Farming Monthly National November 2024

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Farming Monthly National is published monthly in the UK by Farming Monthly Ltd, Tel: +44 (0) 2476 353537 Printed in the UK

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Family Farm Tax most unpopular measure in Government’s new budget, new polling finds

Data commissioned by the NFU has shown Labour is not trusted by its 2024 voters on issues surrounding the impact of the Budget on farmers.

The polling, carried out by Portland this week, shows that changes to inheritance taxation on family farms are unpopular, and that perceptions that Labour does not value rural voters as highly as urban ones are building.

The data shows that two thirds (65%) of the public do not think that the Government has fully considered the impact of its planned changes on family farms.

In the days since the Budget, the NFU has repeatedly said to Treasury and government that its figures justifying the Family Farm Tax are wrong and will devastate family farms, putting many out of business.

Government suggests 27% of farms will be affected by changes to Inheritance Tax (IHT), namely Agriculture Property Relief (APR). In sharp contrast, the NFU has demonstrated more farms will be impacted and has released data showing 75% of farms stand to be above the £1m Family Farm Tax threshold.

New polling, released today, shows the British public agree with the NFU, with only 27% supporting the Family Farm Tax.

Other results show:

• IHT on farms is the joint most unpopular measure in the Budget, tied with changes to pensions

• Two thirds (65%) of the public do not think that the Government has fully considered the impact of its planned changes on family farms

• IHT on farms is ranked the second least popular budget measure among 2024 Labour voters, with (21%) picking it, fractionally less unpopular than IHT on pension pots (22%),

• 49% of 2024 Labour voters think that either IHT on farms and businesses is unfair. Only 11% felt IHT on farms was among their most favoured budget measures.

• Only 17% of voters trust the Chancellor most to tell them about the impact of this policy on farms, with 52% trusting ordinary farmers to

tell them the truth.

• 49% of voters think the government is biased against the countryside, with only 26% disagreeing

• IHT on farms is also at the bottom of things which are popular with the public – just 8% agree with it.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “I am not surprised by this data. It shows the level of support for British farmers from people across the country. This is echoed with the 255,000 people that have so far signed our petition to Stop the Family Farm tax. Unfortunately for this new government, it also shows that, on the issue of changes to Inheritance Tax to working family farms, the majority of people are with us and believe this an unfair move.

“From the work we have done with financial experts formerly of the Treasury and Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), we know 75% of farms could be impacted by changes to APR and Business Property Relief (BPR). While the two go hand in hand, for many working farms, the Treasury has chosen not to count this as part of its planned Inheritance Tax changes, therefore skewing the impact the changes will have, resulting in the confusion and uncertainty which has played out in the media in recent days.

“But I am certain, as are the 1,800 NFU members that joined me on Tuesday for our mass lobby, with more than 10,000 farmers on the streets of Westminster, calling on their MPs to back our demands to halt the current budget madness, to carry out an urgent and full review of the correct data and draw better conclusions.

“Without this change, farmers will be forced to sell off parts or all their farm businesses to pay huge tax bills, with added cost for pensions. All this puts additional costs to food producing businesses which are already operating on paper thin margins. Together with changes to the National Live Wage and National Insurance, I can’t see a scenario where food prices don’t rise, at a time when the public have already been hammered by a cost-of-living crisis.

“My message to government is clear; look at the evidence, stop this family farm tax and show your electorate you’re on their side.”

A FUW calls for clarity on Welsh agriculture funding following Budget

s the dust continues to settle following the UK Government’s Budget, the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has sought clarity from the UK Government following concerns Wales’ agricultural funding could be drastically reduced.`

As part of her Budget, Chancellor, Rachel Reeves redefined agricultural funding for the devolved nations using the Barnett formula, rather than maintaining a separate, ring-faced allocation as has historically been the case.

Previously, EU funding for UK agriculture was allocated across the UK nations under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) formula, based on rural and farming criteria such as the size, number and nature of farms. This resulted in 9.4% of the total UK agriculture budget coming to Wales when we were members of the EU.

However, the FUW has warned the UK Treasury’s decision to ‘Barnettise’ the block grant for each devolved nation, a calculation based on population rather than farm and rural characteristics, could see Wales’ proportion of total UK agricultural funding fall drastically.

Writing to the Secretary of State for Wales, FUW President, Ian Rickman, has sought urgent clarity from the UK Government on the funding reform - citing a worse case scenario ‘Barnettisation’ of agricultural funding that could see Wales’ proportion of total UK agricultural funding fall from 9.4% to around 5% - equal to a cut of around 40% in funding.

funding has been effectively 'Barnettaised' (5% of UK allocation rather than 9.4%) as a result of the Budget, there could be serious implications for Wales’ farmers and agricultural sector.

The FUW’s concerns were cited in the House of Commons by Liz Saville Roberts MP and Ben Lake MP during a debate on Rural Affairs on Monday (11 November).

Commenting, Ian Rickman, FUW President said: “While the Welsh Government will ultimately have the final word on the Welsh agriculture budget, Barnettisation, or any reduction in Wales’ agricultural funding by the Treasury will further undermine the industry - and fail to reflect inflation and the plethora of public goods farmers are increasingly expected to deliver.

The FUW has argued that despite an additional £1.7 billion being made available to Wales as a result of the Budget, this additional funding has been linked to investment into schools, housing, health and social care, and transport. If agricultural

We’ve already experienced the anger, frustration and fear within the agricultural sector following the UK Government’s lack of clarity regarding the changes to the Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Inheritance Tax. This continued lack of clarity regarding the funding being made available to Wales and the devolved nations is a further concern for an industry already on its knees, and I do hope the UK Government will be able to provide urgent clarity on these matters."

Autumn Budget is a ‘massive blow’ to the farming community

BBC Countryfile’s Adam Henson discussed the impact of the Autumn Budget on farming and agriculture in a recent episode of the Chartered Insurance Institute’s The Journal Podcast.

One of the UK’s most recognisable farmers, Adam Henson often presents on Countryfile from his family farm, Cotswold Farm Park, which welcomes around 185,000 visitors throughout the season. He appeared on The Journal Podcast alongside David Harrison, NFU Mutual’s Farming Development Manager. NFU Mutual is recognised as the UK’s leading rural insurer, insuring around 75% of UK farms.

On the Government’s recent Budget announcements, Adam said: “It has hit a massive blow to agriculture and the farming community… Every farm is completely different, every business is different. Every family set up and situation, whether it's a limited company or a partnership, whether there's senior members of the family or junior members of the family that want to succeed their farms from them - we need to take solid professional advice from accountants, land agents, solicitors to understand how it might impact our own businesses, because some will be a lot worse than others.

“As farmers, we have to be really, really careful of our messaging and make sure we get our plea across carefully and professionally, so that it is well received because the consumer, the general public, won't understand it because there is a huge divide between what goes on in the countryside and what happens in the city. There are many people in the cities who might never been onto farms. They don't understand agricultural production. When we're screaming and shouting anything over a million pounds is going to be affected by agricultural profit relief, and that we now only get 50% of relief on that, a million [pounds] to someone who lives in a flat in Hackney is beyond belief. So, it is quite sensitive how we communicate this to the consumer. It is the government that we really need to get through to, but as an industry, we need to just think carefully.”

On risk and having the right insurance cover in place while owning and running Cotswold Farm Park, Adam said:

“[It’s] absolutely essential. If you haven't got the correct insurance in place, you're completely open to a very dodgy situation legally and financially… Every farm is different, financially and physically. You need to look at your requirements and discuss that with your insurance broker. When you are around a table with [an insurance professional], they have the experience of the intricacies of insurance, which is very helpful. It's often much better to do that face to face so you can talk it through and walk around the farm itself. They will point out things that you probably wouldn't have even thought of and a lot of that advice can be mitigation. It's solving the problems before they event start.

“As far as insurance goes, keeping our farms secure is difficult. Rural crime is growing. The resources to protect us from that via the police force is challenging for them because they just haven't got the resources there. Insurance and making sure you've got support is part of your farming business and essential so that you know that you are covered.”

David Harrison also shared his insights on the many risks involved with farming:

“It's a risky occupation to be involved with. Health and safety in farming is an area that needs a lot of improvement. There's still far too many serious injuries and fatalities every year. So that is an area that we put a lot of focus on in working with the farming community, to try and improve the health and safety record. There are the challenges of climate as well - I think we are all fully aware of the impacts of climate change. When we look through our stats at the end of the year and the amounts that we’re paying out in terms of the frequency of weather events and the severity of weather events, storms and floods are an increasing challenge.”

The episode explored a broad range topics including technological developments within farming, the importance of understanding where our food comes from, and areas of growth within rural insuring.

British Beekeepers’ Association response to honey authenticity results

Britain’s leading charity representing hobbyist beekeepers has responded to new evidence raising significant questions about the composition of blended honey samples imported to the UK and sold at supermarket retailers. In a recent authenticity test, 96% of samples of imported honey from supermarkets were found to be ‘atypical’ for honey, compared to 100% of UK beekeeper samples that were deemed ‘typical’.

“Our members are small, local producers of artisan honey. Whilst the amounts that they can produce each year will vary due to the seasonable nature of the product, our methods of extraction are unique, and each jar will have its own distinct flavour and texture.

“We will continue to champion the benefits of local honey in an era of increasing debate over the composition of imported honey sold in the UK”.

The Honey Authenticity Network UK (HAN UK) sent 30 honey samples for testing last month, with 24 out of the 25 jars of imported honey not meeting the required standards. All five of the samples sent from UK beekeepers passed the test, as well as one supermarket honey, which was also British honey. The test was carried out at The Celvia research institute in Estonia. Celvia has developed a DNA Metagenomic test in which the composition of samples is compared against a database of more than 500 genuine honeys.

Diane Drinkwater, chair of the British Beekeeprs’ Association– which has a membership of nearly 30,000 beekeepers across England and Wales– said she was ‘disappointed, but not surprised’ at the outcome of the results, adding:

According to the International Trade Centre, the UK imported an average of 50,917 tonnes of honey in 2023, of which 39,405 tons were from China. Jars and bottles of honey can be bought off the shelf for as little as 69p, but often feature a blend of products from a number of different countries. Honey adulteration can take many forms, with one of the most common methods being to bulk out honey with cheap syrups made from corn, rice and other crops.

These new results follow similar outcomes from imported honey samples in Europe, with 80% of samples from Germany, 62% of samples from Finland, and 100% of samples from Austria failing the same test.

Lynne Ingram, BBKA Honey Ambassador and Chair of the Honey Authenticity Network UK said:

“It is disappointing that yet again, samples of cheap imported honeys in UK supermarkets have been found to be ‘atypical’ for genuine honey. All British honeys in the tests were found to be genuine.

“The lack of appropriate monitoring, testing and enforcement by UK government has led to the UK being flooded with cheap honey, much of it from China.

“Consumers wanting authentic honey are advised to be guided by price as very cheap honey is unlikely to be genuine; to read labels carefully and choose honeys that are not a blend. Ideally buy British honey.

“We would also call on more UK supermarkets to stock British honey.”

HOW CAN FARMERS COME OUT ON TOP?

FOLLOWING the announcements from chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget in October, the focus on farmers has left some in the sector worried about what the changes could mean for their livelihoods. Here, Andy Howard, chief executive and co-founder of the leading biodiversity solutions and offsetting provider CSX weighs in on how farmers can reap rewards from the changes.

“Ahead of the budget, there had been a lot of contention speculation on what would be included, but I don’t think anyone in the rural economy was expecting quite the targeting of SME farmer businesses that transpired. It may now be a higher priority for these businesses to assess opportunities for extending nature-based solutions such as Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) within land management practices.

“One positive outcome is the extension of Agricultural Property Relief (APR) to include land managed under an environmental agreement, such as BNG. First proposed by the previous Conservative government, this will now come into effect from 6 April 2025. This gives confidence and surety to landowners that BNG is being treated as

an agricultural practice for inheritance tax purposes.

“It does have to be said, however, that the changes to Agricultural Property Relief from April 2026 will probably lead to quite significant assessment of how land ownership is structured as it passes from one generation to the next.

In summary, combined agricultural and business assets below £1 million will still benefit from 100% relief, but anything above will be reduced to 50.

“This will no doubt increase the Inheritance Tax (IHT) payable by a substantial number of landowners and mean rural enterprises need to review their succession plans to endure the increase.

“As BNG is a 30-year commitment, and under the CSX systems the landowner owns the rights to the BNG and the value of it. This gives the landowner options to retain value or take an income from the land as well as when managing the timing and price at which they trade the BNG units.

“IHT planning is likely to need reassessing for rural enterprises following this budget. Having a BNG project which retains the rights to control the value and sale of the tradeable units can form a supporting pillar of the succession and IHT planning for the landowner.

“For example, this might include regular sales of BNG units to transfer value to a sinking fund pot to cover future payments or covering the borrowing costs if a loan is taken out to pay a resulting tax liability. BNG units could be a resource suitable for raising revenue at a time necessary to pay an inheritance tax bill.

“It's likely to take a period of time for the practical implications of this budget to be better explored and understood. BNG units could very well form part of a rural enterprise’s diversification and risk management strategy now, as well as being a source of income from undertaking environmentally friendly land management practices.

“However, if and when it does become crucial, it is better to have your options explored and in front of you rather than in the ether. We encourage all landowners to get in touch to discover the real value of their land before they’re in a pinch position.”

To learn more about CSX and its offering, visit its website here: csxcarbon.com

ALBAS 25 now open for nominations

Nominations for Lantra Scotland’s 2025 ALBAS (Awards for Land-based and Aquaculture Skills) - which highlight the talents of people and organisations involved in the land-based and aquaculture sector – are now open.

Designed to celebrate the achievements of individuals, schools, businesses and partnerships, the awards recognise successful trainees of all ages and encourage employers to invest in the next generation of talent, while promoting the many rewarding careers available. Industry categories in the ALBAS cover animal care, aquaculture, equine, environmental conservation, fisheries management, game and wildlife, horticulture, land-based engineering, vet nursing and trees and timber.

As well as prizes for Overall Winner, Runner-up and Modern Apprentice of the Year, there are awards for Higher Education, School Pupil, Secondary Schools, Research Project, CARAS (Council for Awards of Agricultural Societies), Mentor award, the Tam Tod Trophy for outstanding young learner, and the Anna Murray Award for Partnership Working.

The evening will be hosted by Dr Jenna Ross OBE and Mike Duxbury of the Inclusive Farm.

Dr Liz Barron-Majerik MBE MICFor, Scotland Director for Lantra explained:

“Land-based and aquaculture industries make a big contribution to Scotland’s economy, particularly in rural areas, so we’re delighted that we can recognise and

celebrate the success of our top learners, employers, training providers and partners through the ALBAS.

“The awards highlight the dedication and achievements of everyone involved and of course becoming a finalist can make a huge difference to people’s self-confidence and careers too.

“Our sector offers a huge range of training and employment opportunities, and we’re keen to highlight the benefits to employers of a well-trained and highly skilled workforce as well.

“Once we have all the nominations in, an independent panel of employers and industry representatives decides who to shortlist for interview based on what’s in the application form and what nominators say in their reference. They are looking for knowledge of industry, passion for the sector, future plans and ambitions and learning journeys, with each of these factors having the same importance.

“It's what you put in the nomination form that determines whether you will be invited for interview, so it's worth spending time on your application.”

Deadline for entries to the ALBAS is Monday 2 December and winners will be announced at a prestigious ceremony at the Crieff Hydro Hotel on Thursday 6 March 2025.

Call Lantra Scotland on 01738 310164, email scotland@lantra.co.uk or visit www.scotland.lantra. co.uk/learner-year to find out more about the ALBAS.

RHUG ESTATE will present customers and visitors with a series of pre-Christmas gifts over the coming weeks

The 12,500-acre farm estate, based near Corwen in North Wales, is celebrating the yuletide holidays with a packed programme of events and activities for all the family to enjoy.

And there are hundreds of the Estate’s award-winning free range organic turkeys up for grabs, as well as a selection of festive meats and hampers including the popular Christmas garnish packs, beef roasting joints and the epic ‘ultimate weekend meat box’ complete with wine, beers, crips, cheese and crackers.

First up in the calendar is the Christmas Fair and Santa’s Grotto, over two days beginning Saturday December 7, followed by the Rhug Chapel Carol Service and late-night shopping on Thursday December 12.

Lord Newborough added: “We look forward to seeing you all and encourage anyone planning to prebook one of our organic turkeys to do so as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

“They are so sought-after even Michelin-starred restaurants have them on their festive menus, as they have so much texture, flavour and cook faster than conventional turkeys.”

Rhug Estate owner Lord Newborough hopes to see more stallholders sign up for the fair and looks forward to welcoming new and loyal customers in the run up to December 25.

“There is something for everyone at Rhug during the festive period, whether you’re looking for quality, organic produce and products for the holidays or an escape with the family to join in our celebrations,” he said.

“It is a special time of year as the atmosphere here

is so warm and welcoming, we really get into the spirit of things and the farm shop team are well prepared and well stocked to ensure you have the most incredible Christmas.”

With orders coming in from as far away as Singapore and Hong Kong, the raft of offers and items on sale at Rhug ensure they have you covered when planning what for many is the most important meal of the year.

There are initiatives and incentives for loyalty card holders, digital gift cards, vouchers to spend instore, and a gift-wrapping service.

Black Friday deals have led to a surge in interest and Lord Newborough says this could be their busiest Christmas yet.

“We are signing up artisan traders and producers from across the region and beyond to the Christmas fair, and it would be great to see even more join us as it’s an event which brings in visitors from near and far,” he added.

“It’s all systems go from now until the big day, but we wouldn’t have it any other way and can’t wait to welcome you all to Rhug Estate very soon.”

For more information and to book your place at one of Rhug’s Christmas events, visitwww.rhug.co.uk. Follow them on social media at @rhugestate.

To pre-book your turkey in time for Christmas, call 01490 413000, emailcontact@rhug.co.ukor visit the website:Rhug Estate Organic TurkeyThanksgiving & Christmas Delivery | Rhug Estate.

Agri-environment activities offer glimmer of hope for farms

Farm businesses can benefit from diversifying their land with agri-environment activities, say lawyers at Birketts, after farm businesses saw an increase in their average income from such activities against a backdrop of declining income in other farming, according tofresh data from Defraout today.

Though many types of farm income have dropped in 2023/24 according to the new data, agri-environment income(including that generated by habitat creation)has increased by an average of 14%. The news comes in the same week that the Environment Bank andtheCastle HowardEstateannounced a new collaboration that will see businesses invest in “nature shares” on theEstate to fund biodiversity initiatives on the 177 hectare estate.

Agricultural andNaturalCapital lawyers at law firm Birketts, who advised on the Castle Howard nature shares project, said that the farming community should considerNaturalCapitalprojectsas a possible income stream.

Daisy Darrell from Birketts’ Agriculture and Estates Team, said: “The farming sector is facing difficult times. As well as income dropping across many areas of farming, the fallout from the recent Budget is clearly being felt by many in the sector. If ever there was a time to diversify and exploreNatural Capitaloptions, it’s now. Today’s figures show there is real potential for farm businesses and other ruralestates to exploreBiodiversity Net Gain, Nature Shares and Nutrient Neutrality projects as potentialincome streams. The Castle Howard project is a good example of diversification. The initiative sets the trend for future nature shares projects and demonstrates to the rural community what is possible in terms of diversification within anestate’s portfolio.”

The latest figures from DEFRA on farm business income showed that on averagefarmbusinessincome was lower for all farm types except for specialist pig farms and specialist poultry farms.Business incomefor cereal farmsfell by 73% to £39,400. Forgeneral cropping farms,average income was 24% lower at £95,300. Dairy farms saw income 68% lower at £70,900, while lowland grazing livestock farms’ average income fell by nearly a quarter to £17,300.

DEFRA figures showed that across all farm types, net income from agri-environment activities increased by an average of 14% to £10,600.

Uncertainty caused by the 2024 Autumn Budget leads to record attendance at Larking Gowen Autumn Farming Conference

With the farming industry still reeling from the Chancellor’s announcements on Inheritance Tax in the 2024 Autumn Budget just a few days earlier, tickets for the 2024 Larking Gowen Autumn Farming Conference sold out as farmers and rural advisers sought clarification on numerous issues.

Since its inception in 2022 this annual event has grown in stature and significance, each year attracting an increasing audience of farmers, landowners and growers, as well as those from the wider agricultural and rural business sector. After two successful events in East Suffolk, the 2024 Autumn Farming Conference on Tuesday 5 November moved west to All Saints Hotel, Fornham St. Genevieve near Bury St Edmunds. Organised by Larking Gowen, a major regional independent accountancy partnership, it was supported by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), with sponsorship from Alan Boswell Group, Ashtons Legal and Virgin Money.

Bruce Masson, the Larking Gowen partner who originated the event, stated: “The recent Autumn Budget has introduced new pressures for farmers. With a range of legislative and financial challenges, farming businesses are facing significant hurdles that are likely to continue. Looking ahead, the Government's new ‘environmental’ tax on imported industrial goods under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), set to take effect on 1 January 2027, may increase fertiliser prices by £50 per tonne”.

CLA East Director Cath Crowther added: “The Labour Party gave repeated reassurances over the last twelve months that they would not tamper with Inheritance Tax Relief (IHT) or alter Agricultural Property Relief (APR). The Chancellor’s recent actions broke all their preelection promises. In a CLA poll which asked, ‘Were you optimistic for the future of farming in the UK before the Budget’ 53% of farmers answered ‘yes’. Now, just 18% say ‘yes’, 64% ‘no’ and 18% ‘not sure’.

“Gavin Lane, Deputy President of the CLA and Norfolk farmer added: “In her budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated that only 27% of farms and estates will be affected and that this is a small number. However, CLA data paints a much different picture. We estimate 70,000 farms could be affected by this tax at any one time, and therefore it will have a much broader, far-reaching impact on the rural economy, which is why we are actively contesting the Chancellor’s statement.”

LOOKING FOR POSITIVES

Environmental and financial sustainability were other key issues at the 2024 Autumn Farming Conference, with three of the speakers setting out some options, with practical information and advice to help farmers put their businesses on a solid footing for the future.

On a positive note, Brown & Co Consultants Abigail Maynard (Agricultural Environmental Consultant, Divisional Partner) and Emma Griffiths (Town Planner –Divisional Partner) discussed options available under Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) schemes, which they see as providing opportunities for farms.

“Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), which was introduced by the National Planning Policy Framework and the Environment Act, became a legal requirement on 12 February 2024. It may be a storm in a teacup, but there is potential for big, special or easy projects.” Abigail outlined.

“Nutrient Neutrality, which encompasses measures to mitigate Nitrogen and Phosphorous to help protect Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) offers a range of incentives, with a six-year conversion of 40ha from arable to grass being worth £250,000 over that period. Having an area of SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive) is a complete ‘no-brainer’ worth £4000 to a 50ha farm in the first year, with no farming actions required, so every farm should have an SFI agreement. New Countryside Stewardship schemes are on their way and with Landscape Recovery still developing, farmers should maintain a watching brief,” Abigail advised.

The Reduction in farming subsidies creates a need to think differently to generate revenues, Emma Griffiths emphasised. Agricultural diversification is supported nationally and through local planning policies. Existing farm buildings and land are assets which can be developed. Outlining the framework for Prior Approvals Applications, Emma outlined Permitted Development for the conversion of agricultural buildings, together with the process for Land Promotion, engaging with Local Plans and Neighbourhood Plans for residential or employment development.

Michelle Masson, a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) trained in Landed Estates and associated business, has worked across many sectors in recent years, providing support in SECR (Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting) and developing carbon baseline reporting. Currently working in one of the country’s largest let estates, with a unique portfolio of land, property and assets, she outlined the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of ‘Sustainability and Carbon Reporting,’ helping to clarify a complex area which will be new to many in the farming industry.

PERSEVERENCE PAYS OFF

‘If you don’t enjoy what you do, don’t do it,” advised Sam Steggles, owner of award-winning farm business The Goat Shed at Honingham in Norfolk. Detailing his inspirational diversification journey over the last 15 years, Sam gave a fascinating account of how he went from dreaming about becoming an artisan cheese producer, to starting cheese production after purchasing his first 10 goats in 2009, to now running an award-winning customer-focussed farm-based business employing 50 people.

It hasn’t been easy, with many setbacks along the way. The impact of covid lockdowns in 2020, for example, had an immediate and devastating impact when large, highprofile customers cancelled orders almost immediately as their own businesses were affected, leading to a 90% reduction in turnover for his business. But through sheer determination, hard work and innovation new

opportunities have emerged. This year has seen the biggest evolution in the Goat Shed’s history; the farm shop has doubled in size with a new deli, bakery and butchery being added, together with a paddock area and maize maze which help connect visitors to the animals and land.

“If I had to do it all again I wouldn’t do anything different, as the hurdles we have had to overcome and the support of customers have shaped our decisions, making us what we are today,” Sam stated. “My advice to anyone starting a new venture is to think long and hard about whether it is something that you are passionate about and want to do, as it’s not for the faint hearted. Then surround yourself with the right people and have the right people in the right position and roles. It is paramount to have your systems and procedures in place and crucial that you and your whole team follow them. As an owner, be prepared to do a little bit of everything, roll up your sleeves and lead by example. As a business we have faced and overcome numerous challenges over the years, but the measures announced in the Autumn Budget will have a huge negative impact going forward, knock £100,000 off our bottom line and impact succession planning.”

RESEARCHING ALTERNATIVE CROPS

‘Expect the unexpected’ is the motto adopted by Edward Vipond, Farms Director for Troston Farms Ltd in Suffolk, which is owned by the Claas family, one of the world’s largest farm machinery manufacturers.

“Never in my career has there been a more profound change to the farming support system than now,” Edward stated. “Over the last 30 years there has always been some element of direct support for farming, but in the last few days it has become evident that it will end far more quickly than we had expected or had planned for. On the day of the Autumn Budget, Defra also announced changes to the Basic Payments Scheme which will mean that that the financial support Troston Farms receives will fall to just £8,000 next year. That gap will never be filled, so my job is to forget direct support, make best use of assets and not expose us to undue risk.”

Outlining how the business for which he is responsible is positioning for the future by using technology to help balance the requirements of food production and the environment Edward, who in 2021 won both the Farmers Weekly’s ‘Farmer of the Year’ and Farm Manager of the Year’ Awards, added: “Troston Farms has expanded rapidly, adding 1000ha in the last 10 years. Now we farm 1800ha across a wide range of soil types, from Breckland blow away sand to heavy clay. We grow winter wheat (457ha), winter and spring barley (436ha), sugar beet (176ha), potatoes (49ha), onions (22ha), combining rye (131ha), forage rye (51ha), maize (117ha), winter beans (64ha) and sunflowers (52ha), with additional land for Countryside Stewardship Scheme (45ha), grass (35ha) and pigs (32ha).

“Cropping has had to change and will continue to change. Oilseed rape has become far too risky to grow, and although we still have a considerable area of rye for crispbread or pig feed production it is becoming more challenging to find new markets. We are heavily white strawed crops on the heavy land and that causes me trouble.

“With drought conditions becoming more common no longer are we keen to grow sugar beet on light Breckland sand, and alternatives are needed for unirrigated land. We grow 55ha of sunflowers, the ethos being to reduce risk; if everything goes wrong the only costs incurred are for seed and drilling, which we do ourselves, plus a small amount of herbicide – there’s no contractor to plant expensive sugar beet or maize seed, no fertiliser and no insecticide. But the crop has its challenges and will not be for everyone.

“We drill sunflowers in mid-May and once the crop has germinated it requires no rain for the remainder of the season, flowers in August and can usually be combined in October. Every year we learn something new, such as how taking just the sunflowers heads off when combining improves the sample exponentially. Currently they go for supplementary feeding, such as bird food, but we are working to develop other markets.

“BPS support will cease in 2027, there will be no direct support thereafter and ultimately the level will be 40 to 50 per cent of the original figure. Whether that gap will widen and what Troston Farms will look like in five or 10 years is almost impossible to predict. We must focus on what we grow and how we grow it, maximise the return on low-risk land, minimise the risk on high-risk land and focus on indirect costs as much as direct costs. Threeyear terms for SFI are difficult to integrate into a longterm plan for the farm and with no guarantee of roll-over do not fill me with confidence. Attractive payments are available for Landscape Recovery projects, but a 20year term represents a huge commitment on land that you may or may not get back for agricultural production at the end of it, so we are not heading into rewilding, planting large areas with trees or locking up large areas into landscape recovery.

“Evolution is key to a profitable farm business, but I am not prepared to alter our system to chase grant payments that could lower productivity. The short-term nature of SFI causes me trouble but I am trying to stack and layer options where possible. As an example, we grow cover crops and claim an SFI payment for that, which leads into a companion crop, into which we drill sunflowers and for which we can claim an insecticidefree payment. I can nett, give or take, £60/ha by layering my scheme on top of sunflowers. That is the way I see the future, because who is to say whether at the end of three years the government will roll over SFI, change the options or restrict it. We just don’t know, but politicians lack a good track record when it comes to keeping promises.”

The Autumn Farming Conference concluded with presentations from Bruce Masson on Capital Gains Tax (CGT), Furnished Holiday Lets (FHL), Inheritance Tax and Succession, with a session on Inheritance Tax and Succession Planning by Sally Key (Director/Financial Planner) and Mark Ward (Chartered Financial Planner) from Alan Boswell Group.

All profits from the Larking Gowen Autumn Farming Conference will be shared between its charity partners YANA (You Are Not Alone), which provides mental health support for the farming and rural community, and RABI, which provides practical, financial and emotional support to the farming community.

ENDS:

Official Farm Income figures released show record falls

In responding to Defra’s Farm Business Income (FBI) figures, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: “Defra’s estimated Farm Business Income figures for 2023/24, confirmed today, paint a stark picture of the challenges facing many farmers, with rising input costs,significantly lower commodity prices,a reduction in direct payments and one of the wettest winters indecadesleaving many businesses worse off. For example, cereal farmers have seen their income fall by 73% and income for dairy farmers has fallen by 68% compared to 2022/23.

“When these figures were first estimated back in March 2024, we said that we needed a government that would create policies to support British agriculture and help farmers and growers to build financial resilience into their businesses. Profitable farm businesses are essential if we are to deliver what the country needs; food security, with food produced to world leading standards and environmental protection.

“Instead, we have seen the opposite. The recent Budget announcing changes to Agriculture Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) have left farmers reeling. Many will be faced with a tax bill of millions. Some will be forced to sell all or part of their farm to raise the funds.

“These are the working people of our countryside, the majority of them working for little profit but happy in the knowledge their life’s work will mean they can pass the farm on to the next generation. This tax threatens to change all that. It threatens our food security and with the compounded impact of National Insurance and National Living Wage changes, it threatens to push up food prices for consumers.

“There has been a clear Treasury miscalculation of the impact this will have on farmers and growers.The Treasury has simply got its figures wrong. This policy

won’t protect family farms, it will do the opposite.

“Treasury officials have assumed that all previous APR claims are working farms, which is not the case.Nor did these claims include those eligible for BPR. Far from protecting smaller family farms, which is what ministers say they’re doing, they’re protecting private houses in the country with a few acres let out for grazing while disproportionately hammering actual, foodproducing farms which are, on paper, much more valuable. Even the department responsible for farm policy, Defra, has figures which show this, with the department’s own data showing two thirds of farms could be affected.

“Another key question is what impact assessment has been done ahead of this policy announcement on homegrown food production? Because if farms are being broken up and sold, British food will be hit. There is a very real threat to our long-term food security because there is no incentive to invest for the future. Any available cash will now be going into pension provisions rather than investing in the infrastructure on farm to deliver food security for the next decade and beyond.

“At last year’s NFU Conference, we heard from Sir Keir Starmer that ‘Losing a farm is not like losing any other business, it can’t come back’. He was absolutely right. It can’t. And neither can its ability to produce food for the nation.

“The pressure is building. Defra and the Treasury are aware that on 19 November, NFU members will be making their way to Westminster to take part in our mass lobby of MPs. We will be looking them in the eye and asking if they support this family farm tax, or if they will do the right thing for their farming constituents and support our call for it to be reversed.

“The only sensible course of action is for the Treasury to reverse this decision and soon.”

RAGT UK appoints new Managing Director

Leading plant breeding company RAGT UK has announced the appointment of Helen Wilson as Managing Director, effective from 19 November 2024.

Helen has extensive commercial and strategic experience at RAGT Group. She joined RAGT UK in 2013 as Product Development Specialist, managing grass, maize and soil health plants portfolios, before being appointed Head of Forage Crops in 2016, covering the UK and Nordic and Baltic regions.

For the past three years she has worked for RAGT Group’s New Markets team as Business Leader for Asia and Oceania, successfully integrating New Zealand and Australian subsidiaries into the group and exploring new opportunities in Southeast Asia.

Simon Howell, Group Commercial Director for RAGT Northern Europe, said: “We are delighted that Helen has agreed to rejoin RAGT UK.

“She has worked in a variety of key roles across RAGT and brings the necessary balance of commercial skills, experience and leadership qualities to lead our dynamic UK business.

“Under Helen’s guidance, RAGT UK will continue to develop its highly successful multi-species portfolio. We are confident her appointment will secure a strong future for the business and our key partners across the industry.”

Helen said: “I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to lead RAGT UK. The skills and experiences I have gained from my international role within the wider group will be invaluable in my new role.

“I look forward to working with our very talented team to take the business forward, continuing our drive to develop a range of best-in-class varieties across all major crops and ensuring that our growers, seed industry partners and end-user customers reap the benefits of our efforts.”

R Regen farming event launches £5,000 prize fund

egenerative farming could provide the answer to healthier soils, farm business resilience and food security. And a major new conference which seeks to explore these links is offering a £5,000 prize fund to help farmers to make the transition to a regenerative farming system.

LandAlive, which takes place on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 November at the Bath & West Showground, Somerset, is bringing together expert farmers and speakers to explain how the whole food supply chain can become more resilient, profitable and environmentally sustainable.

And a new prize fund has just been announced, which will officially launch at LandAlive, offering two farmers or farm advisers in South West England £2,500 each towards a two-year regenerative farming programme called Roots to Regeneration (R2R).

regenerative agriculture leader Caroline Grindrod and farmer Clare Hill.

“Agriculture and the food system is embedded within a wider economic system – you can’t really isolate the two,” says Tamara. The programme comprises a mix of practical and technical learning, thinking about the bigger picture on the farm, the farm business model, and the impact of the farm within the local economy and community. “It’s a hugely powerful course.”

“We must support our farming communities to evolve and respond to the increasing impacts of climate change,” says Carol Paris, chief executive at the Royal Bath & West Society. “The prize fund, sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Grocers, aims to stimulate innovation in farm business models in response to climate change, biodiversity loss, soil health, animal welfare, and – importantly – supporting farmer wellbeing.”

Tamara Giltsoff, a co-founder of LandAlive, says those who want to apply for the prize can follow a simple application process, outlining their objective for joining the programme. First, they need to register their interest by booking a consultation here. The programme starts February 2025 and is run by

Clare and Caroline will both be speaking at the LandAlive event and available to meet delegates on their stand. The other 50+ speakers include a wide range of farmers, consultants, scientists, environmentalists, food processors and human health experts.

“Regenerative farming is not just the answer for more sustainable agriculture – it needs to be seen in the broader context of local and global health,” says Stewart Crocker at Sustainable Food Somerset.

“Common crops and vegetables have lost an average of 38% of their nutrients since the Second World War. Could regen farming help mend our broken NHS? Could it reverse the decline in soil health and biodiversity? Could it renew farmers’ passion for their job and bring about a more positive future for the sector?

“Our speakers think it can, and their enthusiasm, technical knowledge and practical advice is sure to leave visitors to LandAlive reinvigorated and inspired to bring regen farming into the mainstream.”

LandAlive will be held at the Bath & West Showground, Somerset, on 22-23 November 2024. Tickets are available at www.landalive.co.uk

Richard Moor, Moor Farm

The recent Budget fails to acknowledge the realities of farming. I employ a 16year-old apprentice who is exceptional, but rising minimum wage and National Insurance costs make it hard to justify hiring replacements, threatening the pipeline of young talent in agriculture.

Changes to inheritance tax will severely impact our family farm. My father, 93, has dedicated his life to this land, but the new cap on relief means costly financial planning and potentially selling land just to meet tax obligations. Farming’s returns are low, and land is valuable only when sold - a situation at odds with sustainable farming practices.

Diversification has been crucial to our survival. Through our partnership with Feather Down Farms, we’ve developed a glamping business with seven lodges hosting around 2,000 visitors annually. This alternative revenue stream has helped us keep the farm running while allowing us to educate the public about regenerative agriculture. However, the Balfour test, which requires at least 50% of income to come from traditional farming, limits further expansion, jeopardising this vital income.

We need policies that recognise farming as vital to the nation’s food security. Simply put - no farmers, no food.

This is why I’m joining fellow farmers in London to demand that our concerns be addressed. We need a government that understands and supports the backbone of the UK’s food system.

Feather Down Farms, who works closely with Richard, also added:

At Feather Down Farms, we believe farming plays a critical role in our daily lives and the functioning of society. With the recent budget announcements of frozen farming budget, capped agricultural property relief (APR) and the inclusion of inheritance tax, the financial impact on the farming community in the UK could be huge. With many family-owned farms affected, we could see a negative shift in food production, food security andimportantly, a massive impact on the livelihood of many farmers, who may need to sell precious land or livestock to cover these tax bills.

More than 250,000 members of the public support overturning the 'Family Farm Tax'

More than 250,000 people have backed the NFU's campaign to reverse the family farm tax, signalling to the government that the public disagrees with the cruel, ill-thought-out policy.

The NFU campaign attracted an increase of 50,000 signatures over just two days1in the lead-up to and after the NFU's mass lobby of MPs in Westminster on 19 November.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: "I want to send a heartfelt thanks tothe public from the whole farming community for backing our campaign to overturn the family farm tax. At a time when farmers believe government has lied to them and let them down badly, British farmers and growers are heartened to know

that they have the support of so many members of the public.

"Earlier on in the year the public decided farming was the second most trusted profession in Britain2after only nursing. This milestone of support is further confirmation that the public values British farmers and growers for all they provide and believes they deserve more than this badly designed and poorly targeted policy that could decimate working family farms across Britain.

"Ministers must rethink the changes to Agriculture Property Relief and Business Property Relief and protect the people they say they want to. If they don't, they risk reducing our food security and potential food price rises for shoppers as the cost of producing food increases."

Farmers affected by flooding to receive payments from £60 million fund from next week

Farmers will receive payments from 21 November from the £60 millionFarming Recovery Fund, the government confirmed today (13 November).

Around 13,000 farmers were impacted by severe wet weather, including Storms Henk and Babet, between October and March last year, and will receive payments ranging from £2,895 - £25,000.

These payments will support land recovery measures, such as soil remediation, recultivation and the removal of any debris caused by flooding.

The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has issued letters to all eligible farmers with further details. Farmers have until 18 November to inform the RPA of any changes in circumstances before payments begin.

Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said:

"I have asked for these payments to land with farmers affected by the severe wet weather last winter as quickly as possible.

"The £60 million fund is £10 million more than agreed by

the previous government and means farmers can get the support they need to recover their land.

"More broadly, this government is investing £2.4 billion into the farming budget next year – the largest ever directed at sustainable food production and nature's recovery."

The government has confirmed £2.4 billion for farming budget next year, with ELM schemes remaining at the centre of the offer for farmers and nature, with the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and Landscape Recovery all continuing.

Alongside the £60 million Farming Recovery Fund, the government has also committed £208 million up to 202526 for the government's biosecurity facilities at Weybridge to protect the nation from disease outbreaks that can threaten the farming industry and food security.

Today's announcement comes at the same time as £50 million be distributed to internal drainage boards (IDBs), the public bodies responsible for managing water levels for agricultural and environmental needs in a particular area.

The Investment Association comments on Mansion House speech

Karen Northey, Director of Corporate Affairs at the Investment Associationcommented:

"The Chancellor has set out an ambitious agenda to ensure the UK's financial services sector continues to flourish and play its role in delivering economic growth. Our industry strongly supports her commitment to recalibrate risk and acknowledgement of the importance of investment to grow the economy.

"The new remit letters to the regulator rightly emphasise the importance of growth and competitiveness. The FCA's secondary objective is central to ensuring the UK remains a world-leading centre – not just for investment management – but for innovation and wellbeing of all, and we are pleased to see the Chancellor recognise that appropriate risk in the system is a positive and growth-oriented necessity.

"We want to ensure the UK remains an attractive place for companies to list, invest and do business. This requires a rebalancing of attitude towards risk. Proposals to broaden access to private markets through PISCES and plans to make the UK a leading centre for green finance indicate a positive shift towards a growth-focused mindset. We are also pleased to see the government championing

innovation by delivering on its plans to introduce a digital gilt – a key recommendation of the Asset Management Task Force's work on tokenisation. As technology continues to evolve, speed and regulatory responsiveness will be critical to the success of these initiatives.

"Ensuring our pensions system is fit for purpose will be mission critical in securing the financial futures of millions across our country. The proposals to further consolidate both the LGPS and DC master trusts are an important step. To fully realise the benefit, we must ensure that we deliver 'sophisticated scale' – placing an emphasis on strong governance, accountability and appropriate investment expertise to deliver the most productive outcomes and create value for money for savers. With an ambitious approach, this could channel more pensions capital into fast-growing businesses and infrastructure projects.

"Today's announcements mark the welcome start of a bold reform programme and we believe even more can be achieved. We look forward to continuing to engage with government over the coming months, to help establish a culture of inclusive investment and create a world-leading economy and investment management sector."

Roxburghshire Monitor Farm panel night to debate ‘Regen farming: Hope or hype?’

There’s always plenty of debate about regenerative agriculture, and it will be the topic of discussion at a Roxburghshire Monitor Farm panel evening on Thursday 5 December. All farmers are invited to attend, and booking is now open.

The meeting, ‘Regenerative Farming: Hope or hype?’, starts at 7pm at the Buccleuch Arms, St Boswells. It will see a panel of four farmers with diverse businesses dig into the issue, with questions including why is it such a polarising topic, and does it need a rebrand to get away from the seemingly negative connotation for many farmers?

Panel speakers at the event are:

• Sam Parsons, farm manager of Balcaskie Estate in Fife. The farm converted to organic in 2016 in a bid to cut costs while improving soil health and natural biodiversity. Farming more than 1,300ha, the main enterprises are beef and sheep with some arable and a small pig herd. As part of the transition to organic, red meat enterprises were expanded and land was taken out of permanent arable rotation and put into grass for fertility building, with mob grazing adopted as part of the system.

• Stuart Johnston, a mixed farmer at West Wharmley Farm near Hexham, has focussed on building a resilient farming business. He started with strip-tillage and has spent the last decade focussing on reducing his reliance on fertiliser, chemicals and other external inputs, while increasing the farm’s resilience to fluctuations in the weather and economy. He is a past winner of Soil Farmer of the Year.

• Sally Williams, dairy farmer at Clackmae in the Scottish Borders where she runs a 340-cow herd, has fully embraced technology to assist her in the efficient running of the herd, including installing Lely Astronaut milking robots. She showcases her management of the dairy herd at Clackmae through numerous farmer and student visits and to the public through LEAF (linking environment and farming) open days, Royal Highland Education Trust (RHET) visits and Go Rural Scotland videos.

• Colin McGregor, director of McGregor Farms which is based at Coldstream Mains and also offers contracting services, as well as operating Contract Farming Agreements. The business is a keen advocate of precision farming, starting with yield mapping as far back as 1996, and is using technology to maintain yield and increase output. Winter wheat, winter barley and oilseed rape are the main crops grown, together with a small area of spring barley, with break crops including vining peas, potatoes and spring beans.

Monitor Farm regional adviser Maura Wilson said: “There has been lots of discussion about regenerative farming at Monitor Farm meetings, and this evening will be a great opportunity to hear both sides of the debate, and for people to ask the panel for their opinions.

“Sam and Stuart will talk from more of a regen side, whereas Sally and Colin will come from the more conventional standpoint. With all four running impressive businesses, it will be great to hear their opinions and practical experiences, and it promises to be a lively evening.”

‘Regenerative farming: Hope or hype?’ Roxburghshire Monitor Farm open panel evening. Thursday 5 December at 7pm at the Buccleuch Arms, St Boswells TD6 0EW. Book at https://bit.ly/ RoxburghRegenPanel

A New UK agri-tech strategy and government support needed to maintain momentum

refreshed government agri-tech strategy that helps unlock the potential of agriculture and horticulture to deliver multiple societal benefits is vital to build on the success of the first government agri-tech strategy from 10 years ago, according to a new report from Agri-TechE.

The organisation’s ‘Back to the Future’ report, marking 10 years of the not-for-profit membership organisation, provides a 360-degree overview of what is needed to maintain the momentum from the 2013 AgriTech Strategy. It reflects on both the successes and current challenges agri-tech faces.

Responses from over 70 contributors, including innovative farming businesses and estates, researchers and technology developers, investors, and technical and commercial service providers, shaped the report.

While there is much optimism for the next decade of agri-tech innovation, contributors also identify challenges, including a changed investment landscape, difficulties scaling solutions and businesses, a lack of secure revenue streams, and regulators failing to keep pace with innovation.

The responses clearly highlight the need for a new government agri-tech strategy, following on from the transformational strategy from 2013, says Dr Belinda Clarke, Agri-TechE director.

“The 2013 strategy engendered a lot of fresh thinking, energy, external investment and innovation in the agricultural and horticultural sectors,” she says. “But the sector is now in a very different place and needs new government focus to shape the future of agri-tech to enable it to help the sector meet new priorities.”

These include a much greater emphasis on climatesmart agriculture to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and aligning on-farm productivity with environmental sensitivity to help reverse biodiversity declines and maintain clear water and air.

The government should also recognise that the sector delivers much more than just food and beverages; it also includes ecosystem services and industrial feedstocks such as biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and raw materials for textiles and construction.

“We need the new government to deliver a strategy for agriculture and horticulture that recognises the industry as a key component of our bioeconomy,” Dr Clarke says. “This, in turn, will inform a refreshed agri-tech strategy as one of the key enablers of unlocking the industry’s potential.”

Clear policies give clarity on the direction of travel and

build confidence, she stresses. “Well-defined, longterm sector strategies can lever private investment and provide a roadmap for innovation success. A new strategy for the next decade is needed.”

Among the other challenges for agri-tech companies identified in the report is how regulation is failing to keep pace with innovation. An example is the lack of clear regulation for emerging trends, such as the use of biological products. For agri-tech developers, earlier engagement with regulators from the outset of innovation is vital, the report suggests.

Scaling solutions also remains challenging, which could at least be partially helped through more government support for businesses, potentially via contracts or subsidies to help boost nascent industries. Without secure revenue streams, markets can be tough to penetrate.

Equally importantly, agri-tech developers are struggling to calculate return on investments for farmers – vital information for farmers to decide whether to embrace a new technology. That is leading to some on-farm fatigue, the report reveals, along with some technologies and businesses failing to deliver on their hype.

“We need to stop promising farmers that a technology is going to change the world tomorrow,” Dr Clarke stresses. “While some farmers are happy to be betatesters, the majority want reliability and seek solutions that will work the first time.”

The report identifies there is no shortage of new technology to help farmers in the future. From conversational artificial intelligence that will allow users to ask specific questions of their data – and get sensible answers – to sensors that help growers understand what plants need for optimum nutrition and performance, and genetic tools for breeding plants and animals with valuable new traits.

These and other technologies will potentially deliver solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reverse biodiversity loss and maintain water quality.

Developments such as satellite imaging and GPS navigation, clean energy production through ground source heat pumps and anaerobic digestion, innovative lighting solutions, livestock wearables and metagenomic sequencing of plants, animals and microbes show how farm agri-tech has come in the past decade, Dr Clarke says.

“The agri-tech community is collectively very optimistic about the next decade, but a new agri-tech strategy would give the granular clarity to inspire further transformative innovations,” she concludes.

Sales of antibiotics for animals at lowest level to date

Multi-drug resistance in UK animals remains at its lowest level since reporting started a decade ago as shown in a report published by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) on 19th November.

The figures, published in the latestUK-Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance and Sales Surveillance (VARSS) Reportduring World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week, show that antibiotic sales in foodproducing animals remain at a 59% reduction since 2014. Sales of antibiotics of highest critical importance to human health remain at extremely low levels,accounting for less than half a percent of total veterinary antibiotic sales.

This year's report marks 10 years of collecting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) data from pigs and poultry in the harmonised monitoring programme, and for the first the time reports on AMR levels in sheep, beef, and dairy cattle. This initial baseline data helps provide a more complete picture of AMR and begins to address one of key commitments of theUK's new National Action Plan on AMR, published in May, to tackle our data gaps around antibiotic use and resistance.

A decade of reducing antibiotic use in food producing animals and farming sectors, supported by VMD, have worked hard to reduce antibiotic use in food-producing animals over the last decade. This has resulted in declining AMR levels, but if upticks in use seen in this year's report for some sectors become trends, we must anticipate this being reflected by increasing AMR. This highlights the need for continued antibiotic stewardship efforts.

AMR is a huge global challenge, affecting human and animal health, food security, and economic growth. It occurs when bacteria and other microorganisms evolve to resist antimicrobial drugs like antibiotics, rendering these treatments less effective or even ineffective in animals and people. New estimates show more than 39 million deaths directly attributable to bacterial AMR will occur between now and 2050. Avoiding unnecessary antibiotic usage in humans and animals is crucial to slowing the development of antibiotic resistance.

This has been an important year for AMR both domestically with the publication of the new AMR National Action Plan and internationally with the United Nation's High-Level Meeting on AMR in September, producing a landmark political declaration to galvanise international action. Focus must now be on implementation, globally, nationally and locally, providing an opportunity for the UK's farming sector to build on its progress to date.

Abi Seager, Veterinary Medicines Directorate CEO said:

"The VMD has been publishing antibiotic sales, use and resistance data for the UK's animal population for over a decade and the positive trends demonstrate the dedication of the UK's farmers and vets to ensure responsible antibiotic use in animals.

"I am especially proud of our AMR surveillance programme which continues to expand and become more robust. This year also marks the launch of the 2024-2029 AMR National Action Plan, and I look forward

to seeing renewed ambition from the veterinary and agriculture sectors as they set new targets through RUMA's Targets Task Force next year."

APHA Chief Executive Jenny Stewart said: "APHA has a long history of working on antimicrobial resistance in the animal health sector and has been partnering with the VMD for many years, to tackle this important global challenge.

"Today's report, which is published during World AMR Awareness Week, highlights ongoing progress but also the vital need for continued action in this space. We will continue to work closely with UK vets and farmers, as well as international partners, to address the threat of AMR."

UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said:

"This year's UK-VARSS report demonstrates how continued collaboration is helping to maintain progress in the responsible use of antibiotics therebystemming the AMR tide.

"It is crucial that we continue to work with our farmers and vets as well as our counterparts internationally on tackling this One Health risk."

Baroness Hayman, Minister for Biosecurity, Borders and Animal Welfare, said: "Collaboration between farmers, vets, industry, and government is integral to the UK-VARSS report's results and collective hard work over the last decade has led to significant reductions in AMR in animals.

"We must continue the work of improving stewardship of antibiotics across all sectors. The new AMR National Action Plan and strengthened Veterinary Medicine Regulations will help to achieve this and improve our AMR surveillance capability which is critical to protect the UK's biosecurity."

Catherine McLaughlin, Chair of The Responsible use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) said: "These latest results from both the VARSS Report and in our RUMA Agriculture Targets Task Force Report, demonstrate that the collaborative, voluntary efforts over the past decade from the UK farmed animal, bird and fish sectors in addressing AMR are clearly paying off. The fact that AMR continues to decline with multi-drug resistance in animals at an all-time low should be applauded and should reassure everyone that the work on responsible use and stewardship is making a real and tangible difference.

"As RUMA Agriculture starts to plan for our third cycle of targets (TTF3) over the coming year, these latest results will undoubtedly give everyone the ongoing confidence and continued focus to build on what is already done and be as ambitious as possible as we drive forward our efforts to tackle AMR and protect the efficacy of antibiotics; all with the common goal of helping to save the lives of animals and people."

More information on the specific targets and ambitions on antibiotic use from each livestock sector can be found in The Targets Taskforce (TTF) update report, which was alsopublished today.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel State for Environment, Food and

Farmers are the backbone of Britain, and we recognise the strength of feeling expressed by farming and rural communities in recent weeks.We are steadfast in our commitment to Britain’s farming industry because food security is national security.

“It's why we are investing £5 billion into farming over the next two years – the largest amount ever directed towards sustainable food production, rural economic growth and nature’s recovery in our country’s history.

“But with public services crumbling and a £22 billion fiscal hole that this Government inherited, we have taken difficult decisions.

“The reforms to Agricultural Property Relief ensure that wealthier estates and the most valuable farms pay their fair share to invest in our schools and health services that farmers and families in rural communities rely on."

Background: APR

• Depending on people’s individual circumstances, up to £3 million can be passed on free of inheritance tax. Anything beyond that will be taxed at 20%, rather than the usual 40% normal rate of inheritance tax. This tax can be paid tax-free in instalments over 10 years, rather than immediately. And if transfers to individuals are made more than 7

years before death, those will continue to fall outside the scope of inheritance tax in the normal way.

• Around 500 claims a year are expected to be affected. Our figures are based on the latest available information from HMRC on actual claims for Agricultural Property Relief. More information in this explainer:https://www.gov.uk/ government/news/what-are-thechanges-to-agricultural-propertyrelief

• The government is better targeting these reliefs to make them fairer, protecting small family farms. The latest figures show that the top 7% (the largest 117 claims) account for 40% of the total value of agricultural property relief. This costs the taxpayer £219 million. The top 2% of claims (37 claims) account for 22% of agricultural property relief, costing £119 million.

We have also announced in the Budget:

• £5 billion for the farming budget over two years – with the largest ever directed at sustainable food production and nature’s recovery in our country’s history. ELM schemes will remain at the centre of our offer for farmers and nature, with the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier and Landscape Recovery all continuing.

• £60 million through the Farming

Rachel Reeves andSecretary of and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed said:

Recovery Fund to support farmers affected by unprecedented extreme wet weather last winter.

• £208 million to save the collapse of our defences against disease threats and protect the nation from outbreaks that can threaten our farming industry, food security and human health.

The government's New Deal for Farmers:

• Seeking a new veterinary agreement with the European Union to cut red tape at our borders and get British food exports moving again.

• Protecting farmers from being undercut by low welfare and low standards in trade deals.

• Lowering energy bills by switching on GB Energy and introduce grid reform to allow farmers to plug in their renewable energy into the National Grid.

• Introducing a land-use framework which balances long-term food security and nature recovery.

• Using the Government’s own purchasing power to back British produce so that 50% of food brought in hospitals, army bases and prisons is locally produced or certified to high environmental standards.

• Introducing first ever Cross-

Government Rural Crime Strategy ever of its kind to crack down on antisocial behaviour, fly-tipping and GPS theft.

• Setting up a new British Infrastructure Council to steer private investment in rural areas including broadband rollout in our rural communities.

Food security

• The Government recognises that food security is national security.We produce 61% of all the food we need, and 74% of food which we can grow or rear in the UK for all or part of the year.

• Our high degree of food security is built on supply from diverse sources including strong domestic production and imports through stable trade routes.

• UK consumers have access through international trade to food products that cannot be produced here, or at least not on a year-round basis. This supplements domestic production, and also ensures that any disruption from risks such as adverse weather or disease do not affect the UK's overall security of supply

Supply chain

• The government has committed to making the supply chain work more fairly, and next steps on reviews into the pig, egg, poultry and fresh produce will be set out shortly.

A Innovative approaches for the detection of apple scab disease

project aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of biostimulants by utilising advanced technologies has taken place to help control crop diseases.

The UK Agri-Tech Centre conducted a feasibility study with Kent fruit growers, Rumwood Green, and crop protection advisers, Landseer Ltd., on the project –'Apple Orchard Health: Evaluating Hyperspectral Imagery for Disease Detection and Biostimulant Efficacy' –with funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and UKRI Transforming Food Production Challenge.

Without PPPs, this figure would skyrocket to 7080%. However, there is a promising solution on the horizon by using biostimulants. These are natural substances or micro-organisms that can enhance the natural defences and overall health of the plants when applied to them.

One significant challenge of biostimulants is assessing their effectiveness as they operate distinctively from conventional PPPs.

Biostimulants serve as preventative measures rather than curative, necessitating timely application before visible disease symptoms emerge.

UK fruit growers are facing a major challenge, exacerbated by the diminishing availability of plant protection products (PPPs) controlling crop disease.

The phasing out of traditional PPPs, driven by environmental concerns, has added complexity to this issue. Despite utilisation of PPPs, UK apple growers experience an annual crop loss of approximately 10-12% due to apple scab, a fungal disease.

Accurately timing their use is difficult, as the critical phase of scab infection remains invisible to the naked eye.

The project aim was to address the challenge of evaluating the effectiveness of biostimulants, and timing their usage, by utilising advanced technologies such as hyperspectral cameras and drones.

Hyperspectral sensors can capture and analyse a wide range of frequencies of light very finely, which is like being able to accurately identify and measure hundreds of colours outside of what the human eye can see.

This provides detailed and precise characterisation of objects or materials based on the unique way they reflect light, as a spectral fingerprint.

By identifying these unique spectral fingerprints for crop diseases, like apple scab, and also determining which can indicate the efficacy of biostimulants, in future we can develop an affordable camera for growers to be able to detect these fingerprints.

towards early scab detection using the hyperspectral camera.

"The positive results shown of the biostimulant used will hopefully encourage more growers to use biostimulants as part of their scab control, not only relying on conventional pesticide programs."

Stephen Tully, Director at Landseer, said: "With disease control becoming increasingly challenging due to changes in plant protection regulations and unpredictable weather, this project aimed to validate the efficacy of biostimulants to support their routine use and investigate the feasibility of an affordable early detection system for apple scab.

"This feasibility study has delivered encouraging results, demonstrating the effectiveness of biostimulants for integration into disease management programs and providing promising results for the development of an affordable early warning system for apple scab."

This camera will serve as an early warning system, helping prevent disease spread, enhancing crop yield and operational efficiency, and reducing reliance on traditional PPPs.

Eliot Dixon, Head of Robotics and AI at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, said: "This was a fast-paced proof of concept project designed to provide evidence for both the efficacy of bio stimulant in apple scab control, but also in spectral imaging as a method for detecting apple scab.

"For the UK Agri-Tech Centre, this project highlights how our spectral imaging capabilities can be used in product development for both remote sensingand plant protection products.

"We are very pleased to have successfully shown how lab-based spectral imaging can be successfully transferred to a commercial farm."

Michael Parker, Coldstore and Compliance Manager at Rumwood Green Farm Ltd, said: "This trial has been very challenging to reproduce results in the field similar to previous in-lab testing of detecting early signs of scab using specific wavelengths.

"Despite the challenges, we are a step closer

Landseer Ltd. will be in attendance at the National Fruit Show on Wednesday 6 November at the Kent Showground (stand M77) to showcase the results from their trials, which werebased at Rumwood Green Farm's Ivy House Farm in Kent on approximately 1 ha of land.

C Warm weather good for weeds as well as oilseed rape

orteva Agriscience has warned that weeds are continuing to emerge and grow in oilseed rape crops later than usual due to unseasonably mild temperatures.

Weeds are growing rapidly which, if unchecked, could be detrimental to the crop.

While the national picture varies, later-drilled crops are still small and weeds are only just coming through. Where early-drilled rape established well, crops are forward with large canopies.

Warmer weather also means most growers have the conditions to apply autumn herbicides to control key problem weeds.

Joe Martin, Oilseed Rape Herbicides Field Technical Manager, said: “After last autumn when many farms either struggled to drill or failed to get on with the sprayer, the chance to apply a contact herbicide in late October and early November will be welcome.

“Growers are usually preparing for propyzamide applications to control grassweeds now, but soil temperatures need to be 10 degrees and falling and most parts of the country are some way from that at the moment.

“Where the weather is favourable, there is a chance to take out key problem weeds.”

Broad-leaved weed herbicide Belkar® has become an intrinsic part of integrated strategies.

Applied post-emergence, it deals with a wide range of key weeds such as poppy, cleavers, shepherd’s purse, fumitory and cranesbill.

The Arylex active + picloram formulation has given

growers the option of waiting until a crop has established before deciding on their herbicide investment, rather than an up-front spend on residual chemistry.

Joe added: “Where certain key weeds are a problem at this point in autumn, the actives in both Belkar and Astrokerb® will give good control of the majority of these weeds.

“One example is mayweeds which can germinate in numerous flushes and are controlled best with a programmed or robust approach. Arylex active and aminopyralid are both key active ingredients and can be used together or in a sequence.”

Cleavers, fumitory, shepherd’s purse and poppy are all key weeds which should be targeted for control in the autumn.”

“Our trials have also shown that Belkar is a key herbicide which can control bur chervil once the crop has established*.”

At this point in the autumn, where weeds are small, 0.25L/ha of Belkar will give good control. But as weeds become larger, in crops with at least six true leaves, the rate should be increased to 0.5L/ha.

Growers can apply Belkar now or tank mix later with propyzamide. Belkar can be tank mixed with either Astrokerb or Kerb Flo 500 until the end of December.

The micronutrient boron can now be mixed in the same tank as Belkar as the previous label restriction has been removed.

“This should be helpful in terms of efficiency for anyone making a herbicide pass and wanting to add boron to the tank,” Joe added.

Decoding Earth's Fingerprint: Advanced Navigation and NILEQ Collaborate on Breakthrough Resilient Navigation Technology

Advanced Navigation, a world leader in autonomous systems and navigation technologies, along withMBDA, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-develop a resilient navigation system integrating MBDA'sNILEQabsolute positioning technology.

Suitable for the modern era, the co-developed solution will provide resilient absolute positioning for a multitude of airborne platforms. The agreement will see the companies foster joint research and technology development between the United Kingdom and Australia.

Advanced Navigation CEO Chris Shaw said, "In an increasingly uncertain world where interference is becoming ubiquitous, commercial sectors can no longer rely purely on GPS for flight operations. There is an urgent need for additional navigation aiding to supplement platform inertial navigation and GPS receiver systems."

airborne platforms. Advanced Navigation are an ideal Australian partner to help accelerate the technology towards market entry. Navigation technologies that are not simply accurate and precise, but also provide the 'resilience' against interference, is what propels this partnership."

Absolute positioning using NILEQ-derived terrain fingerprints

NILEQ's patent-pending technology is underpinned by the use of novel neuromorphic sensors to derive and match terrain fingerprints. Initially inspired by biological change detection processes, the sensing technology captures data of the changing terrain as an airborne system flies across it, and matches it to an existing database of the Earth's surface.

Tom Tizard, MBDA Australia General Manager, said, "We look forward to seeing MBDA's innovation-driven solutions form the cornerstone of future airborne navigation systems. NILEQ seeks to address the enormous demand for resilient absolute positioning information that will complement the existing navigation systems of

The final solution is set to enable systems, such as Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS), to secure an absolute position fix over land with a solution that is passive and resistant to interference. The technology will enhance the safety of beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, as the solution overcomes many of the conventional limitations of airborne image-based navigation technologies.

Real World Demonstration

Advanced Navigation and MBDA will validate NILEQ in an airborne demonstration planned in Australia.

Soil health solutions key to reducing fertiliser emissions

Farmers across the UK are encouraged to incorporate soil conditioners and biostimulants as part of a strategic approach to sustainably cut on-farm emissions.

These soil enhancing solutions are proven to be favourable for reducing reliance on synthetic fertilisers, supporting soil health, and enhancing nutrient efficiency for the future of sustainable agriculture.

But soil conditioners and biostimulants offer more than just productivity gains – they are proven to reduce emissions at a farm level.

Mr Newton says: “Trials data shows that Humistart+, a calcium-based soil conditioner helps optimise fungal and bacterial activity in all crop types.

“The base of marine calcium provides neutralising effects for acidic soils, and boosts rooting and nutrient availability for both crops and livestock.

David Newton, soil health specialist and Timac Agro UK technical product manager highlights soil health management’s vital role in meeting the industry’s environmental ambitions.

He says: “By promoting soil health and enhancing nutrient cycling, these solutions can provide a practical pathway for reducing greenhouse gases.

“Biostimulants and soil conditioners improve soil structure and support microbial activity, which aids in nutrient mineralisation – a process that converts organic matter into nutrients plants can easily absorb.”

“While further trials observing nitrogen mineralisation in the soil for 28 days postapplication, show a 38% increase in total nitrogen available at a rate of 240kg/acre compared to a control soil conditioner,” Mr Newton says.

A Wiltshire based dairy farm using these solutions achieved a 14-tonne reduction in artificial fertiliser usage between two seasons and observed improvements in silage quality.

Mr Newton adds: “The results highlight the huge potential of soil conditioners and biostimulants as a scalable solution for farms of all sizes looking to lower emissions from artificial inputs.

“Timac is at the forefront of this shift, supporting farmers with reliable products that meet modern environmental standards. In alignment with industry net zero targets, these solutions provide farmers with practical, sciencebacked ways to reduce emissions while maintaining profitability and productivity.

“As soil health remains central to sustainable farming, our soil conditioners like Humistart+ and Physiolith Bio will ensure UK farms remain resilient, productive, and environmentally aligned,” says Mr Newton. For more information on Humistart+ and Physiolith, please visit uk.timacagro. com

A sustainable farming future: Yara launches its YaraAmplix biostimulants

Today's farmers face the challenge of feeding a growing population with limited resources, all while minimising the impact on the environment. To help farmers meet these challenges, Yara has developed YaraAmplix, a range of biostimulants designed to reduce climate impact and optimise the use of resources for more sustainable and profitable crop production.

Formerly part of the YaraVita range of foliar nutrients, seed treatments, and fertiliser coating products, Yara's biostimulant portfolio has now been given its own identity under the YaraAmplix umbrella. As the use of biostimulants globally is increasing year on year, Yara has recognised the importance of bringing them to the UK market as part of its broader complete crop nutrition offering.

The brand name is inspired by the word 'amplify' as the products are designed to amplify and enhance natural plant processes to increase tolerance to abiotic stress, support soil health, and improve nutrient use efficiency as well as crop quality and productivity. As farmers grapple with the effects of climate change on crop production, biostimulants could help close the gap between crop potential and what is currently being achieved. Abiotic stress such as excessive rainfall, heat, and drought is part of the reason why crop potential islagging behind. It's thought that globally, over 80% of the genetic potential of wheat is not being realized - a pressing issue given the need to sustain a growing population.

As the crop nutrition industry works to close the gap, Yara is leading the way. The company has invested heavily in a new global production facility at Howden in East Yorkshire where the YaraAmplix range will be made - it's accelerating its already well-established R&D efforts. Yara's science-based development of its biostimulant products is rooted in more than 100 years of crop nutrition knowledge and over 50 years of developing formulations for its YaraVita portfolio.

Currently the company has more than 30 scientists working on biostimulant projects alongside agronomists, microbiologists, molecular biologists, and soil scientists. Investments in new labs and equipment has enabled fast screening of new bioactive components for biostimulants as well as

improving understanding of the mode of action and efficacy of products before they are trialled in the field. "We want to become a leader in the biostimulant segment, and our significant investment in R&D along with our knowledge will allow us to deliver unique and effective formulations which have specific effects. We are in the process of developing a diverse portfolio of products to help today's farmers cope with unique challenges and we have the vision to support them as we all look towards a more sustainable future," says Antonis Angeletakis, Yara's Director of Biostimulants.

Yara's UK field trials have demonstrated that biostimulants can play an important role in enabling more sustainable and productive crop production. The most consistent benefits have been seen in potato, sugar beet, and maize crops, and there is ongoing work to assess their impact on cereals, oilseed rape, and grassland. The product used in the trials was OPTITRAC, a biostimulant containing bioactive components from seaweed extract alongside vitamins and other nutrients designed to promote plant growth, improve flowering, and increase tolerance to abiotic stresses. The trials found that where crops were under some form of stress, for example from drought or herbicide application, biostimulant use produced some impressive results.

Split field trials on potatoes at sites in Yorkshire and Scotland found that two applications of OPTITRAC at 3 litres/hectare produced a 10% yield increase and a marketable yield increase of 3.5 tonnes respectively. In a split field trial on sugar beet in Suffolk there was also a 5% yield increase when OPTITRAC was applied twice at growth stage 1618, then again at growth stage 19.In addition, a 2023 UK and Ireland Maize trial found that applying OPTITRAC at 2 litres/hectare resulted in a 7% yield increase."Biostimulants are key to regenerative agriculture as they reduce the impact of climate change, optimise the use of resources, and improve biodiversity as well as farmer prosperity. The diverse range of products within the YaraAmplix portfolio are a complement to the traditional Yara crop nutrition solutions you use across the growing season, and they will enhance your crop's natural potential while working in harmony with nature," says Chris Harrold, Yara's Head of Crop Nutrition Agronomy.

Agronomist offers tips after winter wheat drilling delays

Be prepared to be flexible in your approach to managing later-drilled winter wheat crops after the planting delays caused by the wet start to autumn, a leading agronomist is urging.

According to Mike Thornton, head of crop production for ProCam, winter wheat drilling has varied widely around the country – with some growers seeing a repeat of last autumn’s washout delays, while other regions made good progress.

“There’s a considerable area of crops to be drilled after this year’s increased maize area,” says Mr Thornton, “and after root crops. Later drilling situations demand a considered approach. Respond don’t react. This was something highlighted last season.”

To help growers, Mr Thornton suggests three areas for consideration:

1. Take a step back

Use available weather windows to drill winter wheat, but do not rush to get crops planted if seedbed conditions are not yet suitable, says Mr Thornton. “Later-drilled cereals need well-prepared seedbeds with a good tilth and good drainage. Often, crops that went wrong last season were ones that were mauled in.

“If you can’t prepare a good seedbed, be prepared to wait until you can. Depending on the variety and situation, winter wheat can still be drilled into January and potentially into February in some in cases, so there’s still time. And we saw last season that laterdrilled wheat can yield well, with less pressure from grassweeds, barley yellow dwarf virus and Septoria.

“Clearly, it’s important to choose suitable varieties with later drilling, for example faster-developing types, and seed rates need increasing to account for heightened plant losses and reduced tillering. But these aren’t insurmountable.

“That said, if getting on the land becomes too difficult, consider waiting and drilling a good spring crop rather than a poor winter one. We can’t predict what spring 2025 planting conditions will be like. But again, 2024 showed how well some spring crops can perform.”

2. Don’t rule out the plough

Although less popular nowadays for environmental reasons, ploughing to open up the soil will be a key consideration this season, at least in some fields, says Mr Thornton.

“Ploughing can improve drainage and reduce compaction, and crops that were planted after ploughing last season often fared better. There’s a lot of soil damage left over from last season that needs rectifying, and there’ll be a lot of soil damage where maize crops have been harvested late in wet fields. So assess fields individually to judge whether the benefits of ploughing outweigh the costs.”

3. Tailor inputs to the crop

Other areas requiring attention to detail with later crops, says Mr Thornton, include nutrition, slug risks, and being prepared to adjust weed control according to weather windows.

“Later-drilled crops generally have poorer root systems and fewer tillers. So a key aim is to stimulate lazy roots to become better at accessing nutrient reserves in the soil. Use soil testing to tell you the levels of key nutrients available. Then, manage each field on its merits.

“Ensuring spring nitrogen (N) is applied suitably early is an important foundation. But nowadays there are more sophisticated options for boosting growth than simply adding a bit more N. These include foliar-applied biostimulants, or soil-acting ones if plants are small; phosphite treatments for rooting; and foliar-applied endophyte bacteria that fix and provide N inside the plant. So seek advice on what’s appropriate for your fields.

“Later-drilled cereals are also more susceptible to slug damage. With a lot of weedy maize crops this season –due to missed herbicide applications – slug risks will be increased.

“Later drilling also shortens the weather window for applying herbicides before fields become too wet to travel. So it might be appropriate to make one robust pre-emergence herbicide application rather than gambling on being able to apply a pre-em followed by a later top-up. That’s probably something to take advice on,” he adds.

Give a boost to later drilled wheat crops

This autumn, we will again see wheat plantings later than planned. As the industry adapts to the unusual becoming usual, Tom Wheelhouse, technical specialist at UPL, advises farmers to consider outside-the-box solutions to help crops catch up.

Autumn-applied biostimulants could be one solution alongside other factors, such as vigorous varieties and changes to establishment systems, says Tom.

Foliar biostimulants are typically applied in the spring alongside macro and micro nutrition. However, to help encourage farmers to look into autumn applications, last year UPL launched the Vitalroot challenge.

seaweed extract,” says Tom. “It is filtered to produce a high concentration in the formulation, with some added potassium and phosphate.

50 farmers were given enough Vitalroot to cover 20 hectares. UPL recommended that it be applied from two leaves until the beginning of tillering, which often combines with early post-emergence herbicide applications.

“The main ingredient in Vitalroot is GoActiv (GA142), an oligosaccharide isolated from

“The oligosaccharide kick-starts enzyme activity, producing more amino acids for the plant’s metabolic pathways. This has a snowball effect on the plant. More extensive roots and greener leaves enhance nutrient uptake and energy conversion for further growth.”

Agrii agronomist Sam Bailey tried some Vitalroot on a wheat crop last season, having taken up UPL’s Vitalroot Challenge. The crops that had Vitalroot were some of the best ones he looks after coming out of the winter, says Sam.

Following a pre-emergence herbicide, Sam tank mixed the Vitalroot with the peri emergence follow-up three weeks after drilling around the 1st of November.

He has experimented with a few other biostimulant products in the spring, but the Vitalroot was the first time he had applied a foliar biostimulant in the autumn. The major challenge with spring applications of biostimulants is large tank mixes in early spring.

“If I’m going through a poorly performing crop with nutrition, I would put one in, but I can’t find room in the tank mix for them in routine spring applications.

Autumn, when farmers apply an early postemergence herbicide or a BYDV spray, could be a position to include a product to boost plant health, says Sam.

“That’s the position where I’ve used Nutri-Phite PGA in the past, and that would be where I can see Vitalroot having a place. It’s a timing when there’s only two or three products in the tank, so there’s room for it, and if farmers get additional biomass going into the winter, they will see the value,” he adds.

Dual front tank increases drilling versatility

UHN Farm

KMachinery has launched a dual seed and fertiliser front tank to its existing range, offering growers greater flexibility for establishment using different toolbars and the option to apply nutrition in the same pass.

The new pressurised TF 2300C features a 2,360-litre tank with a 60/40 split for seed and fertiliser. It joins the current TF 1512 front tank in the KUHN range. Edd Fanshawe, KUHN’s arable and connected services product specialist, says changing farming practices and shorter weather windows highlight the benefits of a front tank.

“Our TF range can be used with a wide variety of implements from dedicated drills to cultivators with seeding kits. Growers require versatility to adapt to changing conditions and front tanks allow this while retaining output capacity.”

The TF 2300C features KUHN’s OPTISEED metering unit, with interchangeable cassettes and a pressurised hopper, allowing distribution rates up to 500kg/ha at 15kph. The two hoppers are individually dosed and can be mixed into the same delivery tube, or kept separate, depending on the

machine and crop. Agitators are standard to help fertiliser flow and the cassettes are simple to change via a handle locking mechanism with an external calibration button to simplify the process.

Users can choose a carrying frame or optional front packer featuring four 822mm diameter tyres to reduce the weight carried on the front linkage and improve consolidation. Machine control is via ISOBUS terminals VTI 60, CCI 800 or 1200, or using the tractor’s compatible display. The hopper features automatic switching at the start and end of runs via GPS, variable rate application based on prescription maps, and data transfer using agrirouter.

Edd concludes:

“Applying seed and fertiliser in one pass not only reduces passes but places nutrition in the right place to provide the crop with its best start. This new TF 2300C offers users greater possibilities and flexibility to achieve establishment in the best conditions.”

Base RRP for the TF 2300C is £24,625 and orders can be placed in Spring 2025 for delivery in Summer 2025.

Cereal Quality Survey confirms lower protein and nitrogen contents

The2024 AHDB Cereal Quality Surveyconfirms harvest reports of low protein for wheat and low nitrogen levels in barley. Persistent wet conditions through the autumn and winter, plus much of spring meant it was difficult for farmers to get onto fields and apply nutrients. The conditions also increased nitrogen leaching over winter, making it harder for plants to access the nutrients that were applied.

Protein and small crop restrict bread wheat availability

The average protein levels for UK Flour Millers group 1 varieties in 2024 is 12.5%, down from the 2023 average of 12.7%. It is also the lowest level since 2014, when proteins declined to the dilution effect of high yields.

However, as suggested byreports during harvest, other criteria for wheat in 2024 are improved with higher specific weights and Hagberg Falling Numbers. Average moisture levels are also lower year-on-year, reflecting the generally dry conditions for large parts of the wheat harvest period in England.

In 2024, 20% of group 1 milling wheat samples met the typical group 1 bread wheat specification (specific weight of 76kg/hl, protein content of 13.0%, and HFN of 250 seconds or more). While this represents an uptick from 2023 (13%), availability is still likely to be restricted.

AHDB’s Planting and Variety Surveyshowed a drop in the area of group 1 varieties for harvest 2024. When the information from the two surveys is

combined it suggests the area of group 1s effectively meeting spec this season would still be well below average. UK wheat yields were alsoprovisionally lowerthan in 2023, which could also reduce production. Plus, while not captured by this survey, it’s important to note that this year’s challenges with ergot also add to the difficulties for growers and the supply chain.

In past seasons with lower protein levels, we have usually seen increased wheat imports with higher contents to blend with UK supplies. AHDB’s Early Balance Sheet forecasts a further increase in imports of wheat, up 163 Kt from 2023/24’s already elevated level, to 2.6 Mt in 2024/25.

Contrasts for winter and spring barley

The survey shows lower nitrogen across winter and spring varieties but contrasting pictures between winter and spring on specific weights and screenings.

For winter barley, the nitrogen content averaged 1.57%, down from 1.70% in 2023, but similar to 2021. In addition, specific weights are lower. Winter barley varieties average 63.8kg/hl, down 1.1kg/hl

from 2023 and likely the lowest in electronic records (starting from 1996). Average retentions over a 2.5 mm screen, though up on the year, remain below average.

Spring barley samples had an average nitrogen content of 1.44%, also down from 1.62% in 2023 and the lowest in electronic records (starting from 1996). But there are also improved specific weights and higher retentions over a 2.5mm screen.

Low nitrogen levels present more of a challenge to achieve the malt specification that most brewers need. It may also make it more challenging to export malting barley due to higher continental nitrogen requirements. This said though, industry reports are still positive about the 2024 crop quality, particularly after the 2023 crop.

It’s also worth noting that barley moisture levels were notably higher this year, which would have increased drying costs.

The full results of the survey are available from theAHDB Cereal Quality Surveypage.

Update to test requirements

s part of compliance for the whole chain of plant protection product (PPP) use, HSE pesticide enforcement officers (PEO) have the role of checking all official controls are in place. From importers, manufacturers and distributors right through to the operator applying the product.

Visits made to the businesses using and applying PPPs are carried out in all sectors, but it is mainly in the horticulture and amenity sectors where clarification of test requirements of certain types of equipment has been made necessary. The term ‘pedestrian’ equipment falls in the category along with knapsack and handheld where a statutory test is not required, however these still must be inspected on a regular basis. Over time the complexity of a number of

these machines has evolved that some are now as sophisticated, and comparable in size, to tractormounted equipment that is required to be tested.

Following discussions with CRD, terminology has now been added to the guidance to help give better clarity, and which is explained as follows; equipment that does require an NSTS test now includes manually propelled or self-propelled trolley type equipment with three or more wheels and a motorised pump. These machines fall in the same category as boom sprayers which are 3m and under, slug pellet and micro-granular applicators, seed treating and weed wipers. Testing is required before the equipment is 5 years old, then every 6 years thereafter. Equipment that does not require a test are pedestrian sprayers with a maximum of two wheels or with a manually

pressurised pump. To assist operators in meeting the requirements of regular inspections NSTS have check sheets available on their website which also includes somewhere to record a calibration.

Flowgro Ltd.

Barton Turns Farm Lichfield Road, Burton upon Trent DE13 8ED 01283 712172 www.flowgro.co.uk

A T Willis Agricultural Services

Barnwell House Barningham Richmond DL11 7DN 07752 371216

BRM Ltd.

Brian Robinson Machinery Ltd, East Cowton, Northallerton, DL7 0DX 01325 378552 www.brianrobinson.co.uk

Agrifit Machinery Ltd

Arglam Dairy Farm Arglam Lane, Holme-OnSpalding-Moor, York YO43 4HG www.agribuggy-yorkshire.co.uk

Farmstar Limited

Grove Farm, Church Lane, Marr, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN5 7AU 01302 786786

Present in Yorkshire & Lincolnshire farmstar.co.uk

N C Agricultural Services

Woodlands West Knapton Malton YO17 6RL 07971 871383

Moore Farm Services Ltd

Unit A7, Lords Wood Rd Harworth Doncaster DN11 8BZ 01302 759969 / 07980 656122 www.moorefarmservices.com

All other equipment types and timescales of test and re-test remain the same. For clarification on other types not listed please contact NSTS directly and our team will be pleased to help.

CW Sprayers Ltd

14 Garden Village Micklefield Leeds LS25 4AB 0113 287 7674 / 07931 582713 www.cwsprayers.com

XAGRI Ltd

Molescroft Grange Farm Grange Way Beverley HU17 9FS 01482 580000 / 07507 801897 www.xagri.co.uk

Apex Agri Ltd

Hillcrest Thimbleby Horncastle LN9 5RB 07786 343613

AVG Farm Services

26 Parkfield Road Ryhall Stamford PE9 4ER 07824 382277 www.avgfarmservices.co.uk

DJ Agri Services Ltd

24 Kipling Way Stowmarket IP14 1TR 07500 556215

John Rhodes A.S Ltd

Shinehill Farm Shinehill Lane South Littleton Evesham, WR11 8TR testing@johnrhodesas.co.uk 01386 832728 / 07817 868889 www.johnrhodesas.co.uk

Sprayline (UK) Ltd.

Unit 17A West Raynham Business Park, Fakenham NR21 7PL 01328 838712 www.spraylineuk.co.uk

Welcome to LAMMA 2025

The LAMMA Show returns on Wednesday, 15 January, 2025, from 8.00am-6.00pm and Thursday, 16 January, 2025,from 8.00am-4.30pm at the NEC, Birmingham.

LAMMA is the UK's premier farm machinery show which connects farmers across a range of sectors with pioneering companies offering cutting-edge agricultural machinery, technology and equipment.

Explore the dynamic showcase featuring more than 600 exhibitors unveiling the latest innovations in tractors, combines, arable and grassland machinery and embrace the opportunity to look at a wide range of new technology, services and tools tailored to all sectors of agriculture.

Witness exclusive machinery launches, UK debuts and a collective display of both global brands and niche manufacturers, all under one roof.

Gather your team and attend LAMMA 2025 to embrace opportunities to network, do business, conduct market research and enrich knowledge with the insights from experts.

Save Up To 35% On Your Operational Grain Drying Costs

APerry of Oakley Savannah Continuous Flow Grain Drier can save you up to 35% of your drier operational running costs when used with the Perry drier addons of Hot Air Recirculation, insulation, and the Grain Sentry automatic grain moisture monitoring. How much will it save? £thousands. Every season. Based on a 30tph drier, drying 6000T of wheat per season this combined system could give you a potential saving of £21,500 per season, in average UK ambient conditions*. The more you dry, the bigger the yearly savings.

So how does it work?

Perry of Oakley Savannah drier with hot air recirculation

The Hot Air Recirculation takes the unsaturated but warm air from the exhaust side of the column and recirculates it. The less air you have to heat, the more money you save.

The Grain Sentry automatic drier moisture monitoring system takes samples from the grain entering and leaving the drier and feeds it into one of the most accurate moisture meters available on the market. This information is then used to automatically control the discharge speed of the drier. This prevents the quite large financial losses associated with over-drying grain such as decrease in weight, extra fuel usage, labour and electricity, for example. This means big savings and peace of mind can be achieved.

The Perry Savannah continuous flow driers come with a touch screen PLC control interface as standard. This can be accessed remotely via WiFi enabling the drier to be monitored and controlled from anywhere with mobile coverage. This will save you labour costs

as you no longer need to have your drier staffed while it is running and also give you peace of mind while you spend your time on other activities. The Perry Drier Fire Detection system can be added too, to give you vital early warning of a fire in the drier plus the system will automatically shut the drier down if fire is detected.

The Perry Savannah Series Driers have a capacity range from 5tph upwards and with all of the add-ons listed above there is a powerful argument to purchase a Perry Savannah drier for the upcoming season.

Yes the add-ons can be retrofitted

All three of these add-ons can be retro-fitted to most roller and shutter discharge continuous flow grain driers. They can also be fitted in isolation so you could have just the Grain Sentry or just the hot air recirculation.

Run your data through our savings calculator

To see how much you could save reply to this email today and we’ll arrange a time to run your real-life data through our Grain Drying Savings Calculator.

Full integration

To integrate your drying into the rest of your grain processing facility Perrys have an excellent track record in the design & manufacture of handling. Everything from a single conveyor through to a whole plant. Having your whole drying, storage, handling, cleaning, and control supplied via Perrys substantially reduces the integration challenges.

A British Manufacturer

Perrys have been a key part of the British agricultural sector for over 75 years. Perry design & manufacturer their entire product range in the UK which means that all the support you need is rapidly available, including a large stock of spares.

Contact Perrys today for all your handling, storage, drier & cleaning requirements on 01404 890 300 or email sales@perryofoakley.co.uk, and receive a free, no obligation quotation.

*actual results will vary depending on the drier hot air and ambient air temperature, crop type and moisture, drier model & fan speed and the ambient conditions.

Suzuki KingQuad 500 – A Powerful, Versatile Model

The Suzuki KingQuad 500 is a powerful, versatile ATV designed for rugged terrain and unpredictable weather. This iconic all-terrain vehicle combines Suzuki's engineering heritage with modern features, making it the ideal choice for farmers, landowners and outdoor enthusiasts who need reliability and performance.

The KingQuad 500 is powered by a 493cc fuel-injected, liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine, delivering smooth and consistent power across various conditions. Its robust engine ensures ample torque for challenging tasks like towing and spraying while the advanced fuel injection system optimises fuel efficiency, even during prolonged use. Coupled with a reliable automatic transmission and selectable 2WD/4WD modes, the KingQuad 500 provides exceptional control and traction, allowing users to navigate steep hills, muddy fields, and rocky landscapes with confidence.

The ATV's sturdy frame is designed for stability and durability, offering a comfortable ride with independent

suspension that adapts to rough ground. With adjustable shock absorbers, users can fine-tune the suspension to suit different tasks and terrains. The KingQuad 500's high ground clearance and protective skid plates ensure vital components are safeguarded, allowing for hassle-free handling of Scotland’s diverse landscapes.

Practicality is a standout feature of the KingQuad 500, boasting a towing capacity of 600 kg and front

and rear cargo racks, ideal for transporting equipment, feed, or supplies. With Suzuki’s reputation for durability and the KingQuad 500’s blend of power, versatility, and innovative design, this ATV is perfectly suited for demanding conditions, helping users get the job done efficiently, whatever the challenge.

The Suzuki KingQuad offers not only outstanding performance and versatility but also enhanced security with advanced technology. Equipped with the cutting-edge Datatag identification system and the Datatool immobiliser and Stealth GPS tracker, this ATV is protected by multiple layers of anti-theft measures. The Datatag system uses state-ofthe-art identification techniques, making the vehicle easily traceable by police and deterring thieves due to the high risk of getting caught. Combined with Datatool's industry-leading recovery rate, owners can have peace of mind knowing their ATV is equipped with one of the most effective theft prevention and recovery solutions available.

Until the 31st December 2024, every Suzuki ATV customer can benefit from a fantastic trade-in offer, with 10% off the RRP of a new KingQuad when trading in any brand of quad bike in part exchange.

For more information, T&Cs and to discover the range, visit: https://atv.suzuki.co.uk

KUHN returns to LAMMA 2025

KUHN Farm Machinery will return to LAMMA for the first time in five years, showcasing an extensive range of products and innovations, with several models making debuts at the show.

Commenting on the company’s decision, KUHN UK’s managing director, Sian Pritchard, says the show’s increasing popularity and wide-ranging audience were major factors in returning to the event for the first time since 2020.

“We are delighted to exhibit at LAMMA again bringing our extensive range of products and services to new and existing customers. We have chosen LAMMA as our premiere event in 2025 as it allows us to display all our products under one roof, along with the space for detailed discussions about increasing on-farm efficiency using KUHN machinery.”

Over 20 machines will be on the stand and advancements in crop protection and nutrition will be a key focus, with the AERO 32.1 mounted boom fertiliser applicator and largest LEXIS 3800 trailed sprayer, on display. The AERO 32.1 was launched in 2024 and allows applications of fertiliser, granular herbicides and seeds to 24-30m boom widths, regardless of wind strength. Growers have a greater choice for crop nutrition as the AERO system provides precise application to field borders, helps protect the environment and reduce losses.

For livestock and grassland producers, two machines will be on display for the first time in the UK, including the widest mounted tedder on the market – the 13.4m GF 13003. Its unique folding design complies with road width and height restrictions but offers greater output in fields that can’t be accessed with a trailed machine. Also making its UK debut is the GMD 3515 rear vertical folding mower. The rear vertical folding design improves stability during transport, allow better access to tight gateways, and occupies less floor space thanks to a vertical storage frame.

KUHN’s stand (18.300) will feature balers, cultivators, grassland machinery, drills, sprayers, along with the latest KOSMA precision 2M50 drill designed for pumpkin producers.

Unleashing Power and Adventure: CFMOTO’s 2025 ATV and UTV Lineup Takes Centre Stage at LAMMA 25

We eagerly anticipate CFMOTO’s Lineup at LAMMA 2025 to discover the exciting new range of agricultural ATVs and UTVs that are taking the market by storm. Their quads and side-by-side machines offer top spec reliability at the best price on the market. Find them in Hall 6, stand 6.930.

Taking centre stage at the show is their latest UTV release - the U10 Pro. It features an allnew triple cylinder engine, fitted audio system and electronically operated hydraulic tipping bed. The smooth, quiet power of the 88 hp, 998cc three-cylinder engine combined with “push button” gear shifting lets you switch smoothly and efficiently.

The plush leather 3-person bench seat takes comfort to the next level, the electronic/ hydraulic tilting cargo box makes hauling and unloading effortless and the NFC key (pushbutton start), tilt steering, and a crystal-clear 8” CFMOTO RideSync™ touch screen make long days not only more productive, but also way more enjoyable.

You won’t find technology like the U10 Pro boasts in any other machine in its price bracket. If you spend most of the day in your

UTV, then this is the machine for you. With the launch of the U10 Pro early 2025, we’ll see another launch later in the year as we are set to expect the release of the U10 Pro XL to upgrade the current UFORCE 1000 XL.

Regarding the rest of the UTV range, CFMOTO will launch the 2025 colourways for the UFORCE 600, UFORCE 1000. Both models feature progressive EPS for lightweight handling, 4×4 capability and a gas-assisted cargo box.

The UFORCE 1000 features the powerful VTwin liquid-cooled engine and comes fully loaded as standard, boasting a 3-person bench seat, large capacity tipping cargo bed a brand-new Drive by Wire Electronic throttle for a smooth ride.

For 2025, CFMOTO have launched a factory cab kit featuring fully opening electric windows. These are factory recessed to fit and are a real game-changer. All UTVs include the option to include a certified windscreen glass, heaters and wipers from DFK cabs.

Now onto the latest in CFMOTO’s ATVs range. Last year CFMOTO launched the Generation 3 CFORCE 1000 Touring – the most technologically advanced machine featuring

unrivalled new specs. This machine was proven to be very popular in 2024 and is paving the way for the future technology of CFMOTO’s agricultural models – the CFORCE 450, 520 and 625.

CFMOTO have taken the global market by storm and are now Europe’s best-selling ATV brand. This is since farmers and landowners are realising that there’s no need to spend such vast sums on a product from the big brands when there is a tried and tested, often higher spec’d and very reliable product available for less.

The factory invests heavily in research and development to stay ahead of the competition and to continue to grow. They are constantly exploring new technologies and materials to improve the performance and reliability of their machines.

Some of CFMOTO UK’s best-selling products aimed at the agricultural market include:

• CFORCE 450 ATV https://www.cfmoto. co.uk/atv/cforce-450/

• CFORCE 520 ATV https://www.cfmoto. co.uk/atv/2024-cforce-520/

• CFORCE 625 ATV https://www.cfmoto. co.uk/atv/cforce-625-eps/

• UFORCE 600 UTV https://www.cfmoto. co.uk/side-by-side/uforce-600/

• UFORCE 1000 UTV https://www.cfmoto. co.uk/side-by-side/uforce-1000/

• U10 PRO UTV https://www.cfmoto.co.uk/ side-by-side/uforce-u10-pro/

CFMOTO doesn’t stop at farm machinery, if you’re looking for some serious fun, then check out the ZFORCE sports side-by-side range. All CFMOTO products come with a front winch and towbar as standard so you could slip the ZFORCE through as a farm machine “for work purposes…”

All vehicles come with an impressive 2-year parts and labour warranty, plus all agricultural models will come with a free ATVTrac security system fitted by your dealer + 1 year’s subscription worth £399.

The new 2025 CFMOTO range puts power, capability and versatility in your hands to forge your path, whether it is toward work, fun, or the balance in between. So, stop by and say hello on the stand (Hall 6, stand 930) Let the team know that you saw this article and get a free CFMOTO cap!

To locate your nearest CFMOTO dealer head to https://www.cfmoto.co.uk/find-a-dealer/

Case IH showcases cutting-edge equipment at LAMMA 2025

Case IH is using its presence at LAMMA 2025, the premier agricultural machinery show, to introduce innovative new models and technology developments alongside its trusted favourites.

New launches: AF10 and Farmall C

One of the highlights on the stand will be the first UK appearance of an AF10 combine harvester – part of the new AF Series. The AF9 and AF10 launch completes the Case IH 'Year of the Combine' that began with the Axial-Flow 160 and 260 series release. Case IH now offers the industry's largest line of single-rotor combines, staying true to a system it pioneered in 1977. The AF10 grain tank capacity is 20,000 litres – the joint largest in the industry for reduced unloading downtime – with a 210 l/sec unloading rate, while comparable figures for the AF9 are 16,000 litres and 159 l/sec.

The new 762mm-diameter AFXL rotor is the longest in the industry, at 3.67m, boosting crop flow, fuel efficiency and straw quality, while minimising grain damage and maximising separation.

In the cab, a revised interior features a

comprehensive suite of precision technologies, including dual Pro 1200 screens with customisable displays, plus Harvest Command™ combine automation and Row Guide Pro™. Further in-cab control features include remote feeder and rotor reverse procedures, rotor gear selection, chopper speed selection, unloading speed choice and chopper knife engage/ disengagement.

Also debuting at LAMMA '25 is the new-look Case IHFarmall C. The Farmall has been a stalwart of the Case IH line-up since 1923 - bringing power and manoeuvrability in a compact design, making it ideal for both livestock and mixed farms . As well as a refreshed design, the versatile front loader tractor now boasts significantly enhanced performance, the option of full precision farming technology and a range of new features to aid loader work. These include a six-post cab and repositioned exhaust for superior visibility as well as increased hydraulic pump capacity for faster loader cycle times anda newly introduced ActiveClutch which allows the tractor to be held on the brake pedal without requiring the clutch.

headland management solutions, optional factoryfitted telematics and modernized digital instrumentation and adaptive lighting. Finally, an increased gross vehicle weight of 7,000kg and an upgraded rear lift capacity means heavier implements can be utilised, providing greater versatility.

LAMMA provides an unmissable chance for farmers to experience these advancements firsthand, reinforcing Case IH's dedication to equipping farmers with tools for success and sustainability.

In the cab, operators can benefit from suite of

Tramspread to show new 1400m hose reeler at LAMMA 2025

Slurry and digestate management specialist Tramspread has added a new larger-capacity random wrap hose reeler to its extensive range. The new model, which will be shown for the first time in the UK at LAMMA 2025, is designed to handle bigger diameter spools which can comfortably accommodate 1400m of 5” or 1200m of 6” diameter drag hose.

“This introduction is primarily in response to customer demand,” explains Tramspread sales manager James Peachey. “Everything is steadily getting larger, and we had already increased from 600m to 1000m, so we see 1400m as a natural progression. We’ve had requests from the continent, and the first five off the production line have already been sold to France, but it is now available in the UK too.”

To accommodate the larger diameter spools the main frame has been enlarged and strengthened. The three-point linkage frame is also heavier, and the linkage brackets have been lowered to give additional lift height. The heavy-duty twin hydraulic motor drive system from the 1000m reeler has been retained.

A new optional light bar can now be fitted above the reel and encompasses side lights and indicators which operate with the tractor’s lights whilst a remote-control fob is used to switch main

beam and dip beam headlights and a central worklight bar. This bar also serves as a safety device to stop couplings from potentially damaging the tractor if the reel is operated too quickly. This new introduction will also be available for the 1000m reeler.

“The larger reeler and spool with 1400m of 5” drag hose weighs around three tonnes, so it needs a tractor of at least 250hp with an appropriate front linkage lift capacity to handle it properly,” points out James. “We are happy to accommodate customer demands with regard to colour, we recently finished some 1400m reelers in grey for a French contractor. We have also changed the design of the Contractor Trailer to accommodate the larger spools.”

Massey Ferguson debuts new MF 5M at LAMMA 25

The latest Massey Ferguson 5M tractor will be shown in the UK for the first time as the brand returns to LAMMA for the second year in a row. Also at the show will be the UK debut of the MF RK 762 TRC rake, and the chance for visitors to try the PTX Trimble software, following AGCO’s acquisition.

The new MF 5M series has six versatile and costeffective models from 95hp to 145hp. It builds on the successful and popular MF 5700 M series in the efficient small tractor sector aimed at livestock, arable and vegetable producers.

Key highlights of the new range include the proven 40kph Dyna-4 transmission, a 24% larger fuel tank than the 5700 M range, a 4.65m turning radius, and the All-in-One SCR emissions system.Greater functionality is possible with a brake-to-neutral function, a choice of loaders with the Visio Roof, while MF’s technology services are available on the new models.

Lindsay Haddon, MF’s advertising and sales promotion manager, UK, IRL and Middle East, says LAMMA provides the perfect place to introduce the latest MF tractor to the UK.

“We are delighted to be back at LAMMA in 2025 to showcase our range and present several products to the UK market for the first time. The show is the ideal platform to do this, with the undercover venue

and high footfall making it attractive to exhibitors and visitors alike. Our MF 5M model has appeal across a wide demographic of buyers and features the new MF family styling along with improved functionality.”

Visitors to the stand can also view the MF RK 762 TRC rake that was launched earlier this year. It offers a maximum working width of 7.6m and has a new flexHIGH speed-dependant raking height system for reduced contamination, while a new gearbox design allows folding to less than 4m high without removing any tine arms.

MF’s 7370 BETA combine, that was part of the Lord Mayor’s Show in London during November and has a bespoke livery to promote the importance of food and farming, will also be at the show, along with round and square balers, compact tractors and the larger 8S and 9S tractors.

Massey Ferguson will be in hall 12 on stand 560.

Interactive display to demonstrate ease of remapping process

Avon Tuning HD’s stand at LAMMA 25 will feature an interactive display for visitors to manually configure an ECU and use the Dimsport remapping equipment to mirror the remapping process carried out on farms.

The display will demonstrate the professional and safe nature of remapping to prospective agents and farmers. It will highlight how straightforward it is to read an ECU file from a machine, upload it to the Avon Tuning HD agent portal, receive the edited file back, and apply the upgrade to the machine, typically in under two hours.

HD. Showing the dyno at LAMMA gives potential customers, such as dealerships and engineers, the opportunity to see it and the technology up close before placing an order.

Gareth Jones, director at Avon Tuning HD, says LAMMA represents the chance to show farmers and agents how remapping can benefit their businesses.

Also on the stand will be the company’s freshly painted New Holland T5.110 in-house training tractor. This is used to prepare agents on diagnostics and remapping procedures to ensure agents have the skills required to professionally and safely apply remaps to agricultural equipment. The tractor will be connected to a static Dimsport DF2TR dynamometer, sold through Avon Tuning

“Our agent network has grown considerably during the last five years, directly linked to the increased demand for professional remapping. However, there are still big opportunities for new agents to join and we want to use LAMMA to highlight how straightforward the process is and the support offered by the Avon Tuning HD team. The additions to our 2025 stand show our dedication to safely increasing machine efficiency across the agricultural industry and we look forward to returning to the show.”

Avon Tuning HD will be on stand 7.600.

Two users highly rate their Bunning Lowlander TVA spreader

TTwo farming businesses operating Bunning’s Lowlander Twin Vertical Auger (TVA) spreaders are benefiting from increased reliability and flexibility to apply nutrition at the optimum times. The two users, one farmer and the other a large contractor, have invested in the spreaders as long-term machines to improve application timeliness and maximise manure.

Robert Neill – Lowlander 120 TVA

With an estimated 3,000t of manure per year to

apply, Robert Neill views the Lowlander 120 TVA as the right size for his farm, offering good output in a small wheelbase and a light footprint, helping to limit compaction and enable ideal application timing.

He says: “We have always liked the Bunning spreaders for being well built and their ability to break down the manure during spreading. They will spread well-rotted manure to a consistent spread width of 10-12m. Owning the spreader has allowed us to have greater control over the works and means we can fit spreading in around other jobs, rather than save it all up for the short window of hiring.”

Robert Neill

The farm extends to 690ha, of which 400ha is down to arable crops, including winter barley, winter wheat, spring barley and spring beans, with 120ha of grassland. Alongside this, there is a herd of 350 Limousin x Friesian suckler cows, with a total head of cattle rising to over 1,000. These are all bedded solely on the straw, which means the spreader is an integral part of the system.

Until a few years ago, Mr Neill would hire a Bunning Lowlander manure spreader and praised the reliability, which helped when it came to purchase his own machine. Second-hand value was also a key consideration, and he is

confident that a Bunning machine will hold its value and the cost to change will be smaller.

Owning the spreader has increased the flexibility and size of spreading windows. It has allowed smaller jobs to be undertaken, such as clearing feeding areas in fields to allow the soil and grass to recover quicker. Finally, Mr Neill has also been impressed with the throughput of the spreader.

“Fresh straw bedding being spread straight from the pen can bridge, but we’ve never experienced anything like this with the Bunning machines we’ve used.

The 120 TVA fits the needs of our farm well.”

Robert Hamilton – Lowlander 105 TVA Compact

“I’ve run Bunning machines since 2010, and I know what I’m getting with every spreader. It is difficult to fault them from the spread pattern to the paint work,” says Robert Hamilton, who runs a contracting operation based in Strathaven, Scotland.

“I wouldn’t consider anything else now. One of the biggest benefits is that we don’t require much dealer or technical support for the spreaders, which can’t be said for every machine we run. We maintain them well and, when we have rare issues, they are sorted quickly by Bunning.”

Spreading usually happens alongside the more intensive silaging works and Mr Hamilton says the reliability and bullet-proof nature of the Bunning machines is why he converted to Bunning from another brand over a decade ago. He says the option of Widebody twin vertical augers is a high requirement.

“The Widebody augers allow extra throughput and an even spread pattern. We have helped farmers out in the past who run standard auger spreaders, and you can see the difference the Widebody ones make to the pattern and product consistency. Keeping the tips sharp is important for shredding material and we check these regularly to ensure the chopping of material.”

The Compact body design option measures 6.5m long, whereas the Lowlander 105 standard body is 7.5m. This is a key factor as some of the small hill farms he contracts to like to see a small machine on their fields.

“The customers like the Compact machine. It fits in

nicely behind the tractor and doesn’t appear as large as the standard body. It has the same carrying capacity and the output is similar. The shorter wheelbase also allows us to easily negotiate field entrances and small farm yards,” concludes Mr Hamilton.

3 Year Warranty | Details available upon

Lowlander ® Manure Spreaders

Kramp prepares for its biggest-ever LAMMA

Agricultural spare part supplier Kramp is returning to LAMMA 2025 with a stand double last year’s size, allowing room for its full range of services, supplier demonstrations and dealer networking.

Clothing and footwear will be available to purchase on the stand. The proceeds from anything sold at LAMMA will top up Kramp’s Cultivate a Generation grant fund for the agricultural community. The retail area will also see a return of the popular trouser-hanging challenge, where visitors can compete to see who can hang from a pair of Kramp work trousers the longest.

The business zone will provide seating, meeting facilities, and refreshments for Kramp’s dealer network. This area will feature the Kramp Workshop Solutions display. Here, there will be a competition for a farmer to win £3,500 of racking for their workshop.

An area will be dedicated to Kramp’s non-OEM

private label range featuring hand tools, sprays, paint, lighting, and general spare parts. Kramp’s global lighting and paint experts will talk visitors through the products.

Finally, Kramp suppliers will join the stand with representation from Nippex, HiTech, Donaldson and Agri Log. Kärcher will combine their stand with Kramp’s, having been nearby on a separate stand in 2024.

Sophie Herbert, key account executive for Kärcher, says that LAMMA 2024 facilitated a record number of conversations with farmers at any agricultural show the firm has exhibited, and she expects 2025 to build on that by collaborating with Kramp.

“Joining with Kramp is fantastic because it means farmers can easily go between us. It will solidify our partnership in the agriculture industry,” explains Sophie.

The Kramp team looks forward to welcoming visitors to their stand at 19.330.

LAMMA REVEAL FOR AGRICAST'S LATEST LOW DISTURBANCE POINT

AUK supplier of specialist wearing parts will reveal its latest low disturbance point at LAMMA 2025.

The new point – the GLX 150 Ultra - expands Agricast's popular range of grassland points, joining the LDX and STX in the company's low disturbance line-up.

The GLX 150 Ultra is similar to the GLX Ultra in that it features Tungsten Chip Hard Facing on the shin, a large Tungsten Tile on the nose and a high chrome hard facing on the nose and wings. Additional Tungsten Carbide has been added to the wings to offer increased protection. As the name suggests, the new point is 150mm wide as opposed to the 112mm standard GLX.

The range has been incredibly popular since Agricast's original GLX point was introduced in December 2020. The GLX point is the company's fastest-selling product, and this year's addition – the GLX Ultra sold out in two months.

One farmer who has been impressed with the GLX point is Mr Witter from North Lincolnshire, who said: "The addition of Tungsten chip hard facing onto the GLX-Ultra points this year has made them the best lasting point that I have ever used, the shin just sits there now, and it must last 50% longer than before."

As well as the new GLX 150 Ultra, Agricast will celebrate six years of its High Strength Wheel at LAMMA and launch the GRX – a new low disturbance point designed for Grange Machinery machines.

"We appear to have found the sweet spot of performance, durability and value for money with our GLX range, which has made it incredibly popular," says William Robinson, Agricast's managing director. "We always enjoy LAMMA, and we're very much looking forward to introducing people to the latest additions to our range."

For more information about Agricast and its range of over 1,300 wearing parts, visitwww. agricast.netor stand 20.320 at LAMMA 2025.

New Claydon products debut at LAMMA 2025

Claydon, the European market leader in direct drilling technology with its Opti-Till® crop establishment system, will exhibit three new products at LAMMA 2025 (NEC, Birmingham, 15-16 January 2025). The Claydon stand (Number 6.600) will include the company’s new Evolution Front Hopper, a 4m version of its Evolution Drill Toolbar with twin-tine fertiliser placement, and a Claydon Mole Drainer. Claydon will also exhibit a 6m T6 Hybrid trailed drill, a 3m M3F Evolution mounted drill with grain and fertiliser, and a 9m Straw Harrow.

David Furber, Claydon’s Sales Manager for the UK and ROI, states: “We will use LAMMA 2025 to promote the new Claydon Evolution Drill Toolbar and Evolution Front Hopper, showcasing our ability to offer flexible seed/ fertiliser placement, meeting the requirements of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) schemes and growing companion crops. The fact that also we have this option available on our 3m M3F Evolution and 6m T6 trailed drills demonstrates how we can offer farmers the option of generating additional income through the SFI, with ideal seed placement.”

The Evolution Drill Toolbar can be used in

conjunction with the Evolution Front Hopper and is available in widths of 3m, 4m, 4.5m, 4.8m, 5m or 6m. The standard specification includes one distribution head with 38mm seed delivery hoses, but a second distribution head can be optioned, allowing fertiliser to be supplied to either the front leading tine or rear seeding tine.

With a total capacity of 2750 litres, split 45/55%, the Evolution Front Hopper is pressurised to ensure reliable high-volume material delivery to the rear distribution heads. Twin metering units deliver either mixed or separated seed/fertiliser flows to the rearmounted drill, a simple airline box selector diverting the flow of material to the distribution pipes or combining the total output into one pipe. An ISOCAN terminal controls all front hopper functions and allows variable rate seeding, depending on the task controller and licence key.

ISOBUS compatible, the Evolution Front Hopper is supplied with small, medium or large diameter interchangeable metering wheels to suit a wide range of seeds and fertilisers. Weighing 730kg, it measures 2476mm wide, 1803mm high and 1619mm long, incorporates two hopper sensors providing ‘low level’ and

‘empty’ warnings, work lights, two road vision cameras, a toolbox and foldable front footstep. Options include 550kg of ballast, plus packer wheels with passive steering and wheel scrapers.

The single-leg Claydon Mole Drainer combines the benefits of mounted and trailed designs without the drawbacks of either, enabling mole drains to be formed easily and accurately. The user-friendly design means that it is easy to adjust and even on very heavy land can be handled by a wellballasted 200hp tractor.

Mounted on the tractor’s rear three-point linkage the implement features a long, narrow beam which allows the 75mmdiameter mole bullet and following 100mm ceramic expander to run parallel to it, producing a uniform, stable channel at the correct depth and angle. The design also avoids excessive friction between the beam and soil surface, minimising draft requirement and fuel use.

The unique oscillating headstock features a

swivel joint which makes the Claydon Mole Drainer extremely easy to manoeuvre and allows it to reach further into headland ditches or over drains. Because the narrow beam is held in the upright position there is no need for outrunner skids and the angle of the bullet can be precisely adjusted. Locked in place by a steel wedge, the blade pivots on three pins and the bullet angle is controlled by the narrow 200mm-wide front skid, allowing mole draining through standing crops with little damage.

Chains linking the oscillating headstock to the beam allow the tractor to turn easily and progressively lift the beam, enabling the mole to ski out of the ground gently with minimal soil disturbance.

Further details about Claydon products are available from authorised dealers, a list of which is available on the Claydon website (claydondrill.com/dealers-distributors). Alternatively, visit claydondrill.com and click on the product of choice.

Fendt launches new machinery at LAMMA

LAMMA 2025 will be the first showing of the new Fendt 600 Vario and will mark the UK launch of the new generation of Fendt Former rakes. The Fendt stand will include the new 920C Former, the Gen 1 600 Vario, and a further selection of tractors including the Gen7 728 Vario. Another LAMMA first will be the chance to see Fendt’s Corus 5275C straw walker which features unique ParaLevel technology.

“LAMMA is a centrepiece of agricultural machinery in the UK and is the perfect opportunity for Fendt to show the new tractors and machinery that is available. Our stand demonstrates the strength in depth we have, and we welcome all visitors who want to talk about their machinery needs with our specialists,” says Fendt’s Ed Dennett.

The top model Fendt 620 Profi+ offers 209hp from its 4-cylinder, 5-litre AGCO Power CORE50 engine that also features a

DynamicPerformance system which can provide an additional 15hp regardless of forward speed.

“The 600 Vario spans a gap in traditional tractor ranges. It is a superb all-rounder that, despite having a compact shape, can be used for towing heavy loads, carrying front tanks or operating heavy mounted implements. It can reach a top speed of 50 km/h at 1,250 rpm and offers 950 Nm from 1,200 rpm to 1,600 rpm. It is also very manoeuvrable, providing a turning circle of just 10.2 metres,” adds Mr Dennett.

Fendt’s C-Series range of straw walkers includes two 6-cylinder engines from AGCO Power. With a cubic capacity of 7.4 l (5275 C) and 8.4 l (6335 C), they deliver a maximum output of 306 hp (5275 C) and 360 hp (6335 C) respectively.

The 5275C model at LAMMA features ParaLevel, a unique function that stabilises the combine on undulating and hilly land. Based

on a parallelogram, it can compensate for slopes of up to 20%. This means the combine can operate at maximum output whilst the threshing unit, separating and cleaning systems remain horizontal.

The Former rake and Rotana MY25 baler are new to Fendt’s expanding grassland machinery range. The two-rotor Former features six models with working widths from 6.9 to 10 metres that include SteerGuard, a patented technology which improves manoeuvrability, and a double swing arm on the rotor suspension which have the option of being coupled to ISOBUS for greater connectivity, memory functions and section control.

The Rotana combi round balers have been updated and will soon be available with moisture analysis or a weighing function. Profi models also include a link to Fendt’s Tractor Implement Management System (TIM) to automatically stop after the binding process and also automatically eject the bale.

“The diversity of Fendt’s range reflects the diversity of farming machinery needed in the UK. From the 600 Vario, that will be appealing to a broad range of farms, to our grassland and harvesting machinery, we hope visitors to LAMMA will have plenty to discuss with our product specialists,” says Mr Dennett.

R New project to benefit net zero targets, soil health, biodiversity and agriculture

esearchers at the University of East Anglia (UEA) have received a share of £14.5 million in funding to support projects that seek to revolutionise agricultural practices, land use change and soil health in the pursuit of a more sustainable future.

Five projects have received the funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and government partners, under phase two of the Transforming Land Use for Net Zero, Nature and People programme (LUNZ), which aims to boost the UK's efforts to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

The three-year, £4 million UEA project –OpenLAND - will see researchers carry out an evaluation of climate-resilient interventions for land management and soil health that could benefit net zero targets, biodiversity and agriculture.

The work will be led by Professor Rachel Warren of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change at UEA, and Professor Brian Reid from the School of Environmental Sciences. It will create a validated, UK-wide, spatially explicit integrated modelling framework to evaluate potential net zero pathways.

The project will extend the capability of the OpenCLIM modelling framework, which was developed with previous UKRI funding. This will be achieved by ground-truthing soil carbon and soil health using empirical data and by developing and trialling robotic monitoring for measuring and verifying soil carbon and health.

"OpenLAND will use computer models to look at how the way land is managed in the UK can contribute to net zero," explained Prof Warren. "It will map out plans for land use management that combine carbon storage, restoration of biodiversity and sustainable agriculture.

"We will use the computer models to quantify and map the relative merits and effectiveness of alternative land management plans with stakeholders to assist them with their decision making.A unique aspect of the project is that we will calibrate the computer models with measurements of carbon stored in the soil at a number of field sites in Norfolk and beyond."

Prof Reid added: "Using nature-based solutions

to contribute to a net zero future has enormous potential. The funding will allow us to build a much better understanding of carbon storage, both above and below the ground, and to use eDNA approaches to link soil carbon properties to soil health.

"The project will trial sensor technologies, mounted on autonomous in-field robots, to streamline assessment of soil carbon stocks and soil health. We seek to evidence win-wins for climate change mitigation and a healthier more resilient environment."

The LUNZ programme is a £20.79 million transdisciplinary venture co-designed and cofunded by: UKRI; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra); Department for Energy Security and Net Zero; Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs; Scottish Government; Welsh Government.

The LUNZ programme forms part of UKRI'sbuilding a green futurestrategic theme. The theme aims to accelerate the green economy by supporting research and innovation that unlocks solutions essential to achieving net zero in the UK by 2050.

Over the next three years, the five research projects will work in close collaboration with theLUNZ Hubto identify potential opportunities and drivers of change around land use.

Professor Gideon Henderson, Director General for Science and Analysis and Chief Scientific Adviser at Defra, said: "Decarbonising agriculture and land use sectors is extremely challenging, and UK emissions have remained stubbornly high.

"These new projects will address important land types, from grassland to peatland, and provide exciting modelling to assess optimal routes towards net zero while still using our land to produce the food on which we all depend."

The LUNZ Hub was announced in January 2024 and is led by The James Hutton Institute and the University of Leicester. It is charged with equipping UK policymakers, industry, civil society and communities with the evidence needed to drive transformational change in land use.

Visit: https://lunzhub.com/projects

A UoG-led consortium awarded £2.5 million research grant to support net zero commitment

University of Gloucestershire-led consortium has been awarded more than £2.5 million in funding for research that will make a significant contribution to the national strategy for reaching net zero by 2050.

Running over three years, the grant will support a new project led by the University's Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) around how the land use sector can support the UK's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Professor Julie Ingram University of Gloucestershire

Reaching net zero, which means achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) that is produced and the amount that is removed from the atmosphere, will requirelarge-scale changes in the way land is used. This includes changes to farm businesses.

There are multiple tools available to help

farmersmeasure how many emissions and greenhouse gases they are producing and emitting into the atmosphere (GHG accounting), but their number and inconsistencies between them can cause issues.

The new project–'To Zero Fifty' Greenhouse Gas Accounting Living Lab–will develop a common accounting framework for the UK farming and food sector to measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The CCRI will collaborate with Cranfield University, Harper Adams University, University of Aberdeen and Scotland's Rural College, three major greenhouse gas accounting companies–AgreCalc, Farm-Carbon-Toolkit and the Cool Farm Alliance–and Savills natural capital team.

Julie Ingram, Professor of Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture within the CCRI, said: "We are really excited to be involved in this transdisciplinary research bringing together academic experts, the farming and practitioner community, as well as supply chain and policy stakeholders.

"Working with the three main greenhouse gas accounting companies and 100 farms across UK, we can start to create a scalable solution to a real industry challenge and make a difference."

Professor Damian Maye, who is also involved in the project, said "The CCRI's longstanding research on understanding the social, economic, technological and political implications of transitions in food and farming will underpin and add value to this new project."

This grant is co-funded by UKRI, Defra, DESNZ, and has been co-designed with Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Welsh Government and Scottish Government.

It is part of the 'Transforming land use for net zero, nature and people (LUNZ)' programme which aims to mobilise and support research that works in partnership with government and industry to tackle net zero through action in the UK land sectors.

arming will always be something that is bred into me, much like my younger brother, Parents & Grandparents it runs in our blood. The welfare, happiness and health of our herd comes before anything and I couldn’t be more proud to be a British farmer.

I was born in Cheshire, and when people laugh and joke “It’s like you were born in a milking parlour” well actually… your not far off. When my mum started going into Labour she was halfway though milking the cows; obviously in true farmer fashion she finished milking the cows before having me not long after in the local hospital. From there on out, with two hard working farming parents I was destined to fall in love with the lifestyle. Both my brother and I’s childhood was filled with Cows and Calves, Tractors and Dirt, and acres of land to Rome around in. Growing up on a dairy farm; i truly believe we couldn’t have had it any better.

Stockerlane Farm is located in the heart of the Cheshire countryside. Milking an average of 250 cows twice a day and farming 370 acres of

grassland. My grandparents David and Mary Drinkall bought the farm in 1977, what a wreck it was. They put blood, sweat and tears into the now beautiful, well cared for dairy farm that we are privileged enough to call home today. Fast forwarding to 2022, they both still work just as hard, my grandpa, 87, is always the first in the milking parlour at half 3 in the morning, and my grandma, 82, along with all the paperwork; always makes sure the staff have a good breakfast cooked and waiting for them. My dad, Iain, is one of the most hardworking people I know. A man that would do anything for his cows, from half 3 in the morning to whenever the job is properly and sufficiently done, each and everyday. My mum was also a dedicated dairy farmer for many years during my childhood, however now settles for the title of “farmers wife” as she perused her career in midwifery. The work ethic they all Possess is something I am very grateful that has been ingrained on both my brother and I throughout the years.

In 2020 when I finished college I was definitely at a lost cause for what to do. Many of my friends were applying to university to

study, but that didn’t seem to feel right for me at the time. The first outbreak of covid19 was just beginning and I’ve always worked on my family’s farm as I’ve always been there, it’s home. But during this time was when I really went full time, no college, no distractions, But full time on my family’s dairy farm. Looking back it was definitely the right decision to make and I’m so happy that I did. As well as dairy farming; the app TikTok also became extremely popular throughout the lockdowns, I thought it would be a good idea to create some small videos to entertain people and to simultaneously promote British farming and agriculture. And to my surprise, The videos took off, people loved it. “TheDrinkallDairy” currently has

just off 20,000 followers and 4.2 million total views, especially during such a difficult time for many people, it was great to be able to make little videos that could Potentially brighten someone’s day - my cows have that effect on people.

As I write this feature, we are deliberating whether or not to mow the grass off and start collecting in the third and final silage cut of the year. The rain has been persistent all week, and like wise to many farmers, we’ve been watching the local weather forecasts like a hawks. There’s 3 sunny, dry days coming up this week on the 2nd of October so we’re hoping to mow off and silage our last cut then. On the brighter side, at least all this rain is making the grass grow that little bit extra.

All in all it’s hard. it’s not all sunny days and blue skies, sometimes its pouring down with rain and everything’s going wrong; but what makes it worth it, is the fact that we know we have happy cows that couldn’t wish for a better home and a happy family that works side by side together. Dairy farming definitely isn’t an easy job, far from it; But would we change any of it ? Would any passionate farmer change any of it ? No, no we wouldn’t, not for the world.

Follow Emily on Instagram and TikTok

@emdrinkall - Instagram

@TheDrinkallDairy - TikTok

FINDING NEMO: BRANSTON LAUNCHES SPEEDY

AHEAD of the festive season, leading potato supplier Branston has once again launched its innovative hybrid Nemo spud to support demand for volume and faster cooking times at this time of year.

Grown and developed over the past nine years, the roasting variety cuts cooking time by 25% compared to a standard white potato thanks to the careful crossing of a fast-cooking Peruvian variety called Inca Bella and a redskinned salad potato variety called Franceline. It gets its Nemo name from the distinctive skin markings that mirror the famous cartoon fish.

Lucia Washbrook, sales & marketing drector, at Branston, said: “Demand for roasting potatoes rockets by around 500% in the run-up to Christmas compared to a standard shopping week. Nemo is a fantastic roaster, which has scored higher than traditional roasting favourites Maris Piper and King Edward in taste tests. It also performs brilliantly mashed or baked. We’ve doubled the quantity grown this year so that we will have plenty available throughout the season.

“Customers’ needs lead development at Branston, but sustainability is always at the forefront of our innovations and Nemo is no

SPEEDY SPUD IN STORES FOR CHRISTMAS

different. Growing Nemo requires less fertiliser and less water than comparable varieties, which aligns with our wider business goals to make the potato growing process as environmentally friendly as possible.”

Nemo is a phureja hybrid variety, which combines the vigorous fast-growing nature of original Peruvian potatoes with the hardiness of modern European varieties from the Solanum tuberosum Solanaceae family.

It has a distinctive pink and yellow skin, along with the golden yellow flesh typical of an Andean phureja, which has a more uniform cell structure, helping it to cook more quickly.

Nemo will be exclusively available in selected Tesco stores as part of its Finest range, throughout the winter months and the spuds are expected to be popular.

Lucy Moss, potatoes buying manager at Tesco said: "Nemo is an exciting product for customers with great roasting performance and flavour paired with an eye-catching skin finish. The speed of roast versus other varieties is a key highlight for Nemo, especially helpful when planning alongside your Christmas meal."

023 was not an easy season for potato growers. A cold, gloomy and damp summer was followed by 6 months of appalling weather – crops abandoned and early planting nigh on impossible. For the fortunate few with crops securely stored and able to play the market, prices were at levels probably not seen since 1976. Potatoes from Cyprus, almost unseen in the UK in the 21st century, could be found in many markets. Inevitably, the response of farmers to high prices is to plant more next season. For those in the UK, planting more has proved something of a challenge – raining nearly every day through the spring and quality seed hard to find. Surely prices would remain high for 2024.

Elsewhere on the continent, however, planting conditions have proved more benign. Early harvested crops in central Europe have swiftly overwhelmed local demand and prices have fallen fast. Crops in Poland are reported to be a week ahead of normal, and the planted area in France is up 7% year on year. Careful storage of the 2024 crop is likely to be as important as ever.

Store-keepers are now familiar with the need to review every aspect of store management to ensure that they got the best from the more volatile products, such as Biox-M, which have stepped in to fill the gap left by the removal of CIPC:

• Store integrity is essential; fix any leaks;

• Ensure that stores remain closed (and closed means closed) for 48 hours following treatment, and longer where possible;

• Check air (and fog) distribution in store to ensure good and even distribution; an even distribution of fog is essential for good efficacy; address the ‘sprouty’ patches in store;

• Be very aware of the risk of condensation and/or coalescence;

• Relentless attention to detail is always strongly advised.

The focus is now on fine tuning application and store management, so that the return period can be extended for longer term storage. There is still some work on store integrity (Biox-M is unlikely to work to best advantage if is allowed to escape at any time), and distribution of fog in store during and immediately following application. Areas within a store, for which efficacy has been less than ideal, should be identified for improved air

movement, or the use of multiple application ports.

In addition, the sudden increase in energy costs since February 2022 has brought consideration of tweaks to target storage temperatures into focus. Might it be worth storing crop at a degree or so higher and take a big chunk out of the costs of cold storage?

Biox-M:

• Is a naturally occurring and truly sustainable product, in widespread use in the food industry,

• Is approved for use on organic potato crops,

• Has no harvest interval or MRL beyond the one-day mandatory withholding period after treatment, and is thus ideal for use on crops for which the date of movement is uncertain

• Has flexibility of timing of application,

• Results in minimal weight loss in store,

• Does not leave persistent residues in the fabric of stores and boxes used for storage,

• And is therefore suitable for use in stores, which may subsequently be used for the storage of other crops or seed potatoes,

• Is effective at higher storage temperatures, reducing the risk of acrylamide development when crop is processed,

• Sequesters carbon during growth, removing 1t of CO2 for every 1,000t of potatoes treated,

• And should be a component of the sustainability plan for every farm and every customer; effectively carbon neutral.

Biox-M is the only 100% natural and sustainable sprout control for potatoes.

The only completely natural product. Stand-alone. Truly sustainable. Excellent efficacy.

Sequesters carbon during growth. Flexibility of timing.

Minimal weight loss in store. Curative and preventative. No MRL.

The

HAITH AND MH POSKITT CELEBRATE

Two of the most successful companies in food production are this month celebrating 65 years of working together.

Haith Group, which manufactures vegetable handling equipment, first worked for MH Poskitt in 1959 when Geoff Haith provided repair services to Mark Poskitt.

At the time, Poskitts was growing around 1,000 tonnes of carrots annually. Today, by working with growers, that volume has reached 70,000 tonnes per year. Along with carrots, the company also grows parsnips and potatoes, all of which are processed on the family farm in Kellington, Yorkshire, and supplied to leading supermarkets and food service companies.

When Mr Haith began developing vegetable handling machinery rather than just repairing it, Mark Poskitt was one of his first customers, purchasing a dry cleaner in 1970.

Several machine purchases followed, and most recently, Poskitts, now managed by Guy Poskitt, replaced two 25-year-old Haith washers with one of the company's latest state-of-the-art barrel washers.

The Haith barrel washer is a robust, reliable and efficient machine with a rotating barrel that is semi-submerged in water. This feature causes the vegetables to gently rub against each other and the barrel, cleaning the surface of the crop. The barrel is fully pintle lined inside to maximise washing performance.

A discharge elevator removes the crop from the water, which can be set at a chosen outfeed height, with a freshwater spray bar giving the product a final rinse before further processing.

"We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Haith," says Guy. "I remember Mr Haith visiting us. Sometimes he would arrive at 10pm and work into the early hours to get the job done. My father said he was only the person he knew who could work 25 hours a day! I think that work ethic and commitment are present at Haith today, and we're very happy with our new washer and the surrounding gantries that they have installed.

"The new washer replaces two older Haith washers that were installed 25 years ago. I think they probably handled over one million tonnes of vegetables, so we certainly got

value for money out of them. The new washer is twice as efficient and will reduce our water and electricity usage without compromising wash quality, which is very significant in this day and age."

As well as the carrot washer, MH Poskitt also operates a Haith line for washing parsnips on the same site. In addition to washing, Poskitts also

65 YEARS OF WORKING TOGETHER

packs and distributes its fresh and prepared produce at Kellington, creating one of the company's points of difference.

Haith's managing director, Duane Hill, is proud of the company's relationship with MH Poskitt. "We want to establish long-term relationships with our customers and help them become successful. We have achieved this with MH Poskitt and are

delighted to be marking 65 years of working with them, their packhouse is extremely busy and we are pleased to have provided them with reliable and efficient machinery."

For more information about Haith and its marketleading range of vegetable handling equipment, visitwww.haith.co.uk, and to find out more about MH Poskitt, look atwww.poskittcarrots.co.uk

AHDB and GB Potatoes agree onuseof residual potato levy reserves to fund seven industry projects

The potatoes sector is to benefit from the delivery of seven industry projects funded by residual levy reserves,after a grant agreement was signed between the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) andGB Potatoes.

The recommendation, made by AHDB's board earlier this year, received official approval following the wind down of levy payer activities within the sector and has been supported by the main potato membership organisations

Scott Walker, GB Potatoes Chief Executive said: "Following the wind up of AHDB Potatoes,the sector has continued to face a number ofserious challenges, including threats from disease and the ongoing issue of access to necessary plant protection products.

"This grant will kickstart new initiativesand galvanise existing projects that have previously operated on an annual, uncertain basis.It offers a foundation to transform key industry projects and develop a sustainable, industry funded model for initiatives that are critical to the future of the potato sector.We are delighted that GB Potatoes has successfully secured the residual levy funds through a grant from AHDB to support projects for the benefit of the entire potato industry.

"It is a fantastic opportunity for the potato industry to now take control of its future and influence the direction of the sector by addressing industry obstacles and building resilience."

AHDB CEO Graham Wilkinson said: "The potato sector is a vital part ofUK agriculture,and we are pleased to be able to support growers and the wider industry by releasing these residual fundsfor projects that will significantly contribute to the industry's success."

The seven proposed projects are:

1. Potato Blight Project– addressing the significant threat of potato blight, by monitoring genetic changes and fungicide sensitivity.

2. Aphid Monitoring Project– supports national aphid monitoring, providing industry-wide data for decision-making.

3. Management Tools to tackle Viruses Project– this project proposes joining Horticulture Crop Protection (HCP) on behalf of the seed sector in order to access essential functions for sustaining highgrade seed production.

4. Reputational Management Project–safeguarding the industry's reputation through strategic monitoring, proactive crisis management, centralised coordination, influencer engagement, and media outreach.

5. Bridging Information Gap Project–provision of transparent and reliable data on potato cultivation, varieties, and national yield.

6. CIPC Residue Monitoring Project– to support the industry providing data to the Chemical Regulation Division (CRD) to assess chlorpropham (CIPC) residues in stores. Failure to submit data risks rendering stores with a CIPC history unusable.

7. Updating Nutrient Management (RB209) Project– with the industry always looking to move forward and adopt new practices there is a need to ensure revision of fertiliser recommendations reflect current technologies.

The funding will be transferred from circa £1.8m of potato reserves held by AHDB since the wind down of levy payer activities, £400k of which is set aside to cover any potential residual liabilities.The grant will be tapered over three to five years, reducing each year as GB Potatoes increases its flow of voluntary industry funding. It will comprise £1,371,880 over the first three years.

The grant for years four and five could total £426,238, but this would be dependent on a successful review and the availability of sufficient potato funds from funds set aside from residual liabilities.

Letters of support for the funding of the seven projects were received from the National Farmers Union (NFU), NFU Scotland, NFU Cymru, the British Potato Trade Association, the Fresh Potato Supplier Association and the Potato Processor's Association.

Tong to attend Interpom 2024 with new French representative

Tong Engineering, UK vegetable handling equipment manufacturer, is looking ahead to Interpom 2024 event in Kortrijk, Belgium on 24th to 26th November where it will showcase its latest potato and vegetable handling solutions as well as officially introducing the company’s newly appointed French representative, Mathieu Aspar.

Mathieu, from M.A.T Harvesting, brings a wealth of experience in the agricultural sector, having worked closely with vegetable growers worldwide, particularly in France and the USA. His understanding of the industry’s challenges and requirements, combined with his expertise in identifying and implementing solutions, will be invaluable as Tong expands its presence in France.

"We are delighted to welcome Mathieu to the Tong Engineering international team," said Simon Lee, Sales Director of Tong Engineering. "His close integration with the French market and proven track record in the agricultural industry will ensure that our French customer base receives our high-quality equipment backed by the local service and support necessary to optimise their operations."

The appointment of Mathieu Aspar is a key step in Tong’s strategy to enhance its service offerings in France. With a focus on delivering dedicated local sales and aftersales support, spare parts distribution, and tailored handling solutions, Tong aims to strengthen relationships and deliver an even higher level of service to both long-standing and new customers in the region.

Visitors to the Tong stand at Interpom in November will have the opportunity to meet

with the Tong team and Mathieu, to explore the latest advancements in potato and vegetable handling equipment including fully automated systems designed to improve efficiency through minimised labour requirements, increased throughput and reduced waste; from advanced post-harvest cleaning and grading systems to automated washing, optical sorting and processing lines.

Interpom provides a unique platform for Tong to connect with industry leaders and vegetable producers from around the world whilst demonstrating its commitment to driving progress in the handling sector. With the introduction of a dedicated French representative and a renewed focus on providing its high-level service to the French market, Tong Engineering is poised to continue its growth and success in France. “We are looking forward to welcoming visitors to our stand 101 at Interpom, which has been one of the key industry events in our calendar for many years,” added Simon.

Scotts Launch the Terra-Siv: The

Scotts Precision Manufacturing Ltd, a leading designer and manufacturer of root crop and vegetable cleaning and harvesting systems for global markets, proudly announces the launch of its new pre-cleaner, the Terra-Siv.

The self-cleaning Terra-Siv is specifically designed to rapidly extract large volumes of loose soil and debris over a very short distance. Designed to either bolt directly onto the intake of any of our secondgeneration Evolution Separators or used as a stand-alone pre-cleaner.

Derek Scott quotes, “The main driver for this design is to assist customers dealing with high soil percentages in their crops. Most growers of overwintered carrots and parsnips already use our highly successful Evolution Separator. The Terra-Siv will turbocharge these separators by removing high levels of loose soil and smaller debris. By eliminating this debris beforehand, the separator can operate more efficiently, removing larger particles and leaf matter. The versatility of the system provides equal

benefits for a wide variety of other crops, such as potatoes, onions, celeriac, and beets.”

How It Works.

The crop is supported on the tips of the stars, allowing loose soil to immediately fall between the fingers, while larger particles are drawn down into the valley between the star shafts. We have found that by mismatching the star shaft speeds and adjusting the height of the second star shaft we can then effectively entrain irregular shaped objects deeper into that valley without pulling the crop through. The key is to eliminate any flex or movement within the shafts and supporting chassis while keeping the star fingers open in the heaviest of soils. This was achieved by stabilising the spacing between the stars. Having uniform star spacings allows us to maintain a very tight tolerance between the cleaning finger and adjacent stars. The use of a square-edged steel finger ensures the gap is repeatedly cleaned, twin roller bearings mounted on a cam shaft consistently flex the soft fingers,

Ultimate in De-Soiling Technology

completing the self-cleaning cycle.

The design is focused on low maintenance and tool-free adjustment. Direct drive electric motor/gearboxes, along with remote greasing, are fitted as standard. For operator ease, all adjustments are made via push button or turnbuckles.

The unit consists of six individually directdriven shafts, providing the following functionalities;

1. The first variable-speed “feed-on roller” (height adjustable by turnbuckle) offers a gentle landing for the crop and fixes the overall length of the separator.

2. The following star shaft, adjustable for speed, can be adjusted rearward by an electric linear ram to create a gap of up to 65mm (the “feed-on shaft” moves vertically to allow this).

3. The second star shaft is individually adjustable for speed and height.

4. The final soft “feed-off roller” is adjustable for speed and direction.

5. Below each star shaft is a highly efficient cleaning system, comprising of a slowly rotating cam shaft with single steel fingers passing between each pair of stars to constantly eliminate any buildup of soil. Between each steel finger, a double bearing mounted on a small hub rotates with each shaft, effortlessly flexing each finger to loosen compacted soil that builds up between the front and rear of each star finger.

See the Terra-Siv at Interpom 2024

We are excited to announce that Scotts Precision Manufacturing Ltd will be exhibiting at Interpom 2024. Visitors will have the opportunity to view the Terra-Siv and our Evolution Separator on display as part of our static machinery exhibit. Be sure to visit our booth (R-74) to learn more about our latest innovations in root crop and vegetable cleaning technology.

For more information, please visit www. scottsuk.com, email sales@scottsuk.com or call +44 (0)1205 270128.

| British Lifestyle

A Creating a Sustainable Christmas: A Guide to Celebrating with Care and Tradition

s the festive season approaches, the excitement of Christmas can sometimes overshadow the impact our celebrations have on the environment. However, embracing a sustainable approach to Christmas not only helps protect our planet but can also enrich our holiday experience, connecting us to the traditions and heritage of our ancestors. Here’s how to create a sustainable Christmas filled with joy, love, and eco-conscious choices that honour our past.

1. Mindful Gift Giving

Choose Thoughtfully: When it comes to gifts, opt for meaningful presents that reflect the recipient’s interests and values. Consider experiences over material items, such as concert tickets, cooking classes, or spa days, which can create lasting memories without the environmental toll of production and packaging. This approach echoes the traditions of yore, where gifts were often handmade and personal.

Support Local Artisans: Purchasing gifts from local businesses or artisans not only supports your community but also reduces the carbon footprints associated with shipping. Handcrafted items often come with a story and personal touch that mass-produced gifts lack, much like the thoughtful, handmade gifts exchanged in centuries past.

Consider Second-hand: Vintage shops, charity stores, and online marketplaces are treasure troves for unique second-hand gifts. Not only do these options minimize waste, but they also add a touch of nostalgia and individuality to your presents, reminiscent of earlier times

when reusing and repurposing were common practices.

2. Eco-Friendly Wrapping

Get Creative with Wrapping: Ditch the conventional wrapping paper, which often isn’t recyclable. Instead, use reusable fabric wraps, old newspapers, or brown kraft paper decorated with natural elements like twine, pinecones, or dried fruit. This not only looks beautiful but also aligns with sustainable practices rooted in the past, where natural materials were favoured over synthetic options.

Gift Bags and Boxes: opt for reusable gift bags or boxes that can be enjoyed year after year. Encourage recipients to return them for future use, creating a cycle of sustainability that echoes the resourcefulness of our ancestors.

3. Sustainable Decorations

Embrace Nature: Decorate your home with natural elements like pine branches, holly, or dried flowers. This tradition harks back to centuries ago when families would adorn their homes with locally sourced greenery to celebrate the season, symbolizing rebirth and renewal.

Invest in Quality Decor: Choose decorations that are durable and timeless rather than trendy or disposable. Think classic ornaments, fabric garlands, or handmade items that can be cherished for years to come. Many cultures have their own unique decorations, from the Scandinavian practice of creating straw ornaments to the British custom of hanging handmade decorations on the tree.

DIY Decor: Engage in crafting sessions with family or friends to create decorations from recycled materials. This communal activity not only reduces waste but also creates cherished memories, reminiscent of traditional family gatherings centred around crafting and preparing for the holidays.

4. Conscious Feasting

Plan Your Menu: A significant portion of holiday waste comes from food. Plan your meals carefully to minimize leftovers, reflecting the wisdom of our ancestors who utilized every part of their harvest. Consider incorporating traditional recipes that honour local ingredients and seasonal produce.

Source Local Ingredients: Support local farmers and markets by sourcing your ingredients from nearby producers. This reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation and ensures freshness, echoing the practices of our ancestors who relied on seasonal, local produce for their festive feasts.

Gather Wisely: When hosting holiday gatherings, encourage guests to bring their own reusable containers for leftovers. This can significantly reduce waste and promote mindful consumption, reflecting the communal spirit of sharing and caring that has defined festive celebrations throughout history.

Limit Energy Use: opt for LED lights for decorations, which consume less energy. Consider reducing the number of decorations that require electricity or using candles for a cozy, warm atmosphere. This harkens back to a time when candles were the primary source of light, creating a magical ambiance that is both nostalgic and sustainable.

Compost Leftovers: Set up a compost bin for organic waste, including vegetable peels and scraps. This way, even if food does go uneaten, it can still contribute positively to the environment, mirroring the resourcefulness of past generations who made the most of their harvest.

5. Eco-Friendly Christmas Cards

Go Digital: Consider sending ecards instead of traditional paper cards to save on resources. Many beautiful digital options can be personalized and sent with heartfelt messages, aligning with the tradition of sharing greetings without excess waste.

Choose Sustainable Cards: If you prefer physical cards, look for those made from recycled materials or those that can be planted after the holidays, growing into wildflowers or herbs, fostering a connection to nature much like the early holiday cards that celebrated the beauty of the season.

8. Honor Ancestors with Tradition

Incorporating traditions that honour our ancestors can add depth to your sustainable Christmas. Consider:

6. Sustainable Gifting for the Environment

Give Back: This Christmas, consider making donations to environmental charities or organizations in the name of your loved ones. It’s a thoughtful way to spread joy while supporting causes that align with sustainable living, akin to historical practices of giving to those in need during the festive season.

Gift Subscriptions: Consider gifting subscriptions to eco-friendly products, such as organic snacks, sustainable fashion, or environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. This not only supports sustainable brands but also provides a monthly reminder of your thoughtfulness, like the enduring gift of food and goods that was exchanged among communities in the past.

7. Conscious Celebrations

Cooking Family Recipes: Revive traditional recipes passed down through generations, using locally sourced and seasonal ingredients. This not only connects you to your heritage but also reduces the environmental impact of your meal.

Storytelling: Share stories and memories from past generations during family gatherings. This practice fosters connection and appreciation for where we come from, encouraging a sense of responsibility for the future.

Create New Traditions: As you embrace sustainability, consider starting new traditions that reflect your values. This could be a family volunteer day, a community cleanup, or a yearly gathering to make homemade gifts for local charities, blending heritage with modern values.

Creating a sustainable Christmas is not just about reducing waste; it’s about cultivating a spirit of mindfulness, connection, and respect for the planet and our heritage. By making conscious choices in our gift-giving, decorating, and feasting, we can celebrate the season with a lighter environmental footprint while honouring the traditions of our ancestors. This Christmas, let’s embrace the joy of giving and sharing in ways that respect our planet and enrich our lives, ensuring that our festive celebrations resonate with the wisdom of the past and the hope for a sustainable future. In every thoughtful choice, we weave a tapestry of love and legacy, creating a holiday experience that reflects our values and nurtures our world for generations to come.

Written by Olivia Shave Instagram: @ecoewe

Spotless Performance From Dirty Water Pump

n Northern Lincolnshire, a Chopper Pump made by Landia has completed five years of continuous service at the main, 2MW biogas plant run by Singleton Birch, who for over two hundred years, have produced high quality lime products.

Working underground as part of an automated system for dirty run-off water, the

Landia pump chops up maize and other particles that end up in the drainage; sending the recirculated liquid to the site’s lagoon, or back to the digesters as and when required.

“The Landia Chopper Pump does an excellent job,” said Danny Mason, Renewable Energy Supervisor at Singleton Birch, where the AD plant’s three 2800m3 digesters use a feedstock of maize, chicken litter and sugar beet.

He added: “The pump is very easy to maintain and has really helped us out with drainage on site, chopping up solids that would block up lesser quality pumps. Landia take care of the full servicing, and always ensure that there isn’t any downtime.”

Invented by Landia in 1950, the Chopper Pump is designed with an external knife system that continuously reduces solids. In addition to this Landia unit at Singleton Birch, Landia has numerous Chopper Pumps installed at biogas plants as part of its digester mixing system. These include Scottish Water, Eco Verde Energy, and Republic Services in California.

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Anaerobic Digestion Industry Trade Association

ADBA Reacts to Autumn Budget 2024

ollowing the publication of the first Labour Government's budget, Chris Huhne, Chair of theAnaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association(ADBA) and former Energy and Climate Change Secretary, said:.

"Every business will have its own take on the mix of tax rises, but the continued emphasis on green growth is welcome. It would have been even better if there had been no mixed messages with the freeze on fuel duty, which modestly disadvantages the sector as people look at switching from diesel to biomethane as a fuel".

"As the renewable sector with the second fastest global growth potential after solar, we will be engaging with the Government and Make UK to ensure a full appreciation of the growth opportunity that biogas and biomethane offer across the UK."

In recent months, ADBA has been stressing its ten key campaigning goals on behalf of the green gas sector of renewables, and says that they could all be easily implemented in the first year of a new government by using secondary legislation: ADBA's 10-point biogas road map

#1 Build 1,000 new biogas plants to shield consumers from sky-high prices

As we saw following the Russian invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago now, the UK is at the mercy of fossil gas prices. In early 2022, gas prices soared to a peak of 642p/therm, sending us into a spiralling energy crisis and a scramble to reduce our reliance on Russian gas imports. Insisting that green gas makes up part of gas supply and backing new plants with green gas contracts for difference, would protect consumers and increase energy security. We can build 1,000 new biogas plants by 2030 to protect us all from sky-high energy prices.

#2 Keep supermarket shelves stocked by using UK-made biofertiliser

Synthetic fertiliser is made through the energy-intensive HaberBosch process which requires feed in of large amounts of fossil fuels. Alongside the rise of oil and gas prices, synthetic fertiliser prices have risen, too. Moreover, synthetic fertiliser is a significant contributor to soil health degradation and the disruption of the vital Nitrogen and Phosphorus cycles. Digestate, a nutrient-rich biofertiliser, is one of several valuable AD byproducts. By substituting synthetic fertiliser for biofertiliser and increasing market support for its use, we reach #2: We can close the loop of the circular economy, protect farmers against volatile prices of synthetic fertiliser, and increase UK food security by keeping food shelves stocked.

#3 Clean up our rivers and beaches by treating farm waste withAD

AD can help tackle water pollution and keep our waterways clean. Agricultural waste is often improperly disposed of and managed. Run-off of nutrients, pathogens, and contaminants from animal farms leads to dangerous pollution which causes eutrophication, dead zones, and disruptions to biodiversity. On-farm AD provides a closed-loop system for properly storing and recycling animal waste. On-farm AD is a win- win-win that protects our waterways, offers solutions for livestock waste management, and provides farmers with essential green gas energy to keep their farms running.

#4 Create 18,000 new skilled jobs across the UK

Number four addresses jobs and the growth of the sector. The IEA published its Annual Energy Outlook for 2023, forecasting that the biogas sector will grow anywhere between 8 and 22% by 2030. At the minimum, that would forecast 500 new plants creating homegrown green gas. It is already apparent how quickly AD can be scaled up and new plants can be brought online. At ADBA, we are calling for the development of at least 1000 new plants in that

time, and with it, creating 18,000 new skilled jobs across the country.

#5 Stop the Emissions Trading Scheme penalising green gas

Notorious methane is a fast-acting greenhouse gas that heats the atmosphere at considerably higher rates than CO2. However, the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK-ETS) penalises biomethane as if it were fossil gas, meaning that no greenhouse gas mitigation benefits are being offered to biogas plants, which abate methane emissions. Therefore, we are calling for allowances to stop penalising green gas.

#6 Pledge to establish a plan to decarbonise farming and use farm wastes

Farming is too important to ignore in our effort to decarbonise. Using the energy stored in farm wastes is key. Agriculture is responsible for considerable amounts of the UK's overall greenhouse gas emissions, at 11% in 2020. Even more dramatically, agriculture contributes to 69% of the UK's nitrous oxide emissions and 48% of its methane emissions, two powerful greenhouse gases with global warming potentials significantly higher than CO2. The CCC has already acknowledged that AD is a necessary part of agricultural decarbonisation. Now is the time to act.

#7 Ease local planning with guidance to every local authority

Local planning must be eased through guidance to every local authority. Many local authorities have never approved a green gas plant before and are unfamiliar with the process. Thus, we are calling upon the government for its support in acknowledging AD as a vital part of reaching its net zero goals. To do that, it must issue standardized guidance to councils on new AD plants, treating them as the critical infrastructure they are.

#8 Ease permitting and grid connections

Permitting delays are amongst greatest challenges for the industry. The process at its slowest can take several years. To change that, the Environment Agency and other permitting bodies need adequate funding and staffing. Our eighth point calls for a streamlined permitting process through increased funding to slash these permitting delays from years to months and increase application approvals overall. Connections to the gas and electricity grids must be made as easy as possible to develop the green gas industry fully. This is essential for new plants. ADBA stands four square with other renewable organisations in pressing the government to boost investment in our grid infrastructure to ensure that the most value can be extracted from green gas.

#9 Ban food waste going to landfills and mandate weekly food waste collections

The UK produces millions of tonnes of food waste each year. Too much still goes to landfill. Defra's recently backed separate food waste collections in the coming years, but this process has been pushed back continuously. After a series of broken promises leaving local authorities expectant and disappointed, we need to be staunch in our position that this roll-out sees no further delays. There should be absolutely no food waste going to landfills, and this valuable feedstock should be taken advantage of by sending it to be recycled through AD to produce valuable green gas.

#10 Curb climate change from powerful methane

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas with a shorter atmospheric lifespan than CO2 but a much higher global warming potential. The temperature response of methane is incredibly dramatic over a short period of time, compared to carbon dioxide which warms slower but lingers longer. Many of the previous ten steps demonstrate how AD can mitigate methane emissions by preventing the gas from being emitted from rotting organic wastes. By scaling up green gas, we can ensure that the UK meets its Global Methane Pledge goals and accomplish #11: help curb climate change by stopping methane in its tracks.

Calf pneumonia – how to improve calf shed design to reduce disease risk

alf pneumonia is a major health challenge in many dairy herds, often leading to costly treatments and reduced productivity. Advances in calf shed design offer ways to reduce the risk, especially through improved ventilation and weatherproofing.

Factors impacting calf health

Calf health is influenced by three main factors:

• Theanimal itself, through its immune system, colostrum management, and genetics

• The presence ofpathogenswhich need to be managed

• Theenvironmentin which they are being reared.

Consider each factor when housing animals to significantly improve calf development.

Importance of effective calf housing

The gold standard for meeting the needs of young calves would be purpose-built housing, however that’s frequently an unrealistic goal.

The good news is, redesigning or retrofitting calf sheds can help dramatically improve the overall environment, reducing the threat of respiratory diseases.

Ventilation and environmental controls

Follow these three steps to reduce the incidence of calf pneumonia through ventilation control:

• Remove damp, stale air and replace with fresh, clean air

• Control air flow at the right volume and speed

• Minimise the degree of humidity that can create a breeding ground for pneumonia-causing pathogens

Tailored ventilation systems, such as Galebreaker’sVentTube Fresh, in calf sheds help ensure airborne pathogens are

significantly reduced.

Assessing and controlling ventilation in calf housing

Be on the lookout for the following signs of poor ventilation:

• Ammonia odours

• Condensation

• Calves congregating in specific areas to avoid draughts or dampness.

The presence of these factors could indicate a building needs some improvement to reduce the risk of a calf pneumonia outbreak. Smoke bombs can help you assess how effectively air is circulating in the calf shed. A high performing building will clear smoke within a few minutes through vents and outlets.

Installing a positive pressure tube system, such as Galebreaker’s VentTube Fresh, results in at least six air changes every hour in the winter and ensures air is equally dispersed to remove moisture, gases, airborne pathogens, and excess heat from livestock environments.

Structural adjustments for wind and weather protection in calf sheds

To protect calves from harsh winter conditions, Galebreaker recommends solid walls up to 1.5 to 2 meters high to prevent draughts directly affecting calves. For adaptable and durable options, products like Galebreaker’smesh screensorautomated side curtainscan be adjusted based on weather conditions such as temperature, wind speed, and direction, resulting in consistent weather protection.

Maintaining a draught-free zone for youngstock

While ensuring adequate air exchange in youngstock sheds, it’s vital to keep a draught-free zone.REMEMBER:ventilation should never be compromised by trying to minimise draughts. This could lead to excessive humidity above 85%, the ideal conditions for micro-organisms to thrive and

cause disease.

Drainage and straw bedding management

Maintaining dry straw bedding through good drainage can help prevent cold stress and reduce pathogen load. Galebreaker recommends:

• A flooring slope of 1.6% for the overall building area

• A flooring slope of 5% in high moisture level areas such as around water troughs

Design and construction for calf comfort

If you are building brand new calf sheds, and have the option, consider the following steps to maximise ventilation efficiency and reduce disease risk:

• Orientate buildings perpendicular to the prevailing wind

• Use materials that are easy to keep clean, such as concrete, steel, and durable polymers

• Install solid dividers between pens to help prevent disease transmission between calves

• Adequate lighting helps regulate calf hormone balance, which aids in weight gain

Long-term herd health planning and herd management

Thoughtful planning and design of calf sheds can make a big contribution to longterm herd health and development, so don’t

rush it. Farm visits are a good way to learn about other successful setups, as seeing good livestock housing first hand can offer valuable insights and prevent common and costly mistakes. By focusing on good calf shed design, dairy farmers can significantly reduce the risk of calf pneumonia ensuring a healthier herd and more productive future.

If you have concerns about pneumonia risk in your youngstock, speak to the Galebreaker animal welfare team to set up an on-farm consultation. They can be called on 01531 637900.

CESAR security scheme exceeds 650,000 installations

The CESAR security scheme, owned by the CEA (Construction Equipment Association) and delivered in partnership with Datatag ID, launched in 2007, has now surpassed 650,000 installations. This milestone marks a significant achievement in anti-theft protection for construction and agricultural machinery, with the announcement at the recent CPA (Construction Plant Hire Association) conference. Steven Mulholland, the CPA's new CEO, congratulated the scheme's impact on improving equipment security and reducing theft risk across the industry.

registered machine, leads the UK in security for construction and agricultural equipment. This highly visible marker aids law enforcement in identifying stolen equipment and linking it to its rightful owner. In addition to the identification plate, CESAR integrates several advanced security technologies, including a unique forensic DNA marker and microscopic data dots, ensuring that equipment can be traced even if dismantled.

With the recent addition of the Ultra Tag RFID Chip and RAPID, CESAR continues to advance its security framework. The new RFID chip, designed to be tamper-proof and equipped with a longer reading range, offers a quick, non-invasive method for authorities to identify equipment up to 18 metres away. This means an added layer of confidence in their equipment's security for machine owners, even in challenging recovery situations. Alongside the Ultra Tag RFID Chip, the CESAR scheme's RAPID asset protection system expands security options, combining covert marking with instant police response, further deterring theft and enhancing the likelihood of recovery. This multi-tiered security framework has positioned CESAR as the preferred choice for owners seeking dependable, industryleading protection.

Kevin Howells, Managing Director of Datatag,commented on this accomplishment: "Reaching over 650,000 installations highlights the CESAR Scheme's success in deterring theft and aiding in recovering stolen equipment. Manufacturers, SMEs, and other companies continue placing their trust in CESAR. Our latest addition, the Ultra Tag RFID Chip, adds another layer of security, offering advanced tamper resistance and improved scanning for swift ownership verification. The multi-layered security strategy CESAR employs ensures machinery is protected through visible, covert, and highly effective means."

CESAR's new RAPID (Registered Assets Police Information Database) tool also advances the scheme's impact. RAPID is a web-based solution that enables officers to access the CESAR database directly from their smartphones, streamlining the identification process. Nearly 1,000 officers nationwide have already enrolled, further accelerating investigations across the UK by enabling immediate verification of CESARregistered assets on the spot.

The CESAR Scheme, instantly recognisable by its distinctive triangle identification plate on each

Viki Bell, Director of Operations at the CEA, emphasised the scheme's impact: "The CESAR Scheme is central to our commitment to equipment security across the construction and agricultural sectors. With over 650,000 installations, CESAR continues to prove its value in deterring theft and building trusted protection for machinery owners. This trust and potential insurance discounts make CESAR a solid choice for safeguarding equipment. With RAPID and the tamper-proof RFID chip, CESAR sends a clear message to would-be thieves that marked machinery is well protected and harder to target."

The scheme's effective security features, including thousands of microscopic data dots encoded with unique identifiers visible only under ultraviolet light, ensure that even dismantled components can be traced to their origin. Each machine also receives a forensic DNA marker, embedding an unalterable identity into the equipment, in line with CESAR's motto, "It's in our DNA."

For equipment owners, insurers recognise CESAR's security benefits, often resulting in lower premiums for CESAR-registered machinery. With over 650,000 systems in place, CESAR has set a high standard in machinery security, providing advanced, reliable asset protection for the industry.

ATV theft is on the rise - make sure your vehicles are

Quad bikes and allterrain vehicles (ATV) are attractive to thieves operating in rural areas, and theft of this type of vehicle has been on an upward trend since July this year.

In October, six incidents of ATV theft were reported to police. In the most recent incident in October, police recovered and returned the stolen vehicle to the victim.

Any incidents being reported to police are being reviewed by our specialist Country Watch team who work with other police teams to develop the wider intelligence picture around offending patterns, who is involved, what areas are being targeted, and to gather any evidence.

police to return it to you if it’s recovered following a theft.

• Register your quad atwww.immobilise.com

In the meantime, we urge owners of quads and ATVs to read the advice below, and to report any suspicious activity around their homes or rural estates to police. Dial 999 if a crime, or something suspicious, is ongoing.

• Keep good records of your quad bikes or ATVs. Take colour photographs from the side, front and behind.

• Photos should include serial/chassis numbers, model numbers and distinguishing features.

• All quads should be security marked with your postcode, followed by letters of your property name or number. Marking your property in this way makes it easier for

• Park ATVs as close to your premises as possible, ideally in a locked outbuilding with CCTV and security lighting, preferably out of sight from nearby roads.

• Secure them with wheel clamps and/or locking posts, and store in a secure building. Consider using ground anchor plates and chains for extra security.

• Consider investing in a bespoke quad security device (look for those approved by Secured By Design and Sold Secure).

• Fit a GPS tracking device.

• Remove keys when not in use and do not leave them near the quad.

Mud on the roads – what you need to know

Now is the time to be mindful of mud on the road and the hazard it can present to motorists. Familiarise yourself with the laws around this and the steps you can take to minimise the impact of mud.

Mud left on the road from farming activity is an ongoing issue and can affect other drivers, which has led to serious accidents in the past. Mud can cause drivers to lose control or to skid, leading to accidents. In adverse weather conditions, the risk of accident due to mud can increase greatly.

It is important to keep the matter on the forefront of your minds to take changing weather conditions and farming activity into account.

It's also worth remembering that the rules apply for any other material deposited onto the highway. For example, if grain or other produce is spilled this can represent just as serious a hazard as mud.

The law on mud on the roads

Farmers and vehicle operators who deposit mud on the road are potentially liable for a range of offences and may face prosecution and a fine.

There is a range of powers available to the police and the highways departments of local authorities. Most of the powers are laid out in theHighways Act 1980.

Section 148 of the act makes it an offence to deposit mud and other materials on the highway that would interrupt other users of the highway.

Section 161 of the act states: “If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, deposits anything whatsoever on the highway in consequence of which a user of the highway is injured or endangered, that person is guilty of an offence.”

The act also givesthe highways authority the power to recover any expenses incurred from having to clean an obstruction on the highway.

In addition, driving a tractor on the public highway with a significant amount of mud attached to it may be considered as ‘dangerous driving’ under the Road Traffic Act 1988. Under this act, section 2a states that the term ‘dangerous’ can include anything which is attached to a vehicle which can include mud.

Farmers also have obligations under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and to look after the health and safety of themselves, their employees and anyone who may be affected by a working operation.

How can you prevent mud on the roads?

There are a number of actions that you must do to prevent or clear mud on the roads.

• Prevent mud from being deposited on the road in the first place: clear mud from vehicles before taking them out on the road.

• If there is a danger of leaving mud, use ‘mud on road’ signs to alert other road users. Make sure any road signs are positioned in a way that gives them maximum visibility and warning to road users.

• Ensure labour and equipment is available and suitable for the soil and weather conditions.

• Make an agreement with contractors as to who is responsible for mud left on the load, and ensure suitable public liability insurance is in place.

• Keep to low speeds when travelling short distances – this can help to keep mud on the vehicle.

Keep a log on your decision on whether or not to deploy signs or clean the road.

This ensure a written record has been kept surrounding the appropriate action that you have taken.

Overhead power lines on English farmland – we want your feedback

We need your insight into the state of infrastructure across English farmland. Take our short survey before 6 December and help feed into our lobbying asks.

As part of the NFU’s work on safety when working around OHPLs (overhead power lines), this survey is being conducted in order to understand the state of the infrastructure across English farmland, and the challenges that those working in agriculture face with OHPLs.

Whether you have one pole with power line infrastructure or 100, your insight into the realities of the network infrastructure is of huge value.

The questions within the survey will help give NFU policy advisers an insight into:

• the amount of infrastructure across English farmland

• the state of the infrastructure

• interaction with Distribution Network Operators who manage the infrastructure, and

• how you manage farming the land with the presence of the infrastructure.

This survey is anonymous, but responses may be used to help support NFU asks of the overhead power line industry and their representative bodies.

To take the survey visit: https://nfu. welcomesyourfeedback.net/s/ ob1kyq

A ADF Milking Launch Brand New Teat Dip Blending Technology at EuroTier 2024

DF Milking, the leading manufacturer of automatic dipping and flushing technology for milking parlours, is launching their brandnew product, DipSmart, at this year’s EuroTier exhibition.

DipSmart is the company’s latest development in teat dip technology. The product automatically blends concentrated sanitisers and skin conditioners with local potable water to create a teat dip that is customisable to every herd on every dairy farm.

Customisable Teat Dip Blending Technology

The DipSmart system creates a high-quality teat dip designed to ensure optimal teat condition at a low cost to farmers and the environment. The blended teat dip mix can be tailored to suit specific farm requirements and weather conditions. For example, during extreme weather skin conditioner ratios can be increased to give teats extra protection. In the event of a high bacterial load, the sanitiser concentration can be increased to combat udder infection.

Transforming Traditional Teat Dip Blending Methods

With the new DipSmart system, the active/ emollient ratio can be easily adjusted on-farm by the operator. This adaptability is a unique feature of DipSmart and provides an advantage over standard pre-mixed teat dip. With standard pre-mixed teat dips, addressing different needs on-farm is only possible by switching between products which can be costly, wasteful and time-consuming.

How DipSmart Works

Farmers can access the DipSmart control panel via a secure, easy-to-use smartphone app which enables real-time adjustment of the teat dip mix. The DipSmart app also monitors the amount of concentrates used for very accurate stock management and cost control, as well as reporting the total amount of teat dip used.

Benefits of DipSmart

• Customised teat dip - DipSmart blends skin conditioners and sanitisers on-farm to create a teat dip to perfectly suit the environmental conditions and bacterial load experienced by the herd.

• Premium, fresh quality teat dip – The DipSmart system only uses high quality ingredients which are blended on-site when required, ensuring fresh and effective teat dip every time.

• Reduced packaging - DipSmart uses high quality concentrates and local water supplies, eliminating the need to transport and store bulky containers of liquid.

• Portable & easy to use – Concentrates are delivered in manageable packs that are easy to carry and store, eliminating the need for low loaders and fork-lifts.

• Efficient water usage – DipSmart utilises the farmer’s local water supply.

• Environmentally friendly – Using local water supplies avoids unnecessary transportation of tonnes of water and packaging, reducing CO2 emissions and wastage. DipSmart also eliminates the need to store and dispose of bulky chemical containers, which typically end up in landfill.

• Value for money – DipSmart prevents farmers from having to pay for expensive transportation, packaging and disposal costs.

Discover DipSmart at EuroTier 2024

Learn more about the new DipSmart system from ADF Milking on their stand A09, Hall 13, at EuroTier in Hannover, Germany. Visit them from Tuesday 12th to Friday 15th November 2024 to discover their customisable, on-farm teat dip blending technology. ADF Milking is an award-winning company specialising in automatic dipping and flushing technology, designed to optimise dairy farm efficiency and improve cow health.

Dectomax Pour On returns to UK market

After a prolonged absence from the market, broad spectrum cattle parasite treatment, Dectomax™ Pour On is now back in stock and available for UK farmers to purchase.

Dectomax PO solution controls gastrointestinal roundworms, lungworms, eyeworms, warbles, sucking and biting lice, as well as mange mites and hornflies.

Matt Colston, Elanco technical consultant, says Dectomax can be used strategically around housing and while stock are at pasture to manage parasite burdens, improve productivity and drive growth rates in youngstock.

time to manage ectoparasites in all cattle, as well as treat for worms in youngstock,” he adds.

“The product comes in a ready-to-use solution, is easy to apply with an applicator gun while cattle are in a race or crush, and can be administered up to five weeks before housing.”

“With stock across the country being housed this autumn, the relaunch of Dectomax comes at the ideal

Mr Colston stresses that as with any parasite control, it should be administered according to weight to avoid under- or overdosing and to help prevent resistance development.

To purchase Dectomax Pour On, visit your local agricultural merchant. For

more information, please visit: https://bit.ly/3NneE2D

Probiotic live yeast key to reducing fattening time and improving FCR

The inclusion of a probiotic live yeast in pig diets can shorten the fattening period and improve feed conversion ratio, according to results from a recent trial.

Hannah Elliott, monogastric technical manager at Lallemand Animal Nutrition, says the year-long trial was carried out across a total of 27,000 pigs in 66 batches where 32 batches were supplemented with the probiotic live yeast, LEVUCELL SB (Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii CNCM I-1079).

“By incorporating Levucell SB into pig diets we get better fibre digestion; this is because the live yeast increases bacterial fibre degradation and therefore production of

short chain fatty acids (SCFA) which result in more energy for the pig,” she explains.

“And by replacing some of the raw material energy contribution cost with Levucell SB, results can be gained at no extra cost.”

The trial found that including Levucell SB with an energy valorisation of 1.3%, allowed pigs to reach fattening weight 3 days sooner.

“The pigs fed Levucell SB also benefitted from a better feed conversion ratio (FCR) and an improvement in average daily weight gain (ADG),” she adds.

FCR was reduced by an average of 2% in the experimental group and ADG increased by 2.6%, demonstrating that the pigs were more efficient at turning feed into body mass with the probiotic yeast. Alongside these results, an improvement in carcass quality was also reported, with pigs supplemented with Levucell SB having better lean meat composition compared to the control group.

Ms Elliott says Levucell SB was selected due to its ability to survive in more acidic environments with a thicker cell wall than S. cerevisiae strains, making it more suitable for use in monogastric diets.

“Its superior ability to scavenge oxygen within the gut, stimulate fibrobacteres populations (patent pending) for improved SCFA production and produce metabolites such as acetate/ anti-toxin molecules, means Levucell SB can help reinforce gut efficiency,” she explains.

For more information on including a probiotic live yeast into feed rations, speak to your nutritionist or contact Lallemand Animal Nutrition.

Risk to dry cows from high potassium silages

Mineral analysis of grass silage from the three years from 2022 to 2024 has shown some pronounced trends which dairy farmers need to think about when rationing their dry cows in particular.

"The potassium content of grass silage has trended up by 8.39% since 2022," says Bruce Forshaw, ForFarmers Product Manager. "Potassium is a major cation, so increased levels will affect the dietary cationanion balance, known as DCAB, of a diet.

"You are aiming for a low DCAB diet for dry cows that encourages an animal's hormone system to mobilise calcium from her bones, ensuring she has enough available calcium

at the point of calving. She will naturally start to mobilise calcium when she calves but there can be a 48-hour lag time and this is when clinical and sub clinical milk fever can occur," explains Bruce.

"During the same period chloride (anion) in silages has been trending down which will also affect the DCAB value of the forage. If your silage analysis is showing these issues look to add more low DCAB forages such as wholecrop, straw, maize or more mature grass silages that didn't receive much slurry.

"We know how important it is to get nutrition spot on when rationing dry cows, so a mineral analysis of all forages is essential, especially this year," Bruce concludes.

low and long-term surveillance showing resistance is reducing and sitting at an all-time low

T Latest RUMA Agriculture Targets Task Force report launched: UK livestock efforts continue to drive positive results in tackling AMR with antibiotic use remaining

he latest RUMA Targets Task Force 2 (TTF2) progress report has been released today (19 Nov 2024), which summarises thefourthyear of progress against the current set of antibiotic use targets which span 2021-2024:RUMA-TTF-Report-FINAL-publishedNovember-19-2024.pdf.

The RUMA Agriculture TTF Report highlights that 2023 has been another year of great effort and commitment from across UK livestock sectors in the responsible use of antibiotics; national usage figures remain low and largely unchanged from last year and the long-term AMR surveillance work carried out by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) shows multi-drug resistance in animals is at its lowest level in a decade. While most sectors have achieved or surpassed their targets, a handful have seen increases in usage which has been in response to disease outbreaks, lack of availability of key vaccines, environmental impacts, and in some cases, a combination of all three.

The figures published in the latest UK-Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance and Sales Surveillance (VARSS) Report, also released today,show that antibiotic sales in food-producing animals remained

at 25.7 mg/kg which maintains the 59% reduction since 2014. Meanwhile, sales of antibiotics which are the most critically important in human health only account for less than half a percent of total sales.

RUMA Agriculture Chair, Cat McLaughlin, says:

“These latest results from both the VARSS Report and in our RUMA Targets Task Force Report demonstrate that the collaborative, voluntary efforts over the past decade from the UK farmed animal, bird and fish sectors in addressing AMR are clearly paying off. The fact that AMR continues to decline with multi-drug resistance in animals at an all-time low should be applauded and should reassure everyone that the work on responsible use and stewardship is making a real and tangible difference. I have no doubt that as RUMA starts to plan for our third cycle of targets (TTF3) over the coming year, these latest results will undoubtedly give everyone the ongoing confidence and focus to build on what is already done and be as ambitious as possible as we drive forward our efforts to continue to tackle AMR and protect the efficacy of antibiotics; all with the common goal of helping to save the lives of animals and humans.

“In the words of Dame Sally Davies recently, who shared her thoughts with us on the work of the RUMA TTF, she stated that the work the farming sector has done to date is to be ‘congratulated’ and that, as expected, these efforts are coupled with trends in decreasing resistance in animals in the UK which has given us the proof they are linked –her words are certainly something to be very proud of.”

Abigail Seager, Chief Executive of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, says: "I welcome this important report highlighting the continued efforts of the UK’s animal health sectors, working closely with government, to implement effective antibiotic stewardship in animals to tackle the global issue of antimicrobial resistance. This year’s UK-VARSS results, especially the record lows in antimicrobial resistance in animals, are testament to the UK’s farmers’ and vets’ on-going commitment to improved and responsible antibiotic use. VMD welcome the progress being made by many individual sectors as highlighted in RUMA’s new

Targets Task Force update report. I look forward to seeing the next iteration of industry targets in 2025, as they will play a key role in achieving the One Health outcomes of the UK’s new NAP on AMR (2024-2029)."

Cat continues: “There is however a reality that we are facing into that for some sectors, reductions in use have been significant over the past decade and there will be a point where a plateau in reduction levels is to be expected. I make no apology for stating once again that antibiotics remain a critical tool in a vet’s medicine ‘cabinet’ and, even with the best husbandry standards, animals can fall ill due to disease outbreaks or as a result of environmental impacts, which can mean antibiotics are necessary at times to treat animals and prevent unnecessary suffering. The UK has some of the highest health and welfare standards in farming globally, which we should all be very proud of, but that doesn’t mean we can rest on our laurels.”

On the topic of data, Cat, continues: “ We know that data collection must remain a high priority, and it is pleasing to see the ongoing progress with Medicine Hub from AHDB. If we are to continue to lead the way in tackling AMR then we must do so from a solid foundation of evidence that helps us understand use and set appropriate targets.”

Vaccine availability has also been a topic of much focus in recent years with agricultural and companion animal sectors reporting shortages in vaccine availability, which in certain sectors is starting to curtail the veterinary response to some diseases. Cat adds: “This is a red flag in efforts to tackle AMR and we are concerned that there could be a resultant increase in antibiotic usage to resolve the consequences of failing to effectively prevent disease threats through vaccination - as a direct result of these shortages. This would be a significant backward step for both AMR and animal welfare and is something that we’re all desperate to avoid. We believe there is a need for political recognition of this risk and more collaboration to highlight the importance and availability of veterinary vaccines, both within the UK but accepting the global infrastructure of vaccine supply on which the UK is reliant. A reliable supply of vaccines is vital for the UK (and further afield), across our livestock keepers and companion animal owners and vets in their ongoing efforts to contribute positively to the One Health agenda and AMR mitigations. Everyone acknowledges that solving the veterinary vaccine supply issue will require a long-term strategy, but that needs to start

with increasing awareness, recognition of the issue and the potential consequences, and taking positive action wherever possible to bring the right stakeholders together to address the matter. We will continue to raise this issue wherever we can to ensure vaccine availability is built into strategic priorities.”

Looking to the future, the next cycle of RUMA Targets (TTF3) will be developed over the coming year and will be launched in Autumn 2025. As the RUMA TTF is brought together to define this third cycle, evidence and insights gained over the last decade will be used to help further evolve the new set of targets. The new UK 5-year national action plan for antimicrobial resistance 2024 to 2029 and updated Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMRs) will also be important references to help frame and shape the journey, challenge and opportunities of the TTF3 strategy.

Download the latest RUMA Agriculture TTF Report here:RUMA-TTF-Report-FINAL-publishedNovember-19-2024.pdf

Download the VARSS Report here:Veterinary Antimicrobial Resistance and Sales Surveillance 2023 - GOV.UK

L Volac expands business manager team in Scotland and England

eading forage preservation and animal nutrition business, Volac, has expanded its silage additive commercial team in Scotland and Northern England, and Central and Eastern England, with the appointment of two new Technical Business Managers.

New Technical Business Manager for Scotland and Northern England

Responsible for merchant support and on-farm technical sales for the Ecosyl additive range plus related products for the whole of Scotland and Northern England, Freya Webber brings seven years’ experience in the livestock sector, having previously worked in veterinary diagnostics.

Originally from a farming community in the far north of Scotland but now based between Glasgow and Edinburgh, Freya also holds a BSc in Animal Biology.

In her most recent role as an operations manager, Freya gained wideranging experience –including technical support, identifying and developing new opportunities, staff and distributor training, and maintenance of ISO accreditation. Prior to this, Freya began as a scientist developing lateral flow diagnostic tests, before gaining wider commercial experience.

Freya says: “The role at Volac is an exciting opportunity in the area of animal nutrition, which I’m passionate about. With a growing population, food security, animal health, human health and environmental health are all interlinked. Volac products play a key part in this, supported by strong scientific data, dedicated R and D facilities and a network of skilled individuals. I’m delighted to have joined the team.

“I am excited to reconnect with existing Volac customers, as well as develop new customer relationships, and bring Volac’s long-standing

products and new ones to the market, and hope to soon be recognised as a friendly, familiar face in the industry.”

New Technical Business Manager for Central and Eastern England

Responsible for merchant support and on-farm technical sales for the Ecosyl additive range plus related products for Central and Eastern England, Norfolk-based Amanda Clements brings 18 years’ experience of working in the livestock sector.

With a BSc in International Agriculture, specialising in dairy nutrition, Amanda’s most recent role was as a regional sales manager for a company heavily involved in ruminant minerals and vitamins, but which also sold silage inoculants and yeast for dairy and beef cattle.

Prior to this, Amanda’s career was based around dairy genetics, while her earlier working life saw her lecturing at agricultural college. However, Amanda combines her technical knowledge with practical experience, having also worked on farms and milked cows.

Outside of work, Amanda has a handful of Jersey cows of her own, plus a small flock of pedigree sheep which she enjoys showing and selling at premium sales.

“I joined Volac because I’m passionate about agriculture efficiency with a particular focus on ruminants,” explains Amanda. “I believe farm efficiency is the future. Volac’s product range promotes efficiency and can help maximise animal performance. Volac has real time data and products that are backed up by trials. Being at a leading company that has its own labs as well as heavily investing in R and D appeals to me.

“I will be covering the Central and Eastern region of the UK for Volac. In my previous role I covered a lot of miles, so I’m sure I will be a familiar face on farms.”

Freya Webber has joined Volac as Technical Business Manager for Scotland and Northern England

Amanda Clements has joined Volac as Technical Business Manager for Central and Eastern England

330 beef and lamb entries for ABP Winter Fair

The 2024 ABP Winter Fair – the Premier Meat Exhibition - held at the Bridge of Allan site on 9 November, was a sell-out success once again. Organised by the Scottish National Fatstock Club and sponsored by M&S, the event is now in its 31st year.

In total, 139 cattle, 16 young livestock producer cattle, 173 sheepand 10 young livestock producer sheep, were entered. Live cattle judging was conducted by Will Hamilton at Lanark Auction Mart and beef carcases by Tony Ashton at Bridge of Allan later in the week. Live sheep judge was Alfie Taylor and carcase judge was Stuart Stark.

Over 300 guests, including farmers, ScotGov, M&S, QMS, advisors and mart representatives attended the celebratory lunch, fittingly, a meal of Prime Aberdeen Angus beef and Scotch Lamb from M&S Select Farms.

Commenting on the event Bob Carnell, ABP’s UK CEO said: “this event is a tremendous showcase of the dedication of Scotland’s producers. The demand for beef and lamb is extremely robust both from our domestic as well as our premium export markets and we continue to work closely with our farm suppliers, our retail partners and the wider supply chain to improve the collective confidence in livestock farming. ABP is continuing to invest heavily in automation and state of the art processing facilities in Scotland and throughout the UK.”

The full list of results is below:

BEEF

Live champion – Wilson Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse

Live reserve – C and K Malone, Pitcairn

Champion carcase – C and K Malone, Pitcairn

Reserve carcase – Wilson Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse

Breeder of the champion carcase – WJ and EC Stevenson

A-A carcase – Wilson Peters, Cuilt Farmhouse

Pure A-A carcase – M and HD Currie, Skewbridge

Premio Speciale Italiano – Andrew Purdon and partners, Stravenhouse

Prime cow carcase – D Hyslop, Pumplaburn Farm

Most points live/dead – T and A Taylor, Heatheryhall

Reserve points – Ross Bros, Wardhead

YLP Junior live champion – John Spence, Roberthill

YLP Senior live champion – Jenna Ross

YLP Junior – John Douglas Spence, Roberthill

YLP Senior – Heather Paul, Mains of Airleywight

SHEEP

Thanking those involved, he gave his deep appreciation of Lawrie & Symington for the live judging and M&S for their longstanding support of the event and its reflection of their sourcing ethos. “M&S is a business that deeply values the provenance, quality and families who produce world class livestock which is merchandised and sold throughout its stores.”

Commenting on the event Steve Mclean, M&S’s Head of Agriculture and Fisheries, said how proud his team have been to support this event for 31 years, adding: “M&S values the relationship with ABP because they have invested in the Scottish red meat sector, and they share our values.”

On the future, Mr Carnell said: “ABP’s commitment to Scottish farmers is steadfast, and I’m saying to you here, today, that we want to work with you to further grow the opportunities for the sale of Scotch and Scottish produce into both UK retail as well as food service, and to work with bodies like QMS to continue to develop new international market opportunities. We deeply value our relationship with over 2,200 farmer suppliers in Scotland and employ 836 people here.”

Alister Vance, Chair of the Scottish Fatstock Club said: “Scottish National Fatstock Club’s Premier Meats Exhibition is the only competition in the country for farmers to showcase the best of cattle and sheep both live and dead. The standard is getting higher every year. It really is a spectacular competition; our livestock producers and meat industry should be very proud.”

Champion live lamb – DS and RC Taylor, Easter Ochtermuirhill

Reserve live lamb – R Hall and son, Inglewood Edge

Champion lamb carcase – R Hall and son, Inglewood Edge

Reserve champion lamb carcase – M and J Kennedy, Lurgan

Champion Blackface – A and J Paul, Ballingall Mill

Reserve champion Blackface – Firm of Shawhead

Champion Native – David Cunningham

Champion Cheviot – Kim Stretch, Cuilt Farmhouse

NCCSS Trophy – Kim Stretch, Cuilt Farmhouse

Champion export lamb – R Hall and son, Inglewood Edge

Best carcase sired by a Beltex - R Hall and son, Inglewood Edge

YLP Junior live – Struan Whyte, Lintibert

YLP Senior live – James Taylor, Easter Ochtermuthill

YLP Junior – Mackenzie Burns, Ballingall Mill

YLP Senior – Cameron Baillie, Carstairs Mains

Vogelsang launches new separator at LAMMA

Anew compact slurry separator will be launched at LAMMA 2025. Vogelsang’s XSplit Compact press screw separator is a smaller, more affordable option for farms looking to improve slurry management.

“The Compact features much of the same technology as the full sized XSplit model but is better suited to farms with up to 100 cows. It is a fixed separator, and, due to its compact dimensions, it can be housed more easily in smaller farm buildings and moved between buildings if necessary,” says Vogelsang’s Andy Hayhurst.

The new model will be on show for the first time in the UK at LAMMA. Capable of up to 10 m³/h the unit weighs just 875 kilos and

features a 4KW power pump. Clever tine holders also offer the potential for the separator to be moved and relocated more easily if housing is split across a farm.

“Like the larger model, the Compact will separate up to 40 percent dry matter,” adds Mr Hayhurst.

The XSplit Compact features VarioAdjust, a hydraulic closure unit that provides full

control over solids output, dry matter content and throughput. A pressure gauge offers precise control up to a pressure of 25 bar using the hydraulic pump and no tools are required.

“The XSplit Compact also adjusts to the amount of solids automatically, and the constant back pressure, which features a nitrogen bubble system, compensates for any fluctuations in the material being processed,” says Mr Hayhurst.

The Vogelsang stand at LAMMA will also have the full size XSplit in its trailer mounter, mobile specification which is likely to appeal to contractors. This sees the XSplit mounted

on to a trailer that acts as a self contained, towable unit for use in multiple locations.

The latest BlackBird and UniSpread application units will be available to see and discuss with Vogelsang’s technical team.

“The BlackBird range has also been recently added to, with the new Light model. It is available with 12 metre and 15 metre booms and has a transport width of just 2.99 metres. It also features lighter plastic skids that have the same durability as the cast iron versions on the Pro model,” explains Mr Hayhurst.

Vogelsang will exhibit all models at LAMMA, hall 12, stand 230.

EFFECTIVE SPREADING SYSTEMS

Flexible, reliable and easy to maintain:

As a pioneer in agricultural technology, Vogelsang leads the way in environmental friendly spreading equipment. The dribble bar systems combined with the ExaCut distributor give the highest application of liquid manure nutrients.

Dribble bars are available in working widths of 7.5m right up to 36m and are retrofit-friendly.

For more information visit www.vogelsang.info/en-uk/dribble-bar-systems

VOGELSANG – LEADING IN TECHNOLOGY

Contact us at:

01270 216 600 | sales.uk@vogelsang.info

vogelsang.co.uk

NEWS FROM SAMSON AGRO A/S: ENDURO - A WEAR PART SOLUTION THAT MEETS TODAY'S CHALLENGES

With increasing demands for efficiency, sustainability and longevity in agriculture, SAMSON is launching the new ENDURO wear part series. The series sets new standards for both durability and performance, and the first product in the series is the TSB Centre Blade, developed for SAMSON's trailing shoe boom. With a lifetime that is 3 to 7 times longer than traditional wear parts, ENDURO TSB Centre Blade is a step towards more efficient and economical operations for both farmers and agricultural contractors.

Reduced maintenance and improved

operating efficiency

TSB Centre Blade is designed to handle even the most demanding working conditions, whether it's highly abrasive soil or long operating times. TSB Centre Blade means fewer replacements, reducing both maintenance costs and downtime. For farmers and agricultural contractors, this means less time spent on maintenance and fewer interruptionsresulting in increased productivity and better economy.

A product for modern agriculture

With TSB Centre Blade, SAMSON is

supporting the needs of today's agriculture: efficient operation, economy and sustainability. The ENDURO series is an important step in SAMSON's mission to deliver products that combine high performance and durability while contributing to a greener future.

Groundbreaking technology with tungsten carbide

TSB Centre Blade is equipped with tungsten carbide reinforcements, which are known for extremely high wear resistance. This carbide metal is ideal for demanding applications such as slurry application as it resists wear, corrosion and high loads. The technology ensures a long service life, reducing the need for frequent replacements and improving overall operational efficiency. Tungsten carbide makes ENDURO TSB Centre Blade the perfect solution for farmers and agricultural contractors looking for high performance and reliability.

Wear parts with improved functionality and design

TSB Centre Blade has a protected design

and a wear indicator that shows when the product reaches the end of its lifetime. This feature makes it easier to schedule replacements to minimise maintenance time. In addition, the intelligent design ensures that the surface pressure remains the same over the entire lifetime. The quick replacement saves time and money and increases uptime in the field.

Statement from Niels Haubjerg, Head of Product Management and Academy, SAMSON AGRO

"With the ENDURO range and TSB Centre Blade, we are proud to offer a solution that makes a real difference for both the farmer and the environment. We have listened to our customers' needs for long lasting solutions that minimise downtime and maintenance costs while reducing the environmental footprint. ENDURO TSB Centre Blade is a result of our commitment to developing high quality, innovative products and we look forward to customers experiencing the benefits of this new generation of wear parts."

Kubota celebrates 10 years of the M7 series with the launch of the new M7004 tractor

Kubota is proud to announce the launch of the M7004 tractor series, marking a decade of innovation in the flagship M7 tractor lineup. The launch in 2014 of the first M7 series tractor signified a major leap for Kubota into a new segment, quickly establishing itself as a mainstay in the agricultural sector.

The M7004 is the latest evolution, featuring key updates designed to enhance operator experience, functionality, and performance. Powered by a proven 6.1-litre, four-cylinder Kubota engine producing 130-175hp, the three-model M7004 series maintains its reputation for class-leading performance.

Like its predecessors, the M7004 offers a choice of two transmissions; powershift or KVT (Kubota Variable Transmission), with the latter gaining updated pre-set droop settings for customisable transmission sensitivity and optimum fuel efficiency.

Key updates are geared around operator convenience, with a newly repositioned cooling pack at the front of the engine creating much better

access to key components, while simplifying maintenance.

Operator convenience is further improved with repositioned fuel and DEF tanks, along with cab steps that create easier access and egress from the tractor. A new automatic assisted parking brake is integrated within the tractor shuttle in order to stop and park safely. In addition, the K-Monitor benefits from a new quad-core processor that delivers expanded functionality and faster processing speeds.

The launch of the new M7004 series also coincides with Kubota celebrating its 50th anniversary in Europe. To mark the occasion, 50 anniversary edition M7004 tractors will be produced, each featuring a striking orange and black wrap.

The M7004 series integrates seamlessly with Kubota’s existing packages, including extended warranty up to 5-years/5,000-hours, plus Kubota Connect – the very latest in tractor telematics that enables users to remotely access tractor location and key operating functions, to improve asset management.

KFAST Autonomous Sprayer: Kubota and FEDE’s latest innovation in speciality crop management

KFAST (Kubota Fede Autonomous Spraying Technology) is an autonomous sprayer concept for speciality crops designed to meet EU regulations and objectives of the Green Deal.

The KFAST robot concept, jointly developed by Kubota and FEDE, autonomously applies phytosanitary treatments and offers the option of remote-control guidance. Its structural design and newly developed 4x4 traction ensure smooth movement, precise turning, and accurate positioning in the narrowest rows of specialty crop fields. This large-capacity autonomous sprayer can be equipped with various air systems to meet the specific requirements of different plantations.

Ongoing treatments are monitored and displayed on the Specialty Crops Platform (SCP), Fede's digital agronomic management tool. In addition, KFAST sends alerts in case of incident or parameter out of range, including the detection of empty spraying and diesel tank to autonomously return to the station for refilling. Once the treatment is completed, all the data is registered, providing real traceability and required information to generate the digital farm book.

KFAST will substantially increase the productivity and efficiency of work in the plantation, since a single operator can manage four robots at a time and enables to carry out night-time tasks. With aims to be a solution to the lack of labour problem, as well and the generational renewal, in the agricultural sector. Furthermore, it improves the occupational safety and health by eliminating the risks of accidents and drastically reducing occupational exposure to pesticides.

Speciality crops high precision treatments: real time spraying adjustment

Once the work order is received, Fede's

autonomous sprayer concept goes to the assigned row to start the treatment. KFAST, equipped with the AIs system, an innovative technology that performs high-precision treatments through image capture and AI processing. The robot adapts the spraying in real time with individualised control of the nozzles to adjust the application tree by tree while maintaining a constant pressure and application flow in each open nozzle with a homogeneous distribution and deposition of the treatment.

KFAST concept stands out for its remarkable reduction in pesticide use and soil degradation, both key objectives in the EU Green Deal. The system registers savings in the use of pesticides of up to 40%, according to the field tests results carried out within the LIFE-AIs project, which increase significantly when carrying out treatments based on the prescription of variable application maps (VRA). At the same time, it relieves soil compaction by moving only 4 wheels always following the same axis, reducing the number of tons supported by the soil and minimising displacements.

Additionally, the indicators generated by KFAST image capture offer updated data on the state of the plantation, valuable information that can be used by third parties to offer their agronomic services. KFAST is distinguished for being an open system that allows the integration a wide range of service providers such as pest detection, yield prediction, farm management information systems, among others.

The KFAST concept, Kubota Fede Autonomous Spraying Technology, has been awarded as Technical Novelty at FIMA 2024, a worldwide benchmark event in the agricultural machinery sector for specialty crops.

20 years strong for Fendt dealer Compass Tractors

South West machinery dealer Compass Tractors is holding a celebratory evening to mark 20 years supporting farmers across Devon and Somerset. The well-known Fendt dealer is inviting old and new customers to its Bridgewater depot on 11th December 2024 to celebrate the milestone.

Speaking ahead of the event, Robert Owens, sales manager for Compass Tractors, says the evening will mark a significant landmark for the company but it is also a chance for the local farming industry to enjoy some time away from the farm.

“We haven’t hosted an event on this scale for nearly 10 years, so we are hoping to make a bit of a splash and give something back to our loyal customer base. The last 24 months have been particularly tough for the industry and events like this are becoming so important to share the load by talking to others.”

Along with a hog roast and a bar, the evening will also feature a charity auction from 8:30pm, and a raffle, with proceeds split between the farming charity RABI and the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. Pick of the listings ready to attract bids in the auction include a day’s shooting at Great Holwell Shoot, four tickets to Wales v Ireland in the

Six Nations, a new MTec Quadmaster trailer, a new Fendt 313 TKC trailed mower, and a new Fendt Former 426N single rotor rake and much more. Entrants to the raffle can win a £500 Compass Tractors store credit, a Rolly Toys ride on tractor, a 205-litre drum of oil, or a set of 4 new Isuzu wheels and tyres.

Rob explains: “Raising money for these essential charities means we can give something back from the evening. There are some top listings up for grabs in the auction and the raffle, so we hope to raise a decent total for the charities. The whole yard will be covered in marquees with all our franchises attending.

Compass Tractors was established in 2004 by Justin Nichols and has grown to a thriving business selling industry leading brands including Fendt, Krone, JCB, Isuzu, Amazone, Sumo and Stewart. From its depot in Bridgewater, the dealership covers farmers and growers in Devon and Somerset.

Anyone is welcome to attend the evening, which takes place at Compass Tractors’ Bridgewater depot on Wednesday 11th December 2024 from 6pm.

B Blaney Agri Launches #BlaneyCommunity Forager X10 Campaign to Support Farmers This Winter

laney Agri is proud to announce the launch of the #BlaneyCommunity Forager X10 Campaign, an initiative designed to support the farming community during the challenging winter months. This unique campaign invites the public to nominate a deserving farmer who could benefit from the use of a Blaney Forager X10 bale unroller, free of charge, from December 2024 through March 2025.

"At Blaney Agri, we recognise the dedication and hard work that goes into farming, especially during the winter," said Sean Blaney, Chief Engineer and Owner of Blaney Agri.

"Through the #BlaneyCommunity Campaign, we aim to make a real difference by providing a farmer with equipment that can reduce

labour, improve feeding efficiency, and contribute to healthier, more productive livestock."

About the Forager X10

The Forager X10 is a self-loading, round bale feeder that simplifies feeding silage to livestock while maximising efficiency. This one-tractor (or telehandler) solution allows farmers to self-load, feed, and control silage output directly from the tractor seat, eliminating the need for labor-intensive handling. With an adjustable output, the Forager X10 helps ensure that livestock receive fresh, palatable silage each day, which can improve intake and daily liveweight gain.

TheARION600and500range-thenewmid-rangestandard Assistingyou,whereveritisneeded. Oneofourmostpopulartractorshasjustgotevenbetterthankstoahostofnew functionsdevelopedbyourengineersinconsultationwithARIONdrivers. Afterall,theyworkinthefieldeveryday,sotheyknowexactlywhattheywant. https://www.claas.co.uk

Designed to save farmers time and reduce physical strain, the Forager X10 exemplifies Blaney's commitment to innovative agricultural solutions that support productive and sustainable farming practices.

How the #BlaneyCommunity Campaign Works

The #BlaneyCommunity Campaign is open to residents in the UK and Ireland. Nominations can be submitted through the Blaney Agri website by completing a simple form, providing the nominee's name, contact details, and a short explanation of why they would benefit from the Forager X10 this winter.

Nominations close onSunday, 1st December 2024, and Blaney Agri will announce the selected recipient in mid-December. The chosen farmer will have free access to the Forager X10 until the end of March 2025, allowing them to experience its benefits during the coldest, most demanding months.

Join the Campaign

"We invite everyone in the farming community to get involved by nominating a farmer who deserves this support," added Sean Blaney. "This initiative is our way of giving back and showing our appreciation for the resilience and dedication of farmers across the UK and Ireland."

To nominate a farmer or learn more about the campaign, visithttps://www.blaneyagri.com/ forager-x10-nominate-a-farmer/or call the Blaney Agri team on 0282 5872 801 (From Overseas: +44 2825 872 801).

K Duo strengthen KUHN’s regional support team

UHN Farm Machinery has strengthened its UK regional teams, appointing Will Cruse as an area sales manager covering the East of England, and Martin Little as bedding and feeding specialist for Northern England and Scotland.

The two additions will provide extra support to KUHN’s dealer network in key areas. Will is from a family arable farm in Hertfordshire and spent several years as a product manager for a well-known tractor and combine manufacturer. The East of England area includes Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and parts of Hertfordshire and Lincolnshire.

Will says: “I was excited to get back into the industry after a short break, and working with KUHN handling its East of England area to support dealers and customers was an ideal opportunity. I enjoy travelling to meet dealers and customers, helping to show the benefits of new KUHN machinery and the backup and support we can offer.”

Martin Little joins KUHN as feeding and bedding specialist for the North of England and Scotland. After learning his trade as an agricultural engineer for Rickerbys in 1992, working on KUHN machinery, Martin moved into sales support with Carrs at Annan and, most recently, Dalgliesh at Lockerbie. His new role at KUHN, which also includes the hedgecutter portfolio, feels like a natural progression from dealer to manufacturer.

“I have worked with KUHN machinery for many years, both as an engineer and in sales, and I’ve always believed in the product and the brand. I think this is a key point when it comes to discussing requirements with customers and supporting dealers. I’ve always enjoyed working with KUHN equipment and my extensive product knowledge should bode well for helping the 14 dealers in my network.”

Both Will and Martin began their new roles earlier this year.

Martin has been involved with KUHN machinery since 1992.

Will joins KUHN to support the dealer network across the East of England.

A European debut for next-generation Case IH combines at EIMA: AFseries takes Axial-Flow principle into new capacity class

new capacity class is being added to the Case IH Axial-Flow range for 2024, with the European launch of the new AF9 and AF10 combines. They share a ground-up new design providing significant capacity advances from front to rear, while maintaining the simple yet effective Axial-Flow principles of singlerotor threshing and separation.

The AF9 and AF10 launch completes the Case IH 'Year of the Combine' that began with the AxialFlow 160 and 260 series release. Case IH now offers the industry's largest line of single-rotor combines, staying true to a system it pioneered in 1977.

More power, wider headers, enhanced intake

The new models feature key components designed to minimize total cost of harvesting for the largest farming and contracting operations. The AF10 is powered by a 775hp FPT Cursor 16 engine, while the AF9 features an FPT Cursor 13 producing 635hp. Both units are mounted lengthways for simplicity of drive and efficiency of power transmission, with engine rpm when harvesting lowered from 2,100 to 1,900rpm, boosting fuel efficiency. Service intervals have been extended from 600hrs/one year to 750 hrs/two years, with additional operating cost benefits.

AF10 grain tank capacity is 20,000 litres – the joint largest in the industry for reduced unloading downtime – with a 210 l/sec unloading rate, while comparable figures for the AF9 are 16,000 litres and 159 l/sec. There are four unloading auger length options to match different header widths, while a pivoting spout aids even unloading, and cross-auger shutoff ensures the unloading auger is emptied if part-unloading the tank.

A half-rate unloading shut-off feature on the AF10

enables easy topping-off of loads. Up front, the AF9 can be fitted with draper headers up to 15.2m (50ft). To match the additional capacity of the AF10, units up to 18.6m (61ft) are possible. These wider widths not only allow operators to exploit the full capacity of these combines, but also mean every field is harvested in fewer passes, boosting productivity. Beyond their power, cutting capacity and grain holding ability, multiple other advances ensure the new models make their mark at the very top of the combine sector. The feeder house, which has a lift capacity of up to 6,800kg to accommodate the wider headers, is also significantly wider to match the greater crop intake. Standard lateral tilt and front face adjustment aid precise contour-following and assist with header attachment. The feeder chains are powered by a fixed or optional PowerPlus CVT drive, while a patented Synchronized Feed System (SFS) 450mm lateral feeding rotor smooths crop transfer to the threshing element that leads the Axial-Flow rotor.

Completely new AFXL Axial-Flow rotor

The new 762mm-diameter AFXL rotor is the longest in the industry, at 3.67m, boosting crop flow, fuel efficiency and straw quality, while minimising grain damage and maximising separation. Total threshing and separation area is up to 5.1m2. The AFXL rotor features six modules rather than four, fitted with 40 standard raspbars, 12 spiked raspbars and eight HX raspbars. HX units work in a stepped area of the rotor cage and blend the spiked raspbars' height with the standard units' profile, with a steeper sidewall angle that speeds crop flow between the threshing and separation zones. Remote vane adjustment allows for instant response to changing conditions. Driven by PowerPlus CVT, in the event of a blockage the rotor can – simultaneously with the SFS – be easily reversed from the cab.

New Cross-Flow Cleaning Plus

The new Cross-Flow Cleaning Plus system has the capacity to match the crop volume that comes into these new combines at their full capability. At 8.76m2, the twin-element system offers a total cleaning area that is the largest in the industry, supported by a larger Cross-Flow fan. The new cleaning shoe features two automatic crossdistribution control mechanisms, one on the grainpan and one on the upper sieves, guaranteeing an even cleaning shoe load in all

conditions and allowing side-slope compensation of up to 28%.

Chopper options include a MagnaCut integrated unit for corn/maize, beans and dry wheat straw, with spreading capability up to 13.5m/45ft. A MagnaChop option suits users working with higher straw volumes and seeking a finer chop. Spreading at up to 18m/61ft, it includes remote speed selection, remote chop/drop selection and remote engagement of counterknives, with radar-equipped hydraulically-powered spreaders.

More operator comfort and enhanced precision technology

The revised cab interior features a comprehensive suite of precision technologies, including dual Pro 1200 displays to simplify machine management and enable easy monitoring and operation of multiple functions through customisable displays, plus Harvest Command™ combine automation and Row Guide Pro™. In addition, the introduction of Connectivity Included* enables seamless transmission of yield and machine data directly to the new Case IH FieldOps™ app, offering farmers a complete data management solution for their operations.

There are also more in-cab control features for full from-the-seat operation of less commonly-used functions, including remote feeder and rotor reverse procedures, rotor gear selection, chopper

speed selection, unloading speed choice and chopper knife engage/disengagement. Elsewhere, proven Case IH technology features include Harvest Command automation that continuously adjusts settings according to the operator's desired focus on grain saving, grain quality or throughput. Comfort-wise, upgraded seating includes swivelling, air conditioning, heating and massage features.

*Connectivity Included will be active for the useful life of the PCM/PCMF modem. If themodem is no longer capable of receiving current cellular services, any modemhardware upgrades are not the responsibility of Case IH. Acceptance of End UserLicense Agreement (EULA) is required.

Show celebrates Scammell’s role in Britain’s industrial past

Commercial vehicles have played a tremendous role in Britain’s industrial past – and a great selection were on display at the Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show on 9-10 November.

One manufacturer which was pivotal in the early to mid20th Century is Scammell, which developed an articulated six-wheeled low-loader after WW1 and went on to produce the three-wheeled Mechanical Horse to replace horses in rail, postal and other delivery applications. This evolved into the Scammell Scarab, with the single front wheel offering exceptional manoeuvrability and the rounded steel cab providing driver comfort.

Matt Baker bought his Scarab in 2002 – originally built in 1967 for use at Mersey docks moving goods around the harbour, it had more recently found use on classic film sets. “When my friend said it was for sale I took his hand off,” says Matt. “It was already restored and runningmy friend Tim is doing up an ex-Cadbury Scarab so while he was doing that I restored the trailer for him.”

At the time, Matt was volunteering at Great Central Railway in Leicestershire, so he repainted the Scarab into British Railway’s grey livery to exhibit at the Mountsorrel & Rothley Heritage Community Centre. This year, he started volunteering at the Newark Air Museum, where the six-tonne vehicle, named ‘Lilibet’ now resides, wearing its new RAF livery, carrying the markings of 54 Maintenance Unit, 43 Group Maintenance Command,

which was based at RAF Winthorpe in the 1950s.

“The Newark showground is on the old RAF Winthorpe airbase, which was used to repair aircraft, and Scarabs like this would have moved spares and components from Newark Castle railway station to the airbase,” says Matt.

The original Wheeled Horse was designed to replicate the manoeuvrability of horse-drawn carts, and the Scarab can turn, with a trailer, 360 degrees within its own length. “In 1952 Scammell advertised it as requiring less maintenance than a horse, but being less good for the roses.”

The 1967 model came with a 3.3-litre Perkins engine, while the 18-foot covered box trailer was built for British Railways in 1957 and features the patented automatic coupler, which allowed a vehicle to automatically connect the brakes and lights for seamless operation.

“I’ve done a lot of re-enactments with it, for example at Great Central Railway, but this is the first show I’ve done,” says Matt, who makes train axles in his day job. “If we didn’t keep them and restore them then we’d lose them.”

• Save the date – next year’s event will be on the 8th and 9th November 2025

• For more information visit: www.newarkvintagetractorshow.com

Two-seater tractor claims modified class win

People have modified tractors to suit their needs since the advent of farm machinery – and this year a new class recognised the most innovative designs at the Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show.

Proving that necessity is the mother of invention, the winning vehicle – a two-seater Massey Ferguson 135 - was designed and built by Alan Hopkins for his son David. “It was my uncle’s tractor and when he died he left it to his daughter,” explains Alan. “She had no room for it, so we bought it seven or eight years ago.”

right-hand side, and moving the pedals. “It’s got two steering wheels, but the one on the left is a dummy, for David to hold.”

Having always been interested in classic tractors, cars and motorbikes, Alan knew a thing or two about restoring them, and enjoyed taking part in tractor runs with David. “David was born with glaucoma and although he used to be able to drive, his eyesight is deteriorating, and I wondered how I could still take him on tractor runs and for him to be part of it.”

Having retired from his job in maintenance engineering, when Covid hit David had the ideal opportunity to spend time restoring and modifying the 135, which was built in 1972. “It was in a poor state so needed doing up anyway,” he says. Stripping it down completely, he set about widening the rear end to fit two seats in the cab, adjusting the steering so it could be driven from the

The whole job took about two years, with the pedals and steering proving the most difficult tasks. “I tried to do some internet research to get some tips, but nobody seems to have done it before,” explains David. “So I made it up as I went along.” As well as the physical changes, he installed higher gearing to reduce stress on the engine during tractor runs. “It will do about 30mph and it means you’re not revving the guts out of it to keep up. It’s quite good on the road – it’s just like driving a car with everything on one side.”

Hailing from Comber in County Down, David and Alan visited the Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show three years ago, and when the modified class was announced decided it was time to come across and exhibit the 135. “It’s attracted a lot of attention,” says David. At one point people were three-deep looking at it.

With 11 tractors at home, including three Grey Fergusons and three 135s, Alan knew that it would be relatively easy to get the parts for the modified machine – and has even been asked to convert tractors for other enthusiasts. “I said no – although it would be easier to do it now I’ve done it once. To my knowledge it’s the only two-seater 135 out there.”

Mass-ey gathering of 135s, all with a story to tell

Historic tractors have an allure all of their own –marrying social history, engineering achievements and visual appeal. And few inventors have driven more change than Harry Ferguson, who pioneered such developments as four-wheel drive and the hydraulic three-point linkage which still feature on modern tractors today.

Celebrating 60 years of the ‘Red Giants’ 100 series, the Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show brought together an incredible 203 135s - a model which sold more than any others in the series and remains in use across the world today.

One family which has well and truly caught the bug of collecting and restoring Massey Ferguson tractors is the Evans family from Retford, Nottinghamshire. Farming 1500 acres of carrots and parsnips for Freshgro, you might expect them to be modern machinery fans. But it’s the historic tractors which have had a place in their hearts since Matt’s first tractor – bought when he was 12 years old - won best restoration by an under-25year-old at the show in 2015.

Martin and Susan Evans, along with their sons Matt and Lewis and daughter Danielle, now have over 40 classic tractors in various states of restoration, and brought eight 135s, a 6499 MF and a Ford 6810 to the show. “We buy them in any condition – we prefer the worse ones as we like to do the mechanical work on them,” says Matt. “The engines are relatively simple to do – we like rescuing them.”

Lewis has just finished restoring his latest 135, which was rescued from the grasps of the scrap man several years ago. “I think the 135s are the best tractors; they’re simple to work on, have a foot throttle and hand brake, and plenty of power,” he says. “They’re comfortable to drive, with light steering – I put a different gearbox in this one so it does 30mph.”

After a complete overhaul and engine rebuild, Lewis was keen to finish it in time for the show –and displayed it alongside ‘Phill’ – another 135 awaiting restoration and named due to the amount of filler holding the rusty body together. “We bought it in 2017 and it starts on the button,” explains Martin. “It spent its working life on farms in Pembrokeshire, mainly on potatoes, and has numerous farm modifications and repairs – even the baler twine repairs have been upgraded to cable ties in places!

“These tractors are survivors and utterly encapsulate how many generations have worked producing food for the nation’s table,” he adds. “It’s what these tractors are all about – even in this state you can still run them and make a living with them.”

It’s not just bringing the tractors back to life that the family enjoy – it’s the social side of historic shows, road runs and ploughing matches that attracts them, too. “The people are really friendly and helpful – we’ve got a group of about eight young lads who get together,” says Lewis. “There’s always a bit of banter, and when we camp we have a few beers – it’s a good laugh.”

And the history of the machines is interesting, too. “We bought ‘Evan’s’ from north Wales – it was built in 1965 and its sister is still on the same farm,” says Matt. “The previous owner was Evan Jones, a real character and utterly fearless tractor driver.” Ploughing slopes that had never been ploughed before, Evan rolled the tractor not once, but twice, resulting in it losing its shell wings in favour of angular ones built by the local blacksmith. “It’s spent the last 25 years in a shed, and this is the first time it’s been back on its feet.”

There’s a financial element to restoring tractors –of course it can be costly, but it can generate a profit, too. “I funded my Master’s degree by buying and selling Grey Ferguson parts,” says Matt, who’s a qualified vegetable and arable agronomist. “We bought ‘Covid’ (another 135) as a wreck from Plymouth for £1,000. We dragged it out of a hedge and it started straight up. We’ve done a lot of mechanical work, put on new tyres and body panels, and it’s worth about £5,000 now.”

But it’s unlikely to be for sale, instead being put to work and enjoyed on the farm. “We do working days, ploughing matches, mowing and baling hay,” he adds. “We get them out as often as we can, in all conditions – they’ve all got a story to tell.”

Tractor Show Spectacular Roaring Back Bigger and Better for Spring 2025

Grab your calendar because there’s a springtime spectacular on the horizon that’s guaranteed to banish the winter blues! A firm favourite with fans of farming, trucking, classic models and amazing machinery alike, the Tractor World Show is all set for Malvern’s Three Counties Showground on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd February 2025.

This years’ show is bigger and better than ever, offering more space, facilities, exhibitors, trade stands, displays, demonstrations and

bargains than ever before, all included in the admission price. This includes taking over the showground’s brand new Kildare Hall, bringing the number of spacious exhibition halls to four for the very first time, plus acres of outdoor hardstanding.

They’ll be hundreds of vintage, veteran, new and classic tractors, vans, stationary engines, classic commercials, lorries, trucks, Land Rovers and vintage vehicles, historic farm machinery and agricultural heritage displays. Don’t forget the wide range of horticultural and gardening equipment, including classic and

modern ride-on mowers.

Open from 9am each day, Saturday sees specialist agricultural auctioneers H J Pugh & Co presiding over the popular live auction. With over 1,000 expected lots including over 100 tractors plus machinery, parts, tools and spares, it’s a must-attend for sellers, buyers and seekers alike. Sunday welcomes the brand new Outdoor Vintage Autojumble, dedicated to “strictly second hand” motoring themed bygones, collectables and memorabilia, so get scouring that shed, or making that list!

Whether you’re seeking tools and garage equipment, tyres, workwear, clothing, books, gifts and toys you’ll be spoiled for choice at a wide range of trade stands. Take a break from shopping and browse the displays and exhibits, and trade tips and stories with fellow enthusiasts at the club stands.

If “small is beautiful”, you’ll be sporting a big grin at 2025’s expanded “miniature

model” section and if size matters, why not show off your own pride and joy at Sunday’s popular Classic Commercial Drive-in Day?

Easy to find with brown signs from all major routes, you’ll find ample free parking, disabled, coach and weekend camping facilities. With two heated restaurants, coffee lounge, numerous outdoor catering stands and onsite cashpoint, you’ll stay comfortable, refreshed and open to temptation, whatever the weather.

Great for gifting, buying a Christmas present or treating yourself, discounted tickets are on sale now atwww.tractorworldshow.co.ukDogs on leads and accompanied children under 15 are so welcome, they all get free entry!

Find all show details atwww.tractorworldshow. co.ukand “Tractor World Show” on Facebook.

Case IH Quadtrac 715 takes Tractor of the Year 2025 prize

The Quadtrac 715, the new top model in the Case IH tractor range, has won the Tractor of the Year 2025 HighPower Category for models of 300hp+, on the first day of EIMA 2024 in Bologna, Italy.

The latest Quadtrac development, a heavy-duty mechanical suspension with hydraulic cushioning bringing additional comfort and productivity benefits to all MY2025 models, has already been recognized with an EIMA Technical Innovation Award. Bigger drive wheels maximize power transmission and provide more lug engagement, while a larger footprint boosts traction and reduces soil compaction. This is aided by double-axis midrollers that equalize pressure across each track, eliminating point loading. Greater comfort allows operation at higher field speeds, enhancing work rates. Service time is minimized through automatic track tensioning, elimination of undercarriage greasing points, clear-view oil caps and maintenance-free bushings and pins.

"We're pleased to see this recognition of our engineering team's hard work in devising new capabilities for the Quadtrac that support large farms in maximising efficiency," says Marco Lombardi, Head of Case IH and STEYR brands EMEA.

"As the originators of the four-tracked articulated tractor, we continue to develop this iconic design to meet the evolving challenges of large-scale agriculture. This is the most productive tractor Case IH has ever built, providing new levels of

power, traction and hydraulic output that will help owners do more in less time and so drive down the total cost of ownership."

The pan-European judging panel of farm machinery journalists based their assessments on areas including engine performance, fuel efficiency and emission standards, transmission smoothness and reliability. Designed to help the largest farm businesses cover ground as efficiently as possible, while minimizing fuel use, labour hours and soil compaction, the new Quadtrac 715 features an FPT Cursor 16 TST twin-stage-turbo engine. It produces 778hp at 1,900 rpm and maximum torque of 3,356Nm at 1,400rpm, with maintenance-free after-treatment to meet Stage V emissions regulations. A PowerDrive powershift transmission minimises torque loss, while a Multicontrollermounted right-hand powershuttle switch controls driving direction in combination with a left-hand steering column-mounted shuttle.

Other innovations on the latest Quadtrac include configurable buttons allowing operators to set up controls to suit preferences, AccuTurn – a fully automatic headland turn system – an automatic trailed implement steering lock to prevent damage when reversing, and up to 428 l/min of oil flow to match demanding implements. Comfort and convenience features include automatic pivoting steps and 76,620 lumens total output from a new lighting package. The new Quadtrac 715 also features AccuGuide auto steering and works with the new Case IH FieldOps™ monitoring and management app.

BRM Ltd.

Brian Robinson Machinery Ltd, East Cowton, Northallerton, DL7 0DX

Phone : 01325 378552

www.brianrobinson.co.uk

Cooks Midlands Ltd.

Unit 10 Horsepool Grange Elliotts Lane, Markfield

LE67 9TW

Phone : 01530 249191 www.cooksmidlands.co.uk

Stubbings Bros Ltd.

Ventnor PO38 2JN

Phone : 01983 551443

www.stubbings-bros.co.uk

Ramsay & Jackson Ltd

Knowehead Works, Mauchline

KA5 6EY

Phone : 01290 550329 www.ramjack.co.uk

Lister Wilder

Ashford 01233 619 290

Reading 01189 884 888

Bibury 01285 708 234

Bristol 01454 807 850 www.listerwilder.co.uk

RVW Pugh, Mellington, Churchstoke, Montgomery Powys. SY15 6TQ

Phone : 01588 620545 www.rvwpugh.co.uk

D.A. Forgie

Lisburn, BT27 5QB

Phone : 02892677736 www.forige.com

RVW Pugh, Oakwood Park, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire CW4 8AX

Phone : 01477 533560 www.rvwpugh.co.uk

CJ Leonard & Sons Ltd

Clevestone Works, Guisborough

TS14 6PX

Phone : 01287 633842

www.cjleonard.co.uk

D.A. Forgie

Co Londonderry, BT49 9DW

Phone : 02877722375 www.forgie.com

TR Machinery, Burnside Business Park, Market Drayton, Shropshire

TF9 3UX

Phone : 01630 653801

www.trmachinery.co.uk

Or scan below:

ustomers can now purchase the exclusive NIGHT EDITION with enhanced optics for ARION and AXION tractors. The special limited-edition model release continue the CLAAS ‘Challenge Accepted’ campaign; focusing on strong performance, design and price.

C Stunning optics combined with strong internal qualities: the NIGHT EDITION for ARION and AXION tractors from CLAAS

Of all farm machines, the tractor has the strongest emotional connection with the driver. After all, most operators spend from a few hundred to over a thousand hours a year in the cab - and their machinery expectations are getting more and more discerning. Design and

cab equipment featuring high-quality materials and opportunities for customisation are becoming increasingly important for driver wellbeing, and for identifying 'their' tractor.

CLAAS has responded to these market demands with the new NIGHT EDITION for the continuously variable, split-power ARION 550 CMATIC and 660 CMATIC, plus the AXION 830 CMATIC, 870 CMATIC, 930 CMATIC and 960 CMATIC.

Stylish inside and out

The NIGHT EDITION features custom grey paint on the rims, roof and side engine panels. The CLAAS logo on the side of the bonnet is white on a custom grey background. The NIGHT EDITION lettering is prominently displayed on the side of the bonnet, while the emblem above the road light provides a sophisticated finishing touch to the external design.

Inside the cab, the NIGHT EDITION lettering is featured on both on the steering wheel badge and the floor mat. For added comfort, drivers can enjoy a first-class entertainment experience thanks to the in-built Apple CarPlay radio.

FOCUS ON YOUR STOCK

All orders received before 31/12/2024 will receive a FREE NUDGE

The TF350 Trailed Stock Feeder features fully galvanised allsteel construction & electronic operation with high visibility digital counter ensure the right amount of feed is dispensed, exactly where you want it with a large 300kg capacity.

Contact Your Dealer

Cornish Tractors

Timberlake, Week St Mary Devon. EX22 6XG

Phone: 01288 341326

www.cornishtractors.co.uk

The Tractor Shop

Bolingbroke Road, Louth Lincolnshire, LN11 0WA

Phone: 01507 600051

www.thetractorshop.org.uk

Yorkshire ATV

Unit 22 West Lane, Baildon Shipley, BD17 7QD

Phone: 07701 070 156

www.yorkshireatv.com

Trailed Feeder

Clwyd Agricultural

Terfyn Buildings, Caerwys Road, Rhyl, LL18 6HT

Phone: 01745 571018

www.clwydagri.co.uk

Halls of Bromyard

Tenbury Road, Bromyard HR7 4LL

Phone: 01885 489199

www.hallsofbromyard.com

J Bourne Tractors

Valley Farm, Thorncliffe Rd, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 8TG

Phone: 07915 242942

www.jbournetractors.co.uk

CJ Keitch

Dunkeswell Airfield, Honiton, EX14 4LH

Phone: 01404 891796

www.cjkeitch.co.uk

Mike Pryce & Son

Greenfields Farm, Four Crosses, Llanymynech, Powys, SY22 6RF

Phone: 01691 830308

www.mikeprycemachinery.com

West Coast Trailers

Lingfield Building, Hallywood Rd, Workington, CA14 4JR

Phone: 07725 653398

www.westcoasttrailers.co.uk

Polaris unveils new Sportsman XP 1000 S LE model and RANGER 570 upgrade for 2025

Adding to its legacy of value and quality to customers, Polaris Off Road today unveiled further updates to its 2025 lineup, featuring new upgrades that are now available as standard on RANGER and Sportsman models, as well as a new, special-edition colour option available on the top-ofthe-range Sportsman ATV.

POLARIS SPORTSMAN

In addition to the recentlyannounced Sportsman 570 lineup for 2025, Polaris now unveils the 2025 refresh for its top-spec sport ATV - the Sportsman XP 1000 Swhich now includes the introduction of Turf Mode on tractor-homologated models for easier manoeuvrability, as well as performance improvements to the rear sway bar and drag links to increase durability.

• 2025 Sportsman XP 1000 S - Steely Blue (MD / T3a / T3b / L7e)

• NEW 2025 Sportsman XP 1000 S LE - Lava Orange Metallic (MD / T3a / T3b / L7e)

Polaris introduces the all-new Sportsman XP 1000 S LE model in a striking new Lava Orange Metallic colour, featuring advanced Walker Evans Racing Shocks so riders can stay out longer with less fatigue and turf mode (tractor & L7e homologations) for easier manoeuvrability.

The Sportsman XP 1000 S takes off-road capability to new heights with the industry’s only 144cm wide stance that delivers superior stability, as well as exceptional torque thanks to its powerful 952cc ProStar engine, ensuring a confident ride even in the most challenging conditions. Key features include high-clearance dual Aarm suspension with 29cm front and 35.5cm rear travel, 27" Duro Powergrip II tyres for optimal traction, and a high-strength frame engineered for maximum durability. All XP 1000 S models feature electric power steering (EPS) for less rider fatigue, on-demand all-wheel drive (AWD) for extra traction when it is needed most, as well as an engine braking system (EBS) and active descent control (ADC) for a more confident ride. Riders can also choose between three ride modes - performance (PERF), standard (STND), and work (WORK) - offering customisable throttle response. Performance mode offers a more aggressive feel, accelerating harder with less throttle movement, whilst work mode provides a smoother throttle response than standard mode.

• 2025 Sportsman XP 1000 lineup

• 2025 Sportsman XP 1000 - Blue Slate Metallic Smoke (L7e)

• 2025 Sportsman XP 1000 Touring - Onyx Black (L7e)

• 2025 Scrambler XP 1000 lineup

• 2025 Scrambler XP 1000 - Storm Gray (L7e)

• 2025 Scrambler XP 1000 S - Lifted Lime Pearl (T3a / T3b / L7e)

POLARIS RANGER

The performance-meets-value mid-size Polaris Ranger 570 has been providing unstoppable utility performance for more than a decade, thanks to its reliable and powerful Prostar 570cc DOHC engine, and unmatched versatility with a 227kg rear bed capacity, 560kg towing capacity, on-demand all-wheel drive and Turf mode to master any job - big or small. With its compact size at just 142cm wide, tight turning radius for agile navigation, and over 25cm of ground clearance, the Ranger 570 can go anywhere.

For 2025, all RANGER 570 models now feature the integration of Electric Power Steering (EPS) as standard, including the base model. These enhancements continue Polaris’s commitment to delivering unmatched versatility and performance for unbeatable value.

2025 RANGER Mid-Size lineup

• 2025 RANGER SP 570 EPS - Sage Green (MD / T1a / T1b)

• 2025 RANGER SP 570 EPS Nordic Pro EditionBlack Pearl (T1a / T1b)

2025 MULE Pro-FX unveiled

(F: 279 mm; R: 256 mm) contributes to the increased ground clearance as well as ride comfort.

For the driver, Kawasaki's high-grade electric power steering (EPS) system is speed sensitive, offering light steering effort at low speed, while reducing assistance as vehicle speed increases to ensure responsive steering.

As befits a high spec machine, electrically "selectable" 2WD/4WD and rear differential lock allow easy changing between drive systems to suit changing terrain and application plus the dual-mode rear differential provides maximum traction when locked and minimises ground disturbance when unlocked.

When go turns to slow, front and rear disc brakes ensure strong, sure stopping power. The hydraulic disc system offers predictable performance, delivering brake power that matches input at the brake pedal. And with a load capacity of 453 kg (1,000 lbs) plus towing ability of 907 kg (2,000 lbs), the MULE Pro-FX is built for work – hard work!

The MULE SX 4x4 rides on 24 inch tyres and offers selectable 2WD and 4WD, with CVT drive 2 speed auto, reverse and rear differential lock. Kawasaki

PRO styling, tilting steering wheel and the dependable OHV 410cc engine, 181kg load and 500kg towing capacity, make this a true go anywhere vehicle.

Survey shows farmer commitment to sustainability

Astudy of over 500 farmers from five countries* has highlighted the need, and desire, for agriculture to support sustainable farming practices.

Technology and tyre giant Continental, together with market research institute Innofact AG, commissioned the study in 2023. The results show that the farmers questioned ranked environmentally friendly agriculture as the number one factor that will determine the medium-term success of their business. The environment and sustainability of agriculture was also placed ahead of safety and digitalisation.

“The recent effect of climate change on agricultural productivity has led farmers to cite sustainable agricultural techniques as vital to the success of their farm systems. Almost two-thirds of respondents (around 63 percent) experienced climate change and its negative effect on farm profitability,” says Continental’s Tom Godwin.

More than two-thirds of the farmers surveyed (around 69 percent) considered soil quality to be a critical factor for sustainable agriculture and the economic success of a farm, whilst a larger 79 percent considered it important to work for a farm that is committed to the environment and proactively addresses the issue of sustainability.

“It shouldn’t come as any surprise that farmers want to see sustainable methods championed.

The key is making sustainable options more attractive and affordable. 78 percent of respondents said they are using sustainable alternatives to conventional pesticides, and 82 percent believe in the importance of using energy efficient technologies, which proves their commitment,” adds Mr Godwin.

The use of energy efficient technologies extended to agricultural machinery, including vehicles that feature sustainable drive systems or are lighter weight to be more fuel efficient.

“53 percent of farmers see machinery that is more environmentally friendly as important to sustainable food production. This was reflected in the farmers’ preference to use machinery that is less damaging to soils. 62 percent of farmers also referenced the durability of equipment as key to upholding sustainable practices,” says Mr Godwin.

When asked about investments, 35 percent of those questioned referenced that sustainability would be an important consideration in their choice of what to invest in next.

“The results, combined, speak for themselves. Farmers believe in making decisions that will enable them, and the generations that follow, to farm in both responsible and sustainable ways. The future of farming depends on this, and Continental has pledged to support it with manufacturing techniques and technologies that will help bring new, more sustainable options to agriculture,” concludes Mr Godwin.

New study reveals alarming lack of tyre safety knowledge among UK drivers

Ashocking new study has revealed an alarming lack of tyre safety knowledge, indicating that a significant number of motorists are putting lives at risk.

Among the study’s* key findings, released as part of Tyre Safety Month, was that fewer than a fifth (19 per cent) of those surveyed check their tyre tread depth every month, which is the recommended frequency.

Just as worrying in the research commissioned by Anyline, a global leader in AI-powered mobile data capture and insights, and TyreSafe, is that over a third of drivers rely on a simple and subjective visual inspection of their tyres, rather than using a proper gauge, which only 29 per cent of drivers said they did.

Additionally, only 36 per cent knew the correct potential licence penalty for insufficient tread depth (3 points on their licence for each illegal tyre).

However, on a positive note, more than half (54 per cent) would check their tyres more frequently if they had a mobile app which could measure tread depth, an area which Anyline is spearheading with its AI-powered scanning technology.

partner with TyreSafe on this project to better understand what drivers really know about tyre maintenance and where education and technology can be applied in the future to make our roads safer.”

The issue of tyre safety was recently underlined in the Department for Transport’s latest ‘Reported Road Casualties Great Britain’ annual report for 2023, which showed a 29 per cent year-on-year increase in killed or seriously injured (KSI) casualties linked to tyre related incidents.

Lukas Kinigadner, CEO and co-founder at Anyline, said: “Defective and worn tyres contribute to too many unnecessary injuries and deaths.

“We believe that many of those casualties could be avoided if drivers knew more about their tyres and had the right tools and technology to make informed decisions themselves.

“That’s why it was important for Anyline to

Meanwhile, another key finding from the research was that misconceptions about fines also persist, with many believing the penalty is lower than the actual potential £2,500.

Stuart Lovatt, chair at TyreSafe, said: “This new research provides crucial insights into UK drivers’ understanding and practices around tyre safety.

“It is a critical resource for those looking to enhance road safety by addressing gaps in tyre maintenance practices among UK drivers, which it would appear needs even greater attention.”

With computer vision and AI-enabled technology, Anyline’s mobile scanning solutions allows tyre service centres, manufacturers, distributors and retailers to quickly capture tyre, automotive and customer information from any mobile device, helping customers make informed vehicle maintenance decisions.

For more information, visit www.anyline.com. To learn more about Tyre Safety Month, visit https:// www.tyresafe.org/campaigns/tyre-safety-month/

Tractor of the Year and BKT - together celebrating the best tractors set to revolutionize the farming industry

Anew and exciting edition of the Tractor of the Year, the international event celebrating the most innovative and sustainable tractors on the European market, concluded today its 26th edition. It was the fifth consecutive year that BKT consolidated its role as sponsor of the competition, supporting the promotion of advanced technologies and sustainable solutions aimed at improving the future of agriculture.

To meet the rising challenges of an everchanging market, Tractor of the Year 2025 came out this year with a completely revamped format by introducing new prize categories designed to meet the current industry needs. The selection process for TotY 2025 started in February 2024 through the evaluation of the candidates by 25 jurors, journalists from as many countries and representatives of the major European magazines about farming machinery. Later in June, the launch event "Let the Challenge Begin" was held in Milan, where the manufacturers presented their latest-generation tractors to the jury. In the months that followed, the jurors analyzed the technical specifications and performed field tests to evaluate the tractors’ performance.

The six award categories are designed to meet the specific needs of today's agriculture. The categories in which major manufacturers competed to win the 26th-edition award are: TotY HighPower for tractors with more than 300 horsepower, designed to recognize the growing relevance of high-power tractors; TotY MidPower dedicated to tractors between 150 and 280 horsepower, where versatility and power combine in perfect balance; TotY Utility reserved to multi-purpose tractors between 70 and 150 horsepower; TotY Specialized for tractors suitable for vineyards, orchards, and hilly and mountainous terrains; Sustainable TotY, which rewards the most innovative model from a sustainability viewpoint; and the new TotYBot category that is reserved to robotic tractors without cabins, a step towards agricultural robotization.

Today, in the setting of EIMA International 2024, the international agricultural machinery exhibition, the triumphant winners were proclaimed:

• TotY HighPower: Case IH Quadtrac 715

• TotY MidPower: Fendt 620 Vario DP

• TotY Utility: Steyr 4120 Plus

• TotY Specialized: Antonio Carraro Tony 8900 TRG

• Sustainable TotY: Fendt e107 Vario

• TotYBot: AgXeed 5.115T2

"This edition of TotY has once again highlighted the strength and dynamism of the agricultural sector, showing how innovation and sustainability have become increasingly central points in the European agricultural scenery," comments Lucia Salmaso, Managing Director of BKT Europe. "Not only do these new solutions respond to today's challenges, but they also lay the foundations for the agriculture of the future. We are excited to see how new technologies are creating a positive and sustainable impact in our industry, and our congratulations go to all participants and winners, who embody the values of our vision of progress."

"This edition of Tractor of the Year has once again demonstrated the extraordinary level of innovation and sustainability that our industry is able to achieve." - commented Fabio Zammaretti, President of Tractor of the Year"The winners represent the future of agriculture thanks to solutions that combine efficiency, power, and respect for the environment. We are proud to celebrate these achievements and heartfully thank the manufacturers, the 25 jurors, journalists from 25 different countries, and our sponsor BKT for their ongoing commitment to promoting modern and sustainable agriculture."

The latest edition of Tractor of the Year has thus ended inspiring manufacturers to push themselves beyond their limits by innovating tractors in both design and functionality. As the jury and the project continue to expand, the mission remains clear: to discover and highlight technologies and solutions advancing agricultural mechanization. In this context, BKT establishes itself as a strategic partner, promoting innovation and sustainability through cutting-edge tires. Not only does TotY celebrate innovation, but it also lays the foundations for a more efficient and more sustainable agricultural future.

Kumho Tyre UK joins TyreSafe’s Tyre Safety Month to drive awareness and inspire road safety habits

Kumho Tyre UK is supporting road safety charity Tyre Safe’s Tyre Safety Month 2024 campaign that aims to promote awareness amongst motorists of the importance of tyre safety.

This year’s ‘Caught in the ACT’ campaign is designed to inspire a significant behavioural shift among road users by promoting the importance of regular tyre maintenance, encouraging them to adopt proactive habits that enhance safety on the road.

With a focus on the essential checks of Air Pressure, Condition and Tread, TyreSafe aims to instil a routine of monthly tyre inspections, empowering drivers to take responsibility for their safety.

Tyre Safety Month also coincides with one of the busiest months in the MOT calendar, as an estimated 3.4 millionMOTs were expected in September and similar numbers projected for October and November, meaning this period presents an ideal opportunity to highlight the critical role tyres play in vehicle safety.

Government data shows that tyres account for one of the highest failure rates during MOT tests, especially for vehicles presented for their first test at three-years, with TyreSafe, via DVSA data, reporting that over two million MOT failures occur each year due to tyre defects, with one million classified as dangerous. Tyres have also been reported as the primary cause of MOT failures in the first seven years of a vehicle's life.

With this in mind, Kumho believes this is a crucial time to inform and educate drivers about the importance of regular tyre maintenance and replacement.

Richard Lyons, Managing Director of Kumho Tyre UK, comments: “Tyres consistently appear on MOT advisory notices, yet are often overlooked by drivers. We aim to play an active role in ensuring UK motorists’ mobility and safety by helping to raise awareness of tyre as safetycritical components.”

To be legal, tyres must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm across the central threequarters of the tread area. Those not meeting the minimum requirement will inevitably result in an MOT failure and could lead to fines of up to £2,500 per tyre and points on a driver’s licence.

Kumho is emphasising that tyres are the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road and urges drivers to ensure their tyres are in top condition by making regular maintenance and checks.

Worn, under-inflated or damaged tyres can significantly impair a vehicle’s handling, braking and overall safety, particularly in adverse weather conditions. With the cold and wet conditions of a British winter fast approaching, ensuring optimum tyre performance is essential.

Kumho’s range of tyres are designed to provide exceptional handling and braking performance on both wet and dry roads, with Ecsta HS52 in particular ranking highly in independent tests carried out in 2024.

Kumho also offers the Solus HA32, which is an all-season tyre designed for year-round performance, offering reliable traction in dry, wet and light snow conditions. Its directional tread pattern improves water drainage to reduce hydroplaning, while its high-density sipes provide better grip on slippery surfaces.

With a focus on comfort and quietness, the HA32 ensures a smooth ride and is built for durability. Additionally, it carries the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) certification, confirming its capability in severe snow, making it a versatile option for various climates.

For those preparing for particularly harsh winter conditions, the WinterCraft WP52 and WP72 patterns offer enhanced traction on icy and snowy roads, ensuring optimal safety throughout the colder months.

Richard continued: “The MOT extension granted during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the disconnection between MOT testing and regular servicing, with many motorists deferring essential maintenance. We urge the industry to take this busy period as an opportunity to remind drivers of the importance of coupling MOTs with comprehensive vehicle servicing, especially tyre checks.”

Isuzu UK is proud to announce its continued support as the Headline Sponsor of the prestigious Federation of Master Builders (FMB) Master Builder Awards 2025. This marks the fourth time Isuzu has partnered with the FMB for these highly anticipated awards, dating back to 2019.

The Master Builder Awards shine a spotlight on the UK’s most talented tradespeople and construction projects across all scales and budgets—from house extensions and small renovations to commercial builds and brand-new homes. Once again, Isuzu UK will provide its latest awardwinning Isuzu D-Max as the grand prize for the coveted 2025 Master Builder of the Year award winner.

George Wallis, Head of Marketing at Isuzu UK, commented on the renewed partnership: "We’re thrilled to once again team up with the Federation of Master Builders for their 2025 Master Builder Awards. This long-standing partnership perfectly aligns with our ethos of durability, craftsmanship, reliability and professionalism. Just like a master builder who takes pride in every detail of their work, the Isuzu D-Max is built to tackle any job, no matter how tough. We can’t wait to see who will cement their place as the Master Builder of the Year and pick-up the 2025 top prize!”

Entries for the 2025 awards officially opened on Tuesday, 29th October 2024, and all FMB members are invited to participate at no additional cost, as part of their membership benefits. The entry deadline is set for 10th January 2025.

The national Master Builder Awards ceremony will be held at the stunning Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester on 26th September 2025. TV presenter Nick Knowles will host the event, where the overall Master Builder of the Year will be announced and awarded the Isuzu D-Max.

Brian Berry, Chief Executive at Federation of Master Builders, added: “It’s fantastic to once again be partnering with Isuzu, and for the fourth time running they are recognising the hard work and dedication that goes into being a Master Builder with an amazing prize of a new D-Max pick-up. We’re looking forward to seeing another great builder win the ultimate prize, and we wish all of our members the best of luck.”

The Federation of Master Builders represents the heart of the UK’s construction industry, supporting small and medium-sized building firms. The Master Builder Awards celebrate exceptional craftsmanship, superior customer service, and outstanding building projects, making this partnership a perfect fit for Isuzu UK and its rugged, reliable D-Max range.

Isuzu is proud to announce the first two wins for its pick-up in 2025. D-Max has been named the ‘Best Range’ and ‘Best Back-Up’ by Overlander 4x4 Magazine, recognising the Pick-Up Professional’s commitment to delivering an outstanding offering for its customers.

Receiving four awards in 2024, the Isuzu D-Max is carrying the momentum into 2025 and emerging as a frontrunner in the light commercial vehicle industry.

‘Best Range’

Isuzu D-Max range offers solutions to practical and lifestyle requirements, with its versatile and indefatigable reputation culminating in the award. From the hardwearing Utility trim level, through the adaptable All-Purpose DL20 and DL40 models, to the rangetopping V-Cross, Isuzu offer tangible solutions to a myriad of business and leisure requirements.

options such as automatic transmission and rear diff-lock from the Utility model up and its outstanding range of options and accessories, specifically thanks to its alliance with ARB.”

‘Best Back-Up’

Regarding the second award win for Isuzu UK, Kidd continued: “No other pick-up manufacturer’s customers are as overwhelmingly positive about their ownership experience and that of their interactions with dealers.”

Affirming the exceptional reputation that Isuzu dealers have amassed for the quality of service the network offers throughout the purchase and aftersales process, the Pick-Up Professionals have ensured an unmatched level of aftercare. Its 5-year/ 125,000-mile warranty and five years of full UK breakdown cover including local recovery, roadside, and home assistance provide customers further peace of mind.

With the range-wide 1-tonne payload and 3.5tonne towing capacity, and abundant off-road features including shift-on-the-fly 4WD, Hill Decent Control, and rigid ladder frame chassis; the entire D-Max range retains its workhorse DNA.

Isuzu UK have also partnered with Arctic Trucks to create the D-Max AT35, complete with 35” tyres, lifted Bilstein suspension, and wheel arch extensions resulting in an imposing presence and ultimate capability.

The scale of accessory options further showcases the Pick-Up Professionals’ ability to tailor the DMax to its customer’s individual needs. This is typified by the recent inception of ARB Hubs embedded in selected Isuzu dealerships, enabling staff to provide expert guidance on the Australian outdoor accessory manufacturer’s product range, and offer exclusive ARB discounts.

Editor at Overlander 4x4, Alan Kidd, stated: “Isuzu offers a well-balanced range, the availability of key

Commenting on the two award wins, Managing Director at Isuzu UK, Alan Able, said: “We are immensely proud to have been recognised for the depth of the D-Max range and the comprehensive package we offer through our dealerships. Customer satisfaction is an essential pillar of the brand, from the point of sale all the way to the aftercare in our leading warranty and aftersales support. With our first awards for 2025, we are excited to carry this strong momentum into the following year.”

The Isuzu D-Max saw multiple awards in 2024, being named as ‘Best Pick-Up’ by Company Car & Van, ‘Best Diesel Pick-Up’ by Diesel & Eco Car, as well as ‘Vehicle of the Year and ‘Best Workhorse Pick-Up’ by Trade Van Driver. Additionally, the DMax was awarded ‘Pick-up of the Year’ from Overlander 4x4 in 2023, consolidating its position as the ideal workhorse.

For more information about Isuzu UK and the award-winning D-Max range, visit www.isuzu.co.uk/ vehicles

KGM Motors UK, formerly SsangYong, is delighted to announce Jamie Fox as one of the seven winners of its 70thanniversary prize draw. The lottery gave customers, who purchased a new KGM vehicle between July and September 2024, the chance to win a £10,000 share of £70,000.

Jamie, who purchased his Musso Saracen from Ashby and Mann - KGM’s trusted dealer partner based in Hinckley, Leicestershire, was the third person to be pulled from the independently adjudicated draw, which was streamed on YouTube on October 15.

Mr. Fox, the proud owner of Inspire Landscaping Group based in Whitwick, Coalville, acquired his second Musso Saracen in July to expand his business fleet. This purchase not only provided his team with another reliable pick-up truck but also entered him into KGM UK’s anniversary draw. Commenting on the win, Jamie said, “My wife wanted a holiday, but this prize is going towards our next KGM!”

Sales Manager, Matthew Mangiante at Ashby and Mann, also expressed delight for Fox’s good fortune, saying; “Ashby and Mann are delighted that one of our customers has won, and it’s fantastic that the prize has gone to someone from our local community.”

The award-winning Musso Saracen is a rugged yet refined pick-up, designed for work and comfort with a premium interior, smart connectivity, and a load bed capable of carrying an entire Euro-pallet with a 1011litre cargo capacity and 1095 kg payload. Powered by a strong 2.2L turbo diesel engine and backed by KGM’s 5-year/100,000-mile warranty, it’s a reliable choice for any journey.

Kevin Griffin, Managing Director of KGM Motors UK, added; “We congratulate Jamie on his win and are delighted to be welcoming him back to the KGM family. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and it’s a privilege to be able to give back through this campaign.”

INTERNATIONAL MOTORS LIMITED

ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL UK DISTRIBUTOR AGREEMENT PARTNERSHIP WITH XPENG

International Motors Ltd (IML) is pleased to announce it has entered an official distributor agreement with XPENG, a leading Chinese hi-tech car company, as part of the brand's further European expansion. This strategic partnership marks a milestone moment for the XPENG brand, with the UK having been long highlighted as a key market in its European growth plans, further reinforcing its commitment to delivering AI-defined, sustainable mobility solutions worldwide.

International Motors Ltd (IML) is renowned for its services as a distributor for automotive manufacturers in the UK, Irish and Northern European markets. The IML business has operated for nearly 50 years and has built a solid reputation for success with established and new-to-market brands. IML has established a mature operation from vehicle import to aftersales care and has grown exponentially, working

with various manufacturers, andproviding distributor services across multiple markets.

The first XPENG set to launch in the UK will be the highly anticipated zero-tailpipe emission XPENG G6, a mid-size ultrasmart coupe SUV. This pure-electric vehicle combines premium technology with industry-leading capabilities, including 800volt supercharging and an extended driving range. Tailored for European preferences, the G6 offers a next-generation driving experience that aligns with consumers' increasing focus on seamless technology integration with state-of-the-art operating systems.

William Brown, Managing Director at International Motors Ltd said “We are delighted to formally announce a distributor partnership with XPENG. IML has been working with XPENG for some time, and this was highlighted with the UK debut of

the XPENG G6 at the world-famous Goodwood Festival of Speed earlier this year. This new long-term agreement demonstrates IML’s ambition to seek alliances with forward-thinking partners that share the company's values. Both parties look forward to launching the impressive G6 to UK customers in early 2025.”

"Our partnership with IM Group marks an important step in XPENG's global expansion," said Alex Tang, Head of International business at XPENG. "We are excited to introduce UK consumers to a new standard in electric mobility, combining innovative technology with exceptional design to deliver an unparalleled experience that meets the demands of today's drivers. With a vision for AI-defined mobility, we aim to revolutionize the driving experience in the UK, making it safer, smarter, more

sustainable and more pleasant in the near future."

With this UK announcement, XPENG is reinforcing its commitment to the European market, where it continues to expand its presence across key regions. Since deliveries began in Norway at the end of 2020, the brand has introduced its advanced vehicles in multiple countries, including Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, France, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal, with further expansion underway. The XPENG G6 was recently awarded a Euro NCAP 5-star safety rating, demonstrating XPENG's dedication to safety and innovation. By the end of 2025, XPENG aims to be present in over 60 global markets, with an ambition to achieve half of its total sales from international markets.

Hyundai Motor Company today unveiled its INITIUM hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) concept at its ‘Clearly Committed’ event held at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang.

INITIUM is a Latin word meaning ‘beginning’ or ‘first’, representing Hyundai Motor’s status as a hydrogen energy pioneer and its commitment to develop a hydrogen society.

Executive Chair Chung expressed the Group’s commitment to actively participate in the development of a hydrogen society and underscored the Group’s capabilities to achieve this goal, highlighting that “The shift to hydrogen energy is for future generations.”

What is Hyundai’s new ‘Art of Steel’ design language?

INITIUM provides a preview of a new production FCEV that Hyundai Motor plans to unveil in the first half of next year. The concept encapsulates the company’s 27 years of hydrogen technology development and reflects its clear commitment to achieving a sustainable hydrogen society.

This unique hydrogen fuel cell-powered SUV concept also marks the debut of Hyundai Motor’s new design language – called ‘Art of Steel’ –embodying the character of HTWO, Hyundai Motor Group’s (the Group) dedicated hydrogen value chain business brand.

“Hyundai Motor’s clear, unwavering commitment to hydrogen over the past 27 years is rooted in our belief in its potential as a clean, accessible and therefore fair energy source for everyone,” said Jaehoon Chang, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. “We are dedicated to pioneering a future where hydrogen is used by everyone, in everything, and everywhere. We invite you to join us on this journey.”

Hyundai Motor launched its HTWO hydrogen value chain business brand earlier this year at CES 2024, highlighting how Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung is focusing the Group’s efforts on hydrogen energy.

Unveiling the vision for HTWO Grid – an end-toend hydrogen energy solution that spans production, storage, transportation and utilization –

At the unveiling, SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai and Genesis Global Design, presented the INITIUM concept and Hyundai’s new ‘Art of Steel’ design language.

"Our challenge began from the manufacturing stage, where we pushed the formability of steel to the extreme to create a form of art," Lee said. “With INITIUM, we’ve crafted a more SUV-like design that is both solid and safe, reflecting our dedication to our customers through 'customer-centric design’.”

INITIUM’s iconic design integrates the HTWO symbol, representing Hyundai Motor’s vision for a future driven by hydrogen. The ‘+’ inspired graphic as part of INITIUM’s lighting signature blends with the bumper, creating a distinctive FCEV-specific design cue marked by unique lighting, solid volumes and refined elegance.

INITIUM’s distinct SUV-like aesthetic seamlessly integrates city living functionality with outdoor adventure capability with its bold lines and solid structure, balancing sturdiness and sophistication. The concept’s 21-inch wheels complement the overall design, with the vehicle’s rugged roof rack adding practicality for those with both urban and outdoor lifestyles.

INITIUM advances FCEV performance, comfort and safety

INITIUM’s development focused on three primary aspects: superior driving range and enhanced performance, which are key strengths of hydrogen cars; a spacious interior and luggage area, making it ideal for families; and unique convenience and safety features distinctive to hydrogen cars.

One of the biggest advantages of a hydrogen FCEV is impressive driving range and the flexibility this brings. With INITIUM, Hyundai Motor has equipped the concept with large hydrogen fuel tanks to maximize the vehicle’s range, enhancing the benefits of hydrogen FCEVs.

Hyundai Motor has also fitted INITIUM with aerodynamic wheels to reduce drag wrapped in

low rolling resistance tires, for a targeted driving range of more than 650 km1 between refueling.

As for performance, INITIUM offers excellent acceleration and smooth overtaking capability. By further developing Hyundai’s fuel cell technology the company has increased the output of the stack and enhanced battery capacity, allowing for an electric motor output of up to 150 kW. This ensures drivers experience smooth driving in urban areas and at higher speeds on highways.

INITIUM delivers an impressive level of interior space and versatility suitable for a family SUV, with a large living space for second-row passengers that features seat backs with a large reclining angle for increased comfort. INITIUM’s wide body and large rear-door opening angle enhance convenience for rear-seat passengers when getting in and out of the car.

INITIUM includes a FCEV-specific route planner that addresses one of the biggest pain points for FCEV buyers: charging infrastructure. With this feature, users can easily plot an optimal route, finding charging stations along the way without having to access a separate app or make a phone call. Users can check the location accessibility and operating status of an identified charging station, as well as the number of waiting vehicles and therefore the possibility of charging.

In addition, INITIUM’s hydrogen fuel cell provides electricity without emitting any pollutants. This electricity can be used to power and charge various household appliances and personal devices via the concept’s Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) feature. Notably, the outdoor terminal is designed to connect directly to a 220V household outlet, transforming INITIUM from a means of transportation into a potential energy supplier.

In line with Hyundai Motor’s commitment to uncompromising safety, INITIUM has been developed to achieve top-tier collision safety and driving safety performance globally. To ensure ample safety for passengers in the event of a collision, the vehicle is reinforced with a multiskeleton structure at the front, as well as a side

1 Estimated driving range calculated with Hyundai Motor’s target fuel economy, when tested with 18-inch tire.

body structure, and incorporates nine airbags, ensuring world-class collision safety performance.

Hyundai Motor plans to showcase INITIUM at the Los Angeles Auto Show and Auto Guangzhou in November, further solidifying its position in the global market as a hydrogen mobility leader. The production version of the INITIUM concept is set to launch in the first half of 2025.

Past, present and future: Hyundai Motor’s hydrogen vehicle development

In addition to the unveiling of INITIUM, Hyundai Motor hosted a Hydrogen Heritage Talk session, showcasing its 27-year history of FCEV development. The panel talk between executives allowed visitors to experience and engage with Hyundai Motor’s dedication to the development of FCEVs.

For the new millennium Hyundai Motor began its ambitious Mercury Project, aimed at bridging ground to industry leaders, and the Polaris Project, which focused on the independent development of the company’s core fuel cell stack technology.

In 2005 Hyundai Motor established its Mabuk Environmental Technology R&D Center, accelerating the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. At the time, Hyundai Motor Group Honorary Chairman Mong-Koo Chung encouraged researchers at the facility to push boundaries, empowering them to pursue engineering challenges with courage and confidence.

“You can never make something great by creating it just once,” Chung said. “Don’t worry about budget, let young engineers try making every type of car they dream of. There’s no need to save money by developing the same car 100 times over. It's fine if all 100 models are completely different to each other.”

Hyundai's hydrogen evolution saw it become the world's first automaker to mass-produce hydrogen FCEVs, introducing its first dedicated hydrogen fuel cell model in 2018. These FCEV development achievements highlight Hyundai Motor's clear commitment to creating a better tomorrow.

Chelsea Truck Company and KAHN® are thrilled to present the Series II Expedition, a strikingly aggressive and adventure-ready evolution of the INEOS Grenadier inspired by their Classic Widebody Defender.

When INEOS debuted the Grenadier in 2023, it quickly built a strong following by filling the gap left by the New Defender, capturing the hearts of both rugged off-road enthusiasts and style-conscious drivers seeking functionality wrapped in sophistication. While the Grenadier has proved itself in performance, we at CTC saw room for more—something bold, dramatic, and distinctive.

Seizing this opportunity, we tapped into our intensive experience and history of customising classic Defenders, blending these timeless design cues with the Grenadier’s modern yet enduring lines.Chelsea Truck Company worked in collaboration with KAHN® to develop the prototype, ensuring it meets the highest standards of joint creativity and craftsmanship.

The result? The Series II Expedition—a bespoke transformation that reimagines the Grenadier with dramatic flair, creating an exclusive experience unlike any other.

This launch marks the first of our fully in-house, custom conversion programmes for the INEOS Grenadier, pushing boundaries of design and luxury.

The goal was simple yet ambitious: elevate the Grenadier to a level of refinement and

sophistication unmatched by any factory offering. Adopting an OEM+ philosophy, we have enhanced the vehicle’s design, comfort, and usability without sacrificing its legendary off-road capabilities. The Series II Expedition is designed to make a commanding statement wherever it goes, with a broader, more imposing stance and a distinctive, luxurious presence.

The Series II Expedition redefines the Grenadier’s utilitarian image with refined styling, superior design elements, and unparalleled comfort. This vehicle has exclusive exterior enhancements, RSForged deep concave wheels, a suspension lift, 37-inch tyres, and a bespoke Italian Nappa leather interior, and is built to conquer any environment with style and power. More than just a Grenadier, this transformation creates a dominant force, ready for any adventure while commanding attention at every turn.

The Series II Expedition Prototype is available now at £93,999.99 and offers an unrivalled set of exclusive features.

Exterior Specification:

• Exposed Carbon Fibre Dakar Central Lamp Grille with integrated ‘X’ Masks

• 3-Piece Front Outer Grille

• 3-Piece Front Bumper Valance in Carbon Fibre

• 40mm Wide Wheel Arches in Exposed Carbon

• Wide Wings with integrated Bolt Apertures in Exposed Carbon Fibre

• Bonnet Mask with integrated LED Light in

Exposed Carbon Fibre with CTC Branding

• Large Upper Roof Wing

• 3-Piece Rear Bumper Valance in Carbon Fibre

• Chelsea Truck Co. Hard Spare Wheel Cover in 3D Military Textured Matte Black Paint

• Taillight ‘X’ Masks

• 100mm Crosshair Exhaust System In Satin Black

• Electric Side Steps with LED Lights and CTC Branding

• 30mm Suspension Lift

• FRONT 9x20" G22 RS-Forged Light Alloy Wheels in 3D Military Textured Matte Black

• REAR 9x20" G22 Deep Concave RS-Forged Light Alloy Wheels in 3D Military Textured Matte Black

• 37” All Terrain Tyres

• Colour-Coded Roof Rails

• 3D Military Textured Matte Black Colour Coded Paint

• 3D Military Textured Matte Black Contrast Roof

• Exposed Carbon Fibre Details

Interior Specification:

• Front Sport Seats Upholstered in Vermillion Red Nappa Leather

• Rear Seats Reupholstered in Vermillion Red Nappa Leather with CTC Branding

• Front and Rear Door Panels Reupholstered in Nappa Leather

• Front and Rear Door Tops Reupholstered in Nappa Leather

• Centre Armrest Reupholstered in Nappa Leather

• Passenger Grab Handle Reupholstered in Nappa Leather

• Handbrake and Gaitor Reupholstered in Nappa Leather

• Drive Select Gaitor Reupholstered in Nappa Leather

The Series II Expedition combines bold design with exceptional performance and craftsmanship, offering a truly unique driving experience.

Elevated in both luxury and functionality, this vehicle is built for those who demand the ultimate in adventure and refinement.

Mazda has announced the latest evolution of the Mazda CX-60 that will sit at the heart of its SUV range alongside the all-new Mazda CX-80 three-row SUV. Arriving in the UK early summer next year, the 2025 Mazda CX-60 subtly enhances the award-winning model with small refinements to its interior design combined with measured technical revisions.

On sale since summer 2022, the current Mazda CX-60 has impressed with an engine line-up that includes Mazda’s first-plug in hybrid powertrain and an all-new 3.3-litre inline six-cylinder diesel. Today, thanks to a new highly competitive finance offering,

the current Mazda CX-60 is more affordable than ever and offers a unique in class combination of value and customer attributes in the premium SUV sector.

Today, the enhanced and extremely competitive finance offerings make the current Mazda CX-60 an attractive and compelling proposition for customers looking for a high-class SUV. Offered across all trim grades on both the PHEV and eSkyactiv D MHEV engines, customers can now benefit from an enhanced £1,200 Finance Deposit Contribution when financing on both 0% PCP (50% minimum customer deposit required)* on vehicles ordered by 31st December 2024 and registered by 31st March 2025. In addition, a half price Solo 7kw universal home charger is offered with PHEV models^.

When the 2025 Mazda CX-60 arrives in the UK in early summer next year, updates include interior changes to the Homura grade that replicate the cabin of the CX-80 Homura. This includes new black Nappa leather seats and a revised dash panel. The roof and pillars feature black lining, while cabin panels have been revised to a matt black and metal-like finish. At the top of the range, the Takumi grade retains an unchanged interior that embodies Mazda’s commitment to Japanese aesthetics and craftmanship with high-quality materials such as real maple wood and Japanese textiles in perfect harmony with Nappa leather and a light cabin ambiance.

Technical updates to the 2025 are equally subtle, with the powertrain line-up remaining unchanged and a chassis set-up that continues to provide a refined driving experience. Revisions include rear suspension set-up changes to enhance comfort and stability, an example being softer rear spring and firmer shock absorber settings that are aligned with recalibrated stability systems to improve overall handling and comfort balance in line with Mazda’s Jinba Ittai ethos. Another update to the 2025 Mazda CX-60 is the introduction of the Zircon Sand metallic paint colour, which is currently offered on the 2025 Mazda CX-30, Mazda MX-30 and 2025 Mazda3.

Commenting on the current Mazda CX-60 finance offer, Mazda Motors UK, Managing Director, Jeremy Thomson, said: “the Mazda CX-60 is a standout model in our SUV range in the UK and with this new finance package its now an even more tempting proposition for retail customers. I’m delighted that as we look forward to the 2025 Mazda CX-60, the current car has one of the most competitive finance packages in the sector.”

Kia has achieved yet another record sales month for October, with a helping hand from the Sportage which was the UK’s best-selling car in the month.

Year-to-date, October sales help firmly position Kia as the UK’s fourth most-popular brand. Sales have been spurred not only by the Sportage’s popularity, but also by Kia’s eco car line-up – fully electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid – and SUV sales.

The new October record saw Kia sell 8,516 cars in total, which has boosted the brand’s year-to-date total to 100,936 units – the third time that Kia has reached the 100 thousand sales milestone following the first ever time in 2022. This year’s total has already surpassed the 2022 record of 100,191 and demonstrates the strong demand for Kia’s model line-up.

October also adds to Kia’s impressive set of record months this year, including February, April, June, July, August, and September. In addition, these months have contributed to record sales periods across Q1, Q2, H1, and Q3 – and Kia is on track to reach another record sales year and Q4.

Success for Sportage

The Kia Sportage was the UK’s most popular car in October with 4,533 sales. Now in its fifth generation and having celebrated 30-years in the UK in November 2023, the Sportage continues to be Kia’s best-selling model both nationally and internationally.

October’s result grows the Sportage’s UK dominance in its segment as the second bestselling car in 2024 so far with 42,115 sales, just shy of the top spot by a mere 350 units. And, with only two sales months of 2024 remaining, this makes

the Sportage a very strong contender as the outright most popular model in 2024.

Popular eco car range

One in every two (49%) Kia cars sold is an eco model (either a fully electric, plug-in hybrid or hybrid model). These eco sales ensure Kia is on target to meet or exceed the UK ZEV mandate for 2024.

Kia now offers the fully electric EV3, new EV6, EV9 and Niro EV. The hotly anticipated Kia EV3 – Kia’s most affordable EV – is on sale now with prices starting from £32,995 on-the-road. The EV3 can travel up to 375* miles per charge** with the larger of two battery options, 81.4kWh or 58.3kWh.

More than 1,000 orders have already been placed for the EV3 following enormous customer interest. This was supported by national Kia dealer EV3 Electric Experience events throughout the year that offered the chance for customers to get hands-on with the car ahead of first customer deliveries. Furthermore, the car has already received hugely positive reviews and was the outright Electrifying. com Car of the Year for 2024.

Q4 customer offers

On Tuesday 1 October, Kia launched its latest Q4 2024 customer offers, including 3.9% APR finance deals across its range of fully electric models –EV3, new EV6, EV9 and Niro EV. Customers looking to get into a Stonic, XCeed or Niro HEV can benefit from 5.9% APR on select deals. 7.9% APR is available on finance offers for Kia’s other models, including all Sportage variants. Each of these finance offers can be arranged with no minimum customer deposit. Terms and conditions apply. For more information, please refer to the full press release: https://www.kiapressoffice.com/ releases/1749

Renault has muscled Ford off the top spot at the Parkers Van and Pickup Awards, with the new Renault Master named the Commercial Vehicle of the Year for 2025.

The new Master came straight in at the top by winning the biggest prize but took two other awards in the process. It was also named the Best Large Van and the Best Electric Van, meaning it scooped the win in every category it was eligible for.

Ford was the other brand that enjoyed big success, with the Ford Transit Courier taking the Best Small Van title at the first time of asking. The Transit Custom then retained its Best Medium Van title, while the Ranger remains the Best Pickup.

but does so without having to carry a huge battery to do so, thanks to significant efficiency gains.

Tom Webster, Deputy Head of the Digital Automotive Hub and Vans Editor, said: ‘This was a strong year for new commercial vehicle launches, but the Renault Master stood out for having made advances in areas that really matter to van customers. The new Master's cabin is a comfortable and practical place, while there has been real thought put into elements such as storage and practicality. It's also smooth and easy to drive, whichever version you get into.

‘Crucially, though, the numbers make a lot of sense. The aerodynamic efficiency means it has a smaller battery but a superior electric range to its major competitors, meaning it has an impressive payload too. It tops it all off with a very competitive pricing proposition, which means it makes sense on paper as well as on the road.’

The van industry continues to build on strong recent performance, with sales still heading in an upwards trajectory for the year to date. Electric still faces a few challenges, though, with BEV vans recording a lower share of the market in 2024 than it had in the previous year. The proposed change to licencing laws that will allow those who passed their test after 1997 to drive vans weighing up to 4.25 tonnes can’t come soon enough.

Meanwhile, actual electric vans continue to go from strength to strength. The past year has seen many models in the largest sector drastically improving how far they can travel between charges, while several new entrants show how electric vans can be an attractive and cost-effective solution.

Chief among these is the new Renault Master E-Tech, which has the longest electric range of any van on sale

Tom added: ‘The Ford Transit Courier is the other newcomer in this year’s awards, and it arrives with significantly more space and practicality than the model it replaces. It drives fantastically thanks to its passenger car underpinnings and has a wide range of engines and trims to choose from.

‘The Transit Custom remains an excellent van and is a worthy winner in the Best Medium Van sector. It added an electric version to its portfolio this year, along with several innovative practicality features.

‘Nothing has managed to topple the Ford Ranger from its perch either and it remains the Best Pickup on sale. It has a vast array of different versions to choose from, so everyone should be able to find what they are looking for in the Ranger line up. The future is exciting, with the forthcoming plug-in hybrid version promising plenty when it arrives in 2025.

Full details of all the Parkers New Car Awards winners and runners-up can be found at: www.parkers.co.uk/carawards/

#ParkersAwards2025 X: @ParkersCars

The CUPRA Born has been announced as the winner of the Best Small Company Car at the 2025 Carbuyer Awards.

The Carbuyer Awards take into account the things that really matter to buyers, from running costs to practicality, performance and value for money, with winners chosen in 16 key UK car segments as well as the overall 2025 Car of the Year.

CUPRA Born is available in the UK with two battery variants: 58kWh 230PS e-boost in V1, V2 and V3 trim levels, and the 77kWh 230PS e-boost variant available in the V3 trim.

The 58kWh 230PS e-Boost derivative is capable of a rapid 0-62mph time of 6.6 seconds thanks to a maximum 310Nm of instant torque, whilst the 77kWh 230PS e-boost is capable of up to an impressive 342 miles battery range.

Marcus Gossen, Director of SEAT and CUPRA UK, said: “We’re delighted that the CUPRA Born has won yet another award, continuing to celebrate its immense success. Since its initial launch, the Born has gone from strength to strength, both with experts and consumers. The first full EV venture for the brand couldn’t have gone any better, and we’re excited to see the success of the Born continue through the end of this year and beyond.”

“Electric cars are the perfect choice for company car drivers in 2025 and the Cupra Born stands out from its compact rivals," said Carbuyer Editor Paul Barker. "Sporty style and a driving experience to match combine with generous equipment levels, even in the base car, and a plush interior. Cupra is really making a name for itself on the UK market and the Born is playing a big part.”

The average cost of replacing a windscreen has been estimated by one of the UK’s leading insurers at £700* - and in many cases exceeding £2,000 on premium and luxury vehicles’ windscreens**. Now, a brand new, exclusive and innovative windscreen protection product from Clarus is set to contribute to saving UK car drivers millions of pounds and thousands of hours of lost time as it reduces the risk of windscreen cracks, chips and breakages.

Launched by a company with proven expertise in supplying automotive protection film, Clarus Armourtec is the only windscreen protection product in the UK tested by Thatcham: the safety, repair costs and security body funded by the car insurance industry. Armourtec is quicker and easier to apply than existing products on the market and has selfhealing properties, with its durability and transparency tested over 20,000 miles this year on a representative fleet of cars: a Land Rover Defender, Tesla Model 3 and VW Golf R.

at a cost of over one billion pounds.

“This epidemic is costing individuals on their insurance premiums and is a huge burden for British businesses with cars or vans in fleets being unusable for weeks or even months. Just as phone screen protection saves mobiles, windscreen protection saves time, money and adds peace-of-mind to car drivers and business owners.”

Clarus Protect

Founded by automotive services entrepreneur Ian Fisher, and based at Dunsfold – the home of Top Gear – Clarus is contracting and training a UK network of specialist suppliers to roll-out its revolutionary new windscreen protection in December; in time to save people money at year-end and save heartache for some families driving home for Christmas.

Clarus’ unique Armourtec product offers ease of application, is virtually invisible, and has self-healing properties placing it at the vanguard of what is expected to become a ‘normal’ part of car ownership.

Ian Fisher, Clarus founder and CEO, said: "Windscreen replacement costs are a huge issue for the embattled British car and van owner. Given the two leading vehicle glass repair companies in the UK report replacing up to two million windscreens per year***, and Allianz has reported a 17% increase**** in windscreen claims since 2022, then we have conservatively estimated between five and 10 per cent of all windscreens are replaced each year –

Clarus has exclusive rights to import this innovative product into the UK and being given the seal of ‘approval’ from Thatcham – the insurance industry’s own provider of research and analysis on vehicle safety and repair – is the icing on the cake for Clarus’ customers.

For further information, contact Ian Fisher at Clarus on 01483 917310 or visit www. clarusprotect.com

Hyundai Motor UK launches a new advertising campaign that follows on from its successful ‘Dawn of a New Hyundai’, challenging perceptions of the brand. The brand’s transformation from value focused to premium volume contender – and pioneer in innovation, design and performance – is conveyed with the reinforcement of introduction the global pronunciation of ‘Hyun-day’ to replace the anglicised ‘Hi-yun-die’.

The new film imagines a world where the only people still saying Hyundai incorrectly have been out of circulation for 30 years. It features a middleaged man, dressed as a ‘90s teenager, who has just been beamed back to earth from an alien spaceship having left the planet 30 years before. He is astonished by the spectacular evolution of Hyundai’s models, especially the IONIQ 5 N.

The advert ends on the words: “If you think you know our cars and how to say our name, where have you been?” reaffirming that preconceptions of the brand based on vehicles from decades ago should be set aside in line with the present-day reality of Hyundai’s multi-award-winning product

line-up and customer service. The film will appear on Sky, ITV and Channel 4, plus cinemas nationwide, from 4 November until 5 January.

Ashley Andrew, Hyundai Motor UK MD, said: “Since the ‘Dawn of a New Hyundai’ campaign, our visibility has grown and continues to do so with each new product and the high-profile accolades they attract. That is important, because our research shows that once people put Hyundai on their consideration list, there is a strong chance they will buy our cars. But there is still more that we can do to alert those who are still not aware of what Hyundai has to offer. That’s what this new campaign is about – encouraging people to ditch their preconceptions of Hyundai, based on what the brand used to be, by showcasing the excellence of the current product line-up. And we’re pleased we have been able to do so with the same injection of humour that characterised the first campaign. While the messaging is serious, having a bit of fun helps to drive engagement.”

The idea for the new film came from advertising agency, Innocean UK, and was shot by Jeroen Mol, the director behind the New Dawn advert.

he Kia EV3 has been named overall Car of the Year for 2024 at the annual Electrifying.com Awards.

T KIA EV3 NAMED CAR OF THE YEAR AT 2025 ELECTRIFYING.COM AWARDS

The Electrifying.com Awards are judged by the publication’s expert team of road testers, with awards given to the most significant electric vehicles and innovations. The Kia EV3 follows in the footsteps of its larger sibling, the EV9, which was named Large Electric Family Car of the Year at last year’s Electrifying.com Awards.

electric car market. In terms of style, range, space, tech and sheer value for money, it stands head and shoulders above everything else in its class. We think the EV3 will give buyers new to electric cars the confidence they need to make the switch, and it’s the clear winner of our Car of the Year title for 2024.”

With first customer orders of the EV3 due to be delivered to UK customers later this year, Electrifying.com’s team of experienced reviewers believes the EV3 strikes the right chord with UK customers. The judges praised its stylish design, long driving range of up to 375 miles* on a single charge, and starting price from £32,995. Fleet customers also benefit from the 2% BIK (benefit-in-kind) rate for EVs in 2024/25 and 3% for the 2025/26 tax years.

Ginny Buckley, Founder and CEO of Electrifying.com, said: “As the electric experts we consider Kia to be one of the most innovative and exciting car brands around, and we believe the EV3 is a game-changer in the

Paul Philpott, President & CEO, Kia UK Limited, commented: “To win an overall Car of the Year award from any publication is an incredible achievement, particularly from the well recognised team at Electrifying.com, with their extensive knowledge of the EV landscape and understanding of what customers really want. This fantastic achievement makes the EV3 an official multiaward winner in the UK before customer deliveries even begin. This further builds on its momentum gained throughout September and October, thanks in part to the excellent ‘EV3 Electric Experience’ events hosted by our dealer partners all around the country.”

The EV3, available in three grades in the UK (‘Air’, ‘GT-Line’, and ‘GT-Line S’), represents another step forward in Kia’s plan to launch 15 EVs globally by 2027, which started with the launch of the EV6 in 2021.

The model also features Kia’s seven-year/ 100,000-mile vehicle warranty as standard, with its battery pack and electric motors covered by an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty, ensuring maximum peace of mind for customers.

The Vitara hybrid remains a strong selling model in the range and Suzuki is very pleased to announce some significant revisions for 2025 with redefined SUV styling, an even higher level of standard equipment and technology as well as further improved hybrid efficiency.

Vitara now utilises the Motion and Ultra grade names which follows on from being introduced previously for SCross, Swace and Swift models.

Various exterior styling revisions have been made to fully update Vitara with re-designed front grille and bumper, rear upper spoiler incorporating rear window side spoilers, new design 17-inch alloy wheels and the addition of two new colour shades which are Sphere Blue Pearl Metallic / Cosmic Black dual-tone and Titan Dark Grey Metallic single tone finishes, both available optionally.

A higher level of safety technology is now available as standard for both Motion and Ultra models including Lane Keep Assist, Intelligent Speed Control, Driver Monitoring System and eCall.

A further important and standard safety feature for both grades is an upgraded Dual Sensor

polished alloy wheels, Panoramic sliding Sunroof, suede / leather seat fabric, front and rear parking sensors, electric folding door mirrors with built-in indicators and overhead storage console.

WLTP combined fuel consumption is lower for the latest model with 2WD mild hybrid manual transmission models offering up to 9% improvement at 53.2mpg. Full hybrid 2WD models with AGS transmission (Automated Gear Shift) offer up to 6% improvement at 56.4 mpg.

CO2 emissions are lower too at just 113g/km for the 1.5litre full hybrid Motion model – previously 119gkm.

Brake Support system using a millimetre-wave radar (previously lidar) combined with a monocular camera. This system has enhanced collision mitigation with improved night time and intersection visibility and with its improved functionality can detect pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and vehicles in front.

Standard equipment levels for both grades have increased too with the addition of a 9-inch media display, wireless smartphone link with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Keyless entry and start, High Beam Assist, Auto-dim rear-view mirror, rear parking sensors plus Suzuki Connect connected services that includes three years free subscription.

Moving up to the Ultra grade increases standard specification even further with new design 17-inch

The 2025 Vitara continues to be available with hybrid as standard. Manual transmission models include a 1.4-litre Boosterjet turbocharged petrol engine with 48V mild hybrid, while for customers wanting the convenience of automatic a full hybrid option with AGS transmission is available. Unique in the small SUV sector, both manual and AGS drivetrains are available with the option of 4WD with Vitara.’

Along with Swift and S-Cross models, the latest Vitara range is also available with a 0% APR PCP finance offer which extends to vehicles registered by the end of March 2025. Taking the 2WD 1.5-litre Full Hybrid Motion model with AGS transmission as an example, a £6,855 deposit is required followed by 36 monthly payments of just £239 per month and an optional final payment to keep the car at the end of the agreement.

The Toyota Landcruiser on Milltek’s stand at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas along with the new Dodge Ram 1500, Toyota Tacoma and the Ford F150 and Bronco are the latest models added to Milltek’s OEM+ aftermarket performance exhausts range for pickup trucks engineered to improve their sound and performance.

Milltek Corp, the subsidiary of Milltek Sport founded in the USA in 2022, is equipped with its own R&D engineering team who, with the expertise from Milltek’s 40+ years of experience in the UK and Europe, are constantly developing new exhaust systems specifically for cars and pick-up trucks in the USA.

“As automotive manufacturers strive to make their vehicles more efficient, we’ve noticed that some engines don’t always sound as good anymore,” said Steve Pound, CEO of Milltek Corp (and Dodge RAM owner), “So our skilled engineers design our

premium OEM+ exhaust systems to enhance the tone and volume again, and we believe trucks deserve to sound good, too,” he added.

For example, Dodge replaced the RAM’s V8 in favour of a 3.0-litre twin turbo engine, and although it has more power, many feel it sounds a little muted in comparison. Milltek has solved this issue with its new Cat-Back exhaust systems that don’t just look great with either polished or Cerakote black 5.5” tips, but also offer a better sound quality and volume from the new engine. Using a reflective silencer to prevent drone, once again, Milltek has developed an exhaust system that enhances appearance, sound and characteristics.

Similarly, the new Milltek exhaust for the 2024 Toyota Tacoma has a choice of resonated or nonresonated versions to create a louder and deeper sound from its 2.4-litre turbo engine in Hybrid Crew Cab models (both 5ft bed and extended Cab 6ft bed options).

Milltek has also recently introduced resonated and nonresonated exhaust systems for the iconic Ford F150 (2021+ Supercrew 3.5-litre Twin Turbo V6 EcoBoost or 5.0-litre V8 models, including Tremor) and the 6th generation of the Ford Bronco (2.7-litre V6 or 2.3-litre I4 engines from 2021+).

Steve Pound, CEO of Milltek Corp, said: “Since expanding Milltek’s operations to the United States in 2022, we’ve been establishing our dealer network and exhibiting at grass roots events across the country to remind everyone of the benefits in terms of sound, quality and durability of Milltek’s OEM+ performance exhaust systems compared to standard fittings. Our engineers in Tennessee are constantly developing new exhaust systems specifically for the USA market. As a result, we are continually expanding our range to include more and more of the most popular cars and trucks.”

For further information visit: https://milltekcorp.com

Urban Automotive, the British luxury modifier of iconic automotive brands, is making waves at SEMA 2024 in Las Vegas with the unveiling of its Range Rover Sport L461. This showcase marks the highly anticipated U.S. launch of the Urban Widetrack Series, featuring two uniquely redefined Range Rovers: the headline Range Rover Sport L461 and the hugely popular Range Rover L460.

booth 24313 in the Central Hall.

The Range Rover Sport L461 showcases the complete Widetrack styling program, featuring a striking carbon fibre bonnet and a restyled replacement carbon fibre front bumper that give the SUV a bold, assertive look. The Widetrack arch package and upper rear spoiler combined with a redesigned rear bumper further enhance the vehicle's commanding stance. Built by the highly respected Platinum Motorsport Group in Los Angeles, the car showcases a Borasco Grey finish, complemented by 24” Urban Vossen UV1-R wheels in Satin Black and 2x2 Twill carbon fibre detailing.

Through partnerships with Platinum Motorsport and Lusso Auto Spa & Design, Urban USA brings the signature Widetrack Series to the American market with a suite of sophisticated styling enhancements created to elevate the iconic marque. Urban’s full replacement body kits are designed and made in the UK and visitors can see the brand’s bespoke products and craftsmanship at the Milltek Corp stand,

Additionally, the Range Rover L460, expertly crafted by the Las Vegas run Lusso Auto Spa & Design, impresses in Ionian Silver. It features 24” Urban Vossen UV-7 wheels in Silver Matte Clear, alongside Urban’s distinctive carbon fibre accents, enhancing its athletic look. The visual carbon fibre front bumper and mouthpiece trim overlay further elevate its front-end aesthetics, adding to its sophisticated yet aggressive appeal.

Urban Automotive’s expansion in the U.S. has gained momentum with a high-profile client base, including TV personalities, Scott Disick and Kim Kardashian. Disick’s impressive collection, which includes Urbancustomised models like the RollsRoyce Ghost and Rolls-Royce Cullinan, and Kardashian’s signature Range Rover L460, highlights the brand's strong appeal among celebrities and has fuelled its rapid growth stateside.

The brand’s presence at SEMA not only highlights its innovative styling packages but also represents an important step in meeting the rising demand for ultra-luxury and unique modifications in the U.S. Through Urban USA’s exclusive

partnership with Milltek Corp, Urban Automotive products are available to a broader American audience, allowing U.S. customers access to a premium range of British styling products.

"Bringing Urban’s Widetrack styling programme to the U.S. is a great achievement for us and we believe it will strongly resonate with the crowds here,” says Simon Dearn, founder of Urban Automotive. “SEMA provides the ideal platform to showcase our commitment to precision, design, and exclusivity, and we’re excited to introduce our distinctive British style and craftsmanship to the American audience."

For those unable to attend in person, Urban Automotive will publish a full behind-the-scenes SEMA video in its weekly YouTube series Urban Uncut this Friday the 8th of November at 5:30 PM GMT.

For information on Urban Automotive, visit www.urban-automotive.co.uk or call 01908 978978.

Urban Automotive Range Rover Sport (L461 Series) Styling Programme: Specification

Widetrack Exterior Styling:

• Restyled replacement carbon fibre front bumper

• Visual carbon fibre front bumper mouthpiece

• Mouthpiece trim overlay in visual carbon fibre

• Integrated daytime running lights with OEM fog lamp carry over

• Three-piece front bumper splitter in visual carbon fibre

• Milled billet aluminium exhaust finishers with engraved Urban logo

• Front upper ‘matrix’ grille in visual carbon fibre with Urban icon branding

• Widetrack arch package

• Lower door sills in visual carbon fibre (options for SWB and LWB)

• Upper rear spoiler

• Carbon fibre wing mirror covers

• Urban icon rear tailgate badge

• Urban bonnet and tailgate lettering

Wheels & Tyres

• Restyled replacement carbon fibre rear bumper

• Rear diffuser with removable skid pan in visual carbon fibre

• Carbon fibre bonnet

• 23" or 24" Forged alloy wheel package

Optional extras

• Milltek Sport performance exhaust

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the remaining 50% paid in one payment after 12 months. Credit available subject to status to UK residents aged 18 and over. This credit offer is only available through Isuzu Finance provided by International Motors Finance Limited, St. William House, Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff CF10 5BH. We typically receive commission or other benefits for introducing you to International Motors Finance Ltd. This may be a flat fee or percentage of the amount you borrow. Vehicle shown is an Isuzu D-Max V-Cross, OTR price of £43,716. Model shown features optional special paint finish at £720. OTR price includes VAT, delivery, number plates, 12 months road fund licence and first registration fee. Prices correct at time of going to print. Offer available on the DL40, V-Cross and V-Cross Steel Special Edition only registered between 01.10.2024 - 31.12.2024. Stock subject to availability. Isuzu reserves the right to amend or withdraw offers at any time without prior notice. Retail customers only, not available in conjunction with any other offers. Excludes Personal Contract Hire and Business Contract Hire. Offers may be varied or withdrawn at any time.