January 2014 Farming Monthly by Farming Monthly Ltd

Farming

MONTHLY National Inside this issue...

January 2014

LAMMA 2014 28 page final preview

On Topic N Sensor for grass

Fencing Securing your boundaries

Quantum 65c Two Wheel Drive, 2010, 3771 hours, 16x16 mechanical gearbox, front weights,12.4 x 32 tyres, 2 x hydraulic valves. Farmall 55A Two Wheel Drive, Roll bar, 14.9 x 28 tyres, front weights, 1 x hydraulic valve, trailer brake valve, very low hours, just like new, CaseIH Warranty. Farmall 75c 4wd ‘ 63 ‘ registration, just 50 hours, 12x12 gearbox, drawbar, 1 x hydraulic valve, 380/85 x 30 tyres, just like new, CaseIH Warranty. JXU 75 4wd. 24x24 PowerShift & PowerShuttle 40kph. 2012, 589 hours, 16.9 x 34 tyres, front weights & mudguards, 2 x hydraulic valves. NEW - JXU 105 4wd. 24x24 PowerShift & PowerShuttle ‘ 63 ‘ reg. air conditioned cab, 2 x assistor rams, front weights & mudguards, 480/70 x 34 tyres. CaseIH Warranty. JXU 105 4wd. 24x24 PowerShift & PowerShuttle ‘ 61 ‘ reg. 705 hours, 3 speed pto. air conditioned cab, front weights & mudguards, 480/70 x 34 Michelin tyres, Electronic draft controls. JXU 105 4wd c/w Chillton U8 loader, PowerShuttle & PowerShift, 2010, 2745 hours, 16.9 x 34 tyres, air conditioned cab. Maxxum 110 EP 4wd. 40kph Semi PowerShift transmission, Cab suspension, 520/70 x 38 tyres, 3 speed pto. 113 litre/min hyd. pump, very low hours ‘ 63 ‘ registered. CaseIH Warranty. Maxxum 110 EP c/w Chillton U10 Loader 40kph Semi PowerShift transmission, Cab suspension, 3 x hydraulic valves, 3 speed pto. 113 litre/min hyd. pump ‘ 63 ‘ registered. CaseIH Warranty. Maxxum 125 EP c/w Quicke Q65 loader, 2012, 887 hours, 40kph PowerShift transmission with Creep gears, 18.4 x 38 Michelin tyres, air conditioned cab with air seat. Maxxum 125 c/w Quicke 10.80 loader, 2011, 1562 hours, 50kph PowerShift transmission, 600/65 x 38 tyres, air conditioned cab with air seat, trailer air brakes. Maxxum 125 Suspension c/w Case LRZ130 loader, 2009, 2921 hours, 40kph PowerShift transmission, 520/70 x 38 tyres, air conditioned cab with air seat. Maxxum 140 EP Suspension 40kph. 2012, 338 hours, 460/85 x 38 tyres, 3 speed pto. front weights, air conditioned cab with suspension. CVX 150 Suspension 50kph. Front Linkage, 2009, 3000 hours, 650/65 x 38 tyres, 4 speed pto. 4 x hydraulic valves. CVX 150 Suspension 50kph. Front weights, 2007, 4143 hours, 20.8 x 42 tyres, 4 speed pto. 4 x hydraulic valves. CVX 1155 Suspension 50kph. front weights, 2004, 3338 hours, 156hp. 460/85 x 38 tyres, 4 x hydraulic valves. CVX 160 Cab & Axle Suspension 50kph. Trailer air brakes, 2011, 2370 hours, 650/65 x 38 tyres. CVX 175 Cab & Axle Suspension 50kph. 2009, 2578 hours, front weights, 580/70 x 42 tyres, trailer air brakes. CVX 195 Cab & Axle suspension 50kph. 2009, 4297 hours, trailer air brakes, front weights, 650/65 x 42 tyres, 4 speed pto. Puma 125 c/w LRZ150 loader, 2011, 2423 hours, 18.4 x 38 Michelin tyres, cab & axle suspension 40kph. air conditioned

cab with air seat & passenger seat. Puma 140 MultiController, 2010, 553 hours, cab & axle suspension 40kph. 3 speed pto. Pro 300 screen, passenger seat, front weights, 600/65 x 38 tyres 90% good. Puma 140 front axle & cab suspension 40kph. 2011, 570 hours, 650/65 x 38 tyres, 3 speed pto. air conditioned cab with passenger seat. Puma 140 Powershift 40kph. 2010, 700 hours, Cab & axle suspension, trailer air brakes, 3 speed pto. 520/85 x 38 tyres 70% good, front weights, air conditioned cab with passenger seat. Puma 155 MultiController 50kph + Creep gears, 2008, 5000 hours, 3 speed pto. Front Linkage, 650/65 x 38 tyres 60% good. Puma 155 PowerShift 40kph. 2009, 2611 hours, front weights & mudguards, 650/65 x 38 tyres, 3 x double acting hydraulic valves. Puma 145 EP PowerShift 40kph. Cab & axle suspension, 2012, 660 hours, trailer air brakes, front weights & mudguards, 460/85 x 38 Goodyear 80% good, 4 x double acting hydraulic valves. Puma 145 EP, Suspension 40kph. 2012, 797 hours, 600/65 x 38 tyres, trailer air brakes, front weights, exhaust brake, 3 speed pto. Puma 145 EP Full PowerShift suspension 50kph. trailer air brakes, 3 speed pto. 20.8 x 38 Michelin tyres. Puma 160 EP Cab & axle suspension 50kph. 2012, 560 hours, trailer air brakes, exhaust brake, 3 speed pto. 600/65 x 38 tyres 80% good, front weights & mudguards. Puma 160 EP Suspension 40kph, 2012, 1300 hours, Front Linkage, 3 speed pto. 600/65 x 38 tyres, 3 speed pto. 3 x hydraulic valves. Puma 170 EP PowerShift 40kph. Suspension, 2012, 1517 hours, 650/65 x 42 Goodyear tyres, 80% good, Climate control, 4 x mechanical valves, front mudguards & weights. Puma 180 PowerShift Suspension 50kph. trailer air brakes, 2011, 2554 hours, 650/65 x 42 tyres. Puma 165 c/w Quicke Q65 Self level loader with Softride, 2010, 2100 hours, 50kph. trailer air brakes, trailer air brakes, 650/65 x 42 tyres. Puma 180 PowerShift 50kph. 2012, 560 hours, trailer air brakes, air conditioned cab, 650/65 x 42 tyres, Front weights & mudguards, 4 x electric hydraulic valves. Puma 180 PowerShift 50kph. MultiController, 2012, 1717 hours, air conditioned cab, 650/65 x 42 tyres, Front weights & mudguards, 4 x electric hydraulic valves. Puma 195 MultiController 50kph. 2008, 976 hours, trailer air brakes, AFS Pro 200 screen, weights, 710/60 x 42 Michelin 80% good. Puma 210 Suspension 50kph. 2012, 630 hours, trailer air brakes, 4 x electric hydraulic valves, weights, 650/65 x 42 tyres 70% good. Puma 210 Front Linkage, Powershift, 2010, 4183 hours, 620/70 x 42 tyres 90% good, Radar, 50kph. 4 x electric hydraulic valves.

Contact a local operator:

Puma CVX 145 EP Suspension 50kph. 2012, 1081 hours, Front Linkage, 600/65 x 38 tyres. PUMA CVX 160, 2011, 1975 hours, 50kph. trailer air brakes, front weights, 3 speed pto. exhaust brake, front weights, 580/70 x 42 tyres. PUMA CVX 160, 2012, 275 hours, 50kph. trailer air brakes, front weights, 3 speed pto. exhaust brake, front weights, 650/65 x 42 tyres. Puma CVX 180 Front Linkage, ‘ 60 ‘ reg. 2524 hours, Suspension 50kph. exhaust brake, AFS Pro 300 Screen, 580/70 x 42 tyres 70% good, Full suspension 50kph. Puma CVX 195 Suspension 50kph ‘ 60 ‘ reg. 4774 hours, Accuguide ready, trailer air brakes, weights, 620/70 x 42 Michelin tyres, passenger seat, exhaust brake. Puma CVX 210 c/w Front Linkage, 2011, 2780 hours, 50kph. AFS 300 screen, exhaust brake, Climate control, 650/65 x 42 Michelin tyres, 4 x hydraulic valves. Puma CVX 225 Front Linkage, 2010, 785 hours, 50kph. trailer air brakes, 650/65 x 42 tyres 80% good, 4 x hydraulic valves. Magnum 230, 2003, 5120 hours, 650/65 x 38 tyres, 4 x hydraulic valves, front weights. Magnum 225 Suspension 50kph. 2007, 2361 hours, 800/70 x 38 tyres, front weights, 4 x hydraulic valves. Magnum 225 Suspension, 2011, 3120 hours, 710/70 x 42 Michelin tyres, trailer air brakes, front weights & mudguards, 4 x hydraulic valves. Magnum 260 Suspension 50kph. Full Accuguide, 2011, 1795 hours, trailer air brakes, 650/65 x 38 tyres, front weights & mudguards. Magnum 310 Suspension 50kph, Full Accuguide steering, 2011, 2255 hours, trailer air brakes, 710/70 x 42 tyres, front weights, 5 x hydraulic valves. Magnum 310 Suspension 50kph. 2010, 2632 hours, 800/70 x 38 tyres, trailer air brakes, 4 x hydraulic valves. Magnum 310 Suspension 40kph + Creep gears, 540 & 1000 pto. 2010, 1479 hours, 650/65 x 38 tyres, 4 x hydraulic valves, front weights. New - Magnum 340 Suspension, 2013, very low hours, ex Show tractor, front weights, Red & Silver Livery. CaseIH Finance & Warranty. Magnum 340 Suspension 50kph. 2011, 588 hours, Accuguide ready, trailer air brakes, 800/70 x 38 tyres, Climate control, front weights & mudguards.

E & O.E Special Low Rate Finance with CNH FINANCE Terms and conditions apply. Business purposes only. Documentation Fee and VAT are payable upon signing. Finance Offer valid on units invoiced between 15 November and 31st January 2014. This is not a contractual offer and is subject to return conditions. Changes in prices, supply terms, law or interest rates and may be withdrawn at the discretion of CNH Capital. Finance is subject to status ( credit approval )

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Contents

January 2014

36 12

Features

Regulars

14 36 40 42 44 46 48 57

06 12 32 52 55 60

LAMMA 2014 Show preview

Fencing Industry news

Sheep Sector news

Pigs Latest sector news

Grain Sector news

Arable Spring cropping & news

Education

News All the latest need to know commentary

On Topic Yara awarded funding for N-sensor for grass

Renewables Renewables news

Machinery New machinery news

ATV The essential workhorse round-up

Motors Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new on the road?

NEXT MONTH

Sector news

Post LAMMA report

Muck & Slurry Sector news We welcome feedback and encourage readers to air their views. Have an opinion on a story or something you want to get off your chest? Write to us at the address below or email letters@farmingmonthly.com Whilst every attempt is made to ensure accuracy, the opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor. The Editor also reserves the right to alter or edit material as necessary and no responsibility is accepted for inaccuracies. Full copyright applies. All rights reserved 2014.

Andrew Poulton EDITOR

Connect with us: Published in the UK by Farming Monthly Ltd, 15-17 Dugdale Street, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV11 5QJ Tel: +44 (0) 2476 353537 Fax: +44 (0) 2476 353571 Editor Andrew Poulton Editorial Assistant editorial@farmingmonthly.com Advertising Director Shona Beedham s.beedham@farmingmonthly.com Senior Advertising Sales Jenny Tranter j.tranter@farmingmonthly.com Advertising Sales Jessica Hopper j.hopper@farmingmonthly.com Advertising Sales Oliver Shorrock o.shorrock@farmingmonthly.com Accounts Manager Cheryl Arnold c.arnold@farmingmonthly.com Production studio@farmingmonthly.com Subscriptions subscriptions@farmingmonthly.com For editorial and general enquiries or to advertise please call Tel: +44 (0) 2476 353537 or email sales@farmingmonthly.com

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Barn Store wins Rural Enterprise Award Barn Store has scooped the 2013 Rural Enterprise Award at the Farm Business Food and Farming Industry Awards.

L-R: Jeremy Vine, BBC; Martin Bazeley, Barn Store; Neil Parish MP, host for the evening

resented at the House of Commons franchisor Martin Bazeley received the much deserved award from BBC Radio’s Jeremy Vine. Judges of the award were impressed with the level of

dedication, attention to detail and good customer service demonstrated by this self storage business all of which are family run. www.barn-store.co.uk Barn Store Fareham provides a range of storage units for personal

or commercial use. With genuine 24/7 access and a clear pricing structure finding a solution for your storage needs couldn't be easier. Martin Bazeley said “I am absolutely delighted that Barn Store has won this prestigious award. The expanding group is dedicated to providing the best possible service to their customers when they need space and time in their lives.” Barn Store is a self storage business that offers its product model as a franchise. Started in 2003 Barn Store has storage sites on eight farms across the UK, six in Hampshire, including founder Martin Bazeley’s own site, one on

the Isle of Wight, one in Kent, one in Staffordshire and one in Dorset. The business has seen 123,000 sq ft of buildings converted to offer 83,000 sq ft of secure storage and the group has a collective turnover of around £750,000 per year. It provides the equivalent of eight full time rural jobs. Farmers are able to diversify and re-use redundant farm buildings as storage sites. Martin Bazeley is actively seeking further suitable sites to establish Barn Store self storage franchises in Sussex, East Midlands and West Midlands. For more information visit www.barn-store.co.uk/franchise or call 02392 384888.

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06 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

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| News

Implementation of CAP announced Farming, wildlife, rural businesses and the wider economy in England are set to benefit from £15 billion from the next Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Of this over £3 billion will be spent on improving the environment. nvironment Secretary Owen Paterson has announced that the amount of funding transferred from farmers’ direct payments to the budget for environmental and rural growth schemes will be increased from 9% to 12%. The demand for environmental schemes and the competiveness of English agriculture will be reviewed in 2016, with the intention of moving to a 15% transfer in the final two years of the CAP period. Secretary of State for the Environment, Owen Paterson, said: “England’s £15 billion Common Agricultural Policy must deliver real benefits to farming, rural businesses, the countryside and the taxpayer. “Today’s decision will see £3.5 billion invested in the environment and rural development schemes over the next seven years. “This is a significant change in the way we allocate CAP money and even with a smaller overall CAP budget, the Government will be spending a bigger share of the budget on the environment than before.” During the EU negotiations, the UK pressed for every country to have the freedom to make choices about how it spends its funding. One of these choices is the option to transfer a proportion of the budget for farmers’ direct payments into the rural development budget. As a result of this transfer, environmental schemes will get a higher proportion of the CAP budget than they do now, while ensuring that English farming remains competitive. England’s hill farmers will also be helped by today’s announcement. For the first time ever, they will receive the same

direct payment rate on their upland farmland as their lowland counterparts. This will support farmers working in some of the toughest conditions and leastproductive land, who manage some of our most beautiful countryside and provide habitats for wildlife. This helps to sustain our £33 billion a year tourism industry. The work of farmers and landowners through environmental stewardship programmes has already created lasting habitats for rare birds and pollinators boosting rural tourism by improving the natural environment. Rural business schemes have already successfully transformed the prospects of thousands of businesses and farms, created 8,500 rural jobs across the country, safeguarding another 9,700. Within a smaller overall CAP budget these decisions will help to grow the rural economy and improve the environment. NFU statement on CAP reform Today’s decision by Government to modulate CAP at 12 per cent for the next four years is a sensible and pragmatic decision which will help England’s farmers and growers to remain competitive, produce more food and maintain the environment, the NFU has said. NFU Deputy President Meurig Raymond said: “I am delighted that Owen Paterson has decided to keep the rate of modulation below the maximum for the next four years along with a Government review to be launched in 2016 to consider the transfer rate from payments in 2018. I appreciate this was not any easy decision for the Secretary of State to make but we are pleased that he has listened to our arguments. “I would like to thank the EFRA

Select Committee and many rural MPs who have supported us in recent days. “The reduced rate of transfer to the Rural Development budget will mean that £224million will be retained in the farming sector over the next four years. “This issue has falsely been presented as a fight between farming and the environment. It is not. Even at nine per cent transfer the NFU has demonstrated that we could continue to meet all our ongoing commitments to agrienvironment programmes and have a surplus to spend on other measures. At 12 per cent there will be additional funds available and we will play our full part in determining how these might best be spent. “The decision to review the rate from 2018 onwards is the right one, and one we have consistently pressed for. If by then there are valuable programmes in the rural development programme, including the new Environmental Land Management Scheme, and there is clear evidence of demand, the NFU would certainly not oppose an increase in the modulation rate. “Of course, the 12 per cent rate is higher than the current rate of nine per cent and more than most of our closest competitors, but the NFU acknowledges that once the decision had been taken at EU level to reduce the UK’s Rural Development budget allocation and once our own Treasury decided to reduce its contribution, it was difficult to avoid some increase in the rate. I must also express my deep disappointment at the decision by the Welsh Assembly Government to introduce a 15 per cent rate. “The NFU strongly believes that voluntary action by farmers is generally a more effective way of

meeting specific challenges. For this reason we have committed to promoting action that will encourage pollinators and improve water quality. We have pledged ourselves to ensuring these initiatives produce positive results. “The NFU is well aware that there was strong pressure from other parts of government to transferring some of the CAP budget outside the farming sector to the so called “growth agenda”. This would have been wrong on many levels and we are pleased that Owen Paterson has largely resisted this move. “The NFU remains convinced that the CAP Reform agreed in Europe this year was a missed opportunity and a step in the wrong direction. I am, however, pleased to state that Owen Paterson has made a number of decisions which have made the best of what was otherwise a bad job. This is the case for the modulation rate, but also the rolling on the existing payment entitlements, avoiding gold-plating of greening by implementing the standard EU measures, minimising distortions by applying scale back at the minimum level, avoiding the capping of payments, and streamlining the system of direct payments by not implementing any of the optional aid schemes in England. The NFU and Defra have both tried to find an alternative to the madness of the 3 crop rule, but unfortunately the European Commission has resisted attempts to implement an alternative approach that would work on the ground. We also look forward to continuing discussions with Defra to ensure that farmers farming in the moorland regions of England are treated fairly.”

Farmers support Welsh tourism: FUW survey Welsh farmers are more likely to spend their holidays in Wales than any other part of the UK or Europe, the Farmers’ Union of Wales has learnt from a recent survey. isitors to the FUW stand at the recent Royal Welsh Winter Fair said that they are also more likely to spend time away in caravans and farm-based accommodation in their homeland and many farming families would spend a few days camping at the Royal Welsh Show as part of their holidays. “Almost 60 per cent of those

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that responded to the survey said they took regular holidays and 66 per cent of those stay in Wales for their annual vacation,” said FUW farm diversification committee chairman Eurwyn Roberts. “It is very encouraging to see that so many farmers support the Welsh tourism industry by staying in farm-based accommodation and caravans.

“The Welsh countryside has a wide choice of scenery and outdoor activities and this is something that farmers here have, of course, appreciated and known for a long time, “Over the years many farm businesses have diversified into tourist-based activities and it is great to know that farmers themselves support these

enterprises,” added Mr Roberts. Interesting survey results - are any of our Welsh readers planning on staying in Wales for their holiday next year? Do any readers actually have time for a holiday? Email us and tell us where you go or even if you plan a holiday in 2014. Send your emails to letters@farmingmonthly.com

January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 07

| News

Rural broadband – an issue of access By David Pinnington, Director of Rural Networks, MLL Telecom. ike many other industries, agriculture today is an information-intensive sector, with requirements for data to be quickly exchanged between suppliers, regulating bodies, wholesalers and retailers. In addition, one of the key regulations in the farming industry is the requirement for thorough monitoring of livestock movement, including identification and tracking. These processes are increasingly being digitalised and moving online in order to improve the speed and efficiency of the task, so that more time can be dedicated to farming rather than administration. This has highlighted the need for Internet connectivity in rural areas to meet the needs of the agricultural sector. A more digital approach to information sharing can help make traditional farming administration tasks such as managing tax, subsidies and PAYE – that were

previously reliant on traditional postal services – much more efficient, as data is exchanged in seconds rather than days. Internet access can also offer additional benefits to an industrious farm looking to exploit new business opportunities by marketing a produce brand or setting up an online shop to sell produce directly to customers in a cost-effective manner. Equally, farmers can harness the constant flow of online information to monitor weather forecasts in realtime to determine the best time to harvest crops, or to remotely participate in online auctions for livestock. However, such activity relies upon a reliable and robust Internet connection and currently broadband coverage and speed in rural areas leaves much to be desired. Even with the government’s plans to provide country-wide broadband coverage in the UK, some 10% of the

08 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

country will be left with inadequate connectivity or no Internet access at all. These underserved areas will be in rural locations, so many farms will be left behind as the divide between sporadic Internet access and high-speed broadband widens. As such, many farmers will lose out on the opportunities that the Internet can deliver – all of which can erode the financial success and operating efficiency of a farm in an increasingly digital and connected world. Yet, there are solutions to this lack of robust rural broadband. Often, specialist operators can provide alternatives to traditional fixed wired networks. These alternatives don’t rely on landlines or new fibre optic cables, so they address and bypass the current problems of Internet connectivity

in rural Britain. For example, radio systems delivering broadband can be installed in remote locations quickly and cost-effectively to provide connectivity to multiple points. Radio doesn’t require miles of cabling to be laid, overcoming the cost and performance issues of wired networks. It’s imperative that rural counties tackle the broadband challenge head-on. The fixed fibre networks being built today will never reach all communities or deliver adequate speeds for everyone. That is why rural counties need to assess the state of their broadband networks and ensure that they are on a level playing field with urban areas. Only then will farmers be able to capitalise on the opportunities offered by the digital economy.

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| News

Aberdeenshire farmer’s NFU helps EU see sense tax fraud foiled on MOTs for tractors and livestock trailers Crime doesn’t pay - especially when it’s the VAT man you’re stealing from! There’s no excuse for not maintaining accurate accounts - or you’ll find that you have plenty of time to think about your indiscretions...

n Aberdeenshire farmer, who lied about the cost of her farm supplies to steal over £657,000 in fraudulent VAT claims, has been sentenced to 27 months after an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

“Tax fraud is a serious offence and is treated as such by the justice system. I urge anyone with information about people or businesses involved in such fraud to contact HMRC’s Tax Evasion hotline on 0800 788 887.” Ella May Thom, 49, from Banchory, attempted to justify the VAT repayments she claimed by inflating the cost of machinery, fertilisers and business charges. Thom pleaded guilty to submitting

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fraudulent VAT repayment claims for over six years. Anne-Marie Gordon, Assistant Director of Criminal Investigation for HMRC in Scotland, said: “Thom knew that she was breaking the law, yet chose to overlook it for the opportunity of making what she wrongly assumed would be easy money, at the expense of the UK taxpayer. She now has to pay a very high price for her criminal activities as well as repaying the money she stole. “Tax fraud is a serious offence and is treated as such by the justice system. I urge anyone with information about people or businesses involved in such fraud to contact HMRC’s Tax Evasion hotline on 0800 788 887.” Tax fraud can also be reported online at www.hmrc.gov.uk/reportingfraud/o nline.htm

New burdensome EU proposals on tractor and trailer testing look to have been defeated in the European Union after intensive lobbying from the NFU. he proposals, which formed part of the EU’s wide ranging ‘Roadworthiness Package’, would have introduced new MOT-style testing for some large tractors and all livestock trailers. The original plans meant that all ‘O2’ graded trailers, such as a normal livestock trailer towed behind a four wheel drive vehicle, would have been subject to MOT-style testing. The UK farming unions argued that prescriptive and onerous testing of tractors and livestock trailers would be costly and bureaucratic. After intense lobbying, and backed by the member state governments in the Council, the MOT style testing of all livestock trailers will now not be needed. On tractor testing; the NFU argued that requiring the same level of testing as is required for HGVs is unreasonable due to the multitasking nature of agricultural machinery. Legal restrictions on issues such as red diesel use and operator licensing mean that tractors are used on the road for more limited time than in other countries and as such farmers in the UK should not be penalised. NFU regulatory affairs adviser Ben Ellis said: “Thanks to the lobbying efforts of the NFU’s office in Brussels standard tractors used for farming would be exempt. For certain high speed “T5” tractors; while still

included in the scope of the final agreement, will only include those that travel ‘mainly on public roads’. The NFU is committed to ensuring the safety of agricultural machines on the roads which is why we advocate the use of the Farm Vehicle Health Check Scheme.” The final agreement is likely to come early in 2014 when the European Parliament and member state ministers are expected to formally adopt the package.

January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 09

| News

Appeal for land to benefit from biodiversity offsetting funds Landowners interested in managing land for the benefit of wildlife are being asked to come forward and potentially benefit from £20 million of new ‘biodiversity offsetting’ funding. he news follows the proposals made by Defra in September that could see farmers offered payments in exchange for the creation or restoration of wildlife habitats, and a landmark partnership between farming and food supply chain group, AB Agri, and biodiversity offsetting brokers, the Environment Bank. Under the proposal, the new funding would be derived from the sale of ‘conservation credits’ to developers who need to offset their environmental impact. “Through the new partnership, we are aiming to create or restore 1,000 hectares of valuable wildlife habitats delivered through £20 million of new offset funding,” says David Langlands, of AB Agri’s AB Sustain division. Biodiversity offsetting is a tool available to developers who have already followed the normal on-site steps to ‘avoid and mitigate’ their environmental impact; offsetting can then be deployed to compensate for any residual loss of wildlife habitat. This residual impact is quantified by the Environment Bank using government metrics and compensated for through investment in biodiversity restoration and long-term management on nearby sites. The overall result will be a gain in the quantity

and quality of UK biodiversity. Professor David Hill, Chair of the Environment Bank, said: “A commitment to biodiversity conservation of this type and scale has never been seen before from within the UK food and farming industry and it is an indicator of how the private sector is recognising and responding to UK biodiversity decline. Historically, development and agriculture have had the biggest impact on our natural environment, so this new agreement demonstrates a major turning point in how these two sectors are now working together to prevent biodiversity loss in a practical and tangible way”. Dr Tom Tew, Chief Executive of the Environment Bank, said: “This is an unprecedented chance to create a robust network of wildlife habitats on hundreds of farms across the UK. Until now, residual impact to biodiversity from development has been ignored or inadequately compensated for – leading to biodiversity loss. Biodiversity offsetting provides a comprehensive habitat impact assessment for developers, resulting in fair and objective compensation that will deliver a new funding stream for habitat restoration and long-term conservation management of UK

biodiversity.” David Yiend, Chief Executive of AB Agri, said: “This is a tremendously exciting opportunity for UK landowners. Biodiversity offsetting offers our farmers the opportunity for long-term income in return for conservationbased land management. The price of the conservation activities is set by the landowner and is dependent on the amount of activity being undertaken. Perhaps most importantly the landowner maintains control over the longterm management of the land and the offset does not affect their access and ownership. ” Farmers interested in becoming involved in the biodiversity offsetting proposals should contact Ruth Williams, AB Sustain, 01452 317770.

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10 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

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| Feature

Three-year Bees Abroad project in Kenya wins Government funding Bees Abroad has secured major funding from the UK Department for International Aid (DFID) for a three-year project to alleviate poverty through advancing beekeeping skills and supporting bio-conservation and bio-enterprise in the arid and semi-arid land (ASAL) in the Kenyan district of Laikipia.

he Bee Products Enterprise Development (BPED) aims to raise incomes of 900 pastoral households through beekeeping providing for improved production, value addition, trade and profit sharing. It will also increase opportunities for women and marginalized members of society to engage in sustainable economic activity and increase control of their income. International Development Minister Lynne Featherstone said: “This project will change the lives of over 5,000 people in Kenya, half of whom live below the poverty line and are dependent on food aid. DFID funding will help Bees Abroad give people the skills and support they need to learn a trade which can increase their independence. “Beekeeping is a potentially vital source of income for these rural communities. As well as teaching beekeeping skills, the project will provide vital training in business and marketing, to help rural communities run successful enterprises. This is going to help generations of families increase their income and become selfsufficient. I hope Bees Abroad can create a real buzz around this worthwhile project.” The project will be implemented for Bees Abroad by John and Mary Home, assisted by David Evans. John and Mary already act as volunteer project managers for several of the charity's projects in

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Kenya. As well as helping community groups improve their beekeeping skills, they have been responsible for teaching beekeepers how to make valueadded products such as hand creams and wax polish. Another of their innovations is the 'A-maizing' bee suit which can be made for less than £1 by utilizing waste maize sacks and the sound parts of damaged mosquito nets. This application was made possible with help and encouragement from those in Bees Abroad and much support from family and friends. Support for the project also comes from Bees Abroad patron and television personality Jimmy Doherty. He commented: “This is a major achievement for Bees Abroad, who are a small and growing solid charity, with a core of very experienced beekeepers who really care about helping communities in the developing world. It’s wonderful to think that 900 households will be given beekeeping skills that can be used straight away and then handed on to future generations. It’s sustainability at its best.” Commercial and communityowned bee product enterprises with a sound ethical, environmental and business base create new economic opportunities for pastoralist men and women. This project will increase economic returns from beekeeping and provide economic incentives for the sustainable use

of indigenous natural resources. Product branding and market links will help communities to access rewarding local, national and East African regional markets. Creating livelihood diversification will take pressure off water and grazing available in the wider Laikipia ecosystem, contributing to protection of natural resources, particularly in the water catchment areas. An improved ecosystem will lead to wider livelihood improvements such as reduced tension and conflict between communities, greater resilience to drought and greater gender equity within households. Bee products are culturally and socially acceptable. Honey and wax are already sold in the targeted areas, but at a low and disorganised level. The project proposes to expand existing knowledge and practices, implementing business-based systems to ensure economic

viability. Introducing low-cost beekeeping equipment, often made from locally sourced materials, enables producers to expand to commercial levels. Community cohesion will be supported by the democratic decision-making and participation in the enterprise, especially under fair trade standards. Better bee colony management also increases the stability of local food supplies through the bees' pollination activities. Understanding the need to preserve natural resources for honey production promotes care for sustainable natural resources. The development of the national organic market will increase awareness among consumers and the farming community of environmental issues, helping to make the value of Kenyan natural resources better understood and appreciated. Visit www.beesabroad.org.uk

January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 11

| On Topic

On Topic

Yara awarded funding for ‘N-sensor for grass’ Yara UK, is delighted to announce the success of their Technology Strategy Board funding application to pursue a project aimed at increasing grass crop yields.

‘N-sensor for grass’ project aims to increas grass yields

About the Technology Strategy Board The Technology Strategy Board is the UK’s innovation agency. Its goal is to accelerate economic growth by stimulating and supporting business-led innovation. Sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Technology Strategy Board brings together business, research and the public sector, supporting and accelerating the development of innovative products and services to meet market needs, tackle major societal challenges and help build the future economy. For more information please visit www.innovateuk.org.

12 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| On Topic

he project, to develop precision technology to measure the N fertiliser requirement of grass will start in January 2014 and unites five leading industry partners - Yara UK, ADAS, Precision Decisions, DLF Trifolium and Countrywide Farmers. N sensor for grass “We are delighted to be awarded funding from the government-backed Technology Strategy Board and to be starting the project in the New Year,” says Ian Matts, Company Agronomist, Yara UK. “This project has immense potential to benefit farmers, all over the UK. Currently grass yields in the UK deliver 6-10t/Ha of dry matter which is, on average, less than half of its biological potential. One of the main reason for low grass yields is the poor use of nitrogen (N) fertilizer and failure to account for spatial variation in N fertilizer demand within fields and across the farm. Current methods of estimating N requirements are complex and there is no practical method for variably applying N according to plant needs.” “Now we are developing the N-Sensor, Yara’s tractor mounted crop sensor currently used only in arable crops, to measure the N requirements for grass. This will, for the first time provide farmers with a simple, precise method of calculating the amount of N needed, on a field by field, metre by metre basis. At the moment, this just doesn’t exist.” Value to farmers With the UK dairy and beef businesses having to absorb the impact of rising feed prices, being able to produce more grass, more economically, will be a significant benefit. Productivity gains could realistically reach £78/ha: Based on a 400Ha farm: Benefit from spatially varying N: £20/ha Yield increase from optimising N @ 0.5 t/ha £95/ha Increase in N rate of 30kg N/ha: -£25/ha Cost of N sensor over 5 years -£12/ha Net benefit £78/ha It is estimated that, 5 years after the project ends, 10% of livestock farmers will have taken up this technology. “If this is achieved, says Mr Matts, “the od to UK farmers of £10 new technology willCollingwo have a value Leoni million a year.”

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Ian Matts, Company Agronomist, Yara UK

Paul Selby, Arable Business Manager for Countrywide Farmers is confident of the potential benefits to his customers. “Grass, whether grazed or fed as silage is usually the most cost–effective source of livestock feed,” he says “and most farmers are looking at home grown forage as a way to reduce their reliance on costly, unpredictable imports and improve profitability. DairyCo figures showed that a 10% increase in yield from forage resulted in an 8p per litre of milk reduction in feed costs when compared to imported soyabean meal. These are business benefits for our farmer customers that we can’t afford to ignore. For this reason we are delighted to be involved in this project.” Environmental benefits There will also be environmental benefits. “Less pressure to expand farm land into biodiverse rich habitats will also reduce indirect greenhouse gas emissions, resulting from land use change. Also avoiding over applying nitrogen will minimise the risk of nitrate leaching,” says Mr Matts. 5 industry partners The five strong consortium, led by Yara and including Countrywide Farmers, also comprises Precision Decisions –experts in tractor mounted sensor systems - and leading UK grass breeders DLF Trifolium. ADAS will play a major role, contributing their skills and expertise in applied field research and project management. The project, taking place over the next 3 years, will be carried out in stages. Years 1 and 2 will focus on developing the N-sensor for use in grass. Years 2 and 3 will involve field testing and validation of the technology at commercial farm level. With the dissemination of new innovation and new technology being a prime objective of Technology Strategy Board funding, the project will be promoted throughout the industry with progress and results featured at major national agricultural events, including Precision Farming, CropTech, Cereals and, with Yara UK as leading sponsors, Grassland & Muck. *British Survey of Fertiliser Practice For further information please log on to www.yara.co.uk

On Topic

“

This project has immense potential to benefit farmers, all over the UK.

About Yara

Yara UK Limited is the UK business unit of Yara International ASA, based at Grimsby in NE Lincolnshire. Yara UK Ltd – the only company to market and distribute the complete range of plant nutrition products for agricultural, horticultural and amenity and protected crops for farmers and growers. Yara International ASA is a leading chemical company that converts energy and nitrogen from the air into essential products for farmers and industrial customers. As the number one global supplier of mineral fertilizers and agronomic solutions, we help provide food for a growing population. Yara International ASA has 8,000 employees, operating in 120 countries and with a turnover in excess of £6.5 billion. The head office of Yara International is in Oslo, Norway.

January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 13

| LAMMA

New venue for LAMMA as show continues to grow The ever-increasing popularity of the LAMMA Show amongst the farming community nationwide, has in the past few years led to such a tremendous increase in both visitor and exhibitor numbers that the show has outgrown its previous venue at Newark. or LAMMA 2014 over 850 exhibitors have already booked stand space for the event which will take place on 22nd & 23rd January 2014, at the Show’s new home at the East of England Showground in Peterborough, adjacent to the A1 trunk road and close to the Lincolnshire/Cambridgeshire border. From the outset the primary aim of the LAMMA Show was to offer a low-cost shop window for small manufacturers to display their products. More than 30 years later, this is still the case and the success of this policy is evident from the large number of small companies, from all parts of the country, taking part. Combine this with the presence of all the major players in the farm machinery, equipment and services sectors, and it becomes evident why so many farming decision-makers, from all parts of the UK and from further afield, view the LAMMA Show as an important date for their diaries. For LAMMA 2014, the principal Show sponsor will be Agribank PLC., a leading provider of finance for the farming industry. The Show will once again offer plenty to interest visitors, since a large number of companies, both from the UK and mainland Europe, will be announcing new products and many of the major multi-nationals will be showing, for the first time in the UK, their new equipment which

14 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

they launched at the major Agritechnica Show in Germany in November. Its growing reputation and popularity has meant that, over recent years, the character of the Show has evolved from being predominantly focused on arable machinery, parts and workshop equipment, to one which now includes a wide range of horticultural, amenity and livestock equipment, as well as ‘green energy’ products, seed suppliers, agrochemical, farm management and financial advisory services. In addition, a number of companies specialising in re-cycling and construction equipment will be an attraction to renewable energy, re-cycling and construction professionals, as well as farmers seeking ideas for diversification projects. This growing diversity of exhibits attracts visitors from all regions of the UK and a number of trade representatives from across Europe and as far afield as India, China and Australia are expected to visit the Show. With traffic management playing a very important role in speeding up access to the Show for visitors and minimising delays to local and through traffic not attending the Show, extensive consultations with the Highways Agency, Police, District and County Councils and the Showground owners have resulted in the development of a comprehensive traffic management plan and visitors are requested to

follow the local Event signage in order to minimise delays. The ever increasing popularity of the LAMMA Show indicates that it is now placed high on the list of favourite exhibition events for professionals in the agricultural and associated industries. We look forward to welcoming our regular visitors and, of course, we extend an especially cordial invitation to those who have yet to enjoy the LAMMA experience. As an added incentive to ‘early-birds’ arriving at the Show, the car parks will open at 6.00am and visitors arriving between 6.30 and 8.00am will be able to enjoy a full English breakfast at a discounted price. Additionally, the Show will officially open at 7.30am on both days. As in previous years, both admission to the Show and car parking are free of charge.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| LAMMA

Massey Ferguson’s show of force at LAMMA The MF 8737, which makes its debut at the LAMMA Show, is the most powerful model in the new MF 8700 Series from Massey Ferguson, which includes five tractors offering powers from 300hp to 400hp, with Engine Power Management (EPM). ll are powered by the very latest AGCO POWER engines, which comply fully with the strictest Stage IV/Tier 4 final emissions regulations. All the new tractors also feature changes to the transmission, cab and controls to further boost performance, efficiency and ease of use. All are now available with a choice of Essential or Exclusive specifications. The MF 6600 Series from Massey Ferguson, also on show for the first time at LAMMA, include the highest power four cylinder tractors on the market. This new five-model range precisely matches the needs of farmers and contractors employing modern and efficient crop establishment and mechanisation techniques. The MF 6600 Series offers users the power, torque and operating benefits associated with a six cylinder tractor in a 4 cylinder compact and extremely agile tractor with a great power to weight ratio. It also provides a high level of standard specification with a wide choice of transmissions, hydraulic systems and cab comfort to suit their specific requirements. As well as sharing a similar size and style of cab as the MF 7600 Series, the MF 6600 Series is also available with Dyna-4, Dyna-6 or Dyna-VT transmissions and in Essential, Efficient or Exclusive cab specifications. Together these provide ten different variants. An MF 7618 and MF 7626 will be representing the MF 7600 Series at the show. This highly successful range includes four lightweight and versatile tractors with powers from 185hp to 235hp

(ISO max), which are ideal for all applications from cultivations and crop establishment to top work and haulage. To ensure operators and owners are able to match the tractor to their specific needs and tasks, the MF 7600 Series is available with various levels of standard specification – as the Essential, Efficient or Exclusive. There is also a choice of either the Dyna-VT, continuously variable transmission for the higher specification versions or the Dyna-6, semipowershift for all models. Three new telescopic handlers in the MF 9000 Xtra Series from Massey Ferguson also make their debut at the Show. All are powered by new Stage 3b/Tier 4 interim latest 3.6 litre, four cylinder engines that employ efficient, straightforward technology to meet

the latest exhaust emission regulations. They also feature a new multi-function joystick option, which allows operators to control the transmission without removing their left hand from the steering wheel.

Like their predecessors, MF 9000 Xtra models benefit from the unique and patented curved rear window, which provides unrivalled, industry-leading visibility to the rear right three quarters, with no cab post to obstruct the view.

NE W RA NG E Just in!

Agrifac at LAMMA

UP TO

Visit stand R73 to discover new innovations. t the stand of Agrifac during the Lamma Show you can find several innovative novelties, such as a self-propelled sprayer Agrifac Condor with 36 m with an 5000litre tank, a lightweight beet harvester LightTraxx and T4-40 beet harvester. You can find these innovations on stand R73. The world needs increasingly more food. Therefore Agrifac manufactures “Brilliant Simple” machines; the most innovative

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crop sprayers and beet harvesters in the world that are extremely easy to operate. This is because everything at Agrifac is developed in accordance with the “4 E’s for growers” concept. Efficient, Economical, Ergonomic and Ecological - that’s what these four E’s stand for. By testing all developments against these 4 E’s, Agrifac is ahead of the competition in developments and innovations.

5m SPRAY WIDTH

Come see our new range of ATV Sprayers at LAMMA 2014 View the whole range including spot, skid unit and trailed ATV sprayers plus all the necessary accessories on Stand No: R34 RANGING FROM 55 – 200 LITRE SPOT SPRAYERS

Call us on 01522 507600 Or speak to your local representative

Order online today www.spaldings.co.uk Email us at agsales@spaldings.co.uk

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January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 15

| LAMMA

Bomford to reintroduce LAMMA debut for Challenger E Series the DYNA-DRIVE LAMMA 2014 will see the reintroduction of probably one of the best known products to ever be designed and built by Bomford – the DYNA-DRIVE. riginally introduced in the 1980’s, the DYNADRIVE quickly became one of the best selling Bomford products because of its simplicity, reliability and low operating cost, prior to production ceasing 10 years ago.

The decision to reintroduce the DYNA-DRIVE comes as arable farmers look to control blackgrass and other weeds, by using a cultivator or harrows to quickly go over stubbles and encourage weed seeds to chit so that they can then be sprayed off prior to drilling. In this respect the DYNADRIVE is the ideal machine. One of the major design features is that because the two rotors are not PTO driven, this reduces power requirement, so forward speed is not restricted allowing large areas to be covered quickly, so reducing operating cost in time and fuel. Initially the DYNA-DRIVE will be available in working widths of 2.6m, 3.0m, 4.0m and 5.0m. Minimum suggested power

requirements range from 80hp up to about 160hp for the 5.0m model and at an average forward speed of about 12kph, typically outputs of 3.13ha/hr up to 6.0ha/hr can be easily achieved, depending on soil type. The DYNA-DRIVE comprises of two ground driven rotors, linked by a heavy-duty Duplexdrive chain. Fitted with alternating heavy-duty left and right twisted tines, the forward tines on the front rotor initially penetrate, then lift and break-up even the hardest of soils. The backward facing tines on the rear roller then firm the brokenup soil and leave a level finish. If required a crumbler roller or packer roller can also be fitted to the rear of the DYNA-DRIVE for further consolidation on heavier soils. “Judging by our sales of replacement points, it’s surprising quite how many machines there are still out there in regular use,” says Chris Tucker of Bomford. “The DYNADRIVE was also very popular throughout Europe. The reaction to having the new machine at this year’s Agritechnica was incredible and resulted in potential orders for up to 50 machines already.” Prices for the new DYNADRIVE range from £11,000 for the 2.6m model to £20,500 for the widest 5.0m version. For further information visit www.bomford-turner.com

16 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

Challenger is introducing its most powerful tracked tractor ever, the MT875E at the LAMMA Show. Producing a rated output of 590hp, the new flagship MT875E generates a maximum power of 640hp (over 30hp more than the current MT875C). T875E tops the new four model MT800E Series models. Superceding the MT800C Series, the new tractors benefit from the 12 cylinder 16.8 litre AGCO POWER engine. Putting even more power to the ground through the Mobil-Trac system, this provides progressive farmers and contractors with higher levels of performance and efficiency. At the same time Challenger is displaying its most powerful model in the MT700 Series - the MT775E. Producing a rated output of 400hp, the tractor generates a maximum power of 431hp (over 50hp more than the current MT765D). The MT700 Series is powered by latest, AGCO POWER seven cylinder engines, which are designed and built specifically for

agricultural applications. This highly efficient engine delivers more power and cuts fuel consumption up to 5 per cent, compared with previous engines, while also complying with the Stage IV / Tier 4 final emission standards.

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| LAMMA

Morris Corfield & Co Limited Benthall Works, Shropshire TF12 5BB Tel: 01952 881000

Oliver Landpower Limited Home Park Works, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire WD4 8LW Tel: 01923 265211

Craven Arms, Shropshire Tel: 01588 673325

A14 Telford Road, Bicester Oxfordshire OX26 4LD Tel: 01869 329988

Bromyard, Herefordshire Tel: 01885 488884 Chester, Cheshire Tel: 01829 749391 Romsey Agricultural Machinery Ltd Shorts Farm, Sherfield English, Romsey, Hampshire TF12 5BB Tel: 01794 323159 www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

Nigel Quinn (AMS) Limited 89 The Marshes Lane, Mere Brow, Preston Lancashire PR4 6JR Tel/Fax: 01704 822272 Mobile: 07973 519491 www.nigelquinnams.co.uk

Wandon End, Luton, Bedfordshire LU2 8NY Tel: 01582 727111

Wilfred Scruton Limited Maxwell House, Riccall Grange, King Rudding Lane, Riccall, York YO19 6QL Tel: 01757 249799

Brian Robinson Machinery Ltd East Cowton, Northallerton, North Yorkshire DL7 0DX Tel: 01325 378552

Providence Foundry, Foxholes, Driffield, E. Yorkshire YO25 3QQ Tel: 01262 470221 January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 17

| LAMMA

New machinery at LAMMA for JC JC Machinery will be exhibiting the new Vredo DZ Agri Air overseeder series at LAMMA 2014. he exciting new Vredo DZ Agri Air series of overseeders are specifically designed for small areas which may have slopes or undulating terrain. Extremely stable and manoeuvrable it features a pneumatic hopper which channels the seed directly to the cam wheel. Calibration of seed is simple and accurate. Vredo’s Agri Air overseeders are equipped with the famous proven Dual-Disc System which delivers a germination rate of 96%. The pairs of discs, set 7.5cms apart, guide seed into a V-shaped slit in to the sward, whatever the soil conditions – clay, peat, loam or sand, wet or dry. The seed is covered with soil to protect it from external predators and extreme weather conditions guaranteeing a quick germination and deep rooting of the injected seed. John Campey spokesman for JC Machinery said “This machine is perfect for challenging areas and we will be happy to talk to anyone who is looking for a solution to overseeding on difficult terrain.” Other machines on the stand include the Vredo 3m Agri Seeder and the highly successful 4.4m Vredo Agri Twin Seeder with packer ring. This outstanding machine has changed the way grassland is over-seeded or re-seeded, providing the highest capacity for successful overseeding in all grassland areas. Each sowing element of the overseeder is spring suspended, following the contours of the

18 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

ground giving a consistently even sowing depth. It targets existing pastures and turf where the grass cover is too thin or where there are open patches in the turf. These machines are essential for any contractor wanting to offer a complete grassland rejuvenation programme. The Imants 48SX Spader – for sandy and light clay soils This latest Spader is faster, lighter and stronger than its predecessor. The machine is perfect for farms from 100-600 ha and tractors from 130-250 hp. With a capacity up to 2 ha per hour! Even very small plots can be worked easily without creating a furrow and the headlands are as well prepared as the middle of the fields. Spading is an even more attractive option when equipped with a seedbed preparatory for simultaneous primary and secondary tillage. In combination with a drill or a planter the cost reductions of labour, man hours and fuel are even greater. The 48SX is also the first rotary spader with harrow that has a gear driven spade shaft. This gearbox has been developed by Imants to handle tractors from as little as 130 Hp up to 250 Hp. Primary tillage is achieved using a shaft consisting of 6 banks with 6 arms (3 left and 3 right). Behind the spade shaft is the simplest of harrows being nothing more than a driven roller

with small tines that prepare the seedbed and give the necessary consolidation. This secondary tillage tool will create a perfect consolidated seedbed, level the surface and incorporate organic residue.

“This machine is perfect for challenging areas and we will be happy to talk to anyone who is looking for a solution to overseeding on difficult terrain.” Another new product at LAMMA is the VREDO cutting-filter It is the ideal solution to keeping liquid manure flowing smoothly. The dual action filters and cuts through large masses which can occur while pouring slurry. Whether mounted on your tank or truck, the smart design positions the filter in front of the pump in the suction pipe. This means the filter does not interrupt the flow of material, so you retain optimum protection of all moving parts. For further information or a demonstration please contact John Campey at J C Machinery Tel: 01260 224568 or Mobile: 07736 953143 email info@jcmachinery.co www.jcmachinery.co

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| LAMMA

Wha teve

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January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 19

| LAMMA

Featured Dealers: Sharnford Tractors Ltd Lutterworth, Leics LE17 5 EH T: 01455 209300 www.manitou.co.uk Murley Agricultural Supplies Ltd Warwick CV34 5JB 01926 494336 www.murley.co.uk

20 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

Ravenhill Hereford HR4 9QJ T: 01432 352333 www.ravenhill.co.uk Farmstar Limited Marr, Doncaster DN5 7AU T: 01302 786786 Market Weighton, York YO43 3GA T: 01430 875900 Brigg, North Lincs DN2 8NF T: 01652 654944 www.farmstar.co.uk

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| LAMMA

Over 95% drift reduction Another innovative with Micron shielded product from JFC sprayers at LAMMA A host of specialist, non-drift spraying equipment will be taking centre stage on Micron’s stand 113 (Hall 1). roven to reduce drift by 95%*, it includes Micron’s flagship Varidome S5 band sprayer and the latest Undavina, Spraydome and Spraymiser models from the Enviro HiFlo range. The company will also be exhibiting its non-drip Weedswiper, single and dual Tank Systems and a range of hand-held spraying devices. Varidome S5 – Micron’s latest band sprayer fitted with a Dual Spray Tank system – can treat widths of up to 9 metres and is ideal for broad acre crops such as sugar beet, oil seed rape and maize. A non-selective product is applied to the inter-row through fully shielded pressure nozzles with the option of simultaneously applying a second product such as a selective herbicide or fungicide directly over the crop. Shield spacing on the boom and treated band widths can easily be

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adjusted to suit different crops. New to LAMMA, Micron will also be presenting its latest models from the Enviro HiFlo series. Now available in a pressure nozzle option, the Micron Enviro range comprises the fully shielded Undavina, Spraydome and Spraymiser models in a range of sizes to cater for every spraying task. Enviro equipment can also be fitted with a CDA spray system for situations where low volume application is preferred. All Enviro sprayers feature a modular design and are fully compatible with other products within the range. Coupled with a Micron Tank System, they can be integrated into a fully self-contained spray assembly for a range of weed control applications including fence lines, footpaths, field margins, amenity and general weed control.

JFC Manufacturing renowned for their innovative solutions in the UK Agricultural market has launched the JFC TidyWrap.

he TidyWrap has been designed to store used bale wraps keeping them clean and dry and all in one place.

“The TidyWrap is an ideal product for farmers who wish to keep their farm tidy. It saves on collection costs and helps to meet farm inspection requirements” The TidyWrap Recycling Bin is made from UV stabilised polyethylene making it suitable for storing outdoors, freeing valuable indoor storage space. The JFC TidyWrap is a bottomless bin with a removable lid, designed to store up to 200 bale wraps and keep them clean and dry for collection. This cleverly designed product uses the first wrap as the liner so farmers are not exposed to

additional liner costs. JFC’s promotional video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =iW54jPZo_KU clearly demonstrates how to create the liner. Once full, the liners four handles can be tied and the bin lifted off. The bin is light enough to be lifted and repositioned by a single person and has the durability to last for years. “The TidyWrap is an ideal product for farmers who wish to keep their farm tidy. It saves on collection costs and helps to meet farm inspection requirements” says John Concannon, CEO of JFC. "It saves the cost of buying a plastic bag and reduces the amount of plastic that needs to be disposed" added John. For more details visit the JFC website: www.jfcuk.com

January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 21

| LAMMA

New from Landquip for LAMMA 2014 Landquip are using LAMMA 2014 as the launch pad for a new range of Electrac trailed tracking sprayers - to complement the larger InTrac steering axle trailed range. he new sprayer will retain the Electrac name, Landquip's trailed machine that has stood the test of time since 1995 but which has now been re-designed to place it at the forefront of the trailed sprayer market. One of its innovations is a new chassis design incorporating rubber spring or air axle suspension. This gives a smooth ride at high road speeds and outstanding in-field performance.

“A steering pick up hook is standard, or an optional Euro high hitch drawbar enables the pick up hook and lower lift arms to be taken off the tractor to increase clearance for late spraying and dessication.” The 2500 or 3000 litre tank is a brand new smooth line polypropylene tank which can be washed out very effectively due to its curved shape using the separate, high capacity 330 litre wash tank utilising two rotary in-tank wash heads. As there are no corners or sharp angles, the new tank offers exceptional sump draining. There are two drawbar versions both with twin ram tracking technology which ensures the sprayer follows the wheels of the tractor

perfectly. A steering pick up hook is standard, or an optional Euro high hitch drawbar enables the pick up hook and lower lift arms to be taken off the tractor to increase clearance for late spraying and dessication. This feature makes a trailed machine a good all-year round sprayer and a serious contender to a more expensive self propelled. A high lift parallelogram system adapted from Landquip's larger trailed InTrac machine enables spray heights up to 2.3 metres. There are a number of innovative changes relating to the 18-28 metre bi-fold aluminium booms. Firstly, the boom suspension system is hydraulically cushioned to give superior boom ride. Add the redesigned trapezium boom levelling and hydraulic anti-yaw which has now been incorporated into the boom back frame to cushion the lateral movement and the result is better all round performance and ride. A 300 litre/min. pump is standard and can be PTO or hydraulically driven. GPS auto switching of up to 20 boom sections and guidance screen are optional extras. The new Electrac is ideally suited to medium size tractors. Prices from:- £43,500.

“The 2500 or 3000 litre tank is a brand new smooth line polypropylene tank which can be washed out very effectively due to its curved shape using the separate, high capacity 330 litre wash tank utilising two rotary intank wash heads. As there are no corners or sharp angles, the new tank offers exceptional sump draining.”

See the new Electrac on Stand 924 (Hall 9) or visit www.landquip.co.uk

40 years of experience, it becomes obvious....

SPIRMIX JET Vertical auger mixer Feeder - Straw bedder • Fly wheel for feeding and straw bedding • Mechanic beater-bar • Side & rear trapdoor options available • A wide range from 3 12m3 to 24m

www.lucasg.com 22 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

La Boîte de Prod - www.laboitedeprod.com

See us at Lamma 2014

Feeding for the future!

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| Pests

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January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 23

| LAMMA

Now is a good time to upgrade oil & fuel storage tanks The time is right if you are considering upgrading existing or installing new oil and fuel storage facilities. There are good reasons to act now: rice increases are filtering through from all manufacturers of around 10%. Although, by the time you read this, the tank/s you may be looking for are not as cheap as you thought, there are opportunities and particularly as LAMMA is virtually upon us. Shopping around at this show may well bring you that extra bit of discount, free extras or even better. Certainly Bundedtanks.com Hall 4 Stand 408 will be presenting some great offers and new products. One very good reason to overhaul your oil and fuel storage facilities is, of course, the demands of legislation, for example: The Control of Pollution (Oil Storage) (England) Regulations 2001 (OSR) and, for farms, the Water Resources (Control of Pollution) (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) Regulations 2010 (SSAFO). Perhaps with subsides now being received, funds may be available to take advantage of promotional deals, enabling full compliance and peace of mind. Don’t forget too to check insurance policies. A growing number of insurers are insisting on annual inspections or servicing as is required for vehicles. For a modest fee Bundedtanks.com can arrange these for you. A number of farms and agricultural

24 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

businesses are increasing capacity to secure better diesel / oil prices and there are a number of tanks available now to consider. It is well known that a delivery of 5000 litres or more usually means a price per litre reduction, but that’s not much help when you have a 2500 or even a 5000 litre tank (be it for diesel dispensing or heating oil). Jumping from 5000 to 10,000 litres is not always practical or affordable. This where the Carbery 6000 litre Fuel Points and Bunded Tanks come in; there’s always room for a 5000 litre plus delivery! Check out the latest deals at LAMMA. When you do look at your facilities, do consider how you monitor fuel / oil usage. Is it practical and satisfactory? Reliance on not so accurate dip sticks is a thing of the past and

ultrasonic, remote reading electronic gauges, such as the Apollo make this task so easy. For a mere £48.25 plus VAT delivered from Bundedtanks.com, these easy to install, retro-fit tank monitors are a must.

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| LAMMA

New seeding system improves accuracy of drilling depth when Till-Seeding oilseed rape At LAMMA [22 & 23 January 2014] OPICO will launch the new HE-VA Accu Disc Till-Seeding system for oilseed rape. Bolting behind a HE-VA subsoiler or disc roller, it places the seed at a consistent and accurate depth behind the subsoiler leg, thus further improving establishment and uniformity of plant size in the emerging crop. ames Woolway from OPICO explains: “This is the next step in the evolution of Till-Seeding – the establishment technique where the seed is drilled in line with the subsoiler legs into the stubble. Till-Seeding leads to better overall crop establishment, improved root structure, stronger plants and growth, and ultimately better yields. “Crop establishment is already very good with Till-Seeding, but drilling at a consistent depth whilst Till-Seeding gives even better results. Although others are promoting the use of precision drills, OPICO trials have shown that the key is to drill at a consistent depth to improve germination and evenness of plant size.” Each Accu Disc unit consists of a double disc coulter to open a slot in the soil and place the seed. The coulter is on a spring-mounted parallelogram, which enables pressure to be adjusted so it can accurately follow the contours of the soil, thus ensuring every seed is drilled to the same depth. The discs are followed by a rubber press wheel which closes and consolidates the seed slot, ensuring seed to soil contact. The Accu Disc units are in turn mounted on a seed bar which provides a

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centralised depth and pressure adjustment, making it simple to set the seed depth. OPICO has run trials in England, Scotland and Denmark over the past two years with the HE-VA Accu Disc. These have shown that drilling at a consistent depth improves germination of the seed, consistency in plant size, and allows significant cuts in seed rate to be made. Mr Woolway adds: “With some agrochemicals rape seed needs to be buried so that germination and growth are not affected. The double disc and press wheel system of the Accu Disc ensures this is the case.” Also new at LAMMA will be the HE-VA easy draft legs which are available as an option on new subsoilers, or can be retrofitted to existing machines. These are ideal when farmers do not need to subsoil deeply to alleviate compaction and also want to reduce HP and diesel usage, but still require the benefit from improved rooting of rape plants behind the subsoiler legs. The HE-VA Accu Disc seeding system is available in 3m (5 leg), 3.5m, 4.4m folding and 5m (9 leg) folding models. Prices range from £3,564+VAT up to £6,378+VAT. For more

The new HE-VA Accu Disc Till-Seeding system for oilseed rape bolts behind a HE-VA subsoiler or disc roller. It places the seed at a consistent and accurate depth behind the subsoiler leg, thus further improving establishment and uniformity of plant size in the emerging crop.

details, contractors and farmers can contact OPICO on 01778 421111 or visit the website www.opico.co.uk

January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 25

| LAMMA

Kubota gearing up for LAMMA Tractor and groundcare specialists Kubota is busy preparing for what promises to be a packed 2014; celebrating its 35th anniversary in the UK market and introducing a new industry leading aftercare service. isitors to Kubota’s stand (H71) at LAMMA 2014 will be able to see first hand Kubota’s extensive range of solutions for the agricultural market. The company will also be launching Kubota Care, an innovative five-year extended warranty package with a variety of other features.

“Kubota Care adds an extra layer of reliability to our aftercare service, ensuring that Kubota customers can always call on expert advice and one of our close-knit network of dealers, whenever they need it.” Adrian Langmead, Kubota Tractor and Groundcare Business Development Manager, comments: “There are lots of reasons to get excited about 2014; it’s set to be a big year for Kubota. We’ve reached an important

landmark in our history and it’s great to be able to share our success with the industry at LAMMA. The past 12-months have been a year of growth and development for us; improving on existing models whilst also bringing to market new and exciting additions.” “The launch of Kubota Care is part of our commitment to add value to the service we provide to our customers. For those eager to find out more about the new extended warranty package, they will have the chance to talk at length to one of our industry experts.” Kubota Care does exactly what its name implies; ensuring tractors are cared for against any unforeseen expensive repair costs during the first five years of its life. Customers simply decide the service hour usage most appropriate to them and the cost of the scheme is relative to the hours usage purchased: 2000hrs (free of charge), 3000hrs, 4000hrs or 5000hrs. If the forecasted use is

Farmers turn to tech to future proof their business

only 3000hrs over a 5-year period, for example, the Kubota Care premium and service cost will be tailored accordingly. “Kubota Care adds an extra layer of reliability to our aftercare service, ensuring that Kubota customers can always call on expert advice and one of our close-knit network of dealers, whenever they need it.” Under the ‘service contract’, all major maintenance will be carried out by an authorised Kubota dealer and only genuine parts used as part of all servicing. Customers will also benefit from Kubota’s exchange programme, which allows them to part exchange their existing model for another M series tractor during the 5-year period.

A wide range of tractor and groundcare machinery will be on display at the show, for the higher horsepower MGX range and the recently launched M6060 and M7060 tractors. In addition, Kubota is showcasing its popular B30 series compact tractors and the mid range L4240 machines. A range of G Series ride-on mowers and the out-front F3680 will be on display. These will be accompanied by a selection of Kubota’s growing range of utility vehicles, including the RTV400Ci, RTV900 and the RTV1140. For more information on Kubota and its extensive range of solutions for the construction, groundcare and agriculture sectors visit www.kubota.co.uk or call 01844 268000.

Rural business software specialist Landmark Systems has seen a surge in requests for technology upgrades as farms seek to future proof their businesses. series of nationwide workshops held in the autumn has led to a flurry of requests to upgrade from the popular KEY32 accounts package to its highspec successor KEYPrime. When all the upgrades are complete an additional 63,400 acres will be covered by the new KEYPrime software. Landmark Systems MD Nigel Parsons said: “The computer industry is advancing at an incredible rate and today’s software is able to do so much more to make businesses run smoothly and efficiently. “KEYPrime has been specifically developed with today’s commercial challenges in mind, so our teams have been out and about encouraging clients to take advantage of the current technology.

“KEY32 is still very much fit for purpose and we are continuing to support people who are not ready to transfer across just yet. However KEYPrime offers a raft of new features and will enable businesses to future proof themselves against the march of technology.” Landmark field and telephone support staff have been busy advising clients on data transfers, including the ‘fresh start’ for those wanting to take advantage of the upgrade timing to review how they code and set up their data. Experts from Landmark Systems will be on hand at LAMMA 2014 to discuss the advantages of KEYPrime software. You can find them at in Hall 7, Stand 7106.

26 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

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| LAMMA F440R round baler

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January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 27

| LAMMA

Claydon at LAMMA 2014

Claydon roller

On their stand at LAMMA, Claydon will be displaying the latest additions to their range - the new 3.0m wide Claydon Fertiliser Hybrid drill and the 12.3m wide Claydon Rolls. hese new products have been added to meet customer demand and are designed to complement the rest of the Claydon range and enable users to cost effectively achieve the best possible crop establishment. New fertiliser placement system On the stand at LAMMA will be both the new 3.0m Claydon Fertiliser Hybrid drill which features a new split hopper design, plus the front-mounted 1500kg capacity hopper and the liquid fertiliser tank for larger 4.0m, 4.8m and 6m Hybrid drills. Claydon has seen a considerable increase in demand for technology that enables fertiliser to be accurately placed with the seed whilst drilling. This works particularly well with the Claydon system where only the soil immediately around the seeding zone is moved, leaving the rest of the soil undisturbed. By being able to accurately place the fertiliser where it is needed alongside the seed, this ensures

that the optimum nutrient is available to the young seedling for improved utilisation. In addition, there is also the opportunity to reduce cost because fertiliser is only applied where necessary, rather than being applied to the 50% of undisturbed soil between each seed row. The new 3.0m Claydon Fertiliser Hybrid drill on display at LAMMA features a split hopper that is mounted further forward on the drill for improved stability. The drill has the capacity to carry 750kg of seed and 750kg of fertiliser, fed through two metering units so that variable application rates can be applied. The fertiliser rate is set and controlled using the drillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s RDS Artemis Electronic control system, so no separate control box is required. On both the 3.0m Claydon Fertiliser Hybrid and on front hopper versions, the fertiliser is fed down the back of the leading breaker tine and placed 75-100mm below the seeding zone. However, the system is flexible, so that if

required fertiliser can be fed down the back of the seeding tine, so placing it with the seed. Alternatively the micro-granular system can be used in combination with solid or liquid fertiliser. Claydon 12.3m roll Also on display will be the new Claydon 12.3m Rolls. These new rolls provide an important part of the overall Claydon Drilling System, by enabling the thorough consolidation of the soil within the seeding zone to ensure optimum soil to seed contact, moisture retention and a reduction in slug activity. The Claydon Rolls comprise of five 2.5m wide sections that fold down horizontally to just 2.85m for

Claydon 3m split hopper

transport. Each roller unit is fitted with 24 inch breaker rings with a working weight of 682kg/metre to provide optimum consolidation. Incorporated into the frame is a load transfer system to ensure that weight is evenly distributed across the full working width of the roller for an even, uniform finish. With a minimum power requirement of 100 horsepower, working at 6kph the Claydon rolls are capable of covering around 6.6ha/hour. The standard specification also includes full road lighting and hydraulic braking.

Visit us at LAMMA Stand B101

28 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

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| LAMMA

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January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 29

| LAMMA

The new drier generation Visit GrowHow and win £1000 towards your T next fertiliser order The 2014 range of Master Driers that are on show at this year’s LAMMA show incorporate many new features. he popular 12 Ton Model is fully Galvanised and the whole range introduces ‘New Age’ Technology which can be personalised to meet individual requirements, with capacities from 10 Ton - 45 Ton and flexibility in specification. We have also imposed a price freeze! All models are available for a limited period at 2012 retail prices! The principle of drying remains the same, but, the emphasis has been to make Master Driers ‘user’ friendly. They offer efficient drying and simplified operation with manual or automatic programmes. The new operating systems are incorporated in both the Electric and PTO driven Driers. These operating systems include an Audible Alarm or Auto ‘Cut Off’ which will alert the Operator when the Drier is loaded, to avoid overflow of grain. Also included as an option is an internal Moisture Meter for monitoring temperature and moisture, together with an Automatic ‘Cut Off’ of the Burner at a predetermined moisture. The Master Eye Telephone Combinator Messaging System will keep you in touch with your Drier, alerting the operator when drying is completed or if the Drier is in need of attention. One unique standard feature on all models is the “3 Stage Burner”. It is

designed with three fuel nozzles which operate in any sequence to give a wide range of temperatures. The main advantage is that it is not necessary to change the fuel jet which simplifies the operation of the burner when drying different crops. This option is available at no extra charge! Electric Drive Models are becoming more popular as they can be fully automated and are operated by a small Siemens Computer Unit with ‘Touch screen’ controls. Incorporating a comprehensive menu control panel which gives the Operator many options depending on the crop being handled, allowing for burner ‘operating control’ and ‘top up’ facilities to compensate for shrinkage. All programmes are offered with full Automatic Mastermatic ‘Touch’ Screen Control System with manual override, all of which allows the crop to be dried to meet individual circumstances. Again this option is available at no extra charge! Masters have also introduced a new range of square section fully galvanised wet grain bins to complement its range of grain driers. These are available from 3 – 30 Ton capacities and are supplied as a flat ‘self-assembly’ kit. For more information on the New Generation of Master Driers please call us Tel: 01787 228450 or visit www. Masterfarm.co.uk

Calling in at the GrowHow stand at the LAMMA show on 23rd or 24th January could be well worth your while in more ways than one. s well as being able to access technical advice on fertiliser inputs from the GrowHow farm advice team you will also be able to take part in a special Prize Draw. This gives you the chance to win £1,000 towards your next fertiliser order and five free GrowHow N-Min tests worth another £500 to help you plan your use of nitrogen fertiliser. N-Min is a uniquely accurate nitrogen sampling service which measures the amount of nitrogen that will come from the soil across the whole growing season. Unlike basic SMN tests, which only measure what’s in the soil on the day the sample was taken, NMin also cleverly calculates how much N will mineralise from the soil and so become available to the crop as the season progresses.

Armed with this information the corrected bagged fertiliser application rate can be calculated to ensure only the nitrogen required by the crop is applied to the crop. In many cases this means lower nitrogen rates reducing input costs and protecting the environment from possible N losses. Just as importantly it may be that N rates have to be increased to ensure yield and quality targets are met. Visit the GrowHow stand 713 to find out more about how N-Min helps target N applications, provide a few simple contact details and enter the Prize Draw for your chance to win free fertiliser and the technology to use it as efficiently as possible.

Visit us at LAMMA Hall 3 Stand 322

30 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

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| LAMMA

Pacepacker’s Collator System to make show debut ahead of Co-op installation See Pacepacker at LAMMA 2014, Hall 9, Stand 940. isitors to the Lamma Show will have the first official viewing of Pacepacker Services’ new fresh produce Collator System – ahead of its installation at the Co-operative Group’s (The Co-op) food packing facility in Angus. This is the second system of its kind purchased within the last 11 months by the The Co-op, a leading corner shop retailer, who installed the initial system to transform their packing operation and improve production efficiency. Pacepacker’s Collator, which places pre-packed polybags of bulk food items such as potatoes into large outer sacks, achieves packing speeds of 80 polybags per minute – which for The Co-op has increased output by 10% . Pacepacker designed and built the original Collator System as a prototype following a direct request by The Co-op to automate the labour intensive operation of packing pre-packed polybags of goods into large outer sacks, often weighing up to 25kgs, for ease of delivery to their nationwide span of over 4,500 stores. Fraser Tait, Operations Manager at the Co-op, comments: “The process of packing pre-packed polybags of products into an outer sack is used as a way to contain and display bulky foods such as potatoes and other vegetables. However manually packing these items was both an onerous and cost prohibitive process, and prior to discussions with Pacepacker we found existing collator systems on the market were inefficient.” Responding to The Co-op’s demand for ease of collating and packing bulk food items, award winning automation specialist

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Pacepacker created the Collator technology as a standalone system to work with almost any existing sack placing and sealing equipment. The Collator’s design has specifically addressed drawbacks found in similar systems on the market as Paul Wilkinson, Pacepacker’s Business Development Manager explains: “We found that many systems on the market did not control the fall of the product very well, which often results in pre-packs breaking through the bottom of the outer sack due to their weight and density. To support the pre-packed bulk goods as they enter the outer sack, our system uses motorised support arms to control the descent of the pre-packed polybags, eliminating damage and waste to both product and pack.” Fraser Tait concludes: “We are delighted with Pacepacker’s Collator solution. The system’s ability to group and place the prepacked polybags of goods into an outer sack with ease has enabled us to overcome wastage, increase throughput and reduce labour on the packing lines by 22%. Pacepacker’s ingenious approach and the subsequent success of the prototype has led us to commission a second system. As a standalone product and compact in its design, the machine allows for effortless integration into our existing lines.” Pacepacker will showcase alongside the Collator System their T Series sack placer and award winning Total Bag Control (TBC) system at the Lamma Show which can be integrated to work with the Collator System to accurately seal sacks with ultimate control enabling enhanced pack quality.

Capable of packing up to 80 pre-packed bags the freestanding Collator machine is designed to overcome previous limitations

Corner-shops retailers such as the Co-op use large sacks as a way to contain and display bulky items

January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 31

| Renewables

Energy Now Expo returns to Telford to trump biggest event to date Energy Now Expo back with a bang after most successful expo yet last year. ith a move to Telford International Centre last year, Energy Now Expo 2013 brought together farmers and landowners from across the UK in the most successful expo to date and the team are looking to build on this success for the 2014 event. The Energy Now Expo, which showcases renewable energy opportunities available to agricultural and rural communities, will be held on the 12th - 13th February 2014 and will include a large conference and exhibition featuring over 160 renewable energy product and service suppliers. Attendants to the event will be given the opportunity to participate in a multi streamed conference in which industry experts will present and discuss the very latest developments in renewable energy within the farming community. Past speakers include TV presenter Dick Strawbridge; Ian Burrow, Head of renewables and agriculture for NatWest Bank; Anna West Head of Consumer Incentives at the Office for Low Emission Vehicles and Dr Phil Bennion MEP. Speakers confirmed for seminars this year include: • Dr Jonathan Scurlock, Chief Adviser, Renewable Energy and Climate Change, NFU

• Nigel Penlington, Environment Programme Manager BPEX • David Collins, Head of the REA Biogas Group • Ray Noble, co-Chair of the Governments Solar Strategy Group • Iain Watt, Principal Sustainability Advisor, Forum For the future • Tim Breitmeyer, Chairman of CLA Environment Committee • Louisa Corsey, Small to medium wind development manager, RenewableUK • Tony Bowen, Chair, Heat Pump Association David Knox from Treco, who attended Energy Now Expo 2013 said: “Energy Now 2013 was a great show for Treco. We came away with significantly more high quality biomass enquiries than at other shows we have recently attended as well as seeing a massive increase on enquiries taken compared to past Energy Now Expos. Our team met with a high proportion of farmers and rural landowners and felt that this year’s event was a great fit with our core market. “The new venue at Telford was a joy to exhibit at. We felt that being able to just focus on meeting prospective clients is reflected in the success we experienced at the show and I have had no hesitation in booking already for

the Energy Now Expo 2014.” David Jacobmeyer, organiser of Energy Now Expo said: “After the success of Energy Now Expo 2013 we are hoping that our fifth expo will be the best yet. We hope that the expo helps to demystify renewable energy options for farmers by bringing together suppliers and experts from the industry to advise the many options that are available to them.” “The 2013 expo had over 2,500 visitors, speakers and exhibitors, and we are hoping that all the attractions at our 2014 event will encourage an even larger audience. With legislation and technology changing all the time, we would encourage people to revisit the expo year after year as there is always something new to learn. We have some great speakers lined up and we feel it is certainly an event not to miss.” Admission to the exhibition is free for all those who pre-register. Free conference entry is also available for Energy Now magazine subscribers, as well as to members of the NFU, CLA, Anglia Farmers, and Woldmarsh Producers – providing they pre-register. More information can be found at www.energynowexpo.co.uk

PV Cycle prepared for introduction of WEEE regulations in the new year New regulations which determine what happens to old solar PV modules after their working life in the UK will come into effect in the new year. he revised UK waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) regulations for solar PV were placed before parliament on 10 December and will now come into effect on 1 January 2014. The WEEE regulations will see the introduction of PV panels as a new category after intense lobbying from the solar industry which fought off plans to apply a market share calculation determined by weight. Such a calculation would have left the solar industry liable for a disproportionate amount of money to comply with a law that was initially designed for smaller consumer electronic products. David Burton, the country manager of producer compliance scheme PV Cycle UK, explained: "The regulations are traditionally focused upon ensuring collection and recycling of consumer products but not necessarily on the very nature of PV panels with their long lifecycle and B2B character. Thankfully the department of business, skills and innovation (BIS) has taken a pragmatic approach, in consultation with the PV sector, to ensure that

32 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

the industry takes responsibility without damaging its long-term sustainability objectives.” The news makes the UK the first EU member state to introduce its own national legislation ahead of the transposition deadline of midFebruary. "While it's unusual to see the introduction of new regulations take effect before the legal deadline, it makes sense in this instance, as the new regulations come into force at the start of a new compliance year, which is defined on a calendar year basis, and to introduce changes part way through the year would have caused confusion and additional costs," explained Burton. As a result of the new regulations, all companies that import solar PV panels into the UK will be required to register with a producer compliance scheme and as a consequence take financial responsibility for waste solar modules. Revised WEEE regulations from the agency will require UK PV companies to join a compliance scheme from next year.

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| Renewables

Turbine noise can be heard from just 3% of windfarms, report finds Only 15 of 521 sites have a noise problem caused by turbine blades stalling when wind speed drops – and software can fix it. nly about 3% of windfarms in the UK are likely to produce a low-frequency sound that can be heard up to a kilometre away.The thumping "whoomph"-like sound, produced when the blades on a turbine partially stall because of changes in wind speed and direction, is about as loud as the noise from a single carriageway road, according to a review of evidence on the effect. Opponents of windfarms often cite noise concerns along with aesthetic complaints, but the problem is shown to be infrequent and can be easily fixed with software changes, said trade body RenewableUK, which commissioned the report. The noise – known as other amplitude modulation – is different to the normal "whooshing" sound that can be heard close to turbines as they cut through the air, known as amplitude modulation. The review looked at previous reports, including a 2007

University of Salford paper that found of the 133 wind turbine sites around the UK at the time, four were definitely creating the sound, and eight were possibly connected to it but could not be proved conclusively. "It can be read that a similar percentage could apply now," said a RenewableUK spokesman, suggesting at least 15 of the current 521 wind turbine sites are affected by the problem. But the report, by the Temple Group environmental consultancy, also said that the problem is easily solved by changes to the software running the turbine, which rectifies the stalling problem. Local authorities that receive complaints about such noise can force turbine operators to rectify the issue. RenewableUK's deputy chief executive, Maf Smith, said: "The research shows that this only affects a limited number of windfarm sites, and when it does occur it can be resolved using a software fix which controls the angle of the turbine blades. It's

right that the wind industry should take the lead in investigating issues like this when they arise." The report concluded that it was "not feasible to predict" at which locations the noise might occur. Its authors concluded the main causes of the sound were "an aerodynamic effect called "stall" and the associated separation of wind flow from the upper surface of the turbine blade." Polls have repeatedly found the

Exlusive US deal for small wind turbine secured by UK business A British company has secured an exclusive deal with a US wind turbine manufacturer to provide the UK market with an affordable, low-cost, 6 kW wind turbine. klahoma-based wind turbine manufacturer Bergey has partnered with UFW, the renewable energy division of DCC PLC, to distribute the turbine which is derived from an existing 10kW design that has seen over 3000 units installed worldwide. Its reputation for providing investors with a low cost-per-unit of energy generated is reinforced by its unsurpassed low maintenance costs and 5 year warranty. The cost of investment can be returned within 6-8 years, and from a cost-effectiveness point of view is one of the most competitive on the market. The 6kW will also be available as a G83 compliant machine, which can be installed without prior approval from the District Network Operator. David Taylor, Business Development Manager at UFW, comments: “Bergey has already seen 10,000 wind turbines installed worldwide, including their highly successful 1kW machine. “It’s a good demonstration of how the renewable energy industry is thriving and with the variety of products for green energy sources ever-increasing it’s paramount that people feel

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majority of the British public are in favour of wind power, but onshore windfarms have become increasingly political contentious, with Tory MPs calling for cuts to subsidies. Onshore wind subsidies were cut 10% in April and further cuts were announced earlier this month, leading RenewableUK to say that some marginal community turbines were no longer likely to go ahead.

secure in their investment. The 6kW product offers customers a 5 year warranty – the longest in its field, and low maintenance costs. “We are delighted to add the Bergey 6kW to our portfolio. This size of turbine is incredibly popular and we are confident that the solid, reliable, tried and tested Bergey design will be an attractive proposition.” Mike Bergey, President of Bergey Wind Power, commented: “Feed-In Tariffs are a key determining factor for those investing in a renewable energy source, and the Excel 6’s low maintenance costs and reasonable initial installation fees make it a highly competitive turbine. “We’re very pleased to be working in partnership with UFW and are impressed with their depth of experience in the renewables market. Their solid business plan for their wind programme and strong background in clean energy technologies make them an ideal partner and we look forward to working with them installing the Excel 6 across the UK.”

January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 33

| Renewables

ADBA welcomes funded AD research network The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council* (BBSRC) has today [18 Dec] announced that a proposal for a funded research network in AD, led by Professor Charles Banks at the University of Southampton and supported by ADBA has been successful. he AD network is one of 13 unique collaborative ‘Networks in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy’ (BBSRC NIBB) designed to boost interaction between the academic research base and industry, promoting the translation of research into benefits for the UK. The networks pool skills from academia and business to develop research projects with the potential to overcome major challenges in the industrial biotechnology and bioenergy arena. Each network includes funds to support a range of small proof of concept research projects, to demonstrate potential commercial benefits. Research challenges and potential solutions will then be developed by the network and industry in tandem. It is envisaged that many of these ideas and collaborative links will build into the next phase: the Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst, funded by BBSRC, the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and the EPSRC, to be launched in early 2014 to support the development of ideas from concept to

commercialisation. Welcoming the news Charlotte Morton, chief executive, ADBA said: “It is truly excellent news that the significant contribution that anaerobic digestion could make to the UK bioeconomy - with good communication within and between academic and industrial communities - has been recognised by the BBSRC through the support of this network “This is a just reward for all the hard work that Professor Charles Banks, ADBA and others have been doing to foster communication between the industry and academic communities. “We will be working closely with Charles Banks as the AD Network is developed alongside ADBA’s own work on the R&D Strategy for AD.” These new schemes (BBSRC NIBB and the Industrial Biotechnology Catalyst) form the central part of BBSRC's strategy to support the development of Industrial Biotechnology and

34 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

Bioenergy (IBBE) as a key component of the UK bioeconomy and will help to provide sustainable processes for

producing bio-based alternatives products which currently rely on petrochemicals.

Farmers to benefit from fertiliser produced by anaerobic digestion plant By-product available to utilise on land. merald Biogas - the North East’s first commercial food waste Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plant is encouraging the local farming community to utilise the nutrient rich digestate produced by the facility.

The company, based at Newton Aycliffe Industrial Estate, will produce 50,000 tonnes of digestate annually and is keen to work with farmers within the Newton Aycliffe area to supply the product for use on their land.

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| LAMMA

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January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 35

| Fencing

Creosote vs alternative water based pressure treatments This is a debate we have had for many years with our agricultural and equestrian customers. The answer is always the same, is it “cost to buy “or “cost to use”, we have seen many different claims over the years of how modern water based treatments are the future and also claims of 10-15years service life with in ground contact, however time and time again customers complain of the product failing these timelines. ere at Wooden Supplies we are firm believers that a pressure creosoted stake will outlast any of the modern day water based products. We have been pressure treating with traditional creosote here on site, in the heart of Harlestone Firs on Northampton’s Althorp Estate, for over 100 years so have some experience in the science of treatment of timber. Our current staff have well over 25 years’ experience of treatments and certainly knows a thing or two when it comes to the benefits of creosote. The testimonials from our customers speak for themselves. When we sell any wire products, our sales people will always ask if the client requires any creosoted

timber only to be told that the posts we sold to them 20 years ago are still solid but the wire has rusted off of them. More and more of our fencing contractors are specifying creosote as the treatment of choice as they are revisiting fences erected 3-5 years ago that had been guaranteed as 15 year service life and finding they have failed. In fact, some of them are now finding themselves in costly disputes due to the failure of modern treatments at ground level and will now only work with pressure creosote treated timber. Creosote has been around for 100s of years and the combination of Naptolene and Coal tar have changed very little in that time. It is still highly resistant to burrowing insect infestation and fungal

36 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

growth as well as resistant to water penetration. The method of drying the timber to less than 25% moisture is critical to our process hence the need for our large drying sheds. The Creosote then has to be heated to ensure its viscosity is thin enough to penetrate deep into the timber within the pressure vessel. The timber once treated is generally black when it first comes out of the tank but once exposed to the sunlight turns to the deep aesthetically pleasing chocolate brown that was once visible in many fields across the land. As creosoted timber is non salt bearing your livestock won’t chew

through it as they will with other types of treated timber. Of course labour rates for erecting fences are a huge factor when considering the overall cost of your job, so if you want a treatment that is a “fit and forget” our advice is do it once rather than have to revisit in the next 3-5 years. With a fleet of delivery vehicles from 7.5t to 18t self-sufficient forklift lorry vehicle we are able to deliver nationwide. So if you are fed up of revisiting your fences and would like to talk to one of our customer service team then please call 01604 581444 or check us out at www.woodensupplies.co.uk

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| Fencing

Introducing Jacksons Fencing and the Definitive Guide to Timber Treatment Richard Jackson, CEO of Jacksons, reports on what makes Jacksons approach to timber treatment different and how the company is able to offer an unrivalled 25year guarantee on their timber products. e have been very concerned in recent years about how difficult it is to get our message across to key audiences, like farmers. There are so many conflicting stories out there and sometimes we have heard that our competitors are even undermining our guarantee, which is something we don’t take lightly. “This has spurred us on to publish the Definitive Guide to Timber Treatment, so we can set the record straight. Our aim is to cut through the hype and clarify the common misunderstandings associated with timber treatment.” Jacksons Fencing, if you aren’t familiar with the company, offers a huge range of agricultural and equestrian fencing products, which all come with an amazing 25-year guarantee against rot and insect attack. 40 year old fence! Richard Jacksons tells us more,

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“Our Jakcure pressure treated posts are guaranteed for 25 years, although we know they can last much longer than that. A customer in West Sussex asked us to quote for replacing a run of our post and rail fencing because it ‘wasn’t quite as strong now as it had once been’. It turned out that the original had been installed by the customer’s father in the late 1960s. “The fence was looking a bit long in the tooth, but considering it was more than 40 years old we were delighted with how well it had lasted,” Environmental benefits This is, not only about the company’s reputation, it has a clear ecological and environmental message as well. “When you consider that the stakes are a relatively small proportion of the total cost of the initial fence, it makes no sense to buy a cheaper product. “If you get it wrong you will have

to take it all down, replace the stakes and then put the wire or the rails back again after six or seven years, when for a small extra cost in the first place you could have had a fence that lasted at least 25 years. “Environmentally, too, it makes much more sense to buy a product that will last 25 years instead of something you might

have to replace as many as five times in the same period. You can download a copy of the Definitive Guide to Timber Treatment from the Jacksons website, as well as accessing their complete range of fencing, gates and associated products – www.jacksons-fencing.co.uk /farmers or call 0800 414343 for brochures or quotes.

January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 37

| Fencing

Hampton XNET™ Bespoke, BEST and British Otter fencing

How do you keep livestock in and predators out…? Of course… its easy.. .you use electric fencing!

Tried...Tested and Passed!Contact Hampton’s to discuss your bespoke fencing requirement. hen Allan Walker of Westlands Angling, Singleshorne in Hull approached UK manufacturers of steel wire fencing, Hampton Steel Ltd, to produce 2000m of otter fencing to his own specification, Hampton’s rose to the challenge with Hampton XNET™. With six lakes set aside for angling and with some prize fish to protect, the safe exclusion of otters is crucial to Mr. Walker, but not at the expense of the landscape; a boundary that could be aesthetically sympathetic was equally as important. “Some of my neighbours and I have already lost some fish due to otter attacks, I wanted to ensure that the fencing I chose was going to provide the best long term solution in terms of exclusion but it also had to be visually attractive and fit in with the local environment.” Said Mr. Walker. “I purchased from Hampton Steel because they could provide a bespoke fencing option with Hampton XNET™. I provided them with my specification for Otter Fencing and they produced it quickly and exactly to my requirements. The quality is outstanding; it's been extremely easy to erect and has out performed all previous types of fencing for the exclusion of otters.” “The hinged upper section has been really beneficial. If an otter manages to scale the vertical mesh, which is difficult due to the height of the fence and size of the mesh, then this top section deters even the most intrepid of them.” Said Mr. Walker. Whilst protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the EC Habitats Directive, otters can be one of the most destructive predators. Hampton’s XNET™ has smooth knotted joints which lock the vertical and horizontal line wires tight, providing a safe and incredibly strong barrier against these attractive creatures. A single hinged line is an easy addition to the manufacturing process allowing for an angled upper section of the fence thereby making it virtually impossible for the otter to successfully scale the fence and gain entry. It is recommended that the lower section be buried to a depth of 400mm to help guard against

otters burrowing under the fence. ‘We worked closely with Mr. Walker to produce a fencing system that would not only help protect his fish by excluding otters, achieve this without harming the otter, but also be as sympathetic to the surrounding landscape as possible. Fortunately, with Hampton XNET™ we have the versatility to fulfill on all counts.” Said Peter Matten, Sales Director at Hampton Steel Ltd. “With Hampton XNET™ we can design wire fencing to our customer’s specification. Since our £millions investment almost two years ago orders for this European first machine have gone from strength to strength; and what’s great is that more customers want to put us to the test with their bespoke specification requests. We have had other similarly challenging applications that would quite simply have fallen short with existing fencing solutions. The versatility and strength provided by Hampton XNET™ is quite staggering. One such request was for a bear enclosure at Five Sisters Zoo in Scotland. Height and strength were key, but aesthetics were of equal importance; Hampton XNET™ is not only superior in terms of strength and mesh sizes available but you have a boundary that is really sympathetic to the landscape. Hampton XNET™ is built to succeed and is only manufactured by Hampton Steel in Northamptonshire. We welcome enquiries from anyone who needs advice on a particular fencing solution.’ Said Peter Matten. “I would definitely recommend Hampton's XNET™ for Otters Fencing.” Said Mr. Walker Hampton XNET™ is manufactured in the UK to BS EN 10223-5, wire is produced to BS 4102 and is fully galvanised to BS EN 10244-2 Class A. Visit www.hamptonsteel.co.uk to view Hampton’s full product range or call the sales team to discuss your specific fencing requirements 01933 234070 Hampton’s are exhibiting at LAMMA, 22nd and 23rd January at the East of England Showground, Peterborough. Stand No. B24 BRITISH WIRE FENCING YOU CAN TRUST.

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ww.electricfencing.co.uk is the largest specialist online supplier of electric fencing in the UK. We have the most extensive and comprehensive range of Hotline electric fencing products to cover all of your electric fencing needs. Whether it is a new fence or an upgrade of your current fence you’ll find what you need in our online shop: poultry netting kits to keep Mr Fox out, three reel

systems to keep sheep and pigs in, post and rail protection kits, and we also have a wide range of energises to suit most applications and all the electric fencing accessories you could possibly need. If you are not sure what you need - contact us - we know electric fencing! For more information call: 01620860058 or email: info@electricfencing.co.uk

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| Security

Prevent farm thefts Commonsense tips from Lincolnshire Police. ivestock Grazing animals are an easy target for the thief. Regularly check the fields where animals are grazing - daily if possible.Keep your hedges, fences and gates in good repair. Ditches form a natural barrier. Field gate hinges should have capping hinges so they cannot be removed easily. Cattle grids should be removable and locked out of position when not in use. Use locking posts to obstruct large openings to yards etc.Consider using closed circuit TV so you can watch animals in barns or yards from

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the comfort of your home. This can be especially useful during busy times like the lambing season.If livestock is stolen it is important that you can give the police an accurate description. Eartags and horn brands help police to identify stock. Freeze branding, hot branding or tattooing your postcode will also help.Take photographs of particularly valuable animals. Machinery and Tools Try to secure or immobilise vehicles or equipment when not in use. If it is possible remove machinery from fields, especially

near roads. Identify your property by: • Keeping a record of the serial number, chassis and model numbers of machines. • Painting your name on valuable tarpaulins in letters at least one foot high. • Using metal engravers to mark tools, vehicles and equipment with your postcode followed by the first two letters of your farm’s name. Always keep tools and small pieces of machinery locked away. Do not leave them lying around. Farm Buildings Store valuable equipment and tools - chainsaws, welding and cutting equipment, vehicle spares and riding tack - in a secure building behind a strong locked door. Or, build a metal storage cage inside a building and keep it locked.Use British Standard locks, good quality locking bars and high security padlocks. Windows can be protected with metal bars. Lock outbuildings when you are not using them.Thieves don’t like well-lit areas so fit outside security lights that are controlled by an automatic timeswitch or infra-red beams that react to heat or movement. Consider fitting an intruder alarm or closed circuit TV to alert you to anything auspicious. Farmhouse Farmhouses attract burglars because they are often large and in isolated places. Fit British Standard deadlocks to all outside doors, reinforced with strong bolts, which are preferably key-operated.Fit

window locks on ground floor windows and those near flat roofs and drain pipes.The main door should have a security chain and wide-angle door viewer, so that you can see who is on the other side of the door.A burglar alarm is useful but is often a last line of defence. Most only warn you when someone has already broken into your house. Your first priority should be to stop them getting that far.Keep shotguns and firearms in a securely locked place and store ammunition separately. If you have to keep cash or jewellery in the house, a safe is a good idea.Keep a record of your valuable possessions. Where possible, use a security marking device to mark them with your postcode followed by your house number or the first two letters of your farm’s name. Photograph your most valuable items - with a ruler to indicate scale. Don’t advertise that you are not at home by leaving notes for traders, or garage doors open. When your house is empty ask a neighbour or your local Farmwatch to keep an eye on your farm. And be prepared to do the same for them! It costs nothing to be alert Keep up to date on the current crime trends in your area. A good way to do this is to join your local Farmwatch. Your local police crime prevention officer can advise you. Encourage your employees to be security conscious, and look out for strange vans or cars - a registration number may give the police a vital lead. Remember - Insurance Pays!

January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 39

| Sheep

Shearing competitions in focus The British Isles Shearing Competition Association (BISCA) held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the British Wool Marketing Board’s (BWMB) headquarters in Bradford recently.

Gareth Daniel Shearing Personality of the Year 2013 with David John, Lister's

he top Area judges from UK shearing competitions, along with representatives from most of the major shearing and wool handling shows in the country attended, and the general consensus was that things are looking good. The Lister’s Shearing Personality of the Year award is always one of the meeting’s highlights, this year going to the Welsh Open shearer Gareth Daniel. Unanimous support for a proposal that BISCA officials now stay in post for four years instead of two meant that Chairman and Vice Chairman Arwyn Jones and Colin MacGregor respectively were re-elected. Arwyn and Colin put aside old rivalries from their shearing days, when the Welshman and Scotsman competed head to head, and were full of mutual praise. “I couldn’t stay in this job without Colin’s support,” Arwyn said. In his Chairman’s Report, Arwyn proudly stated that UK shearing is “going from strength to strength,” with excellent numbers of entrants

in competitions. It was a credit to the quality of UK shearing too, that top New Zealand shearing instructor Dean Te Huia had been “proud to have UK shearers on his courses” and frequently rang to recruit staff for the New Zealand season. Around 30 – 40 UK shearers fill positions annually in Dean’s hometown of Te Kuiti; Shearing Capital of the World. “UK shearing is definitely going in the right direction,” Arwyn said, thanking and praising Colin as Shearing Training Manager at the BWMB for the good work that has been done and that is clearly paying dividends. Colin responded modestly, saying that people had praised his leadership, but that “It’s easy to be a leader when you’ve got such a great team behind you”. Several lengthy debates arose during the course of the AGM, and as in previous years, one of them concerning National Rules. Area Judge Alan Derryman from Devon proposed bringing UK rules into line with New

Zealand/World rules, arguing that there was very little difference between them in practice. Also, he said that any small differences that did exist would be to the benefit of shearing quality. The general consensus was that people agreed and the motion was passed. Dave Turner, who had had reservations, said that he was happy that it had gone through a democratic process and stimulated debate. Also, after much discussion about a 50p competitor levy to help fund BISCA, it was decided instead to “keep things simple” and just increase each shearing competition’s annual affiliation fee from £50 to £75. Since last year’s AGM there had been a disappointingly low amount of support for the motion of getting shearing officially recognised as a sport and forming Shear Sports UK. This was, however, one of only a few setbacks in what was otherwise a very productive and positive shearers’ meeting. The next AGM will be held in Bradford again in November next year.

NSA to give away six specialist sheep feeders National Sheep Association (NSA) have announced an exciting joint promotion with Advantage Feeders, offering anyone joining NSA before 28th November 2014 the chance to win one of six 3in1Feeder 800 models. heep farmers simply have to sign up as a NSA member to be automatically entered into the free prize draw – or for existing NSA members they can gain an unlimited number of entries by recommending friends or neighbours who join the only UKwide organisation to offer a dedicated voice for sheep farmers. Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, explains: “We are delighted to be working with

Advantage Feeders for this NSA membership promotion and I am excited about giving away not one, but six top prizes over a 12-month period. “We will all benefit from NSA growing its membership numbers. It gives us a stronger and more effective voice, helps keep membership costs down and contributes to our resources so we can provide better support and services. The NSA provides a much needed voice for UK sheep

40 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

farmers and also supports them by providing up-to-day information and best practice advice for their farming business.” Advantage Feeders 3in1 technology brings together the thinking behind ad lib feed block and liquid feeds with the traditional feeding of concentrates and home-mixed hard feeds. The feeders can be used as a traditional creep feeder or adapted to ration feed intake for lambs and breeding adults. Rationing is

achieved by adjusting grooves at the feed face, encouraging stock to ‘lick’ rather than gorge and preventing the health implications caused by over-feeding. Advantage Feeders are also designed to save farmers’ time, reduce feed waste and deter mismothering at lambing time. The NSA promotion will see six 3in1Feeder 800 models given away, which can hold up to 500kg of feed.

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| Sheep

NSA urges retailers to look after UK sheep farmers as supplies of New Zealand lamb tighten The National Sheep Association (NSA) has urged retailers in the UK to work harder to create stronger trading relationships with domestic lamb suppliers, as they will be unable to continue relying so heavily on New Zealand imports in the future. igures released this week show the 2013 New Zealand lamb crop is the second smallest in nearly 60 years, with 1.3 million (4.7%) fewer lambs in the system than 2012. This comes at a time when New Zealand is beginning to prioritise emerging export markets, such as China, over more traditional export markets in Europe, meaning it will become increasingly difficult for UK supermarkets to undercut domestically produced lamb with cheap New Zealand cuts. Phil Stocker, NSA Chief Executive, says: “Supermarkets here in the UK are going to see increasing volatility in the years to come as a result of changing weather patterns impacting global supply (as seen this year in New Zealand) and international demand for lamb increasing. As for New Zealand, there are increasing opportunities for UK lamb to be exported to developing markets, and so retailers will have

to do more to secure domestic supplies. “The answer is greater connection between our UK producers and the domestic market, which can only be achieved by supermarkets paying more consistent prices and ensuring they stock UK lamb throughout the year. The practice of turning away from UK lamb in the New Year due to an assumption that it suddenly becomes ‘old season’ or ‘hogget’ cannot be justified. Lambs are regularly born from January through to May so to say they all become old season after one date is simply not right. With our major supermarkets talking publicly about shortening supply chains and supporting UK producers, in the interest of the entire supply chain including consumers, this wake-up call from NZ might finally result in some action.” New Zealand breeding ewe numbers have been under

pressure for several years as a result of a rapidly expanding dairy sector. NSA saw this firsthand, along with the appetite of Kiwi exporters to meet growing Chinese demand for lamb, when Mr Stocker took part in an Eblexorganised trip to New Zealand in August 2013. The impact of the 2013 drought was not fully known then, but has revealed itself in the Beef and Lamb New Zealand Lamb Crop 2013 report published on Tuesday. The figures show that a culmination of breeding ewes conceiving fewer lambs (down 3.8% at 1.208 per head compared to 1.246 in 2012) and fewer ewe lambs being put to the tup (down 17% cent with only 1.13m lambs born from ewe lambs) caused the 4.7% drop in total numbers. Beef and Lamb Zealand says the smaller lamb crop will impact on export processing numbers, which are expected to drop 6.8% to 19.5 million head, making 2013-14 the

third lowest export lamb total since 1960. Mr Stocker continues:“To put the figures into context, 1.3 million fewer lambs in New Zealand is roughly 23,500 tonnes of lamb product. New Zealand exported nearly 63,000 tonnes of sheepmeat to the UK in 2012, so that means more than 35% of that tonnage just will not be available for New Zealand to export in 2014. This is a very over-simplified interpretation of the numbers, but at a time when the increasing wealth in China is providing demand for premium New Zealand lamb cuts, it is clear large volumes of cheap New Zealand product will no longer be available to UK retailers in the future. Maybe now they will realise the importance and high quality of the lamb available on their doorsteps.”

Keep safety in mind when handling livestock, FUW urges Old livestock handling systems used on farms throughout Wales may well pose significant safety risks to livestock handlers, a recent survey by the Farmers’ Union of Wales has revealed. he survey carried out during the recent Royal Welsh Winter Fair highlighted that around 65% of on farm cattle handling systems are over 10 years old, whilst 40% of sheep systems are also over this age which might pose safety risks to livestock handlers. “The use of livestock handling systems has become more and more important from a health and safety perspective over recent years, especially if we look at TB testing in cattle and the clipping of cattle on farm prior to delivering them to slaughter,” said FUW agricultural education and training committee chairman Alun Edwards. Handling livestock is a dangerous activity and sadly accidents involving livestock

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account for a large proportion of farm fatalities. The number of reported injuries incurred while handling livestock has amounted to almost 1,000 over the last 10 years and inappropriate handling facilities are often to blame. “Despite the growing need to handle livestock for a range of statutory, veterinary or routine husbandry reasons, there is little resource within the industry to invest in handling systems. “Handling cattle always involves a risk of injury from crushing, kicking, butting or goring and farmers should always ensure that the handling systems are fit for purpose and staff are adequately trained and competent,” added Mr Edwards.

January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 41

| Pigs

‘Growing your business’ focus of 2014 British Pig & Poultry Fair With a theme dedicated to helping pig and poultry farmers grow their businesses, the British Pig & Poultry Fair 2014 is set to take place at Stoneleigh Park on the 13 and 14 May. s a Royal Agricultural Society of England event partnered by ABN, the Fair is the pig and poultry industry’s leading technical event. Taking place biennially the Fair is a must-visit for pig and poultry producers, with 92% of 2012 visitors rating the Fair as valuable to their business and 74% planning to make changes to their business following their visit. These findings have helped to steer the theme for the 2014 Fair, explains Alice Bell, Head of RASE Technical Events. “We will focus on helping pig and poultry producers develop their businesses and put the spotlight on four key issues.” The free technical forums at the 2014 Fair will cover subjects which can enable business growth and development. These include planning, energy diversification, raw material security and the use of media to positively promote the industry. Kevin Sketcher, ABN's Commercial Director, comments, “These sessions have all been chosen due to their topical nature and relevance in growing businesses. We want to provide pig and poultry producers with useful, practical advice that they can implement in their businesses.

“As a must-attend event, we want to encourage producers and the wider industry to get the date of the British Pig & Poultry Fair 2014 in the diary.” BPEX will also be holding a forum during the event covering the outlook of the industry and what will influence farm businesses over the next 12 months. Andrew Knowles, BPEX Head of Communications, explains why 2014 is going to be an exciting year for the UK pig industry. “Producers are constantly looking at opportunities to invest and continue to drive improvements in physical performance. There is also renewed interest in herd performance recording, and feed efficiency remains a key priority for farmers who are faced with trying to combat raw material costs.” He adds, “The 2014 Fair is a must for all involved in the pig and poultry industries with the latest ideas, solutions and new technology on show, and the opportunity to talk with experts to answer all those burning questions.” Over 10,000 visitors attended the Fair in 2012, with 300 exhibitors also present. It was seen as an excellent opportunity to explore new products and make purchases. 93% of the visitors rated the fair as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.

Russian pig producer leading the way alongside JSR Genetics Russia’s largest pork producer, ABH Miratorg, is helping to boost its country’s thriving pig production industry by working alongside JSR, utilising their expert genetics services. wned by Viktor and Alexander Linnik, ABH Miratorg has 25 farms across Russia housing around 125,000 sows, as well as its own slaughter facilities and feedstuff production. The business also has three boar studs, which are designed to keep 700 boars at a time, and are independent of the pig farms. These provide the sow farms with semen from the boar line according to the breeding programmes. In 2010, JSR started working with ABH Miratorg to audit their genetic programmes. Following a large-scale expansion - which saw the construction of 12 new automated pig farms - a restructure of the breeding programme was needed to provide a more sustainable design, as some aspects of the pig production pyramid were no longer appropriate for the size of the Miratorg production business. This was due to the increased number of farms, subsequent demands for replacement stock and supply from the studs that was needed to drive forward Miratorg’s pig production business. As part of the audit, JSR proposed making some changes to the design of the pyramid, including the installation of a nucleus genetic improvement programme, which would also assist with sustainable growth going forward.

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This was instead of expanding using suboptimal animals in some areas of the production pyramid, which had supported the growth of the business in previous years. At the top of ABH Miratorg’s genetic production pyramid is now a nucleus for 680 Danish Yorkshire maternal-line sows. The nucleus goal is to supply high-quality purebred Danish Yorkshire gilts to 10 sow farms and purebred Danish Yorkshire boars to sustain the nucleus breeding programme. Dr Grant Walling, Director of Science & Technology at JSR Genetics, is responsible for the contract with Miratorg, He said: “Following the findings of the audit we worked closely with the production team at ABH Miratorg to optimize the design of the breeding programme. This meant establishing a dedicated nucleus production to deliver genetic progress and a supply of grandparental animals to the other farms. “JSR advised on the design and overall structure of the nucleus and the source populations and after working with the Miratorg team we now provide software, technical input and advice on the running of a genetic improvement programme on the nucleus.” ABH Miratorg sought advice from JSR to

The 2014 British Pig & Poultry Fair looks set to continue as the sector’s leading event in the industry calendar, with a commitment to covering the issues that can really impact farm businesses whilst driving growth.

improve boar stud operations and semen processing, pig production and installed JSR Select – a custom-designed software management program and database – which solves over 4.75 million equations per week, to help improve performance and efficiency for its users. More recently, a team from ABH Miratorg visited JSR’s headquarters in East Yorkshire and various farms across the UK, to learn more about genetic programmes and the running of a terminal sire line nucleus, as well as meat science and meat-eating quality. Andrey Pavlov, Chief Geneticist at ABH Miratorg, explains … “As we were planning to build a new sire line nucleus, we thought it would be beneficial to pay a visit to JSR to see how they run their sire line nucleus genetic improvement programme, as well as taking the opportunity to visit the main boar stud and visit a commercial farm seeing pigs right through to slaughter weights. “We found there were opportunities to improve our semen quality assessment, and it was interesting to see products made from premium-class pork, using JSR’s Hampshire boars, at their in-house Food Quality Centre.” Last year Miratorg sold 281,000 tonnes of live weight and increased its market share to 11.4%, making ABH Miratorg the largest porkproducing agroholding in the country. This is a 65% increase on 2011’s figures, which saw 170,000 tonnes of live weight sold, and a significant rise since 2010, when 138,000 tonnes were sold. Grant added: “It is so satisfying to see ABH Miratorg leading the way in Russian pork production, and we are delighted that we could offer them guidance, knowledge and skills to enhance their operations.”

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| Pigs

MPP wins national farming award for innovation Leading pig production company Midland Pig Producers (MPP) has scooped a national farming award in recognition of its commitment to modernisation. PP was announced winner of the Food & Farming Industry Awards’ coveted Enterprise and Innovation title after demonstrating its dedication to advancing animal welfare standards and enhancing pig production techniques. The Awards, organised by Farm Business, were hosted at the House of Commons by Tiverton & Honiton MP Neil Parish and featured political commentator and BBC presenter Jeremy Vine as guest speaker for the evening. They celebrated the best of the UK food and farming industry, recognising those businesses whose drive and enthusiasm continue to boost the economy and act as ambassadors for other farming companies to follow. MPP is a nationally acclaimed pig producer which has been at the forefront of efforts to modernise pig farming and promote best practice in the care and welfare of commerciallyfarmed pigs for decades. Last year, the Staffordshire-based business won a Good Sow Commendation from Compassion In World Farming for its revolutionary 360º Freedom Farrower and more recently received official approval from the RSPCA for the design, who will ban the conventional confinement crates from 1 January 2014. The 360º Freedom Farrower was designed by MPP Managing Director Martin Barker and his team. It has the same footprint as

a conventional crate but improves the way in which the sow can be handled while allowing more freedom of movement. Its flexible design with moveable restraining bars give the animal space to turn around in the pen but also enables close containment when necessary. This increases the sow’s nesting ability and reduces her stress, which leads to fewer deaths, fewer still born piglets, heavier weaning rates and increased profits. Following extensive trials on its own farms, the company has now patented the design and has commenced production for a worldwide market. In addition to animal welfare priorities, MPP is also pushing the boundaries in environmental innovation. It was the first farm in the UK to have a covered slurry lagoon and provided the Government with facilities to conduct scientific research into ammonia emissions which are now used to set industry standards. It is also pursuing planning approval for a 30-acre site in Foston, Derbyshire, to develop a pig farm with an integral biomass plant to generate environmentally-friendly energy. In recognising MPP’s achievements, the judges agreed MPP was an exemplar for UK farming, “continually campaigning for the right to produce at a scale that UK businesses need in order to survive today’s competitive forces”.

Commenting on MPP’s success, Martin said: “I’m delighted. This is a highly prestigious farming award which really epitomises the values and beliefs we live by. We’re passionate about getting things right and ensuring modern pig farming balances its responsibilities towards animal welfare and the environment with improved productivity and business benefits. “This award reflects the tenacity of a whole team of people over the years who’ve shared our vision for a more ethical model of pig production and worked hard to make it happen. Their continued effort is helping to inspire other

businesses to look for a new approach.” Group Director, James Leavesley, added: “This award recognises how much can be achieved through refusal to standstill and rising to the challenges posed by modern farming. “There are countless economic opportunities to producing pigs from a more socially conscious standpoint including greater consumer confidence and reduced stress levels in the animals. By accepting that change is necessary and concentrating on reform, we are securing a better future for farmers across the UK.”

Supermarkets step up to the mark after Horsegate The English pig industry’s latest survey of supermarket shelves shows retailers have increased their support for Britishfarmed pork, ham and sausages over the past 12 months. he Porkwatch survey, which is conducted every two months, records the number of product lines that supermarkets allocate to British pork and pork products. All retailers have increased their British lines in some categories and some have improved across the board, selling more British pork, bacon, ham and sausages. “These results show that retailers are listening to their customers,” said National Pig Association acting general manager Lizzie Press. “We are delighted with the current trend because it is allowing pig farmers

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to reinvest in their businesses after three very difficult years caused by high feed costs.” NPA chairman Richard Longthorp said, “Shoppers often used to choose British meat where possible, but Horsegate has proved a game-changer and now many are insisting it must be British. We are grateful to retailers for the way they have stepped up to the mark, even when cheaper imported product has been available.” The most recent Porkwatch survey shows the following yearon-year improvements: • M&S, Aldi and Budgens

have more British pork, bacon, ham and sausage lines than at this time last year. • Waitrose has more British pork, ham and sausage lines, and has maintained its number of British bacon lines. • Morrisons has more British pork, bacon and sausage lines and the Co-op has more British pork, ham and sausage lines. • Sainsbury’s has more British ham lines and has increased its British pork lines by 19 percent to 100 percent. • Tesco, Asda and Lidl all show an improvement in their number of ham and sausage lines.

Overall British ham shelf facings are up 3.9 percent year-on-year, whilst sausages are up 3.5 percent and pork is up 1.5 percent (from an already high base). But bacon is down 7.4 percent and NPA will be urging retailers to improve their number of British bacon shelf facings in 2014. Notable among retailers for their long-term support of Britishfarmed meat are Waitrose and M&S, both achieving 100 percent British, or very near it, in all pork and pork product categories. The Porkwatch survey is conducted on behalf of English pig industry levy board BPEX.

January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 43

| Grain

Can you keep up with 50 EU grains forecast tph from your combine? T

EU grains crop to fall in 2014, despite wheat rise.

With the outputs of modern combine harvesters increasing all the time, Silos and the latest in-bin drying systems give the ability to take everything the combine can harvest in a day and give simple and economical drying of crops. anagri-3S Ltd have an extensive range of silos from GSI which range from 51 tonnes to 25000 tonnes capacity in a single bin, complimented by a range of fans, heaters, drying floors, aeration kits, unloading equipment, stirrers, grain spreaders, ladders, catwalks and control systems that make modern silo plants into labour saving and fuel saving investments for the long term. DMC Stirrers can be retro-fitted to any make of bin and allow the operator greater flexibility in drying grain. For filling and emptying any system, Danagri-3S Ltd offer a range of above, floor, level floor or the new Dry Pit intake hoppers which allow you to tip up to 30 tonnes and immediatelyb get the trailer back to the combine, together with a range of elevators, conveyors, heavy duty auger

conveyors or our Grain Pump conveyor system can move grain at up to 250 tonne per hour. Danagri-3S Ltd also offer the renowned range of Farm Fans Grain Driers which can be supplied either in Batch or Continuous Flow versions. For further information contact Danagri-3S Ltd Tel 01746 762777 or see our website at www.danagri-3s.com.

44 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

he European Union grains harvest will fall next year despite a rise in wheat production to its third biggest on record, Strategie Grains said, foreseeing sharp drops in barley and rye output. The influential consultancy, in its first forecast for EU production next year, pegged the soft wheat harvest at a five-year high of 138.0m tonnes, up 2.4% year on year. Output next year is expected to drop by a combined 2.4m tonnes in: France and Germany, the top two producing countries; in Spain, which was blessed with unusually benign weather this year; and in the Czech Republic and Poland. However, this was more than offset by an extra 5.8m tonnes of combined production from Sweden, Denmark and the UK, where 2013 output was dented at the latest harvest by poor autumn planting conditions last year. Third biggest ever The Strategie Grains forecast factored in a rise of 3.8% to 24.1m hectares in soft wheat area, partly offset by a fall in yield of 0.1 tonnes per hectare. At 5.7 tonnes per hectare, the 2014 yield is still forecast at a

historically high level. Factoring in durum wheat, as used in making pasta, for which area was seen stable but yield a touch down at 3.1 tonnes per hectare, the total EU wheat crop was pegged at 145.7m tonnes, up a modest 2.0% year on year. That would nonetheless be the EU's third-biggest harvest, behind the record 151.9m-tonne crop reaped five years ago, and the 147.7m tonnes recorded in 200405. Wheat vs other grains However, the overall grains harvest will drop by 4.4m tonnes if, at 297.0m tonnes, still representing a historically high level. The extra sowings of wheat will come at the expense of other grains including barley, corn and rye, with overall grain area falling 400,000 hectares to 57.2m hectares. Barley production will fall by 9% to 54.5m tonnes, with particular declines in Germany, Romania and Spain, and in the UK where output was spurred this year by a leap in spring plantings on ground left vacant by the dismal autumn sowing period. Source:Agrimoney

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| Grain

BDC and Svegma’s long track record of success with Weald Granary Svegma driers from BDC Systems have a long track record of success at Weald Granary, the largest arable farmers’ co-operative in the South East based near Maidstone. It provides grain storage, marketing and distribution, handling around 100,000 tonnes of grain per year with four intake systems for its 200+ members. oday, Weald Granary has three Svegma driers with combined capacity of 120 to 140tph with 4 to 5% moisture extraction. The co-operative's first investment in Svegma driers goes back to 1986 when Bill Egerton was the Site Engineer for supplier T H White. When Bulk Storage and Process Systems (BSPS) was established in 1999, Bill became Technical Director and also project managed Weald Granary’s subsequent extension phases. John Smith of Weald Granary says: “We have received excellent service and value over the years from Bill. He is very experienced at managing our projects, understanding our needs and budgets.” This original Svegma drier has proven to be a reliable, efficient

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and an easy to operate machine over the last 27 years. “We recently overhauled the original 1986 drier, simply replacing original roof panels and other components - so we should get another 25 years out of it! Not bad as it works flat out 24hrs/day during the harvest period,” says John Smith. According to Bill Egerton, BDC Systems is a supplier of the highest quality grain driers, handling and storage systems. The companies have worked together on a number of projects.” Our customer is very happy with the Svegma driers that BDC have supplied, their technical support is very good, we always get good service and spare parts delivery is prompt,” he says. The second Svegma, an SV 9/3

BDC and Svegma's long track record of success with Weald Granary.

model, was acquired in 1990 and in 2010 was extended in order to act as either a single or twin column, 3 or 6 metre drier depending on demand. The third drier was added to the same line as the 9/3 model in order to minimise downtime during crop changeovers. It saves Weald Granary time and money by now not having to unload, refill and recirculate grain crop as often. As a one stop shop for drying, cleaning, storage, handling and ventilation systems, BDC Systems

is the ideal partner for cooperatives to source all their grain handling products. More information is available at www.bdcsystems.com and from BDC Systems Ltd, Prospect Farm, Broad Road, Monxton, Andover, Hampshire, SP1 1 7DA. Tel: +44 (0) 1264 710900, Fax: +44 (0) 1264 710987, email: info@bdcsystems.com

January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 45

| Arable

Greater choice for growers on new HGCA Recommended Lists New varieties on the 2014/15 HGCA Recommended Lists will help growers target specific markets and assist with pest and disease control. n total, 25 varieties have been added to the HGCA Recommended Lists, while 23 varieties have been removed. “The new varieties added to the Lists push yields forward but care has been taken to provide a good choice for growers looking for varieties with specific agronomic characteristics which can help maximise the potential of their farm,” says HGCA’s Dr Simon Oxley who manages the Recommended Lists. “Processors should also welcome one or two good new varieties for all the main markets,” he adds. An important change to the HGCA Wheat List this year is the testing of Group 1 bread-making wheats. Millers’ organisation nabim will now give new bread making wheat varieties a provisional nabim Group 1 rating (P) when each year’s Lists are published in December. This will be followed by testing of commercial quantities which will confirm the provisional Group 1 status. Final Group 1 classifications will be published in April each year. For more information, visit www.nabim.org.uk. Skyfall is the first variety to go through this process as a provisional Group 1. It outyields existing Group 1 varieties and has good disease ratings as well as resistance to orange wheat

blossom midge. Early indications from nabim tests are that this variety has all the characteristics to be a quality bread wheat. Other newly recommended wheats include two nabim Group 2 varieties. Cubanita brings forward Group 2 yields without compromising quality, straw stiffness or maturity. KWS Cashel earns its place on the Group 2 list as a specialist variety as it has stronger gluten than any other variety available. This variety is likely to interest millers as a way to increase the gluten content in their grists, particularly as this characteristic is usually imported. Both of these varieties are also provisionally approved for ukp export. In the nabim Group 3 category, there are two new varieties, Zulu and Icon. Zulu combines biscuit making quality with uks export potential and also a medium rating for distilling. Icon also has biscuit making quality but is more favoured for distilling with a good rating, however it is only suitable for export in a blend. There are two new high-yielding Soft Group 4 wheats, Panacea has a recommendation for the North and East Regions, it has a good rating for distilling. Twister is recommended in the North region where it yielded particularly well – it is rated medium for distilling. The only new Hard Group 4 is Evolution, it equals the top treated and untreated yields on the

Recommended List and has good disease resistance. Growers interested in spring sown feed wheat and barley will see a continuing trend in varieties which offer spring sowing and an increase in yield. There is one spring feed wheat, KWS Kilburn and one new spring feed barley, Shada. This is a positive addition to the Recommended Lists widening the choice for growers looking for options to manage black-grass or in situations where wet autumn weather limits drilling opportunities for winter cereals. For winter barley growers, there is a choice of two new feed varieties for the UK, KWS Tower and Tetris, as well as an additional variety selected for the North region, Cavalier. KWS Tower and Tetris both lead the way on improved yields and Tetris brings excellent rhynchosporium resistance to the HGCA Recommended List. Spring malting barley sees four varieties under test for malt brewing, each with different characteristics of interest to growers. Shaloo has good resistance to rhynchosporium and resistance to lodging, KWS Aurelia leads on resistance to ramularia, whilst the lower yielding variety Hacker leads on specific weight and earlier ripening, KWS Irina has good resistance to mildew, ramularia and brackling. Four new oilseed rape varieties offer improved yield. The

East/West Oilseed Rape List sees four additions and the North List one new variety, Incentive makes both regional lists as it yielded well throughout the UK. Charger, Trinity, and Harper all offer higher yields in the East/West Region. Two new winter oat varieties have also been added to the List. Rhapsody is a conventional husked variety with a high yield and good resistance to mildew, but is weak-strawed. Beacon is a new naked variety which provides more variety choice in this market and excellent resistance to mildew. Two new spring oat varieties have also been added. Monaco is a new high-yielding variety, whilst Conway has a high specific weight and good resistance to mildew. “When using the Lists, in addition to looking at yield, growers need to take into account regional factors such as disease risk and markets for specific types of grain,” adds Dr Simon Oxley of HGCA. Summaries of the new HGCA Recommended Lists are available on the HGCA website at www.hgca.com/varieties. The full HGCA Recommended Lists booklet will be sent out with Grain Outlook in early 2014. HGCA is pleased to announce that Professor Peter Gregory, of East Malling Research, will be the Chair of the Recommended List project board from 2014.

Arguments stack up for winter Atlantis WG applications December’s mild weather is generating superb opportunities for black-grass control, experts say. rowers shouldn’t be put off making Atlantis WG (mesosulfuron and iodosulfuron) applications, as grass weeds are still growing thanks to favourable daytime temperatures. “Don’t take your foot off the gas,” warns Darren Adkins, commercial technical manager at Bayer CropScience. “The autumn has been kind in most areas of the UK, stimulating strong emergence and reasonable conditions for preem herbicides. “Now the weather is providing more opportunities to gain the upper hand. Where ground is sufficiently dry for travel and daytime temperatures are high

enough for grass-weed growth, take advantage and spray Atlantis WG and a residual herbicide partner to maximise control. “Each missed opportunity is a day when black-grass grows, gets bigger, stronger and harder to control,” he says. Mr Adkins reminds growers there is no guarantee conditions will be better in 2014. “Spring can be very unpredictable. Last year, for example, the extended winter caused havoc and when the weather did come right, there was an incredible amount to do in a very short space of time; when the sprayer is in demand for PGRs and T0s, you don’t want Atlantis

46 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

WG applications on the list too.” Countrywide agronomist Simon Trenary agrees. “If you can get a tank-full on, do it,” he says. “Wait until 11-12 o’clock when the leaves are dry and apply Atlantis WG with nozzles that deliver a medium-fine spray. “It’s important to allow time for the product to dry too so I’d recommend stopping at around 2pm. This should provide the two hours needed for Atlantis WG to become rainfast. It’s a short window but even taking out a field or two at a time makes a big difference come spring. Mr Trenary notes crops are better able to withstand herbicides in autumn than in spring.

“Applications now will protect the crop and give it a chance to recover. By the time conditions come right in spring, the crop will be putting on fresh new growth which is more vulnerable to crop effects. “If you need another reason, applications now - going into cold conditions - are documented to be more effective than those coming out.” adds Mr Adkins. But none of the arguments are as good as Mr Trenary’s final point. “Killing black-grass sooner preserves more yield potential in the crop. It’s a very clear and simple point to remember.”

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| Arable

Stubble burning is bad for the soil: Nuffield Scholar The worldwide practice of burning residue after harvest has been criticised by a Nuffield Scholar visiting New Zealand. ent-based farmer Tom Sewell was one of two Nuffield Scholars who visited New Zealand in December to study the long term benefits of low-disturbance no-tillage. He has reacted with caution to a Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) report that ‘stubble burning is valued by some farmers as a rapid, economic and relatively benign way of dealing with crop residue.’ Mr Sewell comments that burning is bad for the soil as it destroys all of the available new organic matter which is used to build humus. “On my farm I’ll never burn or bale straw. Residue feeds worms and builds soil organic matter,” he says. His comments are supported by international soil scientist, Dr John Baker, who says: “Burning of residues simply removes most of the carbon present in the residues of the previous crop by converting it to CO2 by combustion.” He maintains the main way to

maximise arable soil quality is to increase carbon content not burn it off. “Increasing carbon and soil microbial activity in turn builds soil structure and is one of the strongest indicators of soil health or quality.” He concedes that occasional burning can help with weed and pest control but is critical that FAR sees burning as creating a basis for a more productive and profitable farming system. Most of the evidence is to the contrary he points out. “Retaining residue and direct low-disturbance no-tillage is a far superior method than intensive tillage (ploughing) with or without burning. Any form of tillage is detrimental to soil quality.” Mr Sewell, one of two farmers who visited New Zealand on Nuffield Scholarships, is returning to England convinced that no tillage provides ‘better crop establishment and higher yields.’ “No tillage works; it saves you time and money, improves your

Nuffield Scholar Tom Sewell

soil and is good for the environment particularly with carbon sequestration,” he says. “I think it would make a huge difference to English farmers, allowing them to farm profitably without EU subsidies and improve their soil at the same time.”

While in New Zealand, Tom and colleague, Jake Freestone, visited several farmers where lowdisturbance no-tillage is practised in addition to Dr Baker’s headquarters in Feilding.

‘The key to better profit lies in the soil’ Soils for Profit final report identifies ways farmers can increase productivity. study of soils sampled from farms across the South West of England has produced results that could help the region’s farmers increase yields and provide environmental benefits, Natural England’s Soils for Profit (S4P) Project Team said today (20 December 2013). The results give a useful insight into the nutrient status of soils across the South West, providing vital pointers to ways that farmers could further improve their productivity and also enhance their local environment. One of the most important findings is that 47% of the soil samples had a pH value below the target specified in Defra’s RB209 fertiliser manual, meaning that the fields from which the samples were taken cannot be meeting their full potential and the effectiveness of any fertilisers applied will be limited. A low soil pH can restrict crop growth and impact on yields. It can also have wider impacts on the structure of the soil and its nutrient balance. Another key finding was that less than 30% of the soils sampled had phosphate (P) and potassium (K) levels within the target range as specified in Defra’s RB209 fertiliser manual. This suggests that care needs to be taken in the application of fertilisers and manures to keep nutrient levels in line with cropping requirements and reduce the risk of wider environmental impacts. The study also revealed low levels of soil organic matter on many farms, particularly in arable systems, which could contribute to an increased risk of soil erosion. The sampling was funded by Natural England’s Soils for Profit project and is based

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on a total of 3,447 soil samples collected from 699 farms between 1 September 2011 and 31 August 2013. Steve Marston, S4P Project Manager, said: “Soil testing and nutrient balance is one of the basic building blocks of good agronomy. Considering that fertilisers typically represent around 30% of the variable costs of crop and forage production, soil testing is a cheap and effective management tool and is vital for accurately planning nutrient use. Soil analysis provides the kind of practical evidence that farmers need when making important business decisions. This in turn helps save money on expensive inputs and contributes to the protection of the wider environment.” Since it was launched in October 2009, more than 3,000 farmers (who between them manage more than 400,000 hectares of land across the South West) have benefited from farm-specific advice funded through the S4P project. Since 2011 participants have been offered a free analysis of five soil samples, which has been used to inform the on-farm advice. Steve added: “What these findings all demonstrate is the importance of careful nutrient planning in maintaining soil productivity and producing optimum crop and forage yields. Nutrient applications should be based on a reliable nutrient plan and up-to-date soil analysis results. These results are a timely reminder to keep an eye on fundamental agronomy requirements.” The Soils for Profit Project, which draws to a close on 31 December 2013, has provided farm-specific advice to over 3,000 farmers and

Natural England S4P adviser in action

has organised nearly 300 group events to provide practical hands-on training and demonstrations to over 3,000 farmers to help them to manage their soils, manures and nutrients more efficiently. The overall response to the initiative from farmers, students and other participants has been overwhelmingly positive. NFU SW Environment Adviser, Paul Cottington said: “I think this has been one of the big winners of the current programme and has helped to address many environmental issues on farms across the South West and at the same time deliver effective farming focused solutions. We would hope that something similar is available in the next round of the Rural Development Programme funding.” To learn more about the achievements of the Soils for Profit project, visit the Natural England website at http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/s4p

January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 47

| Education

Young engineers lead the way to international showcase Four Harper Adams University students took the lead in a recent group tour that saw 42 young engineers travel to Germany to take part in an international networking event that should help them progress their careers. dward Worts, from Powys, Wales; Cormac Flaherty from Co. Meath, Ireland; Robert Pickavance, from Ormskirk, Lancashire (England) and Finlay Whitehead, from Ashburton, Devon (England), masterminded the trip to Hanover for biannual showcase event Agritechnica.

“The show did not disappoint in the slightest” Edward, 22, from Disserth, is a final year BEng Honours Agricultural Engineering student at Shropshire’s only university. He said: “The majority of us were agricultural engineering and off-road vehicle design students. We were at the show for two-and-a-half days, throughout which time we acted as ambassadors for Harper Adams University. We wore shirts under our course gilets and were rewarded with comments from company representatives, saying how professional we all looked and acted while networking throughout the 30 vast halls housing the latest in agricultural machinery and technology.

“We all wanted to make a good impression on the manufacturers, with the hope of securing either placement opportunities or graduate jobs within these organisations.” Finlay, 22, who is on the MEng Agricultural Engineering course, added: “I was excited to be able to be part of the organising group. Between the four of us, with help from Harper Adams staff, we arranged transport, accommodation, tickets and gilets for a group of 42 students and two lecturers. It was quite an undertaking and was a little while in the making but it was well worth the effort. “I thoroughly enjoyed the chance to see the up-and-coming new technologies within the Agricultural Engineering sector, of which there are many, combined with the opportunities to speak with potential employers and gather contacts for the future. The show was an eyeopening and intriguing compilation of equipment from tractors and combines through to grain-handling systems, forestry and engineering components, with something for everyone. “The trip allowed us as Harper Adams students to promote the University as a key

Agricultural Engineering establishment.” Cormac, 21 from Kilmessan, said: "I had heard a lot about Agritechnica during my placement year and since the day I looked at the website I have wanted to go, to both see the latest developments in Agricultural Engineering and also meet with potential future employers. “The show did not disappoint in the slightest, with all the latest technologies from brands from all over the world on show. Some of the areas that were of most interest were the developments in robotic technology and the vast variety of companies manufacturing equipment throughout the world. “The tour also allowed me to gather some information for my dissertation which I am sure will be greatly beneficial,” added the BEng Honours Agricultural Engineering student. Robert, 22, and a BEng Honours Agricultural Engineering student, added that everyone who attended Agritechnica wanted to thank sponsors Douglas Bomford Trust, HUSCO international and the Harper Adams University Engineering Department for their support in making the tour possible.

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48 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

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| Education

Shropshire Fresh Start Academy Farm Tendering Exercise Chris Jones: Head of the Walford Faculty and Chairman of the Shropshire Fresh Start Academy. n the 19th November 2013 9 young budding farmers were put through their paces in the concluding part of the Shropshire Fresh Start Academy 2013 programme. These budding farmers had to

submit a detailed Farm Business Plan and go through a rigorous interview stage by business leaders representing a range of business management disciplines. Staffordshire County Farms and their Land Agent James Tyler-

LANTRA Scotland premier award event Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards to reach new heights. ow in their 11th year, the Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards have developed into the premier Scottish event in the industry’s calendar. The upcoming awards will take place at the Hilton Dunblane Hydro Hotel on March 6th 2014, and will recognise the achievements of young people and career changers across a wider spectrum of ages, award categories and sectors than ever before. This year Lantra has received a record number of nominations across 15 award categories, the highest number since the awards were launched in 2003. The awards will see the return of the highly successful CARAS Award, the Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Award, the Modern Apprentice of the Year Award as well as 10 industry awards covering all the key sectors, from agriculture, aquaculture and equine, to forestry management, horticulture, fisheries, game and wildlife. The awards will also continue to celebrate the achievements of boys and girls within secondary education. The well established Higher Education Award and School Pupil Award will return, joined by a brand new Secondary School Award scheme sponsored by RHASS - which celebrates the achievements of pupils within rural and urban areas of Scotland. All award finalists will be announced after 9th January 2014. Lantra has also secured a panel of six award judges for this year’s event, including some of the key players within the sector. Judges include: - Ray Jones, Chairman of Scotland Food & Drink; - Keith Paterson, Forestry

Commission Scotland; - Peter Alexander, Non Executive Director of Algo; - Rebecca Dawes, Scottish Association of Young Farmer Clubs; - Lisa Connell, Training & Development Manager at the Scottish Salmon Company; - Erica Hay Agriculture and Rural Affairs journalist. Willie Fergusson, Director of Lantra Scotland comments: “Lantra’s Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards recognise the considerable achievements and successes of learners in the landbased and environmental sectors across Scotland. These awards not only demonstrate the quality and quantity of career opportunities within the sector, they are also an important tool showcasing the direct business benefits of skills investment. Each year the awards grow in size and stature and this year’s event will be the biggest of them all. We look forward to welcoming you all!” Ray Jones, Chairman of Scotland Food & Drink comments: “We live in a very competitive marketplace and our Agri and Aquaculture sectors are amongst the best in the world. Lantra Scotland candidates have well honed skills and the right mind sets to succeed, and winning a prize in the Land-based Learner of the Year Awards puts a person in the best of the best category.” The Land-based and Aquaculture Learner of the Year Awards will take place between 7pm and 12pm at the prestigious Hilton Dunblane Hydro Hotel on the 6th March 2014. For further information about the awards please contact 01738 646 762 or e-mail us at lantra.scotland@lantra.co.uk.

Morris kindly persuaded one of their tenants to be used as the host farm where an Open Day was organised for the candidates back in the summer. Staffordshire County Farms have an excellent system where they have organised their 39 farms into starter and progression units supporting people who do not have a farm themselves entering the industry. Staffordshire County Farms tenants are encouraged to progress from a small starter farm to a larger farm and then eventually into the private sector. This is a fantastic opportunity for people to get into farming. The Fresh Start Academy with its industry partners deliver 10 Farm Business Management subjects over a 10 month period. In 2013 over 20 candidates attended each lecture and a special thank you must go out to our business partners Andersons, Balfours, Berry’s, Hatchers, Lloyds/TSB, Roger Parry and Associates, Stafford County

Farms, Walford and North Shropshire College and Whittinghamriddell. Without these business partners the Shropshire Fresh Academy would not be where it is today. The Academy was set up some several years ago through a Sir Don Curry initiative to support new entrants entering into farming and inspiring new blood into the industry. This is the sixth cohort of trainees that have participated and benefitted from such an initiative and it was great to see some past Walford students reaching their potential and will I am sure become leaders within the farming industry. It was unanimously agreed that we do have some talented people out there, which was demonstrated by the very high quality of the Farm Business Management Plans presented and the depth of knowledge presented by the candidates. Sometimes we can only hear the bad news and believe me there is enough of it around, but clearly this is good news and what is better it demonstrates that the Industry can support its own future in a sustainable way. This has got to make this initiative a contender for the best farming project of 2013. If you are considering in becoming a 2014 Shropshire Fresh Start Academy candidate please contact Victoria Jones at victoriarhp@ruralhubspartnership.co.uk

www.farmingmonthly.co.ukJanuary 2014 | Farming Monthly |

| Forestry

Grow your own fuel and save money Cold weather and rising energy bills are coming – but there is an alternative way to heat the home. hen the temperature drops, heating bills can soar, meaning staying warm can have a sizeable impact on the pocket. But there is another option – growing a sustainable supply of wood fuel with free expert help from the Woodland Trust. Around two to three hectares of new native woodland will produce enough fuel to heat a typical three-bedroom house annually, and through the Trust’s ‘MOREwoods’ scheme, anyone wanting to plant a minimum of half a hectare can now apply for support to cover up to 60 per cent of the cost.

“The increasing focus on energy – where it comes from and the cost – means that planning your future energy needs now is certainly advisable.” Energy Minister Ed Davey has

already admitted that most customers’ energy bills are likely to rise, even after an average £50 reduction due to green levy cuts for energy suppliers. With soaring bills, and with the Government set to introduce a grant for homes producing their own energy – the Renewable Heat Incentive – in spring 2014, now is the perfect time to plant trees for fuel. Government-funded grants for tree planting and new woods in England have been suspended for two years which means the Woodland Trust’s support is now invaluable for landowners wanting to plant trees. John Tucker, the Trust’s Director of Woodland Creation, said: “The increasing focus on energy – where it comes from and the cost – means that planning your future energy needs now is certainly advisable. If you’re lucky enough to own a piece of land, you could be coppicing your own firewood within a decade depending on what tree species are planted, with

50 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

an annual sustainable supply thereafter. The Woodland Trust will check that the land is suitable for planting, and offer advice on the woodland design and choice of species. Birch, for example, grows quickly but the wood also burns faster than other species. The Trust can help with choosing the best species for your land to provide you with fuel. Burning wood produces energy more cheaply than gas or electricity3, and the wood fuel business is booming, with 175,000 homes installing new wood burners each year and the number of chimney sweeps and installation companies on the rise4. Trees bring other benefits too: locking up carbon, enhancing the look of unused land, providing muchneeded homes and food for wildlife, producing oxygen, reducing the risk of flooding, and

Collecting fuel credit Andy Tryner

cutting pollution. The Trust’s scheme is supported by Biffa Award, Calor and Dorset Cereals. To apply for funding; or to find out more, call 0845 293 5689, email woodlandcreation@woodlandtrust .org.uk or visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/firewood

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| Muck & Slurry

Exhibitors flock to Tramspread at LAMMA Grassland & Muck 2014 Bigger stand means greater range on display.

Trade stand space at the biggest and best Grassland & Muck exhibition is selling out fast, with 80% of exhibitors already having booked their spot for the two-day event in May. he triennial Royal Agricultural Society of England event, partnered with Yara, boasts more than 190 acres of machinery demonstrations, sown grass plots, trade stands and technical forums. Attracting around 15,000 visitors from across the UK and Europe, it is the premier grass, forage and muck event, with more than 240 exhibitors showcasing their products and services. “Grassland & Muck is one of the most important events in the calendar for livestock farmers and contractors,” says Rosie Carne, Yara’s marketing manager. “As feed costs and environmental pressures mount, it is increasingly important for farmers to get the most from their grass – whether it’s grazed or ensiled – and this event will help them to do exactly that.” Visitors can gather the latest

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advice from cutting-edge research; covering everything from soils to grass seed varieties, establishment to ensiling, and management advice to manure; it’s the full package. Farmers will be able to see forage storage and feeding equipment, as well as different types of soil aerators and the effect of variable depth drilling on grass varieties. The popular manure machinery demonstrations will help farmers to choose the best equipment for the job, while exhibitors like EBLEX, DairyCo and the British Grassland Society will be looking to the future of grassland farming.

ramspread has taken the LAMMA move from Newark to Peterborough as an opportunity to increase its stand size, enabling it to exhibit a greater range of slurry and digestate handling equipment. Among the exhibits will be the first public showing of the New Tramspread high speed twin axle contractors umbilical pump trailer incorporating twin 1,000m drag hose spools with compressor, 160hp John Deere engine connected to a Daritech Greenline solid –handling pump with full dryrun mechanical seal. This pump is new to the Tramspread range of pumps and is the first time it has been shown in the UK. Another ‘first time to be seen exhibit’ will be the NOCK Green Bedding slurry separator. Other equipment will include Bauer pumps (tractor and engine driven), Reck slurry mixer, Tramspread 12m and 24m umbilical dribble bar applicators complete with flow metering via ISO BUS connection to a John Deere GreenStar 2630 touchscreen display giving full application rates and field maps. Also represented will be Albers

Alligator slurry bag stores, AgriTank concrete slurry storage, Hexa-Cover slurry store cover, Snap-Tite 110 and 117 polyurethane drag hoses, Hilcoflex’s nitrile rubber and new to the market polyurethane drag hoses, drag hose couplings from Bauer and Storz, plus slurry test kits. Tramspread can separate it, store it, pump it, spread it! Further information available from Tramspread, Hobbies Lane, Mendlesham, Nr Stowmarket, Suffolk IP 14 5SJ Tel: 01449 766133 www.tramspread.co.uk

January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 51

| Machinery

CLAAS: The best in 100 years! Continued success for agricultural equipment company in anniversary year. he agricultural equipment company based in the eastern Westphalian town of Harsewinkel has been celebrating its 100th anniversary during 2013. CLAAS is continuing on its successful course and once again has reported impressive results for this fiscal year, which finished on 30 September. The family-owned business generated sales of €3,824.6 million, up from €3,434.6 million in the previous year. This equates to a rise of 11.3%, with the in the Agricultural Equipment division seeing a rise in sales of 12.0%. Gross profit on sales was up almost 7.6% year on year and, at €974.6 million, is closing in on the €1 billion mark. Income before taxes and the Group’s net income came in at €295.3 million and €212.3 million respectively, both down slightly on the previous year, which had included positive special effects from the disposal of the Production Technology division. The Group’s operating result reached a new record high at €325 million. Success at CLAAS is founded on the company’s expertise and eagerness to develop and market brand-new and continuously improving technologies. CLAAS is renowned for making the “first move” on new innovations. Current trends in state-of-the-art agriculture include the introduction of new, highly productive harvesters and tractors and intelligent networked systems – all based on a complete process-chain approach. International markets on solid footing Agricultural income developed positively in the crop year 2012/2013, which ended earlier than the CLAAS fiscal year on June 30, 2013. A variety of trends were observed in individual regions. While agricultural market volume in Western Europe was down slightly overall, market volume in the core CLAAS markets of Germany and France rose. Agricultural markets in Central Europe remained at a high level despite declining slightly last year. Growth rates in the Eastern European agricultural equipment sector were positive. The agricultural market in the U.S. and Canada stood out on account of sustained growth, as farmers received compensation through crop insurance payouts for crop failures caused by drought conditions. Growth at CLAAS outpaced market growth in many areas, enabling the company to acquire a greater market share. Focus remains on research and development One in every nine CLAAS employees

52 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

Lampert (Finance and Members of the Executive Board from left: Lothar Kriszun (Tractors), Hans Spokesman of the Controlling), Jan-Hendrik Mohr (Sales), Dr. Theo Freye (Marketing and Strategy, und Quality) Executive Board, CLAAS KGaA mbH), Dr. Hermann Garbers (Technology

currently works in one of the Group’s R & D divisions. Investment in research and development rose once again year on year, reaching €198 million. A number of different awards for new technical developments in machinery and software also underscored the role of CLAAS as an innovative force in the agricultural equipment industry. At the world’s largest agricultural equipment exhibition, the Agritechnica in Hanover, CLAAS took home an astonishing seven medals awarded by the German agricultural association Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft e.V. (DLG), as well as the international title “Tractor of the Year 2014” for the new AXION 850 tractor, and two “Machine of the Year 2014” titles for the AXION 800 tractor series with its infinitely variable transmission and the CEMOS AUTOMATIC combine control software. CLAAS growing more and more international As of September 30, 2013, the CLAAS Group employed 6.8% more people than in the previous year. The total number of employees stood at 9,697 as of the reporting date (prior year: 9,077). The difference between the number of domestic jobs and jobs abroad has largely evened out, with every other employee at CLAAS now based outside of Germany. The expansion of the CLAAS factory in the Russian city of Krasnodar with the associated

recruitment measures and the planned acquisition of the Chinese agricultural equipment manufacturer Shandong Jinyee Machinery Manufacture Co. Ltd. in the Shandong province will continue to drive this tendency toward a more international structure. Outlook Despite experiencing a slight decline overall, crop prices for agricultural products are currently stabilizing at a relatively high level. This will lead to positive income forecasts for our customers. Farmers and contractors will have more resources available to invest in new equipment, although, as in prior years, this trend will take on a different shape in various regions around the world. In the 2014 fiscal year, the tendency will be for more lateral development on the market than upward progression. As a result, we anticipate stable to moderately increasing sales for 2014. This forecast is also based on our assessment of growth potential in various product groups, especially tractors. 2014 will also see us continue our massive investment in expanding our business and in particular open up growth markets in Asia. However, we will also retain our focus on our core European markets.

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| Machinery

New Holland Participates in 2013 Agrievolution Forum on Global Food Security and Farm Machinery New Holland, platinum sponsor of the EIMA AgriMach India trade show, showcases its product offering at the international exhibition. ew Holland Agriculture took part in the 2013 Agrievolution Forum, held on December 5 and 6 in New Delhi, India, which focused on global food security and farm machinery. The Forum, which was the 4th World Summit on Agriculture Machinery, was hosted by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in conjunction with EIMA AgriMach India and gathered key agriculture stakeholders, decision makers and influencers from around the world to identify issues in today’s world agriculture and share solutions for

the future. “Agriculture today faces new global challenges,” commented Carlo Lambro, Brand President of New Holland Agriculture. “Farmers need to provide for the food and energy needs of the world while preserving natural resources. As agricultural equipment manufacturer, at New Holland we believe we have an important role and a responsibility to help them achieve this difficult balance. By participating in events such as this Forum, enables us to create links with official institutions and key stakeholders in world agriculture and contribute to identifying

solutions to address the challenges of the 21st century.” The second day of the forum, Lodovico Tarabini, Business Director Middle East, made a presentation on the agricultural mechanization trends in Europe and the Middle East, highlighting how mechanized agriculture today must focus not only on productivity and efficiency, but also on the impact of technology on the environment and on people. He explained how New Holland’s Clean Energy Leader® Strategy aims to address energy poverty and reduce emissions, while supporting the development

of a sustainable agriculture with the right equipment and the promotion of farming practices that minimize waste and soil deterioration while optmimizing productivity. The two-day Forum was organized on the occasion of the EIMA AgriMach India show, of which New Holland is Platinum Sponsor. New Holland was also present at the exhibition with a stand (outdoor stall no.6) to showcase its wide product line, including a selection of tractors manufactured at its production plant in Greater Noida, India.

New Holland dealers celebrate success with prestigious national awards New Holland has celebrated the success of its extensive dealer network awarding five accolades recognising excellence in dealer standards and performance. inners included; Colemans of Millstreet Ltd for Irish Dealer of the Year, Lloyd Group Ltd as Large Dealer of the Year, Oakes Brothers Ltd as Medium Dealer of the Year, RES tractors Ltd for achieving the accolade of Mixed Dealer of the Year and Brian Keys Tractors for Tractor Dealer of the Year. Additionally, a selection of dealers were awarded Highly Commended plaques for consistently delivering outstanding results. Those dealers achieving this recognition were; Fife Tractors

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Ltd, Armstrong Machinery Ltd, Bryson Tractors Ltd, Hawkins Agri and T Alun Jones Ltd Dealers were recognised for their outstanding efforts from New Holland’s network of more than 60 dealerships in over 130 locations in the UK and Ireland, all providing high levels of local service to the farming community. Andrew Watson, New Holland’s Managing Director, said: “I would like to personally thank all of our dealers and particularly those recognised with these individual awards, which are a reflection of

their commitment to the New Holland brand and their customers. “Each year New Holland and its dealers continue to grow and develop and we constantly strive

to exceed the needs of our customers. With a committed and motivated workforce at the heart of the business, we will continue on this path of success.”

January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 53

| Machinery

54 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

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| ATV

Taking utility ATV design to the max! JCB’s nimble Workmax side-by-side vehicles take some of the shake, rattle and roll out of driving a utility ATV. obust fully independent rear suspension with dual-rate coil springs gives a more compliant ride than other UTVs and provides class-leading laden ride height to avoid scrapes along rutted tracks. It’s just one of a number of features that illustrate the attention to detail that has gone into the Workmax machines to make them the sturdiest, most economical and safest vehicles of their type. MacPherson strut suspension handles the rough and tumble up front, while the all-round disc brakes that provide confident braking performance when on the move also contribute to secure parking when the vehicle has to be stopped on a hill. Pull up the hand-brake on a competitor UTV pointing down a steep slope and see if it stays there. Unlike machines with just rear park brakes and an open diff, the Workmax 800D automatically engages the rear diff lock and four-wheel drive to hold the vehicle securely. There are three diesel-engined Workmax models – the 20hp 800D 4x4 is an ideal working runabout and usually the best choice for stockmen moving up from a quad bike. The 800D will tow half a tonne and carry 400kg of its 600kg payload in the all-steel tipping load box. The heavier-duty 26hp 1000D 4x4 is built for more demanding work and has the extra performance to go with it, plus the capacity to carry 500kg of its 700kg payload in the cargo box. With six wheels and tyres to spread the load, the JCB Workmax 6x4 is a more specialist vehicle with a 21hp engine and permanent fourwheel drive giving it the ability to tow 500kg while also carrying a 500kg load. In each case, a protective liner can be fitted to the box and hydraulic tipping installed in place of the standard manual arrangement. Despite the Workmax’s lively performance, fuel economy is best in class. Extreme off-road

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tests with the Workmax 800D carrying a full load revealed that an operator clocking up 20 miles a day could save as much as 1000 litres of diesel over other diesel UTVs – and go a lot further between fill-ups. All three JCB Workmax UTVs come with twospeed CVT drive, selectable four-wheel drive and a diff lock. They also come as standard with a full ROPS frame, inertia reel seatbelts, roof and speedo. There are plenty of options – so buyers can spec their machines however they wish – including the plastic or glass front windscreens,

hard panel doors and heater. The Workmax 800D is also available homologated for extended road travel. All have comfortable seating for two (with either individual or bench seats on the 800D) and adjustable headrests for added safety and comfort. An attractive car-style instrument panel and switchgear add to the driving experience, and the hard-wearing flat floor of the cabin is easily washed off after a day of muddy field or woodland work.

January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 55

| Machinery

Contact your nearest participating dealer... Farm & Garden Machinery (Bridgnorth) Ltd Unit 9, Livestock & Auction Centre Tasley, Bridgnorth Shropshire WV16 4QR 01746 769812 www.farm-garden.co.uk/

Abrey Agricultural Pond House Pamphillions Farm Debden, Saffron Walden Essex CB11 3JT 01799 543 208 www.abreyagricultural.com

Martin Pears Engineering Three Corners Halwell Totnes Devon TQ9 7JE 01548857956 www.mpearsengineering.co.uk

Ieuan Evans & Son Tegfan Garage 30 Carmarthen Road Llandeilo Carmarthenshire SA19 6RS 01558 822542 www.atvuk.co.uk

C.J. Keitch Engineering Dunkeswell Airfield Dunkeswell Honition Devon EX14 4LH 01404 891796 www.cjkeitch.co.uk

Gwyndaf Evans Motors Arran Road Dolgellau Gwynedd LL40 1LA 01341 423441 www.gwyndafevansmotors.co.uk

56 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

Cornish Tractors Timberlake Week St Mary Devon EX22 6XG 01288 341326 www.cornishtractors.co.uk

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| ATV

New heavy-duty XUV Gators from John Deere Reflecting the growing popularity of crossover utility vehicles, John Deere’s latest heavy-duty Gator line-up features two new four-wheel drive models, the fast and powerful XUV 825i plus the four-passenger XUV 855D S4.

John Deere XUV 825i Gator

ore power, speed and acceleration are provided by the XUV 825i Gator, which has been designed for drivers who demand advanced offroad performance, all-day riding comfort and the ability to cope with extreme terrain. Gators have always been known for their durability, versatility and safety – the XUV 825i maintains all of these core qualities, but the extra power and speed are what set it apart from the rest of the current range. The XUV 825i is equipped with an 812cc, three-cylinder, liquidcooled, dual OHC petrol engine producing 50hp and a top speed of 44mph, plus a 26.7-litre fuel tank. The engine incorporates electronic fuel injection for easy starting, which together with the new continuously variable

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transmission (CVT) air intake results in smoother automotivestyle performance. A fully locking four-wheel drive system allows this Gator model to cope easily with all types of terrain. The fully independent double wishbone suspension provides 203mm (8in) of wheel travel and up to 267mm (10.5in) of ground clearance. Power steering with an anti-kickback feature is standard, providing easy control of the vehicle with little effort, regardless of the driving conditions. The cargo box is made of a 15 per cent glass-filled polypropylene composite material that eliminates rust and dents and reduces noise. The large, one-piece design provides a load capacity of 454kg, while towing capacity is 680kg and overall payload capacity is 635kg.

The John Deere XUV 825i Gator is available in the company’s traditional green and yellow livery. Meanwhile, the XUV 855D S4 Gator utility vehicle combines versatile off-road performance, work capability and comfort for up to four passengers, with the same cargo box, towing and payload capacities as the XUV 825i. This new addition to the Gator family is powered by the proven 22hp three-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel engine featured on the current XUV 855D model; the S4 also has a top speed of 32mph, and comes with power steering as standard. To allow for extra passengers or cargo space, the XUV 855D S4

features an easily convertible rear bench that folds down to provide a flat surface for extra storage. A spacious under-seat storage compartment is also included. The durable composite and metal hybrid cargo box carries on the Gator tradition of superior hauling capacity on this four-passenger model. The John Deere XUV 855D S4 Gator is available in olive and black livery, and both new models can be ordered with a variety of factory and dealer installed options and attachments. More details at www.JohnDeere.co.uk

January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 57

| ATV

Polaris lines up for LAMMA 2014 New vehicles cement Polaris as World No.1 for ATV & UTV. olaris has become leader in the off-road industry by continually evolving its offroad offerings and 2014 is no different. “In just the past four months, Polaris has introduced nine new vehicles to its off-road line-up” said David Longren, Vice President of Polaris’ Off-Road Division. They also proudly announced their position as the world’s number one in ATVs and UTVs, maintaining the same position in Europe. It will be at LAMMA 2014 where some of this extensive model lineup is on show. Leading the range will be the introduction of the brand new Sportsman 570 Forest, the latest addition to the Sportsman line. Polaris has taken its legendary, best-selling 4x4 ATV of all time and introduced an extensive array of new features. Known for its innovation, Polaris is also proud to present the world’s first Side by Side UTV with Power Take Off – the Brutus HD PTO. This can be seen with a range of attachments which demonstrate the all-round versatility of this Ranger based model and an ideal machine for contractors and estate management alike. In the UK, Polaris’s best-selling UTV/Side by Side, the Ranger Diesel, continues to offer proven allround performance, capability and economy for small-scale farmers to large estates. The larger version Ranger Diesel Crew, which legally seats six in comfort and safety, has

found great favour with recreational sports and shoots, gamekeepers and landowners. One of the fastest selling and most popular Side by Sides is the Ranger 400 which offers farmers and estates an affordable, comfortable, safe and highly versatile alternative to ATVs. Creature comforts, such as an allweather cab and seating for two, are coupled with superb ride and handling with an off-road ability to match any ATV. Making a strong ecological contribution is the Ranger EV, launched as the world’s first true 4x4 electric off-road UTV. This is in use on many organic and eco farms throughout the country and proving popular with education facilities and campsites. A good, entry-level ATV can be found in the Sportsman 400 which will be displayed alongside the junior version Sportsman 90, for the 10+ youth market. Ever wondered about off-road vehicles designed to go fast? For those wanting something just a little bit different, the exhilarating RZR XP 1000 high performance, trail, sport and leisure model will also be on show. Perhaps not something for everyone but certainly goes to show how Polaris offers 4x4 allterrain machines for all kinds of needs! Stand no. R62 at LAMMA. Polaris Britain: 0800 915 6720 www.polaris-britain.com

58 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

Easton & Otley students learn about ATV safety with Honda (UK) Students from Easton and Otley College enjoyed a lesson with a difference recently when one of Honda (UK)’s ATV (all terrain vehicles) safety experts visited the group to take them through the importance of safe riding and some basic maintenance skills.

he session took place in Norfolk and around 40 students from the agricultural (and other) departments participated in the interactive lesson which was led by Lindsay Shields from Honda (UK) who has over 25 years’ experience working with and riding ATVs. Natasha Waller from the agricultural department at the Easton campus, said, “As a college we place a great importance on giving our students additional skills. We also place a great emphasis on working with industry. Therefore, this occasion was incredibly beneficial and we would like to thank Honda UK for their support. “Many of our students – particularly those who end up working in farming – will use ATVs on a regular basis, therefore these safety sessions were both informative and educational and they will be of great use for those

currently working in industry, as well as those who start jobs when they finish their studies with us,” she added. Lindsay Shields from Honda (UK) said, “ATVs are an essential tool on any farm. Honda is keen to help users develop their knowledge about the versatility of these machines, learn a healthy respect for them and gain insight into how to ride safely, as well as be able to carry out basic maintenance checks. Working with student groups at colleges such as Easton and Otley helps to put the basics in place at an early stage.” 19 year-old Jack Melton-Doy took part in the session and commented: “Lindsay’s advice was very helpful – I now realise exactly what these vehicles are capable of and what they can do. I will definitely have his advice at the back of my mind when I have to deal with ATVs in the future.”

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| Motors

New Forest Garden Machinery 316-318 Salisbury Road Totton , Southampton Hampshire SO40 3ND 023 8087 1764 www.nfgmltd.co.uk

On A Hill Garage Quads Lynton Cross Ilfracombe Devon EX34 9RQ 01271 862 691 www.ohgquads.com

MarshMX Limited 20-22 Pontmoris Merthyrtydfil Mid Glamorgan CF47 8UB 01685 385201 www.marshmx.co.uk

Lynx Scooter and Quad Centre Hillcroft Business Park Whisby Road Lincoln LN6 3QT 01522 690722 www.lynxscooters.com

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Off Highway Plant Solutions Tel: 01299 832699 Mob: 07899 848569 Email: ctrent@sphere24.com www.offhighwayplantsolutions.com

January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 59

| Motors

The Volkswagen Amarok. A pick-up that will conquer any terrain and task. 1RZ ZLWK D É&#x153; 36 HQJLQH EHVW LQ FODVV FDUJR DUHD RI P DQG LPSUHVVLYH RII-URDG SHUIRUPDQFH WKDQNV WR VHOHFWDEOH 027,21ÂŽ IRXU-ZKHHO GULYH $OVR DYDLODEOH ZLWK DQ RSWLRQDO É&#x153; 36 HQJLQH 3RS LQ DQG DVN XV IRU PRUH GHWDLOV 60 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

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| Motors

Abridge Van Centre Apple Yard, Langston Road, Loughton, Essex. Telephone: 020 8045 6006. Find us on your sat-nav using IG10 3TQ.

JCT600 Van Centre (Hull) Saxon Way, Priory Park West, Hessle, Hull, East Yorkshire. Telephone: 01482 908 520. Find us on your sat-nav using HU13 9PB.

www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/abridge

www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/JCT600Hull

Alan Day Van Centre

JCT600 Van Centre (York)

Pinkham Way, North Circular Road, New Southgate, London. Telephone: 020 8920 4000.

Find us on your sat-nav using N11 3UT. www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/alandaynewsouthgate

Pentraeth Van Centre Henffordd Garage, Menai Bridge, Anglesey. Telephone: 01248 716 344. Find us on your sat-nav using LL59 5RW. www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/pentraeth

Greenhous Volkswagen Van Centre (Bilston) Trinity Road, Bilston, Wolverhampton. Telephone: 01902 546 561. Find us on your sat-nav using WV14 7EF. www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/bilston

Centurion Park, Clifton Moor, York. Telephone: 01904 848 302. Find us on your sat-nav using YO30 4WW. www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/JCT600York

JCT600 Van Centre (Sheffield) Europa Close, Europa Link, Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Telephone: 01144 040 023. Find us on your sat-nav using S9 1XS. www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/jct600sheffield

Volkswagen Van Centre (Peterborough) Storeys Bar Road, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. Telephone: 01733 615 052. Find us on your sat-nav using PE1 5YS. www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/peterborough

Greenhous Volkswagen Van Centre Ennerdale Road, Harlescott, Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Telephone: 01743 600 031. Find us on your sat-nav using SY1 3TL. www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/greenhous

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January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 61

| Motors

First the Civic, now the CR-V: Honda’s 1.6 i-DTEC engine shows its economy credentials in realworld testing The super-frugal Honda 1.6 i-DTEC engine has once again proven its real-world efficiency, this time in the new Honda CR-V. n a rigorous independent test on UK roads over more than 500 miles, the CR-V achieved an incredible 77.86mpg, almost a quarter more than its official quoted figure of 62.8mpg, sipping just 29.75 litres (6.544 gallons) of fuel. The CR-V was tested by the team behind the recent ‘MPG Marathon’ under the same rules and conditions as that event. As in the MPG Marathon the car was driven by two independent drivers, John Kerswill and Ian McKean. Carried out over two days, the test covered 509.5 miles on a variety of roads and conditions and at speeds which represent realworld driving. John Kerswill commented: “A lot of people doubt that the official consumption figures of new cars are achievable in real life, and with some cars that might be true. But we've shown conclusively that it's possible to not only match but far exceed the CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC's official 62.8mpg, which is itself a pretty amazing figure for such a large vehicle.” Lee Wheeler, Manager-Corporate Operations at Honda (UK), comments: “Once again our Earth Dreams technology proves its real-world credentials over distances and in conditions that many fleet drivers face every day. This perfectly illustrates the fact that drivers can have the versatility, practicality and refinement of a larger car but still keep their fuel bills down.” The success of the CR-V comes on the back of another recent triumph for Honda’s new

super-frugal diesel engine, with the Civic 1.6 iDTEC scooping third place out of 23 in this year’s MPG Marathon. Over a 367 mile drive the Civic recorded an excellent overall mpg of 84.87mpg, just 4mpg behind the winner. It was pipped to the post for overall MPG by two much smaller cars. Ross Durkin, Managing Editor of Fleet World Group and organiser of the MPG Marathon, added: “We’ve already seen one amazing economy driving performance from a Honda diesel this year. Add to that John and Ian’s undoubted credentials from previous MPG Marathons and you have the potential for some really impressive results. Their performance shows that not only is this an intrinsically economical car to run, but also that with a degree of skill it can far outstrip the published fuel consumption figures. This run would have put them in second place in the MPG Marathon proper, just a whisker behind the winner.” The British built CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC offers an impressive combination of practicality (with up to 1,669 litres of luggage capacity) and

performance (120PS and 300Nm of torque), as well as outstanding fuel consumption. Based on the official fuel economy the CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC has the potential to cover up to 800 miles on a single tank of fuel. In addition, CO2 emissions as low as 119g/km, so the CR-V 1.6 i-DTEC qualifies for £0 road tax for the first year and as low as £30 annual road tax thereafter. Honda’s 1.6 diesel engine is the first to be launched in Europe under its flagship Earth Dreams Technology environmental programme; offering customers an outstanding balance of high fuel economy, low emissions and dynamic performance. The new fuel-efficient CR-V is available from just £239 per month on a zero per cent APR PCP finance plan over three years, and comes complete with five years complimentary servicing.* Please visit www.honda.co.uk/cr-v to find out more about the CR-V range and other Honda models equipped with the 1.6 i-DTEC engine.

Special Shoguns on their way to Highways Agency The first of 30 specialist Mitsubishi vehicles destined for the Highways Agency has rolled off the production line and is ready for action. he agency has ordered 30 4x4 Shoguns all of which will be built at the carmaker’s state-of-the-art Specialist Vehicle Operations Centre, which refits, adapts and upgrades standard Mitsubishi models to meet individual client requirements.

“The fact we offer our specialist fleet refits ‘‘in-house’’ is a major selling point.” With each vehicle taking up to 24 hours to complete, staff at the Cirencester-based operation have been working hard to deliver the order. Dan Pigot, Corporate Sales Manager at Mitsubishi Motors in the UK, believes this latest deal in an ongoing relationship with the Highways Agency, is testament to the quality of

62 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

the Mitsubishi brand. He said: ‘The Shogun is a tough, practical vehicle but it is also extremely comfortable to drive. For eight hours of the day the vehicle is their office so it needs to be comfortable and the feedback from the traffic officers is that they really like the Shoguns. ‘The Highways Agency is an existing customer and it knows it will stand up to their high demands.’ The bespoke Shoguns include light bars, grill lights and Highways Agency livery. Earlier this year Mitsubishi supplied 138 specialist vehicles to the Environment Agency, including 70 new Outlanders. Dan added: ‘This latest contract shows Mitsubishi is continuing to tick all the boxes with specialist fleet operators. ‘The fact we offer our specialist fleet refits ‘‘in-house’’ is a major selling point. No-one

knows better than the manufacturer what can and can’t be done, no third parties need to be involved and the whole process is nicely joined up.’ Mitsubishi Specialist Vehicle Operations (MSVO) is also working on an array of highprofile fleet operators including National Grid and Ministry of Defence.

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| Motors

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January 2014 | Farming Monthly | 71

| Motors

CJB Great Wall Hertfordshire Tel: 01279 656265 www.cjbmotorsales.co.uk

Cross Roads Warwickshire Tel: 01608 661544 unityautomotive.co.uk

Ryedale Garages Ltd North Yorkshire Tel: 01751 431343 www.ryedalegarages.co.uk

David Cook Motors Lancashire Tel: 0161 624 1441 www.davidcookmotors.co.uk

TWG Northwich Limited Cheshire Tel: 01606 44624 www.twghyundai.co.uk

PMS Greens Ltd Pembrokeshire Tel: 01437 767767 www.pmscars.com

Lloyd 4x4 Cumbria Tel: 01228 517100 www.lloyd4x4.co.uk

Edward Johnson Otley Ltd West Yorkshire Tel: 01943 463007 www.edwardjohnson.co.uk

64 | Farming Monthly | January 2014

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| Motors

SsangYong gives its Giugiaro designed Korando a fresh new look for 2014 SsangYong is giving its Italian designed Korando crossover a fresh new look for 2014. lready noted for its great value, high level of equipment, space and 2 tonne towing capability - the Korando SE recently won The Caravan Club Towcar of the Year Award 2014 for vehicles under £16,000 - the car now gets a makeover inside and out, and enhanced driving refinement. Externally, the front receives an all-new treatment - a slimmed down, black mesh radiator grille, more contemporary headlights and a wider, low level air intake are the principal enhancements. The new headlight units now comprise projection lamps and LED daytime running lights for increased visibility and safety, surrounded by a stylish black and aluminium bezel. Further illumination is provided on the ELX4 model with neat round fog lamps set discreetly within the lower bumper. At the rear, the design changes are focused on enhanced style with detail improvements such as the rear light cluster, which now includes LED lights for improved visibility. There are new designs for both the 16-inch and 17-inch wheels, and three new exterior colours Sunrise red, Cosmic blue and Carbonic grey as well as Space black, Grand white and Silent silver. The interior of the car has also been given a significant re-design, and now combines an attractive and comfortable ambiance for the driver and passengers alike. There is a completely redesigned dashboard featuring soft-touch materials for a greater sense of luxury, complemented by natural matt wood grain insets, and abundant storage space that includes enlarged cup holders, a mobile phone tray and flip-down sunglasses tray. The new Korando is powered by a modern yet well-proven 2.0litre Euro 5 engine. The top of the range ELX4 automatic is matched with the powerful, smooth and efficient 175ps e-XDi200 diesel engine with a maximum power output of 175ps/4000rpm and peak torque of 360Nm/2,0003,000rpm. Models featuring manual transmission get the 149ps e-XDi200 engine which delivers the same maximum power and peak torque as the automatic, and is perfect for lively driving as well as for going off-road and towing. Korando offers two transmissions: a 6-speed manual

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with high fuel efficiency and smooth gear shifting, and a 6speed automatic with optimum gear ratios for smooth, comfortable driving. Great advances in reducing NVH (noise, vibration & harshness) have been made to this new car, with particular attention focused on its engine mountings. Stronger, reinforced mounting brackets are used which effectively reduce engine noise levels by up to 9.3%. Korando is fitted with Macpherson struts to the front and multi-link suspension to the rear to provide excellent ride comfort, and the three point mountings to the rear axle effectively minimise noise and vibration. New rubber bushes have been fitted to the car’s reinforced sub frames, further helping to minimise intrusive vibration and noise from the road surface and engine. Three of the four new models come with four wheel drive, and unlike its competitors a very high percentage of customers choose their Korando with 4x4, an intelligent and advanced all-wheel drive (AWD) system based on SsangYong’s highly regarded four wheel drive technology and years of experience. The torque-ondemand system senses the road surface and driving conditions and distributes the power to the wheels that need it most. Under normal driving conditions, 100 per cent of the engine’s torque is delivered to the front wheels so that the car runs with optimised fuel efficiency. On icy or slippery roads or when driving on wet off-road conditions, power is distributed to both the front and rear wheels to ensure a safe, stable and dependable drive. The technology also works perfectly to give a smooth and safe departure when driving away from a standstill on a steep slope, while a lock mode distributes power equally between the front and rear wheels at speeds below 25mph to optimise traction. With a ground clearance of 180mm, an approach angle of 22.8 degrees, 28.2 degree departure angle and a ramp angle of 18.5 degrees, the new Korando is as at home off-road as it is on the road, and a highly capable offroader. In conjunction with the standard Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with emergency brake assist and four-channel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), the four-wheel drive

system provides the best possible grip and control whatever the conditions. Hill Start Assist (HSA) and Active Roll-over Protection (ARP) also feature. The new Korando offers the practicality and convenience of an SUV and the creature comforts of a saloon car. Its generous proportions and wide interior space make this the perfect vehicle for both everyday use and leisure activities. In the rear, there’s sufficient shoulder room for three adults to travel in complete comfort. The seat back - which splits 60:40 - can be reclined up to 17.5 degrees, while the flat floor and generous legroom make it ideal for long journeys. Lift the

tailgate and you’ll find one of the largest load areas in this SUV sector (486 litres with the seats up and 1,312 litres when folded). The rear seats fold completely flat, while there’s also an under-floor tray for storing valuables out of sight. The new look Korando is a genuine SUV offering great driving performance both on and off-road together with a 2-tonne towing capability. There are four models in the range with a comprehensive level of equipment and at prices many of its competitors fail to match. Cars arrived at dealers at the end of last year and are available to order now.

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Isuzu continues to pick-up sales records and new customers in UK As 2013 draws to a close, Isuzu UK can report a 50% increase in sales of its D-Max over 2012 as the Brand continues to attract new customers. The UK also retains its spot at the top of the league table among all of the European Isuzu markets. suzu UK has enjoyed four years - and an amazing 272 per cent – of growth since 2009. A number of exciting D-Max projects are also underway which will be announced early in 2014 which build on the D-Max’s reputation as one of the most rugged yet desirable pick-ups on the market. To date Isuzu has sold 3900 of its D-Max pick-up across the UK during 2013 – a record for the brand. While the final tally will be announced in early January, the projected sales of 4000 represents a 50 per cent increase versus the same period last year and comfortably surpasses the company’s own initial target of 3,500 target for the year. Isuzu’s record-breaking sales performance in the UK has ensured it remains the number one market in Europe and well ahead of next biggest markets, Turkey and France. William Brown, General Manager at Isuzu

UK, commented: “More consumers than ever want a pick-up that offers great looks, refinement, outstanding value and classleading attributes, whether they’re private or fleet buyers. The increase in the braked towing capacity to 3.5-tonnes was further demonstration of the D-Max’s all-round abilities and we’re set to widen its appeal further in the near future.” “Next year is going to be another exciting period of growth for Isuzu as we look to

maximise new opportunities, continue developments to make the road-going pick-up even more desirable, and engage in new offroad performance activities that will test the ruggedness of an Isuzu D-Max to the maximum.” All Isuzu D-Max pick-ups sold in the UK come standard with a pioneering five-year / 125,000-mile warranty.

Land Rover becomes official vehicle partner of Red Bull Desert Wings Land Rover is pleased to announce that it will be the official vehicle supplier to the Red Bull Desert Wings team for the 2014 Dakar in South America. ed Bull has chosen Land Rover as official vehicle supplier for the 2014 Dakar due to its advanced allterrain expertise and technology to support the various teams sitting under the Red Bull Desert Wings collective. Five Land Rovers have been supplied including Defender, Discovery, all-new Range Rover and Ranger Rover Sport with the latter actually following the demanding route of the Dakar. The other four vehicles will follow the support route carrying necessary tools and equipment to support the members of the team. Each vehicle is completely standard and will carry optional roof-racks and spare wheels/tyres to cope with the demands of the Red Bull team. The All-New Range Rover Sport is the same vehicle that recently completed the fastest ever recorded production SUV time on the infamous Pikes Peak in June of this year. The 5.0 litre V8 Supercharged Sport has a

motorsport homologated roll-cage and will enable Red Bull’s official photographers to capture the best moments of the Dakar. They will depend on the vehicle’s next generation ground-breaking Terrain Response® 2 system which automatically selects the most suitable terrain programme according to the varied topography they will come across. The Range Rover Sport’s agility and speed will also aid them to keep up with the competitors who will be covering vast distances each day. The Red Bull Desert Wings team encompasses various teams in each of the three classes, bikes, cars and trucks. The Land Roverbacked Race2Recovery team of injured soldiers who against all odds finished this year’s Dakar will return in January with one truck and two car entries. The team this year will be welcomed on a daily basis into the Red Bull Bivouac providing Race2Recovery with

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additional resource and infrastructure. The team will also have run two Land Rover Discoverys as support vehicles. This year’s Dakar rally will start on the 5th January in Rosario, Argentina and will conclude in Valparaiso in Chile on the 18th January after the competitors have covered just under 5000 km over some of the world’s toughest terrain. Mark Cameron, Jaguar Land Rover Global Brand Experience Director said: “The Red Bull Desert Wings team has sought a vehicle partner with all-terrain expertise to reliably support the various entrants in the toughest race in the

world. I am delighted that they have come to us. The All-new Range Rover Sport will provide a combination of superior off-road capability, and sure-footedness which will put the photographers in good stead to capture the best moments of the race. “The Range Rover, Discovery and Defender models will support the rest of the team with ample space, refinement and capability to ably back the competitors. I wish all the Red Bull Desert Wings teams, riders and drivers the very best of luck and I look forward to watching their progress in January.”

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Unity Automotive Cambridgeshire 01733 893704 unityautomotive.co.uk

Cross Roads Warwickshire 01608 661544 unityautomotive.co.uk

Maple Garage Ltd East Yorkshire 01964 670392 www.maplegarage.co.uk

Shukers Isuzu (Shrewsbury) Shropshire 01743 873900 www.shukersisuzu.co.uk

Tallis Amos Group Leominster Herefordshire 01568 613434 www.herefordshireisuzu.co.uk

Carstins West Midlands 01676 533145 unityautomotive.co.uk

R. Hunt Isuzu Hampshire 01264 860532 www.rhunt.co.uk

Jeffries of Bacton Suffolk 01449 781087 www.jeffriesofbacton.co.uk

Duckworth Isuzu Boston 01205 725700 www.duckworthisuzu.co.uk

Hammonds of Halesworth Suffolk 01986 834090 www.hammondgroup.co.uk

Duckworth Isuzu Market Rasen 01673 841410 www.duckworthisuzu.co.uk

Ashburton Motor Works Devon 01364 652302 devon-isuzu.co.uk

Garland Motors Ltd Hampshire 01252 367373 www.garlandskoda.co.uk/isuzu

Tallis Amos Group Bibury Gloucestershire 01285 740115 tallisamosgroup.co.uk

Bob Gerard Limited Leicestershire 01162 592224 www.bobgerard.co.uk

Bulldog Twyford Berkshire 0118 9321 331 bulldogtwyford.com

York Van Centre North Yorkshire 01904 470170 www.yorkvancentre.co.uk

Isuzu North London Middlesex 0208 804 6135 www.isuzunorthlondon.com

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Range Rover Sport conquers the desert in exclusive new online film New documentary film shows the new Range Rover Sport’s 800km dawn to dusk drive across the Empty Quarter desert – setting the fastest recorded time for the crossing of 10 hours and 22 minutes

and Rover has today revealed an exclusive new documentary film charting the new Range Rover Sport’s challenge to complete the fastest recorded crossing of the Empty Quarter desert, which it achieved last month.

“The class-leading, genuine Land Rover all-terrain capability, breakthrough lightweight suspension design and innovative dynamic chassis technologies all helped the new Range Rover Sport conquer one of its toughest challenges yet.” The video, which can be seen on Land Rover’s YouTube channel here tracks the team’s 849km journey from Wadi Adda Wasir in Saudi Arabia to the border of the United Arab Emirates. The team completed the challenge on November 3rd 2013, finishing in 10 hours and 22 minutes at an average speed of 51.87 mph (81.87 km/h), and the documentary charts the journey from beginning to end.

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The short film features spectacular footage from inside and outside the vehicle, as well as epic shots of the barren environment that the team faced as they tackled the largest sand desert in the world. Viewers will see the new Range Rover Sport pummel the desert flats at full speed, tip toe down the steepest sand dunes and navigate the myriad of obstacles that the desert threw up – including rogue camels appearing from nowhere. Sand storms, immense heat and punishing jumps are just some of the challenges that pushed man and machine to the limit. Behind-the-scenes footage shows the man behind the drive - 47 year-old Spanish off-road racer Moi Torrallardona – and charts the physical and mental endurance that led to his success. Torrallardona said: “The Empty Quarter was an incredible challenge and one that will live with me for the rest of my life. The Range Rover Sport was the ideal tool for conquering the desert and it is great to be able to relive the challenge through this short documentary. The Empty Quarter provided a unique test for a standard production vehicle and thanks to the ability of the Range Rover Sport we came out victorious.”

The challenge was completed in a standard production new Range Rover Sport with a 510PS 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol engine, running standard tyres. The only modification to the vehicle was the fitment of an underbody protection plate. This vehicle was displayed at the Dubai Motor Show on the 5th November, just two days after completing the desert crossing. The class-leading, genuine Land Rover allterrain capability, breakthrough lightweight suspension design and innovative dynamic chassis technologies all helped the new Range Rover Sport conquer one of its toughest challenges yet. The challenge is the second that the new Range Rover Sport has completed in recent months, following its record hill climb for a production SUV at Pikes Peak back in June, the short documentary of which can be viewed here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaPiM_mish4 These feats are part of a series of global driving challenges in which the Range Rover Sport is pushed to new limits.

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Carstins West Midlands Tel: 01676 533145

Bulldog Twyford Reading, Berkshire Tel: 0118 9321 331

Beechwood Subaru Derbyshire 01332 381 900

Cross Roads Warwickshire Tel: 01608 661544

Subaru Newcastle Tyne & Wear Tel: 0191 274 2000

Shukers Shropshire 01743 444500

www.unityautomotive.co.uk

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www.subarunewcastle.com

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