Farming Monthly National January 2023

BFREPAroadshowsannouncedasproducers looktorecoverfromturbulent2022

TheBritishFree RangeEgg Producers Association (BFREPA)isto meetmembersup anddownthecountrytodiscuss solutionstotheongoingcrisisin thesector.

Contractreform,productioncost data,andavianinfluenzawillbe themaintopicstackledatthe meetings,whichtakeplacefrom JanuarytoMarch.

CEORobertGoochsaidtheaim ofthemeetingsistobringthe industryevenclosertogetherin abidtofindwaysinwhichthe “diresituationfarmersarefacing” canbeovercome.

“Theturmoilexperiencedbythe freerangeeggindustrylastyear highlightedhowimportantrobust contractsandaccesstoaccurate datareallyare,”saysBFREPA CEORobertGooch.

“Anunderstandingofthecostsof productionismoreessentialthan everbefore,andshouldbethe basisuponwhichnew

agreementswithpackersshould besigned.

“Wewillbesharingourdataand askingforfeedbackonhowit canbeimprovedtohelpfarmers understandtherisksand rewards.”

TheBFREPAcostings,compiled independentlybyADAS,are increasinglybeingusedby government,retailersand packersinmonitoringtheegg supplychainandindeveloping improvedeggsupply agreements.

“ADASwillpresenthowit calculatesthesemonthlyfigures anddebatewithmembershow theycanbeimproved,”saysMr Gooch.

“Additionally,Iwillupdate membersonDefra’sinformal reviewofcontractsintheegg supplychainandrecent progressonimprovingproducer contracts.Withthelaunchofa ‘bedandbreakfast’contractfrom onepackerandmorelookingat costofproductioncontracts, BFREPAwouldliketohearfrom

membersontheirpreferred typesofeggsupply agreements.”

Informationonbirdfluandoverstickeringwillalsobepresented anddiscussedatthemeetings, wherealleggproducerswillbe welcome.

“Thoseeggproducerswhoaren’t BFREPAmemberscanfindout moreabouttheorganisationand whytheyshouldconsiderjoining –asanorganisation,more membersmeansaneven strongerforceforlobbyingand industrysupportinthefuture,” saysMrGooch.

Themeetingsaretakingplacein Diss,Ardingly,Exeter, Shrewsbury,Lincoln,Milnthorpe, Darlington,LlandindrodWells, LauderandInverurie,with NorthernIrelanddatestobe announcedshortly.

Meetingsareopentomembers andnonmembers,andcanbe bookedonlineatwww.bfrepa. co.uk/common/bfrepa-roadshow2023.

TimetoreapthebenefitsofTheGeneticTechnology

(PrecisionBreeding)Bill,sayWelshConservatives

TheGenetic TechnologiesBill willremove unnecessary barriersto researchintonewPrecision BredOrganisms(PBOs)to enablethedevelopmentof precisionbredplantsand animalswhichwillhelpdrive economicgrowthandtackle someofthekeyissuesfacing theglobalpopulation.

However,delaysfromthe LabourGovernmentinCardiff BaycouldleaveWelsh farmersataclearcompetitive disadvantagecomparedwith thoseinEngland.

Commenting,Welsh ConservativeShadowRural AffairsMinister,SamuelKurtz MSsaid:

“It’ssuchadisappointment thattheLabourGovernment declinedtojointhisBilllast year.Thesetechnologies coulddevelopcropsthatare morenutritiousandlessreliant onpesticides.

“Fromgreaterfoodsecurity, preventingdisease,climate changeandloweringcosts,if we’reseriousaboutfeeding ournationanderadicating hungeracrosstheworld,then PBOsabsolutelyneedtobe includedinthisdiscussion. ThisisnotGMcropsandthat mustbestressed.

“WhilsttheWelsh Governmentignorethesafe scienceonthis,itwillleave Welshfarmersbehindour Englishneighboursaswe striveforhealthierandmore environmentallyfriendlyfood. I’msadtoseesuchashortsighteddecisionfromthe WelshGovernment.”

WhilsttheWelsh Conservativesthinkthis LegislativeConsent Memorandum(LCM)isnot required,asithasbeen placedbeforetheSenedd todayinaproceduralcapacity, WelshConservativeswillbe votinginfavourofit.

NEWCropSaver7SeriesApplication Equipmentfor2023Season

CropSaveris launchingthenew7 Seriesbale management systemsforalltypes oflargesquare baler.The7Seriesbuildsonthe precisionandfunctionalityofthe previous600Serieswhile reducingtheoverallcapitalcost ofasystem.

TheH2Oprecisionmoisture sensorandisthebuildingblock foradditional7Seriesmodules. Accuratemeasurementof moistureiskeytounderstanding furtherimprovementsinthe managementofyourbaling operation.TheH2Omoisture sensorwithits24yearsofinfield experienceisbuiltforthelatest generationofhighdensitylarge squarebalers.

baleroperatoracceptdatathatis lessaccuratefromarubpador moistureprobe?Withthetwin starwheelsystem,theoperator canhavefullconfidenceinthe dataproduced.

InthenearfutureasecondgenerationRFIDbale taggingsystemwill complementthewetbale markerthatprovidesa simplelow-costoptionto highlightbalesthatexceed theoperatorsdefined moisturelimit.Markingwith afoodgradecolourofthe highmoisturebalesallows thebalestobeseparated atthestackingpointsothat thenumberofwasteor poor-qualitybalesare reduced.

Thetechnologyusedtoread moistureismarketleading+/-1% accuracywithzerocalibration requirementsindifferentcrop typesordensity.Thetwinstar wheelsmeasurebypulsingan electricalsignalthroughtheentire baleflakeprofile.TheCropSaver teamisoftenasked‘whywe wouldpaymoreforyourmoisture sensor’,thesimpleansweris accuracyandreliabilitywithease ofusewhetheritisintegratedto hebalerorasasmartdevice standalonesystem.Whyshoulda

Thethirdcomponentisthe automaticvariablerateapplicator whichissuitableforalllarge squarebalers.Thenew7Series isapproximatelya20%savingin capitalcost.CropSaverusesthe balersonboardsensorssuchas theelectronicbalelengthand weighscaletomonitorsthe balersperformance,adjusting CropSaverpH6.0bufferedacid applicationinrealtime.

CropSaverpH6.0animalsafe

bufferedacid.Thisisanintegral parttoassistinthebalingofhigh moisturehayandstrawwhenthe weatherisfightingyoualltheway tothebarn.Wehaveallheard storiesofstrawbaledtoowetand turnsoutlikecardboardorhay baledtowetandtheusual commentsof‘leaveitinthefield forafewweekstosweat’orat worstself-combust.Onceyou exceed16%moisturejustaswith grainthereisvaryingdegreesof spoilageunlessusingourhighqualitybalepreservative.

NEW7Seriesisthemostcosteffectivetooltoassistinyour balingoperation.Improvingyour understandingofmoisturein cropsandbeingabletomanage highmoisturebaleswiththewet balemarkerorutilisingthe ultimatebalemanagement applicatorsystem.CropSaveris availablefromyourlocalNew HollandDealer

FROMTINYACORNS...GALBRAITHGIVEAWAYS EQUIVALENTTOAWHOLENEWWOODLAND

heGalbraith forestrydepartment hasgivenaway almost1,500trees tomembersofthe publicinthepast threeyears,enoughtocover2.4

acres,ora hectareof new woodland. Theforestry team regularly attends eventsand opendays, where carefully wrapped, nativecellgrowntrees fromAlba Treesprovideanexcellent promotionalgiftwithan environmentalconscience.

Atotalof1,500saplingshave beendistributed,whichifplanted wouldcreateawoodlandthesize offoursupermarkets,oneanda halffootballpitches,oracarpark for360cars! JamesReid,a foresterwith Galbraithin Inverness,said: "Treesasagift provideafunway toengagewith peopleandget themthinking aboutthe differencethey canmakeintheir localcommunity whetheritis plantingatreein theirowngarden orvolunteeringto helpinalocal woodlandproject.

Evenasmallnumberoftreesin anurbanenvironmentcanmake ahugedifference–providing habitatforwildlife,coolingtheair inthesummerandabsorbing carbondioxide."

Amaturetreecanabsorbupto 150kgofCO2ayear,makinga valuablecontributionto combatingtheeffectsof greenhousegasemissions.The Galbraithpromotionaltrees wouldabsorb225,000kgof CO2ifallgrowtomaturity, equivalenttotaking117carsoff theroadeachyear.

Galbraithmanagesover30,000 hectaresofwoodlandacross ScotlandandNorthernEngland andalsoadvisesonnew woodlandcreation,forest certification,grantsandlicences, timberharvestingandmarketing, carbonaudits,biodiversityand habitatrestoration.

Newruralsupportissparkedby LEADER’sfantasticachievements

TheLEADER Programme,which hassupportedrural businessesacross thecountryoverthe last30years,has cometoaclose.Deliveredby Buckinghamshire-basednot-forprofitNgageSolutionsbetween 2008-2022,therural businesssupport schemehasmadea valuableandlasting impactthathelpedto createjobs,drive investmentandsupport businessgrowthinthe localruraleconomy.

Hundredsoflocalrural businesseshavebeen supportedbyLEADER, withinterventions includingfarm diversification,forestry andtourismprojects, culturalandheritage projects,andsupportfor ruralservicesandsmall ruralcompanies.

WillDallimore,LEADER ProgrammeManagerat NgageSolutions, commented:“Supporting businesseswithLEADERgrants throughouttheprogrammehas beenhugelyrewardingandhas benefitedthelivesofmany.It hasbeenaprivilegetoseenew businessesstarted,jobscreated, andskillsdeveloped.LEADER fundinghasbeengame-changing inhowbusinessesoperate, improvingproductivity,enhancing animalhealthandwelfare,and providinghugeenvironmental gainsintheprocess.Andthat’s nottomentionallthelocal productsthathavegoneontobe stockedonshelves,notjust locallybutaroundtheworld.”

ThroughdeliverybyNgage Solutions,LEADERdirectly

supported253rural organisationswithgrantfunding, helpingcreateatleast400new jobsintheChilterns,ClayVales and,from2015,inNorth&West Northamptonshire.The programmesupportedthe creationofmorethan50new businesses,andgenerateda combined£23.2million investmentinruralareas,with £8.8millioningrantsawarded.

Newruralsupportissparked byLEADER’sfantastic achievements2:

DespitetheLEADERproject comingtoanend,itslegacywill liveonthroughanewbusiness supportschemecalledRural Ngage.

SupportedbyWillDallimore, RuralNgagewillhelpto demystifytherapidlychanging ruralfundinglandscapeand providesupporttobusinesses whoarelookingtogrow, innovateanddiversify.

Willexplains:“Ithasbeenan absolutepleasureworkingwith somanyofourdedicated, innovativeandsupportiverural businessesoverthecourseof mytimeonLEADER,and especiallytoseethemdevelop andgrow.Inowlookforwardto continuingtoprovide ruralbusinesssupport, creatingcollaborations andmaintainingthe relationshipswehave developedinmynew roleasRuralBusiness DevelopmentManagerat NgageSolutions.”

Businessesthatwantto stayabreastofthe supportonofferfrom ruralcapitalgrant schemes,includingthe RuralEnglandProsperity Fund,whichreplacesthe LEADERProgramme andRDPEGrowth Programme,shouldhead totheRuralNgage onlinebusinesshub. Alternatively,Willis availabletocontactvia emailatWilliam. Dallimore@ngagesolutions.co.uk orbycalling01494927167.

Inaddition,ruralbusinesses basedintheBuckingham constituencyofGregSmithMP areinvitedtoattendtheSpotlight onRuralBusinessesbriefing eventonJanuary13th.Thelatest intheseriesofMPBusiness Briefingshostedby BuckinghamshireBusinessFirst willtakeplaceatTheRealDrinks Co.inWaddesdon,abeneficiary ofLEADERfundingthemselves. Forfurtherdetails,pleasevisit: https://bbf.uk.com/event/ business-briefing-with-gregsmith-mp-spotlight-on-ruralbusinesses

HowToMakeTheMostOfSellingYourLand

Asdemandforlandis expectedtorise sharplythisSpring, RachelBagshaw, AssociateDirector& HeadofLand AgencySouthLakesatH&HLand &Estates,offerssellerssome essentialadvicetosecurethebest priceandaproblemfreesale.

Herearethetoptipsfromour teamhereareH&HLand& Estates:

1.Checkthelandyouareselling isregisteredandyouknow wherethetitledocumentsare. Ifthereisgoodevidenceof title,itispossibletoexchange andcompletewithouttheland beingregisteredinadvance, butitislikelytodelaythe processandcouldputbuyers off.

2.Gathertogetherinoneplace allrelevantpaperwork, includingservicerecords, certificates,andstewardship agreements,sotheseare availableforpurchaserson request.

watersupplyfromaspringor borehole,purchasersarelikely toseekreassuranceaboutthe quantityandqualityofthe supply.Domesticwatershould haveUVtreatmentandthe sourceofthewatershouldbe protectedfrom contamination.Iftheprivate watersupplyservesmultiple residentialdwellings,thenthe DistrictCouncilisresponsible forundertakingarisk assessmentandsamplingthe waterperiodically.Soagain,it isworthwhileaddressingany issuesinadvanceofmarketing theproperty.

"Withlandpricesexpectedto reachrecordlevelsthisyear, farmers,landowners,andinvestors willbelookingforopportunitiesto extendtheirexistingholdingsorto acquireanincreasinglysoughtafterinvestmentasset.Inthis market,sellersmightexpectplenty ofinterestandexcellentprices,but toensureasuccessfulandspeedy saleitiskeythatyouhaveallyour ducksinarow.

Ifyouhaven'tpreparedproperlyfor thesaleandyourpermissionsand paperworkarenotinorder,land andfarmsalescanbevery complicatedandprotracted.

Sellingafarmisnotlikesellinga house.Purchasersareless concernedwiththepresentationof thepropertyandmorewiththe qualityofthelandandfacilities. Theyaremuchmorelikelyto acceptitinitscurrentcondition,so undertakingrepairsand refurbishmentsinadvanceof puttingitonthemarketisnotso important.

However,tohelpgenerateoffers, andspeeduptheprocessfrom acceptinganoffertoexchange andcompletion,thereisplentyof homeworktobedonebefore marketingyourlandorfarm.

3.Ifthereareentitlementsandor stewardshipagreementswhich needtobetransferredtothe newownerpostcompletion, ensurethatyouoryouragent havethisinhandandagreein advanceofthelaunchtothe market,whowillmeetany costsassociatedwiththese.

4.Ensureseptictanksandoil anddieseltankscomplywith currentregulations.Thismay requirehavingasurvey undertakenandifremedial worksarerequired,either completethisyourselforobtain aquotesothepurchaser knowswhatitwillcostthemto putitright.

5.Checkthecorrectplanning permissionsareinplacefor anydevelopmentorchangeof usewhichhastakenplaceand thatanyconditionshaveorare beingmet.

6.Ifadevelopmentoractivityhas occurredwithoutplanning permission,considerapplying foraCertificateofLawfulUse. Seekprofessionaladviceif necessary.

7.Ifthepropertyhasaprivate

8.Ifpartofthefarmisoccupied byanotherparty,ensurethere isawrittenagreementinplace sothatthetermsoftheir occupationareclearto purchasers,ortakestepsto obtainvacantpossession

9.Resolveanyoutstanding disputes.Thesewillneedtobe disclosedtopurchasersinall instances.

10.Appointagoodsolicitor.Ifyou areunsurewhotogotoseek recommendationsfromyour landagent-agoodsolicitor canmaketheprocessmuch smoother.

Eveninabuoyantmarket,buyers canbeputoffbyproblemsand delays.Whenyoumakesureyou clearanypotentialobstaclestoa sale,yougiveyourselfthebest chanceofachievingasuccessful outcome,atthebestprice,as simplyandquicklyaspossible."

Withalargeportfolioofclients, H&HLand&Estatesisoneofthe leadingfirmsofindependentrural propertyadvisorsoperatingacross theNorthofEnglandandScottish Borders.Ifyouwouldliketo discussyouroptionsaroundselling yourfarmorland,youcancontact Rachelatrachel.

bagshaw@hhlandestates.co.ukor on01539721735.

Afterthemuchlaudedbatterystart-up Britishvoltcollapsedinto administration,NetZeroWatchhas reiterateditswarningthatthe Government’spolicyofgreen interventionismandNetZero dogmatismisarecipeforeconomicandpolitical disaster.

Describedasa‘gigafactory’,thecollapsedEV batteryfactorywasmeanttobeasymbolof levelling-upandwouldshowhowagreen “plannedeconomy”couldheraldanindustrial renaissance.

ThethenPrimeMinister,BorisJohnson,claimed lastyearthat“Britishvolt’splantobuildanew gigafactoryinNorthumberland[was]astrong testamenttotheUK’splaceatthehelmofthe globalgreenindustrialrevolution.”Thoseplans arenowinutterdisarray.

UKGovernmentministershadcommitted£100 milliontothebatteryproject,apparentlywithouta soundbusinessplan,becauseitalignedwith officialrhetoriconNetZero. ThecompanyblamedBritain’s“ballooningenergy costs”foritspredicament,anditsultimate collapse.

Inrecentmonths,BMWhasannounceditis movingmanufacturingoftheelectricMinifromthe UKtoChina,wheremanufacturingispoweredby cheapcoal.Othercarmakersplantoslashthe numberofelectricvehiclestheymanufacture becauserisingpricesandthespirallingcostof electricitymakesthemincreasinglyunaffordable fordrivers.

DrBennyPeiser,NetZeroWatch’sdirector,said:

“Thisfiascowasutterlyforeseeableandwas indeedforeseenbyusandotheranalysts—but notbycomplacentministersandincompetentcivil servants.BMW’sChinaexodusandBritishvolt’s collapsewon’tbethelastcasualtiesofthe government’sgreencommandandcontrol economy.”

Farmer-ledresearchraisesthebarattheOxford farmingconferences

Inflation,pests, disease,and unsupportivesupply chainswereamong theissuesraisedat alivelydebatethat raisedatoasttoBritishfarmingas theOxfordfarmingconferences kickedoff.

TheGreatBeerDebate withInnovativeFarmersheld yesterday(Wednesday4January) sawabeertastingwithapanelof hopgrowers,abreweranda maltsterwhodiscussedthe challengesandcreativitybehind thepints.

ChairedbyBBCFarmingToday's AnnaHill,theeventbrought togetherguestsfromboththe OxfordFarmingConference(OFC) andOxfordRealFarming Conference(ORFC).Panellists foundcommongroundwiththe audienceastheydiscussedhow farminnovationholdsmany solutions.

Speakingonthepanel,growerAli Capper,ofStocksFarm, Worcestershireborder,said:"In April2020thebeerwentdownthe draininpubsandinbreweriesdue toCovid–andthenithappened againatChristmas.Therewasno pointgrowingforanindustrythat wasn'tbrewing,sowecutbackour hopgrowingareaby25percent. Butthebrewersstillonlywanted halfofwhatwe'dgrown.Weneed changesacrossthesupplychain togivegrowerslong-term contractsandafairreturn.AndI wouldaskpeopletobemore mindfulabouttheproductsthey buy.Careabouttheprovenance, careaboutthequality,andsupport local."

TheeventalsocelebratedBritish producewithatastingthat includedbeersprovidedby panellistGregPilleyfromStroud Brewery,whoevenbroughta brand-newbeerfortheaudienceto sample.

Alongside Hutchinsons, representedon thepanelby Jonathan Blackman, Pilleyis involvedinan Innovative Farmersfield labtestinghop varietiesinabidtoidentifydisease resistanthops.Heislookingfor varietiesthatperformwellinzero input,organicconditions–andthat goontomaketastybeer.

HeechoedcommentsfromCapper whoemphasisedtheimportanceof researchandhopbreeding programmes.

Hesaid:"Thebiggestchallengeas anorganicbrewerisgettingthe varietyofhops,wedon'thave anywherenearasmanyas conventionalbrewershaveand that'sbecomingincreasinglymore difficultinawarmingclimate.We setupthisfieldlabbecausewe wantedtosecureoursupplyof hopsandseewhichonescould surviveintheUK."

RobinAppelfromhistoricmaltsters WarminsterMaltingshasbeen workingwithorganicbarley growerssince2002afternoticing thegapinthemaltingbarley market.

Heurgedfarmerstoreduce pressureoncropsbycuttinguseof chemicalfertiliserandemphasised theneedforshortersupplychains thatbettersupportfarmers. Allagreedthatfarmer-led innovationwaskey–and Hutchinson'sBlackmanshared insightsfromthefieldlabheis involvedinthatisusingpredatory mitestotacklespidermites. Thismethodhasbeensuccessful inapplesbuthasbeenmore challengingwithhopsasthewhole plantisremovedatharvest,also removingthepredators'habitat. ButBlackmanisalsolookingat

anotherfieldlabthatisgrowing covercropswithhopsoverwinter, toseeifthiscouldkeepthe predatorymiteswiththecropfrom oneyeartothenext.

Capper,whoisinvolvedwiththe covercropsfieldhopsfieldlab, added:"Tryingtogetfundingfor longterm,scientificfieldresearch isdifficultinthiscountry.But InnovativeFarmersisbrilliant-it's simple,quick,andaccessible. Fromwhatstartedwithfourfarms andabitofhelpfromInnovative Farmers,wenowhave50percent ofgrowersprotectingtheirsoils withcovercropsoverwinter,which isareallybigsuccessstory."

InnovativeFarmersManager RebeccaSwinnsaid:"Wewere delightedtobebackattheOxford conferenceswithourmuch-loved debate.Theeventwasagreat demonstrationofthepassion, expertise,andcreativityofBritish farmersthatwehaveseenin farmer-ledresearchtrialssincewe foundedInnovativeFarmersa decadeago.Itwasbrillianttoget togetherandcelebrateeverything thefarmingcommunitycontinues toachieveinchallenging circumstances."

Findoutmoreabouthowyoucan getinvolvedwithfurtherInnovative FarmerssessionsatOxfordReal FarmingConferenceby following@IFarmersonTwitter. Tofindoutmoreaboutfarmer-led researchwithInnovativeFarmers ortojointhenetworkforfree visitinnovativefarmers.org,where trialresultsaresharedopen source.

Timeisrunningouttoapply forthisyear'sSTEPSgrants

SevernTrentis issuingafinal applicationcall foritslatestround ofSTEPS funding,whichcloseson31 January.

Throughthescheme,farmers inprioritycatchmentscan applyforupto£30,000of matchfundingtoinvestin solutionsthatwillreduce waterpollutionandprotect theenvironment,while supportingfarmproductivity.

DrAlexCooke,principal catchmentscientistatSevern Trent,saysthecompanyhas identifiedthreekeyconcerns initsprioritycatchmentsand isurgingfarmerstopursue fundedoptionsthatprevent pesticides,nitratesor cryptosporidiumreaching watercourses.

"Foreligiblerecipients, fundinghasdoubledfrom £5,000upto£10,000across theboard.Butincatchments wherepesticidereductionisa priority,farmerscannow applyforupto£30,000for washdownanddisposal areas,andthereisalsoupto 75%fundingforwatercourse fencinginnitrate catchments,"saysDrCooke.

Sheaddsthatthematch fundingisavailabletoall typesoffarms,forawide rangeofinfrastructureand landmanagement improvements.

"Forexample,we'veseenthe grantsbeingputtowards

covercrops,pesticide biofilters,arablemarginsand equipmentforrainwater harvesting,"explainsDr Cooke.

"Wehopethatthisadded flexibilitywillencouragemore famerstoworkinclose collaborationwithusand applyforgrantsbeforethe cut-offdateof31January." Tofindoutmoreabout STEPSfunding,contactyour localSevernTrentagricultural adviserorvisit:www. STwater.com/STEPS

HowtoapplyforSTEPS:

1.Checkyou'reinapriority catchmenthere:www. stwater.co.uk/steps

2.Toincreaseyourchances ofasuccessful application,seekadvice fromyourlocalSevern Trentagriculturaladviser onwhatoptionswould bestsuityourfarmand makethegreatestpositive impactontheenvironment

3.Filloutyourapplication online:www.stwater. co.uk/steps

4.Makesureyour applicationisinby31 January2023,bearingin mindthatyouwillhave12 monthstocompletethe workafteryouhavebeen accepted

EnhancedSTEPSoffering–applicationsclose31January The2022/23STEPSoffering

providesfinancialsupportto producerswantingto enhanceproductivitywhile improvingwaterquality.The keychangesforthe2022 schemeinclude:

Pesticidepriority catchments

•50%fundingupto £20,000isavailableon sprayerwashdownareas, onthebasistheyarebuilt inundersixmonths,with anadditional25%funding available,upto£30,000. Thisoptionisfornew applicantsonly,however farmersalreadywitha sprayerwashdownarea, canapplyforfree rainwaterharvestingkit

Nitrateprioritycatchments

•Arablemarginsandcover croppaymentsarenow thesameasCountryside Stewardship

•50%fundingupto £10,000forinnovation optionssuchasdirect drillingcovercropsnow available

Cryptosporidiumpriority catchments

•Watercoursefencingis nowbeingofferedat75% ofthecost,andfull paymentisonofferfor 'complementaryitems' providingnewaccessto watere.g.drinkingtroughs

OSSAT-1,the firstimaging satellitetobebuilt byDragonfly Aerospace,has liftedofffromSpaceX’slaunch siteinCapeCanaveral, Floridaaspartofthe Transporter-6mission.

Thesatelliteisthefirstofa seven-satelliteconstellationin lowEarthorbitforcustomer EOSDA(EOSDataAnalytics). Theremainingsixsatellitesof theconstellationwillbe deployedoverthenextthree years.

EOSSATistheworld’sfirst agriculture-focusedsatellite constellationprovidingthe agricultureandforestry industrywithhigh-qualitydata tosupportefficientand sustainablepractices. Imagesobtainedfrom Dragonfly’sEOSSAT-1will delivervaluableinformationfor harvestmonitoring,application mapping,seasonalplanning andassessmentsthatanalyse informationsuchassoil

moisture,yieldpredictionand biomasslevels.Thisdatawill supportgrowerswithreducing carbondioxideemissionsand helpthemtodevelop sustainableagricultural methods.

Suchinformationwillhave importantenvironmental benefitsfortheplanetand helppreventnaturalhabitats frombeingdiminishedforcrop growthandmaintain biodiversity.

EquippedwithtwoDragonEye electro-opticalimagers,EOS SAT-1willprovide44km swathpanchromaticand multispectralimageryacross 11spectralbandsatcloseto 1mresolution–makingitone ofthemostcapableimaging satellitesinLEO.

BryanDean,CEOandCofounderofDragonfly Aerospace,said: “Thisisamomentous achievementforDragonfly Aerospaceandwearethrilled tohavedeliveredEOSSAT-1

toorbitwithanumberoffirsts –thefirstimagingsatellite designedandbuiltby Dragonfly,thefirst microsatellitetobe manufacturedinSouthAfrica since2009,thefirstsatellite oftheEOSSATconstellation andthefirstagri-focused constellationinspace.

“Thishasbeenanimportant projectforourwholeteamand hasallowedustodemonstrate ourcapabilities,notjustin producinghigh-performance electro-opticalimagers,butin designingandmanufacturing afullimagingsatellitesystem. It’sanamazingfeelingtosee EOSSAT-1leavethelaunch padandtakethenextstepin itsjourneytodeliveringcrucial datathatwillhaveimportant environmentalbenefitsforour planet.

“Welookforwardtosupporting EOSDAwithitsmissionto launchthenextsixsatellites by2025.”

Northumberlandagronomisttakesononeofthecountry’s toughestenduranceracesinsupportoffarmingcharity

ANorthumberland agronomististaking ononeofthe country’stoughest enduranceracesin supportofnational charityTheFarmingCommunity Network(FCN).

ChrisMcClymonthassethimself thegoalofcompletingThe MontaneSpineRace(15th–22ndJanuary)andwillberaising fundsforandawarenessofFCN -afterattendinga recentwellbeing trainingsessionfrom thecharityand learningmoreaboutits worksupporting farmersandfarming families.

TheMontaneSpine Race,anon-stop,268mileUKmountain marathon,takesplace eachJanuary,and attractscompetitors fromacrosstheglobe. Thismonth,over150 racerswilltacklethe iconicPennineWay, startinginEdalein Derbyshireand finishinginKirk Yetholminthe Scottishborders.

Atruetestofphysical andmentalresilience, theSpineRace,widelyregarded asoneofBritain'smostbrutal enduranceraces,isnowinits 11thyear,andentrantsare warnedtoexpect‘extreme weather,deepsnow,ice,mud, bogs,groundwater,stormforce windsanddrivingrain’duringthe 7-dayrace.

Fatherof2,Chris,whogrewup surroundedbythewildand beautifulNorthumberland countrysidenearMorpeth,isno strangertodemandingterrain andsportingachievements.Last year,hecycleda60-milelegof

the420-mile‘MulltoHull’ expeditionaspartofagroupof fundraisingfarming professionals.

Chrissaid:“Irecentlyattendeda trainingpresentationgivenbyan FCNteammember.She discussedboththeresilience shownbyfarmersduringdifficult timesandthestrongsupportfor themfromcharitieslikeFCN.I feltIcouldraisemoneyand highlightthisresilienceand

everydaywhocouldpotentially receiveconfidentialsupportfrom thecharity,whetherit’sa sympatheticearortheofferto ‘walkwith’anyoneseekinghelp. It’ssoimportant.”

Hisparticipationinsucha challengingeventcomesjusta weekafterasurveyofover500 farmersandagricultural professionals,carriedoutbythe FarmingHelpcharities(FCN, AddingtonFundandForageAid),

strengthbycompetinginoneof thetoughesteventsinthe country,whereI’llneedbothof thesequalitiesandmore.”

Chris,Secretary ofNorthumberlandArable Society,worksasanagronomist forAgrii,andhasbeenbasedat theirPontelandDepotfor13 years.

Headded:“Thedifferencethat FCNvolunteersmaketothe mentalwellbeingofpeoplein ruralcommunitiesisincredible.I comeintocontactwithpeople

inpreparationforLAMMA2023, revealedtheaspectsofUK agriculturetheyaremostproud of.

Theseincluderesilience, community,and‘thewayfarmers helpeachotherintimesofneed’, summedupperfectlybyhis efforts,whichwillbenefitfarming communitiesnationwide.

AlinktoChris’sJustGivingpage isavailableChrisMcClymontis fundraisingforTheFarming CommunityNetwork(justgiving. com)

Findingawaytofinancenature

Marketsforcarbon, biodiversityand otherenvironmental servicesarewidely expectedtogrowin thecomingyears. Butgiventheinfancyofsuch markets,thereisstilltremendous uncertaintyabouthowtheywill operate.Tohelpaddresssuch concerns,Ecosystems KnowledgeNetwork(EKN),a UK-wideindependentknowledge hub,isundertakingareviewto understandtheopportunitiesand challengesassociatedwith naturefinance.

Thereview,whichwillincludea surveyandconsultationandwill berepeatedannually,aimsto provideaUK-wideviewofthis areaofenterprise.Itisdesigned tohelpnatureprojectsandthose wishingtosupportthem.

Theterm‘naturefinance’ describestheemerging opportunitiesforthosewholook afterland,waterandnatureto attractnewsourcesofrevenue andinvestmentfromthese marketsandotherprivate sources,saysHenryCrabb, nature-basedfinancespecialist atEKN.

“Currently,wehavelittleideaof thegrowthofprojectsengagedin naturefinance,”heexplains.“In whatsomecallthe'wildwest', thereareclearlyopportunities, buttheirprocurementhasbeen unclearandprojectsareoften workinginisolationbeyond nationalgrantsupport.”

However,withmandatory requirementsfornutrient neutralityandbiodiversitynet gain,theoncemythical'stacking' ofsaleableecosystemservicesis nowattainable,saysMrCrabb. “Atleast70investmentreadiness [capacityofanenterpriseto understandandmeetthespecific needsandexpectationsof investors]projectsarealready underwayacrossEngland,with numerousotherselsewhere acrosstheUK.Theyareall lookingforwaystoharness opportunitiesforrevenueand investment.

“Theendeavourcoulddrivea thrivingnewdimensionofrural enterprise,deliveringonthe promiseofnature-bornetriplewinoutcomesforbusiness, communitiesandclimate.The problemisthat,atpresent,we havelittleideaofthegrowthof thesemarkets.”

Togainabetterunderstandingof thecurrentopportunitiesand challengestoproject development,EKNwillbe carryingoutacampaignfrom12 Januaryto10February.Its5-10 minutesurveywillcoverthe typesofrevenuestreamunder consideration,stepstowards investmentreadiness,andthe sortoforganisationsinvolved.

Itaimstoreviewthestateofthe naturefinanceprojectpipelinein theUK,andwillmonitor opportunitiesandchallengesto projectdevelopmentin subsequentreviews.

Itwillalsohelptounderstandthe avenuesthroughwhichprojects cansecureprivatefinanceto complementphilanthropicor publicrevenue.Inaddition,itwill evidenceannualprogressmade byprojectdeveloperstoaccess naturefinancetodeliversocial andenvironmentalobjectives.

Aswellasthesurvey,therewill beconsultationswithpublic, philanthropic,thirdandvoluntary sectorsandcommunity-based initiatives.

Areport,the2023Nature FinanceReview,willbe publishedinApril,bringing togetherthesurveyand consultationwork.

“Weneedtofigureoutthe challengesandgapsandhelp prospectiveandexistingprojects tounderstandtheopportunities,” saysMrCrabb.“Therehasbeen somuchuncertaintyconcerning theEnvironmentalLand Managementscheme.Some farmersarenotengaginguntil theyhaveclarity,butothersare actingandbenefitinginareaslike nutrientmitigation,biodiversity netgainandcarbonstorage.And wearereadytohelpchampion whattheyaredoing.”

Thesurveyandlinksareall availableonourwebsite,here: https://ecosystemsknowledge. net/groups/nature-based-financelearning-group/nature-financereview-2023/

IndustryCollaborationHighlights FarmAssurancetoYoungFarmers

oungfarmers lookingformore informationabout farmassuranceand howitcanbenefit futurebusiness performancecanseeksupport throughaseriesofnewvideos developedandproducedbySAI GlobalinassociationwithThe NationalFederationofYoung Farmers'Clubs(NFYFC).

Aseriesofsixvideos,supported byDefra,featureYFCmembers andyoungfarmerssharingthe benefitsofagri-foodassurance andthesupportavailable.

RobinLevin,SAIGlobal's AssuranceRelationshipManager UK&Ireland,said:"Thereare greatmanychallengesfacing youngfarmerstoday.Starting withastrongbaselineassurance canhelpfarmerstomanage manyofthesechallenges.

"Assuranceisaformofrisk assessment.FarmStandardsare designedtomitigaterisksothat foodissafeforconsumers.We

arepleasedtoshareournew videoswiththeNFYFCtohelp explaintheimportanceof differentaspectsofassurance andfarmstandards."

SAIGlobalisaleadingAgriFood AssuranceProvider,supporting farmersacrosstheUK. Assurancehelpsbusinesses meetretailrequirements,secure markets,andprotecttheirbrand. Thevideoresourceshares detailsaboutthefivepillarsof Agrifoodassurance,including:

1.Traceability 2.Animalwelfare

3.Foodhygieneandfood quality

4.Environment 5.Workerwelfareandhealth andsafety

Theaimoftheresourceisto encourageyoungfarmersto understandtheimportanceof businessandenvironmental skillsaspartofthefuturefarm business.

YFCAGRIChairCharlotte Garbutt,fromLincolnshire FederationofYoungFarmers' Clubs,said:

"Thisvideoresourcewillhelp youngfarmersunderstandthe importanceoffarmassurance schemeswhenrunningafarming business.Ithelpsfarmerskeep tothestandardssetbythe governmentandprovidesthe necessarypaperworkweneedto bemoreefficient.

"Thissupportisusefulasyoung farmersadapttothenew environmentallandmanagement schemes.We'repleasedwiththe resultofthiscollaborativeproject providinganewresourcetohelp YFCmembersimprovetheir businessandenvironmental skills."

Thevideoresourceis availablethroughtheNFYFC websiteandonitsYouTube channel.

MAKITARELEASESITSLARGEST COOLER&WARMERBOX

Nomatterthe season,thenew MakitaCooler& WarmerBox CW002Gishere tomakelifeeasier.Suitable forbothworkandleisure,this productisgreatadditionto professionals’XGTorLXT cordlesscollection.

Keepfoodanddrinksatthe perfecttemperaturewith Makita’slargestCooler& WarmerBoxyet,the50-litre CW002G.Thishandy producthastwobatteryports

foreither40VXGTor18V LXTbatteries,providinglong runtimes.Alternatively,itcan bepoweredviaanin-vehicle 12v/24vDCpowersupply, orviamainspowersupply witha240vACadaptor.

Moreover,itbenefitsfroma totalof14insidetemperature settings,rangingfrom-18oC to60oC.Inmoredetail,when pairedwith2x5.0AhXGT batteries,thisunitcan operateforupto10hoursat -18oC,24.5hoursat5oC (normalfridgetemperature),

and6hoursat60oC (runtimesshownarebased ontheboxbeingpre-cooled –runtimeswillbereducedif coolingfromroom temperature.)

Thisisahighlyconvenient productwithalarge50-litre capacityofstoragespace, tallenoughfor2-litremilk cartons.Specifically,the internaldimensionsare867L x465Wx476Hmm.

DurablewithanIPX4rating, theCW002Gfeatureslarge

100mmwheelsand apullhandlefor convenienttransport, andsidegripsfor easylifting.Lastbut notleast,itisfitted withaconvenient LEDdisplayto provideuserswith temperatureand batterylevelsand easilychange settingsatthetouch ofabutton.

Speakingonthenew release,Kevin Brannigan, MarketingManager atMakitaUK commented:“We’re excitedtobe releasingthenew CW002GCooler& WarmerBox,which willbenefitour customersduring workorleisure.The powerful,cordless solutionisasdurable

asitisfunctionaland canrunforuptoa fulldayandnight.It alsocomeswitha newkeyfeature–a drainageplugthat allowstheuserto easilyremove meltedice.Whether atthepark,fishing, camping,oronthe jobsite,thisboxis excellentatensuring thatfoodanddrinks stayatthedesired temperature regardlessofthe season.”

Formore information,visit: https://makitauk. com/

Varieddrillingdatescouldaddtoregionaldiseaserisks

Thisseason’smixed bagofwinterwheat drillingdatescould addextrapressure totheUK’snormal regionaldisease risksin2023.

Thatisthemessagefrom Syngentaregionaltechnical manager,JoeBagshaw.

firsthalfofSeptember;tomuch laterinEasternregionswherethe summerdroughtpersistedfor longerandcropswereoftennot planteduntilNovember.

Comespring,thiscouldcreatea ‘doublewhammy’effectasthe legacyofthesedrillingdates combineswiththeusualdisease risksexperiencedinthese regions,hesuggests.

Factorstoconsiderinplanninganeffective T1fungicidestrategywillincludestrongactivity againstrust,goodpreventativeactivityagainst Septoriatritici,andlong-lastingprotection, saysJoeBagshaw

Hesaysdrillingdateshavevaried widelythisseason–fromvery earlyintheNorthandWest wheresoilmoisturelevelswere sufficientfordrillingtostartinthe

“Weknowthatearly drillingincreasesrisks fromthekeywet weatherdisease, Septoriatritici,”says MrBagshaw.“And manyofthisseason’s earlier-drilledcrops wereinwetterregions, suchastheNorthand West,wherethe pressurefrom Septoriatriticiis alreadytraditionally high.

“Similarly,weknow whenwinterwheatis plantedlater,smaller plantstendtobehit harderbyyellowrust.Andthis season’slater-drilledcropstend tobeinthedrierEastofthe country,whichistraditionallya yellowrust-proneregion.

“Clearly,theweatherinspringwill alsoaffecthowdiseasesdevelop, buttheseeffectsofdrillingdate shouldnotbeoverlooked.TheT1 fungicide,whichistypically appliedinAprilandwhichbegins theprocessofprotectingthefirst ofthetopthreeyield-building leaves,willbepivotalforkeeping diseasesatbay.Factorsto considerwhenplanningan effectiveT1fungicidestrategywill includestrongactivityagainst rust,goodpreventativeactivity againstSeptoriatritici,andlonglastingprotection.Anappropriate doseoftheSDHIfungicideElatus EraatT1canmeetthese criteria,”headds.

WhereSeptoriatriticiisa concern,MrBagshawsays inclusionofamulti-sitefungicide intheprogrammewillalsobe importanttomanageresistant strains.

“Preventionisbetterthancure:it isgenerallymucheasierand morecost-effectivetominimise diseaseestablishinginthefirst placeratherthantryingtogeton topofitonceit’sbuiltup.Itwillbe importanttoremainvigilantand usethecorrectfungicidestrategy.

“Wintercoldsnaps,suchasthose wehadinDecember, willsuppressyellow rustandother diseases,butwillnot removetherisk completely,”Mr Bagshawconcludes. RustinCrop

Later-drilledwinter wheatcropscould behitharderby yellowrustinrustpronepartsofthe country,says Syngentaregional technicalmanager JoeBagshaw

BIOSTIMULANTBRANDSEEKSPARTNERSHIP WITHREGENERATIVEFARMERS

Aseaweed-based biostimulantbrand informationis lookingtoworkwith regenerative farmersfollowinga waveofinterestfromthesector atthestartoftheyear.

MarcusPalmer,theUKimporter anddistributorofAlgifol,wantsto establishfieldtrialswith regenerativefarmersin2023.

Themovefollowsarisein enquiriesfromfarmerssaying theywanttoapplybiostimulants aspartoftheirregenerative techniques.

"Wehadseveralphonecallsand emailsinJanuaryfromfarmers wantingfurtherinformationabout Algifolanditsbenefitsaspartofa sustainableapproachto agriculture,"saysMarcus."Algifol isproducedbyNeomedPharma inGermany,andtheyhave undertakenaconsiderable amountofresearcharoundthe worldtodocumentitspositive effectonawiderangeofcrops. Oneareatheyareyettolookinto isregenerativefarmingwithinthe UK,sowedecidedtotakethis on.

"We'dliketohearfrom regenerativefarmerswhoare willingtoapplyAlgifoltotheir cropsandworkwithustogauge itseffect.Wewillsupplythe Algifoltheyneedfreeofcharge, sothere'snothingtolose."

Algifolisderivedfrombrown algae,whichisdriedandrefined. Theresultisanentirelynatural liquidboastingawealthoftrace elements,vitamins,enzymes, aminoacids,carbohydrates, polyuronidesandgrowthregulatingplanthormones.

NeomedPharmasaysAlgifolis alsoanaturalnitrogensource duetothehighpresenceof

aminoacidsandpeptides.This makesAlgifolidealforcombined usewithreducedamountsofN fertiliser.Whenusedwitha reducedamountoffertiliser, Algifolnaturallyimprovesthe nitrogenuseefficiencyofthe crop,producingabetteryieldand reducingtheuseofcostly fertilisers.

SalesofAlgifolincreasedby33% in2022,fuelledpartlybythe risingcostoffertilisersandpartly byagrowingnumberoffarmers lookingfornaturalwaystoboost theircrops'resistancetoextreme weatherconditionsandincrease

yieldandquality.

Algifolisavailableinonelitre (£21.99+VAT)and10-litrecans directlyfromMarcusviahis website–www.mjpsupplies. co.uk.Discountsareavailablefor largerquantitieswhichcanbe suppliedtobothgrowersand agrochemicalcompaniesfor inclusionintheirfertiliserand biostimulantblends.

Regenerativefarmersinterested inpartneringwithMarcusshould emailmarcus@mjpsupplies. co.ukorcall07702293727.

POTENTIALFORLODGINGHIGHTHISSPRING

Implementingan effectivePGR programmethis springwillbe moreimportant thanever,saysleadingoffpatentmanufacturers,Life Scientific.

Summerandautumn2022 sawsustainedperiodsofdry weatherwithpondsandrivers dryingupacrossthecountry. Insomeplacescultivations weredelayedwaitingfor moisture,butgenerallymany cropsweredrilledearlyinto relativelydryseedbeds.Since then,Januaryhasseenhigh levelsofrainfall,withmany cropsinstandingwater.

“Theseconditionssetthe sceneforahighriskof

lodgingthiscomingspring,” saysRuthStanleyLife ScientificUKandIEcountry manager

“Earlydrillingincreasesstem lodgingriskasstrawstrength iscompromised,whilstan additionalconsequenceofthe dryweatheristhatmanycrops havebeenleftwithpoorly developedrootsystems increasingtheriskfromroot lodging.”

“Ifitdriesupagaininthe springasithasdoneinthe lastseveralyears,apoorly rootedplantwon’tyield, particularlyonlighterland types.”

Therearetwoformsoflodging eachcausingcombiningand drying difficulties, reductionin yields,and quality issues.Stem lodging occurswhen thestem breaksasitis notstrong enoughto supportthe plant,whilst rootlodging occurswhen theplant’s rootsystemis notableto anchorit sufficientlyin theground. “Lodgingrisk increases withfactors suchasearly drillinganda highplant population. Howeverthe riskfromroot

lodgingincreaseswherethere isaninsufficientlydeveloped rootsysteminsoilsthatare rich,fertileandwellcultivated, particularlythosewithhigh organicmatterorlowclay content-andtherearemany cropsacrosstheUKthatarein thissituation,”shesays. “Varietiesalsohavedifferent resistancestolodging,this comesdowntodifferencesin height,tilleringcapacity,stem strengthandspeedof establishment.Varietieswitha scoreof7orlessontheAHDB RecommendedListshouldbe consideredatriskoflodging andneedtobemanaged carefully.”

ArobustPGRprogrammewill helpprotectagainstbothroot andstemlodgingandMrs Stanleysuggeststhat trinexapac,akeyactiveinthe PGRarmourywhichisless temperaturedependentthan chlormequatcanplayakey roleinaneffectivePGR programme.

“Trinestarcontains250g/l trinexapacethylandisaPGR registeredforuseonall varietiesofwinterandspring wheat,barley,oats,rye, triticaleandryegrassseed crops.”

“Trinestarcanbeapplied betweengrowthstages30–39inwintercerealsanditsuse early(GS30),canhelproot developmentandrootplate diameter,whichcouldbe criticalthisyear,”shepoints out.

“Itworksbydirectlyaffecting giberellinbiosynthesisin cereals,whichcanresultin strongerstems,shorter internodesand,importantlyfor thisyear,itsusecanleadto anincreaseinrootgrowth.”

PANEL

CosteffectivePGR

Manufacturedbyoff-patent manufacturersLifeScientific, Trinestarisareverse engineeredformulationofits referenceproductModdus. Trinestariscommercially availablethroughdistribution partners,ProCamand Hutchinsons.

LifeScientificisabletooffer off-patentproductsto agronomistsandgrowers fasterbasedonthecompany’s uniquescientificconceptto reverseengineeraproduct fromtheoriginaltoproducea productacceptedasthesame bytheregulatoryauthority.

“Trinestarisacost-effective cropmanagementtoolwhich protectsandenhancesyield potential,andcomestomarket atatimewhengrowersare underpressuretoscrutinise inputcostswhilstnot compromisingyields.”says MrsStanley.

“Trinestarjoinsalonglistof productsthathaverecently beenbroughttomarketfrom LifeScientificsuchasthefirst off-patentprothioconazoleand tebuconazolemixturesOraso Pro,Eskerandfungicide Aurelia,”sheadds.

“TheLifeScientificteamhas alsobeenparticularly successfulatregistering EAMU’sforitsproductssuch

Moreinformationonanyof theseproductscanbe downloadedathttps://uk. lifescientific.com/#products

Formoreinformationon Trinestaroranyotherproducts intheLifeScientificportfolio pleasevisittheLifeScientific websitehttps://lifescientific. com/products/

Productivetreespecieshaveinvaluablerole inimprovingUK’swoodlandbiodiversity urgesConfederationofForestIndustries

Forestryandwood tradebody,Confor (Confederationof ForestIndustries), hascalledfora newapproachtoproductive plantinginrelationto improvingtheUK’swoodland biodiversity.Intheirrecent meetingwiththegovernment’s ForestryCommissionChief Executive,RichardStanford, Conforstressedthatthe businessofproductiveforestry

intheUKhasaninvaluable roletoplayinincreasingand protectingbiodiversity–both domesticallyandglobally.

Whileitisnowrecognisedthat productiveafforestationand reforestationeffortsarecrucial tohelpmeettheUK’sclimate targets-theyarebelievedto betheonlyscalable“negative emissions”strategy”-the additionalbenefitsfor biodiversityandwildlifehave

largelybeenoverlookedor dismissed.

Themeritsofnativetree speciesversusnon-nativeor so-called“exotic”treeshas cometodominatemuchofthe debatearoundproductive forestryandbiodiversityinthe UK.Conforiskeentoaddress theimportanceofproductive forestryandwoodproduction insupportingbiodiversity,its roleinreversingbiodiversity

loss,aswellasdispelling mythsthatsurround productiveforestry’sabilityto contributetobiodiversity improvement.

AreportbyConforpresents evidencethatconiferous speciesoftreeslikeSitka spruceandDouglaspine, whichareplantedfor productiveforestry,canbean importantcomponentof conservationmanagementin awiderangeofwoodland types.Well-managedconifer forestswithplentyoflightand structureprovidehabitatsfor awiderangeofmammals suchaspinemartensandred squirrels,raptorsandother birds,bats,reptiles,insects, mosses,lichensandfungi.At thelastcount,Scottish coniferforestswerehometo 42speciesonthe InternationalUnionfor ConservationofNature (IUCN)threatenedanimal RedList.

Importantly,conifersalsoplay apivotalroleinprotecting nativebroadleaftreesby reducingthepressureto harvestthem.

Overrecentdecades,the declineinbroadleafwoodland managementislargely responsibleforthe deteriorationinitsvalueasa habitat.Soilshavedegraded tomakethemlessfertile,less healthy,andlessableto storecarbon.Butconifers thriveonthisthinsoilandare proventogrowbetterthan theirbroadleavedcousins, makingtheplantingconifers oneofthebestmethodsfor improvingsoilquality.

Thereportarguesthata significantshiftinthinkingis requiredtoendthedebate thatonlynativebroadleaftree speciescanbenefit biodiversity–withthekey

beinganappreciationofhow modern-daysustainable forestrymanagementcan deliverrapidandsignificant improvementsinhabitat quality.

“Toomanydiscussions aroundthefutureofUK woodlandshavepittednative broadleafspeciesagainst productivespeciesas competingalternatives”,said StuartGoodall,CEO,Confor. “Weneedaproperly balanced,progressiveand ecologicallyconsidered forestrysolutionwhich protectsandimprovesthe UK’sbiodiversityandmeets thecountry’sneedforwood production.Itshouldno longerbeacaseof “broadleaftreesgood”and “productivespeciesbad”.

Duetotheclimate emergency,Conforhas previouslycalledfora50-50 splitbetweenbroadleafand coniferplanting-estimating thatif18,000hectareswere plantedeveryyear,by2030 thesetreeswouldsequester 2.04MtCO2e,ofwhichover 1.7MtCO2estoredby conifersalone.Suchan equitablespeciessplitwould alsodeliverthebenefitsa morediversifiedmixof productiveandbroadleaf trees,includingimproving andprotectingbiodiversity andwildlifehabitats.

Otherconsiderations:

•Currentafforestationin theUKisafractionof whatitwasafewdecades ago.TheUKnowonlyhas 13%forestcover comparedwithalmost 40%incontinental Europe.Withfew remainingsemi-natural woodsornativetree speciessuitableforlargescalewoodproduction,

theUKreliesonplanted forestsofprimarilynonnativespeciestosupply itstimberrequirements.

•Conforhaswarnedthat theUKfacesdeclining suppliesofhomegrown woodinthenearfuture duetolackofproductive treeplanting.Currently theUKonlygrowsaround 20%ofitswood requirement,leavingit exposedtoavery significantbalance(~80%) needingtobeimported fromtheUS,Sweden, Norwayandother countries.TheUKisthe world’ssecondlargest importerofwood, importing£7.5billion annually.

•TheConservative governmentledbyBoris Johnsonpledgedtoplant 30,000hectares(75,000 acres)ofnewwoodland everyyearby2024,but officialstatisticsrecently releasedshowlessthan 14,000hectareswere plantedintheyearto March31st,2022.

•Plantedproductiveforests accountforaround7%of theworld’sforestcover butcontribute46%ofthe woodweusefor constructionand manufacturing.

•Productiveforestsdeliver awiderangeofnatural capitalbenefitsbesides woodandcarboncapture, includingreductioninair pollutionandopportunities forrecreationwhich benefitphysicaland mentalhealth.Every£1 privateprofitgenerated throughthemanagement offorestsfortimber delivers£18public benefit.

ForestryCommissionliftsPhytophthora pluvialisrestrictionsontimberindustry

Restrictionsonthe fellingandmovement oftimberinsix demarcatedareasin Englandimpactedby thetree diseasePhytophthorapluvialiswill belifted,theForestryCommission announcedtoday.

TheUKChiefPlantHealthOfficer NicolaSpencehasconfirmedthe changesfollowingupdated researchwhichshowsthattherisk ofthediseasespreadingviathe movementoftimberandwood materialsintowidersitesislow.A PestRiskAnalysis(PRA)hasbeen carriedoutandupdatedfollowing consultationsandlatestresearch findings.

Phytophthorapluvialisisafunguslikepathogenknowntoaffecta varietyoftreespecies,including westernhemlock,Douglasfir, tanoakandseveralpinespecies(in particularradiatapine).Itis reportedtocauseneedlecast (whereneedlesturnbrownandfall off),shootdieback,andlesionson thestem,branches,androots.

CurrentrestrictionsinEnglandon theaffectedsitesinCornwall& Devon,Cumbria,Herefordshire, Surrey,Gloucestershire,and Shropshirerestrictthefellingand movementofsusceptibletimber andwoodmaterials(wood,bark andtrees),aswellasplantsfor planting,whichoriginatewithinthe demarcatedareas.Thenew demarcatedareanoticeswillno longerrestrictthefellingand movementofsusceptibletimber andwoodmaterialbutwillcontinue torestrictthemovementofplants forplanting.

Wecontinuetoresearchand monitorthelevelofriskand likelihoodofentryofthedisease intothewiderenvironmentandwill keepthereviseddemarcatedarea restrictionsunderreview.This revisedapproachwilltheforestry sectorreturntomoretypical operatingconditionswithinthe

demarcatedareas.Authorisation throughyourlocalAPHAinspector isstillrequiredforanymovement ofplantsforplantingwithinthe demarcatedarea.Additionally, susceptiblematerialfromknown infectedsiteswithinthe demarcatedareascontinuestobe restrictedandcanonlybereceived byauthorisedbusinesses,more detailscanbefoundonGOV.UK.

UKChiefPlantHealthOfficer NicolaSpencesaid:

"FollowingfindingsofPhytophthora Pluvialis,swift,robustand precautionaryactionwastakenat theaffectedsitestolimitthespread ofthispotentiallyharmfulpathogen intowiderareas.Someofthese restrictionsarenowbeinglifted,in linewiththelatestsciencewhich showstheriskofthedisease spreadingviatimbermovement pathwaysislow.Weareconfident thatthismovestrikestheright balancebetweenstringent biosecurityandsupportingforestry sectortrade.

"Iurgeallsectorstocontinuetobe vigilantforsignsofPhytophthora pluvialisbycheckingthehealthof westernhemlockandDouglas-fir trees.Keysymptomstolookoutfor arelesionsonthestem,branchor roots.Anysightingsshouldbe reportedtotheForestry CommissionviaitsTreeAlertonline portal."

ForestryCommission'sPlant HealthForestry'sOperations ManagerAndyHallsaid:

"Basedoncurrentresearchwhich showstheriskofP. pluvialisspreadingviatimber movementpathwaysislow,we haverevokedsomerestrictionsin thedemarcatedareasinCornwall &Devon,Cumbria,Herefordshire, Surrey,Gloucestershire,and Shropshire.

"Anymaterialfromuninfectedsites willnolongerhaverestrictionson movementandprocessingand

doesnothavetobeinspectedand movedtoauthorisedprocessors only.Restrictionsdohowever remaininplaceonmovementof plantsforplantingandmaterials arisingfrominfectedsiteswithin theseareas.

"Researchandmonitoringofthe levelofriskandlikelihoodofentry ofthediseaseintothewider environmentcontinuesandwewill keepthedemarcatedarea approachunderreview."

PhytophthoraPluvialiswasfirst identifiedinGreatBritaininAugust 2021onastandofwestern hemlockinCornwall.Following furtherfindings,fourteen demarcatedareashavebeen implementedaroundoutbreaksites acrossGreatBritain,withsixin England.Correspondingplant healthrequirementsrestrictingthe fellingandmovementof susceptibletimberandwood materials(wood,barkandtrees), aswellasplantsforplanting,were basedonthepathogen'sbehaviour observedinothercountries. ForestryCommission,Forest ResearchandtheAnimalandPlant HealthAgencyhaveconducted furthersurveillanceanddiagnostic analysistounderstandmoreabout thepathogenandensurethatany requiredcontrolmeasureswere swiftlyundertakentostopits spread.Thisincludedextensive groundandaerialsurveillanceas partofaUK-widesurvey,and comprehensiveresearchand modellingtoexplorefactorssuch asclimaticandpotentialspecies susceptibilitytoinformthe managementresponse.

Ourwell-establishedbiosecurity protocolfortreepestsand diseasesisunderconstantreview toensureourpolicyapproaches areappropriatetothelevelofrisk. Thisapproachwillcontinuebased onfurtherresearchandcontinued monitoringofthepathogen.

Treetrimmersbranchoutwithnewsoftware

Thecountry’slargest electricitydistribution companyisinvesting £24millionayear androllingoutnew software,tohelpcut backtreesandpreventpowercuts.

UKPowerNetworkswillinvestthe sumoverthenextthreeyearsto maketheelectricitynetworkmore resilientsoitseightmillion customerswillhaveevenfewer powercuts-thankstoanewdata analysissystemcalled‘TRIM’.

ThenewTreeRiskInvestment Model,wasinventedbyamember

ofstaffandtriedoutlastyearwith greatsuccess.Theinnovative softwarecanproduceaprioritylist ofwheretocuttreessotheydon’t comeintocontactwithpowerlines, afteranalysingthenumberof historicpowercuts,howmany propertiesareconnectedtothat circuit,andhowmanyspansof cablesthereareinthearea.

Theprioritisedlist,basedonreallifedata,helpstreecuttersworkin themosteffectiveway.The successofthemethod,usedfirst asapilotintheSouthEastand thenintheEastofEngland,has ledtothecompanyinvesting£24

millionayearoverthenextthree yearstohelpreducethenumberof powerlinesdamagedbytreesand branches,particularlyduring storms.

CommercialmanagerMike Leicesterusedtoworkasatree clearancecontractorforUK PowerNetworksuntilhe joinedthecompanyfulltime. Hesaidhespenthisspare timedevelopingthemodelso thateverythingcouldbeseen ononescreen:“Themain ideawastoprovidethe businessuserwithaneasyto use,fastresponse,onepage dashboardsolution.Iam delightedithasworkedand thecompanyisnowgoingto makeitmoreautomated.”

Powersuppliesare99% reliable,partlythankstothe continualtreecutting programmewiththecompany workingcloselywith landowners,andstaying mindfuloftheenvironmental impactandbirdsnesting.

TreemanagerBillBlackburn said:“Thisisarealpositive stepforward.Wecanmake data-baseddecisionson whenandwheretotargettree cutting.Itwillstarttomakea differencetocustomers, helpingpreventinterruptions topowercausedbyadverse weatherlikestorms.”

SamSmithfromcontractors TreeSmithsLtd,said:“We havefoundthistobeareally positivestepforwardin minimisingfaultsandassuch, reducingpowercuts. Withthenewdatatoolinuse wearenowbeingsteeredto thehighpriorityfeedersand circuits.UKPowerNetworks cannowdefineexactlywhicharea isapriority,ensuringourresources arebeingutilisedtomaximum efficiency.Wehavenodoubtthisis areallygreattooltobeusingto pinpointtheareasinneedof vegetationclearancewithhigh volumesofcustomersbeforethey becomeanissue."

ForestryOperationsWithoutFear

Theimportanceof havingyourP'sin placepriortostarting yourforestrywork.

Whenitcomesto undertakingforestryoperationsina previouslyunmanagedwoodland, manylandownersunderstandably feartheconsequencesofgettingit wrong.Thekeytogettingitright,

suggests H&HLand& EstatesEnvironmental& WoodlandAdvisor,WillLivesey, isinthepreparation,permissions, andpickingtherightcontractor.

Whateverthescaleandnatureof forestryoperationsyouare considering,fromsingletreefelling andextractionthroughtowholescaleclear-fellingandrestocking,it goeswithoutsaying thattheappropriate permissionsandor licensesmustbein placebeforeanyworks takeplace.From January1thisyearthe penaltiesforfailingto gettheright permissionhaverisen significantly.Illegal fellinginEnglandcan nowbepunishedwith unlimitedfinesand potentialcustodial sentences,replacing theForestryAct1967 penaltyof£2,500,or twicethevalueofthe

felledtimber.

Manyarealsowaryofthepotential costsofsignificantgroundimpact andenvironmentaldegradation whichcanoccurfrompoorly undertakenforestryoperations.

Assessingthisriskaccuratelyisa keypartofplanning,whichplays animportantpartindetermining thescaleofyouroperationand howyouapproachit.Forexample, isitmoreeffectivetoundertakea singleclearfell,generatingan operatingsurplustohelpcover remedialworksfollowingthe operation?Orconducttwosmaller operationswithsmallerequipment andassociatedhigheroperating costs,butalowerpotentialfor groundimpact?

Onceyou'veidentifiedthe appropriatescaleoftheoperation, andhavethenecessary permissionsinplace,itistimeto startlookingforcontractors.

Yourchoicerangesfromthehighly productive,largerscalecontractors

suchasEuroforestLtd,throughto amyriadof'oneman'bands.In betweentheseextremesyou'llfind operatorsofeverysizewithevery conceivablesizeandtypeof equipment,includingsmalland largetractorsandtrailers,purpose builtmini-forwarders,andeven specialisthorse-loggers.

Searchingonlinemightleadyouto theindividualorteamyouneed, andsomehaveapresenceon socialmedia,howevermanygood contractorsgainmostoftheir businessfromthe recommendationsofprevious customers.Asimplewaytofinda goodcontractoristohavealookat aneighbour'swoodlandornearby forestryoperations.

Anycontractoryouconsidermust holdthemanycertificatesand competenciesrequiredforforestry operations,rangingfromtheinitial CS30//31(Chainsawmaintenance, crosscuttingandfellingofsmall trees-upto380mm,alsoknownas 003920/003921),allthewayto FMOC(ForestMachineOperators Certificate)forHarvesters/ Forwarders.

Theymustalsobeableto demonstratethatadequate insurancesareinplace,andthat coveriscompliantwithcurrent legislation.Recentchangesinthe rules,meanthatitisnolonger acceptabletohaveseveral chainsawoperatorsina contractor'steam,allundertheir ownindividualinsurances.There mustbeadesignated'employer', whoholdsemployers'liabilityfor thewholegroup.Asarule,Iwould recommendaminimum£5mPublic Liabilitycoverinareasoflowpublic accessandpotentialfordamageto property,risingto£10m+fortree surgeryoperationsinproximityto buildingswithahigherriskof damagetopeopleandproperty.

Onceacontractorhasbeen identified,thenextdiscussionison pricing,availabilityandtiming.

Pricingtendstobeoneithera'dayrate',orpricepertonne,andboth havepositiveandnegativepoints. Asarule,thelargerthe contractor'soperation,themore likelytheyaretoworkonaprice pertonnerate.Weighbridge ticketsaregenerallyusedto

calculateatonnagerate,though someharvestingmachinerycan recordmeterscubed(m3) harvested,whichshouldgivean accurateindicationofhowthe operationisgoing.

Timingofforestryoperationsis oftenthemainpointofcontention, asthereisagreaterpotentialfor significantgrounddisturbanceif undertakenwithoutproper forethought.Itispossibletofell

Onceyouhaveagreeda reasonablepricefortheworksand planneddateforyourforestry,the laststepistoplanwhattodoupon completionofthejobandwhatto doifeverythinggoessideways!A goodemergencyplan,coveringall thebasesfrommajorincidents throughtoalternativeroutesin adverseweather,canprovethe differencebetweenasuccessful outcomeoracostlyfailure.

treesallyearround,fromaforestry perspective,butrequirementssuch asnestingbirds,ecologicalchecks andcompliancewithBPSand Stewardshipschemesmayimpose restrictions.

Someoperations,suchasthe selectivefellingofAsh,Beechand Sycamoreforhighqualitylogscan onlytakeplacebetweenDecember andFebruarywhenthereis minimalsapinthetree,whichcan leadtostaining.Otheroperations, orwherethetimber'saesthetic qualityisn'tthehighestprioritycan takeplacethroughouttheyear.

Relationshipsarekey,sodomake sureyoubuilduponasuccessful relationship.Ifthecontractorworks wellanddoesadecentjob,plan theminforfutureworks.Itisoften agreathelpforyouandthe contractorsiftheycanschedule yourworkmonthsorevenyearsin advance.Ihaveoftenfoundthata day'swanderthroughthewoods withthecontractorandagentcan leadtoalongandprofitable relationshipforallparties,thatisa relationshipwithouttheanxieties anduncertaintiesoutlined."

GROWERSSHOULDTAKEUPAHDBCHALLENGETOSHAPE FUTURERECOMMENDEDLISTS,SAYSLEADINGBREEDER

PlantbreederBill Angusisurging growerstotakeup therecentinvitation byAHDBto contributetohow futureRecommendedListsare shapedandtomakethemfitfor purposegoingforwards.

"Inrecentyears,manywould acceptthattheRecommendedList systemhasnotkeptupwithnewer farmingregimesandhaslostits way.

"Yetthe RecommendedList playsakeyrolein varietyselectionfor themajorityofgrowers andtheiragronomists –aswellastheseed tradeservicingthem.

"AllcredittotheAHDB forinvitingresponses –soeveryone involvedshouldadd theirvoicetothe debate.Atthecentre ofthedebatewillbe therelevanceofthe datasetsandhowthey areinterpretedtomeet ourfutureneeds.

"Ibelieveweneedto seemoreandbetter data-andthatmust meanmorefield, variety,andagronomy orientatedstaff.That wouldgeneratebetter datatoworkon,and thereforereducethe needforstatisticians totrytoresolveissues fromimperfector insufficientdata."

BillAngussetsoutsomeareas growerscouldconsider, examplesare:

•Theroleofprophylactic (currentsystem)fungicide

regimestotargeted approaches.

•Moreregionaldata,backedup withsoliddata,

•Betterfirstandsecondwheat discriminatorytrials

•Deeperinsightsintothequality parametersexhibitedbynew varieties.

Moregeneral,butequally importantpointsare:

•Itmustalsobeaprioritytolook atIncreaseddiseasestandards toprotectgrowersaswelose chemistry.

•Andabetterunderstandingof howwecanoptimisethe strategicuseofgenetic diversity,andtolookfurther downthelineatwhat opportunitiesvarietymixtures andhybridscouldbring.

"AHDBrecognisethattheyneed helptomoveforward.Iwouldurge

•Breedershavea'treasure trove'ofgeneticsthatneedto beharnessedandputtowork. However,thehistoricalstraight jacketapproachby concentratingonyieldprovides noincentivesforbreedersto produceanythingdifferent.

growerstotakethisopportunityto expresstheiropinions-nomatter howcontroversial.Ifyoudonot takeupthechallenge,youwillnot gettheRecommendedListsyou wantanddeserve–onesthatwill meettheneedsofthefuture,"Bill Angusadds.

Naturalgaspriceseasetopre-warlevels:Grainmarketdaily

Naturalgasprices easetopre-war levels

UKnaturalgasprices havebeensteadily decliningsincetheirpeakatthe endofAugust.Overthelastmonth, priceshavefallensharplybut remainvolatileandreactiveto newssurroundingthewarin Ukraine.

Generally,pricesoverthelastfew weekshavebeenpressuredby recentwarmerweathertrimming somedemand,strongalternative sourcesofenergy,andincreased EUgasstorage.Yesterday,nearby ICEUKnaturalgasfuturesclosed at136.76pence/therm,down 151.66pence/therm(53%)from thispointlastmonth(16Dec) whenpriceswereelevateddueto colderweather.

AtthebeginningofJanuary,theUK becamethefourthcountryto officiallybanRussianliquefied naturalgasimports.Instead,the UKhasbeenlookingtoshipmore liquifiednaturalgas(LNG)from producerssuchastheUSand Qatar,agreeingtodoubleimports ofUSgasoverthenextyearfrom 2021levels(FinancialTimes).

Agrowingdomesticsourceof energyiswind power.Dueto blusteryconditions andanincreasing numberofturbines. Britainsetanew recordforwind generationon30 December,totalling 20.91gigawatts (GW),toppingthe 19.9GWrecordset inMay.The ElectricitySystem Operator(ESO) alsoreporteda recordshareof electricityonthe gridwascoming fromrenewables andnuclearonthat day,supplying 87.2%oftotal

power.Europeanpriceshavealso easedasFrenchnuclear generatorshavecomebackonline followingmaintenance.

Sufficientgasstoragehasalso helpedeaseprices.Attheendof December,83.2%ofEUgas storagewasfilled(Gas InfrastructureEurope),abovethe targetof80%setinMay,butbelow itspeakof95%inmid-November.

Lookingahead

Lookingforward,Europestillhas severalmonthsofcoldweatherand strongheatingdemandahead. Chinesedemandisalsoviewedas akeydriveringaspricesin2023, asthecountry’sCOVID-19 restrictionsease,butcasenumbers remainhigh.However,tradersare alsohavingtoconsiderglobal recessionaryfears,whichcould impactenergydemandand pressureprices.

OnFriday,HSBCcutit’s2023gas priceforecastbyaround30%and forecastfor2024by20%,but suggestedthatpriceswillremain elevated.HSBCaddedthat conditionswilllikelyonlynormalise by2026whennewlybuiltLNG facilitiesareduetoopeninEurope (TheGuardian).

Whatdoesthismeanfor

fertiliserprices?

Thespotdeliveredpricefor importedANdeliveredtofarmwas £700/tinDecember,accordingto thelatestAHDBGBfertiliser prices.Thispriceisdown£41/t fromNovember’sprice,but£68/t higherthanDecember2021.Italso morethanthreetimestheprice recordedinDecember2020.

Whileit’slookinglikelythatthe worstofEurope’sgascrisisand peakinpricesisover,pricesare stillexpectedtostayelevatedand volatile,especiallywhenrefilling storagefornextwinter.Withnatural gasmakinguparound60-80%of fertiliserproductioncosts,it’s unlikelythatimportedfertiliser priceswillcomebackdown significantlyfromelevatedlevelsin theshorttomid-termconsidering ongoingmarketvolatility,evenif Januarypricescontinuetoease slightlywithnaturalgas.

AHDBhaveseveralresourcesto helpgrowersassessfertiliser applications,includingaGB fertiliserdashboard,thenitrogen fertiliseradjustment calculatorandanalysisondifferent applicationstrategies.

Nitrogen:isittimetochangetheguidanceforoats?

Oatsoftenstandin theshadowofits morewidelygrown cereal‘cousins’. However,new researchhasputoatsinthe spotlightandhelpedclose nutrientmanagement knowledgegapsfornitrogen andsulphur.

Knowledgegaps

TheAHDBEarlyBirdSurveyof plantingintentionsshowsa decreaseintheoatareaover thelastfewseasons.Sincethe turnofthecentury,however, long-termtrendsreveala relativelydramaticriseinthe productionandconsumptionof oats(albeitfromarelatively lowbaseline).

Associatedwithalowercostof productionandincreasing demand,oatsremainastrong optionforthearablerotation. Togetthemostfromthecrop, farmersneedrobustnutrient managementguidance. However,comparedtothe arablecrop‘bigguns’(wheat, barley,andoilseedrape), investmentininagronomic researchforoatshasbeen relativelylow.Thisholdsback thepotentialofoats,especially inamarketincreasingly focusedonquality.Oatmillers requiregrainwithagood specificweightandlowlevels ofscreenings,whichare relativelyeasytodehulland possessgoodkernelcontent.

In2016,AHDBpublishedthe resultsfromacomprehensive reviewofguidancefromthe Nutrientmanagementguide (RB209).Itrevealednumerous knowledgegapsforwinterand springoats.Atthattime,the

data(althoughlimited)did resultinincreasednitrogen recommendationsforwinter oats–by40kgnitrogen/ha,for allsoilnitrogensupply(SNS) indicesandsoiltypes. However,theabsenceof robustdataforspringoats resultedinnochangetothe guidance.Informationon optimumtimingwasalso lackingforbothcrops.

Researchresponse

In2018,AHDBcommissioned worktohelpplugRB209’s evidencegapsforoats.In additiontoanalysinga database,theADAS-leadteam conductednitrogenrateand timingexperimentsonwinter oats(Herefordshireand Nottinghamshire)andspring oats(Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire,Suffolk,andFife) acrossthreeharvestseasons, onseveralvarieties.To supplementthecoretrials,the researchersanalysedresults fromnumerousothertrialsand investigatedtheeffectof sulphur.

Theprojectrecentlydelivered itsfinalreport,withkeyfindings outlinedbyADASresearcher SarahClarkeattheAHDB Agronomists’Conference 2022.

Winteroats:nitrogen

•Numerouschallengeswere encounteredduringthe coretrials,suchashigh lodging(Herefordshire)and dryconditions (Nottinghamshire)

•Overall(alltrialdatasets),it wasconcludedthatRB209 recommendationsare generallyappropriatefor

yieldandquality

•However,theresearchers didproposeanewsystem fornitrogen-rate recommendationsthat removesthesoiltype categoriesfromtheRB209 tables,whileretainingthe focusonSNSindices

•Theyalsodemonstratedthe potentialtoadjustnitrogen ratesforexpectedyield(up ordownfromayield benchmark),followinga similarapproachforspring barley

•Increasednitrogenrates influencedquality, increasingscreeningsand kernelcontent,while reducingspecificweight–although,RB209rateswere showntobeacceptable

•Theresearchalso emphasisedtheinfluence ofvarietyongrainquality, withsomevarietiesbeing inherentlymorestable

Springoats:nitrogen

•Ingeneral,currentnitrogen recommendationsmaybe toolow,byaround25–30 kgnitrogen/ha

•Theresearcherswarned thatanydecisionto increasenitrogenratemust considerlodgingrisks

•Therewasnoclear evidencethathigher-yield springcropsrequiredmore nitrogen

•Theapplicationofagood proportion(atleast40kg nitrogen/ha)totheseedbed andtheremainderbythe

startofstemextensionwas associatedwithbetterand moreconsistentyieldand quality

•Highernitrogenrateswere sometimeassociatedwith reducedquality(forsome traits)

•Moreresearchisrequired toimprovethestrengthof guidanceforspringoats

Sulphur

•Wheredeficiencyrisks werehigh,suchason lightersoils,sulphur applicationssignificantly improvedyield

•However,varietyhada greatereffectonallgrain qualitytraitsmeasuredthan

theadditionofsulphur Furtherinformation

ThisarticleisbasedonAHDB ProjectReport643:Nitrogen andsulphurfertiliser managementforyieldand qualityinwinterandspring oats.

Theworkwasledby researchersatADASandcoauthoredbyateamat AberystwythUniversity.The reportalsoincludesalistof recommendedresearch activity.

Projectdataalsoinformedthe resultsoffast-trackresearch thatreportedinspring 2022,whichtookaccount changesinthebreak-even

ratio(BER)betweengrainand fertiliserprices,extendingBER tablestoaccountforhigher fertiliserandgrainprices.

Theprojecthasadvanced understandingofnutrient managementinoats.The conclusionsarebeing consideredbythebody responsibleforrevisingthe AHDBNutrientmanagement guide(UKPartnershipforCrop Nutrition).

Nutrientsformillingwheat

ANIAB-ledprojectonmilling wheathasalsodeliveredits finalreporttoAHDB,providing evidencefornitrogenand sulphurfertilisermanagement guidelines.

Higherpaymentsforfarmersin SFIandCSSchemesannounced

SpeakingattheOxfordFarming Conference,FarmingMinisterMark Spencerhasannouncedmoremoneyfor farmersandlandownersthroughboth theCountrysideStewardshipand theSustainableFarmingIncentive(SFI) schemesinordertoprovidemoresupporttothe industry.Thisisintendedtodrivefarmeruptakeinthe schemesatatimeofrisingcostsforfarmerscaused byglobalchallenges.Healsoconfirmedthatan expandedrangeofactionsundertheschemes,which farmerscouldbepaidfor,wouldbepublishedsoon. Furtherdetailsregardingtheannouncementare outlinedinDefra’sFutureFarmingblog.

Thisannouncementfollowsindepthanalysisby AHDB,ontheSustainableFarmingIncentive. Our analysisshowedthat:

•Forfarmersalreadycarryingoutactionson-farm whicharerequiredundertheSFI,itisbeneficialto jointheschemebecausetheywillreceiveextra income

•Forfarmersthatarenotcarryingouttheactions

requiredbuttheirfarmset-upwillallowthemtoso withlittleadditionalcost,itisbeneficialtojointhe scheme

•Forfarmerswherethisislessapparent,itis worthwhiletocarryoutthecalculationsfortheir ownfarmstoseeittakingpartintheschemewill beworthwhileforthem

Akeymessagefromthispieceofworkforpolicy makerswasthathigherpaymentrateswereneededto incentivisefarmerstotakepartintheschemesand enablethemtomakeameaningfulimpactfroman environmentalperspective.

AHDB’sanalysiswaswellreceivedbypolicymakers, andthisannouncementiscertainlyastepintheright direction.Asmoredetailsandinformationisreleased, AHDBwillcontinuetoanalyseandassesstheirimpact onfarmbusinesses.Itisclearthatfarmersneed informationontheimpactofthenewschemesand AHDBwillensurethereisunbiased,evidence-based analysisavailabletoensuretheycanmakeinformed businessdecisions.

HAITHDELIVEREDTHEPERFECT CHRISTMASPRESENTFORGREENVALE

The35thprojecttobe completedbyHaith forGreenvaleAP deliveredtheperfect Christmaspresent.

CommissionedinJune2022,two newHaithwashlinesallowed Greenvale'sCambridgeshirefacility tohandlethebusyfestiveperiod easily.

OneoftheUK'sleadingpotato supplierssawthroughputatits FloodsFerrysitealmostdouble. However,despitetheincrease, Greenvalecontinuedtomeetits exceedinglyhigh-qualitystandards andbenefitfromexceptionallylow runningcostsandwateruse.

Atthestartof2022,Greenvale's engineeringteamandboardof directorssawthattwooftheirwash linesatFlood'sFerrywereshowing theirage,andwithreliability becominganissue,theydecidedit wastimetochange.Asthe neighbouringline–installedby Haithin2014–wasperforming wellintermsofvolume,handling, washingandoperatingcosts, Greenvale'sengineeringmanager, AdrianDickson,decidedto consolidatesuppliers.

"WemetwithDuaneHillandthe teamatHaith,andwewerevery impressedwiththefeaturesand enhancementsofthelatestwash equipment.Aswehaveseveral

Haithmachinesatoursites,we knewthatHaithwouldbeableto producethebespokesystemswe required,"saysAdrian."Wealways lookatthemarketanddecide whichcompaniestoworkwith basedontheirproducts,thequality ofserviceandtheoverallcost. Haithstoodoutinallareas."

ThenewlinesarebasedonHaith's provenformatbutofferthelatestin energyefficiency,lowwater consumptionandsophisticated softwaretoensuregentle handling.

PotatoesarereceivedbyHaith's Queen'sAwardforEnterprise winningRotaTipTopEject,passed intoaSupa-Flumestoneseparator beforebeingcleanedinasemi-

submergedwasher.Thepotatoes arethendriedandqualitygraded byGreenvale'sexistingmachinery.

Haith'sRota-TipUp-Ejectwas designedattherequestoffood packersandprocessorswho experiencedoilleaks,highenergy useandinstabilitywhenusing traditionalhydraulicboxtipplers. Haithinnovatedthedesignby replacinghydraulicmotorswithallelectricdrives,whichuseless powerandpreventoilleaks.Haith alsodevelopedanew,safer,and moreeffectiverotatingsystemthat canhandlelargerboxvolumes thanolderdesigns.

Oncetipped,Greenvale'spotatoes enteraHaithSupa-FlumeDeStoner,whichefficientlyseparates

stoneandclodfromthecropwith minimalpowerconsumptionthanks toitsefficientclose-coupledpump andie3motor.Withaheavy-duty rubberstonedischargeelevator, externalbearingsandadjustable flowdivider,Haith'sDe-Stoneris highlyefficientandreliable.

Beforebeingdriedandsorted,the producepassesthroughasemisubmergedstainlesssteelbarrel washer.The4mlongwasher featuresahighlyefficient displacementbarreland incorporatesHaith'sfloatingdebris removalsystem.Haithhas includedtheoptiontopre-select waterlevelstofacilitateeasycrop changeover.

"Aswellascopingeasilywiththe volumewespecified,thenewlines havetheabilitytogreatlyreduce thechangeovertimewhen switchingproduce,"saysAdrian. "Thismeanswehavereducedthe stop-startcyclingtimewe

experiencedwiththepreviouslines andhavegreatercontrolofline balancing,whichisveryimportant tous.

designeditsmachines."

Haith'sin-housesoftware engineersincorporatedcomplete controlofthenewequipmentand itsfunctionsintotheHMIunit, ensuringthattheHaithwasher complementsGreenvale's signaturecontinuousloopwash waterrecyclingsystem.Thenew functionalityalsoprotectsthecrop frompotentialdamage,thereby increasingqualityandcustomer satisfaction.

"Wehavealsoreducedourwater usageandenjoytheabilityfor muchfasterchangeovertimes thankstothewayHaithhas

Afurtherbenefitofthenewlinesfor Greenvalerelatestohealthand safety.Thelineismoreaccessible forGreenvale'sengineeringteam, anditsstainlesssteelfabrication andtheabsenceofhydraulics complywiththehighestlevelsof foodsafetystandards.

"Haithdeliveredasuperbjob.The team'sworkmanshipand professionalismweresecondto none!"observesAdrian."Andwhen utilitycostsareskyrocketing,we're delightedtoreportthatnewHaith linesuseconsiderablyless electricitythanourpreviouslines, soaswellasreducingdamage, increasingqualityandthroughput, andloweringwaterconsumption, wearealsobeingresponsible towardsenergyusage."

TofindoutmoreaboutHaithand itsrangeofvegetablehandling equipment,pleasevisitwww.haith. co.uk,emailsales@haith.co.ukor call01302831911.

ovember2022saw the10thanniversary ofBiox-Mapprovalfor useintheUnited Kingdomasapotato sproutsuppressant. Wewouldliketothankallthose growers,packers,processors,end usersand,mostsignificantly, foggerswhohavesupporteduson thejourney.Thesproutcontrol potentialofessentialoilshadbeen recognisedfirstbytheIncasinPeru homeofthepotato,andmore recentlyintheearly1960s,butit tookpainstakingresearchbyAlberto SardoandtheteamatXeda International,firstlytoidentifythe mosteffectiveoftheessentialoils forthisparticularuse,andthento supporttheworktogainEU approvalforspearmintoil(Biox-M)in 2009.

The2022potatoharvesthas presentedgrowersandstore managerswithsomeadditional problemswhenmanagingcropsin store.Insuchcircumstances,itis evenmoreimportanttopay particularattentiontodetailwhen treatingstoredcrops,sothatsprout

suppressionproductsareusedto bestadvantage.

Followingthelong,hotanddry summer,sproutinginthefieldin manyvarietiesforthefirsttime. Cropsshouldbedryandfullycured beforeanytreatment,evenifthey arriveinstorehavingdeveloped sproutsinthefield.Assoonasthe cropisinstore,sproutingwillbe controlledbyBiox-M,butthereisno needtorushtotreatment.Itis essentialthatthecropisdryand curedbeforetreatmenttoachieve themosteffectivesproutcontroland avoidotherriskstothecrop.

Carefultemperaturemanagementin storepriortotreatmentisalso essentialtoavoiduneven distributionoffogduringapplication, andtoavoidriskofcondensation/ coalescenceofBiox-Minstore. Refrigerationandambientair exchangeshouldbeturnedoff beforetreatment(24hoursis recommended)toensureaneven temperaturethroughthestoreand crop.Variabletemperature(s)incrop duringtreatmentincreasesariskof poorefficacy.Multiplestore

temperaturereadingsshouldbe recorded,whentherefrigerationis turnedoffandimmediatelypriorto foggingtoensureanevenstore/crop temperature.

Anevendistributionoffogis importantinachievinggoodefficacy. Speedofintroductionoffoginto storeshouldnotbeexcessive,so thatthefoghastimetodistribute evenlyinthestore.Fogshouldbe introducedtostoreinlinewiththe ratesrecommendedintheBiox-M TechnicalHandbook.Visual confirmationoffogdistributionis recommended–eitherin-store camerasoraclearviewingpanel permittingaviewofthefog distribution.Fansettingsshouldbe adjustedtoensureaneven distributionoffog.Intermittent runningoffansduringapplication maybemoreeffectivethan continuousrunningtogiveaneven distributionoffog.

Storesshouldbeclosedfor48hours followingtreatment,andlongerfor part-filledstores.

Donotopendoorsfollowing treatment.

TongappointedUKdistributorforVerbruggenpalletisingsolutions

TongEngineering, leadingUKvegetable handlingequipment manufacturer,is pleasedtoannounce itsappointmentas UKdistributorforDutchpalletising solutionsmanufacturer Verbruggen.

Theannouncementcomesinline withTong’scommitmentto supplyingvegetablegrowersand processorswiththecomplete handlingsolutionfrompost-harvest topack,addingadvancedendof lineboxandbagpalletising

systemstoitshigh-qualityrangeof equipment.

“LikeTong,Verbruggenisafamily businesswhoarecommittedto manufacturinginnovative,custombuilthandlingsolutionsthatsave labourandmaximisethroughput,” saysSimonLee,SalesDirectorat TongEngineering.“Verbruggenis renownedformanufacturingfirstclasspalletisingandstacking solutionswithexcellentproduct support.Wehavesuccessfully collaboratedonanumberof projectswithVerbruggeninthe past,soweareexperiencedinthe

capabilitiesoftheirmachinesand aredelightedthatwecannow officiallyoffertheirrangeof palletiserstotheUKagricultural industry.”

Manufacturedtoensurequick, efficientanduniformstackingof bags,boxesandcratesonpallets orsheets,Verbruggenpalletisers offerpreciseproductstacking capabilitiesatanyspeed,resulting inapalletiserforeverythroughput. Withvariousautomaticandsemiautomaticoptions,aVerbruggen palletisingsystemnotonlybringsa significantreductioninlabourcosts

TongappointedUKdistributorforVerbruggenpalletisingsolutions

anddowntime,butalsoutilises loadingspaceinthemostefficient way.Inadditiontoits comprehensivepalletiserrange, Verbruggensolutionsalsoinclude wrappingmachines,strapping machinesandcheckweighers,all ofwhichwillbepartofTong’s offeringasUKdistributor.

“Verbruggenpalletisersarevery versatilewithoptionstohandle bothbagsandboxes,aswellas theabilitytohandleanyproduct thatneedstobestacked,from potatoesandonionstocarrots, parsnipsandmore,”saysSimon.

“Insynergywithourexperiencein handlingalltypesofvegetables, thismakesVerbruggensolutions theidealendoflineproducttoadd toourrange,whichcanbesupplied asastand-alonesystem,orfully integratedwithinaTongturnkey handlingline.”

Ofthenewpartnership,Tonvan’t Hof,AccountManagerat Verbruggencommented“Weare verypleasedtoexpandoursales andaftersalessupportnetworkin theUKbyestablishinganew partnershipwithTong;ahighly respectedandexperiencedUK

manufacturerwhoweknowwill workcloselywithcustomersto understandtheirexact requirementsanddeterminethe rightVerbruggensolutionfortheir needs.WelookforwardtoTong takingcareofourexistingUK customersaswellasprogressing ourrelationshipandcustomer base,tobringmoreefficient palletisingsystemstomore vegetableproducersthroughoutthe UK.”

Formoreinformationonthe Verbruggenrangecontactthe SalesTeamatTongEngineering.

NewfeaturesatLAMMA provedabighitwith visitorswithnearly 34,000peoplethrough thedoorsoftheNEC, Birminghamonthe 10thand11thof January.Exhibitorswerealsodelighted withthewell-attendedeventwithmore than65%ofthenearly600stands alreadyconfirmingtheirreturnin2024.

Aswellthelatestinnovationsonshow andopportunitiestoearnBASISand NRoSOCPDpoints,LAMMA organisersunveiled severalshowfeaturesfor thefirsttime,including theDemoArena,LAMMA Torquesspeaker schedule,NAAC ContractorsLoungeand Health&WellbeingZone.

TheInnovationAwards alsoreturnedforthefirst timeinthreeyearsto recogniseexcellence amongstexhibiting businesses,inadditionto theYoungEngineer Awardafterasuccessful debutin2022.

‘Strongestshowyet’

ExhibitorsreportedthatLAMMA2023 wasparticularlybusywithlotsof interestandleads.PeterSmyth,UK SalesDirectoratManitou,said:“I've done30LAMMAshowsinmycareer, andthishasbeenthestrongestshow yet.It'shadthebiggestbuzzofany agriculturalshowthatI’vebeentoina long,longtime.Thecustomershave comeoutindrovesandoursalesteam havebeenonfire.We'vetakenmore than100inquiriesandservedover 1000cupsofcoffeeatLAMMA,and wewillbebacknextyear!”

DemoArena

Fiveexhibitorsprovidedlive demonstrationsinthe newDemoArena, includingtheV6760 fullyautomaticvariable chamberbalerfrom McHale.EoinClarke said:“Wewere verypleasedtobeable totakepartandwould definitelyliketocome backbiggerandbetter in2024.”

TheKroneEasyWrap 150alsodrewthe crowds.“Wehad hundredsofpeople watchingourbalewrappingdemo,”said DavidRiches,

workshopmanagerforKroneUK. “Peoplereallyliketoseemachines movingratherthanjustastaticdisplay. It’sbeenreallygoodandsomethingI’m surewillgrowfurthernextyear.”

SethBradfordfromValtraagreed.“We didawalkaroundofthenewValtra Q305,talkingthroughthedifferent featuresofthetractorandinviting peopletovisitourstandiftheywanted toknowmore.Itwasreallybusy,and wewoulddefinitelybekeentodoit again.”

EcoChargerdemonstrateditsfullyelectricPioneer4WDquadbike.Jon Hourihan,marketanddealer developmentdirectorforEcoCharger said:“Drivingitaroundthearena

meantpeople couldappreciate howquietitis.It alsogaveusthe opportunityto introducethe business,share some backgroundand fieldquestions andanswers fromthe audience.”

JyotiRawatfrom Solissaidthe companywas gladtohavethe opportunitytoshowits60ShuttleXL StageVtractor.“TheDemoArena workedreallywell forus.Wewere alsoabletotell peopleaboutthe companyandour presenceinthe UK.”

LAMMATorques

Biodiversitynet gainschemesdo notleadtoland abandonment, stressed EnvironmentBank’s Kerriann McLackland.

SpeakinginaLAMMATorques seminarsheexplainedthatfood productionbecameasecondary,but stillimportant,roleforlandundersuch schemes.“Theland’sprimarypurpose becomesnatureconservation.”They aremoreflexiblethanenvironmental schemessheexplained.“Itrequires creatinghabitatandmaintainingittoa certaincondition,buthowyoubest achievethatisuptoyou.”

Inthesessiononcarbonfarming, ThomasGentfromAgreena encouragedallfarmerstoengagewith carbonmeasuring.“Wehavethe opportunitytoharvestcarboncredits, whichcanbetradedifyouwish.Even ifyoudon’twanttogointotradingyou shouldstarttogetanunderstandingof

itbecauseitwillbecomeincreasingly important.”Reducingcarbonemissions andinputcostswenthandinhand,he said.

BerkshirefarmerRobWaterston agreed:“Allfarmersaretryingto reducenitrogeninputsandtheir resilienceonfungicides.Youcanget somecarboncreditsthroughsome smalltweaksandtherewardswillonly improve.”

Machinerycostshaveincreasedbyup to300%overthepast30years,with thecostofrunningamid-rangetractor doublingfrom£10/hourto£20/hour, saidChrisSheldon,AgriBusiness ConsultantwithBrown&Co.

Productivityhadincreasedby63% overthesametime.Accuratecosting–withlessguessworkofcapacity–as wellasbenchmarkingagainstindustry

standardwasneeded, hesaid.Kubota’sMick Hancocksharedhistips formaintaining machinerytoensure longserviceand reliability.

Technologyisoffering newopportunitiesfor livestockproducersto cutfeedcostsand improvesustainability, saidBobKendalof Alltech.Reducingwaste andmakingbestuseof existingfeedthrough improvingrumenefficiencyledto potentialsavingsofanaverage£261/ cow/year.Thecompany’sNavigate systemgavefarmersdatatoaid decisionmaking,hesaid.“Itcreatesan actiondriven reportwhich quantifies improvementsin efficiencybased onthefarmer’s ownfeedand milkprices.It helpsdirecttheir investmentof timeandmoney.

“Itisbeneficialto thefarmerin financialterms andfitswellwith ourvisionofa planetofplenty,

feeding9billionpeopleina sustainableway.”

Thechallengesformakinghighquality silage–includingclimatechange,soil health,sulphurdeficiencyand machinerychoice–werecoveredina sessionlaunchingtheCampaignfor BetterSilage.

RepresentativesfromVolac,Krone, YaraandLGForagediscussedtheir specialismsandhowtheycontributed toqualityandquantityproduction. Attentiontodetailacrossallareasof productionfromregularreseeding,soil health,inputuseandtheprocessesof productionandstorage,includinguse ofadditives,wereallamongstthe experts’recommendations.

“Grassisthecheapestfeedand

probablytheonlyoneyouarein controlof,somakingthemostofwhat isonthefarmisessential,”concluded JohnSpenceofLGForage.

ContractorsLounge

Staffingandinputcostswerekey pointsofdiscussionattheNAAC ContractorsLounge.“Butwehad questionsandconversationsonalmost everythingyoucanimagine,” saidNAACchiefexecutiveJill Hewitt.

TheLounge,whichwas sponsoredbyFendt,offereda warmwelcome,hotdrinksanda chancetotalk,networkandask questions.Non-membersalso tooktheopportunitytofindout moreabouttheAssociation, saidJill.“It’sprovidedagreat networkingopportunitywith contractorsmeetingothersfrom aroundthecountrytheyarenot incompetitionwith.

“Alotofworkisbeingdoneby contractorsandtheyworksohard. Nowtheyfinallyhaveaspecialplace thatisallaboutthem.”

Health&WellbeingZone

Aswellasofferingsignpostingand information,theHealth&Wellbeing Zonehostedtwopaneldiscussions aimingtodebunkmythsaroundthe

farmingindustryanddiscusswellbeing intheagriculturalworkplace.

“ThisyeartheFarmingHelpcharities focusedontakingapositiveand proactiveapproach,reminding attendeesofthemanyreasonswhy agricultureintheUKisworld-leading,” saidAlexPhillimorefromFarming CommunityNetwork.“Thetwo sessionswechairedwerewell attendedandfeedbackhasbeenreally encouraging.Wewantpeopletoknow thatour

charitiesareheretohelp,andthatthe soonerpeoplegetintouchthesooner wecansupport.”

FutureFarmingTrail

TheFutureFarmingTrail(formerly namedFarming4.0)gavevisitorsa

routethroughtheshow’s10hallsof theNEC,highlightingacuratedlistof 13exhibitors.SponsoredbyMerlo,it highlightednewandemerging technologyaswellasmoreestablished favourites.

JamesKnightfromthefirmsaid:“We arepassionateaboutmeetingthe needsofthefutureoperator.Future farmingtechnologymovesustowards reducingcarbonemissionsand isthefirststeponourGenZero targetsfor2025utilising renewableenergytofitthe needsofthefutureoperator.”

NicholaBell,HeadofEventsfor Agriconnectwhichorganises LAMMA,saidtheorganising teamwasdelightedwiththe successoftheevent,especially thenewfeatures.“Weare pleasedandproudthatitwas suchasuccessfulshowforour visitors,exhibitorsand supporters.Itwasgreattosee thehallsabsolutelybuzzingwith farmersengagingwitheachotherand exhibitors.

“Itwasparticularlyexcitingtoseethe popularityofthenewfeatures,andwe arekeentobuildonthatsuccess. LAMMA2024isbookedfor17thand 18thJanuary,andwelookforwardto seeingeveryoneagainthen.”

Wanttoexpandorimproveyourgrain facilitiesforthisyear’sharvest?

t’stimetogetyourdrying,handling andstorageordersintoexpandor improveyourgrainfacilitiesahead ofthisyear’sharvest.

Areyoulookingforamobiledrier? Atotebin?Isittimetoreplacethatoldconveyor thatjustaboutlimpedthroughlastyear’sharvest? Maybeyouwanttoexpandandputinplacea continuousflowdrierandsomesilos?Whatever yourneedis,largeorsmall,PerryofOakleycan help.

PerrysholdstockintheUKasweareaUKbased designerandmanufacturer.Ifwedon’thavethe partinstockwecanmanufactureittoorder.We havealargeteamofveryexperienced engineerswhocanhelpyoulookat yourrequirements(over400yearsof experienceintheindustry,andthat’s justoursalesandtechnicalsupport teams).SochoosingtheUK’smost experiencedmanufacturerofgrain drying,handlingandstoragedefinitely makessense.

Whatisityouarelookingtoimprove onforthisharvest?

WehavePLCcontrolpanelsthat allowyoutorunandmonitoryour

driersremotely,savingyoutimeandmanpower. Wealsoprovideadditionalpeaceofmindwiththe twoGrainSentrysystemscoveringdriermoisture measurementandfiredetection.ThePLCpanel andtheGrainSentryfiredetectionsystemcanbe retro-fittedontomostmakesofcontinuousflow driers.

OurPerrystoragerangeofferssolutionsfor capacitiesfrom1Ttotebinsthroughto20,000T flatbottomsilosandeverythinginbetweensowe havesomethingforallrequirements,alongwithall theaccessoriesyoumightneed,includingPerry manufacturedcatwalks,grainmonitoring, aeration,dischargesystemsandsweepaugers.

Plus,wehaveournew rangeofAGREXmobile drierssowereallycan helpwithallyour handling,storage&drier requirements.Contactus todayon(0)1404890 300oremail sales@perryofoakley. co.uk,andreceivea free,noobligation quotationtogetyour farmreadyforharvest 2023.

henewHXseriesoftractorsfrom SouthKoreanmanufacturerKIOTI offersanewefficient,comfortableand costeffectiveoptionforfarmers lookingtobuyatractorinthe90to 140hpsector.

MakingitsdebutattheSIMAshowinParis,the KIOTIHXispoweredbyaKIOTI3.8l4-cylinder STAGEVturbochargedengine.Theseries consistsofthreemodels,theHX9010ratedto90 hp,theHX1001ratedto100hpandtheHX1201 ratedto115hp,allwithanautomaticondemand PTOboostof10hp.

Featuringacomfortableandluxuriouscab,with fullyadjustableairsuspensionseat,LCD dashboardandergonomiccontrols,theHXcab providestheoperatorwithapleasantworking environment.

Atwo-stagemechanicaltransmissionwitha4x4 powershiftarrangementprovides32forwardand reversegears,offeringamaximumspeedof40

manuallyorviatheautomaticmodelinked totherearlinkage.Operatorswishingto increasetheversatilityoftheirHXcando sobyfittinganoptionalfrontlinkageand PTOorafrontloader,operatedbyan integratedfour-waycontrollever.

PricesfortherangetoppingHX1201start from£71,750.

ThepopularK9Utilityvehicle(UTV)from Kiotiisnowavailablewithanoptional factoryfitcabin.Specificallydesignedfor theK9,thefullyenclosedcabinprovides completeprotectionfromtheelements, whilsttheairconditionedcabinheating ensurestheoperatorandpassengers travelincomfort.

Inaddition,thenewK9isalsoequipped withanewCVTtransmissionwitha homologatedroadspeedof50kphand speedsensitivepowersteering,both bringinganewlevelofoperatorcomfort. Capableofcarryingtwopassengers,in additiontothedriverinthecabin,anda payloadof500kgonthelargerear platform,theK9iswellsuitedtonumerous tasksaroundthefarm.

PricesforaK9UTVfittedwithafactory cabinstartfrom£29,750.

FirstShowinginUKforNew BobcatProductsatLAMMA2023

Bobcatisshowing severalnew productsforthefirst timeintheUKat theLAMMA2023 exhibitionfrom1011January2023(onStand 19.200inHall19).Centrestage isoneofthehighlightsofthe show,Bobcat’sbrandnewsuper compactTL25.60R-series telehandler.

whichisonviewforthefirsttime intheUKatLAMMA.

ExcellentToolCarriersand ChoiceofAttachments

Withaliftingcapacityof2.5 tonneandaliftingheightofupto 5.9m,thenewTL25.60 telehandleristhemostcompact modelintheBobcatrange.John Christofides,RegionalSales DirectorforBobcatEMEAs.r.o., said:“TheTL25.60maybesuper compact,butthismodelstillhas afull-sizecabwiththesame dimensionsasthecabsonthe largerTL30.60andTL30.70 models,whichmakesitthemost spacioussuper-compact telehandleronthemarkettoday. AtLAMMA,wewillbeshowing theTL25.60togetherwithour top-of-the-rangeTL43.80HF agriculturaltelehandler.”

Alsobeingshownforthefirst timeintheUKistheCT2535 compacttractor,oneofnine modelsthatformpartofthe company’snewgroundcare range.AlongsidetheCT2535is thenewMT100minitrackloader,

AnotherkeyaspectoftheBobcat standatLAMMAisthe company’sunrivalledrangeof attachments.ThenewCT2535, MT100andTL25.60areall excellenttoolcarriersandBobcat offersthe advantageof thebest offeringinthe industryin termsof attachments availableon these machines. Toillustrate thevarietyof attachment choiceforthe compact tractorrange, theCT2535 beingshownatLAMMAhasa FrontEndLoaderandabucket aswellasaTillerattachment.To makesurealljobsgettackled, othercompatibleattachments includepalletforks,utilityforks, utilitygrapples,mid-mount mowers,backhoes,boxblades, rakesandseeders.

FortheMT100,thisnewmodel hasalloftheattachmentsthat wereavailableontheprevious MT55model,plusafew additionalattachmentsincluding thenewBrushcatandLog Grappleattachmentsfrom Bobcat.Itisthesameforthe TL25.60,whereafulllistof approvedattachmentsincludes grapples,augers,sweepersand snowblades.

EightAgriculturalTelehandlers withliftingheightsfrom6to8 m

WiththenewTL25.60model, Bobcat’sR-Seriesagricultural telehandlerrangeprovidesa choiceoftheeightmodelsbelow withStageVengines,covering maximumliftingcapacities between2.5and4.3tonnewith liftingheightsfrom5.9to8m: SupercompactandCompact models–TL25.60,TL26.60, TL30.60andTL30.70

Largemodels–TL35.70, TL34.65HF,TL38.70HFand TL43.80HF

AllBobcatR-Seriestelehandlers offerapremiumworkspacewith astate-of-the-artcabdesign.The newhighquality,contemporary interiorofthecabfeaturesstandoutR-Seriesbranding,colours andtexturesthatclearlyreflect Bobcat’sDNA.Intheergonomic design,allsurfaceshavebeen optimisedtoofferincreased spaceandvisibility.

BobcatCompactTractorsto

SuitEveryRequirement

AspartoftheGME(Ground MaintenanceEquipment)range, therearethreeBobcatcompact tractorplatforms–the1000, 2000and4000series–which featureninenewmodels designedtomeettheneedsof Europeancustomers.Each modelvariesinsizeandengine horsepower,withtheoptionto choosebetweenmanualand hydrostatictransmissions,and opencanopies(ROPS)and cabs.TheCT2535cabbedmodel beingshownatLAMMAispartof the2000series.

Bobcat’scompacttractorscanbe equippedwithfront,midandrear connectionsandpowertake-offs. TheprovenBob-Tachsystem comesasstandardonallfrontendloaderplatforms,enabling userstoswitchattachmentsfor multiplejobseasily,delivering

greatervalueand versatilityfortheir businesses.

Aswellascompact tractors,Bobcat’s innovativeGMEline-up includeszero-turn mowersandRyan Turfcareequipment, supplementedbythe company’snewMT100 minitrackandsmall articulatedloaders.

LoadersDesigned withVersatilityin Mind ThenewMT100mini trackloaderandthe company’sL23and L28smallarticulated loadersremovethe needformanual labour,replacingthe

useofwheelbarrows,shovels andhandtoolsacrossmultiple groundmaintenance applications.Thesemachines arealsoversatiletoolcarriers, withabroadrangeofcompatible attachmentsthatenable contractorstomaximize productivityandsafetywhen undertakinggroundmaintenance tasks.

Withastandardwidthofjust904 mm(increasingto1045mmwith theWideTrackOptionproviding increasedstabilityandlower groundpressure),thereduced dimensionsofthenewMT100 provideeasypassagethrough narrowgatesanddoorwaysand facilitateworkinconfined spaces.

Formoreinformationabout BobcatandBobcatproducts,visit thewebsitewww.bobcat.com

PentairHyproEULtdwinstheInstitutionof AgriculturalEngineers(IAgrE)IvelInnovationAward

PentairHyproa supplierofpumps, nozzlesand sprayer componentsto sprayer manufacturersanddistributors aroundtheworld,haswonthe IvelAwardforbestnewproduct orenvironmentalinnovationat LAMMA2023.

Presentingtheawardat LAMMACharlieNicklinCEOof IAgrEsaid:

"Safelyhandlingagricultural chemicalshasbeenanindustry challengeformanyyears,not onlyfromanoperatorsafety perspective,butalsomaking surewe'remindfulofwaste, recyclingandtheeffectonthe environment.

Pentairhaveverymuchsolved theindustryneedwiththeir innovativenewsystem,which longertermwillbeadoptedby chemicalandequipment manufacturers.Theirnovelclosecoupledtransfersystemallows

chemicalstobedecantedinto thesprayerandthecontainers washedwithouttheoperator havinganycontactwiththe contentsorevenhavingtoopen thecontainer.Thiswinning solutionprotectsoperators, reduceswasteanddemonstrates professionalpractice,whilst caringfortheenvironment.A clearengineeringsolution."

RogerJames,ProductManager forCleanloadNexus,whowas presentedwiththeawardat LAMMAsaid:"Iamdelightedto receivethisawardonbehalfof PentairHyproandforthe recognitionthatthisimportant newtechnologyisreceiving"

CleanloadNexusisamechanical deviceforclosedtransferof agrochemicals.Usedwitha compatibleeasyconnectcap,it willopenacontainer,removethe contents(fullyorpartially)into thesprayertank,andthenclean andresealthecontainer.

Itisdesignedtoprotectsprayer operatorsfromthesplashesand

spillsthatinevitablyoccurwhen pouringfromabottle,butwithout slowingdownoradding complexitytotheirfilling operations.

Itcanbeplumbedintoany sprayerthathassuction(usually drawingfromthebottomofan existinginductionbowl)andmay bepermanentlymountedonthe sprayer,oralternativelyona wall,standorbracket(inwhich caseitisconnectedtosuction duringfillingusingdrybreak couplingsandalsotocleanwater forrinsing).

PentairHyproEULtdisconfident theeasyconnectcapwillbecome theindustrystandardacross Europeoverthenextfewyears. Whentheuserisreadytouse thechemical,alltheyhavetodo istoremovethedustcapfrom thecontainer,invertitandlocate thecapontoCleanloadNexus, nounscrewingoradaptoris neededbecausethecapcomes outofthefactorypre-fittedtothe container.

Ag-DriveappwinsgoldatLAMMA2023

Anappdesignedby a‘true entrepreneur’that providefarmswith apaperlesssystem haswonthe LAMMAFoundersTrophyatthis year’sshow.

WillDunn,creatoroftheAgDriveapp,waspresentedwith theawardondayoneofLAMMA attheNEC,Birmingham(10th January)afterwinningtheDigital categoryoftheshow’sInnovation Awards.

“Thisisourfirstaward,andIam reallypleased,particularlythatit issuchaprestigiousone,”said Will.“Itrewardsthewholeteam’s success–everyonebehindthe scenes,ourcustomerswhohave givenususefulfeedbackalong theway,aswellasfamilyand friendswhohavesupportedme.”

Exhibitingattheshowhasalso provenagreatsuccessforthe company.“Wehavemetlotsof contractorswhoareourtarget audience.Witheverybodyinone placefortwodays,itmeans thereisalotofopportunityto

meetcustomersandpotential

WillMumford,whopresentedthe Digitalaward,said:“Welikedthat hehadidentifiedaproblem,fixed theproblemandthatitwas createdintheUKbyatrue entrepreneur.”

TheFoundersTrophyis presentedtotheoverallwinnerof theInnovationAwards,chosen fromallfourcategories–Arable, Livestock,FutureFarmingand Digital.Apanelofthreejudges

Ag-DriveappwinsgoldatLAMMA2023

foreachcategoryawardedgold, silverandbronzeawardswitha panelofsixvotingtodecidethe overallwinner.

GoldwinneroftheArableaward wasOpicoforFarmdroidwhich waspresentedbyTeresaRush, HeadofArableforAgriconnect whichorganisesLAMMA.“The developmentofroboticsinthe lastcoupleofyearshasbeen phenomenal,andFarmdroidhas beenleadingthewaywiththat,” shesaid.

Opicowentontoalsowingoldin

theFutureFarmingcategory. ThistimeitwasawardedbyJohn Handburywhosaid:“Frommy pointofviewitisareallyfuturistic pieceofequipmentthatwill particularlyhelpvegetable growers.”JFHudsonwas presentedwiththegoldawardin theLivestockcategoryfor Lactalign.“Thisveryinnovative clusterholdingdevicehasproven tobeaveryimpactfulinnovation intermsofmastitiscontrolwitha paybackperiodofonly103 days,”saidAndrewKnowlesfrom FramFarmerswhopresentedthe award.

ChrisRothery,co-organiserand chairofjudgessaidhewas delightedthattheInnovation AwardsreturnedtoLAMMAafter athree-yearbreakduetoCovid. “Theawardsareanimportant aspectoftheshowrecognising andrewardinginnovativeand forward-thinkingbusinesses.We areverypleasedthattheawards arebackandlookforwardto makingthemevenbiggerand betternextyear.”

CoTyroneentrepreneurwins

LAMMAYoungEngineerAward

Anagriculturalengineerand entrepreneurfromCo.Tyrone haswonthe2023Young EngineerAwardatLAMMA, theUK’sleadingfarm machineryshow.

DanielBroderick,fromOmagh,was revealedasthewinnerondaytwoofthe showattheNEC,Birmingham(11th January2023)forhisCubi-Care machine.Themachine,whichDaniel hasbeenworkingonsince2013,makes theprocessofcleaningdairycow cubiclesmuchquickerandeasier.

Itwasthesecondtimetheorganisersof LAMMAhaveteamedupwiththe InstituteofAgriculturalEngineers(IAgrE) toruntheaward.Danielandtheother twofinalists,ConnorWisefromHereford andChristopherChavassefromLondon, wereshortlistedbyapanelofjudges withthewinnerdecidedthrougha combinationofpublicandpanelvotes. “Afteralotofyears’hardworkitis fantastictoberecognisedwiththis award,”saidDaniel.Inspirationforthe machinecamefromseeinghow laborioustheprocessofmanualcubicle cleaningwasonhisuncle’sdairyfarm.“I decidedtherehadtobeabetterwayof doingit.”Afterdevelopingaprototype whichhisuncletrialledonthefarm, Danielstartedtodevelopit commercially.“Myambitionnowisto startsupplyingfarmsacrosstheUKvia dealersandhavealreadystarted workingwithadealerinnorthofEngland andsouthScotland.”

Aswellashelpingwiththepromotionof hisproductDaniel,hasappreciatedthe networkingaspectoftheaward.“Itwas greattomeettheothertwofinalistsand hopewewillstayintouchandmaybe

worktogetherinthefuture.Itwasalso greattobeabletoattendLAMMAasI haven’tbeenbefore.Thesizeofthe showisreallyimpressive,andIwould liketocomebackasanexhibitornext year.”

WillJones,HeadofMarketingforaward sponsorDFCapitalsaid:“Sustainability, innovationandcontinuousimprovement areallthingswewanttoreallyfocuson, soweweredelightedtosponsorthe award.”

CharlieNicklin,ChiefExecutiveofthe InstituteofAgriculturalEngineers(IAgrE) saiditwasimportanttosupportyoung engineerscomingintotheindustry, whichneedsnewentrants.“Thereareso manyvacancieswithinagricultural engineeringdespiteitbeingan engaging,rewardingandfulfillingfield. Weneedtosupportandreward entrepreneurswithnoveldesignsandto encourageothers.TheYoungEngineer AwardatLAMMAisidealforthis purpose.”

NicolaBell,HeadofEventsat Agriconnectwhichorganisestheshow, agreed:“AtLAMMAwelovetocelebrate innovationinagriculturalengineering. Encouragingandinspiringnewtalentis extremelyimportanttousandtothe widerindustry,andwearedelightedto dothatthroughthisaward.

“Danielwasaveryworthywinnerwith hisCubi-Cleanproductwhichisalready makingadifferencetotheefficiencyand productivityofdairyfarms.Wewishhim everysuccesswithdevelopingitfurther inthefuture.”

KubotaintroducesTopconautosteeroptionsatLAMMA2023

LAMMA2023sawKubota(UK)

Ltdintroduceanewrangeof auto-steeroptionsforitsMseriestractorsfollowingan agreementtopartnerwith TopconPositioningSystemsthroughout Europe.

TopcondistributorsLHAgroandTopcon Irelandwillsupplytheauto-steering solutionsthroughtheKubotadealer network,alongwithprovidingwarranty, serviceandsupportoftheauto-steer kits.InstallationwillbethroughKubota dealers,andwillalsoincludeaccessto thecompleteTopconportfolio.

“ThisagreementprovidesKubota customerswithanextensivesuiteof guidanceoptionsforM-seriestractors, availabledirectlythroughtheKubota dealernetwork,”explainsHenryMyatt, Kubota’sproductmanagerforM-series tractors.“Thereareavarietyofkits availabletosuitthesteer-readyM7 Premiummodels,andnon-steerready tractorsintheM-series.”

AutosteerkitsincludeTopcon’sAGS-2 receiver,andwhererequired,Topcon’s AES-35motorisedsteeringwheelto replacethetractorsteeringwheel.In addition,customerscanchoosefroma rangeofguidancescreensincludingthe 21.3cmX25,31cmX35,17.8cmXDand 30.7cmXD+terminals.Dependingon thechosenkit,customerscanalso customisethetaskcontroloptions available,orchoosefrompre-configured bundles.

“Thisagreementalsoprovidesagreat solutionfortheM6002series,where

customersarelookingforgreater sophisticationandincreasedefficiency withfieldwork,”headds.“Withthese Topconauto-steeroptions,wecan providesolutionsforallM-seriestractors fromthe66hpM4-063throughtothe 170hpM7-173KVTPremium.”

CorrectionsignalcanbeRTKandPPP (PrecisePointPositioning),withthe latterofferinglessaccuracythanRTK butprovidingimprovedpass-to-pass accuracythanEGNOS,forexample.

Suppliedwitha24-monthwarranty,kits arepricedfrom£6,500foraTopconXD auto-steersolutiontosuitanM7tractor. Topconauto-steercanbeseeninstalled toM6andM7tractorsonstand330,in hall12.

ItmayberecalledthatKubota Corporation,TopconCorporationand TopconPositioningSystemsInc, enteredintoacollaborativeresearch agreementduring2021,toworktogether toinnovateforfuturecommercialisation throughmutualresearchinthefieldof smartagriculture.

Thecompanies,eachhavingitsown technicalknowledge,areworking collaborativelytomoveforwardwith researchanddevelopmentinsmart agriculture.Thisincludesthecollection ofagronomicdatausingvarioussensor technology;researchoncropcultivation solutionsutilisingbigdata;fleet managementandautomation technology.

ThreeFinalistsShortlistedfor PrestigiousRoyalDairyInnovationAward

Threefinalistshave beenshortlistedfor thisyear'sRoyal DairyInnovation Awardandwillbe vyingforthe prestigioustitlewhenitisjudgedat thisyear'sDairy-Techeventon1 FebruaryatStoneleighPark, Warwickshire.

Thefinalistshavebeenselected frommorethan25entriesmadeby anonlinesubmissiontothe RABDF.

TheAwardsponsoredbytheCentre forInnovationandExcellencein Livestock(CIEL)ispresentedtoa companyexhibitingatthisyear's Dairy-Techwithapracticalproduct orservice,whichislikelytobethe mostsignificantinnovationforthe futureofdairying.

Thisyear'sfinalistincludes:

•SmaXtec-TruDrinking-afirstof-its-kindbolusthatmeasures thewaterconsumptionofcows andcanimmediatelydetect

irregularitiesinwaterprovision orcowhealth.Thebolusalso recordsinnerbodytemperature, ruminationandactivity,givingit theabilitytohighlightany possiblehealthissuesinthe cowslongbeforevisiblesigns mayappear.

•UFAC-Envirolac-Aproven palm-freefatsupplementfor high-yieldingdairycows.The producthasbeenprovento increasemilkyieldsandquality whileofferingalowercarbon footprintthanpalm-oil-basedfat supplements.Itisdesignedto increasedietaryenergydensity whileoptimisingrumen fermentationandprimeliver functiontoincreasemilkyield andconstituentsandimprove cowhealthandfertility.

•HerdVision-AutoMobility& BCS-providesreal-timedataon thehealthandnutritionofa herd.Usingasmalldigital camerapositionedabovearace, 3Dimagesarecapturedandfed backlivebyintegratingwithan

intelligentonlinemonitoring system.Dataisdelivered directlytotheusers'phoneor tablet–supportingdaily managementdecisions.

Thethreefinalistswillbeaskedto presenttheirproductatDairy-Tech toapanelofindependentjudgesat 9:45amontheInnovationHub.

Thisyear'sjudgesaredairyfarmer andcompetitionchairTimDownes, CIEL'sHeadofInnovationDrMark YoungandMichaelHalliwell, CommercialDirectoroflastyear's winningproduct,CattleEye.

Thewinnerwillbeannouncedat 15:55pmontheInnovationHuband willreceiveasignedframed certificateandtrophyfromthe PrincessRoyallaterthisyear.

Thisyear'sDairy-Techwill showcasemorethan85new productsandservices,with300 exhibitorstakingtothefloorat StoneleighParkon1stFebruary. Formoreinformationandtobook yourtickets,visitwww.dairy-tech.uk

ontheNewZealandDairyTechstand

Kdairyfarmerscanmeettheir counterpartsfromNewZealandat DairyTech,StoneleighParkonthe1st ofFebruarytolearnhowtheyare adoptingnewtechnologiesto maximisebothproductionandreturn.

TheNewZealandfarmingsubsidycutsinthe1980s havedrivenariseininnovationfromthenation.Four NewZealandAgritechcompanieswillbeontheNew Zealandstand(P22)inHall2Asharingthelatest efficiencyandcost-savingtechnologiestohelp Britishfarmersdealwiththesubsidycuts.

OneexcitinginnovationlaunchingintotheUK marketforthefirsttimeistheA24RatandMouse Trapfromleadersintoxin-freepestcontrol Goodnature.Stayingontopofrodentcontrolisa criticalpartoffarmmanagementandGoodnatureis pleasedtobeexhibitingitsnewsmartBluetoothconnectedtechnology.TheA24RatandMouseTrap helpsfarmerstostayonguardagainstrodentsby resettingitself24times.Additionally,withthenewly launchedSmartCaptechnology,trapssendalertsto theusersphonewhenkillshaveoccurredandwhen trapsneedservicingwithnewgasandlure.

AnotherAntipodeaninspiredanddeveloped innovationthisyearisDatamarsTru-TestDairy WOW4000.Thisisafullyautonomousreal-time weighingsolutiontoautomaticallymonitorlactating dairycattleweightandconditionchange,ataskuntil nowentrustedtobodyconditionscoring(BCS)which requiresskilledlabour,issubjectiveandtime consumingandoftenstressfulformilkingcowsin particular.

WithDairyWOW4000,rapidandexcessiveweight losscanbeidentifiedmuchquickersonutritional deficienciesorhealthissuescanbeaddressed earlierwithbetteroutcomes.Regularweighingis undertakenaspartofthedailyroutineascows transittoandfromtheparlourandareweighed withoutrealisingit.Dataiscollectedviathe DatamarsLivestockApphostedintheCloud,partof theDatamarsLivestockSmartFarmingEcosystem andcanbeinterpretedandsharedwiththeherd managementteam.

Gallagherisalsoshowcasingitswirelessloadbars. Withthesenewwirelessloadbars,farmerscan preventthemostcommonproblemwithtraditional loadbars;thecables.Theloadbarssendtheweights directlytotheAnimalPerformance+apportoyour GallagherscalewithBluetoothconnectivity, removingtheriskofchewedortrampledcablesby livestock.Theloadbarsareplacedunderaplatform orweightingcageandcanbeusedforallkindof livestockandotheranimals.AllGallagherloadbars areresistanttocorrosionandareavailableina

severaldifferentsizesfordifferentweighingset-ups.

MilkTechNZwillalsobeonthestandshowcasingits latesttechnologyinCR-1electroniccupremovers withthelatestwirelesstechnologyandaccessories.

DairyTechvisitorsarebeingencouragedtocometo sharetheirstories,findoutmoreaboutthenew innovationsandaskquestionsattheNewZealand standP22locatedinHall2A.Complimentary refreshmentsincludingtea,coffeeandKiwibiscuits willbeavailableonthestand.

NewZealand’sHeadoftheUKandIreland,Joel Simssays:“We’reacountryknownfor combiningsmarttechnologywithmodernresearchto producenewproductsthatarebothefficientand effective.Ouraimistohelpfarmersaroundtheworld inwhatarevolatiletimesinaglobalmarketplace.

“Wearehappytoshareourexpertiseandcapacity tolifttheefficiencyandperformanceofdairyfarming systemsglobally.Someofthelatestdevelopments willallowgreaterproductiveuseoftime,staffand capital,maximisingbusinessgrowth.”

DairyHubSpeakerProgrammeAnnounced

Thisyear’sDairyHubis jam-packedwithtop industryand internationalspeakers coveringissues relevanttoeverydairy farmerandis somethingnottobemissed.

managementdecisionsaffectdairy profitabilitywithafocuson reproductiveefficiency.

HewillbefollowedbyFlorian Ritzmannat12pmonsecuringbetter deals.MrRitzmannistheCEOof FutureFarm,amarketplacethat connectsbuyersandsellersof agriculturalcommodities.

DrAmyJacksonwillshedsomelight onconsumerperceptioninherspeech It’stheCow,NotHow-UK’sPublic’s

Inoneofhisfirstfarmeventssince becomingFarmingMinister,Mark Spencerwilloutlinegovernmentplans duringhiskeynotespeech,with farmersabletoquizhimwhenhetakes tothepodiumduringtheStateofthe DairyingNationdebateat10:45am.

Wealsohavetwointernational speakerstakingtothestage, GeneticistDrJohnColeandZoetis’ MatthewUtt,whowillshedsome insightintohowtobreedfor sustainability.

Sustainabilityisathemefortheday andwillbediscussedbyArla’s AgricultureDirector,PaulSavage,in histalk,ThePathtoSustainableDairy at1pm.Hewillhighlighttheroute farmerscantaketomaketheir businessesmoresustainable,ensuring theyarefarminglongintothefuture.

PreferencesforDairyingFarmingat 12:15pm.Shewillhighlightwhatthe publicthinksabouthowcowsare managed,theroleofdairyfarmers, whattheybelievenaturalnessmeans, andthesystemstheywantcowskept in.Shewillalsoexplainhowthis knowledgecouldhelptheindustry addressreputationchallengesand buildbridges.

Dairyfarmersareoftenascapegoat whenitcomestoemissions.However,

DrColefromtheUSwillexplainthe rolegeneticsplaysinsustainablefarm systemsandthemanagement decisionsfarmerscantaketoimprove theirbusinesses.

EdwardLott,apartneratKite Consulting,willhelpnavigatefarmers throughtheturbulentmarketplace, highlightingwheresavingscanbe madeandhowtosecurethebestmilk price.Foranyprice-savvyfarmer,his talkat11.30amonCostofProduction andSecureMilkPriceisnottobe missed.

hearhowtheoppositeistrueinLee Trulove’stalkat1:45pmonCanDairy FarmingbePartoftheClimate Solution.MrTrueloveisResponsible SourcingManageratFirstMilk

HewillbejoinedbyfellowUSspeaker DrMattUtt,SeniorDairyProduct AnalystatZoetis,whowilloutlinehow tohitthebasicsregardingdairy profitability.Hewillfocusonwhat

Formoreinformationaboutwhat’son offeratthisyear’sDairy-Techevent,a lookat300exhibitorsattheshow,find outmoreaboutthe80newproducts beinglaunchedandtobuyyour discountedticketsnow,visitwww. dairy-tech.uk

FiveStudentsShortlistedforCoveted

ivefinalistsfrom collegesand universitiesacrossthe UKhavebeen shortlistedforthis year'sFarmHealth ManagementAwards, sponsoredbyVolac.

StudentsfromBristolVetSchool, HarperAdamsUniversity,Royal AgriculturalUniversity,andDuchy Collegewillvieforthecovetedtrophies whenthewinnersareannouncedat Dairy-Tech2023on1stFebruaryat StoneleighPark,Warwickshire.

Theawards,judgedthisyearby RABDFPolicyDirectorTimBrigstoke andCouncilMemberandVetSarah Tomlinson,aimtodemonstrateand testthestudents'knowledgeof proactivefarmhealthmanagement.

Thecompetitionissplitintothree categories:studentsatagricultural colleges,agriculturaluniversitiesand

vetschools,andisopentostudentsin allyeargroups.

Eachstudenthadtosubmita1,500wordessayonproactivefarmhealth management.

Thewinnersforeachcategorywillbe announcedat12:00pmontheVolac standandwilltakeawaya£500cash prize.

Commentingonthisyear'sfinalists, judgeandRABDFPolicyDirectorTim Brigstockesaid:"Thisyear'sfinalistsall hadagoodawarenessofbiosecurity aswellasitsinclusivityintofarmhealth planning.Trainingwasalsosomething theyallemphasisedasbeing important."

MatthewKnight,ManagingDirectorat RABDF,added:"FarmHealth Managementisanintegralpartof runningaproductiveandprofitable farmandisintegraltodeliveringhealth andwelfareimprovementsaspartof Defra'sAnimalHealthandWelfare Pathway."

FormoreinformationaboutDairy-Tech 2023,visitdairy-tech.uk

BritishcentenaryforDeLaval

DairyequipmentspecialistDeLavalhas tradedinBritainfor100years followingthecompany’sestablishment inSweden130yearsagobyfounder GustavdeLaval.Somedealershipsin theUKhaveworkedwithDeLaval

sincetheverybeginning,andstillworkwithfarms thatinstalledDeLavalequipmentinthe1920s.

“Ourdealershipnetworkhasbeenthebackboneof ourBritishsuccess,helpingDeLavaltoforgestrong relationshipswithBritishfarmers.MathersLtd,

operatinginthenorthwestofEnglandandScotland isthelongeststandingDeLavaldealerintheworld, havingbeenwiththebrandsince1923,”explains UK&IrelandsalesterritorymanagerCiaran Murphy.

In1930,DeLavalwasthefirsttointroducerotary milkingparlours.Inthe21stcentury,theriseof roboticshasbeentheprimarygrowthmarketforthe brandasfarmshavestruggledwithskilledlabour andequipmentmaintenancecosts.

“Robotshavemarkedaneweraindairying.Herd sizeshavedoubledsincethemillenniumandlabour shortageshavebecomeaconcernworldwide.Our milkingrobotshavebeendesignedtoimprovecow healthandyield,butalsotorestoreasenseof balancetofarmlifebyfreeingupvaluabletime,” addsMrMurphy.

Datadrivenfarminghasalsoledthebrandto developfarmsoftwaretomonitoreveryaspectof themilkingprocess,fromdetectingcowsinheatto identifyingpotentialyieldlossesasaresultof mastitis.

“OurThinkBiginitiativehashelpedhundredsof farmstoplanforgrowth,andmonitoringsystems suchasDelProarehelpingherdmanagersto reducecosts,improvecowwelfareandcreatemore sustainablefarms,”hesays.

Despiteafocusontechnology,thebrandstill manufacturesoneofthewidestrangesofdairy equipment,frombrushesandcleaningproductsto clustersandconventionalmilkingparlours.

“WeencouragealltojoinusatDairy-Techwhere wewillbecelebratingthecentenaryofDeLavalin

Britainandusheringinwhatwehopewillbe anothersuccessful100yearsoftrading,”concludes MrMurphy.

Footings&Floors

ConcreteFinishing areahighly experienced industrialand residentialconcrete installationcompanybasedin Essexworkingthroughoutthe SouthEastofEngland.

WeatFootings&Floors

ConcreteFinishinghavethe capabilityandskillsetforall yourconcreteneeds,nomatter ofsizeorsurfacefinish

required.Weofferavarietyof servicessuchas:

•PowerFloated

•EasyFloated

•DappleBar

•Tamp&BrushFinish.

•Installofsuspendedprecast floors,polystyrenedesignor traditionalblockandbeam.

•Preparationforconcrete consistingofmembranes, mesh,andinsulation.

Ourinstallteamsareallhighly experiencedandholdall therelevantIndustry qualifications.Eachgang consistsofaqualified SSSTSandfirstaid trainedtoensurethatall CDM requirements aremet. Ourmobile operations managers areonhand toassist onsiteand liaisewith clientswhere needed. Theywillvisit sitesona regularbasis toensure program

datesandsiteschedulesare meetthroughoutthecourseof yourproject.

WorkingTogether

Weofferastart-to-finishclient experienceandprideourselves onourhighlevelofcustomer serviceandproductfinish throughoutyourproject. WhyChooseUs? Weworkwithawholearrayof differenttypesofclientsto producehighqualityinstallsand concretefinishingacrossallof ourresidential,commercialand agriculturalprojects.Whynot takealookatourgallerypage andseeforyourself.

Theall-electricScottishMunroMK1electricutility truckdebutsatLowCarbonAgricultureshow

TheMunroMK1 electricfour-wheel driveoff-roadutility vehiclewillbe showcased alongsideotherlow emissionvehiclesattheLow CarbonAgricultureShow2023 on7-8February,atitsfirsttrade eventsincelaunchingin December2022.

Visitorstotheshow,takingplace attheNationalAgricultural ExhibitionCentre(NAEC), Stoneleigh,willbeabletosee whatMunrosaysistheworld’s first‘capable’electric4x4vehicle, intheevent’s‘LowEmission Vehicles(LEV)Expo’exhibition.

TheagentshowcasingtheMunro MK1,Off-RoadElectric’sdirector, MarcMonserrat,saysthatdemos willbeavailablefromMarch onwards.“Off-RoadElectricis takingordersfordeliveryin2023. “LowCarbonAgricultureShowis theperfectplacetopresentthe MK1offtothemanyfarmersand landownerswhoarelookingto reduceemissionswithareliable off-roadvehicle,a5-year 100,000-milewarrantyandalong lifespan,”addsMarc.

Andwithmorelowemission vehiclesbecomingstandardon UKfarms,theeventwillexplore howfarmerscanbecomekey playersinthegeneration,storage andsupplyofrenewable transportelectricityandfuelin ruralareas,aswellassupplying decentralisedpowernetworks.

TheLowEmissionVehiclesExpo willfeaturethelatestinnovations inlowemissionagricultural machinery,includingbatteryand biofuelpoweredvehicles, opportunitiesinruralcharging infrastructure,andrenewable energywithanexhibitionanda dedicatedconferencesession.

Industryexpertsspeakinginthe LEVconferencesession, sponsoredbyOspreyCharging

Network,andchairedbyAndy Eastlake,CEOofZemo Partnership,willlookathowwe areprogressingwithUK transportdecarbonisation targets,theopportunitiesthis transitionofferslandowners.

AndyEastlakesays:“With Government’scommitmentto endthesaleofallemittingonroadvehiclesby2040nowin place,attentionisalreadymoving totheoff-highwayandmobile

machinerymarketforinitiatives toeliminateemissionsfromthis sectortoo.

“Farmersandothersinvolvedin agriculturewillneedtolearnfrom andembraceinnovationsin technology–liketheMunroMK1 –andinfuelsandoperations,to playtheirpartintheNetZero transition.Zemoisgladtobea supporteroftheLCAshow, enablingcollaborationacross industriestohelpfindtheoptimal

solutionsforvehiclesand machineryinthisvitalsector.”

SpeakersintheLEV conferencesessioninclude:

•JakeWarwick,climate changepolicyadvisoratthe DepartmentforTransport,will presenton‘Transitioningtoa zero-emissiontransport sector’

•NickMcCarthy,technical specialistatCenex,will discuss‘Decarbonising agriculturalvehiclesandfuels –alookatthealternativefuel options’

•JakeGoldby,seniorbusiness developmentmanagerat OspreyChargingNetwork, willoutlinetheopportunityof ‘Becomingpartoftherapid EVchargingnetwork.’

Intheshow’sexhibition,theallelectricScottishMunroMK1 UtilityTruckwillmakeitsdebut. Alsomakinganappearancewill

betheFT25G-theworld’sfirst commercialall-electriccompact tractor,imported byReesinkAgriculture.

OspreyChargingNetworkwillbe lookingforfreeholdand leaseholdlandtoexpandits driver-recommendedrapid chargingnetwork,andJCBwill showcaseitsLEVs.

DavidTimmis,JCBproductand marketingmanagersaystheJCB 525-60EAgriLoadalland35-22E Teletrukwillbeattheevent,and visitorscantalktotheJCB specialistsandtestdrivea machineinthedemonstration area.

“JCBAgricultureisdelightedto beexhibitingattheLowCarbon AgricultureShow2023to showcaseitslatestE-Tech electricmachines.JCBneeds alternativestopowerits machineryinazero-carbonway andourengineershave successfullyreplaceddiesel

enginesincertainJCBcompact equipmentwithlithium-ion batteries,”saysDavid.

“OurbroadrangeofE-Tech productsnowoffersagricultural customerszeroemissionsat pointofuse,lownoise,smooth operation,equalperformanceto dieselandcapabilitiesofafull day’sworkonasinglecharge,” addsDavid.

Heldinpartnershipwiththe NationalFarmers’Union(NFU) andtheCountryLandand BusinessAssociation(CLA),Low CarbonAgricultureshow incorporatesfourexpos including:‘Environmental BusinessExpo’,‘Farm TechnologyExpo’,‘EnergyNow Expo’and‘LowEmission VehiclesExpo.’

Tolearnmoreandbookyourfree ticketfortheshow,visitwww. lowcarbonagricultureshow.co.uk.

LisaMoore,ActingDevonCountyShowManager comments:'We'vehadtwoyearswheretheShow hasn'tbeenquitewherewewanteditduetoCovid. Butwithallthathopefullybehindus,wecannow getbackontrackandstagetheshowofallshows

ADevonGallery,anothernewfeaturewhichwill

The2023Showlineupwillalsoincludethefull quotaoflivestockandassociatedcompetitions,the finestofDevonfood,vintagetractorsandamassive marqueepackedtotherafterswithcraftingand gardeningideas.ThePremierDogShow,which lastyearwasawardedacertificateofexcellence fromtheKennelClub,willalsoreturntothe showground.

TheDevonCountyShow2023takesplaceon Thursday18th,Friday19thandSaturday 20thMay.Ticketsarenowavailableforadvance purchaseatwww.devoncountyshow.co.uk

Innovationiskeytoasuccessful2023, sayindustryexperts

NigelJenney,Chief Executiveofthe UK'sFreshProduce Consortium, believesthe adoptionof technologicalsolutions throughoutthesupplychainisa majorpartofthesolution.

War,strikes,seasonalworker constraints,energyhikesanda growingchangeinourclimate haveputatremendousstrainon thefreshproduceindustry.

Thechallengesfacedmeanthat now,morethaneverbefore,we needtolooktoinnovationtonot onlysolvetheissuesbuttohelp oursectortothriveinthefuture.

DoctorRosemaryCollierand ProfessorKateSeersofthe universityofWarwickbelievethat astarkpowerasymmetryexists betweensuppliersandretailers, whosepolicieshaveledtoa "defensive"innovationculture andlackoftrust.Theynotethat

innovationplatformsareneeded tobringtogetherotherwise closedgroupsaroundcommon problemsandtheuseofroadmappingshouldbeutilisedto provideaguidingvisionforthe futureofthesector.

Retail-ledgrowergroupsalso provideameanstoimprovetrust betweensuppliersand customersinthesectorand promotenewtechnological trajectories.

InAugust2022,thegovernment announced£16.5millionmore fundingforresearchand developmentinfarming innovation.

ArtificialIntelligencetechnology, agri-robotstohelpspeedup vegetableharvestingand automationtoincreasefruitcrop yieldsarejustsomeofresearch anddevelopmentprojectsthat havealreadyreceivedfunding throughtheFarmingInnovation Programmeandthisboostisset

tocontinueintheyeartocome.

FormerFarmingInnovation

MinisterSteveDoublesaidofthe scheme:"Weneedtohelp unlockgreaterpotentialinour alreadybrilliantfarmingand horticulturesector.Thismoveto boosttheadoptionofagriinnovationdemonstrateshowwiththerightfundingandsupport -therearegreatproductivityand environmentalsustainability gainstobemade.

"Our£270millioninvestmentin farminginnovationisdesignedto helptaketheUK'sworld-leading researchideasandturnthem intopracticalsolutionstosupport healthysoils,abundant pollinatorsandcleanwater alongsideprofitablefood production."

InareportproducedfortheFood StandardsAgencybyCambridge University,researcherShima Barakatfoundthatsixkey technologyfieldswereidentified

andtheirimplicationsfor industry,consumers,foodsafety andtheregulatoryframework explored.

Thesefieldsare:

•FoodProductionand Processing(indoor/vertical/ aquaponicfarming,3Dfood printing,foodsideandbyproductuse,novelnonthermalprocessing,and novelpesticides)

•NovelSourcesofProtein, suchasinsects(forhuman consumption,andanimal feedstock)

•SyntheticBiology(including lab-grownmeatand proteins)Genomics Applicationsalongthevalue chain(forfoodsafety applications,trackingand sustainability)

•NovelPackaging(active, smart,biodegradable,edible, andreusablesolutions)

•DigitalTechnologiesinthe foodsector(supporting analysis,decisionmaking andtraceability).

Despitethefindings,manyinthe industryareunawareofthe technologiesthatexistor, indeed,howtofinanceand

integratethemintotheirexisting work-flow."Educationiskey," explainsNigelJenney,Chief ExecutiveoftheUK'sFresh ProduceConsortium.He believestheadoptionof technologicalsolutions throughoutthesupplychainisa majorpartofthesolution.

"Throughagritech,wecantarget thoseareasoftheindustrythat facebothshort-termandlongtermchallengesandgraspthe untappedpotentialofoursector," hesaid.

"Thetechnologyisemergingbut currentlythereisn'tenough educationaboutitsuseandthere needstobemorefinancially viableroutesavailabletosupport itsadoption.

"That'swhyFPChasdeveloped agroundbreakingtwo-in-one eventtobothshowcasethelatest innovationanddiscoverthenext generationoftalenttotakethe freshproduceandhorticultural sectorsconfidentlyforwardtothe future."

"FPCFUTURE&CAREERSwill takeplacethisyearon16March attheEastofEnglandArenaand EventsCentre,Peterborough. Jenneywantsittobeopento everyone,withfreeentry availabletoallwhoregisteron

thewebsite.

"Theshortageofseasonal workersintheUKisaserious businesschallenge"continued Jenney"andbusinessesare eagertolearnmoreabouthow automationcankeeptheir operationsrunning."

#HowToRobotiscollaborating withtheFPCtohelpfarmsand otherfreshproducebusinesses exploretheirautomationoptions andfindsuppliersandsolutions. Theywillbeshowcasingtheir servicesatFUTURE& CAREERSonStandS3.

"Manyofbusinessesaredipping theirtoesintotheroboticsand automationindustryforthefirst timeandareseekingadviceon whereandhowtobeginand whatsolutionsareavailableto them,"addedJenney.

Indeed,FPCencourages supplierswithrelevantsolutions toconsiderdemonstratingtheir innovationsatFPCFuturein March.

Toenquireaboutbecomingan exhibitororsponsorofFPC FUTURE&CAREERS emaillinda@freshproduce.org. uk.

PopularSpringTractorShow'smovetoMarchmeans 'MasseysMore'Exhibits,Displays,ShoppingandFun

Wavegoodbyeto winterwithan incredible springeventto getyourmotor running!The SpringTractorWorldand ClassicCommercialShow, thelongest-establishedshow ofitskind,iscelebrating movingtoSaturday11thand Sunday12thMarchwith evenmoreexhibitors,trade stands,displaysand bargainsthaneverbefore.

Welcomingexhibitorsfrom acrossthecountry,thetwodayindoorandoutdoor extravaganzashowcases veteran,vintageandclassic tractors,lorriesand trucks,miniaturesteam engines,modeldisplaysand muchmore,includingawide rangeofhorticulturaland gardeningequipment,classic andmodernride-onmowers.

MakingthemostofthewellequippedThreeCounties Showground,atthefootof theiconicMalvernHills,the indoorexhibitsalonewillfill threepermanentexhibition hallspluslinkmarquee, guaranteeingcomfort, whatevertheweather! Outdoordisplaysinclude classiccommercials,Land Roversandvans,stationary enginesandminiature Steamengines.

Ofcoursethere'splentyof opportunitiestochatand swaptipsatnumerous regionalandnational clubstands.Feature presentationsincludethe FordsonNewPerformance Range,plusFriendsof FergusonHeritageandthe FergusonClub,celebrating 70yearsofMassey-HarrisFerguson.

Addingtoalltheevent

favouritesvisitorslove,Sundayseesthereturnof thepopularClassicCommercialsDrive-InDay. Completelyfreeandwithnoneedtopre-book, simplyturnupwithyourclassiccommercialbefore 9.30amforawarmwelcome.Forotherweekend exhibitsanddisplays,completeyourbookingform onthenewwww.tractorworldshow.comwebsite before19thFebruary.

Keenshoppersmightfindithardtotearthemselves awayfrom theUK'slargest tradegathering ofspecialist tradestands, partssuppliers, andmodeland toy retailers.Discover unmissable restoration productsand parts,toolsand garage equipment,paints andvarnishes, plusfantastic workwear, countryclothing, booksandgifts. Whetheryou're clearingoutor stockingup, Saturday's famousvintage auctionandBig SpringSale,

hostedby specialistsH.J PughandCo,is alwaysahotdraw, ontrackfor1500 lots,including100 tractors.Tobookin yourauctionlots, seewww.hjpugh. comorcall01531 631122.

Theshowground boaststwoheated restaurants,coffee loungeand numerouscatering stands.Easytofind withbrownsigns fromallmajor routes,there's amplefreeparking, disabledandcoach facilities,cash machineandonsite conveniencestore. Makesureyou secureyouronlinediscountedadvanceday, weekendorcampingtickets(perfectlypositionedfor exploringtheMalvernHillsandsurrounding countryside),beforetheyallgo!

TheSpringTractorWorldandClassicCommercial ShowisattheThreeCountiesshowground, Malvern,onSaturday11thandSunday12thMarch 2023.Fordiscountedadvancetickets,full directionsandallinformation,goto:www. tractorworldshow.co.uk.

Regenuary

Doyoureallyknow howyourfoodis produced?Doesthis reallymattertoyou? Regenerativefarming hasbeenthe buzzwordof2022 andwillcontinuetobein2023 andIloveit!Why?Simple becausenomatterwhatyour choiceofdiet,youcanmakea positivechangeandjointhis movementofcontinuous improvement.

Regenerative farmingisa sustainable eating movement without chemicals andexcess livestockso thesoilis healthyand createsa healthier ecosystem.

MeetFarmer TomfromFull CircleFarmsbasedinChiddingly

Estate,WestSussex.FullCircle Farmsaretrulyuniqueandthey produceamazingfullflavour vegetablesonsmallscalewhilst neverusingasingledropof pesticideorherbicide.Theyalso usethesefarmstoeducate peopleonwheretheirfood comesfromandhelppeople throughhorticulturaltherapy. Butthere’smore!Theclueisin thetitlebutFullCircleFarmsis reallyoneofthose gemsthatneedstobe discoveredasit’sa storyofhope, determinationand kindness.Ithinkyou’ll agree,weallneedmore ofthat.

FarmerTomhasreally gonebacktohisroots, towhereitallbeganfor himwithan apprenticeshipandhis passionforthisproject reallycomestothe forefront.

Withinthisfarmthey providemany opportunitiesforthe localcommunityand gueststogetoutinto nature,haveabreak fromthestressof workinglife,getactive

andgettheirhandsdirty.

Teachingothersaboutsmall scaleregenerativefarmingand howtogrowtheirownfoodwhich isamazingwiththeiraimof reducingandrethinkingfood wasteand providetop chefswithan amazing rangeof flavours. Thisisan exceptional successstory of diversification andinmy opinionweall needmoreof these schemesand moreToms!

Byoffering chefsplotsizesrangingfrom500 Sqmetersto1acredepending ontheirneeds,theteamgrow, nurtureanddelivertwiceweekly. Bysellingtheplotandnotthe crop,chefsreceivefully managedfarmplotswith amazingcropsforafixedsum. Butevenbetterthewasteisthen collectedbacktoreuseas compostintheirplot!Isn’tthat justsowonderful?WhenIgot chattingtoTombackin November,thisstoryjustreally jumpedoutandpulledatmy heartstrings.Asafarmer myself,Itrulyfeelthesameway andweshouldbeshoutingout aboutthingslikethis.

Regenuarythoughrunsasa campaignthroughthemonthof January,reallyisatopicandlifeskillweallneedtobeonboard withandlet’sbehonest,

compostingourwaste,growing ourownfoodifyouareable,has apositiveimpactonour environmentandmental healthandbodies.

‘Weeatbalanced’ campaignranbyAHDB aimstohighlightthe hugebenefitsof choosingsustainable farmingprocesses,it helpstoeducateour futuregenerationto makebetterchoicesto theirhealthandour planet.

Thefutureinmyopinion isregenerativewhether yousupportVegan, VegetarianorOmnivore diets.Regenerationisn’t anewconceptbutitis onewecansupportas weallstrivetoachieve harmoniousequilibrium withnature,supporting ecosystemsthrough biodiversityandtending toourlandinasympathetic manner.

Bybuyingingredientsthathave beenproducedinconditionsthat includebuildingsoilhealthand fertility,increasingwater percolationandretention, reducingcarbonemissionsand currentatmosphericCO2levels wecanallhaveapositive impact.

Eatinseason, local,sustainably frompeoplelike FarmerTombut mostimportantly ensuringyoubuy Britishyoucan alsobeafood hero!

Tomquotes “Farmersarethe backboneofour society.They aretheoneswho provideusallthe foodthatweeat. Asaresult,the entirepopulation ofthecountry dependsupon farmers.Beit thesmallestorthelargest country.Farmersshouldbe supportedandrespectedway

So,Tomkepthispromiseto ‘NeverGiveUporGiveIn’.This isstillthemottousedonthefarm everyday.Theoriginalplanwas tohelpex-militarypersonnelbut itquicklybecameclearthatwe couldhelppeoplesufferingfrom PTSDandothermentalhealth issuestoo.Thedoorshave sinceopenedwidertoanyone suffering.ThisiswhatThe GardenArmynowstandsfor. Buildingandarmyofpeoplewho helponeanother.Thischaritable wingofFullCircleFarmsjust emcompassessomuchunder oneumbrellaandIapplaud FarmerTomtodreambig!

‘Youarenotyourpastyouare rightnow.Youcannotchange themistakesyou’vemade.All youcandoislearnfromthem andmoveforward.Becauseyou pastdoesnotdefineyourfuture,

morethantheyare.”

FullCircleFarmshasalso teamedupwithTheGarden Armywhichisanorganisation setuptoprovidetherapeutic horticulturesessionstoaid mentalwellbeing.

TheGardenArmystartedlifeas apromisetoDavidGee.Anexmilitarypolicemanfoundthe farmtobehissalvationwhenhe wasfindinghisPTSDastruggle.

RSABIandFormerRoyalMarinesLaunch

PioneeringMentalHealthInitiative

FormerRoyalMarinesand farmingcharityRSABI areworkingtogetherto deliverapioneering mentalhealthinitiative forScottishagriculture,beingrolled outfromthismonth.

Theground-breakingMentalHealth FirstAidtrainingisaimedat encouragingpeopletotalkmorefreely aboutmentalhealth,reducingstigma andimprovingunderstandingabout whattolookoutforandhowto respondwhensomeonemaybe struggling.

Thetrainingisbeing deliveredinanew partnershipbetween RSABI,thecharitywhich supportspeoplein Scottishagriculture,and IEDTrainingSolutions Ltd,anaward-winning consultancyfoundedby formerRoyalMarines.

Theinitiativeoffersthe opportunityfor participantstogain certificationintheSCQF Level4AwardforFirst AidforMentalHealth Awarenessand/orSCQF Level5AwardinFirst AidforMentalHealth. Thetrainingwillbe aimedatorganisationsand individualswhoworkregularlyinthe frontlinewithfarmersorcrofters, includingthoseinvolvedin assessmentsorinspections, consultantsandadvisers.

Theaimistoprovideindividuals withtheknowledgetorecognisea rangeofmentalhealthconditionsand knowhowtoprovidepractical supportforapersonpresentingwitha mentalhealthcondition.Thetraining willhelpparticipantstodevelopthe skillstostartaconversationandtobe abletodirectpeopletoappropriate professionalhelp.Theskillslearned willalsohelpthosewhotakepart understandmoreabouttheirown mentalhealth.

Seventrainingcourseshavesofar beendeliveredduringapilotphase, includingfivewithassessorsandstaff fromFoodIntegrityAssurance,who undertakeassessmentsonbehalfof bothQualityMeatScotlandand ScottishQualityCrops.

CarolMcLaren,ChiefExecutiveof RSABI,saidtheinnovativetraining couldmakeasignificantdifferencein theScottishagriculturalcommunity: “Therearemanysynergiesbetween theRoyalMarinesandfarming–from workinginallweathersand challengingterraintoantisocial hours,timeawayfromfamilyand publicscrutiny.

“Thisinitiativecomesatatimewhen therearesomereallyencouraging greenshootsofchangeasfarmersand othersworkinginagriculturebecome

training,andthecascadeeffectofthe benefit,couldbeamajorstepforward fortheindustry.”

MajorHughJones,aformerRoyal Marinewith35years’service,is leadingonthedeliveryofthecourses. Hesaid:“It’sveryimportantfor farmerstorecognisewhentheyare startingtofeelstressedandthatthey knowaboutcopingstrategiessuchas takingabreak,eatinghealthilyand takingregularexercise.Thesesteps canhaveanimmenselypositiveeffect onanindividual.”

Duringthetraining

MajorJonesalsoexplains thesignstolookoutfor whenvisitingfarmersor crofters,sayingthat subtlechangescouldbe anindicationsomething iswrong:“Don’thesitate toaskthemhowtheyare. Sayiftheydon’tseem themselvesandyouare worriedandaboveallbe kind–youwouldn’t believehowmuchimpact thatcanhave.”

moreopenabouttalkingaboutmental healthandthestepsneededto maintainandimproveit.”

IEDTrainingSolutionswassetupin 2015byformerRoyalMarineIan Clarkwhosaidheandhisteamare excitedtobeworkingincollaboration withRSABItodeliverthisimportant traininginitiative.

Thecompanyhasextensive experienceofdeliveringsuccessful tailoredHealth&Wellbeing workshopstotheruralsector.

“Wehaveagreatdealofrespectand admirationfortheworkofthe farmingcommunitytobothprovide foodandlookaftertheland,”saidMr Clark.

“Duringrecenttimessomegreatwork hasbeendoneintheRoyalMarinesto encourageareallypositiveapproach toachievinggoodmentalhealthand weareverymuchlookingforwardto sharingthatexperiencewiththe farmingcommunity.Ithinkthis

Thoseinterestedin findingoutmoreabout thenewmentalhealth firstaidtraining, includingavideo interviewwithMajor HughJones,shouldvisitwww.rsabi. org.uktofindoutmoreoremail mentalhealthtraining@rsabi.org.ukto registerinterest.

RSABIprovidesemotionalsupport, includingafreecounsellingservice,as wellaspracticalandfinancialsupport. Thefree,confidentialsupportservice isavailable24/7bycalling08081234 555orusingthewebchatserviceon theRSABIwebsite.

Thisinitiativebuildsonthecharity’s #keeptalkingcampaigntoencourage peopletolookoutforeachother duringthewintermonthsandanew Thrivementalhealthappwhichis beingpilotedwithyoungfarmers clubs.

Picturecaption:Picturedduringa farmvisitare,fromleft,David Leggat,RSABITrustee,Carol McLaren,RSABIChiefExecutiveand formerRoyalMarineHughJones, IEDTrainingSolutions,whowillbe leadingonthedeliveryofthecourses.

producingourowngrapesforwineproduction,a projectIamveryproudtohavekickstarted.

Ireturnedtothefamilybusinessduringthe coronaviruspandemic,workinginthetravelindustry atthattimewasaprettyhardplacetobeandIthink Ilongedforthewide-openspaces,freshairand gettingawayfromthehustleandbustleofLondon life.Ihadencouragedmybrotherstosetupan Instagramaccounttokeepmeuptodatewithwhat wasgoingonathomeonthefarmandwithCovid, mydesiretoreturntothecountrysideandaposition openingonthefarm,Icouldn’tresistmuchlonger!

Fittingbackintolifeonthefarmwasasteep learningcurve,thepastthreeyearshavebeenmy

‘apprenticeship’underthecarefulwatchofmy brothers,TomandWillandmyfatherPeter.Priorto returning,Ihadalwaysgotinvolvedwiththefarm, especiallyduringsummerswhilstharvestingorin lambing-timefromFebruarythroughtoMarch. However,Iveryquicklylearntthereismoreto farmingthandrivingbigtractorsandplayingwith cutelambs!

ynameisGeorgie

Gettingmyheadaroundthe businessaspectofthefarmwas quitethemountaintoclimb,my fatherhadalwaysdoneasterling jobofmanagingthissideof thingshimselfandsogettingall thesums,figuresandusefulbits ofinformationoutofhisheadand ontoahardrecordsomewhere wasthefirstchallenge!My brotherswouldbothmuchrather

beoutinthefields thanintheofficeso gettingthemboth onsidetospend sometimediscussing financeplansetc. wasanothertaskin itselfbutIdohave theeldestsister powersofpersuasion onmyside.

Thephysicalityofthe jobwasnaturally quiteastarkchange fromanofficerolein Londonandatfirst theonslaughtof wrestlingwithsheep, lugging fencing equipment andservicing orrepairing machinery didmanage todealme withmyfairshareof bruisesand‘war-wounds’ butIhavefoundmyown waysofdoingtasksnow orhavefinallyaccepted whentoadmitdefeatand askforhelp!

NaturallyIwantedtoput myownspinonhowwe dothings,I’vealways hadaninterestin vineyards, viticulture andwithout puttingtoo fineapoint onit–wine!So,I investedinsome trainingatPlumpton Collegeandsought theadviceofalocal viticulturalconsultant, Ialreadyknewour soiltypeandtypical weatherpatterns hereontheBerkshire downsmatchesthat oftheswathesof KentandSussex beingboughtupby manyofthefamous Frenchchampagne housessuchas Tattinger…fast forwardtoMayof 2021andwewere

plantingourfirstblockofvines!It hasbeenquitethejourneyanda considerableinvestmentforthe establishmentofthecrop,Dad andtheboyshavebeenhugely supportiveofthewholethingand havethoroughlyenjoyedbeing involved.

WhenitcomestoinvestmentDad hasalwayshadthesamesetof rulesforallthreeofus;cometo himwithabusinessplanandrunthroughofcostingsandifhesees wehavereallylookedintowhat weareproposingheishappyfor thefarmtobackusalongtheway –IthinkImayhavetrumpedthe boyswiththisprojectasIknow

Dad’sweaknessisacheeky glassofwineonaweekendwith hisroast!

Ihavenowsettledintofarmlife fully,weallhaveourindividual rolesandresponsibilitiesbutwork wellasteam,Iloveworkingwith myfamily(neverthoughtI’dsay that!)andfeelsoluckytowake upandseethemagicalviews overtheBerkshireDownsevery day,it’saveryspecialplaceto call‘myoffice’!

FollowGeorgie’sstoryon instagram@georgiecarlisle and@rowles_farm

Paymentsforwindfarmsto“switchoff”soartoquarterbillionpounds

situatedintheMorayFirth,are nowreceiving£100millionper yearbetweenthem.

Thenewshasgenerated suspicionsthatbotharetaking advantageofaloopholeinthe systemthatallowsgenerators tobepaidtwiceforthesame electricity,withconsumers footingthebill.

NetZeroWatch’sdeputy director,AndrewMontford explained:

“Althoughconstraints

paymentsarewidely understoodasapaymentto switchoff,infacttherulesonly requiregeneratorstokeepthe powerawayfromthe transmissiongrid.Iftheycan divertitelsewhere,for exampletoabattery,theycan receivetheconstraintpayment andstillsellthepower.”

However,thefindingsarealso symptomaticofdeeper problemswiththegovernance oftheelectricitysystemand thewayrenewableshave beenrolledoutbeforethegrid

wasreadytotakethem.

EnergyeconomistProfessor GordonHughessaid:

“ItwasveryfoolishofNational Gridtoagreetogrid connectionsfornew generatorsinthenorthof Scotlandbeforeupgradingthe capacityoftheNorth-South transmissionlines.”

Lastyear,itwasrevealedthat MorayEasthadexploited anotherloopholeinthe electricitysystemrulesto delayactivationofits agreementtoselllow-priced powertothegrid.Asaresult, ithasbeenabletoboostits incomebyhundredsof millionsofpounds,againat theexpenseofconsumers.

NetZeroWatch’sdirector, DrBennyPeiser,said:

“Whetherthroughutter incompetence,orshameful cynicism,theGovernment, NationalGridandOfgemhave putinplaceanelectricity systemthatallowsrenewables operatorstoripoffthe consumerleft,rightand centre.TheyseemtoholdUK householdsandbusinessesin contempt.”

Furtherdetails:

*MorayEastonlybecame fullyoperationalin2022,soits 2023constraintincomeis likelytobehigherstill.

*NetZeroWatchrevealedthe existenceoftheconstraint paymentloopholelastyear. Theissuehasbeenbroughtto theattentionofOfgem.

*Thereisnosuggestionthat eitherwindfarmisdoing anythingillegal.

Balancingsustainablefoodproductionandenergysecurity takescentrestageatLowCarbonAgricultureShow2023

ThenextLow CarbonAgriculture Showwilltake placeon7-8 February2023at theNational AgriculturalExhibitionCentre (NAEC),Stoneleigh,tohelp farmersandlandownerstoriseto thechallengeofproducingmore domestic,climatefriendlyfood andenergy,withfreshcontent announcedthissummer.

Witharenewedfoodstrategy issuedbythegovernment, pledgingtoincreasesupportfor domesticproduction,farmersare beingencouragedtoproduce high-quality,climate-friendlyfood whileprotectingandenhancing theenvironment.

Alongsidethis,theBritishEnergy SecurityStrategyissuedearly thisyear,pledgestodevelopan energysystemthatismuchmore self-sufficient,statingthatby 2030,95%ofBritishelectricity couldbelowcarbon,andby 2035,wewillhavedecarbonised ourenergysystem,subjectto securityofsupply.

Followingthesuccessofthe showlastMarch,newconference sessionswillfocusonenhancing biodiversity,transitioningto regenerativefarmingsystems, nichecrops,managingenergy useandcosts,separatesessions onthedecarbonisationofUK heatandpower,andmaximising returnsfromexistingclean energyassets.Apolicy workshop,givingfarmersand landownersthechancetoquiz expertsonagricultural,energy andenvironmentalpolicyhas alsobeenadded.Thenewtopics havebeenintroducedalongside alreadypopularsessions,such ascarbonfarming,soilhealth, eachrenewableenergytypeand anopendebateonreachingnet zeroinagriculture.

Withcontinuedpricevolatilityin fertiliser,energyandinputs, risingfoodpricesandrenewed

focusontheenvironment,the showwillprovideapragmatic approachtothesepressing issues,withadvicethatcuts throughthenoisetodeliver realisticadviceandproductive discussion.

Eventdirector,David Jacobmeyer,hascreateda programmetoreflectthe pertinentissuesfacedby farmers.“Energyandinputcosts continuetoriseandfocussingon thequestionoffoodorfuelisnot helpful.Thebigchallengeishow wesustainablyincreasethe demandsforfood,ensureenergy securityintheUKandlookafter ourwater,soilandairquality.”

Heldinpartnershipwiththe NationalFarmers’Union(NFU) andtheCountryLandand BusinessAssociation(CLA),Low CarbonAgricultureshow incorporatesfourexpos including:‘Environmental BusinessExpo’,‘Farm TechnologyExpo’,‘EnergyNow Expo’and‘LowEmission VehiclesExpo.’

LowCarbonAgriculturewill featureitsrenownedmultistreamedconference, workshops,anexhibition,test drivesoflowemissionvehicles andmachineryand demonstrationsofthelatest innovationsinagri-tech.

NationalFarmers’Union(NFU) DeputyPresident,Tom Bradshaw,says:

“TheNFUisaproudpartnerof theshowwhichisrapidly becomingacentraleventforlow carbonfarming.Atatimewhen foodandenergysecurityare rightlyhighoneveryone’sminds, theshowprovidestargeted supportforproducingclimatefriendlyfood,energyandfibre. “Thereisawealthofpractical advicefromexpertsonenergy, environment,agri-techandlow emissionsvehicles.Itisanideal

opportunityforfarmerstocome togethertoexploreopportunities andbuildresilientbusinesses.”

CountryLandandBusiness Association(CLA)Director General,SarahHendry,says:

“TheCLAispleasedonceagain tobesupportingtheLowCarbon AgricultureShow.Thisevent gathersthemostdynamicrural businessesfromacrossthe sector,wherelandownersand industryexpertsworktotackle thegreatestsocietalchallenge, wearefacingglobally.TheCLA andourmembersareworking hardtodeliverasustainable,low carbonanddiverserural economyforthefuture,aswe continueontheroadtobeworld leadersinreachingNetZero.”

LowCarbonAgricultureShowis freetoattendandfeaturesthe EnergyNowExpo,inwhichan exhibitionwillbeaccompaniedby anenergystoragetheatreanda cutting-edgeconference programme,coveringallformsof renewables.TheLowEmission VehiclesExpowillshowcasethe latestlow-carbontransportand machinerysolutions,highlightthe relatedopportunities,andfeature atesttrack.TheEnvironmental BusinessExpowillincludean exhibitionandconference sessionsofferingpractical guidancetofarmersonthe managementandreductionof harmfulgreenhousegasses, carbonsequestration, regenerativefarming,and effectiveenvironmentalland management.Suppliersof innovativeagri-techwilltakepart intheexhibitionandworkshop areawithintheFarmTechnology Expo.

Visitwww. lowcarbonagricultureshow.co.uk tolearnmore.

Government-fundedbiomassinitiativeforUK farmslaunchingatLowCarbonAgricultureShow

Anew£4.8Mproject fundedbythe Departmentfor Business,Energy andIndustrial Strategy(BEIS)to increasebiomasscropsgrownin theUK,willlaunchatLow CarbonAgricultureShowatthe NAEC,Stoneleigh,on7th February2023.

BiomassConnectisanew initiativethatwillshowcasebestpracticeandinnovationsin biomassfeedstockproductionat sitesacrosstheUKandthrough abiomassInformationhub.

DrJeanetteWhitaker,Biomass Connectleadandprincipal scientistinsoilsandlanduseat theUKCentreforEcology& Hydrology(UKCEH),saysthe projectisaboutsupportingland managerstoplantmore sustainablebiomasscrops.“Our projectwillactasafocalpointfor thebiomassindustry,supporting theexpansionofsustainable biomassproductionintheUK.

“TheClimateChangeCommittee indicatesthatexpansionof biomassfeedstockcultivation from10,000hato730,000haby 2050isrequiredtodelivernet zerofortheUK.Thiswillrequire significantchangesinagricultural landuseoverthecoming decades,”saysJeanette.

“Launchingourinitiativeatthe LowCarbonAgricultureshow

thereforeseemedtheobvious choicetoraisetheprofileofour projectanddiscussthe challengesforthebiomass sectorataneventattendedby individualsandorganisations focusedondecarbonising agriculture,”addsJeanette.

TheBiomassConnectlaunchwill takeplacebetween16:30–17:30onTuesday7thFebruary attheshowandwillincludean outlineoftheproject,information onwhymoresustainable biomassiscrucialtoreachingnet zero,andhowitcanbenefit farmers.

BiomassConnectisalso representedintheshow’s exhibition,withastandfor farmerstovisitandunderstand whichbiomasscropscouldbe suitableforthem.Therewillalso beadedicatedbiomassareain theexhibitionsofarmerscan speakdirectlywithindustry suppliers.

Ondaytwooftheevent,thereis aconferencesessiondiscussing ‘Theroleofbiomassinour energysecurity&netzeroplans,’ chairedbyProfessorPatricia Thornley,directoroftheEnergy andBioproductsResearch Institute,withpresentationsfrom ProfessorIainDonnison,headof theInstituteofBiological, EnvironmentalandRural Sciences(IBERS),discussing‘A guidetoburningbiomassfor

electricitygeneration,while capturingthecarbonproduced (BECCS)’,CallumWilliams, projectmanageratEnvirocrops, presenting‘Aguidetoselecting andgrowingthe‘best’biomass crops,andDrJeanetteWhitaker, principalscientistinsoilandland useatUKCEHandProject LeaderofBiomassConnect, outlining‘BiomassConnect–encouragingbestpracticeand innovations.’

Heldinpartnershipwiththe NationalFarmers’Union(NFU) andtheCountryLandand BusinessAssociation(CLA),Low CarbonAgricultureshow incorporatesfourexpos including:‘Environmental BusinessExpo’,‘Farm TechnologyExpo’,‘EnergyNow Expo’and‘LowEmission VehiclesExpo.’

LowCarbonAgriculturewill featureitsrenownedmultistreamedconference, workshops,anexhibition,test drivesoflowemissionvehicles andmachineryand demonstrationsofthelatest innovationsinagri-tech.

Tolearnmoreaboutbiomass connect,visitwww. biomassconnect.orgAndto bookyourfreetickettoLow CarbonAgricultureShow, headtowww. lowcarbonagricultureshow. co.uk

Renewablescansignificantlycutenergycostsonfarm

Farmsfacinghigh energycosts, despitethe recentEnergy BillRelief Schemeannouncedbythe government,wherethe pricehasbeenfixedfornodomesticenergyusersat £211permegawatthour (MWh)forelectricityand £75perMWhforgas,are beingencouragedoptimise renewableenergyassetsas awayofcuttingcosts.

ExpertsspeakingatLow CarbonAgricultureshow nextFebruarysaythat smartuseofrenewable electricityandgascansave farmersmoney.

“Byremovingthereliance ongrid-derivedelectricity andgas,self-generated energyfromrenewable resourcescanprovidean opportunitytokeepcontrol ofauser’scostsofenergy and,inthecaseofsolarPV, provideenergyatalower

costthantraditional alternativeswitha reasonablereturnoncapital investment,”saysJon Swain,technicaldirectorat NFUEnergy.

“Somesourcesof renewableenergyare effectivelyfreeatsource oncethecapitalhasbeen paidfor.Othersourcessuch asbiomassorAnaerobic Digestion(AD)require feedstocksthathaveacost, howeverthesecostsfor

Renewablescansignificantlycutenergycostsonfarm

thesecanoftenbeless,and arecertainlylessvolatile, thanwholesaleenergy markets,”saysJon.

Jonsaysenergyefficiency isoftenoverlooked.“It’sa poorrelationtorenewable energy,howeveritprovides amoreimmediatemeansof reducingenergycostandin thelongterm,canensure renewableenergy installationsarebetter sized.

“Simpleturn-downorturnoffmeasuresarehighly effectiveatreducingenergy consumptionbutmaynot alwaysallowthenecessary jobtogetdone,therefore creativesolutionsforenergy wasteincludingre-using heatandotherenergiesthat willbeneeded,”addsJon.

Andfarmersarestillplaying akeypartinthetransitionto cleanenergy,accordingto MarkSommerfeld,headof powerandflexibilityatthe REA,alsospeakingatLow CarbonAgricultureshowin February.“Therearehuge opportunitiesopentothe agriculturalsectorforboth takingpartinandbenefiting fromtheenergytransition. Thisrangesfrombuilding solarPVorenergystorage sitesonlower-quality agriculturalland,utilising agriculturalwastesto producebiogas,orgetting involvedinthedevelopment ofinnovativebiomass feedstockstoproduce energy.

“Agriculturehasa

fundamentalroletoplayin deliveringnetzeroandone thatmustbeappropriately rewarded,”hesays.

Markbelievesthe governmenttargetof decarbonisingoutpower systemby2035is achievable,butthereare significantbarrierstobe addressed.“Arangeof nationalscenarios demonstratethatiftheUK wastoprioritisethe deploymentofa decentralisedandflexible energysystem,makingthe mostofallformslowcarbon generationandstorage technologies,itwould certainlybepossibleto deliveranaffordable, secure,andnetzero alignedpowersystemby 2035.

“However,achievingsucha targetrequiresastep changeinthegovernment’s approach.significant barriersneedtobe addressed,especiallythose concerninggridcapacity constraintsdelayingthe connectionofcleanenergy systems,”explainsMark.

JonSwainandMark Sommerfeldarespeakingat LowCarbonAgriculture Show,takingplaceon7-8 February2023.Mark Sommerfeldischairingthe sessionon‘decarbonising ourpower’andJonSwain willpresentinthesame sessionon‘combatting risingenergycostswith cleanenergysolutions.’

Heldinpartnershipwiththe NationalFarmers’Union (NFU)andtheCountry LandandBusiness Association(CLA),Low CarbonAgricultureshow incorporatesfourexpos including:‘Environmental BusinessExpo’,‘Farm TechnologyExpo’,‘Energy NowExpo’and‘Low EmissionVehiclesExpo.’

Theeventisfreetoattend andfeaturesnew conferencesessions, includingbiodiversity, transitioningtoregenerative farmingsystems,niche crops,managingenergy useandcosts,separate sessionsonthe decarbonisationofUKheat andpower,andmaximising returnsfromexistingclean energyassets.Apolicy workshop,givingfarmers andlandownersthechance toquizexpertson agricultural,energyand environmentalpolicyhas alsobeenadded.Thenew topicshavebeenintroduced alongsidealreadypopular sessions,suchascarbon farming,soilhealth,each renewableenergytypeand anopendebateonreaching netzeroinagriculture.

Theshowalsofeaturesan exhibitionfullofbusinesses supportingfarmersinthe agriculturaltransition,as wellasatesttrackforlow emissionvehicles.

Visitwww. lowcarbonagricultureshow. co.uktolearnmore.

Staffordshire-basedBorgerhasbeenbusydelivering awiderangeofpumpandprocessingsolutionsfor famersdiversifyingintorenewableenergy

Anoperatorofabiogasplantwas lookingforareliablepumpto transferahighlyabrasivebiogas substratefromafermentertoa secondaryfermenter.Theexisting pumpsufferedfromextremewearonthe rotor.Itwasessentialfortheoperatorofthe biogasplantto haveapumponsitewithalong servicelife,low wearandeasy maintenancefor servicing.Dueto thedesignofthe pipelinesystem, thepumphadto beabletocope withpressureof0.4bar.Since switchingtoa RotaryLobePump madebyBorger, therehavebeen noissues.

Designedwith Borger’s Maintenance-inPlace,lookingafter thepumpisnow somucheasier; requiringonly basictools–and thespeedof theBorgerpumpis controlledbya frequency converter, dependingonthe negativepressure.

AnotherfarmbasedAD/Biogas plantwasinthe marketforan effectiveseparator, asDavidBrown, Borger’sManaging Director, explained:

“Forthisfarm”addedDavid Brown,“theeasyhandlingand looseconsistencyofthesolids werekeyfactorsinthe decision.TheSeparatoris veryenergyefficient,and

leakproof.TheDS(drysolids) contentcanbeeasily adjusted;manuallyor automatically.Wealso suppliedaBorgerPL200 RotaryLobePumptoconvey

thesubstratefromthe fermentertotheBioselect.We areveryproudofthis Separatorrange.Ithasproved verypopularindeed-andwith goodreason”.

Aresteelframedbuildingsecofriendly

S

teelframedbuildingsarebecoming moreandmorepopularthese days.They’restrong,sturdy,and canbemadeinanyshapeorsize. Butaretheyecofriendly?

It’saquestionthatalotofpeopleare askingthesedays.Withtheincreasing focusongoinggreen,peoplewant toknowifsteelframedbuildingsare environmentallyfriendly.Andthe answeris…itdepends.framed buildingshavesomedefinite advantagesoverothertypesof buildingmaterials.Foronething, steelisarecycledproduct.Infact, about68percentofallthesteelin theworldisrecycled.Thatmeans thatwhenyoubuildwithsteel, you’reusingaproductthat’salready beenusedanddoesn’trequirenew resources.Anotheradvantageof steelisthatit’sstronganddurable. Steelbuildingscanlastfordecades withverylittlemaintenance.Thatnot onlysavesyoumoneyinthelong run,butitalsoreduceswasteand environmentalimpact.

LowerAmountofConstruction Waste

Inadditiontobeingeco-friendly, steelbuildingscanalsohelpyou savemoney.That’sbecausethey generatelessconstructionwaste thanothertypesofbuildings. Constructionwasteisahuge problemallaroundtheworld.It takesupspaceinlandfills,pollutes theenvironment,andcostsbillions todisposeofeveryyear.Butsteel buildingscanhelpreduce constructionwastebecausethey’re soeasytodisassembleandrecycle. Infact,about90percentofasteel buildingcanberecycledifit’sever takendown.So,aresteelframed buildingsecofriendly?Theanswer isyes–theydefinitelyhavesome advantagesoverothertypesof buildings.Ifyou’relookingforan

environmentallyfriendlyoptionforyournext buildingproject,steelshoulddefinitelybeat thetopofyourlist.

SpeedofConstruction

Anothereco-friendlyadvantageofsteel buildingsisthespeedofconstruction.Steel buildingscanbeerectedmuchfasterthan

Aresteelframedbuildingsecofriendly

othertypesofbuildings,whichmeans there’slessimpactontheenvironment duringconstruction.Andbecausethey’reso easytodisassemble,theycanalsobe takendownquicklyandrecycledif necessary.

HowtoMakeaSteelFramedBuilding

MoreEcoFriendly

Thereareafewthingsyoucandotomake yoursteelframedbuildingevenmoreeco friendly.Forinstance,usinginsulatedmetal panelscanhelpreduceenergy consumptionandloweryourcarbon footprint.Youcanalsousesolarpanelsand otherrenewableenergy sourcestopoweryour steelbuilding.And,of course,recyclingany steelthatyounolonger needisalwaysagood idea.Overall,steel framedbuildingshavea lotofpotentialwhenit comestobeingeco friendly.Withsome carefulplanningand consideration,youcan buildanenvironmentally friendlysteelbuilding thatwilllastforyearsto come.

Asthedemandforsteel buildingscontinuesto grow,sodoestheneed foraccurateandup-todateinformationabout theireco-friendliness. Steelbuildingshavea numberofadvantages overothertypesof structures,butit’s importanttoconsiderall thefactorsbefore makingadecision.Here atBuildings-UK,wecan helpyouunderstand everythingyouneedto knowaboutsteel buildingsandwhether ornotthey’retheright choiceforyou. Giveusacalltoday on+441299488988or emailinfo@buildingsuk.comtofindoutmore.

moreaffordableandaccessiblethan ever.

Launchedoveradecadeago, followingtheparentcompany’s experienceandproventrackrecord inmotorcyclesecurity,ATVTrac offeredadedicatedsecurityproduct, enablingownersoffarmmachinery tohavealivelinktotheirmachines 24/7regardlessoflocation.

Bringingupdatedsecurityfunctions includingGPS,GPRSandRadio Frequency,ATVTracaddednew functions,includingloneworker

security,batteryvoltagealertsand servicereminderstoo,offeringa morethanjustasecurityfocussed product.

Aswellasdealerandcustomer interest,ATVTracisnowendorsed bymorethantenmanufacturerswith discountsavailableonInsurance fromtheNFUtoo.Morerecently, brandssuchasPolarisand CFMOTOhaveadoptedthesystem asstandardfitmentonsomeoftheir modelstoo,withmanythefts thwartedduetoATVTracsince.

ATVTrac’skeyattributeistheunit’s physicalsizeandinternalbattery, allowingforfitmenttovirtuallyevery pieceoffarmmachinery,fromATVs toUTVs,toTractors,LandRovers, 4x4s,trailersandchipperstoo.And thankstoanonlineportaland dedicatediPhoneandAndroidapps, ownerscancheck24/7forlocation

andevenseemultipleassetsonone screen.

Aswellasprovensecurityfeatures, ATVTracalsooffersusefuladditional functionstoo,suchasthelogof usage(hoursandmileage),the abilitytosetalertsforservicingor maintenanceandevenan emergencyalertshouldthevehicle beinvolvedinaroll-overincident;a greatfunctionforloneworkers.

Forjust£39amonth,ATVTraccan beinstalled(including12months ofsubscription)onmanytypesof farmingmachinery,withfullsupport providedviathe24/7Secure OperatingCentreaswellas additionalsupportfromSecuritas too.

FormoreinformationonATVTrac andpricing,pleasevisitthefirm’s standatLAMMA2023orgoto www.atvtrac.co.uk

Staffordshirefarmersandrural businessesarebeingurgedto remainvigilantfollowingrecent reportsofovernightburglaries

Staffordshire Policereceived threeseparate reportsacross theStaffordarea inthelastweekalone, whereagrivehicles,tools andvaluablesweretargeted bythieves.

Justbefore5.40amon Friday30December,police werecalledtoArnHillafter thevictimdiscoveredthat theirhomehadbeen burgledovernight.

Unknownoffendersforced entryintotwooutbuildings andmadeoffwithvarious items-includingworktools andaYamahaquadbike

Elsewhere,ataround 2.10am,agreenLand

Roverwasstolenfroman addressinFlashbrook.

Threepeoplewhowere dressedinblackwereseen intheareaatthetime, StaffordshirePolicesaid. AblackLandRoverwas alsotakenfromanaddress onClayaldersBank,with thevictimdiscoveringthe theftatabout5.40am.

DetectiveInspectorPete Goodwinwarnedthatrural crimeaffectedalarge proportionofresidentsand businessesinStaffordshire.

“Officersaremaking inquiriesintotheseincidents andwouldliketospeakto anyonewhomayhaveany informationorfootageofthe areasatthetime.

“Ruralcrime...oftengoes unreported.It’svitalthatyou tellusaboutanything suspiciousassoonas possiblesowecanbring thoseresponsibleto justice.”

Headded:“Ifyouhaveany informationwhichcould helpuswithour investigation,getintouch bycalling101,or messagingonFacebookor Twitter,quotingincident94 of30December.”

Credit:FarmingUK

Farmerswarnedasdiesel theftsmorethandoublein2022

NFUMutualis urgingfarmersto fortifytheir farmyardstostop thievesfrom drainingtheirdieseltanks anddisruptingfood production.

Dieseltheftsreportedtothe ruralinsurermorethan doubledin2022astheprice ofdieselrocketed.

ThelatestNFUMutual claimsfiguresshowthecost ofdieseltheftrosetoa record£886,197duringthe year.

Asthecost-of-livingcrisis continuestobiteanddiesel pricesremainclosetorecord levels,theinsureris concernedthatdieselraids couldcontinuetoincreasein comingmonths.

Septemberwasthecostliest monthlastyear,withclaims amountingto£229,537 comparedto£36,237in 2021.

NFUMutualruralaffairs specialist,HannahBinns says:“Withdieselcosting around£1.75atthepumps, farmers’fueltanksarenow likeliquidgoldtothieves.

“Farmersneedfueltokeep thenationfed,sothese theftsareamajorconcernfor agricultureatatimewhen fast-risinginputcostsare addingfurtherpressureson ruralbusinesses.

“Aswellasthelossofvital fuel,thievesoftendamage tanksleavingfuelrunning intothegroundwhereitcan causehorrendouspollution

aswellasanincreasedfire risk.

“Weareurgingfarmersand otherruralbusinessesto reviewandupgradetheir securitysystemstoprotect dieselstocksfromthieves.”

Ensuringthefarmyardhas effectivesecurityinplaceis thefirststeptodeterringfuel thieves,saysAndyManson, managingdirectorofNFU MutualRiskManagement ServicesLimited.

“Wherepossible,locatefuel tankswherethecanbeseen fromthefarmhouse,ideally withinanenclosed compoundwithsecured access.

"Itisworthconsideringfitting afueltankalarmtonotifyyou ofanattackonfueltanks.”

NFUMutualfarmdiesel securitytips

Fueltanks

•Wherepossiblelocatethe tankwhereitcanbe viewedfromthe farmhouse.

•Ideallytanksshouldbe withinanenclosed compoundwithsecured access.

•Fitafueltankalarmto notifyyouofanattackon fueltanks.Remote electronicfuellevel gaugeswillsetoffan audibleormonitored alarmifthefuellevelin thetanksuddenlydrops orfallsbelowadefined level.

•Makesurethatthetankis

suitablybundedto preventreleaseintothe ground,causingpollution.

•Recordthenumber, location,tankstorage capacityandthedate/ timeswhentanksare filledandregularlycheck levels.

Vehiclesandmachinery

•Uselockingfuelfiller caps.

•Keeptractorsand poweredmachinery lockedupandoutofsight frompublicroadsand footpathswhennotin use,topreventthieves drainingtheirfueltanks.

•Onlyfillfuelbowserswith theamountneededfor thedayandreturnfuel bowserstolocked buildingswhennotinuse.

•Checkyourfuelgaugeis notshowingirregularities infuellevels.

Sitesecurity

•Keepfieldandfarmyard gatesclosedandlocked, andblockexitpointsthat aren’tused.

•Activateintruderalarm systems,whichmayhave alocalsounderor remotelymonitored signalling.

•Installsecuritylightingto illuminateanysuspicious activity.

•Considerfittingmotion detectorsorCCTV.

NFUwarnsfarmersofincreasing amountofscamphonecalls

TheNFUhasurgedfarmerstobe extravigilantfollowingreportsof scamphonecallspretendingto befromtheNFUorNFUEnergy.

Theunionsaidithadreceived reportsfrommemberswhohadbeenthe targetofscamphonecallsfromenergy companiespurportingtobeNFUEnergy.

TheNFUsaidthesecompanieshadno relationtoitselforNFUEnergyandshouldbe ignored.

NFUEnergywouldonlyevercontactfarmers tofollowupanemailoraplannedphone followup,itadded.

"Iftheyknowyoursupplier,supplynumber andaddressitmaystillnotbeus,this informationispubliclyavailableonthe electricitydatabase,"theNFUsaid.

"Ifyoususpectthatitisn’tNFUEnergyaskus toconfirmyouruniquereferencethatwe hold.

"Ifyou’reunsureofyourreferenceorifthey cannotconfirmit,thesafestthingtodowould betoendthecallandcallusdirectlyon024 76698885.

"Wereallywon’tmindifitwasus,aswe understandthatit’sbettertobesafethan sorry."

TheNFUadded:"Iftheyclaimtobeyour supplierbutcannotconfirmyouraccount number,terminatethecallandcallbackthe numberonyourbilltospeaktothesupplier directly.Alternatively,callusandwewillhelp asbestaswecan.

"Ifyouhavecallerdisplay,lookatthenumber ordial1471afterthecall.NFUEnergycall from02476696512.

"Beverysuspiciousifitisfromamobile (starting07)andevenmoresoifit’s unavailableorwithheld."

Farmerswhohavebeentargetofthescam phonecallshavebeentoldtohelptheNFU findoutwhotheyare.

Farmersshouldsendcopiesofanythingthey receivetoinfo@nfuenergy.co.ukorpostitto NFUEnergy,10thStreet,StoneleighPark, Kenilworth,CV82LS.

"Whateveryoudo,don’tgiveanypersonal informationorsignanythingifyou’re suspicious,"theNFUsaid.

"Theywilllikelytryandmoveyouintoanother contractwithoutyoursaysowithhigh commissionsbuilt-in.

BritishWoolre-launchesyoung farmers’exclusivetrainingoffer

BritishWoolandthe NationalFederation ofYoungFarmers Clubs(NFYFC) haveenjoyeda strongrelationship andcollaboratedinmany differentareasovertheyears includingtheYFCtrainingoffer.

shearingseason,includinghealth andsafety,theuseofshearing equipmentandhands-on shearingpracticetodevelopyour technique.

ThisBritishWoolofferisopento YFCmemberswhohavenot previouslyattendedaBritish

thewoolhandlerisequally important,ensuringthewoolis presentedcorrectlyandtoahigh standard.BritishWoolis extendingitstrainingofferfor YFCmemberstoparticipateinits woolhandlingcourse.Thisonedaycoursewillbedeliveredbya competitivewoolhandlerata discountedpriceofonly£60plus VAT.

RichardSchofield,Shearing ManageratBritishWool,said: “Weareonceagaindelightedto beworkingwithNFYFCin supportingthetrainingand developmentofthenext generationofshearersandlook forwardtowelcomingyoung farmersontoourcoursesonce againthisyear.I’dencourage anyinterestedYFCmemberto contacttheNFYFCbeforethe 31stMarchclosingdate.”

Lori-JoSharpfromCartmelYFC added,“Havingdonethe machineshearingcoursewith BritishWool,Ifounditwasvery wellorganisedandsetup.Roger ourinstructorexplainedand showedthestepsveryclearly, wehadtwodaysoftrainingand practicing.Iwentontoachieve myBronzeSealaward.Overall,I wasverypleasedandhappywith howthecoursewasrun.Highly recommend.”

Toregisteryourinterest pleasecontact:

•MargaretBennett

Tel:02476857216 margaret.bennett@nfyfc.org.uk

Asinpreviousyears,British Woolisofferingyoungfarmers anopportunitytoattenda beginnershearingcourse, enablingYFCmemberstowork towardsaBlueSealaward.The coursewillbeovertwodays, coveringalltheessentialaspects ofachievingasuccessful

Woolshearingcourse.The exclusivepriceYFCmembers willpayforthistrainingofferis £87.50(plusVAT)–thenormal costforthiscoursewouldbe £175plusVAT.

Excellentfleecepresentation startsatshearing,buttheworkof

Foranygroupbookings, pleasecontactEmmaor RichardatBritishWool

Tel:01274688666 hearing@britishwool.org.uk

WiseAgricultureappointedastheUKdistributor forLandquipNZ'ssheephandlingrange

AsofJanuary1, 2023,Wise Agriculturehas beenappointed soledistribution rightsforLandquipNZ'ssheep handlingequipmentportfolio. Thiscurrentlyconsistsofthe Porta-Yardsmobilesheep handlingrangewhichincludes the2.5mForkLift,3.0m,4.5m andSmallFlockKitsheep yards.

Accordingtomanaging directorEdwardWise,the appointmentwilldrive innovationsfortheUKmarket.

"Wearealreadyworking closelywithLandquipNZ's researchanddevelopment teamforinnovationsto enhancetheexistingproduct rangeandfornewproductsto

fillthegapinthemarket,"says MrWise.

BasednearRichmond,North Yorkshire,WiseAgriculture offersnationwideservicesto beef,dairyandsheep producersinpremium livestockhandling,data recordingandanimalwelfare solutions.Establishedin2018, WiseAgricultureisalsoa leadingUKdealerfor Arrowquipcattlehandling equipmentandTru-Test weighingandEIDproducts andhasrecentlyadded AgriCowRotatingCow brushestoitsoffering.

"Ourphilosophyforthe productswecarryandtheway weconductbusinesshas beencenteredaround efficiency,innovation,

practicalityandquality.Ifa productorwayofworking doesnotfitintothisethos, thenitisnotrightforour businessorourcustomers," saysMrWise."LandquipNZ's qualityengineeringand emphasisoncustomerservice havemadethemanexcellent partnerinservicingUK livestockfarmers."

LocatedinHastings,New Zealand,LandquipNZhas engineeredaluminum horticultureandlivestock productsfornearly30years forNewZealand,Australia, Europe,Japan,theUnited KingdomandtheUnited States.

TolearnmoreaboutLandquip NZ'ssheepequipment offering,visitwiseag.co.uk

Preventunnecessarylamblossesthislambing seasonwithincreasedhygienelevels

Lambingseasonisa significantpartof anyfarmer’sannual calendar,yetthe worktopreparefor thisimportantand intensetimeofyearstartswellin advanceofpeakspringtime.Itis estimatedthat16millionewes givebirthintheUKeveryyear, butstillmanyfarmersexperience unnecessarylamblossesduring thekeyseason.Themajorityof lambdeathshappenwithin48 hoursofbirthandeachlosshas beencalculatedtocostafarmer approximately£20-£25,so puttingsimplemeasuresinplace toreducethisriskisessential.

Asweapproachlambingseason, farmersshouldlooktoincrease levelsofhygienein enclosuresto preventthese losses,advises BASF’s Country Business Managerfor Professional andSpecialist Solutions, LaurenceBarnard: “Afocusonhygieneisoneofthe simplestandmosteconomical waystoreducethespreadof diseaseandpromotehealthy conditionsacrossfarmsandin lambingsheds.Morefrequent andthoroughuseofdisinfectants isoneoftheeasiestwaysto reducelamblossesthroughout thelambingseason,”hesays.

Toeffectivelyusedisinfectant inyourlambingsheds, Laurencesuggeststhe followingapproach:

1.Thoroughlydisinfectall accommodationbeforethe startoflambing.Thisisbest achievedbypressure washingthesidesandfloors ofpenswithaquality bactericidaldetergentbefore sprayingwithadisinfectant.

2.Beforelambingseason begins,ensureanysick ewesarepenned separatelyfromthe mainflock.Similarly, oncelambingbegins anylambsthatshow signsofdiseaseor illnessshouldalsobe separatedandtreated accordingly,tohelp containthespreadand reducecontaminating otherewesandlambs.

3.Bacteria,virusesandother micro-organismsareoften presentonclothingand boots.Thoseworkingwith birdsshouldwearclean overallsanddipbootsin disinfectanttoreducetherisk ofintroducingharmful diseases.Beforeenteringthe shed,itisalsogoodpractice towashhandswithanantibacterialsoap,especially whenexaminingewesor lambsandassistingwith lambing.

4.Anyequipmentthatisbeing usedinconjunctionwith lambingshouldbedisinfected inasolutionofSorgeneXtra beforebeingused.Farmers shoulduseacleanbucket andasolutionof1:250of disinfectanttostorewater bowls,teatsandmilk dispensers.Solutionsshould bechangedfrequentlyto preventthebuild-upof bacteria.

5.Pensshouldbemuckedout anddisinfectedregularly, ideallyaftereachewe.Old beddingshouldberemoved andreplenishedwith generousamountsoffresh beddingeveryday.

DisinfectantslikeSorgene®Xtra canbeusedforgeneralhygiene, sprayingorspecificdisease controldependingonthe concentrationusedand applicationtechniques.

Laurenceadds:“Sorgene®Xtra isa*DEFRA-approved,broad spectrumenvironmental disinfectant,whichcontainsa stabilisedblendofperaceticacid andhydrogenperoxide.Itis effectiveagainstviruses, bacteria,andhardtokillfungal spores.”

Itcanbeusedat1:250for generalhygiene1:200for lambingpens,andat1:100 betweenlambings,forfoot/wheel dipsandvehiclespraying.What’s more,itbreaksdownafteruse andleavesnoresidue,sono rinsingisnecessary,andall shedsandpenscanberestockedsoonafterapplication.”

“Thesesimplestepsand effectivetoolswillhelpreduce thespreadofdiseasethatmay resultinunnecessarylamb lossesandpreventfarmers sufferingsubstantialfinancial losses,aswellasprotecttheir ewesandlambs,”concludes Laurence.

*DEFRAapprovedagainstFoot andMouthdisease,Swine Vesiculardisease,Poultry diseasesandGeneralOrders. Pleaserefertotheproductlabel fordetails.

Formoreinformationabout SorgeneXtra,pleasevisithttps:// www.pestcontrol.basf.co.uk/en/ Products/Overview/Disinfectants/ Sorgene-Xtra.html

RMGroup’sBP-600automaticbagplacersystem helpsboostemployeeproductivityatW.E.Jameson

Theleading packaging machineryand roboticautomation company, RMGroup,has suppliedoneoftheirnew automaticbagplacer systems,theBP-600,to NorthYorkshire-based animalfeedspecialist,W.E. Jameson&Son.Thenew equipmentincludesan automaticbagstitchingunit, labelapplicationandan ABBrobotpalletiser.

Jamesonsuppliesanimal feedtofarmersthroughout YorkshireandtheNorthof England.Theyoffer compoundsandblendsfor dairy,beefandsheepfarmers, supplyingarangeoffeeds includingsoya,rapeseedmeal, brewersgrains,molassesand fodderbeet.Lookingtoimprove staffinglevelsattheirmilland havingseenaBP-600in operation,themanufacturer placedanorderwithRMGroup fortheBP-600andABB palletisingrobot.

Deliveringanefficientandcosteffectivemethodofautomatically placingsacks/bagsonto thebaggingunit,theBP600replacesexisting manualoperations, therebymaximisingbagfillingproduction efficiencies.Previousbag presentationissuesare eradicatedwitha consistentflowofbagsto thefillinghead.The systemprovides impressivespeedsofup to10bagsperminute anditssmallfootprint meansthatthe configuredlayoutenabled installationinthespace provided,without impairingthecustomer’s abilitytofulfilproduction demands.Designedto acceptsacksupto

950mminlength,thebagplacer comprisesasuctioncupvacuum systemtopickupbagsbefore beingtransportedonachainbelt,

toaddthegrassseedplanttothe lineandfullymakeuseofthe robotpalletisertostackthebags oncefilled.We’lldefinitelylookto useRMGroupagainfor futureinvestments.”

thenopenedtoallowpaddle armstopresenttothefilling head.Inthisconfiguration,the systemisdesignedtofillupto25 kgbagsofanimalfeedinwoven polypropyleneorpaperbagsthat needtobestitched,however,it canalsoacceptplasticpre-made bags.

“Thiswasanewpiecetoreplace ouroldbaggingplant,enabling ustoreleasestafftodoother jobsinthemill,”saidJameson’s BobPrisk.“Wealsohaveplans

RMGroup’ssales director,EdPugh, added:“TheBP-600is anefficient,stand-alone unit,thatcanbe integratedwithan existingbag-filler,or combinedwitha palletiseraspartofafull system.Essentiallyit’sa startersystemforthose lookingtoautomatetheir manualbag-placing process,whichinturn helpsincreasestaff productivity,asisthecasewith W.E.Jameson.”

Formoreinformationon RMGroup’sBP-600:https://www. rmgroupuk.com/products/ process-and-packagingmachinery/automated-baggingmachinery/#bp-600-automaticbag-placer

Ortoseeitinoperationclick https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=nh-TlrrcUx0

Slurry-producingbusinessesurgedtoplan aheadasgrantapplicationdeadlinelooms

Withjustthreeweeks togountil applicationsforthe slurryinfrastructure grantcloses, expertsare advisingfarmerstoconsidertheir long-termplansbeforeapplying.

Thegrantapplicationwindow openedinDecember,providing financialsupporttobeef,dairy andpigfarmerslookingto replaceorexpandtheirexisting slurrystores.

Asthegovernmentlooksto encouragemoreenvironmentally sustainablefarmingpractices,it hasrecognisedthatfarmerswill needsupporttohelpthembring theirslurrystoragesystemsupto modernstandards.

“Farmersaremeanttohavesix months’storage,butthe governmenthasrealisedthat manydon’t,becauseastorethat sizeisexpensivetobuild,”says CarterJonasAssociateGillian

Wilsher.

“Sothisistheirwayofproviding ahelpinghand.However,ifthis isthecarrot,thenIimaginein fiveyears’timeitmaybe replacedbyabigstickifyou don’ttakethemuponthisoffer.”

Thegrantisbasedonstandard costfigureswhichhavebeen calculatedtorepresent approximately50%ofthemarket costwithgrantsrangingbetween

£25,000and£250,000. Thefarmwillneedtoatleast matchthisfundingandthegrant willonlycontributetothe estimatedcostoftheslurrystore requiredtoprovidestoragefor yourcurrentstockingratesforsix months.

“Ifyouhaveplanstoincrease yourherd,itmaybemorecost effectivetoconsiderincreasing thecapacityofyourstoragenow,

eventhoughtheincreased capacitywillnotbenefitfromthe grantfunding,”MsWilsher advises.

“Lookingatthebiggerpicture andconsideringyourlong-term plansisessential.”

MsWilsheradvisesfarmersto carefullyconsiderwherethe storagewillbelocated,takingin toaccountanyplansfor developmentinthefuture. “Isiteasytocontainshouldthe tankfailoristhereawatercourse nearbywhichcouldbepolluted?” sheadds.“Theeasiestplaceis notnecessarilythemost appropriate.”

“Considerwhetheryourdrainage networksareworkingefficiently tokeepcleananddirtywater separate.Ifyourcleanwater drainsarealsoenteringtheslurry storethiswillincreasethe capacityrequiredsignificantly andwaterdownyourslurry, increasingspreadingcoststo applythesameamountof nutrients.Anutrientmanagement planmustbeinplacebasedon theresultsofsoiltesting.”

“Asthepriceoffertiliserhas increasedsignificantly,thevalue ofslurryisalsoasignificant consideration.Willthirdparties needaccesstoyourslurrystore outlet?”

Asthegrantswillbepaidin arrearsthebusinesswillneedto fundtheentireprojectinitially.

“Giventhesubstantial expenditurepotentiallyinvolvedit isimportantthatthefinancing shouldbecarefullyconsidered, especiallyaswearenowseeing interestratesrising,”MsWilsher says.

“Itmaybepossibletofundsome projectswithcapitalorthrough theoverdraftfacilitiesforthe shorttermwhileawaitingthe grantreimbursement.

“Forlargerexpenditurewhich cannotbecoveredbyexisting fundsIwouldrecommend speakingtoyourbankmanager orlocalAMCagentattheearliest opportunitytodiscussyour options.

“Considerationshouldbegiven tothetermofanyloanasthe

costofthefinancemayvary considerably.Itmayalsobe beneficialtoconsiderthe structureofloanstopotentially splittheborrowingbetweena fixedelementandvariable elementwhichwouldenablethe grantfundingtoberepaidinthe shorttermwithoutpenaltiesand thefarmer-fundedelementtobe takenoveralongerperiodwith certaintyoftheinterestrate.”

Demandfortheschemeis expectedtobehigh;if oversubscribed,Defrawill prioritisethoseprojectswhichwill yieldthebiggestenvironmental benefits.

Theselectedfarmerswillthenbe invitedtosubmitafull application,forwhichplanning permissionmustbesecured.

“Itwouldthereforebeworthwhile engagingwithyourplanning consultantatanearlystageas planningapplicationscantake longerthanexpected,especially iftheplanningauthorityhas limitedknowledgeofagricultural practices.”

NIfarmersremindedof upcomingslurryspreadingrules

NorthernIrish farmersarebeing remindedofthe importanceof followingslurry spreadingrulesas theclosedseasonforspreading organicmanuressooncomesto anend.

FarmersinNorthernIrelandare beingtoldtoactwithextra cautionastheopenslurryperiod commenceson1February.

Theintroductionofthenew NutrientsActionProgramme (NAP)in2020broughtwithit variouschangestospreading.

ForthemonthofFebruary,buffer zoneswillincreaseandthe maximumamountofslurrythat canbeappliedatanyonetimeis

reducedtolowertheriskof contaminationtowaterways.

Bufferzoneswillincreaseto30m fromlakesand15mfromany otherwaterways,buttheycanbe reducedto5miflowemission slurryspreadingequipment (LESSE)isusedandcertain conditionsaremet.

Themaximumslurryrateis reducedto30m3perhectarefor eachapplication(2750gallons/ acre).

NorthernIreland'sDepartmentof Agriculture(DAERA)said farmersshouldremembertheir responsibilitiestoprotectwater qualitywhenspreadingslurry.

"From1Februaryitwillbe possibletospreadslurryand manureonlandaslongas

groundconditionsallow,"itsaid. "Avoidspreadingslurryifthe groundisfrozen,water-loggedor heavyrainisforecast."

DAERAadded:"Farmersshould alsobeawareoftherulesfor spreadingslurryduringFebruary whenthereisanincreaseinthe widthofbufferzonesrequired alongwaterwaysandareduction inthemaximumapplicationrates allowed.

"Bufferzoneandmaximum applicationraterequirementswill revertbacktotheoriginal distancesandvolumesfrom1 Marchonwardsuntil1October.

"Theincreasedbufferzoneswill thenapplyagainuntilthe15 October."

rapidlygrowingfleetofValtra tractorsistickingalltheboxesfora largeLincolnshire-basedsaladand vegproducer.

A GrowingValtraFleetTickingAllTheBoxes

TradingasWindyRidge VegetablesLtd,basednearBoston,theNundy familyfarmsapproximately360haofmainly Grade1siltland.Cropsincludecabbage, cauliflower,savoycabbageandpumpkinsas wellasspecialistvegetables.Plantingand harvestingcontinuethroughoutmostofthe yeartomaintainsuppliesoffreshproduce.

FirstexperienceofValtra

"Our20-tractormixedbrandfleetincludes modelsofvarioussizes,powerandweights, butbeforethisyearwehadneverowneda Valtra,"explainedMarkNundywhomanages thefarmwithhisfatherMick.

WhenChandlersFarmEquipmentAreaSales ManagerRobImminkvisitedthefarmto discussanewfertiliserspreader,hesuggested tyingaValtra.AdemoN-Seriestractorwith

frontloaderwasdrivenbyseveraloperators anditquicklyprovedpopular–somuchsothat itneverreturnedtothedealer.

AdditionalModels

Withinashorttime,sixadditionalValtrashad alsobeenorderedand,byearlyJuly,thefleet includedtheN155withaValtraloader,plusan N175,aT255,twoG125s–onefittedwitha harvestingrigandtheotherforfertiliser applications,andtwoA115s–oneforplanting andboxhandling,andtheothertopowera robotichoe.Allthetractorsaredifferent colours,makingiteasierformembersofthe largefarmteamtodifferentiatebetween machinesonthefleet.

Reliabilitysofarhasbeenexcellentand supportfromtheChandlersteamaswellas ValtraUKhasbeenexceptional,stressedMark.

FormoreinformationontheValtraproduct rangecontactyourlocalChandlersdepot. www.chandlers.co.uk

TIHLhas extendedits rangeofcare andcleankits withthelaunch oftheMSand MSPLUS,suitableforall petrol,cordlessandelectric STIHLchainsaws.

BothMSandMSPLUScare andcleankitsfeaturethenew VarioCleanEco,auniversal cleaningagentmadefrom naturalrawmaterials,which arecompatiblewithall chainsawsurfacessuchas polymer,metal,rubberand aluminium.

TheECO-Certcertified cleaningagentissuitablefor removingoil,resin,and greasefromallpartsofthe chainsaw,includingHD2air filters.Userssimplysprayon VarioCleanEcotothe

relevantchainsawareaandleaveforfiveminutes beforewipingitdownwithadampclothorbrush. Inaddition,bothkitsalsoboastawoodenhandled cleaningbrush,whichfeaturesplasticbristlesanda metalblade.Thisensuresthebrushissuitablefor removingdirtfromtheguidebargroove,cleaning theoilbores,looseningstubborndirtfromthe sprocketcover,aswellaslooseningdustbuildup oncylinderfins.

TheMSPluscareandcleankitfeaturesawash bagthatcanbeusedasamicrofibreclothor alternativelyacleaningglove,whichoffersmore effectivecleaningofHD2filters.OncetheHD2filter hasbeensprayedwithVarioCleanEcoandleftfor fiveminutes,simplyputthefilterinthewashbag andwashat600CasuserswouldtheirPPE.

ThelaunchoftheMSandMSPluscareandclean kitsfollowsSTIHL’srecentlaunchofservicekitsfor petrolhandheldtoolsthatenableprofessionaland domesticownerstocarryoutsimpleroutineengine maintenancethemselves,increasingtheirtool’s reliabilityandlongevity. FormoreinformationonSTIHL'snewMSandMS PLUScareandcleankits,pleasevisitwww.stihl. co.uk

TIMPRODUCESCONSISTENTOUTPUT

ForBuckinghamshire farmerNickSearof ManorFarm,North Marston,the integrationof TractorImplement Management(TIM)forbalinghas beensomethingofarevelation.

“I’dheardofTIMandwantedto seewhatitcoulddoforour business,”saysNick,pictured. “Anythingthatmakeslifeeasier withlongdaysinthecabhasgot tobeworthexploring,andI’ve beenpleasantlysurprisedwith thelevelofautomationonoffer.”

Nickis responsiblefor thecommercial farmingoperation thatruns alongsidethe AnimalAntiks animal-assisted learningcharityat ManorFarm.He supportsAnimal Antiksby impartingawide varietyofpractical farming techniquestoits students,building ontheeducation andcareits youngsters receivefrom attendingday placementsand workexperience.

“We’recurrentlya grasslandfarm,butI’mlookingto increaseouracreagesothatwe canincludeanarablerotationto addvaluetotheeducationwe currentlyprovide,”hesays.

KitatthefarmincludesKubota M7-173KVTPremiumandM6142tractors,plusaKubota mowerconditioner,rake,tedder, flailmowerandbalewrapper,all suppliedbylocaldealerGeorge Browns.Andthefarmhasadded toitsportfoliowithaKubota BV5160variablechamberbaler forhay,haylageandstrawbales.

“TheBVmakesasuperbbale, andwhenitcomestohayand haylageforourlivestock,weaim tomakethebestqualitythatwe can,”headds.“We’vebeen usingprobesformoisture readings,butsinceretro-fitting TIMwiththeTechnoPacktoour baler,wehavegainedabuilt-in moisturemeterinthechamber.”

“Thisgivesfarmoretimely moistureassessments,andisa greatindicatorwhenbalinglater intheday,”headds.

TheBV5160isanISOBUScompatiblebaler.AndwhenNick swappedhisolderKubotaM7172forthelatestspecification M7-173KVTPremiumtractor,it openedupawealthof possibilitieswithplug-and-play technology.He’snowmuchmore consistentwithbalingoutput, thankstotheautomation providedbytheTIMprocess.

“I’vedonealotofbalingoverthe years,andyes,youcanoutperformTIM,”hesays.“Butyou can’tdoitallday,everyday.TIM automationisabigbenefittome, byreducingstressandfatigue

levelsinthecab,whileproviding repeatableaccuracyanda consistentoutput.”

Whenactivated,hesaysthatthe TIMcapabilitycleverlytakesover thetractor,duringthebaling process.

“ThroughtheCVTgearbox,TIM slowsthetractortoastandstill oncethebalechamberisfilled,” hesays.“Revsaredroppedwhile thenetgoeson,thenthe chamberdoorisopenedand closed,toletthebaleout–and it’sallautomatic.AllIneedtodo ispressthedrivepedaloncethe systembeepsatme,which increasesrevsandstartsthe drivingprocessalloveragain.”

“Iwon’tbetheonlybaler operatorwhohasaccidentally openedthechamberdoor insteadofliftingthepickup–TIM nowtakescareofallthatforme, Ijustneedtosteerdownthe rowsandconfirmthattheway aheadisclearaftereachbaleis ejected.It’sbrilliantlyeffortless, andI’mlookingforwardtoafull seasonwithTIM.”

Recordturnoverdespitedifficultconditions–

Growthinturnoverandincomeexpectedfor2023

CLAAS,oneofthe world’sleading manufacturersof agricultural equipment,was abletoincrease salesby2.7%toanewhighof €4.9billion(previousyear:€4.8 billion)underthedifficultgeneral conditionsofthe2022financial yearandcontinuethe extraordinarygrowthofthe previousyear.TheEBITDA marginof8.8%(previousyear: 11.1%)remainsatahighlevel. Theearningsbeforetaxesof €166.3million(previousyear: €357.1million)isessentially burdenedbyimpairmentsin EasternEuropeasaresultof geopoliticalchangesand disruptedsupplychains.

“Theyear2022haschallenged usineveryrespect.Inthis difficultmix,wehaveshownhow resilientourbusinessmodelis. Wedeliveredandprovedwitha lotofpersonalcommitmentthat wecanmeasureuptoourvision

ofmakingcustomersthebestin theirfield.Wehavedelivered 100%onourharvestpromiseto ourcustomers.Forthis,all employeesanddistribution partnersdeservemythanks," saysCEOThomasBöck. StrongdemandinAmerica, robustmarketalsoinEurope Duetothestrongharvestyear, andbeneficialfinancing conditionsespeciallyinthefirst halfofthefinancialyear,the marketforagricultural engineeringproductsin2022 benefitedfromcontinuedstrong demandanddevelopedlargely positivelydespitesignificant supply-sidedisruptionsandthe war-relatedslowdowninEastern Europe.CLAASachieved particularlydynamicsalesgrowth inNorthAmerica.InEurope,the marketswererobustwithslight declinescomparedtothevery positivedevelopmentin2021.

Challengesinthesupply

chainsovercomewithhigh commitment

Duetotheaftermathofthe Coronapandemicand geopoliticalupheavals,CLAAS hadtocontendattimeswith massivedisruptionstoitssupply chains,whichcouldonlybe overcomewithconsiderable financialandpersonneleffort. The22-weekproduction shutdowninHarsewinkelduring theplantmodernisationwasalso amajorchallenge.However, time-criticaldeliveriesof machinestocustomersand individualbridgingmeasures couldberealisedwithgreat effortsbytheproducingplants andthesalesorganisation.

Productionandsalesnetwork strengthened,R&Dexpenses hitrecordhigh

CLAAShasalsocontinuedto pushaheadwiththeinvestment programin2022andinjected €130millionintotheexpansion

ofitsglobalsalesandproduction network:Worktomodernisethe mainplantinHarsewinkelwas successfullycompleted.The projecttoincreaseproduction capacitiesandmodernizethe infrastructureattheBadSaulgau siteisgoingtoplan.InLeMans, France,anewCLAASAcademy forsalespartneremployees

openeditsdoors. Atthesametime,researchand developmentreachedanewhigh inthehistoryofCLAAS.They roseby6.4%to€279millionand includedthedevelopmentand renewalofharvestingmachinery andtractors,investmentsin electronicsarchitecturefor

machinecontrolandconnectivity, aswellasexpensesforthe digitalizationofagricultural processes.

Modelinitiativecontinued–LEXIONcombineharvester receivesaward

Themodeloffensivewas continuedinthe2022financial

year:Thisincludedthepremiere ofthenewgenerationofthetop modelLEXION,whichreceived the"FarmMachine"Award2023 inthecombinecategoryatthe FrenchtradefairSIMA,andthe DOMINATOR260.InNorth America,thenewTRION740 mediumhybridcombineandthe

AXION900TERRATRAClarge tractorseriesweresuccessfully launched.WiththeNEXOS specialtractors(afterStageV), themid-rangeTORIONwheel loaderseries,thelatest generationofSCORPION telescopicloaders,theVARIANT 500roundbalerandthe

QUADRANTEVOLUTIONII squarebaler,otherimportant productareashavebeen modernisedandexpanded.For theLEXIONcombineharvesters, theJAGUARforageharvesters andtheCLAAStractors,afterthe TRION,thenewCLAASCEMIS 1200terminalisnowalso

availableasthesuccessor tothepreviousS10 universalterminal.

Workforce–training expanded

AsofSeptember30,2022, theCLAASGroup employedatotalof12,116 people(prioryear:11,957) worldwide,approximately 50.4%ofwhichareoutside ofGermany.Asof September30,2022,the CLAASGroupemployed 792apprentices(prioryear: 775),493(prioryear:473) ofwhichareinGermany. CLAAStrainsyoungpeople inGermanyinvarious technicalandbusiness professions,aswellas withina“dualstudy” program,withalternating phasesoftheoryand practice.Thesameapplies toothercountriesinwhich CLAASoperates,suchas France,Hungary,theUK, andIndia.

Outlook

Forfiscalyear2023, CLAASanticipatesdoubledigitsalesandincome growthdespitethepresent uncertainties.Thecompany expectsdemandfor agriculturalequipmentto remainstableoverallinthe mainsalesregionsin MiddleandWestern Europe,aswellasinNorth America.Thenumberof internationalordersoverthe comingmonthsisaboveaverage. CLAASforecastscontinuedstrong growthintheregionofNorth America,thanksinparticulartothe broadercombineharvesterand tractorrange.Investmentsinthe expansionoftheglobalproduction andsalesnetwork–andin innovativetechnologiessuchas digitalization,andautonomous farming–willstrengthenthemarket positiononalastingbasis.

Fulldetailsareavailableat annualreport.claas.com

LaunchofthenewtelehandlerMLT850NewAgXL

ManitouGroup,the worldwide referencein handling,aeriallift platformsand earthmoving sectors,islaunchingitsnew NewAgXLtelehandlermodelat theEurotierinternational animalfarmingfair.The perfectopportunityforthe grouptoreachapremium audience.

TheMLT850-145V+ telehandleristhefourth modelintheNewAgXL range,followingthelaunchof theMLT841,1041and961. Withaloadcapacityof5tons andaworkingheightof7.6 meters,thisnewmodel completestheexistingrange tomeettheneedsoflarge farmsandcooperatives,but alsothefoodindustryandthe recyclingsector.Designedfor veryintensiveuse,in particulartheloadingofbulk cargo,cereals,woodchips andsilage,theMLT850is alsoperfectforhandling strawbalesandbigbags.

Performance:enhanced productivity

Witha5-toncapacity,highcapacityattachmentsanda highhydraulicworkingspeed, theMLT850offersthebest workrateinitsclass(+18% comparedtothecompetition, i.e.2moresemi-trailers loadedperhour).Thismodel offersmorethan600Nmof torque,withapullforceof morethan9,160daN(+20% comparedtothecompetition). Thehighmovementspeed providedbythe200l/minLSU pumpiscomplementedbya bucketbreakoutforceofover 8,670daN(+32%comparedto thecompetition).Combinedwith ahigh-capacitytank,theuser canworkwiththebestflowrate alldaylongwithoutinterruption. Tooptimizeefficiency,the HighViewcamerainstalledonthe boomheadmakesitpossibleto

monitorthetrailerfillleveldirectly fromthecab(+10%productivity). TheM-VarioPluscontinuous variabletransmissionallowsthe machine’sbehaviortobe adjustedtosuiteveryneed, thankstothecomfortand dynamicmodes.

andtheriskofmusculoskeletal disorderslinkedtorepetitive steeringwheeluse.Thisisa majorstepforwardintermsof ergonomicsandproductivityin thetelehandlermarket.

Inordertoprovideitsuserswith

Effortlesscomfort:the trademarkoftheNewAgXL range

Placinginnovationattheheartof itsstrategy,asalways,Manitou Groupistakingadvantageofits presenceatEurotiertopreviewa newpatentedsteeringsystem*: theusercannowsteerthe machineeffortlesslyusingaminijoystickinordertoreducefatigue

theultimateincomfort,Manitou Grouphasfollowedthe requirementsoftheNewAgXL rangewithacabthatisspacious yetquietthankstoexcellent soundinsulation,whichlimitsthe noiseleveltojust69dBA.The cabhasalsobeenraised comparedtothelowercapacity NewAgXLmodelstomaximize visibility.Thelargeroofgrillewith itsangledslatsandtheoptional

Safeviewdualcamerascomplete theseinnovationsfora360°view aroundthemachineonthe dashboarddisplay.

Tofacilitateaccesstothecab, thetwoEasy-stepsteps combinedwiththeunder-door lightingmakegettinginandout evensafer,dayornight.The MLT850NewAgXLalsocomes

InnovationManager,says:“Asa resultofalloftheseinnovations, theMLT850offersthelowest totalcostofownershipinits class,8%lowerthanthe competition.Thismeansthatfuel consumptionisalmost20%lower thanthecompetition**.This representsasubstantialsaving of€4,800forannualusageof 2,000hours.Preventive

enginewhenthemachineisata standstill,withouttheoperator needingtodoanything (automaticrestart).Thehour meteristhereforebasedon actualhoursworked,thus spacingoutmaintenancewithan oilchangeevery1,000hours, andincreasingthemachine’s residualvalue.

Tosimplify maintenanceinheavydutyapplications,the self-cleaningairprefilterlocatedabovethe enginecompartment reducesthecleaning frequencyofthemain airfilter.Theengine compartmentopensin twopartstoprovide easyaccesstomajor components.Aquickreleasepanelalso allowsyoutoblow awaydebrisanddust infrontoftheradiators. Inordertomake maintenanceofcritical hydrauliccomponents safer,thelubrication pointsarecentralized (automaticlubrication system***availableas anoption)andeasily accessible.

Availablenow,the MLT850(StageV) andMLT-X850(Stage IIIA)telehandlerswill bedeliveredto Manitoudealerships fromthesecond quarterof2023in Europeandworldwide.

asstandardwithJSM

Autopower(availablewiththeMVarioPlustransmission),which automaticallyadjuststhe requiredenginespeedtothe hydraulicmovementscontrolled viatheJSM.Thisreducesfuel consumptionandoperator fatigue.

Unparalleledprofitability ArnaudSochas,Marketing

maintenancecostsarealso reducedby4%”.Toachievesuch areductioninTCO,Manitou GroupequipstheMLT850with Stop&Startasstandard.This functionreducesfuel consumptionandthereforenoise emissionsbyswitchingoffthe

*Systemnotapprovedforroaduse.

**Conformstoconsumptiontests accordingtostandardEN16796-4.

***Standardoroptional,dependingon trimlevel.

CrawfordsGrouptakeontheOPICOrangeofmachinery

PICOispleasedtoannouncethatthe CrawfordsGroupwillbejoiningitsestablished dealernetwork.

Establishedin1980asanagricultural machinerydealershipinEssex,Crawfords haveexpandedtosevendepotsandhave

extendedtheirreachintoKent,Sussex,SurreyandHampshire. AkeyAGCOdealersince2001,CrawfordsGrouprunsthe FendtandValtraFranchisefromtheirCrawfordsdepotsand theMasseyFergusonFranchisefromtheirAgwooddepots.

WesCrawford,ManagingDirectoratCrawfordsGroup commented,“Weareafamily-runbusiness.Maintainingour

highlevelofcustomerserviceandcompanyvaluesisas importanttodayasitwas40yearsago.We’vefoundthat OPICO’svisionalignswithourownand,ofcourse,ithelpsthat theyofferapremiummachineryportfoliotocomplementour existingrange!Ourteamarereallylookingforwardtolearning aboutthemachinesandcan’twaittodemonstratethemtoour customers.”

“WorkingwithCrawfordsisawin-winsituation,”saysCharles Bedforth,SalesDirector.“Acornerstoneinourstrategyisto

TakeonanyterrainwithKawasaki’sprovenMulerange

hetheritisworking onthefarmor transporting materialsacross constructionsites, havingtheright equipmentisessential.The KawasakiMulerangeofutility vehiclesdeliverstherugged, reliableandadaptableattributes thatwillhelpyoutakeonany terrain.

Designedtoworkhard,the rangeisledbytherobustMule ProMX.Poweredbyatorqueladen700ccCVTsingle-cylinder engine,theProMXoffers32.8 kW{45PS}/6,000rpm, guaranteeingafun-to-drive vehiclethatcaneasilyhailcargo forworkorweekendfun.The spaciouscargobedisableto carryupto700lbs,making choresorhaulinggearabreeze.

Measuring110”longand60” wide,withawheelbaseof79”, theMuleProMXistheperfect

mid-sizedvehicle,offering superbmanoeuvrabilityand mobilitythatensuresitcan negotiatethetightestoftrails.To maximisecomfort,theall-terrain vehiclefeaturesdoublewishbonesuspensionatthefront andrear,enablingtheKawasaki toeasilytraverseobstaclesand elevationswithminimumeffect onthechassis.

Ofcourse,theseworkhorsesare designedtobeusedthroughout theyearinallconditions.Thatis whytheProMXisequippedwith 25”tyreson12”rimes, guaranteeingfantasticoff-road tractionandgroundclearance. Strongandreliablefrontandrear discbrakesprovideeffective braking,especiallywhen combinedwiththeMule’sproven

enginebraking.

Whileitsperformanceis unmatched,Kawasakihasalso focusedonmakingtheflagship Mulemodelasaccessibleand user-friendlyaspossible. Comingequippedwithdoorsas standard,userswillbeprotected frommudandpuddles,whilea 5.3litrestoragebinunderneath thepassengerseatensuresthat thereisplentyofspaceto securelystoreallofyour belongings.

Brightdigitalinstrumentation ensuresyoucanalwayssee essentialinformationataglance andtheconsolealsocomes preppedforanaccessoryaudio system.Themulti-function displayisbuiltdirectlyintothe dashandfeaturesanarrayof insight,including:

•Drivingmode(2WD/4WD) indicator

•Digitalspeedometerd

•Digitalfuelgauge

•Clockodometer •Dualtripmeters •Hourmeter •Differentialindicatorlamp •Checkenginelamp •ElectricPowerSteering warninglamp

•Watertemperaturewarning lamp

•Seatbeltwarninglamp

•Parkingindicatorlamp

•Reverseindicatorlamp

•Neutralindicatorlamp

Thecontouredbenchseat complementsthebodyand providesamplespaceand comfortfortwoadultsatatime. Kawasaki’shigh-gradeElectric

PowerSteering(EPS)isspeedsensitive,providinguserswith lightsteeringatlowspeedsand tightenedsteeringathigher speeds.Itcanalsoworkto enhanceridercomfortbyacting asadampingsystem,reducing thebumpsandkickbacks createdasyougoalongbumpy terrain.Driversarealsoableto setthepositionofthesteering wheeltonotonlysuittheir preferencebutalsotoliftitoutof thewaywhengettinginandout ofthevehicle.Anelectrically selectable2WD/4WDanddual modereardifferentialsystem ensuresquickandsimple changingtosuitthechanging terrain.

Sinceitslaunch,theKawasaki Mulerangehasestablisheditself asoneoftheleadersinutility vehicles,usedbyfarmworkers, gamekeepers,construction workersandeventworkers acrosstheglobe.More informationontherangecanbe foundatwww.kawasaki.co.uk

Deliveringalltherugged,reliableandadaptable attributesthatKawasaki’sMULEutilityvehiclebrandis justifiablyfamousfor,theKawasakiMULEPRO-MXrangerelies notonlyonatorqueladen700ccCVTsingle-cylinderequipped enginebutalsobenefitsfromtheShinaridesignphilosophy.

Formoreinformationandtofindyourlocal Kawasakidealer,visitWWW.KAWASAKI.CO.UK

YamahaandTuckwellsannouncenewEastSussexbranch

YamahaMotorUK hasfurtheredits partnershipwith Tuckwellsby addingthefull Yamaharangeto theFramfieldbranchinEast Sussex.

Tuckwellshasbeenappointedto providecustomerswithagreater opportunitytoviewtheextensive rangeofYamahaproducts availableintheregion.

Tuckwellswasestablishedin 1954andnowhasover300staff. Theirnetworkofdealershipshas threededicatedYamaha showroomsprovidingthefull Yamahautilityandleisurerange includingATVs,Side-by-Side vehicles,theelectricUMX,and thebrand’sgolfcars.

DanPalmer,PowerProducts ManagerforYamahasaid:

“Thepartnershipbetween YamahaandTuckwellshasbeen establishedtobestserveour customerexperience.Byworking withexperienceddealersin

strategic locations, Yamahais abletosupply theATV,Sideby-Side, ElectricUtility, andgolfcar range throughoutthe UKand providethe bestaftersales servicetoboth agricultureand leisureusers.”

Tuckwells’dealershipshave dedicatedYamaha demonstrationmodelsandteam membersreadytohelp customersfindtherightmachine. TuckwellsSalesManager, JamesGibbonsaid:

“Tuckwellshasovertwenty years’experienceofselling Yamahaproductsandthis expansioncementsourYamaha partnership.Ourexperienced salesstaffspanturfandamenity, agriculture,andgolf,sothe Yamahaproductrangeisa

perfectfitforourcustomerswho expectapremiumbrandproduct andaproactivesalesservice.”

BystockingthefullYamaha rangeacrossitsarea,Tuckwells planstoexpandfurtherintofruit, vineyardandequinesectors.

“TheYamaharangeissowell suitedtothediversityof customerwehavehereinthe Sussexregionandwecansee aneverincreasingdemandfor Yamahapowerproductsinthe future,”concludedMrGibbon.

forversatilityandfortransporting Y DrivingPositiveEmotionForDecades

amahaMotorhas beenrevvinghearts forover65years. Thebrandisfuelled byapassionfor engineering excellence,provenquality, durabilityandreliability,allof whichcome togetherto deliver excitementand helpcustomers feelatonewith theirmachine. Fromall-terrain vehiclesand motorbikesto outboard engines,from golfcarsto snowmobiles, everyproductis craftedwiththe customerin mind.

YamahaMotor ATVandSideby-Siderangeis designedforourcustomersto experiencetheoutdoorslike neverbefore,withawiderange ofoptionsavailableinthreemain segments:Utility,Leisureand Sport.

Yamaha’sUtilitysegmentis centredaroundownerswhoneed ahighlyperforming,robustand dependablepartnerintheirdaily work,grantingthemthedesired resultwhileenjoyingthetrue beautyandpleasureofthatwork. TheLeisurerange,ontheother handisengineeredtobethe idealallyforanyadventureseekerandloveroftheoutdoors –beitaloneorincompany.The Sportsegmentstemsfrom Yamaha’ssignatureracingDNA: adrenalineandperformance madeforthemostcompetitive ones–startingfromtheyoungest andgoingallthewayuptothe pilotsdreamingforDakar.

IntroducingYamaha’s2023 ATVandSide-by-SideLine-up

Acrosstherange,2023sees freshcoloursandgraphics updatingthestylingofmanyof thevehicles.Off-roadfanswillbe thrilledtodiscoversomeofthe technicalenhancements deployedandforthosewhowant somethingextraspecial-

smallteamsinutilityor commercialsettings.The legendaryKodiakisastraight-up workhorseforthosewhoneeda toughandversatilevehiclethat pairsperformanceandreliability.

introducingthenewWolverine® RMAX™21000LE(Limited Edition)!

UtilityVehicles: #DRIVENBYRESULTS

Whetheryou’retakingthefast trackacrossthefarm,ranging throughtheforestortackling toughindustrialconditions,our Utilitysegmenthasarangeof vehiclestosuitanyoutdoor workingchallengeyoucareto throwatthem.Theserugged, dependablevehiclesofferhighendengineering,comfort,stylish looks,andincredibledurability thatnixanyperformanceworries andallowyoutotakejoyfrom yourworkyear-round.

Createdtobetheultimateutility 3-seater,theVikinghandles

theclockandstillgoingstrong, thisIsuzuD-Maxhastravelled enoughmilestohave circumnavigatedtheearthan impressive14timesortoputit anotherway,itcouldhave travelledtothemoonandbe

halfwaybacktoEarth,having coveredanaverageof43,750 milesperyearandshowslittle signofslowingdown.

Firstpurchasedbrandnewin 2014fromBobGerardIsuzuin Leicester,theIsuzuD-MaxEiger 2.5Turbo-Dieselwith manualtransmission belongstovehiclesales andservicedealerAston MeltonMowbrayandis useddailyfortowingand providinglogisticalsupport forthebusiness.Aston MeltonMowbrayisanonIsuzudealerthatprovides anationwidevehicle deliveryserviceand utilisesthetrustyIsuzuDMaxtodeliverandcollect vehiclesfromalloverthe UK.

Provingtobeanextremely reliableworkhorse,besides arepairtotherear differentialin2021,the vehiclehashadno significantissuesormajor repairs.Unlikethe infamous‘Trigger’sbroom’ fromOnlyFoolsandHorses,this toughIsuzuD-Maxisstillrunning ontheoriginalengine,gearbox andallothermajorcomponents, withjustregularservicingand consumablessuchastyres, brakesandaclutchhavingbeen replaced.Thisisnottheonly IsuzuD-Maxthatbelongsto AstonMeltonMowbray,the dealeractuallyhasasecond IsuzuD-Max,whichitselfhas

coveredover200,000milesand hasalsoprovedjustasreliable andtrouble-free.

JamesJealfromAstonMelton Mowbraysaid“Whenthe businesswaslookingfora vehiclecapableoftowing3.5tonnesonadailybasisbackin 2012,wewantedsomethingthat wouldnotonlydothejobbut wouldalsoprovetobethemost cost-effectiveforthebusiness,at whichtimetheIsuzuD-Max becametheobviouschoice.It’s extremelyimportantforusto havevehicleswecanrelyonfor ourvehicledeliveriesandtheDMaxhasbeenfantasticforour business,somuchsothatwhen

weneededtoaddanother towvehicletoourfleet,we onceagainchoseanIsuzu D-Maxforthejob.”

Hecontinued“The dedicatedteamatBob GerardIsuzu,wholikeus areasmallfamilybusiness, havebeengreatandalways sohelpfulwithbothsales andaftersales-relatedthings overtheyears.”

BrianWheeler,Product ManageratIsuzuUK commented“Isuzuis renownedforthedurability androbustnessofitspickupandthistruckisaliving testamenttothatreputation.Itis fantastictoseeavehiclewiththis mileageusedeverydayfor towingandcontinuingtobea reliableworkhorseforthe businessitserves.”

TheIsuzuD-Maxreplacedthe outgoingRodeomodeland launchedintheUKinJune2012. Originallyofferedinfour specificationlevels,including extendedcabconfigurationfor thefirsttime,meaningthat,along withsingleanddoublecabbody styles,therewasanIsuzuDMaxavailableforeverypotential user.Aphilosophythatremains inplacetoday.

KiaInspireEvent

Contribution(FDC)forthe Picanto,£1,500FDCfor theStonicandSportage (petrol),and£2,500FDC fortheXCeed(petrol).

8.4percentAPR

Inadditiontotheabove focusmodels,Kiais rollingout8.4percent APRoffers[3]acrossthe modelline-up,including popularelectricmodels theEV6andNiroEV.

Mostmodelsareavailable withagenerousFDCtoo, ensuringoffersare attractiveforbothnewand returningcustomers.This rangesfroma£2,500 savingoffanewXCeed (petrol),to£2,000offa Ceed,CeedSportswagon, ProceedornewXCeed PHEV.£1,000FDCcan behadoffaPicanto,Niro HEV,SportageHEVor SoulEV,while£750FDC appliestotheRio.Finally, a£500FDCisavailable forNiroPHEV,Sportage PHEVorSorento‘Edition’.

KiaLoyalty

Customerskeepcoming backformore,whichis whyKiaiscontinuingits loyaltyofferforcustomers buyingspecificfocus models.AllexistingKia customerscanbenefit fromanadditional£500 offthecostofanew XCeed(petrol)[4].The newKiaXCeedreceiveda seriesofproduct enhancementsinlate 2022,includingabold newexteriordesign,an enhancedinterior,and new‘GT-Line’and‘GTlineS’trimlevels.These changesmaketheXCeed anevenmoreenticing propositioninthepopular C-Crossoversegment, withpricesstartingfrom £23,395on-the-road.

|Motors

EVSannouncesthe 2023datesfortheir REVSRestore project‘Restoration Weekends’;a community restorationofa1975LandRover Series3.Takingplaceatthe heritageSkillsAcademy workshop,locatedatBicester heritage,theprojectaimstooffer peopleachancetorolltheir sleevesupandgetstuckinto restoringanexampleofthe venerableSolihullclassic.

The‘RestorationWeekends’will takeplaceeachfinalweekendof themonth,includingan appearanceatthePractical ClassicsClassicCarand RestorationShowheldatthe NECinMarch.Ateachweekend sessiontherewillbeateamof between8-10peopleledbythe REVSRestoreteamworkingon thevehicle,andthechanceto jointogetherforaneveningmeal ontheSaturdaywithaspeaker sharingsomethingoftheirown mentalhealthstory.

welfare.Therehasbeensupport fromorganisationsincluding IndependentLandRoverParts specialistBritpart,Takona, HeritageSkillsAcademy,and BicesterHeritage.

AsAnneSegalini(Occupational TherapistandMentalHealth supportfortheproject)states;

“Findingaplacedoingsomething youlove,learningnewskills, withinasupportivecommunityis goodforthebody,mindandsoul. Pleasecomeand joinusandbepart ofourcommunity.”

Whilsttherestorationofthe vehicleisafocalpoint,the opportunityforpeopletofind somerestorationisalsoakey objectiveoftheproject.Giventhe growingawarenessand conversationaroundtheissueof mentalhealthandwellbeing,the aimfortheweekendsistobring peopletogetherinateamanda community,toencouragestories tobeshared,newfriendshipsto bemade,andwithinallthat,to showhowthesecanbegoodfor asenseofwellbeingand support.

Thosewishingtotakepartinthe weekendscanregistertheir interestatrevslimiter@gmail.com andeachweekendwillbetaken onaseparatebasissoasto allowpeopleofalllevelsofskill andexperiencetohavethe opportunitytogetinvolved.There isalsoconsiderationgiventoany needspeoplemighthavewith regardstotheirownhealth.

Theteambehindtheproject includebothpeopleexperienced inLandRoverrestoration,and thosepassionateandwith experienceofmentalhealthand

REVSRestoreisa projectthatispartof REVSCommunity CIC,anon-for-profit CommunityInterest Companyheaded upbyReverend AdamGompertz, PioneerMinisterand BicesterMotion Chaplain.TheCIC wassetupearlier thisyeartopromote positivespiritualand mentalwelfare withinthewidercar community.Itisalso theorganisation behindtheaward winningREVS LimiterSocialMedia communitythat startedduringthe COVIDLockdown, andnowboasts over8000memberson Facebook.

itroënhas announcedthata limitedrunof1,000 MyAmiBuggy modelswillgoon salenextyear.The newlimitededitionversionwillbe verysimilartothefirstedition, butwithafewsurprisefeatures overthecurrentMyAmiBuggy, whichsoldoutall50unitsinjust 18minutes.Furtherdetailswill bereleasedinSpring2023.

MyAmiBuggyisanextensionof Ami’splayfulcharacterandisat homebothintheurbanjungle andinmoreremotelocations. Ami100%electriccanalreadybe foundacrosstheworld,for example,ithasplayedapartin deliveringtheenergy transformationoftheislandof HalkioffthecoastofGreece wherethepoliceandCoast Guardusethemodels.Similarly,

sevenAmi100%electricmodels wereaddedtothefleetof vehiclesusedbytheislandof Maddalena’spoliceandport teamsinItalytopromoteclean mobility.

Atruebreakthroughfrom Citroën,Ami100%electricisa daringresponsetothe challengesfacedintoday’scities andurbanenvironmentsandhas beenahugesuccesssinceitfirst wentonsalein2020withmore than30,000soldinnine countries.Ami100%electric emitszeroemissionsinuseand hasa5.5kWhbatterythat rechargesinjustfourhours.With arangeof46miles(WMTC*) andatopspeedof28mph,Ami 100%electricisamodern solutionthatdeliversonCitroën’s promisetoprovideaffordable andcleanmobilitysolutionsfor all.

AlongsideMyAmiBuggy versions,Ami100%electricis availableinachoiceofvariants, MyAmiColour(Grey,Orange& White),MyAmiPop,MyAmi Tonicaswellasthecommercial MyAmiCargo–aninnovative solutiontourbanlast-mile deliveries.Withapayloadofup to140kg,amaximumload capacityof400-litresandatight 7.20mturningcircle,MyAmi Cargoisdesignedforbusinesses workingincitiesandurbanareas andisalsoavailableonlyviathe onlineplatform.

HyundaiTUCSONNamedBestFamilyCar byBBCTopGearOutof50Contenders

TheHyundai TUCSONhasbeen namedthebestof 50familycars testedbythe world’sleading motoringTVshow,TopGear.

Infrontofanaudienceofmillions onBBC1,presentersFreddie Flintoff,PaddyMcGuinnessand ChrisHarriscrownedthe TUCSONastheirtopchoice fromaline-upofmanyofthe bestnewfamilycarsonsalein Britain.

Employingtheirusualbrandof irreverentanalysis,theteam whittleddownthecontendersvia aseriesofchallengestocome upwithafinalshortlistofthree fromwhichtheirchampionwould becrowned.Andultimatelyitwas theTUCSON’sall-roundappeal whichprevailed.

TopGearpresenter,ChrisHarris said:“It'saverygoodcar,andit's furtherevidencethatHyundaiis smashingitatthemoment, makingproperhothatches,

interestingelectriccars,and worthyfamilycars.They’reona roll.”

Co-presenterPaddyMcGuiness added:“It’snotthemost conventionalwaytodecide betweenabunchoffamilycars butIthinkweallagreeonthis one.Weactuallycameupwith therightanswer.Thecarwe’d recommendistheHyundai TUCSON.”

currentpassengercarrange, includingWorldCaroftheYear 2022,WorldElectricVehicleof theYear2022andWorldCar DesignoftheYear2022forthe electricIONIQ5.Earlierin2022, theTUCSONitselfwasnamed BestFamilyCarbyCarbuyerand BestMid-SizedSUVbyAuto Expressforthesecondyearina row.

Andbuyershaveagreedwiththe experts,withTUCSON becomingthemost popularmid-sizeSUV forprivatebuyersinthe UKsofarthisyear.In oneofthemost competitivesectors,the TUCSONhassecured 5.4%shareoftheretail market.

TheTUCSONhasbeenwinning plauditssinceitslaunchinearly 2021thankstoitssophisticated yetruggeddesign,impressive technologyandpremiuminterior. Pricedfrom£29,140,itcomes withachoiceofthree powertrains–Hybrid,Plug-in HybridandPetrolwithMild Hybrid–andprovidesanarrayof advancedsafetyfeatures,with everymodelfittedwithForward CollisionAvoidanceAssist(FCA) andMultiCollisionBraking (MCA)asstandard.

TopGear’srecognitionofthe TUCSONfollowsastringofhighprofileawardsforHyundai’s

AshleyAndrew, ManagingDirector, HyundaiMotorUK, said:“TopGearhas becomemuchloved weeklyviewingoverthe past20yearswithits uniquetakeonthe motoringworld,butas wellasprovidinggreat entertainment,the show’sopinionreally mattersformillionsof viewers.Soweareparticularly pleasedithasrecognisedwhata greatchoicetheTUCSONisfor families,withitsrevolutionary design,rangeoftechnologyand electrifiedoptions.Our exceptionalproductrangehas pickedupanumberofimportant awardsoverthepast12months, andthiscapsoffagreatyear. Andthereallyexcitingthingis thatthereismuchmoretolook forwardtofromHyundaiin2023.”

Viewerswhomissedthe TUCSON’ssuccessonTop Gear’sBBC1broadcastcan catchupwiththeshowonBBC iPlayer.

Maserati’sall-newGrecalearrivesinUKshowrooms

Italianluxurybrand Maseratihasconfirmed thatitsmuch-anticipated allnewmid-sizeSUV, theGrecaleisnow availabletotestdrive acrossitsUKretailernetwork.

DesignedintheTridentbrand’s Modenastudiotodeliveran everydayexceptionalexperience forowners,theGrecale combinespremiumversatility, elegance,performanceand innovation.Thisall-new Maserati,thefirstinthissegment andsittingbelowitslarger Levantesibling,isasathomein thecutandthrustofthe urbanenvironmentasitis ontheopenroad,with performance,safetyand luxuriousgrandtourer comfortatitscore.

Threeversionsofthe Grecaleareinitially availabletoorder,priced from£58,500,withtheallelectricFolgoretofollow nextyear.Therange startswiththeGT (300HP),beforemoving uptothesportierModena (330HP)–bothpowered byMaserati’sfourcylindermildhybrid engine.Thepowerful flagship,theTrofeooffers 530HPandhousesthe V6Nettunoengineas seenintheMC20supercar.All versionsaremattedwithan eight-speedautomaticgearbox aswellasall-wheel-drive(AWD) asstandard.

Giventhedesirabilityofthe Grecaleandthefactthatitholds itsvaluewell,buyerslookingto financeonewillbeabletotake advantageofMaseratiFinancial ServicesPCP(PersonalContract Purchase)offerfortheGT version,of£566permonth*,with 6.8%APRoverafouryear period.

Maserati’sdesignersand engineershaveensuredthatthe Grecaledeliversmanybest-in-

classfeaturesincludinggenerous interiorspace,drivabilityand handling,withasumptuous interiorusinganarrayofthe finestwood,carbonfibreand leathercombinations.The interioralsoincludesthe traditionalcovetedMaserati clockfacethatis,forthefirsttime, digitisedandvoicecontrolled.

Asyouwouldexpectfroma luxurymarque,Grecalecomes comprehensivelyequippedas standard,includingApple CarPlayTMandAndroidAutoTM, activecruisecontrol,frontand rearparkingsensorswithrear

forgotten.Forbuyerslookingto tailorGrecaletotheirexacting tastes,Maseratioffersits distinctiveFuoriserie customisationprogramme, allowingthemtocreatetheir dreamone-of-a-kindSUV,both insideandout.

activebraking,fullLED headlights,hilldescentcontrol, rearviewcamera,12.3-inch touchscreenand8.8multifunctioncomfortscreen.Incar technologyismanagedbythe MaseratiIntelligentAssistant (MIA)multimediasystemand MaseratiConnect,enablingstate oftheartconnectivityand support.

Driversseekingevenmore drivingpleasure,luxuryand technologycanspecifynumerous options,includingtheacclaimed SonusFaberaudiosystem (128Wwith21speakers).

Stylealsohasnotbeen

Commentingonthearrivalofthe eagerlyanticipatedMaserati SUV,PeterCharters,General Manager,NorthEuropesaid, “We’reabsolutelydelightedthat theGrecaleisnowavailableon ourshores.We’vebeenjealously watchingourcolleaguesinother marketssellingthecarinlefthanddriveformoverthelastfew monthsandcan’twaittonow offertestdrivesacrossourUK network.It’sanever-growing partofthemarketandourlatest SUVisheretoofferbuyers somethingalittledifferent.We arealreadyseeinghugeinterest initandareconfidentits compellingblendofelegance andsportinesswillreallyappeal toBritishbuyersseekingtomake theireverydayexceptional”.

Potentialbuyerscanconfigure theirnewGrecaleonline, includingtheFuoriserie customisationprogramme,by visitingtheMaseratiwebsite.

thosethatsimulateaccidents whenpedestriansareonthe road.Allneedingaslittleas 1/1000thofasecondtoensure theAriyameetsthestringent standardsNissanhassetfor itself.

“Morethan100datapointsare evaluatedontheAriya,”said GenTanabeofthePassive SafetyEvaluationGroup. “BecausetheupcomingAriya willbesoldinmanymarkets, wewillconductmorethan400 testsfromtheearlystagesof developmenttomarketlaunch.”

ResultsrevealthattheAriya's bodyanduniquecabin structure,makeitpossibleto absorbavarietyofimpacts offeringsuperiorprotectionfor

driversandpassengers.

EngineersfromNissan’s PassiveSafetyEvaluation Groupmeasuretheforceof potentialimpactonthevehicle’s bodyandstructural components,aswellasits effectsonthedriverand passengersviatestdummiesof varioussizesandbodytypes equippedwithmultiplesensors thatrecordsimulatedinjury levelstovitalareasofthebody.

LeveragingNissan'sextensive knowhowinelectricmobility fromoverthepastdecade, manyofthetestingprocedures employedfortheNissanLEAF havebeenadaptedforthe Ariya,allowingNissantosetits ownsafetystandards–often

morecomprehensivethan thoserequiredbyregulators. Forexample,becauseAriya’s EVbatterypackishighvoltage, thesafetyengineersneededto ensureitretaineditsstructural integrityinthecaseofacrash withouttheelectrodesleaking.

Servingasthebasisfor developingsafer vehicles,Nissan'ssafety propositionincludesactiveand passivesafetymeasuresto supportthesafetyofvehicle occupantsinavarietyof scenarios.Theoverallgoalisto preventcollisionswhere possibleand,incaseof unavoidablecollisions,mitigate damageandinjuries.

AllNewrenaultMeganee-tech100% electricandrenaultcapturse-techwin atthedrivingelectricawards2023

TheAllNewRenault MeganeE-Tech 100%Electrichas underlinedits cutting-edge engineeringand equipmentafterwinningthe ‘TechnologyAward’atthe DrivingElectricAwards2023.

TheDrivingElectricjudges praisedtheAllNewRenault MeganeE-Tech100%Electric forits9-inchOpenRlink multimediasystemthathas Googlebuilt-infromtheTechno trim.Itoffersacombinationof real-timenavigationfrom GoogleMaps,hands-freehelp fromGoogleAssistantand easeofaccesstousers’ favouriteappsfromtheGoogle PlayStore.

RichardIngram,Editorat DrivingElectricsaid:“Withits9-

inchtouchscreenandintuitive Googlesoftware,theRenault MeganeE-Techsetsanew classbenchmarkforin-car connectivityandusability.It’s responsiveandthegraphics aresharp;it’squitesimplyone ofthebestsystemswe’veever tested.”

TheannualDrivingElectric Awardscelebratetheverybest electricandhybridcarsonsale. The2023awardsarethe biggestyet,with28different categoriesspanninghot hatchbackstohomechargers.

GuillaumeSicard,Country HeadUK&ManagingDirector RenaultBrandUK,added:“The AllNewMeganeE-Tech100% Electricdemonstratesallthat Renaulthaslearntinovera decadeofmanufacturingclassleadingelectricvehicles.This

latestawardrecogniseshowits technologyreachesfarbeyond itsadvanceddrivetrain, providingcustomerswiththe essentialconvenienceand connectivitythatisnotonly designedtomeettheirneeds todaybutalsointhefuture.”

TheAllNewRenaultMegane E-Tech100%Electricisthefirst ofanewgenerationofelectric vehiclesbuiltontheadvanced CMF-EVplatform,styledwithin thebrand’s‘sensualtech’ designlanguageandthefirst modeltowearthenew ‘Nouvel’R’logo.Italsofeatures upto22advancesdriving assistancesystems.

Withanelectricdrivingrangeof upto280miles(WLTP),andup to130kWDCcharging,capable ofrecovering155milesrange inunder30minutes,theAll

NewMeganeE-Techalso featuresaclass-leadingdigital experiencewitha12.3-inch dashboarddisplay,9-inch multimediadisplay,andAndroid AutomotiveOSwithintegrated Googleservicesfromthe Technotrim.

Customerscanchoosefrom threegenerously-equipped modelswiththeAllNew MeganeE-Tech100%Electric pricedfrom£36,995OTR.

Meanwhile,theRenaultCaptur E-Techhasscoopedthe‘Best SmallHybridCar’awardforthe secondconsecutiveyear.

Followingitssuccessatlast year’sDrivingElectricAwards, theRenaultCapturE-Tech retaineditstitleatthe2023 ceremonyafterimpressingthe popularwebsite’sexpert judgingpanelwithitsattractive blendofefficiencyand refinement.

RichardIngram,Editorat DrivingElectricsaid:"Hybrid technologyusedtobethe preserveofbiggerfamilycars, butnowyoucanreapthe benefitsofelectrificationina small-carpackage.TheRenault Capturisthebestofthebunch; smooth,comfortableand

efficient,it’sourfavouriteSmall HybridCarfor2023.”

GuillaumeSicard,Country HeadUK&ManagingDirector RenaultBrandUK,added:“We aredelightedtoacceptthis awardandevenmorepleased thatitisthesecondconsecutive yearthatDrivingElectrichas chosentonametheCapturETechasthebestsmallhybrid caravailable.It’san achievementweareveryproud of,anditrecogniseshowthe Capturprovidesthose consideringanelectrifiedcar withagreatdealofchoiceand ahighlyusablesolutionthat suitstheirowncircumstances andpreferences.”

TheRenaultCapturE-Tech plug-inhybridoffersthebestof bothworlds,combiningthe benefitsofanadvancedelectric drivetrainwiththeabilityto effortlesslyhandlemuchlonger journeys.Itoffersarangeofup to30miles(WLTP)inpureelectricmodeandalthough developing160hp,canreturn upto217.3mpg(WLTP combined)andemitaslittleas 30g/kmCO2.Itsusability extendstoafullchargefroma domesticplugsocketbeing possibleinonly4hoursand15 minutes,withanormalwallbox

completingthetaskinthree hours.

Withnoneedforplug-in charging,theRenaultCapturETechfullhybridbenefitsthose thatwishtoreducerunning costswithoutchangingtheir drivinghabits.Itprovidesafun yetefficientdrivingexperience thankstoitsresponsiveelectric motors,fueleconomyofupto 60.1mpg(WLTPcombined), andasmoothandsilent automaticgearbox.

Foraddedpeace-of-mind,both fullhybridorplug-inhybrid modelscomecompletewithan eight-year(or100,000)mile batterywarranty.

Customerscanchoosefrom fivegenerously-equipped versions–Evolution,Techno, RiveGaucheLimitedEdition, R.S.Lineandrange-toppingETechengineered.TheRenault CapturE-Techispricedfrom £25,195OTR.

Formoreinformationonthe RenaultMeganeE-Tech100% ElectricandtheRenaultCaptur E-Tech,pleasevisitwww. renault.co.uk.

ennessey,the Texas-based hypercar manufacturerand high-performance vehiclecreator,has announcedanengineeringand developmentprogramforthenew V8-poweredFordF-150Raptor R.Whenitdebutsinthefirst quarterof2023,the'Hennessey VelociRaptoR1000'isanticipated toboastnearly1,000bhpand

morethan850lb-ftoftorque–engineoutputthatwouldmake theadeptoff-roadpick-uponeof thequickestandmostpowerfulin theworld.

Boastingtwomorecylindersthan thestandardF-150Raptorand fittedwitha2.65-liter superchargerasopposedtoa twin-turbochargerconfiguration, theflagshipRaptorRboasts Ford's5.2-litre'Predator'V8–

withstockoutputratedat700hp. Hennessey'sengineers, obsessedwithhigh-power combustionengines,planto replacethestockblowerwitha larger3.8-litersupercharger.It willbecomplementedwithhighflowinduction,largerfuel injectors,upgradedfuellines,and anewsuperchargerbelt.When thefinalcalibrationiscomplete, theresultisexpectedtobea40 percentincreaseinoutput.

With30yearsofexperiencein 'makingfastcarsfaster,' Hennessey'sengineershavea solidprocessinplacetofast-track vehicleR&D.ThePredatorV8 underthehoodoftheRaptorR sharesarchitecturewiththatof theFordMustangGT500–a vehiclethatHennesseyreliably upgradestomorethan1,200bhp. Afterfittingthe larger supercharger, theteamwill calibrateand testusingitsinhousesuiteof dynos,plus perform extensiveon andoff-road evaluationsat Hennessey's testingfacility. Allthis experience, research, development, andrefinement willdelivera VelociRaptoR 1000withmanufacturerlevelsof qualityandreliability,backedbya 2-year/24,000-mileHennessey warranty.

JohnHennessey,company founderandCEO:"The HennesseyVelociRaptoristhe

world'sbest-sellingmodified performancetruck,ofwhichwe've builtthousandsforcustomersall aroundtheglobe.The VelociRaptoR1000raisesthe performancebarsignificantlyin termsofsheerpower.Addinthe characteristicsuperchargerwhine andthedistinctiveexhaustnote fromtheuniquecross-planeV8,

VelociRaptorbumpers,afront LEDlightbar,20-inchHennessey wheels,and37-inchoff-roadtires bringaddedroadpresenceand boostitsgo-anywhereassurance. VelociRaptoR1000badgingand aserial-numberedbuildplaque willidentifythemodelas somethingextraspecial.

andthepackageisunbeatable."

Inadditiontotheincreased engineoutput,theVelociRaptoR 1000willalsofeatureexterior enhancementstoboostits appearanceandoff-road capability.Newfrontandrear

ThenewHennessey

VelociRaptoR1000issetforbuild in2023.Customersmayplace ordersnowatauthorizedFord retailersordirectlywith Hennesseybycalling+1 979.885.1300orvisiting HennesseyPerformance.com.

All-NEWAEHRASUVREDEFINESIN-CAREXPERIENCEWITH UNPRECEDENTEDCABINSPACE,MATERIALSANDTECHNOLOGY

AEHRA,anewglobal ultrapremium electricautomotive brand,hasreleased imagesanddetails oftheinteriorofits firstvehicle,anall-newSUV. Withanexceptionalthree-meter wheelbase,theAEHRASUV providesclass-leadingoccupant spaceandsetsnewstandards forcomfort,technology, materials,andusability.

AEHRA’sboldstrategy tounlockthefull potentialthatanEV platformaffords,hasnot onlyresultedinan avantgardeexterior design,butalso delivereda revolutionaryinterior concept.Thevehicle’s exceptionallyshort overhangs,long wheelbaseandcompletelyflat floorhaveenabledAEHRA’s designerstocreateaunique solutionthattransformsthe interiorenvironmentfordrivers andpassengersalike.

Oneofthemostinnovativeand captivatingfeaturesofthe AEHRASUV’scabinisthe uniquefull-dashboard-widthHMI

(HumanMachineInterface) screen,whichdeliversatrue step-changeinentertainment andin-vehicleworking.

WhentheSUVisindrivemode, thescreensitsinalower position,todisplayallthe informationthedriverrequires, suchasspeed,range,heating andventilationsettingsand navigationalinstructions.Thetwo outerareasofthescreenserve asvirtualexteriormirrors, relayinghigh-definitionimages fromtwofrontexteriorside cameras.Whenthevehicleis parked,occupantscanchooseto extendthescreenupwards, instantlytransformingthe AEHRAintoahometheateror anofficeenvironment.

Thisisadirectresultofthe game-changingapproachtaken byAEHRAtotheexteriorshape ofitsfirstmodel.Intraditional vehiclelayoutstheinterior dimensionsdonotallowthefront rowpassengerstooperatesuch aflexibleandexpansiveHMI screenbecauseitwouldsittoo closetotheireyes.AEHRAhas filedapatentforthissolutionand itbelievesitwillsetnew standardsintermsof productivityand entertainmentinsidea vehicle.

“Fromtheoutset,the AEHRASUV,andthe Saloonthatwewill unveilearlynextyear, weredesignedastrue productsofthedigital agetoreflectand accommodateour customers’modernand busylifestyles,”explainsAEHRA ChiefDesignOfficerFillippo Perini.“Withthescreenfully extended,theoccupantscan relaxandenjoyamovie,perhaps whenthecarischargingorwhen aparentiswaitingtopickupa childfromschooloraparty.And forthosewhohaveworktodo, thescreenandthespacious interioraffordtheperfectsolution

forvideoconferencecalls. Insteadofstaringatyour smartphoneorlaptop,youcan sitbackandnotonlyseeallthe participantsonthecallinperfect high-definitionclarity,butalso listentothemwithcrystal-clear, pitch-perfectaudioquality.”

Asecondary,smalleroblongshapedtouchscreenismounted inthecenterofthehand-stitched leatherdashboard.Located betweenthedriverandthe passenger,itenablesbothfrontseatoccupantstoeffortlessly controlmanyofthevehicle’s functionssuchasnavigation, heatingandventilationand entertainment.

TheSUVisequippedwitha distinctive,oblong-shapedyokelikesteeringwheel,repletewith anAEHRAlogo.Thereisalsoa proudlydisplayedItalianflag badge,denotingthefactthat AEHRAisItaly’sfirstandonly pure-playEVbrand.Asmall digitalstripinsertedintothe uppersectionofthesteering wheelprovidesthedriverwith furtherkeyinformation.

Alongwithevokingarace-carlikeambience,theyokesteering wheelalsopayshomageto AEHRACo-FounderandCEO HazimNada’spassionforthe aeronauticalindustry.Likehis fellowAEHRAfounder,andthe

company’sCOO,Sandro Andreotti,Nadaisakeenpilot andskydiver.Priortolaunching AEHRA,thepairfoundedAero GravityinMilan,Europe’s largestindoorverticalwind tunnel.

“Alotofwhatwehavelearnt fromtheaeronauticindustryhas shapedtheAEHRASUV’sbody stylinganditsclass-leading aerodynamicefficiency,andthat influenceverymuchextends insidethecabintoo,”explains Nada.“Theexteriormonobody architectureenablesustocreate auniquedashboardthat positionstheHMIscreeninsuch awaythatatraditionallayout doesnotallow.Theresultisa realworkstationorlounge experienceforthefrontrow passengers,withasimilarsetup tothatwhichpeoplehave becomeaccustomedtoworking withattheofficeorenjoyingat home.”

Thisapproachistypifiedinthe AEHRA’ssuperior-qualityfront andrearseats.Aesthetically,the seatsmirrorbespokeitems foundinsupercarsandprovide exemplarysupportfordrivers whowishtoexploittheSUV’s prodigiousperformanceand ultra-agilehandlingtothefull. However,muchoftheinspiration fortheseats’low-weight,highstrengthconstructionand

optimumcomfortlevelsalso comesfromtheaeronautic industry.

Constructedfromaluminum, recyclablecarbonfiber compositeandleather,theseats providealevelofcomfort normallytheexclusivepreserve ofpassengerstravelinginfirstclassaircraftaccommodation. Thisisevenmoreevidentfor thosesittingintherearofthe cabin.There,thankstothe exceptionallygenerouslegroom, passengerscanreclinetheir seats,andwiththeAEHRA SUV’srelaxingrideandultra-low noiselevels,catchuponsome sleepduringthejourney,should theywish.

TheItalian-Americancompany hasbeensubstantiallyselffundedsofar,andisfinalizingits firstexternalinvestorsround. Thebrandunveileditselegant SUVinOctober2022,andwill followwithasophisticated SedaninApril2023.Deliveries areexpectedtostartinlate 2025.Astrategicmodelrollout isplannedforkeymarkets, includingNorthAmerica, Europe,China,andtheGulf States.

FormoreinformationonAEHRA andtoregisterinterestinoneof theirforthcomingmodels,see www.AEHRA.com.

All-NewHyundaiKONAGetsBolder,MoreDynamic,EV-led DesignwithUniqueStylingAcrossaRangeofPowertrains

HyundaiMotor Companytoday unveiledanEVderived,futuristic designforitsnew generationKONA subcompactSUV.Theupscaled modelwillbeavailableinfour variants,includingall-electric (EV),hybridelectric(HEV), internalcombustionengine(ICE) andsportyNLine,witha universalarchitectureforalland uniquestylingforeach*.

Withtheall-newKONA,Hyundai Motorhasbroughtits commitmenttosustainable

mobilityandtechnology-led designthinkingtoexpanditsEV offerings—innovatedand advancedbytheaward-winning IONIQlineup—whilealso meetingthediversemobility needsofitscustomerswitha varietyofpowertrains.

“UpscaledwithKONA'sunique character,theall-newKONA confidentlyexpressesitsbold anddynamicpresence,”said SangYupLee,ExecutiveVice PresidentandHeadofHyundai DesignCenter.“KONAhas evolvedineveryrespectto embraceanevenwiderrangeof

diversity,tobecomeatrue lifestylesupporter."

UpscaledKONAconveysmore dynamicroadpresence, accommodatesmore‘living space’

Theall-newKONAhasevolved intoalargeryetstillurban-centric SUVwithbolderstylingthat conveysamoredynamicroad presenceanddriver-centric interior.Toprovidemaximised ‘livingspace’forcustomers,the all-newmodelgrewto4,355mm inlength,whichis150mmlonger fromthepreviousgeneration, basedontheEVvariant.Italso gained25mminwidthand60 mminwheelbaselength comparedtotheoutgoingmodel withoutlosinganyofitsiconic designidentity.

Unlikemostvehiclesthatare madeavailablewithavarietyof powertrains,theKONAstarted withtheEVvariantdesign,which wasthenadaptedthedesignfor theICE,HEVandNLinemodels. Thisunconventionalapproach allowedHyundaitobringtechcentricdesignthinkingtoall KONAvariants.Despitethe sharedarchitecture,EV,ICE/

HEVandsportyNLinemodel hasdistinctivefuturisticstyling.

Theall-newKONA’sclean, distinctivenosecharacterises thefrontsection’spurevolume, whichcontributestothemodel’s smoothaerodynamic performance.Thepurevolume ishighlightedbythestretched SeamlessHorizonLamp,which ispixelatedontheEVvariant, markingthefirstHyundaimodel withaPixelatedSeamless HorizonLampthataddstothe EV’sdistinctivecharacter. KONA’suseofParametricPixels alsopropagatesadistinctive designelementfromHyundai’s popularEVlineup.

Despiteitsfuturisticappearance, theall-newKONAneverletsone forgetthatit’sanSUV.Its dynamicstylingisaccentuated withboldlysculptedwheelarch claddingthatincorporates headlampsandtaillamps, reinforcingKONA’srobust underpinning.

Theall-newKONAisreplete withparametricsurfaces.The sharpdiagonalcreaseofthe sidesconnectsthesatinchrome moldingfromthebeltlinetothe spoiler,creatingacontourthat wrapsaroundtheentirevehicle.

Therearfeaturesanother SeamlessHorizonLampaswell asahigh-mountedstoplamp (HMSL)thatisseamlessly integratedwithinthesatin chromemoldingofthespoiler.

Thereareseveralstyling variationsbetweenthe powertrainvariants.TheEVgets pixelgraphicdetailsonthe intakegrilleandrearbumper,a pixel-inspired19-inchalloy wheeldesign,blackembracing lineandoptionalblackside mirrorsandroof.TheICEand HEVshareaboldandrugged bumperandskidplatedesign, andblackwheelarchcladding. TheNLineboastsoptionalblack sidemirrorsandroof,wing-type spoiler,moreaggressivefront andreardesignswithwingshapedbumpertoemphasisea lowerstance,distinctive19-inch alloywheels,twinmufflerand silversideskirt.

architectureaccommodatesa sportylayoutwithfloating horizontalC-Padtoemphasise KONA’sslimandwideinterior, providingaversatilespacefor driverandpassengers.

The12.3-inchdualwidedisplays andfloatingmoduleimparta high-techimpression.Ambient lightingenhancestheuser experienceandconvenience. Withthecolumntypeshift-bywirerelocatedfromthecentre consoletobehindthesteering wheel,itprovidesanuncluttered layoutandadditionalspacefor belongingsinthecentraltunnel.

Thesecond-rowCurve-less BenchSeatreinforcesKONA’s 21stcenturyurbandesign aesthetic.Thislivingspace offersauniqueexperiencewith maximumusability,comfortand convenience.Behindthesecond rowisamaximisedcargospace.

Theall-newKONA’slarger interior‘livingspace’provides practicalfeaturesandan evolvedin-carexperienceto accommodatediverselifestyles. TheEV-deriveduniversal

Moredetailsofall-newHyundai KONAwillbeunveiledinthe comingmonths.

*Note:Availabilityof specificationsdescribedinthe releaseandimagesmayvaryby trim,variantandmarket.

Lifestyle-supportingusabilitywith driver-orientedlayoutand practicalfeatures