January 2020 Farming Monthly National

INSIDE: LAMMA 2020: THE agricultural machinery show page 36

Farming

MONTHLY National

January 2020

Also in this issue...

Pests

| Time to get serious about pest management page 20

Overuse of herbicides Also inside this month..

Could this be costing the UK economy over ÂŁ400m a year? page 10

Blowing hot and cold p22

Oregano: Antimicrobial resistance p08

Grenadier 4x4 nears production p56

PLUS: Arable | Slurry| Grain | Fuels | Forestry | Machinery | Energy | ATV | Motors

CONTENTS January 2020

FEATURES 08

14

12 Arable United Utilities to fund trial of industry’s most accurate nitrogen measuring tool for farmers...

16 Grain

20

36 LAMMA

35

48 Forestry

Final preview

Government Scheme to encourage tree planting

46 Education Kids Country announces partnership

UK feed wheat prices below last year

20 Pests Time to get serious about pest management

22 Buildings The value of competent design..

26 Livestock Improve your livestocks health with water

30 Muck & Slurry Bauer’s new portable S300 system

04 | Farming Monthly | January 2020

REGULARS 06 News Government announces Brexit support

10 On Topic Overuse of herbicides

45 Machinery Latest machinery news

50 Energy Biogas challenges

52 ATV ATV news...covered.

55 Motors Latest motors news

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

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Agriculture. Covered.

EDITOR Andrew Poulton editor@farmingmonthly.com EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES editorial@farmingmonthly.com

Overuse of herbicides costing UK economy over £400m per year

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ISSN 2044-0190 (print) ISSN 2044-0200 (digital)

January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 05

| News

Farmers’ £3 billion support confirmed in time for 2020 The Chancellor has today confirmed nearly £3 billion of funding for 2020 to support farmers once the UK leaves the EU. This cash injection will maintain the level of funding for Direct Payments at the same rate as last year and will provide certainty for farmers, giving them confidence for next year. he Chancellor has given a welcome boost to UK farmers and rural communities by announcing nearly £3 billion of funding for 2020.

Sajid Javid confirmed the cash will be used to support farmers once the UK leaves the EU next year, allowing them to plan for the future, sow their crops and care for their livestock with confidence.

The UK will leave the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Direct Payments scheme, which supports farmers across Europe with subsidies in 2020. This will be replaced by a new system based on public money for public goods.

The cash injection will allow the funding for Direct Payments for 2020 to continue at the same level as 2019 and supplement the remaining EU funding that farmers will receive for development projects until 2023 at the latest. We will guarantee the current annual budget to farmers in every year of the Parliament.

It is in addition to the £216 million of funding awarded since the Spending Round to support

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the farming sector in Scotland and Wales.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sajid Javid, said: “When we leave the EU and are freed from the Common Agricultural Policy, we will be able to support our vital rural communities – who are a cornerstone of life in the UK – with a fairer and less bureaucratic system.

“Farmers can enter the New Year with confidence that they have our backing and will be able to thrive after Brexit.”

Environment Secretary, Theresa Villiers, said: “Outside the EU we will have a simpler, fairer funding system – one that rewards farmers for enhancing our environment and safeguarding our high animal welfare standards.

“We are committed to making sure our rural communities feel the benefits of Brexit and will ensure our farmers get a better deal.”

The CAP is an EU policy that provides financial support to farmers in Member States.

The Direct Payments scheme forms the majority of spending under the CAP and provides subsidies to farmers based on the area of land under management.

The funding announced today will be available from late 2020, as in previous years.

The UK Government will therefore provide £2.852 billion of support, topping up the remaining EU funding, and matching the total funding for Direct Payment available for 2019.

This will provide certainty for the rural economy.

The funding is spread across two financial years. The allocations for each nation of the UK for 2020/21 are: £1,751 million for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; £449 million for the Scottish Government; £231 million for the Welsh Government; and £279 million for the Northern Ireland administration.

And for 2021/22: £92 million for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; £24 million for the Scottish Government; £12 million for the Welsh Government; and £15 million for the Northern Ireland administration.

Organic control body calls for ‘land sharing’ approach to halt economic and ecological collapse The largest certifier of UK organic land, OF&G (Organic Farmers & Growers) is calling on the Government and agricultural industry to support policies that protect the land and rural communities across the country. arm businesses face increasing financial pressure as gross margins are constricted by market economics. Threats to biological diversity and extreme weather events are taking their toll, leading to crucial debate around the best way to manage the countryside, tackle climate change and produce sustainable food supplies.

OF&G believes government policy must focus on ‘land sharing’ rather than ‘land sparing’ as a solution to our future agricultural production needs.

“Land sparing seeks to intensify production on higher quality agricultural land while lower quality land is ‘spared’ for nature,” says Roger Kerr, chief executive at OF&G. “The thinking behind this approach is that any agricultural production negatively impacts wildlife, so there needs to be a greater separation of the two.

“Recently, Professor Sir Ian Boyd made a pronouncement suggesting half of UK agricultural land is reverted to natural habitats.

This kind of bold thinking should be applauded but suggesting that the resultant lost agricultural production could be made up by vertical farms seems to miss the point. Vertical farms will be even more heavily reliant on external inputs for them to work than existing intensive agricultural systems.

“The land sparing model is also predicated on achieving much higher yields on the land

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06 | Farming Monthly | January 2020

remaining in agricultural production. However, current plant technology has only delivered small incremental yield increases at best in recent years and genetic modification (GM) technology has yet to deliver yield increases.

“The land sparing approach also doesn’t address the continued soil degradation seen in intensive farming systems nor the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions attributed to ammonium nitrate production.”

Like other business models, Mr Kerr says the industry needs to consider its financial principles in terms of the whole balance sheet, including wider natural assets and liabilities, rather than traditional, financial profit and loss.

“Land sharing comprises integrating agricultural production with more environmentally friendly techniques, bringing nature into the field rather than displacing it somewhere else. Agro-ecological and organic farming techniques and interrelated activities across the food supply network seek to simultaneously deliver multiple environmental benefits.

“Stacking a diverse range of benefits in this way is proven to be far more resilient in the face of both climatic and economic shocks than intensive mono-cropping that remains reliant on energy intensive and costly inputs.”

However, Mr Kerr says the Government appears to favour the direction of land sparing for agricultural policy without fully considering

the medium- to long-term challenges and issues it would create. “We’re facing significant challenges and land sparing is simply a reworking of ‘business as usual’ - something that is recognised as no longer an option.”

Over the last 70 years, there has been limited investment in research and development (R&D) in agro-ecological farming practices and organic currently receives just 2-3% of funding compared to the rest of the agricultural sector.

Mr Kerr says more research funding for organic production techniques would provide scope to tailor approaches to improve and optimise yield, producing good quality food as well as protecting the natural environment and realising ecologically rich landscapes.

“Research would provide more insight into soil ecosystems and their relationship with plants, crop varieties best suited to organic farming, improved methods of pest and disease control, and it could reduce the need for antibiotic use in livestock.

“Through organic approaches, we can make meaningful changes to the environment as well as create a sustainable food production future.

For example, in 2017 alone, UK organic crops grown without synthetic inputs resulted in 300t less pesticide active ingredients and 40,000t less fertiliser being used. This reduced need for fossil fuel based inputs and resultant reduction in field operations significantly decreases GHG emissions,” Mr Kerr concludes.

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| News

Climate change creates opportunities and risks for UK viticulture Agri-tech innovations to be discussed at event.

armer summers could extend the area where grapes can be grown productively in the UK, but this comes with challenges for farmers looking to diversify, according to Dr Belinda Clarke, Director of Agri-TechE (formerly known as AgriTech East). The organisation is bringing together viticulture experts with enterprising farmers and technologists to discuss the emerging agri-tech that is supporting growth in this industry.

Belinda comments: “Recent research suggests an area in the UK the size of the Champagne region would be profitable for vineyards, extending far beyond the traditional fruit growing regions. The improved quality of the product and the benefits it offers for carbon storage and regenerative agriculture are making viticulture an interesting option for growers.”

Agri-TechE is holding an event for growers and technologists to discuss the opportunities for innovation in viticulture on 11 February, hosted at Cambridge Consultants’ headquarters on the Cambridge Science Park.

“There is a strong desire to focus on sustainable farming against a background of climate change, especially in the UK, so new technologies and techniques such as precision agriculture and robotics are required to meet these needs,” comments Chris Roberts, Head of Robotics and Associate Director of the Technology Leadership Group at Cambridge Consultants.

“Contrary to popular belief, I don’t think there is a reluctance from farmers to invest in new technology. The concern is more of the risk of it going wrong and the impact on the bottom line.

The challenge is how to create a viable business model to support its adoption.”

Increasing the resilience of the vineyard is the focus of Vidacycle; Community Lead Annie Landless will also be speaking at the event.

Vidacycle has developed the Sectormentor software with a collection of tools to enable more informed decision making in the vineyard.

For example, their Ripeness Indicator enables the winemaker and vineyard manager to compare the ripeness curve between different sites in real-time to see how the acids and sugars are progressing to support better

diseases; a multi level approach is needed to give plants a healthy start and a robust resistance to environmental change.

“Nematodes are a major pest in vineyards – they feed on vine roots and compete with the roots for nutrition as well as causing damage and transmission of disease. In short cycle crops they can be controlled through rotation but a long-term crop like grapes the populations can build rapidly, especially where ground is replanted.

“At Global Plant Genetics we are looking at improving the root stock to enable resistance to phylloxera and nematodes. This is a new development for the UK and we are working with growers to support future expansion.”

Dr Alistair Nesbitt, CEO of Vinescapes, is the lead author on a report that assessed the areas of the UK that would be suitable for viticulture and found nearly 35,000 hectares across Kent, Sussex and East Anglia.

He comments: “Viticulture can be more profitable than some more commonly grown arable crops but much depends on quality, route to market and overall business structure.

“The viticulture suitability model I developed for England and Wales used a process called Fuzzy Logic to overlay high resolution datasets of topographic, soil, land use and climatic variables to identify and grade land suitability.

However, viticulture is a long-term and high capital investment. It requires specialist skill and expertise to get right.

“The last 30-years have seen significant warming during the UK growing season, which is why we can now grow the marketable varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Meunier) that we do.

“Projections are for warmer, drier summers; all else being equal this will aid viticulture in the UK and potentially open up the possibility of different wine styles and other varieties.”

Flint Vineyards in Norfolk is one the most recently established vineyards in the UK and co-owner Ben Witchell will also be giving his learning points at the event.

The Pollinator event ‘Nothing to W(h)ine About – Uncorking the Opportunities for Innovation in Viticulture’ will be held at Cambridge Consultants, Cambridge, 11 February 2020 at 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm. Register at www.agri-tech-e.co.uk/events

See us at LAMMA ‘20 - Hall 6, Stand 6.126

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decision-making at harvest.

Visualisations based on data collected over a number of years is making the tools more powerful and is revealing insights into climate change. Annie comments: “Using the tools to look at historical data we can clearly see that ripening dates have gradually shifted earlier and earlier over the last 20 years – there is no doubt things are changing and the summers do appear to be getting hotter.

“Certainly, the reality of climate change to date is that everything becomes less predictable and more extreme, so building resilience becomes more important – and a healthy soil is the ultimate buffer. We encourage people to build soil health with regenerative agricultural practices to improve water retention and bioavailability of nutrients. Vineyards can also provide a carbon sink.”

Julien Lecourt, Senior Research Scientist at NIAB EMR at East Malling (Kent), says that although temperatures are rising climate change is “not going to make the UK the new Spanish Riviera!” He explains: “Our climate is going to remain categorised as “cold/cool” for viticulture and climate change predictions forecast more extreme events such as late frost.

However, warmer temperature can also mean higher diseases pressure.”

The withdrawal of chemicals and lesser acceptance of chemical treatments by consumers makes the need to breed varieties of grape that can tolerate these pressures more acute. NIAB EMR’s team is at the forefront on this topic, working on Divico, one of the most promising new red varieties.

Additionally, work has started this year in a dedicated project named ‘Britadapt’, as Julien explains: “We are running a project in collaboration with the University of Bordeaux at the Research Vineyard. There are 13 varieties: five are already largely planted in the UK, while eight are considered as not yet suitable for our climate but are indicative of which varieties could be grown in the future. The first crop has been obtained this year (2019) and data collated to model the varieties which are going to be suitable for our climate.”

Claire Donkin, Technical Associate at Global Plant Genetics, comments that it is not only conditions for the plants themselves that are changing but also the background pests and

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January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 07

| News

Dr Caroline Rymer

University trial shows oregano essential oil can help reduce antimicrobial resistance in calves

Dr Partha Ray

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the greatest threats globally to human health and has been predicted to be responsible for 10 million deaths a year by 2050 if not acted upon. he levels of E. coli bacteria, that are resistant to a fourthgeneration cephalosporin antibiotic, can be significantly reduced by adding an oregano essential oil to calf diets, according to research undertaken at the University of Reading in the UK. University researchers, Dr Partha Ray and Dr Caroline Rymer, undertook a trial to determine the effect of supplementing Anpario’s OregoStim Liquid (a source of 100 percent natural oregano essential oil), in waste milk fed to dairy calves, on the population of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in their faeces.

Holstein male calves were offered either waste milk treated with Orego-Stim Liquid for ten days or a control diet of the same waste milk source without the addition of Orego-Stim Liquid. After the initial ten days, all calves were fed the same ration of untreated waste milk and concentrates until weaning.

The results of the study were very promising, offering a potential solution in helping to reduce the presence of antimicrobial resistant bacteria.

In the faeces of calves fed waste milk with no Orego-Stim, 44.1 percent of E. coli present

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08 | Farming Monthly | January 2020

were resistant to the cephalosporin antibiotic (cefquinome). However, in calves fed waste milk supplemented with Orego-Stim Liquid until day ten, this was significantly reduced to only 12.6 perecnt of total E. coli being resistant to cefquinome.

“Oregano essential oil supplementation not only reduced the abundance of cefquinomeresistant E. coli but also delayed the emergence of resistance to cefquinome,” says Dr Partha Ray, lecturer in dairy animal science at Reading University. “We are conducting further studies to understand the mechanism underlying the effect of Orego-Stim feeding on antimicrobial resistance in the gut of young cattle. Improving our understanding of the mechanism is the only way we can refine the practice of feeding the essential oil based supplement to make it more sustainable.”

These antibiotics are commonly used in human and animal medicine and are classified as ‘highest priority critically important’, therefore safeguarding their use is an absolute necessity.

“Feeding supplements which have antimicrobial activity may themselves encourage the development of antimicrobial

resistance. It was therefore very pleasing that there was no evidence that feeding Orego-Stim increased the resistance of E. coli to any of the antibiotic classes tested. It was even more promising that resistance to the critically important cefquinome was reduced”, said Dr Caroline Rymer, associate professor of animal science at Reading University.

Orego-Stim is a 100 percent natural source of oregano essential oil, which has a proven broad-spectrum antimicrobial effect as a result of its composition and the presence of compounds such as carvacrol, p-cymene and thymol.

www.farmingmonthly.co.uk

| News

New government must adopt new water level and flood risk management plans Welcoming the new Conservative government, ADA has reiterated its continued support in managing and maintaining the UK’s water systems and flood-risk defences. In return, it is looking for the new government to significantly strengthen its position towards the careful but essential maintenance and management of our rivers.

DA, the representative body for drainage, water level and flood-risk management authorities, has provided political leaders with seven key policy pointers to help reduce the impacts of flood-risk and deliver effective water level management.

ADA chief executive Innes Thomson says, “We welcome the new government and look forward to working with them, alongside risk management authorities and other stakeholders, to help manage flood-risk and deliver water management solutions.

“We have already highlighted the need for a fundamental shift in the government’s approach to dealing with flooding and drought, and now is the time to grasp the opportunity to help better protect people, property and farmland,” he adds.

In particular, ADA calls for funding and policy rule changes to avoid leaving communities, farms and villages undefended, isolated and unsupported. Allied to this, there is a key need to discuss the controlled storage of water on land and provide the right incentives to landowners and farmers.

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“With the help of new policies and strengthened flood risk strategy, ADA will work to help and ensure that all parties fully understand and engage with the issues facing the flood and water level management sector in a post-Brexit environment.”

“Crucially, local Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) can play a significant role in assisting on how farmland can be used to trap, store and evacuate flood water, with the right infrastructure in place,” continues Mr Thomson.

“This infrastructure, such as adapting pumping stations or installing temporary pumps to evacuate water post-event, is critical and in our lowland areas could be reasonably operated and maintained by local IDBs,” adds Mr Thomson.

ADA also calls for a government

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flood policy and funding that can support conveyance and resilient river embankments which control water in lowland watercourses.

Mr Thomson says, “Conveyance is a broader topic than simply dredging. It also includes aquatic and vegetation control within the river and its banks, and the stability of the banks themselves. Removing targeted constrictions in lowland rivers must also be undertaken where there are obvious adverse effects on river flows.”

ADA insists all measures must be part of a catchment approach to flood resilience, working alongside SuDS (sustainable drainage systems), soil management, traditional defences, upstream attenuation, flood storage areas or washlands, and slow the flow initiatives.

Mr Thomson concludes, “With the help of new policies and strengthened flood risk strategy, ADA will work to help and ensure that all parties fully understand and engage with the issues facing the flood and water level management sector in a postBrexit environment.”

ADA’s seven key policy asks for better drainage, water level and flood risk management 1 Long term investment horizons in the face of climate change challenges – Flood risk management delivers enduring benefits and authorities involved need to be able to plan ahead financially over multiple years and need to receive a sensible balance of capital and revenue funding, spread across the river catchments, in order to find efficiencies through climate change adaptation and resilience, and attract business investment.

2 Promote co-operation and partnership working to manage the water environment and reduce flood risk – Close cooperation between flood risk management authorities, water companies, communities, business and land managers needs the continued strong support of government to deliver adaptive and resilient flood risk maintenance and similar activities more efficiently and affordably.

3 Total catchment management – Total catchment management is now the widely accepted approach to managing our water and now is

Innes Thomson

the time to increase and empower local professionals and communities to manage and operate these catchments together.

4 Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) – The new government needs to fully implement Schedule 3 of the Flood & Water Management Act 2010, to ensure future development can keep pace with the challenges of the changing climate, by ensuring that SuDS are maintained over the lifetime of a development.

5 Support local governance in flood and water level management decision making – In some parts of England there is an appetite for greater local maintenance delivery on watercourses and flood defence assets than that currently afforded from national investment.

This can be achieved via the careful transfer of some main river

maintenance to local bodies or the expansion of areas maintained by those local bodies, such as Internal Drainage Boards, where there is local support and transitional funding.

6 Local Government Finances – It is vital that Special and Local Levy funding mechanisms for drainage, water level and flood risk management continue to be part of this funding landscape to maintain the democratic link with local communities affected.

7 Brexit: Ensuring a resilient regulatory framework for the water environment – The new government needs to provide clear policy messages about how they wish to make the delivery of environmental improvements to the water environment easier and more effective as we transition from European legislation such as the Water Framework Directive.

January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 09

| On Topic

Overuse of herbicides costing UK economy £400 million per year Widespread use of herbicides leading to resistant black-grass is costing UK millions in profit.

cientists from international conservation charity ZSL (Zoological Society of London) have for the first time put an economic figure on the herbicidal resistance of a major agricultural weed that is decimating winterwheat farms across the UK. A vital ingredient in mince pies, biscuits and stuffing – and of course a large amount fed to turkeys, the future of Christmas dinners containing wheat could be at risk, with the persistent weed making its way across British fields.

Black-grass (Alopecurus myosuroides) is a native annual weed which although natural, large infestations in farmers’ fields can force them to abandon their winter wheat – the UK’s main cereal crop. Farmers have been using herbicides to try and tackle the black-grass problem – but in many areas of England the agricultural weed is now resistant to these herbicides.

The cost of black-grass heralded as ‘Western

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Europe’s most economically significant weed’, is setting back the UK economy ~£400 million and 800,000 tonnes of lost wheat yield each year, with potential implications for national food security.

Published in Nature Sustainability today (23 December 2019), researchers from ZSL’s Institute of Zoology, Rothamsted Research and Sheffield University have devised a new model which helps quantify the economic costs of the resistant weed and its impact on yield under various farming scenarios.

An estimated four million tonnes of pesticide are applied to crops worldwide each year.

There are 253 known herbicide-resistant weeds already, and unlike the known-costs to the economy of human antibiotic resistance – which runs into trillions of dollars – estimates of the costs of resistance to agricultural xenobiotics (e.g. antimycotics, pesticides) are severely lacking.

Over-use of herbicides can lead to poor water quality and causes loss of wild plant diversity and indirect damage to surrounding

invertebrate, bird and mammal biodiversity relying on the plants.

The ZSL research found the UK is losing 0.82 million tonnes in wheat yield each year (equivalent to roughly 5% of the UK’s domestic wheat consumption) due to herbicide resistant black-grass. The worst-case scenario – where all fields contained large amounts of resistant black-grass – is estimated to result in an annual cost of £1 billion, with a wheat yield loss of 3.4 million tonnes per year.

Lead author and postdoctoral researcher at ZSL’s Institute of Zoology, Dr Alexa Varah said: “This study represents the first national-scale estimate of the economic costs and yield losses due to herbicide resistance, and the figure is shockingly higher than I think most would imagine.

“We need to reduce pesticide use nationwide, which might mean introducing statutory limits on pesticide use, or support to farmers to encourage reduced use and adoption of alternative management strategies.

Allocating public money for independent farm

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| On Topic

Jackie Stroud

Image (c) Helen Hicks

advisory services and research and development could help too.”

Management industry recommendations have so far advised using a mixture of herbicides, designed to prevent the evolution of ‘specialist’ resistance, however alarmingly recent research has revealed that this method actually alters the type of resistance to a more generalist resistance, giving resistance to chemicals the plants have never been exposed to.

Glyphosate is now one of the few herbicides that black-grass has not evolved resistance to, with farmers now reliant on repeated applications to control the weed. However, evidence from a recent study shows that resistance to glyphosate is now evolving in the field too.

Dr Varah added; “Farmers need to be able to adapt their management to implement more truly integrated pest management strategies – such as much more diverse crop rotations and strict field hygiene measures.

“Currently resistance management is the

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responsibility of individual practitioners, but this isn’t a sustainable approach. It should be regulated through a national approach, linking the economic, agricultural, environmental and health aspects of this issue in a National Action Plan – that also targets glyphosate resistance.

“Understanding the economic and potential food security issues is a vital step, before looking at biodiversity, carbon emissions and water quality impacts in greater detail. We hope to use this method to aid the development of future models to help us understand how British farmers battling black-grass could do it in a way that is more beneficial to biodiversity like insects, mammals, wild plants and threatened farmland bird species like skylarks, lapwing and tree sparrows – unearthing how their numbers are linked to changes in farming practices.”

To learn more about ZSL’s Institute of Zoology research please see: www.zsl.org/science/news

ZSL (Zoological Society of London) Founded in 1826, ZSL (Zoological Society of London) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity whose mission is to promote and achieve the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats. Our mission is realised through our ground-breaking science, our active conservation projects in more than 50 countries and our two Zoos, ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. For more information visit www.zsl.org

January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 11

| Arable

Contact your nearest dealer: Agratech NW Ltd Unit 8 Dale Mill Burnley Road East Lancashire BB4 9HU 01706 211399 www.agratech.co.uk

12 | Farming Monthly | January 2020

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| Arable

Crop masters Farmers will get the lowdown on the latest crop research during a series of free agronomy events being held in Scotland in the New Year. rganised by AHDB and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), and jointly funded by the Farm Advisory Service (FAS), the January events will showcase the latest fungicide performance results and provide a summary of recommended varieties.

There will also be discussions on sustainable arable systems and grain markets in light of Brexit.

The programme has been developed to include regionally relevant speakers and discussion with stakeholders from across the arable industry.

The events, which run from 9.30am-3.30pm and include lunch, will take place at four venues across Scotland: · Perth (14 January 2020) – Murrayshall

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Country House Hotel & Golf Club, Murrayshall Rd, Scone, Perth PH2 7PH · Borders (16 January 2020) – Carfraemill Hotel, Lauder, TD2 6RA · Aberdeenshire (21 January 2020) – Thainstone House Hotel and Spa, Inverurie, AB51 5NT · Inverness (23 January 2020) – Kingsmills Hotel, Culcabock Rd, Inverness IV2 3LP Chris Leslie, AHDB's Arable Knowledge Exchange Manager for Scotland, said: “Our agronomy events roadshow places cutting-edge arable research in a local context. These regional events offer the opportunity to access the latest agronomic information and discuss its practical application at a local level.

“At the same time, by providing a forum for researchers, agronomists, growers and the trade to share and discuss the latest innovations and

novel approaches, the events provide a great opportunity to build resilience into arable businesses as they prepare for the challenges that lie ahead. Common problems are best met by common solutions so I encourage anyone with an interest in arable farming to attend so they benefit from these events.”

Professor Fiona Burnett from SRUC, who will be among the speakers, said: “With challenges such as an unpredictable climate, loss of pesticides and pesticide resistance hampering the sustainable growth of crops, these events highlight the lessons learned from last season and suggest approaches from the outcomes of applied technical research at SRUC and AHDB that could be applied to on-farm practice.”

To see the full programme of each events and to sign up, visit www.fas.scot/events

United Utilities to fund trial of industry’s most accurate nitrogen measuring tool for farmers Farmers in United Utilities’ groundwater safeguard zones in Cheshire are being invited to take part in a free trial to help improve nitrogen use on their farms. he water company has teamed up with CF Fertilisers and Envirofield Ltd to fund a trial of the CF N-Min system – an industry-leading nitrogen measuring tool. The system calculates the most cost-effective level of nitrogen needed for a crop to maximise yield, while at the same time minimising environmental impacts including reducing levels of nitrogen leaching into groundwater.

Eligible farmers are being invited to a launch event to hear how the system works and its potential agronomic and environmental benefits: · On Thursday 16 January 2020

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· From 6.30pm to 8.30pm · At Nunsmere Hall Hotel, Cheshire During the evening, CF Fertilisers’ agronomist, Alison Grundy, and Iain Turner, from Envirofield Ltd, will provide an introduction to the CF N-Min system and explain how farmers can apply to take part in the trial which starts in January 2020.

Participants in the trial will receive a free CF NMin soil test and personalised nitrogen recommendations for their farm all fully-funded

by United Utilities.

Dr Kate Snow, United Utilities’ southern catchment manager, explained: “Over application of nitrogen not only wastes money but can also have long term environmental impacts. When too

much nitrogen is applied to crops it isn’t taken up into the plants but can leach into groundwater when it rains. This adversely affects the raw water quality in the underground aquifers.”

To book a place on the launch event in January, and to register to take part in the trial, please contact United Utilities catchment advisors: · Veronika Moore (Cheshire and Shropshire) at: veronika.moore@uuplc.co.uk and 07917 750379 · Ellie Morris (Wirral, Widnes and Warrington) at: elena.morris@uuplc.co.uk and 07917 750378

January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 13

| Arable

Powering the future of farming Meeting tomorrow’s demands through precision agriculture. n times past, farmers were at the mercy of the elements to determine a successful yield of crops. As the global population grows and consumer preferences evolve, today’s modern farmer must also consider the scarcity of natural resources, the threat of climate change and the growing problem of food waste. Here, Darcy Simonis, Industry Network Leader for food and beverage at ABB, explores the rise of the smart farm and the electrical considerations that accompany bringing farming into the digital age.

The oldest human industry has undergone a transformation like no other. The 1800s saw the use of chemical fertilizers, while farmers began to plan their work using satellites in the late 1900s. Today, the world needs to produce more food against a background of climate change, which is adversely affecting crop yields and encouraging crop diseases. So, how can we produce 70 per cent more food to meet the needs of a growing population, while significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions? Smart farming offers a solution.

Using remote sensors to avoid costly manual monitoring, informed decisions can be made using real time data. This allows farmers to manage their inputs, such as water and animal feeds, more effectively to increase yields while

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maintaining minimal labor costs.

In the last few decades we’ve seen the rise of indoor urbanized farming, the use of aquaponic farming, and a vast departure from the traditional field cattle farming of old. The Third Agricultural Revolution, which we are arguably in the midst of, is based upon IT solutions, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics, sensors, and drones.

The use of robotics for repetitive tasks is a trend across many industries. In farming, farmbots are employed to perform once laborious manual tasks including seeding, planting, watering, weeding and harvesting.

Farmdrones are also utilized for monitoring purposes and data on plant health and soil conditions are fed back into the system.

When making significant upgrades to a system, power quality issues must be addressed. Although robotic systems and sensor networks have practical benefits, they often use electrical and electronic components that can introduce harmonic currents into electrical networks. If the harmonic levels in an electrical system are too high, this can cause load failure. To mitigate against power failure and unplanned downtime, ABB’s capacitors and filters product portfolio offers a range of solutions.

In particular, the ABB PQF active filters tackle the problems caused by harmonic currents,

load unbalance and reactive power demand, while offering a host of system benefits in low voltage networks. Compliance with the strictest power quality regulations is not something that farmers should overlook. These solutions are rigorously tested to ensure filtering efficiency and system reliability, so that smart farms can operate with uninterrupted systems for maximum productivity.

Smart farming has the power to increase yield and efficiency, raising overall productivity of the supply chain without requiring significantly more land investment. With this, farmers are able to reliably and sustainably produce yields to maintain the growing global population, without being at the mercy of increasingly unpredictable climates.

Explore how to address power considerations that arise through smart farming by visiting https://new.abb.com/buildings/applications/po wer-quality

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| Feature

Michael Tait

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January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 15

| Grain

UK feed wheat prices remain well below last year despite wet autumn Both old-crop (May-20) and new-crop (Nov-20) UK wheat futures dropped slightly week-on-week to Tuesday 31 December, although there has been limited trade due to bank holidays. From November-end to December-end however, both contracts have risen with Nov-20 gaining most (£4.70/t). ilseed markets have also seen some gains over the past month. US soyabeans (nearby) have risen $26.64/t since 2 December to Tuesday’s (31st December) close.

This has also fed through to Paris rapeseed futures (nearby), closing Tuesday at €411.50/t, up €23.25/t since 2 December. The US-China trade deal (phase-one), due to be signed this month, has driven this rise.

UK feed wheat prices remain well below last year despite wet autumn Unsurprisingly, 2019/20 UK wheat prices (nearby futures) have sat below the same time last year when supply was relatively tight in comparison. The average price for December 2019 was £143.12/t, which is 17% below the December 2018 price of £173.15/t.

The supply and demand situation from harvest 2018, to harvest 2019 is very different,

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driving this change in pricing. Wheat production is up 19.7% (2.67Mt) year-on-year in the UK and is the 5th highest since 1999.

The first official balance sheet shows a huge difference in supply and demand year-on-year.

The estimated surplus available for export or free stock for 2019/20 is 2.98Mt compared to 0.72Mt the previous year.

The increased supply has generally weighed on the market, as the need to be export competitive was present. Exports of wheat have been relatively high so far this season at 378.6Kt from July-October compared to 95.4Kt last season. Weak sterling at the beginning of the season also helped with competitive pricing but this has strengthened 10% since the low in August to yesterday’s close (against both the euro and US dollar).

Since September UK feed wheat prices have seen some support on the back of adverse weather. The nearby contract for UK feed wheat

has risen 13% from 2 September to 31 December.

This autumn has been one of the wettest on record and on a national level the wettest since 2000. This has caused significant problems for autumn drilling and could drive the winter wheat area lower for harvest 2020. However, at £146.50/t this is still £26.10/t lower that the same point last year.

The more favourable weather currently experienced could allow farmers to plant their winter wheat throughout January but the re-run of the Early Bird Survey due for release in February could help shed more light on the situation for 2020 harvest.

If farmers manage to plant much of the intended area of wheat then the market will likely be under pressure again. However, if further wet weather is experienced over the next few months, new rises could be recorded for the latter part of the season.

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| Grain

Introducing‌ The Mistral!

Grain drying is a Perry speciality, and enormous expertise has developed the company into a leader in this field. erry are world renowned for manufacturing continuous flow grain driers, and have been successfully doing so since 1955. The new Mistral range of grain driers are available with capacities from 5tph to 30tph and is suitable for a wide range of cereal crops including wheat, barley, oats and maize, Perry continuous flow grain driers are now in use in many countries across the world.

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The launch of the Mistral follows the recent release of a brand new range of flat bottom & hopper bottom silos Grain is elevated to the top of the drier column and enters the drier tower through the reserve section. When in full operation the entire drying column is filled with grain; discharge of dried grain occurs via a roller discharge to provide a constant flow of grain.

This results in grain gradually working its way down the drying column, firstly in contact with

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hot air, then cooling air for the last 25-30% of the column. The discharged grain is then both of the correct moisture content and temperature for long term storage.

The design of the drier is such that the grain column is completely ledge free reducing dust and chaff residue. The tapered design of the air

ducts promote even air flow and ensure uniform drying across the whole grain column.

To find out more about the new Mistral drier, Perry SiloMasters silos and all other products & services in the Perry range contact Perry of Oakley Ltd. on +44 (0)1404 890300 or email sales@perryofoakley.co.uk

January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 17

| Grain

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| Grain

Something you haven’t seen before at the Gibbons Agricultural Stand…

Grain fans. That’s what Gibbons Agricultural have become well-known for over the last couple of decades. ith an impressive 5-year warranty and fast results, it’s no wonder they are one of the main things the Gibbons team expect to get asked about at this year’s LAMMA. But something else might also catch your eye as you stroll towards the bright orange of the Gibbons stand…

Revealed for the first time at LAMMA, Gibbons’ 4-Way Multi-Fan Control Panel will take centre stage.

The ultimate no-fuss panel, it allows the independent control of fans in up to four zones! So, if one section of your heap is warmer than others, this control panel can automatically turn on fans in

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desired zones, while leaving fans in cooler zones switched off.

That means minimum fuss, saved time and saved energy.

With their 50 years of engineering experience, Gibbons can also provide users with bespoke panels built to requirements. Want a control panel that is portable? No problem. What about one that you can control from your phone? Also no problem.

Providing everything needed to preserve grain quality once in storage, the Plug&Cool range also includes durable pedestals, Airspears®, all-in-one packages and more.

You can meet the Gibbons team in Hall 8, Stand 8.700, where their full range of specialist grain storage products will be showcased.

If you won’t be attending the show, you can also reach Gibbons on

01621 868 138 or email fans@gibbonsgroup.co.uk

January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 19

| Pests

Time to get serious about pest management Rodent control on farms is critical for protecting your stock and yourselves.

At British Pest Control Association we’ve worked hard a to ensure pest management professionals have the tools they need to carry out this important public health role. ut as rodenticides come under pressure around the world, all professionals involved with rodent management need to make sure they’re following the latest legal requirements.

Because if we don’t, rodenticide might be taken away from all of us.

Rodenticide (rat poison) is an important tool in a pest manager’s toolkit, however because of the risks to the environment and non-target species, professionals need to take care. Other European countries have completely banned the use of many rodenticides currently used in the UK. The only reason we still have them is because of an agreement with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that we’ll use the products responsibly.

There’s been a widespread focus across the sector on the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques in the control of rodent populations, in response to environmental concerns and resistance to rodenticides.

The Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Usage (CRRU) has detailed guidance and Codes of Best Practice that all professionals need to take heed of. This is especially important now as “following CRRU guidance” has started to appear on labels, making them a legal requirement.

It’s encouraging that recent studies by both Ulster University and the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use UK (CRRU) show the majority of farmers are no longer permanent baiting for rats.

Instead, just over two-thirds of farmers are employing IPM measures such as tidy yards and rat-proof buildings, cats or terriers, traps and shooting, in combination with tactical rodenticide use only when needed.

However, detectable anticoagulant rodenticide residues in 87% of barn owls have been highlighted in a more recent report to CRRU. HSE uses the barn owl as a sentinel species to determine whether professionals have risen to the challenge and used rodenticides in a more IPM-friendly way.

Both reports demonstrate very clearly why a continued commitment to rodenticide stewardship is essential from everyone involved, not just professional pest controllers.

CRRU chairman Dr Alan Buckle stresses that, for stewardship to be judged effective, meaningful and lasting reductions in rodenticide residues carried by non-target wildlife are expected.

Dr Buckle urges those farmers who do still employ permanent baiting to double-check for the one condition under which it's now allowed

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- 'high potential for reinvasion where other methods have proved insufficient' - and make sure this is documented in a control plan.

In order for professionals working in the sector, as well as farmers and gamekeepers, to be allowed continued use of these products, widespread best rodenticide practice needs to be adopted and encouraged.

Otherwise, it could lead to further restrictions on what and where rodenticides can be used, and by whom.

Dee Ward-Thompson, Technical Manager at BPCA, commented: "We're working hard to get the message out to all users of rodenticides, and although the initial report demonstrates people are listening and making changes, the high levels of residue found in barn owls shows there’s still a long way to go."

So, what can you do to protect rodenticides?

• Don't use rodenticides unless necessary (adapt the environment to deter rodents) • Always read your rodenticide label • Refresh your knowledge on best practice (visit the bpca.org.uk/code for the latest pest management documents • Go on a training course to learn more about responsibly rodenticide usage • Come along to our free pest management show - PPC Live in March 2020.

Join us in Harrogate for PPC Live 2020 On 11 March 2020 we’ll be hosting an exhibition and trade show designed for anyone with a professional interest in pest management.

Set in the beautiful, historic Yorkshire Dales National Park, Harrogate, PPC Live is all about giving frontline staff hands-on experiences and showing off the latest and greatest innovations in the sector.

You'll spend the day meeting the people designing and distributing the latest pest control technology. You'll hear expert talks and get hands-on with experience with loads of new pest kit.

Caught out in the countryside: Practical rural pest management Dave Archer, Owner, DKA Pest Control The practical impact of resistance Alex Wade, Technical Manager, PelGar Integrated rodent control Sharon Hughes, Global Technical Marketing Manager, BASF This isn't your standard trade show. We're committed to making sure you leave with new knowledge and experiences you can apply to the day job.

Register now bpca.org.uk/PPCLive

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| Pests

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January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 21

| Buildings

Blowing hot and cold: the value of competent design and construction

By Jamie Robertson, Honorary Research Fellow, Aberdeen University, RIDBA Livestock Consultant. he design of a livestock building is directed towards the creation of a healthy, productive environment.

There are many steps between design and construction, not least the one that looks at ‘value’ from a project and rejects a higher price product for a lower price one that has lower ‘value’ that nobody talks about. There is a need to understand those components of building design that bring value to a project and will help to persuade the industry that ‘cost’ is not always a good indicator of value.

Environment has direct and indirect impacts on animal physiology, whereby conditions outside a range of normal requirements may exert a physiological pressure that constitutes stress. Stress is a body's method of reacting to a condition such as a threat, challenge or physical and psychological barrier. Stress is a normal event and the body

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reactions are also normal, for a while. The problem in our livestock systems occurs when the duration of stress is sufficient to create a significant, negative impact, such as energy deficit or depression of immune function. This will lead directly to financial losses for a livestock business, and good design and construction will massively mitigate potential losses.

We head through the winter, with some appreciation of the cold and dry aspect of our climate, and take a harder hit from the cold, damp and windy conditions. The winter season is where the competence of building materials and the quality of construction can be readily seen by those who look. Insulated buildings for pigs and poultry (and some stored crops) have a value which is aimed at maintaining internal ambient temperatures and humidities within set targets, whilst the outdoor climate goes typically winter crazy. For broiler chickens, the maximum growth rates and minimum stress and best financial returns are created by a stable

22 | Farming Monthly | January 2020

internal environment at 31-32oC on day 1 of a 40 day process, and moisture levels around 50-60RH%.

By day 14 the target temperature may be 19oC. A building with good value will be able to deliver these targets in mid-July with external ambient temperatures of 24oC and incoming solar gain on 1500m2 of roof, and also in mid-winter with temperatures around zero and wind speeds of 10m/s.

A walk through an intensive livestock building with a thermal imaging camera is a direct view of the competence of materials and construction of a building. Figures 1 and 2 show heat losses through livestock buildings. Poor quality construction leads to unbalanced flows of energy through the structure, always flowing from inside to outside in the winter months. With the energy flows goes moisture, which creates focussed area of damp that leads to higher energy losses and the potential to create local degradation of materials. Energy loss through a building structure

reduces the amount of energy available as heat in the internal air, which in turn reduces the ventilation rate through a building.

That in turn leads to a reduction in internal air quality which increases the risk from and severity of respiratory disease. The final result is financial losses.

Environment has direct and indirect impacts on animal physiology, whereby conditions outside a range of normal requirements may exert a physiological pressure that constitutes stress The impact of air speed on livestock buildings both externally and internally is predictable and again, potentially misunderstood or ignored. There will be a significant (from an animals’ point of view) difference of internal temperatures at floor level between the windward end of a building and the opposite

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| Buildings Buildings showing radiant heat through building structures

Heat losses a) poor wall/ceiling joint b) poor roof insulation c) poorly fitted doors

end, dependant on the quality of building construction. Livestock are sensitive to subtle differences in temperature, and if external air speeds cool one end of a building the animals will adapt their behaviour, cluster down one end, huddle, create a focus of defecation and urination, and upset the dynamics of the system within a building.

Animals prefer steady states.

Steady environments and only incremental changes are the target for minimum stress for healthy livestock All stock are sensitive to air speed, and draughts during the winter months create significant losses. Pigs are particularly sensitive to draughts at lower ambient temperatures, and will change their lying patterns and by default the areas of a pen used for defecation. Huddling can quickly lead to antagonistic behaviours and an increase in losses from damaged animals. Quality construction should eliminate draughts, and the cost of well fitted doors and seals, the cost of air inlets with decent baffles, and the cost of well-fitted wall panels all contribute to the value of a building.

Animals prefer steady states.

Steady environments and only incremental changes are the target for minimum stress for healthy livestock. Whilst variation across the internal space of a pen or a

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building will cause the behavioural changes mentioned above, shortterm changes (within 24 hours) across a whole building are a signal of a system out of balance.

Insulated structures will typically have mechanical ventilation and controllers, and too frequently these are poorly specified, or poorly purchased, or poorly installed, or poorly understood.

And what is the driver of these situations? Cost or value? If we understand the value of appropriately sensitive control, or adequate power at the fans or heaters, we can at least appeal to the value side of the equation.

Uncontrolled variation in livestock environments can be a costly business.

A final comment for buildings exposed to our winter climate.

Apart from situations where environmental impact assessments (EIAs) are required, there sometimes appears to be little connect between location and design. For example, there has been a trend over the past 15 years to build dairy cow housing that is more than 5 meters height at the eaves and with no sidewalls.

Lovely in the summer but if there is no other protection of the sidewalls it is a poor quality environment in the winter that will at least impact on winter milk yields. Orientation and location have a significant impact on our buildings and therefore should have an impact on the building design, the specification of cladding, the heating and ventilation

requirements, and the quality of materials. We need to

communicate the value of good design.

January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 23

| Buildings

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

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

Likewise, they use trees for shade.

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

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

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

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| Buildings

volume of air in a building, it is the rate of air exchange when exposed to nature and their rate of survival when left to the elements.

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

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

There are many guide lines on volume of air per animal, the best form of ventilation is and probably always will be natural ventilation with gaps at the eaves and open ridges. This will undoubtedly be the cheapest form of ventilation you can get, no fans using electricity, no moving parts & nothing to go wrong. In high rainfall areas, where people panic about open ridges special cappings can be applied. The best is still simple, upturned flashing to make the outside air lift over the

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ridge of the roof, yet most people (probably myself included in the past) don’t fit the flashings right.

The big trend is always to try and close the gap up with these flashings and consequently the base of the upstand ends up being further up the roof than the end of the roof sheet. This doesn’t work and leads to a lot more problems as rainfall hits the insides, runs down & drips off the base corner and it feels like it is raining in. The base of any upstand should always be at a minimum 50mm (2” inch) back from the top of the roof sheet, this is so any water/rainfall that hits the inside of the upright flashing can then drain away.

Let’s be honest, it is very rare that rainfall comes straight down, it nearly always comes down on an angle so then it will hit the inside of any upturned flashing, run down to the bottom edge and as long as

that edge is back from the top of the sheet it will run down the roof to the gutter.

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

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

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

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

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

January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 25

| Livestock

Imagine if....

Imagine if there was a way to improve your livestock’s health without the use of expensive veterinary visits or antibiotics. reed from much of the constant worry around issues of animal welfare, you would have more time to focus on running your farm, safe in the knowledge that your animals are happy and healthy, and using their energy to produce higher yields rather than fight infection.

Thanks to Danish Clean Water (DCW), you can do more than imagine.

The Most Important Nutrient Water is the most important nutrient of all. It is essential for digestion, absorption, transportation, dissolving other nutrients, elimination of waste products and thermoregulation. If animals don’t get enough of it they, like us, become ill, something that no farmer wants. However, it may not be the lack of water that is the problem, but rather the lack of high quality, untainted water that your animals actually want to drink and that doesn’t contain the dangerous bacteria that can lead to diarrhoea and a host of other unpleasant conditions.

DCW’s breakthrough water purification technology has led to the development of an easily installed and extremely cost-effective system that operates 24/7 to provide nutritious, clean, bacteria-free water that your animals will love and that will help them, and your profits, to

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thrive - the GENOX Generator System.

The GENOX Generator System The GENOX Generator System operates using just simple salt, water and electricity, all of which are completely harmless to animal, people, plants and the environment – at a time when there is growing concern about how we treat the planet, at DCW we are proud to be able to say that our product is highly effective without the use of toxic and potentially dangerous chemicals.

The system uses electrochemical activation to generate NEUTHOX®, a powerful biocide with the active substance hypochlorous acid (HOCl), the same acid that is produced in the human body to kill harmful microorganisms.

NEUTHOX® circulates throughout the water system destroying biofilm and controlling waterborne bacteria effectively and consistently.

Happy, Healthy Animals But the GENOX Generator System does even more than ensure a constant supply of

high quality water to aid productivity and general animal welfare. It also helps to keep vet bills down and, vitally, reduce reliance on antibiotics in line with government strategy, a key issue for the modern farmer. This is because healthier animals require fewer visits from the vet and less medication, helping not only your bottom line but also the battle against antimicrobial resistance.

As an added benefit, as well as supporting animal health on a major scale in your farm, NEUTHOX® can even be taken directly from the GENOX unit’s buffer tank to treat minor wounds, for example lameness-inducing bacterial infections in cattle, making it a truly comprehensive and versatile solution.

Hello, Reality DCW has made the dream of pure, delicious water for livestock an affordable reality. Thanks to our technology, happy, healthy animals and happy, profitable farms and farmers are achievable today.

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| Livestock

Trials of breakthrough Bovine TB test helped by new guidlines Welsh farm pioneers first trial of PBD Biotech’s Actiphage® blood test. dairy farm on the west Welsh coast, stricken by bovine TB, is the first to gain permission to trial PBD Biotech’s rapid Actiphage® blood test for Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis), the pathogen that causes this devastating disease. Following the launch of new guidelines by the Welsh Government, clarifying the use of non-validated testing, test developer PBD Biotech is encouraging more farmers to participate in further trials.

A record 12,799 cattle have been slaughtered in Wales alone this past year because of bovine TB; a 28% increase year on year, with one region recording a 190% increase.

To help accelerate the development of alternatives to the current tests, the Welsh Government has issued (November 2019) a new policy that set out the conditions needed for authorised use of non-validated tests in a cattle herd affected by a bovine TB breakdown. A similar

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protocol was issued by UK Government last year (May 2018) for cattle herds in England; it includes Actiphage, following the test’s use as part of a successful private eradication plan on Devon dairy farm Gatcombe.

PBD Biotech, an early-stage agri-tech company based in Suffolk, is seeking more farms to trial Actiphage in order to gain the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) validation. The Actiphage test offers the potential to revolutionise control of bovine TB by allowing detection of the disease within hours from a blood or milk sample.

Mossman Farming, in Ceredigion, is located in an area of chronic breakdown. It is a springcalving milking herd with a total stock of 529, to date 312 dairy cows have been slaughtered.

Farmer Chris Mossman agreed to trial Actiphage after hearing about the Gatcombe pilot.

Chris explains: “TB is a massive problem in Ceredigion, so when I heard about Actiphage’s use at Gatacombe, helping to clear that

dairy herd for the first time in six years, I wanted to try and replicate those findings here. Me – and many other farmers – are losing large numbers of animals. I’m trying to do all I can to get rid of this disease from my herd.”

In Spring 2019, The Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales granted permission for vet Robert Price-Jones to use Actiphage to screen high-risk cattle for M. bovis.

Robert, who has been leading the trial, comments: “Actiphage is able to identify the presence of relatively low numbers of M. bovis in the blood stream of infected cattle. It is not dependent upon an immune system response to the pathogen - in contrast to current validated tests - and so has greater sensitivity than such as the official Tuberculin SICCT skin test.

“The benefit of using Actiphage is that it offers the potential for eradicating the disease from the farm; as early identification of animals at risk of bovine TB enables heightened disease management and control.”

Under the terms of the Welsh

Government’s protocol, cattle not condemned for slaughter can be tested with Actiphage. Those that give a positive result are identified with a ‘management’ marker, monitored and milked separately.

To prevent further contamination of the environment and to minimise risk to uninfected cattle, animals found to be ‘shedders’ are removed from the farm.

Although a decision to remove cattle based on a non-validated test will be at the farmers’ own expense, the APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) has confirmed that during the trial, where a positive result is confirmed with statutory tests, the animals will be removed with compensation as normal.

So far, 100 animals from Mossman Farming have been tested with Actiphage and vet Robert Price-Jones is preparing a paper to publish the findings in early 2020.

PBD Biotech is offering reduced cost testing to support trials where the findings are made available to support validation of the test.

January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 27

| Livestock

Dairy-Tech 2020 Having established itself as the leading dairy show for new products, innovation and ground-breaking technology, Dairy-Tech will return to Stoneleigh Park on Wednesday 5 February. his year’s show will be no exception when it comes to new products, with a huge array set to be showcased.

With the future of dairy farming reliant on innovation, innovative changes and the development of technology, it is clear to see from the show’s previous success, how these tools are at the forefront of industry thinking – with farmers continually looking to improve efficiency. This year visitors can expect to see more brand new concepts across the show floor as well as developments on what has evolved over the past 12 months.

Expert speakers will be discussing and debating the key issues facing dairy farmers and profiling what’s new on the horizon through the Dairy and Innovation Hubs. As previously,

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the Dairy Hub will offer advice, political insight, guidance, knowledge and take home messages for current on farm issues whilst the Innovation Hub will continue to expand horizons, ways of thinking and introduce new concepts.

Expect to see Dairy Hub discussion on emissions from the industry and the imminent effects of Defra’s Clean Air Strategy on dairy farms. Robert Craig, grass based farmer and Dave Craven from Grosvenor Farms will go head to head in a low v high input systems session discussing the carbon footprint of their farms, highlighting how their practice contributes to this, and what measures they’ve undertaken to reduce their contribution.

Focus will shift on the Innovation Hub where it’ll be all things new – products, ideas,

technology, concepts and techniques. Slots will cover the positive effects of satellite intelligence, biological solutions for reducing emissions and emerging agri-tech with an exclusive app store section – identifying the latest apps farms need to download.

Sessions across both hubs will aim to answer questions such as: To what extent will innovation and artificial intelligence really play in future dairy businesses? How much could be saved by adopting best practice when it comes to emissions from slurry? How can we meet future demands with genetics to breed healthy and sustainable herds? What drivers are the key to optimum efficiency?

The Skills Studio will return – acting as the one-stop-shop for all things career development featuring student debates, CV

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| Livestock

clinics and business skills. The event will also host a number of animal health workshops, with specialist speakers, on planning for TB, calf health and mastitis.

As part of the event’s brand new machinery and innovation hall certain exhibitors will host test-drive demo slots throughout the day, enabling visitors to try out any machinery in a ‘try before you buy’ type concept, staggered across specific time slots in an exclusive area of the event.

To support the importance of wellbeing throughout the sector we will be hosting a Wellness Clinic. Operating on a drop in basis, visitors will have the chance to call by and

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receive a free check up. The tech-zone will return, where visitors can road-test new technology, as will the research centre, a collection of universities comprising of advice and guidance relevant to the whole spectrum of dairy jobs and dairy systems on the market.

Our popular foot trimming demonstrations will also continue to showcase the use of thermal imaging to detect lameness problems not picked up by the human eye.

Tickets are now on sale; they cost £17 when booked in advance at www.dairy-tech.uk with concessions in place for RABDF members and students. All pre-bought tickets are eligible for our personalised itinerary service, a copy of

which will be emailed out ahead of the event.

The itineraries are in place to ensure visitors utilise their time efficiently and will advise which exhibitors match up with the categories of interest they have outlined during registration as well as suggesting the most relevant seminars and workshops to attend. The event opens at 8:00am and closes at 5:30pm and will be signed from all main routes; parking is on site and is free of charge. For any queries please call 02476 639317 or email office@rabdf.co.uk

January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 29

| Muck & Slurry

Bauer’s new portable Plug & Play S300 system provides slurry separation benefits in more than one location

A new portable version of Bauer’s smallest slurry separator enables farms with more than one storage area to benefit from improved slurry management at lower cost – or for two or more small farms to share a single unit.

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| Muck & Slurry eing exhibited at the LAMMA show in January for the first time, the Plug & Play S300 mounts a pump, the Bauer S300 screw-type separator and an automatic control panel on to a compact steel frame.

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“By expanding the ‘Plug & Play’ family, we continue to adapt our standard solutions to meet the needs of livestock farms “ Slots in three sides of the frame

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enable the separation set to be moved, loaded on to a trailer and placed in position using pallet tines on a farm loader.

Once set-up, the Plug & Play S300 is capable of separating up to 15cu m of slurry an hour into liquid and solid fractions, with dry matter content of the solids at about 32%.

“Separation in this way can have a significant impact on storage capacity requirements and management of slurry as a resource,” said Adrian Tindall, Bauer UK & Ireland. “The liquid fraction can be applied from a lagoon through a dirty water irrigator and the solids stored and

spread separately to grazing or conservation grass, or to crop stubbles as and when required.”

Slurry in-flow to the S300 separator is regulated by an automatic pressure control system to ensure consistent results and, as with all Bauer slurry separators, adjustable weighted discharge doors provide resistance to help the stainless steel screw squeeze liquid through a choice of long-life screens.

It is a well-proven unit built to the same high standards of quality and durability as the larger separators in the Bauer range – the 5.5kW S655 and S855, the 7.5kW S855 HD, and the 7.5kW

S855 GB – all of which are available individually for gantry installation alongside the slurry store or as part of a portable Plug & Play set.

Regarding the Plug & Play S300 introduction, Thomas Kampl, product manager for Bauer separation technology, said: “By expanding the ‘Plug & Play’ family, we continue to adapt our standard solutions to meet the needs of livestock farms and, in this instance, provide smaller farms with the opportunity to profit from the economic and practical advantages of separation.”

January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 31

| Energy

Reduced energy costs for Namibian dairy farm Biogas, consisting of approximately 97 per cent methane, is the most environmentally friendly fuel available. However, when one dairy farm in Namibia aimed to shift its entire energy supply to biogas electricity generation, too-high electrical currents and potential power quality issues meant harmonics and surge protection specialist, CP Automation was required to help with the green-project. he dairy farm business was in the process of commissioning a biogas generator to use biogas from the cattle waste products. The end-goal was to drastically reduce energy costs and environmental impact, but meeting this objective was not a straightforward process.

Unfortunately, the biogas generator could not accommodate the start-up current of the motor — it was too large compared with the current rating of the biogas generator.

Working with Namibia-based electrical solutions provider, EcoProjects, three 75kW Rockwell variable speed drives (VSD) were installed to bring down the start-up current. The Rockwell drives were selected for their quality and competitive pricing. Notably, EcoProjects is the only certified systems integrator in Namibia for Rockwell products.

However, as with all VSDs, this piece of equipment can generate harmonic noise that can be damaging to peripheral equipment if not treated. This distortion can affect the generator voltage control system and as result have a knock-on effect on system stability of the entire system.

With this biogas energy generation system, additional power quality issues can also be caused by transient surges in power supply. To solve this issue, EcoProjects required additional power protection equipment, to alleviate problems associated with harmonics and transient surges.

However, Rockwell do not provide harmonic filters and transient suppression devices required for the project. Using third party

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equipment on Rockwell products would normally result in voiding the guarantee — a dangerous risk for such as large-scale project.

Luckily for EcoProjects and the client, Rockwell had a product partnership with power quality and surge protection specialist, CP Automation.

The partnership means that Rockwell products keep their guarantee, even when used alongside CP Automation’s products from other manufacturers. This isn’t the first time EcoProjects relied on the Rockwell-CP Automation partnership. In fact, back in 2017, EcoProjects worked with both businesses on a Rockwell Automation project to pump underground boreholes and alleviate drought in Namibia.

To solve the Rockwell guarantee issue, CP Automation joined the dairy farm project and suggested Revcon harmonic filters and a SineTamer surge protection device. The parts were in stock at CP Automation’s site in South Africa, ready to be shipped to the dairy farm ahead of the farms scheduled date to disconnect from the electrical network. By delivering this part on time, the project was on track to run entirely from the biogas generator before the deadline.

Unfortunately, there were challenges with shipping the products. During a public holiday in South Africa, the courier company that was supposed to pick up the equipment, didn’t.

This let down from the courier was certainly an inconvenience but didn’t deter CP Automation from getting the parts to the dairy farm.

CP Automation arranged an alternative driver to take on the 2500km drive and got the parts to the customer with time to spare.

In combination, these parts proved crucial in improving the power quality to the generator and ensuring the longevity of all electrical equipment connected to the biogas system.

“Since the project finished, everything is running well,” explained Carlo van Heerden, engineering solutions manager at EcoProjects.

“Cost was a big driver in this project. Not only were the parts supplied price competitive, the customer can now generate electricity at a much cheaper rate — essentially for free.”

“This was another successful collaboration with Rockwell and EcoProjects,” explained John Mitchell, global business development manager at CP Automation. “A key part of the success was the prioritisation of power quality.

While harmonics are generally well-known and understood, transient surges are less commonly acknowledged, but just as damaging.

“The courier situation was a nail-biting moment, and we are very grateful to the delivery company, MIES International, that took on the mission at such short notice. We know who we can depend on in the future to get parts delivered across Africa in good time.”

The project certainly demonstrates the potential for more farming businesses to make use of the naturally occurring biogas available to them. But expert advice, and effective power quality will remain fundamental in implementing this green technology in farms all over the world.

For more information on CP Automation and its harmonic and transient protection equipment in stock, visit cpaltd.net

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| Energy

World Biogas Association presents UNFCCC with industry commitment to deliver 12% global GHG emissions reduction by 2030 at COP25 In the Declaration, major biogas industry players commit to delivering a 12% reduction in global greenhouse gases emissions by 2030 provided world governments help unlock the sector's potential. H.E. Mr Ovais Sarmad praises the industry for setting an important example. n Friday 6th December at the UNFCCC Conference of Parties in Madrid (COP25), David Newman, President of the World Biogas Association (WBA) presented H.E. Mr Ovais Sarmad, Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat, with a Declaration recently signed by the Association and major industry companies in which they commit to deliver a 12% reduction of global greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions by 2030 - subject to the barriers to the industry's growth being removed by world policy makers.

In their Biogas and Climate Change Commitment Declaration,unveiled on 27th November this year, biogas industry leaders call on world governments to unlock the sector's considerable potential towards meeting their Paris Agreement targets. In return, they commit to putting their full human, financial and technological resources behind enabling the rapid expansion of biogas in all parts of the globe.

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A WBA report published in the summer shows that the biogas industry could abate up to 4bn tonnes of CO2 equivalent annually. This represents at least 12% of today's global emissions, by 2030. Today only 2% of the feedstock available globally to produce biogas is captured and recycled.

On presenting the Declaration, David Newman said: "The need for urgent action is clear to all; Governments alone cannot resolve the climate change emergency, they need help.

The biogas industry can offer technologies and the mobilisation of huge financial resources to help reduce GHG by 12% within a decade. But Governments have to do their part too, in creating the right frameworks for the investments to be made. We support the UN process and our corporate members commit to doing their part to help this process become reality, there is no time to lose."

H.E. Mr Ovais Sarmad responded: "I thank you for bringing us this important commitment.

The UN negotiating process alone is not enough; we also need innovation, technologies, private sector investments, to

make national commitments a reality on the ground. The scale of the commitment by the global biogas industry is precisely the sort of example we need and we will ensure this is transmitted to the Parties.�

Signatories to the Declaration: World Biogas Association Asia Biogas, Thailand BTS Biogas, Italy and Germany Cenergy, Malaysia Clarke Energy, UK DMT Environmental Technology, Netherlands and USA Eisenmann Corporation, USA ENGIE, France Greenlane Renewables, Canada Greve Biogass, Norway Grissan, UK IES BIOGAS, Italy MONTELLO, Italy NGF Nature Energy, Denmark OMEX Environmental, UK SHV Energy, Netherlands SUEZ, France WELLE Environmental Group, China

January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 33

| Energy

Energy and Rural Business Show will host over 100 expert speakers over 3 - 4 March 2020 Energy and Rural Business Show will host over 100 expert speakers over 3-4 March 2020, taking part in debates, keynote sessions and much more. he speakers will be coming from various influential organisations and businesses to provide expert information and advice across the agricultural sector.

Some of the confirmed speakers and topics include: • Dr Jonathan Scurlock, chief renewables and climate change advisor, National Farmers Union (NFU) • Andrew Shirley, chief surveyor, Country Landowners Association (CLA) • Nina Skorupska, CEO, Renewable Energy Association (REA), speaking on ‘The UK’s low carbon energy sector post-Brexit' • Charles Hardcastle, head of infrastructure and energy, Carter Jonas, presenting on ‘How to value your renewable energy scheme and what do buyers look for?’

• Lucy Hopwood, director and lead consultant, NNFCC, speaking on maximising waste and agri output streams on ‘Where's the value? A rundown of some of the outputs to consider’

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• Andrew Richards, Agronomist, Agrii, will give an expert perspective ‘Examining the effect of digestate on soil’ • Simon Hopkins, MD, HIT Energy Services, will present on ‘Optimising existing solar assets’ • Nic Crowe, head of RHI reform, BEIS, will give ‘An update on biomethane policy and RHI budget’ • Tina Hawke, Design Manager, Cadent Guidance will deliver a talk on ‘Injecting gas into the grid’ • Tim Elsome, FM Bioenergy, will speak in the AD and Biogas session on ‘Optimising yields and process’ • Dr Becky Wheeler, 4R Group, will deliver expert advice on ‘Digestate Management’ • John Findlay, Director, Carbon Zero Consulting Ltd, will present on ‘Decarbonisation of Heat and the role of ground source heat pumps’ • James Wayman, Project Engineer, NFU Energy, will deliver a presentation on ‘Effective on farm energy efficiency measures’ • Stephen Briggs, head of soil and water at

‘Innovation for agriculture’ will present on the pressing issue of ‘Soil carbon management’ • Mark Broadmeadow, principal adviser climate change, Forestry Commission, will present on ‘Woodland creation, the associated opportunities and environmental benefits’ • Kevin Lindegaard Director, Crops for Energy, will speak on ‘Energy crops and nonwood biomass - markets, self-supply options and benefits’ • Matt Keniston, head of commercial biofuels, Biobean, will deliver an enlightening talk entitled ‘No such thing as wasted coffee – the lessons learnt from converting waste into a useable fuel’ • Ian Cook from ICCL (Hydro) will speak in the low emission vehicles session on ‘Hydropower, electric vehicles and storage, how can they work together?’

To attend the Energy and Rural Business Show 2020 visit: http://www.energyandruralbusiness.co.uk/visit/r egister-to-visit

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| Energy

Biogas leakage – protect your on-farm AD plant from the silent killer The UK’s anaerobic digestion (AD) industry has come a long way in a short space of time, growing by 350% in a decade. The agricultural sector is particularly strong, with over half of the 648 operational facilities comprised of onfarm AD plants1. Yet while many efficiency and health & safety advancements have been made across the industry in recent years, there remains room for improvement. n particular, the issue of biogas leakage is one which many onfarm AD operators are still failing to address; often because the problem is invisible. However, the dangers associated with it – from diminished profits to environmental pollution and health & safety risks – should not be underestimated.

Here, Tim Elsome, General Manager for AD specialists FM BioEnergy, outlines the real cost of unidentified biogas leaks – and the inexpensive steps you can take to reduce the risks on your plant…

The scale of the problem While most responsible farmers will be monitoring key parameters such as temperature, digester biology and biogas production on a regular basis, the vast majority are not checking for gas leaks, believing it’s an issue which doesn’t affect their plant.

The evidence proves otherwise. Over the last eight years, 85% of the 964 plants we have surveyed in the UK and Germany were suffering from biogas leakage. A quarter of these were deemed ‘significant’ (>1,000l CH4/h), causing serious financial losses and safety concerns; half had only minor leakages (< 100l CH4/h); while the rest were deemed ‘medium’ (< 1,000l CH4/h). In most cases, more than one leakage type was present.

Translating this to the UK as a whole could mean that 550 plants are currently at risk; with 137 in danger of a serious financial or safety breach. Furthermore, if each of these 550 plants was to leak an average of just 0.5% of their capacity, it could equate to a potential loss of 37 GWhe-e a year, resulting in 6,000 tonnes of methane escaping into the atmosphere annually.

The risks of doing nothing The implications of this volume of methane being released are significant. According to the latest IPCC Assessment Report, methane is 34 times more potent than CO2 as a greenhouse gas over a 100-year period. For any industry to

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be emitting this volume of methane would be a concern; but for a renewable sector, whose entire premise is based on being green, this is catastrophic.

Aside from the considerable environmental impact, biogas leaks bring other risks. In the worst-case scenario, biogas in combination with air can form an explosive gas mixture which, in a confined space near an ignition source, can result in explosion. While explosions are thankfully extremely rare, they bring a high risk of serious injuries and fatalities and, as a result, are something no plant owner ever wants to experience on their site.

Biogas also contains hydrogen sulphide (H2S), a toxic gas which has been the cause of a number of deaths in the UK agricultural industry in relation to slurry tank management.

As H2S is heavier than air, it will fall to the ground. In confined, poorly-ventilated spaces it can accumulate and remain unnoticed until someone enters, resulting in sometimes fatal effects.

Gas leaks on AD plants also have a financial impact. Any volume of biogas leaking into the atmosphere will subsequently reduce a plant’s gas yield; and therefore, the farmer’s profit margin. In fact, losing just 1m3 of methane per hour will result in a financial loss in the region of £5,000 per year.

There is also the issue of sustainability criteria to consider. In order to receive payments through either the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) or Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) schemes, AD operators must demonstrate that their plant is operating sustainably. Regulators have considered clamping down on this area, as some industry reports mention very high levels of fugitive emissions. Site operators can therefore use gas leakage surveys as a way to protect against potential loss of incentives and demonstrate to the authorities that their plant is well-managed, with leaks kept to a minimum.

Leakage hotspots While an on-farm AD operator may believe that their plant is operating at a high standard,

all anaerobic digesters have inherent weak points which make them susceptible to biogas leakage. Potential hotspots include: Gas membrane connections; Cable grommets (where a submersible stirrer cable passes through the digester wall); Flange connections; Viewing windows; Carbon filters; Any areas where maintenance is carried out.

Reducing your risk The risks of gas leakage are clearly significant and often expensive. However, identifying a leak is a simple and affordable process which can help prevent a serious incident from occurring. A gas leakage detection service should therefore form part of any responsible plant operator’s ongoing maintenance programme.

For example, the FM BioEnergy service covers a full AD plant survey with a methanesensitive monitor and laser, as well as infra-red devices, including: Survey of all tanks, CHP, biogas upgrading equipment, roof membranes, pipes and flanges; Analysis of emissions from CHP and doublemembrane covers; Report with images, videos and repair priority table.

While the majority of our audits to date have uncovered minor leaks, 25% were found to have serious failings; fixing these not only prevents a more serious and costly incident from occurring, it often results in a 12-month payback on the price of the survey.

The best times to conduct a detection survey are at the start of full operation; after significant maintenance work; if your feed-to-gas conversion is lower than expected (and the biology remains stable); and of course, if you can smell biogas. After all, the cost of detecting a potential leak is minimal but the implications of leaving it to chance could be massive.

January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 35

| LAMMA

Further machinery and equipment launches announced ahead of full LAMMA show LAMMA exhibitors continue to add to the impressive list of machinery and equipment that will be launched at the event in January, announcing the arrival of more new tractors, balers and spraying kit as well as a range of novel digital technology. irtually all stand space has now been sold and around 700 longstanding and new exhibitors alike are busy preparing for the UK’s largest indoor agricultural event, making it a key diary date for the tens of thousands of farmers, contractors and operators who will make their way to the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, on January 7th and 8th.

Tractors and handlers JCB will introduce several new and improved products at LAMMA and will also feature WFT Fastrac Two, the highly modified tractor that holds an outstanding world speed record.

Powered by a 7.2-litre JCB Dieselmax six-cylinder diesel

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engine tuned for 1,016hp and more than 2,500Nm of torque, this dramatic Fastrac set an average speed of 135.191mph over two 1km runs, and achieved an astonishing top speed of 153.771mph.

New and upgraded commercial kit includes the compact and highly manoeuvrable Loadall 532-60 AGRI telescopic handler, more powerful 419S and 435S top-end agricultural wheeled loaders and upgraded Fastrac 4000 Series tractors featuring heavier-duty JCB axles with 33% higher load ratings, larger hubs and bearings.

A new range of Landini fourwheel drive tractors equipped with large diameter row crop wheels all round for extra high clearance will be introduced on the Argo Tractors stand.

The Landini 5 HC will be shown

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alongside the new Rex 3 compact and latest Rex 4 regular-size orchard/vineyard tractors, the latter featuring front axle suspension and a factory-fitted front linkage installation for the first time.

The new High Clearance version of the Landini 5 Series tractor replaces similar machines based on the superseded 5D Series, with a change of power unit, a new cab, increased hydraulic oil flow and a number of other upgrades.

With under-axle clearance of up to 695mm these tractors can be used on arable farms for late season spray treatments in mature grain and oilseed rape crops. But their main role is in salad and vegetable crops and fruit crops such as strawberries grown in

raised beds.

Iseki’s new TH5420 tops the company’s tractor range. Compact and manoeuvrable, it is fitted with a 40hp Stage V compliant engine and features hydrostatic transmission. It can lift 1200kg, has a two-speed rear PTO plus a mid PTO. The cab is rated at 77db and comes with air conditioning as standard.

Another newcomer, the TXGS24 , is a multi-purpose garden tractor, replacing the best-selling TXG237, whilst retaining the same compact dimensions and 23hp diesel engine. It can take a front loader, backhoe and other implements including mid-mount mower decks and collectors.

Crop spraying Landquip is introducing the

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| LAMMA

Wingsprayer system at LAMMA. This aerodynamic, twin-wing application system claims to dramatically reduce drift whilst creating more efficient use of chemical by spraying deep into the crop. It uses wide-angle nozzles at 25cm spacing positioned between the two aerofoil wings, producing fine droplets to achieving better crop coverage.

Fendt Rogator 300 trailed sprayers are now available with a boom width of up to 36ft. Up to five OptiSonic sensors guide the left and right boom arms individually over the target area, so booms

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maintain a consistent distance from the target crop.

Grassland machinery McHale is launching its latest integrated bale wrapper, the Fusion 3 Pro, as well as its new V6 range of variable chamber balers to the UK market â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the V6740 nonchopper baler and the McHale V6750 15-knife chopper baler.

The V6 machines feature higher intake, thanks to a new pick-up, larger lateral feed augers and a bigger rotor, as well as selectable knives, a drop-floor unblocking system and two bale chamber options with higher density.

Kubota will be showing additional models in its range of implements. These include a new mower conditioner - the DMC6087N butterfly - in combination with the DMC7032FN front-mounted mower conditioner. Developed as a lightweight triple mower combination with an 8.7m working width, the conditioners are equipped with nylon tines to help reduce operating weight.

Other highlights include the latest variable chamber Kubota round baler models in the guise of the BV5216 with Power bind net system and 14-knife Supercut

intake system.

New Holland is presenting a host of new implements, extending its hay and forage and crop ranges.

Following the acquisition of Kongskilde Agriculture, New Hollandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s offering includes frontand rear-mounted mowers as well as lateral and central pull trailed versions, mounted and trailed tedders, and side and central delivery rakes.

The companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tillage business range has been recently expanded to include new Side Mounted Combi Wheel and PL light plough.

January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 37

| LAMMA Maize header LAMMA visitors will be the first to see Krone’s XCollect 900-3 maize header with the world’s first integral front guard, designed to improve road safety and operator comfort.

The guard allows operators to prepare the machine for road travel without leaving the cab, using fingertip controls, folding the unit to transport width, securing it in transport position and fitting the lights.

LAMMA exhibitors continue to add to the impressive list of machinery and equipment that will be launched at the event in January, announcing the arrival of more new tractors, balers and spraying kit as well as a range of novel digital technology Muck handling Norfolk-based muck spreader specialist GT Bunning and Sons Ltd is unveiling an 8.5t payload addition to its Farmstar HBD spinning disc range, targeted at small- to medium-sized farms requiring a wider spread pattern than is possible with a vertical beater machine.

Feeders/straw blowers McHale will show its new C490

silage feeder and straw blower, with 6.85m³ capacity and 3m conveyor length, capable of blowing or feeding out three 5ft round bales of hay, straw, silage or haylage.

A new compact self-loading straw spreading and feeding machine for 6ft diameter round bales, with the option to combine turbo manifold for extra power, will be launched by Spread-a-Bale.

The Mini RB1.8 will appeal to livestock farmers, particularly for high density bales resulting from being harvested in difficult conditions.

Root harvesting The new Vervaet Hydro Trike 5x5 makes its UK debut on the J Riley Beet Harvesters stand. This new version of the Hydro Trike selfpropelled slurry applicator and manure spreader features a driven mid-axle and a completely renewed powertrain.

The five-wheel concept combines the manoeuvrability of a single front wheel with the even ground pressure across the full 4.5m width provided by the additional mid-axle.

A Union Jack-branded six-bed Trinity Topper is to take centre stage on Scotts Precision Manufacturing's stand at LAMMA 2020 as the company celebrates the best of British as part of its 25th birthday celebrations. The company will also unveil plans for an eight- and nine-bed version of the Trinity.

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Standen is launching a new windrower at the event, enabling potato growers to improve harvesting output without having to invest in a larger self-propelled harvester or an additional harvesting team. Windrowing virtually doubles output by lifting and dropping potatoes into the neighbouring row.

Tyre app Continental is unveiling its new agricultural tyre app to help farmers use tyres more efficiently. The pressure and load calculator in the app checks the tyre pressure and the load of the vehicle and makes a recommendation to the operator based on the tyres fitted to the vehicle.

The app can also compare the rolling circumferences of all Continental tyres and recommend the best tyres based on the mechanical ratio of the tractor.

Vehicle tracking Vehicle safety system specialist Meta Trak is introducing its new T36 Pulsar, a compact self-powered tracking device that has multiple uses. It can be used as a ‘sleeper’ unit providing back-up security to a wired-in Meta Trak tracking unit or as a stand-alone tracking device, ideal for non-motorised assets.

Hose protection Spiralflex, a new high-quality spiral wrapping product developed

by British hose manufacturer Copely Developments, makes its LAMMA debut. Spiralflex can

encase single and multiple bundles of hoses, allowing them to flex while providing protection against shocks, abrasion and deterioration.

Digital crop management Crop4Sight is showing its simple-to-use app designed to help the potato industry increase saleable potato yield and optimise crop returns.

Crop4Sight combines easily captured in-field potato crop data with 30 years of potato data and some clever software to give growers insight into their potential crop performance months ahead of harvest.

New exhibitor xarvio will show FIELD MANAGER, a crop production optimisation system new to the UK that provides fieldspecific insights into current status of crops by providing growth stage predictions, disease/pest risk, biomass maps, and crop protection management.

A development project with Bosch – xarvio Bosch Smart Spraying – will also be unveiled. It combines weed detection technology and smart nozzle expertise to apply herbicide only where needed.

To view previously announced launches at LAMMA please go to www.lammashow.com/show-news

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| LAMMA

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January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 39

| LAMMA

LAMMA Innovation Awards celebrate pioneering machinery and equipment Some of the most innovative machinery and equipment likely to bring significant benefits to farming and contracting business has been recognised in the prestigious LAMMA Innovation Awards.

ntries ranged from simple but brilliant to ultra hi-tec, illustrating the imagination and flair that drives the advancement of science and technology across the agricultural manufacturing sector.

The entries were judged on a range of criteria including design innovation, practical impact, the sustainability of the product and its impact on the environment.

Visitors to LAMMA will be able to see the medal winners and talk to the companies that put them forward, thanks to the return of the popular Innovation Trail, which was introduced last year.

The judging panel was made up of experts from across the agricultural manufacturing and education sectors, led by chairman Chris Rothery.

“We were very pleased by the number of entries, one of the highest we have received, and the variety of those entries,” Mr Rothery said. “I was particularly delighted with the quality in the Future section which had 22 participants in only the second year of this category.

“I am looking forward to following the Innovation Trail at the NEC on the 7th January, visiting many stands to see the entries that we judged in November.”

The annual awards, which are supported by the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE), are open to any company exhibiting a new product at LAMMA. Entrants compete for one gold and up to three silver medals in each of six categories.

In addition, the LAMMA Founders trophy will be awarded to the overall champion at 2pm on the first day of LAMMA in the Farming 4.0 zone.

IAgrE has supported the LAMMA Innovation Awards for many years through judging, and it also sponsors the Ivel award for the best product among the medal winners for environmental innovation.

Jane Rickson, president of IAgrE, said: “In recognition of our tractor heritage, the Ivel award was created in memory of Dan Albone, the designer of the first successful light farm tractor.

“The institution is motivated and driven by innovation. We recognise agricultural engineering can reduce the environmental

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footprint of farming through reducing carbon emissions and better fuel efficiency. By supporting the Innovation Awards, IAgrE can reward practical, environmentally efficient and sustainable agricultural engineering.”

LAMMA Innovation Awards 2020 – gold and silver medals Future Innovation Gold: Skippy Scout – Drone Ag Designed to help farmers walk crops more efficiently, Skippy Scout is an easy-to-use cropmonitoring app that uses drones to automatically capture images that are analysed by artificial intelligence.

The phone-based app uses GPS and mapping software to fly a drone to points in a field selected by the farmer, providing accurate green area index, emerging plant counts, weed identification and insect damage.

Judges’ comments: This innovation is a practical and costeffective method for assessing weeds and disease levels throughout an arable crop, providing farmers with an immediate and readily accessible analysed view of each field.

Silver: I-Spray – Kuhn KUHN’s i-Spray concept uses boommounted hyperspectral sensors and individual nozzle control to detect and treat individual weeds. It could offer 50-80% reduction in chemical use.

Silver: Permos Pellet Harvester – Krone UK The world’s first mobile harvester picks up straw and presses it into top-quality, high-fibre pellets for bedding, animal feed and fuel.

Arable Innovation Gold: RT 500 and trailed harrow – Razorback With a cutting width of 5m, the Razorback RT 500 features three triple-blade rotors driven by a 250hp driveline to provide ample power.

Partnered by a specially developed trailed flexible tine harrow this combination is useful in arable crops, chopping and distributing straw and providing good cultural control of slugs and flushing weeds.

Judges’ comments: The combined action of the topper and harrow is impressive in tackling crop residues and soil incorporation. The one-pass system has potential for reducing slug populations and pesticide use while promoting stale seed development.

Silver: TWINPACT double plunger baler –

Kuhn Kuhn’s extreme high density baler uses an innovative Twinpact double plunger system, whereby the bottom half hits the bale first followed by the top half, using full force on each impact and eliminating the need for an oversized driveline, flywheel or mainframe.

Silver: H2Flo Water Conservation Agent – ICL This wetting and water conservation agent enables quick and total wetting of substrate and soil, moving water vertically and horizontally thereby reducing irrigation requirement and runoff.

Silver: Vredo Crop Drill System – JC Machinery Vredo’s Agri Twin and Vredo Agri Air Series drills at LAMMA will feature the Crop Drill System to sow arable crops directly on corn stubbles without any tillage on 15 cm row distance. The machine keeps its features for grassland overseeding in 7.5 cm rows.

Hydraulically retractable disc coulters and divertible distributors to stop seed flow enable quick conversion to the arable setting.

Livestock Innovation Gold: Triple X Fencing System – McVeigh Parker Triple X is a long-lasting, all-steel fencing system using quick-clip steel posts, premium wire netting and all-steel strainers. The fencing system can offer up to 50% savings over the course of its 30+ year life.

The fencing takes significantly less time to erect, cutting labour costs, and is recyclable at the end of its life.

Judges’ comments: This durable fencing system offers value for money in relation to its life expectancy and, if needed, recyclability. Innovation can be simple – every strand could be held by the catch system. Compared to timber posts the fence system seemed to offer longevity and ease of maintenance, and compared with some metal systems there were no fiddly components to break or lose.

Silver: Intellimix – Kuhn An electronic control system applied to a continuously variable transmission enables a relatively low-powered tractor to operate a three-auger mixer wagon, while putting less strain on tractor and wagon components.

Online Innovation

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| LAMMA

Mass Store Rainwater Harvesting is a unique system to collect and store large amounts of rainwater from roofs for future use.

Traditional harvesting relies tanks holding about 1.5 months of average rainfall to help keep the water fresh. JRH supplies tanks to collect full water yields and supplies chemical to keep the water clean and storable for long periods. Ideal for spraying systems.

Judges’ comments Rainwater harvesting is becoming more important with climate change, offering a sustainable supply of clean water that helps to reduce water bills and offers a viable alternative to mains supply for many uses around the farm.

Silver: Heated Jacket – TTI Milkwaukee Tools Reducing the need for bulky layers in cold conditions, Milwaukee heated jackets utilise carbon fibre heating elements to generate and trap heat across core body areas.

Driven Innovation Gold: Weed Ripper – Westermann This walk-behind machine is designed to rip thick weeds and moss from hard surfaces

without the use of chemicals or water. It is equipped with 12 braided wire brushes with adjustable height control which repeatedly attack the weeds from all angles.

Judges’ comments: This powerful piece of equipment appears to clear thick weed growth effectively, without the need for chemical control, and has a large market with multiple customers.

Ivel Award Vredo Crop Drill System – JC Machinery Adding to its silver innovation award in the Arable innovation category, Vredo’s Crop Drill System received the Ivel award in recognition of its environmental contribution.

Judges’ comments: This system reduces power required to place seed in all sorts of soil, including reseeding pasture, as the slot is cut and no cultivations are required.

LAMMA ’20 will take place at the NEC on Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th January 2020.

Parking and entry to the event are free.

For further LAMMA information see www.lammashow.com

See us at LAMMA ‘20 - Hall 6, Stand 6.126

Gold: Emily Feed System This new free app has been developed to simplify daily livestock ration calculations. The operator selects the required ration and indicates the number of animals, then the application calculates quantities.

It can be used with a wide range of mixing and feeding equipment. Users can register up to 20 different rations with 30 ingredients.

Judges’ comments: This app offers many potential benefits, including time saving, accurate nutrition and the fact it can be used with existing systems. It is very adaptable in calculating quantities distributed and is very user friendly.

Silver: Energy Guard – HIT Energy Services Designed to ensure solar panels are generating as much energy as possible, HIT’s monitoring platform, Energy Guard, enables solar PV plant owners to observe the performance of their panels remotely in real time.

Diversification Innovation Gold: Mass Store Rainwater Harvesting – JRH Water Management Ltd

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January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 41

| Machinery

Seventh Heaven for YAMS at Murton When auctioneer Richard Tasker was approached by a local farm machinery dealership to host the relaunch of a tractor brand seven years ago it gave him an idea for a larger event bringing together other farm machinery dealers in the county that, seven years later, has grown into a show that last year attracted around 12,000 visitors, its highest attendance to date.

AMS – Yorkshire Agricultural Machinery Show – will take place once again at York Auction Centre in Murton near York on Wednesday 5 February. It has been seven years of constant growth and Richard still cannot quite believe how it continues to exceed expectations.

‘We were fortunate and hit the mark from that first show in 2014.

Yorkshire is a massive county with a rich diversity of farming from the East Riding and the Holderness plain to the North York Moors,

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Vales of York and Pickering, the Yorkshire Dales in North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire and down to the edge of the Peak District – and that means the whole range of agricultural machinery is in use from tractors to grass harvest, combine harvesters to livestock equipment, cultivation machinery to slurry tankers and everything in between.’

‘The early part of the year is an established purchase period for new farm machinery, it’s a time when farmers can evaluate what will work best and what better way than to have everything in one

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place so that a decision can be made. One of the hallmarks of YAMS has been the amount of business our trade stand holders undertake in just one day.’

‘Our local farm machinery dealerships are the cornerstone to YAMS. They have all, without question, made this a ‘mustattend’ event.’

Such has been YAMS’ spectacular success the show hit a new record of 230 tradestands last year and by late November 2019 Richard is already on course to top that figure for year seven.

‘As well as being a show where

business is done, YAMS has also become one of the biggest social events of the farming calendar in Yorkshire during the early part of the year. We make every effort to ensure it is easy to get in on the day with a free shuttle bus service running every 15 minutes from the Grimston Bar Park & Ride where everyone can park for free. The bus takes just five minutes to get visitors on the showground.’

YAMS takes place at York Auction Centre on Wednesday 5 February

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| Machinery

Condor V: New design, improved performance From this month, a new generation of Condor self propelled sprayers will roll off the production line at Agrifac. The design has been updated in line with the new Condor Endurance. Another major update is the stage V motor built into the heart of the machine. ver since its introduction, the Agrifac Condor stands for stability, precision and innovation. The StabiloPlus chassis provides unparalleled stability in comparison to any other field sprayer in the world, and GreenFlowPlus ensures continuous pressure using the specially designed pump so that there is no difference in spraying at any point during operation, and no residual liquid left in the tank.

The EcoTronicPlus control system is easy to understand and operate, and sits in an extremely comfortable self-propelled sprayer.

With versions that give a wider track width (WideTrackPlus) and higher ground clearance (ClearancePlus), the tried and tested Condor concept can also be used in specific circumstances and the most diverse crops. In addition to various possible options and versions, the Condor is also NEED Farming-ready, which means that the Condor is ready to spray on plant level, with Agrifac innovations such as AiCPlus (location-specific spraying

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thanks to camera technology) and DynamicDosePlus (individual dosage per nozzle).

The Condor V offers all these well-known and new benefits in a new design, making the Condor V look more like its big brother, the Red Dot Design winning Condor Endurance. In addition, a number of improvements have been made, of course in line with our â&#x20AC;&#x153;4 e for growersâ&#x20AC;? concept. First of all, a Stage V engine (efficiency, ecology) is chosen so that the strictest emission standards can be met, LED lighting is fitted as standard (economy, ergonomy) which ensures a better view at night, plus the machine has an improved driveline (efficiency, economy) which offers even better machine reliability. In addition, there have been a lot of small improvements that further improve convenience and operation.

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| Agritechnica

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

Holsworthy, Devon EX22 6HL T: 01409 254040

Crediton, Devon EX17 1FB T: 01363 720430

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

www.andrewsymons.co.uk

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| Machinery

CLAAS records stable development in uncertain market environment CLAAS, one of the leading international manufacturers of agricultural equipment, recorded a slight year-on-year rise in sales at €3.898 billion (prior year: €3.889 billion).

Income before taxes fell to €136 million (prior year: €226 million).

LAAS recorded stable development in an increasingly negative market environment.

Despite the anticipated drop in income, we kept the company on course and systematically invested in the further digitalization and the expansion of our market positions,” said Thomas Böck, CEO of the CLAAS Group.

There was a significant rise in sales in France and the rest of western Europe. In eastern Europe, core business continued to develop well, while sales in Germany fell as a result of weather conditions. Outside Europe, the situation was mixed, with overall sales down year on year.

Spending on research and development up again Investment in research and development reached a new record high at €244 million (prior year: €233 million). In 2019, the often complex projects resulted in a series of important new product launches.

The new LEXION combine harvester introduced in the summer remains the world’s leading combine harvester thanks to its perfect synthesis of mechanics and software. Prelaunch machines that have been used by farmers around the world, have shown that the new LEXION is able to considerably increase harvest productivity. At

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Agritechnica, CLAAS revealed the unique AXION TERRA TRAC halftrack tractor with full suspension.

The TERRA TRAC track system, which is already in use in combine harvesters and forage harvesters, protects the soil and provides better comfort through its large footprint. Also introduced was DataConnect, which is the first manufacturer-independent cloudto-cloud solution. In the future, farmers will be able to view their entire fleet of machinery via one interface, regardless of whether the equipment was made by CLAAS, John Deere, or CNH Industrial.

“We are creating new digital standards beyond company boundaries and, in doing so, confirming the role of agricultural machinery as a driver of innovation,” says Thomas Böck.

Higher investments in property, plant and equipment Investment in property, plant and equipment increased again to €125 million (prior year: €113 million). In spring, CLAAS opened the new testing and validation center at its Harsewinkel headquarters, which is used to test the function and durability of new components. In addition to the current modernization of tractor production in France, preparations are underway for a similar modernization of the combine harvester assembly plant in Germany. There have also been further localization processes in

production in Krasnodar, Russia, as well as the completion of the new high-bay warehouse in Hamm, Germany, making the international spare parts supply business even more efficient.

Number of employees worldwide is up As of September 30, 2019, the number of employees worldwide was up slightly to 11,448 (prior year: 11,132). In Germany, the number of employees grew by 3.9 percent to 5,503 (prior year: 5,295) and in France the number grew by 2.4 percent to 2,301 (prior year: 2,246), with these numbers including many new IT specialists and engineers. The number of apprentices rose throughout the Group to 735 (prior year: 714).

Thomas Böck

Outlook For the current fiscal year 2020, CLAAS expects stable development in global agricultural equipment markets despite regional uncertainties. In light of simmering international trade conflicts and the risk of a further economic slowdown, negative effects on sales and income cannot be ruled out. Despite this trend, CLAAS expects a slight year-on-year rise in sales and stable income before taxes in the current fiscal year. Efforts to enhance efficiency and make lasting cost reductions will also continue unabated in the current year.

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| Education

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| Education

Education initiative Kids Country announces exciting new partnership with Primary Engineer and Construction Equipment Association Kids Country, the education arm of the East of England Agricultural Society, is thrilled to announce a fantastic new working partnership with Primary Engineer and Construction Equipment Association (CEA) to offer primary schools in Peterborough and surrounding areas a fully funded CPD (Continuing Professional Development) programme, ‘Structures and Mechanisms with Basic Electrics’, with an agricultural theme, hosted at the East of England Showground on Thursday 27th February 2020. andra Lauridsen, Education Manager for Kids Country, said: “We are really happy that Primary Engineer and CEA have partnered with us to offer one of their amazing CPD courses centred on technology and engineering in agriculture, which builds on a new technology focus we had at our flagship event, the Food and Farming Day, in 2019. We know there is a real appetite for understanding this side of agriculture as the interest at our Food and Farming Day was huge.”

Sandra continued: “The really exciting thing about this CPD course is that teachers will be able to deliver this project for years to come after their training, making generations of children aware of the opportunities to enter careers in agriculture that they may not have thought about before.”

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The Primary Engineer and CEA course is a one day practical CPD course for Key Stage 1 and 2 teachers from Peterborough and the surrounding areas (two teachers per school), which will enable participants to deliver a whole-class, curriculum-mapped engineering project focusing on an agricultural theme to fit in with Kids Country, who offer educational events to schools centred on food, farming and the environment.

The course will provide teachers with all of the skills and materials to then engage pupils in cross curricular application of mathematics,

literacy and design technology, through the design, construction and testing of a fully functioning agricultural vehicle. This course also covers the safe and correct use of tools, materials and basic electrics in the manufacture of a range of agricultural vehicles before taking the projects back to school to share with pupils and colleagues.

Please visit https://www.kidscountry.co.uk/events/ for more information and to see the full list of events that Kids Country offers to schools.

SRUC and ADAS join forces Joint venture to create national agricultural knowledge service. gri-business will enjoy greater access to the latest independent advice backed by world-leading research and innovation, thanks to a new partnership between Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and ADAS. Running alongside their existing independent services, SRUC and ADAS will pool their impact orientated research expertise to offer a truly national agricultural and rural knowledge service for farmers, growers and all agricultural businesses Through the joint venture, new and existing partners will be able to tap into the experts in ADAS and SRUC – which includes SAC Consulting – and their specialist consultancy and diagnostic services, as well as education and training courses. The partnership will also be the vehicle for more collaborative research.

The joint venture will operate in fields such as agriculture and climate change; soil health; synthesis of evidence to support policy

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development; data; ecological modelling and genomics; sustainable diets and food production systems; animal welfare; and sustainable food supply.

Among the new partnership’s priorities will be to launch a new digital platform that will provide a shop window to an independent source of knowledge, expertise, tools and services for the rural and food sectors. This new project will be announced in the springtime of 2020.

ADAS has 400 staff delivering in 60 specialist subjects across England and Wales. SRUC, through SAC Consulting, have 24 offices across Scotland and Northern England and offer a range of specialisms in soil nutrition, livestock and agronomy, branding and marketing of food products and analytical testing.

Colin MacEwan, Director of Commercialisation and Innovation, said: “The combined expertise of both ADAS and SRUC creates an extraordinary wealth of knowledge that will be of vital importance to the future of

our food and farming industry. We are excited about the opportunity that this new and dynamic partnership will bring to support future farming and food systems.”

Jackie Evans, Managing Director, ADAS Agriculture and Land Management, said: “The venture will combine and enhance the strengths of both organisations, for the benefit of rural businesses. Both offer end-to-end services, with a wide array of industry-relevant skills and expertise, so this will be a comprehensive offering. We are excited to see where the venture takes us and welcome relevant enquiries from the rural and agricultural sectors.”

Established over 75 years ago, ADAS has a long-standing history of innovative thinking, delivering on national and international projects in a wide array of industries and public sector services while SRUC has been at the heart of Scotland’s Rural Economy for over a century.

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| Forestry

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| Forestry

The government has announced a new £50 Million scheme to encourage tree-planting in efforts to help tackle climate change The government has announced a new £50 Million scheme to encourage tree-planting in efforts to help tackle climate change. The scheme, known as the Woodland Carbon Guarantee encourages farmers and landowners alike to plant trees and receive payments as they grow. he government has launched this scheme as the trees capture and store carbon from the atmosphere, otherwise known as carbon sequestration. The scheme opens a new income stream for participants as they will be offered the option to sell captured carbon dioxide in the form of ‘verified carbon credits’, called ‘Woodland Carbon Units’ (WCUs) to the government for a guaranteed price every 5 to 10 years, over 35 years under a

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guaranteed price set by auction. WCUs are generated through verification checks carried out under the Woodland Carbon Code, which assesses how the woodland has grown and how much carbon dioxide has been captured.

In order to apply for the Woodland Carbon Guarantee, land managers need to register their projects with the Woodland Carbon Code, which provides the information needed to plan and calculate the amount of carbon your woodland will remove from the atmosphere.

Find out more about the Woodland Carbon

Guarantee here. ( https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/govern ment/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data /file/843628/4.1.4_FC_A5_Leaflet_Woodland_C arbon_Guarantee_WEB_FINAL.pdf ) The government-appointed Tree Champion Sir William Worsley said: “The role trees play in combating climate change cannot be underestimated and by applying to the Guarantee you will also play a crucial role in helping with the UK’s efforts to hit Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050.”

Sainsbury’s shows commitment to future generations by planting ‘150 woods’ Sainsbury’s is working with its colleagues and farmers who have volunteered for the project to plant a tree for every colleague in the retailer’s 150th year ainsbury’s has announced its latest commitment to the Woodland Trust, the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity, by planting ‘150 Woods’ across the UK, during its sesquicentennial year. The pledge forms part of the charity’s MOREwoods initiative, which sets out to preserve and prolong the environment for future generations, by reducing emissions in the atmosphere.

Over the past 15 years, Sainsbury’s has planted a total of 3.6 million trees, as one of The Woodland Trust’s longest standing partners. Each tree is planted to help lock up emissions, spanning a range of different communities and landscapes. The ‘150th Wood’ saw Sainsbury’s plant over 2,300 trees, with over 200,000 planted in total as part of the project.

Sarah Blanford, Crop and Organic Manager for Sainsbury’s, said: “We’re proud to be a longstanding supporter of the Woodland Trust and are delighted to be marking our anniversary with an initiative that will benefit the communities we serve for years to come. Engaging with our farmers has been a big part of this campaign and our colleagues across the UK have been volunteering with the Woodland Trust, planting trees and supporting with important woodland management tasks.”

The 150 woods collaboration

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will also mark a 15-year partnership, in Sainsbury’s 150th year. Each wood has been designed by advisors from the Woodland Trust, with carefully selected species selected to maximise environmental and wildlife benefits.

To commemorate the initiative, the ‘150th wood’ was planted in North Somerset on a Sainsbury’s Dairy Development Group farm, by local farmer, Anthony Gotthard.

Anthony and his family have been farming for five generations. The creation of the wood will help remove pollutants from the air while preserving the environment for future farming generations.

Dairy farmer, Anthony Gothard, added: “As a fifth generation dairy farmer with two young sons, I’m passionate about teaching them the value of nature, to ensure that I leave this farm and the environment in a better state than when I took it over. I have always wanted to enhance the landscape for the benefit of people and wildlife. The 2,300 new trees from Sainsbury’s and The Woodland Trust will allow me to do this by planting two small woodlands that will offer shade and shelter for our livestock.”

Mick Bracken, outreach adviser for the Woodland Trust, said: “There are many benefits of planting trees on farms - trees can stabilise soil, filter water, slow the flow of flood water, provide an additional crop, connect existing habitats and provide a home for

wildlife. We’ve chosen a mixture of species for Anthony to suit the soil type and to compliment the natural

biodiversity of the area.”

January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 49

| ATV

Polaris

Dakar 2020: En route to Saudi Arabia

Once again, the Xtreme Plus Polaris Factory team are gearing up for the world’s most challenging off-road race; the Dakar Rally, set to take place for the first time in Saudi Arabia in 2020. ince the very first rally in 1979, the Dakar remained in Africa for thirty years followed by a decade of historic races in South America, and now for 2020, the Dakar Rally heads into an entirely new landscape; the Middle East. The third chapter of the Dakar Rally moves to Saudi Arabia, the largest country in the Middle East, home to vast expanses of desert, a labyrinth of complicated tracks, and soon to host over 350 vehicles competing in the iconic event. Kicking off on 5th January next year, the Xtreme Plus crew will face twelve stages covering 7,500 kilometres, 5,000 of which belong to the special stages, concluding in Qiddiyah near the capital of Riyadh.

The Polaris Xtreme Plus team claimed the T3 title every year from 2012 to 2017, becoming the very first official Dakar SSV class winners in 2017 with the Polaris RZR XP 1000, and this year Polaris will enter the event once more with the experienced French-based team, this time with three specially prepared RZR XP Turbos. Having already left the port of Marseille, the race-ready Polaris RZRs have already begun their journey to

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the 42nd edition of the world’s toughest race.

Marco Piana, Xtreme Plus Team Manager, said: “Naturally, we are aiming to win the 2020 T3 title, but our ultimate goal for the Dakar is to master the dunes and navigational challenges to make it to the finish line in Qiddiyah. We’re well equipped for the intense environment in Saudi Arabia with the RZR XP Turbo behind each of our teams – a vehicle that’s been engineered for optimal balance with enhanced suspension, a strong drive system, and turbocharged power to tackle every challenge along the way.”

Meet the Xtreme Plus Polaris Factory team for 2020…

Jose Luis Pena Campo (Spain) and co-pilot Rafael Tornabell Cordoba (Spain) – #406 FIA 2018 Cross Country Rally World Cup champions of the T3 category, José Luis Peña Campo and co-pilot Rafael Tornabell Cordoba from Spain take on the Dakar Rally for the second time in 2020.

Graham Knight (UK) and co-pilot David Watson (UK) - #418 Graham Knight and David Watson are entering the Dakar Rally for the first time in 2020, but they are no strangers to the sport, having finished 4th

in the Silk Way Rally this year.

Eric Abel (France) and co-pilot Christian Manez (France) - #424 2020 will be the second year that both Eric and Christian will compete in the Dakar. Having competed in the Merzouga Rally that takes place in Morocco every year since its inception, the two friends have a long history of rally-raid and are well prepared for what lies ahead in Saudi Arabia.

Marco Piana (France) and co-pilot Willy Alcaraz (France) - #386 Xtreme Plus Team Manager Marco and co-pilot Willy Alcaraz will be competing in a Toyota Land Cruiser and finalise the Xtreme+ lineup, with the main objective being to support the rest of the Polaris team.

To make the dream of Dakar possible, the Xtreme Plus pilots and co-pilots have a strong team of mechanics, organisers and truck drivers behind them, with a total of five support vehicles available from bivouac to bivouac, in addition to the in-race fast assistance vehicle.

The RZRs are race-ready, the teams are prepared, and the Dakar awaits.

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| Forestry

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| ATV

Suzuki ATV

Suzuki ATVs are the king of quads!

Suzuki is looking forward to attending the 38th LAMMA Show taking place at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on 7-8 January and will be located in Hall 19 Stand 19.234. uzuki will have its marketleading KingQuad 500 and 750 models on display, with the KingQuad 500XP having been recently awarded the status of best ‘ATV in its category’ in a recent media group test.

High praise indeed and both Suzuki KingQuad 500 and 750 models benefit from a number of key features that make them a delight to ride. The classic Suzuki T-shaped seat is extremely comfortable for all-day use and the ergonomic riding position means that these machines are easy to handle and steer.

The front suspension, steering system, power steering system, rear stabiliser, and the chassis frame all combine to deliver excellent straight-line stability as well as sure-footed

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handling when cornering and improved maneuverability. These improvements also make the machine easier to ride as shock levels are reduced and less rider effort is required when travelling over diverse terrain.

The super-smooth automatic gearbox also delivers proven reliability as well as strong engine braking for confident downhill travel.

The Suzuki KingQuads also have a range of features such as additional storage compartments and a handlebar-mounted headlight, which directly contribute to enhanced usability and practicality. In addition, the multi-function instrument panel is easier to view and also includes a service reminder icon.

Then, once the ATV is with an Authorised Suzuki Dealer for its service, the work itself has been made easier through the re-design of

some body parts that make some components such as the fuel filter, easier to access.

With its tried and tested products, Suzuki has carved out an enviable reputation for being the ‘go to’ brand for the supply of ATVs into farming and agriculture, as well as achieving several notable fleet sales deals into the adventure and trekking market. Look out too, for some limited-edition colours, with the 500XP being available in white, camouflage and black and the 750XP being available in bronze and black, in addition to the standard red or green.

These popular and hard-working ATVs will be back on display at LAMMA alongside a team who will be on hand to answer any questions or to put you in touch with your local Authorised Suzuki Dealer for a test ride.

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| ATV

Honda ATV Make farm tasks easier this winter, with a Honda Pioneer

Persistent wet weather during recent months has created challenging conditions for work and travel around many farms and estates. But for those with a Honda Pioneer side-by-side UTV on the farm vehicle fleet, the ability to travel where tractors and conventional 4wd vehicles would struggle has highlighted the advantages of these versatile machines. he Pioneer comes in two practical versions – the 700-2 with two seats, and the 700-4 which transports up to four people using two additional QuikFlip fold-out seats at the rear. Both come with a rugged tipping rear cargo bed, capable of transporting up to 386kg, and an optional tow hitch permits trailed loads up to 680kg. Off-road performance is exceptional, and the standard specification includes selectable 2/4wd and a differential lock to maximise traction in slippery conditions. Independent front and rear suspension ensures a comfortable ride and provides generous 270mm ground clearance, allowing the Pioneer to handle deep rutted tracks and muddy fields with ease, and making it ideal for farm, forestry and shoot applications.

Power and comfort Power is from an economical 675cc petrol engine which combines exceptional

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performance with user comfort, without exposing users to the vibration and noise levels typical of competitor diesel-powered models. An efficient 3-speed torque converter transmission and shaft drive to the wheels minimise power losses, and there are no drive belts or chains to slip and maintain.

A long list of Honda-approved accessories complements the generous standard specification. Popular options selected by agricultural users include weather protection cabs, ranging from an entry-level canopy to fully enclosed cabs with a windscreen wiper and heater for comfortable travel at any time of year.

Enviable reputation Since its launch three years ago, the Pioneer has quickly gained a reputation for exceptional performance and reliability combined with low running and ownership costs. For livestock farms the capability to transport feed and bedding to fields and outlying buildings in

almost any conditions without damaging grassland saves time spent on foot. For arable farmers the ability to travel over soft ground and young crops without causing unacceptable damage means autumn and winter tasks, such as checking slug populations in the wet conditions are carried out with ease.

Gamekeepers also appreciate the Pioneer’s versatility, for tasks from transporting beaters and markers on shoot days, to vermin control when the quiet petrol engine ensures discreet operation.

Investing in a Honda Pioneer will improve the operating efficiency of almost any farm or shoot, while saving time and transport costs. To find out more about the versatile Pioneer, or any of Honda’s market-leading conventional ATVs, just contact your local authorised dealer. See www.honda.co.uk/atv

January 2020 | Farming Monthly | 53

| Motors

Volvo’s XC90 T8 Twin Engine flagship SUV takes best Seven-Seater Honour in Drivingelectric Awards The flagship of the Volvo range, the XC90 T8 Twin Engine, has triumphed in the DrivingElectric Awards, being named Best Electrified Seven-Seater. It’s the first honour for the plug-in hybrid version of the large SUV since it benefited from a series of performance, technology and styling upgrades that make it an even stronger proposition – including an increase of more than 30% in its all-electric driving range. icky Parrott, DrivingElectric Associate Editor, said the hybrid powertrain adds extra appeal to a model that’s already established as a market leader: “The Volvo XC90 has long been the king of the large family SUVs, and in T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid form it makes transporting seven people in comfort very cost effective indeed. Recent updates have freshened up its looks and improved its electric technology, ensuring it stays at the front of the class.”

Improved all-electric performance Improvements introduced to take the XC90 into 2020 include an increase in the capacity of the T8 Twin Engine’s high-voltage lithium-ion battery from 10.4 to 11.6 kilowatt hours. The result is an increase of more than 30% in the car’s pure-electric driving range, from 21.7 to a maximum of 28.6 miles, which means the XC90 can complete typical commuting journeys with no exhaust emissions or petrol consumption.

The XC90 T8 Twin Engine is also exceptionally efficient for a large seven-seat SUV: it offers CO2 emissions from just 52g/km (NEDC correlated figures), with combined cycle

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fuel economy of up to 113.0mpg (WLTP data).

This in turn contributes to low running costs with less money spent at the pumps and, for business/company car drivers, a low, 19% benefit-in-kind tax rating.

Desirable, stylish and practical The technology deployed in the T8 Twin Engine versions of the XC90 in no way compromises the car’s style or practicality. The cool, contemporary Scandinavian design has been further refined recently, with new treatments for the grille and front bumper, and new alloy wheel designs and paint colour options.

The interior remains an object lesson in combining luxury, comfort and everyday practicality, the space intelligently used to accommodate up to seven adults with ease.

The T8 Twin Engine powertrain is available in R-Design, R-Design Pro, Inscription and Inscription Pro grades, and comes with a wealth of standard equipment features. These include all-wheel drive (via a rear-axle electric motor), power-operated tailgate, rear parking camera, LED headlights, leather upholstery (leather with Nubuck on R-Design and RDesign Pro versions), heated front seats with

power adjustment, Sensus Connect connectivity system with nine-inch touchscreen, satellite navigation, voice-activated control, access to the Volvo On Call connected services platform and a SIM card which provides up to 100GB of data, along with Volvo’s City Safety comprehensive package of active safety systems.

Features dedicated to the T8 Twin Engine models include four-zone electronic climate control with a cooled glovebox, air-conditioning for the third row of seats, a 4.5-metre charging cable and a dedicated cable storage bag.

Kristian Elvefors, Volvo Car UK’s Managing Director, said: “This award is greatly appreciated because it recognises how we are committed to giving customers the performance and efficiency benefits of electrified powertrains with no compromise in the qualities they expect of a Volvo – beautiful design, genuine desirability, exceptional safety provisions and supreme quality and practicality.

“We are also busy expanding our electrified offerings. We’ve recently made our plug-in hybrid technology available across our entire model range, and we will be introducing our first all-electric Volvo in the near future.”

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| Motors

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| Motors

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| Motors

INEOS Automotive announces engineering partner for series development of the Grenadier Magna to undertake series development of the new utilitarian 4x4.

NEOS Automotive has announced an expansion of its partnership with global mobility technology company, Magna.

Its subsidiary, Magna Powertrain, has been responsible for chassis and suspension development since the inception of the project.

It will now be joined by Magna Steyr, which will undertake the series development phase of the forthcoming Grenadier.

Dirk Heilmann, Chief Executive Officer of INEOS Automotive, confirmed: “The transition from concept to series development is a major landmark in the evolution of the Grenadier. We are pleased to have Magna, with their long heritage and experience in 4x4 development, with us for the next stage of the journey. With our production plans recently confirmed, we now move into all-important series development and start to set our sights on the start of production.”

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Frank Klein, President of Complete Vehicle Manufacturing & Engineering at Magna Steyr, said: “Magna is in a unique position with our complete vehicle knowledge. Because of our expertise, we can continue to support traditional automakers while also becoming the go-to supplier for new players entering the space. We are excited to help INEOS Automotive bring the Grenadier to reality.”

The confirmation of Magna Steyr’s appointment follows recent announcements of BMW Group as suppliers of their world-class inline six-cylinder turbocharged petrol and diesel engines for the Grenadier, and its new manufacturing home in Bridgend, South Wales.

About INEOS Grenadier In 2017, INEOS Chairman Jim Ratcliffe, a car enthusiast and experienced adventurer, identified a gap in the market for a stripped back, utilitarian, hard-working 4x4 engineered for modern day compliance and reliability.

INEOS Automotive Limited was formed and a senior team of automotive professionals assembled to bring the vision to reality with a fresh perspective of 4x4 development and manufacturing.

Combining rugged British spirit with German engineering rigour, the Grenadier will be a truly uncompromising 4x4 built from the ground up.

Engineered to overcome all conditions, it will provide best-in-class off-road capability, durability and reliability to those who depend on a vehicle as a working tool, wherever they are in the world.

On the engineering front, we are now moving into series development, with announcements on appointed suppliers and partners to be made in the coming months. INEOS Grenadier will go into production in 2021 in a new purpose-built manufacturing facility in Bridgend, Wales.

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| Motors

Land Rover Uk introduces the Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic Black Limited Edition Land Rover UK announces the Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic Black, an exclusive run of just 500 examples representing a unique, discerning specification featuring an enhanced range of standard features for the UK market. ased on Land Rover’s top-selling D180 R-Dynamic SE, the Black limited edition features Black Exterior Pack, Privacy Glass, Fixed Panoramic Glass Roof, 21” Gloss Black Alloy Wheels, Heated Steering Wheel, Metallic Paint and Adaptive Dynamics as standard.

Two metallic exterior colour finishes are available to choose from; Santorini Black and Eiger Grey, while for the interior the Ebony Perforated Grained Leather is complemented by an Ebony

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Morzine Headlining completing the specification.

Jaguar Land Rover UK Managing Director, Rawdon Glover said: “The Range Rover Velar RDynamic Black builds on Velar’s sophisticated design package enhancing it for a customer who is looking for an element of differentiation.

“We look forward to delivering the first limited editions in early 2020.”

The Range Rover Velar was judged to be the most beautifully designed vehicle on the planet, winning the World Car Design of

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the Year title at the 2018 World Car Awards. Bringing glamour, modernity and elegance to the Range Rover family, Velar offers a unique combination of design excellence and engineering

integrity.

Pricing for the Velar R-Dynamic Black starts at £56,995 or £499 per month*on the road and is available to order immediately.

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| Motors

Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé 4Matic UK pricing and specification announced The new Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé is now on sale, with prices starting from £72,530 for the GLE 400 d 4MATIC AMG Line Premium Plus. The Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 4MATIC+ will cost £80,615. First customer cars are expected to arrive in summer 2020. he GLE 400 d 4MATIC features a 3.0-litre in-line six cylinder diesel engine which can produce 330 hp and 700 Nm. It can deliver up to 38.7 mpg on the combined cycle and emits 193 g/km of CO2. It has an electronically limited top speed of 149 mph and can travel from 0 to 62 mph in 5.7 seconds.

The AMG GLE 53 4MATIC+ uses a 3.0-litre straight-six petrol engine with an output of 435 hp and 520 Nm. It features the company’s innovative EQ Boost system, which delivers an additional 22 hp and 250 Nm of torque for a short period, and also feeds the 48 volt

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onboard electrical system. The EQ Boost system means greater efficiency without compromising performance.

The GLE 53 delivers up to 30.4 combined mpg and emits 212 g/km of CO2. It can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in 5.3 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph.

Standard equipment on the GLE 400 d AMG Line Premium Plus includes Airmatic air suspension; 12.3-inch digital cockpit display; 12.3-inch central display; smartphone integration, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; Burmester surround sound system; 22-inch alloy wheels; Driving Assistance package; MBUX infotainment

system with augmented satellite navigation; head-up display; panoramic sunroof; Multibeam headlights; Energising package; and Magic Vision Control.

In addition to the above, the GLE 53 adds AMG Active Ride Control; 22-inch alloy wheels; AMG steering wheel controls; and AMG Track Pace.

The optional towing package is available for £1,150 and increases towing capacity (up to 3,500 kg), while adding an electrically folding tow bar, electronic stability control and Trailer Manoeuvring Assist.

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