to two popular Agri models which will boost productivity and performance and make them easier to use.

The first JCB telehandlers for European markets with the new engine are the 531-70, 53660, 536-70, 541-70 and high-lift 535-95; and the high productivity 550-80 and 560-80 bulk handling telescopics. Also at Agritechnica 2015 JCB will unveil a package of enhancements to the 526-56 and 527-58 Agri models.

JCB Agriculture MD Richard Fox-Marrs said: “Agritechnica is a key date in the industry calendar and we are delighted to be showing some of the innovative developments to our Loadall product, which is the world’s biggest selling agricultural telescopic handler.”

WILKS BROTHERS Main dealers in Perthshire for DEUTZ FAHR Tractors

Bringing you 5, 6, 7 and the latest 9 Series Tractors

3ALES s 3ERVICE s 0ARTS Repairs for a wide range of Agricultural Machinery Murthly, Perthshire, PH1 4HG Tel: 01738 710381 Fax: 01738 710581 128

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machinery First McCormick CVT tractors launched in Britain A simple to use continuously variable ‘CVT’ or ‘vario’ transmission features in new additions to the McCormick X7 Series, bringing the benefits of seamless acceleration, precise speed control and intelligent powertrain management to deliver improved productivity and fuel economy.

The McCormick X7 VT Drive tractors build on the success of the Pro Drive semipowershift models that farmers and contractors first started using last year. The 24x24 speed Pro Drive transmission with its manual or auto shifting through ranges and speeds is a genuinely smooth operator – but VT Drive takes driver comfort, speed control and powertrain efficiency to another level.

“There will always be operators perfectly content

with a powershift transmission, especially one like the McCormick Pro Drive that

provides push-button control, adjustable shift response to suit different situations

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and a number of automated features,” says Paul Wade, product specialist.

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machinery Vicon Fastbale - non-stop round baling

The Vicon FastBale – a revolutionary non-stop round baler wrapper combination that cleverly integrates a pre-chamber with a main chamber, and a wrapper – continues to undergo field evaluation throughout 2015 in the main markets in Europe.

Latest enhancements to the non-stop bale production process include a bale tipping kit to place bales on their side after being released from the wrapper, and

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the development of a film-on-film applicator kit for those looking to avoid the use of net to secure the bale.

Designed and developed at the Kverneland Group’s baler competence centre at Ravenna, Italy, FastBale represents two world firsts: it is currently the World’s only non-stop fixed chamber baler and secondly, it is the World’s only non-stop fixed chamber baler wrapper combination.

Quad-X Bale Transporter

The Quad-X Bale Transporter is ideal for transporting silage, hay, haylage and straw bales, designed to use with an ATV, utility vehicle, car or 4x4. It has been smartly developed in a way to allow young people and ladies

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to operate and to prevent the quad rear wheels lifting during loading. It is well balanced in order to reduce the weight on your drawbar. Just the job for bringing the bales in from the field and moving them around.

BEAUTIFUL TRACTORS Specially for all our tractor enthusiasts LANZ BULLDOG, MODEL D7506 GERMANY, c.1935

The Model D7506 was produced by one of Europe’s most successful tractor builders, Heinrich Lanz AG. Lanz adopted the brand name Bulldog to stress the tough and tenacious qualities of their machines. The Lanz design endured from its inception in 1921 until the company was taken over by John Deere in 1956.

Features The single-cylinder motor was of a two-cycle design and used hot-bulb ignition, which meant preheating the combustion chamber with a blowlamp before firing up the motor. After that, it would burn any fuel down to crude or waste motor oil. The D7506 transmission offered six forward speeds in two ranges. The colour scheme was basic grey with red wheels until John Deere Green took over.

FOWLER, MODEL CHALLENGER III UK, 1951

The John Fowler Co. was a world pioneer in steam ploughing and threshing equipment, shifting to internal combustion crawler tractors as the steam age waned. The company developed a line of modern diesel crawlers during the Second World War, but in 1947 it was taken over by Thomas W. Ward Ltd, under whose auspices the Challenger III was introduced.

Features The Challenger series appeared in 1950. The Challenger III was the ‘light heavyweight’ model and could be purchased with either a Leyland or a Meadows six-cylinder diesel motor; both were British-built and of comparable power. The Challenger III operated in six forward speeds. The series was utilitarian in appearance and painted entirely in Fowler’s Chrome Orange.

Uses The D7506 was a multipurpose outfit: strong on the drawbar, ready to thresh at a moment’s notice, and a capable road hauler.

Rugged simplicity was the Lanz hallmark and the tractor gave countless hours of trouble-free service. The booming cadence of the D7506’s single-cylinder motor is a real crowd-pleaser.

Uses The Challenger III crawler saw extensive military service but was also at home in heavy field work. A number of dozer-blade attachments were available for construction and road building.

Custom units served the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) through the 1950s.

Related Models Several companion sizes of up to 55 hp were built, along with improved post-war models. The British Field Marshall tractorsfollowed the Lanz design.

Power & Size 25 hp; weight: 2313kg (5100lb) length: 279cm (110in) width: 160cm (63in) height: 178cm (70in)

Related Models The Challenger III was accompanied by the Challenger I, II and IV at 50, 80 and 150 hp respectively, and succeeded by the heavier and more powerful Mark 33.

Power & Size 95 hp; weight: 11,113kg (24,500lb) length: 401cm (158in) width: 234cm (92in) height: 198cm (78in)

Manufacturing & Distribution The D7506 Bulldog was built in Mannheim, Germany, from 1935 to 1952. Lanz tractors were sold in the UK, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand and were built locally in Argentina, France, Spain and Poland.

Manufacturing & Distribution Under Thomas W. Ward Ltd, the Challenger III was built at Fowler’s works in Leeds from 1950 to 1956, and sold in the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and southern Africa.

Images from “Beautiful Tractors – Iconic Models” by Rick Mannen A beautifully illustrated record of 40 of the world’s most magnificent, classic agricultural machines, dating from 1917 to 1976.

Photography by Clive Streeter. Published by Frances Lincoln Limited.

Available in paperback: £12.99. For further information : www.franceslincoln.com www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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country woman Lesley Fleming A woman with a passion for shooting

by Linda Mellor

Perth based Lesley Fleming has a lifelong passion for the countryside. Her family history dates back to several generations of sheep farmers and her uncle, John Bailey, represented Great Britain in the show jumping team.

At 17 years old Lesley joined her local group of Young Farmers where she was instrumental in introducing new activities for members.

Over time her involvement grew, and by her early twenties she was club secretary and responsible for everything from committee meetings to planning discos. Lesley said “It is a great organisation and very sociable but, understandably, 134

it was very farming orientated so being involved I was able to suggest something different and inject a little variety so members could try out new activities like gymkhanas and abseiling.”

Spending time outdoors has always been an important theme for Lesley. “I enjoy our green open spaces and have always liked being active.

I gain a lot of benefit from getting out, walking the woods and stretching my legs; it makes me feel very grounded and calm. The wildlife and the changing seasons always make it interesting.”

Lesley studied business management at Dundee then

worked in the commercial insurance industry before going offshore in 1998. Her new role as the Offshore Coordinator involved being away from home for many weeks but Lesley embraced the opportunities and made the most of her time away by exploring new places around the world. She said, “I am a real foodie so travelling around the world gave me lots of occasions to explore and try out new food. When I was in Seattle, food was a big thing; there were great restaurants, delicatessens, farmers markets and lots of organic food choices. When everyone else was clothes or

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handbag shopping but I would at the farmers markets.” Over the years Lesley’s interest in food continued to grow and she wanted to expand her knowledge so she enrolled on a number of cookery courses.

In 2011 Lesley was planning a 6 week trip to Brazil with her work when she discovered a lump and was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to undergo surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The treatment gave her Rheumatoid Arthritis which left her feeling like a 90 year old and unable to do much however she was determined not to be stuck indoors. “I was still able to drive, so I would

country woman get in the car and head out to enjoy some green space.” As Lesley built up her strength she would go rambling and foraging for chanterelle mushrooms, raspberries and brambles and enjoyed the satisfaction or returning home with a basket of wild food.

By October 2012 Lesley and her 3 Labradors were beating on their local shoot where she was offered the opportunity of a half gun. She wanted to make the most of it and took shooting lessons at County Clays, Dunkeld, with shotgun coach Clark Taylor. “I was not very good to start with but I enjoyed it. I was struggling with my technique on different targets as my memory was not great (an after effect of the treatment).” Lesley put in lots of practice and her shooting improved. On her first game day, Lesley shared a gun with her coach, Clark, who ensured she understood the etiquette of a game shoot and being a safe gun. “Having Clark with me really helped. I was very lucky though and I shot a left and a right. When I took these shots I did not think about it, so the secret is to disengage brain and you will shoot well!” said Lesley, laughing.

“I love being out on a game shoot whether I am shooting, beating or picking up, I get to do all 3 on my local shoot because we stand one, walk one. It’s great to be out in the fresh air getting to see new parts of the countryside you would normally not have access to.”

Lesley believes the healthiest food has the shortest journey from field to plate and knowing where your food has come from is key. “You shoot it yourself, take it home and prepare it for cooking and eating. I don’t buy a lot of meat as I have a ready supply of rabbit, venison, pigeon, duck, goose, pheasant and partridge.”

On a ladies shoot day organised by BASC in 2013, Lesley met fellow lady gun Cara Richardson, they talked about their mutual love of

shooting and how they both felt there should be more shooting events dedicated to women in Scotland. There are many shooting events held down south but Scotland lacked organised shooting opportunities for ladies. Lesley and Cara discussed doing something positive about the problem and created the Scotland Ladies Shooting Club aimed at providing regular shooting events for women in Scotland. The ladies-only club caters for beginners, novices and experienced shots in a friendly, informative and fun environment.

With Cara as chairwoman and Lesley as club secretary the club held their first event in May 2014 at County Clays and more than 30 ladies of mixed shooting abilities turned up. Lesley said, “It was only promoted on a word of mouth basis as we wanted to see what interest we would get. We were delighted to see a great turnout of enthusiastic ladies and the feedback was very positive. It is really important the club caters for shooting all over Scotland so we travel to different grounds giving members from all regions the opportunity to join in.”

Support for the club continued to grow so Cara and Lesley felt they needed to expand and develop it to the next phase so a website was created, banners made and a logo was designed. They club has organised a number of events and membership continues to grow.

Lesley said, “We work closely with great shooting grounds around Scotland so we can give the ladies a tailored shooting experience and ensure it is cost effective.

The club has regular Scottish shooting events; more information is listed on the website. Lesley is keeping busy promoting the club, enjoying the shooting season and is on the look out for a part-time job, ideally food related.

Southern Belle Beauty comes from within…

One of the great things about the job I do, is the opportunity to stay in really nice hotels in lovely places and call it “work”. Since a jaunt to Islay show in the summer, which involved copious amounts of food and drink I set off on my perennial diet to look great before Christmas. Every year I try something new in my attempts to be a size 10 by a week on Thursday.

The 5 and 2 diet was suggested to me by a 79 year old friend who looks 10 years younger than his age, so it obviously worked. All I had to do was pick two days of the week when I could survive on 500 calories and eat “normally” for the rest and with the added incentive of a villager who confirmed it had worked for her and who added that in the same way as you can only get soaked to the skin, you can’t get “more hungry”, I was good to go.

I chose a Sunday for my fasting day as in my weekly vain attempts to make it to church on time, I usually miss breakfast and following the service am in need of gallons of coffee, which avoids lunch. So far so good.

I opted for a mid-week day when I was driving and with the knowledge of where all of the Costa services are on the M6, I was set. So far so good.

I think however the success or otherwise relies on what “eating normally” means. I’ve yet to meet a calorie I didn’t like and having spent the last week “working” in a really nice hotel with a group of farmers (never known for their picky eating habits) I enjoyed the calorific equivalent of Christmas dinner every day. Well it would be rude not to! So this week in the firm knowledge that beauty really comes from the inside….I’m starting my new diet…

www.scottishladiesshooting.co.uk

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lifestyle Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort – the Jewel in Angus’ Crown

Forbes of Kingennie Resort’s history goes back to 1965, when farmer Alistair Graham Forbes brought his American bride, Cindy, to Omachie Farmhouse, Kingennie with their son Michael.

When Mike was six he caught his first fish in the Buddon Burn, and his passion for fishing was born.

From a young age, Mike worked on the farm and made pocket money breeding pigs in a shed, which he later developed into a prosperous business. He won the Scottish National Fly Fishing Championships in 1991, and was selected for the Scottish Fly Fishing Team. He became captain of the team in 1993 and winner of the Phoenix Salver for Best International Scottish Rod. Mike converted an overgrown corner of the farm into a fishery and three self catering lodges, opening in 1995 as Kingennie Fishings with the old boathouse renovated into a fishing shop.

The success of this venture encouraged Mike and his wife Gail to continuously invest and extend to create the resort seen today.

The old Boathouse is now the Leannan Boathouse, a 136

romantic hideaway for lovers and Honeymooners, and Kingennie has grown to be one of Scotland’s premier wedding venues. There is continuous investment around the resort, which includes a 9-hole golf course and U.S.G.A specification 18-hole “Cairngorms” putting green.

When it comes to food, the Forbes family places a lot of emphasis on using local, Scottish produce. The resort not only sources ingredients from the local area but also from the family farm. The newly launched menu in the Waterside Restaurant features Forbes peas, Omachie strawberries, Cammie Forbes’s free-range eggs, Omachie pork and other vegetables and berries.

The menu also includes meat from family member Bel Forbes’ butchers in Edzell and another family business, Mackies, supplies the crisps served alongside the fresh sandwiches on the lunchtime menu.

Events programme added to Forbes of Kingennie Resort’s Winning Formula Adding to an already successful formula, the Forbes

family have just announced the launch of ‘Kingennie Events’ - a programme of gatherings, fayres and celebrations designed to put the venue, renowned for its weddings, dining, fishing and golf, firmly on the Dundee social scene map.

The events programme launches on 27th November with a Comedy Night, brought to the Broughty Ferry venue by Breakneck Comedy, the team behind regular sell-out comedy events in Aberdeen. The night will feature five top Scottish comedians – Gus Lymburn, Chris Henry, Liam Withnall and Gary Meikle – all fresh from their stints at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and looking forward to testing their material on the Angus audience.

December will see the resort host three Christmas Party Nights (11th, 18th and 19th) boasting an exquisite threecourse dinner, which will include fresh Forbes of Kingennie produce, and entertainment by a popular covers band, Pepperpot on 18th and 19th, and a DJ on the 11th.

To finish up 2015 in style,

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the resort will host a glittering Hogmanay Dinner Dance on 31st December.

An adultsonly celebration, guests will be treated to a delicious threecourse course dinner before dancing into 2016 with the unbeatable Staffin Island Ceilidh Band.

The events and celebrations continue into the New Year with a Burn’s Night Ceilidh on Saturday 23rd January where you can enjoy a dram and a dance to The Cutting Edge Ceilidh band along with a traditional haggis, neeps and tatties buffet.

Libby Forbes, Marketing Manager at Forbes of Kingennie, said: “We are really looking forward to the events season and meeting new people who perhaps haven’t been here before. We are delighted to be working with local suppliers, including Monifeith Cabs which are offering guests to the Comedy Night 25% off their fares.”

Tickets for all Kingennie Events can be purchased by calling 01382 350777. www.forbesofkingennie.co.uk

lifestyle A marriage made in heaven!

RS rural

STYLE

By Helen Burness

QUILT APPEAL The perfect winter warmer

Tweed fashion designers Timothy Foxx are launching their first ever ‘Wedding Collection’ this autumn. The new collection is introduced with two beautiful designs the ‘Sophia’ and ‘Robyn’ and embodies the brand’s passion for tweed with their signature twist on heritage design.

Featuring a sweet heart neckline and full skirt, the ‘Sophia’ features a Cream antique inspired lace waistband and is styled in a beautiful Fern herringbone British tweed featuring a gorgeous Oatmeal and Mustard plaid throughout. The dress takes on ‘50’s wedding glamour with its structured paneling and full skirt, which cascades to the floor courtesy of multiple petticoats and clever seam placement.

Rosalie Eustace, MD and Creative director for the brand explains the creative thinking about the range: “We’ve supplied mother-in-laws outfits, groom and best man outfits, hats and wedding favours and for so long our customers have been asking us when we were would diversify into wedding dresses. Now, we are proud to offer brides-to-be our quintessentially British designed dresses with a touch of tweed, offering something different and totally original” Their new bridal service also enables brides a very personal experience with Rosalie helping to create their dream bespoke dress, as well as stylistically tying in their entire day from wedding favours through to their husband to be’s suit. www.timothyfoxx.co.uk

Special readers offer on our own branded single malt whisky.

SEE PAGE 97 www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

This Equetech Sherrington Long Quilted Jacket is a beautiful technical ‘Bio-Down’ insulated jacket, which offers exceptional warmth without compromising on style.

Featuring a plush detachable faux fur collar and wind resistant shell with a water repellent finish, this jacket brings warmth and style to winter riding. A clever full back zip enables you to ride with great protection against the elements and the outer storm flap with press studs, zips to cuffs (So you can remove your jacket without removing your gloves).

A two way central front zip, handy front zipped pockets and a machine washable care label all add to allure of this fantastic garment!

A gorgeous exclusive ‘Snaffle’ designer print lining and Equetech shield badge complete this jacket which will take you from yard or town with ease, whatever the weather!

XS - XXL RRP: £145.95 Colours: Navy/Tan, Black/Black www.equetech.com

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lifestyle On the hunt for safety & style!

This clever jacket from Equetech combines safety with style with its’ hidden stretch side panels which allow the rider to wear a back protectors and some styles of air-vests comfortably underneath, without losing the beauty of a traditional tailored jacket.

Originally designed for the hunting field, the Equetech Hybrid Hunt Frock Coat is also ideal for wearing in the competition arena this coming winter when fresh horses and artic weather conditions don’t always equate to ‘calm and collected’!

Styled along classic lines, this traditional frock coat features some great contemporary and practical design features including hidden double zip flap pockets, large single hare internal pocket, option to close the collar up with the additional throat tab to help beat the elements and water resistant lining to the skirt and hidden internal wind catcher cuffs.

The 100% pure wool jacket also features a unique weather resistant internal membrane across the shoulders to help protect against the worst of the weather and the double back vents with button detailing add to the overall elegance of this jacket.

Sizes: 34 - 44 Colours: Navy RRP: £279.95 Also available in Keepers Tweed (Without stretch side panel) & Junior sizes also available. www.equetech.com

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lifestyle Buckler Boots introduces BBZ5060 boot with PropTop™ design Many readers will associate Buckler Boots neoprene/rubber Buckbootz with their well known safety wellington which is Europe’s number one boot in its category. However, the development, design and testing which goes into Buckbootz Safety product is put to good use by the Buckler Boots design team based at Dundee and they have come up trumps with an exciting new non-safety style: BBZ5060.

This is the first style to feature Buckler Boots PropTop™ design which stops the top of the boots folding in when they are being put on, and which can be a frustrating characteristic of boots of this type which are experiencing a boom in popularity.

BBZ5060 PropTop™ are available now in sizes 5 -13 at your Buckler Boots dealer. For more product and stockist information call 01382 82 82 00 or email info@bucklerboots. com

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lifestyle Polo anyone?

By Paul Tinson

The ‘ Spanish Riding Polo Boot’ is not only popular with polo riders, but they also make a great training boot for style conscious riders and a fashion statement teamed with dark denim and a poncho for the ultimate in equestrian chic.

Featuring a central front zip, over-strap with popper for a smart and practical detail and Good Year welted leather sole, these boots are styled in a beautiful quality Spanish leather for stunning good looks and performance!

Perfect for life in the saddle or the city!

RSABI Great Glen Challenge 2015 raises over £59,000 for Scotland’s rural workforce Scotland’s rural charity, RSABI is celebrating following confirmation that its Great Glen Challenge event has raised in excess of £59,000, smashing its initial target of £50,000, having raised £47,000 last year. These funds will help RSABI provide advice, support and financial aid to people struggling to cope from agricultural and other land-based industrial backgrounds throughout Scotland.

The Great Glen Challenge event, sponsored

by Ledingham Chalmers, solicitors, saw 100 competitors run, cycle, kayak and walk 70km from Invermoriston to Fort William on 28 August.

This year’s event was the biggest yet, with 25 teams of four people from across a wide spectrum of agricultural and other land-based businesses and organisations. Royal Bank of Scotland were crowned winners with two teams from CKD Galbraith

RRP: £280.00 Colours: Black, Tan, Navy and Chocolate Brown Available in unisex sizing Sizes: UK 2.5 – 12 www.thespanishbootcompany.co.uk 140

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RURAL CHARITY RSABI SMASHES FUNDRAISING TARGET following closely behind in second and third position.

RSABI’s event director, Paul Tinson said: “We could not be more delighted with the total amount raised as everyone knows, this summer has pushed many involved in Scotland’s rural sector to breaking point with prolonged, poor weather and inadequate market returns. This represents a tremendous achievement from the agriculture community to raise so much money for such a worthy cause”. s 23!") IS THE 3COTTISH charity which provides financial support, advice and help to improve the lives of individuals and their dependents, where these individuals rely, or have relied, upon land based employment and who through age, injury, illness or other misfortune, now experience hardship.

Contact: www.rsabi.org. uk or 0300 111 4166.

TW: @RSABI FB: RSABI. Call RSABI on 0300 111 4166 or visit www.rsabi.org.uk

ART with Carole Ingram & Hilary Gauci

Looking at the work of artists inspired by Scotland's rural surroundings and culture

Sarah Coonan This month we are featuring the work of Aberdeenshire ceramicist, Sarah Coonan. A graduate of Grays School of Art, Sarah enjoys the creative challenge of producing unique earthenware and porcelain objects. Her design process is often sparked through visual or verbal experiences which provide a springboard to new and exciting designs.

Her work displays great attention to detail and is representational, often drawing inspiration from patterns found within nature or manmade structures.

Each new piece of work requires careful planning to ensure the final outcome is successful. Her best selling porcelain eggs have an appealing quirkiness and are cast in her own handmade moulds and then fired multiple times in the kiln in order to harden, glaze and embellish them. Each egg is highly glazed with a motto inside and has a high quality gold edging.

Sarah’s range is constantly expanding and currently includes an extensive jewellery range, homeware gift items and bespoke work.

Commissions are welcome and Sarah enjoys working with her clients to create unique pieces.

Work by Sarah can be found in galleries across Scotland including Inchmore Gallery, Inverness, The Quay Gallery, Aberdour and Junction Arts in Aberdeen. Work is also available through www.notonthehighstreet.com/sarahcoonan. Contact email: info@ sarahcoonan.com

Bespoke porcelain eggs

Ceramic wellies

Carole Ingram, an artist in oils. Children and animal portraiture a speciality. www.caroleingram.co.uk www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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@home Time for those little comforts in life Wonderful woolly cushions – and a great readers offer!

Having purchased a few of these fab cushions at the Perth Show, our editor is delighted to introduce you to…

A cottage industry based in Stirlingshire, The Woolly Cushion Company has been busy this summer exhibiting around Scotland at agricultural shows, game fairs and horse trials. Their fabulous collection of handmade Scottish cushions are extremely tactile and available in various quirky designs and tartans. Possibly the perfect Christmas gift for a loved one?

Guaranteed to bring a smile to their face and brighten up any sofa, that’s for sure!

All their cushions are approx 35x50cm and include feather cushion pads although hollow fibre are available on request.

Prices range between £42-£48 However we are delighted that owner/maker Gwenda Watt is offering Farming Scotland Magazine readers a 10% discount online until 31st November 2015.

Visit www.thewoollycushioncompany.com Use discount code FSM10.

Glencoe Tartan Chair

Having purchased your wonderful ‘woolly cushions’, all you need now is a great looking chair to compliment them.

Well, this elegant covering from Plumbs should fit the bill.

Why not revamp your old classic settee and chairs with this Glencoe tartan to bring a feeling of baronial opulence to your cosy room?

Plumbs have been around for quite a while, a family-run business which has been offering furniture covering solutions for more than 50 years. They strive to offer value for money as well as a quality made-to-measure product.

For more information: www.plumbs.co.uk

Breakfast in bed?

Well, you will be a tray…

This winter, at the Secret Linen Store, they have embraced contemporary steel grey in the bedroom. They have added three new statement bed linen designs to their ever growing range, and a super satin sheet and valance collection to compliment them all.

This breakfast / late night snack tray sums up how we are feeling on these cold mornings – yes, a little pampering would be nice!

For more information: www.secretlinenstore.com

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@home Seletti Monkey Ceiling Light

And finally….

Tartan baubles Yes we know!!!......Christmas is coming fast!

So why not add some Scottish style to your Xmas tree with tartan baubles like these?

To be honest, you can find them all over the place, from discount stores to dedicated Xmas specialists, and in the High Street.

So, not hard to find, but as we (Editors family) ditched the tinsel years ago – we would recommend a little ‘tartanisation’ of your Nordic Spruce!

Feeling a little cheeky?...and looking for something that little bit different?

Why not Invite this charming character into your home and transform your space into a jungle with the Monkey ceiling light from Seletti. Made from resin, this charming monkey comes with an LED lightbulb and can hang subtly in the corner of your room whilst providing light for you to read, relax or explore by! This whimsical lamp can be teamed with the other members of the collection to create a striking and unique lighting display.

Hang in a lounge to add a jungle element to your interior, in the hallway to welcome your guests or in your bedroom as an occasional light. The cold burning LED lights make this ceiling light perfect for use in a child’s room - go the extra mile with a jungle themed bedroom or playroom with this cheeky chap!

Height 76.5cm x Width 20.5cm x Depth 37cm (approx) Price: £205.00 For more information: www.design55online.co.uk

The Woolly Cushion Company

Special readers offer on our own branded single malt whisky.

We are proud to offer a selection of our luxury handmade Scottish cushions.

SEE PAGE 97

Gwenda Watt: 07876 028764

For a gift that is truly unique.

www.thewoollycushioncompany www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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cars UK pricing and specification for new Mercedes-Benz Coupé announced The new C-Class Coupé is now available to order, priced from £30,955 OTR, ahead of first UK deliveries in December.

With four engine options and two model lines, the new C-Class Coupé builds on the specification of the best-selling C-Class Saloon and Estate.

The range starts with the C 200 petrol engine, which produces 184 hp and is available with a six-speed manual (123 g/km of CO2) or 7G-Tronic seven-speed automatic gearbox (125 g/km).

The new C 300 engine produces 245 hp and comes only with the 7G-Tronic gearbox, with CO2

from 146 g/km. Two diesel engines are available: the 170 hp C 220 d, with a six-speed manual (106 g/km) or 9G-Tronic ninespeed automatic gearbox (106 g/km), and the C 250 d, which produces 204 hp and comes with a 9G-Tronic gearbox (109 g/km).

Two model lines are available: Sport and AMG Line. Standard equipment includes LED headlights and tail-lights; Active Park Assist; PARKTRONIC parking sensors; a reversing camera; sports seats with ARTICO upholstery including heated front seats; 7-inch colour screen; Garmin navigation;

electrically folding mirrors; and Collision Prevention Assist Plus automatic braking system. The

C 300 model also features as standard a sports exhaust system with switchable sound.

All-new Nissan Navara Raising the bar for quality and performance, the allnew Nissan Navara is ready for launch at the company’s Barcelona plant. Harnessing the 4X4 expertise of Nissan’s Spanish operations, the new NP300 Navara has been finetuned for European customers and will be built on a renewed production line in Barcelona.

On a visit to the plant, Paul Willcox, Chairman, Nissan Europe, led the traditional Japanese Daruma ceremony to mark the realisation of 80m investment for the NP300 Navara, the quality of which has

heralded the launch of a new fiveyear Nissan Light Commercial Vehicle warranty.

Willcox said: “With 80 years of pick-up heritage, this new NP300 Navara arrives with the off-road ability, durability and loading capacity you would expect from the name. “What makes the fullyupdated Navara truly unique is the driving experience, style and comfort that it inherits from of the Nissan crossover range, like Qashqai, Juke and X-Trail. “With the expertise of our team in Spain, a totally renewed production line in Barcelona, and our new five-

year Nissan Light Commercial Vehicle warranty, Navara is

further evidence that Nissan quality has never been better.”

McLaren celebrates 50 years of historic US race series with limited run 650s Can-Am McLaren established itself throughout the 1960s and 70s as a world-beating force in one of the most extreme forms of motorsport, Can-Am, winning five consecutive championships between 1967 and 1971. In honour of the 50th anniversary of the 1966 inaugural season, McLaren Special Operations (MSO) has created the limited production 650S Can-Am which takes its inspiration from the race cars of this golden age of motorsport. The 650S Can-Am 144

can be commissioned now priced at £255,850 with deliveries set to commence in the spring of 2016, 50 years on from the first race at Mont Tremblant, Canada. Just 50 examples will be produced globally, all based on the 650S Spider. The Can-Am series, or Canadian-American Challenge Cup, was a no-holds-barred battle of power and speed around some of the most iconic circuits in North America and Canada. The championship started in 1966, only a year after Bruce McLaren

Motor Racing was established and in the series that followed, the

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young Kiwi became one of most successful names in the sport.

cars The new BMW M2 The new BMW M2 is the latest compact sports coupe in a long line of legendary road and racing BMWs, such as the 2002 Turbo, E30 M3 and 1M Coupé. Cast in a similar mould, it brings the concept right up to date with the latest in motor sport derived technology.

The result is a powerful performer that delivers genuine driver satisfaction on the road, and extreme capability on the racing circuit.

Powered by a new, specifically developed, 3.0-litre straight-six engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, the latest product from BMW M GmbH produces a formidable 370hp, enabling an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. When equipped with the optional seven-speed M DCT gearbox, the M2 can sprint from rest to 62mph in just 4.3 seconds.

Volvo Cars unveils global electrification strategy Volvo Cars has announced one of the automotive industry’s most comprehensive electrification strategies in which plug-in hybrids will be introduced across its entire range. It will develop an entirely new range of electrified smaller cars and build a fully electric car for sale by 2019.

As part of this new strategy, the Swedish car company said it expects electrified vehicles to account for up to 10 per cent of total car sales in the medium term. The first element of the

new electrification strategy involves the introduction of plug-in hybrid versions of its 90 series and 60 series larger cars, based on the company’s new Scalable Product Architecture This process has already begun with the launch of the T8 Twin Engine All-Wheel Drive plug-in hybrid version of its new XC90 SUV and will continue with plug-in hybrid versions of the new S90 premium sedan and other forthcoming models. Volvo Cars will also broaden the

range of plug-in hybrid cars it offers with the introduction of

a new front-wheel drive Twin Engine variant.

Unprecedented numbers surge to buy ultra low emission cars Latest new car registration data shows booming demand for plugin cars as motorists tune in to the cost-saving benefits of ultra low emission motoring. Analysis by Go Ultra Low shows that 20,992 motorists made the leap to plugin power between January and September this year, bumper growth of 138.5% against 2014.

Fuelling the demand is a greater choice of models, with more than 27 pure electric or plug-in hybrid cars now available in the UK, ranging from high-performance sports cars to capable family run-arounds. The new data shows consumer appetite rising rapidly for plug-in hybrid

models with demand accelerating ahead 226.5% against 2014 with 14,041 registrations. Head of Go Ultra Low, Poppy Welch, said, “The growth in plug-in car registrations is excellent news and in line with our expectations.

This trend should continue over the course of this year as we know that motorists are keen to achieve maximum miles for the lowest cost, while minimising emissions and environmental impact.”

The newest statistics reveal that Mitsubishi leads the new registrations charge, with 9,303 of its flagship Outlander PHEV sold since the start of 2015. Nissan

follows with its all-electric LEAF racking-up 4,285 registrations, and BMW’s i3 is the nation’s third

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most popular ultra low emission vehicle, also nearly doubling its tally with 1,564 registrations.

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PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Douglas Bell Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has appointed Douglas Bell as its new head of industry development.

A BSc Agriculture graduate of Edinburgh University, Mr Bell has 30 years experience of delivering high level management advice and training through routes ranging from consultancy and project design to facilitation and a

Page Turner’s

BOOK REVIEW A hymn of praise for the railway

hands-on approach.

Uel Morton, QMS Chief Executive, said: “Doug brings a wealth of experience, as well as core skills, to the role and we look forward to him joining our staff team.

“QMS’s industry development activities are an important area of our workload and we are very encouraged by the strong interest from farmers in grassroots activities aimed at improving the profitability, sustainability and confidence of the Scottish red meat industry.”

Duncan Pullar Continuing growth in the numbers of Stabiliser herds and performance recorded cows across the UK and Ireland has prompted the breed’s parent company, the Beef Improvement Group, to appoint Dr Duncan Pullar as Breed Development Manager.

Dr Pullar, who held prominent technical and R&D roles in the former MLC, EBLEX and most latterly AHDB Dairy, will be responsible for building on the strong platform already established for the Stabiliser cattle breed.

Commenting on his appointment, which he took up on 1 October 2015, Dr Pullar said: “I am pleased to be joining this progressive company at such a critical and exciting time. The interest in Stabilisers is clearly demonstrated by the significant growth in cattle numbers, and investment in precise breeding tools is only likely to increase the success of the breed.

John Smout A new area business manager, with hands on experience in parlour consultancy, has been appointed for the North of the UK, by leading dairy hygiene business Progiene.

John Smout developed his knowledge in dairy from a young age, originally gaining on-farm experience working on a dairy farm while growing up. He has since worked with a midlands based milking systems specialist, where he turned his practical knowledge to good use in providing on-farm consultancy.

John is especially interested in working with farmers to piece together the on-farm jigsaw that results in finding long term solutions to everyday challenges. “Focusing on the cause of the problem, rather than just treating the after-effects is much more satisfying, and helps farmers see the bigger picture in terms of improving performance over time,” says John.

Dr David Dobbin CBE Dr David Dobbin CBE has been elected Chairman of Dairy UK at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting.

Dr Dobbin is Chief Executive of United Dairy Farmers.

Dr Dobbin said: “I am acutely aware that I am taking on the Chair of Dairy UK at a time when our industry faces significant challenges along the supply chain for farmers and processors alike. While we look to the Government and EU Commission to support the dairy sector in the current global market crisis, we must look first and foremost to what we can do ourselves.

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Maps are associated with exploration, journey and adventure. They hold the promise of places yet to be discovered. Railway maps go further, suggesting the thrill of the train – a form of transport that has captured the imagination and heart of this nation for nearly 200 years - and bringing the reader a visual history of the criss-crossing of the land.

If anyone is in doubt about the Scottish love affair with the train they need only look to the recent opening of the Borders Railway line.

126,000 passengers travelled the line in the month following the official opening, travelling through the landscape not only on modern stock but on majestic steam trains for an outing with all of the sounds, sights and smells that some of us can just about recollect from childhood, from life in a simpler age.

But what of the impact of rail on our land? As the new Borders Railway line reopened, publishing house Birlinn was putting the final touches to ‘The Railway Atlas of Scotland’, recording in glorious detail

both the effect of the railway on the Scottish landscape and the impact of the country’s geography on rail development over the last two centuries.

181 maps have been collated here, from the start of the nineteenth century to the present day, and this large and impressive book offers a fascinating record of historical lines and stations that are no more.

Richly detailed maps, some of which are works of art in their own right, sit alongside deceptively simple, maps.

Taken together they tell a powerful story and provide an invaluable addition to the rail enthusiast’s bookshelf.

Congratulations have to go the creator of this work, David Spaven, who has researched his subject in great detail, The depth of his knowledge informs the commentary and adds to the enjoyment of this magnificent book.

The Railway Atlas of Scotland: Two Hundred Years of History in Maps is published by Birlinn Ltd and available now. (£30 hbk)

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