Farming Scotland Magazine (March-April Edition 2016)

april 2016

Scotland’s national farming & rural lifestyle magazine

Tuathanachas Alba

magazine

Profile CC Powell Sprayers Balers

Beatha an Eilean Life on the Islands

Irrigation Fencing Flavour of Scotland The Juicy Meat Co /UR &ARM 3HOP Jamesfield Farm Shop

‘Isolation Shepherd’ Part 3 of our book serialisation Alpaca Show Farm Buildings Roundhouse Building Solutions

World Farming Peru

Equine Tried & Tested With Melanie Scott

New to Market Quill Productions

Country Woman Meeting Ali McManus

£3.00

Topic Chronic Liver Fluke

ART Featuring Val Thomson Plus $ROVERS 4ALES s %STATEs /RGANIC &ARMING "EAUTIFUL 4RACTORS s ,IFESTYLE s #ARS including all of our regular news sections and columns

contents

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april 2016

26

34

55

MAIN FEATURES

DROVERS TALES

NEWS

14

Sprayers

61

26

CC Powell Profile

38

Irrigation

40

Balers

62

Fencing

6 10 31 32 37 48 52 64 67 74 78 83 86 87 88 90 94 117 121 124

Diary of Ken Headspeath

ISOLATION SHEPHERD 72

Part 3 of our book serialisation

FLAVOUR of SCOTLAND

BEATHA AN EILEAN

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76

Juicy Meat Co.

OUR FARM SHOP 25

Jamesfield Farm Shop

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WHISKY 77

WORLD FARMING Peru

Life on the Islands

Special Limited Offer

EQUINE TRIED & TESTED

ALPACA SHOW

84

49

NEW TO MARKET

BEAUTIFUL TRACTORS

50

93

Coming to Lanark

Quill Productions

FARM BUILDINGS 59

With Roundhouse Building Solutions

By Melanie Scott

Massey Harris & International Harvester

COUNTRY WOMAN

Arable Potatoes EU News Organic farming Environment Renewable Energy Livestock Dairy Sheep Pigs Estate Horses Gadgets Science & Technology Future Farmer Finance Machinery Lifestyle @Home Cars

COLUMNS 6 7 13 23 24 33

Editor’s bit In my view Crofting Let’s Cook Farmers Markets Scottish Organic Producers Association Farming for the Climate Quality Meat Scotland The Vet Scottish Government Young Shepherd

TOPIC

ART

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116 Featuring Val Thomson

37 53 57 66 69

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Christina Fleming Email: christina@atholedesign.com

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

114 Ali McManus

Chronic Liver fluke

EDITOR & ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Athole Murray Fleming Tel. 01738 639747 E-mail: mail@farmingscotlandmagazine.com

116 70 75 79 80 81 82 85 89 92 113 115 118 119 126 126

NSA Scotland NFU Scotland Conservation Matters Off the Hook On the Peg Scottish Land & Estates Equine Angle S.A.Y.F.C. The Money Man Farm Watch Southern Belle R.S.A.B.I. Style People on the move Book Review

SUBSCRIPTION 120 Getting your own personal copy posted directly to you is very easy.

NEXT ISSUE Will be out on 1st May. Our ROYAL HIGHLAND SHOW EDITION, plus features on Game Fair, ScotSheep, Scotgrass, Beef Expo, Milking & Dairy Equipment, Shearing & Potato Equipment 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. Contents disclaimer: FARMING SCOTLAND MAGAZINE is not responsible for any factual inaccuracies within press information supplied to us. Any concerns regarding such matters should be directed to the supplier of the materials.

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

ISSN: 2041–918X

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arable editor's bit When the rains come

As Spring kicks in at last, I have to remind myself that we have had so much rain over the last year, including last summer, that the time is right for a total re-think on how we deal with rainwater in this country.

We build on flood plains, creating concrete barriers for rain to drain away naturally. We have allowed our rivers and streams to silt up in order to save money. We have cut down trees which soak up water… in other words, we have cocked up our natural flood defences.

This is only my personal reaction to the dreadful weather and concerns about global warming, and how this might affect farming.

As a matter of supreme urgency, our Government, Environmental experts and the rural industries must sit down together and work out a way ahead, to utilise nature as a friend in defending our villages, towns, cities and indeed farmland from these dreadful floods.

Nature always wins in the end, and we humans must learn this, and work with nature, not against it.

The answers are out there in the natural countryside, so we must realise this and use them.

Like I say, just my own personal reaction to the recent weather effect on our lands.

Slàinte, Athole.

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Farmers’ use of renewable fertilisers to be revolutionised by new research Farmers’ and growers’ confidence in digestate and compost has been given a welcome boost, as new groundbreaking research published today, shows smart use of these renewable fertilisers can increase yields and reduce bills with no negative impact on crop quality or safety.

The programme of field experiments, ‘Digestate & Compost in Agriculture’ (DCAgri), confirms that foodbased digestate - a product of anaerobic digestion - is a valuable source of readily available nitrogen; the single most important nutrient influencing crop yields. This new data will enable farmers to predict how much nitrogen the digestate will supply their crops, allowing them to confidently reduce the amount of bagged fertiliser without affecting yields.

For compost – made from recycled green garden waste and food waste – the research shows it builds levels of soil organic matter1 more quickly than other organic materials, such as farmyard manure, which will help deliver stronger and more resilient crops.

In addition, both digestate and compost provide crops with a measured boost of phosphorus, potassium and

sulphur, helping to maintain soil fertility.

Crops grown with an integrated nutrient plan combining bagged fertilisers and digestate or compost resulted in higher yields2 and better financial returns.

The five year research programme3, led by resource efficiency charity WRAP, demonstrated that the timing and method of digestate application is critical if the maximum value is to be gained.

If digestate is used in the spring on actively growing crops, or other times when there is a crop nitrogen requirement, farmers and growers can significantly increase its nitrogen value. For best results digestate should be applied using precision application methods such as

band spreading and shallow injection.

With compost use, the research confirmed that it should be seen as a means to build up long term soil nitrogen rather than a short term replacement4.

The value in compost lies in its ability to build soil organic matter more quickly than other organic materials; retention of the organic matter in soils supplied by green compost was almost double that of farmyard manure indicating it’s more resistant to decomposition.

Review the DC-Agri summary and full reports at http://www.wrap.org.uk/dcagri-reports Read the good practice guides at http://www.wrap.org. uk/using-renewable-fertilisers

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In my view

arable Prevention rather than cure will be key to 2016 winter wheat margins

Ministerial Speeches

By John Cameron Balbuthie, Kilconquhar, Fife

Adopting a preventative approach to disease control and choosing optimum fungicide levels matched to risk factors such as variety and weather, rather than simply cutting back as a reaction to low grain prices, could be crucial for 2016 winter wheat margins, say agronomy experts.

The message comes just as NIAB-TAG technical director, Bill Clark, has developed a new computer model for 2016 looking at the effect of fungicide inputs on winter wheat.

Developed for the ARTIS training initiative, the model shows that, as fungicide input increases, so too does margin, before flattening off at the optimum, but then tailing off only gradually once the optimum is passed. Mr Clark interprets this as showing margin is at less risk if slightly more fungicide is applied than slightly less.

The model also indicates that, for both responsive and less responsive varieties, wheat price has relatively little impact on optimum fungicide level, Mr Clark notes.

“Disease-prone varieties do have a higher fungicide requirement than resistant varieties,” explains Mr Clark, “but the wheat price has little impact on the actual optimum.

“Wheat price has to fall a long way before you make radical changes to your programme.

Even at £100 per tonne the optimum fungicide input only changes slightly.

“Many farmers think they can spend less money, but that is a risk because nobody can predict what the future disease risk is going to be. Margin loss from spending too little in a high disease year is three times the margin loss from spending too much in a low disease year,” he adds.

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This is the time of year for conferences and AGMs. Early January sees the famous ‘Oxford Conference’ followed by the ‘Carnoustie Conference’ here in Scotland. It is also a time for some of the industry’s more important AGMs – in particular the AGM of the Scottish National Farmers Union which in recent years has been held in St Andrews.

This is an important occasion for the industry because not only do we have a presentation from our own Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture but in recent years we have also had an address from a DEFRA Minister. There are not many meetings where we hear from two senior Ministers and this year once again we will hear from DEFRA Minister George Eustace and our own long serving Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead.

Given the current state of the industry – both politically and financially I guess Richard Lochhead must be thinking he has spoken at easier meetings!

So what will he be likely to focus on at this – his most important industry meeting of the year? If one were drawing up a ‘balance sheet’ of his remarks what would it be like?

On the ‘credit side’. There are signs of progress on two existing industry chestnuts - a redistribution of the much criticised award of the convergence fund awarded by the EU, - of which Scotland indeed got a bad deal, bearing in mind the original purpose of the award and also signs of progress on the livestock levy repatriation in respect of Scottish Stock slaughtered in England. Both of these have caused much

agro in Scotland. Another ‘credit entry’ in the balance sheet would be the introduction of the new ‘Beef Efficiency Scheme’ with a calf payment for those taking part.

The availability of some compensation money in respect of flood damage will also be welcomed by those affected.

On the debit side of the balance sheet the list is perhaps not so long but in terms of impact on the industry it is more meaningful.

First of these must be the delay – and the implications of the delay, - of the New Basic Farm Payments and the continuing uncertainty about when it will be fully paid to farmers. Also in connection with these payments is the delay in the long promised simplification of the scheme, particularly in respect of the new ‘Greening’ requirements.

What is concerning farmers about these payments is the ongoing uncertainty and Lochhead and his officials can expect to face some pretty direct questions about this at St Andrews. However it might just be worth making the point that Lochhead has now been our Cabinet Secretary for some eight years and over the piece he has served agriculture pretty well in Scotland.

Animal Health is just one example of where we in Scotland are well ahead of the rest of the UK. So whilst he is deserving of some criticism over the payments issue let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater. If there is an obvious ‘racing certainty’ desperate to take over the Agricultural portfolio in Scotland – then I haven’t yet heard of him!

arable Triple-active brings effective weed management to spring sown cereals With the reduction in available actives making grass weed control in spring sown crops increasingly difficult, Tower, Adama’s threeway residual herbicide, is the ideal solution to this season’s weed threat.

The inclusion of spring-sown crops is rapidly being adopted as one of the most effective ways of controlling black-grass populations (the latest Andersons figures for the period from 2010 to 2016 show a 23% increase in spring wheat and a 21% increase in spring barley). As such, growers are facing a renewed battle against additional weeds including Annual meadowgrass (AMG) and a variety of broad-leaved species.

Tower is a unique residual herbicide containing

300g/l pendimethalin, 40g/l diflufenican and 250g/l chlorotoluron – a triple active combination which is exclusive to Adama Agricultural Solutions UK Ltd. This combination of actives provides excellent standalone Annual meadowgrass control as well as better than 95% control of problem weeds such as Common poppy and Cleavers.

As a spring pre-emergence treatment, Tower has no varietal restrictions and, conveniently, has both spring wheat and spring barley as on-label crops.

“Unlike competing products, many of which rely on an EAMU (Extension of Authorisation for Minor Use) for use on either spring wheat or spring barley,

but rarely both, Tower has a label extension making it readily suitable for both crops,” explains Hannah Towler, Adama’s cereal

herbicide technical specialist.

“As such, it is the perfect one-hit product for controlling a wide spectrum of weeds.”

£1m AHDB soils call sets out five-year research partnership plan A new £1 million AHDB research call marks the start of a five-year partnership initiative to devise and implement a programme of research on soil health and biology.

The call is the result of a collaboration between AHDB’s crop and livestock sectors and the British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO).

It aims to complement research which is being commissioned as part of the recent £1.5 million call for soil and water research partnerships issued by AHDB. This call focused on the management of rotations, soil structure and water. The resulting applications are currently being assessed.

Outcomes arising from the latest call will greatly improve knowledge of soil biology, including how it can be measured and managed in agricultural systems.

It is hoped that the results will build understanding of the multitude of organisms living in

the soil – including earthworms, nematodes, protozoa, fungi and bacteria – and, crucially, their role in crop and livestock productivity.

Dr Bill Parker, AHDB Director of Research & Knowledge Exchange for Crops, said: “We are opting for a partnership approach because it is a flexible funding model which allows researchers from across research and industry to work together.

“It also promotes dynamic research that can flex in response to new information, rather than research that remains on a course fixed in year one.

“This is vital for any research programme investigating soil biology as it is a field of science with so many unknowns.”

The flexibility will also allow the Research Partnership to build on existing AHDB collaborations and leverage funding from other sources, such as PGRO, UK Research Councils, Scottish Government and Innovate UK.

First ever UK digital crop map from satellite data The first ever digital map of the UK’s arable crops has been created through an innovative collaboration between environmental researchers and business using data from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 Radar Satellite.

The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH) has joined forces with Remote Sensing Applications Consultants Ltd (RSAC) to produce Land Cover plus: Crops. It combines CEH’s existing UK Land Cover Map with new analysis 8

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of radar satellite data to map arable crops and grassland at the field level.

Land Cover plus: Crops is one of the first operational products to be obtained from the European Copernicus Sentinel Mission, which is a longterm programme providing a series of satellites for reliable, repeated monitoring of the earth surface.

A time series of Sentinel-1 radar data have been used to produce the 2015 map, with more than 350 individual

arable images of the UK being processed covering the whole crop growing season. Radar data are not affected by cloud cover and can be acquired day or night under all weather conditions.

Over the next three years, crop maps will be updated annually, building up rotational cropping information for the whole UK. From 2016 onwards crop mapping will also incorporate the use of Sentinel-2 optical data.

Annual mapping of arable crops over the whole country brings a range of potential applications, including the analysis of crop rotations and changing cropping patterns for crop science, as well as uses in catchmentsensitive farming, improved catchment modelling, wildlife conservation and the potential evaluation of crop diseases.

More precise knowledge of crop areas and field locations

Online guide gives valuable Septoria advice

will provide policy-makers, regulatory agencies and land managers with better evidence to inform planning and decision-making.

The Land Cover plus: Crops vector product will be available to licence from March 2016 for the whole of the UK or for customised areas or crop types.

Adama Agricultural Solutions UK has launched a new online disease guide to help arable farmers improve the control of septoria in cereal crops.

With septoria fungicide resistance becoming an increasingly common constraint on disease management, future crop protection strategies need careful planning to provide effective disease prevention and to combat the threat of increasing resistance.

Adama has published a digital septoria guide, which not only explains the life cycle of the disease, but also outlines potential control strategies and effective fungicide options.

The online guide – available at http://www.adamadigital. co.uk/septoria/index.html pays special attention to the

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benefits of switching to robust, early preventative treatments rather than relying on the later application of curative products.

The new guide features video and schematic content and is split into three main sections: the septoria disease cycle, control strategies, and managing the disease in the future. Within the latter section, the guide explains the benefits of building a fungicide strategy based on the foundation of a multi-site fungicide (e.g. folpet) in conjunction with azole and SDHI chemistries. The guide also explains why multi-site chemicals are vital in the fight against further resistance to fungicides.

For more information about Adama’s septoria guide visit www.adama.com/uk/en/

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potatoes Haithprocess washer With processors always looking for improved technology on potato intake lines washing has made big strides forward to accommodate today’s strict requirements.

At Haith we take the view that we must offer all our customers an industrial built system which will provide reliability, excellent washing along with foreign particle removal to meet the demands of today’s market.

The latest washer in our range can offer all this in one complete system, with its robust design, integral stone separation system on the infeed of the barrel, automatic sludge and waste removal with floating waste system on out feed of the barrel for removal of hollow heart potatoes, wood, plastic or any other foreign material.

We designed a unique shaft sealing system which allows us to mounted all the bearings externally which makes them easily accessible for servicing and gives extended life unlike other machines on the market

where bearings are running under water.

The automated sludge removal system is very effective for keeping the water usage to a minimum and containing the waste,the control system has a HMI touch screen

which enables the operator to make adjustment and control the whole system from one point.

The new Haith system offers the end user a cost affective, robust, compact and reliable solution for potato processing intake lines.

New resource to improve chip quality With the frying trade accounting for 12% of the GB potato crop, ensuring quality across the sector has never been more important.

In a bid to help the chip shop industry keep customer satisfaction high and compete in the increasingly aggressive quick service restaurant (QSR) sector, AHDB Potatoes has invested

in a new online resource www. bestchips.co.uk The site delivers good potato management and best practise procedures, as well as marketing tactics and insights into takeaway and chip consumption patterns, to provide chip shop owners and staff with invaluable, long-term business benefits.

The site is split into four easy-to-navigate sections, including: Good potato management – practical advice on buying potatoes; including varietal information, correct storage and stock rotation practises to maximise profit and minimise waste, as well as best practise

PACKAGED POTATO & VEGETABLE COOLING SYSTEMS

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LT 2QD ON 7 TI ld S 71 A R ffie 99 GE he 236 I FR d, S 14 81 RE oa D 01 686 R Y 3 LE ale FIEL 4 2 D d F 1 y A 1 WITH OPTIONAL BR bbe SHE ax: 0 A l: F 9 ‘AUTO SWIVEL-HEAD AIR DISTRIBUTION e 92 T WILL FIT MOST EXISTING SYSTEMS Patent Application No 9320628.2

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peeling and frying procedures to deliver consistent results Chip tips – simple downloadable guides with quick reference tips for great tasting and healthier chips, as well as advice on how to run successful promotions Marketing and promotion – ideas to help successfully

potatoes build local PR and social media profiles Understanding the market – delving into consumption habits and the offers which most excite customers Kate Cox, marketing manager for AHDB Potatoes, said: “We recognise that the fish and chip shop industry is unique, and as such it requires market-specific information. We have collated all of the material from our exisiting ‘chip skills’ portal from http://potatoes.ahdb. org.uk/ and added information about market influences and consumption patterns, to create a dedicated, one-stop-shop for the sector.

“As we know, competition in the QSR sector is intense and this means we must do all we can to help chip shop businesses stand out for the right reasons.

Top quality chips and simple promotional tools and techniques can make a real diffrence and

have significant impact, in terms of sales, awareness and customer retention – both in the short and longer term.

“We developed www. bestchips.co.uk to be the go-to hub for best practise information for chip shop businesses; we believe it will add real value to the sector and help improve chip quality and boost sales back down the chain as a result.”

Boost potato yields by addressing nutrient deficiencies Many potato crops are likely to be suffering from nutrient deficiencies, meaning growers have the potential to significantly boost both yields and quality.

According to soil scientist Simon Fox from Emerald Crop Science, up to 50% of soils in Scotland are deficient in important trace elements, impacting on yield,

crop health and tuber quality.

Speaking at the SAC Association of Potato Producers’ annual conference in Perth on Wednesday (20 January), Mr Fox said growers could boost yields by an average of 15% by adopting a more comprehensive approach to crop nutrition.

“If you can grow potatoes

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in the desert you can grow them anywhere; it’s all about meeting the crop’s needs. In the UK we tend to only focus on the three main nutrients, and completely forget about all the others that are just as important for optimum growth,” he said.

Between 35% and 50% of Scottish soils were potentially

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potatoes deficient in molybdenum, calcium, sulphur, zinc and magnesium, with 18-25% deficient in boron and copper. “This means the crops will be more prone to disease, will suffer from lower yields, less vigour, lower quality and inefficient use of the main nutrients,” explained Mr Fox. “A crop that’s deficient in molybdenum will look like it needs nitrogen, as molybdenum is required to process nitrate into ammonium. You can put all the nitrogen on that you want and it will make no difference if you don’t address the molybdenum too.”

Independent trials over the past three years had shown that using Emerald Crop Science’s OptiYield programme increased marketable potato yields by an average of 15% - or 6.95t/ha. Based on a comprehensive soil analysis, it formulates the exact nutrient requirements of the crop, delivered in a foliar application to maximise efficacy.

“Foliar programmes can be precisely timed to crop requirement, and don’t suffer from runoff or nutrient lock-up in the soil,” said Mr Fox. “Between 85% and 95% of the fertiliser is absorbed into the crop, compared to a little as 5% in the soil. But it’s essential to use the right formulation so the products are easily absorbed and translocated within the plant to the correct growth area. Like any foliar spray if you get it wrong you can do more harm than good.”

Average potato yields had plateaued over the past 30 years, despite advances in breeding and

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technology, he added. “The main reason is that we’re not meeting the crops’ nutritional needs. If we just get a bit more scientific about it the rewards will be considerable.”

Dr Stuart Wale, a consultant with SRUC and who organised the conference, said the theme of the event had been the new six P’s: Promote potatoes with passion, and produce potatoes to perfection.

“There have been many key messages to take away from today - each season brings its own issues and the trick is to be sufficiently resilient to ensure that you are not wrong-footed,” he said. “It’s a technically challenging world we live in and growers need all the help they can get.”

£150k potato storage fellowship cultivates cutting edge fruit research Capitalising on work from the horticulture sector, Dr Richard Colgan, leading post-harvest physiologist at the Natural Resources Institute (NRI), aims to improve the delivery timing of potato crops into the UK retail and processing sector in one of three AHDB Potatoes awarded fellowships.

“Storage is key to potato production in Great Britain. Over 3¼ million tonnes are stored every year and crops can spend as long in the store as they do in the ground,” explained Dr Colgan.

“It is therefore critical to ensure that the storage phase is cost-effective for businesses and delivers the quality that markets

and consumers demand, at the right time.”

Using innovative apparatus and expertise from the fruit sector, the three year programme will investigate the effects of mineral nutrition on the storage behaviour of tubers. Specifically, the work will examine resistance to senescent and low temperature sweetening, alongside the impact of respiration and diffusion characteristics on the long-term storage potential of tubers.

The study hopes to improve the assessment of tuber maturity at the point of harvest, which will enable better forward

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planning for delivery of stored potato crops into the retail and processing sectors.

“Another important aspect of the work will be securing a UK community of fresh produce storage research skills for the future,” noted Dr Colgan. “So naturally I’m thrilled to be awarded this fellowship giving me the chance to invest my knowledge of potato post-harvest physiology and biochemistry, starting with early career scientist Cláudia Gonçalves da Silva Carvalho.”

Currently completing her AHDB funded PhD thesis on ‘Senescent Sweetening of Potatoes’ , Ms Carvalho, already with strong links across the

potatoes UK potato sector, will initially undertake short placements within industry before commencing an 18 month postdoctoral position in the second half of the Fellowship.

Maximising the value of collaboration in science, Dr Colgan, of the Produce Quality Centre (an NRI partnership with East Malling Research), will also receive support from AHDB Potatoes and their dedicated research and advisory facility, Sutton Bridge Crop Storage Research (SBCSR).

Expert inputs will come from SBCSR’s specialist team members Dr Glyn Harper and Adrian Briddon, along with Adrian Cunnington, head of the Sutton Bridge facility.

“Storage needs to be viable, efficient and cost-effective,” said Mr Cunnington. “We should take advantage of the opportunities for cross-over of experience and techniques utilised between the top-fruit sector and the potato industry.

On how the project will deliver to the industry, Mr Cunnington added, “Potatoes coming out of storage have to meet specific customer quality levels or else be threatened with rejection. Having the ability to identify and assess threats and predict what happens next in storage helps growers to make the right choices to keep tuber quality consistent; and this project will bring forward the ability to make those decisions.”

Building on his work to date around apples in stores and finalising the network of expertise, Dr Colgan announced, “We will be collaborating with ICA Ltd, UK-based experts in cold store facilities, testing a novel piece of equipment, the SafePod. “Primarily designed for apples in Controlled Atmosphere (CA) storage, we’re confident it can be applied to study tuber respiration in stores and will be a valuable tool in our programme of research.”

crofting Swings and Roundabouts

By Patrick Krause, Chief Executive, Scottish Crofting Federation

The year has started with extremes; extremes of weather, flooding, a drought of agricultural support payments, and, the ray of sunshine, a favourably revised Croft House Grant Scheme.

We have campaigned long and hard to have the croft house support scheme reviewed. It was already falling behind inflation back in 2004 when the loan element was dropped and it became a grant-only scheme. Since then it has never been reviewed; and so was seriously devalued.

The minister for crofting, Dr Aileen McLeod, asked what we thought about this scheme and how it could be improved, so we told her.

SCF took advice from our members, particularly young crofters, and submitted a comprehensive response to the subsequent consultation.

The government are to be praised for having taken this on board and to have acted on this advice. We are currently in dialogue regarding the reinstatement of a loan element to the scheme so we hope to see that in the next parliamentary session.

Things are not so rosy on the CAP payments front though.

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs,

Richard Lochhead, held a stakeholder meeting where he attempted to outline the background and the actions to cope with the apparent meltdown of the agricultural payments system. It was very unsatisfactory and crofters continue to face hardship.

They may have no monopoly on hardship, but high proportions of crofters survive on a very thin resource base, and so can be especially vulnerable to these kinds of cash flow delays. The uncertainty makes matters worse, and our feedback suggests that only a tiny percentage of crofters have received ‘Illustration of Entitlement’ letters.

The lack of information has exacerbated the problem, as this has meant many crofters have no idea how long they’re going to have to hang in there for.

We are worried about the possibility that, because so many crofters have ground in more than one region, often as a mix of region 1 inbye and region 3 hill ground, they may be disproportionately affected by delays associated with processing more complex cases. Unfortunately Mr Lochhead was not yet able to allay our fears on this.

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SPRAYERS

SPRAYERS INNOVATIONS & UPDATED SYSTEMS We take a brief look at some of the top brands available for the season ahead

AmaSelect individual nozzle control from Amazone Most sprayers still feature partwidth sectional shut-off via a central valve chest and around 3-5 m long nozzle sections across the boom width. These partwidth sections can be controlled automatically via GPS. However, by utilising the improved accuracy of this GPS technology, it means that by switching to individual nozzle shut-off, in comparison to a sprayer with boom sections, then even more chemical saving, both through reduced overlap and consistency of shut-off, can be achieved. This precise control offers a saving of 3 % to 8 % in comparison with the more usual spraying systems.

The AmaSelect electric individual nozzle control

Sales and Repairs on all Agricultural Machinery also Manufacturers of Specialist Equipment Main Dealers for Challenger Sprayers

consists of a 4-way quad nozzle carrier with electric switch over as well as on/ off switching. So the system, apart from providing 50 cm part-width sections which can be automatically controlled by GPS-Switch, also offers electric switch-over between the nozzles on each carrier via the operator terminal. An LED light is built into each nozzle body to monitor the nozzle performance when spraying after dark. The system can be fitted to either the UX range of trailed sprayers or onto the Pantera self-propelled.

As an option, the AmaSelect nozzle carriers can now can be equipped for 25 cm nozzle spacing via an extension kit.

Berthoud unveil Raptor upgrades for 2016

Also GREGOIRE BESSON • SULKY VOGEL & NOOT • KRONE • SUMO NC • STRAUTMANN • MERLO Main Office: WINDMILL WAY WEST, RAMPARTS BUSINESS PARK, BERWICK-UPON-TWEED, TD15 1TB Tel: 01289 331904 Fax: 01289 331530 Also at: PINNACLEHILL IND. ESTATE, KELSO, TD5 8DW Tel: 01573 225213 Fax: 01573 226214 and MACMERRY, EAST LOTHIAN Tel: 01875 617323 Fax 01875 615130

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Seven years and over 500 machine sales since their launch, Berthoud’s Raptor self-propelled sprayers have undergone a series of significant

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upgrades providing greater operator convenience with even better performance.

The BOSCH REXROTH hydrostatic transmission now

SPRAYERS has ECO functionality as standard. The operator sets a forward speed for the machine which automatically adjusts its engine and hydrostatic rate according to the load. This mode may also be combined with cruise control enabling the operator to predefine his working speed.

The 3 speed ranges have been developed to reach 0-18 / 0-25 and 0-40kph. This final ‘road speed’ range is reached at an engine rate of 17001800 rpm. This enables fuel consumption to be optimised and provides the operator with more flexible use and comfort.

A new console / display groups all the vehicle’s information together (speed, engine, rate, variable hydraulic track control etc). This is incorporated within a new electrically adjustable armrest while a new pivoting high comfort seat automatically adapts to the driver’s weight.

Chafer’s Guardian and Sentry sprayers Chafer Guardian and Sentry trailed sprayers are engineered to a common design to offer huge spraying output and performance, combined with absolute precision in application and control. Every sprayer is packed with innovative features and systems to increase efficiency and spray timeliness whilst safeguarding the environment and the operator.

Sprayers and sprayer operators have to work longer and harder than ever before so a range of the latest electronic control systems are available to aid operation and maximise sprayer performance.

Chafer Machinery’s tried and proven twin fold boom has been developed to offer superb long term durability and boom ride. Constructed of steel using a strong triangular design it can withstand the most challenging

spraying conditions. Finished using tough powder coat paint and stainless steel fastenings the booms are highly corrosion resistant.

Developed in 2004 to drive spraying productivity, Chafer’s triple fold boom is well proven and has helped hundreds of

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growers to maximise their crops potential through fewer crop wheelings, minimised compaction and more timely spray applications. Folding in three sections the boom is compact in its travelling position and allows operators to spray at three different widths.

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SPRAYERS

World’s first Self-Propelled Trailed Sprayer from Challenger Challenger, a worldwide brand of AGCO (NYSE:AGCO), is expanding its crop protection product offering. Designed, tested, and built in Europe for the European market, Challenger’s first trailed sprayer will be on display at Agritechnica, in November 2015.

Designated the RoGator 300, initially there will be two 300 Series models – the RG333 and RG344. The last two digits refer to the tank capacity of 3,300 and 4,400 litres.

Building on the success of the RoGator 600, the RoGator 300 shares two-thirds of its technology with the selfpropelled sprayer. This includes

the spray boom and suspension system, centre frame, boom lift arm (adapted slightly but the same concept), all plumbing and chemical induction hopper. What Challenger Engineers have done is to add these to a speciallymade drawbar, chassis, axle and tank.

The flexible design of the drawbar allows it to be quickly adjusted to all tractors and tyre sizes.

The Standard RG300 uses load-sensing hydraulics. An optional PTO-powered pump is available for users looking to tow the RG300 behind different tractors lacking load-sensing hydraulics or with less hydraulic

Orchard and vineyard sprayers from FarmGem

FarmGEM have launched NEW orchard and vineyard range and NEW small boom mounted and trailed models. The orchard and vineyard range consists of mounted and trailed mist blower sprayers, heavy duty mulcher/ choppers and harvest platforms.

There are models of mist blower to suit most requirements from small vineyards to well established orchards, a unique feature of the mounted and trailed mist blowers is an attachable single or twin stainless steel column system for spraying taller fruit trees. The mulchers can tackle everything from orchard inter row maintenance to very heavy duty tasks such as chopping maize stalks. As 16

for the harvest or maintenance platforms the hydraulic scissor lift system ensures the exact working height required is easily achievable and the adjustable platform extensions allow the operator to work safely without over reaching. They are available as either a tractor towed version or a self-propelled version this gives the grower independence from a tractor and much improved movability.

Both are available in various operating widths to suit apple, apricot or plum orchards. The platforms can come complete with compressor and air tank to supply the six work stations with air operated maintenance and harvest tools.

power. Secured to the drawbar, the housing is supplied as

standard to the drawbar. Easily added at a later stage.

New DELTA FORCE booms from Hardi

The DELTA FORCE boom is now available with 27, 28 and 30 m boom widths in 2 fold design.

DELTA FORCE 27 m boom has been shown at Agritechnica in Hanover in November 2015 and is now ready for the UK market.

DELTA FORCE DDZ is designed to work at high forward speeds and increase customer capacity. The ParaLift, as standard, is suspended, which, together with the AntiYaw features and Auto-Height boom management provides a very high boom stability at any speed - even under difficult field conditions.

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This is further enhanced by the DynamicCentre which can easily be set to 5 different setups. The DynamicCenter has mechanical AntiYaw as standard, with Hydraulic AntiYaw an option.

These are designed to control and reduce boom movements both whilst turning and when initially pulling away or coming to a halt.

With the newly designed StackFold system, the transport width is kept to only 255 cm in all combinations and models. Only the COMMANDER 7000 has a slightly wider center section of 300 cm transport width.

SPRAYERS

Leeb LT – HORSCH’s entry into the large market of spraying At the Agritechnica show HORSCH presented for the first time the Leeb LT with 4,000 and 5,000 litres plastic tank. Thus HORSCH opens an attractive and large sprayer market for the whole of Europe. The equipment options for the Leeb LT are various. There are three different equipment lines. The boom control system BoomControl (keeps the boom steady even when driving fast on uneven terrain) which was awarded a silver medal at the Agritechnica show 2013 is standard equipment.

The ECO model has the base equipment. The machine is equipped with a piston diaphragm pump with manual operated valves for suction and pressure side. The medium equipment models are equipped with CCS which is the the automatic inside cleansing system CCS (Continuous Cleaning System). The CCS Pro version is equipped with a modern electronic

system at the suction and pressure side and thus is similar to the premium equipment level of the Leeb GS spraying technology.

The capacity of the fresh water tank is 500 litres.

Boom widths range between 18 and 42 m. The larger boom widths with more than 36 to 42 m are now also available for the Leeb GS.

New PowrSpray for high specification sprayers John Deere’s new PowrSpray solution system for high specification R900i Series trailed sprayers, which are now available in three tank sizes of 4400, 5200 and 6200 litres, is the company’s

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latest innovative development in crop care technology.

PowrSpray features two hydraulically-driven centrifugal pumps. The first fills the sprayer at up to 1200 litres/min, while the

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SPRAYERS

Knight launches new selfpropelled machine

second, a 1000 litre/min spraying pump, has Direct Rate Control for fast changes of application rate and the highest spraying accuracy.

The self-priming, low pressure filling pump fills the sprayer rapidly even with the tractor engine at idle, thus reducing fuel use and noise during the filling process.

In addition, Direct Rate Control of the spraying pump is able to adjust between minimum and maximum output in less

than three seconds, increasing rate control accuracy to a level that conventional systems cannot match. This is especially important during headland entry and exit, where changing forward speeds and automatic section switching place heavy demands on rate control systems.

Direct Rate Control also significantly improves the accuracy achieved in variable rate applications, where large changes in target rate may be required.

Knight Farm Machinery is launching a new self-propelled sprayer developed in an exclusive collaboration with JCB Agriculture, and based on their newly launched 4000 series tractor.

The new sprayer is a high speed, mechanical drive machine with constantly variable transmission (CVT), so it drives like a hydrostatic machine and maintains the performance advantages of mechanical transmission.

Alterations to the tractor include moving the cab to the front, a move that Brian Knight explains: “One of the reasons we chose to work with JCB Agriculture and use its 4000 series for this application is because the machine’s cab offers such

outstanding visibility, especially the panoramic rear screen.

“In this application, that offers operators a totally unhindered view of the sprayer and all spraying operations”.

Other alterations include fitting the machine with 380 95 R46 row crop wheels, which increases ground clearance so the machine can work in tall crops. For low ground-pressure work it can be fitted with 650/60 R 38 flotation wheels.

It also features a sophisticated four-wheel steering system and variable height suspension.

These help it maintain a very tight turning circle, as well as work successfully in row crops.

Sprayer improvements from Kuhn

Kuhn Farm Machinery has launched an updated version of its popular METRIS trailed sprayer at this year’s Cereals event. Featuring a number of new updates, suspension and operating 18

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elements, the new METRIS 2 is easier to operate and gives improved working output.

The new METRIS 2 is available in either 3,200 or 4,100 litre capacities and is fitted with

SPRAYERS an all-aluminium boom and with working widths from 24 to 36m.

The new sprayer is available in three versions – MANUSET, DILUSET+ and e-SET – each of which offers easy and intuitive control of the machine’s rinsing, spraying, incorporation, delivery and suction circuits.

The MANUSET version uses ‘steering wheel’ type valves to control the sprayer’s functions, while the DILUSET+ and e-SET versions give electronic control of the sprayer’s functions from the comfort of the tractor cab.

The METRIS 2 also features a new chemical inductor which uses a venturi effect to propel chemicals into the main tank.

The fully integrated suspension system protects the machine’s structure and enables faster working speeds when operating on rough terrain. The drawbar is connected to the chassis and suspended by “silent blocks”, the same system is also incorporated on the rear axle.

Landquip’s Demount Sprayer for the JCB Fastrac new 4000-series Agritechnica visitors were able to preview the all new front/ rear 4000 litre combination built in JCB’s livery which attracted attention from both farmers and distributors from around the world.

Two years in the making, the demountable sprayer is the first to be fitted with tri-fold booms up to 36 metres.

A new sprayer demount chassis attached to the Fastrac’s new rear platform spider frame can be demounted in around 10 minutes enabling the tractor’s versatility to be fully utilised and the farmer to quickly move on to a host of other tasks.

The latest chassis design allows Landquip’s Alu-light trifold boom to be fitted for the first time in widths up to 36 metres.

The aluminium tri-fold boom

is available in 30, 32, 34 and 36 metre widths which are all capable of spraying at 24 metres giving farmers and contractors optimum flexibility.

A close coupled, high lift height mast facilitates good weight distribution and spray heights from 500-2400mm.

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The brand new Fastrac 4000 + Landquip sprayer with front/ rear tank combinations up to 4400 litres (2500 rear + 1900 front ) now represents a viable alternative for farmers and contractors wishing to consider wider booms, increased liquid capacity and high road speeds.

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SPRAYERS

Lemken’s Vega trailed field sprayer available in 2016 The LEMKEN Vega is the first trailed field sprayer developed internally by the Alpen agricultural machinery specialist. Its modern design and innovative technology make it a highly efficient field sprayer that leaves nothing to be desired as far as ease of operation is concerned. The Vega sprayer will be available in a small series from spring 2016, with 3,000, 4,000 and 5,000 litre tanks and SEH boom widths of 15 to 24 metres.

The modern, compact design of the new Vega is visually impressive. This field sprayer has a low centre of gravity, despite its large tyres and generous ground clearance, and therefore offers excellent stability, even with a full tank. This was achieved by having the aluminium booms folding vertically at the rear of the machine and the frame being

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integrated with the tank. The tank is designed without internal pipes to ensure that it can be easily and thoroughly cleaned.

The Vega drawbar is available in a top-mounted and bottommounted version. A hydraulic drawbar suspension and drawbar steering are available as options for true-track following. A pneumatic axle suspension is additionally available for safe handling both on the field and on roads.

Successful launch for new Team trailed sprayer Team Sprayers were delighted at their customers’ reaction back in January to the new Leader4 at Lamma, a brand new sprayer with major design improvements to take on

imported machines with the emphasis on superb ‘ride’.

The latest in a series of trailed sprayers, Team Leader4 has been re-designed with a profiled tank and a ‘low-

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folding’ boom design which combine for a low centre of gravity so maximising machine stability. The new model is available with 3000, 4000 and 5000 litre tank and boom

SPRAYERS options from 21 to 32m, the wider formats being tri-fold.

There’s a new heavy duty PTO pump and air compressor combination for boom recirculation and immediate application readiness.

‘Ride’ is improved by axle air suspension with load sensing valve and a new steering axle which is fitted as standard. A Muller Basic terminal in the tractor cab displays all functions for effortless operation.

Leader4 joins Team’s ‘stable’ of trailed and mounted sprayers, the latter being supplemented by front mounted tanks when required.

Vicon launches iXdrive self-propelled sprayer Vicon’s introduction of a selfpropelled sprayer to its sprayer range provides a complete offering of crop spraying solutions.

iXdrive combines a proven Mazzotti self-propelled chassis with the very latest Vicon spray pack, and the completed package

is built at Vicon’s NieuwVennep Crop Care factory in the Netherlands.

Up front, operators get the very latest in comfort and refinement from a Vista cab, offering a commanding view of the crop, and helping to distribute weight as evenly as possible.

Component layout also plays a part in weight distribution. The 240hp Perkins engine and Sauer hydrostatic driveline are located above the front axle; the spray tank is centrally located; and the boom sits over the rear.

Weight distribution is impressive - both fully laden and empty, the iXdrive will be hard to beat. With a full spray tank and booms open, weight distribution is 50:50, changing to 51:49 when empty.

Even weight loading also translates into a smooth ride and a more stable platform for the boom, maintaining boom stability.

Poclain wheel motors offer two ranges - 0-20kph for field work and 0-40kph for transport.

Electronic traction control is part of the specification, and buyers can choose to have disc brakes fitted, for added security.

SPRAYERS DEALERS KEY Participating Dealers in this feature AMAZONE Agricar www.agricar.co.uk Forfar : 01307 462281 Perth : 01738 583249 Laurencekirk : 01561 378888 Dundonald : 01563 851900 Stirling : 01786 430970 Reekie Group www.reekie.co.uk Stirling : 01786 477530 Perth : 01738 622471

Cupar : 01334 652445 W & A Geddes Wick : 01955 602207 Thurso : 01847 891651 Brora : 01408 621220 CHALLENGER Ancroft Tractors www.ancroft-tractors.co.uk Berwick upon Tweed : 01289 331904

Kelso : 01573 225213 Macmerry : 01875 617323 Ross Agri Services www.rossagri.co.uk Montrose : 01674 850346 Turriff : 01888 568444 JOHN DEERE DKR Agricultural Services www.jd-dealer.co.uk/dkagri Biggar : 01899 220897

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MLM Engineering www.mlmengineering.co.uk Orphir, Orkney : 01856 811282 VICON Reekie Group www.reekie.co.uk Stirling : 01786 477530 Perth : 01738 622471 Cupar : 01334 652445

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FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND

The Juicy Meat Co “Our family puts passion, care and dedication into rearing our meat to supply you with nothing but the best tasting produce - we’re proud of that.” Moira Dalgliesh, The Juicy Meat Company

The lush farmland, rugged coast and impressive rolling hills of the Scottish Borders is home to the Dalgliesh family farm where The Juicy Meat Company farms its herd of free-range Tamworth and Berkshire cross breed pigs and hill lambs to supply unique, premium produce to the Scottish food industry.

The Borders based company, which has until now been supplying direct to consumers, launched its premium range of roast meat produce to the catering trade at the 2016 Scotland Speciality Food Show in January. They are currently in the process of completing the refurbishment of a commercial kitchen that

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will allow the business to offer its range of pork, lamb & beef to the catering industry across Scotland from Spring 2016.

With a focus on animal husbandry and provenance at the heart of the company, founder Moira Dalgliesh cares for her animals with love and attention – the result is in mouth-watering roasted meat products with absolute provenance.

The Juicy Meat Company’s range of pork, lamb and beef products are slow roasted to perfection and hand finished using a secret blend of herbs and spices, or variety of flavoursome sauces. The pork and lamb are both reared on the Kincraig farm, while the

Aberdeen Angus beef and organic chicken is sourced from local neighbouring farms.

Speaking about the new direction for the company, founder and farmer Moira Dalgliesh said: “The feedback from customers on the quality and taste of our roasted meats was so positive that we have taken the step to allow other retailers to sell our produce.

Having had that connection with the public, we understand that provenance is growing in importance and we are confident that being able to offer this to customers will give other retail establishments a commercial edge.”

The Juicy Meat Company will launch at the Speciality

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Food Show to the trade in January and will be in a position to begin supplying in Spring 2016. The company exhibited at the Speciality Food Show in January as part of a Border Food & Drink Showcase reflecting on the region’s reputation for producing fine food.

Moira concluded: “The Scottish Borders is an impressive part of Scotland, with its outstanding natural landscapes and fantastic local produce offering.

We are proud to be a part of it and help to showcase the region and what it has to offer.”

www.thejuicymeatco.co.uk

FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND

Tom Kitchin Launches Scotch Beef PGI Campaign Ham and Mushroom Muffins

Michelin-starred chef Tom Kitchin, one of Scotland’s most revered chefs, is taking the message of what makes Scotch Beef PGI a cut above the rest, from the heart of rural Scotland to the city centre of London.

The top chef, who regularly appears on Saturday Kitchen and The One Show, is reminding consumers of what sets Scotch Beef apart, in a new Quality Meat Scotland campaign launched this week.

The 13 week campaign will showcase Scotch Beef and the flavour, provenance, traceability and integrity which underpin the brand’s PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) status.

With the strapline of “There’s beef, there’s Scottish beef, then there’s Scotch Beef”, the campaign will target 10 million consumers across Greater London and the Home Counties during February, March and April and aims to inform, educate and inspire them to use Scotch Beef when they cook. The campaign will also run in Scotland during March and April.

Mr Kitchin, whose cooking philosophy is “From Nature to Plate”, has a passion for using the finest, freshest Scottish seasonal produce and serves Scotch Beef in his Michelin star restaurant The Kitchin, as well as Edinburgh gastro pub The Scran & Scallie.

Mr Kitchin said: “I firmly believe that Scotland’s natural larder is without doubt one of the best in the world, we’re lucky to have such outstanding produce here on our doorstep and Scotch Beef is a perfect example of this.”

“As a chef, it’s one of my favourite ingredients because it’s so incredibly versatile. From a roast sirloin steak to slow cooked beef cheeks, it never fails to disappoint. This campaign is the perfect opportunity to showcase just how good Scotch Beef is and will hopefully encourage the rest of the UK to try the wonderful produce Scotland has to offer.”

A key objective of the 2016 campaign is to clearly differentiate Scotch Beef, and the marketing push will include billboard and press advertising as well as on-line activity.

Three hundred independent butchers, who are members of the Scotch Butchers Club, will also receive promotional packs with steak sauce recipe cards and resources to help them boost their sales of Scotch Beef steaks.

Laurent Vernet, Head of Marketing at QMS, said that the campaign aims to inform people just how simple cooking with Scotch Beef can be.

“Scotch Beef is an everyday premium product which can be used for every occasion. From Scotch Beef steaks which are the ultimate indulgent fast food and perfect for modern life, to Scotch Beef roasts which are perfect for family gatherings and dinner parties, Scotch Beef really does cater for all.

“I would, therefore, encourage shoppers when they are in their butchers shop or supermarket aisles to look for the Scotch Beef PGI logo which guarantees quality in every bite as well as worldleading levels of traceability, assurance and welfare standards.”

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Lovely with soup or breakfast. Freeze very well. Could even toast and serve with a poached egg on top!

50g butter ½ small onion, finely chopped 80g button mushrooms. Chopped 360g plain flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 250g cheddar cheese grated 220ml whole milk 1 egg 80g smoked ham, finely chopped Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Makes 12 Preheat the oven to 170°C/Gas Mark 3 Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat, then fry the onions and mushrooms until soft. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

Put the flour, baking powder, and cheese in a large bowl. In a smaller separate bowl, mix together the milk and egg. Beat together with a whisk until well mixed.

With a wooden spoon stir in the onion, mushroom mix and the ham.

If looking too heavy lighten with a little more milk. But it is a thick doughy mixture.

Spoon into muffin cases. Bake in a preheated oven for 30-35 mins until an inserted skewer comes out clean.

Leave to cool on a cooling rack.

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

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

FLAVOUR OF SCOTLAND

Cuddybridge squash 300,000 apples in the midst of sales surge

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

Innerleithen-based artisan juice producer, Cuddybridge Apple Juice is celebrating a bumper year, which has seen owners Graham and Julia Stoddart press over 300,000 apples, with sales doubling in the last year.

Based in the Scottish Borders, Cuddybridge Apple Juice is hand produced in small batches by the husband and wife team. It is free from flavourings, colourings, stabilisers and has no added water.

Graham Stoddart said: “This has been a momentous year: we’ve produced a brand new seasonal Discovery Apple Juice, provided apple juice to passengers at the launch of the new Borders Railway and even sent our apple juice to Italy. But if 2015 has been an exciting year, 2016 looks to be even better with the prospect of increased production and greater distribution.

Cuddybridge Apple Juice is very simply a pressed apple and this year we’ve hand-pressed

over 300,000. It’s great to see what is actually hard, physical work pay off with such strong sales from our growing band of enthusiastic customers.”

The company produce Braeburn, Pink Lady and Granny Smith juices in 330ml or 750ml bottles; an Apple and Sea Buckthorn juice in a 250ml bottle and other seasonal varieties. The apple juice is available in a range of independent retailers, bars and restaurants across Scotland.

Cuddybridge Apple Juice was started in 2007 and has gone on to win numerous awards including two stars at the Great Taste Awards, the Foodservice and Retail Product (non-alcoholic drink) categories at the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards in 2012 and 2014 respectively.

Cuddybridge Apple Juice also has approved supplier status from the Sustainable Restaurant Association.

For more information on Cuddybridge Apple Juice visit www.cuddybridgeapplejuice.com.

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O U R FA R M SHOP

Jamesfield Farm Shop Organic and chemical free for over thirty years “In harmony with nature”

The Miller’s started farming after the First World War when Alec Miller returned from Army service and was joined by his brother George, the father of the present owners.

Growing soft fruit, mainly raspberries, the brothers bought Jamesfield in 1941 and the partnership continued until 1961 when Alec retired.

By this time the present owners were already working on the farm and in the late 60’s, G.W. Miller & Sons was formed as the new partnership.

By the early 1980’s, the Miller’s became increasingly concerned about the amount of chemicals used in modern day agriculture and in 1985, changed their farming policy to organic.

This is still in practice today, thirty years on.

At Jamesfield, being organic and chemical free for over thirty years is extremely important to the owners, and this belief in natural farming is very close to their hearts.

When you visit Jamesfield you will see a selection of organic fruit and vegetables, home baking, fair –trade, local products, gifts and crafts.

Their Farmhouse Kitchen offers traditional home cooking and delicious cakes and desserts for you to try.

There are always special promotions on offer too, both in the Farm Shop and the Farmhouse Kitchen.

Jamesfield is all about quality at affordable prices and

should you have any special requirements, they are always happy to try and accommodate them.

Jamesfield have also opened a new Function Room with amazing views of the River Tay and Tay Estuary. This is available for special occasions, parties, conferences, corporate events and private arrangements too.

Jamesfield is in a lovely place, and of course, they know where your food has come from?

Truly from Farm to Plate.

Jamesfield Farm Shop Abernethy, Fife.Telephone: 01738 850498

www.jamesfieldfarmshopandrestaurant.co.uk www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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CC POWELL

Aberdeenshire machinery company spreads its wings CC Powell Ltd, from Turriff in Aberdeenshire, specialise in all aspects of potato and vegetable equipment, from field preparation through to growing, grading and handling. As well as new machinery, the company also supplies second-hand machines, which are workshop checked and presented with the correct specification for the customer’s requirements.

By Fiona Sloan Having had a close working relationship with Grimme UK over many years as a dealer’s sales representative and a member of a Grimme retail outlet, the opportunity arose for Chris to take on the Grimme dealership for Aberdeenshire, Morayshire, Ross-shire and the Highlands, thus CC Powell was established in 2010. Grimme is the world leading manufacturer

of potato and vegetable equipment and is dependent on local support for its product and services through dealerships like CC Powell Ltd. “The main aim of the business,” explains Chris, “is always to provide support, sales, spare parts and service, to its customers with whom it already had a good working relationship.” This ethos has

Left to right: Paddy Neville, Head of Sales, Lynne Harris - Office Manager and Chris Powell, Company Director

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remained at the core of this young dynamic company as it has expanded and made its mark over the past five years. Serving the areas of Aberdeenshire, Morayshire, Ross-shire and Highlands, from its base near Gamrie on the north coast, it is in an ideal situation to supply and support to its customers both in and out of season when it’s needed.

With dedicated and well trained staff available seven days a week, including Chris himself, who will often take up the slack if needed away from running the company, it is able easily get to its customers and logistically able to send parts and machinery at short notice.

The service extends to the Black Isle area, where it now also has a company representative servicing and supplying parts so that there is someone available at short notice. “It’s important to us to be able to get parts to our customers quickly, as the window for planting and harvesting is so short and delays can make or break a harvest.” explains Chris. “We do a lot of service work on the machinery throughout the winter and it would be great if everyone had their machinery serviced at that time.” he smiles.” It’s difficult to change the habits of lifetime in farming, when the machine comes out in the spring and needs parts urgently!”

The parts and service departments are fully equipped with specific service equipment for each of the brands the

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company carries and the service vehicles are tailored to carry the necessary tools and diagnostic testing equipment.

The company prides itself in choosing quality and well trained staff and allowing them the ability to work up in the company, which is no more evident in the office manager Lynn Harris, who started in the stores, and moved to stores manager before taking over the administrative and accounts side. Lynn is also currently studying for her HND in accounts, supported by the company. All of the eight staff are fully trained having attended manufacturer’s service courses. With the addition of the very experienced Paddy Neville, who has now taken on the Head of Sales position, the company is set to continue to expand.

In addition to representing the Grimme name, Chris believes that it is important to be able to supply customers with a one stop shop for potato and vegetable equipment.

To this end, the business also supplies the wellknown Greencrop Irrigation systems, Horstine, Chafer and Team chemical and fertiliser application systems and since July 2015 has introduced Predator Trailers.

The product range supplied by the company is specifically chosen with the customers in mind. “Our customers have supported us from the start,” says Chris, “and for our part

CC POWELL we listen to what they need and try to ensure that we supply the most appropriate and best product for the job in hand.�

With the Grimme dealership behind them, CC Powell Ltd has been able to continue to supply its customers with well tested and trusted equipment in the most important area in Scotland for seed potatoes. From a selection of soil cultivation equipment, to bed formers and separators for preparation and a varied selection of planters specific to the size of fields, terrain and even the ability to travel from field to field on the road, there is an endless selection of specialised equipment both new and second hand for every purpose. With the cost of new machinery so high and a customer base with acreage ranging from 5 acres to an overall area average of 185 acres, it is impractical to have

a large stock of expensive equipment sitting idle on a forecourt so the company also uses the equipment to do hiring and contracting work when required.

The opportunity to offer finance for both new and used equipment is another part of the services offered by CC Powell Ltd. Despite the huge range of potato and vegetable harvesting equipment available, customers are always looking for efficiency in their business and with more specialised and proficient machines continually coming on the market, particularly in the area of specific vegetables such as carrots, it is important for a company like CC Powell Ltd to keep up with the trends and ensure that it maintains its customer base. Fortunately the association with Grimme, who acquired the specialist ASALift vegetable technology

Andrew Sutherland, Mechanic with Office Manager, Lynne Harris

company in 2013 has allowed Chris’s company to source the most advanced carrot harvesting machines available for the customers. ASA-Lift is a small Danish company, which was founded in 1936 and has always had a reputation for quality and development and today its harvesters are

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bespoke for various vegetables including onions, red beets, chive and carrots.

With the constant worry of disease and the changeable weather in the north of Scotland it is imperative that the support for spraying and chemical application is available during the growing season.

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CC POWELL

Grimme Destoners

The company’s association with Chafer and Horstine has allowed CC Powell Ltd to provide this support and machinery right through the season. The Chafer group, with a heritage going back over 100 years, has a wealth of experience in the areas of spraying and liquid application.

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Since becoming independent in 2000, Chafer Machinery Ltd has developed a range of high performance trailed sprayers, demountable spray packs and liquid applicators. With its acquisition of Horstine in 2002, a world leader in the design and manufacture of highly accurate equipment

for the precise application of pesticides, fertilisers and seeds it has been able to develop its products to find solutions for individual customers. With the Airstream, Agroband and Jumbo fertiliser applicator range, Microband, Microband Air and Tmair chemical applicators and Proseed and Twin Air seed applicators, CC Powell Ltd as dealers for the Chafer group is able to supply the most accurate, up to date solutions for its customers.

The association with Greencrop Irrigation Systems has also proved to be an effective addition to the company’s already successful portfolio. Greencrop is based in Norfolk and has grown from being a small local manufacturer to a UK National Supplier covering clean water irrigation, dirty water and slurry systems. Its involvement with CC Powell Ltd as dealers together with Team Sprayers, a

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specialised spraying suppliers from Cambridge, has allowed the company to supply the whole package to their customers.

Since starting the company five years ago, Chris Powell has been delighted with the speed at which it has grown in its short history and maintains that its success is down to the loyal customer base which he services within the industry.

Never one to rest on his laurels, he sees that if the company is to continue to be successful then it must continue to develop at a rate which allows sustainability in all of its operations.

His investment in staff as well as equipment has both delighted and encouraged him to keep looking for new directions in which to take the business to add to the current customer base without damaging the ability to service the customers it already has and to add products which are

CC POWELL conducive to those already offered.

With the appointment of Paddy Neville in March 2015 as Head of Sales, the plan was for Paddy to look at the possible development of future markets.

“It was a big move” says Chris “but with the reinvestment in the potato industry in the past five years by both farmers and suppliers alike, it was what we needed to do to be successful.

We needed to justify the appointment of someone with the specialised knowledge of the industry, which Paddy has and it has paid off for us.”

Paddy has been able to spend time developing new potential markets with the customers and looking at the future direction of the company with Chris. This month has resulted in the company being appointed the new dealership for Aberdeenshire for Kubota.

This takes the company in a new direction with the introduction

of the Kubota Tractor and ATV range but still enhances the current equipment range.

Formed in 1979 in Thame, Oxfordshire as a subsidiary of the Kubota Corporation of Japan, the company has turned its attentions towards powered equipment of all kinds.

Making tractors in and around 170 hp range, Kubota developed the first four-wheel drive compact tractor, the first four-wheel drive ride on rotary mower, the first transmission system for small tractors and ride on mowers and the development of the Bi-speed Turn, a system which automatically speeds up a tractors front wheels when turning allowing it to do tighter turns with reduced tyre scuffing.

The M7001 series combines precision with performance and power and covers a range 135hp to 170hp which is an ideal work horse for a tractors

Team Commpact sprayer unit

for all jobs around a mixed farm. Chris hopes that the introduction of these new mid-range tractors will be a valuable asset to the varied farming operations in the area and proved to be a successful move by the company. The introduction of the ATV range

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from Kubota has encouraged Chris to look for new premises, nearer Turriff itself and with better road access to the rest of Aberdeenshire. “We already have good stores, which are well stocked and items are easily accessible but we would like to move further south

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CC POWELL bringing us more central to our area.” This means that the search has already begun for the new premises, which it is hoped will eventually house the smaller engines and ATV style equipment and have a store where customers can come in and look around, including non-farming customers who need much smaller equipment than is already being supplied.

“It’s our customers who have got us where we are.” says Chris “and our ethos will always have our customers support at its foundation. Our customers supported us in our bids to become dealers of ASA-Lift and Kubota and we will consider our market before developing into new products.”

CC Powel Ltd is a young and dynamic company, which with a young and dynamic CEO at its head is set to move forward supported by the trust of its customers and suppliers.

Predator Low Loader & Dump Trailer

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EU NEWS

By Chris McCullough

It’s up to EU Member States to fix their payment systems EU Farm Commissioner Phil Hogan has sent a clear message to Member States that are experiencing problems with their Basic Payments – it’s your problem so fix it.

Hogan was speaking in Brussels on Tuesday at a press event when the question of farmers not receiving their payments on time was posed.

A number of countries within Europe are having problems distributing their Basic Payments, the subsidies paid by the European Commission.

However, the Commissioner said this was a matter for the Member States administrations to fix.

Hogan also said he wasn’t getting involved in ‘who gets what’ in the UK from the 223m euro allocated to the four countries making up the Member State.

He said: “The European Commission has allocated the package to the UK as it is the Member State.

“In terms of the breakup of this package to each region then that is a matter for the Member State administration.

“I will leave the question of regional allocation to Liz Truss.”

Some countries have not been able to send advance payments to farmers due to a number of internal reasons.

Commissioner Hogan said: “The Commission has allocated and paid the funds to the Member States.

“It is up to the administrations in each Member State to have the correct systems in place to pay the farmers.

“Each country should have the proper investments in place to ensure their systems work and that these payments get to farmers on time.

“If they do not have the proper systems then they should look at that urgently and provide the essential investments to ensure the payment systems are efficient.

“There is nothing more the Commission can do on this in that regard.”

Commissioner Hogan also touched on his yellow card system that he launched just recently to prevent first time offenders being over penalised if they make mistakes on their Basic Payments application forms.

He said: “I expect the yellow card system to be enrolled in 2016. I will not understand if any Member State fails to have this system in place as they have had long enough to ask questions and sort it out.

“I have proposed a new, fairer system of penalties for errors, as well as a ‘yellow card’ system for first time mistakes.

Scottish farmers’ incomes sink by 15 per cent putting pressures on cashflows Financial woes are beginning to creep in on many farms across Scotland with the confirmation that farm incomes in 2015 sunk by a whopping 15 per cent.

Some farmers say they are only clinging on to their businesses thanks to the subsidies from Europe, but even that cash is under pressure as it is declining and being paid to claimants late.

Following a fall of nine per cent in 2014, this two year decline marks only the second time that incomes have dropped in two consecutive years since the 1990s.

Some data is still to be collated, but Scotland’s chief statistician revealed Total Income From Farming (TIFF) in 2015 may have fallen back to about £667million, the second lowest figure in the past decade once inflation is taken into account.

In 2013 agriculture was worth £837million to the Scottish economy, a figure which dropped to £777million in 2014.

Subsidies, including coupled support, amounted to £510million in 2014 and fell to £490million last year. It comes as no surprise to the industry that

the dairy sector suffered from the largest drop in income in 2015.

The average milk price fell 23 per cent in the year, resulting in a drop of 21 per cent in overall value.

The poultry meat sector also declined and is now worth only half its value of two years ago.

NFU Scotland (NFUS) said the drop in Scottish farming’s total output was as much to do with decreased production as it was to do with decreased prices.

NFUS director of policy, Jonnie Hall, said: “Over two years total costs have decreased but total output has decreased further, and at a faster rate,

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“These figures back up our argument that farmers need monies available through all support schemes as soon as possible, and justify the pressure we have been putting on the Scottish Government in recent months to deliver payments on time to cash poor businesses.”

Mr Hall said that while farmers would welcome fair returns from the marketplace for their efforts, the fast decline in total income only increased the industry’s reliance on support payments in the face of price and production volatility.

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organic farming Organic dairy makes advancements in iodine levels Following a two-year project to raise iodine levels, OMSCo (the Organic Milk Suppliers Cooperative) announces today that the organic dairy industry has been successful in maintaining iodine levels in organic milk over a sustained period.

“In 2014 we initiated a project to boost iodine levels in organic milk and applied these to our farmer members’ enterprises, and by early 2015 we announced that we’d achieved comparable levels with those in the conventional market,” says Richard Hampton, OMSCo’s managing director. “Our latest round of testing, one year on from the initial milestone, has shown that we’re maintaining those levels.”

He explains that, historically due to the nature of organic dairying, where cows are fed a more grass-based diet with lower levels of concentrate, compared to the conventional sector which can be supplemented with minerals, including iodine, this has contributed to iodine levels being lower in organic milk.

“However, over recent years we’ve worked closely with our 250 members to raise iodine levels in organic milk, and it’s great to report that our efforts have been successful.”

The testing, over a sustained period, was undertaken by independent researchers, using bottled milk from a range of retailers throughout the UK. The health benefits of organic milk have always been

well documented and include increased levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E and beta-carotene. But iodine levels have been under increasing scrutiny given that the UK, unlike many other countries, does not iodise salt or legislate for the supplementation of key foodstuffs with this important trace element.

OMSCo devised a programme for producers to tailor to their individual circumstances to increase the level of iodine, and several other key minerals to the appropriate amounts.

“We’re delighted with the results. Our members have been incredibly proactive in supporting this initiative. We

have now sustained iodine levels that are consistent with the conventional market, and improved on-farm performance resulting from improved levels of the other trace elements monitored through the project.

As a farmer-owned co-op representing over 65% of the UK’s organic milk supply, and the second largest dedicated organic dairy pool in the world, this has been a critical step in our bid to raise and maintain iodine levels,” says Richard.

“We’ll continue to monitor iodine and levels of other trace elements closely, and will work with our members to ensure that we’re supplying customers with a nutritious, sustainable and quality product,” he adds.

Enhanced Organic Opportunities for Postgraduate Students Two of the leading UK education and research organisations in the organic sector have announced they will formally join together to deliver one of the country’s few postgraduate courses in organic farming.

Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has been running the distance learning Organic Farming MSc since 2002, and for the last 9 years the Organic Research Centre (ORC) has been involved in its delivery.

The two organisations will now deliver the course in partnership, a development that

will enhance the educational experience for the organic farming students.

SRUC Programme Leader, Lou Ralph, says: “Now that the Organic Research Centre has a more formal role in course delivery, students have direct access to even more organic research, thus gaining increased and significant benefits”.

As well as working together on organic farming research projects, SRUC and ORC have also collaborated in a variety of knowledge exchange events including training courses,

conferences and the new online information hub, Agricology.

Launched at the same time as Scotland’s new Organic Action Plan, Organic Ambitions, which highlights the importance of spreading knowledge and boosting skills across the organic sector, this educational partnership between SRUC and ORC serves to reinforce the importance of partnership and collaboration to create a strong organic presence across Scotland and the UK. Lou says: “Our organic farming course is unique as there are no other study programmes which offer part

time online distance learning for postgraduate level organic farming studies. We attract a diverse range of students since we welcome those with industry experience as well as those with previous qualifications. Students are able to study almost entirely online, only attending the Aberdeen campus for 3 weekends a year, and they can study for between one and three years to gain a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or their MSc. Our new partnership with ORC will enable us to further strengthen this already excellent provision.”

SRUC Helps Ola Spice Up Aberdeen When Ola Scott approached Scotland’s Rural College in Aberdeen for help with her business idea staff there did not realise what a hot topic it would become. One year on Nigerian born Ola has begun an MSc in organic farming 32

and tapped into the Scottish obsession with spicy food by successfully producing chilli varieties to meet a growing demand.

Needing help to develop her original idea, Ola, whose husband is involved in the oil

industry, first approached Ewan Johnstone, a Senior Consultant with SRUC’s SAC Consulting Division at Thainstone. He suggested she speak to Crop Production Lecturer Dr Alex Hilton based at the Thainstone campus outside Aberdeen.

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Alex arranged for her to use one of the greenhouses on the estate and during 2015 Ola grew one of the most northerly crops of chillies and also the hottest!

With advice from Alex she focussed on three varieties,

organic farming

Organic Spikes Interest

Bird’s Eye chilli, the fiery Scotch Bonnet and the world’s hottest chilli Carolina Reaper.

Rather than use pesticides to control common threats like aphids and whitefly Ola used Biocontrol agents, insects that prey on the pests. The interest in organic production methods led her to enrol for the online MSc course in Organic Farming that SRUC runs for those who need to work while studying.

“Working with Dr Alex on the project was a memorable and enjoyable journey. I learnt and gained a lot within a short space of time due to his wealth of experience, guidance and patience,” says Ola. What Alex Hilton learned is open to question! Involved as he was in the project he investigated the Scoville scale used to measure heat in Chillis and tried a Carolina Reaper.

The resulting eruption can be seen on the SRUC Facebook page. h t t p s : / / w w w. f a c e b o o k . com/SRUCAberdeen/ videos/965518556856619/ Ola, who is operating as SGIfoods-Aberdeen Chilli

Farm, sells much of her produce to the West African community in the city. She has been overwhelmed by the interest and plans to increase her production and to try growing a number of African vegetable crops including, Corchorus (known as Ewedu in Nigeria).

“While running the chilli farm project, I soon realised that agriculture is an innovative industry that is continuously developing,” adds Ola. “Technological advancements have made education a necessity for any business striving to be in the forefront of the agricultural industry, especially in a society that is increasingly relying on technology.”

Scottish Organic co-op SOPA are welcoming the opening of the 2016 round of organic funding applications. SOPA Policy Manager Debs Roberts said “After a long wait the 2016 Agri-Environment and Climate Scheme is now open. This is good news for people who are applying for funding to convert to organic farming. ” SOPA’s market intelligence reports certified organic cereals are reaching around £190 per tonne for 2015 harvest and nearly all of Scotland’s organic cereal crops will find a domestic (Scottish) market. Organic Beans are also popular, making more than £275 per tonne. In January 2016, organic lamb reached a 30 pence per kilo premium, driven by strong demand from Marks and Spencer’s for certified Scotch organic product. Organic beef is also achieving around twenty pence premium. “All organic product is currently in demand, and with nonorganic farm gate prices under pressure in the past quarter now is the time for organic farming” said Ms Roberts.

Organic payment rates are based on four types of land category: Arable land includes land in a normal

cropping and temporary grass rotation. Improved grassland is productive permanent grassland.

Rough grazing is typically hill land above the dyke such as heathland, heather moorland, bog. Fruit and vegetable payments will be made on land that grows a fruit or vegetable crop such as potatoes for at least one year in the five year contract.

For converting farmers this would normally be in years 3, 4 or 5 after the land is fully converted to organic production.

Converting to organic production is a two year process. During the two years the farm is managed organically according to the organic standards but no produce can be sold as organic. Produce can be used on farm, for instance home-produced silage and feed cereals can be fed to stock, and surplus can be sold but will not attract organic status nor any premium.

The EU and Scottish Government have recognised the environmental benefits brought by organic farming by exempting certified organic land from the pillar 1 Greening Requirements.

Organic applications are made under the AECS in ruralpayments.org.

Dr Alex Hilton can be contacted at alex.hilton@sruc. ac.uk or 01224 711076 For more information on SRUC’s MSc in organic farming contact Lou Ralph on lou.ralph@sruc.ac.uk or farming go to the link http:// www.sruc.ac.uk/courses/72/ organic_farming_msc

For more information contact Scotland’s largest organic body www.sopa.org.uk tel 0131 335 6606 @ScottishOrganic

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Peru Diversity in all things By Fiona Sloan

WORLD FARMING Peru is a country of around 30 million people located on the eastern coast of South America sitting between Chile to the south, Ecuador to the north with internal borders to Columbia, Brazil and Bolivia.

It has a diverse geography with a long desert coastline running alongside the Pacific Ocean, high mountains of the Andean range and the jungle of the Amazonian lowlands. About 65% of the country is tropical forest.

Agriculture is the third most important sector in the Peruvian economy, producing 13% of GDP, but employs 30% of the population and lags a long way behind the more economically important sectors of minerals and natural gas production. Although the economy has shown strong growth over the last 20 years, there remains severe poverty in the country and this has contributed to significant migration of the populace

to the cities, in particular to Lima, the capital. Periodic agricultural improvements by the government over the past 50 years have produced little benefit to the sector.

The main agricultural production of Peru is based around potatoes and corn which is the staple diet of the Peruvian people. There are around 3000 varieties of potato found in Peru and there is an ongoing research programme, part of an outreach programme, to find

Huapaya Farm

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solutions to food problems that are aiding some of the poorest people in the world to grow the potato crops.

The two large mountain ranges which run parallel to one another through the country create diverse and local agriculture but due to the peculiar economy of Peru, farmers are taxed at 13% on gross sales, making it impossible for them to compete with subsidised farming in America and Europe and tax systems which work on net sale.

This makes exporting almost impossible and coinciding with an inadequate infrastructure, which was primarily built to connect the areas with more valuable natural resources such as gold, silver and gas, makes it difficult to move large amounts of produce around the country.

Peru has however become the primary producer of highquality organic coffee and production is set to continue to rise in the country due to the vast areas of land available for expansion,which is not available to its competitors.

It also produces high quality cotton and its textile business, which has developed from the cotton production, supplies such top end stores as Ralph Lauren. The current government are keen to get the textile exports classified as tariff-free to the United States, which would obviously

WORLD FARMING result in increased trade for the industry and better support for the cotton growers in the country.

Peru’s unique diverse climate produces equally diverse crops and many of its lesser known vegetables and grains have been found to be naturally very high in vitamins and minerals and it grows large amounts of asparagus, which it produces between November and January, when no other countries in the world are exporting.

Many of the areas in Peru rely on small mixed family farms, producing quality crops, vegetable and wool from the many alpaca herds in the mountain regions. It is however the largest country in the world with its natural rain forests still intact.

Over the past 20 years, tourism has played an increasingly important role in supporting these agricultural communities and with a number of “bucket list” attractions such as the world famous Machu Picchu trail with its history and outstanding scenery, Lake Titicaca with its floating islands and its unique and ancient cultures, it is a country which everyone should visit at least once in a lifetime.

For anyone wishing to look at visiting this amazing country, check out www. fieldfarmtours.co.uk who have a tour heading there in April 2016.

Wayra Ranch

Wuallabamba Prairie

Trelleborg Inaugurates its New Manufacturing Facility for Agricultural Tyres in South Carolina Trelleborg has inaugurated its first North American manufacturing facility dedicated to the manufacture of premium radial tyres for agricultural machinery in Spartanburg, South Carolina in the U.S. Representing a 50 million USD investment, the 40,000 square metre / 430,000 square foot production facility expands the Group’s global reach in the agricultural tyre market and is

forecast to create around 150 jobs by 2018.

Paolo Pompei, President Agricultural & Forestry Tyres at Trelleborg Wheel Systems, says: “Today, we are honored to be here cutting the ribbon to open our new tyre manufacturing facility in the U.S. and to celebrate this special moment in the presence of our guests from all over the world, including representatives from leading tractors manufacturers, the

Governor of South Carolina, Niki Haley, as well as Ulf Berghult, CFO Trelleborg AB, and Maurizio Vischi, President of Trelleborg Wheel Systems.”

“North America is the largest agricultural market in the world and it is highly attractive for us. Demand for extra-large agricultural tyres, where Trelleborg is a market leader, is growing in the region. Although we already sell our products in the U.S. and

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Canada, local production offers considerably more favourable conditions, thus enhancing our competitiveness.”

“We are now located in a modern facility in a prime location with state-of-the-art equipment designed according to the latest Trelleborg technology standards.

This means we will be able to capitalise on existing partnership agreements with major original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) 35

WORLD FARMING

and distributors, while facilitating the transfer of technology from one part of the world to another.”

“The Spartanburg facility is one of the most automated manufacturing facilities in the agricultural industry. This enables us to guarantee the highest standard of production to customers across the North American market, which we are confident, will allow us to

replicate the phenomenal ramp up of our Xingtai facility in China.”

The inauguration of the agricultural tyre facility took place on January 27. Production of agricultural tyres commenced late 2015 and all manufacturing equipment will gradually be installed by 2018 to cater for market growth and ensure that OEMs, dealers and farming professionals benefit from

Trelleborg’s proximity and product availability. Following its grand opening in January 2016, Trelleborg customers will be able to organise factory visits to see the state-of-the-art Spartanburg facility first-hand.

Trelleborg is present in over 40 countries globally. The U.S. is the largest single market for Trelleborg with net sales in 2014 of around $730 million USD and over

2,000 employees. All Trelleborg operations and products have sales representation in the country and all business areas have manufacturing facilities. Engineered fabrics, printing blankets, sealing profiles, industrial anti-vibration systems, pipe seals, applied technologies, offshore equipment, marine systems, sealing solutions, agricultural tyres and industrial tyres are produced in the U.S.

ChemChina has made a formal offer for Syngenta The deal consists of CHF 475 in cash plus a CHF 5 special dividend.

Shareholders will also receive the regular CHF 11 dividend. The deal is fully financed, recommended by the Board of Syngenta and subject to 67% acceptance by Syngenta shareholders.

Management is confident that regulatory approvals will be relatively easy to achieve given the small market share of ChemChina in markets where the two countries overlap. However, it did acknowledge the possible opposition in some markets to the idea of Chinese ownership of the Syngenta licences. Nevertheless it believed that a deal could be 36

completed before the end of this year.

The potential anti-Chinese opposition plus the 67% approval required for the deal might help explain the 14% gap between the theoretical price of the deal (excluding the dividend) and the share price as we write.

We think that the arbitrage is justified given the size of the deal (the biggest takeover outside China by a Chinese company) but doubt whether a competing proposal will emerge. Therefore, we think shareholders should hang on for a bit longer.

The deal overshadowed a solid set of results in challenging

trading conditions. The outlook for 2016 sales and volumes was cautious given the commodity and emerging markets currency headwinds (although it expects those headwinds to be considerably lower in 2016).

However, management was confident of pushing more price increases through in the CIS and Brazil in addition to making further progress on the accelerating operational leverage programme. Therefore, it has guided to an increase in EBITDA margins across the group.

Management also pointed out the success of the new products adoption where sales grew by

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47% in constant currency terms and were led by sales of Elatus and Solatenol (fungicides) and the first year of Acuron (herbicide). New product sales are now 30% of the peak sales target for 2020.

There will also be another review of the strategy in the Seeds business following the decision to cancel the disposal of the Vegetables seeds operation after a very strong performance in Europe last year.

There has also been a review of the new product and R & D programmes resulting in $500m increase in peak sales forecast to $4bn.

environment Farmland requires gentle touch through severe winter weather Lying at 700ft above sea level, John and Michelle Bewely’s stock farm relies heavily on its own grass production to sustain this fourth generation farming income.

The Bewely family have been fighting severe winter weather for generations and John is fully aware that the farmland requires a “gentle touch.” The use of too big and heavy farm machinery quickly clogs up the soil whilst the farms sheep and cattle naturally compact the top 50mm of its shallow soils.

With limestone rock not too far under the surface, the use of a subsoiler is impractical.

The extent of damage on shallow soils can be substantial, with the lack of soil depth effecting root structures making growth susceptible to weather patterns, be it hot and dry or cold and wet.

Shallow loosening with an aerator when the soil is dry enough helps improve grass growth and nutrient accessibility.

Farmland a mile away at sea level enjoys an early 2-3 week grass growth advantage and so now John regularly aerates his soil to substantially improve soil structure. Spring and autumn periods are put to good use to reduce soil compaction whilst improving oxygen and nutrient movement to the grass roots.

Robert Ritchie of David Ritchie Implements, one of the UK’s leading agricultural machinery manufacturers, is often asked to comment on “field health” as he travels the UK farmlands.

“Examining crop root growth is essential to good field husbandry and often soil compaction is shallower than first consideration.”

Remarks Robert Ritchie. “The use of a spiked aerator, requiring a lighter, lower horsepower tractor to operate compared to a heavy

subsoiler, is all that is required.

Grazing damage generally occurs in the top 100-150mm restricting root growth, and it is at this depth that an aerator is most beneficial, encouraging root movement between the top and subsoil levels.

Once air, water and nutrients are able to move freely within the soil structure, worms are able to add their value to the farm’s field improvement.”

The Ritchie range of aerators are available from 1.50m to a 5.00m folding model.

These environmentally friendly and low maintenance aerators feature boron long-life knife blades that are easily and quickly adjusted without the use of tools, to fracture all ground conditions. Additional weights can be added as necessary depending on soil types. By altering the angle of knife cut into the soil, operators can quickly adjust the best aerator slit to suit the soil being worked. Harder compacted soils can receive a harsher angle of penetration to help shatter or split the top layer of soil.

Aerators are recommended for use in grazing fields in the Spring and silage ground in the Autumn and with most grass fields urgently requiring drainage assistance this Spring, a Ritchie aerator may be a wise tool to introduce into the farming calendar.

For full details contact: your local Ritchie representative www. ritchie-d.co.uk

Lower prices, less intensity, more sustainability?

By Julian Bell, Farm and Rural Business Senior Consultant, SAC Consulting

Right now, most agricultural commodity markets are oversupplied, leaving prices and (producers!) depressed and it could take several years for markets to improve significantly (barring currency changes).

Faced with low prices, farmers have a choice; to intensify, by increasing output per unit area or; to extensify, reducing production but cutting costs even more steeply. Many farms in Scotland carry high fixed costs, particularly machinery, which are hard to change quickly and this can hinder the move to lower output systems.

However, already on beef and sheep farms in Scotland, there are signs that some farmers are seeking to extensify; by keeping the minimum number of animals necessary to qualify for subsidy (Basic Payment Scheme and LFASS). Thereby being able to cut back heavily on labour, machinery, feed and fertiliser costs and so retain as much of the subsidy cheque as possible. There are also signs that arable farmers are adopting a similar strategy by moving from capital and input intensive winter crops to lower input/lower output spring crops.

These moves to lower intensity are purely rational business decisions. However they also present opportunities to improve the long term sustainability of the farming

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system. Reducing the intensity of production can allow farmers to address long running pest and disease problems. On livestock farms lower stocking intensity can reduce worm burdens and ensure clean grazings are available for young stock. On arable farms the switch to spring cropping can enable effective grassweed control. Lengthening the arable rotation by bringing in fallow, cover crops or grass can help reduce levels of soil borne pests and diseases and improve soil structure.

The most important asset the farm has is its soil. Damage caused by intensive production may have been justifiable where profits could be made. However in the current period of low profitability, continuing to over cultivate and damage soils for no short term gain is bordering on madness. Better to take the opportunity that low returns present by rebuilding organic matter, repairing soil structure and supporting long term fertility to be utilised when higher prices return.

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.

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IRRIGATION

Keeping the water flowing Despite the recent weather, it is more important now to manage our Irrigation systems than ever before

Irrimec Elite range of Irrigators

The Irrimec brand has held a strong presence in Europe since 1974 and exports equipment worldwide from its factories in Italy and France. Irrimec’s aim is to consolidate its international presence in two ways; by designing and producing irrigation systems that will benefit and improve agricultural management and secondly, by placing all their industrial knowledge and expertise to adapt to changes in the industry.

With this in mind, Greencrop Irrigation, the UK importer of

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Irrimec Hose Reel Irrigators, are pleased to offer a new range of machines. The Elite 730 and 735 offer a range of hose diameters, from 100mm to 140mm, and hose length options, up to 580m long.

The intention is to offer longer hose lengths with the introduction of the new Elite 800 series, which will follow shortly.

The Elite range of machines are designed with the professional grower in mind who demand reliable and easy-to-operate irrigation systems that require simple maintenance.

The attention to detail starts with each machine being steel shot blasted, then painted in epoxy anticorrosive primer, with a final coat of oven baked polyurethane paint for a superb long lasting finish.

Trolleys are hot galvanized.

The drive system continues with the proven Irrimec design.

The drum is driven from one side by a cut gear ring positioned on the outer diameter of the drum. Unlike a chain drive, the hose drum is driven by a low-torque gear drive, which is positive and low wearing. Drum bearings are now fitted with an auto lube cartridge ensuring problem free reliability.

The turbine drive retains Irrimec’s patented partial flow “Turbimec”

system, interchangeable for flows of 10-130mc/hr at low inlet pressure.

For more durability during long demanding irrigation periods, the chassis’ are constructed of large steel frames using a 5mm thick box section. The hydraulic legs are 50% larger with built-in internal rams for improved weather resistance and are designed to exert a central push against the drum for added stability. All of the guards are now manufactured in steel for increased durability and to enhance the appearance of the machine. The gun lift frame is also 50% larger, pivoting higher on the machine for additional strength and reliable operation.

Blowing blocked drains away The Hurricane drain cleaner has been part of the Homburg product range since early in 2013, points out UK importer Fentons of Bourne, which offers a range of drain cleaners that includes Junior, Delta and the Senior models.

The main difference with the Hurricane, compared with other

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models, is its entirely hydraulic operation, says the dealership.

The operation of the drain cleaner is via a control box (standard) or a remote control (optional). Hydraulic functions were previously controlled via three joysticks however these have now been replaced with

IRRIGATION programmable touch buttons.

The main functions on the Hurricane are carried out automatically. For instance, the machine has an electronic counter and the operator can enter the endpoint which will stop the hose automatically, prior to starting its way back along the drain.

The HDD system (Homburg Dynamic Drive) is a sensor which detects the oil pressure on the manifold block. Pressure over 60bar could indicate a blockage and therefore, after a short delay, the machine will retract the hose

and make a new attempt to progress along the length of the drain.

The Hurricane repeats this cycle three times and, if the problem remains unresolved, the machine will automatically turn off and give an audible alarm, adds the Lincolnshire based firm.

Another “smart” feature of the Hurricane is slip detection, says Fentons. Two sensors detect the speed of the drive wheel and the measuring wheel. If the percentage of slippage becomes too high, the machine will automatically turn off.

Introducing raindrop watering Raindrop Watering is the new online element of a well established family run irrigation company who have served the sport and agricultural industries for 25 years.

They aim to provide the materials and expertise to meet

the needs of the amateur, the professional and farmer of both field and intensive fruit crops. They have connections with the big names in irrigation (Toro, Rainbird & Hunter) and in pumps (Caprari, Calpeda & Xylem).

“We hope our vast range of products at great prices will encourage you to use us to meet all of your watering needs – whether you need replacement filters or a new borehole pump! Our website will launch officially on 1st March 2016

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but in the meantime please call or email with your irrigation requirements”.

For more information call 01506 840084 or email enquiries@raindropwatering. co.uk

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BALERS

Balers for 2016 A introductory look at some of the models available for this coming season

The CASE IH Balers equipped with latest ISOBUS Case IH has reached a new level in optimising the large square balers to peak capacity. Equipped with the latest ISOBUS electronic software option, the baler changes the speed of the tractor to maintain high productivity, set to one of two criteria which can be defined on the baler or tractor monitor. The first criteria, “Charge Control”, is purely based on the capacity of the baler, measuring the time it takes to fill the pre-chamber.

In the second criteria, “Slice Control”, a constant number of slices for a preset bale length, so density is a major input in this case. The benefit of this feature is that high baler productivity is maintained, demonstrated by high throughput together with potential fuel savings. This is very evident when inexperienced operators are used or when operator fatigue normally results in a lower productivity.

The LB424 and LB434 large balers with rotor cutters can be ordered with the “Charge”/”Slice Control” option, whereas the stuffer balers are only available

with the “Slice Control” option.

Electric bale length adjustment is a prerequisite for the new control option.

The tractor must be equipped with the same

level of ISOBUS software as the baler. The new Stage IV, Case IH Puma Optum tractors are ideally suited for the square baler.

New high density, high output QUADRANT 4000 CLAAS offers one of the most extensive ranges of big square baler on the market, and the latest addition to the range is the the QUADRANT 4000.

The QUADRANT 4000 produces a bale measuring 0.80 m x 0.50 m and offers 15% more throughput and 10% more bale density compared to the QUADRANT 1150 which it replaces.

To achieve these performance increases, the flywheel and feed rake clutch have been designed for a 30% increase in load.

The entire drive train in the QUADRANT 4000, including the connecting rods, have also been designed for higher output and longer service life, and the bale chamber has also been strengthened accordingly.

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BALERS To achieve this higher density and throughput, the QUADRANT 4000 maintains a powerful 61 ram strokes per minute. In addition, the shape of the baling ram has been changed so that the bales are evenly and firmly pressed together from the centre out to the edge of the bale.

This results in perfectly formed, square bales which are stable for transport and storage.

The QUADRANT 4000 comes with a 2.00m wide pick-up and the crop is fed into the baler by 2-phase feed rake system, which ensures an extremely gentle crop pick-up and processing.

New baling solutions from John Deere

Krone Comprima X-treme round baler

Krone’s Comprima X-treme round baler with faster pickup, rotor cutter and NovoGrip elevator speeds, allows it to cope in the most challenging harvesting conditions. An ability to apply both net and film wraps also makes it an extremely versatile and an all-rounder baler.

A key feature of the baler is its bale transfer system, which has been updated to cut out downtime in the field. The design and arrangement of the chamber and the wrapping table allow the bale to simply drop from the chamber onto the table by its own weight. Should this be a problem in undulating terrain, the bale will get a nudge from the bale lifter.

The Comprima X-treme has a pick-up working width of

John Deere’s L1533 large square baler, which produces 90 x 80cm bales, will feature a number of enhancements for the 2016 season to provide contractors with more capacity and uptime.

The new 2.3m pick-up is 20cm wider than on the

previous model and features five tine bars, which increase the machine’s feeding capacity.

The baler is also now equipped with 15 MaxiCut precutter knives instead of 10, allowing cutting length to be shortened to 45mm for better compaction and higher bale density. For easier

2,150mm with tine diameters increasing from 5.5mm to 6.0mm. A stronger pick-up unit helps to maximise baler stability at high forward speeds, while standard crop press rollers and baffle plates minimise blockages and boost throughput. The rotor cutter maintains consistent crop flow from the pick-up to the bale chamber by pulling the material through its 17 knives (two tines per knife).

Krone’s unique NovoGrip belt-and-slat elevators have been strengthened and its width increased to 115mm from 90mm on the variable-chamber (V) model. In addition, the slat holders are manufactured from higher-quality material, and the roller floor bolts are thicker, too. www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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BALERS maintenance, the knives can be exchanged using a sliding tray.

John Deere will be offering new bale wrapping solutions in 2016 for variable chamber balers.

A 50 per cent stronger HD (high density) net will be available for the 900 Series balers. Depending on bale diameter, this will cut baling time by up to 7.5 per cent at no extra cost.

John Deere will also be introducing its exclusive B-Wrap for 800 and 900 Series variable chamber balers, for storing dry hay and straw bales outdoors more safely.

Installed in kit form on the baler, B-Wrap helps to significantly reduce dry matter losses compared to netwrapping. Cut to the appropriate length, two layers of composite material protect the bale from bad weather and ground moisture.

Kuhn updates its popular fixed chamber round baler

W & A Geddes Ltd Main Dealers for

Balers

W & A Geddes Ltd

swath by force-feeding the crop into the baler for maximum throughput. Each single knife is spring-protected against damage from foreign objects.

“Reliability, bale quality and bale density are fundamental to the efficiency of all baling operations,” Duncan McLeish, Kuhn’s UK Sales Manager explains. “Every minute counts when weather conditions are uncertain so the FB 2135 has been updated to provide improvements in all aspects of baling.

“The new machines feature several unique innovations such as Kuhn’s PENDULUM pickup system, POWERTRACK roller and INTEGRAL ROTOR technology, all of which make a real difference to field performance.”

Croftbank Garage, Victoria Road, Brora.

Special readers offer on our own branded single malt whisky.

Tel: 01408 621220

SEE PAGE 77

7 River St, Wick, Caithness.

Tel: 01955 602207

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Kuhn Farm Machinery has launched a new version of its popular fixed chamber round baler, the FB 2135 MKII, with a range of new features designed at improving baling speed, quality and efficiency.

The latest version of the FB 2135 is available with two different intake rotors – the OPTIFEED or OPTICUT 14 – both of which share the same 2.30m pick-up width for maximum productivity.

The OPTIFEED rotor uses double feeding tines and integrated augers to provide an even and consistent flow of crop into the bale chamber for improved bale consistency.

The OPTICUT 14 rotor is fitted with 14 knives which provide a theoretical cutting length of 70mm and which even out the

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BALERS

Lely Welger RP 160 V range of Balers Variable means flexible and that characterises the NEW Lely Welger RP 160 V baler.

This versatile range of variable chamber round baler’s guarantees high output, wellshaped high density bales and user friendliness. A newly designed and thoroughly tested bale chamber ensures the high performance of the Lely Welger RP 160 V range which replaces the RP 415 and the 445 baler series. Now available in UK this season.

The Lely Welger RP 160 V range consists of four models.

The range features a wide range of pick-ups, chopping systems and two control units E-Link Basic and E-Link Pro to meet the demands of both farmers and contractors in all kinds of situations.

The RP 160 V Classic has a basic setup and is well suited

D-K-R

AGRICULTURAL SERVICES LTD.

Agricultural Merchants

Main Dealers for JOHN DEERE Balers

Main dealers for CLAAS Balers

D-K-R AGRICULTURAL SERVICES LTD.

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

www.jandwtaitltd.co.uk

Westfield, Coulter, Biggar, Lanarkshire ML12 6HN 4EL s &!8

Sparrowhawk Road, Hatston Industrial Estate Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1GE

E-Mail: dkrcoulter@hotmail-com

Email: info@jandwtaitltd.co.uk

Tel: 01856 873003 / 872490

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BALERS for drier crops. The other RP 160 V models have a heavy duty power split gearbox for the heaviest crop conditions and the MC / Xtracut are fitted with 13 or 17 Knife chopping systems.

The Lely Welger RP 160 V baler range is available

with three different widths of the five-tine-bar high capacity camless pick-up (2.00m/2.25m/2.40m).

The cleverly designed segment plates and the short distance from the pick-up to the rotor ensures excellent crop throughput.

Massey Ferguson large square baler ProCut system

Massey Ferguson is proud to announce the launch of the new ProCut system for the MF 2200 Series large square balers.

Equipped with unique clampon rotor fingers, it delivers demanding professional users a huge increase in capacity with a finer, uniform chop while also offering superb service access.

Knives are mounted in a full-width, drop-down bed and held in a ‘magazine’ which rolls out completely to the lefthand side on Easy Glide roller bearings, providing best-inclass access for servicing.

“We know, from customer experience, that chopped silage bales can reduce mixing times in feeder wagons by up to half as well as save power.

Chopped straw bales are now becoming more widely used for not only bedding, but also part of Total Mixed Rations and users are looking for a finer chop,” explains Mark Grigson, Product Marketing Manager – Harvesting.

ProCut is available on the MF 2240, MF 2250, MF 2260, MF 2270 and MF 2270 XD. Note the MF 2240 is not available in all markets.

The 650mm diameter ProCut rotor is equipped with 26mm wide hard-faced, cast steel fingers, which are arranged in a spiral ‘V’ formation. The rotor has 54 fingers for 80cm wide bales and 108 on 120cm balers and turns at 120rpm – 13% faster than previous designs.

McHale V6 Variable Chamber Range In 2002 McHale entered the baler market with the launch of the Fusion Integrated Baler Wrapper. Since then, McHale has firmly established itself in the baler market with the introduction of the F5 fixed chamber baler range in 2004.

In 2007, McHale introduced the F5000 fixed chamber baler range which consists of three models, the F5400 nonchopper baler, F5500 semiautomatic 15 knife chopper baler and the F5600 25 knife fully automatic baler.

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BALERS Mike McCarthy Northern England & Scotland Sales Manager at McHale explained “We now export to over 50 countries. Over the last number of years we have got a good share of the Integrated Baler Wrapper Market. Also our range of F5000 fixed chamber balers has firmly established themselves in the markets in which we compete. This has allowed us as a company to target 50% of the European baler market, which is made up of fixed chamber balers and integrated baler wrappers, the remaining 50% are made up of variable chamber or belt balers.”

Since 2006 we have been working on a variable chamber or belt baler, which would allow McHale to target the other 50% of the baler market.

New Holland Roll-Belt™ variable chamber round baler Over the past 40 years, New Holland has produced over 235,000 roll belt balers, which is testament to their continuing

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global appeal. In celebration of this significant milestone, all new Roll-Belt models will feature a 40-year decal which

will also mark the success of these new models. The latest generation has redefined round baling with advanced roll belt

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technology that can improve capacity by up to 20% and density by up to 5%.

New Holland introduced the new Roll-Belt™ variable chamber baler series in 2013, featuring customised feeding systems like the SuperFeed™ and CropCutter™ rotor options.

The new ActiveSweep™ crop processing solution offers a further choice to enable tailored baling.

Available on both RollBelt 150 and Roll-Belt 180 models, ActiveSweep has been purpose-developed by New Holland to transfer the crop directly from the pick-up to the bale chamber for gentle handling. Ideally suited to those wishing maintain long unbroken stems, ActiveSweep is perfect for baling hay and straw, minimising losses and producing a bale that can be unrolled for easy feeding or bedding.

Despite its simplicity, ActiveSweep delivers excellent productivity.

BALERS

The Vicon FastBale The new Vicon FastBale – a revolutionary non-stop round baler wrapper combination that cleverly integrates a prechamber with a main chamber, and a wrapper was launched at this years LAMMA. It is not only a non-stop round baler - it is a non-stop round baler wrapper, and based on a fixed chamber baler differentiates it from anything else currently on the market.

And this pinnacle of round bale productivity looks set to take the market by storm, when a limited production run starts in 2017.

This flagship round baling solution takes its pickup from the Vicon baler range. It measures 2.2m wide and uses five rows of tines running in two cam tracks. A crop chopping system is included too, which can have up to 25 knives engaged.

Crop flow is key to the FastBale’s non-stop capability that, and its two bale chambers.

Using a pivoting crop channel at the back of the

pickup, grass can be directed either to the pre-chamber or the main chamber, without having to stop baling.

Baling starts with the prechamber. It uses 14 rollers, 10 of which form the door that separates it from the main

chamber. When the bale has reached two-thirds of its 1.3m total diameter, crop flow is switched to the main chamber.

BALERS DEALERS KEY Participating Dealers in this feature CLAAS J&W Tait www.jandwtaitltd.co.uk Kirkwall, Orkney : 01856 873003 W & A Geddes Wick : 01955 602207 Thurso : 01847 891651 Brora : 01408 621220 JOHN DEERE DKR Agricultural Services www.jd-dealer.co.uk/dkagri Biggar : 01899 220897 MLM Engineering www.mlmengineering.co.uk Orphir, Orkney : 01856 811282

KRONE Ancroft Tractors www.ancroft-tractors.co.uk Berwick upon Tweed : 01289 331904 Kelso : 01573 225213 Macmerry : 01875 617323 Ross Agri Services www.rossagri.co.uk Montrose : 01674 850346 Turriff : 01888 568444 McHALE Ramsey & Jackson www.ramjack.co.uk Mauchline : 01290 550329 Ross Agri Services www.rossagri.co.uk

Montrose : 01674 850346 Turriff : 01888 568444 MASSEY FERGUSON Ancroft Tractors www.ancroft-tractors.co.uk Berwick upon Tweed : 01289 331904 Kelso : 01573 225213 Macmerry : 01875 617323

VICON George Colliar Ltd Middle Balado : 01577 863173 Reekie Group www.reekie.co.uk Stirling : 01786 477530 Perth : 01738 622471 Cupar : 01334 652445

NEW HOLLAND Agricar www.agricar.co.uk Forfar : 01307 462281 Perth : 01738 583249 Laurencekirk : 01561 378888 Dundonald : 01563 851900 Stirling : 01786 430970

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RENEWABLEENERGY

Atkins designs world’s first multi-turbine floating offshore wind platform Hexicon has appointed Atkins as engineering partner for the world’s first multi-turbine offshore wind floating platform to be deployed at the Dounreay Tri Project off the Scottish north coast.

Atkins’ offshore wind team has been working with Hexicon to define the concept since 2015 and is currently in the process of analysing a two turbine 8-12MW structure ready for Front End Engineering Design (FEED) and physical model testing of the new design later this year.

Katherine Ward, project manager in Atkins’ renewables business, said: “We’re really pushing the boundaries of

what can be done to support Hexicon in maximising energy yield through clever design.

The team has a great deal of experience in innovative, transformational work both in the renewables and oil and gas sectors and on this project we are going one step further in making such an exciting concept a reality.”

Marcus Thor, project director for Hexicon, said: “Atkins brings innovation, quality and professionalism, and we’re pleased to be working with them on developing our floating wind concept ready for the offshore wind market. Our aim is for this project to show how a multi turbine concept

can help bring down the cost of offshore wind, enabling this form of renewable energy to be even more financially viable.”

New developments in the design of the floating structure’s mooring system have increased the efficiency of the rotating system reducing CAPEX and maximising energy yield.

Atkins’ extensive experience in floating wind has played a key role in developing the concept and originally winning the work.

Atkins has been involved in more than half a dozen floating wind projects around the world including:

Detailed design and analysis for Principle Power’s WindFloat prototype in Portugal Design for Pilot Offshore Renewable’s Kincardine floating wind project Winning Statoil’s Hywind floating wind demonstrator Installation Challenge competition.

Chris Cowland, project director in Atkins’ renewables business added: “The integrated design capability that enables the head to toe design that we’re undertaking for Hexicon clearly demonstrates how our experience across a range of both floating and fixed offshore wind projects can add real value to clients.”

European solar market grows 15% in 2015 In 2015, European countries connected around 8 GW of solar power systems to electrical networks, according to estimates by SolarPower Europe.

Demand for solar power systems in European countries increased by around 15% yearon-year, compared to 6.95 GW of new grid-connected solar power capacity in 2014.

“It is good to see the European solar power sector again on the growth path in 2015,” says James Watson, CEO of SolarPower Europe.

Peaking in 2011, demand for solar power installations in Europe declined for 3 consecutive years. Europe’s solar growth in 2015, however, is primarily based on the strong UK market, demand for solar systems in most other countries stayed flat or declined. Watson added, “Solar needs clear signals from policy 48

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makers in Europe to be able to contribute to achieving the climate goals agreed in Paris.

With solar being competitive for residential and commercial applications in most European countries today, investors need a secure political framework for generation, self-consumption and storage of solar energy.”

The company’s findings show that annual global gridconnected solar rose by over 25% to more than 50 GW in 2015, from 40.1 GW in 2014.

Final numbers for 2015 will be presented in a new report in March. Estimates for 2016, including market forecasts until 2020, will be published in SolarPower Europe’s ‘Global Market Outlook For Solar Power 2016 - 2020,’ which will be launched at Intersolar Europe in June.

Sourced from Renewable Energy Focus.com

Alpaca’s on show Lawrie and Symington’s Lanark Auction Market will be the venue for the show on 23 April 2016

The Scottish Alpaca Group (S.A.G.), a regional group of the British Alpaca Society (BAS) are holding the first Scottish alpaca show under BAS rules since reforming the previous Alpaca Farmers of Scotland group. S.A.G. has taken things forward with a new committee and show committee with new found enthusiasm. Lawrie and Symington’s Lanark Auction Market will be the venue for the show on 23 April 2016. This will be a stand alone alpaca show and will be open to the viewing public, anyone with an interest in alpacas or just curious about these unique animals can come along and enjoy the day, see the alpacas and ask any questions they may have about them. The show will start at 10.00am and is likely to run until around 5.00pm. The on site restaurant will be open, so come along and make a day of it.

S.A.G. are delighted that international judge Matthew Lloyd from EP Cambridge Alpacas has agreed judge our inaugural show.

The show will be a fully fleeced , halter show and will have classes for both Huacaya (pronounced wacaya) and suri alpacas and will be judged as a colour championship with classes in all the recognised colours from black through greys, browns and fawns to white. The classes are defined by age with Junior being 6-12 months; Intermediate 1224 months, Adults 24-48 months and Senior over 48 months. On completion of each class the judge will give an oral reasoning describing what attributes the placed animals have and why he chose the winners. These winners

will then go on to compete for the colour championships.

S.A.G. is also greatly appreciative of those companies, both large Scottish companies and local businesses, including Carrs Billington and Tunnocks who have agreed to sponsor

the show. Without this type of support, we would be unable to hold the show.

Alpaca numbers are increasing in Scotland with new farm enterprises starting up in all areas from the highlands to the borders and this show

will be the place to go to find the animals, the breeders, the processors. You will find that alpaca people are very enthusiastic about their animals and are usually happy to talk all things alpaca from dawn until dusk!

Photo from the Scottish Smallholder and Grower Show which was held at the Lanark Auction Market in September 2015

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new to market Footbaths – a cost from a bygone age?

A personal & professional view By Graham Crocker Farmer and Director of Quill Productions

There is no doubt about it: farmers are being hit in all sectors whether it is arable, pigs, sheep or dairy.

My dear old mother used to say “You do dairy cows son and you will always be assured of a sensible cash flow”. How times have changed.

Dairy farmers must look at any opportunity to cut out unnecessary spending. For far too long foot bathing for digital dermatitis (DD) has gone under the radar and farmers have not appreciated the cost savings that can be made from moving away from this old system.

To understand the alternatives, it is necessary to understand the disease.

The bacteria which causes DD belongs to a very clever family of bacteria called Treponemes which is a spirate bacteria and hides under the skin. Most farmers already know that DD is classed from M0 to M4 with M2 being the sore strawberry like lesion. The peculiarity of this disease can be seen from the diagram below.

DD throws the rule book out. As can be seen from the arrows in the diagram, it can jump or re-invent itself very quickly; going from what appears to be healed or healing at M4 back to a severe case at M2 in a single jump and virtually overnight.

So often vets and consultants are heard to recommend how 50

big, long and deep footbaths have got to be. The plain truth is they never have been and never will be very cost effective or even very good at curing DD. The moment frequent foot bathing is stopped in the late winter DD will become a nightmare on most farms.

So what are the choices?

Since copper sulphate has been made illegal to use in footbaths, farmers only have 3 alternatives to use:A waste product like Formalin; A specifically manufactured product; Prescribed antibiotics.

Formalin looks extremely cost effective because it is so cheap per can. With the dilution of at least 5%, the size of foot baths and the frequency of needing to footbath with this product, costs can run away with themselves. All too often

Formalin has to be supported with individual treatments, vet prescribed antibiotics like Linco-spectum and CTC sprays. One other big problem with Formalin which no one seems to mention is the risk of it getting into the food chain via splashing on the teats as the cow passes through the foot bath. Formaldehyde which is a member of the Aldehyde family, is very difficult, if not impossible, to completely get off the cow’s teats. As well as being known as a carcinogen, surely all this equates to a risk which is just too costly for the dairy industry?

There will never be a VMD registered manufactured product that will treat DD in the foot bath because the necessary cure rate would never be achieved. Also, costs can be prohibitive especially with the current price of milk.

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It is only a matter of time before a milk producer is brought to task by a milk buyer or farm medicines inspector as it is so simple to tie farm medicine books and milk tickets. Linco-spectum in a footbath leaves farmers too vulnerable via traceability through farm assurance schemes if the necessary milk withholding period is not conformed with and adhered to as prescribed by the vets.

The only obvious place where cows stand on clean concrete for any length of time is in the milking parlour.

This has to be the ideal place to apply a product so it can effectively tackle DD with sufficient concentration and contact time.

The Quill Hoof Spray Systems was developed for the milking parlour so that Hoof-fit Spray Liquid could be applied quickly, easily and directly onto the cow’s skin where the DD lies. It will always work out far cheaper and better than foot bathing; the obvious saving is directly on the formalin and vet/hoof trimmer bills and indirectly by improved cow motivation scores. We know to combat DD, Hoof-fit Spray Liquid should cost no more than 50p per cow per month.

This cannot be bettered.

Hoof-fit Spray Liquid contains chelated copper and chelated zinc in exactly the

new to market same ratio of copper and zinc as in the Hoof-fit Gel, a product registered and recognised by the VMD and the industry as the only antibiotic free cure on the market. It is the chelated copper and the chelated zinc where the secret lies and the effective cure rate of DD is achieved.

Quill Productions offers a money back guarantee on the Hoof-Spray System equipment which costs initially in the region of £550, depending on the size of the parlour and the farmer’s preferred method of application (drop coil or drag line).

Quill Hoof-Spray Systems have been installed by farmers and used successfully all over the UK. We have many testimonials of farmers who cannot believe the amount of time and money

Targeted attack on Digital Dermatisis

this system has saved them.

One such instance was in the West Country.

A distraught farmer recently telephoned me in desperation because his well known milk buyer was going to stop collecting his herd’s milk as DD was creating a serious welfare issue and he had had a previous warning over the lameness situation. I called the milk buyer, on his behalf, and asked for four or

five days grace for the farmer who was awaiting delivery of a Hoof Spray System which he had just purchased to sort the problem out. I told the buyer that the farmer would quickly see an improvement. The buyer agreed to continue collecting the milk in the meantime, pending results. I had a call from the farmer a few days later to pick a bone with me… his cows had galloped into milking for the first time in

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years and had broken through his baler twine…Needless to say the farmer (and the cows) were delighted.

When the buyer came back to the unit a fortnight later he couldn’t believe that he was looking at the same herd. That farmer is still using the spray to keep DD at bay and under control to almost the point of eradication.

Another sceptical farmer from the Welsh border had read about and seen the System on our website and eventually purchased a system. He rang up about 10 days later and went on and on about how the system had saved him so much time separating out cows for the foot trimmer to treat for DD. He said “I’m so made up, you just won’t believe it Graham”. I said that I do know because when I was milking I had the same problem.

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livestock NBA Farm Tours – A British Beef Industry Insight The National Beef Association (NBA) have announced that the farm tours, part of their annual event NBA Beef Expo, will feature some of the Peak District’s most noted herds of cattle in one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

This includes Chatsworth and Haddon Hall Estates and Hopping Farm home to a herd of 150 Black Limousin cross suckler cows.

With the very best of the UK’s Beef cattle on show, the latest industry information and attracting thousands of visitors, NBA Beef Expo is always a key date in the beef industry’s calendar. This year it is being held on Friday 20th May at the Agricultural Business Centre, home of Bakewell Market, the Farm Tours, will take place the day before on Thursday 19th May. The farm tours, in and around Bakewell, will give people the opportunity to see how two of the leading estates in the county integrate beef farming into their overall enterprise.

In viewing Chatsworth you will tour the magnificent estate seeing the noted Chatsworth

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herd of Limousin cattle, their small pedigree herd of Hereford cattle and how their farming enterprise operates. The tour culminates in a visit to the acclaimed Chatsworth Farm Shop to meet with the butchers who prepare the choice cuts from the herds that have been part of the tour.

Hopping Farm, part of Haddon Hall Estate is a prime example of a commercial cattle rearing unit comprising of a

herd of 150 Black Limousin suckler cows from the dairy herd. Simon Frost who farms the tenancy at Hopping Farm has a farm business strategy founded upon making best use of proven scientific fact, good stock management, and maintaining a market-orientated outlook.

Haddon Hall, (one of the finest examples of a medieval manor) & Estate owned by the Manners family, is farmed organically and is currently

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under an HLS agreement. It is also home to a herd of Longhorn Cattle, one of the largest herds in the UK. “These farm visits will demonstrate to you how three successful Peak District beef farmers run their very different farming businesses,” says Alastair Sneddon, Chairman of the 2016 NBA Beef Expo.

He continues: “We are delighted to have the two large estates on board and such a numbers driven business as Hopping Farm. The purpose of the tours is a knowledge sharing exercise and between them they demonstrate the breadth and diversity of what the British beef industry has to offer. Those on the tours will find that many of the ideas and systems in place can be utilised to maximise the efficiency of their own cattle enterprises.”

The Farm Tours are priced at £25 per person, they include coach travel from the Agricultural Business Centre at Bakewell and lunch.

A combined ticket for the Farm Tours and 2016 NBA Beef Expo for NBA members is £30, and for non NBA members is £35.

Bookings can be made online at www.beefexpo.co.uk, under the visitor section, or by contacting the event organiser Euan Emslie on 01430 441870.

livestock Mild winter increases fluke risk in sheep and cattle QMS Appoints New Assurance Advisor

There is a high risk chronic liver fluke burdens in livestock in western regions of the UK and especially in Scotland, according to the latest NADIS Parasite Forecast, sponsored by Merial Animal Health. Beef and sheep farmers are warned to be on alert for signs of fluke disease and take appropriate action, based on local risk factors.

Chronic liver fluke infection peaks in the late winter and early spring. The recent mild weather has enabled a greater number of fluke to survive the winter, leading to high numbers of parasites on pasture.

Assessing and treating cattle and sheep now will help prevent production losses, particularly due to impaired reproductive performance in ewes, and increased finishing times for growing cattle. It will also reduce pasture contamination with fluke eggs, leading to a reduction in fluke larval challenge in late summer and autumn 2016.

Not all sheep with chronic infections develop classic “bottle-jaw” so fluke can potentially go unnoticed. Poor scanning results are often the first sign of an infection and can be limited to specific groups of animals, depending on their exposure to infective fluke at autumn and winter grazing.

Sioned Timothy, veterinary adviser for Merial Animal Health

says: “Chronic fluke infections can put a lot of strain on pregnant ewes. If untreated, these animals may lose a significant amount of weight, and in severe cases both the lambs and the ewe may be lost.”

Treatment is advised in sheep that are likely to have been exposed in the autumn and early winter, or where diagnostic tests have identified the presence of fluke in the flock.

Ms. Timothy continues: “Flukicides such as those containing nitroxynil (Trodax®) or closantel are effective at treating fluke from seven weeks post-infection.

Selecting an appropriate product based on the stage of fluke being treated, and observing good practice when treating sheep to ensure accurate dosing will maximise the efficacy of treatments, whilst minimising the risk of selecting for resistance.”

Weighing a number of different sheep will enable a representative bodyweight range within the flock to be identified, and will help avoid under or over-dosing. Whilst underdosing will compromise the efficacy of treatments, overdose carries a risk of toxicity. Groups should be treated separately where there is a significant difference in weight between different groups of animals.

Sheep should be moved to

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Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) has appointed Jill Hunter to the new role of Assurance Advisor.

Ms Hunter, whose family farms near Glenfarg in Perthshire, is an Applied Animal Science graduate from SRUC (formerly the Scottish Agricultural College) in Edinburgh and her career has included working with Richard Keenan UK Ltd as a ruminant nutritionist.

The part-time role will see Ms Hunter provide an expert advisory and liaison service to members of the six QMS quality assurance schemes – Cattle & Sheep, Pigs, Auction Market, Feed, Haulage and Processor. This will include hosting advisory clinics and attending agricultural events to meet existing and prospective members, providing an opportunity for farmers and others in the industry to find out more about how the schemes

work and the benefits of membership.

Suzanne Woodman, QMS Brands Integrity Manager, said she is delighted to welcome Jill to QMS. “Following last year’s successful recruitment of over 600 members into the Cattle & Sheep assurance scheme alone, Jill will be working to further increase the number of businesses which benefit from being members of our quality assurance schemes and will help raise awareness and understanding of scheme requirements.

“The QMS assurance schemes are fundamental to maintaining the integrity of the Scotch Beef PGI, Scotch Lamb PGI and Specially Selected Pork brands.

The importance of quality assurance to consumers continues to grow and is a crucial aspect of the longterm sustainability of the Scottish red meat industry.”

livestock clean pasture after treatment, where supplementary feeding may be required to maintain or improve condition in affected animals.

The risk of sheep scab may continue into April. If left untreated, scab can cause weight loss due to disturbed grazing patterns and the consequent reduction in feed intake. Sheep may be seen kicking at their chest and rubbing against fences.

The fleece of affected animals will often be wet, sticky and yellow, and may be contaminated with dirt from the hind feet.

Fleece loss is common where infections have been present for eight weeks or more, with bare patches sometimes extending up to 20cm in diameter, surrounded by an area of inflammation and sticky exudates.

In cattle, heavy adult liver fluke burdens may now be identified by rapid weight loss and diarrhea, which can increase finishing times by several weeks

and impact significantly on cost of production1.

Over a fifth of British cattle livers are condemned at the slaughterhouse2 due to liver fluke damage. Asking the abattoir for feedback on liver condemnation can help identify if there is a fluke issue within the herd.

“Out-wintered cattle are at particular risk due to the relatively mild winter weather, which allowed infective fluke to remain active on the pasture long into winter. Cattle grazing potentially infected pastures should either be dosed, or checked for the presence of fluke eggs in faeces,” says Ms. Timothy.

Adult fluke in beef cattle can be treated with a straight flukicide product such as those containing nitroxynil (Trodax®) or closantel, or a combination product such as Ivomec® Super (containing ivermectin and clorsulon) where treatment of worms is also required.

New Bimeda 10ml Drench Applicator makes accurate dosing easier At this time of year, internal parasites are a key concern for the UK’s sheep farmers, with adult liver fluke, tapeworms, lungworms and mature and developing gastrointestinal roundworms being of key concern.

Bimeda UK’s Head of Sales, James Hutchings, commented, ‘the farmers we speak to tell us that these parasites are a primary concern for them at this time of year, and that they are looking for an effective and affordable treatment option which is not difficult to administer.

Our Endofluke 10%, which contains albendazole 100mg/ ml, as well as selenium and cobalt offers both efficacy and affordability to the farmer, and is licensed for the control of adult

liver fluke, lungworms, tapeworms and mature and developing forms of gastro-intestinal roundworms.

It offers a short 4 day meat withdrawal for sheep and is also

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livestock It’s the cows or Scotland, so Valerie chooses both!

By Chris McCullough Love certainly does strange things to people but for a young farm lass from Ballygowan in Northern Ireland it has meant packing up her cows and shipping them over to Perthshire.

Valerie Orr’s eyes met her Scottish boyfriend James Cameron across the cattle judging ring at Castlewellan Show back in 2012. As their relationship blossomed the long haul from Northern Ireland to Scotland was becoming a bit much.

Valerie, 27, had a decision to make, her beloved herd of Irish Moiled cattle at home, or James, so she choose both!

James, 42, was at the show to judge the Irish Moiled cattle and the Beef Shorthorn breeds but as it turned out he was judging something else as well!

Valerie has helped run Trainview Farm in Ballygowan, County Down, for the past five years with her parents after leaving Greenmount College.

Her interest in pedigree cattle developed ten years ago when she received an Irish Moiled heifer as a Christmas present.

She said: “We run a traditional mixed farm with beef cattle and broiler breeder hens run by my parents David and Rosemary.

“My interest in pedigree cattle started 10 years ago when

an Irish Moiled heifer came home as a Christmas present for me which was the start of Knowehead Irish Moileds.

“James and I have been together for two years. He is from Glenshee in Perthshire and works as a beef stockman. “We first met at Castlewellan Show in 2012 when James was judging the Irish Moiled and Shorthorn classes where I happened to be showing.

“I had a very good day that day being placed reserve Irish Moiled breed champion with my homebred cow Knowehead Jane.

“Two years later we met again at the February Stirling Bull sales and the rest as they say is history.”

As Valerie’s cows meant the world to her she could not be without them so she was in a bit of a dilemma. However, she choose both James and the cows and has taken them with her.

Valerie said: “Long distance relationships can be very hard work and with both of us working on farms getting chances to get away to see each other was very difficult.

“James moved over to Northern Ireland in June 2014 with the hope of finding work as a beef stockman here. At the same time we started to build up cow numbers on the family farm

with the Beef Shorthorns coming home to run alongside the Irish Moileds.

“Beef farms in Northern Ireland tend to be smaller family run units so work opportunities for James were very limited.

“He decided to go back to Scotland to find work while I managed our herd back home.

“Over the last year things have gradually developed with opportunities coming our way that just seemed to be right. I applied for a job as an Agricultural Officer with ScotGov and low and behold I got the job. “As James was getting ample work and with beef prices consistently higher in Scotland we decided just to move there. The next step was finding a farm to rent for the cows to move to.

“And, just in time for the move we secured the rent of sheds at Arnbog Farm, Meigle, Perthshire. This part of Scotland is famed for the quality of its livestock and has some of the best arable ground in the country with no shortage of straw to bed the cattle with.

“We shipped over 25 cattle in total which was all our Shorthorns and a portion of the Irish Moiled herd.

“Unfortunately Storm Gertrude hit the day we had

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arranged to move the cattle, but with all the export paperwork signed we only had a small window to move them.

“In the end we had to delay the move by around six hours until the weather had calmed enough to allow livestock to sail. It worked out well though because it meant we were able to load the cattle in the sunshine as opposed to the pitch black of 5am!

“The cows arrived safely at Arnbog farm later that evening and although a little tired from the journey they were glad to see a deep straw bed to lie on compared with the mud we left behind in County Down!”

Valerie did not find the decision to move to Scotland an easy one but in the end she followed her heart. “It wasn’t as easy decision to make,” she said: “I have worked hard on the farm for five years to build up the cut flower and Christmas tree business along with my family. “However, I knew I had to literally follow my heart and that is with James and our herd of cows (not forgetting our dogs Jude and Gyp). “Home will always be home but I love Scotland too and we see the opportunities in farming here to be much better for us.”

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livestock ovicidal, meaning it kills eggs; so helps reduce pasture re-infestation Now, thanks to the launch of our new 10ml drench applicator, we have ticked the box of convenient, straightforward administration too.

The low dose rate for fluke and worms of 6ml/60kg sheep body weight is now easier for to farmers administer, thanks to this new applicator.’

James Hutchings added; ‘We are launching the 10ml drench applicator as a direct response to our conversations with UK sheep farmers who have told us they feel there is a gap for a high quality 10ml drench applicator, which will assist them with the accurate administration of products such as Endospec 10% (albendazole 100mg/ml). Our

new applicator, and indeed the whole Bimeda product range, offer both affordability and excellent quality.’

Bimeda Marketing Manager, Mary Murphy, commented; ‘Bimeda are committed to providing UK farmers with the products and tools they need to make their job as efficient and convenient as possible, without

compromising on product efficacy or animal welfare.

UK farmers are already familiar with our wide parasite control range, which includes such products as Bimectin Plus, Ectospec, Endofluke, Ectofly and Gold Fleece and we remain committed to delivering quality parasite control solutions for the UK’s farming community’.

Classes Announced for National Beef Association 2016 Spring Spectacular Show Just announced, it has been confirmed that there will be a total of 12 classes including four championship classes and a supreme champion class at this year’s National Beef Association’s (NBA) 2016 National Spring Spectacular Show (NSSS). With an overall prize fund of over £5000 the NSSS brings together the very best of pedigree and commercial cattle breeding.

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Part of the beef industry’s flagship annual event, NBA Beef Expo, is taking place this year at the Agricultural Business Centre, home of the Bakewell mart on Friday 20th May 2016. The NSSS attracts the best of British cattle from all across the UK. Beef Expo is a superb showcase offering everyone the opportunity to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and discuss the

developments taking place within the industry, whilst also having the chance to experience the new equipment available.

The Spring Spectacular includes classes for Native, Continental, British Blue, Limousin-sired heifers and steers, baby beef classes, and two young handlers’ classes.

On announcing details of the NSSS, NBA Beef Expo Chairman,

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Alastair Sneddon said: “We are delighted to be hosting this year’s Beef Expo in the heart of the Peak District National Park, and we are expecting to see a fantastic line-up of classes showcasing the very best of pedigree and commercial cattle.

This event is a true celebration of British Beef and this year we have a very strong commercial focus, introducing a consumer element

the vet

livestock

So near and yet so far

By Andy Cant Northvet Veterinary Group so we hope to attract a range of audiences to Bakewell.

“We are extremely proud of our British beef breeding in the UK, and the Spring Spectacular Show is one of the highlights giving all visitors the opportunity to see some of the very best cattle in the industry.”

The first prize in every class is £100, with sections champions receiving £100 and reserve £50.

The overall Champion will walk away with £500 with reserve £250 and the Baby Beef Champion £200 and reserve £100. The championship prizes are sponsored

by Caltech Crystalyx.

Eddie Gillanders receives Hugh Watson Memorial Award for services to the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society

A well-known figure in the Aberdeen-Angus world, Eddie Gillanders, has received an award from the AberdeenAngus Cattle Society for his “lifetime dedication” to the Aberdeen-Angus breed.

The prestigious Hugh Watson Memorial Award – named after one of the breed’s founders, Hugh Watson

of Keillor in Angus – was presented to Eddie by Society president, David Evans, at a reception following the Society’s AGM at Stirling.

Eddie (72) joined the Society’s staff (then in Aberdeen) on January 5, 1959, at the age of 15 as junior clerk in the Herd Book department.

Promoted to committee clerk in

In the spring calving suckler herd it is this time of year we start to see abortions getting reported and sure enough this year is no different. It is always disappointing for a whole years production to have got this far and then to be lost. Losses up to the third month of pregnancy tend to go undetected, being seen as repeat breeders or barren cows. After this it is more likely there will be evidence of abortion with a foetus being found. It is a fact that 1-2% of cattle will abort and so it is not to be unexpected and so long as it is within that margin, can be accepted. If numbers exceed this or a cluster of abortions come together it is time to investigate.

Causes of abortion fall into two general categories 1. Non-infectious and 2. Infectious.

You will all no doubt be familiar with the cow that aborts after being run through the crush or handled for some reason – environmental stress of this kind or due to weather/ nutritional stress can all

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be non-infectious causes.

Genetic defects are another and again the cow aborting twins is likely just due to the hormones not managing to maintain the pregnancy.

These are the most likely causes of an occasional abortion.

Investigation of infectious causes of abortion is generally disappointing with less than a third of submitted cases getting a diagnosis. The best chance of diagnosis is where the foetus and any cleanings and also blood from the dam are submitted to the lab. It is important to remember that abortions should be reported to your local Animal Health Office for Brucella investigations.

Whilst the UK has been clear of this disease for some years now, the BS7 test is an important surveillance tool to make sure we stay that way.

So don’t panic with one abortion, it can be expected, but don’t delay in getting your vet to send good quality samples to the vet lab if your getting too many.

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livestock October, 1961, at the age of 18, was entrusted with preparing the agendas and minutes for the meetings of Council and committees.

Eddie left the Society in April, 1964, to pursue a career in journalism as assistant to the Agricultural Editor of the Press and Journal but returned to the Society two years later as press officer and later assistant secretary.

However, still hankering to continue in journalism, left in 1971 to return to Aberdeen (the Society’s office had moved to Perth in 1970) becoming marketing manager of the farmers’ co-op, North Eastern Farmers, and two years later back to the Press and Journal as agricultural editor, a post held for 11 years.

In 1984, Eddie decided to start his own farming magazine, Agri-Business Scotland, which was sold to the Peebles Publishing Group

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in Glasgow in 1989 after joining another farmer’s coop, Aberdeen and Northern Marts, initially to launch the electronic auction system and then as marketing manager of the ANM Group until retiring in 2003 at the age of 60.

The following year, Eddie decided to get back into publishing and launched the bi-monthly farming magazine, Farm North East, which he continues to edit and publish.

When leaving the Society’s employment in 1971, Eddie was asked to continue editing the Aberdeen-until 2010 and in 1972 instigated the formation of the North East Aberdeen-Angus Club, acting as secretary until 2013. He was elected President of the club on his retirement.

No stranger to industry accolades, Eddie won the Scottish Association of Young Farmers’ press secretary’s award in 1964, Netherthorpe

Award as UK Agricultural Journalist of the Year, an annual award given by the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists in 1984, the Royal Northern Agricultural Society’s award for services to agriculture in the North-east of Scotland in 2004 and MBE for services to agriculture and agricultural journalism in 2006.

Mr Evans paid tribute to Eddie’s devotion to the breed and presented him with a

unique inscribed Rock Tablet hand crafted from raw glass.

Eddie is only the third person to receive this honour, following in the footsteps of the late Sir John Moores of the Littlewoods pools and retail family, who bred AberdeenAngus for 60 years on his farm in Lancashire under The Moss prefix and veteran breeder, 85-year-old Willie McLaren of the renowned Netherton herd at Blackford, Auchterarder.

Post CAP Reform Profitability Problems Predicted For Livestock Sector Research published by Scotland’s Rural College confirms that under the new Common Agricultural Policy payments most of Scotland’s intensive beef farms will suffer financially, while for many of Scotland’s breeding sheep farms there will be a positive financial effect. The new regime will also have an impact on Scottish dairy farms but it is the world market price for milk that will have a more direct effect on future viability.

The Research Briefings, which help inform policy makers, were produced for SRUC’s Rural Policy Centre by the Colleges’ Policy, Innovation and Behavioural Change Team. They used details from the Scottish Farm Accounts Survey which the College administers on behalf of Scottish Government, together with data from Quality Meat Scotland and a survey of farmers intentions that was carried out with partners from the James Hutton Institute and examined farmers’ reactions to various scenarios.

They processed the data through ‘Scotfarm’, SRUC’s own economic computer model.

It produces an optimised net profit for each farm taking into consideration resources such as land, labour, feed and livestock replacements to produce an optimised net profit for each

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farm and including their CAP Pillar1 and 2 payments.

“We considered farm level performance before the new reforms and compared that with farm performance postreform,” says SRUC Senior Agricultural Economist Steven Thomson. “Whilst the model did not allow for the five year transition process, we believe the results offer policy makers a good indication of the long-term effects on key enterprises.”

Specialist beef producers are most affected, with Scotfarm predicting over threequarters of the FAS businesses would be in a worse financial position. Of those affected, around a third are expected to suffer reduced profits, whilst another third would move from a profit to a loss. Around 20% of the farm businesses, already making a loss, are likely to see greater losses under the new reforms. Only 13% of farms, on more extensive systems, are predicted to make gains.

When asked about their intentions, farmers indicated that if they experienced a 25% increase in payment they would enlarge their herds.

However the same intention survey suggests that faced with a 25% cut in subsidy payments over half of those surveyed would decrease their livestock numbers.

farm buildings New Roundhouse 22 seem ever more popular Do you like the idea of the all-round benefits of the multi-award winning Roundhouse, but don’t have the space or the number of animals to fill one? Well the manufacturers of the building, Roundhouse Building Solutions Ltd (RBSL), has launched a new smaller version.

Called the RH22, the building has a diameter of 22m - hence the name - and a total area for livestock of 380sqm. This compares to the two existing buildings, the RH30 and RH45 which have diameters of 30m and 45m. RBSL estimates the new building will be able to house 60 dry cows, 80 heifers or 150 calves. As with the other Roundhouses it can have an integral handling system in the middle, leading to a loading ramp if required.

RBSL says the new building will be applicable for all types of stock. Indeed existing buildings house milking cows, dry cows, heifers, calves, pigs, sheep and even goats. But it is the number of requests for a smaller building for calves, and some enquiries from the equine world, that has driven the development of the smaller version. Already RBSL has erected three of the RH22’s and another four are in planning.

“We have a farmer in Northumberland that is using a Roundhouse to rear his calves very successfully,” says Simon Pelly, of RBSL. “He puts the calves in at day old, giving them supplementary heat from lamps if necessary and protecting them from the worst of the weather and draughts. He has installed an automatic feeding station for those still on milk powder, and then gradually rotates them around the building as they grow. It works really well. The farmer uses another

Roundhouse to further rear-on the heifers and to use as dry cow accommodation.”

As with the other buildings the RH22 is an all-circular building with open sides and a high tensile pvc coated polyester roof, which has an estimated lifespan of 25 years.

The building’s shape is ideal for livestock because fresh air enters the building evenly around the sides and vents via a chimney-stack effect through a hole in the roof. The animals are also very stress-free in the building as they can see all around them, which suits their natural herding instincts.

Management of the building is easy and safe because of the integrated handling system, and because feeding and bedding is done from around the outside of the building with a tractor and forage wagon or straw bedding machine. There is very little need to enter where the stock are, as the cattle can easily be inspected from either outside or from the handling area, and if there is a need to go in the pen there are built-in gate-less access points to make entry and exit quick and safe.

“When we first launched the Roundhouse we thought it would be attractive to a cross section of farmers and enterprises. But what we didn’t expect is the number of farmers who are telling us that it is extending their farming careers considerably because of the ease of management.

They can feed and manage the cattle in the building far easier and safer than in most conventional buildings. But we acknowledge that the existing buildings may be too big for many farmers, hence our new mini version.”

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“We also believe that there may be opportunities for the RH22 outside of agriculture so this new building may open up new sectors to us too,” claims Simon.

For more information contact Simon Pelly, RBSL on 01833 696928

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TOPIC

Liver Fluke: Treatment At This Time of Year Can Put A Spring in Your Flock’s Step All Year Round, By Helping to Break The Fluke Cycle & Reduce Levels On Farm Employing a potato planter that can accurately place more seed in a bed evenly and at speed whilst boosting output cost-effectively, is exactly why Bruce Farms near Meigle purchased a new Grimme GB330 trailed belt planter for its salad potato operation.

Rachel Mallet BVM&S MRCVS, Bimeda Vet & Bimeda Territory Manager, writes on the important role that adult fluke treatment at this time of year can play in helping farmers to break the fluke cycle on their farm’.

While most sheep farmers will associate liver fluke with autumn and winter, and with acutely sick animals, it is important that we do not forget about fluke this spring, nor miss a key window to reduce the significance of this costly parasite on our farms.

In the late spring and early summer all liver fluke infecting sheep will be adults. Adult fluke live in the gall bladder and bile ducts of the liver, and cause chronic disease. They lay fluke eggs which pass out of the sheep in faeces. The symptoms of chronic fluke are; - Loss of condition, - Emaciation, - Bottle jaw, - Anaemia - Increased susceptibility to other diseases.

Chronic fluke is diagnosed on clinical signs and faecal examination in the lab to pick up the fluke eggs. It can also be diagnosed at post mortem.

Liver Fluke Burden With No Obvious Symptoms Sheep can carry burdens of liver fluke with no symptoms of disease so it important to arrange with your vet to take faecal samples of your flock at this time of year. This has to be kept in mind throughout Britain as changing weather patterns bring warmer, wetter weather right across the country, increasing the prevalence of fluke outside the ‘traditionally wet’ areas of the north and west.

While it is obviously critical to rid sheep of adult fluke which are causing disease, it is equally important to rid the sheep of mature egg-laying adult fluke which are not causing obvious symptoms in 60

Rachel Mallet Bimeda Vet & Bimeda Territory Manager

the sheep. This is vital in order to prevent the pasture being seeded with fluke eggs, and to thus stop the mud snail from propagating and multiplying the fluke problem.

This is even more important given the mild and wet climate we have experienced recently in the UK. Appropriate Product Selection For a late spring/early summer treatment which product should we use? The correct product to use in sheep at this time of the year is one which targets only adult fluke, as there should be no immature fluke in-situ. It is critical that only the adult fluke present are targeted, to avoid the over-use flukicides which target all the stages of fluke. The untargeted use of broad-spectrum flukicides can contribute to the development of resistance, which is a critical issue for farming both in the UK and further afield.

Therefore, Albendazole-containing products such as Endospec 10% are an ideal, efficacious and ethical way for sheep farmers to control and halt the liver fluke cycle this spring. Albendazole is effective against adult liver fluke, but not against immature or early immature fluke. It is therefore highly suitable for this targeted treatment of fluke in the

UK in the late spring and early summer.

A springtime dose will prevent the summer grazing pasture being seeded with fluke eggs. Along with other control options such as drainage or fencing off of all wet land this can have massive benefits to flock health and can help prevent sub-acute and acute fluke in the autumn and winter, as well as chronic fluke the following spring.

The targeted approach will also help prevent over-reliance on triclabendazole-based products in the autumn. Triclabendazole -based products such as Endofluke are the only flukicides to cover all three stages of liver fluke including early immature and immature fluke and therefore they are needed to treat and prevent acute fluke disease caused by immature fluke in the autumn. Due to increased fluke levels they are being used more frequently and resistance to them is building. Therefore targeting mature fluke in the spring with Endospec 10% or other albendazole containing products has not just a positive effect on sheep for the summer but can also have positive benefits for preserving the efficacy of other classes of flukicides and for preventing losses in the autumn.

Usage The fluke dose rate of Endospec 10% is just 3mls per 40kg and this rate also covers gastro-intestinal worms including nematodirus battus and tape-worms (moniezia species). Bimeda have recently introduced a new Endospec 10% dispensing applicator for sheep, which is ideal for accurately and conveniently delivering the required small dosage to sheep

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this spring. Endospec 10% is an efficacious and affordable option for treating fluke this spring, which is now even easier to administer, thanks to the introduction of this new applicator.

Cattle & Fluke At This Time of Year Cattle farmers should also monitor for adult fluke through faecal testing and treat if necessary at this time of year. Endospec 10% has a convenient low dose rate of 1ml per 10kg for cattle and a short meat withdrawal of 14 days. In addition, it can be used in lactating dairy cows with a milk withdrawal period of just 4 days. It is also licensed against lungworms, ostertagia including immature stages, and lung worms in cattle.

About the Author Rachel Mallet is a Veterinary Surgeon, who now works as a Vet and Territory Manager for Bimeda.

Rachel is passionate about animal health and about promoting best practice amongst farmers and animal owners.

Use Medicines Responsibly.

Noah.co.uk Endospec 10% is a POM-VPS medicine, containing albendazole 100mg/ml selenium 1.08mg/ml, and cobalt 2.5mg/ml. Endofluke is a POM-VPS Medicine, containing triclabendazole 100mg/ml.Full product details, including contraindications, can be found on the SPC which is available on the VMD website. Date editorial prepared: February 2016. Bimeda can be contacted on 01248 725 400 or at Unit 2, Bryn Cefni Industrial Park, Llangefni, LL777XA

“Good morning my lovely bundle of joy” was the first words I heard this morning from the new farm employee!

I would guess an unusual greeting for 2 people who work along side each other on a hill farm; this conversation took place in the grey dark of a wet morning as I was standing in the kitchen, tackling a cup of coffee, staring into the middle distance while slowly beginning to waken properly and waiting for the toaster to pop!

On the grounds that the new employee is my daughter I let it pass without comment.

You may remember how I suddenly became the only farm employee last September after the infamous tree chopping down incident. Counting up today we have 237 head of cattle and 735 sheep scattered on two farms which cover nearly 4000 acres. Nothing is housed and feeding involves a lot of travelling around between the fields on both farms. I would be completely knackered if I didn’t have help.

In October my daughter, Jordan who turned 18 while working on the Isle of Mull for the summer returned.

She came home without any particular feeling of where or what she wanted to do with her life; the only thing she was sure about was not going back to study and she wanted a year out to have fun! Her words not mine.

When the position became available working at the farm Jordan immediately asked for the job and I said no; my wife said Jordan would be ideal for the job, I said no; my boss on finding our Jordan was returning said she would be perfect for the job, again I said no. There then followed a period of time were by I was put under pressure to offer her the job by everyone who had an opinion. On analysing why I thought it was not such a good idea, there was only one objection on my part and that was I felt that she needed to experience life, go out in the world and

DROVERS TALES

Bringing in the young ones

By Ken Headspeath Highland Drovers & Borland Farm have a look. I didn’t want her falling into a comfortable life that was an easy option.

I felt she was in danger of not finding a potential life direction or career if the easy option of working along side me was taken. So after great debate it was agreed that she could only work at Borland alongside me for no more than a year. The year is to allow her to experience hill farming

day in day out, get practical experience of tractor driving, calving, lambing, showing and selling stock etc. New tasks which will give her a practical knowledge if she does choose to follow a life path into agriculture or (I really really hope not) some sort of Equestrian career.

She has grasped the opportunity with both hands.

She decided that she needed

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to have a licence to tow a trailer and took herself of to Campbeltown to have a few days training and instruction before sitting her test and passing first time. On the farm we really need someone who can pull one of the multitude of trailers that are in use everyday. It is amazing how quickly she learned how to reverse a trailer, especially a wee one using only mirrors, it wasn’t that long ago she would be screaming and shouting at the trailer as to “why did you go that way you stupid piece of junk!” She now does it like second nature. She has also formed a plan as to which agricultural shows we are going to and has taken all the paperwork and day to day management of the Zwartbles over, oh thank goodness!

Next on the list of things to sort out will be a livestock movement permit and enrol her in a chainsaw course. She is trying with the tractor but I guess it is her least favourite task feeding silage but even that she takes on with a sense of humour.

I suspect by the time the year is up I will be the one who tries to stop her moving on as finding a good right hand person is difficult; especially someone who is as daft as a brush and brighten ups even the driechest of days.

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FENCING

Bryce Suma scoops top award

At the Awards Ceremony it was announced that LAMMA had received the largest ever entry for best new products and innovation, and this is maybe due to a sign of the times where, in a difficult trading climate, companies are looking to try to get an edge in the marketplace with products that are considered to be new and different.

Bryce are no exception having won numerous awards for their

post drivers over the years . Jock Bryce said “ we were all absolutely delighted to receive a top award again, particularly when there were 9 Companies on the short list in this category”.

The new system involves a unique combination which allows the rockspike to be swung in and out of work hydraulically. It was flagged up for top spot for its major contribution to safety, speed

of operation and quick cycle times and hugely reduces fatigue at the end of a working day compared to current manually operated systems.

If a job is less tiring, concentration levels are higher and the risk of accidents is reduced. Patent is pending on this new system.

On the subject of Lamma Show itself the first day was bittersweet . On arriving at the Stand to open up, the Bryce family discovered that they had been broken into and goods stolen, and they then quickly realised that their tracked machine had been sabotaged. However, the

success of the Show quickly made up for this inconvenience with many complimentary remarks from customers old and new and a flyer of a trade. 3 machines were sold off the Stand and a further 3 delivered thereafter so Lamma 2016 turned out to be another good Show for Bryce despite the early setback.

Ever wondered how electric fences actually work?

Written by Andrew Fitzjohn, Agri-Supply UK Ltd. www.agri-supply.co.uk Electric fences are becoming increasingly popular throughout our rural landscape. They serve a number of different functions.

From protecting livestock to safeguarding crops these fences provide an essential service for farmers.

If you’re considering erecting electric fencing then you need to know how such fences work.

Below is a guide to the principals of electric fencing.

The Energiser All electrical fences have an energiser. This device generates high voltage impulses between

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FENCING two separate output terminals.

Whenever the animal comes into contact with the fencing they receive an electrical shock that causes their muscles to contract. This mild charge acts as a deterrent, and keeps the animal safely contained within the environment.

What does it feel like?

For those of you that haven’t experienced an electrical shock the most accurate way to describe the feeling are that anyone exposed to such fencing will

experience muscle cramping, for just a brief moment. The feeling isn’t pleasant, but it’s not painful. This way an electrical fence proves to be effective in safeguarding livestock.

Electrical Fencing and Livestock If you’re concerned that you’ll harm your livestock then let us re-iterate that the electrical charge felt will not harm the animal. Unlike us animals are well insulated. Fur, feathers and hide, quell the impact of the

shock sufficiently. However the muscle cramping is remembered by the animal and they learn from the experience.

Voltage Specifics In general, we feel an electrical charge if our skin is exposed to just a hundred volts.

On the other hand most animals require a larger charge to feel a sufficient shock. High voltages produce long distance sparks that jump the air gap over the animals insulating surface.

Typical lengths of such a jump

are around a millimetre for two thousand volts. Some fences are charged with as many as twelve thousand volts. This charge is effective for animals with a thick fur or hide and sufficiently protects them.

To sum up, electrical fences provide an effective deterrent and safeguarding for livestock and us. If you are sitting on the fence, wondering whether or not to erect such fencing then perhaps it’s time to hop off and give them a try!

Peter & WE Cramb Based by the picturesque village of Gargunnock in the heart of Scotland, Peter & W E Cramb offer an efficient, friendly timber supply service to all business customers and private individuals alike. Their family business has been supplying timber and related products country-wide for three generations, while avoiding overexpanding, meaning they are able to maintain a policy of providing tailor-made product sizing rather than being limited to producing “mass market” products with little flexibility.

Peter & WE Cramb can cut from sizes 0.5 m x 38mm x 19mm

to 6.1 m x 300mm x 300mm in various types of timber, and also stock a regular supply of spruce, douglas fir, pine, larch and noble fir.

They also take environmental and social responsibility extremely seriously and are committed to developing a business towards ecological, social and economic sustainability. That commitment to the environment in business operations broadly falls under the following areas: * Sourcing Supplies of Sustainably Grown Timber * Making it their business to ensure that the majority of

timber is sourced from Agents utilising sustainably grown UK forests.

Their hauliers work closely with the Forestry Commission to comply with all current legislation in regard to working hours and practices.

Recycling is another pivital point. With practically no waste,

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using the central portion of the log for fencing with the outer portion being chipped and distributed for use in floorboard manufacture, gardening mulch etc.

The sawdust is then collected and distributed for use in wood fuel pellets, animal bedding, etc, a wide ranging product and service orientated business indeed.

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dairy Are You Using The UK’s Fastest Growing Combination Bolu Range?

Bimeda offers a range of nutritional boluses, including the now famous Coselcure Cattle Bolus.

The Coselcure Cattle Bolus delivers ionic copper, ionic cobalt, selenium and iodine for up to 5 months in cattle. The unique ionic copper and cobalt formulation means these trace elements are available in the rumen.

Copper, cobalt, selenium and iodine are trace elements which play a critical role in maintaining ongoing health, fertility and productivity.

Bimeda’s range of combination boluses is the fastest-growing in the UK, with ever-more animal health advisors, vets and farmers choosing boluses from the Bimeda range.

To understand why Bimeda boluses are proving so popular throughout the UK, we spoke to one farmer who is using them.

Mr John Carson of Allaturk Road, Collone, Armagh.

John has a 150 autumncalving herd with an average yield of 8,300 litres. John’s feeding system consists of a TMR ration of silage and straights during autumn and winter. During the summer months, a zero grazing and TMR ration is in place. His calving period operates during the autumn.

John: ‘I was experiencing a variety of issues on my farm, including poor conception rates, trouble getting cows back into heat, and retained cleanings.

When calves were born they were also extremely weak and feeble.

Around 60% of my herd were experiencing these problems, and ill-thrift and poor weight gain among young stock was a serious issue also.

The cull-cow ratio percentage was increasing every year and nothing seemed to work. I’d tried some boluses which made various claims about addressing trace element deficiencies to improve health and fertility, but the problems persisted. Bagged minerals didn’t seem to help either. It was so frustrating to see the cows in such poor condition, both from a welfare point of view and from a productivity/ profitability perspective. It was also frustrating that the products I was using just weren’t living up to expectations.

In the end I asked my local vet for his professional opinion.

He visited the farm and we took forage samples to better understand what could be causing the issues. The results pointed to high levels of molybdenum.

The vet explained that these high molybdenum levels are very

common in this area and that molybdenum depletes the rumencopper of the animals as well as their copper-dependent enzymes which are vital for fertility, growth and general health. He explained that the only way to address this issue was through providing a rumen-available copper source.

The vet told me that only one bolus contains the ionic form of copper which is available in the rumen, and which I would need to address these issues. These are the Bimeda CoseIcure range of boluses and they contain ionic copper, ionic cobalt, selenium and iodine. They last for up to 5 months and they deliver exactly the same amount of each trace element every single day, so I don’t have to worry about peaks and troughs of supplementation.

I started using the CoseIcure boluses last year and did not change any of my other farming practices.

The dramatic results I have seen since using these boluses really beggar belief. The cows are back in heat very quickly, at an average of 40 to 45 days, my calves are being born in exceptional condition and great health. My conception rates have improved from around 60% to around 95%, and all-round health and condition has seen a dramatic improvement. There’s really no comparison between the herd I have now and the herd from 2013.

Both from an animal welfare and from a productivityprofitability point of view, the herd is really reaching its potential for the first time. I believe the boluses offer an excellent return on investment and I’m so glad I made the move to CoseIcure’ For more information contact your local vet or animal health supplier/advisor.

Range of washable calf coats Dairy Spares has expanded its range of washable calf jackets to include two Tough Cover coats which offer different levels of warmth, with each available in two sizes.

The new Standard Tough Cover calf jackets are lined for warmth and available in 70cm or 80cm lengths. The retail price is £19.95+VAT. The Premium Tough Cover jackets are slightly shorter - 65 and 75cm in length - to give a closer fit. They provide more insulation and include fluorescent strips to help aid identification in dark areas. They cost £25.00+VAT per jacket.

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dairy Square profile claw liner delivers increased milk flow and softer milking action

A new milking liner from Shropshire-based milking parlour manufacturer, Fullwood Ltd, offers increased milk flow rates compared to standard liners thanks to a novel square profile design.

Fullwood has announced the launch of the QA23 – a new, square-profile milking liner which offers improved milk flow and a gentle milking action for a broad range of teat shapes and sizes.

The QA23 features a 23mm diameter hood opening, fits 25mm liner shell ends and is compatible with 14mm 66

claw inlet nipples. The new liner is compatible with the Fullwood Clearflow CF claws and is suitable for use with all Fullwood conventional parlours and Merlin robotic milking systems.

Two claw and shell setup options are available with the new liner: it can be used with Fullwood’s heavy duty HD claws and medium weight shells (total cluster weight approximately 2.45kg), or with Fullwood’s light claw and heavy weight shells (total cluster weight approximately 2.37kg).

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Staying in the EU is absolutely crucial for the future of Scottish farming Europe is the world’s largest economy and our largest trading partner. And for more than 40 years, Scotland has enjoyed the economic benefits that come with that.

Europe is our number one destination for international food and drink exports, with more than two thirds of the food produced here going to the Continent.

We benefit from EU tariffs which protect Scottish products from cheaper third country competitors with potentially lower welfare and safety standards. And the combined voice of the EU is vital in creating trade agreements which offer potentially massive opportunities for Scottish producers and farmers, such as reopening the US and Canadian markets to Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb.

Importantly, the Common Agricultural Policy is expected to inject more than 4.5 billion into the Scottish economy over this CAP period. We know this support is essential for Scottish agriculture, with this year’s Total Income from Farming report showing farm profits continue to be heavily reliant on EU funding.

I’ve said previously that CAP can be viewed as a ‘protective shield’ for Scotland’s farmers by softening the force of the blow from issues such as global market volatility and challenging weather. Both of these factors have been taking their toll on our primary producers of late, especially our dairy sector which benefited from £ 2.3 million in EU emergency aid last year.

By Richard Lochhead Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment

However, the UK Government often fails to recognise how crucial CAP payments are for the future viability of Scottish farming – and even argued in favour of scrapping direct farm subsidies in the most recent round of CAP negotiations.

Scotland clearly needs a fairer share of EU funding from a simpler and more streamlined CAP with food production at its core. But this must be addressed from within Europe.

Exit from the EU would pose a direct threat to jobs, investment and international influence – not to mention the billions of pounds in CAP payments that underpin Scotland’s rural economy.

That is why the Scottish Government is determined to do all we can to secure a vote which keeps Scotland and the rest of the UK in the EU, and protect the benefits we all derive from our place in Europe.

sheep Realise the value of marginal hill grazing A new labour saving feed block is being introduced by Rumenco, specifically formulated to support stock during the winter months, grazing on marginal land.

Rumenco technical manager, David Thornton, explains the challenges faced by hill farmers when trying to maintain ewes’ condition on variable quality forage in upland areas.

“Although grazing has generally been plentiful due to mild weather this autumn, and ewes are mainly looking in good condition, it’s extremely important to maintain this throughout the winter months in advance of lambing. This can be a challenge for those running upland flocks, as grazing can be very fibrous, and low in protein, which isn’t as easy for ewes to digest,” he says.

“Marginal grazing, such as heather and cotton-grass, are not only low in digestibility and protein, but also in minerals.

The uplands tend to experience higher rainfall, which results in low essential mineral levels, so it’s vital to provide nutritional support at this time, when ewes are laying down the building blocks for a successful lambing crop in the spring.

“Our new block, Hill Grazer, is high in urea based protein, which is broken down quickly in the rumen. On-farm trials carried out over the last three winters have seen ewes supplemented with Hill Grazer increased roughage use by at least 10%.

“Trials carried out over the past three winters have shown typical intakes are equivalent to two or three blocks per week, per 100 ewes.

“With intakes so well controlled, ewes are more willing to forage for themselves, occasionally visiting the block rather than standing around it, making for an economical system in mid-pregnancy. This ‘little and often’ approach improves forage intake and digestibility.

“Our block also contains XP, a pre-fermented yeast containing metabolites which helps support rumen health, to increase digestibility and feed efficiency,” says David.

Realising the value of marginal land is vitally important for hill farmers, which is why Rumenco has specifically formulated a block with 23% protein to balance roughage intake for this niche market, as they really understand the need for a reliable, labour saving, feed solution that fits in with the system.

“Ewes can easily become run down over the winter months, not just visually, but internally. The effectiveness and digestibility of the rumen really drops on wet, poor quality grass, which means ewes can perform poorly and loose condition.

“My advice would be to introduce Hill Grazer feed blocks in early January to prevent ewes getting run-down during the winter, so when you do start to feed ewes higher nutrient density feeds in the runup to lambing they are in the right condition for a successful lambing,” adds David. www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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sheep Outstanding contribution to the sheep industry recognised in NSA award The National Sheep Association (NSA) has announced the 2015 winner of the highly regarded George Hedley Memorial Award as Julie Sedgewick from County Durham.

With a career spanning more than 25 years, Julie has been singled out for the award recognising individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the sheep industry.Julie says: “It was a great honour to have even been nominated for this prestigious award, and to be informed I have now won is just so exciting. To win an award for being involved with something that I have a great passion for is even more special. I must thank my family and the many sheep farming families whose help and support over the last 25

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years has enabled me to achieve what I have.”

Born into a farming family, sheep have always been a passion for Julie. Be it breeding, showing or promoting sheep, she has dedicated much of her life to the industry and will step down as NSA Northern Region Manager after 27 years’ service in February.

Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, says: “The effect of Julie’s work is clear to see.

She will leave her beloved NSA Northern Region with a host of dedicated and enthusiastic sheep farmers who have witnessed many changes and challenges over the years. These challenges will continue and I have no doubt our farmers will adapt and continue as a prosperous sheep production region that is vitally important to the UK industry.”

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sheep Scotch Lamb Innovation Award Finalists Announced

YOUNG SHEPHERD

Better times to come….

By James Rhys Baylis The innovation and skills of Scottish butchers shines through among the finalists of a new Scotch Lamb PGI initiative announced by Quality Meat Scotland 9 February 2016.

Twenty-six butchers from across Scotland scooped a gold or silver award for new Scotch Lamb products which ranged from a Moroccan Lamb Burger to Lamb and Chilli Halloumi Kebabs, to Stuffed Lamb Noisettes and a Hot and Spicy Lamb Burger.

The awards, which were launched as part of Quality Meat Scotland’s 2015 Wham Bam Thank You Lamb campaign, aim to showcase quality, innovative Scotch Lamb products and burgers which have been created by Scotch Butchers Club members to meet changing consumer demand.

Butchers who are members of the Scotch Butchers Club, retail Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork from suppliers who adhere to the quality standards required by Quality Meat Scotland’s Quality Assurance Scheme.

All the burgers and products were subject to a rigorous twostage judging process, by a panel consisting of members of the Scottish red meat industry and the public, and were reviewed on taste and how simple they were to cook quickly by busy young professionals with

children – a key target market for QMS’s Scotch Lamb marketing activities.

Peebles-based butchers Callum and Louise Forsyth of Forsyths Butchers and Bakers said they were absolutely delighted to have won two gold awards and a silver award.

“Burgers and innovative products are becoming an increasingly important part of our business and are proving extremely popular with our customers,” said Mr Forsyth.

“We provide a traditional, quality service but always try to develop on new opportunities in order to offer our customers something a bit different.

Mrs Forsyth added: “I’m a big fan of Scotch Lamb, and it sells well in the shop, so I thought I’d enter the Lamb Tagine which is part of our new range – I’m delighted it’s won a gold award!”

Graeme Sharp, QMS Marketing Executive said that the awards really showcase the fantastic innovation which exists in the Scottish butchers sector.

“The standard of entries we received was exceptionally high and you could see that each butcher had a tremendous amount of pride for their burgers and products.

“I want to encourage customers to buy Scotch Lamb from their butcher and taste the quality of their products for themselves.”

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It’s been a long, wet and wild winter here since I last wrote for Farming Scotland. I mentioned in the last issue that we can sometimes suffer from the effects of the elements here on the coast and it would appear that it in writing this, I was tempting fate. Winter arrived late here, and unfortunately it has arrived with a vengeance.

Fortunately, we have avoided the horrific flooding that has affected large parts of the country, the North of England and back home in Wales. I have friends who have been affected, and it has been heart-breaking seeing the terrible effects the flooding has had. Seeing the widespread loss of livestock and crops and people being forced to flee their homes both here in South West Scotland and further afield makes you truly appreciate what you have. As usual, the farming community have come together en masse to help each other out and it is a joy to see farmers rolling up their sleeves and helping not only friends but farmers across the country and those in the wider community.

We’ve been battered by high winds and driving rain

for months, and it’s pretty depressing that we’re hurtling through the storm based alphabet at such a rate of knots. I’m struggling to keep track, but I’m pretty sure that I’m currently indoors writing this to avoid the effects of Gertrude and it’s only February!

Those lush green fields I wrote so happily about in my last article have been replaced by a lot of mud and the occasional pond. Apart from a bit of lameness, the sheep have taken things in their stride and luckily we’ve been well ahead of the game with fluke. We gave sheep their first dose back in October at the recommendation of our vet, and I think with such a wet start to 2016 this has saved us a lot of problems.

I’ll do my best to end on a positive note. We scanned the ewes at the beginning of January, with great results.

The mule gimmers scanned well, all our homebred Texel x hoggs are in lamb including a monster that’s carrying triplets and my Lleyn ewes scanned at 200%. I’m hopeful we’ll have plenty of lambs to show off in the next issue!

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sheep NSA takes to the road

NSA encourages sheep farmers to get behind #Sheep365 Supporting and promoting British lamb production has seen a positive upturn since the success of #BritishLambWeek in autumn 2015, and National Sheep Association (NSA) is urging sheep farming Twitter fans to follow this into 2016 by supporting the #Sheep365 movement. #Sheep365 made its debut on Twitter many months ago – the brainwave of two sheep farmers who met as part of the NSA Next Generation Ambassador programme. But it is now a popular movement showcased on the @LoveBritishLamb Facebook and Twitter pages

by Rachel Lumley, the woman behind #BritishLambWeek last autumn.

Hannah Park, NSA Communications Officer, says: “Sheep content, and particularly photos, are really popular on Twitter and Facebook. NSA supports #Sheep365 and encourages producers who use social media to remember the hashtag and even volunteer to take a guest spot for a week.

“The interest in #Sheep365 reveals an appetite from the general public in the role of sheep farming, but is also creating an enthusiastic community of farmers who are looking to do something positive for the industry in what has been a difficult time for many. It has got people talking and can only be going the right way in terms of raising awareness and helping to underpin and support our home market.”

Thomas Gibson, an NSA member from County Antrim, Northern Ireland, looks back to

when he met Andrew Prentice from the island of Iona, West Scotland, through the NSA Next Generation Ambassador Programme. He says: “#Sheep365 came about after Andrew and I spoke about social media and promoting what we do as sheep farmers. We joked that our most accurate job description was ‘chasing after sheep all year’ and this turned into #Sheep365.”

Having successfully facilitated #BritishLambWeek, Rachel says she is keen to keep the ball rolling with #Sheep365, so long as support for the campaign continues.

Posts have already included contributions from Thomas and Andrew, as well as many other sheep farmers who have been keen to get involved.

Thomas continues: “I think #Sheep365 has helped sheep farmers to expose what they do on a daily basis, while allowing them to share this collectively with an audience. I have had lots of questions from people about sheep and what we are doing on the farm as a result of seeing pictures posted with #Sheep365. I think the hashtag can also be used to raise awareness and uphold the sustainable practices sheep farmers use, whilst promoting British lamb as a natural and ecological product to consumers.”

Follow NSA (@natsheep), LoveBritishLamb (@LoveBritishLamb), Andrew Prentice (@Maolfarmiona) and Thomas Gibson (@ SheepSchool) on Twitter. Direct message Rachel Lumley (@ RachelLumley) to get involved, or contact NSA on enquiries@ nationalsheep.org.uk.

Special readers offer on our own branded single malt whisky.

By George Milne

The NSA Scottish Region Roadshow, being run in conjunction with Caltech Crystalyx has proved highly successful so far with both farmers and merchants. Covering the length and breadth of Scotland, the Roadshow has now attended evening meetings in Peebles, Stirling, Oban, Thainston, Dingwall, Blairgowrie and Shetland with only Castle Douglas, on Thursday 18th February remaining.

Having had the opportunity to speak to more than 300 sheep farmers across the seven venues, it has given the region a fantastic opportunity to explain what NSA does for its members and for the sheep industry.

Our presentations have covered a wide variety of topics, including policy in Scotland, CAP reform payments, the move from LFASS to ANC, sheep health issues, levy repatriation and carcase splitting. We’ve also taken the opportunity to highlight the success of our lamb tasting activities last year as well as discuss plans for this area of work in 2016. The NSA Next Generation Ambassador

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initiative also went down well with the audience and for the third year in a row Scotland is delighted to have two more successful applicants. The real benefit I’ve gained from travelling around the different areas is that it gives us valuable feedback from farmers on their main concerns which can vary from each meeting. Summing up at this stage, delays in Basic area support payments are crippling many businesses, this is compounded by the uncertainty in just exactly when an individual business payment will be made.

Many comments came from farmers who would really like to see more income come from the high quality lamb that we produce, hopefully if new markets are created abroad like the US for example then we would see a significant increase in demand for Scotch Lamb.

Farmers can be assured that NSA will work hard to try and deliver on all the topics discussed over recent weeks. If you feel your area has been missed out don’t worry more meetings are being planned for later this year!”

BOOK SERIALISATION

“Isolation Shepherd” Strathmore, in the upper reaches of Glen Stratfarrar, where Iain R Thomson worked as a shepherd in the late 1950s, was a six-mile trip across a loch from and a further 14 to the nearest half-decent road. So as he explains in the third episode of our esclusive serialization of his evocative memoir, Isolation Shepherd, self-sufficiency in food was an absolute necessity.

The red deer abounded at both Strathmore and at Pait and therefore not surprisingly provided us with our year-round staple meat. The first fresh venison of the season would be shot in late July or early August.

By then the hardened stags’ antlers would be cleaned of velvet and the grass taint of the early summer gone from their meat. A young stag, or ‘knobber’ as they are termed, would be our aim to start the season with a succulent meat of the very best.

One evening in late July, thoroughly tired of both salt venison and trout, I spied stags on the skyline emerging from Corrie Shaille and grazing quietly east along the face of Creag na Gaoith. Leaving the house with the small .22 rifle and smartly climbing the very steep ground above our home, I stepped quickly along this curving ridge. The ground rose so steeply above the cottage that I used to say you could look

down the chimney pots. The wind held steady in direction from the south-west, but was increasing. Though out of my sight as I climbed I knew the stags to be in fairly open ground.

Well acquainted with the hills’ lie, I was able to use the curve of the ridge to get rapidly into contact with the unsuspecting group. They came into view ahead and slightly below me. I paused at about two hundred yards and lay still as they hungrily grazed, taking their evening fill. I selected a dark young stag, his two prongs of horns belying his youth. They came step at a time to within 70 yards.

‘Without a pause, I shot the stag through the neck.

Down he went, rolling a little with twitching kicks’ I moved to get a better rest.

With instant reflex they caught my slightest movement. Heads snapped up. They stood gazing intently straight at me. Without a pause I took the stag through the neck. Down he went, rolling

Iain Thomson with Kenny and Iain Mackay and the hinds ready for the salt barrel (after the drive referred to in the text)

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a little with twitching kicks and the steepness of the ground.

I bled him at once, opening his throat with my knife before dragging the stripling beast down to a more level spot.

The first heavy soaking spots of rain fell as I worked at the gralloching. A musky scent of warm blood filled the air as the wind died and allowed the rain to pelt down on my bent back in large drops. My arms stained red as I worked quickly amongst his innards; soon white lungs, stomach and entrails lay out on the grass steaming in the rain.

Brown-black clouds ended the daylight.

Way below me beside the path which led past the old stone tank, and out to the head of the Strathmore ground, I saw a candle-glow light up in the tent of Hugh Fraser. Locally named ‘Hughie the Crask’, he summered up at Strathmore working on repairs to the hill paths. A man of strength and capability but possessed of a lonely streak, he mostly worked and camped by himself.

Noting his light, I slipped my drag rope round the stag’s

neck and with a loop in its lower jaw, I hauled the young beast down to the path. Slippery hands cut out part of the liver and walking quietly up to the tent in worsening rain I put my head in at the flap. Hughie lay in blankets, reading by a flickering candle stuck on a jam jar lid.

His great-uncle had vanished in the roaring Yukon Gold Rush of 1898, so Hughie never tired of reading Robert Service and tales of high adventure. From such enthralment he looked up.

A sizeable drip narrowly missed the wavering candle. ‘Is your tent leaking, boy?’ I enquired.

‘Leaking be God,’ he replied, ‘it wouldna keep out small tatties.’

Taking the piece of liver from behind my back I threw it into his frying pan which lay handy to one side. Delighted, he rose at once and I left him as he commenced a fry-up.

It was now a black wet night.

Draade the path, having taken off head and legs to make it as light as possible, I slid it on to my back and walked the couple of miles home in the continuous rain. I need not say that the remainder of the liver went straight into our

Thomson dragging one of the hinds across the snow

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BOOK SERIALISATION own frying pan when I reached home.

Filling the salt barrels to keep us in meat through the spring and early summer was a job for January and early February.

The hinds, finished with the rut and harvested on the autumn grazings, rose to their peak in body condition, the meat tasting its very best. In the short daylight available much had to be done, especially if the elements turned severe. We would watch the weather affecting the movements of big herds of deer that gathered together at this time of the year.

One season, heavy snow had fallen late in January and with the weather holding hard, a large herd of perhaps 400 hinds came stringing down each day to our river flats from Strath Mhuilich.

Leaving this high glen away above Strathmore to the north, they trekked the several miles to feed on the still-plentiful vegetation about us.

This movement involved the herd crossing the ground immediately behind our house.

Once the wary hinds checked all was safe they hurried down, hungry to graze. Soon the spacious river flats were thickly dotted with ravenous beasts pawing the tussocks clear of snow as, with heads unlifting, they busily filled themselves before the night frost began to grip.

Noting from the herd’s activities, Kenny and Iain came across from Pait, a mile away across the loch, to pass an evening and discuss a plan of action for the morrow. Duly as arranged, about midday Kenny rowed over but not without some difficulty as the loch, starting to freeze, had a film of cat-ice out from our boathouse. It looked set for hard frost with a brittle, bright sky.

In keeping with their practice for several days previously the hinds came down out of Strath Mhuilich at about two o’clock that afternoon. When the last animal of the winding line had settled to feed on the flats, Kenny and I left for the Creag na Gaoith ridge which strategically covered the route along which

In the absence of a tractor or pony, the picture of Thomson pulling the cart full of hay to the barn

the deer had just descended.

Iain watching from Pait to see us effectively positioned moved into action; crossing snow-filled peat hags to the river flats, he pushed towards the herd.

The hinds soon had him in full view, a black figure against the white canopy. They trotted a few uneasy steps but with the hard conditions they were reluctant to move from the feeding. However, as he approached more closely first one old hind and then the herd took off, hurrying back up the tracks down which they had recently picked their way.

Sitting in frosty shadow against a rock on the shoulder of Creag na Gaoith, getting rather cold, Kenny and I came instantly alert, as a large dark-red yeld hind led the first of the oncoming herd smartly round the shoulder and up their beaten track a hundred yards below us.

With the vigour of the climb their nostrils blew steamy clouds into the chill atmosphere. We sat motionless. The crackling sound of escaping hooves breaking hardening snow told of their haste. Crack. Without hesitation, taking snap aim, Kenny killed the lead animal.

‘Hard frost set in, you felt it tightening your nostrils, sticking them together at each breath’ By the end of the drive, we had killed nine hinds. Dragging

them in to the larder made fast work as they went as easily as a sledge on the crusting snow.

Hard frost set in, you felt it tightening your nostrils, sticking them together at each breath.

East towards Monar the sky was turning deep purple. The hillside of our day’s work stood streaked with bright red trails of freezing blood. After a quick supper of fresh venison liver we took the paraffin lamps, swinging shadows in the night, down to the larder to skin the kill before it lost all the warmth of life.

Self-reliance and selfsufficiency became essential and complementary requisites of the life we led. The two or three acres of arable land immediately about the house were provided by the estate for our usage as a perquisite of my shepherd’s job.

We were allowed to keep two cows with followers and a pack of 40 breeding ewes. My wages amounted to eight pounds per week minus deductions. That first winter having little other money, we contented ourselves with one cow, Margaret. She cost £36. A few pounds for carriage to Monar and a free walk home up the lochside left us with little excess funds.

That September all carting about the croft was done in a large two-wheeled handbarrow.

I pulled in cut-and-dried rashes to the barn as winter bedding for our first cow. A ton of hay and a few bags of bruised oats were kindly sent by the estate and

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Margaret wintered and milked well until about February.

In addition to my wage we also received three tons of coal and a ton of potatoes from the proprietors. Before winter set in these needful supplies arrived by estate lorry at Monar pier. Trying to pick calm days we sailed them up the loch to Strathmore. Though we had no pony ourselves we often had the use of the hardy little favourite Dandy who stayed over at Pait, otherwise it was into the handbarrow for the quarter of a mile pull to the house. Many times, however, I would carry goods on my back as there was a good-sized stone beside the pier at a grand height for the shoulder.

The small garden over the larch fence from the front door after initial turning was a bountiful success. Dressed with unlimited dung from the hen shed and byre, it grew the tastiest of greens and carrots. Preserving greens for the winter was a problem. Over at Pait, the MacKays, who had a much bigger garden of deep peatish soil, would bury cabbage hearts in a hole at a good depth in a dry corner. In this way they kept wholesome through to the spring.

Our hens, bought in as point of lay pullets, we kept in a shed beside the byre, but they would always be either up at the house doorstep or sneaking off to lay away in the rashes. The children’s job was to keep them from the door, find their secret nests, and bring the eggs home without dropping them. Any summer laying surplus we put down for winter usage in earthen jars containing water glass.

The warmth and hiss of the Tilley lamps cheered us all winter.

Many might perhaps regard this the biggest nuisance of all, as paraffin is penetrating and smelly, not to mention the meths it always required for lighting. However, given a routine and a little care, it was not quite the drawback many might imagine. As we rarely, if ever, rose before daylight, their need was pleasantly limited to the evenings.

This is an edited extract from Iain Thomson’s Isolation Shepherd, which is available from Birlinn, price £8.99.

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pigs Scottish pig prices lowest for eight years Collaborative working across supply chain to get more Specially Selected Pork on supermarket shelves With pig prices at an eight year low, NFU Scotland is working with other organisations across the supply chain to combat that trend.

The price has been dropping steadily from a record high in November 2013, and at present for every pig being sold a farmer is losing £10.

The decline in price has been caused by a number of factors, including oversupply in Europe due to the Russian import ban.

Many British retailers have committed to stocking 100 per cent fresh pork, and with the new processing plant in Brechin now in

operation, it is hoped this decline will be halted.

The focus is now on marketing Specially Selected Pork, and NFU Scotland will be meeting with stakeholders in due course to discuss this further. Quality Meat Scotland recently launched a marketing campaign, similar to its successful Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb campaigns, which will complement this work.

The Union will also be meeting with retailers to discuss the positioning and publicity of Specially Selected Pork as well as focussing its efforts on a ‘shelfwatch’ initiative to monitor this.

NFU Scotland’s Pigs Committee Chairman Kevin

Gilbert commented: “Pig prices have been declining for some time and are currently at their lowest level in around eight years. Looking simply at the past year prices are down 20-25p/kg dwt which represents a decrease of about 18 per cent. Production simply cannot be sustainable at these prices.

“The main reason for the price drop is an excess of pigmeat on the European market and whilst the recent use of Private Storage Aid in Europe may have helped European prices improve slightly there is little evidence of it helping UK and Scottish pig prices yet.

“The price of pork on the shelf has also fallen but not by as much as the producer price, with the share of the retail price returned

to producers falling five per cent since November. It is clear that a lot of cheaper European meat is being substituted for UK product, especially in processed meat products, retailers could really help UK producers at this time by showing greater loyalty to Scottish and UK product.”

“This should be a time of positivity for the Scottish pig industry as the new abattoir at Brechin is set to double its processing capacity, allowing more Scottish pigs to be processed in Scotland, which will reduce haulage costs and allow wider stocking of Scottish labelled Specially Selected Pork across the major supermarkets within Scotland.”

Environmental permitting – how training can help pig businesses Bespoke on-farm workshops from AHDB Pork are helping farm managers and stockpeople learn more about their responsibilities under the Environmental Permitting Regulations, particularly how to avoid noncompliances and fines.

“Environmental Permitting Regulations (EPR), formerly Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC), aim to reduce pollution from industrial activity by controlling emissions,” explains Susan Rabbich, AHDB Pork’s environment and building research coordinator.

“This means that indoor pig keepers with more than 2000 finishing pig places (above 30 kg), or 750 sow places (including served gilts), at a site are required to obtain a permit from the Environment Agency (EA),” she adds.

The workshops aim to help farm managers and workers understand exactly what having an environmental permit means for their businesses and the team.

“Subjects such as typical permit breaches, site and accident management plans, and how to deal with odour complaints

are covered. However, no farm situation is the same, so workshops can be tailored to individual farm circumstances,” she says.

“It’s not just about farm managers. We want to engage with stockpeople too in order to help them understand how day-to-day activities can make a difference to how well the farm is complying with its permit.

“All the feedback from the workshops we’ve carried out so far has been really positive. One producer reported how the EA was impressed by their organisation and prior planning, and were sure

it helped with their inspection.

They also noted that although the training was free, they would have been willing to pay for it, as it was extremely worthwhile.

“Other farm managers and workers now understand their responsibilities much better, particularly when it comes to inspections. And the fact that we can also help with permitting applications is a real advantage.”

For more information or to arrange a bespoke on farm workshop contact Susan Rabbich.

Email: Susan.Rabbich@ahdb.org. uk Tel: 0247 647 8798

Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea to become a notifiable disease in Scotland Animal health laws in Scotland are being strengthened to protect the country’s £95 million pig industry.

Subject to Parliamentary scrutiny, Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED) will be classed as a notifiable disease in Scotland from March 2, 2016 - making it mandatory for pig keepers to report 74

any suspected case of the infection to Quality Meat Scotland.

The legislation change was requested by industry and received unanimous support in a recent consultation.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “PED does not affect humans but can be deadly for piglets, and

we must do all we can to protect Scotland’s £95 million pig industry from any potential risk.

“The Scottish pig industry has been working, with Scottish Government support, to prevent an incursion of this disease, and to develop robust contingency plans for dealing with any suspected cases.

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“Strengthening Scotland’s animal health legislation to make PED a notifiable disease will ensure industry can act quickly and effectively to control and eliminate any outbreak should one occur.”

Quality Meat Scotland pig specialist Allan Ward welcomed today’s announcement. He said:

“This is a great step forward for the Scottish pig industry which works extremely hard to ensure high levels of health are maintained in the Scottish herd.”

Grace Webster, British Veterinary Association Scottish Branch President, said: “This successful outcome will support Scottish agricultural industry in taking control of this very serious disease and could well be extended to novel disease in

Buying power other species. This is a fantastic example of government, vets and industry working together for the benefit of animal health and welfare and farming communities across Scotland.”

Gordon McKen of Scottish Pig Producers said: “This is excellent news for the Scottish Pig Industry. We are all prepared to go and this decision allows us to progress with the plans to protect the Scottish pig herd.”

Specially Selected Pork to be Showcased at Taste of Grampian

One of the gems of Scotland’s larder, Specially Selected Pork, was today (February 10th, 2016) revealed as the main sponsor of Taste of Grampian 2016.

Speaking at the launch of plans for this year’s event, which will take place at Thainstone Agricultural Centre on Saturday 4th June, John Gregor, Chairman of Taste of Grampian, said he was delighted Specially Selected Pork is set to be high profile at this year’s event.

“Specially Selected Pork is a fantastic product combining quality, versatility and value for money and Scottish pig farmers have a great brand to be proud of.

Scottish pig producers also deserve full recognition for being among the most committed and efficient producers in the Scottish farming industry,” said Mr Gregor.

The huge significance of pig farming to the north-east economy was also highlighted to the gathering at the launch event.

“The north-east of Scotland is where the majority of Scottish pig farming takes place and home to over 60% of the Scottish sow herd. Indeed, pig production is worth around £40 - £50 million annually to the north-east economy,” Mr Gregor stated.

Aberdeenshire pig farmer and Quality Meat Scotland board member, Philip Sleigh, said the Taste of Grampian’s strong partnership with Specially Selected Pork comes at a pivotal time for the Scottish pig industry which is set to benefit from a major investment in pig processing capacity at the Brechin site, run by Quality Pork Limited.

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NFUScotland

pigs

By NFU Scotland President Allan Bowie

Like them, loathe them or tolerate them – UK retailers will always be the most important customer for what we produce.

But with great power comes great responsibility.

There are some great examples of retailers – big and small – going that extra mile to stock and promote Scottish produce and, in recent times, the Union has been doing some in store promotional work with Aldi on a range of Scottish food.

That in store activity has been something that NFU Scotland members have become increasingly engaged in over recent years, taking the fantastic story we have to tell about the quality and provenance of our food straight to our customers.

While building good practice, we also need to stamp out bad practice.

The recent Groceries Code Adjudicator report into Tesco exposed a culture which is all too often ignorant of the pressures faced by suppliers and producers. The report highlighted that the ‘fear factor’ at processor level remains and despite shoddy treatment and breaches of the Grocery code, suppliers were reluctant to engage in dispute resolution for fear of further ramifications for their business.

While there has been widespread anecdotal reports regarding the attitude of Tesco and its buyers towards suppliers, I commend the GCA – a body established after years of lobbying by NFUS - for producing a report that lays out in black and white the

deep flaws at the core of how Tesco operated.

This report merited an apology from the retailing giant, but of greater importance will be Tesco’s own promises of changes to its sourcing policy that this report suggested were long overdue. Tesco must alter its own internal culture.

Tesco will remain the most important purchaser of Scottish and British produce, but if the retailer is to regain credibility then wholesale changes to the way it builds its relationship with suppliers and producers must be on the cards.

In its first major investigation, the GCA has identified abject failings by the UK’s biggest retailer in the way it treats those who supply it with goods.

This excellent work only strengthens NFU Scotland’s belief that the powers for the adjudicator - Christine Tacon - and her team must be strengthened, and their ability to examine the whole supply chain – and not just the relationship between a supermarket and a processor – is necessary if we are to build trust and transparency from the farmgate to the shop shelf.

It remains a hugely difficult time for Scottish farmers in all key sectors, and NFU Scotland continues to work tirelessly with other Unions to encourage support for Scottish and British produce across retail and food service sectors. Although only a few months into 2016, we need all retailers and food service firms to ensure their commitment to work with the farming industry goes beyond lip service and drives long term stability and profitability for producers.

The question of whether aligned contracts help or hinder relationships with retailers remains a thorny one.

The debate on this matter will be one of the highlights at our AGM at St Andrews on 11 and 12 February.

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Beatha an eilean Achd Fearann nan Croitearan 1886 - Magna Carta na Gàidhealtachd Sgrìobhadair Iain G. MacDhòmhnaill Iar-Neach-gairm Coimisean na Croitearachd Iain G. MacDhòmhnaill

Tha a’ bhliadhna seo a’ comharrachadh an 130mh ceannbliadhna den achdachadh air Achd Fearann na Croitearan 1886 le Pàrlamaid Westminster agus a nochdadh ann an Leabhar nan Achdan airson a’ chiad uair. Bha an Achd seo a’ dìon chroitearan le còir-fearainn gus a dhèanamh cinnteach nach tachradh borbachd nam Fuadaichean gu bràth tuilleadh.

Tha ceangal dlùth pearsanta agam ri Blàr a’ Bhràighe a ghabh àite san Eilean Sgìtheanach ann an 1882, ann an àite nach eil fada bho far a bheil mi a-nis a’ còmhnaidh sa Bhràigh.

Thàinig gabhaltaich croitearachd ionadail a bha an ìmpis am fuadach còmhla agus rinn iad aramach a thog aire gu nàiseanta agus a lean gu Coimisean Napier a bhith air a chruthachadh ann an 1883. Shiubhail an Coimisean fad’ is farsaing air feadh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean, a’ dèanamh agallamhan leis na ceudan de luchd-fianais, an dà chuid croitearan agus uachdarain.

Lean na molaidhean acasan sa cheann mu dheireadh gu Achd nan Croitearan.

B’ e Seumas MacNeacail (Seumas ‘n Òig) às an Òlach mo shinn-shinn-uncail agus ghabh e pàirt san aramach. Aig aois 30 bliadhna, b’ e aon de na fir a chaidh a thoirt am bruid le buidheann de phoilis Ghlaschu air 17 Giblean 1882 airson eucoir di-sparraidh air Oifigear Siorraim. Fhuair a bhean Flòraidh às a’ Bhaile Mheadhanach, “droch sgoltadh 76

sa cheann, ach eadar gur ann le stràicean no clach, chan eil fios.”

Bha mo shinn-shinn-sheanmhair, Ciorstaidh ‘n Òig an-eagalach, gu mòr an sàs san aramach agus b’ i aon de bhoireannaich a’ bhaile a thionndaidh a-mach gus na h-oifigearan poilis agus am fiosan fuadaich a stiùireadh air ais le airm-tilgidh sam bith a bha ri làimh. Bha na daoine sin, gu mòr an aghaidh an nàdair shìtheil, air an tilgeil a-steach fo sholas nam pàipearan nàiseanta ann an nì air an tugadh ‘Na Trioblaidean Croitearachd’. Lean na rinn iadsan a thaobh aghaidheachd dhìreach gu co-fhaireachdainn

fad’ is farsaing airson na cùise aca, agus gnìomh dearbhach leis an Riaghaltas Libearalach aig Uilleam Gladstone.

Cha robh iadsan agus na croitearan san fharsaingeachd ro thoilichte leis an Achd Pàrlamaid shònraichte seo. Bha iad a’ faireachdainn gum bu chòir dhi a bhith air a dhol mòran nas fhaide, ach thàinig iad gu bhith taingeil airson nam màil chothromaich, còir air fearnn agus saorsa na croitean aca fhàgail mar dhìleab aig an sliochd, nì a rinn an Achd.

A-nis ann an 2016 às dèidh 130 bliadhna, tha mòran de luchd-tac agus tuathanaich

Daughter Margaret on the croft

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gabhaltais air feadh na dùthcha seo às aonais nan sochairean a tha aig mòran chroitearan.

Chaidh Seumas Òg a chur à dreuchd le bàillidh a’ Mhorair Dhòmhnallaich leis na facail, “Chan urrainn dhomh dèiligeadh leat, chan eil annad ach mac croiteir agus chan e neachgabhail de a Mhoraireachd.” Aig deireadh gnothaich, shealbhaich Seumas croit athar-cèile agus chaidh croit athar fhèin gu a phiuthar, mo shinn-seanmhair Ciorstaidh ’n Òig. Gun teagamh sam bith, bhiodh iad uile toilichte gu bheil a’ chroit a-nis, còig ginealaichean às a dhèidh, ann an gabhaltas aig an nighinn agam.

Tha Seumas, Flòraidh agus fionn-oghaichean Chiorstaidh am measg chroitearan an latha andiugh anns an Eilean Sgìtheanach, a tha a’ caoidh crìonadh air an obair choitcheanta agus air spiorad na coimhearsnachd a bha a sàr-mhìneachadh croitearachd ar sinnsearan, ach tha sinn taingeil gu bheil na sochairean a chaidh a chosnadh dhuinne air dleastanasan fìor- mhòr a thoirt dhuinn cuideachd. Tha sinn dìoghrasach gus a dhèanamh cinnteach gu bheilear a’ cumail air adhart a’ strì airson feartan agus luachan croitearachd, a tha air a leithid de bhuaidh dheimhinneach a thoirt air gleidheadh àireamh-sluaigh ann an Gàidhealtachd na h-Alba agus sna h-Eileanan. Chan fhaod sinn a bhith a’ feitheamh airson cuideigin eile a dhèanamh dhuinn!

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)

Name

(Payable to Athole Design & Publishing Ltd)

Address

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Tel:

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Send to: Farming Scotland Magazine, Tolastadh, 18 Corsie Drive, Perth, PH2 7BU

estate

Catch and Release

By Linda Mellor

Traditionally, fishing was a fairly common method used to put food on the table, and a necessity for most families.

In the 19th century, fishing continued to develop as a recreational activity with the emergence of fishing clubs and dedicated angling publications showing enthusiasts how to improve their skills. Fishing was no longer a necessity and many took part in the sport for enjoyment and relaxation purposes. Salmon fishing in particular has continued to grow in popularity and it is regarded as an integral part of Scotland’s sport tourism economy and is considered to be the number one fishing destination for many anglers. The prized Salmon, known as the “king of fish” for its power and beauty, is not only one of the most fascinating of Scotland’s wild creatures; it is an icon of aquatic purity. It can only thrive in water with high oxygen content, meaning that if there are salmon in the river; the ecosystem is flourishing.

Scottish river systems support one of the largest and most diverse Atlantic salmon resources in Europe.

Salmon numbers are not what they were. On the river, forty to fifty years ago an angler would typically catch and kill 78

3 or 4 large salmon in a day.

Old photographs would always show happy wader-clad anglers standing by the riverbank with their catch of big silver fish; it was a bounteous time for all.

Bill Wilson, a retired angler now in his late 80s confirms this, he said, “You would be guaranteed to catch fish, it was just a matter of timing and what size. We never had a day without catching that would have been unheard of. We looked forward to our days on the river, it would be relaxed and we would all catch at least 3 each with comparative ease. I recall the fish being nearer the 30lb mark and when conditions were less than perfect we would still catch, perhaps not as many but we would never go home empty handed. The fish were never wasted, we would take them home to eat and give them to family and friends. I last fished about 5 years ago, my river companions and I are all life-long anglers and not one of us caught anything.”

Over the last thirty years there has been a widespread decline in salmon numbers.

In an effort to conserve fish numbers, many beats introduced voluntary catch and release; catch and release is the practise of catching a fish, unhooking

it and returning it to the water unharmed so it goes on to spawn. It has been welcomed by anglers who are keen to do their bit to help protect the vulnerable salmon stock and contribute to the future of their sport. In Scotland the first catch and release information was recorded in 1994, the data collected has shown a steady increase in the number of fish released. In 2015 a ‘no kill’ policy was introduced by the Scottish Government to protect spring running fish.

With the springer season well under way on rivers throughout Scotland, anglers should pay particular attention to their catch and release technique as fresh, younger fish are most susceptible to fungal infections. Older fish are hardier as calcium is redistributed within the body and the skin toughens up during the process of colouring. Poor handling of spring running salmon can damage the scales and the mucus coating on the fish. The mucus is a natural defence produced by the fish and if the protective mucus is damaged it can allow fungus in.

Saprolegnia is a fungus present in rivers throughout the year. The fungus can live on

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dead and living fish, fish waste and in moist soil. It is tolerant to a wide range of temperatures, from 3°C to 33°C, but research suggests it is more prevalent in lower temperatures. Tests on captive fish have shown the idea temperature for the fungus is 10°C. The spores of the fungus have little hooks on them and are highly infectious. The fungus will travel across the surface of the skin in a white, cotton-like film and is fatal for the fish.

The chances of survival for a released fish will depend largely on how it has been handled. If the fish has been released properly it will have the greatest chance of going on to spawn. To date, there has been no official Scottish river guidelines published advising river workers and anglers on best practice catch and release with information on poor handling and how this can impact on fish survival rates. Proper conservation can only be implemented through good education and ensuring all those taking part are informed and competent in the correct techniques.

Dr David Summers, director of the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board said, “The worst thing is the actual physical handling of the

estate fish and this point should be laboured. Any pressure applied to the body and, in particular, griping of the tail should be avoided.

The fish should be kept in the water and not lifted out. Each time the fish is grabbed the scales and slime are being damaged. It should be caught and released as quickly as possible to reduce the stress.”

Most anglers want to photograph their catch before releasing it. The increased popularity in social media sites and the desire to share catches on Facebook pages and groups puts additional pressure on anglers and ghillies to handle the fish until they secure a photo. It is reminiscent of the hunter-gatherer tradition which has been ingrained in us all since the dawn of time.

In the old days, a fish would be caught, taken home and eaten. The modern day huntergatherer can no longer do this.

The only way he or she can display his trophy is to capture a photographic memento of the occasion. In doing so, he is no longer thinking of the fish as he is increasing the handling and prolonging the fish’s exposure to the air. Peruse social media and you are guaranteed to find countless examples of poor handling by anglers and ghillies.

Salmon fishing guide Jock Monteith has been promoting catch and release since 2007 says, “It’s high time the salmon were put first. I think taking the photo is the lesser of two evils and much better than killing the fish. Not touching the salmon at all would be ideal but anglers who’ve just landed their first fish want the glory shot as evidence so you can’t really blame them for that.

Any killing of salmon for food purposes, which is still legal on some of the Scottish rivers, is the biggest threat and waste of precious and vital broodstock during these current low stock times.”

The equipment used to catch salmon should also be carefully considered as nets can injure fish and tear fins.

Jock says, “Salmon should only be landed in a pre-wetted, fine, soft, small gauge mesh net to safeguard the mucus membrane and which also won’t tear fins. The salmon should be kept in the water and in the net for unhooking. If it needs to be touched then hands should be wetted first and the fish lifted from the water for only a few seconds for a photograph.”

Jock also suggests anglers should carry a portable landing mat. If a fish needs to be taken out of the water for unhooking a landing mat will protect them from being damaged on the ground or injured on abrasive rocks. He credits the UK’s coarse anglers for their net mesh designs and landing mats. “Net bags that have a flat triangular bottom, this will stabilise the salmon much better as the salmon’s head will find a corner and the flat base will tip the fish on its side when the net is lifted to the waterline.”

“Find a gentle stream for releasing the fish, support the salmon with your hands under the water until you feel it wanting to pull away. Don’t release the fish until you’re sure it is ready” said Jock.

People fish for a multitude of reasons and each one is personal to them. Most will talk about that feeling of excitement they experience when they feel the tug on their line and know they have hooked a fish. It’s that rush of adrenaline that makes them return and keeps their passion for the sport alive for a lifetime. Anglers are also compassionate and respectful; they appreciate the fish and the sport it offers and most feel duty bound to return the fish. Passion for fishing can be infectious; it leads to introducing more people to the sport and ensuring the future for many generations to come.

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Flooding and farmland – farmers will have a crucial part to play in finding solutions

By Gemma Hopkinson, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust Scotland The downpours in December and January and the continuing flood events in northern England and Scotland, from Dumfries and Galloway to the North East, have once again opened the debate on whether farmland should or could be utilised better as a line of defence to prevent flooding in towns and villages further downstream.

Farming on floodplains is challenging at best, and farmers recognise the risks involved but, when a combination of events, such as those seen on the River Dee in December, with heavy rainfall, warm temperatures causing snowmelt and already saturated soils, then the consequences are catastrophic.

Flooding of this severity, with fast flowing water and rapid bank and soil erosion causes severe damage not just to property and infrastructure – roads, tracks, bridges and buildings – but also to fields and grazing, dumping stones, rocks and debris, tearing down fences, destroying crops and drowning stock. Flooding also causes what farmers work against at all other times – topsoil and nutrients being stripped from fields, drainage ditches clogged and water quality compromised.

NFU Scotland has rightly called on SEPA and the Scottish Government to allow farmers a fast track process to reinstate flood banks with likefor-like materials. There is a need for a change of attitude to allow farmers to farm where flooding is a factor but also to maximise protection to homes and property whilst minimising impact on the environment.

NFU Scotland has called for a “new approach to water course management.” The James Hutton Institute has called for “joined up action”

too, and we would support this.

The flood events we have seen so far this winter, and we are likely to see more of these in the future with greater frequency, have been exceptional. This makes the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust’s Water Friendly Farming Project, at Loddington, even more relevant. The project encompasses three river catchments covering an area of nearly 30 sq km.

Among many objectives, the GWCT work monitors water quality in each tributary in each of the catchments, as well as, surveying aquatic invertebrates and plants in ditches, ponds and streams.

The work looks at the effect of ditch dams, floodwater ponds and field drain interceptor traps to capture silt, sediment and nutrients, and ways to prevent soils leaving fields in the first place. Other measures to improve water quality include fencing animals away from streams and diverting storm water away from slurry storage tanks.

GWCT’s Water Friendly Farming Project works closely with farmers by adopting methods that are compatible with and, wherever possible, beneficial to their businesses.

In the coming years, the project will also explore the benefits of this approach to managing flood risk in urban areas downstream.

There has surely never been a more appropriate time to do this if we accept that such flood events, as we have seen already this winter, are inevitably to become part of the routine challenges faced by modern farming. The farming community has a significant role to play in flooding mitigation and GWCT is hoping that its research, along with others, is a part of the modern solution.

estate OFF THE HOOK

By Francis Red With a great sigh of relief the fishing season has opened. We have all looked forward to the date with great anticipation and it was certainly my focus for getting through the long drawn out festivities of Christmas and the New Year.

Rainfall has been a major issue this winter and not many parts of Scotland have escaped the deluge. The flooding on some of the rivers has dramatically changed the landscapes, swept away roads and homes, damaged landmarks and businesses and moved tons of gravel and dumped it in new locations.

When storm Desmond hit our shores in December the green-keeper at Peterculter Golf Club in Aberdeen was rather taken aback by a new course visitor; he found a salmon swimming in one of the flooded bunkers. It had been left behind when the flood waters had subsided.

He and his colleagues managed to catch the fish and release it safely back into the Dee. The ghillies tell me it was a slow but steady start to the season and they are hopeful they will

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have a good spring catch to surpass last year’s numbers. The opening day on the Tay was very well attended. It was a cold day with snow on the ground but it did not deter the crowds turning out for the opening ceremonies. It was good to see Dr Aileen McLeod, the Environment and Fisheries Minister, making the first cast into the river to officially open the season. Fishing is worth a considerable £100 million to our economy so it is no surprise there is a political presence on the rivers. Dr McLeod has been putting in a number of appearances on the river and having a go at fishing.

Am I alone in wondering if it is a genuine interest in fishing or is it just the usual well timed career enhancing appearance? I wait to see what good they will do long term.

Mid January gave us a cold spell which is great for the fish and the river levels have settled and conditions are very good.

Many of us were concerned how the fish would fair with high river levels and the debris from the floods but the news is certainly encouraging as Springers are being caught.

Investment opportunity is steeped in Scottish history

It’s a monumental piece of Scottish history, etched into rhyme and lore. The Battle of Bannockburn on the outskirts of Stirling in 1314 shaped a nation’s path with a Scottish victory against King Edward II of England by an army led by the King of Scots, Robert the Bruce.

At the headwater of the actual Bannock Burn, from which the famous battle takes its name, is an area of forestry being brought to the market by Bidwells property consultants, providing an investor with a unique opportunity to buy a productive commercial enterprise as well as a connection to a major slice of Scottish history.

Situated six miles west of Stirling within the scenic Gargunnock Hills range, the upper reaches of the 231ha (571acres) property provide expansive views of the Carse of Stirling, the Highlands to the north and south to the Forth Valley and bridges. Rarely does such a scenic location as this become available for purchase.

Bannockburn forest is comprised predominantly of Sitka spruce planted in 1995 and benefits from good forest road access.

Sporting rights are included with the sale with roe deer and red grouse present on site.

Bidwells forestry specialist Raymond Henderson explained some of the benefits of investing in Scotland’s timber: “Huge capital investments over recent years have resulted

in Scotland now boasting world class timber processing facilities helping boost employment and add value to the country’s successful forestry sector.

“Plantation-grown timber – as opposed to that coming from natural forests - is environmentally sound and a proper ‘green’ and ethical investment in our future.

Demand for forest products remains strong despite the economic downturn and is rising as the recovery – particularly house development – proceeds.

“Potential purchasers of Bannockburn Forest should be aware that timber income from commercial forestry is currently exempt from Income Tax and that forestry businesses currently attract 100% relief from Inheritance Tax. In addition, forests have a low exposure to Capital Gains Tax because the value of the growing crop is excluded from the assessment.

“Bannockburn is a quality plantation which should attract those seeking to invest in productive commercial forestry with little additional expense required prior to timber harvesting and is located centrally for Scotland’s major timber processing markets.”

Bannockburn Forest is being marketed at offers over £400,000.

For more information, contact Raymond Henderson, tel: 01738 630666.

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estate SAAVA submits response to Land Reform Bill Section 79 The Scottish Agricultural Arbiters and Valuers Association (SAAVA) has produced a document proposing revisions to Section 79 of the Scottish Government’s proposed Land Reform Bill.

The recommendation document comes in response to a call from the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee (RACCE) for specific evidence on the paper issued in December 2015. Membership organisation SAAVA has provided a general review on Section 79 of the Land Reform Bill as well as two specific recommendations.

The first recommendation made is in relation to clarification of when this procedure should apply - with the advice stating

that a written lease between tenants and landowners is essential to proceed with valuation of the interest.

SAAVA President James Dick clarified: “The valuer carrying out the work needs to know what there is to be valued and the state of the holding.

Therefore, it is essential that an agreed written lease and agreed record of both tenants improvements and dilapidations be supplied to the valuer prior to beginning the valuation process.

SAAVA’s second recommendation is in regards to the valuation itself, where they have suggested specific practical and technical consideration be given to the question of what is valued and the basis of those valuations.

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On the Peg

by Linda Mellor As the shooting season closed its doors the weather continued to be the most discussed topic for keepers and shooting guests. The high rain fall and mild temperatures presented one of the toughest bird rearing and shooting seasons most have ever known in their lifetimes or during their careers.

The heavy rainfall through December and early January flooded many areas and it turned the countryside into an unrecognisable watery landscape. Shoot days were cancelled and other rescheduled as keepers struggled with the elements. Jim Miller, a keeper on a small private estate in the western central belt, said, “The wet and mild weather was very challenging, from the start of the season to mid January I could count the dry days on one hand. It also feels rare to pull on a pair of boots as most days have been spent in wellies. When you walked around the estate to look for the birds you would not find them in the usual hot spots. Fields were flooded and a lot of the areas favoured by the birds were under water logged. We lost approximately 10 – 15% of our birds because they wandered from our estate onto higher, drier ground.

We are on high ground but there is ground above us so they have headed up there. Thankfully, the cold dry spell we had in mid to

late January meant some of them came back down to the shoot.”

Lady gamekeeper, and this month’s Country Woman, Ali McManus says, “The season has been equally as good as last year; we did meet expected bags and, therefore, had very happy guns. One of the main challenges was the wet weather as it affects everything and everyone on a shoot day - from being an all round miserable day for beaters and the guns to very wet dogs, it gets to us all. The other issue has been keeping predators at bay; our biggest problem was Buzzards which meant we had to do additional release pen checks. We have tried every trick in the book from hanging radios around the pens and switching them on hoping the noise would scare them off to putting bags on the pens in an effort to keep them at bay.”

It’s certainly one of the wettest seasons I have ever known; roll on a cold and dry springtime!

estate Do you really know what you own?

Landowners urged to look at voluntary registration Life is full of uncertainties but if there is any room for dispute over your properties boundaries now is the time to have your land ownership guaranteed urges Scotland’s leading rural and property consultants, CKD Galbraith.

The firm are urging landowners to consider voluntary registration, especially for rural landholdings which many believe aren’t likely to be targeted by keeper-induced registration, in anticipation of the Scottish Government’s deadline for completing land and title registration.

Registers of Scotland have been asked by the Scottish Government to complete the country’s land register by 2024 for privately owned land and property and by 2019 for publicly owned titles. At the moment, around 58 per cent of all Scottish properties are on the land register, but this only equates to around 27 per cent of Scotland’s land mass.

Calum Innes, Partner at CKD Galbraith, outlines the benefits of seeking professional advice and registering your land in advance of the deadline; “If you’re a landowner considering a sale, a transfer to the next generation, new standard security, are aware of potential title discrepancies or have an ancient title, voluntary registration is something to be given serious consideration now.

“Of course there is a cost/ benefit exercise to be undertaken, but there are strategies that can be adopted to progress in measured stages to gauge the scale of the work required and effectively manage cost. We are working closely with the Registers in terms of their Plans Assistance Service whereby they will undertake an initial review of titles at a predetermined cost which provides a helpful starting point for the land agents and solicitors to review and progress.

“The firm have already undertaken a number of voluntary registrations for landholdings.

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We have come across many circumstances where voluntary registration is likely to reap dividends in the longer term and we would encourage landowners to be proactive in reviewing their own position.

“For example, we encountered a situation recently whilst concluding a sale of a farm where the main access track was included on both our client’s title and their neighbour’s title. This was due to an historic error when the two farms were split from the original Estate title, some 30 years earlier.

As the neighbour had voluntarily registered their title first, their claim to title of the access was deemed to be more secure.

“Although this could have been disputed by our client, which might have been successful, the purchaser wanted a quick conclusion and clean purchase.

Therefore, our client agreed to pay a substantial sum demanded by the neighbour for the access, rather than risk losing the purchaser. This may have been avoided, had our client voluntarily registered their title first.

“Another substantial rural landowner has a reasonably clear understanding of their landownership arising from a title that goes back centuries. In the interim, various settlements have developed and they are presently pursuing a master planning strategy in relation to a strategic village and are keen to clarify their ownership in and around this settlement as such includes many small areas in addition to identifiable properties together with various rights and burdens. They are to pursue voluntary registration for the village areas in the first instance and this process will inform the decision of whether to register the remainder of the estate.

For further information on title registration or to speak with Calum Innes Please call CKD Galbraith’s Perth office on tel: 01738 456075.

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Land reform concerns

By David Johnstone Chairman of Scottish Land & Estates With the conclusion of the Land Reform Bill process fast approaching, Scottish Land & Estates has been clear that the proposals by the Scottish Government to enable tenant farmers to ‘sell’ their tenancies will cause unprecedented damage to the tenant farming sector and fails to strike the right balance of property rights for landowners and farmers.

It is deeply regrettable that the Cabinet Secretary has dismissed these genuinely held concerns from across the industry.

We fully understand the need for tenant farmers with no successors to retire with dignity and believe that striking the correct balance of property rights for all parties is essential.

An alternative and fairer model where farmers could convert their tenancies to a long-term fixed date tenancy would have helped achieve those objectives.

Many landowners’ interests would have been damaged by it but there would be

less of a risk of widespread eye-watering compensation claims, with industry experts calculating that compensation claims against the Scottish Government could be several hundred millions of pounds.

Landlords want to let land on a long term basis but it is being made as unattractive as possible.

It feels very much as though legitimate farming businesses are being legislated against in the name of radical land reform, rather than what is best for agriculture.

The assignation proposals will mean that many secure tenancies will be perpetuated, effectively further denying the owner access to his or her own property. A great many landlords are small scale businesses with one or two let farms and will not be in a position to buy out tenancies. We hope the Scottish Government will take heed of these concerns - and do what is best for tenant farming - prior to the final legislation receiving assent.

For more information www.scottishlandandestates.co.uk Telephone : 0131 653 5400

horses Former army mascot ‘Cruachan III’ recieves prestigious award Shetland pony and former Royal Regiment of Scotland Mascot ‘Cruachan III’ was awarded the ‘Tarragon Trophy’ from The British Horse Society today at a special event held in Redford Barracks in Edinburgh.

The ‘Tarragon Trophy’ is the British Horse Society ‘Equine Personality’ of the year award and is presented to horses or ponies that have contributed to the community, overcome hardship or deemed to have the personality worthy of the esteemed honour.

Helene Mauchlen from the British Horse Society, said: “Every so often the BHS is privileged to meet an equine that has delivered untold benefit to humankind, and Cruachan is just that pony.

“In his long life he has brightened the lives of so many people, from casual

acquaintances at events, veterans and sick children and on top of that he does his day job of representing, inspiring and motivating our army.

“He is a credit to all equines and an example of the untold good that horses and ponies provide. It is our pleasure and a privilege to present him with the Tarragon Trophy.”

Shetland pony, Cruachan III, retired in 2012 at the age of 23 after nearly two decades of military service. For almost 17 years he took part in numerous military parades, Highland games and became a much loved addition to the cast of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

The endearing pony was also a personal favourite of Her Majesty The Queen and attended Balmoral Castle each year when she visited Scotland.

Colonel Alastair Campbell, Regimental Secretary of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, said: “Cruachan III marched proudly with Scottish infantry soldiers on parade for 17 years, firstly with the Argyll and

Sutherland Highlanders and then The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

So we are extremely pleased that the British Horse Society has recognised his service drawing attention to the contribution of Scottish soldiers by awarding him the Tarragon Trophy.”

There was recognition in the New Year Honours List to popular Scottish eventing organiser The Honourable Miss Heather Galbraith for her services to equestrianism, for which she has been awarded an MBE. Miss Heather Galbraith has provided Barskimming Estate in Ayrshire, free of charge for almost 60 years for equestrian pursuits by numerous organisations including The Pony Club, Riding Club, carriage driving and British Eventing.

The Eglinton Horse Trials was first run in 1959, and 2016 will see British Eventing celebrating over 55 years of the event which is hosted at the Barskimming Estate. Miss Galbraith has maintained the equestrian facilities out of her own funds and every year invests considerably to uphold its standing as a venue to stage competitions and events.

A dressage judge for some 40 years, Miss Galbraith has

also ridden at the highest level in eventing during the 1950’s and 60’s and been successful in both the show ring and show jumping. Passionate about racing and hunting and a former pointto-point jockey, Miss Galbraith now takes great pleasure in watching her home bred Flat race horses. Alongside her dedication to equestrian sport Heather also worked as a full time physiotherapist.

“I was surprised and thrilled.

It’s an honour. I’ve had many messages of support, I’m amazed by the amount of people who have noticed, it’s been wonderful,” she said.

British Eventing chief executive, David Holmes, commented; “It is wonderful to see Heather awarded with an MBE in the 2016 New Year Honours; for her tireless dedication to eventing and equestrianism the recognition is thoroughly deserved. Without incredible organisers like Miss

Photograph courtesy of John Grossick

New Year Honours to eventing organiser

Kinross rider Louisa Milne-Home with Miss Heather Galbraith after winning the advanced class with King Eider in 2014

Heather our sport simply would not run and we are hugely grateful for her commitment and enthusiasm to British Eventing and Eglinton.”

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Miss Galbraith was recognised by British Eventing in 2000 with an Honourable Life Membership and a BE Millennium Award.

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horses Equestrian Tried & Tested

By Melanie Scott

Hot Togs Thermolite Socks What they say: Thermolite Socks are mid calf length thermal socks that are ideal for riding, time on the yard and other outdoor activities. They are made using 59% Thermolite yarn for warmth, with lightly padded soles, blister protection, arch support and flat toe seams, they’re designed to be comfortable.

Colours: pink, blue/grey, khaki green, brown and lilac.

Sizes 4-8 and 8-12.

RRP: £9.50 per pair. www.hottogs.co.uk or call 01782 372662.

Review: on first inspection I thought the socks were slightly unusual, they feel thick and chunky but I’ve worn them with a number of different footwear and they’ve not felt bulky on my feet. The legs are ribbed and they stay up, nothing more annoying the socks making their way down your boots as you’re busy working. My working wellies are serious sock eaters so I thought I may be pushing my luck to see how these fared but so far they’ve been incredibly hardwearing and have really lasted well. Perhaps a bit more expensive than some makes these have worked well to date.

NuuMed Bobble Hat What they say: The new aran knit Bobble Hat is made to NuuMed’s exacting standards and has a snug fleece lining for extra warmth, and a large faux fur bobble on the top Colour: brown and grey with complementary coloured faux fur bobble.

RRP: £20 Size: one size www.nuumed.com or call 01458 210324.

Review: This is a gorgeous hat, warm, cosy with a fabulous bobble on top. It is fleece lined for extra warmth and unlike some hats doesn’t itch.

It’s colour is understated but it goes with any outfit, dress up or down and I’ve lived in mine this winter!

Toggi Brighton Water Resistant and Reflective Glove What they say: A water resistant winter glove with reflective piping design, and features specially placed panels to improve grip when holding slippery reins.

Colour: Black Size: XS - XL Price from: £27.50 Review: These have been great winter gloves, in a winter that’s been one of the wettest on record. It has a neat touch and close fastener at the wrist and a long cuff to stop drips from your jacket getting in.

There a stylish reflective pattern on the back of the hands and the palm and fingers has extra protection to avoid wear and give you extra grip when riding or working in the rain

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horses

EQUINE ANGLE

Eventer joins ‘Team Aloeride’

Equine Safety Day

By Melanie Scott

Aloeride, the natural equine aloe vera supplement, are proud to support a brand new rider for 2016 in the guise of young eventer Eliza Stoddart.

Stoddart was a member of the silver medal-winning GB Team at the Pony European Championships in 2008 and Under 18 National Champion in 2010 - to name just a few - as well as receiving funded training from the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (2009-2014), the BEF Regional Foundation Squad (now Excel Talent) and the BEF World Class Start Programme.

In 2015, Eliza continued to establish herself on the eventing circuit with a number of high profile placings at International level with a string of young horses and is now based at former Badminton and Burghley winner, Oliver Townend’s yard for 2016.

Eliza joins other ‘TeamAloeride’ riders who include top show judge, rider and producer Loraine Homer, international dressage riders Lucy Cartwright and Leah Beckett and top eventer and ex-racehorse trainer Victoria Bax. www.aloeride.co.uk

Riding school celebrates 50 years A riding school has celebrated its 50th year with raising more than £12,000 for a children’s charity.

Fergushill Riding School, was originally set up by Robert and Evelyn Aitken and is now shared with their daughters Gillian Beattie and Philippa Macinnes. Throughout 2015 they ran various celebrations and fund raising efforts and raised a total of £12,402.08 for Children’s Hospice Association Scotland.

“Over the years we have raised more than £40,000 for various charities.

“My mother established Fergushill Riding Stables at Broomhill Farm in 1965 as well as training the Eglinton Pony Club Games team.

“Mum is a star panel BSPS judge and is looking forward to judging the show hunter ponies at this year’s Horse of the Year Show (HOYS) and Phillipa is also judging the intermediate show hunter ponies and lead rein pony of show hunter type at HOYS. “To celebrate 50 years, we held lots of fun events including family bingo night, charity auction, car scavenger hunt, creative writing workshop, horse photography workshop, make and bake sale, party, golden wedding party and a massive sponsored ‘ride and run’ when the riders jumped five jumps on their ponies then dismounted and ran round the jumps on foot,” explained Gillian.

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THE Scotland region of the British Horse Society recently held an equine safety day at Blue Ridge Equestrian Centre, near Falkirk to advise riders to become safer and more prepared.

What was emphasised was that we all enjoy our horses, but riders and owners need to be responsible to themselves, their horse and other road users..

Whether we choose to ride off-road on fields and bridleways, or whether we have no option but to go out onto busy roads, there are always safety issues we need to take into account.

From riding on the road there’s several risks - heavy traffic, quiet approaching cyclists, unpredictable gun scarers in fields, drones, fireworks and low flying aircraft there could be something round the corner that is potentially dangerous.

The equine safety day included talks from Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue and paramedics and joined road safety and riding hat experts for a day long conference aimed at reducing equestrian

accidents and stable fires throughout Scotland.

After a morning of talks the Police Scotland Mounted Branch gave a demonstration on the sort of hazard training that police horses undergo with ideas of how everyone can all make their horses more resilient.

A practical hands-on demonstration of large animal rescue by Susan Maxwell of Scottish Fire and Rescue showcased the work that goes into achieving a safe resolution when things do go wrong.

Additionally the dog handling teams from Police Scotland polished off the interactive afternoon with tips on dog training and the familiarisation of horses and dogs.

Kristine Hynd, the BHS Scotland’s national safety officer said: “We have aimed to put together an interesting equestrian programme that will put a preventative message across in an educational way.”

It was certainly food for thought and there were some very sombre moments, but everyone came away having learned something new.

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AGRI GADGETS New Website for Leading Global Agricultural Machinery Supplier

SW1 is proud to present www. ritchie-d.co.uk, a brand-new website for one of the UK’s leading agricultural suppliers.

Boasting award-winning, innovative machinery and a strong network of existing dealers, Ritchie offers a wealth of knowledge and experience to help farmers across the UK and the world operate efficiently and cost effectively.

Ritchie have over 140 years of experience working with farmers to help them get the best from their land and livestock.

Since their establishment they have grown into a global

supplier of agricultural tools and machinery, with state-of-theart manufacturing facilities in Scotland, England, and China.

‘Ritchie have a proud history and heritage,’ comments SW1 Managing Director David Hodson-Whittle. ‘We wanted to create a design that was modern and effective, but still managed to honour an impressive track record of quality and integrity.’

In response to a request from the company to refresh its image and provide a stronger online presence, SW1 have created a new fully responsive website. The result is a crisp, clean design that proudly demonstrates Ritchie’s branding, while presenting the viewer with key information in a concise, easily digestible format.

The new design places the most important aspects of the website within easy grasp of the user. A strong Call to Action button promotes the latest product catalogue, while interactive image-focused sliders draw attention to some of the bestselling products within Ritchie’s range. The design also makes the latest news and events accessible direct from the homepage, without the site ever feeling cluttered or overbearing.

SmartStor controller wins Certificate of Merit

The annual Innovation Awards at LAMMA took into consideration numerous exciting product launches which were finally shortlisted down. After further judging, the Awards Ceremony took place with Crop Systems achieving “Certificate of Merit in Best Product or Innovation in Technology” for their SmartStor controller. Launched last November, the controller offers complete communication with your storage facility, enabling the store manager to monitor anywhere, anytime, via smartphone, tablet, computer or phone. It is fully compatible with any make of existing equipment, incorporating power

JOSKIN Everywhere at any Time!

At a time when immediate access to information is primordial, the JOSKIN company has created, in order to upgrade its customer service, a series of IT platforms and documents in order to help the machine users.

With an even wider range of machines and an up-to-date technical development, it is essential to provide the end customer and dealers’ after-sales departments with the necessary data to start up and use the machine.

It is in this sense that JOSKIN has recently reviewed the way the CE users manuals are made.

From now on, every machine will be delivered with its own

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usage recording and can work ahead to take advantage of low peak energy savings and outside temperatures.

“SmartStor demonstrates a considerable advance in technology – it really does what it says on the tin – being a “potato store in your pocket”; added to that its vast safety features set it apart from anything we’ve done in the past” says Ray Andrews of Crop Systems.

“We are thrilled to have been awarded the Certificate of Merit

by Lamma; especially with the record number of entries this year. Recognition encourages continued dedication in developing control systems for the future.

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CE user manual, in which only the information regarding that vehicle will be given. In this way, it will be easier for the end user to start up the machine. Thanks to the start-up and maintenance documents and the individualized spare parts book, the customer will have all didactic and relevant documents at disposal to make the use of the material easier during its whole lifetime.

In order to continuously improve and strengthen the aftersales departments of its wide network, the JOSKIN group has set up an IT platform with technical documentation called “EasyTECH”. improved.

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.

Lucideon develops effective and environmentally improved solution to slug crop damage problem Scientists are working on an enhanced method of slug control which could throw a lifeline to the farming industry and reduce the global economic impact caused by the pest.

International materials technology specialist Lucideon has joined forces with the University of Newcastle to develop a method of controlling the release of metaldehyde products.

According to the Environment Agency, metaldehyde – used to kill slugs - is the pesticide that most often causes risks to drinking water sources, especially in the autumn.

It advises farmers to operate ‘best practice’ to avoid pollution, stating that if metaldehyde enters watercourses it can threaten drinking water quality, which can result in disruption of water abstraction to treatment works and reservoirs.

In a bid to tackle the issue, the application of Lucideon’s inorganic controlled release technology (iCRT) is being researched by the biology team at the University of Newcastle – headed by Dr Gordon Port.

Lucideon is looking to establish a method of delivering the pesticide using the highly targeted and controlled iCRT technology, while the university is investigating the feeding response of slugs to the materials and their efficacy.

The research team is also looking at a second, nonmetaldehyde control option.

Both methods are scheduled to move into pilot trials in 2016.

Steve Newman, product manager at Lucideon, said: “In some cases metaldehyde can seep into watercourses.

“The early findings of the research show that by using our iCRT platform the delivery can be carefully controlled and the quantities of metaldehyde reduced considerably, meaning this situation could be resolved.

“The control of slugs is of major significance globally.

Without it, billions of pounds worth of damage to crops will occur, creating a serious impact on food production.”

Thriving in damp environments, slugs can be found

in the Northern Hemisphere from Southern Europe up to Scandinavia. They operate within the same geographical area in the Southern Hemisphere.

This research marks another area of development for Lucideon’s iCRT platform, which has already been accepted on the market for high value fertiliser applications.

The platform is also being developed for a specific problem in the pharmaceutical industry,

where it is being utilised to tackle the global epidemic of prescription drug abuse.

Mr Newman added: “Lucideon’s iCRT is helping to tackle some major societal issues, including within the critical area of agriculture.

“By developing better fertilisers and also controlling slugs effectively we can help deliver major improvements to crop production and food security.”

Brand new product addresses forage-making bugbear A brand new innovation which overcomes a problem which has beset the forage-making industry since silage additives were first introduced, has been launched.

The SilaScale comprises a robust system of load cells fitted to one trailer, the ‘master trailer’, within a fleet of silage trailers.

This continuously measures the weight of forage harvested, and communicates this information via Bluetooth to the digital flow meter of the additive pump, adjusting the flow of product on a second-by-second basis.

Designed and trialled in the UK by forage preservation specialists, Kelvin Cave Ltd, the SilaScale gives complete accuracy of additive delivery, avoiding both under- and overapplication, which could both compromise forage quality and increase costs of production.

However, until now there has been no system available to

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ensure the accuracy of additive delivery, with most farmers and contractors basing their application rates on guesswork.

“The operator guesses the throughput of the forage harvester; guesses the weight of crop in the silage trailer; and often guesses the output of the additive pump,” says Andy Strzelecki, technical director for Kelvin Cave Ltd and inventor of the system.

However, once the SilaScale is installed and the desired application rate selected, the equipment will continuously adjust the flow rates according to the fresh weight of forage entering the trailer.

This means, for example, that dry matter changes during the course of the day which influence the weight and density of the load, will be continuously reflected in the additive delivery rate.

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futurefarmer Norvite Scholarship Yields Benefits for SRUC Student Morag As she works to complete her honours project Morag Brown from New Deer, in the final year of a degree in Agriculture at the Aberdeen (Craibstone) campus of Scotland’s Rural College, is finding that the help from feed company Norvite has been invaluable. Morag is the latest SRUC student to win a Norvite scholarship as part of an innovative partnership between the company and college.

The Scholarship was established following the company’s 40th Anniversary celebrations in 2013. It supports a final year student’s dissertation project by balancing education with agricultural industry involvement.

For her project farmers daughter Morag, of Hilton of Culsh, is carrying out a trial investigating the value of

feeding fish oil feed supplements to ewes before and during mating (tupping) time. While tupping time is long past she is continuing to monitor the health and fertility of her trial “flocks” as the project nears completion.

“Winning the scholarship was a great boost,” says Morag.”

Many students struggle to find good ideas for their dissertation projects, but through the company’s help I have a relevant, experiment which can offer real benefits. The £1000 cash prize helped cover expenses and the access to expert help from Norvite technical staff has been invaluable.”

Morag has three groups of sheep at home on the farm.

One group received no special supplement, another a standard company, pre-tupping product and the third a diet with extra

fish oil supplying trace elements and omega 3. She will soon scan the ewes to confirm which are pregnant and whether they are carrying single or twin lambs.

Her academic supervisor at SRUC Craibstone is Phil Wrigglesworth; “Morag has a strong background in sheep farming, not just from the farm at home but has gained valuable experience by working on other farms in the area. So it was inevitable that her dissertation project would go down this

route. The Norvite scholarship has given her a great opportunity to develop further links within the industry as well as the scholarship prize. Morag is a hard working and committed student, which will stand her in good stead for the many hours required to collect and analyse the data for this project.”

Norvite’s Technical Director David McClelland has enjoyed working with the second student to pass through the scholarship programme. While Morag’s results are yet to be published he is sure she has learned a lot.

Lantra Scotland reveal finalists for Learner of the Year Awards Rising stars of agriculture, Alison Ritch, Andrew Dixon, Lewis Mathison and Sophie Ward, have been short-listed for Lantra Scotland’s prestigious Learner of the Year Awards.

These much-coveted accolades will be presented to the winners at the Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards ceremony, on Thursday 3rd March 2016 at the Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro Hotel.

Alison, aged 31 from Stromness on Orkney, has recently finished a Modern Apprenticeship SVQ Level 3 in Livestock Production and Agriculture at family run Kierfiold Farm and Orkney College UHI. Alison 88

previously worked for a local accountancy firm, but decided to leave at the age of 28 to help run and eventually take over the family farm.

This year’s judging panel of influential figures from across the land-based and aquaculture sectors consists of Ray Jones, former Chairman of Scotland Food & Drink, agriculture and rural affairs journalist Erika Hay, Keith Paterson of Forestry Commission Scotland, farmer Keith Redpath, Lisa Connell of The Scottish Salmon Company and Rebecca Dawes of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs.

Kevin Patrick, Director of Lantra Scotland comments:

“We are delighted to announce our finalists for the Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards 2016 and are extremely grateful to the independent panel of judges for all their hard work. These awards continue to play an important role in communicating and celebrating the value of gaining qualifications, developing skills and improving standards. We have also received nominations from more employers and training providers this year, which suggests they are increasingly aware how important it is to support and celebrate new talent. All of our nominees, whether selected as finalists or not, should be

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extremely proud of their work and I really look forward to celebrating their achievements in Dunblane on Thursday 3rd March”.

Ray Jones, Chairman Scotland chair of the judges, comments: ’Every year the judges are inspired by the enthusiasm, vitality and determination to succeed from our candidates.

These young people are going into tough employment markets and a shortlisting on the Lantra land-based and Aquaculture learner of the year awards assists that future foothold into a long term job’.

Tickets for the evening are available from Lantra on 01738

futurefarmer Friendship & learning

646762 or scotland@lantra.co.uk.

Opportunities are still available for companies or organisations interested in supporting Lantra’s

awards. Lantra Scotland is at www.lantra.co.uk/scotland and on Twitter and Facebook as @ LantraScotland.

Top Marks For Supported Student Accommodation at SRUC Elmwood The supported accommodation at the Elmwood Campus of SRUC achieved top marks during a recent review of the service by the Care Inspectorate.

Their report praised the person centred support and said it allowed people with additional needs to attain their educational goals, and develop and enhance their life skills.

The report highlighted key improvements made during the last year which included an extensive refurbishment of the accommodation, an increased focus on providing work placements and developing student’s plans for employment, enabling student-led fundraising activities to be organised, and the provision of an educational trip to London.

SRUC staff received considerable praise for the way that the accommodation service is embedded within the college which allows for student support to be seamlessly maintained as they moved from accommodation

into their education and social environments.

Alison Boyle, SRUC’s Learner Engagement Manager said: “I am delighted that the Inspection highlights not only the excellent practice but the diverse range of opportunities on offer for our students.

Students are at the heart of the service and we tailor our support to suit each individual’s needs. We have an empowering “access for all” approach to education and I am delighted that once again our dedicated highly competent staff and excellent facilities have been recognised and endorsed.”

The inspector interviewed staff, service users and carers in addition to speaking to senior management and stakeholders.

Records, personal plans, policies and procedures were also inspected and there was observation of staff practice. The service was graded excellent in the areas of quality of care and support, staffing, management and leadership.

Staying connected with friends and family can at times be something of challenge, especially for those living in isolated or rural locations. The use of technology and internet access has played a significant role in improving the level of communication. Ofcom’s Communications Market Report in 2015 revealed that smartphones are now the most popular device for getting online in Scotland with four in ten (37%) of internet users believing that smartphones are the most important device that they own. 82% of adults in Scotland use the internet personally so they keep up-todate with the latest gossip or news.

As a Young Farmers organisation we have seen a phenomenal increase in the demand for resources and materials via our online channels from event booking forms, competition rules, a calendar of events, to ordering tickets, sharing photographs and announcing news and events. It has helped contribute to our continued growth and allowed us as an organisation to reach more individuals who otherwise may not have heard about SAYFC. BUT this should not be the substitute for face to face communication. Our

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clubs and districts organise meetings and events ensuring they have plenty of interaction but for those who reach our maximum membership age what can they do next? To fill the void SAYFC are re-launching “Friends of Young Farmers”, an alumni that allows past members to stay involved, ensures they remain up-todate with the organisation whilst bringing them closer to our current members. The membership fee of £25 per year provides subscribers with regular newsletters and a special drinks reception at the Royal Highland Show so they remain in touch with their fellow past Young Farmers.

You will probably have read the news about SAYFC recently losing some grant funding.

We are now busy developing the services available to our current members with the view of increasing the number of rural youth who benefit from the organisation. For past members “Friends of Young Farmers” is a great way to contribute. The £25 membership fee will be reinvested into SAYFC helping sustain the future of the association. You can sign-up by visiting www.sayfc.org or requesting a form via 0131 333 2445.

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finance Farms under cash flow pressure should consider Government Debt Scheme urges adviser Scotland’s farmers are dealing with an unprecedented range of business, legislative and financial problems that are putting many under unsustainable cash flow pressure.

Many farms are struggling for cash flow and the expected delay to the Basic Payment Entitlement (BPE) will remove another line of revenue that plays a key role shoring up cash flow.

For a farm trying to remain in business but struggling to find short term cash, the future can easily look bleak.

Now a leading business adviser is urging Scotland’s farming community to become more aware of the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) and the role it can play to help farms gain control of their cash flow problems and protect the

business, allowing vital time in which to undertake planning.

The Debt Arrangement Scheme, which stems from the Debt Arrangement Scheme Scotland Act 2004, is backed by the Scottish Government and governed by the Accountant in Bankruptcy. It was previously available only to Scottish individuals but has now been made available to businesses and partnerships.

Very few farmers are aware of the scheme, and whilst it is not a long term solution if the problems are overwhelming, it does put a short term break on cash flow pressures.

Andy Ritchie, Partner and farming specialist with Accountants Campbell Dallas explains how the scheme works: “This Scheme allows

a farm to repay its debts at an affordable rate while preventing creditors taking any further action, meaning the assets of the business are protected. It is particularly applicable to those farms struggling to maintain monthly contractual payments.

“The Debt Arrangement Scheme Scotland Act 2004, is not a form of insolvency, however, it is governed by the Accountant in Bankruptcy. It allows debtors to repay their debts, in full, over an extended period of time which is dependent on their disposable income. Once the scheme is approved creditors must freeze their interest and charges and cannot take any further action as long as the monthly payments are maintained.

“If circumstances change for the worse, for example, a farmer suffers ill health and is struggling to maintain payments to the scheme, a payment break of up to 6 months can be requested. If and when the farming industry improves and there is an increase in disposable income the farm can increase payments to reduce the term of the scheme and if it

has a good year and the funds to pay debts off in full then the scheme can be settled early.

“If a creditor objects to the scheme a Fair and Reasonable test is applied by the Accountant in Bankruptcy who administers the scheme. This test is based on specific criteria, for example the length of the term, the method and frequency of payments, the percentage of debt that the objecting creditor holds and comments made by the money adviser putting the case forward.

It is very rare for this test to be failed.

“For farmers worried about their cash flow and their future, DAS is well worth considering and it could help them protect their business so they are in a position to take advantage of any upturn in their market.”

Campbell Dallas is offering an initial free consultation on DAS for any farm business interested in finding out more information.

Contact a member of our DAS team on 0141 886 6644 or speak to our Agricultural specialist, Andy Ritchie.

Andy Ritchie, Agricultural Specialist 90

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finance Do you have a proper handle on the management costs of your farm business?

With farm incomes remaining on a downward trend from last year, it is increasingly important to closely manage your costs to ensure you remain as efficient as possible.

For those that keep a manual accounts book keeping system, the availability of this information is often limited to a single format and can be extremely time consuming to extract.

Sum-It’s simple, yet comprehensive, specialist farm software package has been designed to be operated by farmers who want to monitor and analyse the finances of their farm business, using a range of up-to-date reports.

As well as the usual year-end reports and data to email to your Accountant, Sum-It’s program includes a Five Year Comparison Report to easily monitor changes in income and expenditure, a monthly Cash Flow which can be

compared to Budget and a detailed Enterprise Gross Margin Report.

Data entry is based on straightforward screens that guide

the user through the process of inputting purchase invoices and

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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finance sales receipts either before or after they’re paid, together with direct debits and loan repayments.

Then there’s a quick reconciliation process with your bank statement before pressing the button to send the VAT Return off to HMRC. If you get stuck along the way, Sum-It provide a ‘farmer’ friendly telephone support team, available 12 hours a day, for those that need a little more help.

Sum-It’s Total Accounts is available as a stand-alone module and prices start from £425 +

THEMONEYMAN VAT. Modules include Payroll, Invoicing, Contractor Records and also modules from the Livestock and Arable Total range can be bolted on at any time to provide the complete farm solution for ‘one stop’ data entry.

For an on-line demo of the Accounts program visit www.sumit.co.uk and click on the Products tab to take you to the Accounts details and video.

Alternatively, contact Sum-It on 01844 213003 for more details and a demonstration CD.

£70,000 funding for National Rural Crime Partnership The funding announcement for the National Rural Crime Partnership has been welcomed throughout the rural community. NFU Scotland has welcomed an announcement of £70,000 which will fund a fulltime post within Police Scotland to move rural and agricultural crime policy forward.

NFU Scotland has worked closely with Police Scotland over the last 18 months to influence an increased focus on rural and agricultural crime in its remit.

As well as inputting into national SPARC meetings, NFU Scotland has been active at a regional level with local Rural Watch initiatives set up in many areas in conjunction with Police Scotland as well as on farm events with members.

In addition, the Union has been working closely with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service on a refresh of agricultural crime prosecution policy.

NFU Scotland’s President Allan Bowie commented: “NFU Scotland has been extremely encouraged by the work undertaken by SPARC to this point.

“The Union has been instrumental in re-focussing rural crime within Police Scotland’s remit and positive change has taken place in recent times.

“We have held a number of very successful events on farms 92

for members at a regional level to encourage members to take simple precautions to protect their farms, but also how to correctly report a crime or suspicious activity.

“This work will continue over the coming year and we look forward to further collaboration with Police Scotland and other stakeholders.”

Assistant Chief Constable Kate Thomson said: “We have made significant progress in building partnerships across Scotland to more effectively tackle rural crime.

This sponsorship consolidates and builds on activity over the last 12 months and is a real vote of confidence in the commitment of Police Scotland, SPARC and its members to tackling crime in rural communities.

“As outlined in our recent written submission to Justice Committee, SPARC partnership activity takes the form of prevention, investigation, intelligence gathering and enforcement, specifically targeting resources at the key rural crime issues affecting each local area.

“At the SPARC meeting on 26 January 2016, members were advised, by NFU Mutual, that its claims data showed that the partnership working driven and supported by SPARC is already showing what it described as “impressive results”.

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Life’s a cycle...

By Andrew Turnbull

You might be forgiven for thinking that the mood at the annual “Farming Scotland” Conference this year would have been downbeat given the price of things (too low if you’re selling, too high if you’re buying).

And then there was the weather, too, a dreich day, just like any other through January into February.

By a cruel twist, the first speaker was the new CEO of SEPA, an ironic choice given the sodden state of the countryside, but the choosing of presenters was made ‘way back in drier times. In any case he acquitted himself well after all he’s new to the job and nobody could pin the blame on him for the flood plains.

However, Jack Watts, an analyst specialising in cereal markets reminded us that farmers had to work in 5 year cycles and

trying to square the books over a shorter period doesn’t work in agriculture.

He explained we are at the bottom of a 5-year cycle and we have to be optimistic that the trend going forward will turn upwards again. It always has in the past.

Volatility is a word that popped up a lot and we should not allow ourselves to be depressed by the current lows, weather and otherwise.

The future may hold better prospects if we factor in projected increases in World populations and the tendency in underdeveloped countries to move towards healthier diets and changes in eating habits.

The challenge for those of us in the money business is to convince lenders that, in the longer run, wheels turn full circle.

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

BEAUTIFUL TRACTORS Specially for all our tractor enthusiasts MASSEY-HARRIS, GENERAL PURPOSE (4WD) USA, c. 1932

INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER, MODEL 8-16 JUNIOR USA, c. 1919

The Canadian company Massey-Harris (M-H) built its first tractors in Toronto in 1918. In 1928 M-H purchased the J.I. Case Plow Works of Racine, Wisconsin, which produced the Wallis tractors, and M-H soon centred its tractor production at the old Wallis works. The four-wheeldrive (4WD) General Purpose was the !First M-H tractor created by its own designers.

The unique, lightweight 8-16, with its four-cylinder motor, was an abrupt change from IHC’s heavyweight one and two-cylinder prairie tractors. Simply referred to as the 8-16 or Kerosene Tractor in North America, many were exported to the UK, where they were known as the Junior. The 8-16 JUNIOR came in anticipation of Henry Ford’s new lightweight Fordsons.

Features Equipped with a Hercules four-cylinder, ‘flat head’ engine and three-speed transmission, the General Purpose (GP) was one of the first successful 4WD tractors and was offered in orchard and industrial versions. Styling consisted only of a piece of sheet metal over the motor. Those sold in Britain were dark green with red wheels; in North America they were grey with red wheels.

Features The 8-16’s overhead valve motor and three-speed transmission were borrowed from IHC’s truck manufacturing department.

A low-slung outfit with plenty of sheet metal, it had a bit of a backwards look as the radiator was placed between the operator and the engine. The grey and red trim would become the company standard for a few years.

Uses The GP was built as a cultivating tractor with adjustable wheel widths, 76-cm (30-in) ground clearance and a 1.8-m (6-ft) turning radius. Some had extensions on the controls so that the operator could drive the tractor whilst sitting on a hay wagon, seed drill or other implement, as he would with a team of horses.

Uses Given its size, the 8-16 was a very capable, light ploughing tractor.

It was one of the first tractors produced in large numbers that featured a power take-off, which allowed for a range of operations including hay mowing. This little tractor is now an interesting addition to any show line-up.

Related Models An improved GP with overhead valve motor and optional pneumatic tyres was built in 1936 as a last-ditch effort to generate sales.

Related Models IHC did not advance the 8-16 design and went on to produce the 1020 and 15-30 Gear Drive tractors instead.

Power & Size 15–22 hp; weight: 1796kg (3900lb) length: 310cm (122in) width: 122–193cm (48–76in, adjustable) height: 140cm (55in) Manufacturing & Distribution Around 3000 were built at Racine, Wisconsin, from 1930 to 1936, and were sold in the UK, France, Canada and the USA. It was particularly popular in Canada for market garden work. The GP heralded the light 4WD tractors that are commonplace today.

Power & Size 8-16 hp; weight: 1497kg (3300lb) length: 335cm (132in) width: 137cm (54in) height: 168cm (66in) Manufacturing & Distribution Over 33,000 Model 8-16s were reportedly built in Chicago, Illinois, from 1918 to 1922. It was a great success and confirmed a demand for light tractors in the USA and Canada. Some 2500 found their way to the UK, many in time to contribute to wartime crop-production efforts.

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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machinery Storth Machinery Umbilical Engine Pumps designed to support the spreading process for the umbilical systems Slurry management specialist Storth have launched the “Farmer Plus” and “Contractor Plus” Umbilical Engine Pump Station to aid the umbilical spreading of slurry and/or digestate for effective and efficient spreading.

The entry level “Farmer Plus” unit is designed around a reconditioned 160hp engine fitted with a basic SIL manual control package complete with rev counter, hour meter, low oil pressure and high water temperature protection. The engine is directly coupled to a Doda L35 PD Pump with 6” inlet, 4” ball valve outlet with compressor coupling. A Hertell priming unit is direct coupled

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machinery to a 6.5hp Villier petrol engine.

Skid unit with pallet tine slot engagement.

At the premium end of the range is the “Contractor Plus” fitted with a new FPT 173hp stage 3a emissions compliant engine. An advanced SIL995 Series Controller allows fully unattended pump monitoring and control with “real time” field tractor function to 2km.

The engine is directly coupled to a Bauer SX2000 Pump with 6” inlet, 4”- 6” output pipework with flow meter gives field or return to tank facility as well as sponge ball chamber. A Hertell priming unit is direct coupled to a 6.5hp Villier petrol engine.

Complete with an Integral Bunded 800lt Fuel Tank, skid unit with pallet tine slot engagement.

For more information please contact Storth’s Umbilical specialist Neil Robinson Tel: 01524 781900 or Mob: 07826 346908

Announcement of Doosan’s largest ever big trucks enter production

Doosan Industrial Vehicle has released the latest additions to their already huge 7-Series product range; the giant 18-Tonne & 25-Tonne capacity

diesel trucks. These trucks are both rated at 1200mm load centre, becoming Doosan’s largest ever capacity forklifts in production at their impressive

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

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manufacturing plant in South Korea.

2016 sees the start to a new exciting year for Doosan - with even more additions to the

machinery 7-Series range planned for Q2.

Doosan are delighted to announce the launch of this brand new High Capacity Category in the Diesel truck range, fitted with the latest Doosan’s own Euro Stage-4 DL08P Engine – the ‘DV180S-7’ and ‘DV250S-7’.

The Doosan 7.6-litre 6-cylinder Diesel engines offer high power output and maximum torque, maintaining the highest level of performance for the most challenging conditions and situations. In addition, they have been designed with the environment in mind, ensuring vastly reduced emission levels are achieved without the need for a costly, outdated and maintenance intensive Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF).

The engines dramatically reduce maintenance downtime as well as setting a new benchmark for fuel consumption at a time of increasing costs for forklift users.

One of the key features of the DV180S-7 & DV250S-7 trucks is the emissions reduction system adopted by these products. By using Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) exhaust treatment technology along with an Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system, these 7-Series forklifts reduce

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emissions by 90% compared with current models available.

These emission reductions are achieved through the use of control technologies similar to those required by the 2007-2010 standards for highway engines.

These new additions to the 7-Series range will benefit every customer due to their productivity, low maintenance costs, safety, serviceability and superb ergonomics with the latest Zeus operator cabin.

Doosan will be exhibiting these latest models at the IMHX exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham later this year, so put the dates in your diary to ensure you visit the Doosan stand between 13th and 16th September.

The Sulky XT ECONOV: trailed fertiliser spreaders with boom section shut-off

High volume granular fertiliser spreading can now be achieved more efficiently and accurately with SULKY’s innovative

ECONOV section shut-off technology, available on its large capacity XT range of trailed spreaders.

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With the largest range of trailed fertiliser spreaders on the market (from 7,200 to 15,500 litres with double axles) SULKY offers a very wide choice of spreading tools, for granular, pellet or even powdered fertiliser.

The XT100 (7,200 litres) and XT130 (9,500 litres) spreader models for applying granular fertiliser are now fitted with ECONOV section shut-off.

This innovative spreading system is carried out via six boom sections using a MATRIX 840 GS guidance bar, for position in the field, linked to the VISION control box to manage the spreader. In this way the operator has a continuous double display for guidance and machine control.

Depending on the GPS position, two electric actuators adjust the fertiliser dropping point on the discs to adjust the sections to the actual shape of the field. The result of this system, patented by SULKY, is section management achievable

machinery in all possible configurations, including the option to open just the end section alone. At the same time two other actuators adjust the opening of the flow rate, the inclined position of which enables the application

rate to respond depending on the number of closed sections.

The management of a curved spreading pattern, exclusive to SULKY, makes it possible to match the reality of centrifugal spreading and maximise

efficiency, accuracy and performance, even on headlands.

The ECONOV XT range of spreaders have the advantage of the patented Epsilon spreading system enabling working widths of up to 50m with good

quality granular fertiliser. The weight of fertiliser remaining in the hopper can be constantly monitored with SW weighing, fitted as standard, enabling efficient management of refilling operations.

New generation fertiliser spreader from Kuhn KUHN Farm Machinery has launched the second generation of its popular Axis fertiliser spreader range.

The new spreaders are equipped with wear resistant VXR+ coated spreading pallets as standard and use KUHN’s CDA (Coaxial Distribution Adjustment) system for accurate metering at high speeds.

The Axis .2 series also uses KUHN’s EMC (Electronic Mass Control) technology to meter fertiliser flow by measuring each spreading disc’s drive torque: fertiliser flow from each disc is constantly measured and automatically adjusted to maintain a precise application rate across the machine’s entire spreading width.

The EMC system is available in two versions: the PTO powered M-EMC mechanical system, and the hydraulically driven H-EMC version. The lower cost M-EMC version is available on the Axis 20.2 and 40.2. The H-EMC version is available on the Axis 40.2 and 50.2 models: the H-EMC system is unaffected by engine speed and can operate at

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lower engine speeds for improved fuel consumption.

All machines are equipped with KUHN’s Varispread (VS) variable working width technology as standard – this

can be controlled manually or by automatic GPS adjustment.

VS 4 equipped machines (with manual drop point adjustment) have two sections per side which are adjusted by progressive action

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metering outlets. VS 8 equipped machines (with electronic drop point adjustment) have four spreading sections per side. VS 8 machines are also fitted with new high speed cylinders which adjust

machinery the spreading width 2.5 times faster than on previous models.

The new spreaders are all ISOBUS compatible and can also be operated via KUHN’s own

Quantron control system – the Quantron benefits from a large colour screen with all functions including outlet opening, metering modulation, application

rate and drop-point adjustment, easy to control. KUHN’s 8.4” colour touch-screen ISOBUS CCI 200 terminal which is preprogrammed with spreading

tables can also be used as an option. A suite of smartphone applications which provide accurate spreading tables is also in development.

New 3m Trailed Combi-Disc offers Low hp, Single Pass Cultivation A new 3m HE-VA trailed CombiDisc was launched at LAMMA, offering a high output, versatile machine for deep soil loosening and surface cultivation in a single pass.

Designed so the depth of both the subsoiler legs and discs can be adjusted hydraulically from the tractor seat, the operator can

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make independent adjustments on the move for accurate control of cultivations.

Commenting, James Woolway, OPICO’s Managing Director said, ‘Following the success of the mounted Combi-Disc launched a year ago, the trailed version will significantly reduce the weight on the back of the tractor

allowing lower hp tractors where appropriate, whilst being easier to transport longer distances on the road.’

New for 2016, there is an optional minimal disturbance disc opener available on the trailed version. This slices through the surface layer in front of the subsoiling leg to reduce soil burst,

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minimising surface disturbance and keeping blackgrass seeds buried.

There are five hydraulic reset tines on the 3m Combi-Disc which subsoil to a 400mm (16”) depth, with quick-change replaceable points. The 510mm diameter scalloped Sabre discs which follow the subsoiler legs will cut and mix to a depth of 125mm (5”). The two rows of opposing discs can be hydraulically adjusted and, as they are pushed deeper in the soil, the angle of the disc is automatically altered, increasing their aggressiveness, to thoroughly mix and chop crop residues. The following V profile press roller gives good consolidation to leave a weatherproof finish.

The Combi-Disc is an excellent tool for working ploughed land prior to drilling or for incorporating stubble and organic matter in a min-till system. A seeder kit can be added to plant cover crops or oilseed rape whilst cultivating, the seed is distributed behind a soil mat to ensure soil throw from the discs does not disrupt seed distribution.

machinery Polaris Sportsman 450 H.O. is the new star Take the power and performance of the Polaris ProStar engine delivering 31hp. Wrap around it the new Sportsman 450 H.O. and you have a full-size capability ATV at a 400cc class, entry-level price.

The Sportsman 450 H.O. is the new star of the Polaris Sportsman range, featuring Polaris’ legendary automatic 4x4 system with On-Demand, True All-Wheel Drive which engages all four wheels when you need more traction and reverts back to 2WD when you don’t. For a smoother ride there is the proven MacPherson Strut front suspension with 8.2in/20.8cm of travel and Independent Rear Suspension (IRS) with softer suspension springs for a better ride. Manoeuvring over obstacles is made easier with 10.5in/26.6cm of ground clearance and the Sportsman

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machinery 450 H.O. benefits from a new style seat with more foam and a durable base to keep your ride more comfortable.

Storage is all-important with any hard working ATV and the new Polaris has a 180lbs/81.6 kg capacity rear steel rack and 90lbs/40.8kg front rack that is Lock & Ride compatible along with 1225lbs/557.7kg of towing capacity. The front storage capacity allows you to stow away loads of gear and still have access to it, even with items tied to the deck.

To run more electrical accessories the vehicle has a 660 watt output and comes with industry-exclusive integrated plough and winch mounts. For working in high dust areas a high-flow, high capacity air filter provides better dust filtration, while Electronic Fuel Injection provides flawless starting and smooth

running in varied temperature and altitude. Braking is made easy with a single lever hydraulic disc system for all-wheel braking and a foot brake for rear wheel braking.

Also a key feature is the Polaris PVT Automatic Transmission which allows you to easily shift between High, Low, Neutral, Reverse and Park.

The new Sportsman 450 H.O. comes in sage green and with its long list of features for 2016 is certainly a new star in the rising. www.polaris-britain.com

Baselier Cultivators new ‘FlexyClean’ hoods option New Baselier FKV Series rotary hook tine cultivators are now available with FlexyClean rubber hood panels as a factory fitted option. The new FlexyClean panels replace traditional steel ones, with the flexible nature of the rubber leading to a considerable reduction in soil adhering to them during work. Baselier cultivators are popular on stone-free soils for seed bed preparation prior to potato or vegetable planting operations.

Cleaner running, less cleaning downtime, lower tine wear and reduced fuel consumption have all been experienced by UK growers with FlexyClean equipped test

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machinery machines during 2015. This is a simple yet effective solution to the problem of under hood soil buildup on this type of machine; typical of Baselier’s approach to design and development.

P J Lee & Sons, High Flyer Farms near Ely, Cambridgeshire were among the first to test the new Baselier FlexyClean system.

Christopher Lee at PJ Lee & Sons told us that while working their older Baselier side by side with the new FlexyClean machine over 58 hectares, they’d found that new machine was still on its original tines, (see attached picture) with plenty of life left in them, whereas their older machine required a new set of tines after 50 hectares.

The FlexyClean equipped machine’s clean down and greasing time was reduced from 60 minutes to just 10 minutes. Fuel usage was 29% less on heavy land, 10% less on light land, therefore giving an average fuel saving over all soil types tested of 14%.

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FlexyClean hoods can be specified on all models of new Baselier FKV hook tine cultivators

for 2016, from single bed machines, up to 3-bed hydraulic folding models. Baselier toppers

and cultivators are part of the Standen Potato Systems range marketed in the UK and Ireland.

Kuhn’s new trailed seed hopper gives increased sowing capacity KUHN Farm Machinery has launched a new trailed seed drill tank to give arable growers the option of increased hopper capacity.

The new KUHN TT trailed seed drill is available in two sizes: the TT 3500 with a 3,500 litre capacity, and the TT 6500 with a 6,500 litre capacity. Both versions feature a stainless steel volumetric metering unit and are equipped with a standard Category-3 rear attachment for connecting to a KUHN seeding bar: the TT can be used with a folding BSDR coulter bar or with a KUHN precision seeding drill bar – both versions are available in 6 to 9 metre working widths.

The new TT is ISOBUS compatible, with or without KUHN’s CCI 200 terminal, and uses a highly accurate radar system to detect forward speed.

The TT 3500 uses a single electrically driven metering unit while the TT 6500 is equipped with twin metering units: on both machines the metering units

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allow application rates to be accurately adjusted on the move.

The trailed hopper is fitted with large dimension floatation wheels as standard (600/55 26.5 wheels on the TT 3500, 710/50 - 30.5 wheels on the TT 6500) and is also available in a twin-wheel format. Hydraulic brakes are standard equipment.

machinery Kellands launches new Multidrive M380-4 More power, greater comfort and a major upgrade in driver technology are the key benefits delivered by Kellands’ new MULTIDRIVE M380-4 The biggest change is under the hood where a 225hp Cummins diesel engine delivers a 17% boost in power, a 20% increase in torque and a reduction in fuel consumption of around 8%. Fully compliant with European Tier-4 legislation the new engine will slash emissions by around 90%.

Capable of carrying a 10-tonne load such as a 5,000-litre sprayer unit or an 8-tonne spreader hopper, the machine can also haul an additional 18-tonne load at 50 km/h. Kellands’ Multidrive is one of the most versatile machines on the market, excelling as a self-propelled sprayer, spreader or multi-purpose load carrier.

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machinery Its Mechanical Drive technology offers best-in-class traction - delivering power to all four wheels simultaneously for better grip and enabling operators to work safely in challenging conditions.

With a top speed of 50 km/h and a quiet, comfortable cab, the Multidrive is fast and costefficient on the road, increasing the working range of contractors.

Chopstar Cereal Hoe from Terrington

Special readers offer on our own branded single malt whisky.

SEE PAGE 77

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The Chopstar Hoe for Cereals, 20-30cm rows is designed for weeding in narrow rows and with the new Row-Guard 500 Camera Guidance system it ensures

constant precision during the operation even in high working speeds. Front or Rear Mounted.

Available in 12, 16, 24 and 32 rows

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Prices without Row-Guard 500 from £10,000 to £23,500, Prices for Row-Guard 500 from £18,750

machinery CLAAS and Agrovista join crop sensing forces The use of crop sensing technology to provide a realtime, area-specific calculation of a crop’s optimum nitrogen requirement, provides growers with the opportunity to easily and accurately ensure optimum nitrogen application rates across the field, thereby potentially boosting crop

performance and a reduction in fertiliser use.

To provide a new industryleading level of both mechanical, but more importantly agronomic support for this cutting-edge technology, CLAAS UK has teamed up with agronomy specialists Agrovista UK to ensure that users of the ISARIA

CROP SENSOR receive an unprecedented level of support that is not matched by any other system.

The agreement between CLAAS UK and Agrovista UK means that in addition to full mechanical support for the CROP SENSOR from CLAAS dealer EASY precision farming specialists, this is also backedup by Agrovista’s full range of agronomic specialist knowledge and software including the latest MapIT Pro data management

system, which is part of the cloud based real-time AXIS data hub.

The ISARIA CROP SENSOR is ISOBUS compatible, so enables both the sensor and the spreader to both be used with the same ISO-compatible control terminal.

It is the first sensor to be awarded an AEF certificate for ISOBUS compatibility, which confirms its compatibility with current ISOBUS terminals, and will be listed on the AEF database so that users can check its compatibility with current or new technology.

WILKS BROTHERS Main dealers in Perthshire for DEUTZ FAHR Tractors

John Deere Gators get on track 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

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John Deere has approved the use of Camso rubber tracks on its Gator utility vehicles in Europe, following their availability in the US for several years. An XUV 855D Gator equipped with a Camso UTV

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T4S four-track system supplied

by UK distributor Supatracks was recently featured on the company’s stand at LAMMA 2016.

Designed to extend the versatility and all year round

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machinery use of these popular all-terrain vehicles even further, the Camso tracks reduce ground pressure by up to 75 per cent to less than 1 psi and take less than two hours to install in place of the wheels, with no other modifications required. Track widths are 318mm (12.5in) in front and 356mm (14in) at the rear. The tracks are steered and therefore minimise disruption of the soil surface when driving off-road.

Camso tracks are manufactured in Canada by the same company that supplies units for John Deere’s 8R, 9R and new 9RX four-track Series agricultural tractors. Camso is the world’s leading maker of tracks for farm and construction vehicles as well as snowmobiles.

Track systems provide better weight distribution and maximum flotation on all types of off-road terrain.

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machinery New McCormick tractors out there now

creating a deep windscreen for maximum forwards visibility.

The new control layout keeps the main gear lever, loader/front linkage joystick and related controls within easy reach, with the hydraulic spool valve levers now angled towards the driver so they can be used with a more natural push-pull movement of the operator’s arm.

The McCormick X6.430LS is one of three models in the X6 Series introduced last year – Brian Smith has already supplied 121hp and 130hp examples to

local farms, all in top-spec ‘LS’ configuration with 110-litre/min flow-on-demand hydraulics.

Power boost takes their engine outputs to 131hp and 140hp, respectively, for pto-driven implements and towing heavy trailers, tankers and spreaders. The ‘LS’ models come with a choice of regular 40kph, Eco 40kph or 50kph gearing and independent front axle suspension in addition to cab springing for a comfortable ride, while a four-speed pto option gives maximum fuel economy when power demand allows.

New high capacity transport tanker from Hi Spec The 102hp McCormick X5.40 is one of four models from 85-113hp available with slick synchro or power shuttle transmissions to transmit power from an economical fourcylinder Perkins engine.

A new, more spacious cab makes the tractor an ideal replacement for the earlier McCormick CX and other tractors of similar size and power. It has a larger glass area with a narrow header rail

SCOTTISHCOMMUNICATIONS

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Hi-Spec Engineering have added to their tanker range. The first is a high capacity specialist tanker for use within a high capacity liquid waste handling system.

The second is a larger addition to the Hi-Spec Kompactor

‘compaction/push-off’ trailer range introduced earlier this year 4500 gallon transport tanker The key for contractors operating specialist high capacity trailed and self-propelled machines for spreading or injecting digestate,

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Rodney McCall Tel: 07818 077897 119

machinery

farmwatch LIVESTOCK WORRYING slurry and other liquid waste, is to ensure that downtime waiting or having to return to the farm to refill is kept to a minimum.

Hi-Spec will have on display a new 4,500 gallon (20,450 litre) capacity service tanker for ferrying liquid waste to the spreading vehicle in the field, which is one of two that has been designed and built for an eastern counties customer.

To spread the weight, the tanker is carried on triple,

high road speed axles with hydraulic braking and fitted with 600/50-22.5 tyres. The tank is manufactured from 6mm thick steel and mounted on a full frame chassis to ensure that it is completely supported.

For filling, the tanker is fitted with a high capacity 14,000 litres per minute pump, while at the rear of the tanker there is an 8 inch pipe and cone to accommodate the filling boom from the spreading vehicle.

Police Scotland recognises the impact of livestock worrying, not only on the animals but also the emotional and financial impact this can have on the farmer and any witnesses.

The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 stipulates that, if a dog worries livestock, the owner of the dog (and/or the person in charge of it) is guilty of an offence.

This legislation is supported by the Scottish Outdoor Access Code which affords access rights to farmland by the public which extends to the walking of dogs, as long as they are kept under proper control.

The aforementioned legislation permits the owner of land where livestock are grazing; or the owner of that livestock; or person acting on their behalf, who witnes…ses any dog worrying or about to worry livestock, to destroy the dog.

Police Scotland and its partners wish to adopt a preventative approach to livestock worrying, particularly in areas which experience a high volume of worrying incidents and “near misses”. Guidance has been

produced to assist officers in the investigation of such crimes which also provide sufficient information to enable them to provide advice and support to owners of livestock and dogs.

Rather than immediately reacting by destroying the dog, Police Scotland are encouraging farmers and members of the public, where circumstances allow, to report worrying incidents or “near misses” to enable dog owners to be warned and reduce likelihood of a re-occurrence If circumstances merit a dog being destroyed or injured the circumstances must be reported to the Police within 48 hours of the incident.

From the 6th April 2016 The Microchipping Of Dogs (Scotland) Regulation 2016 requires every keeper of a dog to have that dog fitted with a micro chip.

This will assist Police greatly in the identification of any offending dog.

The meaning of ‘agricultural land’ and livestock can be found www.legislaion.gov.uk / Dogs(Protection Of Livestock) Act 1953

FARM WATCH column sponsored by

SCOTTISHCOMMUNICATIONSGROUP www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

integrated security solutions

country woman Ali McManus Ali McManus is a lady gamekeeper on the Midlothian Shoot where she runs a small syndicate offering 6 driven days and a handful of walked up days, she has 1 springer and 3 cockers. Her gamekeeping family connections go back a few generations as her father, John Mclelland who is now in his 70s, is a keeper on the Penicuik Estate and so was her grandfather.

By Linda Mellor

As a child Ali recalls her mum making a big pot of soup and the two of them taking it to the shoot at lunchtime and being, what she laughingly describes as, ‘traumatised’ at seeing a rabbit being shot. Sadly, when Ali was 25, she lost her mum.

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From leaving school until 2013 she worked in a high pressure job for a top investment manager in Edinburgh. Ali said, “Being outdoors helps you deal with the stress and depression. It was life changing loosing my mum and I was very down. My dad recognised

this and kept telling me it would do me good to get out on the shoot so that’s what I did. I started to get more involved, I helped out in the rearing fields through the summer months and I went along to one of my Dad’s shoot days with my Springer Mac. It was on a shoot

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day when I realised how much fun it was to be outdoors working Mac and how de-stressing beating actually was.” From her late 20s Ali was beating on and off on her dad’s shoot on the Penicuik Estate, then, a change in personal life meant she had more free time so 119

country woman she started helping her dad during rearing times by assisting with the feeding and put the birds away and collecting eggs.

In 2011 she moved to the Penicuik estate, only a few doors away from her dad, and became more involved than ever with the shoot helping to erect huts, collecting day olds chicks, feeding and releasing birds and helping check the pens. Ali met her husband, Kevin, 4 years ago and, as he was also an outdoors person and had been in and out of beating over the years, they both of them helped Ali’s dad.

They married in 2014.

Running her own shoot came about from a conversation she had with her dad about two years ago, Ali said “My dad was talking about his shoot and he said there were sections of the woods doing nothing. So I started thinking I could run my own little shoot and use the woods. The more I thought about it and the details the more excited I got about the idea!”

It seemed like a logical choice for Ali to set up her own shoot and husband Kevin could also help her. Kevin rebuilt the pheasant pens and they both worked together to release the birds. Ali visited the birds a few times each day, did the dogging in, checking the pens and feeding.

She has the administration side of the shoot organised as well and uses Facebook to round up local beaters for her shoot days.

It is a team effort, and as Ali says, “Kevin and I manage our shoot together and I couldn’t do it without him. He does all the really physical stuff, although I can carry a bag of feeding from A to B.” “I don’t shoot much in fact I have only ever shot a few times as it is not what I enjoy about the day, for me it is the whole aspect of being involved in birds from day one, seeing the dogs work and the enjoyment the guns get.

This is my second season and it has all gone as planned, we average around 30 birds which is perfect and just what our guns want. I get a great deal of satisfaction seeing all my work come together as the birds fly

well and give the guns good sport.”

Ali’s main income is from her mobile therapy company called AR Therapy, she set up the business 7 years ago, and it is a mixture of massage, reflexology and threading.

Her mobile massage service is very popular with local businesses and hotels.

Ali and her small team of girls work onsite at client offices to massage staff at their desks. Ali also works on a one to one basis with disabled and elderly people who can’t get out. Ali says, “Getting a foot or a leg massage can really help with circulation problems and having a chat can relieve the loneliness and break up the day for people.”

In addition to gamekeeping and running AR therapy, Ali also started Phabulous Pheasant in April last year with her friend, Fiona Jackson. They take pheasant feathers and make them into buttonholes, hat pins, brooches, bow ties and hair accessories. Ali said, “It really started off as a hobby, running a shoot gave us great access to lots of pheasant feathers so we wanted to do something with them. When we started we were just making a few unique items for friends and it progressed from there. We do not produce large numbers as it is more about individual pieces. We sell them via our facebook page and website. Over Christmas they sold very well and in January they continued to sell.

It’s been amazing! We have been featured in some of the shooting magazines and we are thinking about doing a few farm shows and game fairs during 2016.”

Ali continues, “Crafting takes me to a different place, I find it very relaxing and it is the best therapy because there are no pills! I have recently completed a taxidermy course and I see this as a way to broaden my skills and understanding. In a way, I am completing my circle of knowledge of the pheasant.”

Ali’s positive approach to life shines through everything she does, she said, “Life is pretty amazing, it is not all about the money. It is about the quality, being happy and living life.”

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Southern Belle WINTERY CONDITIONS IN JANUARY WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT? Wouldn’t it be great to begin with…What lovely weather we’ve been having… Sadly the balmy South West is as wet as a wet Sunday in a month of wet Sundays, although we are a hardy bunch down here and used to swimming everywhere.

While the weather is annoying but unavoidable the potholes which the rain brings with it are also annoying and unavoidable.

However, while God no doubt has a greater plan for the weather, the Council don’t seem to any plan for the potholes, which have both bust my tyre and taken a chunk out of my inner wheel in the past month. Periodically those “in charge” send a small yellow truck with four men three shovels and a copy of the Daily Star to deal with them. This allows one to read the paper, one to have his tea, one to direct the traffic and one to shovel loose chippings into the hole. This is only for the big holes as the smaller holes surrounding

them are apparently invisible, prompting my mum to phone up and ask if the team of small hole fillers were coming next!

Sadly they were not and when the next rain washed the chippings out of the big hole, these were then replaced the obligatory orange bollard which promptly blew away.

While the stupidity of the “hole fillers” gets my goat, the thing which annoys me even more is the giant signs on the motorway which constantly point out the glaringly obvious in an attempt to make us all better drivers. Notices like “High Wind Take Care” “Heavy Rain Forescast” and “Always Use Seatbelts” However this week I was warned “Wintery Weather Forecast” In January?!

During the winter?! Really?!

Mind you I did smile when the big sign at Abington displayed “Don’t Dwink and Dwive” Well done that man, the best one yet.

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ART with Carole Ingram & Hilary Gauci

Looking at the work of artists inspired by Scotland's rural surroundings and culture

Val Thomson This month we introduce talented local, artist, Val Thomson. Born and brought up in Fraserburgh, Val describes herself as a self taught artist, having enjoyed recreational art for many years.

Just over five years ago Val made a decision to become a full time artist and has not looked back since. Unlike many artists, Val started her painting career favouring oil paints but now her medium of choice is acrylics as she finds them more suited to her style of painting.

Working from her home studio in Aberdeen, Val explains that her inspiration is drawn from real life experiences and locations. Perhaps best known for her coastal scenes and landscapes Val also paints dog portraits with ‘Grufitti’ text adding a light hearted narrative to the painting. Her own Border Terrier, Rosie, features in many paintings.

Much of Val’s current work is commission based and her paintings will be featuring in the Jack Tierney Gallery Coastal Exhibition in June of this year.

Val’s artwork can be seen and purchased at www.valthomson. com. A selection of originals, prints and cards are available at Jack Tierney Gallery, Junction Arts and Larks Gallery, Ballater.

To discuss a commission or speak to Val, please telephone: 07803136561 or email val@valthomson.com

Annie’s Cottage

Carole Ingram, an artist in oils. Children and animal portraiture a speciality. www.caroleingram.co.uk 116

Coast Road To Aberdour

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lifestyle Bow peep!

This gorgeous competition shirt is brand new from the Equetech spring collection and features a stunning rhinestone bow motif with a key-hole opening to the back.

The Equetech Bow Competition Shirt is styled in a luxurious stretch fabric to help retain shape, which also offers greater freedom of movement in the saddle.

Other clever design details such as a Silver ‘zig-zag’ stitching to a concealed front placket, capped sleeves with the Equetech logo in rhinestone, loop to the back to keep your stock in place and a scooped back hem, make this competition shirt a fabulous functional fashion piece!

Colours: White Sizes: 8 - 18 RRP: £40.95 www.equetech.com

Win with this Windsor shirt

This gorgeous fashion shirt from Freddie Parker is styled in cool 100% poplin cotton and features a subtle two-tone embossed print of their distinctive galloping horse and rider logo across the entire shirt.

The logo is repeated through Oatmeal embroidery on the chest pocket and is finished with a smart, neat stiffened collar. Whilst it was designed with fashion in mind, it could easily cross over to the competition arena this season, with winning style!

Sizes S -XXL Available in Optic White and Sky Blue RRP: £60.00 www.freddieparker.com www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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lifestyle Ladies Cheltenham shirt Help us help them

By Paul Tinson

Paul Tinson (RSABI) outlines how the campaign Help us help them is gathering momentum with new appointments.

Our unique rural charity, RSABI, has appointed two new Regional Development Officers in January to raise funds and increase awareness of the organisation’s key mission to help those who have depended upon the land for their livelihood.

Dawn Edward (dawn. edward@rsabi.org.uk) will be working in the Borders, and Margo Wills (margo. wills@rsabi.org.uk) will focus her attention on Angus, Fife, Perthshire and Tayside. Dawn and Margo, who both hail from agricultural backgrounds, will concentrate on increasing regular income from RSABI’s Supporter Scheme - which enables individuals, businesses and corporations to support the organisation annually or longer term - arranging fundraising events, raising awareness of the charity’s profile and supporting its local volunteers.

RSABI provides financial assistance, support and a helpline to people with backgrounds in agriculture, forestry, fish-farming, rural estate work, gamekeeping, crofting and horticulture who, due to age, injury, illness or misfortune find that they are unable to cope.

Last year it contributed over £480,000 of direct funds to assist more than 680 people and with these numbers growing at pace this year, the Help us help them campaign is focused on bringing in important additional donations to support those who are currently struggling throughout the countryside.

Two further Development Officers are planned for the team this Spring, covering the North and South West of Scotland.

With an increasing number of people coming forward for support, four Regional Development Officers throughout the country will be our dedicated spearhead, engaging with stakeholders, influencers and volunteers throughout Scotland.

Dawn and Margo will rely on the generosity and support of their regional networks.

Individuals, businesses and organisations wishing to volunteer for RSABI or donate via the Supporter Scheme are urged to call 0300 111 4166 or visit www. rsabi.org.uk

With the Cheltenham Festival a highlight in the racing calendar, you can take a winning bet with this gorgeous Freddie Parker Cheltenham Shirt inspired by the stylish race-going ladies which flock to this great city.

Styled in a crisp, cotton, the Freddie Parker Cheltenham Shirt is beautifully tailored to flatter your figure with smart vertical stripes, which further elongate the body, as well as a complementing your skin tone.

Offering the same exceptional attention to detail and beautiful design as in their popular men’s shirting collection, the inside of the collar, cuffs and the placket feature the brand’s bold signature ‘galloping horse and rider’ graphic print (harking back to the brand’s graphic designer roots) and is also featured through embroidery on the chest. The Freddie Parker name embroidery on the hem and final contrast button complete this shirt’s allure.

Place your bets with confidence, as this is a dead certain fashion winner!

Sizes 10 – 18 Available in Candy Pink Stripe, Pure White, and Candy Turquoise Stripe.

RRP: £65.00 www.freddieparker.com

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lifestyle Heston Tweed Jacket for an elegant look

RS rural

STYLE

By Helen Burness

These boots are made for walking

The Timothy Foxx Rupert Jacket looks fabulous in their new mid weight Heston Tweed which incorporates a scarlet red and baby blue check woven on a navy grey base which is bespoke to Timothy Foxx.

This jacket is a beautifully tailored single breasted jacket with a two button fastenings and contains some exceptional detailing: The collar is lined with a bright baby blue melton fabric, which can be shown off when worn up. At the back of the jacket a double vent creates a flattering shape and we have included some shaping darts at the front. The lining of the breast pocket is designed to pull out for the illusion of a pocket square and to show off the luxurious paisley cotton inside. The sleeve has a true cuff with a bright blue stripe sandwiched in between the buttons which can be unfastened and also includes a contrast blue button hole. The button hole angle and detailing looks striking and it features two front pockets, 2 inside pockets, inside pen and ticket pockets and is lined with a bright red Viscose lining with baby blue top stitch detailing.

This jacket looks very smart teamed with the matching Heston Tweed Waistcoat and chinos or even casually with jeans as it is designed to be worn in the field and in town.

When it comes to beautiful boots with a unique finish, The Spanish Boot Company have already positioned themselves with their collection of riding and fashion footwear.

New, for summer is their bespoke collection of jodhpur boots, which offer a distinctly high fashion twist to this equestrian classic.

Choose from a variety of base colours, elastic insert colour and classic or Cuban heel to create the perfect boot for your style and personality.

RRP:ÂŁ350.00

The Spanish Boot Bespoke Jodhpur Boot: RRP: ÂŁ165.00 Sizes: 35-46

www.timothyfoxx.co.uk

www.thespanishbootcompany.co.uk

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lifestyle Ladies boots with added va – voom!

Fall in love with these gorgeous Valverde Jodphur Boots from The Spanish Boot Company in a racy shade of Red! Featuring a full suede upper, these gorgeous boots are leather lined and feature an elasticated section allowing you to slip them on and off with ease.

And if pretty is perfect, then these Lace Topped Socks by Grace & Lace will add that feminine touch to your favourite short boots. Styled in cotton, these socks offer comfort to your feet and glamour to your ankles with their generous wide vintage look lace cuff tops!

Lace Topped Socks: One size only (Fits Sizes 6 -9) Colours: Ecru RRP: £155.00 Available in unisex sizing Sizes: UK 2.5 – 10 www.thespanishbootcompany.co.uk

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Send to: Subscriptions, Farming Scotland Magazine, Tolastadh, 18 Corsie Drive, Perth, PH2 7BU

@home Aurora Blue fabric bed Coastal style is all about mixing pastel coloured fabrics with rustic wooden furniture to create a shabby chic effect throughout the home.

If you’re looking for ways to establish a coastal-inspired interior in your home, it can easily be created with stylist products from online retailer Furniture Choice.

This muted blue pastel bedframe (below) really makes a statement piece in any coastal themed bedroom. Its curved headboard creates a stylish focal point and it great value. £299.99 www.furniturechoice.co.uk

Country Cottage Metro Tiles Range

Walls and Floors have just released a new selection of Country Cottage Metro Tiles. A range of ceramic brick shaped tiles with a bumpy rustic surface and a glossy finish, they are perfect for creating the sought after traditional farmhouse look in a kitchen or bathroom.

Sheet size: 150x75x9mm Price per sheet: £36.95 www.wallsandfloors.co.uk www.farmingscotlandmagazine.com

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@home Fancy a weird clock?

Introducing Bad Dog Designs, creator of unusual and unique clocks. Each clock is hand made from old or recycled electrical equipment or other vintage parts. The clocks all use nixie tubes to display the time with. Popular in the 60’s and 70’s the Nixie tube was the forerunner of the modern LED and LCD displays in use today. No longer manufacured each tube is either salvaged from old equipment or taken from whatever remaining stocks remain in Ukraine and Russia.

The clocks suit the upcycled and reclaimed interior designs, often made in Steampunk or Industrial styles. www.bad-dog-designs.co.uk

Does your dog like red?

Precious metals for any room

A fantastic piece of furniture inspired by the country farmhouses of France with two shelves, two drawers and two bottle holder shelves.

Wood makes a lovely addition to a country farmhouse kitchen and matching items available in this range We are sure that you can envisage it in your country farmhouse kitchen, or French-inspir Shimmering Golds that glitter and sparkle, showstopping Copper hues that shine brightly, cooling Pearl and Platinum shades undulating beautifully into deep and glamurous Gunmetal, and the truly stunning glisten of Rose Gold; this stunning showcase of design and technique comes together to form the ‘Precious Metals’ collection of Wallcovering and Home Decorative Products from Arthouse.

Taking inspiration from a range of luxurious metals, this collection features sparkling glitters, glistening metallics and a colour palette that is unashamedly luxurious. Co-ordinating perfectly with our range of Home Decorative Products such as cushions and mirrors, Precious Metals brings glamour, whether it is to be a statement, feature or to sit across all four walls. www.arthouse.com

When it comes to designing beautiful dog beds with a difference, Pink Whiskers pride themselves on offering something a little different from the norm!

Pink Whisker’s designer Kate May, a qualified furniture maker and life long dog lover has pooled together her technical expertise with her flair for interior design to offer a bespoke service alongside her main line range of beds.

Previous commissions have included real leaf Gold inlay through to carved wooden legs and leather upholstery to match a customer’s existing Chesterfield furniture!

This gorgeous Cherry Red Bolsover Bed in fully grained leather with its brass rivet detailing and real sheepskin cushion is the perfect present for the pampered pooch! www.pinkwhiskers.co.uk 122

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@home Bathroom lights - Spring Collection 2016

Curiousa’s new IP44 lighting range, for zones 2 & 3, offers a fresh alternative for both bathroom and spa environments, allowing for the inclusion of stylish mood lighting.

Our award winning and widely acclaimed pendant light range has been recently adapted to work within IP44 rated conditions.

There is a wide choice of shapes, including Pear Drop, Strial, Bowl,Teardrop and Round. Each shade is suspended by a fabric coated flex with a choice of four metal fitting finishes. Plus, with 21 different glass colours to select from, our lights can be made to fit most environments from soft and relaxing, to refreshing and stimulating.

The range also lends itself well to commercial usage, offering a great diversity of colours, shapes and fittings providing flexibility in application.

Whilst each piece is individually handmade, we regularly take larger commissions for commercial projects, including spas and

Stylish Garden Rooms provide Extra Space!

hotels and quote for trade orders.

Garden Hideouts offer a fantastic way to provide the extra space you need by creating a room in the garden that you can use all year round.

Designs include ‘Pods’ and ‘Shepherd Huts’ that can provide guest accommodation, a playroom, an office, an artist studio...the possibilities are endless.

With prices from £14,950 there is an affordable answer to creating more space at home, and you can even take your Pod or Shepherd Hut with you when you move!

www.curiousa.co.uk

www.gardenhideouts.co.uk

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cars KIA’s all-new Sportage Kia has announced the pricing and specifications for the fourthgeneration of its best-selling model in the UK, the stylish Sportage crossover. There are 18 variants on offer priced from just £17,995 on the road. For the first time GT-Line versions add an even more sporty flourish to the range, while the line-up is headed by the luxurious First Edition model, priced at £31,645.

GT-Line models start at £24,350.

The new Sportage went on sale in February.

The new Sportage brings major advances in fuel efficiency, comfort, connectivity,

convenience and safety. The acclaimed styling of a model which sells as much on its looks as on its practicality has been subtly modernised and every model benefits from a more premium look and feel to the interior.

There are now four engines and three transmissions with the introduction of a 1.6-litre T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) unit and a 7DCT (seven-speed dual-clutch automatic) gearbox, both of which are reserved exclusively for GT-Line. They join extensively re-engineered 1.6-litre GDi petrol and 1.7- and 2.0-litre turbodiesel

power units with improved fuel economy and CO2 reductions of up to 29g/km, which means

significantly lower company car tax for the Sportage’s loyal legions of business drivers.

Vauchall’s new Mokka X Vauxhall’s new Mokka X, which reaches UK showrooms late this year, debuting at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show with a fresh interior and exterior design, a new powertrain and featuring OnStar and Apple CarPlay.

Incorporating cues from Vauxhall’s new design philosophy, the new Mokka X will be the first model to introduce the “X” segment identifier for future Vauxhall SUV and crossover vehicles.

With over half a million sold in Europe and nearly 100,000 in the UK, Mokka has been huge success since its launch in 2012. The Mokka’s compact size

(4.28m long), sporty looks and elevated seating position having wowed customers looking for an affordable SUV. The Mokka X’s bold new look is thanks to work carried out by a design team lead by Brit Mark Adams. Its new front treatment is aligned with Vauxhall’s new design philosophy including a wing-shaped horizontal front grille and the dominant, sharp doublewing signature of the LED daytime running lights.

The front fascia gets precise and elegantly sculpted surfaces, with fewer plastic inserts. This gives the Mokka X a wider, more solid and muscular stance.

It is continued at the rear with another double wing signature highlighted in the tail lamps, with LED technology an option. The body side retains sporty edge with powerful and athletic lower body lines, energised by Vauxhall’s

typical ‘blade’ that sweeps upwards to the rear. Vibrant new colours such as ‘Amber Orange’ and ‘Lava Red’ will also be available.

On the inside, the Mokka X has a completely new dashboard inspired by the new Astra.

Subaru upgrades to XV compact crossover Subaru has today announced details of a series of upgrades to the XV compact crossover, designed to refresh the car’s exterior styling, raise cabin quality and improve refinement. In spite of the range of upgrades across the full model line-up, pricing for the Subaru XV is unchanged for the 2016 model, which goes on sale across the UK next month from £21,995 (OTR).

Since its introduction in 2012, the XV has stood out in its sector with Subaru’s legendary permanent Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive as standard. The XV boasts higher ground clearance than most rivals 124

and is among the lightest vehicles in the compact crossover segment, aiding the car’s genuine off-road ability. Its centre of gravity and low-mounted four cylinder Boxer engines make it one of the most agile compact crossovers on the market.

Updates to the 2016 model follow hot on the heels of a range of upgrades made in 2015 which included a raft of suspension modifications and a quicker more direct steering rack, resulting in more engaging and assured handling and smoother ride.

Among the most important changes to the upgraded XV is

an upgraded interior, finished in higher quality materials and featuring Subaru’s new factory-fit 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment and navigation system. Changes include the adoption of new

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metallic and piano black trim as well as new contrast stitching throughout the cabin. The driver’s TFT LCD instrument binnacle has also been redesigned, now emitting a soft, contemporary blue glow.

cars Ssangyong adds Korando ‘Red’ special edition Based on the Korando ELX 2.2, the car adds a stunning full red leather interior, a 6-way power adjustable and ventilated driver’s seat, powered sunroof and HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlights, with a choice of either a metallic space black or metallic techno grey exterior.

The car also includes an Aisin 6-speed automatic gearbox.

The Korando ELX features intelligent on demand four wheel drive, heated front and rear seats, a smart infotainment system with 7” touch screen with a TomTom

navigation system, a rear view camera, and 18” diamond cut alloy wheels.

The Korando ELX Red is powered by SsangYong’s newly developed e-XDi220 2.2 litre diesel engine for a more powerful performance and lower CO2 emissions than the previous 2.0 litre engine it replaces.

Maximum power is increased to 178ps and torque to 400Nm - up by 19.4% and 11% respectively, and maximum torque is delivered from a low of 1,400rpm and maintained through a wide range

up to 2,800rpm for smooth, progressive driving from the start.

Korando Red is priced at just £23,495 on the road.

New hard-top canopy for Isuzu D-Max For those owner’s wishing to maximise the practicality and individuality of their awardwinning Isuzu D-Max without compromising on its stylish good looks, a newly launched hard top canopy provides the ideal solution.

The Alpha E-type Canopy joins a long list of accessories that allow owners to tailor their versatile D-Max to suit their specific individual requirements. Stylish, strong, reliable and durable, the new hardtop is the perfect match for the hugely popular pick-up and when fitted, gives the D-Max a

look reminiscent of the popular Isuzu MU-X SUV. Developed specifically to fit any double cab D-Max, the Alpha Type-E Canopy is colour matched with top quality DuPont paint to the body colour of the pick-up. Gloss black rear pillars complement tinted windows all around the canopy, giving it a car like wrap-round glass appearance.

A dark, charcoal grey-coloured headliner exudes a premium interior quality.

Central locking from a factory key not only provides security and peace of mind

for drivers, but also reassures buyers that this is an official

endorsed product endorsed and approved by Isuzu.

Pricing and specification for Mercedes-Benz SL Roadster Priced from £73,805 OTR .

Two engine variants available in AMG Line trim, in addition to top-of-the-range MercedesAMG SL 63 and SL 65. New Mercedes-AMG SL 63 will cost £114,100 OTR. SL range features enhanced level of standard equipment.

The Mercedes-Benz SL is now available to order from all Mercedes-Benz retailers, and will cost £73,805 for the SL 400 AMG Line.

The Mercedes-Benz SL range comprises four petrol engines. The SL 400 comes with a 4.0-litre V6 engine (175 g/km of CO2), which produces

367 hp – 34 hp more than its predecessor – and has a 0-62 time of 4.9 seconds. The SL 500 features a 4.6-litre V8 motor (205 g/km) with an output of 455 hp – allowing it to reach 62 mph in 4.3 seconds.

The Mercedes-AMG SL 63 features a 5.5-litre V8 engine (234 g/km CO2) with 585 hp, meaning it can sprint from 0 to 62 in just 4.1 seconds. The SL 65 comes with a 6.0-litre V12 engine (279 g/m), which has an output of 630 hp and an exceedingly quick 0-62 time of only four seconds.

Mercedes-Benz’ 9G-TRONIC PLUS automatic gearbox now

comes as standard on both the SL 400 and SL 500, replacing the 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission. The MercedesAMG SL 63 features the AMG

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SPEEDSHIFT MCT 7-speed automatic, while the SL 65 comes with AMG SPEEDSHIFT PLUS 7G-TRONIC 7-speed automatic gearbox.

125

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

Martha Bryce Fife’s food network, Food from Fife, has appointed Martha Bryce as its new coordinator.

The part-time position within the not for profit membership organisation has been made possible with funding from Fife Council. The appointment comes at a key time for Food from Fife, as it seeks to develop its membership base with a range of activity in support of its aims to promote and develop the region’s food and drink.

Alistair Christie Alistair Christie has returned to Scotland’s leading rural consultancy, CKD Galbraith, as an Associate.

Having previously spent seven years with the firm carrying out general estate management, utility work and sporting estate management, Alistair has been welcomed back to the rural team to further develop the valuation and rural finance arm of the firm and will be based in the Stirling office.

David Barrett Independent agricultural merchant McCreath, Simpson & Prentice (MSP) welcomes new recruit David Barrett to their Berwick-upon-Tweed HQ in the role of Director of Fertiliser.

David (48), from Cumbria, joins the trading division of Simpsons Malt after a move from Canada where he worked as Sales & Marketing Manager for Yara Premium Offerings.

Prior to this, he handled a number of roles with Yara’s UK fertiliser operations from 1997 onwards and had previously worked for Agrovista.

Carole Metcalfe Tong Engineering, the UK’s leading designer and manufacturer of quality handling equipment, has announced the promotion of Carole Metcalfe to Marketing Manager, as she continues to oversee and develop the marketing of Tong’s handling equipment to the vegetable and recycling industries.

Since joining Tong Engineering in 2010, Carole has worked closely with the Tong Sales Team, developing the company’s marketing across all areas, including online and offline marketing communications, as well as the company’s exhibition presence and PR. 126

Page Turner’s

BOOK REVIEW The Voices of the Forest

This month’s book is a compendium of tales and photographs telling the stories of those who look after Scotland’s woodlands

Page Turner was amazed to see a book about chopping wood race up the bestseller charts this past Christmas.

Norwegian Wood, a practical guide to chopping, stacking, and burning wood the Scandinavian way was an unlikely hit. Hot on its heels comes a new Scottish book telling the stories of the men and women who shaped Scotland’s forests. Told in their own words, their stories reveal that the forests shaped their lives too.

Perthshire-based author Mairi Stewart calls the creation of vast new tracts of forest and the development of the woodprocessing sector the biggest transformation to occur in the Scottish countryside during the twentieth century. She spent more than five years collecting stories from current and former forestry employees all over the country.

Many of her interviewees raided their family photo albums to help make the book a delightful compendium of photos and memories.

As swathes of forest were cleared to help the war effort in the 1940s, Scottish men and women worked alongside the Canadian Forestry Corps, who brought new techniques and machinery to the job. 2,000 Newfoundland woodsmen were recruited as civilian workers by the Ministry of Supply. Though used to intense cold at home, many

were laid low by the constant damp they experienced in their first Scottish winter.

The ‘Lumberjills’, who worked alongside the Canadians, were the young women who made up on the Women’s Timber Corps. Leaving their homes in Scotland’s towns and countryside they moved into forestry camps where one Lumberjill recalls sitting in a two-feet long zinc bath and singing as loudly as she could to keep the rats away. The book also contains stories like that of Peter and Mary Bruce, a ‘Newfie’ and a Lumberjill who now live in Aviemore, married for 65 years.

But it’s not all tales of the past. The book begins with a tree-to-product account of the ‘Boreland Job’, the felling and processing of a majestic stand of Sitka and Norway spruce on the north side of Loch Tay. These trees were and beloved famous around Scotland and some foresters speak of their misgivings at the use of heavy machinery to harvest them. Others worried that they might just be made into pallets. The trees find a happy ending, but you’ll have to read the book to find it out.

Voices of the Forest: A Social History of Scottish Forestry in the Twentieth Century by Mairi Stewart is available now from John Donald (£20, paperback) www.birlinn.co.uk

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