August 2018 Farming Monthly National

INSIDE: Create a unique atmosphere at The Glamping Show ‘18 page 44

Farming

MONTHLY National

August 2018

Also in this issue...

News

| ALDI backs British Farming page 07

Natural capital explained Also inside this month..

Natural capital is all around us – but it’s often taken for granted page 10

Farmers fight crime p36

Diary UK preview p24

Improved building environment p35

PLUS: Arable | Grain | Shows | Education | Buildings | Machinery | Energy | ATV | Motors

CONTENTS August 2018

FEATURES 16

23

12 Arable Potato plantings down 3% due amid extreme weather conditions

22 Animal Health Real-time Foot & Mouth strategy, Herdwise rule changes for Johne’s

28 Muck & Slurry Latest Muck & Slurry news

31 Buildings Farm building design and the well-being of livestock

36 Security On Farm security news

38 Grain Grain storage in trying times

04 | Farming Monthly | August 2018

35

41 Pests

36

44 Diversification

40% of farmers still consider permanent rodenticide baiting essential

42 Shows

Create a unique atmosphere at The Glamping Show

52 Education

NSA Sheep, LAMMA ‘19, Great Yorkshire

Latest education news

REGULARS 06 News Deadline for overseas research grants

10 On Topic Natural capital explained

18 Energy Latest energy news

46 Machinery Latest machinery news

56 ATV ATV news...covered.

60 Motors Latest motors news

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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Agriculture. Covered.

EDITOR Andrew Poulton editor@farmingmonthly.com

Natural capital explained

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August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 05

| News

Deadline approaching to apply for overseas research grants for good ideas for strengthening rural communities There are under two months remaining for UK citizens to apply for overseas research grants to investigate new ideas for improving rural life in the UK. hurchill Fellowships are travel grants that fund individuals to research innovative ideas and best practice overseas, then bring their global insights back to the UK and make change happen in their professions and communities.

Fellowships are available in 12 fields of interest, including a new category devoted to ‘Rural living: strengthening countryside communities’. The deadline for applications is 18 September 2018 for travel in 2019.

Julia Weston, Chief Executive of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, said: “Rural communities and economies are currently going through a period of great change, and face a huge range of challenges, as well as opportunities, especially in light of Brexit. In March the House of Lords select committee on rural communities reported that some of the worst spots for deprivation and

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intergenerational poverty are in the countryside. We’re looking for new ideas that can help to tackle that.

These Churchill Fellowships will fund people who are inspired to seek new solutions for rural life and keen to make change happen.”

The Rural Living category is the result of a partnership between the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust and The Prince's Countryside Fund.

It will fund Fellowships exploring wide-ranging approaches to a range of rural issues, such as invigorating transport networks, rethinking housing and planning, boosting employment and enterprise, and improving access to education, culture and healthcare.

Claire Saunders, Director of The Prince’s Countryside Fund, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. Their Fellowships offer a wonderful chance at a time of great change, for people to undertake grass roots research into ways of regenerating rural communities, and importantly it also provides a platform for people to share their

06 | Farming Monthly | August 2018

vital findings. Whoever you are, these Fellowships are a chance for everyone to research and share their findings.”

With ‘National Countryside Week’ taking place next week (Monday 30 July to Sunday 5 August), issues faced by rural communities are very much on the agenda. Its theme of of isolated rural communities, and the solutions to the challenges they face, highlights some of the issues that applicants for Churchill Fellowships may consider addressing.

Examples of past Churchill Fellows who have investigated rural issues include: Ann Pascoe, who travelled to India in 2012 to learn from initiatives enabling lay people to detect early symptoms of dementia and carer stress. On her return to the UK, Ann established a social enterprise to raise the profile of dementia in rural communities. She was also invited to join the Prime Minister's rural dementia communities task group.

Read more about Ann’s Fellowship Nature conservation worker

Rachel Remnant, who travelled to Romania in 2016 to investigate traditional meadow conservation skills. Since returning to the UK, she has shared the skills she has learnt with fellow farmers and land managers and has organised hands-on events for people in her local community, such as wildflower hunts and hay gathering. Read more about Rachel’s Fellowship Churchill Fellows are funded to research new ideas overseas for 4-8 weeks, in topics and countries of their own choice, with the aim of gaining fresh perspectives and insights that can make a difference to their community or profession back home. More details on the ‘Rural living: strengthening countryside communities’ category can be found here.

Everyone can apply for a Churchill Fellowship, regardless of age, background or qualifications, so long as they are a UK citizen aged 18 or over. To apply, or for more details, visit wcmt.org.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News

ALDI backs British farming with donation with donation to the Prince’s Countryside Fund Aldi has teamed up with The Prince’s Countryside Fund in a three-year partnership to give vital support to rural and farming communities across the UK. he supermarket has pledged its support to the Fund’s flagship scheme, The Prince’s Farm Resilience Programme, which is designed to help family-farm businesses improve their prospects.

Aldi’s donation will support upland beef and lamb family farms to improve their skills and knowledge of business management. This will be delivered through a series of workshops hosted by expert

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consultants on effective day-to-day management of their business, with topics including record keeping, succession planning, and understanding finance and accounts.

The programme also brings disconnected and remotelylocated farmers together to share best practice and build local networks. Participating farms will benefit from one-to-one on farm advice on their specific situations and implementing improvements.

Launched in July 2016, and now entering its third year, the programme is designed to offer

free business support for more than 1,300 family farms by 2020, improving their confidence and ability to run long-term and sustainable businesses. It is the only scheme of its kind intended to help vulnerable family farms in the UK. Fritz Walleczek, Managing Director of Corporate Responsibility at Aldi UK, said: “Supporting British farming is something we have always done at Aldi. Teaming up with The Prince’s Countryside Fund to support the vital work of its Farm Resilience Programme is a natural extension of that.

“By working directly with familyrun farms across the UK, Aldi and The Prince’s Countryside Fund not only helps famers to do better business but also to safeguard the future sustainability of the British farming industry.”

Claire Saunders, Director of The

Prince’s Countryside Fund said: “We are very pleased that Aldi is supporting The Prince’s Farm Resilience Programme, a sector leading initiative which helps vulnerable family farms to make the most of their business. It is terrific that Aldi are so keen to support British farming and rural communities and we are very appreciative of their backing.”

The donation is the latest example of Aldi’s commitment to supporting British farming. The supermarket was the first signatory of the NFU’s Fruit & Veg Pledge and its entire core range of fresh meat and milk is from British farms.

On a global scale, Aldi became the first UK supermarket to team up with Farm Africa, the international development charity, in June 2016 with a three-year partnership to support young farmers in Kenya.

August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 07

| News

Our pressure washers do the hard work, so you don’t have to

Photo Credit Louise Fox

Whether it’s a pig pen, combine harvester or farm shop that needs some TLC, Kärcher will provide you with the knowledge, equipment and support to help you clean up around your farm. From hot water pressure washer trailers, independent of mains power and water, to leaf blowers for those onthe-move jobs, we have the solution that you can rely on. ressure washers have long been a farmer’s go to tool when it comes to cleaning down valuable farming equipment, animal housing and vehicles, prolonging the lifespan of items by protecting them from corrosion-causing debris and defending the livestock against the spread of infection.

Pressure washers provide plenty of timesaving uses around the farm. Using a hot water pressure washer is up to 35% faster at removing mud, grease and other substances – saving 21 minutes every hour. Due to this increased productivity, for all but the most infrequent user, this offsets the fuel costs and slightly higher purchase price than a cold water version.

Greater time savings and efficiencies can also be achieved with clever accessories from the Kärcher range which can turn your existing pressure washer into an all-round farm hero.

Equally at home in barns or farm shops, the FRV 30 hard surface cleaner allows for the cleaning of concreted, tarmacked and tiled areas with a pressure washer without splashing or leaving dirty water behind. The device

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attaches to a pressure washer to clean floors and walls quickly and thoroughly. Its unique Venturi system automatically pumps cleaning water away – meaning that the object being cleaned dries more quickly, yet the device requires no additional power or water. Whether used indoors or out, it dramatically reduces the downtime of the area being cleaned plus saves all the time previously taken to manually clear away the water. The FRV 30 can be used with hot or cold water pressure washers at temperatures of up to 60°C. Another huge time saver is Kärcher’s Inno Foam Set. Instead of the laborious process of lime washing, in a recent study our stockmen achieved a 60% timesaving by applying disinfectant with Inno Foam. Providing quick coverage, the simple to use twin lance system attaches to the pressure washer allowing the operator to apply detergent via the foam nozzle and very easily switch to the high-pressure water jet to rinse clear. In our study this method significantly reduced Salmonella and Enterobacteria levels.

Elsewhere on the farm, iSolar connects to a pressure washer as a solar revenue protection tool. Since a build-up of dirt on solar panels

leads to a loss in power, reducing both what you generate for own use and any compensation you receive for feeding electricity into the grid, iSolar pays for itself in no time.

Even debris from dust and pollen can reduce the output of photovoltaic systems by up to 20%.

• As the world's leading pressure washer brand, we have exacting standards to uphold.

Designed for comfort and built to endure, Kärcher Professional Pressure Washers undergo rigorous design, quality, endurance, climate and stress testing to replicate the countless demands our customers place on their machines in the real world.

• Purchase a Professional pressure washer between 1st July and 30th September 2018 and you can register to upgrade to a 3 year manufacturer’s warranty. For more details, and terms and conditions visit www.karcher.co.uk/rocksolid.

For more information on how Kärcher can help protect your assets and maintain the cleanliness of your farm, contact us on 01295 752 142 or email agri@karcher.co.uk

Gove gives the green light to environmental farming project The Environment Secretary has announced that the Payment by Results (PBR) project will be the first agri-environment scheme directly funded by the UK.

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n future, all the funding for the PBR pilot will come from Defra, with a £540,000 boost announced today to pay farmers according to the environmental outcomes they achieve over the

next two years.

The project is paying participating farmers for work that is specifically tailored to the environmental needs of their area. For example, in Norfolk and Suffolk farmers are benefitting from planting nectar plots for bees and other pollinators, while those in Wensleydale are focused on managing species-rich meadows.

Today’s announcement follows the government’s public consultation on future farming policy which set out plans to move towards a system where farmers are paid according to the public goods they provide. As we leave the EU, there will be further trialling work to reach a model where profitable farm businesses and environmental land management can co-exist and complement one another.

Secretary of State for Defra Michael Gove said: “Under the CAP, agri-environment schemes have been overly bureaucratic and inflexible. This has impeded innovation for farmers who are passionate about the environment and want to see real change.

“The Payment by Results pilot marks a shift in how we think about rewarding farmers for their

08 | Farming Monthly | August 2018

work. This approach signals how we see the future of farm payments, where farmers deliver public goods for the environment which we all enjoy.

“I am delighted to extend this scheme and look forward to seeing further evidence of its success as we plan for our future outside the EU.” The PBR project had been due to conclude at the end of this year, but Defra’s new funding will enable participating farmers to deliver environmental benefits for an additional two years.

The trial is focused on providing training and guidance for farmers so they are empowered to create their own management plan for their land, and feel more knowledgeable about what they want to achieve, and why. This flexibility has meant participants have become more engaged in the wildlife they want to see on their land and think more creatively about how to achieve these results.

In Wensleydale, the Payments by Results (PBR) pilot is delivered by Natural England in partnership with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. It has proved popular with participating sheep and cattle farmers managing grassland in the area, who have been rewarded for producing habitat suitable for breeding waders, or for managing species-rich meadows.

Arable farmers in Norfolk and Suffolk have

been paid for their management of plots that provide winter food for farmland birds during the “hungry gap” when natural sources of seed food have been depleted. They have also planted and maintained flower-rich foraging habitat for pollinators, protecting this hugely important part of the ecosystem.

Chairman of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Carl Lis, said: “I am delighted that the Government has funded an extension and expansion of the Wensleydale payment by results pilot scheme.

The pilot scheme has been a hit with farmers because it has been designed and delivered locally – and because it puts the farmer back in control of how the land is managed, rather than having to follow very detailed and rigid prescriptions.

“With support from our farm team advisers, and the Natural England Project Manager, the 19 farmers in the scheme have produced some excellent environmental results in a short time.

They have received payments for making their pastures into good habitat for wading birds, or for restoring and conserving species-rich hay meadows – which are no doubt the jewel in the crown of the Yorkshire Dales National Park’s farmed landscape. The better the environmental results, the more they get paid.”

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| On Topic

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August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 09

| On Topic

Natural capital explained Photo Credit Ian Dudley

Natural capital is all around us – but it’s often taken for granted. However, Britain’s natural capital plays a key role in our economy as well as our general wellbeing. John Lockhart, Chairman of environmental planning and forestry consultancy Lockhart Garratt (www.lockhart-garratt.co.uk) explains what natural capital is and how it impacts on us all. ndoubtedly, one of the most strongly emerging environmental themes of 2018 has been the rise in prominence of natural capital.

However, there does seem to be a huge amount of confusion as to what natural capital really is and what, if any, relevance it has within our lives.

The short answer is the degradation of natural capital is an important issue for everyone; both personally and professionally. It also impacts on so many areas of industry, not just the land management, forestry and agriculture sectors.

Fortunately, there are some helpful resources and organisations around that can provide further information to enhance an understanding of why natural capital should be a key part of your thinking as you plan for a post-Brexit future.

So what is natural capital?

Quite simply, natural capital is our ‘stock’ of

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waters, land, air, flora, fauna, minerals and oceans. As such, natural capital includes those assets provided by nature which have the capacity to generate goods and services.

Ultimately, it is the source of all other types of capital, whether manufactured, financial, human or social. The benefits that people derive from this natural capital are known as Ecosystem Services. Unfortunately, as we all know, natural resources have biological limits, either because they are finite (such as land) or because the processes for reproduction or growth restrict their rate of replenishment, as is the case with timber.

With some areas of natural capital subject to a number of threats ranging from global warming to habitat destruction, the seriousness of the issue has finally been taken on board by the government.

Government response and policy In its 2011 White Paper, The Natural Choice, and repeated in successive manifestos, the government has affirmed its commitment to the

preservation of natural capital by stating that it wishes to be “the first generation to leave the natural environment of England in a better state than it inherited…”

To help achieve this aim the government formed the Natural Capital Committee https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/naturalcapital-committee. One of the organisation’s key recommendations was the development of a clear long term Environment Plan, but it was not until this spring that this plan finally arrived in the form of Our Green Future: A 25 year plan to improve the environment. This was then closely followed by the consultation paper Health and Harmony: the future for food, farming and the environment in a green Brexit, which started to set out the government’s thinking on the future of agricultural subsidies and land management support. The key theme of this document is the proposed move away from support for agricultural production to a system of, as yet undefined, public payment for public goods.

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| On Topic Natural capital was the guiding principle for both of these documents and as such, having a sound understanding of these principles will be essential if we are to understand how the rural sector will be supported and regulated in a post-Brexit world.

Natural capital - the current position explained Since its inception in 2011, the Natural Capital Committee has reported annually on the state of the UK’s natural capital. The underlying and salutary messages are that it is in long-term decline and that this decline is threatening our economic prosperity and opportunities for growth.

This is an issue for everyone, not just the agricultural industry. In addition to providing fundamental support functions for our lifegiving ecosystems, natural capital is an integral part of almost any industry that you can think of, providing key resources from water to raw materials. Of course, the benefits of retaining and protecting our natural capital extend beyond the economic - from emotional welfare to cultural character. These benefits are well understood and researched and can be valued and quantified. For example: • better health and wellbeing; • educational opportunities; • recreation and tourism; • sustainable supply chains; • better carbon retention and sequestration; • better catchment management and natural flood protection; • better soils; • enhanced and more accessible landscapes; and • greater biodiversity.

It’s easy to take nature’s riches for granted, but the values for natural capital are significant.

In 2018, the Office of National Statistics estimated the value of the UK’s natural capital at some £761 billion. These figures have been calculated based on capitalised annual flows of services.

A practical assessment One of the issues around natural capital is undoubtedly the over-complication of the assessment of the baseline position, combined with a lack of practical market opportunities that exist to transform highly valuable assets in relation to natural capital into viable revenue streams.

Unsurprisingly, most landowners and managers have a fundamental understanding of natural capital values. In fact, in many instances land management decisions and policy is unconsciously guided by this understanding.

The CLA has sought to promote a Land Management Contract through which farmers and landowners would be paid for the provision of the Ecosystem Services with defined measures and outcomes based on science, evidence and societal needs.

In light of current thinking, this understanding needs to be more focused and qualified. Landowners and managers need to review their assets and look at them through a new lens focused on highlighting the emerging opportunities. It will be critically important to understand what assets are present and their relative values and potential opportunities.

Knowledge is the key One of the characteristics of the natural capital field is the vast range of academic research and the wide variety of emerging tools and methodologies that are now coming forward to support a wider comprehension of this area. These provide levels of academic rigour and understanding that will help in the development of structures and opportunities for

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economic investment. For example, it is now possible to calculate with some rigour how changes in land management within a river catchment will reduce flows and thereby flooding risk.

While the range of guidance and tools is too extensive to cover here in anything other than cursory detail, there are some key resources that provide useful guidance and support.

Natural Capital Committee: How to do it – a Natural Capital workbook https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/naturalcapital-committee Ecosystem Knowledge Network Toolkit assessor: https://ecosystemsknowledge.net/ Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Challenges for international professional practice: from market value to natural value Value of Natural Capital – the need for chartered surveyors http://www.rics.org/uk/aboutrics/professional-groups/rics-rural-professionalgroup_91/ Key issues in market development One of the key challenges we face is the current lack of simple pathways to market.

There is much evidence that has been recorded in favour of the natural environment such as: our woodlands actively sequesting carbon; grasslands and wetlands reducing flood risk and improving water quality; access to our natural environment providing benefits to our health and wellbeing; and our urban trees improving air quality and providing essential shade and shelter. However, evidence to support and reflect the financial returns of these benefits is still in its infancy.

In December 2016, Defra published its review of 16 payments for ecosystem services pilot projects that it supported between 2012 and 2015. In September 2016, Green Alliance and the National Trust launched a proposal for a Natural Infrastructure Scheme, an area-based market in avoided costs, delivering environmental improvements by bringing together groups of land managers to sell ecosystem services to groups of beneficiaries.

The Defra best practice guide on payments for ecosystem services is a helpful introduction to what the approach is and how it might be applied in the UK. A copy can be downloaded from the Ecosystems Knowledge Network website linked above.

However, as landowners, managers and stakeholders we need to get onto the front foot.

In the first instance, we need to review, map, document and value our natural capital assets and consider how they fit within the wider network of green infrastructure. We then need to consider who needs what we have, and work together with both private sector and public sector partners to develop market opportunities.

Natural capital is here to stay and is gaining ground and credibility. It is guiding government thinking and they currently see Brexit providing a great opportunity to embed their environmental objectives into British Law as well as shaping new agricultural and land management policies and a new framework for environmental protection.

Enhancing natural capital makes good practical economic sense and our challenge is now to develop programmes and structures that start to properly reflect the real value that the provision of these public goods provides to society as a whole.

Author: John Lockhart is Chairman of Lockhart Garratt environmental planning and forestry consultancy (www.lockhart-garratt.co.uk). John specialises in a range of areas including strategic woodland management, environmental planning and development and green infrastructure. John can be contacted on 01536 408840 or by emailing john.lockhart@lgluk.com

August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 11

| Arable

Potato plantings down three per cent amid extreme weather conditions The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) estimates that the total area in Great Britain planted with potatoes is 119,000 hectares(ha), a fall of three per cent on the previous year. his would represent the thirdlowest planted area on record.

The news comes in a challenging season for potato growers, with an agricultural drought likely to affect yields.

AHDB’s Sector Strategy Director for Potatoes, Dr Rob Clayton, believes that a resilient industry will maintain the supply of our Britishgrown crop.

He said: “Potatoes are a vital crop for families, providing 14 per cent of the vitamin C consumed in Britain as a staple that some of our favourite meals are based on.

“This has been a tough and stressful season for growers, we do not underestimate that. However, we welcome news that supply chains are working closer than ever before, and that continual improvements are leading to reduced food waste at all points from the grower to the consumer.”

The Environment Agency (EA) yesterday (1 August) announced further support for drought-hit farmers, ahead of the NFU’s drought summit held on the same day. While,

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In Scotland SEPA has given a commitment to help growers continue to access the water they need for irrigation.

The ultimate size of the potato crop, and how the market firms in response, will not be known until harvest. At five year average yields, this would equate to a total potato harvest of 5.7 million tonnes(Mt).

Dr Clayton said: “The season started with sub-zero temperatures brought by ‘the beast from the East’, followed by a wet spring that delayed planting. Since then, we’ve seen one of the driest combined June and July periods on record, so most growers are reporting that yields will be down.

“Farmers have been working round the clock to minimise this, with teams working overnight so that any water used does not evaporate in the hot sun. There is still some growing season to go, so it is impossible to accurately predict how far down they will be.

“Variables such as the weather and the availability of irrigation could go some way to mitigating earlier conditions. Growers will be making contact with local EA agents to

understand the additional flexibility on abstraction announced yesterday. Equally important will be the regular contact between growers and customers as they work to make the most from this year’s crop.”

The table above provides examples of the potential size of the British crop, based on a reduction from the five-year average yield. For example a yield reduction of 10 per cent, added to the predicted three per cent fall in planted area would see a total crop of 5.1 Mt, down 16 per cent. If the agricultural drought persists, then yields could be lower still.

Dr Clayton said: “The good news for consumers is, thanks to the tireless efforts of growers, they will be able to enjoy potatoes and potato products over the coming year.

“What we are likely to see are smaller potatoes, but levels of vitamins and fibre will be unaffected and potatoes will remain a great value food.”

Growers can find further information and resources at ahdb.org.uk/drought

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| Arable

Rapid expansion calls for Gibbons Agricultural Fans rebranding When Gibbons Agricultural Fans launched a range of steel and aluminium crop-conditioning fans last year, the Essexbased company couldn’t have envisaged just how quickly the business would grow. s Gibbons began supplying its 0.13 – 2.2kW graincooling pedestal fans to farmers across the UK and beyond, it became clear that there was so much more that it could offer to help before, during and after harvest.

A determination to assist farmers with all aspects of their electrical and mechanical requirements has led to the gradual addition of several time and energy-saving solutions to the Gibbons portfolio.

In the space of just 18 months, Gibbons has transformed its agricultural offering into one of the most comprehensive in the marketplace. To properly reflect the complete range of solutions it

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now offers, Gibbons Agricultural Fans has been shortened to simply Gibbons Agricultural, with a new logo revealed as part of the rebranding.

The Gibbons Agricultural range is suitable for new and existing crop stores and includes: Plug&Dry™ A selection of time and energysaving accessories including fan starters, thermostats and extension leads which are designed to be fully compatible with the Gibbons Agricultural fans range. Each of these ‘plug-andplay’ solutions can be quickly installed by the user, removing the cost of having an electrician attend site. Gibbons offers full after-sales support, with engineers available to answer technical queries.

Plug&Cool™ Barn System

A packaged solution of grain fans, pedestals, starters and extension cables that allows users to automatically manage crop temperature from a single control panel. Once the desired temperature is set, wireless probes placed in the grain pile communicate continuously with the fully-equipped panel to ensure consistent and accurate temperature control.

Every Plug&Cool™ Barn System is bespoke designed, with the capacity for multiple fans within crop stores of all sizes.

Farm services A comprehensive range of bespoke electrical services for grain stores and other farm buildings, including wiring, door controls, lighting and control panels. Gibbons also supplies,

installs, maintains and repairs all makes and models of electric motors, pumps, gearboxes and variable-speed drives.

Gibbons Agricultural Manager Josie Pickard says: “We know that having access to this complete range of grain products and services from a single provider means farmers pay less than they would by sourcing individually, not to mention the time saving.

“Using a single contractor also means less disruption while equipment is being installed compared with having multiple providers on site.”

For all enquiries, call Gibbons Agricultural Manager Josie Pickard on 01621 868 138 or email josie@gibbonsgroup.co.uk

UK Potato Processors’ Association responds to Government announcement of support for farmers during dry weather UK potato processors (crisp and French fry manufacturers) have welcomed the Government’s commitment, in reaction to the current hot and arid weather conditions, to allow flexibility for farmers in the application of the rules on water abstraction. hilst this is an important step, this will not in itself resolve the issue. The reality is that the UK potato processing sector faces significant challenges this year, resulting from the current weather conditions, and especially as a result of the 10 consecutive days in July where recorded temperatures rose above 300C. Whilst it is too early to give a definitive view of the impact on the yield and size of this year’s crop, from the recently published AHDB figures on area plantingii it is clear that volumes will be significantly lower than average, and it is extremely likely that there will be serious issues in terms of availability of potatoes that are suitable for processing.

We believe that there will be an impact on potato size, dry matter and potentially an

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increase in defects such as cracking and bruising. It is also likely that there will be less crop going into storage, and not all stored crops will be of optimum quality. This will mean that impacts for UK potato processors will last well into the first half of 2019.

Similar weather conditions have been observed across mainland Europe, and it will limit surplus materials available for import. The lack of a definitive position on potato and potato seed importation, post-EU exit on 29 March 2019 only adds to the challenges that we face.

UK potato processors will of course take a pragmatic and flexible approach wherever possible, but we are limited to a certain extent by legislation and physical characteristics of specific varieties used for crisps and French fry production.

August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 13

| Arable

Festuloliums prove their worth in UK drought Grassland is suffering badly in the summer drought, leaving many livestock producers without forage – but festuloliums are proving their worth by remaining green and healthy. he grasses – a cross between drought-tolerant fescues and high-quality ryegrass – were originally bred for the south European climate, but have become increasingly popular in the UK, where DLF is pioneering a UK range.

“I was walking around our Didbrook trial site recently and every festulolium plot stood out,” says Tim Kerridge, managing director at DLF. “You could spot them a mile away.” However, one plot that really impressed was from an old overseeding trial which was abandoned after the trial finished. “It was sown with predominantly perennial ryegrass in 2004, and then overseeded each year with a festulolium,” explains Mr Kerridge.

The trial ended in 2009, and almost every other plot – from clover to ryegrass - has since been invaded by broadleaved and grass weeds. “But the festulolium plot is almost 100% festulolium, and the remarkable thing is that it was still green, when everything else around it was dead.”

Farmers should consider including festuloliums in their grass mixtures, to benefit from their deep rooting abilities, drought and stress tolerance, disease resistance and persistence, he adds. “Perseus, which is new to the AHDB Recommended List this year has very high yields and forage quality but is far more persistent than Italian ryegrass alone. It is

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also the only variety on the RL with the top score of 9 for Crown Rust, which is a very important disease in UK grassland.”

A new variety, which is working its way through the trials and is already approved in the EU, is Hipast – a fescue type which is high quality, dense and very persistent making it suitable for longer term leys. “In the past, most festuloliums of this type were best suited for cutting – this is the first true multi-purpose variety that is equally suited to long term grazing ” says Mr Kerridge. “It has big implications for replacing PRG on a host of different soils and sites.”

The Didbrook trial site undertakes official trials for AHDB, as well as in-house breeding programmes and commercial trials. With a total of 7,000 different plots, it offers comprehensive testing, measuring yields, dry matter, and quality characteristics. “There are a number of different festulolium types reflecting tall fescue, meadow fescue, Italian ryegrass or PRG genetics,” explains breeding station manager Tony Strickland.

“We’re introducing different genes to get the best of both worlds, with very vigorous growth, extensive rooting, high quality and yields.

Festuloliums are very popular across the country – so aren’t just suited to droughty sites – and there are some very exciting developments in the pipeline.”

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| On Topic

Contact your nearest dealer: Central Cropsprayers Limited Unit J Sandford Industrial Park Whitchurch Shropshire SY13 2AN 01948 840187 www.centralcropsprayers.co.uk Agratech NW Ltd Unit 8 Dale Mill Burnley Road East Lancashire BB4 9HU 01706 211399 www.agratech.co.uk

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August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 15

| Arable

Tillage-Live 2018 Unique event offers visitors the chance to get up close to the latest tillage machinery, sprayers and guidance equipment. ow in its 27th year Tillage-Live returns to Scotland this autumn, organised by the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) on behalf of the industry, the event takes place on Wednesday 26th September 2018 at Dunbar, East Lothian.

The AEA have once again assembled leading machinery manufacturers for demonstrations of cultivation equipment including ploughs, cultivators, conventional, strip tillage and direct drills.

In the live demonstration area there will be an opportunity to see the new Amazone Centaya airdrill together with the Ceus cultivator, alongside Amazone's range of min-till

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cultivators, ploughs and trailed drills.

Other working demonstrations will include, the Vaderstad Carrier CrossCutter and Ferox Cultivator, the Lemken Diamant 16 VT semi mounted reversible plough which has many updated features including, wider offset for onland ploughing and a new hydraulic depth system for the depth wheel and Dale Drills new banded-coulter for seed and fertilizer, together with their new cover crop cutting disc system.

Other exhibitors showcasing a full range of arable machinery and tractors include John Deere, Horsch, Kuhn, Kverneland, New Holland, Pottinger, Vicon and Vogelsang.

The technical-trade static exhibition area also provides an opportunity to discuss new ideas with industry-leading experts. This year’s

knowledge trails include a look at soils and cover crops as well as tyres and soil protection.

Kayleigh Holden, Event Organiser, explained, "The AEA are delighted to return to Scotland which we last visited in 2012. The site in Dunbar offers excellent facilities for manufacturers to showcase their machinery to potential customers and visitors alike and we would like to thank Eweford Farm for hosting the 2018 event."

This year’s Tillage-Live takes place on Wednesday 26th September 2018 at Dunbar, East Lothian. The site is directly off the A1 at Spott Roundabout; please follow the road signs to the visitor's entrance to the event. More information can be found at http://tillagelive.uk.com

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| Arable

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August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 17

| Energy

“Tide may be turning” for UK anaerobic digestion industry Renewable technology has “bright future” despite recent difficulties, says industry body. he “tide may be turning” for the UK anaerobic digestion (AD) industry, according to the head of the Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association (ADBA).

ADBA Chief Executive Charlotte Morton said last week in her welcoming remarks at UK AD & World Biogas Expo 2018, the world’s largest international tradeshow dedicated solely to AD and biogas: The last few years have been very challenging for the UK AD industry. We’ve been operating in an environment of declining government support for renewable energy, with tariffs for renewable electricity and, until very recently, renewable heat steadily falling.

There are, however, a number of reasons to believe that the tide may be turning and that AD in the UK has a bright future.

First, despite significant delays, changes to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) have now finally

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come into effect, providing the kind of tariff rates for biomethane production that we were seeing five years ago as well as new tariff guarantees that lock in these rates over a set period. This is bringing £150-£300m of new investment to build a further 50+ biomethane plants. And whilst the current RHI scheme is due to close by 2021, the urgent need for more biomethane is resulting in calls from the Committee on Climate Change for the government to put in place a replacement before the end of this year.

There is also good news on the food waste side of the industry, with the European Union’s Circular Economy Package having come into force just last week. One of the key elements of the package is an obligation for EU Member States to bring in separate collections for biowaste by December 2023, and we fully expect the UK to adopt these targets in the Resources & Waste Strategy due out later this year.

Finally, there is considerable

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investment coming into the AD sector as part of an industry consolidation that involves refinancing and upgrading existing on-farm AD plants to improve their performance. This is expected to require £300m of opex across the industry per annum by 2020.

So there’s a huge light at the end of the tunnel if we can just keep going through these tough times.

AD and biogas technologies convert organic wastes and energy crops into renewable heat and power, clean transport fuel, and nutrient-rich biofertiliser, helping to reduce emissions whilst improving energy and food security and improving air quality.

While the UK AD industry already has sufficient capacity to power 1.2 million homes, the number of new AD plants being built has been falling in recent years, constraining the ability of the industry to help meet government decarbonisation goals across heat, electricity, farming, waste, and transport. ADBA’s

latest Market Report shows that AD in the UK is currently reducing emissions by 1% per year but has the potential to reduce emissions by 5% if the industry reaches its full potential.

UK AD & World Biogas Expo 2018 was jointly organised by ADBA and the World Biogas Association (WBA) and brought together AD and biogas professionals from around the world to discuss the latest developments and innovations in the industry. Alongside an exhibition and fullstripe conference symptoms Verticillium programme, highlights from the expo included a breakfast briefing for farmers on the opportunities for refinancing existing on-farm AD plants, a dedicated lunch and workshops for local authorities on introducing separate food waste collections, and a black-tie awards ceremony celebrating those making the greatest contribution to AD and biogas in the UK and around the world.

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| Energy

Best in biogas celebrated at industry awards ceremony The most exciting innovations in anaerobic digestion (AD) and biogas were celebrated in style last night at the AD & Biogas Industry Awards Ceremony 2018. ixteen different awards were presented to the companies and individuals who have made the greatest contribution to delivering the benefits of AD and biogas across the UK and around the world.

The ceremony was jointly organised by the UK Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association (ADBA) and the World Biogas Association (WBA), and was held at the end of the first day of UK AD & World Biogas Expo 2018, the world’s largest tradeshow dedicated solely to AD and biogas.

ADBA Chief Executive Charlotte Morton said: This ceremony was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the very best in AD and biogas in the UK and beyond. The UK AD industry has had a difficult few years but there are now some very bright lights at the end of the tunnel, so this was a perfect moment to celebrate triumph in the face of adversity and to look forward to an exciting new future for what is such an important industry for meeting the UK’s climate targets and improving food and energy security.

WBA President David Newman said: It was great to see people travel from all four corners of the globe to recognise excellence in the development of biogas technologies worldwide. There’s a huge amount we can learn from each other in terms of innovation and best practice, and the AD & Biogas Industry Awards gave us all the chance to hear about the most exciting projects in this growing global industry.

AD is a natural biological process that converts organic wastes and energy crops into renewable heat and power, clean transport fuel, and nutrient-rich biofertiliser. AD has the potential to reduce global greenhouse gas

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emissions by around 20% and can help to meet nine of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The full list of winners from the ceremony is as follows: • Best Food Waste Supply Chain Project – FareShare, ‘No Good Food Should Go To Waste’ • Best Process Optimisation in AD – Xergi/Stream Bioenergy, Tully Biogas Plant, Ballymena • Making the Most of Digestate – Veenhuis Machines B.V., Veenhuis Nutri-flow and the Rotomax • Making the Most of Biogas – Cryo Pur, Greenville Bio-LNG plant • AD Hero of the Year – Thomas Minter, Malaby Biogas • AD Team of the Year – Edina • Best AD Support (Technical) – Uniflare Group, Oscar Bio-energy Hong Kong • Best AD Support (Legal, Accounting, Consulting) – Aardvark EM Limited, AD Benchmarking and Improvement Team • Research Project Award – Exergyn Limited, The Exergyn Drive • Best Innovation in Biomethane – SGN, Portsdown Hill: The Remote Grid Entry Hub • AD Rising Star – Alex Todhunter, Iona Capital • Best Methane or Ammonia Emissions Management Project – HoSt, Recovering Minerals from Manure and Reducing Ammonia Emissions • UK AD Plant Manager of the Year – Shane Doherty, Granville Ecopark • Best UK On-Farm AD Plant – BioG UK, Agrogen, Staffordshire • Best UK Food Waste AD Plant – Agrivert Ltd, Agrivert North London AD Facility • Best International Agricultural Plant –

SIAT, First Large Scale AD & Biogas Plants in West Africa: A Hope for the Palm Oil Sector Those who were highly commended were: • Best Food Waste Supply Chain Project – Biogas Academy, Dr Rapp´s Recipe for Biogas: Making Better Use of Stockholm Hospital Food Waste • Best Process Optimisation in AD – NVP Energy, Energy from Food & Drink Industry Wastewater • Making the Most of Digestate – Dorset Green Machines: Nutrient Recovery and PlantGrow: By Nature, For Nature • Making the Most of Biogas – Granville Energy Supply & Edina, Biogas Innovation and Alternative Usage • AD Hero of the Year – Edina Sales Manager Ian Farr • AD Team of the Year – Uniflare Group • Best AD Support (Technical) – CooperÖstlund, Setting the international standards for CHP excellence • Best AD Support (Legal, Accounting, Consulting) – Fisher German LLP, Fisher German Renewable Energy Team • Research Project Award – Perlemax Ltd, Desai-Zimmerman Anaerobic Digestion Cycle – Sustainably Intensified Anaerobic Digestion with Novel Biogas Sweetening • Best Innovation in Biomethane – Cryo Pur, Greenville Bio-LNG plant • AD Rising Star – Katie French of Privilege Finance • Best Methane or Ammonia Emissions Management Project – J F Temple & Sons Ltd, Ammonia Emission Reduction at Copys Green Farm • UK AD Plant Manager of the Year – Rob Greenow • Best UK Food Waste AD Plant – Granville Ecopark

August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 19

| Energy

Beware developers off-loading grid connection rights, warns Roadnight Taylor Farmers and landowners should be cautious about any offers from developers who are looking to off-load grid connection rights for battery storage schemes. ndependent power consultant, Roadnight Taylor, has issued the warning after a farmer contacted the firm for advice. The farmer had been approached by a developer – which was in financial difficulty – asking if he wanted to buy back the grid connection rights which the developer had secured on the farmer’s land – at a cost of more than £150,000.

“Landowners need to be very careful if offered grid connection rights,” explains Hugh Taylor, chief executive at Roadnight Taylor. “No matter what the fee, there can also be substantial financial obligations enshrined within accepted grid offers – and these represent risk above and beyond that of the capital being demanded.”

Although the site in question had grid connection rights attached, it was unsuitable for further investment. “Had the farmer bought the rights, he would

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be more than £150,000 out of pocket, with no tangible chance of ever getting a battery storage scheme.”

This appears to be a new tactic being employed by developers seeking to claw back cash, warns Mr Taylor. “This kind of behavior from developers is only likely to increase, as the heat in the battery storage market has attracted players who are less prudent and discriminating.”

Developers are particularly likely to try and sell connection rights for sites that are less financially viable.

“Any landowner or farmer being approached to buy grid rights in this manner should ask why the developer is trying to sell to them, rather than to the pool of known storage and power scheme investors.

“It would be perverse if the developer had not first explored the more traditional avenue of disposal via the investor market.”

Most likely, the developer will have been unable to drum-up interest in

the site from the industry, and is therefore turning to the last resort – the landowner.

However, there just might be genuine opportunity arising from an offer to acquire grid connection rights. “They should be approached on a case-by-case basis,” says Mr Taylor.

“Landowners need to be aware that not every developer offer is going to be in their interest. This is

an unusual and worrying development and I would advise severe caution; it’s vital that any case is looked at by an independent expert who understands the market.

Roadnight Taylor is happy to look at any sites and assess their worth.”

All-Energy 2019 shaping up well Exhibition space is selling well ahead of the position at the same time last year for All-Energy 2019 and the co-located Smart Urban Mobility Solutions (SUMS 2019) being held at Glasgow’s SEC on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 May 2019. ith nine and a half months to go before the duo of events open, we are greatly encouraged by exhibition sales which are running well ahead of where we were at this time last year,” says the show’s Event Director, Jonathan Heastie of Reed Exhibitions. “Importantly interest – and bookings – has been shown across all four of the show’s ‘pillars’: renewable and low carbon power; energy efficiency; low carbon heat; and low carbon transport. They realise that coming on board early means that promotion via our much-viewed website, the All-Energy blog, and highly active social media campaign starts right now giving them many months of pre-show publicity.

“Obviously announcements such as news that May will, for the foreseeable future, be CfD month every two years brings certainty to the industry; and investment in more efficient, high quality buildings thanks to up to £12.5m of funding being made available through the industrial Strategy Challenge Fund helps prospective exhibitors see the worth of showcasing their products and services to our audience. We look forward to sharing more good news in the coming months.”

Some of the exhibitors from Germany, Italy,

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Norway, Spain, Sweden and the UK who have already confirmed their space booking include 2G Energy, Clarke Energy, Deutsche Windtechnik, Greenbyte, Ingeteam, Knights Brown Construction, Moventas Gears, PARAT Halvorsen, Powersystems UK, Senvion UK, Schneider Electric, Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks, Vensys Energy, Vestas Northern & Central Europe and Visualwind.

The All-Energy and SUMS 2019 Call for Papers will be published online in early October.

Looking back All-Energy 2018 and SUMS 2018 attracted a total audience of just over 7,000; 300+ exhibiting company; nearly 500 speakers, including four Ministers (the First Minister of Scotland; the UK’s Minister for Energy and Clean Growth; and both Scotland’s Energy and Transport Ministers) in a packed and informative conference; and compliments in plenty. A large number of the conference presentations can be downloaded free of charge from the shows’ websites.

Further information on both events can be found on their websites at www.all-energy.co.uk and www.smarturbanmobilitysolutions.com

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| Energy

A renewable energy facility at the heart of the Isle of Wight has been sold to a London investment firm in a major multi-million pound deal Leading property agency Fisher German has sold an Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facility in Arreton to leading independent infrastructure and private equity investment manager, Foresight Group. isher German, working as joint agents with BCM surveyors, acted on behalf of an entrepreneurial consortium to sell the site, achieving considerably above the guide price.

The standalone facility is based on a 24 acre site and converts biogas to biomethane as part of a Gas to Grid injection scheme. The energy captured on the site is then supplied to a local market as well as into the national gas grid. CO2, a by-product from the process is compressed and sold as well.

Foresight Group purchased the site to add to its portfolio of renewable energy plants, and has established a market leading position in AD having previously invested into 25 greenfield and operational AD plants in the UK and Germany David Kinnersley, Associate Director at Fisher German, said: “I assisted the consortium in 2013

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when they were originally looking to finance the project, and then last autumn they expressed an interest in selling the site.

“We spent several months working with the client to carefully prepare for the sale, ensuring that all of the relevant contracts were correctly in place and that there were no unresolved compliance issues around planning.

“We used our knowledge of the sector to approach those who I knew were keen to buy, and we had a total of ten applicants before selecting Foresight Group as the preferred buyer. The market is changing rapidly with consolidation taking place at the moment.

“Anaerobic Digestion facilities do not come to the market often, and we had a high level of interest particularly as the business is well run. We are very happy to conclude the sale of the site, achieving a very good result for our client.”

August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 21

| Animal Health

A new agreement has been signed between AHDB and Defra setting out how AHDB could develop a new multi-species livestock traceability service for England The initiative was instigated by key industry stakeholders and is set to be rolled out from 2019. ctivity will take place over the next few months to undertake due diligence and develop a target operating model for the new service. That detailed work will enable a final decision on whether to proceed with the collaboration to be taken in the autumn.

This development follows the announcement from Defra in April about the go-ahead of the service, providing the foundation for some of the best farm-to-fork traceability in the world. The heads of agreement was signed during a visit to AHDB’s Stoneleigh Park headquarters by Farming Minister George Eustice.

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Key stakeholders, represented by the Traceability Design User Group (TDUG), have been involved in developing the vision and design principles and determining how all parties can work together.

The new service will add value for the livestock sectors, as well as providing a statutory service that will better protect against disease and bolster trade negotiations.

AHDB Chief Executive Jane King said: “AHDB is in a unique position to be able to lead the collaboration between government and industry in order to deliver a future traceability service which is truly transformational.

“By working closely with

industry through TDUG we will ensure that the needs of the user are at the heart of the developing service, resulting in a system that delivers for farmers and processors across the livestock sectors.

“As we prepare to leave the EU, a robust service delivering farm-tofork traceability is fundamentally important to the future health of livestock farming in this country.

Being able to evidence our worldleading production standards for quality meat and livestock products will continue to set us apart from our competitors.”

Farming Minister George Eustice said: “We have been clear from the start that we need government and

industry to work together in providing this service, which is why I am pleased to see this next stage of delivery underway.

“The service will be instrumental in improving traceability and ensuring we continue to provide some of the best meat and livestock products in the world.”

John Cross, independent chair of TDUG, said: “It is essential that the service is delivered in partnership with industry. It must underpin on-farm productivity and enable better management of risks to animal health in order to connect our supply chain, help us to evidence our high standards of production and protect and access markets both at home and internationally.”

Real-time foot-and-mouth strategy to better fight disease Future outbreaks of foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease can be combatted quickly and efficiently from early on – when authorities have minimal information – thanks to a new real-time strategy, developed by researchers at the University of Warwick. r Michael Tildesley and Dr William Probert in Warwick’s School of Life Sciences and Mathematics Institute discovered that the most effective policies for the start of a FMD outbreak, even when we know very little about it, are focusing on surveillance and vaccination.

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“This work highlights both the limitations and the benefits of using an infectious disease model in real time, during an ongoing outbreak” Determining the optimal strategy to control FMD can be challenging in the first weeks of an epidemic, due to uncertainty about the nature of the outbreak and how the disease will be spread.

The researchers sought to resolve this uncertainty, enabling the

spread of the disease to be controlled more rapidly and effectively than in the past.

Using data from previous FMD outbreaks – the UK in 2001 and Japan in 2010 – they simulated the spread of disease, and at each stage of the outbreak analysed the real-time efficacy of multiple different approaches.

• These methods included: • Culling only infected farms • Culling infected farms, plus farms designated as dangerous contact • Culling infected farms, dangerous contact farms and neighbouring farms (contiguous culling) • Ring culling at three kilometres, and at ten kilometres • Vaccination at three kilometres, and at ten kilometres At every stage in an outbreak, regardless of the uncertainty in case reporting, local targeted approaches (culling of infected premises and ring vaccination around confirmed infected farms)

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were always found to be the most effective.

On the other hand, ring culling was never an effective method.

The researchers conclude that, owing to the spatial uncertainty in model predictions during the early stages of an epidemic, targeted surveillance is crucial to allow authorities to gain information and resolve uncertainty as quickly as possible, ultimately better controlling the spread of the disease earlier in an outbreak.

Dr Michael Tildesley, Associate Professor in the University of Warwick’s School of Life Sciences and Mathematics Institute, commented: “This work highlights both the limitations and the benefits of using an infectious disease model in real time, during an ongoing outbreak. It is crucial for policymakers to employ surveillance to resolve uncertainty in how the disease is spreading as rapidly as possible, as this may have significant implications upon

our ability to predict future epidemic behaviour.”

Most mathematical models developed for disease control look back to previous outbreaks and make their calculations using all the information from the whole episode – this new strategy is rare in that it works out the best approach with only the information to hand in the middle of an outbreak.

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| Animal Health

HerdWise rule changes Activeherd: Precision for Johne’s Testing farming for cattle Schemes

With the diversity on a farm and only 24 hours in a day its not a surprise that the modern farmer struggles to fit everything in.

Important updates for farmers managing and controlling Johne’s disease

ational Milk Laboratories (NML) and the Cattle Information Service (CIS) have changed the way cows are classified in the HerdWise quarterly Johne’s testing schemes. The important changes are based on new research into the disease and ongoing collaboration between the organisations, both members of the Action Johne’s steering group.

The HerdWise scheme has updated the way cows are assigned Green (low risk), Amber (moderate risk) and Red (high risk) status to better highlight high risk cows and super shedders, helping farmers improve control of Johne’s disease and make interpreting Johne’s results easier for farmers and vets. Management of high risk cows is a fundamental part of the National Johne’s Management Plan, the changes ensure that farmers are able to quickly identify problem cows and reduce the chances of overlooking a Johne’s shedder.

Pete Orpin, Chair of Johne’s Technical Committee, says, “The new Johne’s Disease classification system is based on UK research and further improves the ability to identify high risk shedding cows for segregation and culling. NML and CIS have worked together to ensure the same standards are used to ensure a common industry standard to combatting this economically important disease.”

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Previously, the HerdWise scheme assigns a J category and colour to each cow based on the last four herd test results but this means that when a cow misses a test her individual status is less accurate. The changes to the system ensures that each cow’s status is based on her last 4 individual test results, even if she missed the last herd test, making the system more robust and easier to understand.

Two other significant updates to the test are that cows will now be assigned Red status after having only two positive tests in four, a change from needing two consecutive positive tests (>30), and the classification of a J2 cow as Green has been tightened to Amber. These changes to classifications ensures that cows that may have Johne’s are treated as a risk and that as many high risk cows are identified as possible.

In the next round of Johne’s testing, farmers may see some changes in the number of Red and Amber cows due to the changes in classification, however, the Herdwise test cut-off remains at 30 ensuring that farms will have the same number of Johne’s positive cows with no change in herd prevalence. All milk purchasers, retailers and vets have been notified of the changes.

For help and advice please ask your vet, contact Herdwise at herdwise@nmr.co.uk or visit www.actionjohnesuk.org

ctiveherd is the latest innovation in precision farming for Cattle.

Activeherd is a medical grade bolus which is inserted in to the rumen of an animal and can transmit the internal temperature of that animal within 0.1℃. This means that Activeherd is able to detect any health challenge, or infection which causes the temperature of the animal to increase.

When the temperature is outside of the set perimeters for a given period of time, the system will produce a real time alert which is sent via sms text message or email to the farmer telling them what animal has a temperature and allows that animal to be checked, isolated and treated, meaning that impact on herd health and performance can be kept to a minimum and importantly

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can be a valuable tool for the farmer to help maximise their time.

Cattle can be monitored through a web dashboard allowing you to log on and look at the individual animals details and average temperature.

Installed systems start from £550 with a bolus costing £60 £80 depending upon quantity there is a connection and service charge of £1 p/m per bolus.

For more information why not email activeherd@aqm.co.uk

August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 23

| UK Dairy Day

Holstein UK: The Journal UK Dairy Day Preview 2018 Returning for its 5th year, UK Dairy Day will fill the town of Telford on Wednesday 12th September when it opens its doors for the annual trade event at the International Centre. ith ambition to beat previous visitor records, the UK Dairy Team, coordinated by Holstein UK, are in full swings of organisation with the countdown to September on.

Exhibitor trade stand bookings are at full capacity and feature UK and International businesses, sponsorship packages are finalised, and seminar topics are being scheduled to make the show a varied dairy learning experience. With new features and zones, the 2018 event will offer everything a dairy farmer needs to develop, consolidate, and innovate their farming business ahead of Brexit.

UK Dairy Day brings together all facets of the dairy industry; farmers, students, breeders, geneticists, vets, feed merchants, dairy equipment suppliers and milk buyers - plus professional service providers, charities, and

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colleges. For anyone connected to the dairy industry, it’s the event to attend this year; an opportunity to network, share knowledge, learn and most importantly, do business at a time of year when important decisions need to be made ahead of Winter housing.

5 Top Reasons to Attend…

1. Over 300 trade stands across internal and external exhibition area 2. A chance to learn about new products, services and technologies on the market to enhance your business performance and efficiency 3. Meet with a variety of suppliers, all under one roof – do vital business, planning and decision making 4. The Cattle Show featuring The National Holstein Show, National Ayrshire Show and National Brown Swiss Show plus classes for Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey and Jersey breeds

5. A chance to get off the farm for an enjoyable day out – share knowledge, ideas and positivity amongst other producers The Cattle Show The Cattle Show at UK Dairy Day, sponsored

by NWF Agriculture, Westpoint Farm Vets and Wilson Agri, will feature three National Shows, Holstein, Ayrshire and Brown Swiss, making it the must-attend event for all dairy breeds. Lisa Window-Walker has been announced as National Ayrshire Judge, Dr Angelo Pozzatti as National Brown Swiss Judge and Shropshire farmer Mick Gould takes on the National Holstein category. Completing the line-up for the other breeds are James Lambe (Dairy Shorthorn Judge), James Warren (Guernsey Judge) and Anna Stable (Jersey Judge).

Lynden Bustard, UK Dairy Day Cattle Show Manager and Chief Steward, commented; “Thanks to the ongoing support from the dairy

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| UK Dairy Day industry, the Cattle Show at UK Dairy Day has developed into one of the most prestigious showing occasions. Under one roof, visitors, breeders, competitors, and dairy industry associates can see some of the UK’s leading breeds perform.”

He adds; “It is fantastic to have our judging panel finalised for this year’s coveted Cattle Show at UK Dairy Day. With all breeds represented and cattle of an exceptional standard, every year the precision, dedication and passion displayed by breeders never fails to amaze us and really does create a spectacle.

Prize money is totalling more than £20,000 this year!”

‘Sharing Knowledge’ The 2018 event features a first floor dedicated to ‘sharing knowledge’.

This will include table top displays promoting industry initiatives, training providers and charities, seminars sponsored by XL Vets with presentations on topical subjects, and a careers board displaying the current opportunities within the dairy industry.

New Product Zone: this element of the show, sponsored by IDEXX, is open to exhibitors who have launched a new product into the market over the last 12 months after 13th September 2017. Entries will be reviewed by an industry panel prior to the event with 10 shortlisted entries selected to display their innovations at UK Dairy Day with the winning entry being selected on-site at the event. In addition to this competition, there will be awards for Trade Stands, Best Presented Lines, Tidy Lines, Holstein UK Premier Exhibitor Award and the Holstein UK Premier Breeder Award.

Innovation Zone: NEW to the 2018 event, this area, located in the Newport Suite, will be sponsored by Harper Adams University and will

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feature a range of innovating businesses who • Showcase class for Montbeliarde breed will share information on new concepts and • Additional car park and new Travelodge Guy Thallon, Strategic Business Development Manager in techniques to benefit British dairying. opposite the venue Health division at Fera Science the Crop Calf Rearing Zone: producing productive The countdown to UK Dairy Day really does replacements is essential for every dairy now begin! With five hotels within walking business, so getting management right is key. distance of the International Centre, great By visiting this external area, sponsored by transport links connected by the M54 and Volac, farmers can gain practical advice and Telford Railway Station and two airports within tips on successful calf rearing with birthing, an hour’s drive of the venue, there really is no growth, health, hygiene, feeding and reason why you can’t plan ahead, book husbandry all being addressed. accommodation and join us on Wednesday NBDC Breed Village: a dedicated area where 12th September. breed societies can promote their breeds and Sue Cope, Event Director, commented; “It is membership. Located adjacent to Hall 3, where important that our industry is positively the cattle stalls are positioned, there will be represented and that we collaborate for a displays and representatives from Guernsey prosperous dairy future. We must continue to Cattle Society, Jersey, Shorthorn Society and innovate, invest and share ideas to make our the Ayrshire Society.

British dairy businesses efficient and resilient to Practical Demonstrations: don’t miss the Brexit challenges ahead. UK Dairy Day offers a array of demonstrations throughout the day to platform for bringing together forward-thinking develop your learning. The Calf Rearing Zone innovators and producers - a chance to learn, will offer advice on all aspects of calf rearing. It engage and do business.” will be covered by a calf house sponsored and She adds; “We’re pleased to again offer supplied by Northern Polytunnels Ltd and all FREE entry, so no need to pre-register – just practical elements within the Calf Rearing Zone arrive, receive a wristband and enter the venue. will be Dairy Pro pointed. Scarsdale Vets return There is also FREE car parking on-site and for the popular beneath the 'Black and White around Telford town centre multi-storey car Calf' anatomy painting demonstration and parks. Please support UK dairying by joining us NBDC will lead Type Classification and linear for the fifth UK Dairy Day on Wednesday 12th scoring demonstrations. Like previous years, September.”

Tim Carter and his team will demonstrate foot Join in with the hype on social media by trimming and knife sharpening demonstrations, following @ukdairyday on Twitter and liking UK including new block work.

Dairy Day on Facebook. Make sure the date is firmly in your diary: Wednesday 12th What’s New for 2018…

• Hosting the National Brown Swiss Show September at the International Centre, Telford.

• Innovation Zone sponsored by Harper #ukdairyday Adams University • Additional practical demonstration by Tim Carter and team showing block work • Larger Calf Rearing Zone

August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 25

| UK Dairy Day

Comfort Slat Mat’s gets to grip with wet slats COMFORT SLAT MATS are the manufacturers of the internationally patented, award-winning SLAT MATS which creates a healthier and more profitable environment for cattle and farmers.

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hen faced with solving the problem of the harsh concrete slatted flooring for beef and dairy cattle COMFORT SLAT MATS listened ………listened to farmers and listened to the

cattle.

Farmers wanted a safe, long lasting floor, and the cattle needed a soft, dry, clean non-slip floor.

A curved floor promotes the animal waste away from the floor creating a dry, clean environment Other flooring products on the market addressed the “soft” issue to some degree but could never adequately solve the issue of constantly wet surfaces, essential to the health and wellbeing of the animals as well as aiding with increased productivity.

COMFORT SLAT MATS knew there had to be a solution to the “wet floor” issue which is the cause of so many problems for cattle and farmers. What stopped existing floors from drying? The fact that they were flat and needed indentations for grip which as a result retained liquid on the surface. It was then that COMFORT SLAT MATS hit upon the innovative idea- Why not have a curved smooth floor?

26 | Farming Monthly | August 2018

A curved floor promotes the animal waste away from the floor creating a dry, clean environment and by using the animal’s weight this could create a flat surface when walked upon which then returns to a curved surface to displace waste.

Once they had solved the wet floor problem, they worked on creating a long lasting, aircushioned core which facilitated “grip” of the hoof within the floor. After five years of research

and development, COMFORT SLAT MATS was launched.

Since then, COMFORT SLAT MATS have been installed in over 3,000 farms across Europe and North America and its use in beef and dairy installation is growing year on year.

For further information contact: Comfort Slat Mats on 00353 1 8643494 email: sales@comfortslatmats.com or visit www.slatmats.com

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| UK Dairy Day

CowAlert introduces automated mobility scoring – a World First Entering a new era in cow monitoring. n automated mobility scoring tool, developed specifically for the dairy herd, has been launched by pioneering cow behaviour specialists, IceRobotics.

A world first, the new technology complements the suite of monitoring tools already available from IceRobotics’ highly acclaimed CowAlert system. Using specialist software, CowAlert continuously tracks fertility, lying time, lameness and general animal health on a 24/7 basis.

The newly-launched mobility module is designed to replace the visual scoring method generally used by farmers which can be costly, time consuming and subjective.

Similar to the popular ‘Fitbit’ devices used to track human activity, CowAlert automatically records and collects animal behavioural data through a robust wireless sensor which is fitted to the cow’s hind leg where it

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captures accurate data on stepping, activity, standing and lying time.

Using a unique algorithm, that analyses each cow’s behaviour.

The farmer can then make a fully informed decision regarding intervention and treatment.

“Mobility scoring is a very important tool when it comes to monitoring overall herd health and welfare,” said Douglas Armstrong, CEO of IceRobotics.

“Until now, visual assessment was the only option, but its reliability, consistency and accuracy is increasingly becoming questioned. It also places full responsibility in the hands of the farmer, stockman or farm manager which is, difficult, time consuming and highly subjective.

“CowAlert’s automated scoring system becomes the farmer’s ‘eyes and ears’, monitoring each animal’s behaviour round the clock. The cloud-based system is easily accessed by the farmer via his mobile device and can easily be shared with others such as

vets. In our increasingly competitive and welfare-focused times, this gives the farming community a definite edge.”

Initially developed as a tool for researchers, and with the worldwide acclaim from over 80 leading institutes around the world, CowAlert was developed on this pedigree and launched to commercial dairy farmers in 2012.

While it is not considered to be a replacement for good stockmanship, it is now a trusted, round-the-clock support mechanism, enhancing the observations of a good farmer or

stockman.

“No-one can monitor their herd on a 24/7 basis but CowAlert can do it on your behalf. Ultimately this helps the farmer better manage his animals and his time, and through early detection, he can drive efficiencies and deliver more natural interventions. This is not only good for the farmer but good for his animals.” Douglas added.

The new CowAlert module will be available to demo at the UK Dairy Day event on the 12th September at The International Centre, Telford.

August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 27

| Muck & Slurry

Bauer Turbomix provides slurry mixing efficiency Homogenising solids that have settled out in slurry lagoons by mixing them with the liquid fraction to create a slurry for spreading of ideal consistency is a job that typically takes power and time to complete. ith Bauer’s Turbomix MTXH pto-driven mixer, power efficiency was a key priority for the engineers who developed the machine, together with a durable driveline for minimum service requirements over a long working life.

They came up with a blade shape and guard ring combination that tests have shown works well in the power-efficiency stakes.

Comparative tests at research centres in Austria, where Bauer manufactures its slurry pump and mixer range, the Turbomix MTXH recorded the lowest power consumption for homogenising slurry, converting pto power into thrust more effectively than other slurry mixers tested.

The guard ring surrounding the 600mm diameter mixing assembly is shaped to channel the flow of material over the ‘propeller’ and so optimise the chopping performance of the three sharpededged overlapping blades.

These are driven by a shaft housed in a 120mm x 120mm

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square section tube made from 4mm galvanised steel that contains multiple shaft support bearings and is filled with oil for guaranteed constant lubrication.

Different blade variations are available to suit the storage situation, with so-called ‘pushing’ blades considered best for incorporating surface crust, while the ‘pulling’ blades are most efficient for mixing of solids and liquids.

Both types of blade are available on 4m, 5m and 6m shafts designed to work effectively in storage facilities of 1000-1400cu m, whether outdoor lagoons or underground tanks beneath slatted concrete floors.

An ‘L’ version with larger diameter blades and a reinforced tube in four lengths from 7m to 10m is also available for big storage lagoons.

The tractor three-point linkage mounted device has two hydraulic cylinders to raise and lower the mixer’s cranked frame and the geometry is such that the Turbomix is used to mix the contents of an underfloor tank, a

28 | Farming Monthly | August 2018

The Bauer Turbomix MTXH is a heavy duty slurry mixer with a robust 120mm square tube housing the propeller shaft.

small opening no more than 80cm square is needed to slot the shaft and mixing blades into position.

A third cylinder can be fitted as an option to tilt the shaft to further simplify the process of positioning the high-capacity mixer.

The Turbomix MTXH is part of an extensive range of slurry pumping and mixing equipment built to high quality and performance standards by Bauer.

Submersible and high-capacity

screw pumps, long-shaft pumps for mixing and filling spreaders, and high output centrifugal pumps are among the products available, along with a range of screw separators that divide slurries for optimum storage, handling and field application of their liquid and solids fractions.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Muck & Slurry

Your trusted partner in slurry management Midland Slurry Systems Limited was formed in 1985 and has grown into one of the most respected companies in its field in the UK, specialising in the supply and maintenance of industrial and agricultural waste-water treatment installations and animal slurry management. e offer an extensive range of products for animal slurry treatment and pollution control – providing a ‘turn-key’ operation from the initial planning, right through to installation,

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commissioning, and on-going maintenance of a bespoke tailormade package; a package that is designed from the outset to suit your individual needs and requirements.

Our products are carefully selected only from reliable manufacturers with a worldwide

reputation for serviceability, long life span and all are backed by the manufacturers' guarantees. In all cases, our own service provision and pre-arranged maintenance schemes complement the manufacturers' guarantee period.

Our installations are designed to provide the cleanest,

environmentally friendly, costeffective solution to the management of animal waste and reclamation of bedding sand. We pride ourselves on our after sales service and with our specially equipped service vehicles, we cover a large area of the UK from our base in Warwickshire.

August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 29

| Muck & Slurry

Greencrop Sepcom the unique separator The Sepcom Separator is already used throughout the world as a slurry separator, it has many benefits over similarly designed machines. he unique technopolymer screw is made up of easily replaceable sections, which reduces the running costs. This special screw rubs closer than the stainless steel screw, which keeps the screen clear and gives a better separation.

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The Sepcom separator is also used in Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants Another advantage of the Sepcom Separator is the diaphragm outlet, this simple device allows a back- pressure to the separated material to increase separation and this is further improved by adding a second diaphragm to the outlet. There are two models for the livestock sector with the Sepcom 45 at up to 15m3hr and the 65 up to 30m3hr at 30% solids.

The Sepcom separator is also used in Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants occasionally to prepare the material before the digester.

However normally the Sepcom Separator is used to separate the digested material. In this situation the Sepcom is fitted with a special polymer screw as the temperature of the digestate can exceed 30o C, the technopolymer screws greatly

reducing running costs.

A special stainless steel chute is fitted to the outlet that holds the plug creating a greater back pressure, and retains the plug when the separator stops. We use an inverter to run an auto reverse rotation of the screw to help clean the screen helping to reduce the servicing time. This unit can cope with an ST of 14.

We can also offer the unique Vertical range of Sepcoms which are excellent on food waste plants.

With the twin vertical action it is less likely to lose the solid plug and again we use the technopolymer screws that help to keep the screens clean. At the moment, we can offer the V150 up to 10m3hr and the V200 up to 20m3hr.

Greenbedding, Visscher and Sepcom have teamed up together to produce a special green bedding separator with low power cost to produce bedding between 33-36% DM. This is now worth looking into with the high costs of bedding.

Greencrop also supplies a full range of pumps and shredder pumps, which are used to handle liquid based materials. The pumps, manufactured by Veneroni, are of a very high quality and low maintenance and can be used to feed slurry or digestate to the Sepcom Separator.

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| Buildings

Farm building design and the well-being of livestock RIDBA Technical Consultant, Dr Martin Heywood, looks into some of the key areas that should be addressed by building designers and farmers to improve the well-being of their livestock. t is essential that animal housing provides a comfortable, clean and dry environment, free from hazards and health risks. The design of the building and specification of the materials used to construct it play a major role in achieving these aims and, if done properly, can lead to healthier, happier and more productive animals.

Ventilation The provision of adequate ventilation is arguably the most important consideration when designing a new building for animal housing. A distinction needs to be made between a well ventilated building and a draughty one. Nobody, human or animal, wants to live in a draughty building that lets in cold air whenever the wind blows, causing discomfort and potentially ill health. On the other hand, a regular supply of fresh air is essential to replenish oxygen, remove exhaled carbon dioxide and control temperature and humidity.

Correct ventilation will reduce relative humidity and the risk of respiratory infections, eliminate stagnant air and avoid unwanted draughts.

Factors to consider when designing a building for ventilation include: the dimensions of the building and layout of any internal partitions; the proposed occupancy of the building; and factors affecting the local wind speed, including building location, altitude, shelter and proximity of other buildings.

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Even at fairly modest wind speeds, the ventilation of a typical livestock building will be governed by the “wind effect”, meaning that sufficient fresh air will be supplied naturally by the wind. A building containing livestock must, however, be adequately ventilated even on the calmest of days, relying on what is known as the “stack effect” (warm air rising replaced by cooler air). The adequacy of stack effect ventilation for a given building will depend on the location and size of the inlets, the location and size of the outlet vents and the heat generated by the livestock. A detailed design procedure for calculating stack effect ventilation is given in the RIDBA Farm Buildings Handbook.

Condensation Condensation occurs on a surface when the temperature falls below the dew point for a given relative humidity. Condensation does not cause high humidity, but may be a symptom of it if the temperature is low enough. Although condensation can be a nuisance if it results in dripping water, it is high humidity (i.e. moisture in the air) that causes health problems in livestock. The focus for the building designer should, therefore, be on reducing humidity through good ventilation rather than hiding the problem through the use of absorbent materials.

Other considerations Buildings used for housing livestock should have adequate levels of lighting, provided by

natural or artificial means, or a combination of the two. Natural daylight is normally provided by in-plane rooflights, often arranged in bands along the roof. Since rooflights allow direct sunlight to enter the building, there is a risk of overheating in summer if the percentage area of rooflights is too great. It may be possible to use a smaller area, and therefore reduce the overheating risk, by specifying cladding with a highly reflective coating on the inside. Surface finishes should be smooth and without sharp projections to avoid injury to animals or people.

Walls should have a washable inner surface that can easily be hosed down and floors must be non-slip.

Conclusions With careful consideration at the design stage, it is possible to create a healthy and pleasant environment, with adequate fresh air, and lighting, humidity and temperature levels that are comfortable for the animals. Good ventilation and careful specification of materials are the most important factors.

August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 31

| Buildings

Ventilation is far more than just volume of air in a building, it is the rate of air exchange To go back to the beginning, we have to look at what animals do when exposed to nature and their rate of survival when left to the elements. ome modern breeds would find it very difficult to live outside all year and cope with the vagaries of our weather systems. Animals out in the open will always look for natures shelters, just like humans do. We will always look for simple shelter were ever it can be found.

Do you stand talking to someone in the middle of your farmyard on a wet & windy day or, do you move and stand around the corner of a building to shelter from the wind and rain? likewise, when the sun is burning down how often do you find shade to get out of the heat. Animals left to nature always try to find shelter in the basic form as well. They use hedges, walls & natural hollows to get out of or reduce the impact of the winds.

Likewise, they use trees for shade.

So, when we look at buildings we need to stick to the basic principles of nature. All animals want shelter from the wind and rain, shade from the sun and plenty of fresh air. Air movements ideally want to be above animal height so as not to create a draft.

There are very few days in a year that we as humans are glad of a small breeze, how many days do we complain about the chilling effect of the wind and say it would be grand if the wind dropped, animals are no different they need shelter from those chilling winds as well.

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All animals need a shelter wall to be able to lie behind with a decent air gap above for air to pass over. Depending on the height of the wall, the gap above may need some wind break material above it to break wind speed on bad days.

When designing buildings, we need to think about all the factors.

The No 1 factor for livestock buildings is the purpose of the building. Is it for Adult Cattle, Yearlings, Young Calves or even Sheep. Whichever group, they will all have different needs regarding optimum sizes and feeding systems.

There are many guide lines on volume of air per animal, the best form of ventilation is and probably always will be natural ventilation with gaps at the eaves and open ridges. This will undoubtedly be the cheapest form of ventilation you can get, no fans using electricity, no moving parts & nothing to go wrong. In high rainfall areas, where people panic about open ridges special cappings can be applied. The best is still simple, upturned flashing to make the outside air lift over the ridge of the roof, yet most people (probably myself included in the past) don’t fit the flashings right.

The big trend is always to try and close the gap up with these flashings and consequently the base of the upstand ends up being further up the roof than the end of the roof sheet. This doesn’t work

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| Buildings

and leads to a lot more problems as rainfall hits the insides, runs down & drips off the base corner and it feels like it is raining in. The base of any upstand should always be at a minimum 50mm (2” inch) back from the top of the roof sheet, this is so any water/rainfall that hits the inside of the upright flashing can then drain away.

Let’s be honest, it is very rare that rainfall comes straight down, it nearly always comes down on an

angle so then it will hit the inside of any upturned flashing, run down to the bottom edge and as long as that edge is back from the top of the sheet it will run down the roof to the gutter.

If you double the volume of air in a building then realistically you need to double the size of the openings at the eaves and ridge.

People often have one side of a building open and think that will be fine, there is plenty of space for the

Farmplus has thirty years experience in the design and supply of timber framed farm buildings and shelters

air to get out. After buying a smoke machine for testing buildings a few years ago, it really opened my eyes to how illinformed most of us are regarding air flows. The best I saw was in an old building that I could barely stand up in, it had a small gap under the gutter and an open ridge. Within 30 seconds the smoke had gone completely. Yet in a single slope open shed it took approximately 5 minutes to go and when it did the smoke went out through the low side.

The wider buildings become a greater problem arises with stale air, the air has to travel much further to get to the ridge and often the stale air cools and comes back

down again.

From my experience, lower buildings are much easier to get natural air flow working. You need to design your buildings for the animals that use them, not the big machines you like to play with.

Let’s face reality, we have been constructing bigger, taller buildings for the last 10 years and now nearly all the farmers have had to buy fans to try and get air to move. Most of these fans are only trying to move the air, they aren’t blowing clean air in or extracting stale air out. This must be simple truth that volume of air is not enough in itself. Air exchange is what is needed, simply clean air in and stale air out.

Think of what you would like to use the building for and design it for that specific purpose to get the best value overall. hen we look at buildings we need to stick to the basic principles of nature. All animals want shelter from the wind and rain, shade from the sun and plenty of fresh air. Air movements should be above animal height so as not to create a draft.

Animals left to nature always try to find shelter in the basic form, they use hedges, walls & natural hollows to get out of or reduce the impact of the winds. Likewise, they use trees for shade.

Ideally animals need a shelter wall to be able to lie behind with a decent air gap above for air to pass over. Depending on the height of the wall, the gap above may need some wind break material to break wind speed on

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bad days.

The best and cheapest form of ventilation is and always will be natural ventilation using the stack effect with gaps at the low eaves and open ridges. No fans using electricity, no moving parts & nothing to go wrong. In high rainfall areas, special caps can be supplied. The best is still simple, upturned flashing to make the outside air lift over the ridge of the roof. The base of any upstand should always be at a minimum 50mm (2” inch) back from the top of the roof sheet, so any water/rainfall that hits the inside of the upright flashing can then drain away.

Ventilation is not the volume of air in a building, it is the rate of air exchange, simply clean air in and stale air out.

August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 33

| Sheep

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| Buildings

Improve animal health through improved building environment Ventilation guide outlines best practices to improve animal health and increase profits. aximising livestock performance is dependent on the synergistic relationship between animal welfare and animal health,” explains agricultural specialist Stuart Daniell for fibre cement manufacturer Marley Eternit. “Ventilation plays a huge role in making sure these components work together.”

To give beef, dairy, pig and youngstock producers the knowledge resource to provide optimum housing conditions for livestock buildings, Marley Eternit developed the “Livestock building design and material guide for natural ventilation.”

Below, Stuart outlines a few best practices from the ventilation guide Stack effect “For natural ventilation to occur, buildings must be designed for the stack effect to proficiently manage the air inlet and air outlet cycle,” says Stuart.

How the stack effect works Air inlets draw in cool air which exits the building through air outlets as it begins to warm. If designed properly, this cycle keeps the internal building environment dry and fresh without becoming draughty.

How to get air outlet There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ standard for air outlets, which can be obtained in multiple products and designs. Installing ridge sections is a good way to prevent rain ingress while enhancing the draw of air through the top of the building, explains Stuart.

Unprotected open ridge section: Unprotected open ridge sections deflect rain as air moves up the slope of the roof. This negative pressure also enhances the draw of air through the open vent.

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Protected open ridge section: “A protected open ridge has a covering to prevent rain ingress and can be built with a traditional fibre cement soffit strip or polycarbonate soffit strip,” explains Stuart.

“Polycarbonate soffit strips allow more natural light into the building while avoiding hot spots caused by low level glass reinforced plastic.”

Breathing and spaced roofs: “Air outlet can also be achieved by installing semi-compressed fibre cement profiled sheets as breathing or spaced roofs,” says Stuart.

When being used with the addition of open ridge sections, breathing roofs are a good solution for increasing air outlet capacity in buildings with high stocking rates. Spaced roofs also aid in air outlet while increasing natural light but make buildings unsuitable for anything other than housing adult cattle.

Air outlet calculations and in-depth information about different air outlet options can be found on page six of the guide.

How to get air inlet Managing airspeed is essential to maintain adequate air inlet without making livestock uncomfortable. While configuring air inlet for adult cattle can roughly be achieved with two evenly split sidewalls that are four times the size of the outlet area, greater consideration for airspeed is needed for youngstock and pigs.

“One of the biggest mistakes livestock producers can make when trying to prevent air draughts is to completely seal off a wall. This will put an end to the stack effect cycle and create a stale, stagnant environment,” explains Stuart.

Find air inlet calculations and airspeed considerations on page seven of the guide.

Roofing materials “Roofing materials are going to have a

significant impact on the long-term profitability and efficiency of a farm, so it is important to choose materials that have a positive impact on the entire production picture for decades to come,” explains Stuart. “Properties like humidity levels, sound reverberation, light control and temperature stability are key things to focus on.”

Metal sheeting: While metal sheeting may seem like the cheapest option up front, it can be very costly over time due to a short-lived life expectancy of 10 to 25 years in the damp UK climate.

“Metal sheeting also has high thermal conductivity that can cause rapid temperature swings, and its inability to absorb moisture can also result in elevated humidity levels,” says Stuart. “This creates conditions that can compromise animal health.”

Fibre cement profiled sheeting: While being rot, rust and corrosion resistant, semi-compressed fibre cement has a life expectancy of at least 50 years. It is also capable of absorbing up to 25 percent of its own weight in moisture, greatly reducing humidity levels in buildings.

“The low thermal conductivity properties of semi-compressed fibre cement help create a mild internal building environment year-round.

It also absorbs sound, reducing rain reverberation,” says Stuart. “All of these properties lead to happy, healthy and more productive animals.”

To download the “Livestock building design and material guide for natural ventilation” ebook or to request a free hard copy, go to www.marleyeternit.co.uk/ventilation-guide

August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 35

| Security

Farmers forced to fight crime with medieval fortifications Farmers are combining medieval security with high-tech solutions to protect their farms from brazen criminals who are responsible for the highest level of rural crime for four years. n its 2018 Rural Crime Report, published this month, leading rural insurer NFU Mutual looks at the impact that crime is having on rural communities up and down the UK. Overall, rural crime cost an estimated £44.5m in 2017. With an increase of 13.4% on the previous year, it is rising at its fastest rate since 2010.

Across the UK, the cost of rural crime has risen most sharply in Wales, up 41% on the previous year, followed by the Midlands which is up 32%, while the South East has seen a rise of 30%. The cost of rural theft in Scotland has fallen 3.8%, while the North East is the only English region showing a fall, down 6.5%.

The report reveals that farmers are putting up earth banks, dry ditches, stockade fences and high-security single access points to fortify their farms against criminals who use 4 x 4 vehicles to get onto farm land to commit crimes and evade police. Protective animals such as geese, llamas, and dogs are being used to provide a useful low-tech alarm system, much as they did hundreds of years ago.

“Faced with repeated and determined attacks from a new breed of brazen thieves, farmers and country people are turning to history books to re-purpose security measures from medieval times,” said Tim Price, Rural Affairs Specialist at NFU Mutual.

“Adapting centuries-old security with high tech solutions is already proving successful in

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keeping at bay thieves who don’t fear being caught on camera and have the skills to overcome electronic security systems,” explained Tim. Farmers are also using hi-tech tracking devices and immobilisers on vehicles, CCTV video, dashcams, motion sensors, infra-red surveillance and SmartWater marking in their farmyards and even DNA markers to protect sheep from rustlers.

The report has also found that limited police resources and repeat attacks are the biggest fears for people in rural communities, with many forced to change the way they live and work as a result of rural crime.

“With police facing huge challenges – including budget cuts and extra workload – forces are finding it hard to resource rural policing and this may be one of the reasons for the rise in thefts we are seeing,” said Tim Price.

“However social media is fast becoming the new eyes and ears of the countryside, strengthening the community ties that help in the reporting and recording of crime and bringing thieves to justice.”

As the main insurer of the countryside, NFU Mutual has responded to its members’ concerns and has invested more than £1.2m to tackle the menace of rural crime. “The results of initiatives we support show clearly that when police, farmers and other rural organisations tackle rural crime in an organised way these schemes can be extremely effective,” said Tim.

For seven years NFU Mutual has funded a specialist agricultural vehicle police officer through the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) for the good of the farming industry, coordinating farm machinery theft information between police forces, Border Force and Interpol. NFU Mutual is also one of the key stakeholders with the Plant & Agricultural National Intelligence Unit (PANIU).

“Faced with repeated and determined attacks from a new breed of brazen thieves, farmers and country people are turning to history books to re-purpose security measures from medieval times” NFU Mutual is also part of a rural policing strategic review organised by the Police Chiefs’ Council, and its figures are used by police forces to help them understand rural crime in their patch and plan rural policing. In Scotland, NFU Mutual provides financial support for the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime (SPARC). It also provides support and expert advice to many local farm and rural watch schemes.

For more information and advice on how to beat rural crime in your area download the report at www.nfumutual.co.uk/ruralcrime

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| Security

Fit VideoGuard™ to prevent theft from your farm The Challenge: Rural crime has become more organised, with determined criminal gangs staking out expensive items. ationwide, power tools, ATVs/Quad bikes, 4x4s/Defenders and machinery remain constant targets for thieves, with improved transport links helping them move items into mainland Europe in a matter of hours. It’s easy to see why farmers feel under siege.

The Answer However, there’s great advice available with Warwickshire and West Mercia’s police forces producing crime prevention advice called Preventing Theft from Farms and Outbuildings.

The ‘obvious’ security measures are listed, such as sold locks and window bars, but it also frequently recommends alarms or security beams to protect farm buildings storing

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valuable equipment. Further, and possibly long before thieves get close to farm buildings, their trespass onto your land can be detected by perimeter monitoring systems, and further progress towards your possessions halted.

The Equipment Previously, CCTV and alarm systems needed power and telephone lines, but a new breed of CCTV is available that is 100% self-sufficient, sits for up to 2 years ‘watching’ vulnerable gates, barns, entrances or machinery until it is triggered. Then it immediately alerts responders, with clear video footage. This system is called VideoGuard™ and can be installed anywhere, even on the most remote site. Here it is in summary: • No power or telephone line needed. 100% wireless system.

• Internal or external cameras monitor up to 24 areas simultaneously.

• Sirens or strobes create loud warning for farmers and deter an attack.

• Captured video footage immediately sent to remote monitoring station to escalate.

• Voice-challenge intruders to warn of police attendance.

• Short-term rental or purchase options.

• Nationwide coverage, often with next-day installation. Free CCTV security signage.

For a no-obligation site survey, simply call Secure Site (UK) Limited on 08456 121312 or visit their website: www.securesiteuk.co.uk and one of their engineers will arrange to visit to answer any questions and discuss options.

August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 37

| Grain

Grain storage in trying times Jerry Alford, Arable & Soils Advisor at the Soil Association. leaning stores out thoroughly will give them a good break from last year’s crop.

Storage pests, insects and mites, do not come in with the new crop but live on residues in store. In the UK the most important grain beetle pests rarely fly and do not infest grain in the field; they are mostly spread between stores on loads of grain, animal feed, contaminated lorries or equipment.

Cleaning out stores is then essential to prevent pest carry over and some timely maintenance can prevent access by both the small and large pests such as rats and pigeons. Eliminating cracks and crevices that can act as pest refuge is also a good idea. Don’t forget to clean all grain moving equipment such as augers and conveyors.

Insect or mite traps in the store at every 5 metres will allow you to identify any pests still present and prompt action to remove the persistent infections by further cleaning and good hygiene.

Remove the risk of contamination by foreign bodies such as glass, stones, concrete, etc. by good hygiene and fix shatterproof covers over lights if not already done so.

Ideally crops are cool and dry before they enter the store but the weather does not always play fair.

The ideal moisture content for stored grain is 14.5% or less, with any grain coming in at over 18%

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needing priority for drying. Both high moisture content and a high temperature in combination puts the grain at a great risk of fungal development and of mycotoxin formation. Using high temperature drying does need care to make sure the grain is cooled adequately following on to prevent insect and mite infestation. And remember grain for milling and malting is often required not to go above 50oC. Near ambient air drying will be very slow if harvested grain has a high moisture content of above 20%. Reducing the depth of the stored grain will help with this if feasible.

Grain should be cooled as soon as possible after harvest to below 15oC to control grain beetles and mites; ideally within 2 weeks of harvest. Long term cooling to 5oC will kill insect pests surviving in store and prevent mite numbers increasing. However, if you have barley in store aimed at the malting market don’t cool below 10oC. Cooling to below 12oC will prevent grain weevils from developing.

Monitoring of the store is then on-going.

Ideally weekly for grain temperature once the grain is at the target storage temperature, weekly with pitfall traps for grain mites and insects, and at least once a month for moisture. Pitfall traps should be positioned on top of the grain and just under the surface at 4-5 metres apart. Ideally blow air up through the grain to

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cool it and using a differential thermostat is a good idea which will only blow ambient air when it is cooler than the grain, preventing

any dampness being added into the stored grain.

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| Grain

Don’t let the weather steal your hard-earned profits!

One product that has been in high demand due to the unusually dry summer Britain has had this year, is the dampening conveyor that Perry of Oakley Ltd. manufacture. erry have been manufacturing dampening conveyors for over 45 years, the image pictured was one of our early models installed in 1972.

Over the years, the dampening conveyor has been developed to be an effective and efficient machine that adds value to under moisture grain.

By increasing the moisture content of under moisture grain

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you can save large amounts of money, why should you give away your hard-earned profits for nothing! Oil extraction companies can refuse to take oil seed rape at moistures of less than 6%, using a dampening conveyor can help ensure you have marketable product.

A typical example: Wheat at a spot price of £159.00 per tonne at 12% moisture content, add 2% weight by adding moisture and add value of £3.18 per tonne - meaning that per 1000

tonne of wheat you gain £3,180.00*.

Perry’s dampening conveyor system comprises of a selfcontained 415V pump unit with suction hose, filter & delivery hose, a dampening auger with galvanised casing & spray bars with nozzles. A typical 30tph unit is just £7,200.00 EX VAT EX Works.

Capacities of 15, 30, 60 and 120tph available.** Perry of Oakley Ltd. are the UK’s most experienced manufacturer of grain handling &

drying equipment. The Devon based, family run firm has been manufacturing high quality machinery for farmers, grain stores, breweries & many other industries since 1947.

To find out more about Perry’s range of dampening conveyors or any of their grain handling/drying range call +44 (0)1404 890300 or email sales@perryofoakley.co.uk.

*note: electrical and water costs need to be taken into account. **note: water container not included as standard.

August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 39

| Grain

Insect pests affecting the quality of your stored grain and pulses?

A low volume insect pest treatment solution. rain-Tect ULV offers effective control and protection against insect pests found in stored grain and pulses. The product forms part of a best practice integrated insect management strategy to minimise the risk of insect infestations, with monitoring traps, housekeeping and the use of control measures providing a complete package.

Grain-Tect ULV contains 6 g/l deltamethrin and 54 g/l piperonyl butoxide. It is applied with an industry-standard ultra-low volume applicator with an enclosed nozzle, applied at 42 ml / tonne of stored crop. This application protects the grain and pulses against flying insects for up to three months and crawling species for a year. The product is supplied in a convenient 20 litre container and the cost of treatment is less than ÂŁ1 per tonne.

Grain-Tect ULV is marketed in

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the UK by Barrettine Environmental Health the UK through their network of specialist distributors along with, if required, high-accuracy digital dosing pumps. Barrettine Environmental Health supports this integrated insect management strategy with advice on the application of GrainTect ULV, installation of application equipment and free guidance on the wider grain store hygiene measures.

As part of the grainstore hygiene product support structure, the Barrettine Technical team based in Bristol offer free insect identification to assist and support farmers.

For more information about this product or your local distributor contact beh@barrettine.co.uk

40 | Farming Monthly | August 2018

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Pests

40% of farmers still consider permanent rodenticide baiting essential In a recent survey conducted by CRRU UK, permanent rodenticide baiting is still considered essential by more than 1in-3 farmers - contrary to stewardship guidelines. he Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU) with the support of the National Farmers Union (NFU) had 117 responses from farm owners and managers.

The primary concern, according to stewardship spokesman and CRRU chairman Dr Alan Buckle, is that permanent rodenticide baiting is still considered essential by a third of farmers.

As an incentive to take part, the survey included a prize draw to win a professional brushcutter - making the point that rat control should begin with keeping a tidy farmstead.

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"The results tell that just over 60% of farmers get this in theory, although arithmetically this means nearly 40% don't.

Half of the participants scored their own farm's tidiness a mediocre five, six or seven out of ten."

The Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use (CRRU)

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Impact on professional rodenticide usage The Government panel that oversees the stewardship regime said earlier this year that its scrutiny "will focus on the extent of any behavioural change among those operating in the sector and the measurable effect this has on residue levels in non-target animals."

"Compelling evidence of professional rodenticides being used without unacceptable effects on the environment means these products could remain available as they are today. However, without such evidence, we should anticipate further restrictions on where rodenticides can be used, and by whom. Clearly, a significant share of responsibility for which way this goes is in farmers' own hands."

Dr Alan Buckle, CRRU Chairman In the survey, farmers were asked about increased rodenticide controls if stewardship was unsucessessful.

When asked the posed with the hypothetical statement "high potency rodenticides might be restricted in future to professional pest controllers only" 40% rated this "probable" and 43% "possible".

"We've been hearing our members frustrations when they encounter poor practice by amateurs or inadequately trained users. Our members were well prepared for rodenticide stewardship and seem to have understood the risks of it failing. We all want to keep rodenticides on the shelf so we can protect public health, but for that to happen, farmers and pest controllers all need to pull their weight when it comes to our rodenticide stewardship requirements."

Natalie Bungay, BPCA Technical Officer The brighter side of the survey In their press release, CRRU said, "on a positive note, about one-in-five report using rodenticides only once a year or not at all, and another one-in-four use them just twice to four times a year."

How are farmers controlling rats?

• 79% poison baits • 58% denying access to food • 40% traps • 31% rat-proofed buildings • 31% terriers • 31% shooting

August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 41

| Shows

Positivity at NSA Sheep Event despite uncertainties for the future Tremendous crowds leant a positive atmosphere to the flagship biennial event of the National Sheep Association (NSA), held yesterday (Wednesday 18th July) at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire.

SA Sheep 2018 had few more answers about Brexit than the show held two years’ ago, just after the EU referendum was held.

But with a theme of ‘Thriving in an uncertain future’, the one-day business-to-business event provided attendees with information, advice and ideas to safeguard themselves and their flocks whatever happens politically over the coming months and years.

Lord Inglewood, NSA President, referred to this uncertainty as he officially opened the event. He said: “It would have been much better to have known what the deal on Brexit was before we voted on it but that’s not the way it’s been.

What is happening in the House of Lords, because we have the time and the rules to do so, is to look at everything over this legislation.”

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Lord Inglewood vowed to continue this work as more detail emerges on the Agriculture Bill, saying he and his colleagues would give it ‘very considerable scrutiny’. However, he warned, while there was acceptance public money should be used to pay for public goods, there was not going to be an abundance of public money to do that going forward.

Maintaining the industry with that shrinking pot of money was a topic that flowed through the four seminars at the event led by NSA officeholders and featuring industry leaders and experts.

Considering subjects such as stimulating demand for sheepmeat both domestically and internationally, public goods delivered by the sheep sector, and utilising technology within the sector to help businesses thrive, the seminars provided opportunity for all to contemplate a future positively

42 | Farming Monthly | August 2018

Commenting on the success of this year’s seminar programme, NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker comments: “It was pleasing to witness the seminar tent so full with attendees clearly interested and enthused. The discussion generated in each of the seminars I consider to be evidence of the desire of our sheep farmers to position themselves in the best possible way despite the uncertainties immediately ahead of us.”

In addition to the seminars, double the number of workshops were delivered at NSA Sheep 2018 compared to previous years allowing visitors to focus on specific topics in more detail, including foot health, nutrition, responsible antibiotic use and sustainable parasite control. The workshop area also saw NSA Next Generation lead two sessions on the future of employed shepherds in the UK, and NSA and Woodland

Trust jointly launch a new booklet offering practical advice on integrating trees onto sheep farms.

A packed day also saw a record number of international visitors attend, a number of awards and prizes awarded, various demonstrations run, and a popular sheepdog sale take place. The top priced sheepdog was Don, a twoyear-old dog offered for sale by Mr D.K. Evans of Penclyn Farm, Brecon, Powys, and sold for 3,400gns to Mr P. Langdown (pictured right).

Helen Davies, NSA Sheep Event Organiser concludes: “The work involved in holding an event such as this is considerable but completely worthwhile when we all can enjoy a busy, successful event such as that held yesterday. We thank all who sponsored, exhibited or visited the event and look forward to welcoming them to further NSA events in the future.”

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Shows

LAMMA show set to bigger and better than ever in 2019

Thrilling finale to the 160th Great Yorkshire Show More than 134,000 visitors flocked to the 160th Great Yorkshire Show, which organisers have hailed one of the best ever.

Organisers of LAMMA show believe the event’s move to the NEC, Birmingham, will see it offer more than ever before for visitors and exhibitors alike.

he event, which will take place on January 8 and 9, 2019, will be first time LAMMA has been held at the NEC and the show’s organisers said it was on track to cement its status as the premier farm machinery show in the country.

With 86 per cent of stand space already sold, the free to attend event is looking to capitalise on its new central location and the easier travel and accommodation options it provides.

Elisabeth Mork-Eidem, Group Events Director at parent company AgriBriefing, said the move to the NEC would encourage growth and provide a more professional environment for LAMMA. “This will enable LAMMA to build on its reputation as a meeting place for the entire industry at a key time of year when buying decisions are made,” she said.

The 2018 event, held in January at the east of England Showground, Peterborough, fell victim to the weather as strong winds ripped through the site at the end of the first day, causing significant damage to stands and infrastructure. With no choice but to cancel the second day on health and safety grounds, Ms Mork-Eidem said the 2019 event would not face such challenges.

Other benefits, she added, would include better zoning, improving the show environment for exhibitors and visitors, reliable free wi-fi across the site and enhanced show facilities.

“A 100 per cent indoor show will

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avoid any reliance on weather conditions and factors that cannot be controlled. It will provide a warm, dry, professional location that will be much more conducive to even better business conversations,” she said.

LAMMA 2019 will remain free to enter for visitors, as the Peterborough event was. There will also be free parking at the event for those travelling by car, although to claim their free ticket they will need to register beforehand at www.lammashow.com.

With Birmingham International train station stopping at the NEC and Birmingham airport in close proximity, LAMMA show organisers said it had never been easier to get to the event and were hoping to attract more visitors from overseas.

Richard Miller, Marketing Manager at Fendt, has booked into LAMMA 2019 and believed the new venue was precisely what the event was crying out for.

He said: “The move to the NEC is extremely positive; this is what is needed in the agricultural industry.

Manufacturers have an opportunity to launch new products and customers can easily see what’s available and can plan their current and future business investments.”

LAMMA began in 1982 and was organised by a group of Lincolnshire agricultural machinery manufacturers. Briefing Media (AgriBriefing’s previous name) bought the event in 2012.

For more information go to www.lammashow.com

antastic competitions, stunning sunshine, a Royal visit and a wedding combined to make this year’s Show a special one with 134,421 visitors attending over the three days, compared to last year’s figures of 133,542.

There were also some firsts with Lizzie Jones making history as the first ever singer to perform in the Main Ring at the Show, the Craven Heifer sculpture took prime position on the President’s Lawn alongside a Big Screen showing Yorkshire Film Archive footage.

There was a nail-biting finish with an all-Yorkshire jump off in the prestigious Ripon Select Foods Cock O’ The North showjumping class, this year marking its 50th anniversary.

The Yorkshire riders were the only three to jump clear in the first round of the Cock O’The North in front of a packed grandstand. A fence down, dropped James Whitaker to third place and two riders, Jamie Gornall and Joe Clayton went through to jump against the clock. Hudderfield rider Joe Clayton riding Via Van Der Karmenhoek Z took the honours. It was a double at the show for Joe who won the opening class on the first day with the same horse.

Other highlights of the day included a visit by Farming Minister George Eustice who was accompanied, as he met exhibitors, by Show Director Charles Mills.

Competition was fierce for the top title in the showing. The Cuddy Supreme In-hand Championship qualifier went to a Welsh Section C mare with foal at foot, Popsters Megastar, owned by Horse of the

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Year Show chief Mr Sandy Anderson, and shown by Will Perrins of Wakefield.

Reserve was David Dixon and Jerome Harforth’s Riding Pony brood mare, Dance All Night.

Judge Gill Evans said the standard had been exceptionally high and her final line-up of six was of outstanding quality.

The formal hand over to the new President of the Great Yorkshire Show also took place, with Bill Cowling handing over to Tom Ramsden.

Show Director Charles Mills said: “I couldn’t have been prouder of the Show, it was a magical three days, a real celebration of farming and the countryside. The weather, the atmosphere, the standard of competition and a visit from HRH The Princess Royal made it a truly spectacular Show and from the feedback we are getting, our visitors thought so too!”

On Wednesday, the Supreme Sheep at the show was Paul Tippetts of Shropshire’s Beltex, while the Pig of the Year title went to Robert Emmerson’s Large White gilt, Maple Leaf, from Leicestershire. The Supreme Dairy Champion was an Ayrshire, Willowfields Winnie II, owned by Bill Lindsay and Howard Batty, of Lanarkshire.

On Tuesday, there was tough competition for the Supreme Beef title, with the Champion named as Boden and Davies Ltd of Stockport’s British Charolais cow Sportsmans Maisie. Reserve went to R and J Graham of Stirling’s British Limousin heifer, Grahams Melody.

Next year’s Great Yorkshire Show will be held on Tuesday 9 to Thursday 11 July 2019.

August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 43

| Diversification

Create a unique atmosphere at The Glamping Show Whatever stage you are with your glamping business - planning, starting out or developing – come and find the answer to your glamping needs at this year’s Glamping Show! f you are in the business of glamping you will know it is no longer a niche way in which guests enjoy a night under the stars in the great outdoors; it is now a multimillion-pound industry fuelled by the modern traveller who is constantly seeking unique experiential getaways that leave a lasting impression. It’s not just about a bed, clean sheets and a mini bar anymore; glamping offers tourism business owners around the world a chance to create a truly exceptional travel experience that makes them stand out from the crowd.

To assist you in this the Glamping Show is on hand offering you a one-stop-shop to creating that luxurious glamping experience for your guests. Much like the industry it serves, the Glamping Show has grown significantly since its inception providing visitors year on year with a stunning showcase of suppliers from all corners of the sector. Not only can visitors experience a wide-range of different types of glamping structures, including yurts and tipis, pods, shepherd huts and safari tents plus a range of other quirky accommodation, visitors will also find a wealth of products and services required to complete the glamping experience.

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Paul Booker, who owns The Barn at South Milton in Devon, has frequented the Glamping Show on more than one occasion and has this to say: “My wife and I first visited the show in 2015 and then again last year in 2017 and we were very impressed with how much the Show had grown. We were looking to enhance our barn wedding venue with alternative accommodation to the bell tents we currently have and were amazed at how much variety the Show offered in terms of different types of glamping accommodation.”

The Glamping Show is also an important information source for all glamping business owners, no matter what stage their business is at. This year visitors will experience a totally new Show plan that will guide them to the information they need most no matter where they are in their glamping journey. In addition to the ‘Meet the Experts’ one-to-one sessions and comprehensive seminar programme, visitors will be able to take advantage of mini courses delivered by industry experts and designed to help visitors capitalise on the next steps and make the right decisions for their business.

Whatever your glamping vision, create your unique atmosphere and to join other like-minded business owners at the Glamping Show.

44 | Farming Monthly | August 2018

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| Diversification

If you’ve got the land, we’ve got the brand here at Wigwam® Holidays As one of the UK’s leading glamping accommodation providers, we’re attending this year’s prestigious Glamping Show (20th to 22nd September) where you can discover more about the successful Wigwam® Holidays Franchise. A top-of-the-range Wigwam® Cabin will there along with members of the Wigwam® Holidays team. ooking to Diversify Wigwam® Holidays has helped lead the way for over 20 years.

We have a unique range of timber glamping cabins made here in the UK that provide the backbone to your glamping business.

With a proven track record, Wigwam® Holidays offer an attractive Franchise Business Model to site owners that includes start-to-finish support from a dedicated team, so from building the cabins to setting up your booking system or getting your first customers, we help you every step of the way.

Hear All About It! Wigwam® Holidays’ Managing Director Charles Gulland will give a presentation “Wigwam® Franchise Business Model" at 2pm on Friday 21st September.

During his presentation, Charles, who originally came up with the idea of the timber tent in the early 1990s, will offer a great opportunity to have a glimpse of the glamping phenomenon and how it can bring you business success

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Existing Sites A number of Wigwam® Holidays sites are based on working farms and together offer a perfect and often lucrative mix of rural enterprise and the staycation experience.

And with over 80 sites and counting, the Wigwam ® Brand stands head and shoulders above the rest!

We have a number of new and existing glamping sites based on working farms, including arable, stock and mixed, these include three new Welsh sites in 2018, all based on working farms, along with existing Wigwam® Sites that have been with us for many years where farming and glamping continue to work in harmony.

Wigwam® Holidays Penbugle, based near Looe, Cornwall, is an organic farm including Wigwam® Cabins in the heart of the Cornish countryside. They have successfully combined working the land with providing quality glamping accommodation for over five years.

Wigwam® Holidays Bodrugan is based near the picturesque Cornish fishing village of Mevagissey and their Wigwam® Cabins

overlook a private beach and their cattle herd, providing a idyllic location.

In the north of England, Wigwam® Holidays Humble Bee Farm nestles in a peaceful valley in the Yorkshire Wolds. As well as Farmer Percy being one of the ‘attractions’, this site has encouraged its guests to find out all about farming culture through their annual nature events programme.

Expanding the Business The number of Wigwam® Sites around the UK is testament to the popularity of glamping, which is set to go from strength to strength.

Wigwam® Holidays’ cabins have a number of unique selling points, including possible year-round occupancy, being part of one of the UK’s most glamping trusted brands, a fullyfledged support network and an excellent presence in the world of glamping, from agricultural shows to marketing.

So if you’re attending the Glamping Show next month, be sure to visit Wigwam® Holidays!

Visit www.wigwamholidays.com

August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 45

| Energy

Pirtek Cambridge Tel: 01223 835222 Pirtek Derby Tel: 01332 205000 Pirtek Harlow Tel: 01279 427300 46 | Farming Monthly | August 2018

Pirtek Luton Pirtek Penrith Pirtek Preston

Tel: 01582 597050 Tel: 01768 210055 Tel: 01772 620111 www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Machinery

Calling all farmers and CLAAS sets new world agricultural contractors record THE MIDLANDS MACHINERY SHOW - NEWARK SHOWGROUND - 21 & 22 NOVEMBER 2018 Register online today for a great business and networking opportunity to invest in your future.

With the DISCO 1100 RC conditioner mower unit, CLAAS has set a new world record for the amount mowed in eight hours. uring this time frame, the machine mowed a total of 141.1 hectares of alfalfa with a roller conditioner and an average yield of 5.24 tonnes of dry mass per hectare. The previous world record was thus surpassed by more than 40 hectares.

Record from the USA On 1 July 2018, just after midday, Tate Mesbergen from Mesbergen Farms set about creating a new world record with a combination of AXION 800 and DISCO 1100 RC machines. Exactly eight hours later, he climbed out of the cabin of his tractor as a new world record holder. A support team and impartial witnesses can confirm that Tate mowed a total of 141.1 hectares in four different fields, thus exceeding the previous world record by more than 40.5 hectares.

With a maximum speed of 30 km/h in the field and more than 50 km/h from field to field, Tate mowed an average of 17.6 ha/h during his world record attempt.

“Not all fields were close to one another, so it was a real challenge to quickly fold up the mower units for transport and hurry along the roads,” explained Tate.

Not everything went according to plan The day before the attempt, there was a thunderstorm with heavy showers of 12.7 millimetres of rain. This meant that the subsoil in particular in the first field was significantly wetter than usual. The

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uilding on its reputation as an event at which to do business in a friendly and informative atmosphere, this year the Midlands Machinery Show will celebrate its 5th year. Exhibitor bookings have already nearly achieved 2017’s total with many of the halls sold out. Additional inside space is being made available to accommodate the increase in exhibitor interest this year. Many are returning dealerships and manufacturers who value the opportunity to meet new and existing customers in a relaxed environment where visitors are welcome to try out equipment before buying.

Show Manager, George Taylor, said “We are delighted that 20% of the exhibitors booked in so far are NEW for 2018. This is testament to the popularity of the show that prides itself on being a platform for small to medium-sized agricultural businesses to showcase their diverse range of machinery and innovation to those who work and have an interest in agriculture and its future. Exhibitors and visitors benefit from meeting others within their community, seeing new technology and discussing what advantages are available from investment in new products and services”.

The Midlands Machinery Show is a great opportunity to discover all that’s best in agricultural machinery and products available in the Midlands, and beyond.

Visitors are encouraged to register online at www.midlandsmachineryshow.co m The Show team are proud to announce a new dedicated outdoors ‘Demo Area’ for this year’s show where new machinery will be demonstrated throughout

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both days. Mr Taylor commented, “With the creation of additional indoor space came the opportunity to make use of the flat, grassed surface outside for demonstrations. We aim to announce the latest technology launches throughout the summer and early autumn via our website and social media. Please follow us on Twitter and check out our Facebook page for the very latest information on what to expect at MMS 2018”. A list of exhibitors is available to view on www.midlandsmachineryshow.co m and is constantly being updated.

The organisers are delighted that two key sponsors, Flach & Le Roy and Woldmarsh have confirmed their sponsorship for 2018. A spokesman for Woldmarsh said, “There are a very small number of shows where you can virtually guarantee that all those attending are genuinely interested in what you are offering. That’s why we like MMS. … you can also be sure that those attending have the time to speak to you in some depth; a combination that is a win-win for all concerned”.

NRoSO (National Register of Sprayer Operators) and BASIS (independent standards setting and auditing organisation for the pesticide, fertiliser and allied industries) points will be available again this year. Details of the timings and topics for the technical seminar programme will be available online.

For exhibitor bookings contact Rebecca.knight@newarkshowgro und.com, for sponsorship opportunities contact unamarie.palin@newarkshowground.c om Follow us on twitter @midsmachinery #MMS18 Like us on Facebook

start was delayed by a few hours, and during his record attempt, Tate also made two unplanned stops. His first was between the first and second field. “I hit a piece of concrete on the first field and had to check whether the mower unit was damaged,” said Tate. A quick examination showed that no harm was done. Not one blade had to be replaced. The second interruption took place to check that the DISCO mower unit was correctly folded before it was transported along the road to the last field.

Previous record on grass The previous world record was set on grass, not alfalfa, and a mower without conditioner was used. That was clearly an easier task. The DISCO 1100 RC has a conditioner with two V-shaped interlocking polyurethane rollers, which compress the hard stems while simultaneously preserving the precious leaves. This reduces the wilting time required and guarantees maximum feed value, because the leaves are preserved.

The conditioner increased the mower’s power consumption, but that did not thwart Tate. During his attempt, Tate mowed 5.24 tonnes of dry mass per hectare.

CLAAS will be sending the necessary documents to Guinness, so that the world record can be officially confirmed.

August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 47

| Energy

48 | Farming Monthly | August 2018

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Energy

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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| Tyres

BKT top-of-the-range tyres for telehandlers Extended durability, maximum stability, excellent grip, extraordinary resistance and high load capacity. These are the special features of BKT’s tires for telehandlers.

KT faces resolutely the telehandler market, a segment that is undergoing strong evolution, and demands high performance in terms of load capacity, safety as well as resistance against mechanical stress and cuts.

This way, the complex needs of construction sites, farms and freight villages can be satisfied by means of a highly performing range designed as a response to these specific requirements and making operators’ work more comfortable.

Especially developed for telehandlers in industrial applications, MULTIMAX MP 527 is a versatile radial tire providing excellent traction and stability especially during the lifting stage thanks to an aggressive tread design and the robust sidewall. Extraordinarily resistant and durable, this tire is available in the following sizes: 340/80 R 18, 360/70 R 18, 340/80 R 20, 400/70 R 20, 400/70 R 24, 400/80 R 24, 440/80 R 24, 460/70 R 24, 500/70 R 24, 480/80 R 26 and 440/80 R 28.

Outstanding versatility, instead, is the distinguishing feature of RT 747 AGRO INDUSTRIAL. This agro-industrial tire ensures maximum stability and excellent grip thanks to its extra large lugs. It is a perfect multi-purpose tire that can provide best support in many applications and is now available in the two sizes 460/70 R 24 and 500/70 R 24.

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50 | Farming Monthly | August 2018

Particularly versatile is also MULTIMAX MP 522, a tire that is suitable for any agro-industrial application providing great stability and high load capacity. The reinforced bead along with the steel belts ensure excellent traction plus extraordinary cut resistance – essential features for digging and loading operations. Many are the sizes, namely 280/80 R 18, 340/80 R 18, 340/80 R 20, 380/75 R 20, 400/70 R 20, 400/70 R 24, 400/80 R 24, 440/80 R 24, 460/70 R 24, 500/70 R 24, 540/70 R 24, 480/80 R 26 and 440/80 R 28.

Another solution designed for agro-industrial handling equipment is CON STAR, which distinguishes itself by means of great vertical and lateral stability – an essential requirement for lifting operations. The tire features wide lugs that increase the contact area on the ground enabling the tire to withstand heavy loads.

Being made of a special compound, the risk of cuts and other damages is notably reduced and a more extended tire life-cycle is ensured.

CON STAR is available on the market in the following sizes: 340/80 - 18, 340/80 - 20, 380/75 - 20, 400/70 - 20, 400/70 - 24, 400/80 - 24, 440/80 - 24, 460/70 - 24, 500/70 - 24, 480/80 26 and 440/80 - 28.

Particularly suitable for municipality and maintenance applications as well as loading operations is TR 461. This tire has an extraordinarily robust sidewall turning into increased resistance against cuts and chips

even on extremely hard surfaces. The tire is available in the following sizes: 12.5/80 - 18, 16.9 - 24, 19.5L - 24, 21L - 24 and 16.9 - 28.

Excellent traction plus top self-cleaning properties make GRIP STAR a real star. The tire is perfect for all seasons and particularly suitable for operations on muddy terrains. It is presently available in size 15.5/80 - 24.

Last but not least, there is AS 504, a specially developed tire for both transport and soil tillage operations, providing extraordinary self-cleaning properties in addition to enhanced grip. A large variety of sizes is able to satisfy even the most specific user requirements: 6.5/80 - 12, 7.00 - 12, 11.0/65 - 12, 5.00 - 15, 7.5L - 15, 10.0/75 - 15.3, 11.5/80- 15.3, 27 X 10 - 15.3, 4.00 - 16, 6.00 - 16, 7.50 - 16, 9.0/70 - 16, 270/75 - 16, 15.0/55 - 17, 19.0/45 - 17, 420/55 17, 7.50 - 18, 10.5/80 - 18, 12.5/80 - 18, 7.50 20, 16.0/70 - 20, 400/70 - 20, 15.5/80 - 24, 16.5/85 - 24 and 400/80 - 24.

These are just a few solutions out of the extensive BKT portfolio for telehandlers, which represents a selection of top-of-the-range tire solutions. These are the result of the Indian multinational’s continuous spirit of cooperating with their customers in order to design tailored solutions for multiple applications and any specific requirement and need.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| Education

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August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 51

| Education

Caradoc Halls of Residence all ensuite accommodation

Walford should be first choice for agri studies Walford Campus is a fantastic and vibrant land-based campus that offers a great place to study and make friends. Students who come to Walford make friends for life and progress to university, into employment, or on to higher apprenticeships in their chosen vocational area. he Campus has been a busy place the past few weeks with hundreds of National Citizen Service (NCS) young people undertaking many interactive workshops on campus and getting great life experience along the way.

Staff at College are busy preparing for the forthcoming enrolments starting at the end of August ahead of term starting in early September. There are lots of activities around Campus from general maintenance to growing lots of food to feed our more exotic animals over in our animal management centre!

With halls of residence at the Campus, there are plenty of jobs to do in preparation for September such as planning induction and fun and interactive activities for the forthcoming new residents.

Students studying Agriculture and Equine complete duties as part of their programme, so duty rooms are really useful for students who do not live on Campus.

An integral part of land-based programmes relates to rural skills.

Rural skills are of paramount

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importance to those working in relevant areas. Courses are crucial to businesses who require legislative tests in order to be compliant in their particular field.

The College offers a wide range of courses for areas such as chainsaws, pesticides, ATV, Veterinary Meds and Tractor Driving. To find out more, visit our website at www.nsc.ac.uk or call the Rural Skills Team on 01939 262102 or email ruralskills@nsc.ac.uk If you would like to make Walford your first choice, you can still apply for courses now. Go on to our website via www.nsc.ac.uk or call the Admissions Team on 01691 688080.

The College is open on Wed 29th August from 4pm-8pm for an advice and guidance evening so anyone who is not fixed up yet with a place for September or who has received GCSE results and needs to have a chat can come along. Walford is just 10 minutes outside Shrewsbury and around 20 minutes from Oswestry. You can get to Walford by using our postcode: SY4 2HL

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| Education

A partnership between Coleg Llysfasi and LEAF Education highlighted innovation and technology in agriculture as part of a groundbreaking schools competition The inaugural Innovation School of the Year in Food, Farming and Environment competition was organised by Llysfasi and LEAF Education (Linking Environment and Farming) at the college's Denbighshire campus. he initiative brought together 14-16 year-old students and their teachers from across the UK to take part in a final prize weekend, which included a range of educational activities centred around farming, food production and the environment.

The overall winner was Reddish Vale High School, Stockport, whose students enjoyed getting involved in faming-related activities, from tractor and digger driving to stock handling and learning about soil and grass management, genetics and animal nutrition.

The other finalists were Ripley St Thomas C of E Academy, Lancaster; St Christopher's Church of England High School, Accrington; Priestlands School, Pennington, Lymington, Hampshire, and The Queen Elizabeth Academy, Atherstone.

The weekend concluded with each school delivering a

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presentation on why 'Farming is so much more than mud and wellies?' to a panel of judges made up of representatives from Coleg Llysfasi and LEAF Education.

Iain Clarke, Head of Llysfasi - part of Coleg Cambria - congratulated the pupils and teachers for their enthusiasm and creativity.

"It is absolutely incredible how these school groups took in so much information over the weekend," said Mr Clarke.

"Offering this hands-on experience is so valuable for education, linking food to farming and the environment and showing the many exciting career options in the agricultural sector.

"For many years we have worked with schools to showcase what farming has to offer, and this new partnership with LEAF Education was a great way to engage and build those relationships."

He added: " We hope the competition and the prize weekend in particular has equipped these

young people with a great appreciation of what farmers do and where their food comes from.

"We look forward to building on this year's success and would like to thank everyone who took part."

The winning team from Reddish Vale High School - Alex Jamieson, Megan Millington and Coby Stringer - revealed they had an "absolutely wonderful" weekend in North Wales.

LEAF's Regional Education Consultant Katy Pallace added: "It was inspiring to see how the young people responded to the opportununity to immerse themselves in livestock genetics, nutrition, precision technology, woodland management and much more, and also think about the big challenges of feeding a growing

population.

"It was clear how much they enjoyed being around the animals, learning from the college staff and having fun."

The competition follows the record-breaking LEAF Open Farm Sunday in June, where up to 300,000 visitors flocked to farms across the UK, including 500 who attended the day of education at Llysfasi, forging even closer links with youngsters across the region.

For more information and to register an interest in next year's Innovation School of the Year in Food, Farming and Environment competition, visit www.cambria.ac.uk or call 0300 303 0007.

New partnership between China's XAG and Harper Adams University The National Centre for Precision Farming (NCPF) at Harper Adams University and XAG, one of the world’s largest drone and robot company, have recently formed a strategic academic and research partnership.

AG, a Chinese company which was founded in 2007, focuses on agricultural automation and research and development of unmanned devices. XAG is one of the world’s largest agricultural drone manufactures with a largescale manufacturing and operational centre in China.

Over a period of 12 months XAG crop-spraying drones have flown 1.7 million times in total, served more than 700,000 Chinese farmers covering two million hectares of land.

Justin Gong, Co-Founder and Vice President of XAG, said: “As the strategic partnership has been

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officially established, I am sincerely looking forward to the collaborations between XAG and Harper Adams University to develop localised done and robotic solutions which suit the UK and European farmers.

“We hope our technology can equally serve UK and European farmers, to help them improve productivity using sensors mounted on the drones to monitor the condition of the crop and subsequently only applying the chemical precisely on area requiring treatment.

“In addition, we would like to devote more on researching about AI technologies and ground-based robots to free farmers’ hands, also to accelerate the popularisation of

drone application. With HAU’s research strengths on agriculture and sustainable farming, I believe we can make the most of our potentials.”

Parmjit Chima, Head of Engineering at Harper Adams, said: “It’s great to see the university being recognised as a leader in agricultural drone and robotics technology by XAG in this mutually beneficial collaboration to develop new agri-tech solutions for farmers both at a national and international level."

Harper Adams Research Support and Project Lead, Debbie Heeks said: “At present, UK legislation does not permit the use of drones for crop spraying. However, Harper is working closely with the relevant

authorities, such as CAA and others to enable trials involving drones for the first time in the country.

“At the recent Agricultural Innovation Conference and Exhibition, XAG donated a high specification agricultural spraying drone to Harper. The P20 2018 Plant Protection UAS, named Barbara, is a fully autonomous system. It was presented to us by Justin Gong, Bridge Liu and Walter Chen.

“It’s a very clever system and it’s very exciting that we have the opportunity to work with it and XAG. We hope that our work with the system will help strengthen the case for using crop spraying drones in the UK.”

August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 53

| ATV

Spaldings Limited Lincoln, Lincolnshire T: 01522 507500 www.spaldings.co.uk

World of Power Buxton, Derbyshire T: 01298 213101 www.worldofpower.co.uk

Lakedale Power Tools Croydon, Dartford & London T: 020 8683 0550 www.lakedalepowertools.co.uk

Ermin Plant (Hire & Services) Ltd Gloucester, Gloucestershire T: 01452 526616 www.erminplant.co.uk

Charles H Hill Ltd Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire T: 01526 388281 www.charleshhill.co.uk

Mawsley Machinery Brixworth, Northampton T: 01604 880621 https://mawsley.stihl-dealer.co.uk

DM Chainsaws Arundel, West Sussex T: 01243 554065 www.dmchainsaws.co.uk

Davenport Western Yeovil, Somerset T: 01935 425311 www.davenportsaws.co.uk

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| Forestry

Forestry Show has much to interest farmers APF 2018 is the UK’s largest forestry, woodland, trees and timber show. Taking place at Ragley Estate, Alcester, Warwickshire on the 20/21/22 September, the 22nd staging of the show will attract 320 exhibitors and over 22 000 visitors. t will feature over 2 ½ miles and £50 million of working machinery. Much of the equipment is designed for smaller woodlands and adding value to even single trees on the farm. Exhibitors will be demonstrating firewood processing equipment , mobile sawmilling machines, biomass boilers and woodchippers to produce the chips to fuel them.

Exhibition Secretary, Ian Millward commented “In recent years we have moved to embrace the farming sector and recognise that many farms have small woodlands or even single trees and that these need to contribute to farm incomes. Whilst not necessarily being huge areas they can still make an important contribution to farm budgets. Probably the greater proportion of our exhibitors have equipment designed for small scale use. One of the key features of the show is that machines can be seen working under realistic conditions and practically every manufacturer is represented so you can compare machines side by side and see if they live up to what the brochures claim. Visitors can see how a single tree can be turned into useful timber whether that is fence posts or cladding for a building.

Small quantities of timber can be turned into firewood easily and quickly with the latest generation of firewood processors and low quality timber that might once have been thought as useless can be turned into woodchips to fuel a biomass boiler” There will be a large, dedicated area called ‘Fencing In The 21st Century’ where the very latest in equipment, machinery, tools, techniques and materials can be seen in action with a daily programme of displays. Visitors will be able to watch and ask questions of manufacturers as the state of the art equipment is shown working, including all terrain post drivers, battery powered staple guns, hand held post drivers, lightweight electric fencing and

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much more.

At 1pm each day will see the Fast Fencer competition, sponsored by McVeigh Parker, where experienced fencing contractors can enter and go head to head to see who can erect 25m of stock fencing in the quickest time for some great prizes.

In addition to the fencing arena visitors will be able to see all the major fencing machinery and material suppliers including McVeigh Parker, Hampton Steel, Bryce Suma, Protech, WRAG and Fencing News.

The Forestry Commission will be on hand to give advice on grant aid, felling licences, planting grants and woodland management grants. If there is anything you need to know about trees, timber and woodlands you can find the answers at APF 2018.

There will a series of topical seminars to bring you up to date with current research and news on the latest plant health, pest and disease news.

The Forestry Industry Safety Accord and Lantra will be running practical safety and training demos throughout the three days on a range of subjects including tree felling and giving advice on all training issues you might have.

When you want a rest you can relax and watch The Husqvarna World 25m pole climbing championships and the A W Jenkinson and Tilhill Forestry European Chainsaw carving competitions, with Europes top 25 carvers in action.

Stihl Timbersports return this year and there will be three daily exciting displays using traditional axes and cross cut saws as well as the famous hot saw with its chain speed of over 240 km/hour as the UK Team warm up for the World Championships being held in Liverpool later this year. The Komatsu UK Forwarder Driving Competition will again test the UK’s best operators in a new, challenging woodland course and the very popular woodland crafts area with a huge range of rarely seen crafts on

display from charcoal to coracles, including a wheel wright for the first time and the fast and furious world log to leg pole lathe turning championships. If you have always fancied trying your hand at one of these traditional crafts come along and have a go as most of the crafts people will be delighted to show you the ropes.

When you want to relax and enjoy a wellearned pint or lunch with old friends and colleagues there is plenty of space for a sit down. Both the main catering areas will have large covered seating areas in case the weather turns inclement and both of these areas will have free Wi-Fi available to enable you to catch up with work emails. The catering area near the woodland crafts area will have a range of artisan produced food including squirrel pie!.

This really is the forestry, tree and timber event of the year and should not be missed.

Tickets will be available on the gate priced £22 but if you want to save money then book online via the website. A one day ticket is just £18, a two day ticket is even better value at £30 and if you are buying 10 or more tickets the price falls to just £16 for a one day ticket.

Please note these discounted prices will not be available on the gate There is really too much to do and see in one day so why not stay over and spend two days with us? We have onsite camping at just £15 per person per night and there is a wide range of other accommodation locally to suit all budgets. The visitor section on our website has details of local accommodation. If you want to book tickets or camping you can do this online via our website.

Full details of the exhibition including a list of exhibitors booked to date are on the exhibitor section of the website. Email: info@apfexhibition.co.uk, website: www.apfexhibition.co.uk, Tel: 01428 723545.

You can also follow APF 2018 on Facebook www.facebook.com/APFExhibition and on Twitter @APFExhibition

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| ATV

Polaris

Polaris® introduces new RZR upgrades for 2019 line-up

Polaris, the world leader in off-road innovation, have introduced their new 2019 model year vehicles with a dramatic style upgrade to the RZR® XP 1000, the new RZR® S model, and a range of new colour options across its RZR®, RANGER®, GENERAL® and Sportsman® lineups. odrigo Lourenco, Vice President and General Manager of Polaris Off-Road Vehicles EMEA, said: “With the highly anticipated launch of the RANGER® XP 1000 for 2018, alongside the GENERAL® 1000 Deluxe with ABS and new youth RANGER® 150 EFI, we have set the industry standards for off-road vehicles, and 2019 will continue that momentum. We have introduced the sharpest-looking RZR® XP 1000 to date, with bold lines and dynamic features, and a number of new colour options to give consumers maximum choice of their Polaris machines.”

Polaris RZR®, the world’s bestselling sports performance side-byside lineup, gets a refreshed Xtreme Performance line with new aggressive styling. Cut with a

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chiselled muscular stance and with wicked LED accent lights and brand new LED headlights, 2019’s line up has brought more intense and bold RZR® XP machines. Development continues on the inside of the cab too, where the cockpit features premium digital instrumentation and more storage.

For the first time, the RZR® S 1000 EPS will be available in EMEA markets for model year 2019. The RZR® S 1000 model is the ultimate sport machine, with unmatched power, suspension and agility. The RZR® S 1000 EPS delivers exceptional power and acceleration with the 100HP ProStar® engine, giving 33% more horsepower than the RZR® S 900 model. The dual Aarm suspension balances 60” wide sport performance with a smooth ride, with 12.25” suspension travel in the front and 13.2” in the back, and featuring exclusive Walker

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Evans Needle Shocks. The High Performance True On-Demand AWD system transfers power quickly to all 4 wheels for supreme agility. The new RZR® has the power-to-weight ratio of a RZR® XP in a nimble RZR® S package.

There is also a new line up of colours for 2019, with the new RZR® XP 1000 EPS coming in Black Pearl, and the RZR® S 1000 EPS available in White and Titanium Metallic colours.

Polaris RANGER® is one of the industry’s most popular utility sideby-side, and it continues to advance the customer options across the 2019 lineup. The 2019 RANGER® XP 1000 EPS models are available in Sage Green and the new White Pearl colour.

Polaris GENERAL®, born from adventure, continues to grow its position in the side-by-side sector.

Consumers have more choice than

ever; the GENERAL® 1000 EPS now comes in White Lightning, whilst the GENERAL® 1000 EPS Deluxe with ABS is available in allnew Orange Rust colour. The GENERAL® 4 1000 EPS is also now offered in White Pearl.

Polaris Sportsman® continues to deliver the top-selling automatic ATV in the industry with improved electric power steering on all EPS models for 2019. The lineup also boasts a range of colours and graphics for the Polaris Youth range; the OUTLAW® 50 and OUTLAW® 110 announced in two colours; Pink and Lime, the RZR® 170 EFI in both White Lightning and Black, and continuing into 2019 is the Sportsman® 110 in Velocity Blue, ACE® 150 in Indy Red, and the RANGER® 150 in Solar Red. Fun has never looked so good.

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| ATV

Honda ATV Not just for winter

Honda ATVs and Pioneers are an essential part of the farm fleet in the wet winter months, capable of travelling across challenging terrain when most other vehicles can’t, but during the hot, dry summer they are just as busy. ong periods without rain create extra work for many farms and estates, supplying additional water to livestock away from the yard, ensuring young trees receive adequate moisture to make it through the summer and providing supplementary water for game and wildlife. With their compact size and ability to travel almost anywhere, ATVs are ideal for transporting water, tools and supplies wherever needed and their large flotation tyres provide maximum grip and ensure minimum ground damage, even in sensitive areas.

Honda’s Pioneer 700 utility vehicles were added to the range last year and proved immediately popular for transporting heavy or bulky loads, or people around the farm or estate.

The tipping load bed is ideal for bulky loads such as water containers or a portable tank and its 386kg maximum capacity means far more can be carried than on a conventional ATV, reducing the number of journeys needed delivering water to livestock away from the yard.

It’s not just drinking water that is often in short supply. Reduced

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grass growth because of the dry conditions means many farms have to provide supplementary feeds and the Pioneer’s large load bed is perfect for transporting bales of hay, or sacks of feed.

An optional tow hitch allows trailed loads up to 680kg, and for farms regularly having to move quantities of water a bowser on flotation tyres such as Logic’s SLB620 with a 600 litre tank and optional Honda pump could be a good investment.

Now even easier to buy Until 30th September 2018 buyers of a new Pioneer can take advantage of Honda’s low-rate finance offer. Only available through main dealers this allows the cost to be spread over 24, 36 or 48 months at an interest rate of just 2.9 per cent APR. Two payment schedules allow the owner to either pay the balance by regular monthly payments or by reduced monthly amounts followed by a final balloon

payment. Full details are available from Honda UK’s website or your local main dealer who will also be delighted to discuss your requirements and help you identify the ideal machine for your farm from the best-selling Honda lineup.

The Pioneer comes with a twoyear factory warranty for peace of mind, and full operator training free of charge through the industry-approved EASI scheme.

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| ATV

Kawasaki Kawasaki launch MULE PRO-MX

Since the introduction of the MULE Pro DX & DXT, Kawasaki has looked to continually grow the range of MULE products. hese have become the utility vehicles of choice for many professionals from farmers to gamekeepers, able to handle a wide variety of work and jobs. The MULE line up has recently been improved with the MULE Pro MX, an exciting model for the Kawasaki MULE series.

The PRO-MX offers the ideal balance between compact and full size UTVs. With conveniently small dimensions (2,795 mm long x 1,525 mm wide x 2,005 mm wheelbase with a turning circle of just 4.2m), the carrying and towing capacity does not suffer at 317kg and 680kg respectively. These small dimensions are maintained thanks to minimised bodywork overhang, also helping to reduce the chance of knocking or

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scraping a bumper when driving off road. Beefy 25’’ tyres on 12’’ rims provide incredible off-road traction and help to ensure ample ground clearance to protect the MULE PRO-MX. This single-cylinder 700cc petrol powered MULE is perfectly positioned between the MULE SX and MULE Pro DX, giving customers even greater choice to find the perfect vehicle for their needs. The punchy engine makes the MULE MX-PRO not just a great work machine, but also a joyful weekend ride thanks to the superior torque, resulting in a fun and easy to drive machine. All of this is mounted in Kawasaki’s Shinari-tuned frame. Shinari is a Japanese phrase used to describe elasticity, allowing an object to bend without breaking – like a hunting bow – and is the philosophy followed when

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designing the MUL PRO-MX’s frame. Tuned for these Shinari characteristics, the PRO-MX’s frame is not only durable, but also comfortable.

Front and rear disc brakes ensure strong, reliable stopping power, further augmented by engine braking. Kawasaki’s hydraulic disc system offers predictable performance, matching the pressure applied to the brake pedal.

As on the flagship MULE models, the dashboard is designed to mirror the design and feel of a car and puts all controls within easy reach of the driver. A multi-function display features prominently in the dash and will display a variety of information such as driving mode, speed, fuel, odometer, seatbelt warning, parking indicator lamp and check engine light.

With features previously only found on full-size machines such as power steering, front and rear disc break, independent front and rear suspension and a tilt adjustable steering wheel, the PRO-MX is both well equipped and comfortable. The power steering is monitored and adjusted via the ECU, taking vehicle speed and torque readings into account to determine the amount of steering assistance required.

Its size, style, price and ability make the MULE PRO MX perfect for commercial use, such as farming, but also for pleasure and sport applications. A true go anywhere – do anything vehicle with a RRP of £8899 + VAT. To find out more, visit your local Kawasaki dealer or visit Kawasaki.co.uk for the online brochure.

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| ATV

Suzuki ATV

Suzuki ATVs are the choice of the professionals There are many reasons why Suzuki is the ATV of choice for many farmers throughout the UK.

ot only does Suzuki provide a wide range of hard working ATVs, but it also offers a selection of added value solutions that really resonate with the farming world.

Theft deterrent as standard The CESAR Security System powered by Datatag is the official security initiative of both the Construction Equipment Association (CEA) and the Agricultural Engineers Association (AEA) and comes FREE on all new Suzuki utility ATVs. This Suzuki Datatag kit will give your ATV a unique ‘fingerprint’ with an identity that cannot be erased, however hard a criminal may try. This acts as a strong theft deterrent and a tool for recovery should the worst happen, as well as reducing your insurance premiums.

Peace of mind two-year warranty All Suzuki ATVs come with a full two-year unlimited mileage warranty, which is subject to owner registration and scheduled service

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records. Certain exclusions for service and wear and tear items may apply, which can be found in the owner’s manual.

National network support However remote you are, you’ll find a Suzuki ATV dealership within reach. The manufacturer’s network covers the UK, offering friendly, expert advice, servicing and aftersales to help you get the most from your machine.

Try before you buy Suzuki understands that farmers want an ATV that is comfortable, reliable, and as hard working as they are. Giving you the chance to ‘try before you buy’ helps you get a feel for the right model and Suzuki’s expert dealers are on hand to help you find the ATV that is most suitable for you, and your business’ needs.

Free Suzuki workwear kit Suzuki also knows that farmers will be riding their ATVs in all weathers and conditions. So when you buy from an authorised Suzuki dealer, they’ll give you a FREE Suzuki

workwear kit, consisting of a branded bodywarmer and overalls, just to make a tough way of life a little easier.

Courtesy atv scheme Relying on your ATV as you do, you literally can’t afford to be without it, even for a day. So when you bring your machine, whatever make or model, in to a participating dealer, for service or repairs, they’ll be able to give you a courtesy Suzuki ATV to keep you and your business moving.

Free EASI training Working on the land can be a dangerous job. That’s why Suzuki strongly recommends the five-hour EASI certificate course. Covering pre-ride checks, riding in different conditions, and negotiating obstacles, it’ll help keep you, and your ATV, safe and productive long-term.

Visit www.quadsafety.org for more details.

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| Motors

Subaru returned to the shooting line at This year’s Game Fair 2018 Subaru UK returned to The Game Fair 2018, as official sponsor for the Shooting Line. Held at Ragley Hall from the 27th to 29th July 2018, Subaru brought its versatile range of vehicles to shooting and countryside enthusiasts. mainstay for show visitors, the manufacturers sponsorship saw the return of the Subaru Shooting Line, in which the winning prize was a Subaru Forester for a year.

The Game Fair Challenge competition, which invited shooting enthusiasts to showcase their clay shooting skills in a 60-target shooting competition was held over three days, culminating in a super final on Sunday 29th July.

Having partnered with The Game Fair for a number of years, Subaru returned to the annual

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event as The Game Fair celebrated its 60th Anniversary, armed with a strong line up of sturdy SUV models including the all-new XV, which was crowned Safest Small Family Car, by Europe’s highest automotive safety body, with a Five Star Euro NCAP rating.

Subaru’s attendance at the event also saw the Euro NCAP Five Star rated Outback, Forester and BRZ take to the stand, offering visitors the chance to explore the models at their leisure. The Outback, which recently received an update, offers enhanced safety technology, plus modern exterior and interior stylings.

Chris Graham, Managing Director for Subaru UK commented: “Having sponsored The Game Fair for a number of years, we know that Subaru provides the perfect pairing for the event. We know visitors love our SUV range and enjoy the versatility and reliability shown by all the models.”

“The Subaru Shooting Line is also a show favourite and with the top prize of a Subaru Forester for a year, competition was tough to take the top spot.”

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| Motors

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| Motors

Pricing and specs announced for highly anticipated V6 X-Class The new V6 X 350d 4MATIC is now available from £38,350 excl. VAT, with first deliveries expected in November 2018. ll UK vehicles are doublecab, with 4MATIC permanent allwheel-drive and Dynamic Select, 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission, and benefit from a wide track, long wheelbase and comfort suspension, coupled with a double wishbone front axle, multi-link rear axle with a rigid section, and coil springs at both axles, all as standard.

Standard Equipment The 350d 4MATIC is offered in conjunction with the high-level POWER equipment line only, and features painted bumpers with simulated under guard in chrome; a rear bumper in chrome with integrated step; fog lights with chrome surround; shoulder line trim strips in chrome; LED highperformance headlights with cleaning system; LED tail lights; electrically folding exterior mirrors; and KEYLESS GO, all as standard.

Inside, the X 350d 4MATIC comes with eight-way electrically adjustable driver and front passenger seats, which are heated, as standard, along with a leather steering wheel with gearshift paddles and cruise control, ARTICO leather and DINAMICA microfiber upholstery, and an ARTICO leather dashboard with topstitching, complimented by

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an aluminium interior trim. It is also offered with 18-inch six-twin-spoke light-alloy wheels in himalaya grey and with heated washer fluid jets as standard.

Safety Alongside driver and passenger airbags and thorax bags, as well as window bags on the A-D pillar and a driver knee bag, the X 350d 4MATIC also includes Active Lane Keeping Assist, Active Brake Assist (radar-based autonomous emergency braking), Traffic Sign Assist, Hill-Start Assist, Downhill Speed Regulation, a Thatcham anti-theft security package and a load securing rail system.

4MATIC permanent all-wheel drive For the 4MATIC permanent allwheel drive, three different allwheel drive modes can be selected, in which the lock is always regulated.

In 4MAT mode the vehicle automatically manages the force distribution. That way, if the vehicle registers loss of grip e.g. on the front wheels, the torque is applied to the rear axle instead.

In the 4H (High Range) mode a low locking effect of the interaxle differential is presented. This leads to a reduction of the control intervention and therefore improved response characteristics.

The 4L mode (low range) is suited for driving on terrain where maximum force at low speeds is

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required, such as on steep slopes or muddy roads.

Dynamic Select Using the Dynamic Select controller the driver can choose between five individually defined drive transmission modes (Eco, Comfort, Sport, Off-Road, and Manual) which allow for the vehicle character to be adjusted as desired: • Eco: Allows for fuel efficient driving.

• Comfort: Standard setting for comfortable driving.

• Sport: Allows for sporty driving style with faster engine response and faster shifting of the 7G-Tronic Plus.

• Manual: Enables manual gear selection via Direct Select paddles behind the steering wheel; the engine response is similar to that of the sport setting.

• Off-road: For higher shift points.

Engine The six-cylinder diesel engine with 2,987 cm³ has a power output of 258 hp (190 kW) and a maximum torque of 550 Nm. The V6 has common-rail direct injection with piezo injectors and a system pressure of up to1800 bar.

Its special features also include lightweight design, a single-stage turbocharger with variable turbine geometry for particularly agile engine response and the

innovative NANOSLIDE® cylinder liner coating, which is also used in Formula 1™.

Infotainment Inside, the Audio 20 CD infotainment system is offered as standard, with seven-inch high definition screen, rotary controller with touchpad, Bluetooth® audio and media interface, with DAB digital radio and pre-installation for Garmin MAP PILOT included. Also included is Mercedes me Connect standard services, featuring call automatic emergency response, breakdown, and maintenance management.

COMAND Online can be specified from £1,470 excl. VAT, with Garmin MAP PILOT as an alternative option, which can be included for £405 excl. VAT. Model line-up The introduction of the new V6 engines sees a change to the XClass line-up; the PURE and PROGRESSIVE models will only be available with the 220d and 250d engines. The POWER model will be exclusively available for the 350d.

The X-Class is sold exclusively via the Mercedes-Benz Vans nationwide Dealer Network. For more informantion about the Network, or about the X-Class please visit: www.MBVans.co.uk

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| Motors

2019 model year Vitara Following on from the recent announcement of the 30th Anniversary of the Vitara, Suzuki is pleased to announce the introduction in September of its 2019 model which incorporates numerous visual, technical and specification upgrades. Vitara has enjoyed strong UK sales success since launch in 2015 and it is currently the most popular model in the Suzuki range.

irstly, Vitara will be available with both 1.0-litre and 1.4litre Boosterjet turbo charged petrol engines as introduced in the S-Cross model range late last year and these will replace the 1.6-litre petrol engine.

The highly acclaimed Boosterjet engines provide more power and torque, greater efficiency and offer lower emissions too. SZ4 and SZ-T grades are equipped with the 1.0litre 111PS Boosterjet engine and ALLGRIP four wheel drive is available optionally on the SZ-T with manual transmission.

SZ5 models are equipped with the 1.4-litre Boosterjet engine which offers a power output of 140PS and 220Nm of torque is available from just 1,500rpm through to 4,000rpm. WLTP fuel consumption and CO2 emission figures for both engines will be available closer to the launch date.

The latest Vitara will also offer various design updates, two new colours and the availability of new technology and advanced safety equipment.

For the exterior, new design

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alloy wheels are available, a redesigned front grille and lower bumper is utilised and the rear of the car features new design and distinctive LED combination lamps. For the interior, the upper instrument panel now incorporates a soft touch material for added quality and the instrument cluster has a new design with colour central information display.

The 2019 Vitara will be the most technically advanced Suzuki to date and new safety technology available as standard equipment on the SZ5 model will include Dual Sensor Brake Support, Lane Departure Warning and Prevention, Traffic Sign recognition, Blind Spot Monitor and Rear cross traffic alert.

Pricing for the new model will be announced closer to the launch date.

Vitara is sold in 191 Countries and Regions around the world and cumulative sales recently passed 3.7 million units. Suzuki Motor Corporation is the eighth largest car brand in the world with sales in FY 2017 of 3,160,000 units.

New hydraulic vehicle lift from Draper Tools New from Draper Tools is the 1.5 tonne Hydraulic Vehicle Lift. his easy-to-use lift is operated by simply attaching an airline to the foot pedal to raise up a vehicle by the wheel or seal.

The heavy duty steel frame is attached with a pneumatic foot pump and hydraulic lifting ram providing a maximum lift range of 785mm and five locking positions. The lift is fitted with heavy duty castors for easy manoeuvrability.

Draper Tools 1.5 tonne Hydraulic Vehicle Lift: stock number 78610.

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| Motors

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| Motors

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| Motors

Make work a pleasure with the new UTAH LUXE Isuzu UK, the pickup professionals, is pleased to announce the launch of the D-Max Utah Luxe double cab, a striking, comfortable and hardworking pick-up. new addition to the Utah range, the pickup includes a host of enhancements, whilst retaining all the features of the multi awardwinning Isuzu D-Max Utah. It will be limited to a volume of 75 vehicles in total and will be available in a manual and automatic transmission.

The upgrades of this striking new Utah model can be seen straight away and the Utah Luxe has the following equipment over a standard double cab: • 18” Diamond Cut Alloy Wheels • Front Bumper Guard • Bonnet Protector • Pro-lift tailgate assist • Carpet mats The 18-inch Diamond Cut alloy wheels, bonnet protector and front bumper guard offer a stylish dynamic to the vehicle. The inclusion of the pro-lift tailgate assist reduces tailgate weight by 95% for easier and safer opening.

Utah Luxe is available in standard Utah colours but Isuzu recommend Splash White,

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Titanium Silver and Cosmic Black Mica, as these particular colours provide the strongest aesthetic.

Pricing for the new Utah Luxe double cab manual is only £26,159 CV OTR (Exc. VAT) and £27,159 CV OTR for the automatic, offering a considerable number of upgrades for only £1000 over the standard Utah double cab CV OTR (Exc. VAT) price.

Following an already successful year for the award-winning D-Max, the Utah Luxe offers the capability and practicality of the D-Max whilst looking and feeling more sophisticated throughout the pickup. The award-winning D-Max has already had a successful 2018, being crowned ‘Pick Up of The Year’ at the 2018 WhatVan? Awards, ‘Most Reliable Pickup’ for 2018 by Professional Pickup & 4X4 magazine, ‘Best Workhorse Pickup’ for 2018 by Trade Van Driver and ‘Best Pickup 2018’ by Scottish Field.

For more information on the Isuzu D-Max Utah Luxe please visit www.Isuzu.co.uk for details of your local dealership.

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| Motors

Fully equipped for off-road driving: The ŠKODA KAROQ SCOUT ŠKODA is expanding the ŠKODA KAROQ series: With the new ŠKODA KAROQ SCOUT, the Czech car manufacturer will be presenting an even more rugged variant of the popular compact SUV series in October at the Paris Motor Show 2018. As with all ŠKODA SCOUT models, the KAROQ SCOUT comes with four-wheel drive as standard in addition to sporting a powerful off-road look. he ŠKODA KAROQ feels just as much at home in the big city as it does off the beaten track. In numerous variants, the Karoq can meet the needs of every customer – from the young family to lovers of the great outdoors. Just as the OCTAVIA SCOUT and the KODIAQ SCOUT, the latest addition to the SCOUT family offers four-wheel drive as standard. In addition, the powerful off-road design emphasises the model’s optimised off-road potential. With its rough terrain package, the ŠKODA KAROQ SCOUT is fully prepared for demanding trips where tarmac roads end.

Efficient, high-performance engines and all-wheel drive As the only variant of the compact SUV available exclusively with all-wheel drive, ŠKODA offers three efficient and environmentally friendly engines for the KAROQ SCOUT. In addition to a 1.5 TSI

T

petrol engine with 110 kW (150 PS) in combination with a 7-speed DSG, two diesel engines are also available: The 2.0 TDI with 110 kW (150 Ps) comes with a manual 6speed gearbox as standard; a 7speed DSG is available as an option. In the most powerful ŠKODA KAROQ SCOUT, the 2.0 TDI delivers 140 kW (190 PS) and is coupled with a 7-speed DSG as standard.

Robust elements highlight the offroad character With its chrome and silvercoloured bodywork elements, striking wheel arch linings and anthracite 19-inch ‘Crater’ alloy wheels, the ŠKODA KAROQ SCOUT sports a robust appearance. Tinted windows and SCOUT logos on the front mudguards round off the powerful look. In the interior, the seats feature newly designed covers with black-brown contrasting seams. All seats are embroidered with SCOUT lettering. The multifunction leather steering wheel, pedals with

68 | Farming Monthly | August 2018

stainless steel elements and an LED package that includes ambient lighting complete the extensive range of standard equipment.

Virtual Cockpit and other smart features Drivers can individually configure the ŠKODA KAROQ SCOUT’s Virtual Cockpit according to their needs. The driving mode selection offers an off-road setting.

Thanks to an optional LTE module and Wi-Fi hotspot, passengers in the ŠKODA KAROQ are ‘always online’.

A true ŠKODA, the KAROQ SCOUT boasts numerous ‘Simply

Clever’ ideas and storage options.

The electric boot lid with tip-toclose function opens and closes at the push of a button or by pulling gently on the open lid; on request, the virtual pedal under the rear bumper allows the fifth door to be opened with a simple foot motion. ŠKODA offers a variable floor for the boot. Storage nets on the front seats and centre console make everyday driving easier, as does the compartment for small change and carpark tokens on the driver's side, as well as a holder for multimedia devices.

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August 2018 | Farming Monthly | 69

| Motors

Honda announces prices, spec and grades for all-new CR-V Honda UK has released details of the grades, specification and pricing of the next generation CR-V. Launched last month, the new CR-V will start from £25,995 for a 2WD manual S grade and top out at £36,455 for an AWD EX with CVT. vailable in dealer showrooms from early September, the new CR-V follows the grading of the previous generation rising from the entry level S grade to SE, SR and finishing at the top of the range EX. The 1.5 i-VTEC petrol engine will come with a choice of two and allwheel drive and in both manual transmission and CVT. Standard across all grades is

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parking sensors and a rear view camera as well as Honda SENSING; Honda’s suite of safety features which includes collision mitigation braking system, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, road departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control and traffic sign recognition. SR and EX will also feature blind spot warning and cross traffic monitoring, while the CVT version will feature low speed follow.

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SR grade also adds smart entry and start, leather interior, active cornering lights and front windscreen de-icer; while EX further includes a heated steering wheel, head up display, hands free access power tailgate, heated rear seats and panoramic glass sunroof.

PCP pricing has also been confirmed for the new car with monthly payments of £279 a month on a three year, 10,000 mile contract on 6.2% APR for a SR

AWD manual version.

“The fifth generation CR-V once again raises the bar with the amount of equipment it comes with as standard at base grade,” commented Phil Webb, Head of Car at Honda UK. “In an incredibly competitive marketplace, the new CR-V will stand out for sophisticated and sporty design alone and we have strong sales expectations for this car.”

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