Anglia Machinery - October 2022

Focus on machinery to reduce input costs

Farmers and contractors are showing more interest in machinery and equipment to farm more sustainably and reduce their costs of production.

With soaring costs set to be here for some time to come, better efficiency and lower in put costs are increasingly important, say busi ness advisers exhibiting at next month’s Mid lands Machinery Show.

Visitors to the Newark Showground on 1617 November will be able to get plenty of ad vice from farm business consultants, while also seeing the machinery up close and talk ing to equipment manufacturers.

“People are interested in machinery that will help them be more efficient and reduce in put costs, while still allowing them to contin ue with the same farming system,” says Alex Olivant, farm business consultant at Active

spreaders so they can use variable rate appli cations, and also direct drills, which used to re quire a lot of paperwork for grant funding, but now applications are much quicker.

Better efficiency

“There is 100% more interest in efficiency and what the new environmental schemes will push towards. Better efficiency is better for the environment and your back pocket, so it’s a win-win.”

Sam Tugwell, a regional advisor at Velcourt who covers a large area in and around Leices

will be exhibiting at this year’s event.

“Mostly clients were using the capital grant for reduced input machinery, like direct drills,” says Mr Tugwell. “It wasn’t people who were having a wholesale change to the way they farm, it was those who were upgrading their existing direct drills.

“Farmers are also showing interest in in ter-row hoes for cereal crops, and rotary hoes that remove weeds from standing crops,” adds Mr Tugwell. The trend for machinery that re duces inputs and environmental impact to in crease in the coming years, he says.

Government mini-budget has benefits for farmers

Planning investment in farm plant and machinery will be easier following the government’s recent mini-budget and financial statement.

The Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) for plant and machinery has now permanently set at £1m – after years of fluctuation when it has been as low as £25,000 and was due to re vert from £1m to £200,000 next year.

That means all qualifying investments up to £1m can now be set against tax, rather than written off over years, says Jeremy Moody, sec retary and adviser at the Central Association of Agricultural Valuers (CAAV).

Mr Moody welcomed the announcement by Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng. “We have talked to the Treasury about the need for greater sta bility in the AIA, especially given the uncer tainties of today’s supply chains,” he said.

“Farmers should be able to make a time ly investment for good reasons, not just to get a tax relief, but the difficulty has been know ing when to invest and whether the that the allowance would be available.

“A farmer can now decide to invest in ro botic milking machines, for example, and not

The government has also committed to a policy statement this autumn on agricul tural productivity, viewing the sector as im portant, alongside digital connectivity and planning, says Mr Moody.

“I see this as essential after the last 30 years of falling behind competitor nations.

“We need, to ensure a profitable agricul ture by implementing the changes worked on by the CAAV and the Agricultural Productiv ity Task Force. I hope we can help the farm ing economy to be much more productive.

“But this is not about absolute production but business efficiency and profitability, and so it’s also about business confidence and com petence. We have been going sideways in agri culture for about three decades – pretty much since area payments were introduced.”

Planning reform

The loss of basic payments will prompt farm ers to look harder at their businesses, he be lieves. “It would be good to have some posi tive stimuli to help people to do this.

“The government seems to be displaying ulation which is as much of an obstacle in

On-land shallow plough previewed at Tillage-Live

Kverneland previewed its Ecomat on-land shallow plough at last month’s Tillage-Live event, held at Eweford Farm, East Lothian.

Due to be launched next year, the Ecomat is being developed as an option for minimum disturbance seedbed preparation. It provides mechanical control of pests and weeds through soil inversion, reducing the reliance on chem ical methods.

“Ecomat is a half-way house between a plough and a cultivator,” explains Kverneland product specialist Adam Burt. “As a shallow plough, the Ecomat still turns soil over but without needing to work as deep as a tradi tional plough.”

This latest version of the Ecomat enables high-efficiency shallow ploughing, at working depths ranging from 6-18cm. As a result, out put is much higher than conventional soil in version methods, while fuel consumption per acre, is also reduced.

As an on-land plough comprising 10-fur rows, the Ecomat is equipped with short, highspeed bodies of either steel or plastic construc tion. By working on-land, compaction can be limited by the use of tractors with much wid er tyres at lower pressures.

New Corvus partnership for Abrey Agricultural

utility vehicles, including the Terrain diesel range and newly introduced all-electric

for the land-based sector, rather than adapt ed from the leisure market.

Boss ORV managing director Phil Ever ett said Abrey Agri had extended its portfolio to support a further push into professional groundcare, estate management and gener al agriculture. “The range of Corvus UTVs will add to this massively.”

Corvus makes side-by-side 4x4 off road

business, farm-based Abrey Agricultural offers clients the opportunity to test drive machines on the premises, allowing them to make a fully informed choice.

requirement for UTVs, so the partnership is an obvious fit for us,” says Mr Everett. “We of fer a big Corvus welcome to Toby Abrey and all the team at Abrey Agriculture.”

Jeremy Moody Farmers now have more certainty when investing in technology

Arson attacks spark warning for straw stacks

Farmers are being warned to keep vigilant after suspected arson attacks saw straw stacks worth more than £500,000 go up in smoke.

Police and the fire service are investigat ing after some 16,000 tonnes of bales were destroyed in a fire near Braughing, Hertford shire. The fire broke out at 4.30am on 9 Sep tember, with fire fighters remaining on site for three days.

A spokesman for Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews were faced with a significant fire in a very large stack of baled hay and straw. The size was around 100m x 100m and 20m high.

'Extremely challenging'

"Fires like this are extremely challenging to control or extinguish, therefore as a re sult firefighters prioritised protecting the surrounding area and worked with both the farmer and local homeowners to ensure the fire did not spread.”

The spokesman added: "One of the most significant concerns was the smoke. The fire

service has worked closely with colleagues in public health and the UK Health Securi ty Agency using weather forecasts and car rying out plume modelling.”

In a separate incident, straw bales worth £34,000 were destroyed in Bedfordshire on 17 September. Bedfordshire Fire Service said farms were particularly vulnerable to arson due to their often isolated locations and ex tensive open boundaries.

While these vulnerabilities make it diffi cult to eliminate arson attacks on farms there are a number of measures that can be put in place to reduce that risk. These include stor ing siting stacks away from the road side and

Police are investigating a number of straw stack fires across the region

at least 10 metres apart.

Meanwhile, police appealed for witness es after a suspected arson attack on a straw stack at Stuston, near Diss, on the NorfolkSuffolk border. Seven crews attended the blaze, which police said was set alight delib erately on 16 August.

Police said they wanted anyone who may have any suspicious activity to come forward. They said they were particularly interesting in talking to a man seen with a bicycle who may be able to help with inquiries.

Horsch unveils new universal cultivator

The new Fortis AS is a cultivator from Horsch provides more flexibility in working depth and adjustment options, says the manufacturer.

Developed to take advantage of increased tractor power up to 600hp, the Fortis 6 and 7 AS, with 6m and 7m working widths, can operate with a working depth be tween 4cm and 30cm, ideal for a deep loosening and primary till age.

Depending on the conditions, the operator can decide to ma noeuvre on the packer or on the chassis. The changeover is car ried out simply by means of a 3-way valve. The design of the packer focuses on flexibility.

The customer can select the packer type and whether the packer is connected rigidly to the frame or pretensioned hy draulically. In the pretensioned option, the weight of the front packer roller can be transferred to the rear roller preventing sink ing on light soils.

ways enough loose earth in front of the levelling discs to get an ex cellent result.

The 27cm tine spacing on the 4-bar design is ideal for shallow tillage and an all-over cutting in all conditions, but also meets the

front support wheels offers pre cise soil adaption, ranging from a simple depth control to support ing the machine in case of high working depths.

The depth adjustment can ei ther be carried out by a clip sys

tem or fully hydraulically from the cabin. The Fortis is equipped with an integrated traction rein forcement system which trans fers up to 1.2 tonnes to the rear axle of the tractor to help prevent slippage.

Campsea Ashe, Su olk

See us at the Midlands Machinery Show on November 16th & 17th

Soil health tops agenda for agricultural engineers

Soil management technology – and the way it willl change farming – will be discussed at a national conference next month.

Organised by the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE), the one-day event takes place on 1 November at the Peterborough Suite, East of England Conference Centre, on the outskirts of Peterborough.

Agricultural engineers are uniquely placed to improve soil health, says IAgrE. Intensive agriculture especially broad-acre crop production has had a neg-

ative effect on the soil, it adds, resulting in erosion, compaction and organic matter loss.

“Our conference will interest people working within agriculture and its associated industries plus equipment manufacturers, dealers and service providers being explored and what we can expect in the future,” says IAgrE chief executive Charlie Nicklin.

Profitability

To understand these key issues, conference speakers will explain how farmers and contractors can farm more sustainably, support-

ing carbon net zero and seizing other opportunities in a way that is good for profitability and the environment.

George Sly, managing director at Horizon Agriculture, will explain how the company is applying these concepts to its seed drill development. Their no-till approach is driving a number of innovative features and technology being employed on their products.

This importantly provides a host of efficiency benefits for the customer, whilst working towards a sustainable future.

Blackburn Potato Chitting Crate

The conference will include a discussion about how robots can reduce crop inputs

Ben Taylor Davies, of RegenBen, will offer delegates a fascinating journey through his farming career, specifically how to farm sustainably in harmony with the environment.

The audience will be taken through his regenerative agriculture approach and how it is being practically applied in a commercial farming enterprise and what the future holds.

Sustainability

Ole Green, chief executive and founder of AgroIntelli, will give a presentation about sustainable mechanisation on the Land. Mr Green will explore a new kind of agricultural mechanisation offering some great sustainability credentials.

AgroIntelli’s Robotti robot (pictured) has a light footprint to ease soil compaction, It is driverless to reduce costs and suited for tasks such as mechanical weeding to reduce chemical use.

Dr Paula Misiewicz, senior lecturer in soil and water management at Harper Adams University, will give an in-depth look at the various research projects centred around soil mechanics and management.

Dr Misiewicz will focus on ground compaction reduction methods, alternative tillage systems and precision agriculture methods. She will also explain how science is providing the answers to sustainable land use and food production.

For more information and to secure your ticket, visit https:// iagre.org/

Blackburn Potato Chitting Crate

Blackburn Potato Chitting Crate

Blackburn Potato Chitting Crate

The Blackburn Crate, saves time and labour, with minimum damage. The crate allows for easier inspection and control of your potatoes. Each crate holds 500kg.

The Blackburn Crate, saves time and labour, with minimum damage. The crate allows for easier inspection and control of your potatoes. Each crate holds 500kg

The Blackburn Crate, saves time and labour, with minimum damage. The crate allows for easier inspection and control of your potatoes. Each crate holds 500kg

Crates can be stacked up to 5 meters high, with unobstructed passage for light penetration and air movement.

The Blackburn Crate, saves time and labour, with minimum damage. The crate allows easier inspection and control of your potatoes.

Each crate holds 500kg

Crates can be stacked up to 5 meters high, with unobstructed passage for light penetration and air movement.

Crates can be stacked up to 5 metres high, with unobstructed passage for light penetration and air movement.

The bespoke design of the curved welded mesh interior, ensures that no surface of the potato is any more than 75mm from the light, giving the tubers a head start, encouraging faster growth.

Crates can be stacked up to 5 meters high, with unobstructed passage for light penetration and air movement.

The bespoke design of the curved welded mesh interior, ensures that no surface of the potato is any more than 75mm from the light, giving the tubers a head start, encouraging faster growth.

The bespoke design of the curved welded mesh interior, ensures that no surface of the potato is any more than 75mm from the light, giving the tubers a head start, encouraging faster growth.

The curved welded mesh interior ensures that no surface of the potato is any more than 75mm from the light, giving the tubers a head start, encouraging faster growth.

Pellcroft Engineering Ltd

Ltd

Pellcroft Engineering Ltd

Crop drying and storage equipment

Pellcroft

Ploughing champion proposes in the field

Romance is alive and kicking in the world of ploughing – thanks to John Crowder from Sturton-byStow, Lincolnshire.

Mr Crowder travelled to Northern Ireland to compete in the European Vintage Ploughing Championships. He swept the board, winning the Vintage Trailing Ploughing title, the European Vintage Ploughing Champion title – and his future bride too.

Important question

Mr Crowder decided beforehand that if he won his class, he would propose to his girlfriend Laura Dickson. He did just that immediately after he was presented with the trophies in the ploughing field. Ms Dickson said ‘yes’ to the all-important question.

Having finished a massive 120 points ahead of second place in his class at Ballykelly, Mr Crowder will now be getting his Fordson N tractor and Ransome RSLD Major plough ready for

at Glapwell, Derybshire on 8-9 October. Mr Crowder will be trying to retain the British Vintage Trailing Plough Champion and win a place to next year’s European Championships.

He will be joined by over 240 other ploughmen and women taking part over two days in a number of machine-driven and horse-driven classes. There will

to be one of 60 top competitors on the first day who will go on to take part in their respective ‘Plough-Off Final’ on the second day – hoping to represent England in next year’s World and European Ploughing Contests.

The title of Supreme Champion is also up for grabs when the champions’ winning plots are judged against each other.

Apprentice awards vital for promoting industry

• Celebration of future agri-engineers

• Students learn better in the workplace

• Long-term career path for apprentices

The best of the next generation of agricultural engineers will be celebrated at this year’s Midlands Machinery Show, with a series of awards.

Like many career avenues, ag ricultural machinery firms some times struggle to recruit. But An drew Silvester, academy manager at machinery dealer Chandlers, has been helping apprentices rec ognise their talent for years.

“I taught agricultural engineer ing apprentices for seven years at Riseholme College – the highest number was 21 at any one time. During that time we had lots of suc cessful candidates enter appren tice awards at the Midlands Ma chinery Show,” says Mr Silvester.

Having joined Chandlers last year to run its apprenticeship pro gramme, he is passionate about educating the next generation of

age of engineers in the country and across the world,” he says.

But why should young people consider apprenticeships in the first place?

Mentoring

“Students tend to learn better in the workplace because they’re mentored constantly, it’s educa tion 24/7 really. It’s not just learn ing about being an engineer, it’s learning about life at the same time as learning about the ma chinery, repairs and safety.

“It’s a win-win for me because if a student is committed to it, there’s no better way to learn and get paid. Most companies pay for everything they need.”

But with all these benefits, why is the industry struggling to recruit apprentices?

“As an industry, we’re notori

and we recognise that, so we are trying to improve it. A lot of man ufacturers are getting together now and offering more training” says Mr Silvester.

“For me, I wanted to create a career path for apprentices – not just the three years of college, but what comes after. We have skilled, advanced and master – so it’s an eight-year career path.”

And this clear career path can be good for retention. “I think once they’ve reached the end of those eight years they’re more likely to stay in the industry.”

Mr Silvester supports ap prentices in applying for the ap prentice awards at the Midlands Machinery Show each year. “It’s another method of promoting apprenticeships and agricultur al engineering – it’s a great show and the awards are brilliant,” he explains.

“I encourage the apprentices to apply, it’s for their own benefit and there’s a great financial bur sary because tools are expensive and that’s what they can use their

Last year’s awards saw six stu dents accept a cheque for £250 each – the first in a two-year in stalment totalling £500. One of them was Stella Hubbard, who works at Farol as a John Deere apprentice.

There’s no better way learn and get paid

“At the age of five I would come into Farol with my dad and assist with picking parts for jobs/ cus tomers,” she says. “During school I developed an interest in metal work and design and took a par ticular interest in removing and installing components.”

Having worked at John Deere in Australia and the UK, she is en joying the independence to carry out jobs by herself.

“I would like to inspire more women to take on this career. I would also love to own my own farm and develop a career in

And Chandlers boasted two ap prentice winners last year – Kier an Snowden at the Grantham de pot and Zac Elsdon at Holbeach.

“It makes me very proud that the work I do helps farmers to carry on working and put food on our tables,” says Mr Snowden. “It was a great honour to have been selected for this award and will help me progress in my career as well as giving me confidence that the industry is behind me.”

Entries for the apprentice awards are open until 14 Octo ber 2022 for any agricultural ap prentice aged 17-25 who is living and working in the Midlands re gion, says show organiser Eliza

“Supporting aspiring agricul tural engineers is vital for the future of the industry and our awards recognise up and com ing talent within the sector.” For an application form, visit www.midlandsmachinery

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Apprenticeships