Farmers Guide Magazine April 2025

OUT & ABOUT

With the Farmers Guide team

Farmers Guide machinery reporter Daniel Hodge attended a B&B Machinery open day in Swineshead recently – you'll nd his report on page 65. Daniel is pictured with members of the B&B Machinery team (l-r): Lauren Cope, Jade Naylor, Andrew Walker, Dave Chambers, James Bowring, James Richardson, Nick Davis, Craig Harper, Thomas Sansam, Gareth Crowe, Curtis Lowde, Natalie Parsons, Kurt Smith, and Steve Baxter.

reporter Daniel

Doug Potts added the And Finally joke to end his Points to Ponder column, and we’ve carried one every month since. We felt the joke was perhaps a little stale, so we welcome a monthly cartoon by Tomas Armstrong. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

“Got anything that won't incur a ne driving into central London?”

Machinery

Hodge is pictured at the B&B Machinery open day with dealer principal, Andrew Walker, who o ered a refreshingly positive outlook on the industry.

David Williams tested the upgraded Vervaet Q616 sugar beet harvester this month – turn to page 61. He's pictured with J Riley managing director Matt Carse (left) and Vervaet demonstration driver, Bennie Poppe (centre) on the day.

Daniel certainly threw himself fully into the challenges set by Can-Am – you'll nd exclusive pictures and videos from the two-day event on Farmers Guide's social media channels.

Daniel attended the WineGB pruning competition at Clayhill Vineyard – you'll nd videos on our Fruit & Vine social media channels. He's pictured with VineWorks CEO James Dodson (left) and Agro-Pro director, Luke Wolfe.

Stocks Ag invited Daniel Hodge to its Wisbech site, following signi cant investment and modernisation of its systems to meet customer demand. He's pictured with Stocks Ag MD James Woolway. Look out for the details in our May issue.

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Openfield experts discuss tari spats and other global uncertainty, as well as new government regulations on urea spreading.

How can agriculture navigate an uncertain world?

In the current environment it's di cult to comment on much, for fear of being out of date, comments Open eld head of research, compliance and shipping, Cecilia Pryce.

The world is facing ‘word’ and ‘action’ volatility and it's testing everyone. The gloves seem to be well and truly o and where once there seemed to be decorum and order we are all facing uncertainty. Some may say this is good as it keeps everyone on their toes but in reality the agricultural sector is a vital service which has a long lead time before a seed becomes a crop and livestock become a viable food source. Similarly, you don’t grow hedges overnight or change agricultural practices – everything takes time and it's even generations before impacts are felt because new systems have to be learnt and implemented. The UK agricultural industry is a very productive ‘factory’ if managed well and the individuals are respected. Upset the equilibrium and the fall out both short term and long term could be unprecedented – just to add to all the other unprecedented global issues we seem to be facing.

Westminster had a relatively easy ride – it was easy to blame Brussels but now the mud will stick unless they can create a positive from a negative. To do this they really need to understand the industries being a ected and those that may be a ected if import tari s were imposed.

The government needs to feel the pulse of all sectors of the economy and have specialist teams that fully understand the issues; or they need to trust the industry representatives to advise them on the correct approach. I feel that interaction and communication are well and truly broken, with too many individuals who don’t know their subject matter and don’t know who to listen to for a real view of the real issues!

Unfortunately, if those being paid to make decisions that a ect the markets don’t understand their subject matter, the consequences could be dire and, worse still, those who make the decisions today are unlikely to feel any long-term impact if they get it wrong. In fact, they nearly all have slopy shoulders, while those at ground level have to adjust yet again and try to make things work.

London Feed Wheat Futures for May 25

£240

£230

£220

£210

£200

£190

£180

£170

£160

£150

£140

and ignoring change could be our downfall.

Fertiliser matters

As we enter into April it’s important to be reminded of the urea spreading restrictions now in place, says fertiliser manager Lucy Hassall.

Tari spats are currently adding to the uncertainty. When we have faced such issues previously, we were still part of the EU, which meant

If the rules change, we need to be the rst to learn how and what it all means. Agriculture can’t continue to be a slow adopter; it’s tough constantly facing challenges but it’s up to us all to be the rst in the trough. We must embrace change even if we don’t like it, while trying to understand what can harm prices both on the nearby and deferred, because being behind the curve

The Openfield Partnership: More than just grain

New government regulations that came into e ect in 2024 will mean that each year any solid or liquid ureabased fertiliser can only be spread between 15th January and 31st March. Any urea fertilisers spread after this date will be required to be protected with a urease inhibitor which will be audited through the Red Tractor Assurance scheme.

The focus is on urea fertiliser due to the amount of ammonia that can be lost from this product

Our weekly grain market report is available as a podcast.

Why not listen to ourlatest views* on the Wheat, Malting Barley, OSR and Pulses markets and get the latest prices too?

Simply search for“Openfield – OpenView” on Spotify, ACAST, iTunes and Amazon Music. *Content is updated every Thursday evening to ensure you’re always in the know. www.openfield.co.uk

through volatilisation if used incorrectly, particularly in dry and warm conditions. Ammonia is an air pollutant that is detrimental to human health and our natural environment; losses also reduce nitrogen use e ciency.

Urease inhibitors work by slowing down the conversion of urea into ammonia, holding nitrogen in the ammonium form longer which is less volatile and more readily available for plant uptake increasing fertiliser e ciency. FG

Price indicator (April 2025)

£165–£180 Feed wheat

£148–£158 Feed barley

£400–£405 Oilseed rape

**Prices quoted from Open eld were predicted at 17th March 2025 and will be subject to regional variations.

Cecilia Pryce, head of research, compliance & shipping.

Lucy Hassall, Open eld’s fertiliser manager.

A new tyre for 150-250hp tractors, ideally suited to potato furrows, fertiliser spreading and harvest work. Available through your local AGCO dealer.

Dealer adds Deutz-Fahr franchise

George Browns Ltd is adding Deutz-Fahr to its list of farm equipment franchises. The move is designed to underscore its commitment to farming and expand its product o ering to match the needs of large-scale arable farmers and contractors who operate high-output equipment of the type available from Browns’ other suppliers. Three of George Browns’ branches, stretching across territory from London to Birmingham, are covered by the agreement with DeutzFahr parent business SDF UK, and the company’s existing franchises are una ected.

According to Steve Brown, the rm’s managing director, pairing with Deutz-Fahr underlines George Browns’ intention to grow its agricultural business and strengthen its support for its farmer customers.

Graham Barnwell, SDF UK country manager, commented: “The addition of a company of George Browns’ standing is a clear illustration of our intentions to bolster Deutz-Fahr’s UK dealer network and build on our market share progress, in spite of the tough times being faced by the industry.”

Some wheat production recovery

According to the latest research by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), the UK’s cereal harvest in 2024 was notably smaller, with wheat production down by 20% compared to the previous year. As a result of this smaller harvest, the UK has increased its reliance on imported grains, particularly higher protein milling quality grain. Wheat imports are forecast to rise to 2.75 million tonnes in 2024/25 – a 13% increase from 2023/24.

Some recovery is expected in the size of the UK wheat crop in 2025, but it is not expected to rebound back to average levels due to continued weather challenges in some regions. Combining the Early Bird Survey-projected UK wheat area with an average yield over the last ve years (2020–2024), the UK crop would reach 12.5Mt in 2025. While this would be up by 12% on year earlier levels, it is still well below the ve-year average of 13.9Mt.

The UK grain and oilseed markets are likely to remain volatile in 2025, with prices driven by uctuating supply and demand dynamics both domestically and globally.

Three-year bean yield research project announced

NPZ UK, PGRO, Yara and The University of Lincoln have joined together for a three-year project, funded by Innovate UK under the acronym ‘ANSWERS’, with the core objective of optimising on-farm yield, yield stability and quality of winter and spring bean crops by a study that establishes new best practices for crop agronomy.

Michael Shuldham, pulse product manager of project partner NPZ UK says: “The overriding

objective of ANSWERS is to increase the productivity and reliability of the winter and spring bean crops to make them a resilient and valuable part of the country’s food supply chain as a UK-produced protein source that, for example, can replace imported soya in animal feeds.

“Therefore ANSWERS will look at the reasons behind this variability in pulse yields by studying closely the macro and micro nutrition management of winter

and spring sown beans to improve yield and yield stability through a series of four work packages.

“With our project partners in ANSWERS, we will be able to bring a wide ranging and comprehensive approach to eld bean research by bringing together the knowledge and skills of NPZ UK, PGRO, Yara and the University of Lincoln for the bene t of growers and agronomists as well as for the UK trade and end users.”

Good Design award for Valtra’s S Series

Valtra’s agship 6th generation S Series has won the prestigious Good Design Award 2024. The Good Design Awards honour the best industrial designers and manufacturers for extraordinary design excellence. The design of the S Series embodies the brand’s core message: a modern and e cient tractor with a self-con dent appearance.

Valtra’s latest agship S Series, known as The Boss, has proven to be popular with large farm operators and agricultural contractors

since it was rst launched to the public at Agritechnica in 2023. Vice president sales and marketing, Valtra EME, Matti Tiitinen, said: “We are delighted to win the Good Design Award 2024 for the S6. It’s a great testament to the high-quality form and function of the S Series. We have invested heavily in our Suolahti factory to ensure the high-quality, smooth production, and sustainability of the 6th generation S Series. We know our customers in the high horsepower segment are looking for a powerful,

reliable, and technologically advanced tractor that ensures peak performance for their business. The Good Design Award really emphasises the design, performance and quality customers can expect when investing in their new S Series.”

Sealey launches tool promotion and competition

The latest Tool Promotion from Sealey features more than 190 new products and over 1,600 incredible deals, valid until the end of June. This season, explore their selection of spring-cleaning essentials, from car cleaning equipment and pressure

washers to garden hoses and lawnmowers.

Sealey is o ering the chance to win the ultimate SV10.8 Series power tool bundle. One lucky winner will receive a selection of 10.8V power tools designed to make everyday tasks quick and easy.

The prize includes 10 tool bodies, two 4Ah batteries and a dual battery charger valued at over £800 list price.

To explore all the new products and exciting discounts and enter Sealey’s giveaway, visit www.sealey.co.uk

ICL’s new R&D centre to improve food security

ICL has unveiled a cuttingedge new biological research and development centre aimed at developing groundbreaking products to improve global food security and sustainability.

Equipped with the latest technologies and supported by a £2.05M investment, the centre will enhance crop resilience, increase yields, and reduce farming’s environmental impact. “As scienti c understanding

evolves, farming is rapidly moving from having a chemical focus to a new biological era,” says Dr Elinor Erez, vice president of research and development at ICL Growing Solutions. Biological formulations can naturally enhance crop health and productivity, improve nutrient use e ciencies, tackle pests and diseases, and provide resilience against weather extremes.

Strategically located in Israel’s biological innovation hub in Ness Ziona, the centre bene ts from proximity to world-class institutions, including the Weizmann Institute and Hebrew University’s faculty of agriculture, as well as numerous bio-ag startups. It features advanced laboratories, controlled growth chambers, and micro-organism cultivation capabilities.

Cereals Event 2025 set to return to popular host farm

This year the Cereals Event is returning to a popular Lincolnshire location after a 17-year hiatus – and early bird tickets are now on sale.

Andrew Ward MBE will welcome visitors to Heath Farm on 11–12th June, with the 52ha site showcasing

the latest developments in arable agronomy, machinery, technology, and business advice; from over 400 exhibitors, 200+ live demonstrations, two days of seminar programmes, and several hundred individual crop plots on display.

Mr Ward is looking forward to being involved in shaping one of the UK’s largest arable shows. “There have been huge changes in farming, some of the biggest since the Second World War,” he says. “There’s tremendous pressure on

producing food and being able to do it pro tably. And while some of this can only be resolved at Government and policy level, which farmers have been campaigning for, there are also opportunities at farm level.

“No event is a silver bullet, but I would say that Cereals o ers a lot to a range of arable and diversi ed businesses and their ambitions. Visitors can nd the knowledge, technology and, importantly, the conversations that can help safeguard their future.”

Case IH Dealer of the Year awards announced

Case IH has declared the winners of its UK and ROI Dealer of the Year Awards, celebrating excellence across the dealer network.

The awards were announced at the brand’s annual UK Dealer Meeting in February. The event celebrated accomplishments from 2024 and looked forward to the upcoming year. The awards were

presented by Sean Lennon, head of sales Europe and David Rapkins, business director UK & ROI.

Category winners were: Overall UK Dealer of the Year – James Pryce Tractors Ltd; Irish Dealer of the Year – Walmsley Tractors Ltd; Over 260 TIV Best Market Share Growth – J.G. Paxton & Sons Ltd; Under 260 TIV Best Market Share Growth

– Ramsay & Jackson Ltd, Harvesting Dealer of the Year – AL Agri Ltd; Telehandler Dealer of the Year – Ernest Doe Power; Precision Farming Dealer of the Year – Startin Tractors Ltd; Parts Dealer of the Year – R.C. Dalgliesh Ltd; Customer Experience Dealer of the Year – Cotswold Farm Machinery Ltd; Data Quality & Sales App Dealer of the Year –Pontesbury Tractors Ltd.

Dealer completes sizeable sale

Based in Eastern Scotland, agricultural machinery supplier Fife Tractors has made a signi cant sale of eight McCormick tractors to one of the region’s most productive farmers.

Fife Tractors completed the deal in February in the presence of Mirco Candiani, product manager of Argo Tractors.

“Selling such a number of tractors in an individual transaction is rare – it really was quite the achievement,” said Graeme Steedman, sales and service with Fife Tractors.

“We’ve spent the past few weeks ensuring that each model was in pristine condition prior to the o cial handover. The client, who was a pleasure to deal with since rst contacting us to discuss the deal, wanted to overhaul his entire tractor range and decided to switch to McCormick. It’s provided us with a tremendous start to 2025 and we look forward to dealing with the client when it comes to future parts and services requirements.”

UK agricultural tractor registrations – February 2025

According the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA), the number of agricultural tractors registered in February 2025 was 37% fewer than in the same month last year and not much more than half of the seasonal average. At just 300 machines, it was the lowest for any month since December 1999.

AEA comments: “The total of 762 machines for the rst two months of the year was 20% down on January and February 2024. Nevertheless, the opening two months of the year are typically a quiet period for tractor registrations. Therefore, we will have a clearer idea of the trend for the year ahead once we’ve seen gures for March, which is usually the peak month of the year for registrations.”

Month: 300 units -37.1% change (compared with February 2024)

Year to date: 762 units -20.0% change (compared with January–February 2024)

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Wholecrop maize has become pretty much the staple crop for UK biogas production but both hybrid rye and hybrid barley o er some signi cant bene ts both in the rotation and the gas production process itself, KWS product manager for rye, OSR, oats and peas, Rory Hannam believes.

“Given hybrid rye’s bene ts, it’s no surprise that the UK area has increased from 25,000–35,000ha annually just four years ago to possibly just under 50,000ha today. Approximately 50% of this is used as biomass for AD plants.

“It’s one of the most drought-tolerant crops available and although typically best suited to lighter, drier, drought-prone soils, the right variety will thrive on heavier land, too.

“Growing rye for wholecrop can be a useful option for grassweed management within the arable rotation, given the crop’s quick spring vigour, tall plant height and the fact that it is usually harvested in June before black-grass seed sets.

Consider hybrid rye and barley

Growth in the UK biogas industry means hybrid rye and barley could become increasingly valuable feedstock options for AD and add to the e ciency of more traditional substrates, says KWS’s Rory Hannam.

cover over winter, before a following

“Depending on the timing of harvest, this might also allow for a second energy crop, such as energy beet or maize, to be grown, or provide an early entry for oilseed rape. Another option might be to put in a cover crop, providing soil cover over winter, before a following spring crop.

“Another positive for the early harvest is that it tends to be drier in June helping to minimise potential compaction and soil erosion that can result from harvesting maize later in the autumn.”

Higher gas outputs

providing an alternative nutrient source for the bacteria and stabilising gas output, he adds.

“Used alongside maize, rye has a synergistic e ect by improving the gas yield, as it increases the length of time for the maize to produce methane in the digester.

“By mixing 25% hybrid rye with 75% maize, plant managers can increase gas output by nearly 15% more than from maize used on its own.

“Standout rye varieties include KWS Igor, KWS Sera no and KWS Tayo. In trials with Agrii, all three produced outstanding wholecrop yields with Igor and Sera no topping 50t/ha at 34% DM.

“Our breeders are also developing biomass only varieties that will be particularly suited to wholecrop markets and this is an exciting development that growers and end users should look out for in the next few years.”

Hybrid barley benefits

According to KWS head of product management Kate Cobbold, hybrid barley grown as wholecrop o ers a similar opportunity to rye.

out the sunlight for the hybrid grassweeds.

“While both hybrid rye and barley are both competitive against weeds in the early stages, as hybrid rye grows it develops a more open canopy so isn’t as good as hybrid barley at suppressing grassweeds in spring.

“Hybrid barley is much better in this respect with more compact tillering and a dense crop canopy. Hybrid rye is better suited to earlier drilling than hybrid barley so would potentially give less time to create a stale seed bed for weed control.

“The other advantage of hybrid barley is that if market conditions change and the value of grain barley becomes more attractive, there are probably more opportunities for marketing barley than rye.

“Demand for rye for use in feeds for pigs and poultry is growing and there is a much healthier grain market than a few years ago, but barley is established, in demand and has a much greater infrastructure built around it.”

“Hybrid barleys generally have greater vigour than conventionally-bred varieties and this results in the higher biomass which then provides better gas yields.

Choose varieties carefully

Rye ts well with energy beet or maize in the rotation and can be utilised in the biogas plant to balance the high productivity of energy beet or maize substrates by

‘If weed control is a higher priority, hybrid barley o ers some speci c advantages over hybrid rye. As farmers increasingly battle with black-grass, hybrid barley can help reduce grassweed pressure considerably.

“Another positive for the early can result from harvesting maize farmers reduce grassweed pressure considerably. it spring which allows it to better

Variety choice is important and a series of UKbased eld trials is showing some very exciting bene ts for the newly RL-recommended KWS hybrid barley Inys, Kate Cobbold says.

“For a start it has a bigger root system than conventional barley so it is able to compete with grassweeds below ground and it gets going very early in the spring which allows it to better compete with grassweeds above ground by blocking

“Inys is the highest yielding barley on the 2025/26 RL and its yield of 109% of controls is going to make it very popular with growers, but it’s also a great performer in the eld with good standing power and a solid agronomic package.

“Its 7% for brackling, for example, is the lowest of all hybrid barleys and also one of the lowest on the RL.

“It’s topped RL list trials for yield in two out of the last three years, so it’s a consistent performer, too.

“Inys also has an exceptionally vigorous growth habit in the early stages of development with up to 40% greater ground cover being seen in some trials conducted across the UK, which is going to be a real bene t in rotations.” FG

KWS head of product management Kate Cobbold.

Chemical free desiccation of potatoes, cover crops, vegetables, residual vegetable growth, oats

Precise control of the desiccation to harvesting period:

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Chemical-free desiccation

A new chemistry-free solution for potato and cover crop desiccation will be available in the UK this year. David Williams reports.

Potential applications for the Germanbuilt Crop.Zone are almost endless, but the manufacturer, the UK importer and dealers including the Tuckwells Group, believe that its ability to rapidly kill o potato foliage and stop the crop’s growth using electric current rather than chemicals brings particular bene ts for UK producers.

Performs in all weathers

The Crop.Zone consists of a linkage-

mounted, PTO-driven electricity generator which supplies electrical current through 9m or 12m wide, gull-wing folding booms to applicator hoods, under which electrical contacts apply high-voltage current to the plants. The rear-mounted electric treatment system works in conjunction with a front-mounted boom sprayer that applies highly conductive liquid (Bio Volt.Fuel) to the plant leaves, encouraging current

transfer through the crop whether it is wet or dry.

For the 9m version, a tractor of 185hp upwards is needed, and the 12m model needs 215hp. Up to 10kW of electrical power is generated, with output between 1,600–5,500V –depending on plant populations and canopy density.

The contact hoods are 750mm or 1.5m wide, and the current choice includes versions for potatoes, oats and cover crops.

Immediate results

When the electrodes touch the plant foliage, an electrical circuit is

created and plant cells are destroyed. Depending on the plant type and the applicator, this initiates the ripening process – potatoes stop growing and skin rmness is promoted, and cereals and weeds die and dry out. Desiccation starts immediately and plants dry out within just a few hours or over the course of a few days, depending on the plant type and climatic conditions.

Fully organic

Bio Volt.Fuel is certi ed fully organic. Standard sprayer tank capacity is 600 litres, and 150 litres of the electrical adjuvant is carried. An electrical mixing pump combines the adjuvant with water and the diluted mix is applied through

A seeder that applies numerous products and suits a wide variety of implements.

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The Crop.Zone impressed last autumn with its ability to desiccate late green top potatoes.

conventional hydraulic spray nozzles at a rate of 160-litres/ ha, (150 litres water plus 10 litres adjuvant), depending on crop type.

Realistic work rates

Typical application speeds are 3–8kph, depending on the crop canopy, and test users of 12m versions report work rates of 4–5ha/ hr, or 20–40ha during a typical

working day. Continuing product development includes wider 24 and 48m versions, increasing the product’s attraction to the largest potato growers as well as contractors.

An in-cab terminal controls all key functions and a 5G telematics module records all aspects of operation.

“Its ability to work in almost all weathers and temperatures

makes it extremely versatile,” explained Crop.Zone UK network development and support manager, Paul Harrison. “Whereas chemical herbicide e cacy is related to ambient temperatures and sunlight availability, our electrical system works instantly in all conditions, and it’s only the rate at which the organic matter dries out that’s a ected by the weather.”

Advantages beyond chemical savings

Paul said advantages o ered by Crop.Zone to potato growers go way beyond saving chemical. “It allows improved management of the period from desiccation until harvesting,” he stressed. “It makes it easier to set and control the desired harvesting date; there is improved uniformity for a more saleable crop; starch content is una ected and those who are using it also report improved haulm detachment and exceptional storage quality.

“With just one pass needed rather than three using chemical, there are major time and labour savings and less dependence on weather providing suitable dry windows.”

Trials and extensive testing

have shown that soil organisms and earthworms are una ected by the electric desiccation technique or the organic spray pre-treatment and, with no chemical residues, soil health and fertility levels are maintained.

Dealer view

Tuckwells Group Grimme and potato product specialist, Ashley Sismey said that potential customers for the Crop.Zone were impressed by its quick action during on-farm trials late last year.

“In very late, green-top potatoes the e ect on the crop was immediate, with wilting evident within an hour of the electrical current being applied. We have had several enquiries speci cally for desiccating cover crops too. In organic cropping regimes the cost of the machine is easily justi ed and even where growers currently rely on glyphosate, that’s becoming more expensive and the Crop.Zone could pay for itself within just a few seasons.”

Tuckwells has a demonstration Crop.Zone available for this potato harvesting season and also has a rst limited allocation of machines available for sale. FG

Pictured are Paul Harrison (left) with Ashley Sismey at Crop.Zone’s German headquarters last month.

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Boost for blightthreatened potatoes

Biostimulant trials suggest silicon can improve natural defences to late blight.

Trials carried out by Orion Future Technologies, working with Hutchinsons and Richard Austin Agriculture, have revealed how the application of silicon biostimulants can have a positive e ect on potato yields and improve the plant’s natural defence to late blight. Orion’s R&D agronomist, Kate Williams says:

“In an independent trial, the yield of a Melody crop increased by 18%. This was achieved by adding two biostimulants, Sirius and Pluton, at a concentration of 0.5-litres/ha to the standard tank mix across eight applications.”

A separate trial sought to understand the impact of using biostimulants as a way to strengthen potato plants to better withstand late blight. This trial used Sirius, a siliconbased biostimulant, with Trident, a micronutrient product.

“Trident is a copper and zinc formulation that stimulates plant health and helps to protect against common stresses. In the trial, a concentration of 3 litres per hectare of Trident was combined with a 0.5-litre/ha concentration of Sirius every week for 12 weeks,” she says.

The outcome of the additional micronutrient and silicon boost meant only 18% of the crop was a ected by blight compared to 20%

with the standard tank mix. The control sample crop succumbed entirely, with 100% of the crop a ected by blight, showing the devastating threat blight poses to potato crops.

“Silicon helps to strengthen a plant’s natural defences and also helps it to take up more nutrients. This is why using a silicon biostimulant in addition to copper and zinc has helped the treated sample to stand up to blight,” adds Ms Williams.

The two trials demonstrate how a plant- rst approach can be bene cial to improving both yield and resilience. With rising costs, environmental instability and pressure to deliver high quality potatoes, the addition of new, biological and sustainable products, such as these biostimulants, is being seen as an opportunity to help growers.

“Bringing new products that focus on strengthening plants natural defences to complement existing strategies has provided encouraging results. To increase yield is always a goal, but to do so with the added bene t of helping crops manage environmental and disease stresses is an important breakthrough,” she concludes. FG

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2026 SUGAR BEET RECOMMENDED LIST announced

The number of varieties available to growers for 2026 increases from 22 in 2025 to 23 in 2026. However, the number of varieties with special trait claims has increased further to meet the demands of current industry challenges and the new list also includes a trait claim being added to a Year 2 variety.

The new additions are:

1. Antler (SesVanderHave)

2. Gadwall (SesVanderHave)

3. Hoopoe (SesVanderHave) – BCN

4. Aslan (Hilleshög)

5. Generosa (KWS) – VY claim

6. SmartNelda (KWS) – BCN and ALS.

Variety details

As a rst for the RL list, KWS has added the trait combination of BCN and ALS resistance in a variety. Smart Nelda will be a welcome addition for those growers looking to use ALS technology with a known BCN problem.

Six new varieties have joined the BBRO RL, with special traits increasing to meet industry challenges. BBRO head of field operations, Stephen Aldis, o ers the details.

tables with a move from genetic to product testing, however, the table continues to evolve to accommodate new varieties, traits and deliver as much information as possible to assist with the selection of all varieties.

SESVanderHave introduces both Antler and Gadwall to the UK o ering as high-yielding conventional varieties, along with Hoopoe which bolsters the BCN portfolio of genetics; all three varieties qualify for early drilling.

Hilleshög makes a return the RL list with the entry Aslan which is another high yielding conventional variety suitable for early drilling.

The rst new addition from KWS for 2026 is Generosa which joins Marushca as the breeder’s second virus tolerant variety. This provides an improvement in yield performance over Marushca. This is a further step towards decreasing the impact of virus yellows and for more information on its performance in the presence of the three viruses please contact the breeder directly.

Strube brought ST Tweed to the RL list in 2025 as a conventional variety; however, ST Tweed now becomes an SY2, with the addition of a virus yellows trait claim. As with previous years, all trait claims are based on external data sources beyond the RL trials. This is assessed by the expert panel for robustness and then approved by the Crop Committee. As with the other VY tolerant varieties, please contact the breeder regarding their performance in the presence of the three viruses.

Challenging year for trials

Whilst 2024 was favourable for sugar beet growing, the heavy rain showers throughout the spring (that helped keep aphids at bay) were challenging for establishing trials. Although seed bed conditions were often exceptional, heavy rainfall events post drilling did lead to reduced establishment. Switching one of the RL untreated trials to treated, to ensure su cient harvest for the main table, resulted in only one untreated trial going to yield. This is why the untreated table has limited data for Year 1 varieties and as such the data should be treated with caution until more information is gained in subsequent years.

Changes to the RL table

2027 will see bigger visual changes to the RL

It should be noted that many di erences between individual varieties are small and not statistically signi cant and should be treated with caution. Upon request, and to make navigating the tables as easy as possible, yield performance alone now ranks the varieties from left to right.

All growers and advisors will have been frequently reminded of the importance of the red ‘X’ on the RL table with early sown bolter trials providing data to not drill certain varieties before mid-March to mitigate the risk of bolting. For 2026, a purple ‘X’ can now be seen, this recommendation is from the breeder and does not relate to bolter numbers. The advice relates to Smart varieties only and re ects the stewardship advice for ALS technology.

The sugar beet RL and VL

The RL is run and funded by BBRO whilst the VL (carried out to support listing in the UK) is run and funded by the breeders and independently veri ed by BSPB. The seed is not primed. Earlysown bolting was determined in the separate trials that were not taken to yield. The RL dataset also includes disease infection from separate trials that were not treated with foliar fungicides.

Tables are available to download from the BBRO website. FG

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Variety choice key to virus yellows strategy

Strube UK’s Richard Cogman explains the steps the breeder is taking to future-proof the choices for sugar beet growers.

Whereas growers consider seed choice options annually, plant breeders must look to the future changing needs of growers, as it can take 10 years or more to develop a new variety. Therefore, in 2015 Strube commenced ‘Project Jaunisse’ – a dedicated breeding and trialling programme for virus yellows tolerance.

However, breeding for maintained performance under virus yellows pressure is just one focus area; with Strube’s breeding emphasis to have ability to ‘stack’ traits; so, for example to have beet cyst nematode (BCN) combined with cercospora and virus yellows tolerance in the near future.

beet mild yellows virus and beet yellows virus.

Overall, whilst Morgan delivered highest uninoculated yield, ST Tweed retained c.95% of its uninoculated yield when exposed to 100% beet mild yellows virus infection, with reduced yield loss for all three viruses.

Richard adds: “On the basis of this compelling performance, backed up by our own replicated internal trials, the 2026 Sugar Beet Recommended List con rms virus yellows tolerance for ST Tweed. This resilience under 100% inoculation shows what Strube’s plant breeding can achieve and deliver to growers.”

Richard Cogman says: “Our breeding programme is focused on multi-gene virus yellows tolerance for British growers, as well as looking at future candidates for BCN, cercospora and strong rhizomania (AYPR) tolerance.

“Therefore, we are pleased to share results from the 2024 BBRO ‘Goliath’ trial that shows the potential for maintained yield performance even when subject to 100% inoculation of the yellowing viruses. This was clearly demonstrated by our new variety, ST Tweed, that will be rst grown commercially this year.”

Results show the comparative adjusted yield performance of ST Tweed against controls, including Morgan, for uninoculated and then inoculated with beet chlorosis virus,

Strube also o ers Morgan, Stewart and Button, delivering consistently high output. For growers who experience or suspect BCN, Button o ers tolerance to protect against yield loss, combined with excellent establishment. New for this year, ST Trent o ers similar performance to Stewart.

ST Tweed o ers highly competitive performance with very low bolting. In addition to yield resilience from tolerance to the yellowing poleroviruses, ST Tweed o ers comparable yield to Morgan, but with lower disease expression for rust, powdery mildew and, most crucially, cercospora –therefore, says Richard, UK growers expect this variety to be highly reliable and stable in its eld performance. FG

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on utilising the performance of Chyma KWS. The trials provided di erent disease pressure scenarios and fungicide programmes, highlighting the bene ts of using fungicides with the cleanest variety available.

“Yield responses from across all the treatments with fungicides in the two seasons showed an impressive average bene t of 8.3 adjusted t/ha. With current sugar beet prices this gives a margin increase of £275/ha.”

Ideal later drilling choice

Chyma KWS is suitable for sowing from mid-March, given its strong disease package, and observations from UK trials show it is a variety that can suit later harvesting in the campaign, he explains.

Sugar beet variety attracts interest in its launch year

Breeder KWS says its variety Chyma KWS is setting a new high bar in sugar beet production.

With high treated and untreated yields on the 2026 BBRO RL and the rst variety in the UK to feature new CR+ Cercospora protection, Chyma KWS has attracted interest and curiosity in its launch year, says the company’s UK beet product manager Martin Brown.

“By any standards, Chyma KWS is a hugely attractive variety combining top yields, high sugar content and excellent disease protection including built-in cercospora protection o ering unrivalled protection against this devasting disease.

“It has excellent yields on the new BBRO RL of 99.4% adjusted tonnes and a sugar content of 16.6%. With an eye-catching untreated yield of 103% as a result of its exemplary disease protection, it is the cleanest variety growers can choose for a second year running!

“The sum of its ratings for rust, powdery mildew and cercospora are the highest seen in RL trials at 21.4 out of a possible 27. With no obvious weakness in its leaf disease scores Chyma KWS is a great option for later lifting, too.

“Achieving that level of yield with such a strong agronomic package is a real achievement for a variety with a trait new to the market.

“Often with beet varieties the

introduction of new traits has meant these ‘novel varieties’ are not on par with the elites and have a signi cant yield lag, however Chyma KWS bucks this trend.”

Increasing disease threat

The high level of tolerance to cercospora makes it a particularly attractive option for UK sugar beet growers with the disease a rising threat across the country, Martin stresses.

“Cercospora, or cercospora leaf spot (CLS) to give its full name, is caused by the fungus Cercospora beticola and has been shown to reduce sugar beet yields by up to 50%.

“It’s a disease that thrives in prolonged warm and wet conditions, so the type of variable growing conditions we are increasingly seeing as a result of climate change suit it perfectly.

“Warmer summer days with morning dews provide particularly suitable conditions for the disease to start developing in.

“The condition can cause signi cant levels of defoliation in years such as 2020, causing rapid leaf loss from plants with production implications to signi cant areas of UK crop.

“Damaged sugar beet responds by

using its own reserves of sugar to encourage new canopy growth which results in the signi cant yield losses seen.

“With CR+, the disease progression is delayed, CLS appear later in the season minimising the loss of green leaf area and thus reducing the impact of the disease.”

Chyma KWS o ers growers a tremendous disease package and excellent CLS tolerance, but to maximise performance on farm the variety should still be grown with fungicides, Martin points out.

“While lifting can be in uenced by sowing date and in a perfect world drilling from the second week of March is ideal, in reality the more variable spring conditions now experienced mean people drill when conditions allow.

“This puts an increased emphasis on choosing the right variety and any enhanced technologies that can help a grower achieve a speci c target harvest date.

“So, if you want to drill your following wheat crop in October with KWS Dawsum winter wheat, for example, you are best going for a sugar beet variety that you can drill early with perhaps a lower disease resistance.

“KWS’ INITIO EarlyPower seed treatment will also help plants emerge, establish and grow more uniformly in these variable spring conditions leading to less agronomic intervention through the growing cycle.”

Maximising yields

If the objective is to maximise yield and leave the crop as long as possible before lifting, then a di erent set of criteria comes into play, Martin explains.

to protect yields and manage potential of CLS in the canopy.

“The need to spray will be lower however on a CR+ variety but still having a fungicide programme helps to protect yields and manage any potential development of CLS in the canopy.

spray is the most

“It could be that you’re planning on using a later drilling wheat like KWS Extase or you’re on a parcel of land that you don’t want to get on to until the following February,

“The rst fungicide spray is the most important. The other foliar disease beet su er with will still need to be controlled.

“KWS UK Agroservice replicated trials from 2023 and 2024 focused

foliar disease beet su er for example.

“In such cases a variety with good disease resistance should be chosen and if you’re leaving the crop in the ground over winter, one with good canopy protection is essential.

“Chyma KWS therefore makes a great later drilling choice with its CR+ Cercospora tolerance adding to its appeal.”

KWS UK beet product manager, Martin Brown.

Proven yield-boosting products

With over 40 years of experience in all aspects of potatoes, Bionature UK director Mark Carter says it makes him incredibly proud that the company can now o er farmers a real uplift in yield and quality. He adds: “After years of looking at returns from end users, it has been obvious that help is needed to reduce waste levels and increase e ciencies in factories, enabling greater returns to be passed on to farmers.

“Having worked with our scientists at Ecoculture for such a long time, Bionature UK is able to o er a liquid nutrition programme that gives the industry real con dence in improving output.”

At Potato Days 2024, Dyson Research conducted a treated and untreated plot to showcase

Bionature UK’s products. Mark comments: “They didn’t disappoint, producing an increase of 17.6% (6.4t/ ha) in marketable yield for a £247/ ha investment, a 15% increase in NUE (nitrogen use e ciency) and a reduction in waste (below 40mm) from 5% in untreated to 1% in treated.”

All of Bionature UK’s cuttingedge products come in a liquid form and are applied with your blight programme which ticks all the environmental boxes – a real game changer for the potato farmer.

Bionature UK’s award-winning Delta product is part of the programme along with its new soil improver Leodita.

To nd out more, please visit www.bionatureagriculture.com FG

Comparison of waste (<45mm grade).

• A full mix of active ingredients to combat annual broad-leaved weeds and grass weeds, including black-grass • Diferentmodesofactiontohelpweedresistancestrategies • Proven formulations for reliable performance

According to forecast gures in the Nix Farm Management Pocketbook, sugar beet gross margins for the 2025/26 crop are set to reduce by over 30%, o the back of a lower sugar beet price and similar variable costs.

Three pricing options were available to growers within next season’s beet price contract – a xed price of £33/t for up to 70% of contract; a guaranteed base price of £30.70/t plus marketlinked bonus; or a futures-linked contract for up to 50% of the contract.

At a cost of £1.40/t growers could also opt for an enhanced yield protection option, which guarantees a minimum payment for 85% of a grower’s expected contract production.

Nix gures (see table) highlight a potential £580/ha reduction in forecast gross margin for an average yielding crop of 77t/ha for the coming season compared with 2024/25, albeit while still potentially producing a very respectable gross margin far higher than most other break crops.

It’s not just variable costs that have risen, points out James Webster-Rusk, senior agribusiness analyst for The Anderson Centre. Higher interest rates, increases in the minimum wage and potentially changes to National Insurance contributions depending on farm size are also putting upward pressure on a farm’s xed cost structure, he notes.

It’s not easy to reduce xed cost structures, particularly with interest rates unlikely to fall signi cantly in the next three to ve years, James acknowledges.

But potentially growers could look again at the use of contractors. A recent update by Anderson’s for AHDB analysing common characteristics of top performing farms highlighted how they tended to make better use of contractors, he says.

Margins potentially could be protected by opting into SFI options, especially overwintered cover crops ahead of the beet crop. But while that would bring in an extra £129/ha, they do require careful management.

Ceres Rural managing partner Richard Means stresses caution over what cover crop species to use ahead of the sugar beet crop, especially in view of potentially creating a green bridge for aphids transmitting virus yellows and around termination timing, emphasising that the crop

Maintaining beet margins

How can sugar beet growers maintain margins with a reduction in beet price of around 18% for the coming season?

needs to be destroyed in good time to enable successful establishment.

“If you jeopardise crop establishment and reduce yield by even 5% you lose more than you gain by having a cover crop,” he says. “I’d suggest only those who are comfortable with managing cover crops and are on the right soil types use that option.”

Mitigate risk

While yield protection insurance was available through British Sugar, that option had to be taken up during contracting, so attention to detail for in-season management remains the only option to growers to mitigate risk.

While it is impossible to forecast weather, in a wet winter and early spring, ploughing is generally a safer way of achieving good establishment, while in dry conditions a deep cultivator in the autumn followed by shallower cultivations in the spring work well, Richard notes.

Earlier drilling dates, generally, will maximise yield, with drilling after mid-April potentially leading to yield losses of over 4 adjusted t/ ha per week, according to BBRO data, but soil temperature and moisture are key to determining when to drill.

Weed control

Weed control also plays an important role in enabling maximum crop growth by removing competition and avoiding any unnecessary check on the crop.

It’s possible to reduce costs without compromising weed control by mixing and matching straight herbicides rather than buying formulated products, according to Stuart Jackson of UPL.

“Herbicides are a signi cant part of growing costs,” he says. “But by using appropriate doses for the weed size and spectrum of straight metamitron, ethofumesate and phenmedipham it’s possible to reduce the cost of the programme.”

For example, where weeds such as cleavers, knotgrass, chickweed, orache or annual meadowgrass are present, increase the dose of ethofumesate, while if brassicas or speedwells are key targets, use higher doses of phenmedipham, he advises.

“Using straights helps tailor the dose of one active substance without changing the others as the weed spectrum changes through the season or in di erent elds,” Stuart says.

Tailoring doses can also help reduce potential crop safety challenges, he adds. “The ratio of actives in a co-formulation is xed, which means you can only lower the dose of the product to avoid crop safety risk. With straights, you have more exibility to tweak the ratio to ease crop safety risk while maintaining e cacy,” he suggests. FG

Forecast sugar beet gross margin comparison

*Assumes

UPL's Stuart Jackson.

Soils focus to tackle BLACK-GRASS

move to a zero tillage strategy, payment for which will be available through the SFI (SOH1).

Mr Neale says the farm has been transitioning towards no-till for several seasons and di erent options have been tried to see what suits the farm’s soils best. Last autumn, trials included a demonstration eld comparing a disc and tine cultivator versus a low disturbance loosener (LDL), which were both used ahead of sowing winter wheat with the farm’s Horizon drill on 5th October.

Early indications are that wheat behind the LDL has established better, with elds being noticeably easier to walk during a wet winter, largely due to the fact that more surface residues have been retained, and natural soil structure and drainage has been protected.

The LDL machine features relatively narrow legs with a low-angled winged point that gently lifts soil, creating ssures that break compacted layers, before letting it gently fall back down. In contrast, the disc and tine cultivator lifts, mixes and breaks the entire working depth, destructuring soil in the process, explains Mr Neale.

“When you then get a heavy rain event, as we did this winter, you can soon end up with a wet, sticky soil that won’t let water in ltrate and pass through easily.”

Heavy soils and poor drainage are an ideal combination for black-grass to thrive, but a farm in Cambridgeshire is taking steps to address the issues head-on.

A recent run of wet autumns and winters has challenged farmers across the country, particularly those on heavier soils, leaving many looking for ways to improve future resilience to such events.

The Hutchinsons black-grass demonstration at Cambourne near Cambridge, kindly hosted by the Clear family at South Sea Farm, is no exception. Featuring predominantly heavy clay soils, and a black-grass population of 200–300 heads/m2 across the 40ha trial area, drainage issues are the site’s “Achilles heel”, according to Hutchinsons technical manager, Dick Neale.

Sea Farm has made great progress in depleting the September and early October-emerging blackgrass population using techniques such as delayed drilling and stale seedbeds, however the shifting emergence patterns mean full control is still not being achieved.”

Delaying drilling even later into autumn to catch black-grass emerging from late October onwards with stale seedbeds is simply not viable on heavy land, and spring cropping, while useful, can also be challenging after wet winters, so the team are looking at ‘whole-farm’ solutions.

winter cereal drilling on the heavy clay unsown until the following spring. This black-grass dynamics at the site, later and more protracted, Mr looking at ‘whole-farm’ solutions.

In the rst few years of converting to zero-tillage, Mr Neale expects the LDL will be used most seasons to alleviate any compaction, although over time, the need should diminish as natural soil structure and drainage improves. The machine may also be used to establish overwinter cover crops, by tting a seeder to drop seed down the back of the leg, he notes.

Drainage improvements

Improving drainage is a top priority at the Cambourne site, as the wet 2023/24 season, together with Terramap soil analysis, clearly highlighted several issues that are exacerbating the black-grass threat.

A programme of further ditching and mole draining is underway, although mole ploughing had to halt prematurely last autumn when subsoil dried out too much, leaving around 60ha still to do across the farm, Mr Neale notes.

“It’s one reason why we’re looking at going into the enhanced overwinter stubble option within SFI (AHW7), as it gives us a bit more opportunity to put the mole plough through and rectify drainage issues before sowing a crop the following season.”

Terramap analysis revealed the silty clay soil was relatively high in magnesium, creating a ‘tighter’ structure that is likely to impair root growth and water in ltration, and could be harder to work.

This was particularly evident in the 2023/24 season, when an exceptionally wet autumn and winter prevented winter cereal drilling on the heavy clay soils, resulting in many areas being left unsown until the following spring. This highlighted an important change in black-grass dynamics at the site, where emergence has become later and more protracted, Mr Neale explains.

Building soil resilience

Everything from the integration of catch/ cover crops and new SFI options, to rotational changes, and alternative cultivation strategies are being considered, but underpinning all of this is a concerted focus on improving

soil health.

To address this, some elds received gypsum (calcium sulphate) in autumn 2023 and 2024 to counter the high magnesium content and rebalance the calcium:magnesium ratio, opening the structure, and improving soil friability. FG

See for yourself

“Like many farms, South

This started by mapping the farm with Terramap high de nition scanning to identify any issues and target those areas requiring remedial action. There is also a

Growers will have opportunity to view the soil and black-grass management measures being used at the Cambourne site at an open day in early June. Look out for details on the Events section of the Hutchinsons website, www.hutchinsons.co.uk

Hutchinsons technical manager, Dick Neale.

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2 Based on the AHDB fungicide performance data for product performance against Brown rust in 2024.

3 Based on 31 BASF and external field trials targeting Septoria at typically applied field rates as indicated by manufacturer recommendations and Kynetec field data (Revystar ® XE 0.75l/ha, Ascra® Xpro 1l/ha).

Stephen Williams, head of sales for Omya UK, says now is a good time to assess soils and make sure your soil is not going to limit yields this season.

As we come into spring, winter crops are putting on rapid growth and farmers and their advisors will be looking to get spring drilled crops established quickly to maximise arable yields this season.

“One of the easiest ways of measuring soil health is to do a pH test,” advises Mr Williams. “Acidity has a signi cant impact on all the soil properties; chemical, physical and biological. Ideally you want soil pH to be somewhere between 6.5 and 7.0, which would suit most arable crops, but only around 20% of soils in the UK fall into that band. That means a lot of crops are growing in soil that might be limiting their potential.”

Below pH 6.5, soil nitrogen stays in forms that plants nd di cult to assimilate or, if transformed too late,

Is your soil holding back your crops this spring?

remains xed to soil clays. pH is measured on a logarithmic scale, so a pH of 5.5 is 10 times more acidic than a pH of 6.5. The drop of one pH point will reduce the availability of applied nitrogen and potassium by 23% and the available phosphorus by 52%. This is the equivalent of throwing away 35% of a standard 20 – 10 – 10 fertiliser application.

Correcting soil pH

Mr Williams recommends soil conditioning with Omya Calciprill to correct soil pH to the optimum early in the growing season as it will not only bene t soil health but also improve nutrient use e ciency and therefore crop productivity.

(nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) become available to the crop, improving nutrient take up and potentially reducing the amount of expensive fertilisers needed. Omya Calciprill also provides essential calcium to the growing crop. As calcium is a key component of cell walls and membranes, a continuous supply is required throughout the growing season, helping crop resilience and harvest quality.

are lost through leaching. In acid soils, phosphates are tied up, remaining inaccessible to the plant, and the potassium

Omya Calciprill is made from nely ground calcium carbonate, granulated so that it’s easy to handle and spread using existing farm equipment. The granules break down very quickly in soil moisture, leaving the ultra ne particles with their large surface area to disperse through the soil pro le.

As Mr Williams con rms: “Applying Omya Calciprill will correct soil pH within a few weeks, rather than waiting several months for the same result with coarser agricultural lime. In acid soils, biological activity drops, preventing the breakdown of organic matter, tying up nutrients and reducing enzymatic activity. At pH 6.5, the environment becomes ideal for soil microbiology. The calcium in Omya Calciprill also encourages soil occulation which has a positive impact on the soil’s physical characteristics –better texture improves drainage, aeration and allows successful rooting.”

Nutrient use e ciency

One of the key bene ts of achieving a nearneutral soil pH is its impact on nutrient use e ciency. At pH 6.5, 100% of key fertilisers

Many advisors recommend that growers test their soils regularly and most laboratory soil tests will include pH as one of the standard measures. Growers that follow precision farming methods will recognise that not every eld, or every part of a eld, will have the same pH or the same nutrient levels. By creating a pH map of the farm, a grower can use precision farming techniques to correct soil pH exactly where it is needed. Because Omya Calciprill can be applied using standard equipment, it can be applied at any time and even blended with inorganic fertilisers to maximise nutrient use e ciency without an additional pass through the eld.

Mr Williams concludes: “Given the high cost of inputs and the importance of getting crops away quickly in the spring, growers would be wise to make sure their yields are not being compromised by acidity in the soil. We recommend using a UKAS accredited laboratory to test pH across the farm and then apply granulated Omya Calciprill at 150–200kg per hectare for each pH point below the optimal –so one application would take pH from 6.0 to 7.0 for example. This will correct acidity within a few weeks as opposed to months with standard ag lime, which would require a tonne per hectare. Once growers have achieved their desired pH, a regular, annual maintenance dressing of Omya Calciprill will keep soil pH where it should be year after year.” FG

Head of sales for Omya UK, Stephen Williams.

•

•

Strong demand predicted for HIGH OUTPUT WHEAT

Demonstrating potential

Results from Agrii’s Winter Wheat National Variety Trial in 2024 clearly demonstrate RGT Hexton’s potential, says Andrew.

“Overall, the variety produced very sound results, re ecting its consistency and reliability across regions, rotation, soil type and drilling date.

“It did all the things we’d expected it to do, putting in a strong performance against controls and other varieties across the trials.”

At Carnoustie in Scotland, RGT Hexton yielded just under 12.4t/ha, the best yield in the trial. It left soft wheat control varieties like Skyscraper and Astronomer around 2.4t/ha behind.

A similar yield gap was seen at Bridgend in South Wales. Despite the site being hit hard by Septoria, RGT Hexton produced 14t/ha, well above Skyscraper’s 11.6t/ha. At Swindon in Wiltshire the di erence increased to almost 2.9t/ha.

At Revesby in Lincolnshire, RGT Hexton ended up 0.7t/ha ahead of Skyscraper on this continuous wheat site, underlining its exibility.

RAGT says its new winter wheat RGT Hexton looks set to fill plenty of drills next autumn thanks to its robust credentials.

With strong performances in o cial and merchant trials, the soft Group 4 variety, bred by RAGT Seeds, gained full UK approval on the AHDB’s 2025/26 Recommended List. It is a very versatile, high-output wheat that suits all regions, with yield scores of 105 for the UK and 111 in the north.

RAGT’s arable technical manager Andrew Creasy describes RGT Hexton as a barn- ller with country-wide appeal.

“It’s not just a great feed wheat; it is also approved for distilling,” he says. “It’s a step-up from the competition and is likely to prove popular among growers supplying that market.”

The variety is the best performing second wheat on the RL, he says. “It also shines as a rst wheat, can be grown on light or heavy land and can be sown from mid-September onwards.

“It is sti -strawed and the grain has a decent speci c weight.”

A further feature set to drive RGT Hexton’s

uptake is its good disease resistance package.

“The variety has good scores for Septoria tritici and yellow rust resistance at 6.7 and 7 respectively, backed up by a 6 for mildew and 5 for brown rust,” says Andrew.

On-farm experience is limited, given RGT Hexton will not be commercially launched until the autumn. However, Andrew reports one grower in East Anglia was very pleasantly surprised by its performance as a seed crop in a di cult year.

“It yielded better than he thought it would. Despite its apparently low tiller numbers, it averaged 9.87t/ha, which was the grower’s best yield in 2024.”

Andrew expects similar outcomes to be repeated elsewhere next season. “Overall, RGT Hexton has delivered a very strong all-round performance. It has no Achilles heel and is a consistent, versatile and reliable performer that is suitable for feed or distilling.” FG

increasing number of

“Many growers will welcome this as they look to replace older varieties coming under increasing disease pressure. RGT Hexton is also resistant to orange wheat blossom midge, a prerequisite for the increasing number of growers turning away from insecticides.”

RGT Hexton key points

• Best performing second wheat of all RL winter wheats

• Very good rst wheat

• Strong septoria and yellow rust resistance

• Versatile – feed and distilling

• Consistent across soil types and rotational position

• Sti strawed, good speci c weight

• Wide sowing window

• High yield across UK, especially in the north.

Andrew Creasy, RAGT’s arable technical manager.

Versatile with greatdisea

Feed the animals or quench the tHirst, we’ve got you covered.

Group 4 Winter Wheat

Can be used for feed or distilling

Very good yield around the UK, especially in the North

Strong resistance to septoria and yellow rust

Great results as second wheat

Improving crop resilience and productivity with biostimulants

For farmers, the focus will inevitably be on improving nutrient use e ciency and maintaining productivity in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. Yara is one company that has invested heavily in research and development geared towards delivering innovative solutions to this global problem. Among these solutions are biostimulants, products which stimulate natural plant processes, improving crop resilience and productivity. Natalie Wood, crop nutrition agronomist for Yara, discusses how biostimulants enhance crop growth and health, and why they play a crucial role in creating a more resilient food system.

The case for biostimulants

The speci c bene ts that biostimulants bring are crucial for today’s farmers. Abiotic stress like rainfall, drought, and extremes in temperature, an increasing problem due to climate change, can limit the productivity of crops. Poor nutrient use e ciency and uptake a ects marketable yield and quality as well as having negative consequences for the environment. Biostimulants help mitigate these stresses, helping crops reach their genetic potential by providing them with what they need to perform at their best.

With the global population set to soar to an estimated 9.7 billion people by 2050, farming is facing the challenge of meeting the increasing demand for food, and doing so sustainably.

enhance health, growth, and resilience.

it’s not about making a blanket recommendation for a crop, it’s about nding those situations where a de nite bene t can be gained from using a product. “If an abiotic stress is coming, such as a drought period, farmers can apply the product beforehand and set that crop up to be better able to cope with that stress. But if they’ve had a good year where there were no abiotic stresses, they won’t necessarily always see a bene t from using a biostimulant, depending on the crop,” Natalie stresses.

Biostimulants are becoming increasingly important in crop production though while they are now more widely used, they are often not fully understood. The plethora of products on the market all claiming to do di erent things can make it di cult for farmers to understand what biostimulants are, how they work, and what bene ts they can gain from using them. “The term biostimulants is a broad one. It encompasses a variety of di erent compounds and active ingredients which when applied to seeds, plants, or the soil zone surrounding plant roots, stimulate a plant’s natural processes, improving nutrient uptake and e ciency and tolerance to abiotic stress as well as crop quality and yield,” says Natalie.

“I often use the analogy that, as a human, you have a particular diet, and you might take multivitamins and supplements to make your body work better.

Biostimulants are like supplements for plants, which stimulate them to be at their best,” adds Natalie.

“Biostimulants based on plant extracts, such as those from the Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed can act on several parts of the plant to increase root growth and stomatal regulation, increasing the xylem’s membrane stability and ability to transport water. This makes it more resilient to abiotic stress, as well as enhancing growth, quality, and storability – which is important for growers of fruit and vegetables. Acid-based biostimulants target the roots and improve nutrient availability, complementing the acids plants already produce which scavenge nutrients from the soil,” says Natalie.

There are several categories of product with di erent mechanisms of action including inorganic salts, acid-based products such as humic, fulvic, or amino acids, extract-based formulations developed from seaweed and plant extracts, and microbials consisting of bene cial bacteria and fungi. Yara’s YaraAmplix portfolio of biostimulants includes acid-based products and others formulated with mostly natural ingredients such as seaweed and plant extracts. These work with the plant in di erent ways to

Getting the most from biostimulants

Towards a more resilient food system

While biostimulants are an invaluable tool for improving crop resilience and productivity, they aren’t a silver bullet. As they improve nutrient use e ciency, they enable farmers to get the most out of the other nutrients they are applying to their crops. The results of a 2024 Yara trial on biostimulants support this notion. The trial, carried out in Bedford, aimed to evaluate the e ectiveness the biostimulant Yara OptiVi on crop performance under certain conditions. Trial data showed that when OptiVi is applied alongside nitrogen, an increase of up to 6% yield is possible. However, the response farmers will see very much depends on the crop and the situation. With biostimulants,

Biostimulants allow farmers to improve their crops’ potential by enhancing what is already happening naturally in the plant. The fact that they work with nature and not against it means they play a key role in regenerative agriculture and a resilient food system. “By improving plants’ ability to absorb and utilise nutrients, they can reduce the reliance on synthetic fertilisers to meet crop nutrient demands. Through stimulating natural plant processes, they can help improve germination, root and shoot growth, photosynthesis, owering, and resilience to abiotic stress. The resulting positive impact on crop yield and quality also means less food loss and waste, the key to achieving a sustainable food system and keeping farm businesses pro table,” says Natalie. FG

nutrition agronomist for Yara,

crucial role in creating a more

Crop nutrition agronomist for Yara, Natalie Wood.

Reversing the decline of soils

According to sustainable farming specialist Tricet UK, in order to address the decline of soils, you rst need to identify the causes. These could be: Poor drainage; compaction; lack of organic matter; very low levels of soil microbes; overworking the soil; poor rotations; and overuse of manufactured fertilisers and chemicals.

Tricet UK explains that all of the above can be addressed and recti ed by adopting regenerative farming practices. While regenerative agriculture is sometimes perceived as low input, low return, Tricet UK says it doesn’t have to be, commenting: “What we need is sustainable intensi cation built around regenerative practices, with targeted precision use of fertiliser and chemicals.

“As soils improve, the need for arti cial inputs will naturally reduce, but it’s a bit ‘chicken and egg’ – without the reduction of arti cial inputs, the soil will struggle to improve. In the transition years, yields may dip for a while as soil conditions stabilise and regenerate. Nutrient quality and density should become more of an objective to consumers.

“There are new techniques and proven products to help enhance soil fertility, crop yields and food nutrition – visit www.tricetuk.com to nd out more.

“Let’s not be under any illusion here – this road can be long and not without its challenges, but ultimately possible, the timescale could be between 5–10 years, depending on the starting point,” Tricet UK concludes. FG

Complete Foliar Nutrition

Crops

Pro-Growth is a unique formulation of macro, micronutrients and minerals with complex amino acids and biologicals. The liquid formulation adds ease to efficient and accurate application for rapid intake.

• Fast absorption into the leaves

• Reduces stress from nutrient deficiency

• Provides low cost flexibility to your nutrient programme

Enhancing your potato crops’ natural potential in harmony with nature

Responsive - Adaptable to your crop needs throughout the crop cycle

Robust - Protect crop quality and improve crop yield

Resilient - Enhancing plants tolerance to abiotic stress

OPTITRAC at tuber bulking for optimum tuber size and yield

Targeted spraying system

Ecorobotix discusses its ARA sprayer, and explains how AI increases e ciency.

Please describe the ARA sprayer

A: The ARA sprayer, developed by Ecorobotix, is an ultra-high precision agricultural sprayer designed for targeted application of herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, and fertilisers. Using advanced AI technology, it delivers plant-by-plant treatment with 6x6cm precision, reducing crop protection product use by up to 95%. ARA operates e ciently both day and night, covering a working width of 6 metres at speeds of up to 7kph. Additionally, its precision spraying technology minimises drift, enabling e ective operation even in windy conditions.

de nition images of the eld in real-time.

2. Plant recognition and identi cation: The AI software analyses these images to distinguish between crops and weeds on a plant-by-plant basis.

3. Targeted spraying: Based on the identi cation, the system administers precise amounts of treatment only to the targeted plants or weeds.

What are the benefits of the ARA sprayer?

A: In the case of herbicide treatment, as our precision ensures that the crop is not a ected, the primary advantage is the absence of phytotoxicity in the crops, resulting in healthier plants.

In practice for carrots, it reduces the need for manual labour, enhances crop vigour, and enables e ective catch-up treatments, leading to an easier harvest. In onions, it e ectively controls potato volunteers and amaranth, improves herbicide compatibility, and contributes to higher yields and better bulb size.

The primary bene ts of this AI-driven approach include:

• Signi cant reduction in chemical use: By targeting only unwanted plants, ARA reduces the volume of chemicals needed, leading to cost savings and environmental bene ts

• Enhanced crop yields: Precise application minimises crop stress and phytotoxicity

• Data collection for eld analysis: The system collects data during operation, allowing farmers to analyse conditions and make informed decisions.

Beyond these crop-speci c bene ts, ARA stands out from some conventional sprayers by signi cantly reducing the use of crop protection products by up to 95%, lowering costs and environmental impact.

What crops can the sprayer be used with?

Spot spraying Technology:

Less manual labour

Increased crop vigour

Effective catch up treatment and easier harvest

Due to reduced phytotoxic crop impact in onion fields, we would expect yield benefits of at least 10-15%.

A: ARA’s AI technology is highly versatile, utilising around 20 di erent algorithms to adapt to various crops. It is particularly e ective in eld vegetables such as lettuce, chicory, onions, spinach, and carrots. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in pastures and lawns, e ciently targeting weeds like thistle and dock in grasslands.

How does the AI technology work?

A: ARA’s AI technology functions through a three-phase process:

1. Image collection and analysis: On-board cameras capture high-

Where can the ARA sprayer be purchased in the UK?

A: We have two distributors in the UK. Contact us via the form on our website www.ecorobotix.com and we will direct you to the right partner. FG

| Agronomist & Farm Support Consultant

New trailed sprayer models for Hardi

Hardi has introduced two models to its Navigator

Following the successful launch of the Aeon CenturaLine and TitaniumLine, Hardi says it is excited to introduce two new models to the Navigator line of trailed sprayers – the Navigator CenturaLine and Navigator TitaniumLine.

Both are equipped with either 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 or 6,000-litre main tanks and up to 39m DeltaForce boom widths. The two models di erentiate themselves when you start looking at the technology.

The TitaniumLine o ers new features and choices over the standard section valve system, a 13 section ActiveAir shut o on the nozzle is an option, giving instant on/o and pressure circulation reducing sedimentation in the

line.

spraylines. A further uid option is AutoSelectDuo, a system that can allow the operator to switch between nozzles, either automatically or manually. Single nozzle on/o is also an option on the TitaniumLine with the company's Intelligent options being made available via the FluidBox 7000 at the lling zone.

The CenturaLine pushs the technology further, delivered as standard with AutoNozzleControl (single nozzle on/o ) and the intelligent uid system of AutoWash, AutoFill and AutoAgitation the options list boasts PulseSystem the PWM nozzle control system from Hardi.

the ability to alter the nozzle ow by modulating the opening and closing, resulting in a ow range of 30–100% without compromising droplet size. The PulseSystem eliminates under and over dosing by ensuring optimal distribution. Both models have SmoothRide axle suspension and adjustable axles as standard, and both have AutoTerrain boom management as an option. For details, get in touch with Hardi directly. FG

PulseSystem o ers single nozzle control, Curve Control, Variable Rate Control and

POWER UP YOUR PLANT HEALTH

Hutchinsons technical manager, Dick Neale.

07901 856734

HARDI UK is pleased to announce that we are o ering 0% finance through our finance partner, Close Brothers Asset Finance.

Representative example: MASTER mounted sprayer on a 1+2 scheme. £32,904rrp, Finance available on £16,452.

Initial payment £5,484 plus VAT of £3,290.40

Products and services are subject to eligibility, status, terms and conditions and availability. All lending is subject to status and our lending criteria. The right to decline any application is reserved.

Followed by 2 payments of £5,484 on month 12 and 24.

Total amount payable £16,452 plus VAT

Broadway® Ultra builds on the success of Broadway® Star, the mainstay of dependable, early season weed control for over 15

It delivers excellent control on a range of grass and broad-leaved weeds. With application from 1st January through to the middle of May, plus a wide range of tank mix options, it’s highly flexible too. Talk to your advisor or find out more at www.corteva.co.uk/broadway-ultra

As spring progresses, wheat growers across the UK and Ireland must make crucial decisions about fungicide applications.

KEY T1 AND T2 FUNGICIDE DECISIONS LOOM FOR FARMERS

There are always many factors at play when it comes to product choice, but in 2025 this has been compounded further by a decline in the wheat price and subsequent pressure on farm budgets alongside the usual considerations of variety, drilling date, disease pressure and weather. “The constant which remains essential is to select a reliable and e ective fungicide programme which prioritises robust disease control,” says Craig Chisholm, eld technical manager at Corteva Agriscience. “Beyond disease pressure, economic factors weigh heavily, but once committed, with crop in the ground, farmers must protect their investment.

“A well-timed, e ective fungicide spray ensures crops can reach their full potential and deliver the highest possible yield.”

fungicides and that’s positive. But everything we know about fungicide stewardship is about minimising reliance on any one individual active, so having a range of actives is healthy. Mixing and distributing them through a programme so you get the best diversity is key.

“If everyone uses the same product, it pressures the product. We’re very reliant on SDHI and azoles to support other chemistry through a programme but we can alternate. Using a mode of action such as a quinone inside inhibitor with Univoq gives us an example where we can actually do that.”

pressure from septoria, which is the obvious and continual problem we su er and that will be the primary reason for our T1 and T2 choices.

through a programme but we can do that.”

When selecting a fungicide, growers need consistency and reliability. Univoq has proven its e ectiveness every year since launch, o ering long-lasting protection against septoria and rusts. In addition, Univoq brings a completely di erent mode of action to the fungicide programme, providing a break from the SDHI and triazole chemistry used around it. This reduces the selection pressure for fungicide resistance across the programme. Its robust performance, even under challenging circumstances, makes it a key contender for those aiming to safeguard their crops.

Expert view

Meanwhile, NIAB’s Mark Fletcher, says that more products in the market gives us choice. “This year there is a lot more product choice and actives within those products. It’s going to be di cult for growers to unpick that and pick what’s best for them and what suits their programme.

Fiona Burnett of SRUC discusses how mixing modes of action helps prevent resistance developing. “We’ve got a good range of

us choice. “This year there is

“Univoq has performed very well; it’s up there with the best of the newer chemistry. It can either sit at T1 or T2, depending on your spend and disease incidence. I think it sits extremely well at T2 where you get the most value for your spray products.”

Jonathan Blake of ADAS reckons that crops are not in a bad place. “The state of the UK crop isn’t bad – we were fearful it could’ve been an absolute mess after a downpour at the end of September, but the slightly later sowings will have slightly lowered the

continual problem we su er and

“Univoq can be used at T1 and T2 and, depending on your scenario, I can see how you would get very good disease control using Univoq either at T1 or T2 in sequence with an SDHI or azole at the other timing.”

T1 and T2 and, depending on your scenario, I can see

Velcourt’s Nick Anderson believes that margin should be the main driver. “Budgets are under some pressure, and we’ll have to think carefully about every input decision in terms of margin over input cost bene t. “We’re not going to let the tail wag the dog – we need to make the right decisions and do the right things for the right reasons. That said, every decision needs to come back to margin over input cost bene t.

“We have a later sown crop with a greater ground. So, in view of the budgetary to capitalise on that opportunity in terms money we don’t need to. That’s not about making sure they’re proportional and appropriate.”

“We have a later sown crop with a greater proportion of resistant varieties in the ground. So, in view of the budgetary pressures, we’re probably facing we need to capitalise on that opportunity in terms of making sure that we’re not spending money we don’t need to. That’s not about reducing fungicide inputs, it’s about making sure they’re proportional and appropriate.”

All expert comments were made in a Corteva video which you can watch in full at www.corteva.co.uk/univoq FG

NIAB’s Mark Fletcher.

Velcourt’s Nick Anderson.

Jonathan Blake of ADAS.

Only Plaxium®

BY IBLON® WITH PROVEN

ACROSS 5 KEY WHEAT DISEASES

Introducing Plaxium®, the new three-way formulation fungicide, combining the power of iblon® (iso ucypram) with uopyram and prothioconazole. Trusted broad-spectrum activity delivered by this unique combination of actives against Septoria, yellow rust, brown rust, mildew(1) and eyespot(2) in one bottle.

of Plaxium saying: “The trials indicate a clear e cacy and yield response advantage of Plaxium compared with Ascra Xpro. This re ects the boost to foliar disease activity provided by iso ucypram, in place of bixafen in this three-way mixture.”

Barley fungicide performance

The barley disease trials assessed Plaxium’s control of Rhynchosporium, net blotch, ramularia and powdery mildew. Plaxium showed good control of all three diseases.

New fungicide performs strongly in AHDB trials

Plaxium received regulatory authorisation in late 2024 and will be available to growers for use on wheat and barley this season.

Plaxium, Bayer’s rst co-formulation fungicide to contain Iblon (iso ucypram) has performed strongly in AHDB trials delivering the greatest control of brown rust, was comparable to other products against Septoria tritici and was either better or equal to other products against yellow rust.

This performance was repeated in the barley trials where it gave the best all-round control of Rhynchosporium, net blotch and powdery mildew.

Plaxium, a three-way formulation containing iso ucypram, uopyram and prothioconazole, received regulatory authorisation in late 2024

and will be available to growers for use on wheat and barley this season.

In data published to highlight its performance in trials between 2019 and 2021, the AHDB noted that “Plaxium was shown to be highly e ective against Septoria tritici in both protectant and eradicant situations”.

Yellow rust control

Against yellow rust, the AHDB noted that Plaxium “showed a level of activity above that seen from Ascra Xpro and Revystar XE, comparable to Univoq, and close to that of Elatus Era. These di erences were carried through to

harvest with Plaxium treated plots yielding comparably to Univoq”.

Brown rust control

On brown rust, the AHDB noted that “Plaxium o ered superior control compared with other mixture products tested [...] and was comparable in e cacy to Imtrex ( uxapyroxad) and Elatus Plus (benzovindi upyr).”

The results highlight the consistency of performance of Plaxium against the principal foliar diseases of wheat and over contrasting seasons.

NIAB’s Stuart Knight, a trial partner, praised the e cacy and yield response

Disease monitoring identifies brown rust and net blotch problems

Routine testing of disease isolates taken from samples collected across Great Britain reveal a signi cant reduction in the performance of triazoles used to control net blotch and the emergence of a strain of brown rust with reduced sensitivity to benzovindi upyr. The same monitoring found no shift in the sensitivity of prothioconazole to isolates of Septoria tritici

“The long-term monitoring data for prothioconazole is encouraging, especially for the UK. Thanks to growers maintaining dose rates and recognition of the need to ensure it is mixed with another active substance belonging to a di erent mode of action group, the sensitivity of Septoria tritici isolates to prothioconazole remains largely unchanged over recent years when tested at the industry standard EC50 value level, meaning eld rates will continue to deliver the expected level of protection,” Greg Hanna, Bayer market development agronomist, says.

“That prothioconazole continues to deliver reliable activity of septoria 21 years after it was granted market approval demonstrates that through responsible use it is possible to preserve the performance of an active substance for the long term. The continuing and consistent contribution of prothioconazole also allows us to use it as a resistance management tool to protect and preserve the strong e cacy levels we are seeing from actives with di erent modes of action such as fenpicoxamid, iso ucypram and pydi umetofen,” he says.

The more concerning news is the declining sensitivity of net blotch, and to a

Against Rhynchosporium, in both protectant and eradicant situations, the AHDB noted that, Plaxium gave “excellent control of disease control, comparable to or better than Siltra Xpro and Ascra Xpro, and similar to the level of control provided by the solo active, Miravis Plus”.

Similarly, “against net blotch, Plaxium showed a very high level of e cacy even at 50% of label rate, performing comparably to Miravis Plus and Ascra Xpro.”

SRUC’s Professor Fiona Burnett, a trial partner, highlighted the performance of Plaxium and combination of multiple modes of action along with the restrictions on use that would ensure good product stewardship, saying:

“Plaxium adds another robust mixture option for control of barley diseases and is carefully stewarded to manage resistance risk.”

Against powdery mildew, the AHDB noted that although disease pressure was relatively low in these trials, “Plaxium gave the highest level of protectant activity of any of the mixture products tested”. FG

lesser extent, ramularia isolates to DMI fungicides.

“The sensitivity shift to triazoles and to some strobilurins and SDHIs in net blotch is concerning. To overcome this, growers will need to bolster disease control through the inclusion of an SDHI with an incomplete cross-resistance pattern, such as uopyram, or by utilising tri oxystrobin, given it is not a ected by the widespread F129L mutation in the population that confers reduced sensitivity to other strobilurins,” Mr Hanna says.

In brown rust, concern surrounds the spread of isolates featuring the C187F mutation that confers resistance to benzovindi upyr. This gene was found in 27% of isolates tested in 2022.

“The spread of isolates expressing the C187F mutation is concerning as it will impact disease control strategies, especially at the T2 timing. Fortunately, there is no evidence of resistance to other SDHIs, including bixafen and iso ucypram (Iblon). Equally, uoxastrobin along with other strobilurins remains stable, so growers have alternatives,” Mr Hanna says.

Examining the multisite options for this spring

What does the plummeting use of multisites mean for resistance management and disease control?

ULTIMATE PROTECTION

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A novel site of action with no cross resistance to any other chemistry

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Market data indicates a stark drop in multisite use since chlorothalonil was lost in 2020. In 2019, almost the entire UK winter wheat area received a multisite at T0, T1 and T2. Last year, it was just a fraction.

With only one new mode of action added to the septoria arsenal in the last 15 years, Tom Wheelhouse, technical specialist at UPL argues that the industry should not be too reliant on single-site chemistry. “If you look at the most recent AHDB fungicide performance data, a full dose of folpet delivers greater septoria control than a full dose of prothioconazole in a protectant situation.”

as a multisite through a process called sublimation. The re ned sulphur particles in Thiopron cover the leaf and react with hydrogen in the atmosphere to produce a layer of hydrogen sulphide gas. This is toxic to fungal pathogens, killing them on the leaf surface, explains Tom.

Working with his agronomist, Paul Cawood, Merseyside farmer Olly Harrison conducted a split eld trial on a crop of Dawsum last spring using Thiopron with his fungicide programme. Half the tramlines had the farm’s standard T1 and T2 programme of Ascra (prothioconazole + bixafen + uopyram) followed by Iblon (iso ucypram) plus prothioconazole. The other half had the same programme with Thiopron included.

“We had a really challenging year for disease control,” says Paul. “The septoria infection came in early in the season. Because it was a good crop and we had a lot of rain, there was a large amount of inoculum.”

the degraded cellular material

which activates nearby

Recently, a new type of product has emerged that could change how the industry perceives the role of multisites. These are plant health elicitors, and they work by stimulating the plant’s own defence mechanisms before an infection has taken place. Presently, the most popular elicitor is Iodus (laminarin). Derived from a natural plant extract, Iodus mimics the degraded cellular material released from a fungal attack, which activates nearby cells’ defence systems. Applying Iodus before a fungal pathogen attacks the plant prepares it for when an actual infection occurs.

UnivoqTM fungicide o ers persistent protection and curative control of all Septoria strains. Its broad-spectrum disease control ensures a higher yield, to secure your profit and protect the future of your farm.

Discover more about the benefits of Univoq at: www.corteva.co.uk/univoq

They saw a bene t in disease control by including Thiopron as a multisite tank mix partner. Olly observed from the combine that the Thiopron tramlines had a better bushel weight, and Paul saw visible di erences when walking in the eld at grain ll.

Applying Iodus before a the plant prepares control by including Thiopron as observed from the combine that better bushel weight, and Paul walking in the eld at grain ll.

The nal multisite available to farmers is sulphur. This works

“There was an appreciable di erence. At the end of the season, we had better green leaf retention on the Thioprontreated areas,” adds Paul. FG

“There was an appreciable di erence. on the ThiopronPaul.

Merseyside farmer Olly Harrison.

UPL technical specialist, Tom Wheelhouse.

The Rubin 10 compact disc harrow

Dominates the eld.

The new semi-mounted Rubin 10 compact disc harrow impresses with its exibility in any soil - thanks to di erent front tools and a quick-change system for the rollers.

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Benefits of straw incorporation

o ered for baled straw.

However, further bene ts of chopping and incorporating straw can include:

• Proving a source of nutrition for microorganisms, thereby improving the soil biota levels and microbiome

• Impressive levels of micronutrients such as manganese and copper

• Improving the soil structure and helping to reduce the risk of compaction

• Increase in soil organic matter over time

• Reduction in eld tra c and wheelings as no need for balers or trailers for removal of bales.

If the decision is made to chop and incorporate straw, this should be done in the most e cient and e ective way possible.

Making the decision whether to bale straw or incorporate it is rarely straightforward, and depends on a number of factors.

An arable farmer’s view when it comes to straw incorporation will be very di erent to that of a livestock farmer, particularly during recent times, when fertiliser prices have been at extreme levels. However, now that fertiliser prices are more stable, calculating the bene t versus the cost of

CrossCutter

chopping and incorporating straw is a complicated equation.

Returned potash to the soil can represent around half the requirement for the following spring barley crop, so some decisions may be made based on nutritional bene t versus prices

Depending on the height and volume of the straw, the height of the combine cutter bar may need to be increased slightly, to prevent problems with cutting and spreading. Similarly, combine blades should be sharp to prevent mulching and clogging up the combine, particularly when straw if wet.

Ensure the straw is spread evenly across the entire width of the header – again, this will be more di cult when straw is wet.

The sooner the straw can be incorporated the better, as it will take time for the soil biota to break it down ahead of the next crop and prevent nitrogen from being ‘locked up’.

Ensure there is a suitable mix of soil and straw, and that seed beds following straw incorporation are properly consolidated, to reduce the risk of slugs for the next crop. FG

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high residue levels following a heavy cereal crop, it is often challenging to manage the volume of straw. Combine cutting height is important in these conditions to minimise the amount of chopped straw being returned to the soil surface and forming a thick mat. A longer stubble height will also speed up combining and reduce fuel usage due to less material passing through the combine's chopper.

Straw incorporation measures

With several markets available for straw, Bullock Tillage explains why incorporation of chopped straw is still important.

The straw harrow in a direct seeding programme has become an important implement in distributing straw evenly across the eld surface aiding straw breakdown and controlling slug populations. Harrowing should be carried out as soon as possible behind the combine to start the straw decomposition process and encourage weed and volunteer germination.

Straw harrows with front mounted discs are best suited as they provide the option for more soil to be moved if required.

There are several markets available for straw beyond the traditional requirements for livestock bedding, explains Bullock Tillage. These markets may include being used as an energy source through burning or used as building materials hence the value of baled straw could provide a very useful addition to the farms gross margin.

However, in the pursuit of sustainable agricultural practices, the

incorporation of chopped straw is being encouraged to improve soil organic and carbon levels leading to improved soil structure and health resulting in higher crop yields.

In situations where there are

The STR Straw Harrows from Bullock Tillage come complete with front-mounted hydraulically adjustable discs, ve rows of hydraulically adjustable tines, seeder platform for airseeders or slug pellet applicators and road lighting. FG

STR STRAW HARROW

Comes in 4.8, 6 and 7 metre working widths. Available with or without front mounted discs. Price for 6 metre STR with 5 rows of hydraulically adjustable tines and includes front mounted wavy 520mm discs

£16,000 plus VAT & Delivery

The Old Haulage Yard, Boughton Road North, Stoke Ferry, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE33 9BF

Suitable for many soil types

German manufacturer Köckerling produces a wide range of cultivators and disc harrows to suit di erent soil types and conditions.

The range includes both trailed and mounted cultivators that are all tted with the original double STS roller.

The Allrounder, with its four rows of tines spaced at 16.7cm, is capable of a number of di erent tasks, including seedbed preparation after ploughing, opening soil for quicker drying, secondary stubble cultivations, and as a primary cultivator when equipped with the optional double sprung tine.

The Allrounder Flatline comes with a larger double sprung

elephant tine with a closer tine spacing of 13cm spread over six rows to enable use on heavier land with higher levels of trash or organic matter. This machine can be tted with a leading knife roller for working in cover crops.

The Vario is the agship of the Köckerling eet and comes as standard with full hydraulic depth control with 13cm tine spacing over eight rows. The soil and crop residue are carried in the machine for a number of metres to give optimum mix and distribution of crop residue to leave a level nish in just one pass.

Other machines in the range include the Quadro and Vector aimed at deeper working and the Rebell short disc harrow. FG

Tine-based range o ers versatility

The Güttler Supermaxx has been a popular product for stubble residue and straw management now for more than 12 years. With a range spreading 3–12m, the product o erings are focused around only one tine type.

This allows the modular cultivation range to be kept very simple, with a guaranteed longlasting performance. A reinforced helper supports the tine, allowing a working range of 0–15cm subject to soil type and power availability.

The product o ering spreads the range with either ve rows of tines or seven rows of tines. Regardless of speci cation the spacing of the tines remains at 12.5cm

The range is available with models in the mounted category from 3–9m and trailed versions from 9–12m.

The switch from plough-based systems to minimum tillage/direct drilling can be challenging, and with di cult weather patterns the Supermaxx has proven to be adaptable for many working environments, allowing exibility of speed and working depth from the traditional plough-based set-ups to scratch tillage.

Historically, the tined cultivator was the only choice for grassweed infestations and weed management as herbicides such as glyphosate were not available. With the pressure on food production, Wox says the Supermaxx Tined cultivation from Güttler is a great help towards e ective soil preparation and management for the coming years. FG

Cultivating soil solutions

The Guttler Supermaxx range simply stands out as the ultimate cultivation companion. Built to perform, the Supermaxx offers exemplorary stubble clearance and the most technically advanced spring tine system on the market.

Scan here to find out MORE about the Supermaxx®.

Time to ‘lean in’ or just ‘lean times’?

Daniel Zeichner had mixed messages for the farming community as he addressed the Norfolk Farming Conference. Sarah Juggins reports.

The minister for food security and rural a airs spoke of “world leading” research being carried out at the Norwich-based John Innes Centre and the potential for the Land Use Framework – which is currently in consultation stage – to provide the “most sophisticated land use data ever available”.

But he faced angry reactions from the audience with his reply to calls to hold a consultation on the emotive issue of inheritance tax (IHT).

“The Budget is not going to change, and part of the reason it doesn’t change is if you start untangling the Budget then you suddenly put the whole economy at risk,” was his stark message.

The refusal to hold further discussions on IHT was slightly at odds with the words of conference chair Dr Belinda Clarke, who earlier said: “the onus is on the farming sector to ‘lean in’, the government is in listening mode.”

Mr Zeichner set out the government’s vision for the future of farming, which comes in the form of the Farming Roadmap. Mr Zeichner described this as: “The most forward-looking plan that makes farming pro table and sustainable for the future. Food production is at its core, along with diversi cation and nature restoration.”

farmers to nd solutions. Biosecurity is at the top of our agenda, it is so very important.

“This includes biosecurity in plants. Expanding global trade and climate change have increased the ways disease can get into the country. The government has set out a ve-year Plant Biosecurity Strategy to tackle this.”

Biosecurity the dominant discussion

The theme of biosecurity was also high on the agenda at the conference.

Ash Gilman is director of agricultural strategy at food manufacturing company Cranswick. Among its products are pork and poultry. “The threat of disease is top of our radar,” he said. “If producers are investing into getting high quality products into the supply chain, they deserve to be protected around border control.”

While England is pushing ahead with gene editing, much of the EU, and Scotland, are holding back. Prof Jones said: “The Precision Breeding Act enables biology to replace chemistry, but we need everyone on board.”

Richard MacIntosh is assistant chief plant health for DEFRA and his workforce are leading on the 2023-2028 GB Plant Biosecurity Strategy. This piece of work also involves the devolved governments and industry stakeholders.

With billions of pounds being lost each year globally to disease and invasive species, Mr MacIntosh said a plant security strategy is vital.

Under the Plant Security Strategy, Mr MacIntosh explained there are a number of steps each time a threat presents itself. Behind the scenes, risk analysts are continually scanning reports from a host of sources, including social media, as they try to identify potential problems. This is called Horizon Scanning.

The next stage is a Pest Risk Analysis (PRA), in which the likelihood of the pest arriving and its potential impact is assessed.

the future. Food production is at its core, along outbreaks of avian u

He acknowledged the tough time that farmers have been facing with outbreaks of avian u and bluetongue virus.

Meanwhile, a trio of experts in animal and plant health urged farmers and horticulturalists to use every tool in their arsenal to mitigate against diseases attacking crops or livestock – and that may well include gene editing.

“Plants are like detectorists,” said Professor Jonathan Jones from The Sainsbury Laboratory. “They can detect the presence of pests and have the ability to withstand thousands of attacks but there will inevitably be some plants that can’t detect and defend every attack.”

At this point, scientists, policy makers and ministers get involved to make informed decisions based on horizon scanning and PRA.

If a risk is identi ed the next step is to create a contingency plan and management strategy and produce guidance for growers.

“We know that facing some deeply emotional

“We know that facing animal diseases creates some deeply emotional experiences. We are determined to face animal health issues head on. Our approach is to work with vets, scientists and

With the farming sector plagued with pests such as rusts, mildews, bacteria, viruses and eelworms, Prof Jones made the point that farmers need solutions that are not simply straight from a can.

Prof Jones is part of a team looking at introducing genes into plants that will add a layer of resistance. Much of the work is being carried out on potatoes and potato blight, with the latest strain of blight resistant potatoes complying with the Precision Breeding Act, which allows gene edited plants into the marketplace.

To give a sense of scale of the problem, currently there are 85 identi ed pests attacking apples, 90 pests attacking oak trees, 160 pests attacking tomatoes and potatoes face a threat from 165 di erent types of pest.

Replying to a question from the audience, Mr MacIntosh said that no matter what trade deals were negotiated by the government, biosecurity would never be compromised.

If Mr Zeichner and his government really do want to work with farmers, then now is the time to ‘lean in’. FG

Daniel Zeichner, minister for food security and rural a airs.

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Bespoke aluminium greenhouses

Dovetail Greenhouses was established in 1993 in Tamworth, Sta ordshire. Now a secondgeneration family business, it specialises in the design and manufacture of high-quality bespoke aluminium greenhouses.

Rather than o ering a xed range of standard buildings, its approach is to design each greenhouse individually to suit the particular needs of the customer and to precisely t the space available.

Its range extends from small back garden lean-tos, through large decorative Victorian glasshouses up to semi-commercial greenhouses for smallholdings, nurseries and agricultural applications. The

company’s semi-commercial greenhouses ll the niche between the largest domestic greenhouses on the market and the full-scale commercial buildings.

The system links together endlessly both in terms of length and width to create multi-ridge greenhouses with a generous eave height. Doors can be positioned in either the gable ends or the sides. A multitude of options are available for staging, shelving, glazing and ventilation. Dovetail delivers and installs across the UK.

Clwyd Agricultural joins Merlo

This partnership underscores our commitment to providing exceptional support for customers in North Wales.”

Visit www.dovetailgreenhouses. co.uk and get in touch with the company directly to discuss further how it can help you. FG

Merlo UK has announced that, e ective Monday, 4th February 2025, Clwyd Agricultural, based near Dyserth in Denbighshire, will represent the Merlo brand across Gwynedd, Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire and Flintshire.

Clwyd Agricultural o ers agricultural and landscape machinery to anyone cultivating elds or gardens. With a fully equipped workshop, showroom, and parts department, it specialises in selling, servicing, repairing, and maintaining agricultural, groundskeeping, and gardening machinery and vehicles.

Owen Buttle, national sales manager at Merlo UK, said: “Their deep roots in the North Wales farming community, combined with their outstanding reputation for service and expertise, make them a perfect t to represent the Merlo brand.

Re ecting on this collaboration, Pryderi (Gri ) Gru ydd, co-owner of Clwyd Agricultural, added: “We are excited to bring Merlo’s world-class machinery to our community. The Merlo range will allow us to provide innovative, high-quality solutions to our customers, reinforcing our commitment to serving the agricultural and horticultural sectors with the very best products and support.”

Clwyd Agricultural brings a wealth of experience, dedication, and local knowledge to the Merlo network. Customers can expect not only access to Merlo’s cutting-edge machinery but also the personalised support and service that Clwyd Agricultural is known for. FG

Bespoke semi-commercial aluminium greenhouses

Our semi-commercial greenhouses fill the niche in the market between the largest available domestic greenhouses and full-scale commercial glasshouses.

Drawing on over 30 years of experience, we design each building individually to fit the space available and to meet the specific requirements of each customer.

(l-r): Merlo UK Ltd regional sales manager, Craig Parkes; Clwyd Agricultural sales rep Morgan Williams, director Pryderi (Gri ) Gru ydd, and sales rep Alun Williams.

Updates to reel irrigators simplify operation

Bauer’s latest Rainstar E-Series has switched from a bolted to a latched swing-away cover.

The new-design side guard is one of several re nements on the machine, relied upon for years by growers of potatoes, sugar beet and commercial horticulture crops grown up and down Britain, Bauer says.

“Bauer has put in a lot of R&D investment over recent years to

equip the market-leading Rainstar E-series for new digital technologies, including the Smart Rain remote monitoring and control app,” notes Adrian Tindall, Bauer UK & Ireland sales manager.

“With the latest upgrades, attention has been turned to the

Mobile irrigation management system

mechanical components, mainly to improve access for servicing, maintenance and setting-up to give operators an easier time.”

Behind the new swing-out cover, previously held in place by 10 bolts, operators will nd a larger battery to power the Ecostar 6000 controller

with its 4.3in LED touchscreen.

Adrian explains: “Users can store up to 12 di erent irrigation programmes that de ne retraction speed, pre-irrigation, post-irrigation and speed zones, and then retrieve them at any time to save having to enter individual parameters for every irrigation session.”

Remote access via SMS on a mobile telephone enables irrigation managers to not only stop and start the Rainstar irrigator remotely but also adjust retraction speed, check on the status of the machine and receive error messages.

A ‘run nished’ message can be activated, and thanks to a digital input on the irrigator’s water meter, the Ecostar 6000 controller also records the session and running total of water used.

The battery itself is now kept charged by a more e cient solar panel; it is still tted ush to the cover but can now be propped at an angle to more e ectively harvest energy from the sun.

The Bauer E-series comprises ve models from the E 100 to E 500, each available with di erent diameter and length combinations of Bauer’s own polyethylene (PE) pipe manufactured at the group’s principle factory in Voitsberg, Austria. FG

BAUER Polyester Tankers

• Monitoring of Rainstar operation

• Optimize your irrigation management

• Automatic Error messages

• Irrigation control via mobile devices

• Team management

• Automatic reports

Röhren- und Pumpenwerk BAUER Ges.m.b.H. 8570 Voitsberg, Austria +43 3142 200-0, sales@bauer-at.com, www.bauer-at.com

INSTANT PRODUCTIVITY

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G & J Peck to close depots and open

The machinery dealer will close three of its depots and open a new central headquarters in Chatteris.

Increasing pressures in the market have prompted G & J Peck to move its Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire operations to a new headquarters in Chatteris – leading to the eventual closure of its Spalding, Ramsey, and Ely sites. The Rendlesham and Dereham depots remain unchanged.

Pecks managing director Jon Wareing said: “In response to increasing pressures in the market, we have had to make some di cult decisions to reinforce the company’s place as a leading supplier of agricultural machinery in the region.”

The company board has been conducting a thorough review of the business to determine the best way to move forward, he added. “The wellbeing of our sta is of utmost importance to us, and we are in close discussions with those a ected. This decision was not made lightly but is essential to safeguard the future of the company.

“As we navigate this changing

industry landscape, these proactive steps will ensure that Pecks remains at the forefront of agricultural machinery supply, strengthening our operations and enhancing service to our valued customers.”

All outstanding orders will be ful lled and the company con rmed that it will continue to o er customers rst-class service and parts backup.

John Smith, managing director of JCB Agriculture, adds: “G & J Peck provide industry-leading sales and aftersales support to our customers in the region, which this consolidation will reinforce. We have a longstanding, successful relationship spanning more than 40 years of selling JCB Agriculture equipment. We look forward to the opening of the new Chatteris depot and working together with G & J Peck in this next phase of their business.”

An announcement will be made in due course on G & J Peck’s distribution site in Lincolnshire. FG

G & J Peck managing director Jon Wareing.

Last chance to order a double-cab pickup before tax change

Double-cab pickups will no longer be treated as commercial vehicles for tax purposes from April this year.

From April 2025, HMRC will no longer use the VAT de nitions of ‘car’ and ‘van’ to classify double-cab pickups (DCPUs) for bene t in kind (BIK) and capital allowance purposes, or when restricting car hire costs for calculating business pro ts.

Only vehicles ‘of a construction primarily suited for the conveyance of goods or burden of any description’ will be classi ed as vans, so most, if not all, DCPUs will be treated as cars, explains Sa ery chartered accountants.

The change was announced in the controversial October Budget, and could increase the tax burden on a typical DCPU by as much as 211%, according to analysis by the Countryside Alliance.

BIK and Class 1A NIC: From 6th April, employees using DCPUs for personal use will face higher BIK charges, so employers’ Class 1A National Insurance contributions will go up. This will apply to both the use of the vehicle itself and for fuel for private journeys.

DCPUs that are bought, ordered or leased before 6th April will be able to bene t from the previous treatment until the vehicle is disposed of, the lease ends, or 5th April 2029, whichever is earlier.

Capital allowances: From 1st April for corporation tax and 6th April 2025 for income tax, businesses buying DCPUs will no longer be able to claim the same level of capital allowances as previously. The old treatment will apply for contracts entered into before 1st April for corporation tax and 6th April for income tax, where the expenditure is incurred on or after that date but before 1st October 2025.

Leasing: From 1st April 2025 for

corporation tax and 6th April 2025 for income tax, businesses leasing DCPUs with CO2 emissions of more than 50g/km (virtually all of these types of vehicles in practice) will only be able to get relief for 85% of the costs. Previously you could deduct the full cost. The old rules will apply where the contracts for hire are entered into before 1st April 2025 for corporation tax and 6th April 2025 for income tax, and the expenditure is incurred on or after these dates but before 1st October 2025.

David Bussey, partner at Sa ery, and a member of the rm’s Land and Rural Practice Group, commented: “Particularly given the transitional arrangements, you may be able to take advantage of these reliefs before they go.”

For example, if a pickup was ordered before 6th April 2025, but the vehicle isn’t available until 1st September 2025, the previous rules continue to apply for BIK purposes until the earlier of the vehicle’s disposal, lease expiry, or 5th April 2029.

The rules for reclaiming VAT when buying a DCPU remain unchanged, he added. FG

PRECISE AND QUICK STUBBLE CULTIVATION JOKER RT

The Joker RT cultivator works intensively in residues like straw and volunteer crops. An updated DiscSystem ofers increased fexibility, the discs are serrated for aggressive working and a good soil penetration and their position has been optimised to improve working quality.

Vervaet beet harvesters get significant upgrades

Imported by Norfolk-based J Riley Beet Harvesters, Vervaet models account for the lion’s share of the 15–20 new machine UK beet harvester market. The Dutch manufacturer o ers four-wheel 18 and 21t, and six-wheel 21t models, but the Q616 with four wheels and an 18t capacity hopper is by far the most popular here, being well matched with 20t trailers when unloading on the move. “Vervaet harvesters are known for their high residual values, which is an important consideration for farmers and contractors investing in this sort of machinery,” explained managing director, Matt Carse. “At J Riley, we pride ourselves in the back-up we o er our customers, and that extends just as much to older models dating back to the 1990s as for the latest machines.”

Most popular model updated

The most visible upgrades for the 2025/26 harvesting season are refreshed livery, and a completely new cab. Vervaet’s traditional red continues to dominate, but there is also metallic grey, and the wheels are black – replacing the previous creamy white. As before, the cab is from Claas. The updated harvester has the latest X11 version from the Trion combine with more space, narrower windscreen pillars, a larger door and a bigger glass area for increased visibility. Hidden from view is a completely new electric system, new shock protection for the lifting shares and signi cantly quicker hopper emptying.

Improved topping and lifting

Vervaet’s Gen 3 lifter and topper are now standard, incorporating new potentiometers bringing extra reliability and accuracy to the auto-steer system. Complementing the automatic steering, improved automatic machine levelling to 8 degrees left and right makes it easier for the guide wheels to maintain a central position between the rows for

harvesters.

David Williams enjoyed an early test-drive of the popular upgraded self-propelled

optimum row following. A combi-topper with an integral mulcher o ers users the choice of discharging tops out of the side or chopping and dropping them between the beet rows.

One of the main topper upgrades is hydraulic stone protection for the lifting shares. Each pair of shares is held in its working position by a pressurised hydraulic ram. If the lifting assemblies

strike large stones or other solid objects, then they can move back and upwards avoiding damage. As soon as the obstruction has been passed then the shares automatically return to the working position. Matt commented that although impact damage to shares is rare, the protection system provides additional bene ts including reduced wear and tear. This is because the hydraulic rams permit

Vervaet demonstration driver, Bennie Poppe says the new Can-bus electronics have brought signi cant improvements and that the automatic steering nds and maintains the correct path even better than before.

a small amount of controlled movement when operating on hard, dry or stony ground, reducing chipping and damage to the tungsten leading edges and extending the working life.

The new header also bene ts from a streamlined hydraulic circuit with reduced oil ow resistance, reducing operating temperature and saving fuel.

Extra reliability with more features

The new full Can-bus electrical circuit increases reliability, while also allowing new features to improve the operator experience. This includes the ability to select almost any combination of individual work and road lights to suit any situation. The camera monitoring system is also more versatile with extra automation, and a 360-degree ‘overhead view’ is now standard.

Hopper emptying management is new. Previously hydraulic pressure sensors monitored the unloading elevator working load and the main bunker oor chain switched on and o as required to supply more beet. This worked well, but the basic on/o action meant the unloading rate varied. The new system is proportionate, simply adjusting the oor chain speed to maintain a constant supply to the elevator. Keeping it full without running the bed chain excessively saves fuel while reducing wear and tear, and it also reduces damage to the beet. Although the unloading elevator is the same as

Recent Vervaet convert

before, the new proportional feed system means it unloads some 30% faster. During the Farmers Guide test drive, the 21t tank of the Dutch demonstration machine emptied in approximately 56 seconds.

More space, extra visibility

The latest Claas cab is more spacious, but it also feels much larger due to the narrower corner pillars. Vents previously within the pillars are now in the roof in two rows – one at the front against the windscreen that keeps the screen clear and warms the operator’s feet, while a second row nearer the driver allows a more targeted ow of warm or cold air.

The main control terminal features new navigation – making it quicker and easier to identify and select menus and settings for any aspect of operation. As before, all the main functions are operated through the main joystick, but the new electrical system gives a more precise feel.

Vervaet has also improved maintenance access. Diesel and AdBlue llers are side by side and easily reached through the rear door.

First test drive

The Farmers Guide test drive was on a Norfolk farm in early February. The demonstration

Farmers Guide visited a farming and contracting operation which recently changed from a competitor brand machine to a second-hand Vervaet from J Riley. Trading as CJC Lee and operating from a base at Saxthorpe in north Norfolk, the business sold its previous tracked harvester and bought the Q616 last year. “I really like it,” commented operator, Ben Baker. “It’s simple and easy to work on and if issues occur then we can often x them ourselves, with advice over the phone from the knowledgeable J Riley team if needed.

“The dealer holds huge stocks of parts, so we are never stopped for long. From Matt Carse to the parts counter and workshop engineers, it’s brilliant service.”

When Farmers Guide visited in early February, the Q616 had almost completed its third harvest, and recorded approximately 3,300 engine working hours. “We knew the reputation of Vervaet and J Riley, so when our previous harvester was due for updating and there wasn’t a modern equivalent, then moving to Vervaet was the obvious choice.

“I worried moving from a tracked machine to wheels and thought we might struggle in the wet, but these large tyres perform well and when conditions are tricky then engaging the di locks makes a huge di erence. I far prefer tyres now – there is less vibration, it’s better on the road at 40kph and the header seems to oat so it’s a more comfortable ride.”

Ben said that the Vervaet is easy to set up, and the lifting shares provide advantages compared to the Oppel wheels he used previously, adding: “The automatic steering system works well, the cab is comfortable and with the engine at only 1,200rpm most of the time, it never seems to work hard and seems economical.”

machine spent harvest in Holland and Germany before arriving in the UK for the nal few weeks of harvest. Although in all other respects it was like the 18t Q616, the prototype was a Q621 version with a 21t hopper.

The Vervaet is very easy to drive.

Controls are intuitive and the main joystick provides ultra-precise travel speed control. The view from the seat is excellent, including of the lifters and the cleaning table. The test machine was set up so that when reverse is selected, the in-cab screen display switches to show the view to the rear. The new, standard, 360-degree ‘overhead view’ was a big help when manoeuvring in tight eld corners. The DAF engine at the rear operates at a low, 1,200rpm for most of the time and there is little noise from the hydraulic drives. The demonstration machine had the standard seat which was comfortable, but buyers can also upgrade to a seat with electric heating and ventilation. FG

Operator Ben Baker says he is pleased with the Vervaet, and that his dog, Betty, appreciates the comfortable cab too.

Intelligent management of the base conveyor ensures a constant feed rate to the elevator.

The prototype harvester featured a 21t hopper but is otherwise like the UK’s most popular 18t Q616.

Q616, the prototype was

J Riley managing director, Matt Carse.

FLEX WING

TOPPER

5.4m (18’) three-point linkage mounted topper with foldable wings for a compact 2.3m (7’6”) transport width

• The wings can flex from -15° to +25° while mowing, enabling the machine to adapt to ground contours for a precise and even cut

• Under-sole discs are fitted to prevent scalping

• ProCut swinging blades ensure precise and efficient cutting

• Galvanised

Over the past 12 months, B&B Machinery has built a strong reputation for its service and customer support, and the open day served as an opportunity to showcase this success.

As the newest arm of the B&B Group, the B&B Machinery open day welcomed farmers, industry professionals, and suppliers to explore the latest in agricultural machinery, with a strong presence from key manufacturers and service providers. With a broad range of equipment on display, attendees had the opportunity to engage with experts, discuss industry trends, and take advantage of exclusive deals.

A positive industry outlook

B&B Machinery’s dealer principal, Andrew Walker, was keen to highlight the event’s success: “This is our second year running an open day, and it’s fantastic to see such a strong turnout. The team has done a great job, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Despite industry-wide challenges, Andrew noted signs of recovery: “Sales are starting to pick up, and both new and used machines are moving

Celebrating a successful first year of business

An open day in February marked an important milestone for the Swinesheadbased B&B Machinery depot. Machinery reporter Daniel Hodge attended.

quickly. While it remains a tough time for farmers, we are seeing more and more enquiries and increased con dence.”

One key factor in B&B’s rapid growth has been its highly regarded service department. “We’ve built a strong reputation in our after-sales support,” Andrew added. “Farmers know that when they buy from us, they’re not just getting a machine – they’re getting a team that will ensure they’re getting looked after.”

The dealership’s dedication to responsive servicing appears to have contributed signi cantly to customer retention and follow-up business.

He also emphasised the importance of events like this in strengthening relationships. “It’s all about giving people the chance to meet the team, see the products, and connect with suppliers.” In addition to machinery sales, B&B has seen a steady increase in demand for servicing and spare parts, highlighting the ongoing investment farmers are making in maintaining their eets.

Challenges for farmers

The event also provided an opportunity for farmers to discuss the challenges currently facing

Manitou demonstrations

the industry. Among the visitors at the dealer day was David Rhodes, a farmer from Tuxford, who shared his thoughts on the current state of British farming. “We’re heading into a tough two years – there’s no ifs or buts about it,” he stated, expressing concerns over economic uncertainty and governmental policies a ecting farming businesses.

He noted the role that technological advancements and new machinery play in keeping modern farms competitive, praising brands such as those represented at the B&B open day for their innovations.

Having purchased a Manitou industrial machine, David commented on the necessity of reliable equipment. “You don’t use it every day, but when you do, you really need it,” he said.

Despite the industry’s challenges, David expressed optimism in the resilience of farmers. “Farmers won’t give up – it’s a way of life. But we do need public support and recognition for the role we play. We also need to make sure we nd a way to keep younger people interested in staying in the business.” FG

Manitou’s sales support manager, James Hulme (pictured on the right with Farmers Guide’s Daniel Hodge) was on hand to demonstrate the MLT 420-60H, a compact telehandler that has been generating signi cant interest among farmers. “This machine is ideal for applications where space is limited but power and lifting capacity are still essential,” he explained.

With a lift height of 4.35m and a lifting capacity of 2,000kg, the MLT 420-60H is designed for tight farmyards, nding particular utility in poultry operations. “One of its biggest advantages is its low overall height of just under 2m, meaning it can access buildings that larger machines simply cannot, such as chicken sheds,” James noted.

The demonstration highlighted the telehandler’s precision handling, ease of manoeuvrability, and the operator comfort improvements that Manitou has focused on. “We’ve incorporated a spacious cab, given the reduced size of the machine, with excellent visibility, ergonomic controls, and air-conditioning as standard,” James added. “It’s a machine that’s small in size but big in performance.”

Manitou was also showcasing its electric forklift o erings, including the ME 425L. “We’ve seen increasing interest in electric solutions, particularly from sectors looking to reduce emissions without compromising performance,” James explained. He emphasised that Manitou’s expanding product line ensures that customers can nd the right equipment for their speci c needs, whether that’s traditional diesel-powered telehandlers, or the latest in electric machinery.

The team at B&B Machinery Swineshead (l-r): Lauren Cope, Jade Naylor, Andrew Walker, Dave Chambers, James Bowring, James Richardson, Nick Davis, Craig Harper, Thomas Sansam, Gareth Crowe, Curtis Lowde, Natalie Parsons, Kurt Smith, and Steve Baxter.

GreenChem’s regional sales manager Chatan Patel introduced the relatively new formulation, E nox – an advanced AdBlue solution designed for low temperature, low use scenarios. “Under certain applications traditional AdBlue can crystallise and clog up the catalyser in the SCR exhaust system, which leads to expensive repairs. E nox prevents that from happening,” he explained.

Farmers who own equipment that operate with a light duty cycle, such as back-up tractors or multiply applications, could bene t from this formulation. “We’ve seen great uptake from the haulage industry as well, and it feels natural that agriculture is following suit. We also very recently introduced a 10 -litre size option for smallerscale users that has proven extremely popular,” commented Chatan.

Manitou’s growing influence

The growing demand for Manitou’s agricultural telehandlers was readily pointed out by B&B’s Manitou sales specialists, James Richardson (left) and Dave Chambers. “We’ve got a wide range in stock, from the smaller MLT 625 to the larger 10m machines. There’s been strong interest across the board,” commented Dave. Manitou’s continued support with competitive nance deals has helped drive sales. “We’re in a strong position in the market because of the backing from Manitou,” noted James. He explained that these nance packages make high-end machinery more accessible to farmers who are cautious about large capital investments given the current economic and political uncertainty.

New models, such as the MLT 738 and 742 launched at LAMMA, were also a key talking point. “These machines o er new features like stop-start technology and improved fuel e ciency, which have been well received by customers,” Dave explained. Manitou also showcased its skid steer range, which has seen growing demand, particularly among poultry farmers needing compact and manoeuvrable equipment for tight spaces.

Sealey area sales manager Paul Gray was keen to showcase the company’s extensive range of tools and equipment, particularly focusing on the new pry bar. “It’s a best-seller for us in the agricultural sector, and it comes with a lifetime guarantee – as do all our hand tools,” he explained. “The quality speaks for itself.” Sealey was also o ering exclusive deals on tool storage solutions, including a discounted three-drawer toolbox. “These are the type of o ers that really bring people in. Farmers know the value of investing in reliable tools,” Paul added.

Milwaukee had a wide array of power tools on display. Area sales manager Calum Weaver was on hand showcasing the brand’s latest power tools, particularly its innovative power head system. “This is a game-changer for farmers and contractors alike. One power unit can be tted with multiple attachments, eliminating the need for several dedicated tools,” he explained.

Milwaukee has continued to expand its cordless tool range, providing increased exibility for agricultural and industrial users. “We’ve had a lot of interest in our hedge trimmers, brush cutters, and line trimmers. Farmers appreciate the ability to switch between attachments quickly, especially when time is of the essence,” Calum added.

Tu Stu Workwear’s regional sales manager Mark McGovern showcased the latest line of Tu Stu durable agricultural workwear. “Our Portman Shacket is a best-seller, but we also o er a full range of high-quality, functional gear suited for farming environments,” he said.

Tu Stu Workwear has also expanded its reach through e-commerce, making its products more accessible. “We’re adjusting to market trends by o ering our products through multiple channels, ensuring that customers can get what they need,” Mark noted.

To engage visitors, Tu Stu Workwear had incorporated a darts challenge into the stand, linking to its sponsorship of professional darts players. “It’s all about making the event interactive and enjoyable while also showcasing the quality of our products,” Mark concluded.

Woldmarsh’s sector head of farm business and machinery Paul Massey spoke about the organisation’s role in helping farmers secure better deals on essential purchases. “We negotiate bulk discounts on everything from fuel to machinery parts, giving our members signi cant savings,” he explained.

Beyond cost savings, Woldmarsh also provides advisory services to help farmers make informed decisions. “Many farmers come to us when they’re considering major purchases. Having an ally to bounce ideas o can be invaluable,” Paul added.

Woldmarsh also places a strong emphasis on building relationships. “Events like this help us put faces to names. We pride ourselves on the personal connection we maintain with our members, ensuring that their needs are met e ectively.”

Paul Massey is pictured on the left with membership services manager Ian Dawson

Securing deals for farmers

Premium AdBlue solution

Tyre management solutions

The Tanvic Tyres stand was manned by tyre technician Asley Stevenson, who highlighted the company’s extensive expertise in agricultural tyres. “We don’t just sell tyres – we provide complete tyre management solutions,” he said.

With so many di erent soil conditions and machinery types in use, selecting the right tyre is crucial. “Our team understands the complexities of agricultural machinery, and we work closely with farmers to ensure they have the best possible tyres for their operations,” Asley noted.

Tanvic’s reputation has been built on service, knowledge, and the use of high-quality products. “We stock a wide range of brands and aren’t tied to any single manufacturer, which allows us to o er a really comprehensive service,” he added. “Whether it’s otation tyres for wet elds or narrow tyres for row-crop work, we can source the right solution.”

Robust, reliable transport

BJT’s business development manager Jim Cherry discussed the strong demand he was seeing for car transporters and atbed trailers: “Professional users rely on our trailers daily, and we back that up with a ve-year warranty on Brian James manufactured parts including the chassis.” He explained that BJT’s range caters to businesses needing robust, reliable transport solutions. “Our trailers are designed for daily use and built to withstand heavy loads, whether for agricultural use or general logistics.”

Jim also pointed out that demand for specialist digger trailers has risen signi cantly. “As more farmers are diversifying in their operations, we’re seeing more interest in trailers suited for transporting heavy machinery,” he noted. BJT is working closely with dealerships like B&B to ensure customers have access to the right products for their needs.

Popular with contractors

Toro and Hayter’s territory manager Ben Kirkby was in attendance displaying groundcare equipment. “We’re seeing strong interest from homeowners and contractors, with our zero-turn mowers and compact utility loaders proving particularly popular.”

Toro’s zero-turn technology allows for exceptional manoeuvrability, making it ideal for large estates, golf courses, and equestrian facilities. “With fuel e ciency, and increasingly noise and air pollution being a concern, we’re also seeing more interest in our battery-powered models,” Ben said. He highlighted that Toro is working on expanding its range of electric machinery, ensuring customers have access to sustainable options. “The compact utility loaders, in particular, have been gaining traction among equestrian customers who need a powerful, quiet, and nimble machine.”

DIRECT DRILLING FOR PROFITABILITY

Formed in 2010 as a joint venture between Michael Needham and David Ashton, the business farms 850ha just north of Boston.

Having given up growing oilseed rape on his 567ha acres of heavy silt soil at Mallows Farm, Sibsey due to the crop’s increasing agronomic and nancial risks, Michael now produces 283ha of hard Group 4 winter wheat, 28ha of winter linseed, 40ha of spring barley and 40ha of spring beans. He also grows 61ha of maize as feedstock for a local anaerobic digester plant, while a further 81ha are in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).

David Ashton has also stopped growing oilseed rape on his 291ha Gasks Farm, Wrangle, where cropping for the 2025 harvest comprises 103ha of rst wheat and 83ha of second wheat, all Group 4s, together with 45ha of linseed which his son Phillip says is excellent for conditioning the soil and lowering slug pressures. The farm also produces 49ha of spring beans and has 16ha of grass for its 32,000 free-range chickens. Soils comprise mainly skirt fen and other higher organic matter types; these used to set like concrete when dry then have restricted capacity to retain water. However, after several plough-free years their condition has improved signi cantly, helped by the fact that all straw and manure is retained on the farm.

A new approach

With margins under increasing pressure, direct drilling crops is rapidly becoming essential to allow farms to operate profitably, says Hobhole Farming in Lincolnshire.

the e ectiveness of residual herbicides,” Michael outlines.

“In 2010 we started with a 4m Vaderstad Rapid drill but soon decided that it did not have enough capacity to establish all our cereals on time in the autumn, so we moved to a 6m version. As blackgrass became increasingly resistant to herbicides we had to move to more spring cropping, which comprises barley, beans and linseed, to help control the problem.

has covered 3,500ha, establishing a wide range of arable and cover crops, together with stewardship schemes. We have used it with the standard 7in A-share which Claydon recommend for most situations, as well as 3in spoons and knife coulters for beans.

“This allowed us to reduce our drill size back to 4m, but we added a subsoiler toolbar and still needed a 350–400hp tractor to achieve the output required. The subsoiler toolbar reduced our cultivations in front of the drill to just a pass or two with the Joker, but increasingly wet weather in the autumn did not suit this set up and so we looked at the alternatives.

“After speaking to a neighbour who is a long-term Claydon user, as well as agronomists and advisors, we felt that the Claydon Hybrid direct drill would provide a practical solution by eliminating many of the cultivations we had been doing, reducing establishment costs and improving timeliness.

“The rst two autumns were kind and we direct drilled everything, including wheat following maize and wheat after catch crops. The results were so good that we even used the Hybrid with knife coulters to establish spring beans directly. One year the soil was quite moist so the slots left by the coulters were a little wider than we would have liked, but one pass with our 7.5m Claydon straw harrow at a 30-degree angle to the direction of drilling did a good job of closing them up and levelling the land. We still use that approach.

“Until 2010 we took a very conventional approach to crop establishment, either ploughing or using a Simba Solo and press initially. These were followed by a Horsch Joker compact disc harrow to create 3–4in of tilth ahead of the drill, which improved seed to soil contact and provided a smooth surface nish to optimise

additional hoppers, levelling boards and rear beans, and it was January before we drilled the last

in the spring to establish barley and beans. Holland T7 340 which really suits the 6m drill

“In 2021 we purchased a new 6m Claydon Hybrid drill equipped with 7in A shares, two additional hoppers, levelling boards and rear harrows from our local dealer, Pecks. We used it behind our 315hp New Holland T7 to drill cereals, oilseed rape and cover crops that autumn, then in the spring to establish barley and beans. That tractor was replaced with a 340hp New Holland T7 340 which really suits the 6m drill as it has bags of power, is not too heavy and is very manoeuvrable. In four seasons the drill

“Because we were drilling wheat later, and with more summer covers and catch crops to establish, the autumn sowing window was becoming narrower, so we were stretched to get everything in the ground on time. The pressure on our 6m Hybrid in the autumn meant that we had to have a contractor drill our winter beans for us, which wasn’t ideal. After Storm Babet hit in October 2023 all the land remained very wet through to the spring, so we were unable to establish winter beans, and it was January before we drilled the last of the winter wheats on a frost.”

“The knock-on e ects of the severe weather made us realise that we needed more capacity to reliably get everything in the ground on time and avoid signi cant yield our

Second drill investment

Michael Needham grows 283ha of Claydon-drilled winter wheat at Sibsey, where the soils are di cult to manage.

Based at Wrangle, Phillip Ashton says it is all about producing wheat as cheaply as possible.

penalties,” Phillip adds. “Our original idea was to supplement the 6m Claydon Hybrid with a second-hand 3m Claydon Hybrid, but because the Rural Payments Agency’s Farming Equipment and Technology Fund grants would cover 60% of the cost, in spring 2024 we ordered a new 3m Claydon Evolution, with front discs and 7in A-shares. It arrived in July and by December had been used behind our 215hp John Deere 6215R to drill 8ha of catch crop, 186ha of winter wheat and 93ha of cover crops at Wrangle.

“We use the Hybrid and Evolution for everything. Their low operating costs keep our overall establishment costs low and after years of not ploughing the condition of soils across the two farms has improved greatly. Claydon drills are simple in terms of concept, their design is very practical, they are easy to calibrate, and there is a signi cant fuel saving. Maintenance costs are extremely low and the generally non-abrasive nature of the soils on both farms means that the Hybrid is still on its original leading tines after 3,500ha.

“Almost any drill will operate when soils are dry, but in our experience only the Claydons will work successfully in di cult conditions. They cope very well with surface trash and take out wheelings from the previous season’s activities, making them very adaptable. They also work well in wet conditions, which can tempt you to go drilling when you shouldn’t. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean to say that you should, so restraint is needed.

“Partly due to slug pressures, partly because of

later drilling and partly because seed placement with a tine-type drill is not quite as accurate as one which uses a disc coulter arrangement, we tend to use slightly higher seed rates. A robust 400/m2 helps to o set later drilling and we generally follow with a heavy stack of pre-emergence chemistry.

“It’s di cult to compare our two drills directly due to their di erent tine con gurations presently, but with the 3m Evolution drilling up to 19ha a day and the 6m Hybrid up to 32ha we are now able to get all crops in the ground on time. Both o er so many options that we are spoilt for choice and are still learning how to get the best from them.

Hobhole Farming added this 3m Claydon Evolution in 2024 to enhance drilling exibility and timeliness.

Direct drilling has greatly improved the structure of soils at Wrangle.

The Twin-Tine kit can be used with Claydon’s leading tine arrangement which relieves compaction and aerates soil, or in combination with double cutting discs.

The only thing they don’t do is consolidate the soil after the seed is in the ground, so where possible we Cambridge roll after drilling if we feel it is the right thing to do.”

Everything direct drilled

The 2024 harvest at Gasks Farm, Wrangle began on 20th July when the nal crop of oilseed rape was combined and nished with spring beans on 17th September at Sibsey. With cereal straw fetching high prices all of it was baled by a contractor and sold, albeit with large swathes missing due to the ooding from Storm Babet back in October 2023.

“After Storm Babet, we had a small opportunity to drill some more winter wheat on the January frost in 2024, but the results were variable. Our farms were incredibly wet and the subsequent rainfall until harvest meant these once ponded areas needed serious restructuring – more than any plant root or seed drill could provide,” Phillip outlines. “Following the 2024 harvest at Wrangle we subsoiled everything except where the linseed had been sown back in the spring. At Sibsey Mike took a similar approach but also ploughed some land.

“The four inches of water that fell in September, at the beginning of the autumn drilling campaign, highlighted the unpredictable nature of the weather we are having to farm with and around. However, due to the soil restructuring which we had carried out the water drained through the soil pro le, which allowed us to execute our autumn drilling programme unhindered by waterlogging.

“Having dropped oilseed rape this season there was no need to change back to the A-share in the autumn and the Hybrid was used with Claydon’s

Twin Tine kit which we originally bought for drilling spring barley. It works very well and allowed us to go straight in behind the subsoiler, but we have also used it after a Horsch Joker and Kverneland DTX.” Going forward, Michael and Phillip are keen to minimise the need for remedial work on their soils and have no plans to plough again. The Claydon drills are a key part of Hobhole Farming’s system and the tine/coulter options available make them the most versatile drills on the market. With a few simple, quick modi cations they can be used for conventional sowing, low-disturbance establishment, and zero-till seeding, with or without fertiliser placement between or in the seeded rows.

A holistic approach to crop establishment, the Claydon Opti-Till System delivers consistently good, high-yielding crops at low cost for maximum pro tability. The majority of Claydon drills leave the factory with the company’s ground-breaking leading tines and standard 7in or 5in A-shares tted to the seeding tines. These do an excellent job of establishing any crop that can be air-sown in most soils or conditions and the area between the rows can be kept clean using the Claydon TerraBlade inter-row hoe.

“As farmers we instinctively want to grow crops to feed the nation, but pure economics will drive what we do going forward and how we do it,” Phillip states. “Our main income is from wheat, so it’s all about growing the crop as cheaply as possible and using e ective break crops. It’s essential to keep costs under tight control and the Claydon system provides obvious bene ts in that respect.

“As our soils have improved through direct drilling, so have the results from using the Claydon

system. Even though we could have managed to establish everything this autumn with our 6m Hybrid, we have used it alongside our 3m Evolution and certainly don’t regret having two drills. The last few years have highlighted that you can never know what weather challenges you will face, so it gives us the peace of mind to know that we will always be on top of the work.” FG

Precise Solutions GPS

Hobhole Farming employee Glenn Wilkinson mainly operates the 6m Claydon Hybrid.

Speaking to Farmers Guide on the rst day of the Claas main dealer event, used machinery specialist William Riddleston emphasised the variety of brands and machinery on o er, with the range being designed to cater to a broad customer base. “The aim of an event like this is to show customers all that we have available, both new and used, with many options already in stock. Visitors can see a shed absolutely full of combines and tractors, with live demonstrations happening throughout the event adding to the overall experience.”

New launches and technology

Visitors were treated to the launch of the new Claas Axos 3 tractor series, boasting a range of four

Claas Axos 3 speci cations

NEW LAUNCHES AT MANNS EXPO

The recent Manns Expo event allowed farmers to view new and used machinery, take advantage of special o ers, and to see new product launches. Daniel Hodge reports.

compact tractors o ering 92–120hp. Positioned between the Arion 400 and Axos 200, these models are designed for yard work, eld operations, and grassland management, making them ideal for mixed and livestock farms.

When asked if farmers are leaning more towards new or used machinery, he noted it very much depends on each business, with Manns seeing plenty of interest across both options. For those opting for used machinery, he reassured that all used combines were harvest-ready, while tractors without manufacturer warranties could have cover added. He also commented: “All our used sprayers come with an NSTS test, so they’re ready to go to work.” FG

Claas parts supervisor Neil Smart said he was happy with the expanded range of machinery and parts available in comparison to last year, and believed that the special o ers over the two days were a big draw for farmers. “Many farmers are struggling more than ever right now, so a good deal is always welcome. Some options, such as the combines, have signi cant discounts available.”

Neil also highlighted that special o ers were available on parts and consumables, with some items boasting 10% o , while others, such as 208-litre oil barrel purchases, had an incentive of a free pair of overalls.

Claas Connect: Smarter farm management

Connect services specialist Carl Evans was on hand at the event, giving demonstrations and presentations of the newly launched Claas Connect, showcasing its capabilities to farmers. Claas Connect provides a streamlined platform for managing machinery and farm operations. It o ers realtime machine telemetry, automated documentation, and easy access to parts diagrams and service information. Carl said that farmers have found the setup process straightforward, requiring only a Claas ID for onboarding. Compatible with all Claas machines with a communication module, it also supports non-connected machines with access to parts and manuals. Standout features that have proven popular include satellite data for precision farming, real-time diagnostics, and a user-friendly interface that enhances e ciency and cost savings. “The idea of it is that it’s a one-stop shop for customers –one log-in to get everything,” Carl added.

Claas special o ers

Loosener meets many needs

Grange Machinery’s owner Rhun Jones talked Farmers Guide through the showroom display.

“The 4m version is our low disturbance loosener (LDL). We initially brought this machine out for direct drilling and minimum tillage customers that were su ering with shallow soil compaction. Since then, the machine’s broadened its customer base from direct drilling all the way through to conventional farming now.”

The loosener can operate at depths of up to 10–12in, but Rhun says it would typically be run at 8–9in. He continued: “You’re getting the loosening structure of the soil with the ow and the uplift that we get through the machine, but with minimal surface disturbance – therefore the next pass after this machine really could be the seeding pass.”

Demos available this spring

Horsch’s regional sales manager Ben Harrison highlighted the brand’s seed and tillage machinery, with a focus on the Maestro maize drill – brand new and set for demonstrations this spring. Alongside this, the company was showcasing hybrid drills and cultivators, o ering solutions for various soil preparation methods.

Horsch regional sales manager Anthony Ashman was promoting Horsch’s Leeb selfpropelled and trailed sprayers, with the key selling point being boom control technology.

“We’re the only company on the market currently o ering double variable joints for booms, which means we can travel at lower heights than typically possible,” he explained.

Events like these, he explained, were more about engagement than direct sales. “It’s about nding out the wants and needs of the customer really – responding to enquiries, and making good connections.”

Farmers weigh in

Among the visitors was Mr Cobbold, a farmer from Hadleigh, who was primarily looking for second-hand cultivation equipment. When asked why he was opting for used machinery, he commented it was mostly due to the current uncertainty in the industry as a whole. He painted a stark picture of the current challenges in farming. “Nothing’s worth anything. Corn is no better than it was 20 years ago, but costs have gone up 100%.” Like many farmers, he had taken part in recent protests, joining two A14 demonstrations. “We’ve got to be seen to be doing something. The good thing is the general public are getting on board, and even companies like Manns of Saxham are contributing to the support.”

Date for diary: South Su olk Show

Organisers of the South Su olk Show invite you to celebrate country life at Ampton point-to-point racecourse, near Bury St Edmunds, on 11th May 2025.

There will be farriers in the forge, gun dogs working, pigs

racing, musicians entertaining, farm machinery new and old, and tricks on wheels from the ‘3 Sixty Bicycle Stunt Team’. Other features include the military style display team, ‘Imps Motorcycle Display’ and 4 Strides Equestrian UK Ltd showcasing rodeo with barrel racing.

Additionally, the Lifestyle Marquee will be packed with unique creations, the Food Hall full of tempting treats, and sheep, pigs, cattle and horses competing for rosettes, alongside a funfair. A fun dog show will also take entries on the day. This year there will be a bigger bar in the picnic area, plus a second bar in Eat Street to reduce queues.

Show president for the 136th show is Mrs Rose Turner, whose family have hosted the event since 1986. Rose has collaborated with the Su olk Horse Society to create a ‘Su olk Spectacular’ with a selection of Su olk Heavy Horses invited into the Grand Ring.

Tickets are available on the gate from 8:30am. ‘Early bird’ reduced ticket o ers are available through selected ticket retailers and online at www.southsu olkshow.co.uk until 7pm. Car parking is free. FG

Safer and easier big bag handling

The Ceres Bag Buddy makes precise manoeuvring of big fertiliser, seed and feed bags simple and safe for machinery, environment and personnel, Ceres says.

The Bag Buddy is a range of Big Bag Lifters from 1 x 600kg up to 6 x 1,000kg bags, with the most popular being the 4 x 600kg, which is available as a xed or hydraulic model. The hydraulic option o ers even greater safety in stacking and manoeuvrability when changing between di erent size bags.

The Bag Buddy is a convenient and easy way to controllably manage fertiliser, seed and feed bags, far more safely than the questionable use of pallet tines, as well as decreasing the risk of damage to

lorries, buildings and overhead cables. It is designed with minimal sharp edges to prevent damage to the bags and reduce the risk of hazardous and costly mishaps.

The lightweight, but substantially braced, frame helps support bags from behind, greatly reducing swing. Increased telehandler stability is also achieved by keeping the headstock and boom approximately 4ft lower than if using pallet tines, whilst still achieving the same lift, with the added bene t of increased reach over hoppers and around drill coulters.

The Bag Buddy comes with retaining loops at both ends of each arm, so bags can be quickly secured in adverse weather conditions. FG

High-reach telehandlers for "superior bale stacking"

Merlo outlines the key features of its standout high-reach telehandlers.

Whether loading trailers in the eld, stacking bales high in the yard, loading lorries or preparing for winter bedding and feed, having the right equipment

can make all the di erence, says Merlo. Merlo o ers two standout highreach telehandlers designed for e cient straw stacking: The TF38.10, which lifts up to 3.8t with a 9.7m reach, maintaining a 3t capacity at full height; and the TF45.11, which handles up to 4.5t, reaching 10.6m, with an impressive 3.5t capacity at max height.

Both models feature Merlo’s advanced technology for improved performance and comfort. Key features include:

TT system (frame levelling and boom side shift) – Hydraulically levels the machine for uneven stack yards and moves the boom side-toside on the front axle for precise bale stacking and truck loading.

CS (cab suspension) – O ering superior comfort, 110mm of travel absorbs rough terrain, like crossing wheelings and optional boom suspension adds further ride stability.

CVTronic transmission – For seamless power delivery, auto mode optimises speed transitions while the tortoise setting limits speed below 15kph for delicate handling.

Fast and e cient hydraulics –The TF45.11 has a 166-litre/min highow hydraulic pump. The TF38.10 has a 145-litre/min pump for responsive

control.

Powerful engine options – The TF45.11 has a 170hp FPT engine, while the TF38.10 has a 143hp Deutz (CVTronic) or 136hp Perkins (hydrostatic).

EPD (ECO power drive) – This lowers fuel consumption by up to 18%. A self-accelerating joystick automatically adjusts engine revs for smoother operation.

Heavy-duty build for tough conditions – Full front and rear di erentials for enhanced traction, and a hydraulic pickup hitch with 2.5-tonne tongue weight and 24-tonne towing capacity.

Cooling and safety innovations –The fan reversing system clears straw debris (standard on TF38.10, optional on TF45.11). Additionally, ASCS (Adaptive Stability Control System) provides a real-time load chart for enhanced safety.

Merlo claims its telehandlers deliver unmatched performance for highreach bale stacking, the manufacturer says. Whether handling straw, loading grain, or managing farm tasks, the TF38.10 and TF45.11 o er the power, precision, and e ciency farmers need throughout the farming year, the company concludes. FG

Hugh Pearl Land Drainage

with 70 years experience of contracting can supply all your drainage and trenching requirements from design to construction

Merlo TF38.10TT.

Capacity and manoeuvrability

Bunning’s Lowlander MK4 range features nine models with capacities from 7.5–15t. The popular 105 TVA sits in the middle, o ering strong build quality, substantial carrying capacity, and manoeuvrability in small yards and lanes.

The twin vertical auger (TVA) machines allow farmers to accurately apply farmyard manure and other products to improve soil nutrition and structure. The 105 TVA o ers a 12.6t carrying capacity and a body width of 1,500mm, helping smaller users control spreading in-house.

The design includes full width socket- t oor slats, with 80 grade 16mm oor chains that are standard on Bunning spreaders up to the 150 MK4 15t. The oor

Farming in the spotlight at show

design ensures that the whole oor is cleared and an even ow of product is presented to the augers for consistent spreading. The twin vertical augers are dynamically balanced as standard, to improve reliability and longevity.

Farmers using narrow lanes and tight gateways can opt for a narrow body pressing, which features a narrower axle and reduces the overall width of the spreader by 100mm to 2,820mm, when tted with 580/70 R38 180D load rated tyres. Another option is a rear canopy that covers the rear beaters during spreading forcing the material to be spread via the bottom blades. It is aimed at light materials such as chicken litter, lime and compost, allowing an even spread at low application rates. FG

Taking place at the Bath & West Showground near Shepton Mallet from 29th–31st May, the Bath & West Show promises to be a season highlight.

Visitors can look forward to a diverse range of British, Continental, and rare breeds attending the show – all vying for a spot in the main ring’s Grand Parade. The main ring has a packed programme including top class show jumping, scurry racing, pony club games, and Paul Hannam’s Quad Bike Stunt Show.

The Great British Kitchen is hosting live demonstrations, joined this year by new addition George Egg – snack hacker, cook and comedian.

The Lakeside Farm o ers the chance for families to meet the

animals and learn about the eld-tofork process, from wool workshops and taste tests to interacting with farm animals, engineering and butchery demonstrations.

Visitors can also explore the world of vintage vehicles, where history and craftsmanship come together.

Other features include Bark & West for dog lovers, the horticulture area, and live music. Entries are now open for the bees and honey classes and various shoeing classes.

Entries and tickets are available online, with advance discounted tickets on sale until 28th May. Visitors can book a day membership to enjoy members’ facilities. Visit www.bathandwest.com/tickets. FG

LIVESTOCK

COULD YOUR PRODUCTION LOSSES BE DOWN TO OVINE JOHNE’S?

Johne’s is often missed in sheep, but can cause serious production losses. Sarah Kidby spoke to experts about cost-e ective control.

The fertility issues and progressive weight loss seen with Johne’s disease are often missed or attributed to other issues in sheep – such as nutrition or parasites. There is also a lack of awareness around the availability of cost-e ective testing.

The latest data from the University of Liverpool shows between 70–80% of UK ocks are infected with Johne’s, and between 9.5% and 33% of animals within ocks are infected, said Dr Peers Davies, a reader in livestock health and welfare at the university.

Sheep farmers are far less aware of the disease than cattle farmers, which is partly down to the fact that, unlike cattle, infected sheep do not scour and there are no obvious or speci c signs of the disease. Progressive weight loss and scanning empty are key early signs, but ewes are often culled before they become critically ill, so they never get to the stage where they look visibly diseased, Peers explained. And being an iceberg disease, many animals will be shedding bacteria, underperforming and costing money without showing any signs of disease.

The barren rate is often put down to bad luck, poor weather, age or other factors, and testing for Johne’s and other production limiting diseases is not carried out – partly because vets have not been proactive in making farmers aware it can be done.

If left unchecked in a ock, Johne’s can have production limiting e ects such as reduced fertility, lower lambing percentages and earlier culling of ewes, resulting in a younger ock and lost lamb crops, said Kate Ingram, Virbac UK technical adviser (ruminant). Ewes may also have increased susceptibility to other diseases, such as mastitis, and reduced quality or quantity of milk so that lambs take longer to reach their weaning

weights. Ewes may be culled due to chronic mastitis, without Johne’s necessarily being considered as a cause, she added.

Peers noted that farms often compare scanning rates between themselves, but not replacement rates – and monitoring this could help to identify Johne’s.

How to test

Testing is a key tool in the armoury, and Peers recommends pooled faecal PCR samples as the most e ective screening method. There is government funding available for this under the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway.

The best way to test is to select 30 adult breeding ewes, ideally including thin cull ewes, but a random sample is ne, and divide them into six groups of ve. Take faecal samples from each of those ve and pool them together. The six pools of ve animals is then tested by the APHA.

This approach of using the faecal PCR test is done in Australia where Johne’s is well recognised and has been successfully controlled for some time.

Blood tests are also available – these are not sensitive enough for screening but can be used to test individual animals displaying clinical signs of severe weight loss.

Prevention

It’s impossible to eradicate Johne’s as the bacteria is so stable in the environment, but long-term, cost-e ective control is very possible, Peers noted. It’s the only iceberg disease with an e ective vaccine and there is good evidence from Australia to support its e cacy. There is uncertainty over the e cacy of other mitigation

strategies, however – and some, such as feeding higher plane nutrition, are costly, so vaccination remains the best tool, he continued.

Gudair is a single dose vaccine, with no boosters needed, and it’s licensed for sheep and goats, explained Kate. It should ideally be administered between four weeks and six months of age, to animals you plan to keep, such as replacement ewe lambs and ram lambs, to protect your breeding stock going forward.

The vaccine delays the onset of clinical signs, reduces the severity of clinical signs, reduces shedding and delays the onset of shedding –prolonging the productive life of the sheep. Whilst an investment, it’s a one shot vaccine for life and if you can get an extra lamb crop out of your ewe then you should have easily paid for the vaccination, Kate added.

Other measures of prevention revolve around trying to reduce the level of exposure for lambs – it’s generally spread by the faeces of infected animals that are actively shedding, so higher risk ewes should be kept away from lambs, and muck from animals with Johne’s should not be spread on the elds. There can also be crosscontamination from cattle if you’re co-grazing, Kate noted. However, strategies such as snatch lambing will not be suitable for sheep, so vaccination is a key control measure.

Key take-home points, Peers concluded, are recognising and testing for Johne’s in the appropriate way, then when it’s con rmed, vaccinating and calculating your own costs to determine how much you will potentially save through vaccinating.

For further information on Gudair, speak to your vet. FG

to catch a killer

Johne’s Disease is a ‘silent killer’ known to be present on 64% of farms tested*. Many of these farmers were unaware their flock was infected. You may have those sheep that just don’t do well, even though their teeth seem perfect and they are not lame. The affected animals literally waste away. These are signs that you may have Johne’s Disease in your flock.

Lambs may have been infected at birth but Johne’s Disease does not show noticeable clinical signs until sheep are 2-4 years old. They can be shedding bacteria well before they show signs of disease, causing infection to spread throughout the flock unnoticed.

Gudair® is a one shot vaccine against Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, shown to reduce mortality by 90% in infected herds** and significantly reduce the impact of clinical disease.

*Davies (2018) ‘Iceberg’ infectious disease of sheep. SHAWG conference, Tamworth.

A. (2005) Field evaluation of OJD control using Gudair. Meat

Fodder beet has earned its place on one Devon sheep farm that runs a flock of 1,250 mule ewes and rears lambs to finishing.

FODDER BEET KEEPS SHEEP ON A ROLL

Robert Tucker, from Beera Farm near Tavistock, describes fodder beet as a staple in his armoury of home-grown forages. He has grown 4–6ha of the crop each year since 2019, and before that bought in supplies.

“It’s a high energy forage that’s ideal for our ewes pre- and post-lambing,” he says. “We feed in situ or lifted, and feed out to sheep on grassland. It depends on the conditions.”

Robert is fortunate in having local contactors available to lift the fodder beet, which takes place every 3–4 weeks. “I use an old muck spreader to chop the beet a bit and spread it across the grassland – a four-tonne load will keep a group of 200 ewes going for a week.

“They love it, and by spreading the beet down the eld we don’t get muddy conditions around a feed trough – and resulting foot issues. It’s a system that works well here.”

Flexible harvest

The rest of the harvest is stored in an open clamp, near the grassland, ready for feeding.

“It’s another reason why I like fodder beet,” he says. “Harvesting time is exible, and it stores well in the ground or in a clamp. There are plenty of options with lifting and feeding, so it can t around conditions and requirements without a ecting yield or feed value.”

As well as providing high feed value from December and through winter, when grass growth is minimal, this fodder beet crop ts well into the 130ha farm’s forage rotation.

Drilling takes place from late April, and follows grass, which is ploughed and a ne seed bed prepared. A heavy application of farmyard manure is ploughed in and a 20:10:10 compound fertiliser is applied at a rate of 370kg/ha into the seedbed. As a safeguard, 2.5t/ha of lime is applied to ensure a pH of 6.5.

Working with his Agrii agronomist Oliver Cradick, Robert opts for a treated seed to maximise germination. He also recommends 2–3 post emergence fungicide treatments depending on conditions.

“It’s important to make sure pests and weeds are under control early on,” says Oliver. “It helps

get the crop o to a good start. And once its germinated it will then ourish.”

Consistent variety

Robert is particular about the variety grown – the medium loam soil is perfect for fodder beet, but it’s stoney so they avoid deep-rooted varieties, instead seeking one that is clean, with consistent yields and high feed value.

His variety of choice, which has been grown at Beera farm for the past two years, is Limagrain’s Robbos. He’s bought the seed for drilling the 2025/26 crop. This medium-rooted yellow beet has been trialled by Limagrain for 25 years with results showing consistent dry matter yields of more than 18t/ha.

The average metabolisable energy content for fodder beet varieties trialled annually by Limagrain is consistently 12.5–13 MJ/kg DM, with Robbos typically exceeding this.

As a forage crop, fodder beet is quite expensive to grow. “But it’s reliable and it meets the ewes’ requirements when other forages are limited. Otherwise, we’d have to move sheep to other grazing o the farm, or buy in feed, and this would be more costly and time-consuming.”

Ewes lamb indoors and move on to haylage and concentrates. The rst group start lambing in mid-January, ending with ewe lambs in April.

Early lambs are housed and are turned out once conditions are good enough. They too will get some fodder beet to supplement their diets.

System works well

While Robert manages the farm mainly single-handed through the year, he has two vet students, and a regular lambing assistant throughout peak lambing. A heavy reliance is placed on home grown forages, with the mainstay being grass, made up of 50ha of permanent pasture and 70ha of short-term leys currently being drilled to herbal leys under the SFI scheme.

These leys form part of the rotation with fodder beet and forage rape and, in summer, the hybrid brassica, Skyfall, which provides 2–3 rounds of grazing from July onwards.

Robert looks to nish the rst crop of lambs from May onwards with most nished by September. These are mostly sold through Waitrose’s West Country Lamb scheme. He sells around 2,000 lambs a year and buys in 250–300 replacement-ewe lambs from Hawes sheep sales every September.

“We’ve developed a system that works well,” adds Robert. “We aim to be self-su cient in forage requirements, and it can be a challenge, but having a forage like fodder beet that can ‘go with the ow’ a bit when it comes to exibility and storage is an advantage.” FG

Agrii agronomist Oliver Cradick and sheep farmer Robert Tucker.

• 5 active ingredients for fast action

• Suitable for walk through or stand-in footbathing

• Effective for up to 8000 sheep per 20 litre

Use regularly for best results and as part of lameness prevention plan

Lameness is a major welfare concern in sheep and causes very signi cant nancial and production losses. Persistent lameness can lead to reduced weight gains, metabolic diseases in pregnant ewes, reduced birth weight of lambs, mismothering and poor colostrum production by the ewe. If a lamb is lame, it will take longer to reach market weight, while if the ewe is lame, milk production goes down and meat production of the lamb goes down.

Lameness causes considerable morbidity, by impacting negatively on productivity and economic returns. It can be considered as a ‘gateway disease’, leading to other economically important health problems, especially in sheep. Lameness is also a major animal welfare issue, and its serious visual impact negatively impacts public perceptions of farming.

Hoof diseases are infectious and contagious, and all clinically a ected sheep should be separated from the rest of the ock and treated individually. Persistently infected sheep should be culled, and thus record keeping, and identi cation marks are important to identify these sheep easily.

All incoming sheep should be quarantined for 3–4 weeks to avoid the introduction of infectious strains of footrot or CODD to the ock. The claws of sheep should be clinically examined thoroughly and frequently while in quarantine, and locally treated with gels or sprays where necessary. Lame sheep should never be introduced into the ock as they can act as a new reservoir of bacterial infection.

Types of lameness

• Scald: This occurs between the hoof horns and is usually a reddish discolouration and

moist with the loss of hair. In ammation occurs in the skin between the digits. With scald, there is generally no bad smell and little or no involvement of the hoof. It can be a precursor to footrot.

• Footrot: A disease of the hoof that originates between digits but develops to an under-run hoof and it also has a distinctive smell. Footrot is highly infectious and is transmitted from sheep to sheep and thus proper control and prevention must focus on the whole ock. It is particularly transmissible when sheep are con ned in a small area e.g., during housing periods, in handling yards, contaminated bedding or access routes. Most outbreaks of lameness in sheep are caused by this bacterial infection, which is highly infectious.

• Contagious ovine digital dermatitis (CODD): Regarded as one of the most severe foot conditions a ecting sheep and is associated with Treponema bacteria. Sheep su ering from cases of CODD can be left permanently lame due to changes to underlying tissues and bone within the hoof. This condition starts at the coronary band and then spreads to under run the hoof wall. There is no foul smell with this type, but it is contagious and can a ect many sheep in a very short period.

Hoof care

As with most conditions, prevention is better than cure and regular footbaths every few weeks with a safe and e ective compound is a sound nancial investment. E orts must be made to routinely prevent the appearance of foot problems in sheep before the actual clinical signs can occur, thus preventing a reservoir of

infection building up in the ock. A useful vaccine is available to prevent and reduce the incidence of the footrot disease. It is widely used and is a successful deterrent.

Footbaths have been used as routine prevention for lameness for many years in sheep, and most of these have centred around copper, zinc, or formalin type ingredients. Formalin is known to harden the hoof and is also carcinogenic – chronic inhalation of its fumes must be avoided. Copper is environmentally toxic and is hazardous to sheep, plants, and herbage.

Hoofsure Endurance from Provita is a proven and safe footbath solution, a proprietary blend of organic acids, essential oils, and wetting agents. It has been highly successful in the eld in both sheep and cattle, in preventing lameness and thereby avoiding the heavy nancial costs arising from the subsequent appearance of lameness.

Hoofsure Endurance formulation displays impressive powers of skin and lesion penetration, high activity in the presence of dirt and organic matter, and crucially a prolonged adhesion and prolonged contact time. The plasticity of the formulation allows for residual contact time, and deep penetration of lesions. In comparison to copper and formalin, the preparation is bactericidal and has a more rapid killing rate on bacteria. This has been established in independent in vitro studies.

An independent study on the e ectiveness of footbath solutions in sheep found that 65% of sheep improved after one pass through a footbath containing Hoofsure Endurance at 2% dilution rate.

For more information contact Provita Animal Health directly. FG

New for Spring 2025

WH Levelling Harrow

Featuring a reversible mat to harrow in a passive or aggressive operation

WH Multi Harrow

Elevate the frame to dethatch and spread manure with ease

INTRODUCING THE WH LEVELLING AND WH MULTI HARROWS

Combining harrow and levelling capabilities to give greater control and flexibility to conquer your pastures

Trusted for over a century, the Hackett Harrow is designed and built in the UK. Now available to order in a range of sizes.

New levelling and multi harrows have joined the William Hackett range – we quizzed harrow specialist Andrew Bell to find out more.

TRADITIONAL METHODS, NEW INNOVATIONS IN PASTURE CARE

Can you tell us about the company history?

A. William Hackett was founded in Cradley Heath, West Midlands – the heart of the UK chain making industry – by the Hackett family in 1892 and has since had a long and varied history. There are now two areas of the company – the Alnwick site in Northumberland, where we build our lifting equipment, lifting chain and hoists –and the Cradley site where we manufacture our chain harrows, shing chain, low grade chain, and assemblies for mooring. We’ve been making the harrows for over 125 years; the Hackett Harrow is long-established in the marketplace, and we still manufacture all of our harrows in the UK.

get a full coverage, and the spikes go through the ground and pull any moss, thatch, or old weeds and aerate the grass. They will also spread muck around, helping to break it down.

We introduced the Levelling Harrow this year, which has a much shorter mat. It's got two bars at the front and a bar at the rear which will go at to the ground and level any molehills or ruts on the ground – and it will also do a mild harrow.

From a sustainability perspective, the harrowing technique for pasture management, opening up the soil to aerate and break down manure as a natural biological process, reduces the need to use chemical fertilisers, so it's a good way to improve the land without necessarily investing a lot of money into it.

Harrowing is a very traditional method of regenerating grassland or levelling areas and our two main markets are the UK and the US. We pride ourselves on being UK manufactured, the quality of the products and the service we provide – things don’t go wrong very often, but when they do, we get it sorted and make sure the customer is happy.

What does your product range include?

A. We do your traditional Trailed Harrow from 4–18ft. It’s fairly simple and has maintained its core functionality over time. We then developed the product further, creating a Mounted Harrow to suit tractors as they got bigger, with more capability – this makes it easier to transport the harrow around elds. On the underside of the harrow, there's a good sag in the chain which allows it to get right into the ground, right into any furrows. The harrow is slightly o set, so you

While it doesn’t have the depth of the traditional mat, ours gives greater coverage than the competing ‘ring and spike mats’, which can also be quite brittle, leading to more breakage. If farmers are looking to level and get a bit of harrowing, this is a good piece of kit.

The nal machine we have launched is our Multi Harrow, which is very similar to our traditional frame with the addition of a levelling bar on the front. So you've got that full depth mat, which will give you a good harrowing job, combined with a levelling job as well. That’s the premium option.

Both are now on sale and the feedback has been very positive. With the Multi Harrow, people really like the idea of it; the fact that it does a levelling job and a proper traditional style harrowing job is very positive.

Andrew, when did you start your new role?

A. I've worked for the company for 12 years now, on the lifting side. I’ve always had an interest in agriculture – my uncle’s a farmer – then the opportunity came up for the harrow specialist role, as Stuart Mullins, our in-house expert is retiring. He knows the industry inside out and has spent time getting me involved in this new sector, which I’m really looking forward to getting to grips with and building new relationships.

You can contact Andrew on: 07968 092 721 or andrewb@williamhackett.co.uk FG

What are the benefits of harrowing?

A. If you don’t thin the grass out it probably won’t grow as well and could eventually become infested with weeds, or you might end up at the stage where you have to spend more money on fertiliser applications or ploughing and resowing. Also, spreading the muck out can stop worms and disease if you’ve had livestock on the eld.

Nutritional deficiencies to watch out for

Rumenco’s Dr Alison Bond explores the key nutritional concerns, and

the best way to supplement.

Hypomagnesaemia is the key risk for spring grazing cattle, with spring grass having low dry matter and high potassium, coupled with cows having potentially just calved and therefore having higher milk yields, and magnesium demands. Lots of options are available for magnesium supplementation, but using a product that’s palatable is key. Buckets and blocks are likely the easiest option, Dr Bond says, as they are palatable and contain sensible levels of magnesium.

Rumenco adds sodium to its mag buckets, not only to increase absorption, but also to draw animals to the bucket.

Other options available include molasses

liquid feeds with mag added, compound feeds, which can be good for animals that are being fed more – many feed mills will be doing a spring blend with higher magnesium – or minerals which may suit farmers making up a TMR. Boluses are also available but this would only suit farms with appropriate handling systems in place.

For very high-risk situations, or where a cow has gone down, a mag bucket may not be su cient and magnesium may need to be added to the water. This depends on having no other water supply in the eld, and cows drinking su cient amounts.

Generally good trace element nutrition will also be important this season as another very wet

winter means leaching of key trace elements is likely to have occurred.

“Forage quality hasn't been great this winter either, so if you've got animals that have been housed for periods on poorer forages, they're perhaps going to turn out in poorer condition,” Dr Bond adds.

Symptoms of trace element de ciency are vague but would include poor fertility in breeding cattle and poor growth in growing animals –though these can also be linked to energy. Other general signs include poor foot and udder health, high somatic cell counts and mastitis for dairy cows, or higher prevalence of health issues.

It's important to build a picture over a period of time to give an understanding of the animals’ requirements at di erent times of year, and over di erent years.

Farmers may need to be increasingly exible in their approach to supplementation, as changing weather patterns are in uencing requirements. “We're seeing seasons stretched a bit more. Historically you'd have a very bespoke mag season – as soon as you had that spring ush, you'd have a mag issue and then it would go o for a couple of months and you might see another peak in autumn,” Dr Bond explains. “But what we saw last year is that mag season almost went the whole summer because of the variable weather.”

With the beef price currently looking very strong, it’s particularly important not to lose any cattle at the moment, Dr Bond concludes. FG

Soil tests flag selenium and cobalt grassland deficiencies

Nutrition agronomist Tom Wells shares the results of soil analysis and how a prescriptive grassland

Over 600 soil tests analysed over a ve-year period showed more than 95% were de cient in selenium, while 62% were below the recommended levels for cobalt.

Tom Wells, nutrition agronomist at Origin Soil Nutrition, explains: “Certain micronutrients can improve availability and uptake of macronutrients, which will contribute to increased returns from the nutrition applied, and all micronutrients have a role in the wider soil nutrient synergy. These results highlight that selenium and cobalt have been limiting factors to grassland quality and yield.”

Selenium is required by the crop to promote improved fertility, increase auto immunity and boost liveweight gains. Cobalt is essential for vitamin b12 formation and de ciencies will lead to an increased risk of infection and reduced performance and, these signs will be common in youngstock and lambs at weaning. One way to correct these, and maximise the return on nutrient investment, is through a prescriptive grassland fertiliser that contains added selenium and cobalt. By ensuring these nutrients are available to the plant, farmers are feeding the grass that, in turn, feeds the cow.

“Grass is the cheapest form of feed on a

fertiliser can help.

growing cycle we can reduce arti cial inputs, such

farm, and it can also be one of the most nutritious,” says Tom. “By investing in nutrients at the start of the growing cycle we can reduce arti cial inputs, such as licks and supplements, towards the end of a cow’s development.”

SweetGrass Plus contains all the vital nutrients in the standard SweetGrass fertiliser, including 5% sodium to improve grass palatability, 23% nitrogen and 5% sulphur, to support nitrogen use e ciency.

The inclusion of selenium and cobalt, through Origin’s Micro-Match service, electrostatically charges the nutrients onto the nitrogen, sulphur and sodium granules. This increases the number of landing sites compared to applying micronutrients as granules and ensures more of the crop has access to the nutrients. Tom explains why regular selenium applications are important. “Selenium doesn’t bind to clay particles, which means it is easily leached during heavy rainfall. This results in low soil reserves, especially after winter, and yearly applications will be required to maintain grassland performance.”

doesn’t bind to clay particles, which means it is in low soil reserves, especially after winter, and

key grassland nutrients, can provide a one-pass

SweetGrass Plus, with its wide selection of key grassland nutrients, can provide a one-pass application and deliver essential nutrients to support crop requirements. As well as nitrogen, sulphur and sodium, it also has the added bene t of selenium and cobalt. FG

Nutrition agronomist Tom Wells.

t: 03333

e: enquiries@originsoilnutrition.co.uk www.originsoilnutrition.co.uk

SWEETGRASS®

Feed your grass with Yara’s Booster range of fertilizers:

•Contains Selenium for healthier livestock

•Additional sulphur increases yield by 10-15% in first and second cut

•True uniform fertilizer –every granule contains every nutrient

•Apply NPKS by the end of March for best grazing results

@Yara_UK

Yara UK

agronomy.uk@yara.com

www www.yara.co.uk

Strube UK outlines varieties for the UK fodder and energy beet markets.

MODERN FODDERENERGY BEET OPTIONS

The value of fodder beet in ruminant diets is well understood by livestock farmers and nutritionists. The highly digestible bre in combination with the natural sugars in beet provide an excellent feed that supports stable rumen pH and encourages dry matter intake for optimised daily liveweight gain or milk quality.

Dietary inclusion can easily exceed six months a year, from earlier harvested crops in October through to later lifted and well stored crops to March and beyond.

Strube’s modern varieties o er a dry matter of around 19–21%, and using a seed rate of around 1.1–1.2 units per hectare can produce yields in excess of 100t/ha under UK conditions, equivalent to c.20t/ha dry matter or more.

All of this can be grown using no more than 120kg of applied nitrogen per hectare, making for a very nitrogen e cient crop. The use of organic manures can further reduce this requirement signi cantly, the company explains. Having a spring sown break crop may also bring bene ts when planning farm rotation.

All of Strube’s fodder beet seed is treated with the same fungicide and insecticide treatments as applied to UK sugar

beet seed; ensuring excellent and uniform emergence, high eld establishment and vigorous early canopy development to maximise intercepted solar radiation for root yield development.

In terms of its current varieties, for early planting on colder soils, Clemens – with the added bene t of seed priming advancement – may be the variety of choice, however both Degas and Gahan have proven themselves for at least three years in the UK and Ireland, delivering exceptional performance, Strube says.

As plant breeders Strube is driven by continuous improvement and so in 2023 the company contracted the BBRO to undertake fully replicated trials on two sites to compare the performance of its three varieties against potential future candidates. Following these trials Strube identi ed Hubble and ST Olympe for their increased performance and these are now entered into UK VL trialling with the objective of national listing for 2027 availability.

Strube is renowned for delivering consistently high performing varieties from traditional breeding techniques, combined with excellence in seed quality. FG

Finishing bulls at grass gives farm’s margins

High feed prices led to Duncan and Claire Morrison trialling finishing bulls at grass.

Key to Duncan and Claire’s system at Meikle Maldron near Banchory, is rotational paddock grazing on high quality grass. Swards are mainly ryegrass with red and white clover and a small amount of plantain and chicory, seeking to maximise nutrition from grass.

The Deeside Monitor Farm split bulls into two groups at turnout in April; those over 350kg and those weighing less, and both groups moved paddocks every two days or so. They started feeding about 1kg/ head of concentrate in February, and continued this in the eld using an ATV and snacker after they were turned out in mid-April. Towards the end of summer, the feed rate increased and some barley was introduced as the higher starch helped them nish.

The bulls were sold prime to Kepak prior to their 16-month birthday, with an average sale liveweight of 602kg, and a daily liveweight gain of 0.93kg/day over their lifetime. Average carcass weight

was 325kg, with a killing out gure of 54%.

SAC Consulting senior beef and sheep specialist, Kirsten Williams said total variable costs fell from £629/ head for the previous year’s intensively fed bulls to £217/head for the grazed bulls. The biggest di erence was in purchased concentrate costs; a total of £546/head for intensive bulls, falling to £157/head for those in the grazing trial.

Accounting for forage costs, including grazing, the gross margin for grazed bulls was £501, compared with £184 for the intensive bulls. With xed costs taken into account, net margin was £229 for grazed bulls, which was £132 better than the intensive bulls.

Kirsten noted that the system would not suit every farmer. Ensuring the right bull is chosen for the system is an essential point, she added. “Bulls should be analysed at weaning and again pre-turnout for their suitability for the system, with any animal below average being questioned. These animals may be better suited

to nishing intensively or selling o farm.”

Supplementary feeding at grass via a snacker worked well for the system, but she said grades, weights and killing out percentages could be improved if this supplement was o ered earlier, with protein and energy balanced to meet the bulls’ growing requirements.

Duncan has already taken many of these points on board. “We will look at feeding concentrate from

weaning, keeping them ticking along better and it should lift turnout weight so there is less catching up to do in summer at grass.” He has also been more selective about which male cattle are selected for the system, castrating more of the ‘bottom end’ of performers. “We will either nish these ourselves or sell as forward stores.”

For Duncan, the trial has been worthwhile, and it’s something he is planning to do again this year. FG

Duncan Morrison farms at Meikle Maldron near Banchory.

Neogen® Farm Fluid MAX

Provides advanced hygiene protection.

NEW DEFRA approval against Diseases of Poultry Orders and General Orders.

Building on the trusted strength of the Farm Fluid brand, this advanced solution o ers enhanced e icacy to inactivate up to 100% of both sporulated and non-sporulated oocysts, helping to protect your flock from coccidiosis.

Scan Here

SPOTLIGHT ON: FARM BIOSECURITY

Neogen Farm Fluid MAX is a powerful disinfectant designed for challenging farm conditions. It is e ective against a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.

The product recently received DEFRA approval for Disease of Poultry Orders and General Orders (including avian in uenza), meaning it is now DEFRA-approved for all ve possible disease orders, which is testament of the versatility of the product, explains Alex Gomez, Neogen EMEA animal safety eld technical and sales support specialist.

Its dual active biocide formulation ensures a reliable solution for preventing avian in uenza incursion in poultry farms, in combination with other biosecurity measures, he adds. Speci cally, it is known for its e cacy in inactivating up to 100% of sporulated and non-sporulated oocysts, which makes it particularly useful in controlling coccidiosis. Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts exposed to 2% Neogen Farm Fluid MAX for 24 hours showed a killing rate over 95%, meaning that Neogen Farm Fluid MAX performs above the European guided e cacy under DVG guidelines against the main causative protozoa of cryptosporidiosis, Cryptosporidium parvum

Neogen Farm Fluid MAX is suitable for use in various animal housing environments, including poultry, swine, cattle, and other livestock, and is ideal for general nal disinfection of animal housing in between production cycles.

disinfection.

This month, Neogen experts outline the benefits and uses of Neogen Farm Fluid MAX, and share optimal cleaning and disinfection protocols. is also suitable at 1% by direct sunlight. equipment can be a prepared

Tailored formulation

Commenting on what sets the product apart from other products on the market, Jonathan ThomasNash, Neogen EMEA animal safety product manager, says: “From a technical perspective we have tailored our formulation using available actives to o er improvements in bacterial biocidal e cacy compared with competitor products. In addition, we also pursued proven e cacy across three eld strains of Eimeria protozoa known as causative agents of coccidiosis at up to 100% e cacy.

“Fundamentally we o er this product as a key part of our Neogen Pathogen Control Programme whereby we can position appropriate disinfectants and cleaners for biosecurity across all farm operations.”

Optimising e cacy

To maximise the e cacy of Neogen Farm Fluid MAX, it is important to follow the recommended usage guidelines, Alex stressed.

“For buildings, preparation will start by cleaning the area to remove organic matter. Ideally, we would then soak the surfaces, apply a foaming alkaline detergent like Farm Foam EVO, let it work for 30 minutes and rinse before applying the disinfectant.

times.

“By adhering to these guidelines, you can ensure that Neogen Farm Fluid MAX provides optimal protection against a wide range of pathogens, helping to maintain a healthy and biosecure farm environment.”

Developments

Neogen Farm Fluid MAX was soft-launched during late 2024 in advance of full regulatory approvals so the company could prepare suitable market trials. Neogen has since received market and DEFRA support and approvals so that it can position for wider biosecurity uses in key markets.

The product has its origins in the Farm Fluid S formulation, which in the late 1990s to early 2000s was a market leading disinfectant, Jonathan explains. “The knowledge and cognisance towards environmental and human health aspects of some chemistries has meant that other biocides had to be developed which o er e ective solutions with reduced collateral implications.

Its robust UV resistant chemistry makes Neogen Farm Fluid MAX at 1% dilution particularly e ective for disinfecting vehicle wheels to prevent the spread of pathogens. The product is also suitable at 1% dilution for both covered and uncovered boot dips, with minimal degradation by direct sunlight. Meanwhile, removable equipment can be immersed in a prepared solution for thorough

“If following a Neogen Pathogen Control Programme, we would recommend using two disinfectants to ensure maximum disinfection bene ts. We would rst recommend using our Neogen Viroxide Super and, when surfaces are dry, then apply Neogen Farm Fluid MAX. “Neogen Farm Fluid MAX can be applied at di erent dilutions depending on the target pathogens; at 1% dilution for general disinfection or at 2% dilution when targeting coccidia oocysts. When applying disinfectants, use spraying equipment to ensure even coverage at 300ml per square metre.”

“More recent scienti c developments have meant that safer formulations can now be o ered which still provide e ective biocidal solutions. Neogen Farm Fluid MAX engages the inherent robustness and performance of the Farm Fluid brand with new enhanced e cacy.”

Neogen’s key programme currently is to expand the reach of its Neogen Pathogen Control Programme within its markets.

“This biosecurity theme is fundamental to the success of any food production operation to optimise output and improve pro tability,” Jonathan says.

Alex continues: “For equipment, like for buildings, we will start by cleaning equipment thoroughly to remove dirt and organic matter. Immerse removable equipment in a prepared 0.5% solution of Neogen Farm Fluid MAX for a maximum of 30 minutes. Allow su cient contact time to ensure e ective disinfection. Follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for speci c contact

“With the regulatory restrictions placed upon biocides, we also plan to explore developing existing chemistries to enhance biocidal e ciency and the range of pathogens we can target to enhance disease reduction. This is supported through providing eld support to facilitate correct application and appropriate biosecurity protocols.” FG

Jonathan Thomas-Nash, Neogen.

Alex Gomez, Neogen.

Breeding herds that are fit for the future

Genetics and greater availability of sexed beef semen will be key to meeting environmental targets and production demands.

Global beef consumption is set to increase by 10% by 2032, shared AHDB CEO Graham Wilkinson, speaking at the 2025 British Cattle Breeders’ conference. Genetics hold the key to unlocking this growth while reducing livestock emissions, delegates agreed.

However, on average, UK dairy farmers are spending 0.6–0.8ppl on genetics. This accounts for just 1.5–2% of the cost of production. Consultant Andrew Thompson questioned if this is enough considering genetics have a 50% in uence on gross margin potential.

However, while GB farmers have adopted the use of sexed semen at pace, poor availability is halting progress in the beef sector, according to Professor Jonathan Statham, chief executive of RAFT Solutions. As part of an Innovate UK-funded project, he calculated changing the proportion of male and female calves born from 50:50 to 80:20 in favour of males could lower farm emissions by 14 tonnes

annually, while increasing beef output by 3 tonnes on a 100-cow suckler herd.

The model showed improvements were driven by faster nishing of bulls and larger carcass weights. At the same time, Prof Statham said using targeted maternal genetics delivered a 10% improvement each year through improved cow longevity, fertility and earlier calf weaning.

“The potential is big, but the availability of sexed semen is a challenge in the beef sector. We need a wide range of sexed semen available in all breeds with all the genetic traits we want,” he added.

Delegates at the three-day conference heard from beef farmers using arti cial insemination to fast-track genetic gain. Perthshire suckler farmer Neil McGowan uses mostly AI sires on his 50-cow pedigree

Simmental herd. He also runs 150 pedigree Luing cows.

He selects maternal traits to produce heifers that get pregnant in six weeks as yearlings, calve at two, and then rebreed within nine weeks while nursing calves.

Conference attendees also learned how technological advancements would help improve health and welfare to maximise the genetic potential of animals.

Professor Andrew Dowsey from the University of Bristol unveiled a pioneering

arti cial intelligence (AI) system, which uses a network of cameras to identify individual cows by their unique coat patterns. Algorithms are being created to track subtle changes in social behaviour to detect disease before symptoms are visible. It is hoped a prototype will be available by 2026.

BCBC chairman Andy King said: “There are a lot of tools in the toolbox to help support the herd of the future, to meet the challenge of feeding an ever-increasing population whilst treading lightly.” FG

This is the time of year to think about the safety of your animals in the field. What is the condition of the electric fence after the recent bad weather? Is it still safe and sound? The step-by-step Gallagher Check allows you to inspect your fence yourself and be sure that you have done all you can to provide your animals with the safest pasture possible.

Tailored diet feeders and spreaders

The Evo-Mix diet feeder from RS Agri ranges from 10–50m3 and comes in seven di erent models, speci cally designed to cater to the unique requirements of UK farmers. Each machine is bespoke to match feeding requirements. With a vast range of optional extras and accessories, and RS Agri’s years of experience in the market, the machine is tailored to the customer’s needs.

The all-new Atlas muck spreader is engineered for consistent performance, the manufacturer continues. With a current capacity of 9–16 tonnes, this vertical beater muck spreader has a high-standard speci cation. Larger and horizontal beater machines are currently in development and will be ready for release later in 2025.

The Atlas distributes materials

like manure, lime, compost and more from 9–15m, ensuring an even spread pattern. Standard equipment includes Hardox wearing parts, heavy-duty oor conveyor components, a robustly designed slurry door, and more. With a huge range of optional extras, including galvanised nish, de ectors and weighing systems, Atlas suits both farmers and contractors.

RS Agri says customer care doesn’t stop when the machine is sold. It prides itself on aftersales service and engineering backup. Using its fully equipped services vehicles it o ers a 365-day cover and a full range of spare parts for most makes of diet feeders is kept in stock for immediate delivery.

Contact your local dealer or RS Agri directly. FG

FARM DIVERSIFICATION

traditional means and receive management payments from us.

HOW FARMS CAN BENEFIT FROM BNG HABITAT BANKS

Land manager Rory Hodgson explores the benefits of getting involved in BNG with Environment Bank.

Since growing up on his family farm, land manager Rory Hodgson knew he always wanted to work in partnership with farmers. He explains how many farmers are getting involved with BNG Habitat Banks, and how this can support farming.

Why is BNG becoming so popular?

A. With BNG, farmers can bank a parcel of their land for the next 30 years and receive a guaranteed annual income that’s una ected by uctuating input costs. It can be a bit of a lifeline for those that are struggling nancially and a great opportunity for those that are simply looking for an additional revenue stream.

Almost all the farmers we work with really want to see wildlife and nature thrive on their land, and a BNG Habitat Bank gives them a great way to do that. Habitat Banks can be managed using livestock grazing and hay cuts which means that the focus remains agricultural, so BNG can really t into a wider land business.

How can a BNG Habitat Bank support agriculture?

A. If you look at the current trends in farming, you’ll see a real push towards regenerative

agriculture. This involves considering things like soil health, air quality, and water quality – and managing the impact farming has on all these things to nd the most sustainable approach.

A Habitat Bank takes a parcel of land where the soil is initially poor in terms of nutrients and introduces new habitats which can improve the health of the soil and promote biodiversity, wildlife, and pollinators – all great for regenerative agriculture.

Very small changes can make quite a big di erence in biodiversity, especially where the land was managed intensively before.

How does Environment Bank partner with farmers?

A. We take out a long-term lease on a land parcel to create a Habitat Bank. We pay the landowner an annual rent and, in most circumstances, also pay them an annual fee to help manage the habitats.

The design for each Habitat Bank is led primarily by ecology, but it also incorporates the landowner’s perspective. We always listen to them to understand which habitats they think could be bene cial because they know the land better than anyone.

We like to incorporate grazing livestock or hay cuts directly into the management plan so the farmer can continue to generate income through

What are the benefits of working with Environment Bank?

A. Our model removes almost all the additional cost and risk that’s typically associated with BNG. We cover the cost of habitat creation works. If we’re creating wild ower meadows, we'll pay for the reseeding. If we’re creating ponds, we will take care of any planning permissions and pay for the excavation.

Our ecologists ensure all the habitats are established correctly and provide annual reports to the local planning authority, and our sales team generate revenue by selling the Biodiversity Units to developers for BNG.

So, provided they complete their management activities every year as planned, our landowners receive their lease and management payments without having to worry about anything else involved in BNG.

What do you find most rewarding about your role?

A. It seems like there's a lot of things working against farmers right now so, honestly, the most rewarding thing for me is the help that we can provide to them through our partnerships. The highlight is when a new Habitat Bank goes live because we'll have supported the farmer from the beginning.

A lot of our Habitat Banks are still in their early days, but our farmers are already enjoying seeing an increase in biodiversity on their land and we'll see even more over the coming years.

What would you say to anyone considering BNG for their land?

A. There might be a certain area of your land that isn’t the most productive where a Habitat Bank might be a great diversi cation option.

Even if you're a little bit on the fence, it might be worth getting us to come out for a chat about how it works. We take on anywhere from 25–250 acres, depending on location and habitat creation opportunities.

We do a desk-based review and visit the land for an ecology assessment at no cost to the landowner, so we can talk in a bit more detail about the type of habitats we could create without you having to commit. FG

Land manager Rory Hodgson.

A trusted partner with biodiversity expertise, we’re the nation’s leading BNG Habitat Bank provider. We help farmers diversify their income with BNG and work with them to create fourishing habitats on their land. Find out

Meet a few of our partners

Across England, a growing number of farmers and landowners are integrating BNG Habitat Banks into their business, providing a new and secure long-term source of income.

Scan the QR codes to discover our partnership stories →

THE ENERGY TRANSITION IS AN ENORMOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR FARMERS

Photovolt Development Partners is helping UK farmers create new, stable revenue streams, allowing them to expand and adapt their production.

We provide significant investment that, combined with long-term cost savings, enables farmers to expand their operations, secure their finances, and produce even higher yields.

Agrivoltaic installations allow you to continue grazing livestock on the leased land, whilst proving beneficial for many forms of crops including onions, grains, potatoes, root vegetables, and strawberries.

All terms agreed by negotiation, with PVDP making a contribution towards the landowner’s legal fees.

Contact us to discuss how we can work together

WE OFFER FARMERS A SECURE, ALTERNATIVE REVENUE STREAM THROUGH LONG-TERM CLEAN ENERGY GENERATION.

www.pvdp.eu

07918 942123

phillips@pvdp.eu

CAREFULLY PLANNED SOLAR PROJECTS CAN DELIVER MYRIAD OF BENEFITS

Photovolt Development Partners says working with a responsible developer can o er a range of benefits to the areas in which they operate.

A lesser-known aspect of large-scale solar projects is the major biodiversity boost to rural communities they can provide, says Photovolt Development Partners (PVDP). This is in addition to numerous other bene ts. With careful planning, experienced developers can not only minimise environmental impact but help deliver a signi cant uptick in ora, fauna and insect life. In this article, PVDP sets out how responsible developers, through considered planning, can deliver a myriad of bene ts to the areas in which they operate.

Biodiversity gains

The development of solar farms, through less productive farmland, can deliver signi cant improvements to local biodiversity, the company explains, giving the example of its proposed development, the Botley West Solar Farm in Oxfordshire. The site is committed to delivering a 70% biodiversity net gain, encouraging new habitats for skylarks and other ora and fauna, by taking the land out of low-yield agricultural use and replacing it with habitats that can provide a newly revitalised environment for local plants and animals to thrive in. Livestock grazing will also be encouraged across the project area, including elds where solar panels are situated.

Mitigation strategies

One of the most di cult aspects of developing a solar farm is mitigating the visual impact. Undoubtedly, erecting solar panels in formerly agricultural elds is a signi cant change to the landscape. However, with smart and considered planning, the visual impact can be majorly reduced, PVDP reckons. Measures can include the creation of woodland belts, reinforcing existing eld boundary hedgerows, planting new hedgerows and cultivating meadow grassland to the perimeter of solar array areas.

At the Botley West Solar Farm for example, 1,235 acres will have no panels at all, representing approximately one-third of the site. This is one of the ways that design will mitigate the visual

impact of the development, the company shares. Fields close to residences will have a bu er zone between them and any panels. Other empty elds will have community food growing projects. In addition, new tree planting will begin on and around the development site, as well as 25km of new hedgerows.

The project seeks to increase recreational use and access across the site through the creation of new and restored foot and cycle paths and improved disability access. This demonstrates how solar projects can provide further bene ts that would otherwise not be available, according to PVDP.

Community benefit

In order to ensure that communities nancially bene t, there are a number of measures that developers can take. At Botley West Solar Farm, this has involved plans to supply local people with electricity generated from the project at preferential terms, ensuring more a ordable power for locals. Additionally, PVDP is in negotiations to establish a community bene t fund to help fund local projects at the discretion of local residents and authorities – funds that would not be otherwise available.

Solar developments, when done properly and with careful consideration for the local community, can bring real material bene ts to an area, including job creation, investment in local infrastructure, and support for community initiatives.

NESO update

These bene ts o er an additional incentive for landowners considering partnership with a responsible developer. Farmers currently considering leasing part of their land for solar development should be aware of signi cant upcoming reforms from the National Energy System Operator (NESO). In headline terms, the prioritisation of ‘deliverability’ will mean those projects where landowners have yet to conclude a deal with a developer will move further back in

the queue for a grid connection if not concluded by around May this year.

The proposed reforms require applications to be submitted during a designated window at the same time each year and mean that ‘deliverable projects’ would move ahead in the queue, with land agreements that are already in place being a key part of making a project considered ‘deliverable’. Additionally, they will also assess the number of projects in a given region, as opposed to nationally. This means NESO could push your connection date back further if there are already a number of realistic projects in the pipeline.

The later that farmers leave it to decide on land agreements, the later a developer can apply and the further back a grid connection date becomes. It is reasonable to expect connection dates as late as the mid-to-late 2030s if agreements aren’t concluded by the end of April. Farmers will need to act to agree land deals now for grid connection dates to be considered in this window, PVDP concludes. FG

‘Inspirational’ farming duo support hill farm with tourism

enterprising young couple

As well as providing locally sourced produce, the couple also run a rustic campsite, gift and co ee shop and pizza barn.

Given the removal of subsidies including the recent removal of the SFI scheme, owner Ruby said the campsite is key to helping sustain the farm in the long term:

“We plan our diversi cations so they directly link to or help the farm, such as using our own meat for the pizza toppings.

“The shop is there to sell our craft products

that my mum and I make from wool, and products like our Herdwick lamb and mint burgers that everyone says are delicious. Plus, campers can grab a co ee and a croissant in the morning, which saves them having to make their own breakfast or go o site.

Dan and Ruby took the tenancy on the farm in 2017 after it had been held by Dan’s parents for 15 years before that.

Dan said: “We would de nitely recommend providing outdoor accommodation to other

farmers looking to diversify because it co-exists so well with the farm. The two complement each other, rather than get in the way.”

The couple market the campsite via popular online booking platform Pitchup.com, which helps ensure it is busy throughout their season, which runs from March to October.

Dan Yates, founder of Pitchup.com, described Seatoller Farm as a rst-class example of how tourism and agriculture can co-exist to cement the longer-term future of a farm.

“Camping and glamping sites on farms earn on average £13,000 per year and up to £240,000.

“With nearly 1 million nights booked for UK stays in 2025 already on Pitchup.com, now’s the time to start your diversi cation project.”

For advice on how to set up a farm-based campsite, visit Pitchup’s ‘How to Start a Campsite’ page at www.pitchup.com/how-start-campsitecaravan-park/

To list your farm on Pitchup.com visit www.pitchup.com/join/ or call 020 3743 9975 FG

GOVERNMENT GRANTS FOR HOME IMPROVEMENTS

depression etc). 2. If the total income of the property is < £31,000 per year (for people who are self employed this is your pro t, not your turnover). 3. If anyone in the property receives Working tax credit, Child tax credit, Universal credit, Pension credit, Housing bene t, Income support, Jobseekers allowance or Income based Employment and Support allowance.

We are able to help if you use either Oil, LPG, Wood, Coal or electric to heat your home. Unfortunately we are unable to help if the property has mains gas central heating.

EASY INCOME UNLOCK FROM YOUR LAND WITH

SHARE THE WILDER CORNERS OF YOUR LAND WITH OUR ADVENTUROUS OVERLANDING MEMBERS AND EARN EXTRA INCOME WITH MINIMAL EFFORT

Our members agree to be self-sufficient and expect no facilities. This takes away all of the hassle of a conventional campsite

You can accept members to stay on your terms and choose where you want our majority 4X4 capable members to set up camp

It is FREE to list your land and we take no commission. Members book and pay with you directly

and

UNLOCKING EFFORTLESS INCOME WITH OFF-GRID CAMPING

O Grid Camp says it o ers farmers a simple, cost-e ective way to unlock a new income stream from their land.

In the ever-challenging world of farming, diversi cation can be the key to survival. But nding a new venture that's both pro table and manageable can be a real headache. As a result, O Grid Camp was created – a unique platform o ering farmers a simple and cost-e ective way to unlock a new income stream from their land. Forget the complexities of expensive glamping pods, huts, or the constant upkeep of traditional campsites. O Grid Camp says it can connect you with a growing community of adventurous ‘overlanders’ – self-su cient 4x4 enthusiasts with rooftop tents and a passion for exploring the wilder side of the UK.

Di erent breed of camper

What sets O Grid Camp apart is its members. These aren't your average campers pitching up with over owing tents and demanding facilities –or Wi-Fi codes! The company says its members are experienced adventurers who value self-reliance and respect for the land. They pay a £25/year annual subscription to and adhere to a strict ‘O Grid Camp Pledge’:

• I agree to be self-su cient. I will not expect toilets, bins, water or any facilities unless these luxuries (!) are o ered by the individual O Grid Camp locations.

• I agree to leave no trace. I will take all rubbish away with me and leave no trace. Not even a rogue tissue, burnt re mark or unnecessary tyre tracks.

• I agree to ‘The Poo Pledge’. Where no facilities are provided, I agree to bring a shovel or to have a self-contained toilet and ensure that there is no evidence of my business for future campers.

• I agree to drive responsibly and within my capabilities at O Grid Camp locations. I will liaise directly with landowners and adhere to their requests.

Why O Grid Camp?

The beauty of O Grid Camp lies in its simplicity and minimal impact on your existing farming operations, the company explains. The bene ts are:

• No setup costs: Listing your land is completely free. No need to invest in facilities, build shower blocks, or create complex booking systems.

• Hassle-free management: Members are fully self-su cient, arriving with their own accommodation, water, and waste disposal solutions. They embrace the ‘leave no trace’ ethos, minimising your workload and environmental impact.

• Direct bookings, no commission: You set your own prices and manage bookings directly with campers, keeping 100% of the income generated. No third-party fees or complicated commission structures to worry about.

• Control and exibility: You choose where campers can pitch, set your own rules, and adapt around your farming activities. Maintain complete control over your land and its usage.

• Tap into a growing niche: Overlanding and o -grid adventures are booming in popularity. By joining O Grid Camp, you tap into a passionate, but niche, community of responsible adventurers actively seeking unique locations like yours. Expect a manageable number of campers, not a constant stream of visitors.

Founders who ‘get’ farming

O Grid Camp was founded by Tom and Rozzi, a husband-and-wife team with deep roots in agriculture. With Tom's family running a hill farm on Exmoor and Rozzi being a trained agronomist, they understand the challenges and opportunities facing farmers today. O Grid

Camp was born from a desire to support the rural economy and provide a practical diversi cation solution that respects the land and its stewards.

Hosts include Llyr, in Denbighshire, North Wales, who says: "Having previously used another camping platform, I found that O Grid Camp members were a di erent a kind of customer. They are easy to deal with, understand the rules and are more respectful of the land. I’ve never had any issues and it’s a great extra income stream that helps cover extra costs for my family that’s helpful especially in these times.”

Additionally, Leonie, from Oswestry, Shropshire, shares: "All of the O Grid Camp members that I have hosted have been respectful of our land, understanding when it comes to the comings and goings of a working farm and left absolutely no trace. I cannot wait to welcome them back in 2025."

Ready to get started?

Joining O Grid Camp is simple. Visit the website, register your land, send O Grid Camp some photos and start welcoming adventurers to your property. The company provides all the resources you need, including an earnings calculator and a comprehensive FAQ section.

Diversify your farm income, embrace the overlanding community, and unlock your land's potential with O Grid Camp. FG

O Grid Camp founders Tom and Rozzi, with their dog Thistle.

RENEWABLE ENERGY: A COMPLETE SERVICE

Renewable energy specialist Rengineers says it o ers a comprehensive service to customers.

Since 1996, Rengineers says it has been a trusted name in renewable energy solutions. With more than 850 wind turbines under maintenance contracts across the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, the UK, Germany, Belgium, and Ireland, the company explains it has built a reputation as an industry leader, and its expertise is increasingly sought after worldwide – enabling its team to deliver sustainable energy solutions wherever they are needed.

The name Rengineers is derived from

renewable energy engineers – representing a team of specialists who understand the importance of sustainability and the advanced technology that drives it.

Over the years, Rengineers has grown into a comprehensive service provider with a strong focus on wind energy and related sustainable solutions. Whether it’s refurbishment, repowering, or turnkey projects, it promises reliable, long-term energy production with guaranteed maintenance solutions. For wind

turbine owners, this means continuity, maximum e ciency, and complete peace of mind.

Meanwhile, BestWatt, a division of Rengineers, provides complete renewable solutions combining solar panels, small wind turbines, and energy storage systems – imagine generating 100% of your energy needs right on your own land. The company also specialises in repowering existing wind turbines, extending their lifespan and optimising their e ciency.

In renewable energy, downtime equals loss. That’s why Rengineers says it guarantees availability – because every moment your turbine isn’t running is energy wasted. The team of 85 dedicated specialists monitors and maintains your wind turbines every day, ensuring continuous and reliable power generation.

Rengineers focuses on what matters most: energy availability and operational reliability. It specialises in repairing and refurbishing critical wind turbine components, keeping them in top condition for years to come. With the team’s expertise, your turbines will continue to perform e ciently and sustainably, Rengineers promises.

Sustainability is more than just producing green energy – it’s also about giving wind turbines a second life. Rengineers handles the entire process: from sourcing and disassembling used turbines to rebuilding and re-installing them for continued energy production. A perfect example of circular economy in action.

If you’re looking for a reliable partner in wind energy, Rengineers says it is ready to power your future. Get in touch for more information. FG

PIG REARING AND FINISHING ACCOMMODATION

Indoor and outdoor accommodation wanted across Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, East Anglia and the Midlands.

• ATTRACTIVE RETURNS

• GUARANTEED MONTHLY INCOME

• LONG-TERM CONTRACTS

Get in touch to find out more: farming@cranswick.co.uk or 01482 422037

You can also visit us at: woldfarms.co.uk whiterosefarms.co.uk or waylandfarms.co.uk

FARM DIVERSIFICATION

Cavity Wall Log

This

Outside

Hand Crafted Random Logs

Or

The Natural Way To Build

Supporting diversification plans with asset finance

Close Brothers Asset Finance explains how it can help farmers make their diversification plans a reality.

With rising costs across the board, farmers are increasingly looking to diversify and nd innovative ways to save and make money. Photovoltaics or a biomass boiler are a good example, which can be used to supplement the energy needs of both the farm and house. This does – of course – come with an initial outlay, which the agriculture team from Close Brothers Asset Finance can support with, along with the traditional machinery and equipment.

The company says it understands how passionate the farming community is about their land and looking for opportunities to adapt its use, including for camping, glamping, farm shops

and restaurants, and hosting weddings and wedding fairs – plus supplying some of the meat and produce for the event.

In South Africa there’s a well-known saying that goes: ‘n boer maak n plan’, which roughly translates to ‘a farmer always has a plan’, and that’s clearly evident in their ability to spot an opportunity and willingness to adapt, depending on prevailing conditions, Close Brothers says.

Farmers are traditionally long-term thinkers, planning not just for today but for the next generation and the one after that. This generational model has been proven to work, with new ideas and ways of working being introduced.

Diversi cation has received national attention through Clarkson’s Farm, which demonstrates not only the di culties farmers face, but the opportunities available to those willing to do things that bit di erently. Clearly, this takes investment, but the returns can be signi cant.

Close Brothers Asset Finance’s o ering spans everything that might be needed by farmers of all types – from small dairy farm to large arable, and everything in between. Its dedicated team of agricultural specialists have extensive knowledge and experience of the sector, which gives them the ability to con dently support you and your business, the company says.

The team understands the challenges facing agricultural businesses, including the high running costs from equipment and machinery that can make it di cult to raise the necessary capital to support growth plans, including diversi cation.

Its process is simple but e ective – its agricultural team will work closely with you to create a nance agreement that works for you. That could be releasing capital from an existing asset to invest in new equipment or spreading the cost of your repayments to match your seasonal income.

Using its specialist knowledge, the company will guide you through the application process, enabling you to take full advantage of the bene ts of asset nance. For more information, please visit www.closeasset nance.co.uk/agriculture

The availability of lending, products and services are subject to eligibility, status and Close Brothers’ lending criteria. The right to decline any application is reserved, terms and conditions apply. FG

Livery yard funded via specialist lender

The livery yard is farm contractor

Dave Chandler’s biggest project yet.

Dave Chandler is no stranger to diversi cation. As a farm contractor he runs a large eet of equipment and vehicles, and spreads lime, and also grows and sells maize and rears beef cattle. Now he’s opening up another revenue stream – a high-end livery yard.

The menage is Dave’s biggest project yet – but he’s found what he calls “an easy, straightforward” way to nance it. The million-pound venture, including replacing an existing farmhouse, has been made possible not by a bank, but a bespoke deal

from a specialist direct lender set up speci cally to support Britain’s farmers.

“We love working with Rural Asset Finance,” says Dave. “For years they’ve helped us fund tractors and other machinery. This is the rst time we’ve wanted money for land or property – but they were the obvious people to call.”

Dave runs Southern Counties Liming in West Sussex but with RAF’s help has acquired the nextdoor equestrian yard, which he will expand to 10 stalls with facilities for his daughter to teach show-jumping.

He already had a farm mortgage and overdraft with a high street bank, but they would not extend this to cover the livery – so Rural Asset Finance stepped in.

“RAF always understand what we’re trying to do,” he adds. “They’ve all been involved in farming themselves, so see things from a farming perspective. We get a bespoke deal at a fair rate and the process is easy, friendly and quick.”

The process was quick. Following Dave’s initial enquiry in November, RAF o ered quotes, requested

relevant information, completed credit analysis, legal due diligence and the valuation, repaid the bank in full and transferred funds for the livery into his account in under two months.

There are obviously stringent checks and detailed questions, but the in-house team completes these quickly, says Andrew Carrier, RAF’s head of legal and compliance.

“We’re delighted to help Dave access the funds so quickly,” he says. “Having in-house sales, credit and legal teams enables smooth handover between them and means we can resolve potential legal hurdles as soon as we see them.

“Fast, accurate communication is key. We want to help customers’ projects progress as soon as possible, with no unwelcome late surprises on either side. And we insist everyone signing a deal with us sees their own solicitor independently to do their own checks and balances – that reinforces their trust in us.”

Dave is now drawing up his livery build schedule and hopes it will be operating next summer. “This will keep us busy,” he says, “but when we want to fund something else, Rural Asset Finance will be the rst to know!” FG

Fridge/freezer trailers popular

ColdTraila is the UK’s largest supplier and hirer of towable refrigerated/freezer trailers and are the sole importers from European refrigerated trailer manufacturers, Wm Meyer, Humbaur and Repo.

Many of ColdTraila’s customers are farm businesses who have diversi ed into the hire of these units for weddings, parties and other events. Additionally, it is also supplying an increasing number of these trailers to farm shops looking for extra refrigeration capacity without the cost of installing a permanent cold room, and as a trailer is classed as mobile, it doesn’t require planning permission.

The company also specialises in the manufacturing and tting of bespoke butchery meat/carcase rail systems for customers looking to hang beef quarters, pigs, poultry and lambs. 2024 saw the introduction of a 50% grant through the Farming Equipment & Technology Fund for its meat rail trailers

tted with a carcase lifting gantry, and this proved to be particularly popular with customers who cull deer commercially. The company is hopeful that a similar grant will be available in the next round of funding in spring 2025.

ColdTraila is hosting open days on 4–5th April at its site at Town Farm, Castle Frome, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR8 1HQ, where the team look forward to welcoming existing and potential customers. FG

Spare farmland sought for secure dog fields

A new business that o ers secure fields for dogs to get safe, o -lead exercise, is looking to rent spare fields from UK farmers.

Katie Ranger, founder of start-up business, Rangers Run, wishes to partner up with British farmers with spare land to support the sector, particularly in light of the planned changes to inheritance tax – which has been a cause of signi cant concern for family farms.

As farmers increasingly look to diversify and make the most e cient use of their land and

buildings, renting redundant land as a secure dog eld o ers a low input, easily managed diversi cation, whilst providing additional income. Katie will put in all the fencing, keep elds mowed and bins emptied, checking in on the elds a few times a week and handling planning permission and insurance – so nothing would be required of the landowner except the lease of

Fields Wanted

Do you have spare land to rent? We’re looking for 2 – 5 acres of land to rent for secure dog fields.

Want to know more? Contact Katie...

the land.

Local residents, dog walkers or trainers looking for a secure, enclosed dog eld for exclusive hire will be able to book the eld for 25- or 55-minute slots via the Rangers Run website, with a maximum of 3–4 dogs in the eld at a time (depending on its size). Katie will also provide enrichment for the dogs such as tyres, sand pits, hay bales and toys, with the agreement of the landowner. These would be rotated to give variety for regular users.

and lacked any enrichment for

Katie, who currently works in recruitment, had the idea for Rangers Run as she found it di cult to nd secure outdoor spaces to walk and train her Romanian rescue dog. Those that were available were very basic and lacked any enrichment for the dogs.

the UK. Anyone

Katie is interested in renting elds across the UK. Anyone interested in renting out spare elds should contact her directly. FG

Benefit from Additional Income

• Helping farmers earn

• Receive regular rental payments, keep full ownership of the land

Peace of Mind Guarantee

• We take full responsibility for all the maintenance

• No impact on farming operations

• We will work with your existing set up

• Community benefits (residents, dog walkers and trainers)

Katie Ranger with her dog Rollo.

SECURING YOUR FAMILY LAND WITH SOLAR

Lightsource bp shares how to diversify your business, generate more income and continue farming your land.

Owning and managing land in today’s nancial landscape can be challenging. Leasing your land for a solar project is one way to help increase stability and diversify your business, securing long-term, index-linked income for your farm for decades to come, and you can still farm the land once the panels are in place, says Lightsource bp. Solar pays out regardless of the weather, comes with decades of guaranteed income and has the added bene t of having signi cant positive impacts for the land, the local community and the environment, the company continues.

The nancial proposition of a solar lease is an attractive one – solar projects have lifespans of up to 40 years and involve long-term leases. The rental income o ered is usually paid per acre, above standard agricultural lease rates, and is xed and index-linked. These leases provide a secure and diversi ed revenue stream for years to come, helping to keep farms in the family and manage estate planning.

Additionally, farm rental income is considered a favourable revenue stream by banks and lenders, which has allowed solar farm landowners

to successfully secure further nancing using the rental income.

Additionally, many landowners nd that renting land for solar means they’re able to make the acres generate two streams of revenue –income from the panels and income from a sheep ock. Solar panels provide shade and shelter for sheep, while the secure fencing o ers protection from predation and harassment.

Meanwhile, the disruption to the land from the solar panels is minimal, and land is returned to its original or an improved state when the lifespan of the project is up, the company says. Research suggests the quality of soil under solar panels improves during the duration of the project.

And the positive impacts don’t stop at the site boundaries. Solar projects developed in the UK are subject to business rates, which are paid to the local authority. This means that the local authority will bene t from hundreds of thousands of pounds across the lifespan of each project, potentially even millions, in taxes related to the project. The business or commercial rates paid by the owner of the solar farm on your land could go towards improvements to local services such as schools and community assets.

Lightsource bp says it is a leader in UK solar and has developed over 200 projects since 2010. The company says it’s got a superb local track record, making it the ideal partner for any landowner looking to make the most of their land and secure long-term income for the next generation of their business.

Visit www.lightsourcebp.com/uk/landowers/ FG

Turn customers into marketing

Ever wished your customers would do your marketing for you? Well, they can, through user-generated content (UGC), explains Hayley Parker, Flame Marketing.

UGC is any content – photos, reviews, social media posts – created by customers rather than your business. It’s a simple but powerful way to build trust and reach new audiences without spending time and money on marketing.

People trust recommendations from real people – when a happy customer shares a picture of their glamping stay on your farm, or posts a recipe using your lamb meat box, their friends and followers see it as a genuine endorsement. This word-of-mouth marketing on social media can signi cantly boost your business.

How to encourage UGC:

• Ask for reviews – Encourage customers to leave reviews on Google or Facebook. Feature the best ones on your website and social media

• Create a hashtag – If you sell farm produce or craft items, suggest a unique hashtag customers can use when posting about their purchase

• Run competitions – O er a prize for the best customer photo or recipe featuring your products

• Share customer content – If a customer tags your farm in a post, reshare it! This makes them feel valued and encourages others to do the same

• O er an incentive – A small discount or a future purchase reward for sharing photos or writing a review can go a long way. FG

Opportunities in planning system

Many farms are looking at how to operate more e ciently and farm buildings are often unused or are no longer t for purpose, due to technological advancements and the increased size of machinery. Engaging with the planning process will be essential to most schemes involving agricultural land and buildings as these usually require some form of planning consent.

Some operations and changes of use can bene t from permitted development, such as the conversion of buildings to residential or commercial use, the construction of new buildings, or the extension of existing buildings. These can be applied for using the prior approval method providing they meet set criteria, which is quicker and more cost e ective than full planning permission. Other

schemes, where these criteria are not met, will require full planning permission.

Wilson Wraight says its services cover all aspects of the planning process and are tailored to unlock opportunities through the planning system. Its team’s experience enables it to cover the strategic promotion of sites through to the project management of development and diversi cation schemes via planning applications or appeals.

Wilson Wraight’s Planning Consultancy team would be delighted to discuss options for farm diversi cation or to assess the potential for land to be brought forward for residential or employment uses. For further information and to discuss any planning related matters contact the company directly. FG

Why solar cannot be ignored

Rural and Country Energy shares its top ve bene ts of solar to UK farmers and landowners.

Cost e ective energy production: Solar can cost as little as 2p kWh to produce, against a cost price often 10 times this from your energy provider. Green funds often look to fund projects on your behalf, giving you long term energy security you can realistically budget on.

Bottom line cost savings: Producing low cost energy yourself can see signi cant savings with an ROI as little as four years on CAPEX.

Operational security: As a business reliant on an energy provider for your energy supply, the price you pay tomorrow and beyond is controlled

entirely by your energy provider and their shareholders. Creating your own energy takes back that control giving you real time operational security.

Long-term investment: Solar requires very little maintenance and will start to produce energy as soon as there is daytime ambient light available, even in cloudy weather.

Future proo ng: It is widely accepted that this or future governments will implement carbon taxes, therefore the lower the footprint you have the less you are likely to be penalised.

Rural and Country Energy, o ers a no obligation, site viability survey to assess how e ective solar can be for you. FG

POULTRY GROWERS REQUIRED

Green Label Poultry is ofering an exciting opportunity for farmers and landowners to provide additional growing space for both free range and indoor poultry. Due to increased customer demand, we are looking for dedicated and professionally minded farmers who are looking for a new challenge or diversifcation opportunities.

Converting existing buildings

• New purpose-built poultry facilities

• Temporary polytunnel developments

• Developing areas of light land

Top rates and prompt payment on all the above.

Our aim is to produce indoor barn reared ducks, Free Range Bronze Turkeys and barn reared turkeys under contract.

Training and Technical advice will be given by our team of dedicated feld staf. For further information and advice about our grower events please contact our Farms Ofce on 01473 734240 or email farmsofce@gressinghamfoods.co.uk

We have a Proven track record in Beef, Dairy, Poultry and Feeds sectors

Fully funded installation options using Farming Finance or PPA schemes

Roof or Ground-sited arrays

De-carbonise, and reduce exposure to rising grid-costs

4-yr Payback is possible for higher-use farms, with a 25-yr system lifespan

Opportunity for arable farmers

With demand for high-welfare freerange and barn-reared poultry on the rise, East Anglia-based poultry producer Gressingham Foods is seeking farms in the East Anglia, Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, East Midlands, and Home Counties regions to expand its growing network.

This presents an attractive diversi cation opportunity for arable farmers looking to enhance pro tability and new entrants aiming to establish a sustainable enterprise.

Poultry production o ers yearround income while complementing arable farming by e ciently utilising straw by-products and returning valuable organic matter and nutrients to the soil. One contractor highlighted the nancial bene ts, stating: "Arable pro ts have been poor over the last ve years, but turkey stability has kept us in business and enabled expansion. Buying arable land outright is

unrealistic on current returns, whereas a turkey nishing shed has a payback period of around seven years."

Gressingham Foods provides poultry and feed, shielding growers from market volatility and high input costs. Prior experience in poultry farming is advantageous but not essential, as full training, technical advice, and ongoing support are provided by the company’s dedicated eld team.

Whether building new poultry facilities, erecting temporary polytunnels, or converting unused or existing livestock buildings, landowners can capitalise on this additional revenue stream. Gressingham also assists with farm design, planning permission, building speci cations, and equipment requirements.

For more information, contact the Gressingham Farms o ce directly. FG

Community energy partnerships

The farming landscape is evolving, and for many, energy generation is becoming a crucial pillar of diversi cation.

Conrad Energy’s innovative Match+ solution makes it possible for farmers to take their energy projects a step further – creating local energy networks that directly power neighbouring businesses through community energy partnerships.

Many farms generate more power than they consume, but instead of exporting surplus energy to the grid at wholesale rates, they could be supplying local businesses at competitive prices.

For those with diversi ed farm buildings housing industrial tenants, the opportunity to supply energy via a direct connection that bypasses the grid already exists. However, community

energy partnerships go beyond that, enabling farmers to sell their renewable energy at a longer-term xed price through the grid to local businesses, with the support of Conrad Energy.

With a power purchase agreement (PPA) in place, Conrad Energy acts as an intermediary, buying electricity from the farmer and supplying it directly to local enterprises. Unlike standard green tari s that match energy use annually, Match+ ensures up to 100% of demand is met with realtime renewable supply, enhancing transparency and maximising local impact.

This is the future of sustainable farming – strengthening local economies while reducing carbon footprints, Conrad Energy says. Contact the company directly to explore the bene ts. FG

Covenbrook fully refurbished VADERSTAD ‘Rexius Twin 830’

GET READY FOR

SILAGE

THE ALL-ROUNDER FOR ANY TYPE OF CROP

THE ALL-ROUNDER FOR ANY TYPE OF CROP

The Comprima range was developed to be both reliable and durable even in the most difcult conditions. Featuring a unique baling technology the NovoGrip chain and slat conveyor bales all types of crops.

In combination with an extremely powerful intake system, the machine produces high-density bales with high throughput. Ofering a choice of chambers the round balers of the Comprima series are particularly fexible and match all customers‘ requirements.

The Comprima range was developed to be both reliable and durable even in the most difcult conditions. Featuring a unique baling technology the NovoGrip chain and slat conveyor bales all types of crops. In combination with an extremely powerful intake system, the machine produces high-density bales with high throughput. Ofering a choice of chambers the round balers of the Comprima series are particularly fexible and match all customers‘ requirements.

• Fixed Chamber - Comprima F 125 and F 125 XC

• Fixed Chamber - Comprima F 125 and F 125 XC

• Semi-Variable Bale Chamber - Comprima F 155

• Semi-Variable Bale Chamber - Comprima F 155

• Variable Chamber - Comprima V 150 XC and V 180 XC

• Variable Chamber - Comprima V 150 XC and V 180 XC

• Variable Chamber Combination baler and Wrapper the Comprima CV 150 XC

• Variable Chamber Combination baler and Wrapper the Comprima CV 150 XC

#kroneagriculture

BALER RANGE OFFERS

BALERS & BALE HANDLING

EFFICIENCY, DURABILITY AND PERFORMANCE

Comprima V 150 XC Plus

Whether you’re working with silage, hay, or straw, the Krone Comprima V 150 XC Plus ensures consistent, high-density bales, while integrating state-of-the-art technology for seamless operation, according to the manufacturer.

The semi-variable bale chamber allows operators to produce bales ranging from 1–1.5m in diameter. Its unique design creates a soft, small core, ensuring a well-shaped and dense bale that retains its integrity during handling and storage.

Krone outlines the key features of its modern baling solutions, including the Comprima V 150 XC Plus and Comprima CV 150 XC Plus.

a 530mm Hardox rotor and 17 or 26 knives. The robust rotor and helical tine rows guarantee a uniform crop feed, producing nely chopped material that enhances fermentation quality in silage and improves overall bale density.

table. This minimises the risk of bale deformation and ensures a smooth work ow, maximising e ciency during harvest.

during long working hours.

This innovative system is built on three core components: The tensioning arm, suspension strut, and tensioning kinematics. As the top tensioning arm moves downward, additional space is created within the chamber, allowing for increased material intake. It can also adjust the density of the bale from 80cm depending on what you are baling in order to get the most from each bale.

NovoGrip technology: Unlike conventional baling systems, the NovoGrip utilises heavy-duty rubber fabric belts and horizontal metal slats that grip and roll the bale with exceptional force. This results in maximum bale density, ensuring tightly packed bales that are easier to transport and store. Whether working with dry straw, damp silage, or coarse hay, this guarantees reliability and durability under all conditions.

EasyFlow pick-up: This is a standout feature, designed without a cam track; it signi cantly reduces moving parts, lowering maintenance needs and ensuring smooth, quiet operation. With a working width of 2.15m, the pick-up is capable of handling wide swaths e ortlessly. The double tines, arranged in a W-line, gather even the heaviest or shortest crops while ensuring a consistent material ow into the rotor cutter.

For precision cutting and high throughput, the XCut cutting system comes equipped with

Additionally, the variable chamber model o ers seamless diameter adjustments from 1m to 1.5m, giving operators the ability to customise bale sizes based on speci c crop needs. Smaller bales are often preferred for silage due to easier handling, while larger bales are ideal for hay and straw storage.

A particularly innovative feature is the ability to unload bales in pairs. If wrapping is not required, the table can be used for double bale deposition, signi cantly reducing eld clearing times and improving operational e ciency.

Comprima CV 150 XC Plus

For those who require a combination baler-wrapper, the Comprima CV 150 XC Plus is available with an integrated twin-arm wrapper. This high-speed wrapping system orbits at 36rpm, ensuring a rapid and e cient bale wrapping process, even under di cult eld conditions.

Film-on- lm wrapping: There is the option to use the lm-on- lm wrapping system, which replaces traditional net wrapping with a base layer of stretch lm. This method provides several advantages:

• Increased bale density – The lm applies greater pressure on the outer layers, reducing trapped air and improving silage preservation

After the bale chamber opens, a specially designed lever – activated only when the gauge roller detects a su ciently heavy bale – safely transfers the bale onto the wrapping

Stability and longevity: Designed with a tandem axle, this model o ers superior road handling and eld stability, reducing soil compaction and improving manoeuvrability, Krone says. The heavy-duty 1.5in drive chains and oversized spur gears ensure a long lifespan, even under extreme working conditions. Additionally, the automatic chain tensioning and lubrication system minimise downtime.

• Enhanced logistics – Wrapped bales hold their shape better during transportation and storage

• Easier handling – When feeding livestock, the bales break apart more cleanly, reducing waste

• Reduced packaging waste.

Tractor Implement Management:

The Comprima CV 150 XC Plus o ers:

• EasyFlow cam-free pick-up for e cient crop gathering

• 530mm Hardox rotor for highspeed cutting

• XCut with 17 or 26 blades for precision chopping

• 1m to 1.5m bale sizes for customisable outputs

• High-density bale formation via NovoGrip technology

• Twin wrapper arms for rapid and reliable wrapping (CV model only)

• Tandem axle for improved stability and reduced compaction (CV model only)

• TIM automation for seamless operation.

The Comprima CV 150 XC Plus is equipped with Tractor Implement Management (TIM), a baler automation system that streamlines operations. This technology allows the baler to communicate with and control the tractor, optimising processes such as stopping, starting, and wrapping without constant manual input. By automating key functions, TIM reduces operator fatigue and increases productivity

For those seeking alternative baling solutions, Krone o ers a wide range of round and square balers, each designed to meet speci c needs and eld conditions. Whether you require a high-capacity BiG Pack square baler for large-scale operations or a more compact and versatile Bellima round baler, Krone says it has a solution. FG

SIMPLE BALER OFFERS IN-HOUSE GRASS HARVEST OPTION

Fendt Rotana purchase allows harvest flexibility for Yorkshire dairy farmers.

Yorkshire dairy farmers Abe and Cli ord Dent have maximised the quality of feedstock for their sheep and youngstock by removing the need for a contractor on a tricky hill farm and allowing exibility to harvest when it suits the workload.

The main farm is based between Masham and Leyburn in North Yorkshire, where a herd of 500 Holsteins are milked three times a day, with a contractor taking silage cuts with a forager on a

multi-cut system. However, the hill farm, around 14 miles into the Yorkshire Dales, houses some of the 850 sheep and youngstock cattle, and the terrain means a di erent approach to harvest is required, as Abe explains.

“We produce 1,200 bales per year so exibility to harvest on the hilly ground is essential, as it is away from the main farm, and we plan baling in around other works. The baler also tidies up elds after the heifers have grazed to keep the swards clean and produce a small amount of extra fodder for the animals.”

“I usually put just two revolutions on bales that are wrapped in the eld, but I will increase this to three if we are transporting them back to the yard before wrapping. This helps to save net in the long run and means we aren’t wasting

material.”

The farm uses a Fendt Rotana 160 V XtraCut, which is entering its fourth season, after it replaced an ageing competitor machine that had been on the farm for 15 years. Before this, the farm turned to contractors for baling, but the versatility gained through owning a machine, has improved the timeliness of harvest, and allowed tweaks to the process to maximise e ciency.

Easy to use

The Rotana was purchased through Fendt dealer Brockhills of Yorkshire and was chosen for the increased output over the existing machine, along with features such as a drop oor that has kept the baler running in trickier conditions. It has the XtraCut knife bank, which o ers eight, nine or 17 knives, although Abe says he has settled on nine as a preferred chop length. “With all the knives in, the chop length is quite short and on windy days when feeding in the eld, we notice some of lighter material blowing away. Nine knives o er us the ideal length.”

Baler settings and elds are accessed through the in-cab baler terminal to monitor output. Settings such as bale density and net revolutions can be changed through the screen, making it easy to tailor the binding to di erent situations.

(500/55 R20) that were upgraded from the

noticed that the wider tyres don’t

The Rotana features larger back tyres (500/55 R20) that were upgraded from the standard options and Abe says they have made a di erence compared with the previous machine. “I have noticed that the wider tyres don’t cause as much compaction as our old machine. In the wet areas we don’t seem to get the number of ruts we used to, which is better for the land, but also means we can get on the ground when the conditions are less favourable.”

Vario transmission

Although there are several di erent tractor brands on the farm, the Fendt 516 is preferred by Abe for running the Rotana due to the exibility o ered by the Vario transmission.

“The Vario is so well-suited to regularly changing direction and frequent stops, it is also quicker to set o again than the other tractors we use on the Rotana. It gives me one less thing to think about and allows me to focus on the terrain, which can be quite challenging. Sometimes I need to reverse quite a distance to let the bale out safely, and not having to think about changing gears or using a clutch makes this process more e cient.”

The farm has run a Fendt tractor as part of its eet for nearly two decades and, along with the strong relationship with local dealer Brockhills, the Fendt has proven itself to be the tractor of choice for jobs such as baling. “For the more technical tasks and eld work, it increases exibility and allows me to run the baler to the greatest productivity,” concludes Abe. FG

The Rotana produces around 2,000 bales per year on the hill farm.

The XtraCut knife bank can operate with three di erent combinations of knives to o er a variety of chop lengths.

Yorkshire dairy farmer, Abe Dent.

Experience, innovation and reliability.

Every job presents new challenges for people and machines. This is why the Fendt Rotana variable round balers offer extensive equipment options and intuitive operation. Technical innovations such as the HydroflexControl conveying cutting floor, the adaptive tailgate guidance, the consistent bale density thanks to the Constant Pressure System and more make the difference. This will allow you to focus on the grass harvest. More information at fendt.com/rotana-v

Oxfordshire

farmer and contractor

Andrew Haynes switched baler brands last year when he purchased his first Massey Ferguson conventional model.

farms

The traditional mixed livestock and arable enterprise comprises land owned by the Haynes family plus areas rented or farmed under contract farming agreements.

Andrew’s father, Keith, set up a beef suckler herd in 1989 and now up to 130 Limousin x South Devon cows and followers graze from spring through to autumn at multiple locations including grass pastures and land within SSSI and other environmental schemes. During winter they are housed indoors. Arable crops include cereals, and beans grown as a break crop along with spring oats. All the straw is baled.

High quality hay and straw

A signi cant business has developed selling hay and straw. Andrew’s own cattle consume

Baler brand change proves profitable

a large quantity during the winter, but 80% of the conventional hay and straw bales produced annually are for the equine industry. Large square and round bales are also made, some of which are for equine customers, but there is strong demand for the high-quality feed and bedding from Welsh farms too.

“We are proli c straw users,” admits Andrew. “I like my animals to look in peak condition, and an important part of that is ensuring bedding is always clean and fresh.

“We remained loyal to one conventional baler brand for approximately 45 years, updating machines every fth season. They performed reasonably well and were reliable, so we had no reason to consider other makes.

When the baler manufacturer ceased production, Andrew looked at alternatives. The family already had a eet of seven Massey Ferguson tractors and liked them, so it made sense to consider a baler of the same brand. His local dealer, Chandlers (Farm Equipment) Ltd, had both the SB1840 and higher speci cation SB1842S conventional balers in stock, so he and his cousin, Colin Haynes, who farms nearby, could compare them. As well as his own baling, Colin also makes 25,000 hay bales each year for Andrew.

“I’d heard great reports regarding Massey Ferguson balers, and seeing both models side by side highlighted advantages of the 1842S for our heavier use, making approximately 35,000 hay, and 25,000 straw bales each year,” he explained. “It’s clearly designed for more intensive operation with a wider pick-up, twin feeding forks and built to last with heavy-duty drive chains. It was just what we needed so we con rmed our order, while my cousin bought the standard 1840 model at the same time.”

Increased productivity

Working together, the cousins’ previous pair of balers averaged 3,000 bales per day, whereas the new Massey Fergusons easily achieve 4,000.

“We only tend to bale when conditions are optimal, then the bales are collected, brought back to the yard and stacked under cover the same day,” Andrew continued. “Usually, by mid-afternoon, Colin’s baler is put away, then he helps collecting and loading instead. In one day the 1842S made just over 5,200 straw bales though, which was impressive, and even when we push on to maximise work rates the bales are dead square and tidy, just as we and our customers like them. The 1.98m pick-up copes easily with large straw swaths from a 30ft combine in high yielding crops. We never have a problem.

“When we bought the new baler, we expected to need a bigger tractor, but the 1842S works perfectly behind our Massey Ferguson 6270 with just 120hp,” Andrew con rmed.

Easy maintenance

Both new balers are proving reliable. “We use big packs of string, and the 1842S holds ve rolls each side, more than enough for a full day’s work. I don’t think we dropped a bale the whole season, apart from when an operator forgot to connect two rolls of string in the box. The knotter design is good, but electric fans also contribute to the reliability by keeping them clear of dust and cha .”

Backup from the Chandlers Wallingford depot team has lived up to Andrew’s high expectations. “I’ve been chu ed with Chandlers as the dealer has good tters and whatever we need is in stock. AGCO provides great back-up too; we feel our business is valued and are well looked after.”

Andrew says the 1842S has a massive appetite. “We tend to stick with brands and products that work well, and I remain extremely pleased that we chose this heavy-duty, contractor’s baler. I really haven’t a bad word to say about it, or the back-up from our dealer. It’s quiet, and as smooth as a sewing machine which makes using it a real pleasure. I wish I had bought one years ago,” he concluded. FG

Trading as K & A Haynes, Andrew

at Murcott.

Farmer and contractor, Andrew Haynes says buying the SB1842S baler from Chandlers was the obvious choice, as he already runs a eet of seven Massey Ferguson tractors.

Despite the baler’s impressive work capacity, the Massey Ferguson 6270 tractor with just 120hp handles it easily.

BALER ON THE MARKET

MF 1840 & MF 1842S IN-LINE BALERS

• COMPACT DIMENSIONS AND UNRIVALLED PERFORMANCE

• CENTRE LINE DESIGN FOR STRAIGHT THROUGH CROP FLOW ENSURING PERFECT SHAPED BALES

• 2.0M WIDE LOW PROFILE PICK-UP WITH A NARROW TRANSPORT WIDTH OF 2.64M

• EVEN WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION ON EACH SIDE, FITTED WITH FLOATATION TYRES AS STANDARD TO REDUCE GROUND COMPACTION

Baler’s Choice

The Proven Preservative and Applicator Systems for Hay and Straw

Protect your investment

Baler’s Choice neutral Ph preservative enables you to increase your baler output by up to 30%, while preserving hay and straw quality when faced with damper conditions and moisture contents above 15%, for as little as £1.43/bale* www.harvesttec.com/roi-calculator

• Applicators • Precision Accessories • Moisture sensors • Hay Preservative

Untreaded hay baled at 16% to 22% v Baler’s Choice treated hay. Hay baled at this moisture will lose its colour and fresh smell.

In untreated hay baled above 23%, mould will start to develop and temperatures when stored will rise above 50 deg C, so increasing the fire risk. www.balerschoice.com

* Based on an 80x90 bale

To learn more about our products, please contact a regional technical specialist, your local haytool dealer or follow this QR code:

N England/Borders/SW Scotland – Carrs Billington: glen.allen@carrs-billington.com

South East England – Bale Baron UK: Nick Scrase info@balebaronuk.com

South West England – Big Bale South: duncan.harris@bigbale.co.uk

Central England – Oliver Landpower: tom.coats@oliverlandpower.co.uk

North Central England - Big Bale Services: Claire Needham claire@bigbaleservices.co.uk

Northern & Eastern Scotland - Sellars graham.roger@sellar.co.uk

Northern Ireland – Erwin Agri-Care: andrew.farquhar@ashfieldwilson.co.uk

Republic of Ireland – Liffey Mills: sean.donnelly@liffeymills.ie

Alternatively please contact Bryant Henningfeld at Harvest Tec: bhenningfeld@harvesttec.com

Harvest Tec says its Balers Choice preservative allows hay to be safely baled at around 15% moisture, increasing daily output.

UP TO 30% INCREASE IN BALER OUTPUT

Making high quality hay in the UK can be challenging at the best of times, and especially so last year for contractors when wide variations in moisture content and variable weather conditions has resulted in delayed baling and highlighted the bene t of using a preservative such as Harvest Tec Baler’s Choice, which can potentially increase daily output by as much as 30% from as little as £1.43/ bale (based on an 80x90 bale size).

This is re ected in analysis conducted by Harvest Tec that clearly shows that in recent years our summers have been getting duller and wetter. In the past three years in particular, there has been a marked 22% drop in sunshine hours during the spring and 16% in the summer. In contrast, the number of days with more than 1mm of rainfall in the spring and summer increased by 47% and 39% respectively, with overall total rainfall during those periods rising by 70% and 49% respectively.

Dedicated distribution network

Harvest Tec is a specialist manufacturer of advanced manual and automated preservative application systems and moisture sensors, for large square, round and conventional balers.

In order to provide a higher, direct level of service to contractors and farmers in the UK, Harvest Tec has established its own dedicated UK sales and service distribution network for its applicator range and

Baler’s Choice preservative.

All Harvest Tec applicators are designed speci cally for use with the company’s market leading Baler’s Choice, bu ered pH neutral, preservative, manufactured under licence in the UK and supplied by Monarch Agri Ltd.

Financial and logistical benefit

For contractors and other baler users, Baler’s Choice has the great bene t that by enabling hay to be safely baled at above 15% moisture, this o ers the potential to lengthen the baling day by maybe an hour each end or bale on days when previously the crop would not be dry enough.

Not only is there a nancial bene t through higher daily throughput from the baler, but it also helps simplify logistics and planning and also the potential to save on the time and cost of additional tedding, with the associated risk of damage to the crop.

heating and stabilises

where high quality hay is being made for this market.

High-quality hay

For specialist hay producer Henry Taylor, who supplies some of the UK’s leading raceyards, Baler’s Choice ensures he can produce hay of the highest quality.

it far more di cult to maintain the temperature during storage. There are weaker and cheaper alternatives on the market, but they are a false economy and not an option.”

Baler’s Choice reduces heating and stabilises the temperature within bales, thereby reducing the risk of combustion, in addition to preventing moulds, dust and loss of bale quality, yet is also kind to the baler and safe to handle.

Baler’s Choice is also completely safe for livestock, including horses with trials showing it has no negative e ect on their performance, making it ideal

“Because of the market I am supplying, quality is paramount and if the hay does not meet their standards, it will be rejected.

It’s very good insurance. In a di cult year it de nitely gets us out of trouble and saves our bacon.

But even where we are baling below 15% we will still apply it because the moisture content does uctuate and for instance this year we have been having problems with regrowth getting raked into the swath.

“In the past where we have not used Baler’s Choice, we have found

The Harvest Tec Baler’s Choice applicator systems range from simple, straightforward applicators with manual rate setting, through to the advanced Automatic 700 Series applicator that monitors both baler throughput and real time moisture content of the hay or straw as it passes through the baler to automatically adjust the application rate accordingly.

To ensure prompt availability of applicator systems and the rapid supply of spare parts throughout the UK, Harvest Tec is working with Carr’s Billington, who in addition to handling sales within their own area, also act as a central distribution hub for Harvest Tec, holding both applicator units and spare parts for dispatch to all other Harvest Tec UK dealerships.

Specialist hay producer, Henry Taylor.

DAIRY FARM BOOSTS SILAGE QUALITY WITH NRF SOLUTION

Improved e ciency and reduced environmental impact, while maintaining farm focus on milk from forage.

Fifth generation farmer Eurig Jenkins and his family have always strived to produce milk from a home-grown forage diet fed to their spring block calving herd. This has been enhanced in the last year by expanding their silage production.

The farm has started to take three cuts instead of two, to increase quality and quantity. Cutting a few days earlier than usual gives a longer window for regrowth, so although less is picked up each time, the extra cut more than makes up for it.

For logistical reasons, the farm also bales all its silage, rather than putting it into a clamp. As they rent some o -lying ground around the farm, it’s easier to bale it rather than trying to get a forager and wagons in everywhere. Up until 2006, a contractor did all the baling, until they took it partly in-house when they bought a Welger 235 baler. In 2012 they got the rst of three McHale Fusion balers, with their fourth due to arrive in time for the 2025 season.

Changeable weather

For Eurig’s operation, baling everything makes it easier to manage unavoidable di erences in silage quality due to variable weather.

“It’s more straightforward to separate the variation in cuts, with bales from di erent cuts being stored separately. The herd grazes 8–9 months of the year, and we top up their diet with the baled silage as and when necessary, so we can be more speci c about what we feed and when, without having to open up a whole pit.”

Changing to a combi baler and Film&Film has also brought practical bene ts – they can now do 45 bales an hour compared to 30, and there’s less downtime when changing reels. Customers have also noticed the di erence in quality since changing to NRF.

As well as Baletite, Eurig has been using Silotite’s original box range of stretch lm since the early days of taking on the baling operation. To reduce downtime even further, they’re looking to also move away from the box product to the SilotitePro range.

“The 1,800m reel is meant to increase productivity by a further 20%, with the added bene t of recyclable sleeve packaging for less waste,” he adds.

On-farm recycling

Feeding 27 bales a day during the housed period, Eurig uses a Keltec Bale Slice to simplify and speed up the feeding process.

The farm’s most recent baler, a McHale Fusion 3 Plus, was their rst step into using net replacement lm and the Film&Film approach (NRF), as their local McHale dealer really pushed the bene ts of a machine capable of using an NRF.

After comparing his options, Eurig calculated that switching from applying net to lm was going to o er the most value for money. While the ends of the bale naturally receive more than the recommended six layers of coverage in the wrapping process, the barrel of the bale bene ts from the additional layers of NRF protection. Eurig dropped from six to four layers of outer bale wrap, combined with four layers of Baletite to achieve the desired protection.

“We’ve now done four seasons using Baletite, a Film&Film solution from Silotite, and have been really impressed with the results and how well the machine has held its resale value, with a new baler due for 2025,” Eurig says.

“The lm has provided a more consistent shape bale compared to when we used net, making them easier to handle and stack. Using net generally allowed the bales to expand slightly, letting oxygen get in.”

The extra layers of lm help prevent air permeation and mould, maintaining a higher energy silage.

With silage analysis showing they were achieving extra quality from taking a third cut, the Jenkins family wanted to avoid losing that during the ensiling process.

“The system grabs, cuts and removes the plastic from the bale, all from the driver’s seat, making it easy to pull away. The Baletite peels away from the bale smoothly too, whereas net often gets caught in the silage.

“Recycling is that much easier now too, because Baletite can be recycled the same as bale wrap, unlike net, which needs to be split and disposed of separately.”

Roadshows

Want to learn more about the bene ts of Film&Film wrapping and review bale wrapping best practices? Silotite is running a series of roadshow sessions, providing technical and practical demonstrations, looking at the history of bale wrapping, manufacturing advancements and the latest range of Silotite lm solutions:

• Lisbane, Co. Down: 24th March

• Armagh: 25th March

• Ballymena: 26th March

• Omagh: 27th March

• Corwen: 2nd April

• Kerry: 23rd April

• Gurteen, Co. Tipperary: 25th April

• Brecon: 1st May

• Orkney: 14th May.

Visit www.silotite.com/roadshows/ to register. FG

Pentrefelin Farm facts

• 780 acres comprising owned and rented grazing and silage ground

• Milking 425 New Zealand Friesian cows near Lampeter, West Wales

• Yields: 6,000 litres/cow/year

• 4.8% fat content and 3.9% protein, and around 525kg of milk solids per cow for a First Milk contract.

The farm’s most recent baler is a McHale Fusion 3 Plus.

Farmer, Eurig Jenkins.

Richard Taylor Travel: About us

Father and sons, Richard, Daniel, and Ben Taylor are sixth Generation Farmers, Farming, Mixed Arable & Grassland alongside our beef cattle.

Traditionally Beef Cattle Farmers we specialise in straw bailing for the livestock market and have a great knowledge for what the farmers want and need.

We O er a Fast, Reliable & Professional Service with immediate Same day payment

Fast clearance using a Heath MC2 Chaser to minimise tra c and compaction of fields Stack site agreed or straw will be hauled o farm

A game changer in hay and straw preservation

The new HarvestPro applicator saves on costs and maximises productivity, PFC says.

For the rst time, Pro table Farming Company (PFC) has introduced HarvestPro, a precision-engineered, automatic applicator of acid preservative for hay and straw –developed and built in the UK by the company. Previously, there was no UK-built option.

This advanced system is equipped with a precision moisture meter, ensuring farmers can accurately gauge moisture levels in real-time. Unlike traditional applicators, which can lead to inconsistent preservative application, HarvestPro dynamically adjusts output based on actual moisture content, reducing waste and maximising e ectiveness.

The high-capacity nozzle assembly ensures uniform coverage across every bale, working in tandem with a 6-litres/min pump system to deliver a consistent ow of acid preservative. This guarantees every section of the hay or straw is properly treated, signi cantly reducing spoilage and improving quality.

One of HarvestPro’s standout features is its custom-built touchscreen terminal, designed to integrate seamlessly into the tractor during baling. Unlike complex interfaces on other systems, the HarvestPro terminal is intuitive and provides real-time data on application rates, moisture content, and system diagnostics, PFC explains. Farmers can make informed decisions instantly, optimising their baling process with minimal e ort.

Designed to be robust and easy to maintain, the system reduces downtime and maximises productivity. With plug-and-play installation, HarvestPro can be quickly tted onto existing baling setups, making it an e ortless addition to any operation.

PFC, a family-run farm with over 121ha in Devon, understands the challenges British farmers face. That’s why HarvestPro is designed for a ordability and backed by local

customer support that is responsive, knowledgeable, and tailored to the needs of UK and European agriculture, the company shares.

The HarvestPro series also includes PFC’s own HarvestPro preservative/acid, which it says o ers the same litre-for-litre strength as the previous market leader, but comes at a signi cantly lower cost to the customer. This ensures farmers can achieve high-quality preservation without the added expense.

With unpredictable weather and

Turbofarmer 38.10TT

Power, Precision and Stability

increasing pressure to maximise yield, e ciency is more important than ever in modern farming. Hay and straw preservation is key to pro tability, and a system that reduces spoilage while maintaining high-quality output can make all the di erence.

HarvestPro is an investment in sustainable, pro table farming – by reducing waste, improving e ciency, and ensuring better preservation, it helps farmers protect their harvest, reduce costs, and increase revenue, PFC concludes. FG

Designed for

ANOTHER YEAR COVERED

The covers have been ever more popular with more and more people coming back to add to their existing cover collection, we have also added many valuable new customers. Saving 1015% of waste on an outside stack is ever more important with rising costs across the industry. Please contact us for more details

Paddy, Will and the ProStraw team are looking forward to seeing you at Cereals at

The Parkland Agro-Master range of three and ve bale Accumulators are perfectly tailored to get your harvest done. They o er the solution of controlled-tra c, reducing compaction, and halving the time it takes to collect your bales. We have both new and used Parkland Bale Accumulators in stock now Please contact us for more details

Updates for popular bale chaser

The Arcusin Autostack FSX63-72 bale chaser o ers an automated bale collection and stacking system which is easily operated by a single tractor driver.

Kit saves up to 300 hours a season

The Parkland Bale Accumulator, available through ProStraw Systems, is a “game-changing” implement designed to streamline baling operations, o ering numerous bene ts that make it an indispensable bit of kit, ProStraw says.

One of its standout features is the ability to signi cantly reduce the time required to clear elds. By collecting and grouping bales during the baling process, it minimises the need for multiple passes across the eld. This e ciency not only accelerates the baling process but also reduces fuel consumption and labour costs. Users have reported spending up to 50% less time clearing elds, translating to as many as 300 hours saved over a season.

challenging, especially with longer chamber balers. The Parkland Bale Accumulator’s innovative drawbar system addresses this by enhancing manoeuvrability and eliminating tailswing. This ensures safer and more e cient transportation of bales from the eld to storage, reducing the risk of accidents and equipment damage.

This machine is well suited to controlled tra c farming systems as it collects bales by travelling in the same direction as the baler, and by using a bale de ector, can be used on the same tramlines as the baler, Arcusin explains.

The 2025 models have seen a number of exciting updates.

Some notable changes include a touchscreen control box with downloadable bale counts and more data collection. Data parameters include dates, bale

numbers and customer names and/or eld names that can be downloaded to a USB stick. The new control box also includes an onscreen instruction and parts manual, along with the contact phone numbers for your UK dealer and for manufacturer assistance.

The control box screen doubles up as a vision monitor showing images from a rear camera to assist the operator with the unloading and stacking operations. Bale stacking now has a manual and automatic mode on a joystick control for smoother unloading of bale stacks from the chaser. FG

Navigating narrow country lanes and tight eld gateways can be

Available in three and ve bale con gurations, the machine caters to various operational needs. Its design allows for seamless integration with di erent baler models. Whether you're operating a small family farm or a large-scale agricultural enterprise, there’s a Parkland Bale Accumulator suited to your requirements, ProStraw reckons.

For more information or to explore the full range visit www.prostrawsystems.co.uk FG

These

These

These

These

The Heath Super Grab is a

collection & stacking of large square bales & packing of small square

High quality chain solutions for UK farmers

In the demanding world of agriculture, machinery e ciency and reliability is paramount. Chain manufacturer Donghua Limited says it o ers agricultural chains that signi cantly enhance the performance of balers and bale handling equipment.

Heavy Super Power: Donghua’s Heavy Super Power (HSP) chain is renowned for “exceptional robustness”. It boasts an ultimate tensile strength up to

50% higher than standard DIN chains, ensuring it withstands the rigorous demands of baling operations. The design features wide waist plates that provide extreme fatigue strength, and a high interference t between pins and plates which contributes to durability and longevity.

Mark V: For environments where corrosion is a concern, Donghua’s Mark V chain o ers a viable solution. This zinc-coated chain is anticorrosive and waterproof, extending

its lifespan beyond that of standard agricultural chains. It’s assembled in Donghua’s UK workshop.

Pintle chain: Donghua also produces a range of Pintle chain and attachments, designed with an open barrel to minimise material build-up. This reduces the risk of blockages, corrosion, and potential seizure, ensuring smooth operation during bale handling. Heat-treated components, including hardened steel pins, enhance wear life, making

March & April 2025

these chains a reliable choice.

Think different, think ahead

The Vicon ProfiLine is just that little bit different to what you would expect. By thinking differently, Vicon offers solutions on mowers, rakes, tedders and balers that make grass harvesting efficient and successful. Call your local Vicon dealer for

Donghua has a 25,000ft2 warehouse in the Midlands, and an extensive network of approved product partners and stockists ensures high quality chain solutions are readily available to farmers across the UK.

Find out more online at www.donghua.co.uk/agriculturechain FG

Baler-wrapper gains Premium spec

Vicon has introduced Premium speci cation for FastBale, its xed chamber, non-stop baler-wrapper combination.

FastBale uses a pre-chamber and main chamber to provide bu ering for the wrapping process, enabling the round bale production process to continue uninterrupted. The pre-chamber produces two-thirds of the bale. As it reaches its pre-set density, crop ows into the main bale chamber with the pre-formed bale, where it can be taken to its maximum size of 1.25m. When the bale has been made, crop ow switches back to the pre-chamber, allowing baling to continue while the completed bale is automatically wrapped.

With Premium speci cation, the 2.2m wide pickup is improved. The once rigidly-mounted knife bank can now be hydraulically lowered and slid out from beneath the machine to improve access for more frequent knife

sharpening, and altering the blade con guration.

The 25-knife pack can be selected to operate with six, 12, 13 or all 25 knives, with blanking plates easily inserted. For those operating with 12 knives, the ability to work with half the knives in lets you swap to the remaining 13 once the edge goes o , giving you twice as long in the swath before having to sharpen all 25.

Film-on- lm binding is available as an option, which simpli es waste recycling – users deal with plastic as a single waste stream, not a combination of plastic with net. FG

A DOWNING

Re-baling kit for feed and bedding

Challenger Handling Ltd has been providing engineering solutions since 1988 for the breaking down and re-baling of eld bales, to provide a more manageable solution for re-sale in the pet and equine sectors.

A range of options are available to suit the speci c needs and budgets of each customer, from smaller semi-automatic machines to fully automated systems producing a nished product anywhere in the range of 0.5kg to 20kg.

Machines are purpose designed to accommodate production outputs to suit each customer’s needs from as

little as 60 bales per hour up to 300 bales per hour or more.

Other associated equipment o ered includes automatic wrapping (form, ll and seal), rotary dust screens, conveyor transfers, palletising systems, and dust extraction to provide a full turnkey solution. Full installation, testing and training services are also available for all the company’s machines.

All Challenger Handling Limited’s machines are designed and manufactured to order and to suit each customer’s needs at its manufacturing facility based in Kingston upon Hull. FG

Right baler, with support as needed

With the grass season rapidly approaching, Krone dealer G & J Peck Ltd o ers a range of round and square balers, harvesters, mower conditioners, rakes and tedders for customers in Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Su olk. “You can rest assured that you will obtain the best advice on high quality farm machinery. With your time being a valuable asset, we’re here to reduce the costly time it takes to scour the market,” the dealer says.

Having been in the industry for many years, it continues to listen to customers, and build an understanding of their needs. The company is pleased to provide a service that allows customers to make informed decisions

about the right harvest equipment to suit their requirements.

So whatever the size or type of crop you have, whether you’re looking to condition your crop to improve the quality of your silage, from rakes, tedders and conditioners, not to mention the smallest Krone xed chamber round baler through to the largest square big balers and high-density harvesters, G & J Peck says it is here to help you look at those all-important factors to take into consideration.

Aftersales support is very much as important as the initial task of sourcing the right baler. Contact G & J Peck directly to nd out how the team can help. FG

Wide range of machinery in stock

Stalham Engineering (Nicholsons Agriculture) has been a family run agricultural dealership for over 85 years, and a proud McHale dealer for nearly 40 years. McHale produces a wide range of products with a particular focus on grassland machinery, including balers, wrappers, handlers, rakes and mowers. Whether you need xed or variable chamber, McHale round balers are recognised as a market leader and Nicholsons Agriculture says it can help ensure you get the right machine.

multiple belt designs. It also reduces labour requirements as only one operator and tractor are required for baling and wrapping.

McHale machinery is known for reliability, but Nicholsons Agriculture prides itself on aftersales service, and the team have extensive experience working with McHale machinery. This, and the wide range of parts held in stock mean you can be con dent that you can get the job done. A wide range of new and used McHale machinery is in stock which you can see at www. stalhameng.co.uk

Contact Nicholsons Agriculture directly to nd out more. FG which consists of a high output directly to nd out more.

bale transfer

ring, the crop loss

The McHale Fusion Vario is a fully automatic variable chamber with integrated bale wrapper which consists of a high output baler and a vertical wrapping ring. With a patented bale transfer system and a patented wrapping ring, the single belt design reduces crop loss compared to

MIDIBALERS

MidiBalers are the ideal machines for producing high-quality haylage, hay, and straw. With a perfect bale size of 90×85 cm and an optimal weight, the bales are easy to handle manually, fitting effortlessly through stable doors. These machines have proven to be a great success across numerous countries in Europe and beyond, offering efficiency, convenience, and reliability for farmers and equestrians alike.

The KNOLL MidiFix II is now also available in a special edition version

On our website www.knoll-balers.com you will find all information, photos and videos of our MidiBalers.

Knoll B.V. The Netherlands

TRAILERS

With political focus on environmental and cross-contamination concerns over uncovered loads turning towards the farming sector, Shur-Co shares its expertise.

FAST, RELIABLE SHEETING SYSTEMS

“Not very long ago, trailer loads would only need to be covered when the harvest was about to bounce out of the trailer or rain was going to spoil the crop,” commented Shur-Co UK business development manager, Colin Bartram. “This is no longer the case and with trailers being pulled over regularly for uncovered loads, farmers are looking for fast and reliable ways to cover their crops quickly from the safety of the tractor. This has been our business for nearly 30 years.”

Shur-Co says it is the world’s largest sheeting system company and brand, with more than 10 locations throughout the world and over 400 employees – each bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience.

A history

The company started out under the brand Donovan in the UK with the rst 9000 Series sheeting systems hitting the roads in the mid 90s and very quickly becoming the go-to front to rear sheeting system for construction tippers, with all of the major body builders o ering Shur-Co sheeting systems as standard within a few years.

Today, Shur-Co says it remains the market leader in the UK for sheeting systems with an estimated 20,000 units in service and hundreds of its systems entering the market each year. It has over 80% of the UK tipper sheeting equipment market.

Range of equipment

From ip systems to waterproof PVC roll-overs and bow slide solutions, whatever style of covering system suits your application will be available from Shur-Co with over six di erent options for farm trailers alone.

The Agri-Flip system is its best seller in the farm sector as it is low cost and easily retro tted, it comes supplied with full installation instructions in either a remote controlled 12V electric option or with in-tractor hydraulic operation.

farmers looking to keep their crops dry or unpleasant smells contained.

On-site installs

Another key strength for Shur-Co is its on-site installation team. The company has invested in its external installation capabilities with a eet of vans ready to attend site, giving customers the peace of mind of purchasing the full one-stop-shop service from the manufacturer rather than arranging the installation themselves.

regards to regulations and compliance and supporting trailer builders in seamlessly delivering the best equipment to our mutual customers,” he added.

Time

to get covered

In 2022 Shur-Co acquired market leading roll-over sheeting system manufacturer Dawbarn and Sons, Wisbech, completing the picture and adding further expertise to its group with the company’s proud 100-year history. Dawbarn and Sons began as sailmakers and ship chandlers before diversifying to transport tarpaulins in the mid 1950s. Today a large team make not only automatic truck tarps, but also bespoke PVC covers for hoppers, machinery and a whole host

“Shur-Co is unique in that we o er our hydraulic Agri-Flip kit with xed ow control and cross line pressure relief valves as standard,” said Colin. “With multiple tractors collecting these trailers it is important that we have control over the hydraulic circuit so that we can ensure the safe operation and reliability of your sheeting system for years to come.”

For waterproof covering, the Dawbarn Hydroclear system may also be familiar to farmers – whether it be from appearing regularly on Clarkson’s Farm or from being the chosen equipment for asphalt, bulk tippers and walking oor trailers for nearly 20 years. Shur-Co has now adapted this system to work using just two quick connectors from the tractor with its innovative purpose-built valve, making the Agri-Hydroclear the ideal solution for

Colin continued: “Despite our large installation facilities, agricultural trailers are not always easily moved to our workshops (in Rochester and Wisbech) so on-site installation is the perfect solution for farmers as we can come to site and t multiple trailers if required.”

The company has also increased its UK engineering team to ensure it can meet the challenges of the future and embrace opportunities.

Changes to the way that the DVSA have been enforcing load security legislation over recent years has made automatic sheeting systems a top priority for those wishing to avoid unwelcome roadside attention. The Road Tra c Act means it remains important that bulk loads can’t shed or be blown onto public roads, and, although automatic systems are not a compulsory solution to this problem, work at height regulations and a need to cover every load often tip the balance to something more automated.

Agri-Hydroclear the ideal solution for

“Engineering capabilities are increasingly important to ensure that we are not only innovating, but that we are future proo ng our partners with

Whether you are looking to cover lightweight crops on the farm or loose materials on public roads, Shur-Co says its experts are here to help. Contact Shur-Co UK directly or visit www. shurco.co.uk for more information. FG

This strategy seemingly has many major advantages, as now one piece of machinery can handle a multitude of operations in the eld and on the road. Unfortunately, as with all things in life, you get given something in one hand and see it taken from the other.

You may be scratching your head at this point as you ponder how only buying one tyre to cover a range of tasks could possibly be a bad thing. Without doubt in the last 10–15 years, technology and modern production methods have changed the way in which we farm. For example GPS, driverless power units, smart sprayers etc have all helped with increased yields and e ciency. Tyres, and in particular agricultural tyres, have seen meteoric advances in rubber compounds and computer aided design methods, which have allowed designers and engineers to produce tyres which excel at their intended application.

Modern tyre technology, without impacting your bottom line

One tyre no longer fits all says Ascenso Tyres, which is why it produces premium quality tyres without the price tag.

Ascenso Tyres designs, manufactures and engineers tyres for hard-working machinery that must perform over several challenging terrains and environments.

It produces tyres for tractors, sprayers, combine harvesters, farm trailers, material handlers and industrial loaders. Across its range of tyres, it caters for the three main key o -road sectors: agriculture, industrial and construction, material handling, earth mover, and forestry.

Ascenso says it understands that e ciency

is key to your business’s success, and choice of tyre plays a particularly signi cant role in that. That’s why the company spends hundreds of hours testing and evaluating its tyres before they go into production – so that when you need them to perform, they will not let you down.

Chicken or the egg?

There’s an age-old question that continues to divide – what is more important, the tractor or the trailer? It’s a bit like: ‘What came rst the chicken or the egg?’. Sure, that shiny new tractor which is bigger and more powerful than last year’s model with wheels and tyres larger than a small country certainly catches most people’s attention.

However, as great as that new tractor would be at impressing all who see it, if you can’t get your produce out of the eld, you could potentially be characterised as all mouth and no trousers, Ascenso says.

The company believes that every tyre that it conceives, designs, tests, and manufactures is equally as important as every other tyre that it has produced.

One tyre no longer fits all

Modern farming has changed and the depressed economic climate, certainly within the UK, has led to more and more farmers, contractors and managers reducing the range of equipment they have on hand, making the equipment they do have more multi-functional.

With this in mind, when it comes to the modern agricultural tyre and trailer tyre –after years of development, and as successive governments and organisations have strived to increase overall farming e ciency – one tyre no longer ts all.

Modern options

The steel belted Ascenso FTR170 agricultural trailer tyre has been engineered in such a way that whilst it provides incredible levels of traction it can handle the increasing demands of heavier loads and at speed. As the tyre will be working 50/50 in most cases in the eld and on the road, the tread pattern works in such a way as to provide grip without the excessive heat build-up found in many tyres when operating at speed on the roads. This excessive heat build-up leads to premature wear and an overall reduction in the lifespan of the tyre.

The Ascenso IMB 160 Implement tyre, which is primarily designed for work in the eld, spent many months in development within the company’s state-of-the-art production and testing facility to ne-tune the rubber compound and tread pattern.

The result is a tyre which reduces soil compaction and damage to grassland, all whilst carrying a heavy payload, Ascenso says.

Every week the company ships hundreds of agricultural trailer tyres across the UK to its network of Ascenso tyre dealers. One of the largest farms in Europe, Staples Vegetables, has trialled Ascenso tyres and t them on all its UK farms.

Irelands Farm Machinery also chose to t Ascenso tyres to its hire eet of trailers based on the quality of the tyres, back up service and most importantly price.

Trying to save money by making modern agricultural tyres multi-functional when they are designed for speci c roles within the farm is ultimately counter-productive, as inevitably this leads to increased tyre wear and tyre degradation.

This is why Ascenso Tyres produces premium quality tyres without the premium price tag, allowing you to bene t from the advances in modern tyre technology without adversely a ecting your bottom line, the company concludes. FG

Plug and play tools enhance safety

AW Trailers has a wealth of expertise and knowledge of trailer design and manufacturing and we sell our products not only nationwide but also to the export market.

Safety is paramount, especially during tasks like trailer tipping, which often involve raising equipment near overhead power lines. The AgriPro Line Master from ProStraw Systems is an advanced high voltage detection system designed to enhance safety in such scenarios, the manufacturer says.

necessary precautions to prevent accidental contact with high voltage lines during trailer tipping operations.

continuing

This system features a cabmounted detection antenna paired with an in-cab audio-visual warning unit, capable of sensing overhead power lines from up to 100m away. This early detection provides ample warning, allowing you to take

The AgriPro Line Master's adjustable sensitivity and wide input voltage range (11–32V DC) ensure compatibility with various vehicles and machinery. Its plug-and-play design requires no user calibration, facilitating easy installation and immediate use. The system also includes an auxiliary switching function, enabling it to activate external devices upon detecting a hazard.

With a proven track record and thousands of units sold worldwide, the AgriPro Line Master is a reliable solution for preventing accidents related to overhead power lines. By integrating this system into your equipment, you can signi cantly reduce the risk of electrical hazards during trailer tipping, ensuring a safer working environment on your farm, ProStraw says.

Investing in the AgriPro Line Master not only safeguards your personnel and equipment but also promotes uninterrupted farm operations by mitigating potential accident-related disruptions. FG

AgriPro Line Master

• Detects the presence of overhead high voltage power lines up to 100m

• Adjustable sensitivity

• 11-32v DC Operation

• Plug & Play –No user calibration required

• Audio Visual in cab warning

• Auxiliary Switching Function Can be used to switch external devices on alarm

• Auto resetting mute feature

• Proven technology Can be used on almost any type of vehicle

Do you have the right tools for silage season?

With silage season coming up, and harvest following, Joskin shares advice on transport.

Joskin says it has the most complete transport range on the market, with multiple solutions for silage season.

The Silo-Space is the “champion” of silage transport, Joskin reckons. Ranging from 48–66m³, it allows for the safe transport and unloading of high capacities of silage thanks to a chain oor system. Its folding front wall reduces the loading height, making it the perfect machine to easily and e ciently open maize elds.

If you are looking for a versatile trailer that can be used for silage and for harvest alike, Joskin recommends the Trans-Cap and Trans-Space tipping trailers (from 10–52m³ DIN, with extensions). These o er a quick and easy unloading, thanks to their single tipping ram, high-clearance hydraulic tailgate, and halfpipe tapered body.

On the other hand, the multipurpose Drakkar allows unloading in the safest way without tipping. Ranging from 23–58m³ (with extensions), it uses a conveyor belt to move the product out of the trailer, thus protecting it much more than any tipping or push-o trailer. From heavy

product – such as muck or root crops – to ne product – such as rapeseed –with the inclusion of pallets and bales, the Drakkar can truly transport it all, Joskin promises.

For customers looking to transport heavier goods, such as sand, stone, rubble or rocks, the Joskin Trans-KTP dump trailer is “built to outlive any other trailer on the market” – with a body made entirely of Hardox 450 steel.

Of course, a good trailer must include a great running gear. With their very-own roll-over bogie or hydro suspension – both o ering clearance up to 250mm – and the use of highquality axles from either ADR or BPW, and high diameter tyres, this trailer will comfortably adapt to tough elds and roads alike, Joskin says.

With the Advantage series, these products are available with a quick delivery and at attractive prices, the company explains.

All are built using special high tensile steel for a higher quality end product, and with a three-year warranty as standard. Visit www.joskin.com to nd your nearest dealer. FG

A COMPLETE RANGE FOR SILAGE!

TRANSPORT PAYLOAD, NOT STEEL!

•S ILO-SPACE2: high-capacity silage trailer with chain floor

•DRAKKAR: multi-purpose trailer with conveyor belt

•TRANS-CAP: monocoque tipping trailer with up to 1 meter extensions available

Units available for quick delivery in our Advantage series!

TRANS-CAP

SILO-SPACE2 From 47 to 58 m3 | Twin/triple axle

Trailers

Trailer reliability supports harvest

Richard Western says its commitment to excellence is re ected in repeat orders for its SRT24 construction trailers and BWT20 beet trailers.

Both trailers are built on a 300mm deep, 150mm wide, 10mm S355MC formed Double C Section chassis, ensuring “exceptional rigidity” – ideal for tipping platforms on uneven terrain. The suspension features a three-leaf spring set, designed for larger-diameter o -road wheels, paired with BPW axles and a patented rear steering kingpin design.

With 650/55R26.5 178D-rated wheels, they can handle 7,500kg at speeds of up to 65kph. The drawbar can be either mechanically or

hydraulically sprung.

The tipping system features a single tipping cylinder with 100% e ciency as the ram pressure is applied vertically. A standard 0.75in tipping hose ensures faster tipping turnarounds – crucial for contractors. With a 150mm taper, pressed oor, and reinforced side panels, the trailer bodies promise exceptional strength and reliability. The heavy-duty tailgate features a soft stop when opening and a mechanical lock when closed, ensuring secure operation. Richard Western trailers undergo shot blasting, two-pack primer and a high-quality two-pack topcoat, providing a longlasting nish. FG

Benefits of trailer air brake systems

Compared to hydraulic brakes, air can o er improved power, control, additional safety features and automatic load sensing. TractAir can supply air brake upgrades for trailers that left the factory with hydraulic brakes which can be installed within a few hours.

Tractair’s kits can include chambers that o er both air and hydraulic operation for users with a eet of tractors which may not all have air available. If you prefer, tractors can also be upgraded to add air brakes using TractAir’s huge range of aftermarket kits.

As well as air brakes, TractAir can o er central tyre in ation systems to control tyre pressures on both tractors and trailers. These systems allow the driver to alter tyre

pressures from the cab while on the move, meaning that you are always using the optimum pressure for load, speed and conditions.

Correct tyre pressures work in harmony with modern tyre technology to reduce compaction, improve fuel economy and reduce tyre wear. These systems can be tted to any make or model of tractor, trailer or towed implement.

The German-designed and made systems can be controlled through the Isobus system in the tractor, making operation seamless. Bracket kits are available for a bolt on solution on most modern machines and installation can be carried out at TractAir’s workshops in Yorkshire or at your chosen dealer. FG

A trailer for every application

Nugent designs and manufactures all trailers in County Tyrone. The company’s extensive range includes livestock, commercial, small domestic and recently launched box trailers. Its patented Dual Drive suspension is standard across the range, enhancing the towing experience by reducing vibrations and minimising stress on the chassis and towing vehicle.

livestock range is available in 8–14ft, with cattle and sheep trailer options.

Nugent’s extensive commercial trailer range has been engineered to meet the demands of professional use. They can be used in a variety of industries where exibility and reliability are key.

Nugent livestock trailers are built to last and manufactured to a high speci cation, recently relaunched with numerous new features as standard, including: additional folded sides for extra strength, surrounded LED rear lights and modernised front markers to enhance visibility and safety.

Small in size, big in capacity – Nugent has a range of small domestic trailers including the Nugent general purpose, general atbed, utility and quad.

It also manufactures a range of cattle handling and agricultural machinery. Visit www.nugentengineering.com or contact the company directly. FG

The new model comes standard with a fully open inspection door for ease of use and accessibility. The revamp is nished with an updated slam shut multi-positioned dividing gate with multiple hold locations. The

MANNS

is introducing its new, fully patented Hydraulic Chute System (HCS). It transfers the crop into the boxes right in the eld, with any overspill quickly collected by the harvester and the chutes also double up as a rain cover.

The Majestic Sugar Beet Trailer is “one of the strongest trailers on the market”, tipping 18/20 tonnes every 15 minutes throughout the six-month campaign annually, and lasting 20 years in the eld.

Trailer business reports increasing demand

Larrington Trailers is expanding due to both UK and overseas sales, Richard Larrington reports.

With a dedicated engineering team open to discussions with customers, Richard Larrington says its slogan: “Built by you, because we listen" has opened a wider market that the larger manufacturers are not interested in.

Larrington Trailers is known as one of the top trailer manufacturers

for build quality and a smooth ride down the road, Richard continues.

He attributes this to the company’s long history of designing every trailer to meet each customer’s needs and prioritising customer service. Even for trailers purchased through a local dealer, it will deal with any issues

directly, and quickly. Quick action and resolution to any problems are key to customer satisfaction.

The Guardian Box Loader, a highlight of the range, smoothly places potatoes into storage boxes with gentle grace straight from the eld, the company says. This year, Larrington

“It’s a great success,” says Richard. “When other makes need replacing every 2–3 years, our Majestics are still going strong. A customer in North Norfolk runs two of our Majestic trailers, purchased in 2011 and 2013 for £21,000 each. The trailers are used every season and still hold a market value of £15,000 today, so the trailers have cost them £6,000 each over 14 years, with millions of tonnes tipped... There is no better value than a Larrington Trailer.”

The Harvester range is also a popular choice for customers. The half-pipe design ensures a smooth exit for potatoes, grain and onions. It is constructed from two full-length steel sheets, including a oor plate and the left and right sides, eliminating cross-section welds that could damage potato skins. FG

Push-o trailers compact the workload

recently introduced the PD20 Push-

Dump trailer, in addition to the original Kompactor.

Hi-Spec’s original Kompactor push-o trailer, and most recently the PD20 push-o dump trailer, are among the new innovations brought to the market over the years.

diminished or avoided, such as striking overhead power lines or trailer instability when tipping on soft and uneven ground.

hydraulic up-and-over sheet.

PD20 push-o dump trailer: This unique trailer has a heaped load volume of 14.5m3, giving it a carrying capacity of around 20t, depending on material, and uses the proven push-o technology originally designed for the Kompactor range.

As with the Kompactor, it features a hydraulically operated moving oor type headboard that cleanly and e ciently clears the load from the body once the up and over tailgate has been raised. This enables the dump trailer to be safely used and o oaded on slopes or at an angle with less risk of the trailer tipping over. This avoids the need for an exclusion zone around the trailer on construction sites when tipping, or in buildings and situations where there are height restrictions.

For maximum durability, the oor of trailer body is constructed from 8mm thick Hardox steel, and 6mm Hardox steel is used for the body sides. By avoiding the need for a hydraulic tipping ram and hinge points, the centre of gravity is lower than for a conventional dump trailer. This not only makes the PD20 very stable on the road, but the load height at just 2.39m is reduced and it is far easier to see into the trailer and the load from the tractor cab. FG Hi-Spec Engineering

Kompactor: Available in three sizes – the K36 (22ft/36m3), K40 (24ft/40m3) and K50 (28ft/50m3). It has a hydraulically operated headboard which is powered by a three-stage hydraulic ram. However, due to its size the Kompactor also makes an ideal conventional trailer for transporting bulky materials, Hi-Spec says. By compacting the load, this can potentially increase load capacity by up to 30% compared to a standard trailer. In addition, all the inherent risks posed by using a tipping trailer are

The Kompactor’s design engineers out traditionally required elements such as lifting rams and the necessary bracing, making it lighter in weight than a conventional trailer, but with the capacity to carry increased loads, which helps reduce compaction.

As standard, all Kompactor models are equipped with commercial running gear, air/hydraulic braking and a hydraulically sprung drawbar, through which all the hydraulic and electric lines are routed, LED lighting and reversing light. Options include a

Where necessary, it also makes it very easy to o oad and spread a load while on the move. Once the trailer has been emptied and the tailgate closed, the operator can move o while the headboard is retracting, avoiding the delay while a tipping trailer is lowered.

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CARDIGAN CATTLE MARKET, CARDIGAN, WEST WALES, SA43 3AD

TIMED ONLINE AUCTION OF OF 3NO. JOHN DEERE TRACTORS, 2NO. JCB EXCAVATORS, 5NO. VACUUM TANKERS, 2NO. MUCK SPREADERS,

To include: Tractors: 2017 John Deere 6155R (4,782hrs), 2020 John Deere 6215R (5,200hrs), 2019 John Deere 6155R (5,467hrs), Tractor Units: 2017 Volvo FH 500 (2), Excavators: 2017 JCB 48 Z-1 (2,367hrs), 2017 JCB JS130LCT (1,117hrs) Tankers: 2023 Hi Spec 3500TD-S, 2022 Hi Spec 3500TD-S with 2021 Vogelsang trailing shoe 12m, 2021 Hi Spec 3500TD-S with 2023 Mastek dribble bar 6m, 2020 Abbey 2500T, 2008 Crossland 33,000ltr vacuum tankers Spreaders: 2024 Shelbourne Reynolds 3200 Power Spread Pro side discharge, 2023 KTwo Evo 1600 rear discharge Also: 2022 Dalbo 360 Maxi Roll fat rolls, dribble bars, 2014 Alstrong 940T aerator roll 3m, fuel bowser, wheels and tyres

COMMENCES: FRIDAY 14TH MARCH 2025 AT 10:00AM

FINISHES: WEDNESDAY 26TH MARCH 2025 AT 10:00AM

VIEWING DAY: WEDNESDAY 19TH MARCH 2025 10:00AM - 4:00PM

On Instructions from Hazell & Jeferies Ltd SAWMILL, GORING HEATH, READING, RG8 7SS

TIMED ONLINE AUCTION OF SURPLUS CLASSIC COMMERCIALS, COMMERCIAL VEHICLES, PLANT AND MACHINERY

To include: Komatsu WA320 and Furukawa 335 loading shovels, Komatsu PC120 excavator, 2015 Hitachi Zaxis 225 USLC excavator (engine damage), Caterpillar D4D dozer, JCB 3CX, 2020 DAF XF tractor unit, Terex Finlay 770 Single Skin Trommel, 2020 and 2019 Weightlifter bulk trailers (2), Boss S40 forklift, DAF, MAN, Mitsubishi, Renault, Leyland, Dodge, Foden, Seddon, Atkinson, Mercedes, AEC, Iveco and Mercedes lorries with various bodies Also: containers, bodies, pedestrian rollers, buckets and spares

COMMENCES: WEDNESDAY 9TH APRIL 2025 FROM 10.00AM

FINISHES: TUESDAY 15TH APRIL 2025 FROM 10.00AM

VIEWING DAY: THURSDAY 10TH APRIL 2025 10.00AM - 4.00PM

WESTOVER FARM, CALBOURNE ISLE OF WIGHT,

TIMED ONLINE AUCTION OF A FORAGE HARVESTER, TRACTORS, IMPLEMENTS, MACHINERY AND SPARES

To include: Forage Harvester: 2016 Krone Big X 770 (3,190hrs) with Easy Flow 300 reel, 2014 Krone Easy Collect 903 12row maize header, 2014 Krone X-Disc 6200 wholecrop header Tractors: CAT Challenger MT755E (6,874hrs), 2020 JCB Fastrac 4220 (2,687hrs), 2021 Valtra T254 with Quicke Q7M loader (3,027hrs), 2020 Valtra T254 (5,664hrs) Sprayer: 2011 Sands Vision 4.0 30m (6,155hrs) Machinery: 2016 Horsch Pronto 6KR power harrow drill 6m, 2no 2019 KTwo Roadeo 1800HD compact push trailers, 2015 Bailey 14t, 2014 Bailey 16t, Bailey 14t trailers, 2009 Chafer Sentry sprayer 30m, 2005 Vaderstad TopDown 500 cultivator 5m, 2017 Alpego TR46-280 fail mower 2.8m, Simba Cambridge Rolls 8m, Simba TopTilth 6m, Bomford B58 hedgecutter, King DB10 20ft curtainsider Also: cultivators, push-of buck rakes, slurry equipment, weight blocks, spares, wheels and tyres.

COMMENCES: WEDNESDAY 26TH MARCH 2025 FROM 10.00AM

FINISHES: TUESDAY 1ST APRIL 2025 FROM 10.00AM

VIEWING DAY: THURSDAY 27TH MARCH 2025 10.00AM - 4.00PM

york machinery sales APRIL AUCTION

TIMED ONLINE AUCTIONS

FARM DISPERSAL SALES

Friday 11th April 2025 At 10:30am

DAISY BANK FARM, Thorney Lanes, Newborough, DE13 8RY

Fendt 724 Vario Gen 6 Profi Plus (23’), Massey Ferguson 7618 Dyna 6 (13’)

Massey Ferguson 5455 4WD (08’), MF 675 2WD

JCB 526-56 Agri Telehandler (14’) Plus Attachments

New Holland CR9070 Elevation Combine (09’-30ft-2675 Work Hours)

New Holland BB1290 Square Baler, Bailey and Richard Western Trailers, Arable Machinery, Drills, General Implements, Cattle Equipment, Workshop Tools, Produce, Fertiliser, Sundries & Effects Online and On Site Bidding Available for part of the sale only

or call 01889 562811

Thursday 17th April 2025 At 10:30AM

WOLSELEY PARK ESTATE, Wolseley Bridge, Stafford, ST17 0EZ

John Deere 6215R Ultimate Edition (50kph-19’ Plate)

John Deere 6210R (50 kph-11’ Plate)

John Deere 7530 Premium (50kph-11’ Plate)

New Holland CX8080 Combine (08’-30ft)

Two 8.5 and 10 Tonne Trailed Spreaders

Grain/Silage Trailers

Arable Machinery, McConnel Discaerator, Three Claydon 6m Terrastars, General Implements, Livestock Equipment, Workshop Tools, Vehicles/Pickups, Sundries & E ects

Considering a sale?

For professional and hands on advice contact Mark Elliott on 07973 673092

www.bagshaws.com

EZGO golf buggy, electric, low hrs, as new with little use, charger, lights, all good working order. £2,500. R Hopkinson Tel 07976 424263 (Lincolnshire)

HONDA TRX 350, 2001, only 990hrs, owned from new, manual gears, full service history, just been serviced, good tyres (fronts new), runs & drives excellent, owner driver. £3,200 no VAT. A Clarke Tel 07708 205708 (Norfolk)

QUADZILLA Hammerhead 80 off road buggy, from approx 7yrs–adult, good condition. £650. N Spray Tel 07890 567794 (Denbighshire)

2014 John Deere Gator XUV855D, virtually as new, olive & black, 350mls from new or 152hrs, cargo deck power lift, black alloys, rear hitch, Protection Package inc guards & fender guards, one smallholder owner. £14,000. H Carter Tel 07888 987687 (Dorset)

POLARIS Sportsman 570, 2016, c/w plough, having a clear out and this is not used, bought from local council some time ago, but had no time to use it, f/w new battery & it starts on the button, average condition. £4,250. S Jefferies Tel 07764 948149 (Essex)

INTERNATIONAL B47 baler, good working order & barn stored. £975. M Robson Tel 07801 885520 (North Yorkshire)

NEW holland BB940 packer cutter 80x90 baler, 83644 bales, knotter fans, bale ejector, control box, new knife recently replaced, just finished our grass bales, good working order, knotters excellent. POA+VAT. R Baker Tel 07932 172517 /01594 530277 (Gloucestershire)

• 2008 (low bale count)

• EC Controls (in cab)

• Serviced ready for work

• Very good condition.

• Stored inside • One owner

01354 694701 Nick 07802 850212 gledhillaccessories@gmail.com

JOHN Deere 346 baler, always dry stored, has done very little work recently, all working, just needs some attention to the knotters. Offers. S Slater Tel 07970 181379 (Suffolk) FLAT 8 bale grab, suit JCB 'Q' fit, photos & videos available via Whatsapp. £400. A Dochard Tel 07749951898 (Norfolk)

INTERNATIONAL B47 baler, in fair condition for its age, mostly been shed stored until recently, not been used in 3-4yrs, a couple of minor repairs needed in the throat. £850. S Burbidge Tel 07517 386285 (Lincolnshire)

BALE squeeze, f/w 3pt linkage mount, easily converted for a loader, etc. £300. S Burbidge Tel 07517 386285 (Lincolnshire)

WELGER 630 baler, not been used for 4yrs, gone onto mini Hestons, barn stored. £4,250. K Marshall Tel 07958 360217/01245 403090 (Essex)

JF CRS 400 hayrake & tedder all in one. £500+VAT ono. P Hatley Tel 07763 351439 (Cambridgeshire)

NEW Holland 644 round baler, 1997, same farm from new, sub 18k bales, new belts in recent years, can do net or twine, gwo & stored inside, genuine honest baler. £2,800+VAT. M Crosby Tel 07876 196476 (Essex)

CHILLINGTON 56 bale squeeze, full working order & good condition, on 10.0/75-15.3 tyres, used by ourselves last season but now surplus to requirements. £950. L Stephenson Tel 07501 989454 (Suffolk)

McHALE V640 round baler, 55000 bales, 2012, located Barnsley. £13,950 ono. Bailey Tel 07871 443518 (South Yorkshire)

BEET EQUIPMENT

MATCO beet drill, 10 row, not used for 6+yrs, barn stored, might need some TLC, but in good condition. £450 no VAT; also a home made transport trailer for it if needed. £200 no VAT. A Clarke Tel 07708 205708 (Norfolk)

Manor House in Buckinghamshire, good condition. £10,000+VAT ono. E Rixon Tel 07866 566328 (Oxfordshire)

Seaman Tel 07771 925246 (Norfolk)

& MATERIALS FORTY sheets of green corrugated tin, some different lengths but mostly 16' x 4',

NOW STOCKING VST COMPACT TRACTORS!

From 18hp to 25hp and all 4wd & PAS Trade-ins welcome… running or not!

USED MACHINERY

6t tipping trailer c/w lights

£5,500+VAT

Watkins 3m Linkage Mounted Front Discs

two rows of discs 99%, castor depth wheels, six days work, demo condition

Simba 4.6m UniPress

Pro Active tines, levelling paddles, 700mm DD packer, barn stored and in immaculate condition

Sumo Trio Cultivator 2021, 3m,

Kuhn Vari-Leader 7 Furrow

Great Plains 3m X-Press Cultivator

Amazone

Teagle 510 Grass Topper

demo condition

Bailey 2000L Fast Tow Diesel Bowser 2009, twin 12v pumps, long delivery hose for combine lling, super condition

West 12T Grain Trailer 2014, 385/65x22.5 90%, sprung drawbar, manual tailgate, very tidy condition

&

NEW Holland Laterale CX6090, 2014, 4wd, top spec, 1377 eng/1058 drum hrs, 22' Varifeed header c/w side knife & trailer. £115,000+VAT A Sabin Tel Tom 07964 966397/Antony 07817 709044 (Oxfordshire)

NEW Holland TF78 Electra, 1998, 24’ header & Biso extension, Iveco engine, cuts around 400 acres/ yr & always done us proud, in good working order, for sale due to upgrade, message for more details. G Holden Tel 01603 872356 (Norfolk)

NEW Holland CR9080, 2014, 2500 engine/2000 drum hrs, twin pitch rotors, straw chopper, yield & moisture, 35’ varifeed header with 2 side knives, sale due to upgrade. £95,000+VAT ono. H Skipper Tel 07977 250247 (Staffordshire)

2006 Claas Lexion 510, c/w C540 header, 2369 eng/1732 drum hrs, 06 plate. £52,500. Hanson Tel 07944 138839 (Buckinghamshire)

2013 Case IH Axial Flow 9230, 24" tracks, 4wd, 2014 30' header with tandem header trailer, 2000 engine/1600 drum hrs, vgc.

£85,000+VAT ono. D Clayton Tel 07836 204646 (Derbyshire)

2010 Claas Lexion 560, 2556/3539hrs, Cat C10 engine, 25' Vario, R/H side knife, one owner/driver from new, stored under cover, excellent order, very genuine machine, ready for work. £69,000 ono. M Hobson Tel 07778 786367/07535 959331 (Lincolnshire)

NEW Holland TX 36 with 20' header & trailer, didn't get used last year, but still got a lot of life in it, barn stored. £8,000+VAT ono. R Higgins Tel 07919 927171 (Warwickshire)

1999 New Holland TF78 Elektra Plus, breaking for spares, farmer owner driver, low hrs, many parts still available, however 24' header, wheels & engine have been sold. P Scott Tel 07980 921341 (Lincolnshire)

JCB 2CX Air Master, low hrs, 4 in 1 bucket, 2 pipe compressor. £7,500. R Hopkinson Tel 07976 424263 (Lincolnshire)

McCONNEL Power Arm digger, Serial No 560087, works off tractor hydraulics. £150+VAT. A Ashwell Tel 07850 283812 (Hertfordshire)

£36,950 +VAT

New Holland B110C TC Wheeled Digger 18 reg, 5300hrs, extend a hoe, quick hitch, Autoglide, 4 in 1 bucket and pallet tines, new 5’ ditching bucket, on nearly new Mitas Industrial tyres, excellent condition

13-108513

T: 01823 412389 M: 07966 239436 E: hbsfisheries@yahoo.co.uk

THWAITES 1t high tip dumper, 15 in year low hrs. £5,995. R Hopkinson Tel 07976 424263 (Lincolnshire)

JCB 3CX, K reg, immaculate genuine condition, only 3000hrs. £14,500. M Hornbuckle Tel 07801 101645 (Leicestershire)

HITACHI ZX80 8t excavator, hammer & rotation lines, rubber tracks, offset boom, 2 buckets, Isuzu engine, good condition. £16,750+VAT ono. N Graves Tel 07710 835302 (Northamptonshire)

AGRIMECH bulldozer/snow plough, 5’ blade, adjustable angles, for pushiing snow, soil, grain, etc, suitable for use with small Kubota, etc. £520 no VAT, prefer cash on collection. R James Tel 01263 837569 (Norfolk)

DOORS

GALVANISED sliding doors (3), 8’1” wide x 15’10” tall. Offers. A Ashwell Tel 07850 283812 (Hertfordshire)

DRILLS

VADERSTAD Rapid 300S SuperXL 3m drill, 2003, track eradicators, good condition. J Brooks Tel 07776 421444/01502 677201 (Norfolk)

2015 KRM 2311 4m Sola drill, tine coulters, full spec, always been barn stored, in excellent condition as only lightly used, more photos & videos available via Whatsapp. £10,000. A Dochard Tel 07749 951898 (Norfolk)

MZURI Pro-Til 3T, 2022, only 320ha, seed & fertiliser, very good condition, genuine sale due to change of policy. POA. R Hammond Tel 01285 770217/07812 187861 (Gloucestershire)

MOORE Unidrill 3m trailed, working order, used last year to drill cover crops, wild flowers & grass. £3,500+VAT. S Pate Tel 07788 760220 (Suffolk)

VICON LZ510 4m air drill, c/w fine & coarse feed rolls & pre em markers (not fitted), working order inc control box, coulters worn but covering tines all good, been used for grass seed & stewardship mixes which it is extremely good for. £1,950+VAT. A Hazan Tel 07977 773342 (Shropshire)

FOUR-ROW maize/sweetcorn drill, used for game cover, ideal for small shoot. £450. E Carr Tel 07775 510248 (Essex)

VADERSTAD third row kit for a Rapid 600, all connecting rods, some bolts are missing. £550+VAT. R Alden Tel 07850 468101 (Suffolk)

SUMO 3m tine & tyre press, good condition. £1,550+VAT. N Wilson Tel 07547 698793 (Scottish Borders)

VADERSTAD 6m System P drill, used for several years, brilliant drill, good condition, always barn stored. £7,500+VAT. R Garner Tel 07767 418452 (Norfolk)

us for more info on 07789 793721 or email simon@sps-parts.co.uk

DRILLS (cont)

2020 Claydon 3m Hybrid drill, hyd drive, electric. £19,950. Hanson Tel 07944 138839 (Buckinghamshire)

VADERSTAD Rapid RDA 600S, 2011, 8397ha, system disc, hydraulic cross board, staggered tyre packer, good wearing metal, bout markers, pre em markers, seed master blockage monitor. £26,495+VAT ono. G Taylor Tel 07874 004171 (North Yorkshire)

CLAYDON drill twin tines, full set for 3m drill (18). £20 each. L Patchett Tel 07719 742598 (East Yorkshire)

VARIOUS Accord drill parts good condition. £150+VAT ono. R Gardiner Tel 07961 347047 (Essex)

HORSTINE Farmery Microband applicator for small seed or granular pesticides, c/w land wheel & electric fan. M Palmer Tel 07767 353154 (Norfolk)

HORSCH CO4 4m folding drill, 2001, v nice condition, converted to Bougault coulters, easy to use Accord metering unit, radar ground sensing, coulter blockage sensor, bout markers, pre-em markers, following tines, cleated tyres, SFI . £12,950+VAT ono. R Allan Tel 07786 964728 (Leicestershire)

LELY combination, 3m, tramlining, pre-em markers, following harrow. £3,950+VAT. A Watts Tel 07879 817992 (Norfolk)

SIMBA FreeFlow two 2m front tyre packer steel tubes & end caps (no tyres), excellent shafts/ bearing holders. Open to sensible offers. M D Langley & Sons Tel 07866276500 (Nottinghamshire)

IAE internal stables, two 12 by 12, hardly been used, wood slats

HORIZON DSX 75-20, 2021, only done 1050ha, 7.5m but can easily be reduced, Isobus, but also c/w control box, split hopper, selling due to change in farming policy, excellent condition. £50,000 ono. D Hald Tel 07765 447368 (Suffolk)

MONOSEM front hopper, 2021, excellent condition. £13,000+VAT. T Parkin Tel 07860 753258 (North Yorkshire)

WEAVING 4.8m tine drill, 2009, reworked in 2016, nearly new points, ready to go to work. £12,500+VAT ono. R Brown Tel 07594 545444 (Buckinghamshire)

KUHN Venta 4 combi 4m drill, power harrow recently overhauled, Suffolk coulters, following harrow, land wheel driven seeding. £4,500 ono. J Flatt Tel 07739 020147 (Suffolk)

KUHN 3030 combi drill, only drilled 77ha from new & still on original tines, always stored under cover in dark shed, 2019. £29,500+VAT ono. A Etty Tel 07764 465305 (East Yorkshire)

KUHN LC402 4m combination drill, 2010, following HR4004D harrow, 2010, hydraulic coulter lift, 3 rows Suffolk coulters, Quick fit tines, stand, pre-em markers, 10% plus/minus rate controller, off 300 acre farm, 1388ha from new, vgc. £16,000+VAT. R Gill Tel 07966 442540 (West Yorkshire)

EQUESTRIAN

REGISTERED Black Shire yearling colt, March 2024, very well handled, shown all as a foal & once this year, good to load, good with the farrier, up to date with vaccinations & worming, potential stallion, ridden or turnout prospects. £4,000 ono. S Smith Tel 07483 277108 (Staffordshire)

GOVERNOR’S trap & two tub traps, poor condition, but all complete. £150 the lot. E Carr Tel 07775510248 (Essex)

LODDEN 4 bay set of internal stables, each measuring 3.5 x 3.5m, needs new wooden panelling on some of the sections & a couple of panels have been slightly modified but still functional. £400 ono. C Wootton Tel 07780828018 (Hertfordshire)

TOP quality horse hay, 5' rounds. £39/bale, discount for large orders. D Lavender Tel 07768 090004 (Norfolk)

flail mower, hydraulic offset

ALPEGO TL33-220 verge mower 2.2m working width, hydraulic right hand offset, wide angle PTO

SUTON EHDG 2.3 metre power grab, c/w Claas Scorpion brackets..................................................£3,000

VICON Vari Spreader 503H, hydraulic on/off, parking wheels £2,300

Used Machinery

CLAAS Axion 850 CMatic CIS+, 2019, 256hp, front linkage 50kph £56,000 CLAAS Arion 650 Cebis 2016 (66) 185hp, 50kph Hexashift transmission 5950hrs, Proactive front axle, front linkage, good condition

POTTINGER 6m power harrow, 2017, good condition £17,500

SPEARHEAD Orbital 726T reach mower, 2017, wheel kit

BERTHOUD Sprinter 25 - 26 trailed sprayer 2,500l sprayer, 21m boom, quad nozzles good condition

VICON RO EDW 2800 disc spreader 12–45m spread width, very

£56,000

£38,000

£78,000

11089716 John Deere 8370R 2020, 1650hrs, AutoPowr, 50K, Ultimate Edition, ILS, HCS, AutoTrac ready, Activations, A/C, air seat, 9.0L FT4 Engine, PTO, PG Warranty to 2500hrs - 19/05/2025

11092204 John Deere 8370R 2017, 2890hrs, Ultimate Edition, E23, 50K, AutoTrac Ready, Activations, front & cab suspension, air seat, A/C, 5ESCV with joystick control, leather trim, Cat 4 drawbar, £149,950

11091895 John Deere 6175R

2021, 2913hrs, Premium Edition, AutoPowr, 50K, AutoTrac Ready, TLS, HCS, air seat, A/C, 3ESCV, PUH, air/ hyd brakes, NEW BKT 540/65R30 £89,950

81089222 John Deere 6175R

3747hrs, DirectDrive, 50K, AutoTrac Ready, TLS, air seat, A/C, 3ESCV, PUH, hyd/air brakes, 540/65R30 650/65R42, Road Registered: 28/5/15

81092169 Kramer KT447 2018, 3290hrs, Hydro, 40K, boom suspension, Kramer headstock, pallet tines, 3rd service depressure button, PUH, rear hyd brakes +SCV, air seat, air £59,950

WARRANTY COVERED

11091480 John Deere 7R 290 2021, 567hrs, Premium Edition, AutoPowr, 50K, AutoTrac Ready with Integrated SF6000 receiver,

71091284 John Deere 6175R

2019, 3600hrs, Premium Edition, AutoPowr, 50K, AutoTrac Ready, TLS, HCS, Ultimate air seat, A/C, 3ESCV, 114L/min hyd pump, additional hyd oil £76,750

11089358 John Deere 6155R

2017, 4790hrs, AutoQuad, 50K, AutoTrac Ready, TLS, HCS, air seat, A/C, 3SCV, PUH, front linkage, air/hyd brakes, NEW 480/70R30 520/85R38, £67,950

71092816 John Deere 6195R

2021, 2500hrs, Premium Edition, AutoPowr, 50K, AutoTrac Ready, Activations, TLS, HCS, air seat, A/C, ESCV, PG Warranty: 4000hrs - 18/04/2025 £109,950

11090329 John Deere 6215R

2021, 1800hrs, Ultimate Edition, AutoPowr CommandPro, 50K, AutoTrac Ready, Activations, TLS, HCS, 155L/min pump, 3ESCV, Front £117,950

41083738 John Deere 6175R

2017, 5160hrs, Premium Edition, AutoQuad Plus, 50K, ISOBUSand Green Star ready (no Activation), TLS, HCS, air seat, A/C, 3ESV, 114L min hyd £64,950

WARRANTY COVERED

71083670 John Deere 6175R 2016, 8000hrs, Ultimate Edition, AutoPowr, 50K, AutoTrac Ready, Activations, TLS, HCS, Premium air seat, A/C, 4ESCV with joy stick controls, £56,750

11091501 John Deere 6R 130

2023, 445hrs, AutoQuad, 50K, AutoTrac Ready, Activations, TLS, HCS, 3ESCV, PUH, air/hyd brakes, 2022 Build. PG Warranty: 3000hrs - 09/04/2026 £96,750

31092976 John Deere 6130R

2021, 1990hrs, AutoQuad, 40K, TLS, HCS, air seat, A/C, 3SCV, PUH, 114L/ min hyd pump, loader brackets, hyd brakes, panorama window, 480/64R24 £69,950

41089291 Kramer KT457

2021, 2075hrs, Hydro EcoSpeed Transmission, 40K, Boom suspension, Central Lubrication System, LED lights, A/C, air seat, PUH, rear hyd brakes + £62,950

31087857 Kramer KT407

2021, 1260hrs, Hydro Ecospeed, 40K, boom suspension, Matbro (Pin and Cone) headstock (no tines), 136HP Deutz engine, reverse fan/camera, £62,950

81093221 JCB 538.60 Agri Super

2021, 4578hrs, PowerShift, 40K, boom suspension, manitou hydraulic locking headstock (no pallet tines), PUH, rear hyd brakes + SCV, A/C, air seat, radio, £44,950

HAY in 4' round bales, baled 2024 in dry conditions & not a spot of rain on it, barn stored, equestrian quality, 100 available, collection only. £30. C Law Tel 07850 877794 (Leicestershire)

Hardox cutter, 60mm pins, clean cutting face

TOP quality silage, hay, straw & haylage, north Bristol area, please call for details. P Rogers Tel 07432 190003/01454 260339 (Gloucestershire)

KVERNELAND silage bale handler, owned from new, needs a little bit of TLC on right hand roller. £250+VAT. T Wright Tel 07810 656374/07795 484100 (Norfolk)

GENERATORS: diesel & PTO, quality used & new, est 25yrs. JSP UK Ltd. Tel 01432 353050 Mob 07774 742182 (Hereford)

GENERATOR 3 phase 125KVA, 1000 PTO, c/w power shaft, Stamford, step up gearbox, vgc. £1,500+VAT. D Cousins Tel 07810 740427 (Cambridgeshire) GRAIN HANDLING/

FOUR wooden panels, ideal for grain separation, 8’ x1’. £100 each. S Andrews Tel 07778 014792 (Bedfordshire)

PROTIMETER

NORRIS 745 large grain store dry vacuum cleaner, 205L drum, 240 volt, in good working order. £250. D Cripps Tel 07956 252015 (Kent)

PLOT FEEDS

Main Agents for

Cleaner Specialists New and Secondhand Cleaners

Sieves and Spares for most makes

Test Facility available

grain drying tunnel, 14 sections approx 1.2m x 3.05m, call for more details. S Markillie Tel 07970 960506 (Cambridgeshire)

REKORD RS 25 grain drying fan, only used for two harvests, Holec Heemaf motor, type UKE 180 M4 AC, 380-420V, 1455rpm 50HZ, good condition. £500+VAT ono. G Butler-Henderson Tel 07980 935364 (Hertfordshire)

SUC 500T2 suction blower, plus quantity of pipes, bends and lorry loading stand, very good flexible tube, PTO driven. £1,750+VAT. J Johnson Tel 07803 249399 (Hertfordshire)

Grain Fans and other equipment available

Contact Robin on

Roy Edwards 07702 408833 Full engineering, installation & dismantling services

(East Yorkshire)

CONDOR 1000t grain silo system,12 bins with self emptying perforated floors, c/w elevators, conveyors & huge aeration fan, once grain is in here it is easily cooled & will keep for years, flat pack style assembly, erected with just ladders. £39,000. P Mallett Tel 07973 509198 (Essex)

MERLO grain bucket, good condition. £750+VAT. N Wilson Tel 07547 698793 (Scottish Borders)

CHALLOW drive over hardwood floor, c/w central tunnel & fan, two floor areas 7m x 18m, capacity 350T each side, excellent condition, only 10yrs old, buyer dismantles, but can assist with loading. £35,000+VAT ono. B Wallis Tel 07770 950110 (Oxfordshire)

BDC portable grain stirrer, c/w 3 augers. £1,500+VAT. R Waddelow Tel 07973 615772 (Cambridgeshire)

PTO dryer fan, works well, but needs new safety guard. £150. L Patchett Tel 07719 742598 (East Yorkshire)

grain drying fans (2), 15hp, both in working order. £200+VAT ono. R Gardiner Tel 07961 347047 (Essex)

ASTWELL silo lift auger, 6" going to 8", on four castor wheels, very good condition, 3 phase. £750+VAT ono. R Gardiner Tel 07961 347047 (Essex)

TYPHOON

KRONE Swadro 42 rotary hay rake with 3rd front wheel, good order. £5,250. D Smart Tel 01223 861482 (Cambridgeshire)

KUBOTA GR1600-11 diesel 3 rotor deck, serviced & ready to go. £1,400. E Carr Tel 07775 510248 (Essex)

JOHN Deere mowers, one 42" cut £2,000, one 48" cut £1,500, both just been serviced. B Colson Tel 07789 261067 (Suffolk)

SFI/STEWARDSHIP ESTABLISHMENT & GRASS SEEDING/ OVERSEEDING 6, 12 or 24m application GRASSLAND SUBSOILER HIRE for sward improvement

P Ward 01986 785343 Mobile 07860 893058

SPEARHEAD 4m flail grass topper. £6,000+VAT. M Green Tel 07956 085952/01724 866460 (Lincolnshire)

EINBOCH 3m grass harrow with Stocks spreader & grass spreading kit, vgc. £3,000. D Smart Tel 01223 861482 (Cambridgeshire)

TWOSE 10' flat roll, 2 cylinder, 30" water filled, scraper, PUH eye, stand, average condition. £475+VAT. R Maundrell Tel 07785 568800 (Warwickshire)

BROWNS 2.3m hydraulic side shift topper, vgc, 25 acres from new. £3,800+VAT. M King Tel 07801 668286 (Cambridgeshire)

07748

RITCHIE chain harrows, 6m, hydraulic folding, had some strengthening added to frame, please text if my number won’t ring. £400+VAT. H Pearce Tel 07947 344310 (Essex) KRONE KW 7.92/8 tedder, 2014, 8 rotor, headland offset ram, excellent condition, always cleaned down & oiled, barn stored, road lights, never been welded, owner operator, will go straight to work, only selling due to upgrading.

£8,200+VAT ovno. A Clarke Tel 07708 205708 (Norfolk)

GRAYS 12' flat roll, 3 section, water filled, 30"diameter, sound frame, bearings & cylinders, no welds or leaks, drawbar pin attachment. £950+VAT. R Maundrell Tel 01527 389091 (Warwickshire)

TWOSE 8' flat roll, will go through 10' gate, good condition. £750. M Hornbuckle Tel 07801 101645 (Leicestershire)

Splendimo 360M

‘22 John Deere 6120M

Autoquad plus 40km/h, 4wd front axle, hydraulic trailer break, 623r front loader, 2x m-scv’s, tls

REF: 21102726 2994 hours

‘23 John Deere 6145M

Autoquad eco creeper, 4wd front axle - tls, 3x200 series m-scv’s, hydraulic trailer brake system

REF: C1093661 71 hours

‘23 John Deere 6R185

Autopowr 50k, tls+ with brakes, autotrac ready, ultimate front hitch, g5plus commandcenter

REF: A1100784 1139 hours

‘21 Kramer KT557

Ecospeed pro 40k smart driving, reversing camera, auto rear hitch, load stabiliser, auto lube system

REF: 11079429 2789 hours

Hydraulic top link, rear lighting, hopper extensions (+400L), pre-emergence markers

REF: 31091407 2023 model

‘23 John Deere 6R185

Autopowr 50k, cw cab, prem seat, 4600cc commandpro & cab susp, 4 prem e-scv’s, cooling comp

REF: 11089581 1382 hours

‘20 Kramer KL55.8T

40k, air con, air seat, 1 front scv, 540/70R24 michelin, very good condition, 2020 model

REF: D1099758 1237 hours

Kuhn PZ170 Drum Mower

Rear mounted, 1.65 working width, CAT 1 linkage, mechanical folding, 2 drums, 6 blades

REF: 41100058 2022 model

‘23 John Deere 6R150

Autopowr 50k, tls+ with brakes, g5plus commandcenter, 900kg bpw, hydraulic & trailer brakes

REF: A1100796 1504 hours

‘23 John Deere 6R130

Autoquad+ 50k, tls+ with brakes, pano door, autotrac ready, premium front hitch, 4200 c/c

REF: 11087705 87 hours

‘25 Kramer KT276

30k, heated cab, mirror for trailer hitch, rear 7p sockets, reversing horn, 1200mm pallet forks

REF: 91096243 4 hours

John Deere R975I Sprayer

7500L tank, 4240 display, steered axle with suspension, individual nozzle control, dual line air brakes

REF: 11091050 2023 model

‘22 John Deere 6R155

Directdrive 50k, tls+ with brakes, 4 prem e-scv’s, autotrac ready, 4600 commandcenter, e-joystick

REF: D1025571 1429 hours

‘23 John Deere 6R185

Autopowr 50k, tls+ with brakes, autotrac ready, premium light package, g5plus commandcenter

REF: A1100806 1172 hours

‘23 Kramer KT407

Ecospeed 40k smart driving, led lighting, reversing camera, central lubrication system, tilt ram lock

REF: 21088817 552 hours

John Deere 331 Mower

Rear mounted, 3.1 cutting width, impeller conditioner, quick knives, standard 6 splines - 1000RPM

REF: D1095660 2024 model

Kuhn Sitera 3030 Seed Drill

McCONNEL TA 2000 offset flail, had little use, ideal for grass, banks & hedging. £4,850. L Rofix Tel 07860 255223 (Suffolk)

F Pearman Tel 07949 274423 (Hertfordshire)

JOE TURNER EQUIPMENT

GRAVEL cart, approx 8t stainless steel lined hopper, long & short belts. £5,000+VAT ono. A Spence Tel 07836 596277 (Lincolnshire)

PEDIGREE Limousin cow, 5yr old, from TB4 area & in High Health herd, due early April, only selling as making room for heifer coming through. £2,600. L Enefer Tel 07810 004470 (Norfolk)

McCONNEL Rhino SE5 topper, good working order, c/w PTO, parts manual, good solid machine, little used. £800 ono. T Gallimore Tel 07849 405044 (Staffordshire)

MAJOR 602 topper, barn stored from new, good working order & condition. P Waspe Tel 07428 886226 (Suffolk)

working width: 2.4m,

and full spec at www.writtlefarmmachinery.co.uk

004794 01245 442224

ERTH Panbuster, Dale Machinery, selling due to lack of use, c/w new points. £5,500+VAT ono. C Williams Tel 07765 531092 (Carmarthenshire)

MTD 8hp chipper/shredder, working condition, little used, new blades. £475. K Hustwitt Tel 07460 020673 (Essex)

LOG splitter, PTO driven, screw type, good working order, stored under cover in closed barn. P Waspe Tel 07462 472289 (Suffolk)

LOG splitter, PTO driven, screw type, good working order, stored under cover in closed barn. P Waspe Tel 07462 472289 (Suffolk)

IRRIGATION/ DRAINAGE

QUANTITY of 4" & 5" aluminium

Jetting Nozzles for morethan a quarter of a century

COOPER mole drainer, 3 point linkage, c/w 3 flatlift & 2 subsoiler legs. £950 ono. M Hobson Tel 07778 786367/07535 959331 (Lincolnshire)

BRIGGS acoustic irrigation pump unit, 2007, f/w JCB engine & Caprari pump, 3086hrs, Murphy control with Briggs control 10 electric control. £12,000+VAT ono. R Waddelow Tel 07973 615772 (Cambridgeshire)

TWIN wall pipe 300mm, 3 x 6m @£60 each & 5 x 4m @ £50 each. N Scarborough Tel 07779 468855 (Lincolnshire)

PURE Limousin cow. 5.5yr old from TB4 area & in High Health herd, PD in calf due early June, only selling as out of calving pattern. £2,300. L Enefer Tel 07810 004470 (Norfolk)

WE have a selection of High Health (inc BTV3 vaccine) bulls & heifers available this spring, Estimated Breeding Values and Leachman £ Profit scores for all animals. I Spinks Tel 07899 892899 (Norfolk)

ABERDEEN ANGUS BULLS

DRY grain maize for sale, ex farm, Milton Keynes area. Price negotiable. C Smith Tel 07831 479966 (Buckinghamshire)

PEDIGREE Limousin bulls (8), easy calving, quiet temperament, between 11–22 months old. K Knight Tel 07810 553957 (Norfolk)

(Essex)

polypipe, twin walled,

&

MILES trailed single leg mole drainer in good working order, plus spare parts including new double blade, 2 bullets, 4 expanders & 2 chains. £2,450+VAT. P Rogers Tel 07977 728938 (Hertfordshire)

LIVESTOCK

POLLED Simmental bull, 2yrs old, pure Heathbrow bloodlines, docile, long tall modern, excellent legs & feet, sold for export but due to BT cannot be transported so now for sale, Hi Health & TB4, reasonably priced. D Sapsed Tel 07836 782184 (Hertfordshire)

PEDIGREE polled Hereford bulls, High Health status, BVD, IBR, Johnes & Neospora (Level 1) accredited, TB4, great growth & conformation combined with Hereford calving ease, www. bitternherefords.co.uk. C Blaxell Tel 07768 171979 (Norfolk)

Beet buckets – choice of standard & toe tip

BEET CLEANERS – CHOICE OF CTM & TODD with picking tables etc

BEET HOES CHOICE OF 6 & 12 ROW HYD FOLD

Standen - Househam - FMA - Kongskilde

VOGEL NOOT 5 FURROW PLOUGH WITH PRESS

S-950 manual vari width & hydraulic press arm

POTTINGER 6 FURROW PLOUGH WITH PRESS

Servo 45-SP (2013) hydraulic vari width and press arm

TERRADISC CULTIVATORS 3 & 4M

Dutch & combination harrows – 3 to 6m

BOMFORD 8M VIBROFLEX HYDRAULIC FOLD

Dalso 6m hyd/fold pigtail cultivator with rear discs

FLAT LIFTS – SUBSOILERS 2 TO 5 LEG

Westfield 3 phase 10” grain auger x approx 42’

STAINLESS STEEL WATER/FERTILISER BOWSERS

Choice of 10,000 - 18,000 - 25,000 litres on air or hyd brakes

6T LOW LOADER – HYD LOWERING REAR AXLE

12 ton Marston tipping / flat trailer with lift off side

14T MARSTON GRAIN TRAILER HYD BRAKES

Griffiths 28’ flat trailer with steel floor & front/rear ladders

14T ALLOY LORRY CONVERSION – ROLL SHEET

Pettit grain trailers 5 & 12 ton very old and very good

50’ NEAN COMBINE / MACHINERY TRAILER

full MOT wells & outriggers on air with rear lift – choice of 2

2022 NEW HOLLAND BOOMER 35 HYDRO TRACTOR 138hrs, MX C3 power loader, bucket & pallet tines

KLEINE 12 ROW HYDRAULIC FOLDING SUGAR BEET DRILL

2017 BAILEY

wheels

2023

2023 BAILEY 18 TON X 11,100MM BALE TRAILER sprung

ABERDEEN Angus bulls (2) for sale from the Park Wall herd, 22–23 months old, Johnes Level 1, BVD Accredited, fertility tested, TB4 (last tested March 24). J Musk Tel 07748 850465/01638 724831 (Suffolk)

BUTLEY Herefords, registered pedigree bulls & females, quiet & easily handled, all bulls halter trained & guaranteed under Hereford Society rules, TB4 area. www.butleyherefords.co.uk. DC Smith & Sons Tel 07971 694912/07885 594143 (Suffolk)

DEXTER long legged cows (6), four pedigree ranging in age from 4yrs, 10 , 11 & 15, all have calves at foot but not running with bull, two non pedigree 5yrs, both with calves at foot, TB test 14/03/25. £2,000 ono, will split. P Marshall Tel 07879 492306 (Lincolnshire)

LIMOUSIN bulls, polled, Black & Red, Elite Health, TB4 semen tested, 2yrs old, ready to work, Bonshaw herd, Colchester. Heifers & cows with calves also available. D Kinloch Tel 07748 786073/07718 786218 (Essex)

ABERDEEN Angus bulls, top blood lines, Elite Health, TB4, semen tested, ready to work, choice of 4, 2–3yrs old, Bonshaw Pedigree Angus Colchester. D Kinloch Tel 07748 786073/07718 786218 (Essex)

2024 Pygmy nanny kids, ready now, super selection, July 2024, have all just received latest vaccinations (HepP), wormed & foot trimmed, all very friendly & come to the bucket, great colours & markings, CPH. E Bunting Tel 07889 640199 (Essex)

FOOT trimming cattle crush, front & back gates, lifting belly straps, hoof lashing points, average condition. £100+VAT. R Maundrell Tel 07785 568800 (Warwickshire)

CATTLE weighing scales, in good working order, has been used with both Bateman & IAE crushes, galvanised frame, located Boston. £380+VAT. H Catlin Tel 07931 524599 (Lincolnshire)

McHALE C460 straw blower/ spreader, 2014, in excellent condition, full working order, just had full dealer service, Herts, Essex, Cambs border. £8,250+VAT. P Rogers Tel 07977 728938 (Hertfordshire)

TUBAR cattle crush, timber floor, front door & locking yoke, not been used recently but fully functional, would suit smallholder, not suitable for huge cattle 900+kg. £120+VAT. R Maundrell Tel 07785 568800 (Warwickshire)

WARTHOG straw spreader, will spread all bale sizes, Matbro fittings. £2,500+VAT. R Garner Tel 07767 418452 (Norfolk)

BOMAG BW 65 roller, 2016, with Ifor Williams trailer, all good, done little work. £3,500. R Hopkinson Tel 07976 424263 (Lincolnshire)

SHOTBLASTING gun c/w 20kg of shotblasting grit. £50. R Sinkler Tel 01377 270251 (East Yorkshire) FLAME thrower weed

.

(Bedfordshire)

GALEBREAKER Agri, 4m wide by 1.5 high (12), all fastenings & strap guards, as new, used for one winter. £1,000+VAT ono. R King Tel 07929 424474 (Nottinghamshire)

PROCTOR cattle shed air pipes & fan (2), approx 100' long. R Kirk Tel 07983 977929 (Leicestershire)

IFOR Williams TA510 livestock trailer, 12'x6' with sheep decks, good tyres. £3,600+VAT. T Evans Tel 01787 227335 (Suffolk)

John Deere 6620 40kph PowrQuad,

John

1992 John Only 5382 hours, ple! 3 SCVS, selectable

1993 Ford 8630 Showing just 4905

1978 Massey Multipower example, and genuine,

2007 100hp with a 4 Pickup hitch

2009 Vaderstad System disc and in good

2017 Vaderstad Rapid A600S System discs, radar, pre-em markers, fair condition.

2014 Weidemann 3070 CX80T Versatile machine in good order. 5012 hours.

1971 Massey Ferguson 135 Multi-power Comes with MF 40 Power Loader

Lamborghini 1060 Prem 60/60 Multispeed gearbox, 4 SCVS, 540/540E/1000/1000E. 7693 hours

2001 John Deere 6210 Very nice example, c/w creeper gear, 3 SCVS, AC, 11,198 hours

2021 John Deere 6120M Autotrac ready, Autoquad, Air brakes, only 1700 hours

2022 CASE IH Farmall 55A Done only 12 hours from new, 2 SCVS, left hand shuttle.

1971 Massey Ferguson 135 C/w pick up hitch and foot throttle 2016 Merlo TF35.7–120 On very good tyres, only 3777 hours.

2009 Vaderstad Carrier 650 Crossobard leveling paddles and rubber runner packer

LATEST GRASSLAND

01691 791460

MF 8S.305

2022, 2400hrs, Dyna VT Exclusive, front links

MF 7S.180 2023, 1900hrs, Dyna 6, front links & PTO

MF 6S.155 2023, 1300hrs, Dyna 6, 50kph

MF 8740S

2019, 9000hrs, front links & PTO, guidance, 50kph, air brakes

MF 5S.145

2022, 1000hrs, c/w loader, Dyna 6, wheel weights

MF 5S.115

2024, 300hrs, Dyna 4, cab suspension

MF 5711M

2022, 500hrs, c/w loader, Dyna 4, 40kph

MF 7726

2017, 5600hrs, Dyna VT, front links, 50kph, air brakes, Data 4 screen, Multipad

MF 7722S

2020, 4400hrs, Dyna VT Efficient

Bailey 18T silage trailer

2024, rear steer, air hyd brakes, LED lights, hyd door, grain hatch

MANITOU 628 turbo Powershift, good reliable machine all works as it should, glass missing in small window next to seat & tyres are low on tread, currently on 11,188hrs, owned since 2018, delivery available. £12,000+VAT. B Stanton Tel 07821 517020 (Lincolnshire)

4 x 600kg or 2 x 1000kg bags

of

SLEWTIC bag lifter. £1,100+VAT. R Garner Tel 07767 418452 (Norfolk)

CLAAS Scorpion 7030 2013, 5000hrs, Q fit carriage, owner driver, good condition. £30,000+VAT ono. J Dovey Tel 07788 932069 (Dorset)

£44,500 2019 JCB 526-56

2915hrs, new JCB Q fit head & pallet tines, a/c, absolutely mint throughout

info@jamesmurrell.co.uk 01603 712222 Norwich, Norfolk www.jmurrell.co.uk

SANDERSON 622 teleporter, tyres OK, good brakes, strong hydraulics, just had the boom ram refurbished, some electrics work some don't, good starter from cold, usual wear & tear, c/w a pair of forks, ideal yard machine. £7,500. S Burbidge Tel 07517 386285 (Lincolnshire)

BOMFORD loader brackets. £40. J Harvey Tel 07947 572679 (Hertfordshire)

MANITOU 741-140 VT loader, tyres 80%, 2500hrs, very tidy smart looking loader, 7m 4t, 140hp, Vario box, Elite spec. £49,950+VAT. A Campbell Tel 07738 955496 (Cambridgeshire)

TOYOTA forklift 02-8FDJF35, 2016, message for more information, selling due to upgrade, genuine enquiries only, sold as seen. £8,000+VAT. A Wortley Tel 01366 728246 (Norfolk)

MILL & MIX

SHELBOURNE Powermix II Express 13 cube, 2004, owned since new, barn stored, light use in last 10yrs, only used for mixing barley feed & not silage, PTO, conveyor & weigher work perfectly, main shaft is clunky & needs repairing. £3,000 ono. J Speirs Tel 07979 463480 (Bedfordshire)

MISCELLANEOUS

10ft, 20ft & 40ft units available Rents start at £10+VAT/week 07812 374 290 www.containerpeople.co.uk info@containerpeople.co.uk

Hydramex Limited

GENERAL FARM AND AGRICULTURAL SUPPLIERS OF TRACTOR & WEARING PARTS, HARDWARE, CLOTHING ETC. FOR FARMERS GUIDE READERS

ALL IN ONE COUNTRY STORE

Tel: 01280 705202

Fax: 01280 704163

Email: hydramex@hotmail.com Field Farm, Charlton Road, Evenley, Brackley, Northants NN13 5GH

SCHARMULLER towing hitch, 50mm eye, 8 flange holes, vertical flange alignment, accepts M20 bolt, max permissible vertical hold 3000kg, flange hold pattern 145 x 145mm. Can arrange courier at extra cost. J Gillman Tel 01159 655970 (Nottinghamshire)

BRITAINS & Siku 1:32 scale farm models & shed, these models are in immaculate condition, some of which are no longer available to buy, more photos available on request of individual items. £450 ono for the full set. O English Tel 07789 547987 (Lincolnshire)

FARM DIVERSIFICATION business for sale, internet based innovative equine & livestock bedding system, massive potential for growth in the agricultural sector with environmentally friendly products for waste management, bio stimulants & crop health. For more information contact March Partnership Farms on 07860 835995 or email march.p@ btinternet.com, Essex.

STIMECH heavy duty pallet tines & back plate, c/w Claas/Sanderson brackets (originally Manitou), in vgc. £375+VAT. M D Langley & Sons Tel 07866 276500 (Nottinghamshire)

WALK-IN fridge/cold room, 3.5m long, 2.5m wide, 2.2m high, c/w outside condenser (renewed a couple of years ago) & internal racking, good working order, buyer to dismantle. G Epsley Tel 07743 693255 (Kent)

Tel 07768 935715 (Essex)

PEST CONTROL

TANTON Tomahawk gas bird scarer with electronic on/off timer, number of bangs selection, good working order, Sittingbourne. £175+VAT. G Epsley Tel 07743 693255 (Kent)

GCWBX2400

Kemper Grass

HOW IT ALL WORKS

• You call us with your postcode

• We view your building on Google Earth as we talk

• We send you a quotation

• If the quotation is accepted we will arrange a site visit to carryout accurate measurements on site

• We manufacture liner

• Product comes with 10 year guarantee

• Continuous length with no joints

• Thermo plastic ultraply membrane • Welded outlets

• Appointment is made to install ESTABLISHED FOR 40 YEARS ALL OPERATORS ARE FULLY CERTIFIED

There have been reports of scammers calling our customers pretending to be a High Court Enforcement O cer acting for Farmers Guide and demanding payment for ctitious invoices or bookings.

OFFICE - 01233 623739

The conversation includes the mention of monthly payments and agreements to a sponsorship through Farmers Guide, possibly connected with a school or building control. The conversations are aggressive and inappropriate language is used. These are all signs that this is a scam. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING AND DO NOT PAY THEM.

To be clear – if we call you, it will be Debbie, who is always courteous and polite.

Invoices are emailed or posted and there is a secure link for payments.

New Isuzu D-Max

DOWDESWELL DPD73 5 furrow reversible plough, retirement sale.

£400+VAT. E Milsom Tel 01666 840772 (Wiltshire)

RABE Super Albatros 6 furrow plough, 2016, good condition. £9,500+VAT. R Fulton Tel 07771 731766 (Lancashire)

KVERNELAND mole board. R Kirk Tel 07983 977929 (Leicestershire)

DOWDESWELL DP7D 4 furrow plough, good frame, had one minor repair at some point, boards are worn, but most other metal will service a turn, has subsoilers fitted, some spares available by separate negotiation. £800. S Burbidge Tel 07517 386285 (Lincolnshire)

KUHN 7 skimmer shanks, as new, surplus to requirements. £150. M Terry Tel 07785 916061 (North Yorkshire)

GREGOIRE Besson 6 furrow 5+1, 2000, TA8 mouldboards, hydraulic memory turnover & front furrow adjustment, single wheel transport bracket with it, just not pictured. £3,000+VAT. g vale Tel 07968 264768 (Bedfordshire)

GREGOIRE Besson 7 furrow 6+1 7F onland/in furrow, currently in 6f mode, built Dec 2009, excellent condition, hydraulic memory turnover with side to side levelling, hydraulic f/furrow & depth wheel adjustment, double lateral bogie wheel. £7,600+VAT. G Vale Tel 07968 264768 (Bedfordshire)

DOWDESWELL DP120S MA delta furrow variwidth 4+1 reversible plough, 260hp headstock with new bushes & pins, DD mouldboards, new depth wheel dampener ram, depth wheel new pins & bushes, all other bushes replaced where required.

£2,750+VAT ono. J Jordan Tel 07535 990066 (Suffolk)

KUHN Multimaster plough parts, quantity of wearing metal, good condition. £1,000+VAT ono.

R Gardiner Tel 07961 347047 (Essex)

GREGOIRE Besson HRPB7 6 furrow on land/in furrow, manual variwidth, beautiful straight plough, boards barely worn & look original.

£5,500. E Baron Tel 07989 343493 (Hertfordshire)

DOWDESWELL MA140 6f (5+1) reversible plough, 2010, manual variwidth, hydraulic front furrow adjustment, rear disc, DDS bodies, skims, some new wearing parts fitted, off 300 farm, good condition, some spares available. £6,900+VAT. R Gill Tel 07966 442540 (West Yorkshire)

POTATO EQUIPMENT

WIFO 1t box rotator, with new centre bush, resealed turnover ram, new micro speed valve, 2 pallet forks, top & side arms, JCB brackets. £2,500+VAT ex farm. F Milk Tel 07775 741720 (Norfolk)

TONG 1t self tipping skip.

£350+VAT. R Waddelow Tel 07973 615772 (Cambridgeshire)

KONGSKILDE Germinator 4m folding fine tilth trailed cultivator. £775+VAT. S Bloomfield Tel 07900 882063 (Norfolk)

TONG self tip skip, 1.5t.

£500+VAT. R Waddelow Tel 07973 615772 (Cambridgeshire)

Email: info@agri-web.co.uk

Mid Ranger 82 single row potato harvester, 1982, c/w bagger off main web & side elevator, in good condition considering age. £1,500 ono. T Lea Tel 07887 722532 (Warwickshire)

M-Trac Ltd

NEW Cousins breaker rings, part no 640022BR. £30. A Dunham Tel 07767 248412 (Cambridgeshire)

COUSINS press rings, new, 24" Part no 200013b, GLK6650. £100. A Dunham Tel 07767 248412 (Cambridgeshire)

NEW Kuhn discs to fit Optimer, 6 hole, part no 745906645. £35. A Dunham Tel 07767 248412 (Cambridgeshire)

LEMKEN discs, new, part no 3490459. £20. A Dunham Tel 07767 248412 (Cambridgeshire)

ELECTRIC motor, 4hp, single phase, has had very little use. £120 no VAT. R James Tel 01263 837569 (Norfolk)

QUALITY FLAILS

To suit most flail mowers and hedge cutters at competitive prices

Tel: 01427 718561

Fax: 01427 718016

E-mail: sales@flailsdirect.co.uk Website: www.flailsdirect.co.uk

Also flail mowers for tractors and excavators from 15 to 200HP (Flails Direct is a division of Engineering and Hire Ltd)

KVERNELAND new end caps no RG0005614 & angled couplings no RG00056139. A Dunham Tel 07767 248412 (Cambridgeshire)

FOUR tungsten faced points to suit HeVa low disturbance subsoiler, now surplus to requirements. £65 each. E Kiddy Tel 07767 167821 (Suffolk)

EX-BATEMAN RB35 (18 plate) complete engine block & all ancillary equipment, air con, AdBlue, exhaust system, etc, needs small number of parts to make good. Open to sensible offers. R Lingham Tel 07919 527913 (Kent)

VARIOUS new parts for New Holland 9.90 combine – fuel/ AdBlue filters, various chains, dbl knife fingers, reel tines, retractable f/auger tines, knife sections, hdr slip clutch discs, 117 swinging chopper blades, pallet stored inside. £1,000+VAT ono. R Gardiner Tel 07961 347047 (Essex)

ALBUTT strong headstock to fit a Merlot, suitable for bolt with U brackets for bale handlers, etc, unused/shop soiled. £350+VAT. S Lewis Tel 07850 739556 (Shropshire)

(Cambridgeshire)

Power Beyond, Maxicare Protect valid to 09.09.2025 or 5000hrs 2021 CL-A5101450.B

ARION 660 £88,950 50kph, 3946hrs, 540/65R30 f, 650/65R42 r, 4 spools, f/& cab susp & linkage, eco PTO, a/c, Isobus, a/brakes, PUH, Maxicare Protect until 17/08/26 or 5000hrs 2021 CL-A9701250.A CLAAS ARION 650 HEXASHIFT £69,950 50kph, 185hp, AdBlue, 4446hrs, 540/65R30 f, 650/65R42 r, 5 spools, f/susp & linkage, eco PTO, a/c, a/brakes, electric hyd, PUH, Power Beyond, 6000hr wty 2020 CL-A7603835.A

SPARE PARTS

REAR PTO shaft heavy duty for Unimog U1600, unused and as new,.was removed when Unimog was delivered new. £975 no VAT. P Williams Tel 07966 273748 (Lincolnshire)

SPRAYERS

HARDI sprayer 800L, 12m boom with hydraulic height control, retirement sale. £150+VAT. E Milsom Tel 01666 840772 (Wiltshire)

HOUSEHAM 2013 Merlin selfpropelled sprayer, 32/24/12m boom, 5000L tank, quad nozzle bodies, 3900hrs, 2 sets of tyres, Trimble RTK steering & section control. £61,000+VAT. S Bartle Tel 07884 238552 (Nottinghamshire)

GEM 2000 Self-trak, 20m boom, rowcrops. Offers. S Presland Tel 07811 711329 (Hertfordshire)

HARDI 2500L trailed sprayer, for spares or repair, needs one new rowcrop tyre, & Hardi pump needs overhauling, photos can be supplied, can deliver. L Patchett Tel 07719 742598 (East Yorkshire)

2013 Landquip Intrac 5024 24 m trailed, hi spd tracking axle c/w air susp, 5000L tank, 5 Jet Air switched nozzles, Genius control box with GPS switching , 2” fast fill Pacer pump, 650/60/38 Michelin or 380/90/46 narrows, good condition. £16,500+VAT. N Beesley Tel 07770 471245 (Northamptonshire)

UNIMOG U500 fwd control, 2015, LWB, 4ws, 238hp, tyre inflation, 7700hrs, 5300L s/s tank, 24m booms for suspension, Multiflow, etc, Krone flow meter. £37,000+VAT complete, or sell Unimog separately. N Smith Tel 07798 907927 (Norfolk)

• 13 Tonnes capacity • SAFELY change your sprayers wheels • No safety risk to personnel or machinery! • Remote

2012 Landquip self propelled sprayer, 3500L, 24/30m booms, 2800hrs, but will increase as still in use, available July 2025, immaculate condition, section control & GPS guidance, 3 sets of wheels, 320/90-R32, 420/85R24, 700/50-26.5. M Hornbuckle Tel 07801 101645 (Leicestershire)

FARMGEM 1600 FSE mounted 12/24m sprayer, 2013, c/w TeeJet 844E sprayer controller, electro hydraulics & 7 section auto boom shut off controlled by TeeJet Matrix Pro 570G, NSTS test passed 11th March 2024. £4,000+VAT. H Goose Tel 07917734293 (Lincolnshire)

SPRAYRANGER 130D 24m 2000L, 2006, 3560hrs, 24m single line boom, 3600hrs, Arag Bravo 300 spray controller, auto gearbox, 2.8L engine, induction hopper, 2 sets wheels, go anywhere sprayer, very light footed, 12mnth test.

£10,000+VAT ono. H Pell Tel 0788036854 (Bedfordshire)

2004 Landquip 24m 2500L, NSTS tested until June 25, 300L clean water tank, tracking drawbar, straight booms, pair of rowcrops & Delta 34 RDS rate controller.

£3,250+VAT. W Anstee Tel 07948 552018 (Cambridgeshire)

SPRAYTEC LTD

Sprayer Specialists in the Eastern & Southern Counties

Crop & Amenity Sprayer Specialist

Sprayer Specialist in the Eastern & Southern Counties

New and used sprayers and parts stocked for:

Berthoud • Househam Chafer • Agrifac and most other makes

Hypro • Teejet • Lechler Altek • RDS • Dual Pumps Enduramaxx • Stocks Fan Jet

SPRAYER, SLUG PELLET AND GRANULAR APPLICATOR TESTING

Contacts:

Robert Webb: 07860 801322

Anthony Williams: 07711 947189

Phil Ramsey: 07934 799628

Andy Gemmill: 07802 336880 01279 812727

spraytecltd@btinternet.com www.spraytecltd.co.uk

BERTHOUD Tenor, 2009, 4000L with 10 section auto air shut off, Teejet guidance included in price. £10,750+VAT ono.

AGRI SPRAY

AGRICULTURAL SPRAYERS SALES SERVICE SPARES

1994 Gem 24m 3000L, PUH mounted, 6 individual section control, induction hopper & clean water tank, good working order, a couple of water & oil leaks, but shouldn't take much to sort, no NSTS test, variable rate with brand new RDS delt. £1,400 ono. T Stannard Tel 07507 264278 (Norfolk)

CHAFER Guardian 4000L, 2007, 3” pump, twin line, fert bars, triple nozzles, electric boom controls, airbag suspension, onboard compressor, wide wheels, fast fill ports, steering axle, chemical locker, Delta 34i controller. £17,000 one no VAT. D Martin Tel 07710 551915 (Rutland)

BATEMAN RB26, 2009, 24m contour booms, 3000L tank, 12k hrs, 11 months MOT, 2 set of wheels, good condition, genuine reason for sale. £20,000 ono. A Lyon Tel 07462 903341 (Essex)

BERTHOUD Elyte 1000L 24m, 2010, DP Tronic, 8 section wash, very good working condition, 12 months test. £7,500+VAT ono. B Harper Tel 07966 445160 (Shropshire)

2011 Bateman RB17 24m, 2011, 4036 genuine hrs, 3000L s/steel tank, 24m contour boom, twin spray line, 125hp JD engine, Bateman LH controller & screen, 12mnth test, 2 sets wheels, basic machine ready for work, genuine reason for sale. £50,000+VAT ono. H Pell Tel 07880 736854 (Bedfordshire)

JOHN DEERE: T670i, W540, 9580 WTS, 2066, 2264, 2258, 2058, 1188, 1177, 1166, 1085, 1075, 1065, 985, 975, 965, 955, 952, 950, 630, 530, 8820

CLAAS: Lexion 600, 580T, 570T, 480, 460, 440, 430, 218, 118, 116, 115, 114CS, 108, 106, 105, 98, 96, 85, 76, 70

NEW HOLLAND: CR9080, CR980, TX66, TX68, TX36, TX34, TX32, TF78, TF46, TF44, TF42, 8080, 8050, 8040, 1500’s, 133

MASSEY FERGUSON: 7278, 40RS 38, 34, 31, 29, 27, 865, 760, 750, 665, 504

DEUTZ FAHR: 6090, 4090, 4080,4075, M3630, M3610, M2780, M2680, M1002

LAVERDA: 152, M120

CASE: 1660

TRACTORS:

JOHN DEERE: 8520, 8400, 8200T, 7800, 7530, 7430, 6930, 6900, 6800, 6430, 6110, 3650, 3130, 2140, 2040, 1640

FORKLIFTS:

JCB: 531-70, 530-70, 525-58, 520-4, 414, 926

CLAAS: Targo C50, K50 Ranger

MATBRO: Telestar, Teleshift, 280, 270, 250

MANITOU: 2600, MLT 633

MERLO: 40.7, 30.6 Multifarmer, 28.7, 26.6

JOHN DEERE: 3800, 3420, 3415, 3200

MASSEY FERGUSON: 8295

TEREX: 250

BALERS:

NEW HOLLAND: 1210, 1010S, D1000, BB940, 841, 835, 7070, 750, 740, 654, 650, 644, 640

JOHN DEERE: 680, 644, 592, 590, 582, 578, 575, 550, 342, CASE: RBX435

CLAAS: Quadrant 2200,1200, Rollant 255, 280, 180, 46, 44, Vari, Hesston 4900, 4800, 4750

VICON: LB12000, LB8200, MP800, RV1602

WELGER: D6000, D4000, 520, 435

VICON: LB12000, LB8200, MP800, 1601, RV1602

MASSEY FERGUSON: No.5, 2190, 2170, 2160, 190, 187, 185

SUPERTINO: 60-120

MOWERS:

KUHN: Alterna 500

JOHN DEERE: 328, 228, 131, 1360

POTTINGER: Novacat, Eurocat

KRONE: AM20, 32P, AMT 4000CV, Easycut 32CV

SPREADERS

AMAZONE S500 ZA-M 1500, 2006, soft ballistic system fertiliser spreader, barn stored, good condition for its age. £2,000. T Gash Tel 07773 513790 (Lincolnshire)

AMAZONE ZA-X 902 fertiliser spreader. £750+VAT. D Smart Tel 01223 861482 (Cambridgeshire)

KRM M2W Plus weigh cell, 2013, section control ready, control box, excellent condition, 24–36m vanes, hopper cover, road lights, ladder, very accurate spinner, always washed, oiled & barn stored, now surplus to requirements. £6,950+VAT. A Clarke Tel 07708 205708 (Norfolk)

AMAZONE ZAM Compact spreader, hopper extension, 12/18m discs. £250+VAT. J Johnson Tel 07803 249399 (Hertfordshire)

SULKY DPX 2005 fertiliser spreader. £1,200+VAT. M King Tel 07801 668286 (Cambridgeshire)

LEMKEN Polaris 16/3200 fertiliser spreader, 2yrs old approx 1500ha worked in total, Isobus controlconnects directly to tractor screen, happy to demonstrate on JD system, genuine reason for salenow operating a trailed machine. £14,000+VAT ono. W Gray Tel 07736 417831 (Angus)

AMAZONE ZA-M 24m spreader, hydraulic on/off, rear lights, holds 1800kg. £500+VAT ono. J Jewson Tel 07732 042987 (Norfolk)

2012 Amazone ZA-M 2201, fertiliser spreader. £2,000. Hanson Tel 07944 138839 (Buckinghamshire)

KRM spreader, 2008, hydraulic on/ off with E2T vanes & calibration ki, vgc. £2,400+VAT. R Hanton Tel 07860 792976 (Norfolk)

VICON Vari Spreader MkII fertiliser spreader, good working condition, c/w PTO shaft & spout, has had a couple of repairs to the bin, but is in serviceable condition, manual on/off is free & working. £250 ono. D Middleton Tel 07803 604937 (Lincolnshire)

&

4’ x 4’

DISCOUNT ON LARGE ORDERS OWEN

driver tractor.! John Deere 6190R.’21. 5400hrs.

AutoQuad. 50kph. 3 Manual Spools. No Guidance.

Refurbished Power Harrows:

• All New Bearings and Seals in the Trough and Gearbox

• Blade Holders All New are fitted

• New Genuine Kuhn Tines fitted

• New Packer Roller Kit fitted

• Shot Blasted, Repainted and New Stickers

• New PTO and Guards fitted as standard

• Models of Power Harrows used: HR3001, HR3002, HR3003, HR4001, HR4002, HR4003 and HR4004

• Front or Rear Levelling Board as standard

• Cam Clutch new fitted on all machines

• Wheel Track Eradicators are available as an optional extra

All Seed Drills Totally Refurbished:

• New Main Frame with Extra Strength

• New Coulters and Pivot Bushes

• New Metering Device

• Vertical Folding Markers Power Harrow mounted

• New Disc Marker Pivots and Discs

• All New Hoses and Hopper Cover

• New Hopper Extension and Double Step

• Tramliner c/w 2 or 4 Shut Offs and Low Level Sensor

• All Shot Blasted, Repainted and New Stickers

• S-Type Following Harrow Standard on complete combinations

• 2 Rows of Coulters as standard – 3 rows optional extra

• Pre Emergence Markers available as an extra – £850

• Hydraulic Coulter Lift – £875

Refurbished Combinations

3m – from £14,250

Kuhn 3001 3002 3003

Power Harrow:

• New Maxi Packer Roller & Clod Board

• Accord 3m DA Seed Drill c/w Tramliner

• 2 row Suffolk Coulters

• Vertical Folding Markers fitted on harrow

• Hopper Extension

• Step and S-Harrow

Email: simon@andrewguest.co.uk

4m – from £15,950

Kuhn 4001 4002 4003

Power Harrow:

• New Maxi Packer Roller & Clod Board

• Accord 4M DA Seed Drill c/w Tramliner

• 2 row Suffolk Coulters

• Vertical Folding Markers fitted on Harrow

• Hopper Extension

• Step and S-Harrow

12 Months Warranty on our combis

cube, 950L, 12v electric pump, weighs 300kg empty, fits in truck,

(Essex)

TILLAGE TACKLE

DOWDESWELL 2.5m power harrow. J Jellis Tel 07803 961657 (Bedfordshire)

KONGSKILDE 5m springtine, decent order. £250. A Hewitt Tel 07899 720323 (Norfolk)

12-FOOT pigtail cultivator. £300. P Clarke Tel 07710 775829 (Cambridgeshire)

6-METRE rib rolls, good condition, more photos & videos available via Whatsapp. £3,250. A Dochard Tel 07749 951898 (Norfolk)

COUSINS HF6M 5m combi harrow, 2015, hydraulic fold, flexicoils front & rear, excellent condition, photos & videos available via Whatsapp. £9250 A Dochard Tel 07749 951898 (Norfolk)

10-FOOT pigtail cultivator, photos & videos available via Whatsapp. £750. A Dochard Tel 07749 951898 (Norfolk)

2006 Amazone Catros 7500 trailed disc cultivator, f/w rubber tyred packer roller, good condition, has not been used for the last three seasons due to a change in cultivation practice, so hence the reason for the sale. £9,450+VAT ono. A Lensen Tel 07974 232008 (Cambridgeshire)

COUSINS Sidewinder 12m rolls, c/w breaker rings. £7,500+VAT. J Pears Tel 07770 382563 (Leicestershire)

RANSOMES single leg mole drainer plus expander & subsoil attachment. £150+VAT. J Johnson Tel 07803 249399 (Hertfordshire)

CHROME cultivator with pigtail tines, 131" wide. Sensible offers considered. R Stowe Tel 01787 211064 (Essex) SET of rib rolls, 106" wide with two pups 57" wide. Sensible offers considered.. R Stowe Tel 01787 211064 (Essex)

POTTINGER Terradisc 5001T, 2014, good condition, done little work, stored under cover. £15,000. N Clark Tel 07768 100891 (East Yorkshire)

KVERNELAND DXG discs, 4m, hydraulic fold, independent front/rear hydraulic angling, rear drawbar, piped for extra hydraulic service at rear (for towing press, etc), rear lights, had very little use, more photos available on request. £6,950+VAT. O English Tel 07789 547987 (Lincolnshire)

CAMBRIDGE rollers, set comprising main roller 7'10" long, two small rollers 9'2" long, total length 17'. £900. R Sinkler Tel 01377 270251 (East Yorkshire)

MASCHIO Aqilla 4m folding power harrow with 32 Suffolk coulter drill, tramlines, pre em markers, following harrow, etc. £25,000+VAT. D Murrell Tel 07850 724139 (Norfolk)

Suppliers of cultivation equipment airseeders & slug pelleters

See our ad on page 46

VADERSTAD Rexius Twin 450, 3 rows raptor tines, good condition. POA. R Garner Tel 07767 418452 (Norfolk)

2015 Proforge Inverta 4.5m. £10,500. Hanson Tel 07944 138839 (Buckinghamshire)

SUMO GLS 2.5m auto reset low disturbance subsoiler, 2014 (bought new in 2016), good legs with Ferobide. £6,950+VAT ovno. R Lee Tel 07725 097364 (North Yorkshire)

AMAZONE Catros 6m, 2013, new discs, have only done one season, on farm from new. £18,995+VAT ono. T Witter Tel 07772 850505 (Lincolnshire)

McCONNEL 3m Shakaerator, 3m 5 leg, c/w discs, just fully refurbished,

2021

2023

HEAVY duty points,15 without wings & 15 with wings, fitted Simba Flatliner, good condition. £500+VAT ono. R Gardiner Tel 07961 347047 (Essex)

SIMBA double press with leading tines & flotation tyres, in good used condition. £4,900+VAT. C Harrison Tel 07775 696190 (Cambridgeshire)

KONGSKILDE Germinator SP5000 trailed springtine, 1997, wheel mark eradicators, good condition. £4,250+VAT. T Wright Tel 07801 656374 (Norfolk)

AGRIWELD 1T weight. £1,100+VAT. R Garner Tel 07767 418452 (Norfolk)

wheels also to fit most models. Surplus spare parts for Agco Challenger MT700/MT800 Series.

TRACTORS

JOHN Deere front end weight block, 900kg. £1,000. T Gash Tel 07773 513790 (Lincolnshire)

2012 New Holland T7.200 Auto Command 50K, front linkage, Trimble auto steer ready, 5500hrs, 4 remote spools. £44,000+VAT. S Bartle Tel 07884 238552 (Nottinghamshire)

2011 John Deere 6930 Premium Autoquad, 12000hrs, front linkage, front PTO, 50kph, TLS & HCS cab suspension, 4 manual SCVs, 540/540E/1000 PTO, air/hydraulic trailer brakes & hydraulic PUH with dedicated spool. £35,500. R Maddever Tel 07786 910597 (Suffolk)

2022, 2400hrs, Dyna VT Exclusive, front links

712222 (Norfolk)

MASSEY Ferguson 7626, 2014, very good condition, 7100hrs, just f/w new brakes plus full service, new alternator, 50K Dyna 6 gearbox, air brakes, Isobus, auto guide ready, 4 spools, f/tyres 60% 600/70/30, rear 50% 710/70/42, exc cond. £40,000+VAT. R Hunt Tel 07772 280839 (East Yorkshire)

RABE 5m disc press, good condition, tidy, stored inside, used mainly on establishment of cover, catch crops & SFI schemes, long frame allows fitting of any size seed hopper, APV hopper extra, lights, ready to work. £10,950+VAT. P Garner Tel 07740 410915 (Leicestershire) e: simon@andrewguest.co.uk www.andrewguest.co.uk

SUMO Trio, post 2007 legs, average

(Norfolk)

JOHN Deere wafer weights 18 x 50kg, good condition, please text if my number won’t ring. £900+VAT. H Pearce Tel 07947 344310 (Essex)

2012 Case IH Maxxum 110 4wd, 6730hrs, top speed 40km, excellent condition including nearly new tyres all round, more photos & videos available via Whatsapp. £25,750. A Dochard Tel 07749 951898 (Norfolk)

CAT Challenger 775E, 2015, 30’’ tracks 50%, 4000hrs from new, GPS steering, front end Idler weights, large toolbox, Cat 3 linkage, absolutely immaculate throughout. £81,000+VAT. A Hobbs Tel 07768 976042 (Hertfordshire)

FORD 7840 exhaust & silencer, removed when we had a turbo added so in very good condition. £100 ono. O Pipe Tel 07802 250395 (Suffolk)

NEW Holland 315, 22 reg, PLMI cab, Blue Power, front linkage & PTO, RTK guidance, 50kph, cab suspension, hyd top link, front tyres 70%, rear tyres 80%, wheel weights, very nice high spec tractor. £125,000+VAT. A Campbell Tel 07738 955496 (Cambridgeshire)

CASE

2021 Case Optum 300 CVX, 2135hrs, GPS ready, front linkage + SCV 900 tyres, 5 spool valves ................................................ £117,000

December 2020

Case Quantum 110N, 2232hrs,40kph, front linkage & PTO, electric hydraulics, 4 rear electric spool valves, 3 mid mount spool valves, front tyres 280/70x16 75%, rear tyres 360/70x28 75%, immaculate ................................. £34,000

2012 Case Puma 210 PS, 6726hrs, 50kph, exhaust brake, front weight, Multicontroller, 90% tyres, rust on rear wheels, otherwise very tidy £35,000

2022 Case Maxxum 125 Multicontroller Activate c/w LRZ 150 loader, 2760hrs, 50kph, Deluxe seat, hydraulic top link, climate control, HEATED GLASS, exhaust brake, full LED work lights, front tyres 420/70x28 45%, rear tyres 520/70x38 75%, this tractor is immaculate ............ £66,000

2023 Case Quantum 110N, 476hrs, front linkage & PTO, 2 mid mount valves, extra work lights, 4 rear spool valves, continental hitch, front tyres 280/70x16 80%, rear tyres 360/70x28 95%, 1.35m wide without mud guard extensions, AS NEW...............................................£41,500

2022 Case Puma 165 Powershift, 2400hrs, 50kph, front linkage, 60% tyres........................£64,000

NEW HOLLAND

2013 New Holland T6.155, 6651hrs, low cab, no suspension, 4 spool valves at the rear, front linkage, creeper gearbox, front tyres 14.9x28 10%, rear tyres 18.4x38 40%, all original tyres, has only been used for winching cable . £31,000

JOHN DEERE

2016 John Deere 6135M Powerquad TLS, 5239hrs, cab suspension, front tyres 16.9x24 75%, rear tyres 18.4x38 new, very tidy tractor ..... £38,500

2013 John Deere 5080GV, 1357hrs, air con, manual shuttle, front tyres 240/70x16 60%, rear tyres 340/85x24 75%, tidy little tractor.......... £21,000

2013 John Deere 6230, 6194hrs, front weights, front tyres 500/60x22 Mitas 25%, rear tyres 600/65x34 Nokian 80%, apart from rust on wheels, very tidy .................................. £25,000

FENDT

2019 Fendt 939 Prof Plus, 7950hrs, 2 front hydraulic Services, front PTO, full Trimble RTK guidance, 6 rear spool valves, hydraulic top link, full LED lighting, Evolution seat, Vario Grip, front tyres 600/70x34 40%, rear tyres 710/75x42 45%, all original tyres, needs paint on edge of wheel rims as it has been f/w dual wheels ........... £102,000

DEUTZ

2017 Deutz 5090G, 1610hrs, on grass tyres, 2 speed PTO, 2 manual spools, A/C .....£25,500

KUBOTA

2019 Kubota M105GX-IV with Chilton Loader, 5075hrs, front tyres 380/70x24 40%, rear tyres 520/70x24 40%, everything is working, tidy little tractor .................................... £31,500

FOR BREAKING

New Holland T6.175 f/w brand new Dynamic Command gearbox and a New Holland T6.160, the tractors have done a maximum of 2000hrs, ALL PARTS AVAILABLE

COMING IN

2022 Fendt 314 Prof Plus, 1200hrs, front linkage, basic guidance, front tyres 540/65x24 80%, rear tyres 600/65x38 80%, still in warranty

2020 New Holland T7.210 Auto Command, c/w front linkage & PTO

2011 Massey Ferguson 7495

2018 Case Puma 240 CVX, high hrs .............£49,000

2023 Case Quantum 110N 476hrs

2013 New Holland T6.155 6651hrs

2016 John Deere 6135M Power Quad TLS 5239hrs

2013 John Deere 5080GV 1357hrs

2013 John Deere 6230 6194hrs

2019 Fendt 939 Prof Plus 7950hrs 2022 Case Maxxum 125 Multi Controller Activate

2019 Kubota M105GX-IV with Chilton loader 5075hrs

2013 Case IH 550 Quadtrak, 6800hrs, bareback drawbar only, 85% tracks, vgc. £84,000+VAT. D Clayton Tel 07836 204646 (Derbyshire)

2022, 1000hrs, c/w loader, Dyna 6, wheel weights

JOHN Deere weights (10), 45kg each, to fit 6000 Series, good condition. £500+VAT ono. R Gardiner Tel 07961 347047 (Essex)

JOHN Deere wafer weights (26) off 8000 Series tractors, 45kg each. £1,300+VAT ono or £50 each if sold separately. R Gardiner Tel 07961 347047 (Essex)

JOHN Deere 1950, has been well looked after & is in good condition inside and out, 1992, 9162hrs, tyres are about 50%, pick up hitch, top link, working PTO, has creeper box, tractor is stored inside every night. £10,850+VAT. T Schembri Tel 07919 624032 (Essex)

JCB Fastrac cab, 4000/800 Series, fully glazed & lined, vgc. Alcock Tel 07855 742792 (Shropshire)

Massey Ferguson 6490 Dyna 6

LARRINGTON 32' flat deck trailer, 2021. £12,000. C Howell Tel 07879 228846 (Norfolk)

Richard Western SF12

GULL 12t root crop trailer, hyd tailgate, grain chute, sprung drawbar, roll over sheet, super singles, 2002, good condition. £6,500+VAT. J Golding Tel 07795 444743 (Cambridgeshire)

£33,000

170hp, 50kph, full suspension, 5967hrs, a/c,4 spools, owner driver, barn stored, excellent tractor

info@jamesmurrell.co.uk 01603 712222 Norwich, Norfolk www.jmurrell.co.uk

FENDT 724 Profi Plus, 2019, 5650hrs, FL + PTO, 710/70/38

Trelleborg 70%, 600/65/28

Trelleborg 60%, RTK guidance, one owner, very tidy. £94,500+VAT ono. W Gilder Tel 07817 449333 (Gloucestershire)

Phone: 01249 730927

Email: simon@sw-hire.co.uk

John Deere 6195R 2022, 2338hrs, Autotrac ready, Autopower IVT, 50K & cab susp f 600/65R28 r 650/65R42 Trelleborg Tyres £99,000 +VAT

TRAILERS

WHEATLEY 4t tipping trailer plus grain chute, in good order, in regular use but needs new tyres. £500+VAT. J Johnson Tel 07803 249399 (Hertfordshire)

£11,500

hyd gate, grain chute, LED lights, as new condition, delivery available

info@jamesmurrell.co.uk 01603 712222

Norwich, Norfolk www.jmurrell.co.uk

45-FOOT lorry trailer. £1,895. R Hopkinson Tel 07976 424263 (Lincolnshire)

INDESPENSION trailer 6'6" x 4', back door, ramp, lights. £650. R Hopkinson Tel 07976 424263 (Lincolnshire)

BMI injector trailer, gull wing nets, silent pack, donkey engine. £10,000+VAT. R Hopkinson Tel 07976 424263 (Lincolnshire)

2018 Bailey 8t hyd drop flat bed low loader, deck 16' L x 8' W, super singles, hydraulic brakes, galvanised ramps, tool/strap box c/w keys, lights, mudflaps, always stored inside only used to take vintage tractor to show, must be seen. £6,750 ono. C Law Tel 07850 877794 (Leicestershire)

T&F tipping trailer, 5t, removable sides & tail door, grain hatch, lights, more photos available on request. £1,250+VAT. O English Tel 07789 547987 (Lincolnshire)

10,000L tandem axle water/liquid bowsers, hyd and/or air brakes, side lockers, super single wheels, pacer pumps and valves, front platform for IBC Chassis kits for your tanks

01280 702725 Mob 07799 836590 Visit www.loggin.org to see what else we make!

condition. £7,500+VAT. J Golding Tel 07795 444743 (Cambridgeshire) LINCOLN Markham 3.5t tipping trailer c/w extension sides, in good all round condition, tipping ram does not leak & trailer floor is sound, been stored under cover, original instruction book, further pictures available on request. £1,195 no VAT. S Ash Tel 07831 497328 (Norfolk)

£1,200+VAT. J Harper Tel 07717 698298 (Cambridgeshire)

HANDS single removable axle low loader, 1970, good tyres & floor. £1,250+VAT. J Harper Tel 07717 698298 (Cambridgeshire) AS 12t trailer, manual tailgate, good tyres, no rot, brakes all work. £2,000+VAT. J Harper Tel 07717 698298 (Cambridgeshire) GULL 14t trailer, 2006, sprung drawbar, grain chute, super singles, very

(Cambridgeshire)

40-FOOT artic trailer with dolly on steel springs, air & hydraulic brakes. £1,750+VAT ono. R King Tel 07929 424474 (Nottinghamshire)

New JPM 20T Dump

info@jamesmurrell.co.uk 01603 712222

Norfolk www.jmurrell.co.uk

30-FOOT artic trailer with double spring dolly. £1,300+VAT ono. R King Tel 07929 424474 (Nottinghamshire)

BAILEY 14T hook lift trailer, on rocking beam suspension, hydraulic brakes. £5,500+VAT ono. R King Tel 07929 424474 (Nottinghamshire)

HOOKLIFT gear with electric controller, came off 20T lorry, very good condition. £1,500+VAT. R King Tel 07929 424474 (Nottinghamshire)

FOUR-WHEEL trailer, swan neck 7'6" wide by 15' on the deck & 5'3" on the neck, needs new floor & lights need rewiring. £350+VAT ono. R King Tel 07929 424474 (Nottinghamshire)

FIFTH wheel dolly, very strong, 9 leaf spring, 45" high, 8'3" from towing pin to ring, very good condition. £1,000+VAT ono. R King Tel 07929 424474 (Nottinghamshire)

MASSEY 3t hydraulic tipping trailer, good floor, may need new sides, handbrake towering & jaws. £300 ono no VAT. R King Tel 07929 424474 (Nottinghamshire)

LARRINGTON 14T grain trailer, spr/d/bar, hyd tailgate c/w grain chute, 1 centre mtd fast tip ram, full width f/window, roll over sheet, high & low level LED lights with flashing r/beacon, mint condition, only had grain in, barn stored. £15,000+VAT. J Murrell Tel 07770 692891/01603 712222 (Norfolk)

BAILEY 12t grain trailer, 2015, hydraulic door, hydraulic brakes, sprung drawbar, grain only, 560/45-R22.5, fantastic condition/ nearly as new. £14,950+VAT ono. H Needham Tel 07713 461729 (Lincolnshire)

RICHARD Western SWT 14 14T trailer with silage sides, 2008, air & hydraulic brakes, good condition.

£11,500+VAT. L Kennedy Tel 07969 364681 (West Lothian)

KTWO Rodeo Curve 14t silage trailer, 2019, hydraulic rear door, sprung drawbar, floatation tyres, blowboard left & rear, 2019, only used for silage, immaculate condition.

£20,500+VAT ono. A Brown Tel 07850 936135 (Worcestershire)

New JPM 27T Tri-Axle

£19,000 30’, hyd flip over ramps, top spec

info@jamesmurrell.co.uk 01603 712222 Norwich, Norfolk www.jmurrell.co.uk

IFOR Williams 14' tri axle livestock trailer, 2021, full service 2023, new brakes all round, new LED lighting, extra height trailer, will take 2 heavy horses easily, 2 decks with gates & a cattle gate, plus some parts for horse transport, good cond. E Bunting Tel 07889 640199 (Essex)

TRIAXLE step frame double deck tautliner, ideal for storage or to cut down for two farm trailers, two good metal floors on both levels, on low profile triple axle wheels & tyres. M Churches Tel 07971 827503/01458 831141 (Somerset)

RUSCON 12T trailer, 2008, good condition with new ram seals, hydraulic tailgate, good condition.

£5,500+VAT ono. S Marsh Tel 07770 846109 (Wiltshire)

ROCKINGER auto trailer coupling

Kverneland FRO 2.8m grass topper front & rear

Kverneland 3232 MT mower conditioner

Kverneland 3332 front mounted mower conditioner

Kverneland 8590 8 row tedder pro-line

Kverneland 8576 6 row tedder

Kverneland 9580 2 row trailed rake

Redrock 20t dump trailer

Redrock 24t tri-axle low-loading trailer

McHale 691BH & R5S round bale handlers

McHale 691HB bale handler, several

McHale R5 soft hands bale handler, several

McHale V6750 round baler

Teagle 8500 Chief feeder bedder

Moulton FY4 yard scraper

Kawasaki Mule Pro DX

Kawasaki Mule Pro MX

Bomford 2.8m flail mower

PlantMec 8’ & 10’ yard brush

PlantMec hydraulic bucket brush

Walter Watson 8’ x 36” flat roll

Walter Watson 10’ x 36” flat roll

Walter Watson 12’ x 36” hydraulic rotating

USED MACHINERY IN STOCK

McCormick 2005 CX105 extra shift, front linkage & PTO, 1600hrs

Case 2004 MXM 155 tractor

Deutz 5090D c/w loader

Deutz Agritron 430GS 2500hrs only, 2011

Deutz Agri 110 6 cylinder c/w loader 2008 good condition

Deutz 6185 Powershift 2019 low hrs

Ford New Holland T90 c/w loader

John Deere 5090R c/w 543R loader, 1000hrs only, 2018 as new

John Deere 6190, 2012, 5500hrs

John Deere 6215R 2218

Massey Ferguson 5612 Dyna 4 2014 c/w loader, low hrs

Lely Roterra 4m power harrow

Dowdeswell 4 furrow good condition

Lemken 4 furrow reversible plough

Kuhn FC202 mower conditioner

Kuhn MDS1141 QL fertiliser spreader

Kuhn VB2160 round baler

Kverneland 6m tine seeder drill 2022

Kverneland 4032 trailed mower conditioner

Kverneland 4332 trailed mower conditioner

Kverneland 3m CTS stubble finisher c/w DD packer

Teagle 40/40 tub feeder/bedder

Teagle 80/80 SC feeder/bedder

Teagle 2010 80/80 SC feeder/bedder good condition

Kidd Mk3 Professional Post Bumper as new

McHale 660 2018 round baler x 2

Krone V150 XC baler 18,000 bales c/w ALO trailed

wrapper

Fleming o set 8ft grass topper

Twose 6.3m Cambridge rolls c/w breaker rings

Agco DM255/P mower conditioner, very good condition

Bailey 12t trailer, rollover sheets, complete refurb by Bailey 2 yrs ago, as new – 2 available

PlantMec 319 Q-bedder, 2020

Teagle 9t rear discharge muck spreader

Walter Watson 10’ flat roll

Simba/Horsch 4m CO drill

£375+VAT. N Cupit Tel 07811 547530 (Nottinghamshire)

BROCKS adjustable rowcrop wheels (suit JD 6 Series), Firestone rears 380/105-R50 70% tread remaining, Michelin fronts 380/80-R38 85% tread remaining. £3,750+VAT. S Bloomfield Tel 07900 882063 (Norfolk)

set of rowcrops, 14.9-R46, very good condition, will fit New Holland T7 & Case Puma. £1,200 ono. Bailey Tel 07871 443518 (South Yorkshire)

18.4-26 turf tyres, centres will fit Case IH, or Zetor. £300, can deliver. L Patchett Tel 07719 742598 (East Yorkshire)

DUAL wheels, with six clamps, 16.9/38, covers showing some cracking. £200, can deliver. L Patchett Tel 07719 742598 (East Yorkshire)

FLOTATION wheels & tyres, 28.1R26 tubeless, one Belshina, as new with 35mm tread, one Prostor 14mm, equivalent in diameter to 18.4-R38, came off a JD6420S which has been sold, interchangeable wheel centres. £850+VAT. R Maundrell Tel 07785 568800 (Warwickshire)

MICHELIN BIBload tyres, two 460/70R24, nearly new condition with approx 85% tread remaining, one tyre has a repair in side wall. £700. R Kirk Tel 07983 977929 (Leicestershire)

ROWCROP wheels & tyres, 11.2-R48 Kleber, sidewalls cracking but haven’t let me down, heavy duty wheels with Ford centres. £125+VAT. R Maundrell Tel 07785 568800 (Warwickshire)

MICHELIN Agribib 420/90R30 (4), for self propelled Knight sprayer. £1,000. R Kirk Tel 07983 977929 (Leicestershire)

STOCKS dual wheels, c/w clamps, 12.4/11-28, tyres worn, but always stay inflated. £200, can deliver. L Patchett Tel 07719 742598 (East Yorkshire)

MICHELIN tyre, VF 600/60R28, has had repair. £450. R Kirk Tel 07983 977929 (Leicestershire)

GALWAY 22.5LL-16.1 rears & 12LLx16 front turf wheels & tyres. £250. J Murrell Tel 07766 216100/01603 712222 (Norfolk)

STOCKS rowcrop wheels, 320/90R46 rear & 12.4-R32 front, tyres 95%, excellent condition. £2,300+VAT. R Hanton Tel 07860 792976 (Norfolk)

ROWROP wheels, set of 4, 12.4 R32 tyres 25%, rims excellent no cracks. £400+VAT/pair or £700+VAT for the set. R Hanton Tel 07860 792976 (Norfolk)

New Holland T6.155

2023, 935hrs, Electro Command, 40km/h, creep speed, APUH, cab suspension, 8 LED work lights, 3 speed PTO, hi visibility roof, 90mm lift rams, 3 mechanical remotes, fender controls, bluetooth radio, dynamic f/fenders, large fuel tank, a/c, Bridgestone 460/85R38 and 420/70R28

Essex

Massey Ferguson 8S.265 Dyna-7 E�cient 50km/h, 150l/m CCLS pump, power beyond, micro joystick with 2 ERV, 2 MRV, front linkage, full suspension , datatronic 5 touch screen 9”, 2 roof beacons, 16 worklights, air brakes, 650/65 R42 and 540/65 R30 tyres., choice of 2

Essex

New Holland T7.210 Classic

2023, Range Command, 1792hrs, 110L/min, 8 LED work lights, 50km/h, cab & front suspension, 3 speed PTO, 150A alternator, air brakes, 4 mechanical remote valves, fender controls, loader only, high mount road lights, bluetooth radio, dynamic f/fenders, telematics, 100mm lift rams, 520/85 R38 and 420/85 R28

Essex

New Holland T7.245 2023, PowerCommand, 1266hrs, Classic-120L/min, 8 LED work lights, cab & front suspension , 4 speed PTO, 150A alternator, air brakes, 4 x mech remote valves, fender controls, high mount road lights, bluetooth radio, dynamic f/fenders, telematics, intelliview IV, 110mm lift rams, front linkage, Michelin 650/65 R42 and 540/65 R30

Essex

Hi-Spec 4000 TD-S

2022, unused, 18,886L capacity, 50mm swivel ring hitch, sprung drawbar, 11000 Jurop pump, hydraulic and air brakes, 650/55 R26.5 tyres, LED strobe beacon, LED road lights, 3 point linkage brackets

Essex

New Holland T7.225 2023, Auto Command, 989hrs, Sidewinder, 146L/min, 8 LED w/lights, cab & f/susp, 3 spd PTO, 150A alternator, a/brakes, full GPS, 4 e/remote valves, NH 745LA f/loader, fender controls, high mount r/lights, f/ linkage with joystick, bluetooth radio, dynamic f/fenders, Telematics, Intelliview IV, 110mm lift rams, Vredestein 650/65R38 and 540/65R28

Essex

New

Essex

New Holland T7.340

New Gen Blue Power

2024, Auto Command, 1034hrs, 50km/h, 220L/min, 14 LED work lights, semi-active comfort ride™ cab & front suspension, 4 speed PTO, 250A alternator, air Brakes, 5 electric remote valves, 3 mid mount valves with advanced joystick, fender controls, high mount road lights, bluetooth radio, dynamic f/fenders, ISO power beyond, hood and rear camera, telematics, Intelliview 12, full GPS, 120mm lift rams CAT3, front linkage with PTO, cooled storage box, external air line, Mitas 900/60 R42 and Mitas 650/60 R34

Essex

Case IH Optum 300

2022, 319hrs, 50km/h, 220L/min, full susp, 4 spd PTO, 250A alternator, 5 e/remote valves, GPS, 2 mid mount valves with advanced joystick, fender controls, high mount r/lights, bluetooth radio, dynamic f/fenders, ISO Power Beyond, Telematics, AFS Pro 1200, 120mm lift rams Cat3, f/linkage, cooled storage box, Michelin 710/70 R42 and 600/70 R30

Essex

For more information and to register for our next online auction on the 9th of April scan the QR code. You can also go to https://equipmentsales.dllgroup.com/register

Holland CR9.90 Revelation 2021, 979 rotor hrs, 1320 eng hrs, auto guidance, level 3, 12.5m Varifeed header with 4 wheel steer trailer, 2 vertical side knives

550/60R22.5 flotation wheels for Sands Lowline sprayer, 6 stud, in good condition, can deliver. £700. L Patchett Tel 07719 742598 (East Yorkshire)

PAIR of Goodyear 480/65-R28 tyres, in good condition, dry stored, 50% tread, good walls, no repairs. £295 ono the pair. D Lavender Tel 07768 090004 (Norfolk)

TWO original Ford 4000 front wheels, rims & tyres, BKT 6.0016, good condition. £400+VAT ono. R Gardiner Tel 07961 347047 (Essex)

JCB 419 wheels & tyres complete, 620/75R26 BKT Agrimax tyres, approx 40% good. S Lewis Tel 07850 739556 (Shropshire)

FLOTATION wheels (4) complete, Michelin Axiobib 650/70-R30, strong centres by Specialist Wheel Services Ltd, no repairs or cuts, at least 30% tread. £1,500 no VAT. P Williams Tel 07966 273748 (Lincolnshire)

ROWCROP wheels & tyres 4 x 9.5

R32 Taurus, used on Househam sprayer, good condition.

£400+VAT ono. A Pearce Tel 07779 976062 (Hertfordshire)

PAIR of dual wheels, 18.4R38, c/w 8 clamps, good condition.

£250+VAT. H Goose Tel 07917 734293 (Lincolnshire)

VEGETABLE EQUIPMENT

SUPER Prefer 2 or 3 lane transplanter (two lane shown in picture), suitable for transplanting veg or strawberry plants with precision pinchers or pumpkin/ squash plug plants with pinchers removed, good working order, Sittingbourne. £400. G Epsley Tel 07743 693255 (Kent)

VEHICLES

FORD Ranger Limited double cab pickup, 2017, 56000mls, 3196cc, c/w Truckman back, manual 6 speed, MOT until May, full service history, tyres good condition, both keys, genuine reason for sale. £16,500 ono. G Clarke Tel 07771 515793 (Nottinghamshire)

NISSAN X Trail, 2015, with 7 seats, service history, panoramic roof, sat nav, air con, electric boot, diesel. £6,495. R Hopkinson Tel 07976 424263 (Lincolnshire)

LAND Rover Discovery 4 SDV6 Commercial, 5 seats, c/w tow bar, registered 2011, 11 plate, one owner from new, mileage 53,000, colour gold. £8,000+VAT. F & E M Taylor & Sons Tel 07963 173333/01522 753520 (Lincolnshire)

FORD Ranger Wildtrak 3.2, 201767 plate, 53000mls, manual, 6 months MOT, tow bar, excellent condition, reversing camera & sensors, good tyres, more photos available. £16,000+VAT. A Hewitt Tel 07899 720323 (Norfolk)

LAND Rover Discovery 3 HSE, 2005, cheap tax, owned for 11yrs, 200k miles but new engine at 135k (pics available to prove), full service history, 7 seats, genuine DVD player, good condition, 12mnths MOT, tow bar, 2 keys, 2 sets of wheels. £3,500 ovno. A Clarke Tel 07708 205708 (Norfolk)

USED bus, no engine, ideal for glamping project, etc. £1,200 ono no VAT. R King Tel 07929 424474 (Nottinghamshire)

2010 tipper & tilt cab truck, 26,000mls, always kept In garage, limited slip diff, twin wheels, iImmaculate condition, fully serviced & 12 months MOT. L Rofix Tel 07860 255223 (Suffolk)

MERCEDES-BENZ A170

Avantgarde, 2006, 99,800mls, manual, MOT until March 2026, fuel efficiency:41 mpg (average), very good for its age, wellmaintained & reliable, 5-D. £1,150 ono. P Walker Tel 07789 967857 (Suffolk)

2015 Land Rover Discovery 4 3.0

SDV6 HSE, stunning paintwork, 2 keys, 125,220 miles, 11 months MOT, full service history, twin pan roofs, multimedia steering wheel, farmer owned. £12,950. B Berridge Tel 07808632449 (Northamptonshire)

2013 Land Rover Defender

110 2.2 TDCi County pickup in Loire Blue, 93,255 miles, front electric windows, private plate not included. £28,000. B Berridge Tel 07808 632449 (Northamptonshire)

IDEAL for sheep farmer/enthusiast, immediately de-age your vehicle, this plate is currently held on a retention certificate ready to be transferred. £1,200. R Hoyle Tel 07487 702958 (West Yorkshire)

2007 Range Rover 4.0 petrol with gas conversion, full leather interior, sold as spares or repairs as loosing compression on two cylinders, still runs with good General Grabber tyres. £1,950 ono. J Binning Tel 07765 064694 (Oxfordshire)

good condition. £8,994+VAT. M Kisby Tel 07971 132876 (Oxfordshire)

2150

s/steel 316 Watson & Brookman tank, 1000L mixer tank & aluminium chemical storage box, Renson 3" pump & pipework, used for mixing/ supplying sprayer in field, work needed on cab underside, can WhatsApp more pics. £17,000 ono. P Williams Tel 07966 273748 (Lincolnshire)

VINTAGE & CLASSIC

SUBARU pickup steering rack, used but seems OK. £100 ono. O Pipe Tel 07802 250395 (Suffolk)

NISSAN Navara, 2016, manual2.3 Dci Visia double cab pickup, 85474mls, rear camera, central armrest, bonnet & tailgate, soft close gas struts, cruise control, Waxoyled chassis,

UNIMOG

c/w 6000L

VINTAGE plough, selling as sadly need space, location Diss. J Watkinson Tel 01379 642464 (Norfolk)

MASSEY Ferguson 135, engine rebuilt, new clutch, f/w alloy grab handles to new mudguard, new gauges, wiring, switches, new wheels & tyres all round, weight frame, very nice restoration, starts & runs like clockwork, £10,250 PX possible, can deliver. J Proctor Tel 07711 062937 (North Yorkshire)

VINTAGE plough, selling as needing space, location Diss. J Watkinson Tel 01379 642464 (Norfolk) We

NUFFIELD 465, genuine fenland tractor, starts, runs & drives fine, 1969, 2 owners from new, brakes need attention. £2,750. S Burbidge Tel 07517 386285 (Lincolnshire)

BUNNELL single furrow reversible plough, in good condition. £150. R Futter Tel 07740 106944/01362 697501 (Norfolk)

VINTAGE plough, been barn stored till recently, but need space, location Diss. J Watkinson Tel 01379 642464 (Norfolk)

NEW Holland 2120, 1998, all grass tyres, 4wd with creeper range, two spool valves, runs very well. £8,000. P Jaye Tel 01638 751473/07867 411091 (Suffolk)

TANCO loader to fit IH 454-484 tractor, power bucket .£495 ono G Brown Tel 07774 676440/01945 700142 (Cambridgeshire)

FORD 8210 Turbo, J reg 1991, 7134hrs, c/w front weights, in good condition, call for more details, good condition. £19,000+VAT. N Gaunt Tel 07999 855169 (Derbyshire)

CLASSIC Massey Ferguson 2640 4wd, 1980, 4800hrs, good runner, just had new injectors, pump & filters, body needs tidying & a paint job to make a nice collectable tractor. £5,800. D Bennett Tel 07493 732445 (Ayrshire)

FORD 4000, good all round condition, in working order. £4,200. Austin Tel 07971 840304 (Derbyshire)

MASSEY Ferguson rear wheels, 38" rims, possibly for 168 or 175 model, surface rust, dry stored. £200+VAT. P Phoenix Tel 07786 668786 (Norfolk)

INTERNATIONAL 2300 Series A tractor, for spares or repair. £750. N Atkins Tel 07956 167510 (Leicestershire)

LEYLAND 262 tractor, 1979, unfinished project, good runner, mechanically sound, all glass in cab. £3,500. D Cheetham Tel 07860 781278 (Nottinghamshire)

1978 Massey Ferguson 550, 7844hrs, has undergone a complete strip-down & full rebuild with no expense spared, every necessary component has been replaced or restored to the highest standard. £5,000. H Mason Tel 07553 115927 (Suffolk)

JOHN Deere 3040 4wd, V reg, early 1980s, owned from new, never restored, honest tractor, brand new tyres. J Goodfellow Tel 07736 737460 (Cambridgeshire)

AVADEX feed rollers for Nodet DP12. S Hall Tel 01473 743702 (Suffolk) FUEL tank required for 2006 McCORMICK XTX 185. L Enefer Tel 07810 04470 (Norfolk) SMALL, up to 3T, potato feed hopper wanted. N Last Tel 07971 197360 (Norfolk)

& Interiors

FORDSON Super Dexter, 1963, V5c, full service inc many new parts with receipts, easy starter, everything works as it should, ideal for smallholder or showing, main tractor in its original paint, ready for work. £5,800 no VAT. M Markham Tel 07850 863374 (Nottinghamshire)

VINTAGE 2 furrow plough. J Harvey Tel 07947 572679 (Hertfordshire)

1985 John Deere 3140 2wd, round cab, 12,400hrs, fair condition. £4,750+VAT ono. H Howie Tel 07710 183758 (Essex)

NUFFIELD M4 1950 petrol/ paraffin, road registered, new clutch, etc. £4,000 ono. D Carter Tel 07768 935715 (Essex)

1985 John Deere, for spares or repair. G Knight Tel 07765 456649 (Norfolk)

INTERNATIONAL 12' spring tine drag, old, but useable, with good points. £450 ono. N Scarborough Tel 07779 468855 (Lincolnshire)

DOWDESWELL MA/DP100 4 +1 furrow variwidth plough wanted, must be in very good condition. J Jordan Tel 07535 990066 (Suffolk)

SCRAP METAL WANTED

S Gray Recycling

07785 937779 01953 454462

ROLLER shutter doors required (2), one to measure 20' wide x 14' high, second one to measure 18' wide x 14' high, electric preferred, but would consider manual. H Ashton Tel 07778 048770/07831 588318 (Lincolnshire)

BROCHURES WANTED

All tractor and machinery brands, all years, complete collections. Cash or cheque on collection. Please phone Graham 07889 792875

RICHARD Western 12, 14, 16T Suffolk trailer wanted, c/w hydraulic tailgate, suitable for muck or similar. M Summerfield Tel 07884 138719 (Oxfordshire)

WANTED

John Deere 00, 10, 20 & 30 Series tractors

Please email your machine to info@jamesmurrell.co.uk or call

01603 712222 Norwich, Norfolk www.jmurrell.co.uk

HILL & Osbourne 10 ring furrow press with 45 degree ring profile, or similar make, must be suitable for 5 furrow plough & in good working order. I Parker Tel 07966 166967 (Lincolnshire)

JOHN DEERE 3765 and Mengele SH30/40 trailed forage harvesters and associated equipment wanted. GDO Howell 07903 089 391 & 01728 723 683, gdohowell@aol. com.

JCB 520-50 loadall required, must be in good condition. T Wright Tel 07795 484100 (Norfolk)

CRITTALL grain storage bins required, dismantled if possible. P Walters Tel 07713 641282 (Warwickshire) WORKSHOP EQUIPMENT

HEAVY duty galvanised industrial warehouse pallet racking shelving, uprights are either 3m or 4m tall & 90cm wide, beams are 2.7m long & rated at 2500kg per shelf. Uprights are £65 or £75 each & beams are £18 each, or cheaper for a bulk order. J Wright Tel 07970 717310 (Nottinghamshire)

TRUECRAFT wheel changer. £600+VAT. D Henson Tel 07770 878417 (Cambridgeshire)

TOO LATE FOR CLASSIFICATION

JCB TM320S, 2023, 3300hrs, very tidy, full service history, pin & cone headstock. £71,000+VAT ono. M Thompson Tel 01622 843133/07957 339061 (Kent)

ASPARAGUS harvesting buggy, vgc. £1,000. M Abraham Tel 07803 266436 (Bedfordshire)

WANTED potato riddle, with box tipper, hopper & picking line, any condition & make considered. M Banham Tel 07966 430418/01527 821473 (Worcestershire)

JCB 560-80 Agri Super Loadall, 6T to 8m, very tidy machine, 2019, 4700hrs, dealer maintained, air con, hydraulic Q fit, rear tow bar, tyres 25%, very good condition throughout, £54,500+VAT ono. C Corbett Tel 07879 444473 (Warwickshire)

NEW Holland 8.70, 2019, 25’ varifeed, twin rape knives, Ziegler trailer, 1413 engine/1111 threshing hrs, vgc. £149,000+VAT. C Ashmead Tel 07831 331560 (Gloucestershire)

STAINLESS steel 6000L 316 tank & frame, two man holes, £3,995+VAT. N Smith Tel 07798 907927 (Norfolk)

CHAFER 36m triple fold boom with all hydraulics, vgc. Open to offers. N Smith Tel 07798 907927 (Norfolk)

CLAYDON 15m straw harrow, 2021, excellent condition. £35,000+VAT. M Willemsen Tel 07723 309950 (Suffolk)

CAT Challenger 765D, 2013, 4870hrs, Trimble GPS system, 4SCVs, 30” tracks, excellent condition. £76,000+VAT.

NFYFC elects new o cer team

James Nixey has been elected as the new chair of The National Federation of Young Farmers’ Clubs (NFYFC) and will represent more than 23,000 rural young people across England and Wales. James, a self-employed electrician from Buckinghamshire, has always been involved in the family’s farm, and has been a part of the NFYFC o cer team for two years, having held the vice chair position. Jessica Rose from Nottinghamshire and Alex McMenemy from County Durham will also join the o cer team as vice chairs, with all three members taking seats on NFYFC’s Board of Management.

James, 28, is a club leader for Princes Risborough YFC, the club he rst joined as a member in 2008. He is also a Buckinghamshire Council rep and held the position of national chair of NFYFC’s Membership and Marketing Steering Group in 2024–25.

NFYFC’s council elections took place on 23rd February 2025 in Warwickshire, where James vowed to champion the vital role of YFC in rural communities throughout his year in o ce. More than 80 members gathered in Warwickshire to elect the new o cer team and pass motions that a ect the running of the organisation.

We are looking for one very special person to join our small team at a family run haulage company, based in Henley in Arden. Role will be o ce based.

TRANSPORT PLANNER

• Permanent role

• Hours between 7–5 pm Monday to Friday, Saturday Morning 7–11 am

• Competitive Salary based on experience

• Applicant must drive, be clean and tidy, be able to work in a team – 75% of o ce sta are family members

Successful applicant profile:

• Needs to be organised, self-motivated, will be responsible for planning work for up to 50 drivers

• Training will be provided, however a knowledge of UK road systems is essential, as we deliver all over the uk

• Will work closely with both directors, must be able to take direction

• Job is very customer focused so, must be social and be able to take orders and enter work into bespoke programs

• Be responsible for some Health and safety

• Must have good communication skills (dealing with drivers’ hours)

• Data/invoice input will be expected (to cover sta holiday)

• Basic accounts would be a preference but not essential

Please apply with CV by email to accounts@r-adams.com or by post to Natalie Jones, R. Adams & Sons The

Jessica Rose, James Nixey and Alex McMenemy.

Agrovista strengthens Cheshire team

Experienced agronomist Andrew Paines has joined Agrovista’s Appleton-based team where he will work with established and new farmer customers across Cheshire and Lancashire advising on a range of arable and forage crops.

Andrew grew up on a small family farm near Bath, Somerset, and spent his younger years working on farms, gaining experience in dairy, large-scale arable and potato production during school and university holidays. He gained a degree in agriculture at the University of Reading and has since spent 10 years in the sector. He began his career in agronomy advising

growers across the southern counties where he gained BASIS and FACTS quali cations alongside valuable experience in the eld.

More recently, Andrew has been working in the digital agriculture space, researching how technology and innovative solutions can be integrated into global and UK production systems.

Andrew expects to bring this wide range of skills into play in his new position. “Cropping in my area predominantly includes cereals, forage, and potatoes and I will also be involved with advising and supporting SFI applications and their implementation,”

Omex welcomes new director

Omex Agriculture has appointed Laura Wood as its new business growth director. With a strong background in both agricultural and ports and logistics sectors, Laura has extensive experience in sales leadership, commercial project delivery, sustainability and strategic development, making her a key addition to the company’s leadership team.

will be crucial in aligning Omex’s sustainability strategy with industry advancements and market demands.

his new position. “Cropping involved with advising implementation,”

he said.

AGCO director made CEMA vice-chair

The Strategic Committee of CEMA, European Agricultural Machinery Association, has elected Giulia Catini (CNH) as chair and Mark Moore (AGCO) and president of IAgrE as vice-chair.

Mark Moore is director –government a airs for AGCO Ltd. Since joining AGCO (Massey Ferguson) in 1990, he has held various roles and was an early pioneer of precision farming. He obtained a PhD in Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering in 1998. Today, he works with governments and stakeholders.

Mark is also the president of the Institution

of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE).

Charlie Nicklin, IAgrE’s CEO said: “Mark’s appointment as vice-chair of the CEMA Strategic Committee is excellent news for our industry. The committee plays a key role within CEMA, and it’s gratifying to have a UK engineer in this important position. Mark’s participation allows us direct insights into EU policy direction, the perspectives of European governments on agricultural issues, and how manufacturers are responding.”

Giulia Catini, meanwhile, serves as head of EU a airs at CNH. She has been an active member of CEMA’s Strategic Committee (formerly the Public Policy Group) for over a decade. Committee (formerly Group) for over a

Red Tractor makes new appointment

Jo Miller has joined Red Tractor as its new head of communications and engagement, as of 10th February 2025. She has over 15 years of experience in public relations, stakeholder management, corporate communications, and digital content. She is a seasoned communications professional with a strong background in food assurance and multi-stakeholder issues, including sustainable shing, climate change, food systems, and environmental management.  Her career includes nine years at the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the international standards organisation for sustainable seafood, where she worked on global sustainability and supply chain issues. She joins Red Tractor from her

role as a senior communications consultant at SB+CO, working with major global brands such as McDonald’s, Beam Suntory, and Lego on their sustainability communications.

Jo said: “I’m excited to join the team at such an important time for the sector, and am looking forward to working with Red Tractor’s members and stakeholders to tell Red Tractor’s story and build trust in the label.” forward to working members and to tell Red

In her new role, she will oversee commercial strategy; identifying business growth opportunities and lead the long-term strategy for the roll out of low-carbon products. She will also lead the western sales team, spearhead marketing e orts, and develop key relationships with stakeholders, merchants, and customers. Her expertise

Laura’s career in agriculture began at Frontier, where she worked as a successful farm trader across the Midlands. She later transitioned to Peel Ports, optimising agricultural supply chains via the Port of Liverpool and Manchester Ship Canal. Most recently, she has worked for ABP, rstly in the business development team, and latterly as head of commercial and sales (Humber). Ship Canal. Most recently, she has in the business development

CNH appoints chief comms o cer

CNH has appointed Cameron Batten as chief communications o cer e ective 31st March, 2025. Cameron will join the company’s global leadership team (GLT).

Cameron has over 25 years of experience in communications across media and institutional/government relations, brand marketing, corporate reputation, employee engagement and social impact with top-tier consumer brands. Ahead of joining CNH, he served as chief communications Volkswagen Group of America. His

past roles include vice president of brand communications at Samsung Electronics America; vice president of card communications at Capital One; global head of workforce communications at Johnson & Johnson; and vice president of communications at American Express.

“We have entered a new strategic chapter at CNH and that calls for a visionary storyteller who can harness the rich technology landscape to powerfully tell our story. In Cameron, CNH gains a wealth of expertise in communications and stakeholder engagement that will help us articulate our path, progress, and the positive impact we make everywhere, every day through our iconic brands,” said Gerrit Marx, CNH CEO. o cer at

Kuhn appoints area sales manager

Kuhn Farm Machinery has appointed Karl Ridsdale to area sales manager for northern England to support its strong dealer network across the region.

Karl joins Kuhn with extensive experience in sales and support following various roles with dealers across the area. He spent 10 years with Kuhn dealer Hardwick Agricultural Engineering, at Brompton-by-Sawdon, North Yorkshire, where he developed a strong Kuhn product knowledge and built relationships with sta at the manufacturer’s UK base in Telford.

Karl has been involved with farming from a young age and has a strong appreciation of the hard work that goes into daily life. His area extends south of the

Scottish border and covers dealers down to the M62 on the west of the country, and as far south as Brigg and Louth in the east. He says his knowledge and passion for the product range helps to navigate the tough current conditions.

Karl has already begun supporting the dealers in his territory with customer visits, product demonstrations, roadshows and open days. supporting roadshows

Red Tractor sector chair moves to NFU Sugar

Kit Papworth has announced he will be stepping down from his role as Red Tractor Combinable Crops & Sugar Beet Sector chair and director of the company – following his election as chair of NFU Sugar. Kit said he’s a “huge supporter” of Red Tractor and farm assurance, but as a farmer he cannot commit to both roles.

Combinable Crops and Sugar Beet chair is now advertised on the Red Tractor website, together with details of the appointment process as set out in Red Tractor’s governance procedures, which have been updated in light of the Campbell Tickell review.

Lantra introduces next CEO

Lantra is pleased to announce the appointment of its new CEO, Nick Juba, who will join the business in June after current CEO Marcus Potter retires.

Kit will remain chair for the Combinable Crops & Sugar Beet Sector Board for the immediate future and a clear, transparent recruitment process for his successor is underway. The role of Red Tractor

appointment of the will be overseen by the Combinable Beet Board

The recruitment and appointment of the new sector board chair will be overseen by a subcommittee of the Combinable Crops and Sugar Beet Board and the Red Tractor Board’s Nominations Committee.

New appointments for De Sangosse

De Sangosse (UK) Ltd has appointed Stuart Sutherland as technical business manager Sarah Ferrie new position of head of marketing. Stuart’s role will

Nick joins Lantra with a wealth of experience as a director, chief executive and non-executive director. He started

include technical customer support for both UK and international customers, new product development along with eld scale trials demos. Predominantly based in Scotland and the north of England, Stuart will build on existing relationships and develop new ones.

Stuart has extensive knowledge of adjuvant and biostimulant technology, water and soil conditioners

New agronomist joins ProCam

Agronomy rm ProCam has expanded its northern team of agronomists with the appointment of Alex Green in Yorkshire. Alex, who is BASIS and FACTS quali ed, joined ProCam at the beginning of 2025 as a fully quali ed agronomist to provide specialist crop protection and nutritional advice to growers in North and East Yorkshire.

Alex grew up on an arable estate in Norfolk where his father worked as a farm manager. From working part-time on the farm in Norfolk, Alex progressed to studying for a degree in Agricultural Business Management at Newcastle University graduating in 2016.

He then spent three years working for a farm business consultancy in Su olk, then as a farm manager on a 4,000-acre mixed

Nick said: “I am both excited and humbled by the opportunity to join Lantra and to support the land-based and environment sectors to ourish in a time of policy, environmental and technological change.” his career at the and Curriculum Authority before progressing

and to the existing relationships and

farm near Malton in North Yorkshire, taking responsibility for the farm’s cereals, oilseed and hemp rotation, a 1,500-lamb nishing enterprise and planning the farm’s input purchases, grain trading, property management and cropping and fertiliser planning.

In his new role, Alex will work alongside the wider ProCam team of agronomists to o er expert advice in a range of crops including cereals, maize, potatoes, linseed and sugar beet. ProCam team of agronomists to o er expert advice and beet.

consultant to the European Commission. Nick then worked in the Higher Education sector, leading the University of the Arts Awarding Body where he drove a successful growth strategy. He then held chief executive positions in further education, before moving to his current post at Capita Group Plc where he has been director of learning since 2020 overseeing the delivery of all shorebased education and training for the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines.

Quali cations to become a

and pod sealants, spanning more than 26 years in agricultural crop protection. Previous roles include technical manager at Interagro (UK) Ltd, Nufarm business and technical manager for Scotland, and BASF’s agronomy manager for Scotland.

protection. Previous roles manager for Scotland, and BASF’s agronomy manager

joins De Sangosse after eight years with Interagro where she was responsible for marketing the company’s range of adjuvants and biostimulants.

Sarah has

Meanwhile, Sarah has over 25 years’ experience in the agricultural industry and

Prior to this, she spent 16 years with BASF plc in a number of technical and marketing roles, including leading the marketing approach strategy in Northern Europe, product management for cereal herbicides, plant growth regulators and seed treatments, as well as campaign management for cereal fungicides.

Head of crop nutrition services for Yara

Yara UK welcomes Jon Gooden as Head of Crop Nutrition Services, the company’s retail business segment which sells its portfolio of products direct to farm customers. As part of his role, Jon will be overseeing a team of farm account managers who provide agronomic crop nutrition expertise, supporting growers to maximise yield potentials by consulting on their full nutritional needs.

Jon brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the role, having gained practical experience of working on-farm in his early career. His most recent role has been working as national sales manager for precision farming business SOYL For the last 12.5 years, Jon has worked with farmers throughout the South East, enabling them to enhance yields, reducing costs and making their business more sustainable and resilient. He believes in taking a consultancy approach with farm customers, which he will bring to

Yara. “It’s being that direct link at the farm gate that excites me most, and being a key trusted partner to our customers, because we’re all aligned to the same goal. My ambition is to enable the team to have the right skills and technical competencies so that we are able to help our customers with the challenges that come along,” he says.  says.

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