Essential Farm
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Seed depth tail 40mm deep holding the seed at correct depth and placing seed on either side of
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Cost of farm theft soars above £50m
• GPS kit tops list of stolen equipment
• Gangs becoming more sophisticated
• National rural crime unit gets results
Farm theft cost an estimated £52.3m last year – with global positioning system units top of the list for criminals.
Theft of GPS units rocketed by a huge 137% to £4.2m, according to the latest annual report from rural insurer NFU Mutual. Thieves are becoming more organised, sophisticated and determined, it warns.
NFU Mutual has invested over £1m in initiatives to tackle rural crime since 2021 – working with the National Rural Crime Unit in a collaboration which has seen £3.1m of stolen vehicles and machinery recovered last year.
Formally established last April, the unit is staffed by police officers with experience in detecting and preventing rural crime, with investigative powers to track and intercept stolen machinery and equipment.
Essential Farm Machinery
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Sharp rises in inflation in 2023 made farming equipment an attractive target for organised gangs, said NFU Mutual rural specialist Hannah Binns. But the National Rural Crime Unit was delivering results.
“All the indications suggest rural crime is becoming more organised, sophisticated and determined in its nature, which is incredibly alarming for people who live and work in the countryside.
Technology
“While the overall cost of agricultural vehicle theft fell, thanks to co-ordinated efforts, it is concerning to see the value of GPS and ATV thefts continue to rise, with thieves turning to technology to scope out locations.”
Intelligence shows thieves frequently target several farms in one night before moving locations to steal
Essential Farm Machinery is published monthly for farmers and growers in the eastern counties and the Midlands. It is mailed with Anglia Farmer and Midland Farmer magazines and is also available at selected farm machinery and supplies outlets.
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Hi-tech equipment is being stolen and resold, say police
The cost of theft continues to rise “
highly valuable and portable GPS kits, often revisiting farmyards weeks later to steal any replacements.
“That is why it’s so important for insurers, farmers, manufacturers, police and politicians to continue to work together to provide a united response to the challenge presented by both organised criminals and opportunistic thieves.”
Attractive targets
Quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were also top targets, with thefts up 9% to an estimated £3.2m in claim costs reported last year. But the total claims cost for agricultural vehicles thefts fell 9% to an estimated £10.7m.
Livestock theft remained high in 2023, at an estimated cost of £2.7m, including animals butchered in fields. Farm animals worth an estimated £2.4m were severely injured or killed in dog attacks in 2023, up nearly 30% compared to the previous year.
A survey of NFU Mutual Agents, who are often embedded in the local communities they serve, found 91% believed thieves were more organised, with 82% percent saying they knew farmers who had been impacted by rural crime in their area.
New amber warning system launched
Atwin amber warning light system with wireless synchronisation has been launched by parts supplier Kramp through its dealer network.
Bigger tractors and more traffic means the market for amber warning beacons on agricultural equipment has increased considerably over the past few years.
Kramp says it has taken this one step further with the development of a wirelessly synchronised multipattern beacon set for tractors. It says this will further enhance the safety of agricultural vehicles on the road.
“With a simple push of a button, the driver can select patterns like single synchronised flash or even double flash, all made possible by the wireless connection between the twin beacons,” says Klaas Peter van de Pol, senior category manager for Kramp.
“This innovative beacon set, available at local Kramp dealers, is designed to bring more attention and awareness in traffic, ensuring safety on the road.”
The new light system joins Kramp’s existing range of LED work lights, beacons, and light bars under the Kramp brand, says Mr van de Pol. Kramp also supplies lighting from established brands like Hella, Cobo, Britax, Sacex and Nordic Lights.
UK law requires beacons to be fitted to any vehicle machine with four wheels or more that is legally restricted to travel 25mph or under on unrestricted dual carriageways. They must flash at least 60-240 times per minute at consistent intervals.
Flashes must be emitted in 360 degrees,
for example rotational beacons, and must be visible from 360 degrees around the vehicle and any load it is transporting from a reasonable distance.
Additional lamps are required for any blind spots around the vehicle where other beacons are not visible.
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Mole drainer improves on traditional design
Easy to set up and efficient to work
Suffolk-based engineering firm Claydon has underlined its commitment to helping farmers optimise soil health by launching a new mole drainer.
The single-leg implement is based on a unique concept which overcomes the drawbacks of traditional mole drainers and combines the benefits of mounted and trailed designs without the drawbacks of either.
“Over the years we have owned several mole drainers, but none ever did quite what we wanted, so we designed our own,” says Claydon founder and chief executive Jeff Claydon.
“After a wet season in which many fields suffered from prolonged waterlogging, it’s important to take action to improve drainage and eliminate excess water.”
Mr Claydon adds: “If done correctly, mole draining is a very efficient, cost-effective way to do that.”
Evaluated
The new machine has been extensively evaluated on the Claydon family arable farm at Wickhambrook. Even on very heavy land – such as the farm’s mainly Hanslope-series soils – it performed admirably, handled by a wellballasted 200hp tractor.
“When formed under the right conditions, as we have had this season, moles can last up to 20 years – so doing the job well will pay handsome dividends,” says Mr Claydon.
Below: A prototype of the Claydon mole drainer on the Claydon farm.
Right: Jeff Claydon – a job done well
Mounted on the tractor’s rear three-point linkage the Claydon Mole Drainer features a swivel joint which makes it very easy to manoeuvre and allows it to reach further into head land ditches or over drains.
A key feature is the long, narrow beam akin to the well-proven princi ple once used for steam-driven mole ploughs. This allows the 75mm-diam eter mole bullet and following 100mm ceramic expander to run parallel to it.
The result is a uniform, stable chan nel at the correct depth and angle, says Mr Claydon. The design also avoids ex cessive friction between the beam and soil surface, thereby minimising draft requirement and fuel use, he says.
Steel wedge
It’s costeffective and efficient
An adjustable headstock holds the narrow beam in the upright position and avoids the need for outrunner skids, enabling the angle of the bullet to be precisely adjusted.
Locked in place by a steel wedge, the blade pivots on three pins and the bullet angle is controlled by the narrow 200mm-wide front skid, which allows mole draining through standing crops with very little damage.
The user-friendly design of the mole drainer makes it easy to adjust both the blade angle and the depth of the mole fixed pin. Chains linking the oscillating headstock to the beam allow the tractor to turn easily and pro-
This enables the mole to ski out of the ground gently and with very little soil disturbance. A major benefit in all farming situations, this aspect is particularly important when working on grassland to maintain sward integrity.
Correct set-up
“The key with any mole drainer is to set it correctly. The blade, bullet and expander need to travel parallel with the beam,” says Mr Claydon.
“With the Claydon Mole Drainer accurate control results from the design and position of the front skid, which guides the bullet through the ground parallel to the beam, forming a nice level channel in the clay.
Because this is free of any dips or troughs, water can run away unrestricted and continuously. It is very user friendly, simple to set up, easy to use and as the bullet wears you can make small adjustments to keep it performing at optimum efficiency.
“In the spring we went through standing crops at GS 30/31, on a 2.7m spacing and 60cm deep, behind our John Deere 8345R, which recorded just five per cent wheel slip. Damage to the crop was so slight that it was hard to see where it had run.
Doing the job at that time of year allows the roots to stabilise the soil, so autumn-sown crops benefit, Mr Claydon explains. This gives the new moles time to cure over the summer months, ensuring that they remain efficient for many years to come.
‘Strongest’ grass land point from Agricast
AUK supplier of specialist replacement wearing parts has added a new product to its popular range of low disturbance points.
Agricast introduced its Grass Land Xtra (GLX) Point in December 2020 – and it became the company’s fastest-selling product in less than a year. Last month, it introduced the GLX Ultra Point, the toughest, strongest, and most resilient point in the range.
Value and durability
The new point features tungsten chip hard facing on the shin, a large tungsten tile on the nose, tungsten tiles on the leading edge of the wings, and high chrome hard facing on the nose and wings.
“The last couple of years have been particularly challenging for farmers with prices rising dramatically across the board,” says William Robinson, managing director of the
for the best combination of price, value for money and durability. We’ve designed the new GLX Ultra Point to be strong, resilient, and attractively priced.”
The GLX Ultra Point. is 245mm high, 260mm long and 115mm wide, and weighs 5.50 kg. It is available at a launch price of £89.70 each. Since introducing the range, Agricast has offered a conversion service so more than
The new point features tungsten chip hard facing
They include the Cousins V-Form, Gregoire Besson Discordon, Heva Evolution, Horsch Terrano, McConnel Shakaerator, and Simba DTX, with all owners looking for an economical lower-disturbance alternative to the OEMwearing metal.
Thomas Witter, of R and J Witter Farms in North Lincolnshire, was the first customer to order the new GLX Ultra. “They’ve surpassed any expectations we had – and they’re fantastic value for money,” he said.
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Kuhn standard plough points now longer lasting
Kuhn Farm Machinery has redesigned its mid-range Olympic plough points redesigned to offer a 30% increase in longevity.
The second-generation Olympic point is now fitted as standard on all Kuhn ploughs from the smallest Master 113 up to the largest Challenger range.
Easy to change
They offer increased thickness at the top of the point to extend the lifespan and a bevelled shape to improve soil penetration.
Further to this is an accentuated design to even wear and reduce tractor power consumption. The central section is now protected from extended wear to shield the bolts, making changing points easier.
Edd Fanshawe, Kuhn’s arable product specialist, says the points now offer a muchimproved longevity to price ratio.
Kuhn parts.”
A new optional Durakarb point increastreatment process.
bide on the working face. This reduces the risk of loss during work and helps to increase protection and longevity.”
The second-generation Olympic point is now fitted as standard to all Kuhn ploughs
High prices mean it pays to preserve straw
Quality straw is trading at a post-harvest premium – making it worthwhile looking after bale stacks to preserve quality.
Prices for quality straw are higher than last year following a drop in the amount of wheat drilled due to last year’s wet autumn. As a result, more contractors and farmers have been using preservatives to ensure dust- and mould-free bales.
A drop of almost 10% in the 2024 wheat area means only 1.56m ha of the crop were drilled compared to 2023 –with some of the UK’s main livestock areas seeing the biggest declines and the worst of the wet weather.
Strong prices
Barley and wheat straw prices are strong, says the British Hay & Straw Merchants Association. Barley straw is averaging £83/tonne with wheat straw worth £90/t ex-farm nationally – and as much as £90 and £120 in south-west England.
The wheat area is down 20% in north-west England, with declines also seen in the south-west and Hum-
berside (both down 14%), the East Midlands (-12%) and Scotland (-8%), according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. While primarily used to preserve quality and avoid spontaneous combustion when baling hay at 15%+ moisture content, preservatives such as Baler’s Choice can be as effective in wheat crops where the straw is still green while the heads are fit. Baled green straw can result in
are using preservatives to maintain straw quality
wadding and moulds developing. Mycotoxins in a dusty or mouldy bale can be a major challenge to the respiratory system and in livestock can result in respiratory problems and loss of performance.
Trials have found that mould and yeast levels in untreated straw baled at 21% rose from 75 and 47 CFUs/ gramme respectively to 14,000,000 and 11,000,000 CFUs after being stored for just two months.
Later classics command premium at Cheffins vintage machinery sale
Strong prices for later classic tractors showed no signs of dropping as 140 machines went under the hammer with Cheffins.
Held at the Great Yorkshire Showground, the eagerly anticipate annual Harrogate sale has been a regular event in the calendar for more than 30 years – and this year’s auction was no exception.
Sales totalled £672,000, with a strong sale rate of 83% lots sold. Mideighties and early nineties tractors continued to attract a loyal following – so too did other machines and ephemera, including a good number of stationary engines.
A 1985 MB-Trac 1500 made £51,456, and a sought-after 1992 John Deere 4955 eventually finished at £35,912. An immaculate 1994 twowheel-drive Ford 7810 Powerstar SL, with one owner from new on 5,200 hours, achieved £19,296.
Cheffins chairman Bill King says the later classics continue to be pop-
ular. “Later classics from the 80s and 90s are once again in high demand, particularly low-houred examples in original condition,” he added.
“Purchasers are keen to invest in tractors they remember operating. There is still a strong demand for early classics too, such as Massey Ferguson 135s, Fordson Dexta and David Brown 880s.
“These are iconic models, with original examples or ones in restored condition, achieving premium prices.”
An unusual and original Fordson Standard N machine with a Roadless Full Track conversion, made a superb £19,080 – confirming that there is still considerable interest in these earlier 1940s tractors too.
Other notable earlier tractor models sold at Harrogate included a 1980 Muir-Hill 121 for £29,480, a 1974 Massey Ferguson 188 for £12,006, and a 1946 Field Marshall Series I fitted with a Lainchbury winch was purchased for £14,150.
Buyers like tractors they remember operating
‘Surprising prices’ Highlights from the implements and spares sale included a 1967 Wheatley single axle tipping trailer for £3,472; an unused Hara cab for a County 1174 finished at £4,256 and a IHC Tom Thumb stationary engine sold for £1,064.
A Ford toolbox with mounting bracket suitable for a front casting made £512, while a 2014 Land Rover Defender 90, with just 23,000 miles on the clock, sold for £32,160.
Classic 3-ton trailers, cultivators and ploughs, along with barn machinery, all sold for excellent prices. We are already looking forward to 2025. Implements and spares proved just as popular for many buyers as the tractors.
Mr King said: “Tractor and implement spares sold very well as restorers want to source original parts for their projects, and, with some spares difficult to find, this leads to surprising prices being achieved.”
A 1985 MB-Trac 1500 (above right) made £51,456; with a 1992 John Deere 4955 (left) going for £35,912.
Powerful backpack blower unveiled
Makita has launched a new backpack blower – powered by its portable power for extended runtimes.
The powerful and versatile UB004C has a variable speed trigger with cruise control and three speed modes to regulate the maximum blowing force, allowing it to be used for a wide range of applications.
In the highest setting it delivers a blowing force of 25 Newtons and an air volume of up to 20.9m³ per minute in boost mode. The UB004C also features a boost mode that provides 28N of blowing force for a limited time.
Telescopic nozzle
The new blower has a telescopic nozzle and depending on the user requirements, it can be fitted with three different nozzle ends. It is powered by either the Makita PDC1200 or PDC1500 Connect X portable power packs.
These backpack-mounted power sources feature 33.5Ah and 43.5Ah batteries respectively and can be used
with a wide range of Makita’s twin 18V (36V) LXT or 40VMax XGT tools as well as machines with a direct connection.
Using the PDC1500, the UB004C has a continuous runtime of up to 200 minutes, which provides ample trigger time for a typical day. For ease of use, there is a clear and simple to read battery-level gauge on the grip.
The backpack configuration of the UB004C means that the weight of the battery and machine is comfortably distributed across the shoulders, back and waist – so it can be used for longer without fatigue.
A backpack harness has been redesigned to provide further reduction of stress on the shoulders. It also features an adjustable grip with 180mm of forward and backward movement and 180 degrees of left to right adjustment.
Makita says the new blower is ideal for landscape and grounds maintenance work – especially where people are already using its portable power packs with other tools.
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