August 2019 Farming Monthly National by Farming Monthly Ltd

INSIDE: Midlands Machinery Show returns in November page 46

Farming

MONTHLY National

August 2019

Also in this issue... News

| Unique farming technique brings splash of colour page 06

Somerset farmer cycles across Canada for R.A.B.I Also inside this month..

Nick Bragg, of Frogmary Green Farm, Somerset, made it his mission this summer to cycle 3,000 miles across Canada in just 30 days. page 10

Drone accuracy project p22

Sustainable tourism revenue p44

2020 Kawasaki Mule shown p54

CONTENTS August 2019

FEATURES 12

12 Arable Study shows the cost of reseeding permanent pasture

18 Potatoes

28 Feeders & Bedders

34 Muck & Slurry

Latest news

44 Glamping Show

Show preview

Diversification for farmers

British Potato 2019 show preview

22 Feature Australian crop assessment project proves drone accuracy

23 Grain New range of silos launched by Perry of Oakley

26 Buildings More than a concrete donation

27 Livestock Youngstock welfare

04 | Farming Monthly | August 2019

REGULARS 06 News Unique farming technique brings colour

10 On Topic Somerset farmer cycles across Canada

41 Energy Latest energy news

46 Machinery Latest machinery news

53 ATV ATV news...covered.

56 Motors Latest motors news

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Agriculture. Covered. EDITOR Andrew Poulton editor@farmingmonthly.com EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES editorial@farmingmonthly.com ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES Tel: +44 (0) 2476 353537

Somerset farmer cycles across Canada for R.A.B.I

p10

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Shona Beedham s.beedham@farmingmonthly.com ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Julie Smith j.smith@farmingmonthly.com DESIGN & PRODUCTION studio@farmingmonthly.com SUBSCRIPTIONS subscriptions@farmingmonthly.com ON THE COVER Wild flowers and trees planted at Home Farm, Huby, near York

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August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 05

| News

Vantage imports global precision experience Farmers who are interested in utilising precision farming technologies can now learn from international best practice, following the appointment of a new area sales manager at Vantage. ppointed distributor for Trimble agriculture, Vantage England and Wales has taken on Shropshire-based Adam Sedgwick as the new area sales manager for the Midlands and North Wales. Bringing over 20 years of experience from across the globe, including a long stint in Australia, 47-year old Adam has spent his whole life surrounded by agriculture. “I grew up on a family arable farm, but I wasn’t interested in being an operator – what interested me was how things worked and making things work.” After starting his working life with 10 years’ service at Caterpillar Agriculture as a sales and support engineer, Adam ventured down under to Australia to work in guidance and precision farming. “Farming is extremely different in Australia,” he says. “Obviously, it is on a much larger scale, but they are also hugely further advanced in terms of precision farming compared to us in the UK.” He spent eight years in the country before returning to the UK in 2015 to continue his career in precision agriculture. “Working in Australia gave me a wider outlook on precision farming methods and showed me exactly what can be achieved here in the UK to make us more efficient and profitable as producers.” Now on board with Vantage, Adam hopes to pass on some of his enthusiasm, knowledge

and passion to his clients. “When you look at Trimble as a product, that is the brand that people are talking about and that is what made me want to be a part of the team. “The company philosophy, mission and core values stood in line with where I wanted to be in the industry, and it is a great opportunity to work with passionate, skilled people.” Cambridgeshire-based AS Communications is the first UK dealer to obtain Vantage status, offering customers a hub for precision technology and advice that works across their entire machinery fleet. “Through Vantage we can bring a holistic approach to the concept of precision agriculture,” explains Séverine Brisset, regional sales manager at Trimble. “By integrating all the technology at work on a farm - including hardware from other brands in the market - we can link software, services, data management and the machine. It’s a big change for our customers.” In terms of value to farmers, Adam says he hopes to instil some of his passion for precision in current and future clients. “The way I see it, to work in this side of the industry you need to have a grounded interest in it. It’s not about selling products, it’s about finding a solution to problems. “I’m keen and passionate about what I do, and my phone is always on regardless of the problem. I like to make sure I can manage the chain of events right the way through to ensure

the best service.” Mark Griffiths, national sales manager at Vantage England and Wales says he is also delighted to have Adam on board. “Adam will be looking after one of our most diverse regions in terms of cropping and farm type, his enthusiasm toward finding solutions and realising the benefits will be well suited in the area and with us at Vantage England and Wales. “It is an exciting time for agriculture and Adam will be an integral and valuable part of our journey to provide precision solutions.”

Unique farming technique brings splash of colour in the Northern Forest region A picture perfect swathe of beautiful wildflowers has swept across farmland close to York but the scene does not tell the whole story. he flowers are blooming as the result of an environmentallyminded farmer who has used a unique farming technique to turn 74 acres of its land into a beautiful wildflower woodland. Alwyn Craven and his mother own more than 120 acres of land at Home Farm, at Huby, near York, and are turning most of it over to nature. As well as planting hundreds of trees, they are using a unique technique known as “soil inversion” - using a one metre deep plough to turn over the soil burying weed seeds and fertile soil, followed by spreading wildflower seeds over the ground and tree planting. It creates what is known as “forests of flowers”. Peter Leeson, Partnerships Manager at the Woodland Trust, which has provided some of the many hundreds of trees, said: “This really is an inspirational project. “The forest of flowers technique creates reduced fertility on the surface which allows the wildflowers to thrive bringing in many thousands of insects to feast on nectar and pollen - in turn this rapidly increases the breadth and character of biodiversity on the site - and is of course stunningly beautiful!” Alwyn studied at Kew Gardens and came

06 | Farming Monthly | August 2019

back to the farm just a couple of years ago. He was concerned about the lack of wildlife and very poor state of the soils. Alwyn was interested in the forest of flowers (FoF) sites he had seen elsewhere in Yorkshire and sought advice and support from the Woodland Trust. Alwyn said: ”When I came back to the farm, I looked around and saw that certain farming methods were detrimental to flora and faunas such as the use of pesticides and vast swathes of arable grassland and I wanted to do something about it. I am passionate about conservation – a high number of our wildflower meadows have been lost and I wanted to see what I could do to help it. The soil inversion technique promotes the growing of wildflowers around the strategic planting of trees. “It’s exciting times as Home Farm is rapidly changing. Not only are the trees growing up, we are seeing a rapid increase in the numbers of insects, butterflies and bees due to the abundance of wild flowers.” The tree planting has been funded through monies from the Woodland Trust and Forestry Commission. Plant trees on your land. Go to: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/planttrees/large-scale/

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| News

Keep your engine cool this summer As temperatures heat up in the summer, engines are more prone to overheating so it’s important to inspect your coolant level more often. he names ‘antifreeze’ and ‘coolant’ are used interchangeably to describe the liquid in the cooling system that helps the engine run at the correct temperature. Back in the day it was more commonly referred to as anti-freeze – but nowadays you’re more likely to hear it called coolant. Together with the right engine oil, coolant is the most important liquid found within your vehicle. Without either, the engine will catastrophically fail. But did you know that using the right product throughout the year can extend the life of your vehicle’s engine? The main function of a coolant today is to stop the engine overheating when hot and / or freezing when the temperatures outside drop below zero. It also protects an engine from corrosion. Many modern engines are manufactured with aluminium components which are prone to water corrosion. What is anti-freeze? Antifreeze is a glycol-based liquid that used to fill up your car’s cooling system. Antifreeze prevents your engine’s coolant from freezing in sub-zero temperatures. It also helps prevent scale build up and corrosion in the engine. What is coolant? Coolant is the liquid that runs through an engine to keep it within its correct operating temperature range. An engine requires coolant 365 days a year. During cold weather, the

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coolant needs to have ‘anti-freeze’ properties in it to prevent it from freezing. A good quality coolant will already have antifreeze ingredients, so you don’t have to change the liquid inside the engine for each season. Which product is right for me? The Witham Group offers a range of coolants/antifreeze products - all contain an organic compound called monoethylene glycol (MEG), an odourless, colourless, sweet-tasting liquid renowned for its antifreeze properties. When added to water in a vehicle’s cooling system, ethylene glycol lowers the freezing temperature and raises the boiling point, so that the liquid circulating through the engine bay can continue operating regardless of the season or weather conditions. Witham’s range of coolants include: • Qualguard Hybrid Concentrated Coolant • Latest generation of long-life universal coolant (containing anti-freeze properties) • Over 5 years serviceable life • Suitable for more modern vehicles (2010+) • Meets majority of agricultural & commercial manufacturer specifications • Helps prevent rust and corrosion in cooling systems • Suitable for year-round use • Concentrated (just add water) Qualguard Hybrid 50:50 Coolant • A pre-mixed version of the above concentrated coolant • Already diluted and ready to use

• Suitable for year-round use • Qualguard Universal Blue Anti-freeze • A great all-round product • Protects iron & aluminium engines from frost damage and corrosion • Also acts as an engine coolant • Ideal for vehicles 10 years old or more • Perfect for vans, buses, tractors and plant machinery • Suitable for year-round use • Pre-mixed, ready to use When is the best time of year to buy antifreeze/coolant? Prices fluctuate throughout the year but it is often more cost effective to buy before winter before it gets too cold, as a cold snap will drive up demand so prices could increase.

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 07

| News

Where are the bees? Tracking down which flowers they pollinate Earlham Institute (EI), with the University of East Anglia (UEA), have developed a new method to rapidly identify the sources of bee pollen to understand which flowers are important for bees. ees are in vast decline in the UK and across Europe, as are the wildflowers on which they rely. Bees have an essential role in our ecosystems and a third of all our food is dependant on their pollination; just in economic worth, pollination by bees is annually estimated at £265 billion, worldwide. The main risks to bees include wide-spread pesticide use in agriculture, parasites, disease and climate change, and crucially - the loss of valuable biodiversity which poses a further threat to bees and other wild pollinators. One way to help boost their numbers is by planting the correct wildflowers, providing a better habitat for pollinators to disperse, nest and breed. However, it is unclear which plant species are the most preferred between different pollinators, including bees, and how this might change over time and in different environmental conditions. In agriculture, farmers want to know that the pollinators are actually visiting the plants they need them to. Historically, scientists used light microscopy to identify individual beecollected pollen grains, which was a timeconsuming and impractical method. To obtain a more accurate understanding without the need for laborious manual inspection of pollen, scientists have developed a rapid analysis method called ‘Reverse Metagenomics’ (RevMet) that can identify the plants that individual bees visit using the

MinION, a portable DNA sequencer from Oxford Nanopore Technologies. The portability of the equipment involved means that this type of analysis could be performed on-site where bees are collected and sampled - vastly increasing our understanding of where bees look for pollen on a national scale. Ned Peel, the PhD student who carried out the research in the Leggett Group at EI: “Importantly, from a mixed sample of pollen, as well as being able to work out what species of plant bees have visited, we can also measure the relative quantities of each type of pollen. This type of analysis can be applied not only to conserving pollinators but to helping us to sustainably improve crop production that relies on pollinators.” Previous costly and inefficient manual methods to measure pollen and other genomics methods, such as metabarcoding, have been developed - but these can’t accurately measure how much of each different type of pollen is found in a sample. Prof Douglas Yu from UEA’s School of Biological Sciences, who had the initial idea for the project, said: “In standard metagenomics, short stretches of DNA from mixed samples are compared to whole genomes, which can be expensive to generate. We discovered that we could conduct the analysis using ‘reference skims’ instead. “To make a reference skim, we carry out really cheap sequencing that only needs to

partially cover the complete genome of the plant and does not need to be assembled. To support our tests, we rapidly generated skims of 49 wild UK plant species; assembling these genomes would have taken us months of work and required a lot of money. With our method, the pollen is separately sequenced with the MinION, which generates long DNA sequences - we then used the 49 reference skims to identify each of the long reads to local plant species.” This technique can reliably differentiate species in a mixed sample according to the amount of DNA present of each. The results showed that honeybees, and two species of bumblebee, demonstrate a high preference for one plant species per foraging trip. The reverse metagenomics pipeline can be applied to more questions than just what plants bees like to pollinate; we can also understand whether certain wildflowers compete with agricultural flowers for pollinators, or the behaviour of pollinators across large areas and land types. The method could also be used to study other mixed samples, such as herbivore dung, for diet analysis; and air, to identify airborne allergenic pollen and crop pathogens. The paper, titled: “Semi-quantitative characterisation of mixed pollen samples using MinION sequencing and Reverse Metagenomics (RevMet)” is published in Methods in Ecology and Evolution.

£2.5 million extra funding for farmers working together on environmental projects Fourth national round of funding for the Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund opens for applications. fourth national round of the popular Countryside Stewardship Facilitation Fund is today (5 August) opening for applications. Groups of farmers and landowners will be able to bid for a share of the £2.5 million fund until 4 October. It is expected to support approximately 40 new facilitation groups to deliver large-scale environment improvement in their area over the next three years. Improvements could include natural flood prevention, enhancing wildlife habitats or planting more trees. To apply, groups must submit plans showing how they will work together and share knowledge to protect and enhance their local environment, in line with their local Countryside Stewardship priorities. Successful facilitation groups will also offer invaluable training, support and advice to

08 | Farming Monthly | August 2019

potential Countryside Stewardship applicants for agreements starting in 2021. One example of a group already benefiting from this scheme is the Wyre Forest Facilitation Fund, which joined in 2015. Since then the group has grown to include 70 farms spanning 5,138 hectares. Over the past year, the group has delivered 18 training events focusing on upskilling other farmers on woodland restoration and creation, hedgerow and tree planting and natural flood management. Farming Minister George Eustice said: “We know that more can be achieved by trying to coordinate a landscape scale approach to creating habitats and supporting wildlife. “This fund helps support local clusters of farmers to come together to promote similar interventions and options so that the management on each farm helps to complement a wider effort and we can achieve critical mass as we strive to support wildlife in

our countryside.” RPA Chief Executive Paul Caldwell said: “Today’s announcement means that more farmers will have the opportunity to benefit from this funding and deliver long-term improvements for the environment, working with other local farmers. “With this funding, facilitators will be able to amplify the benefits brought by the Countryside Stewardship schemes, as well as reaping the rewards for farmers, land managers and our rural communities.” Through three national rounds and one flood-focused round, we have committed £7.8 million of funding to 98 facilitation groups established since 2015 across England. The groups have supported and endorsed 1,200 new Countryside Stewardship agreements, coordinating action to make positive environmental impact in their local areas. See the main Facilitation Fund page for more information and how to apply.

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| News

Stowag celebrates 50 year milestone Established in 1969, StowAg has now entered its 50th year of trading as a family run business, that has grown to stock around 13,000 product lines instore and online. StowAg’s range of products includes everything from animal feed and handling equipment to timber, fencing and grounds maintenance essentials. tarting out in 1969 at a 0.4-acre site in Stow on the Wold, StowAg slowly grew until it was bursting its seams, moving out to Longborough 3 miles away in January 2014. Now, our 3acre site holds extensive stocks, with its own fabrication and welding facility, as well as a large timber yard. Of course, our shop is open 7.30am to 5pm 5 days a week, where our shop staff can recommend and advise the best products to suit your needs. Our free hot drinks machine is in constant use too! Our unwavering commitment to backing British farming and to provide exemplary customer service ensures we achieve our mission to keep the countryside working. As our general manager Ashley Nichols states “We achieve our mission by supplying the farming community, contractors, smallholdings and country estates; maintaining high stock levels of popular items with a fast order-to-delivery turnaround, backed up with free delivery within

a 50-mile radius of our store in Longborough, Gloucestershire”. Although we love to point out our impressive stock range and delivery service, we know that by far our greatest asset is our team. We believe you won’t find better levels of stock, backed up by our unparalleled passion for excellent customer service. As a company, StowAg are always seeking to deliver the best quality service and product range to a long-established yet growing customer base. The ever-changing rich and diverse face of farming causes constant refining of our product offering and services. Customers are the core of the business, and what most decisions revolve around. Therefore, listening to their concerns and desires and placing them paramount in our business decisions ensures we are always offering the best we can. SQP representatives bring this offering to you on your farm, giving advice and free quotations to suit your requirements. Although we are constantly evolving and adapting to the market’s demands, we are

assured we will always remain family-owned and offer the personal, friendly and helpful service we have become renowned for. Whatever the future brings, there is always a supportive team at the office and in the field, available to offer expert advice and deliver quality products To celebrate 50 years of backing British farming, we are hosting our biggest event yet on Friday 27th September at our headquarters in Longborough. With many of our best suppliers and manufacturers on-site with demonstrations, talks, new product lines and discounts, it’s an event not to be missed! We welcome our guests to bring family and friends to enjoy other activities such as prize giveaways, competitions, kids’ activities and not to mention an amazing selection of locally produced food and drink, including our very own StowAg Ale courtesy of Donnington Brewery!

Dales farmers urged to register for post flood assistance The NFU in the North East is building on its initial support for flood-affected farmers in the Yorkshire Dales as work begins to help the area recover from the devastation caused by Tuesday’s (30 July) flash flooding. ith reports of roads, walls, winter fodder and some livestock being swept away by the flood water, the NFU is putting its emergency contingency plans into effect and is urging affected farmers to register with them for recovery advice and assistance. “It’s heart-breaking to see the damage caused by so much rain in such a short amount of time, but we know farmers are now 100% focused on getting back on their feet,” said Adam Bedford, NFU north east regional director. “Dales farmers are incredibly resilient, but

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they will need help to deal with the immediate and longer term complex impacts of this extreme weather event. “We have an experienced team locally and nationally now working to make sure all possible measures are in place – whether that’s highlighting to the RPA those businesses known to be affected in a bid to ensure they receive prompt payments or working locally to make it as easy as possible for farmers to dispose of debris dumped on their land by the flood.” To help with this work, all affected farmers are being urged to call the NFU’s national CallFirst number – 0370 845 8458 – and

register. The dedicated CallFirst team will get all the information required in one call and registering will mean farmers can be kept up to date with all the latest developments. “We will also be working closely with key farming charities such as RABI and FCN to make sure that practical and financial help is available as well as support for family members during what is an incredibly stressful and emotional time,” added Mr Bedford. A detailed briefing providing information and advice for affected farmers is also available on NFUOnline.com

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 09

| On Topic

Somerset farmer cycles across Canada for R.A.B.I Nick Bragg, of Frogmary Green Farm, Somerset, made it his mission this summer to cycle 3,000 miles across Canada in just 30 days.

very hero on a mission needs a worthy cause. Nick has chosen one that is very dear to his heart and all the farming community: The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, a welfare charity changing lives in farming for the better. Every year, R.A.B.I gives out roughly £2 million in grants and supports approximately 2,000 farming individuals and families. A farmer can control many aspects of their farm, but when their finances are affected by unpredictable circumstances, the R.A.B.I is here to ease that pressure with their support and advice. Nick and his trusty bicycle made it across 3 time zones and 4 provinces, through the

10 | Farming Monthly | August 2019

mountainous terrain of the Rockies, and finally finished at the Inukshuk monument on the Vancouver waterfront. Nick was accompanied by his wife Claire, plus siblings Ashley and Adele Martin of Adele Martin PT. With a background in cycling, AMPT provided Nick with the best challenge specific training and advice needed to complete his cycle across Canada safely. Ashley joined Nick at the start of the challenge for 3 weeks until Adele tagged in to tackle the Rockies! Despite getting slightly lost, Nick and Ashley set off from Montreal Olympic stadium on the 21st of June. They faced strong headwinds for most of the journey and temperatures soared to 30 degrees - Not ideal cycling weather! Superwoman Claire followed close behind in their motorhome, with food, clean clothes and

plenty of water. While they travelled through the Canadian National Parks and along the banks of Lake Superior, Nick made sure to stop and enjoy the stunning scenery around him. They spotted a variety wildlife including a wild Moose and her calves, Forest Foxes, Porcupines, Armadillos, Chinchillas, Turkeys, Bald Eagles and numerous bits of roadkill. Nick even had a close encounter with a Bear sunning itself not 15ft away! As Nick fumbled for his camera, whilst mentally preparing himself to flee, he forgot to unclip his foot and promptly fell off his bike. Fortunately, the bear wasn’t looking for lunch… The last 1000 miles was by no means the easiest, as the mountainous Rockies loomed before Nick in the distance. On their steepest

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| On Topic “The challenge has had an amazing impact on my life. I’ve become fitter and more committed to fitness. I’ve been given a chance to have a different outlook on life by getting away from the farming business. I have been immensely grateful and lucky for the support from Claire my wife and to all our fantastic staff, thank you all so much."

day, they faced a 3,982ft climb to the Bombi summit and then a 5,036ft climb to Paylson summit, meaning they had climbed a total of 9,018ft. Despite being the hardest section of their challenge, the surreal splendour of the Rockies kept them moving and they were always looking forward to the next breathtaking view. On day 30, Nick and Adele triumphantly arrived at the Inukshuk monument in English bay on the Vancouver Waterfront. Before returning to Somerset, Nick, Claire and Adele treated themselves to a tour of downtown Vancouver and whale watching, where they spotted a pod of Orcas on the hunt. Back in the UK, Nick is giving himself a brief break before jumping back into his Triathlon training with renewed vigour.

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For Nick, the challenge has flown by unbelievably quickly and he feels pleasantly surprised at what he has achieved, plus immensely grateful for all the support from friends and family. His advice to any others considering a challenge like this is: Do It. Take that leap and surprise yourself. You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve and do for others. With a wry chuckle, he also strongly suggests that they train, train, train and prepare for everything… including bears! You can still donate to Nick’s Cycling Challenge here>

Challenge in numbers • 3,000 miles • 6,708 training miles • 600,000, pedal rotations https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/NickBragg • 9.5 hours on the bike (longest day on a bike) • 211 total hours on a bike • 4 provinces • 3 time zones (Don’t get those back home!) • 4 litres of water a day • Consume 4000 calories a day • 85,559 calories burnt • 16 months planning • Best day – 1st day into the Rockies. It flew by with Adele and Crow’s Nest Pass was beautiful • Height climbed - 9,018ft climbed in one day (3,982ft climb to Bombi summit then a 5,036ft climb to Paylson summit a total of 9,018ft)

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 11

| Arable

Study shows the costs of reseeding permanent pasture Reseeding permanent pasture initially contributes to climate change and doesn’t increase yields beyond the first year, according to new research. he study by Rothamsted Research, examined the impact of reseeding on carbon and nitrogen levels and showed the only benefits of reseeding with a high sugar grass are if clover is also sown, as it reduces the economic and environmental costs of fertiliser. These findings demonstrate how careful consideration is required before reseeding pasture, says lead author Dr Alison Carswell. “Nitrogen use is markedly reduced, and the soil releases carbon during reseeding years, with no substantial improvement in grass yields compared to the permanent pasture in the following years. “The process of reseeding is costly, both environmentally and on yields, so farmers need to consider making savings elsewhere when reseeding. Including clover in their reseed mix means they can reduce fertiliser use and benefit from the financial and environmental gains of that.” In terms of climate change, simulating nutrient budgets across several years showed that whilst pasture releases more carbon during reseeding, it does return to acting as a carbon store once the new sward is established. The data comes from the Institute’s revolutionary ‘farm lab’ in Devon, a beef and sheep farm where all the key nutrients in and out of the farm are recorded – whether it’s through air, soil, water, plants or the livestock. “There’s been a lot of discussion recently on the environmental impacts of beef and sheep farming, but the issue isn’t straightforward and many of the conclusions reached have combined information from several different systems,” said Dr Carswell. “Our data on nitrogen and carbon flows through just one farm confirm that sheep and cattle are inefficient in their use of these nutrients. However, grassland reseeding to include legumes within the new sward significantly improved the nitrogen use of the whole system, and if the aim of grassland

12 | Farming Monthly | August 2019

reseeding is to reduce nitrogen inputs and dependence on chemical fertiliser, then reseeding with clover could provide a viable grassland management option.” Data was collected over six years from the innovative North Wyke Farm Platform and combined with mathematical modelling to examine the nutrient budgets and the efficiency with which nitrogen was used by beef and sheep at different stages of sward establishment. Three treatments were compared – permanent pasture, reseeding with a highsugar grass, and reseeding with a high-sugar grass and white clover mix. All three had 30 beef cattle and 75 ewes with lambs grazing them – with all winter feeding coming from each animal’s corresponding treatment. The sward with clover, without additional chemical-nitrogen fertiliser, produced the same amount of herbage as the fertilised permanent pasture, greatly reducing the environmental

impact of animals grazed upon it. Nitrogen enters pastures as chemical fertiliser, from livestock dung and urine, from pollutants in the atmosphere and - in the case of legumes such as clover – through bacteria in the roots capturing it from the air and passing it to the plant. Nitrogen leaves the system as herbage cut for forage, grazing by animals, greenhouse gases and run-off into watercourses. Plant growth and animal dung are the main carbon inputs, whilst the energy used by soil microbes, losses in run-off to water, methane emissions and cut or grazed herbage accounts for the majority of carbon passing out of grazed pasture. This work was published in the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, and funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Natural Environment Research Council, and the Newton Fund.

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| Arable

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 2019 | Farming Monthly | 13

| Arable

Top tips for drilling a successful oilseed rape crop Farmers preparing to plant oilseed rape in August and September are being advised to follow a five-point plan to give themselves the best chance of establishing a good crop. nited Oilseeds says a range of measures can be taken before, during and after establishment to get crops off to a strong start. The five-point plan is to select the best varieties and to plant into moist seedbeds where possible. Using appropriate establishment techniques for the conditions, correct seed rates and an integrated approach to crop protection complete the list. United Oilseeds has in excess of 4,500 growers who are evaluating their options for next season as combines continue to make progress on this year’s crop. The farmer-owned co-operative says variety choice is at the forefront of many growers’ minds. Managing Director Chris Baldwin said getting crops out of the ground quickly and growing away from pests such as flea beetle is a priority but not the only consideration. “Turnip yellows virus (TuYV) can also be a significant cause of yield loss so choosing a resistant variety can be a big help in safeguarding yields.” A number of new hybrid varieties on the

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market are “trait-loaded”, offering protection from some yield-robbing diseases, such as light leaf spot and TuYV. Hybrid oilseed Aurelia is one such variety and tops the AHDB Candidate List for yield while also offering TuYV and RLM7 phoma resistance, and light leaf spot protection. Simon Kightley, oilseed rape expert at NIAB, believes that early drilling is important but only when there is good moisture availability. “Drilling when there is sufficient moisture for germination is critical. Lack of moisture prevents uniform emergence and stops the seedlings from growing away quickly, giving more time for flea beetles to attack,” he says. Using the right establishment technique, taking into account soil conditions, is also important. “A well compacted seed bed after drilling will help to retain soil moisture and promote rapid germination and emergence,” Mr Kightley adds. Seed rates could increase from their current low of 40 plants/m2 to 60 plants/m2 to suit today’s more challenging growing environment. Growers frustrated with flea beetle attacks on establishing crops should think carefully

Chris Baldwin, United Oilseeds

about their insecticide applications. The temptation to repeat sprays should be questioned. If pyrethroids don’t produce a good result the first time, repeat sprays are doing more harm than good, especially to beneficial arthropods that predate flea beetle, Mr Kightley added.

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| Arable

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August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 15

| Arable

Pirtek Cambridge Tel: 01223 835222 Pirtek Derby Tel: 01332 205000 Pirtek Harlow Tel: 01279 427300 16 | Farming Monthly | August 2019

Pirtek Luton Pirtek Penrith Pirtek Preston

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

| Arable

Farmers move to improve pre-em applications A quarter of UK farmers have made changes to their spraying operations to get better performance from preemergence herbicide applications. eeding the advice and results of the Syngenta #lowslowcovered campaign, over 90% now spray at less than 12 km/hr and 84% have increased spray water volume, to at least 150 l/ha, according to results of a series of surveys at farmers’ and operators’ events over the past year. Syngenta eastern counties application specialist, Harry Fordham, commented: “Most farmers were aware of the Go Low; Go Slow; Get Covered campaign, which focusses attention on fine-tuning application techniques to achieve consistent grass weed control. “Results of application trials on the Barton Black-grass Focus Site have repeatedly shown that spraying at 12 km/hr or less and

maintaining a level boom at 50 cm above the surface achieves better results with any preemergence herbicide application.” Using higher water volume, ideally at 200 l/ha, has also been shown to achieve more consistent results. “The survey of farmers’ actions highlights the move to higher water rates, and the reports have all seen improvements in grassweed control. The challenge is sprayer efficiency at higher water volume, but there are lots of measures we are looking to share that can help to achieve it,” he advised Furthermore, the trials have shown that new 90% Drift Reduction Technology (DRT) nozzles can reliably achieve optimum high levels of grass weed control in all conditions. “Managing drift is a key component of

effective pre-em application,” advocated Harry. “Results of new trials, where wind speed was measured at the time of application, has demonstrated the variability of effects on weed control caused by gusty wind moving the spray pattern along the boom. “Even on a good spray day, with average wind speed of 1.6 m/s, there were gusts of between 0.5 to 8 m/s. Using 90% DRT helped to better mainatin pre-em sprays on target, for more consistent results.” Over 24,000 Teejet 90% DRT nozzles have been sold in the past two years under the Syngenta Nozzle Offer. That’s sufficient to refit 1500 30-metre sprayers, capable of covering 750,000 hectares of pre-emergence application.

Clubroot is patchy, diverse and requires targeted treatment A tailored plan is required to contain the spread of clubroot and sustain the production of important brassica crop species in the UK, according to a new AHDB report.

he increasing prevalence of the disease, the diverse nature of the clubroot population, its patchy occurrence and the rise of resistance-breaking strains have all been revealed by the

latest research. Guidance to help farmers map clubroot pressures and identify management options, which include targeted treatment at problematic patches, has also been updated. Clubroot, caused by the pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae, has increased in the UK. The trend for shorter rotations, along with milder and wetter winters, have contributed to its rise. If a susceptible crop is used in a clubrootinfected field, current advice is for a resistant variety to be grown. Such varieties contain the ‘Mendel’ resistance mechanism. However, the effectiveness of this mechanism has reduced at some UK sites in recent years. The researchers aimed to establish how significant and widespread the erosion of resistance is. Soil samples from 75 high-risk clubroot fields were used to grow a resistant and a susceptible winter oilseed rape variety. In about half of these

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‘bioassays’, the resistant variety developed relatively high symptoms. In fact, the levels were high enough at 15% of the sites to indicate that resistance was no longer functioning effectively. Amanda Bennett, who manages soilborne disease research at AHDB, said: “Strains of clubroot that can break resistance were found across the UK. Growers should make use of integrated approaches to control this disease, including the use of non-susceptible crops in the rotation, to avoid driving the selection of resistance-breaking strains.” A random subsample (25/75 fields) of soil was used to grow a standard set of 15 brassica lines from the European Clubroot Differential host set. The way these brassica plants developed clubroot symptoms allowed the number of pathotypes to be established. The UK clubroot population was found to be highly diverse. In fact, 20 different pathotypes were identified, in almost equal proportion. The project also looked at the potential for targeted treatment (such as liming). The clubroot severity in commercial crops (16 fields) was assessed (50 m grid squares) at three timings over a growing season. This found that the disease was often patchy across the field.

However, analysis of yield data revealed that the pathogen was just one cause of low-yielding patches. Despite this, economic modelling revealed, where disease was confined to patches, targeted treatment can make financial sense. The accuracy of clubroot soil tests, including plant bioassays and molecular disease detection methods (qPCR), was assessed by comparing test results with clubroot symptoms expressed in the field. Molecular tests were found not to correlate well with in-field disease development. Visual assessments of plants and plant roots remain the most reliable way to assess the presence and distribution of clubroot across a field. Growers should measure and record clubroot pressures, and document where resistant varieties have been grown. Such records can act as the foundation of an integrated clubroot management strategy. Comprehensive information about clubroot, including hosts, symptoms, life cycle, importance, risk factors and management, can be accessed via ahdb.org.uk/clubroot

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 17

| Potatoes

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| Potatoes

In an era of emails and texts, the BP event is a rare opportunity to talk face-to-face with key customers and suppliers.

Strongest ever case for Harrogate potato pilgrimage Technological breakthroughs, supply chain changes and political/trading uncertainty are all combining to make November’s BP2019 event in Harrogate unmissable for those planning a future in potatoes. hat’s the claim of organisers, who also point to record exhibitor numbers and one in five companies being completely new to the show, as reasons to attend the everyother-year event. “Our surveys give the top three reasons for visiting as seeing new developments, catching up on news and making and renewing contacts,” says show director Steve Wellbeloved. “More than ever before, potato businesses and organisations are coming together to deliver those opportunities in spades for 2019. “We know that quite a number of regular exhibitors, as well as the newcomers, have innovative new ideas to launch. Meanwhile the main seminar programme, led by

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Knowledge Exchange partner AHDB, addresses the latest technical and business issues and, inevitably, information on how our changing relationship with mainland Europe affects each part of the potato supply chain.” Business topics will also be centre stage in a special Trade & Innovation Hub. Here the Department for International Trade will be focusing on export opportunities, while trade associations like the British Potato Trade Association, Fresh Potato Suppliers’ Association, Potato Processors’ Association and Snack, Nut and Crisp Manufacturers’ Association will all be available for informal discussion on key industry matters. Alongside them in this hub, the Knowledge Transfer Network will

be highlighting wide ranging support for potato businesses of all sizes keen to improve competitiveness through innovation. As usual, trade stands cover all parts of the industry from seed breeding and all aspects of growing, crop handling and packaging through to retail presentation. New exhibitors are to be found across all these areas. For example, just in crop protection, nutrition and diagnostics they’ll be nine new companies alongside twenty or so regulars, with many announcing new products and services. This technical focus is enhanced by a special Knowledge Trail around the site being organised by BASIS who can be found on stand 172. Crop storage and handling will also see a range of new

What: BP2019 Potato Industry Show – the UK’s largest potato gathering from seed to supermarket. When: 9 - 5.30 Wednesday 20 November, 9 - 4 Thursday 21 November. Where: Yorkshire Event Centre, Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate HG2 8QZ. Information and free tickets: www.BP2019.co.uk

developments unveiled and a number of exhibitors are planning working exhibits in Hall 2 – traditionally the noisier of the two main halls. “All in all, there’s so much to see that we expect to see continuation of two trends,” predicts Steve Wellbeloved. “Firstly, more and more people opting to stay over and attend both days. And, secondly, more businesses bringing a wider cross section of staff, each of whom concentrates on mini-shows in their own area of expertise, for example crop protection, storage, machinery or marketing.” More information about all aspects of the show and preregistration to achieve fast, free access is available at www.bp2019.co.uk

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 19

| Potatoes

Tong’s new MonstaFill high capacity filler ticks all the boxes

Tong Engineering has announced a new twin-head box filler which is already minimising labour requirements and almost tripling throughput for an established seed potato processor in Tasmania.

uilt to combine high capacity and gentle box filling, with reduced forklift movements for maximum efficiency, the new MonstaFill box filler is the latest in a series of new product developments from the industry’s leading manufacturer of vegetable handling equipment. “As a company we are very proud to be unveiling a number of new products for 2019, and the new MonstaFill box filler is the first of

two advanced and exceptionally gentle box filling solutions that we are bringing to the market this year,” said Edward Tong, Managing Director at Tong Engineering. Manufactured to gently and evenly fill 1 or 2 ton boxes, the new filler from Tong is maximising throughput capacity for Cherry Hill Coolstores, based in northern Tasmania. Processing over 15,000 tons of seed potatoes annually, Cherry Hill operate between the seed grower and the main crop

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grower. “For the potato seed grower we unload, apply fungicides, grade and prepare their seed for certification,” explains Andrew Langmaid of Cherry Hill Coolstores. “For the seed buyers and main crop growers, we store the seed until planting season, and then prepare the potatoes for planting.” “With the volume of seed coming to Cherry Hill, we needed to upgrade our intake system,” says Andrew. “The new installation from Tong features a very similar set-up, albeit it much higher capacity, more advanced and energy efficient than our previous intake system, but it is the new MonstaFill box fillers that have really taken our capacity potential to the next level. Most notably, the MonstaFill has significantly reduced forklift requirements, which has had a huge effect on how quickly we are processing crop into boxes,” says Andrew. “By taking four forklift movements per ton out of our seed potato unloading process; that’s a staggering 120 less movements for every 30 ton load and a throughput of around 55 tons per hour.” Featuring a 2.5 or 3.8 cubic metre capacity holding hopper at each end of the machine’s main crop conveyor, suited for 1 or 2 ton boxes respectively, the new MonstaFill gently transfers crop to two rubber-lined holding hoppers. The hopper tanks are fitted with integrated loadcells which allow them to fill to a pre-determined weight ready for discharge into boxes. Once one hopper is full, the conveyor begins to fill the second hopper. The new filler detects when an empty box is presented by the forklift and the hopper discharges crop into the box as it is lowered by the forklift. The process means that the forklift then takes the full box away and returns with an empty box to

repeat the process. “With the simple in and out forklift action, there is no waiting for the forklift, making the filling process much more continuous,” explains Andrew. “Our complete intake system from Tong feeds two MonstaFill box fillers, one for 1 ton boxes and the other for 2 ton boxes, and we are now pretty much guaranteed that when a fully loaded bulker lorry arrives on our site, it will be driving back, unloaded in under an hour,” says Andrew. “A massive improvement from having trucks sitting around for 3 hours waiting to be unloaded.” “The MonstaFill box fillers are performing extremely well; the discharge mechanism of the holding hoppers means a very even fill of each box, and the integrated weight indicators transfer the data for each box directly into our crop statistics database. This has given us great gains in efficiency and will be a major tool for us keeping our costs down moving forwards.” Cherry Hill Coolstores purchased their new Tong seed potato intake system through Tong’s official dealer for Australia and New Zealand, Dobmac Machinery. “We are very pleased to bring a new high capacity box filling solution to the market,” says Edward Tong, Managing Director at Tong Engineering. “The MonstaFill is suitable for use on a wide variety of root crops, and ensures very gentle handling whilst offering a very even fill of boxes at high capacities. It is always great to see our latest product developments creating efficiencies for growers and processors. Our focus on simple yet advanced design means maximum performance and minimum maintenance, ensuring reliable operation for many years to come.”

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| Potatoes

Fenland potato trials show value of integrated agronomy The move to a new site for the third year of the Hutchinsons Fenland Potato demonstration is already generating interesting results that will help shape future agronomy. ntegrated Potato Cyst Nematode (PCN) management, postemergence herbicide crop safety, and seed age & planting date trials again took centre stage at the open day on 17 July, hosted at AL Lee Farming Company’s Folly Farm near Ely. Parts of the site were under higher PCN pressure than last year’s venue, nearby Friesland Farm, which meant clear differences had already emerged in the varietal resistance and tolerance trials, John Keer of Richard Austin Agriculture said. Pre-planting assessments found an initial PCN count of up to 164 eggs/g soil, all of which was the Globodera pallida species. “It’s a slightly more mineral soil than the rich black Fenland at Friesland Farm, so doesn’t offer as much resilience to the effects of PCN damage, which is helping highlight differences in our trials.” Some 18 varieties were planted on 15 April and each was being compared with and without a nematicide (fosthiazate). “PCN levels are consistently high across the trial area, which is bringing out differences in variety tolerance. We will take crops to harvest to see how yield is affected,” Mr Keer explained. “By measuring PCN populations pre-planting and after harvest, we will also be able to see how varietal resistance, or lack of, affects PCN multiplication in the soil.” Initial observations reinforced the view that tolerant varieties were generally those with more vigorous growth that produced larger root systems better able to withstand feeding by larvae, he said. While tolerant varieties could withstand feeding damage and still yield well in the presence of PCN, without resistance, they would let cyst numbers multiply over the season. “Tolerance and resistance are not linked. PCN still feeds on the roots of resistant varieties and those with low tolerance can therefore suffer quite a lot of damage, even if the crop’s resistance prevents new cysts forming.” At Folly Farm, varieties that had so far showed good PCN tolerance (i.e. little visible difference between treated and untreated plots) included Arsenal, Brooke, Cara, Performer, Rock, and Royal. In contrast, Maris Peer, Innovator, and Sagitta exhibited more noticeable effects indicating lower tolerance. “The really interesting detail will come when we measure the yield impact and see how G. pallida varietal resistance affects final PCN count after harvest. “The ideal would be to grow a variety with good PCN tolerance, and resistance to both species,

that is also accepted by end users. That’s not always possible, but the judicious use of resistant varieties and other integrated controls could buy flexibility to grow non-resistant varieties where necessary.” Herbicide effects The third year of the crop safety from postemergence herbicides trial again showed noticeable differences between varieties, Hutchinsons root crop technical manager Darryl Shailes said. The impact on vigour and necrosis/ chlorosis of four different post-em herbicides on seven varieties had been assessed, and results generally supported findings from previous seasons. “There’s always potential for some crop damage from post-emergence herbicides, but the extent is variety-specific.” For example, bentazone had been consistently aggressive on Agria, causing noticeable scorch. Markies also suffered more scorch from bentazone than in previous seasons, potentially because the crop was under stress at the time of application, he said. In contrast, Innovator was more tolerant of bentazone, but was susceptible to damage from metribuzin. Other varieties such as Performer and Royal showed minor effects and generally grew away well. “We set up the trial to look at yield effects across the varieties to see if scorch or vigour reduction has a significant effect. Unfortunately, plots got waterlogged twice so establishment wasn’t as we would have liked so it will difficult to draw conclusions in terms of yield. “However, this works gives us greater confidence to make recommendations to our clients, even where applications may not be supported by herbicide manufacturers,” Mr Shailes added. “Manufacturers do very little research on varietal impact and when they do it tends to be ultra-cautious.” Fine-tuning seed choices The seed age and planting date trial, run by Farmacy’s Stefan Williams, further examined how differences in planting date and chronological age of three Scottish Maris Piper seed lots (one chitted and two non-chitted) affected marketable yield and quality. “Old” seed was seed crops with a 50% emergence date of 15 May, whereas “young” seed was 5 June. Test digs reinforced previous work showing that younger seed produced more tubers than older seed and that chitting seed before planting produced fewer tubers across all three planting dates (15 April, 1 May and 16 May). Plots will be taken to harvest to see the effect on yield and

Desiccation and haulm management demo This September Hutchinsons will hold a separate demonstration examining desiccation options without diquat. Trials include different product timings and sequences, mechanical topping demonstrations and novel treatments. The event will be held at Friesland Farm near Mildenhall in late-September. Standen were represented at the summer demonstration day by Edward Gilbert, who discussed their three-row topper and topping in general. The firm will return for the haulm management demonstration. Post-harvest results from all trials will also be discussed at the annual winter meeting on 29 November 2019. See www.hlhltd.co.uk to find out more and book your place. tuber size. “Buying the right seed lot and protecting chits during planting makes a big difference,” said Mr Williams. “Older seed, consistently over the last three years of trials has produced 20% fewer tubers than ‘younger’ seed. Targeting ‘older’ seed stocks means we are reducing our tubers per plant ratio, therefore achieving a higher proportion of 75mm+ tubers for chipping and processing.” Mr Williams continues: “When I first came to the farm five years ago, growing chitted Maris Piper seed was quite common for later planting. But it can be hard not to damage chits even on modern planters. Our work shows in some cases only 20% of chitted seed planted remains undamaged. Potentially you can double tuber number where the chit hasn’t been knocked off compared with one that has. “If we don’t chit seed, it can be challenging to spread planting dates and our trials suggest if we were to change to mid-May planting of unchitted Piper, we could have higher numbers of smaller potatoes. If the business stays with chitted seed, we need stronger chits and gentler handling to protect them and avoid tubers wasting energy producing chits that get knocked off.”

CIPC warning This September Hutchinsons will hold a separate demonstration examining desiccation options without diquat. Trials include different product timings and sequences, mechanical topping demonstrations and novel treatments. The event will be held at Friesland Farm near Mildenhall in late-September. Standen were represented at the summer demonstration day by Edward Gilbert, who discussed their three-row topper and topping in general. The firm will return for the haulm management demonstration. Post-harvest results The challenges presented by next year’s ban on chlorpropham (CIPC) were another talking point at the Fenland demonstration. David Wilson from AHDB potatoes said there

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were limited alternative sprout suppressants until dimethylnaphalene (DMN) was granted UK approval, and growers would have to be careful with those that were available; namely spearmint oil and ethylene. Unlike CIPC, both were volatile products that could be more easily blown from stores if ventilation was needed after treatment. An added complication was that both spearmint oil and ethylene were usually more effective where maleic hydrazide had been used in the crop. But a recent label change preventing crops treated with maleic hydrazide from being fed to livestock could see some growers not use it, he noted. “Skin set and crop health going into store will be key, as will ensuring you have the correct airflow around the store.”

Mr Wilson also highlighted work AHDB was doing to support a more “sensible” approach to Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) after CIPC is withdrawn. Currently, the EU could reset the MRL to the “limit of quantification” of just 0.01ppm. However, the persistence of CIPC in the fabric of many stores meant some could exceed such a low MRL and a more gradual reduction from the current limit was needed, he said. AHDB tests of 11 bulk and box stores with different histories of using CIPC found residues ranged from 0.052ppm to 0.36ppm.from all trials will also be discussed at the annual winter meeting on 29 November 2019. See www.hlhltd.co.uk to find out more and book your place.

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 21

| Feature

Crop assessment project proves drone accuracy Drones have proven be just as accurate at taking plant measurements as more hands-on traditional methods, paving the way for a range of agricultural applications. two-year University of Adelaide project funded by the South Australian Grain Industry Trust used drone imagery to measure biomass, growth rate and greenness at trial sites in the wheat belt of South Australia. Not only did the measurements correlate with physically collected results but data was able to be gathered more regularly because the drones are more efficient than manual techniques. The ability for drones to potentially replace labour-intensive farming tasks has been known for some time. But the previous high cost of drone technology and doubts about the accuracy of the data they captured have held them back from widespread use in agriculture. University of Adelaide Agricultural Scientist and Researcher Dr Rhiannon Schilling and Dr Ramesh Raja Segaran from the university’s Unmanned Research Aircraft Facility worked together on the project, which began in 2017 and finished last month.

The project used drones to capture aerial images of the Grains Research and development Corporation wheat trial sites every few weeks during the five growth stages from early tillering through to late grain ripening. Dr Schilling said the more efficient use of drones not only allowed for data to be gathered more regularly but also avoided the destructive practice of physically taking biomass samples. “At the moment when you try and measure biomass throughout the season, every biomass cut we take is reducing the grain yield from the plot so we want to minimise that,” she said. “It’s really fast to go out and image our sites using a drone – within half an hour we can have our site imaged and the data processed in a few hours back at the university so it’s going to speed up the process. The drone images were analysed at the University of Adelaide to produce the crop growth data. “Because biomass cuts are so time intensive they were only being done at one or two time

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points in the growing season. Now we can watch the plant growth rate through time in the field throughout the whole season so it’s a lot more informative.” Dr Schilling said the technology could improve crop research capabilities and offer more efficient methods for plant breeders and pre-breeding researchers and growers. She said that while the project focused only on the biomass, growth rate and greenness of trial wheat crops, the confirmation of drone accuracy opened up many opportunities in other areas. “What we’ve done here is we’ve been able to show that we can measure crop growth through time,” Dr Schilling said. “In terms of this project, farmers should be able to use this method to assess the amount of biomass for something like hay production but also assess responses through time. “So looking at grazing pressure or assessing the effect fertiliser had on the growth rate of your crop or pasture – this is where this sort of technology is going.” A widely available DJ Phantom 4 drone was used to capture the

majority of imagery during the trial. The project used a standard DJI Phantom 4 drone, which is available to farmers and comes fitted with a good quality RGB camera for about $2000, to take the bulk of the images. Dr Schilling said the quality and affordability of sensing equipment that could be added to drones was also constantly improving. She said more fine-tuning was needed to maximise the value extracted from drone images including overlapping them with data collected from soil and satellite imagery. “We should be able to put all the layers together now and we’ve been starting to work with some machine-learning experts to do that,” Dr Schilling said. “Drones have been around for a long time but I don’t think they’ve been used to their full potential yet. One of the limitations has been that until now we didn’t know if what they measure is actually accurate and that’s what this project has achieved.”

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| Grain

New range of silos launched by Perry of Oakley Ltd Perry of Oakley Ltd, the UK’s most experienced manufacturer of materials handling & drying equipment have announced the introduction of a brand new range of flat bottom & hopper bottom silos engineered in conjunction with SiloMaster, a newly formed company that boasts a team of engineers with over 50 years of experience in the design & manufacture of silos and bulk storage solutions. n keeping with Perry’s motto of “Engineering Excellence” the new silo range are designed using high grade S450 steel protected by galvanising to Z600 standard, giving superior strength to weight characteristics and extremely long service life. A unique new single piece roof design is used on silos up to 16m diameter simplifying installation and enhancing performance. Supporting the technical know-how of the new team is one of Spain’s leading industrial manufacturing groups who bring high quality manufacturing expertise. The new silos are being manufactured on new state of the art equipment in a plant which operates to the highest quality and compliance standards insisted on by the automotive, oil and gas and rail industries amongst others. “We strive for the highest quality in all aspects” says David Perry, Managing Director of Perry of Oakley Ltd., “this starts with assessment of a customer’s needs and carries through to designing a scheme, manufacturing the silos, packing, shipping and final installation along with after sales support”.

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Available exclusively from Perry of Oakley in the UK and Ireland markets the new Perry SiloMaster range will begin production in September this year for immediate delivery thereafter. “It is a great honour to work with Perry’s” said Antonio Benitez, SiloMaster head of global sales. “We are very excited about developing markets together and being able to offer a full range of handling, drying and storage solutions that are available from Perry’s and SiloMaster”. The newly designed range of silos boast metric silos up to 32 metre diameter with a capacity of approximately 20,000 Tonnes, 45° hopper bottom silos up to 13 metre diameter containing almost 3,000 tonnes and 60° hopper bottom silo’s up 11 metre diameter holding 1.900 Tonnes. The SiloMaster range can be specified to either EUROCODE or ANSI standards dependant on market needs and significantly can be made in a wide range of diameters both metric and imperial thus allowing an existing base to be reused in the event of replacing an end of life silo. In addition to the silo range, a full complement of associated equipment will be available including:

• Complete aeration systems (fans, perforated floors, etc.). • Temperature control systems (portable or with computers). • Unloading equipment (sweepers, augers). • Walkways & catwalks. The catwalks system is modular to be able to adapt to all types of conveyor loads and to any design of the plant. • Towers and structures (supporting columns, work towers, structures for loading silos of trucks / trains). With the addition of the SiloMaster range Perry of Oakley are able to offer a complete solution for the storage, handling and drying of a wide range of products in agricultural and industrial applications through a network of dealers & installers. To find out more about the new SiloMaster & Perry range of products and services contact Perry of Oakley Ltd. on +44 (0)1404 890300 or email sales@perryofoakley.co.uk

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 23

| Security

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| Grain

Your number one fan Harvest is here and farmers looking for affordable but high-quality grain storage equipment can get everything they need from Gibbons Agricultural. ake a look at their website and you’ll find performance curves showing that Gibbons’ grain fans are some of the most energy-efficient on the market. And it’s no wonder – the company has 50 years of engineering experience behind them, so you’d be right to expect high performance from their best-selling fans. The fans are available in a range of sizes from 0.13 – 2.2 kW in single phase or three phase, so farmers can choose the ideal fan for their needs. And, knowing that reliability is important to their customers, every single Gibbons grain fan is supplied with a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty. Gibbons’ Plug&Cool range doesn’t stop with fans and their durable Pedestals and webbased control panels have been a huge hit with farmers so far this harvest. Their Plug&Cool Airspears® are also

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particularly popular at this time of year with farmers wanting to easily eliminate grain hotspots and maximise profits. With adjustable, extra-long handles with non-slip grips, users have the leverage they need to easily insert and remove the Airspear® as needed. For instances where urgent cooling is required, Gibbons’ offer an Airspear® Max, which is more than up to the job. In a style popular across Europe for years, the Airspear® Max harnesses the full power of a 1.1kW fan, giving users the superior cooling power of a static Pedestal fan, but in a completely mobile form. Light-weight aluminium casing on the fan makes the Airspear® Max completely portable. And, there’s no need for a bulky adaptor adding excess weight; the Gibbons 1.1 kW fan is the perfect fit to sit directly on top of the spear. To speak to a member of the Gibbons Agricultural team, you can get in touch with them on 01621 868 138.

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 25

| Buildings

More than a concrete donation Hanson has donated specialist concrete to support Jamie’s Farm in making essential improvements at its farm in Bath. he charity helps disadvantaged young people, predominantly aged 11-16, to thrive through a unique residential programme built around ‘Farming, Family, Therapy and Legacy’ at its sites in Bath, Hereford, Monmouth and Lewes. Approximately 100 cubic metres of bespoke concrete, which is part of Hanson’s Farm Range and specifically formulated for agricultural applications, was supplied to create new facilities at the farm. The hard wearing, durable and easy to place mix has the ability to withstand difficult ground conditions and was used to relay an uneven farmyard to create a safer space by removing potholes and other trip hazards. It also provided increased hardstanding for a for a larger outdoor feeding space for the farm’s animals, which play an important role in the young people’s programme of activities. James Moorhouse, Hanson UK

regional manager, said: “The donation forms part of our ongoing commitment to Jamie’s Farm, which we have supported since 2015 through fundraising activities as well as providing aggregate, asphalt and concrete materials to assist with developments at its Hereford site. The real reward is the difference our contribution will make to the charity and the work it does to enhance the lives and wellbeing of young people.” Jamie Feilden, the Founder of Jamie’s Farm, added: “Hanson has been generous in helping us transform our farms in Bath and Hereford from muddy yards to accessible, safe spaces. This has allowed the young people we support to get involved in real farming jobs, and gain a sense of achievement from their hard work. Without the support of companies like Hanson, we simply cannot achieve the outcomes for disadvantaged young people at this crucial stage in their lives.”

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USA style cow barn wins the Royal Welsh 2019 Farm Buildings Competition A top-quality cow barn and associated slurry handling and storage facilities has won the 2019 Royal Welsh Agricultural Society’s Farm Buildings and Works Competition. he competition, kindly sponsored by Harrison Clark Rickerbys Solicitors and confined to farms in society’s feature county for this year, Pembrokeshire, sought the buildings which are part of the farm set up and fit for the future. “Innovation, improvement, investment and infrastructure best sum up the four farms shortlisted for this year’s competition in Pembrokeshire and on all four farms it was encouraging to see the younger generations taking a leading role in future proofing their family businesses for the future.” commented judges, Colin V J Pugh FRAgS, Huw Prichard and Aled & Helen Worthington (2018 winners). “After a full and enjoyable day visiting four top-quality farm units came the difficult time to make a decision, but after some discussion we decided to award the first prize to Marc Allison, Sychpant, Rhoshill, Cardigan for his cow barn and associated slurry handling and storage facilities which in turn resulted in excellent cow performance.” Marc is a very progressive young farmer and has made good use of several recent technical initiatives whilst at the same time increasing his herd size from 130 cows to 300. His attention to detail of cow comfort and nutrition has raised his herd average yield to 10,500 kgs and

at the same time reduced his antimicrobial usage down to 5mg PCU way below the UK average of 26mg PCU. Key to achieving these figures was the construction in 2013/14 of a new USA inspired cow barn incorporating sand bedded cubicles, wide loafing alleys with a water flushing system, controlled ventilation and UV and IR reflective cladding for natural light but reducing heat build-up in the bird proof barn. Sand can be a nightmare for effluent systems and machinery, but Marc’s system relied on gravity separation of the sand through a series of channels where the sand remained and the slurry floated on into the lagoon. The sand was then dug out with a loader and spread on the land acting as a manure and soil conditioner. Sand usage for rebedding the cubicles worked out at around 60p per cow per week and the judges were impressed by the cleanliness of the cows still housed since calving last Autumn, which were spotless. Renewable energy was provided by a wind turbine and solar panels on the roof, along with many other small technical improvements. Marc will be presented with the Peniarth Estate Silver Trowel, given by the late Col J F Williams-Wynne CBE DSO MA FRAgS and a certificate on Tuesday 23 July at the Royal Welsh Show.

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| Livestock

Youngstock welfare drives farm performance Excellent calf and youngstock welfare can be achieved by ensuring animals are thriving, not surviving, according to Jim Reynolds, an international expert in dairy welfare. im, a professor of large animal medicine and welfare at Western University of Health Sciences in California, was the key speaker at several youngstock welfare meetings hosted on AHDB strategic dairy farms during June. The events included a tour of the farm, during which Jim discussed the science behind calving, calf management and the transition phase, linking this with the host farmers’ management systems. For Jim, it is important to treat animals with compassion, dignity and respect. He explained how welfare can be maximised by understanding and making use of natural behaviours. “A cow’s instinct is to hide her calf somewhere quiet and secluded so she can go and eat, while the calf safely sleeps. “We can take advantage of this by managing the separation of cow and calf during this window to minimise stress and anxiety, improving welfare,” he said.

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One important indicator of calves prosperity is age at first calving. A Royal Veterinary College study (funded by AHDB) showed that calving at 24 months rather than 26 months reduces average rearing costs by 16%. Put another way, the cost of rearing a heifer increases by £2.87 per day for every day increase in age at first calving over 24 months. While different farms and breeds will grow at different rates, the key is to weigh calves at birth, and then establish what their growth rate needs to be to achieve a 90% mature weight at 24 months. Weighing should be done regularly, preferably with electronic scales, but a weigh band can be used if they are not available. And remember it’s hard to judge an animal’s weight simply by looking. Calves should be weighed as often as possible, but usually when they are being handled for another purpose to minimise stress. As well as at birth, calves should be weighed at three weeks old (gaining 0.5 kg a day), when they are weaned (with birth weight

Steve West, Joe Carter and Jim Reynolds

doubled by 56 days), one week post weaning (to check growth is being maintained), six months (27% mature weight), 12 months (50% mature weight), 14-15 months (breeding – 60% mature weight), 18 months, and of course at calving (90% mature weight). Weighing is the best way to diagnose a problem in a rearing system. If heifers are struggling and not calving at 24 months, weighing can be used to locate the issue. A group can be weighed when something changes in the system (e.g. diet/going out to grass) and then weighed again 710 days later which allows farmers to adapt and reduce the effect of weight gain stalling or even weight loss. Weighing 10% of animals will give a good indication if whole group weighing is not an option, although ideally all animals should be weighed. One of the farms hosting Jim Reynolds was Carpenters Farm in Wiltshire managed by Joe Carter in partnership with his parents. Their average age at first calving is just over 25 months with calves only reaching 63kg at 56 days, when they should be hitting double their birth weight of 43kg. A lack of weight gain at the farm was put down to the calves scouring at five days old onwards due to rotavirus and a subsequent reduction in resistance to other infections. A vaccination programme was started in February, which has already made some improvement and it’s hoped that this will continue as immunity is bred into the herd.

During a tour of Joe’s calving sheds, the provision of clean water, deep beds, good airflow, group size and overall organisation was praised with suggested areas to focus on including rigorous cleaning, isolating sick calves, resting sheds and blocking drafts in colder weather. Joe has used the feedback to identify improvement areas that will have the biggest impact as he explains: “We’re going to look at the hygiene of our feeders, making sure they’re fully cleaned and disinfected. We’re sometimes milking cows 12 hours after calving, potentially losing colostrum quality so testing this at calving could establish if the problem lies with protocol or transition feeding. We tube feed four litres of colostrum as soon as possible after calving, but we’re going to look at using a teat feeder instead to prevent any damage from tubing. “These changes along with serving the heifers at a younger age mean that our predicted age at first calving is now just under 23 months.” To find out more about upcoming events visit ahdb.org.uk/events About Carpenters Farm Location: Wiltshire Herd: 290 Holsteins Land: 134 Hectares (grass and maize) System: All year round (fully housed) Average yield: 11,000 litres

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 27

| Feeders & Bedders

New Vario Volume system ensures flexible container volume for BvL mixer wagons Bernard van Maschinenfabrik & Co. KG (BvL) has introduced a new Vario Volume extension system as an option for almost all its range of trailed mixer wagons. he Vario Volume attachment is hydraulically raised to increase the container volume by approx. 30 cm. This effectively increases the volume in a twin auger mixer by up to 3.5 mÂł.

The straw blower is mechanically driven and has a high throughput of about 300 kg of straw per minute, which can be thrown up to 30m When the feed is mixed and chopped, the Vario Volume

extension can then be lowered again in order to be able to drive into low or restricted height buildings if necessary. For components that require a lot of space when mixing, such as straw bales, etc., the Vario Volume is a useful aid as it simply and effectively prevents feed components from spilling over the container edge. The new BvL Vario Volume extension can also be fitted to feed mixers with a rear-mounted 2.0 straw blower. The straw blower is mechanically driven and has a high throughput of about 300 kg of straw per minute, which can be thrown up to 30m. The stone trap and the softstart aid, round off the straw blower product range.

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| Feeders & Bedders

A winning combination Wessex International’s award winning BFR-180 modular feeding and Crossfire bedding machine is 100% British product, and is effectively two machines in one. You can save as much as 20% on feed bills, feeding round bales, and spread without chopping and with minimal dust. s a bale feeder, the BFR-180 can feed round bales of hay, haylage, straw and silage from either side and only requires one tractor or telehandler to operate. Maintenance is low with only four grease points and no electrics. Fit the Crossfire straw spreader attachment and bedding and feeding can be undertaken with the same machine, bed from one side and

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feed off the other. What’s more, unlike conventional straw choppers it spreads the straw in its baled length with minimal dust and projectiles and up to ten metres. This is good for the health of the stock and increases the effective life span of the bedding area. Should you want high level feeding into a trough or manger you simply attach the Wessex Sidewinder to the BFR-180 and you’re able to extend to the left while leaving the right

free to feed or bed with the Crossfire. The unique combination system of the Wessex BFR-180 really is something that needs to be seen in operation and Wessex say they are booking demonstrations now, so it’s a good time to see the award winning combination work. Wessex International 01264 345870 www.wessexintl.com

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 29

| Feeders & Bedders

Carbon Trust validate the KEENAN green machine as the first environmentally sustainable diet feeder in the world KEENAN announce Carbon Trust certification.

rish-based machinery brand, KEENAN, has been certified by the Carbon Trust as a more sustainable diet feeder, proven to reduce methane emissions on-farm. As a company, KEENAN has long been synonymous with engineering cutting-edge diet feeders, which produce a unique homogeneous mix that optimizes rumen health and ensures consistent animal performance. “In light of the government’s announcement regarding The Climate Action Plan, which aims to push Ireland to reach its 2030 targets, and to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, KEENAN are delighted to offer farmers a tangible means of reducing their carbon footprint on-farm, while enhancing production and profitability”, said Matt Higgins, General Manager, KEENAN. The Carbon Trust has verified that reduced methane output linked to enhanced rumen performance (per liter milk and daily liveweight gain in beef animals) can come as a result of improved feed conversion efficiency (FCE) in livestock. Having investigated the output from the KEENAN diet feeder and reviewing data from the KEENAN controller, the Carbon Trust

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has established that the KEENAN machine can increase rumen efficiency by delivering feed that is more easily digestible for cattle, meaning less energy is required and produced by each animal. The unique engineering features and mixing action of a KEENAN diet feeder make it synonymous with mix quality. Mix quality is the sum of many parts, including chop type and length as well as fiber type, presentation and most importantly, consistency. Optimised diet formulation relies heavily on the physical mix that is delivered to the animals; this mix needs to be delivered consistently every day in order for farms to achieve their production goals while enhancing the efficient use of their feed. “The animal food supply chain is faced with growing pressures to reduce methane and carbon dioxide emissions. As concern for our planet’s finite resources escalates, we have a responsibility to be proactive in sourcing solutions and partnerships that can relieve environmental strain and prioritize sustainability on-farm,” said Higgins. The Carbon Trust report cited that improving herd performance through improved FCE is expected to reduce methane production. KEENAN estimates this can lead to as much as

25 percent less methane when a below average herd receives rations from the KEENAN diet feeder and the KEENAN Controller. “The animal food supply chain is faced with growing pressures to reduce methane and carbon dioxide emissions” “The Carbon Trust accreditation is a powerful endorsement, which enables us to further help farmers reduce their on-farm carbon footprint, while increasing their profitability,” said Higgins. KEENAN has been a member of the Alltech family of companies since April 2016. Alltech has always been deeply rooted in their sustainability efforts and continue to strengthen their commitment to the animal, environment and consumer, with their Planet of Plenty initiative. “With the adoption of new technologies and management practices, and, most of all, human ingenuity, we believe a Planet of Plenty is possible,” said Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech. “Our Planet of Plenty vision propels our founding ACE principle into a new world of possibility, where anyone and everyone can make a positive impact on our shared planet.”

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| UK Dairy Day

UK Dairy Day 2019 UK Dairy Day 2019 brings together all facets of the dairy industry together at the International Centre in Telford. The 6th annual event, dedicated to dairy, on Wednesday 11th September is an opportunity for anyone connected to the dairy industry to network, share knowledge, learn, and most importantly make business decisions ahead of the winter. osting the National Holstein Show, UK Dairy Day welcomes Patrick Rüttimann to judge a leading line up of Holstein cattle. Since 2010, Patrick has managed the family business in Switzerland, Ruegruet Holsteins, with his brother. He has judged competitions all over Europe, as well as competing himself in the show ring at prestigious events. Commenting ahead of the event, Patrick says; “It is a huge honour to have been asked to judge The National Holstein Show at UK Dairy Day 2019. I am excited to have the opportunity to judge the best cows from across the UK, meet the breeders and see how the cows compare with their European counterparts.” The event will also welcome the return of the National Ayrshire Show and National Brown Swiss Show along with classes for Dairy

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Shorthorn, Guernsey and Jersey. The packed schedule for the centre stage show ring in Hall 2 will see breeders compete for a share of the £25,000 prize fund. Entry is free with thanks to cattle infrastructure sponsor NWF Agriculture and the cattle entry deadline is Friday 30th August. Gilmour Lawrie has been announced as National Ayrshire Judge, Robbie Radel from Queensland, Australia as National Brown Swiss Judge, Seimon Thomas (Dairy Shorthorn Judge), Colin Gleed (Guernsey Judge) and Matt Pye (Jersey Judge). Across internal and external exhibition areas will be over 300 trade stands representing UK, European & International businesses where visitors have the opportunity to learn about new products, services and technologies on the market to enhance their dairy business performance and efficiency. The

first floor sees the return of the Sharing Knowledge Zone with professional service providers, charities and colleges on hand to offer advice and support. The seminars sponsored by XL Vets with feature presentations covering informative relevant subjects and a careers board will advertise current opportunities within the dairy industry. One of the highlights is the practical demonstrations taking place throughout the day. Tim Carter and his team return to the external trade stand area where they will demonstrate foot trimming and knife sharpening demonstrations, including block work. Inside the Hall 3 foyer, adjacent to the cattle lines, will be the NBDC breed village with Type Classification and Linear Scoring demonstrations. New for 2019 this area will also feature a Genomic Clinic sponsored by Neogen where experts will be on hand to offer advice on how to interpret genomic reports and results. Scarsdale Vets return for the popular ‘Beneath the Black and White Calf' anatomy painting demonstration located externally in the Calf Rearing Zone which will be covered by a calf house sponsored and supplied by Northern Polytunnels Ltd. The calf rearing zone, sponsored by Volac, will feature businesses offering advice on all aspects for calf rearing, health, hygiene, feeding and management. The new product zone, sponsored by IDEXX, returns offering exhibitors and sponsors the opportunity to showcase any new products or services they have launched over the last 12

months. Displayed in the concourse these will be judged during the event. In addition judging of trade stands and cattle lines will take place and awards presented for Best Small, Medium and Large Internal trade stands, Best External trade stand, Best Presented Lines, Tidy Lines, along with the Holstein UK Premier Exhibitor Award and the Holstein UK Premier Breeder Award. The 6th Annual event, organised by Holstein UK, would not be possible without the amazing support from the industry. This year sees the return of principal sponsors Alltech & KEENAN, Cogent, Barclays, Bovalto (Boehringer Ingelheim), NWF Agriculture along with associate and cattle class sponsors. Free to attend, no preregistration is required just arrive at the event, receive a wrist band and enjoy the event. Excellent transport links with M54, Telford Railway Station and regional airports at Birmingham (BHX) and East Midlands (EMA) with numerous car parks adjacent to the venue and around Telford town centre. For more information visit www.ukdairyday.co.uk and keep up to date on social media. #ukdairyday #dedicatedtodairy Save the date: • UK Dairy Day 2019 • Wednesday 11th September from 8am to 5.30pm • The International Centre, Telford, Shropshire, TF3 4JH • Free entry, parking and Wi-Fi • No pre-registration required.

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 31

| UK Dairy Day

What could be simpler than a farm building? By Jim Rogerson of FarmPlus Buildings.

here’s nothing simpler than a farm building, yet why do the majority of people get this wrong? Sure farm buildings are simple, everyone can do a simple basic building, and we probably all can and do. The biggest problem with getting a good job done comes down to a bit of time and money. In this instance time should play the biggest role, because if you are controlling the job yourself then you probably aren’t paying yourself anyway. So if you spend extra time getting it right, it probably doesn’t cost you anything. Yet the benefits can be far reaching.

Simple mistakes can be made, With this adage in mind and a bit especially late in the year: of thought, a simple well designed “We are desperate to get some farmyard will help to wash itself with cows undercover”. every bit of rain. To put it simply, if “I need the cheapest option to get you can keep the farmhouse and some cattle off the land”. yard at the top end and direct all the “We have a gap here close to the muck to the low end, cleaning will house, its wasted space, we might be a lot simpler and life a lot more as well use it for now, and we’ll use it pleasant with a lot less ear-ache as a garage/workshop later”. from the housekeeper! Yet mostly, once cattle go into a Just because you wear wellington building, it is very difficult to turn the boots to walk through the cattle field building back to anything other than and gateways, it doesn’t mean it’s cattle housing. alright to need them around the Did you stop and think is it in the farmyard. When you are designing right place to get rid of all the muck? your building make sure you know Does the ground slope away from what you really want and design it or to the house? for the use. Overall Champion TAreal & LC Lyon & Son - British Water runs downhill naturally, so £2,000.00 goes nowhere with vets Blue x Heifer bills, antibiotics and loss of growth does dirty water and muck....

32 | Farming Monthly | August 2019

rate or even lost/dead animals. All too often these factors are just put down to a fact of life, especially on a farm, just by buying/using the cheapest options at the beginning. Very few open sided buildings work well for animal housing as far as ventilation and air exchange work and people say to me, “oh it will be alright with one side open”. After buying a smoke machine some 5 years ago and testing buildings I can assure you they don’t work. They may work reasonably well on a cold, wet, windy day when all of us are glad of shelter but if you get a good spring day with the sun shining, with a bit of warmth in the building you will find there is probably no air movement at all and

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| UK Dairy Day

if there is any, it is going out through the back side of the building. Animals need basic simple shelters: • Shelter from the wind. • Shelter from the rain. • Shade from the sun. • Plenty of fresh air movement above animal height. Left alone in nature, animals will always find natural shelters, behind a wall, hedge, shelter belt, in a hollow, all with movement over the top of them so they always have fresh air to breathe in. So the starting point for animal housing has to be shelter and air exchange. Animals like having a wall to shelter behind but need plenty of air movement over the top of them. All of us probably understand about trying to keep the prevailing wind and rain to the closed side of a building, yet we all fail to leave enough openings in the ridge to allow warm stale air to rise up naturally and exit the building as soon as possible. I hear all too often that we need a big tall building with lots of air for all these animals. The basis of this is totally wrong. What is needed is a high rate of natural air exchange to keep your animals healthy, which overall will reduce vets visits and antibiotic use (possibly saving you

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thousands of pounds annually), all for a bit of time planning and no more expense than a couple of thousand upfront to begin with. All too often I get told we have to put a fibre cement roof on livestock housing to stop the condensation, I put it to you that this idea has had a disastrous effect on animal health because it absorbs the condensation and hides any ventilation problems. You only get condensation through a build-up of humidity and if this is happening there is a ventilation problem. You have to do something to increase the air exchange. A bigger volume of air won’t increase the air exchange it will probably only exasperate the problem. Your starting point needs to be air exchange and getting the correct number of air exchanges per hour. This needs to happen every day of the year, not just on windy days. The cheapest solution is always the stack effect from warm air rising, and, in reality a lower ridge height will allow the air to leave the building quicker. In a tall building the warm air rises, cools and comes back down before reaching the ridge. Fresh air is free, where else can you get free animal health.

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 33

| Muck & Slurry

Expansion, lameness and profitability The last number of years have been challenging to dairy farmers who have faced considerable hardship due to diminishing returns, poor weather and higher feed costs.The ending of milk quotas in 2015 has led to considerable debate to achieve sustainability and growth particularly with land availability and fragmentation limiting expansion. In this environment,many dairy producers are re– assessing production methods especially with climate change and the necessity for sustainable growth.There is a realisation that increased intensification is required,with a move to some version of confinement systems as inevitable. ONFINEMENT Much discussion has centred on the use of “confinement” farming as a solution.There are two versions – Total confinement where cows are housed inside year round, milked in parlours and fed mechanically harvested feed and Winter confinement – usually family sized farms with cows milked in parlours but during non–pasture season the cows are housed inside and fed mechanically harvested feed familiar to Irish farms today. The central benefits of confinement systems stem from

the high level of cow management which achieves savings in production costs – labour, higher levels of performance by the herd (increased milk/milk solids yield).Also, adverse weather conditions have minimal impact on the day to day working of the farm especially as the herd cannot degrade the land by poaching. GROWTH With current weather patterns restricting grazing, farm fragmentation and limited land availability to facilitate an increase in herd size, it is difficult to see how the dairy industry can achieve the 50% increase in milk production through the traditional

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grazing practices. There are three possible paths to achieve the significant increases in milk yields envisaged – 1. Increase the herd size, 2. Intensify the farm production through farm consolidation and adopting total confinement practices or 3.A combination of the two. THE NETHERLANDS The average milk yield in Ireland is 4429 litres/year per cow while in The Netherlands is yield is 8101 litres/year.This near double the output is through the application of

total confinement methods. In The Netherlands herds are often housed 24 hour a day as the only means to manage a large herd with limited land resources.This is not without detrimental effects on the animals and the efficiency of the farm if not managed. In Ireland and The Netherlands, use of concrete slats over slurry tanks is widespread. Studies show cows should lie in cubicles between 12 and 14 hours per day with the balance engaged in feeding, milking, drinking and

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| Muck & Slurry socialising.That means 10 to 12 hours is standing on hard,wet, dirty and cold concrete slats.This is the primary cause of lameness in modern day dairy farming. LAMENESS Lameness reduces the cow’s mobility and causes loss of body condition through reduced feed intake.This affects the cow’s fertility most notably loss of body condition, inability to show sign of heat and increased likelihood of being hurt during bulling activity.The reduction in fertility is related to the severity of the lameness such as cows requiring more services The losses associated with lameness are a significant drain on the profits, with farmers often unaware of the scale of these losses.However, farmers are often of the opinion that large scale lameness “go with the territory” and is something to deal with as it occurs. PREVENTING LAMENESS – ENABLING GROWTH AND PRODUCTIVITY How can The Netherlands achieve double the milk production to Ireland? The simple answer is they have recognized and invested in advanced animal health and welfare. Identifying lameness and tackling it has led to enormous productivity gains. One of the most cost effective is the use of

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specialized Plastic Flooring Systems.There have been great advances achieved on flooring systems since the introduction of a simple black rubber fitted onto concrete slats and still used today in Ireland. Animal science and innovative manufacturing have moved beyond the limitations of flat black rubber mats. Manufacturers working with the Animal Science Group of Wageningen University (The Netherlands) have developed the next generation of flooring system to meet the challenges ahead. A study conducted by Dutch Hoof health Centre into lameness in Dairy Herds on such flooring systems show the “percentage of lame cows as low. On average 89% of the cows did not show any clinical signs of lameness”. Irish dairy farming has the advantage and disadvantage of low–cost grazing, so sustainable growth and profitability will only occur when we embrace more intensive milk production and innovative solutions to persistent dairy lameness. For further information contact Comfort Slat Mats Tel: 01 8643494. Email: sales@comfortslatmat.com or www.slatmats.com

Midland Slurry Systems Ltd your trusted partner in slurry and agricultural waste water management Founded in 1985 by Peter Russell, Midland Slurry Systems Ltd specialises in the supply and maintenance of agricultural waste water treatment and animal slurry management across the UK. ince Peter’s retirement, the company remains a family concern with Giles and Ben Russell taking on the management of the business as we continue to grow. We pride ourselves on a full service and bespoke offering to our customers – from initial advice outlining suitable options through to installation, commissioning and after sales service care. Our time spent in the industry has shown that no two jobs are the same, each site poses its own individual challenges. We bring to bear experience gathered from a wide range of installations and

servicing, from farms with 80 cows to larger scale dairies with 2,000 cows and every herd size in between. We also count anaerobic digestion (AD) plants and pig farmers amongst our customer base. Offering a full range of products from slurry scrapers, pumps, mixers, separators, sand bedding reclamation systems, umbilical systems, to dirty water irrigation, pipe and fittings, we are confident we have something to suit most farmers. We work with industry leading suppliers including McLanahan, Landia (UK), Storth Machinery and Briggs Irrigation to deliver the most cost-effective solution for your needs.

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 35

| Muck & Slurry

Vogelsang launches new trailing shoe linkage “BlackBird” To coincide with this year’s Agritechnica Vogelsang GmbH & Co. KG presents its new products for efficient liquid manure spreading and distribution.And this is an example of a subheader that reads from leftto right. ith its “BlackBird” trailing shoe linkage, the machine construction company from Lower Saxony, Germany, is launching an effective trailing shoe linkage with a flowoptimized liquid manure discharge. “When it came to developing this new technology, we took into account the findings from our flow simulations as well as the flow rates of the liquid manure and tested a number of different shapes. The result is an ideal combination of a flow-optimized discharge that deposits the liquid manure even more precisely and a new skid geometry that separates the crops even better,” explains Henning Ahlers, Head of Sales Germany at Vogelsang. The new, long, beak-like shape helps to ensure a controlled and even flow of liquid manure through every discharge, thus

36 | Farming Monthly | August 2019

preventing the crops from getting contaminated during manure spreading. By actively applying pressure, the BlackBird’s pointed skid is better able to penetrate the soil, ploughing a small furrow for directly depositing the liquid manure under the crops. Precision distributor with new service concept The BlackBird incorporates the next generation of Vogelsang’s precision distributor ExaCut ECQ. The distributor is located in the center of the boom – the perfect position for ensuring that the liquid manure is distributed precisely and evenly. Large diameters and flow distribution plates keep the flow under control and ensure a high distribution accuracy of the liquid manure. In order to make maintenance of the ExaCut ECQ quicker and easier, Vogelsang has also altered its maintenance concept, adding a large maintenance port to allow direct

access to all the system’s internal components. As such service work can now be carried out without dismantling the precision distributor or dismounting the cover and the outlet hoses and feed lines connected to it. Thanks to the QuickService concept maintenance on the ExaCut ECQ can be completed in just a few minutes. The power requirements have also been reduced – by up to 50 percent. This is due to the new rotor design and lower speeds. There is less strain on the cutting blades because of the reductions in speed and the internal pressure of the distributor, which extends the service life of the unit by up to 50 percent. FEM-calculated supporting structures and sturdy leaf springs for longer service life Vogelsang has also modified the hose layout to prevent the unit from creating a V-shaped imprint at the start of its furrows. The hoses

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| Muck & Slurry

themselves are black and are installed for the first time in the new trailing shoe linkage. The new leaf springs and their vibration cancellation technology ensure the unit’s stability, protecting the entire structure from excessive loads and reducing vibrations during transport on the road. Hydraulic cylinders with end-position damping keep the strain in the frame to a minimum during folding processes. As is standard procedure at Vogelsang, the

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BlackBird’s supporting structures are FEM calculated. This ensures that the supporting structures can withstand the daily strains they are subjected to, thus guaranteeing a long service life of the linkage. The trailing shoe linkage is available in working widths of 12 and 15 meters and can be folded up to a transport width of 2.99 meters. Folding the linkage upwards activates the DropStop principle, which prevents the

headland, streets and agricultural roads from getting contaminated. Harald Vogelsang, Managing Director: “The new BlackBird trailing shoe linkage strengthens our position as an innovative pioneer in the agricultural industry and further sectors, underlining our aim to keep developing new technology close to customers and their requirements.”

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 37

| Muck & Slurry

Bauer’s new portable Plug & Play S300 system provides slurry separation benefits in more than one location A new portable version of Bauer’s smallest slurry separator enables farms with more than one storage area to benefit from improved slurry management at lower cost – or for two or more small farms to share a single unit. he Plug & Play S300 mounts a pump, the Bauer S300 screw-type separator and an automatic control panel on to a compact steel frame. Slots in three sides of the frame enable the separation set to be moved, loaded on to a trailer and placed in position using pallet tines on a farm loader. Once set-up, the Plug & Play S300 is capable of separating up to 15cu m of slurry an hour into liquid and solid fractions, with dry matter content of the solids at about 32%. “Separation in this way can have a significant impact on storage capacity requirements and management of slurry as a resource,” said Adrian Tindall, Bauer UK & Ireland. “The liquid fraction can be applied from a lagoon through a dirty water

irrigator and the solids stored and spread separately to grazing or conservation grass, or to crop stubbles as and when required.” Slurry in-flow to the S300 separator is regulated by an automatic pressure control system to ensure consistent results and, as with all Bauer slurry separators, adjustable weighted discharge doors provide resistance to help the stainless steel screw squeeze liquid through a choice of long-life screens. It is a well-proven unit built to the same high standards of quality and durability as the larger separators in the Bauer range – the 5.5kW S655 and S855, the 7.5kW S855 HD, and the 7.5kW S855 GB – all of which are available individually for gantry installation alongside the slurry store or as part of a portable Plug & Play set. Regarding the Plug & Play S300

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introduction, Thomas Kampl, product manager for Bauer separation technology, said: “By expanding the ‘Plug & Play’ family, we continue to adapt our standard solutions to meet the needs of

livestock farms and, in this instance, provide smaller farms with the opportunity to profit from the economic and practical advantages of separation.”

SAMSON AGRO A/S launches new injector for placing slurry in row crops SAMSON AGRO A/S in Viborg will be adding a completely new type of injector to its implement range for the coming season – "SAMSON Strip-Till". SAMSON Strip-Till is designed for the easy and efficient placing of slurry in row crops. educe starter fertilizer with SAMSON StripTill The new SAMSON StripTill now makes it possible not only to reduce the amount of mineral starter fertilizer, but also to have an efficient tool that complies with new phosphorus rules and maintains a high yield. SAMSON Strip-Till consists of several operations in one injector, which makes the task of placing the slurry extremely precise. Strip-Till is equipped with an integrated disc on a "soil to soil" front drum, cleaning wheel and a unique parabolic disc stand, which lifts up the soil and creates a V-shaped opening in the soil where the specially developed slurry nozzles place the slurry in two lines at a depth of 20-30 cm. The disc then closes the soil surface again. The precise placing of slurry makes a perfect seed bed for e.g. corn with less weeds. "With the new SAMSON StripTill, we can now offer professional users an injector that ensures high capacity while maintaining high yields without mineral starter fertilizer", says Niels Haubjerg, Product Manager for Slurry Technology at SAMSON AGRO. New phosphorus rules have led to a growing interest in being able to reduce the amount of

mineral starter fertilizers for corn, for example. Flexible injector SAMSON Strip-Till can be used in varying ground conditions e.g. ploughed soil, stubble field. The placing of slurry is always precise. SAMSON Strip-Till has several different setting options. The parallelogram hitch ensures precise depth control for each row, among others. This means the slurry is always placed at the preset height, the specially developed slurry nozzles can be adjusted easily and the placing of slurry lines can be adapted. SAMSON AGRO is launching the new SAMSON Strip-Till for the coming season and it can be purchased from SAMSON dealers for delivery in the autumn. Photo 1 The new SAMSON Strip-Till. Photo 2 Specially developed nozzles with integrated slurry hoses place the slurry precisely behind the tooth. The nozzles can be adjusted easily and the placing of slurry lines can be adapted.

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| Muck & Slurry

Slurry cover offers cost-effective way to reduce emissions and meet impending legislation An innovative and highly adaptable solution to covering slurry stores or lagoons of any size is now available in the UK from slurry management specialist Tramspread. exa-Cover®, is comprised of recycled polypropylene segments which float to create a flexible but effective cover. The hexagonal pieces fit together and offer an effective way to significantly reduce emissions and, the company believes, provides a costeffective solution to future slurry storage requirements. John Tydeman from Tramspread, explains: “We have been in slurry management for over thirty years. With mounting government and public concern over emissions we are seeing a much higher demand from farmers looking for a quick and cost-effective solution to covering slurry. Hexa-Cover is popular because it doesn’t require planning permission, professional installation or maintenance.” If proposals in Defra’s Clean Air Strategy are adopted, covering slurry will be a requirement in England from 2027. Following a government pledge in the 2018

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Agriculture Bill to reduce emissions, Defra’s proposed Clean Air Strategy includes a new focus on the emissions of ammonia. The www.gov.uk website claims “Agriculture is responsible for 88% of UK emissions of ammonia gas which can travel long distances, be damaging to the environment, and combine with other pollutants to form fine Particulate Matter (PM) pollution, which are harmful to human health”. Covering slurry can be costly because of the size, shape and location of the tank or lagoon. Creating new storage may require planning permission and greater capital outlay. Hexa-Cover, is an innovative and adaptable product that can cover any slurry tank or lagoon and prevents 95% of harmful emissions being released. Made of recycled polypropylene, HexaCover pieces float on top of any liquid, fit together to fill the space, block light out and gas in, whilst also helping to prevent a crust forming. The product is heat, frost and wind proof, with a life

Fitting Hexa-Cover® to a twenty-metre diameter tank took less than two hours and cost £8,000 including installation.

expectancy of 25 years. John adds, “It is an innovative product and we expect to see demand continue to rise as we move closer to the proposed 2027 clean air deadline. We were recently approached by a dairy farmer with a

20m diameter steel slurry tank who had received complaints from local residents about the smell. When looking for a solution he was quoted £40,000 for a canvas cover. HexaCover was £8,000 and has solved the problem.”

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 39

| Shows

Near record attendance for 161st show This year’s Great Yorkshire Show was one of the biggest in its 161-year history after 135,095 visitors poured through the gates over the three days. he figures are just behind the record set in 2006 when 135,111 attended. There were also record-breaking entries across some of the sections, including cattle classes with 1,247 entries across beef and dairy, sheep with 2,597 entries, sheep shearing with 241 and Hives and Honey with 801 entries.

The 162nd Great Yorkshire Show will be held on Tuesday July 14th to Thursday July 16th 2020. Show Director Charles Mills said: “I was so proud to see each section looking great, the competitions were exhilarating, the entertainment, the visitors which spanned every generation – I think the show just keeps getting better and better, and the attendance numbers really reflect this.”

Sporting Soprano Lizzie Jones rounded off the Show beautifully, singing in the Main Ring before the traditional President’s Handover which saw Tom Ramsden hand to Charlotte Bromet the new President of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society for the coming year. The prestigious Cock O’ The North showjumping was the final competition in the Main Ring which ended in a win for jubilant Wetherby rider Richard Howley, riding Chinook. Other highlights this year was the two-part TV series “Today at the Great Yorkshire Show” hosted by Anita Rani and Jules Hudson which broadcast the show into the homes of millions of TV viewers nationally on Channel 5. Show organisers were proud to host HRH The Duke of York. There were also visits from Farming Minister Robert Goodwill and Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay. In the equine section was the prestigious Cuddy Supreme In Hand Championship Qualifer which was won by home-bred

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Dartmoor broodmare Springwater Anna with foal at foot, owned by Mr and Mrs PD Tyler of Thirsk and shown by daughter Katie Mickle. The Great Yorkshire Show Supreme Beef winner was a British Simmental from High Heath Farm, Hertfordshire. The Supreme Dairy winner was Jersey Saxown Precision Cash 89 owned by the

Saxby family from Bawtry, South Yorkshire. The Supreme Sheep winner was a Dutch Spotted Sheep owned by Ali Jackson from Annan, Scotland. The 162nd Great Yorkshire Show will be held on Tuesday July 14th to Thursday July 16th 2020.

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| Energy

Farm renewable energy Matt McWhirter from Farmers and Mercantile Insurance Brokers (FMIB), has over 25 years’ agricultural insurance experience with a specific interest in farm risk management. Matt explains the risks involved in diversification into renewable energy and how farmers can avoid being under or even uninsured.

eware before you energise your farm Despite a sharp fall in UK investment in renewables which fell 56% to the lowest level since 2008, solar energy remains the second most popular farm diversification activity with 11,500 farmers tapping into this income source in 2017/18. Medium-sized installations of

Insurance brokers have the time and experience to provide specialist advice - and negotiate the best deals biomass boilers followed by wind turbines were the next most popular forms of renewable diversification. But new entrants should proceed with caution. Before embarking on such initiatives, farmers should be forewarned of the risks – not just forearmed with the opportunities. As government subsidies and support have fallen, so have the

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number of suppliers and manufacturers in all three sectors – with many going out of business leaving farmers out of warranty – and potentially uninsured. Solar power-less The end of some support schemes has hit solar profitability but there is still business to be generated around this comparatively low-risk technology thanks to developers looking to ‘green-up’ their schemes and potentially help planning applications. However, farmers should be aware of hidden costs such as wiring maintenance and expensive outlays including full breakdown or fire and accidental damage cover. Biomass be warned Premiums have soared in this sector, mainly attributed to some of the older models being plagued by issues with dysfunctional sprinkler systems. Furthermore, many owners took advantage of the purchase subsidiaries but then didn’t get planning permission or allow for the costly system updates.

In addition, the majority of insurers of biomass systems are now looking to ensure systems have been installed to meet existing building & H&S regulations before offering or renewing cover. Wind turbine turmoil As with all insurance, it always pays to read the small print or get a specialist broker who understands the nuances of the equipment and the cover. Some farmers insured turbines but wrongly excluded the cost of underground cable and wiring on the assumption that these wouldn't need to be replaced if struck by lightning. The repercussion of such oversights can be very costly. Niche business needs niche cover When it comes to solar, biomass and wind equipment and installation, quality can vary greatly. For equipment deemed less

reliable, premiums can prove extremely costly and, in some cases, uninsurable. Insurance brokers have the time and experience to provide specialist advice - and negotiate the best deals. Niche cover that can be easily overlooked includes contract works, delay in start-up, environmental liability and machinery breakdown with resulting loss of revenue. Manufacturers going out of business and considerable claims plus lapsed inspections, maintenance deals and warranties have led to soaring premiums in the renewable sector. So while there is still money to be made in green energy, according to FMIB, the best advice is get specialist risk advice and weigh up all the costs - before diversifying.

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 41

| Energy

Energy and Rural Business Show moves to The East of England Arena An exciting new era begins for the innovative farm diversification event - Energy and Rural Business Show, with the announcement that it will open its doors at The East of England Arena in March 2020. ollowing on from the success of the 2019 show in Telford, the event is poised for expansion, to meet the increasingly important need to provide lucrative farm diversification options and sustainable initiatives to progressive farms of the future. Energy and Rural Business Show, incorporating Energy Now Expo, Rural Business Expo and Low Emission Vehicles Expo, will take place in the East of England Arena on Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 March 2020. The event continues to develop from its roots as ‘Energy Now Expo’ and celebrates 11 years of success next March. “The move to this well-known agricultural

showground, in a central location of the country, is the next stage in the event’s evolution. Outdoor vehicle and machinery demonstrations will be added to the successful show mix of guidance on renewable energy generation, effective energy and carbon management, diversification and the integration of low-carbon vehicles and machinery on farms and estates,” says David Jacobmeyer, show director. East of England Agricultural Society CEO, Jeremy Staples, says: “We are delighted to welcome Energy and Rural Business Show to the East of England Arena. We’re in the heart of a strong agricultural area and we’re sure this move will attract many farm businesses looking for

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the latest advice and guidance in a time of great opportunity.” The show remains free to attend and is run in association with NFU Energy and the CLA. Amanda Cardall, NFU Energy marketing manager says: “Energy and Rural Business Show is a key event for NFU Energy and we see great potential with the new move to The East of England Arena to a thriving agricultural area.” CLA East director Ben Underwood considers it an important event in their show calendar. “With the ongoing uncertainty facing landowners and rural businesses, this event provides a great opportunity to explore new ideas,” he says. Energy and Rural Business Show will feature the LowEmission Vehicles Expo, providing

expert advice on opportunities in low carbon cars and machines. Energy Now Expo will feature an exhibition, a dedicated energy storage theatre, a one-to-one advice clinic, and conference streams devoted to each type of renewable energy. The Rural Business Expo will have ‘how to’ workshops from industry experts and farmers who have implemented successful new business ventures or have integrated new projects with existing initiatives, together with an exhibition of relevant product and service suppliers. Visit the Energy and Rural Business website for more information.

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| Energy

OMEX Environmental named in London Stock Exchange’s ‘1000 Companies To Inspire Britain’ 2019 report Norfolk based company, OMEX Environmental, have been listed as one of Britain’s top companies to inspire. MEX Environmental, whom specialise in a range of environmental products from Biogas Nutrition to Water Treatment, have made the exclusive list for the first year. The listing comes after recent years of expansion and growth, alongside technological advances. Published annually, the report celebrates the UK’s fastestgrowing and most dynamic small and medium businesses (SMEs), with companies representing over

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40 sectors and spanning every region of the country. The London Stock Exchange selects it’s list from businesses who have demonstrated not only positive revenue growth over the last three years but also outperform their sector peers. OMEX Environmental, whom celebrated it’s 30th year in business this year, started operating in 1989. Part of the OMEX group, the family run group of companies look to find innovative solutions to feed and power the world. Frank Thomson, Managing

Director of OMEX Environmental said of the news “OMEX Environmental have invested significantly over the last few years in improving technology, R&D, product development and expanding services to our customers, which has resulted in

significant sustainable growth. It is thanks to our dedicated team and valued customers we have humbly received this highly appreciated recognition from London Stock Exchange as we look to continue to inspire our team, business partners and customers”

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 43

| Glamping Show

Generating sustainable revenue for your farm through tourism Branching into farm attractions or farm stays are the most obvious choices if you are looking to diversify into rural tourism. There’s a lot of buzz about staycations in the news and numbers of UK families choosing staycations rather than going abroad are increasing. Glamping is an area of particular growth. he popular appeal and continued growth of the glamping industry gives you excellent potential to generate revenue, but it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the choices you need to make. Seeing the accommodation for yourself will really help you to visualise what you can create and what will work on your farm. This is where The Glamping Show can help. The Glamping Show offers the advice and inspiration you need to set-up a sustainable revenue stream through tourism.

“Farm Stay continues to grow, even in an ever changing market “ Learn from the experiences of others The Glamping Show hosts over 100 exhibitors showcasing everything from yurts, tipis and shepherd huts through to booking systems and fire pits and we are delighted to welcome back Farm Stay UK as an exhibitor for 2019. “Farm Stay members are proud to offer a more personal experience compared to the larger OTAs and Farm Stay visitors will get a much better deal if they book

direct with the property” says Farm Stay’s Chairman, Kay Barriball. “Farm Stay continues to grow, even in an ever changing market and are proud to partner with The Glamping Show. It is good to have a truly British cooperative at the heart of rural tourism.” Your ticket for The Glamping Show also includes a 3 day programme of over 45 seminars that cover all the advice you need to get off on the right foot. Don’t miss our seminar with Barclays’ Richard Thomas: “Strong Roots: Funding and Financing Agricultural Diversification” and check our Seminars webpage for details of the rest of the programme. We’ll also have representatives from the Barclays Agriculture team available in our Meet the Experts area. While seminars are good for learning a lot about a topic, you may also want to ask specific questions in confidence. Glamping Show ticket holders can book a 20 minute appointment with one of our team of experts to get advice tailored to their specific situation. See you there! Join us at NAEC Stoneleigh from 19th – 21st September 2019. Tickets to attend The Glamping Show are FREE: visit our website to book www.theglampingshow.com

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| Glamping Show

Diversify with Wigwam As the summer slips into autumn, Wigwam® Holidays once again provides an excellent diversification option for concerned landowners. igwam® Holidays has been at the forefront of the glamping revolution for well over two decades and continues to innovate its trademarked product within the thriving glamping sector. It is fair to say 2019 so far has been a tricky year for farmers. Mixed weather, difficult market conditions and uncertainty over the UK’s position in Europe has made for a challenging economic landscape for the agricultural sector. Wigwam® Holidays has kept its finger on the pulse of diversification options and has once again stepped ahead of the competition. The brand new, six berth Wigwam® Lodge has now been officially launched at several agricultural shows across the UK, attracting the crowds and introducing the largest cabin yet in their glamping portfolio. The beauty of the new lodge-inspired design is that while the interior layout is brand new, it has retained its distinctive domed appearance and the charm and appeal that is associated with the Wigwam® Cabin brand. The UK-based company now has around 600 units in active use around the UK, equating to around 85 glamping sites across the British Isles. Managing Director Charles Gulland said: “We are proud and delighted to announce this brand new design for the Wigwam® Holidays cabin portfolio. “The spacious Wigwam® Lodge is perfect

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for a family break providing excellent glamping accommodation for a family of up to six guests. “As a company, we have helped spearhead the glamping revolution which is now firmly embedded in the staycation market. “The popularity of glamping has soared and our design team and joiners have always remained ahead of the game with their ideas. “The ideal occasion for the unveiling of our new product is the summer season. However, the Wigwam® Lodge can be used all year round due to its insulation and heated interior.” The new Wigwam® Lodge has a spectacular side entrance, a central dining and kitchen area including an in-built oven, along with a double bedroom, spacious en-suite facilities at one end and a seating/sleeping area at the other. The new design also has double glazed casement windows and Velux® roof lights allowing for plenty of natural light during the day. A compact upright radiator provides heating and there is plenty of shelving and other storage options, ideal for a family break. As well as plenty of electric sockets (three of which have USB fittings) there is also a TV and plenty of interior lighting for the darker evenings. Wigwam® Holidays has stayed true to its roots as their cabins are manufactured here in the UK and a supportive team with a true understanding of farm diversification.

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 45

| Finance

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| Machinery

Midlands Machinery Show to showcase the best of the agricultural machinery industry this November On November 20 & 21, the Midlands Machinery Show returns to Newark Showground for the sixth year running.

uilding on its reputation as an opportunity to do business in a friendly and informative atmosphere, Midlands Machinery Show is becoming a key date on everyone’s

calendar. Firmly established as the largest agricultural machinery show in the region, the Midlands Machinery Show has seen growth year on year, with an all new area being introduced for this year’s event to accommodate the rise in demand for exhibition stand space, with two halls having sold out already! Newark Showground’s rural yet easily accessible venue, enables the Midlands Machinery Show to have a unique combination of indoor exhibition stands, large outdoor stands and plenty of room to see machinery in action. The brand-new East Zone, located at the newly introduced Southern Gate entrance, will feature a marquee extension off the Sir John Buildings, which will provide an additional 1400sqm of indoor space. These improvements have been implemented to improve the flow around the Show, as the show expands and to enhance the experience for both exhibitors and visitors when navigating around the site. The East Zone is also located by the outdoor ‘Demo Area’ which was first introduced last year and is being further developed for this November’s event, provides an opportunity to see the latest innovations from the agricultural machinery industry in action. The Show team are very pleased to be also

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welcoming many returning dealerships and manufacturers who value the opportunity to meet new and existing customers in a relaxed environment. With top names like Chafer Sprayers, Chandlers, R C Setchfields, Ripon Farm Services, Weaving Machinery, and Big Bale North, the Show is committed to remaining close to its core focus on agricultural machinery and to bringing the agricultural industry together. The Midlands Machinery Show Manager, George Taylor, said “We are delighted at the amount of returning exhibitors and the percentage of new exhibitors for 2019. 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 innovations 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 investment in new products and services”. The friendly atmosphere at the event is appreciated by everyone involved in the Show and the quality of the attendees is one of the main reasons why exhibitors return, with the event attracting farmers, agricultural contractors, students and many more key decision makers from within the industry. George Taylor also added: “Last year, exhibitors commented on a high level of enquiries translating into sales and visitors who took the time to respond to our

survey, carried out during the show, said that they regard MMS as a great source of topical information in the industry. People also appreciated the ease of access via arterial roads to Newark Showground as well as the ample free parking and the swift entry into the Show.” 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. It’s also a fantastic way to learn about the latest industry news and trends, with topical seminars scheduled in a dedicated seminar theatre being repeated daily with opportunities to collect NRoSO and BASIS points as well as up to date information. Online registration for visitors will be opening soon, with many opportunities to enter Social Media competitions coming up in the next few months. Follow MMS on Twitter and check out the show’s Facebook page for the very latest information on what to expect at MMS 2019. Visit the website, www.midlandsmachineryshow.com to find out which stands have already booked and to find out how you can become a part of this year’s show. If you would like to exhibit at the Midlands Machinery Show, please contact Rebecca.knight@newarkshowground.com. If you are interested in sponsoring an element of the event to increase your brand presence, please contact info@midlandsmachineryshow.com.

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 47

| Tyres

Andrew Symons South Molton, Devon EX36 3L T: 01769 574455

Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6HL T: 01409 254040

Crediton, Devon EX17 1FB T: 01363 720430

Sharnford Tractors Ltd Lutterworth, Leicestershire LE17 5EH T: 01455 209300 www.manitou.co.uk

www.andrewsymons.co.uk

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| Machinery

CLAAS launch new 2nd generation LEXION HYBRID Originally introduced in 1995, the CLAAS LEXION revolutionised the way that arable crops are harvested and became the benchmark for cost efficient, high output harvesting of cereals and other crops. ow, 24 years later, CLAAS has announced the introduction of a complete new 2nd generation of LEXION HYBRID combine harvesters. Ten years in development, 1 million hours of development time and with over 6,000 hours of endurance testing, the new LEXION APS SYNFLOW HYBRID range has been completely redesigned from the ground up to handle all crops and conditions. About 66% of parts are completely different to the current outgoing HYBRID model, which currently accounts for around 75% of all hybrid and rotary combines sold in the UK. Two versions of the LEXION APS SYNFLOW HYBRID are available. The new LEXION 8000 is a wide body machine that comprises three models, including

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a new flagship 790hp LEXION 8900 model, making this the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most powerful production combine, that can be used with the latest 13.8m (45 ft) wide VARIO cutterbar, plus there are a further five models in the new narrow body LEXION 7000 range. As part of the development programme for the new LEXION, currently there are about 220 preseries machines working across 10 countries worldwide, including in the UK, which have consistently demonstrated increases in output of around 10% when compared on a like-for-like basis with current models. At the heart of the LEXION HYBRID has been the APS threshing system and it has been the development of the new APS SYNFLOW that is the key to this increase in harvesting capacity. Other new features include more powerful engines, bigger grain

tanks, larger concaves, greater separation control, a new drive system and faster unloading. The operator also benefits from a larger cab, with touchscreen

CEBIS, full CEMOS AUTOMATIC and a completely new yield monitoring system.

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 49

| ATV

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| Machinery

New Holland launches Grain Loss Calculator application to help with optimal adjustment of combine harvester New Holland Agriculture has launched a Grain Loss Calculator application for mobile devices to help farmers optimise the settings of their combine harvester to maximise its efficiency and productivity. The application has been developed to support farmers operating combines of all brands and models, testament to the brand’s ethos of openness. ars Skjoldager Sørensen, Crop Harvesting Product Management, explains: “This new app is an example of our customer focus, of how at New Holland we look at all the ways we can help farmers by making their work simpler and maximising their efficiency. In developing the app, we wanted to include all farmers – not just owners of New Holland combines – because we believe in working together with them towards a common purpose: a sustainable, efficient agriculture that does more with less.” A quick calculation to optimally adjust the combine harvester for maximum efficiency With the Grain Loss Calculator, the farmer can determine the combine’s grain loss in three easy steps: enter the brand of the

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combine, header and shoe widths; select the crop from a choice of 30 types and enter the yield; insert the kernels counted on the ground in a limited area. The app instantly calculates grain loss, showing the result in percentage and in kilograms per hectare. Support for optimising the combine settings with linked Harvest Excellence app The Grain Loss Calculator, having displayed the combine’s grain loss, offers a link to New Holland’s Harvest Excellence app, which will help the operator to optimise the settings of the combine harvester taking into account the soil and crop conditions. It also offers an issue resolution service to further optimise the settings of the combine, which will guide the operator step by step. The Grain Loss Calculator app

is available for iOS and Android operating systems on the App

Store and Google Play.

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 51

| Groundcare

STIGA PARK PRO Raw power at its best! TIGA have more than 80 years of experience in producing innovative consumer and professional gardening products. The ultimate combination of raw power, versatility and perfect precision the Park Pro Front cut mowers are made to get the job done! 4-wheel drive, power steering, electric height of cut and a range of other professional features come as standard. The articulated steering makes these Front cut

mowers agile, perfect for large complex gardens where manoeuvrability is tight around rocks, trees, corners and confined spaces. Superior mowing with top mulching performance, there is a choice of cutting decks to choose from including the New Combi electric 110 and 125cm Quick Flip decks. The unique Quick Flip system allows access in just one movement making cleaning the deck quick and easy. With a selection of seasonal implements that are simple to attach these mowers are truly

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versatile. With cutting edge solutions for large lawns the STIGA Park Pro Front mower is raw power at its best!

For more information on the Park Pro Range visit www.stigalawnmowers.co.uk

SOUTHAM AGRICULTURAL SERVICES Fields Farm, Station Road, Southam CV47 2DH

Tel: 01926 813426 Fax: 01926 817908 http://southamagri.co.uk

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| ATV

Suzuki ATV Welsh International Rugby Star joins the Suzuki ATV Team!

Dan Lydiate, a professional Welsh rugby player and well-respected member of the Mid Wales farming community, recently became a Suzuki ATV Ambassador. an hails from a sixth generational 500-acre sheep farm and is extremely proud of his family heritage. When not on the rugby pitch, he takes an active and visible interest in a range of issues that impact upon the current and future success of agriculture within Wales and the United Kingdom; and will often be seen present at Agricultural shows across the country. Most recently, Dan attended the Royal Welsh Show, where he was present on the Suzuki ATV stand to show his support. Dan has also been an ambassador for the NFU in Wales for many years, an organisation which has also partnered with Suzuki ATV offering significant discounts to members on ATVs. Speaking to Harvey Day, National ATV Sales Manager, about the sponsorship, he commented: “Dan is a prominent local figure in

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Wales, being a generational farmer and a big name in the world of rugby. We felt that it was a great fit for Suzuki to partner with him because of everything he represents within the farming community”. Beyond the family sheep farm and his impressive professional rugby career, which includes 62 appearances for Wales and being one of the most identifiable Welsh rugby players of his generation, Dan has an affinity for Pedigree Welsh Black Cattle and has an 18 strong herd. Not to mention that recently on the farm, 100 acres of trees were planted, too! This means that the 700 sheep, 18 cattle and 100 acres of soon-to-be forest needs to be checked and that is where, according to Dan, the Suzuki KingQuad 500 becomes a “God send” on the farm. When asked further, Dan commented: “It’s an easy ride. Responsive and nippy. Stable when on banks and going over mountains. And

it’s been a pleasure to ride. It’s gone wherever we have put it to! “Dan is a prominent local figure in Wales, being a generational farmer and a big name in the world of rugby. We felt that it was a great fit for Suzuki to partner with him because of everything he represents within the farming community”. “Responsibilities on the farm include hauling, sheering, lambing, fencing, checking, boundaries, using equipment, gathering the cattle and the sheep; all of which often become daily tasks, so having a Suzuki KingQuad on the farm makes these easier”. To find out more about Suzuki KingQuads visit: www.atv.suzuki.co.uk

August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 53

| ATV

Kawasaki Kawasaki 2020 Mule Range Breaks Cover

Regarded by many as the industry standard in their respective markets, the Kawasaki MULE and ATV range for 2020 has just been unveiled. With no less than four MULE variants for the coming season and two ATVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, there is a wide field of choice in the coming model year. he MULE PRO and SX range encompass a variety of engine capacities and vehicle sizes. With demand from those who need a machine with formidable carrying and towing capacity to those that prioritise diminutive size and maneuverability, all the bases are covered. Smallest in the MULE range for 2020 is now fuel injected MULE SX 4x4. For tight spaces and budget friendly running costs this 401cc air-cooled petrol-engined wonder is often usersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; first taste of MULE ownership. Underpinning the SX is the dramatically style

MULE PRO-MX with quad headlamps, automotive style doors and dashboard plus all the necessary practical touches such as a generous tipping load bed and impressive towing capability. Spearheading the MULE line in the coming season are the aptly named MULE PRO and PRO-DX models. The first choice of many demanding professional users these vehicles represent the pinnacle of the MULE line and each comes fully equipped to conquer any task asked of it. Satisfying single fuel type commercial users with their rugged and reliable 3-Cylinder diesel

For more information

Southam Agri. Services Southam, Warwickshire CV47 2DH 01926 813426 http://southamagri.co.uk

54 | Farming Monthly | August 2019

engines, the Pro-DX and DXT feature electrically selectable 2WD and 4WD, LED lights, large volume tilting cargo beds and, in the case the PRO-DXT, the ability to quickly convert from one row of seating to two rows, a boon for working parties and those suddenly needing to transport people in place of loads safely and securely. Ensuring their well-deserved place among the very best Utility Vehicles available, the hard working, dependable, fully featured and stylish Kawasaki MULE range for 2020 is once more the default ideal choice.

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| ATV

Honda ATV ime and cost savings through farm’s switch to Honda Pioneer Two highly capable Honda Pioneer utility vehicles are providing time and efficiency gains for an Exmoor beef farm. ith 300 head of beef cattle grazed outside throughout the year on 220ha of permanent grassland, Alex Fraser needs an efficient system for managing and moving livestock. His Red Devon and Hereford suckler herd is 100 per cent grass fed with winter grazing supplemented by hay and haylage provided in the field when needed. A change to an all-beef system a few years ago along with the move to year-around grass feeding meant tightly controlled grazing regimes were needed, involving frequent stock movements. Cattle are grazed in temporary paddocks using electric fencing which is put up and taken down manually. To transport people plus fencing and materials, a utility vehicle with a rear load bed was selected along with a Honda Foreman ATV. “Our steep slopes and sensitive grazing areas mean ATVs and UTVs are ideal for our situation thanks to their ability to travel lightly where needed,” explained Mr Fraser. “We rely on them to manage the herd efficiently so if a machine breakdown occurs it causes problems.” While the Honda ATV was totally reliable, the diesel-engined UTV which had been purchased in tidy condition with only 1,400 hours

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worked proved a different story. “Carrying loads on the rear cargo bed saved towing a trailer and the ability to carry two people was an advantage so the original idea was to use the UTV as the primary machine with the ATV providing back-up. However, although it was a reputable make, the UTV’s poor reliability proved an issue and the diesel engine lacked power to propel the heavy machine up our steep slopes. Having been impressed by the Honda ATV’s dependability and performance we negotiated a deal with Rob Richards at Ark ATVs Ltd, our local authorised dealer, to trade in both machines for two new Honda Pioneer 700-2 UTVs.” Honda added the Pioneer 700 UTVs to its ATV line-up in early 2017. Powered by a 675cc petrol engine and with drive to the wheels through a mechanical torque converter transmission, the Pioneer is extremely capable offroad with plenty of power to transport up 2 or 4 people depending on model, plus up to 386kg on its tipping rear load bed and trailed loads up to 680kg. Many advantages “The Pioneers have been excellent value since we took delivery last year,” said Alex. “The petrol engine and efficient transmission means there is plenty of power to handle steep slopes with ease compared to our

previous UTV, and they can carry two people which wasn’t possible on the Honda ATV. “The convenience of filling the UTV from our on-farm diesel tank had appealed, whereas now we have to fill jerry cans with petrol at our local garage. However the petrol engines are smoother and quieter, and we find the Pioneers don’t use much fuel so the amount of time spent travelling to fetch petrol is not significant.” It’s not just the Pioneer’s reliability and efficient operation which has impressed Alex. “They are easy to drive and everyone

likes using them. Plenty of grip and excellent brakes means they feel stable and secure on undulating, wet terrain and their cabs offer weather protection wherever we are working. “Usually for moving cattle longer distances it takes three to four people, but with two on each Pioneer safe transport is no problem,” he added. “We are pleased with the two Pioneers, because of the excellent comfort and their ability to carry out field tasks efficiently and quickly.”

| Motors

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| Motors

Back up to speed: The new look, high tech Audi SQ7 TDI Electrically boosted V8 TDI power returns to the updated Q7 range combined with the latest infotainment functionality. he latest in Audi design, engineering and digitalisation know-how has brought the updated Audi SQ7 TDI right up to speed with Vorsprung durch Technik in 2019, but the high performance seven-seater has remained true to its roots in one area that will please devotees of maximum displacement â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the 435PS biturbo V8 diesel engine remains the star attraction in the newcomer, which is due to become available in the UK from August ahead of first deliveries in the autumn. Pure diesel power: Biturbo V8 with electrically powered compressor The 4.0-litre biturbo TDI backs up its 435PS output with a 900 Nm wall of torque available between 1,250 and 3,250 rpm, enough to catapult the SQ7 TDI from rest to 62mph in 4.8 seconds and to take it to an electronically governed top speed of 155mph. The 48-volt electrical subsystem feeds an electrically powered compressor (EPC) that assists the two turbochargers whenever the load demand from the accelerator is high while the available energy in the exhaust gas is still low. In this case, it supplies the fresh air, which is important for combustion. As a result, the tremendous torque is available instantly at any time â&#x20AC;&#x201C; when accelerating from low speeds and particularly when starting off. The EPC is integrated into the intake air tract. A compact electric motor accelerates its compressor impeller to up to 70,000 revolutions per minute in 250 milliseconds. In the exhaust system, two actuators modulate a full eight-cylinder sound. S-specific adaptive air suspension, all-wheelsteering and quattro drive

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A quick-shifting eight-speed tiptronic transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive slickly convey the immense power of the 4.0 TDI onto the road. The standard S-specific adaptive sport air suspension and progressive steering, whose ratio becomes increasingly direct as the steering angle increases, create excellent driving dynamics, and in Vorsprung versions standard all-wheel steering makes the large SUV even easier to handle. The system turns the rear wheels by up to 5 degrees in the opposite direction at low speed to maximise manoeuvrability, and at higher speeds turns them slightly in the same direction to promote stability. Impressive look: the exterior design The Audi SQ7 TDI combines the recently updated design of the Q models with added Sspecific details. It stands apart from the base model with its twin slats in the Singleframe, exterior mirror housings in aluminium look, and the four characteristic exhaust tailpipes with round, chrome trims. The blade in the bumper has a three-dimensional shape, and the underbody protection at the rear looks even more rugged. The look is set off by Matrix LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights and dynamic front and rear indicators, and by 21-inch cast aluminium wheels in 5-double Vspoke design in contrast grey with a glossturned finish. In Vorsprung versions the headlamps are upgraded to HD Matrix LED units including laser light, and a Titanium Black styling pack adds a titanium black finish for the grille surround, door mirrors and roof rails combined with a high gloss black finish for the window surrounds. Larger 22-inch 5-V-spoke aluminium

star design wheels also make even more impact. Behind both wheels, brake discs measuring 400 millimetres in diameter at the front and 370 millimetres at the rear are fitted, with callipers finished in black and featuring an S logo. These are also optionally available in red. Sporty performance: Interior and equipment The interior of the Audi SQ7 TDI features super sports seats upholstered in dark Valcona leather with integrated head restraints, S embossing, rhombus stitching and pneumatic lumbar support adjustment. In the SQ7 TDI Vorsprung these are also climate controlled and feature a massage function. Soft Alcantara door inserts and brushed aluminium inlays complement these, as do the illuminated door sill trims bearing the S logo and the pedals, footrest and loading sill protector finished in stainless steel brightwork. A contour/ambient lighting package can be specified at extra cost to illuminate the elementary design lines and the surfaces in 30 adjustable colours.. MMI navigation plus, which includes touchscreen operation, delivers top-of-the-line connectivity as standard. It features LTE Advanced, a Wi-Fi hotspot, natural voice control and the extensive Audi connect portfolio, bringing benefits such as traffic information online, navigation with Google Earth, the hybrid radio and the cloud-based Amazon Alexa voice service, which is integrated into the MMI operating system. All features are shown with an S-specific display in the Audi virtual cockpit. There is also a performance view, which places the rev counter in the centre.

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| Motors

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| Motors

First shipment of new Mitsubishi L200 Series 6 pickup arrives in the UK The first shipment of Mitsubishi L200 Series 6 pickups has arrived in the UK at Bristol’s Royal Portbury Docks, with more shipments set to dock in the following weeks. itsubishi Motors has long set the benchmark for rugged, reliable off-road vehicles and nowhere is that truer than in the demanding and competitive pickup segment. The outgoing Mitsubishi L200 Series 5, for example, has won numerous awards since it first went on sale in 2015, most notably Auto Express magazine’s Pickup of the Year for four years straight and Car Buyers’ Best Pickup since 2017.

The good news is the Series 6 is even better. More advanced in terms of technology and safety, more efficient and cleaner than ever before, quieter and more refined with improved ride and handling plus it’s arguably the toughest looking vehicle Mitsubishi Motors has ever designed and certainly the most imposing and rugged pickup in the market today. And all this from a manufacturer with an unrivalled reputation for reliability and longevity backed by the best dealer network in the business.

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The first examples of the new Mitsubishi L200 Series 6 will be delivered to UK dealers in the coming weeks and will be launched to the media on

Thursday 15th August in Silverstone.

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August 2019 | Farming Monthly | 61

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Land Rover breathes new life into older Defenders Land Rover Classic is introducing a range of upgrades for older Defender models which deliver enhanced performance and on-road agility inspired by the exclusive limited-edition Defender Works V8 – 70th Edition. he new Upgrade Kits, the first of their kind from Land Rover Classic, allow Defender owners to enhance 90 and 110 derivatives built between 1994 and 2016. Calum McKechnie, Head of Land Rover Classic, said: “In 2018, Land Rover’s 70th Anniversary year, we saw unprecedented demand for the limited-edition Defender Works V8, which brought new levels of handling and performance to this iconic vehicle. Extending the range of fully engineered, tested and approved upgrades offered by Land Rover Classic underlines our commitment to supporting existing Defender owners, as we look forward to the new Defender’s world premiere later this year.” Upgrades start with diamond-turned 18-inch Sawtooth alloy wheels which can be fitted to Defenders built from 1994 model year* onwards. The Defender Suspension Upgrade Kit is suitable from 2007 model year vehicles, comprising uniquely-tuned suspension tailored for on-road comfort and dynamics with revised coil spring rates, dampers, anti-roll bars, links and bushes. The Defender Handling Upgrade Kit adds

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uprated Works V8 specification brake discs, pads and calipers to the 18-inch Sawtooth alloy wheels and enhanced suspension. The final and most comprehensive upgrade option is only available on 2.2-litre TDCi models produced from 2012 model year onwards and is only available direct from Land Rover Classic. The Defender Classic Works Upgrade Kit includes all of the wheel, brake and suspension elements in addition to new performance-rated tyres and an engine upgrade which delivers an extra 40PS – total output of 162PS and 463Nm torque. Top speed is increased to 106mph. The Classic Works Upgrade Kit also includes bespoke badging on the front wings, an owner’s certificate, vehicle collection, health check and handover with a tour of Land Rover’s Classic Works, UK, or Essen, Germany, facility – where the upgrade is carried-out. All components have been fully assessed to the same standards as Works V8 in dynamic testing, with engineers meeting the same fast road and braking targets for Upgrade Kit components as last year’s limited-run model. CO2 emissions meet the same EU5 N1 Commercial standards as a standard 2.2 TDCi, with emissions control systems retained. Customers can order the Sawtooth alloy wheels, Suspension and Handling Upgrade

Kits and have them fitted by their local Land Rover Retailer as well as Land Rover Classic’s facilities in Coventry and Essen. The Sawtooth wheel kit with tyres, and the ultimate Defender Classic Works Upgrade Kit, can only be purchased and fitted at Land Rover Classic’s own facilities. Upgrade Kit UK retail price including VAT • Defender Classic Works Upgrade Kit - 90 £16,995 - fitted by Land Rover Classic in UK • Defender Classic Works Upgrade Kit - 110 £16,995 - fitted by Land Rover Classic in UK • Handling Upgrade Kit - 90 £10,391.47 parts only • Handling Upgrade Kit - 110 £9,967.37 parts only • Suspension Upgrade Kit - 90 £2,247.07 parts only • Suspension Upgrade Kit - 110 £1,822.97 parts only • 18-inch Sawtooth wheel kit and tyres £4,068 - fitted by Land Rover Classic in UK • 18-inch Sawtooth wheel kit (x5) £2,160 parts only • 18-inch Sawtooth wheel (x1) £432 - parts only

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