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OUT & ABOUT
With the Farmers Guide team
Machinery editor Neale Byart spent a day with the team at Claydon this month, at the company's Wickhambrook HQ, to see the latest drilling and moling machinery in action.
Pictured (l-r) are Neale Byart, Claydon CEO Je Claydon, and Claydon commercial director, Spencer Claydon. Turn to page 47 to read Neale's in-depth report .
Find out what exciting new products were revealed on page 41.
And finally...
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Getting the most out of your cover crops
Cover crops protect and enhance the soil when a cash crop is not growing; but they can also boost your pro ts if thought and planning is put into the process, writes Open eld environmental technical advisor, Delyth Gilman.
Cover crops are fast growing plants – often legumes, grasses, brassicas and cereals – that are planted after a cash crop to bring a plethora of environmental bene ts. Aside from the obvious bene ts of improving soil structure, preventing soil erosion, conserving soil moisture
and protecting water quality, they also feed many types of soil organisms and help increase soil organic matter content and the number of earthworms, especially if combined with no-till.
Selecting the right cover crop mixture for your farm requires planning if you want to maximise the potential bene ts. As Gemma King, Open eld fertiliser trader, mentions in her update later, soil testing should be your rst port of call to determine the foundation, not just to bene t your main cash crop but also to determine which cover crop to sow to help make up any shortfall in soil indices. For example, buckwheat can increase phosphate mobility in the soil, legumes x nitrogen and mustard act as a biofumigant as a method of pest control. Incorporating deep rooted varieties into your mix can also help increase soil organisms and organic matter and break down compaction.
A mixture of di erent species will enhance the bene ts to the soil and the environment, but consideration must also be given to the crop rotation for disease and pest carryover into the next cash crop. Legumes can be an issue where there are peas or beans in the rotation; some brassicas can increase clubroot and slug risk in oilseed rape; and some clovers and small grains can increase wireworm risk in potatoes.
Cover cropping enhances the overall resilience of a farming system through reducing the need for synthetic fertiliser and pesticides, making it an important component of sustainable agriculture. The Sustainable Farming Incentive also o ers payments for spring, summer and winter multispecies cover crops, making establishing them even more appealing.
Fertiliser matters
If you’ve recently completed crop removal, now is the perfect time to sample your soil and set the foundations for your next crop, writes Open eld fertiliser trader Gemma King. Soil sampling is a cost-e ective method to gain a comprehensive understanding of your soil’s health, especially after nutrient o take during harvest. It identi es nutrient de ciencies or surpluses, showing current indices and o ering recommendations to correct or maintain them.
A key aspect of soil sampling is assessing soil pH. Recent data shows that nearly 40% of UK arable soils tested in 2023 had below optimal pH levels. Having below optimal soil pH levels would limit nutrient availability, reduce yield, and cause nancial implications. Testing pH helps determine if lime application is needed to correct these issues.
Soil sampling also ne-tunes your fertiliser strategy and complements other tools like grain nutrient analysis, providing a complete picture of soil health. Additionally, it ensures compliance with the Farming Rules for Water and Sustainable Farming Incentive requirements, optimises nutrient management, and boosts yields by maximising nutrient uptake, leading to better overall crop and soil performance. FG
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ARE YOUR TRAILER BRAKES UP TO SCRATCH?
There are two versions of MeritAgCheck available – Essential and Premium. Essential allows for daily checks of commonly used machinery and the ability to monitor defects. Premium starts at £7.90 per month for three users and gives you access to over 2,000 customisable checklists and the ability to add servicing, maintenance or inspections with the capability to link all of this via machine QR codes. MyFuel enables you to take control of your fuel and record usage across your machinery and other assets, identifying valuable trends and supporting you to make data driven decisions.
Following a trailer brake test, you can record your trailer brake reports and re-test dates, meaning that you can continually monitor trailer and machinery safety across your site, giving you full con dence in your operations.
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Merit Inspection Solutions specialises in trailer brake testing for farms, estates and agri businesses. Its goal is to save lives and reduce the risk of serious injury through ensuring your trailers have safe and e cient brakes that have been thoroughly tested.
Onsite trailer brake solution
Merit o ers a high-quality mobile rolling road for onsite trailer brake testing at the location of your choice. The company says its leading technology provides detailed data and insights on the braking e ciency of each wheel on every axle.
Testing your trailer brakes ensures you can optimise braking performance, fuel e ciency and overall safety, while reducing any dependencies on tractor brakes, saving you money on servicing and maintenance. Merit tests up to 20 trailers in one day and o ers a xed day rate for clients with multiple trailers, or can o er a shared testing day at one location for those interested in running trailer brake testing with neighbours.
For any trailers that fail, many defects can be easily targeted and recti ed on the day. The
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company provides you with proactive advice to support you in making your trailers safe and optimising their performance. There may be time to reinspect failed trailers during the same day of testing where remedial work is completed, or Merit can arrange follow-up days to conduct regular retesting as required.
Following each test day, the company provides online and hard copy reports and will arrange the scheduling of further trailer brake testing to meet your business and safety needs, saving you time and money.
MeritAgCheck
The importance of undertaking regular trailer and machinery checks to document compliance and manage defects cannot be overstated. As part of Merit’s trailer brake testing service, customers bene t from access to MeritAgCheck, the UK’s farm machinery app. MeritAgCheck enables you to maintain the safe and e cient operation of all machinery on your farm, estate or agri site through the touch of a button.
You are legally required to test your trailer brakes. The Road Vehicle Regulations, 1986, and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), 1998, contain provisions requiring tractors and trailers, including braking safety, to be properly maintained and regularly assessed as safe for use. Further, you cannot rely on visual inspections and servicing to determine whether your trailers are safe for the road.
Using data collected from Merit Inspection trailer brake tests up to the end of 2023, a total of 62% of trailers tested were not safe to go above 25mph or 40kph. 16% of the trailers tested were deemed unsafe for use at any speed and couldn’t be used due to the risks associated with brake failure and overall poor braking e ciency. This included brand new trailers. Failed trailers also create a serious strain on tractor brakes which can cost signi cant amounts to replace early. In most cases, trailers that failed required simple remedial work and a same day retest before they could operate safely.
Merit has collected valuable trailer brake test data and insights covering a range of manufacturers and suppliers, and o ers initial advice as part of any trailer brake testing day. Its trained trailer brake test operators work closely with you to ensure that a robust and thorough process is followed during each testing session.
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Kubota boosts aftercare package
Kubota (UK) has extended its range of Kubota Care tractor warranty and aftercare packages to include 1,000 hours of servicing with all new M7003 models purchased before 31st December 2024.
This latest promotion,
alongside 0% nance and a ve-year manufacturer’s warranty, contributes to lowering the total cost of ownership for those customers looking to make the change to a Kubota M7003 tractor.
This latest aftercare o er is also available with dealer demonstrator M7003 models and applies to the balance on any servicing up to, and including, the 1,000-hour service.
Kubota Care is an extended warranty scheme that is backed by Kubota, and is not a third-party insurance policy. As such, Kubota Care does not require customers to pay an excess for any warranty claims that may arise.
In addition, any unused Kubota Care warranty is also transferrable with the tractor when supported by full service history from the Kubota dealer network.
Vegas oilseed rape hits the performance jackpot
David Leaper, technical manager for oilseeds with Agrii, commented on the performance in Agrii trials of NPZ UK variety Vegas which has done consistently well in Agrii trials over the past three years. It was selected into the portfolio because of its good disease resistance and exceptional late season stem health seen in all of the NPZ UK varieties.
“Vegas bene ts from a rapid spring growth habit that helps mitigate the e ects of CSFB larvae that still pose
a huge risk to UK growers especially in earlier sown crops.
“Agrii are also supporting Vegas with an excellent establishment scheme.
“Furthermore, Vegas was a top yielding-variety in AHDB Recommended List trials this year when it was compared, for the rst time, with the best new candidates coming through the RL system.
“NPZ UK’s Maverick is similar to Vegas and bene ts from additional TuYV resistance that has proven popular with growers across
the UK. It has performed exceptionally well in Agrii trials and had highest yields of any variety over the past two years.”
NPZ UK managing director, Chris Guest notes that when it comes to late drilling, variety choice is key: “The prerequisite is to choose hybrid varieties, and all NPZ UK oilseed rapes are hybrids – with both Vegas and Maverick very good in this slot. They are quick to get going with good autumn vigour added to strong spring re-growth.”
Bale unrollers “revolutionising” bale feeding
Blaney Agri says its Forager X10 and Bale Feeder X6 bale unrollers, designed and manufactured in the UK, are set to revolutionise bale feeding.
The Forager X10 was developed based on the challenges facing farmers. Designed for maximum e ciency, it o ers a one-man, one-tractor operation that feeds out silage in seconds. Its compact design is perfect
for navigating tight spaces, and its ability to feed out both sides ensures that every bale is used to its fullest potential. It e ortlessly handles all bale types (wet, misshapen, or tightly packed). Farmers have reported up to 20% reduction in bale waste.
The Bale Feeder X6 is ideal for those who don’t require all the advanced features of the X10. It’s perfect for feeding
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Claydon Yield-o-Meter shortlisted for commerce award
Family-owned agricultural machinery manufacturer Claydon Yield-o-Meter Ltd in Su olk has been shortlisted for a British Chamber of Commerce Global Britain Award. These recognise the achievements of businesses which are trading with the world in a successful, innovative way and helping to create a Global Britain.
The company was founded in 1981 by Je Claydon, who with his brother Frank has farmed at Wickhambrook since 1970, to manufacture a revolutionary product which Je had designed. Supported by a £267,400 Growing Business Fund Grant from the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (NALEP), the project has helped the 43-year-old company to meet an exponential increase in orders from UK and overseas customers. These have continued to grow as the business has worked with its expanding dealer and distributor network to develop sales in existing and new markets.
“The role of machine technology will grow signi cantly in the future and Claydon will continue to move forward,” Je Claydon says. “Our latest drills incorporate the ability to place crops, companion crops, fertilisers and crop protection products in one pass to help the farming industry meet the challenges which it will face in the future.”
Sugar beet campaign start dates announced for 2024/25
British Sugar has shared details of the campaign start dates for each of its four factories. The factory beet intake opens on the following dates:
• Bury St Edmunds – 16th September
• Wissington – 16th September
• Newark – 23rd September
• Cantley – 7th October.
Sugar beet growers, hauliers and industry partners have been advised of beet intake times at the factories by email and via British Sugar’s online portal, My British Sugar.
Growers and industry partners can get in touch with their British Sugar agriculture manager or call British Sugar Services if they have any queries, at this stage or as the campaign progresses.
Dan Green, British Sugar’s agriculture director said: “As we look ahead to this year’s campaign, we look forward to working together with growers, harvesters and hauliers. We’d like to wish everyone across the British beet sugar industry all the best for a safe and successful campaign.”
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Large investment improves fertiliser supply in the north
A £7.5M combined investment from Origin Fertilisers and the Port of Tyne in a new fertiliser facility will o er improved fertiliser access and supply to customers across the Borders, Northern England and Southern Scotland for the 2024/25 crop year and beyond.
The project on the Port of Tyne site for a dedicated 6,000m2 fertiliser warehouse will allow Origin to produce and store in excess of 100,000 tonnes of product to support farmers and growers across the region, o ering better access to the right crop nutrition.
Origin’s managing director, Michael Pater, says the investment is signi cant for the region. “This major investment provides us with a new site in north-east England complementing existing facilities in Silloth, Immingham,
Ayr and Montrose. The facility is located port-side and gives direct access to deep sea vessels, which will be a major improvement to the region in accessing raw materials from further a eld, providing a wider range of product sourcing and competitive pricing. It will allow us to meet the growing need for prescription fertilisers in the area, while simplifying supply and logistics of fertiliser for many customers.”
Completion of the site is planned for early October.
New cabbage stem flea beetle management project
A project which started in late August is aimed at improving management of cabbage stem ea beetles (CSFB) which are the primary cause for the dramatic reduction in the area of UK OSR crops over the last decade.
AHDB has contracted NIAB to monitor migration of the adult insects from August–October and larval invasion from September–October, at sites across England. The information obtained will be made available to farmers
during the 2024–25 growing season – and it may also be used for research.
To monitor adult CSFBs, yellow water traps will be used at ground level and at a height of one metre at seven sites across England. At all locations, a Bayer MagicTrap (new to the UK), which photographs beetles caught in the trap, uses image analysis to identify and count CSFB, and transmits information remotely, will be used as well as the yellow water traps. Weather data will
also be recorded.
At the end of the project, a full dataset will be available, including adult CSFB numbers for each trap, larval scar assessments, weather data, assessment dates, location information and agronomic information such as dates of eld operations (e.g. harvest, cultivations, drilling), pesticide usage, methods of cultivation and information on other CSFB management approaches used in the eld, such as companion crops.
Award-winning poultry farm up for sale in Derbyshire
A Derbyshire broiler unit has been launched for sale by Carter Jonas – the third sizeable farm of its type to be sold in the past 12 months.
Dovelowe Farm in Ashbourne is an awardwinning poultry unit capable of housing up to 84,000 birds, with a guide price of £1.1M. “With people travelling across the country for viewings, we expect interest in Dovelowe
Farm to be high,” says Edward Beale, associate partner at Carter Jonas.
“Feedback so far has been that it’s in great condition for its age. The unit comprises four poultry growing sheds along with ancillary buildings for water, power generation and sta welfare facilities. All poultry rearing equipment along with the biomass boilers will be available to the buyer.”
In addition to the productive poultry unit, the site also includes a bungalow and two biomass boilers.
The boilers provide heat for the poultry sheds, generating around £50,000 per year in RHI. There is also the possibility of purchasing two further biomass boilers by separate negotiation.
To view Dovelowe Farm contact Carter Jonas.
Acquisitions allow Ernest Doe & Sons Ltd to expand into southern Lincolnshire
Ernest Doe & Sons Ltd has announced the successful acquisition of The Burdens Group Limited’s southern Lincolnshire branches, located in Sutterton and North Kyme. This acquisition was facilitated through the appointed administrators at Begbies Traynor (Central) LLP, following The Burdens Group’s entry into administration.
“We are thrilled to welcome the Sutterton and North Kyme branches into the Ernest Doe family,” said managing director, Angus Doe. “Our focus is on maintaining the strong customer relationships cultivated by The Burdens Group, while introducing the high standards of quality and service that have de ned Ernest Doe & Sons for over 125 years. We look forward to serving the local community and supporting our new customers with the expertise and dedication that our longstanding customers have come to rely on.”
UK agricultural tractor registrations – August 2024
The number of agricultural tractors being registered in the UK remained lower than normal in August. The month typically sees reduced numbers, as farmers are occupied with harvest and related activities. The challenges of the past 12 months, both with the weather and the nancial situation for some farm businesses, meant the decline was bigger than usual this year. At 495 machines, the monthly gure was over 30% lower than for August 2023. It was also less than two-thirds of the average number logged in August over the previous ve years. The total of 7,325 agricultural tractors registered during the year to date was 15% fewer than in the opening eight months of last year and the lowest for four years.
Month: 495 units – 30.7% change (compared with August 2023)
Year to date: 7,325 units – 14.7% change (compared with January–August 2023
The application of microgranular or liquid placement fertilisers close to seed at drilling can help mitigate this lack of mobility and o er signi cant bene ts to early establishment, with far greater uptake e ciency than seedbed applied products – which can be as low as 10%.
“We’re placing a small amount of phosphate right near the seed just to get it o to a start. Once it starts putting down roots itself, these release root exudates, which we know help kick-start nutrient cycling, releasing more phosphate.”
Optimise autumn nutrition to build resilient crops
Microgranular fertilisers by their nature are small, but are incredibly e cient, so much less product is required than with seedbed applied products – typically 10–20kg/ha compared with nearer 100kg/ha for TSP in some cases.
“Admittedly, not every farm has the kit to apply placement fertiliser, which is a challenge, but the number is increasing, and growers will de nitely see the bene ts.”
Biostimulants drive root architecture
Establishing a strong rooting system is fundamental to the resilience of all crops. Farmers Guide seeks expert advice on how best to achieve this through targeted soil nutrition.
When it comes to autumn nutrition, the starting point, as with so many aspects of crop agronomy, is to fully understand the soils on your farm, says Hutchinsons development manager, Jennie Watson.
“Nutrition and soils are so closely interlinked; we need a thorough understanding of the condition of soils to highlight any limiting factors and show where to focus our attention for nutrition over the season ahead.
“So often we’re talking about making use of nutrition that’s already in the soil, but unfortunately for whatever reason, may not be available to the plant. That can be for various reasons, from the chemistry causing nutrient lock-up, to an imbalance in soil biology, or physical structural issues preventing roots from getting down to where nutrients are. Our focus is on understanding how we can support plants to access that nutrition and make the most of anything else that’s applied.”
Autumn is a good time to assess soils, providing they are warm with su cient moisture, and there are some simple visual tests growers can do themselves. But Ms Watson believes it is worth investing in more detailed analysis of physical, chemical and biological soil properties, such as through the Healthy Soils Gold test or Terramap Gold, to fully understand the complex interactions involved.
The Gold test, for example, includes an assessment of total nutrition in the soil, and what is available to plants, to allow a much more meaningful discussion around nutrition programmes.
“You won’t be able to act on everything that detailed analysis shows in one season, but it could help hone-in and prioritise the points you need to focus on. It all comes back to the principle of ‘measure to manage’. If we aren’t monitoring things, how do we know if we are moving forward or not?”
The cost is generally far outweighed by the potential bene ts from improved nutrient use e ciency, fertiliser savings, and crop output, she adds.
Placement fertiliser benefit
Access to phosphate is a core focus for autumn nutrition, as the nutrient is integral to root development, Ms Watson continues.
Although soil indices can often suggest there is su cient phosphate in soils, there can still be challenges in terms of plant availability given phosphate’s limited mobility and tendency to become complexed (locked-up) by other elements, such as calcium, iron or aluminium.
“Phosphate is so immobile, just putting it on the surface and expecting it to get to where it’s needed, just doesn’t work.”
The bene ts from placement phosphate for kick-starting root development can be further enhanced with the use of phosphite-based biostimulants to build root biomass in the autumn, says Ms Watson.
“Last year we saw some clear bene ts from using phosphites in the autumn to help late-sown plants struggling to root because of the conditions. This year, we could be looking at a di erent scenario of earlier drilling, but there could still be a bene t from building root biomass to support a potentially bigger crop canopy.
“Roots are so fundamental to accessing nutrition and supporting the development of plant biomass throughout the season, there’s a really good case for using phosphites.”
Phosphites are not a plant food in the same way as phosphate, she adds. “Phosphites act as a biostimulant, upregulating plant processes, increasing root growth and associated root exudates, which support the release and uptake of nutrition in the soil.
“There will still be a need to come back in the spring to provide nitrogen and the other nutrition that plants need, but in terms of supporting autumn growth, the focus is very much on kickstarting rooting and nutrient cycling.”
pH is fundamental
Finally, soil pH is a simple, but fundamental, factor to consider when planning crop nutrition, as it has such a big in uence on the availability of many nutrients.
In acidic soils, for example, aluminium and manganese can become more available, potentially causing toxicity issues, while calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium are less available.
Most growers rectify low pH with lime post-harvest ahead of drilling, sequenced with cultivations to get the lime acting in the top layer of soil rather than waiting for worm activity to take it down.
However, Ms Watson says it is possible to still apply lime after drilling through to the spring, up to the point where any bene ts are outweighed by risks of damaging the growing crop. “Knowing your pH is crucial for optimising nutrition,” she concludes. FG
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Soil sampling will influence nutrition plans
A detailed soil analysis can help growers make informed decisions about nutrition plans next season, and undertaking this before committing to fertiliser purchases should be a top priority.
That’s the view of Toby Ward, nutrition agronomist at Origin Fertilisers, who says using insight gained from detailed soil data can help guide prescription nutrition requirements and build a solid plan for next spring and beyond.
He comments: “We can only recommend prescription nutrition by understanding where de ciencies lie in the soil. Just applying the same fertiliser as before isn’t going to improve the nutrient synergy and increase yield or quality, with these factors always limited by the most de cient nutrient.
“A broad-spectrum soil analysis, rather than just analysis of the main nutrients, will provide the required information to build a comprehensive nutrient programme.”
A detailed soil nutrient breakdown can also be used alongside other tests to assess where nutrition is required for future seasons. Toby says a grain nutrient analysis can inform where the largest nutrient o takes have occurred.
“Soil analysis tells us what we think is going to happen, leaf analysis is a live account of how the crop is accessing the nutrients and if there is anything that needs changing during the season, while a nal grain nutrient analysis enables us to accurately determine the speci c nutrient o -take from the crop.”
With these three data sets, growers can assess if their current fertiliser
plans are accounting for nutrient de ciencies or, if matching the data to the nutrition, can provide the crops with everything they require. Origin’s Nutri-Match service can blend up to 14 di erent nutrients into speci c formulations to create bespoke blends based on requirements.
Toby says this is becoming a popular option for growers looking at crop nutrition in greater detail.
“If growers have the data, then why wouldn’t they maximise it and address the issues through prescription nutrition? Blended fertilisers allow growers more options to address soil nutrition requirements, providing the crop with everything it requires to improve yield and quality.”
Additional micronutrients can help create a balance within the soil pro le. This will enable farmers to be proactive, rather than reactive, during the growing season by identifying de cient micronutrients at the beginning of the year and applying them in time for the crop to use.
“A crop that’s de cient in a micronutrient, such as copper or molybdenum, can mean that valuable yield potential has been lost before it emerges. Providing a curative measure at the start of the season to feed the ‘hidden hunger’ gap, rather than waiting for the crop to show a de ciency, means the yield potential won’t be limited and soil health will be improved,” concludes Toby. FG
Why Autumn Application?
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Fertiliser carbon footprint
ICL has reduced the carbon footprint of its naturally occurring Polysulphate multi-nutrient fertiliser by around 90% in the last five years.
This is as a result of production e ciency improvements and infrastructure changes at ICL’s Boulby Mine in North Yorkshire. Polysulphate is already recognised as a low carbon fertiliser, but the latest reduction to 0.0029kg CO2e per kg of product reduces this gure to almost zero and o ers even greater opportunities for farmers and the wider supply chain to decarbonise agriculture, says Richard Ward.
“This reduction demonstrates ICL’s ongoing commitment to playing a key role in a food and farming industry that is increasingly focused on meeting sustainability and carbon targets.
“Traditionally manufactured sulphur fertilisers, now all imported into the UK and combining both nitrogen and sulphur, are increasingly under the spotlight as major carbon contributors in the food supply chain.
“But with UK produced Polysulphate containing no nitrogen, far more accurate management of
both N and S can be achieved which, along with the product’s exceptionally low carbon footprint and other e ciency gains, allows much more sustainable production.
“In fact, a recent paper by Prof. David Powlson, Emeritus scientist at Rothamsted Research, concluded that if all the UK’s ammonium sulphate was replaced with Polysulphate, the ammonia emissions associated with sulphur fertiliser applications would be cut by over 90%.”
Proven results
Global crop trials conclude that Polysulphate also delivers economic gains for farmers by improving crop yield and quality due to its high e ciency, Richard Ward explains.
“The growing number of farmers using Polysulphate already appreciate the nutritional bene ts of the product (48% SO3, 14% K2O, 17% CaO and 6% MgO) help drive nitrogen use e ciency (NUE) in crops, from
both mineral nitrogen fertilisers or organic sources.
“Furthermore, its prolonged release characteristics also help reduce potential losses of valuable nutrients into water and air, improving both the e ciency with which plants take these up and reducing possible environmental issues.”
Trials have shown these e ciency improvements translate into sizeable economic gains for growers, he points out. “We’ve seen average yield increases of 10–11% on grassland and arable crops alongside better establishment and root development. Oilseed rape and other brassica crops have shown average yield improvements of 12–15% with this rising to 35–40% on sulphur de cient soils.
“In potato and other vegetable crops, average yield gains of 12–15% and signi cant quality bene ts have been reported.
“The bene ts of Polysulphate are already being recognised by many growers, agricultural advisers and the wider food supply chain, with thousands of farmers now using the product. In fact, ICL Boulby set a new record of one million tonnes of Polysulphate produced in 2023 for distribution worldwide.”
Ongoing improvements
According to ICL UK VP and general manager Grahame Wallace, the reduction in carbon footprint of Polysulphate is the result of an ongoing program of energy improvements at ICL’s Boulby Mine.
“The recent achievement of ISO 50001 accreditation for the site recognises that the site has established a comprehensive structure for energy management with the focus on continual improvement,” he points out.
“Since the last carbon footprint calculation in 2019 we have introduced numerous changes including changing
to fully renewable electricity in 2023 and removal of the combined heat and power plants (CHP).
“We’ve also made considerable strides forward in reducing our use of diesel and introduced a range of e ciency improvements across the site and our operational processes.
“Virtually all areas of the business having risen to the challenge of identifying ways in which our carbon footprint could be improved.
“It is, however, very much an ongoing process. The recent carbon footprint evaluation has brought new vigour to the team by highlighting the success of what we have achieved whilst also providing focus on areas of improvement that we will be targeting in 2024. These include replacement of air compressors across the site to provide a more energy e cient supply of compressed air.
“It doesn’t end there as there are numerous projects under consideration that will drive the carbon footprint of Polysulphate down even further with the ultimate aspiration of achieving net zero!”
Autumn application benefits
An autumn application of Polysulphate to supplement conventional spring timings can increase wheat yields by 0.3t/ha trials suggest.
Better nutrient utilisation e ciency and increased root development are the main reasons behind the highly cost-e ective bene ts, says ICL agronomist Scott Garnett.
“Previous trials have shown a 5–8% increase in yields from spring-applied Polysulphate by itself, with three years of trials showing an average yield of 10.49t/ha. But when this was preceded by an autumn application of Polysulphate, an average yield of 10.79t/ha was seen alongside signi cant environmental bene ts.” FG
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Integrated biosolutions approach shows significant potential
Integrating biosolutions into conventional agronomy programmes can boost both disease control and crop margins, latest Agrii trials are suggesting.
While in some cases, biosolutions by themselves have o ered the same control as moderate fungicide approaches, integrating them into reduced programmes has produced the same results as full-strength conventional treatments.
“It’s time to take biosolutions seriously,” says Agrii technical manager, Jodie Littleford. “For a start, there are fewer new active ingredients coming to market and all are facing tougher regulatory hurdles.
“Then there’s the fact that across the food supply chain, pressure is growing for greater sustainability and lower carbon footprints of production, with reductions in synthetic inputs seen as a key element of this.
“But we know biological solutions don’t perform in the same way as traditional chemistry, so it’s critical we understand how we can best target their use and support them appropriately in integrated strategies.”
“With changing climatic conditions, there’s an even greater need to focus on crop resilience and stress mitigation and evaluate where biosolutions can contribute to these.”
In challenging conditions and high disease pressure situations, some approaches in particular have stood out from the others, she says.
“Products related to building crop resilience, like elicitors boosting the plants’ hyper sensitive response, have shown particularly positive results, especially when used alongside the right supportive elements.
“Generally, these products work best when they are applied ahead of disease, like a u vaccine administered before the illness takes hold. We are essentially giving the plant everything it needs to better prepare and initiate an immune response for when the pathogen does eventually arrive.”
Programmed approaches
Agrii’s approach is to focus on a wide range of biological products to validate their bene t in the rst instance before they are then looked at as part of programmed approaches, she explains.
“We can then stack these bene ts in a variety of ways so we can evaluate di erent strategies to realise their full potential with regard to plant health, resilience, disease suppression, yield, and ultimately, gross margins.
“Weather conditions over the last two seasons have highlighted just how di cult future disease control might be, but they have also provided vital insights into the promise biosolutions hold.
upregulating photosynthesis which in turn provides the plant with more energy and resources to thrive.”
Hence their e ectiveness does largely depend on when disease starts cycling in the crop, she points out.
“This isn’t necessarily a new concept when we think about current practices around protective applications of fungicides to get the best e cacy. Even now, if you’re in a situation where you’re having to re ght, then you’re far too late!
Marcus Palmer of MJP Supplies is giving 10 Farmers Guide readers the chance to use Algifol for a season free of charge.
Algifol is a concentrated brown algae gathered from the North Atlantic, dried and re ned to maximise its wealth of trace elements, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, carbohydrates, polyuronides and growth-regulating plant hormones.
Marcus’ customers predominantly apply Algifol to cereals, potatoes, peas and sugar beet to improve yields and root establishment as well as increase resistance to stress caused by extreme weather conditions, such as droughts and prolonged heavy rainfall. Neomed Pharma says Algifol is also a natural nitrogen source due to the high presence of amino acids and peptides. This makes Algifol
The Agrii programme trials to date have basically adopted three levels of approach when it comes to biological products – a full biological approach, a 50% reduction in synthetic inputs and then a fully integrated approach supported with a good fungicide programme, she explains.
“These have then all been tested alongside more traditional approaches using di erent levels of fungicide input, with a range of very encouraging responses seen.
“Where we use biosolutions earlier on in the programme and before disease levels escalate, for example, we see a sustained reduction in septoria levels right through the season, even compared to full four spray fungicide programmes.
“In terms of yield and margin, all three approaches have generally been equivalent, if not better, than our standard fungicide programmes which indicates just how much biosolutions can contribute to crop performance success.”
“We’ve also seen encouraging trends resulting from the use of amino acids. These building blocks are utilised across a number of biochemical functions including protein synthesis, stress reduction and modulating stomatal opening.
“Biostimulation of these processes can enhance growth, nutrient cycling, help crops combat disease and improve productivity.”
Strong responses
Growth promoting compounds like PGA (pyroglutamic acid) and phosphite have also impressed.
“These enhance nutrient utilisation and e ciency, which improves rooting as well as
Free biostimulant for Farmers Guide readers
ideal for combined use with reduced amounts of N fertiliser. When used with a reduced amount of fertiliser, Algifol naturally improves the nitrogen use e ciency of the crop, producing a better yield and reducing the use of costly fertilisers.
“We have previously worked with the PGRO, and its eld trials on combining peas proved that the use of Algifol increases yields and reduces foot rot infection. We’ve also worked with agronomists to establish eld trials and show how using Algifol can increase yields and quality. Now, we’d like to extend this and work directly with farmers and show just how e ective Algifol can be,” says Marcus.
Readers wanting to participate in the project or requiring further information should visit www.mjpsupplies.co.uk FG
While all the trials to date have been eldbased, new developments at Agrii’s Throws Farm in Essex will allow the mode of action and integration of biosolutions to be looked at in much more detail, Jodie adds.
“The construction of a large environmentcontrolled glasshouse will allow us to remove much of the ‘noise’, such as weather, variable growing conditions and pests, from future trials. That is simply impossible to do in the eld.
“This means we can focus speci cally on what the biosolutions are actually doing and manage things like spray timings and crop nutrition much better.” FG
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TRAILER SAFETY: The ‘root’ to success
As agricultural machines begin transporting root crops, industry groups have come together for a new campaign to ensure trailer safety.
The Tilly Pass has been working with other industry experts to create a safety group, ‘Root to Success’, to talk about the importance of root crop carting. Together they have created a trusted source of shared information covering all aspects of safe towing, giving farmers and contractors a clear understanding of essential requirements for operators and users to develop an up-to-date on-farm ‘safety portfolio’.
Members of the group shared some advice on safely transporting root crops this season.
Risk assessment: As our workplace changes with the seasons, it’s essential that new hazards are assessed. This could not be more relevant than at the start of the root crop season. Making a risk assessment around this or
indeed any hazard is an essential part of everyday agriculture, and the person making and sharing these must have the appropriate quali cations, knowledge and experience. This should then be part of every business’ safety portfolio.
The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland said a safety portfolio is an essential part of farming in a professional and responsible way, for all farms, whatever the size.
Maintenance: Inspections and record keeping are required to meet the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regs 1992 (PUWER) regulation 6 along with the new British Standard 14200/2023. The Tilly Pass Scheme is an accessible way of meeting these requirements with on farm inspection, service and central
trailer database; these documents can then be added to your safety portfolio.
Manufacturers’ daily checks: These should always be accessed, used and recorded – download the free safety app Head to Tow at tillypass.co.uk
Knowing your machine: Angus Western, managing director at Richard Western, advises: “You understand the capacity of the trailer you’re towing when you know the actual capacity of the wheel equipment. For professional farmers and contractors requiring a otation tyre, 26.5 rims would be the minimum.”
Load security: The DVSA published the revised version of the load security guidance in July 2023 with the requirement to sheet loose loads. This seems to have caused some issues, a load security spokesperson said. The requirement to do this was in the previous DFT code of practice, but DVSA made it more explicit in the update, due to some high-pro le incidents where people had lost their lives due to loads bouncing o the back of trailers.
“The fundamental requirement to sheet loose loads has not changed since a loose load does present a danger to other road users if the load is not restrained in some way.
“The only concession we will be making will be in circumstances when the load is assessed (by the user) to be sat su ciently low enough in the trailer, to the extent that it is secured by the structure of the vehicle, i.e. the vehicle’s sides, front and rear without the need to cover the load.”
DVSA said its examiners will continue to take action when they assess that the load, and the way it is secured (or not) presents a danger to other road users, irrespective of what a driver/operator risk assessment states.
General advice: Su olk Police stressed the importance of having a good understanding of the weights and speeds of your combination, good visibility around the vehicle, displaying a number plate, working lights and the appropriate use of an amber ashing beacon.
“Trailer weights are set at 18.29 tonnes with a tractor not exceeding 12.71 tonnes; this makes a combination of 31 tonnes train weight. A tractor and trailer should not tow faster than 25mph/40kph. [...] Trailers should be sheeted if fully loaded or su cient ullage so the load cannot fall. Items such as sugar beet can cause damage to vehicles or collisions from drivers swerving to avoid when falling o trailers,” a spokesperson said.
Cymru Farm Safety added that it’s important to remember to check the vehicle and trailer condition before use, from ATV to a larger tractor and trailer. All loads must be secured, from bales to feed.
The Farm Safety Foundation recently launched its new Little Book of Farm Safety (available on www. yellowwellies.org) which includes a special chapter on transport. Issues covered include trailer safety and trailer brakes. Given that moving vehicles have been the cause of an average of seven deaths every year on farms over the past ve years (HSE), trailers and their brakes should never be overlooked and must be given the same level of attention as the tractor itself.
Cymru Farm Safety concluded by saying: “Towing safely is everybody’s responsibility to ensure the safety of all road users. Dewch i ni gyd gwenud gwahaniaeth (let us all make a di erence).” FG
Further information:
• https://www.hseni.gov.uk/topic/ workplace-transport
• https://bit.ly/4eg8Gf0
Maximize your beet harvest with the Richard Western Beet Wellington trailer. Featuring advanced larger wheels and reduced operating pressure, this trailer ensures smoother towing, minimizes soil compaction, and reduces field damage—helping you harvest more efficiently this season.
Key IPM measures for slug control
2024 has favoured slugs, so control measures are of particular importance this autumn.
Encouraging natural predators such as ground beetles, birds, hedgehogs and frogs can be a a key part of an IPM strategy for managing slug populations. Field margins and beetle banks provide ideal habitats for predatory insects and carabids, while providing bird boxes, winter feeding areas, trees and hedgerows will improve overall farmland biodiversity.
Defra o ers the following advice for creating and maintaining beetle banks:
• Beetle banks are most e ective in elds over 20ha. Make the bank across the middle of the eld so invertebrates can spread out from the bank across the whole eld during the summer. In larger elds of 30–50ha, build 3–4 banks
spaced evenly across the eld
• If you’ll also use your beetle bank to control run-o and soil erosion, make it across the contour of the slope. Make sure the bank does not divert water which may cause problems somewhere else
• Make the bank during your normal cultivations in spring or autumn. It’s easiest to make the bank in the same direction as you cultivate
• Plough in opposite directions to make a raised bank at least 40cm above the normal level of the eld, and 3–5m wide
• Leave a gap at both ends of the bank where it meets the eld boundary or margin so that you can easily get machinery in and out
• You might need to spray with herbicide before sowing if weeds are present
• Sow a seed mix with 3–4 tussocky grass species plus 2–3 ner grasses and owers. Choose species suitable for your soil type and sow at the rate recommended by your seed supplier. In most cases a rate of around 20kg/ha should be suitable
• Broadcast (scatter) seed in a way
that will not damage the bank. You may be able to adapt existing equipment. You can use a fertiliser spreader driven alongside the bank, to broadcast seed on each side; use a slug pellet applicator towed along the bank by a quad; or broadcast by hand
• If you plan to sow in autumn, sow as early as possible into a warm, moist seedbed before poor weather sets in. If frost or prolonged wet weather is expected, leave sowing until the following spring
• A beetle bank takes about 2–3 years to establish. Check the bank regularly to make sure weeds don’t take over
• Cut several times in the rst summer to help grasses grow thickly. It’ll be hard for weeds to grow once grasses establish
• Birds, nests and eggs are protected by law. You must check the bank before cutting. If you see signs of nesting birds, delay cutting until birds edge
• After the rst year, do not cut the whole bank in one go. This will help protect populations of insects and other wildlife. FG
Ensure slug pellet spreading equipment is calibrated
Adama o ers the following advice for accurate and optimum slug pellet spreading.
To ensure slug pellets are applied accurately and to achieve the optimum number of baiting points (40–50 pellets per m2), all spreading equipment should be calibrated in accordance with the machinery manufacturer’s recommendations to ensure they are producing an even and accurate spreading pattern.
In addition to regular calibration checks (prior to the start of the spreading season and before each subsequent application), all pellet spreading equipment should also be tested to the required standard to ensure it can spread the desired product over the declared working width in an even and uniform pattern: in order to comply with the NSTS (National Sprayer Testing Scheme) Sustainable Use Directive, all pesticide application equipment over ve years old should be tested every six years. If equipment is less than ve years old it needs to be tested by its fth anniversary, and then every six years thereafter.
The NSTS test includes
1. An inspection of the spreader prior to a tray test
2. A tray test to con rm working width and evenness of spread
3. An electronic report of the rest results.
As well as ensuring spreading equipment is correctly calibrated and tested, care should also be taken to ensure that it is positioned at an appropriate height for the machine on which it is mounted (usually 110cm for quad-mounted applicators).
Forward operating speed and aperture settings should also be considered to ensure pellets are applied at the correct rate, with the best practice considered to be a forward speed of no more than 12kph.
For more info about pesticide applicator calibration or to get your machine tested, go to www.nsts.org. uk or visit https://ahdb.org.uk/slugs to learn about integrated slug control. FG
Benefits of Gusto Iron
Gusto Iron is a ready-to-use, pelleted bait containing 2.94% w/w anhydrous ferric phosphate. It is approved for use in a range of agricultural and horticultural crops and o ers the following key
bene ts:
A durable, persistent and palatable slug pellet for the control of all UK slug species
Rainproof and with impressive mould resistance
Excellent colour retention for easy detection
Uniform pellet size and density for accurate spreading to wide working widths
Optimum baiting points of 45 pellets per m2 when applied at a eld rate of 5kg/ha.
Late drilling poses unique challenges for wheat crops as soils cool down and become wetter, requiring careful management to ensure proper establishment, advises Ron Granger, technical manager for Limagrain Field Seeds UK.
Delayed or late drilling of winter wheat considered to be from mid-October onwards is now common practice particularly for black-grass management, in a second wheat situation and for those who are drilling wheat after sugar beet or potatoes.
Ron Granger points out that although most of the varieties on the AHDB Recommended List can be drilled in this later slot, it is important to make a distinction by choosing varieties that will cope well, rather than be challenged by the situation.
“Characteristics of wheats that suit this slot are strong tillering and vigorous, combined with good rooting attributes and a semi-prostrate growth habit in the winter. Get it wrong, and you could be facing substantial yield penalties – which are totally avoidable,” he explains.
“Crops drilled later will not have been in the ground as long as those drilled earlier in the autumn, so the chosen variety needs to be robust with a good tillering ability and quicker out of the blocks in the spring, once growing conditions are favourable.”
Mr Granger points out that this is especially important where there is black-grass as the variety needs to compete with the rapid growth of the black-grass rather than sit and tiller at to the ground where it will eventually be smothered.
PREVENT YIELD LOSSES by choosing the right wheat variety for late drilling
In good conditions, target a seed rate of 375-400 seeds/m2 for the end of October increasing to 400–475 seeds/m2 at later drill dates, or in a black-grass or poor seedbed situation.
Good results
For these reasons Mr Granger recommends the old favourite LG Skyscraper, LG Redwald, and new variety from the LG Field Seeds portfolio, LG Beowulf for late drilling.
“We have seen very good results from LG Skyscraper both in trials and more importantly on farm over several years now delivering high yield potential and a good consistency of performance in this testing situation.
“Data from several seasons of work also suggests that taller wheats, such as LG Skyscraper are at an advantage in the later drilling scenario as larger plant canopies also play an important role in keeping black-grass ear numbers and seed return to the minimum,” he says.
“On this basis LG Redwald suits this late drilling situation very well – it’s a bit of a beast in the fact that it has a semi-erect plant type combined with a strong tillering ability and large biomass potential – it does de nitely give blackgrass a run for its money!”
Correct seed rate
Mr Granger believes one of the single most important factors in getting a late drilled crop o to a good start is using the correct seed rate.
“However, seed rates after the end of October are di cult to quantify, speci cally as they will be more determined by the seasonal weather and seedbed preparation at the time of drilling. To compensate for the impact on tillering, as a result of cooler temperatures and shorter days, seed rates need to be increased the later into the season the crop is drilled.”
Some varieties di er, he adds, citing the example, where LG Redwald appears to cope at lower seed rates due to its excellent tillering ability, inherited from its parent LG Sundance.
“LG Redwald has performed very well in the later drilling situation and has the ability to cope with less than favourable seed beds often encountered on the wetter, stickier soil types when drilling has been hampered.”
Highest potential
Mr Granger goes on to say that recently recommended high yielding hard feed wheat LG Beowulf, not only sits as the highest yielding variety, but also has the highest yield potential for drilling after the 1st November on the current AHDB Recommended List.
“LG Beowulf also o ers one of the best agronomic pro les available, with sti straw, good disease resistance, WOBM resistance, combined with a high speci c weight – all attributes for providing growers a security for on farm performance in this drilling position.”
He notes that later drilled varieties often have the advantage of requiring lower inputs and may not require an earlier autumn herbicide, but advises using an e ective seed treatment for either root disease or slug and insect control especially in known high-risk situations.
“Also look at varieties with a good disease resistance pro le, certainly against mildew, as this can be problematic on some soil types in the late drilled situation.”
Mr Granger also advises monitoring crops for yellow rust if winter conditions are mild particularly at the juvenile plant stage –even those that are listed as tolerant varieties. even those as tolerant FG
RGT Grouse key points:
• BYDV resistant
• OWBM resistant
• High yielding hard feed wheat
• Suits early sowing when BYDV risk highest
• Good tillering and tiller retention
• Very good lodging resistance
• Good spec weight
• Suits all soil types.
(prothioconazole and tebuconazole) at 0.6-litres/ha. At T2 Miravis Plus (pydi umetofen) at 1.5-litres/ha plus Era (prothioconazole) at 0.5-litres/ha were used. This was followed at T3 by Tebbit (tebuconazole) at 0.5-litres/ ha, Flyer (pyraclostrobin) at 0.4-litres/ ha and Ecana (prothioconazole) at 0.5-litres/ha.
The Grouse stood very well and stayed clean and Michael will increase the area down to the variety this autumn.
SWITCH TO BYDVRESISTANT WHEAT PAYS
OFF FOR SUFFOLK GROWER
After a five-year battle against barley yellow dwarf virus, Michael Gooderham believes he has found a permanent solution by employing genetics rather than unreliable insecticide sprays to control the disease in wheat.
Much of the arable land Michael and son Darren rent at Red House Farm near Eye borders large blocks of woodland and grass, and every eld has a grass margin around it, all of which creates sheltered habitat for aphid vectors of BYDV.
“After the demise of Redigo Deter, we really struggled with the disease, so we’ve been under pressure to get everything sprayed,” says Michael. “We saw RGT Grouse advertised as a resistant variety and, after doing our own research, decided to try some last autumn. It has paid o big time.”
Other varieties on the farm received one insecticide spray last autumn, but a second application had to be shelved after more than 100mm of rain fell in late October.
“By late spring, BYDV was evident in the other varieties, particularly in our second wheat which su ered badly,” says Michael.
Disappointing start
Gleam made up the bulk of second wheat, along with 14ha of RGT Grouse, both drilled in early October.
The Gleam produced 8.4t/ha. “It was a very disappointing start to our wheat harvest,” says Michael.
“However, I was more than pleasantly surprised with the Grouse, which yielded 10.3t/ha at 15% moisture.”
While the di erence was not entirely down to BYDV – the Gleam had poorer headlands after the very heavy rain – there was very visible BYDV in that variety. “I could see it clearly when spraying at T2 – the ag leaves were discoloured and going purple in places.”
RGT Grouse was also grown as a rst wheat after beans and averaged 10.8t/ha at 76kg/hl speci c weight across 51ha. The yield just edged Dawsum after sugar beet, which
missed the main aphid migration.
Grew away well
The rst wheat Grouse was drilled in the last week of September at 160kg/ha after a pass with a disc/tine cultivator. It emerged quickly and, while not particularly thick, it grew away well in the spring and retained its tillers, which lled well.
Belcocel (chlormequat) at 1-litre/ha and Canopy growth regulator (0.5-litres/ha) was applied at T1 but no more PGR was deemed necessary as the crop only received 200kg/ha of nitrogen after beans.
T1 fungicides consisted of Vimoy (iso ucypram) at 1.33-litres/ha and Kestrel
“We no longer have to worry about BYDV wherever we grow Grouse. I’m very glad we did our own research – we went to various open day trials but we felt Grouse and Gold nch, RAGT’s other BYDV resistant variety, were overlooked.
“We even had a job to convince our agronomist that this was possibly the way to go, but he seems pretty impressed with the result too.
“The variety has done very well as a rst and second wheat and we’ve put it into the IPM 4 insecticide-free crop option under SFI, which earns an additional £45/ha. It certainly looks to be a good t for our farm.” FG
Grower delighted with first-time Bamford crop
The high-yielding winter wheat has smashed the five-year farm average, despite a challenging growing season.
Despite a double whammy of tough autumn establishment conditions and high septoria disease pressure, Lincolnshire farmer Alex Jasinski was delighted with a first-time crop of Bamford that produced an average yield of 11.66t/ha with overall bushel weights of 79kg/hl.
Ingoldsby-based Alex, who grows 400ha of arable crops on a mix of soils ranging from heavy blue clay to limestone brash soils, drilled 22.5ha of Bamford on 2nd October last year alongside two other winter wheats, successfully overcoming atrocious wet autumn weather.
Alex says: “It was certainly a tough start to the season. I recall just about managing to get our pre-emergence spray on two days after we drilled the Bamford, before the never-ending rain came again. Although we farm predominantly on free-draining limestone brash soil, the moisture levels were so excessive that I was seriously concerned over the amount of rain the new crops were taking.
“Nevertheless, the Bamford survived, getting away pretty well in fields where our overall blackgrass burden is not too bad. There were no hard frosts that winter and it progressed well through its early growth stages. Two splits of liquid N were applied – the first on 1st March, with a second split applied during the second week of April. In total we applied 225kg/ha.
“On fungicides we applied the same amount of chemical as our traditional four-spray program, but decided to add in a T1.5 spray on 13th May, bridging what would have been a long five-week gap between our T1 and T2 sprays, in what proved to be a very high disease pressure spring for both septoria and yellow rust in our area. Despite the disease challenges, the Bamford crop remained remarkably clean all the way through to harvest.
“Harvesting from 14th August, average yields for the Bamford crop were 11.66t/ha – miles ahead of our five-year farm average of 9.75t/ha for winter wheats. Add to this an excellent specific weight of 79kg/hl,
combined with early grain samples showing an impressively large grain, and you have a high-yielding variety with the potential for a small biscuit premium.
“It’s certainly been our most impressive winter wheat, and we’ll be increasing our drilled area to 50ha this autumn,” concludes Alex. FG
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FEEDING VALUE ACROSS THE ROTATION
One Dundee farmer is using an on-farm trial to get a detailed insight on improving the nutritive value of pulse crops across his rotation.
British On-Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN) founder and creator Tom Allen-Stevens visited Dundee farmer Diarmid Baird recently to nd out how the organic farm is looking to get more from growing pulses.
“I’ve been farming for 20 years, but only really been thinking about how I do it for three,” Diarmid explains.
He farms in partnership with his brothers, Euan and Dougal, and their parents at Scotston Farm near Dundee. The 485ha business is now fully organic – a conversion that’s progressed since 1988.
Diarmid is looking to get more from growing pulses on his farm. These slot into a rotation that include the clover-rich fertility-building leys, and an array of cereals grown mainly for the 4,500 laying hens, which complement the arable enterprise. A small beef herd completes the system.
Pulse-based combinations
Diarmid has been trialling a number of pulse-based cropping options and combinations. Sections of one eld transition from monocrop
spring beans to beans with peas and then with spring wheat. Then there’s monocrop spring wheat, an area where the crop has been intercropped with peas, and nally, peas on their own.
This has all been undersown with a mix of three clovers.
The eld has been entered as his trial eld for the NCS Project– a fouryear, £5.9M Defra-funded research project led by PGRO, with 17 industry partners. Diarmid is one of 10 Pulse Pioneers – who are farmers paid to carry out on-farm trials by BOFIN, one of the partners in the project.
He’s been keeping a close eye on the crop, submitting two areas as entries into the ADAS Pea & Bean YEN (Yield Enhancement Network). This will give him a detailed analysis, not just of the yield of his trial plots but also a host of leaf-tissue, grain-content and soil-related data.
biology that matters. That goes as much for the combinations of the crops we’re growing as it does for the muck we apply. We’re looking for the data we can gather to inform how legumes interact with cereals, the e ect on the soil, and the consequence for the following crop.”
“It’s the understanding of the with rye and with triticale.
value of the crop itself. Another eld and another trial, this time of beans intercropped with wheat,
“We’ve increased our laying
ration with peas and beans.
“We’re adding 15% each of peas and beans because at 20% protein, that’s not as high as soya. We’ve reduced the amount of cereals, and hopefully the intercropping will boost the protein content of these, although I know they’ll be a pain to harvest.”
His focus before harvest has been getting the nutrients into the grain.
That’s where the detailed analysis of the trials comes in, provided through his involvement as a Pulse Pioneer. The monitoring started o in early spring with a soil mineral nitrogen test, which also provided standard P, K and Mg analysis. Joining the YEN provided a protocol with simple instructions for sampling and monitoring the crop through the season at key points. FG
ock of organic free-range hens from 1,500 to 4,500, and used to buy in the entire ration. Now we’re looking to supply more of their feed from homegrown grains, and it’s the protein content that’s a key constituent,” Diarmid explains.
That poses a problem for his organic system. “Getting protein into the grain is easy if you’re using bagged nitrogen fertiliser, but a lot more tricky if you rely on muck and fertilitybuilding leys.”
He’s now switching away from soya, replacing the 15% inclusion in the
Recruitment drive sets the pulse
BOFIN is looking to double the number of farmers paid to carry out onfarm trials for the 2025 harvest.
“We currently have 10 farmers who form our rotational platform at the heart of the NCS Project,” explains Tom Allen-Stevens. “Within their pea or bean crop, or in a eld nearby, they have a comparison area which isn’t in a pulse crop. They’ll be monitoring these elds next year to assess the e ect of the pulse crop within the rotation.”
Alongside these elds, the plan is to add at least another 10 sites cropped with peas or beans with the same comparison area of a nonpulse crop within them. “We plan to work rst with our existing Pulse Pioneers, to develop their trials and support their plans to understand more about maximising returns across the rotation from their peas or beans,” he continues.
“We’re also looking for up to 10 new recruits. They will be paid to carry out monitoring and evaluation of an on-farm trial in a pulse crop and to join the discussion, share their experiences and explore how to get the best from it.”
carry out monitoring and evaluation of an on-farm trial in a pulse crop
peas or beans within your 2024/25 cropping plan and agree to monitor it into the same crop as the rest of the eld, such as into wheat.
To qualify as a Pulse Pioneer, you must include at least one eld of peas or beans within your 2024/25 cropping plan and agree to monitor it through the ADAS Pea or Bean YEN. Within this, there should be an area with a non-pulse crop, such as oats, that in the following year will come into the same crop as the rest of the eld, such as into wheat.
For more information, go to www.ncsproject.co.uk. FG
Combining pea varieties excel at harvest
NPZ UK points out the proven value of combining peas in the rotation.
“This year’s harvest results for combining peas show excellent performance and contradict the negative press they have often su ered from over the past few seasons and the fact that they are under the pressure from some of the SFI options,” says Michael Shuldham, pulse product manager at NPZ UK.
Mike Burdass of Barnwell Manor Estate near Peterborough grew 125ha of Butter y for ADM Agriculture. He commented that the variety, which is close on the heels of NPZ UK’s Carrington, is a high performing variety underlining the strong PGRO Descriptive List results where it shows good downy mildew resistance (6), earliest equal maturity (7), high standing power (7) and, as with all NPZ UK combining peas, resistance to pea wilt.
“It looked good all year and ticked all the boxes for us. Butter y held up well against disease and stood well, even though it was taller than the other green pea variety we grew this season. At harvest it produced a large sample with a yield of around 4.7t/ha.
“All-in-all, Butter y performed just as we expected and was a good variety for us.”
Dave Cooper, head of seed, ADM Agriculture commented:
“Butter y is well placed to become the benchmark for green peas in 2025 and beyond, based on its colour, shape, size, and yield.”
Mr Shuldham notes that the very healthy gross margin opportunity on peas at 4.7mt means that they could t the micronising or lucrative human
consumption markets and be competitive with a good rst wheat – this is in addition to
reduced nitrogen the following
consumption markets and be competitive with a good rst wheat – this is in addition to the improved soil quality and well-known reduced nitrogen requirement for the following wheat.
“It’s a win-win for all involved. Pulse crops are so important for our future, hence it’s fantastic we can utilise these new genetics to really support the whole supply chain.
“Carrington and Butter y are the current leading green peas for growers with impressive agronomics and market performance that has achieved very good on farm results for growers.
“They are two options from the strong NPZ UK pulse portfolio, and we will continue to do our part in developing the UK pulse crop with our current and future candidate varieties,” he adds. FG
Yield performance
The pre-em spray has been the mainstay of weed control in wheat. But with a large wheat area forecast and high seed return, e ective control will be more important than ever this year.
DON’T TAKE PRE-EM CONTROL FOR GRANTED
“Make sure timing and conditions are right for success at pre-em,” says Jamie Oakley at Bayer. “Aim to apply within 48 hours of drilling; if the gap gets to several days or even a week, e cacy will be compromised.”
Soil conditions also in uence e cacy –a good quality seedbed is the rst priority and then moisture is needed. “Moisture allows soil mobile herbicides like ufenacet to reach the weed germination zone in the soil. Any compaction or other soil damage can create barriers that can block the movement of herbicides.”
Mr Oakley emphasises that very heavy rainfall just after the pre-em application is the biggest danger. It can wash herbicides through the soil, potentially reaching germinating wheat seed or out of the soil altogether. Lighter soils are particularly at risk.
“Be careful with a larger stack at pre-em, we saw some pretty signi cant crop e ects last season where herbicides got washed through the soil. First of all, pay close attention to the forecast to avoid heavy rain.
herbicides, which could also help prolong earlier drilled crops especially, maintain
“Secondly think about sequencing herbicides, which could also help prolong the longevity of the programme. For earlier drilled crops especially, maintain good protection throughout October with a two-spray programme because that is when we expect peak weed germination.”
He urges farmers no to rush the application as excessive speed can cause turbulence and drift which means inconsistent coverage causing patches of weeds.
Pre-em strategy for meadow-grass and brome
Advising farmers in the Highlands of Scotland, Agrii agronomist John Mason uses the pre-em timing as the foundation for annual meadow-grass and brome control in winter wheat crops.
“Pre-emergence is the best opportunity to control weeds. Once they are up and in the crop, it is much more di cult to do anything about them.”
Spring barley for malting is the most important cereal in the rotation followed by winter wheat. Potatoes and carrots are also important crops in the Black Isle region just to the north of Inverness.
“Not everyone grows
“Not everyone grows winter wheat – I’d say it tends to be the larger operations, and most of it goes to Whyte and Mackay for distilling. Annual meadow-grass is widespread whereas brome tends to encroach onto the headlands from margins or sometimes in the straw used for carrot growing.”
E ective weed control is important because any green material in the crop can slow down harvest and increase drying costs which are already a signi cant burden in this part of the world.
Typical wheat drilling date is from late September into the second week of October. Soils are quite light and free draining so there
are not the same concerns over drilling as on heavier wheat land. Added to that, ploughing is still widely used to prepare the ground.
“Some farmers are doing an upgraded pre-em programme on the headland to prevent brome getting worse. One farmer I advise used Octavian Met (metribuzin + ufenacet + di ufenican) in autumn followed by Incelo (mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron) to target brome on headlands, he was very happy with the result.
“Even in lower pressure situations, one litre of Octavian Met at pre-em has been a great addition to the programme. It is a three-pronged attack and has good broad-leaf weed activity as well.
“Timing is important, the aim is to always apply the pre-em within 3–4 days to get the best result; drill, possibly roll then spray. As it’s mainly lighter land, we have to be mindful of rainfall and the potential for crop e ects, so we use an adjuvant to improve herbicide retention in the soil.
“We sometimes still see transient e ects, but this is better than a eld of weeds.” FG
WHY HYBRID RYE IS BECOMING AN INCREASINGLY ATTRACTIVE OPTION
The investment made by KWS in its F1 PollenPlus hybrids allows for high ergot tolerance which, in combination with robust overall performance, bene ts both farmers and end users, KWS UK technical manager for hybrid crops, Rory Hannam, points out.
“With yields of 10–13t/ha commonplace many growers nd that hybrid rye outperforms wheat and barley as a second or third cereal.
“Harvested earlier than wheat, it ticks many boxes in terms of exibility in the rotation. Hybrid rye will slot into most cropping plans and because it ts the requirements of grain and AD markets so well, demand from farms all over the UK, including in the North of England and Scotland, is increasing.
“Hybrid rye can help to mitigate risk in situations where, for example, growing oilseed rape is becoming increasingly challenging or it is di cult to produce wheat and barley economically because of inconsistent yields.
“With extremes of weather becoming more frequent, characterised by extremely wet winters followed by dry, hot conditions in spring and summer, hybrid rye holds signi cant appeal.
“Having another cropping option is very welcome, particularly on free draining, acidic or sandy soils which have a much higher risk of soil moisture de cit and consequently where yields and income are threatened.
“As a result, growers who have traditionally grown rye for years because it tted their rotation are being joined by those wanting an alternative to the mainstream options.”
Mini break potential
One of the most drought-tolerant crops available, hybrid rye is well suited to lighter, drier, droughtprone soils, particularly in areas of low rainfall, but it can also be grown on heavier land with many farming businesses in that situation now
considering the crop, he adds.
“Hybrid rye provides a mini break from diseases which may thrive in that situation and has an ultralow take-all carryover,” explains Mr Hannam.
“The crop’s extensive, deep rooting system copes well with dry conditions while its aggressive growth habit means that it moves through stem elongation faster than any other cereal, providing intense competition against black-grass.
“Requiring less agrochemical inputs than other cereals, hybrid rye utilises nitrogen and phosphorus very e ciently without compromising yields, has a 25–33% lower water requirement than wheat and will thrive in conditions where wheat and even barley may struggle.”
Reducing carbon footprint
With the drive for net-zero becoming more pressing and farmers looking for ways to sequester carbon to gain additional income, the need to reduce the emissions resulting from crop production is becoming more important, Mr Hannam points out.
“In the case of hybrid rye, much of the drive for lower emissions is from end customers, including maltsters, brewers, and the livestock feed sector.
“KWS trials and growers’ experience demonstrate that hybrid rye can deliver high yields at very low N inputs and with much improved Nitrogen Use E ciency (NUE).
“Fertiliser requirements can be roughly half that of a second wheat, which is likely to require around 220kgN/ha when grown for feed. Hybrid rye typically requires 120kgN/ha, saving 100kgN/ ha, and KWS Tayo shows the potential to cut this by a further third.
“One trial in Norfolk saw the variety produce the same 10.84t/ha yield from 80kgN/ha and 120kgN/ha fertiliser regimes, underlining the potential for hybrid rye to help make major
Hybrid rye is a crop with excellent yield potential, attractive economic credentials, weather resilience, a low environmental impact and secure end markets, says KWS UK.
savings in the amounts of seed, fertiliser, handling, transport, packaging, time and energy compared to other crops.”
New developments
Modern varieties have much to o er, he adds.
“KWS Sera no, for example, is a multi-purpose PollenPlus hybrid, o ers good yields, a strong brown rust rating and low lodging.
“KWS Tayo, the most widely grown variety in Europe, outyields older varieties of hybrid rye by up to 10%, has a 4% yield advantage over KWS Sera no and the joint-highest grain yield on the 2024/25 Descriptive List.
“This massive advantage is underscored by excellent agronomic characteristics, including sti straw and excellent plant health.
“Sera no and Tayo have recently been joined by KWS Igor, a relatively short-strawed dualpurpose grain and wholecrop variety characterised by its very high grain yield, 104% of controls.”
eliminate the need to use Plant
Ongoing developments in hybrid rye breeding will lead to the commercialisation of dwarf varieties which will bene t certain niche markets and help to alleviate any concerns over lodging, Mr Hannam believes. “KWS is working to improve lodging tolerance and aims to eliminate the need to use Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) on the crop soon.
it is probable that KWS
“Looking ahead to 2030, it is probable that KWS will have a portfolio of hybrid varieties for di erent geographic regions which are even shorter, have even better ergot resistance and produce more grain yield.” FG
NEW TRAILER MOUNTED SLURRY SEPARATOR LAUNCHED
Vogelsang has launched a new trailer mounted XSplit unit to appeal to contractors and multi-site farms looking to improve slurry quality before application.
The trailer enables contractors to o er separation as a service or can be used on farm to separate slurry or digestate in almost all locations.
“The new XSplit trailer is much lighter than previous versions and will come with the option of a remote-control system that can be operated using a mobile phone,” explains Vogelsang’s Andy Hayhurst.
The 4G enabled remote control technology, that can be linked to a phone and is part of a new control system available on the ‘expert’ model, brings with it greater exibility and reliability.
“The new remote system will enable one operator to use the trailer unit more safely. For greater safety it also features two boxes, one for high and another for low voltage,” says Mr Hayhurst.
Mounted on the brand’s Pro Frame, the XSplit weighs in at 3.1 tonnes and has been designed to sit low to the ground for better stability and balance during transport and operation.
“15mm rubber discs seal the whole chamber so operators will not have to form a plug manually. Time is also saved by the dry matter content adjustment which is both quick and easy. These small but important di erences make the XSplit safer, especially for operators who may not be accustomed to using separators,” Mr Hayhurst adds.
As demand for separation grows, trailer systems o er the option to have slurry separated, on occasion, to help free up space, or to separate slurry in harder-to-reach storage.
“The new trailer o ers all the functionality of
the XSplit in a light, mobile package that can help safely manage slurry in multiple locations, and we believe that with the pressures livestock farms face that it will be a welcome solution,” concludes Mr Hayhurst. FG
A SAFE WAY TO MOVE BIG BAGS AND IMPLEMENTS
To improve farm safety, all farms with telehandlers should have a safe way of moving big bags and implements.
An important part of telehandler safety is to make sure you have and use the correct, professionally-manufactured attachment for whichever task or for whatever situation you might nd yourself in, for your safety, as well as that of everyone else around you. Ceres recommends that to increase overall farm safety, all farms with telehandlers should have a safe way of moving big bags and implements.
The Ceres Linkage-Lift Implement Mover is a strong and safe way of transporting attachments,
rather than scratching and gouging, sliding both on and o pallet tines or ailing around on chains, which can cause costly damage and risk of injury or worse, the company says.
The Ceres Linkage-Lift uses the tried-andtested category 3 quick-release linkage system, for cat 2 and 3 implements up to 4.5 tonnes (at pin centre). The larger Linkage-Lift + uses the category 4 quick-release system for cat 3 and 4 implements up to 10 tonnes (at pin centre).
Lifting directly upwards from the lower arms,
rather than the top link pin, attachments are elevated the way they are designed to be, with ease and without damage. The lower lift arms, which are mounted to a oating bar within the frame, and the slotted top link bar are both there to aid smooth coupling and to allow easy and safe removal, as you can be sure that there is no tension between the headstock and implement pins.
The Ceres 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, Ceres reckons.
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.
Investment in Bunning spreaders allows contracting business to grow considerably.
HIGH-SPEC SPREADERS OFFER ACCURATE RATE CONTROL
Adamson Contractors has always had a keen eye on applying organic manures accurately. This attention to detail, along with investment in Bunning’s Lowlander HBD spreaders, has seen the business grow considerably.
The spreader eet owned by the contracting company consists of ve Bunning Lowlander HBD HD 175 machines and part of the reason for choosing Bunning was the consistent application to 24m.
The dynamically balanced horizontal beaters feature Boron shredding cutters to break down bulky material to an even consistency. The 1.1m diameter spinning discs have ve adjustable blade positions to alter spreading width and apply product evenly. This allows precise and consistent application for a wide range of products.
All models have weigh cell application via Isobus control for easy setting changes and clear displays of machine readouts. Rate control is adjusted via the screen and the spreader automatically matches the oor speed to achieve the required rate.
Variable rate application via prescription maps – a feature on the Bunning Lowlander spreaders – is being requested by more farmers and growers to improve soil health and maximise manures.
Accurate tonnages from each load can be recorded, which is crucial to comply with legislation, but a further bene t is that it also allows detailed job reports to be sent to customers following works.
Keeping ve spreaders busy throughout the year is a tall order, but multiple reliable machines keep customers happy and guarantee application accuracy across the eet, explains Adamson Contractors. FG
Even consolidation across the full working width
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Grimme displayed and demonstrated exciting new products at an exclusive German press event attended by Farmers Guide. David Williams reports.
NEW PLANTING AND HARVESTING PRODUCTS OFFER VERSATILITY
The event, held on a farm in northern Germany, saw customer requests for new features satis ed by the specialist root crop machinery producer.
For those growing potatoes and onions, a new option for the Evo harvester makes it easy to alternate between harvesting the crops within just a few minutes, and a new harvester designed around an air separation system was also shown for the rst time. There were also improvements to sugar beet harvesters and upgrades to the Matrix precision drill.
Continued investment
The event began with a presentation highlighting Grimme’s continued commitment to the agricultural industry, including investment totalling €40–50M in recent years across its plants. As far as UK customer demand for Grimme products is concerned, where last year sales were down mainly due to prolonged inclement weather, this year demand is higher, and the company predicts good results.
Directors, Christoph and Phillip Grimme told Farmers Guide during an exclusive interview that Grimme invests 10% of its annual turnover in R&D. “We are investing signi cantly to meet customer demand for added automation,” explained Phillip. “Shortages of capable sta are an issue across the industry, and we need to nd solutions. For example, current harvester-based sorting systems relying on teams of workers standing around a picking table will become outdated, and we believe that optical sorting technology is key to creating an automated
alternative. Trials of systems are proving successful, but we won’t release anything that isn’t completely market-ready, because we know our customers can’t a ord to have clods of soil and stones ending up in bags of vegetables sold in shops.
“There is still plenty of scope for innovations in terms of mechanical products too, and we continue to react to customer requests for new machines and improvements.”
Not just root crops
Although Grimme is particularly well known for its potato, onion and sugar beet machinery, Phillip pointed out that the company is also leading the way in terms of harvesting of other specialised crops including cabbages. “Our machines successfully harvest cabbages while handling them as gently as human pickers,” he explained.
positive customer experience.”
Quick change intake head
benefits potato and onion growers
Asked why customers in the UK and across Europe are so loyal to the Grimme brand, Phillipe said one major reason is the close connection between the company’s service department and product users. “Customers have faith in our teams of quali ed, experienced engineers to solve issues quickly when they arise. In terms of sales, everyone knows that our products work but it’s delivering exceptional back-up that means customers continue to buy.
Harvester innovations at the Grimme press event included a quick-change intake head for the Evo 280 harvester. “We expect strong demand as this increases exibility for those harvesting a mix of crops – particularly potatoes and onions,” explained Grimme UK marketing manager, Adam Johnson.
The new MultiCrop intake system allows the lifter to be swapped in a matter of minutes, meaning only one machine is needed for harvesting multiple crops on the same day.
Apart from releasing the xing pins and hydraulic hoses, the swapping process is completed from the tractor cab. At the Grimme event, heads were swapped in the eld on uneven ground quickly and easily.
“Users would sense immediately if our service deteriorated. We must always improve – supplying parts quickly isn’t an advantage if they are wrong, so all aspects of our business must contribute to the
A standardised interface for electrics and the oil supply is used, and di erent intakes for di erent crops can be coupled with the swing frame, taking channel width into account. The attachment locking system is tool-free and accessed safely from one side of the machine. The Grimme Digital interface also adapts to a new head being attached at the touch of a button.
Speci c crop intakes can be con gured separately from the machine. All known intake versions are available including further options for harvesting various crops out of ridges, beds or in windrows.
At the Grimme event, the Evo 280 was demonstrated lifting potatoes and then 15 minutes later harvesting windrowed onions.
Easily swapped third separator
To enable e ective multi-crop harvesting and use in di erent conditions, the Evo 280 can be tted with alternative third separators in an optional exchangeable frame. Changeover from nger web (ClodSep) to de ection rollers (EasySep) and vice versa is completed by two people in approximately 30 minutes with the aid of a telescopic handler. In addition to the separator, the operating software is also changed at the touch of a button, so the correct interface is always available.
For tractors with TIM compatibility, Speedtronic cruise is an option. Operating within pre-set parameters the travel speed automatically adjusts to achieve the optimum balance between throughput and crop protection, ensuring a constant work rate and reducing operator fatigue.
Improving comfort for the picking team, the right-hand side of the operator platform can be extended. Customers can choose between a short, wide or long, narrow trash conveyor to suit their situation.
The new Evo 280 with MultiCrop intake is available to order now, although numbers are limited for the 2025 season.
Stone separation without damage
A new harvester built around the established AirSep crop separation system was demonstrated. Adam Johnson explained that the Airsep 290’s
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main appeal will be for those growing potatoes for premium markets where the gentle sorting action avoids crop damage, especially in areas where achieving stone separation during spring ahead of planting can be a challenge due to soil or weather conditions. Cost savings are available to growers through avoiding the need for time-consuming separation of stones from soil pre-planting.
Two powerful fans requiring 50–60hp generate air ow through which the crop passes after leaving the roller table. The air ow is set according to typical weight and surface area of the crop. Anything lighter is lifted by the air ow and carried in the air and discharged through ducting at the rear of the machine. Heavier objects like stones drop down, while potatoes ‘ oat’ in the air.
Cross conveyors eject stones from the sides of the machine, but where growers want to drop them in a particular location then the conveyors can be stopped allowing up to 1m3 of stones to be accumulated before they are discharged in piles.
Grimme recommends tractors of 220–250hp to operate the harvester and power the fans, although the requirement varies according to the terrain and ground conditions.
Hydraulic drive for the produce handling and cleaning systems makes it easier to in nitely adjust the working speed of the webs to suit the conditions, independent of the tractor engine and PTO speed.
Additional new features include the ability to extend the left side of the picking platform to accommodate up to ve people. Height adjustable steps are also available allowing people of di erent
heights to work in comfort. The Airsep 290 is available with a standard conventional 9t bunker, or an optional 7.5t non-stop bunker. It enters production this year.
Extra automation and greater flexibility
The latest Toppa 600 six-row machine was displayed for the rst time, complementing the Toppa 800 8-row model launched at Agritechnica last autumn.
The Toppa 600 combines two separate bodies each with a 180cm working width which top two outer beds at the rear, the gap between them topped by a central, front-mounted Toppa 200 ail topper.
Design highlights of the Toppa 200 include an extra length linkage, and depth control wheels
between the front of the tractor and the topper. This provides extra space for a longer PTO shaft which avoids a steep PTO working angle –increasing e ciency and longevity.
The two rear ail units are mounted to the frame by central pivots allowing them to tilt laterally and accurately track the ground.
New options include hydraulic depth control, and a press roller to close the rows and keep the potatoes covered.
The two rear Toppa units can be adjusted manually, or automatically using crop feelers, with between +15 / -7cm side movement available to accommodate a range of crop row spacings.
The rear units can be lifted out of work independently, and with the Toppa 200 at the front and the Combi 600 at the rear, maximum width
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remains under 3m for transport.
Control is through Isobus using the tractor terminal or a Grimme CCI display.
Upgraded bed former
Revised BF and BFL bed formers for 1-, 2- or 3-bed systems were displayed, with a redesigned frame and a newly designed stone protection system. With the addition of a new BF 400m model, the line-up now comprises three models: all available from early 2025.
In addition to standard hydraulic stone protection, hydraulic Stone Protection Pro is a new option. A hydraulic cylinder allows each plough body to de ect even further upwards in the event of contact with obstructions. After being triggered, the working bodies automatically return to their working position.
A heavy-duty package is also available in conjunction with the new Pro system. This reinforces the side plates and plough bodies for extra stability in stony conditions.
New self-guiding plates have been developed for plough bodies of the BF series, designed for medium to heavy conditions. Attached to the body, they compress the walls to prevent soil falling and help form a stable bed.
New planter for separated/ destoned and pre-tilled beds
The Prios 440 planter is now available with a chassis for bed cultivation. This allows potatoes to be planted in separated beds.
A new axle provides a tight steering angle of +/-30 degrees ensuring maximum manoeuvrability on the headlands, and a front-mounted guide wheel carries some of the weight and runs in the trough to help prevent crabbing when working o set.
The new hopper design provides capacity for 4t of seed.
Four furrow openers with individual control ensure constant planting depth even on undulating ground. One skid per bed monitors the depth, and coverage of the tubers is measured behind the planting elements by ultrasonic sensors. Fertiliser is delivered under the disc coulter into the side of the trough. New style openers feature a change of length and shape to give extra time for tubers to be accurately placed.
The fertiliser box, barrel system and planting elements can all be switched o separately from each other, and for each row via section control.
Other new innovations include a hard-wearing plastic shaping hood replacing the previous steel version to reduce ownership costs.
Updated sugar beet seeder
Ten years after the Matrix precision seeder’s debut, an updated version has been launched. Available in 12- and 18-row variants, the new seeder features a compact design, optimised weight distribution and
improved adjustment systems. Adam Johnson told Farmers Guide that sales of the previous Matrix have all been for establishing sugar beet, and customers appreciate the accuracy, and section control that reduces seed wastage.
The new Matrix features new coulters, new leading wheels and a new pressure system. The seeder is capable of control direct from terminals of Isobus-equipped tractors, although using Grimme’s CCI display is recommended due to the amount of information displayed.
Rexor beet harvester upgrades
The latest, fourth generation Rexor beet harvester was previewed at Agritechnica, but Farmers Guide took the opportunity to see it working for the rst time. Major updates include a completely new Claas cab – like that used on the latest Claas combines. New optional left-hand armrest-mounted controls add convenience. There are two joysticks as well as freely assignable controls combined with a 7.8in display. The left-hand controls are mainly used during the unloading process while harvesting or for unloading at the clamp.
The Speedtronic-Cruise assistance provides
active control of the machine’s travel speed. Based on the selected driving mode, it regulates speed according to the crop load through di erent parts of the harvester. Combined with standard Speedtronic for the conveying and cleaning unit, this provides almost completely autonomous operation once the machine is harvesting in the rows.
The new MTU 15.6-litre, 653hp engine is in a redesigned compartment allowing a 0.5m shorter machine length for improved compatibility with road transport regulations.
The hopper incorporates hatches at the rear to access the engine for servicing.
Grimme division manager for beet equipment, Jan Alexander Holtschulte said that improvements in sugar beet prices have increased market con dence, and interest in the new harvester as well as the new options has been considerable. FG
•
•
• Loosen
•
• Fertiliser application and incorporation with front tank option up to 200kg per ha
• Suitable in most crops
• Conventional and organic systems
• Dont have to follow crop rows
• Working widths from 3 to 15m
• High speed operation up to 25km/h
• Low running costs
• Simple machine set up
• Demonstration machine available
Claydon invited machinery editor Neale Byart to its Wickhambrook HQ to see its latest direct drilling products in action.
A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT CLAYDON’S NEW PRODUCTS
Claydon is a family-run rm and several members of the family are actively involved in the business, including CEO Je Claydon, commercial director, Spencer Claydon and operations director Oliver Claydon. As well as the machinery business, the Claydons are also fourth generation farmers, which gives them a real hands-on approach and lots of practical experience with their equipment, explained sales manager UK and Ireland, David Furber.
The Opti-Till system has been developed by Claydon over the last 22 years. “Je Claydon had a passion for measuring yield, monitoring costs and analysing data to look for improvements,” David commented. In the 1980s, the company launched Yield-o-Meter – the rst harvester-integrated yield monitor. Moving forward, the challenge of establishing crops and increasing farm incomes led to the creation of the V drill in 2003 – the rst ever Claydon direct strip tillage drill. This was followed in 2006 by the Claydon SR, the Hybrid mounted drill in 2009 and the Trailed Hybrid drill in 2015. The latest model, the Evolution drill, was launched in 2022, with nine machines ranging from 3–6m working widths. Alongside its direct drills, Claydon also developed a range of stubble management machinery, so it could o er a complete crop establishment solution.
What is Opti-Till?
Claydon is perhaps best known for its Opti-Till – an alternative system that allows farmers to establish crops in a very e cient manner, David continued.
“The main driver behind this was a drop in commodity prices around the turn of the century that was proving to be unsustainable. While the system achieved the desired results in terms of lowering cost and increasing yield, this minimal soil
disturbance direct drilling method has also been independently proven to increase soil health.”
The machines are included in the farm subsidy programme, with grants of up to 60% available for certain models, and can be used under the Environmental Land Management (ELM) and Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) schemes.
According to the John Nix Pocketbook for Farm Management, using the Opti-Till System can achieve savings of £121/ha over plough-based crop establishment, and £71/ha over min till methods. These gures mean Opti-Till is responsible for savings of £100,000 over three years on 300ha, plus
a 61% time saving, compared to ploughing. When comparing Opti-Till to min-till methods, £63,000 savings and a 40% time saving can be seen over the same period.
Yields are also said to be the same or better with Opti-Till, improving over time due to increased soil quality. Trials with spring barley conducted in Kent last year showed the Claydon Opti-Till drill came out tops, with 7.46 tonnes/ha against an average from other methods of 7.06t/ha.
David said the Opti-Till system starts with the combine. “It needs to be set to leave a reasonable stubble height, it should chop the straw nely and e ciently and spread it over a full width. This should be followed with a straw harrow to distribute and even out the straw and cha , germinate and
take out weed seeds and destroy slug eggs. This is followed by drilling with an Evolution drill, with the leading tine system that aerates the soil and alleviates compaction, followed by a roller, if needed, and a TerraBlade with an inter-row hoe to reduce weed burden.”
In trials, this last stage has reduced black-grass by 60%, Claydon says. The shallow cultivation method also conserves moisture and leaves the existing root systems in place, which brings many bene ts including soil enrichment. As well as cost savings, the Opti-Till system is a quick process, so it can be used in short weather windows.
Soil health is everything
Claydon sales manager for export, Simon Revell, is a specialist on crop establishment and by his own admission has been “playing around with soil for around 40 years”. He said yield limiters such as moisture de cit, compacted soil, plant root restriction and low organic matter have all seen improvements where an Opti-Till has been running.
“Soil erosion is also a huge problem and intensive cultivation, along with weather, is a big contributor. Figures show that across Europe, 43 million hectares of the 100 million hectares of arable land is vulnerable to a single driver of erosion,” he said. “The Claydon system almost eliminates the tillage aspect of this erosion. Cultivation a ects soil behaviour and the more we cultivate it, the more it changes its density, which a ects water in ltration, capillary action and root development, one of the most important things for a plant, and therefore yield.
“Intensive cultivation to around 5–10cm creates a disconnect in the soil that is then subject to weather-based erosion. Turning the soil over in the traditional way has many negative e ects. It removes the structure building and stabilising e ects of organic matter, exposes soil organisms to UV irradiation, a ects earthworms and kills the biology of the soil. Good soil structure should comprise around 50% solids, 23% water, 23% air and 4% organic matter.”
Simon continued: “Many farms have only 1–2% organic matter, but here, where we have been using the Opti-Till system for many years, we have between 5 and 7%, with very little manure being added over the years. This is largely down to the straw going into the soil allowing the biology to prosper. A higher organic matter means a more stable soil that can cope with weather events, including protracted drought, better. It will also hold more moisture. With every 1% increase in organic matter, a single hectare of soil can hold an additional 275,000 litres of water.”
Drainage is another key cornerstone. “It allows a rapid restoration of the water/air balance in the soil after rainfall; avoids anaerobic conditions, which improves soil biology; improves soil conditions for eld operations; reduces potential for soil structure damage; and reduces denitri cation and leaching for e cient fertiliser use.”
The problem is, drainage is an expensive operation, with payback reported at between seven and eight years, Simon added. “So it needs a bit of foresight and forward thinking, but the bene ts are worth it.”
This came to a head at Claydon’s farm this year, with the heavy early rain resulting in water laying in places where it had never been seen before –leading to the development of a new mole drainer.
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Expanding to meet demand
With ever growing product development, and increased demand, comes a requirement for physical expansion. Claydon opened a new manufacturing facility in 2016, complete with o ce space, followed by a new production facility with seven build bays, which came online in 2023. The company now has one unit, which used to be the main production facility, for assembling straw harrows, drills and TerraStar light rotary cultivators, which also acts as a stores/raw materials/goods-in area. The roof of this facility is used for solar panels and water collection.
The next unit houses the welding equipment. Claydon uses pulse welders, rather than MIG, as this produces a cleaner, splatter-free weld that delivers a time saving of around 20%. Once a frame, machine part or jig is welded, it is moved across the yard to the paint shop. Originally a grain store, the paint shop also houses Claydon’s state-of-theart, £250,000, automated shot blasting machine which handles 90% of the components, with the remaining, larger pieces going into a shot blasting booth. Once blasted, the components are placed into one of two spray booths for painting. Roughly 450 drills leave this facility per annum.
New products
Evolution drill toolbar: The Evolution drill toolbar has four main zones which can be equipped with di erent elements for drilling in a wide range of conditions:
• Row one can be tted with the optional front cutting discs
• Row two as standard equipment has the leading tine. This can be tted with a fertiliser chute for placing fertiliser below the seed or for drilling a companion crop, for example beans at a deeper depth. Optional twin discs can replace the leading tine for customers looking to drill directly into a grass sward with the twin tine option in row three
• Row three o ers several options; A-share, spoon and bean chute for placing the wide variety of seeds at the correct depth
• The nal row can accommodate levelling boards, or di erent tine harrow options. The di erent widths available mean you can match to your tramline width for best use of tractor horsepower.
and move some soil back, and a Z harrow at the rear levels out the soil to nish o . An optional second distribution head allows for fertiliser or companion crops to be drilled, there is the ability to put fertiliser down the leading tine, below the seed or above the seed mixed in with the soil for a very e cient and targeted use of any nutrients added.
Overall, it delivers low running costs and minimal maintenance and o ers a very exible solution so, for example, the smaller farmer can have a 3 or 4m version with a front tank and it will run perfectly with a 200hp tractor, Simon Revell explained. It works with seeds ranging from poppy and OSR right up to peas and beans.
“We have used it here with a four seed cover crop to which we have added beans. At 8–12kph, it is up to twice as fast as many other drills and you can cover about 10 acres an hour, or 100 acres per day. It also folds hydraulically for road transport,” Simon added. Many optional extras are available, depending upon requirements.
Front hopper: David Furber explained the features and functions of the new front hopper, which has a capacity of 2,700 litres, split 45/55 (1,215/1,485) for grain/fertiliser or companion crops. This is great for e cient working exibility, he noted. It weighs 730kg but being front mounted it helps deliver a more manageable weight transfer to minimise soil compaction by spreading the weight across the tractor more evenly.
It comes with an Isocan control terminal and is Isobus compatible.
“Calibration is very simple, you just press and hold a button while you take a sample, and despite its size the design and shape has been pro led to retain good visibility for road transport. It also has two road vision cameras for additional visibility. Other features include working lights, hopper sensors to provide low and empty warnings, a locker/toolbox and a folding front step for easy access.”
Options include 550kg of ballast and packer wheels with passive steering and wheel scrapers.
Mole drainer: Designed by Je Claydon to help improve soil health, the new mole drainer is a single leg implement that overcomes some of the drawbacks of traditional mole drainers, but with the bene ts of both mounted and trailed versions.
Je explained: “The unit has been designed to enable mole drains to be formed easily and accurately, even on heavy land, and can be handled by a well-ballasted 200hp tractor. If done correctly, mole draining is a very e cient, cost-e ective way to improve drainage and eliminate excess water. When formed under the right conditions, moles can last up to 20 years and, although we have owned several models over the years, none did quite what we wanted, so we designed our own.”
The leading tine cultivates zonally, aerating the soil as it drills. The A-share creates a friable tilth with the seed placed in a band with wider row widths than a conventional drill allowing the growing crop to have more air and more sunlight, which allows the plant to put more carbon and exudates into the soil to increase the soil bacteria. The A-share is usually supplied in 7in (175mm) form but can be swapped down to a 5in (125mm) version speedily with the quick t system.
and more sunlight, which allows the plant quick positive seal and large lling apertures,” David
As standard it comes with hydraulically pressurised front discs to cut through cover crops The leading tines are independently adjustable and are very easy to move up or down to obtain the optimal setting, creating ssures in the soil to aid root development. The tines are followed by the ‘ski boards’, which run just on the surface
combination with wider grain and fertiliser drills application rates. The
“We have tted it with removable lids for a positive seal and large lling apertures,” David explained. It has a pressurised metering system with twin metering units that can be set up so that each unit is feeding a separate pipe, or both can be fed into one. Twin pressurised metering units allow for it to be used in combination with wider folding rear toolbars as grain and fertiliser drills achieving high fertiliser application rates. The metering wheels are very easy to change for di erent seed sizes or application rates, with small, medium and large diameter wheels supplied as standard.
The mole drainer is mounted on the tractor’s three-point linkage and features an oscillating headstock with a swivel joint that makes it easy to manoeuvre and reach further into headland ditches, or over drains. The adjustable headstock holds the narrow beam upright and avoids the requirement for outrunners. This means the angle of the 75mm diameter mole bullet can be precisely adjusted, using the front skid, to produce a uniform stable channel at the correct depth and angle. The design also avoids excessive friction between the beam and soil, helping to reduce fuel usage, and can be used through standing crops with very little damage.
“The key to successful mole draining is to set it up correctly,” Je said. “The bullet, blade and expander need to travel parallel with the beam. The design of the Claydon mole drainer delivers accurate control due to the position of the front skid, which guides the bullet through the ground and creates a nice level channel that is free of any dips or troughs so that water can run away unrestricted.”
The depth of the bullet can be easily adjusted but is typically run at around 600mm. FG
Ben Burgess recently held a demonstration day at Trumpington Estate in Cambridgeshire, during which two new John Deere combines were put to the test. Neale Byart reports.
NEW JOHN DEERE COMBINES PUT THROUGH THEIR PACES AT DEMO DAY
The S7-850 and the X9-1100 are two of John Deere’s latest combine models, incorporating the newest technology to ensure the operator gets the best from their harvest every time.
Welcoming guests to a recent open day, Ben Burgess harvesting manager, Paul Moss, explained: “We have two pre-production machines with the latest technology, software and electrical architecture and thought it would be a great opportunity to have a eld day where customers could come along and see them in action, and discover what this new technology could do for them.”
Both the S7-850 and the X9-1100 working at the event were model year 2025 machines.
New technology suite
John Deere combine marketing for Europe, Jonathan Edwards, delved further into the speci cations. “Both models have predictive ground speed automation and harvest settings automation which is the new technology suite for the X9 and S7.
“The Harvest Settings automation replaces the previous combine advisor suite which featured auto maintain, where the operator would set a performance target but which still required the skill set to make the necessary adjustments to ensure the combine achieved that target.
“However, with the Harvest Settings automation, you put in the acceptable limits that you are happy with, and the software will constantly adjust settings as required to ensure it stays within the target.”
The Predictive Ground Speed part of the technology uses cameras and biomass maps to work out the optimum harvesting speed based on
crop density, and will speed up or slow down the combine as required to keep the results within the speci ed target. It will still look at loss level variator or rotor pressure, as it has done historically, as well as other sensor information, header height and coverage map information, which tells it where it has already cut the crop.
The S7 800, S7 850 and S7 900 models feature the JD14X 14-litre engine from the X9 in the 547hp, 579hp and 625hp versions respectively, while the smallest model – the S7 700 – has the JD9X 9-litre engine producing 467hp.
The S7 range also has an updated residue management system and an increased unload rate of 150-litres per second, and can be equipped with the machine sync system for easier unloading. They can also have auto track turn automation and grain sensing.
“The new electronic architecture is the foundation for more automation and steps towards autonomy,” commented Jonathan. “If, for any reason, the cameras can’t see, then the system will revert to just using the biomass maps. But with the combine lights tted to these models, the cameras will also work at night. They can see things such as down crop, which the biomass maps won’t detect, so they work most e ciently together, but can work independently, if required. The key aims of these new machines are increased productivity and e ciency.”
Hardware behind the tech
John Deere harvesting territory sales manager, Mike Baker, showed Farmers Guide the hardware behind the technology and talked in more detail about how
it comes together to deliver better performance and an easier time for the operator.
“We have put a lot of focus into the new cab and technology, as well as the two new engines that you will nd in the S7 models.
“The JD14X engine has been designed from the ground up, which has allowed us to simplify it and still meet emission standards. Getting an existing engine to meet new standards usually requires adding complex systems. We have been able to reduce the complexity in areas such as the exhaust after treatment system. We have also seen a huge increase in fuel e ciency over the older John Deere 13.5-litre engine that was in previous models. Another bene t of this is that the AdBlue usage is also reduced. The old 13.5-litre engine was designed to be Stage 2 compliant and had to be modi ed to bring it up to Stage 5.
“This latest engine has been designed from scratch as a Stage 5; so much of what we have learnt about emissions control has been built in from the start. This brings the added bene t of
Specs
S7
Models: 700, 800, 850, 900
Engine: 9-litre in 700, 13.6-litre in other models
Engine power: 467, 547, 579 and 625hp
Grain tank: 14,100 or 10,600-litre
Unloading rate: 150-litres per second
Fuel tank capacity: 1,155-litre
Unloading auger length: 6.9 or 8.7m
X9
Models: 1000, 1100
Engine: 13.6-litre
Engine power: 630 and 690hp
Grain tank: 14,800 and16,200-litre
Unloading rate: 162 and 186 litres per second
Fuel capacity: 1,250 litres
Unloading auger length: 9.45m
lower build prices, and increased reliability due to lower levels of complexity. It’s all about adding value in the right places and increasing e ciency.”
Operating at optimum e ciency
Mike explained that you could be the best combine driver in the country, but with all the other distractions – whether that’s calls from the farm manager, managing logistics or thinking about other jobs that need to be planned and carried out – even the most skilled operator pays a little bit less attention to the job in hand than they should, leaving the combine operating below its optimum e ciency.
“This is where our Harvest Settings automation and Predictive Ground Speed automation come into play,” he said.
There are cameras on the clean grain elevator and the return elevator to monitor the cleanliness of the grain and what type of material is going through the return, and also to monitor the losses from the back of the combine. This information is fed back to the machine, which will make automatic adjustments to ensure the pre-programmed parameters are being met at all times.
Mike continued: “Previously, if the sample was too dirty, or the losses were too high, it required a good skill level and lots of experience for the operator to know what changes to make to bring things back in line. Now it’s just a matter of dialling in an acceptable number and the technology will do the rest.”
The operator has four parameters to programme in: Engine power limit, lost grain limit, broken grain limit, and material other than grain. Obviously changing one, is likely to have a knock-on e ect to the others but, with each limit set, the machine will adjust and keep things within the requirements. The key is to have the machine doing the least amount of work, and therefore using less fuel, for the maximum output.
“There is always an optimum performance level, and it is interesting to see the combine making the changes. Sometimes you will see a change in a particular parameter and think, ‘I’m not sure I would have done that’, but then you see the sample quality remaining high, or even getting better, and you realise that the technology works in ways that even a skilled operator would nd hard to replicate,” commented Mike.
The predictive ground speed technology uses four forward facing cameras and biomass map satellite imagery to adjust the combine speed proactively, rather than reactively, according to the density of the crop ahead.
The S7 also has new rotary management, so the chopper design now matches the X series. This means that the knives are now dimpled for better air ow through the chopper, rather than the straight knives that created a vortex; and like a golf ball they cut through the air cleaner, meaning you get less straw moving through the chopper for a cleaner sample.
In the field
Farmers Guide took a ride in the X9 to see how the autonomous features work from the operator’s perspective. The cab is noticeably quiet. The seat swivels, is air controlled and o ers a massaging function and, with air conditioning, the cab
provides a comfortable place to work.
All screens, controls and switches are well placed and easy to operate with numerous rocker switches that can be customised for each operator’s preference.
The display allows easy setting of the limits for grain loss, cleanliness of the sample, broken grain and engine power limits with a graph for visual reference.
The software can be set up to be grain speci c but also country and even region speci c. As the software makes changes to the machine settings, the setting being adjusted changes colour so you can see exactly what the software is amending, as it happens.
The display will also show a predictive yield map and actual yields being achieved – on the day of the event, yields approached 100t per hour regularly.
You can feel the combine speed up and slow down as the crop ahead thins out or becomes denser.
The machine even sensed areas of blackgrass and slowed down when it reached them. With an A/B line set, during the demo the operator had little to do apart from turning on the headlands, which can also be automated, and monitoring the levels in the grain tank.
The emptying process was very quick, going from a full 16,200 litres to empty in under two minutes.
At the end, the display will tell you how long you have worked, how many hectares harvested, how many are remaining if you haven’t nished, fuel usage, average throughput, average yield, and even how long you have left to nish the eld, which Mike commented is surprisingly accurate. These gures can help with decision making on the farm in terms of working out why one eld
All screens, controls and switches are well placed and easy to operate.
The operator has four parameters to programme in: Engine power limit, lost grain limit, broken grain limit, and material other than grain.
may yield better than another in terms of drilling time and weather, chemical application or any other variables you may have between elds.
“What you can’t do in farming is buy more time. You can only be as e cient as possible in the time available, and these systems achieve that.
“They are basically like your best machine operator, all of the time. And this all adds up to between 10 and 20%, sometimes even 30%, increase in performance, which is like getting an extra week of combining over a 200-hour season,” concluded Mike. FG
A CULTIVATOR TO SUIT BOTH ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL SYSTEMS
Also known as the Bio Allrounder, the cultivator range is available in the same working widths as the standard Allrounder – 4.05, 5.25, and 5.85m –as well as the latest addition to the line-up, the 7.05m.
The main di erence between the standard model and the Eco version is that the Eco is not equipped with a packer, but instead has a multi-row following harrow. Without a packer to carry the weight, the other signi cant di erence between the models is that the Eco version has wheels, seven in total with four behind the last row of tines that enable the machine to work very shallow, and front support wheels for precise, parallel depth guidance of the cultivator to ensure optimal adaptation to uneven surfaces.
Köckerling has converted its popular Allrounder Classic mounted cultivator to suit organic systems, calling the range the Eco-Allrounder. Neale Byart visited Hampshire-based Köckerling importer, Samagri Ltd, to see one in action.
and the Eco model is available with single or twin tines and uses a Hercules Plus tine, which has a helper inside to make it more robust. This gives the tine more stability and allows the machine to work in harsher conditions. The tougher tines also mean the machine can be used as more of a primary cultivating tool, if required.”
Tip choice and adaptability
Nigel added: “There are an array of tips to choose from, including a standard reversable point with three holes, which you can adjust and turn around as they wear, or you can have tungsten.
Samagri sales manager, Nigel Long, explained how this works: “Full hydraulic control of the wheels allows the operator to feather the height in order to be able to maintain the working depth exactly. This can be done from the driver’s seat, and the current working depth position of the machine is clearly displayed on a scale visible from the cab.
“You can lift the tines out of the ground and just use the harrows if you wish, or you can put the tines down to about 10 or 12 cm. So, on this machine, where the packer would have been tted, we have two or three rows of following harrows, which are independently hydraulically controlled for depth, although there is proportional movement between the wheel depth and the harrow as they are attached to each other, so you don’t always have to adjust them separately, but the aggressiveness can be continuously adjusted, even while working.
“If you have stony ground, the tungsten tips are a must to ensure you are not continuously replacing them due to wear.
“You can also specify a 200mm goosefoot tine, either standard or tungsten, and you can mix and match with a combination of standard tines and goosefoot tines. With a tine spacing of 15cm, the machine achieves a good cut of the weeds across the entire working width.”
“The 13mm harrow tines reliably comb the plant residue to the surface to dry out. For orientation purposes, the current setting is displayed on a scale, again visible from the driver’s cab. The standard Allrounder uses a Hercules tine,
Although the packer has been removed to create this organic cultivator, Köckerling and Samagri can supply an Eco model with a kit that allows for it to be reinstated, either with or without the following harrow, if the owner wishes to use it as a more conventional cultivator.
Frame design
The Eco-Allrounder is often used in conditions with a lot of vegetation so, to ensure blockage free working, Köckerling has developed a robust and cleverly designed base frame. With a height of 60cm, there is enough space under the frame for a lot of organic residues. Also, on the frame, everywhere where there is a major pivot point there is a Köckerling expanding lock pin. When tightening these, it is important to do so to the speci ed torque setting. As long as this is done, and they are regularly checked, re-tightened
if required and greased, wear in the pins is signi cantly reduced. Any wear that does occur is concentrated on the replaceable tapered collars of the pin, which bear the brunt of the work. A special tapered tool is a xed to every machine to knock the pins out if maintenance or collar changing is needed.
Options and flexibility
As well as the packer, other options for the Eco-Allrounder include a seeding kit, with seed outlets and a mushroom on the frame and a front hopper, all of which is standard Köckerling kit. “You wouldn’t want to put a hopper on the back, because being a mounted machine you need to be conscious of the weight, but it can certainly be put to work as a cost-e ective drill, if need be,” Nigel says. “You can also have wheel marker eradicators or a level board, but in both cases, you can’t have these in conjunction with the front wheels because, being a mounted machine it’s an either/or choice. Ultimately though, if you want to go full-on shallow its best to have the front and rear wheels, otherwise you will need to be very conscious of the depth on your top link,” he explained.
Power requirements
In terms of the build quality, Nigel said: “If you are moving ground, you need your equipment to be well-built. The 6m version weighs around three tonnes, so it needs a sturdy tractor of around 200hp with weighting on the front for stability, especially if being moved on the road.
because it depends upon so many things such as soil types, how deep you want to go, how hilly your land is etc; but also what else the tractor is powering. Air conditioning, hydraulic pumps, electronics, all take power, so it is very much down to each individual case, but typically a tractor of around 200hp is a good ballpark for this size, with maybe a 250hp or more model for the 7m version.”
For moving between elds and road transport, all models of the Eco-Allrounder fold to 3m.
Backup and spares
As the UK importer for Köckerling, Samagri has a good stock of wearable and consumable parts available at their HQ. Nigel told Farmers Guide: “We can put our hands on 95% of what any customer is likely to need, and we aim for next day delivery. For the remaining 5% we can pull out all the stops to locate the part and get it out to the machine in the quickest possible time.”
Easy to adjust
Out in the eld, Nigel demonstrated how easy it was to adjust. Starting with the tines just touching the surface and the following harrows down, acting more like a traditional straw rake, he gradually added a bit of depth to the tines over various test runs until they were operating at their deepest.
“I have found that the following harrows work better if they have a little bit of soil pushing the straw through, but as you can see the adjustment is simple, and you can do so while moving. The two indicators on the frame means you can easily see just how deep the tines are set, and how aggressive the following harrow is working.
“Tractor power is something of a ‘piece
something of a ‘piece of string’ question,
“Working perfectly for the organic market, it shears everything o with the tines, particularly with the goosefoot option, and the following harrows, as opposed to consolidating into the soil. It icks it out and leaves it to dry on the surface. In the current market, moving less is more. Everyone wants to move so little soil that the market for the deeper working machines is smaller than it once was. This is having a knock-on e ect on tractors, whereby the larger output models are not needed as much as they used to be because the tendency is now to go shallow and wide.” FG
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A Fendt Rogator 36m self-propelled sprayer which replaced two 24m machines on a large North Norfolk arable farm continues to impress its owners and operators.
SELF-PROPELLED SPRAYER OFFERS HIGH WORK RATES COMPARED TO TWO SMALLER SPRAYERS
The Rogator 645 has worked more than 2,700 hours and applied more than 5.5 million litres of liquid, including fertiliser and crop treatments across a total sprayed area of 33,700ha since it arrived at Church Farm, Fring, near Kings Lynn in September 2021.
“Before con rming our order we considered several di erent brands, but a Rogator demonstration by Thurlow Nunn Standen (TNS) quickly convinced us of its superior performance and design,” explained farmer, Mark Coe.
Trading as J W Coe & Co, Mark farms approximately 2,100ha, including cash crops and cover crops, and land within Countryside Stewardship environmental schemes. Most of the land is tenanted or contract-farmed, and the crop rotation includes wheat, winter barley, spring barley, peas, oilseed rape, sugar beet, beans and rye.
Extra productivity
The new 5,000-litre, 36m sprayer replaced two 24m machines – one self-propelled and the other trailed. All crop treatments are applied through the Rogator, as well as fertiliser, and potatoes are sprayed under contract for a nearby farm. “The boom height control and levelling performance are fantastic,” con rmed Mark. “Four sensors are used for monitoring, and we can be con dent operating at high speeds with the boom just above the crop.
“Applying fertiliser, we often travel at 19–20kph, so high work rates are easily achieved. We have plenty of capacity for the large workload and operate in a timelier manner now than we could before using the two smaller sprayers.”
Flexible but precise
The Rogator is equipped with Fendt OptiNozzle. Main operator, Kevin Williams explained that this allows spraying at higher speeds while maintaining spray pressures below 2 bar to minimise atomisation and drift. “There are three di erent-
sized nozzles, and the most suitable nozzle or nozzle combination is automatically selected for the travel speed and application rate, within parameters set in the VarioTerminal,” he explained. “Whenever the travel speed alters, during headland turns for example, the pressure adjusts and the nozzle combination changes, so optimum droplet size is maintained. It maximises spray e cacy and reduces drift. As well as allowing a wider range of travel speeds, it also extends working windows as we can spray when conditions are marginal.”
To ensure maximum productivity, the sprayer is usually supported by a large mixer bowser which returns to the yard for lling and follows the sprayer from eld to eld. “The full Rogator tank gives us capacity to spray 54ha on average, and we can achieve up to ve loads per day – more than 250ha, with the bowser used for lling.
“The ride is extremely comfortable, even on narrower row crop wheels, and with 235hp and hydrostatic transmission, the Rogator maintains high speeds easily even on soft ground and slopes.”
Mark said that the maximum 120cm ground clearance is exceptional. “It’s ideal for late applications to oilseed rape. Crop damage is
minimal and it’s hard to see where the sprayer has been.”
Allowed change to liquid fertiliser
Before buying the Rogator, Mark relied on solid fertiliser applied as granules at 24m by a tractor-mounted spreader. “We wanted to move to wider 36m tramlines, but achieving accurate and even granular fertiliser applications at that width requires ideal conditions and a high grade product with a price premium,” he commented.
“The Rogator is just as well suited to applying liquid fertiliser as crop chemical treatments at 36m, and its design makes it easy to alternate between them during the busy season. The Rogator has to cover a large area multiple times, but it is more than capable of meeting our requirements and it’s accurate. I don’t like stripes.”
Kevin said that the Rogator is well designed and user-friendly when it comes to lling the large 5,000-litre tank. “It’s very quick, and everything I need for adding and mixing chemicals is in one location. There is plenty of automation. The tank shuts o automatically
to prevent over- lling, and the induction bowl allows large volumes of powder and complex mixes to be added without a problem.
“At the end of each day, I use two automatic wash cycles to clean the spray system and rinse the tank. It’s all done conveniently and cleanly from the control panel at the lling station.”
Preference for Fendt
Kevin, and back-up sprayer operator, Wayne Wells agree that having used the Rogator they wouldn’t now want any other sprayer. “The ride quality is superb, and the cab is quiet and comfortable. Even after more than 12 hours in the seat, I don’t feel tired and my back doesn’t ache,” Kevin stressed. “Starting work early or spraying into the evening it’s just as easy to use as the bright lights illuminate all the right places, and the GPS guidance and spray control systems ensure constant accuracy.”
The farm also relies on a eet of three Fendt tractors, including a 724 Vario and two 942 Varios. “The Rogator’s VarioTerminal and controls have similar operating characteristics to our Fendt tractors, so even after winter when the sprayer hasn’t been used for several months, everything remains familiar. It’s a help too, when switching between tractor operations and spraying,” Kevin added.
“I like the Fendt tractors and believe that the lifetime ownership costs are lower than many competitors, and easily compensate for the slightly higher initial purchase price,” con rmed Mark. “A lot of what costs extra as options on
other brands comes standard on Fendts, and we save money through better fuel e ciency too.”
Relationship with dealer
TNS area sales manager, Josh Taylor looks after the farm’s account. “We enjoy a very good relationship with Mark and his team, and they are loyal Fendt customers having moved from another brand in 2005. The Rogator sprayer is ideally suited to his requirements, and we have sold a large number to other professional businesses in the region too.”
Mark said that the back-up from TNS is always excellent. “We do get on well with the TNS team but, even so, we wouldn’t be buying Fendt products and other machinery from the dealer if it wasn’t for our con dence in the aftersales support.
“Everything has become bigger and more expensive, and we can’t a ord to have spare
machines around just in case one breaks down. That means we rely on dealers who will come out when they say they will, and sort issues quickly. That is what we get from TNS.”
Nothing not to like
Asked whether he will buy another Rogator when the current machine is updated, Mark con rmed it is extremely likely. “The Rogator does everything we want it to, and the operators like it and nd it comfortable. It gives us great exibility alternating between chemical and fertiliser applications, and the technology including OptiNozzle helps us get more done, as we can continue working in marginal conditions.
“When you watch the Rogator 645 working; it’s immediately obvious how good it is, and the few times faults have occurred then the TNS sprayer specialists have resolved them quickly. There is nothing not to like.” FG
TOP TIPS TO PROTECT YOUR FLOCK THIS WINTER
Poultry vet Sara Perez outlines some of the key health issues currently posing a risk to UK flocks.
Whilst the past year has so far been a quieter one for avian in uenza (AI), it’s important not to take your eye o the ball, warns Sara Perez, clinical director at Poultry Health Services vets (PHS). Cases of H5N1 have been reported in wild birds in Europe this summer, meaning UK poultry will be at risk when birds migrate for the winter. Additionally, young birds that hatched last year may be more vulnerable if they have not been exposed to the virus.
Biosecurity is also crucial for preventing other important infectious diseases such as Salmonellosis, which can be even more nancially devastating than AI.
Attention to detail
Whilst most farms will employ good biosecurity measures, it’s often the attention to detail that needs improvement, she continues. When everyone’s busy it can be easy for visitors to slip through the net without adhering to the full biosecurity protocols, so it’s important to make it as easy as possible.
As well as minimising visitors as much as possible, she recommends having a designated member of sta – ideally two to cover holidays – to meet and greet visitors to the farm and accompany them at all times. When visitors must visit the farm (e.g. tradespeople for essential repairs, or feed lorries), ask them some questions in advance, such
as: ‘have you had any respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms in the last 24 hours?’, and ‘which farms have you visited in the past 24 hours?’
Visitors should be provided with overshoes, overalls, mask, and gloves before entering the farm, and a barrier at the entrance of the farm will prevent vehicles gaining access before biosecurity protocols can be carried out. A visitors’ book should also be easily accessible in a prominent place on arrival.
Whilst there were no avian u cases in the UK at the time of writing, this doesn’t mean we are free of all diseases, Sara says. As well as AI, endemic diseases can also be spread by visitors to the farm, so it’s good practice to disinfect the wheels of all vehicles arriving on farm. Where possible, visitors should leave their vehicle outside the farm and walk in wearing PPE. On some newer farms, feed lorries do not need to enter the farm – they wait at the perimeter and pipes can be extended to deliver feed into the feed bins. This is the best procedure but clearly will not be possible for all farms. So the most practical solution is an inexpensive wheel sprayer – a knapsack will do.
Other emerging diseases
Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis are a particular concern for poultry businesses. Unlike with AI, there is no government compensation
so the nancial consequences can be devastating. Birds will be asymptomatic but eggs and meat from infected birds cannot be sold as fresh and so birds are normally culled on site to avoid further spread of the bacteria. Unless you have insurance, you’re looking at losses of £200,000–300,000 which can be tantamount to bankruptcy for some producers.
Transmissible viral proventriculitis (TVP) is also being seen in broilers currently and impacts growth and performance as food cannot be properly digested. It often occurs at sites with a very short turnaround between ock placements, where perhaps cleaning and disinfection procedures have not been performed at the usual standards. The minimum turnaround time should be seven days, as all litter must be removed and the shed cleaned and disinfected twice, with drying time in between, Sara explains. There is no vaccine for TVP and as it’s a virus, antibiotic treatment is ine ective, so it can only be prevented through proper cleaning and disinfection at turnaround.
Additionally, PHS is seeing gizzard erosions in some broilers, which can also be connected to poor hygiene and quick turnaround times.
Meanwhile, new strains of Gumboro (infectious bursal disease) are showing up in vaccinated ocks, Sara explains. These are known as reassortants – vaccine viruses that
recombine themselves with eld viruses leading to new strains. It’s not known how harmful or innocuous these reassortment strains are, as some ocks will still perform well, while others will not. It’s suspected that ocks will cope with these new strains if they are otherwise healthy, but they may struggle if they have other underlying issues like coccidiosis.
Every ock and even every placement is di erent as chicks come from di erent parent ocks, which has a huge impact on disease resilience, Sara continues. If chicks come from a younger parent ock with smaller, more vulnerable chicks, you may need to adjust the environmental conditions to give them higher temperatures, increase litter depth and ensure drinkers are not too high for the smaller birds to reach.
If extra support is needed, Sara recommends nutraceuticals, in consultation with your vet. Lots of non-antibiotic products can be given to day-old chicks, including probiotics, prebiotics and chick gels. Competitive exclusion products are recommended for colonisation of the gut with good bacteria.
If you suspect chicks might be immunocompromised or on the smaller side, or if you have chicks from lots of di erent parent ocks mixed in the same shed, the best way to support them is to get your vet involved, Sara concludes. FG
HOW EFFECTIVE ARE YOUR CLEANING PROTOCOLS?
As poultry viruses mutate and challenges evolve, it is essential to re-assess cleaning protocols. Neogen specialist Dan Clow o ers advice.
Poultry units need to focus on comprehensive and e ective disinfection to achieve high levels of biosecurity and minimise the consequences of pathogenic infections on performance.
At the heart of this should be a regular review of all hygiene protocols and procedures to ensure they are as e ective as possible. In this way, producers will be able to maximise biosecurity and reduce the losses in productivity, including those resulting from sub-clinical health issues.
Performance issues
“Poultry units remain at risk of a broad spectrum of pathogens where infections can compromise performance,” comments Dan Clow, sales specialist (pig & poultry) with Neogen. “We typically see reduced growth, rate of lay, egg quality, duration of lay or mortality.”
He says the problem is that the previous batch of birds will have been exposed to microorganisms that may have caused disease in more mature birds. While older birds may ght o the
challenge, chicks or young birds will not tolerate them so well. All too often poor performance, especially poor feed conversion ratio (FCR) is put down to feeding, but in many cases will be due to sub-clinical pathogenic infections.
“Cleaning and disinfection will always be a key pillar in poultry farm biosecurity. Cleaning with a foam detergent will help remove soiling before applying disinfectant. Disinfectants that combine a high initial kill rate with a long-lasting residual action are ideal. However, over time, routines have tended to become increasingly standardised and the time available to remove litter and other organic material, to clean and then disinfect is becoming tighter.
“This means that in many cases simpler programmes are being used, including higher application rates of chemical ‘just to be sure’. In addition, time constraints may mean that target application contact times are seldom achieved, or stages are simply cut out, reducing the e ectiveness of cleaning and disinfecting.”
Routines
should evolve
The pathogenic challenges being faced are also changing, meaning routines need to evolve to deliver optimum disinfection. Mr Clow points out that all pathogens, and in particular viruses, are constantly mutating, allowing them to adapt to pH sensitivity. For example, avian in uenza strains are particularly adept at this. At the same time, there are peaks and troughs in particular problems, and he says that salmonella and coccidiosis have been particular challenges this year.
“As viruses mutate and challenges evolve, it is essential to re-assess cleaning protocols. All units are unique, with di ering combinations of pathogenic challenges, facilities and environment so we would advise reviewing cleaning protocols before every new crop to ensure they are as
e ective as possible.”
Mr Clow regularly reviews cleaning protocols and says that by identifying speci c problems, it is possible to re ne the existing programme to increase its e ectiveness. For example, he comments that on several farms recently, investing more time in removing bio lm from oors has led to better standards of disinfection.
“It’s about developing an e ective routine that is practical within the time constraints and delivers a good return on investment. For example, it might involve changing dilution rates to reduce the amount of a disinfectant used. Alternatively, it might be more e ective to use a combination of disinfectants, as opposed to a single product.”
Product choice
He explains that chemical disinfectants are constantly evolving to meet the challenges of mutating pathogens alongside tightening environmental and health and safety regulations. Selecting the appropriate mix of chemistry will help improve the e cacy of cleaning protocols.
“When using a combination of disinfectants, it will be important to use them at the correct concentration and in the right order. I would also advise verifying the cleaning processes by measuring adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This can be done after terminal cleanout and before bedding is put down. This simple test indicates the levels of live pathogens remaining after disinfection and can provide a measure of the e ectiveness of existing and enhanced routines.
“By selecting the most appropriate and compatible cleaners and disinfectants to address the challenges on your unit, it will be possible to achieve more e ective overall hygiene and help reduce the risk of pathogenic disease. This in turn will lead to improved performance and output,” Mr Clow concludes. FG
HOW WILL THE VARIABLE SEASON IMPACT FORAGE QUALITY?
Experts share insights on how variable weather this season has impacted forage, and how to make sure performance doesn’t take a hit.
Forage Analysis Assurance Group expert, David Wilde, of Massey Feeds, said silages this year are, on average, showing higher NDF ( bre) levels as a result of the later than expected harvest and lower crude protein levels. As a consequence, ME is lower, so careful balancing will be crucial.
Jimmy Goldie, another FAA expert, of Carr’s Billington, added: “Yet again, we have had a very variable season with regards to weather and as expected this has resulted in a very wide range of quality and quantity of forage going in to this winter.
“Some early cut grass silage has been very good but we have seen an increase in lignin levels in rst cut samples due the growth patterns early in the year. Later cut crops delayed due to wetter weather has resulted in lower ME/D-value silages. Protein levels too have been variable depending on timing and rates of fertiliser again due to weather conditions and growth rates.”
Not many wholecrop and maize crops have been analysed as yet, he continued, “but crop growth has not been ideal due to cold wet conditions throughout the growing season”.
Regular testing
Due to the wide variation in forage quality this season, regular sampling and analyses will be essential to help to balance stock diets for the winter, Jimmy advised. “Sampling at least monthly and reviewing feed rates and nutrient balance will ensure e cient feed use. With slightly higher milk price and some milk companies o ering production incentives, accurate ration balance is crucial for optimum herd performance.”
David added that if there are noticeable di erences in the clamp,
get separate analyses done (e.g., second cut on top of rst cut etc).
“Silages vary enormously and account for a great deal of the variation in milk yields or growth rates in cattle,” he said. “If the concentrate feeding rate is constant, and milk yields are uctuating, then the variable is silage intake or quality – this could account for an 8-litre swing in production just from one side of the clamp to the other.”
When it comes to getting a good sample, David advised: “Burrow in as far as you can or get some silage cut o the face to reveal fresh silage. The outer layer may have become overly dry in the sun or wet in the rain. Most importantly, [...] squeeze as much air out as possible before sealing the [sample] bag, to reduce instability of the sample in the post.”
For advice on getting a good sample, visit: https://faagroup.co.uk/ forage-sampling/taking-samples
Soil analysis
Conserving forage always decreases the trace element content and periods of consistent heavy rainfall or extended dry periods, as many have experienced this summer, means trace element availability can be lower to start with, said Agrimin commercial director, Cat Sayer. With weather patterns increasingly changeable, it’s never been more important to test and identify any underlying issues, to ensure your supplementation is appropriate.
“Soil analysis and water mineral content assays together can give a good picture of overall trace element status to be able to identify any potential areas of de ciency,” Cat said. Forage analysis should also be taken into account alongside where you are in your production
cycle – e.g., will this forage be fed over winter to spring calvers/ lambers? Pregnant animals have increased requirements, and colder temperatures can result in increased trace element requirements.
Supplementation
Providing supplementation which covers the core trace elements of iodine, selenium, cobalt and, if
required, copper – plus for cattle, key vitamins A, D3 and E, particularly over winter – can be very important for overall health and productivity.
Over winter, as the gap in availability of trace elements and vitamins increases with the use of conserved forage, it’s important to ensure that you supplement cattle and sheep consistently – especially to narrow any natural de ciencies which your forage may have.
Cat said: “Consistency is the key with supplementation – ideally ensuring that animals have daily requirements met over the winter months. This can be done in a variety of ways through supplemental feed, mineral blocks or drenches, however, only with a trace element bolus can you be guaranteed that every animal will receive their daily requirements through the winter months – often one application will cover six months of supplementation.
“The key to minimising winter trace element gaps to support optimum health in your herd and ock is to know where these gaps are and then provide for the daily requirements but also taking into account the stage of the production cycle.” FG
Analysis Assurance Group email: roberta@faagroup.co.uk www.faagroup.co.uk Feed Adviser Register email: far@agindustries.org.uk www.agindustries.org.uk/feed-adviser-register.html
COWS LOVE
options in feeder range
Hi-Spec Engineering Co Ltd says its diet feeder range can be adapted to suit all types of building and feeding system.
The Vertical Auger range of Vand T-Series feeders are available in both single (V) and twin (T) auger variants and sizes from 7–32m3. The range can quickly and e ciently incorporate complete bales into the mix, and the mixer can be used with lower horsepower tractors. The chopping blades are adjustable and counter plates in the feeder body ensure a consistent, quick and thorough mix.
Both V- and T-Series feeders are tted with a Dinamica Generale DG600 display and weigh cells that allow a number of feed mix recipes to be recorded for di erent groups. Options include various discharge
outlet positions or a variable height hydraulic chute or cross conveyor with elevator. Digi-Star TMR Tracker fully programmable electronic weighing system can also be speci ed.
Hi-Spec’s MixMax range of paddle type feeders range from 10–24m3, and use the FeedFlo mixing system to provide thorough end-to-end mixing and a light u y ration without the need for multiple augers. The mix is discharged through a hydraulically operated door via a teaser roller that makes it easy to adjust the ow rate and provide an even, consistent feedout.
As standard, all MixMax feeders are tted with Digi-Star weigh cells and programmable EZ3410 display. FG
MIX CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY TO FEED PERFORMANCE
Key features of BvL’s expansive V-Mix range include a creep speed function, exact dosing system and compact TMR.
Consistency is the key to a good ration mix and no two farms are the same. Therefore it’s important that a wide range of speci cations and options are available, so that machines can be tailored to meet those requirements.
BvL’s V-Mix range of trailed diet feeders are available in single, twin and triple auger variants and capacities from 3.5–46m3. The increasingly popular V-Mix Drive single and twin auger self-propelled models o er capacities from 11–21m3. Instead of cutting, these use a combing action to loosen the silage from the clamp which helps avoid damage and helps preserve feed quality.
At the heart of all BvL mixers are powerful mixing augers, with Hardox leading edges and adjustable knives. Twin and triple auger versions incorporate mixing wedges for a thorough and consistent mix.
A unique feature of all BvL diet mixers is the patented EDS (exact dosing system) discharge. This is designed to provide consistent, even forage discharge that is deposited in a loose swath. With doors on both the left- and right-hand side of the feeder, this provides complete feeding exibility and even allows for the mix to be deposited on both sides simultaneously. A wide range of additional discharge door options are available, as is a discharge conveyor on all models.
A new feature on the V-Mix Drive is a creep speed function that allows ne control of the speed when lling and discharging. A new automatic nixing system is also now standard which, at the push of a button, allows the mixing time and auger speed to be set to help ensure a consistent ration mix every time. When the mixing time has elapsed, the augers automatically shut
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o and engine speed is reduced. All machines are also suitable for compact TMR, which is attracting considerable interest due to its milk yield bene ts. Compact TMR involves the soaking and pre-mixing of the dry components of the ration with water. This is then left to soak overnight after which the rest of the ration mix is then added.
The bene t of this is that it makes it impossible for the dry components of the forage to be separated out from the rest of the mix, either during the feeding out process or by the cow presorting. As a result, every cow is fed a far more consistent ration, resulting in a yield improvement of up to 2 litres a cow, in addition to potential improvements in milk quality. FG
HOW TO PREPARE FOR HOUSING CATTLE THIS AUTUMN
Emily Phipps, from Westpoint Farm Vets in Horsham, shares six things to consider as you plan to move cattle into housing.
Vaccinations: One to consider prior to housing is a pneumonia vaccine, which primes the cattle before they are in an environment where pathogens are more likely to spread. However, vaccinations are herd speci c, so we encourage you to have a conversation with your vet if you are considering vaccinating your cattle for the rst time. Vaccinations will depend on pathogens present on your farm and your farming protocols. Parasite control: Housing is the ideal time to treat cattle for parasites to reduce production
losses. However, unnecessary blanket treatments are a waste of your time, e ort and money and can encourage anthelmintic resistance, meaning products may not work in future. Faecal worm egg count tests to detect worms, and coproantigen tests for uke, should be used in combination with the farm’s history and other clinical signs to determine the level of parasite burden.
Body condition scoring: Body condition scoring suckler cows at housing is essential so
that they are in the ideal condition for calving: this is a score of 3.0 for autumn calvers. Fat cows are at risk of prolapses and di cult calvings due to the excess fat deposition which narrows the birth canal. Whereas thin cows typically produce lower quality and quantity of colostrum. Cows in di erent condition scores can be grouped together and fed accordingly, so that they achieve the target condition, ideally, six weeks precalving.
Assess feet: Lameness can be one of the main causes of antibiotic use in the beef herd. To reduce lameness cases, trim any cattle with long toes or mobility issues. The key to reducing antibiotics in lameness cases is through early detection.
Pregnancy diagnosis: Weaning provides a good opportunity for pregnancy diagnosing. The economic bene t of pregnancy testing is through the early detection of non-pregnant cattle and the treatment of any fertility problems.
Feed analysis: Winter feed costs are one of the highest costs on any beef farm, so we should now focus on what ration to feed and what rates to feed it at. The rst step for this is to nd out the quality of the silage that you will be feeding. It is important to take a representative sample, taking samples from a few di erent bales or in a W formation if in a clamp. After this, we can determine what ration to use and what it may need supplementing with. FG
HOW ARE YOU PREPARING FOR THE TRACE ELEMENT GAP THIS WINTER?
MIND THE GAP…
DON’T FORGET THE INCREASED IMPORTANCE OF VITAMINS…
I IODINE:
• 4x increase in requirement during winter1
• Crucial in supporting metabolism during 1st third of lactation
Se SELENIUM:
• Legumes and white clover can inhibit selenium absorption2
Cu COPPER:
• 20% increase in requirement during pregnancy3
A VITAMIN A:
• Liver reserve can deplete in winter without supplementation
Essential for: sight, calf development during pregnancy and digestive mucous membranes
D3 VITAMIN D3:
• A shortfall can occur when cattle are housed without access to natural light
Essential for: immunity and calving
E VITAMIN E:
• Up to 80% less contained in conserved forage4
• 97% of dairy cows have a shortfall at calving5
• Responsible for 50% of antioxidant activity in cattle6
BRIDGE THE GAP WITH AGRIMIN’S ALL-TRACE® RANGE
Dr Tom Barragry, independent veterinary consultant for Provita Eurotech Ltd, o ers advice on keeping cattle healthy during winter housing.
YOUR GUIDE TO CATTLE HEALTH DURING WINTER HOUSING
Winter housing can be an incredibly stressful time for cattle. Elevated cortisone levels in stressed animals can have numerous potential harmful e ects on the animal’s immune system. Stress factors at housing include moving to new housing, temperature changes, crowding, con nement, feed quality issues and other new environmental challenges.
The result is an increase in the spread of diseases, especially as cattle may be in a con ned space which can hasten the spread of infections. On many farms, winter housing will be the rst time that groups of animals are mixed, so the chances of a disease outbreak increase. Amongst the major disease problems in housed cattle are pneumonia, trace element disorders and hoof problems.
Ventilation
Housing factors that lead to poor ventilation and stagnant air supply are often considered the primary reasons for high levels of pneumonia disease. Air space is just as crucial as oor area. Pneumonia is particularly common in housed animals and the disease can often be avoided if buildings are not overcrowded, are well ventilated and well drained, and animals of di erent age groups are not mixed. A continual ow of fresh air throughout a shed is important, but it is also necessary to keep draughts to a minimum to prevent cattle from getting respiratory infections.
Vaccination of calves and youngstock with pneumonia vaccines is a prerequisite, but vaccines can only reach their maximal e ect if ventilation and air quality is optimum in the winter housing sheds. Vaccinations may take anywhere from ve days to six weeks to become fully e ective (depending on product used), so it is important to plan the housing date with this in mind. It is also important to vaccinate every animal in the herd.
Provita Promist is a unique air puri er containing a blend of natural organic acids,
essential oils and wetting agents which help control the levels of particulates and ammonia in the livestock housing. It is e ective against airborne bacteria, which improves air quality, reduces ammonia, dust and lowers environmental pH levels which reduces respiratory stress.
Trace elements
Traditionally, trace elements have been easily overlooked because most of the signs of a mild de ciency are manifested as a barely visible subclinical or low-level ill thrift, but trace elements perform a variety of vital roles including energy metabolism and immune response. Trace element availability in both grass and forage is altered by lots of factors including soil type, pH, geology, drainage, plant type, weather and the process of silage making. Hence it varies from farm to farm and within di erent cuts of silage. Winter silage is only as good as the soil and herbage that it was sourced from, and also the silage making technique. Thus, there are variables here which can a ect trace element levels.
A 2018 analysis of 320 grass silage samples in the UK showed high levels of potassium and low levels of copper, zinc, iodine and selenium. Low copper (or high molybdenum) is commonly associated with ovarian inactivity, poor conception, embryonic death, and delayed puberty. Low iodine can be responsible for still births, abortion, and weak calves. Low zinc is associated with lameness, mastitis, and disease susceptibility. Low selenium with retained placenta, metritis, extended calvings, depressed immune function and poor conception rates. Hence regular supplementation whilst on silage may be necessary.
ProVitaMin Cattle is a highly concentrated complex mineral and vitamin drench that can be used for adult cattle and young calves. It comprises 26 broad spectrum elements, supplying chelated minerals, vitamins and nutrients to swiftly elevate levels to boost
performance and fertility. ProVitaMin is an easyto-use solution with supplementary rates as low as 1mL per 10kg for calves up to a maximum of 50mL for adult cattle. ProVitaMin Cattle and ProVitaMin ColSelB12 are available in 5, 2.5 and 1 litre packs.
Lameness
Lameness usually shows a steep increase in incidence over the winter period. Hard concrete oors, slats, wetness, lying areas, and slurry underfoot can all predispose to hoof problems. Hoof health problems are serious issues in cattle that can cause tremendous economic losses. Factors such as overcrowding, ooring type, nutrition and trace element status all play a role here.
Lameness is one of the three main challenges facing dairy farmers all year, but at housing the risk is heightened. Reported lameness prevalence has been higher in housed systems and lower in pasture-based systems because pasture provides an optimal walking surface for improved mobility. Published reports have shown that cows housed on concrete were ve times more likely to be diagnosed as lame as those housed on rubber mats over concrete. Lameness is a costly gateway disease which makes cows more likely to su er from mastitis, milk fever, reduced milk yield and infertility.
A regular foot bathing protocol with a proven non-toxic foot bath is an e ective way to tackle foot disorders, especially digital dermatitis which can result from lack of underfoot hygiene, bacterial infection, and failure to remove slurry.
Hoofsure Endurance is highly concentrated and is used at 1% for maintenance and 2% for higher challenge times. With 500 cow passes per 200-litre footbath and up to 5,000 cows per 20 litres, it is a cost-e ective as well as safe, nontoxic and scienti cally proven – up to 44% more e ective than copper sulphate and formaldehyde.
To contact your local farm representative, freephone 0800 328 4982 or info@provita.co.uk. FG
Increase productivity and reduce lameness with Hoofsure Endurance – the safe, clinically proven and cost-effective footbath:
footbath
Clinically proven – Active organic formulation that helps to clean feet and prevent lameness. Up to 44% more effective than copper and formaldehyde.*
33% faster acting formula – With increased hoof contact time.
Safe to use & dispose – Biodegradable, natural footbath solution that’s better for the environment and safer for animal and human health.
Formaldehyde is carcinogenic
Copper is illegal
NEW BTV-3 RULES AND HOW TO PROTECT YOUR ANIMALS
After the rst BTV-3 case was identi ed in a ram on 26th August, followed by further cases in Norfolk and Su olk, a Restricted Zone (RZ) was introduced (applying to Norfolk, Su olk and Essex at the time of writing). It requires all keepers of cattle, sheep, other ruminants and camelids to follow strict movement restrictions on animal and germinal product movements.
AHDB hosted an online bluetongue update from Defra and APHA, which was attended by over 1,400 farmers and stakeholders. Gordon Hickman, Defra’s head of exotic disease policy advised farmers to apply for licences
as early as possible as they can take up to ve days to process, and have a contingency plan in place. Animals in an RZ should only be moved if absolutely necessary, and when transporting animals, check for signs of disease and spray inside the vehicle with an approved insecticide, making sure it’s dry before loading animals, particularly if they are going to slaughter.
Farmers were advised to be vigilant in monitoring for clinical signs, and notify APHA if bluetongue is suspected. All land including any temporary lets and buildings should be registered, and farmers should sign up for APHA
disease alerts and source animals responsibly. Free testing continues to be available for farmers in Norfolk, Su olk, Essex, Kent and East Sussex.
Three unauthorised BTV-3 vaccines are being rolled out in England, starting in the ve high-risk counties above. There will be an option to apply for a speci c licence outside these areas in some cases. Depending on demand, the vaccines could be opened up to the south coast, then the rest of England at a later date. The new vaccines do not prevent infection or infectiousness, but they do reduce clinical signs and mortality rates, so movement controls
and trade restrictions will still apply to vaccinated animals. Farmers will be able to administer the vaccine if medical records are maintained and made available for inspection.
Few cattle in the UK are showing clinical signs of BTV-3 but those that are symptomatic may have pain in the feet, red nose, ulceration or crusting around muzzle, exudate and lacrimation and teat lesions. In sheep, signs include: fever, lameness, salivation, crusting around nostrils, nasal discharge, ulcers in the mouth, bleeding of lips, facial swelling (lips, gums, muzzle), respiratory distress, being depressed and not eating, or being recumbent.
Sascha Van Helvoort, APHA veterinary lead, said antiin ammatories have been shown to be e ective in alleviating pain in a ected animals. Insecticides for ying and biting insects may be useful where there’s active infection, as they will kill the midge after it bites. Mr Hickman also advised housing cattle at dawn and dusk when midges are most active if possible. Ventilation and vector screens within housing are also useful, while shearing increases the risk of midge bites.
Farmers interested in vaccinating should contact their vet. FG
New selfloading version of Scrapenser to launch
Ian Cleasby Agricultural is set to launch a new self-loading version of the popular Scrapenser, which allows farmers to spread sawdust in cubicles at the same time as scraping out.
The existing Scrapenser, which can be retro tted onto the farm’s existing box and ip scrapers, saves time and fuel, uses sawdust more e ciently, and frees up the materials handler as it does both jobs. The one-pass nature of the system means cows are returned to their cubicle more quickly, increasing rest time – and they spend more time in cleaner beds. It can easily bed up to 150 cubicles between ll ups, and hopper extensions are an easy bolt on.
Ian Cleasby said customers sometimes ask the company to supply a scraper with the Scrapenser, and they are
using bulk sawdust will use a dispenser such as a material handler mounted bucket dispenser, so the company decided to develop a self-loading version of the Scrapenser – which incorporates both the scraper and sawdust dispenser, all in one unit. Ian says this o ers good value for money, with the machine carrying out both jobs and loading itself from a bulk tipped heap of sawdust.
Prototypes of the new version will be available for free trial periods by the end of September – with the rst unit trials already being spoken for. FG
Sawdust Dispenser
✓
✓
Bright future at 2024 Dairy Show
Returning to the Bath & West Showground on 2nd October, the show will see exhibitors compete in a variety of breed classes before respective champions go head-tohead for the sought after Supreme Champion title. First, the ring will host the next generation of handlers in the Showmanship classes, including age groups 7-12, 13-17 and 18-26 –followed by the calf classes.
The Dairy Show will also once again be the venue of choice for the UK Jersey Cattle Society’s and the English Guernsey Cattle Society’s National Shows. Competition entries opened in early August to all classes.
A showcase of the latest technologies, services and advice will also be on o er.
The Dairy Show has announced its ‘Careers’ theme
taking a holistic approach to the industry’s growing need for new minds, perspectives and appetites. Additionally, the show will launch its Dairy Discovery Day – linking farming with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), with its pilot interactive careers tour taking place at the show.
Advance tickets to the Dairy Show are available at £20 per adult, increasing to £25 on the gate. Students, with proof, will have discounted entry at £15 and children under 15 years old will have free entry.
Find out more and book tickets at www.bathandwestdairyshow. seetickets.com/event/ the-dairy-show/bath-westshowground/3079678
The Dairy Show has for this year’s seminars –the-dairy-show/ competitiveentries FG
✓ Low investment – scraper tractor does both
✓ Better husbandry for your cattle - spending more time in clean beds
✓ Easy adoption – bolts onto your existing scraper
✓ Yes, it can spread both sides
Enter competitions at www. bathandwest.com/
The Rapid A… a powerful drill for future farming
Rapid A
Rapid A offers great design and a series of innovations which reduce the maintenance, improves the performance and makes drilling simpler. Rapid can be equipped with the unique SeedEye counting technology. Farmers can now set the number of seeds per square metre without needing to perform calibration tests.
In the world of modern agriculture, e ciency and precision are paramount –the challenges of cultivating high-quality crops while minimising input costs.
RAPID SEED DRILL delivers reliable seeding at impressive speeds
According to Väderstad, the Rapid seed drill sets the standard for seedbed preparation, levelling, drilling, and reconsolidation, all in a single, streamlined pass. This delivers reliable seeding results at impressive working speeds, making it an indispensable asset for today’s farmers.
Väderstad points out that one of the standout features of the Rapid seed drill is its elegant simplicity in design, paired with superior machine quality. This combination not only ensures a long working life but also signi cantly reduces operating costs, the company says, adding that farmers can count on the Rapid to perform consistently season after season, without the frequent need for costly repairs or complex maintenance. This durability is crucial in an industry where downtime can lead to signi cant losses.
The Rapid seed drill is engineered to handle a variety of tillage systems, demonstrating signi cant versatility. Whether you are drilling directly into stubble, working with ploughed elds, or operating within a reduced tillage system, Väderstad reckons the Rapid is up to the task. Thanks to its powerful front tools and cultivating seed discs, this machine can perform in virtually any condition. By combining multiple processes into one pass, the Rapid not only saves time but also conserves valuable soil moisture – an essential factor for successful crop establishment.
Correct penetration
Achieving the correct soil penetration is critical for seed placement and, ultimately, for crop yield. The Rapid’s high coulter pressure ensures e ective penetration into the soil, enabling direct drilling with precision. This capability allows the Rapid to handle a wide range of crops, from small-seeded varieties such as grass leys to larger-seeded crops like beans. The result is uniform seed placement, which is key to achieving optimal plant growth and maximising yields.
As agriculture continues to evolve, so too
must the tools that support it. For the 2024 model year, the pneumatic seed drills Rapid A 400-800S, Rapid A 600-800C, Spirit 400C/S, and Spirit 600-900C/S have been upgraded with a new distributor head Dynamic Tramlining. This optional feature introduces unprecedented control and exibility, transforming how farmers approach seeding.
Dynamic tramlining
One of the most exciting advancements with the new distributor head is the introduction of dynamic tramlining. Tramlining is an essential practice for ensuring that sprayer and fertiliser applicators can pass through elds without damaging crops, but it traditionally requires careful planning and manual adjustments. With the new dynamic tramlining function, this process becomes simpler and more reliable than ever before.
The system is easily con gured using the iPadbased Väderstad E-Control system. By entering the track width and tyre spacing of the sprayer, the E-Control calculates when speci c rows need to be shut o to create unseeded tramlines. During operation, the system automatically manages these tramlines, shutting o rows independently of their position on the seed drill. This innovation not only improves accuracy but also allows farmers to use the full working width of the drill, even if it doesn’t perfectly match the sprayer’s width.
For contractors who frequently switch between elds with varying sprayer and fertiliser application widths, this feature is a gamechanger, Väderstad reckons.
Another signi cant enhancement o ered by the new distributor head is the ability to quickly and easily adjust row spacing from 125mm to 250mm. This exibility is crucial during busy planting seasons when time is of the essence. With just a touch of a button on the E-Control
system, farmers can make this adjustment from the comfort of their cab, without the need for manual intervention. The system works seamlessly with SeedEye sensors, ensuring that all functions are fully coordinated and operational.
For those operating the 4m Rapid A 400S and Spirit 400C/S models, the new distributor head o ers an additional advantage – half-machine shut-o . This feature is particularly bene cial when working in irregularly shaped elds or when precise control over input costs is required. By reducing double-seeding and minimising waste, farmers can achieve greater e ciency and cost savings, further enhancing the pro tability of their operations.
The introduction of the new distributor head for Rapid and Spirit seed drills marks a signi cant leap forward in seeding technology. With features like dynamic tramlining, easy row spacing adjustment, and half-machine shut-o , these tools o er farmers unprecedented control, exibility, and e ciency. As the demands on agriculture continue to grow, innovations like these ensure that farmers are equipped to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. The Rapid seed drill, with its robust construction, versatile functionality, and cutting-edge technology, stands as a testament to the future of precision farming. FG
Richard Hellyer Farm Manager
on a 700ha heavy clay farm at Hatley St George, Bedfordshire
We purchased the Triton 6m drill in 2021 to replace heavy cultivations and reduce labour and fuel costs. The Triton has allowed us to maximise our winter wheat acreage and drop spring drilled crops from the rotation. The Triton drill has exceeded our expectations with a dramatic reduction in costs and with wheats averaging 11tha which is higher than we were getting from our previous heavy cultivation and plough system. It is true to say that the Triton will drill clay effectively in virtually any conditions and gives the confidence to drill wheat later to reduce black grass.
Twin hold roll pin blade removal system and backward leaning air borne upper blade for trash lift and ease of trash flow
Seed depth tail 40mm deep holding the seed at correct depth and placing seed on either side of seed terrace
Next Generation Patented Drilling Blades
Triton launched its unique deep soil engagement direct drill in 2018 to give plough based yields from direct drilling. Six years later we are consistently achieving higher yields from the Triton than from ploughed trials on our own land. The Triton is the only all weather seed drill on the market that gives the flexibility to grow maximum profit autumn sown crops whilst reducing blackgrass from late drilling. A number of other manufacturers are now claiming all weather capabilities – don't be caught out, get a demo against a Triton.
Downward facing upper blade does not hook grass weed seed up from below stale seed bed and field surface
Triangular tungsten tiles for reduced draught and soil disturbance
SOIL SURFACE
Drilling at 40mm depth
Downward facing upper blade holds field surface in place minimising soil eruption in the stale seed bed
14cm deep lower blade takes blade deep below ground for air drainage and rooting
TRITON SEED DRILL “A GAME CHANGER”
The Triton seed drill was transformational in tackling black-grass on Simon Chaplin’s five farms.
The Triton seed drill was developed and patented by farmers to combat black-grass by late autumn drillings after glyphosate has broken the back of the late dormancy blackgrass. The Triton was also designed to do the work of a midsoiler during one-pass seed drilling; this was
necessary because deep moved soil in late autumn conditions will not take a tractor without rutting and yet unmoved heavy soil when drilled late will be tight in the rooting zone and anaerobic with potential surface water damage.
Simon Chaplin, farmer and
founder of Triton Seed Drills, says that in 2016, it became clear that black-grass could only be reduced by later drilling on his clay/silt farm near Gainsborough.
“The soil would not hold a tractor when wet but to subsoil it would mean no further work would be possible on the land until the spring,” he explains.
The drill they were using at the time was a modern one-pass blade drill which could not be set deep in the soil, as it had no means of stopping seed falling down to the point of the coulter in plastic-like soils.
“Even worse, that drill had no slot closure mechanism except for light spring wires at the rear so the shallow plastic slots just remained gaping wide open full of water,” Simon continues.
“We lost all the crops that year. The land needed lifting up from 6in down under the seed in late conditions without losing seed down the deep seed coulter and then the slot had to be tightly shut to secure the seed from slugs and chemicals. It all had to be done in one pass; soil lifted, drilled, secured, and surface drainage in place
to take water down past the seeding depth.”
This prompted the birth of the Triton seed drill and its immediate success was “transformational” to their farming.
“At that time we had six current model seed drills of most colours on our ve farms from Kelso to Cambridge for di erent soil types, crops and conditions,” Simon says. “None of the six drills were closing the seed slot even when tted with various North American openers. This was because following these openers there were no closers so the Triton has closers on it by way of a patented side press which works in all weather and in all soils.
“The consistency and versatility of the Triton was clearly a game changer for us and we changed all our drills for Tritons that year. Since then we have not had to alter our cropping plans or re-drill any crops. We grow 90% continuous wheat because most other crops are risky and will lose money on paper before the seed is put in the ground,” he concludes.
See the Triton working on: www.tritonseeddrills.com FG
MultiFunctions for precision seeding
Precision agriculture is gaining more importance with the focus shifting to the individual plant – including the preciseness of the seed placement and exact fertiliser application.
High outputs, fast working speeds and comfortable machine operation are of fundamental importance in this respect. These challenges have already been met by the Amazone Precea precision air seeder. However, the technology is not the only basis for optimum sowing precision. Only the interaction with a coordinated electronic control system ensures that perfect precision.
The MultiFunctions from Amazone result from the perfect interaction between the Precea precision air seeder and the AmaTron 4 Isobus terminal. Amazone’s ‘More than Isobus’ electronics solutions are developed in-house by its own specialists and are key to enabling the Precea to become the precision seeding all-rounder.
The use of several hoppers
enables you to apply not only seed but also fertiliser and/or microgranules at the same time and in the same pass. For example, the PreceaCC used in conjunction with the Micro plus micro-granular applicator enables up to three di erent media to be applied simultaneously and independently of each other at various placement depths. Seed, fertiliser and micro-granules can therefore be exibly combined.
Since the soil conditions, water availability, and therefore also the yield potential can sometimes vary greatly within a eld, it makes sense to tailor seed and fertiliser rates to match these conditions. MultiMap enables the media to be controlled independently of each other via application maps and applied on a part-area, site-speci c basis. The
AmaTron 4 Isobus terminal enables the simultaneous processing of up to four application maps.
Precise switch-on and switcho of the sowing units is very important in order to avoid over- or under-sowing in critical areas such as on the headland. Individual row shut-o for the seed provides exact placement. Each row is controlled individually and automatically. On the one hand, this saves seed, as fewer overlaps occur, and on the other hand, gaps where weeds can spread are prevented.
In addition, Amazone o ers individual row shut-o for fertiliser. This provides advantages,
particularly on odd-shaped headlands and in eld corners. Double fertiliser application is prevented, with the result that the plants can grow and ripen uniformly. The precise fertiliser application e ectively reduces application rates. The Precea can be used to apply two or three media simultaneously via di erent metering units located at separate points. Since the fertiliser coulter always runs in front of the sowing unit, the two metering units are automatically switched on and o at staggered intervals via MultiBoom with the ‘GPS Switch pro’ terminal licence. Overlaps or gaps on the headland are thereby prevented. FG
WEAVING GD DRILL GIVES YOUNG FARMER’S NO-TILL ENTERPRISE A BOOST
Farmer and contractor, Tom Matthews purchased a Weaving trailed GD drill, funded in part by a FETF grant, in 2023, and has been impressed by both its value and performance.
toolbox, opting for Weaving Machinery’s trailed GD drill.
At the age of 26, Tom Matthews already runs his own family farm, contracting business and share farming agreement in Marston Magna, Somerset.
His family enterprise, Little Marston Farm, comprises 105ha which, after taking back in-hand, allows Tom to farm independently. Two thirds of the hectarage are down to wheat, with the remainder used for beans or oilseed rape as break crops. Little Marston has been farmed in a no-till system for a number of years, and Tom wanted to continue the e orts of the previous contractor to maintain the no-till system.
After leaving school, Tom travelled to Australia, harvesting, cultivating and drilling before heading to the University of Reading where he achieved a degree in Agricultural Business Management. A summer spell working for hay and
straw merchant, D N Crofts & Son, baling straw on the next door farm, led to Tom’s employment as trainee farm manager before embarking on a share farming agreement on the 300ha holding with neighbours, Hugh and Tim Archer. Together, Tom, Hugh and Tim plant winter milling wheat, spring malting barley, beans and oilseed rape. Not stopping there, he has, in more recent times, also developed his own contracting business, drilling 440ha annually operating as Marston Agriculture.
Machinery investments
When starting out, Tom required an amount of kit to get through the work in front of him, including a drill. Having initially got underway with a hired tine drill, Tom looked to add a disc drill to his
With soil varying from heavy clay to Cotswold brash through to sand, Tom wanted to invest in a drill which suited both farms. Tom explains he struggled with the tine drill, particularly in controlling the depth and disturbing too much soil.
He explains: “I still have access to a tine drill which I use when conditions dictate. I bought the GD because I wanted a disc drill to achieve lower disturbance and better ground following via the individual coulter movement.”
Tom continues: “When I was looking at drills on the market, price was a big driver and I found Weaving’s GD to be substantially better value. I dealt with sales director Simon Weaving himself, which is something I also really appreciated. It’s assuring that you can speak to Weaving directly, rather than going through a long chain of people.
“If I need parts, and if I really need to, I can drive to the factory and pick something up in a manageable time. If something is going to go wrong, it’s usually at about 5pm on a Friday. If I give Mike Lane from Weaving a call and he can’t solve the problem over the phone, he will be in the yard at 7:30am the next morning with a van-full of parts and will get me going again very quickly. I can’t thank him enough for his excellent service and always picking up the phone.
“The customer support is great. I did have some teething issues with my drill initially but Weaving remedied them right away, without any hesitation. They were just interested in doing the best job for me.
“A few neighbours also have Weaving drills and our Agrii agronomist Todd Jex encourages their use so there are plenty of people on hand for advice, tips and tricks.”
Healthy soil and net margins
Striving for a full no-till system, Tom says he acknowledges the soil health bene ts this brings but is more focused on the improvements to his net margin it can provide.
Tom bought the drill on a Farming Equipment and Technology Grant (FETF) grant last year, receiving a £25,000 grant towards the cost. On making the purchase, Tom chose to have a split tank, containing three hoppers which Tom describes as “opening up a whole range of new options.” It is a huge time saver as you can carry a number of di erent crops so there is no need to stop, clean the tank out and calibrate when you are doing multiple crops for a customer.
Hardwearing parts
Despite the area covered and varying soil types, Tom hasn’t seen much wear and tear on his drill.
“I drilled 440ha last year and am yet to see much wear on the discs,” he says. “I grease the hitch and rear lift rams once a day and everything else just once a season. Sometimes the tyres puncture if you go too close to a hedge and catch a runner, but they are cheap to replace and are more of an irritation than a cost. It requires very little maintenance overall.”
Tom says: “You can run multiple variable rate prescriptions through the split tank and can simultaneously fertilise, drill and place slug pellets if necessary.”
He continues: “With a GD, the aim is to avoid cultivating as much as possible. The cost of the drill is countered by the cheaper establishment costs if the crop comes well. No-till doesn’t seem to disturb the weed bank, which should help to cut down on chemical spend.
“I carry out 400ha of stubble-to-stubble drilling and spraying myself. Working in this way with the GD, it allows me to cover the ground in a manageable time.”
successful and ironically established better than in October.”
Needing a 6m to cover his hectarage, Tom explains it was cost e ective to go for a wide machine. While going slowly to ensure seed placement and slot closure, Tom says he needs the width to compensate for his slower speed to maintain output.
Cover cropping is a key part of Tom’s system, though he admits he struggles with slug control. He drills a mix of winter oats, linseed, berseem clover, vetch and phacelia as part of a mid-tier scheme over-winter cover cropping option.
“Cover crops encourage good root structure and ground cover, with the possibility for sheep to graze it in the winter, bringing an additional income stream,” he comments. “I have decreased the amount I drill though, as I am aiming to do more winter cropping and more second wheats.”
With a strong cost conscience, Tom notes the drill is good on fuel consumption, burning 20–25 litres per hour on average and able to successfully drill 4.5–5ha per hour.
Pulled by his 240hp Fendt 724, Tom believes it is not the power which is necessary upfront, but the weight for traction.
With in-cab Isobus, the Fendt and Weaving systems can work together.
He says: “The Fendt and Weaving screens talk to each other without a problem. I didn’t opt for marker arms on my drill, as I need GPS anyway for the variable rate on the headland so it would have been an unnecessary cost.”
No-till also ties in with Tom’s e orts to tackle black-grass. Through no-till and a diverse rotation, he has been able to make improvements in this respect on Hugh and Tim’s farm.
Tom comments: “Previously, the farm heavily depended on spring barley. By increasing the area of winter cropping and therefore varying the sprays used, there has been more of an impact on black-grass control.”
In a wet year on the light ground, the crops came well with the GD, says Tom, explaining the winter wheat drilled on light ground was particularly good.
He says: “It is a heavy drill. It can struggle in a wet year on heavy ground. Together with the tractor, it weighs 18 tonnes empty. The drill has wide otation tyres and the tractor has 710 and 600 tyres, but most of the weight is on the coulters during work so it’s spread out.”
Calibration of the drill is very simple and precise, he explains, with a button on each metering unit, which can be set exactly how he requires rather than making any compromises. Hydraulic pressure means all coulters across the drill work at the same pressure. It uses the rear wheels of the drill to increase or decrease applied pressure, while not overloading, which he points out can smear the slot. Crop establishment is very good due to the drill’s ground following ability allowing an accurate seed placement.
Impressive products and service
So impressed with the products and the service from Weaving, Tom has since purchased a Shortdisc and Stubble Rake to add to his collection.
Tom says: “When drilling, I drive quite slowly. I think it drills better like that. I do about 4–5ha an hour, so about 40ha a day. I have drilled a fair bit of stoney ground this year. I went slowly and it seems to have established well.
“This year I used the GD to over-stitch the poor areas of winter wheat in January on a few frosty nights with more seed which was very
The Shortdisc was purchased on Weaving’s three-year 0% nance deal and was purchased to work predominantly on the home farm which frequently oods and has a lot of rotten tramlines. He says the ground needed levelling, subsoiling and short discing. Again opting for the 6m, Tom says once you get to a size where the implement folds, they don’t get that much more expensive.
The Stubble Rake is kept for a fully no-till situation and is to run over ground to spread trash to control slugs and encourage a weed chit. It has been especially useful to level o ridges left by the subsoiler, leaving the eld ready to drill, he says.
Still with so many years of his career in front of him, Tom aspires to continue to grow his arable enterprises either via renting additional ground, contracting or share farming.
Tom says he is working towards a sustainable pro t. He doesn’t want to “rinse the ground” but also isn’t wholeheartedly sold into regenerative farming.
He concludes: “I have been very happy with my experience in dealing with Weaving and their back-up support. I would recommend anyone to at least have a chat and get a quote. They’re in the game for the long run.” FG
To
Combine Partner FT with;
- Avatar 6.25 SL disc drill
- Sprinter 6 SL tine drill
- Taro 6 SL disc drill
- Maestro RX/RV drill
- Express KR power harrow
- Finer SL with seeding kit
MOUNTED DRILLS
and productivity
Horsch’s new disc and tine mounted drills can be combined with the Partner FT front tank for a highly flexible seeding system.
The all-new 6m Sprinter 6 SL tine drill and 6m Avatar 6.25 SL disc drill were launched at Agritechnica. These join a wide choice of Horsch mounted drill models to allow farmers to create a versatile seeding system that suits their needs. The Partner FT can be combined with seed drills, used for tillage for deep fertilisation, in hybrid farming or in combination with a Finer SL. Combining the drill with a Partner front tank optimises the weight distribution of the tractor and seeding rig.
Avatar 6 SL drill: The Avatar SL is the smallest and most manoeuvrable Avatar seed drill with a mounted 3-point con guration designed for precise sowing in mulch seed conditions. The 6m SL mounted model reduces tillage to a minimum yet work well in high amounts of straw residue, and in harder soils.
The depth control roller of the SingleDisc coulter ensures a regular depth placement even in uneven conditions. Row spacings of 25cm or 30cm pave the way for mechanical weed control.
Hydraulic weight transfer achieves a coulter pressure of up to 240kg per coulter, with the weight of the tractor transferred to the seed coulters. This is useful especially in harder conditions and considerably extends the range of use of the machine.
The Avatar SL is available with trash wheels that smoothly manage high amounts of straw. The trailed layout of the trash wheels allows for a perfect soil adaption as each trash wheel can be adapted individually to the desired depth and the soil is only
minimally disrupted, Horsch says. Sprinter 6 SL drill: The 6m Sprinter 6.25 SL is ideal for working in wetter conditions and on light and medium soils. As it is mounted, it is highly manoeuvrable, making it easy to operate in small elds, the manufacturer explains. The tines are hydraulically pre-stressed and retractable and are individually depth controlled with press wheel. The 3-bar tine section and 25cm tine spacing ensures a straw-free and clod-free sowing horizon.
There are di erent seed coulter options from the Ultra ThinEdge seed coulter, that provides a 12mm wide seed band to ensure minimum of soil movement, the ThinEdge coulter with a 21mm wide seed band (ideal for sowing catch crops directly into the stubble), to the WideEdge tine seed coulter that has a 110mm wide seed band.
In addition to Avatar and Sprinter, farmers can also use the Taro 6 SL disc drill, Maestro RX and RV single-grain drills and Express KR power harrow for an intensive seedbed preparation. Even the Finer SL can be speci ed with a seeding kit to become an excellent wet weather drill, Horsch concludes. FG
Advancing agricultural e ciency with direct drills
Mzuri explains why its Pro-Til and iPass drills are integral tools in modern agriculture, delivering e ciency, precision and sustainability.
Mzuri Ltd has established itself as a leading provider of advanced agricultural machinery, particularly through its range of direct drills.
Among the most notable products in its portfolio are the Pro-Til and iPass drills, which have been designed to enhance crop establishment while reducing environmental impact and operational costs.
The Pro-Til series represents Mzuri’s
agship model, o ering versatility and high performance across various soil conditions, the company says. The Pro-Til is engineered for single-pass operations, integrating seedbed preparation, seeding, and fertilisation into one process. This integration not only reduces the number of eld passes required but also preserves soil structure and moisture.
The Pro-Til is available in working
DD conversions for di icult conditions
Throughout 2024, the wet conditions appear to have continued across parts of the UK, so some farmers are still encountering di cult drilling conditions.
To alleviate this, J.J. Metcalfe & Son says it is continuing to develop its range of tine, from 12–125mm wide. All these points, which t onto the J.J. Metcalfe & Son range of conversion systems, will provide minimal soil movement where required, or enable the soil to be lifted with the winged coulter system to allow mineralisation to take place and take out surface compaction.
Additionally, all points can be swapped over easily, providing growers with the versatility to sow in lots of di erent conditions.
application of tungsten carbide on direct drill conversion systems for tine drills and recently expanded its range to include spring tine drills. Tungsten carbide is applied to the 12mm leading edge and the rear of the point, ensuring the seed tube stays above ground. This design minimises draft and soil disturbance while maintaining excellent penetration and ease to pull, the company explains.
This coulter is compatible with Kverneland TS, Kuhn Megant, Kongskilde Vibroseeder, Köckerling All Rounder, Horsch Finer, and Terrano.
If you would like to talk to J.J. Metcalfe & Son about the bene ts of low disturbance drilling, contact the company directly. J.J. Metcalfe is known for its company directly. FG
widths ranging from 3–6m, making it suitable for a wide range of operations. Key features of the Pro-Til include independent pivoting coulter arms, which allow for precise seed placement at the optimal depth, and an individual press wheel system that improves seed-to-soil contact, thereby enhancing germination rates.
In addition to the Pro-Til, Mzuri o ers the iPass drill, designed for high-output e cient low disturbance seeding. The iPass is equipped with self-steering coulter arms to follow ground contours with excellent seed to soil contact achieved by hydraulic pressure exerted to each individual seed depth wheel. Additionally, the iPass features an advanced metering system capable of handling a wide
range of seed types and sizes and a high capacity 5,000-litre tank, making it a versatile tool for diverse cropping systems.
Both the Pro-Til and iPass drills exemplify Mzuri’s commitment to promoting sustainable agricultural practices, the company reckons. By reducing the number of necessary eld passes, the Mzuri system lowers fuel consumption and decrease carbon emissions, thereby contributing to more environmentally friendly farming operations.
In summary, Mzuri says its Pro-Til and iPass drills are integral tools in modern agriculture, delivering precision, e ciency, and sustainability to farming practices worldwide. FG
for high-output low disturbance seeding.
Alleviate Soil Compacton!
Create more tlth, improve slot closure and aid soil mineralisaton with our winged points.
• Creates a level fnish.
• Conversion systems available to ft a wide range of tne drills - Horsch, Weaving, Tillso, Seed Hawk, Kockerling, and Amazone
• Wide variety of points and tubes to suit individual needs
• Self build components available for 50mm, 80mm and 100mm box secton frames
• Points available in 3 lengths and 6 diferent widths
• Design protected by registered community design number 008046148-001
Conversion Holder to fit Horsch Drill with 125mm winged point Visit our website www.jjmetcalfeandson.com or call 01609 771124
Clear benefits to direct drilling
Simtech drills are simple to operate and maintain, says manufacturer Fentech Agri. The technology has been around for decades – the T-slot principle of placing seed in a favourable environment to promote healthy germination and growth. Access to nutrients reduces the need for starter fertilisers.
There is always a place for mechanical soil restructuring to combat tra c and weather impacts, however. A low disturbance subsoiler leg can do this e ciently, lifting and breaking the soil pro le, generating cracks and ssures to promote root growth, whilst reducing surface disturbance and, more importantly, disturbing the weed seeds.
Combatting weed seeds can be
done using the Fentech Agri Phoenix. Machines are o ered up to 12m wide, designed to travel at around 16kph, disturbing the top 30–50mm of the soil pro le and consolidating weed seeds to promote growth prior to drilling. This can also be used to promote some top tilth and give good soil mixing in that top 50mm pro le. The aim is to create the stale seedbed, minimising any potential weed growth and reducing slug populations.
Meanwhile, Simtech tine drills are able to penetrate into very hard soils as they open the slot with a small diameter disc. The drill’s design allows the weight to be pushed onto the discs. The T-slot gives seed access to the moisture and light needed to ourish when conditions are less ideal. FG
Sustainable farming with
Vredo direct drills
Available from 3–5.8m, the Vredo Agri direct drills are renowned for quality, performance and innovation in the global agricultural sector, says Campey Agriculture. The company explains that these machines are a must for anyone looking for a professional approach to direct drilling in arable stubbles, such as wheat, barley and grain. The direct drills are also known as overseeders to rejuvenate pastures.
Seeding is only successful if the seed is directly sown into the soil. The agricultural drills are equipped
with the famous and proven Vredo double-disc system. The pairs of independently sprung discs set 7.5cm apart deposit the seed up to 35mm deep into the soil. The seed is guided into a V-shaped slit in the sward. The roller then closes the slit and ensures good contact between seed and soil. Water and nutrients have thereby easy access to the seed, and this encourages strong root formation and fast germination. After clean harvesting of straw, there is no need for prior seedbed cultivation or preparation beforehand. Vredo seeders can sow a large variety of seeds, including arable and cover crops, directly through cover crops up to 15cm in height. Direct drilling doesn’t disturb the surface and is, therefore, the most environmentally responsible way to drill. In addition, the organic layer stays in the top part of the soil, which promotes healthier crops. FG
VOS is “the perfect direct drilling partner”
Since the setup of Bourgault Tillage Tools (BTT UK), its VOS (versatile opener system) system has become available to t to more UK tine drills than ever before. Primarily, it’s been used on the Horsch Sprinter and CO ranges but the range now includes the new Grange Machinery tine drill toolbar (TDT), Weaving Sabre tine, Amazon Cayenna, Kuhn Megant, Horsch Finer and the Dale Drills all have the option to t a full range of VOS replaceable tips.
VOS openers are available from the narrowest tip, the 200-TIP-0511 (13mm/0.5in) single shoot, up to the 610-TIP-6082 (152mm/6in) paired row. BTT also now has a weld-on socket (047-WLD-1004) to enable its tips to be tted to an even wider range of tines. This range is extensive, including self builds.
As the name suggests, versatility is the key. Each farm situation and each farmer’s goals are di erent, so one cap does not t all, says BTT technical manager Stuart Aldworth. BTT’s range of tips and unique method of attaching them
to tines using a stainless steel nut and bolt assembly allows tips to be easily changed depending on what needs to be achieved and when. This combined with “unrivalled wear rates”, seed placement and ultra-low disturbance makes the VOS system the perfect partner for all tine drills, the company reckons. Contact Stuart or Ian directly for more. FG
PROVEN PRECISION
New additions to KRM drill range
KRM has added a new 8m model of the SM-P range to its line up, plus a small seed hopper.
The new 8m SM-P from KRM is a wider version of the well proven SM-P drills, offering growers more output and greater efficiency. Interest in the company’s range of direct drills has been fuelled by the recent round of FETF grants which they qualify for.
The new 8m model utilises the
company’s well tried and tested SM coulter which with its robust design, high pressure, and narrow tungsten carbide tip, and it is suitable for minimum tillage and direct drilling. The 8m machine has 32 coulters giving a 25cm row spacing – ideal to pair with a mechanical weeding solution
which is also available through KRM, the company. says.
The SM-P 800/32 uses the same metering system as the Ares-P and SM-P seed drills which have enjoyed strong sales over recent years. The pressurised hopper ensures even seed flow to the stainless steel, Isobus controlled metering unit which can handle rates from 4–400kg/ha. Half width shut off comes as standard and the drills are capable of variable rate, auto on/off and section control. Calibration is fast and easy to carry out with dispensed seed delivered to a convenient container on the side of the drill for weighing.
KRM has also recently launched the ‘Mini Seed’ – an additional hopper which mounts onto the drill and allows another product to be applied simultaneously whilst drilling. The Mini Seed uses the same stainless steel metering unit as the rest of KRM’s SM-P and Ares-P models, making it suitable for all products including corrosive materials such as fertiliser.
Interchangeable feed rollers allow all sizes of product to be applied at various application rates. A distribution head is mounted
below the drill’s access platform and feeds down to spreader plates mounted on the following harrow. The spreader plates can be positioned to point forward for sowing companion crops, so the seeds are broadcast where the coulters are working and incorporated by the following harrows. Alternatively, the spreader plates can be positioned to broadcast material behind the following harrow so it remains on the soil surface, ideal for Avadex etc.
The Mini Seed connects into the drill’s Isobus ECU and appears as an extra hopper on the tractor’s terminal. All functions such as calibration etc are carried out as per the drill. This standardised approach makes using the hopper intuitive for the operator.
If multiple products are required, two Mini Seeds can be fitted, one either side of the hopper. There is also the possibility of mounting a Mini Seed onto other equipment such as grass harrows, cultivators or another seed drill. It can be supplied with its own ECU if Isobus is required or alternatively with a simple control box. FG
and
We offer these coulters on Box drills, power harrow combinations, cultivator combinations and solo drills as well as front hopper & rear coulter frame systems Working widths stretch from 3m to 8m and include options sow seed and fertiliser simultaneously.
Healthy soils, lower input costs
Sumo is a leading British designer and manufacturer of cultivation and seeding equipment. The company says it is proud to manufacture high quality and innovative tillage machinery for the global market. Its machines are designed and built to last by an experienced and a highly skilled production team.
The DD system is based on the zero-till approach to farming. This allows crop residues to be left in the eld and the DD coulter will aid incorporation into the soil pro le,
adding organic matter to the soil which improves the structure and health of the microbes and worms living within the soil. Residues also provide cover for the soil at a critical time of the year and moisture is locked into these areas and ready for young crops to use.
This practice reduces the need for cultivations over time because as the soil structure improves, natural drainage, organic soil matter levels, weight carrying capacity and soil fertility improve, too, Sumo explains.
Farming in this way is proven to lower input costs, create a soil environment well-suited to strong yields, and protect the environment
from carbon loss. Get in touch with Sumo directly to learn more about its products or request a demonstration. FG
Trailed seed drill with low disturbance options
Minimal draught resistance, comfortable operation and a large divided seed hopper summarises Lemken’s new Solitair DT seed drill.
To ensure good reconsolidation in the rst working step, the new Solitair DT features a leading tyre packer. For the second step of seedbed preparation, the Solitair DT is equipped with either compact disc harrow with 465mm diameter concave discs, that are individually protected against overloads by leaf springs or if a reduced intensity of tillage is required, vertical wavy discs can be used instead of the concave discs, which penetrate the soil in line of the seeding coulter, reducing both moisture loss and the emergence of resistant grass weeds. Lemken UK’s general manager Paul Creasy commented that: “The wavy disc set up had been well received by UK growers.”
At the heart of the Solitair’s seeding technology are individual electrically driven, fertiliser-proof metering units, each of which supplies one distributor with seeds. The seed metering wheels are combined into seed wheel sets, eliminating the need to switch seed wheels on and o . The seed wheel sets can be changed without tools. The coulter bar tted to the Solitair DT features the proven, parallelogram guided OptiDisc double disc coulters with depth control wheel.
The DT seed hopper holds a volume of up to 5,100 litres and is available in a dual hopper version. The dual hopper allows the Solitair DT
to be used for combined seeding with fertiliser or for sowing di erent seed types or companion cropping for example. Two variants are available: with the single-shot version, the fertiliser and seeds are placed in a shared seed furrow, whereas the double-shot version places fertiliser or seed in a line below the seed level via separate fertiliser double disc coulters, this is well suited to a larger seed requiring deeper placement and a smaller seed through the normal disc coulter at the rear of the machine. FG
SEEDING COMBINATION SOLITAIR DT
Maximum e ciency combined with highest precision – the new Solitair DT was designed according to these standards. The result is a seeding combination that is convincing in practice and saves diesel with ease.
PRECISION FARMING: What does it mean?
Machinery editor Neale Byart caught up with agricultural equipment dealer, Tuckwells, to find out more about the benefits of precision ag packages.
As a John Deere (JD) dealer, Tuckwells works with what is generally known as the Greenstar system. O cially, Greenstar refers to just the display in the cab, and needs combining with a Star re receiver, a JD Link and a free JD Operations Centre account in order to create a precision ag package and bring a machine into precision farming operations.
What is precision agriculture?
Kris Romney, technology consultant for Tuckwells, talked Farmers Guide through the developments. “Precision agriculture is constantly evolving. When I started around 15 years ago, variable rate wasn’t a big entity, section control was few and far between, and 90% of my support time would have been advising how to set guidance lines or what button to press next.
“In 2012 telematics was launched, and by 2016 pretty much any tractor that was launched came with JD Link built in to provide real time machine and agronomic data.
Technologies team
“Now, all of a sudden, we have ‘o board’ technology, as well as onboard, so the technology team are now looking after not just the hardware and the machinery in the eld, but with regards to the JD Operations Centre, they are also looking after farm eld data management etc.
“As a dealer, we are here to help ensure that the customers know how to collect and look after their data. As the amount of data grows, they may need help synching it from various machines, especially since the launch of Data Sync where the JD Operations Centre, e ectively the bible for the farm, is pushing data out to the machines in the eld, as well as receiving information back from them.
“Now, machines can be auto-populated with the latest set-up data, such as eld names, boundaries, AB lines etc. Anything that is changed on the machine, goes back to the o ce to be con rmed before the change is enacted and sent out to other machines. This all helps to avoid manual entry errors or duplications and therefore increases e ciency.
“This also means that if you hire a machine, or buy a new addition to your eet, as soon as it is entered into your account it is automatically populated with all the relevant farm data, so is ready to go to work with all the information needed as soon as it rolls o the trailer.
“The other aspect to this is that the farm manager can send a worklist out to a machine, or assign it to an operator, and monitor progress remotely while also seeing historical data relating to all work carried out in a particular eld.”
As a result, the role of the technologies team at Tuckwells has evolved. “What operators expect from their dealership team is also changing, and we spend more time now supporting the ‘o -board’ solutions, which makes the onboard kit work better,” commented Kris. “This is all slowly gearing farming towards more autonomous options, which is coming. We already have machine sync between combine and trailer, but we could soon see one tractor controlling a second behind it, maybe running simultaneous cultivating and drilling applications with just a single operator. I think we will also see dealers helping to manage customer eets. Using telematics, we can already o er pre-emptive maintenance and conveniently timed servicing but we could also monitor machine hours, or fuel usage and feed this information back to help ensure optimised machine utilisation.”
licence that you require on an annual basis. The subscriptions are £1,417pa for a basic package and £2,842pa for the full precision ag package. This o ers considerable up-front savings over outright purchase, with a break-even point of around ve years. This also unlocks precision ag for older and non-John Deere machines. To demonstrate this, on the day of Farmers Guide’s visit there was a Bateman sprayer in the workshop having just this done. For further information, contact the Tuckwells technology team via email: technologiesenquiry@tuckwells.com FG
Data collection
Data collection is becoming so important. A farm can have data being fed in from
various sources, whether that be weather information, agronomist data, on-farm advisors, machine telematics or eld data. Understanding what each individual farmer or manager wants to see, what is useful to them and how to bring that data in is important. The collected data then needs to be available to the right people to make the best use out of it, and the JD Operations Centre, together with a farm management package such as Omnia from Hutchinsons which can automatically bring data in from JD Operations Centre, is a key part of that equation.
for around £2,842, and then
way of getting precision ag kit onto your machine in a cost-e ective manner. Rather than buying the screen, the receiver and the software up front, you can buy the hardware subscribe to the level of
Preparing seedbeds with precision
With plenty of farming experience, PFC has developed a number of options for superb seedbed preparation.
PFC’s three metre disc harrow has now been updated with a new leg o ering. The disc harrow has two rows of 12 independently sprung 560mm discs which the company says are well suited for shallow surface seed chitting to a maximum cultivation up to 170mm working depth. Standard speci cation includes NSK bearings, LED lights, active side screens and straw tines and de ector board between the discs.
The Ares BTX can be combined
with the Atom GT subsoiler as a single pass unit for the min till operation of directly after ploughing removing compaction pans and aerating the soil with a maximum working depth of 450mm.
The straw tines aid seedbed preparation and even spreading of debris when operating the discs at 25mm depth for seed chitting. For nal soil preparation, the disc operated at your preferred cultivation depth in combination with the Sherp
toolbar/subsoiler will provide a nished seedbed ready for drilling.
The de ector board keeps the soil supressed in front of the rear disc when high operating speeds are achieved. As soil passes through, the rst disc will be naturally thrown upwards. During high operating speeds this soil will hit the de ector board which diverts the soil downwards for the second row of discs to cultivate.
The steel ring packer provides excellent nal soil preparation, the company reckons – breaking any nal soil lumps and providing an even soil consolidation. Various packers are available from PFC to suit your needs.
The Puma seed bed cultivator has been designed with strength, quality and consistency at its core. The initial toothed levelling board e ectively shatters large lumps as the soil then passes through the front depth control cage roller further preparing the soil structure for drilling.
The standard heavy duty vertical sprung tines provide excellent penetration even in the most challenging soil types. The passive spring action crumbles the soil to
its nal seed bed readiness. Due to the vertical entry point the tines do not ick stones towards the surface. By utilising the heavy-duty tine, the rigidity of the tine is maintained which increases the e ectiveness of the working tine. The added bene t of a vertical placed tine is any crop residue is evenly distributed and not collected and transported to the lifting out of work point.
The nal standard accessory is the standard steel ring packer. Other packer options are available, but in combination on the Puma cultivator it provides superb consolidation and nal seedbed preparation, the company says. After ploughing on the company’s own farm, PFC used this Puma on a single pass then drilled with its tine drill for winter wheat –stating that establishment has been exceptional with an even, consistent seedbed produced.
Both cultivator options can be tted with an air seeder to o er further rapid crop establishment. Utilising precision metering units and linked to the Isobus or independent control terminal, the air speeders monitor output and adjust on the go. FG
WHAT IS RTK AND COULD IT BENEFIT YOU?
RTK (real-time kinematic) technology provides exact positions on the earth. It’s great for enhancing the accuracy of GPS systems in navigation and surveying. Satellites talk to your phone or a standard GPS device and gure where you are. But regular GPS isn’t very precise.
RTK still uses signals from satellites, but it does more. RTKFnet
RTKFnet explains the benefits of RTK tech, how it can help your business, and how it di ers from other providers. and how it di ers from other providers.
The process explained:
• Your GPS device receives signals from satellites
• The base station also receives signals from these satellites
• The base station knows its exact position because RTKFnet carefully installs and calibrates it
• The base station compares its known location with the position it calculates from satellite signals
base stations communicate with your GPS device (the receiver) and send corrected data to it in real-time. As the largest independent RTK signal provider, RTKFnet says it has around 200 RTKFnet-owned base stations and repeaters. They continually talk to satellites, cellular towers, your device and the company’s in-house server.
• Any di erences between the location and calculated position are sent to your GPS device
• Your device then applies the corrections to its calculations. This makes your location extremely accurate, often down to 1cm.
What makes RTKFnet di erent as a signal provider?
You know who you’re dealing with: It owns and manages its own network of base stations and server.
“If you are having problems with your existing supplier, give us a try,” the company says.
Flexibility: As a fast-paced, dynamic company, RTKFnet says it can quickly create solutions to meet your business needs. Plus it has the
technical and service teams to back it up.
Ever-evolving: It’s not just access to a base station. Operating across the UK, the company says its network is constantly expanding and upgrading to keep subscribers at the forefront of RTK technology.
No distractions: The network is RTKFnet’s sole product. All time, resource and focus are aimed in this direction to ensure the best service possible is available for dealers and end users.
Traceability: The company’s accounts and admin systems have been designed from the ground up to ensure full traceability. This enables easy access to account information, transparent invoicing and clarity of account status.
Service: Customer satisfaction comes rst. Its team works incredibly hard to ensure that it lives up to its reputation for incredible service and support, the company continues.
Get in touch with RTKFnet directly to book a demo, or a meeting with one of its technical sales engineers to nd out more. FG
NORAC Boom Height Control Systems available for select manufacturers
Reduce Operator Stress
• Operators no longer have to continuously look at the boom
• Allows operator to focus on drive path
• Operator can go faster
Cover More Acres
• Work day and night – sensors do not need light to “see”
• Take advantage of low wind conditions at night
• Spray faster – no manual boom adjustments
The Benefits of Boom Height Control
Other Benefits/Features
• Boom height control systems may o er other features such as Headlands Assist so that the boom can be automatically lifted and lowered at the end of the field
• Satisfaction guaranteed
• Increase application efficiency –get the most from your spray
Maintain Proper Spray Tip Height
• Too low = Streaking • Too High = Drift Issues
• Ensures chemical application is not wasted due to improper boom height
Protect Sprayer From Damage
• Accurate control
• Avoid ground strikes
• Prevents downtime from repairing bent booms and broken spray nozzles
Hybrid Mode™
• An advanced crop sensing feature for in-crop spraying that eliminates the need for the operator to take manual control of the boom in row crops or adverse situations such as lodged, thin and uneven crop
TAILORED PRECISION FARMING SOLUTIONS
SymAgri, powered by the Thurlow Nunn Group, was formed in partnership with PTx Trimble to o er comprehensive guidance and precision agriculture solutions.
Leading SymAgri is Sam Mead, PTx Trimble technologies specialist, with over 10 years of experience. Sam said: “We pride ourselves on being leaders in precision technology support, serving East Anglia and beyond, regardless of the type of farm machinery you use, including mixed eets. At SymAgri, customer support is our main priority
and is always at the forefront of what we do.”
SymAgri works with farmers, farm machinery dealers and OEMs, providing tailored precision farming solutions that drive e ciency and productivity. Experienced engineers at SymAgri can help you with new PTx Trimble solutions installations, troubleshoot
or service your existing equipment, update software, ensure your GPS is performing at a high level and more.
SymAgri also provides training and practical advice to operators and farm managers to bridge the gap between constantly evolving agricultural systems and farms.
As an authorised PTx Trimble full-
line dealer in East Anglia, SymAgri also supports and provides complementary products from FarmTRX, DICKEY-john, FastView360, Evo Nir sensor analysers, Homburg Holland and more. If you need support with your precision technologies, contact the team at SymAgri directly or visit: www.symagri.co.uk FG
BOOK YOUR WINTER SERVICE
We offer a full service on your farm’s GPS equipment, during the quieter winter months, so you are all set for the spring.
Hoeing and mechanical weeding solutions are increasingly vital tools for farmers, explains Allan Knight, of Garford Farm Machinery.
A KEY COMPONENT OF WEED CONTROL
Precision-guided mechanical hoes can play a key role in not only managing weed challenges, but also reducing reliance on herbicides, providing a coste ective and sustainable solution to growers.
“With increasingly stringent regulations over the use of chemical weed controls, the use of hoeing and mechanical weeding solutions is becoming an even more vital tool for the farmer,” explains Allan Knight, Garford Farm Machinery technical sales and marketing manager.
With over 20 years of hoeing experience, and having bought many innovations to market, Garford is recognised as an industry leader
in precision mechanical weed control.
The Robocrop guidance system from Garford allows for accurate and e cient hoeing and chemical application, for both in row and interrow weed management, and prevention control. The system uses video cameras and image analysis computers to locate crop position and then guide the hoes quickly and accurately, the company explains.
Garford continues to develop and innovate with the next generation of advanced weed control technology. This was demonstrated most recently with the announcement of an agreement with electrical weeding manufacturer RootWave,
Cereals 2024.
The agreement will see the two manufacturers co-develop new weeding technology and products, integrating electrical weeding into precision guided toolbar systems, for high-value and high-intensive crops as well as broadacre arable applications.
manufacturers co-develop new products, integrating electrical for
During the summer show season,
Garford also introduced its new exible hooded sprayer concept, Flexi Hood. Incorporating oating side shields, the innovative design allows for narrower passes with greater clearance between the hoods for the crop to go through.
“This makes it an attractive proposition for a number of crop applications, from saplings and root crops to fresh produce, salads and herbs and even bulbs,” Allan adds.
Garford’s innovative, precision guided equipment is developed and manufactured in the UK. For more visit www.garford.com FG
Preserve the quality of harvested grain
Maintain optimal storage conditions with our single or three phase Grain
Pedestal Fan, ideal for crops including barley and wheat.
• Available in 3 sizes
• Prevents insect infestation
• Reduced mould growth
• Improved grain quality
• Extends crop storage life
info@hydor.co.uk
Hydor has launched its Grain Pedestal Fan to minimise the risk of grain spoilage or mould growth.
With the fortitude of the UK’s food supply chain being challenged by climate change and the war in Ukraine, Hydor has launched its Grain Pedestal Fan to minimise the risk of grain spoilage or mould growth, reducing waste caused by suboptimal storage conditions.
Grain pedestal fans are essential tools in the storage and preservation of harvested grain, helping maintain the quality and safety of the grain by regulating temperature and moisture levels.
The new Grain Pedestal Fan from Hydor, a leading manufacturer of agricultural ventilation equipment, maintains uniform temperatures throughout the grain mass. It is estimated that around 30% of food waste in the UK occurs before the produce leaves the farm. Improved storage can help combat this issue by extending grain’s storage life while preserving its nutritional value and marketability. By maintaining uniform temperatures throughout the grain mass, these fans help preserve the nutritional value and also the marketability of the stored grain.
The Grain Pedestal Fan is constructed with a robust 2mm mild steel plate, primed and painted for longevity. Built-in corner sti ening adds extra strength, allowing the fan to be easily carried and positioned in any setting including those with active machinery.
Available now, the fan is compatible with both 100mm and 200mm pedestals or spears, o ering exibility in its application. Its integral thermal contact ensures motor protection and the aluminium frame motors contribute to its durability while keeping the weight to a minimum.
The fan is equipped with e cient IE2/ IE3 motors that comply with (EU) 2019/1781 regulations, delivering high performance with
reduced sound levels. The fan is also available in both single phase and three phase options, providing you with exibility over energy and e ciency. Additionally, it comes with a one-year warranty, providing peace of mind to the users.
Hydor’s Grain Pedestal Fan o ers a primed and painted 2mm mild steel plate construction; o ering a robust construction and long life. Alongside that, it features built-in corner sti ening meaning additional strength and supports carrying in any position.
NEW GRAIN PEDESTAL FAN HELPS TO OPTIMISE GRAIN STORAGE
Stuart Wilkieson, technical sales engineer at Hydor, commented: “We wanted to address the needs of grain storage facilities. Our goal was to create a reliable and e cient fan that enhances grain quality while extending its storage life. The result is a Grain Pedestal Fan that we are con dent will exceed our customers’ expectations.
“It has already proven popular since its launch earlier in the year, and with it being in our iconic Hydor red, it’s easy to spot in grain stores across the UK.”
Hydor was established in 1963 by Colin Hyde and initially imported fans for poultry applications. With a deep-rooted heritage within the agriculture industry, the company has been delivering quality engineered products to the agriculture sector for over 60 years, with the aim to provide ‘welfare through air’.
Hydor still operates from its original home town of Downton, Wiltshire in England, although it now boasts modern premises and representation worldwide.
After being acquired by Elta Group in 2003, Hydor says it gained access to a wealth of products, along with deep engineering knowledge and world-class research and development facilities. Hydor utilises the power
of the wider group to ensure it continues to deliver quality products, including the worldrenowned Elta Axial Impeller, which can be found in many of its products.
The Elta Axial Impeller can be found across the globe in many di erent industries and applications. High e ciency adjustable pitch aerofoil impellers with increased blade chord and twist, provides 7% higher e ciency reducing overall energy consumption. This is a very economical method of moving high volumes of air at low to medium pressures, which has been developed from generations of excellent engineers, the company explains.
For more on Hydor’s Grain Pedestal Fan, see www.hydor.co.uk FG
Making buildings perform better with less cost
Nationwide Precast Concrete (NPC) is a specialist manufacturer of concrete retaining walls for grain storage.
Based at Ardleigh near Colchester, NPC uses the latest equipment to produce a full range of precast units for bulk agricultural storage use.
A family business run by a team with over 50 years’ experience between them in precast, the company is focused on providing fast economic solutions for all sizes of project.
The family who owns NPC originally farmed a small acreage in Su olk, so understand the time pressures farmers are under as well as the increasing focus on margins – as such, the team is acutely aware that any solution must be coste ective as well as being built to last.
In 2022, the company invested in the latest prestressing equipment available to be able to manufacture the highest quality concrete panels. This process involves laying 9.3mm diameter cables along the 50m casting beds. Dividing plates are then positioned to match the required lengths. When all of the wires are connected, these wires are stretched to 80% of their breaking strain using new remotely operated hydraulic power packs. C60 high strength concrete is then poured in and left to cure overnight. Heating is used in colder times under the moulds to enable new production every day.
Two new overhead cranes with vacuum lifting attachments speed up pouring the concrete as well as handling the nished product.
These prestressed concrete panels – PStore – are used around buildings to provide walls up to 6m high. The panels come in a range of thicknesses and widths to t any size of building.
NPC also o ers a substantial number of heavyduty steel moulds to produce reinforced retaining wall units.
Astore are freestanding dividing walls which can be easily moved to change bay sizes. The units do not require bolting down up to 3m high but with suitable xings can retain grain up to 6m high. NPC’s patented steel cone connection detail enables easy positioning of units without leaving the seat of the loader so only the driver is required to move them.
LStore is the traditional ‘L’ shaped precast unit which is a permanent solution for new buildings or buildings which do not have su cient strength in the steel frame to take the load of a PStore panel.
All the above come with NPC’s engineers’ approval for their safe use – this is important when installing walls that will come under severe loads at times.
NPC specialises in retaining walls – its full focus is on continuing to develop products which work better and can be produced as e ciently as possible, so they perform better with less cost to pass on to the customer. FG
Retaining Walls
Pre-Stressed
Concrete Wall Panels
Inspired by the latest technology in Pre-stressed Concrete Wall Panels, and with the desire to continue in meeting our customers' requirements regarding Quality, Design, Volume & Delivery... ...we have opened a new & improved manufacturing facility in Green eld, Flintshire, North Wales
•
• Selection of Concrete Lego Blocks
Pioneering optical sorting in agriculture
The recent exclusive distributorship partnership between Tornum and 3 U Vision is set to redefine industry standards, the companies say.
In the ever-evolving world of agriculture, precision and e ciency have become indispensable. The UK and Irish markets are no exception, and the recent exclusive distributorship partnership between Tornum and 3 U Vision is set to rede ne industry standards. With over 100 years of combined experience in optical sorting, this collaboration promises to bring cutting-edge advancements and unparalleled expertise to the forefront of agricultural technology. The partnership with Tornum Ltd unlocks signi cant bene ts, the company says, including:
• Test facility for innovation – 3 U Vision’s dedicated test facility at Tornum’s UK HQ in North Yorkshire allows for running samples, troubleshooting and experimenting with new recipes. This breeding ground for innovation provides invaluable support for farmers and producers
• Cutting-edge camera technology – Featuring advanced 4K cameras with multi-spectral capabilities, 3 U Vision’s optical sorting solutions deliver sharper, more detailed images. This highde nition imaging is crucial for detecting defects in similarly coloured products
• User-friendly software – The intuitive software
developed by 3 U Vision empowers operators to create or modify sorting recipes without the need for a quali ed technician, saving time and resources
• Integrated remote support – With an integrated remote service system, 3 U Vision ensures seamless support. Operators can receive real-time assistance regardless of their location, reducing the need for on-site intervention and technician expenses
• State-of-the-art ejectors – Custom-designed ejectors with a 3.6mm pitch maximise sustained velocity, reduce compressed air consumption, increase production capacity, and minimise good product rejection. The Rise-Up system allows for adjustable ejector banks, reducing errors caused by uneven product fall speeds. Vanessa Scho eld, a key member of the Tornum team with extensive technical knowledge, is spearheading the partnership as the primary representative for 3 U Vision. Her expertise and dedication to delivering exceptional customer service will be instrumental in ensuring the success of this collaboration.
“This partnership marks a signi cant milestone for both Tornum and 3 U Vision,” said Tornum Ltd
director, Charles White. “This collaboration perfectly aligns with our commitment to sustainable and innovative solutions, and we are excited to bring these bene ts to our valued clients.”
3 U Vision’s sales director, Stefano Bonacina, added: “We are excited to join forces with Tornum, uniting our expertise to bring unparalleled value to the UK and Irish food industry. Together, we aim to set new quality and food safety standards, providing tailored optical sorting solutions and excellent customer support.”
Tornum Group says it is a leading global provider of innovative and sustainable solutions for the agricultural industry. With a strong commitment to international growth and customer satisfaction, Tornum o ers comprehensive solutions designed to meet the evolving needs of the market. FG
Advantages of using grain elevators for storage loading
In the agricultural industry, e cient grain storage and handling are crucial for maintaining the quality and value of harvested crops.
One fundamental aspect of this process is determining the most e ective method for loading grain into storage facilities. While tipping and piling grain with a grain pusher is a widely used means of loading grain into store, using grain elevators o ers a number of noticeable bene ts that can signi cantly enhance e ciency and overall productivity.
Farmers Guide spoke to Richard Knighton, general manager at Tong Swift Lift (manufactured by Terry Johnson Ltd which is now part of the Tong Engineering Group), about why opting for grain elevators over tipping and pushing, brings particularly favourable results:
• Preservation of grain quality
– Grain elevators facilitate e ective handling of harvested crop, minimising damage and preserving its quality. One of the greatest advantages of using a grain elevator is that crop is spread evenly and not compacted. This is particularly important during a wetter harvest as the newly harvested damp crop is spread more thinly and evenly over the drier crop. This even distribution of crop prevents pockets of damp and compacted grain, known as hot spots, which can be the result of grain pushing, and are often the source of serious crop deterioration and rotting. When grain is delivered evenly into store by an elevator, better air ow can be achieved, allowing drying systems to work more e ciently, saving dramatically on drying costs
• Enhanced e ciency – Elevators are designed for continuous operation, allowing for a continuous ow of grain into
Turbofarmer 65.9
storage facilities. This not only reduces loading times but also enables farmers to handle larger volumes of grain within a shorter period, optimising overall productivity during busy harvesting seasons
• Labour savings – By using the elevator to load into store, the trailer driver can oversee much of the store loading process, quickly and e ciently. Labour associated with manual loading decreases the reliance on the workforce, ensuring better overall productivity and labour utilisation
• Space optimisation – Grain elevators o er a space-e cient solution for loading grain into storage, ensuring consistent and uniform lling at all times
• Versatility and adaptability –Grain elevators are highly versatile and can be customised to meet the speci c needs of di erent storage facilities, with a wide range of options available. With the variety of models and speci cations available, a mobile elevator provides a very exible solution which can be moved and used across di erent applications and multiple crop or product types.
In summary, when it comes to maximising the e ciency of your grain store loading processes, the advantages of using grain elevators really make for a cost-e ective means of crop transfer from eld to store. By adopting this e cient way of loading crop into store, growers can streamline their operations and improve productivity with a proven elevating solution that provides continuous operation in the most demanding environments. FG
The high-capacity range of Merlo telehandlers ofer industry leading cycle times and impressive lift capacities. Matched with a wide range of buckets and attachments the Merlo high-capacity range can put your business out in front.
The TF65.9 as standard features the patented Merlo ASCS system for attachment performance optimisation whilst ensuring safe operation.
6.5 T LIFT CAPACITY
Aeration spears – the answer to your problems?
Picture this – you’ve planned your grain store perfectly with under oor cooling and outdoor fans, or a pedestal and grain fan system, ready for the year’s yield to be brought in. Your stores are full, and your cooling fans are running as they should be. But there’s one problem: you’re nding little pockets of your stored grain that aren’t being cooled to the correct temperatures. So, how do you x this?
The answer is to invest in some mobile aeration spears and smaller fans, says Plug&Cool. It might be considered a bit of a headache having to continually move your screw-in spears around the grain store to eliminate hotspots, but the spears are lightweight and easy to carry.
For farmers that have a smaller store and feel that pedestals are unnecessary, an aeration spear combined with a larger 1.1Kw fan is the ideal solution for cooling grain, the company says. The Plug&Cool Airspear Max is a 1.1Kw grain cooling fan engineered with a 100mm spigot, making it the perfect t for the aeration spear. The higherperforming fan pulls more air through the grain pile eliminating hotspots and keeping your grains at the optimum temperature. Plug&Cool now o ers a rapeseed spear for smaller grains along with the original aeration spear, Airspear fans, and Airspear Max fans. Contact the company directly for more information about grain conditioning. FG
HARVEST
Grain hold-over at record high
In 38 years of business, Command Pest Control says it cannot remember seeing such high levels of grain hold-over before. With low grain prices running up to harvest 2024, the temptation was to hang onto unsold grain in hopes of higher prices post-harvest. Growers have been unable to carry out a thorough clean or insecticide treatment of stores pre-harvest. With 12-month-old grain sitting behind new crop, the need for vigilance has never been greater.
Regular monitoring should be carried out at least monthly, testing for temperatures, moisture and insect activity. Remove any growth caused by water ingress as this may cause the start of a hot spot which is favourable to insects. Grain weevil can be a problem in old grain with larvae eating out the centre of the grain, causing major deterioration of the quality and weight.
Early detection of localised insect
infestation can be treated with diatomaceous earth or localised spraying. Inspect the fabric of the grain store for insects and spray as required in order to maintain control. A good set of sieves should be used to test for insect activity, rather than relying purely on pitfall traps. This is particularly important just before grain is collected, avoiding costly rejections.
Command Pest Control is pleased to help with information and advice and can carry out both precautionary and corrective measures as required. FG
By including four key elements into your grain drier construction and functionality you can save up to 35% on your operational drier running costs season after season, says Perry of Oakley.
That 35% saving is very achievable when you buy a Perry of Oakley Savannah continuous ow grain drier combined with hot air recirculation, insulation, automatic grain moisture monitoring and PLC drier control, the company reckons.
Using these four options allows the drier to run automatically at the optimal hot air temperature and speed to achieve the correct moisture content of the grain, while also recirculating the hot air which keeps your fuel costs down.
the fuel required to achieve the necessary temperatures.
The automatic drier moisture monitoring utilises a Near Infra-Red technology that only requires calibration once a year. The moisture measurement is coupled with a self-teaching algorithm which makes the necessary adjustments to the drier temperature and the discharge speed of the drier. This prevents the quite large nancial losses associated with overdrying grain such as decrease in weight, extra fuel usage, labour and electricity, for example. This means big savings and peace of mind can be achieved.
The Savannah range of grain driers come with a touch screen PLC Control interface as standard. This can be accessed remotely via WiFi, enabling the drier to be monitored and controlled from anywhere with mobile coverage.
by up to 24%. The grain come from the reduction in the
consumes to heat the air
The hot air recirculation reduces your drier fuel consumption by up to 24%. The grain drier fuel savings come from the reduction in the amount of fuel the drier consumes to heat the air to dry the grain. Insulation of the hot and heated area of the drier also saves fuel due to minimising the temperature loss and therefore minimises
The actual savings you can achieve using these options will vary based on several factors including hot air and ambient air temperatures, crop type and moisture, drier model and fan speed and the general ambient conditions. Contact Perrys today to run your real-life data through the company’s Drier Cost Savings Calculator to see how much you could save.
Perrys has been a key part of the British agricultural sector for over 75 years. Perrys designs and manufactures its entire product range in the UK which means that all the support you need is rapidly available, including a large stock of spares, the company says. FG
PLANNING
PROJECT
PRINCIPLE
PRINCIPLE
HEALTH
ELECTRICAL DIVISION
GROUNDWORKS DIVISION
FABRICATION DEPARTMENT
24/7
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UKCA
FABRICATION
AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
LIVESTOCK BUILDINGS
INDUSTRIAL/COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
New guidance issued to professional rodenticide users
The Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) has released its latest Code of Best Practice (CoBP).
The CoBP re ects forthcoming legal requirements on professional rodenticide application and supporting the safe and e ective rodent pest management delivered by gamekeepers, farmers and pest control technicians.
Key revisions to the fourth edition of the document, which exists as an essential source of information for rodenticide practitioners, account for the withdrawal of the ‘open area’ pattern of use for second generation anti-coagulant rodenticides (SGARs). As it will be illegal to use SGARs in outdoor locations unless connected to a building from 1st January 2025, the updated CoBP delivers greater clarity on rodenticide use terminology, as well as updated references to bait availability.
CRRU best practice working group leader Nic Blaszkowicz, said that the industry-led partnership is constantly considering and updating guidelines, stating: “The main reason we are bringing these changes in, tightening up the patterns of use, is to reach the end goal of reducing rodenticide residues in non-target animals, such as barn owls.
“There have been great strides with stewardship to date, and people are now much more educated, quali ed and knowledgeable about responsible rodent control. That said, we are urging our user
communities to come together and work harder, and familiarising yourself with strategies and methods presented in the latest CoBP is a valuable rst step.”
The CRRU CoBP o ers a range of e ective methods for successful rodent management including elimination of harbourage, food and water; trapping, shooting and dogs. When rodenticide application is however required, the handbook stresses the need for trained professionals to read the product label text and strictly adhere to the instructions presented.
Commenting on the updated industry guidance, National Pest Technicians Association (NPTA) technical manager Graham Turner said: “The CRRU Code of Best Practice is an important instruction manual for those carrying out rodent control. The 2024 amendments bring it up-to-date and incorporate helpful interpretation on new rodenticide label phrasing.
“My advice to all fellow rodenticide users remains clear. Follow the Code, and help to preserve our ongoing ability to utilise rodenticides.”
If residues carry on going up the food chain into the wildlife, Government may regulate to the e ect that SGARs can no longer be used for infestation
buildings.
management, other than inside closed buildings. NFU senior plant health advisor Dr Alison Warrington said: “The application of rodenticides remains an important tactic for rodent management on many farms, and reducing the risk of accidental exposure of humans and non-target animals remains a priority. We are therefore pleased to see clari cations in the revised Code that clearly de ne upcoming changes to the use of SGAR products.
“To safeguard our access to rodenticides, it is imperative that users continue to adhere to the best practice guidelines and product instructions, and where necessary, engage in Continuing Professional Development (CPD), ensuring maximum knowledge and results from practical application.”
For more information or to download the updated handbook, visit: www.thinkwildlife.org/ downloads/ FG
Steel framed buildings
Groundworks
All types of concrete
Turnkey projects
JH Vaudrey & Son Ltd have been supporting farmers with their building requirements since 1993 and have a wealth of expertise when it comes to the requirements of today’s agri business. JH Vaudrey & Son Ltd can provide grain stores complete with the most up to date grain handling equipment, silos, dryers, and straw barns. We also provide a maintenance service to all properties and farm buildings.
JH Vaudrey & Son Ltd provides a complete design and build service and will even take care of the planning application for you. We will be pleased to hear from you and offer a friendly reliable service. To discuss your requirements telephone 01379 678459.
GRAINTEK UK
Grain Drying &Handling Equipment Specialists
This year we launched two new products, the first being a tray drying stirrer system which we launched at this year�s Lamma show in January with a 2-metre cut down demo version. ��e stirrer unit can be installed to new or e�sistin� tray floor syste�s� �tirrers enables �ore efficient airflow t�rou�� t�e �rain w�ic� allows for dee�er dryin� and reduced dryin� ti�es� �obust construction and direct drive syste�s �no c�ains� for tray widt�s u� to �� �etres and ����� dia�eter au�ers for �rain and woodc�i� u� to � �etres dee�
�ur second �roduct is our very own truc� sa��lin� �robe usin� �ydraulics controlled by our own s�ecially desi�ned �ydraulic �ower �ac� and �oystic� wit� a ��� flus� �ounted colour ca�era �onitor for directin� t�e �robe
Visit our website for our contact details and we will visit you
We at �rainte� can undertake the complete project from design to construction, building, manufacture, installation of handling equipment and the wiring, giving the customer a complete turnkey project so that he�s�e can concentrate on his job at hand without the hassle. We �anufacture a range of grain dryers from 2 to 400 tonnes/Hr and �ave wor�s�o�s and offices in �a�brid�e��dinbur�� and �berdeens�ire
•
New grain analysis computer now available
DICKEYjohn has announced that the new GAC 2700-UGMA Grain Analysis Computer is available in the UK. It uses the latest analysis technology (149 MHz) to provide accurate, repeatable results.
The GAC 2500 has been the UK industry’s standard for accurate, rapid, and reliable whole grain analysis for the last 10 years, the company says. The GAC 2700 builds on this trusted success and o ers additional user experience and advantages.
As well as incorporating forward-thinking security improvements, the GAC 2700 has reduced measurement time, a new modern user-interface, and reliability improvements. DICKEYjohn is marketing the GAC 2700 with the tag line: “Our best just got better”.
Improved usability reduces training with an interface and navigation that’s as simple as a smartphone app.
As well as the enhanced technology embedded in the new GAC 2700, Farm-Tec, DICKEYjohn’s partner in the UK, provides speci c calibrations that provide “unrivalled results”. These results can be tracked and reviewed in the leading UK pro ciency schemes (Frontier, Open eld and UKNIR).
Contact Farm-Tec to discuss the DICKEYjohn GAC 2700 and how it could give you even more reliable and accurate moisture and hectolitre results, or visit www.farm-tec.co.uk FG www.farm-tec.co.uk FG
GRAIN HANDLING, DRYING &
Loading grain at the touch of a button
Sukup Europe says that the e ciencies and cost e ectiveness of its silo system go beyond the grain drying, aeration and cooling phases, into the nal out loading phase, when the grain leaves the farm.
having to use a telehandler and operator to load lorries from buildings.
The enhanced security allows you to customise the instrument access to speci c employees. It has faster processing which gives a ‘Rapid Analysis Mode’ reducing the measurement process time to get trucks moving through your facility.
The majority of its silos are supplied with Sukup unloading systems which discharge grain from the silo via an external vertical auger or bucket elevator directly into lorry trailers, and unlike most on oor storage systems within buildings, they are not reliant on the use of telehandler or loading shovel to carry out this task.
Sukup says few farm businesses factor in the extra costs incurred when budgeting for new grain storage and when that requires
Unloading the bulk of the grain from a silo is done simply by gravity feeding the silo unload system through a central sump which is then directly fed to the lorry trailer. Once the gravity ow of grain stops, the silo sweep system is engaged to unload the remaining cone of grain within the silo.
There are both auger and paddle sweep options and the new generation of Sukup paddle sweep, cleanly sweep the grain to the central sump whilst it rotates around the silo and provides an e cient, low labour unload system. FG
John Statt
Telephone: 01283 760445
Mobile: 07703 608014
Email: jst@sukup-eu.com
Over the course of the year, Danagri3s Ltd says it receives numerous calls from farmers asking if their current grain oor store can be upgraded to a drying oor store. Happily, in almost all cases, the answer is a de nite yes.
Drive over laterals and Rekord oor stirrers have been installed into many existing oor stores, giving the stores a new lease of life.
Channels for the galvanised box section ducting can be cut into your existing oor with the top section
consisting of a heavy-duty welded frame with 2mm thick perforated metal plate, strong enough to withstand 10 tonnes of axle load. The sections are made with male and female connecting anges which not only lock the sections together but stop any potential grain slipping down between the joints.
At the far end of the store wall each lateral ends in a blanking plate whilst at the other end the laterals run into an air tunnel. By tting a heater in front of the fan you have the option of not only drying the grain but when switched o you can cool and condition it.
Fitting a Rekord oor stirrer can assist in drying all types of combinable crops as well as wood chip and pellets, Danagri-3s Ltd continues.
Mounted on rails either side of the grain store the beam moves up and down the building whilst the auger carriages traverse from side to side. Special variable pitch augers draw grain up along the entire length of the auger, ensuring a total mixing and blending of the grain layers to the full depth of the
crop. As well as reducing the static air pressure it signi cantly increases air ow, leading to faster drying times through greater e ciency of your oor store.
This complements the company’s existing range of drive-over aeration and drying laterals, tunnels, fans, heaters and Jema grain conveying equipment.
Danagri-3s Ltd specialises in grain handling equipment. Further details of the Rekord oor stirrer range can be provided by either contacting Danagri-3s directly or visiting the website: www.danagri-3s.com FG
Unlock New Revenue Streams
Whether you diversify into bottling groundwater, or you secure a private water supply or install geothermal heating, our fullservice approach ensures you receive the support needed to achieve success.
Strengthen your income, reduce operating costs and safeguard your farm’s future; leverage the resources already available on your land.
Empowering You to Diversify and Thrive
Beneath your land lie resources that could transform your financial outlook: groundwater and geothermal energy. Our expert team can enable you to understand the opportunities these resources represent and create new revenue streams that enhance your farm’s resilience.
See Success in Action
Scan the QR code to watch a film showcasing how Igne has helped Pant Du diversify into bottling ground water. Discover the transformative impact our solutions can have on your farm.
FARM DIVERSIFICATION
Igne explores ways to leverage resources that are already available on your land, to generate income and significant savings.
USING WATER TO UNLOCK NEW REVENUE STREAMS
With the agricultural landscape remaining challenging, exploring diversi cation strategies is no longer optional – it’s essential. Igne says it o ers innovative solutions enabling farmers to leverage resources already available on their land, turning untapped opportunities into sustainable revenue streams and signi cant cost savings.
Bottle your farm’s groundwater
Beneath your land lies a resource that could transform your nancial outlook: Groundwater. Bottling and selling this water is a unique opportunity to tap into a growing market and create consistent new revenue.
Demand for bottled water is rising, driven by increased consumer awareness of health and water quality. According to the UN, the bottled water market grew 73% between 2010 and 2020, and consumption is projected to continue rising – from 350 billion litres today to 460 billion litres by 2030. Diversifying can seem daunting, especially when it involves unfamiliar processes and potential regulatory hurdles. Igne says it’s here to walk you through every step, having already done the same for global spring water brand, Pant Du.
• Hydrogeological surveys: Igne conducts a detailed assessment of your groundwater’s quantity and quality to ensure there’s enough water to make an investment worthwhile and that it meets standards required for bottling
• Regulatory compliance: The company can help you obtain licenses and approvals, streamlining processes to minimise delays and ensure full compliance with Environment Agency requirements
• E cient drilling: Igne’s drilling methodology is tailored to your farm’s geological conditions, allowing the company to extract water e ciently while maintaining the integrity of your land. It promises to minimise disruption to your operations throughout
trust and love.
From initial surveys to bottling plant installation, Igne says it provides full-service support to ensure success.
Private water supplies
For farmers with rental properties or campsites, securing a reliable water supply is crucial. Whether for irrigation, lling hot tubs, or providing potable water, relying on external water suppliers is costly and restrictive, especially during droughts. Igne designs and installs private water systems customised to your requirements. Whether you’re looking to irrigate crops, water livestock, or ensure a campsite remains operational during a hosepipe ban, Igne promises to give farmers water independence.
• Irrigation: Maintain optimal animal and crop health without worrying about restrictions or the high costs of external water sources. This is particularly valuable during dry spells when public water resources may be limited
• Domestic and commercial use: For rental or other commercial assets, a private water supply guarantees operations continue regardless of external conditions. This includes ensuring a steady supply of water for activities like hot tubs or lakes, which can be key guest attractions
• Potable water: Igne says it ensures your private supply meets all safety standards for potable water, giving you peace of mind that water is safe for drinking and everyday use.
Private water well bene ts include: Cost savings, reducing reliance on external water suppliers and cut water-related expenses; uninterrupted supply that’s not subject to restrictions; and customised solutions. Systems are tailored to your speci c needs, ensuring e cient and e ective water management and storage.
sustainable source of energy. This technology is environmentally friendly and highly e cient, making it an ideal choice for heating your main farmhouse, rental properties, chicken sheds, and other essential farm buildings.
• Sustainable energy: Unlike fossil fuels, geothermal energy is renewable and has a minimal carbon footprint, helping you reduce your farm’s environmental impact
• Cost savings: Geothermal heating systems are highly e cient, converting a larger percentage of energy into heat compared to alternative systems. This means lower energy bills. Grant funding may also be available
• Versatility: Geothermal systems can heat (and cool) a variety of spaces on your farm, from residential buildings to commercial facilities and livestock enclosures, ensuring all your energy needs are met.
Bene ts of geothermal include: Energy savings, slashing your heating bills with a highly e cient, sustainable energy source; reducing your carbon footprint; and o ering a longer lifespan than traditional heating systems.
• Water puri cation: Groundwater often undergoes natural cleansing and mineralisation. However, to ensure yours meets the highest quality standards, Igne tests it and, if necessary, installs advanced puri cation
• Bottling plant installation: Igne can help you choose the right supplier and equipment, ensuring everything meets industry standards and delivers a product that consumers will
Geothermal heating
Energy costs are a signi cant concern, and with prices rising, nding a sustainable and coste ective heating solution is critical. Geothermal is a clean, green alternative that can signi cantly reduce your energy bills whilst providing reliable warmth for all farm buildings.
Geothermal systems work by harnessing the earth’s natural heat, providing a stable and
Igne says it helps British farmers explore new revenue streams and cost-saving opportunities through innovative solutions. Whether you’re interested in bottling groundwater, securing a private water supply, or installing geothermal heating, it says its full-service approach ensures you receive the support and expertise needed to make informed decisions and achieve success.
Contact the company directly to determine whether these solutions are viable for your location and situation, or visit www.igne.com FG
Conrad Energy has launched Match+ to help businesses prove they are directly matching 100% of their consumption with renewable energy.
Conrad Energy, one of the UK’s leading energy companies which generates, buys, sells and manages energy, has announced the launch of an exciting new green energy product for businesses. The new product, Match+, will bene t companies looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint, and its rst customer is a leading farm and producer to the grocery trade.
Driven by a desire to help the environment and recognising the positive perception that it creates
amongst customers and suppliers, businesses are increasingly looking to purchase energy that has come from renewable sources.
Conrad Energy says it is seeing this rst hand. As a long-term partner with landowners, it helps to maximise returns from land and energy assets. It also supplies and manages energy for businesses, including farms and estates.
Customers can now bene t from the Match+ product, which allows businesses to prove they are directly
matching 100% of their consumption with renewable energy, in a way that has been di cult to prove up to now, Conrad reckons. The product o ers the “ultimate in transparency” via Conrad Energy’s iON+ Connect platform and is ideal for businesses across the UK who are concerned about the sustainability of their energy usage and their supply chain credentials.
So how does Match+ work? Unlike traditional green energy products which match renewable
supply with business demand on an annualised basis, Match+ operates on a half-hourly basis. In other words, your energy usage in any half-hourly period is speci cally matched by renewable generation. The product is available on 12–36-month xed price contracts and provides the reassurance that you’re not creating an additional carbon burden on the environment, even when your demand is at its peak, Conrad explains.
For one customer in the food production sector, who had initially come to Conrad Energy to secure their green energy supply, discussions about e ciency and optimisation of their existing assets even led to the design of a bespoke multi-solution energy package to meet their speci c operational requirements. FG
UNLOCK THE VALUE OF YOUR LAND
We have been advising clients within the rural sector for 185 years.
We help you to capitalise on opportunities in rural planning, diversifcation, renewables, natural capital, estate strategy and management. Our expertise also extends to heritage, architecture, agency, and building consultancy.
Get in touch with our experts bidwells.co.uk
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.
Do you have or would you consider?
• 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
Free and confidential advice for farmers and land managers
•Support understanding farming rules and meeting your regulatory requirements
•Support navigating the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)
•Help understanding what funding and support is available to you
•Monthly newsletters and key date emails to help you stay compliant with farming rules
•Free access to technical articles, webinar recordings, and podcasts
In partnership with Catchment Sensitive Farming. Funded by DEFRA.
Funded by DEFRA 03000 200 301 advice@farmingadviceservice.org.uk farmingadviceservice.org.uk Contact us
New free tool “revolutionises” diversification
Up Acre, founded last year, was born out of a deep understanding of the challenges faced by farmers in today’s market. Launched by Hal Brotherton-Ratcli e and his father, Tony, it aims to address the complexities of the land industry, including the increasing trend of land banking and the nancial di culties experienced by farmers.
Recognising the need for e cient diversi cation and land development solutions, Hal and Tony embarked on a mission to provide a user-friendly tool that empowers farmers to explore diversi cation opportunities in minutes, without the considerable costs and time associated with traditional methods such as consulting land agents.
Leaning on Hal’s tech and property development expertise,
Up Acre collaborated with top diversi cation companies and geospatial data specialists to create a platform that swiftly evaluates critical criteria and constraints within the land and its surroundings.
The platform presents viable diversi cation options and outlines the potential nancial gains. This innovative approach eliminates the need for farmers to wait weeks for land agent consultations.
“Up Acre is not aiming to replace land agents; rather, it complements their role by streamlining the diversi cation process,” says Hal.
The platform boasts a team of land experts who provide personalised support and guidance. It’s aiming to be a beacon of innovation, o ering a new approach to land diversi cation that is both accessible and empowering. FG
Solar farms: What to consider
New solar farms, alongside other renewable energy technologies, present a fantastic opportunity to diversify income for farmers in the UK and Ireland. Ben Crawford, sheep farmer and new sites manager for RES, o ers advice... There are several factors to consider when determining whether a piece of land is suitable for solar farm development:
• Relatively at – Sites that are relatively at are the most suitable to develop, although land with a minor gradient can also be considered, depending on which direction the land slopes
landowners with neighbouring land to form a partnered project, increasing overall development size
• Grid connection – Only land that is relatively close to a grid connection, be that a substation or overhead line, is typically suitable for development. Working with development experts like RES will help assess if this is the case.
• Minimum acreage – The minimum acreage of land for a solar farm varies by location, however as a rough guide, we prefer to develop projects with a minimum of 50 acres. We can also seek multiple
Sheep are able to graze on the land the solar farm occupies, providing two streams of income from the same parcel of land. The solar farm is connected to the electricity grid, allowing the cheap electricity generated to be distributed to households and businesses across the country. For more, visit developmentsolaruki. res-group.com FG Sheep farmer and RES new sites manager Ben Crawford.
Keep in mind new restrictions in building developments
Thinking
barn?
of converting that
larger disused
If so, you may need to hurry –because if you want to keep that large space, you’ve only six months to start work.
From 20th May 2025, farmers looking to develop an old building under Class Q permitted development rights (PDR) must limit each dwelling space to only 150m2 – a mere third of the size currently permitted.
That means anyone wanting to develop a single bigger home must submit their application, nd
funding and begin work before that date – so need to act now.
“If you’ve buildings suitable for conversion, you need to get on with it,” says Cameron Mckenna of rural chartered surveyors Salter & Mckenna. “Currently, you can create a dwelling up to 465m2 which is a huge attractive home for buyers, or for you, or your children. But if you
apply after May to convert, say, a 450m2 barn, you’ll have to squeeze three properties into it to comply.”
These restrictions follow a change to Class Q PDR rules, which since 2015 have enabled farmers to convert agricultural buildings into residential use without a lengthy planning process or speci c access requirements. But the changes don’t just restrict the new homes’ size – it also requires access approval from highways. And building smaller homes will require more vehicles and generate more tra c movements per site, risking further highways interventions/objections.
The changes were introduced in May 2024 but a year’s grace means you can still create that larger dwelling if you apply, source your funding and start work by May 2025.
Yet this is possible, especially if you take advantage of fast-track funding solutions. Rural Asset Finance, for instance, is a non-bank, direct lender to farmers o ering xed-rate, xed term loans for developing old farm buildings. Crucially, it’s also a speedy one-stop shop managing fund management and all internal credit and legal
processes – meaning customers can often access funds within a week or two.
“As most of us come from farming families, we’re acutely aware of how important cash ow is,” says Rural Asset Finance CEO Matthew Smart. “Farmers wanting to take advantage of this short window for a barn conversion opportunity under Class Q need a friendly lender who understands farming, but can also work at speed.”
The new Class Q rules do o er new opportunities – although each dwelling can only be 150m2, farmers can now create ten homes instead of the previous ve, in a maximum collective oor area of 1,000m2. Obviously, points out Matthew, Rural Asset Finance can help with those bigger projects too.
“Farmers have so many diversi cation options, but they need a lender who knows what dayto-day farming is, what managing volatile cash ows is really like, who truly understands what you’re trying to do. Sometimes as a farmer you just want someone to listen to your idea and suggest an appropriate solution. We do.” FG
Using automation to boost your marketing
Automation in marketing is about streamlining customer interactions to enhance e ciency and engagement. For instance, automating welcome emails to new subscribers not only saves time but ensures immediate engagement. Use these tools to send tailored content like seasonal o ers or educational material about sustainable farming practices, which can keep your audience engaged and informed. Flame Marketing o ers some advice...
Lead magnets: Lead magnets help you to attract new email subscribers and grow your audience. These can include free guides or discount codes for rst purchases as incentives for customers to share their contact information. Lead magnets should be highly relevant to your audience's interests, ensuring they feel valued and catered to from the rst interaction.
Targeted communication: Segment your email list based on
customer behaviour
customer behaviour and preferences. This allows for more personalised communication, like sending speci c product recommendations or updates to segments that nd them most relevant. For example, if someone frequently purchases from your organic range, they might appreciate advanced notice of new additions to these products.
Customer journey: Set up automation for di erent stages of the customer journey. For a meat box subscription, automate emails that con rm subscription details, provide delivery updates, or even o er special promotions on additional products. These touchpoints can enhance the customer experience, making them feel continually supported and connected to your farm.
For farm diversi cation businesses, this means fewer lost opportunities and a more professional approach to marketing and sales. FG
Eco-friendly and aesthetically pleasing cabins
Timberspecs has been supplying log and wood homes since 1999, sourced from a very well managed forest in the Carpathian Mountains, Romania. Its partner companies ensure they hold the relevant documentation in line with Natura 2000 regulations.
Timber is taken from mature trees (not ancient) that are seasoned for durability, and a replacement tree programme is carried out and managed. Each structure is very individual in design features but all of the materials originate from a sustainable source, with cabins conforming to BS3632 to minimise their carbon footprint.
Additionally, the company says every structure involves as little ground disturbance as possible to preserve existing natural habitats.
Over the years it has ceased using concrete in favour of a layer of recycled brick dust on a levelled surface, upon which are sat Jack pads and beams or ground screws and beams. These can all be removed to leave no trace of any disturbance.
Each structure is thermally insulated and double glazed as standard to signi cantly reduce heat loss and reduce the need for additional heating. Most owners nd that that a low kilowatt log burner is more than su cient to do the job.
Cabins also conform to the UK Mobile Home Act, providing what Timberspecs says is a far superior mobile home to unsustainable metal and plastic structure – both in eco-credentials and aesthetics. FG
Cavity Wall Log
This
internally. Again vaulted or flat ngs, these have double or triple glazing, and are fully insulated throughout, as with all our cabins built to your design.
get a rough price guide calculate .00a square metre of floor delivered and erected i.e.14.6m x 8m = 100sq metres = £67 500.00 um size as a mobilehome is 20m 6.8m 66ft x 22ft.
07710 480259
Email: info@timberspecs.com
Hand Crafted Random Logs
These are cabins, built using hand crafted logs 220mm x internal walls where practical Or studwork and ace in ke hall ways insulated floors and roofs again fully double glazed me ongoing maintenance I s normal with these. Visually stunning to calculate a
A durable, eco solution to mud problems
Anywhere you would consider using concrete or hardcore, Mudcontrol Slabs are an ecologically sound, long-lasting and durable solution to access issues, Mudcontrol says.
Mudcontrol Slabs are a simple, DIY method of creating an easily removable hard-standing for people, animals and vehicles (they’re rated to 60+ tonnes) anywhere you have a mud problem.
A simple, robust and e ective solution, it can be installed quickly and without excessive ground prep or machinery to give you a long lasting and instant solution that can be left in place for decades or moved to a di erent location if your layout needs to change. All of this without burying your investment as with traditional methods like stone, concrete or hardcore.
Mudcontrol won the Land Leisure and Tourism Sustainability Award Winner last year and its company ethos is rooted in sustainability and longevity. The product is made from 100% recycled plastic.
Each slab measures 50 x 50 x 5.3cm and weighs 7kg (1 stone). They are the sub-base and base in one and are laid straight down on the ground, interlinking with adjacent slabs to provide a stable, self-supporting, free-draining surface.
Visit the company’s stand at the Farm Business Innovation Show (Hall 20, next to the CLA), where you can see the product and talk to the team about ground stabilisation and access issues. Or visit www. mudcontrol.co.uk, or Facebook and YouTube (@mudcontrol). FG
The new Pantera 7004 self-propelled sprayer comes with a tank size of 7000 litres (6,600 nominal) and boom widths up to 48 metres.
The new, weight-saving chassis design offers machine self-levelling and independent front to back track width adjustment, so more focus on ergonomics and comfort. Don’t get left behind; spraying technology is changing and the AMAZONE Pantera is leading the way in intelligent crop protection.
IDEAS FOR
track width driving helps minimise soil compaction.
PANTERA SPRAYERS ARE “BUILT TO WITHSTAND LIFE’S
UPS AND DOWNS”
Known for
its
longevity, one Pantera 4503 is now good as new after withstanding serious damage in the war in Ukraine.
Longevity and durability are just a couple of the words synonymous with the Amazone Pantera selfpropelled sprayer, according to the manufacturer – and its simplistic design concept makes for reliability and ease of maintenance and access.
On the front line
As with any piece of machinery, there are always occasional breakdowns or accidental damage – but perhaps not quite to the extent of one Pantera 4503 self-propelled sprayer, which su ered serious damage in autumn 2022. The agri-business, Persche trawnja GmbH, which is located in the Bohodukhiv region in Ukraine, was attacked by Russian troops, as were many other farms in the area, and its existing machinery eet was severely a ected. Local specialists were shocked at the sprayer’s condition and it appeared to be beyond repair, with extensive damage to the chassis, tanks and boom along with many other parts.
In spite of the potential nancial cost, the farmer, Volodymyr Reva, decided to repair it as much as possible and so the team at SC Amazone Ukraina took up the challenge of breathing life back into the machine. After an excellent repair job, the machine looks like new again and is back working in the eld – an impressive comeback and an example of the determination and resourcefulness of the agricultural sector.
“Staggering” tech
Although not every machine is subjected to quite that level of operational conditions, the Pantera was designed to withstand everyday ups and downs and since its introduction in 2010, the number of machines in the eld has grown
exponentially, especially since the introduction of the bigger capacity Pantera 7004, Amazone says.
The Pantera is now in its fourth generation, and even though it has only been on the market for just over a decade, the level of technology now on the machine is staggering in comparison to those early 4001s, the manufacturer continues. However, one thing that has remained constant is its extreme manoeuvrability and ease of handling. The longitudinal chassis system, which links the front wheel with its corresponding rear wheel, front to back, means that the track width can be adjusted on the move, both for safety reasons, as well as for switching between row crops and cereals, or when out contracting.
With a turning circle of just 4.5m, the intelligent four-wheel steer system gives the tightest of turning circles, yet the steering angle is restricted as the forward speed increases to reduce boom movement whilst driving in the tramline – thus taking the strain o the operator in their control of the steering wheel. The single range, hydrostatic drive gives spraying speeds of 0–30kph and speeds of up to 50kph on the road –a win-win all round, Amazone reckons.
For specialist operations, the Pantera 4504 as standard has an adjustable track width of 1.8–2.4m with an underbelly clearance of 1.2m; the W model increases the track width to 2.25–3.0m; and the H model adds variable underbelly clearance of 1.25 to 1.7m for working in tall crops – or, of course, as a mixture of both high and wide with the HW model.
levels within the cab due to the reduced engine revs. For those working in trickier conditions, the engine mapping can be changed on the move via the joystick to give increased response levels where required. For extreme areas, the Pantera+ gives 30% more climbing power due to its modi ed driveline.
With the introduction of the Pantera 7004, none of these features are lost, but the tank capacity is increased to give growers with bigger eld sizes or longer travelling distances from eld to farm, more potential output, the manufacturer explains. The 7004 keeps its longitudinal tandem chassis but includes the feature that the front and rear axles can be altered for track width individually. This means that if conditions in the eld are wet underfoot, the rear axle can be set to run in a track outside of the front axle reducing the ground pressure in the wheelings and improving traction. The left- and right-hand suspension struts are controlled individually so that the system selflevels in the eld increasing operator comfort and safety by altering the centre of gravity.
With boom widths from 21–48m, and a spray pack that mirrors the UX trailed sprayer range, the performance in every area of the Pantera in the eld is second to none, Amazone claims – boom ride, lling performance, ease of operation, comfort, cleaning, automated nozzle control, it has it all. The company concludes: Why not try a demonstration and see for yourself what a Pantera could do for your farming business, hopefully giving it an easier life than some have had to endure. FG
The intelligent engine management system ensures that there is su cient power when necessary, yet diesel consumption is kept to a minimum. This power on demand system doesn’t just apply to the Pantera when it is on the road but also when in the eld, also a bene t to noise
Sprayer transforms farm’s operations
At W. H. Gittins & Sons, the integration of the Agrifac Condor Vanguard into their farming operations has marked a signi cant shift in e ciency, comfort, and work-life balance.
Sam Dutton, manager at W. H. Gittins & Sons, explains: "The choice of 25cm nozzle spacing and the inclusion of the PWFM system, which o ers individual nozzle control, have drastically reduced chemical overlap, leading to substantial savings. Additionally, the Condor Vanguard’s 15% reduction in fuel consumption per hour compared to previous equipment has made the investment economically sound.”
Steven Forbes, the head sprayer operator, manages around 4,000 acres and praises the machine’s reliability and comfort. He has
seen a remarkable improvement in productivity, now able to cover 400 acres by mid-afternoon, leaving time for personal activities. The machine’s 288hp engine, smooth operation over tough terrains, and easy maintenance have exceeded their expectations. "I even have time left to play cricket with my kids!" he says. Who wouldn’t want that kind of e ciency and extra time in their day?”
The robust support from SOS Agricultural in Shrewsbury has only bolstered their con dence. “For anyone considering an Agrifac, I recommend a demo. The Condor Vanguard is more than just a sprayer; it’s a comprehensive solution that enhances productivity and comfort, transforming daily operations,” says Steven. FG
Knight enhances tech o ering for latest sprayers
Knight Trailblazer trailed sprayers (3,600–12,000 litres/24–40m) connect to any Isobus tractor’s terminal or Knight’s Touch 800/1200. An automated lling system works from the cab or lling station. Spec includes self-levelling air suspension and steering axle with gyroscopic tracking, plus automatic hillside correction.
MAXImizer PRO minimises boom pipework for faster response and minimal retained uid, with a reduction of 21% cutting retained volume by 7.5 litres on a 36m/5,200litre Trailblazer TB5200.
Recent developments include KINS air-actuated nozzle switching technology. Single, triple or quin nozzle bodies can be speci ed. Each group of four bodies incorporates a Smart Module con gurable to provide section or individual nozzle switching.
Vario Select nozzle automation uses combinations of four di erent capacity nozzles simultaneously on each body to provide up to 16 application rates up to 800 litres/ min. Also suited to spot spraying in conjunction with prescription maps, it allows selection of the required
application rate and droplet size, minimum/maximum pressures and working speed range, and then selects the most suitable nozzles.
Vario Select also governs exible rate control, and provides CurveControl turn compensation through gyroscope measurement and instant switching between nozzle types to compensate for inner and outer nozzles’ di erent speeds when turning. Knight’s 4D Active Boom Control provides fast ground contour following and consistent nozzle height.
All this technology is also available in the Knight 2400 series of 3,500–6,000-litre/24–40m selfpropelled sprayers. FG
20-year anniversary for sprayer manufacturer
GM-R Sprayers is celebrating 20 years of being involved in the manufacture of trailed cropsprayers. Since 2005, with the rst pre-production model built in the UK, it was quickly realised that a production facility to build numbers and maintain quality control was needed.
In 2006, in collaboration with GM-R’s partners in Slovakia, the heritage of today’s sprayers was born. Initially a lot of components were shipped from the UK to the production facility and whole machines shipped back to the UK.
GM-R Sprayers then made changes to suit customer requirements e.g. electronic controllers, GPS guidance auto shuto , wheels sizes etc.
The same trailed sprayers are still sold throughout the old Eastern European countries (some 4,900 to date, or ve a week on average). Over time the factory
has expanded considerably and GM-R says it is now by far the biggest independent crop sprayer manufacturer in these countries.
Large stocks of spare parts are held at Buxhall with express 48-hour delivery from Slovakia, keeping GM-R operational as quickly as possible.
The GM-R GX-Trail is well up on the leader board, the most popular being the 4,000-litre 24m in twoor three-fold boom con guration.
GM-R Sprayers says it has a reputation for reliability and accuracy, with sprayers operating safely and e ciently to make the most of expensive fertilisers and plant protection products.
For more information visit www.gm-rsprayers.co.uk FG
Safe chemical stores –a key investment
Safety is paramount in farming, especially when it comes to storing hazardous chemicals. Without proper storage, the risks of spills, contamination, and noncompliance with regulations can jeopardise your livelihood. That’s why investing in a secure bunded chemical store is essential for every farm.
A bunded chemical store is a specialised storage unit designed to be resistant to re, capable of retaining leakage/spillage (e.g. if containers were to melt in a re), dry, frost-free, adequately ventilated and secure against unauthorised access. Security ensures that chemicals are safely contained, reducing the risk of environmental damage and safeguarding your crops, livestock, and workers.
bunded storage, which can result in reduced premiums.
Beyond safety, bunded chemical stores help you comply with UK HSE regulations regarding hazardous materials. By choosing a compliant storage solution, you avoid potential nes and penalties, ensuring peace of mind. Additionally, many insurance providers recognise the value of
Billie Box o ers high-quality bunded chemical stores converted from shipping containers, tailored to the needs of modern farmers. Its stores are built to last, providing reliable protection and regulatory compliance. With customisable options and top-notch customer service, the company says it is here to support your farm’s safety needs.
Don’t leave your farm’s safety to chance. Contact the company directly or visit www. chemicalstorage4farmers.co.uk to learn more about its bunded chemical stores and secure the protection your farm deserves. FG
Contact: Simon Bon eld, General Sales Manager MANNS Norfolk and Halesworth on 07827 873671 or MANNS Saxham Tel:01284 777700 manns.claas-dealer.co.uk stewart-trailers.co.uk
Astley
•Eight bedroom
•Indoor
•Part
•Large plot
•Quiet location within popular village in Leicestershire
Managing director Julie Goulding julie@farmersguide.co.uk
Director Greg Goulding greg@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 694454
Editor Rachel Hicks rachel.hicks@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 694459
Deputy editor/Livestock editor Sarah Kidby sarah.kidby@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 694450
Machinery editor Neale Byart neale.byart@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 691888
Machinery contributor David Williams david@farmersguide.co.uk
Multiplatform journalist Aleksandra Cupriak aleksandra@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 691888
Sales director Zohra Mitchell zohra.mitchell@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 691888
Senior sales executive Jana Moyes jana@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 694457
Senior sales executive Joanna Blower joanna@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 694452
Sales executive William Taylor will.taylor@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 691888
Sales executive Rosanna Sweet rosanna.sweet@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 691888
Sales executive Alex Coe alex.coe@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 691888
Classi ed sales manager Nicki Procter nicki@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 694456
Classi ed sales executive Samantha Wilson samantha@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 694455
Marketing manager K.M Sharp km@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 691888
Marketing executive Patrick Over patrick.over@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 691888
Publishing assistant Kat Morton kat.morton@farmersguide.co.uk 01473 691888
your
To post, see coupon on page 202
Deadline for inclusion in the November 2024 issue is 7th October 2024
On Instructions from P F Charter & Partner At Chapmans Farm, Bourn, Cambridgeshire CB23 2SZ
On Thursday 26th September 2024 at 10.30am
Viewing from 10am until 4pm on Wednesday 25th September 2024
Including: Combine Harvester: John Deere T660i Premium with 730x 30f header (23); Tractors: John Deere 8360RT AutoPowr (12), John Deere 6215R AutoPowr (18), John Deere 6145R CommandPro (22), John Deere 6125R AutoQuad (15); Materials Handler and Attachments: Kramer KT407 EcoSpeed (22), Cherry Products grain bucket, Strimech grain bucket (08), Cherry Products grain pusher; Vehicle: Mitsubishi L200 pickup (10); Trailers: Marshall QM14 grain (14), Easterby ET12 grain (00); Implements: John Deere M740i 30m trailed sprayer (20), Cousins Contour 10m Cambridge rolls, Kverneland TS 6m tine drill (20), Simba Great Plains 6.6m Double Press (12), Kuhn HR6002DR power harrow, Kongskilde Vibro Till 2800 6m springtine, Sumo Multipress 4.6m, Sumo Trio 3, Kverneland LO 7f on-land/in furrow rev plough, Bomford Turner Kestrel 5.0 Evo hedgecutter (18), McConnel Twose Tornado Elite ofset 2.2m fail; Miscellaneous: John Deere 900kg, 1150kg, 1550kg front weights, Enduramaxx 10,000l water tank, Qty various implement spares, Qty workshop equipment, tools etc.
On Instructions from W B Shipman & Sons
At Croxton Lodge Farm, Knipton Road, Branston, Grantham NG32 1RT
On Thursday 10th October 2024 at 10:30am
Viewing from 10am until 4pm on Wednesday 9th October 2024
Including Tractors: New Holland T7.210 50Kph
Vehicles: Volkswagen Golf Estate (09), Honda Foreman 400 quad; Trailers: Bailey 14t grain (01), Bailey 11t grain (88), Ken Wootton 11t grain, Bailey 25f bale (04), Big K 20f 4-wheel bale, 22,000l, 18,000l and 9,000l stainless steel tankers, Ifor Williams LM146G fat bed, Ranch 12f livestock (95); Implements: Bomford Hawk Evo 6.0 hedge cutter, KRM 2.6m fail, Dowdeswell DPH3 power harrow, Dowdeswell DP7D2 5f rev plough, Cousins single leg mole plough; Livestock Equipment: Bateman, IAE and Tubar cattle crushes, misc. metal gates hurdles, ring feeders and sundries etc. Misc Equipment & Spares: Quantity vintage equipment, implement spares, workshop equipment, grain aeration pedestals etc.
On Instructions from from T R West At Home Farm, Conington, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE7 3FZ
On Thursday 3rd October 2024 at 10:30am
Viewing from 10am until 4pm on Wednesday 2nd October 2024
On Instructions from A F Pinkerton and Partners At Blackbirds Farm, Aldenham, Hertfordshire WD25 8BS
On Wednesday 16th October 2024 at 10:30am Viewing from 10am until 4pm on Tuesday 15th October 2024
Including: Combine Harvester and Header: Claas Lexion 770 Terra Trac APS Hybrid with Vario 1050 header (15), Macdon FD70 35f (08); Tractors: Claas Xerion 3800 Trac (09), JCB Fastrac 4220 (16); Vehicle: DAF 45/150 fuel tanker; Trailers: K-Two 16t grain (97), Bunning Lowlander 150 manure spreader (04), 2No Major Tandem 3500 tankers (15 & 16), King swan neck trailer, various fat bed bale trailers etc; Cultivation Equipment & Implements: Chafer Sentry 5000 36m trailed sprayer (10), Horsch Simba Pronto 6DC drill (10), Simba Solo 4.5m (00), Vaderstad NZ 6m, Simba Series 2b 10f discs, Lemken Variowidth 10f semi-mounted, Gregoire Besson 7f semi-mounted; Misc Equipment: John Deere 900kg & 1150kg weight blocks, Agriweld 2t weight block, various wheels and tyres, quantity slurry and irrigation equipment, water and fuel tanks, equipment and spares etc.
Including: Combine Harvester: John Deere 9780i CTS with 25f header (07); Tractors: John Deere 6190R AutoQuad (13), John Deere 6430 Premium PowerQuad (09); Materials Handler and Attachments: Manitou MLT 634-120PS, Cherry Products grain bucket (08), Proforge grain pusher (20); Implements: John Deere 732 24m trailed sprayer (07), Kverneland TS 6 tine drill (19), Great Plains Simba Cultipress 3.3m trailed (14), Simba X-Press with ST bar 3m (06), Sumo Trio 3m (09), Kuhn Axis 40.1 24m fertiliser spreader (12), Kuhn HR4002D 4m power harrow (08), Dowdeswell DP7E 6f rev plough, Spearhead ZA08 3m fail mower (20), Michael Moore single leg mole plough; Miscellaneous: 2No John Deere 900kg front weights, Qty grain pedestals with fans, Enduramaxx 7,000l water tank, Qty various implement spares, workshop equipment, tools etc. For further details contact George Watchorn or Jon Clampin from our St Neots Ofice
Jon Clampin St Neots 07717 512498 jon.clampin@brown-co.com George Watchorn St Neots 07919 015675 george.watchorn@brown-co.com
ON SITE AUCTION
On Instructions from R C Setchfeld Ltd
At Unit 10 Withambrook Industrial Park, Grantham NG31 9ST
On Saturday 5th October 2024 at 10am
Viewing from 10am until 3pm on Friday 4th October 2024 OF
Including: Materials
TF27.6
In conjunction with
JCB 542-70 Agri-Super (20), JCB 531-70 (20), Manitou MLT 630-115 Elite (22); Tractors: JCB 4220 Fastrac (20), Kioti RX7330 4WD c/w power loader (24), Kioti DK 6020 HST 4WD c/w loader, Kioti CX 2510 HST 4WD, Kubota B1750 4WD; Loading Shovel: Blanche TW36 Mini 4WD; Vehicles: Ford Ranger 2.2 4WD (2016), Ford Transit Connect + Custom diesel vans (17-23), RTV’s & ATV’s: Kioti 2400 RTV (24), Kawasaki petrol 4WD mule; Trailers: Ifor Williams single axle transport, Tow Ability 16f exhibition trailer; Hedgecutters: Bomford Protrim Kestrel EVOS 5.7 Power Plus (23); Mowers: Bomford Tri-Way 4600 trailed batwing topper, Bomford 3m Mounted Flail, Delmorino 2.7m Mounted Flail, Wessex AFX 160 Trailed RTV fail, Winton mounted triple rotor fnishing, Winton mounted mini fail, Countax K1850 petrol ride on; Buckets: Strimech X Form 2.7m, Strimech X Form 2.3m Heavy Duty, Cherry Products 2.1m3, Strimech 8f 3m3 Pro-Ag; Attachments: Strimech Pro-Ag heavy duty FYM grab, Sanderson FYM grab, Browns bale squeeze, Twin tine bale spike, LWC steel man cage, Various headstocks; Misc. Equipment & Spares: Workshop & display racking, JCB 8008 compact excavator, Qty of workshop equipment to include - spanner and socket sets, drill bits, flters, hoses, pipes, fttings, washers, wiper blades, balls and pins, bearings, PTO’s, lubricants, paints etc.
For further details contact James Walton & Anita Riggall from our Humber Ofice or Bagshaws (01889 562811) - Mark Elliott (mark.elliott@bagshaws.com) & Olivia Fernihough (olivia.fernihough@bagshaws.com).
ON SITE AUCTION
On Instructions from A N, S E & S R Evans At Spittal Cross Farm, Spittal, Haverfordwest SA62 5DB
On Friday 18th October at 10:30am Viewing from 10am until 3pm on Thursday 17th October 2024
Including: Tractors: Case IH 150 Maxxum (22), New Holland T7.230 (22), Claas 630 Arion (22), JCB 419S Loading Shovel (21), JCB 407 Agri Loader (20), Kawasaki Mule Pro-DX (22), Bobman Selfoad (19); Forage Harvester: Claas Jaguar 850 (20), Sprayer: Amazone Pantera 4502, 36m (19); Trailers: SlurryKat 14t F-line Silage Trailer (21), Broughan Engineering 30f Bale Trailer; Livestock Equipment: Kuhn Primor 3570M Straw Blower & Feeder (17), HiSpec T20 Vertical Auger Feeder (16), Stallion Mobile Milk Mixer, IAE Cattle Crush c/w Head Scoop, Wopa Foot Trimming Crush; Equipment & Implements: Amazone KG5001-2 Folding Power Harrow (22), Dalbo Maxiroll 630 Greenline Rolls (17), Claas 3200F Corto Profl Front Mounted Mower (15), Claas 310N Corto Rear Mounted Mower (13), Claas 2900 Liner Business Twin Rotor Rake (22) and Workshop & Parlour Equipment etc.
OTHER UPCOMING AUCTIONS:
PERTENHALL, BEDFORDSHIRE 24TH OCTOBER 2024
SPALDING, LINCOLNSHIRE 31ST OCTOBER 2024
NEWARK VINTAGE AUCTION 9TH NOVEMBER 2024
COUNTESTHORPE, LEICESTERSHIRE 14TH NOVEMBER 2024
In conjunction with John Nicholas | 07812 127820
ST NEOTS, BEDFORDSHIRE 23RD NOVEMBER 2024
For further details on our Spittal auction, contact:For further details on our Grantham auction, contact:
Tom Birks Banbury 07919 015677 tom.birks@brown-co.com
Lucy Elcock Banbury 07500 124758 lucy.elcock@brown-co.com
James Walton Humber 07920 496350 james.walton@brown-co.com
Anita Riggall Humber 07966 597930 anita.riggall@brown-co.com
SCAN THE CODE TO VIEW OUR AUCTION CALENDAR
Cedar Farm, Alderton, Woodbridge, Su olk, IP12 3BB On behalf of A W Mortier (Farms) Ltd due to sale of the farm
BIDDING
Via www.i-bidder.com and www.bidspotter.co.uk
Opens 9am, Wednesday 9th October
Closes from 9am, Wednesday 16th October
VIEWING 9am to 4pm, ursday 10th, Friday 11th and Saturday 12th October
Thursday 17th October at 11.00am
Silverlake Farm, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 6SN
On behalf of John Swain Limited (retring)
Genuine Dispersal of Combine, Self Propelled Sprayer, 4 Tractors, 2 JCB Telehandlers, Forklif, Pick-Up, Arable Machinery, Livestock Equipment, etc. 2017 Claas Lexion 650 Combine with Vario 770 Header, Shelbourne Reynolds RSD20 Stripper Header, 2011 Bateman RB17 (3,708hrs) Sprayer, 2019 Massey Ferguson 7720S Dyna6 (2,320hrs) & 7718 Dyna6 (2,880hrs), 2016 New Holland T7.210 (3,610hrs) & T7.200 (4,365hrs) Tractors, 2012 JCB 531-70 (2,145hrs) & 1997 527-58 Telehandlers, 2010 Isuzu Rodeo Pick-Up, Doosan Pro5 18 Forklif, McConnel 8.2m & 6.3m Cambridge Rollers, Twose & Watson 10’ Tandem Rollers, KRM Sola Ares 2713 Drill, Vaderstad NZ 6m Cultvator, Kuhn HR 4004 Hyd. Folding Power Harrow, KV DXA 4.7m Trailed Discs, KV LD85 5f Rev Plough, Kuhn Vari-Master 153 5f Rev Plough, McConnel 3m Shakerator, Kverneland TL Geospread Fertliser Spreader, McConnel Magnum Euro 280 Hyd Ofset Topper, Bomford Hawk 6m Hedgecuter, Kuhn FC313 TG Mower Conditoner, 2 x Stewart 16-21L Grain Trailers, Marshall BC25 Bale Trailer, Catle Hurdles, Atachments (Q-Fit), Machine Spares, Workshop Items, Weights, Wheels, etc.
Online bidding available through symondsandsampson.co.uk
Contact Greg Ridout: 01935 382909/07817 517467
ON FARM DISPERSAL SALE OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT
Due to retirement on behalf of D Haxby (Farms) Ltd Manor Farm, Walmsgate, Louth, LN11 8QN Friday 27th September 2024 at 11am Viewing Thursday 26th September 2024 10am - 3pm
Tractors and Machines: 2016 Claas Lexion 620 Combine Harvester with 680 Vario Header c/w Side Knife (1125 engine hrs), 2021 John Deere 6215R 50kph autopower with front weights (1338hrs), 2019 John Deere 6250R 50kph autopower with front linkage & front weights (1925hrs), Suzuki Eiger Quadrunner Equipment: 2019 Horsch Sprinter 6ST 6m Drill (2 Hoppers), 2014 John Deere M732i 24m Trailed Sprayer, 2018 Vaderstad Ferox FX 600 6m Cultivator, 2017 Kvernland Exacta TL ‘GEO SPREAD’ Fertiliser Spreader, 2015 12.3m DAL-BO Compact 1230 Cambridge Rolls, 2013 Vaderstad Rexius RST 450 Twin Press, 2020 Vaderstad 4m Topdown 400, 2015 Lemkin Jewel 8 -6 Furrow Plough, Ransoms Three Leg Flat Lift c/w Cousins Packer, Saper Superflow 3m Drag, 2013 Bailey Twin Axle 16t Grain Trailer with Hydraulic Back Door, 14t Wooton Twin Axle Grain Trailer with Hydraulic Back Door, low loader trailer, 2022 Kuhn TBES 262 Topper, 2017 Kuhn Multi-Longer GII Hedge Trimmer, Safety Cage, 2020 Suton Bag Lifter.
Quantity of other farm equipment and workshop tools and equipment etc.
For more information contact Russell on 07966 104101 or Ed on 07395 570303 or auctions@masonsandpartners.co.uk
View catalogue online louthmarket.co.uk
To Include:
COMBINE: 2009 Massey Ferguson 7282 AL with 25ft header (1849 engine hours).
TRACTORS: 2019 Massey Ferguson 5713SL Dyna-4 (1449 hours), 2017 Massey Ferguson 7720 Dyna-6 (4412 hours), 1980 Massey Ferguson 575 (6085 hours).
TRAILERS: Bailey 11t grain trailer (1991), Wootton 9t grain trailer, Scott 10ft plant trailer, Aluminium lorry body trailer.
CULTIVATION: Spaldings 90/150 3 leg subsoiler, Grange Machinery 4m 8 leg buster, Lemken Variopal 8 5 furrow reversible plough, Simba 4.6m double press, Soucha 13ft discs, Simba VTT4.5FW drag, Kuhn HR4003 (2003), He-Va 820 SAT System rolls.
IMPLEMENTS & EQUIPMENT: Kuhn Axis 30.1 (2008), Berthoud 1600 24m sprayer, Outcast Duo Techneat slug pelleter.
GRASSLAND EQUIPMENT: John Deere 550 round baler, New Holland 276 Super Hayliner baler.
MISCELLANEOUS: McConnel Power Arm 80, Kraftech KT6500W generator, Ingersoll Rand mobile compressor, 1000l towable diesel bowser, Ad-Blue tank, ScatterBird gas bangers, Parmiter post knocker, IBC containers, Numerous grain laterals, plough/cultivator spares, Stocks Duals, Wheels, Tyres, Scaffold Tower, Spanners, Wrenches, Workshop equipment, etc, etc.
VINTAGE: Horse harnesses, Plough, Cast iron pig troughs, Potato chitting trays.
OTHER: Hymac 360 for spares, Lorry body container.
Thursday 10th October 2024 – please note 1-00pm start time In all about 200 Lots – Catalogues available to download three weeks beforehand
POLARIS Ranger 6 wheel drive, petrol, low hours. £3,500. R Hopkinson Tel 07976 424263 (Lincolnshire)
HONDA 520 quad bike, 2019. £4,500. K Pugh Tel 07977 912970/01694 771258 (Shropshire)
JOHN Deere 855 Gator, 2013, 1624hrs, fully glazed cab, p/ steering, manual tip & diff lock, alloy wheels, almost new tyres, LED w/lights, beacon, newly fitted primary clutch, tow bar (rear/ front), full service 20hrs ago, excellent. £9,000 no VAT. R Lintott Tel 07799 473374 (Cornwall)
PANTHER 2wd 100cc fun bike, petrol engine, needs a bit of TLC. £35. V Smith Tel 07876 770545 (Warwickshire)
BALERS & BALE HANDLING
MASSEY Ferguson 139SB, 2004, finished baling straw last week, for sale as not doing any more small bales, good condition. £6,500+VAT. S Matthews Tel 07885 622209 (Bedfordshire)
KRONE Big Pack 120 70 high speed big baler, 2012, 55,500 bales, owned from new, very good condition. £35,000. J Brocksopp Tel 07890 567794 (South Yorkshire)
RWM150 mid range waste baler, in working order, perfect for dry paper, cardboard & plastic materials, to create recyclable bales of up to 150kg. £2,000 ono. A Brankley Tel 07977 042084 (East Yorkshire)
LISTER bale elevator, stored under cover for the last 30yrs at least, all seems present & correct, but the air has gone missing from the tyres! Open to offers. R Copley Tel 07814 499124 (Nottinghamshire)
BALE spike, barely used & as good as new. E Bunting Tel 07889 640199 (Essex)
TEAGLE Tomahawk 8100 straw chopper, 2015, but had very little use, good condition. £6,000+VAT. A Burgess Tel 07889 640457 (Northamptonshire)
LOGIC small bale chaser, very tidy for age, first to see will buy.
£500 ono. J Sutherton Tel 07765 537608 (South Yorkshire)
BALE grab, just had new hydraulic pipes, good condition. £1,500 ono. J Sutherton Tel 07765 537608 (South Yorkshire)
FLAT 8 bale grab, suit JCB Q fit, photos available via WhatsApp. £300. A Dochard Tel 07749 951898 (Norfolk)
INTERNATIONAL B47 square baler, in good used condition, not been used in two years, always sheeted or shed stored. £950. S Burbidge Tel 07517 386285 (Lincolnshire)
GOLD Strand fine bale twine, 13 packs, new & unused. £235 ono. C Law Tel 07850 877794 (Leicestershire)
COOKS flat 8 sledge, tidy order. £650 no VAT. M Lewis Tel 07422 668416 (Powys)
NEW Holland 648 Crop Cutter belt round baler, 2000, approx 60000 bales, net wrap. £3,500 ovno. M Lewis Tel 07422 668416 (Powys)
BEET EQUIPMENT
CTM 504, not used since totally refurbished, stored under cover, all in very good order. £8,000+VAT. B Rutterford Tel 07836 777595 (Suffolk)
HAWE sugar beet chaser, holds 40cu/m, roughly 25T, tri-axle with floating back axle to aid steering, barn stored, old trace was wearing so we have new replacement which was £11k, ideal for Maus heaps, loading lorries or trailers. £47,500+VAT ono. J Flatt Tel 07739 020147 (Suffolk)
AB12
Tel 07516 408321 (Norfolk)
Dragon B2 straw/wood burner, 4 small bales size, c/w fan & chimney parts. Offers. D Thompson Tel 07905 157424/01234 870501 (Bedfordshire)
SAWN timber posts, 7' long x 3" x 3", approx 60 pieces. C Newton Tel 07940
CLAAS EASTERN
PG18 TANKER
£55,000
2008, 24m, twin axle, front sap arm, auto grease
RJ-664226.A
HORSCH AVATAR 6.16 SD POA 2021, grain & fert, seed flow sensors, VF710/50R26.5 Cargoxbib
HS-21271698.B
LEMKEN EUROPAL 8 £13,800 2013, 6+1, W52 bodies, on land/ in furrow
LE-386182
CLAAS LEXION 600 £69,500 2007, 10.5 Vario header, 4792 eng/3481 drum hrs, 900/60R32 fronts, 600/55-22.5 rears
CL-58900501.B
HORSCH LEEB PT 280 £149,000 2019, induction bowl, boom lights, Sprayguard covers, Acimo evolution seat, LED lights
HS-25000309.A
CATERPILLAR 924 K
£59,000 2014, 5858 eng hrs, 750/65R26 fronts, 750/65R26 rears, 750/65R26 tyres 65%, 5858hrs, 40kph CP-0924KAPWR02741
KAWECO PROFI 2-23 £75,000 2019, tri axle hyd axle suspension, 16000L/min vacuum pump, 8” fill arm, mount for Vogelsang applicator KC-XNF1316AAKH000523
DEUTZ C9306 TSB £105,000 2019, 30kph, 1157 eng/910 drum hrs, 800/65R32 fronts, 500/70R24 rears
DZ-6229018846
CLAAS AXION 870 £98,000 2018, 50kph, 3561 eng hrs, 600/70R30 fronts, 650/85R38 rears, 5 spools
CL-A6100764.A
CLAAS ARION 430 £43,000 40kph, 110hp, 340/85R28 fronts, 420/85R38 rears, 2 spools, FL120 loader CL-A4301946.A
SANDS HORIZON 6000 £55,000 2018, washdown kit, hyd fast fill pump, boom lights
SAN-HRZ111
KNIGHT EUA 4000 £12,500 2008, induction bowl, teejet triplet with dribble bars
ZA-024101820
LEMKEN SOLITAIR 8/400 £17,000 2014/2009, Solitair (2009), marker arms, pre em, Zirkon 10/400 (2014)
LE-272761
VICON EXTRA 124 £4,100 2018, triple blade top hats, plain bar mower, belt driven
VI-KT476874
CLAAS ARION 630 CIS+ £69,500 2019, 50kph, 165hp, 2611 eng hrs, 480/65R28 fronts, 600/65R38 rears, 3 spools CL-A7603669.A
HORSCH PRONTO 6 DC £82,000 2021, levelling board, pre emergence markers, worklights, Horsch Connect, 1883ha HS-21341253.A
HORSCH AVATAR 4.16SD £69,750 2019, seed & fertiliser direct drill
HS-2133a1357.A
CLAAS ARION 630 £67,000 2020, Hexashift Stage V Cebis 50kph, 177hp, 1897 eng hrs, 480/70R28 fronts, 580/70R38 rears CL-A9600487.A
BATEMAN RB35 32M £25,000 2008, with section control
OT-2008106
JCB 538-60 AGRI SUPER £65,000 2021, 2763 eng hrs, 460/70 R24 hydraulic carriage JC-JCB5XJOYKM3064174
HORSCH JOKER 6 CT £36,000 2019, roll pack packer, hyd depth control, Vogelsang Macerator, as new SR00007400
BAUER POLY 191+ £68,000 2017, 19,100L capacity, tyre inflation, 710/55/30.5 tyres, Isobus, 18m Vogelsang boom OT-VA902806HVB37232
CLAAS 218 MEGA £25,000 1994, 6m standard cutterbar 4159 eng hrs, 30.5R32 fronts, 440-22.5 rears
CL-09450693
CLAAS ARION 650 £44,950 2016, 40kph, 185hp, 6000 eng hrs, 16.9R28 fronts, 20.8R38 rears, 3 spools
CL-A3607237.A
KRONE BIG X 770 4WD £139,000 2017,
fertiliser spreader F2WS, 3200L – well cared for
Demo Fransgard TI5000 ted/windrow/spread multi use rake This is a one off special price – don’t miss out! £4,950
Opico gas fired drier TOP-FLO550 on farm – hardly used
2021 Chapman TH2 tow rake for quad/UTV, electric d/control – as new
Replacement headstocks JCB, Merlo, Manitou – enquire for details
Selection of new chain harrows mounted or trailed – excellent value
Bearcat 70080 petrol chipper/shredder 3” capacity
New shopsoiled Portequip feeders beef/calf/pig – at knockout price
2022 KRM 6m SM-P direct drill, full Isobus – superb condition, 30 acres only –change of policy – exceptional bargain £30,000
Full sets of new wheels/tyres for Deutz 7/5/4 series tractors
Good selection of used rowcrop wheels complete – at keen prices
Complete set of 4m HeVa shatter board, shopsoiled, unused – nett price
Selection of buckets, bale handlers, pallet forks – ex stock
Shopsoiled Strimech toe tip bucket, suit Merlo – genuine low price
Fleming hyd transport boxes/toppers/yard scrapers – ex stock
McCormick TTX Series – scrapping for spares – cab, back end, bonnet, etc
Lishman pedestals/probes & fans – available for corn stores at cheap prices
Ariens 34 zero turn ride-on mower – superb condition – selling for client £2,450 Toro/Hayter battery & petrol engine mowers – to clear at knockout prices
CASE CT5080 (same as New Holland TX68), 2002, 24' cut with auto levelling, tandem axle trolley, 3348 engine/2687 drum hrs, self levelling sieves & chopper, very good condition, just completed harvest this year. £33,000+VAT. G Stowell Tel 07880 968638 (Somerset)
in
1999 John Deere 2256, engine hrs 3292, drum hrs 2852, c/w 816 header, chopper & chaff spreader, good working order, always stored under cover, genuine reason for sale. £28,950+VAT ono. F Newbold Tel 07774 198667 (Derbyshire)
&
JOHN Deere T670i, 1766 engine/1266 drum hrs, 30' header with trolley & rape extension, not used in 2024 harvest, clean well maintained machine.
£76,000+VAT ovno. R Garner Tel 07767 418452 (Norfolk)
MASSEY Ferguson Activa 7244, 16' header & trailer, 5 straw walker so only just over 10' wide wheel base, 2005 with only 2008 eng hrs, just finished harvest with it, genuine reason for sale.
£30,000+VAT ono. D Lunn Tel 07941 072957 (Cambridgeshire)
JOHN Deere S690i, 2016, 30’ header, 1200 drum/1850 engine hrs, tracks, excellent condition throughout.
£155,000+VAT. B Wilson Tel 07875 622600 (Hertfordshire)
DIGGERS / DOZERS / DUMPERS
VOLVO 360 mini digger, 2600kg, engine not fitted, Model 281, for spares or repair. £950 ono. K Ollett Tel 07753 859881 (Suffolk)
2002 John Deere 9780 CTS Hillmaster, low drum hrs (1949) & a 22' header with side knife available, this is a simple high output machine sold due to a change in farming system.
£32,000+VAT. D Powell Tel 07773 393461 (Shropshire)
CLAAS Dominator 96, 1985, 13' header, Merc engine, air con, new hyd pump, 3459hrs, chopper, barn stored, done small acreage the last 15yrs, vgc. £5,000+VAT. J Harper Tel 07717 698298 (Cambridgeshire)
JOHN Deere 9640 WTS Hillmaster, 2003, c/w 620R header & trailer, 2249 drum/3420 engine hrs, very good condition, always dry stored, located near Stratford Upon Avon. £55,000+VAT. J Suffield Tel 01789 488676 (Warwickshire)
COMPRESSORS
ATLAS compressor with Yanmar diesel engine. £2,000. R Hopkinson Tel 07976 424263 (Lincolnshire)
CROP PROTECTION
GAS crow banger, working order. J Ramsey Tel 01653 628366 (North Yorkshire)
Spare parts for diggers, dumpers & forklifts Quality spares at discounted prices Over 16,000,000 references Instant prices, stock availability & product details
HONDA tracked power barrow, petrol, 2 forward gears, 1 reverse, turns & drives as it should, fair condition, good tracks & tipping body removes for a flat deck. £1,400+VAT ono. R King Tel 07929 424474 (Nottinghamshire) 13-104339
01206 484011
2017 Case CX130D excavator, just shy of 12,500hrs, twin lock quick hitch, hammer & rotation lines, 180 cameras, a/c, no play in pins, good cond, well maintained, serviced regularly, running gear good, track pads worn, c/w 3 buckets. £29,000+VAT ono. E Hancock Tel 07598 887568 (Derbyshire)
Quality used equipment specialist in East Anglia & East Midlands! Over 700 used machinery items on our website: benburgess.co.uk
JD 8RX410 ’23, 379 hrs, E-AutoPowr 40k, 5 ESCVs, ex-demo, CommandPro
£382,000 REF: 81088470
JD 7R350 ’23, 328 hrs, AutoPowr 50k, CommandPro, 5 ESCVs, IPM £250,000 REF: A1026059
Kramer KT557, ‘22, 2318 hrs, EcoSpeed Pro 40k, ex-hire, reverse fan, autolube
£79,000 REF: 21082433
Vaderstad NZ Extreme ’23, ex-demo, 12.5 m width, unbraked, scrapers
£109,750 REF: 11088968
Vaderstad Tempo L 12 ’23, new, 12 row drill, e-control, hyd quick coupling
£127,000 REF: 91089015
JD 8RX410 ’23, 1123 hrs, E23 40k, 5 ESCVs, hyd top link, IPM
£330,000 REF: 81096465
JD 7R350 ’22, 1388 hrs, AutoPowr 50k, CommandPro, 5 ESCVs, wheel weights
£POA REF: 11085317
Kramer KT407, ‘23, 618 hrs, EcoSpeed 40k, ex-hire, kramer headstock
£87,000 REF: 11088820
Vaderstad Carrier XT625 ’23, new, aggressive disc system, cross-cutter knife
£65,000 REF: 21090721
KUHN Aurock 6000 ’22, ex-demo, direct drill, 32 row, 6 wheel transport carrier
£79,500 REF: 21090316
JD 8R410 ’23, 955 hrs, E23 50k, cab susp, air seat, 5 prem ESCVs, ILS £239,500 REF: 11088837
JD 8R370 ’23, 1635 hrs, AutoPowr 50K, CommandPro, hydraulic & air brakes £210,000 REF: 71100495
JD 7R330 ’23, 701 hrs, ex-hire, AutoPowr 50k, 5 premium ESCVs, front hitch
£225,000 REF: 91096458
Kramer KT407, ‘22, 2445 hrs, EcoSpeed 40k, manitou headstock
£67,000 REF: 21082433
Vaderstad Carrier ’15, 5.2m cultivator, front 590mm, rear 600mm, double u ring
£24,500 REF: 11095329
KUHN Espro 6000R ’23, new, hyd blower drive, press wheel, isobus joystick
£108,000 REF: 31091341
All prices subject to VAT and accurate at the time of printing
JD 8370R ’20, 6100 hrs, AutoPowr 50K, wheel weights, 5 prem ESCVs
£POA REF: 71097598
JD 6R250 ’23, 1306 hrs, AutoPowr 50k, 4 SCVs, CommandPro, front pto
£150,000 REF: 11088904
Kramer KT276, ‘21, 1401 hrs, EcoSpeed
Pro 40k, ex-hire, reverse fan, autolube
£40,000 REF: 11098021
KUHN Striger 300 ’23, new, 4 row, 75cm, carbide points, cage rollers
£24,000 REF: 11096946
KUHN Megant 600-40 ’17, good condition, 6 metre, hyd folding, side markers
£19,750 REF: D1100140
SaveTodayBig
Richard Western SF14HS Grain 2023, Sprung drawbar, hyd tailgate, grain chute, high level rear lights, commercial axles, air and hyd brakes, rear beacon, 560-60 22.5 tyres
£21,950
Richard Western SF16HS Silage 2023, Sprung drawbar, silage sides, hyd tailgate, grain chute, high level rear lights, commercial axles, air and hyd brakes, rear beacon, 560-60 22.5 tyres
£24,450
2023 Richard Western SF18HS Silage 2023, Sprung drawbar, silage sides, hyd tailgate, grain chute, high level rear lights, commercial axles, air and hyd brakes, rear beacon, 560-60 22.5 tyres
£25,250
£20,950
DIGGERS / DOZERS / DUMPERS (cont)
MASSEY Ferguson 50H backhoe DIGGER, 4 in 1 front bucket, extendahoe c/w 2 buckets, 2wd, F reg, very original, barn stored, very good tyres, 7000hrs, vgo. £7,750+VAT. S Raven Tel 07931 511361 (Cambridgeshire)
STANLEY hydraulic breaker/ pecker, 45mm pins, was on 3CX, good point, untested. £375. B King Tel 07712 334848 (Essex)
KUBOTA KH151, c/w 2 buckets, works well. £6,950 ono. J Hicks Tel 07539 367336 (Berkshire)
THWAITES 3t dumper, 2005, c/w road kit & roll bar, works well. £4,750. J Hicks Tel 07539 367336 (Berkshire)
MCCONNEL Ditch King tractor mounted digger, c/w 12", 18" & 48" buckets, all in good working order, always kept inside. £2,250 ono. C Law Tel 07850 877794 (Leicestershire)
HORSCH CO3/4/6 secondhand Dutch opener adaptors & 2" single shot opener points for sale to fit CO drills (16 items), less than half new price @£980+VAT. Buyer collects Cambridge area. D White Tel 07831 394652/01223 811313 (Cambridgeshire)
07764 835562
HORSCH CO-4 4m direct/tine drill, converted to dutch openers, few scratches to paintwork, used this year, few spares included, 1999, viewing welcome, call for more info. £9,995.00+VAT ono. F Vaudrey Tel 07747 600263 (Suffolk)
WEAVING 6m tine drill, 2012, 4 row staggered coulters, pre emergence markers, twin row tramlining, 4 eradicator tines, c/w control box, excellent condition, can go straight to work. £13,750+VAT ono. T Mountain Tel 07593 414291 (Lincolnshire)
VADERSTAD Rapid 300S Super XL 3m drill, 2003, track eradicators, good condition. J Brooks Tel 07776 421444/01502 677201 (Norfolk)
2020 Horsch Sprinter 6ST with only 1465ha on the clock, full f/ packer nearly, new Bourgault LD points, r/harrow, small seed, grain and fertiliser feed rollers, Isobus only, barn stored & ready for work, excellent condition. £75,000+VAT ono. R Howard Tel 07969 682180 (Nottinghamshire)
6000M
2020, latest model (4 rows, plastic hopper), pre-ems, ISOCan
more photos and full spec at www.writtlefarmmachinery.co.uk
VADERSTAD 6m System P drill, good condition, used for several years, sale due to farming policy change. £7,500+VAT ovno. R Garner Tel 07767 418452 (Norfolk)
VADERSTAD Rexius Twin 450, tidy unit, little used, good rings, sale due to farming policy change. R Garner Tel 07767 418452 (Norfolk)
HORSTINE Farmery drill unit for oilseed rape, cover crop, used behind Sumo Trio 3m.
£1,000+VAT ovno. R Garner Tel 07767 418452 (Norfolk)
EINBOCK Pneumatic-Pro heavy duty seeder & harrow, 2018, c/w leveller bar & hydraulic rams, only done 20 acres, in demonstrator condition, barn stored. £12,000+VAT ono. C Lane Tel 07768 533767 (Oxfordshire)
HORSCH CO6 drill, hydraulic fan, bout markers, near new 5" Dutch opener points with bean tubes, good tyres. £17,000. J Arnold Tel 07504 495091 (Nottinghamshire)
SIMBA Freeflow 3m, good tines, new hyd pump, metering box, vgc. £2,500+VAT. J Harper Tel 07717 698298 (Cambridgeshire)
HORSTINE Twin Air applicator, small seeds/Avadex applicator, been mounted on Simba SL400 (frames & following harrow bars also available), unsure of serial number but around 15yrs old(?), c/w operators manual & parts list, good cond. £4,000+VAT. B Wilson Tel 07753 795544 (Oxfordshire)
A selection of new and used Tine and Sabre Tine
FAUNAMASTER compact precision disc drill, 2024, suitable for small tractors & ATVs, only done 30 acres of SFI from new, ideal for small seeds, excellent condition. £4,500+VAT. S Snowden Tel 07779 140120 (North Yorkshire)
KUHN 4m combination drill, 404 power harrow with quick fit tines & marker, Kuhn Ventra disc drill, ready for work. £9,500. D Willis Tel 07860707077 (Suffolk)
67 reg JCB 536/60 Agri Super teleporter 3400hrs
reg JCB 532/70 Agri Super 4600hrs 125hp new tyres
06 reg JCB 526s 4x4 5000hrs
53 reg Manitou 731/120 4x4 5500hrs
L reg Manitou 2600 4x4 teleporter
19 reg Bobcat E45 midi excavator 2050hrs
1980 tatty
Kubota GR2120 4wd mower c/w collector 2016
Gyrax HD2800 topper very heavy duty 2008
Sicma King 4000 4m p/harrow gwo
Kverneland CLD 5m folding cultivator vgc
Malone post knockers in stock and ready to go
Low loader trailer twin axle duals c/w front crane
Massey Ferguson 6290 Powershuttle
Foster ST5 swipe
£4,750
£2,995
£2,995
£2,750
£6,995
£3,250
£6,995
£18,450
£1,650 Krone EasyCut 320 rear mo/co 2011 £4,995
triple press ready for work
Claas Liner 3000 4 rotor rake elec controls tidy machine
Galucho RDA 660 trailed press c/w Vaderstad 2 row tine kit £4,950
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 £14,100
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 £15,900
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
DRILLS (cont)
VADERSTAD P, 4m, good tines & new discs, markers & pre-emergence tines. £5,500. D Willis Tel 07860 707077 (Suffolk)
HORIZON DSX 75-20, 7.5m, Isobus, c/w control box, only 1050ha, can easily be reduced to 6m or less, grain & fertiliser. £75,000 ono. D Hald Tel 07765 447368 (Suffolk)
KRM Sola drill, 2311 full spec, 4m, tine coulters, excellent condition, more photos available via WhatsApp. A Dochard Tel 07749 951898 (Norfolk)
SKY Easy Drill, 2016, 6m, 3298ha, 3 hoppers, seed, fert & small seeds, bout markers, preemergence markers, new coulters & discs 200 acres ago, very good condition.£59,950. E Towns Tel 07974 211010 (Essex)
EQUESTRIAN
LODDON internal stables (2) measuring 12' x 14', immaculate condition, buyer to dismantle, but we can help, 2 sides, 2 fronts. £2,000. D Smee Tel 07551 289346 (Suffolk)
FENCING & GATES
CROWD barriers, used, 63 available. £10+VAT each. R King Tel 07929 424474 (Nottinghamshire)
HERAS fencing, used, 30 sections available £15/section & £5/foot plus VAT. R King Tel 07929 424474 (Nottinghamshire)
PERMANENT electric fencing, approx 4,500m high tensile 2.5mm electric wire c/w inline insulators & ratchets, approx 450 creosoted posts & 17 strainer posts, 4–5yrs old (at least 20yr life span), good cond, used to for 18 acres of grazing. £3,500 ono. S Juggins Tel 07812 525310 (Norfolk)
WOLSELEY electric fencer (3 strand wire system), needs 6V battery. £40. R Sinkler Tel 01377 270251 (East Yorkshire)
YARD gate, 15' wide, heavy duty, c/w post, excellent condition. £170 ono. C Law Tel 07850 877794 (Leicestershire)
KVERNELAND Siloking 14m trailed line compact tub mixer feeder, 2016, excellent condition, never been on a dairy farm, very little wear on the auger or hitch, new knives, fully serviced by a dealer in February, done very little since. £13,500+VAT ono. J Wilsher Tel 07976 398190 (West Yorkshire)
JOHN Deere forage harvester KP Kernel processor to fit John Deere 6850 or similar model, average condition. £2,500+VAT ono. T Reynolds Tel 07768 572370 (Wiltshire)
TAARUP 622 trailed forager, 1989, old but works, used for the last 15 seasons, fair condition. £999+VAT ono. J Horsington Tel 01300 341250 (Dorset)
GRINDSTONE to fit Reco Mengele SH30 forager. £180 no VAT. M Lewis Tel 07422 668416 (Powys)
ORGANIC hay made this year, 4' bales, ragwort free, no sprays or fertiliser used, lovely soft meadow hay, located Brooke nr Norwich, can deliver at cost. £35/bale. G Barmby Tel 07909 645055 (Norfolk)
DRY grain maize for sale, ex farm, Milton Keynes area. Price negotiable. C Smith Tel 07831 479966 (Buckinghamshire)
CATTLE & horse grade hay, in 4' rounds, heavy bales. £14. L Wilderspin Tel 07938 565851 (Cambridgeshire)
GENERATORS
DALE Electric 35KVA generator with Ford 2712E industrial 4 cylinder engine, owned since new in 1978, only 1235 genuine hrs from new, in excellent condition & runs fine, c/w all original instruction manuals, East Yorkshire. £1,000+VAT ono. I Botterill Tel 07583 064018/01262 470589 (East Yorkshire)
GENERATORS: diesel & PTO, quality used & new, est 25yrs. JSP UK Ltd. Tel 01432 353050 Mob 07774 742182 (Hereford)
COMPAIR Holman mobile road compressor. P Hawes Tel 07747 697837/07747 697836 (Essex)
GRAIN HANDLING/ STORAGE
GRAIN wall sections (20), 1.2m wide x 3m high, self supporting, ideal for dividing grain store, only used for 3 seasons, in excellent condition, collection Black Bourton Oxon or can arrange delivery. £300+VAT ono each. B Wallis Tel 07770 950110 (Oxfordshire)
dryer, 3 phase electric, auto dryer & drying tunnel. M Green Tel 07956 085952 (Lincolnshire)
£698+VAT/unit.
Tel 01672 872910 (Wiltshire)
01653628366 (North
PLOT FEEDS
TORO DH 210 lawn tractor, 2007, petrol Briggs & Stratton Intek 500cc engine, 102cm cut, hydrostatic drive, broken r/axle (sheared off outside of diff) otherwise was in good working order when last used in 2022, can send photo. £325 ono. P Beales Tel 07584 189359 (Suffolk)
SUFFOLK 40 rotary topper, 2015, 4' cut, 3 point linkage, fully mounted, 540 rpm PTO, light use, excellent condition. £750 no VAT. R Lintott Tel 07799 473374/01566 471493 (Cornwall)
N Wilson Tel 07547 698793 (Scottish Borders)
Group 07944 116870 kmgroupcombine@gmail.com
GRAIN bucket with JCB fitting, 7’8” long, 3’9” tall, good condition. £600+VAT ono. A Burgess Tel 07889 640457 (Northamptonshire)
JOHN Deere D105 ride on lawn mower, 2015, auto, excellent condition. £2,500 ono. I Fowler Tel 07885 332037 (Essex)
2013 John Deere 530 10’ disc mower conditioner, hydraulic bed angle tilt, latest gyro headstock, modular bed with shear protection on each disc, very very tidy mower, just been serviced & new blades, genuine reason for sale. £10,950 ono. M Jeffrey Tel 07802 722408 (North Yorkshire)
McCONNEL PA90 flail hedge cutter with stand, c/w operator & spare parts manuals, had very little use, just used for verge cutting around fishing pool, always kept inside, buyer must arrange collection. £1,800. T Gallimore Tel 07849 405044/07895 451171 (Staffordshire)
COMBIRO nursery tree lifter, vibrating with undercutter, along with two cultivators, average condition. £500. W Farm Tel 07710 253690 (Kent)
ISEKI ride on collector mower, high tip, 2010, Hydro forward & reverse, 693hrs. L Smith Tel 07717 796470 (Essex)
NEW Holland 280 DiscCutter, excellent condition, only cut 100 acres since new, plain disc no conditioner, quick release blades, hydraulic centre pivot, full shaft drive, 1000 PTO. £7,200+VAT. E Spray Tel 07903 237109 (Nottinghamshire)
KIDD flat roll, 8’ wide (8’8” wide with frame), 30” round, 3t, good condition. £900 ono. C Law Tel 07850 877794 (Leicestershire)
TEAGLE 8’ Topper, 2016, done very little work. £1,350. S Bygraves Tel 07973 117993 (Cambridgeshire)
HEDGING & FORESTRY
GLEBE FARM HEDGING
The Hedging Specialists
Over 100 varieties of top quality hedge plants and young trees. For a catalogue, advice or a competitive quote, contact Glebe Farm Hedging Langham, Essex CO4 5PP Tel: 01206 323200
Email: hedge-plants@btconnect.com Website: www.glebefarmhedging.co.uk
2022 Bomford Kestrel EVO S 5.7 hedge cutter, less than 17hrs use, joystick controls, slew behind, see full spec at: bomford-turner.com/ product/kestrel-evo-power-plus-2, excellent condition. £16,500. J Treharne Tel 07795 341739 (Carmarthenshire)
McCONNEL saw bench. £350+VAT. D Sackree Tel 01959 524801 (Kent)
FORESTOR 900 rolling table mill with five 6' lenghts of roller table, c/w two used swaged bands & four used satellite tipped bands, PTO driven, can help with loading, good condition. £3,000. T Winstanley Tel 07868 210268 (Lancashire)
TWOSE 460 hedge cutter, 1998, 4.6m reach, 1.2m head, 3 point linkage, heavy duty flails, up & down cut, cable control, instruction manual, average condition. £2,850+VAT ono. N McTurk Tel 07811 418211 (Essex)
SPEARHEAD Twiga S60 hedgecutter, 2021, in good working order, done very little work, 1.2m head with competition flails, joystick controls, always kept undercover. £12,000+VAT ono. A Sharp Tel 07795 491860 (Suffolk)
CLAAS JAGUAR 950 4WD £235,000 2021, PU300 i36 grass header, 24 blade cyl, 680/85 R32 f, 540/65 R30 r, 1500/ 1200hrs, 4wd, r/crop press, auto shearbar, auto lube, a/c, corn cracker, XL spout ext, V-MAX 24-knife chop unit crop flow multi crop cracker classic L, tyre pres cntl system for drive axle, r cam with CEBIS display, Quantimeter yield measurement
CLAAS SCORPION 9055 VP £74,950 2014, Vario trans, 900hrs, Michelin XMCL 500/70-R24, Scorpion carriage, 4wd, a/c, t/brakes, PUH, pallet forks, DataTag, boom susp, r/weights, Smart Roading, s/cleaning, immobiliser, f/power supply, Smart Handling, immaculate, hi cap, one owner, superb
HORSCH AVATAR 6.16 SD £99,000 2022, triple hopper (3000/2000/270l), seed/fert seed flow sensors, bout markers, Cat III lower linkage drawbar, air brakes, 710/50-26.5 floatation tyres, catching rollers & uniformers, notched closing press wheels, ISOBUS with screen
touchscreen, 24/24-gear Hexashift, superb cond
CLAAS JAGUAR 930 4WD £95,000 2010, 3m
lower feed roller, silage additive w/tank, std spout, PUH NOT inc
CLAAS SCORPION 756
£73,650
2019, Hydro trans, 2850hrs, 460/70-R24, hyd locking Q-fit carriage, 4wd, a/c, t/brakes, PUH, boom susp, r/wts, a/seat, r/ spools, ABS socket, no pallet tines, 2 r/storage lockers, been on full Maxi Care Contract & has full Olivers dealer service history
HORSCH LEEB 4L POA
2017, 24m, CCS Pro cleaning sys, man triple nozzle bodies @ 50cm & 25cm (1:1), BoomControl Pro, steering axle, s/s induction bowl, K80 ball hitch, r/camera, boom lights, ISOBUS, 4000L tank, 8 x 3m sections, 620/70R42 tyres, excellent
ready, air comp, 3D, diff lock, CF reader, printer
CLAAS SCORPION 746
£63,950
2019, Vario trans, 4550hrs 460/70-R24, hyd locking Q-fit carriage, 4wd, a/c, trailer brakes, PUH, DataTag, boom susp, r/weights, additional r/weight 430kg, one owner from new & full Olivers dealer service history
JOHN DEERE S785i HILLMASTER £199,000 2020, 730X 30’/9.15m, 40k, 1083/795hrs, Hillmaster, 800 tyres, yield meter, yield mapping, cruise control, air comp, power spreader, camera,GPS steering
HORSCH TERRANO 4.4 GX £37,800 2019, 4m w/w, 42mm hitch, 400/60-15.5 support wheels, 4 rows x 13 tines, 570kg trip, 31cm spacing/123cm one row, up to 25cm depth, HM metal, 550/45-22.5 chassis wheels, lev discs, hyd depth, SteelDisc packer 58cm, road lights & markers
CLAAS SCORPION 736
£59,500 2021, Vario trans, 5000 est hrs, 480/70R24, hyd locking Q-fit carriage, 4wd, a/c, trailer brakes, PUH, DataTag, boom susp, auto return-to-dig, 3 central lube points (front, rear, tele arm), tilt ram lock, electronic immobiliser, full Olivers service history
HORSCH LEEB PT280
£182,400 2017, GPS steer & section control, sprayer operating term, induction bowl, 1626 spray/5314 eng hrs, 8977ha, 2 sets wheels, MTU S6 285hp T4 eng, Muller Comfort ISOBUS term, 4ws, wh track 2.25m, 50K trans, Mich Spraybib 480/90R50 rowcrops, B/stone VF710/70R38 flots
HORSCH EXPRESS 3KR
£36,950
2021, 3m combi drill, 3m power harrow, bout markers, double hopper 2000L, pre em markers, rear platform, TurboDisc coulters, hydraulic sowing depth, seed flow sensors, approx 600 ha, very good condition Mowers
KUHN VKM 305 2010, f & r safety flaps, hyd side shift, rear roller, hammer fails, 3m w/w, side skids
£4,285 Tractors
CLAAS ARION 420 2018, 40kph, 100hp 5465hrs, 3 spools, eco PTO, a/c, a/brakes, PUH
£36,850
CLAAS ARION 550 2014, 50kph, 163hp, 8050hrs, 3 spools, f/PTO & linkage, GPS, a/c, a/brakes, Power Beyond, FL120 f/loader (2020) Euro 8 headstock......................................................................................................................................POA
CLAAS ARION 620 2017. 50kph, 158hp, 4927hrs, 4 spools, f/linkage, Eco PTO, a/c, CIS spec
CLAAS ARION 640 2008, 50kph, 165hp, 8950hrs, 4 spools, f weights, a/c, a/brakes, PUH, cab suspension £34,950
CLAAS ARION 640 2009, 50kph, 165hp, 5600hrs, 4 spools, f weights, a/c, a/brakes, PUH, cab suspension £36,950
CLAAS ARION 650 2013, 50kph, 184hp, 850hrs, 4 spools, eco PTO, a/c, a/brakes, electric hyd, PUH, Power Beyond, f linkage & PTO .......................................................................................................................................................................£39,800
CLAAS ARION 650 2017, 50kph, 185hp, 4360hrs, 4 spools, f linkage & PTO, eco PTO, a/c, a/brakes, electric hyd, PUH £64,500
CLAAS ARION 660 2019, 50kph, 205hp, 3840hrs, 3 spools, flinkage, eco PTO, GPS ready, a/c, electric hyd, PUH, Power Beyond .......................................................................................................................................................................£82,500
CLAAS ARION 650 2020, 50kph, 184hp, 3500hrs, 3 spools, f linkage, eco PTO, a/c, a/brakes, electric hyd, PUH, Power Beyond .......................................................................................................................................................................£71,300
All prices are excluding VAT & delivery. Nationwide delivery available, please enquire.
DUE to semi-retirement, complete 30 sow pig unit to let, consisting of farrowing crates, dry sow pens & fattening shed, call for further details. J Pearson Tel 07837 055979/01283 732275 (Derbyshire)
TO let due to semi-retirement, complete 30 sow pig unit, consisting of farrowing crates, fattening shed & dry sow pens, good. J Pearson Tel 07837 055979/01283 732275 (Derbyshire)
LIVESTOCK
TURKEY growers, 12 weeks old. P Lowe Tel 01263 822043/07443 845155 (Norfolk)
BEEF Shorthorn
07796 164572 (Oxfordshire)
PEDIGREE Texel shearling rams, MV accredited, Heptavac P vaccinated, ready to work. T Prentice Tel 07860 860990 (Suffolk)
PYGMY wether kids (4) pedigree from fully registered stock, 4 months old, ready to go now, in pairs or all 4, vaccinated, wormed & lifetime advice/follow up offered. £200 ono. J Thomson Tel 07794 606927 (Scottish Borders)
PEDIGREE Aberdeen Angus bulls (2), homebred to pedigree herd, both will come to a bucket & are halter broken, fantastic Angus breeding in their pedigrees, ready to work, grown on but not pushed hard, TB4, closed herd. £2,000. D Bradbury Tel 07758 819761 (West Sussex)
FIVE 6–8 month old Limousin X bull & heifer calves, photos available. £800 ono. A Richardson Tel 07710 077299/01206 386089 (Essex)
TRIOLIET 1/1000 Solomix mixer wagon, 2010, new auger 3yrs ago, also new conveyor belt 6 months ago, used on small dairy herd, good condition. £5,250+VAT ono. C Lake Tel 07881 725141 (Staffordshire)
PEDIGREE Texel & Suffolk shearling or 2 shear rams, good strong grass reared tups ready to work & bred for work not show, photos available. £350/head. A Richardson Tel 07710 077299/01206 386089 (Essex)
SUFFOLK yearling rams, bare clipped July & plunge dipped August, all sired by NZ ram, good tups that will keep growing & filling out, Shropshire/Wales/Hereford border. £500. D Littlehales Tel 07767 633200/07771 571478 (Shropshire)
DRY grain maize for sale, ex farm, Milton Keynes area. Price negotiable. C Smith Tel 07831 479966 (Buckinghamshire)
BELTEX rams, yearlings, bare clipped July & all plunge dipped August, good proper Beltex that will continue to grow (probably still have lamb's teeth), Shropshire/ Welsh/Hereford border, looking for new pastures, ring for more info. £500. D Littlehales Tel 07767 633200/07771 571478 (Shropshire)
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)
ABERDEEN Angus bulls for sale from the Park Wall herd, Johnes Level 1, BVD accredited, BVD vaccinated, IBR marker vaccinated, TB4 (last tested March 2024). J Musk Tel 01638 724831/07748 850465 (Suffolk)
SHETLAND sheep, registered ewes & rams that can be registered if required, Fawn and Grey Katmoget available. £80. C Mayo Tel 07725 103759 (Somerset)
WARREN Hybrid chickens, 18 month old laying hens. £6. C Mayo Tel 07725 103759 (Somerset)
FABULOUS 2024 Pygmy Goat kids ready now, fantastic selection, both nanny & wether kids, ready to go now from our kidding earlier this year, up to date with vaccs, worming, hoof trimming & double ear tags, care notes & history supplied, top colours. E Bunting Tel 07889 640199 (Essex)
ABERDEEN Angus registered bull, Krakatowa is a well bred 2yrs old by famous Shadwell Sire Evolution, spent summer successfully turned out with gang of heifers, only for sale as downsizing our herd, TB4 area, call for more information. Asking £2,750. R Hamence Tel 07708 590395 (Cambridgeshire)
SIX well grown Suffolk ram lambs, call Gordon Beddie 07786 782129, Swaffham, Norfolk.
FOUR front calf rearing pens, c/w brackets to fix them altogether. £100. C Cornish Tel 07880 976137 (Suffolk)
BATEMAN cattle crush, good condition, galvanised floor. £950+VAT. C Cornish Tel 07880 976137 (Suffolk)
GLENARIFF Pedigree Livestock have two Kerry Hill breeding rams (flock
reg). N Barrett Tel 01553
(Norfolk)
SIMMENTAL bulls, 2 available, home bred pedigree homozygous polled (calves born with no horns), High Health status, TB4, 18 months old, ready for love. C Patmore Tel 07702 503081 (Essex)
TWO stunning Anglo Nubian male kids, sire is Marshvalley Dontavious AN038248D & dam is Wittenham Herald HB080803D. E Bunting Tel 07889 640199 (Essex)
ABERDEEN ANGUS BULLS Ready to work Delivered direct to your farm . Very quiet, easy calving females available Health monitored Closed herd . Full pedigree with each animal . Red tractor approved
ROLLER mill with bagger & hopper. £1,500. R Hopkinson Tel 07976 424263 (Lincolnshire)
SHEEP feeder hay rack £150. R Hopkinson Tel 07976 424263 (Lincolnshire)
TOP PICKS IN PRE-OWNED AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY
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)
IFOR Williams TA510G3 livestock trailer, 2018, 14' tri-axle with division door, vgc. £5,350+VAT. M Hawes Tel 07747 697836/01371 850392 (Essex)
SHOTBLASTING gun c/w 20kg of shotblasting grit. £50. R Sinkler Tel 01377 270251 (East Yorkshire)
MATERIALS HANDLERS
calf crush for dehorning calves. £75. D Sackree Tel 01959 524801 (Kent)
SUTON clamp bucket, 2010, for Weidemann loader, excellent condition. £1,350+VAT ono. B Rutterford Tel 07836 777595 (Suffolk)
info@drinkingpostessexsuffolk.co.uk www.drinkingpostessexsuffolk.co.uk
AGRITUBEL Fiabilis self locking yokes, to fit 15' bay, 7 available, £918 new, good condition. £550+VAT ono each. H Johnson Tel 07808 245470 (Leicestershire)
TRUE test milk meters (8), in good condition. £50 each. D Bolderston Tel 07887 925550 (Norfolk)
LIVESTOCK
WYDALE feeders (calves, lambs, goats), three 5-space milk substitute feeders & hanging brackets, limited use from new, some fittings available, retirement sale – see other listings. Best offers, cash on collection, own transport/loading needed. F Wapples Tel 01406 330644 (Lincolnshire) RITCHIE 347G calf crush, suitable for animals 6–8 months old c/w dehorning yolk, head strap & movement wheels, used condition, retirement sale – see other listings. Offers, cash on collection - you arrange loading/transport. F Wapples Tel 01406 330644 (Lincolnshire)
6-FOOT wooden sheep hurdle, many available, message for available quantities, good condition. £20 each ono. W Greenfield Tel 07399 553509 (Leicestershire)
10 teat milkbar, good condition, needs some new teats. £100 ono. W Greenfield Tel 07399 553509 (Leicestershire)
RITCHIE Continental cattle crush, c/w r/sliding door with lock, automatic yoke with reset, easily adjustable neck yoke width, complete side access with 4 doors, ratchet style rump bar (no bar inc), chequerplate floor excellent condition. £2,775+VAT. B Burton Tel 07775 877136 (Nottinghamshire)
MACHINERY
SUTON road sweeper brush. £800. R Hopkinson Tel 07976 424263 (Lincolnshire)
2017 Manitou MT625H Easy Comfort Telehandler £31,000+VAT genuine 1780hrs, Kubota 75hp, 2spd hydrostatic trans, 2T lift cap, 5.85m lift ht, hyd 3rd service, new quick fit backplate & pallet tines, c/w operator’s manuals & V5 reg
info@jamesmurrell.co.uk 01603 712222 Norwich, Norfolk www.jmurrell.co.uk
20-TONNE holding hopper (2). £5,000+VAT ono. B Rutterford Tel 07836 777595 (Suffolk)
MERLO Panoramic Turbo Farmer P28 telehandler loader, 2002, 7m reach, fork-tines & brand new bucket, piped 3rd service, rear pickup hitch, 2.8t lift capacity, 4x4x4, joystick control, for more info please call. £14,000 ono. L Smith Tel 07717 796470 (Essex)
JCB 526 56 Agri telehandler in excellent condition, 2012, 6077hrs, fully working, boom suspension, trailer brakes, air con, air seat, air seat, matching tyres 60%, all pins & bushes tight, no leaks, excellent condition. £24,750+VAT ono. A North Tel 07850 060640 (Buckinghamshire)
WEST 10 Maelstrom rear discharge spreader, new Feb, done 20 loads,
PLOUGHS
DOWDESWELL 5 furrow conventional plough. £350+VAT. A Burgess Tel 07889 640457 (Northamptonshire)
STOCKISTS FOR ECE & BUNNING SPARES NATIONWIDE NEXT DAY DELIVERY AVAILABLE
info@sas-agri.uk t: 01493 733211 07880 552295 www.sas-agri.uk
LEMKEN SMV 160 8 furrow plough, no cracks, solid old plough used for several years, sale due to farming policy change, spares available on separate deal. R Garner Tel 07767 418452 (Norfolk)
DOWDESWELL 2070 rotary spreader, new chains & flails. £750+VAT. F Howell & Sons Tel 07798 668239/01760 440297 (Norfolk)
AGRI-MECH galvanised trailed PTO driven 2m manure spreader, in excellent condition, but now surplus to requirements, the barrel is solid, has been barn stored since new & has been 100% reliable, buyer collects. £1,150 ovno. D Morgan Tel 07876 033983 (Buckinghamshire)
PEST CONTROL
RABBIT CONTROL available using ferrets, nets, etc. Norfolk based, please call Kevin on 07813 783411 ( Lynndale Pest Control).
RANSOMES 3 furrow plough good bodies. £450. R Effield Tel 07539 142255 (Lincolnshire)
LEMKEN DL110 3f hydraulic turnover c/w skimmers & depth wheel, can load onto your vehicle. £475. B King Tel 07712 334848 (Essex)
KVERNELAND LS240 5f plough, 2019, knock on points, No30 slatted bodies, hyd variwidth, hyd front furrow, memory turnover ram, wide wheel, good under body & point to point clearance, had very little use, plenty of spares, excellent cond. £19,500+VAT. P Mahony Tel 07909 903391 (Suffolk)
LEMKEN Opal, 5 furrow plough & press, manual furrow width, extendable model, more photos available via WhatsApp. £5,250. A Dochard Tel 07749 951898 (Norfolk)
POTATO EQUIPMENT
REDUCE HARVESTING DAMAGE WITH RUBBER WEB COVERS QUICKSPLICE WEB JOINERS RUBBER GRADING SCREENS PERFORATED RUBBER WASHER BELTS Tel: 028 9127 5913 Email: info@agri-web.co.uk
Please contact your Local Field Sales Manager or William Riddleston
Tel: 01284 777700 Mob: 07717 861815
email: william.riddleston@claas.com
CLAAS AXION 830 CMATIC CEBIS £119,000 2021, 50kph, 235hp, AdBlue, 1272hrs, 600 fronts, 710 rears, 4 spools, front susp, front linkage, eco PTO, GPS steering, a/c, Isobus, air brakes, elec hyd, PUH, Power Beyond, cab susp CL-A5100996.A
MASSEY FERGUSON 7726 £62,500 2019, 50kph, 260hp, AdBlue, 5545hrs, 600/65R30 fronts, 650/75R38 rears, 4 spools, front susp, fron tPTO, front link, GPS steering, a/c, air brakes, electric hyd, PUH MF-XEX68E43LA21C.A
CLAAS LEXION 8900 TT £345,000 2020, 1380m M CONVIO FLEX header, 40kph, 1829hrs, 1200 drum hrs, TT fronts, 500/85R30 rears, Tracks, LH-RH V knife, C-Bar brake, dust extractor, Yield/Q meter, grainmeter, yield mapping, telematics, CEMOS Dialog, auto, full CEMOS, cruise control, a/comp, straw chop, chaff spreader, AutoCrop flow, rev cam CL-C8600306.A
CLAAS LEXION 760 TT £180,000 2016, 10.5m, M VARIO header, 30kph, 2621hrs, 1919 drum hrs, TT fronts, tracks, LH- RH V knife, RH laser, dust ext, Yield/Q Meter, grainmeter, Yield mapping, tele, a/ comp, power spreader, straw chop, chaff spreader, rev cam CL-C7500399.A
CLAAS LEXION 750 TT £210,000 2018, 9m, M VARIO header, 40kph, 2250hrs, 1825 drum hrs, TT fronts, 500/85R24 rears, RH V knife, dust ext, Yield/Q Meter, Yield mapping, tele, a/ comp, power spreader, chaff spreader, TM6 sieves, rev cam CL-C7502074.A
CLAAS LEXION 670 TT £155,000 2014, 7.5m, M VARIO header, 30kph, 2670hrs, 1924 drum hrs, TT fronts, Lexion 670 TT, harvest ready
CL-C6400720.A
CLAAS LEXION 530 M £65,500 2004, 6m M VARIO header, 30 kph, 3173hrs, 2192 drum hrs, 30.5R32 fronts, 500/70R24 rears, RH V knife, straw chopper, chaff
To suit most flail mowers and
Tel: 01427 718561
Fax: 01427 718016
E-mail: sales@flailsdirect.co.uk
Website: www.flailsdirect.co.uk
mowers for tractors and excavators from 15 to 200HP (Flails Direct is a division of
VICON Rau Ikarus S38 24m trailed sprayer, 2011, c/w a 3800L tank, separate tank for clean water & induction hopper, run by computer, good condition. £9,600+VAT. C Leggott Tel 07967 975638 (Lincolnshire)
Agricultural Application Machinery Specialists
Landquip
SPRAYER & SLUG APPLICATOR NSTS TESTING AT OUR LOCATIONS OR ON SITE FULL ON FARM SERVICE & REPAIR
Main Agents for TEAM HYPRO TEEJET RDS ENDURAMAXX DUAL PUMPS
LARGE STOCKS
Contact Richard Dix 07770 331587
www.landquip.co.uk
SANDS Vision 4, 32m, VG boom twin lines, triple nozzles, blue boom lights, LEDs, headland auto lift, 10 section GPS controlled, GPS steering, wash tank, climate control, rowcrops & floats, absolutely immaculate condition throughout. £58,500+VAT. A Hobbs Tel 07768 976042 (Hertfordshire)
BERTHOUD Tenor 55-60, 36m, 2017, 5500L tank, E-c Tronic screen, 36m tri fold booms, 380L/min piston diaphragm pump, auto filling, section control. £25,000 ono. J Saunders Tel 07929 318981 (Oxfordshire)
B W M B W M ACK (Machinery) LTD.
mower, hydraulic offset
ALPEGO TL33-220 verge mower 2.2m working width, hydraulic right hand offset,
SPEARHEAD Sniper 280 HD front & rear 2.8m mower,
excellent condition
CLAAS Arion 640 Hexashift 50kph, 2010
POTTINGER 6m power harrow, 2017, good condition
SPEARHEAD Orbital 726T reach mower, 2017, wheel kit
2019 FORD
Root Choppers & Cleaners
- Refurbished, used & nearly new units available
- New Mini Mixer available
- Diet feeder parts available- Blades, Conveyor belts, gearboxes, weigh cells.
- All feeders undergo 30 point service - Finance available subject to terms - Nationwide delivery available
SPRAYERS (cont)
KNIGHT trailed sprayer, 2500L, 21m, tracking drawbar, 16.9-34 & 9.5-44 wheels, triplex nozzles, wash tank & induction, Delta 34i control box. £3,800+VAT. C Snell Tel 07713 113841 (Somerset)
JOHN Deere 732i, 2012, 12/24m
3200L 6 section auto cut off, pressure & flow sensors, boom height control, 480/70-R38 wheels, 5 position nozzle holder, test till 03/25, very good condition
£15,500. M Denis Tel 07774 472942 (South Yorkshire)
SPRAYER SALES SERVICING AND REPAIRS VAST STOCK OF SPRAYER SPARE PARTS
01449 737482 07860 618903 graham@gm-rsprayers.co.uk www.gm-rsprayers.co.uk
AMAZONE ZAM0106160 24m fertiliser spreader, 2013, headland control, auto weigher, good condition. £3,750+VAT. B Rutterford Tel 07836777595 (Suffolk)
Sprayer Specialists in the Eastern & Southern Counties
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
Anthony Williams: 07711
CHAFER Sentry 5000L, 32m boom, steering axle, air brakes, wide & narrow wheels, hyd pump, Teejet section control & rate controller, in working order.
£15,000. J Arnold Tel 07504 495091 (Nottinghamshire)
QUAD-X/BLANEY 2.4m Weed
Wiper, 2013, 100L tank, 2.4m w/width, carpeted roller, height adj, ATV/pickup tow, rate control box, nozzles apply to roller when beam broken between magic eyes, NSTS tested till 2027, done little work, exc. £2,450+VAT ono. G Parkes Tel 07855 288597 (Leicestershire)
TECHNEAT Outcast applicator for 36m sprayer, three pods, reasonable condition.
£1,500+VAT. M Mottram Tel 07768 901923 (Cambridgeshire)
KNIGHT 18m 2000L trailed sprayer, axle steer, rowcrops, NSTS tested to April 2025, lights. £4,250. J Ellis Tel 01945 440355/07802 667408 (Lincolnshire)
BERTHOUD Tenor 4000L sprayer, 2009, with 10 section auto air shut off, c/w Teejet guidance included in price, good condition.
£10,750+VAT ono. R Higgins Tel 07919 927171 (Warwickshire)
BERTHOUD 24m trailed sprayer with rowcrop wheels - ideal for repair or spares. P Hawes Tel 07747 697837/07747 697836 (Essex)
2000-LITRE sprayer, 21m, washout tank, 4 way nozzles, a good spare pump, 3 sets of wheels. Offers. A Askew Tel 07803 551272 (Cambridgeshire)
KUHN Axis-M 40.1 EMC+W VS8, 2015, electric controls, headland management, good condition, reason for sale – bought a new one. £4,500+VAT. B Rutterford Tel 07836 777595 (Suffolk)
Agroco AR BFS Comet
• Cooper • Pegler • Dual Pumps
• Hardi • Hypro/Lurmark • Teejet Flexible Pipe Many Fixtures & Fittings • Safety Wear Also Suppliers of New Sprayers
Black Peak Farm Flint Cross Nr Heydon • Royston
Suppliers of... peter.stanford@gmail.com 07941 179164
BATEMAN Hi Lo sprayer, for sale due to entry into Stewardship scheme, still a useful sprayer, 20m boom, RDS, twin lines, rowcrop and low ground pressure tyres included, located Otley. £6,000 ono. A Holmes Tel 07760 288612 (Suffolk) SPREADERS
KRM MW2 spreader, c/w Patchwork controller, always barn stored, v tidy condition. £5,000+VAT ovno. R Garner Tel 07767 418452 (Norfolk)
KRM spreader, 2008, hydraulic on/ off with E2T vanes & calibrating kit, vgc. £2,400+VAT. R Hanton Tel 07860 792976 (Norfolk)
LELY SX4000 Centerliner fertiliser spreader, 24m discs, hopper cover, always been barn stored, excellent condition, photos available by WhatsApp. £2,000. A Dochard Tel 07749 951898 (Norfolk) STRAW & HAY
FRESHLY baled conventional barley & wheat straw bales available, for collection or local delivery available to Cambridgeshire area, call for details. J Dennis Tel 0770 8918439 (Cambridgeshire)
20,000-LITRE water/fertiliser tank on RSJs, 2 or 3” outlet. £1,200. D Willis Tel 07860 707077 (Suffolk)
Fully searchable database at... www.regaltanks.co.uk
BUNDED diesel bowser with electric pump. £795. R Hopkinson Tel 07976 424263 (Lincolnshire)
1365-LITRE oil tank, average condition. £150+VAT. P Mahony Tel 07909 903391 (Suffolk)
MIDAS 1350 BHM diesel tank, 1540mm (H), 1246mm (W), 1845mm (L), 1300L capacity. bottom outlet, bunded green plastic. £350 ono. G Parkes Tel 07855 288597 (Leicestershire)
1000-LITRE fuel bowser, new & unused, 12V pump, 4m hose. £1,280+VAT. T Allsop Tel 07824 707916 (Derbyshire)
6800-LITRE bunded diesel bowser, c/w brakes, petrol fuel pump, hose & gun. £4,750 ono. J Hicks Tel 07539 367336 (Berkshire)
the Forest of Dean Ltd
&
www.tvmachinery.com 07764 835562 £11,500
call 01594 833308
COUSINS 3m levelling harrow, 1996, fair condition. £400+VAT ono. B Rutterford Tel 07836 777595 (Suffolk)
MICHAEL Moore Moles 6m press with tines & levelling board, good condition. F Campling Tel 07876 507590 (Lincolnshire)
See our
TEN pigtail cultivator tines c/w brackets. I Cowell Tel 07788 985544 (Essex)
Well proven design
Single and twin and three legged machines available
Mounted and trailed
SIMBA Great Plains SL400, 2013 as good as you will find for year, no cracks or repairs, new tungsten knock on points, complete set of low disturbance legs, following harrow & Stocks seeder. J Ringer Tel 07860 733766 (Norfolk)
HE-VA 10.2m Tip Roller XHD
£19,950
2022, 24" Cambridge + Breakers, excellent condition, 7250kg
Full spec at www.writtlefarmmachinery.co.uk
07748 004794 01245 442224
COUSINS 4m press, used & in good condition, stewardship entry reason for sale, collect Otley Sufffolk, or delivery at cost rate can be arranged. £2,500+VAT ono. A Holmes Tel 07760 288612 (Suffolk)
HUNT 6m manifold rolls, used but in good condition for age, stewardship entry reason for sale, collection Otley, Suffolk, or delivery can be arranged at cost. £1,500+VAT ono. A Holmes Tel 07760 288612 (Suffolk)
McAVOY Cambridge folding rolls, 22’ wide, new tyres & bearings. £1,350+VAT. J Harper Tel 07717 698298 (Cambridgeshire) Thames Valley Machinery
TELEPHONE: 01604 686216 MOBILE: 07973 265378
www.maidwellmoler.co.uk
VADERSTAD 3m Topdown with Biodrill 180, good condition, good roller, will split Biodrill away if required. Topdown £20,000+VAT ovno, Biodrill £3,000+VAT ovno. R Garner Tel 07767 418452 (Norfolk)
SIMBA 2B discs, old but always reliable. £2,500+VAT ovno. R Garner Tel 07767 418452 (Norfolk)
DALBO Compact 6.3m hydraulic folding rolls,.on farm from new, retirement sale, good working order. £3,400 no VAT. J Humphrey Tel 07909 518399 (Cambridgeshire) 51-103721
Yorkshire)
FARM road box grader, very heavy duty, 8' wide, 3 point connection, wear strip, great tool for levelling farm roads. £1,250+VAT. S Raven Tel 07931 511361 (Cambridgeshire)
LELY Perugini power harrow, 2.5m wide, packer roller, good tines, strong machine. £1,750+VAT. J Harper Tel 07717 698298 (Cambridgeshire)
WILDER pressure harrow, 6.6m, hydraulic folding, 6 sections, hydraulic pressure, good condition, plenty of life in tines, lots of spares, 2 for sale. £1,500+VAT each. P Mahony Tel 07909 903391 (Suffolk)
BOMFORD Flexitine 3.5m. £775. C Gowler Tel 07831 746953 (Cambridgeshire)
SUMO Trio, 3m, new discs, spares available. £9,500. D Willis Tel 07860 707077 (Suffolk)
MASSEY Ferguson chisel plough, 2.4m, fair condition. £300. C Gowler Tel 07831 746953 (Cambridgeshire)
KONGSKILDE 5m Germinator spare tines & rotors. £2,100. D Willis Tel 07860 707077 (Suffolk)
BLENCH 4m cultivator, new points. £950. D Willis Tel 07860 707077 (Suffolk)
MASCHIO DC 3000 power harrow, 1980s,
3-LEG flatlift c/w flexicoil on back, average condition. £750 ono. G Dunn Tel 07768 904984 (Cambridgeshire)
CHEVAL heavy duty 9m zig zag pressure harrows, hydraulic folding, wheel eradicators, c/w new 10" tines, ideal for low cost spring & autumn cultivations. £2,450+VAT. P Skinner Tel 07711 405100 (Northamptonshire)
KONGSKILDE 3m springtine cultivator discs & roller, new bearings in discs, everything is tight, no play in legs, a new machine will cost £21,000, this machine is just £6,500 ready for work. P Jewell Tel 07944 782957 (Merseyside)
GARFORD Robocrop precision hoe, very good condition, business no longer trading, hence for sale, for more information please call. £10,000 ono. A Houghton Tel 01775 769954 (Lincolnshire)
HEAVY duty 7 leg cultivator with very good reversible points, c/w 9 more brand new points, very good for removing compaction & loosening tramlines, not the prettiest but strongly built & does a good job, retirement sale. £350 ono. D Cowton Tel 07712 005508 (County Durham)
10-FOOT pigtail cultivator, photos available via WhatsApp. £900. A Dochard Tel 07749 951898 (Norfolk)
CAMBRIDGE Gang rollers. £350. J Ramsey Tel 01653 628366 (North Yorkshire)
TRACTORS
(Essex)
Andrew Guest Ltd
& Used Machine Spares & Repairs
700608 07833 535891 Kuhn Power Harrows & Accord Drills
e: simon@andrewguest.co.uk www.andrewguest.co.uk
CONCEPT 4m SpeedTill. £1,650+VAT. P Freeman Tel 07711 145124 (Lincolnshire)
TWO-LEG subsoiler. £375+VAT. P Freeman Tel 07711 145124 (Lincolnshire)
KUHN bolt on tine kit for 4m HR4002D power harrow. Offers. P Freeman Tel 07711 145124 (Lincolnshire)
NEW Holland TN55D, 2003, 2wd, 2500hrs, one double acting spool, c/w McConnel 1t loader with 3rd service & 4' bucket, very good condition, owned from almost new. £12,500+VAT. J Draycott Tel 07788 410525 (Leicestershire)
JOHN Deere 7290R, 68 plate, 1898hrs, Ultimate Edition, tyres 710/175-R42 & 600/165-R34, autosteer, autotrac, GPS, front & cab suspension, leather air seat, JD front linkage, a/c, PUH, 5ESCV, JD front lights, for sale due to retirement. £130,000. S Clayton Tel 07702 624721 (North Yorkshire)
WEIGHT block, 3pt linkage, ideal for a loader tractor. £90. R Sinkler Tel 01377 270251 (East Yorkshire)
Surplus spare parts for Agco Challenger MT700/MT800 Series.
6-METRE rib rolls, good condition, photos available via WhatsApp. £3,700. A Dochard Tel 07749 951898 (Norfolk)
RABE MKE 3m power harrow, packer 450mm, photos available via WhatsApp. £1,300. A Dochard Tel 07749 951898 (Norfolk)
COUSINS HF6M 5m combi harrow, hydraulic fold, flexicoils front & rear, excellent condition, photos available via WhatsApp. £10,250. A Dochard Tel 07749 951898 (Norfolk)
FORD 6810 Series III, J reg 1992, known history, regularly serviced, dual tyres & 10 front weights also available, good condition, retirement sale, can arrange delivery, more photos & viewings on request. £16,000 ono. M Woodall Tel 07811 043362 (Gloucestershire)
JOHN Deere 6140M, excellent condition, 2020, 900hrs, cab suspension, Autoquad Plus, Isobus ready, premium seat, 4 spools, front wheel 420/85R24, rear wheel 460/85R38, 4wd front axle, 2 blinds, front linkage, premium light package, glass roof hatch. G Catling Tel 07748 827519 (Suffolk)
Dyna VT, Next Edition, 2020, 3500hrs, 50kph, air brakes, Trimble 382 RTK guidance
CASE 175, 50K, front linkage, Case guidance & service, 1200hrs. £90,000 ono. D Willis Tel 07860 707077 (Suffolk)
FENDT 724 Profi Plus, 2019, 3430hrs, Novotel GPS, Contour assist, 710/70-R38 80%, 600/65R28 80%, Fendt warranty til Feb 2025, delivery possible, excellent condition. £115,500+VAT. T Chugg Tel 07980 240592 (Worcestershire)
JCB Fastrac 1135, 1998, front linkage, 8588hrs, new electric fuel pump, 3 spools, 540/65-R28 tyres, fronts 30%, rears 95% very genuine tractor. £15,000+VAT. J Harper Tel 07717 698298 (Cambridgeshire)
JOHN Deere 50kg front weights (16). £750+VAT for the set. D Sackree Tel 01959 524801 (Kent)
71087671 KRAMER KT557
2019, 3110hrs, Hydro Ecospeed, 40K, boom suspension, central lubrication system, LED lights, JCB Q ft headstock (No pallet tines), A/C, air seat, reverse fan/camera, PUH, rear hyd brakes+SCV, underbody protection, 3rd service depressure button, smart
71089098 KRAMER KT357
2020, 2860hrs, Hydro Ecospeed, 40K, boom suspension, Kramer 50mm headstock, pallet tines, reverse fan, reverse camera, 136HP Deutz engine, 140L/min hyd pump, air seat, A/C, high cab, 460/70R4 Michelin Bibload tyres, PUH, rear SCV+hyd £63,750
11092725 KRAMER KT144
2022, 340hrs, Hydro, 30K, Kramer 40mm headstock, pallet tines, 45HP Yanmar diesel engine, mechanical seat, LED lights + beacon, reverse fan, underbody protection, diff lock, NEW 255/75R15.3 tyres
31079121 KRAMER KT35.8T
2023, 40hrs, Ex Demo, Hydro, 40K, air seat, A/C, Michelin XMCLs 380/75R20, LED lights, reverse fan, trailer hitch, radio, 3rd service depressure button, grease bank, 3yrs/3000hrs warranty, Kramer 40mm headstock, pallet tines, 3yrs telematics subscription.
11081794 KRAMER KT407
2022, 900hrs, 40K, Hydrostatic Ecospeed, boom suspension, air seat, A/C, 4th service, PUH, rear SCV, JCB Q Fit Headstock, hyd brakes, Michelin Bibload 460/70R24.
71093336 KRAMER KT407
2021, 2755rs, Hydro, 40K, boom suspension, Kramer 50mm headstock, pallet tines, reverse camera, reverse fan, air seat, A/C, high cab, PUH, rear hyd trailer brakes +SCV, 3rd service depressure button, 136HP diesel, smart handling, bucket shake, NEW 460/70R24 £67,950
31088298 KRAMER KT357 2020, 3221hrs, 2021, Hydro Ecospeed, 40K, boom suspension, JCB Q ft hydraulic locking headstock, Michelin XMCL 460/70R24, PUH, rear hyd brakes + SCV, A/C, air seat, smart handling, bucket shake, 3rd service depressure button, radio, reverse fan/camera. £59,950
41080524 KRAMER KT25.5T
2023, 50hrs, Ex Demo, Hydro, 54HP engine, 30K hydro, 325/70R18 Mitas tyres, orange beacon, front/rear working lights, A/C, radio, diff lock,3rd service depressure button, reverse horn, Security 24/2000hrs (warranty), Small Kramer headstock
31091717 JCB 541.70 AGRI SUPER
2018, 4976hrs, PowerShift, 40K, boom suspension, JCB Q ft headstock, NEW 460/70R24 tyres, PUH, hyd trailer brakes, double acting rear SCV, A/C, air seat, 145HP.
LED lights, Pin and Cone headstock, 3rd service depressure button, air seat, A/C, PUH, rear hyd brakes, rear SCV, nearly new 460/70R24 tyres, high cab, smart handling, bucket £64,950
71091438 KRAMER KT457
11080522 KRAMER KL14.5
NEW, Hydro 30K transmission, A/C, heated air seat, boom suspension, 37HP Yanmar diesel engine, Kramer 30mm hydraulic locking headstock, 800mm pallet tines, diff lock, LED beacon, front/rear work lights, 24 months/1500hrs warranty, 27x10.5R15
2020, 4998hrs, Hydro EcoSpeed Transmission, 40K, Boom suspension, Central Lubrication System, LED lights, A/C, air seat, PUH, rear hyd brakes + SCV, Manitou headstock, 500/70R24 tyres, 3rd service depressure button, smart handling, bucket shake, £55,950 £76,950
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, 460/70R4 tyres. £49,950
31087857 KRAMER KT407
2021, 1165hrs, Hydro Ecospeed, 40K, boom suspension, manitou headstock (no tines), 136HP Deutz engine, reverse fan/camera, PUH, rear hyd brakes + SCV, 3rd service depressure button, all round lighting package, high cab, A/C, air seat, radio, smart £74,950
81092169 KRAMER KT447
2018, 3290hrs,
CASE
2018 Case Puma 165, 3279hrs, Powershift 50kph, a/brakes, f/& cab susp, 3 e/spools, 3 speed PTO, LED w/lights, big screen, deluxe seat, exhaust brake, f/tyres 480/65R28 70%, r/tyres
600/65R38 .........................................£53,000
2021 Case Optum 300 CVX, 2135hrs, GPS ready, f/linkage, SCV 900 tyres, 5 spool valves .........................................................£117,000
December 2020
Case Quantum 110N, 2232hrs,40kph, f/linkage & PTO, e/hyds, 4 r/e/spool valves, 3 mid mount spool valves, f/tyres 280/70x16 75%, r/ tyres 360/70x28 75%, immaculate ...... £34,000
February 2022
Case Puma 240 CVX, 3499hrs, f/linkage & PTO, full RTK guidance, Super Deluxe seat, c/ control, f/weight, mid mount valves, f/tyres 600/60x30 35%, r/tyres 710/60x42 60%, has everything you can think of, inc heated r/ screen ................................................ £95,000
2021 Case Puma 200 CVX, 4227hrs, f/linkage, 1 hyd f/service, Power Beyond, hyd Top link, 4 speed PTO, guidance ready, Deluxe seat, f/tyres 600/65x28 70%, r/tyres 650/70x38 80%, very tidy tractor ...................................£71,000
2018 Case Quantum 110F, 985hrs, f/weights, f/tyres 360/70x20 Michelin, r/tyres 420/70x30 ..........................................£26,000
NEW HOLLAND
2023 New Holland T8.435 SmartTrax, 275hrs, f/linkage, 1 f/service, f/susp, full guidance. a/brakes, 5 r/spool valves, Cat 5 drawbar, PLM Telematics, cab luxe pack, tyres 650/65x34 Michelin, 30” tracks .........................................£215,000
MASSEY FERGUSON
2021 Massey Ferguson 8S 225 Dyna 7, 5900hrs, 53kph. full RTK, f/linkage & PTO, 2 f/hyd services, Isobus, Power Beyond, f/tyres 600/65x28 new, r/tyres 650/75x38 80%, tractor had brand new trans fitted May 2024 ...........................................£62,000
2019 Massey Ferguson 7726S Dyna 6 Exclusive, 8423hrs, 50kph, f/linkage, guidance ready, Power Beyond, Datavision screen, c/control, f/tyres 540/65x30 85%, r/tyres 650/65x42 85%, (seat cushion & 1 headlight to be replaced) ............................................£54,000
JOHN DEERE
2012 John Deere 6330 Premium with JD 631 loader, 6866hrs, 40kph, TLS, f/tyres 420/85x24 70%, r/tyres 18.4x38 (r/tyres will be changed to 80%) small amount of rust on r/mudguards, been on hire for 6wks no problems......£32,500
DEUTZ
2017 Deutz 5090G, 1610hrs, on grass tyres, 2 speed PTO, 2 manual spools, a/c ..... £25,500
2009 Deutz 620 Agrotron Profi Line, 4910hrs, 50kph, f/& cab susp, 1000 Kilogramme f/ weight, f/tyres 420/85x28 95%, r/tyres 520/85x38 95%, almost immaculate ...£29,500
COMING IN
2022 Case Puma 165 CVX, c/w Case LRZ 150 loader, 1800hrs
2015 Claas 650 Arion
2019 Case Puma 220 CVX, 4300hrs
2019 Valtra N134 c/w loader
Dear Valued Customers,
We are writing to inform you of an important update regarding our business operations. After careful consideration, we have made the decision to give notice on the Kubota franchise and our premises at Oulton. However, we want to assure you that N Richardson Ltd will still be trading and are very much open for business.
Kubota Franchise: As of Mid-February 2025, we will no longer be an authorised dealer of Kubota agricultural Wholegood products. During this time, we will continue to work closely with Kubota UK as they identify another dealership to serve the Norfolk area. we will also honour any outstanding orders and provide support, additionally we have agreed to continue as service agents beyond this date in order to assist Kubota and our valued customers through this transitional period.
Oulton Premises: Our location at Oulton will close, but we as a company will remain open and committed to serving our customers. We are shifting our focus to a smaller customer base, allowing us to provide more personalised and dedicated service. We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will provide further details about our future operations and how you can continue to reach us.
Ongoing Operations: While we will be operating on a smaller scale, our dedication to delivering quality service remains unchanged. We are here to support you with the same expertise and care.
We understand that this news may come as a surprise, and we are here to assist with any questions or concerns you may have during this transition. Our goal is to minimize any inconvenience and ensure you receive the support you need.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information or assistance.
We appreciate your understanding and continued support during this time of change.
Thank you for your continued loyalty and support. We look forward to serving you in this new chapter.
Best regards,
Neil & Nicola Richardson
Directors N Richardson Ltd
JOHN DEERE 6R150 2023, 333hrs, Autopower 50kph, 600/65R38540/65R24, front & cab suspension, 643R loader
Stk No 11069673 POA
NEW HOLLAND BB9070 2009, 79,526 bales, 6 string, 120x70 chamber, twin axles, 500/50R17 tyres
JOHN DEERE 6130R 2015, 3294hrs, Powerquad 40kph, 420/75R38 – 380/85R24, front & cab suspension
Stk No 31074843 £47,950
KVERNELAND 2832M 2021, rear mounted 3.2m plain disc mower
TO CUSTOMERS
JOHN DEERE T670 2017, 1738E/1169D hrs, 630X header & trolley, 800/70R32 – 540/65R30, Prodrive 30kph
Stk No 21076844 POA
MAZOTTI 4080 2022, 1266hrs, 50kph hydrostatic transmission
Stk No C1072380 £160,000
JOHN DEERE L1534 2019, 10,000 bales, 2.2m pickup, 620/50-22.5 tyres, steered tandem axle, air brakes, bale weighing system, humidity sensor Stk No 71067142 £76,500
JOHN DEERE V451R 2019, 12,000 bales, 2.2m RotoFlow pickup, 15.0-70-18 tyres, net only
Stk No 21058694 £6,500
Stk No 71069993 £30,000
WEAVING 6M DRILL 2012, 6m, control box, PTO fan drive, track eradicators, pre-emergence & bout markers
KVERNELAND OPTIMA 2012, 6m trailed 8 row maize drill,
JOHN DEERE 6125R 2017, 3951hrs, Autoquad 40kph, 460/85R38420/70R24, front & cab suspension
JOHN DEERE 5075GL 2021, 815hrs, 24x12 Power Reverser transmission, open station, 360/70R24 – 280/70R16
Stk No A1079647 POA
KVERNELAND 9590C HY P 2017, twin rotor 9m rake, hydraulic fold, adjustable swath width
Stk No 11077714 £10,995
KUBOTA M1156X III, 2017, very good condition, 6980hrs, c/w loader & bucket. £25,000+VAT. P Medler Tel 07979 543394 (Norfolk)
CASE 5130 Powershift, very tidy condition, front linkage, 1996, first to see will buy. £16,500 ono. P Jewell Tel 07944 782957 (Merseyside)
TWO-AXLE plant trailer, 2700 gross weight, ex utility company, in very good condition. £1,400 ono. K Ollett Tel 07753 859881 (Suffolk)
STEEL bale trailer, 19' long, can send more pictures if required. £600+VAT. B Robinson Tel 07740 683113 (Gloucestershire)
40-FOOT artic trailer with dolly on steel springs, air & hydraulic brakes. £1,750+VAT ono. R King Tel 07929 424474 (Nottinghamshire)
2022, 700hrs, Dyna 4, MF 3819 loader, cab suspension
£22,000 no VAT
c/wTrac-lift 120SL fore end loader, self levelling, hyd 3rd service, joystick control, 40kph trans, genuine 3215hrs, selectable 540-1000 PTO speeds, 3 double acting manual spool valves, 340/85R24 f/tyres 80% tread, 420/85R34 rears 70% tread, r/wheel weights, LED w/lights, lovely reliable machine from local owner operator
info@jamesmurrell.co.uk 01603 712222 Norwich, Norfolk www.jmurrell.co.uk
31-104601
KUBOTA M7171 Premium KVT tractor c/w Quicke Q5 L loader, 2017, 2980hrs, 50K, air brakes, full Vario/CVT gearbox, front & air cab suspension, front linkage & front PTO, 4 electric spools, Michelin 650 & 540, loader as new. £53,500+VAT. T Chugg Tel 07980 240592 (Worcestershire)
PAIR of Quicke loader brackets to fit 5610, 6610 & 7610, can be extended to fit 7810. £485 no VAT. M Lewis Tel 07422 668416 (Powys)
JOHN Deere 1950, 9162hrs, well looked after & in good condition inside & out, registered in 1992, c/w V5. £11,000+VAT. T Schembri Tel 07919 624032 (Essex)
1996 Clayton 4120 f/w fertiliser spreader mounting frame, 8600hrs, average condition. £4,500+VAT ono. C Brown Tel 07778 898473 (Somerset)
TRAILERS
KING tri-axle low loader, 2005, exterior colour red, hydraulic ramps, air brake, no test, average condition. £6,950+VAT ono. B Rutterford Tel 07836 777595 (Suffolk)
IFOR Williams GH126 plant trailer, 2021, owned from new, always stored under cover, very tidy trailer, now surplus to requirements. £2,900+VAT ono. P Evans Tel 07885 795485 (Norfolk)
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
MASSEY 3t hydraulic tipping trailer, good floor, may need new sides, handbrake towering & jaws. £600 ono. R King Tel 07929 424474 (Nottinghamshire)
IFOR Williams 1.5T, 8' x 4' trailer. £800. C Bigley Tel 07909 910005 (Lincolnshire)
45-FOOT Tautliner trailer. £2,000. R Hopkinson Tel 07976 424263 (Lincolnshire)
HIGH-TIP trailer. £1,500. R Hopkinson Tel 07976 424263 (Lincolnshire)
IFOR Williams GD84G, 8’ x 4’, 1.5T. £800. C Bigley Tel 07909 910005 (Lincolnshire)
BAILEY 14T hook lift trailer on rocking beam suspension, hydraulic brakes. £7,500+VAT ono. R King Tel 07929 424474 (Nottinghamshire)
30-FOOT artic trailer with double spring dolly. £1,200+VAT ono. R King Tel 07929 424474 (Nottinghamshire)
LOGIC SST ATV trailer, galvanised with wooden floor & removable wooden tailboard, flotation tyres 22x11x8, light use, excellent condition. £415 no VAT. R Lintott Tel 07799 473374/01566 471493 (Cornwall)
BAILEY TB 16T, 2020, c/w air/ oil brakes, arched full f/window, grain chute & sock, hyd r/door, rollover sheet, mudguards, 385/65 R 22.5 tyres, always stored inside, only used for grain, excellent condition, genuine reason for sale. £19,495+VAT ono. C Saunders Tel 07778 060973 (North Yorkshire)
IFOR Williams 14' tri axle trailer, full service 2023, all 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. E Bunting Tel 07889 640199 (Essex)
GRIFFITHS dumper trailer, only selling as no longer used, been on farm since new. £2,000 ono. J Watkinson Tel 01379 642464 (Norfolk)
advise items should be viewed prior to any money exchanging hands
Quality used equipment specialist in East Anglia & East Midlands! Over 250 used machinery items on our website: doubledaygroup.co.uk
JD 7R310 ’23, 622 hrs, AutoPowr 50k, CommandPro, 4 rear and 1 front SCV
£219,500 REF: A1098839
JD 6130R ’15, 5747 hrs, AutoQuad 40k, 3 SCVs, puh, hyd trailer brake, aircon
£40,000 REF: 11095355
Kramer KT557 ’23, ex-demo, EcoSpeed Pro 40k, Stage V, air seat, air con
£119,500 REF: A1093049
Vaderstad TD600 ’08, TopDown 600, discs, tines, single steel packer
£29,750 REF: B1095826
Vaderstad RDA400S ’12, 4122 hours, system disc, front tyre packer
£35,000 REF: A1099608
Fendt 828 ’16, 5516 hrs, 5 SCVs, hyd top link, air brakes, aircon, PUH
£80,000 REF: 31096661
Case Maxxum 140 ’15, 7875 hrs, 50k, 4 SCVs, air brakes, front weights, trimble rtk
£32,500 REF: C1098791
Claas 7035 Scorpion ’17, 5204 hrs, VariPower 40K, aircon, PUH, pallet tines
£44,500 REF: D1095577
Cousins Precision Harrow ’20, 4m hydraulic c/w toolbox and lights, front drawbar ram
£27,500 REF: A1093093
Maschio PRIMAVERA ’21, 6 metre, 48 tines, following harrow, iso control, 226 hectares
£25,000 REF: A1099870
CASE Magnum 380 ’17, 4282 hrs, CVX, front linkage, AFS, 5 ESCVs, 30” tracks
£POA REF: D1095702
Fendt 828 ’16, 6050 hrs, 4 SCVs, hyd top link, air brakes, evo seat, PUH
£75,000 REF: 31096662
NH T7.210 ’15, AutoCommand 50k, airbrakes, front weight, 4 ESCVs
£43,000 REF: A1093316
Merlo TF35.7 ’19, 5112 hrs, merlo headstock, puh, aircon, pallet tines
£38,750 REF: C1096899
HEVA 1630 ’11, king roller rolls, c/w breaker rings, hyd jack and lights
£13,500 REF: A1026077
Maschio PRIMAVERA ’14, 5 metre tine drill, track eradicators, pre emerge markers
£14,750 REF: A1094347
All prices subject to VAT and accurate at the time of printing
For more information contact Ashley Brighton on 07769
JD 8RX410 ’23, 2056 hrs, E23 40K, 5 ESCVs, 1 high fow, AutoTrac ready, IPM
£300,000 REF: 11087557
JD 6250R ’22, 3023 hrs, AutoPowr 50k, CommandPro, 4 prem SCVs
£POA REF: 31092905
NH TG285 ’03, 4832, Powershift 40k, aircon, front weights, puh
£43,000 REF: A1099034
Caterpillar TH336 ’13, 5454 hrs, Powershift 4 speed, PUH, air seat, aircon, tines
£28,750 REF: B1096960
Simba 23C Harrow ’00, 14ft, ODH, cutaway discs, hyd front gang angling, rear draw bar
£11,500 REF: B1098432
Sulky MP ’08, 4 metre disc drill, press wheels, harrow, ultron control
£38,750 REF: C1096899
or
Reynolds Motors
Cromer • Norfolk
Beet
BEET
Dutch & combination harrows – 3 to 6m
BOMFORD 8M VIBROFLEX HYDRAULIC FOLD
Dalso 6m hyd/fold pigtail cultivator with rear discs
FLAT
Westfield
Choice of 10,000 - 18,000 - 25,000 litres on air or hyd
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
(Berwickshire)
ARMSTRONG & Holmes 9t high tip tipping trailer, rollover sheet, tyres 90%, hydraulic tailboard.
£3,500+VAT. S Bygraves Tel 07973 117993 (Cambridgeshire)
TYE twin axle tipping trailer c/w steel mesh sides, headboard & barn doors. £675+VAT. P Freeman Tel 07711 145124 (Lincolnshire)
MARSHALL QM/1600 trailers (2), 2021, 16.5t, only used for 2 seasons on 150 acres of barley, 560/45R22.5, air/oil brakes, larger front window, LEDs, hyd back door, as new. £17,000 each. A Kettles Tel 07711 813117 (Dundee)
MICHELIN Mach X Bib 710/70/42, tyres are 50–60%, both hold air perfectly & have never been repaired, few cuts but nothing serious, located NN7 Northampton. Call for details. £800 no VAT. L Cuddy Tel 07966 115509 (Northamptonshire)
TYRES & WHEELS
SET of 4 rowcrop wheels, 12.4R32 tyres 20%, rims vgc, no cracks. £400/pair or £700 for the set. R Hanton Tel 07860 792976 (Norfolk)
Contact COLIN SIMS 07831 805080 01205 460081 sales@agriculturaltyresandwheels.com
NEARLY new B F Goodrich All-Terrain tyres, 265/65-R17. £650+VAT. P Skinner Tel 07711 405100 (Northamptonshire)
Deutz
Deutz
Kverneland
furrow LB variwidth plough
Kverneland 6m tine seeder drill full spec
Kverneland 8555 4 row tedder
Kverneland 3228MN mower conditioner
Kverneland FRO 2.8m grass topper front & rear
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
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
Deutz 5090D c/w loader
Deutz Agroplus 410 DT front linkage & front PTO
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
Claas Arion 610C, 2015
Massey Ferguson 5612 Dyna 4 2014 c/w loader, low hrs
Landini 5-110H 2011 c/w loader 2400hrs only
Lely Roterra 4m power harrow
Kverneland NGH 4m heavy duty power harrow c/w packer roller, as new, very little work
Dowdeswell 4 furrow good condition
Lemken 4 furrow reversible plough
Kuhn FC202 mower conditioner
Kuhn MDS1141 QL fertiliser spreader
Kverneland 4032 trailed mower conditioner
Kverneland 3m CTS stubble finisher c/w DD packer
Kverneland 4m power harrow, as new, hardly used
Teagle 40/40 tub feeder/bedder
Teagle 80/80 SC feeder/bedder
Teagle 2010 80/80 SC feeder/bedder good condition
Kverneland feeder bedder
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
McConnel 5 leg Shakaerator
Fleming o set 8ft grass topper
Twose 6.3m Cambridge rolls c/w breaker rings
Kawasaki 750 quad bike road legal
Agco DM255/P mower conditioner, very good condition
Bomford TW 4.6m heavy duty batwing grass topper
Bailey 12t trailer, rollover sheets, complete refurb by Bailey 2 yrs ago, as new – 2 available
PlantMec 319 Q-bedder, 2020
Twose hedge cutter
Hi-Spec TD-S 4000 gallon slurry tanker 2019 2 available
Hi-Spec TD-S 4 gallon slurry tanker 2020 c/w dribble bar
FOUR alloy rims c/w tyres off Nissan X Trail, approx 70% tread, 215/65R16. £85 each no VAT. M Lewis Tel 07422 668416 (Powys)
• 12t lift capacity
• Suitable for front
& rear linkages
• Fully CE approved
• Ideal for contractors, • farmers & dealers
• Easier & quicker • servicing
EVERETT DRB 1650 bed maker, used for onions, good condition, 72" work, 2008 model. £5,000+VAT ono. W Wrinch Tel 07858 655060 (Suffolk)
LAND Rover Discovery, 2008, high mileage, but in very good condition, full year's MOT, wide tyres, in like new condition.. £2,450+VAT. B Rutterford Tel 07836 777595 (Suffolk)
1999 Honda 4 wheel drive, average condition. £350. B Rutterford Tel 07836 777595 (Suffolk)
LAND Rover Defender, 2014, 45000 miles. £30,000. C Bigley Tel 07909 910005 (Lincolnshire)
FORD Transit Custom High Top 330 Trend E-Tec, 2016, LWB, 202 TDCi, 155bhp, 2016, black, only 60,000mls, excellent condition, MOT till Jan 25. £12,000 no VAT. M Copeland Tel 07796 116511 (Norfolk)
LAND Rover Defender, 1988, diesel SWB, all original, exportable or project, good chassis. £8,000 or exchange 4x4. K Pugh Tel 07977 912970/01694 771258 (Shropshire)
USED bus, no engine, ideal for glamping project, etc. £1,500 ono no VAT. R King Tel 07929 424474 (Nottinghamshire)
LDV Convoy twin rear wheel pickup, X reg, white, excellent runner, Ford ‘banana’ engine starts first turn of key, 83000mls, used until Nov when MOT expired, for spares/repair, needs welding & steering is typically vague, call for pics. £700 no VAT. A Franklin Tel 07968 257232 (Warwickshire)
FORD Escort Mk 6 van, 1998, 1.8d non turbo, 84,000 miles, very good condition for age, good runner, on the road. £2,400 ono no VAT. L Brown Tel 07929 424474/07944 320613 (Nottinghamshire)
LAND Rover Discovery 3 SE 2009, 147k mls, Midnight Blue, full leather interior, tow bar, dog guard, new tyres, 6 months MOT, serviced every year, lady owner, vgc. £4,500 ono. S Badcock Tel 07917 473643 (Cambridgeshire)
SYM Jet 100cc scooter, 02 plate, has had engine rebuilt. £725. V Smith Tel 07876 770545 (Warwickshire)
HYUNDAI Terracan Limited 2.9 diesel auto, 57 reg, MOT March 25, 107000mls, 2 new tyres, very reluctant sale of a clean, straight, genuine vehicle, great for towing, serviced & new belts. £3,450 ono. R Horner Tel 07769 806840 (Bedfordshire)
2019 Toyota Land Cruiser 2.8L grey utility commercial, 53463mls, only one owner, FDSH, great condition inside & out, two keys, bluetooth phone connection, cruise control, multi function steering wheel, rear tow bar. £24,800+VAT. T Parker Tel 07802 690291 (Hertfordshire)
LAND Rover Defender, 2014, 45000mls, owned for the last 7yrs. £30,000. C Bigley Tel 07909 910005 (Lincolnshire)
BMW Z3 roadster, two seater, reg V490 LEB, 2.8L, silver with red leather seats, 85,765mls, MOT expired, first reg 16/11/99, V5 present, automatic, hard top & fabric cover. £1,750 ono. M Andrew Tel 07903 442568 (Lincolnshire)
NISSAN Navara, 2019, 72k miles automatic, leather interior, full Nissan service history, very tidy. £18,500+VAT ono. J Binning Tel 07765 064694 (Oxfordshire)
2011 Nissan X-Trail Tekna DCi 4×4 173hp estate, 6-speed manual, leather upholstery, same family ownership since new, FSH, MOT 24/3/25, metallic beige, av 41mpg, good condition. £2,195 ono. N Sharp Tel 07970 986364 (Lincolnshire)
TOYOTA Land Cruiser Commercial, 2020, 54,000mls, 5yrs warranty remaining, just had service & MOT, 4 new tyres, one owner from new, selling due to retirement. £27,500+VAT. H Catlin Tel 07931524599 (Lincolnshire)
DAIHATSU Fourtrak TDL SE 2.8 diesel, 1997, for spares or repair, registered as limited use & MOT exempt, owned since 2013 & SORNed since 2022, many spares included. £500 ono. G Reeve Tel 07775 943226 (Cambridgeshire)
VINTAGE & CLASSIC
FORDSON Dexta, good running order. £2,500. C Bigley Tel 07909 910005 (Lincolnshire)
DAVID Brown Case front tractor weights, five weights @ 28kg each, total weight 140kg, used but in good condition, price is for all five weights. £225 ono. T Wardall Tel 01827 872318 (Warwickshire) We are suppliers of USED PARTSfor ANTIQUE,VINTAGE & CLASSIC TRACTORS British & American, built 1920's–1980's
RANSOMES RCC223 heavy cultivator points (as fitted to old drag types), new/unused, non genuine, marked 253. £65/bundle of 5. G Howell Tel 07903 089391/01728 723683 (Suffolk)
RANSOMES Sims & Jefferies TS59 J plough, collection only. £400. R Thomas Tel 07952 528071 (Staffordshire)
DAVID Brown Case 885 narrow tractor, 1979 J reg, 1205 recorded hrs - believed to be genuine, excellent starter & runner, recent full service of filters & oils, early life spent on a nursery, c/w original downswept manifold & full exhaust. £5,150. R Lintott Tel 07799 473374 (Cornwall)
MF 8S.225
2023, 2600hrs, Dyna VT, front links & PTO, 50kph, hyd top link, LED lights
MF 8S.225
2023, 3100hrs, Dyna VT, front links & PTO, 50kph, hyd top link, LED lights
MF 8740
2017, 6600hrs, Dyna VT Exclusive, front links, Trimble guidance receiver, air brakes
MF 7720S
Dyna VT, Next Edition, 2020, 3500hrs, 50kph, air brakes, Trimble 382 RTK guidance
MF 5S.145
2022, 700hrs, Dyna 4, MF 3819 loader, cab suspension
MF 7726
2017, 4600hrs, Dyna VT Exclusive, guidance ready, front links
MF 7726S
2019, 7200hrs, Dyna 6 Exclusive, front links & PTO
MF 7720
2016, 5300hrs, Dyna VT Exclusive, front links
MF 7722S
2020, 3300hrs, Dyna VT Efficient
MF 7722
2016, 9900hrs, front links & PTO, Dyna VT Exclusive
John Deere 3050
1988, 6900hrs, 2wd, power synchron, nice tidy tractor
New Holland FR780
2020, 2040hrs, auto guidance ready, LED light package, leather heated seat
JCB 434S
2011, 8900hrs, c/w 12’ buck rake fork & tiptoe bucket, excellent condition
Redrock 4500 tanker
2024, over hedge boom, rain gun, air/hyd brakes, rear steer, wide angle PTO
New Holland FX40
2005, grass machine, nice tidy condition
Welger RP 202 Classic 2005, 1700 bales only, off small holding, excellent condition
BURDEN BROS MACHINERY
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
INTERNATIONAL 574 tractor, 1976, 7000hrs, log book, instant starter, used on grass cutter, barn stored, no rot, original, all electrics working, all glass in cab, original paintwork, 2 doors, drawbar included, suit collector or user. £4,100+VAT. S Raven Tel 07931 511361 (Cambridgeshire)
DAVID Brown 1212 experimental tractor ET135 ‘Big John’ – one of DB’s most famous test machines & prototype for the DB1490, DB 4wd axle, turbocharged engine; VQ cab, LQ12 loader, new tyres, a unique piece of DB history.
£15,000 ono. S Gibbard Tel 07971 547763/01406 380740 (Lincolnshire)
CASE IH 1594 Commemorative Edition 2wd mode,l synchro gearbox, 1988 with genuine 4300hrs from new, a rare machine in superb original condition with an excellent cab interior, newish tyres & its original literature pack. £19,500+VAT ono. S Gibbard Tel 07971 547763/01406 380740 (Lincolnshire)
INTERNATIONAL 434 very original narrow tractor, clean & tidy, serviced, low hrs (3940), starts & runs well. POA. G Brown Tel 07774 676440/01945 700142 (Cambridgeshire)
CASE IH 1394 c/w DB power loader with bucket & pallet forks, 1987 with just 5500hrs from new, in very good working order. £6,750+VAT. S Gibbard Tel 07971 547763/01406 380740 (Lincolnshire)
1983 Ford TW20 4wd overhauled engine, bored & sleeved, cam & crank bearings, valves & seals, injectors, turbo, new clutch & refaced flywheel, new PTO drive hub, Dual power clutch packs, f/ axle bearings & seals replaced, new h/brake & more. G Springell Tel 07831 096485 (Buckinghamshire)
TRUSTY Tractor 1946, in full working order, c/w spare plough & Cambridge roll, all in original condition. £850 ono. N Wilcock Tel 07503 522164 (Lincolnshire)
DB990 red tractor, needs renovation, great winter project. Offers. G Dunn Tel 07768 904984 (Cambridgeshire)
MUCK scraper, good condition, 5’3” wide, ideal for small tractor. £250 ono. O Bradbury Tel 01335 390286 (Derbyshire)
VINTAGE cultivator, sadly selling as need space. Offers. J Watkinson Tel 01379 642464 (Norfolk)
VINTAGE plough, sadly selling due to need space. Offers. J Watkinson Tel 01379 642464 (Norfolk)
VINTAGE plough, sadly for sale as need space. Offers. J Watkinson Tel 01379 642464 (Norfolk)
CRAWLER cultivator, sadly for sale as need space. Open to offers. J Watkinson Tel 01379 642464 (Norfolk)
BAMFORD C465 disc mower, mowing width 5'3", required power from 30hp tractor. £250 ono. O Bradbury Tel 01335 390286 (Derbyshire)
MASSEY ferguson 135, 1968, reg MAL638E, been on smallholding for last 40yrs. £3,500 ono. O Bradbury Tel 01335 390286 (Derbyshire)
LISTER 2 row potato planter, cup type, good order, c/w instruction book & parts list, good working order. £525 ono. M Andrew Tel 07903 442568 (Lincolnshire)
VERY rare single cylinder diesel engine air compressor. £325. V Smith Tel 07876 770545 (Warwickshire)
rare 2-wheel Allen Oxford with petrol engine,
V
Tel 07876 770545 (Warwickshire)
MASSEY Ferguson T20 diesel tractor c/w loader, 1955, all runs & drives well, new rear mudguards, starts & stops as it should, loader rams need a refurb, located Suffolk. £2,850. J Long Tel 07711 079821 (Suffolk)
ONE pair of unused fenders to fit a Fordson Major tractor. £250 collection only. B Vaughan Tel or WhatsApp 07831 665757 (Staffordshire)
VARIOUS zig-zag harrows. Offers. J Ramsey Tel 01653 628366 (North Yorkshire)
FRONT wheel weight for 2wd tractor, think it’s off a David Brown. £90 no VAT. M Lewis Tel 07422 668416 (Powys)
SEKURA safety cab, to fit Ford 4000/5000 tractors, in good condition. £600. B Vaughan Tel or WhatsApp 07831 665757 (Staffordshire)
SACK barrow/porters barrow, good steel work & wheels, woodwork original. £40. M Markham Tel 07850 863374 (Nottinghamshire)
TWO cast iron wheels, 8” across x 1.5" wide by 1” centre, for stationary engines, trolleys, etc. £25. M Markham Tel 07850 863374 (Nottinghamshire)
LISTER D stationary engine, 1.5hp, on its original sought after Lister trolley, on wheels, engine turns over with compression, out of barn, needs mag, chain, petrol cap, otherwise complete, ideal for shows. £300 ono. M Markham Tel 07850 863374 (Nottinghamshire)
FORDSON Dexta, was driven in the shed 3yrs ago, moved out as space needed. £2,500. C Bigley Tel 07909 910005 (Lincolnshire)
JOHN Deere 2650, 1992, vgc, 4 cylinder 78hp engine, work completed in last 18 months: electrical faults fixed, new alternator, leak fixed on the lifting arms, new front tyres, new muffler, engine has been split, new wheel hub seals. £15,000+VAT. F Smallridge Tel 07385 971477 (Cambridgeshire)
CASE IH 674 with power loader, 3455hrs, brilliant tractor, first to see will buy, c/w bale spike, muck folks, bucket. £3,900 ono. J Sutherton Tel 07765 537608 (South Yorkshire)
WANTED
BROCHURES WANTED
All tractor and machinery brands, all years, complete collections. Cash or cheque on collection. Please phone Graham 07889 792875 59-104609
LOOKING for a 20' trailer or thereabouts, condition unimportant as long as towable, must be in easy reach of Halifax (Yorkshire) & reasonable price thank you. P Jackson Tel 01422 243914/07942 201603 (West Yorkshire)
SCRAP WANTED
David Smith
RETIRED farmer, now a smallholder, looking for extending loader teleporter type machine to make life a little easier, age of machine not important, but must be in decent order & a reasonable price, consideration given to all offerings. Thank you. P Jackson Tel 01422 243913/07942 201603 (West Yorkshire)
Good Quality Woodland Grown Oak Required. (Not Hedgerow Trees)
KUHN Axis 40.2 H-EMC with Isobus, also Vaderstad Carrier CR420. T Wilkinson Tel 07969 465465 (North Yorkshire)
JOHN Deere 6800/6600, or equivalent 10 Series wanted by private buyer to use on farm, willing to travel. B Harris Tel 07990 741527 (Warwickshire)
KIBBLING machine for splitting maize required, will pay a reasonable price, Milton Keynes area. C Smith Tel 07831 479966 (Buckinghamshire)
TEAGLE Tomahawk round bale straw chopper wanted in good condition, c/w giraffe spout. W Everitt Tel 01263 860112 (Norfolk)
3-METRE power harrow wanted in working order. K Minett Tel 07884 420857 (Cambridgeshire)
GARNIER FR194 disc mower wanted, in working order or for spare parts. P Carpenter Tel 01617 662198 (Greater Manchester)
KONGSKILDE 4–6m hydraulic fold spring tine harrow wanted. M Upchurch Tel 07885 084826/01487 840260 (Cambridgeshire)
MASCHIO DC hydraulic depth ram required. M Upchurch Tel 07885 084826/01487 840260 (Cambridgeshire)
POINTS for Ransomes chisel plough wanted, duck foot type. B Naylor Tel 07811 785054 (Lincolnshire)
REGULAR supply of weaner pigs, preferably Duroc X. We currently need approx 20/month, can collect within 60mls of Stevenage, Herts. T Wolfe Tel 07905 361308/01438 880228 (Hertfordshire)
SCRAP METAL WANTED
S Gray Recycling
Alltypesofscrap... SUGARCOMBINES MACHINERYTRACTORSHARVESTERSBEET
07785 937779 01953 454462
New Holland TC, TX, CX Deutz Fahr - all models
John Deere 1177, 2056, 2058, 2256, 2258
Claas Lexion 410, 420, 430, 510, 520, 530
Bateman and Sands self propelled sprayers
corkcombines@gmail.com Tel: 0035 3862782479 corkcombines.com
WINGET 10NT/R batch concrete mixer in running order, as in photo. May be interested in non-runner as a spare, if available. J Hurd Tel 01985 840260/01985 840039 (Wiltshire) 59-102326
FANNING mill blades & Pitman knife drive required for Massey Harris 780/788 combine, or scrap combine to take parts off. D Cliff Tel 07971 609542 (Lincolnshire) GAS crow banger, in working order. J Ramsey Tel 01653 628366 (North Yorkshire)
We can help with woodland management schemes and felling licences - must be good quality. Whatsapp photos to 07848 459863 or email to hugh@whippletree.co.uk Call 01763 208966
11/22.5 tyres required, preferably crossply, but would consider radials, not important but must be sound. C Howell Tel 07798 668239 (Norfolk)
STORE cattle, any breed, prefer over 12 months, TB tested or untested off TB farms; also store lambs. K Pugh Tel 07977 912970/01694 771258 (Shropshire)
KIBBLING machine for splitting maize, will pay a reasonable price, Milton Keynes area. C Smith Tel 07831 479966 (Buckinghamshire)
WHOLE oats wanted for stock feed, small loads & ends taken, delivery to CO6 4JP or we can pick up on car trailer. E Bunting Tel 07889 640199 (Essex)
GREY/BROWN Chinese goose & gander, this year's hatch preferred as companions are needed for one lonely goose, definitely NOT Lavender, Norfolk/Suffolk area. S MealingMills Tel 07376 643547/01508 8HW (Norfolk)
KONGSKILDE TRL55/75 blowers & Kongskilde MTD blowers wanted, distance no problem. L Pugh Tel 07968 170848/01568 611338 (Herefordshire)
3M Airstream dust helmet main filter, part number 060-23-06P wanted, would consider any other new spares for theAH1 helmet. C Darlow Tel 07739 462887/01353724953 (Cambridgeshire)
PZ CM 185 H mower conditioner wanted, for spares or repair, looking for a gearbox for shaft drive drums & conditioner. R Thomas Tel 07952 528071 (Staffordshire)
HOPPER bottom bin required with raised platform for outloading to grain lorries. F Grant Tel 07909 626028 (Essex)
CLAAS Medion 310/Dom 98VX combine wanted, with C450 header & 3D sieves. S Eddon Tel 07979 984796 (North Yorkshire)
JOHN Deere combine header knife wanted, 18 or 20m. J Ramsey Tel 01653 628366 (North Yorkshire)
CATTLE crush with rump bar & head scoop required. C Cornish Tel 07880 976137 (Suffolk)
Claas expands digital team
Ahead of the launch of Claas connect and to support both dealers and customers in this company, Claas UK has set up a new digital
rapidly expanding side of the business team.
product manager for onboard digital solutions, where he will be responsible for the digital product offering incorporated into Claas products, including Cemis 1200, correction signals and machine connectivity for the transfer of data from the machine to the cloud.
system and all other new office based digital solutions. Digital solutions consultants is responsible for England and Wales, while David will support dealers in Ireland and Scotland.
Andy Bell correction
Andy Bell is joining Claas as digital
Product manager James Walsh , responsible for all offboard digital solutions, will oversee the new Claas connect platform, which will incorporate the existing Claas Telematics
new Claas connect platform, existing Claas Telematics
Full time • Competitive salary and benefts
Vencomatic Group would love to add you to its UK sales team as a Sales Executive.
You will be selling all products produced by The Vencomatic Group and selected industry specifc suppliers.
Customer and dealer relations are of great importance. You need to think with the customer in fnding effcient housing, egg handling and climate control solutions for each type of poultry house.
More about the role
• Mainly a feld role, you will have to travel distances throughout the UK, visiting sites with occasional days away
• Meetings will be held at our Thirsk HQ
• Your line manager will be Technical Director, Ben McGill
• You will be expected to generate your own leads as well as service existing customers
• You will liaise with other team members and contractors to ensure smooth sale to project handover
How to apply
Send your CV to the interviewing team –info@vpauk.com
To fnd out more details about the Sales Executive role, scan the QR code or call 01845 521 360
Simon Brownless and David Thornton will provide sales support for dealers and customers in the field.
Simon
Meanwhile, Gavin Ludkin will be responsible for preparing and delivering sales and service training courses in the Claas Academy. And finally, Sam Turnnidge , technical specialist, digital solutions and tractors, will provide technical support for the Claas range of digital products and services, in addition to supporting the Claas Tractor product range.
New key account manager at Adama
Adama Agricultural Solutions UK Ltd has appointed Gus Merrick as a key account manager within the company’s commercial team.
Gus, who is FACTS and BASIS quali ed and has a rst-class honours degree in agribusiness from Harper Adams University, joins Adama from Omya where he held the position of agricultural sales manager. During his time with Omya, Gus was responsible for growing the company’s market share and developing its UK commercial strategy.
for Syngenta as a regional area manager and as a member of the company’s ryegrass trial and potato campaign teams. In his role as key account manager, Gus will work at a national level to lead Adama’s commercial activities as well as helping to coordinate Adama’s wider technical and marketing support for his
Opico appoints new product manager
Engineering at Harper Adams and spent 15 months doing work experience with Claas UK. He was subsequently employed by Claas UK as a graduate management trainee and worked his way up to product manager for foragers, balers and Green Harvest machines for 11 years.
Gus has also previously worked
up on a family farm means I’ve and I’m pleased to be starting the next chapter
Gus commented: “Growing up on a family farm means I’ve only ever wanted to work in the farming sector, and I’m pleased to be starting the next chapter in my crop protection career.” its UK commercial customers.
Former Farmers Guide columnist dies
Je rey Titford, a former Farmers Guide columnist, UKIP leader and two-term MEP for the East of England, passed away on 9th September aged 90, after a battle with cancer.
Born in 1933, Je rey completed national service in the RAF and his political career began in 1970, when he became a Conservative councillor on the Clacton Urban District Council. He later joined the Referendum Party and successfully stood in the general election in 1997 in Harwich.
He then joined UKIP and became leader in 2000 and established a branch in Clacton and a regional committee. He was elected to European parliament in 1999 and 2004. He was a vocal critic of the EU and extensively lobbied the European Commission and
the Government in Westminster on behalf of the British shing and farming industries.
He wrote monthly columns for the East Anglian Daily Times, the Hertfordshire Mercury and Farmers Guide and made many appearances on regional television.
Je rey also had a 35-year career in the family’s funeral directing business. He is survived by his wife Margaret, one son, three daughters, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. eight and two great
After joining Opico in January 2024 as territory manager south west, Dean Cottey took the reins as UK Strautmann product manager from 1st August. Dean has a wealth of experience in agricultural machinery, having spent the last 14 years honing his knowledge with Claas UK. Dean’s passion for agriculture comes from growing up on his family dairy farm in East Devon.
During his college studies he spent 12 months doing work experience with McCormick. After completing his National Diploma, Dean went on to study for a BEng in Agricultural
Opico managing director, addition to the Opico customers.”
Opico managing director, James Woolway, commented: “Dean has been a great addition to the Opico team; his knowledge of agricultural machinery is excellent and his in-depth practical knowledge and experience enables him to relate to customers.”
RAGT appoints technical manager
RAGT Seeds UK has appointed Andrew Creasy as arable technical manager to develop and manage the company’s commercial trial network and provide technical support to assist seed placement and market segmentation.
the sector.”
New AHDB leadership team takes shape
A fresh approach to the AHDB’s leadership structure with a “laser focus” on levy payers is taking shape with the appointment of two new sector directors. The Beef and Lamb, Cereals and Oilseeds, Dairy and Pork sectors now all have representatives at an executive level.
perspective as a Beef and Lamb levy payer, coupled with her expertise in agricultural nance, will be invaluable.
Andrew will manage relationships with consumers and their respective o cial bodies, and represent RAGT’s interests with o cial governing bodies and agencies.
Andrew has almost 30 years of technical experience across the arable sector, working in plant breeding, agronomy, trials and farm management. He said: “It’s a great time to be joining RAGT and I’m very much looking forward to working with the internal team and our customers and growers at a time when so much is changing in
RAGT Seeds UK managing director Lee Bennett added: “Andrew has built up an impressive record in the arable sector and has a wide range of experience, which will serve him and us very well. He is well respected in the industry and very knowledgeable. I’ve no doubt he will be a real asset in building relationships across our customer base and underpinning our position in the market.”
New position for Samson
years successfully
Sam Charlton, the sector director for Beef and Lamb, has a background in farming and spent three years successfully leading AHDB’s Beef and Lamb Engagement team. Sam’s
Sarah Woolford, AHDB’s new Cereals and Oilseeds sector director, has a background spanning 13 years working with farmers, government and the supply chain in Australia in strategic and commercial leadership roles. She also has hands-on experience working on an arable and sheep farm.
new-look leadership team along with sector directors for Pork (Angela Christison) and Dairy (Paul Flanagan). The new recruits will be responsible for stepping up and
has a background spanning farmers, government experience working
leading AHDB within the industry, championing its work and supporting the sector board members.
Gabriel Lund has taken up the newly created position of product marketing manager for Samson and Pichon products. Samson is looking to strengthen the company’s presence through an even closer collaboration with both dealers and end users, with a number of demos and activities planned.
Sarah join the
Sam and Sarah join the
Since 2019, Gabriel, has been product manager for Samson’s muck spreaders and universal spreaders. He has extensive experience with Samson
Tributes paid to Charles Sercombe
Leicestershire farmer and former NFU Livestock Board chair Charles Sercombe has passed away following a cancer diagnosis.
Charles, a passionate advocate for tenant farmers and the sheep sector, farmed livestock and arable with his wife Helen and family at Frisby on the Wreake. He was NFU Melton Mowbray branch chair from 2007-2010, serving four consecutive terms in the role; and NFU Livestock Board chair from 20122018. He was also a member of the NFU Policy Board and
Governance Board. A keen stock judge and showman, Charles had a real interest in ock performance recording and sheep breeding. He was national chair of the Charollais Sheep Society, and sat on various boards, groups and government committees.
NFU deputy president David Exwood said: “Charles led the national livestock board through a time of great uncertainty for the beef and lamb sector. His dedication and knowledge at such a time were invaluable and he will be fondly remembered right across the farming industry.”
Steve Jeal, former NFU Melton Mowbray group secretary, said he was “supremely intelligent and a brilliant branch chairman”.
Agronomist joins Maxstim
Leanne Coleman has joined the Maxstim team to help ensure it maintains some of the most robust and statistically signi cant replicated eld data in the biostimulant market.
production, particularly root crops; understanding how farmers and growers can operate sustainably; and maximising plant and crop potential.
Before attending university, Leanne spent four years at Harrowden Turf, starting in the sales team and later advancing to a supervisory role in dispatch and logistics. After gaining a rst-class degree in Agriculture, during which she focused her studies on potato production, she returned to Harrowden Turf, in the wild ower department. Leanne’s interests include the science of crop
This position will be covering an established sales area with a good existing customer base, which also contains potential for further growth with the right individual. You will be selling a range of premium brand agricultural machinery including harvesting machines, tractors, tillage equipment and trailers from CLAAS, HORSCH, STEWART and GRANGE to professional farmers and contractors.
a rst-class degree in returned to Harrowden
Her decision to join Maxstim was in uenced by its commitment to promoting sustainable products that deliver signi cant results in crop production. The company’s extensive research and development e orts align perfectly with her professional goals and values, she explains. She was impressed by the scienti c rigor behind the products, and was eager to join the team.
professional goals and was impressed by the the products, and the team.
Bidwells appointment to drive growth
Property consultancy Bidwells has appointed Jake Shaw-Tan as its new head of rural agency, Scotland. Mr Shaw-Tan’s background includes heading up the agency department for Galbraith in Ayrshire, where he managed a team handling a diverse portfolio of rural properties, including building plots, country houses, cottages, and farms.
Scotland. He plans to implement strategic marketing initiatives and leverage his extensive network to grow the rm’s client base and transaction volume.
OF&G chief executive steps down
Roger Kerr, CEO of OF&G (Organic Farmers’ and Growers), has announced his resignation after a 10-year tenure leading the UK organic certi cation body.
Chairman of OF&G’s Board, Richard Thompson, thanked Mr Kerr for his commitment to the organic sector: “Roger has been instrumental in OF&G’s growth in stature and recognition as the organic certi er responsible for certifying over half of the UK’s overall organic land area.
“He has remained true to organic’s core principles, delivering high quality certi cation services while championing the sector and taking a pragmatic approach to protecting the interests of the organic farming community.”
Mr Kerr commented: “I’m incredibly proud of what OF&G and all that the team has achieved, but now is the time for me to explore other personal business and consultancy opportunities. I am also looking forward to nding more time to spend with my family and grandchildren.”
The Board is now seeking to appoint a successor, until which time Mr Kerr will remain in post.
he will focus on rural agency services with his client-focused approach the Scottish rural property ideal person to lead our leadership, we’ll enhance
In his new role, he will focus on expanding Bidwells’ rural agency services across Scotland. A key part of this will be to enhance Bidwells’ brand awareness in the rural agency market throughout
Ralph Peters, head of rural, Scotland at Bidwells, said: “Jake’s [...] extensive experience, coupled with his client-focused approach and deep understanding of the Scottish rural property market, makes him the ideal person to lead our growth in this sector. We’re con dent that under Jake’s leadership, we’ll enhance our service o erings and strengthen our position as a leading property consultancy in Scotland’s rural markets.”
Simon Francis joins ProCam
worked in the agricultural sector for the entirety of his career.
Agronomy rm ProCam has appointed Simon Francis as its UK technical and services manager. Based in Skipton, and with a family background in farming, Simon has
In his new role as technical and services manager, Simon will work alongside ProCam’s UK-wide team of agronomists to enable them to work closely with their growers to provide the best possible service. Key to this will be the development and delivery of added value agronomy services including ProCam’s SoilSense and FieldSense precision farming services.
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All of our spreaders are manufactured by ourselves in the UK and combine heavy duty construction with top quality components. Standard specifications include 20mm chain, 70mm shafts and bearings, commercial axles, wide angle PTOs.
...the only British built plough on the market, uses a combination of well proven genuine Dowdeswell parts and modern updates From 5 to 10 furrows to suit horsepowers up to 600hp, in furrow and on land options with a choice of bodies including DD, DDS, UCN, SCN and Slatted.
... supply a wide range of new PTO shafts and spares nationwide and also carry out servicing and repairs on most types of shaft.
A huge range of parts are available including U/Js, tubing and guards. We also supply gear boxes and hydraulic motors for a wide range of machines including mowers. spreaders and toppers.
Our parts department offer’s a comprehensive range of oils, filters, wearing parts, batteries, bearings, belts, and tools.
Now the UK’s largest Dowdeswell parts supplier